Chapter 1

Everything has a beginning and an ending, and the same goes for this story I am about to tell you.

It is less of a story and more of a biography of several people, but that is too boring, so take it as a story. It sounds enough like one.

But if I start from the very beginning, it will take much too long to get to the ending! And that is not the way I tell stories.

No, rather than the beginning, I will start from the middle, from the moment that will be the catalyst to the future of this story. I guess that counts as a beginning in its own way, no?

Anyways, the story began on one cold winter.

It was December in my home, Mystic Forest. And while this month is usually when Winter's reign is at its peak, the Season had brought another month of the coldest chill possible, rivalling even last year. Just like he had for the recent decades before.

It is unusual, the other Spirits told me four decades ago as they shivered and trembled from Winter's icy aura. Winter was not this freezing before, but lately, all the Seasons have been extreme. Spring has brought more life than needed, Summer's heat has rivalled even the most arid deserts, Autumn's chill spreads fast and last long, and Winter's ice remains even after Spring's arrival. Why is this happening?

I did not know the answer, since I was only born four decades ago, during the Seasons' Upheaval, as the other Spirits had taken to calling it. I had no experience to compare to. To me, the Seasons had always been that way.

But even so, I must agree. That year's winter was certainly the coldest ever. And despite being a wind Spirit, I still felt the chill inside me.

That day, I remember I was sitting on a branch, staring up at the sky and watching the other wind Spirits flying by. A part of me wanted to join them, to leave my home and explore the world like I did two decades ago. But… There was a feeling inside of me, one that urged me to stay, so that I may brace myself, no matter how laughable that concept is to a wind Spirit like myself.

If I had to explain it, it was like seeing the very faint edges of a brewing storm starting to form. You could sense that a storm was coming, but you couldn't see it clearly. You just knew it was there, and that had me on edge.

Little did I know, that it was in the form of a friend that the storm approached me that day.

"Northern Wind," a voice that sounds like the rumble of a moving mountain calls out. It is a familiar voice, one that has the addressed Spirit grinning as he looks down from his branch perch. And there, standing under the tree, with that no-nonsense frown and serious violet eyes set in a stern face as if carved from the mountain he hails from, is one of his friends.

A fellow Spirit, but of a mountain, as seen by the earthy red of his fur in comparison to the sky blue of the wind Spirit's.

"Now, now, what is with the formality?" the wind Spirit asks, with a voice light and airy like playful breezes and glimmering emerald eyes. "Even after knowing me for three decades, you still cannot call me by my name, Knuckles?"

The mountain Spirit rolls his eyes, a touch of a smile at the corner of his lips softening his stone-stern expression. It is just like the nature of the wind to erode even the mountains. "I suppose so, Sonic, even though this is a business visit."

"Business visit? Since when have you visited me for anything other than business?" Sonic asks teasingly as he slides off the branch, coming to a floating stop just above the thick carpet of snow. "Well, even if this is a business call…mind joining me and the kit?"

"Your kitsune charge, right?" Knuckles says, more of a statement than a true question as the two Spirits head off deeper into the winter-clad forest. Sonic remains in the air, as it is not in his nature to touch the ground, while Knuckles is the opposite, forever anchored to the earth. "How is he?"

"He is doing quite well," Sonic answers with a smile. "He is learning more fire magic these days, though it is understandable, considering how cold this year's winter is. Any idea what has Winter so frigid and cold?"

Knuckles shakes his head in reply. "I have not seen him at all for these past winters. In fact, I have not seen him, or any other Seasons or Mother Nature for that matter, since the last Chaos Festival…"

"Now that is strange. When was the last Chaos Festival anyway?"

"Five decades ago." Knuckles frowns down at the snow-covered floor. "In fact…the Seasons' Upheaval, the last Chaos Festival, they all happened at the same time. It is a strange coincidence."

Sonic hums lightly. With a seemingly-nonchalant air, he comments, "A coincidence? Rather…I would say those two events are connected."

"And that does not make any sense," Knuckles growls. "The last Chaos Festival was successful. There had not been anything that would prompt such behavior from the Seasons. Mother Nature would know, but she has also disappeared. I can only hope that the coming Chaos Festival will draw them out."

Sonic nearly pauses in place at that, a slight hitch in his flight that is quickly covered up as he turns to Knuckles. "Coming Chaos Festival?"

"That is the reason behind my visit," Knuckles says with a nod. "The next Chaos Festival. It will be held within three months' time, on the cusp of the spring equinox when the full moon is at its zenith."

"I see…" Sonic closes his eyes briefly, hiding the flash of wariness before Knuckles could see it. Once he settles down, he asks another question, one that rings through him like an ominous wind. "And where will it be held?"

"Emerald Bay."

Perhaps it was then that I saw a faint image of the storm that came with Knuckles.

Back then, there was something about Emerald Bay that left me wary, completely on edge. Despite the fame of that sacred area, known as the birthplace of the Master Emerald, I could never make myself go there. Something…something about that place just felt…too much, I suppose.

It was not an impending sense of doom or anything of that nature. No, rather, it was the north to my magnet. It drew me, so strongly that it…

It scared me.

Everything about that place felt like a trap, as if, as soon as I gave in, I would never be able to leave. And to a wind Spirit, there was nothing worse than being tied down, being completely restricted, having their freedom taken away.

So when Knuckles told me that the Chaos Festival would be held at Emerald Bay, it was with a sense of trepidation and anxiety-ridden fear that I was left with.

"Is there any chance that I might, perhaps…pass over the event?" Sonic asks, to which Knuckles stares at the wind Spirit incredulously.

"Passing over a Chaos Festival?! What madness ails you?! It is already a marvel at having two Chaos Festivals so close to each other for what may be the first time in history, and you simply wish not to go?" Knuckles asks, almost demands really, in return.

"Well, it is not a requirement for Spirits to attend, is it?" Sonic huffs in return, the resulting breeze from his words shaking the nearby branches. "I simply do not wish to attend."

"That is not a reason, and both of us know it," Knuckles points out, standing firm even against the wind Spirit's words, for while the wind may erode, it can never blow down a mountain. "Sonic, tell me the truth. Just for what Chaos' forsaken reason do you not want to attend?"

"…You will not believe me, even if I tell you," Sonic whispers, quieter than the sound of wind through grass.

Now looking back, I wonder what would have happened if I told Knuckles… Would I still go to the Festival? Would the future I know still take place?

Ah, who knows? It is not in my nature to dwell too long on what ifs.