1 - Cinders
Thick pillars of smoke obscured the sky above Applenook Town, painting the world below in shades of black and gray. The once idyllic little village was barely recognizable: most of the huts and barns were reduced to smoldering heaps of ashes and charred wood, the rows of apple trees warped into burning husks, the beautiful stone-paved roads now smeared in blood and cinders. The crackling of flames mixed with screams and metallic clanks, as horrifying war machines marched among the smoke, determined to search and destroy even the last survivors.
Crouched behind the half-blackened remains of a plow, a young fennec fox watched in terror. She didn't look older than thirteen, and her dress and light brown fur were soiled in ash and dirt. Wide-open orange eyes darted through the inferno, desperately looking for a way out, but wherever her gaze wandered it only met fire, ruins, and robotic silhouettes. She held back a whimper.
Don't panic… don't panic! You can do this, Hazel…
But her legs were shaking, threatening to buckle any minute, and the smoke was making her lungs burn and her head spin. She didn't know how much longer she could resist. A coughing fit shook her, and she pressed her gloved hand against her mouth to stifle the noise, praying that nobody heard her.
But someone did. All of a sudden a silhouette appeared in the smoke, looming over Hazel.
More robots!
The girl instinctively cowered, yelping as a hand seized her arm and pulled her up, but the voice whispering in her ear was smooth and gentle: "Get up, kid."
Hazel gazed up, eyes filled with tears. A black cat around her twenties gave her a reassuring smile. She wore white robes, adorned with a leaf trim around the sleeves and hood, and carried an unmistakable runed staff behind her back. Hazel knew her by sight: Opal, one of the Sentries of the Obsidian Tree. Her heart gave a little leap. The Sentries were an order of mystical guardians sworn to the protection of the Obsidian Tree, the great crystal sentinel watching over Applenook Town. Hazel knew Opal and the other Sentries could tap into the powers of the Obsidian Tree to heal and defend, as well as to summon a force field big enough to cover the whole village. Their order had protected both the tree and the town for over half a century, fiercely warding off any menace threatening their country. For the first time since the robots attacked, Hazel dared cling to a tiny, tiny thread of hope.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Opal held her hand out, and Hazel took it.
Together, the cat and the fennec sprinted through the smoldering ruins of the town. The air was hot and suffocating. Hazel's steps were unsteady, but Opal's firm grip around her fingers gave her a fragile sense of confidence. As they made their way past a burning barn, Hazel almost tripped on something… the charred corpse of a canine. Her stomach twisted as she recognized one of her neighbors, a kind elderly dog with a love for raspberry tea.
"Opal…!"
"Don't look!" the Sentry hissed. "Just run!"
Choking back a sob, Hazel complied. The tears stinging her eyes were making her vision blur. That tiny flicker of hope she'd tried to cling to was quickly vanishing, replaced by dread. Where was her father? How many others were dead or dying? And where were the other Sentries, what were they doing?
The two girls had almost managed to reach the fences that marked Applenook Town's boundary, when a shrill robotic voice cried out: "Fugitives! Fugitives!"
A whir of jet engines reached Hazel's ears. Two harpy-like robots descended from above, metallic wings spread out around their shiny steel forms. Each of them was twice Opal's height and at least five times her weight. Their gleaming red claws and razor-sharp beaks ominously reflected the glare of the flames.
Hazel froze, terrified. Before she could even think about what to do, Opal acted: without hesitation, she let go of the fennec's hand and charged forward, drawing her staff as she jumped towards the robots. The runes etched into her weapon lit up, and the staff swirled in the hands of the Sentry, tracing a shimmering crescent in mid-air. The first harpy was knocked down in a single, swift strike.
"B-behind you!" Hazel cried out.
But Opal didn't need that warning. She kicked off from the remnants of the falling harpy before they even touched the ground and jumped up again, unflinching as the talons of the second robot cut exactly through the spot where she'd been a second before. The Sentry elegantly somersaulted through the smoke and struck, fast and precise, hitting the harpy on the head with her staff and beheading it in one fell swoop. The war bot plummeted down in a heap of metal and fizzing wires. Its clatter was followed by the light thump of Opal's boots meeting the ground. Hazel looked at the Sentry, scared and in awe at the same time.
