Author's Note: Here's chapter 3 at your service!
I hold no rights to Sonic the Hedgehog. All properties of the franchise belong to Sega. I only own the OCs(including the titular character of this story).
Chapter 3: Thoughts and Nightmares.
Sun had no idea where he was. He couldn't fantom on what happened as his memories were rather vague. One minute he was sleeping in the bunker with Andrew and the Chaotix, the next the tangerine hedgehog found himself here...wherever this was. For some reason, it looked awfully familiar, the uncomfortable looking metal room which, to his surprise as he looked out of the window, viewed Mobius.
"Huh? How did I get up here? Where the heck am I?" The orange hedgehog asked himself, gazing out of the window before his violet eyes widened. It couldn't be, could it?
"YOU REMEMBER THIS PLACE, DON'T YOU?" A hauntingly dark voice echoed throught the small room, making Sun gasp before he spun around to find the source of the voice.
"Who's there!?" Sun demanded, feeling a cold chill run down his spine even though he attempted to keep his guard up. To his horror, the voice sounded familiar as well, which wasn't a good thing at all.
The dark voice chuckled evilly. "FORGOT ABOUT ME ALREADY? I AM HURT, SUN THE HEDGEHOG. DO YOU REMEMBER THE DAY YOU AND I WERE CREATED, FROM THE QUILLS, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS, AND TEARS OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG? AS WELL AS DARK GAIA'S AWAKENING AND THE POWER OF THE CHAOS EMERALDS."
"Not an easy thing to forget..." Sun admitted, trying to hide the fact that he was getting increasingly more and more terrified. He hoped that he was wrong about the owner of the voice, but it was too big of a coincidence to be somebody else. "Who are you, anyway? What do you want with me?"
"WHY DON'T YOU GET A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR REFLECTION?" The voice sarcastically suggested.
At first Sun thought it was just a joke, but he implied anyway and expected to see his reflection of himself. To his horror as he did however, he didn't see himself as an orange hedgehog. He saw...not only a faint ghostly image of what he used to look like; a dark-blue hedgehog with white tips at the ends of his quills and black gloves...but a clear more image of another hedgehog he was born from; the cobalt blue fur, the emerald green eyes, the white gloves and lack of scar, and the red and white shoes with the golden buckles...
And behind him was his Werehog form. Sun let out a gasp, which somehow his voice slightly distorted and changed, before he looked at himself and felt his blood run cold. Not a trace of his orange fur colouring on his legs and his green and white and silver shoes were gone, replaced by Sonic's!
"W-what!? What happened to me!?" Sun exclaimed, his voice changing into that of Sonic's and covered his mouth in disbelief; he was mostly Sonic, but with his original self and his Werehog self hovering over him like they were ghosts possessing him. Or maybe he was in Sonic's body somehow, he couldn't tell.
He then heard a bellowing laughter of evil, causing the former Sonic clone to spin around and his eyes widened in horror as just outside of the station, the Egg Fortress where Sun himself was born inadvertently, the giant Werehog was floating just outside and peered through the window at the now horrified and frightened hedgehog, backing away slowly.
"W-Werehog!? It can't be! I destroyed you!" Sun exclaimed, cringing at the fact that he was speaking in his brother's voice rather than his own.
"YOU CAN NEVER DESTROY ME. WE ARE ONE; WE ARE SONIC THE HEDGEHOG; SONIC THE WEREHOG. ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE. AS LONG AS YOU EXIST, I WILL HAUNT YOU AND THE TRUE SONIC FOR ALL ETERNITY." The Werehog chuckled darkly. "YOU ARE MINE TO CONTROL, THE CREATION OF DR. EGGMAN; YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN HIS LIVING PUPPET, AN ORGANIC ROBOT NOT MADE OUT OF METAL, BUT STILL TO OBEY HIS COMMAND."
"NO! You and Eggman have no control over me! Nobody does! I'm a real Mobian now! I'm not Sonic's clone anymore! I'm Sun the Hedgehog!" Sun denied, still backing away as his heart hammered quickly in his chest.
"STOP DENYING THE TRUTH! YOU WERE NEVER MADE REAL! I AM THE REAL ONE! YOU AND SONIC ARE MY FOOD!" The Werehog bellowed, smashing his fist into the glass which forced Sun to shield his eyes, before the hedgehog was clasped tightly into the giant monster's hand and pulled out of the station while the beast held onto the building with it's free hand.
At that moment, Sun's appearance flickered from being his Werehog form, to his dark-blue form, to the form of Sonic, and his real appearance, while the captured Mobian struggled to try and free himself, but the grip was too strong. The giant Werehog then grinned as it drew it's prey towards it's face, moaning in delight and licked it's lips in hunger.
