❝𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝. ❞

Mr.Doctor Eggman hums as he watches Babble and Don't clear out the way from the broken shards floating in shutterspace in the mothership.

He turns away in his floating seat and looks towards the shard pieces he has captive, powering the whole ship. Then his eyes landed on the fox typing away on a control panel and the human sitting leaning over it, eyes closed.

He turns away, "Mothership, play audiobook."

"Playing the Art of World Domination." It acknowledges his comment.

You and Nine glance at each other.

"Chapter One. Posture matters."

Eggman presses his fingers with each other with a satisfying smile and leans back.

Nine shook his head with a smirk and scoffs.

Hearing his mocking scoff Eggman quickly stopped the audiobook and faced him with a glare. "Mothership, stop the audiobook!" It turns off.

He glances at Nine, "Smirk while you can, rat."

"Soon the Chaos Council will have a third Shard in our grasp. Pray we still require your assistance when that happens."

Nine smiled confidently, "As long as Sonic is out there, you'll need all the help you can get." He went back to typing casually.

"Zip it! The only noise I want to hear is the sound of you upgrading the shatterdrive to contain more prism energy!" Ship rumbles and jolts, causing Eggman to fall out of his seat. His toupee falls off as he reaches out and grabs it from the ground.

You and Nine glanced at each other with raised brows, unbothered.

Eggman gots up, "Oh, for the love of-" He turns to you two, "Don't get any funny ideas." He warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it!" Nine remarked back.

"Outwitted by a fox. It's really amazing to watch you work, Nine." You hummed as you watched Eggman leave.

Nine glanced at you, "You know... I think I like you better now. Don't get it wrong. What I mean is, You are getting the hang of your powers and all... and that emotionless stunt you are pulling is... something I don't think I wanna get too used to... but getting to know you more... I understand that, not all hum- You are a good company to have around." He quickly corrected himself.

You looked up towards Nine, "Was that a compliment?"

He glanced back at his work, "Don't get used to it."

"Then I'll savor every moment of it."

You saw a smile appear on his lips and copied it, trying it for yourself, but alas you still felt nothing, as if the only thing you have in your heart was a deep dark void of nothingness. You wondered what he felt at that moment? Was he happy? Why would he be happy? Satisfied? Peaceful? Delighted? Yeah no. All these words were not the emotions no one would feel in this current situation. So why would he be happy? But it didn't look like his usual quick or sarcastic smiles he pulled off. It was hard to understand stuff when you feel nothing, you can't make empathy. Even though you lived all your life sharing that. It was one of the difficult things to explain for yourself.

You glanced down, "Hey, I... am having weird feelings right now. Well, you know. Sensing my soul, essence is the only thing I can feel when I am like this so... feel like something is wrong...? I can't quite tell..." You blurted out.

Nine continue typing away, "I am sure it's alright. But to make sure. We can check on Sonic..."

Nine reaches out for his communicator, "Nine to Sonic, can you hear me?" He calls out.

There was no answer. Nine frowns, quickly throwing his casual demeanor away, "Nine to Sonic, Can you hear me?!" No answer once again. Nine's frowns deepen.

You glanced away, "Do you think... Can an essence get hurt?"

Nine glance at you, a bit worried because of your question and no answer from Sonic. He closed his communicator off. "I am not too sure right now. But you better not try to get hurt outside of other worlds. If you die you might stay like this forever, stuck here. No indifference than other heartless robots."

You raised your brows, "Wow, Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. You are really good at lightening the mood."

He glanced away, muttering a quick apology.

Your eyes open, glowing a bright white, and you frown angrily. You clashed Dread's sword outta his hands as it flew off somewhere. You step in front of Sonic raising your sword with a serious face, no glare, no anger. "If you take Sonic for the bad guy then know me also your appointment. You want the shard? You gotta get to us first." You point your sword towards his throat. The others raised their swords at you.

Dread growled, his hands hovering in front of him in defense. There was a glint in his eyes that seemed impressed.

Sonic grabbed your shoulder, still wants to reason with them, "Dread, what are you doing? This wasn't part of the plan!" he said.

