The next afternoon arrives and the city is set up for the race of a lifetime. As for Sapphire, she's nervous about meeting her competitors; will they be new individuals? Will they be her friends? The only way to find out is to get to where the race is being held. Sapphire arrives with her board to the city, to be directed to a starting line. Sapphire realises that her competitors are Sonic, Tails and her new enemy, Silver. Sapphire looks around and notices the entire city's attention drawn to her. As for Shadow, he quickly arrives, and notices Blaze in the audience.
"Hey, what's going on?" Shadow asks
"Sapphire's in a hover board race." Blaze responds
"Wait, Silver's a competitor."
"I can see that. I can't do anything about that. But I think Silver has found something else to try and jeopardise; Sapphire's reputation and career."
Shadow decides to watch and see what happens. As for Scarlett she's the host commentator for the race.
"Right, are you ready for the race of a lifetime?" Scarlett asks
"Yes!" The crowd cheers
"Okay, competitors. Get your boards ready for lift off."
Sapphire and the competitors ready their boards and put on their helmets.
"Right. Three... two... one... and lift off!" Scarlett announces
All competitors zoom off on their boards as Scarlett starts the commentary, from the ground.
"And... they're off! It's very close at the minute but it seems that Sapphire's in the lead, with Sonic and Tails close behind. Silver is far behind the others but seems to have a trick up his sleeve, or should I say, spines." Scarlett says, beginning to lose balance
Blaze notices and races to Scarlett's aid, breaking the audience rules.
"Are you alright?" Blaze asks
"I'll be fine, just get back with the audience; it's not safe here." Scarlett responds, becoming weaker
"You're not well. Does anyone in the audience know how to commentate?"
Soon a teenage girl comes forward.
"I'll give it a shot. What do I have to do?" The teenage girl asks
"Right, there's a screen up there and it shows the race. You need to commentate on who's in the lead and who's about to take the leader's place. Also include any other happenings." Blaze responds
"Okay, I'll do that."
"Thank you."
Soon, the teenage girl takes over with the commentary whilst Blaze takes Scarlett to the audience. Scarlett quickly collapses the moment she's still.
"Scarlett, are you alright?" Blaze asks
"To be honest, I don't know. It's like my magic is sensing that Silver is bad news. I don't know in what way, though." Scarlett responds
Time passes...
"And it looks like Sapphire's board has broken mid-flight. Will she use her wings or get a replacement board? Wait, she's making a new board in record time! Sapphire is back in the lead, with Silver fast approaching." The commentator announces
As Blaze looks over Scarlett, she realises that Scarlett is turning into a cat.
"Shadow, I need to get Scarlett to our homeland." Blaze informs
"Why?" Shadow asks
"Can't you see? She's turning back into a cat. I'll see you around."
Blaze leaves for home and Shadow watches the race. Some time passes, Sapphire and Silver cross the finish line first, with no time difference. Everyone is stuck as to what happens next.
"What now? Scarlett's gone." Crowd members begin asking
"Sapphire, you need to go home; that's where Scarlett is." Shadow informs
"Why there?" Sapphire asks
"Scarlett began turning into a cat and didn't look well."
"Oh, right. I'll see you around."
Scarlett races to her homeland, to find Blaze coming out of her home.
"Hey, how's Scarlett?" Sapphire asks
"Not well. Scarlett collapsed mid-race and began turning back into a cat. She's still unconscious but breathing." Blaze responds
"Are you alright though?"
"Not really. I was at the front of the audience when this happened. Shadow was there too."
"I know that Shadow was there; I heard you both talking."
"From your distance away then, how?"
"I was having an audible vision of what was happening and caught snippets of your conversation. I don't remember what was said, but the vocal tones I recognised."
"At least you've got Shadow. I don't even know if Scarlett will survive this."
"I'm sure Scarlett will survive. How come you're worried?"
Blaze is quickly silenced and then it clicks to Sapphire.
"Are you attracted to her?"
"You could say that. Scarlett just has something that others don't."
"Wait, so, you're not straight?"
"No way! Sonic and Silver can try their hand at someone else for all I care."
Soon, there's coughing and spluttering coming from Blaze's home. Sapphire and Blaze race there, to find Scarlett has awakened from her unconsciousness. Sapphire leaves Blaze and Scarlett alone; to bump into Silver on her travels.
"What're you doing here?!" Sapphire asks, infuriated
"I'd ask the same to you, Sapphire!" Silver responds
"I live here, you fool! Now, stay out of my turf!"
"Or what? Are you gonna Chaos Blast me again? Remember, I recovered last time!"
