Chapter 70; meeting the resistance
Sonic disembarked from the ship and walked towards the colossal building following the Amy and Tails he had just met. While passing by the people training in fighting and dueling, a lot of them stopped what they were doing and turned their heads towards Sonic. The latter had removed the warlord's soldier suit and wore more simplistic clothes so his mark could be seen. All the soldiers started whispering amongst themselves.
"Don't worry" Amy said when she realized he was bothered by this "the news of your raid in that fortress reached here before we came to get you. You are already pretty popular amongst the recruits and your presence here will surely inspire them."
"Thanks I guess.." Sonic said not knowing what to answer.
They made their way through the corridors while passing by some laboratories where several experiments were made.
"What are they experimenting on if I may ask?" Sonic asked Amy.
"I'll explain later. First I want you to meet the team leading the resistance."
They took an elevator and went to the top floor. There Sonic found himself in a big circular room with a table in the center and an amazing view of the faraway beach and sea.
"Silver we're here" Amy said calling Silver who was sitting at the table looking outside.
"General you're back!" he said in relief "do we have good news?"
"Yes. Today marks a victorious day for the resistance. Sonic the hedgehog from dimension 999 has joined us."
"You.. he is.. you really… oh my god! Ahem… let's start over. Hello. I'm Silver from dimension 833 glad to have you here Sonic 999" Silver said offering a handshake.
"Glad to be here" Sonic answered while shaking Silver's hand and thinking that getting to meet friends he knew and yet he didn't know was one of the weirdest if not the weirdest thing he had ever experienced.
"Silver is our lead scientist. He is the one who developed the wristwatches we use to travel across the dimensions."
"You created these?" Sonic asked him.
"Yeah in my own dimension. About 3 months after earning my masters degree in physics. I studied the theory of tachyons and with a little help from the Sonic and the singed ones of my dimension I was able to fuse photons and tachyons to create a new particle which I named quantonion. I won't get into many technical details but I basically developed this wristwatch to harness the power of quantonions and travel anywhere in the world. Originally I created it to just be able to travel long distances and only in open space due to the danger of opening a portal inside a closed place like a room in a house would destabilize the portal. However shortly after that the warlord arrived in my dimension by using the powers of the lunar dragon of his dimension. He conquered my dimension and demanded that I give up the formula to harness the power of quantonions or he would kill my wife Blaze. I gave him the formula… but he took her life anyways" Silver said fighting to not tear up.
"Oh man. Sorry for your loss."
"After that I managed to escape and found the resistance thanks to the help of the singed ones. Though they paid the price. The warlord slaughtered them when they refused to tell him which dimension this fortress is in. Ever since then I have been helping the general here anyway I can."
"If the wristwatches aren't meant to open portals inside buildings or other small spaces why haven't I had trouble with them?"
"Because the warlord has his own team of scientists and they found a smart way to focus the energy of the quantonions to keep the portal steady. It basically uses the power of a singed one to keep it steady and safe for only the creator of the portal to pass through safely."
"I see. That explains a lot."
"And ever since I came here I have been trying to give our fighters the upper hand in this war."
"And he has been doing an awesome work. He developed a camouflage program on our duel discs to make us appear like enemy soldiers."
"Incredible." Sonic exclaimed truly amazed.
At that moment Amy's wristwatch which also worked as a communication device received a text.
"Looks like we have some developments. Come with me" she told Sonic "you enjoy your break Silver".
"Thanks general" Silver said getting back to enjoying the view.
Sonic and general Amy got back into the elevator and went down several floors.
"What developments were you talking about general?"
"Our strategic division has had a few ideas on where to strike next against the warlord. It is actually good cause you get to meet the master strategists of the revolution".
The elevator stopped and they walked a small corridor before entering a big room covered in screens and bulletin boards with several pieces of paper on them. In the room was Tails from the airship that saved Sonic from the warlord along with a version of Jet, Wave and Storm. They all looked up from the worktable they were working on and saw the visitors.
"General! Welcome back. Wait is that?" Wave said in surprise.
"Yes. I guess Tails didn't tell you. We recruited Sonic 999 to the resistance".