Dread shakes his head and glares at Sonic. "The plan's changed when you deserted us."

Dread stealed Sails sword before he could protest he went to attack with a yell. Sonic panics before he can stop you, you spring forward. You two clashed swords, he pushed you away, you quickly swung your sword back. "Touch him and you're dead." You threatened with a dead serious face, you weren't joking around anymore. You were tired standing on the sidelines.

"That is me beauty. And I'll get what I want!" Dread glares with a growl. You pushed him away and went for another attack only to meet with a sword pointed right at your throat. You looked up to see Batten. You sighed stepping back.

Sonic looks at Dread in disbelief and you in a mixture of pride and shock. "Deserted you? Wait, is that why you're all so mad? Dread, tell them! I was coming right back."

"Yeah, I might know Sonic and trust whatever he does always has a reason behind it but if I was in your place I would at least ask more questions before just blindly following orders around!" You added harshly. A little smile appeared on Sonic's face with your words.

Sails muttered, "Well, we're not you. And we follow orders, we don't question our capt'n." He puffed his chest up, a little more confident.

"Yeah. I've seen my point being proven even more. You guys might have grown up to believe that but I did not." You glared while Sails glanced away.

"Not how it looked to us." Black Rose glared, pointing a gun at him.

You shake your head.

"You know what? That stings." Sonic frowned. "Especially since I'm standing right here, proving that I did come back!"

"He makes a good point." Batten said.

"See? What you guys really need is a bit more questioning. And you'll see more clearly. Like still and clear water." You pointed out, "Also a new captain is a need." You glared at Dread while he did the same.

"Look, I'm not a traitor, but right now, me and Y/n need to take this shard and get- Hey!"

Dread cuts Sonic off and jumps over, trying to slam Sails' sword onto him when he zooms away.

"More lies!" Dread glared.

"Rather your lies that you are trying to inflict on us?" You glared back, kicking him away. "I am tired of this. Why am I even trying to reason with you all?"

Sonic dodges the crew's hits.

"Respect. My. Boundaries!"

He stops by the door of the tower as you land beside him.

"I expected Dread to take this hard, but what's with the rest of you?"

"You're a lousy traitor who abandoned your crew in battle!" Sails accused.

"Okay. That's it. They choose their path. And I choose mine." You gripped your sword. "I don't care if you guys look like our friends I'll—" Before you can continue Sonic rested his hand on your shoulder stopping you. Even that told you so much without looking at his face. He just rested his hand there.

You glance at him. And the moment your eyes met with his emerald green eyes, seeing through his feelings, pain, struggles and his mind... you stop. You take a deep breath. So be it Sonic. Let's continue doing this your way. You slid your sword back its sheath. You knew how hard it was to get someone to think differently when they set their mind to something. Even though you knew it was pointless to do this, the value you placed on Sonic greatly prevented you from going against his wishes. At least for now.

Sonic tried once again, "Dread told me to get the Shard, and he w-" Sonic started.

"He's lying!"

Dread jumps over his crew and lands in front of you, pointing his sword out.

"Now give me the treasure," he demanded.

You glared and Sonic stands in front of you. He glanced at you and sent a wink, confusing you.

"Well, when you put it that way." he said, holding up the blue shard to him.

Dread was surprised at this and went to take it when he did something unexpected. He holds up the shard with her finger like a basketball and blows a raspberry. He jumps overboard and surfs away with it. Dread and the crew stares in shock that he just did that.

"Hey, cheesecake, how about doing that trick you pulled when we first landed here again?" he yelled at you.

You snorted, he was still able to manage to make you laugh after all that. You sprint and jump overboard, "Of course!" Sails ran after you and looked down overboard in panic. Only to can't find you nowhere.

Dread shakes his head and glares. "After them! Get this bucket of bolts in the air!" he ordered.

"This ship can move, but is too damaged to fly, captain." Rusty explained.

"Until she can do the repairs." Black Rose finished.

"Argh. Prepare the crew. We're taking this thing down." Dread growled.

Sonic ran across the water. He holds the shard close to himself but it slips causing him to panic and try to catch it again, thankfully he doesn't drop it.

