Be One World, Be The Light

Chapter 1: Reminisce

Good morning/afternoon to all who are reading. Thank you for taking the opportunity to read my new Sonic story. For continuity context, this story takes place after Team Sonic Racing as well as my previous story Sonic: The Tournament of Chaos. You don't have to read it to under this story's context, but I recommend doing so to understand the occasional reference. I've been looking forward to writing this one. I have rated it T for some violent and heartbreaking moments, but there won't be anything gruesome, nor any foul language. Enjoy chapter 1 and please leave some feedback if you have time.

Through fear, and pain, and cries
Why don't we hear the lies?
Why can't we bear to be the light?

See the world
It screams - be free
Our world
We need to breathe
And be one world
And just believe
In peace

Be one world
Be the light
Be one world
Be the light

It's dark. It's also hot. Having become accustomed to his world's weather, Silver can't help but feel a deep sense of heat settling deep in his bones. His eyes slowly open, no longer surrounded by the comfort of his world. Surrounding him were destroyed buildings that appeared to stretch on for miles. The sky was covered in blood red, the air thick and humid.

His lungs ache from breathing in the dense air. He shoots around, searching for any sign of life. The city, in spite of its condition, was easily recognised. Silver saw what remained of his favourite bakery, a place one filled with conversations of friends and loved ones was now little more than ruins.

Silver…

The sound of the familiar voice sends Silver's heart plummeting down into his stomach. He strains to push through this strange mugginess he's in. He doesn't feel wet, but the sensation his body is experiencing is similar to one a person feels when they are drowning. The sensation didn't fade away, even as the scorching temperatures threatened to give him heatstroke at any moment.

Where were you?

Silver shoots around once more, his eyes widened with relief and confusion. Too many emotions raced around his mind at once, yet at this moment, nothing could distract him from the sight before him.

Blaze stepped forward, her golden eyes carrying no hint of emotion. This was far different than her usual stoic demoneror. The princess was completely devoid of all feelings. She continued approaching, the heels of her shoes clacking softly against the ruined pavement.

Confused and concerned by her appearance, Silver waited until the distance between them closed. He slowly raised his hand, his voice trembling with anxiety. "B-B-Blaze? What's going on?"

Her gaze was solid, not even blinking despite the scorching temperature drying up their eyes. "Why did you let me go, Silver?"

Startled by the accusation, the hedgehog stepped backwards. "W-w-what?"

The princess slowly raised her arm, pointing one finger disapprovingly. "You let me sacrifice myself. I was lost because of you. You were too weak."

His breath quickens as panic rises, her emotionless tone paralysing him in fear. He can't breathe.

"No, Blaze! I would never…"

He is suffocating in his panic. He's gasping for air, but he can't draw breath.

"Blaze, I wouldn't…"

He's choking, pushing through the murky darkness. The sounds of flesh sizzling slowly broke Silver out of his thoughts. His eyes darted over Blaze's shoulder, horrified to see the same monster that haunted his dreams return once more. The monster, well over one hundred feet tall, casted its green reptilian eyes towards the hedgehog. The tremendous being loomed over them, surrounded in magma and molten rocks. Four arms stretched out for several feet, their presence enough to crush buildings with ease.

With a sickening roar strong enough to shatter the heavens themselves, the monster raised one of its gigantic arms to strike the inferior beings beneath him. Silver froze, his arms and legs trembling with anxiety. Blaze made no attempt to move, standing as still as a statue, a hollow shell of her former self. The monster struck, and Silver could do nothing but throw up his arms in a desperate bid to shield himself from harm.

"BLAZE!"

With a loud gasp, Silver's eyes flew open and his body jerked forward, jolting back to consciousness. He struggled to draw in ragged, panicked breaths as his eyes darted around, searching for the monster that prepared to crush him. The shock of the nightmare soon passed. Silver blinked in confusion, carefully studying his surroundings with a bewildered gaze.