"Nice to meet you. I'm Wave from dimension 493. Jet and Storm here are also from the same dimension. Our team's codename is the Babylon rogues."
"Hello there" they both said.
"Hi Sonic" Tails said.
"You all have codenames?" Sonic asked Amy.
"Of course. We can't let the enemies know from which dimension we are. My codename is… well… general. Tails here is Foxy, and Silver is the mastermind."
"That's really cool" Sonic said impressed.
"So general we have discovered that dimension 518 is having a small uprising of its own. It maybe our chance to free the dimension and recruit some more people to our cause.
"518? That's the next dimension on the list" Sonic thought.
"Good. Then we will plan the assault in the next 2 days. The third day we attack. I'll let the shadow of war know so he can train the recruits".
"Shadow of war?" Sonic said confused.
"Yeah. Come I'll introduce you to him. Keep up the good work guys."
"Yes general" they said and started planning the attack.
Sonic and Amy once again took the elevator and went to the ground level. The training grounds. Amongst all the recruits dueling and fighting Amy noticed the person she was looking for.
"Looks like your troops are getting better by the day" she told him.
The guy turned his back. Sonic almost took a step back in shock. It was a version of Shadow with multiple scars on his face and his left arm was metal. It was also equipped with a duel disc.
"They're not nearly good enough for actual combat general. They lack the experience of actual battle".
"That unfortunately is something we cannot do anything about. The best we can give them is good training and simulations. But we do have a very good sparring partner for dueling" she said as Sonic took a step forward and offered a handshake to Shadow.
"Ah yes. Sonic from dimension 999. The so called strongest in the multiverse. You might actually give the soldiers some hope. They will need it out there."
"And they will need it fast. An uprising has started in dimension 518. We have to be ready for attack in 3 days".
"What is our objective there if I may ask?" Sonic interfered.
"Sorry but currently only I and the strategy team will know about our objective. You for now will have to stay in the dark.
"I think I have the right to know general. Dimension 518 happens to be the dimension I would go to after 412. That's what the list says".
"List? What list?" she asked him with a suspicious look.
"A list given to me by a version of me in the dimension I was first sighted in. Now that I recall actually… that Sonic was also from dimension 616 just like you and Tails".
Amy's eyes bulged from shock. She grabbed Sonic by the collar of his shirt.
"What did you just say?!"
"I said that… the Sonic who gave me this list was from dimension 616 just like you and Tails".
She let go while looking down.
"Shadow gather Foxy, the Babylon rogues and the mastermind. We have to hold a meeting."
"Yes general. All right people 1 hour break! Rest well. Next up we have a different style of training".
Sonic followed Amy and Shadow at the elevator as the recruits looked at them wondering what they meant by different style of training. Shadow stopped at the floor were Tails and the rogues were planning the attack all the while Sonic and Amy went up to the circular room. Sonic sat at the table while Amy went to the window and looked outside.
"Was he important to you?" he asked after 5 minutes of silence.
"What?"
"Sonic from 616. Was he important to you?"
"Where did he get that list? And why isn't he with you?"
"With all due respect general but I asked first."
Amy sighed.
"Yes. Yes he was."
"He got that list after being tortured by the warlord's son. He gave it to me when we broke into the fortress of that dimension to steal a wristwatch of an enemy official."
"So you went your separate ways after that. Where is he now?"
"….."
"Where is he?"
"Dead".
Amy turned around so fast Sonic thought she was fixed on a spring.
"WHAT?!"
"He… he sacrificed his life so I could escape."
Amy dropped to her knees. Sonic saw her trembling and could swear he saw a tear drop.
"You… you fool… " she said. Sonic could tell it wasn't meant for him.
"He died like a hero" he lied "he took down countless soldiers before he was defeated and killed. He dealt a massive blow on the enemy."
Amy managed to get up after that. She sat on the table with him.
"Did he… did he talk about me when you met him?"
"That is one thing I want to ask you because I don't know. He said that the warlord killed his family. Yet here you are. What does that mean? That you weren't his wife?"
"….No."
"Then I guess not. Actually wait. Scratch what I just said. Before he sent me through a portal he told me he knew you were the leader of the resistance. He told me to find you and help you win this war."