"Ah! I'll never hit top speed juggling this thing around!"

He glanced around. Small islands stand ahead of him. He skidded to a stop.

"All this water, it's just not natural."

Sonic spoke, "I always feel like something's gonna come up out of the darkness and-"

He heard a noise and looked down.

"What is that?" he asked.

The Kraken bursts through the surface, sending Sonic flying through the air. He falls on the water and he starts to run again. He made it to the small island and hid behind the palm trees as the Kraken floated. He heard a voice coming from his regulator.

"Nine to Sonic! Are you there?" Nine called.

"Nine??" Sonic answered back.

Nine breath out a relieved sigh, he then replied annoyed, "Finally. Tell me you have the Shard."

"You know it! Now we gotta get this baby to the void." Sonic said.

"What are you waiting for? You have to hurry. The mothership has been stalled somehow, but it's on its way!" Nine said, sounding worried and in a hurry.

Your voice comes from Nine's side, "I have a feeling it might be someone we know. What do you think, Sonic?" Sonic frowns with how your voice comes out lifeless and colorless.

"Y/n? You are with Nine all of a sudden?"

"We still need explaining to do, it seems." You muttered. "To briefly explain, it seems I got a new power, thanks to the prism? I can split myself in two? My other version is kinda spiritual so it can disappear and reappear. It uses you like a light in the dark. Like a moth to a flame. You get it? And 'me', I am the shell of the turtle. I am the home for my other self."

Sonic shook his head, "Right. Never be able to understand your weird perceptions and statements."

"Anyway. I'll explain that to you later. Back to the topic please." Nine huffed holding the bridge of his nose.

Sonic laughed nervously, "Haha, I'm trying, but I've got a bit of a pirate problem at the moment." Sonic nervously looks over at the Kraken.

"We find me treasure or ye all be walking the plank!" Dread threatened, standing on top of the sphere.

Batten and Sails go to the cannons and readies them.

"Ugh, Dread's really losing it." Sonic rolled his eyes. "And where is my Y/n disappeared to?"

"Forget the pirates. Our reality is at stake. Stay on mission." Nine reminded him.

"Copy that, stay on mission." Sonic nodded.

A shot destroys the palm tree where Sonic is hiding. He looks back to see the one shot it was Catfish.

Catfish flinches in shock and horror that he almost hit Sonic.

"You too, Catfish?" Sonic said in betrayal.

Catfish's ears droop down, knowing he won't continue Froggy takes control of his cannon and starts shooting. Sonic runs away off the island. Catfish flinches at every shot Froggy makes, raising his hand in his own view so he can't see if he shot Sonic.

Sonic goes around rocks and the Kraken chases him.

"You'll never escape with me treasure!" Dread shouted.

"Open fire!" Black Rose shouted.

Batten and Sails fire at Sonic who dodges as he runs and picks up speed. "This totally seemed like it was going to be easy." Sonic muttered.

"Get the Shard and run fast, which I'm awesome at-"

"Who are you talking to?!"

"Gyah!" Sonic yelped, nearly dropping the shard.

Shadow appears in a blur. Sonic's face dropped.

"I can see you have the Shard. Run faster and get out of there!"

"Turns out it's hard to get up to full speed on water. Even with these kicks." Sonic said as he went around rocks again.

"Not to mention having pirates blasting at you!" Sonic continued running away.

"Then go where they can't blast you." Shadow said.

"I need solid ground. And I know just where to get it!" Sonic grinned. "By the time that ship gets here, I'll be a blip on the horizon!"

"What was that about a blip?" Shadow asked unamused.

Sonic turns to see Rusty pointing a pink laser at him with her right robot eye.

"Target acquired. Missiles locked."

"You've been nicked, me hearty. And I'm coming for ye." Dread grinned.

A missile fired towards him. Sonic gulps and ducks as it passes just over his nose. Sonic continues to run and the missile hits an island. Batten fires again and the hedgehog dodges every blast.

"You guys are gonna feel really bad about this later when you think back and remember how awful you were treating me, when I'm only trying to help!" Sonic said frantically.

