Author's Note: This chapter will reveal things that will shock you, I'm certain. So, happy reading!
I do not own Sonic The Hedgehog. All rights belong to Sega. I only own the OCs.
Chapter 16: Unexpected Reunions and Revelations.
Leaving the Octosaurs to finish their job and now knowing what else is at stake, a determined Sonic continued to make his way to the Forest of Fog, eventually finding it and seeing that name fit it so well, decided to just run straight ahead while hoping not to crash into anything. He still felt guilty for leaving his enemy like that, but the blue hedgehog knew there was no other choice. He couldn't afford to feel sad like this. He had to focus. His friends were waiting for him, and so were the people in Mobodoon. He also had to stop Scourge and save him, knowing that Red could also be the only hope in turning things around.
A couple of times the cobalt teenage had to avoid something, and a few times panicked a little when he thought he was lost, but eventually he saw a bright light at the edge of the forest.
"That must be it. The entrance to Mobodoon." Sonic thought, pausing in his steps. He narrowed his eyes with determination, not sure but knew what he had to do. "Only one way to find out."
Steeling himself for whatever's on the other side, the blue hedgehog raced into the light portal and leaped straight through, emerging as he skid to a stop on a path made out of cobble and looked up. He gasped in awe at the sight before him.
Mobodoon...it was...unlike anything he was expecting. Instead of a city similar to the City of Prisoners or even a camp-like town for people who had been trapped here for who knows how long, it was like a very peaceful city. Construct to how the rest of the Prison of Evil looked. The buildings, Town Hall, houses, even a couple of markets and self-built farms, it was like a mixture of Green Hill Zone, Station Square and Mobotroplis all in one, with so many people here. Some human, the rest were, to his surprise, Mobian, and even people that were alien but seemed to be quite friendly looking.
There were even children, mostly around his age, a bit younger or a bit older, and even young children that were born here at some point, playing around despite every single one of these residents hoping to return to their worlds someday.
"Whoa...This place...It's beautiful." Sonic murmured as he took a careful walk passed the streets, looking around in amazement even though he suddenly caught everybody's attention when they noticed a newcomer they'd never seen him before.
Some people even made comments on who he is, some wondering if he was another unfortunate new resident, the rest muttered something about him being their savior to save them. The blue hedgehog kept on walking and passed a couple of children who looked at him curiously, and waved at them with a friendly smile, showing them and the kids' parents that he meant no harm.
"Hiya, kids." The teenage hero greeted casually.
Seeing how nice he is and even their parents feeling somewhat safe around him, the children greeted him back, a bit nervously. "Hello, Mr. Hedgehog."
Sonic smiled and continued on his way, left to explore more of this beautiful city.
'So many people here and they're all so really nice. Wonder how they ended up in this place?' Sonic thought to himself, as he could see that Soloman had been telling the truth all along. Still, how was he going to transport them all back home without making them too suspicious?
"Sonic?" A surprisingly familiar voice called out, getting his attention as he paused before looking to his left, and saw, to his shock, two familiar hedgehogs race over towards him; Jules and Bernadette, the latter being the one to call out to him and they both looked shocked and in disbelief themselves.
"Mom!? Dad!?" Sonic exclaimed in shock. "What are you guys doing here? I thought you were-Huh?"
It wasn't until the two hedgehogs got up close that there was something different about his parents; while their appearances looked the same, the blue hedgehog saw that they looked a bit chubbier, a bit lighter blue, and their eyes...they were just like Young Sonic's.
"Wait a sec..." Sonic muttered, before gasping as he remembered what Young Sonic told him and what he learned from Soloman. "Could it be...?"
"Wait, what happened to you? You look...different." Jules, Young Sonic's father, remarked as he and his wife, the alternate version of Sonic's mother, realized the difference as well.
Blinking, the blue hedgehog then said, awkwardly. "Uh...Sorry. It's just, I thought you were my parents, but you're really the parents of the other me."
"Other you?" The alternate-versions of Sonic's parents asked, confused.
"I'm Sonic from an alternate-universe. I know your son. He's my friend, and, it's a long crazy story and he told me a little while ago that you guys were kidnapped by a crazy sorcerer and haven't been seen for six years." The sixteen year old explained.
"Wait, so you know our son even though you're him but from an...different universe, and...your eyes. They're green but, your appearance almost matches that to him and my other self. Is it really you?" Alternate-Jules realized.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think you should come with me, Sonic. He's been talking about you since we both got here and wanted to see you again." The older male hedgehog responded, taking hold of the surprised teenager's hand and pulled him down the road with Alternate-Bernadette following.
While Sonic didn't know where they were going, he simply just allowed Young Sonic's parents, who were alive and well and he was shocked to see that they had been taken here to the Prison of Evil and left here in Mobodoon for their safety without a way to get back home, to take him to wherever they needed to show him. Eventually they took him to a workshop similar to Tails', yet it...reminded him of his Uncle Chuck's...
And as the three hedgehogs stopped, they saw another blue hedgehog, lighter in colour, but working on something, the teenager's green eyes widened in shock, disbelief, and bewilderment. Hearing their approach, the older blue hedgehog turned around, asking Alternate-Jules what was going on, only to pause when he revealed himself to be a hedgehog in his mid-late forties, light blue in fur colour, thick grey mustache with matching eye-brows, wearing brown boots and holding a screwdriver, and light-blue eyes just like Sonic's father's...
He looked ten years older than the last time Sonic saw him, but he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not, because in that instant, this hedgehog was someone he never thought he would see again, having thought for most of his life that was gone for good...but had been sent here by Kaiser. The Prison of Evil was the dimension of death the evil Cheetah talked about.
"Sonic? Is that...Is that you, Sonny?" The old blue hedgehog asked, dropping his screwdriver in shock and bewilderment himself as he gazed solely onto the youngest hedgehog who was speechless for a very long time...which in reality was only for a moment or two.
Because this old hedgehog recognized him, but having grown up.
"...Uncle Chuck!?" Sonic exclaimed in disbelief. How could this be? His mind was whirling so fast it was like his brain was doing a Spin Dash. Was he dreaming? Was this an illusion? Is it some sort of trick Soloman was pulling on him?
He looked at his younger, alternate-self's parents, then back at his apparently still alive uncle, then back and forth before asking the hedgehog couple. "Is this real?"
"It is. It's not a dream." Alternate-Jules reassured, knowing that, unlike himself and his wife who deeply miss their son Young Sonic(who was unaware of this at this moment), Sir Charles Hedgehog had finally reunited with one member of his family, who arrived here under unknown circumstances at the moment until the sixteen year old explained what happened.
Sonic didn't know what to think, or what to say. He began to think that maybe he died suddenly, and Mobodoon was the entrance to the afterlife, that he was dead and he failed, and was to spend the rest of eternity here in this beautiful place. Still, seeing his uncle again for the first time in ten years was one of the things he always wanted but never thought he would actually have and accepted it. The teenage blue hedgehog turned back to his until with tears forming in his eyes, as Uncle Chuck, not certain if this was real himself either, slowly approached his nephew who, as though on autopilot, did the same until they stood in front of each other. Charles took notice that Sonic was about the same height as him and Jules back on Mobius.
"...Am I dead?" The cobalt speedster asked, his voice choking with tears.
"I certainly hope not." Sir Charles replied, tears forming in his aging eyes as well. "It's...it's been so long, Sonny."
Not sure how to respond, Sonic hesitantly reached out to gently cup his beloved and not-so-deceased uncle's cheeks, ruffling his thumbs into the grey mustache a little, and as the touch felt real in his gloved hands, Charles did the same and the youngest blue hedgehog felt the warmth from his uncle's hands on his face, soft, gentle and comforting. Tears beginning to leak free, Sonic couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Uncle Chuck...it is you...! UNC!" Sonic wailed, throwing himself into his uncle's body, throwing his arms around the older hedgehog's shoulders and cried on his shoulder, as the startled Sir Chuckles stumbled a little before almost instantly returning the much needed and wanted hug, sobbing himself. "You're alive! You're here! I thought...I thought I'd never see you again...!"
"Oh, Sonic...! I thought I'd never see you again either...!" Uncle Chuck cried, gently rubbing his nephew's back and held him close, not wanting to let go, gently kissing him on the forehead. "My boy...My Sonny boy...!"
Sonic didn't want to let go either, being in the arms of his uncle for the first time in years was overwhelming. He didn't know how he could handle it if this was just a dream; he would be devastated and crushed if it was. The blue hedgehog had so many questions, yet not knowing where to start. Young Sonic's parents watched with tears forming in their eyes, feeling so happy for the emotional reunion, wishing they could do the same to their son.
