Nazo's p.o.v.
I didn't know what happened. One minute I was diving down to grab the emerald the next I'm here in front of... well... myself! I was at a loss for words as I watched him, er, myself, er, that... THING start to walk away. I was finally able to snap out of my stupor and told him to give the emerald to me.
"Hmm?" he only hummed and took a glance at me
"I told you to hand the emerald over." I had to stop myself from making any unnecessary movements. He laughed and turned to me with a toothy smile.
"Now why would I do that?" I growled and came up to him but he made no attempt to move.
"Cause I said so." in one quick movement, I tried to reach for the emerald but found the ground instead.
"Hmm hmm hmm. I say no." I looked up to see him admiring the emerald "And besides, why would you want to help that so called hero to begin with?" once I got back up to my feet, I looked at him confused.
"So called?" before I realized what was happening, he punched me straight in the gut and smashed me to the ground.
"Of course so called. He is a fake for calling himself a hero. Why would he ever want to protect something that he had despised from the very beginning?" 'Sonic isn't a hero?'
"What are you even talking about!?" I yelled and charged at him again but ended up with a face full of sand.
"Immortality is a nasty thing and could leave all those with that curse to do some not so nice things. Just look at yourself." I got onto my knees but was pushed down by his foot on my back. "But it wasn't really your fault for being that nuisance's friend... oh wait! It was." I tried to struggle but wasn't finding myself very successful.
"What-"
"Oh don't play that game Neikan! Your better than that!" 'Neikan... but my name is Nazo... what is going on here!?'
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else." before I could do anything else, I was lifted up to my feet and forced to look at the ocean but my reflection wasn't really mine. My quills were still upwards but in a more curvy style in the middle, my fur was more of a murky grey instead of pure white and I was wearing the same cuffs from my perfect form. I took a glance at the one I was fighting before and saw myself, before the strange appearance change, holding me without any effort but it felt like an iron grip was holding me.
"Now you see the real you Neikan, whatcha gonna do?" I growled and looked down at the ocean huffing. 'If he thinks I'm this Neikan guy then I better play the part.'
"Alright, alright. You got me." I felt the grip lesson and was able to stand up straight.
"Finally." he tossed the emerald into the air and I had to force myself not to look at it. "Now we're getting somewhere." just as he tossed the emerald one last time, in one foul swoop, I pinned him to the ground and ended with the emerald in my hands.
"The only place your going is down." I put the emerald into my still curvy quills and made him face me "And for your information, my name is Nazo." he laughed and smirked at me.
"You may be Nazo in mind but you'll always be Neikan in heart. Why do you think that your appearance changed?" I let him go and before I left I looked at my reflection again to find my white fur, straight quills and no cuffs. When I looked back at my copy, I found a little note instead saying that if I don't find out the truth about the balance keeper, hell will rain. Thinking nothing of it, I crumbled the note up and through it into the ocean.
"I am Nazo and whether Sonic is seen as a hero or not is up to those you are either with him or against him." without a second to lose, I flew in the direction of Angel island.
Scourge's p.o.v.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How... What... Who... I don't know anymore! The copy of me chuckled and waved the emerald in my face.
"Looks like the green-bean wants a rocky friend." I growled and next thing I knew, I was pinned to the ground. "But too bad you'll never get one." I was able to kick this weird er copy of me and get in a fighting stance.
"I don't need any friends." he chuckled and put the emerald in his quills.
"Oh really? Then what about Nazo, Mephiles, Fleetway and Exe?" I froze 'They aren't really my friends... more like aqqintices.'
"Still... I don't need them. They asked me to help take Blue down and that is exactly what I did. Well... before Dark got in the way." he chuckled and that turned into a full-blown laugh.
"Haha... you really think you're that powerful!? You were only able to control Anarchy Beryl for not even an entire fight with your Anti! Let alone try to use the Master Emerald but even that plan failed miserably and ended with you turning green!" he continued to laugh and I clenched my hands together.
"You don't need to remind me of those failed plans."
"Oh but I do." he gave an evil smirk "What happened to 'The real Scourge.' Hmm? Face it! You're weak and have to rely on powerful objects or actually powerful people to get you on top." I was speechless "Face it Scourge or should I say Evil Sonic?" I growled 'Now he's done it!' I charged at him and managed to land a punch before I was shoved away.
"Never call me that. EVER!" he chuckled and I kept on throwing hits but he kept on dodging all of them. When I was able to land a kick on him I knocked the emerald out of his quills and before I could grab it, he pinned me down again.
"Why don't you come to realization and face the facts Scourge? Or do you not want to admit how weak you are?" I stopped struggling and his grip on me lessened but was still there. 'Maybe... maybe he's right...'
