Be One World, Be The Light
Chapter 14: Dreams Of An Absolution
Here we are, ladies and gentleman. Before we begin, I'd like to give a big shout out to CaffeineCloud & Tashasaurous for their support. They're both amazing writers and I highly recommend checking out their stories if you haven't already. Enjoy the chapter.
"At last! You are finally released at last! How I have longed to be at your side! IBLIS!"
Mephiles may be incapable of altering his appearance, but even those who cowered before him would see the joy filling his gaze. His awkward steps were no more, marching forward with newfound determination. The negative energy of the Chaos Emeralds slowly formed within his hands, the keys to unlocking their bond. Like a toddler wanting their toy, his claw hands eagerly outstretched to claim what was once lost.
"No!"
Mephiles yanked his head back, refraining himself from scoffing at the would-be threat. Silver awkwardly flew forward, cyan energy fading around his person, struggling to call on the mighty power he once wielded. The evildoer's arm radiated with energy, the scorching blade still surrounded his forearm. In a single fluid motion, Mephiles spun around and aggressively swiped the blade. A cry of anguish escaped Silver as the blade seared clean through his chest. His powers faded, dropping the future warrior from the air. Silver landed against the ground with a sickening thud, head dropping limp against the hard pavement.
"SILVER!" Blaze screeched, forcing herself to run to his aid.
The quick movement forced her injury to intensify once more, but Blaze refused to let it control her. Even as her body cried for her to stop moving, Blaze persevered and rushed to her friend's side. She dropped to her knees, her arms wrapping tightly around the motionless hedgehog. She dragged him to her lap, one arm supporting his head, the other examining his wound.
Mephiles' blade carved clean through the surface of his torso, tearing several chunks of chest fur, leaving a diagonal line in its place. No blood seeped through the large cut; the scorching heat had instantly cauterised the wound. Her hand delicately brushed against his chest, small relief latching onto her expression. Mephiles failed to cut deep enough to strike any vital areas. His attack was swift, merely trying to get Silver out of the way, too immersed by the Flames of Disaster lingering above to deal the killing blow.
A small groan grabbed Blaze's attention, releasing the breath her lungs suppressed. His eyes opened to meet her own. The reunited friends gazeds towards one another in silence, unsure on what to say during their final moments together. Silver hated the sadness held within her once fiery gaze. Dried tears stained her golden eyes, pupils dilated from releasing her bottled up emotions after so long.
He shakily raised his own hand, fingers trembling with fright. "Blaze… Why?"
Without shifting her gaze, Blaze grasped his hand within her own. Her voice strained with every word, the great authority she once carried was no more. Distraught had taken its place. "I couldn't let you die, Silver."
Silver's eyes held great agony, not for the wound that scorched his body. The emotional pain of failing to save their world once more seeped out within his words. "But you said we had to save the world, no matter the cost."
With a brief rueful laugh, she leaned forward and pressed her temple against his own, fresh tears dripping against his face. "I guess we're both fools then."
Uncaring of what was to come next, the friends embraced each other closely in their final moments. Nothing else mattered to them anymore. Solaris would become whole once again. The whole universe would cower at the Sun God's might. The hot rays of the flames filled Mephiles with a sense of warmth, brightening his otherwise cold heart. In this quiet moment, when all the universe is put on pause, nothing could take away this moment of glee.
Or so he thought.
From the barren streets came the roaring glow of Sol Control. The bright light faded away, revealing the return of the Ultimate Life Form. Proudly carrying himself with no fear or doubt, Shadow gritted his teeth, hellbent on exacting revenge for the evildoer's actions on the ARK.
Mephiles halted to an abrupt stop, shock filling his once lifeless gaze. "You."
Shadow refused to take his eyes away, matching the evildoer's terrifying gaze with his own. With a confident grin, he revealed the Sol Emerald held tightly within his grasp. "Surprised?"
"Impossible," Mephiles snarled, momentarily taken away from his end goal. "The Emeralds were nullified!"
"You forget, Mephiles. I radiate with Chaos energy," Shadow calmly explained, his free arm raising with a familiar glow coursing down his arm. "Sol Control!"
A bathing glow engulfed the Flames of Disaster, forcing it to slowly become transparent. Panic filled Mephiles' once stoic demeanour, forcing him to charge forward in a haste to save his other half. Dark energy surrounded his person, propelling Mephiles with speed to surpass even Shadow's. His clawed hand stretched out, swiping at where his other half once lay.
"NO!" Mephiles bellowed, frantically searching around the surrounding area for the Flames of Disaster. Ruined buildings stretched out for miles. There was no sign of his other half in any direction. He clutched both hands, claws piercing through his own flesh, arms shaking with rage.
He shot around and charged forward, stopping just a few feet from the grinning hedgehog. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHERE IS IBLIS?!"
"You're smart," Shadow responded calmly, his grin further infuriating the dark being. "Figure it out."
No longer holding his indomitable composure, Mephiles reared back his arm. Dark energy swarmed around his wrist, great fury filling his once lifeless gaze. His raging fist directly struck against Shadow's arm. While the hedgehog had thrown up his guard to cushion the blow, the weight behind the strike carried enough force to launch him away. Shadow collided against the nearest building, breaking through the weakened cement wall with ease.
Unwilling to let this act of defiance go unpunished, Mephiles pursued his opponent. His claw hand grasped Shadow's quills, forcing the Ultimate Life Form to meet his fury. His voice dropped an octave lower, leering forward to assert his dominance. "Your death will be slow and excruciating. Tell me what you have done with Iblis!"
Despite the extensive attack, Shadow refused to be intimidated. Though blood slowly seeped through the corner of his mouth, his grin never wavered. "Do your worst."
Mephiles' brow furrowed, hissing sharply at the opposition. "Poor choice of words, Shadow. As soon as I am finished with you, the rest of your friends will be begging for death's sweet release. Shall I start with Rouge?"
Shadow's frown darkened. While Mephiles gripped his quills, Shadow threw up his knee, striking underneath the evildoer's jaw. Freed from the death grip, the dark hedgehog bounced forward and tackled Mephiles out of the ruined building. Taking advantage of the momentum, Shadow bounced away and threw a single Chaos Spear forward. The powerful projectile did nothing to damage Mephiles', though it served its purpose to launch the monster away. Upon hitting the inside of a deserted bakery, Shadow snapped his fingers and quickly formed another Chaos Spear. The powerful projectile struck the support beam, forcing the upper levels to give way and collapse, burying the evildoer in hundreds of debris.