Eventually the reunited uncle and nephew ceased their crying and reluctantly half-departed, staring at each other in arms-length with emotional smiles with tears still streaming down their muzzles.
"Please let this not be a dream...! I don't think I can handle it." The cobalt teenager pleaded.
"It's not, Sonic. I promise you it's not." The older hedgehog replied.
"It better not be." Sonic sniffled, feeling so happy for the second time since this adventure began, the first being reunited with the revived Tails. "I missed ya' so much. It's so good to see you!"
"I've missed you so much too." Sir Charles replied, looking at his beloved nephew up and down. "Look how you've grown. You're the spitting image of your father, but with your mother's beautiful eyes. Still good lookin' and always cookin', eh Sonny boy?"
Sonic chuckled, having missed this small joke, adding with a wink and a smirk. "You bet, Unc. Shakin' and bakin'."
'Man, I've missed this. I can't believe it's been ten years already. Well, almost, but still.' The cobalt teenager thought, wiping away his tears, before asking in confusion. "But, I don't get it. What're you and the other me's parents doing here in the Prison of Evil?"
Having had thought of this despite wondering what Sonic was doing here as well even though he had a bit of an idea on how it happened, Charles sighed in guilt, saying grimly. "I'm certain your father told you what happened ten years ago, yes?"
"Weeeeellllll...He did say that you and fifty other people disappeared and were never seen again. Dad didn't know what really happened to ya'. Nobody did. Everybody thought you all died that day." Sonic began, awkwardly. "But given what happened five months ago, and I have a heck of a lot of explain' to do, I have a pretty good idea who caused this, if I'm guessing right. It was Kaiser the Myth Hunter, wasn't it?"
"You met that dreaded, horrible Cheetah!?" Uncle Chuck exclaimed in horror, gently holding his nephew by the shoulders, fearing for the worst.
"I think even horrible is an understatement for that guy. He's a monster. Or at least, he was a monster. I even kind of figured out what happened to my other self's parents here, which is one of the reasons why I'm here, actually. I don't know if you met Soloman, but he asked me to come save everybody here in Mobodoon." The hero of Mobius replied, shrugging.
Deciding to continue the conversation inside Charles' current home, the older hedgehog led Sonic, Alternate-Jules and Alternate-Bernadette into the house and living room, where the four hedgehogs took seats around the furniture, Sonic taking a seat next to his uncle on one couch while Young Sonic's parents took the other, and the teenager explained everything from the beginning, all of his adventures and what he's been up to for the last almost five years since after his eleventh birthday, meeting all of his friends, fighting Eggman and other villains, leading up to the current situation while informing his parents' alternate-selves that their son was waiting in White Space along with their friends.
"So now, I've gotta send everybody back home to all of our worlds to reunite with their families, and stop Scourge, Robotnik, the Time Eater and Cormain. Got one more Sol Emerald and two more Chaos Emeralds to find, though." Sonic concluded his story, shrugging. "Not sure why I'm the chosen one, but whether I am or not, I can't just leave everybody in Mobodoon trapped here forever."
"You've been through quite a lot. Just as I have noticed." Uncle Chuck remarked, confusing the youngest hedgehog.
"As did our son." Alternate-Jules muttered, guilt-ridden for having been gone for six years.
"Is our Sonic alright?" Alternate-Bernadette asked, pleadingly.
"He's okay. We can handle anything..." Sonic reassured, before sheepishly admitting. "Except swimming, but don't tell him that I told ya' that. He'll never let me live it down, even if we're both Sonic the Hedgehog."
The adult hedgehogs all chuckled, with Charles saying. "You really haven't changed a bit, Sonny."
"Some goes to you, Unc'." The teenager smiled, before saying awkwardly. "Maybe a pinch older, but ten years is a long time. No offense."
"None taken." The elder hedgehog replied.
"Which reminds me. You've been here all this time. How'd you end up staying in Mobodoon in the middle of this place? From what I've seen, the Prison of Evil is more like a Prison of Nightmares." Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow as he still felt uneasy with the rest of the Prison of Evil.
Uncle Chuck sighed. "It was just after Kaiser sent those poor people and I to this place. I honestly thought we were going to die. When we woke up, where were surrounded by villains and monsters threatening to kill us and while I did the best I could, I knew I couldn't protect them. But just as they were about to attack, those people, the Octosaurs, came to save us and while they offered us a way to return to Mobius, it was too dangerous with so many children around and most have given up hope, and I couldn't just leave them. Instead, Soloman led us here for safe keeping, telling us of a prophecy that a young blue heroic hedgehog would come to send us and many others who have been here for far too long back to where we belong, a week or two or perhaps a month before he would be sent here should things become very bad and he along with many others, mainly him and his young, alternate-self are the only hope to save all realities."
"Soloman didn't tell me you were here." Sonic grumbled, annoyed as he folded his arms, miffed that the High Guard left the part of his own uncle and Young Sonic's parents were stuck here waiting for him(Sonic) to come to the rescue.
"Perhaps he wanted you to focus on what is happening, and seeing that you still have the purest heart ever, Sonic, you'd do anything to help others while being yourself." Sir Charles suggested.
While still annoyed, the teenager thought about it and realized that it did make sense. If he had known sooner, Sonic would've just focused on saving his uncle despite that he still would've come to save everybody else regardless. "Good point. He still could've told me, though. Then again, I guess I wouldn't believe him until I saw you with my very own eyes."
He then looked up at the alternate-selves of his parents and guessed. "And I'm gonna say that the similar thing happened to you when Finitevus brought you guys here, right? Before he managed to escape through time to mess up with Scourge? Or afterwards given time-space travel?"
"Unfortunately, yes. We couldn't find our way back, so we had no choice but to remain here in Mobodoon." Alternate-Bernadette sighed. "Day after day, I've been so worried about my little boy and my brother-in-law. It was some comfort that your uncle kept us company and that our other-selves were still with you, and vice versa. I still couldn't stop worrying about my baby..."
"Mom-I mean, Mrs. Hedgehog." Sonic quickly corrected himself, embarrassed at this was just the alternate version of his own mother, before trying again to assure her. "I know you're worried, 'cause you're the same as my Mom back at home, but me and Sonic are okay. He misses you and Jules too. I know that he'll be so happy to see you guys again and Uncle Chuck in your world too."
"Thank you, Sonic." Alternate-Jules replied as he and his wife smiled warmly at the older, alternate self of their son who gave them a wink and a thumbs up.
"Sonic." Sir Charles spoke up once more, making his nephew glance at him. "I'm very sorry for not coming home as I promised. I wanted to, believe me."
Despite feeling at loss since he now knew that his uncle watching over him had just been his imagination, everyone's imagination really, Sonic knew the reason and smiled, placing an arm around the older hedgehog's shoulders. "That's okay, Unc'. You didn't want to leave the fifty other people behind. If it were for me, I'd woulda done the same thing, and I'm gonna go ahead for Dad and say that he would too."
"Thank you, Sonny." Sir Charles smiled emotionally, relieved and still grateful to have been blessed with such a wonderful nephew and shared an one-arm hug with the teenager, the two having missed each other so much. Despite being uncle and nephew, with the hero of Mobius loving his parents at home, they both still acted like father and son.
Nodding, Sonic then stood up and said with determination. "But no one here has to stay anymore. As everybody in Mobodoon are not evil, we're free to come and go as we please as long as we remain who we are. When everything's back to normal, we'll all be able to go home; together."
While the adults felt relief despite the concern that both Sonic and Young Sonic still had a lot of work to do, they felt proud of the teenager who was brave and very benevolent.
"But first, I just gotta figure out the meaning of what Soloman meant and how to get you guys back home." The cobalt teenager muttered, placing a finger under his chin, thinking about the meaning behind the Octosaur's words.
"Once you freed them and return them home, to a past about perhaps a week or a month before you and your friends were brought here, only to learn of their return and yet cannot see them until you restore everything, you will understand."
"...A week or a month before we were brought here? Brought to the White Space? Not seeing them until we get home? What did he mean?" Sonic muttered aloud to himself. "Weird. It kinda sounds like how there'd been rumors that a mysterious island appeared about a week ago near Station Square, but it's covered in fog and too dangerous to venture out."
"I suppose we will have to wait and see." Uncle Chuck stated, standing up when he noticed that his nephew was looking very worried. "I might have an idea, which is what I've been using to watch over you for the last ten years that I thought it was to make me feel better."
"Huh? Whaddya mean, Unc'?" The teenage blue hedgehog asked, confused.
"There's something I'd like to show you, something that helped me to speak to you, or at least watch over you in the past ten years every once and a while." The older hedgehog replied, making his nephew even more clueless.
