A/N: Hey guys, there is a video to go along with the chapter that I am unable to add on this version of the Fan Fic. So if you want to see the video go find the Wattpad Version or Archive of our Own Version to find it. Other than that, here is the new chapter.
"Ugg..." SNT felt the liquid surrounding her head. It seemed that the water had calmed down and she was breathing fine... which was weird because she remembered drowning.
She tried to get a grip on reality as she slowly started to open her eyes. A bright light then crept into her unprepared eyes as the sun above revealed itself. She wasn't entirely sure of what was around her, and she tried to at least move her body, only for her head to end up underwater again. SNT closed her eyes again and held her breath. She then opened her eyes and saw glimmers of light peeking through the top of the ocean. The hybrid swam to the top of the water and took a breath. Then she wiped off the saltwater from her eyes and looked around for any signs of life.
"What... what's going on?" SNT asked herself.
She saw a whole entire wall of rain and wind behind her. She could hear the weather crying in agony with the sounds of waves crashing compared to the calm waters she was swimming in right now.
SNT looked up and noticed the clouds swirling above, along with the sounds of thunder and lightning behind her.
That was when it dawned on her where she was. "I think I'm in the eye of the storm." Many questions plagued her mind. Where was the storm heading? Where did the ship even go? Will I ever make it back home?
SNT once again then let her body float on top of the water and stared straight into the eye. She let her body relax a little as it seemed that there was no civilization around her to help. She was all alone in her little wet world.
SNT sighed and then started talking to herself. "Look at me... what am I doing?" The hybrid hedgehog then started to tear up. "I am just floating here, nobody here to help me, all alone. This time... I went too far with myself... I must have."
She then took a deep breath. She looked up and scanned her head in a circle to observe her surroundings. "Now where exactly in the world am I? I don't really know... I'm... scared... Why did I decide to go there all alone? Maybe I should have gone with Sonic and helped him fight Eggman. If I did, maybe I wouldn't be in this situation... in a situation where I am in a watery desert with nobody around but me, myself and I."
"Is it my destiny to die out here? Is it my destiny to claim my grave on an open watery plain?" SNT asked herself. "I don't know if angels do exist... but... someone... please... someone out there... please hear my plea!" she begged, "I still have so much I want to see and learn from this world. Please... allow me to see more of it? I sacrificed my life for that little boy... even though I am joyful that I was able to save someone in need... I still have so much I would like to do. So please... give me more time... just a little more to see the wonderful world and the beautiful things it has to offer!" She then closed her eyes to filter her tears. "Please... just one more chance!"
SNT then saw in the corner of her eye a distant landmark. "What's that?" As she turned her head in the water to get a better look at it, "Is...is that an island?"
She then got off of her back and just had her head peeking out of the water to get a better look using her hands to keep floating. "I hope it's not a mirage... and if it isn't... I could live another day!"
SNT then looked back at the sky and smiled. "Thank you for giving me more time!" She then started to swim to the island as fast as she could. Maybe she could get there before the eyewall gets to the island. She didn't even care if anyone lived on it or not. What she knew was that once she was in the eye of the storm, it was not over yet, as the other side of the eyewall had yet to make it to her. She needed to get there before the other side of the storm made impact. She could try and take cover or find some sort of shelter.
SNT decided to experiment a little to try and make herself move faster. She started spinning her tails in the water, using them as a rudder to propel herself forward. Then she tried to mix it with the boost Sonic taught her to do. At that point she would move at a much faster rate than just swimming by herself.
After a few short minutes of boost swimming, she saw that the water was starting to get shallower. This was a really good sign, as it confirmed that whatever she was looking at earlier was not a mirage, but a real place.
SNT took another look back at the wall of rain surrounding the island. The hurricane surrounding her on all sides was giving off an ominous roar like a monster was hiding behind the curtain.
The hybrid didn't stop, but she was losing energy fast. She needed to at least make it to the island. Once she reached dry land, she would be good to stay there for as long as she needed to catch her breath.
After feeling the sand touching the tips of her tails, she used the last of her energy to stand up and attempt to walk to the beach. She was beaten up after all of those waves took a toll on her. But with one step at a time, she was able to make it to the beach side. Once SNT was confident she was out of the water, she took a second to catch her breath, then felt her body give out. She then layed forcefully on the sandy beach face down with her eyes closed and coughing to sleep from the sand coming into her mouth. She then finally passed out, losing her grip on reality.
...
A ticking noise calmly woke up the hybrid. Her eyelids slightly opened to find herself looking up at a ceiling fan spinning slowly. She looked down at her body, which was covered in towels, but they all felt warm and comfortable like they were recently heated.
She noticed that she was still wet from being in the water for a long time. To be honest, she didn't know how long she was in the water. She lost her perception of time when she passed out.
SNT then turned her head to the side to see if the ticking noise was coming from a clock. She then noticed a small homemade looking clock with the hands on it looking like it was 4:32. Judging by the sunlight, it seemed that it was in the afternoon. She must have been asleep for most of the day due to the shock.
