AN: I know I said I wouldn't update this until next month, but I really want to have this whole story uploaded by the end of the year. And considering that of this chapter we're a third of the way through, and also considering that I have most of the chapters done, I may as well just put them out. And also - there will be some references to Super Mario Odyssey, that is, what we know from trailers and gameplay. So if things end up being a bit off from the actual game, sorry, I'm not psychic. You can yell at me later. Anyway, with my ramblings out of the way, enjoy the next chapter!
Italics = Flashback
~Chapter Four: Hopelessness~
It was a year later when Sonic decided to leave South Island. Sitting in the cockpit of his newly fixed plane he gazed at the animals who had helped and nurtured him for the last twelve months.
"Please don't forget to visit!" one called up to him.
"And remember," another one started. "This will always be your home. You can come back and visit anytime you like."
Sonic gave them a wide grin and a thumbs-up before starting the plane, the engine rumbling to life. Sonic gave a friendly wave towards the animals as he took off into the sky above, ready for whatever the rest of his life had in store for him.
/~/
It wasn't until the dead of the night when Mario regained consciousness. Blinking and feeling somewhat groggy, Mario tilted his head and found he was back in Sonic and Tails' shared house in the Mystic Ruins. The fox in question jumped somewhat at the sudden movement, but quickly composed himself and dragged a chair over to sit near Mario.
"You're awake," he breathed. "When I first found you on the street in Station Square, at first glance I thought you were dead. Eggman really must've done a number on you."
"I have a broken arm, right?" Mario murmured, disoriented. Tails nodded in confirmation.
"You do, but I managed to make a cast for you. I know it's not perfect, but at least it's something until you can actually get to a hospital."
Turning, Mario studied the cast on his left arm before shrugging. "It's seems good enough, actually. Grazie." With that Mario slowly sat up, Tails watching him closely.
"Mario..." he began, voice quiet. "Where's Sonic?"
Mario's blood chilled and he looked away from Tails. "I suppose Eggman's finally captured him."
Tails drew in a shaky breath, nodding. "Okay..." he murmured, biting his lower lip as he reached for his Miles Electric. "Knowing Sonic he'll try to find a way to escape himself, but let me see if I can-"
He was cut off by the screen in front of him going to static before a very familiar laugh came from the speakers, Mario and Tails tensing as they knew exactly who it was.
"Eggman," Tails growled as the doctor appeared on the screen, a smug grin on his face.
"Well hello Tails! And Mario, so nice to see you're finally up after my robots attack. He didn't hurt you too badly, did he?"
"What do you want, Eggface?" Tails spat.
"Such an attitude," Eggman tutted. "You've been spending too much time with that blue rat. No matter. It won't be like that for long."
"And what do you mean by that?" Mario asked in an even voice, even though he was internally panicking.
Eggman chortled. "See for yourself." With that he panned the camera over to a capsule where Sonic was lying unconscious; the fur on his head matted with dried blood from where he was struck and dark bruises lining his torso and arms from where the robot had grabbed him. Mario's hand clenched into a fist while Tails averted his gaze; trying not to sob or throw up at the gruesome image. The camera panned back to Eggman, still wearing that smug look.
"You're going to regret that," Mario snarled.
"And what exactly are you planning on doing? Coming to rescue him? Because I'll have you know that I've collected all of your DNA, and the barrier around my lair will react to it and disintegrate you on contact."
"You're bluffing!" Tails blurted, Eggman quirking an eyebrow.
"Oh am I now? Then why don't you come over here and find out if I am?"
Tails went silent, Eggman chortling once more before the connection went dead. Mario glanced at Tails, who immediately began pressing buttons on his Miles Electric.
"Let me see if I can hack into his defense system," he muttered, face screwed up in concentration. After a few minutes his ears drooped, and he lowered the Miles Electric with a defeated look on his face. "It's really true. All of it's true. He really has collected all of our DNA and integrated it with the defense system."
