Sonic felt the wind in his quills. Normally, he'd feel great about running, but this was clearly an exceptional circumstance. He bolted into mobotropolis, witnessing the reconstruction that was undergone with the builders of the city. He saw the man, or mammoth he was looking for.
Mammoth Mogul stood, arms crossed, at the building site. His old casino's roof had caved in, from a rocket by the looks of. Sonic ran up to him.
The Mammoth didn't even bother looking down at Sonic, "To what do I owe the disturbance?"
Sonic frowned, he wasn't even putting up a front. Then again, they weren't exactly friends, just tolerated enemies, "I…. need your help."
Mogul finally looked at Sonic, appearing slightly interested, "Oh… and why would I help you, my enemy?"
"Sally will die if you don't." Sonic suggested, hoping that Mogul would see reason.
Tails stood back, looking at Mogul curiously.
Mammoth Mogul remained stoic, "And that is affects me how?"
"Will you please, out of hospitality, look at this?" Sonic asked, holding up the white rose. His hands were starting to shake.
The Mammoth looked down, his curiosity turning to surprise for the first time. He grabbed the rose and lifted it to his face.
"Hmmm… where did you get this?" The Mammoth asked, sounding somewhat… nervous, or confused.
Sonic frowned, "We had a visitor appear in our base. He has Sally-"
"Hostage by an enchantment… yes… It appears to be a constriction without a lock. A binding enchantment that will grow and tighten…" Mammoth Mogul mused, actually nodding his head. Was he actually impressed?
Sonic frowned, "Can you break it?"
"This is incredibly… simple, but also somewhat hidden. Who ever did this was an expert. I am a sorcerer, not an enchanter. I have some experience with the matter… but this is beyond my expertise."
Sonic felt his heart squeeze, Mogul was undeniably the best magician Sonic had ever seen. "You can't… You can't do anything to it?"
"The enchantment is active. Who ever did this was a master. I can tell you what it does, but that is all." Mogul stated, before asking, "This was a trap style enchantment. He clearly wants something from you… what did he demand."
"He wants dead innocent people." Sonic explained.
The mammoth nodded, as though it made sense, "Hmmm… I see. You would need an expert an enchanter to remove the enchantment. I do not have the expertise to deal with it. Give him what he wants, and if he's honest, he will remove the enchantment."
"I can't kill people." Sonic growled, fiercely.
"Then burn the rose. Get it over with. I don't really care. I would be interested in meeting this character. He sound… interesting." Mogul sighed, "Leave me. I can't help you."
Sonic frowned, and walked back to Tails.
"What did he say?" Tails asked, nervously.
"He said I should burn the rose. So I just get it over with." Sonic sighed, glumly.
Tails shook his head, "No, don't do that! We can save Sally." He stretched out his arms, desperately. Tails loved Sally… she was a like a mom or big sister to him…
Sonic nodded, "Yeah…I won't give up."
Tails smiled, before looking off, past Sonic. He seemed to be in a trance. Suddenly, he ran.
Sonic whipped around, when he heard, "Hey?"
Sonic turned around to see… Knuckles… what was he doing here, "Knuckles? You're here?"
"Yep… What, surprised to see me?" He joked, seemingly… loose.
Sonic actually liked it, his uptight nature could get annoying. "Yeah… a little, what about the master Emerald."
Knuckles tensed up, suddenly a little agitated, "I hid it… No one will find it."
Sonic nodded, "Ok… why are you here?"
"Why wouldn't I come here? This place is great… minus the crowd." Knuckles shrugged, something about him felt… off. He was nervous…
Sonic shook himself, and looked it the Direction Tails had gone.
There was a cart, with a large sign that read, "RECONSTRUCTION FUND RAISER." Underneath the sign, was Tails, looking at something.
Sonic gestured to Knuckles, "Hey, come on."
Knuckles smiled… weird.
They walked and Sonic asked, "So… how are things with Julie-su."
Knuckles seemed a little off guard, "Fine… great."
"Having trouble." Sonic pried, kind of smugly. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one having trouble.
"Everything's fine." Knuckles growled. He was defensive… that was Knuckles for you.