"Let me go!" Sun demanded, changing back into Sonic, his voice changing from his brother's to his own and back and forth.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE ME, SUN THE HEDGEHOG..." The Werehog laughed, before it drew the trapped hedgehog towards it's mouth, much to his horror.
"No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Sun screamed in terror, before noticing something to his left while hearing another scream and his eyes widened when he saw the real Sonic blown out of the window, probably fighting Eggman and the true cobalt hedgehog was falling towards the planet.
"Eggman! You'll pay for this!" Sonic shouted at the evil scientist, who could be heard laughing his annoying Santa Claus laugh, as the hero of Mobius fell and was seemingly unaware of Sun and the Werehog who continued to draw him towards it's mouth.
"Sonic!? SONIC!" Sun screamed, but he was unheard and turned back to the monster who was about to place him into it's jaws, and he let out a terrified scream once more...
"SONIC!" Sun screamed out as he jolted upright in his bed, panting as cold sweat covered his body, the effects of the fear-induced nightmare filling his senses before looking around to figure out where he was. He was back in the bunker, or rather, he still was.
Panic and paranoia filling up his mind, he tossed the blanket off him to look at his legs, half expecting to see either dark-blue or Sonic's cobalt colour; to his relief, it was his tangerine orange, before looking at his hands and found they were his white gloved ones, and when that didn't seem enough, the former Werehog got up and went towards the mirror. To his relief, he saw himself in his permanent appearance, one that Sonic and Chip helped him become, not a trace of looking like Sonic in colour or even as a Werehog. Sun sighed, feeling a little dizzy in relief.
It had all been a nightmare. A very terrifying one. Still, it left the orange hedgehog feeling very uneasy, since the dream was so vivid that it felt so real, and to his horror, what the Werehog said matched to what he first dreamt of before the Hybrian's attack on Clocksworth Town and now he knew it had been the monster that was within Dark Gaia.
Or was it?
"YOU NEVER NEVER ESCAPE ME, SUN THE HEDGEHOG."
What if the Werehog was right? What if it's soul was still inside him, despite the light from Chip/Light Gaia, Sonic's strong love for Sun, and the Chaos Emeralds' power made him become a true Mobian like his heart, mind and soul made him?
Then, as Sun tried to will himself to calm down, he thought back to the first night had he without becoming a Werehog, not long after the coming home party he, Sonic and Tails had came back to when they reunited with the others in Shamar.
Flash-Back: Hours after Dark Gaia's defeat...
It was so strange, being a real Mobian now. Sun couldn't help but feel like his life had changed forever. Not only he was real, and having a change in colour, but unlike his precessors, he was here to stay. He had miraculously survived, thanks to the efforts of Sonic and Light Gaia, who made it possible. Not long afther the two hedgehogs and Tails returned, they were given a surprise party, which was Amy's idea and while he decided that it was too flashy, he did enjoy it a little bit, and it gave him a chance to finally feel alive, without the worry of Dark Gaia monsters or Eggman robots.
Still, after excusing himself when he saw that the sun was almost set, the orange hedgehog took a seat on the edge of the building's roof, gazing over the horizon that overlooked some parts of Shamar, it's desert and the setting sunlight in the distance. Sun marveled over the beauty of nature, yet the lower the sun was setting, the more he dreaded of the thought that maybe he was still a Werehog at night and was half expecting to feel the uncomfortable transformation and wondered if he could end up turning into an orange hedgehog.
"Ugh, that's a scary thought. It was bad enough turning into a Werehog while I was dark-blue in colour. I might end up looking like a mutant lion next or something." Sun groaned to himself over the thought.
"Thought I might find you here."
"Huh?" Blinking, Sun looked over his shoulder to see that Sonic had arrived, the blue hedgehog smiling as he approached his new real brother who relaxed. "Hey, Sonic. Why aren't you at the party?"
"Thought I'd come and check on ya', bro." Sonic replied, taking a seat to the former Werehog's left. He gazed out at the horizon and smiled. "Sure is beautiful, huh? Sunrises are much cooler, but sunsets also take the cake."
"Yeah, I guess..." The orange hedgehog nodded absently, sighing.
"Hm?" The fifteen year old gazed at his friend and frowned in confusion and concern. "What's wrong?"
"It's just...Maybe it's me being paranoid, but what if I'm about to turn into a Werehog again shortly?" Sun admitted, shrugging as another linger of sadness filled up his chest. "Not only that...it's kind of weird that the squirt's not around anymore. I'm so used to being with both you that it feels...kind of empty that we'll never see him again."
"Oh..." Realizing what his brother meant, Sonic lowered his gaze slightly as well as sadness filled up his expression and chest. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss him a whole lot already. Poor Chip. Hanging out with us was his first time he ever got the chance to actually see and experience what life really is. At least he...finally got that chance after so long."
