Third Person
You were created from nothing, born from nothing, my child.
But... What is my purpose? Why was I created?
Your purpose? To be the Balance Keeper.
I don't understand Eternity...
Everything will make sense as your life begins Keeper.
But who was that grey puppet? Why did he say that I shouldn't be alive? That you made a grave mistake?
Don't worry about it Keeper.
Why me? What's so special about me?
I told you not to worry about it Keeper, and I mean it.
That mini conversation had echoed through his head when he was only recently created by his own 'father' Eternity. It occurred to him that he never fully understood everything as it was, still don't now and days. But how could one meaningless conversation that was from millennium upon millennium of years ago turn up just now?
He didn't understand as he watched the four now five hedgehogs observe his collection of gems and jewels. He had seen Mephiles talking to Chaos when he called the other hedgehogs towards him. He didn't care but boy did he ever hate that water god. He never even had a fear of water, just that it reminded him of the water god so much that he decided to call it a fear just for the sake of it all. The one thing he actually feared when they brought Dark out was that he might go and tell them everything before he had a chance to. But now, he could take his time showing them everything. Starting with their own pasts.
His eyes drifted away from the five villains when he caught sight of a black jackal staring at them. He signaled the jackal to wait as a red armadillo, a yellow flying squirrel and a black cat all came into view. He saw the jackal give him a glare before turning towards his companions and flying away. Sonic gave a small frown as he then saw the jackal hover over the villains. He shook his head then walked towards them, ready to pin down the jackal in case things got a little too... hectic.
"Sonic!" Scourge called out as he saw the pure green hedgehog coming toward him getting the four other hedgehogs to look at him. "How in the name of hell do you have this secret room and so many jewels?"
"I just do." Sonic responded blankly as he crossed his arms over his chest catching a glimpse of the jackal sticking his tongue out at him, snickering and then pulled on Fleetway's quills making him yelp and pull away looking a bit shocked seeing the jackal hovering in mid-air.
"Who are you!?" he yelled, making everyone look in his direction. The jackal crossed his arms over his chest while tilting his head to the side.
"I could ask the same thing to you." the jackal then disappeared, a bunch of red square-pixels in his place for a second and materialized beside Sonic. "They don't look so tough. But that one is giving me the creeps." he pointed at Mephiles before shivering. He looked at Sonic who didn't look pleased.
"What have I told you about interfering Infinite?" the jackal gave a wry smile while floating backwards a bit.
"I know that I'm not supposed to be doing this but..." he looked at Exe and then looked at Sonic confused. "You do realize that they are mortals and that one is a demon, right?"
"I already know that." he waved his hand out startling the jackal making him fly to the opposite side of Sonic. "But you know your place Infinite." his voice dripped with venom but the hiss was only noticeable if you actually listened to it.
"Infinite?" Exe questioned with a tilt of his head. "What type of name is that?" the jackal narrowed his yellow and blue eyes and got straight into his face.
"I should be asking you the very same thing. Seriously though, who would ever name themselves three little letters that make no sense when put together? Especially when one of said letters is your true name and yet, you don't want to say anything about it."
"Infinite, enough!" That was the only warning the jackal got before he yelped as his tail was pulled. He landed on his stomach on the ground looking back behind him to glare at a red armadillo. "When will you realize that not everything revolves around you?" Infinite huffed as he looked away.
"You should just stay out of my own damn business." he muttered but then yelped again as he was tossed behind the armadillo and smashed into a wall.
"Your business IS my business." just as he said that, the black cat and yellow flying squirrel jumped down to meet them with the former helping the dizzy jackal and the latter coming to stand beside the armadillo with a frown.
"You don't have to be so harsh Mighty." he pointed towards Infinite with his thumb and his other hand resting on his hip. Mighty huffed as he looked away and had his arms crossed over his chest.
"Everything that happens to Infinite isn't punishment enough, Ray"
"I concur Mighty." the black cat said as she held the jackal upright. "Everyone has their limit." as the whole scene was going on in front of them, Sonic was shaking his head in disappointment and the five villains just stared at them. Well, that is until Fleetway and the black cat's eyes met.
"EBONY!?" he shrieked as his eyes were wide. Said black cat widened her eyes a bit before looking away but Infinite did a small chuckle making her look at him.
"Someone's in trouble~" he smirked but that only got him a frown from Ebony and slammed back into the wall.
"Shut up Infinite."
"Ebony?" The cat in question had turned her attention away from the jackal to Fleetway as he looked at her with pure disbelief in his eyes. The black cat gave a small smile while folding her hands in front of her.
"Yes Fleetway. It is me." At those words, Fleetway's mouth hung open and his eyes were wide.
