The Warrior of Light
Chapter 1
Rob heard his feet crunch against the rubble he walked on; it had been a long time since he witnessed what lay before him. He felt the ashes of the ruined buildings around him sweep across his face in the wind. The rising smoke from the flames slowly dying caused his eyes to water and caused him to lightly cough. Here lay before him was his home. The great palace of Maynosha now a degraded and damaged structure, the mighty city he once ruled over now nothing but have destroyed buildings and slag. It was a sight he had nightmares about, but never to realize that his nightmares foretold this event. Rob the hedgehog was the Prince of the planet Maynosha, a neutral system to all. His parents died when he was young, he never understood how they died. He was told it was because of a cell imperfection called Hero. It slowly causes the body to degenerate overtime, but during the host's life Hero gave the user special abilities, not like the normal powers a creature would have, but something different. Rob never fully understood what it was, but he knew he had it. He was wishing it would kill him right now, ending his pain and suffering. His family, his friends, his people, and others he cared about …gone.
He dragged his Buster Sword across the ground with his right arm. His left arm was limp still dripping with fresh blood from one of his many wounds. He walked slowly through the war torn streets that he used to drive down on his Motorbike; wincing every now and then from the pain, a small trail of blood in back of him as he continued to walk. The roar of repulser drives came into ear shot, and bright lights shining in the spot where he was on the street. A small scavenger transport landed a few meters away from him. Rob put himself on guard, raising his sword as best he could to defend against an impending attack. The cargo bay door of the scavenger descended and no attack came. Instead Rob saw a young girl walk out with two armored men on either side of her. She had a buster sword similar to his strapped on her back. Rob tensed himself still waiting for her to make a move. But she didn't, Rob decided he'd make the first move instead. With his reserve energy he jumped into the air bringing the hilt of his sword down onto the left trooper's helmet. The trooper stumbled back and recoiled quickly dodging Rob's sword by an inch as he swung it again. Rob felt his body go numb as the trooper from the right withdrew his stun rod from his back. He dropped, his legs giving way to the weight of his numb body. He didn't feel himself hit the ground; the girl with the buster sword put his arm over her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist.
She moved slowly back into the ship, Rob felt a warm presence now, he knew the Sonic Heroes had found him. The girl guided Rob to the med bay and sat him down onto a lab table. Rob drifted off to sleep, lying down on the lab table, and the faint noise of voices probably talking about him.
The burning room, the taste of blood in his mouth, the smell of death in the air, Rob raised his sword as best he could to defend against another barrage of attacks. His opponent gave a devious smile and charged him, his weapon dragging along the ground creating sparks as it skidded on the concrete ground. Rob leaped into the air coming down hard on the other, but quickly being forced back once again. Fatigue filled Rob's body more that the pain of his wounds did. He struggled to raise his sword up again, making every effort to hold out as long as he could. But for what he asked himself? This battle could never be won. Then what was he waiting for, why didn't he just surrender.
A great bang shook the ceiling causing it to crumble on top of the two, Rob watched as the other disappeared in a flash of light. While the ceiling came down on top of him.
Waking abruptly from the nightmare, Rob shot up from his resting position. He felt sweat on his forehead and was panting hard, his heart beating rapidly. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and looked to his side to see the young girl from before. She had a look of concern on her face, a very beautiful face he had to admit silently. There was silence between the two; time had slowed down around them making it feel a bit uncomfortable for Rob.
"Are you okay?" She spoke with a touch on concern in her voice. She was a young panther, with black fur and grayish hair which covered part of her face. Her eyes were a fiery red but still showed deep concern for Rob. He had to admit she was very beautiful though looking back to the buster sword still strapped to her back making him feel slightly intimidated.
"I'm...fine" he said slowly, his voice raspy from not having anything to drink in the past few hours. The girl gave a little smile. "That's good, my name is Dark Chaos, well just call me DC for short, I didn't catch your name before?"
Rob still wasn't too sure about whom she was with, even though he was sure it was the Sonic Heroes, there were always people in the Pandorian Empire used to trick people into believing they were in a non-hostile environment. "I'm…Rob." Rob felt very nervous, strangely not knowing why. "Where am I?"
"Oh your on SH Recon Freighter Spin Dash, we came here after receiving a distress call from the planet you were on, but apparently it was sent to late for us to respond quickly to it. So who are you exactly? DC lowered her head.
Rob struggled to get off the medical bed and onto the floor. DC tried to urge him to stay put but he pushed her away, walking over to the wall where he buster sword was still standing. He picked it off the wall and flipped it, placing the tip of the blade on the ground his hand resting on the base of the hilt. "I am Prince Rob the Hedgehog of Maynosha, rising member on the council of neutral systems and heir to the throne on Maynosha." Rob knew that if this was a warrior from the Pandorian Empire he was in trouble. "And would you kindly tell me what the hell is going on?"