"I see. Then that is what we will do."
"General you're not telling me everything."
"Excuse me?"
"The way he spoke about you… it was filled with regret. What went down between you 2?"
He never got an answer though. At that moment Shadow and the rest of the resistance's leading members arrived. They all sat around the table. Amy spoke the first words.
"My comrades… we have just come into possession of a very important piece of information about the goal of the resistance. And it is in the hands of our new ally Sonic 999. So I have this to propose to you Sonic. You hand us the information you have and we tell you about the objective of the resistance."
"Fair deal. What I have to offer is a list of dimensions, it was given to me by Sonic from dimension 616. The first number on the list was 412 where I went and blew up an entire fortress. The second number is 518."
"The dimension the uprising happens in!" Tails said in realization.
"Exactly. It is like these dimensions lead to clues. For in the fortress I raided and destroyed I found blueprints of a giant starship sort of vehicle. I saved them here in this flash drive."
"I will have it examined" Silver said putting the flash drive in his pocket.
"If dimension 518 has clues like this it means that these dimensions in a weird way are a sort of a map. A map for…. That I don't know. Anyway that's all I know. Now it is your turn. What is the purpose of the resistance? How do we defeat the warlord?"
Tails pressed a button on his wristwatch showing the hologram of the figure of a dragon. A very familiar dragon.
"Is that… the lunar dragon?"
"Yes. You see while we travel the multiverse by opening portals from one dimension to another, there is a space that seperates the dimensions. It is unknown what exactly this space is but we call it the center of the multiverse. In that very space lives the lunar dragon. And no I don't mean the lunar dragon each of us has met on their journey. The lunar dragons we met were merely fractions of a whole. This is the whole. The complete and whole being called the lunar dragon. The very power that created, controls and balances the multiverse. It is also the warlord's endgame."
"Endgame? You don't mean…"
"He wants to claim the power of this beast. When the lunar dragon of your dimension died it disturbed the balance of the multiverse. The actual lunar dragon no longer has control over it. The warlord wishes to absorb its power. If he manages to do it he will essentially become the ultimate life form. He will be literally impossible to beat. While he won't be immortal he will be able to pass down the power to someone else. Meaning that should the true form of the lunar dragon fall into his hands, the multiverse will be doomed forever."
"So in other words" Sonic said connecting the dots "the object of the resistance is to get to the true form of the lunar dragon first?"
"And secure it" Amy said "secure it within someone of trust. One of us must allow the dragon to become a part of their soul. To become one and the same with it."
"And do we know how to get there? Or who is to get the power of the dragon?"
"The how we're going to get there is still unknown" Silver said "I can't crack this riddle for some reason. There is something missing from the formula. Perhaps the list of dimensions you have will lead to the missing piece."
"As for who will receive the power… I suggest you" Amy said referring to Sonic.
"M-Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You are the strongest in the multiverse. It's only natural for you to take it."
"I… I can't. Sorry."
"Ηuh?" everyone in the room exclaimed.
"What do you mean you can't?!" she asked him.
"I don't think this is a good idea general."
"Why not exactly?"
"I can't be allowed to have this much power."
Amy looked at him from head to toe.
"Meeting dismissed" she said "Shadow, Sonic will join you in few minutes to train the recruits."
"Yes general" Shadow said.
"You stay here" Amy said to Sonic.
Once Silver, Shadow and the rogues left she turned to Sonic once again.
"Listen. I didn't want to bring this matter up during the meeting but you need to take the power."
"General I can't. Last time I got a lot of power I nearly destroyed all of my loved ones."
"You need to step up. The resistance depends on it."
"Why don't you take it? Or shadow? You guys clearly are worthy of it. You lead the resistance you're saving the multiverse one battle at a time."
Amy looked down and got up. She turned towards the window.
"Cause both me and Shadow and everyone else have our own demons to deal with. We can't handle power like this when we are not in peace with ourselves."
"I'm not in peace either general. I brought so much pain to my loved ones through this power. Plus… I have darkness in me."
"We all do."
"No. Not like that. In my dimension I was taken over by the Egyptian god monsters' powers. I tried to conquer the world with them."
