Chapter Nineteen
A Catalyst for Disaster
In a vast metropolis known as Mobotropolis, we see a young fox running up a steep hill with his faithful Chao, known as Ace, hanging on his shoulder. This fox has the most unusual trait given to him. He has twin tails and he uses them to his advantage; however, we'll get to that later. He had just returned from what was just a short flight in his biplane into another big adventure with the world renowned hero, and his best friend, Sonic the Hedgehog. The fox's name is Miles Prower, but he does have an epithet which suits his ability with his twin tails. That epithet is Tails and it was given to him by Sonic the Hedgehog.
It seemed that an old foe that Tails, or Miles as he also like to be called, had once defeated had returned with another plan at world domination. This foe is known as the Battle Bird Armada. He had first met them on an unnamed island in the middle of the western seas. He didn't meet them again until he and Sonic landed on Westside Island, where Miles and Sonic first met, when the island was under seize. The Armada was after the legendary Chaos Emeralds on the island itself. The Chaos Emeralds hold supernatural powers that are equally deadly separate, but not if an entire set are collected.
You see, the entire planet itself has several sets of Chaos Emeralds and the ones on Westside Island are just one of several, if not hundreds, of sets that are out there. However, I'm starting to ramble on over what has been said in the past.
Miles had just reached the top of the hill that was just outside of the residency of the city's reigning monarch. He needs to be warned at what had just happened a few hours ago. It seemed that somebody is after the legendary Kingdom Emeralds and the only ones that would know of their existence were the seven kingdoms that hold them. An explosion was heard and everybody in the surrounding area was thrown off of their feet when the insuring shockwave hit.
Panic struck the entire area as officers of authority tried to restore order to the area. Miles knew he had to do something since he had a hunch at whoever was behind this. He used his twin tails like the propeller of a helicopter and that was enough to enable him to fly into the air. Miles flew above the palace walls and saw a gaping hole in one of the turrets of the palace with smoke coming out of it.
Miles flew towards the hole to find that the room had been turned upside-down. The guards in the room lay unconscious and others were moaning in pain. The room had a vast number of priceless treasures but they were left untouched by the intruders who invaded the room. Up in front of him, he could see a silhouetted figure stealing a large gem from its pedestal.
"Hey, stop what you're doing!" Miles yelled at the intruder.
The intruder turns to the source of the voice and it had red glowing eyes.
"If it isn't my self-righteous alter ego," the figure spoke in a monotonic voice.
It walks out and it looked just like Miles. It was in fact a robot built to look like him and in his hand was the jewel that it had taken.
"I thought I'd disabled you!" Miles replied in shock.
"That was just a minor setback and I'll be more than happy at evening the score with you. Dr. Robotnik would be more than happy when he gets this after I complete my mission, but first; let's finish what we had started," he said as he waved the large gem in front of him.
Miles takes a defensive stance as the robot started to make its approach, but then Miles was shocked from behind causing him to yell in pain. He collapsed to the ground as if his whole body was paralyzed. Ace turned to the attacker and charged at it. However, he was backhanded and was sent into a nearby pillar. The force of the hit had left an imprint of the Chao and he fell to the ground as unconsciousness set in.
The attacker was a robotic hedgehog and it too had a large gem in his hand.
"Let's go, your mission is complete," it also spoke in a monotonic tone.
"You shouldn't have done that. I have a score to settle with this fox," robotic fox replied in anger.
"I have a score to settle too, but now is not the time. We must return to base so that the next phase of the plan can begin."
"HALT!" a voice called from the other side of the room.
The two robots turned to the source to find that more reinforcements had arrived and they made a hasty exist through the hole in the wall with their jetpacks. Several of the reinforcements tried to chase after the robots but to no avail. Others went to tend to those that were hurt while one of them, obviously the leader, went towards where Miles and Ace laid.
"Miles, are you okay?" he asked as he bent over.
It was a fox with a patch over his left eye and he was dressed in an official looking uniform.
"I fine, Dad," Miles replied with a groan as he rubbed his lower back as he got up onto his knees. Ace had also recovered as he tried to fly towards Miles, but it proved futile as he flew dazed and landed near Miles. He gave up and laid his head propped up against Miles.
