author's note: Happy New Year, all! Phew! This was a tough chapter to write, so I must apologize for the delay! But we're almost home! I was re-reading the first 10 chapters to try to successfully blend in the continuity (so to speak!)…so please let me know if you think it's messy! But I hope you enjoy your read nonetheless.
disclaimer: No profits being made.
chronologically speaking…
written by: kaz miller
chapter 11 – remedy
The near-identical hedgehogs sped toward Eggman's new location. Their synchronized bends around the winding curves and tight corners were impressive; at the very least, it made the current-day Sonic pretty glad that he retained his speed, even twelve years from now! It was relieving, and it gave him just a little bit of time to truly appreciate what he had grown into. It was not nearly as his initial impressions implied.
The younger hedgehog found himself struggling to keep up given his current condition, but there's no way he would admit that. His ever-intrepid, older self did have the advantage of not being hurt, after all. However, their drive to rescue Soniti as fast as possible rendered most of his pain null. Eggman's new location wasn't too far from the hangar they soon discovered, as all of his prodigal mustache-donning signs plastered on practically every surface were begging to be found...
Both speedsters skidded to a halt. They were certain they'd found him.
"Baldy McNosehair never develops common sense, by the way," the future Sonic shook his head disapprovingly with an annoyed look on his face. The present one scoffed.
"The sad thing is, I can't even ask if you're kidding me...the guy's a nutjob!"
The older Sonic huffed in agreement. "You're tellin' me!"
Sonic's ears picked up the faint sound of an Egg Fighter armada in the distance. Some were aerial and others terrestrial. The hedgehogs got into an offensive stance immediately as the audible clangs of their tinny-exteriors came closer.
"Make sure to watch out for Metal," future Sonic said as his eyes scanned the surrounding area. He refrained from saying any more before he started sounding too chiding and parent-like. It was something he really tried to avoid.
"I've done this before," Sonic stretched. "But I bet you can't take out more than me, old man."
"Old man? Far from it, Blue!" his older self bristled, realizing his younger self caught on. "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, as awesome as I am young!" The anticipated armada came into view and began closing in on them. Sonic sensed a familiar sort of energy being concentrated on his older self's end, and in another second, he was already wiping the floor. His jaw dropped open.
"The Light Speed Dash Attack? I haven't used that in a while!"
"Mastered and mastered," his future self said after landing gracefully, dusting his hands off. He was very grateful to his regular intense training sessions with Knuckles. "Stay frosty! There's more!"
The two hedgehogs took the "famed" Sonic Interception Squad down with relative ease. Scraps of metal and whole egg-parts were strewn across the rocky field. Smoke clouds billowed out of the downed machines as the duo cleared their adamant aggressors. Sounds of smashed machinery echoed through the rusty plains. Eggman was definitely expecting someone to try to come for Soniti again.
"Eggman's not playin' around," the current Sonic said as he briefly stopped to catch his breath. The pain in his ribs was catching up to him. "I'm surprised he didn't send Metal with these guys..."
"Yeah, right?" the taller Sonic replied after landing his final hit. "Metal was the last threat I was expecting when we crossed over, actually." He whipped his head to see his younger counterpart doubled-over. "Uh, you okay there, bud?"
"I'm...just fine," Sonic panted before he jolted straight up, much to his body's dismay. He felt an inexplicable urge to "catch up" to his older self. But why was he concerned about it now? It was who he was going to ultimately be! His older self was looking thoughtfully into the distance with folded arms.
"I hope Amy and the Tails twins are doin' all right," he frowned as he turned to extend a hand to his younger counterpart. "All we really need is that last Time Stone and we'll be just fine after we get Soniti outta harm's way."
"And then we wouldn't have to worry about Metal at all!" Sonic pointed out.
"At least I wouldn't have to," his future self grinned slyly. "He'll still be after you…"
"Oh…not the most thrilling thought."
They both chuckled a little as they casually approached Eggman's entrance. It had to be a trap, but they were professionals at foiling his extravagant plans. At least this time, Sonic wasn't alone! He felt much more confident now. He mentally pumped himself up before he got ready to smash the entrance down. His older self had his arms crossed still, as he stared at it with an unusual intensity.
"Uh...somethin' come to mind? You're thinking we shouldn't go in, huh?"
"No, it's not that. I'm just...curious. What really happened back there with you and Amy, anyway?" his twin self inquired with no intention to embarrass his self-buddy. "If you didn't do whatever you did, I don't think our endeavors to cross over here would've worked at all."
