Sonic, Tails and Aqua were at the computer of the main center of the factory. Everyone was looking at the monitor, which had the text, "The Legend of the Great Hydra."
- I wonder why Eggman needed this particular file? Tails asked himself.
- I mean the same thing, - said Sonic, - And in general, why does he keep this 2000-year-old fairy tale in his computer?
– And it seems to me that she is familiar to me - Aqua said, to which Tails and Sonic drew attention, - but I think I'm somehow starting remembering her.
- Okay, - said Sonic, - And can you read this to us Tails?
- Okay, - Tails agreed - Let's start.
He cleared his throat before he started reading.
-A long time ago, many centuries ago, there was a city of Sahlsdom*, which was full of trade and life. But he had one sin. Every time they caught more fish day and night than they really needed, and every day they threw food and grace into the water, thus showing disrespect and ingratitude to the waters. And one such day happened...
One day a fisherman sailed by boat to the waters where he started fishing. One fish, the second fish and suddenly…He saw something glowing in the depths. He jumped into the water and took out a blue stone. The fisherman was delighted and sailed back to sell it. But the residents also saw an unusual stone and thought: where the stone is, there is wealth. Sahlsdomians joyfully sailed there and began to bashing the land of the sea. Then they pulled out corals, threw stones, killed all living things and the like. And then Ocean, who had already lost his strength due to the fact that the Sahlsdom people took away his "heart" turned to Lux and asked for help.
As soon as Lux heard this, he was angry with the Sahlsdom for their gluttony and greed, and decided to punish them. He dived into the water and plunged into the depths, took out black sand and a dead snake and returned to land. With the help of his divine power, he created a huge ugly monster and its name is the Great Hydra. Lux sent her to the Sahlsdom and told her:
- Devour there and spare no one, and destroy this sinful city, and drown it in the sea.
The Hydra obeyed him and went to the city. There she terrorized the Sahlsdom residents for 4 days and 3 nights and ate them. She destroyed houses, temples and palaces for dishonest rulers. As soon as Hydra finished the job, she took the city with her hands and threw it right into the ocean. So, the city was punished for its sins. A blue crystal, ,,heart" Ocean, was returned to him. But the tale does not end there…
Hydra liked the meat and blood of the inhabitants of the land, and she went in other directions. During the days and nights, she destroyed 8 cities, 5 villages, 5 mountains and 13 fields. She ate 1000 people and animals. She ate their meat and drank their blood.
It was later that Lux himself saw and realized what he had done and what a terrible villain he had created. And then he descended from heaven to her and said to her:
"Please stop sending evil to the innocent," he began, "I told you only to destroy this sinful city, and not all 8 cities, 5 villages, 5 mountains and 13 fields. You have devoured more than 1,000 living creatures. Please stop.
- Stop! Stop! Stop! – Sonic suddenly interrupted Tails, - Why would he create it if he doesn't know the consequences of all this?
-Well, Sonic, -Tails began to answer, -Sometimes there are even moments when you don't understand the logic of the gods at all. Well, he thought he would destroy only this city, but he overdid it very much. According to the myths I read, at that time he was young, probably physically and mentally the same age as both of you, Sonic and Aqua. (Aqua's face was full of indignation).
- It turns out that he was a teenager? - Sonic asked.
- Well, OK, sorry for interrupting you, you can continue, - said Sonic with a smile.
Tails continued.
- Well, Hydra didn't listen to him, she hit her creator with her tail and sent him up the mountain. Lux lay there for a while until he opened his eyes, which were reddened with anger. He grabbed the Hydra by its tail with increased strength and speed and dragged it straight into the ocean, where she once threw the Sahlsdom itself at him. He dragged her to the depth, where he saw a large ravine. He dragged Lux Hydra into this ravine and sealed it with his power. A deep temple was built at the place of her burial. There she has been for centuries and years eternal…
After reading, everyone was silent. This silence was destroyed by Sonic.
- It seems that Aggie kept it on his computer for a reason, - said Sonic.
-You're right, - Tails agreed, -perhaps this legend is the whole idea and plan of Eggman.
- Can I add something... - Aqua suddenly said.
Tails and Sonic strained their ears to hear what she would say.
- I remembered a lot of things when you read this legend, Tails, - Aqua began, - Besides, in my childhood I was told that if someone freed Hydra, it could destroy the whole world. In order to release it, you need a key.
-What's the key? -Tails asked.
-I don't know,- Aqua replied.
- Guys, - Sonic suddenly interrupted them, - I think we need to hurry to prevent Egghead from getting this key. Isn't it?
-I agree, -Tails replied as he got off the chair and walked over to Sonic.
- Me too! Aqua said and walked up to them.
Both stood next to Sonic until he spoke:
- Guys, can I ask you that you two are the first to leave this factory while I'm doing one such ,,little thing".
-What little ,,thing"? - Aqua asked him.
- Meet me on that slope! – said the blue hedgehog, after which he ran from the main center somewhere.
Aqua was at a loss until Tails said,
-Let's get out of here, Aqua.
He grabbed both of Aqua's hands, and they flew to the exit, which was located at the top (Eggman forgot to close it in a hurry). They flew out of the factory and landed on the slope, which was located in the entrance area to the bay. Aqua looked again at the once beautiful place on Earth.
- I know how you feel... - said Tails, - But now we don't need to be sad, but we need to move forward, remember?
-I remember, -she said, -Oh, yes! And what did Sonic mean by "a small thing"?
- I know him... - said Tails, - he usually has fun when he blows up all sorts of bases. And it also happens that he does all this out of rage and a sense of justice.
-I get it,- Aqua said.
But as soon as she finished those words, a huge explosion sounded, causing Aqua to suddenly get scared.
When they turned around, they saw that the factory had been blown up and was burning. They were both watching the burning factory, and a familiar voice was heard behind them.
- Hey guys, I'm back!
It was Sonic, who was covered in ash.
-I didn't know you could be like this... - said Aqua.
- Yeah, yeah, - he shook off the ashes, - And this happens to me. And what is the first time you hear?
-For the first time, - Aqua admitted.
- All right! – said Sonic – But I can already see that it's going to rain soon. Look in the distance.
Aqua looked into the distance and saw a bunch of gray clouds.
- Don't worry, - said the blue hedgehog to Aqua, - I know that your bay will become the same and beautiful.
-Okay... - Aqua agreed.
-Then, -he said to them, -Tails, Aqua, we're diving back into the underwater world!
Behind him stood his friends with a brave smile on their faces. After that, Sonic and Tails put on underwater masks and gas cylinders, which Tails hid in a safe place*. The fox cub dragged Aqua and Sonic closer to the water before lowering them and following them into the water.
It started raining on the shore of Crystal Bay, which extinguished the factory fire. Thus, there was scrap metal and junk left here. Also, in the middle of it, someone's hand stuck out, which glitched continuously before disappearing…
Next time Mushroom Plateaus zone!
*- By the way, these underwater diving masks are an unused sprite for Sonic the hedgehog 1991.
— Sahlsdom is a pun, which translates from Persian as: Sahl-coast, Sdom- Sodom, which refers to its geographical location and a reference to the sinful city from the Bible.
But unlike the biblical Sodom, whose main sin is debauchery, here it is greed and gluttony. Sahlsdom itself was destroyed by the Great Hydra and thrown into the sea, which highlights the difference between them, since Sodom was destroyed by the deity with the help of fire from heaven.
In this chapter, I have revealed a little bit about the mythology of the Sonic world. Lux, the supreme deity of this world, was mentioned here for the first time. And then I will not spoiler.
