1 Darkness Rising

Chapter 5

Power Shift

The sun inched its way above the frozen treetops in the Great Forest. Under one of the many trees was a non-descript hut. It looked just like all the other huts in the village. Inside, under the expert care of a very unique raptor, lie Sonic the Hedgehog. He was currently unconscious, with a large bump on his head to tell any onlooker why.

Slasher reached over and checked the pulse on one wrist. It had been good and steady since Sally and Bunnie had gotten him back to Knothole. His breathing was good and deep. The few scrapes he had sustain after a nasty fall at forty miles per hour had not developed any infections, although Sonic now sported several large bandages. Aside from the concussion Sonic had sustained, he had faired better than both Sally and Bunnie. Sally's earlier laser wound had opened up and bled quite severely. She had also gotten several large cuts on her arms and legs from the fall. Bunnie had broken a critical part in one of her knee joints just before reaching Knothole. Rotor was still working on replacing the part that very moment.

Slasher sighed and sat down on the floor of the hut. Her blood-shot eyes revealed signs of sleep deprivation to anyone who looked at her. She had spent the entire night attending the wounds of Sonic and Sally. After that, she and Sally had to re-plan their raids. With their main weapon gone, especially at this critical moment, both Slasher and Sally were hard pressed to find some way of replacing Sonic, unless he woke up soon.

Slasher glared out the window into the rising sun. Her bleary eyes blurred over and she lowered her head to rub her eyes. When she raised her head and looked back at Sonic her breath was taken away. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or maybe the way the light hit the room, but Slasher momentarily saw a figure looming over Sonic. Its presence seemed to calm and slightly rejuvenate her. She blinked and the figure disappeared.

She rose to check Sonic again. When she touched his arm he rolled over and mumbled something she couldn't understand. The velociraptor smiled and lay down on the floor. Sonic was merely asleep now. She closed her eyes and thanked her maker for the help Sonic had received. He would awaken in a few hours.

When Sally walked into the hut to check on Sonic an hour later, she found both of them asleep and snoring softly. Smiling softly, she leaned over and gave Sonic a light kiss on the cheek. She then pulled a blanket from one of Sonic's closets and pulled it over the sleeping Slasher. Just before shutting the door, she heard a soft "Thanks Sally". She paused for a moment before shutting the door, "Anytime" she replied. With that, she closed the door and walked out into the ice and snow.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

Fear overwhelmed him. Images and thoughts he couldn't remember invaded his dreams. Beasts made of his own memories lunged at him. He reached for his sword, only to find nothing there. He tried to fend them off but couldn't. He watched one demon lunge at him, teeth bared and eyes ablaze with fire. Suddenly, fire overcame the beast. He looked around, watching, looking for any sign of another beast. What he saw scared him even more. Everywhere, all around, fire licked up at him. He lifted a hand to shield himself only to watch it burn. Fur and flesh were ablaze, but he felt no pain. He looked up to see a demon of fire leap at him. He raised his arms and slashed at the demon with his claws, but to no avail. The demon consumed him, burning him. He cried out, again and again, each time the cry echoed throughout his mind.

"Nooooo!" The cry pierced the early morning darkness of the room as the fox suddenly sat upright in his bed. His fur and sheets where drenched in sweat and his eyes where staring straight ahead. His breathing came in quick shallow breaths.

The door flew open and a vixen clad in cotton pajamas ran in. "What is it!" she cried. Upon seeing the fox rocking back and forth in his bed muttering to himself she quickly made her way over to him.

She sat down beside him and put her arms around him. "Shhh, it was just a bad dream. It was all a dream."

The fox looked into her eyes. At that moment she could see fear itself, consuming him from within. She pulled him close and hugged him tightly, feeling him grip her tightly with his arms.

"Shhh, don't worry. I'm here now. It was all a dream." She said softly into his ear, calming him down slightly.

