The realm of water sprawls about. The air is thick with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the gentle sound of flowing water.

Calder stood by the grand fountain at the temple's garden center. His demeanor is calm and welcoming, yet there's a hint of something mysterious in his eyes.

Sonic, having admired the scenery, was impressed by the grandeur of the garden.

Amy looks around wide-eyed, captivated by the exotic plants and the magical atmosphere. She turned to Sonic with a smile. "This place is amazing, Sonic! It's like something out of a dream."

Cream playing tag with Cheese, having followed along, gazed at the colorful fish swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the fountain. "It's so fun here," she says softly.

Rouge examines the surroundings discerningly, her sharp intuitions picking up on subtle details. She looked sideways at Knuckles and Espio, who were visibly uneasy.

Knuckles shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the garden. He clenched his fists, his wariness evident. "Something doesn't feel right here."

Espio, who had been silently observing, finally breaks his silence. "I'd like to explore a bit more," he announces, trying to keep his tone casual, though his eyes betray his concern.

Calder's eyes narrow slightly as he regards Espio with a knowing look. "Of course, you're free to explore," he says smoothly, his voice carrying an almost invisible edge. "But do be careful. Eden has its ways of changing ."

Espio nods, but as he takes a step forward, a subtle ripple in the air causes the water around them to shimmer. Calder's gaze sharpens.

Catching the shift in Calder's demeanor, Espio's senses went on high alert. "Actually," he says, trying to sound nonchalant, "Maybe it's best if we stay together for now."

Calder's expression softens, his smile returning, though his eyes remain unreadable. "Very well. I wouldn't want any of my guests to be lost. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Knuckles sidles up to Espio, lowering his voice. "I don't like this. We need to find a way out of here."

Espio nods subtly, acknowledging Knuckles' concern. "Been looking at it for the past half-hour."

As Calder gestures for them to follow him towards a more elaborate section of the garden, Sonic falls into step while the others remain behind.

The group walked along a path lined with towering flowers and sparkling streams. The atmosphere remains serene, but a sense of unease lingers among Knuckles and Espio, who exchange hushed words as they trail behind Calder.

Sonic casually jogs up beside them, his curiosity piqued by their quiet conversation. "Hey, what's going on back here?" he asks, flashing his trademark grin.

Espio glances at Sonic with a slight frown. "Oh, it's nothing," he replies, his tone carefully neutral. "We were just discussing... exploring a bit more of the garden."

Sonic's eyes light up with excitement. "Exploring? That sounds like fun! Can I come along?"

Espio hesitates for a moment, clearly weighing his options. He knows Sonic's enthusiasm can sometimes attract unwanted attention. After a sigh, he nods. "Alright, you can join us. But please, try to keep a low profile. We don't want to draw attention."

Sonic gives a thumbs-up, still beaming. "You got it! I'll be as quiet as a whisper."

Knuckles smirks, appreciating Sonic's upbeat attitude despite the tension. "Just make sure you stay sharp, Sonic."

Espio's eyes meet Knuckles, sharing a brief, knowing glance before Espio turns back to Sonic. "Let's stick together. The last thing we need is for Neró to get suspicious."

Sonic nods enthusiastically. "Sounds like a plan!"

The trio continued their walk, with Calder following behind. The air seemed to shift slightly as the trio ventured into the garden, the once-comforting scenery now feeling more enigmatic and watchful.

—

The market in Eden is a lively and colorful place, with stalls selling everything from shimmering fabrics to rare herbs. The air is filled with pleasant aromas, lively chatter, and occasional laughter.

Shadow, Lita, and Rakhi, enjoying the lively market. Shadow relaxed with his usual calm demeanor, while Rakhi perused a menu with interest. Lita, however, was tapping her leg anxiously, her gaze drifting off towards the horizon.

Shadow having noticed, engaged. "Is there something wrong?"

Rakhi, noticing Lita's agitation, chuckles softly. "Don't worry, Shadow. It's Aster's way of overthinking things. She used to do that a lot when as a kid, especially when trying to remember her way home."

Lita, startled by the attention, looked up, trying to mask her unease with a forced smile. "It's nothing. I just saw something unusual in the distance and it's bothering me."

Shadow raises an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Unusual? What did you see?"

Lita hesitates, her thoughts racing. "Something looked out of place. I'm tempted to check it out, but I don't want to leave you two alone."