"You know... I would never admit that I'm weak or useless but now that you've told me this... I think... I think your right... I really am a pathetic excuse for a hedgehog." a shadow covered my eyes and I felt his grip leave me while he was laughing his ass off.
"Hahahahahahaha! I knew you would finally come to your senses! HAHAHA!" I smirked and once he was fully distracted, I kicked him in between the legs and when he was on his knees, I held the emerald and placed it in my quills.
"You know that you almost made me doubt myself there but I didn't fall for any of your tricks."
"Haha... at least I did my job." before I could ask him what that meant, he disappeared in a puff of smoke and a note was right were he was. I picked the note up and it read that the Master Emerald is a living being. I shook my head and once I placed the note in my quills alongside the Chaos emerald, I took off towards Angel island.
Mephiles p.o.v.
"Wha-" before I could say anything else, I was punched and felt hands on my neck.
"Die." my hands instinctively tried to pry the weird look-a-like of me but I could feel my lungs burning for air. Just as my vision started to blur, I used the rest of my strength to kick him off and welcomed the oxygen to stop the pain my chest was making. "Humph... failed experiment." I looked at my copy and tried to talk.
"What... do you... mean?" he looked at me with disgust and kicked me onto my side.
"I said how you were a failed experiment. Gerald really was a foul in getting that hedgehog's permission in trying to create an exact replica of the so called ultimate life-form." he kept kicking me and every attempt I did to get up or stop his assault, he would stomp on me. HARD. "What ever that hedgehog was thinking was utterly stupid. Why would he use leftover data from his first son to try and make another? The results were pointless. I mean, just look at you! Your incomplete!" with every hit he made on my body, I felt something break inside me and it wasn't my ribs that were shattered cause that already happened. It was my heart. I didn't know why those words hurt me so much but they stung.
"Stop... please stop..." I didn't recognize my voice but didn't really care as I just wanted this to stop. I felt the kicking stop but the pain didn't subside. As I tried to look up, I saw the copy of me holding the emerald and the last thing I saw was an evil smirk before I blacked out from the pain. When I woke up I found myself strapped down to a metal table. I tried to look everywhere but couldn't as I felt pain in my stomach and remembered the broken bones.
"You should just die you failure. Why do you hold on to the thread of life when you know that you'll just end up getting yourself hurt in the end?" I caught of glimpse of the copy of me and if I had a mouth, I would be baring my teeth.
"Release me!" he scoffed and stepped closer so he looked like he was hovering over me.
"Why would I do that? Should I give you a reminder of what you are?" the sound of bones breaking filled my ears and I whimpered. I still didn't know why this was hurting me so badly or for the sheer fact that his words were like knives carving my body up without any remorse. "Ha, I didn't think you knew what you were but now that you do... I think I should at least give you a proper smile." he did an evil smirk and when his back was turned, I ignored the pain and tried with all my might to get of these restraints. I was finally able to get control of myself and as I was about to turn into my first form, he turned back around with a knife in hand. My eyes went wide as I realized what he said and pulled my hands out but before I could free my legs, I felt a searing pain in my back and cried out.
"You really think I would let you escape?" I fell back onto the table and my hands were tightened once more. I couldn't fight back and the pain was so unbearable that I passed out again. Once I woke up again, I felt an agonizing pain come from my face and screamed.
"Hehe, glad to know that I did a good job." my eyes widened as I saw my copy cleaning the knife he was holding and caught sight of a red substance... "How does it feel?" I glared at him and he chuckled "Oh don't give me that. You like torture. Especially from what you did years ago to your father." 'Father? I don't have any father...' He put the knife down and grabbed a handheld mirror and I was utterly horrified at what he did. The 'smile' was a thick scar in the shape of a semicircle. Blood stained all around the scar and I could see that some even dripped down the side of my face.
"Wha... What did-"
"Don't like it?" I looked at him and saw twisted pleasure flash across his eyes.
"You're... you're absolutely insane!" I yelled and he frowned.
"Idiot I'm you so technically, you're calling yourself insane." he put the mirror down and traced the scar causing me to flinch from his touch. "You know... now that I think about it... even with that smile, your still just an ugly failure." he walked away and left me on the metal table. I just stared at nothing and it was absolutely quiet. I only had my thoughts but even those were betraying me. 'Am I really just a failure? Is that what everyone thinks I am?' my eyes stung and felt a warm liquid slide down my cheek. 'No... he's trying to get in my head... I'm not a failure...' I started to struggle in the restraints and I finally broke free. The very first thing I did before anything else was feel where the 'smile' was and could feel that it was indeed deep. 'I'm going to have a hard time getting rid of that.' "I always knew that you'll escape but having to try and push you to your limits... well... I guess you're just too stubborn to believe it. Heh, just like your father." I turned to the voice and found him with the emerald in hand.