"I think you broke him." Scourge said as he looked at Ebony while Exe waved his hand in front of Fleetways eyes. No response. Ebony giggled as she was reminded of a similar response when the golden hedgehog was asleep. Something about being a very light sleeper and having to go into the deepest darkest part of his mind just to get any sleep. The cat walked up to the golden hedgehog and snapped her fingers right beside his ear. Fleetway had flinched from the noise and instinctively brought a hand to his ear and rubbed it with a look of hurt in his eyes.
"Owwww... Did you have to do that?" He whined "My ear hurts..."
Ebony put her hand over her mouth to try and conceal her giggles. Key word 'try' "Sorry Fleetway."
"Alright I think you have all had enough with introductions." Sonic announced as he walked up to the group of Mobians. "Let's just get on with what I brought you here to do."
"Someones impatient." Nazo mumbled making sure that Sonic didn't hear him. But when the pure green hedgehog had led them back to the altar where the Master Emerald was supposed to rest, the white hedgehog had caught sight of Mephiles staring of at nothing. And judging by the look in his eyes, he was very much confused. "Hey." Flinching from the sudden word directed at him, the stripped hedgehog whiped his head to look directly at Nazo.
"Hey." He responded unsure of why the white hedgehog was talking to him.
"Is something bothering you?" He asked making Mephiles sigh while looking at Sonic then drag Nazo off to the side.
"Doesn't all of this seem off to you?" He inquired as soon as they got a reasonable distance away.
"Huh?" At this answer, the stripped hedgehog took a brief glance at Sonic to prove his point making Nazo look in his direction. Understanding what he meant, he scratched his head. "Well... I wouldn't say 'off' is the right word to use. More like... Different."
"Different?" Looking back at Mephiles, Nazo placed his hands on his hips.
"Yeah. We are all powerful beings so I'm not surprised if Sonic also turns out to be as powerful as us."
"That's not the point I'm trying to make Nazo!" Mephiles half yelled half whispered trying to make sure that no one had heard them talking. He balled up his hands then gestered one in Sonic's direction with his pointer finger outstretched. "Sonic has been nothing but trying to kick us away from him, rude to Chaos and trying to rush us. Don't you think that the way he is acting is strange to you?"
"Well..." Looking over his shoulder again in Sonic's direction, Nazo then looked at Mephiles from the corner of his eye. "I would be a bit sour if someone decided to get in my business."
"That's not the point." The stripped hedgehog hissed, glaring slightly with his hands shaking from how hard he was clutching them. "Its strange how he just simply let Dark off with a warning. Its strange that we somehow are wrapped in his life that we had no idea about. Its strange that someone like Sonic who, may I remind you, has beaten us all countless amounts and yet hasn't lifted a finger. Don't you see Nazo? Something strange is going on and I can feel it."
Nazo sighed as he rubbed his forehead with one hand and his eyes were closed. "The only thing I can feel at the moment is you becoming paranoid."
"Nazo-"
"Mephiles I get it." Nazo interrupted him as he had given him a stern look. "You are just looking out for us but as leader of our group, that's my job." Mephiles scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Then how about this? Remember when we first made our team?"
"Yeah I-"
"Then you'll also remember how when we were all showing off our powers, you had stated and I quote: 'It sure is strange that we are all powerful but neither one of us can never surpass Sonic.'"
"So?" Nazo asked exasperated over this whole conversation. "You used something I said before. Big deal."
"But Nazo-"
"No Mephiles." This time the white hedgehog had interrupted the striped one. "I get it. You may think something is going on but at the moment, nothing is happening. If something does happen then you were right all along but now is not the time to be getting paranoid over nothing." And with that, Nazo had walked back over with the group. Mephiles had watched him walk then he sighed and reluctantly followed.
"I am right." As soon as he got back, Sonic didn't look pleased.
"Where were you?" He asked, making Mephiles shrug.
"Thought I saw something." Buying his excuse for now, Sonic waved his hand out and five small green orbs the size of marbles appeared.
"These orbs will allow you to travel to the past at any given moment." He said as he gave one to each hedgehog. "Just say when you want to appear, crush the orb under your foot and let the show begin." Once he handed them out, Sonic crossed his arms over his chest. "And don't worry about changing anything. Those orbs only allow you to watch the past and to not interfere."
"Hey Sonic, aren't you coming with us?" Exe asked and Sonic shook his head.
"No. Thanks to you five." He glared at them. "I have to stay here." And with that he walked up the steps of the altar, put the Master Emerald back in its place with the Chaos Emeralds floating around it and sat in front of the giant gem.
"So..." Exe started "Who goes first?" After a bit of silence, Nazo sighed
"I guess I will." Nazo said as he held his hand out. "When me and Sonic first met." He was about to toss the orb to the ground when Fleetway had stopped him.
"Hold on. Shouldn't it be Sonic and Neikan instead? That would make more sense." Nazo rolled his eyes at that.
"Fine. When Sonic and Neikan first met." He tossed the orb to the ground then stomped on it. Green smoke began to surround the five of them and when it cleared, the five hedgehogs were gone.