Mario wandered over, taking a peek at the screen. Sure enough, he was on that list, along with Tails, Luigi, Peach, Amy, even Birdo and Cream! He momentarily wondered how Eggman had managed to collect their DNA when realization struck him that it must have happened during the Olympics, when they were all out of their rooms. With that in mind Mario came to the conclusion that Bowser had to have been involved with this plot somehow as well, or at least knew of what Eggman was planning.
It was a bit disturbing to think about the fact that Eggman had been planning this attack for quite some time. Wracking his brain, Mario tried to think of what they could do. If only his friends from the Smash Mansion could come into this dimension, surely Eggman wouldn't stand a chance against the likes of Mega Man, Pac-Man, Link or Samus? Heck, even the Rabbids would help in this situation! But they hadn't gotten transportation set up between any other dimension so far, so that was a lost cause...
It was times like these when Mario wished he still had Cappy. Sure, he may have not necessarily liked "capturing" innocent townsfolk as he found it unethical, but it really would have helped at this particular moment.
Something clicked in his brain as he thought about his latest adventure and he glanced at the screen of the Miles Electric again, reading the names over multiple times and realizing that there was one person that wasn't on the list. Someone that Eggman very likely wasn't aware existed. Drawing in a shaky breath, Mario turned to Tails.
"I think I know of a way we can save Sonic."
/~/
Pain.
That was all Sonic could concentrate on as he lay in the capsule. Pain that kept washing over him in waves, and every time he attempted to stand a new wave would hit him so violently that he'd collapse to the ground again, resisting the urge to vomit. His head hurt and his chest ached; it felt like he'd been up against Crazy Hand five times in a row. Not to mention he'd broken his leg by spindashing directly into the robot. At least he finally knew what hell felt like.
Footsteps echoed in the distance, and Sonic didn't even need to look up to know who it was. "Eggman..." he weakly growled, before wincing in pain once again.
Eggman didn't say anything at first, just kept circling Sonic's capsule like he was some sort of zoo attraction. Eventually though he stopped, back turned to Sonic.
"After all these years, I've finally captured you," he started. "And since I knew you'd try to escape, there's a barrier around your capsule that will disintegrate you if you touch it. It's the same barrier keeping your precious boyfriend from coming to rescue you, along with all of your other friends."
Sonic scowled and remained quiet, not wanting to talk to the doctor at this particular moment. Eggman wasn't giving him much of a choice though, as he continued, "You know, you've been such a thorn in my side. I should have finished you off on Christmas Island like I planned to, but she ruined my plans."
"What are you goin' on about, Egghead? Our first battle was on South Island. Remember? Even though I was only eight I still manged to kick your ass into next week."
"So your memory still hasn't returned after all these years."
Sonic's blood ran cold. Even though it was common knowledge to his friends that he had some missing memories, he'd always make sure to discuss it in private, nowhere near enemy robots or anyone that may tip the doctor off. "How do you-"
"Our past runs farther than South Island, Sonic. Or maybe I should call you Maurice, the name your mother gave you. Or perhaps I should refer to you as Operation Needlemouse, what I initially called the experiment in the first place."
Dread filled Sonic's chest and his mouth ran dry. "What-"
Eggman turned to look at Sonic, a sneer on his face. "Well, since you won't be alive for much longer, I may as well tell you." he paused momentarily for a dramatic effect, before uttering three words that made Sonic go completely numb; feeling like he was going to vomit, faint, or both.
"I'm your father."
Replies
TheGameNguyener: Since fourth wall breaking seemed to go over well in the first story, I figured I may as well keep it as a character trait of Sonic. :) Basically, he's completely aware he's a figment of my imagination based off of a fictional character, while Mario doesn't have a clue. And I teeter between being a shipper and not being a shipper, mainly because people get so crazy about it and that's when I have an issue with it. But anyway, I'm glad you're still enjoying the story, as things just got a lot more interesting! Thank you for the review!
TemUltimate: Aw, thanks. I'm glad someone thinks so! Thank you for the review!
Pamitydesu01: Yeah, things certainly got bad, and they just got a lot worse for Sonic! And thank you so much, that means a lot to me. Thank you for the review!
Silver1612: Aw, thank you! And who knows if Sonic will ever be okay again after having that dropped on him. And as for Mario... we'll just have to see! Thank you for the review!
