Glorious and sparkly fireworks conquered the night skies of the casino district of Station Square, where people of all ages, humans and anthros enjoyed the city's luxury and colors. It was nine days before the celebration of the new year in the world, festivities, music and happiness were the main theme of such atmosphere.
A lady was helped out of a car by a gentlemen, who took her hand. The couple, dressed in shiny, elegant attire, strolled towards the large casino, stepping over a fancy red carpet.
Aside the people who had a good time, in this city lived a humble girl with a special heart.
Ultimately, it was the Year of the Powers, and according to legend, it was a year when the Sun's potential is increased, and the mantle of an ancient power was passed to the heart of a worthy chosen, someone strong yet gentle, heroic and selfless, graceful and determined.
On that very night, the celebration was dedicated to that special girl, who had been chosen by the Powers about five months ago.
A parade was created to honour the girl and her counterpart, a black jackal and her forever guardian. On the front, the girl, who had short hair and brown eyes, waved excitedly at the cheering crowd, while the jackal just crossed his arms, not truly enjoying the party.
"Infinite..." The girl, Jennifer Jane, or J.J., sang, calling. "...why aren't you smiling?"
"Smiling's not my deal, J.J." The somewhat annoyed jackal replied. "In fact, I don't know why you forced me to go out."
"This is our night, Infy." J.J. smiled, still waving. "Don't you feel a little magic in the air? 'Cuz I think this is awesome!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." The jackal cared less about their party, but once his large ears perked up, he sensed something was wrong.
He eyed the cheering crowd in search for someone suspicious, but found nobody. He then glanced at J.J, who continued greeting the people. Without a second thought, he jumped off the float and left the parade.
"Hey, Infinite, I have a better idea! How about we-" When she turned to the side he used to stand on, she saw he was gone. "Infinite?" She looked around. "Hey, Infy, where are you?!"
The Sun Medallion in her collar started to burn. Something definitely wasn't right, so she stopped waving and looked around for any signs of trouble. She could tell by her racing heartbeat that the people wasn't safe there either. And right on that moment, a large missile hit a building, and tension grew among the crowd.
More explosions hit the buildings of the district, the screaming of people ran wild, and everyone ran to safety as trucks and vans of the G.U.N. came to the crime scene.
Soldiers and agents geared up and left their vehicles, and aimed at the arriving ships in the sky. From those ships descended an entire army of robots, which surrounded the crowd and parade, but mostly, J.J.'s float.
The poor human lady was so scared and distressed, she didn't dared to move a finger.
"Greetings, Station Square casino district! It is I, Dr. Eggman, with an important announcement!" The villain's voice resonated through loud speakers coming from the ships. The frightened people squirmed and flinched, and so did J.J., who eyed the giant ships with overwhelming fear.
"The Year of the Powers has arrived, as you dear citizens may know. As a result, one of you was chosen to inherit this ancient form of energy. If this Chosen One is present tonight, don't hesitate to step forward. Disobey my orders, and consequences will be futile. Hohohohoho!"
The people had no choice but to run, their screaming intensified. The G.U.N. soldiers cleared the area and formed a firing lane as the people fled.
"Oh no!" J.J. shivered in terror. Her life guardian was gone, and she was afraid to use the Powers, knowing that doing so would mean certain risks.
She jumped off the float and ran to the opposite direction the people was going, just to find her dearest friend.
...
Inside his main ship, the doctor observed as only the girl headed to a different direction.
"Hehehe... you won't get anywhere now, little chosen!"
...
Before she knew it, she was cornered by many of the robots that were there. She let out a shriek.
"HELP!"
In a blur of blue, the robots were smashed and crushed to bits. The world's fastest hedgehog landed heroically and noticed the scared girl. He greeted her in his kindest way.
"Oh, hi there! Sorry about the sudden arrival, but you're in trouble!" He scooped her bridal-style, much to her nervousness.
"Uh- wha-?" J.J. loooked down at herself, then up at the hedgehog, very nervous.
"Hold tight!" The hedgehog warned a split second before taking off at super high speed.
"Aah!"
...
"Fire at my command!" The Commander said as his soldiers' guns clicked.
The robot army slowly approached their adversaries, and readied their laser guns.
The Commander pointed forward. "FIRE!"
Soldiers and robots collided in a war of guns. Some soldiers were struck, most of the robots were destroyed.
Because of the robots' laser beams, Sonic was forced to evade them while keeping the girl as safe as he could. Indeed she was scared, so he embraced her harder to give her comfort as they escaped from the battlefield. He jumped, glided and dashed his way out.
