Pumped out another chapter last night, but I decided to wait until tonight so I could give it a nice revision, which I think really payed off. Now, Sister of the Pharaoh made an interesting suggestion of including Azure into the Shadow-Silver conflict. While I was intrigued, I didn't think it would have made for that great of a chapter. But then, my buddy Zac suggested a chapter focusing on Azure, which I thought was a great idea! Azure is the main change since this is a rewrite of the 2006 game, so some of the content should focus solely on her, especially since her history is still something being learned by all of you (for those who already haven't snuck a peak at my wiki).
Anyway, this chapter is largely based on Omega's gameplay of the beach level in the game. Obviously, I don't remember the damn name of the level. I'm sure the word beach is in it somewhere.
Thank you for all the reviews, favs and alerts!
Sonic the Hedgehog belongs to SEGA. I own Azure and other OCs mentioned.
Normal POV
"Omega, what's your location?" asked Azure into her communicator. She had parked Shadow's Dark Rider near the train station and decided to continue on her own by a means of transportation she could completely trust: her own wings. Given that the only experience she had operating a vehicle was the last fifteen minutes chasing Eggman's train, she wasn't going to take her chances.
"Acknowledged, currently in pursuit of Mephiles. Uploading coordinates," replied Omega through the communicator.
Azure glanced at the coordinates and turned her head towards the Old Town of Soleanna. "That's near the beach. I'm on my way, Omega!" she said, zooming off towards the beach. As she flew over, she noticed several small islands branching out from the mainland and saw bright red monsters below, much like the ones she and Shadow encountered in the future. It couldn't possibly be a coincidence. Amidst the creatures, she spotted the familiar red, grey and black robot firing rounds at the monstrosities ganging up on him. His upper torso rotated as it fired, shooting every monster that leapt towards him, keeping any of them from even getting near him. She dove down and shot lightning at a few of the beasts while Omega finished off the rest.
"The assist is appreciated, Azure, though my own armaments would have sufficed," Omega said, retracting his weapons and turning towards her.
"Oh… well I was just trying to help," she said, slightly embarrassed and her ears drooping.
"Hmm… It seems I have upset you. Perhaps I should study organic social paradigms more closely if I am to better understand organics. My experience with social interactions is rather limited. As I previously stated, your assistance is appreciated. You, uh, make things explode very well," he said, saying that last part awkwardly.
"Thanks, Omega. I think you 'make things explode' well too," she said with a light laugh.
"Yes, yes I do," Omega stated with arrogance, if a robot was capable of being arrogant. "I have tracked Mephiles, but he summons these creatures to delay my progress. They also interfere with my tracking of him. The best I can determine is that he is down one of these two pathways," Omega said, pointing to a lave cave entrance that diverged into two tunnels.
"So we split up?" asked Azure.
"Affirmative. I will take the right; you take the left. Keep in radio contact," he said.
"Got it," Azure said, flying off into the left tunnel while Omega raced down the right with his jets. As Azure flew down the tunnel, the walls of rock surrounding her felt like they were closing in tighter and tighter. She could barely see the tunnel entrance anymore, let alone hear the loud roaring of Omega's jets, which could easily be heard from a distance. Though she was used to being in caves, having grown up in an underground cavern, something about this tunnel just made her feel… like something just wasn't right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. All of a sudden, she heard an ominous laugh echoing through along the walls.
"Hello? Is-is someone there?" she asked, stopping. From the corner of her, she saw something dash by. She moved her head to catch a glimpse, but it was already gone. She did this again and again, hoping to catch the elusive shadow taunting her, but it was far too fast for her.
"I know your fears, your desires. I can see your everything," a deep voice echoed through the cave. "He will never feel for you what you feel about him. He will never accept him when he realizes what you really are… where you really come from. Let's see, you have… many brothers." Azure cupped her hands over her ears, desperately trying to drown out the voice's words. "Yes, but I can see that his will and ambition are great and powerful. Garnet… You wish to defy him, you run from him in hopes of escaping, in hopes of living your own life. But you will never escape him."
"M-Mephiles…" she said, recognizing the voice from their first encounter. "Y-you don't know what you're talking about!" she shouted, hoping that the mild confidence she could muster would convince Mephiles otherwise, let alone convince herself.
