Author's Note: Sorry for the major long wait, as I was hit with another writer's block. But now finally a new chapter of Sun the Hedgehog is here! Enjoy!
I hold no rights to Sonic the Hedgehog. All propeties of the franchise belong to Sega. I only own the OCs(including the titular character of this story).
Chapter 6: More Unwanted Encounters.
Flash-back: One Month ago-Two weeks after the events of "Sonic and the Werehog"...
It has only been two weeks since Sun left Station Square, having said goodbye to his brother Sonic, beginning his own journey of self-discovery. He didn't know where he was going, or what he should do. He just...felt that going out to see the world without the hassle of putting it back together or worry about any evil Dark Gaia monsters. Yet the orange hedgehog felt a tad lonely and uneasy. He had left the Emerald Coast since the beach wasn't his thing, and the city crowds were too loud which made him strangely feel claustrophobic.
'I wonder how Sonic's doing? He seems okay, but...I don't think he's been fully healed yet. Should I check on him?' The tangerine hedgehog thought to himself, before shaking his head. 'No. He has the others to help him. I'll just be in the way. He needs some time for himself. I'll just be a constant reminder of something that wasn't his fault.'
As the former Werehog wandered through a forest in random, lost in his thoughts rather than lost in the woods, since he surprisingly had a good sense of direction despite having began his life in traveling with Sonic and Chip, when he came into the clearing, Sun noticed something in the sky and looked up curiously. What he saw made his eyes widen in shock and utter confusion. Unbeknownst to him, it was Angel Island, which was floating in the sky, slowly drifting wherever it went, powered by the Master Emerald.
"Okay, I'm either dreaming or hallucinating, or there's a massive island flying in the sky." Sun muttered to himself, dumbfounded with a sweat drop.
Curiosity getting the better of him as he felt the need to go to this strange landmark, Sun hurried to investigate, using trees and tall rocks near the mountains that Angel Island was passing by to his advantage thanks to his grapple hooks. Once it was close enough, the former Sonic Clone then made a daring leap before using his Spin Dash to try and reach the top and when he was still too far by a few inches, he used his hooks again to pull himself up and climbed up the cliff, grunting and groaning until he finally made it to solid ground.
"Ugh...If Sonic was ever on this island, he most likely had Tails to fly him up here. I should make a note to do pilot training and buy a plane for myself." Sun groaned, resting for a moment on his hands and knees.
Once he managed to catch his breath, the orange hedgehog stood up before observing his new surroundings. Far away it looked pretty small, but up close it was huge. Even from where he stood, he could see that this island was like a floating continent, similar to Sonic's birthplace South Island. It had forests, fields, mountains and extinct volcanos, a lot of places he's never been to before. It was...breathtakingly beautiful.
"Whoa...I have to admit, this place is beautiful. Might be a good location for vacation time or somethin'." Sun admitted, folding his arms with a small smirk.
Deciding to do some exploring, the former Werehog ran to go some sight-seeing. As he passed through the forest to check out this place, he soon found himself in Mushroom Hill Zone, passing by Mobini critters, Flickies and Mushrooms. Giant Mushrooms that made him feel like he shrank.
As he passed by the forest, he soon came across another clearing around half an hour later, but what he saw stunned him the most. Sun found himself in another clearing, at the peak of the shrine ruins, and at the very top of the stairs was the pillar that rested the Master Emerald, which was restored to it's original glory and full of power once more. Feeling a sense of familiary coming from the gem, both in it's appearance as well as it's overwhelming power of Chaos Energy. Where has he seen this thing before?
"This looks awfully familiar. But why, though?" The orange hedgehog murmured, before deciding to investigate himself, as though he was being pulled to the giant gem by it's invisible force.
As he reached the top, he then spotted another familiar figure, this time of a Mobian, a red echidna who had his back to him, before turning when the Guardian of the Master Emerald sensed his presence and spun around, about to face the intruder, but stopped when he recognized the hedgehog.
"What the? Knuckles?" Sun asked, blinking in surprise.
"Sun? How did you get here? When did you get here?" Knuckles responded in equal surprise.
"I climbed up using trees, mountain and my grapple hooks." The orange hedgehog replied, before questioning. "Why are you here? What is this floating place?"
