Kingdom Hearts: Sin Angel
Episode 2: Destati, Sonic the Hedgehog
It came to him slowly.
Sentience first, then feeling, a sort of gradual awareness of his own existence…
Gathering strength, he opened his bleary eyes.
Sonic the Hedgehog found himself sitting on top of a window. From his high position, he could see the empty expanses of a city sleeping. He was immediately reminded of Stardust City, but it wasn't quite the same. It was safe to say he didn't remember this place, and yet it felt familiar somehow.
He stood up. This place felt so weird to him. Comprehension beyond him, Sonic simply scanned his surroundings in confusion before someone caught his attention.
"Can't say I'm not surprised," Axel murmured as he stared down the blue hedgehog. Sonic stared back, having never seen this man before. "You just woke up and you're already defying the laws of physics."
"Who are you?" Sonic asked, blinking. "And where are we?"
"Lemme ask you a question first," Axel pressed. "How are you sitting on the SIDE of a window?"
Sonic blinked for a moment before staring down at his feet. Sure enough, he was planted right on a window. No wonder the whole world looked sideways! Unfortunately, the moment he realized this, Newton's (and his temporary annoying tag-along Murphy) laws decided to finally take effect. "DAAAAHHHH!" Sonic screamed as he fell to the ground. However, being Sonic, he immediately started running DOWN the building, letting gravity do the work for him. At the last second, Sonic jumped off the building and landed on the ground.
The red-haired man reappeared on the ground, smirking confidently as Sonic recovered from his fall. Sonic was still looking at him expectantly.
"All right," Axel reluctantly acquiesced, "Since you're going to be seeing my mug for quite a while, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Axel. Commit it to memory."
"All right then," Sonic replied, "What is… this place?"
Axel simply chuckled, grinning.
"What's so funny?"
"You don't recognize the depths of your own heart… how sad," Axel remarked, smirking.
"Huh?" Sonic blinked.
"Think about it. You were last seen frozen in the depths of darkness on Earth. It's sorta doubtful that you'd still be alive… and yet you are. But your body still needs to recover. And it won't do that until you climb out of the depths of your heart." Now that he thought about it, the city's neon lights did all seemed to radiate a distinct feeling… something that felt like… himself.
"This is… my heart? Do all hearts look like this on the inside?" Sonic asked.
"Everyone's heart is unique. You shoulda seen Knuckles' Heart. Looks so much like Chaos Angel…"
"KNUCKLES? Where is he?.!" Sonic demanded, advancing threateningly.
"Oh, he's fine. He's probably dragging our bodies back to Chaos Angel as we speak."
"He… he survived? I thought they all…"
"Not everyone shares the same fate in darkness." Axel cryptically answered, internally laughing at Sonic's confusion. "You know, you need to get over feeling guilty over your friends. It's not like you didn't do everything in your power to stop the Heartless." Axel thought back to his own life before the Sin Angel for a moment, telling Sonic, "A lot of people use all their strength and try hard, but it's still not enough."
Sonic simply growled in frustration. Axel wasn't sure whether it was at himself or his words. But enough of his silly angsting. It was time to get a move on their work.
"Enough chit chat from the peanut gallery. Let's get this over with," Axel began, throwing his hand out dramatically to stop anything Sonic had to say. A spectacular, dark wind flared from below both of them, and Sonic's world shattered into darkness in the span of five terrifying seconds.
When the blue hedgehog found himself aware again, he nearly jumped with shock. "Whoa!" He cried, for he found himself in the middle of a street, further within his heart. City lights continued to sparkle as the abandoned streets showed off their naked state. Brightest of all, however, was a huge building right in front of him. And near the top was a large screen.
Sonic watched in awe as the screen flickered to life…
…and revealed a picture of Amy Rose.