With temporary breathing space, Shadow pivoted on his heels and skated over towards the despondent duo. The two paid no attention to the altercation. Blaze continued to cradle the injured hedgehog within her arms. He reached them in due time, preparing to give them another lecture. But as his eyes scanned them, he took note of the future warrior's injury.
"Is he all right?" Shadow cautiously asked, trying to conceal the concern in his voice.
Blaze raised her head, fresh tears still within her once furious gaze. "No… He's not…"
Shadow arched his eyebrow, noting the future warrior was still breathing. He swiftly glanced back with a sense of urgency. His attack was only a temporary solution to keep the dark being at bay. "We don't have long. Where are the others?"
"I don't know," Blaze admitted, her gaze shifting away.
Using every ounce of self-restraint he carried to hold his tongue, he leaned down and gripped her shoulder with some force. "Where's the proud guardian I've come to know?"
While she initially winced at his solid grip, Blaze returned her focus to him once more. "I was never a guardian."
"And yet, you still did your duty proudly," Shadow firmly stated. "Princess or not, you're still Blaze the Cat. It's not over yet."
She glanced down at the Sol Emerald presented to her. With slow hesitation, she moved her hand that once comforted Silver to wrap her fingers around the powerful gem. Its beautiful energy radiated once more, vibrating with life. It called to her, begging to be protected from harm. Its presence comforted her, the raw energy filling the princess with sincerity.
While she contemplated on what to do, Shadow placed the lifeless Chaos Emerald to the side. His shoulders tensed, hands tightening with anticipation. He stood up straight and turned around to confront the approaching threat. "I'll keep him busy for as long as I can."
A fearless warrior to the end, Shadow watched intently as the loose rubble burst from the structure. The monster that tormented them for so long emerged from the shadows once more, his raging dark energy letting his fury be known. Shadow bellowed fearlessly to his presence, bursting forward with Chaos energy swarming his person. Their fists met halfway, the combined force unloading a colossal burst of force in its wake. Energy forms of lightning streamed from their combined impact, knocking up chunks of the streets throughout the area. Their fight took them towards the air, leaving nothing but orange and purple streaks in their wake.
Blaze repeatedly shifted her focus between Silver, the Sol Emerald and the fight lingering within the distance. Even from afar, she could feel the bursts of energy vibrating from their battle. As much as she wished for others to take her place in this moment, Blaze knew Shadow could not defeat Mephiles alone. Even with his mighty energy, the dark being's power greatly outweighed his own.
"Silver," she whispered, bringing his half-conscious state back to her eyes. "What do I do?"
Despite his burning chest and disoriented gaze, confusion plastered his expression. It was always he who turned to her for advice, not the other way around. His trembling hand found her own once more. "Fight."
She squeezed his hand in return. Her mouth opened to reply, but the words she prepared to give died on her tongue. Approaching footsteps captivated her focus. Blaze pushed herself to stand, all the while being mindful of how she let Silver go. The flames of her soul returned, igniting her fists. Mixed feelings engraved her face as the approaching figures reached them. A lone echidna rushed forward, holding a large gemstone above his head. Hovering closely by was the young fox, who carried a small raccoon securely in his arms.
Silver pushed himself to lean up, using a nearby car for support. One hand clutched at his chest, the other grasping the lifeless Chaos Emerald. As he matched Blaze's gaze, shock and relief carried within his voice. "Guys…"
Knuckles set the Master Emerald down with great care and consideration. "Sorry we're late."
Tails planted his feet on the ground and let Marine down. Without hesitation, she raced forward and threw herself into the princess' arms. Blaze extinguished her flames just before she caught Marine. The young raccoon unknowingly forced pressure onto Blaze's wound, but the princess made no effort to push her away. Intentionally or not, her hands found themselves resting on Marine's shoulders.
Meanwhile, Tails hunched down to Silver's side, taking note of the large wound. "Silver?! Are you okay?!"
The future warrior softly nodded. "It's not as bad as it looks."
"Good to see you, Blaze!" Marine exclaimed, her smile as bright as Blaze remembered.
Though Blaze tried to hold a smile, the sadness in her eyes betrayed the motion. "Marine… I'm not who you think I am."
Marine's smile never faded. She nodded in return. "I know."
Blaze took a step back in surprise. "You do?"
"Yeah, you're even greater than I thought you were!" Marine enthusiastically exclaimed. "I always thought you were just some moody, spoiled princess! But you're awesome, Blaze!"
Her usual frown almost took its place at the comment. But confusion overlapped her expression instead. Several questions raced around her mind at once. "I don't understand. You all know about what Mephiles said?"
"We do," Tails confirmed. "It's a bit of a long story."
"How did you guys get here?" Silver questioned.
"Also a long story," Knuckles responded, keeping focus on the giant gemstone. "Be quiet for a minute. I need to focus…"
The echidna's eyes closed, both hands resting delicately against the Master Emerald. His breathing softened, the world around him fading away. Nothing else mattered at this moment but the Emerald. The others watched in while unknowingly suppressing their breaths. Soft glows surrounded the mighty gemstone, its presence becoming a beacon of hope amongst the darkness. Silver briefly peered down at the Chaos Emerald, a hint of a smile threatening to reveal itself. Its gentle glow returned, radiating with pure energy.
Several glowing silhouettes materialised into existence, surrounding the small group. The effects of Chaos Control slowly faded away. In its place were several familiar faces, each holding one of the seven Chaos Emeralds within their palms. The group briefly glanced around, both surprised and relieved to be back in Crisis City.
"We're back," Sonic muttered, bringing his emerald gaze to the giant gemstone and its protector. "Knuckles? Tails? Marine?"
"Sonic, you're okay!" Tails exclaimed with relief.
"Don't the rest of us get a greeting?" Rouge teased with a small wink, retraining her witty personality once more.
Amy glanced down at the Chaos Emerald within her hand, its gentle glow reflecting softly on her eyes. "They're back to life!"
"You're welcome," Knuckles said drily, though his growing smirk betrayed his false annoyance. "Everyone all right?"
