Universe 220822

Sonic and FS went back with the group and explained that Opaline was already taking over.

In a desperate attempt to fix everything, Eggman suggested to use his factory at Green Hills' South as an operation basement so they could calculate their next moves against Opaline.

First off, however, Hitch and Zipp decided to go back to Equestria, since Sunset arrived and commented that Opaline has stolen all the magic from their universe's Equestria, and that the Mane 6 were the only ones with magic left because they didn't depended on the Crystals outside of Equestria.

Of course, this meant that Hitch and Zipp would had to deal with tons of questions about where have they been, why did they disappeared, why did magic died again, and a long and tiring etcetera.

Sunny would've gone as well, since she didn't wanted that anything bad happened to Hitch, but Zipp assured her that she'll keep an eye on him while they're in Equestria, and that brought a sense of peace and joy to Sunny. She trusted Zipp, and she knew she could watch for Hitch's back.

Right now, it was Eggman, the remaining of the Mane 6, Team Sonic, Team Dark, FS, Twilight and Sunset in the main room of the factory, discussing what to do regarding Opaline.

They had to think and act fast, considering several universes are being destroyed as they speak.

"Well... I honestly have no idea what the heck to do..." Sonic spoke first with concern. "Normally I have an idea of what I'm facing and how to destroy it. True, I act on the fly, and I never think before acting, but it doesn't take away from the fact that I know what I'm facing... This time, however, I have no clue on how to beat the crap out of Opaline..."

"That's because you're still missing the full picture, Hedgehog." Eggman spoke with a slight frown, before quickly making an improved draw of the Paradox Prism on the table. "The Prism was divided in 4 fragments. Said Fragments split up in 5 shards each. Opaline traveled far and wide across the multiverse to get them all and attach them to her bracelets. That's where the power to travel across the multiverse and destroy it comes from."

"It also amplifies her magic..." Shadow pointed out next, since Team Dark also fought against Opaline. "Usually she limits herself to launch blasts of fire, but now she can do a lot more than just that."

"And we saw how one single blast from her horn is more than enough to destroy the reality it hits..." Future Sonic pointed out as well with concern. "We're running out of time here..."

"Okay... So we have 5 shards per hoof, amplified magic thanks to the Prismatic Energy, and the ability to blast an entire world out of existence with one single shot..." Sonic listed out. "...Is hard to act on the fly with all of this... Anyone else here knows or can think about what the heck are we supposed to do?"

"We should head straight to her as a distraction while someone else goes and attempts to get the shards from her!" Knuckles suggested first.

"And risk any of us getting killed?! Not happening!" Amy stopped him.

"No, no... Knuckles actually has a good point..." Shadow said while rubbing his chin. "If the most skilled out of us can distract Opaline long enough, maybe the rest could work together and get the shards away from Opaline. One shard off is more than enough to make her power unstable."

"Yeah, or she could, I don't know, get us all KILLED instead!" Pipp shouted in anger as well.

"But stand here and do nothing is not an option!" Omega said with anger as well.

"Our reality is at stake here! We can't just sit around and hope for a miracle to show up!" Misty joined the argument as well, although no one but Eggman seemed surprised about it.

Perhaps staying with Sonic and company has make a lot of good to her, good that Eggman refused to see until now.

"We can't risk anymore lives, either!" Izzy argued as well. "I'm all for physical intervention, but that doesn't changes the fact that we could all get killed if we're not careful!"

"This is war, and when it comes to war, one must come to a point of acceptance that some have to loose in order for everyone else to win!" Eggman said with a frown. "Is not a matter of wanting, is a matter of acting!"

"That's rich coming from the guy that just a year ago wanted to do exactly what Opaline is doing right now!" Sunset said with anger. "You literally tried to kill Sonic, and if I didn't stopped you, he'll be dead right now!"

"I'm never hearing the end of this, am I?" Eggman deadpanned.

"Just because you wanna help us now doesn't erases all your sins!" Twilight told Eggman as well with a frown. "And Sunset has a point: You tried to do the same than Opaline last year. Don't come to act like an angel now!"

