Roleplay:The battle for Aselia

 This roleplay is free join!

Overview
Aselia, a woman of mystery. Gifted with the powers to control life and death. She cannot break the rules, but nevertheless she is a powerful ally. What happens though, when someone with evil or chaotic intentions finds her and takes her for their own amusement? The underground is filled with scum like this, who is the one that keeps her?

Not to long ago, there was a huge energy reading off the city limits of Station Square. That energy can be tracked to a grey mobian named Time Spinner, who is being surrounded by many other mobians. Will you join their quest against, the warlock of chaos, the mouse of shadows, or G.U.N, or will you try and take Aselia for your own evil wims. The decision is up to you.

Rules

 * 1) Auto hitting will not be tolerated. Social hits such as slaps during conversation or pushing is not auto hitting and are allowed.
 * 2) Keep your characters in line with the story. Don't have them go do something completly random for no reason at all.
 * 3) Suggestions for future events of the series/roleplay are encouraged. (Give me your opinions!)
 * 4) Be kind to other participants, but act whatever way you'd think your character would against other characters.

Participants
NeoExlucky

Pianoteen

MaverickHunterSigma

Winterleaves112

Zapor888

FroZenHyBrid

Commander Tangent

Involved Characters
Neo Tranquil the Fox

Zero Evol

Visor the wolf

Leah the Chao-born

Fate the Cat

Glyph the Fox

Celia the Fox

Warlock

Millie

Krys the Unicorn

Christina "Christie" the Hedgehog

Masako Haruno the Fox

Prairie Haruno the Fox

Yuhi Saisei the Mouse

Rose Hellsing the Wolf

Argent Hellsing the Wolf

??????

Miyuki Akuroma

Zak the Kirby

Leo the Toon Link

Lexi the Hedgehog

Tori the Hedgehog

Aurum the Hedgehog

Hunter-Killer Omega Unit

Part 1: Above the ground
Station Square still has a few hours of daylight. Most of the people are going about their buisness and traveling in cars or walking on the streets. Outside of Tranquil Manor though congregates a group of people, all of whom are surround a young green fox and an odd looking grey...mobian, who has black dots on the whites of his eyes.

Neo is the first to speak to the group. "Listen we have a huge problem. This is Time Spinner, his friend has gone missing. While normally this wouldn't be a problem, this girl has the power to take away and give life. If her powers get into the wrong hands, we're dead. We need to figure out who this is and saved her."

Christina: [She is walking with Krys and hears Neo.]Is he talking ab out you, Krys?

Krys: Nono.... I bet she doesn't have to recharge her magic part for a week after she casts the spell.

Christina: [Runs up to Neo.] Um, who is this girl you're talking about?

Time Spinner turns his hide sideways at Christina's appearence. "Crystal Treetop?"

Neo snaps her fingers. "Time, what does Aselia look like now?"

Time shakes his head. "Oh, right, umm...she's a red hedgehog, with short hair and black clothes. She has two rings on her hands and her powers aren't exactly magic...though she can use it, she's a unicorn like me." He touches the top of his head, as if feeling for something. "Well, was a unicorn..."

Krys: [Runs behind her.] I also happen to be a unicorn.

Christina: [Answering Time Spinner] Well... this isn't Equestria. [To both Neo and Time Spinner.]By the way, this is Krys. She's a close friend of mine, and.... she's magic.

Krys: What a coincidence. We're both unicorns.

Time Spinner's eyes light up at Krys. "Thank Celestia, another unicorn! Wait, did you come from Equestria too? Maybe your from another realm, maybe...Foster, maybe the white realm, no..that doesn't make sense...your...." He continutes to go on about where Kyrs might be from.

Neo luckily steps in and interrupts him. "Sorry about him, he's not exactly...um...well normal. Anyways, I do believe Christina has mentioned you before. My name is Neo Tranquil. I don't have magic."

"That's because you can't apply yourself and change your shape, Tranquility. If you just put some backbone into it..." Time said, causing Neo to roll his eyes.

Krys: [She looks confused.] Equestri-what?

Christina: It's a kingdom ruled by Princess Celestia. Nevermind that... I sorta have this weird power.... but it might help at a place like the Underground or something...

"Weird power?" Neo asked. "Like something we haven't seen before? If we're using new powers, then this will be an excellent time to show off my brand new powers too!"

Christina: Oh, honestly, I'd love to show you and all... but it only works in dark places. And I don't need Krys's magic to make it work. Wiat... [Raises an eyebrow at Neo.] You have new powers too?

"Yeah, after I died, I got some new powers." Neo said.

"Why doesn't that surprise me..." Time Spinner said.

"Anyway..." Neo turned back to Christina. "I got a new form and I can do some new stuff too! Though, some of my more...'darker' skills are harder to do now. Except for my blood drinking one. That seems to work no matter what."

Christina: Well, if you want to see mine, you need to go to a dark place. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so unusual.

"Trust me, where we are going, it's gonna get dark." Neo said as he looked towards the staircase not to far from Tranquil manor. "We're just waiting on a few people..."

Christina: Oh...

A child like fox appears from around the corner. "C-can I be of as-assistance..?" The fox stutters lightly, pushing some of her hair from her face. She stares lightly at the group, hoping for an answer.

"You..." Neo looked at her kind of funny. "What can you do? I mean we can use all the help we can get, but where we are going is pretty dangerous. You should be able to protect yourself..." There was something different about the way he addressed this fox. Though it's difficult to make out.

The fox mantained her stare and walked up to Neo, flicking a finger slightly, Icicles shooting at him. "I'm fairly capable of defending myself, Thank you." Her tone in voice suddenly changing from a sweetish voice to more offended and sarcastic.

Neo smiled, and looked at the icicles she shot him. He gave a warm smile, and muttered something under his breath. Then he looked up to the fox. "You remind me of a fox I used to know. You're more than welcome to join us. My name is Neo, Neo Tranquil."

The fox lightly narrowed her eyes before sighing. "Miyuki Akuroma. I'm a Cyrokinetic, and a Minor Chronokinetic. I want to come along, because I kinda wanna raise my credibility here, in this timeline-nevermind that last bit, and this power she has,  we really don't want it to fall into the wrong hands, like you said. I...maaaybe was listening to everything you all said..."

"Ah excellent, another unicorn and a another time manipulator, this group is turning out nicely!" Time Spinner said.

Neo sighed at Time's words and looked back to the fox. "That's Time Spinner, he controls time. Over there is Christina, she's a fashion designer with florokinesis and some new powers, that is Krys, I don't know what she does, but I think it has something to do with life. We have some other's coming too. Like Zero, who uses a chao that can turn into weapons, Ellie who's a priestess of the church, and..."

Neo was interrupted by a yellow cat in purple clothing. "And then there's us." She said. "Hello there, my name is Fate, I'm Neo's sister. Oh and this..." She pointed to a red hedgehog in blue clothing. "Is Leah. She can use magic." Fate gave a little bow to Miyuki. "It's very nice to meet you."

A pink vixen dressed in light crimson silently followed behind Fate and Leah, her blade at her side. The look of determination could be seen on her face.

"Um..um...It's nice to meet you all..." She lightly stared at the Pink Vixen.."Um..nice to meet you, I'm Miyuki...you?" She scanned the group quietly before lying her gaze on the pink vixen.

"Oh that's right, I haven't told you what I can do yet." Fate said pulling her slightly blue tinted pistol out of it's holster. "I'm psychic. I can see the future, I can use telekinesis...I can sense the people around me..." She said the last part very loudly. "You might as well come out. I can already tell your here." Fate told the vixen.

"It's fine, I was going to announce myself anyway seeing as we have a new face." The vixen seemed remarkably less tense as she went to speak, her tone being light and calm. "I'm Masako Haruno. I'm here to lend my blade." She bowed to Miyuki.

"Oh, Masako it's just you..." Fate gave a sigh of relief and holstered her gun back. "I thought you were..."

Leah put a hand on Fate's shoulder. "Are you okay Fate? You haven't been the same since we met Warlock."

"Yes, yes I'm fine." Fate said waving. "Look here comes the rest of our companions."

A blue hedgehog in a black hoodie and a pink bunny in some a red dress approached. Near the hedgehog was a white chao with a happy grin on her face. "Wow, you certainly have invited everyone." The blue hedgehog said.

"Quiet you." The bunny said. She looked to the fox and crooked her head.

"Everyone this is Miyuki, she'll be joining us on this expedition." Neo told them. "Mikyuki, the blue one is Zero, the pink one is Ellie, and the chao is Weapon. Okay, that should be everyone. Oh, and we may have some guests join us as time goes along so just remember that." He gave a final look to everyone and then appraoched a set of stairs that led to a dark pathway. "Okay, everyone in." Neo pulled a key out and unlocked the gate and pulled it open. "This pathway will take us to the lower part of the city."

"Um? Why are you bowing? P-please just refrain from the bows, it's kinda embarassing." Miyuki leaned lightly against a wall. "Masako Haruno? Nice to meet you though.."

"I was simply showing my respect, Miyuki." Masako said. "So, back to the depths? Very well, then."

"Wait!" Another fox could be seen running up to the group, her physical appearance being remarkably similar to Masako's. "I'm coming too!"

Masako simply shook her head. "I'm sorry, sis. The road ahead will be dangerous, and I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you..."

"I can help, though! Please, you have to trust me!" the other vixen begged.

"L-Let her come. T-The more the merrier, right?" Miyuki pointed out lightly, though stuttering softly.

Masako sighed. "...Alright... this is my younger sister, Prairie. She's not much of a fighter, though..."

"So what if I can't fight? I have other powers at my disposal... I want to use them... I want to help. It's the least I can do after you all saved me..." Prairie said.

"Nice to meet you. Can we go to the lower half of the city now?" Miyuki sighed impatiently.

"Indeed. Let's get going then." Neo said as he jumped into the hall.

Part 2: Into the depths
Neo plops down onto the ground from the stairs. The hall is dark and barely visable, and Neo has to pull out a flashlight for anyone to see. He turns to the stairs and calls up to everyone else. "Come on then. Christina, you might want to show off that power of yours, if it can help us see."

Christina: It's not that interesting. But I think it might be useful... [Inhales deeply] ♪Flower gleem and glow,,,♪ [Her hair starts glows and the cave starts to illuminate.] ♪Let your power shine....♪

Miyuki blinked with surprise. "T-t-that's really pretty..." She murmured lightly as they all walk.

Prairie's head simply danced to the tune... she seemed to like music.

Krys:.... That's oddly helpful.

Christina: ♪Make the clock reverse.... Bring back what once was mine....♪

"Huh, nice." Neo says. "Now then Time Spinner, where's Aselia?"

Time closes his eyes and his eye lids glow blue for a split second. He opens his eyes as fast as he can. "Where going in the right direction." He says. "She's just down here. Then it looks like we go up and towards this weird...castle thing...

"Castle thing?" Ellie asks in a very concerned voice. "What's it look like?"

"Well there's a really big house, but it has walls and guards like it's a castle." Time says as if trying to focus on an image.

"Castle forte..." Fate says as she brings up the rear of the group. "No that doesn't seem right. Castle forte looks different. Do you know who took Aselia?"

"I don't know. He wore black armor, he had a white mask on with a hood. and I couldn't see anything but his tail and his ears. They looked kind of like Tranquility's but they were black." Time Spinner focused.

"So he's a fox..." Neo said in an annoyed voice.

Krys: Depends... Does he big ears and or a long tail?

"Just the fact it's a fox annoys me. I really hate some of the foxes in this timeline... But Kyrs has a point. We need a good description on what he looks like!" Miyuki lightly flicked her tail against the dark ground.

Krys: [Her horn lights up and  a magic board appears.] Alriht. Tell me a detail and then it will be written on this board and then a colored sketch will appear on the other side.

Time Spinner sighed and put his finger into the air. "Alright well he wore black plate armor, and a black hood. He had a white mask with a weird painted face on it. He had black boots and a white sword on his belt. His ears and tail looked exactly like Tranquility's but instead of green they were black. They were the same length and everything."

Fate and Leah looked at Masako as if asking her something in silent.

Masako seemed to nod... the details seemed familiar. But that would mean... Warlock must be altering the present...

Krys: [Her magic makes the details write out on the board: Black armor, black hood, white mask, black boots, white sword on belt, face of tranquility but in a black hue.] Let's see....

"So, we're looking for a black fox with a white mask?" Miyuki tilted her head to one side, her ahoge lightly tilting on her ear. "He has a sword too? That's kinda scary."

Krys: Wait.... this wasn't Warlock, was it? And it definetly couldn't be Milie the Rat, could it?

"Well I don't know if his face is like Tranquility's, I never saw it, it was behind the mask but his ears and tail match up." He said happier than he should have.

"Millie the...Rat...?" Leah asked awkwardly. She kept a laugh back, but it was difficult and obivous that she found it humorous. "She's still my...equal...despite the evil things she does."

"That's definetly Warlock." Fate said. "If he has her...oh my god..." She said. "Okay, this might end in a fight, and if it does, don't let him cut you with his sword. It ends...badly..."

Miyuki let out a light whimper. "I...I don't like swords...Not at all...especially the look of this guys.. H-how bad does it end?" She asked lightly, still slightly frightened.

Fate shuddered. "Um...if you'll forgive, I would prefer not to answer that question. It's difficult to answer without a demonstration of something else, that I believe Miss Ellie would provide."

Ellie though answered the question. "It feels like your being tortured, but worse."

Miyuki shivered at the answer. "That sounds horrible.." She continued walking. "L-let's not get caught up on stories, Aselia could be seriously hurt."

"He's able to use magic too, so staying out of the range of his sword won't be enough..." Masako explained.