To his strong relief, he was in his bedroom in the safety of his home. His breathing slowed to a reasonable level, his eyes softening. The first emotion that spiked in the hedgehog is that of intense relief. But now that he had time to fully process that he is indeed lying in bed within his home, a new feeling swells with him.

Confusion.

Relieved the nightmare was over, Silver cupped both hands over his face, rubbing his temples and sighing softly. "Not that dream again…"

Seeking comfort from the outside world, Silver hopped out of the bed, awkwardly stumbling towards the window. He almost tore his curtains off with his strength, welcoming the outside world to his comfort. Crisis City loomed within the distance, city lights filling the air with bright, colourful radiance. His home was only a couple of miles from civilization.

Silver sat on the window ledge, resting one arm over his knee, his gaze shifting towards the sky. The bright lights in heaven's black brought a comforting sight. While nowhere close to the crystal clear skies he adored, the sparkles of the stars painted diamonds within the night, bringing a sense of wonder. He could hear the chirps of crickets from outside coming in short bursts, soothing the air around him.

"That dream again," Silver sighed. "It keeps getting stronger every time. I don't understand what it all means. Who is that monster? Why is Blaze there? Did… Did this all happen before and I just forgot about it? No, that's just stupid. Get it together, Silver. Don't be so naïve."

The hedgehog moved to a small armchair within the corner of his room. He grasped a small photo frame resting on the nightstand, bringing a smile to his face as he studied the photograph. It was a group photo with his friends in the past just after they finished competing in several races hosted by Dodon Pa. Everyone in the photo stood in front of their respective vehicles. He spotted himself in the frame posing between Sonic and Blaze. He waved ecstatically towards the camera, his mouth open wide. Sonic stood with his arms crossed while holding that signature grin of his. Blaze stood to the far side, holding a small smile with both hands clasped behind her back.

The race had only been a week ago, yet it already felt like an eternity since he last saw his friends. Admittedly, there were times Silver wanted to give into the temptations of staying in the past for good. But it wasn't his place. He belonged here, the world he fought so hard to keep safe. He knew he could always visit at any time, but that just made returning all the more challenging than before.

Thanks to Dodon Pa's technology, Tails discovered the necessary components to construct a device capable of sending messages across time. Said device now rested within the corner of his room. Silver wasn't the most technical savvy, but he was taught enough to get by. His friends in the past occasionally dropped him a message, though he longed for physical connection instead.

With a small sigh, Silver prepared to retreat to his bed for a good night's sleep. As his leg reached the foot of his bed, a sudden ray of red covered his bedroom. He froze, confusion forcing him to turn around. "It's morning already?"

All traces of fatigue faded within an instance. Horror filled his face, eyes widened like saucers. The beautiful city he admired only seconds ago now basked in flames. Fire licked the buildings, quickly sweeping across every structure in sight. The crystal clear sky vanished. In its place were blood red skies. His worst nightmare was literally becoming true, and he could do nothing but mutter softly under his breath.

"Oh, no."

Without missing a beat, Silver quickly snatched his boots and Time Wrist Cuffs, donning them in record time. He threw open the window, casting himself in a familiar cyan glow. Silver raced through the humid air, arms held firmly to his side, determined to find the source of the attack. But deep down, he knew the problem would not be resolved in the present but in the past.

Doctor Eggman Nega cackled with joy, taking great pleasure in watching the citizens of the Sol Empire flee in terror. He sat comfortably within his Egg Mobile, allowing his lifeless robots to deliver the work. Missiles rained down on several buildings, bullets showering the streets. The royal guards of the kingdom stood their ground without concern for their own safety, willingly putting their lives on the line.

The captain of the squad marched forward. A large polar bear stood with his brothers-in-arms, his hand clutching a large sword. "Eggman Nega. Call off your forces and retreat right now, or we will be forced to take action!"

Nega howled with laughter, his deep baritone carried throughout the air. Through his tinted glasses, he locked eyes directly with the captain. "I admire your determination, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. Robots, attack!"