"I'm suppose to be trying to help!" Eggman said with anger as well. "And I agree that distracting Opaline to take the shards from her is the best option we have if we want to defeat her!"

"We're not exchanging lives!" Pipp said with anger again.

"But we can't just stand here, either!" Knuckles countered with anger, too.

And so, a fight to decide which was the best option began. Well, it wasn't a fight, since no one was launching with punches at each other... not yet. They're at the edge of reaching that point, though. Instead, this was an argument about morality.., The kind of argument both Sonic and Sunny hated.

Which was the best option? Throw some of their friends to the battlefield as bait for Opaline while others go and steal the Prism's shards from her bracelets, or stand back and plan something else when there's no time?

None of them liked these kind of situations where they had to choose between staying neutral or take a hard decision. They both glanced at each other for a moment, and Sonic moved his head so they could head outside and take some air. Sunny nodded in agreement.

They both made sure that everyone was still fighting among themselves on what to do, before quietly stepping back and then head towards the exit. They didn't wanted to hear their friends, and Eggman, arguing.

Nobody seemed to notice this... Nobody except for one person. For one hedgehog.

The two of them eventually reached an area with a balcony.

Once there, Sonic leaned over the balcony and placed his arms in there, also burring his face on his hands, while Sunny leaned as well and placed her hooves and head on the balcony, like a saddened dog in need of attention.

None of them liked when their friends broke into an argument that always led to everyone discussing with everyone. And when it comes to make a decision that will make some happy and satisfied, but not others, it was even worse, because they wanted to please everyone.

They know is impossible, but that has never stopped them from trying.

"Is in times like this that I wished Longclaw was here..." Sonic commented suddenly. "Whenever Tails and I broke into an argument, she always managed to make us fix our differences... Never knew how she did it. She just... did..."

"I get ya..." Sunny said with a sad smile. "When we were foals, Sprout and I always got into arguments regarding the veracity of ponykind being together so long ago... My Dad always managed to make us all get into an agreement, despite our different ideologies..."

"I guess it's true what they say: No matter your age, you always need your parents, even if you don't want to admit it..." Sonic said with sadness.

"Yeah..." Sunny agreed with a sigh.

Suddenly, they heard someone approaching, but they didn't had to turn around, because said someone stood at their side... It was FS, who also leaned in the balcony.

None of them said anything. They all just choose to believe they were there to take some fresh air and get away from the noise inside the factory.

"...One of my biggest concerns ever since I formed the Society was that... That I had to see so many people loosing their loved ones just because it was "Canon"..." Future Sonic eventually spoke. "It was so stupid from me thinking that they had to let it happen... Maybe if I knew that Canon can be changed, I would've told them to save them... But I didn't..."

"Well, you cannot fix your past mistakes..." Sonic said. "But you can learn from them, be better than you already are."

FS chuckled and smiled, then they all went into silence again... Which didn't lasted long.

"You know? I never got the chance to ask, but... What happened to your other eye?" Sunny asked FS out of curiosity.

Future Sonic chuckled after hearing the question. "...I loose it because of my world's Eggman's badniks. They shot at my eye while I was running away from them... I think you know the rest..."

"You didn't had your powers back then, did you?" Sonic asked.

"No... I was just a regular citizen until Eggman killed my parents for an unpaid debt they had..." Future Sonic replied with sadness. "Then I saw a kid dying right after I saved it... That's what impulsed me to be the guy you see right now."

"A grumpy Sonic with anger issues?" Sunny mocked up with a smirk, and Sonic snorted.

Future Sonic deadpanned at them and rolled his eyes. "And then Twilight asks me why I'm not open with my emotions..."

Sonic chuckled, before sighing and looking ahead, beyond the balcony. "I have no idea on what to do anymore. Opaline is the most dangerous she's ever been right now... Our world could get hit, although that would kill her, so I doubt she'll destroy it for real..."

