The Beast
Everything was moving fast, faster than it usually did. Faster even though his body felt heavier. Taller, wider. His arms hung lower then they usually did and dragged across the ground. A new motivation drove him this night. Not the desire to go fast. The desire to destroy.
His legs carried him in a different fashion this time. Allowing him to jump great distances in a single leap. And his traveling was a path of peril for anyone who got caught in it.
"Alright!" Amy said with a clap of her hands." Lights out, it's bedtime!"
"Oh!" Tails groaned from his seat." Do I have too?"
"Yes, you do." Amy replied." You know what they say, early to bed early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise-"
"I already have an IQ of 300-"
"So then you know what I'm saying is true. "Amy smiled. Both of them suddenly shuddered as they heard a lonesome pearsing cry coming from outside.
"W-What was that?" Tails questioned.
"I... don't know. "Amy answered. But she didn't like the sound of it. She moved to the door. Grabbing her hammer resting on the nearby wall before opening the door.
"Is it a... ghost?" Tails asked with a gulped breath. Amy swung open the door with one hand while keeping her hammer firm in the other. When she stepped outside she was the most ferocious beast she'd ever seen in her life.
The Werehog was down the street, in the center of town. Arms rasied above it's head, Roaring and screaming as it swung it's massive arms around it's body. Breaking down trees, crushing cars and punching holes in the side of houses.
"Tails go back inside!" Amy demanded. She didn't wait to see if he'd listened and instead ran to meet the monster head on.
The monster had been to busy picking up the Chaotix' detective agency building to notice her. The detectives inside shriekingand cursing as they fumbled from one side of the room to the other as the Werehog held the building above his head,
Amy came swinging down and hit her hammer across the monster's face. The blow staggered him for a moment alllowing Amy to hit the ground and swing her hammer up once more, striking him across the face again.
Now the Werehog regained itself and looked down to see Amy before him, hammer in hand. He let out a roar but Amy could only smile at him. He'd dropped his arms after she'd hit him. And now it was time for the building above him to come crashing down with him under it.
A cloud of dirt and smoke blew across the town as the monster was gone from sight. Flattened under the Chaotix building.
Julie-Su was the first one to stumble outside.
"Oh." she groaned leaning on the door." Oh. Oh, my stomach." Amy forgot the battle that happened and move to her friend.
"You alright?" she asked.
"What happened?" asked the Pink Echidna holding her head. Amy opened her mouth to explain but only a trio of blood curdling screams could be heard. They came from deeper inside the house.
A moment later Vector and Espio flew over their heads and outside.
"Vector!" Espio!" Julie-Su let out. "What happened." Vector picked himself up but could look at them in shock.
"LOOKOUT!" He let out. The two females turned around to see a long arm covered on dark fur with sharp claws reaching out at them from the darkness. The duo moved just in time as that clawed hand reached out and knocked a huge hole in the wall.
Once they distanced themselves from it, the whole being emerged from the darkness. The Werehog looking more angered then hurt from having a building dropped on it.
"What is that thing?" Espio asked picking himself up.
"Bad news that's what." Amy told gripping her hammer with both hands.
"I'll call it dead meat." Julie-Su corrected. She drew her pistol from her hip and began to fire. But the blasts only bounced off the Werehog's chest and once more seemed to anger it more then hurt it.
The beast lurched forward, ready to use it's long arms to propel itseld forward and amongst the group. But suddenly another figure emerged from the darkness.
Mighty the Armadillo jumped out and jumped on the monster's back. Wrapping both arms around it's throat.
The Werehog let out a roar. Reaching it's long arm around and grabbing the Armadillo by the face.
"GET IT!" Vector yelled as he jumped to his feet. And all at once the group charged. The Werehog ripped Mighty off it's back and tossed it at the charging group. Mighty crashed into Julie-Su sending them both to the ground.
Amy was the first. Swinging down with her hammer. The Werehog had quickly grown to fear the oversized malet and moved to meet it with all it's might. With an open mouth of razor sharp teeth he swung his head forward and bit into it.
And when he tore his head back and big chunk of Amy's hammer went with it. Vector moved around Amy and swung up to punch the monster in the face. The monster regarded him with angered indifference. Spitting the hammer out of it's mouth and into Vector's face, flattening the crocidle to the ground.
He might have done worse if Espio hadn't distracted it. Espio ran circles around the monster. Using his speed to land quick punches at him. But these were hardly more then tickles to the towering beast. It might not have been able to catch The Chameleon but he could still track him.
With a powerful roar the beast slammed both it's fists into the earth. Which tore up the surrounding ground beneath him, which then shot into the air. And Espio along with it.
