Sonic the Hedgehog: Power Play

Author:  Hyper 802
Time line:  one week after "The Sister He Never Had."

Cast:

Princess Sally Acorn
Destiny entity
Diane Forests
Uncle Chuck Hedgehog
Jessica Hedgehog
Sonic Hedgehog
Mecha-Sonic
Dan Michaels
Peace entity
Miles "Tails'" Prower
Doctor Quack
Bunnie Rabbot
Rotor
Snively


	"Sonic, you will go distract the swatbots while we go and blow up the 
generators," says Sally.  Sonic gives a thumb's up and takes off for the 
entrance of the power plant.  "Yo, Swatbutt.  Do you have the time?" taunts 
Sonic.  "PRIORITY ONE HEDGEHOG." reply the bots.
	"No, well I gotta juice," says Sonic as he runs in a random direction 
with the swatbots right behind him.  "The coast is clear," says Dan as he 
looks through a pair of binoculars.  "Okay, lets move out," orders Sally.  The 
group quietly move towards the power plant.  "Rotor, crack the lock's 
combination." Rotor starts to work on the lock's circuitry.
	Meanwhile, Sonic runs into an ally that ends in a brick wall.  "Man, I 
hate dead ends," mutters Sonic.  The swatbots catch up to the road burning 
blue hedgehog and move in for the kill.  "It's time to slice and dice some 
swatbutts," yells out Sonic as he slices bot after bot with his spin attack.  
Sonic quickly reduce the dark gray robots to a pile of spare parts in no time 
flat.  "I better get back to the others," thinks Sonic as he heads for the 
power plant at half of his top speed.
	"We're in," calls Rotor after a few minutes of working hard on the 
locking mechanism.  "Good," says Sally.  They quickly run in and spread out to 
plant the demolition charges through out the building.  "Be sure to plant some 
on the generators as well," instructs Sally.
	"HALT, FREEDOM FIGHTERS.  SURRENDER OR BE TERMINATED," orders a lone 
swatbot.  "How about not," calls out Dan as he slices the bot into a million 
pieces.  "Good move, Dan," comments Sonic as he was entering the power plant.
	"Thanks.  Sally, the bombs are planted," calls out Dan.  Sally 
acknowledges the report with a quick nod and yells out, "Everybody out!"  The 
freedom fighters very quickly run out of the doomed facility.  "<Gulp>  Sonic, 
I thought that you took care of those swatbots," says Rotor.
	"I did."
	"Well, lets take them out again," says Dan as he ran around some of the 
bots forming a mini-cyclone.  "Yeah," says Sonic as he spin dashed into some 
of the bots tearing them to shreds.  Dan and Sonic quickly wipe the bots out 
of existence the only evidence that the bots were ever there was the pile of 
spare swatbot parts.  "Lets get back to Knothole," yells Sally.  Then a bright 
yellow beam flies towards Sally with deadly accuracy.  "Sally!!!!"  Dan 
quickly pushes Sally out of the way of the lethal energy discharge, but he 
doesn't have enough momentum to clear it himself thus getting nailed by the 
blast in Sally's place.  "Dan, are you okay?" asks Sonic.
	"Yeah, but it sure packs a one heck of a punch," says Dan as he shook 
out the cobwebs.  "Watch out!  Incoming!"  They all run for cover, but the 
beam is following Dan as if it was some kind of pet that always follows its 
beloved master.  The beam starts to gain on him.  "Dan, look out!" calls 
out Rotor.  Dan looks back and picks up the pace, but with no luck, it caught 
up to him and hit him again.  This time he is knocked unconscious from the 
energy blast.  "Dan!!"  They run up to their fallen comrade, and Sally quickly 
and immediately checks for his pulse.  She finds that Dan still has a pulse, 
and she then checks the see if he is breathing.  Sally and the others are 
relieved that Dan is still alive.  Sally says, "We need to get him out of here 
and fast."
	"No prob, Sal," says Sonic as he pulls out his super power ring and 
transforms into Super Sonic.  Super Sonic picks up Dan and takes off for 
Knothole at top speed leaving a massive sonic boom in his wake.