Sonic glanced at him with a nervous grimace as he was clearly caught off-guard. "I, uh…told her the truth about Soniti. And before you get on my case, yes it me took way too long to get that out there," he said as his shoulders drooped. His future self began laughing heartily, remembering exactly how he felt around the pink hedgehog in his younger days.
He did rank asking Amy to go steady with him to be one of the top three hardest tasks he ever executed in his lifetime; those who knew the other two accomplishments would wonder how he could possibly lump them in the same category. His younger self truly had no idea what to make of it as he rubbed the back of his head anxiously. He wondered in the back of his mind if Eggman was aware of his and his prestigious best friend's presence after they hit the precise eighty-eight mile-per-hour speed to make it to his Little Planet base. It was only successful because the present-day Sonic adjusted his mindset just a tiny bit. He was incredibly grateful that it worked out in the end.
"It wouldn't hurt either of you to be a little sweet on her next time we meet up again," future Sonic stated as a placed a hand on his hip. The current blur blur's face reddened quite a bit at his older self's suggestion. "If you want Soniti to happen, you've gotta start somewhere, bud."
"Don't say stuff like that!" Sonic burst out hastily as his future self continued smirking. "You're the one who came around, didn't you?"
"But I am you," he retorted with a skeptical expression. "Listen. Things are gettin' pretty crazy and you'd be toying with her emotions acting all aloof now that you both know Soniti is your daughter. Not to mention it looked like she saved your butt for a change! It would be the least you could do."
Sonic pursed his lips as a disapproving sound escaped his throat.
"Don't get me wrong, little Blue. I'm not trying to push you guys together like some sort of arranged marriage," he paused thoughtfully as a wide grin formed on his face. He tapped a finger to the side of his head. "I just happen to know exactly what you've been through."
Sonic lost his place for a minute and wondered just what the heck he was talking about. How his instinct on her arrival was always to run in the opposite direction? The way his heart would pound like a drum when she was near? How he bordered on nausea when he knew he had to take her out? How he'd occasionally be at a loss for words when she asked him simple questions? How much he enjoyed her scent way more than any respectable male ever should? It just didn't make any—
Oh.
The older Sonic's head tilted back with a very smug, satisfied I told you so expression written all over it when his younger self's face contorted with that of realization. His ears lowered as he made a conclusion.
"So…I'm guessing that's not fight or flight, huh?"
"You've got it bad and you didn't even realize it," future Sonic laughed again, leaning against Eggman's guarded entryway.
Sonic was about to open his mouth to protest when their companions soon approached them. Everyone was finally together again. Eggman wouldn't stand a chance. So why didn't Sonic feel entirely relieved?
Tails waved to both Sonics and landed in front of them. "Hey guys! You made it through the armada!"
"That we did!" future Sonic gestured proudly, glad that mostly everyone was safe. "You wouldn't happen to have the last Time Stone, would ya?"
Dr. Prower shook his head, gently placing Amy down. "Not yet. Everything's pointing to…here, though," he said as his expression contorted to that of bemusement in response to Eggman's gaudy choice of décor. "...I'm sure we'll get it really soon."
"Awesome. I'll bet Eggman has it!" his counterpart exclaimed.
Sonic and Amy had been awkwardly silent during the others' excited exchanges. He was deliberately avoiding eye contact while she had her eyes fixated on the ground. The older hedgehog noticed the pair of school kids in his peripheral and frowned with concern.
"All right guys," he said as he brushed it off. There wasn't much time to waste! "It's now or never. We're movin' in!"
Fast-forward to Soniti's time…
A young woman with admirably long and fiery, pink quills stood at the edge of the lake. She slipped out of her sandals and removed the brilliant red headband that adorned her soft demeanor. She let the water tide over her toes, the cool, jolting feeling a much needed sensation after her series of calm, vacation days. It reminded her how much she missed them.
Little Planet looked so big when it was so close, and it filled her with an incredible sense of joy and nostalgia. It always formed a positive ache in her heart. It had been so many years. This fateful spot. What would her life be like if it had never happened?
"It's almost time to to go home."
Present time.
The Egg Chameleon received minor tune-ups from when Sonic encountered it last. Unfortunately, the gang seemed hardly impressed. Eggman had to blink twice when he thought he was seeing doubles. Was he really losing his mind? He couldn't be…
"Eggman!" Sonic called out as he stepped to the hulk of a machine with zero trepidation. "You're gonna be a lonely, old egg-belly if you keep this up. No one is planning on visiting you in Eggman Land," the hedgehog grinned, cracking his knuckles. "…Well, except for me just to knock you out. Just give it up already!"
