Finally. All these years of research come to an end. He looks at his fathers portrait who's soulless eyes stare out into the messy lab which he occupies. How poetic it is that at least a piece of him oversees what his legacy would lead too, even though he's no longer with him, his spirit lingers. Metal clangs together as he shapes the final ring. Ring smiting was the family trade longer then he can trace it back, just one part of his fathers legacy. He wipes his brow of sweat and started his decent to the other part. A large circular frame looms at the end of the lab, the dim glow of the emeralds faintly lights the gateway to nothing.
He slides his hand softly over the book that sits on the podium in front of it. His fathers notes. His final project would not stay undone thanks to him. To bring peace to his fathers spirit he dove headfirst into bringing his last project to fruition so all of his sleepless nights and sacrifice would not be in-vain. He just wishes it didn't take him so long, but as it turns out smiting a new Chaos ring isn't as easy as one would think, especially when the echidna's are no longer around to help.
He slides the chaos rings one by one into place, he can't help but question why one had been destroyed, a mystery seemingly lost to time. Now there are 7 rings to accompany the seven emeralds, companions reunited after so long. With the last one in place he is almost blinded by the glow they all emit together, it was like staring into the sun.
he looks down at the book and clears his throat, this is the final step. "The servers are the 7 Chaos. Chaos is power... Power enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos" he begins to chant. The light from the emeralds and rings begins to swirl together creating a dark purple vortex in the centre of the frame. A hand looking of crystal slowly creeps out of the portal.
Tiara meditated in the forest of Jade Gully Zone, enjoying the peace and serenity as she trained her mind. Being a Ring Smith was a duty she took seriously and to be a Ring Smith one must be able to maintain a connection with nature and chaos. Though she will admit she feels in over her head, her abilities seemed so much weaker then what they should be, she feels like she is letting her ancestors down.
But her Meditation is interrupted as the ground violently shook, she turns her head and saw the smoke, the explosion. She jumped to her feet, and ran in it's direction, silently praying to herself as she made it to the hill that over looked her home. Her shook and fear rocked her to her core as she saw nothing but rubble where her house once stood.
She quickly slid down the large hill right into the rubble, throwing debris out of the way, trying find her father, to save him. Her frantic hands digging at the little pieces and shaky hands lifting what they could. She called his name over and over as rain started to fall joining her tears as her screams for him grew more and more loud and desperate. But nothing, she hugged her shoulders tighter as she fell to her knees he's dead that's the only explanation she could think of, unless he got away? She hasn't found a body or blood.
She notices something shiny in front of her glow, a small shard of a crystal which reflects her eyes staring back at it. Shaky hands pick it up, she recognises it as a piece of a chaos emerald, it's aura of chaos still emitting off of it. Had she failed to notice the feeling of energy emitting from the sight? As if someone has preformed Chaos control. She journey's to where the energy is strongest and notices a torn piece of cloth. Her fathers lab coat she quickly lifts the large slab of concentrate, nothing is there but a book about a strange warp ring she's never seen before. Her father must of got away she things to herself in joy, he must of warped himself out of there. Tears of sorrow become tears of joy convincing herself of this outcome.
But where has he warped to? She looks at the book she just can't figure it, the symbols look familiar but the meaning is lost to her. Until it dawns on her this is ancient Echidna language.
Sonic was bored, as much as he loved Tails as a brother and seeing how happy and passionate he is about machines and science all his technobabble was hard to understand and follow. He started to rock his foot in impatience, the boredom and staying in one place was starting to make him fidget. He looked back for some kind of distraction or an excuse to leave in the middle of one of Tails' lectures about god knows what, he hadn't really been paying attention.
He caught the distinct silhouette of something falling out the corner of his eye. He quickly pushed himself up and ran towards it. Jumping to catch what seemed to be a falling animal in mid air. He shielded it into his chest as he landed back on the ground.
Tails from his seat merely pouted "If you didn't want to hear about the Tornado engine upgrades you could of just said so" he deadpanned. Until Sonic immediately returned which something cradled in his arms.
"Sorry about that, a distraction- I mean I critter needed saving" he put it on the table finally looking at what he just saved. He couldn't help but smile recognising the familiar raindrop shaped head and pudgy little body.
"Huh a Chao? What was it doing up in the air?" Tails asked staring at the green chao on the table, it seemed like a infant chao, not even in it's first stage and even flying specitally chao aren't that proficient in gaining such height.
"No clue, but he doesn't seem hurt which is good" he pat the chao who stared at him curiously. He seemed to like being pet as he hugged sonic's hand, the little ball floating above it's head took on a heart shape.
"He's so cute!" Tails cooed before he heard something from his lab making his ear twitch, it was an intense beeping sound and a seismograph like device fiercely scribbling, he made a mad dash to the lab.
Sonic kept petting his new little chao buddy as he wondered if he should ask what was happening, not wanting to subject himself to another lecture he doesn't understand. But damn if his curiosity didn't get the better of him. He picks up the Chao and lends on the door frame to the Fox's lab. "What's up?" he asked casually.
"Umm, i'm not really sure?" Tails replied in a concerned way reading over the records before pulling out another device.
"Your not sure?" Sonic asked wondering how his little bro could be unsure about something he built. "What's it supposed to do?" he asked as Tails fiddled with his Miles Electric.
"It measures the globes chaos energy balance, I built it during that mess with dark Gaia, last time it made readings like this the world was split apart" he explained not looking up from the device.
"Is the world split apart now?" Sonic asked confused. "Dark Gaia couldn't of been released again could it?"
"No, trust me you would of noticed some crazy earthquakes, what's happening now is a strange Chaos anomaly I've never seen before, a sudden burst of increased energy and then nothing."
"So it's over?" he asked confused. "Crisis averted I guess" he said with a shrug.
"No I mean there is no Chaos energy at all" Tails clarified in a panic.
"Oh... yeah that does sound like a problem" Sonic replied, he was aware that sounded like a understatement.
"Do you think it was Eggman?" Tails asked which his brows furrowed finally looking up to the hedgehog.
"It's been awhile since we heard from him, so most likely, but don't worry we'll stop him like we always do" Sonic said reassuringly.
A soft beeping sound came from the Miles electric causing Tails to jump, he turns around as catches sight of the Chao nibbling on it. Tails looks at him in shock gently pulling out the device from his little grip and hovering the device over the chao. "that's weird, the world's Chaos energy is gone but the chao is still emitting it" he stated in confusion.
"That's odd, do Chao normally give off Chaos energy?" Sonic questioned.
"Not like this" Tails clarified. "Seems like what ever Eggman did, it's not gonna be an easy fix."
"Don't worry, i'm sure he has a way to reverse it, and if not, I'm sure we can persuade him to fix it." Sonic replied, playfully punching his fist into his open hand.
"Well little guy it looks like your coming on an adventure with us" Tails mused picking up the chao playfully "looks like you'll need a name to... how about Shamrock?" the Chao made a happy noise as Tails sat him in his satchel to make travelling easier. "Should we drop him off at Cream's?"
"Sounds like a good idea" Sonic replied with a thumbs up.