She sat there for several minutes, whispering in his ear. At last she felt him relax, his hands unclenching and his grip around her loosen. Another few minutes and he was asleep in her arms. She smiled and leaned him back down in the bed, pulling the covers over him. After making sure he was soundly asleep, she left and made her way back to her own room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------

Morning in Robotropolis started just like every other day. The SWAT- bot patrols were switched, allowing those who had been out on patrol for the night to repair and "freshen up".

Snively stood at a computer console, staring into the monitor just beyond it. Metal Sonic had arrived very early that morning with the 8th chaos emerald. Claiming that even the sight of the emerald would turn any living being mad, Mecha had immediately denied Snively the sight of it.

Snively simply went back to his day-to-day duties, all the while waiting for the all-to-loud voice of his master to cal him through the comm. He was currently modifying the access code to prevent future break ins to the computer system. The system had been tampered with the day before, or so the files read. He had just finished when Robotnik's voice called over the radio.

"Snively! Get up here now!"

Sighing, he saved his work and turned off the console. "I need a vacation." He said just before walking out the door into the corridor just beyond. A few minutes later he walked into the command center of Robotropolis, a heavily armored building with countless SWAT-bots inside and out. Another two minutes later he opened the door to Robotniks command room. Seated in the very center of the room, in a large swivel chair, sat the evil overlord himself.

"Snively! Its about time! Now, summon Metal Sonic." Robotnik yelled. His large mustache flopped up and down each time his head moved in any direction. With a few muttered curses too low for his uncle to hear, Snively walked over to a nearby console and donned a headset.

"Metal Sonic, Robotnik requests your presence at the command center immediately." Snively said. The reply came a few seconds later.

"Affirmative. Estimated time till arrival, thirty seconds." Mecha droned. A few seconds later he added "Tell the doctor to prepare the roboticization chamber for use." An evil laugh finished the reply just before the radio was cut off.

Unknown to Snively at the time, Metal Sonic was currently on his way back to Robotropolis after raiding a nearby town for victims. He currently carried two adult mice in his arms, unconscious of course, and not without injuries.

His glowing form traveled at supersonic speed back toward Robotropolis. True to his word, thirty seconds later he arrived inside the command center. Robotnik swiveled around to face him as he entered.

"You said something about victims?" Robotnik asked.

Metal Sonic, body still glowing, held up the two mice in answer.

"Good. Now, take them to the Roboticizer!"

Snively cleared his throat and turned to face them. He glanced down at his feet before speaking. "Uhh, Dr. Robotnik, as you may remember, the robiticizer was nearly destroyed several days ago. I do not currently have the necessary parts to repair it." Snively ducked in anticipation for a blow. After a few seconds he opened his eyes and glanced up at his master.

Robotnik had not moved in his chair. He turned after a moment and spoke to Mecha. "Mecha, take them to the holding cells. And make sure they survive. Your prisoners have a tendency to die before they are roboticized. Report immediately back here once you are done. My master plan is ready now that you have the 8th emerald."

"Yes master." Mecha replied. He turned and marched out of the door towards the holding cells.

Robotnik turned back to Snively. "Snively, go prepare my hovercraft for launch. Add the modifications you designed onto it. Not even the hedgehog will stop me now!" Robotniks evil laugh could be heard by the SWAT- bots outside the command center.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

It was just past two in the afternoon when Sonic awoke. His head pounded and he lay still for several seconds while he found his bearings. A few seconds later he realized he was in his hut, laying in his own bed, with a very large shape sleeping on his floor.

Sonic sat up and put a hand on his head as the pain suddenly sharpened. After several moments the pain subsided enough for him remove his hand and look around. It was early afternoon and Slasher was asleep at the side of his bed. He glanced out the window into the peaceful afternoon. The sun was shining brightly and there wasn't a cloud in sight, unusual for the middle of winter.

The peacefulness of the moment was broken when the door was shoved aside and a panicked voice yelled, "Slasher! Get up now!"