"You?" she looked at him in disbelief "no way."
"It's true."
"Why would you do it? Did you have the same ambition as the warlord?"
"No it's just…" Sonic sighed in sadness "I need to explain from the beginning."
"I'm all ears."
"Well… in my dimension after claiming the title I quickly became one of the most influential people on the planet. I tried my best to set an example on those who treat others with disrespect for whatever reason and to reverse the damage humanity has caused to the planet due to their greed and arrogance. All those things like climate change, destruction of nature… I tried my best to turn humanity's view on the matter. But like always those in positions of power only cared about maximum gain for themselves and/or their people instead of the planet and humanity as a whole. I wanted so badly to step up and force everyone to change their ways. It was the dark powers of the guy from the past who controlled me due to the power of the Egyptian gods… but the dark feelings he capitalized on to control me are mine and mine alone."
Amy didn't answer.
"And now that you know that power can corrupt me probably worse than most people out there… you still believe I should be the one to get the power of the lunar dragon?"
Amy remained silent for a while.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that is someone doesn't step up the warlord will take control of the dragon's power and the multiverse will be doomed".
Sonic was trying desperately to find an answer to this. He knew all of reality was in danger but he just couldn't let go of his guilt for being controlled by Nazo. He had blamed ancient Sonic for being a bad person when he himself in the depths of his soul didn't believe people deserved the choice they were given. Amy brought him out of it.
"Go to the training grounds. Shadow is waiting."
"Yes general" Sonic said and entered the elevator. Their eyes crossed as the elevator door closed. Amy was left in the empty room alone trying to cope with everything. Plus it was time to mourn for the death of the Sonic she knew.
Sonic 999 went to the training grounds where the soldiers were already training under the instruction of Shadow. Once Shadow saw him he stopped giving instructions to a recruit and raised his voice.
"Soldiers at ease!" he screamed as they all stopped what they were doing some even ending their duels in draw.
"It is time to show you the different style of training I mentioned earlier. It is… spectating. You will watch a duel between me and Sonic 999!"
"A duel?" Sonic said in surprise.
"Yes. A soldier needs a strong heart to fight dauntlessly. See it as you are the strongest, I assume you have the heart of a lion. So let's put it to the test! Will you accept my challenge?"
"I never say no to a duel! Bring it on!"
"DUEL!"
"I shall begin! I summon forth sunavalon genius loci in attack mode!"
"Sunavalon? This deck doesn't exist in my dimension!"
"All the better to see what you are made of. I set the link markers with my genius loci! Circuit combine! Link summon! Emerge! Sunavalon Dryas!"
A giant tree appeared before Shadow.
"Woah! That thing is a link monster?"
Sunavalon dryas can't be attacked but it doesn't prevent you from striking me directily. But that's the least interesting of its effects. When it is summoned I can add a sunvine spell or trap card from my deck to my hand? Do you have any response to that?"
"Yeah. I have infinite impermanence. It negates Dryas' effect."
"It would have been nice to go plus 1 but I think I can manage with what I have. Firstly I will discard sauravis the ancient and ascended to negate infinite impermanence since it targets a monster on my field."
"Damn".
"I now add and activate sunvine shrine from my hand. When it is activated I have to send a card from my hand to the graveyard and I also need to control a sunavalon link monster. Dryas fits the bill. I send performage trick clown to the graveyard. I assume you know what happens next."
"Yeah. Trick clown is revived but burns you for 1000 LP"
Trick clown appeared and reduced Shadow's LP by 1000. At that moment Dryas started emitting a beautiful green aura.
"What's going on?"
"Dryas is my eternal protector. When I take damage once per turn I can heal by that same amount and then special summon a sunvine monster from my extra deck!"
"What?!"
"I summon sunvine guardna! But it's time to separate with Dryas now. But not forever. I set the link markers with Dryas and guardna! Circuit combine! Link summon! Blossom aromatherapy jasmine! Now her own effect activates. I tribute trick clown to summon a plant type monster from my deck! Come forth world carrotweight champion!"
"Your entire deck is plants? For a dauntless war veteran you sure has a soft spot for flowers don't you?" Sonic said only meaning to make a victimless joke.