Short time later after Alternate-Jules and Alternate-Bernadette headed out to go ask the acting Mayor of Mobodoon to call everyone present for a special announcement which bared good but also cautious news, Charles lead Sonic across the Town Hall while being shown briefly more of this incredible, peaceful place that made the teenage hero feel much more safer than the Prison of Evil.
"Man, I wish this place was on Mobius. Mobodoon is very beautiful. Soloman and the other Octosaur guys really made a sanctuary, better than I thought they would." Sonic remarked as he followed behind his uncle.
"Well, compared to the rest of this world, Mobodoon is heaven to most people, even though they still feel homesick." Uncle Chuck chuckled.
The teenage blue hedgehog laughed in agreement. "Yeah, that's true. Between you and me, Unc', I thought Soloman was gonna kill me. With his acid and turning into a giant thing happening."
Sonic then frowned a little in confusion, before wondering aloud. "Not that I would turn anybody down when they need my help to save others or worlds, but why was I chosen for this sort of thing? There are other Sonics out there in millions of different realities, like the one that had his world's history completely changed and that Finitevus creep causing everything that's happening here, the other Sonic's world, and even what's happened to Scourge in his and Red's world."
"I'm not sure, and I do worry about your safety, but you're so much like your father when he was young." Sir Chuckles responded even though he knew that his nephew wasn't talking to him.
"So I heard, a lot of times." The sixteen year old muttered, folding his arms. He then thinks about a certain promise he made long ago, something that he left out during his explanation when he told Sir Charles, and Young Sonic's parents on what he's been up to. Before he could come up with a best idea on whether this was a good time to tell his uncle or not, the elder hedgehog came to a stop at an old building.
"This is it." The light-blue hedgehog announced, making Sonic look up to see said building. It looked like a mixture of a church, a hospital and a palace. It looked awfully familiar, until he realized that this building was identical to the one pictured in the alternate reality where he saw himself as a Prince and having two siblings, being the eldest of the triplets, the same thing that Young Sonic told him about.
None the less, it looked very impressive. The cobalt teenager let out a long whistle. He then noticed his uncle approach the doors and opened it, gesturing the younger hedgehog to follow him. Still confused but curious on what needs to be shown to him, Sonic did as requested and together the two hedgehogs stepped inside. The outside was impressive, but the blue hedgehog was quickly reminded that looks can be deceiving, because the inside looked dark and spooky.
It looked like a cave strangely enough with creepy carvings that seemed to be shaped like monsters waiting to jump out. Feeling a little intimidated, Sonic decided to stick close to his Uncle Chuck just in case and while the older hedgehog looked a bit nervous himself, he seemed to know what his going. Still, the hero of Mobius kept his guard up for any potential signs of danger, and mentally gulped nervously.
"Uh, Uncle Chuck?" Sonic began, whispering. "You sure this place is safe?"
"It might look scary, but this hallway isn't dangerous. It only brings out illusions to trouble-makers who like to fool around. This place is sacred and only meant for those who wish to see their loved ones, even through an image." Uncle Chuck explained.
"So if we see something that tries to scare us, it's all just in our heads?" The teenager asked, instantly relaxing a little. His uncle nodded and the sixteen year old sighed in relief. "Sure glad to hear that. I'm used to facing danger and scary stuff, but the Prison of Evil is a whole new level of terrifying."
Even though he knew he still had a chance to get back to his friends and finally return everyone to their worlds somehow, finally bringing Uncle Chuck home and also sending Young Sonic's parents back to his world(that thought made the blue hedgehog mentally smile, knowing that the eleven year old would be shocked at first, but also so happy to see the rest of his family again), the sense of loneliness crept up again, but he shook it away and focused on what he should be doing, and now that he was finally with his uncle again, he felt safe, and continued to trekk through the hallway.
Eventually they reached the end of the tunnel before stepping through an old ragged curtain, revealing a brighter room that looked all white, light-blue and forest-stone-like, decorated with white trees and leaves, the sky shining through the ceiling like a cave. At the end of the pathway was an medieval like mirror sitting on the top of the rock path.
"Whoa...what is this place?" Sonic breathed in awe.
"This is the Mirror Room, and through there is the Mirror of Spiritual Connections." Uncle Chuck explained, leading his nephew carefully up towards it.
"Mirror of Spiritual Connections?" The hero of Mobius asked, standing in front of the seemingly normal mirror.
"It normally works between this world and whichever dimension the people trapped in the Prison of Evil wish to see from their worlds, to at least talk to their loved ones in spirit." Sir Charles explained, smiling sadly. "I couldn't connect with your mother and father even though I could hear them, but they could only faintly hear me. But with you, Sonny boy, you could see and occasionally talk to me, despite that I couldn't see you properly, but I could hear and even feel you."
"But how does it work?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow with a shrug.
"Well, I'm not sure if it will work now, considering our worlds are in grave danger. But perhaps you could give it a try, Sonny." The older blue hedgehog responded, concerned as the situation has caused Mobius, Alternate-Mobius and Moebius to slowly merge in and out and parts of the teenage hedgehog's past being revisited.
"Me?" The blue hedgehog was still confused, blinking as he pointed at himself. "How do I do that?"
"Think of someone you wish to see the most, or the people you wish to see the most right now. The mirror will then show you where they are and what they are doing. You can even visit them by closing your eyes and talk to them. Your soul will briefly make contact with them while you're still alive. A spiritual connection." Uncle Chuck explained.
Not sure what to make of it, the sixteen year old decided to give it a shot, and watched as his uncle demonstrated by gently placing a hand onto the glass before removing it. Nodding as he seemed to get an idea, Sonic did the same and took a deep breath, focusing. He knew who he wanted to see.
'Please let me see my friends and my other good self...' Sonic thought hard.
As soon as he thought of it, the mirror then shone brightly, the teenage hero softly gasping as he removed his hand, startled, before it distorted slightly and to his amazement, it revealed images of the people he wanted to see, even though it looked like Time hardly passed since he came to the Prison of Evil; Sonic saw himself entering the portal and a worried Young Sonic stood there for a moment, before racing off to find the Chaos Emerald somewhere in the Seaside Hill Zone, yet the blue hedgehog knew now that the eleven year old wouldn't have any luck.
He even heard his younger, alternate-self telling the teenager to be safe. The image then changed to the White Space, where Tails, Young Tails, Silver, and Blaze met up with the rest of the group, telling them about what happened, including how Scourge and Robotnik caught Sonic and Young Sonic and tried to roboticize them both but failed due to their immunity. Amy, Young Amy, Knuckles, Rouge, Cream and Cheese, Big, Kintobor(who had a couple of bandages on his hands that made Sonic wince in sympathy) and Red were equally horrified, and as the two Amys demanded the four on why they didn't stick with the two blue hedgehogs before Cream and Rouge told them to calm down, yet Kintobor looked equally horrified, and guilt ridden.
Tails then looked guilty as he and everybody else were now worried about the two Sonics, with Sonic feeling his chest grow heavy in guilt, remembering the horrible image of an alternate world where Sun doesn't exist, the crumbling world, and the alternate-Sonic almost losing the alternate-Tails who had been partially roboticitized, and then remembered his confused feelings towards Amy. At that moment, Sonic wanted nothing more than to hug them both.
Then the image changed to a place that was also from his past, in white, that it looked familiar and Sonic's eyes widened in shock as he and Uncle Chuck saw a frozen statue of a human boy that looked so familiar that the blue hedgehog knew who it was.
"Chris!?(1) He was brought here too!?" Sonic exclaimed, horrified to see his human best friend also dragged into the White Space.
"Oh no...!" Uncle Chuck muttered, and while he didn't know the young boy, he was horrified at the state of the human child.
The image then changed to within the place to which the cobalt hero felt it was even more familiar, and his emerald eyes widened even further to see an orange hedgehog race through the streets which were empty save for robots and familiar monsters that made his stomach drop. Sonic knew in that instant who this guy was, one that was also close to him. Last time he saw him was two months ago, during the Flame of Ritual crisis in Soleanna.(2)
"...Sun!" The sixteen year old cried out. He couldn't believe it. His former clone was also in the White Space, and like Sonic himself, Young Sonic, Shadow and Silver, was able to avoid in being turned into a statue, but ended up trapped in another part from his past...and his eyes widened in realization as he knew where that was.
'If Sun's here, and he's in that place that looks familiar...then I really do have to face the Werehog again.' Sonic thought to himself, and while he had been dreading it since this whole thing started, he knew there was no avoiding the giant Werehog.
