SAF: Hey everyone... I'm sorry. I know I always say this but Life's been crazy and I really neglected you're love and time...Well... I hope to make it up to you with this story. Although I had been gone for...years... I was reading all sorts of stories, gathering all sorts of inspiration and now... I believe I have something worthy of your reviews.

This was inspired by: thekyuubivixen in their series of "Reality Breach" as well as Fullmetal 224 and their story "Super Sonic Trouble". I want to say thank you for all of my Faithful and AMAZING READERS! I know this is greatly different from how I used to write... but I'm older now... So I think it's time Sonic went through a little more...did I say that out loud?

Anyway, I hope to tie in all three of my stories together here. ( yes three... although they all don't make sense and only one of them has an actual ending, this is the fourth to the series technically...I know... My stories should've been better...lol)

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SONIC THE HEDGEHOG NOR THE FRANCHISE (BUT S.E IS MY OWN CHARACTER)!

TIP: The italicized and underlined words represent references to my previous works. Everything else should be self-evident within the context.

The figure, covered in warm, cream colored, bed sheets, shifted its position, curling further in on itself.

It was too bright….

A sniffle resounded throughout the room as the figure cuddled into the bed further.

We all know a few things to be true...

Sonic was staring Shadow in the eyes...

Another shift in the bed. Part of the cover that had been concealing the figure slid off of the beings head, revealing a blue ear and chut eyelids. The slumbering being furrowed his brow.

The sky shown no sign of growing any brighter than the dull grey it was…

There was more shifting. The blue hedgehog made strange noises, almost as if he was struggling. The cover received the brunt of the hate as the hedgehog was trying to remove himself from it.

It was a nightmare

Faster struggling now. Gasping, and panting emitted from the hedgehog who seemed more restless. Confusing flashing images ran through his mind, mixing uncomfortably with the sensation he had received from the warmth.

How was he supposed to know that something like that was going to happen?

An anguished yell surged through the hedgehog before Sonic opened his eyes to the room he was in. The messy socks that littered the floor in front of his closet, as well as the sight of him and his friends on his dresser and the quiet chirping of birds outside his window only four feet away meant one thing.

He was in his bedroom. Still breathing frantically, Sonic began to try and calm himself though he was unsure as to why he had been panicking in the first place. The blur's right hand groggily rubbed at his temple, trying but failing to soothe the owner's concerns. Whatever he had dreamed must have been something serious… Sonic inhaled and exhaled a deep breath through his mouth as the thought felt wrong to him.

What he had dreamed? Was…was whatever he had been thinking over… was all that apart of a dream? For some reason, Sonic was getting the feeling that those thoughts weren't right… Trying to take another breath alerted the hedgehog to another set of problems...

Runny nose…

Nausea…

And ear aches…

Was he sick? Sonic shifted to the edge of the bed, placing his socked feet onto the cool floor. When did he get sick?

"I'm going for a run Tails!"

The thought brushed past his senses as the memory of the feeling of rain falling on to his fur brought back the events from yesterday. Suddenly, Sonic's door was swung open as his little brother rushed inside. "Sonic?!" Tails called out worriedly before he spotted his brother who was gingerly cradling his left ear. It took the other a second to face him but Tails understood once he did. The kit just knew he shouldn't have allowed Sonic to go for a run last night. There was a rosy pink glow on the other's cheeks and the dazed expression was more than enough evidence that his brother was sick. Tails sighed. "I should've made you stay." the fox muttered with a warm smile.

Seeing his brother, for some reason, felt relieving to Sonic as he sniffed. For some strange reason his vision was getting...blurry? "Ar-Are you okay?" Tails asked a little gentler this time, earning a confused stare from the other. The kit sat on the bed and partially smiled at his brother, concern more prominent on his features as he said, "Going to the doctor isn't going to be bad, Sonic...It's going to be okay." The hero blinked, a little bewildered by his brother's words before he felt the tears running down his face. Tails watched his brother sniff and rub at his eyes seeming to be a little surprised at himself. The kit was beginning to feel guilty about having his brother go to the doctor seeing as he felt so uneasy about it he was crying.