Sonic then looked away as tears began to form in his eyes, remembering the heart-breaking goodbye he shared with their now sleeping friend who would never them or anyone else again. "I miss him so much...I wish he was still here..."
Sun sighed, tears forming in his eyes as well, not sure what to do or what to say, before replying. "I wish he was still here too...but...he's still with us, right?"
"Yeah..." The blue hedgehog agreed, gazing at Chip's necklace he now wore as a bracelet and held it up which glittered in the sunlight. "He'll always be with us in spirit. A part of the earth we trend. That's what he told me before he went back to sleep."
"A part of the earth we trend...Would that mean, I trend it too or something?" The orange hedgehog wondered, gazing over the horizon. "I mean, do I really belong here in Mobius?"
"Sun, of course you were. Just because you were born up in space, doesn't mean this isn't your home. The world's huge and everybody decides where they want to live in." Sonic reassured, gazing back at his brother with a warm smile. "You're free to do whatever you want, and what your heart tells you to do. I know it'll take in getting used to for you, but I know you'll be fine. And if you need any some sort of help or advice, we'll all be there for ya'."
Even though he still felt a little uneasy, so far Sonic hasn't been wrong yet. The blue hedgehog knew how to cheer everybody up, and Sun was glad to have come from him and not anybody else...especially Eggman. The two hedgehogs then noticed the sun had just completely set and the orange hedgehog flinched in worry, then squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for yet another transformation into a Werehog. One second passed, then a second, then a third, then a fourth, then a fifth...and yet nothing changed. He didn't feel the uncomfortable or painful change or even his body shape-shifting on it's own.
Hesitantly opening his eyes, Sun gasped softly in shock and disbelief to find that he was still a hedgehog. He looked at his arms to see that they were the same as during the daytime, and his orange colour remained. The orange hedgehog gazed at Sonic who smiled happily.
"See? What'd I tell ya? I knew you'd be a hedgehog permanently! You're not only a real Mobian now, man, but you're cured." The blue hedgehog told him, feeling relieved himself that they were both finally free from the Werehog, both in his brother's form and from the monster that was accidentally unleashed and was now gone forever.
"I'm...cured. I really won't be a Werehog anymore..." Sun whispered, still unable to believe that it really was a miracle. No longer would he transform into a hideous creature at night, no longer would he be tormented by the monster's soul within him, and no longer would he be called a clone or worry about Dark Gaia attempting to absorb him. He truly is a real Mobian hedgehog now.
He was free.
Tears of happiness and overwhelming sense that this was real forming, the orange hedgehog gazed at Sonic who gave him a comforting and warm happy smile.
"Ah, there are guys are." Tails' voice called up, causing the two hedgehogs to glance over their shoulders to see their two-tailed little fox brother approach them, and when he saw that Sun didn't change into a Werehog, the young cub added happily. "And you really are cured, Sun! This is so awesome!"
"Hey, Tails. Yeah, isn't this way past cool?" Sonic greeted, smiling brightly while Sun smiled warmly.
"Yeah! That means everything's really back to normal." The eight year old kit replied.
"Thanks to you guys." Sun stated, making Sonic and Tails at him. "I...wouldn't be here if it weren't for both of you or Chip, or everybody else. So...Thank you."
"No problem, Sun. It's what friends and family do." The blue hedgehog replied, with the two-tailed fox nodding happily in agreement, both of them relieved that at least they still had Sun the Hedgehog in their lives now.
The orange hedgehog nodded, before the younger Mobian sat by Sonic's left and the trio then shared a brotherly hug as they laughed, so happy that everything was finally back to normal, better even as a new member of the team and family as joined them and while they were sad that they would never see Chip again, Sun was glad that he was here to stay, and he couldn't ask for anything better.
It would take a while in getting used to not turning into a Werehog at night, but he was loving this new permanent experience already. Not being able to stretch out his arms ever again, as much as he kind of missed it, was definitely worth it.
End of Flash-Back:
'No. That Werehog will never be in control over me again. I'm free to do whatever I want, and right now, I have a job to do. I'm going to figure out how to stop those Hybrians and that stupid Platypus guy. I owe Sonic and the others that much. I'm no hero, and I guess the influence from Sonic is making me like this, but I'd rather this than being an villain.' Sun thought to himself, realizing he was doubting himself, even though he still questioned on where he really belonged or where he wanted to go to.
Either way, as of now, his own problems were going to have to wait, and no nightmare was going to slow him down. At least, he hoped they wouldn't.
Five minutes later after washing his face to make himself fully awake since morning already came, Sun emerged from the spare bedroom of the bunker and entered the kitchen where the others were already up...or mostly up, anyway. Andrew was already had work doing something, Espio was making breakfast, Charmy was busy playing with a couple of forks as though they action figures, and Vector was onto his third cup of coffee.