He had to face his fears again, this time physically. Then a seemingly final image appeared, and up close he saw a frozen statue form of another hedgehog girl in familiar clothing, which made the hero of Mobius softly gasp.
"Not Star too...!" The teenager softly exclaimed, recognizing the girl as Staria "Star" Amantha, a friend who helped him, Sun and Chip five months ago, who the orange hedgehog had to save and grew very close to a month later.
By then, the images then stopped and the mirror returned to it's innocent position, with both hedgehogs looking in concern.
At first Sonic was confused on what happened, until he put the pieces of the puzzle together, and remembered the times when he did imagine he could see, talk and even touch his uncle in spirit as though he was right there; a week after his disappearance, during his first adventure when he felt scared, his first adventures in Station Square, and other few odd times. They felt real, but he always convinced himself it was just his imagination. But now, considering and possibly due to the Chaos Energy and his connection with the Chaos Emeralds, plus this mirror which helped him to see what his friends were up to, and the more friends he had to save, his eyes widened in realization.
"You were there, Unc'. At times when I felt scared or I wanted to talk to you and thought you could hear me." Sonic murmured, gazing at his uncle as the truth hit him hard, but in a good way. "You were watching over me, from this place."
"It's not the afterlife, but I suppose it's close enough." Uncle Chuck replied warmly.
The teenager smiled back emotionally. "You could even hear my thoughts. Oh, Unc..."
Feeling even more safe and so happy despite that he had to get back to his friends straight away, Sonic hugged his uncle again as the hug was returned. "Thank you, Unc'. You were there for me even when you were stuck in this place. I knew you were watching of me and you were always there for me."
"Of course I was. I'm always in your heart and in spirit." The older hedgehog replied.
"Yeah, well, when everything's back to normal, we're all finally gonna be together again, and I can't wait to introduce ya' to my friends for real." Sonic replied, feeling at more ease. "I love you, Uncle Chuck."
"I love you too, Sonny." Sir Charles replied, holding his beloved nephew. They were all still family, and they always will be. "Promise me you will be careful when you return to your friends and save them."
"You bet, Unc'. I promise." The sixteen year old hedgehog whispered, vowing to keep to this promise.
Finally after ten long years, despite that there was still a bit of work to do, Sonic's wish for his uncle to come home, a wish that was impossible was now added onto the list of 'Things that were impossible are possible', had been granted.
Around ten minutes later even though Sonic wanted to get back to the others, but he didn't want to leave his uncle or anyone else, the hero of Mobius pulled himself together and despite not knowing how to exactly pull off the Chaos Control to teleport everyone in Mobodoon to their worlds and hoped that no one else innocent or with good hearts would end up stuck here, he remembered Soloman mention that his Chaos Energy will allow him to do so between the Prison of Evil and White Space without worry as long as he is careful, and before he departed from the Octosaur, Soloman reassured Sonic that no one will be harmed during the teleportation. So, he decided to try his best and give it a shot.
As he stood with Uncle Chuck and behind the acting Mayor who is a Mobian Rooster, and, according to the older hedgehog, had volunteered to try and make people comfortable with the aid of Sonic's uncle. As a result and Sir Charles declining the offer due to feeling like a failure for ten years even though he still did his tinkering work and having unofficially retired from his days serving the Mobotropolis Kingdom's council, the Rooster was elected as the acting Mayor until one day everyone returned home. Alternate-Jules and Alternate-Bernadette, who asked Sonic earlier to inform Young Sonic that they are fine, which he already promised himself that he would, stood with the crowd who were talking among themselves, and despite that everybody held onto hope that today's the day that they were finally leaving, the children who became friends with the 'alien' residents were said to leave them behind and never seeing each other again, but deep down knew, as much as they didn't like it, it would happen sooner or later.
"May I have your attention please?" The Rooster spoke up, and once the crowd below the podium silenced and gazed at him, he continued. "As you all know, we have been waiting for years within our safe heaven of Mobodoon from the dangers of the Prison of Evil to leave this world and return home."
The crowd made murmurs of agreement.
"Well, I am pleased to announce that our savior, the legendary blue hedgehog said in the prophecy to arrive and return us to where we belong, has finally come, and is the nephew of the kind hedgehog Sir Charles who has made us live and kept us as safe as possible for ten years." The acting Mayor announced, clasping his hands together.
This got everyone's attention as they recalled seeing the teenager earlier and wondered if it was the same one.
"Let's all give a big welcome and gratitude to Sonic the Hedgehog, the hero of Mobius!" The Rooster declared, stepping aside for Sonic, who, feeling embarrassed by this attention but held it in, approached the edge of the podium and there the crowd went nuts, saying that it was the same hedgehog they saw earlier and those who correctly guessed that he was the one, were thrilled and over the moon, and the children were excited that they got to meet the hero who was nice to them.
Though there were some skeptical voices since some noted at how young the cobalt hedgehog was, being a teenager of sixteen years of age, but it was normal.
"Hiya, everybody. I'm really glad that you're all okay, given how much you all have been through since being here in Mobodoon." Sonic began once the cheers died down. He knew he had to be serious about this, and he had to be clear. "I'm gonna be honest with all of you. I haven't heard of this place until a little while ago, because of something terrible happening and a new friend told me of the Prison of Evil, because he and his friends are dealing with somebody who is the reason of the horrible situation happening with our worlds."
The crowd gave out gasps of shock, while the blue hedgehog continued. "My friends and I are doing our very best to save Mobius, and the rest of the worlds that were dragged into this and put into danger. In order to save them, I must save you, because, not only you've all been here within this terrible world full of monsters and evil beings trapped forever, but as long as all of you are here, the two monsters that were released by evil enemies, both from an ancient time long forgotten, and two alternate worlds, will be unstoppable."
"That's terrible!" Someone in the crowd exclaimed in horror.
"I know. I'm terribly sorry for not learning of this place a lot sooner. I just wish I did so you wouldn't have been stuck here for so long. I'm doing everything I can to stop our enemies and save the worlds. But it won't stop me from helping you, whether High Guard Soloman told me about Mobodoon or not. I won't stop until everything is returned to normal, and for that, today I'm going to set you all free. I'm sending you all home to Mobius and other planets the rest of you come from, so you can finally be reunited with families that you were forcibily taken away from!" Sonic declared boldily, first apologetic, and then with determination.
"Aren't you coming with us, Sonic?" A young girl asked, worriedly and curiously.
Sonic smiled softly in a hint of sadness. "I could, but I can't right now. I gotta get back to my friends and defeat our enemies, or else I wouldn't be able to send you guys home. So, I'll be sending you all back to the worlds, and when I do get back myself with everybody else, I'll be sure to know and hopefully you'll be back with your families soon enough."
Even though some were still uneasy with this, most were excited by this yet nervous to finally be leaving the Prison of Evil.
The blue hedgehog then turned to the children who didn't seem too happy as they shared tearful looks with each other, friends who came from worlds that weren't just Mobius and felt sorry for them, reminded by his departures from friends such as Chris, Shahra, Chip, Yacker, Merlina, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and Elise, but he also knew the lessons he learned.
"Before I send you all home, may I say something to all of the kiddies here?" Sonic spoke up requestingly, earning confused murmurs from everyone and puzzled looks from Uncle Chuck and Young Sonic's parents. Earning permission to do so, and the children all curiously stepping up, the blue hedgehog bended low to gaze at them with a soft expression. "Kids, I have a feeling that you all became friends with each other from other worlds and don't want to stay goodbye, right?"
The children were surprised by this, but they knew that he was right and made protests on why they can't all live in the same world or that they actually didn't want to leave their friends behind, or that they wanted to stay here and the teenager waited patiently until they were done.
"I know it's hard and very sad. Believe me, I had to say goodbye to friends I'll never see again. One especially that I wish I could see, but I know that I can't. But just because you can't see them again with your eyes, that doesn't mean they ever left you." Sonic informed them.
"Huh?" The Children all murmured in confusion.
"I was once like you, wishing to never having to say goodbye, as old as I am and I know it's silly for somebody my age. But deep down I knew it had to happen. That special friend had a duty to do, just as he always had, but that didn't mean he didn't have fun hanging out with me and my other friends. Sometimes friends do have to go away, but there's one piece of them that stay in one place that everybody always carry, the same place our families stay in to, even if they are separated. Those are our hearts." The sixteen year old explained.
As he did, Sonic remembered the parting words he shared with Chip that nearly brought him to tears, but he managed to get a hold of himself even if they did leak a little, but they were so tiny that no one even noticed. He even remembered the goodbye to Yacker.
Sonic's Flash-Backs:
*During the events of "Sonic and the Werehog"...*
The cobalt teenager sobbed, wishing that this moment would last forever. But he knew, deep down in his heart, that they would have to separate. He then whispered with a cracked voice. "I love you, buddy."
