Chapter 4 - Finalisation
Everyone was gathered in the centre of Knotlake trying to work out what to do next.
"I still say it might be possible." said Sonic.
"Sonic will you stop saying that." said Sonia, "We have had far more experience with this than you have."
"Easy there sis." said Manic.
"Yeah lay of Sonic!" said Sally.
"He's got a point Sally girl." said Bunnie
"People can we stop arguing?" said Petya, "It isn't going to get us anywhere."
Everyone stopped and looked at Petya. She had really become a large figure in Knotlake. Not only because she was second in command of the Knotlake Freedom Fighter but because of her size. She was just over five foot tall and when you considered that everyone else was about three to four foot tall she really did tower over everyone.
"Much better." said T2 appearing from behind Petya, "Now the most important thing we have to do right now is work out how to stop the Chaos Zone expanding. If we don't, it will consume Knotlake and Robotropolis within eight months and, if Charles is right, all of Mobius within the next year."
The group looked at him and nodded, all of them forgot there argument and concentrated on the more important issue.
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A little way away from the main group stood Miles, Alicia, Lavender, Tails and Chalk. Even though Miles and Alicia had been made full members of the Freedom Fighters they still weren't allowed to go to big meeting like this. It usually upset them but now they just stood quietly watching the commotion. Lavender was still shaking but it was less noticeable now. She was now able to walk a bit although she was still pretty weak. Tails had a hand on her shoulder, supporting her. Chalk stood there with her eyes closed. She was trying to calm her thoughts which were currently bouncing around all over the place. Just then T2 left the group ahead and walked over to them.
"So?" asked Tails.
"We still don't know what to do." said T2 in response, "The Chaos Zone is a huge mystery to us. We don't have a clue how to stop it."
"What about just squeezing all the energy back into the Emerald?" suggested Miles.
"Ah the mind of a child." said T2, "Always thinking simply. Well unfortunately Miles we can't do that. We would need the Chaos Emerald fragments and some way of getting the energy back in to them. For one we can't do that and secondly the Emerald fragments are at the centre of the Chaos Zone."
Miles looked slightly down heartened.
"But it was a good idea." finished T2.
Miles brightened slightly but still looked glum. Chalk turned to T2.
"Is there anyway of saving Links?" she asked.
"I have no idea Chalk. We can't even scan inside the Zone never mind anything else." said T2.
Just then Lavender swayed slightly and moaned.
"Lavender?" said Tails concerned.
Lavender just moaned and swayed again. Her eyes fluttered shut and she started to murmur to herself. Tails strained to here it.
"…….mother……..hello…." murmured Lavender.
Tails was puzzled.
"Lavender?" he said again.
Alicia, Miles, T2 and Chalk were now looking at Lavender too.
"………you're there………I can feel you….." continued Lavender.
"What is she talking about?" asked Miles.
"Dunno." said T2.
"…..and you too…….Links….."
"LINKS!" cried Tails and gave Lavender a small shake.
It was enough and Lavender woke with a start. She looked a little edgy for a second and then turned to face Tails.
"Lavender, what were you talking about there?" asked Tails.
"I was……..I'm not sure." replied Lavender, "I felt a bit odd and then something pulled me in."
"Something?" asked Alicia.
"I don't know. But I felt mother….and Links." said Lavender, "And…….."
Lavenders face fell and she made a small sound of astonished fear. Her tails suddenly pulsed a bright yellow and she screamed. The group in the middle of the village heard her and ran over as Lavender collapsed.
"Lavender? LAVENDER! What is it?" said Tails frantically.
"C…….C…..daaaaaaargh……Chaos Zone!" screamed Lavender.
"What?" said T2.
As if to answer T2's question a shout went up from the other end of the village.
"EVERYONE! Come quick!"
It was Charles. Everyone looked round to see him running across the village at a full sprint. As he neared he started shouting.
"The Chaos Zone! It's expanding again! I've clocked it at 250mph!" cried Charles in a panic.
Everyone's faces went white. Lavender continued to scream.
"But that means….." started T2 looking towards the western sky.
A gentle glow was forming on it. It continued to build and build and build.