It however made the recruits gasp in shock and drove Shadow mad.
"I won't let you mock my deck you insolent arrogant fool!"
"What? I only made a joke man. Sorry."
"No mercy! I will beat you to a pulp! With sunvine shrine's effect I resurrect genius loci! I now use carrotweight champion to set the link marker! Circuit combine! Link summon! Emerge once again sunavalon Dryas!"
"Great it's back again I hope the effects can't be used again."
"You're lucky they can't. I once again set the link marker with my genius loci! Circuit combine! Link summon! Come forth! Sunvine healer! Upon summoning I can choose a sunavalon link and heal times 300 its link. Dryas is link 1 so I heal by 300LP" (Shadow LP 8300) "Next jasmine's other effect triggers. Whenever I heal I can a plant from my deck to my hand. I add aromage laurel! Laurel's effect allows me to instantly summon her if I have more LP than you! Now I set the link markers with laurel and healer! Circuit combine! Link summon! Blossom once again aromage jasmine. Laurel being sent to the graveyard heals me by 500 LP" (Shadow LP 8800) "triggering the newly summoned jasmine! With her effect I add the spore tuner monster to my hand. Now I set the link markers with my 2 jasmines! Circuit combine! Link summon! Prepare to witness Dryas' final form! Emerge! Sunavalon Dryatrentiay!"
"It's beautiful" Sonic said truly in awe from the appearance of the gigantic tree with the pink leaves.
"It is both beautiful and powerful! It has the same effects as dryas plus some of its own. But these can wait. Since it was summoned I add a sunvine spell or trap to my hand. I choose sunavalon bloom. Next carrotweight champion's ability activates! I discard spore to revive it! Spore itself will revive too by removing laurel from the graveyard and gaining her level making it a level 2 monster. I tune it with my carrotweight champion! Plants now come together and blossom the thorn of revenger! Synchro summon! Come forth aromaseraphy sweet marjoram! When it is synchro summon I can add either humid winds, blessed winds or dried winds to my hand! I select blessed winds. Now I set 2 cards and end my turn."
"All right so I know blessed winds will heal him and have marjoram destroy a monster on my field. I don't know what his other trap does but I think I will make it."
"My turn Shadow. I draw! I special summon blackwing gofu the vague shadow. Since it was summoned I can also summon 2 tokens. I now set the link markers with my 2 tokens! Circuit combine! Link summon! Soar raidraptor wise strix! Next I use its effect! I can summon forth blackwing zephyros the elite from my deck! Next I once again set the link markers with zephyros and gofu! Circuit combine! Link summon! Come forth crystron needlefiber! I use its effect!"
"That's as far as you go! I use my sunavalon bloom trap card! Since I control a sunavalon link 4 monster all monsters on your field have their effects canceled!"
"What?!"
"Yes! So your combo stops right here!"
"Damn. Fine! I have more tricks up my sleeve! I set the link markers with my 2 links! Circuit combine! Link summon! Come forth accesscode talker!"
"I activate blessed winds! By returning spore to my deck I can gain 500 LP!" (Shadow LP 9300) "and marjoram's effect destroys accesscode talker!"
"Nice. Every trap you had is gone. Now to go full force on you. I activate the effect of blackwing simoon the poison wind in my hand. I banish blackwing gale the whirlwind from my hand and activate black whirlwind from my deck. Next I immediately summon simoon. With the effect of black whirlwind I add blackwing auster the south wind to my hand! Now I summon it as my normal summon. Now that I have I can add blackwing breeze the zephyr to my hand thanks to black whirlwind. Next both auster and breeze's effects are activated. Breeze summons itself to the field and auster summon gale from oblivion to my field. Next I use the effect of zephyros in my graveyard. It returns gale to my hand and summons itself. Then I summon gale with its effect. Now I use the last card in my hand! Blackwing feathers!"
"Damn! You still had blackwing feathers!"
"Thanks to this I draw 5 cards since I control 5 different blackwings! Now I tune together simoon and auster. Spread your jet black wings and show our opponents your unbeatability! Synchro summon! Come forth blackwing full armor master! Next I tune my gale and zephyros together! spread your jet black wings and storm forth in tandem with the roaring thunder! Synchro summon! Cascade assault blackwing raikiri the rain shower! Now I use my raikiri's ability. Since I control 3 different blackwings 3 of your cards bite the dust!"
