Chapter 60; operation save the world, quest for forgiveness
One hour had passed and all the singed ones did was standing at the top of the duel tower, looking at nibiru charging towards Earth. A truly hopeless situation.
"Is this really our end?" Amy said in despair.
"No it can't be! After all our adventures, after all these years… a mere meteor will end us? We're gonna go extinct just like the dinosaurs?!" Knuckles said punching the floor.
"This is not a meteor" Sonic said " I can feel the energy of the god cards in that thing. It is karma for him!" he said looking at ancient Sonic in anger.
"How could you?" Wave said while crying in Jet's arms "And to think we helped you go to the afterlife. How could you be in peace after all you've done?!"
"I'm really sorry. I never intended for any of this to happen. My judgement was clouded by my advisor. He said we could use the power of the lunar dragon to expand our empire along with getting rid of our problems".
"That was his master plan" modern Sonic said "to have you and Tails collide through this and have his revenge this way. But still…. the fact that you listened to him… when your friends and your people should have been above all… it was enough to deliver their wrath upon us".
"So because of you our friend is gone and now we will all die?!" Knuckles screamed at ancient Sonic's face.
"I'm very sorry. I can never forgive myself."
"Good! Cause you shouldn't!" Knuckles said delivering a devastating punch on ancient Sonic's face.
"Sonic?" Amy said referring to modern Sonic "Is this really…"
"I'm afraid so. The god cards are beyond my control. I can't fight their energy. It's over. We lost."
Amy's face was immediately covered in tears as she collapsed thinking of her children.
"Let's go and find the kids. We have to tell them what's going on." Sonic declared.
The singed ones took the elevator leaving Sticks at the top of the tower. Soon they regrouped at Sonic and Amy's house and told the kids everything.
"No way!" Miles said in shock "that thing we saw during the ride… it is the end of the world?!"
"I'm afraid so son. I can't do anything. It is beyond me."
"This can't be… after all my dreams…" he looked at Marianna "our dreams.. it will end like this?"
Marianna looked down and rubber her belly in sadness. But then a flame lit in her heart. She had too much to lose to just sit around and wait for the end. She wouldn't let the dream that was on its way die before it had the chance to start.
"No! This can't be the end. There has to be a way."
At that moment the door bell rung.
"Who could it be?" Sonic wondered.
At the doorstep was Sticks.
"What are you doing here?" Sonic asked her.
"I came to help you save the planet from that being that lounges towards it."
"How can you help?" Luke asked her.
"After you guys left the tower I remained there silent for a while. Then I tried communicating with the spirits of the past. I was shown by the spirits how you can destroy this being. The secret lies at the place where it all began. Where your destinies began."
"The temple of the lunar dragon!" Sonic said realizing this in shock.
"Indeed. I was shown the past not all of it though just parts. Nibiru is a being that existed in the past. It may be a coincidence but its physical existence ended when you acquired your powers. So the answer must be there".
"And where is that temple?" Sonic said.
"That I know not of. It must be somewhere in your memories of that time."
Sonic immediately closed his eyes and focused. He dag through his memories, using the power of the lunar dragon to dive deep into the ocean of his past memories. He made it to the time when he and his friends became the lunar dragon's warriors. He was inside his old body looking at the wall on which the carving of the lunar dragon was. Then he felt something drawing him back. He was lifted from the ground and flew out of the temple. He saw it was in the middle of a forest. Sonic noticed several species of animals only encountered into tropical forests. And then he continued to fly backwards going higher and higher. Once he was high enough he noticed a long river which stretched beyond the horizon. He immediately realized looking at the shape of the river where the temple was. He had come here before with his friends. Suddenly the whole world darkened and saw the spirits from the duel tower surrounding him again.
"Sinner. Sinner!" the yelled into his ears.
"NOOOO!" he screamed as his consciousness returned to the present.
"The jungle of the Amazon!" he declared trying to relax from that vision.
"Really?" Knuckles said surprised "where we've been before?"
"Perfect" Amy said with hope "let's take the plane and go as soon as possible".
"There is a problem though. I can't go near the temple. In the end of my vision I saw those spirits again. They won't let me try to save the world."
"Damnit!" Jet screamed in anger "Is it really hopeless after all?"
"Maybe not" Sticks said.
"What do you mean?" Miles asked her.
"Ever since my childhood I've been having visions of a giant tree somewhere in the east. And when I was shown the past the spirits showed me the tree again and said 'forgiveness'. I think that you have to go there in order to be forgiven though I don't know how."
