T.T I hate stupid computers and their stupid computer problems. .

Believe it or not, I didn't have much trouble writing this or the sequel. It was just the issues with internet, computer, email, the school, and all that stupid stuff that gets in the way.

My greatest, most sincere, quite necessary thanks to all my readers, and, especially, all of my reviewers:

~amethystuchiha

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~SonicXfan1

~TheAmethystAquamarine

~Sam Brody or Moon Princess

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~tails23

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~Mable

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~Forever'nAlways

~toolazytothinkoforiginalname

~Robyn. K. Prower

~Creatively Common

~Knouge4Ever

You are all beyond incredibly amazing and fantastic, and I dedicate this to you~~!


Epilogue

"Did you find him?" Metal's voice reverbrated in my ears not even a moment after I entered the room. Behind me, the doors slid closed, leaving the room in darkness. The only light came from the glow of Metal Sonic's eyes.

I skated across the room, away from the robot, toward the old base's supercomputer. I had no trouble finding the switch to the computer's power; I was accustomed to finding my way in the dark. The power cut on, and the screen grew bright with an electric green flash. The green left an unsettling feeling inside of me.

"Did you find him?" The robotic hedgehog had seemed to feel the need to repeat himself. And I determined that he would most likely continue to feel that need until he got an answer.

So, simply, not looking away from the enormous computer screen, I said, "Yes." I hoped that Metal would be satisfied with that. So, naturally, he wasn't.

"Did you return it?"

I stiffened at his question. Did I return it? I tightened my grip around the green emerald shard. It felt just like any other stone in my hand. Just a useless gem. Perhaps worth some money... In my hand...

But not in... his.

The robot's artificial eyes glared at me. "You did not return it?"

I raised the emerald and stared at it. I'd never felt so useless before. I was the Ultimate Lifeform. Why, then, was it that I could not control such a small piece of the Master Emerald when that echidna so easily controlled the entire thing? ... Why did I care so much, anyway? I wasn't sure. But all I could think of was how dead the emerald looked in my hand... And how alive it seemed to be in his.

And an image of him on the ARK, angry yet calm, powerful, able to reclaim order, to level Chaos, with just a few words...

Metal Sonic's voice sliced through my thoughts, reminding me of the robot's prescence. "He fascinates you."

Instantly, my head snapped up to face the robot, who had apparently moved close to the computer while I was lost in my thoughts. I asked as if I didn't know, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"The echidna." Metal's eyes blinked, feigning innocence. "You are intrigued by him."

Hmph. The robot most definitely did not appear innocent, in any sense of the word. I narrowed my eyes. "What are you attempting to imply?"

Metal Sonic turned away, a strange, morbid sense of satisfaction emanating from his face, though his features remained stoic. His metallic fingers tapped on the computer controls, making the screen transition into the computer's database. Eyes on the screen, he stated carefully, "Nothing. I agree that he is a subject worthy of interest."

I considered the words for a moment. What did he mean?

Metal was flipping through hundreds of files on the computer when he asked blankly, "Have you ever heard of any creature without parentage?"

My eyes flickered to the screen. "Any form of parentage, no."

"Precisely." The robot continued to look through files, apparently searching for a specific file. I watched as he scanned the screen with ease, swiftly determining the files he didn't wish to see. I gave up on trying to read the names of the documents: they were visible only for a split second before Metal negated the contents.

Finally, Metal Sonic paused during a scan. I glanced at the screen.

...What the... "What is it?"

He stared at the screen thoughtfully but didn't say a thing.

My eyes were caught on the second word at the top, in large, red letters.

There's... no... way...


Short? Of course it is. D: But what does that file say? D:

"Unforgivable" is the title to the sequel, and why it's called that will all make sense quite quickly, I think. Look for it if you wish! :) The first chapter is posted already.