The moment of truth and... wait

Two days pass, Shadow and Sonic are face to face in the streets of the village square: Amy and Tails standing with Sapphire, Knuckles and Sticks standing with Rouge.

"Shadow, there's something you should know." Sonic informs

"I'd say the same to you, faker." Shadow responds, bluntly

As both start getting angry at each other, it quickly becomes clear that they never loved each other. Then…

"I never loved you from the start; our girlfriends hate the sugar-coating." Both admit, in unison

Now furious with each other, everyone moves out of the way as they start fighting; starting with spin attacking each other. After a while, they stop and shake hands; having calmed down.

"Glad to be your rival again." Sonic announces

"Same to you, faker." Shadow announces

Sapphire approaches, confused.

"So, you're still rivals?" Sapphire asks

"Yep, that never changed. We get on, but not by much; as we've both just worked out." Shadow answers

Sapphire than hugs Shadow, in happiness; kissing his cheek and holding his hand.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hated seeing you down and in your 'questioning everything' mind-set."

"I'm grateful that you're happy, babe. Also, Sonic."

"I'm listening." Sonic responds

"Sorry for putting you through that; you didn't deserve it."

"Same back to you."

Rouge then runs to Sonic, hugging him from behind.

"I'm happy you're back to normal, Blue. I love you." Rouge praises

"I love you too, Rouge."

Sapphire and Rouge quickly notice each other and start giggling, remembering their own inside joke. This confuses Shadow and Sonic.

"What's the giggling about?" Shadow asks

"Oh nothing, just an inside joke." Sapphire and Rouge respond in unison

Quickly after, the two ladies are in a fit of laughter; noticing how confused their boyfriends were.

"You two were so funny, the way you were both like 'what the actual…?!'. Priceless!" Sapphire says, somewhat complimenting

"Alright, you two need to calm down. Sapphire, you've got Charmy waiting at home." Amy informs

There is a sudden, awkward silence.

"Wait, Charmy; what's going on?" Rouge asks

"Umm… come to our place and we'll show you." Sapphire responds

Sapphire and Shadow then teleport to their house, with Rouge flying to there also; having set Sonic free. Soon after, Emerald comes into the village square with Topaz, her girlfriend. Amy notices and approaches.

"Hey there, Emmy. Good to see you again." Amy greets

"Hey, mother. How are things?" Emerald greets, asking

"Everything's alright, thanks. Yourself?"

"Life's treating me well. Do you know where Sapphire is?"

"She's just gone home with Shadow; I could take you both there if you want."

"Yes please, it'd be nice if we saw Sapphire again." Topaz responds

Amy, Emerald and Topaz walk to Sapphire's house as Tails, Sticks and Knuckles go home, and the townspeople disband. The trio arrive at Sapphire's house, for Amy to knock the door. Rouge answers, noticing Emerald and Topaz.

"Hey, you three. Come on in." Rouge greets

The trio enters, noticing Charmy in Sapphire's arms; with Emerald and Topaz getting confused.

"Mother, what's going on?" Emerald asks

"Charmy, the one Sapphire's holding, was shot by some sort of laser and turned into a toddler. We've not found a way of helping him return back to his original state. Until then, Charmy's stuck like that." Amy answers

"Have you tried magic?" Topaz asks

"We can't risk it. Since Charmy is still a child, his spirit hasn't fully matured; that's been put on hold until he's back to normal."

"Why not go to Tails? He might know what to do." Rouge suggests

"I hate to say this, but Tails is our last hope." Shadow informs, from upstairs

As if on cue, someone knocks the door. Amy answers, seeing Tails with Scourge and invites them inside. Tails then sees Charmy in Sapphire's arms, knowing what needs to be done.

"We need whatever was used to return Charmy back to normal. Then, somehow, we need to put the machine in reverse." Tails informs

"The machine is at Eggman's base. How are we meant to retrieve it?" Sapphire informs, asking

"If I can make something that'll do the opposite of what Eggman's machine did, Charmy will be back to normal. Although, the process would be much simpler with Eggman's machine."

Then, a loud noise is heard in the square and Sapphire teleports there, forgetting that she's holding Charmy still. She quickly notices the one behind the commotion, Eggman.

"Eggman, what are you doing here?" Sapphire asks, unimpressed

Eggman turns noticing Charmy in Sapphire's arms.

"Hello, Sapphire. Looks like my trap hit the wrong one." Eggman responds

"Where are you going with this?"

"I was trying to catch Sonic with the laser, obviously not knowing that the bee was curious."

"Right, before you ramble on more, use what was used to do this and return Charmy back to his original state. Also, you're not getting Sonic; not on my watch!"

"What about if I don't do as I'm told?"