The four Mobians then noticed the orange hedgehog who yawned as he stretched his arms, greeting. "Morning."
"Morning, Sun!" Charmy greeted, too enthuastically which made the former Werehog cringe at how loud the young bee's voice was first thing in the morning.
"Keep it down, Charmy." Espio ordered.
"Yeah, some of us are still trying to wake up." Vector groaned tiredly, rubbing his head as he drank his coffee.
"And I haven't been up long myself either." Sun added, walking past as he began working on making a fresh brew of coffee himself, rinsing a cub and boiled the water while dunking one and half cups teaspoons of sugar and two teaspoons of the coffee powder.
"Did you have trouble sleeping, Sun?" Andrew asked, sounding geniuely concerned.
"Nah, I slept okay. Just had a nightmare, but it's nothing to worry about." The younger hedgehog replied, not in the mood to talk about it. He did feel a bit guilty to say that, but he wasn't ready to admit his problems yet.
"I take this had something to do with Sonic." Espio stated, and when Sun glanced up at him in shock and confusion, the purple chameleon answered the stunned hedgehog's unasked question. "You screamed out his name almost ten minutes ago, but I thought it was best to leave you be, especially since Vector and Charmy thought there was an attack and almost trashed the room."
"Hey, it ain't my fault I had a bad night! I only managed to get to sleep at around 3:AM this morning, and this is my third cup of coffee! I need it for today!" The crocodile protested.
"Sorry 'bout that. Didn't think I was that loud." The orange hedgehog muttered apologetically, pouring his cub and added a bit of full cream milk and stirred.
Espio scoffed, saying with a knowing smirk. "Sun, you're quiet compared to Vector and Charmy whenever they have nightmares. They would wake the whole neighborhood up."
"Hey! We do not!" The aforementioned duo protested, while Sun sat at the table while he and the older hedgehog watched the Chaotix argue despite that the purple chameleon was still making breakfast.
"I'm beginning to see why Sonic, Tails and the others don't hang out with these guys as much even though we're all friends." Sun whispered to Andrew who shrugged.
"Everybody's different." The hedgehog scientist stated, before asking. "I imagine that you and Sonic are quite close to each other. You really do care about him, don't you?"
Pausing in sipping at his coffee, the younger hedgehog felt a bit uncomfortable, before saying. "Well, yeah. 'Course I do. He's my best friend. Even when I had my doubts, he'd be there for me to cheer me up, and he's very loyal to everybody he knows. When we first met, I couldn't stand him, but as the two of us and another friend of ours traveled together, I began to see that he really is the hero of Mobius. Not just because he's, well, really fast, but he cares a lot, and he isn't stupid. It's Ro-butt-nik that's the biggest idiot on the planet."
Andrew nodded in agreement. "Anyone who isn't Starline wouldn't argue with you, Sun. I am concerned that he has been quiet and he is not behind this attack."
"Or maybe he's gone up a step and secretly already hired that guy." Sun suggested, taking another sip from his cup. "He did try to control this Chaos monster and Dark Gaia, which were both completely total failures."
He then remembered what Starline said last night and while the orange hedgehog had been worried about Gaiver and still was now, another thought came to him before he asked. "That reminds me. What did Starline mean by this stuff about some...Princess of the Twilight Cage?"
"Hmmm...I'm not sure. The Twilight Cage is new to me, and I never heard of any Princess and I cannot think of why Starline thinks I have her." Andrew admitted. "I have to ask, Sun. Did my daughter tell you anything about the two of us?"
"Huh?" Sun blinked, before realizing what Star's father was saying and shrugged. "Well...She did mention that you adopted her after finding her one night. This was after the three of us met her and we learned who Chip really is."
Flash-Back: During the events of "Sonic and the Werehog"...
Not long after Sun, Sonic, Chip and Star met up with Tails whom the lavender hedgehog girl got a chance to meet and the two, despite the young cub being embarrassed for having such an honor to meet someone knowing about the legends of the Gaia Temples and was told of what was happening, the five of them were flying back to Shamar to meet with Amy and the others, with Sonic once again riding on the plane's wings.
"Wow, Tails. You really a natural flying airplanes." Star remarked, amazed that an eight year old cute kit could do so like a professional.
"Well, I did get some flying lessons from Sonic and the controls were easy enough in getting used to." Tails admitted sheepishly.
"Tails has always been a quick learner when it comes to machines and studying stuff he's really good at." Sonic explained proudly. "Nailed it with the original Tornado when we first met."
"That really is amazing. How did you learn to be this smart?" Chip asked, very surprised despite feeling sad that once this was all over, he would have to go back to sleep.
