“Right, Rosy-lass, then this is your lad, is he? He doesn’t look all that impressive to me.”

     The voice that croaked out and pulled Sonic’s consciousness back was not familiar, but something about the way he spoke felt demeaning and Sonic forced an eye open. He was still floating in the water, but he no longer seemed to be in the massive basin and labyrinth of water channels. The corridor he was floating down was much humbler in a way, and even the ancient brickwork could be made out in the water-carried light. The lanky frog who grabbed his wrist and pulled him from the water was also clearly visible. Rosy was not, though Sonic would recognize her voice anywhere and smiled to himself as neither the frog nor Rosy seemed to realize he was awake yet.

     “Well, water is kind of Sonic’s big weakness. I’ve been trying to help him with it, but he’s just so stubborn about it.’’

     “You’re one to talk kid,” Sonic revealed his conscious state with a jab at Rosy. It did not net him the result he was expecting though and Rosy embraced him in a fierce bearhug as he still was supported by the frog.

     “Sonic! I’m so glad we caught up with you!”

     “Grk! Amy, can’t breathe!”

     “Amy?” the frog queried with a peering glance at Rosy.

     “Oh, don’t mind that Gill. It’s just my regular old plain name. Rosy is my adventurer name and I much rather prefer it, but Sonic just refuses to use it.” Turning a pouty scowl onto Sonic, the pink hedgehog received an awkward smile in return, at least for a moment as Sonic turned to business. In a way.

     “Only you though kid,” he began with a jest as Rosy let him go and stepped back. “In the middle of nowhere and in a hidden underground ruin at that you find someone to make friends with. I think I might actually be impressed this time though.”

     “Hee-hee,” Rosy giggled and hid her mouth behind a hand as she swayed back and forth. “It would have been nice if Gill and I had met at a slightly better time.”

     “Gill, huh…?” Sonic turned a sidelong look toward the frog as he stepped away from him.

     “Mach Frog Gill Bradley,” Gill corrected Sonic and managed to earn Rosy’s playful ire.

     “Hey, you didn’t give your full name either so you can’t be mad at me!”

     “Well, Rosy-lass, I use my name carefully as I have enemies and friends and they use them differently.”

     “Is that so?” Sonic queried and rubbed his nose. Before giving Gill the chance to answer however he extended his other hand in greeting and smirked. “Well nice to meet you Mach. Name’s Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog.”

     Gill was taken aback at Sonic’s brazenness, or at least that is how it appeared to Rosy who failed to understand the smile the frog donned. “Mach is it now. I must say Rosy-lass, I like your lad a fair bit here.”

     Sonic smirked again as Gill took his hand and the two shared a firm handshake. Continuing to rub his nose, Sonic shifted to a different question. “And what’s the deal with calling me the kid’s lad?”

     “Well, the lass called you her ‘boyfriend’ so that rightfully makes you her lad.”

     “You told him what!” Sonic spun on the spot to throw an incredulous look at Rosy who simply giggled and swayed her body about.

     “Aw, come on Sonic, I was just having a little bit of fun. Besides, we’re destined lovers after all, so what’s the big deal?”

     “The big deal is that I make my own destiny, and my reputation is going to get all messed up if people go around thinking we’re a thing.”

     “Well, it looks like it to me lad.”

     “You see my point kid?” Sonic groaned as Gill seemed fully convinced that he and Rosy were an actual couple. Not even bothering to wait for an answer though Sonic raised a hand and began walking off. “But whatever. Now that you and I know the other’s alright let’s put this place behind us. And I guess your friend can follow if he doesn’t slow me down.”

     “Is that a challenge now lad? Mach Frog Gill Bradley doesn’t often back down from a challenge.”

     “Boys!” Rosy shouted exasperated at them both. “We aren’t done yet. Did you forget Sonic? We still need to find an Ancient Ring and I know for a fact that there is one down here.”

     Holding up a tarot card Rosy revealed to Gill that she had been dowsing for more than just Sonic who realized that she had yet to give up. In a match of pure stubbornness though he was no match for Rosy and even Gill could not escape. Soon the labyrinth and army of golems led the three to a flower garden adorned with ancient statues with features long lost to time. All except one which rested a short way from the center of a massive overgrown plaza. Before it was a plaque with script similar to what Sonic and Rosy had seen before, and more importantly a single Ring spinning on its axis just above the ground and in the statue’s direct line of sight.

     “Well, ain’t this an unusual sight?” Gill probed for a reaction as he strolled alongside Sonic and Rosy into the plaza. That they had slowed down told him that the sight before him was likely a trap and was surprised when he saw Rosy skip out and start looking around. “Now wait a right minute Rosy-lass–”

     “I would leave her too it,” Sonic put a hand on Gill’s shoulder to calm the frog down. “From what I know she used to do this thing all the time before we met. And she’s got intuition like you wouldn’t believe.”

     “A lass’ intuition is it then.”

     “Call it my girlish intuition,” Rosy called back into the conversation about her with a laugh. The two boys exchanged looks and a shrug but did not speak up allowing Rosy to continue as she waved them over. “And it’s safe. It’s really weird actually. There aren’t any traps or really any sign that anyone has been here. Not even the golems. And I thought they’d keep chasing us for sure.”

     “Heh, I wouldn’t worry about it kid,” Sonic dismissed the oddity of the situation as he led Gill down towards the singular Ring in the plaza. “That statue there just might be an image to whatever god the people who built this place worship.”

