Author's Note: This story is going to be my best yet, and I have big hopes for it. Not only will it have awesome fights, but it will introduce my newest fan character. Don't worry, he's perfectly sane, unlike the last group of fan characters I spawned onto thsi site. Anyway, here comes...

THE TOURNAMENT

"You asked for us, Locke?" Mighty said as her led the Chaotix into the Haven conference room. "Yes. We have a problem. A big problem." They could tell by his voice that it was serious. They sat down at the rectangular table as he continued. "You've seen the weather lately. Blackened sky, cold winds. It's all a sign." "A sign of what?" Espio asked. "Something that could bring about great destruction. I would give you more details now, but we must hurry to the Kingdom of Acorn. If you had any plans, forget them. This is far more important." Shadow was rather curious to the whole situation. What was Locke going on about? He would just have to wait and find out. They all hurried out of the room after Locke towards the hanger bay.

"What's going on, Dad? Representatives from every nation have been arriving since this morning," Sally said to the King. He did not answer, and continued to stare out the window. "Sally…something is about to happen…that has not happened in thousands of years. I cannot say now. I will when all of the representatives arrive. Please dismiss yourself." Sally was startled. Something had her father spooked, and he wouldn't tell her about it. She slowly walked backwards and slowly closed the door.

"He wouldn't say anything. He just said that something big was gonna happen," Sally told the rest of the Freedom Fighters. "That's what we've been hearing, too. Everything's all hush-hush," Sonic replied. He looked out the window and shook his head. Like Sally had said, representatives from every nation had been arriving since the morning. From Cat Country, Downunda, and other nations of Mobius. Whatever was happening, it required a joint effort of the whole planet. A new vessel caught his eye, he turned back to the others, and said, I think things are worse than we've been thinking."

"We don't know anything either. It's crazy. What are all these guys doing here?" Rouge asked no one in particular. "Who knows," Vector replied. "Why don't we ask one of them?" Mighty suggested as he walked over to one of the representatives. It was a large, muscular tiger. He tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me," before being tossed to the ground. "Hand's off!" the large cat said. The others helped Mighty up, and got ready for a fight. "What's your problem? He didn't do anything!" Sonic yelled. "He has no right to touch me!" Mighty went to step forward, but he stopped when a spear landed before him. A second cat stood beside the other. This one was much more slender, with spots all over his yellow fur. "We are the Claw brothers, Cat Country's greatest warriors. I am Razor Blade, and I see you've met my brother Switch Blade," the slender cat said. "Yeah. We've met," Mighty grumbled. "It would be best for you not to waste your energy. First, you would stand no chance against us, and second, you will need it later." "For what? What the hell is going on?" Julie-Su asked. "A battle for the planet itself."

"HO! AMY! Friends Sonic and Tails!" a familiar voice called out. They turned to see a familiar turquoise hedgehog rushing towards them. He was wearing a leather outfit with a hood, similar gloves and boots, and had a bow and quiver of arrows over his shoulder. "ROB!" Sonic and Tails yelled out as they ran to greet their old ally. Rob O' The Hedge was a representative from the village of Snottingham, a far off town. He was Amy's cousin, and only known relative. "This gathering alerts me to the fact that something of grave importance is at hand," Rob said. "Yeah. Here! Meet some of our friends," Tails said as they took Rob to meet the others. They warned, however, for Rob not to mention Antoine's father, who had been roboticized and was Rob's arch-nemesis for some time. They were all glad to meet the bright hedgehog, who was quite cheerful. He looked around, as if he were searching. "What's up, Rob?" Sonic asked. "I was sure friend Knuckles would come hither. Doth thou know where he is?" Their smiles faded and their heads drooped. Rob was in for some bad news.