Sonic arrived at the cart, and saw what Tails was starring at. A brand new set of red shoes. Sonic saw the joy on the little guy's face… maybe it would cheer him up.
Sonic instinctively looked down at Tails' shoes- What happened. The colors had been scuffed and faded, and they were practically falling apart. The poor guy had been running all day in flopping shoes.
He walked up to Tails, who flinched down, seeming sad, "Sorry… I know we're busy… I just-"
"How much for the shoes." Sonic asked the goat at the stand.
"Well, they are for charity… We would like a hundred mobiums…"
A hundred mobiums! That was all of Sonic's immediate funds… but Tails was running around in basically rags. His little face was shocked.
Sonic reached into his socks, and pulled out all of his hundred mobiums. No chilidogs today, but these shoes would probably outlive Tails. They seemed to be good quality.
The goat took the mobiums, counted them out, and smiled, "The city thanks you." He went to get the shoes.
Tails was shocked, "Why did you do that?"
"Why not. You're my little buddy. You mean a lot more to me than a few mobiums." Sonic smiled.
Tails gave a weak smile, but Sonic felt the guilt in him. "I'm sorry we're in this mess." He slumped.
"Hey… you didn't start this, it's that monster's fault." Sonic proclaimed, as he took the shoes, and handed them to Tails. Tails looked nervous, but grabbed them. He put them on, and smiled, walking around a little.
Suddenly, a crash was heard in the market. Scream went out.
Sonic turned, and saw a building crumple.
/*-*/
Fiona felt her heart rate increase. She saw someone… she knew she did…
Alister murmured, "Aunt Ari?" the little fox was looking up at her, nervous and on guard. He could tell something was up.
Fiona smiled down at him, as he crept lower, pulling in his limbs to protect himself. She tried to be reassuring. Fiona looked around the room.
She saw something, she was certain of it. A face, yellows eyes… There was no one in there, at least not that she could see. The closet was cracked slightly, but not nearly enough to pass a person in, and she would have known if the door moved.
Fiona let out a sigh of relief.
"Calm yet?" A whisper came in her ear as Alister shrunk down. Fiona jerked her head and threw a fist… into air…
She looked down at Alister, who's little chest pounded vividly. They weren't alone.
"I don't want to play." Alister muttered, "Please go." He wasn't talking to Fiona, she looked around the room. The shadow from the closet… it was stretching…. Moving…. Fiona picked up a pillow and threw it.
The pillow landed in front of the shadow, then disappeared with a sudden jerk into the closet. Fiona's heart pounded, and she looked around for a weapon. Magic tentacle enemies were not on her favorite things to fight list.
The Shadow began to stretch out again. Fiona grabbed an action figure, and looked for something to throw it at. She focused… her sharp eyes saw it… a yellow glint in the closet. Fiona threw little wooden Sonic into the yellow eye. The Action figure disappeared, Fiona felt her heart rate shoot through the roof.
She couldn't hurt this thing. Fiona began to panic.
The dark tendrils approached the bed, but suddenly retreated.
"Alister?" Frederick came into the room.
Alister Jumped out of bed, "PAPA!" He ran into his father's arms. Frederick looked relieved, until he saw Fiona's face. She couldn't hide the panic? Should she tell him what she saw? Would it hurt him?
Frederick scowled, "What's wrong? You look like something is in here? Is the intruder hiding in here?"
Fiona frowned, still panting in a terrified manner, "Something is in that closet… I don't know what."
Frederick looked around the room, "Why is this such a mess."
"It was a monster Dad. He want to take me away." Alister cried.
"Shshsh, calm down." Frederick frowned at Fiona, "What did you tell him?"
Fiona shook her head, "I just talked about you loving him. Then Something tried to attack us."
"He's in the closet Dad." Alister cried.
Frederick frowned, "There's nothing-"
Olivia's voice cleared from behind the door.
Frederick sighed, "I'll look. GUARDS!" Armored soldiers came in. "My son believes there is a monster in his closet. Watch my back." He seemed to be joking. Fiona couldn't exactly blame him. This whole thing sounded like a child's imagination and his teenage aunt playing along.
Frederick walked over to the closet, and looked back. Olivia entered the room, her orange fur matted down in annoyance. Frederick nodded, and opened the closet door wide.