"My god." said T2 as the Chaos Zone appeared on the horizon and shot towards them.
There wasn't time to do anything but watch as the Zone quickly covered the distance and absorbed Knotlake within a few seconds.
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Warning sirens went off all over Robotropolis but Robotnik didn't need them. He knew what was happening but there was no time to do anything about it. He flicked to an external camera. There was a bright glow on the horizon. Robotnik continued to stare at the screen in disbelief as a giant energy wave shot into view.
The wave hit the edges of Robotropolis and within a few brief milliseconds was past it and away.
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None of them could describe the feeling. It was as if they were being pulled apart. When it was done they stopped and waited. Finally Bunnie spoke.
"What the ho ha just happened?" she said.
"I…..I don't know Bunnie." replied T2, "Anyone?"
"I…..fe….feel funny." said Lavender.
"Me too." said Sally, "What is going on?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" cried Sonic and Tails suddenly.
"What is it?" cried Manic.
"Brother!" cried Sonia.
"Father!" screamed Miles and Alicia frantically.
"Tails! NOOOOOO! T2! PETYA! HELP THEM!" cried Lavender.
"What?" said T2 and Petya together.
"The Deep Power Stone! Help them! There going super!" wailed Lavender.
T2 and Petya suddenly understood. This was chaos energy. Sonic and Tails were both sensitive to it and without rings they would......they had to help! But how? They couldn't even tell if they were alive or not, but they had to help. Suddenly they felt an odd feeling. They melt themselves merging with something. At first they couldn't tell what it was but then it started to become clearer. T2 started to feel a presence around himself. It was familiar…too familiar. Suddenly he recognised it.
"TAILS?" cried T2.
"T2!" cried Tails' voice back.
"What is this?"
"I….I don't know."
"Petya! Is that you." said Sonic.
"Yes Sonic." replied Petya.
"I don't feel any pain anymore. What happened?" said Sonic.
"It's the Deep Power Stone." said Lavender, "They are keeping you from going Super."
"Lavender, how do you know so much?" asked Sally.
"I don't know…..but I know." she replied.
"How?" asked Chalk.
"I don't know!" cried Lavender, "I just know!"
Just then a strange feeling swept across the minds of Sally, Manic, Sonia, Chalk, Charles, Miles and Alicia. They felt there mind slipping away as if their memories were being drained away.
"What's happening?" cried Sally.
"HOLD ON! JUST HOLD ON!" cried another voice.
Tails was suddenly brought alive. That voice it was….
"AMY!" he cried.
"TAILS!" cried Amy.
"What is…..I mean….how……why?" stammered Tails.
"In a moment Tails." said Amy, "Concentrate everyone. Do not let go of your memories. Focus on me and remember a moment in your life. PLEASE!"
Sally didn't understand but she did as Amy asked. A memory came to her. An old one, one from her earlier days in Knothole. A memory she cherished more than anything. Her first true kiss with Sonic. The memory stuck fast, held and finally with a sudden force it exploded outwards.
Manic and Sonia's minds started to close in. Memories flowed away before Sonia felt Amy in her mind. She became aware of Manic in her mind too. Suddenly both of them remembered a moment in their lives they could never forget. The day they had been brought together with Sonic and had formed Sonic Underground. The day their lives changed for the better. With a flash it happened.
Chalk was hot to react at Amy voice. A memory came to her in an instant. The day Sally had been captured and de-robotisised. The beginning of the end and the day she began her quest to rid Mobius of her mistakes.
Miles and Alicia were also thinking of a moment. A moment not so long passed. The moment they finally became a family again.
For Bunnie the memory was the day she had finally expressed her true feeling to Knuckles and the day he had returned them.
For Charles the moment was simple. The day he had been de-robotisised. The memory came to him easily and stuck fast.
There was a building in energy and in massive burst something happened. They felt there memories coming back. Streaming in from all sides.
"What just happened?" asked Chalk.
"It's something about this place." said Amy, "It drains your memories."
"Amy?" said Tails slowly, "Is that really you?"
Tails felt an energy surround him and he knew what it was.
"Yes Tails it is." replied Amy.
"But….how?" he asked, "You're robotisised."