"What?!"
"Raikiri strike down these trees with slash of thunder!"
Raikiri unleashed 3 powerful slashes of wind with his blade. The slashes struck down dryas and marjoram but dryatrentiay deflected the slash?"
"What? How?"
"You think a monster of such power as dryatrentiay can be struck down by a mere destruction effect? Pathetic. You can't destroy my monster and you can't attack it either".
"But I can attack you! raikiri! Attack shadow directily!"
"AAAHH! Nice try but you know dryatrentiay will heal me and summon a monster from my deck!"
"Indeed but by doing so it gains a wedge counter due to my full armor master's effect."
"Yes but it also summons a link from my extra deck! Come forth defender of my tree! Sunvine thrasher!"
"What?" Sonic said in shock as the thrasher appeared blossoming out of the ground with the help of the tree.
"And when it is summoned I can choose a link my field and it gains 800 attack points times its link! Dryatrentiay is a link 4 so my monster goes to 3200"
"Oh no now I can't get through!"
"Indeed"
"Damn. Still because your monster used its effect it also gets a wedge counter. Full armor master activate your effect! A monster with a wedge counter is added to my arsenal! So I think your dryatrentiay is up for grabs and keeps!"
"Oh no!" Shadow said as dryatrentiay changed sides.
"And it looks like I can go even further! I special summon 2 bora the spear due to controlling a blackwing. Now I set the link markers with the 2 boras, dryatrentiay breeze and your thrasher!"
"You use my monster as a link material?!"
"Circuit combine! Link summon! Descend to the field! Saros eresh kurnugias!"
"A link 5?!" Shadow said in shock.
"It's over Shadow! Full armor master and Saros can't be affected by card effects! And you lost your tree. Next round I win! I set a card and end my turn"
"No! I refuse to let you win! I draw! I activate pot of greed! I draw 2 cards from my deck. Next I activate monster reborn to resurrect dryatrentiay!"
"Oh no you don't! Saros can negate an effect to revive a monster! Cancel monster reborn!"
"Exactly what I was hoping you would do! I activate the spell card sunvine reversal! If I control no monsters I can tribute ALL of your monsters and revive sunavalon and sunvine monsters anywhere including the extra monster zone!"
"Oh no! Still while my Saros can be tribute since the effect does target it my full armor master is immune!"
"Still this is 3 tributed monsters! Come forth! Sunavalon dryatrentiay! Sunvine thrasher! Sunvine genius loci!"
"Damn!"
"Now my thrasher gains 3200 attack power! But why stop at 1 when genius loci can be used to summon a second one who gains the same power! It's over! Once I destroy your monster you will have nothing left! Attack thrasher! Leaf blade!"
"Right into my trap!"
"Say what?!"
"I activate the trap black sonic!"
A huge black hole appeared in the sky absorbing everything around it.
"You see Shadow attacking my full armor master was your final mistake. Black sonic is a mirror force version of the blackwing archetype but instead of destroying it banishes the monsters. That means that your dryatrentiay is about to be absorbed into nothingness!"
"NOOOOOOO!" Shadow screamed as the black sonic trap absorbed his 2 thrashers as well as the tree.
"Come back. Don't leave me again!" he screamed in despair as the black hole disappeared leaving him completely defenseless. He dropped to his knees trembling.
"Shadow everything ok?"
"Just end it".
Sonic was speechless by the turn of events but proceeded on.
"I draw. I summon blizzard the far north. With its effect I revive bora the spear. Next I activate the spell card pot of avarice. I return back needlefiber, raidraptor wise strix, Saros, raikiri and accesscode talker to draw 2 cards. Next I use my 2 monsters to link summon needlefiber again. With his effect I summon forth blackwing steam the cloak. I use my needlefiber and steam to link summon summon sorceress. With her effect I target the token steam produced next to her link to summon shura the blue flame from the deck. Next I tribute the token to resurrect steam. I tune steam and shura to synchro summon assault blackwing chidori the rain sprinkling. With its effect it gains 2400 attack for a total of 5000. Next I activate the equip spell link offering and equip it to my summon sorceress. When it allows her link rating to count as that many tributes for a tribute summon. Finally I activate ancient chant. I add Obelisk the tormentor from my deck to my hand. I then banish ancient chant to get an additional tribute summon for a god. I tribute my summon sorceress counting as 3 sacrifices to summon obelisk the tormentor!"
