SONIC HEROES: THE SERIES

Chapter Fifty-One: Reunion of Many

The scene opens up in a small town in the country side. The sky was dark and rain poured down heavy on the people below. The town folks were trying to escape the rain, and at one roadside restaurant, a certain redhead remained. Rai was sitting in a seat near the window, watching as they rain pattered against the glass window. One of the waiters came up to him.

"Can I get ya anything?" He asked.

"No really." Rai said. "Unless you know where I can find someone."

"Not many people stop in this town." The waiter said. "They usually just pass by. Who are you looking for?"

"My father." Rai answered. He looked at his hands at the communicator the Sonic Heroes gave him. "I was only a year old when I last saw him. I keep getting close to finding him, but he always manages to get away from me."

"Oh, sorry about that." The waiter said. "I don't know what I can tell you, except to keep at it." Rai nodded and stood up before making his way to the door. "Where are ya headed now?"

"Who knows, man?" Rai said. "Who knows?"

With all things said, Rai opened the door and exited into the downpour outside. He aimlessly wandered the outside of the town, no real goal set in his mind. He stared at the communicator for one more moment before replacing in his backpack. Making sure no one would see him, Rai shot off the ground and zoomed skywards over the horizon. But as luck would have, he had been seen.

Nagini was watching.


The scene alters to the Egg-Carrier III, which was flying the Australian border. Mecha Shadow was watching over the cloning machine, Violet was reading her book, Metal Jet and Metal Espio were trying to listen in on the Sonic Heroes, Metal Knuckles was beating up random robots, and Metal Sonic was trying to escape Metal Amy. But all the while, Eggman sat quietly in the control room. He had been like this ever since Violet had been defeated, from what he heard, by his own son.

"Rai, where are you?" Eggman thought. "How could I have let you get away from me?"

"EGGMAN!" yelled an obnoxious voice.

"Why did I create him?" Eggman mentally groaned.

Bokkun zoomed in, screaming at the top of his artificial lungs. After a short period of seconds, Eggman snapped and gasped his hand around the robots tiny body, cutting off the circulation

"You better have a good reason for disturbing me." Eggman said.

"I got a delivery for you." Bokkun gasped. "Some guy named Naga."

"What?!" Eggman exclaimed.

Eggman had grown to hate the name with every fiber of his being. It was because of the sadistic snake that Eggman had lost his son in the first place. Eggman released the tiny robot. Bokkun reached into his small bag and pulled out a gigantic flat screen television. To this day, no one knows he managed it. The little robot flipped it on and a familiar green viper.

"Greetings, old friend." Naga hissed. "I am very fortunate that you manage to create such a bumbling mech. You never really did think things through when it can to artificial personalities." Eggman hit Bokkun in the head for no reason. "Anyway, I think its time we put an end to our former partnership. Meet me at the grounds outside Central City. Oh, and bring your soldiers, I'll be bringing my own."

"That cursed snake" Eggman growled. "When I get my hands on him, I'll – What's that?" Bokkun's television was starting a countdown. It was only when it reached to one that Eggman realized. "OH, CRA...!"

The television exploded, forming a cloud of smoke in the command center. As the smoke began to die down, Eggman could distinctly hear the open and close, shortly followed by a small laugh.

"I'll deal with him later." Eggman grumbled. "Naga you will regret the day we ever met."


The scene alters a few hours later in the open field outside Central City. Naga the Snake and his loyal subject, Kai, were patiently waiting for Eggman and his troops.

"Why must we waste our time with these lowly mortals?" Kai questioned monotonously.

"Nagini informed me that Rai is very close." Naga explained. "If he is to reunites with his father, then all our plans will be compromised. And if that happens, Eggman may expose the truth to Sonic."

"Then why not use the Nobodies to rid ourselves of Sonic?" Kai asked.

"Have you forgotten?" Naga hissed. "If my revenge against Gale is to be complete, I must capture Sonic and steal his body for my own. Once I am in control, I can awaken Sonic's true power." Naga raised his head and looked towards the sky. "Ah, it looks like our guests have finally arrived."