"My heart saddens with this news. He was a great warrior," Rob said solemnly. They all nodded in agreement, not saying a word. Rob turned to notice Julie-Su walking away. "Yonder damsel seems much distressed. Was she fond of him?" "Yeah. Quite fond," Rouge said. Suddenly, a new vessel flew in, and landed near them. They watched as the door opened, and a screen of smoke poured out. A black mass walked out and stopped before them, as they got ready for the worst. "Wassup, hog?" a voice called out. There were several groans from the smoke cloud as another voice said, "MORON! We build up all that suspense, and you have to go and flush it right down the freakin' toilet!" The smoke cleared, and they saw Grim yelling at DJ. "How's it goin' guys?" Cap said with a smile as he extended his hand. "Not bad," Mighty said as he shook Cap's hand.

Not long after, King Acorn called forth all of the representatives to the front of the castle. He stood on a balcony before the group and began to speak. "Brave souls of Mobius, this is perhaps our darkest hour. I had hoped that this wouldn't have fallen on us, but it has. Every five thousand years, a tournament is held. It is known as…the Chaose (Kay-ose) Tournament. Chaose is much like the creature Chaos that surface not too long ago. However, Chaose's power goes far beyond that of the seven super emeralds. He is imprisoned in another dimension, but every five thousand years, a gate is made between his world and ours. However, he cannot pass through to our world. He must defeat Mobius' greatest warrior in combat in order to do so. He must win three consecutive tournaments to open the gate for himself and pass through to Mobius. According to recorded history, he has won two." There was a great silence. This was very deep. "Kinda reminds you of those hours we wasted on Mortal Kombat back in the day, huh Swiper?" DJ whispered. "You are the best in the world. You have been chosen to enter this tournament and defeat Chaose. If you do, the world will be saved. If not…Mobius will face certain doom. Chaose's power is like nothing on this planet. The odds are against you, but I have faith that you will overcome this evil. If you wish to remain here and not participate, it is understood. You are not held to anything," the King said. He motioned his hand towards the front of the balcony, where those who wished to participate would enter their names. Those that were cowardly backed off, but those who were brave, or just arrogant, went to enter.

"Well…here we go," Sonic said as he told his name to the beaver behind the reception desk. One by one, our heroes gave their names. The girls, knowing they would never stand a chance against Chaose, signed up with the intention of being there for moral support. Suddenly, there was a rumbling in the clouds. Everyone looked up, wondering if it was time already. "I'm sensing a strange energy," Shadow said. "Me too," F.C. replied. There was some flashing in the clouds as they gathered strongly in one specific are of the sky, although the sky was still covered. "EVERYONE GET DOWN!!!" Shadow yelled as a huge lightning bolt came crashing down not far from them, leaving a crater. Amy glanced down into the crater and saw something in it, knelt down on one knee amidst all the smoke. The figure stood and began to walk up the crater, until it had placed its feet on the firm ground. Many gasped at the sight of it. It appeared to be an echidna, wearing a black cloak that covered everything from the neck down. Its face, however, was concealed by a black mask with menacing blood-red eyes. No pupils at all, just eyes. It had four red dreadlocks, two on each side, with a black band on each. Where its dreadlocks would have been in the back, was a large ponytail that went down to the lower back. It made its way to the balcony, the crowd moving away in fright. Was this Chaose? Had he been freed?

It walked in front of Switch Blade and stopped before the beaver at the reception desk. In a cold, deep voice, it said, "Dernath teth chamhen Enigma." The beaver, shaking with fright, said, "Ummm…sir…I don't understand your-" "I am Enigma the Echidna." Switch Blade, insulted that someone took his place in line, said, "I don't care who you are! Get back in line!" He was even more insulted when Enigma ignored his existence completely. "HEY!" Switch said as he grabbed Enigma's shoulder. 'BAM!' In a split-second, Enigma had brought his fist up over his shoulder and hit Switch in the jaw, sending him flying backwards. No one even saw his hand move. It was up and back at his side in a flash. "Don't touch me," Enigma said as he dusted his shoulder. Razor ran to his brother, and growled at the mysterious echidna. "You broke his jaw! Now he cannot compete!" "Good for him. Now he won't waste my time any more than he has already." Razor went to attack, until the King yelled "CEASE!" King Acorn looked at the echidna and asked, "Enigma the Echidna? Who do you represent?" "I represent the Ancient Walkers themselves. The rest of you should savor your lives and forget about this. I will handle things from here." His voice was so cold…so empty…it was a frightening as he was.