"I love you too..." The Pixie-dog softly cried. "As my dear friend...and brother."
"Along with Tails and Sun..." Sonic sniffled, and Chip repeated his sentence. The former then gently kissed his friend on the head as while the Light Gaia was transparent, they could still touch each other for one last time.
"I'll never forget you. I'll be here by you, always. As part of the earth you tread..."
*During the events of "Sonic and the Power of the Wisps"...*
"Hey, could ya' tell your Mom that I said thank you again to her for me?" The blue hedgehog asked Yacker, who nodded and no one needed the translator to say that he will tell his mother.
The cute alien held a very emotional look as even he knew that the time has come to part ways. Sonic smiled emotionally and held up his hands warmly, and Yacker immediately flew into his arms for a final embrace. Tails joined in as the three friends shared their last group hug with tears leaking in their eyes, and the other Mobians held different reactions but all smiled none the less. Amy and Cream both looked ready to cry, Rouge wiped away a tear, Knuckles sighed and tried not to shed a tear, even Shadow's expression softened.
"We'll miss you, buddy. But we'll always be friends. Remember that." Sonic whispered to the curl-headed Wisp.
"Don't forget about us, okay?" Tails added, sniffling.
They stayed like this until the trio reluctantly let go with emotional smiles, before Wisp then held up his arm, and while everyone else looked confused, Sonic knew what this mean and cheered with a wide smile.
"Right on!" He cheered and jumped into the air, happily giving Yacker a high-five, and Tails, seeing this did the same with the cute alien who giggled.
End of Flash-Backs:
"So kids, I ask you, to always keep the thoughts and memories of each other in your hearts and minds. Think about each other everyday and whatever way you can possible. If you do, then you will always be friends forever." Sonic requested.
Even though the children didn't know the meaning of Sonic's words, they all looked at each other and already ideas formed in their minds and despite having some doubt, they all nodded in agreement and turned back to their hero.
"We promise!" The children chorused happily, which earned them a proud smile, a thumbs up and a wink, and they all cutely returned the gesture. Everyone who listened were all stunned by the sixteen year old's words and encouragement, and Uncle Chuck looked on at his nephew with a very emotional and proud smile.
Nodding and allowing the children and the adults who had become friends with the adult alien people to have their final moments of sharing goodbyes since Sonic didn't want to have them separated without doing so, the blue hedgehog stood up as his uncle approached him and gave the teenager a soft pat on the back.
"You were wonderful, Sonny." Sir Charles whispered.
"I learned from you and everybody else, Unc'. I can't take all the credit." Sonic whispered back, smiling warmly.
"Well, I'm certain everybody here will remember what you told them for many years to come." The elder hedgehog responded, gently ruffling his nephew's head which made the sixteen year old chuckle. "You're the same as always, but you've really grown up into a brave and very caring young man."
"Thanks, Unc'." The cobalt hero replied, sighing as he whispered. "So um, I'll see you in a week hopefully. Maybe sooner."
"I hope will be sooner, but we will see each other again. Be careful, and good luck." Uncle Chuck whispered back, then placed something into the teenager's hands. "I have something for you."
"Huh?" The birthday hedgehog blinked.
"I wanted to give it to you when the time was right. I hoped to give it to you for Christmas ten years ago, but better late than never, I suppose, even if you may not need it, considering you know your way around Mobius by now." The older hedgehog explained.
Puzzled, Sonic curiously looked at the item that was wrapped in a cloth in his hand, carefully unraveled it and found that it seemed to be a blue and silver pocket watch with a chain attached that it can be worn like a necklace. But when he opened it up, he found that it was actually a special compass beautifully designed with the background on the inside same colour as his fur, with the spinning arrow a lighter blue with an emerald green line in the middle, and then he noticed it was a flip compass, similar to a pocketwatch and found, to his astonishment, a picture of himself when he was just six years old, smiling happily at the camera with Uncle Chuck, and his parents, Jules and Bernadatte, and it even had another empty slot, waiting for another picture to be added in.
"Unc'...you made this for me?" Sonic asked, mixed with so many positive emotions.
"Happy Birthday, Sonic." Uncle Chuck said, smiling warmly. "You can put in another picture of anything you want. Like I said, you may not need it."
"Maybe not in Mobius, but it will come in handy. Besides, why would I not keep it when it's got a photo of us, and it's the most beautiful compass I've ever seen?" The teenager asked, and hugged his uncle once more. "Thank you, Uncle Chuck!"
Uncle Chuck nodded as he and Sonic shared one last, longing hug which the latter was reluctant to let go, fearing that this was just a dream. When they did, the older hedgehog caressed his nephew's cheek, before the younger hedgehog carefully slipped the compass over his head and wore it as a necklace to assure himself that this was real.
"See you later, Unc'." Sonic whispered, and as his uncle nodded tearfully, the two relucantly backed away as the teenager turned around, everyone else finishing up their own goodbyes to friends who they may not see again for a long time. He then called out to them, "Everybody ready?"
Once he got the affirmative from them, and even from the Mayor, the cobalt hedgehog sighed, pulling out the two Chaos Emeralds and announced. "Alright, let's do it to it! Hang on!"
Everybody did so while bracing themselves, and Sonic, despite that he kind of wished that Shadow was here since the black hedgehog was much more experienced with Chaos Control than he was, and the sixteen year old did sort of doubt his own Chaos Energy, held out his arms with the two Chaos Emeralds held tightly. He closed his eyes and focused as hard as he could, both on the emeralds which began to glow and he could feel their power flow into his body which also began to be covered in light, thinking of what he wanted to do, where and when he should return these people to their worlds and where he should return himself.
'Please take everybody in Mobodoon back to where they came from, send them to one week before my friends and I ended up in White Space, where they will be safe and reunited with their families, and I can return to my friends who need me right now.' Sonic thought and prayed, feeling a bit of strain as he could feel his own energy flow really hard as he never tried this before, but he refused to give up. He had to do this, for everyone's sake, and to survive without being drained of too much energy, without needing to sacrifice anything and anyone.
The blue hedgehog could feel a bit of sweat on his head, but choose to ignore it and focused very hard, until he could almost feel himself burst with the Chaos Emeralds' powers.
"CHAOS CONTROL!" Sonic shouted.
As he had hoped and expected, the power of Chaos Control spread as the blue hedgehog and the Chaos Emeralds glowed so brightly that it covered everything in Mobodoon while everyone braced themselves for the teleportation. It was so bright that no one could see, and then...as the light faded, Sonic and everybody else in Mobodoon were gone, even the town was missing, leaving behind an empty sanctuary of a forest and fog.
Witnessing this event just from outside of the secret entrance and not having been accidentally sent away himself since he knew he was needed in the Prison of Evil, was Soloman who smiled warmly in relief, knowing that Sonic the Hedgehog had done this task. Now not only the innocent people were finally returned to where they belong, but soon all realities will be saved, and despite that the upcoming battles will not be easy, the Time Eater and Cormain will be defeated, as will Scourge who will be saved, and Robotnik who will not remember any of this.
"Well done, Sonic. Safe journey, and good luck." Soloman muttered, before walking away to inform his lord that everything was alright.
Now was the matter of what to do with Mobodoon since it was empty.
Back in Seaside Hill Zone within the White Space...
Not sure how long he's been out cold since he used Chaos Control, Sonic could faintly hear someone calling out his name. Feeling tired from using the combination of the Emeralds and his Chaos Energy, but starting to recover from the events while feeling groggy, the blue hedgehog let out a soft moan before opening his eyes slowly, his emerald eyes blinking open as his vision began to clear, to see a frantic Young Sonic hovering over him.
"...nic...onic...!...Sonic...! Sonic! Wake up, man! Say something!" Young Sonic called out pleadingly, looking so panicked and fearful that he seemed to fear for the worst.
Groaning as he began to regain his bearings, Sonic found that he was lying on his back on the familiar sand in a familiar area that, despite being within the White Space and taken from his past, was much more comforting and safe than the Prison of Evil even though Mobodoon was a safer place within that world considering.
"...Sonic?" The teenage hedgehog muttered tiredly, much to the relief of his younger, alternate-self who beamed a huge smile, before leaning back a little to let his friend sit up. Sonic placed a hand to his head and groaned. "Ugh...Man, did somebody get the number on that bus?"
"Are you okay, dude?" The eleven year old asked. "Man, I was really worried!"
"Yeah, I'm okay. How long was I out?" Sonic replied, rubbing his head as he felt his energy began to return to normal.