"I'm...not so sure. I figured I got it from my parents, but well..." The two-tailed fox sighed, looking away slightly as he focused on the flight. "I lost them when I was a whole lot younger. So Sonic and his parents are my real family since they adopted me."
"Huh?" Sun muttered as he, Chip and Star were shocked and surprised, before the Werehog sighed, feeling sorry for Sonic's adoptive brother. "Well...that explains it, then. Sorry, Tails."
Tails shook his head and replied. "It's no big deal. Besides, I wouldn't trade Sonic, Mom and Dad for anything. Or everybody else. Even if I still had my real parents around, they'd probably only do so much as to comfort me. I do vaguely remember them saying that my two tails are a gift and it makes me special."
"And they're right, li'l bro. Everybody's different and special in their own way. Some just...do things the wrong way. Like Eggman for example." Sonic replied warmly. "If anything, your folks would be totally proud of you. Just like I am."
"Thanks, big bro." The eight year old replied happily, to which the blue hedgehog gave him a thumbs up with a smirk.
"I know how you feel, Tails." Star replied genuiely, smiling with sympathy. "I don't know who my real parents are either, to tell the truth."
"Huh?" The boys looked at their newest friend in surprise.
"Say what? You're an orphan too, Star?" Sonic asked, not having expected to hear that.
The lavender hedgehog nodded.
"So...who adopted you, then? I mean, how are you living your life?" Sun asked, shocked and curious.
"Well, it wasn't Professor Pickle, if that's what you're thinking." Star giggled teasingly, making the Werehog blush a little, before she explained. "My adoptive father's name is Professor Amathyst Amantha. He researches on astrology and genetic materials to help find cures for deadly dieases, and he's always been a big fan on space."
The fourteen year old girl then gazed up at the sky as they flew underneath the stars, continuing fondly. "When I was around six or seven years old, Dad told me once that my past was a real mystery and it still is to this day. One night as he was gazing at the stars, thinking about somebody he loved, how he and his wife always wanted to have children but never got the chance, something unusual happened. He's not sure what, but when he went to investigate, he found me all alone when I was just a baby. At that moment, he decided to raise me, to take care of me, and let me grow up to be who I wanted to be. Gazing up at the stars and that shooting star he saw, those are the reasons why I have my name."
Everyone was stunned by Star's life history as Sonic whistled, remarking. "That's pretty cool. Your dad sure picked a great name for ya."
"Yeah! He must be a really nice guy." Chip agreed.
"He is. My dad's the best parent I could ever ask for, and even though I do like to know where I came from, I'm happy with my life. Besides, no matter where I go, or what I do, the stars will always look beautiful." Star replied.
"Your name is beautiful, Star. And...I know we only just met today, but your dad really raised you to be a caring person." Sun said, finding himself blushing and tried to ignore Sonic snickering even though the blue hedgehog tried to cover it with his hand, Chip smiled and even Tails smiled happily.
The young hedgehog girl blushed herself, before smiling widely at the Werehog. "And even though you're a Werehog at night, you're really caring too, Sun. So, thank you."
"Uh..." Sun blushed harder, before shrugging. "Y-you're welcome."
End of Flash-Back:
"Star's a really nice girl and caring. Not to mention fun to hang out with." Sun admitted once he brought himself out of his thoughts. "You sure did a great job in raising her, professor."
"Thank you, Sun. And as a father, I worry about her safety. I actually got a phone call from Staria last week, saying that she'd be home in time for us to spend time together for this year's festival and she was studying a new mythology on Seaside Island, hoping to study the Lunar Temples there, and helping other archaeologists to help search for fossils of Granifer Giganticus." Andrew nodded, smiling warmly and in gratitude.
"Uh...Grani-what-now?" The orange hedgehog raised an eyebrow, dumbfounded over the name, just as Espio came over with plates filled with beacon and eggs and handed them out to everyone include himself.
"In legend, from what I was told, the Granifer Giganticus were once a proud race of mountain dwellers from the time of the Ancients of the canyons on Seaside Island, yet no one has seen then hundreds of years." The older hedgehog explained.
"So, what are they?" Charmy asked curiously once he dug into his breakfast.
"A species of gigantic people made of granite and stone." The professor explained.
The Chaotix and Sun stared at him in dumbfounded silence, before the latter muttered, shaking his head. "Giant rock monsters? Now I've heard of everything."
"I've never heard of any so ridiculous." Vector commented, skeptical about it as well.
"Staria did say it sounded silly, but she was willing to help. Especially with everything that's happened lately." Andrew replied. "Anyway, I just hope she will be alright. I just wish I knew what Starline was...talking...about..."
As the old hedgehog trailed off, he began to remember the time when he first discovered his adoptive daughter, before his eyes widened as remembered how Star came to him in the first place.