Afterwards the Werehog grabbed a huge chunk of earth in each hand and tossed it in every direction. Some landed on rooftops or through windows, destroying houses, flattening cars and even worse if it landed on someone.
As one huge chunk came towards them Amy met it with what was left of her hammer and reduced it to pebbles. One of Julie-Su's punches did the same.
But that's when Amy saw a piece of earth fly overhead and right for Tail's home.
"NO!" she let out. But it was too late. It crashed through the window and tore aross the building before exploding out the other side. "TAILS!"
"I'm alright." said a voice from above her. She looked up to see Tails safe and sound in the arms of another. None other then Knuckles the Echidna.
"I can fly you know. "Tails commented.
"Then fly yourself out of here." Knuckles said releasing him." It's too dangerous." He spoke in a voice that brought no arguement and turned his attentioned to the source of the trouble.
"KNUCKLES?!" Amy said in delighted shock upon seeing him.
"What's this thing?" The Guardian questioned over his shoudler at her. "Another of Eggman's failed creations?"
"We don't know." she admitted." It just appeared and then started rampaging." Knuckles turned away from her and back to the beast. A tough one by the look of him. Definatly a step above the other robots or monsters Eggman created.
"Alright then." Knuckles said cracking his fists.
He took to the air next and then glided down towards this enemy. The Werehog was unaware of him at first,to busy with it's own diluted agenda to notice him. And didn't notice Knuckles until his fist was lodged into his jaw.
The beast turned with a scowl to see the guardian standing before him. Normally one of Knuckles punches would have floored Sonic, but not when he was like this.
Enraged and with a new target in sight, the Werehog lunged forward with both arms grabbing at Knuckles. The Guardian easily outmanuvered him, easily ducking under his long arms and planting a two punch combo. One on the side of the face and then an uppercut to the chin.
The Werehog swung his claws but missed as Knuckles ducked under him. And when he popped up Knuckled delivered another solid punch to the face. It was almost too easy for him.
With bloodshot eyes the raging animal turned to him. He opened his mouth showing razor sharp teeth and howled. He raised both fists up and swung down. Knuckles jumped aside before the fists could slam. But the werehog was too fast for him this time. He snapped his arm out and grabbed Knuckles by the leg.
Then turned and slammed him face first into the ground. Then swung around and slammed him onto his back. Then again on his face, the back. Again and again he continued to slam him into the ground. Until finally he became bored with it and gave Knuckles a mighty toss.
The Guardian tumbled as he bounced from on point into the next. Until he came to a sliding halt before his friends.
"Oh No!" Amy shrieked.
"If Knuckles can't beat him, who can?" Tails shivered.
"I'm not down yet." Knuckles said rising to his feet. He looked across the battlefield to see the Werehog in his sights." That was only round One. "He commented. Without a moment to lose Knuckles charged forward and into the battle. The Werehog did not back down from him and met the challenge.
They had battled for over an hour. The two in a knuckle lock, their hands locked against the other's.
Knuckles grinded his teeth together as he tried to stalmate the beast. He'd realized early on what strength the creature had.
The Werhog was getting annoyed with this back and forth. He opened his mouth and roared, bearing teeth at Knuckles while trying to push him down with his strength. But Knuckles would not give. He fought back and roared back in defiance at the creature.
At the same time both combatants unlocked their hands and instead used them to punch eachother. The Werehod landing a blow in Knuckles torso while Knuckles hit the monsters with an uppercut. Both were tossed back from the force of the blows.
Knuckles' was brought to a sudden halt when his head crashed into a nearby boulder. The Werehog instead got a mouthful of dirt as he slid across the grass.
Through grinded teeth the beast pushed itself up with one arm before doing the same with the other. Growling it turned around to see Knuckles resting on his back. Slowering to get to his feet.
And perhaps getting the notion that he'd won or by some other small coincidence, the Werehog turned and in the same manner that he had arrived, jumped into the sky and fled. Leaving nothing but confused relieve in his exit.
"LOOK!" Tails exclaimed as he pointed to it's retreating figure." It's leaving."
"Oh wondeful." Amy said in a relieved sigh. She rested her hammer next to her and leaned on it. Beside her Mighty let out an exhale as he fell to the ground, breathing heavily. Vector turned and rested himself against a tree. Julie-Su grumbled over her destroyed pistol.
Only one was happy that the monster had retreated.