Several missiles were fired towards their direction. Using his highest speed, Sonic ran up the glass walls of a building, a trail of blue following behind as he surpassed the speed of sound. J.J. shut her eyes and embraced him harder. Luckily, the missiles did not harmed any of them.
...
The doctor threw a fist to the side of his seat, angry at the failure of capturing the chosen and defeating the hedgehog. He saw that most of his robots were occupied fighting the forces of G.U.N., and the rest of his mechs were destroyed.
"Argh! Forget those puny humans! Surround them!" Eggman commanded.
...
The robots stopped firing and turned toward the hedgehog and human, and used thrusters to fly at speeds that matched his.
"Do not stand down! Keep your eyes on the targets!"
As Sonic made a landing, the robots quickly made their move, and surrounded him and J.J. There were hundreds of them, and each had their laser guns ready to fire.
"Hehehehe... I've got you now, you blue nuisance! Any last words before I eradicate you?"
The whirring of the laser guns got loud enough it frightened J.J. They were about to get shot.
"Watch out!" Sonic took the girl's hand and braced himself.
Unexpectedly, a tough, golden force field surrounded the two, deflecting the shower of laser beams. The hedgehog uncovered his eyes and realized the girl next to him harnessed just a small portion of her power. When the shower stopped, the girl extended her hand and expanded the force field, destroying all the robots.
"Whoa! What the...?" Sonic's eyes widened.
...
The total annihilation of his robots got him infuriated, so much that his face nearly turned as red as his nose.
"You lousy little blue pest!" He nearly destroyed the mechs around him in anger.
...
Sonic let go of the girl's hand. J.J. looked down at him.
"I'm sorry! I had to-"
But her speech was broken as Eggman descended in his partially damaged Egg Mobile. Ever since the war between his empire and the Resistance ended, his mechs were reduced to a 95 percent, most of them being damaged or repaired.
"That's one good way to crack a party, egghead!" Sonic said, lowering his arms to his sides. "One question, though, how's it been since the Phantom Ruby's destruction?"
"Phantom Ruby?" J.J. repeated.
"That's none of your business, you meddling hedgehog!" Eggman clutched a fist. "You destroyed my greatest dreams! And now with the remains of my empire, I'll take my sweet revenge on you."
"Heh!" Sonic laughed. "You and what mustache, eggface? If me and my friends could beat you and that sorry-faced Infinite..." J.J. gasped at that, looking at the hedgehog with widened eyes. "...we can undoubtedly stop you from even greater schemes!"
"I would like to see you try." Eggman threatened.
All of a sudden, a dark matter floated in the sky, and flew past the hedgehog and human, hovered back up, then disappeared, leaving behind two very impressed looks. Sonic was about to make a move, but he also saw the ships Eggman owned, and himself, disappeared.
"What was that?!"
J.J. suddenly collapsed and fainted.
...
"Great, you're back!" Sonic said with a smile as the girl's eyes opened.
J.J. held her head, and realized both were sitting in a bunk in the street, far from the casino district. Sonic had eaten two succulent chili dogs, and was holding another in his hand. "Um... what time is it?" She groaned.
"Time to start a new day! That would've been a great party if it wasn't for Eggman." He chewed his chili dog.
"Oh. It's daytime already?" Sonic nodded. "I'm sorry if I sound weird, I'm a little disoriented right now. What happened last night?"
"Chaos, everywhere." He frowned, but his expression quickly lit up. "But don't worry, everyone's safe."
"Oh, thank goodness. At least everyone's..." J.J. then gasped, feeling panicked. "My friend! He left me! I have to find him!"
Sonic grasped her hand before she could run. He didn't had to move from his seat. "Whoa, whoa! Easy there! Before we find him, how about we get you something to eat?"
"You would do that for me?"
"Sure! I mean, if you don't mind."
J.J. grasped his hands with excitement and pulled him to his feet. "I would love to! Come on! I know of a place!"
...
The two stopped near a pizza shop, where they ate the biggest and most delicious pizza slices in town.
"Mhm! These Supreme Pepperoni Paradise slices are so good!" She said. "You see, Station Square's never had such deliciousness before."
"Wow. They really are good! But I suggest they make chili pizzas. I mean, it's not a bad idea, right?"
J.J. chuckled.
...
After the pizza, the two relaxed, taking a stroll around the city. Every detail made J.J. smile. This was her town for months, as she and her life guardian had been defending it prior to Sonic's arrival.
"I never thanked you for saving me, and my people last night. So, thanks."
"No problem. I'm always up to help the little guys."