"Then beating him is extremely difficult." Miyuki sighed, flicking her tail. "So we'd have to come up with a stradegy if it comes to a fight."

Krys: It can't be very easy. [The magic board erases on it's own.] Magic isn't powerful enough.

Zak and Leo come running down the street.

Zak: Sorry we're late. Leo wanted to go to the chao center.

Leo: They we're so cuddley! Oh, hi Auntie Masako!

"M-more..?" Miyuki muttered softly under her breath before tapping her foot gently. "You're late. Don't get distracted anymore."

"'Auntie'...?" Masako tilted her head to the side. Granted, it was kind of cute, but... "...Well there's bound to be at least two more joining us after this. One of them's rather loud and hammy, I hope you can tolerate that."

Christina: Anyone here have fighting abilities?

"Well, if you mean throwing razor sharp icicles, blizzards, kicking, and a bamboo sticks is fighting abilities, then yes for myself." Miyuki smiled slightly at Christina. She then turned to Masako. "As long as he doesn't yell in my ear, I can tolerate."

"No he doesn't do that." Neo called from the front of the group. "He mainly just predicts what your going to say next. Like..." He changed his voice to a much deeper one, with an american accent. " Like; 'next your going to say; that sounds annoyng.' stuff like that." He smiled a bit and focused back on trying to find his way through the path. 'Hey, Miyuki, can you hack? You kind of look like the type who does that kind of thing."

Masako giggled a bit under her breath.

Miyuki laughed lightly. "Yeah, I hack. Why?" She murmured as she scanned the pathway.

Christina: Nice acting...

"Well there's a group back here, their name is A.R.T.E, they're a hacking group. They aren't evil or anything, but I think we might have to deal with some of them. Figured if we had someone with us who coulld hack, we might be able to speak to them better." Neo turned his head towards her and smiled. "Plus my hacking skills are pretty out of date."

"Maybe I should've brought Natalie along then... back at OmegaCorp, most of us are only trained to bypass basic firewalls. In Natalie's division, they drop logic bombs and stuff." Masako explained.

Christina: I think you can do it, Miyuki.

"I think you can do it yourself, Neo. But I'll step in if I must." Miyuki turns to Christina. "Me? Thank you, I try."

"Yeah, I'd say you're our best bet at reasoning with them." Masako encouraged Miyuki.

"Just try your best!" Prairie cheered.

Christina: [Looks at Miyuki] We don't think. We know.

"I-I thin-know we should let him deal with the hacking. I'm just gonna..." Miyuki quietly slinks to the back of the group and tries to look as hidden as possible.

Krys: [Her horn lights up and she levitates Miyuki in Krys's command.] I guess Neo could do it if you don't want to, Miyuki. [She puts Miyuki back down on her feet.]

Miyuki folds her arms and stares at Krys. "You levitating me isn't bothering, to be honest. I'd prefer him doing it, he may know things I don't." She smiles slightly, and slinked back to the back and tries to use her shortness as a hiding technique.

Prairie's smile dropped a bit... she seemed worried about Miyuki. She didn't know why she was being so defensive, but she was also afraid to ask why and make matters worse...

Neo shrugged. "If that's what you want. Just wanted to give you a chance to, what was it, 'raise your credibility in this timeline?' Though I'm sure I can talk them down a bit. I'm just a bit worried. They might want Aselia as well." He kept walking forward. "Okay, we're almost out into the underground. Don't falsh your powers down there. It could start a fight, and that will draw attention to us, I'm talking to you two, Zak and Leo. Anyway, the place will be crawling with thugs, so stay close and don't get lost. The last thing we want to do is get seperated and trapped. Look there's the door." As Neo approaches the door, the entire path lights up, a gate goes up trapping the mobians between the gate and the door. Neo tries to open the door, but it won't budge.

"Okay, send them in." A voice far away says. The door opens and standing ahead of them are two foxes. One is cyan blue, he's wearing a white coat and grey gloves, he's kind of short, but looks like he's about Fate's age. The other is green with blue eyes, she's wearing a pink shirt, pink gloves, and a pink mini skirt. She has pink tennis shoes and long white socks. Something very featureable are the cuts and bruises she has on her face and arms. There aren't many, but she looks like she was beaten a long time ago. "Who are you?" The blue fox says.

Zak: Uh, who are you?

"Name's Glyph." The male fox said. "I'm in charage of running the entrance ways into the lower quarter of the city. You know there's quite the power struggle going on. What do you think, you folks are doing?"

Leo: I dunno, you think a 9 year old and a 7 year old puffball know what's going on?

Zak: 7 and a half.

Glyph gets up and walks to the group, specificlly Leo. He takes his hand and smacks it across Leo's face. "I don't like being talked to like that. You should learn to respect your elders." He takes a few steps back and turns to the group. "Now then who are you people and why are you here?"

Neo steps up. "We are here to reclaim a...friend."

"A friend?" Glyph sighs. "Would this friend happen to be a red hedgehog with no tail?"

Neo turns to Time Spinner who just nods.

"You and everyone else in this quarter. The lower quarter is full of people fighting over this girl. Last I heard, Queen Millicent was heading over to talk with the captor."

"And why aren't you two there?" Neo asks hestitently.

"We are just a group of hackers. Polictics? We don't need to do with anything like that. Now if it was technology, we'd be out there but why fight over something everyone else is fighting for? We'll just end up getting her taken from us anyhow." Glyph tells the group.

Zak: That doesn't sound good.

Leo: Aw jeez..I think you just popped a zit.

Zak: That's kinda what you get for disrespecting authority.

"Hm...I have a question...Glyph, was it? Are you willing to tell us the captors name or location in offer for a piece of technology?" Miyuki smiled slightly, trying to get as much infomation as possible.

"Trust me Girly. There isn't any tech you have that we don't." Glyph said. "But you know what would do us good? Information." Glyph walked around the area. "So here's the deal, I'll let you into the lower quarter, but you have to take Celia with you so she can study this dimension girl. If somehow this girl disappears, which this captor has a habit of doing, Celia will have to stay with you and accompany you on all your missions.. We'll know if you go off without her. So what do you say?" Glyph offers his hand to Neo. "Do we have a deal?"

Neo looks to the others. "What do you guys think?"

Zak: I'm in, but before that, if you guys have a every type of tech, and I'm just asking, do you have a ship that runs on an energy source that could only be created by an engine that can only be made by combining a high level chaos energy buffer, a super computer chip, the Advent version of the M.E.G.A drive, and a download of a warpstar energy code? And yes that's a real thing.

Leo:.......I'm in as long as the cop doesn't hit me again.

"Yes, Kirby, we know of your kind and it's technology. We've studied enough. From warp ship to Formula star, there isn't any piece of tech we don't have. My organization does exist all over the world." Glyph scoffed angrily. "You know I'm starting to lose my paitence with these two."

Miyuki sighs gently. "I'm fine with it." She then mumbled something about how it was 'too bad' that they rejected her offer.

Zak: Just a question.......

"I think it's best if you saved that question for later; it's not like this'll be the last time we meet. We need to keep moving." Masako urged. She glanced over at Celia, then returned her attention to the rest of the group. "She seems resourceful enough, and I'm certain we're capable of protecting her. Glyph probably wouldn't invest his trust in our group otherwise."

"Alright then, we accept." Neo said shaking Glyph's hand.

"Excellent..." Glyph said a little darkly. "Alright, Celia head with them." The green fox stood up and joined the group. "Fine then, this girl is with Queen Millicent in the dark hall. Her captor's name is Warlock. You know your job." He pulled a lever and the wall in front of him slammed shut, then rose. The door to the outside world opened up, revealing the ugly, disgusting, trashed streets of the lower quarter.

"That was...odd..." Neo said.

Leo: Yeah, but despite everything, that guy was a rip-off artist.

Right after the gate opened, a 58-kilogram mass of muscle and fur came barrelling towards the group. "DYNAMIC ENTRY!"

Zak: Celestial dammit....

Another figure snatched the ham by the collar of his jacket. Being held up in the air, he appeared to be a large wolf.

"Wrong anime, Argent." A smaller, female wolf calmly walked after him. She appeared to be an albino, as well.

"Aww." Argent almost seemed to calm down now. The figure holding his collar released him, retreating into the other wolf.

"Argent!" Neo called happily. "Miyuki, this is the one I talking about."

Argent stood up tall, his hands on his hips. "So, which one of you decided to head on without us?"

"LOOK OUT! GOLDEN FLASH COMIN THROUGH!!", as this was said a crimson flash covering a gold ball come hurtling past them, it landed wth a thud.

"Aw, come on! We just got out of one thing now we have to get into another." Ellie said as she drew her two handed axe.

"I don't even know what's going on." Neo told the group, pulling his beautiful white dagger and neon green claws out of his jacket pocket.

"All I know is that this is going to be fun." Zero nodded to Weapon who inched closer to Zero's hand.

Miyuki sighed, knowing they couldn't talk out of this one. "Fun? When is fighting fun." She pulled a bamboo stick from its sheath on her back.

Zak: If that thing is aimng for me, that'll be the last time he gets to use any of his powers.

Leo: Zak, I know that all Kirby's have an eating disorder, but we might need this guy *takes out his sword* unless he tries to kill us.

"..." Masako hadn't the slightest idea what was going on just yet, but proceeded to draw Susano'o from its scabbard. The blade gleamed in the light filtering from above.

A figure stumbled towards them. Its hand glowed crimson and they would find they were limited in movement. "I really have to restrain you from attacking me? Wow...just wow."

"What the..." Miyuki tried moving her body. "Telekinesis?!" Why did she find it hard to move? She was fairly used to being picked up by Telekinesis, but why couldn't she move now?!

"Hey! What the hell?" Argent couldn't move, being stuck in another hammy pose with his hands above his head.

Masako struggled, giving up quickly. "This isn't exactly the friendliest of places, you know. We have to be prepared to defend ourselves down here."

Neo's hand rested on a roundel grenade he had on his belt. It glowed an erie green color and Neo had almost thrown it to the ground when he stopped himself. "You know, you could have just told us it was you, Aurum. Maybe then we wouldn't be in this mess." He looked back to Celia, then to the figure. "You could at least let the lady go, we're supposed to escort her."

"Hehehehehe, sorry. The fact that my appearance could've said otherwise." The gold hedgehog steps out of the smoke and his hand stops glowing. Everyone can move once more.

Miyuki furiously sighs and resists smashing her stick in his face and glared darkly at the hedgehog.

Zak: Sheesh, you really shouldn't sneak up on a Kirby like that, otherwise you would've been inhaled and lost your powers.

Masako returned her blade to its sheath. "...Sorry."

"Yeah thanks for that. I'm kinda aware of what a kirby could do, and hey you were gonna attack me so what else could I do?"

"...Something feels off... does anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Prairie asked.

Zak: Uh, sneak up on someone who won't eat you?

????: Wait up!

The group turned around and saw a green hedgehog slide on her face for about 10 inches and a white hedgehog chasing after her.

Tori: I was about to tell you that there was a rock.

Lexi: Thanks for the warning..

Leo: Well, looks like the whole groups here

"Uh...who are you two?" He looks at Argent." Funny pose by the way."

Miyuki sighs and puts away her stick. "Atleast didn't need to fight." She darkly glared at the hedgehog, before looking at the newcomers. "Nice to meet you? I'm Miyuki."

Zak: Friends of ours who are usually mean to Masako.

Lexi: Since when?!

Leo: Since like 2 to 5 months ago!

"Actually I think it was the other way around that time..." Masako said.

Argent looked over toward Miyuki. "So, you must be new to our little group, huh? Well, you already know who I am by now, and uhh... this is my sister, Rose." He motioned toward the other wolf that came in with him.

"And I'm Aurum." Aurum said.

"Nice to meet you, Argent. Rosa." Miyuk smiled lightly at the pair, then turning to Aurum abd glaring at him. "Stay away from me. It's...mediocre to meet you."

"Eh whatever, wasn't gonna hurt you but oh well." Aurum said with an embarrassed face. "And I am not mediocre! Anyway don't you have something to do. Someone to protect?"

"Sure, sure you weren't." Miyuki sighed angrily, slinking away from him. "Yes, yes we do. Why?"

" Cause you might not wanna turn your attention to me and focus on keeping her safe. And I only did that to make sure you didn't try to hit me with any of your weapons.:

"Then why did you attack us in the first place." Miyuki sighed angrily.

"Guys, come on! Now's not the time to be arguing!" Prairie pouted.

"It wasn't an attack. I was keeping you restrained so I could tell you I was not an enemy!", said Aurum irritatibly. He sighs and starts to float above them. "If you dont' wanna see my face then I'm perfectly fine staying up here."

"Whatever. If you're going to join us, then jump down." Miyuki sighed again.

He dangles upside down. "Of course, but I'm not coming down."

"Whatever. Makes me happy that you don't anyway." Miyuki smiled slightly to herself and turned to everyone else. "Should we go now?"

"...jerk..." Aurum mumbles to himself.

Prairie sighed.

Lexi: I don't know, we're waiting for Neo to get back from the bathroom so he'll tell us

Miyuki chuckled. "From what I've gathered, you past people- I mean people from around here take a long time on the toilet."

"Really now? Last I checked they fight for some kind of freedom or something. Not stay that long and TMI!" Aurum said rather uncomfortably.

"Who even says TMI, you hipster." Miyuki sighed. "Learn to take a joke." She mumbles under her breath about how this guy needs to lighten up.

" I heard that."

"Glad you did." Miyuki narrows her eyes at the hedgehog before muttering again. "Silver can even take a joke...this guy's really...hardheaded.." She sighed, shaking her head again. "Why isn't that famous hero Sonic not doing anything about this?