"Better now that we're back," Rouge admitted. Her eyes briefly scanned the small group, noting the absence of her closest friend. "Where's Shadow?"
No one needed to answer as the nearby commotion captured their attention. Everyone collectively shifted their gaze towards the skies. Mephiles, the one who was responsible for these events, furiously pressed his fists into the dark hedgehog. Shadow held his arms forward, desperately trying to cushion the powerful blows. Unlike their previous encounters, Mephile held nothing back any longer. He was out for blood. Shadow's blood. As powerful as Shadow may be, even he could not stand up to Mephiles' full power. After all, he was half of a Sun God for a reason. One final punch polluted the air with intensity, sending the dark hedgehog into another building.
He crashed through with a painful yell. His screams stopped short upon smashing through the window, now buried within scattered bricks and other damaged furniture. Temporarily relieved from the battle, Mephiles threw his furious gaze to the large team below. This motion caused everyone to tighten their stances, readying for a rematch. Upon noticing the return of the Chaos Emeralds' powers, his fury awakened in the form of darkened energy.
Scorching power surrounded his palms, ready to unleash his hidden rage. "Inadequate delinquents! You insignificant specks of feculent scum! How dare you defy me!"
Scoffing at the remark, Sonic placed one hand to his chest as if he were offended. "How dare we? How dare you with the fancy words!"
This only seemed to further enrage Mephiles. "This is nothing but an inconvenience! You only delay the inevitable!"
"Hey!"
Mephiles stopped short of attacking the group, throwing his gaze towards the source of the voice. His once voidless gaze widened with shock, awestruck at the defiance. Shadow's gloved hand emerged from the rubble, pulling himself out of the destruction. He lightly stumbled forward, one arm clenched tightly around his torso. Cuts and scrapes surrounded his person, his gloves slightly torn. His injured appearance concerned everyone greatly, but no one was more worried than Rouge. Her eyes widened, terrified he was about to meet his end for good. Shadow's body trembled, legs threatening to give out at any moment. Though his body ached and sent anguished signals to his mind, Shadow's willpower could never be broken. Death itself would cower at his resilience.
Defiant to the end, Shadow matched Mephiles' awestruck appearance with his furious gaze. "Is that all you got?"
Mephiles responded with a soft growl. Just what did he have to do to put Shadow down for good? "You're going to wish you had died with Maria."
The threat only served to strengthen the Ultimate Life Form's resolution. As he returned to the streets, Shadow wrapped one hand over his wrist, detaching one of the Inhibitor Rings. It dropped to the ground with a soft glow, allowing further power to course through his person. The second ring followed suit, freeing Shadow of the shackles that held his true power at bay once more.
The greater power within let itself be known, surrounding the dark hedgehog with an impenetrable barrier very few would dare to challenge. Chaos energy surrounded the hedgehog, howling throughout the air with a sickening crack of lightning. Replenished with newfound strength, Shadow's cries of determination filled the air around them. He launched forward, his speed greatly amplified to the point only the likes of Sonic and Blaze could keep up. He curled into a ball, pressing himself tightly against the dark being. Mephiles caught the spinning fighter, albeit with some difficulty, struggling to hold the furious dark hedgehog at bay. His defence finally failed, allowing Shadow to push through and send the two of them crashing into the streets below.
"We have to help him!" Amy declared, preparing to charge forward with her trusty hammer.
Before she could do so, Sonic's hands gripped her shoulders, silently urging her to reconsider. Shade and Espio mirrored his actions, both of them blocking Rouge from trying to intervene.
"We can't, Amy," Sonic hesitantly admitted. "Shadow's barely holding his own as it is. Do you think any of us could do better?"
Awestruck by the once confident hedgehog, Amy's jaw dropped. "But… We can't just do nothing!"
"We're gonna use the Chaos Emeralds," Sonic reassured, turning towards the guardian for help. "Knuckles."
Sonic's eyes spoke the words he didn't need to say. Knuckles caught on, returning his focus to the mighty gemstone once more. While not particularly fond of abusing its power for personal gain, the extreme circumstances forced him to take drastic measures. His namesakes gently rested against the Master Emerald as he recited the chant of his ancestors. "The servers are the seven Chaos. Chaos is power, power is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos..."
The others waited with anticipation, questioning what was to come next. If the Chaos Emeralds power had already been restored, what else could the Master Emerald do for them? While Knuckles focused on his chant, another sickening roar filled the air around them.
Silver's ears stung at the sensitization, the familiar roaring forcing him perk up. "Is that… What I think it is?"
Tails hesitantly flew into the air for a better perspective, his namesakes twirling softly behind. As he overpassed the buildings, he lowered his goggles over his head. The goggles, also designed as a pair of binoculars, allowed the young scientist to see within the distance. His finger delicately pressed the button on the side, zooming in towards the disturbance.
His face suddenly went pale, heart sinking deep within his stomach. A humanoid being of magma and rock loomed over the city within the distance. Its two large arms and legs dripped with scorching lava. Two horns sprouted from its armoured head. Its three reptilian eyes scanned the city for fresh prey. Unlike its other half, this monster had no conscious, only predatory instincts. No real thoughts. Only aggression.
"Iblis," Tails muttered, lips beginning to quiver in fright.
The giant creature evolved once more. Two bat-like wings burst from its back, carrying the giant monstrosity over the ruined city. Like a demon from Hell, it came with a vengeance. Terrified to gaze upon the monster any further, Tails quickly threw his goggles up and returned back to the others. His terrified expression immediately caught their attention, confirming their suspicions.
"It's him," Tails whispered. "He's… Coming."
Amy gently wrapped her arms around Tails, comforting the young fox. The others exchanged glances, realising the end of the universe was approaching if they didn't act now.
Sonic frowned, shielding his own concerns with determination. "We can't let Mephiles and Iblis join up. If they do, it's game over."
Shade interjected. "But I thought Mephiles said he could only join with Iblis if he was born anew. Isn't the danger of Solaris over now?"
While her points were valid, Sonic shook his head. "Either way, they have to be stopped. Let's not risk it."
They needn't wait any longer as Knuckles finally stepped back from the Master Emerald, mentally drained from the intense concentration. He gazed back to the restless group. "We're ready."