At first wondering what the brother of Sonic was talking about, Knuckles then realized what he meant and chuckled. "This is Angel Island, hedgehog. This is my home, where I guard the Master Emerald."
"Wait, you mean, this is Angel Island?" Sun blinked once more, turning from side to side, before realizing what this meant and that the gem behind his brother's friend was the restored Master Emerald. "No wonder that giant Emerald looked familiar. When Sonic said that it makes this island fly, he sure wasn't kidding."
"Sonic never kids about things that he's seen, especially when it comes the most unusual things he's ever experienced." The sixteen year old echidna waved off.
"That explains it a lot." The former Werehog murmured, rolling his eyes as he shook his head.
"Just like your skills since Sonic never used grapple hooks." Knuckles agreed, before asking again. "So what brings you here?"
"Well, I arrived about maybe an hour ago or less, 'cause this island got my attention and...I just wanted to see what it was like. I mean, it's not normal for an entire island to be flying of all things." Sun explained, to which his friend chuckled.
"That's the power of the Master Emerald's doing. I told you that before."
"Good point." Sun nodded, before gazing around once more. "Does Sonic usually come here?"
"Only when he wants to, but I guess he won't be coming today. While on that note, you doing some exploring on your own?" Knuckles asked, curiously.
The orange hedgehog nodded. "Yeah, you could say that. I just...well..."
He then explained how he left two weeks ago after saying goodbye to Sonic to explore the world, to learn more about Mobius and find his place where he could fit in, how he had wondered for those weeks and where he had been.
"You know, Sun. The entire world is your home, just like it is for everybody else. Finding your place in Mobius is no easy feat." Knuckles stated.
"Says an echidna who guards a giant magic stone 24/7. No offense." Sun raised an eyebrow.
"None taken. But my point being is that, Sonic sees the whole planet as his home, and as far as he's concerned, no matter where he goes, he's home wherever and whenever he decides. He just lets the wind take him to places, and then he comes back to Tails and everybody else." The red echidna pointed out.
"He told me something like that once. But...can I ever really fit in?" The orange hedgehog murmured. "I...I wasn't born like everybody else. I was created, even if Sonic and Chip saved me and turned me into a real Mobian."
Seeing the hedgehog's dilemma, Knuckles smiled softly. "If there's one guy who had the same problem as you, Sun, my advise would be talk to Shadow...Even if he can't be fully trusted sometimes."
"Sonic mentioned that too and I did talk to Shadow already. All he said to me was, 'It doesn't matter where or when you came from. It's how you live your own life that matters the most, appreciate what you have, and never let them go'. It's...It's not easy." Sun shrugged, still disheartened slightly.
"It'll take time in getting used to. Be lucky that you were born from a species that still have a perfect life for survival. If you were an echidna like me, well, that would really complicate things." The red echidna told him wisely, before smirking. "It took me a while to actually call Sonic my friend. But I don't regret it. Not one bit."
"You think I'll be able to figure out how my life will work out?"
"That choice is up to you, Sun. But if you need any help, all you have to do is ask. Me, my place is here on Angel Island. As the last guardian, I have to fufil my duty to protect the Master Emerald." The older Mobian explained, before admitting. "Though between you and me, I miss going on adventures with Sonic and Tails. It gives me a chance to see what the outside world is really like. I envy Sonic's freedom and adventrous style."
"I wish I could help you with that." Sun murmured, to which Knuckles thanked him for the support.
Yet even though the advise from his friends so far had made him feel better...Sun was still feeling really uncertain.
He was slightly surprised when the sixteen year old placed a hand gently onto his shoulder, causing the orange hedgehog to gaze at the red echidna who said. "I'll be honest with you, Sun. When we first met, I didn't trust you. Probably because I...sensed something off, and Sonic told me mostly about what happened."
"Can't say I blame you, Knux. I mean, as a Werehog under the early influence of the monster inside me, I almost chomped off Sonic's head or right arm. First time I did, Chip's powers stopped me. Second time I hesitated. Other times...I could hear his voice, and feel his tears dripping onto his hands. He was crying, Knuckles. Really crying." The tangerine hedgehog confessed in guilt, lowering his gaze.