"I think I've stated this once before. Sonic's got his own problems to worry about..." Masako said.

Tori: Mmhm, wha does TMI mean?

"Too much infomation." Miyuki mumbled.

Zak: Well since Sonic's a bum, me,Leo,Lexi,Tori,Zapor and Blade have to clean his mess up.

"What?" Neo said as he stood, right where he had been, during this entire conversation about him being gone. "What are you talking about? I've been here the whole time. I'm just staying quiet."

Celia just giggled.

"Yes well, it's as if you aren't here, so of course we will joke about your 'absence'." Miyuki sighed again. "Thanks for explaining then- That's the first time I've heard you make a sound, Miss...Celia?"

"I normally stay quiet..." Celia said in a soft voice. "My boyfriend normally does the talking."

Miyuki smiled. "That's adorable~!" She looked back at Neo. "So are we going to get moving?"

"I hope so, this is getting really boring." Rose said.

"..." Aurum floats around absent-mindedly, his bangs occasionally floating around

Masako thought for a second... "Hmm... I get the feeling this isn't just about Aselia..." She looked over toward Celia. "You wouldn't happen to be able to analyze other things, such as combat data?"

"Well yes I can, but we don't need your data." Celia said. "I mean that's not to say that your combat styles are useless, not at all but what I mean is...um...well, we already have most of the data from you all. We first collected data from this group when those mobians went missing, then all the data we didn't have was collected when Station Square got taken. There isn't that much data we don't have on you all..."

"Do you have data on me?" Aurum asked curiously

"How do you have data on me?" Miyuki asked, tilting her head confused.

Celia looked to Miyuki and started thinking. "Um...no...no for some reason we don't data on your combat style, you on the other hand." She pointed at Aurum. "We have plenty of you."

Neo looked kind of surprised. "Hm! That's quite...er...resourceful..."

Time Spinner stopped in front of a large building. "Is this the place?"

Celia nodded. "Yes, this is where they're keeping the girl."

"Well than let's go!"

Miyuki nodded her agreement. "I hope she's alright."

"Hey what do you know of me anyway?"

Masako seemed skeptical. "You haven't been selling that data, have you?"

Christina: [Her face looks really blank.] I'm confused...

Celia shook her head. Then looked at Christina. "Basically, I have combat data on all of you. No, we don't deal in information brokering, so we don't sell info. If you want an info broker go see Secrets they would be the ones selling information, but we don't deal with them, not since 2011. Let's just go inside."

Neo nodded. "Come on guys, if they have information on us, they probably would have used it already. We just need to get in here and get Ase-"

"Hold it." Zero said as he stared at this building. "We have a problem. My sister's friend, Visor, he was brought to this building. He's being held prisoner here." He turned to the others. "Remember when Ellie and I were being controlled? It's gonna be just like that, don't hurt him."

"Does that even matter?" Ellie said. "Visor's a pacifist, he can't fight with anything anyways."

"Never underestimate our enemy." Masako said. "In any case, I appreciate that A.R.T.E. hasn't exposed our combat styles to anyone. Although I suppose it couldn't be helped if they did, it would just make things a bit more... difficult."

"Oh hush. I would've liked a challenge." Rose complained.

Miyuki smiled, although her face was etched with confusion. "There's a lot of names to remember..."

Krys: That shouldn't be a problem, Zero. [Her horn lights up.] I could use my dulplication spell to make a duplicate of you. One of you could rescue your sister, and the other one will continue on with us!

"No, my sister isn't here." Zero said glumly. "Though, if Visor is here...we should proably save him." With that Zero walked towards the building along with the rest of the group. There were two guards stationed at the entrance. Celia flashed something at them and all of the group was able to pass into the building.

Part 3: A house divided
The castle's interior did not look like it's exterior. In fact it must have been a different castle all together. The walls were lighter, plastered with white instead of black. The floor was a cheery oak, with a comfortable rug on the floor. This building seemed like it could have been a lovely home to someone. That was where the creepiness began. To the left of the group were photos of people, not just random people, but people who looked very familiar. Zero, Aurum, Shimmer the hedgehog, Tailsalyn the Fox, Christina, Cyclone the hedgehog, Dusk Evol, Fate, Neo and Nikki the porcupine were all in the photos, but their fur looked darker. The pictures weren't creepy, in fact everyone in the photos looked happy.

Miyuki scanned the room, and layed her eyes on the photos. "Those...do...any of you remember taking those? They're...really...creepy looking."

Neo stared at the photos. "I know all of these people...but...where's Echo, Ages, or Leah? Why does everyone looks so different?"

"Did we just walk out of our world or something?!" Argent seemed really confused.

"...I... even I don't have an explanation for this one..." Masako looked worried for once. "Rose and I aren't in them either... are we?"

Miyuki shrugged lightly. "Don't look at me. I may be a Chronokinetic, but I don't have that side effect of Space control. So I have no idea... But from what I guess.. maybe the door... was a Space Gate? Or something that alters whats going on in here, or us!"

"No, we're still in our dimension." Time Spinner said. "I think Crystal Treetop and Tranquility will agree that when you travel through dimensions, most of your body changes. Plus I can still detect us in your dimension. This place is just...oddly cozy."

"Grrr... it won't fool me! This is all just some sort of facade to lead us into some sort of trap!" Argent exclaimed. "There has to be some sort of trick to this. Is there a straight path to this place?"

"You mean besides the one in front of us?" Neo said sarcasticly, and pointed to the hall that led to a door, which creaked open to reveal a purple mouse in a white dress.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here." She said slyly.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but is that the 'Queen'?" Miyuki asked, her hands dangerously close to the sheath of her bamboo stick.

Millie grined. "My name is Queen Millicent, you may call me Millie and yes I am that queen." She notices Leah. "And what are you doing here Princess? Shouldn't you be off playing somewhere?"

Leah growled, "We are here to stake our claim on Aselia's life, like we have the right to."

Millie's smile faded, then was plastered on once again. "Alright fine, we'll see how this plays, but if you try anything suspicous, you'll be kicked off the guardian chair, and then most of your little friends won't exist."

Prairie scuttled to the back of the group, trying to hide herself... she didn't want to be locked up again.

Rose just seemed to roll her eyes at the threat... but otherwise did nothing else.

Again, the eye of skepticism could be seen on Masako's face. What could Millie possibly have to gain by being so passive this time around?

"Why did that happen?" Neo asked awkwardly as he stared at the collection of photos.

"Queen Millie can't hurt me, because I'm here on offical buisness, at least that's what she believes. If she harms me, she'll start a war with the rest of guardians, which she can't handle." Leah said. "Now let's hurry and get going. We have an auction to attend to."

"Wait." Zero said. "Visor's downstairs, we need to rescue him."

"We need to get going. Visor isn't who we're supposed to save." Leah glared back at Zero.

"I'm not going anywhere until we head downstairs and find Visor!" Zero yelled at Leah.

"Well then I think we have a problem then don't we!" Leah yelled back.

"Look, look, We'll split up, half of us will go downstairs or wherever, and get Visor. The rest of us will go upstairs, and save Aselia." Neo said. "I'll go with Zero."

"I have to stay with the Princess." Fate said.

"I'll...um...I'll go with...Neo..." Celia said as she scurried over to Neo.

Neo looked to the rest of the group. "Well then? What's it gonna be, guys?"

Christina: Strange building.... I'm going downstairs.

Krys: I'll go up.

Christina: Be safe Krys. If you get hurt, you may not be able to compete in the next beauty pageant!

Krys: I will be. If anything happens, just tell me. I gotta go with them and save Aselia.

Christina: Good luck! [The two split paths.]

Miyuki looked upstairs for a moment. "I'l go down..."

"It's my duty to protect the Princess. I'll go with Leah." Masako proudly stated.

"I think I'll stick with my sister..." Prairie said.

"Then... I guess my brother and I will head downstairs." Rose said.

"I'll go upstairs." Time said as he sided with Leah.

"I'll head down." Ellie said as she sided with Zero.

(Excellent. I'll bring this moment up in future episodes...*Insert evil laughter*. -NeoEx)

Part 4 (L): Aselia the Meta
Leah led the group upstairs, where they found a huge arena with a few unrecognizable people working in it. To the left there was a man, a man in black plate armor, with a black hood. He had a pure white sword on his belt, and his black tail and ears stuck out. He turned to the group so they could see his familiar mask with a weird black face paiinted on it. "Ah, you've arrived." He said in a very accented voice.

Masako wasn't a patient woman by any means. "I'm sure you know exactly why we're here."

(I'm gonna change formats.) Krys looked at the figure and gave a glare. "And who might you be?"

The man drew his sword and studied it. "Me? You can call me Warlock. You're in my home, so I should tell you the rules. I don't take disrespect in my home. You must be curteous to everyone in my home. That's really the only rule. Other than that enjoy the auction. For someone who was so easy to manipulate, she seems to have attracted a lot of attention. Wouldn't you agree Masako? Krys...your here...did Christina happen to come with you...?" He said the last part in a wavering voice, as if he's desperate to know.

Krys stook a step forward. "Yes," Krys started to say, "she did happen to come with me." She was oddly suprised that Warlock even knew her.

Warlock stares at Krys for a moment. "So she's not..." He stops himself and shakes his head. "Y-your telling the truth then?" He looks around. "Then sit back and watch the auction. I think you'll be pleased by the results." He turned and walked away from the room, leaving the group alone.

Masako growled softly. "So they're just auctioning her off? Seems a lot like slavery to me."

"That went differently then I thought it would." Leah said. "How does he know Christina?"

Krys looked suprised. "Results? Is this some kind of trick?" She asked suspiciously.

"I don't know..." Fate said. "It didn't look like it. Of course, it's hard to get a tell on him since he's all covered up. I guess we might as well watch the auction, then try and get the jump on whoever wins her. We can't just bust in there or he'll stop us but if someone else gets her, that's a different story."

Krys looked extremely worried. They're auctioning off my best friend?!

"Wait what?" Fate said. "No, I'm talking about Aselia, Christina's off with Neo, remember? Neo won't just die like that."

"Didn't that already happen?" Leah asked. "I don't know why you think so highly of him Fate. Doesn't seem all that tough to me."

Leah's words made Fate smile. "You'll see, Princess."

Krys looked relieved. "Oh... wait.... if Aselia is being auctioned off than...." Suddenly an idea hit her. "Idea! Anyone have any money?"

Leah smiled. "Well duh, what do you think we're doing here." She said playfully. "Well everyone else ready for the auction. Looks like their almost ready."

(Alright, we'll begin. -NeoEx)

The auction had started with Warlock talking overhead. "Welcome, my friends, to the auction of Aselia the Meta. This meta has very strong powers, she is able to change the fabric of reality itself. Let's start the bidding at 100..." He said coldly. Aselia was lowered into the room.

Everywhere bids were flying.

"200,000!"

"300,000"

350!"

"400!"

"500!"

"One Million!" Leah called, trying to get the jump on the other bidders but it didn't do any good, the auction just continuted. Until everyone slowly began to realize something. There was no auctioner. No was speaking 500 words per minute, telling everyone what the bid was at.

Millie's voice echoed. "I'm sorry my 'friends' but this auction is over, with me as the winner." The glass above broke and two echidnas, one green and one red, pulled Aselia up. They jumped up and pushed Warlock down into the arena. Who could be heard yelling.

"You *****! How are you not dead!" He shouted at Millie.

"Don't cry Warlock, you might just hurt that pretty little face of yours." She laughed and ran out the building.

Warlock approached the window our heroes were sitting at and broke it. "You want her back, yes? You help me kill Millie."

"We came here to rescue Aselia, not commit regicide. If it comes to a fight, then so be it. But no matter how corrupt Millie is, it's not worth resorting to slaughter unless she means to fight to her last breath." Masako said. "My blade is a tool of justice, and it's seen enough blood already without it being drawn in anger, without being used for vengeance."

"Yeah? Well, Millie just took the girl. If your goal is to rescue her, you'll join me." Warlock said in a very pushy tone.

Masako shook her head. "I'm not some aimless killer. I'll fight Millie to rescue Aselia, not because you want her dead."

"I guess that's as close as I'm gonna get." He said. "Fine, let's just get moving." He headed back out to the arena and muttered something that caused a ladder to appear, which he climbed up.

Krys looked very annoyed. "Millie was that same old rat who nearly killed Christina, right?"

Zak: Yeah, and rat is just one of the words to describe her.....

Lexi: She's also a b*****.

"Lexi! You kiss your mother with that mouth?!" Masako scolded.

Krys clutched her hand. "We have to go find her!"

Zak: Exactly!.....So what are we still standing here for?

"Then why don't you guys get moving then?" Warlock called from above the ladder.

Masako looked toward Fate and Leah, nodding.

Krys "You heard him, we got a rat to catch!" She exclaimed running.

Zak: *Runs after her* Search party!

Lexi: Aw jeez wait up!

As everyone else joins Warlock up at his booth, they find two echidnas, one red and one green, with matching sabers. They both nod at each other. They were at the battle for Station Square (Confrontation). Vorpa, the green one, talks first. "Oh! Your trying to get the meta back? First you have to play with us!"

Warlock mutters something under his breath and throws her to the side. "As much as I'd love to play, we need to get going. Veela, Vorpa stand down!"

Veela, the red one, throws Warlock into Masako. "I'm going to break every bone in your body!"

Vorpa jumps to her feet. "No you won't! To the top with you two!" She cheers, sending Masako and Warlock to the top of the building, away from the others. "Now to deal with the rest of you!"

Krys looked Warlock and Masako. "So Masako and Warlock are probably the most powerful..." She then glared at the echidnas. "You're gonna break every bone in my body, eh?"