"Commander," a solider, a bloodhound, called out towards his leader, "we've gotten perplexing reports at who did this. The wounded say it was a metallic beast of some sort that attacked them. They also say it made that hole in the wall, and…" that's when he noticed Miles in the room. "How'd you get in here kid?" he asked sternly as he made an attempt to grab Miles.
"I will not have you manhandling my son while he's in this condition," Miles' father firmly replied as he pushed the bloodhound back as he stood up.
"I thought your son was only five?"
"No," Miles' father said shaking his head and rubbing his un-patched eye, "this is my eldest son and he just recently came back to the family after being missing for five years."
"Sorry Commander," he said at attention and with a salute before leaving.
"Did you see who did attacked this place?" Miles' father turns his attention back to his son to see that he was now on his feet and with his Chao in his arms.
"It was that same doppelganger that attacked me at the beach."
"I thought you destroyed that thing, or at least rusted it."
"Apparently that didn't work and that robot took…" all Miles could do was point to the pedestal where the large gem last stood. "And I bring grim news from Queen Aleena," he continued as the color drained from his father's face.
Six hours later on the other side of the planet.
Angel Island, an entire continent that was once suspended in the sky, is now permanently back on the ground where it once originally stood. An ancient civilization of echidnas once inhabited the area long ago, but until recently they had returned after an anomaly happened. The area that was called Angel Island had its fair share of events that shaped its history.
As the story of how Angel Island came to be is that a young echidna girl named Tikal befriended an ancient aquatic guardian named Chaos. Chaos had been the guardian of the Chao; which had been said to be his children in physical form. However the peace that Chaos once had would be shattered when the rest of Tikal's tribe found out what about what the alter had that Chaos resided in. The center of the alter held a large green emerald of legend and around the alter on pillars were seven gems of different colors that were also of legend. The legend of these emeralds goes as follows:
The Controllers are the Seven Chaos,
Chaos is Power; Power enriched by the Heart.
The Controller is the One that unifies the Chaos.
This legend did come true after Tikal's tribe attacked the alter. Tikal tried to protect the alter and the Chao that lived there but it proved futile. The warrior echidnas made their way past Tikal and in the process hurting her. They also hurt the Chao that she tried to protect and this angered Chaos as more and more of his children were hurt. Chaos appeared in front of the large green emerald just as the warriors made their way to the top of the alter. Chaos used the seven emeralds to turn into a ferocious beast and it devastated the tribe's village. Tikal came to and she understood what the legend had said. She called on the power of the large gem, which would later be called the Master Emerald, to seal Chaos away, but, in doing so, she also sealed herself away into the Emerald.
The echidnas did recover, but the price was staggering. They scattered the seven emeralds, which was now called the Chaos Emeralds, across the land they inhabited and they swore not to allow them to fall into another's hands. They then appointed only the bravest and strongest of their tribe to guard the Master Emerald until the next guardian can take over. The section of land held the alter was lifted into the sky so that prying hands won't get the Master Emerald and re-release the Chaos they had caused.
Centuries had passed and the island had its peace and was uninhabited; safe for the guardian of the island. However, the island's peace would be shattered when a large airship crash landed on the island. The current guardian of the island was a rugged and soon to be very gullible echidna named Knuckles.
Knuckles would meet someone who would soon be the most feared scientist of the world Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Knuckles thought that Robotnik was just somebody who lost control of his airship and was a good guy. Robotnik would tell Knuckles what happened but that was just a lie to cover his tracks. He also told Knuckles that his enemies, Sonic and Tails, were the ones that destroyed his airship and that they were after the Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles, being the guardian, offered Robotnik sanctuary after telling him that Sonic and Tails would soon be after the Master Emerald too. Knuckles tried and tried to stop to stop Sonic and Tails from getting any deeper on the island. He did succeed in slowing them down, but he failed to stop them from reaching the place where the Master Emerald had laid for centuries. Sonic and Knuckles fought but that proved difficult for Knuckles due to Sonic's incredible speed. Knuckles had been incredibly strong, as all echidnas are, and he was able to keep Sonic on his toes.
