New Age: Dark Pages of a Fox
First Chapter
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story, including the basic concept and story, which is owned by hitobito. SEGA owns Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Robotnik, and Tikal.
BEE'S GREETING AND NOTE: Salutations. I am hitobito's older sister, lilkoisuru.
First, I suggest you read hitobito's story, "New Age," first, and then "New Age: Dark Pages of a Fox," so my efforts will be better understood.
Now, being blessed with the opportunity to read "New Age," hitobito's story personally--to review it verbally, even--I have been given permission to take his story concept into my own hands, to bring forth my own ideas along this similar plot-line. I will, however, remove any Archie Comics connections. I do this because I do not remember the plot lines nor the characters as well as my brilliant sibling does, nor have I time to research these elements. Please remember I exclude them as no insult or criticism to the Archie Comics universe or its fans. Being a most entertaining challenge, I will exclude all mentions of the Ancient Walkers, that our little Tails is the Chosen One, the SWATbots' threat to Mobius, Mobius itself, Knothole, Robotropolis, etc.
Instead, I will solely base my rendition of the themes and settings on the SEGA games--solely qualities from Sonic the Hedgehog 1, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic Adventure 1, and Sonic Adventure 2. The Archie Comic's individuals and settings will be replaced with similar stages and characters from the SEGA universe's elements as closely as possible.
My apologies for the long note. Gomen.
On with the story!
********************
Chapter 1 -
The End of a Tyrant
With tremendous force, Sonic hits the ground with a loud, anxious "Umph," just short of a whimper. The sound echoes against the hills and cliffsides. Tails flinches at the sound. Again, somehow, the exhausted hedgehog pushes himself up again.
I can't believe that Robotnik found Mystic Ruin! Tails's mind races. I can't believe that he's attacking us and our home like this!
"S-Sonic, hold on!" yells the red echidna, who is currently plastered against a tree. He strains to free himself from the guck, which is the only thing keeping Knuckles's claws from ripping into Robotnik's neck.
Tails, who is only a few yards from Sonic, looks up at Knuckles with helpless, tear-filled eyes. He looks down at his best friend as Sonic continues repeating to himself that he must not lose this; that he must not fail. He sees Sonic's bloodied face turn painfully to his own.
Sonic sees the orange kit is crouched down in an almost-fetal position, tears welling in his eyes, as if he is also feeling Sonic's pain. He is sitting near the rubble of Robotnik's hovercraft. Sonic smiles kindly, proud of his little kit, who had easily destroyed the Eggman's handy device. When Robotnik whipped out his newest version of Metal Sonic--yet again--Tails had defeated it as well. The courageous fox did it even before Sonic could regain his composure from when Robotnik nailed him with his hovercraft.
Sonic's glance is immediately wrenched away as he is forced down again. He winces at the bolt of pain that grinds into his chin as he hits the hard earth, all his breath dramatically forced out. Sonic discovers that he his being pressed down by a heavy force.
Robotnik is not about to allow him to arise this time. The fat Eggman's baneful laughter fills the air as he presses the tattered hedgehog against the ground. "This will teach you to destroy Metropolis. I was proud of my Oil Ocean maze and my deliciously evil city! You will pay for destroying all my plans and all my hard work!"
Sonic's eyes blur as he feels blood gently trickle down his chin. His tired mind suddenly shifts to a similarly dark night, long ago.
******Flashback******
"I'm called 'Tails'! Ha ha ha! You're sure funny lookin'!"
Sonic smiles, and tweaks Tails's ear, "I'm sorry I asked. What are you doing wandering out here in the dark?" He sees Tails's expression of innocence on his face. "It's dangerous. There are Badniks teeming everywhere."
Tails happily returns the ear-tweak. Sonic cannot help but laugh. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
"Y'mean... I c'n go with you?!"
"Well, yeah. You need protection. The Badniks around here can easily catch you. It is the Mystic Ruin Jungle, after all. Lots of terra-bots have been ordered here. We should head to Hill Top, or Emerald Hill, at least, where it is much safer."
"What are 'terror-bots'?" Tails asks, frightened, as the two begin to walk.
Sonic looks back at the kit, "It's pronounced, 'terra.' Those are Badniks that are confined solely to the ground."
"To the ground?"
"Yeah. They can't climb or fly. Mostly, they can only jump."
Tails laughs. "That's not a problem, then!"
Suddenly Sonic feels his feet lift off the ground, and looks up to see his hands clasped firmly in Tails's hands. His astonished eyes meet up to Tails's face, who is laughing.
"You... we're flying!" the hedgehog exclaims.
"Yep! I have two tails! That's why I'm called 'Tails'!"