Everyone's gaze collectively shifted to the seven Chaos Emeralds, watching as they escaped their grasp and reached the centre of the Master Emerald. Their bright lights illuminated the area with more shades of colour than a rainbow. What was about to bestow upon them was a rare honour only few had witnessed. The Chaos Emeralds suddenly expanded, reaching half the size of the Master Emerald. The much larger gemstones gently pressed against the ground, making their precedence well-known while housing extraordinary power. All except for Sonic and Knuckles marvelled at the incredible transformation.
The Super Emeralds were summoned once more.
"Whoa," Rouge gasped, her heart pounding with excitement. "I… Never knew they could do that."
"I could write a book on what you don't know, Rouge," Knuckles chuckled, shifting his focus to the grinning blue hedgehog. "Better make it fast, Sonic. Go ahead and transform."
Sonic shook his head. "Nope."
Not the answer they expected to hear, everyone's draws dropped at the declaration with mixed reactions. Some were shocked, others were disappointed and the small majority were annoyed. There was a time and place for a joke. This was not one of them.
"I'm not going to fight Mephiles or Iblis," Sonic calmly explained, shifting his attention to his friends from the future. "You guys are."
Silver and Blaze exchanged confused glances, uncertain of the blue hedgehog's intentions. Sonic relished in battle, a responsibility he carried with great pride. The reunited friends were clearly in no state to battle, both physically and mentally.
"Sonic," Silver muttered, the doubt he carried becoming obvious in his tone.
"You guys won't be able to move past this if you don't confront them now," Sonic elaborated, both arms now folding together. "I know it's hard. But I promise it'll all work out."
Overwhelmed with too many emotions, Silver and Blaze shakily stood to their feet. No one could have predicted how tonight would have turned out. To learn your whole lives had been nothing but a lie could drive even the strongest to madness. The ones responsible for robbing their lives were but a short distance away on either side. It all came down to this moment.
Silver, still with one hand clutching his wound, returned his disheartened gaze to the blue hedgehog. "I… Don't know how to transform. You did it for me last time."
"It's easy, Silver," Sonic assured. "Just concentrate on positive thoughts. Think about protecting your friends. Protecting everything you care for. You're pure of heart. Both of you are."
Blaze held her tongue, her arm pressing against her injury. As her once fiery gaze continued to hold uncertainty, the young raccoon eagerly tugged on her free hand. She glanced down, barely having time to avoid the satchel being forced against her chest.
Marine's confidence in her friend didn't waver in the slightest. Her usual loud and thick accent lowered to a soft, encouraging whisper. "You can do it, Blaze!"
Curious as to what the others thought, Silver and Blaze honed their eyes to their closest friends, who gave up everything to help them out of the goodness of their hearts. Amy and Tails gave encouraging smiles, Rouge softly nodded, Knuckles and Shade dipped their heads reassuringly, Big offered a small smile, Omega clenched his metallic claw and the Chaotix each held a supportive thumbs up. Even Doctor Eggman, a man responsible for countless disasters, let his support be known with a small but noticeable nod. Orbot and Cubot pressed their hands together, silently praying for their victory.
Renewed vigour slowly overpowered Silver's doubts, shoulders becoming tense, head moving upright. His free hand delicately stroked one of the Super Emeralds, feeling the gentle warmth it provided. His softened gaze returned to his best friend. "Blaze… Will you fight with me one more time?"
The princess drifted her focus to the satchel within her hands, delicately opening the flaps. The Sol Emeralds within greeted her, their powerful presence reigniting the fire in her heart. No matter what Mephiles may say, she was still Princess Blaze the Cat. Mighty guardian of the Sol Emeralds, ruler of the Sol Empire. Nobody could ever take that away from her.
Her stance tightened, carrying her royal status proudly. She threw her gaze to Silver, her golden eyes carrying that frightening fury once more. "Always."
With affirmed agreements, the two prepared themselves for their final battle. Everyone stepped back with anticipation, knowing what was about to come. Silver moved into the centre of the Super Emeralds, arms outstretched with his eyes held shut. He blocked out all negative thoughts of failure, pushing them to the back of his mind. He focused on the ones he cared for, calling on that urge to protect them from harm. Soft energy slowly radiated within his person.
Silver lost himself in the flow of the moment, becoming oblivious to his drastic change of appearance. His silve-white fur morphed golden, his white mane becoming a darker shade of the same colour. His once golden eyes shifted into ruby red, his sprung out quills spread forward. The cyan glow radiating on his gloves, cuffs and boots became yellow. The power of the Super Emerald intensified, forcing Silver to clutch his hands. More power coursed down his person. Flashes of several colours flowed upwards, large flashing sparkings covering him on all sides. With a mighty roar, Silver threw himself into the air, leaving several afterimages within his wake.
The Sol Emeralds came to Blaze's aid once more, further igniting the fires within her heart. Her hands clenched tightly, feeling an overwhelming surge of lava fill her veins. Her beautiful, lavender fur morphed pink, tailcoat turning red with the bottom rim becoming a golden shade of yellow. The fur ends of her gloves, shoes and tip of her tail ignited with raging flames. The great authority within her voice returned as if it were never gone, reigniting the flames of her soul. She threw her eyes open and unleashed a terrifying roar, one that would make the Gods bow before her might. Flames surrounded her, threatening to disintegrate anyone who would dare to make contact. She joined her closest friend within the air, standing by his side once more.
The others marvelled at the incredible transformations, as if they had just witnessed the birth of furious Gods looking to exact revenge on sinful. The fury they carried could be seen for miles. They towered above their friends, who were silently encouraging their victory. The only one who didn't wish them luck was the blue hedgehog. He already knew the outcome of this fight.
Sonic offered a supportive thumbs up. "Give it all you got, guys."
Despite the raging energies drowning out the world around them, his kind words seeped through. In the face of despair, they were the only thing standing in evil's path. Darn right they were going to give it their all. With silent agreements, Hyper Silver and Burning Blaze burst through the darkened skies, leaving traces of their presence within the air. In the darkness that claimed this world was their light.
Mephiles repeatedly pressed his fist into Shadow's head, determined to rid the thorn in his side once and for all. The Ultimate Life Form's incredible resilience finally gave out. His arms dropped to one side, head becoming limp from the extensive punishment. The limit breaking power he once wielded was no more, dying as fast as it came. Aside from a few cuts and bruises, Mephiles had taken no significant damage. He truly was immortal.