	A very few seconds later at Knothole, "Yo, Doc.  Incoming patient," 
calls out Super Sonic.  Doctor Quack quickly runs out of his office with his 
medical bag.  "Who is it?"
	"It's Dan, he was hit twice by an unknown energy blast."
	"Place him on the examining table," orders Dr. Quack.  Super Sonic 
complies with Dr. Quack's order.  Once Dan is on the table, Dr. Quack goes to 
work.  Ten minutes later, "Sonic, will you please wait outside," asks Dr. 
Quack.  Sonic quietly walks out of the med. hut.  "Sonic, how is he," asks 
Sally as she walked up to him with a worried Diane in tow.  "I don't know.  
Dr. Quack is working on him now," says Sonic.  Then Dr. Quack solemnly walks 
out of the med. hut.  "Well, how is he?" asks Diane.
	"Stable, but he is still unconscious," says Dr. Quack.
	"Can I see him?"
	"Yes, you can."  Dr. Quack leads them into a room in the I.C.U ward, and 
there in the med. bed is Dan out like a light and hooked up to various medical 
analysis machines.  "I tried to wake him up, but he did not respond to any of 
the stimulants that I had used on him," says Dr. Quack, "He'll have to wake up 
on his own."  Diane quietly goes to and sits by Dan's bed to keep a long and 
silent vigil over her beloved.  "How long will he be out?" asks Sally.
	"I don't know, he could be out for hours, days, weeks, months, or even 
years," answers Dr. Quack.  A week has passed and Dan's condition still hasn't 
changed at all.  Dr. Quack is checking up on Dan when a warning buzzer goes 
off calling for his immediate attention.  "What?!?!"  Dr. Quack immediately 
goes to work trying to resuscitate Dan, but after five long minutes of trying 
to restore Dan's life, he gives up and sadly logs the time of death.  He then 
went off to find Diane, Sonic, and Sally to tell them the bad news.  Ten 
minutes later, he finds them by the power ring pool with Jessica and Tails.  
"I have some bad news, but lets go to the med. hut first," says Dr. 
Quack.  Five minutes later at the med. hut, "The bad news is that Dan is 
dead," Dr. Quack glumly says.
	"No, it can't be true.  Dan isn't dead," says Diane on the verge of 
tears.  "See for yourselves," Dr. Quack sadly says.  He then leads them to 
Dan's room.  Diane starts to cry heavily when she sees the monitors that are 
still hooked up to Dan are not changing.  Dr. Quack and the others try to 
console Diane on her loss.  Then from under the sheet a soft, faint glow 
develops.  Then the sounds of the equipment detecting the signs of life.  
"What the," calls out a surprised Dr. Quack as he looks at the equipments' 
print outs.  "What is it?" asks Sally.
	"It's Dan, he is alive, but this print out shows that he was dead for 
about twenty minutes," says a confused Dr. Quack.  He then checks Dan's 
heart which is beating with a strength and vigor that has never been seen or 
heard before.  "Well is he back from the dead?" asks Sonic.  
	"Yes, and look at this!"  On Dan's left hand chest is his birthmark 
which is still giving off a faint glow.  "Nicole, access any and all data on 
Guardians of peace," requests Sally as she opens up her portable computer. 
	"Working.  Guardians of peace, also known as Peace Guardians.  Guardians 
of this type have a birthmark on their right hand palm that looks like this," 
says Nicole as she displays a picture of Dan's birthmark, "This mark "moves" 
to the left hand side of the guardian's chest at the age of twenty.  They are 
also considered to be semi-immortal meaning that they can't be killed unless 
it is by old age or by the hands of their best friend.  Their powers have 
never been fully explored and properly documented.  End of file."
	"Wow!!!  I didn't know that," says Sonic.
	"Yeah, umm, bro, is Dan twenty years old?" asks Jessica.
	"No, he's eighteen like the rest of us except for you and Tails," says 
Sonic.  "I think that this happened because of those blasts that he was hit 
with," says Sally.