Sonic sniffed again and chuckled. "I'm...I'm fine Tails. I just had a...strange… dream…" The kit smirked a little more. "Oh...well then...What was your dream about?" The blur looked away and rubbed at his eyes once more before sniffing. Sonic turned to his brother and laughed once again before saying, "I don't really remember."

Much to his dismay, Tails preferred that they walked the short distance to the city. Well, to be completely honest, the fox had compromised. Tails had originally suggested they take a bus or a sub station but, after getting his brother to agree to take things easy, he settled for walking. However, right now he was regretting that choice. Sonic hadn't looked to well when he had woken up but his brother was likely becoming worse. The hedgehog's cheeks remained pink and, asides from the out-of-breath pant, he was sweating slightly. They needed to get Sonic checked out… otherwise they may have to go to a hospital. The sight of a bus stop sign a few feet ahead of them quickly solved all of Tails concerns. "Why are you walking that...way?" Sonic asked, eyeing his little brother curiously. "Sonic we're going to need to take the bus." "What? But we already been through this. You said-" "I know, but you're looking worse. I don't think we'll need to go to a simple doctor with the way you're starting to look." The kit replied. His brother eyed him somewhat defeatedly giving the bus sign and bench a long glare. "Let's just ride the rest of the way," Sonic's eyes shifted back to his brother, a pout growing on his features. "I'll make it up to you by buying you a chili dog, okay?"

"I'll make sure you'll never see a chili-dog for a whole month!"

Sonic blinked rapidly, feeling nauseous, before he nodded. The two walked over to the bus stop bench and took a seat but it was clear one of them was anxious. What was he thinking of? "Didn't you say," Sonic began, "that I wouldn't see a chili-dog for a whole month?" The hedgehog focused on the dirty paved road in front of them rather than his brother who was looking over at him now. "Well I did…. but that was only if you refused on going. You're here now." Tails replied watching Sonic carefully. The blur placed his right hand up to his head as he squinted his eyes in pain.

"Tails... Why are you so mad?" "ME? Mad?" The kit stressed looking up to the hero a few feet in front of him. "I have nothing to be mad about. I have a loving, caring, LYING older brother around! Everything is fine!" The kit shouted in half hurt.

A gentle rub on his back made Sonic look up at his brother. "The bus is almost here, it won't be long now, okay?" Tails said. Sonic nodded feeling oddly out of character. The blur sat up straight and stretched his arms. So what if he recalled bits and pieces of his... dream? That didn't mean anything was wrong and that didn't mean he should start worrying.

'But it does…' The little voice at the back of Sonic's head made the blur sniffle with shock just as the bus pulled up right in front of them. The duo swiftly boarded the bus and were once again headed towards the city.

ON ANGEL ISLAND

The warm breeze was welcoming as the echidna sat down in front of the Master Emerald. For most people a routine so simple as to his would be annoying however, for Knuckles, it was calming. He'd dedicated his life to the protection of the master emerald. The echidna chuckled as he recalled the moment where Chao emerged. It almost gave him a sense of purpose knowing that he was protecting the world from multiple evils.

The master emerald pulsed slightly and the sitting protector turned to face it. "I am! I'm protecting you, what's inside of you as well as everyone who wants to use you." There wasn't any reaction to Knuckles' outburst but the guardian turned around and frowned regardless. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to gather the last three emeralds so we'll be completely secure." There was silence again as Knuckles rose back to his feet and crossed his arms. There was something…. wrong. The guardian furrowed his brow as he scanned his surroundings before looking back at the emerald.

The glimmering green emerald was beginning to glow. Knuckles began to survey the rock with a growing discomfort. "Wait-wait," the guardian said as he looked from the rock to the ground trying to sort the information out. "What do you mean?" He muttered before he stared back at the emerald.

"What's wrong with Sonic?"