"That, that was amazing," she stuttered, her voice reduced to a hoarse whisper.
"Why, thank you." Opal straightened her back with a flick of her white cape and held her hand out again. "Quick, now. Before more uninvited guests join the party."
But a troop of ovoid-shaped robots were already marching through the smoke and towards the fences, clanking heavily at each step. Opal and Hazel hastily hunkered down behind a pile of debris, staying still and quiet until the robots strode off. The fennec watched them disappear in the smoking, blazing chaos that her hometown had become, and swallowed thickly. Opal reached for her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
"We're almost out of the village. You have to hold on just a little longer, okay? Everything will be alright, I promise."
Hazel couldn't imagine how. Even if she got out of Applenook Town alive, what about everybody else? Terror and anguish clenched her insides, squeezing them with such force she thought she would have felt sick. "Opal… what's going on?"
"It's Eggman. I'd recognize his freaking robots anywhere… I lost count of the times we trashed them, but the old man sure is stubborn." Scowling, Opal peered beyond the corner, and then back at Hazel. "You are the swordsman's daughter, right? Where's your father?"
A stab of pure dread pierced the girl's heart. "I… I don't know. The robots got to him… he told me to run..."
Opal bit down on her lower lip, silent for a moment. "I'm sure he'll be okay. He's one hell of a fighter, someone like him eats this robotic trash for breakfast." She ruffled Hazel's long hair, her voice calm and soothing. "Now listen up, kid. This is where we part ways… no, don't look at me like that! Listen. Something's off, seriously off. The Sentries on watch at the Obsidian Tree should have summoned the force field and joined the fight ages ago. I know for a fact the shield did activate, I saw it with my own eyes…"
"So why are the robots…?"
"I don't know! Whatever happened, the force field is down now, which means the other Sentries might be in trouble. I'll make a run to the Obsidian Tree and see what's going on. In the meanwhile, I want you to get away from here, okay? Green Hill isn't far. If you keep on moving, you should be able to get there before nightfall..."
"No!" Hazel clasped Opal's hand, looking at her pleadingly. The thought of finding herself once again alone in that hell terrified her more than anything else. "Please, let me come with you."
"It's too dangerous, and time isn't on our side," said the Sentry, shaking her head. "You'll be safer if you..."
A powerful roar suddenly shook earth and air alike. Hazel and Opal turned their heads at the same time, and the cat cursed through her teeth.
The largest machine Hazel had ever seen was approaching Applenook Town. It resembled a tank, but each of the road wheels dwarfed the tallest barns of the village, and a vicious-looking drill was mounted onto the turret ring; the weapon gleamed viciously in the light of the inferno. Two rows of robotic knights marched by the sides of the metal colossus, spears at the ready, sabatons hammering on the ground. Hazel stared at it, mouth agape, petrified.
"… if you come with me!" Opal hastily concluded.
#
The Obsidian Tree sat on a nearby hill, like a guardian silently standing vigil by the little town. The Tree was about the size of a small palace, and quite the sight to behold: crimson and golden reflections skimmed the translucent bark, which was black and lustrous, and the branches weaved a natural cupola of strangely luminescent leaves, glittering on high like a constellation of jewels. Not one inch of that trunk was made of wood. From leaf to root, the Obsidian Tree was entirely and completely made of crystal. At the base of the plant was a small temple, carved out of the same dark gemstone that covered the trunk. Hazel knew that was where the Sentries lived and trained, but nobody seemed to be in sight.
"Where is everyone?" she whispered.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. As soon as the force field is up," said Opal firmly.
"You mean… You can summon the shield by yourself? I thought..."
"Yeah, even one Sentry alone can do it, but it won't be easy." Opal closed her eyes for a moment, then she nodded, as if answering a voice only she could hear. "It's too late to hold back the invasion, but maybe I can still stop that drill monster from getting to Applenook Town. It's odd, though... There's no way Eggman's robots could have breached the shield on their own."
"You mean... someone or something caused it to turn off from the inside?"
A grim look fell on Opal's face. "Just keep your eyes peeled. And if I say run, you do exactly that, understood?"
"O-okay."
"Good. Let's go."
