[Mobius, Green Hills]
One thing he loved about not living in a city was the fact he could run at full speed without the danger of running over someone -and breaking every bone in their body in the process- or hitting something and turning into a hedgehog pancake. The later would a rather humiliating end.
Never going to happen.
Sonic nearly tripped in shock at the low, rumbling echo of a voice that originated from the back of his head. Rather than slowing down however, the speedster grit his teeth and tried to push back at the origin of the mumble, like he had learned when fighting the effects of the fake Chaos Emeralds a few years ago. He tried to push at it, force it out, not wanting to end up like the time when the false mythical stones had turned into a sinister version of himself.
Not wanting to ever be influenced in that way again, he had gone to Knuckles to begrudgingly ask the scarlet echidna how to defend himself from negative influences. It had been grueling work, and during every lesson he had wanted to punch the smug Guardian, but it had worked.
Now those lessons was going to help him against this unknown threat.
Hopefully. Knuckles was a shit teacher.
He felt his trained mind hit against something solid with the force of a battering ram against a castle's gate. Of all the things that could happen, Sonic didn't expect the parasite to brush the attack off. At the rude contact the thing stirred, true, shifting slightly to accommodate itself, but it seemed to shrug off the mental prod as if it was nothing. The Blue Blur was floored. Why wasn't it working?!
Was my hard work for nothing? The confused azure slowed down his run as he was just a mile away from Tails' workshop. He prodded the thing again with all of his mental strength, and it hissed, a sound-feel that sounded more irritated than hurt. Rearing back, the parasite's mind seemed to eye his own with distaste.
Just when he was readying himself to strike once more, it opened it's jaws and struck, clamping down on his conscience.
Sonic suddenly found himself unable to breathe.
xxxxxxxx
[Mobius, Acropolis]
"We couldn't retrieve it."
Acidic green eyes glanced away from the bustling city below to stare down at his companion. The little winged imp flinched under his cold gaze, tail twitching nervously behind him. When the green-eyed monster spoke next, it was an emotionless question that gave a shiver to the smaller immortal's spine.
"I thought the location of the Abomination was clear."
The younger one let out a low hiss at the title his kind gave to the thing. His beady blue eyes scanned the city, as if the simple act would somehow give him the answer to his problems. The mortals were slowly rebuilding their lives, as the Black Arms had destroyed entire cities before they could be stopped.
"The container burned upon re-entry. By the time we reached the remains, it already slaughtered the remaining guards and vanished into the woods. We lost it." The imp snarled, shuffling around angrily on the edge of the skyscraper. "We have that traitor to thank."
"Don't worry about my ancestor's disgusting creation." The taller creature lay a hand on the other's back, just below the head. The winged being was immediately subdued by the sharp claws dragging against his scales. "I don't think Shadow is even aware of what monstrosity he brought upon the same people he promise to protect."
"Quite ironic! That bastard of a demon has screwed up even more than you, halfbreed!"
As the yellow-scaled Angel crackled, the other's glowing green eyes narrowed in distaste. With a lazy flick of the creature' wrist, his unknowing companion's neck was snapped. As the immortal died, a grin still twisting his reptilian face in death, he began to glow, the edges of his body slowly turning into dust.
Mephiles threw the disintegrated corpse over the edge of the building before teleporting away.
xxxxxxxxx
[Mobius, Green Hills]
Sonic tried to scream, gloved hands rising to his throat at the sensation of something wrapped tightly around his neck. He gave out a choked cry as he fell to the ground, hissing and spluttering through the force tightened around his throat. The thing snarled inside his mind, shaking around his trapped consciousness like a predator trying to rip his prey's flesh apart -not an image that made the azure hedgehog's blood freeze.
Let me go! He cried mentally, knowing his desperate shriek was a repeat of the nightmarish event that happened last night.
Tired of his struggling and flailing around, the thing tilted it's maws to the side, flipping his mind on his back before, quite suddenly, letting go of his mind. As Sonic frantically tried to right himself the parasite crawled away, flopping down in a corner of his head for a nap.
The crushing weight gone the sapphire hero panted loudly as he rubbed his sore throat. Alright, no more prods until he learned more about this thing. Maybe Knuckles could help...?
A sharp, warning pain from the back of his head made Sonic wince.
Maybe not yet.
He could keep this a secret, for now.
xxxxxxx
[Mobius, Green Hills]
"Tails!"
"I'm at the workshop!"
Of course you are, you little twig.
His brother's house -his house too, until he moved out: even his nerves couldn't handle so many explosions everyday- was quite the unusual building. The first half was the living section, a simple, two-story house that stood on a quaint little hill just a mile away from Acropolis. There were four bedrooms, one for the fox, one for him, and two for guests; a single bathroom, which caused chaos for the two inhabitants, especially in the morning. A freakishly large dinner slash living room -with the company they had, go figure- and a tiny kitchen Amy often grew desperate with in the rare times she visited their house.