Just as Naga said, Eggman came hovering from the sky in his Egg-mobile. Metal Sonic appeared next to him along with a group of black clones using Chaos Control. Eggman had made some improvements on the black clones after a report from Violet about their last mission. He set their intelligence on an average level, that way they could keep their morphing abilities.

"Quiet an impressive array of servants." Naga commented.

"I am a servant to no one." Metal stated.

"Where are your soldiers?" Eggman questioned. "You specifically said you would be bringing your own."

"And I have." Naga said pleasingly. "Shall you do the honors, Kai?"

"My pleasure." Kai said monotonously.

The blue-haired human raised his hand over his head and snapped his fingers loudly. A moment later, several clouds of darkness began to form from the ground. When the clouds disappeared, four new creatures were found in their place. They were human-sized creatures wearing white clothing with a grey mask and a pair of swords strapped in back. On their sleeves, the bared the symbol of their species: an upside-down heart with a spiked cross.

"What are those things?" Metal questioned.

"Their former leader, Roxas, named these creatures Samurai's." Kai stated. "It is very obvious why."

"You think those four can stand up against a group of my black clones." Eggman chortled. "These past fifteen years must have deteriorated your mind, Naga, if you think you can win."

"Actions speak louder than words, Ivo." Naga hissed menacingly. "Let's see what you make of them. Attack!"

"Don't let them get past!" Metal ordered.

The Samurai and the black clones charged forward in the middle of the field. The black clones may have had a set level of intelligence and shape-shifting abilities, but the Samurai were clearly superior to them. It was barely a second after the black clone began to stretch their claws that the Samurai went on the offensive. The unsheathed their swords and stabbed the clones in their one weak point: the brain. In a moments notice, the entire group of black clones was reduced to a mass of black puddles. Metal and Eggman seemed taken back by this unexpected turn.

"But how?" Eggman gasped. "Those were my prized creations."

"As you can see, Eggman." Naga said pleasingly. "Our warriors easily surpass those made by mere mortals."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Eggman questioned.

"There is something strange about those creatures." Metal stated.

"What do you mean, Metal?" Eggman questioned.

"Since the beginning of this battle, I have been monitoring their powers." Metal explained. "But that's the strangest thing, they don't have any heartbeats. They still have life inside them, so they are clearly not dead." Metal pointed a claw towards Kai. "And that human is also similar to those creatures he conjured."

"Very impressive." Naga said. "You are clearly the most advanced creation in this age of modern technology."

"That's because my creator built me from the future." Metal stated. "I am truly the ultimate being in the universe."

"Let's just see how powerful you are." Naga hissed. "Samurai, attack!"

The Samurai bowed their covered heads and jumped at the mechanical hedgehog. Eggman redirected his Egg-mobile so that he would not be caught in the middle of the action. Metal curved backwards as one of the Samurai's swords neared his head. With the Samurai left wide open, Metal took a stab at its heart. Metal's claws stabbed through its chest, but he could feel no heart in its place. It faded away into darkness. But before Metal could have time to wonder, two Samurai's swung their swords at his legs. Acting fast, Metal flipped up in the air, grabbing the Samurai's head in the process. Metal used his electrical abilities to incinerate them to dust. As Metal touched the ground, the last Samurai snuck up from behind and took a swing at him. But Metal caught its sword, sending an electrical surge down the blade.

"Mighty impressive." Naga complimented. "Your creator knew what he was doing when he built you."

"I have destroyed your men." Metal said, gathering energy for his signature technique. "Now it's your turn. METAL SURGE!"

Metal held out his claw, which was surrounded in a wave of electrical energy, and shot towards Naga at blinding speed. Just when he was in reach of the snake, something clashed against his claw that sent it away from Naga. When Metal looked back, his attack extinguished, he found Kai holding a three-pronged dagger.

"If you wish to reach Lord Naga, you must first pass me." Kai said.

"If you have a death wish, then so be it." Metal said.