Running side by side, Hazel and Opal quickly approached the temple under the Obsidian Tree. The smoke of the burning village still stung Hazel's nostrils, but she could breathe a little more easily here. Gaze transfixed on the crystalline tree above, she didn't immediately take notice of the bodies… until she blinked and stopped dead, horrified, clapping a hand over her mouth to suppress a scream. Half a dozen Sentries were scattered around the temple, limbs bent in unnatural angles, white robes burnt or stained in blood, runed staves lying in the dust. They'd tried to put up a fight – and failed.
Opal gasped loudly. "No..."
"Well well, and what have we here?" A dark voice rang out, its tone laced with cruel amusement. "More bothersome insects scuttling to their demise?"
A gray figure flashed into sight, floating in midair between the two girls and the Obsidian Tree. A jackal, haloed in ominous crimson light. His features were almost completely concealed from sight by a metal mask; a jagged, tear-like opening revealed his one remaining eye, glowing yellow under the crimson visor.
For just a moment, his gaze met Hazel's and sharply bored into it. The fennec flinched and looked away, whimpering.
The reaction seemed to amuse him. "And one of the insects is just a trembling child. Are you going to send her to battle, too? Your Sentries must be more desperate than I thought."
"You bastard..." Opal took a step forward and tightly clutched her staff. Her fists trembled in anger. "Mark my words, you'll pay for what you've done to my sisters!"
"It wasn't my work, I'm afraid… but I don't mind finishing the job, if need be. Fret not, Sentry, you shall be reunited with your friends soon enough."
He extended his hand towards Hazel and Opal. A vicious red beam shot from his palm…
… only to be deflected by a shield of spectral dark energy, emitted from Opal's staff. The Sentry held her weapon horizontally, arms outstretched, her white cloak swaying in the wind.
"Go, kid," she said quietly.
"Opal…"
"I said go!"
Hazel turned around and began running, but staggered back with a squeal when another crimson beam incinerated the patch of grass right before her, missing her by a hair.
"Scream again, child." The jackal chuckled. "I quite like that sound."
"Hey, scumbag!" Opal dismissed the magical protection with a flick of her hand and rushed towards him. "Leave her alone, your opponent is me!"
Fast and graceful, she leaped towards the jackal and rotated her staff, but her strike met only air: moving at supernatural speed, he had dashed behind and above her. A violent kick sent Opal crashing painfully against the ground.
"You're feeble, just like the rest of that so-called sorority of yours." Gliding down, the jackal gestured towards the broken bodies of the other Sentries. "There is no sport in hunting your kind."
Opal gritted her teeth and sprang to her feet. "Shut your trap! This isn't over yet!"
She lunged at him again, and again he dodged. Opal didn't give up. She whirled and twirled her weapon with practiced skill, the runed staff drawing a mandala of strikes all around the jackal, but his reflexes were impossibly quick. He seemed to know Opal's moves better than the Sentry herself, and none of those hits, no matter how swift, reached the target.
Petrified, Hazel couldn't do anything but helplessly watch. The jackal wasn't even taking the fight seriously: he just dodged and parried, dodged and parried, without bothering to counterattack. He was toying with Opal, one of the chosen guardians of the Tree, one of the finest protectors of Applenook Town. Hazel's hands were shaking, so she clenched them. She had to run, she knew, but… The fennec blinked. For a moment, for just a moment, she thought she'd heard something, a low, melodious voice calling out to her, whispering into her ear. Instinctively, she looked at the Obsidian Tree. Even in the brutal light of the inferno, it shimmered softly, calmly. There was something comforting and yet tantalizing about that sheen, and Hazel found herself staring at it, hypnotized… the melodious voice was whispering again, its words unintelligible, but...
Hazel got up and took a shaky step forward.
Then her gaze fell on the bodies of the Sentries.
Mangled.
Bloodstained.
Dead.
A chill rolled down her spine, freezing the blood in her veins. What little hope and confidence the Tree had given her suddenly shattered. Her vision went blurry; tears stung her eyes, her knees hit the ground. Each of those Sentries had been a skilled warrior, a thousandfold stronger than she could ever dream to be. They were the best, the strongest protectors of Applenook Town, and they were all dead. Everyone she knew and loved was probably dead, too. All crushed like...
Insects.
