Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna and all related characters mentioned in this book are Copyright of Sega of America, Archie comic publications, and/or DIC. The author allows the reader to print this story off of the net, but you can't sell it.

No characters in this story are under copyright from other authors, however, any new characters I introduce are mine, and may not be used without saying so.

NEVER Talk To Strangers

"Just a minute! Don't you go anywhere mister!" Came the order, which killed Sonic's eagerness in less than a microsecond. "Let's not forget why your Entity has been dubbed 'Chaotic.' Yes, it has been a use to us in the past, and a very powerful one at that, but it's still 'Chaotic.' The power of three Entities merged into one may not be as easily controlled as one Entity, and the last thing we need is to have Enerjak overthrown by three others just as power hungry. Tails is first going to have to come to terms with his Entity, and learn to keep it under control."

"Oh Sally come ON!" Sonic whined. "The more time we waste here, the stronger that Enerwhatsis gets!"

"Enerjak was beaten once by only a colony of fire ants and a normal Echidna. Before that he was beaten just by ants. I'm pretty damned sure that you, Knuckles and Tails would have no trouble getting rid of him." Sally explained, her voice was stern and as hard as a rock. Even though Sonic did not agree to what she was saying, he acknowledged, for her ideas and plans were, after all, the finest that were ever dug up.

Sally gave her final set of orders. Tails was to be escorted immediately with Sonic and Knuckles to the Pit of Lazaar, so that Super Sonic and Hyper Knuckles could train him personally.

(There's something about a young boy's mind that's very similar to what the ancient Dimitri encountered. Yet, why has Dimitri acted like such a child?)

Sally pondered her thoughts, soon coming to a conclusion.

(The Echidna's grew up very scientifically advanced, and everyone had an inventive and creative mind. Dimitri's powers came to him by accident, and it was him at first who saw the real potential his powers had. When the notion that he was invincible against echidna sciences dawned on him, his greed for control only grew as much.)

(Likewise, an eleven year old, powerlessly governed by higher authorities, would also take the opportunity to push others around when he could)

(Tails already wants revenge for Snowflake as well, which would make his greed for power even worse.)

"And Sonic," She began as Sonic headed for the door, "be careful." She said, the strength in her voice gone and replaced with worry. Sonic smiled.

"My little buddy has idolized me for God knows how long. He hangs on every word I say, and he has taken in every single piece of advice I've given him."

"That's why I'm worried." Sally muttered. Sonic laughed out loud, then reassured her.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine."

The Pit of Lazaar and surrounding area was just as Sonic remembered it. Flat, dry, hot, and not a single form of life to be found. The ground was dry and clumped underneath the surface with small canals in between the clumps, almost begging for even the slightest bit of water, which would no doubt be gone in less than a second.

Now, three living organisms arose in the wasteland. A teenage hedgehog, a teenage echidna, and an eleven year old twin tailed fox, now the last of his kind. Around them lay 150 rings which came from the pit, visible only to those possessing a Chaos Entity. Sonic and Knuckles had their proof that Tails did in fact have a Chaos Entity by making him pick up each of the 150 rings from the pit. They didn't trust the scientific method used by Dr. Quack or Rotor, no matter how accurate they were. There was only one way to physically prove yourself an Entity bearing Mobian.

Tails just passed. Using a technique he had learned from Knuckles, he was able to extract each of the rings without absorbing their power. Tails sat by the rings and waited for further instruction, while Sonic and Knuckles whispered between one another, deciding they're next move. Tails immediately became alert when he heard Knuckles' voice.

"Sonic and I are going to get objects necessary for your test. You shall wait here for our return, is that understood?" He asked. Sonic rolled his eyes and made his own version before Tails could even nod.

"We," he said, pointing to Knuckles and himself, "go bye-bye. Be back soon. You stay and wait. Comprende, little buddy?" He asked, making his voice high in pitch. Tails tried to hide his amused giggle by covering it with his hand, and eventually nodded. Sonic and Knuckles then took off in different directions, each stealthily stealing a ring without Tails noticing. Unbeknownst to Tails, Sonic and Knuckles had previously stocked up, absorbing 49 rings, yet holding on to the 50th. This was a test of Tails' obedience capabilities. If he failed, they'd both use the 50th ring to take him down.

Tails sat down on the rough soil, which toasted his rear quickly. The heat on his bottom was rather comfortable, yet the heat barreling down on him from the sky was intense, dry, and merciless. He had soon developed a sweat, and could soon see heat waves coming from his body and entering the environment around him.

