31 Days of Sonic Prompt 6: Legend.
With My Own Beliefs
It was a strange sight, one that made Sonic cock his head.
Before them, there was a mural. It stretched across the wall, leaving no room for anyone to miss it. Despite the ancient artwork, the colors were vibrant and popped against the dark background. They even seemed to shimmer like the glint of an emerald. Sonic wondered if that was purposeful when he spotted the Master Emerald in the center of the piece, posed between two warring factions.
But he knew the figures. Eggman, monstrous and large, reached out for the emerald. Opposing him was Sonic encased in a light like sunshine. He made no move to grab the gem as if it was already in Eggman's grasp, but still, he examined his counterpart, who blazed ahead in fiery gold and glory.
Tails breathed out his surprise next to him. "Sonic, this must have been made centuries ago. How could someone have known you were going to fight Eggman?"
He chuckled. "Guess they knew how awesome I was going to be and had to draw it."
Tails returned his grin and approached the mural, tilting his head back. Sonic joined him, admitting it was a breathtaking sight. While he wasn't one for history lessons, he was fascinated by the complexity of the art. The streaks and shapes across Eggman seemed to capture a mechanical angle, contrasting Sonic, who appeared far more natural than robotic.
Tails flew upward and faced the Master Emerald. "Maybe this was drawn by an oracle," he wondered, beaming down at Sonic. "Someone might have foreseen your fight against Eggman, and they had to draw it for future generations."
Smirking, Sonic swiped his thumb across his nose. "Again, they thought I was awesome."
Tails took a breath to respond, only to glance to the right and gasp. Sonic immediately whipped his head in that direction. His eyes narrowed, listening to the drawn-out footsteps approaching them. Tails lowered behind him, peering out around Sonic, and Sonic quietly gestured for him to remain in place, though Sonic noticed a faint hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"Don't worry, Tails. Let me handle this guy," Sonic whispered. "We got some real history."
When Tails nodded, Sonic gave the new arrival his full attention. He gripped his hips and put his weight on his back leg, maintaining his familiar smirk.
Knuckles marched toward them, head held high and back straight as a rail. He raised his fists, cracking his thumbs. The sound of crunching bones made Tails flinch behind Sonic as he noticed from the shift in the fox's shadow.
"Sonic the Hedgehog," Knuckles growled, matching Sonic's sneer, "you've finally made it here."
Sonic offered a slow clap. "Well, the Hidden Palace Zone was a fun place to view with all of those gemstones, but I got here in record time." He snickered. "Faster than you, I might add. What took you so long? Did those teleporters zip you halfway across the island?"
Knuckles' nose wrinkled. Knowing he touched a nerve, Sonic tapped his foot. It filled the silence between them, echoing in the hall that stretched toward the altar where Sonic saw the vast, powerful, and authentic Master Emerald. It shined brighter than any Chaos Emerald, its verdant glow far more spectacular in reality over the mural.
But when the quiet lingered beyond Sonic's patience, he pretended to check his watch. "Are you going to say something? Because I'd like to stop Eggman soon."
Knuckles didn't rise to his provocation. He glared at the mural, fists clenched at his sides. "You must have understood the symbolism behind this artwork."
"It's a bit on the nose," Sonic remarked, and Knuckles' lip curled.
Narrowing his eyes, Knuckles raised his fists and bounced on his heels. He threw out two left straights in rapid successions, Tails gasping at his speed. Sonic was hardly impressed, but he remembered Knuckles had uppercutted him out of his super form.
Even so, Sonic was ready. He had gone through every zone in Angel Island, waiting for a chance to defeat Knuckles for his persistent meddling. (And he had an egg to scramble for the fourth time, the urge to dash by the echidna itching in his legs, but he stayed, believing he wouldn't have had another chance to clash with Knuckles while Eggman roamed the island.)
"This mural was made by my echidna ancestors countless years ago," Knuckles said.
Tails clicked his tongue. "Aw, man, I wanted to know the exact timeframe," he muttered, and Sonic chuckled under his breath.
"Ever since I can remember, I've known this mural. When I came to guard the Master Emerald, I had to walk by it daily." Knuckles briefly eyed it before glowering at Sonic. "Today, this prophecy, the clash between you and the doctor, will come true. It's your destiny, Sonic." He suddenly struck his fist into his open palm. "But I've got my own destiny, and I'm here to fulfill it. I will stop you here and now."
But as soon as Knuckles finished speaking, Sonic laughed. It was a short, curt bark that resounded throughout the hall. Sonic shook his head, a chuckling fit overtaking him, and as Tails hummed, Knuckles demanded to know what he found amusing.
"'Destiny?'" Sonic jeered, smirking at the befuddled echidna. "I don't believe in that. I believe in doing things my way, knucklehead. No prophecy is going to tell me otherwise." He crossed his arms, evenly meeting Knuckles' gaze. "Sure, maybe your ancestors envisioned me fighting Eggman. I'll give you that, but I don't buy anything about destiny or prophecies. Whatever happens, it comes from my decisions." He extended a finger in the air. "And before you start, I don't believe in fate, either, so let's not go there. I just believe in the wind that's as free as me."
Sonic grinned to himself. The mural might have been stunning, but everything that had happened stemmed from his choices. Only Sonic decided for himself when to run and how to cook Eggman sunny side up. So long as he breathed, he championed free will over fortune.
Though, he supposed he felt slightly guilty when Knuckles' expression fell. He looked like he had seen a ghost, almost as if Sonic's words cut him too deep. But as quickly as the echidna meandered, Sonic grinned when Knuckles shook his head and held out his fist.
"We'll see about that. The doctor told me your tricks. They won't work on me!" Knuckles roared, and he lunged forward, beginning the fight Sonic anticipated.
"By the way, Eggman is totally tricking you," Sonic said, and he nodded at Tails. "Let's go, pal."
"I'm right behind you, Sonic!" Tails cried, hovering in the air.
As Knuckles lunged, fist aiming at his head, Sonic couldn't wait any longer, and he raced onward toward the future he'd create.