"Hold my hand" Sonic said "and try to pass me the image of this tree".
Sticks took his hand and suddenly Sonic saw it. A giant tree as big as a cloud mushroom created by an atomic bomb. He noticed that the Great Wall of China could be seen in the distance but barely. He immediately returned his consciousness to the present.
"I saw the tree Sticks is talking about. It is somewhere in China. I saw the Great Wall from afar. But I don't know where exactly."
"That's huge trouble" Ruff said "I had an assignment in school once about the Great Wall and it is unbelievably long. And because it was built continuously during the different dynasties there actually a lot of walls to search. We'll never find that tree."
"Then we have to go there as soon as possible" Knuckles said "Find the tree help that idiot Sonic" referring to ancient Sonic "get forgiveness and then fly to the temple to find our answers."
We won't make it that way Knucks" Sonic stopped him "it'll take too much time to find the tree and then go to the temple."
"What do we do then?"
"We have to split this time" Sonic said
"Split?!" they all said in shock.
"Sonic we have to stick together. Who knows what we will encounter in this journey" Amy tried to change his mind.
"I know very well Amy. But we don't have enough time. In a week Nibiru will crash land and we will lose. We have to split this time."
"Very well. Then I'll go with you."
"No Ames."
"WHAT?!"
"With Tails gone the next one I trust to lead the team is you. You have to pick your team and go to the temple and find the answers we need. Me and the team that will follow me will go to the tree and find the way to forgive my ancient self for his sins. Then we meet up here again and put an end to nibiru."
"Sonic.."
"Please. Do as I say. For our kids."
Amy looked at her kids waiting for her answer. She couldn't take the idea that their family would split again. but they had no other choice or time left.
"Ok. I'll go. But promise me you'll be safe."
"I will."
"Alright then. The kids will come with me. You can take care of yourself, that I know. But I want to be sure for their safety."
"Mom" Miles intervened "I'll go with dad".
"You can't win this battle Miles. you're coming with me."
"No. Maybe you got used to it but I'm number two now. Dad will need the greatest help possible. And since you'll be on the other side of the world I gotta go with him."
Amy knew deep down he was right.
"Fine then. So the girls and I are going to the temple. Jet and T bone with me."
"Ok" all 3 said at once.
"Ok" Sonic took his turn "Knuckles, Miles and Marianna will come with me. You come along too. I'll need your help with this tree I guess."
"As you wish" Sticks said.
"What about us?" Luke asked referring to himself and Ruff.
"I want you two to stay here and get in touch with Rouge, Shadow and Storm. Keep an eye out in the city and try to find Tails."
"You got it" Ruff said.
"Alright team. Let's get ready."
They all went home to prepare their stuff as soon as possible. 3 hours later around midnight they joined again at the airport. 2 private planes were ready 1 for Sonic and his team to fly towards China and a personal pilot for the other plane to fly Amy and her team to go to the temple's location. Before they boarded Sonic decided to say or rather repeat a few things.
"I know what I will say has already been heard by everyone here before… but I have to repeat this. I thought Miles' misadventure was the most dangerous and risky thing we've ever had to deal with… but it has just been topped by this" he said pointing towards nibiru.
"Ancient Tails is trying to avenge what happened to him by my ancient self. But the impact of this revenge will affect us too, not just us. The whole world. We can't allow that. You know your teams. You know your missions. Only 7 days. Some of us are going into the unknown so we have to be ready for anything. Some others are going somewhere we know. But that doesn't mean we know what to expect. As for the rest… I'm certain and worried a lot will happen in our absence. So take care of things. And if possible find Tails. Is all this clear?"
They all nodded positively.
"And now we get to the repeat. This is the fight of our lives. And this time it is literally. So… we're not just gonna win. We HAVE to win. Whatever it takes."
"Whatever it takes" they all said.
"Good. Let's go."
They all said their goodbyes and boarded the planes. Soon enough they were taking off, Sonic looking towards Amy's plane and Amy doing the same for Sonic's plane. After a little while they took separate ways and focused on what was ahead of them. At the same time Tails was on the ground looking at the direction Amy's plane flew towards.
"Good riddance fools. You're never finding these answers.
"I wouldn't be so sure just yet" a voice echoed in his head.
"You really believe they will come to save you?"
"I know they will" Modern Tails answered inside his head "They have performed miracles before. And the trap you set for them… I'm sure it's not enough to kill them."
"Hmph. I find your hope amusing. Too bad it won't last long" Ancient Tails said riding Tail's duel runner and disappearing into the darkness of the night.