Slasher, deep in a dream at the moment, suddenly jerked awake. She jumped up and looked at the person in the door. Sally stood in the middle of the door, her figure outlined against the bright light outside. She rushed over to Slasher and helped her up, all the while yelling, "Come on! Serena's in trouble!"

A cool draft from the open door hit Sonic as he watched the two leave his hut. "Serena in trouble?" he asked himself. "I've got to go help!" Sonic jumped out of his bed. He landed on the floor and rolled into a ball, hands over his head. The pain was terrible. Sonic had rarely felt so much pain. He lay there for several minutes while the pain subsided. When it finally did, he slowly crawled to his feet. When the pain didn't return he grew more confident and took a few tender steps forward.

Satisfied that if he moved slowly the pain wouldn't come back, Sonic made his way out the door and towards the main hut. Upon arriving, he found Sally, Slasher, Bunnie, and Rotor talking around a map of Robotropolis. Quietly walking in, Sonic made his way over to the group. No one noticed him as he approached.

"Serena is being held here." He overheard Sally say, as she pointed at a building on the map. "Now, Bunnie, you and Rotor will enter the SWAT- bot patrol station here." Sally said, pointing at another smaller building just beside the previous one.

Bunnie spoke up saying, "But what about those SWAT-bots guarding the place Sally girl, aint no way me and Rotor here can take em out."

Sally turned and looked at Slasher. "That's what we have Slasher for. She will provide a distraction and draw the bots away from the patrol station."

Sonic reached the edge of the group and spoke up. "Sal, how did Serena get captured in the first place?"

The entire group turned and looked at him as one. For a moment no one said anything. Then Bunnie yelled, "Suga hog! How are ya feelin Sonic!"

After a minute or so of greetings, the group continued on with their planning. Sally started off by answering Sonic's question.

"I sent Serena off on a mission to deliver a message to Chuck." At the mention of his roboticized uncle, Sonic looked down and tried to keep tears from welling up in his eyes. Every time he thought about his uncle, it reminded him of the horrible things Robotnik had done to the population of Mobotropolis and the surrounding area.

He succeeded in keeping tears away and looked back up. After only a moments hesitation, Sally continued. "She delivered the message and was on her way back when Nichole lost contact with her communicator. After searching through the data banks of the holding cells, I found out they had captured her and put her in holding cell 13-b."

Sonic butted in when Sally stopped paused. "But Sal, in know Rena, she wouldn't get captured by anything Robotnik normally has." He stopped and his eyes widened. "The only thing that could catch her…would be Metal Sonic."

The group was silent for several seconds. Sonic gulped. The only thing Robotnik currently had that actually frightened Sonic was his robot counterpart. If anyone, or anything, was worse than Robotnik, it was Metal Sonic. At least the Doctor didn't go on a killing spree whenever he wanted to, or when something went wrong.

"Sally, im going to go get her." Sonic said, his face twisting into an angry expression.

"Sonic, do you have any idea what happened to you last night?" Sally replied.

Sonic waved his hands to cut her off, "Look, Sal, just give me my emerald belt. Any pain usually goes away when I'm hyper."

Sally was silent for several seconds. Sonic could feel something was wrong. "What?" He asked.

Slasher reached around her neck and unfastened his emerald belt, which until then had remained invisible around her neck.

Sonic took it and was about to put it on when Slasher stopped him. "Sonic, look at the stones."

Sonic glanced down at the miniature super emeralds imbedded in the belt. Each one was the same gray color. None of them had their glowing colorful forms they usually had.

Sonic was horrified. "What happened to them?!" He yelled.

"We don't know Sonic, but they stopped working last night when we were coming out of Robotropolis." Sally said to him. "All three of us were injured, you being the worst with a concussion."

Sonic clenched his hands, his anger nearly taking control over him. "First my sister gets captured, and now the super emeralds don't work. The day couldn't get any worse." Sonic said. "I'm going Sal, whether you like it or not."