**End*of*Flashback**
Silence fills the air. Tails opens his eyes when he senses a shadow fall over him. Immediately he hears Robotnik begin cackling again. Tails realizes that he is standing directly above him. Before the kit can react, a huge, fat arm blows into his head, and he feels himself hit the ground violently. He looks up, in a daze, to see Robotnik standing now over Sonic's limp body. He regains his balance enough to sit up. Tails's eyes focus, only to see Robotnik rapidly landing hard blows on the defenseless hedgehog. All this just does not seem real to him.
It's not real... Tails fuzzily thinks, not really... hap-happening...
He scans down to see a slowly growing dark-red pool surround Sonic's motionless body.
What's that stuff? What's that... stuff... around Sonic...?
An almost-silent voice rings into Tails ears. "It is blood. Sonic's blood. He's... dying..." Before Tails can realize that the whisper was his own, he snaps! His only family. His only friend. He is dying! He's dying! Dying!!
Knuckle's eyes widen as he witnesses Tails leap into the air. Out of the air-borne kit explodes a feral scream that makes Knuckles jump, hitting his head against the branch above him. He closes his eyes in pain. Both the sound of his head hitting the branch and the echo of Tails's screech rings in his ears. When he opens his eyes, he sees Robotnik lying on the ground, unconscious, with the wild Tails fuming above him.
"Tails!"
Tails shakes his head as he looks up from his prey. He returns to himself, and sees Knuckles's amazed face.
********************
An hour later finds Sonic conscious enough to make small sounds, but is not awake yet. Tails is next to him, sobbing. Knuckles, now freed from his sticky prison, is trying console the weeping fox.
Against the same tree Knuckles was caught up in is the out-cold Robotnik, now bound securely by the guck to the tree, along with some rope found nearby. His fate was sealed; he is to be executed, and soon.
"It's okay, Tails. Sonic is alive."
A low groan is heard as Sonic's eyes slowly open. His head moves slowly to the left, then to the right as he takes in his immediate surroundings. "T-Tails... Knuckles. You're okay. You're both alive." He sighs weakly with relief. "Thank goodness." His eyes pick up the outline of Robotnik in the distance. His breathing becomes rapid and strained. "Watch out! Robotnik is--!"
"He is out of action. Thanks to--"
The snap of a twig interrupts Knuckles triumphant announcement. Two figures appear.
"SONIC! You did it!" A pink blur whizzes by the fox and the echidna to the recovering hedgehog. "You defeated the Eggman!" The air is squeezed out of Sonic by an excited Amy, who has just now arrived.
"Amy. Hold on. Don't hurt the poor guy," cautions her companion. "He looks awfully wounded."
"Ack! Sorry, Sonic!" Amy then reaches into her pocket, and gives Sonic a small, shiny medal.
Sonic, realizing what is going on, takes the medal. He utters a small word of gratitude, and then hands it to Tails. "It is rightfully Tails's medal."
"Sonic?" Amy looks at Sonic.
"Amy, it wasn't me. It was Tails. He defeated Robotnik"
Amy's mouth hung open in astonishment. "What? Really?" She turns her head to Tails, who is looking down humbly at the medal.
Knuckles turns to her and confirms the whole story on how Tails is the hero.
"Is that true, Knuckles?" asks Amy's mysterious companion.
"It is." Knuckles pauses. "Who are you?" he inquires, as he and the others had not really noticed the person who was with Amy until now.
Amy smiles and happily says, "This is Tikal! Do you not remember her?"
Everyone is dumb-founded, save the smiling hedgehog and Tikal herself. She lifts the hood from her head, and bows politely.
"She helped me find you guys!" announces Amy. "I got lost in the yucky Oil Ocean maze when I was trying to find my way back here from Metropolis's ruins."
Tikal smiles, "It's amazing to find Robotnik against that tree. We thought for sure he had escaped."
"How are you here in this time?"
Tikal, still smiling, answers, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Master Emerald granted my wish to help my friends, so here I am."
Knuckles smiles.
Sonic nods, and is now sitting up. "Well, then. All is well."
********************
End First Chapter
BEE'S COMMENTS:
lilkoisuru: I hope our readers have read and reviewed hitobito's story, and mine, too, since there are some differences between our first chapters.
Tails: I still think your story isn't as good at hito's! I miss Sally!
Sonic: Sally, I'm sure, is okay with it. I think Koi did fine.
lilkoisuru: *Stars appear in her eyes.* Why, thank you, Sonic! :: turns to Tails, and hands him a Sonic drawing to cheer him up.:: I'll do my best for you, Tails.