"No, no. These two have orders from me." Said a red bird as he walked between the two echidnas. "These two have direct orders not to kill you or the princess. Millie would like to see the both of you." He snapped his fingers. "Everyone else can die. Go ahead and do it girls."

Prairie shakily backed away... without her sister there to protect her, her eagerness to help was instantly replaced with a fear for her own life.

"Oh, don't be scared." Vorpa said. "This will be fun!" She rushed forward and tried to strike at Prairie.

Veela goes to strike at Krys, while throwing some knives at Leah, Fate and Time Spinner

Prairie stumbled back to avoid the attack, whimpering.

Krys avoided Veela's strike physically instead of using her magic.

Zak: *puts on a red headband* PUNCHING TIME! *Punches Vorpa across the room*

Vorpa dodges the hit "Oh, that's a bad little...whatever you are." She goes to stab Zak.

Zak: For the record..*Kicksthe knife out of her hand and kicks her in the face* I'm a Kirby!

Lexi: *Homing attacks Vorpa* Eat it, lady!

(*Sigh* Okay Zapor, I've tolerated it for now, but I can't anymore. One thing that I can't stand it autohitting. I'm going to ask that you stop with the autohits. They're unfair and really ruin the whole "This guy is going to be difficult to defeat." Factor. I want you all to take the twins down as a team, and you auto hitting the bosses, is hindering that cause.)

Vorpa, keeps her saber in her hand, after jumping back a bit, she uses the blade to deflect the homing attack. "Sorry, that's not fun without my toy." She snickered before going to attack Zak.

Veela went to attack Krys once more. "Stop moving, I just want to stab you!"

Krys avoided Veela's attacks. "Don't make me use magic to crush you" She warned Veela in a stern voice. It did seem a bit intimidating.

"Hah!" I'd like to see you try. "She said as she went to stab Krys.

Another figure darted up in a fireball, then came crashing down to strike at Veela's blade.

Prairie looked all around, seeing the battles all around her... and so far she'd done nothing to help. She sighed, taking a deep breath, then sending a mysterious force toward Vorpa.

(If it hits, Vorpa would be forced to relive her most traumatic injury for a moment.)

Krys avoided Veela's stab. "I don't know who you are, but I'm warning you."

Vorpa was hit by the force and just started shrieking in pain. Most of her words were inaudible, except "Stop!" and "Fury No!" Other than that, there was nothing that could be made out.

"Damn you!" Veela said as she threw the fire ball back with her saber, but was thrown into the wall. "How dare you make her relive that!"

Krys glared at Veela. "And don't say I didn't warn you, my magic is truly powerful." She told her. Her horn light and a blue aura shined. Suddenly it grew big and went into Krys and a flash was heard from her insides. She dodged the fireball one last time and then stood there with both arms open as a taunt to hit her again.

Veela didn't do anything. She stood there, with horror in her eyes, staring at her sister. She threw his sword into the ground and turned to Prairie, tears streaming down her eyes. "MAKE IT STOP!" She sobbed aggressivly. "PLEASE! JUST MAKE IT STOP!"

Krys looked at her. "I-I-I'm sorry....... I guess that was too harsh...." She told Veela in a soft voice.

"I DON'T CARE! JUST MAKE IT STOP!" Veela screamed.

The figure from before had emerged from the fireball, revealing herself to be a red mouse. She initially seemed confident and ready for a fight, only to lower her blades as she saw Vorpa.

Prairie backed off after she realized what she did, being about as shocked as Veela was... the effect itself would wear off after a few seconds, and it really didn't mean any harm; it was just pain after all. But she never intended for her "Phantom Pain" ability to bring back such a horrible memory... and she would never forget those screams. It's like everything about these two was kept under wraps, and she mistakenly uncovered it.

Krys's horn lit up. Suddenly microphones and boomboxes and speakers appeared around everyone except Krys and Veela "STOOOOP!!!!!!!!!" She yelled. The microphones made it extremely loud for everyone, almost deafening.

Prairie covered her ears, running backwards as the effect of her abilities wore off.

Veela dashed over to her sister, shaking the girl who was now unconscious. "Vorpa, Vopra, wake up..." She shook her harder, but nothing happened. Vorpa didn't move, her eyes stayed closed, she appeared to be almost dead. "Why the hell would you do that!" She screamed at Prarie. "You stupid little girl! Do you have any idea what we've been through!? No one just wakes up one morning and decides to be evil! We didn't have a ****ing choice!" She went back to shaking her sister and asking to wake her up.

Leah chased after Prairie.

Fate put her hand on Krys' shoulder, a disappointed look on her face, though it was unclear who she was disappointed in. "I've studied the underground monarchy, Zero and Neo helped me with some of my research." She whispered to Krys. "Zero went to work for them, because it was his job, but some people are different. People like Neo, and these twins, they're born with no one to look after them. Sometimes the Underground Monarchy just takes children off the street and raises them. Then when they don't listen, the children get punished." Fate's voice whimpered when she started the next sentence. "Neo said he was forced to drink his own blood, and was put through awful mental punishment, when I asked him about these two..." She stopped, giving a sad look towards the twins, then back to Krys. "When I asked him about these two, he said they were forced through terrible physical torment. When I asked him what kind, he said...he said..." She couldn't bring herself to say the word. "Well, I'm sure you can imagine."

Krys looked at Fate. "Neo was sentenced to drink his own blood..... and then you said 'he said' and then stopped." She pointed out. "I know one person who might have a clue about this." Her horn lit up in a lavender color. A burst was then made and Krys disappeared.

Prairie just stopped and cowered, afraid of what she'd just done... she didn't notice Leah chasing after her.

The mouse looked at the two echidnas, shaking her head... she originally came looking for a fight, but it just wasn't worth it now.

"Prairie." Leah said as she finally caught the girl. "Listen, you need to come back!" She called.

Time Spinner looked around. "Agh, we really need to hurry this up..." He said softly. He knew that once he found Aselia, together they might be able to change what happened to these two girls, but he needed to make sure the entire world of Mobius wasn't destroyed.

"NO! I'M NOT USING IT AGAIN!" Prairie whined. "Those screams... nobody should ever have to suffer through that, much less twice..."

"I'm not telling you to use it again..." Leah said. "I'm not some bad guy who wants to use you. I'm your friend." Leah kneeled down towards the fox. "You're right. No one should suffer through that kind of torment, but they did, and you caused Vorpa to live through it twice. You didn't mean for it to happen that way though. You need to let it go."

"...You're right... when I used Phantom Pain, I didn't think about the memories I'd be forcing her to experience... but I didn't know what else to do. I'm sorry..." Prairie took Leah's hand. "I'll come back, but what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to do what you think is right." Leah said. "Whether it be looking for your sister, looking for Millie, or trying to get Neo. I want you to do the right thing."

"My sister would want me to pick up where she left off and get things done, not go chasing after her... I'll help search for Millie." Prairie said.

"Then go." Leah said. "Go find Millie, I'll stay with Vorpa and Veela, but maybe Time Spinner and that one mouse will go with you."

Part 4 (Z): Zero's melody
Zero led the group down a flight of steps that he found in a kitchen looking room. There he found a normal looking basement with a hole, freshly dug, that led to who knows where. Moans seemed to emit from it, and it was obvious that people down there were being tortured. "That's not good." Ellie whispered.

"We have to try and get down there!" Zero said as he jumped into the hole.

"What, that's how we're doing this?" Neo said as he looked around, only for Ellie to jump down to.

Miyuki shivered at the sounds of torture. "We may as well f-follow." She sighed and jumped down the hole, following Zero and Ellie.

Argent growled. "Unspeakable... no more, I say!" Argent dropped down with the others, Rose following soon after.

"Oh jeez...." Neo said as he jumped in, with Celia right after him.

Christina did look a bit nervous. "If it's for my friends..." She mummered as she jumped into the hole. She then started to think "Queen Millicent... this isn't a trick is it?"

As the group hits the ground, you notice a room full of empty cells. They are full of tools, but there isn't a single drop of blood on them. The area look brand new, save for the dark.

"This certainly is..." Neo stops for a second and smells the air. "Something's in this room with us." He draws his dagger, causing Celia to hide behind him.

Argent was on alert now, kicking his Solar Cross out from behind his back and grabbing it as it flew over his head. "This is just bizarre... what was with all those voices we heard earlier?"

"Worry about it another time..." Rose said.

Christina was thinking for a moment. She was wondering and walking at a very short distance. "It's pretty dark down here..." Suddenly it hit her and she snapped her fingers. "I think I have an idea. Does anyone else think it's dark in here?"

Miyuki raised her hand, charging ESP. "Whatever's down here, I'm going full out on it." She turned to look at Christina for a moment. "A little. Go ahead.."

Neo nodded. "Do it." He pulled the blood blade out of jacket pocket and held them both in his hands tightly.

Christina inhaled deeply and then she started to sing the melody from before."♪Flower gleem and glow... Let your power shine..." As she was singing the song, her hair shined a brilliant gold. The place illuminated and now everyone could see. Christina's hair was like their light source.

As the room lights up everythin begins to be seen more clearly, in the corner is a lime green chao. She's wearing a purple and white stripped sweater, and doesn't look the least bit harmed. Zero gasps and Weapon, his chao, is just floating. "M-melody...?" Zero asks. The chao smiles and nods, floating towards the group. After a bit of cheering Zero turns to the others. "Guys, this is Melody, she's Weapon's sister and like Weapon she can well...you'll see."

Melody opens her mouth and begins to speak. "Hello..."

Miyuki flinched with surprise, almost forgetting about her ESP charged hand, luckily remembering it before sending anything dangerous. "S-She can talk!"

Melody nodded. "Both my sibings can talk. Weapon just prefers to speak chao. I can also turn into weapons." She said. "I just need someone to use me and then POOF!" She said loudly, causing Celia to wince. "I'm a sword or something..."

Christina was still trying to provide light but she was thinking the same thing as Miyuki. "Chao talk?"

"Learn something new every day, huh?" Argent said, holstering his Solar Cross.

"Wait a minute. What was all that moaning about then?" Rose asked.

Miyuki stood there for a moment, before widening her eyes. "Y-you don't think...think it was a trap, do you?!"

"Well, Chao can learn language like a normal Mobian can. My siblings and I just were taught Mobian." Melody said. She turned to Rose. "Dunno. Came from out there. I was going to go find out what it was, but then you guys come falling through the roof."

Christina was thinking something completely different. "I wonder if Melody can read minds?..."

Melody snickered. "Okay which of you thinks I can read minds? I can't, it's just a question people are always thinking when they meet me."

Christina's hair stopped glowing and the melody cut off. It was dark again. People could still see though, but not as clearly. There could only be one explaination for that. "I did. Apparently I just had a thought about you being able to read minds and you read my mind nad asked the question."

"Huh? Out there? The moaning was coming from down here, I swear!" Rose said.

Christina shuts up. "That's not me," She told them, "but I did hear moaning."

Miyuki nodded her head. "I heard it as well."

"Well then, let's go investigate." Neo said as he went towards the door and opened it, to find...nothing...there wasn't anyone in this next room, in fact there was nothing in this room.

"What the..?" Miyuki looked around, utterly confused. "What's going on in this place?"

" Urgh...Next time I should pay attention instead of ramming into a wall" Aurum said groggily

"Oh this is stupid, let's just start punching stuff too see what happens, 'cause we're not getting anywhere with this." Rose said, kicking a wall.

"I don't get it." Neo said as he moved around the room. "This doesn't look anything like the other places in the castle. It's like we were taken somewhere else."

Celia was tapping away on an odd device on her wrist. "This room, has no one in here, besides us and one...no two other people." She said. "We've been tricked." She turned to a wall on the side and started to scan it. There was something there. She pulled out a few bricks and found a panel. She started typing on it and soon the wall desended. There the heroes found a horrible sight.

On the table was a bloody hedgehog. He was torn to pieces, his stomach looked as if it had been ripped open. Next to him was a man in an old doctor's mask, one that had a large beak. He had orange fur and several large, sharp weapons all around him.

Ellie gasped, "Visor...?" She asked the empty corpse.

The doctor laughed. "Oh, look, more experiments." He grabbed several of the knives and held them in a crude manner.

Argent suddenly went cold, before letting out a somewhat un-manly scream.

"..." Rose had no words for this man, simply sending The Reaper on him. She just wanted him dead.

The Reaper suddenly flashed toward the 'doctor', and tried to hit him with a flurry of punches. "ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!"

"I'm gonna be sick...But he's gonna be dead" Aurum's eyes glowed crimson.

Celia hid behind the wall, watching the fight. Ellie and Zero went ballistic, charging the doctor one with an axe, the other with a scythe, Neo, who was a bit slower than the other two, also went to attack. The group's attacks didn't do much, while the first few punches from The Reaper did hit, the doctor parryed the others, he blocked Ellie's axe swing and only to be hit by Zero's scythe. Neo went to strike him but the doctor parried, and caused Neo's blood blade to go swinging to the left side of the room, his poison claws detached from his hand and went to the right side of the room. He was down to the unity blade, as his normal kunai wasn't on him. His knives went swinging around the room, aiming at everyone, but Celia, who was hiding. One was headed for Neo's head, he couldn't block with his last weapon, but luckily Melody had transformed into a shield and landed in Neo's hand just for him to block it. He tried to strike The Reaper with his next fist full of knives.

Aurum's hands glowed red and a crimson hammer formed out of energy, he sent it downwards towards the doctor.

The Reaper reached for the hand, attempting to grab the doctor by the arm and throw him down to the ground.

Argent recomposed himself, reaching for a pair of knives. He circled around, looking for an opportunity to get in close.