DC looked away to the window on the far left of the med bay. "As if I know, all that I can tell you is we received distress signal from your planet, my team was sent out with a fleet of transports and freighters to provide reinforcements for Maynosha, but when we arrived in the system. The Pandorian Empire had already retreated. So we were then assigned to go down to the planet and check what the Pandorian fleet did, and if there were any survivors. Sadly to tell you, you're the only one we found."
Rob felt his heart rise and sink. He was relieved that he was with the Sonic Heroes, people he could trust, but dismayed that no one else had survived the onslaught that took place hours ago. He lowered his gaze, his sword dropping from his hand to the ground. Tears began to form along the edges of his closed eyes, and trickled down his cheeks. Backed up to the wall and slumped down wrapping his arms around his legs curling into a ball as more tears ran down his face. DC slowly walked over to him and kneeled down. "I know it's hard to accept the reality of this situation, but these things happen in war."
Rob looked up at her, his eyes showing half sorrow and half rage. "You don't get it, I led my people, my warriors, my friends, into that battle to defend. They promised that they would stick with me till the end, till their last breathe. I thought that was just a symbol of trust and honor. But… no it wasn't, they put their lives in my hands, and… I let them die… I wasn't strong enough… because of him… there gone now… because I was powerless to stop him…" Rob continued to sob burying his head into his knees. DC placed her hand on his shoulder. "Stop who?" Rob stopped crying for a moment the name of his attacker was something that would make the strongest of warriors tremble in fear.
He slowly raised his head to look DC in the eye. "His name is… Nega Sonic." DC's eyes widened in shock, she felt her blood pressure rising as her anger grew. Nega Sonic was the most powerful general in the Pandorian army; he's an equal to Sonic the hedgehog, and a killer. He has a fast calculating mind, powerful attacks, and a force to be reckoned with. No one has any idea where Nega Sonic came from or how he was created, or how there can be a Nega version of Sonic. He has beaten Sonic on more than one occasion, attacked families, destroyed homes, killed innocents, he is a tyrant.
DC felt the deepest sorrow for Rob; even though she didn't understand the full situation anyone who lost everything at the hands of Nega Sonic had her sympathies. She wrapped her arms around Rob and embraced him. Rob looked up and hugged DC back, slightly blushing for reasons unknown to him. Rob herd the door slide open and looked up to see a gray hedgehog standing at the door shaking his head. "DC I told you to watch over him not smother him."
DC looked up blushing and quickly withdrew her grasp on Rob. "Hey I was just being sympathetic Dash! You would too if you knew what's happened to him!" DC said blushing madly.
"I don't care what's happened to him because frankly it's no different from every other person who has lost something in this war." Dash the hedgehog glared at her, still shaking his head a little. "Now come on were going to be coming out of warp-space soon, and when we do well be arriving on Garland." Dash waved his hand exciting. DC looked at Rob and gave him an awkward smile.
She helped him up and put her arm back around him. "DC I can walk fine now." She smirked a little "You can never be too careful!" Rob felt a light blush form across his face, but he shook it off and walked out of the med bay with him.
The observation deck was fairly large, larger than Rob had expected for such a small freighter. The only thing that lies in front of he and DC was the multi colored space flowing past the freighter. Rob had always been on Maynosha and really nowhere else off planet, it was the first time he actually seen what warp space looked like. It was strange he thought, in order to see this and travel to the capitol of and Garland Kingdom, everyone he loved and cared about had to die first. He thought back to something that his father had told him before he passed. 'Everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by accident.' It was a phrase Rob told himself time and time again. Through all that he had been through that statement had been proven true time and time again.
'But why this?' He questioned his father in silence. He knew there would be no response that his father was gone and that he now had no one left, never to be loved again. 'Though' Rob turned his head slightly to stare at DC, 'DC… I know I've met her before but where?' DC noticed that Rob was staring at her.
"Something the matter?" DC questioned giving him a curious look. Rob was snapped out of his thoughts and started blushing again. "Oh nothing I was just um thinking is all." DC gave him an odd look but then shrugged it off.
"Hey babe!" DC shuddered when she heard that name in reference to her. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was, though Rob did. Rob saw a gold hedgehog with purple highlights and streaks on his fur. He had two hilts attached to his belt and wore silver shoulder knee blades. He had a pervy look directed toward DC. "What's up babe?" He said trying to put his arm around DC, but she quickly recoiled to Rob.
"Please do me a favor and play along don't leave me alone with Zeke." She whispered in Rob's ear. Rob gave a light nod as she latched on to his arm. Giving a sweet smile to him and sticking her tongue out at Zeke. Zeke stiffened and glared at Rob. "Who the h*** are you!"
Rob remained calm and had a feeling that this was going to turn hostile very soon, so he'd figured he'd have to be careful of what he said. He still felt the pain caused by his wounds. A fight would not be the best action to take at this time. It was also apparent to him that Zeke was one of the big shot morons.
