A/N: Omg I missed this site so much! I haven't been able to update soon due to work, but here I am now, ready to give you guys some good chapters! Well, at least I hope so. :)
Please enjoy chapter 7!
Metallic limbs crawled right behind the heroes' heels. Turns out the infamous Dr. Eggman had rebuilt and upgraded one of his not-so-old creations, the Egg Beetle, to the point it could crawl its limbs like a real insect.
"Keep moving!" Shouted Sonic, noticing how J.J. struggled to keep up with him. Her partner, Infinite, however, could easily leap from tree to tree before they were all crushed down. He had kept his agility skills in check even after his past escape.*
The female rabbit panted. "No matter how much we move they'll still be on our toes!"
"Any tracks of that stone of yours?!" Infinite nearly shouted.
Her Medallion kept blinking as usual when detecting any Elite Stone. "The power signature's still the same! There's no way we'll find it here!"
The Egg Beetle fired streams of dark energy at the crew from its eyes, forcing them to separate from each other. As a consequence, many trees collapsed and were ultimately destroyed, but the three survived the attack by jumping over the fallen trees.
"Ngh!" The villain clutched a fist. "You lousy pests aren't getting away this time!"
Inside a ring of fallen trees, the three landed next to one another, with J.J. in the middle.
The mad doctor cut his way through the trees to pursue the heroes, whom anticipated his arrival with great suspense. The sounds of falling trees grew near every second, and every time it unnerved the poor rabbit girl.
She backed away, but Infinite grasped her hand and shook his head at her with a serious look. J.J. just whimpered.
Before Sonic or Infinite could talk to her, the Beetle's zapping claws sliced through the pile of fallen trees close to the heroes, and its eyes readied to fire at them.
"Please remain calm and enjoy the very last moments of your lives! Ahem! Just brace yourselves for the first few minutes. You won't care afterwards." Eggman's voice resonated sinisterly.
The girl grasped Infinite's hand and summoned a force field large enough to protect the three of them on the moment the machine began raining laser pellets. The force field was able to deflect the attack, but the more it worked, the more energy took from its host.
J.J. groaned at such force. For her, the Powers were three times stronger than her own body, hence the reason why it always wore her out. In fact her Powers stopped functioning because of this. With the attack still in effect, Sonic, Infinite and her retreated to a safer location, the two separating from the hedgehog.
J.J. fell on her back after jumping off a falling tree.
"J.J.!" Infinite landed to her aid, quickly getting her up to her feet by holding her by her waist.
"I'm sorry! This is all my fault!" She hugged the jackal in guilt.
The Beetle stomped its legs at the two, loud enough to scare the little rabbit. "You're quite the nuisance now, aren't you?" Eggman asked from his seat, its window opening up.
"Stay out of our lives, fat man!" Infinite shouted as J.J., frightened, hid behind him.
"Oh, I will, after I crush you to your deaths!"
"No!" J.J. cried as the jackal drew out his sword, but none could make a move on the villain. He shot laser beams almost at their toes. Its force was too great that they both fell into a deep cliff of the eastern forest.
...
From a distance, Sonic witnessed that awful moment, and spin dashed his way towards Eggman, later bumping his machinery repetitive spin attacks and creating enough damage to destroy it. Eggman's hovering device "popped" off the heavily damaged machine, and the fat man was forced to his fat body on the ground.
And all of the power he just obtained disappeared like dust in the wind as it flew as dark matter.
"Ngh! Now what do you want?!" The fat man yelled, throwing his arms out immaturely.
Landing heroically, the blue hedgehog glanced at the villain so sharply. "It's just you and me, Eggman!"
The villain adjusted his composure, grinning coldly. "Hahaha! With my newest power, you wouldn't even hurt a fly! And in this year's final day, it'll also be the last day of your lives!"
"Wait, what? You're crashing our New Year's party for some trashy plan?" Sonic asked cockily. "That's a terrible idea."
"You lousy sewer rat can't tell me what to do! I'm putting an end to you and your little friends on this year's final day, and it will be so! After all, you and that pipsqueak won't even get to that day." Sonic raised a brow. "Not even Infinite will stand against this power!"
Sonic thought for less than a second. The last time he encountered him, he mentioned Infinite. "What's your deal with him anyway?"