	"Ugh, did any one get the number of the hover unit that hit me?" asks 
Dan as he sat up.  Diane runs over and hugs him tightly.  "What's that for?" 
asks Dan a bit confused.  "Because we thought that you were gone forever," says 
Sonic.  "You mean that I died and was revived by Dr. Quack."
	"Yes, you did die, but it was your birthmark that had brought you back 
to life," says Sally while pointing at his chest.  Dan looks at her with a 
confused look on his face.  Then Diane and Sally help him over to a mirror and 
show him his reflection.  Dan looks at his reflection and sees his birthmark 
on his left chest as if it was a badge  "Dan, do you know what this means?" 
asks Diane.  "Yeah, it means that my powers are at their adult strength," 
replies Dan.  "That's way past cool," exclaims Sonic.
	"Yeah, it sure is," says Dan.
	"I'm sure that Dan would like to get some thing to eat, seeing how he 
didn't eat anything for the past week," says Dr. Quack.
	"Don't worry, Doc, we were going to the dining hall any way," says 
Sonic.  Sonic and the others zoom off for the dining hall.  "Dan, I'm glad 
that you didn't stay dead for long," says Diane while holding onto Dan.  "Me 
too because I wouldn't be able to be with you, Diane," replies Dan while 
carrying Diane in his arms.  "Sonic, isn't there a slight 'ghosting' effect 
when Dan runs at your speed," asks Sally.
	"Yeah, there is.  Why," asks Sonic while carrying Sally.
	"Because there isn't any 'ghosting' at all," says Jessica as she pulls 
up to her brother while using a power ring.  "You're right there isn't any 
'ghosting'," says Sonic a surprised.
	A little bit later at the dining hall, "I think that the blast that you 
took increased your speed," says Sonic.  "You're right, Sonic, it did because 
I didn't have to use my powers to keep up with you," replies Dan.  "Hi, yall," 
says Bunnie as she walks into the dining hall.  "Hi, Bunnie."  Bunnie sits 
with the rest of them.
	"Dan; Tails and Jessica say that your pretty good with your fighting 
skills.  How about a competition.  No holds bar and the first to be knocked 
out or to tap out loses," challenges Bunnie.
	"Sure, I could use the exercise after lying around doing nothing for a 
week," answers Dan.
	"Okay, noon today at the town square," says Bunnie.
	Noon arrives to find Bunnie and Dan standing on a mat with some of the 
FF. there to watch the match.  Bunnie starts off with some lightening punches 
to Dan's torso.  Dan quickly and deftly blocks the punches.  He then follows 
up with a few leg sweeps which Bunnie jumped over.  She then returns the 
sweeps with a jump kick.  Dan quickly rolls to one side and side kicks Bunnie 
into the mat.  She quickly gets up and starts to lightening kick Dan.  Dan 
dodges the kicks and sets himself up for a round house kick.  Bunnie sees her 
opportunity and quickly puts Dan into a choke hold.  Dan's vision starts to 
black out when the adrenaline kicks in and triggers his transformation.  His 
quills become six inches longer, his skin an impenetrable armor and his 
color shifts from blonde to a bright metallic silver.  Bunnie and most of the 
FF. present don't notice his transformation.  "Sally, what's happening to 
Dan?" asks Jessica.
	"I don't know," replies Sally.  She looks at the others and sees that 
they are just as confused.  "What???  He's not going down," thinks Bunnie; she 
puts more pressure on Dan's neck, so much that it would of crushed any one 
else's neck, any one that's normal.  Dan quickly grabs Bunnie's arm and pulls 
it from his neck.  He then breaks free and Bunnie immediately notices Dan's 
transformation.  "What on Mobius......," but she never got the chance to 
finish her sentence because Dan knocked her out with one good upper cut to the 
jaw.  "Dan, how did you transform," asks Sonic as he and the other core 
Freedom Fighters walk up to him.  Dr. Quack is busy bringing Bunnie around.  
"What do you mean, Sonic?"  Sonic takes off and returns with a mirror.  
	"This is what I mean," says Sonic while holding up the mirror to Dan.
