This is the third in my Christian Sonic series, if at all possible, please read I Still Believe and I Surrender All before reading this one. My disclaimer for the story: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or any characters affiliated with him. The Scripture used is from the NIV unless otherwise noted. The songs are all from their respectable owners and I mean no ill will by using them. The title song, 'More Than Useless' is sung by Relient K. To God be all the glory.

Chapter One—New Beginnings

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways," declares the LORD.—Isaiah 55:8

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.—Philippians 4:13 NLT

I lay me down, let it rise up in my soul

I'm falling down, so You pick me up again

God tear it down, the walls

That the enemy built around me

Send Your Spirit down

Where the Spirit is, there is freedom

Oh God, without You I can do nothing

By God, I can do all things

-By God, Disciple

"Won't you please reconsider, Amy?"

The Lady Amy Rose, appointed by the King as Missionary to the Borderlands, looked over to Vanilla Rabbit, who was furiously scrubbing at a dirty plate to hide her obvious distress.

Amy had spent the last ten years in the Borderlands, which was the term given to the lands that were on the fringe of Lucifer the Dragon's domain. The Borderlands were generally places of great oppression, for Lucifer enjoyed causing suffering, but the worst of his deeds were reserved for King's Citizens. In spite of this, the King's word was thriving in many places in the Borderlands, and many were becoming His Citizens. In other places, though, the King's message was still unheard.

Vanilla Rabbit had formed an unlikely friendship with Amy Rose since the time she and her two friends, Sonic and Shadow, had rescued her daughter, Cream, from the dreaded Leviathan. Although she had had knowledge of the King for years—her dearly departed cousin, Bunnie D'Coolette, had seen to that—she had always figured she would have time for such matters later on. Her harrowing ordeal with the Leviathan had ripped that illusion away, as she realized for the first time how unpredictably short life was.

Vanilla wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her snow-white Citizen's tunic, as her hands were too wet to do her much good, being elbow-deep in warm soapy water. She had always been anxious when Amy had been journeying alone through the Borderlands, but had been confident that the young pink hedgehog could handle it. But what Amy had just told her…

"Amy, you just can't go to Pergam!" Vanilla sobbed, her attempt to maintain her composure ending in a bitter failure. "It's…it's…it's just awful. There are thieves and deserts and mountains and poisonous, carnivorous creatures and…and that's just on the road to get there! You know that Pergam has that horrid Dark Legion commander there, don't you?"

Amy winced visibly, but she nodded, steadfast in her decision. "I know it's dangerous, Vanilla. And I also know that the Dark Legion is unfriendly towards King's Citizens…" Amy trailed off there, starchily aware of the amazingly bold understatement she had just made, and knowing that Vanilla knew this as well. The Dark Legion was a group of individuals who were completely devoted to Lucifer, and their commander was Lucifer's new top lieutenant, the one who had taken Mephiles the Dark's place. Most of what was known about them was rumor; no Citizen had ever met the Dark Legion and lived to describe them as of yet. Not even the name of their leader was known. Only that Pergam was where their main headquarters was centered.

However, she continued as if none of this was obvious. "But I feel as if that is where the King would have me go, and it is my desire to do so."

Vanilla gave a long, pained sigh. "Are you sure you're hearing him correctly dear?" she asked, grasping at straws for some hope that Amy would change her mind.

"I wouldn't have told you if I wasn't, Vanilla," Amy said, putting away a dry dish and hugging the older woman tightly. "Oh, do please stop crying. I will be ok, you know the King will protect me."

Vanilla quickly recomposed herself and gave Amy a weak smile. "I know he will, dear, I just wish you had bodyguards, or something. Oh, I know you can look after yourself, don't give me that look! It's just that no one has ever made it to Pergum on their own, you know."

"I know, Vanilla, and don't worry," Amy turned at took another dish to dry. "The King's Spirit has told me I am indeed going to have," she giggled, "bodyguards, on the trip."

Vanilla relaxed visibly. "Oh, that does help ease my mind, Amy, I do wish you had mentioned that earlier. Do you know who they are?"

Amy shook her head. "No, only that they're from Sonic's world—you remember I told you about that—and that they are going to be instrumental to the Dark Legion's downfall, so that the King's message can be freely heard."

Vanilla looked impressed. "My! That does sound impressive, Amy. I wonder who on earth—or some alternate earth, for that matter—is brave and heroic enough to stop the Dark Legion's terror in the Borderlands? They must be great warriors for the King."

Amy looked thoughtful. "I don't know, Vanilla. But He said something very peculiar to me as He parted. 'Remember, My ways are not your ways, and My strength is shown clearly through weakness.' I haven't quite figured out what it means, but I'm sure when the time comes it will be made clear."