"About five minutes too long. I've looked everywhere for the Chaos Emerald but I couldn't find it. When I got back a few minutes later, you just appeared outta nowhere and landed on the beach and I've been trying to wake you up since!" Young Sonic explained.
At first Sonic blinked in confusion, then remembered what happened and, softly gasping before he frantically first searched his hands, finding the two Chaos Emeralds, the yellow one having been unknowingly dropped onto the sand when he held his head, before he picked them up and placed them on his lap, then searched through his quills and found to his relief the Sol Emerald that Soloman gave him, and finally, hoping that one part of that scary adventure was real, reached his chest and felt, to his surprise and utter relief, gently holding it in his free hand, his newly gifted Compass that Uncle Chuck gave him. It glittered in the sunlight briefly, before he smiled emotionally.
"It was real...Uncle Chuck is alive..." Sonic muttered happily, tearing up before wiping away his tears, whispering to himself despite knowing that the Octosaur who had reunited him with his uncle couldn't hear him now. "Thank you, Soloman!"
This only confused Young Sonic as while he was relieved that his older brother figure was safe, and that he got the Sol Emerald back, he couldn't figure out what the older Sonic was talking about. "Uh...Sonic? You lost me there. What're you talkin' about? Why'd you mention Uncle Chuck since he's alive in my world, where'd you get that really cool watch and...who's Soloman?"
Realizing he was confusing his friend, and softly gasping when he remembered who else was in trouble and that they still had a lot of work to do, Sonic sighed and said with a firm expression. "I'll explain when we get back to others. But..."
Sonic paused, before softening his expression. "That Dino-Alien we've been hearing? His name is Soloman, he comes from a species called Octosaurs and...he's not a threat. He was just trying to get us to understand without trusting him too quickly, as part of a test to see if we can save all realities or not."
"Say what?" The younger hedgehog blinked, bewildered.
"Like I said, I'll explain when I tell the others, because there's a lot that needs to be told, and I know where the sixth Chaos Emerald is. It's not here. It's somewhere else we need to get to before we can get the last two of both kinds." The cobalt hedgehog replied, standing up and helped his younger self who also stood, and handed him the Chaos Emeralds back. "These really came in handy, by the way. Thanks a bunch, Sonic."
"Uh..." The hero of Alternate-Mobius murmured, thinking how the Emeralds helped his older, alternate-self, before having a thought and gave them back to the hero of Mobius who blinked in confusion. "Maybe you should hold onto them a bit longer, just in case. I already got three. Should be more than enough, right? Plus, we can't take our chances."
Seeing the point, Sonic nodded and placed the Chaos Emeralds into his quills while holding onto the blue Sol Emerald, then said. "Thanks. Though, there's another thing you should know, buddy."
"What's that?" Young Sonic tilted his head slightly, curious.
The sixteen year old smiled, then leaned into his friend's ear and whispered something. When he was done, the eleven year old's eyes widened in shock, disbelief, bewilderment all together, his heart stopping for a split second, his mind whirling so fast that it was like his brain went into a Spin Dash. He looked up at his counterpart who still held the comforting and soft, warm smile.
"...Y-You serious?" The young blue hedgehog muttered, his throat thick with tears. "Is this real?"
"Crystal clear real, little buddy. I've met them, and they've been wanting to see you again. They're waiting back in your world, and I'll bet they're trying to find their way back to you and Uncle Chuck...just as mine is with me and my parents." Sonic confirmed, gently holding up his compass to show it. "My Unc' gave this to me a little while ago, as a late Christmas present turned into today's birthday present."
Young Sonic sniffled, still unable to believe what he was hearing, struggling to hold back tears as the very thought of actually seeing his parents again, hoping that this was real, was almost too much for him to bear.
"...Mom...Dad...They're alive...!" The eleven year old muttered, tears falling freely.
Sonic, knowing how his younger, alternate-self was feeling, gently replaced his Compass and put it into his quills for the time-being to keep it safe, approached Young Sonic and pulled him into a comforting hug, to which the latter was unable to hold it back anymore and just hugged him back, crying onto his chest. The teenage Mobian gently rubbed his friend's back.
"Shhhhh...It's okay. Don't cry. You'll see them again soon. I promise." Sonic whispered, even though he himself was still reeling over the fact that he had finally been reunited with his uncle who was waiting for him now in Mobius which still needed to be saved.
While trying to calm down, still finding this unbelievable, Young Sonic snuggled his head into Sonic's chest, relief, happiness and overwhelming guilt for not knowing this sooner surged into his own, while thinking about the Dino-Alien, who he was admittedly still scared of, that was actually beeing helping them and now that he thought about it, he decided that what the blue hedgehog just told him made sense, considering how they and Shadow weren't attacked or hurt by Soloman.
'Soloman...I know that we'll never get the chance to meet, I still don't trust you and I am kinda still scared...but...you helped Sonic to somehow save his Unc' and my parents...Thank you.' The eleven year old hedgehog thought, now knowing that there was a chance, but at the same time, he still wanted to help his older self and their friends.
For everybody's sake.
Not long after Young Sonic calmed down and felt a whole lot better, he and Sonic allowed the blue Sol Emerald to transport them back to the entrance of Seaside Hill in the White Space, where the colour of the area returned and they found themselves standing next to the still frozen Chaotix. Sharing a glance, the two Sonics nodded before the older Sonic approached his frozen allies and held out the Sol Emerald.
With it's power, Vector, Espio and Charmy were all soon restored to life and, blinking in confusion at first, the trio looked around and regained their bearings with groans.
"Man, I haven't been this shaken up since the time that mutant-whatever stuff gave me that unneeded growths spurt." Vector groaned, placing a hand to his head.
"It was an eternal darkness that I failed to escape from." Espio grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
Charmy, being the first to notice Sonic after shaking his head to rid the dizzy spells, blew up to the teenage hedgehog and cheered on happily. "Hey, Sonic! Did you save us?"
This got the attention of the older two detectives as they turned to the hero of Mobius who nodded, replying. "Yep. You guys alright?"
"Sure are! I was scared because somebody took me, but now I'm free!" The seven year old bee replied, flying around happily as he began chanting. "I'm a free bee, free bee, free bee! Whee!"
Sonic just chuckled, a little exasperated as he shook his head over Charmy's enthusiasm, but was glad that his friend was alright, while Young Sonic blinked, before whispering to his older counterpart. "When you said that kid's really excited, you weren't kiddn'."
The blue hedgehog just shrugged.
"Thanks, Sonic." Vector said gratefully, before muttering as he went into immediate serious mode. "You know, I've got a hunch someone or something is controlling that monster."
"I wouldn't be surprised, considering what's going on." Sonic agreed, folding his arms after tucking the Sol Emerald into his quills once more, and Young Sonic nodded in agreement.
"It takes a mighty foe to trap a ninja. Be on your guard, Sonic." Espio said with a serious expression as usual. "I have looked into the soul of our enemy and I saw only darkness."
Before Sonic could respond to that and knew that the purple Chameleon was right, Charmy finally took notice of Young Sonic and flew to him, making the younger hedgehog blink slightly as the young bee remarked. "Hey...you look just like Sonic, but different."
His two best friends noticed this as well and gaped in shock and surprise when they saw the hero of Alternate-Mobius, with Vector exclaiming with a sweat-drop and a bewildered expression. "Who the heck are you?"
"This is me from an alternate universe and he's a hero too." Sonic quickly explained and cleared up a little.
"Yo." Young Sonic greeted with a wave.
"Hmm...Has time been manipulated as well?" Espio questioned in concern.
"Oh, it has big time, Espio, and we know who's fully responsible for this whole mess. In fact, it isn't just one or two of them. When the others get here, I'll explain what I just found out a short time ago." Sonic replied.
As if on cue, the rest of the group called out to the two Sonics who, along with the Chaotix, turned to see Tails, Young Tails, Amy, Young Amy, Knuckles, Cream and Cheese, Rouge, Shadow, Big, Red, Silver, Blaze, and Kintobor approach, and while the Mobians greeted their three more restored friends as everyone at Sonic's birthday party were finally all reunited, with Sonic seeing both his little brother and self-proclaimed girlfriend, and even Knuckles, gazing at them longingly as he remembered the visions he saw, with the two Alternate-Mobians and the three Moebians meeting the detectives for the first time, when Vector, Espio and Charmy noticed the human scientist...they freaked out.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHH! It's Eggman!" Vector exclaimed, grabbing hold of Charmy and held him out while pointing his youngest friend's stinger at the alternate version of Eggman. "Don't move, or we'll attack with Charmy's Sting attack!"
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!" Charmy yelped in fright.