A pair of gently femanine arms reaching out to place a small bundle of something wrapped in a beautiful silk blanket, caressing the top of it before the arms were pulled back into the portal before vanishing from sight, as though it was never there to begin with.
Yet whoever it was that was in the portal had left behind the bundle, which began to wriggle and move, along with the sound of...a baby's wailing?
"...Oh...Oh no...!" Andrew muttered, horror began to dawn onto him as he realized something that he didn't think of and while he didn't know how Starline knew or if it was connected, he realized that his daughter was in danger. "Staria...she's...she's in danger!"
"Wait, what?" Sun asked, quickly becoming concerned and worried. "What does that mean?"
"My daughter's in danger! I adopted her, and Starline could be going after her to help him with this madness!" Andrew exclaimed.
"What!?" The orange hedgehog exclaimed, horror and confusion filling up onto him and the Chaotix who shared shocked and puzzled glances. "You mean to say that Starline jerk will be going after Star!?"
"If Starline fails to get me to help him which I won't, he could use my daughter to his advantage or force her to help him." The older grey hedgehog confirmed.
"No...!" Sun whispered, horrified. While he hasn't seen Star in a month and still only knew her during that period of time, he didn't deny that he really cared about her. She helped him, Sonic and Chip with their adventures, and had been so nice to them, having taught him how to use his gripping hooks, and they did find interests in each other. If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.
Either way, Star's life was in grave danger.
Narrowing his eyes as he knew he had to save her before Starline and the Hybrain's did, the orange hedgehog turned to the Chaotix and said, "Hey, can you guys get me to Seaside Island? I have to go there and rescue Star."
"If calculations are correct, if Starline is searching for clues on this, and seeing how he is dangerously smart, then that is what we must do." Espio nodded in agreement. "I remember Master Koga once telling me of a legend regarding to an entrance to a world of light and darkness intertwined, or in twilight, per se. I believe it could be the Twilight Cage Starline was referring to, and in order to reach that, there are these special gem stones called the Cosmos Sapphires, similar to the Chaos Emeralds. One is located on Seaside Island itself somewhere."
"Really?" Charmy asked, surprised.
"Well then that's more than enough reason to get to Seaside Island! I say we all go and rescue Star and stop Starline from getting those Cosmos Rubies, or whatever you call them!" Vector announced, feeling all fired up. "Sun, you can count on us to get ya' there, and we're going with ya'!"
Despite that he felt a little uncomfortable for being with the loud trio(though he can easily cope with Espio since he reminded Sun of Shadow), Sun knew that he needed help, but he didn't want to drag Sonic into this mess or ask Tails since it would take too long.
"Thanks, guys." Sun nodded, smiling softly. He then said to Andrew. "Don't worry, we'll do our best in keeping Star safe and stop Starline and those Hybrians. I'm not Sonic, but there's more than just one hero in the world."
"Thank you, all of you." Andrew sighed in relief. "Please, help my daughter."
"Right." The orange hedgehog nodded.
"Don't worry, we'll help save Star! It'll be great to see Sun's girlfriend again!" The youngest of the group declared, saluting, which made the other two detectives quickly cover his mouth, while Sun flinched, his face turning red in embarrassment.
"Wha-Hey! She's not my girlfriend!" Sun protested, and groaned while trying to ignore Andrew's curious chuckle and the three detectives having yet another fight. 'If Tails wasn't a continent away, I would've asked him to take me instead. At least he's a much better company and transport than these guys.'
This was going to be a long and painful trip.
Seaside Island, a place that was big and tropical, filled with friendly and not-so-friendly locals, the island itself full of jungles and forests, temples hidden, craters, volcanos and lakes and canyons, a perfect place for Mobians to live in. It was also a good tourist attraction and a place to find ancient things to discover.
Among those vistors is a fourteen year old lavender hedgehog girl in wisteria fur colour, her quill-hair styled in pink lavender similar to Amy's hair-style, but decorated with a glittering star-shaped hair clip on the right side just above her ear, periwinkle coloured eyes, peach muzzle and arms, white gloves, a light-blue T-shirt hoodie with star patterns and pockets with strings hanging loose, purple shorts with black and midnight blue striped boots, carrying her compass like watch, and on her hips were her gripping hooks.
It was Staria "Star" Amantha, who was just finishing up having lunch at the Unnamed Village's local-and only-restaurant, the Meh Burger, reading up the ancient book she recently discovered on the Lunar Temple which caught her interest, especially since Professor Pickle told her it had another legend now that the mystery of Light Gaia and Dark Gaia was solved, in the most unexpected way.
"Pity I wasn't home in time for this year's festival, but I'm sure dad will understand." Star admitted to herself with a sigh, gazing up at the sky which was a bright, sunny and beautiful day. "I really should give him a call to see if he's okay."