"I know, that's one reason why we're sworn enemies."
Soon, Silver has an idea.
"Y'know Shadow? He never loved you at all. No matter how hard you try, he won't."
"Now, that's a bald-faced lie. You won't know love until it was ripped apart, never to be recovered!"
Soon, Harriot shows up and witnesses the altercation.
"Now, you wait there Silver! I know love when I see it and Shadow and Sapphire are in love, engaged to be wedded. I'll only say this once; leave my friend alone!" Harriot shouts
"Or what, are you gonna fight me with your flightless wings?"
"With my sword, shield and you on firm ground. Bring it, you white-shaded fool!"
"Harriot, don't! You've got Knuckles and the others to think about." Sapphire warns and informs
Harriot doesn't listen and fights to protect Sapphire; for Shadow, Tails, Sonic and Knuckles to join them. As for Scarlett and Blaze, they hear the commotion and race outside.
"Harriot, stop!" Knuckles shouts, fearing for Harriot's life
"If this is to protect my friend, if my life is the sacrifice, I'll do whatever it takes to keep Sapphire here." Harriot responds
The fight continues and Harriot is quickly unconscious on the ground, not responding or breathing. Everything quickly stops and Sapphire races to Harriot's aid, for her to swing in and out of consciousness.
"What have you done?!" Knuckles shouts, infuriated at Silver
Silver is quickly silenced, seeming pleased with himself.
"What're you so pleased about? You've hurt my girlfriend, it's my turn to hurt you!"
"Knuckles, don't! You'll end up the same as Harriot." Sapphire warns
"No, he won't. 'Cause I'm back and more powerful than before." Harriot says
As this is said, all attention is swayed towards Harriot, who has magic flowing through her sword and shield and is flying.
"Now, are we gonna finish this, or what Silver? You hurt my friend, I hurt you!"
"Bring it, you winged freak!"
The fight continues, for Harriot's powers to strengthen and defeat Silver.
"Now, Silver. One thing I'll never allow is anyone betraying my friends and Sapphire is one of them." Harriot says, as her powers calm down
"Look around you Silver; do you see forgiveness in anyone's face?" Shadow says, making his point
"If you don't, you shouldn't be expecting it. You've done enough damage here." Amy informs as she approaches
"Shadow and my friends are right. Not just that, I have every right to call you, my enemy; trying to sabotage my career, trying to make me end it with Shadow. Shall I continue the list?" Sapphire informs and asks
Silver is quickly infuriated and launches an attack on Sapphire, for her to deflect it.
"You can stop with your attacks, too. Go back home, don't come back!"
Silver, in silence, follows the given order and returns to his homeland. As for Sapphire, infuriated, she pushes past everyone and goes to her city home. Sapphire arrives and goes to her new bedroom, where her father used to sleep. Sapphire goes under the quilt and hides away from the outside world. As for Shadow, he arrives at Sapphire's home, sensing Chaos Energy in the air and follows his senses to find Sapphire.
"Hey, are you alright?" Shadow asks as Sapphire turns away
Shadow realises that Sapphire isn't feeling great and sits next to her on the opposite side of the bed. Sapphire feels Shadow land on the bed and comes out of hiding, still infuriated.
"Why are you here?" Sapphire asks
"Your Chaos Energy is out of balance; I also came to see if you were alright." Shadow answers
"Thanks for being concerned; I'm not alright and everything is out of place."
"What do you mean?"
Sapphire quickly breaks into tears.
"I feel broken, Shadow... really, really---" Sapphire answers, crying
Not knowing what to say, Shadow takes Sapphire under his arm and comforts her.
"This fury is something I didn't want. Not at all."
"I know and get that."
"How? You may dislike Silver, but you're not sworn enemies. No matter how it's put."
"That does make a valid point. But the best I can do is help you with getting through this."
"How are you gonna do that when my head is more messed up than before?"
Sapphire's Chaos Energy soon makes a black, hazy mist under her feet. It soon clicks to Shadow that Sapphire's Chaos Energy is controlled by her emotions.
"Haven't you noticed something?"
"And that means…?"
"Your Energy is run by your emotions. You're furious and holding grudges; this is sending it out of balance."
"Oh, I never saw it like that. How do I fix that?"
"Calm your fury down and continuously be honest. That's all you can do."
Sapphire breathes to calm down as the mist disappears from under her feet. Looking around, she becomes happier with what she has left.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I can feel it. Thanks for this, it really helped."
"Don't mention it. It's part and parcel for what we've got."
After the conversation, the pair sit in silence and quickly fall asleep. Bringing this story to a rather satisfactory end.