As you, Sonic, and Knuckles slowly moved toward the backstage entrance, the sound of their footsteps was barely audible over the hum of the crowd. They were so close to finally speaking to Bliss, Silver, and Blaze—maybe even getting answers. But as they edged closer, a faint sound of rustling from behind them made your heart race.

Blaze, sharp-eyed and ever-watchful, had sensed something was off. She quietly followed their movements, blending into the shadows, her eyes narrowing as she observed the trio trying to sneak into the backstage area. A slight smirk crossed her face as she realized what was happening—someone was trying to get past the guard and into the heart of the concert.

Without a word, Blaze quickly approached from behind, and just as you reached for the door, Blaze stepped into her path, blocking her way with an imposing stance. Her piercing gaze locked on you, and a chill ran down your spine.

"I knew something was off," Blaze said calmly, her tone cool but firm. "You didn’t think you could just sneak in here unnoticed, did you?"

Sonic froze in place, his usual bravado faltering as he looked at Blaze, unsure of what to do. "We—uh... we weren’t doing anything wrong. Just... looking for someone."

Knuckles, who had been ready to take a step back, folded his arms with a smirk. "We were just curious, you know? Can’t hurt to check out the show."

Blaze raised an eyebrow, not buying their explanation. She stepped closer, her fiery gaze never leaving you. "I don’t think so. This is a restricted area, and you’re not allowed back here."

You stepped forward, trying to muster some courage, but your mind raced with the realization that Blaze wasn’t going to let them off easy. "We don’t mean any harm. We’re just looking for Bliss. She’s—she’s someone we know from before. She might—"

Blaze’s eyes flashed for a split second, and then her expression softened ever so slightly. "Bliss, huh?" She crossed her arms, tapping her foot lightly. "You have no idea how much trouble you’re causing, do you?"

You didn’t know what to say. You weren't sure if Blaze truly remembered anything about her life before Nazo’s control, but you felt an odd sense of connection to the fiery band member. Your instincts told you Blaze might still be reachable, but the fear of Nazo’s influence clouded everything.

Before you could respond, the sounds of footsteps grew louder, and Bliss emerged from the shadows, her expression unreadable. Silver followed closely behind her, his eyes scanning the area with mild curiosity. Bliss stopped when she saw Blaze standing there, blocking the entrance, and then her gaze flicked to you and the others.

"Blaze, what’s going on?" Bliss asked, her voice still carrying that aura of command, though there was something in her eyes—a hint of confusion, perhaps, at seeing the strangers.

Blaze didn’t take her eyes off you, still standing between the group and the backstage door. "These three are trying to sneak in. They say they know you, Bliss."

Bliss' gaze shifted from Blaze to you and back again. There was a flicker of recognition when
Bliss' footsteps slowed as she reached the entrance to the backstage area, her thoughts swirling. Something in your voice had tugged at her, a feeling she couldn’t quite explain.

Bliss had always been someone who cared deeply about others, and although she had no memory of who these strangers were, something inside her was reluctant to turn them away completely.

After a moment, she spoke softly, almost as if to herself. "Blaze... give them a chance to explain. I’ll listen."

Blaze, who had been standing at attention, shot a glance at Bliss. She clearly wasn’t thrilled with the decision but nodded and stepped aside, allowing the group to approach Bliss.

You stepped forward cautiously, unsure of what to expect, but sensing that this might be their only opportunity. Sonic and Knuckles followed closely behind you, though Knuckles’ usual smirk had faded into something more guarded as he watched the exchange.

"Bliss," You began, your voice filled with hope but also uncertainty, "we’re not here to cause trouble. We... we need your help. You don’t remember us, but we were all friends before. You’re not the person Nazo is making you out to be."

Bliss' expression softened, but there was still a trace of skepticism in her eyes. "I don’t know you," she said quietly. "I don’t know any of you. But you seem... familiar. Like I should know who you are."

Your heart pounded in your chest. "I’m Y/N, and this is Sonic and Knuckles. We were part of a team that fought together—against people like Nazo. He’s taken control of everything, even of you. But we believe there’s a way to get you back to who you really are."

Bliss looked at each of them, taking in their faces as if searching for something buried deep inside her. She reached up and gently touched her head, trying to sift through the foggy memories that had been clouding her mind.