"I should have known you were responsible for all of this, despite your death and change of appearance...!" Espio grunted, readying out his shurikens, making Kintobor gulp nervously and held up his hands in fear.
"Wait guys! He's not the Eggman we know! He's Dr. Ovi Kintobor from Moebius! The Alternate good version of him!" Tails quickly spoke up as he and the others came to Kintobor's defense.
"Tails is right, guys! Calm down. Kintobor's a friend. He's nothing like Eggman." Sonic added firmly, surprising the trio who stared at them as though they had grown extra heads.
Red shivered over the reactions. "Wow, the more I see how everybody don't like Dr. Eggman, the more I'm really scared of him."
"Dr. Eggman is very mean and scary." Cream confirmed, shivering a little. "But his brother Mr. Julius was even scarier."
"Chao..." Cheese murmured in agreement.
"Guys, I get why you're suspicious. Believe me, I was too, but Kintobor's a really nice guy. Kind of like me." Sonic explained. "The ones who are fully responsible for this mess are Scourge, Pachacamac, the Time Eater which is the monster that dragged us here, and even two more enemies we have to watch out for. Well, at least one of them since the other one's gone for good."
"What do you mean, Sonic?" Silver asked.
"Let's explain to them about Scourge and Ro-butt-nik from Sonic's world, then I'll explain what I've found out." The blue hedgehog replied.
Two explanations later...
After Sonic and the others informed the Chaotix about Scourge's actions, the sixteen year old then explained what happened when he went after the Sol Emerald, about Soloman's true agenda by taking him into the Prison of Evil, explaining to him what happened, about Cormain, the origins of the Octosaurs and even Yacker's mother(much to Tails' surprise), being asked to rescue the innocent people that weren't meant to be there, the mix-up with the other Octosaurs before the High Guard came to his rescue, battling Eggman who is to remain trapped there forever after defeating him, or maybe being able to at least go to the Afterlife, finding Mobodoon, meeting Young Sonic's parents and ultimately reuniting with Uncle Chuck, and then using Chaos Control which by freeing the innocent people and sending them one week back in time before everyone in White Space ended up trapped by the Time Eater and Scourge.
Needless to say that they were all shocked to hear this. Young Sonic, hearing the part of the mysterious crumbling world, was horrified and shared a glance with his little brother who went up closer to him, the eleven year old hedgehog placing a hand onto the four year old fox's shoulder.
"So the place that Kaiser send Uncle Chuck and all of those fifty other people was the Prison of Evil and Mr. Soloman and these Octosaurs created this Mobodoon to keep them safe for ten years?" Tails asked once his older brother finished explaining, while horrified of what happened in an alternate-world involving more evil aliens and roboticization.
"And them being trapped there only made the monsters stronger?" Young Tails added.
"That's pretty much it. Problem is, I'm not sure when we'll be able to see them when we get back home. Soloman did mention they'd come back before we ended up stuck in this place and Unc' did mention seeing a mysterious island last week while watching over me." Sonic confirmed, his arms folded to his chest.
The nine year old fox thought deeply about this, before remembering something and said. "Not sure if it's connected, but there was a rumor that a mysterious island appeared a week of ago and it was only reported yesterday. You know, before all of this happened."
"I was thinking the same thing. Do you think...it's the place that everybody that disappeared ten years ago ended up?" The hero of Mobius suggested, feeling uneasy and began to worry that he messed up somehow, having brought Sir Charles and those people back only for them to end up trapped on an island somewhere in Mobius where they couldn't get out and no one could get in.
"It's highly possible. But that's a worry for later."
"When you say that, I'm gonna trust your words. Anything new since I've been gone?"
"Well, Dr. Kintobor, my younger-self and I have pieced together more of what's happening, which adds up to what you said...and it's not good." Tails explained.
Suddenly there was a rumbling and everyone looked up in shock to see the Time Eater, but only for a few seconds and despite it still being powerful, they couldn't help but notice that it looked...a bit weaker somehow.
"When that thing goes through time, it tears up space apart as it is an abomination that should never have been released." Dr. Kintobor continued. "Yet the power of the Sol Emeralds is more closely connected than I have ever expected. Scourge's wish, combined with what that treacherous Finitevus had done, being a living time-paradox to get his revenge on your other self along with the other-self of Knuckles and destroy all versions of you by emotionally attempting to weaken the two of you and Scourge."
"It's leaving all of these areas empty and dead, and sticking them in this weird white limbo!" Young Tails added.
His older, alternate-self nodded, continuing while gazing at the restored areas. "But when the Sonics accelerate through time, they fix space, returning colour and life!"
"Because of that and since you have now freed all of those innocent people, the defenses of the dreaded monster has weakened. But it is still very powerful and, I've admittedly never heard of Cormain before." Kintobor concluded to Sonic who nodded.
"Then I guess we'll have to run like there's no tomorrow, or there won't BE a tomorrow!" The sixteen year old declared, and his younger, alternate-self nodded in agreement.
"It wouldn't have happened if the Dr. Eggman of the world where he messed up the other Sonic's attempts in restoring the time-line, and this Dr. Finitevus didn't escape and cause all of those problems just for revenge." Shadow grunted.
"Or using another version of me for some kind of power from the Master Emerald...!" Knuckles grunted, and while he was glad it never happened to him, he clutched his fist while squeezing his eyes shut, now feeling admittedly terrified of the kind of power that turned another version of himself into an insane powerful being. Here he was, the Guardian of the Master Emerald and he still knew very little of it.
"Knuckles...It wasn't yourself, and you don't have to worry about any of that. Finitevus is gone. Soloman and the Octosaurs took care of him." Sonic reassured, approaching his friend and was still haunted by the images of so many other realities himself.
"And how do you know if we can trust them?" The red echidna questioned skeptically.
The younger teen shook his head, "I don't, but...he wasn't lying. I could see it in his eyes, and hear it in his voice. At the same time, whatever happened in that world that had history drastically changed, I won't let the same thing happen to us and I'm not gonna lose you or anybody else!"
Despite still being uncertain, the seventeen year old echidna knew that his friend was right. So Knuckles nodded, knowing that his younger friend wasn't one to give up easily.
Sonic then turned to Red and added, "And don't worry, Red, I won't let Scourge turn to pure evil. First I gotta stop him before things get worse, then I'm gonna do my best to save him. But when that time comes, I'm gonna need your help."
"Me? What can I do?" The eight year old male hedgehog asked, pointing at himself.
"One, because you never stopped believing in him, and two, he doesn't know that you're still alive. He might not admit it, but...I think he misses you terribly, and I think I figured out why he pushed you away." The cobalt Mobian explained. "You said that he hates all doctors and scientists, right?"
"Uh-huh." Red nodded.
"Of course...I should have seen it...!" Kintobor spoke up, realizing the dots that were connected. "This is why he hates me because Scourge must have thought I manipulated Red, or perhaps Dr. Finitevus did and he felt betrayed! When they were younger, the boys were actually quite close from what I've been told."
The kind doctor than grasped his head and began scratching at hit in frustration and guilt. "GAH! Why haven't it thought of this sooner!? This is all my fault!"
"Hey, Doctor! Take it easy!" Silver cried out, floating up and grasped at his friend's shoulders, shaking him. "Get a grip on yourself! I should have known about this and I came from the future!"
"Guys, all the blame goes to Dr. Finitevus and this Cormain creature. They are the ones responsible for everything that has happened in our lives. If what Sonic says is true, then we can't waste anymore time." Blaze informed the two, as the silver hedgehog from the future and the kind doctor, who eventually calmed down a little, gazed at her before realizing that she's right.
"I-I'm not sure if I can do it, though." Red muttered guiltily and doubtfully, causing everyone to gaze at him as he held his head low. "I couldn't get through to my big brother, no matter how hard I tried. Ever since Mom and Dad died, it was like he died that day too, and he got worse after losing Fiona."
Sonic felt guilty for asking this much, but he knew he couldn't save Scourge alone, and he had to keep his own anger towards him in check, realizing that not only the evil green hedgehog was grieving and letting the darkness take control, but the seventeen year old was extremely jealous at the hero of Mobius, who had everything while the terror of Moebius had nothing...except his little brother who he pushed away because of a possible misunderstanding and misinterception.
"Red...I know it's not easy, but you shouldn't give just yet. I know what I'm asking is really much and I wish you didn't get involved in the dangers that are coming, but even I have my limits. Everybody has limits. I can't do this alone. You don't have to fight. Just try your hardest on your love for him, do your best to ensure him that he isn't alone. Tell him how you really feel." Sonic told him, bending on one knee and placing a comforting but pleading hand onto his young friend's shoulder.
