Hero by Alice Merton.
~~~

"For the past few days, an entire block of Station Square has gone under a power cut. Commander Rouge of G.U.N promises she's looking into it, but the origins of this outbreak are still a mystery. Even so, repair crews and electricians are on the path to fix what was- so expect your power back on, at most, in a weeks time. This is Breezie Hedg-."

Deciding that was enough television for the day, she snapped the screen off and returned her attention to the spread out cards across her table. Face pale, she lifted the three almost mockingly staring back up.

"Miss Amy? Everything alright?"

Forest green eyes glanced at Cream Rabbit on the pouffe opposing her. "I don't...."

"You didn't start without me, did you, dear?"

The usually comforting, warm scent of tea and pastries wafted from the kitchen to over her shoulder. Amy turned towards the source of the tease, where Vanilla smiled- holding a tray of aforementioned sustenance.

"Don't worry, mother! Miss Amy hasn't read our futures yet!"

"Then what future do those three read?" The rabbit asked, perching on the sofa beside her and setting the tray down.

"I just wanted to warm myself up- so I went with a more vague idea. I...I asked for Mobius' future."

Noticing her tense form, Vanilla rested a hand on her shoulder. "Dear?"

The cards were placed back on the table. "The first is the Tower Upright, and my interpretation...usually that means disaster. Secondly, the Hanged Mobian Upright. It...that's sacrifice."

Cream thickly swallowed. "The...third?"

Amy relaxed and cracked a smile. "Strength Upright. Bravery and compassion and inner strength." Still, a shaky hand weaved through the bunch of quills with the least spines.

"You know, I've tried to give Sonic a few readings before- but he's never really that interested. I kinda wish he was here now to tell me these aren't 'factual' or 'set in stone'. But, I haven't heard...."

Her eyes dropped to the Strength card, where something akin to Angel Island floated in the background and a human and Mobian stood side by side. Bravery, huh?

"I think they're trying to warn me." Amy breathed, pulling the cards in to shuffle.

"Let's try Sonic's future. Vanilla, could you pick three cards? Any that call to you."

The two rabbits glanced at one another prior to the mother humming, doing as instructed. One by one they were placed onto the table until three had been reached. Amy somehow appeared more spooked than before.

"The...The Fool Reversed." With clouds behind, seven odd shaped jewels floated around a Mobian dressed as a jester.

"It means recklessness and being taken advantage o-of...."

"This card is Upright, yes?" Cream tried. "There's still hope!"

The second held two opposing horses, a greater sized emerald between and what appeared as an echidna with wings towering above. "Right. Yeah. The Chariot Upright. So Sonic has willpower and control but...."

Finally, the third was placed upside down with the image of a Mobian atop a cliff- surrounded by clouds. "The Hermit Reversed. He's...isolated. He's lost his way?"

"Are you sure?" Vanilla asked.

"Tarot Readings are largely up to the readers' interpretation but after they predicted mine and Sonic's first meeting I don't choose to question them. Th-they've never really steered me wrong." And she stood.

"But they can always change! Mobius has been warned with disaster for years- and Sonic's always prevented it! If he needs a bit more help this time, that's more than okay with me."

Vanilla proudly smiled. "It always brings me joy to see each of you grow."

Amy reddened. "Aw, well I mean...thanks."

"You said you haven't heard from Mister Sonic for a few days right?" Cream asked.

"Annoyingly, yeah."

"Then maybe it's time you visit." The mother hinted. "If he needs help, it's best we do so sooner than later."

"I guess but-."

"Don't worry, Miss Amy! We'll stay here and look after your place! Cheese is still playing after all."

"Are you sure?"

"If Mobius is in trouble too, then we mustn't wait." Vanilla argued.

Amy summoned her tremendous hammer and gave it a spin, "I've definitely been meaning to get more practise."

Giving her goodbyes and heading to the door, she was startled to find a yellow, tall dog pausing mid knock. Wearing a great brown poncho with darker patches, he adorned a fitting Gambler style cowboy's hat and calf high muddy boots. Similarly, wide cuffed gloves and a belt- supplied with rope and a side satchel.

"Oh! Hello!" Amy smiled.

The dog slipped his glasses up his nose, tinting already blue eyes. "Meeting Amy Rose is a whole lot different to psyching yourself up for it, let me tell ya."

"Oh, heh heh. Well have no fear! I'm always happy to meet a-!"

"Names Cliff."

"Ookay. Hi, Cliff! How can I help?"