"Amy…" Sonic breathed. The pink hedgehog in the red dress and boots was still exactly as he remembered her. For the most part, she had been nothing but an annoying fangirl to him, but Sonic had reconsidered all his opinion of her after the A.R.K incident. Since then, he had more than tolerated letting her follow him around, even as Eggman had tried to split the world into seven pieces. Unfortunately, that's when the Heartless came…
The familiar sensation of darkness snapped Sonic out of his reverie as it began to invade his soul, pushing at the barriers. A familiar group of natural Heartless emerged all around him, hissing and swinging their heavy, awkward heads about. The group of Neo Shadows had crowded all around the hedgehog, so he tensed, preparing for battle.
"Can you fight?" Axel's question seemed to radiate from everywhere, even though the flame-haired Chaos Saint had appeared behind him, facing the crowd of Neo Shadows gathered around them both.
"What do you think?.!" Sonic shot back, sounding offended.
"Show me how, then," Axel whispered as the first Neo Shadow lunged.
Sonic countered with a powerful Homing Attack, smashing the Neo Shadow away and sending its pieces flying towards its brethren. Two more Neo Shadows scampered from the crowd to take a swipe at Sonic, but their attacks missed. Sonic whipped backwards before smashing both with a kick. He leapt up into the air and brought down a third Heartless crashing into the other two, killing all three.
Axel, on the other hand, was merely slicing down his opposition with his wind and fire wheels. Rather than putting forth full effort like Sonic, Axel seemed to fight just enough to keep himself and Sonic from being overwhelmed.
The Neo Shadows kept lunging, slashing, or emerging and swirling their bodies in deadly pinwheel fashion. But Sonic persisted in his offense, crushing the opposition with a combination of deadly kicks and vicious Homing Attacks. Despite Axel's own war, he observed the blue hedgehog constantly, noting his fighting style and the way he dealt with Heartless. Axel observed that launching a full offense wasn't new to the blue hedgehog, yet he preferred to strike with a string of single, powerful blows rather than a flurry of attacks.
It was then Axel thought of the perfect weapon to complement him. Every Chaos Saint wielded one, from Zexion and his light sabers/energy blades to Clara's… blades. His own thoughts amused him with his joking comments towards Clara earlier that week when he pointed out that an extremely ugly video game character had the exact same blades. He bet she hadn't stopped crying yet.
Shaking said thoughts from his head, Axel watched as Sonic defeated the last Neo Shadow. The hedgehog stood, victorious but tired, supporting himself on his knees as he looked up at Amy's visage on the screen. Axel noticed this as he spoke, "Someone to fight for, eh?"
"Yeah… even if she is gone, I still remember her," Sonic looked back at Axel. "Why, what's it to you?"
"Everything… if I'm going to give you proper training, I have to know your strengths and weaknesses… and what makes you tick." Axel grinned.
"Training?" Sonic asked.
"You want to be strong for your friends as well as yourself, right?" Axel asked.
"Yeah…"
"Perhaps you'd be more comfortable taking this next part with more familiar faces…" Axel walked a bit before pointing to a skyscraper in the distance. "Head there. You might see one of your friends. He or she will ask you a question. Be sure to answer honestly," Axel added with a grin. "Otherwise you might make this harder than it looks."
"Okay…" Sonic took note of the advice, even though he wasn't really sure whether or not Axel was to be trusted. He stepped off and began to race towards his destination before another thought crossed his mind. "Wait… what is this all for? Why are you helping me?"
"Let's just say that it's a question I'M asking YOU," Axel answered cryptically, his grin getting wider. "And since you've got no choice but to join us anyway, I might as well ease you into this as gently as possible."
"Us?" Sonic inquired, but having a feeling that Axel wouldn't answer his question, he turned tail and ran to his new destination.
------
Sonic bolted up the skyscraper, uncertain as to what he would encounter. As he reached the top, he observed storm clouds brewing. "Storming… in my heart? That's a bad sign, isn't it?" He mused.
"Depends on how you look at it!" Sonic whirled around in surprise to see a familiar face.
"R-Rouge!" Sonic gaped in shock. "Y-you're alive?"
"Alive in Heart, Sonic," the white-furred bat answered. She was still clad in her heart dress, the black pants and her deadly heels. "Not even the Heartless can keep ME down. You can thank that Axel guy for that." Rogue flew up and floated before Sonic on her leathery wings. "So I have to ask… what's most important to you?"