Miyuki quickly got far enough back from the group and attacked with several ice blades at the doctor.

The doctor was grabbed by the reaper and successfully thrown to the ground, the ice blades though missed, due to the huge difference in location between where the doctor was and where he went. As he tried to get up again, Ellie slammed her axe into his foot, causing him to shout in pain, along with a final stab by Zero. He stayed where he was after the attacks before saying. "You think this is over? Let me tell you something...you have a long way to go to finish me off."

Neo approached him, with Melody floating nearby. "Really? Cause it seems like your thro-" While Neo was talking, the Doctor pulled a syringe full of a disgusting green liquid and injected it into Neo's neck. He then took another syringe and stabbed himself with it, shouting. "For the Monarchy!" He began mutating, changing into a horrid abominaiton. He oozed liquid out of his face, and he didn't even look like a human, let alone a mobian. Whatever he was now, he was disgusting. He slammed Ellie and Zero against the wall and shot some weird red ord at the dead corpse of Visor, causing it to get up and start fighting.

"This man's insane!" Argent yelled. "My regular tactics won't work here... I'll just have to fight." He breathed in deep, sending a powerful Ripple to his knives.

Rose backed off a bit, bringing The Reaper near her.

"You don't say!" Miyuki yelled back. "I guess as soon as this fight started I threw my normal fighting style out the window..." She grabbed her bamboo stick and spun it above her head, and it began to have a soft icy glow, charging ESP in it. "So I guess I'll just use a resort I don't use very often. Or distract him with light. That would work too.." She began muttering to herself.

"Geez what is he a blob? Should I keep that body restrained?"

Christina's mood changed. She was scared, yet ready to fight. "N-N-Neo?"

Neo moaned as he laid on the ground. He looked injured and tired, but not mutated. In fact he looked like he was starting to glow.

The mutated figure stood back a bit. "I just have to wait..." He moaned as he backed up. "Visor, get them!"

The corpse of Visor shuffled forward, trying to swing at Argent.

"...!" Argent seemed to back off a bit... he couldn't afford to use the Ripple here — if he hit Visor's body with a Ripple, it would destroy it. He stepped to the side and tried kicking Visor away from him, then swinging one of the knives toward the doctor. The blade of the knife flew off and went flying through the air in a crescent-shaped wave.

Leo: *Came from the Bathroom* Ugh! Is that guy dead?!

Tori: Naw der, sherlock!

Miyuki shook her head angrily before throwing the stick at the doctor. "Is Neo glowing?!" She asked with utter disbelief.

Visor's corpse was flown to the ground as it was kicked. The knife flew threw the air, nearly hitting the doctor when it stopped. "Heh, heh, heh, too late." He said as his body began to shuffle again. Visor's corpse floated into the air and exploded, causing blood and organs to cover the room and most of the people in it. As the blood hit the doctor, there was a sizzle and he began to get much smaller, when he got up, he wasn't the same anymore. His fur was covered in shadows, his eyes were no longer there, and his teeth were turned into small daggers. He growle at everyone and shot down a dark corridor to the left, disappering from view, leaving everyone in the room, covered with blood and with a glowing Neo.

Argent was frozen in shock, his usual confident bravado being nowhere to be found. "Is this... is this what Hell is like?"

"...I'm going after him..." Rose snarled. The Reaper retreated back into her body, and she darted off down the left corridor.

Aurum said nothing, before he fainted.

"Hell..Hell is where I'm from...But this.... This is terrifyingly close.." Miyuki shook from the feeling of blood on her and watched Rose dart away. "Will she be alright?" She asked lightly, and stared at Aurums fainted body for a moment, before turning her attention to the roof.

"I-I..." Argent had a lump in his throat. "Should I s-stay here or go after her?" He seemed afraid about what was happening with Neo as well...

Tori: *Cries in a corner*

Leo: *Wets himself*

"Your decision. But, if I was you, I'd follow her." Miyuki continuously shook violently, before backing into a wall, and sliding down, utterly broken by what just happened.

Leo: I'm scared..

"..." Argent threw his jacket off. He didn't want to be covered in blood as he walked toward Miyuki, crouching down to her level and trying to comfort her.

"I-I think I'm fine.. You should find Rose, fast. Who knows what'll happen to her... W-What if it's worse than that?" Miyuki looked at him before standing herself, and walked toward Neo's glowing body.

Zero and Ellie remained silent, obviously destraught that their friend was tortured, killed, and then reanimated just to explode over everyone.

Neo, finally coming too, moaned loudly. "Ow..." He said. His fur and hair were golden, and he didn't seem covered in the blood, possibly because Melody, as a shield, took up so much space that the only thing on Neo that had blood on it, was his shoes. "That...that didn't feel good." He stood up looked around. "Where's Rose? Where's the doctor? Where's Visor?"

Christina was oddly suprised. "Where is Visor anyway?" But then she became even more shocked. "Neo," She started to say, "Your fur! It's golden!"

Miyuki shook at Visor's name and made an audible squeak. "V-Visor..V-Visor is..." She backed into a wall and stared at the glowing Neo. "W-What's..up...with your-your fur?"

Neo looked down over his body. "Huh?" He said as he inspected himself. "Well...remember when I said after I got resurrected I got new powers? Well this is one of them. This is Serenity form." He shook his head. "That doesn't matter. Where's everyone else? Why are you all covered in blood?"

"One question at a time, Neo. In any case, that quack slid off down that corridor to the left. We need to go after him!" Argent said.

Christina looked oddly suprised. "His body could glow. My hair could glow. They glow the same color. That could be a hint of Neo's Tranquil-Transon Family Theory..."

"The Tranquil-Transon theory?" Neo said as he thought about it for a second. "Something isn't right there, Christina. Remember, I wasn't born a mobian, I was born a chao. So if the theory still follows correctly...and then maybe..." Neo stopped for a second. "Ah, I'll tell you later. We need to go after the doctor." Neo reaches into his jacket and pulls out the blue world ring. "Alright, through the Joy world ring I can kickstart super forms. I've...never actually done this before, but if I follow the theory right, I can turn each of us with a form, super. So, who wants to go super?"

Christina was actually shocked. "I never had a superform before..."

"Well, acording to theory I might not be able to jump a super form on you, but theory did not take into account your light up power, which may be a sign of a form, so in that case, grab the ring!" Neo said excitedly.

"A super form? Uhhh, I use the Ripple, not Chaos ener—screw-it-let's-go!" Argent said, grabbing the Ring.

"You don't need chaos energy for a super form." Neo said. "Many forms, in fact all the ones I use, come from emotions. Both of my previous forms came from Anger and Hatred respectivly. This new form, should come from Joy, serene energy, science, I don't know. The properties alter your genetic code, kicking your form up. Though, like I said before, if you're not showing any signs of a form, you might not even get one from this. The blue world ring is the weakest of the seven."

"Well, it's worth a try. Use any advantage you've got, right?" Argent stated.

"Discovering things is kind of fun." Christina said, "Let me borrow the ring next."

"Alright, careful now." Neo gave the ring to Argent and it radiated golden energy all over Argent's body, he took the ring and handed it over to Christina, where the ring reacted the same way. The gold energy soon disapperated, leaving Christina colored the same way as Neo, and shining just like when her she made her hair glow. Argent though, was covered in red chain mail, with cross's on it. His body was glowing a dark purple and red color. "May I introduce...um...Predator form." He said looking at Argent. "And...Glimmer form." He said looking at Christina.

Argent looked down at himself. "Well, wasn't exactly expecting this, but I'm not one to argue. Otherwise I'd be eating my own words over here... if I had some vegetable oil though, this chain mail could be a really good conductor..."

Christina looked at her hair. "This looks really pretty." She said excitedly. She clamed down and then looked at Neo. "So Predator is Argent, Glimmer is me, and now all that's left is Serene."

Miyuki smiled at the others. "You all look really powerful." She smiled at Christina. "But, are we going after Rose, or the doctor?"

"Let's hope it's not both." Argent said.

"It gets better." Neo said. "Argent your chain mail looks like it has regenerative properties, meaning you can use pieces of it for ripples and your armor will just grow back, plus your powers will be stronger while in this form. Should help with vampire hunting or whatever." He turned to Christina. "Your glimmer form is very similar to Serene form, the one I have. You should be able to perform, Unity Spear,amongst other things. Along with it, your florokinesis and Crystalkinesis should be better, and you can conjure plants from just about anywhere, as long as it's not too hot." He turned to Zero. "If Zero were awake he could go into Friendship form, but I guess he can't right now." He turned back to the two of them. "Your powers are stronger when combined. While in this form, it is very possible to combine powers. For example, Argent may be able to manipulate crystals that Christina can create. Things like that." He said.

"Hey, that actually sounds really useful!" Argent cheered.

Neo turned to Miyuki. "We're going after the doctor of course but before we do that..." Neo flipped the ring. "You wanna try your luck? Maybe we can kickstart a form for you too."

A slow groan is heard from Aurum's unconscious form. He opens his eyes and props himself on his elbows."Oh...what hit me? Oh right...Blood." He stands up slowly. "Woah you all look different for some reason. What happened?"

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty. Neo shared some of the power from his form, Serene, to those two." Miyuki then turned to Neo. "I would, but at the moment, I can't. I'm out of ESP, I'll need to recharge." She sighs, slightly dissapointed.

Aurum: *staggers a bit* You need some ESP?

Miyuki sighed. "Yes. Don't you waste your own on me, I recharge fairly fast, It's just dangerous if I'm fighting and I run out, that's all.." She stared at Neo for a moment. "You can try and kickstart a form for me, but I'm still not sure it would work, I mean...being...being from the future, it might cause a paradox or something?"

"Then that might be everyone with a form I could kickstart, except for you Aurum. With this world ring, I can see about kickstarting a form for you, if your up for it. If not, we should really get moving." Neo said as he flipped the ring once more. "Also something to keep in mind, these forms have my influence on them. You won't actually look like this when you acheive the form on your own."

"Eh it could help right?" Aurum said.

Miyuki walked toward the corridors. "So which one do we go down? I'll pass on the Form, save your energy.." She smiled slightly, trying to cheer them up, despite the blood on some of them and the ground.

"Best you take the form, I don't know what could be down either one of those corridors." Aurum said, looking very nervous.

"Considering the power of the ring, I could probably only get one of you. So you two should decide." Neo told them.

"Eh, she can decide." Aurum said. "You asked her first."

"You can have it, Aurum. You'd probably be better at controling it anyway." Miyuki said with a smile.

" Well thank you..." He says with a surprised tone.

"You're welcome.." Miyuki mumbled quietly.

He looks at Neo. "You know if you don't want to it's fine, but can you kickstart a form or however you say it for me?"

Christina looked at Miyuki. "If you need to recharge, does that mean you are part robot, Miyuki?" She asked her

"Nono when she means recharge she means like how some people need rings to recharge and stuff. Like me, I need to wait until my energy is restored until I feel recharged." Aurum said. "And if you don't know what I meant I'm sorry."

"Basically what he said. I can't use my abilities without ESP, and if I run out, then I can't use them. Recharge is a term for basically restoring energy, like he said." She smiled, trying to explain.

Christina nooded her head. "I understand."

"Okay then Aurum, here." Neo gives the ring to Aurum, causing him to be shrouded in a gold aura. His form was changing entirly, causing him to go into a super form.

(So, I don't know much about your charcater. So you can describe how you want the form to look like and anything he gets like that. The same goes for you too, Piano and Sigma. You both can have the form change at anytime you want, since they are your forms and to cover it up for Roleplay reasons, Neo influenced how you both look in that form. -NeoEx)

Leo: If you guys think thats cool, wait until you see Zak's super form.

Tori: You mean when he goes super sayain?

Leo Yep.

Aurum is a bright silver, his aura now a glowing yellow. His top is now a shroud and his pants armored at the bottom, his eyes still black and green. "Ok I like this alot, even if I am silver again."

Tori: Ya know I always thought you always reminded me of him.

"Huh?" Aurum asked in confusion. "N-no I'm not that silver."

Leo: But you are Silver!

(Silver pun!--Zapor)

Miyuki both giggled and tried to look away. "You did remind me of that hedgehog." She smiled at everyone. "Okay! Neo gets to choose where we go!"

"Alright then..." Neo said. "Did anyone see which way the doctor went?"

"Down there." Argent reminded, pointing toward the corridor from before.

Christina's pearl bracelet on her hand started to shine. Suddenly her hair ribbon grew her size and surrounded her. Then, it was tightened around her. Suddenly, the ribbon loosened and disappeared along with Christina. Suddenly a bright light appeared.

"Son of a *****." Neo said as he saw Christina disapper. "This is just fantastic...Now we're missing two people, and one of them is in a super form."

A golden foot in a pair of glass sandles came out.

"...A foot...really?" Neo asks with a very questioning look. "Really? I know we're dealing with dimensions and all, but really? Alright, fine, who are you and why are you here?"

The figure came out. It looked like Christina but her head was covered in the ribbon.

"What now? Did she seriously let her head get turned into a mummy's head?"

The figure took off the ribbon. It was Christina, except her hair was longer, about down to her lower legs and had an natural flowing motion. Her ribbon was much longer."It's me." She said, "What did you expect?" She looked very pretty.

"Why's your hair so long? You find some super hair growth formula or something?" Aurum asked.

"I asume that's from Glimmer form too?" Neo asked as he flipped his ring again. "Would make sense. The ring is still dying for energy so you clearly haven't left the form."

"...Hey, anyone else feel like we're being watched again?" Argent asked.

"Well considering the mad doctor was living shadows by the time he left, possibly." Aurum's hand glowed. "And if not him then probably mad queen Millie."