Hazel whimpered. Now her tears were burning through her eyelashes and scorching her cheekbones. Her world was burning down around her, and she was powerless to do anything about it. She wasn't a hero. She wasn't even a fighter, as her father never failed to remind her. She was just an awkward little coward. Helpless...
Useless.
That vague, melodious voice tried to reach out to her again, but Hazel couldn't hear it anymore. She was becoming more and more aware of the clangs of the war machines in the distance, the crackle of the inferno devouring her hometown, her own panic-stricken pulse… The fear. That cold, viscous fear weighing on her chest, threatening to suffocate her. She couldn't help Opal. She couldn't even help herself. She...
A nearby thud announced that Opal had been defeated again. Hazel snapped back to her senses. "Opal…" she whispered. "Opal!"
The Sentry lay motionless on her stomach, white robes smeared with blood and dirt.
"Opal!"
Fighting back a sob, the fennec hurried to her side and knelt down on the burnt grass. Opal wasn't moving, she realized, panicking. She needed to get help, quick-
"And you, where do you think you are going?"
Hazel shrieked as a hand seized her hair and yanked her head back, exposing her throat. Now quivering uncontrollably, the fennec was forced to look up: the jackal stared down at her, his own head tilted to the side.
"As I thought," he commented, indolence in his voice. "Just another worthless insect."
Hazel's locks were painfully ensnared within his grasp. The jackal shifted his free hand to her throat, letting his sharp-clawed fingertips lightly brush against her jugular. Hazel whimpered and squeezed her eyes shut, but that gesture seemed to annoy him.
"Look at me!"
Too frightened to resist, she cracked her eyes open again. His predatory yellow gaze promised pain. Endless pain. The purest terror she'd ever known froze her body and numbed her mind, and she had to bite her lower lip not to cry again. She was about to die, she was sure of it. But the jackal didn't seem to be in a hurry.
"How does it feel?" he asked flatly. "To stand on the edge of the death? To contemplate just how little you have been, how little you have done so far… and realize that no matter how pathetic your existence is, you would kill to see tomorrow? Be honest with yourself, runt. If you could kill me with your own hands, you would."
Hazel muttered something unintelligible.
"I cannot hear you, runt."
"I s-said," she whispered, stuttering each word, "that it's, it's n-not true. I don't want to kill you nor, nor anyone e-else. I just wish... I just wish you could let us be. That's all we ever wanted... peace..."
"Ah, of course. Peace. How quaint." The jackal slowly shook his head. "I cannot decide whether you are an idiot or a liar. Both, perhaps. Well then, allow me to clarify this for you: in this world, the strong preys on the weak, and the future of feeble creatures like you is to break and die. Insects exist to be crushed, nothing less - and nothing more."
In a flash, his claws were pressed against her throat, with such force she thought they would have torn it open any moment. Hazel was petrified, unable to do anything but shiver and stare, her heart hammering against her ribs...
"But unfortunately for me and luckily for you, I find no satisfaction in massacring flimsy children."
He suddenly let go of her and vanished from her field of view. Hazel gasped and brought a trembling hand to her throat, laboring for air. It took her a few moments to realize the jackal was hovering above her, gazing up at the Obsidian Tree.
"I am Infinite. Remember this name. Now get lost, before the machines of your new Emperor arrive. They can't and won't tell the difference between a child and an enemy."
Another roar shook the ground. He was right: the drill machine was approaching, slowly but surely.
Trembling, Hazel stood up and cast one last look at Opal: the Sentry's bloodied body wasn't moving. Hazel's heart sank. The last protector of Applenook Town had fallen right before her eyes, and all she could do was cry and cower. She clenched her head, hot tears trickling down her chin.
And suddenly she was running like hell, too frightened to think, too frightened to focus on anything that wasn't putting one foot in front of the other. She barely heard the whir of the drill piercing into the Obsidian Tree. Her ears were ringing with Infinite's cold, mocking laughter.
Hazel knew that sound would have haunted her dreams for years to come.
A.N.
Hello everyone ^^ what can I say, Sonic Forces made me go full Nostalgic Mode. The game was actually pretty enjoyable if you ask me, even if those stages were waaaay too short.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog (else Silvaze would totally be canon).
Applenook Town and the Obsidian Tree, along with its Sentries and my super wimpy OC, are products of my twisted imagination.
I hope you enjoyed the read!
Syrence, out~!