The blue hedgehog burst the workshop like a tornado; slamming it shut behind him with a small kick. Sonic looked around in search of his brother and allowed himself a tiny smile at the sight in front of him.
Tails looked as if had just risen from bed, yellow fur tussled, namesakes dropping limply to the asphalt floor and bags hanging beneath his eye lobes...yet the sapphire orbs were sharp and focused. He was hunched over an assembly of little metal objects, each barely the size of his thumb. It looked as if the ten year old was trying to put them together, and the mere sight of the tiny little pieces being manipulated made Sonic cringe.
There was a reason why he couldn't learn even the slightest bit of engineering, despite his adoptive brother's best efforts. He couldn't sit down long enough to heads or tails of it.
Spotting him at the doorway, Tails was quick to carefully place down the microchips on the table before rushing in to tackle the azure speedster, who welcomed the kit's hug whole-heartedly. His namesake appendages flailed around happily, a sure sign of his joy. It made Sonic remember when he had been younger, when Tails had been five years old -smarter than the heroic hedgehog even then, and often sought comfort from the raging thunderstorms in his arms. The tails would lash around like those of a mighty kitsune, and Sonic had been on the receiving end of the flailing appendages often enough to remember the sharp sting of them slapping him across the cheek.
Picking up the boy -ha! He still had an inch and a half over the fox!- he hugged back him back with equal force. The happy moment ended, however, when two siblings heard the workshop's door open once more.
"How adorable." What was Rouge doing here? "Too bad I don't have a camera on me, right Shadow?"
"Whatever. Have you finished the command, fox-boy?"
Sonic made a face. Oh great.
Dark and moody had arrived.
"Take a chill pill, Shads." Arms full of fox kit, he turned his head to face the Ultimate Lifeform, giving the glaring ebony hedgehog a winning smile. "Brooding won't help you in the long run, pal." Letting go of Tails he did a little twirl, showing off the razor sharp quills on his head and his nearly glowing smirk. Tails frantically tried to stifle a giggle, but failed miserably. Even Rouge, who stood at the dark speedster's side more often than not let out a good hearted chuckle at his shenanigans. "Why can't you be a little more like me?"
"He's right, darling." A pause. "Then again, I don't see you running around smiling like a party clown."
Sonic let out a mocking cry of pain as he held his heart. "Hey! That hurts!" Rouge eyed him with a small grin and Tails laughed. The azure speedster would have joined in if he hadn't felt the thing stir at his fake sob. For a terrifying moment he thought it would fully wake, but the parasite merely growled lowly before curling up tighter in a ball.
The danger passed, he allowed himself to breathe again. Noticing that Tails was eying him with a questioning gaze, he forced his smile to grow wider and ruffled the top of the boy's head. Sonic turned back to his rival, his eyes almost glowing with mirth at the frown on the black warrior's face, as Shadow looked ready to run him through with a Chaos Spear.
"Geez, one day you're going to contaminate someone with the brooding." He gave a lazy flick of his wrist, as if to dispel the metaphorical gloom cloud that was hovering over the Ultimate Lifeform. Unfortunately for Sonic, he accidentally used his right arm. The scarlet stone on the bracelet wound possessively around his wrist caught the glint of the bright ceiling light.
Which immediately attracted Rouge's attention like a shark smelling blood a mile away.
"What are you doing?!" The unfortunate azure hero almost shrieked at the way his arm was snatched and trapped in a vicious grip that reminded him of what happened a few hours prior. No, wait. This was worse.
"Shush hon'! I'm trying to evaluate this treasure's carats!" She tugged at the bracelet, pursing her lips as it refused to move. Sonic grit his teeth at the sharp agony traveling up his arm, thanking the fact he had pain tolerance that was higher than the average mobian -when you got blown up every other day you learned how to block out the sensations, otherwise he would be on the floor screaming his lungs out. "Now tell me what type it is? Beryl? Ruby? Coral?"
"...what?"
Tell her I'm a Spinel and be done with it. If he wasn't so in control of his reactions Sonic would have gasped when he felt the thing crack an eye and stare at him with disdain, the voice-feel relaxed and detached. White with a hint of gold, the owner of the orb was indifferent to his mental chaos. Just brush her off with that already. Stop panicking.
Easier said than done.
A sharp, warning sting was his only answer. The young speedster gulped, doing his best to be discrete when he did so. Sonic was glad to see that Shadow was too caught in his gloom to notice, and Tails had turned back to his work on the table. "...Spinel, I believe? Didn't get much information from the person that gave it to me." He answered with a distant voice as he pulled his arm free.