"Well, they haven't attacked us yet... I'm just hoping it stays that way." Argent looked down at himself. "Hmm... maybe I can make better use of this form..." He tried concentrating a bit. The chain mail reconstructed itself into a segmented cuirass with shoulder guards. The many plates shifted and flexed according to his muscular structure. He also had a hammer on his back; the blunt side was relatively large, but the shaft was only a foot long.

"Guess both of you changed your appearances. Good for you." Aurum tapped his foot impatiently as he said that.

Leo: Don't be jelly that all of us can change our forms and look cooler but you can't.

"Why would I be jelly? I can do that too." Aurum looked at him with irritatibility.

Tori: *Whispers in Aurum's ear* He's the the idiot out of my group. Be cool...ish.

"Oh. Listen can we just get going?  I'd rather not be the point of interest you know"

Leo: Just waiting for Neo to get out of the bathroom...Again.

Tori:.....Neo's the boss.

Neo face palmed. "First of all, I never left. I'm still here, and Leo, shut the ****up, if you don't know what the hell your talking about." He said angrily. "We have two paths, and I've been asking you guys, but no one answers. Where did the doctor go? Which one did he go down?"

" So...last I checked I saw him run down the right and before you try to scream at me, I fainted and forgot about it a little bit" Aurum said calmly. "So now can we go?"

"Yes, thank you. Let's go down the right then." Neo muttered as he walked forward.

Celia followed but seemed surprised. "None of this is my data...he just...how did he..." She looked around. "Right, let's go." She carred Zero and Ellie with some odd looking device as they walked down the corridor, it normally would have been very dark, if they didn't have two shining mobains with them. As time went on, they came to a very dark forest, filled with frightful laughter, that sounded oddly like the doctor, but darker and much more frightening. "Well come to my home." He said. "You know, maybe I should introduce you to some of my friends." He snarled. Out from behind the tress came three horrible abominations, one was a doll, but it carried an odd song with it. it had a ruby hanging on it's head by thread, it was the tails doll. The one next to it looked like Sonic, but was covered with blood, jagged teeth, and had red and black eyes, it was Sonic.exe, the last one looked like Knuckles but was much more robotic, and had sharper joints and parts. "Let's see how you deal with your greatest heroes when they are corrupt." He roared with laughter. Exe headed towards Tori and Leo. Robot Knuckles went towards Argent, Rose, and Miyuki, and Tails Doll shot a blast of energy from his ruby at Neo and Aurum.

"...You don't scare me..." Rose tried sliding past the Robot Knuckles, shooting her Stand out at him. The Reaper tried punching him in the back and toward Argent, who had his fist drawn over his head as it glowed with a powerful Ripple.

Christina face plamed. "Seriously?" Christina asked, "That's all she could think of? That's all the rat could think of? Wow.... Queens are stupid." It was quite obvious that the queen sent these things down to scare us all and make us surrender." But Christina started to have a thought. Wait.. She started to think Neo said I could use the Unity Spear, or whatever that may mean. Also my florokinesis and crystalkinesis are stronger.... Christina looked at the ground. This soild doesn't look like I could grow anything from here.... and nobody has a piece of jewlery of crystal I could borrow. By Unity Spear..... does he mean that my javelin became a spear? But.... Neo did say I could conjure plants from anywhere... I guess I gotta take matters into my own hands.... "Everyone," She started to say, "Get behind me."

Neo conjured a blue spear out of thin air and threw it at the Tails doll, only for it to slide to the left. "Christina, what are you talking about?" He conjured another one and threw it again.

Christina closed her eyes and raised her arms. Suddenly from nowhere, gigantic crystals appear from the ground rising up seperating Sonic.exe and the villians from Neo, Christina, Argent and the rest of the heroes. "And I'll make sure they don't break them." She said. Suddenly she closed her eyes and lifted her hands. Giant leaves appeared from the ground just behind the crystals. "That way, since they're bigger, they're stronger. And the shattered crystals will be launched back at them."

"That's a really good idea, Christina." Miyuki smiled with obvious relief, lowering her hand as she was about to attack Metal Knuckles.

Christina smiled at Miyuki back "It was nothing really," She started to say, "I'm sure you would of done the same thing."

"Uh oh...Anyone wanna see if they can get me to the group? I'm stuck with these three things!" Aurum said.

Christina was in shock. "I'll get you otta there!" She told him. She took out her Beauty Javelin which became a spear and used it as a bat to cut down the leaves and break the crystals. "Aurum! Hurry!"

Aurum flew through and skidded his foot across the floor, before making a yellow wall to stop the three villains from passing through "CLOSE IT CLOSE IT"

Christina raised her arms and gigantic crystals appeared seperating the the heroes from the three villains. She also cojured gigantic leaves from the ground to fling back all the attacks. "Closed up and safe."

A loud, ear piercing scratching sound surrounds the crystals, being amplified even furthur by being inside the crystals. "Aw, come on." Calls the evil abomination of the doctor. "Don't want to face your fears do you? Well luckily, I've tagged some of you, why don't you just...come OUT!" As he says come out there is a flash. Neo, Celia, Ellie, Zero, and Rose disapper, from sight, the scratching is getting more intense outside. "Come on out..." The doctor calls again.

Melody looks frightened, "Oh this isn't good..." She says

Argent's eyes widened. "Rose?! Neo? Ellie? What the hell just happened?!

Christina looked at Melody "My friends...." She said touching the crystals. She then looked at Miyuki and Aurum and nodded, "Sonic.exe, Tails Doll and Mecha Knuckles are NOT our biggest fears." She said in a strong voice. "Who might you be anyway?"

"I am the doctor." He growled as his voice seemed to get closer. "I'm the thing that strikes fear into your mind. I've read your psyche, and I figured a way to punish you, no not you, the pathetic things in the little cage, but you the ones in my trap." He laughed. "Let me tell you a secret. That injection I gave to your little friend, has no effect on any of you, well except for you, little miss, the syrum I have only works on those with the blood of a chao, and the body of a mobain. Let me tell you another secret. I don't work for Queen Millie, nor do I work with Warlock. Not even Queen Millie is heartless enough to approve the syrum I've made. Oh, when Neo wakes up, he's going to have a pleasent surprise waiting for him, that is if he realizes what power really is." He growls again. "But you know what? I've talked long enough. This forest is my domain not yours, and I think it's time that you all faced the fears of others, maybe then you can face your own fears." The crystals and plants that Christina created, begin to rumble and fall to the ground, leaving the three abominations to be dealt with.

Melody glides over to Christina. "Listen, use me as a weapon! Just think of something and I'll become it!"

Miyuki nodded quietly. "Right.. So we attack him, or Sonic.exe, Tails Doll and Mecha Knuckles? I could go for one, you and Aurum go for the other. Or me and Aurum could hold off those three while you get to the doctor."

Christina thought for a moment and looked at her javelin.... ''It's not bending.... what goes good with a non bending stick? Arkey... Archy.... Archery! ''She thought. She whispered into Melody's ear. "Turn into a bow" she whispered.

Melody's being bended into a bow, and a quiver as it landed, already equipping itself to Christina. Melody spoke telepathicly. "Tails doll is weak against light."

Christina looked at her. "Thank you." She told her. She took Melody and took her javelin out of the quiver. "Wait," She told Melody, "Who do I aim at again?"

"Tails doll." Melody reminded her. "You need to aim at Tails doll."

Christina aimed at Tails Doll. She took the bow string and pulled it back. She then released it and it fired straight at Tails Doll.

The arrow hits the Tails doll an causes it to burst in flames, destroying it. "You need someone to electocute Mecha Knuckles now." She speaks. "Exe  will  have to be taken down normally."

"Leave that one to me." Argent stared Sonic.exe down as he took up his hammer, striking the ground with it as the blunt detached itself from the handle, a Ripple holding the two pieces together. "I'm getting sick of looking at this guy's face."

"So I guess Metal Knuckles is mine then. I've always wanted to scrap a robot before." Aurum chuckled as he clenches his hands.

Christina winked at Melody. "Take down Sonic.exe, huh?" She told her, "Leave that to me."

Mecha Knuckles went to attack Aurum and Miyuki, Sonic.exe goes for Christina.

Aurum sends a large wave of energy at him. "Eat this!"

Miyuki threw an icicle at Mecha Knuckles. "Short curcuit it!"

"Can do!" Aurum charges at the robot, his eyes showing only determination to destroy it.

Christina performed a piercing thorn fortissimo as a powerful attack.

Argent followed up with an upward strike with his hammer.

Sonic.exe was thrown to the ground, only to get back up and try to hit Christina again.

Mecha Knuckles couldn't move after he was hit by the icicle, and took Argent's, Miyuki's, and Aurum's hits.

Aurum grabs Mecha Knuckles head and starts to send his energy into the head, possibly short-circuiting it. "I'll take that head from you you piece of junk!"

Christina was shocked. "He's stronger than I thought..." She whispered to herself as she pulled out her javelin. "This outta work...." She threw her javelin and it aimed at the top of exe's head.

Leo:*Gets thrown at the wall* What was that for?

Tori: We have to do something.

Leo: But throw me?

Tori: I guess.

Mecha Knuckles swipes at Aurum.

Sonic.exe ducks under neath Christina's javelin and goes to bite her.

Argent switched targets, and tried to throw .exe into the air with a quick knee towards the face.

Christina looked down below. "I hope Michelle and Lili's training came into work." Christina performed a front flip in the air and landed on Exe's shoulders. She then kicked him twice across the face.

Aurum jumps back and aims a fist straight for Mecha Knuckles' chest, his hand charged with energy. If it hits the fist would go through Mecha Knuckle's torso.

.Exe managed to move to the side, causing Christina to miss her jump on him, but did managed to cause some damage with her kicks. Argent's knee to the face missed.

Mecha Knuckles does take the hit and is destroyed.

.Exe disappers.

"There, now let's move on. Neo lead the way." Aurum said, with a victorious look on his face.

(Yay! Let's move on with the story!)

Christina gave a 'you're a coward' look and then hurried on with the rest of them. "I sure hope Krys is okay." She told herself.

Part 5 (Z): Even the thief fears death
As the group continuted, they found Zero, standing next to him was a purple hedgehog, and along with them was a bunch of other mobians. "Oh, hey! I didn't know you guys were coming." He said. "Look, I found my family, isn't that great? I don't need to fight anymore!"

The purple hedgehog talked. "I'm so happy that my big brother is here, I'll never take my eye off him again." She said.

"Oh, dinner's almost ready, are you guys staying? Dusk makes the best meals ever! Say you'll stay? Please!" Zero said in a voice so unlike his.

Christina did feel a bit warm in the heart. "Well, you all do seem very nice....." She started to say.

Melody whisper to Christina, still as a bow. "Really? You don't find this odd? He disappered and now he acts like he's at his own home. Those people, except Zero, are fake. Although I do wonder where my sister is."

Christina looked at Melody. "I'm really confused...." She started to say, "They're fake?" She then whispered in her ear. "They aren't changelings are they?"

"Uh...no thanks, I lost my appetite a while back." Aurum blinks nervously.

"Changelings? What are those?" Melody asked, then shook her head. "Look, I don't know, but maybe we should talk Zero out of this."

"Hey what do you think is wrong with Zero?" He whispers to Melody and Christina.

"Apparently, Zero's 'sister' brainwashed him." Christina told him. "But I'm not sure..."

Suddenly a bright lavender light appeared. Out came Krys.

Christina was so relieved. "There you are!"

Krys turned her head and looked around. "Glad your okay, Christie. What happened to Neo? Did he eat dinner? Fight and win?.... Suck blood?"

"We don't know where he is." Melody said.

"Oh, Neo?" Zero asked in his odd voice. "He's over there, farther down, being a kill joy. Told me to go away when I invited him to dinner. Don't know why, Dusk is such an amazing co-..." Zero stopped for a second. "Dusk can't cook..." He said, and with those three words, the people around him disappered.

"Well that was easy." Melody told the group.

Christina put her hair on his forehead. "♪Flower gleem and glow..." Once she said those words, her hair grew even brighter. She was trying to heal Zero's memory and snap him out of this family-home confusion. "Let your power shine, make the clock reverse, take back what once was mine. Heal what has been hurt. Change the fait's design. Save what's once been lost. Take back what once was mine.....♪ at this point, I hope he snapped out of confusion."

Zero shook his head. "That was weird..." He said. "Hey, where are we?"

"Uh...we just came from an upper room where we had to fight a metal version of knuckles, a bloody-eyed sonic, and a rag doll made to look like Tails."

"Dusk can't cook?" Argent asked Zero. "...My sympathies. But if this is the Skinner box he tossed you into, what sort of brainwashing are the others going through?" he wondered. "Oh God... I hope I haven't lost my sister to this madman..."

Krys looked at Christina. "Madman?" the both of them said.

"That's weird..." Zero said. "Did Visor...did the doctor guy...do what I think he did with him?"

"Mhmm, hollowed him out then sent him after us, I think it'd be best if you don't forget what happened after that." Aurum's face had a slight tinge of green.

Christina looked at Aurum. "Your face," she started to say, "it's turning a bit..... a bit...."

Aurum looks at her. "I'm kinda queasy about it ok?"

"Neo was just over there..." Zero said. "We should be able to find him."

"What about the girls? Any luck locating them?" Argent asked.

Zero shook his head. "No, but they should be around. I don't think they'd be sent off to far from us. Come on, let's go check it out."

"If anyone says we need to split up, I will personally punch them in the face!" Argent said, following Zero. "So do you know what Neo was doing? Any idea what it looked like?"