"Nothing a meddlesome rodent like you should care! Have fun exploding!" And just like that, he climbed up his hovering mobile in a silly way and took off in the air, letting down a lot of small explosives with his personal logo. These blinked intermittently and rapidly, causing a set of explosions around the hedgehog. Fortunately, the quickster avoided each of these small but potent bombs and survived.
However, his destination got him stranded in the woods due to the damage his arch-enemy caused.
...
J.J. soon opened her eyes, only to discover that she unconsciously used the Powers to create a gold sphere which acted as a shield. She was floating inside it, but the sphere quickly touched the ground and undid itself. Her eyes soon darted to Infinite. The poor jackal fell face-first into the soil, and had a bruise on his head. Shocked, J.J. quickly ran to his aid and turned him around.
"Infinite. Infinite!" She shook him as hard as she could to wake him up. It wasn't long enough until she heard a faint moan from the jackal.
He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the pain from his fall. "Ugh! What the heck? J.J.?"
J.J. helped him sit up. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Please, tell me!" She asked desperately.
Infinite showed calmness, and got up on his own, holding his head on his hand. "I'm fine. Where are we now?"
J.J. eased herself and looked around. "I don't know, but this place... there's something familiar about it."
The jackal wiped his fur, removing the dirt he got from his fall. "Next time don't doubt on using those Powers of yours, unless you want any of us killed."
J.J. cringed. "Sorry, Infinite."
To help, she took out a bandage tape from her pocket and wrapped his forehead with it all the way around while he kept wiping his fur. The touch of her soft hands surprised him, and he stood still as she worked with his wounds.
"There." She tied a small knot on the back of his head. "All better."
"Am I supposed to thank you?" His heterochromatic eyes glared at her.
J.J. giggled in a muffle, blushing. "I think so."
With a huff and grin, the jackal scooped her in his arms. The rabbit gasped, but laughed at her friend's sudden occurrences. She saw this as something the jackal rarely did in his life.
"Well, I suppose you're tired enough like to use your own feet." He said almost ironically while giving her comfort in his arms.
"Infinite, you just fell and hurt yourself because of me." J.J. responded back.
"Even so, I don't want us to be weak." That word disgusted him for some apparent reason.
J.J. embraced him and laid her head on his chest. "Hm."
Later on, they strolled around an intact area of the forest, where every detail of the nature surrounding them seemed paradisal in some way, despite the mild absence of light. This particular detail brought the rabbit female some memories.
"Do you remember the day we ran away together?"
"Hm?" Infinite raised a brow.
"Well, I was unconscious, but you told me that the two of us escaped from Eggman's base, and made it to a desolate area somewhere."
"Oh, really?" Asked Infinite, not truly comprehending what she said. "Like I'd remember that."
J.J. felt a little down. "Huh. I guess your memories won't come around too soon, will they?"
Infinite stopped and stared at his friend in his arms. "You don't need to feel pity for me, kid. Even if I don't remember a thing, I know you'll be there." Then he set her down on her feet, but J.J. looked at the ground, almost wanting to cry with joy and feeling. "Hey." The jackal touched her shoulder, making her look up at him.
"That's... That's the nicest thing you've ever told me, Infinite." Her eyes glimmered, tears of joy wanting to come out.
"Don't come at me now with that sentiment, child." He reluctantly but still gently wiped her tears away with his fingertips. "We still have to find those Stones of yours, then we'll be on our way home."
J.J. nodded, and they continued their walk, holding Infinite's hand. "I hope the others are doing okay. Being alone out here makes it all so quiet."
"Those two can take care of themselves. In fact, I still don't get why you trust more on that blue hedgehog. Spines aren't as bad as him."
"Infinite!" J.J. hissed, but said nothing more.
...
Meanwhile, the lonely hedgehog also took a stroll of his own, seeking to find the Third Stone.
"Hm. If I was a Stone in need of finding, where would I be?" He asked himself, later stopping to take a breather and admre the view.
"I hope J.'s doing alright. Tracking those things gets harder without her. And that guy... I wonder why Egghead's so interested in him. I mean, it's not like he's bonding with him again, right?"
"Are you talking to yourself, Sonic?" Tails suddenly snapped, startling the hedgehog.
"Oh! Uh..."
"It's okay, though. I have some news..."
...