However, this fight ended when Robotnik showed up and took the Master Emerald. Robotnik started to taunt Knuckles about his pride and gullibility over believing anything. Knuckles temporarily set his differences aside and teamed up with Sonic and Tails until the Master Emerald was recovered. Sonic did recover the Master Emerald and Angel Island was safe, but that would not last for very long. Not long after the Master Emerald was returned, a mysterious island appeared out of the sea and Knuckles went to investigate. He did meet some new friends but that is another story to tell another time.
Robotnik came back to Angel Island, but not to take the Master Emerald. He came back to re-release Chaos back into the world. He destroyed the Master Emerald causing the island to fall back into the ocean and Chaos escaped back into the world as an ally to Robotnik. Knuckles did recover all of the shards of the Master Emerald, but he also got glimpses of the past of his people. However he also brought back six of the seven Chaos Emeralds with him after tangling with Chaos on Robotnik's Egg Carrier, but before he could leave to talk to Sonic about his island falling back into the sea. Robotnik showed up, apparently unconscious, and he tried to warn Knuckles what happened, but Knuckles was attacked by Chaos and the Emeralds went missing. Knuckles arrived in the nearby metropolis of Station Square to find that the vicinity had been devastated by a tsunami. Chaos, in his perfect form, had been the reason the city was destroyed and it took Sonic and the seven Chaos Emeralds to stop him. The Master Emerald was safe once again but it would be stolen once again.
It was stolen by a treasure hunter known as Rouge the Bat. Robotnik un-expectantly showed up while Knuckles and Rouge were tied in a tongue war. He had to shatter the Master Emerald in order to keep it safe from Robotnik. This didn't go too well for Rouge but Knuckles kept his cool. Knuckles did recover the shards of the Master Emerald but Rouge was also after them. Knuckles and Rouge would meet up again in outer space still arguing over who owned the Master Emerald. They did have a fistfight but Knuckles in the end had to save Rouge from certain death. Rouge gave the pieces she had back to Knuckles and acted offended by Knuckles' actions earlier. Knuckles left with his prize, but it would soon be needed again in the very near future.
A space colony that circled the planet was on a collision course to destroy the planet after it had all seven Chaos Emeralds. He had to use the Master Emerald to stop the power of the Chaos Emeralds; it worked, but it didn't stop the space colony from its collision course. It took the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds and both Sonic and Shadow, a hedgehog with a mysterious past connected to the space colony, to stop the space colony and a giant lizard-like creature in order to save the planet from disaster.
The Master Emerald was safe once again, but it would soon be under seize again. The story behind what happened is still a mystery and it is only Knuckles who knows what happened and he's not telling. Apparently it was the Master Emerald that caused a vast metropolis to appear out of nowhere that was filled with echidnas. Knuckles was soon reunited with his kind, but it took him a while to adjust. The city of Echidnaopolis became the center of where the seven kingdoms would meet to discuss international diplomatic issues.
In a vast marble structure in the center of the metropolis stood a multi-turret structure that look like time itself stood still. It had waterfalls flowing through it and vines growing where the water fell. On one of the narrow platforms near one of the waterfalls sat Miles and his Chao, Ace as they both lazing and listening to the sound of the waterfall. The sound of the waterfall was relaxing and very serene for the two.
He then heard chattering near him and two people stepped out on the balcony near him. He knew the two automatically. One was a blue hedgehog named Sonic the Hedgehog and the other was another friend of his named Sally, a squirrel-chipmunk hybrid. Their chatter was about to be interrupted by a flying water filled projectile coming towards him. The projectile landed on Sonic's head and a laugh was heard on another balcony near them.
"I got you good!" it was a young fox kit and he was very overdressed as he continued to laugh.
Sonic was sputtering as he spitted up water and he wasn't laughing nor was Sally.
"That wasn't very funny and you know that," Miles spoke apparently wide awake due to the fact that his peace was interrupted by an immature prankster.
"Who asked you?" the kit asked clearly being offended by the statement. "Now why would a servant like you have a Chao and be lazing around? Hand over that Chao and get me something to drink, servant!"