"YEA!" Knuckles roared with bloodshot eyes as he looked in the direction of the reatreating werehog." That's Right you better run!" He pumped his fists into the air. Then with a warrior's yell turned and yelled at Tails next to him. "OH YEEEEAAAAAAAA!" He yelled. That was the last of the air he had in him. Once he'd finished the Guardian's eyes rolled in the back of his head and he fell to the ground.
"Knuckles! Knuckles!" let out Julie-Su as she ran to him. Amy ducked down and craddled his head.
"Someone get him some water quick!"
"Water, Water, Water." The Chaotix said as they ran around.
The chaos of the battle was behind him but that didn't mean the Werehog's bloodlust had subsided. If anything that battle was only the beginning. There was more he could do. More destruciton he could cause.
He came crashing down in a nearby forest and at once began to act on his most basic instinct. Luckily there was nobody around so only nature got to feel his wraith.
Punching open the ground with his bare hands. Ripping trees up from the ground and tossing them aisde. Crushing rocks in his hands. But all this noise was likely to bring attention. He stopped mid-rampage to when he first smelt it. Then quickly turned in the direction of it.
Along the edge of the woods came a little red figure, unknown but familiar looking. He was an echidna no doubt but an old one at that evident by the cane he leaned on. He covered himself in cloths of grass and weed, a necklace of bones around his neck and his dreadlocks were covered in green and red tassels.
"Hello." He said in a soft voice. Enraged by the simple presence of another living creature the Werehog Sonic slammed his fists against the ground before stomping over towards him." Easy there young fella." He said pointing the end of his cane at the great hulking creature." That's no way to say 'Hello'." Sonic opened his mouth wide to show his sharp fangs and roared.
But this time the old echidna did more than point his cane at him. At the end of his wooden staff came shot a green ray of light. It shot out and hit Sonic square in the chest, knocking him off his feet and onto his back. He groaned at the pain and prepared to roll over. But he felt drowsy and lightheaded, the slightest movement making it worse. His eyes began to close on him without his permission.
"Don't worry about that lad." The Echidna said stepping before him, resting both hands on his cane." The pain will pass." He said more but Sonic couldn't hear as his eyes finally shut.
When he woke up he found himself in an entirely new place.
The walls were not of stone or metal but a small fabric. Observing his surroundings more he saw he was in a small tent. Even more astonishing was his hands, they were back to normal! In fact all of him was back to normal.
"Good Evening." Said a voice getting his attention. Sonic turned to see the old echidna walking towards him." I'd hope you'd be getting up soon." He moved slowly around from one end of the tent to the other.
"Who are you?" Sonic asked.
"My name is Athair." Sonic rubbed his head, which was pounding like a drum.
"What did you, uh" He paused to groan. "How did you?"
"It was a strange alliment you had."
"It was a spell by a wizard." Sonic told.
"I know." Athair replied." Dark Magic. Ganon the Demon King of Hyrule."
"You know him?!"
"We've meet before." Athair replied. Athair had only been a boy when he first came upon the Dark Wizard. In his search for more power he sought to take the Master Emerald for his own. A battle ensued and it was only with the power of the Master Emerald that Athair managed to defeat the dark wizard. Defeat yes, wound yes but not kill.
That battle was eighty eight years ago. Now Athair was older, wiser and in possession of a power greater than the Master Emerald. He wasn't just a guardian of his Gods he was their vessel, to call upon their powers. But even then he could only do so much.
"Well. "Sonic said looking at his hand, happy it was his own once more." Thanks for what you did, Al." He slowly rose to his feet." I guess I'll be go-"
"It's not over yet." Athair said.
"Not over? NOT OVER?!" Sonic fidgeted turning to him. The old echidna nodded.
"I can only do so much with my powers. The transformation has subsided for now but not forever." The foreboding in those last two words shook Sonic to the core.
"What do you mean?"
"In the light of day you will be as you are. But when the sun goes down you'll transform into the beast." Sonic originally mode came back to him.
"What kinda choice is that!" He kicked up his leg and hit the nearest thing to him, knocking over a chair." What kind of life is that?!" he yelled turning back to Athair.
"Not a very good one I'm afraid." He replied calmly. Sonic snorted.
"Yea right."
"You'll have to learn to control the beast." Athair continued leaning on his cane.
"And how" Sonic said with a shrug of his shoulders." Do I go that, hm?"
"I can help you." The old echidna nodded. Sonic turned and gave the old man a skeptical look." Don't look so surprised. I nursed to back to health didn't I."
"Yea but-"
"And I know more about magic then you do, wouldn't you say?"
"Yea but-"
"Then how else do you think you'll solve this problem?" Athair asked. He banged his cane against the ground as he spoke. Sonic pouted as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"It seems I have no choice." He let out in an exhale.