	"Whoa, I'm now silver" says Dan.  As the adrenaline rush wears off, his 
color starts to fade back to normal, but his quills are permanently changed.  
"Well it looks like you're back to normal except for your quills," say Tails.  
	"Oh well, but they don't look that bad though," says Dan while examining 
his quills.  Nicole starts to buzz constantly.  Sally pulls out Nicole and 
opens her up.  "What is it, Nicole," asks Sally.
	"Sally, I detected this energy pattern during Dan's transformation," 
says Nicole as she displayed an energy wave form on her display.  "Dan! You've 
absorbed the energy equal to fifty power rings and seven chaos emeralds," says 
Sally.  "But, how chaos emeralds are rare and hard to get," says Sonic.
	"The energy blast!!!!" they yell out.
	"Great, Snively has built a weapon that uses fifty power rings and seven 
chaos emeralds as a power source," says Sonic.  
	"We have to destroy it and soon," says Rotor.
	"I'll have Unc. get going on looking for its location," says Sonic.
	"I'm coming too," adds Dan.
	"Okay, be in and out.  No heroics," says Sally.
	"We're gone," says Sonic as he and Dan take off for Robotropolis.  A few 
minutes later, the duo arrive at the junk yard where Uncle Chuck has his base 
of operations.  "Yo, Unc, are you in here?" asks Sonic as he and Dan enter the 
hide out.  "Over here, Sonnie-boy,' calls Uncle Chuck, "What can I do for you 
two?"
	"We need you to find the location of Snively's latest weapon," says 
Sonic.  "I'll get right on it, and how did you find out before I did?"
	"Because I was hit by it twice," says Dan as he stepped out from behind 
Sonic.  "Dan, how did you survive the blast?"
	"It's a long story," begins Dan as he tells his story to Uncle Chuck.  
Five minutes later, "So that explains the symbol on your chest and how you 
survived," says Uncle Chuck.
	"Yeah, that's about all of it," says Dan.
	"We better get back to Knothole," says Sonic as he checks for any bots 
in the area.  As they leave the junk yard a spy orb detects their presence.  
In the control center, "How did that hedgehog survive?" asks Snively, "All 
swatbot prepare for reprogramming."  Snively starts to reprogram their 
priorities.  When he has finished uploading the new priorities he orders a 
swatbot to state its priorities.  "PRIORITY ONE: CAPTURE SONIC HEDGEHOG.  
PRIORITY TWO: CAPTURE DAN MICHAELS.  PRIORITY THREE: CAPTURE OTHER FREEDOM 
FIGHTERS," drones the bot.
	"Good, I'll get those answers one way or another," sneers Snively.
	Meanwhile back at Knothole, "Okay, Sal, Unc is looking for the weapon's 
local as we speak," says Sonic.  
	"Good.  Dan, how do you feel?" asks Sally.
	"Great.  I never had this much energy period," says Dan.
	"All right, when we get the information, we'll go take out the weapon, 
and I don't mean on a date!!!" says Sally cutting off Dan's or Sonic's 
comment.  "Well, I guess that we'll have to cancel the flowers," prompts Dan.
	"And the candies," adds Sonic.  Sally looks down as she holds her fore 
head.  "No sooner than I close one door of comments.  They open another one on 
me.  The comments have become more frequent since Dan had returned," she 
thought.  "You two are indiscourageable," she says.  Sonic and Dan look at 
each other and then say, "We try."  Sally almost falls over from shock, but 
Sonic caught her in time.  "Hey, Sal. Are you okay?" asks Sonic.
	"I'll go get the smelling salts," says Dan as he quickly heads to the 
med. hut.  Back at Robotroplis, Uncle Chuck finds the locations of the super 
weapon.  "I have to get this to Sally and quick," thinks Uncle Chuck as he 
places the data disk into a compartment on a mecha bird.  He quickly sends the 
little bot to Knothole.  Meanwhile back at Knothole, Dan is enjoying some time 
alone with his girlfriend.  "So what are you thinking about?"