"Oh my…" Frederick sounded upset.
Alister looked at his father. Fiona stood there nervously.
"Alister, did you put that doll in here?" Frederick growled, pulling up a Sonic doll. Not an action figure, but a doll with black and red eyes.
Alister shook his head.
Frederick growled, "Fiona, this is not funny."
"There was something in there, I swear!" Fiona pleaded.
Frederick shook his head, "What did you see?"
"The shadow from the closet moved, the thing had yellow eyes, and whispered in my ears." Fiona explained.
"You sound sleep deprived. Guards, take my sister to her room… get her some breakfast and some warm milk. Try to get some sleep, please." Frederick asked, softly, but stressed.
Olivia didn't look amused at her either.
"There was a monster, please dad." Alister begged.
Frederick shook his head, "You smeared dirt in a Sonic dolls' eyes. It's not a monster, it just looks like it in the darkness. If you put some light on it, the monster goes away." Frederick was trying to be a good dad.
The Sonic doll with black eyes seemed to stare blankly into space. Had Fiona just imagined it?
The guards escorted Fiona to her room with a croissant and milk. Her ear picked up a sound.
"Whew… that was close… but you failed… I'll take good care of the kid" The whisper filled her ears.
Fiona looked at the guard, "You have to go help Alister, now!"
The guards looked nervous, "We can-"
Fiona ran out of the room, and down the hall to Alister's room. The guards, weighed down by their armor, couldn't stop her.
Fiona opened the door. Alister was quivering under the bed. The shadows were moving… Fiona needed something… She saw the curtain closed. It was a long shot, but it might work.
She ran over and opened the curtains. The light filled the room, and the tendrils let out a hissing sound.
"GRRR YOULL PAY FOR THAT!" The darkness hissed, but didn't dare come into the light.
Fiona smiled, "Wow… some monster you are… pathetic." Fiona didn't exactly like being in the light either… but it was keep the shadow man back.
"Just you wait… the sun won't be up forever."
Fiona frowned. That was… a horrifying fact. He'd be back. Fiona needed a Solution.
Olivia's voice was disturbed, "What… What was that?"
Fiona looked around and saw Frederick and Olivia both laying close to Alister, both horrified by what they saw.
"A doll." Fiona tried to joke.
"We have a problem." Frederic growled, "I have to deal with this… now…" He jumped out of bed and ran down the hall.
"He attacked with you there?" Fiona asked, curiously.
Olivia smiled, "Perhaps…" Wait… her eyes. "You win this round…" Olivia's voice went deeper.
Fiona growled, "What do you want?"
"You'll see." Olivia's green eyes had turned a sick yellow. Then she collapsed.
Alister cowered deeper.
"What…" Olivia's voice was confused.
Fiona felt her heart rate sky rocket once more.
This was impossible to survive… right.
Fiona had to protect Alister… at least. He was a good kid, so she'd keep him safe, even if it killed her.
/*-*/
Johan snarled as he heard the screams from outside. He could tell wicked magic was at work, but he couldn't pinpoint what kind it was. Who ever had cast it however had a destructive soul.
Saxons were not "destructive" by nature. They destroyed their enemies, and their enemies histories, but that was only to propagate their own. There was always an end goal in mind, or at least that was the concept. There were chiefs who strayed from this mentality, but they would often die and get replaced by more capable rulers. This soul however… it only wanted to destroy. It didn't even seem to concerned with the possible exploitation of the lands it inhabited.
Johan snarled.
The guards who were stationed with him shifted nervously, "What's going on?" The Younger one asked, clutching his weapon like it would save him from drowning.
"I don't know. We'll stay here, and whatever happens, happens." The older guard muttered.
Another cry went out, along with subtle vibrations in the air. The Garden Defender, Sonic, had arrived. There was smacking around. Johan had enough. He could feel the vile magic at work, and Johan hated it.
He pressed up against the bars, "I'm leaving." Johan growled.
"Oh ok- Wait, you can't leave." The younger guard growled.
"You can't stop me." Johan stated, pushing open the bars, and walking out. The two staggered back, but the were smart enough to not attack. Johan turned and walked up the stairs, to find the prison guard room empty.