Rakhi gently pats Lita's shoulder. "It's fine, Aster. If you feel you need to investigate, we can manage... Shadows in good hands."

Shadow ignored Rakhi's jab. "If you think it's important, nothing will stop you. Be careful."

Lita takes a deep breath, her anxiety slowly easing as she considers their reassurance. "Alright, I'll go take a quick look. Be back soon."

Rakhi gives her an encouraging nod. "Go on then. We'll hold down the fort."

As Lita stands up and begins to walk away, Shadow watches her for a moment then turns back to his beverage until catching out of the corner of his eye, Rakhi looking in his direction. Noticing Shadow's expression, the tigress smiled softly. "She'll be fine."

Shadow gives a small, approving nod, turning his attention back to the lively market around them. "I suppose."

Rakhi's expression doesn't change, her attention stays on Shadow as she adjusts herself to recline a bit. "After her."

The tigress's words took aback the ebony hedgehog. "What did?" He asked incredulously.

"You heard me. Go after her. Shadow, it's not as if it isn't obvious you care for her. Go after her. Who knows what Aster saw," Rakhi explained, tracing a claw on the table.

"Will I not be breaking any rules?" Shadow asked

Rakhi rolled her eyes, finding Shadow's cautious manner bothersome. "You just had lunch with two respected Holders of Eden. Nobody is going to stop you from protecting one."

—

Espio, Sonic, and Knuckles continued walking through the water realm, navigating a network of submerged caverns and coral reefs. The realm teemed with bioluminescent sea creatures, casting an ethereal glow over the ponds' darker areas. Despite their beautiful surroundings, Espio couldn't help but remain wary of Calder, their kind host, who had been trailing behind them.

The gecko, with his shadowy presence, had been a constant source of unease. Espio knew that if they were to make any progress in getting away, they needed to shake him off. With a rushed idea, he subtly signaled to Knuckles, who was busy throwing Eden berries into his mouth.

Knuckles, noticing the urgency in Espio's voice, tilted his head. "What's up?"

Espio lowered his voice, careful not to let Calder overhear. "We need to create a diversion to throw Neró off our trail. I've got an idea on how to lead him away, but I need you to create a distraction."

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "And Sonic? What about him?"

Espio's gaze flicked to Sonic, who was splashing through the shallow water. "Sonic will figure it out. Just make sure the diversion is big enough to grab Neró's attention."

Knuckles nodded, understanding the urgency. With a powerful thrust of his fists, he began to stir up the sediment on the damp ground, creating a cloud of mist. The water around them darkened as the visibility decreased. A tactic he hoped made it difficult for Neró to see.

Espio seized the moment. With a swift and silent movement, he merged into the tall trees and brush, his natural camouflage allowing him to disappear.

Meanwhile, Sonic was already picking up on the commotion. The swirling sediment and reduced visibility made it clear that something unusual was happening. He shot a questioning glance at Knuckles, who gave a subtle nod toward the direction where Espio had vanished.

As Sonic picked up speed, his body turned into a blue blur as he dashed through the water, following Espio's path. Knuckles prepared to follow him, pushing off the wet ground to catch up. However, just as he made his move, a sudden and sharp tug on his leg pulled him off balance. He flailed, trying to regain control, only to find himself suspended in the water, held down by Calder's elongated tail.

Calder's face twisted with fury staring down the echidna. "You dare disrupt my hospitality? I welcomed you into my home, and this is how you treat me? With deceit and betrayal?"

Knuckles fought to break free from the grasp of Calder's tail. Desperate for air, he managed to free a hand and grabbed the underwater sediment, hurling it into the gecko's face causing him to release his grip. Seizing the opportunity, Knuckles punched out of the water. Summoning all his strength, tackling Calder to the ground and pinning the gecko down, unaware of the cloud of black dust that surrounded them.

The dust billowed around them, dark and swirling, obscuring their forms. Knuckles grappled with Calder, trying to keep him subdued. Calder looked up with a smirk as the dust began to settle, meeting eyes of eerie orange.

"You've taken longer than I anticipated to break free from my influence," He taunted, his voice dripping with a mix of satisfaction and disdain.

Knuckles pushed himself up, glaring at the Water Holder. "You think you can just keep us like pets? We're not falling for your tricks."

But before Knuckles could react further, the black dust coalesced into a thick, inescapable cocoon that started wrapping around him, tightening with each passing second. Knuckles struggled, but the more he fought, the tighter the black dust constricted around him.