With one more devastating strike, he sent the airborne Shadow towards the ground below. A frustrated growl escaped his lack of mouth, no longer wielding his incredible composure. His claw hand reared back, channelling the deepest parts of his might to his palm. Darkened flames surrounded his arm, forming a ball of energy within his grasp. "I give you… A one way ticket to oblivion."
The scorching blast stopped short of leaving his palm. Mephiles darted his head to one side, eyes briefly widening with surprise. Burning Blaze restrained his wrist with one hand, making no effort to contain her growing rage. Mephiles matched her intimidating stare, his voidless eyes filled with equal anger. He growled and yanked his hand back, unable to free himself from her incredible grip. Mephiles briefly glanced down, taking note of the large hole in her tailcoat where he had once stabbed her. His free hand jolted forward, striking the critical weakness with devastating force.
Horror briefly plastered his expression. The injury that almost claimed her life was no more. Blaze's stance didn't alter in the slightest, still intently staring him down with rage. Refusing to lose his confidence, Mephiles tightened his fist once more, channelling much of his power into a single strike. He roared and smashed his fist against the feline's cheek, expecting the impact to break his opponent's neck. His punch created a shockwave that rocketed the area upon impact, the whole city block crumbling into pieces. To his further horror, Blaze merely turned her head to one side. Not only did she withstand his punch, she slowly began to push her head towards the front, all while Mephiles held his pressed fist.
Mephiles leaned back, questioning how she could withstand such a devastating blow with little resistance. "What sorcery is this!?"
Blaze calmly raised her hand, her index and middle fingers mere inches from Mephiles' chest. He froze momentarily, confused at the sudden hesitation. Without a chance to retaliate, he had fallen victim to the surprise attack. Blaze tightened her hand into a fist and struck directly against the evildoer's chest. His lungs tightened from the powerful shockwave that followed. Had he been a normal mobian, Mephiles would be gasping for air.
Returning the same brutality once given to her, Blaze raised her hand and calmly unleashed a burst of flames, launching Mephiles away without a single trace of emotion across her face. Mephiles growled, adjusting his stance while slamming his foot into the ground with frustration. He refused to accept the sudden turn of events of this battle, determined to overcome the fight.
She approached forward calmly. All the torment he forced upon her was no more. "This ends now, Mephiles!"
The dark being stepped back, momentarily disordered from the sudden turn of events. Clutching his hands as raw energy formed, he pushed the power of his crystallised form right to its limits. "The only thing that will end here is YOUR LIFE!"
Few could wield the power Silver held and remain pure. Others would fall to the temptations of power and abuse the Super Emeralds for selfish gains. His kind soul harnessed their gentle nature, giving him incredible powers. No longer did Silver need to use his psychokinesis to remain airborne. The newfound speed allowed Silver to far suppress his previous limitations, bursting through the darkened skies with nothing but sheer determination.
His chest tightened, heart beginning to pound with anticipation. The giant monster that tormented him for so long was vastly approaching, now with an aerial advantage as well. His eyes were his shield and sword, they are the gathering of clouds for a rainfall Iblis would never witness. With a sharp exhale, Silver came to an abrupt hold, swarming with cyan and Chaos energy.
Iblis peered down, all three eyes honing on the raging hedgehog. From those eyes came a sense of lust. Though he was the raging power of Solaris, Silver swore he saw a hint of fear in those eyes. Iblis was a demon, cold and indifferent. The only joy he could feel is the torture of souls. But in those callous eyes came terror. He recognised Silver, the one responsible for defeating him time and time again. It was thanks to this hedgehog's actions he was held incarcerated for so long. Freed from his prison, with nothing but growing rage, Iblis let his fury be known. He screeched at the top of his lungs, an overwhelming wave of bloodlust enveloping the city. His mighty roars carried great weight, forcing the world around him to vibrate with intensity.
The city rumbled with the smell of lava filling the air, all the while Iblis' incoherent screeching claimed the land. Despite the vehemence, Silver refused to budge. He matched Iblis' furious gaze with his own. He was about to fire the demon from Hell, to give Iblis his redundancy papers. His raging powers strengthened, surrounding the hedgehog with blazing energy he could no longer contain.
"IBLIS!" Silver roared, calling on every ounce of energy within. "PREPARE TO MEET YOUR DOOM!"
Iblis responded in turn with a loud snarl, swinging his gigantic fist towards the future warrior. Without blinking, Silver threw out his hand and caught the attack with little movement. He raced forward, striking one of Iblis' eyes with enough force to wake the heavens. Iblis cried out with anguish, clutching its free hand against his face. Enraged, its jaws opened and unleashed scorching flames. Silver swiftly formed a Shield of Light, allowing the flames to safely overpass him in every direction.
His Hyper Form, as powerful as it may be, could not be sustained for long. Silver lacked the experience of wielding the Chaos Emeralds. The Super Emeralds took a great toll on his body, forcing all energy to leave at an accelerated rate. He needed to end this fight quickly, put this monster down for good. As the flames finally dispersed, Silver dropped the shield and charged forward, avoiding Iblis' attempts to grab him. His speed far outweighed the demon's, allowing him to see right through the movements.
Magma boulders sprouted from Iblis' back, restraining the giant rocks with his own telekinetic powers. It hurled the dozens of boulders towards Silver. The future warrior threw out his hands and restrained each boulder within his pyrokinesis, hurling them back to the sender. They smashed against Iblis with enough momentum to launch his giant presence back. One of the boulders collided with the side of his skull, forcing Iblis to move his armoured hand away.
Silver took advantage of the exposure, hurling forward and smashing his fist into Iblis' second eye. The demon roared once more, bursting flames from his mouth to force Silver away. Growing wise to the hedgehog's strategy, it held one hand over its face, preparing to stop Silver from striking his remaining eye. Silver's hands clenched, cyan energy surrounding him in all directions. The Chaos energy stacked on stop, giving him the appearance of wielding two separate auras. With a deep exhale, Silver closed his eyes and pushed any desire to exact revenge to the pack of his mind. For their victory to be guaranteed, he couldn't afford to waste time prolonging the fight. He longed to make Iblis suffer, to punish him for years of torment. But he pushed his personal desires, choosing to end the fight now.