Metal raised his leg and took a swing at Kai's torso. But just as it was about to make contact, Kai suddenly vanished. Metal was baffled at how Kai could just suddenly disappear. But when he heard the grass moved behind him, he swung his claw backwards. Kai halted his claw by using the dagger he was holding. Metal was starting to become annoyed with the long-haired human and decided to take things up a notch. The metallic hedgehog activated his super speed and pushed himself away from the blue-haired human. But as Metal zoomed away, something scraped against his shoulder blade. He looked over and was shocked to find that Kai was throwing daggers while keep at the same pace as him.

"How can this human possibly keep up?" Metal muttered to himself. "Unless he's not human."

"I suggest you keep your mind focused on the battle!" Kai shouted, throwing another dagger near Metal's head. "Otherwise, there won't be much of a battle left!"

"Your arrogance will be the death of you!" Metal replied.

"If I had a heart, this would be the part where I die of laughter!" Kai counteracted.

Metal didn't bother to try and figure out what Kai had said; too busy trying not to get cut open. But Eggman, on the other hand, started to ponder. He was waiting on the sideline, no longer using his Egg-mobile. Naga was standing not too far from him, no truly interested in the battle. Eggman looked serious for a moment before he turned to Naga.

"No heartbeats, but still has a living essence." Eggman said. "Tell me, that boy wouldn't happen to be a Nobody, would he?"

"How do you know about the Nobodies?" Naga questioned, genuinely surprised.

"After I thought you were dead, I stole your research" Eggman explained. "After reading all you finds and works, I learned about everything you were studying. About the Heartless, the Nobodies, and Kingdom Hearts."

"You were always a nosy fool." Naga hissed. "But it was only through your financial aid that I was able to conduct my research of the heart. It almost makes me feel bad about what I had done with your wife."

"Salina?" Eggman gasped. "What have you done to her?"

"Remember how I said she died from giving birth to your son?" Naga questioned. Eggman nodded. "That was a lie. I had in fact poisoned her during the birthing process."

"But why?" Eggman asked. "What has she done to you?"

"It was your fault, Ivo." Naga hissed menacingly. "I suggested that we perform experiments to create the ultimate life-form; a rebirth of Shadow the Hedgehog. But you denied me the funding need to perform the process. I knew I need to motivate you." Naga grinned wickedly. "That's where you wife came in. Knowing you would be emotionally broken, I persuaded you into continuing my research. That eventually led to the Rai we have come to today."

"You a sick, twisted, heartless snake." Eggman growled.

"You are correct in more ways than one." Naga said malevolently.

Eggman stared in a confused manner until Naga began removing the top portion of his gi. Once off, Eggman was greeted by a sight he did not anticipate. There was black heart with red thorns tattooed on his chest.

"You're a Heartless." Eggman said stunned.

"A Heartless Commander to be precise." Naga explained. "You see, when Gale supposedly killed me, I was lost in the darkness. But then I was rescued by a man named Ansem. He saw the darkness in my heart and allowed me to return as one of the Commanding Heartless. All he asked for was one thing in return: Find the creator of the Heartless."

"But according to your research," Eggman cut in. "The Heartless were created by a man from a world called Radiant Garden."

"That's what I thought at first as well." Naga said. "But then I learned that the Heartless were long created before the man was even born. They were formed by beings whose technology once surpassed any other worlds."

"Who?" Eggman asked.

"The Babylonians." Naga's replied.

Eggman finally knew Naga's alternative motive. Besides seeking revenge against Gale the Hedgehog, Naga was assigned to capture the Babylon Rogues. But Eggman could say anything on the matter, to objects crashed into the ground between them. As they dust cleared, Metal and Kai were found weakly trying to get to their feet. Kai had three long claw marks cut across his shirt and chest; Metal had several dents and his right arm was sparking.

"I have failed you, Lord Naga." Kai said. "I couldn't defeat him.

"There is no need to trouble yourself, Kai." Naga said. "Return to the base and we will discuss this matter later."