"I wonder who decided to help me." SNT then shifted her body and started to notice the design of the room and its tropical feel. The window showed a cliffside with trees all over it. The window next to SNT showed the ocean along with a large curtain of rain accompanying it. When she looked up, it seemed that she was still in the eye of the hurricane.
Suddenly the sounds of singing captivated her senses. Whoever it was sounded somewhat familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on who it was. The sounds of a fire starting surprised the hybrid.
"Oh come on, how do you burn soup?"
"What is going on down there?" SNT asked herself.
"Well, I hope nothing will taste too bad. Maybe the scents in the air don't smell the same in my nose, but in hers, they might be the best... maybe?" Once the sounds of liquid pouring into a dish went through the hybrid's fox-like ears. It was taken over by the sounds of footsteps coming closer to the room. The door was made up of hanging leaves from the frame and were pushed aside revealing who had come to help her. It was a yellow figure with spikes coming down her back. She was wearing a blue slightly revealing dress. She was carrying a wooden tray filled with a bowl of soup and a can of Chao Cola to go along with it. SNT slightly recognized the girl, but couldn't remember who it was. It looked a lot like Maria, but it wasn't.
"Oh, you're awake!" the girl noticed as she then put the tray right next to the bed on the stand. "I thought you were going to be out for a while longer there. I might have ended up sleeping on the couch." Then she pulled up a chair and checked SNT's temperature to see if she wasn't cold anymore.
"Was... was I really in bad shape?" the hybrid asked the porcupine.
She nodded, "I'm afraid so. That storm you swam through must have taken a lot of life out of you, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess you can say that," SNT laughed. "But... aren't we in the eye of the storm? It's not over, right?"
"Well, to be honest, that storm is pretty mysterious. Once you get here, there is no getting off. Apparently that storm has been here for ages," she explained.
"What?" SNT gasped.
"I have been stuck here for many years along with many others. And we all said that there is no way we can get off."
SNT took a second to get the news through her mind. "So you're saying... that I am trapped here forever?" The girl nodded in response. SNT quickly raised her torso, now sitting in her pink dress and turning toward the window with a tear rolling down her cheek. "No... no... no... I must be dreaming, this can't be real."
The girl stood up and hugged the hybrid to try and calm her down. "Everything is going to be fine. I know this is really hard to accept but it's true. None of us are able to get off of this island being surrounded by an infinite storm."
"But I made a promise to myself that I wanted to keep. I can't give up on it! What about all of the friends I left behind?"
"SNT, I am your friend, don't you remember?"
"How do you know my name?" SNT asked in curiosity.
"I'm one of Saki's backup singers, Alicia!" She winked and made herself look more appealing.
SNT then recognized the name. "Alicia? Oh... now I remember you." Alicia was one of the backup talents for her sister, Saki. They previously met next to a concert hall when Saki was introducing her team. "Does that mean Saki is here too?"
Alicia nodded. "Ye!"
SNT then looked beside her for her food. She was still a little cold from the water but it seemed that the porcupine had tried to make her some warm soup to help her. The hybrid's stomach growled a little, she hadn't really eaten all day with the exception of the salt water she had been tasting for the past few hours.
"I knew you would be hungry. I don't know how long you were out there at sea. To be honest, I don't know how to cook all that well. I'm sorry if it tastes so weird," Alicia apologizes. She was a little embarrassed that she grabbed her right arm and turned her head toward that direction.
"Oh, you don't have to apologize, you did help me when I needed it, so I am truly grateful," SNT smiled as she then put a spoonful of soup into her mouth. That was when her expression completely did a 180. She tried to contain her impression of the soup, but it was extremely hard to do.
"Do you like it?" Alicia asked. SNT was squealing on the inside and she then just swallowed it whole, and did a sort of pity smile. "Um... yeah... that was great!" she lied.
"Hmm... I know it's going to taste a little burnt. I kinda overcooked the noodles a little." She admitted.
A LITTLE, YOU OVERCOOKED MORE THAN THE NOODLES SPIKE! SNT screamed in her head. "It's fine." A tear then started to roll down her face as it was extremely upsetting that the food would taste this bad.
"Oh, are you still sad? Here!" The porcupine then tried to comfort SNT by taking her hand and putting it on the hybrid's shoulder. But that had a much different effect than she intended.
"OUCH!" SNT cried jumping back in the bed, falling off, and landing on the ground. SNT opened her eyes and found that there were needles in her shoulder.
"Oh my!" she put her hands to her face. "I'm so sorry, are you ok?" Alicia then got on her knees and tried to help her up.
SNT looked at her hands and noticed the needles still on it. She figured that it was probably better to help herself. "I think I'm fine... Thank you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
SNT pulled the spikes out of her shoulder and threw them away. Then got up onto her feet and brushed herself off.
Alicia looked at the clock to examine the time. "... Oh!" She quickly got up and went into the closet to pick out one of her dresses and put it in her bag. Then she got a binder filled with sheets of paper and put it in the bag as well.
"What are you doing?" SNT asked in curiosity.
"I'm going to be late for rehearsal. But after seeing you, I don't think Saki would mind," the porcupine explained. "If you are feeling better, do you wanna come?"
