Sonic Legacy: Rise of Chaos
Chaos.
It invokes many images and meanings. Anarchy, destruction, and havoc. The beginning of an end. Powerful and uncontrollable.
And yet, there are those who can harness this power.
Use it.
Control it.
When children of Light are overcome by hopelessness, doubt, weakness, and fear, they can become consumed by it. Yet, there is a light in each heart. Hearts full of hope, belief, strength, and courage will shine the brightest, and call back those who are lost in the Darkness.
They will harness the power of Chaos, and control it.
Chapter 1: A Stormy Night
Sonic the Hedgehog raced across the rooftops of Station Square with incredible speed. He jumped from the building towards a skyscraper and sped upwards. He reached the tip of the spire and stopped. Standing with perfect balance, he looked up at the waxing gibbous moon, crossing his arms and frowning.
"Pfft, some vacation. No excitement at all."
Sonic's ear twitched as a new sound joined the bustling of the city. He turned and saw a helicopter flying in his direction. As it passed by, he caught a glimpse of the emblem on the side. It was a police chopper.
At the same time, down below, there were sounds of sirens drawing closer. Sonic looked down and saw four police cars drive past, their lights flashing red and blue, and their sirens at full blast.
The Mobian Hedgehog smirked. "Finally, some action!"
Sonic fearlessly jumped from the spire, quickly found his footing on the side of the building, and ran down. He didn't stop for a second, even when he reached the ground. He sped off after the police cars, leaving a gust of wind in his wake. Only when he reached his destination did he come to a full stop. The police surrounded the entrance of a large casino. On top of the awning, underneath a large, jagged hole in the wall, was a strange creature.
Sonic blinked, completely bewildered. It was unlike anything he had seen before.
It was as tall as a human, but it certainly wasn't one. Its whole body rippled and swayed with each movement, as if it was made of gel. Its arms and legs were long, and it had three clawed fingers on each hand. Two large spines protruded from the back of its dome-like head, and a pink brain with a stem could be seen through the liquid.
Its face was blank with no mouth or nose. But it's lime green, pupil-less eyes showed a single emotion.
Anger.
"You are completely surrounded!" the Police Chief shouted to the creature. "Surrender yourself!"
The creature leapt from the awning, landing in front of the police force, completely unphased.
"Lock on target, men!" the chief ordered. "Ready, FIRE!"
The police fired their guns. To their shock and horror, the bullets went straight through the creature, hitting the building behind it instead. The creature stared down the police and began to approach.
"Switch to lasers! Open fire!"
The police obeyed and pulled out their laser guns. Their attacks struck the monster, creating holes in the water. Their relief was short lived, however, when the holes rapidly reformed. The creature let out an ear-splitting roar and swiftly advanced on the police.
"Pull back!" the chief shouted. "Pull back!"
The police ran to escape, but the creature closed in fast. With a swift movement, it grabbed a nearby officer and started to squeeze. The man struggled as the creature's grip forced the air out of him.
Suddenly, a blue blur came out of nowhere, striking the creature in the arm. The creature dropped the policeman, who coughed and gasped for air.
Sonic appeared in front of the downed officer and faced the creature.
"You okay, sir?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder for a second.
The officer wheezed and strained.
"Yes," he said hoarsely.
"Good," Sonic replied. "Now get out of here. I'll handle this."
The officer gave only a quick nod before retreating. The creature looked down at Sonic, its eyes flashing. Sonic smirked, eager for a fight.
The creature swung at him, but Sonic darted out of the way in just a blink. He stood tall, crossing his arms. The creature turned to him again and struck, and Sonic dodged it again. The creature continued its assault, and Sonic avoided every single strike.
"You're too slow!" he taunted.
That jeer seemed to aggravate the creature. It spun around and lunged at Sonic. Sonic jumped out of range, his grin now gone. He could see the change in the creature. He had to end the fight fast. He ran towards the building, slid to a stop, and then darted at the creature. At the last second, he curled into a ball, his quills sticking out, and shot right through it.
All the Homing Attack achieved was Sonic getting soaked. He landed on the ground and looked back, surprised. He had only caused a small hole in the creature's body. It remained standing, unphased by the attack. By the time it turned to him, it had regenerated, like nothing had happened. Sonic clenched his teeth. There had to be a way to stop this creature.
That's when he saw it.
"That brain in its head!" he thought. "Maybe that's it!"
"Here goes!" he yelled.
The creature attacked again, and Sonic dashed away. He ran towards the building again, this time going up the wall. He reached the roof, and in one swift motion, using his hand to pivot his direction like a skateboarder, raced straight down and across the yard, becoming a neon blue streak once again.
In a split second, he curled into a ball and struck the creature square in the head like a cannonball. The creature staggered and its body lost its form, reducing to a puddle.
Sonic skidded to a stop and looked back with a grin. "Heh, that all you got?"