     “You think so, Sonic?” Rosy asked doubtfully as she looked at the statue. Pressing a finger into her cheek she noted its stance seemed to be that of a prisoner, with arms pulled up and back. The shackles around its wrists seemed all that remained of whatever chains had long ago symbolically bound it. But the massive cog around its neck like a collar for its robes seemed even more peculiar. It was massive enough to hide most of the statue’s head as well save the eyes which peaked over it, and the three long quills that rose well above it and curled ever so slightly back. “I don’t know. It doesn’t look like it was here to be worshipped. I think it might have been a warning.

     “Well I’m sure you can let us know as soon as you use that Ancient Ring,” Rosy cheerful switched from confusion to anticipation and swayed her body about while smiling brightly at Sonic.

     Rosy’s shift in focus earned her Gill’s curiosity and he voiced a question he doubted would be answered. “What do you mean use the Ring Rosy-lass. There isn’t much use for a Ring in a place like this. I say we snatch it and be on our right way.”

     “Funny that’d I say this, but not so fast Mach. She dragged us down here for a reason and I’d hate to disappoint her now.”

     Ignoring Gill’s questioning eyes, Sonic strode up to the Ring and took it in hand. Turning it over and studying it carefully he saw exactly what Rosy already believed was there with all her heart. After all, her tarot cards would never lead her astray.

     “Heh, I really don’t know how you do it kid. But someone was nice enough to scribble on this old Ring and prove it. It’s definitely an Ancient Ring, and just the one we needed.”

     “Of course, silly,” Rosy laughed and shook a finger playfully at Sonic. She quickly shifted to clasping her hands in front of her however and looking at Sonic excitedly as her tail began to wag energetically. “Now hurry up! I want to know what the sign says!”

     “Whatever kid,” Sonic waved her off, but still made his way up to the plaque. Looking up past it to the statue Sonic rubbed his nose as he felt a sneeze coming on. ‘And what makes you so dangerous?’ Sonic questioned it with a thought before feeling it looked familiar in a way.

     “Hey kid,” looking back at Rosy, Sonic pointed a thumb at the statue. “Doesn’t it kind of remind you of someone?”

     “Hmm?” Rosy tilted her head and inquisitively stepped forward as she looked at the statue closer. Her eyes lit up in surprise and recognition a moment later. “Oh! It looks like an echidna!”

     “You think so too, huh?” Sonic continued to rub his nose as he looked back at the statue. ‘Yeah, you are definitely giving me the creeps buddy.’

     Looking down at the plaque that likely held his answers Sonic noted a set of characters that resembled a language he did know and he smirked. Twirling the Ring around his fingers he contemplated aloud departing. “I’m thinking maybe we should leave old Ix here alone. I’d hate to wake him only to tell Knuckles I put down a possible relative when we get back home.”

     “Sonic! That’s not funny!” Rosy chided Sonic who simply laughed her cute fury off. She did not relent, however. “Knuckles doesn’t talk about it, but I’m sure being the last of his kind is something that really bothers him. And besides, this is just a statue and maybe another golem at worst. It’d be a lot better if you used the Ring so you can read what the people here left behind. Maybe there’s something that would convince Knuckles to leave Angel Island or at least tell him he isn’t really alone.”

     “Alright kid, I get it.” Sonic again waved off Rosy, but still rubbed his nose. ‘Weird that you haven’t picked anything up though. This is normally your type of thing unless it’s just my hay fever.’

     Sonic found himself doubting his own senses as Rosy’s intuition did not seem to detect even a hint of danger. Looking at the statue one last time Sonic shrugged. ‘Well, whatever. I’ve handled echidnas and statues both before so what difference does it make.’

     His mind finally made up, Sonic again took a firm grip on the Ancient Ring and pressed it to the plaque. Unlike the last time he had attempted to make a Ring Bond with the ancient script, this time the Ring Bond came to life. Gill unfolded his arms as he stared bewildered at the scene before him.

     “What exactly are you doing lad? Is that Ring Craft?”

     “Ring Craft? Rosy looked back puzzled at Gill who looked more than a little a terrified.

     “Don’t know what you’re talking about Mach. This is just a little trick I picked up a long time ago. And one with disappointing results today.”

     “Really?” Rosy questioned turning her curious gaze onto Sonic as the motes of light the Ring had dissipated into were absorbed by Sonic’s body.

     “Yeah. It’s just like you said kid,” Sonic confirmed Rosy’s prior assumption. “It’s just a warning. Looks like there’s nothing here but some old history. Maybe Zooey would be interested though. I think I can afford to spend a Ring to give her a call.”

     “Wait a right minute lad,” Gill attempted to cut Sonic off. “How was that not Ring Craft like the old tales speak of. You touched the plaque with a Ring and now you can read the ancient script?”

     “Hm, looks like Zooey was trying to get in touch with me for a while,” Sonic ignored Gill as he rolled his glove cuff forward to look at the wrist mounted device underneath it. Pressing a button on it he spoke up to someone who was far from present. “Hey Zooey, the kid and I–”

     -Sonic! What happened. Oh, never mind it’s horrible! Oh, Sonic you have to do something!-

     “Woah, Zooey, what’s the matter?”

     -Sonic! It’s… Sonic! It’s Tails!-

Scene 7 · CLEARED

The Prisoner, End