SNT was still a little tired but maybe if she walked around for a little bit, she could recover. Plus, she wanted to see old friends that she has not seen in a while. The hybrid then positioned herself to stand on the floor. She shook herself to get more of the water off of her. Hopefully she will be able to get a bath soon.
"Let's go, SNT," Alicia invited as she then walked toward the front of the door with the hybrid following right behind her. It seemed that the sun was already starting to set with the eye of the storm, making the horizon much higher in the sky. At this point, SNT decided to get a closer look at the island she was on. It was mostly jungle. Some homes around from what she guessed was people wanting to live out of the village.
"Where is the rehearsal?" SNT asked.
"Well, it's at the village." Alicia explained.
"Then why did you decide to live outside the village?"
"Well, I like to let myself get a little loose. And I got a place which is right next to the beach which sort of fits my tropical lifestyle. Most of my clothes are for hot weather anyway, so I decided to live next to the ocean," she explained.
After a few minutes of walking, SNT looked up the mountain to see if she could see anymore. It was a very large mountain, and it was tall enough that it had snow on top of it. SNT didn't really know how that was possible in a tropical area, but she just accepted it. The mountain also was letting off smoke, which was a sort of signal that this was a volcanic island. Does that mean if the mountain became active that everyone on the island would vanish? That is a thought that SNT didn't want to think about.
Soon enough, the village then came into sight as a town that was next to a cliff. The town had a central area with what seemed like a little market in the middle, and on the cliff side was a brick castle, which looked a lot like the old castles from Soleanna. They were probably all materials made from the mountain.
Alicia then walked up to what seemed like a colosseum and started walking down the stairs. SNT then saw the inside. There was a large circular stage in the middle which was a depression in the ground. It sort of looked like a soccer stadium from ancient times. In the middle of the stage was all of the stage performers setting up. Alicia used the stairs to get on the stage. "I'm sorry I'm late!" Alicia stopped to face a familiar fox.
"You better be!" yelled the fox. "Don't you see that my image is on the line here?! Alicia, I expect you to be on time!"
Alicia looked down in response. "I understand, Saki, but I hope you are able to forgive me, because I found someone who washed up on the beach that you might recognize."
"Someone washes up on the beach every other month, why should I care what..." That was when the little fox then looked up the stairs in which Alicia just went down to see the familiar hybrid waving at her slowly.
"Wait..." Saki then rubbed her eyes a little to make sure she was seeing what she thought she saw. "Ni-chan... NI-CHAN!" That was when she then ran toward the stairs and climbed them to see her. For some reason she looked a lot older the last time they met. SNT figured it might be puberty.
"Hello, long time no see!" SNT smiled as Saki then gave her a hug. "How have you been?"
"Well, everything was going fine until we got stuck on this island. But at least the village is decent. I wish I wasn't just stuck here though, I would like to continue the world tour I was doing before we got trapped."
"Yeah... I see what you mean," SNT responded.
Saki then pulled on her arm. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the team!" She then guided the hybrid onto the stadium grounds and showed her the band. There were a few people around, including Alicia, who was just now changing clothes behind a partitioner. "I believe you met some of the team like Alicia but you might remember Saffron. She is the other background singer."
Saffron was a tiger who wore pink clothes and white gloves. Her style was a little bit of a mess, but she had 11 fingers, which stood out to the hybrid. Her left hand was normal but her right had 6 fingers. She had a bang covering up one of her pink eyes and had a striped body.
"Hello," she greeted SNT. It seemed that she was putting on the same dress Alicia had.
"Nice to see yo-" SNT responded, until Saki pushed her away and interrupted.
"She is not really that important anyway. All of them are really here to support me." Saki then tugged on SNT's top to move her along. "Plus, Saffron is not looking good. Her dress is ripped again!"
Saffron then looked down at her dress and noticed that one of the sleeves had a tear in it. She quickly covered it and blushed. Then ran to the partition where Alicia was. "How does this even happen?"
Saki then pointed to a green wolf/fox mix who had his back turned and was plugging in a bunch of equipment into a piano including microphones and musical instruments. "That's Rand, he is my producer/manager."
"Wasn't Will your manager?" SNT asked. Saki then gave SNT a wide eye look.
Saki then grabbed SNT's top and pulled her up to her face to make sure that she understood every world she said. "Don't mention that name ever again!"
Rand then looked behind him and at that point noticed SNT and Saki. "Oh... hi!" He then got up and walked over to the both of them. He had glasses on and a pair of gloves. He had a cape with holes in it, but it looked really old. He continued to approach the two. "I'm sorry for the mess here, I'm just doing a little set up."
"Oh, it's ok, you don't have to apologize. My name is SNT," she introduced herself.
Rand then shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. Are you joining the team?"
Saki then interjected, "This is my sister, Rand, she is just here to watch us."
Rand then walked up to his bag and got out his laptop. While setting it up on his piano, he continued to explain, "I am the person that produces all of Saki's music since Will left."
"SHISSH" Saki put her finger next to his mouth. "We don't speak of that name!"
"She is going to find out anyway, it's not like you can stop it forever," he responded. It seemed that he already gave up hope on that. He shrugged as he then sat down at his piano and played scales as a warm up.