There was an unholy fog on the lands. Johan couldn't even see the buildings across the street from the prison.
Johan sniffed the air. There were so many scents he couldn't pinpoint one. Johan walked towards the wooden door, and pushed it open. He could hear movement.
"Tails? You OK?"
"I'll be… good… thanks for asking."
Johan trudged towards the noise. A garden Defender, Sonic, and his fox ally Tails, were engaging…. A skeleton? No, it was several pieces of bone, but there was something behind it.
Sonic immediately noticed Johan, "Great… we got trouble."
"What do you- oh?" The fox muttered softly, somewhat scared. Something was off with them.
A red garden defender was leaping from building, as the monster sluggishly tried to smash it.
Johan was being ignored by the biggest thing. He didn't like that. Johan really didn't like that. He got angry, as all self-respecting men would, and roared!
The Bone monster turned to Johan, to the red garden defender's surprise. It had the skull of the horse, with ram horns. It's bones appeared to be a mix of animals and men, binding it together with the sight of black decaying flesh. Blood oozed out of the creature's boney jaws, as though it had been wounded.
The bone monster lumbered a lot quicker than Johan saw it move against the red garden defender.
Johan leapt out of the way, and struck its right leg. The bone shatter across the ground, but the creature's stance didn't change. Johan snarled, and struck the ribs.
Bits of bone scattered across the ground. Johan expected the beast to crumple, but instead it glowed, and pieced moved back. The ribs and leg were healed.
"You on our side?" Sonic shouted.
Johan didn't feel a need to answer, as he was still alive. Instead he focused on the monster. He knew what was going on. He also knew how to deal with it.
The Monster raised boney fists to smash Johan, but Johan leapt out of the way and struck it's back. The bone and flesh scattered across the ground. This thing wasn't dying.
The Creature did turn away from Johan. Johan hated this, but it was a smart move. Take out weaker targets to keep them from causing problems.
It charged at Sonic, who zipped out of the way.
Johan began to lumber towards the creature, as it swung it's boney leg around, smacking the fox in the face. The fox went air born, blood dripping from his eyes.
Sonic stopped and caught the fox, keeping Tails from slamming into a building and breaking his neck.
Johan sat down, and tried to remember the chant. The Creature hissed at him
Johan closed his eyes, and calmed his heart, "My God is mighty, Strong and valiant. His son is great, the might Jesus who bled and defeated you. You, Devil, I rebuke, for in the Son of God's blood, you are powerless. Leave now, you coward, or be banished to the Abyss!" Johan roared.
The Creature shrieked back, and tried to charge. Instead, it's legs froze, crumpling into a pile of bones. Next was its waist, then its torso, and its head.
Johan stood up, and frowned at the monster. It was pathetic.
Johan looked up to find Sonic looking amazed, and the Fox and red garden defender nervous.
Before they could protest, a wolf threw himself at Johan's feet, "Please, come help my lord."
Johan cocked his head, "what? Speak plainly, or I will kill you for wasting my time." Johan growled.
"My lord is haunted. There are ghosts, you can banish undead, right?" The wolf begged.
"No, My God banishes Evil, I do not banish anything." Johan snarled, this was annoying.
"Could you do what you just did to Ghosts?" The Wolf begged. Johan was getting pissed at this begging.
"Leave me be." Johan growled, and went back to his cell.
"Please! My Lord requests the protection of his son!" Cried out the wolf.
Johan stopped. He was under contract… He had to protect the realm for Honor's sake.
Sonic spoke, "Wait, who's in trouble?"
"Lord Frederick of Apalsa is worried his son is being attacked by spirits." The wolf explained, desperately.
Johan turned around, "I will deal with this threat. Purely because I am far honorable than your decrepit people."
"I'm going too. If Frederick need's help-" The Fox interrupted Sonic.
"But what about Sally?" Tails asked, concerned. Both he and the Red Garden Defender reeked of magic.
"I don't know. Maybe Johan can help me?" Sonic looked at Johan. Did he honestly expect free advice? Then again, if Johan could keep him alive long enough to remain undefeated, so Johan could kill him…
"Let us leave. I will discuss aiding you… if I can." Johan conceded. There were benefits to playing the loyal servant…