	"I was thinking about what to do with the rings and emeralds when we go 
blow this thing up.  If we do nothing, Snively will just build another one and 
the rings and emeralds are hard to destroy," says Dan.  "Then we'll take them 
when we leave," says Diane.
	"You're right."  Dan notices the robo bird landing on Sally's window 
sill.  "Uncle Chuck has found it," says Diane also noticing the bird.  The 
couple get ready for the mission as Sally was picking up the little bot.  
"Hey, Sal.  What's the message?" asks Sonic.
	"He has found the location of the weapon," says an excited Sally.
	"Way past cool.  So when do we go and trash it?"
	"Immediately.  Go get Dan and Rotor," orders Sally.
	"I'll be back in a flash."  Sonic takes off to go find Rotor and Dan.  
"Rotor will be in his workshop, and Dan will be either with Diane, in his hut, 
or training Tails and sis," thought Sonic as he speeds towards Rotor's 
workshop.  "Yo, Rote.  Sally's hut and pronto," calls out Sonic as he stops 
outside of Rotor's workshop.  "I'm going now," says Rotor as he walks out of 
his workshop.  "Have you seen Dan?"
	"Nope."
	"All right.  I'll go search for him," says Sonic as he starts to look 
for his best friend.  Sonic looks all over Knothole and can't find Dan 
anywhere.  "Man, Sally isn't going to like this," thinks Sonic as he heads 
back to Sally's hut.  He arrives shortly and enters her hut.  He was about to 
tell Sally that he can't find Dan when he sees Dan, Sally, and Rotor waiting 
on him.  "Let me guess, Dan saw the bird bot and got ready for a mission?"
	"Yup, I did," replies Dan.
	"Back to the business at hand, the weapon is located here on top of 
Snively's command center.  We will scale the walls and enter here at this air 
duct.  Sonic and Dan will cut off the grate and drop two ropes down the shaft.  
Once inside Sonic will draw the swatbots way from the weapon so that we can 
plant the charges," instructs Sally.
	"But, first we must remove the power rings and chaos emeralds.  If we 
don't, Snively will build another weapon and reuse the rings and emeralds," 
adds Dan.  "We don't want that to happen," comments Rotor.
	"So we just go in, distract the bots, take the rings and emeralds, and 
blow it up.  Sounds like a blast," says Sonic eagerly.
	"What are we waiting for?  Snively to send an invite?" remarks Dan.
	"Nope," answers Rotor.
	"Oh yeah, that will be quite the sight Snively sending us an invite that
reads Freedom fighters you are cordially invited to come and blow up my latest 
weapon," says Sonic sarcastically.  "Lets beat feet," adds Sonic as he picked up 
Sally.  "Hang on, Rote," calls Dan as he revs up.
	"Okay," says Rotor as he grabs Dan around the shoulders.  Dan pulls up 
to Sonic and puts on a pair of headphones.  Sonic and Sally look at him.  
"What?  It's traveling music," comments Dan.  Sally just shakes her head, and 
Sonic just grins slyly.  A short while later the quartet arrive at Snively's 
control center.  "Does any one have a rope," asks Rotor.
	"We don't need ropes for scaling this," say Sonic and Dan, "Just hang 
on."  They race up the side of the building and deposit their passengers on 
the roof.  "Okay.  Dan and Sonic, do your thing," says Sally. 
	"One entrance coming up," comments Dan as he and Sonic cut the grate's 
housing with their spin attack.  Dan ties one end of the ropes on to a secure 
surface while Sonic tosses the other ends into the vent.  Sally and Rotor walk 
up to the opening.  "You first, Sonic," says Sally.
	"Going down," comments Sonic as he climbs down the rope.  He is followed 
by Sally, Rotor, and finally Dan.  Sally signals Sonic to do his bit.  "Yo, 
Swatbutts.  Guess who," calls Sonic as he looks around the corner.  
	"PRIORITY ONE HEDGEHOG." 
	"Somebody give them a cuppy doll," calls out Sonic as he races off with 
the bots in hot pursuit.  When the bots pass the hidden freedom fighters, 
Sally says, "Lets move it people."  They quickly move into the room with 
Snively's most powerful weapon in it.  "I hope that we have enough charges," 
comments Rotor as he notices the size of the unit.  "More than enough," says 
Dan who has all ready started planting the charges on and around the device.  