10 minutes passed. Tails' body was heating up terribly under these conditions, and the sweat evaporating from his fur was no help, as it created an acrid smell. It'd have been worse if he was older, as this was just fur odor. If he was the same age as Sonic or Knuckles, he would be getting both body and fur odor.

Another 10 minutes passed. Many areas of his body were drenched with sweat, especially his head. He shook his head, flinging droplets onto the hungry ground around him, which happily drank it up. When he finished shaking the sweat off, some fell down and ran over his lips. He blinked in surprise at the sudden salty taste in his mouth, dismissing it by rubbing his hand across his face.

Yet another 10 minutes passed. Tails felt a slow and steadily increasing urge for something to drink. He occasionally looked around him, almost hoping for some type of oasis to suddenly appear from nowhere. A hot wind developed, smacking against him. It wasn't any less in temperature, and caused more or less an annoyance. He turned his head in the direction of which it came. Nothing. He looked in the direction that it was going. Still nothing. He returned his gaze forward and jumped with surprise. Snowflake was lying on her side in front of him, not moving, not breathing.

(How could she be here?)

Tails quickly understood that it must've been a heat induced mirage. Still, inside him, urges developed. They seemed innocent enough, so he gave in to them. He reached out and gently touched her face and was immediately sickened. It wasn't a mirage. He had actually touched her dead body. It was still fresh as if she had just died. Tails had no trouble in lifting her arm. As he did so, he prayed silently that it wouldn't fall back and hit the ground. He let the arm go, and it slammed back on the ground. Tears blurred his vision and stung his face as they fell down sweat streaked trails. He felt a shadow come over him and looked up, seeing Enerjak sitting nearby on the ground. He looked visibly strengthened by the two emeralds he had acquired from Sonic and Knuckles. Tails felt his blood chill, flowing through every part of his body and giving him goosebumps. He could only glare at Enerjak and wait. He heard him chuckle and saw him smile devilishly.

"It's a pity isn't it? She truly was a beautiful girl. You two did make a good couple. Pity that you killed her." He said, the last sentence was emotionless and cold. It created a rage within Tails, who tried desperately to suppress it.

"You killed her, and you know it." He corrected.

"Maybe, but I used your love to do it. It's a controversy isn't it? Is it the Mobian, or the weapon that kills? Without each other, the power to kill would be incomplete. It's impossible for a knife to suddenly jump up and fly through your head, but the weapon is really the object that does the job, so in my opinion, the weapon should be disciplined, not the user." He stated, smiling wider as he felt the rage strengthen inside Tails. Tails felt it too, but he kept his cool. The realization came to him, that even though the body of Snowflake somehow managed to arrive here physically, the physical form of Enerjak wasn't present, otherwise he would've probably killed him. Tails knew Enerjak was easily capable of that, after what he had seen. Suddenly, another realization hit him.

"But Snowflake was turned to dust, how can she be here in my arms now?" He asked, not realizing he asked aloud.

"I figured you'd see it my way, and try to find a way out of the topic by bringing up another one totally different." Enerjak chuckled, "But I shall answer your question nonetheless. You have forgotten the power that I possess, the power to kill without a weapon. Therefore, I also have the power to create life. I have recreated the body of Snowflake for you. But I could do so much more." He explained. With that, Snowflake's eyes fluttered and opened.

"Tails?" She whispered, like she had woken up from a long sleep. Tails' heart jumped, and he immediately looked into her eyes. His heart started beating madly, and his rage died. He felt hers do the same. He could hardly believe it, Enerjak had brought his dearest love back to him, yet something didn't seem right... Sure enough, there was a catch to this.

"She looks much better for you alive, therefore, if you want to keep her alive, you'll join forces with me." Enerjak gently offered. He raised a menacing hand into the air, and Tails' mind raced. He clutched Snowflake close, while mentally figuring his options.

"Wait!" He cried, falling into Enerjak's plan just as the semi-god wanted. Enerjak smiled and nodded.

"You have until my patience runs out young one. If I were you, however, the option would seem very clear to me."

Snowflake suddenly kissed Tails long and passionately on the lips. His eyes closed and he trembled under the sensation,

(Something's wrong)

yet to him, something didn't quite fit the picture. Snowflake didn't seem to care that Enerjak was there behind her.

(She could just be overjoyed to see me...)

"Tails!" a familiar voice from behind him cried. He looked back and saw another Snowflake!

"What the..." he blurted.

"Hmm? Is something wrong?" Enerjak asked, not seeming to notice the second Snowflake.