"He's right, Red." Kintobor spoke, approaching the two hedgehogs. "I should've done harder to help you find your brother and a way back home. For that, I am deeply sorry. For you and for Scourge."
"As am I." Blaze added, looking quite guilty herself. "I'm supposed to be the guardian of the Sol Emerald, but...I have failed."
"Guys, how could it be your fault? It was that mean Dr. Finitevus and that monster Cormain that did it." The eight year old Moebian pointed out.
"He has a point. Besides, it's not easy being a hero, and I'll bet it's not easy being a guardian either." Young Sonic agreed.
Knuckles sighed, rubbing his temples. "You got that right."
"That's the thing. Life's never easy, but each life is given and we should accept what we've got and make the best of it. Sometimes we make the wrong choices, but we can make up for those mistakes." Sonic said, turning back to his younger friend, continuing. "Red, if anybody can prove to Scourge that he isn't alone, it's you. Sometimes good things happen during bad times, and, as much as I hate to admit it, given what's going on, if he hadn't, then I wouldn't have known or been able to save you. So in a way, his terrible actions saved your life, giving you a chance to still save him and I know that we can all save everybody and all of the worlds."
As everyone(except both Charmy and Big since they were still completely clueless about the situation) realized that the hero of Mobius was right, Red's eyes widened at this. While Scourge didn't know it, he did inadvertently saved the younger hedgehog's life, by having Sonic rescuing him. While still doubtful about his own success, the eight year old red-brown hedgehog remembered the times he confronted his brother and despite being told to go away, he never gave up. Now he was given a second chance to try again, and with Sonic's help, to save Scourge from suffering the same fate in becoming imprisoned in the Prison of Evil.
Even though he was a little scared, Red knew that Sonic was right. It was their only hope now. So the young Moebian nodded with determination on his face. "Then, I'll try! I'm not gonna give up on Scourge and I wanna help you, Sonic."
"Atta boy." Sonic praised, gently ruffling his friend's head, making the younger hedgehog giggle, before the teenager stood up and declared. "Well, no time like the current situation!"
"Don't you mean the present?" Charmy asked, confused.
"There is no present in this place." Espio pointed out.
"Espio's right! We've all gotta pull our heads together and figure out how stop those bad guys and those monsters!" Vector declared with determination.
Sonic nodded, before remembering something important and muttered. "Oh. Before I forget..."
At the rest of the group's confusion, the sixteen year old approached Tails and, remembering the horrible alternate reality of the mysterious world, Sonic pulled his little brother into a tightening and longing hug as he felt guilty for what transferred even though it would never happen to them since Eggman is gone.
"Sonic?" The nine year old cub asked, worriedly, gazing his blue eyes at his older brother, who seemed to be shaking a little with emotion.
"Tails, if there were times that I doubted you, I'm really deeply sorry. You've always been a million times smarter than Eggman, sweet, kind, caring and brave. Just remember, that you'll always be my best friend, and my little bro. I-I don't want to lose you...!" Sonic told him with deep apology, love and guilt, tears forming in his throat.
While Tails could think of a few times that his older brother did doubt him, those were minor and even he still had some self-doubts. He then realized how much Sonic deeply loved him, and despite that he knew whatever happened to their alternate-selves in the world where the two-tailed fox was partially roboticized following an argument between the two would never happen to them in their reality, the blue hedgehog felt the fear of it ever happening and the misplaced guilt for that reality's near-tragedy.
"It's okay, Sonic. Not everybody's perfect. Guess I just can't help in being really smart. But you'll always be my big brother, and I don't wanna lose you either." The nine year old replied, hugging his older brother back as the two deeply bonded duo silently shed tears.
Everyone watching the scene felt different kinds of emotions, knowing that the bond Sonic and Tails shared became closer than ever before. Young Sonic and Young Tails shared a loving brotherly glance despite not knowing each other as long as their older, alternate-selves did, but they felt the same and decided to ultimately stick together side by side.
After a few more moments, Sonic and Tails reluctantly departed with smiles, the older Mobian playfully ruffling at the younger Mobian's head with a thumbs up, prompting him to giggle. The teenager then turned to Amy who smiled warmly at the sweet moment and, seeing this before noticing everyone else staring, the blue hedgehog felt very embarrassed.
"Sonic? Is there something wrong?" The pink hedgehog asked, frowning in confusion and concern.
"Well, uh..." Sonic began, wondering how he was going to do this right, before an idea formed in his head and turned to everyone else, pointing upward while pretending to spot something and cried out. "What's that!?"
"What, what?" Charmy asked as he and almost everybody else turned around and most of them fell for it, wondering what they looking for and not realizing that the hero of Mobius just tricked them.
However, Shadow, Kintobor, Rouge, Tails, and Espio knew better and gazed questioningly at Sonic who glared at them in annoyance and despite trying to keep his conflicted feelings for Amy a secret, he silently turned them around with a look in his eyes that told them to not say anything about this. Fortunately, Tails got the memo and turned around, pretending to be looking for something with the others, as did Kintobor who, greatly surprised, felt embarrassed, while Shadow rolled his eyes and complied, and both Rouge and Espio smirking before doing the same.
'Glad that Tails got the idea, but if everybody else find out about this, I'm gonna hit them hard.' Sonic grumbled in his mind, feeling very embarrassed about the whole thing.
"Sonic, what-" Amy began suspiciously, only for her 'boyfriend' to shush her quickly.
Feel uncertain on why he was feeling this way, but felt that he needed to at least give her a hint on how he really felt, fearing that if he didn't now, the sixteen year old could be losing the thirteen year old pink hedgehog like how Scourge lost Fiona. Sonic scratched the top of his head before approaching her.
"Amy, I...when we get home, I...I wanna tell you something, but just in case I don't...Don't tell anybody about this and say that I told you a secret, 'kay?" Sonic whispered, and, blushing a little on his muzzle, he leaned over and to while Amy was confused, her eyes widened as she felt a gentle, soft pressure of his lips on her left cheek, a bright pink blush forming on her muzzle and realizing what he was doing.
He was kissing her!
It only lasted for a few seconds, before Sonic pulled away and Amy felt a bit light-headed over the overwhelming burst of love she felt towards him, he quickly caught her in his arms and gave her a wink. While trying to recover, the pink hedgehog was head over heels but at the same time, could see that he wanted to keep this a secret despite that their relationship was 'obvious'(at least it was to her), but this was the first time he actually gave her a gentle kiss.
The two pulled away just as everyone else turned around, with Knuckles saying suspiciously. "I don't see anything."
"Oh, well, guess I was just seeing things." Sonic replied sheepishly, then said to Young Sonic. "Ready to find the Chaos Emerald?"
"Uh, sure, yeah!" Young Sonic, still clueless on what just happened and Young Amy giving him a big kiss on his cheek, much to his dismay, shrugged and as his self-proclaimed girlfriend cheered him on, while she wasn't looking as she turned around, the eleven year old wiped the kiss mark from his cheek in embarrassment.
With that, the two blue hedgehogs dashed off towards their next destination, leaving behind their mostly confused and suspicious friends. Rouge was about to comment when the warning looks from Tails, Shadow and Espio kept her silent, making the albino bat pout and fold her arms in annoyance.
"What happened?" Cream asked innocently, with Cheese muttering in confusion as well.
"Oh, I'm not sure." Amy replied innocently with her hands behind her back, deciding to honor her 'boyfriend's' little secret. Still, her heart leaped at the kiss Sonic had given her, which given how he actually wanted to be secretive about this and wishing to know more about what he wanted to tell her later, this only confirmed what she knew and felt so happy about all along.
He really did love her.
A/N: Talk about a major surprise in every step of the way! Uncle Chuck's been alive all this time, Sonic has saved him and the other good people trapped in the Prison of Evil, reunites with his friends, and has began to confess his feelings towards Amy!
(1) Chris appears in the prequel story-series "Sonic DX Adventures" which is set in the same universe as these stories. I know I originally said he wouldn't appear in this series, but I kind of changed my mind. *Shrugs sheepishly* He appears in that story, one of the two-shots in "Sonic In Between" and(spoilers alert) in the next chapter of this story.
(2) This is shown in the midquel story "Sonic and the Curse of the Sun Stone" which I still need to finish.
While I know that in the canon games Sonic isn't interested in romance and it's only been hinted that he really loves Amy in the anime of Sonic X despite that he's still uncomfortable with her affections of him, I just kind of think that these two are cuter together than Sonic is any other girl in the other media. But that's just me.
Anyway, Sonic and Young Sonic are about to locate the sixth Chaos Emerald, but the next chapter will reveal not only more reunions, but also something Sonic himself will have to face since learning of what is going to happen earlier in the story.
See you later!