Saki walked up to her sister. "That is the main team here. We have some extras come in and out every once in a while, but these are the main people I deal with every day."
"Well I am happy that you and your team are doing well!" SNT smiled.
Saki then squinted. "Well... well... I have been stuck on this island for so long that I am starting to think that this is hell!"
"What? How long have you been here for?" asked SNT.
Saki grabbed her sister's top again. "I DON'T KNOW! I have been here for so long, I'm surprised I didn't grow a beard!"
"Saki, it's not possible for you to grow a beard. You're female," SNT smiled and sort of laughed at that idea.
"I kinda want one though," Saki responded, letting go of her sister and thinking about it.
Alicia then ran up to Saki and asked, "Alright, are you ready for a rundown of the first song?"
Saki nodded. "Let's practice 'Foxy Saki' first, then move into 'One World, One Girl', then 'Fox in a Box'. You got that Rand?" She then looked at her producer.
Rand then gave a thumbs up. As a response, Saki then added, "Remember, no piano solos! This concert is not about you, it's about me! Got that?"
Rand rolled his eyes as he faced the piano. "I understand Saki."
"SNT, why don't you sit in the bleachers and tell us how we are performing?" Saki requested.
SNT nodded and then ran up to the seats to observe the rehearsal. Everyone got into position. Rand set up the mics for both Alicia and Saffron.
"Testing... Testing... Do you hear me?" Alicia asked.
"I hear you fine Alicia, you sound great. Can you both sing so I can balance you?" Rand asked, looking at his computer.
Alicia and Saffron then started singing one of Saki's songs. "Raw raw raw, I'm the fox with the lock. Raw raw raw, The lock to your heart! Pay attention to the cutie cutie cutie cutie, because this is Saki, the fox of the box."
"Make sure they are not louder than me Rand. Everyone must be hypnotized with my voice." Saki mentioned.
"Too bad it's going through puberty," Rand mumbled to himself. "Alright everyone, from the top. A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4!"
The music started to play what seemed like the opening for a concert. SNT closed her eyes to listen to the music as everyone started to feel it go through their bodies.
While the music was playing, an unknown figure came into the room. SNT looked at her and noticed that she looked a lot like a lion but she had red wings on her back. She also had green eyes kinda like SNT did. She had rings on her arms bordering her hands and had red sleeves. Her hair had multiple ponytails wrapped in a chain.
She was looking very curious down at the rehearsal like she wanted to say something. She was obviously not wanting to interrupt the rehearsal so just waited there.
Once Saki's band finished the first song. Saki then looked back at her band. "Not bad, but it needs to be perfect. Rand, I told you not to add a piano solo!"
"I didn't add a piano solo, I just added variations to the song so it doesn't sound repetitive," he responded. "That's normal for a concert."
"It might be normal for you, but this is not a normal concert. It's a Saki concert, and I can't have other people stealing the spotlight! This concert is about me, not you!" She slammed on Rand's keyboard to make sure that he got the message.
"Yes Saki, I understand!" Rand responded, "I got a little lost in the music!" `
"And Saffron, god dammit you broke the heel of your shoe." Saki pointed out.
Saffron was on the ground rubbing her head from hitting it on the ground. "Oh... I'm sorry, this actually broke yesterday, I guess my fix for it didn't work. Can I just not wear heels or get thicker heeled shoes?"
"How about you just stop breaking your shoes?!" Saki suggested.
Alicia then helped her friend up off of the ground then helped her get her shoes off just so she did not feel awkward standing up.
"Alright let's just do that song again from the top and... Oh." That was when Saki finally noticed the girl standing over them. "Ashlyn, what are you doing here? Can't you see that we are in the middle of something?!"
SNT watching from another side of the stadium then quickly stood up to get a closer look.
"I'm sorry Saki!" Ashlyn responded, "But I just came to tell you that an emergency island meeting has been called. Everyone has to be there!"
Saki sighed, "Oh come on, we still have a lot of practice to do. Please tell me that this meeting happens in about an hour or so?"
Ashlyn shook her head, "I'm sorry, but the meeting starts immediately. I'm afraid that you'll have to put everything on hold until it's all over."
"Are you sure that there is going to be a meeting?" Saki pressed further. At that point bells nearby started to ring. SNT closed her eyes to just listen to the beautiful sound of the rings.
"See?!" Ashlyn responded, "Come on, quickly!"
"That freaking princess and her dumb meetings," Saki said under her breath, "We will return to this later. Let's just get to the meeting."
That was when everyone started to pack up a little but they didn't want to pack up too much. They knew that they would be back at it in an hour or so.
SNT was a little curious what was going on. What was so important that the leader of the island had to call a meeting, let alone an emergency meeting for that matter? What went wrong to a point where it became a safety concern?
"Come on S, let's go see what's up!" Alicia yelled invitingly.
"I'll be right there!" SNT responded. She started to walk up the stairs right behind her friends. She noticed the now darkening skies. The fact that they were all surrounded by an endless hurricane sitting within its eye made the sun nearly invisible behind the wall of clouds which made the eye wall. With almost no sun coming through, it was practically nighttime in the village. She was surprised to see any lights on this time in the afternoon. It was not like she was up north on the ice caps with Sonic again, but it was a tropical part of the world where it should not get this dark this early.