"It's very selfless of you. I wonder why the Powers didn't chose you."
Sonic stopped and looked at J.J. with concern. "You're doubting yourself?"
"No! I mean... Oh, never mind." She shook the thought off and kept walking.
"By the way, you never told me your name." She said. "I must know the name of the hero who saved me last night."
"Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog. And you are?"
"Jennifer Jane, but you can call me J.J. Rabbit."
Sonic nodded, but raised an eyebrow. "Did... Did I hear well?"
J.J. looked around herself. "Oh! Hold on a sec!" She snapped a finger and was covered in smoke with a "poof!" When the smoke cleared, her human body was replaced with an anthro rabbit body. Sonic's eyes couldn't grow wider.
"Whoa! What in the-?!"
"I know, I had a worse impression of myself the first time." J.J. said, her voice sounded high-pitched than her normal voice. "This is something I can do with the Powers. I can switch forms!"
"Hey J.J., you still there?" A male voice called through J.J.'s commune.
She gasped with excitement, but held the emotion for a moment. "Excuse me." She walked away from Sonic and held her commune close.
"In, where have you been? I've been looking everywhere! Also, I told you not to use the communes unless it's very important." J.J. whispered to her device.
Sonic raised an eyebrow. The name sounded familiar somehow.
"Being in contact with you is crucially important. Why is it that you never answer any of my calls?!" The male voice said in an angry accent.
"Sorry." J.J. sighed. "Hey, since we're talking now, I've got a surprise for you." She smiled. "You're not gonna' believe who just came around to help."
"Heh. Surprise me then, kid. I'll be waiting for you at the top floor. Don't be late."
"And surprise you I will. See you then!"
"I don't want to meddle, but, who's this In guy?" Sonic asked as he approached her.
J.J. turned to him. "A friend of mine. I saved him one day. The poor thing was so weak, so I helped him the best way I could, and took him in to the city. Now he's living with me. Can you believe we've been defending this city since the day we met? Not to mention, he saved me the day I first obtained the Powers."
"So, does he know about this?"
"Yup! Don't worry, you can trust him. I'm sure both of you will get along just fine. Follow me!"
At the rooftop...
J.J. opened the door to the rooftop, and ran towards Infinite once her eyes spotted him.
"Hey, Infinite!"
Sonic stopped when he noticed the girl he saved was friends with the villain who nearly destroyed his world. "WHAT?!" His mouth dropped.
The black jackal turned to see J.J., who leaped to his arms and wrapped him in a warm hug. Infinite cringed at first, but gave in to the hug, rolling his eyes back. Sonic couldn't believe what his emerald green eyes saw.
"You're late. Where have you been?" Infinite asked seriously, withdrawing from the hug.
"Looking for help. Surprise!" She extended a hand to Sonic, introducing him to Infinite. The jackal didn't seem surprised whatsoever.
"You?!" Sonic nearly yelled.
"Isn't this great?!" An ecstatic J.J. exclaimed. "Sonic the Hedgehog and Infinite the Jackal, two powerful beings, working together!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a second! You're friends with the guy who tortured me for six months?!" Sonic exclaimed.
"What? No! Infinite's my friend since the day I saved him. He's no bad guy."
"He's the TOTAL bad guy! He worked along with Eggman!"
Infinite looked aside. "Hmph. Like I'd remember anything like that."
"That's nonsense. He's been living with me for the past five months. I've fed him, helped him settle, kept him safe. He's got great skills, he's a good guy!"
Infinite came close to J.J. and held his hands on her shoulders. "You know, J.J., this just feels uncomfortable. Why don't we go home instead, and talk about this ourselves?"
"Yeah, you go and show this unmasked clown just how evil he was." Sonic retorted.
Infinite approached the cocky hedgehog in defense. "Hey! You have NO right to talk to me like that, and less in front of my friend! Don't you think she's been through much?!"
"Since when you of all people got so concerned? You're the baddest thing the world has ever had. How do I even know I can trust you?"
"Could you please STOP?!" J.J. stood between the two and spread her arms out like a referee. "I get it, you're rivals, frenemies, or... whatever! But right now the city's at stake because of my Powers! Seeing you two arguing gives me a great headache, so cut it off already, will you?!"
Infinite crossed his arms, turning his gaze away from the two.
"Fine. But I'll keep my eyes on you, Infinite. You touch a hair on her head, and you'll regret it."
Infinite stared back at Sonic. "Save your temperament for another occasion, hedgehog. Come on, J.J." He took J.J.'s hand and parted ways with her.
She, however, stared back at the hedgehog, confused at what just occurred.