Sally was speechless. Never before had Sonic ever acted like this. She was silent for more than several tense seconds. Finally she spoke up. "Alright Sonic, you can go. Just be careful."

The group spent the next fifteen minutes revising their plan before heading out to Robotropolis to rescuer Serena, unaware of the danger ahead.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

The fox stood under the stream of hot water. He felt it run through his fur and down his entire body, finally hitting the tub and going down the drain. The fox had not taken a shower in a very long time. For so long he was on the run, always searching for something. He didn't know what he was searching for, but the feeling was stronger than ever here.

He finished the shower and stepped out. After drying off, he donned a pair of old jeans Michelle had given him. She said they were once her fathers. He walked over to the bed and picked up torso part of his armor. It weighed only forty pounds, even though the armor was at least an inch thick in most places. The outside had been cleaned and any holes or damage had been repaired by highly advanced nanites that lived inside his suit. Those same nanites were responsible for keeping him health and repairing any injuries that he sustained. His sword was in its sheath with his rifle lying across it, still powered up.

A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. "Come in." He said. The door opened and Michelle walked in. Her black hair hung down to her shoulders without anything to hold it back. He watched it swing back and forth as she walked in. He had only known Michelle since the night before, but he already liked her a lot. She was sweet, pretty, and had probably saved his life.

She walked over to where he was standing and holding his armor. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

He was feeling much better now that he had taken a shower. "Better." He replied, smiling and putting his suit back down on the bed. "I still can't remember what I ate for lunch two days ago though." He said, laughing slightly.

"Well, umm," she stuttered, "my grandma wanted you to know lunch will be ready in a few minutes." She paused for a second, staring at his scarred hand for a second, "As soon as your dressed you can come down and eat."

"Thanks, I'm starving." He replied, crossing his hands to cover up the scars.

Several awkward moments passed before the fox spoke up again. "Umm, thx, for last night. It was…scary…" He said, lowering his eyes and staring at the floorboards.

A soft smile formed on Michelle's face, she looked down, then back up at him. "Your welcome. I know how real nightmares can be. And how scary."

The fox looked back up at her smiling face, he felt like he was in heaven. "Thanks again…" Another few moments of awkwardness passed before either spoke up again. "Ill be down for lunch in a few minutes." The fox said, picking up a boot. "Just let me finish with my suit here."

"Ok." Michelle said, stepping back and turning towards the door. She opened the door and walked out into the hall, leaning against the wall after the door closed.

"What's wrong with me?" She thought, "I barely even know him. He doesn't even know who he is!"

After a minute of mentally banging her head against a brick wall, she walked down the hall and into the kitchen, where her grandma stood cutting vegetables, an apron over her purple blouse and a small smirk on her face.

"What?" Michelle asked.

Her grandma stopped cutting and put the knife down. "I know what your feeling Michelle. I can see it in you every time you talk to him."

Michelle, not able to lie to her grandma, simply stood there silently.

"See. I knew it."

A knock at the door saved Michelle from further embarrassment. "I'll get it." She quickly said, practically running to the door.

When the door opened she saw an elderly rabbit standing at the doorstep. His suit was crisp and clean, with polished shoes and even more polished front teeth.

"Why hello Michelle!" The rabbit spoke, almost yelling with enthusiasm.

"Hello Mr. Whitefur. Would you like to see my grandma?" Michelle asked.

"Why yes I would. I need to speak with her."

"Ok sir. Please come. She will be right with you, she's cooking stew at the moment." Michelle opened the door and let the elderly rabbit inside.

"Thank you dear. Mmm. Smells delicious." The rabbit said, stepping through the door and sitting in a nearby chair.

Michelle walked back to the kitchen. Her grandma stood behind the stove, sipping a little stew out of a wooden spoon.

"Grandma, Mr. Whitefur is here for you. He says he needs to speak with you. He's in the front room right now."