"I don't understand it myself yet."
"Wait a minute." said Sonic, "If you are Amy, and if what you said was true….why didn't myself, Tails, T2, Petya and Lavender start loosing memories?"
"Because we all have a power to stop it." said Lavender, "I have the Vault and you four are sharing the power of the Deep Power Stones."
"What do you mean, sharing?" asked Petya.
"You have merged with Sonic. You are both sharing the energy of the Deep Power Stone. Same goes for uncle T2 and father."
"Merged?" said Tails.
"That's strange." said Sally.
"So what do we do now?" asked Alicia.
"I'm not sure sugah." replied Bunnie, "We have to get out of here but…..wait."
"What is it Bunnie?" asked Chalk.
"We're not alone." replied Bunnie.
It was then that they all felt it. Another two presences were approaching. They both seemed strangely familiar. Suddenly Lavender shrieked.
"It's Links!" she cried.
"Links!" said Tails whirling.
"Yes it's me." replied Links' voice.
"My god Links! Are you alright?" asked Sally.
"Yes I am fine. Well as fine as you can be in here." replied Links.
"What has happened to us?" asked Sonia.
"We have become whiffs of energy lost in this sea of chaos energy." said Links.
"Whiffs of energy?" said Manic.
"We have no form here. Inside the Zone nothing can survive apart from in an energy format." said Links.
"Then how do we get out?" asked Chalk.
"We cannot." said Links sadly, "All of Mobius is now covered in the field. Our lives as we know them have gone."
"NO! I refuse to believe that!" cried Petya, "There is always a way out of everything."
"Why would we want to get out." said another voice.
Everyone stopped.
"Ah know that voice….but it's not possible. Knuckles?" said Bunnie slowly.
"The one you call Amy called me that too." said Knuckles, "What do you mean?"
"Knuckles?" said Bunnie puzzled.
"He can't remember anything Bunnie." said Amy.
"Knuckles….don't you remember me?" asked Bunnie.
She felt lost. Why did this have to happen? What was wrong? Didn't he remember their love?
It was at this moment that Knuckles felt something in his mind. He knew the feeling. Why couldn't he remember? The feeling increased and it triggered something in his mind. A feeling of belonging and friendship towards Bunnie….but it was more. It was….love. He would have blinked but he couldn't.
"Bunnie?" he said slowly, "I know you."
"Huh?!" said Bunnie quickly.
"I remember this feeling. I remember you."
Bunnie and Knuckles' energy forms moved closer together and soon merged into one. There was a shrill cry and a massive flash. Both Bunnie and Knuckles screamed and were flung apart from each other.
"Bunnie?!" called Sally.
"Knuckles?!" cried Sonic.
There was no response from either of them.
"What happened?" asked Alicia nervously.
"I don't know dear." said Sally equally nervous.
"This isn't good." said Chalk.
"What happened to them?" asked Lavender.
"If you don't know then how should we?" said Links.
"We have to get out of here." said Sonia.
"We can't." said Links, "The Zone covers all of Mobius now. There is nothing we can do!"
"What if we reformed the Chaos Emeralds?" said Miles.
Everyone fell silent. Miles was suddenly a little bit worried about voicing his thought.
"I'm…I'm sorry…it was just a…." stuttered Miles.
"…..a really novel idea." said Sonic.
"R…really?" asked Miles.
"Yes." replied Sonic, "Do you think it's possible?"
"I'm not sure." said Sally.
"It might be." said Manic, "All this energy came from the Emeralds didn't it, so…."
"….so if we reform them the energy will be transferred back to the Vault of Forever." finished Lavender, "Yes it might just work. Way past Miles!"
"Thanks Lav." replied Miles.
"The question is how?" asked T2.
"I might be able to help there." said Sonic, "I've just had a little idea. I might be able to absorb the energy."
"What? How?" asked Chalk.
"By going super." said Sonic.
"Sonic no!" said Sally, "You can't, it's too dangerous. Without a ring you could be torn apart."
"You're forgetting the Deep Power Stone." said Petya, "There energy is identical to rings but far greater. Myself and T2 might be able to help."
"But what about Tails?" asked Amy.