Miles just took a deep breath shaking his head as he stroked Ace to calm him down as he stood up.
"I'm no servant here," he calmly replied as he could. "I wouldn't hand my Chao over to someone who likes to play immature shenanigans on anyone. Also to add," as the young kit's face became redder by the minute, "a young gentleman shouldn't act like that and you can't always get what you want," Miles finished with a smile and by the look on the kit's face; he was about to explode.
"You're just a freak of nature, Freak!"
"A freak?" Miles asked calmly as he mentally chuckled.
"Yeah, freaks like you should be run out of town and strung up high and strangled," the young kit ended with his own smile on his face and it was a spiteful one.
"I guess a freak like me has no life here," Miles sadly replied as he turned with one foot balancing on the ledge he was on as he faced the wall with a arm over his forehead. He turned to the two spectators on the other balcony and gave a wink with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"I know that look anywhere's. He's definitely up to something," Sally whispered to Sonic.
"I agree with you on that one and I know he doesn't take being insulted lightly," Sonic replied also in a whisper.
Miles falls backwards off of the edge and plunged headfirst into the shallow lake below leaving Ace behind. The young kit was cackling at his victory but he ended up getting a sharp poke in the back of his head. He turned to face a stern looking older vixen. It was his sister and she bore a look that plainly said 'you're in so much trouble young Mister.'
"What did you make him do?" she asked sternly and he failed to answer her question. "That lake is only two feet deep and a fall like that into it would be enough to break someone's neck."
"He had it coming to him. He insulted me and said that I wasn't a gentleman. I only wanted to play with his Chao but he said no. I want a Chao!"
"If you started to act like a gentleman more, then you might get one. He probably had a good reason to say that you weren't a gentleman," she pointed to where Sonic and Sally stood. "You threw a water balloon at them did you?" he just nodded. "If you also started to take up more responsibility, then you might get a Chao instead of allowing the servants to take it over from you."
"That's why we have servants!" he whined.
"A Chao needs to be taken care of by the one who hatches it and not by somebody else unless you are going to be away for a while."
"But-"
"No buts."
"It's no fair that you get more fun than me!"
"I may be the crowned princess, but I have more responsibilities than you and they are no fun."
"How come you get a Chao and I don't!"
"I haven't gotten one yet but our parents are talking about getting one for me. You on the other hand failed to take care of your goldfish and you killed it the next day."
"It's not my fault, and besides he was no fun!"
"Would you two mind keeping it down since I'm trying to sleep over here," a voice interrupted them.
They turned to the source of the voice to see a fox flying; yes flying up the waterfall as the laid there as if he was laying on an invisible cloud. The young kit did a quick double take towards the ground and to where the fox was hovering. He was sure that it was the same fox that jumped off from the edge. The hovering fox turns towards them and he switched his position to where he was hanging upside down as if he was a bat. He slowly approaches the young kit with a stern look on his face. The kit starts to back off as he began to look frightened as if he had seen a ghost.
"?Qué pasa?"
"How'd you do that?" the kit asked after he had a chance to regain his voice after a few moments.
"It's just one of the many things that I can do with my tails, and it does come in handy. For now I must leave to be off somewhere else. Ace!" Ace joined him at his side and they both took off in a wide arc over the marble structure and towards the other side of the complex.
They both landed in a gorgeous courtyard with a fountain in the center. It had a beautiful marble statue of an echidna and it looked like if it was a goddess of the ancient echidna civilization that had lived here since the beginning of civilization. Crystal clear water flowed out of the urn that she carried above her head. She wore a long flowing dress that seem to be fluttering in the wind. There were also hedges of native flora that completely covered the courtyard and the scents of the flora would overwhelm anyone.
Miles lazed, with Ace by his side, underneath a nearby tree and his mind began to wonder on what had happened earlier before his nap was interrupted. He had caught Sonic and Sally talking as he walked past and for the first time in this life he had caught Sonic stammer with his speech. Sonic hadn't had trouble with his speech before, none that Mile knew of, and he couldn't put two words together without stammering them. Miles could only guess that Sonic was struck by Cupid's arrow when they first formally met.