When SNT walked up the hill, she then noticed that a crowd gathered right at the large clock tower and the nearby building. Everyone was standing because there were no seatings.
This kind of reminded her of the time when the United Federation President hired Sonic and his friends to help defend him from Eggman during a rally. Eggman didn't attack, but SNT felt that there were more threats coming from the President's lips than from Eggman in a lifetime. It seemed a little dangerous to be there at all.
SNT stood next to Saki in the crowd. Her so-called sister looked at her and smiled. "Hey, do you have any idea about what the princess is going to say?"
"Princess!" SNTgave her sister a confused look, "I'm sorry, this is my first time at one of these meetings. I'm still pretty new to this."
Once it seemed that the crowd stopped trickling in. A being that looked familiar walked up on stage. The crowd got silent as she took one step at a time toward the podium. SNT recognized the familiar white dress with the golden x-shaped straps across her chest. It was someone she saw literally the other say. No... it couldn't be who I think it is. Is that... Elise?
"Good evening everyone, I am sorry for the interruption in your routines, but I feel once we solve this issue, everything will be clearer." Elise bowed to the audience as she then looked to her side and then got out what seemed like a small ball.
SNT couldn't really tell what that was. It almost seemed like a glass ball, but it was sort of transparent with its surroundings, At the same time it was looking like a ball of static, but you could still make it out because there was a slight glow on it. The glow was pulsing.
You could hear the audience do a sort of slight gasp like this object was important. "Is that the Crystal of Corruption?" Alicia asked. SNT looked at her in reaction and started hearing the term more around her.
Elise nodded. "Everybody knows the legend of the Crystals right?" She then looked at everyone down on the stage then Ashlyn brought over the stone with writings on it. Elise then recited the legend.
"7 crystals of coreuptions fall from the sky distorting the world it lands upon. Creating a land of none past, present or future. No way to escape for anyone that gets caught. Only the key can fix the distortion in which the crystals wat for. When the key fixes the crystals, something dood will happen."
"I'm sorry... that sounded stupid coming out of my mouth with all of the spelling mistakes in it, but that is how it was written," Elise explained.
SNT then noticed all of the spelling errors on the legend. "Wow, even the wise ancients didn't know how to grammar. That's pretty bad."
Suddenly, the look on everyone's faces shifted. There was a sudden sense of hope in the air.
"Oh, I finally see that there is a God!" Saki announced. "I will be able to spend a vacation in my lake house. I see an end to this prison!"
"This is exciting news! I will get to see my hot friend again!" Alicia smiled.
Elise nodded and smiled. "After a year being here, I feel that the key to leaving this island and finding the source of the corruption is coming near." She prayed, "Many of us have been waiting years to get off, and we finally have a chance. We just need to find the key."
SNT continued to watch from the audience. She was mesmerized and excited to hear that there was a possible way off of the island. But she didn't think that there was any way she could help. She really didn't know why Elise was here in the first place because it was the most random thing to come up.
Elise looked around the audience then explained, "The one who is in charge of unlocking the crystal's power is among you right now. This is why I called an emergency meeting, to find the one who will set us free from this timeless prison."
Oh my, SNT thought. I wonder who will be up to the task?
"Please citizens, allow me to walk among you to find the one." Elise then proceeded to walk down the steps to her left and stood within the audience. She then went from person to person to see who was up to the task. The light got brighter the closer it was to the key in question. SNT watched this from the otherside of the audience as Elise made it slowly closer to her.
The hybrid didn't think that she was the one. There were many mobians here just like her. It was possibly a 1/50 chance of her being picked. She didn't see how she could be the one.
At that moment, SNT started hearing whispers flowing through her ear.
"S~...N~...T~..."
"Huh?" She looked up and around to see what was calling her. That voice could have come from anywhere based on how many people were around her.
"S~...N~...T~."
"H-hello?" SNT questioned this voice. Saki then looked over at her sister who seemed a little spooked.
"Ni-chan?" Saki asked. "Are you ok?"
SNT paused lost in a trance looking around. She didn't notice Saki speaking to her.
"Ni! Ni-chan," Saki snapped in front of her to get her attention.
"Oh!" SNT finally noticed, "I'm sorry, Saki."
"Are you ok?" she asked again
"Well," SNT continued to look around. "Do you hear someone calling me?"
"What?" Saki responded. "I don't hear anyone calling you. But if they are, I hope they're cute!"
SNT then looked at the crystal in Elise's hands as she then started to get hypnotised to it. In that moment, it felt that the universe around her disappeared and the only thing that existed was her and the crystal. That was when she heard her name again as she became mesmerized by it.
"S~N~T~"
Why...? SNT asked herself. Why is there a voice coming from it? I feel like I recognize this voice, but I... I can't figure out where I heard it from. Once a few seconds passed, SNT then reached out to touch the crystal with her hands. What is this thing? It's like... like something is trapped... inside of the crystal... asking for my help. Well... maybe... I can help it... I can help it get out.