Sonic stopped and thought for a moment. What WAS most important to him? If he'd been approached with this question just six months ago, he would have said something along the lines of "To keep moving, no matter what!" But things had changed. When half of his friends tasted the darkness so many months ago, his priorities changed. Now it was all about keeping his friends safe… no matter how many clichéd heroes had figured this out before him. However, being himself was still in high regard. So Sonic answered thus:
"To protect my friends, without losing myself."
Rouge giggled.
"Huh?" Sonic asked. He started to smirk. "Lemme guess. Wrong answer?"
"Nope. It's your answer." Rouge grinned. "Remember it. And go find the next person. He'll be waiting for you at the fountain."
Sonic nodded and backed away, ready to rush off. Unfortunately, rain began to fall, droplets soaking into his fur. Sonic would normally shrug it off, as he wasn't afraid of rain, but something caught his eye. A dark coat fluttered to the ground before him; the hedgehog reached out to catch the garment, staring up at its donor.
"Put it on," Axel instructed, grin still present. "You're one of us, now, don't you remember?"
Sonic put on the Chaos Saint outfit just as the rain began to pick up. He noted Rouge whip out an umbrella and calmly "float" as she always did. "Dude, what about my spikes? Oh wait, never mind," Sonic was worrying about his spines up until he noticed that the jacket had been contoured to fit his body. He put on the hood, but not enough to shadow his face.
He glanced at Axel one last time before sprinting away, but the mysterious Chaos Saint had already vanished. Shrugging, Sonic jumped off and dashed down the building, letting gravity aid his acceleration. Landing at the bottom of the skyscraper, Sonic headed to the other side, searching for the main fountain.
The rain began to die down, but it showed no signs of stopping. Sonic slowed down to a leisurely pace as he saw the water fountain in its beauty. In spite of the rain, the fountain and its white marble looked practically untouched. The blue hedgehog gazed blankly into the sky.
"Never thought you were a daydreamer, Sonic," A voice snapped Sonic out of his reverie. Sonic looked to his left to see a face he thought long gone.
"Shadow the Hedgehog," Sonic stood face to face with his dark double, the black hedgehog leering at him. "Never imagined I'd see you again."
Shadow grinned despite this. "So I guess that's why you let that kid have a copy of my shoes," He said. "If I were still around in your side of the universe, I would've killed him AND you."
"If you're not just inside my heart, where are you?" Sonic asked.
"I've taken to an entirely unfamiliar universe… thanks to the afterlife of many worlds now falling to the grip of some fire-headed god, I haven't quite been able to kick the bucket. My body's regenerating from the very darkness that ended it." Indeed, Sonic remembered back to that fateful day. It was Shadow who'd put forth the most effort to save the innocents. Even as the Heartless overwhelmed him and plunged him into darkness, he kept on fighting. He'd even saved Tails…
"Axel says you have a question for me," Sonic stated.
Shadow looked at Sonic. "So what do you think this is all for?"
Sonic didn't have the slightest clue. Axel had only mentioned he was now part of some outfit, and that his current situation was some form of training… but there had to be something beyond that. Since he'd been there, he'd felt… much less guilty about his failures… and more determined to stop them.
Sonic replied, "This is my awakening."
"No right or wrong answer, Sonic, only yours," Shadow grinned. "The last person you need to meet is at the center of your heart. You'll know where that is." Before he could ask anymore questions, Shadow the Hedgehog turned around and left, disappearing into the night.
"Where?" Sonic muttered to himself, but thought back to where he showed up with the Neo Shadows. The center of his heart… that screen…
It made sense. Heading back from whence he came, Sonic tore through the city, looking for the skyscraper with the screen of his heart…
------
Curse it! More Neo Shadows!
Sonic tensed and assumed a fighting stance as the wicked army stared him down.
"You can't hope to defeat all those Neo Shadows by yourself, can you?" Sonic heard Axel's slightly taunting voice. He glanced to his side to see Axel appear in his peripheral vision. He noticed a Neo Shadow prepare to lunge and readied an attack, only to step back in surprise as a huge wall of fire flared between him and the army of darkness. Sonic now looked behind to see Axel looking on confidently. "You're not ready yet. First you need a weapon."
