MiLly's A/N: Heeyy guys! =D Midnight Lullabye here . :)
So yes,, thanks for everyone who reviwed last chapter,, we really appreciate it. :) I mean me and LA would like grin like maniacs or jump with joy when a review arrived! We were like two lil school girls giggling away. ;]
But yeah,, we like really tried to take on your advice, and I just hope this chapter is okay for you guys. I really mean that,, cause I wrote this one! Well, LA did modify it, cause I'm still the student author. ;) But yeah,, I did try on this, so I hope it's all okay for you guys.
A lil bit off topic here,, but is anyone else obsessed with Sonic songs? I mean,, I'm there dancing round the room singing my tripes off,, and I feel like I'm being weird or something,, cause I love em! ;) I really am a Sonic freak,, like,, I know all the characters ages and heights...off by heart....
...Yes I'm sad in that way,, but I can't help it! I love them all,, even Shadow,, who LA hates. ;) I mean like,, I think he's totally awesome,, and she won't have it! ;) But my favourite is obviously Knuckles by a mile. He's just,, I dunno,, he's got something about him that makes me obsessed! =D Anyone agree?
Enough off me ranting, here's the chappie you ordered! Enjoy!
M,.*'Lullabye
This chapter is dedicated to both of our hero, Michael Jackson! WE LOVE YOU, MJ! GET HEALTHY AGAIN!
Angel Island is always unique.
Instead of the hot, almost fog-like air that seemed to hang over the usual jungle, the isle had a crisp, cool, constant breeze, which could melt anyone's troubles away. Instead of the miss-matched plants which would clutter up the entirety of a regular forest, vines snaked their way up trees, with violets and lilies blooming, creating a scene so surreal you could paint a picture, their perfume rising to welcome any visitors. And rather than overgrown, olive coloured weeds, chartreuse blades grew creating a soft carpet of velvet against a person's flesh.
Sonic's lids parted dimly, though his mind had yet to make a full recovery. All he could bring himself to be aware of was the gentle sound of the wind in the trees. But something seemed unusual. Feeling the warmth of the day sink into his skin was pleasant, but it just didn't match up with the dark sky above him. Though he had no idea how far he'd run, it couldn't have been far enough to see any extreme environmental changes. Nights simply weren't this warm.
And so, with the abnormal weather on his mind, he managed to push himself into a sitting position.
Mostly because of his still-drowsy mind, it took him several moments of staring around dumbly to compute why the horizon was beautiful sapphire, while the sky above him was a canopy of darkness.
Angel Island.
He was under the island. The hedgehog unsteadily rose to his feet, aware of a squeezing ache holding onto his legs. It must have been from his anomalous running the previous night, because he'd never before experienced pain from exercise. He was in disbelief at how hard it was to so much as lift each leg to take a step. So, he plopped back onto the ground dully, too tired to put much effort into anything.
But for some reason, the earth beneath him was rough, and hard as stone. That was strange… he'd remembered grass.
"Yo!" He bellowed suddenly, half-hoping that Knuckles might hear him.
In some ways, the Azure male had actually envied the echidna, and had dreamed of living up on the secluded island. In some ways, it would be paradise. However, when he really thought about it, it seemed more like torture. On the isle, he could discover hidden personal talents which he could never, ever explore on land. He would have all the time in the world to let his dreams and imagination reach new heights.
But then there were the let downs.
However much he loved to sleep under the stars, having only a forest canopy as one's shelter when a monsoon hit could possibly prove unpleasant. Having only himself for company could easily drive the mind off the road of sanity. And then there was the burden of being trapped. Spending his life babysitting a rock didn't exactly seem like heaven… and he knew that the inability to leave would only make him stir-crazy after five minutes. Even though the island hid innumerable wonders that could take a lifetime to explore, Sonic knew that the very mentality of being suck in one place would bother him.