While Knuckles was horrified to hear this, he then sighed and shrugged. "Sonic did mention that you almost ate him, but he...he never mentioned in crying before. I don't think anybody but his parents and maybe even Tails have ever seen him cry."
Sun sighed, despondent. "Guess that means Dark Gaia's influence really had broke the shield he made for himself to be strong. 'Cause I certainly didn't help matters."
"It isn't the first time he's felt guilty over something that isn't his fault. He once told me how he wished he could've saved Cream's mother from the Iron Empire, the stupid organization who was under the leadership of Eggman's cold hearted brother Julius." Knuckles admitted.
"I don't know Cream, but I've heard about her. Why would Ro-butt-nik's brother want with the kid's mother?"
"It wasn't Vanilla that he really wanted. He held her and her and Cream's old village citizen's hostage and stealing the Master Emerald. What he really wanted was Cream and Cheese, because of their connection with each other, other Chao and the Chaos Emeralds. Julius was just as dangerous. Maybe more so than Kaiser and that's saying something. He even killed his father and almost killed Eggman, who was jealous of. They haven't spoken until almost two years ago."
The former Sonic clone gasped in horror upon hearing this about Eggman's brother, colour being drained from his face as his blood went cold. "Wait, he...his own family!?"
"Fraid so, buddy." Knuckles grimly confirmed, sighing. "
Sun was speechless. He heard bits and pieces of the history of Sonic's battles, but he couldn't even imagine...how even Eggman's own brother murdered their father out of jealously and for world dominion. He thought it was bad enough that Professor Gerald Robotnik lost his mind due to losing Maria.
"There's too many cruel people in the world. I...I thought it was bad enough when Sonic told me and the squirt that he lost his uncle when he was just a six year old kid. And Jules-I mean, Dad..." The orange hedgehog still felt uncomfortable in calling Sonic's father, Jules Hedgehog, his father as well, despite being welcomed into the family and spoke fondly of Charles Hedgehog, even of feeling guilty for not being able to save him.
Plus the adult hedgehog loved his birth son so much, that he'd been comforting towards Sonic who had been crying on the day Sun was introduced to his new parents, and like Tails, he had been welcomed into the family.
"If I know one thing, there are good people in the world too. But yeah, if the world was more like Sonic, Tails, Amy, and even Cream, and other friends I know of, Mobius would be a much better place." Knuckles nodded, before smiling warmly. "And you know, despite what Eggman has done, you should consider yourself lucky."
"Huh?"
"Unlike Shadow who spend most of his time alone, and me since I grew up all by myself, you and Tails were brought in early by Sonic. It's because of him, you guys have a much better life than some of us did. You can go back to them when you feel ready. You have friends and family who respect your privicy, and are waiting for you to go back home. Remember that, Sun. 'Cause you're one of us now. Even from the beginning you were exactly that."
While Sun still felt he needed to find his place in the world, he couldn't help but smile back at his friend and nodded, feeling a little bit better. He just need to keep searching, but speaking to Knuckles, who spend most of his life all on his own, made him feel a bit more welcomed.
"Thanks, Knuckles. We should hang out more often." The orange hedgehog replied.
"You're welcome here anytime. But don't steal my Emerald." Knuckles half-teasingly said with firmness in his tone.
"Please, I'm not a jewel fanatic. I don't even wanna consider in trying out using the Chaos Emeralds, even with the little bit of their power Sonic gave me when he and Chip fought against Dark Gaia." Sun rolled his eyes, and the two chuckled before sharing a bro fist.
Symbolizing their growing friendship.
End of Flash-Back:
"Sun? Are you okay?"
"Huh? What?" Blinking out of his reminiscing, Sun turned to see that Star had been trying to get his attention as they passed through the forests of the Botanical Kingdom. "Uh, what did you say?"
"You looked pretty zoned out. Is something wrong?" The lavender hedgehog girl asked, genuinely concerned.
Realizing that he had zoned off into his memories, the orange hedgehog felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment as he muttered. "Uh, sorry. Just got lost in my thoughts."
Star however didn't look convinced, as she peered closer to her friend's face, her hands behind her back which made Sun lean back a little in surprise.
"What?" The former Werehog asked, a little uneasily.
"You don't look so good. What's wrong?" The young teenage girl asked, before frowning. "And you'd better not hide anything, Sun the Hedgehog. Dad's already given me lessons to know what he's thinking or whenever he looks sad."