What? Two Sonics? Eggman thought to himself. Wait! They must've already established their portal! His stunned face almost made him look weak! How did they do it? He had to come up with a quick response as everyone frowned during his peculiar stalling.
"You seem a little troubled, Dr. Eggman?" Dr. Prower inquired almost smugly, knowing precisely what the scientist was formulating in his head. "You're not the only one who can put two and two together, here." His Sonic grinned at him mischievously as Eggman slammed on his controls. How dare he!
"But you forget that I still have all the power I need to rebuild Eggman Land you insolent fox...man!" he rubbed in, trying to return the wit. "This won't be my first time!"
"You sure about that? There's no way I'm letting you use my daughter to do it," the older Sonic declared viciously, dashing from his original spot and appearing in front of Eggman with a bewildering wind of agility. Near instant-transmission aside, the doctor could tell right away by the angered expression and the consuming aura that this Sonic was not playing around.
"Wh-wh-Sonic!" the doctor stammered, genuinely intimidated by the bigger hedgehog. "Wait! Please don't hurt me, I was only kidding—"
"Soniti! There she is!" Amy cried pointing to the stasis tube suspended within the mechanical walls. It sounded like the vice of anxiety just melted away from her voice. Sonic immediately dropped his offensive stance and landed on the floor. "You give her back right now!"
"And what, pray tell, do you think would compel me to do that?" Eggman scoffed. "Don't think that I'm ready to give up just because there are duplicates of you all, now!"
The older Sonic narrowed his eyes at his old nemesis as he crossed his arms. No sudden moves—he had no idea what kind of danger his child was in, so the five of them had a plan. Amy would keep all six Time Stones in Soniti's backpack. Future Sonic could swipe Soniti the instant it was possible and knew that Dr. Prower was already using his Eggbot-debilitating prowess to wreck the mad scientist's technology…one step at a time. Sonic and Tails had their Tornado docked nearby to make their quick escape. They just needed that one more piece to the agonizing puzzle. He was going to have to take the risk.
"Just hand over the last Time Stone, Eggman." Both Sonics got into their fighting stances. "We're not gonna ask twice."
"Wh-who do you think you are, ordering me around like that?" Eggman said feeling highly offended. He didn't think it was possible for Sonic to get more smug than he already was. The thought alone was making him see red. On the bright side, he now knew for a fact that they had the remaining Time Stones.
"I'll have you know, I—"
A metallic hedgehog's fist slammed through the stasis tube in the distance, drawing everyone's attention to the piercing sound of the breaking glass. Before anyone could react, it promptly removed Soniti from the deactivated container and jet off. Eggman was as surprised at the turn of the events as his little archnemeses were.
"SONITI!"
"Metal! Why?" Eggman cried out, wondering what could possibly be going through the mech's disturbed mind. He quickly gave chase. No way he was going to lose the one source of power he had complete control over. This was finally his! He was so close. It couldn't slip through his fingers under any cirumstance!
"Damn it, Metal! What does he want now?" Sonic echoed the scientist's sentiments and began to give chase.
"Hold up!" older Sonic commanded with an air of despondence as he exhaled sharply. "Metal won't let Eggman near her. He won't hurt her."
"WHAT?" Sonic couldn't help but raise his voice. "Why does that matter? I don't want to risk it!"
"Wh-what makes you guys so sure about this?" Tails asked apprehensively, hoping to ease the brewing tension amongst them.
"Simple..." Dr. Prower continued, noticing the pained expression on his best friend's face. Things were so much clearer now. "He needs her."
Sonic stared at his older counterpart with genuine astonishment. He was about to rip him a new one for standing still with screwed priorities when the shrill cry of a certain pink hedgehog broke the tense silence. He then remembered...not every problem required a reactive solution.
"What the heck is going on?" Amy cries echoed as hot tears began to spill. She was emotionally spent. "Why does everyone want to capture a harmless little girl?" Her legs were weak from a combination of injury, exhaustion and grief. She collapsed onto her knees and simply began sob heavily.
"Amy…" Tails said as his ears flattened.
Older Sonic nudged younger Sonic.
"Dude. This is your chance. It's taking everything in my power not to console her myself," he said seriously. "Keep her safe. The Tails twins and I are going to catch up to Metal and get Soniti. You guys focus on getting that last Time Stone when you're both good to go," he emphasized. "Don't let me down!"