As she was thinking about her father, suddenly there was the sounds of helicopters coming from the distance, alarming the young adventurer who, along with other people who were doing their daily business, paused what they were doing, looked up to see that a couple of helicopters were coming from far away.
"Huh? Who could that be?" Star asked, confused as she stood up. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, and in that instant, the lavender hedgehog knew that something was wrong.
Then she saw it, a huge electrical cage carrying something huge and strangely familiar, being carried by two of the helicopters. When Star then pulled out a pair of binoculars to get a better look, she gasped in shock and horror as she almost instantly recognized what, or rather, who was inside of the cage, which was then opened up from beneath and the giant figure dropped out, landing with a tremor-like thud. Flocks of birds flew out of the trees in fright, chirping and tweeting frantically.
"It can't be...! Gaiver!?" The lavender hedgehog softly exclaimed in disbelief, lowering her binoculars. "Who are...the men that captured him and what are they doing here? What's going on?"
"Yo, Star!" A young male voice called out, getting Star's attention as she saw her newest friends; a green hedgehog close to Sonic's age, maybe a bit younger with shaggy quills, peach arms, muzzle and chest, sapphire blue eyes, white gloves with a silver circle on the back and black cuffs, white and black vest and black boots, holding a hoverboard he called an Extreme Gear in one arm, named Manny.
Then there was a thirteen year old cream-yellow hedgehog with shoulder-length dark-brown hair, peach coloured muzzle and arms, dark blue eyes, wearing a light-blue tank-top with flower laces, a white sun visor with a fake hibiscus on the right side, a dark blue skirt, white gloves with silver bracelets, long white socks and blue sandshoes with laces. Her name was Kairi(1).
Finally there was Kairi's best friend, who was a Mobian squirrel, aged twelve years old, brown and slightly orange in colour with pony-tail styled hair, blue eyes, peach muzzle, dark green t-shirt with jungle patterns and pockets, black shorts, dark mountain boots with laces and a pair of silver braclets. Her name is Sophia. She was very friendly and loyal.
"What's going on!? I saw a giant gorilla being dropped by those invaders!" Sophia cried out frantically.
"I'm not sure. I just spotted them myself and, this is going to sound crazy, but I know that Gorilla." Star replied, quickly packing up as she slid her back-pack onto her shoulders. "But I have a feeling that something's wrong here."
"Do ya' think it's Eggman?" Manny shrugged, having heard of the evil scientist's endless cause of trouble. "He's the only loser to come up with something like this."
"If it was, why send in a giant gorilla that Star knows and if it's not a robot?" Kairi pointed out.
"She's right. That gorilla is Gaiver." Star agreed, and when her friends gazed her in confusion, she quickly explained. "When I first met your cousin, Sonic, Manic, along with our new friends Sun the Hedgehog and Chip, we-"
She was cut off when the ground began to shake and Star, Manny, Kairi and Sophia looked up to see the, unknowingly to them, mind-controlled Gaiver come crushing through the trees and into the Unnamed Village, pounding his fist and dressed in prisoner garments. The three hedgehogs, the female badger and the other Mobians in the village were all quite shocked and horrified to see this and to Star's horror, not only had the Mobian Gorilla grew 89 feet tall, but his eyes...they appeared to be in some kind of trance.
To make things worse, a large group of Hybrian emerged, ready to attack at any moment's notice.
"O-Okay...? What's going on here?" Manny stuttered nervously with a sweat drop. "This is like out of the horror movies, man!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Sophia screamed while bringing out a boomarang from...out of nowhere. "Look out!"
"Who are these people!?" Kairi exclaimed, backing away slightly.
Star was speechless, not sure what was going on, but felt that something must be done. She adjusted her hooks and declared. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out! Gaiver would never do something like this! He's being mind-controlled!"
Before her friends could stop her, the lavender hedgehog waited until one of the Hybrians made for an attack while the mind-controlled Gaiver roared and began wrecking havoc and smashing buildings while the innocent Mobians, fearing for their lives, began to run away in terror, screaming away. Star used her hooks to swing by a still intact building and with a yell, she kicked and punched a couple of the invading soldiers who were knocked down as they cried out in pain.
She then dodge-rolled and swift-kicked at another and performed splendedly against the army, to which Sophia quickly joined in the action and with a battle cry she smacked and hit the soldiers with her boomarang and went to try and help her new friend. Seeing two of their friends fighting against the enemies despite the large numbers and not having fought since Sonic's visit a long time ago, Manny and Kairi shared a glance before nodding.
The green hedgehog switched on his Extreme Gear and hopped on before gliding his way towards the creeps, calling out. "Hey, soldier creeps! No wrecking towns allowed!"