"Tails, it's a trap! Don't believe him!" The second Snowflake cried. Her presence being there, the desperate tone of her voice, and the fact that Enerjak didn't sense the second Snowflake was just enough to get him logically thinking. The Snowflake in his arms wasn't real, because the spirit of the real one was elsewhere. Enerjak was trying to trick him to make a decision. Tails would make a decision all right, but too bad for Enerjak. Tails made the right decision.

"Enerjak, I've decided." He said. He hung his head shamefully, testing to see if Enerjak could call his bluff.

"And what have you decided?" He asked with a smile. Tails looked down into the physical eyes of Snowflake, and compared them to the form of the second one he had just seen. Finally, he looked up at Enerjak and opened his mouth.

"Fuck you!" He yelled, pulling Snowflake's head sharply to the left with one hand and pushing the back of her head with the other. He heard her neck snap, and felt her fall limp in his arms. Then he dropped her to the ground, limp as a dry rag.

"Double fuck you!" He heard Sonic yell as he came up alongside him.

"Triple fuck you!" Came the familiar voice of Knuckles. They all stood boldly facing Enerjak, full of self confidence. "We're all going to make sure you pay for the damage your blind insights have caused. You'll pay with your life." Knuckles finished off.

"In other words, you goin' down muthafucka!" Sonic added. Enerjak sat up, outsizing them all.

"Bold words from three young fools. Nevertheless, I will wait for you. But I warn you, this time I will not show any mercy. You all will die, as will all who oppose me." He stated, "Thus let it be as Enerjak has spoken!" He bellowed, disappearing instantly to leave only his voice magically echoing throughout the wasteland. Sonic looked to his two companions with a serious expression.

"I don't know about you two, but I've had it up to here with that asshole. Knuckles, he terrorized your life, and destroyed the lives of your ancestors. His need for control has strengthened his self confidence, but blinded him from the unthinkable. Tails, that son of a bitch killed your girlfriend right before your eyes as a means of torturing you, and has since then offered you a portion of his so called 'authority.' He has also done so with you Knux. He considers us a threat, and a dangerous one. Let's go show him how dangerous we really are!" proclaimed Sonic, stretching a fist forward with the back facing upward.

"For Freedom!"

"For Freedom!" chimed the other two, cupping their hands around Sonic's. With their self confidence as their defense, their hatred and rage as offense, and their Entities as weapons, the three made haste to the canyon.

Rotor was thirsty. He had been sitting at home, in his office, watching every movement that the three heroes undertook at the Pit of Lazaar. He wished he had better detail, as all he could see were dots on a screen, but the capabilities of the tracking satellite he had launched into orbit only had so many abilities, and the primitive technology on it was the only kind suitable for work in space. His other satellites would have to be perfected later. For the past 2 hours, he had watched the three dots travel to the Pit of Lazaar, then he saw the two dots resembling Sonic and Knuckles leave Tails there. That was 30 minutes ago. Since the chances of the three conducting any serious movements within the time Rotor estimated it would take him to get a drink were very slim, he made a hasty trip to get refreshment. Hot chocolate, his favorite drink, mildly saturated with caffeine to give him that extra 5 minute perk. When he returned, he immediately became aware that his computer console was beeping, indicating that Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails were moving.

From the sounds of the beeps, they were moving pretty damn fast. Rotor quickly jumped into his mobile chair, using the forward momentum to move so that he sat in front of the computer. His monitor showed how fast the three heroes were moving, and in what direction they were heading. His eyes widened and he gasped. They were headed right for the Canyon. Rotor picked up his nearby headset and hailed Sally. While he waited for her to respond, he tried to get better details of the landscape, and plot the best intercept course. He began typing furiously at the keyboard, silently praying that he didn't make a mistake in his typing. The computer understood his command, and found the best course of interception. Sally finally picked up her communications unit on the other side.

"What is it Rotor? What are they doing?"

"They're moving Sal, directly for the Canyon, fast and furious. What shall we do?"

"We'll follow them, in case they need back up. I assume you've plotted an intercept course?"

"Just finished one. I'll upload the data to the nav coms in the hover pods. Want me to initiate their tac systems as well?"

"Do that once we're airborne, it'll take awhile anyway, but it's a long flight."

"May I suggest that you make it quick, they're moving so fast that their wake is covering up their tracks. We might lose them if they don't slow down."

Not so distant memories and images instantly dug themselves into Sonic's head as he, Knuckles and Tails stopped just at the top of the Canyon, images and memories of a previous presence here. This was déjà vu for himself and Knuckles, as they were at this very point, looking down on Enerjak as before. The first time they came to attack him, the time they failed. Now filled with a new confidence within themselves, a new strength that burned in their hearts, they boldly advanced toward Enerjak, and he stood there, waiting for them. It took the three heroes almost 15 minutes to reach the hulking wizard, but it was all worth it. Defending the planet from this new enemy was their top priority, and they knew that they would be victorious.