Cyan and Chaos energy outlined around his person, shielding Silver against what he was about to do next. His right hand trembled, barely able to hold all inner energy within a single position. He unleashed one final sickening roar and dashed forward, pushing through the wall of flames Iblis formed in a futile attempt to keep him at bay. Instead of going for the other eye, Silver darted toward Iblis' midsection, the only area where molten rock did not shield him.
Silver bursted through the hardened exterior, disappearing from sight. Iblis pressed his hand against the gaping hole in his chest. All three eyes darted around the area, desperate to find the future warrior. A panicked roar soon filled the air as his body crackled with electric tendrils. Several bursts of light pushed through his body. It was the kind of brightness that enchants the eyes to open all the wider and warms the skin.
Iblis clutched its chest, feeling the scorching light that overwhelmed his raging flames, as if he himself was becoming a source of light. The molten rock protecting him cracked away, dropping into the streets below. His body slowly broke away into fragments of raw energy. The mighty flames he carried were extinguished, forcing the powerful demon to slump forward with a painful gasp.
Out from his chest came a burst of light in the form of a raging hedgehog. Molten lava now surrounded Silver, who showed no reaction to the scorching temperatures. While the Chaos energy protected him, his psychokinesis pushed away the flames. The fury in his eyes still remained as he ascended, towering over the defenceless demon. Silver reared back his arms, sustaining enough power for one final attack.
"Iblis," Silver hissed. "Don't you dare think about coming back."
He threw his arms forward to unleash his fury, bathing the demon in his wrath. An ocean of pure essence covered the whole city block, forming a beacon that could be seen for miles. Iblis' anguished roars could be heard from across the universe, its piercing scream filling the air with deafening vibrations. The pureness of Chaos incinerated Iblis, scorching every trace of his being. His screams shifted into terror, almost as if he was begging Silver for mercy. But there would be no mercy. Silver pressed on, refusing to stop till this evil was vanquished from the world for good.
Iblis' screams faded, his cries no longer filling the destroyed city. Silver held on for as long as he could, unwilling to stop till he could do no more. The impact of his strike created a loud ring, audibly for the others. The non-stop ringing burst through his eardrums, but still he held on. His body gave out at last, forcing him to release the wave. Clouds of smoke formed from the impact, blocking Silver's sight from the end result. He held his breath with anticipation, praying the demon was no more.
His Hyper Form still protected him, but he could feel their energy leaving him. It was only a matter of minutes before he could no longer sustain the form. The aftermath of his devastating attack cleared at least, revealing the large crater he unintentally crafted. It pained Silver to cause more damage to his own home, feeling as if he just disrespected the dead. But if Heaven truly did exist, they would be beaming with praise.
Iblis was no more, purified from existence at last. Silver's shoulders slouched, his head slumped forward and his lungs released the suppressed breath. The monster that tormented him from since his birthday had been extinguished from existence at last. His eyes closed, feeling like a great weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"Master Ikari… Rocco… Rena… Zeta…" Silver muttered the names of his fallen friends, hoping they could finally find peace in death. "I hope I made you proud."
As Blaze relentlessly pressed her raging fists through his defence, Mephiles questioned how events had been turned against him. The isolated years within White Space were for nothing. All that callous planning, all the time he envisioned reuniting with Iblis, had been in vain. This feline, a pitiful girl from a destroyed future, now reigned over him with her scorching flames. Try as he might, he could not do anything to overturn the odds.
In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, while she continued to strike him repeatedly in the temple, he discreetly formed the energetic blade around his arm once more. This time he wouldn't intentionally miss. Timing the right moment to strike, he swiped the powerful blade to one side, intending to slice clean through her neck.
Blaze threw up her arm, cushioning the deadly blade without so much as a blink. "Not this time."
She retaliated by slapping both hands against his temple, holding them firmly in place. The flames of her soul engulfed the evildoer, filling his lifeless gaze with nothing but her scorching fires. While incapable of feeling pain, he recognized the danger and gripped her arms in a futile attempt to pry them away. She didn't let go, she didn't let up. Nothing was going to keep her from stopping him from good.
Seconds turned into hours till her flames finally extinguished. As his sizzling ashes covered his gaze, Blaze spun and drove her heeled shoe directly through his chest, bursting out on the other side. She retrieved her foot, leaving a gaping hole within his torso. He briefly peered down, taking note of the extensive injury. No cries of anguish escaped, yet his eyes carried great concern for what was to come next.
Conjured within her flames once more, Blaze propelled forward and drove her fist into his skull, sending the evildoer crashing through several buildings. The walls failed to slow his descent, crumbling to pieces with every passing second. Before he could make contact with the ground, the princess was already waiting for him. Her arm outstretched, catching Mephiles by the throat. They stopped just short of reaching the others, who watched on with amazement.
Blaze briefly threw back her gaze to them, offering a small nod. Mephiles took advantage of the distraction and struck once more. Despite not looking his way, her hand restrained his own. She slowly turned her furious eyes back to him once more. Those angry eyes were her pain untold, but that pain gifted her strength. She twisted his restrained hand to one side, a loud pop followed within its wake. Some of the others cringed at the sound, yet Mephiles showed no reaction to his broken wrist.
Her free hand outstretched mere inches from his face. Flames danced around her arm, ready to extinguish this evil from the world for good. "It's over, Mephiles."
Mephiles brow furrowed. In one final act of torment, he leered his head forward, welcoming the passion of her flames. "It matters little. My death will not erase your history. You will live the rest of your pitiful existence with the knowledge everything is a lie. I hope your people will come to know their monarch is a fake."
Blaze softly snarled in response, refusing to be haunted by his harsh words anymore. "I'm still their princess and I will forever protect them from monsters like you."
She roared with conviction, engulfing the evildoer that tormented for so long with her mighty flames. The blast of heat soared against Mephiles' body, pushing him against the ground. Jagged rocks and sharp pointed objects poked and prodded into his body, tearing several long gashes across his flesh. He couldn't defend himself from the assault which continued to batter him repeatedly. He winced as the burning sensation continued to course through the core of his being, forcing his body temperature to rise way above his comfortable limits. His opened eyelids couldn't shield his eyes as the heat entered through every crevice of his body, roasting him from the inside out.