He tosses Rotor his now empty pack.  Rotor quickly places the chaos emeralds 
and power rings into the bag.  Sally plants the last charge on the unit's 
firing mechanism.  "That's it.  Lets get out of here," calls Rotor as he 
places the last emerald into the pack.  Then a battered Sonic comes running 
into the room.  "Sonic, what happened?" asks Sally.
	"Snively has a new bot.  It calls itself Mecha-Sonic," answers Sonic.  
Just then Mecha-Sonic runs in with a team of swatbots.  "Ah, the gang is all 
here, what a nice surprise.  Hmm, Sally, Rotor, and my name sake," says the 
bot.  "What?!?!  Wasn't there four of us," thinks Sally.  Then the swatbots 
start to fall apart for no apparent reason.  "I think that you miss counted, 
or don't I count as a freedom fighter," says a smug Dan.
	"What?!?!" says Mecha as he turns around and sees Dan standing over the 
disassembled swatbots.  "You!!!  I'll take care of you just as easily as I did 
him," says the bot as it pointed to Sonic.
	"Do you know what my favorite pass time is?  No?!?!  It's kick the can.  
I don't see any cans, but you will do just fine," Dan says with a sadistic grin 
on his face.  Dan then kicks the bot with all of his might  The bot reels back 
and then rushes at Dan who quickly dodges the bot.  "Hey, poky.  Is that all 
you got?" asks Dan, "Sally, you and the others get out and quick.  I'll hold it 
right here."  Sally nods as she, Sonic, and Rotor run for the air vent.  Then 
Dan is hit by Mecha-Sonic.  Dan hits the wall and slides down it leaving a 
streak of blood on it.  Mecha-Sonic stands over his fallen adversary and 
starts to gloat.  "Ha, you'll be dead in a matter of seconds.  By the look of 
that wound, I must of pierced your heart," says the bot.  Then Dan's birthmark 
starts to glow with a bright, soft white light.  "What the......."  The bot 
doesn't finish its sentence for Dan has just recovered and sends the bot deep 
into the weapon's housing.  "I'm gone," says Dan as he runs to the vent.
	Meanwhile on the roof, "Where is he?  He should of been here by now," 
says Sonic.  "Don't worry, he'll be here and soon," says Sally.
	"Besides, I'd hate to tell Diane why he didn't return with us," says 
Sonic.  "Like Sally said don't worry about it," says Dan as he climbed out of 
the vent.  "Dan, good timing," says Sonic.  Then they notice the blood trail.
	"Dan, you're injured," exclaims Sally.
	"Oh, this.  It's just a flesh wound.  I got it while fighting Mecha.  
Speaking of that pile of junk, I buried it in the weapon.  So how about 
blowing up that puppy, Sally," says Dan.
	"All right.  Nicole, detonate the charges."
	"Right away, Sally."  The building rocks with a violent force of the 
massive explosion.  "That it for the weapon and Mecha," says Dan as he heads 
for the edge of the roof.  "Sonic, I think that Dan lied about his injury," 
whispered Sally.  "Oh, why is that," whispers back Sonic.  Then Sally points 
out the blood trail on Dan's back.  "Oh," whispers Sonic.  The four repel down 
the side of the building.  On the ground, "Okay team, lets head home," says 
Sally.  "Yeah, I could use a nap," yawns Dan.  The group quickly head out of 
the city, when they meet a patrol of swatbots face to face.  "PRIORITY ONE AND 
TWO HEDGEHOGS DETECTED," states the bots.  "Ut-oh," exclaims Dan and Sonic as 
they split up taking half of the bots with them.  Sonic and Dan drop off their 
passengers and told them to get back to Knothole and that they will take care 
of the pursuing bots.  Then two take off again with the bots pursuing them.  
They then race back towards each other and duck into a nearby air vent.  The 
pursuing bots crash into each other leaving a pile of destroyed bots where Dan 
and Sonic should of been standing. 