The two women ceased their conversation, both content with each other's silent company, both wondering about Amy's mysterious soon-to-be companions…

Thousands of miles away, unbeknownst to the two, evil forces were plotting.

Dr. Finitevus, current leader of the Dark Legion after he had arranged an 'accident' for his former superior (something that was not only allowed, but congratulated, so long as he remembered who the real boss was) was awaiting an audience with the Dragon himself, Lucifer.

Unlike most of the Dark Legion, Finitevus knew for a fact what kind of being Lucifer was. He most certainly wasn't stupid and gullible enough to swallow all the trash he spewed to his followers about the Dragon being the kind, gentle, true king who had been unjustly usurped by the King and His Son. No, he knew Lucifer was an evil, manipulative liar. But then, so was he, so the two of them worked well together.

Dr. Finitevus was an echidna, albeit a rather twisted one, with black tattoos which littered his body, marring his otherwise snow white fur. His eyes were a sickly yellowish/black, and the wicked glint in them coupled with the black cape that cloaked him left no doubt in anyone's mind that he was completely evil, completely insane, or some bizarre combination of the two. But then again, he really didn't care what others thought of him, so long as they did as he wanted or he could kill them for defying him.

Finitevus idly wondered what mood Lucifer would be in today. It was a horrid experience to go before the dragon when he was angry, which was a given, but he had discovered that it would be equally frightening in a completely different way when the dragon was in a good mood. But then, the dragon thrived off the fear of others, so it was natural that he would be scary. Kind of obvious even, and he was getting sidetracked, which was not a good thing when preparing to go before Lucifer.

He shook his head to clear it, then resolutely took the last few steps of his journey that would bring him into Lucifer's view.

As was to be expected, he could not properly see Lucifer in the dimness of his cave, merely his malevolent, glowing yellow eyes. It was a tactic designed to keep those under him off-balanced, as well as frighten the crap out of them. Finitevus knew this, he used variations of the same tactics with his own underlings, but Lucifer raised such things to an art form. Or perhaps it was knowing that the dragon could snap him like a twig if he so wished that made cold shivers run up Finitevus' spine.

"Dr. Finitevus, so nice of you to come," Lucifer practically purred.

Finitevus could almost hear his internal moan, it was so potent. It seemed Lucifer was in a rare good mood, which was not a good thing as previously established. "It was my pleasure, lord Lucifer," he said evenly, not letting his dread flow over into his voice. If anything, knowing his discomfort would just make Lucifer that much happier.

"Things are happening, Finitevus, and they are going to concern you," Lucifer continued. "My spies have discovered a plan of the King to infiltrate Pergum."

The echidna scoffed. "Pergum is inpregnable and it's citizen's are loyal to m—to you, lord Lucifer."

Lucifer's eyes rolled in the darkness, a rather disconcerting sight to say the least. "You are an idiot," he told Finitevus matter-of-factly. "Every fortress has its weakness, and every person's loyalties are as fickle as straw caught in the wind. The King is sending Amy Rose."

"I think my Legion can handle one silly little girl," Finitevus said with a slight smile that he could not hide.

"You would," Lucifer commented dryly. "This 'little girl' is the biggest disaster to hit this Realm since the King decided to bring in operatives from other ones! And if twice isn't bad enough, he's doing it again! Haven't I suffered enough?"

"I promise you, I can handle the girl, and the King's unwelcomed 'guests'," Finitevus assured Lucifer.

"You? It's a miracle you can put your shoes on the right feet every morning. No, he wants to send people from the other Realm to mess with me? Two can play at that game! I've already taken measures to bring my own operatives here, and they will deal with the King's 'guests.' You will work with them, and you will have to work fast."

"As you wish, lord Lucifer," Finitevus said graciously, inwardly seething at the way Lucifer doubted his abilities.

"I mean it Finitevus. Our one chance to defeat these interlopers is that they have no idea how powerful they are. The hedgehog and the echidna learned quickly as they are accustomed to power, but these new opponents are not and have not quiet comprehended how much they can achieve with the King's help. If you are not fast, the challenges they face will show them what is hidden within them and they will be too strong for you. And then you will die," This last statement was stated cheerily, the way a five-year-old would exclaim what their favorite treat was to a new friend. It somehow made the statement seem that much worse.

Perhaps he was a glutton for punishment, but he felt he needed to know. "Will I die by their hand, or yours?"

"Oh, I don't really care, so long as you are dead," Lucifer replied dismissively, which wasn't quiet what Finitevus wanted to hear. "You may go now, Finitevus, and prepare for my agents' arrival."

"Yes, my lord. How will I know them?"

Lucifer gave a dark chuckle. "Believe me, they are impossible to miss!"

Finitevus bowed and rushed away from the cave, Lucifer's eerie laughter echoing behind him. No matter how fast he ran, however, he couldn't shake the feeling he was heading towards his own impending doom…