"Like I said, I was just thinking." Sun sighed, scratching his head. "Though, it was more about how there are a lot of creeps out there in the world, even before we were born. Eggman, his family except for Maria, the Myth-Hunting loser who got himself eaten, now that Starline guy."
"Oh..." Star lowered her gaze, understanding where this was going. "Y-Yeah, there are a lot of people that are good and bad in Mobius, and even in the universe itself. Not everyone's that bad, but not everybody's that great either. Some people are just rude. Like those on Westside Island."
"You've been there too?" Sun blinked in surprise.
The lavender hedgehog giggled. "Yep. They were pretty much way too superstitious that they can even be mean to some of their own."
"Yeah, no kidding." The orange hedgehog smirked knowingly, before it faded as he said. "We'd better get going and find the Cosmos Sapphire. The longer we stay, the more chances those Hybrian guys will find us."
"Right. Let's go." She nodded in agreement, and the two hedgehogs soon quickly hurried further into the Botanical Kingdom, almost like they were going through the jungle on Seaside Island again.
But at least there was a side walk and footpath, but the former Werehog and the young archaeologist ignored it since they knew it would give Starline's men more chances of locating them and they hoped that Vector, Espio and Charmy were smart enough to avoid that as well. The two hedgehogs trekked their way through the trees while keeping an eye out on the Hybrians in case there was another attack waiting to attack him at first sight.
Unaware that further up ahead, the three large alien figures were waiting with the big yellow one holding what appeared to be a giant sandwich.
"The plan is simple." Said the horned red one, with an evil look. "Those two hedgehogs will never know our true strength. Zomzom, your task is to capture the two and if the orange boy, whom Dr. Starline calls Sun the Hedgehog, resists, kill him."
While Zomzom, the large yellow creature, knew he had to obey the order, he groaned as he began to munch on his ridiculously 70 foot long sandwich, and asked with his mouth full. "Can't I eat my sandwich first and if the orange hedgehog does resist, will I get to eat him and the girl?"
"No, you will not eat the girl. The doctor needs her for the plan...as do we." The shorter creature reminded firmly. "As such, we cannot kill the boy because he has Starline's interests. But if he does resist, then he will meet his end."
"And as such, you are always eating." The red creature added, rolling his eyes in sheer annoyance which made Zomzom grumble even more with a pout but didn't say anything. The taller one ignored him and turned to the shorter one. "Master Zik, can you sense the girl's power? Is she the one...that has escaped as an infant all those years ago?"
The shorter being, Master Zik, nodded. "Without a doubt, Zovak. The girl remains unaware of her true past, having grown up on this planet as a normal Mobian. Once we gain the child and the Cosmos Sapphires, all we need next is the Chaos Emeralds and once we do..."
Zovak, the red leader, chuckled evilly. "Then we will have the power to free ourselves from Dr. Starline, destroy him and Dr. Eggman, crush Sonic the Hedgehog and all of his friends and soon the two worlds will be ours. The Deadly Three will be victorious. For now, we must follow Starline's orders until the time is right."
"As such, here come the two hedgehogs right now." Master Zik informed, gazing up ahead over a vast of trees, causing the other two creatures to look up and see the unbeknownst Sun and Star approach in their search to find the Temple and the Cosmos Sapphire.
The evil trio then grinned with evil chuckles from where they were, hiding in a huge tree.
As Sun and Star managed to fight off and knock out more of the Hybrians despite not getting any answers, the two friends were just walking up along another path when an unfamiliar deepish voice called from above. "And where do you two little ones think you're going?"
"Huh?" Sun muttered as he and the lavender hedgehog paused before looking around while the tangerine hedgehog demanded, quickly on high alert. "Who's there?"
When Star looked up, she gave out a shocked and frightened gasp. "Sun!"
The former Werehog looked up and gasped in shock to see huge half-giant beings standing on the branch of a giant tree as the trio leaped down to crush them. Narrowing his eyes, he quickly scooped up the young archeologist and leaped back, narrowly avoiding in the Deadly Three flattening them. Landing about a good three feet away, Sun gently placed Star onto the ground and stood protectively in front of her, glaring at the new dangerous threats who surprisingly didn't look like the Hybrians and they were definitely not human or Mobian either.