"As you wish, Lord Naga." Kai bowed, before vanishing in a portal of darkness.

"Metal, watch out!" Eggman forewarned. "Naga is far worse than him."

"Oh, I am much worse than you think." Naga hissed malevolently, reeling back his arm. "Farewell...old friend."

Before Metal or Eggman had a chance to realize it, Naga threw out his arm and it extended farther than normal. It swept past Metal's head and made a direct course for Eggman. Just when the evil serpent thought it was over, a blue flash zoomed out of nowhere and struck his hand. Naga hissed in pain as he retracted his arm. His hand was burned black. Metal and Eggman were utterly confused until Rai floated down from the sky and gracefully landed on the ground. Rai had a confident smirk on his face while Naga hissed with the utmost rage.

"Not feeling confident now, are ya, slither-face?" Rai grinned.

"You?!" Naga hissed. "You are just as meddlesome as your father, Rai."

"Rai?!" Eggman exclaimed.

"You know this boy?" Metal asked Eggman.

"That's no boy." Eggman replied. "That's my son."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave us alone!" Rai shouted.

"Not a chance!" Naga yelled back. "I will not let all my careful planning go to waste!"

"Ok, your funeral." Rai said confidently.

Naga reeled back his other arm and shot it forward like his previous attack. But Rai showed no signs of cowardice. The flaming redhead pulled back and cupped his hands together. Metal and Eggman watched in fascination as Rai slowly started together blue chaos energy into his palms.

"KA-ME-HA-ME-HA!" Rai yelled.

Rai thrust his hands forward and ejected a stream of blue energy from his palms. Naga barely had time to retract his arm when the blue stream was already upon him. The ground erupted in a flare of bright light, blinding everyone in the vicinity. When the light faded away, a large carter was found in Naga's place. The small fading wisps of darkness signified that Naga had escaped.

"Aw man, he got away." Rai complained.

"You did well enough." Eggman said, walking up to his son. It was an emotional moment for Eggman, having reunited with his only son after fifteen years. "You know, I've always dreamed of this day. I had hoped that somehow, you would still be alive somewhere, just waiting for me to find you."

"Well, I got tired of waiting." Rai said. "You weren't exactly looking to far with all your world conquest plans."

"To tell you the truth, that's why I started trying to conquer the world." Eggman shrugged. "After I lost your mother and I thought you were dead, I took my anger out on the world. I tired to hide my pain by causing pain to others."

"I guess I can understand that...dad." Rai smirked.

"Dad..." Eggman said thoughtfully. "I like the sound of that." He looked proudly down upon his son. "You know, you look just like me when I was your age. But you have you mother's eyes, and I am guessing her personality as well."

"Let's just hope I don't end up as fat as you." Rai laughed.

"I'm not fat!" Eggman screamed.

"Uh...guys." Metal interjected. "Not to ruin this emotional moment, but we need to get back to base. I need to make some necessary repairs."

"You're not going to give up being evil, are you?" Rai asked his father.

"Not a chance." Eggman grinned. "It's too much fun."

"Just checking." Rai replied.

And with that, Metal used Chaos Control to transport back to the Egg-Carrier. Eggman hovered away in his Egg-mobile with Rai flying weightlessly beside him.

"Hey, Dad!" Rai shouted. "I was wondering, why is Naga so obsessed about keeping Sonic a secret!"

"That's the thing that worries me the most!" Eggman shouted. "You see, Sonic and Shadow are more closely related than you think!"

"What do you mean?!" Rai asked.

"Sonic and Shadow are half-brothers!" Eggman informed.


The scene alternates to a small house somewhere near the Green Hill Zone. Inside the house, Cream's mother, Vanilla the Rabbit, was making herself a nice cup of tea while thinking of her daughter. Though she worried that Cream could get hurt during a mission, Vanilla knew she was safe around Sonic. She also giggled about Cream's letters, saying how much she loved Tails.

"I wonder how Cream is doing today." Vanilla said out loud. Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Coming!"