Tails: I think you did fine, too! ::shows Sonic the sketch and smiles.::
First Chapter
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story, including the basic concept and story, which is owned by hitobito. SEGA owns Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Robotnik, and Tikal.
BEE'S GREETING AND NOTE: Salutations. I am hitobito's older sister, lilkoisuru.
First, I suggest you read hitobito's story, "New Age," first, and then "New Age: Dark Pages of a Fox," so my efforts will be better understood.
Now, being blessed with the opportunity to read "New Age," hitobito's story personally--to review it verbally, even--I have been given permission to take his story concept into my own hands, to bring forth my own ideas along this similar plot-line. I will, however, remove any Archie Comics connections. I do this because I do not remember the plot lines nor the characters as well as my brilliant sibling does, nor have I time to research these elements. Please remember I exclude them as no insult or criticism to the Archie Comics universe or its fans. Being a most entertaining challenge, I will exclude all mentions of the Ancient Walkers, that our little Tails is the Chosen One, the SWATbots' threat to Mobius, Mobius itself, Knothole, Robotropolis, etc.
Instead, I will solely base my rendition of the themes and settings on the SEGA games--solely qualities from Sonic the Hedgehog 1, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic Adventure 1, and Sonic Adventure 2. The Archie Comic's individuals and settings will be replaced with similar stages and characters from the SEGA universe's elements as closely as possible.
My apologies for the long note. Gomen.
On with the story!
********************
Chapter 1 -
The End of a Tyrant
With tremendous force, Sonic hits the ground with a loud, anxious "Umph," just short of a whimper. The sound echoes against the hills and cliffsides. Tails flinches at the sound. Again, somehow, the exhausted hedgehog pushes himself up again.
I can't believe that Robotnik found Mystic Ruin! Tails's mind races. I can't believe that he's attacking us and our home like this!
"S-Sonic, hold on!" yells the red echidna, who is currently plastered against a tree. He strains to free himself from the guck, which is the only thing keeping Knuckles's claws from ripping into Robotnik's neck.
Tails, who is only a few yards from Sonic, looks up at Knuckles with helpless, tear-filled eyes. He looks down at his best friend as Sonic continues repeating to himself that he must not lose this; that he must not fail. He sees Sonic's bloodied face turn painfully to his own.
Sonic sees the orange kit is crouched down in an almost-fetal position, tears welling in his eyes, as if he is also feeling Sonic's pain. He is sitting near the rubble of Robotnik's hovercraft. Sonic smiles kindly, proud of his little kit, who had easily destroyed the Eggman's handy device. When Robotnik whipped out his newest version of Metal Sonic--yet again--Tails had defeated it as well. The courageous fox did it even before Sonic could regain his composure from when Robotnik nailed him with his hovercraft.
Sonic's glance is immediately wrenched away as he is forced down again. He winces at the bolt of pain that grinds into his chin as he hits the hard earth, all his breath dramatically forced out. Sonic discovers that he his being pressed down by a heavy force.
Robotnik is not about to allow him to arise this time. The fat Eggman's baneful laughter fills the air as he presses the tattered hedgehog against the ground. "This will teach you to destroy Metropolis. I was proud of my Oil Ocean maze and my deliciously evil city! You will pay for destroying all my plans and all my hard work!"
Sonic's eyes blur as he feels blood gently trickle down his chin. His tired mind suddenly shifts to a similarly dark night, long ago.
******Flashback******
"I'm called 'Tails'! Ha ha ha! You're sure funny lookin'!"
Sonic smiles, and tweaks Tails's ear, "I'm sorry I asked. What are you doing wandering out here in the dark?" He sees Tails's expression of innocence on his face. "It's dangerous. There are Badniks teeming everywhere."
Tails happily returns the ear-tweak. Sonic cannot help but laugh. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
"Y'mean... I c'n go with you?!"
"Well, yeah. You need protection. The Badniks around here can easily catch you. It is the Mystic Ruin Jungle, after all. Lots of terra-bots have been ordered here. We should head to Hill Top, or Emerald Hill, at least, where it is much safer."
"What are 'terror-bots'?" Tails asks, frightened, as the two begin to walk.
Sonic looks back at the kit, "It's pronounced, 'terra.' Those are Badniks that are confined solely to the ground."
"To the ground?"
"Yeah. They can't climb or fly. Mostly, they can only jump."
Tails laughs. "That's not a problem, then!"
Suddenly Sonic feels his feet lift off the ground, and looks up to see his hands clasped firmly in Tails's hands. His astonished eyes meet up to Tails's face, who is laughing.
"You... we're flying!" the hedgehog exclaims.
"Yep! I have two tails! That's why I'm called 'Tails'!"