"Weapon! Dude, if you haven't noticed, I AM a weapon," Sonic challenged.
"That's nice, but one's own body can only go so far. You don't have the Chaos Emeralds to let you pump out your Super Saiyan parody at a moment's notice." Axel calmly replied, grin still on his face. Sonic raised his eyebrow at "Super Saiyan parody." Axel stepped forward and extended his hand. From this Sonic could see the faint outline of some sort of vague weapon. "Look deep into your heart, and then imagine yourself pulling out that special weapon." The flame-haired man instructed.
Sonic faltered for a bit as he tried to focus and reach out against the faint outline at the same time. The feel of something solid forming into his hands snapped him out of his focused state; he found himself holding a white shape that seemed to form into what looked like a bladed anchor; the other three edges were prongs much like a chakram. Sonic held one end, looking at the strange, yet dangerous looking device. "What the hell is this?" He muttered, the question more of a statement directed toward himself.
"It's called an axeram, an unorthodox combination of battle axe and chakram," Axel explained, his obvious amusement at Sonic's confusion growing. "It suits your battle style. Just try it alongside your normal abilities."
"Oh," Sonic said, the idea strangely making sense. "So it's a ninja axe?"
"Axeram," Axel corrected, his grin fading.
"Cool! Ninja axe!" Sonic gripped the thing with both hands, holding the bottom prong much like Sora held his Keyblade. The fire barrier fell, and the angry Neo Shadows immediately attacked.
"Oh, God…" Axel groaned, smacking himself in the head. The Neo Shadows fell much more quickly this time, as Sonic deftly wielded his weapon and sliced into the Heartless ranks as if he had fought with the weapon for at least a few months. Sonic rode the adrenaline rush, grinning as he mowed the Heartless down with much less difficulty than he had earlier, beating his way towards the tower.
One he got there, Sonic immediately began to sprint up the building, paying no heed to the Neo Shadows chasing him. As he ran, he sliced down Neo Shadows unfortunate enough to get in his way with his "ninja axe."
He was pouring on the speed. Almost to the top…
He saw her. Amy Rose. Sailing over the building, Sonic saw her, staring at him with a serene smile. No fangirl craze here, just Amy Rose in raw form.
"AMY!" Sonic screamed.
"Land, dummy!" She shouted back good-naturedly. Sonic blinked for a moment before realizing he was still airborne. Forcing Newton's law to recognize him, Sonic nosedived onto the skyscraper rooftop and landed on his feet. He whirled around, realizing that damned Murphy was right around the corner in the form of angry Neo Shadows.
Before he could screech "Amy!" again, he saw the Neo Shadows collide with yet another fire wall. Axel appeared, a small smirk on his face. "Like I'd let those Heartless interrupt a reunion between you and your girlfriend!"
Without even thinking, Sonic retorted, "SHE'S NOT MY—"
"Sonic!" Amy tackled the blue Hedgehog with a vice-grip-like hug, effectively winding him.
"Amy… nice… but… I… need… AIR—!" Sonic wheezed.
"Sorry," Amy sheepishly backed away.
A bit stunned by this uncharacteristic behavior, Sonic could only stare a bit before shaking it off. Amy… apologetic about her (rather obsessive and more than slightly agressive) fangirl tendencies? "Amy… There's so much left unsaid…" Sonic murmured, not exactly sure how to talk to the girl he had so readily ignored until recently… almost until it was too late.
"And we have all the time in the world to say it," She answered, a slight giggle escaping her lips. "I'm part of your Heart now, Sonic."
"Sorta strange coming from me… but I wish we had more time," Sonic said. He looked over to see Axel pretending to check a watch and shrug at them. "I'm unfortunately under new management."
"Awww, Sonic!" Amy chided. "Always rushing off without saying goodbye! What makes you think you can keep running, away from things, people, your own strength?"
