Author's Notes:

Ok well so far, this has been a sucky story. My writing has been improving lately so hopefully this will be better. I also realize that most of my mistakes come from me typing the story in the notes section of my IPod. I will try to better, but now, back to the story.

Ash's arms were still tied behind his back, and he was still trying to unloose them. After working for a while Ash's wrists were sore, but he had finally gotten rid of the chains around his arms, and then started on the chains around his wrists.

Mina stood staring in awe. "It-It's so beautiful," she murmured, falling to her hands and knees.

Before Mina stood a beautiful garden, giant oak trees, small ponds and rivers, and lush vegetation were everywhere, and Mina was just standing there trying not to faint. She felt so out of place, yet so at home. But this didn't make any sense to her, she was on the road to death, and now, she was in the most beautiful place in the universe. Was this the lost Garden of Eden?

"No," came a harmonious female voice. Another mongoose walked out of the vegetation and towards Mina. She like Mina was yellow, with long curly purple hair; in fact, she and Mina were almost exactly identical. "Do not be afraid," the woman said, when she saw Mina's startled mien, "In fact, I have been waiting for you for a few years now," continued the woman. "Wh-who are you?" Mina asked, trying to act braver then she sounded, but failing greatly.

"I am...Mother Nature," she said slowly. Mina's mouth dropped in awe, she had learned about Mother Nature as a young child, and was surprised to meet the legendary mongoose herself. As Mina stared in awe, she remembered what she had been told, Mother Nature wanted to see her. "Why do you want to see me...your highness?" Mina asked cautiously. Mother Nature let out a small chuckle, "Why Mina, haven't you noticed the similarities between us, it is time for me to pass the flame to you."

Mina was now completely immobilized. She, herself, was a direct descendant of Mother Nature. Out of course because of recent actions it's somewhat questionable if you should have the right to become Mother Nature, so I will give you a test," Mina nodded, understanding what she had done, trying to kill herself, not helping those she heard screaming, singing at a-a strip club. Why hadn't she realized the wrong in her ways earlier?

Mother Nature looked satisfied, and then noticed the ring on Mina's finger, her face quickly distorted, and Mina got scared. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "but as Mother Nature, your eternal duty is to Mobius, there is no place for love." Mina went mute and stared at her hand. She wouldn't be able to get married, or ever fall in love. "But! There must be a way, I can't just leave him behind," Mina whined.

Mother Nature just stood there shaking her head, "I will give you a week, and by then you must make your choice, if you say yes, you will become Mother Nature, but, if it is no, for you, your fate will be sealed." Mina nodded, what would she chose, this wasn't fair at all! And with that Mina snapped back to life, in Ash's arms.

Wh-where are we?" Mina murmured, still groggy and scared. Ash was walking briskly, blood flowing down his nose and side, he had somehow acquired a black eye, and had a slight limp, and this was not the Ash she knew. "Ash," Mina groaned, trying to get the mongoose's attention. Ash looked down to see Mina staring up at him, looking paler than before. "Mina?" he asked, "Do you want to settle down for the night?" Mina gave him a weak smile, and nodded slowly. Ash then settled by a tree, shivering lightly by the winds that were coming in.

Mina's stomach grumbled, and that's when the two realized that they both needed food. Ash got up, pulling himself together, found a pointy stick, and told Mina that he was going out hunting. Mina nodded and watched him go off.

Mina sat around waiting for a bit, and then decided that she should do something. She took some leaves from the trees nearby and started weaving. This is how the mongooses used to do everything, so it came naturally.

Ash soon returned to see two cots hanging between two trees, and two blankets. Ash turned to Mina in awe; he himself was holding two fish, and a non Anthro rabbit. Mina was staring at what he was holding, and felt bad for her petty contribution.

As Ash set the fire, Mina was finally able to ask Ash what was bothering her for a while now. "You seem so different, what's happened to you?" Ash stayed silent, and kept working at the fire; he finally got a spark and started a fire. Mina stared at him with green unblinking eyes, waiting for an answer. Ash turned to Mina and searched her eyes, deciding whether or not to trust her. "Life," Ash said roughly, keeping his answer vague, but hopefully enough to answer Mina's question.

Mina accepted the answer Ash gave her, but at the same time it bothered her. She knew that he wasn't telling her everything, but why wasn't he, is there a reason he would be so distant? Mina sighed, and then remembered what her commitment was to Mother Nature. Say yes and take on the responsibility of Mobius, or say no and forfeit her life. Mina decided that things were already tough enough for her, and pushed the idea to the back of her mind.

Ash was cooking the fish when he remembered the ring on Mina's finger. He looked to Mina to see the girl staring at the stars muttering to herself, her green eyes clouded by something, fear, confusion. Was this really the right time to ask?

Ash decided that waiting was the wrong thing to do, and just be forthright and say it. "Mina," he called, not even bothering to make eye contact with the girl. Mina snapped to attention and turned to face Ash, "Yes," she answered. "What's the purpose of the ring on your finger?" Ash asked. Mina went mute, was she ready to tell Ash about being engaged. They would only be together for a week anyway, so what difference did it make. "I'm engaged," Mina said a little more forcefully then intended. Ash, who really didn't care at the moment just replied, "Oh, congrats." Mina was happy to know that Ash didn't really care, but somehow disappointed. "Dinner's ready," Ash announced in the same blunt voice.

When Ash said that Mina remembered how hungry she was, and was happy to see a fish and rabbit leg on her plate (which she had recently woven). Mina started in on her food, and she ate quickly, Ash on the other hand took time to eat, making Mina look and feel fat.

After dinner Ash stomped out the fire, and announced he was going to bed. Mina on the other hand stared up at the stars, they were so pretty, she was now taking notice of every little thing in nature, and she was scared, what would the week bring? Mina decided to weave a bag for Ash, anything to get her mind off what was to come.

Hours passed and Mina got tired, she then decided to go to sleep. Mina crept over to her cot and crawled, encasing herself into the covers. That night though, Mina had a nightmare:

"I choose...No!" Mina stated proudly. Mother Nature didn't look happy, but accepted the answer. Mina was walking away from the garden ready to go to heaven when she felt something grab her arms. "What's going on!" she screamed. "I guess I wasn't clear, you aren't going to heaven Mina, you broke your prophecy, you are being wiped from existence, no one will remember you, and it'll be like you were never born." Mother Nature hissed. Mina was now screaming, trying to break free from her restraints. She was being pulled back into some black hole. "Help Me!" she screeched. "Silly child, no one can hear you, to them, they don't see this, or hear this, not even the dead." Mother Nature cackled. Mina then saw something moving quickly through the woods, it was coming her way. It couldn't be Sonic, he had left them, or well they had left him. Finally, the figure came into view, it was Ash, he lunged forward and grabbed Mina's waist, holding on for dare life. Ash was trying to fight back and whatever had caught Mina had let go of her arms to try and beat Ash off her waist. Mina quickly wrapped her arms around Ash's neck, she didn't want to go, and she was scared. Even with all the struggling the two went through, it was useless, she and Ash were dragged into the black portal, and then, Ash was gone, and she was alone...

Mina woke up screaming. Ash quickly hopped out of his cot and went to calm Mina down. When Mina saw Ash she flung her arms around him and started crying. Ash had to hush her, knowing that all her noise must've told everyone where they were, and that was what Ash feared most.

Author's Note:

Well there's the chapter. Hopefully the rate in which I write will increase. I also plan to go back through this story, and enhance it, because it currently has terrible grammar and sucks...