	Five minutes later, Sonic and Dan arrive at Knothole.  "Where have you 
two been?" asks a stern Sally and Diane.  
	"Well, we got some news for you two even though Sally already knows 
this," says Sonic.
	"Well spit it out," says Sally.
	"Snively has Dan programmed as a priority two hedgehog," says Sonic.
	"Dan, do you know what the means?" asks Sally.
	"I don't want to know," says Dan.
	"This means that you can draw away any swatbots left behind or in 
another area," says Sally.
	"Cool, I don't have to do all the work," says Sonic.
	"Great, just my luck," Dan says sarcastically.
	Two days later, Dan and Diane are walking in the forest along with Sonic 
and Sally.  They are talking about the latest development, when Sonic comes 
across a cave marked with the peace guardians' symbol.  "Dan, look at this," 
calls out Sonic.  Dan and Diane rush up to where Sonic's voice had came from.  
"Sonic, what is it?" asks Dan as he walked up to Sonic.
	"I've found a cave with your birth mark marking its entrance," says Sonic.
	"So how about finding out what is inside," suggests Sally.
	"Okay.  Lets explore it."  The four friends enter the cave and notice 
some strange writing on the wall that looks similar to ancient Mobian.  Sally 
grabs Nicole from her vest and opens the unit.  "Nicole, translate this 
writing," requests Sally.
	"Sally, forget it," says Dan.
	"Why?" asks a shocked Sally.
	"Because I can read it, it's in the language of the guardians'," says 
Dan with his eyes closed.  "Well what does it mean?" asks Sonic.
	"It tells of four tests that I have to pass.  They involve skill, 
bravery, wisdom, and heart," says Dan.
	"How do you test a heart," asks Sonic while scratching his head.
	"It depends on the person and what ever gives the tests," says Dan.
	"What else does it say," asks Diane.
	"Once thee has passed the tests thou shall be judge worthy of thee's 
legacy and destiny."
	"So now what do we do?" asks Sally.
	"I do this alone," says Dan.
	"Not with out me," says Diane stubbornly, "I'll follow you any way."
	"Okay," says Dan.
	"Count us in too," says Sonic and Sally.
	"All right," says Dan as he rolls his eyes back and takes the lead.
	
	A few moment later, "Dan, what is going on?" asks Sonic as he fought 
to keep his balance in the shaking room.  "It's the first test," says Dan, 
"Everyone hang on and what ever you do, don't let go of me."  They all grab 
onto him.  Dan quickly freezes time to stop the room's shaking and the falling 
objects.  Dan quickly leads them out of the room and into another.  Then a 
door closes behind them.  "Whew, we're safe," says Dan as he returns the flow 
of time to normal.  "Dan, I thought that you told me that you can't freeze 
time for any one else but you," says Sonic.
	"I couldn't with my powers below their adult strength," says Dan.
	"Dan, this test is so easy, we can just swim across this pool of water," 
says Diane.  Dan looks at the pool skeptically and tosses a pebble into the 
alleged water.  The pebble dissolves into nothingness.  That was the strange 
and very faint smell that he had picked up, it was acid.  "What happened to 
the pebble," asks Sally.
	"It was dissolved by the acid," says Dan coolly.
	"Acid!!!!" exclaim the other three.
	"How will we cross," asks Sonic.
	"Like this," says Dan as he picks up a stone and throws it at the 
ceiling.  There is a loud rumble as a bridge falls from the cave's ceiling.  
"How did you know that was there," asks Sonic.
	"I saw the outline and the button.  But the button was out of reach," 
replies Dan as he starts to cross the bridge with the others behind him.  "So 
far he has passed two tests," says one of the two robed figures excitedly.
	"He shows promise, but will he pass them all?" asks the companion.  They 
look back to see what is happening.  "Dan, what is it," asks a scared Diane.
	"It's a giant spider," said Dan trying to keep his own fear in check.
	"Lets run for it," calls out Sally.
	"No, I'm not going to run from this," says Dan.
	"But we can't fight that thing," protests Sally.