Suddenly at the moment the crystal was in the palm of her hands. Reality then came back to her. Finding herself right in front of Elise. She was no longer next to Saki now standing in the middle of the crowd. It was like she made the choice to walk over to Elise to get the crystal herself like it was hers to begin with.
The crystal shone the brightest it ever was. Suddenly both her body and the crystal gave off a white aura. SNT was confused about what was happening to her. She is just learning about this crystal, but why was it reacting to her?
"What's happening to me?" It was like some fake wind was blowing her hair. Small electric shocks came out of it and surrounded SNT's fur. But for some reason, it didn't hurt her. After a few seconds the light coming off of both returned to normal.
Everyone looked at the hybrid like a small glimmer of hope then filled their hearts.
"Ni-chan," Saki asked, "are... are you the one?"
"I... I... I don't know!" SNT responded.
Elise then reconsider the blue hybrid. But acted like she hasn't seen her in a while. "Wait, are you the one who saved me with Sonic last year?" she asked.
"Last year?" SNT questioned. "That was yesterday. Don't you remember?"
"Yesterday?" Elise responded. She then shook her head as she assumed that SNT hadn't been here until recently. This place was located within a domination without any time. "You're... who are you again?"
"I'm SNT."
Elise then grabbed the hybrid's hand and raised it up for the crowd to see. "My loyal subjects, I must introduce Miss SNT, the one who will break us out of this prison and be our hero!"
The audience cheered the hybrid's name as confetti then rained down to celebrate the coming of a new hero. SNT didn't really know how to respond other than to just stand there and appreciate everyone that was there.
Saki crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks. "I wish I got this much attention back at my concerts."
Elise then lowered the hybrid's arm and looked at her face to face. "Please, come into the palace, there is a celebration in store for you."
"But..." SNT hesitated a little bit. "I didn't really do anything yet."
"I know that, but the crystal chose you to be our hero. Please, I insist, I will explain everything over the feast," Elise explained pointing back toward the bell tower where she was staying. "If you want, you can bring your friends along."
Well, this is still all too sudden. I need to know what is going on before I go after it. SNT thought to herself. Plus, I am really hungry.
...
An hour later, SNT was sitting at a round table with a large white cloth covering it. Plates, silverware, and napkins were organized next to the plates. The napkins were shaped like tents. The walls looked as if they were in a church. The stained glass windows looked kind of new with all sorts of pictures. SNT couldn't tell what they were really because it just looked like a bunch of shapes.
SNT was sitting on the right side of Elise who seemed to be sitting properly. SNT was sort of slumped in her chair a little, but decided to sit up straight to make herself look proper. She didn't really have any other clothes to change into in order to make herself look more presentable so she kept the regular pink attire she wore.
Saki was sitting to the right of SNT who seemed to be wearing a golden skirt and white polo with a blue tie to top it off. Her hair was also tied up in a ponytail. To the right of Saki was Rand who wore a black polo with a tie, then next to him was Saffron, who changed into a vertically striped pink and purple shirt with a short blue skirt. For some reason, there were holes covered with clear tape. The last person to sit was Alicia, who sat at the very end, but was wearing a sparkling blue asymmetric neckline top with a short skirt attached.
SNT looked at herself again and her improper clothing. Yeah, I am definitely the one that stands out here. I wish I had Cream's dress with me. Too bad it's still on the boat I left behind.
Elise then claps her hands to call the waiters to serve the food. The doors open behind her to reveal a red two tailed fox with a black striped bang handing off of her front. She was holding a kart full of covered plates.
SNT looked at her, then realized something. I should have noticed earlier, but the more I look at everyone on this island, the more people I sort of recognize, but I don't remember where I saw them. Weird...
The fox didn't really make eye contact with anyone as she just set the food on the table like she was depressed in some way and walked away. SNT didn't really talk to her to try and remember who it was because it looked like she was busy and tired. She didn't want to slow her down. The fox put down 4 food items on the table. The fox then lifted the covers off of the food. On one plate was a hot dog which looked to be grilled. On another was fresh bread looking like it was a hot dog bun. Another plate had a large bowl of chilli. The last plate was a mix of vegetables looking like a salad.
"Chilli dogs," SNT recognized.
"Serve yourself, everybody!" Elise bowed as you would see everyone trying to resist drooling at the sights of the food.
Each one of the members take their own silverware and get their own helping of food. Alicia was the only one who just got the salad and the bread. Everyone was putting the chili in the bowl and putting the dog on the plate next to the bread. Everyone but SNT, who instead cut her bread partially in half then put the dog in it with the chilli on top.
Once everyone's plate was ready, the red fox then came back through the doors and shook a glass bottle of some red liquid. Then she opened it and poured into each of the glasses.
"Thank you Pumpkin, I think you are done here." Elise nodded. The red fox then looked at the princess then bowed as she then excused herself out of the room without saying a word. "I promise I will pay you tomorrow."
"Pumpkin?" SNT recognized. "Where have I heard that name?"
Elise then stood up with the glass of liquid raising for a toast and talked to all of her guests. "I must thank you all for being here tonight. I know this is sudden, but I feel that with the founding of Miss SNT, our hero, I felt that I needed to get to know her a little better."