"Thank you Michelle." She said, taking another sip. "Put two pinches of salt and one of pepper in this if you would."

Michelle did as her grandma requested, along with a few "extra" spices she had come to like. From her place in the kitchen she overheard the conversation in the front.

"Afternoon Laura! How are you this fine day?"

"I'm fine Victor. I was just cooking lunch for Michelle and I."

"Well, I just ate a big lunch and can't eat anything else. I just wanted to stop buy to ask you a few questions."

Michelle's face contorted into confusion. "Questions?" she thought. "What sort of questions could the mayor of Pilewood want to ask my grandmother?"

Back in the front, the conversation continued. "Oh, about what Victor."

Victor Whitefur cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He looked around a moment before answering.

"Well, I've heard rumors about a robot coming into town last night during the storm. You wouldn't know anything about a robot, would you Laura?"

Michelle's heart leaped to her throat. They had hoped to keep the fox a secret until he could remember who he was. Or at least until they could get a hold of the nearest freedom fighter group. They would know what to do with an armored fox carrying weaponry only Robotnik was capable of making.

Her grandma continued in the next room. "No Victor, I can't say I know of any robot." She didn't lie.

The rabbit shifted again and leaned closer, knowing Laura well. "You're…sure…you don't know anything about a robot?"

Laura folded her arms across her chest and glared at the rabbit before her. "Victor! Would I lie to you? Now I' serious, I don't know anything about a robot."

After several seconds the aging rabbit seemed convinced. "All right Laura, if you see or hear anything suspicious tell me as soon as possible."

"I will Victor, now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my stew."

Victor stood walked to the door. "All right, I know how to take a hint. Until tomorrow Laura." He said, opening the door and walking out.

When the door closed the elderly fox relaxed and sighed. She hadn't known anyone had seen Michelle bring the mysterious fox in. Slightly troubled, she made her way back into the kitchen and back to lunch.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------

Sonic dodged left as a laser bolt sliced the air three inches from him. His head was pounding and his reflexes were twice as slow as normal. Their rescue plan had succeeded, however, Metal Sonic was now on their tail. Sonic had stayed behind to distract him until the rest of the freedom fighters could get away.

He was currently running for his life down a ruined alley. At lest thirty SWAT-bots were on his tail, followed closely by Mecha. Sonic reached a split in the alley and swerved right, barely dodging another laser bolt from the dark gray robots following him.

He turned left again and blasted down a series of alleys and streets, temporarily evading the patrolling bots. Sonic leaned against the wall of a burnt out factory, evidence to a previous raid of theirs. He pressed his hands to his head and tried to forget about the marching band in his head. After several minutes, the pain subsided to tolerable levels and Sonic took off again.

He shot out into the middle of a street only to find himself surrounded by a patrol of SWAT-bots. A very familiar robotic voice sounded from behind several guards. "Well, Ssss…Ssss… my adversary, it looks like you lost." Metal Sonic stepped forward as several guards moved aside to make him a path. He paused just inside the ring of bots and spoke again. "Give up now and I "may" spare your life. For a little while at least…" He spat.

Sonic grinned and crouched. "No way. I'm outta here Mecha!" He yelled, suddenly revving into a spindash and shooting towards the blue robot like a buzzsaw. A bright flash was all Sonic saw before he smashed into what felt like a brick wall. Sonic crashed backwards into the ground, almost unconscious from the impact. He simply groaned a little and went limp.

Mecha, glowing a bright blue, walked forward and picked up the limp hedgehog by one arm. "Robotnik will be pleased when I bring you in for roboticization… As if I cared what Robotnik wants!" He said to Sonic, bringing his arm back in preparation for a devastating blow.

Not prepared for any resistance, Metal Sonic's head snapped around from a sudden blow and he dropped Sonic to the ground and stepped back a few steps. Sonic opened his eyes to see the glowing form of Knuckles yelling into his face. "Sonic! Get up!"