The puddle rippled for a moment, rising and falling as if it was trying to reform itself. Then, it began to slither away like an abnormally fast slug.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sonic said, confident in his victory.
The puddle reached a sewer cover and began to grow smaller. Sonic realized it was seeping through the cracks and holes. He ran to the sewer just as the creature disappeared.
"Hey, get back here!" he demanded.
Without a second thought, Sonic lifted the cover and jumped into the sewer. The creature tried to evade him with the twists and turns in the tunnels, but Sonic wouldn't be detoured so easily. Soon, they came to a passage with only a wall at the end of it.
"End of the line, big drip!" said Sonic.
The creature didn't stop. It hurried to the wall and seeped through the cracks in the mortar.
"Hey, no fair!"
By the time Sonic reached the end, the creature was gone. Not a single drop of water from it was left. He stood there for a moment, confused.
Just what was that?
Later that night…
Deep in the jungles of Mystic Ruin, in a small wooden hut, three people slept: two teenaged girls, and one man, who was on the floor on the opposite side of the hut near the door.
One of the girls, whose hair was as red as a ripe strawberry, awoke. She groggily sat up and stretched. She removed the covers – revealing to be wearing a purple color-block shirt and jean capris – slipped on a pair of red shoes and tip-toed out of the hut. Once outside, she breathed in the fresh night air of the jungle. She then walked down to a nearby creek and placed her hands in it. She splashed the cool water on her face, shaking her head and sending droplets flying.
Then, she heard something.
She looked up, squinting. She could see something moving in the darkness. She slowly rose up, her right hand tense, and a green ring on her finger starting to glow.
Suddenly, the something rushed her. She let out a sharp cry before it struck her.
"AUGH!"
Inside the hut, the other girl's eyes snapped opened at the sound of her friend's cry.
"Carrie!"
The cry also woke the man. He was on his feet in an instant and rushed to the door.
"Master Aaron!" cried the girl.
"Alex, stay here!" he ordered.
A ring on Aaron's right index finger flashed, transforming into a knife and chain. He flew open the door and ran out. Alex got up, hastily slipping on her shoes, and followed her Master. She stopped at the door frame and stared in horror.
A monstrous water creature was standing before them with something limp under its arm.
It was Carrie!
"Who are you?!" Aaron demanded, scowling at the monster.
The monster charged at Aaron. Aaron swiftly evaded the attack, reaching for Carrie. The monster yanked Carrie out of Aaron's grasp and threw a punch. With his knife glowing faintly, Aaron smacked the monster's hand away and jumped back. The monster recoiled from the strike, showing some sort of pain. Two gems on Aaron's shoes flashed and he dashed forward, reaching for Carrie again.
The monster recovered and spun out of the way. It then turned back, its hand outstretched like a wild cat ready to slash. Aaron threw his knife, but the monster dodged it. In one swift motion, it grabbed the chain. Aaron struggled to pull his weapon free, but the monster refused to let go.
Seeing her master in trouble, Alex rushed out of the hut.
"Master!"
"No, Alex!" Aaron shouted. "Take the Chaos Emerald and run!"
"No, I—"
The monster shoved Aaron aside, knocking him against a tree. It then turned to Alex and charged. She screamed and the green ring on her finger flashed. A sword appeared in her hand just as the monster reached her. Terrified, she slashed at it, but the blade just went right through with no effect. The monster struck her with tremendous force, sending her flying across the room. She hit the wall and fell to the ground, her sword disappearing. Grimacing, she looked up to see the monster advancing towards her like a nightmare. She backed against the wall, trembling.
Suddenly, from behind, a glowing knife and chain wrapped around the monster's arm, restraining it. Immediately after, a ball light struck the monster in the back, causing it to falter. Aaron ran in and stood between Alex and the monster.
"GO!" he ordered.
Alex hesitated for a moment. Then, gathering her wits, she scrambled to her feet and made a dash for the desk. The monster leapt towards her, but Aaron jumped in front of it and struck it with his knife, making it shrink back. Alex grabbed the yellow gem and shoved it into her hip bag. Seeing the window above the desk open, she leapt up and dove out of it, summersaulting back onto her feet, and raced towards the jungle.
A loud blast from behind made her look back.
The hut had been destroyed, the monster stood tall in the wreckage, and Aaron slumped to the floor.
Alex's blood ran cold at the sight. She wanted to turn back and help, but what could she do? If that monster could take down her Master, what chance did she have?
With tears forming in her eyes, and her heart sinking with fear and regret, Alex ran on, not daring to look back again.
As she disappeared into the jungle, a man in an egg-shaped hovercraft came down through the treetops. Close behind him was an ebony-colored robot with a large laser gun for a hand. Seeing the monster with its catch, the man grinned.
"Excellent work, Chaos," he said gleefully. "Too bad that other Mystic got away. Oh well, she'll turn up again. Chaos Emerald and all. In the meantime, these two will be more than enough for my plans. Beta, take the other one and let us return to the base. I have much work to do."