"I welcome you, valiant warriors." Enerjak spoke softly, with a slight bow.

"It is our pleasure to be here as well, uncle." Knuckles replied, on behalf of the other two. Enerjak nodded slightly.

"No doubt you three have come to attempt to put an end to my reign before I even start it, eh?" He asked, his voice still gentle, and slightly confusing the three with its hint of politeness. He continued after a long pause, "May I clue you boys in, that I haven't even started to build my fortress here? Knuckles you of all people should know how quickly I created my citadel on the Floating Island, but has it not dawned on you that I haven't done so here?" Knuckles, whom hadn't seriously thought about the present topic, was thinking about it now.

"Knuckles! Wake up! He's stalling!" Sonic cried out indirectly. Enerjak responded with a wave of his hand, and Sonic was silenced immediately.

"It is better if you listen, I have much to explain. Your Chaos Entities were most helpful to me Sonic and Knuckles, and this Canyon's magical aura has also aided me. I have had a vision, and a disturbing one at that." He waited for the hostility to fade from each of the three boys before continuing.

"I'll start from the beginning. Knuckles, you were right about the power that Chaos emeralds give out, and that it is way to much for one person alone to have. You may think that I am the only one with the power to create miracles, but you are wrong. There is another, much stronger than I, and I have foreseen his arrival here on Mobius. He will arrive at the..." He paused, suddenly seeming to ponder something else. After a brief silence, he continued, "Maybe you haven't realized it yet. I'll make it clear for you.

"The shockwave from the Death Egg explosion created the merging of multiple realities. Many other realities forged from the possibilities that you did not take in your lifetimes. Something went wrong. In one of the realities, Echidnopolis was transported from its home reality into this one. No one in the city knows the difference, but you will. It will be there on the island when you return, Knuckles. Every echidna is there, even your mother, Lara-Le.

"Anyway, back to the point. This new stranger to us will arrive at Echidnopolis, and will try to conquer Mobius in the same day. My newfound powers have given me the ability to foresee the future events, which I am about to tell you now.

"My agents, the Brotherhood, will be the first to oppose the strangers rule. We will fail, and I will lose my powers, becoming the withered old man I would normally be had I not received the gift of the emeralds. You, Sonic, and your Freedom Fighters however, will not. They shall beat this stranger, so that the planet may be safe again, and you can once again lead your life the way you want." Enerjak finished, and everything was silent. There wasn't a breeze to whisper in their ears, and there wasn't a hint of hostility in either of them. Somehow, Sonic, Knuckles and Tails were forced to believe the story. It seemed to make sense to them, how the pieces easily fell into place, and also since he showed no signs of aggression towards them helped prove his story. It wasn't clear enough though, as Sonic proves now.

"If that's so, why did you pose as a threat to us?" He asked.

"I posed as a threat to you for your advantage. In the beginning, I did want to conquer you all and become ruler of Mobius, but after the vision I had, I knew that I had to still pose a threat to you to make you stronger than you already were, so that you can defeat this new threat." He answered. Sonic scratched his head, trying every way he knew to find some way of proving this maniac wrong, but finding it very difficult. He nudged Knuckles' arm, to try and get him to ask a question.

"Then why did you attempt to make us join you?" Knuckles asked. Enerjak chuckled and nodded.

"Naturally when one has a vision in which he or she sees themselves defeated, they will try to do absolutely everything in their power to prevent it from happening. I was hoping I'd be able to recruit one or more, preferably all of you, so that we could defeat this stranger, and I could continue to reign. I realized only a short while ago that this will be impossible. It is my destiny to be so powerful, and yet I must lose. It is the destiny of you three to be the saviors of Mobius once again, but in order to for this to happen, I must lose. Any other questions?"

"I have another," Sonic began, "what is the name of this new threat, or do you know?"

"I apologize, I do not know the answer to that one. I do not even know what he looks like, if it IS a he." Enerjak replied apologetically. There was a brief silence. It seemed as if all the questions had been answered. Enerjak began his final statement. "Tails, I know that apologizing to you with words is not enough for the crime I have done to you, so I shall apologize in another way. Your girlfriend, Snowflake, is not dead. She will be returned to you, and very soon might I say. After seeing how much you loved and cared for her, I have deeply regretted my actions, but I know that you two will be reunited shortly."