"I'll make sure that Eggmobile of yours is nothing more than scrap metal, Eggman. I'll also throw in your techy lair for effect. Now, I'm guessing you don't want that. So, do as I've instructed; or I keep to my word."

Eggman blatantly refuses to follow the instruction. Then, Shadow appears, taking Charmy off Sapphire's hands; aware of what's happening next. Shadow teleports home as Eggman sends his bots to attack Sapphire. Sapphire is quick to fight back, defeating Eggman's bots and holding a Chaos Spear, ready.

"You won't win, not with those things. Now that Charmy's at home, your Eggmobile is gonna be scrap, along with everything inside your lair. You're not stopping me."

After making the Eggmobile unusable, Sapphire teleports to inside Eggman's lair and begins destroying all of Eggman's tech and furniture. After completing her work, she teleports back home, exhausted. Shadow notices wounds on Sapphire's arms and soot on her face.

"What happened?" Shadow asks, concerned

"I kept to my word and destroyed everything in Eggman's lair; I'm exhausted..." Sapphire answers

"Wait, everything?!" Amy asks

"Yes, everything including his furniture."

"I knew this would happen. I'll build a machine to return Charmy back to normal. See you guys around." Tails informs, bluntly

Tails then teleports to his workshop as Rouge is stuck, not knowing how to help or take the situation. Sapphire lowers her ears, suddenly realising the trouble she's put her friends in. Shadow notices, hugging Sapphire.

"I'm sorry to put you all through this." Sapphire says, bluntly

'Am I even a friend; let alone girlfriend?' Sapphire thinks, starting to cry

"Sapphire, are you alright?" Amy asks

"I could be better, to be honest."

Then, Amy, Scourge and Rouge join the hug.

"Sapphie, you're still our friend; that'll never change." Scourge assures

"I don't get how; this is by far the worst thing I've ever done."

"This is only one part of you, we won't focus on one part and leave you because of one thing. We love and accept you, regardless of your flaws. You're beautiful, smart, and unique. Sonic wouldn't ditch you either. Yeah, he and Eggman are sworn enemies, but he's been waiting for the day where he doesn't need to fight him." Rouge says

"Plus, I'll never stop loving you, babe. You've always been there for me, through the darkest hours, external fights and everything in between." Shadow comforts

The group then separates, with Sapphire wiping her sooty tears away and using magic to clean herself up, sanitising the open wounds. This further exhausts her and she decides on going to bed. As for Sonic, he's walking around the square and notices Eggman, grounded.

"Hey, Eggface. What's with you?" Sonic asks, unimpressed

"Sapphire happened. Your friend destroyed the bots, fried the engine and may have already destroyed everything in my lair." Eggman answers

"Why did she do that?"

"Why don't you ask her? Sapphire did it."

"All I know is, this isn't like her. Catch you later, Eggman."

Sonic then races to Sapphire's house and knocks on the door, for Rouge to answer.

"Hey, is Sapphire in?" Sonic greets, asking

"Yes, she's just gone to bed. Come in, it's cold out for some reason." Shadow responds, bluntly

Sonic enters and Rouge closes the door behind him. Sonic quickly notices Emerald and Topaz.

"Hey, girls. Long time no see." Sonic greets

"Hey there, cousin. How's life here?" Emerald greets, asking

"Life's... okay here I suppose. I miss Sonia and Manic though."

"I do as well, it's a shame that they're living in New York. I'd love to see my other cousins once more..."

Emerald lowers her ears as Topaz puts her arm around Emerald's shoulders.

"On a different note, how's Muriel?" Shadow asks

"She's an absolute saint; you wouldn't believe this, but she's got her wings and is starting to fly." Topaz answers

"Really? That's amazing!"

"Yes, if Muriel wasn't so agile and getting better with her wings; very quickly, might I add. Her on-foot agility is incredible, along with her speed and smart mind. Muriel's more like Emerald than me."

"Baby, you're pretty agile and fast yourself. You're also just as smart. So, those things don't just come from me." Emerald responds, nuzzling into Topaz's cheek

"You're tired, babe. I know that nuzzling anytime."

"How do you know that Emerald's tired?" Shadow asks

"She starts by nuzzling the cheek that's closest to her. After a while, Emerald takes my hand and leans on my shoulder. Those are the things Emerald does when she's tired and wants sleep."

"Why won't Emerald just use words?" Sonic asks

"I find it embarrassing and don't like saying when I'm tired. So, sensory cues work best."

"Okay, different but I'm not one to judge."

Soon after, Emerald takes Topaz's hand and leans on her shoulder; intermittently falling in and out of comatose. Shadow notices.

"I think it's time you both headed home. You both need sleep." Rouge advises

"You're right, Rouge. We'll see you all again soon." Topaz responds

"Goodbye for now, girls."