"You-"
"I'll pay for what I've done? Is that what you were going to say?" I growled and he got in a fighting stance. "I'm not going to go easy on you."
"That's what I'm expecting." just as he charged at me, I changed into my crystalline form and side-stepped out of the way. "Even with everything that's happened... I'm not weak nor am I a failure. I'm half of a god that you can't beat."
"That's not too far fetched. Especially where your blood lies." he kept on trying to pull many punches but with each one I dodged, I countered and sent back at him. Once I managed to bash him into the ground by using the same move I saw Dark use on Exe, I landed in front of him and grabbed the emerald.
"Now what was that you said before about how you're me and that I'm a failure?" I said as I transformed back and placed the emerald in my quills.
"Hehe... your still incomplete and no one can change that." I looked down at my hands and clenched them. Before anything else could happen, I focused on trying to get the scar away. Once I touched where the scar should have been, I felt that it was gone. Next thing I knew, he disappeared and a note was in his place saying that I have killed my father once before. 'That's strange... the only being I've killed was...' my eyes widened for the umpteenth time today and without a second thought, raced off to Angel Island in hopes that the note was lying.
Fleetway's p.o.v.
"Looks like I've found a playmate." I looked from the emerald to the copy of me and back again. "What? Thinking how this could be possible? Well, I'll show you." Next thing I knew, I ended up crashing into a building. Once I got my bearings together, I looked up to see him laughing at me. I growled and flew up to punch him but missed. "Your going to have to do better than that to land a hit on me." I saw him floating while laying on his back and glared at him.
"What exactly are you?" he opened one eye and just looked at me with a blank face
"Isn't it obvious Fleetway? I'm you." I shook my head
"No, no. I mean... What or should I say how are you real?" He smirked and floated upright
"Cause I am." I sighed angrily
"No... Its just... Your not... You aren't... What I'm trying to say is that there can only be one me." he scoffed and flew closer so our noses were almost touching
"You wouldn't be alive if Sonic hadn't touched the emeralds or for the sheer fact of the negative energy within those emeralds." 'The emerald!' I looked at the robot and saw that the emerald was in it. "Oh no you don't." I looked at my copy and before I could take off, he caught me off guard and shoved us both to the ground. "Your not getting that emerald." as I struggled to get him off, I thought about how this could even be possible. 'Could this have something else to do with Dark?' I got him to loosen his grip and managed to get on top
"Now either you tell me how you exist and let me get the emerald or else I'll choke you to death" I warned as I tightened my grip
"Pfft hahaha! You think I'll just give you the answers? You weren't meant to exist! You are just THING! You aren't a real living being!" he continued to laugh and I growled "If you want answers then go get a REAL body, become an ACTUAL LIVING BEING and come back later."
"I'm not going to come back later, I want answers now!" he sighed and kicked me off
"Sorry but not sorry. I'm not giving a THING answers." he growled and I copied him
"Oh yeah? Then what about you!? You said that your me so that means you're calling yourself a thing as well!" he scoffed and pinned me to the ground
"There is a fine line saying of what I am and what you are. That fine line also goes for the fact of who we are. Now if you excuse me, I have an emerald to get." he took off in the direction the emerald was and I chased him. Once he grabbed it, I punched his side causing him to let it go.
"Sorry but not sorry. That emerald belongs to me."
"You mean me?" he smirked
"No... I mean... UGH! YOUR NOT ME!" I dove for the emerald and almost grabbed it until I was pushed down onto the ground. I watched as he grabbed the emerald and tossed it into the air.
"And you said I won't get it. I guess I proved you wrong after all, THING." he laughed and started walking away when I growled. 'Your not getting away that easily.' I got on my hands and knees and charged at him. I was able to grab his legs and pull him down also causing him to let the emerald go. Without a second thought, I jumped for it and it landed in my hands. I looked behind me and saw my copy frown then smirk. "Well... Looks like I've been beaten. You can keep the emerald you THING, I don't even need it." I looked at the emerald and once I looked back at him, he was gone but a note saying that I wasn't supposed to live was in his place. I dropped the note on the ground and stomped on it.
"I don't rightfully care if I'm not supposed to live cause if I wasn't... Well... I wouldn't be here now, would I?" I smirked and placed the emerald in my quills then took off for Angel Island.
Exe's p.o.v.