The enormous flames could be felt for miles. Everyone stepped back, shielding their eyes from the intensity. Even as the silhouette of Mephiles became ashes, she refused to let up, determined to rid him of her life once and for all. Blaze held on, now throwing her second hand forward, forcing the flames to increase ten-fold. Hands vibrated with anxiety, anger seeping through her clenched teeth. She watched as her sleeves returned to their normal colours, the fur end of her gloves losing their flames. Every ounce of reserved energy left her at last.
Unable to sustain her Burning Form any longer, Blaze dropped her hands and collapsed, breathing with intensity. The Sol Emeralds dropped around her, lightly clicking against the scorched ground. She dared to lift her tired gaze, fearing her final attack had not been enough. The flames cleared within seconds, revealing nothing but ashes in all directions. Mephiles was no more, scorched from existence. Relieved and exhausted, Blaze threw herself forward, collapsing fully onto the ground below. The scorched floor smeared her clothing with ashes, darkening her once bright clothing. But she didn't care about keeping a perfect facade at this moment.
"Blaze!"
From the corner of her distorted vision came the others rushing to her aid. Sonic raced forward, carefully scooping the exhausted princess within his arms once more. Orbot and Cubot each carried a fire extinguisher, spraying the small traces of flames lingering around the area. Cubot briefly peered over towards one of the Sol Emeralds, raising his hand to grab it. Marine smacked his hand before he could do so, racing around to grab each of the powerful gems before they were lost. She returned them inside her satchel once more, pausing to stick her tongue out at the robot.
Sonic carefully placed the exhausted princess down, softly shaking her shoulder. "Blaze? You okay?"
She softly groaned in return, pushing through her exhausted vision to be greeted by dozens of sets of eyes looming over her. "Silver… Is he all right?"
Sonic smiled reassuringly in return. "He's great."
Brief confusion overlapped her exhausted expression. From the darkened clouds above came a beacon of hope, like an angel coming to greet them. Hyper Silver descended upon the large group, his vibrant appearance captivating their attention. As his booted feet reached the ground, he relinquished control of the Super Emeralds. The seven powerful gemstones returned to their original state, dropping against the ground. He cared little for their safety, choosing to rush forward to his friend's aid instead.
Noticing the distress growing on his features, Knuckles quickly placed one hand against Silver's shoulder. "She's okay. Just tired."
He sighed with relief, but continued advancing till he was by her side. Sonic moved out of the way, allowing Silver to take his place. He gently placed one arm under her head for support, greeting his best friend with a kind smile. "Hi."
She softly smiled in return. "Hey."
"Mephiles?"
"Gone. Iblis?"
"Also gone."
With a relieved laugh, she gave into her body's demands for rest. Her head slumped to one side, drifting away from reality. Momentary concern filled his gaze, but her peaceful state reassured him she was simply resting. His other arm gently moved under her legs, sweeping Blaze up into his arms. While the Chaos Emerald's powers refuelled his body's energy, it was clear to all he was just as exhausted. But no one dared offer to carry Blaze for him.
While making sure Blaze rested comfortably in his arms, Silver averted gaze to the others. Upon noticing the wounded dark hedgehog carried in Omega's working arm, colour faded from his expression. "Is Shadow…?"
"He's too stubborn to die," Rouge half-heartedly reassured. Though her tone carried wit, great concern filled her eyes, fearful for her best friend's health after sustaining his worst injuries yet. Ultimate Life Form or not, whether he could recover from this remained to be seen.
"Talking behind my back again… Rouge?"
All sets of eyes shifted to Shadow. His eyelids opened with a loud groan. The Inhibitor Rings had since been returned to their place, limiting his true power once more.
"Omega," Shadow grunted. "Put me down."
"Omega, don't put him down," Rouge countered, taking charge of her team. "Mr. Grumpy, if you even think about walking, I swear-"
"You'll do what?" Shadow humorously challenged.
A slyful grin lifted the corners of her mouth. "Trust me. You don't want to know."
The group laughed in return. Even Doctor Eggman chuckled at the remark, but tried to conceal his joy at their victory. Silence descended upon the group of friends once more. Though their victorious future was secure, now it was just a matter of finding a way to return home. Nobody, not even Silver, knew where in time they were. With the danger cleared, Sonic finally shifted his curious gaze to Knuckles, who had just finished picking up the Chaos Emeralds, trusting their care to Amy. She placed them within her backpack for safekeeping.
Knuckles caught Sonic's stare, forcing his eyebrows to raise. "What do you want?"
"An explanation," Sonic replied. "How did you get here? How did you know about our memories? Who told you where we were?"
With a small eye roll, Knuckles crossed both arms. "Which one of those questions do you want me to answer first?"
"All," Sonic said with a small shrug.
With a surprising chuckle, Knuckles averted his attention to the Master Emerald. "Sonic, there's someone who wants to see you."
Sonic, as well as the others, followed the echidna's gaze. Everyone marvelled at the glowing outline of a silhouette emerging from the Master Emerald. Through the gathering light came the form of a familiar princess, who moved forward with gentle strides. As the Master Emerald returned to its subdued state, everyone marvelled at the ancient princess before them. The Master Emerald's gentle rays caught Blaze's attention, forcing her to stir awake. Though she lacked the strength to stand on her own, the new face snapped her wide awake.
"Tikal," Sonic softly greeted. "I haven't seen you in, like, forever."
"It is good to see you again, Sonic," Tikal kindly greeted, pausing to peer over the large group admiring her presence. "Hello there, everyone. I am Tikal. Most of you do not know me, but I know much about you."
Her presence sparked mixed reactions. While most of the group turned to Knuckles for an explanation, the rest who were already associated with the kind echidna stood idly by. All except for Shade, who eagerly raced forward to bow with respect.
"It is an honour to meet you, Princess Tikal," Shade greeted. "I have heard so much about you."
Blaze leaned her head forward ever so slightly. "Princess?"
Tikal gestured for her to rise. "Thank you, Shade. And thank you for keeping Knuckles company. He may not say it often, but he deeply cares for you."
Knuckles' cheeks reddened at the remark, forcing himself to turn away before the teasing began. Shade, however, took the complement with great pride. She took another bow before stepping back to join with the others.
