An Evil Reveals Itself

Every day, we lost at least one Echidna. This was very stressful to everyone. And Singe still lead the majority vote against the use of Chaos Emeralds. He now stated that Chaos Emeralds would not help unless we had an enemy to fight. He soon got his wish. Within one week, the Asst. President killed three of the members in the Echidna Order. TR captured him, and we interrogated him. We asked who led the army that destroys our land. He laughed at us. He said that we are not fearing an army, but rather one lone hedgehog. This made us fear the threat even more. One hedgehog could be hiding anywhere. We asked, but he would not say anymore. Only that even the Chaos Emeralds wouldn't be able to help us. He then committed suicide. TR and myself were placed in the Order as replacements, along with Singe. Elder Echidna agreed to take position as Asst. President, until a final decision could be made.

The Government Falls

That final decision was never made. Within only two days, the hedgehog returned in broad daylight. He walked up into the Echidna Order Tower. In minutes, it exploded. The only things left standing were TR, Knuckles, Singe, Elder Echidna, and the hedgehog. I stepped forward in anger, asking him his name. But he replied that he had no name, then left before the conversation could continue. The Echidna were running in there houses and staring through the window. The next day, all hell broke loose. Everyone was committing crimes, after all, there was no longer any order. It was here the Echidna race basically destroyed itself. I went to collect the Chaos Emeralds; I knew what had to be done. Singe was reluctant, but finally agreed to use them. The seven Chaos Emeralds now belonged to TR, Joel, Elder Echidna, Singe, Tikal, Tice (Joel's brother), and myself. We used the emeralds to get everybody's attention. Elder Echidna stood at Center Square, and spoke through the intercom. He instructed everyone to cease their actions, or the new Chaos Order would not hesitate to neutralize them. Most of them stopped, the ones that didn't, were thrown in jail. Two were killed in the process. Eventually, temporary order was restored.

The Hyper Battle

The Chaos Order was now in a meeting, discussing their next action. We were either going to wait for him, or go find him. We chose to wait, on the grounds that we knew not where to look. It didn't take long for him to show his face again. He seemed somewhat angry at the restored peace. The Chaos Order gathered together, and used the Chaos Emeralds to go hyper. Surely one hedgehog wouldn't be able to stand up against seven hyper Echidna. When he saw us, he smiled. He said that he was hoping we would use the emeralds at some point. He charged after us as we broke away in different directions. He charged after Tice. Tice turned around and fired a Chaos Spear. This threw the hedgehog off balance, and Tice was able to continue his attack in a combo. The hedgehog; however, soon broke this combo, he grabbed Tice's arm and swung him so hard, his arm detached and his body fell to the floor, dead. Everyone looked in horror. For the first time, they saw the extent of whom they were dealing with. The hedgehog then took Tice's emerald. His next target, was Joel. He used the emerald to do an attack that we had never seen before, Chaos Control. He disappeared, then reappeared behind Joel. He stuck his hands out as a white force pushed her hard against the ground. Her father, Singe, dashed in front of her to protect her. As the hedgehog came rushing towards her, Singe uppercutted the hedgehog. He then flew up to continue his attack. Tikal came up behind to assist him. It looked as though the fight was in our favor, until the hedgehog elbowed Tikal, and she fell to the floor, no longer in Hyper Mode, the emerald lying in her hand. The hedgehog went to pick it up, and bashed Singe with a powerful punch. In desperation to protect his daughter, he killed him self in a selfless blast of energy. Joel cried out as this event took place. Sadly, his death was in vein, the hedgehog flew out of the explosion as if it were air, and threw Joel into the still blazing fire, where she helplessly died instantly. The hedgehog grabbed the next two emeralds as well. The odds were not with us. TR, Elder Echidna, and myself, managed to fight him off, but we knew he would return. We buried the lives lost in the epic battle, glad that their lives were transformed into spiritual energy.

Unwanted Knowledge

We decided to use the Master Emerald for a little extra power boost. Though it was effective, we knew it was nowhere near enough to ensure victory over the losing battle. TR and Elder Echidna slept that night; I however, did not. How could I? I sat up all night, thinking, trying to believe that our race was not coming to an end. Unmentioned before, I had been having reoccurring nightmares of such an event, I knew it was inevitable. But I need not worry the others with this knowledge, I only hope that we die not in comfort, but in battle, together. When the others awoke, they found me training. I was determined not to let my nightmare become everyone's reality. Spiritual energy was flaming inside me, I was neither hungry nor tired, all I could think about was that damn hedgehog, and the survival of the Echidna race. This worried TR and Elder Echidna, but I didn't care. It was then, when we would make our final stand, for just seconds after they awoke, he came. As if he was watching, waiting for us to be ready for battle. We stepped outside, the power of four Chaos Emeralds at his side. It was do or die, and I was ready for more than do.