Sonic nodded as the sound of the pinkette's heart breaking made his frustration subside. No one was nearly as frustrated as she was, which was saying a ton. "...Got it."
"See ya!" Without a second to spare, future Sonic grabbed younger Tails's wrist and sped off to pursue Metal with Dr. Prower.
"Tch…Amy…" Sonic began, rushing over to her. She was sobbing uncontrollably and he simply kneeled to rub her back.
"I'm so sorry Sonic…I've been nothing but a nuisance and Soniti was taken away again. And I hate looking so weak in front of you," she blurted as he listened. "But I can't stop the tears...I'm so weak..." He had to cut her off.
"No. Way. That is absolutely untrue. You are the strongest person I know," the blue hedgehog said seriously, grabbing her shoulders. It really hurt him deep down to see Amy underrate herself the way she just did. It was a painful, dull sort of ache he felt form right in the depths of his core because he knew otherwise for years. His intense green eyes bore into hers as he willed his gaze to convince her. "I really mean it. And I know Soniti will be fine because she gets her strength from you, I bet. Now you don't want to keep her waiting, do you?"
Amy's hiccups stopped out of pure surprise. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, coming from her hero. He thought she was strong? The strongest? She almost melted when his sincerity reverberated through her. "Since when did you become such a sweet-talker?" she sniffled, at a loss for words.
"I've had a lot of practice in the last couple of days," Sonic said as a grin spread across his face. He stood up and offered a hand to help her up. "Soniti cries like a little girl all the time."
Amy couldn't help but return his infectious smile as she wiped her tears away, taking his hand. "You jerk."
Eggman was trying to weigh the merits of his situation. With the number of failures he endured over the years, he really had no choice but to look forward as his self-help books suggested. But did Metal really go rogue again? Why didn't he see that one coming? Once he caught up to him, he was going to reprogram him something fierce.
"I just can't believe it," the scientist muttered to himself, one hand to his temple with the other hand waving above his head in disbelief. "For once, I'm not trying to control an enormous, godly entity that's likely to backlash against me and she gets stolen! From one of my own no less!"
"You still have the last Time Stone, however," Orbot pointed out as Eggman comically sat up in his seat. "They can't do a thing without it."
"You're absolutely right!"
"Also, wouldn't you be able to at least try to destroy the future version of those varmints?" Cubot said as the other two wondered at what point his voice chip was swapped to its old cowboy twang. "It wouldn't affect our lil' energy source at all and they're our bigger threat right now!"
"Geniuses! The both of you. I knew something had to have passed down eventually!" Eggman chortled triumphantly. He quickly glanced his security cameras. "It looks like those future pests are seeking out the traitor as well...Sonic Interception Squad 2, attack and detour them! Do not let them catch up under any circumstance!"
He needs her.
"How's your ankle?" Sonic asked, starting to exercise his sensitivity muscle. Everything that felt like a chaotic sort of tension within him was starting to melt away after having that insightful talk with his older self. He could see how devoted he was to Soniti which allowed him a little room to worry about Amy's welfare without it nagging at the back of his head too much. However, they were running short on time…they needed to cover more ground.
"It's not too bad. But I feel like the splint is slowing us down tremendously," Amy admitted as she wiggled her leg. "I don't think it'd hurt to remove it, do you?"
"Older Tails probably won't be too happy about that," he began as he started unwrapping the rod at her request. "Sheesh. I'm starting to sound naggy. But if this is what you want!"
"Oh! Did you know that he's Doctor Prower, now?" Amy exclaimed excitedly, clasping her hands together. The hedgehog's fingers didn't stop moving as he looked up at her.
"Whoa, really? That's awesome. I don't even know why it came as a shock to me!"
"I know! I'm so proud of him," Amy gushed. "And apparently, Knuckles is around so much more, too! I've gotta tell you all of the awesome stuff he does, now." Sonic discarded her old bandages as she wiggled her foot. "It looks like all of us are really rockin' it out there, huh?" she asked as she blushed, falsely fixated on her ankle. The two of them being married then was an unspoken, but poignant truth. Sonic cleared his throat to mask the embarrassed laugh that almost escaped. His cheeks were red regardless and he was unable to stifle his fidgety grin.
"You could say that."
"With that being said," Amy started loudly, pointing into the air. She effortlessly slugged both straps of the young girl's backpack onto her shoulders as Sonic scooped her up in both arms to carry her to their final destination for the day. "Onward! Let's get our daughter back home!" His confidence re-surged with such swiftness even he knew he probably couldn't top.