Emerald and Topaz leave for home as everyone else decides to do the same. After a short while, everyone has gone home, and Shadow goes upstairs to bed. As for Sonic, he's going home as he bumps into Lucinda's ex-boyfriend en route.

"What do you want?" Sonic asks, unimpressed

"Where's Scourge?" Lucinda's ex-boyfriend asks

"Why, so you can hurt him like I've wanted to in the past? I don't think so; wait, you should be sealed up still!"

"What's it to you? I won't touch Sapphire; she's had what she deserved. I'm after Scourge and you look like you're close to his girlfriend. Tell me where Scourge is, and no-one gets hurt."

"Over my dead body, creep!"

As this is said, Sonic's magic teleports him home and he's in front of Rouge.

"Babe, are you alright?" Rouge asks

"Scourge is in more danger. Lucinda's ex won't stop searching and lurking around until Scourge is in his clutches; that includes Amy too." Sonic answers

Rouge is soon wide-eyed and concerned for both Scourge and Amy.

"Right, for now, we need to get some rest; we can't help our friends low on energy. We'll start helping them out tomorrow."

Sonic nods and goes to bed as Rouge sits down with a pencil and pieces of paper, writing down ideas about how to help Amy and Scourge. Morning arrives and Sonic comes downstairs, half-awake as he notices Rouge, fast sleep on the couch with pieces of paper scattered around her; both flat and screwed up. Then, the door is knocked. Sonic answers to see Sapphire at the door with Shadow, Tails, Amy, Scourge, Knuckles, Sally, Lucinda and Blaze.

"Hey, we're here to see how Rouge is holding up." Sapphire informs

"Tired and stressed, since finding out about Lucinda's ex." Sonic answers, turning to Rouge

"We all thought you both could use help dealing with that douche." Blaze responds

"He's found a way to escape his seal, and we're going to get him back where he belongs." Lucinda responds

"Where was he sealed up?" Scourge asks, concerned

"Mephiles' former seal, why?" Sapphire answers

"The ones guarding that seal are so gullible; gullible enough to believe anything that douche says to get out." Another voice says

The group then turn to the kitchen and notice Mephiles floating in the kitchen.

"What're you doing here?" Sonic asks

"Silver sensed something wrong with you guys and told me to find out what's going on; he'll be here in a few hours."

"Why in a few hours?"

"He's being held up by some thugs holding him as ransom."

"And why is this happening?" Sapphire asks, unimpressed

"I don't know why they're using Silver as ransom; the only thing I know is he's been hurt trying to get them out of town."

"Right, take me to where Silver is, and I'll resolve the situation; my way."

"Sapphire, are you sure this is the right way to resolve the situation?" Lucinda asks

"Silver, my friend, is being held as ransom by some thugs. I can't just stay here and let him get hurt further."

"I understand that, but you need to think, rationally; is your way of resolving issues, using your powers, plausible in this situation, let alone going to resolve the issue on your own?"

"Okay, Lucinda, you're right. But something needs to be done to bring Silver to safety."

"Babe, that's true, but there are other ways to resolve this. Going in alone is too risky; these thugs are violent." Shadow adds on

"Okay, I have an idea. You guys, stay here; I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

Soon after, Sapphire locates Silver and teleports to where he is, to catch the attention of the thugs and Lucinda's ex.

"Well, if it isn't Sapphire; here to save the day." Lucinda's ex says

"What do you want with Silver?" Sapphire asks

"He has information on Scourge's whereabouts but won't say where he is."

"Because I don't know who Scourge is, or where he is." Silver responds, getting hit quickly after

"Silver is telling the truth; he's never met Scourge." Sapphire says, defending Silver

"Umm, boss. If Silver doesn't know who Scourge is, how are we gonna get info from him?" One of the thugs asks

"We'll have to let him go and keep looking; no rest until Scourge is in our clutches!" Lucinda's ex responds

Without further discussion, Silver is set free and Lucinda's ex and the thugs leave the house. Silver then looks at Sapphire, concerned.

"Miss Hawthorne, what's going on?" Silver asks, concerned and unimpressed

"Scourge is Amy's boyfriend; he and anyone close to him are in danger." Sapphire responds

"I don't even know this Scourge individual. So, why did they involve me?"

"That, I'm not entirely sure of. Nonetheless, we need to get to Rouge's house."

Soon after, the two friends teleport to Rouge's lounge, rousing everyone else's attention.

"What is going on?" Rouge asks, tired and unimpressed

"Those crooks are still after Scourge. They doing everything in their power to get him in their clutches; they even captured Silver, assuming that he knew who Scourge was." Sapphire answers

"We need to plan out what we're gonna do next; our friends are in serious danger." Sonic responds

Knowing the huge task ahead of them, they start planning out ways to help Scourge and Amy. To be continued…