"No, I blacked out when the doctor guy threw me into the wall." Zero said as he held his neck. "Ow, it still hurts."

"Well, Krys is here for that." Argent bobbed his head toward her. "Unless you'd rather have me handle it."

As the group continuted, they found Neo, but what they also found was quite baffling. Rose, Ellie, Dusk, several random mobians, Aselia, Millie, Fury, and Time Spinner all were lying dead in the ground. Neo held something in his hand, that looked like a crystal necklace. He was on his knees as he was surrounded by the bodies. "No...no...I...I let them die..." He muttered under his breath. "I wasn't...strong enough." There were tears rushing down his face, and Neo looked devestated."I just don't...why would anyone...why am I the only one alive...?" Neo got up and shuffled over to a collection of bodies. Masako, Celia, Christina, Cyclone, Nikki, Tailsalyn, Shimmer, and Ages were all lying dead in front of him, each in their own set, the bodies surrounded Neo. "Please, wake up." Neo said as he shook Masako's body, then turned to Christina. "Come one, Christina, please, don't do this to me..." He changed over to Tailsalyn. "Please, don't leave me." Neo looked around the bodies, not even noticing the people who were alive. "Please, don't-...don't leave me here all alone..."

"Th-those aren't real, right?" Argent asked. He looked over toward the real, living Christina, reassuring himself. "Right another illusion. But... I just feel sorry for the guy... however, we can't just walk up to him, not while he's in that volatile mental state. What should we do?"

"Think it's possible for me to break his illusioned state? I am...Telekinesis won't work on him will it?"

"Telekinesis would work on him." Zero said. "But I don't think it's the best idea. It would be similar to waking a sleepwalker up, it doesn't end well." Zero shook his head. "I think we need to talk him out of this."

Leo: You want me to slap him until he wakes up?

Tori: Same rules as sleep walking.

"No." Zero told the two of them. "We need to talk him out of this, we can't wake him up with force."

Krys was looking at Christina and then back. "I have plan.  I could use my magic to eliminate all of the 'fakes'. It might be possible that my restoration spell might work for the others." She remarked.

HK approached the group he was seeing cautiously. He wasen't sure if anyone in this area was real. He moved over behind the group that was talking and armed one of his auto-cannons. "I want all of your names and you species now, to be sure you are real" he said to them in his normal, robotic, tone.

Krys reported. "Krystal Avril Escavirlno the Unicorn". She replied to HK.

"Christina Sabrina Transon the Hedgecat" Christina replied.

"That should be able to work." Zero told Krys. "Sounds likely that magic can counter magic...or whatever this is." He turned towards the odd voice."What?" Zero said as he looked at the robot. "Um...Zero Evol...uh...Hedgehog...."

HK scanned their forms, witch matched up to speicies profiles. "Good, so you are real, well then. I am Omega Unit 1317 HK  variant "

Christina was amazed. "Wow! An actual robot. I only know two people who could make those." She said in amazement.

"Why thank you, the person that made me was named Eggman if my records are correct. Not a happy guy" HK said, letting out a slightly amused chuckle.

Christina was thinking. "I know I heard that name before..." She started to say. "Oh, that's one of my friend's former second adoptive father. But I heard he's evil." She told him.

"I dont know about evil, but I do know he was a really mean guy,and was always very angry" HK replied to her, his voice back to his neautral tone.

Krys raised her arms slowly and her horn lit up. Suddenly the bodies lifted up. A beam shot at all of them and the bodies all exploded."They were fake!"

Neo turns around. "What are...? No, no! Your all fake, none of you are real. Your just here to kill me." He takes the thing that he's holding and holds it towards his stomach. "Just leave me alone!"

"See? This is exactly what I knew would happen." Argent said.

HK looked at Neo. "Improbable, there is a 99.84532452 percent chance that all of us a real. An I am not here to take hostile action." he said.

Tori: How about the fact that we're all in a supernatural place messing with our minds?

"No, your just trying to trick me, but I won't let it happen. I won't die that easily!" Neo cuts his hand with the odd object in his other hand. Large amounts of black blood shoot into the air and harden into spikes, where they are thrown at the group.

Aurum catches the spikes with his telekinesis and holds them in place. "Calm down! What is that thing in his hand?"

Leo: I dunno, but I nominate we slap him!

Tori: Slap him, I punch you.

Krys smirked. Her horn lit up and thespikes being held by Aurum's telekinesis exploded and headed the other way. "If we were imposters, then why did we just save your life?" She told Neo.

"Get out of my head!" Neo said as he cut himself again with the object and threw more blood at everyone.

Leo: If we're fake, then how would we know that you got Zapor a machinegun jetpack for his birthday?

Tori, angered by his idiocy, backhands him across the face.

Neo jumps back from Tori's hit. "No, no! Your just old ghosts come to haunt me. Your all dead."

Zero grabs Tori's hand. "What did I say?" He growled. "Trying to do anything like that is bad. We need to talk to him, we can't just keep attacking." Zero eyed the item in Neo's hand. "Listen, keep him talking, I'll try and get that thing from him."

Christina looked at Neo. "I don't care if we are family," She started to say "because you're like family to me." Doing this, she was trying to warm Neo's heart.

Aurum stayed quiet, avoiding saying anything that could make their situation worse.

Leo: Neo, is Zapor dead?!

"And that's why you have to be fir-" Neo was struck on the back of the head by Melody, as a baseball bat. When Neo turned around, Zero swiped the weird thing from Neo and broke it in half, causing a very odd aura to spurt out of the broken pieces and swarmed around Zero before they stopped. He coughed a little bit, but he looked fine otherwise. Neo fell to the ground, gasping for breath, but looked better now. "Christina..." He said. "Come...come here..."

HK scanned the situation, running it through logic circuits befor he spoke. "I can prove myself, whenever this place tries to trick you, it uses things from your mind, your memories. But you have never seen me before, not heard me, nor made any other kind of contact with me. So there is nearly no way this place could have generated me as it would have nothing in your memmories to base me off of" HK said.

Leo: You ok Neo? "Yes...yes....I just need...christina..." Neo panted.

Zero shook his head. "Well then...I think he's fine now. Christina, why don't you approach him? If he tries anything, we can knock him out."

Christina walked over, calmly to Neo. She put her hair on his heart, but she didn't sing. Instead, she remained quiet. Somehow her hair was glowing even brighter and then a yellow small sphere appeared. Then it landed on Neo's heart.

Neo didn't move, but simply looked up to Christina. "You...didn't tell me you were Chao-born."

Tori: Sheesh, is everyone Chao-born?

"Christina makes three of us..." Neo said. "That's far from everyone."

HK looked to Tori. "Negative, I am a Hunter Killer drone, thus I am unable to be Chao-born"

"Three of us..." She told Neo. "My mom was a chao born. I remember hearing about it. I think I might be your...... cousin."

Part 5 (W): The echo of the Warlock
Masako and Warlock fall onto the rooftop, well partially. Masako lands at the edge of the building's roof, and Warlock landed off the building, luckily grabbing the buildings side with his left arm. "Masako!" He calls as he hand on like a thread, his mask falls off his face, causing the his ears and tail to change into more of a cat shape, but still look black.

Masako looked back at Warlock... even to those she considered to be her enemies, she would never want them to die like this. She sighed deeply, grabbing Warlock's hand and using all her strength to pull him up. The weight of his armor caused somewhat more strain in doing this, however.

Warlock, now back on the rooftop, turned to Masako, and now something was quite clear. Warlock wasn't a he, but a she. She had a tiny nose, long eyelashes, and her voice was more feminine when she spoke. She was the spitting image of Echo, but with black fur. "So, now you know who I am." She said in a sort of depressed voice.

"...Echo? Is that really...?" Masako shook her head, trying to come to terms with herself. "I don't understand... what possible future lies ahead, that you needed to create this other identity?"

Echo shook her head. "I'm not your Echo." She said. "The pictures downstairs, they're from the black dimension, where I'm from. Something...happened there. We had to come here, it was the only way we could be safe." She looked at her armor, then back to Masako. "When you dress like death, sound like death, and act like death, people will think that you are death. As Warlock, we can be someone else. That's what she told me, and that's what I believe." She started kicking the floor. "The reason I'm not in those pictures is...in the black dimension, I take who you know as Millie's place. I'm the queen of the monarchy there."

"...I see... then that explains why the rules of the Spectacle apply to you, as well." Masako said. "But that doesn't answer all of my questions... what about the others who are absent from the pictures? And how do you know about the days yet to come?"

"In every dimension there are constants and variables. There will always be a Neo, there will always be a Zero, and there will always be an Echo. The rest of you? Well, some of you are constants, people like yourself are variables. There may or may not be a Masako, there may or may not be a Millie, there may or may not be a Rose. Some of you don't exist, right now though, none of the people in those pictures exist." Warlock held her sword again. "In our world, I won. I captured Aselia, and I ripped the thread of reality open. Neo, Tailsalyn, Zero, they all died in the process. What I saw gave me foresight into the future of any and all dimensions, but the cost of doing so is something no one wants. Not even this world's Millie. I can see all possible futures, and all but one are terrifying. We came to forge that future, by any means necessary."

"Right... so, can you explain to me how auctioning off Aselia factors into that future?" Masako asked. "Doesn't that seem rather careless?"

"Aselia is auctioned off, Time Spinner becomes enraged, with his rage he destroys the underground monarchy, rescues Aselia, and he dies." She says. "But that's only if Celia didn't show up. Because she did, Time Spinner will be knocked unconsious long enough for the writer's to take most of his power, so he won't have the power to destroy the underground monarchy."

"I'm afraid I'm having trouble understanding how Celia is a variable in all this." Masako said. "But surely, the destruction of the Underground Monarchy wouldn't come with its own consequences. Who would be among the lives consumed by Time Spinner's rage?"

"You'll see, well not you but the others will see." Warlock told her. "The only lives taken are those of the underground monarchy and Time Spinner himself. Everyone else lives happily, but now that you all brough Celia here, we have to go down the next best path, and it's not good."

"Tell me who's at risk if we take the alternative." Masako ordered.

"Besides your world's Echo, everyone. Sometimes you will have to choose which one to rescue, and which one to let die. You cannot rescue everyone. People must die." She said sadly.

"All this just because we had to take Celia along?!" Masako complained. "Look, we didn't have any alternatives. They wouldn't let us through unless we took her." She walked away, her head in her palm. This wasn't the ultimatum she wanted to work toward. "...You said that I'm a variable in all this... isn't there anything I can do to ensure that everyone lives?"

"Your variable only prolonged a life that is destined to die. People will die, they will not be a large part of the population, but they will be the ones you hold close to you." Warlock told the champion. "Bringing Celia, causes something to happen downstairs that has already happened. Because Celia is here, a certain Doctor takes some of your friends away, so instead of catching Millie on the other side of the hall where we find her, they're still looking for the rest of the group members. Aselia will be captured, and Time Spinner will be knocked out. Everyone will die over the course of life, whether it be by falling in battle, disease, or age. They will all come to an end. Even you and me. Nothing lives forever, even those who are immortal must eventually die."

Masako stared off into the distance, her head hung low. "...Have you considered that there might be some other variables at work here?" She began to speak. "I noticed that we were being shadowed since we first stepped foot in this place. Detected one of them right away because of the military-grade nanomachines swimming through their body, but it felt like it might've been two. What do you make of that, huh?"

"I make that we're not alone up here." Warlock said as she drew her blade.

"Are you sure?" Masako took a grip on her blade's handle, a visor-like mechanism sliding over her face and obscuring her eyes. She took a look around.

"Yes, she is." Said a red bird, in a black jacket. "Isn't it just delightful to know all this? Of course it would be if the girl here wasn't such a liar." He threw a knife at Warlock, who just barely managed to dodge it. "Queen Millicent will always be our queen, no matter what position she is put in. I don't know who you are, but you deserve death."

Masako turned to the bird, shrugging. "Tell me this, boy. Are you truly ready to die for your cause?" she said, drawing her blade and holding it out in front of her.

"That would be sir to you." Fury said. "I'm no child, and this cause would be fully worth dying for." Fury drew his sword and pointed it at Masako. "Come then, let's see what happens when justice tries to quell anger."

"So you've made your choice? Good, then that means I don't need to hold back." Masako stepped firmly on the ground as she brought her blade to her side, pointing it toward Fury. "Come!"

"Gladly." Grunted Warlock as she went to cut Masako from behind.

Masako was focused on Fury at this moment... she hadn't anticipated an attack from Warlock. Her heightened senses only ensured that the strike landed just under the right side of her ribs.

(Wow, I uhh... didn't mean mean to trigger this one early. :S)

"Neither of you have the right answer. Death, destruction, your both at fault here! There can be no Justice and there can be no anger, there can only be chaos." She said as her sword began to inflict it's curse onto Masako, who would soon feel as if she had be cut crudely for six months, and all the emotional termoil would soon follow.

Masako screamed out as she writhed in pain, wailing as the curse sent her to the ground. She struggled to stay up on her knees, crying out every time she tried to pull herself to her feet.

"Stupid girl." Warlock said as she lifted Masako's head. "You don't stand a chance against me. I am the bringer of death itself, you have nothing to use against me."

Fury laughed behind her and began to say something before he was swiped away by Warlock. "What the-?" He asked.

"I'm not on your side either. Your both at fault here and I will defend this world the way it should be." She goes to strike Fury, who retaliates. The two are now in a heated battle.

Masako's blade glowed a dark blue as she stabbed it into the ground, using it to lift herself to her feet. She groaned, leaning on the blade as she watched the two fight on. She slowly began to walk toward the battle, labored breaths and groans accompanying each step, her blade continuing to glow as it dragged across the ground behind her.