"You know it to be true! He will find you," the voice spoke as Mephiles rose from the ground behind her. As he walked over to Azure, who was still unaware of his presence, and suddenly altered his appearance. Though he still retained his dark colors and crystalline texture, he now had a beak, spiky feathers on his head with a single feather hanging down in his face, feathers on the side of her arm, three long tail feathers and clawed feet. Once Azure finally realized someone was behind her, Mephiles' hand shot out and his fingers wrapped tightly around her neck. He easily raised her off the ground from her neck as she swung and kicked her legs and tried to pry Mephiles' hands away with her fingers, but to no avail.
"Ugh… let me go!" she cried.
"Garnett will find you, young Azure. You will never escape him and you will fulfill your destiny!" he shouted, causing her to struggle more. "But I can help you. Join me Azure, and I will keep you safe from your brother. All you have to do is do exactly as I say. You have my word," he said, in his charismatic, deep voice.
"I-I'll never join you! You're evil!" she spat back, with defiance.
"Hmm… your loyalty to Shadow is as impressive as it is a nuisance. I had hoped you to be a powerful ally, but just like Shadow you refuse to see my reason. It seems I will have to eliminate you," he said, raising his hand and returning to his Shadow copy appearance. "What a shame. I was certain you would be easier to convert, but perhaps my knowledge of you was… insufficient."
"D-don't count on it," Azure said. She quickly reached for her gauntlet and turned a knob, releasing a large stream of electric energy at Mephiles, shooting him back farther down the tunnel. Azure fell to her knees and turned the knob back into its original place. She lightly held onto her neck and coughed before looking up to see if Mephiles was still there.
Mephiles just laughed and stood up as if her lightning had no effect on him. He gave her his blank and frightening stare as he strolled over to her like a puppet. Azure stepped back in fear before taking off down the rest of the tunnel to the closest exit she could find as fast as her wings could carry her. Mephiles raised his hand and a large purple golem suddenly appeared in front of her, bringing Azure to a sudden stop. She stepped back in fear as the golem towered over her.
"You did well against the Iblis Golems before. I look forward to testing out my new Mephiles Golems and I think you will make an excellent test subject," he said with a laugh.
Azure suddenly remembered radio and contacted Omega. "Omega, I've got Mephiles! I need immediate assistance!" she cried with desperation.
"Affirmative, changing course to your location," he replied.
"Just get here quick!" she cried, as she jumped to the side to avoid the golem's fist crashing into the ground. She took to the air and shot a bolt of lightning at the golem, but it had little effect. The golem reached out with its large hand and wrapped its fingers tightly around her before slamming her into the wall. When it withdrew its hand, Azure lay stuck in the wall for a few seconds within the impact crater before lifelessly falling onto the ground. She groaned and slowly lifted herself off the ground. She coughed just as she saw the golem approach her. Every fiber of her being was telling her to move out of the way, attack, do something! But she just felt too weak to move.
All of a sudden, a missile came out of nowhere and shot the golem right in the head, knocking it down to the ground. Omega suddenly swooped in, aiming all his guns at Mephiles.
"Heh, meddlesome robot. I should have finished you when I had the chance, a mistake I won't make again," said Mephiles, flying away down the other end of the tunnel.
"Th-thanks Omega. If you hadn't come along in time…" she said, not wanting to even imagine what would happen if he didn't make it.
"The golem would have crushed you," he finished. "I will pursue Mephiles," he said, preparing his jets. Before he took off, he turned to Azure and said, "Perhaps you should locate Shadow and inform him of our progress."
"Yeah… ok. I'll do that," she answered with minimal enthusiasm.
"Mephiles fled back towards our original point of entry. I can escort you back to the town until his trail leads me otherwise," he added with some concern.
"Thanks Omega," she said, as she and Omega flew down the cave back to the cave entrance.
So I estimate that this fic should be wrapped up in a few more chapters, since we're nearing the end and only focusing on Shadow's story.
For those familiar with the comics, Omega's "you explode things very well" line was a reference to the Treasure Team Tango arc of Sonic Universe when Omega first meets Blaze and is amazed by her fire powers and her ability to practically render his firearms useless. It's really cute, check it out!
So for those who don't know, Azure's oldest brother Garnett isn't the nicest guy in the world and let's just say he's got a plan that involves all his brothers and sisters, a plan that Azure wants no part in. But you'll find out more about that later on. hehe
Next chapter: Omega learns the painful truth about the role he played in Shadow's future.
Please do review! I'd love to hear your feedback on this story and any suggestions for future chapter content!