These things looked like real monsters...but unlike the Dark Gaia minions, they were more hideous looking with the later halves of their bodies black, and even alien looking.
"You two will not be going any further." Zovak declared with an evil look in his eyes, as though he was giving out a cruel grin.
"Who are you?" Sun demanded, getting really bad vibes with the new comers and he had a feeling they were not for good company. "Are you with that Starline creep?"
"Impressive. You may never have heard of us, but you have correctly guessed that we are in the league of Dr. Starline." Zovak chuckled. "I am Zovak, the leader of what remains of the Zeti. These are my former teacher, Master Zik, and our ally Zomom. Together, we are the Deadly Three."
"Zeti? The Deadly Three? Yeah, never heard of you guys before, but since you're with Beak-Face, you'd better get out of our way or else." The former Sonic Clone frowned, taking up a defense stance just in case.
"Or else what?" Zomom questioned, while munching on his sandwich, much to the disgust of Sun and Star, and the sheer annoyance of Zovak and Master Zik who both facepalmed themselves.
"Ew..." Star groaned, feeling nauseous and green in the face while she and her friend sweat dropped.
"Ugh, and you'd better go on a diet and learn some manners. That's just disgusting." Sun groaned, shuddering.
"Hey! That's an insult!" Zomom yelled angrily, and began to swing his sandwich at both hedgehogs who quickly ducked to avoid in getting hit, but he did manage to hit Sun in the face.
"Ow! Hey!" The tangerine hedgehog grunted, ducking and jumping to avoid in getting hit even further while Star was forced to stand back.
Zovak shook his head, before ordering the yellow dimwit. "Do whatever you want, but we need both of these brats alive. Do not fail me!"
"Hey, where are you going!?" Sun shouted, attempting to give the big red Zeti creep a piece of his mind, but was forced back as he and Star continued to dodge.
"You will soon be ours, Sun the Hedgehog. Along with the girl, for her powers and for the Cosmos Sapphire." The Deadly Three Leader sneered, before he and his former mentor who smirked wickedly leaped away, believing that Zomom, as dumb and fat as he is, will still get the job done.
Now left with the half-giant Zeti, Sun and Star kept on dodging while Zomom continued to wave his long sandwich at them. "You'd better behave and come with me, Sunny Hedgehog, or I'll have you for dessert!"
'Great, a Werehog-wannabe.' Sun thought to himself, thankful that Sonic wasn't here or else he might've been freaking out in horror as the orange hedgehog still wasn't sure if the hero of Mobius had fully recovered yet or not. Aloud, the growled in half-sarcasm. "Didn't anybody tell you not to play with your food?"
"You are so rude and have no manners, Mr. Zomom!" Star added, a little scared but not willing to stand by even though she was confused over what Zovak said.
That only insulted Zomom even more as he gobbled down the rest of his sandwich and growled while stomping his feet. "That's it! You've made me really Hangry!"
"Hangry? Is that like a combination of hungry and angry?" Sun raised an eyebrow over the word which he knew did not exist until now.
"Yeah, exactly and while I promised to bring in that lady hedgehog, you're about to get licked and chewed up, orange-boy!" The angry yellow Zeti snarled, before charging for an attack, but missed as both Sun and Star, who was still known for her martial arts skills, jumped out of the way as the two hedgehogs then each used their grapple hooks to draw themselves up to another tree and swung around. "Huh!? Hey, where'd you-!?"
Zomom didn't get a chance to finish as suddenly he sensed too late a movement and turned around just in time to see Sun used his Homing Attack, the orange hedgehog hitting him squarely in the back and causing the evil alien to howl and cry out in bewildered pain. The Zeti ended up being shoved forward as Sun then uncurled himself and delivered a powerful punch squarely on the back of the head, while Star swung upward and around with her hooks.
"That's unfair, you mutant cactus!" Zomom pouted angrily, unaware of the incoming fourteen year old girl's incoming attack.
Too late, as Sun landed on the ground before hurrying out of the way, Star was about to kick Zomom in the face when to her and the orange hedgehog's shock, the evil alien saw this coming at the corner of his eye and leaped up impressively high for someone who was fat and ate alot. This shocked the duo as Zomom then was about to slam into them.