"Maybe… maybe I'm just not ready!" Sonic nearly shot back, trying not to startle Amy. "Slowing down means facing something without going at it at my fullest! I can't afford to do that with so many falling from me…" Unfortunately for him he saw two things: Amy's telltale giggle, then Axel giving him the thumbs up. Sonic sweat-dropped in realization. "That was the third question, wasn't it?"
"Ding, ding, ding, give the boy a cookie!" Axel cheered, irony and slight sarcasm lacing his voice. "You told your heart what you need to know. Now it's ready… except for one last thing."
"What's that?" Sonic asked.
"There's still one thing tying you down to the darkness. You have to let go, Sonic." Axel advised, smiling faintly.
"Let go… of what?"
That answer came to him as another form appeared from above… a ray of light, much like a sunbeam, shone in front of Sonic as a familiar form stepped down, descending invisible stairs.
"You've got a distinct hatred of someone who wronged you in the past," Axel observed. Sonic's shocked face recognized Kim Possible as she emerged from the beam of light. "Ironically, you're tied to the darkness by someone you hate in the light."
Sonic nearly roared as he summoned his mighty axeram and stormed towards the accursed girl standing before him
"Sonic! NO!" Amy cried.
Before he even recognized what happened, Kim Possible shifted form right before his eyes. Her mutation left a white, wraith-like creature in her wake, its long hair still somewhat resembling the human Kim's and a familiar Soulless crest replacing her face. The creature struck Sonic down with a fierce backhand. The blue hedgehog could barely recover before a mighty burst of searing light nearly fried him. He slung his weapon and threw it like a boomerang, allowing the blade to slice through the creature.
It retaliated with a wicked burst of light, knocking Sonic off his feet. This former-Kim-Possible monster slashed with its elongated claws, missing Sonic by mere inches. The blue hedgehog flipped backwards before charging forward and smashing into the creature's face. It reeled back before firing off more rays of light, which Sonic deftly dodged.
"Always takes them forever with this part," Axel grumbled as he noticed the rain picking up.
Sonic sliced into the creature with wicked precision and furor, attempting to put an end to it before it could do anymore damage to his heart…
But then it happened.
Sonic found he suddenly couldn't move anymore. His legs, his arms… they suddenly ignored the task set before him, only to recognize in horror that accursed Kim Possible, or what was left of her, only extended a right hand. He was being crushed with psychic powers.
The monster sent Sonic crashing towards the edge of the building, the impact draining much of his strength. The object of his hatred… about to defeat him within his own heart. Would he turn into a Heartless, he found himself wondering rather calmly? A Soulless? Neither option was too appealing.
Sonic never really got to ponder the answer to the question. Before the creature could complete the finishing blow, Amy Rose interrupted its attack, leaping into its path…
…and got the full force of powerful light shoved into her body.
Although it saved Sonic from a painful end, it did not save him from careening off the building, the strange gravity taking a moment to affect his body.
And then, it hit him.
Kim Possible wouldn't do this… not to his friends…!
It struck him.
That's NOT Kim Possible! That can't be…!
"AMY!" Sonic screeched as his world began to descend into darkness, once again.
Don't worry about me, Sonic. I'm always here. Always with you! He heard her voice, and despite this desperate situation, it was tinged with the same strength and confidence he come to know her for. Keep true to your heart… always!
"AMY!" Sonic bellowed again, as he fell further into the darkness, the city fading further from his point of view. He aimed his weapon. I've got one last chance to save you…
Much to his chagrin, he found he couldn't throw it.
All he could do as he fell back, back into the darkness that had claimed him before was allow one last scream to tear itself from his throat… one last call for his friend.
"AMMMMYYYY!"
Don't forget Sonic… I'm always in your heart.
Always.
-
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(This concludes episode 2.
Sorry for the delay, but my betas were um… predisposed for one reason or another. In any case it's finally ready for the world. The city in Sonic's dream world/Heart is based on something from KH2. Big points and a cookie to whoever guesses it. The other characters aside from Axel and KP hail from Sonic's series as well. KP comes from her self-titled series.
Next time on Sin Angel: Sora and Cygnus see HAL Laboratory for the first time. And heroes and villains alike lay down their plans to finish the opposition. Where HAS everyone gone over the last three months?)