Obelisk appeared sealing the fate of Shadow in the duel.
"Full armor master, chidori, Obelisk end it!"
The 3 monsters attacked Shadow who was completely unaffected by the virtual damage (Shadow LP 0). Sonic deactivated his duel disc and walked up to Shadow.
"You ok man?"
"…. Training's done. All soldiers are free for the afternoon" he said getting up and getting into the elevator before Sonic could ask him again if he was ok.
"What the hell was all that about?" he wondered as he saw that Shadow had gone to the council room. Sonic waited for the elevator to come back down and then went to the strategy planning room. Tails and the rogues were there.
"Hey" Tails greeted him "Nice duel. You got mad skills."
"Yeah like… Shadow is one of our if not our strongest duelist and you beat him so easily. You never even took damage" Jet commented.
"Excluding also the fact that you said you never faced sunavalon before ever in your life" Wave added not raising her head from some papers.
"You need to duel me next" Storm said eager.
"Thanks for the comments guys but have you seen the general? I want to talk about what happened to Shadow down there. I'd go to him immediately but I think he needs some time alone".
The 4 strategists were silent for a while. Tails then spoke up.
"She is in the lab. Silver said something about the riddle about the center of the multiverse".
"Ok. Thanks" Sonic said turning to leave.
"Wait which floor is the lab at?"
"4 floors up".
"Thanks" Sonic said again as the elevator door closed.
He waited for some seconds and when the door opened he was greatly impressed. The lab was a gigantic room separated into sections by glass walls. He saw several versions of himself and his friends as well as strangers working on several gadgets. He saw one of them shapeshift. That was probably the program Silver had developed. He also saw 4 soldiers firing at targets with modified duel disc firing systems. Finally he reached Silver's personal lab where he and Amy were looking through a microscope.
"See general? The quantonions moved in a specific way. That could probably mean that to get to the center of the multiverse there is something out there that can use the quantonions to open a special portal to that place".
"I see good work Silver keep it up" she said turning to leave and saw Sonic standing there.
"Oh hey there. How did it go with the duel?"
"You tell me. Shadow collapsed at the finale. Once I managed to destroy his ace link monster he fell to his knees screaming don't leave me."
Amy was saddened by the news.
"So he is still haunted by it".
"What is he haunted by? Was that his demons that you described earlier?"
"Silver can you leave us for a while?"
"Sure general" Silver said and headed outside to see how the experiments were proceeding.
"Yes. Exactly as you said. In Shadow's dimension he was the duel king just like you are in 999. He fell in love with a girl named Maria. They were making plans to get married when the war arrived in their dimension. Since they didn't have anything to fight back with the dimension was conquered in mere hours. The warlord demanded Shadow be brought before him. He demanded that Shadow pledge himself to his majesty as he said. Shadow refused until the warlord knocked him unconscious and took him to his and Maria's special place. A big tree with pink leaves just like his ace sunavalon dryatrentiay."
"Oh man. That's why that tree was so important to him."
"You have no idea. The card artwork of dryantrentiay is the actual depiction of that tree. The very same tree they met and he proposed to her at. When they took Shadow there they gave him the ultimatum one last time. To either join the warlord or watch his love perish along with that tree. Shadow was about to say yes when Maria started insulting the warlord and his son to prevent Shadow from joining. The warlord's son got so angry that he torched the tree with Maria tied to it. Shadow broke free and tried to save her. However he suffered a fate worse than hell. The warlord's son grabbed him by the left hand and nailed it with a spike on the tree right next to Maria."
"Say what?!" Sonic said in shock.
"Shadow experienced more pain that day than you can imagine" Amy nodded in sadness "in order to survive he had to literally break his hand free from the spike. After that he went to the singed ones of his dimension and had them cut off his hand and replace it with his metallic one. The singed ones of his dimension perished that day as well when it was revealed they helped him survive and escape".
