(Reader's P.O.V.)

A bright light suddenly surrounds me and when I open my eyes I'm in some kind of lab. There's an explosion and ahead of me, I see Silver and someone else. It's hard to tell because of the lighting but I follow after them anyway. Two people are on the ground. One barely conscious and the other unconscious. "Seal it with this." I hear him struggle as he holds out a small scepter to the mysterious hedgehog. I step on some glass and both turn to me. My eyes widen. "Shadow?" "Who are you and how do you know my name." I must be in the past because even Silver looks at me like he's never met me before. I have to compose myself before continuing. If I'm in the past I shouldn't reveal the future. "That doesn't matter right now. Did a two-tailed fox go this way? He's incredibly dangerous. He's trying to destroy time." "Huh? I thought Mephiles was trying to do that. Are you from the future too?" "We don't have time for this. I'm sorry but I need to find him right now." Shadow grabs my arm. "Hold it, there are two others down there that are just as dangerous. I can't just let some woman go off on her own." "I'm not just some woman. I can handle myself just fine. I have to hurry or he'll get away. You two have your own monsters to catch. This one's mine." Shadow looks shocked but he lets go of my arm and nods. He seems to understand the urgency. The three of us hurry through the underwater lab fighting off lava monsters as we hurry towards our respective targets. I'm using a fallen pipe as my weapon of choice as it was the only thing I could find for defense. We split up and head in different directions. I hear the crackle of a flame and see a floating fire go down a hallway. I decide to chase after it. It reaches a dead end and it almost seems alive in some way. I realize this flame must be Iblis. So this is how we met. "It's okay Iblis, I won't hurt you." To prove my point, I place my weapon on the ground and hold my hands up in surrender. I take a few steps away from the flame. It circles around me and then floats in front of me. "I need your help. Someone dangerous is trying to destroy everything. If I don't stop him now, there'll be no future." I cup my hands around the flame. It floats up and circles around me then bobs up and down in a yes motion. "Thank you, Iblis." I pick up my pipe and Iblis follows beside me. I'll have to avoid Silver for a while. If he sees me with Iblis then he'll think I'm an enemy. I hear the sounds of footsteps and see Chance running off to the right. I hear him chuckle as he runs. Fine, I'll play hide and seek but I'm not going to lose. Chasing after Chance turns out to be pretty difficult. The only thing making it easier is that instead of attacking, the lava monsters are helping me across chasms in the lab. Finally, I reach a dead end and there in front of me Chance smirks. He doesn't seem to notice the flame beside me or he simply doesn't care. "So, how'd it feel seeing Shadow again? I can make you a deal if you'd like. You can stay here in this timeline forever and all you have to do is pretend that you never saw me." "No." "Excuse me? I'm giving you a do-over to be with your beloved." "I said no. I chose Mephiles and you're not getting away!" "M-Mephiles?! You're choosing someone who's never met you yet over someone you've known for years?! Fine then... I guess I'll just eliminate you now and in the future. You can't get in my way if you don't exist." He smirks as a large ball of dark energy forms in his hands. Iblis' flame surrounds me and suddenly takes shape. He looks like Silver except way younger and surrounded in burning flames. "You don't get to touch what's mine and Mephiles'. I'll tear you apart." A boyish voice speaks with venomous intent. The room seems to get hotter.

*A few hours earlier*

(Iblis' P.O.V.)

Run, run! Faster, faster! Freedom! But to where? Where is Mephiles? Did he run a different way? What's this way? A dead end? Someone chasing me? Nowhere to go. Exit? No exit? A (C/T) standing in front of me. "It's okay Iblis, I won't hurt you." She knows my name? She puts down her weapon and backs away from me. I like this (C/T), she knows my name. "I need your help. Someone dangerous is trying to destroy everything. If I don't stop him now, there'll be no future." She cups her hands around me. She looks sad. Don't be sad! I'll help you! "Thank you, Iblis." She smiled! She smiled! I like her! She's mine now! I'll share her with Mephiles. He'll like her too! She's leading me somewhere. She looks serious. Don't worry, I'll protect you! There's a fox in front of us. I hide in the vent. Scary, he's scary! They're talking. I can't hear what they're saying. Too far, I'm too far away! I see a hedgehog in another hallway connected to the vent. He's searching for something? I like him, his quills are funny. Wait, the fox seems more menacing. He's going to hurt her. Hey, that's mine! You can't have her! "You don't get to touch what's mine and Mephiles'. I'll tear you apart."