Constellations

Chapter 4: Darkness

Town Square – Knothole Village

Soldiers from each of the seven countries associated with the United Nations stormed through the small village where the legendary hero, Sonic the Hedgehog grew up. The quiet and modest people of the small village of Knothole scrambled away from the unyielding men and women marching down their streets, both President Lincoln and King Darius the XIV walking confidently in the lead. The many residents of the booming, mobian community whispered amongst the safety of their groups, discussing what possible occasion could call for the insane amount of soldiers.

"I find it hard to believe that a group with the level of intelligence that Dusk has will fall for your little trick, Lincoln," King Darius commented coldly, making it evident he wasn't in the mood for anymore of the United Federations' slip ups. "After all, don't you think they'd know exactly how to spot the legitimacy of things such as the Chaos Emeralds?"

"Awhile back, Sonic's younger friend...Tails I believe it was...he created an artificial Chaos Emerald," Lincoln responded as they rounded a bend in the pathway, heading up a hill. "Not too long ago, our men retrieved it from his laboratory and have been conducting some research on it. Now, we've managed to create a full set of seven replicas."

Shaking his head in disbelief, the King of Procella simply grumbled under his breath and continued walking in silence. After ten minutes of trekking through the thick South Island jungle, the soldiers and their leaders had reached what seemed to be the more desolate portion of the island. Wildlife of all sorts scampered across the path and in the darkness of the trees and vines, creating an air of anxiety and fear throughout the battle ready troops. However, standing in the middle of the pathway, a cloaked figure walked closer towards them, his unbearable essence pressing against the group like it were electricity.

"You GUN dogs really know how to make an entrance, don't you?" a figure ahead commented with a chuckle, his body obscured by the darkness the jungle was providing. "What could you possibly need with all the soldiers, Mister President?"

Staring ahead with the utmost confidence, the President of the United Federations kept his gaze locked onto the being that had blocked their way. Slowly, finger by finger, Lincoln tightened his grip on the handle of the briefcase he had brought the artificial Chaos Emeralds in, doubt beginning to lace his thoughts.

"You can never be too trusting of the enemy, you know," Lincoln barked back, throwing the briefcase onto the muddy, jungle floor. "And after the threatening demand your leader left the United Nations...we thought it would be fitting to bring some fire power just in case things went south. I'm surprised your leader didn't send you out here with a similar idea."

A rumbling explosion shook the jungle, sending the creatures that inhabited it fleeing in all directions. The armed men belonging to the militaries of the world each shared the same thought; what in the world could have caused an eruption so big that the entire island shook? Unfazed by the sudden commotion, President Lincoln threw the briefcase to the ground, causing it to pop open in a cloud of dust. By now, the cloaked figure had made his way directly in front of the military group, eying the seven, mystic gems sitting on the ground. He grinned gently, letting out a disappointed sigh.

"We don't need any soldiers, when there's someone out here that'll kill you all anyway. Those aren't the Chaos Emeralds," the man commented. "The energy these ones have pale in comparison to the real thing...it's like the dumbed down cousins! I should have expected as much, President...you need those Emeralds to ensure your nation isn't destroyed, don't you? All political leaders are the same it seems...shady down to the bone. No matter...you're punishment is coming. In fact, I think I hear him now."

"Wait!" King Darius shouted, stepping forward to grab the cloaked figure. "What do you mean? Who's coming!"

"Someone you all know very well," he responded simply. "In fact, I believe he's one of the vigilantes you're all banning together to stop! Better prepare yourselves...he's close."

Darkness swirled outwards in front of the Dusk agent, swallowing him up like a black hole consuming the stars before it. Before he disappeared, the man grinned though the shadows of his hood, laughing at the decided fate of the soldiers being led to their imminent doom.

"And he isn't happy," the man taunted before completely leaving the group to their own defences.

Just then the island shook again, sending trees of all sizes tumbling into the ground. The military scrambled for safety, fearing what was causing the destruction. However, President Lincoln had a sinking feeling, his eyes locked onto smoke and energy billowing in the distance.