"I'll help too." replied Tails.
"What?" said Amy.
"If both Sonic and I do it we stand a much better chance of actually making this work."
"Well all we can do is give it a try." said Sally, "We have nothing to lose."
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Sonic, Tails, T2, Petya, Chalk and Lavender slowly neared the centre of the Chaos Zone. The place where the first drop of energy had spilled out onto Mobius. The others had stayed behind to see if they could do anything for Bunnie and Knuckles who were still not responding to anyone's calls.
The energy at the centre was much more closely packed than anywhere else. It was so strong that the small group almost found it impossible to move forwards. Eventually they reached the spot they wanted and stopped.
"So what do we do now?" asked Chalk.
Chalk wasn't actually needed as a part of this plan but she had insisted strongly on coming, saying that she wanted to be there when her mistake was corrected.
"I'm not sure Chalk." said Sonic.
"We need to form the energy up so it can condense back into the Chaos Emeralds." said Lavender.
"Sometimes Lavender, you amaze me." said Tails.
"So how do we do this?" said T2.
"I'm not sure." said Lavender in a pondering way, "Maybe if T2 and Petya gentle ease off the power of the Deep Power Stone something will happen."
"We can only try it." said Tails.
"You sure Tails? I mean this will probably hurt like nothing you've felt before." said T2.
"We have to try. Being stuck in this place for the rest of my life isn't my idea of fun." answered Sonic.
"Alright. We'll go slow then." replied Petya, "T2 you ready?"
"Yes."
"Ok then…let's start."
Sonic and Tails slowly felt the energy of the Deep Power Stones slip away. As it did the chaos energy around them started to react with their forms. The energy continued to build.
"T…..Tails…….you…..argh……you ok?" asked Sonic.
"I…..think……..so." gulped Tails.
Just then there was a sudden increase in energy as the power of the Deep Power Stones stopped. Sonic and Tails both screamed.
"I'll try to help." called Lavender.
Lavender strained against the energy. The Vault of Forever still existed. The Deep Power stones and the energy of Mobius was still with her so the Vault had to be there to sustain the energy. She tried to open the doorway to let the energy in but she couldn't. The chaos energy around her kept the door shut tightly.
"It's no good. The Emeralds will have to be in complete form before I can open the door." called Lavender.
Sonic and Tails screamed again. The energy around them was virtually tearing them apart. Just then there was a sudden laugh. Chalk, T2, Petya and Lavender froze in place. The laugh came again. Chalk energy form suddenly expanded and seemed to turn to pure rage.
"IT'S HIM!" she cried.
"I'm surprised you recognised me." said a voice.
T2, Petya and Lavender knew who it was in an instant.
"Robotnik?!" cried T2.
"That's right."
"But how? Why haven't you lost your memory?" said Lavender slightly taken aback.
"That is because I, little guardian, I am not the same as you. I strive to conquer and control. To this end I can draw on this energy and I am unaffected by it." replied Robotnik.
Just then Sonic and Tails screamed with a new found pain. Their scream pierced the very fabric of the Chaos Zone and it shuddered at the sound of it. Robotnik laughed.
"He's killing them!" cried Chalk.
Chalk's energy form suddenly sprang forwards towards Robotnik. As she neared she was flung backwards with a giant scream.
"Fool. You cannot hurt me here. I have decided to leave Mobius like this. Here I really do control everything. No-one can defeat me here!"e'otnik laughed.
ic of the Chaos Zone and it shuddered at the sound of it.
the energy in but she couldn'ails both screamed.
d said Robotnik with a laugh.
"Chalk? CHALK!" cried Petya frantically.
She got no response from the rabbit.
"Chalk no!" whimpered Lavender.
A sense of full anger and hated swelled in the small kitsune. She found herself unable to control herself. He shot towards Robotnik and in a fit of anger tried to land a striking blow at him. She was rebuffed and thrown backwards. She felt her energy slipping away. As it did she was snapped awake. There was a new energy in the Vault. A shining star that hadn't been there before. She sensed the energy source to her side and turned to face it. A glowing purple light could be seen. It increased in size and suddenly in a flash formed into its true form. A small purple gem was floating in mid air. Lavender's eyes widened.