"Look out!" Sun shouted, this time using his hooks with one hand and snatched up Star with his free arm, narrowly avoiding in getting squashed. Though the impact of the alien's body slam caused the ground to shake a little and dust flying everywhere, making the two young hedgehogs to squeeze their eyes briefly to avoid in getting dust into them.
By the time the dust cleared and Sun and Star opened their eyes, crying out in alarm when they were about to hit a tree, the former told his friend to holding on as he flipped his legs upward before using them to push against the trunk and ran along the tree, using the hook's rope to keep his balance while Zomom saw them trying to escape and chased after them to capture the lavender girl and/or eat the former Werehog.
"Come back here, you pipsqueaks!" Zomom shouted, before he bashed against the ground where shockingly rocks were formed and came flying at the travellers.
"Watch out, Sun!" Star screamed in alarm as she saw this.
"Huh!?" Sun exclaimed, his eyes widening as he gasped when he saw the rocks coming straight towards them, and hissed. "Dang!"
Unlatching the hook from the branch, Sun and Star allowed themselves to fall to avoid the rocks in hitting them, though the orange hedgehog quickly punched and kicked a couple that weren't that big, and Star used a swift-kick at a couple more while holding onto the former Werehog for safety. When the two landed, Zomom was coming up to them fast and before the two could react, he punched Sun right into the chest just as they turned.
"UGH!" Sun grunted in pain as he was forced to let go of Star who was accidentally dropped onto the ground and the former Werehog was flown onto the ground, skidding roughly on his back before stopping. He winced as the air was punched almost right out of his lungs.
"SUN!" Star exclaimed in horror, reaching out for him only for Zomom to tower over her. She gasped as she turned and leaned back fear when the evil Zeti loomed with a nasty hungry grin.
"It's too bad that Dr. Starline wants to use you, little lady. 'Cause you look so delicious I wish I could eat you right now." Zomom remarked, reaching out for her.
Despite her fear and the confusion of why Starline wants her, Star glared hard before quickly standing up and back-flipped away with a somersault and cartwheel, much to Zomom's shock as he gaped bewildered. She then jumped and kicked at his hands and face just as he tried to grab her. He cried out in pain while falling backwards.
"No food for you, big meanie!" Star declared as she stood her ground. Using her grapple hooks, she lifted herself up high just as Zomom reached out to grab her, only that she let go and gave the Zeti another good several punches which knocked him back slightly.
Yet just as she was about to strike again, Zomom, now even more frustrated, charged and punched the ground so hard that she lost her balance and concentration, which allowed the evil Zeti to grab her, while Sun, having been knocked unconscious briefly, groaned as he felt the quakes and slowly pushed himself up before he saw what was going on. He gasped in horror at the sight of his friend held brightly in both hands of the half-giant being.
"Gotcha!" Zomom declared victoriously, holding a tight grip on the lavender hedgehog.
"AH!" Star screamed, her arms pinned to her sides as she struggled to wriggle herself free. "Let go of me!"
Grunting while clearing his head as quickly as possible, Sun narrowed his eyes as he growled, determined to save his close friend. "Hey, tubby! Let her go now!"
He then hurried over with a loud yell and used his grapple hook to bring himself higher when Zomom leaped up with a screaming Star in his grasp. The two made to kick at each other, but Sun managed to narrowly avoid getting hit again and spun in a vertical spin before using a Spin Dash directly into Zomom's face. Zomom screamed in agony as he began to fall, being forced to let go of Star who felt deja vu as she cried out in alarm.
"STAR!" Sun screamed, reaching out to grab her again and held on tightly. But when he was about to used his hooks again to swing, suddenly a glow in his back-pack formed and a large sphere of light formed around him and the lavender hedgehog, both of them looking around in shock at this unusual event. "Huh? Again?"
What surprised the young adventurers even more was that the sphere of light then began to carry them away towards another part of the Botanical Kingdom, while Zomom was left crashing into the ground, creating a small crater in his wake. Dazed, battered, and defeated, the evil yellow Zeti moaned as he saw stars and miniture 70-foot long sandwiches circle around his head.
"Can I have another sandwich please...?" Zomom moaned dizzily, before passing out comically.