"My name is Rob the Hedgehog, Prince of Maynosha. I'd take you are Zeke." Zeke put his hand one on of the hilts attached to his belt. "He he got that right and that's my girl you're latchin on to, so I suggest you step aside or get ready for a poundin." Zeke detached both hilts from his belt. Rob breathed slowly; his next move would determine where this situation would go.
"I am not your girl Zeke!" DC shouted abruptly, her face full of fury and her eyes burning with anger. She latched onto Rob a little tighter now. Zeke closed his eyes and lowered his head smirking. "Well then Rob how about a duel? You win you keep her, I win and she is mine." He opened one eye giving DC another perverted grin.
Rob was now ticked off. "Unlike pathetic simpletons like you, I do not identify any girl as an object to be owned or a prize to be won" He lifted his sword from his back, twirling it in his hand. "But if you're going to keep bothering DC like this then en-guard." Rob readied himself into an attack position, but felt DC grabbing his arm. "Zeke may be a moron but he's a high level swordsman, I wouldn't recommend fighting him now." DC said urging Rob to walk away with her.
He turned and smirked. "Don't worry I've dealt with far worse than this guy. He snapped back into a fighting stance and charged at Zeke. Zeke ignited his two blades from their hilts ducking under Rob's sword, aiming for his feet. Rob quickly somersaulted over the attack and brought his sword down on top of Zeke. Zeke rolled to his right bringing his blade in an upper sweep as the other blocked it side spinning and landing on his feet. Though it looked like a soft landing, Rob could feel the pain from his wounds rising. He forced the pain back and jumped into the air, Zeke following his lead. He launched a whirlwind of slashes only to be blocked again and again.
Zeke locked swords with Rob and spun around, Rob's weapon escaping from his grasp and flying into the air. Rob landed back on the ground and looked up to see his sword lodged into the ceiling. Zeke came down swiftly with a cross slash. Rob evaded as he backed up toward the wall. He felt his energy level starting to rise even though the pain from his wounds increased. Even with Zeke having the upper hand Rob still evaded his attacks as best he could. Zeke slashed his blade across aiming for Rob's chest area. Rob saw this as an opportunity and jumped placing his feet on the blade of Zeke's sword. He growled in fury and slashed at Rob with his other blade but only to miss as Rob did a high jump towards his still lodged sword.
He grabbed the hilt and planted his feet on the ceiling, pulling hard as Zeke jumped towards him. Rob's sword finally came out of durasteel ceiling and jumped of the ceiling towards his attacker. Their swords locked in the same way as they did before, but Rob was ready this time. He back flipped kicking Zeke's hand, his blade slipping from it. His Hero was now taking effect. He became a blur as he slashed at Zeke who could only defend with his one blade. Zeke felt the wind knocked out of him as Rob brought the hit of his sword into his gut. Zeke fell onto the cold floor with a grunt, but quickly jumping to his feet again. Rob came down hard on Zeke. Zeke's knees collapsed under him, as he fell on the ground from the weight of Rob plus his buster sword.
Zeke brought his knee up kicking Rob of him. Rob landed hard against the wall, the pain of his wounds increasing more rapidly that before. He felt as if he could barley move from all the pain. Zeke jumped into the air for the finishing touch. Rob tried to lift his sword but the pain was too great to even move at all. Zeke smiled victoriously as he dived toward Rob. There was a flash of light and all Rob could see was Zeke thrown into the ground, skidding on the floor as he tried to regain his position. A gray hedgehog landed in front of Rob. He turned to Rob; his eyes were an icy blue as he stared at the fallen hedgehog.
He held his hand out to Rob who accepted it slowly getting up wincing at the continuing pain. "This fight is over." His voice was low and deep, and intimidating if not that. Zeke slowly stood holding his side from the blow he took. "Stay out of this Dash, he accepted to fight me so you have no say in this."
Dash's face was cold; he glared at Zeke and shook his head. "This is Rob the Hedgehog; it is our mission to get him to Garland, not challenge him to a fight and try to kill him! You'll be lucky if I don't report you to Mark for this!" Zeke scoffed at the other and went to pick up his blades. "Who died and made you leader. Last I checked you have no authority over me."
Rob could feel the tension in Dash beginning to rise. "Maybe so but until we have a leader Mark told me to keep this team in line, the only one who gives me a problem is you, DC and Chris are fine, but you're constantly out of line. If I were the real team leader id have you removed from this team immediately!" Zeke didn't say another word; he just walked away, sheathing his two blades. Dash scowled in his direction and sighed turning to Rob. "Forgive me for that, Zeke is a little out of line at times." Rob was about to say something when he heard the roar of the engines die down. The multi-colored view of warp space disappeared and the massive planet of Garland came into view as the freighter started makings its final descent towards the planet.
Rob had never been to Garland before; he was amazed at how bright the surface of the planet was from all the way up in space. DC nudged him taking hand. "Come on, everyone will be waiting for you once we get to the planet's surface." Rob nodded and followed DC out of the observation deck.
End of Chapter 1