Enerjak started to back up and fade away. He left the trio standing in the exact same spot they were standing when they came to fight him. It came as a shock to them, discovering with disappointment that they would not fight someone who had caused them quite an amount of grief over the past few days.

"Knuckles," Sonic suddenly asked, breaking the silence, "are all your ancestors that fucked in the head?"

It was quiet that night in Knothole, except for the crickets that always came out when it got dark. Tails thought of the crickets chirping as a way of seeing how things were going back to normal on the planet, and to him, the crickets chirping would always be a sign of their victory over Robotnik. Tails also knew that he couldn't really consider it 'normal.' To him, normal was running into Robotropolis and risking his life almost every day. He had been born during the war, and his kin, who had long since successfully hidden themselves from Robotnik since the war started avoided intervention as much as they could. It was all to no avail. They were found 6 months later, and the whole of them eradicated. Some burning to death inside their blazing huts, others lying flat on the ground with holes punched through their chests from lasers and close combat with Swatbots. The main point was that everyone died. Everyone except him. That dreadful day was the one he luckily had learned to fly. While every other Twin Tailed fox was down on the surface being executed one by one, he was frolicking in the sky, flying with the birds. At least, that was what Snowflake told him. She remembered that day like it was yesterday, and she had reminded him many times. It was a heavy burden on her heart. Often she would wake up screaming from the nightmares she would have of that day. The same people dying, children crying and then silenced with the pull of a trigger. The strongest warriors of the colony fighting desperately against the enemy, only to be dishonorably shot in the back by others. It all ended the same way too, she would be hit in the back by something that felt like a tree, then she would turn her head and stare right down the barrel of a laser weapon in the hand of a Swatbot. The sudden shock would cause her to jump just as the Swatbot pulled the trigger. The world would go white and she'd wake up, immediately going to Tails for protection, drenching his fur in her tears. At the time when it happened, she was 10. Tails would've been only 7 months old. Snowflake would reawaken as a robot, and escape from Robotnik, hiding for 5 years. Tails knew the rest of the story. He had captured her then rather by accident near the entrance of Knothole. If Tails had aged naturally, he would've been 5, but the fruit from that tree he ate caused him to mature to that of a 10 year old, and Snowflake hadn't started aging again until after she was deroboticized. In theory, she would have been ten years older than him, but physically, she was only 4 months older than him, simply because of her roboticization that ceased her aging temporarily. Presently, they were both 11. Now of course, she was dead, again, but Enerjak had said that she would return. Tails hoped and prayed to God he was right.

Tails was so deep in thought that he had forgotten where he was. After surveying his surroundings, he saw the watch tower that he had seen Bunnie go up that one day. He climbed up the ladder to see if she was there again tonight. She wasn't, but he stayed up there anyway, looking to the stars.

(Peacefulness and tranquillity)

(I used to dream of those during the war, I had thought it was beautiful, but never as beautiful as this)

He sighed silently. He had been through so much during the war that this seemed like an undeserved paradise. It was better than he had imagined, so he guessed that was why it seemed so undeserved. In every other Mobian who had been born into this peace, but lived through the war, it was good to have things back similar to what they were before. There wasn't any Mobotropolis, and there was no palace, but there wouldn't be one in their lifetimes. That would be decided through the generations of their children. For now, their mission would be to uncover locations of other freedom fighter groups, or any groups in hiding, and liberate them, letting them know that everything would be all right.

(We hope...)

To conclude, Knuckles left Knothole and finally returned to his home on the Floating Island. He met up with the Chaotix, 'accidentally' befriended an outcast of the Brotherhood who identified herself as Julie-Su (and how she managed to get into a clan where 'brother' was the key word is still beyond me) and discovered that what Enerjak had proclaimed was truth. Echidnopolis was back again, and he was reunited with his mother, Lara-Le. Later, the Freedom Fighters would find themselves on the Floating Island once again. Sonic, Knuckles and Tails would discover that Enerjak again was not telling them a lie, as the tyrant known as Mammoth Mogul emerged. He defeated Enerjak with the snap of a finger as it seemed, but he was defeated by the others, just as Enerjak had predicted (refer to the Knuckles series #7, #8, and #9).

Tails soon thereafter became the temporary leader of the Knothole Military, and would hold the position for two years. His post would then be given to Antoine, and Tails would be made a Sergeant.

Rotor began doing his part in the rebirth of the new Mobotropolis, first by studying ways to make flowers grow at an amazing rate. His tests are being conducted somewhere outside of the Great Forest, possibly a great distance from Knothole.

Thank you for reading NEVER Talk To Strangers parts 1 through 5. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.

I invite you to read the story that follows this one, Natural Born Killer.