Sonic made it to the Dragon Road, where temples and villages resided. The villagers there, human and anthropomorphic, bidded them welcome in their best ways.
"The location of the Third Stone coincides with its riddle. However, to pass through requires focus."
"That's no problem. Finding that Stone will be a piece of cake!" Sonic said with confidence.
"This is not about speed, Sonic. Surrounding the river's bed are traps. A second of distraction may cost you a lot."
The blue hedgehog still showed confidence, and stretched his little body, preparing for his quest. "Well, I'm always up for any challenge, and things like that are what makes life fun, y'know."
Tails sighed. "As long as no one gets in trouble, and that we find the Third Stone, I'm with you, Sonic."
"Somehow I knew you'd say that, buddy. Let's get going. We should also find our friends on the way."
Tails nodded. Then both went on their way to the river...
...
But J.J. and Infinite were the first to find it, as they strolled up the peak of the forest, later hearing the sounds of a strong waterfall. Almost as if it knew, her Medallion started glistening.
J.J. gasped. "The Third Stone's close! Come on!" She grasped the jackal's hand and ran, pulling him forward.
"Can't you run any more faster?!" Infinite exclaimed with sarcasm.
"Just a bit closer, Infy! We're almost by the river's bed!"
In less than two minutes, the rabbit was able to sight the river's bed and waterfall. Inside a cave at its top resided the Third Stone, the Yellow Elite Stone of Joy.
"Gaze into the river of a mountain tall. Avoid it and your spirits will fall!" J.J. said, remembering the riddle. "I can't believe we found it!" She jumped gleefully, but realized Infinite was no longer next to her. "Infinite?" She looked around with alert, but before she could even see, a trap caught her and brought her up in a net. She tried pulling it to break it it, but the ropes were too strong for her fingers.
Infinite, however, used his sword and set himself free by cutting the net down.
"I'll get you out, J- oof!"
And it was then when a shaded figure about his same size kicked him off to the trees. The jackal hit his back with the tree trunk and fell on his butt with a groan of pain. Opening an eye, he watched as the shaded figure climbed the trees to get to J.J., and was able to grasp the net which she was trapped in.
"HEY! LET GO OF HER!"
The figure seemed to notice Infinite, and landed to his knees with J.J. in the net, and for a brief moment he glared into his heterochromatic eyes, golden irises sharply suspecting something from the jackal. Infinite lunged at him, but the figure was able to counter him almost effortlessly, throwing him off to the ground. Then he fled with the trapped rabbit as if she was bait.
"Infinite!" J.J. cried.
"J.J.!" Infinite shouted. "Darn it!" He hissed and jumped through the trees to save her.
...
The shaded figure had gone too far from the river with a struggling and kicking rabbit on his trap net, but decided to stop and catch a breather, dropping the net and J.J. in it. She was set on her butt, and it hurt.
"Ow! How dare you-"
The male dug out a little orb item from his secret glove compartment and crushed it in his fist, then spread its powdery contents at J.J. "You are at ease."
The rabbit tried to avoid it, but the powder already entered her nosetrils along with a stinky smell, and its effects worked on her, calming her from her aggressive behavior.
"M-my emotions... what did you do?"
The male, a purple chameleon, released her. "It doesn't matter. Come with me."
...
"Please, I have to find my friend! Don't you know he could get in trouble when he's alone?" J.J. begged as she followed the chameleon in their walk.
"How long have you known this black jackal?" The chameleon asked.
"That's a personal question. Besides, I don't even know your name." J.J. put her hands on her hips and rested on one leg.
The chameleon stopped and thought his words very carefully.
"My name is Espio." He said as he turned to her with serious eyes. "I know who you are, and I'm aware that you're under the possession of limitless power. I'm afraid both you and your friend are a great source of concern."
J.J. raised a brow. "How come?"
"Your power is too great, yet vulnerable. No enemy will ever stop at their attempts to obtain it due to its energy radiation, not even the Dark Force."
"I know that. But wait, what's a Dark Force?"
Espio pointed a finger towards the book in her hands. "You should consult your book instead of asking."
J.J. grew a feeling of great concern.
A/N: And with that I end this chapter! Sorry if it was rushed. I have work ahead of me tomorrow, and I wanted to finish this chapter as quick as I could.
Reviews? :)