The Outskirts of Knothole

"My...my own father..?" Sonic questioned quietly, his body beginning to tremble in both unfathomable anger and terror. "...How could he kill his wife...and leave his son alone like that. Xanthos...you know more! Tell me what happened! Why did he do it!?"

Around Sonic a thick, ghastly aura had began to appear, almost as though the energy had started to boil out of the hedgehog's own blood. The blue hero lurched out of his seat, standing directly in front of his old mentor, his teeth gritting and waiting for the answers he expected. Xanthos' own unyielding gaze stared into Sonic, his eyes soft and sympathetic for the young hero. He could only imagine the pain of going through life alone, yet he still didn't know what to say to the blue hedgehog at the moment.

"Sonic, if I knew why the events unfolded the way they did...don't you think I would've told you?" the old Koala reasoned, standing up to calm his disciple."You need to find a way to let it go...no amount of anger will bring her back to us, kid. Don't you think I don't hold some form of animosity for your father as well? Charles and I were best friends, seeing him go through the pain of losing his sister was unbearable."

"Then why did you guys let her die!" Sonic screamed, tears rushing down his cheeks while the chaotic, smoking dark energy strengthened. "Why didn't you guys save her!"

The floor began to tremble in accordance to waves of chilling power escaping from the hero, causing the small cottage to shake and distort like the ground was threatening to swallow it whole. The blue hero howled in agony and weeped into his hands, falling to his knees to absorb everything he just learnt. Thinking about it all, and making sense of it only seemed to send his anger shooting. In the grand scheme of things, Eggman deserved to be killed the way he saw it now. It was because of that dastardly, wretched man that he lost his family; it was because of him his life ended up so chaotically. But then he thought of his father...

Pulses of violent power rushed out of Sonic, catching the wise Ex-GUN soldier off guard, shooting him through the far wall of his home. Wood and debris showered across the jungle clearing, while shards of glass impaled the trees surrounding the building. Within a vortex of billowing black and navy energy, Sonic roared in rage, losing control of himself to the demon lying within his consciousness. His quills suddenly became feral looking, while the elegant blue fur he was known for faded out to black like a disease had washed over his skin. Another howl escaped Sonic, his voice distorted and evil, like the screams that would plead for mercy in the depths of hell. The enraged hero lurched over onto his hands and knees, blood dripping from his mouth when suddenly his arms began to smoke. Golden markings snaked their way up his forearms, then over his biceps, writing ancient scripture onto his body. The hero snarled, his eyes green eyes turning violet while two glowing, white horns materialized on his forehead, making him seem like the devil himself.

Suddenly Sonic stood, his body hunched over, his quills floating in the turbulence of his own chilling energy. Slowly particles of ivory energy began to piece together around the hedgehog's jawline, creating a bone-like mask around his mouth. Screaming with another haunting bellow, Sonic lurched forward with such power and speed, the floor of Xanthos' house became a crater while sending the walls of the cottage exploding outwards, like a bomb had gone off within. Sonic screeched in rage and pounced on Xanthos, delivering a Chaos infused punch into the mans face, his anger boiling to new heights.

Sending a quick kick to Sonic's gut, the koala grunted and pushed the enraged hero off of him. However the dark hedgehog was quick to recover and instantly jumped back to his feet to pursue Xanthos, who had taken refuge behind a rock wall that he had created. Another distorted roar escaped Sonic, and in the space between his horns, a churning orb of unrelenting energy stormed to life, like an exploding star being contained in front of him. In the blink of an eye the attack hurled from Sonic, destroying the wall separating him and Xanthos with a ferocious display of power seen only in myths. Shards of rock exploded away from the structure, forcing Xanthos to run from Sonic to escape the deadly attacks his former student had unleashed. Another ball of power launched towards the man, turning a portion of the jungle into ash, missing the koala by a hairs width.

"Sonic! Enough!" Xanthos barked amidst the chaos, jumping away from another attack. "You're better than this! Don't let your anger consume you, Sonic!"