"And yet our friends are arguing if risking some lives to save every other one is the best option..." Sunny said with concern. "I know that every life is at stake in general, ours included, but... Isn't there a way we can all win where we don't have to throw some lives as bait?!"

"Well, unless we can find another Paradox Prism which we can use against Opaline's, I don't think we'll be saving anyone anytime soon..." Sonic deadpanned.

However, once Sonic said that last thing, FS' eye widened... Because he knew perfectly that there is another Paradox Prism.

It doesn't works the same way as the one from this universe, true... But its power split one reality in five. Maybe, just maybe, it could be the key to defeat Opaline... Although that also meant that they would had to travel to the Forbidden Universe, and idea FS despised with his soul.

"Ah crap..." Future Sonic groaned.

"Huh?" Sonic said confused. "What's the matter?"

"...There is another Paradox Prism... But I don't like where we have to go to get it..." Future Sonic replied with concern and annoyance.

"Wait... really?!" Sunny asked with a hopeful smile. "WE HAVE A WAY TO DEFEAT OPALINE STILL?!"

"Don't get excited, Sunny... I hate where we have to go in order to get that Prism, and maybe also some help from the inhabitants of that universe..." Future Sonic stated with a frown. "But desperate situations require desperate solutions, and I have reached a point where I don't care what we have to do... If we're gonna stop Opaline, we'll take all our chances to win. Whatever it takes... right?"

FS smiled at Sonic and Sunny, and they smiled back at him. FS seriously hated this idea, but like he said, they were running out of time... And they needed to act fast.

"Whatever it takes!" Sonic stated as well with a smirk.

"Whatever it takes!" Sunny declared as well with a confident smile.

Back with the rest, they were still discussing what was best to do.

However, once they all heard a whistle, they turned to see FS, Sonic and Sunny, as they all approached back to the table with serious expressions, but the most intimidating one was FS'.

"Alright, if you're done talking crap, I want you to listen: We are NOT approaching Opaline!" Future Sonic spoke with a frown.

Of course, this made some like Pipp and Amy sigh in relief, but others like Knuckles and Shadow wanted to protest.

"But––" Knuckles tried to argue.

"HOWEVER!" Sunny raised her voice, and silence filled the room again. "We are not standing here either!"

"Huh?" Izzy said confused, and the rest seemed as confused as her.

"Then what are we gonna do?!" Eggman asked with a frown, tired of waiting for orders to just come along.

"Instead of standing here and wait for something to happen, we're gonna go and bring our own miracle!" Sonic said with a smirk.

After that, FS removed his watch and placed it over the middle of the table to show footage from a certain universe, the world where there's another Paradox Prism.

"Whoa!" Some among the group said amazed.

"Where is that supposed to be?" Misty asked confused.

Twilight and Sunset, however, gasped when they recognized the footage FS was showing.

"Wait a minute... Isn't that...?!" Twilight tried to ask.

"It is!" Sunset said in shock.

"That's right!" Future Sonic said with a smirk, looking at the footage. "To assure victory and defeat Opaline, we're going to Universe 151222, The Forbidden Universe..."

Author's Note

Hello! Once again, I'm back with an interlude!

In case you forgot what they are: The interludes are bridges between each part, working both as an Epilogue for the previous part, and as a Prologue for the next one.

This way, you can all see what awaits the next part, and I don't leave you without content for a month.

No universes were featured today, but we did heard about Universe 151222, which is (as you should know already since I've mentioned it, like, 3 times in Part 1) Sonic Prime's universe, which will be relevant for Part 3's first half!

Don't worry, Prime won't get all the spotlight. We still have to see what's up with Opaline and how she's still fucking up the multiverse. This is going to be fun!

Thanks for reading up to this point. You have no idea how much it means to me that we're so, so close to end the saga, and I'm really thankful with all of you for having reading up to this point. If you commented or if you didn't, doesn't matter: You are the reason why this saga is coming to an end, and I can't thank you enough for being here.

See ya on August 4th, when Part 3 releases. Ciao!