The lingering forces approached from both air and land. The captain did not hesitate to charge first into battle, hurling his sword through the nearest robot with ease. The royal guards followed suit, tearing down any robot that dared to come within range. While the robot's lacked the experience and battle training the royal guards carried, their sheer numbers made up for their drawbacks. Before long, the royal guards were becoming overwhelmed.

As Nega laughed with triumph, he glanced up just in time to see a large fireball hurling his way. He yelped, ducking down just in time. The flame practically kissed his head, it was so close to making an impact. He pulled himself up, locking eyes with the hero who stood in his way one too many times.

The royal guards felt a breath of fresh air as the robots were incinerated with ease, crumbling to pieces within seconds. Nega sacrificed creating durable robots in favour of creating large forces, making it easy for them to fall so quickly in battle. The captain turned around, thrilled to see their ruler joining them in battle.

Nega frowned once more, learning back with both arms crossed. "You took your time, Your Highness."

Blaze jumped to the nearest rooftop to close the distance between them. Flames swirled around her arms, hands clenched tightly with anticipation. "Nega! This time you've gone too far!"

"Believe me, I'm only just getting started," the doctor replied confidently. "I know what your answer is going to be, but I shall give the opportunity, nevertheless. Surrender the Sol Emeralds to me and I may spare your kingdom of a cruel fate."

The princess narrowed her eyes, disgusted to even consider the proposal. "I would rather die."

"Very poor choice of words," Nega replied.

He pressed several buttons on the dashboard, unleashing several missiles directly towards his greatest nemesis. To his surprise, she made no attempt to evade the blasts. Blaze stood her ground, deflecting the several missiles into the air with precision. She moved with grace, evading each missile with the delicacy of a ballerina. The final missile she caught within her hand, using the momentum to twirl on her toes and return the weapon to its sender.

The missle impacted its target, shaking the Egg Mobile with enough force to almost knock out its pilot. Nega quickly regained control of the aircraft, slowly losing his composure. Once more, his invasion of the kingdom failed. "I see you've been practising. Fear not, I will return with an even larger force. Until next time, Your Highness."

Nega turned the aircraft around, blasting away from the kingdom. He reached the open waters within no time, confident he was out of harm's way. As he turned back to gloat at the situation, the last thing he expected to see was the princess racing after him through the streets, consumed in a large fireball. His expression visibly dropped, any trace of joy now leaving him within an instance.

He expected Blaze to give up by the time he reached the seas. That was their usual routine. She would stop pursuing once he was on the retreat. But this time was different. Even as the crystal clear ocean separated them from the land, she continued following, her feet kissing the water as she pursued with incredible speed. The flames under her feet formed steam from the water, scorching temperatures threatening to unleash at any given moment.

"NEGA!"

Blaze shot herself through the air, conjuring herself in flames and turning into a tornado of fire with a simple spin. Now cloaked within her flames, she propelled herself towards the air, twirling around in rapid speed. She overpassed the Egg Mobile before landing directly in front of the startled doctor. Without hesitation, she slammed her burning fist into the dashboard, forcing the controls to go haywire.

Nega yelped with surprise, grabbing the throttle in a desperate attempt to regain control of his aircraft. He inadvertently turned back towards the kingdom. The princess bounced away, using her flames to slow her descent. In this moment of triumph, all traces of acrophobia disappeared.

The Egg Mobile crashed into the ocean, the impact hurling the good doctor out of his aircraft and into the sea. He quickly splashed his arms to keep his head afloat, frantically searching for the nearest land. Fortunately, he crashed only a few feet from the nearest pier. The choice between returning to the kingdom or staying out in the ocean was obvious.

Nega grasped the pier's edge to pull himself back onto dry land, struggling to lift his rather large frame. He fell to his hands and knees, coughing out the sea water unintentionally swallowed during the fall. A shadow casted over his defeated form. He slowly looked up, locking eyes with the raging princess standing before him.

Blaze grabbed his collar, forcing her greatest nemesis up, their faces only inches away. Through his tinted glasses, Nega recognised the fury in her golden eyes. Defeating him wasn't enough. This time, Blaze wanted him to pay for the countless times he attacked her kingdom.