He didn't give them time to respond as Manny swivered around and smacked a couple of the soldiers with his board, sending them backwards while they cried out in pain, and Kairi grabbed hold of a club and Spin-Clubbed around against her own opponents who tried to attack her with their swords and tasers but missed.
All the while the four young Mobians fought while Star was trying to reach Gaiver to get him to come to his senses, Ceilia, unnoticed at the moment, grinned wickedly when she saw the teenagers fight against her men and Gaiver. But her gaze was solely onto Star who fought as hard and bravely as she could, and her grin only grew.
"There you are. Quite a brave and courageous little girl, for a scientist's adoptive daughter...and one of our keys to the Twilight Cage." The Hybrid woman sneered evilly.
An hour after coming up with a plan and finishing up breakfast as quickly as possible, Sun rode in the Chaotix's plane, which kind of looked more like a spaceship which, according to Vector and Espio, was gifted to them by Tails and a human scientist named Chuck Thorndyke during the young fox's and Sonic's adventures in Station Square. Unfortunately, as he sat in the passenger seat behind the trio, Vector was in the pilot seat which made the orange hedgehog very nervous.
He knew that Tails' flights can be reckless, but thankfully when it comes to air-battles, but Sun now already regretted in asking the Chaotix to be his transport. So far it was smooth sailing, but his stomach was telling him otherwise.
"We're almost at Seaside Island." Espio announced as he scanned at the monitor's world map.
"Great! That'll give us time to reach Star and that Cosmos-whatever it is." Vector said.
"The sooner we get there, and the safer, the better." Sun couldn't help but groan, clutching at the arm rests of his seat while thinking to himself. 'Next time, I'm asking Tails to give me some flight lessons so I can buy myself my own plane.'
Charmy then cried out as he noticed something on the scanner's screen, getting the others' attentions.
"What's going on?" Sun asked.
"Looks like they've already beaten us there!" The young bee cried out, much to the older Mobians' shock.
"What!?" The orange hedgehog exclaimed.
"No way!" Vector exclaimed in disbelief.
"See?" Charmy pointed as three little red blips were on the screen over the island. The mouths of Sun and Espio dropped in shock.
The former Werehog's eyes widened in horror, fearing that they were too late. "No! Star!"
The crocodile detective, realizing that they were too late, decided they needed to get in there right away. "Well, uh, I'll bust this bucket airplane and try to get in there if I have to!"
This made both Sun and Espio gasp in horror, realizing what the green crocodile was about to do, with the former screaming out as he and the purple chameleon feared that they would crash. "No, wait!"
"Vector, no!" Espio exclaimed, but it was too late.
Vector put on the rocket jets of the plane(which Tails and Chuck both warned the Chaotix about last year in to be careful with), which sent their plane spinning out of control as everyone held on for dear life, Sun and the two older Mobians screaming while Charmy, while holding on himself, was enjoying the ride as though they were in Twinkle Park.
"You're gonna get us killed here!" Sun screamed, hugging the back of his seat.
"Slow down, Vector!" Espio shouted.
"No, speed it up!" Charmy squealed happily.
Suddenly the entire plane stopped spinning and just went for a hover, much to the group's confusion.
"Huh? What the?" The orange hedgehog muttered, puzzled, while relatively relieved that they were still alive and definitely made a note to never ride with the Chaotix ever again.
"We've stopped." Espio muttered.
"I didn't do it!" Vector protested.
"So then, how'd we stop?" Charmy asked, very confused.
"Good question." Sun said, before turning to gaze at the side window and found that there was some kind of glowing aura outside. Bewildered and even more confused, he unbuckled himself and approached the window to see what was happening.
To his shock, the entire plane was within some kind of energy sphere, which was slowly bringing it down towards the ground to gently set it for a landing, the energy coming from something within some sort of old building within the large field just outside of a jungle near the Unnamed Village but unnoticed by the Hybrians and Gaiver earlier.
"What's going on?" He cried out, his eyes widening in disbelief and somewhat awe and fear.
The Chaotix noticed and by then the whole plane was gently set onto the ground, leaving them and Sun very confused before the sphere and the energy itself faded away. The four of them shared puzzled glances, all of them completely clueless on the whole thing. The tangerine hedgehog then gazed back out of the window, not sure what to make of this unusual event that just saved their lives.
Though to Sun, he felt a slight case of deja vu...only without transforming into a Werehog.
Something even more strange was going on.
A/N: Again, sorry for the lack of action, but I will try my best to make more in the next chapter as Sun and the Chaotix arrive on Seaside Island, preparing for the rescue mission. But will they save Star in time? We'll have to find out in the next chapter.
(1) Re-edited the story, and this Kairi is named after the KH character Kairi, but nothing like her.
See you later!