He was going to be lying there for a while and boy was he in trouble when Zovak and Starline learned of his complete failure in capturing the two hedgehogs?
By the time the sphere brought Sun and Star to safety, they were gently dropped to the ground where they both landed safely and looked around. Stunned and confused on what just happened, they both shared a glance.
"What...just happened?" Sun asked, dumbly.
"I'm not sure, but...I think the Cosmos Sapphire in your bag glowed again and saved us." Star theorized, pointing at the said back-pack as the glowing finally stopped a little.
Puzzled, the orange hedgehog gently set his friend down before reaching into his back-pack and pulled out the Cosmos Sapphire which was agreed he'd keep safe since it was the only place he and his companions could carry it as well the six other Sapphires. What shocked him was that upon touching it since Charmy placed it into his bag earlier, it glowed a bit brighter and it felt rather warm but in a good way.
"What's going on?" The former Werehog murmured, unable to believe what was happening.
"Hmmm...It seems that the Cosmos Sapphire really is reacting to you, Sun. Which means my theory may be right all along. I think it's reading your heart and mind to help with this crisis." The young adventurous girl guessed thoughtfully.
Shocked, Sun shook his head in denial. "No way. It still can't be me. It's either Espio or more likely you. No offense, but maybe there is something more about you than even you knew. I can't be the one."
"I'm not sure why it's me or what Zovak was talking about, but I can't think of any other reason." Star shurgged apologetically. "There's only a few handful of Mobians that have some kind of connection or another."
"I know. Sonic's definitely the one with any kind of connections. But, I'm just...I came from him, remember? How could I be the one holding a connection with these things? Even if your theory is right, I've only been around for one whole month." The former Werehog muttered, before suddenly realizing what the purple chameleon said earlier.
"Even so, Shadow also had the power to use the Chaos Emeralds because of the energy he was created from. Sonic was born unknowingly with it until he first became a hero almost five years ago. It would stand to reason that because you were born from his quills, and Dark Gaia, being made real by Sonic's love towards you as well as Light Gaia's power, you also have the kind of energy. That kind of power does not fade from one's body. It remains until the day you die." Espio informed.
"Unless I'm not as real as I thought I was." Sun murmured, again disheartened and discouraged. His ears drooped as he lowered his gaze, the orange hedgehog feeling his chest squeeze tightly in ache. "Maybe I am still just Sonic's clone. Maybe Chip didn't make me real right. They're reacting because I came from Sonic's quills and they're really calling out to him."
"Oh, Sun..." Star whispered, feeling her heart ache as she began to slowly realize that despite having been made a real Mobian by Sonic and Chip, Sun was still uncertain with the reality of being real. The fourteen year old girl gently took her friend's free hand and held it gently in both her own, attempting to comfort him as he gazed at her quizzily. "Chaos Energy, Emeralds and even other sources don't choose those just because of their bodies' abilities. They choose those who have strong hearts and souls. Especially the hearts. I can't explain why, but one would use their gifts and abilities by whatever their hearts decide in life."
"Huh?" Sun blinked.
"I know you're hurting and still in doubt, but you shouldn't let the past get to you. If you keeping thinking about that, you won't be able to decide who you want to be in the future or live in the present. You can't change the past, but you can decide your future." She explained, smiling softly. "Deep down, you're your own self, not Sonic or anybody else."
The orange hedgehog's eyes widened, as Star's words were very much like what Sonic and Tails had been telling him over their first adventure together.
"That's just it, Sun. You're not a robot and you definitely weren't acting like a newborn when we first met. Sure you don't remember much, but you at least have the everyday knowledge of other things. Plus you have emotions. You can be angry, you can laugh, you can cry, and even feel pain and fear and guilt, everything that's not artificial. You can't clone a soul. Your soul belongs to you, and you alone." Sonic pointed out.
"He's right, Sun. Emotions isn't something that can be made. Even Eggman's robots can't really feel much. A soul just...grows on it's own, I guess." Tails added.
"Yeah, life can't be made like books." Chip agreed.
The dark-blue hedgehog, despite feeling a little bit better with this knowledge, he couldn't help but feel otherwise. Other than that, he felt that it was better that he agreed with Chip's idea instead of going out on his own and then...really become the monster the beast inside him wanted him to be. There was still something missing about his past. Sun then jumped slightly and looked up when he felt and then saw the blue hedgehog having reached over and gently touched his hand, comfortingly rubbing it.