Emerging from the swirling haze, the true form of their antagonist revealed itself: a dark, menacing being with orange eyes that pierced through the dust. The figure's presence was imbued with an aura of malice, making the water around them dense and opaque.

Knuckle's defiance was met with a chilling calm. Calder's smirk widened as he watched the black dust encase the echidna, leaving him trapped. The creature's eyes flickered with a hint of anticipation as if it were eager to see what he would do next.

As Knuckles struggled within his new prison, the dark being's presence loomed ominously over him. Calder's voice echoed through the murky water, a cruel whisper. "Your resistance has only made this more entertaining. Let's see how well you handle my friend."

—

In a flash of white and blue, Lita sprinted through the hills and into the marsh as she neared the Realm of Water. Her mind was fixated on the foreboding darkness looming ahead, which only served to heighten her anxiety.

She hurried across the marsh and followed the familiar path to the Temple of Aquarius, an imposing structure with spires and arches casting long shadows. As she reached the temple, she took a deep breath and called out for her neighbor, Holder: "Neró! Are you here? We need to talk!"

Her voice echoed through the empty corridors, but there was no response. Growing more anxious, Lita entered her senses on high alert. Just as she rounded a corner, a weight landed on her back, making her stumble slightly.

"Whoa!" Lita exclaimed, looking over her shoulder, bewildered to see Cream clinging to her. "Cream! What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

Cream's eyes widened with happiness at the familiarity of her missing friend. "Lightning! We came to find you. The others will be happy to see you."

Before Lita could ask more questions, Cream hopped off her back and motioned for her to follow. Confused, Lita allowed Cream to pull her to the center chamber by the hand. There, Lita saw Amy and Rouge waiting, their expressions a mix of relief and surprise.

Lita stared at them perplexed yet felt a warmth in her chest. "Amy? Rouge? How did you all end up here?"

Amy's face softened, glancing in the direction she last saw her charmer. "Sonic didn't get a chance to say goodbye when you left. So he opened the portal and now we're here."

Rouge, ever practical, scanned the surroundings with a critical eye. "Speaking of which, have you seen Shadow? I wanted to make sure he didn't do anything reckless while we were separated."

Lita shook her head, trying to make sense of the situation. "Shadow's fine. He's not far from here. As for Sonic, is he not here?"

Amy paused momentarily, responding, "I saw Sonic go off on a walk with Espio and Knuckles not too long ago. They were headed toward the outer areas of the realm. I'm not too worried, though. Neró went with them."

Lita's breath caught in her throat at the mention of the Water Holder. She was about to ask for more details when movement in the water below caught her eye. There, partially obscured by the temple shadows, was a silhouette—an unmistakably familiar one.

Fear surged through her numbing her body. She turned to Amy, Rouge, and Cream, her voice urgent. "We need to leave. Right now."

Cream's eyes widened with concern. "Why are we leaving? What's going on?"

Lita tried to maintain a friendly demeanor despite her growing unease. "I'd like to show you a safe place. It's important, and I think it's better if we leave the temple for now."

Cream's face showed reluctance. "But wouldn't it be rude to leave Mr. Neró's home without saying goodbye?"

Lita had to admit that her weakness was the innocence of a child. Before she could respond, Neró's tail raised menacingly from the water, stretching out towards them. Panic surged through her. Without a second thought, Lita grabbed Cream and pulled her away from the edge, cradling the child to her chest.

Neró's tail lashed out with a vicious snap, missing them by inches. The water exploded in a violent splash where the tail had struck, and Neró's silhouette remained ominously still beneath the surface.

Amy and Rouge stood frozen as they witnessed the deadly swipe of Neró's tail narrowly miss Cream. Lita's fear and urgency were palpable as she turned to Rouge, her face resolute. "Rouge, take Cream and get out of here. I'll handle this."

Rouge's eyes widened with shock as she quickly scooped up the child, who looked back with frightened eyes. She dashed out of the temple, making a beeline for safety.

Amy, still reeling from the sudden chaos, glanced back as Rouge and Cream ran. Turning back to the sight of Lita, who was determinedly preparing for the confrontation. "Lightning! Come with us! It's not safe here!"

Lita shook her head, her voice firm despite the danger surrounding them. "I'll be fine. You need to get to safety. Take this."