She raised her free hand, flames dancing around her wrist, threatening to deliver the killing blow at any minute. "You have caused harm to my kingdom one too many times, Nega. You will not harm my people anymore. If you're so intent on destroying everything, perhaps I should return the favour in kind."

Blaze moved her flaming fist closer. The scorching temperatures pressed against Nega's skin, threatening to incinerate his flesh at any moment. For the first time in years, he truly felt fear, terrified of the princess' wrath. He could do nothing to shield himself from her rage. She was out for blood, his blood.

Citizens and guards alike watched on in anticipation. Some feared for the upcoming outcome, others stepped back in concern for their own well-being and the small majority secretly wished their protector followed through with her threat. The hundreds of eyes casted upon her caught Blaze's attention. She briefly glanced towards her people, noting their mixed reactions to the situation, all the while she continued brandishing her weapon close.

She darted her eyes back towards the evil scientist, hissing softly under her breath. "But I'm not like you, Nega."

Confusion surrounded the doctor's face before Blaze tossed him further along the pier into the path of her royal guards. He landed at their feet with a small thud, grunting from the force. Despite her much smaller stature, she wielded incredible super strength and tossed him as if he were nothing. Before he could recover, the royal guards were quick to restrain the doctor, forcing both hands behind his back while they frisked him for hidden weaponry.

The princess slowly marched forward, her mere presence commanding the attention of everyone present. Her gaze never left Nega, refusing to give him any opportunity to escape. "Doctor Eggman Nega. As ruling monarch of the Sol Empire, I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment for the crimes of terroism against my kingdom and its people."

Regaining some of his composure, Nega narrowed his eyes. "Do not think this is the end, Your Highness. No prison will ever hold me."

"We shall see," Blaze responded, arms crossed and expression tightened. "Guards! Take him away!"

The royal guards bowed in return before forcefully dragging the evil scientist away. Taking no chances, a whole squadron personally escorted Nega, some keeping their weapons drawn while others studied their surroundings, cautious there were further robots lingering within the distance.

Relived the threat was finally over, Blaze eased her guard, exhaling with relief. The surrounding crowd applauded her actions, cheering their ruler for saving them once more. Their kind and encouraging words brought a strong sense of comfort to the princess. She raised a small smile, waving one hand slowly. While a part of herself still felt apprehensive by the constant attention, she masked her anxiety with gratitude.

"Excuse me, Princess Blaze?"

Blaze looked down as someone tugged at her fingers. A young koala bear, perhaps no older than six years old, caught her attention. "Yes?"

"Do you think I could be like you some day?" the girl innocently asked, her eyes hopeful.

The princess paused for a moment to think over the question, unknowingly fiddling with the fur end of her glove while doing so. In the past, such a query would have forced Blaze to make up an excuse to leave to avoid answering. But now, no longer isolating herself from others, she didn't feel uneased by the question at all.

Blaze offered a small smile, kneeling down onto one knee to match the girl's height. She slowly placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder as she spoke. "You can be whatever you want to be. Don't let anyone ever tell you differently."

Her gentle and encouraging words brought a sense of warmth to the young girl. She smiled, nodding softly to the princess' encouragement. Blaze stood up to the full height, thanking everyone for their kind words once more before beginning her trek back to the castle. Royal duties awaited her back at the castle.

She took her time travelling through the kingdom, choosing not to summon her pyrokinetic powers and speed back, using the opportunity to bask in the solace. The adrenaline slowly faded away, allowing Blaze to process everything that just transpired. Nega attacking her kingdom wasn't uncommon. Gardon had even gone out of his way to document every invasion attempt. There was enough material to write a whole book.

In other circumstances, Blaze would have simply allowed Nega to retreat once his attack failed. But something inside her snapped today. She grew tired of having to stay on the constant edge of losing her kingdom to the mad scientist. The stress he caused throughout the years was enough to drive her fur grey.