"A….a Chaos Emerald!" she cried.
"What?!" cried Robotnik.
"It isn't over until the hedgehog says so Robutnik!" cried Sonic.
Sonic and Tails' energy forms were now spinning round and round in a circle. Sparks of energy were shooting from them both. Suddenly a spark of energy shot from them and stopped. There was another bright flash and a yellow coloured gem appeared. The Chaos Zone seemed to buckle slightly at the formation. Robotnik was obviously shocked at the sudden appearance of two Chaos Emeralds. He dived towards Sonic and Tails only to be met by Chalk's energy form.
"NO!" she cried as she collided with him, "You will not stop them. I'll make sure of that!"
"I should have just robotisised you to start with!" roared Robotnik, "But instead I'll just kill you."
Chalk suddenly screamed. Lavender could feel the chaos energy around them falling slightly.
"T2! Petya! You gotta help!" she cried.
Chalk's screams suddenly stopped. Lavender froze. Could she be….?
"CHALK!" cried Lavender.
"And now for you!" cried Robotnik.
Just then there was another flash and a third Emerald appeared as Lavender felt something close in around her. A force welled up from inside her and tried to push back. Robotnik's force was greater though and Lavender started to strain heavily.
"Help!" she whimpered.
"NOW T2!" cried Petya.
"What?" said Robotnik momentarily losing his grip on Lavender.
He was suddenly hit by a powerful ripple of energy. Lavender looked over to see a bright spot of swirling energy. It was T2 and Petya.
"You'll pay for that!" roared Robotnik.
Suddenly there are two bright flashes and the blue and green Chaos Emerald appeared. The Chaos Zone literally shakes at the formation. Robotnik lets out a scream as if he had just been stabbed in the heart. Lavender knew what had happened.
"The Chaos Zone is weakening. There are only two Emeralds left." she cried.
"Then it's time to finish this!" cried Tails, "T2, Petya, we need your help."
"Right Tails. Let's do this." replied T2.
The energy forms of T2 and Petya moved closer to that of Sonic and Tails. They joined and there was a moment's silence. The moment grew and suddenly there was a massive burst of energy. With a final burst of energy all seven Chaos Emeralds appeared. Lavender was quick to react. She concentrated hard and there was a violent tremor across the entire Zone. She let out a piercing scream.
"I'm opening the Vault! Just hold those Emeralds there!" she cried.
There was a flicker and then a sudden drop in energy. As if cracking like a window the Chaos Zone began to splinter. Cracks started to spread all over it and a faint glow of blue light seemed to gleam across the Zone.
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On Mobius the Chaos Zone that covered the entire planet shimmered, cracked and exploded in a spray of splinters. It shrunk back, shattering as it went until it covered an area no bigger than it did when it had first formed. Sally hit the ground hard. She proper herself up and looked around. Sonia, Manic, Miles, Alicia, Links, Charles and the robotic Amy lay around her.
"What happened?" cried Sally looking around frantically.
"They did it!" cried Sonia.
"No not quite!" said Links quickly, "There is still one obstacle."
"What?" asked Miles.
"The Master Emerald." said Alicia quickly.
Sally was looking around frantically. Someone was missing. Then she saw it.
"BUNNIE! KNUCKLES!" she cried.
Everyone looked at where Sally was looking. On the ground not so far away, Bunnie and Knuckles lat motionless on the ground in each others arms. Sally found it hard to move. She was stiff and exhausted. Slowly she crawled her way over. Bunnie had a small contented smile on her face. Gently Sally gave her a nudge.
"Bunnie?" she said quietly.
Bunnie slowly mumbled. A small sigh escaped from her and her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey Sally girl. Is…..is it over?" she asked.
"Nearly Bunnie." replied Sally.
Sally looked at Knuckles. He was different. The end of his red quills had changed colour to an odd pinky colour and stuck outwards ands upwards. His eyes were closed and his breathing was barely noticeable. Sally looked back at the others.
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The others felt the Chaos Zone splinter and shrink. The sudden collapse of the energy field made them all scream. The seven Chaos Emeralds still floated in mid air but there was still one matter to deal with.