His calls fell on deaf ears, and Sonic continued his relentless fury, becoming an untamed demon on Earth. In a flash of violet, Sonic disappeared from view then materialized behind his old teacher, sending a crippling punch into the man's spine, launching him through the jungle. Xanthos bounced through the thick trees, snapping them like toothpicks from the sheer velocity he had acquired from Sonic's attack. Finally the man flipped around, landing on his feet just in time to meet another Chaos infused punch from the blue hedgehog, but he had a plan, there was no way he would stop now! A light grunt escaped Xanthos, a sphere of flame engulfing his body like bubble. The fire immediately jumped to Sonic, consuming his body in the rushing heat.

The blue hero screeched in pain, falling to his knees amidst the blood pouring from his body. However, another shockwave of energy erupted from his body extinguishing the flames with ease. "Ugh...Sonic, I don't want to have to fight you! Snap out of it!" Xanthos cried out, his hand glowing with a bright, white light.

Sonic roared with anger, the structure around his jaw turning into a demonic mask around his face, representing the skull of a bull. His horns solidified, turning gold like the burning markings on his arms, then suddenly the hedgehog punched Xanthos, sending out a shockwave of devastating power. Trees and rocks turned to ash all around the two opponents, but Xanthos had managed to catch the hedgehog's fist. They struggled against one another's might, trying to overcome the other like two titans fighting for supremacy over the world. But Xanthos prevailed, slamming the hedgehog into the ground with a powerful punch.

A bellow escaped Sonic, and he kicked Xanthos from atop of him, disappearing in a flash soon after. The wounded koala lay in the destruction Sonic had caused, panting and trying to catch his breath. Moaning in pain, the man stood to his feet to get a look where his student had run off to, watching as clouds of smoke billowed upwards in the direction of Knothole.

"What the hell is that thing!" One soldier screamed in horror, his eyes growing wide at the sight of the monster in front of them.

His gleaming horns fizzled with energy, creating a shimmering orb of energy in the air, ready to exterminate everything around. A distorted scream escaped the demon, and from the gap in his horns came the ball of power, vaporizing a chunk of the soldiers that were unfortunate enough to be caught up in the attack. At the sight of all the blood stained on the ground from their comrades, the remaining soldiers howled in defiance, each rifle echoing in the jungle as the soldiers prepared their weapons. Gunshots popped one after another, creating a symphony of gunfire to mark Sonic's end, while barrels smoked, and bullets sailed at him, eager to kill. However, the blue hero screamed in rage unleashing another shockwave, destroying all the bullets headed towards his body like they were mere flies.

In a blur of black energy, Sonic disappeared, his hands becoming cloaked in the same white energy creating his horns. Within seconds, his fists became large claws eager to rip apart the soldiers, his craving for their lives growing. Blood splashed across the vegetation surrounding the military, body parts starting to litter the ground as if they were nothing more than trash. Bullets pierced through Sonic's skin, yet he didn't waver. He had become unstoppable.

The blue hero continued through the hordes of screaming men & women, killing each of them without even blinking. Blood stained his body, and the trees had been stained red from the soldiers being ripped apart. Finally, Sonic stood still, dead bodies and dismembered limbs and heads at his feet. Another howl escaped Sonic, and he turned his sights to the President & King Darius, ready to end them as well.

However, a man chuckled behind him, amused by the killing. "You're quite the fearsome opponent, Sonic," the cloaked Dusk figure commented with interest.

An enraged growl escaped Sonic as he twirled around to face the Dusk agent, a ball of crimson energy madly churning in between his horns. The orb launched forward, creating a trench in the jungle floor as it closed in on the cloaked man, but it proved to be of only a minor annoyance to the Dusk agent. In front of him, a portal swallowed the attack, then spun shut just as soon as it had come, but another opened behind the man as well, forming his escape route.

"We'll meet some other time," the man explained with a snicker. "Ciao!"

Sonic wasn't going to give up. The enraged beast leaped through the portal after his enemy, eager to end it all while he could.

To Be Continued