Everyone except SNT raised their glasses with Elise. The hybrid felt a slight hit of embarrassment strike her as all of the attention of the room went to her. "Please stop, I still haven't really done anything yet."
Elise then sat down and started to eat by cutting the hot dog in pieces, then dipping it in her personal bowl of chilli. Everyone else was doing the same thing. SNT on the other hand was eating it with her fingers just like Sonic does. For that, she got blank stares from her friends. She opened her eyes to find that they were staring right at her. There was chilli on the edge of her lips, and it looked extremely improper. SNT stopped chewing her food as there was a few seconds of silence. "Um... why are you all looking at me? Is there something on my face?"
"Well yeah as a matter in fact- OUCH!" Rand was speaking but got his foot stepped on by Saki.
"Ni-chan?" Saki got her attention. "Don't you have any table manners?"
The hybrid tilted her head. "What are those? Is that dessert or something?"
"Miss. Saki, just because Miss SNT doesn't know proper etiquette doesn't mean that she is a pig. As I recall, I don't think Mr. Sonic knew proper manners either," Elise explained.
"I'm sorry guys, I will try to eat like all of you." SNT then picked up a fork and knife and started to cut her food and take it in small bites.
Saki looked a little embarrassed to see her sister eat like that, but she didn't complain and just focus back on what was on her plate.
Once Elise finished the hot dog, she then put her fork down and then reached under the table to grab one of the crystals of corruption, which was once again pulsing light. She then put it next to SNT. "I think I am supposed to give this to you."
SNT picked up the crystal and held it in her hands. "To be honest, I am honored that I was picked to do this task, but I don't like how I was just thrusted into this without any background."
"Hehe, that's what she- OUCH!" Rand said under his breath before once again having his leg get kicked by Saki.
"That's my joke!" Saki confronted him.
Elise nodded, "Yeah, I owe you an explanation."
"Considering the fact that SNT did wash up on shore just today, she is the only one on the island that doesn't know everything." Alicia explained, "We need to get her up to speed on everything."
Elise nodded and stood up in her seat, then looked at the stained glass windows that surrounded the dining room. She went over to one of them and started to speak. "These windows show the sort of complicated story of this island if you look closer. So I might as well start from the beginning." Elise then pointed to the first window showing a large explosion in the sky and 7 streaks of light then emanating the island below the explosion. "It is said that a long time ago, and we don't know why, 7 crystals dropped from the sky and landed all across the uninhabited island."
SNT noticed that right behind the window was a fire lit to keep the window much more visible from the inside. Elise continued. "Nobody truly knows where these crystals came from but some theorise that these objects hold a great power. A Power that rewrites and disturbs dimensions itself. When the crystals became a part of this world, this island was then taken out of the original universe and separated in a place where there is no time and nobody grows old."
Elise the walks over to the next window and pointed out a picture of a hurricane and the island they were on. "This is the Infinity Storm. A storm so great that we believe that it marks the end of this timeless realm. Many people tried to escape, but no one, no matter who went ended up never coming back."
That must be the island I am on right now. SNT looked at the middle of the storm. It would make sense.
Elise then walked over to the next window showing a picture of a figure. It seemed like it was a person there but was meant to be vague as the person who designed the window couldn't really figure out who would be the hero in this fairy tale. "One of the crystals landed right here on this cliffside, and it left the legend on the ground that I recited earlier. And this scripture gave us the hope that one day, a hero will be found to cure this island and set everyone free."
"And the person to do that... is me?" SNT questioned.
Elise nodded. "Clearly the crystal points to you. So your job is to collect all 7 of the crystals and find out a way to restore them back to their original form."
"Yeah yeah this is cool and all," Saki interrupted, "but I do have one question... How do we know if the crystals fell out of the sky if the island was uninhabited?"
Everyone in the room paused for a second as Elise then looked back at that window. "You know what, that is a really good question."
"Jeez, and I thought my adventures made no sense, that is quite the oversight. Do you have an answer?" Saki asked.
"No!" Elise responded.
SNT then scratched her head. "I don't get it, why would this stupid-looking crystal pick me?"
"Probably because you're special," Rand replied. Everyone then looked at the green wolf/fox hybrid. "Why are you all looking at me? I just said that she was special! What, it's not like special is a curse word! See, look, special, special, special!"
Alicia smacks Rand upside the head. "OUCH!"
"Stop saying special!" Alicia yelled
"We don't want another special drinking game for the reader to die at the end, so stop it, Rand!" Saki demanded.
"What drinking game?" SNT asked.
"It's nothing!" Saki whistled.
Elise then looked at the crystal sitting on the table, then looked at the blue hybrid in the eyes. "SNT, I insist that you keep that crystal with you. You might find a way to unlock its original form. That is your job as the chosen one. Maybe when you find a way to get its power back, you can use the power to your advantage."
SNT held the crystal up in her hands in all of its static looking glory. The hybrid nodded as she then asked herself. "I wonder how I am even going to unlock that power?"
Elise then asked the hybrid another question. "Do you have a place to stay for the night?"
"Well um..." SNT couldn't really answer that question as she just looked down at the crystal.
Elise understood what that meant. "Ms. Ashlyn?"