"You've got it! Eggman'll never know what hit him!"
The future Sonic came to a stop when he heard ear-splitting racket in the distance. More annoying—scratch that—threatening aerial Eggbots. Their clusters were tripled. The three heroes were surrounded. And a beta-like Egg Lancer from Sonic's days of old leading the lot of them. Where did this guy get his approved funding?
"Great," Sonic growled through gritted teeth. "You just never quit, do you?"
"Unfortunately, no. But we don't have much time to waste! We've gotta clear out!" Dr. Prower said urgently, trying to mask the frenzy in his voice. He didn't want to agitate the flustered father more than he already was.
"Do you think Sonic and Amy are OK?" Tails asked. "I dunno if it was a good idea to leave them like that…at this rate, it looks like we're going to hit Eggman head-on again!"
"They'll be fine!" Sonic said confidently. "But it also looks like Eggman's lost Metal now…and is focusing on us. Be on guard. We're going to do this. Looks like it's gonna be the Tornado's turn to handle this one!"
"Roger!" both foxes responded. They were all in it for better or for worse.
Soniti'd woken up much earlier, but she felt absolutely drained. Yet somehow, she was moving at high-speeds—speed somewhat similar to her father's, but it didn't feel quite right. She knew she wasn't with him. He wasn't…warm. He was cold and rigid—a physical sort of feeling that manifested itself into her captor's demeanor. She decided she would investigate once everything stopped. She had to remain calm.
As she expected, the sudden speed eventually came to a halt. Cold fingers turned the child right-side up as her eyes fluttered open. She couldn't wait anymore. Her savior was…
"Metal!" Soniti said with happy eyes. "You saved me!"
"That was not the intention," he quickly responded. "I was merely optimizing your usage."
"Fiddle faddle," Soniti stuck her tongue out as he placed her at his feet. "You so saved me."
Metal quickly realized how arbitrary it would be to put a young, inexperienced child in her place. It lowered its power output as it recalculated its next plan of action. It appeared that Soniti definitely was not "of this time" he concluded. It must've been why she was such a valuable source of power. It was foolish of him to think that Eggman would've had a much more organized plan in place to ensure that they captured the paradoxical mess as efficiently as possible.
Soniti sat, still in her pajamas. She was spent, absolutely, but her curiosity was refueling her will with incredible zest. She was observing the metallic rendition of her father thoughtfully, wondering what was going through his head.
"You always seem so sad," she said slowly. "What makes you sad?"
"I don't feel."
"Then how do you know what it means to feel?"
"I don't."
"But robots are supposed to know everything," she tilted her head.
Metal failed to respond to her last statement. She was right, wasn't she? It focused its menacing glare on her bright, chubby figure but she didn't flinch. Instead, she picked herself up and waddled right underneath him. She beckoned for him to bend down and he gave in.
"Don't worry, Metal," Soniti let her little fingers spread on his shining, alloy cranium. Her warmth allowed her handprint to appear for a brief moment. "See? You can be warm, too. You don't havta be lonely all the time, I promise."
"Lonely..."
"I'm gonna help you! You don't need a reason to help people, you know." He was a person?
"A reason...?"
"Yes. It doesn't have to be," the purple hedgehog shrugged. "That's what my daddy always says. It would do you some good to take a page from a book!" she squeaked.
He stood upright. For the first time, Metal gained some insight into the flippant, blue hedgehog's actions. He truly did live as free as the wind with minimal restraint.
But he also knew that her father wouldn't approve with her befriending Eggman's prized robot—his worst enemy—yet his own offspring was compelled to treat him with respect regardless; just as he'd taught her. Even after all of the trauma she'd been through in the last couple of hours! Perhaps that was insight of altruistic kindness she got from her mother.
Much to Soniti's surprise, it picked the young girl up once more and held her in front of him, very reminiscent of what her own father would do. Instead of speaking general words of praise, it remained silent. Its intense red gaze indicated that it was…thinking. She tilted her head as she looked at him with innocent concern.
She thought reading her father was a challenge, but this proved to be a lot more difficult. What was he thinking?
Metal existed to destroy. If he destroyed Sonic, there would be no blue blur. If he destroyed Soniti, he would have no source of energy other than Eggman's.
Sonic existed to live. Even if Sonic destroyed Metal, he still had so much substance to look forward to beyond that point. Especially the brilliance that was his young child.
That's why he was superior.
It gently placed the little girl down at its feet.
The one thing Metal deduced it had over Sonic: patience.
One more hour.