The dog removed his hat, giving it a squeeze. "I need to find Sonic and Tails."

Perhaps instinctively, but Amy tightened her grip on her hammer all the same. "Why?"

Cliff sweat-dropped, giving a smile. "Don't worry! I don't want to harm them. Quite the opposite actually. I have a warning."

"Not another...." Amy sunk but waved it away from the dog's confusion.

"What's it about?"

Cliff tightened. "Something that should never have been tampered with was built. And used not long ago. An invention."

"What makes you-?"

"Because I helped form the plans for it. I used to work with Charles Hedgehog."

—————

"Woah!" Sonic stumbled from the porch steps, just dodging the wave of strange cyan storming for him.

"The heck is that?!" He waved his hands, curling into a ball to avoid another ripple.

Silver leapt from the porch with a glow and huffed. "Hold still!"

"You wish! You're trying to attack me!"

"I'm trying to stop you!"

"Same thing!"

"You're...always so...reckless!" He yelled and broke a branch from a nearby tree, tossing it and blocking Sonic's legs.

"Yikes!" The Blue Blur face-planted the ground and groaned.

"Silver!" Blaze called, rushing out with Tails.

"You-."

"Put my brother down!" The fox stomped, gesturing to the orb circulating around the puzzled hedgehog.

"I can't. Even if what I've been told is partly a lie-." Silver glared at emerald eyes.

"I can't let Sonic go. Not again."

"I would listen if I were you." Came Shadow's growl and the albino hedgehog tensed.

"I'm not above forcing you."

"Then we have no choice."

And Blaze pinched her nose, sighing, as the three charged. Tails took flight, allowing Shadow to swerve from Silver's powers prior to diving. Rouge stepped to the cats side with Omega and rolled her eyes whilst Silver caught the fox. Sonic's eye twitched and he punched the orb he was trapped within. He needed to move. To run. Fight.

'Save him!'

And his heart constricted and his eyes shrunk.

'Show this buffoon just who he's messing with. He has your brother!'

"I don't want to fight! I'm only after Sonic! Can we just-!"

Sonic didn't know how or why, but he could feel something pouring from the hatch on Omega's chassis. It called. It pulled.

"Then come and get me."

Everything swirled, Tails distantly called but it drowned beneath the agony of his claws stretching. Immediately, he panicked and covered his mouth- consumed by the torturous ache of his growing teeth. And then he fell.

"Enough." Shadow snarled and delivered a terrible kick to the back of Silver's head.

The latter groaned and toppled down the porch stairs, caught by Blaze as the brothers were freed. "Are you alright?"

Silver murmured, "Fine."

Blaze lightly whacked his ear. "Then what were you thinking? Don't you think, after all the lies you've been told, this could be another?"

"No. How can it? Look at him." He almost spat.

Tails almost wished he hadn't. His brother whispered to himself, staring at (as far as he was concerned) very normal hands. He continuously shook his head and even his ears were flat against his skull. He and Rouge strained their ears and swore Sonic was pleading for something to get off.

Chaos, not again.

But Silver took it as an opportunity. His rings glowed and he clambered up, stepping with a slight wobble towards the trembling hero. He would've attacked if it weren't for a pink hedgehog skidding to his aid- raising her terrifying hammer for extra measure.

"Don't."

"But I-."

Tails eyed the unfamiliar yellow dog before stepping to Silver's side. "He's not dangerous. I don't know who told you otherwise, but they can not be trusted. Okay?"

The snowy hedgehog's arms lowered, but he still glowed. "He's what destroyed my future. Our-."

"That's crazy!" Amy dismissed, craning her hammer so Tails could help his brother up.

"What makes you believe such a thing?" Shadow, from behind, practically scoffed.

"That has to be true! Mobius' soon downfall is because of his actions!"

Amy furiously shook her head. "I refuse to buy it! Even if it were true, if I had to pick between them, I'm always going to choose Sonic! Every. Single. Time."

Blaze noted the very noticeable red coating the speedsters cheeks prior to holding Silver's lower arm. "Even if he is The Catalyst, the fact his friends are so determined against it- standing up like this- must count for something."

"But I...." Silver shrunk when Sonic moved by the pink hedgehog, squeezing her shoulder and murmuring a thanks.

The former was more than ready for a punch, a kick, something, but nothing came. Instead the hero held out his shaky hand.

"This ain't the first time someone confused has beaten me down." Briefly, he pointed to Shadow (receiving a growl).

"Maybe we should talk."