It was finally over. No more terrorist acts from the evil scientist awaited her. Now she could finally focus on diplomatic situations without having to rush into action at every opportunity. Perhaps she could finally catch up on her studies, or even use the time to find out more about the Sol Emeralds' history.

"Nega is no more," Blaze spoke aloud, a habit she never grew out of. "I… Finally stopped him. His robots may linger beyond the seas, but I am confident we will have them destroyed in due time. My people are safe. That is all that matters."

She took the time to study the damage Nega's forces left in their wake. Houses and small businesses alike were partially damaged, rubble now filling the streets and blocking several pathways. Fortunately, nobody appeared to be too severely injured. While Blaze held her contempt for Nega, she refused to allow his presence to bother her any longer. From this day forward, nobody would harm her kingdom again.

As Blaze passed one of her favourite cafés, horror filled her face. The business had been hit hard, the roof caved in with large pieces of rubble scattered around the area. Coco the Otter, the owner of the café whom she had grown close to over recent days, was stuck under a large collapsed support beam. Others desperately tried to lift the heavy object, but their numbers were not enough to shift the hefty weight.

Without hesitation, Blaze raced forward to help, squeezing between the large crowd. "Here, allow me."

She grasped the end of the beam and forced it above her head, creating more than enough room for Coco to wiggle herself free from the wreckage. While others helped the young otter to safety, the rest watched on, marvelled by the incredible strength their ruler wielded. Relieved the otter was out of harm's way, Blaze gently set the beam down to avoid creating further damage, turning towards her people once more.

"Is everyone all right?" she questioned aloud, receiving short answers in response. "The royal guards will be arriving shortly to be of assistance. Take care of each other and yourselves."

The crowd thanked their ruler unanimously before racing around to help others who were in need. Blaze checked Coco's condition once more and continued her trek back towards her home. She felt relief in seeing their gratitude. There was a time when her own people feared her powers, concerned her initial inability to control them would come back to harm them. The bond she now shared between herself and the people could never be broken again.

Upon returning to her castle, the royal guards immediately raced forward in concern, but a quick dismissive wave from their ruler sent them back into their usual positions. Others were ordered to assist the civilians who needed help repairing their homes. Gardon was anxiously awaiting her return, fearing the worst had come. These concerns were finally put at ease as the princess' arrival brought a strong sense of relief.

He raced forward, bowing with respect. "Princess Blaze! Are you hurt?"

"No need to concern yourself, Gardon," Blaze reassured. "Nega will not be harming anyone anymore. I made sure of that."

Her words came off more sinister than she intended. Gardon nervously twitched his fingers. "You mean, you…?"

Blaze, catching onto her own words, quickly corrected herself. "Nega has been imprisoned at the Outcast Institution. I personally made sure he was secure. Rest assured, Gardon. We don't have anything to fear from him anymore."

Relieved for both his ruler's and nemesis' fates, Gardon's stance relaxed and he stood to attention once more. "That is great to hear, Princess Blaze. Is there anything I can do to be of assistance?"

"Could you check on Marine and make sure she is unharmed?" Blaze gently requested.

"Of course," Gardon said before racing out down the nearest hallway.

Truthfully, this request was unneeded. Blaze knew her young friend was safe. She simply wanted time to herself for a small period. She retreated to her throne room, taking her seat on the royal throne, basking in the silence while it lasted. The room was void of anyone else. Most of the royal guards were scattered across the kingdom to ensure Nega's forces were eliminated.

With some time to herself, Blaze inhaled and embraced the silence. A friend from the other dimension taught her the importance of meditation. She initially shook off the suggestion, but grew to enjoy the experience more than expected. It calmed her mind and helped keep her temper in check. Unfortunately, the silence didn't last much longer as her personal guard returned in record time.

"Miss Marine is unharmed, Princess Blaze," Gardon confirmed.

"Good," she replied rather abruptly. She peered around, absently sliding her eyes over the walls, decorations, carpets and other common fixtures of the royal castle.

Gardon tilted his head with concern. "Is something troubling you, Princess Blaze?"