"It's gonna be okay. And...well, even if you are my clone, there's no way I'd treat ya' any differently. Heck, I'd treat ya more like my new brother, just like I do with Tails and Chip." Sonic reassured with a warm smile.
"...People are their own selves, because you can't clone a soul..." Sun whispered, remembering what Sonic and Tails have told him. Unlike the Dark Gaia monsters who obeyed his rule, and robots that were created by Eggman, Sun could feel all kinds of emotions. Heck, even his own doubts and fears were his own, meaning that he really was thinking of himself, and those he cared about so much.
Even now, he still worried about Sonic's well-being, because Sun loved him as a brother and he didn't want the hero of Mobius get involved. He wanted the fifteen year old to recover and be safe until this whole thing blows over. He wanted to keep Star safe.
"Exactly. A soul is one thing that nobody can touch or even attempt to copy. Most people don't even believe in souls, or even ghosts for that matter." Star nodded.
While Sun still felt some doubt and why the Cosmos Sapphires would pick him of all Mobian people, he began to realize that his friends were right about him. He chose to go on his adventures and chose to help to protect them by taking out the Hybians.
"Yeah, guess you're right." Sun nodded, smiling softly in gratitude, gently squeezing one of Star's hands. "Thanks, Star."
"It's the least I can do for you saving me twice in a row today." Star replied, blushing a little, and leaned up slightly, giving the orange hedgehog a gentle kiss on the left cheek.
The former Werehog's eyes widened in shock as he felt the softness of the girl's lips on his muzzle which formed a deep dark hue of pink, his heart beating rapidly and leaping, feeling the strange fluttering in his stomach like butterflies, a little light-headed by the rush of...a strange wave like water washing over him but in a real good way.
Sun blinked at the strange feeling while Star was blushing herself, feeling the similar waves inside her own body, smiling sincerely at the orange hedgehog whom she found was cute, handsome, grouchy but kind, caring, and very brave, especially when he had saved her quite a few times in the past and all day today.
But as the two gazed at each other, their eyes locked once again as their feelings for one another began to slowly grow into something more than just friendship, Sun sensed movement and turned his head sharply to his right and found, much to his and Star's embarrassment, confusion and relief, where the Chaotix who had unfortunately arrived just in time to see them blush but thankfully didn't see the kiss that the hedgehog girl gave him.
"I thought you guys were going to interrogate one of the Hybrian creeps...!" Sun growled, hoping against hope that they wouldn't butt in or tease him over what he was feeling, because frankly, he had no idea what he should be feeling right about now.
"Well, we did and we kinda got some good news and bad news." Vector rubbed the back of his head, though secretly he believed that Sun and Star were more than just close friends.
"I know where the Lunar Temple is and where the other Cosmos Sapphire thingy is too." Charmy added, before grumbling. "Bad news is, it's been stolen before we even got here."
"What!?" Sun and Star both exclaimed in unison.
"We're not sure what happened exactly, but appears there's a factory somewhere in this place. It was once the facility that built the Botanical Kingdom years ago, now it's being run by criminals whom the Hybrians have been following, as were GUN in the last several months." Espio explained, arms folded to his chest.
Realizing that the situation was now even more dangerous and bad, the former Werehog asked urgently. "Where is this factory?"
At the far side of Botanical Kingdom where a huge abandoned facility turned factory resided, with several cars and hovercrafts rested outside surrounding the building, while deep inside an in-built lab had lights briefly shining. Inside was a group of Mobian Wolves all wearing black leather suits, the head one being nearly jet black and wearing an eye-patch over his left eye.
He grinned wickedly. "Now that we have the ancient Cosmos Sapphire in our hands, we can locate the others and soon we will be rich. Nobody can stop us. Nobody."
Within the thick tube glass, was a red Cosmos Sapphire, shining in and out as it was triggered by the light-blue Sapphire's presence, which would soon arrive along with the group of young heroes who were on their way to try and retrieve it.
A/N: It took me forever to get this right, but thanks to you, TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3, the ending of this chapter leads to the main idea you gave me. It really helped! Thank you! *Winks*
See you later!