**End*of*Flashback**
Silence fills the air. Tails opens his eyes when he senses a shadow fall over him. Immediately he hears Robotnik begin cackling again. Tails realizes that he is standing directly above him. Before the kit can react, a huge, fat arm blows into his head, and he feels himself hit the ground violently. He looks up, in a daze, to see Robotnik standing now over Sonic's limp body. He regains his balance enough to sit up. Tails's eyes focus, only to see Robotnik rapidly landing hard blows on the defenseless hedgehog. All this just does not seem real to him.
It's not real... Tails fuzzily thinks, not really... hap-happening...
He scans down to see a slowly growing dark-red pool surround Sonic's motionless body.
What's that stuff? What's that... stuff... around Sonic...?
An almost-silent voice rings into Tails ears. "It is blood. Sonic's blood. He's... dying..." Before Tails can realize that the whisper was his own, he snaps! His only family. His only friend. He is dying! He's dying! Dying!!
Knuckle's eyes widen as he witnesses Tails leap into the air. Out of the air-borne kit explodes a feral scream that makes Knuckles jump, hitting his head against the branch above him. He closes his eyes in pain. Both the sound of his head hitting the branch and the echo of Tails's screech rings in his ears. When he opens his eyes, he sees Robotnik lying on the ground, unconscious, with the wild Tails fuming above him.
"Tails!"
Tails shakes his head as he looks up from his prey. He returns to himself, and sees Knuckles's amazed face.
********************
An hour later finds Sonic conscious enough to make small sounds, but is not awake yet. Tails is next to him, sobbing. Knuckles, now freed from his sticky prison, is trying console the weeping fox.
Against the same tree Knuckles was caught up in is the out-cold Robotnik, now bound securely by the guck to the tree, along with some rope found nearby. His fate was sealed; he is to be executed, and soon.
"It's okay, Tails. Sonic is alive."
A low groan is heard as Sonic's eyes slowly open. His head moves slowly to the left, then to the right as he takes in his immediate surroundings. "T-Tails... Knuckles. You're okay. You're both alive." He sighs weakly with relief. "Thank goodness." His eyes pick up the outline of Robotnik in the distance. His breathing becomes rapid and strained. "Watch out! Robotnik is--!"
"He is out of action. Thanks to--"
The snap of a twig interrupts Knuckles triumphant announcement. Two figures appear.
"SONIC! You did it!" A pink blur whizzes by the fox and the echidna to the recovering hedgehog. "You defeated the Eggman!" The air is squeezed out of Sonic by an excited Amy, who has just now arrived.
"Amy. Hold on. Don't hurt the poor guy," cautions her companion. "He looks awfully wounded."
"Ack! Sorry, Sonic!" Amy then reaches into her pocket, and gives Sonic a small, shiny medal.
Sonic, realizing what is going on, takes the medal. He utters a small word of gratitude, and then hands it to Tails. "It is rightfully Tails's medal."
"Sonic?" Amy looks at Sonic.
"Amy, it wasn't me. It was Tails. He defeated Robotnik"
Amy's mouth hung open in astonishment. "What? Really?" She turns her head to Tails, who is looking down humbly at the medal.
Knuckles turns to her and confirms the whole story on how Tails is the hero.
"Is that true, Knuckles?" asks Amy's mysterious companion.
"It is." Knuckles pauses. "Who are you?" he inquires, as he and the others had not really noticed the person who was with Amy until now.
Amy smiles and happily says, "This is Tikal! Do you not remember her?"
Everyone is dumb-founded, save the smiling hedgehog and Tikal herself. She lifts the hood from her head, and bows politely.
"She helped me find you guys!" announces Amy. "I got lost in the yucky Oil Ocean maze when I was trying to find my way back here from Metropolis's ruins."
Tikal smiles, "It's amazing to find Robotnik against that tree. We thought for sure he had escaped."
"How are you here in this time?"
Tikal, still smiling, answers, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Master Emerald granted my wish to help my friends, so here I am."
Knuckles smiles.
Sonic nods, and is now sitting up. "Well, then. All is well."
********************
End First Chapter
BEE'S COMMENTS:
lilkoisuru: I hope our readers have read and reviewed hitobito's story, and mine, too, since there are some differences between our first chapters.
Tails: I still think your story isn't as good at hito's! I miss Sally!
Sonic: Sally, I'm sure, is okay with it. I think Koi did fine.
lilkoisuru: *Stars appear in her eyes.* Why, thank you, Sonic! :: turns to Tails, and hands him a Sonic drawing to cheer him up.:: I'll do my best for you, Tails.
Tails: I think you did fine, too! ::shows Sonic the sketch and smiles.::