"Sonic? But I thought-"
"Well you thought wrong Exe. I'm just merly coming here to get the emerald." I looked from the emerald in my hand to him but something felt wrong. I don't know what it was but the way Sonic had said how I needed to meet him on Angel Island and said hedgehog standing in front of me... it just felt wrong.
"Now why don't you hand it over and we can get this over with." something inside of me was saying not to hand the emerald over but what bad will that do? Its Sonic for crying out loud! The hero of Mobius! So... why should I not hand it over to him? Dark is on a rampage and he specifically said that Sonic is the only one to stop him. Light is just one to hold him back from making any more damage... Light! That's it!
"What about Dark and Light?" I asked and he frowned
"What about them?"
"Didn't you say that you had to help him with Dark?" he scoffed and placed his hands on his hips
"Light doesn't stand a chance against Dark nor me." 'Gotcha.'
"Well... I guess I can't give you the emerald then." he growled and then smirked
"If you won't hand it over, then I guess I'll have to take it!" he charged at me and before he could get remotely close, I flew into the air. "Get back here!"
"Not a chance!" I yelled back and before I could make my getaway, I was pulled to the ground.
"I said, hand it over." I scoffed
"And I said, not a chan-" I got punched right in the stomach and fell onto my knees.
"Humph. And you call yourself a god? Pathetic." I growled as I glared at him
"I am god you idiot." he chuckled and tossed the emerald into the air and caught it each time
"Your not a god Exe. All you are is just a hedgehog who thinks he is an all powerful being when in reality, you are just a waste of space." he started to walk away and before I let him go any farther, I grabbed his ankles and tripped him.
"You don't know who your dealing with." I whispered and he chuckled
"Oh... but I do." as I was about to ask him I found myself staring directly at myself, red orbs and all. "And for the record, everyone is just using you." he kicked me off and I managed to get on my feet before him but fell on the ground again by a punch. "Your so predictable. I always knew that you would be easy to kill and I guess I was right."
"W-What!?" I got on my feet and he smirked
"Believe it or not but if you really want this emerald, then your going to have to kill me." he placed the emerald in his quills and before I could move he disappeared.
"Come out you coward!" I looked everywhere but couldn't find him anywhere.
"I'm not the coward here." I heard from behind me and punched thin air "You are." again, the same result
"I'm not a coward!" I heard an insane giggle echoed throughout the castle
"You sure about that?" I growled
"Positive!"
"Ha! You don't sound like you are."
"Stop this and show yourself!" I snarled and next thing I knew, I was smashed into the wall.
"Well, at least you got your wish." I managed to get my footing and glared at him
"Stop being-"
"A smartass?" I growled
"Stop-"
"Finishing your sentences? I don't think so." he smirked and I clenched my hands
"Will you-"
"Stop? Not a-"
"Chance?" I smirked as he growled
"Fine! I'll stop." he chuckled and did an evil grin "But I don't think that will help you." as he charged at me, I brought my hands up in an X and stopped a punch.
"Oh? But I like you talking rather then attacking me." he jumped back and got in a fighting stance
"And I prefer to have you as a rotting corpse." I copied him and we charged at each other. He punched me but I countered and kicked him in the stomach. As he stepped back, I roundhouse kicked him into a wall.
"What was that about how I'm a rotting corpse? I think you mean yourself." he growled at me and held his stomach once he got on his feet.
"Hehe... Okay... I admit... You are powerful but and only BUT are you actually powerful when enraged." he looked at me and I saw twisted pleasure flash across his eyes and something else... Before I knew what was happening, I was lifted up into the air by my neck and was dangling 5 ft over the ground. "And you're probably wondering why I said but hmm? Well... Here's your answer." I squirmed in his hold but he didn't let go. "Nice time for a drop, don't you think?" my eyes widened as I remembered Dark saying those words before he smashed me into the ground... Next thing I knew, I was bashed into the ground but wasn't knocked unconscious like last time but my body hurt. "Pfft, hahaha! Look at you! Your pathetic! Your no god, just a wannabe hedgehog." I heard his voice get quieter and my anger boiled. 'Nobody, ABSOLUTELY NOBODY CALLS ME A WANNABE!' I used that anger to get back up and when my eyes laid on him, I attacked. Ripped him to shreds. Now, I stood over what used to be my copy and smirked.
"Humph... And you said I was weak? The only weakling around here is you." I picked the emerald up and when I looked at the remains, all that was left as a note saying that I could have done better. 'Better? I'll show you better if I didn't have a job to do.' I was about to walk away when I looked down at myself to see how much blood was splattered on me but to my surprise, there wasn't any. 'Strange... I thought... Know what, I shouldn't ask. My life gets crazier by the second.' without a second thought, I took off towards Angel Island.