Vanilla took her tea and walked over to the door. But once she opened it, she dropped the cup, sending tea all over the carpet. And the cause for this sudden shock was Gale the Hedgehog, leaning against the edge of the door.

"Gale." Vanilla murmured.

"Nice to see you again, Vanilla." Gale smiled courteously. "Sorry about the surprise visit. I didn't think you would react that way." He said, referring to the spilled tea. "Mind I if come in for a moment?"

Vanilla stepped aside to let the Pirate King in, not taking her eyes off him for a minute. She closed the door behind him and carefully stepped over the spilled tea before entering the living room. Gale was already seated in an armchair and Vanilla took a set opposite of him. She was prepared to offer him a drink, but he looked seriously, and backed out.

"Why the sudden visit?" Vanilla asked calmly.

"Naga's still alive." Gale informed.

"Naga?" Vanilla said in surprise. "But I thought you killed him fifteen years ago."

"Apparently, I didn't kill him as well as I thought." Gale said. "I'm trying to gather the crew back and we need you, Vanilla."

"That part of my life is over, Gale." Vanilla said. "I have a daughter now."

"Yeah, I heard about her." Gale smirked as he leaned back. "She's so much like you when you were young. You're both kind, honest, and innocent. And, if I may say so, you both are a little obsessive when it comes to love."

"I never did apologize for all those times, did I?" Vanilla asked embarrassingly.

"No, you didn't." Gale chuckled. "It's lucky I married Aleena, or Sonic and Cream would be siblings." Vanilla and Gale had a good laugh for a moment before Gale turned serious again. "But seriously, we need you back, Vanilla."

"I don't know, Gale." Vanilla said uncertainly. "I need more time to think."

"You know what, forget it." Gale said disdainfully. He started walking towards the door, but stopped for a moment and looked at the confused rabbit. "Vanilla, you were once willing to give everything to help your friends. What happened to you?"

And with that, Gale left. Vanilla remained in her seat for a few moments, thinking over what Gale had just said. Then, slowly, she stood up and walked over to her room. She reached into her closet and pushed aside all her clothing to reveal a dust case. She pulled out the case and set it down on the floor. She kneeled down and opened the case, taking a long look at the contents inside. Meanwhile, Gale was walking down the hill when he saw Wrist, Thorn, Accel, and Mech sitting by a lone tree.

"So what happened?" Wrist asked.

"Did she say yes?" Thorn asked.

"No, she didn't." Gale shook his head. "She's given up on her life as a pirate.

"Don't be so sure of that."

Gale and the others looked over and, surprisingly, found Vanilla running towards them. But her appearance was different then just a few moments ago. She wore a pair of black slack with a black cape in back, black sleeveless top, black shoes, and a pair of black gloves complete with silver ring bracelets. She panted for a moment when she stopped in front of the group, but regained her breath and waved a cheerful smile to everyone.

"Hello, everyone." Vanilla smiled.

"Vanilla!" Mech cheered. "Yeah, I knew you wouldn't turn us down!"

"And it looks like you still have your old suit." Accel smirked pervertedly; Wrist slapped him back to his senses. "I guess I deserved that. But I thought you didn't want to return to your old life."

"I thought I could put my old life behind me." Vanilla said. "But then I remembered the most important thing I taught my daughter. Helping others always come before helping yourself. And if you need my help to defeat Naga, then I'm all yours."

"It's good to have you back, Vanilla." Gale said proudly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't get cheerful yet." Thorn stated. "We still have one more member before our crew is complete. And Kyira is no easy feat."

"I'm not worried." Gale smirked. "I know as long as we stand together, not even Naga can defeat us."

As the sun began to set over the horizon, the crew began remembering their previous adventures and the one they had ahead of them. With Naga still alive, an army at his side, and one more member to search for, things were about to get rough. But they still had each other to depend on, and that's all the assurance they needed.


You can always depend on your friends and family. Will Naga capture the Babylon Rogues? Will Gale's crew find their last member? What is the secret behind Sonic and Shadow? Find out on the next Sonic Heroes!

Please, read and review.