"And then you found him and recruited him right?" Sonic said unable to believe this story.
"Yes. We promised him that if he helped us he would get his chance to avenge his dimension his friends and his love".
"Man…"
"Listen. Go talk to him. You have demons too right? Maybe you can help him let it go".
"I'll try" Sonic said as he was about to leave. He stopped just before he opened the door.
"And what about you general? What are your own demons?"
"…This is not the time. We are attacking 518 in 3 days. We need our army's leader ready for battle."
"Yeah" Sonic agreed and left.
He went to the council room where Shadow was sitting on the table alone in the darkness looking at sunavalon dryatrentiay.
"Hey Shadow."
Shadow didn't respond.
"I just want you to know… that though I can never comprehend the pain you are going through… it wasn't your fault Maria perished."
Shadow looked at him "How do you know that name?"
"I asked the general cause I was worried about you."
"You know nothing! If I had not hesitated to answer… she would have still been here! She would still be alive! I… I went to the burned site with the singed ones I knew…. All that was left of her was ashes! Not even something to bury! How could you comprehend losing the one person you love?!"
"Because in my dimension I almost killed all my loved ones."
"What?!"
"I got affected by the dark powers of the Egyptian gods and almost drained their life energy. The Tails of my dimension saved me and them. So trust me when I tell you my demons might be different than yours but they are in a way worse. You experienced great suffering. But it wasn't your fault. My demons though… they are entirely my fault".
Shadow was speechless but still in agony.
"But… if I had just joined him…"
"Do you think Maria would have wanted this?"
"Huh?"
"Don't you understand why Maria chose to sacrifice herself the way she did? She knew if you joined the warlord the multiverse would be doomed. You are an exceptionally strong duelist. And with the heart of a lion as you said. You experienced so much pain and loss… and yet here you are fighting to stop the warlord. You just need to stop blaming yourself to move on."
Shadow got up.
"I don't think I can ever move on from that. But… you're right. There is a war to fight. I will show the warlord the extent of the mistake he made when he made an enemy out of me!" Shadow said.
"Good. It's a start."
At that moment the training grounds' lights were shut off.
"What the..?"
"Relax. It's just the lights out call. Your room is along with the other leading members of the resistance. 5 floors below. Follow me" Shadow said as they entered the elevator.
They went 5 floors below and found themselves in a long corridor. They walked until Shadow stopped in front of a door. He typed some instruction in a keypad.
"Place your thumb on the device" he said.
Sonic obliged and the door opened.
"Make yourself at home. Good night."
"Good night man" Sonic said as he closed the door and looked around. The room was pretty basic but after all he had gone through it was like a palace. He laid on the bed and thought of his home. Deciding to try something he conjured his powers. After a while it worked. He made it inside the mind of his Amy.
"Hey there love" he said inside her head.
"Sonic?" he heard her say in surprise.
"Yes. It's me."
"But how… oh wait right. Your powers. Where are you? are you ok? What's going on with the war?"
"It has been a roller coaster of adventures up until now. But I found the resistance against the warlord. I got recruited and finally have a bed once again. but don't worry about me. I'll be fine here. How are you? How are Miles, Aurora, Evelyn and Luna?"
"Miles is ok. He is currently taking challenges to distract the dueling world. Aurora and Evelyn are making sure the cover story that we are incognito on vacation somewhere far away is believed by everyone. Luna is sleeping inside. She misses you. I told her everything and assured her you will be fine but… I'm worrying too. And I miss you so much."
"I miss you so much too baby. But don't worry. I'll be fine. The resistance is very trustworthy and loyal. I met the leading team and I know that they have a lot of honor and heart. We will win. I also made sure you will all be safe. I used my powers to put the dimension on lockdown. No one comes in, no one goes out".
"Thank you".
"I got to leave now. I need to get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."
"Rest well my love. Good luck. Our love is with you."
"Thanks Ames. Bye." Sonic said as he cut the connection trying not to tear up. He missed them more than he could ever describe. He closed his eyes and dreamt of them as he let himself fall asleep.