"Fire!" Dread ordered, pointing his sword ahead.

More missiles fired from the Kraken.

"Let's just say I'm glad I'm not you guys. That guilt's going to be unbearable!" Sonic jumps over the missiles as it blows up an island, sending him flying. Sonic yells along the way as he struggles to maintain his rip on the shard. He later bounced on the water.

"Close one." Sonic gasped. He looks under his legs and yelps as more missiles fire his way. He immediately fled.

"Argh, hold still, you slippery eel!" Dread growled.

"The missiles are locked to Sonic's energy signature, captain. He won't be able to outrun them for long." Rusty explained.

The missiles bear down on Sonic. He moves side to side, but the missiles keep following his move.

"Why does everything have to be so difficult?!" Sonic exclaimed in frustration. He ran around the island and back to the Kraken and the missiles followed.

"Fire again!" Dread ordered with a smirk.

More missiles fly out of the Kraken towards Sonic.

"Uh-oh!"

Sonic jumped at the last second to wait the impact as the missiles hit each other, creating a big explosion, he flew in the air yelling, struggling to catch the shard, he thankfully got a hold of it. But Dread and the crew are not so lucky as the explosion throws them back. Sonic lands on the surface of water once again and catches a good grip on the shard.

"Oh, yeah!" Sonic cheered, then ran away again.

On the Kraken, everyone stands after the explosion as Dread gets up and places his hat back on.

"Arr! That blue treasure thief will pay for this!" Dread growled.

He jumped down and ordered his crew to go after him and get his treasure even if it kills them, much to their shock and concern.

Sonic ran around the rocks, leading to the mountain where the Devil's Lighthouse was previously held with the Kraken following behind him on water. Three missiles speed after Sonic. He flips away from them.

"Not even close!" he teased.

The missiles hit a sharp rock peak, breaking it as it falls in his way.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" He tries to avoid the falling debris. But he couldn't avoid the peak. He slammed face flat on it, losing the hold of the shard as it flew out of his hands.

"Oh, no." Sonic frowned in panic.

Rusty's hand grabs it and pulls it in. Dread quickly takes it from her and grins greedily.

"At last."

Catfish, Batten, and Sails stare at him. Sonic glares and jumps to a rock and leaps onto the Kraken. Dread looks at him.

Sonic glanced next to himself when he saw a sword pointed at Dread, he smiled to see you but that quickly wiped away when he glanced back at Dread, "Nice to see you finally able to keep up."

"It's hard to follow you around and keep up a physical appearance at once, blueberry. You gotta give me credit on this one." You huffed out.

Sonic acknowledges your words and starts to talk with Dread, "I'll only ask this once. Give me back the Shard." Sonic said, holding out a hand. "Or, I'll give my permission to let my Y/n do whatever she wants with you. Which wouldn't be pleasant, I tell ya. I saw her fight once. She gets even scarier than Amy when she is angry."

"You'll have to do more than ask or threaten me." Dread said, jumping down from the tower. "If ye want the Shard you'll have to—" Dread's sword glows blue just as the blue shard glows and he zaps at Sonic. Your eyes shined as you jumped in front of Sonic, easily sucking every bit of power he sent your way.

"Fight for it?" Sonic finished.

Dread glares. "Bring it on."

Sonic holds up his fists and you raise your sword. The Roses and the rest of the crew watch. Suddenly, an explosion throws them. Dread drops the shard.

"No!" he gasped.

It falls on the deck as everyone stands up.

"What was that?" Sails asked.

"Captain! We're hit!" Batten warned and pointed.

The Yolkomotive pulls up beside them.

"No need to fight, boys." Deep said, holding out his swords while the Eggforcers readied their blasters. "The Shard is mine. Destroy them all, every one of them!"

Eggforcers jump onto the Kraken deck. One of them picks up the Shard. Sonic hits it with his spin dash and catches the shard.

"Ha-ha!"

Dread punches him away and takes back the shard.

"Aye."

The Shard powers his sword to zap an Eggforcer apart. The debrief knocks the shard from Dread's hand to an Eggforcer who