Knowing he was in danger, Sonic used all of his might to pick himself off the ground, with Knuckles help of course. He got up just in time to see Mecha regain his senses. Knuckles saw this too and immediately shoved Sonic behind him. Sonic barely noticed a green sword strike Mecha in the head again.

As Mecha once again fell back, Knuckles grabbed Sonic by the arm and shot off down a side alley, leading Sonic down many twist and turns before stopping near another indistinct building in Robotropolis.

Sonic leaned on Knuckles for support, struggling to catch his breath and stop his head from spinning. "Knux…Thanks for…the save..." He said in between breaths. Knuckles picked Sonic up off him and said to him, "Sonic, I know you're tired, but we have to get to Knothole as soon as possible. Now come on."

Sonic let out a ragged breath and dropped his head. After several seconds he managed a reply. "Ok Knux. Ill do my best."

With that, the two shot off in the fastest direction out of the dark city and towards Knothole. Soon after passing the scrap piles and reaching the plains, Knuckles saw Sonic falter out of the corner of his eye. After the third time, he reached over and grabbed Sonic's arm, pulling him along as he shot forward even faster. It was one of the hardest runs Sonic had ever made. His lungs ached, his legs burned, and the pain in his head caused the ground to spin.

Finally, after what seemed a lifetime to Sonic, Knuckles slowed and they passed over the stream next to Knothole. Knuckles had to keep Sonic from overshooting the village when he tried to stop. Sonic fell down in a heap next to Knuckles the instant they stopped. Knuckles took a small green stone from a pouch at his waist and passed a hand over it. His glowing form suddenly de-charged and he was left with his normal red fur and dreadlocks.

Serena exited a nearby hut and stopped cold. "Sonic!" She exclaimed, "What happened to him Knuckles?" She ran over to where they were standing and crouched down beside Sonic.

Knuckles put the green stone back in his pouch and turned to face her. "Ill tell you in a minute, now go get Sally and the rest of the gang. I've got something important to say."

Still worried about Sonic, Serena stayed still for a few seconds. A rough "Now!" from Knuckles finally sent her scurrying away towards the end of the village. A few minutes later found the freedom fighters once again huddled together in the main hut.

Sonic had regained enough strength to stand and walk around again, and was now eager to hear what Knuckles had to say. After waiting for the last person, Knuckles cleared his throat and started to talk.

"Sonic, let me see your emerald belt." He said, motioning for Sonic to give it to him. Sonic immediately reached around and unhooked the belt. Knuckles took the belt and picked out the gray stones inset in the belt.

"You wont need these any longer." He said, his voice cracking up near the end.

"What!" Sonic yelled.

Knuckles lowered his head and sighed. When he raised it tears had formed in the echidnas eyes. "The… uhh… the super emeralds have been destroyed." Rage suddenly formed in the guardian's eyes. He threw the belt at a nearby window, breaking the glass and causing more than a few people to take a step back.

"I failed as guardian!" He yelled to no one in particular. He looked at Sonic, tears streaming down his face. "The island is burning! Everything is gone!" He yelled, his voice suddenly failing him. He fell to the floor, shaking with grief and anger.

Slasher moved to him and picked him up in her strong arms. "Shh. It will be okay." She said soothingly.

"How will it be okay!?" Knuckles said, his face buried in her chest. "I have no home! I have no purpose anymore!" He yelled.

"Your home is with us now." Slasher said to him. Knuckles did not reply. He simply kept sobbing in her arms.

Slasher walked out of the hut and returned a few minutes later, arms empty. "He is sleeping in my hut." She said to the assembled group. "Sally, I'm going to the Floating Island. Knuckles wanted me to get something and I need to take a look at it myself."

Sally simply nodded her head. No one else said a word. The news of Floating Island's demise had hit most of them hard. What could destroy the super emeralds AND ruin the entire island? Slasher walked out the hut and took off into the later afternoon sky, noticing the dark clouds on the southern horizon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------

END

Chapter 5