"My, I didn't know you had such a taste in jewelry, Blue." Was Rouge mocking him? He stared at her with distaste, hating the fact she was at the same heigh level -even a bit more- with those high heel of hers, Yep, she was mocking him. Probably in a attempt to shame him into throwing the manacle away.
If I could, I'll gladly give it to you, no payment required. The Blue Blur almost rolled his eyes as he felt a anot her burning sting from the back of his head. It seemed as if this thing had an attitude. Great.
Did Shadow just snicker?!
He twisted his head to the left where the ebony warrior was standing, watching Tails work on those tiny chips, which by now Sonic was pretty sure were a GUN-related creation. Probably some spy camera or something, knowing the sneaky little bastards.
With him distracted Rouge tried to touch the parasitic bracelet again, and in fear of the upcoming pain and what could happen if she touched it and it decided to react Sonic immediately snatched his arm away, eyes widened barely hidden panic. Last thing he wanted was to start screaming if the bat actually tried to take the bracelet off. The azure speedster was not looking forward to another round of excruciating agony, thank you very much.
"Where did you really get that, Blue?" Rouge purred, wiggling her eyebrows and staring at him with a seductive smirk that would sway any man except Sonic, who was used to her eccentricities by now. The bat frowned when the blue hedgehog crossed his arms across his chest, hiding the beautiful trinket.
Sonic huffed in annoyance. No way in hell he was telling her what really happen, not yet, even when the reaction of finding out this stone was a tentacle-wielding parasite that liked residing inside unfortunate victims' bodies would be interesting, and not to mention unforgettable.
"I got it from a friend." He responded slowly, letting the words drag out so they would sink in, knowing that telling something other than a lie would end up badly. He should get going. The longer he stayed here the more chances of this thing acting up, or for his friends deciding to strap him to a chair and interrogate him. While the later would just be a minor annoyance, he really didn't want to know what the parasite could do.
"Anyways, I have to go!" The azure hero turned his head to his brother and smiled at him, giving the yellow fox a thumbs up. "Got things to do, people to save, you know, all that jazz. So-" The word was dragged out, making Tails' eyes roll. "-see ya!" With that, coupled with a grumble from his rival and a whine from Rouge he was off, running out of the house before kicking it to high gear as he rushed out into the vast grasslands.
Besides, he had to do his daily round in Acropolis to check if Eggman hadn't decided to make his next bid for planet domination.
And he wanted a Chilidog...but it was mostly the Eggman thing.
That is denial.
You be quiet.
xxxxxxxxxxx
[Mobius, Acropolis]
Sonic sighed as he walked down the main road to the Emerald plaza where his favorite food stand was, a hand occasionally flickering against the rough metal of the bracelet clasped tightly around his wrist. He was both worried and frustrated. The Blue Blur could feel the creature in his mind, a large, slumbering presence wrapped around itself, content with sleeping the day away, unknowing of the person it had decided to hitchhike around on wanted it gone.
A small grimace came to be on Sonic's lips; he hoped it wouldn't wake up anytime soon.
So, what should I do...? Grab a bite, that was a work in process, but what should he do afterwards? Maybe go to a library for information on this thing? It's strange that it appear a few hours after the Comet fell... Maybe it came from the alien ship? If so, scouring the remains of the Black Arms Comet was just bumped up his list. He was sure he would only need to flash a winning smile and the guards at the crash sites would leave him right in.
Quickly ordering his usual from the food stand's owner, the sapphire speedster expertly ignored the hushed whispers around him. Sonic had had enough of them to be immune at this point, and it wasn't as if he cared to listen to the people around him babble. He had too much to think about.
The troubled hedgehog waited impatiently for the purple walrus to finish making his chilidog, and was swift to snatch up his food and pay the mobian before darting away, not wanting to be around all of the curious stares. It both irritated and unnerved him.
Usually he liked being the center of attention, but when nobody was brave enough to speak to him and simply fell back in the mass of whispering, pointing people, it left the azure one grumbling to himself. He went to a nearby park and sat down on a secluded bench, intent on eating in peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, it didn't last for long. Sonic stilled as he felt it, his free hand balling up into a fist as he battled the urge to snarl.
It was awake.
The process was gradual; the thing's eyes opened, slowly, sleepily, and then the head rose, the rest of it's mental self following, and now it was awake and most of all aware, prowling inside of his head. Sonic flinched as a strange, prickling sensation made itself known from his right wrist, crawling up his arm and spreading across his defenseless body.
What are you doing?! His hiss couldn't have been more menacing. The thing watched him, indifferent of the barely veiled threat inside his biting words.
Then it snorted.
That took him back. It didn't care that he was threatening it. Then again, what could I do to harm it?
"Great." The azure one mumbled to himself as he took another bite off his chilidog, content with the peace and quiet. Well, as happy the Blue Blur could get with a strange alien bracelet attached to him that couldn't get off without feeling like he'd been sat on by Big.