"The Master Emerald!" cried T2.
"I know!" wailed Lavender, "We have to reform it. Without the Master Emeralds power in the Vault the Chaos Emerald could shatter again. If that happens the Chaos Zone will reform and all this will have been for nothing."
"Right we have to…." started Sonic before he suddenly screamed.
"You'll do nothing!" cried Robotnik's voice, "I am more powerful here than you can ever imagine…AND I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"
"NO!" cried Petya.
"YES!" cried Robotnik.
A large dark energy ball formed in front of them all. It swelled and then shot towards them. It streaked straight past Petya and Tails making them cry out.
"I have the upper hand here!" gloated Robotnik, "Nothing can stop me from….ARGH!"
"Nothing but me! I'll stop you!" cried a voice as a bright ball of white energy appeared out of nowhere, "I won't let you do this Robotnik. I'll make sure I correct my mistakes!"
"CHALK!" cried Lavender, "You're alive."
"T2 quickly." cried Petya.
T2 didn't need to reply. He quickly moved towards Sonic and Tails. There energies joined once again and this time there was a bright pulse as they did so.
"You rabbit will not survive me this time!" cried Robotnik charging at Chalk.
The rabbits energy mass glowed bright yellow and stood fast. Robotnik collided with her and bounced off.
"What?!" he cried.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else!" screamed Chalk as she shot at him. Her energy mass turned into a dart like stream and struck Robotnik. She passed straight through and Robotnik screamed. His energy form started to fizz. Suddenly in a burst of energy it exploded. Chalk spun towards the others.
"Do it people!" she cried.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA DA!" cried Lavender as her energy form rippled and burst.
There was a spark of energy from Sonic, Tails, T2 and Petya and in a bright flash a large number of green gem fragment appeared. They moved together and merged together. There was a whine and the gem glowed and suddenly it happened. The Chaos Zone suddenly glinted, cracked and fragmented into pieces.
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Sonic slowly opened his eyes. He was staring at the ground….THE GROUND! He sat up quickly and almost collapsed again. It took a moment for his head to clear and then he sat up again slowly. Next to him lay Tails. He found that he was holding Tails hand. He was slightly shocked by this and let go. He took another look around. On his other side lay Petya and he found he was holding her hand too.
"Why am I holding everyone's hands?" he asked to himself as he let go.
Just then T2, who was lying next to Tails, groaned and slowly propped himself up. He looked around.
"Man what happened?" he said.
"Dunno T2. But it looks like we did it." said Sonic slowly.
It was then that Tails and Petya both stirred and sat up. Tails put a hand to his head.
"Oh man…my head." he groaned, "Hey did we do it?"
"It looks like it." said Petya.
"Look!" cried Sonic.
They all looked at where Sonic was pointing. Sitting on the ground a few feet away were the seven Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald. Just then Tails started to look around frantically.
"Where are Lavender and Chalk?" he asked slowly.
"And Robotnik!" said T2.
Tails was already on his feet. They seemed to be standing on the remains of the Floating Island that had fallen into the sea. The area wasn't very large.
"Lavender!" cried Tails.
They all fell silent to listen. A small cough was heard from just over the other side of a rock formation. Tails was first to react. He stood up, almost fell over and stumbled towards the sound. On the other side of the rock formation, Lavender and Chalk lay side by side on the ground. Lavender's tails pulsed a new brighter yellow colour. Tails knelt down beside her and ran a hand through her hair.
"Lavender?" he asked.
Slowly Lavender moaned and looked up at him.
"We did it father. We did it." she said and sighed.
Slowly her eyes closed and she fell asleep.
"Must be worn out." said Petya, "How's Chalk T2?"
Tails looked up to see T2 kneeling beside Chalk. The rabbit looked completely drained. T2 gave her a nudge.
"Chalk. Hey Chalk you ok." he said.
"Yes I'm fine." replied the rabbit opening her eyes.
"What happened? What did you do it Robotnik." asked Petya.
"He's gone. He will never hurt anyone ever again. I made sure of that." replied Chalk.
Everyone looked at her. Gone? Could this finally be the end?