But the Echidna never seemed to show any signs of enjoyment, or disappointment at living on the island. Sure, he'd smile and frown… and, of course, explode with infamous rage… but that was about the extent of his emotions. Sonic wondered if he'd ever laughed so hard his ribs hurt… if he'd cried until his mask-like features became blotchy and stained. It was hard to imagine Knuckles doing either of those things… especially crying.
Sonic exhaled dully. Ignoring the shrieks of protest radiating from his thighs, he pushed himself back up to his feet. He furrowed his brow, trying to figure out a way to get up see Knuckles. Perhaps the echidna could explain the strange changes.
Descending from above him, he noticed a silver ladder. Sonic frowned in confusion, but shrugged and decided that it would work to get him up, and thereby didn't require a second thought. He hobbled over and began to climb. Though his progress was painfully slow due to his impairment, he finally reached the top and clambered onto mossy ground. Cocking his head slightly, he stared at the forest.
It looked… different somehow. The most noticeable thing was the trees. They were larger and more mature, their bark sporting brilliant green moss. But that wasn't all. Though Sonic could still sense the minute presence of the Master Emerald, it had some sort of subtle newness to it.
Enjoying the midday warmth, Sonic made his way into the thick of the jungle in pursuit of the emerald shrine.
Suddenly, he lost his footing and slipped on a patch of loose moss. Grinning, he caught himself mid-fall, and pulled off a brilliant twisting save. He landed with his fingers poised as guns, then rolled and ducked, playing out an imaginary gunfight. He honestly thought that his firearm talents had improved greatly, and took pleasure in acting out heroic situations.
… that, or he'd been spending a little too much time watching bad-ass gangster movies.
Sonic quickly reminded himself of the task at hand. Putting away his imaginary weapons, he concentrated on the route ahead (this time making sure to watch where he put his feet). Hopefully, the small but noticeable changes in chaos energy as he moved closer would lead him to Knuckles. Sonic hoped that the echidna could tell him where in the galaxy Angel Island was floating over.
Though the entire place looked like nothing he had ever seen before, as soon as he started to run - albeit slower than usual and with a slight limp - he found himself completely in his element. Everything there seemed familiar to him, yet disorientated somehow. As if he'd been clomped over the head and hadn't recovered properly.
He stopped suddenly, noticing a concealed clearing beyond a thin group of bushed. As Sonic pushed away the opposing brush, the sight before him made him gasp out loud.
About a dozen solemn stone graves stretch over the grassy hill. What should have been a calm and relaxing sight was flawed and ruined. The never ending Mausoleum seemed to chase away the warm sun. The rays of light that spilled upon the dark place of rest felt cool and foreboding. It was so dull, too dull. For before, Angel Island seemed like a forest of the rainbow, able to bring a spring-like feeling to even the darkest of places.
But not here, in this dark grove. No, not even the whole island could inject a feel of comfort.
But what would a graveyard be doing here? Why would so many people be buried in such a remote location? And, more importantly, who could be buried? Knuckles' ancestors? That had to be it, but how come Knuckles never told him about it? … stupid question.
But even despite the echidna's secrecy, how come Sonic had never come across it before, even after innumerable escapades around the area?
His train of questions was interrupted when he saw the shaded silhouette of a lone figure standing solemnly before the farthest grave. They seemed to be looking down at the stone below them, muttering inaudible words.
"Knuckles?" Sonic muttered, brow contracted. At first, he was about to go and ask the echidna what the hell was going on, but upon a closer view, Sonic realized that the figure was not the echidna. Instead, the figure looked quite like Sonic himself…
The hedgehog let a growl emerge from his throat. What was he doing here? Of all places, he had the nerve to steal away Sonic's girl, and then to come to the only place the sapphire mobian could escape too? Well, he certainly wasn't about to let that happen. Not anymore would the so-called 'Ultimate' have the last laugh. Sonic began dragging his feat up the hill. His breaths became pants. Not from fatigue or the ever-present pain in his legs, but from the anger that boiled beneath his skin.