The feline fell silent for a moment, her thoughts within another world. She felt a strange sensation within, a feeling Blaze never expected to feel within her lifetime. Loneliness. For the longest time, she shut herself from others, refusing to build personal relationships. But then she met her friends from another universe. An upbeat blue hedgehog and a kind rabbit had brought her out of the shell she once imprisoned herself within. She was far more sociable with others now, happily taking part in informal events.

But that was the drawback to her new self. Her friends were located across a whole universe. The travel between their worlds didn't pose a problem. She was a princess, a duty she prided herself on carrying. Royal duties took priority over her own personal desires. Her castle felt emptier now, even with the hundreds of royal staff racing around every single day. Marine was the only one in her world she could call her friend. For much as she cared for her kingdom and its people, they saw her as their ruler and nothing more.

Blaze almost laughed at the irony. She sat in these vast halls with power beyond her messare and yet she felt lesser now than she had ever been.

She broke out of her thoughts, returning her attention to the koala bear. "No, everything is fine. I apologise for my abruptness, Gardon."

"That's okay, Princess Blaze," he assured. "You've had a stressful morning. No offence taken."

A smile escaped her lips, casting itself over her face. She could do no wrong in Gardon's eyes. He served the throne for as long as could remember. In a way, he liked to consider having a hand in raising Blaze ever since she was a small girl. But personal feelings aside, Gardon carried his duty proudly.

"Gardon, I want you to know how grateful I am for your service over the years," she began, stepping up from her throne to maintain the same ground level. "I know I wasn't the most sociable ruler before, but I will never forget your kindness."

Admittedly, the koala bear didn't expect such praise today. He stuttered for a moment, dropping his proud stance. "You… Are very welcome, Blaze. I am proud to serve the throne and will do so for many more years."

Blaze extended her arm, gently patting him on the shoulder. She still wasn't quite accustomed to physical contact, but considered every small step to be an improvement. But after this morning's events combined with her own personal feelings, she needed a moment of solace. "Gardon, do I have any meetings or events planned today?"

Gardon produced a small journal from his pocket, scanning through the contents of the latest page. "It seems your schedule is all clear today, Princess Blaze. Would you like me to rearrange your week?"

"That won't be necessary," she gently reassured. "All diplomatic paperwork is currently in order as well. Gardon, I will be taking some quiet time for a short while."

"As you wish, Princess Blaze," Gardon replied with a short bow.

The feline retreated from the throne room, walking through the long hallways. To the untrained eye, it was very easy for new visitors to get lost. She passed several of the castle's staff along the way, greeting them kindly and praising their services. She reached her personal bedroom, entering the one place she didn't have to keep up royal appearances, finally allowing herself to relax. Blaze took a seat at the end of her large bed, kicking off her heeled shoes. She removed the binding in her ponytail, allowing her long hair to drop just above her neck.

Exhaling with relief and exhaustion, she found her eyes casting towards the nearest nightstand. Her royal bedroom was once filled with framed photos of eloquent paintings. But in their place were now personal photographs she had taken overtime. She grabbed the nearest frame, holding it close as a smile returned to her face once more.

The photo was taken at a recent tea party with her friends. She spotted herself standing beside Cream, the young rabbit holding her hand within the photo. Her eyes casted towards the others in the photo. Sonic posed with his usual thumbs up, Tails cheerfully waved, Amy laughed with joy and Silver happily ate away at the delicious baked goods.

She remembered this day quite fondly. It was their time of solace before they competed in a fighting tournament. Blaze had since returned to the Chaos Dimension only a week ago to compete in a series of races. Driving her own race car brought out a sense of joy she never knew was there. In spite of Eggman's usual interferences, she had fun that day.

She longed to visit her friends again one day. To see Sonic's upbeat demeanor, Cream's kindness, Tails' passion for technology, Amy's friendship and even Silver's joy at simple things in life. Blaze reminded herself it would never be the end. They would see each other again in no time, a day that couldn't come soon enough.