He leaned back against the bench as he finished his food, watching the few people pass by all while keeping a mental eye on the thing nonchalantly walking around inside his head. Not many noticed him, since the place the speedster chose to eat was hidden behind the trees. It gave him a perfect view of his surroundings all while not having the pleasure to get gawked out by the citizens of Acropolis.
Sonic took his time to examine the people strolling through the park. The usually hyperactive hedgehog liked trying to figure out who they were, how they behaved, their personality, and what jobs they had. It was a little game he often played with Tails, but since the annoying midget decided to turn his workshop into his second bedroom, the fox didn't get out with him as much as he would have liked. He literally needed to drag the kit out of the workshop to get fresh air; sometimes Sonic even locked the door from the inside to prevent the smart fox from working, but this was Tails he was talking about.
That boy could break physics with his eyes closed.
His thoughts stopped short as he spotted something white at the corner of his eyes. For a moment he thought it was Rouge, but the sapphire hero was quick to remember the bat thief didn't like public places that didn't have jewels or drinks -that is, unless she needed an alibi for a crime she certainly did not commit. Insert the sarcasm here. The female bat he was looking at had a duller pelt than the pristine white of Rouge with a faint pink edge to it. She was also far less voluptuous than the GUN agent, almost skeletal, and her wings were broader. Her eyes were pinker than Amy's clothes, and her pupils were exceptionally small.
The mobian was wearing a white shirt and a equally pale pair of pants, a choice of clothing that was very strange, especially seeing they lacked textures or designs, almost plastic -as if she has picked the cheapest, barest clothes she could find and left. The mobian was staring at the ground in silence, seemingly absorbed in her thoughts.
Sonic wasn't one that liked to spy on people, but this girl made him curious, and not in the romantic sense. There was something unnerving about her, that made him want to bare his teeth and hiss like a reptile.
Then she looked up from the ground, and straight at him.
The familiar warm, prickling sensation would have made Sonic frown if he hadn't flinched under the empty sakura stare. It felt like Chaos energy. Was she a Chaos user? Probably. His sense for the mythical energy was far from being as sharp or as focused as Shadow or Knuckles -something the two idiots loved to point out- but there wasn't anyone else around her. In fact, save for a lone couple slumbering beneath a tree and himself, the park looked positively empty. Thoughts raced in Sonic's mind as he kept staring at the bat's pink eyes. Who was she? What did she want? And why was she staring at him like he was a piece of trash?
He felt the thing shift inside his head, and cringed. No. Not this. He didn't have the time for this! Before he could try to push it away or attempt to pull it back to sleep however, the parasite snarled, making him recoil, not wanting to relive the experience from this morning.
Prey... The growl was truly menacing, a rumbling, primal hiss of rage, a sound that made a shiver travel up his spine. The blue hedgehog felt the thing shift around, the feline prowling stopping short as it settled in front of his own conscience, pale eyes sharp and angry. Kill it!
What?! Sonic was taken back. No! He snarled, quills bristling. Like hell he was going to hurt a innocent person, no matter how much they stared at him! Sure it was creepy, but why would he ever do such a thing.
It laughed, a sound-feel that made him flinch. When it spoke next, the tone was almost mocking. Person, eh? It is not a person, Ogilvie. What kind of name was that?
Kill it, before it kills you.
No!
Alright. The strange voice of the creature was dripping with malice as seemingly it eyed him with a hidden smile. I'll do it myself, then.
Before Sonic could ask, his sight went red.
I feel so happy this chapter is redone. It far, far better than the original. Not only it doubles the amount of words, it advances the plot line better than the other did.
For those wondering about the timeline, it follow two to three years after the event of Sonic X. The Black Arms invasion happened, and before I hear you cry about the mistake that the Black Arms should be on Earth because Shadow and the ARK came from there, Imma take a page out of the comic of Sonic X, that states that Earth and Mobius are mirror images.
Therefore, there could be a Shadow for Mobius, but inspiring myself from the the comics, I'll say he died when Mobius' GUN took over the ARK along with Maria and Gerald. With the later dead without trial or anything, the man never had the time to program the ARK into falling on Mobius. Seeing as Mobius is a mirror to Earth (save the lack of Mobians) both Shadows are identical in the genetical sense.
As for Sonic 06', it happened a year ago -with only the ones with greater control over Chaos, therefore less likely to forget due to the time reversal (Shadow, Sonic, Knuckles, Silver) remembering vague details about it. They don't remember much, like Eggman trying to capture Mephiles, or Silver or the princess kissing Sonic (otherwise the poor hog would never take a vacation to Soleana ever again).
Also, Acropolis is a city appearing in Unleashed. It was a metropolis, so I randomly picked it from a list of candidates.