"Well, I intend to compete," Sonic said. Enigma looked over at him and chuckled. "The great Sonic the Hedgehog. I've heard much about you. You truly are as ignorant as I have heard if you are going to compete." Sonic, angered and insulted, growled in rage as he charged at Enigma. He wasn't sure how it happened, but Enigma sidestepped him and struck the back of his head, sending him flying to the ground face-first. Sonic slowly got up, groaning, and looked up to see Enigma standing before him. Sonic froze as he stared at the mask's blood-red eyes. "So, I guess stories are just stories," Enigma said as he walked away. Sonic couldn't move. He wanted to attack Enigma for insulting him, but couldn't do so. He just watched with the others as Enigma walked away.

There was a grand banquet that night in the Grand Hall. They participants would be leaving tomorrow, so it was sort of a good-bye meal. Locke sat with the Freedom Fighters, the Chaotix, and the Ravagers at a large circular table. "Who is that guy?" Ray asked. "I don't know, but he will be the most trouble for you," Locke said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "What do you mean?" Morph asked. "Just look at him. He's not like any normal echidna. Echidnas are all roughly the same size when full grown. Julie-Su is not much shorter than I, at 5'9". This Enigma, however, is much taller than any echidna I've ever seen. I am at the normal height of echidnas, 5'10". He's at least 6'2", which is highly unusual." "So? He's just tall," Freezie said as he began carving his turkey, "Besides, Grim gets taller when he gets into costume." "That's because I have half-demon blood, giving me demon powers and abilities," Grim stated. "There is also the fact that this Enigma has no aura," F.C. said. "Isn't that impossible? Your aura tells what your emotions and thoughts," Rotor said. "He has found some way to conceal his. His power, too, is concealed. It's like he has all this power, but I cannot find it."

As they were talking, Rouge looked out the window and saw Enigma outside with his back to the castle. He just stood there with his arms crossed, looking out at the black horizon. A breeze blew by that made her shiver, but he did not move. It then began to rain, but still he did not move. What was strange was, the water droplets evaporated before touching him. He stood there with a thin mist around him, his energy keeping him perfectly dry I the downpour.

The next day, everyone was in a depressed mood. It was time to leave for the tournament. King Acorn tried to convince Sally not to go, but she had to go with them. He was forced to accept it. They all got prepared to leave, and King Acorn arose to his balcony to give one last speech. "You truly are the world's finest. Our best wishes, our minds, our hearts are with you brave souls. May the Walkers watch over you." "That is why they have sent me," Enigma said, coming around the side of the castle. "You're such an loser! The Walkers just chose you as a representative! No big deal at all," Sonic said. "No big deal?!?!" Enigma yelled, rather annoyed. He walked right up to Sonic and stared him in the face. "If it is no big deal, then why have I spent three years in intense training for this tournament?!?! I have been through things that would leave you crying like a little child for the rest of your life!!! No big deal," Enigma growled as Sonic slowly backed away, "I have worked too hard fore this, and I will not let anyone get in my way! Chaose is mine, and anyone foolish enough to interfere with me will pay with their life!!!"

Suddenly, the clouds began to rumble. It was time. Final good-byes were said as the participants stood out in front of the castle. "Uhhh…is something supposed to happen?" Freezie asked as they stood there. Suddenly, their bodies started elongating and stretching. "I don't like! I don't like! Vector yelled. "WOW! We're tall!" DJ exclaimed. Before they disappeared, Sonic managed to let out, "OH SH-"