He moved his legs into strides and started stumbling up the hill in a makeshift jogging motion.
Sure, he could get up there in a second, but he felt that he needed to move in slowly… to see the reaction of his prey before he struck.
He looked intoxicated, and any right minded person would know to stay away from him. If Shadow had seen him, he didn't let on.
The dark hedgehog turned around and began walking down the hill, slowly disappearing from Sonic's view.
"You aren't getting away that easily." Sonic muttered darkly.
He broke into a huge burst of speed, but it wasn't graceful like usually. His legs seemed to turn themselves inwards, and this time he did fall flat on his face, too furious to pull another amazing gunfight save. He rolled to a stop before the stone Shadow had been inspecting. He pounded the ground in frustration. Just as he was about to regain his posture, the sight before him made him freeze.
As he gawked, the shock he felt was so great that it clenched a numb hold on all of his senses. First instinct told him he'd misread… that it was a typo… anything…
But after frantically rereading several times over, he couldn't even muster a gasp. He could only gape, not fully believing what was engraved upon the simple but beautiful grave. All fury which had burnt his soul moments before had cooled and was quickly wiped away to be replaced by confusion and disbelief.
He stared. Just stared at what was in front of him. He shook his head, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Edging closer towards the grave, he read it close up, as if the horror in his voice could induce sympathy enough for the words to reconsider and change themselves.
Cream The Rabbit
This wasn't right.
It was a nightmare… a sick and twisted nightmare. Not little Cream. She couldn't be...she just couldn't. Even with his heart aching sickly, Sonic forced himself to read on.
Sweet-natured,
Polite,
Never says things of spite,
That's how we remember,
The angel that was Cream.
Just when Sonic thought he'd taken all the shock he could hold, the next words made his head do a triple back flip complete with an awkward landing. He let the tips of his fingers lightly brush the inscription.
Things were almost making sense… and yet getting more confusing at the same time.
"It...."
Maybe speaking out loud would make things seem more reasonable. He really doubted it would.
"It's not....."
He kept fumbling his words, mouth dry as if someone had plunged a hair-dryer down his throat.
"Right...."
But it was right… the proof was right in front of him.
Born December 19th 2002
"I've...."
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to speak, but afraid that he'd be correct. But still he talked to himself, trying to prove a meaningless point that he was already painfully aware of.
"I've gone...."
His words were broken whispers, nothing more.
Died April 25th 2091
"To the future?"
LA's A/N: Awee, isn't that little poem of MiLl's adorable x)? I can remember when I first read it, I was like… AWWEE, SHAKESPEAR! Heehe, I'm so fond of her :).
Ahh… this chapter was more of a team effort for us :). I think I was actually supposed to write it, but then there was a misunderstanding, and MiLls did, so we just… collaborated! WOTWOT! She wrote the bulk of it, I just went through with some preening sheers and stuck in the odd bell or whistle.
Ohhboy, I do hope I get to kill Shads at some point in this story. You know Sonic's blind rageee, well it's fueled by me (:. … not really, though x). I'm not really capable of that degree of emotion. I'm more like… I'M ANGR- ooh, what a nice hat that man is wearing :D.
Hmm… so, my quest to find Sonic Unleashed goes on fruitless. I got this ps3 for Christmas that I don't really care for… and now I can't find anything to playy :P. I've watched the first couple cutscenes, and I'm trying to stop myself :P! I'm at the part with Tails right now, and it's just so cute… I dunno how I'll be able to turn away. I lovee himm :). I hope Knux is a big character too :D. Haahh, MiLly and I are his biggest fans :)… we've got him tattooed on both of our chests.
So far, I've deduced two things:
- this Chip creature irritates me very much. Oh, dear. I can tell he's going to piss me off by the end of the game.
- Tails is a cutie-piee :)!
Anywayss, wish me luck in my search. Thanks for a-readin' :D. We live off of reviews. THEY FEED USS.
Revieww, si vous plait :).
--LA