The girl from earlier then entered the room then stood there straight up. "Yes, ma lady?"
"Please prepare the guest room for Miss SNT. Also, do you mind starting a bath for her as well?"
Ashlyn nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Also one more thing," Elise waved to get Ashlyn's attention. "I am expecting that SNT doesn't have a change of clothes since she is new to the Island, so if you could find her some pajamas and a new pair of clothes for tomorrow."
"Oh Elise, you don't have to do this." SNT insisted.
"No, don't worry about it. You are my guest. You are also going to help this island, so it only makes sense that I make sure that you are well rested healthy," explained Elise as she grabbed onto SNT's hand.
"Man... well... thank you so much for your help," SNT smiled.
"My pleasure!" Elise curtsied looking proper.
In the meantime Rand was drinking from the glass when suddenly, Alicia then calls on him. "Hey Rand?"
Rand looked over to her. "Yes, what is it?"
Alicia then gets a folded up piece of paper out of her pocket and shows it to him. "I was writing a song, and I was wondering if you can help me figure out the music for it tonight if you are available."
"Well, sure why not, we can head over to Pumpkin's Spice and work on it if you want," he responded.
"Yeah, that would be cool like we are in school!" Alicia took both of her hands and pointed handguns at Rand making a clicking sound with her mouth.
"Um... Alicia?" Rand cringed. "You realize school was never cool."
"I'm trying to be cool, ok? Can I just be cool please?" she asked.
"No!"
After dinner was over, Elise then led everyone out and both SNT and her said their goodbyes. While the table was being cleaned off and SNT's room was being prepared, the blue hybrid had the bath already prepared for her. The bathroom was in a large room where the bathtub was the size of a swimming pool and as deep as possibly 4 feet. To even help fill it, the faucet had to be large and it looked like it was made of gold. Even the toilet was made of gold.
"I'm not really used to any of this high life stuff at all," SNT admitted to herself. "I could get used to this. But at dinner time, it seems that I have a lot to learn."
SNT then sunk her head under the water and blew bubbled under the cover of the suds that formed above the water. The water was so warm that it felt like this was the first time in a long time that she got a chance to relax.
Suddenly, the sound of the door echoed through the room. SNT's head shot out of the water and she looked over to find Ashlyn with a sponge in her hands rubbing soap on it. "Hey SNT, do you need help washing your back?"
"What! NO NO NO!" SNT felt embarrassed. She didn't understand why she was even in here. "I'll wash it myself!"
"Are you sure you can't reach your back by yourself? Even I have trouble. Elise and I have to wash each other's backs when we take a bath," she explained.
"Ok, ok, ok the less I hear about that, the better!" SNT waved both of her hands out at her. " But please, I can wash it myself, thank you very much. I use my tails to wash my back, don't worry!"
"Are you sure? Don't worry, it's not embarrassing or anything, it's not like someone is going to draw this scene!"
"I'm fine Ashlyn, please leave!" SNT demanded.
"Yes ma'am, I am just going to leave your change of clothes right here. Also, the clothes that you wore today are in the wash."
SNT looked over to see her clothes nicely folded on the counter. "Thank you." She smiled. The hybrid then talked to herself. Really Elise? You bathe with Ashlyn? Well at least she is a girl. I haven't really seen any guy staff on Elise's maid team.
SNT once again sunk her head into the water only showing everything above her lip. I guess I need to enjoy this calm before the storm. I really don't know what to expect these next few days, so I might as well enjoy what I got while I have it.
She continued to sit in the bathtub for another 15 minutes before getting out. Once she was all done taking a bath, she was then guided to her room by Ashlyn. She was offered a glass of water, but SNT declined as she then sat on the bed with the new change of clothes for tomorrow now put on the dresser. SNT was in a pair of pink PJ's. She had pink PJ pants on with a short shirt on with long sleeves. Her stomach was exposed, but it was just her style. SNT layed down on the largest bed she has ever slept on. It was twice the size of a king sized bed and the bed board had an emblem on it which she guessed had something to do with Elise. The room had a blue carpet floor and there was one side that was just a glass door leading to the balcony. It overlooked the village built on the island, and behind it you could see the storm with the lightning flashing from it within the clouds. There was also an ominous sound coming from it like the wind was howling from the storm.
SNT for the last time looked at the crystal up close and tried to examine it from all angles. She tried turning it around over and over again to make sure there was no obvious thing that she could do to it.
"Hmm..." SNT thought to herself. "I wonder how I will be able to return this back to its original form. I can't see anything on it that is obvious." SNT then looked outside again at the night sky. "Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to figure that out tomorrow. We have all of the time in the world since this is a place where time doesn't really exist." She proceeded to put the crystal on the dresser and she turned off the lamp in the room. After that, she faced the window with her body and relaxed herself. Eventually, she fell asleep to the little moonlight that was creeping through the storm.
Once she fell asleep, all of a sudden, the crystal she set down then started to shine its brightest. SNT didn't notice because she was facing the other way. SNT's body started to glow as both of their auras then started to connect to each other like they were communicating. Like SNT said earlier, she did not know what to expect these next few days. But little did she know that she will be one of the most memorable adventures she has ever been on.