With a spark, Lita summoned a bolt that arced through the air and struck the ground, leaving behind a glowing map, which she handed to Amy. "This map will lead you to my realm. You'll be safe there. Go quickly!"

Amy hesitantly took the map, her face a mix of fear and gratitude. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Lita nodded firmly, her gaze fixed on the dark waters. "I'll be fine. Just go. Now!"

As Amy and Rouge fled the temple, Lita's attention shifted entirely to the looming threat. She conjured two lightning rods in her hands, their electric energy crackling and sizzling in the dim light. She stood poised.

The water below churned violently. Nero's voice cut through the tension with a mocking tone. "Ah, mingling with others' affairs, are we? You're quite bold to challenge me, especially when you've already caused so much trouble."

Lita's eyes narrowed with resolve. "Harming anyone on the surface is a crime, Neró. You've already overstepped your bounds."

Nero's silhouette emerged from the water, exuding a menacing aura. His eyes glowed with a malevolent light as he sneered at Lita. "Crime? Do you dare lecture me about justice?"

Lita's grip tightened around the lightning rods. The air crackled as she stood her ground, ready to defend. Her heart raced, but knew that protecting her friends and ensuring their safety was paramount. With a determined shout, Lita unleashed a surge of lightning toward Neró, her eyes locked on the shadowy figure as the prohibited battle began.

—

Shadow raced along the path, aiming in the direction Lita had gone. His mind was focused and determined to catch up with her. As he crested a hill and saw the shimmering boundary of the Water Realm below, his attention was immediately drawn to three familiar figures in the distance—a more pressing matter.

The trio jumped in surprise when Shadow suddenly appeared in front of them, leaving them momentarily disoriented. Rouge, known for her no-nonsense attitude, scowled at him. "Shadow! Couldn't you have been a little less dramatic? You nearly gave us a heart attack!"

Shadow, not having time for pleasantries, cut straight to the chase. "What are you doing here? Where's Aster?"

"Aster?" Rouge questioned.

Amy, still catching her breath from the shock, quickly explained, "Sonic didn't like how Lightning left without saying goodbye, so he opened up the portal and now we're here."

Shadow's expression remained impassive, but he wasn't surprised by Sonic's impulsive decision. "Of course, it was Sonic's idea," he muttered, shaking his head slightly.

Before Amy could respond further, Cream's voice broke in, her tone urgent and trembling. "Mr. Neró is fighting Lightning!"

Shadow's eyes widened as he processed Cream's frantic words. Realization dawned quickly as he connected the dots. When Aster expressed concern, she ran to this realm. Possibly, what she saw had to do with this Neró. Shadow's resolve hardened, and without a moment's hesitation, he turned to Amy, Rouge, and Cream.

"Stay here and keep safe," Shadow commanded. "I'll find her."

He didn't wait for their reply. In a flash, Shadow was off, racing into the Water Realm. His mind was focused solely on reaching Lita.

Shadow raced through the chaotic waters, his speed a blur until approaching what he could see was a temple. As he neared, he saw the temple in disarray. Parts of its once-grand structure were now partially destroyed, with debris scattered and large cracks in its surface. The air was thick with tension, and the churning water around the temple reflected that.

As he slowed down, his senses were on high alert as he cautiously approached the entrance. The temple was eerily quiet, except for the occasional rumble of the collapsing structure and the distant sounds of clashing elements. Shadow moved stealthily, peering around corners and through broken archways, searching for any signs of life or further danger.

His keen eyes noticed a sudden movement in the debris. With great concentration, he approached and was taken aback by the intense sight in front of him. Lita was locked in a battle with a reptilian figure, presumably Nero. The difference in their abilities was striking: Lita controlled lightning with precision and ferocity, while Nero manipulated the surrounding water with a casual yet menacing grace.

Sparks of lightning crackled and arced through the air, illuminating the darkened temple with flashes of brilliant light. Neró's dark figure loomed over Lita, as his form shifted and rippled like the water he commanded. The two were locked in a volatile dance, their elements colliding and causing the ground beneath them to shake.

The scene took Shadow aback. He could see that Lita was managing to hold her own, but the intensity of Neró's attacks was overwhelming. Without hesitation, Shadow decided to intervene. Although he knew that joining the fight was intervening, the words of Rakhi telling him to protect Lita echoed in his mind.

Making a firm decision and taking a breath, Shadow dashed into the fray, his Chaos Control abilities ready to assist in turning the tide of the battle.