Genocide

The hedgehog destroyed our house, we arose from the flames unharmed, staring at our enemy. We scattered, our speed and agility greatly increased with the power of the Master Emerald. At first, he seemed to be loosing, I could even sense his fear. Teamwork was our best ally. I picked him up, and threw him into Elder Echidna, who kicked him to TR, who punched him into the ground. This process was repeated with variations. But then I remembered my nightmare. I caught myself believing that no matter how hard we tried, somehow, the hedgehog would rise and defeat us all. It was this thought, that ultimately ended our race, for when it came my turn to attack, I stood, helpless. Then, from what seemed like nowhere, came a fist, I was knocked down, unable to move. The hedgehog grabbed TR's neck, and slammed him into Elder Echidna. I tried to move, but a part of me didn't want to. TR and Elder Echidna fought with all their might, no matter how bad they got beat up, and after a simple punch, I couldn't even stand up; I was a disgrace to the Echidna race. Soon, Elder Echidna fell, his emerald taken. TR followed. Then, the hedgehog landed next to me. He told me that he didn't blame me for giving up, that I was a fool to resist. I asked him one final question, why he was doing all of this. He said that it was the first step to domination, to vengeance, for the ultimate life form. At the time, I didn't know what he was talking about. He picked me up with one arm, and with the other, punched me across the city. I still remained Hyper, but I felt dead. Something inside of me was telling me to get up, so I did. Yet I was hit back down the instant I made this decision. He took my emerald. It was true, that the Echidna race was immortal, but the body can only take so much, never was it thought that someone could be so strong, as to test the body's limit. I heard Tikal's voice, somewhere in the distance. She said that the hedgehog was going after the Master Emerald, to finish off the Echidna. But a greater threat was at hand. If the Master Emerald was to be used for such a purpose, Chaos, would arise, and threaten the world. The hedgehog had no knowledge of this fact, as it was only a legend, but for some reason, I believed her. I stood up, as did TR and Elder Echidna. We walked over to the hedgehog, as he was nearing the Master Emerald. We could not protect our race, but we could protect the world. We rushed up to the emerald, as did he. He threw us all back, and flew high above the great City of the Echidna. He repeated an ancient text, only found in our lore. The Master Emerald began to glow, and a screeching sound could be heard. The entire Echidna race ran to hide, for they knew that immortality was no longer one of their traits. TR, Elder Echidna, and I; however, knew that this could not be prevented. The hedgehog flew to the center of the city. The Master Emerald stood floating above. We rushed towards it, while he charged a massive attack. He turned Hyper, and charged more. We were at the Master Emerald, generating a shield. As soon as we accomplished this, we heard the words Chaos Blast, but no screams. Everything was gone. You wouldn't even recognize that a city was there. Just a deserted spot in the jungle. The hedgehog looked up, the Master Emerald, and ourselves were gone. In the massive explosion, the Chaos Emeralds were released from his body, and he was no longer Hyper. They were gone too. The hedgehog, now known as Dark Hedgehog, was never seen again, until just a few years ago, when he tried to destroy the world.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

We made it our duty to scatter the Chaos Emeralds throughout the land, in hopes that they remain hidden forever. It was about a year later, when a strange energy was forming within the Master Emerald. No doubt, it was Chaos. Elder Echidna sacrificed himself, to contain the beast within the emerald. As of today, we know that this sacrifice was not in vein, for Chaos was sealed inside just long enough, for Sonic become strong enough to defeat it, when it arose. His last words, were my new orders. Protect the Master Emerald at any cost.

Genocide… the murder of a mass population. When it happens, there is no turning back. Even for the immortal. Though I have told you the story, nothing can equal witnessing the events first hand, to see the fear, to fight the fear, to live the fear. I know that the Echidna race, will never die, not as long as we are not forgotten… but sometimes… I get the feeling that TR and I, are not the only survivors. Heh, yes, she is still out there… somewhere…