"My friends, I am terribly sorry about everything that has just happened," Tikal said with remorse. "I understand a great pain has been burdened upon you all. If I could have foreseen these events sooner, I would have done more to stop the approaching threat. But the Master Emerald only allows me to see so much."
Sonic's mouth hung open at the revelation, forcing his feet to carry him forward. "You… Knew about Mephiles?"
Tikal nodded. "I was plagued by visions of your old timeline. As soon as I became aware of the catastrophe that would soon come, I crossed the borders between our worlds right away. My bond with the Master Emerald allowed me to share memories of your past lives with Knuckles."
Her expression briefly softened, still feeling remorseful for causing the guardian extreme discomfort. But as her kind eyes returned, she continued. "The only hope we had of saving the universe was to bring Knuckles and the Master Emerald here. The Chaos Emeralds were your only chance to defeat Mephiles and Iblis. Though I was surprised by the Sol Emeralds. I have never witnessed such gemstones before, but Marine did well in bringing them here."
She briefly glanced towards said raccoon, who smiled at the praise. Tikal returned the smile and brought her focus to the reunited friends. They held bewilderment within their eyes. Silver continued to hold Blaze within his arms, even as they threatened to buckle at any moment.
"Blaze, Silver. I… Am terribly sorry about everything that has happened," Tikal said regretfully. "You both have gone through so much. Endured such hardships. But against all odds, you won!"
Even with the joy in her tone, Silver and Blaze's expressions still held great sadness. Despite winning the victory against Mephiles, there was nothing they could do to improve the situation of their old home. It was still gone, locked away in a timeline that would never come to be. People were dead in the streets, a once vibrant city now all but destroyed. Those who survived were still living in poverty. This fight was only a short moment of regaining some of their dignity and pride.
"Tikal, is it?" Silver spoke up. She nodded and he continued. "Why is this world still in ruins? I thought everything would have been fixed now."
Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I thought you knew?"
Silver shook his head.
Tikal's expression softened, hesitant to reveal the truth. "Silver, time is more complicated than you may think. Whenever you came back to the past to avert a disaster, this didn't fix your future. This created another timeline. There are several timelines that exist out there."
The future warrior's eyes dropped at the revelation, gazing down to one side. "So, there's still a timeline where... Ifrit is still around?"
Tikal nodded, her eyes holding the answer he didn't want to hear. He briefly caught Blaze's sympathetic stare, her hand raising up to gentle grasp his arm. He couldn't bring himself to face her, choosing to keep his gaze towards the darkened skies above. His time travel adventures had been in vain all this time, selfishly choosing to stay in different futures he didn't belong in.
Amy raised her hand for permission to speak. "Tikal, how did you guys know we were here?"
"It was thanks to the Master Emerald," Tikal explained. "Chaos Control doesn't just allow us to traverse between worlds. Their power can breach through time and space. This is something you once learned in your old timeline. The Master Emerald harnessed the location of the Chaos Emeralds. Doing so opened up a gateway between your time and this one."
She softly stood to one side, gently waving her hand in a disc-like motion. Everyone stepped back as a circular gateway opened up once more, but this one did not carry any dark presence. It was pure, carrying a gentle aura that welcomed them back. The other side revealed the trees of Floral Forest.
Tikal placed one hand above the other. "Please allow me to take you home. Farewell, my friends."
No one protested the kind offer, eager to leave this desolate land once and for all. With nothing further to say, Tikal pressed her hand against the Master Emerald and returned to solace once more. Her presence softly faded, journing back to the Heavens to reunite with Chaos. The gateway to home was right there, practically begging them to come back. Yet no one could bring themselves to step forward, silently wondering if it was disrespectful or not.
After what felt like an eternal silence, Eggman's aircraft roared to life once more. Orbot and Cubot jumped inside, eager to return home as well. The good doctor gave a brief wave before launching forward. "Later!"
Sonic frowned at the rude departure, but chuckled soon after. "Well, no use hanging around here. Let's go home, guys."
He stood by the portal, gesturing his arms for dramatic effect. Amy softly giggled, holding Tails' hand as the two friends stepped through the gateway first. Team Dark followed next. Omega still held the protesting Shadow, who was still weakened to forcefully remove himself from the robot's grasp. The Chaotix followed next. Charmy could be heard making a comment about having pizza when they got home. Big followed closely behind them, trusty fishing rod in hand. Knuckles and Shade delicately picked up the Master Emerald, carrying the mighty gemstone through the gateway.
Marine prepared to leave next, pausing to tap her satchel and make sure all the Sol Emeralds were gathered. She stopped just short of stepping her foot inside, waving the friends over. "You cobbers coming, or what?"
"Go on ahead, Marine," Blaze spoke up. "We'll be there shortly."
With a playful salute, Marine bounced forward to the other side. Only three of them remained in this forsaken city now, a place once filled with conversations of friends and loved ones. Only haunting memories filled the barren land now. The pain lacing Silver's features could be seen clear as day. He was never good at masking his feelings. Blaze almost mimicked his grief, awestruck to accept this was once her home as well. Now they were preparing to leave it behind forever.
Sonic waited patiently for the duo to come forward, fighting the urge to instinctively tap his foot against the ground as he usually did. "Guys?"
Snapped back into reality at last, Blaze tugged on Silver's arm to get his attention. "Let's go home, Silver. I… Don't want to be here anymore."
She hadn't intended to offend him with the remark, understanding how hard it would be to leave everything behind. He softly nodded in return. "I… Don't want to be here either."
Without another word, Silver marched through the portal with his best friend secured tightly in his arms. Only Sonic remained on the other side now, casting his gaze to where Mephiles once lay. The one who robbed him of life was no more, fading away into ashes. Though Sonic never wished ill on even his worst enemies, he couldn't deny he was glad Mephiles was dead. With a satisfied sigh, Sonic turned and dashed through the portal. The gateway closed behind them, forever sealing passage to this barren land.
And so the heroes have won, but at what cost? Thank for reading the final battle. I know some of you might be thinking the actual battle was a bit short. But the idea was that Silver and Blaze wouldn't be able to hold their forms for so long. So, they'd need to end the fight as quick as possible. Anyway, join me soon for chapter 15.