Miles also tried to pump information out of Knuckles for the reason the Angel Island was back on the ground, but this only proved to be futile. Miles could also tell that Sonic was not the only one trying to get Sally's attention. Manic was also trying to get her attention, but Sonic would ruin the scene when he tried to showoff. It was not until Sonic was showing off his sensitive side, like that he has one that he really shows, that he had Sally's attention. Miles had found his peace; for now.
An enormous explosion was heard from the structure that was nearby them and the shockwave from it could be felt from miles around. Miles flew towards the sound of the explosion with Ace following close behind. They were both unsure what awaits them.
The room where the explosion had occurred looked like if a hurricane had hit it. Furniture was in disarray and several guards were in the room apparently unconscious due to the shockwave from the blast. Members of the seven kingdoms, plus some of the elders that represented the echidnas, were held in a orbital prison that was suspended in the air with a large, rounded figure evilly cackling. The figure was knocked from behind by someone that knocked him forward a few steps. A robotic tentacle came from the figure to grab the perpetrator of the attack around the neck.
It was a red echidna with dreadlocks and oversized knuckles with a pair of twin barbs protruding out of his gloved hands. Before the large figure could speak, somebody hit him from behind and another tentacle came out to grab that perpetrator. This time it was a blue hedgehog with emerald green eyes.
"So Sonic and Knuckles, here is where you meet your demise," the voice sounded familiar despise the robotic tone.
"Eggman?" the hedgehog named Sonic chocked.
"It is I Sonic and--" his voice trailed off when a pair tentacles shot out and towards the ceiling. They brought down an orange twin-tailed fox and a fox-like Chao. "Now that I have you three in my clutches; I can now end your lives and finally proclaim myself as the absolute scientific genius in the world. By the way you walking pincushion it's Dr. Robotnik to you!"
"You're all bark and no bite," Sonic sarcastically remarked.
"You'll soon be eating your own words hedgehog now that I have the seven Kingdom Emeralds. I can easily ender your lives know and you know what?" he waited for a while in silence. "I think I will starting with this runt of a pet."
He takes the Chao and slaps him to the ground hard with his tentacle knocking it unconscious before he threw it toward a pile of furniture. The pile of furniture soon fell on the Chao when the pile became unstable. Robotnik turned his attention back towards his capturers but only got a fist into the gut by Knuckles. He screamed in pain as he dropped his captures and the spot where Knuckles had hit him started to give off electrical charges. Out came seven large gray emeralds before a large shockwave came from Robotnik knocking the three against a wall with the emeralds following them.
Robotnik groaned in pain as he recovered, "No matter what you three do; I'll bring you to your demise. And since I have control of the Kingdom Emeralds; I can end your lives right here. You can't even dent my armor now and it took me endless hours to repair the damage that you have caused me, fox boy."
As Robotnik approached them, the Emeralds came to life and their original colors were restored. The Emeralds started to revolve around our fallen heroes and they were lifted into the air. Electrical charges started to zap them at a slow and steady pace before the speed accelerated to a phenomenal speed. A blinding light was seen from them and the three stood no more.
In their places stood three different figures. A hedgehog with red eyes and his fur sparked with the colors of the seven Kingdom Emeralds. A bright pink echidna stood next to him with eyes as bright as the purest violet emerald. The last was a young twin-tailed fox whose eyes were a deep ocean blue. His golden fur seemed to glisten in the sun and four golden Flickies orbited around him.
"So the legend has come true," an elder echidna spoke in awe at the scene and the rest just turned to him hoping for an explanation.
So it looks like another brawl with mystical emeralds into the mix. The most feared scientist in the world, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, has gathered the mystical Kingdom Emeralds and is using them for his own needs. However, it looks like he didn't plan on having interference with his plans. What is this legend this elder speaks of? Is it some kind of prophecy made centuries ago when the Kingdom Emeralds where first forged or is does it have to do with the insuring battle that is about to begin? Only time will tell.
Preview:
Three heroes plus an evil genius plus seven mystical emeralds plus three Benedict Arnolds to an evil genius equals one chaotic battle.