"Before all of this... I was a different person, wasn’t I?" Bliss asked, her voice soft, almost wistful.

You nodded, your eyes filled with compassion. "You were kind, caring, a protector. You always helped others, Bliss. You were a force for good. And we want to bring that back, together. You’re more than what Nazo has made you into."

Bliss fell silent for a long moment, her gaze drifting down to the ground as she processed everything. The weight of what you said hung in the air, heavy with the realization that there was more to her past than she had been told.

Blaze, who had been observing the exchange quietly, stepped in. "Bliss, this is dangerous. You know what Nazo is capable of."

"I know," Bliss said softly, her voice carrying a sense of resolve. She looked up at you, Sonic, and Knuckles, the guarded look now replaced with a touch of something warmer. "But I can’t ignore that there’s something inside me that tells me I shouldn’t just follow Nazo blindly."

Sonic, who had been quiet for a while, stepped forward, his usual cowardly demeanor replaced with a hint of determination. "Bliss, we’re all in this together. If you want to fight back against Nazo, we’ll do it with you. You don’t have to be alone in this."

Bliss looked at each of them, the tension in her chest slowly loosening. She took a deep breath, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I don’t know what Nazo’s done to my memories, but I want to believe you. I want to believe that I can help, that I can make a difference again."

You smiled, relief flooding through you. "We can help you, Bliss. We’ll remind you of who you really are."

Sonic nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we’ll take down Nazo together. You’re not alone."

Bliss sighed, running her hand through her hair as the crowd’s murmurs and cheers grew louder outside the backstage area. The band was about to be called back on stage for their next performance, and she knew she couldn’t leave them waiting. Still, the weight of what you had just told her was impossible to ignore.

“I want to help,” Bliss said softly, her eyes meeting yours. “But if Nazo finds out what we’re planning, he won’t just come for me—he’ll come for all of us. That includes my band and everyone in that audience. I can’t risk putting them in danger.”

You nodded, understanding her hesitation. “I know it’s a lot to take in, and I don’t want to put anyone at risk either. But if we don’t act now, Nazo’s grip on this world will only get stronger. You’re one of the only people who can help us turn things around.”

Bliss glanced at Blaze and Silver, who were both waiting for her decision. Blaze crossed her arms, her expression unreadable, while Silver looked slightly concerned but ready to follow whatever choice Bliss made.

“We still have a performance to finish,” Bliss said, her voice firm but conflicted. “The crowd is counting on us, and it’ll raise suspicions if we don’t go back out there.”

Knuckles leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “So, what? You’re gonna sing your heart out while Nazo keeps running this world into the ground? Seems like a waste of time to me.”

Bliss shot him a sharp look. “This isn’t just about me. These people need something to hold onto, something to make them forget the fear and chaos, even if it’s just for a little while. If you can’t understand that, then maybe you shouldn’t be here.”

Knuckles opened his mouth to retort but quickly shut it, realizing he might have pushed too far. He muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further.

Sonic, who had been quiet and uneasy, finally spoke up. “Look, Bliss… we get it. You’ve got responsibilities here. But Y/N’s right—we can’t wait too long. The longer we stay hidden, the harder it’ll be to stop Nazo.”

Bliss hesitated, torn between her responsibilities to her band and her desire to help. After a moment, she took a deep breath and nodded. “We’ll finish the performance first. But once it’s over, we’ll talk about what to do next. Blaze, Silver, you’re with me?”

Blaze nodded, her sharp gaze flickering toward you. “We’ll keep an eye on them for now. But Bliss, if this gets out of hand—”

“It won’t,” Bliss interrupted, her voice steady. “I’ll make sure of it.”

You stepped forward. “We’ll stay out of the way for now. But please, once this is over, we need your help.”

Bliss gave her a small smile, the warmth in her eyes briefly returning. “I’ll do what I can. Just don’t cause any trouble while we’re on stage.”

As Bliss, Blaze, and Silver prepared to head back to the stage, You, Sonic, and Knuckles stayed hidden in the shadows of the backstage area. The sound of the crowd’s cheers grew louder as the band stepped out, ready to perform their next song. You couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment—this might be the only chance to bring Bliss and the others back to their true selves. They just had to wait for the right time.

What's gonna happen next? Find out on Chapter 15. Have a good day. Author out ❤️ ❤️ ❤️