	"We don't have to.  Look," says Dan as he points to its drag line, "I'm 
betting that it is sitting over a chasm."  "Sonic, hand me a sharp stone," 
asks Dan.  Sonic quickly finds what Dan asked for.  "Here you go, Dan," says 
Sonic as he hands Dan the stone.
	"Here goes nothing.  Man, I really hate spiders," thought Dan as he 
raced at the spider and throws the stone.  Bull's eye, Dan cleanly cuts the 
line, and the spider plummets to the bottom.  Just as it hits bottom, the 
group hear a sickening crunch.  "Good job, Dan," says a relieved Diane.
	"It was nothing," Dan comments as he walks across a narrow ledge.  The 
four then find themselves in a large cavern with a sword in the center of it.  
"Wow, that is one elegant looking weapon," comments Dan.  The ceiling comes 
crashing on top of them.  Dan quickly transforms due to the adrenaline that is 
flowing through his system and holds up the ceiling.  "Get out," orders Dan.
	"Not without you," says Sally.
	"Sally, you and Sonic are too important to the cause.  We can't afford 
to lose you two," says Dan through clenched teeth.
	"I'm staying with you no matter what you say," says Diane.
	"Diane, I can't rest peacefully knowing that you died because of me.  I 
love you too much for that to happen.  So please honor my last wish and leave 
so that you can live your life," says Dan.  Just as he said that the ceiling 
returns to where it belongs and then a white robed figure appeara.  "Dan 
Michaels, I have judged you worthy of your right to be called peace 
guardian," it says, "You caring for the safety of your friends and 
the love for Diane Forests have allowed you to make the ultimate sacrifice, 
losing your life so that they may live."
	"Who are you?" asks Dan.
	"I am known as Peace."
	"You have shown your wisdom, courage, and your skill, and most 
importantly your caring and loving heart, for without such a heart a guardian 
is useless, they won't be able to stay on the side of justice and 
righteousness," says Peace, "You may claim your sword.  So 
that you can defend your friends from any threats that will surface."  Dan 
solemnly walks up to the sword and gently picks it up.  Then a red, silver, 
and golden energy flow around him forming a series of rings around him.  
"What's happening to him," asks Diane who is concerned for her love.  
	"What you are witnessing is the bonding.  Where the sword and guardian 
become a part of each other," answers Peace.  Just as fast as it began it is 
over.  Dan now looks to be a couple years older than he was earlier.  "How 
about we go home," says Dan.
	"How?  The doors have closed behind us," asks Sally.
	"Hold my hands," says Dan.  They all grab his hands; then in a puff of 
white smoke Dan teleports them to Knothole.  "How did you do that?" asks 
Sally.  "It's one of my new powers," says Dan.
	"Dan, Sally, Diane, and Sonic, what happened.  Where did you find that 
sword?" asks Tails as the other core freedom fighters join them.  "Tails, it's 
a long story.  One that I'll tell every one during dinner," says Dan as he and 
Diane walk to the dining hall.
	"I think that things are going to be a little bit more interesting," 
whispers Sally in Sonic's ear.  "Oh, Sal, why is that," asks Sonic.
	"Dan and Diane's love for each other seems to be a bit stronger," says 
Sally.  "You could be right, Sal," says Sonic.
	As Sonic and Sally were talking, "Diane," starts Dan.
	"I know people say things that they don't mean when they are in danger," 
says Diane.  "No, you're wrong I did mean it, Diane.  You're the most 
important person in my life right now and that will never change," retorts 
Dan.  Diane looks surprised and finally realizes that he wasn't kidding about 
what he said in cave.  Dan gives Diane a quick kiss, and then they continue on 
their way to the dining hall.  Sally and the others quickly run to catch up to 
the two love birds.


	The end



Author's note:
	I wrote this story for fun not profit.  You may print this out if you 
wish.  Dan Michaels, Diane Forests, Jessica Hedgehog, and Peace are 
characters of my own creation.  All other characters used belong to 
Sega, Archie comics, and DIC.  Any comments or questions E-mail me at 
mdpii@hotmail.com