(And here's some foreboding music for Masako.)

Fury and Warlock don't seem to notice, though another voice calls out to Masako. "Quite the evil ones, aren't they?"

Masako continued the long journey towards the battle, pain weighing her down with each moment that passed. "And who are you... supposed to be... watching from the sidelines?"

"A friend, who wishes to remain unseen." Said the voice. "Here, chew on this, it will stop the pain." She placed a leaf on a little white plate in front of Masako. "Don't worry, I'm not like either of those two. I'm just trying to help."

Masako looked down at the plate, falling to the ground when she couldn't take the pain anymore. She struggled to bring the leaf to her lips, biting down on it.

"You know, Warlock is partially right." The voice continuted. "Justice alone cannot make this world right. Compassion, friendship, hope, light, knowledge, and sincerity must all come into play to make this world better." Steps could be heard behind Masako. "Justice and vengence are very similar and very different at the same time. The line is blurred between the two. Some people believe that the two are the same. Tell me something Justice, do you fight these people because it is the right thing to do or do you fight for another reason? Friendship, drives, love, all of these can cloud and blind Justice. You must keep an open mind when fighting for what is right, that is Justice. Any other reason can tempt you, and drive you into revenge. As justice, you are one of the strongest of the virtues, and at the same time, you are one of the weakest. Friendship cannot be tempted anymore, and no matter what happens, Hope will remain hopeful, but you? You are the easiest to change and corrupt." The walking stopped, and voice asked. "Now that I have told you this. I have another question for you. Who am I?"

"That ideology sounds like something Fate would say... and you know what? You're right." Masako began to say, rising to her feet. "I've always thought that I was fighting for what I believed was right, but for me it always starts to blur whenever I take a life. I guess I just needed something to keep me in check while I was knee-deep in bodies." Something about her seemed... off...

(This is where I planned on revealing Masako's "Punished" form. Triggered when Susano'o absorbs enough of her negative emotions.)

"Who are you talking to?" Fury said as he held off another of Warlock's attacks. "Ah, stupid girl." He said as he tried to attack Warlock again.

"So tell me this, Fate—if that is your name—just how thin is this "line" between Justice and Vengeance? Can it just cross over whenever it wants?" Masako asked, in a rather darker tone.

"Fate? No, no, Fate would not want you to go like this." Said the voice. "The line is very thin, in fact crossing over is very likely, but I have a few reasons why you wouldn't." The voice said, but could now be seen as a red mobian girl, with medium red hair and some black clothes. This was Aselia. "For one, the minute you cross over you'll bring yourself through horrible pain, of course I know you know that, Leah and Fate have told this to you. I also know, that you don't care. I do have another reason to stop you." She snapped her fingers and a picture appeared. "What do you think your sister would say if she saw you? Because I know what would happen. She would be scared. The masako she considers her sister isn't in front of me. The thing in front of me isn't anything like Masako. All I see is a monster." She shrugged and the picture burned into ash. "But you know what? I don't care. I've always made it apparent to never stop anything that I don't see wrong. You kill those two, you save a lot of us trouble, but with Fury's death you'll bring your other companions deaths closer. What happens when Hope dies? When Glimmer stops breathing? When Sincerity gives up and takes her own life? You save death a lot of trouble, and that's something I can respect." She moves her head down and whispers into Masako's ear. "Go ahead...kill them...punish them both for their insolence. There is no mercy in vengence or Justice. Go ahead and finish them."

Just as this was said another mobian, a grey one with black glasses stood on Masako's other side. This was Time Spinner. "Masako listen to me. You know that vengence is strong, but this isn't you. Your letting yourself turn into this thing. Don't do it, just walk away."

"Everyone has a dark side. Sometimes it's best to let it flow, release some of your pent up feelings. Destroy these mongrols." Aselia whisper make.

"Masako," Time Spinner said with a faltering voice. "If you kill them, you'll be just like Millie."

Both of the voices rang out in a desperate call, one forceful, and one gentle. "Pick your decision now."

"...I'm sorry... I wish that nobody had to see me like this... but it's already too late for me." A tear rolled down Masako's cheek as she said this, her blade flashing l a deep purple, and an aura of the same color beginning to envelop her body. "I was born to kill just like everyone else who has been in my position, through every generation of my family line. I could keep telling myself that I'm different from all the rest, but who am I kidding?"

The images of Time and Aselia looked floated towards the front of Masako. "Hey, Seli, what do you see here?" Time said in a terribly mean voice.

"Tch, what, this thing in front me? If I didn't know any better, I'd say I see Millie." Aselia laughed. "Should we call you Queen now? You gonna start a war against of all of mobian kind because you think you can kill everyone else?"

"Of course not." Time Spinner said. "She'll kill her friends first, might even kill her sister afterwards. Then she'll be just like Millie. Hey, didn't King Sombra act just like this before he enslaved the crystal ponies?"

"Hey, you're right!" Aselia said. "Oh, but we won't keep you any longer. You go have your little hissy fit. We'll see you soon." Aselia giggled. Both her and her companion disappered into light. They weren't real.

"...I don't need anyone telling me what to do..." Masako growled, heading to battle in her new, corrupted form.

(I'll use this for this fight; it represents her "Punished" form because it describes that she's forgotten the reasons why she fights. However I'm gonna head off for vacation till the 26th. I'll post if I get a chance to. Also, she won't be able to kill either of them since she'll probably "wake up at some point.")

"What's going on?" Fury asked violently as he glared at Masako.

"Heh, why don't you find out?" Warlock told him as she disappeared.

"That's too bad... I was hoping I'd have some fun with her after I was done with you. She made her mistake by crossing me, but you... huhuhu... you've got a lot to answer for." Masako said, dragging her blade across the ground. She firmly gripped her blade, rushing at Fury while tearing open the roof of the building with her blade.

Fury looked taken aback but kept his sword out and ready. "Just try me, little girl."

Masako ripped up a chunk of the building, throwing it at Fury and leaping toward him for a strike.

Fury deflected the chunck of the building, only to be met with the Masako's strike.

Masako aimed low with the first slash, the blade gleaming as she swung toward Fury's sword with a flurry of flaming slashes, finishing by swinging her leg into a roundhouse. "You bore me!"

Fury rolled over to the side. "Just you wait girl." Fury told her. "You and your friends have been playing around so much, Millie's gotten away with Aselia." He laughed. "But this wound runs deeper." Fury's feathers began to get darker, and turned black. "I'm not leaving until one of us is dead." He charges up to Masako and strikes.

Masako took the slash directly... however, she seemed unfazed, and chuckled. "I feel no pain..." This, of course, was a lie. Regardless, she looked for an opening, circling her blade around and swinging it skyward along with her. If it connected, he would seem to be cut in several places.

Fury slide to the left. "Pain always has a way of slithering into the mind. Whether it be physical, Mental, or genetic pain." He scoffed. "Maybe, you should remember who you're dealing with." He slashed forward, leaving a trail of fire as his blade passed.

"I don't care who you are, but I hope you know how to fly!" Masako spiralled downward to meet his blade as Susano'o gleamed again, whipping out a slicing whirlwind in an attempt to send him off the building. Of course, he could probably just fly back up anyway...

Fury fell off the building, only to float his way back up to the top. "Ha! That was something only a little girl..." He stopped dead in his tracks and smiled. "Why don't I just let your sister deal with you." He swiped his hand forward and Masako was sent back to the area that Leah and Praire were at.

Part 6 (M): Law and Order
Leah turned back to Masako and gasped, grabbing her sword and swinging it in front of her. "Masako?" She asked unsafely. "What's going on?"

"Masako...?" Prairie asked fearfully.

"Oh, don't mind me. I just thought I'd see how the other half lives." Masako smirked.

"Masako." Called a commanding voice from behind the girl. "What do you think your doing? What have you done to yourself?"

"Isn't this what you all wanted? For me to give in to the other side of my battle?" Masako looked behind her.

"We wanted you to uphold the one viirtue for which you stood for the most." Yelled the voice, standing there was Fate. "And yet, you have forsaken us."

"You think I chose this for myself? When everything was working against me and I had nothing else to fall back on?" Masako growled. "If I hadn't, Warlock would've finished me off up there after she was done with Fury. Is that what you wanted?!"

Fate shook her head. "I would rather die as a hero than to live as villian. What you have become is wrong. Neo and Zero may have dark forms, but we should not sink to their level, and we should definetly not sink to Fury and Millie's level." Fate sighed and turned around. "Just...just change yourself back to normal now. Your scaring the princess."

"It's not that simple, Fate. You don't even know what I've been through!" Masako barked.

"Sis, please, stop!" Prairie begged.

"You've been cut by the faceless blade, Warlock's sword. Luckily for you, you got an herb to stop the pain. When I was cut, I didn't get something like that." Fate told Masako. "It doesn't matter what you've been through, pain never truly goes away, you just have to deal with it."

Zak: Zapor goes through all types of pain, but he just cuts the thing thats in pain off and grows a new one.

"The pain runs much deeper than that." Masako said.

(Basically her hometown was destroyed and she lost everything but her family, forced to take up the blade just to survive.)

"We've been through this, sis! Please, just let it go! You're hurting yourself!" Prairie begged.

"Masako, let me ask you a question." Fate said. "Are you going to let that pain corrupt you? We stand as heroes to ensure that this doesn't happen to others, because we've all been through tough times, painful experiences, shattered dreams. That's why we are here. We don't let pain control our actions." Fate walks forward, towards Masako. "But maybe when you left, you changed, maybe you've always been this way and we've never seen it before." Fate stands right in front of Masako now. "I'm sorry if you've always been like this. I should never have brought you with us, if you've always been filled with pain and regret." Fate takes Masako's hand and puts the blade from her sword to Fate's neck. "Answer me this final question; is this the real you? Because if you are 100% sure that this is the real Masako, then I want you to take my life."

["Fate? No, no, Fate would not want you to go like this."

"What do you think your sister would say if she saw you?"

"If you kill them, you'll be just like Millie."

"...I'm sorry... I wish that nobody had to see me like this... but it's already too late for me."]

Masako's thoughts raced through her head, consuming her with regret.

"This isn't me... what am I doing?" Masako moved her blade away from Fate's neck and tossed it aside, the purple aura around her fading away. She wrapped her arms around Fate, sobbing. "I'm so sorry... I've failed as a Champion and a friend..."

Zak: You didn't fail at that. You just failed at...uh...I dunno, something. But you didn't fail at the first two, because it like the song I made 10 seconds ago for irony says, "Masako is the champion, my friend! And she'll keep on fighting, til the end! Masako is the Champion! Masako is the Champion! Cuz Millie's the loser, and Masako is the champion........Of something!"

(Just did that to be funny)

Fate shook her head. "Do you know how champions are chosen, Masako? Every guardian picks their champion differently. Elder chose you as a champion for a reason, and it was because of this reason that I knew you wouldn't kill me."

Lexi: So, she was chosen? That explains a lot.

Zak: And its a good thing she didn't kill you, because you were gonna.........

"Regardless... can you forgive me, Fate?" Masako begged, her pleading eyes looking into Fate's.

"Yes." Fate said warmly. "Now then, let's go find Millie. Leah you should stay here with Vorpa and Veela."

Leah nods.

"Thank you." Masako pulled Fate close in a hug, then let go. "Who else is staying with Leah?"

Lexi: I'll stay. I can most likely heal Vorpa, so.

Zak: I'm going with you guys!

"Doubt it." Leah told Lexi. "Vorpa's pain is from a mental scar, no one can help her but herself, and whoever has information about her pain."

Fate nodded. "Let's head out."

"Ok, lets get.." Before he could finish, his body start vibrating, and he spits out his phone.

Zak: Its Zapor. Sup dude.....yeah...woah...dang, really?......Congrats dude!...Alight, I'm gonna text Neo.

When he dropped the phone, he sent Neo a text and inhaled it.

"...Okay... right, let's go search for Millie." Masako picked up her blade, returning it to its scabbard.

Prairie walked up to Fate, ready to follow her.

Fate nodded at everyone. "Alright, lets go."

As the group traveled down the hallway, they came to something peculiar, in front of them was Celia, who was kneeling in front of Glyph, only Glyph looked different. "Please, I'm sorry...please just...don't..." Celia mumbled.

"What happened to her?" Fate asked.

Time Spinner threw his hand up, a look of determination on his face that he hadn't had in a long time. "No one move, she's under the influence of thearetan gas. She's being tricked with the worst possible thing she has ever thought of, or the best possbile thing she has ever thought of, but this doesn't sound too happy. Whatever you do, don't engage her aggressivly."

Zak: So, what do we do?

"We need to wake her up." Time Spinner said. "The best way I know how." Time put his hand up, and snapped it. As he did so, all of time stopped. He approached Celia and put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to flash a rainbow of colors, before both her and time itself returned to normal.

"...Muffins! Wait, what just happened?" Prairie asked. She obviously wasn't all there in the head.

(Compare her to Derpy. I DARE YOU, TIME SPINNER. >:D)

Zak: *looking at the rainbows* Rainbow Dash?

(I will.)

Time turned around and stared at Prairie for a second, he opened his mouth to speak, stopped, then opened it again. "You seriously remind me of a certain mailmare from back home. Anyway, Celia will be fine now. I've got her set up to return back to Leah, we need to just keep going."

Prairie tilted her head to the side in confusion, blinking twice. For a second, she almost seemed to have the exact same wall-eyed expression as the mailmare in question. "Well, I was a courier once, but what's a--"

"Wait, did you alter Celia's mind somehow?" Masako asked as she walked with Time Spinner.

Zak: *humming* We are walking on the trail of adventure!

"Just a tiny bit." Time told Masako.