This is pretty much part one of the finale of Where I Belong. Now we're getting to the epic final battle. And trust me, this will be a seat-hanger.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog. I only own Alexis. All other properties belong to SEGA.
[2 weeks later]
*Alexis, you need to get over here!*
Alexis jolted from her seat, one of the tree branches high up on the Great Oak, and nearly fell. She caught herself in time and raised her wrist up, where one of her bracelets was flashing. "Sonic? What is it?" she asked.
*Tangle and a few others were investigating the robot blockade. They came back pretty shredded. You're needed over here now!*
"On my way!" Alexis quickly hung up and lept off the branch. Flames surrounded her and lifted her up. She quickly rushed over to the medical buildings that were on the other side of the village, close to the entrance. When she finally landed and got in, her eyes widened in shock.
Tangle had gone out with a small squad of about five. Now, she had come back with about two, both of them covered in deep slashes and cuts, one with a rather large wound in his leg. Tangle wasn't in very good condition herself, her gray fur stained red and Mighty holding her down as she jerked in pain. There was a rather large slash across her left eye and there were more slashes across her legs and arms. Her tail was thankfully in one piece, but the fur was torn and cut as well.
Alexis shook herself back to her senses. She grabbed a nearby med-kit and handed it to the nearby Uncle Chuck. "Pull out some gauze and put it on that kid's leg. Sonic, do the same for the other guy. I'll tend to Tangle, she's pretty bad." With that, she strode over to the lemur and summoned her flames to her hands.
Tangle gave a relieved sigh as the flames gently started closing her wounds and she stopped jerking. "Whoa," she sighed, "I never realized how effective that was. Thanks."
"Don't mention it," said Alexis, gently tending to some cuts on her shoulder.
As soon as Tangle was taken care of, Alexis turned to the young soldier with the hole in his leg. While she treated him, she heard Elias ask, "Tangle, what exactly happened to you?"
Tangle shook her head. "I'm still not sure," she admitted, "I didn't exactly get a good look myself. All I could tell was that it was fast and... blue."
Sonic looked up at that from his position. "Fast and blue?" he asked, "Could it have been Metal Sonic?"
"Maybe," said Tangle, "It felt like metal, with what hit me. And I did see some silver."
"I managed to get a good look, though," said the young rabbit that Sonic was treating, "It looked like Metal Sonic, but it was taller. The quills were longer and more pointed and were silver as well as blue. He also looked like he was wearing some kind of coat around his legs."
Sonic's eyes widened. He looked at the soldier, then turned to Tangle. "Were you suddenly fighting something that was like your tail?" he asked.
Alexis looked up at the tone of his voice. It sounded like it was in between horror and desperate hope. And not 'oh my best friend is alive' kind of hope.
Tangle thought for a few seconds, then said, "I... I think so. At least when I was fighting whatever it was, when it whipped by me, a few seconds later something wrapped around me and carried me with it. Almost like my tail."
Uncle Chuck looked worried as well. "That sounds like..." he muttered, trailing off.
Sonic finished his uncle's sentence. "Neo," he snarled, "I thought Eggman offlined that creep."
"Neo?" asked Alexis, "Who's Neo?"
"Neo Metal Sonic," replied Sonic, "Possibly one of the toughest versions of Metal Sonic that I've had to fight. Actually betrayed Eggman and when he gets enough power, he transforms into this huge metal dragon."
"First Tails Doll has this creepy Godzilla mode that I haven't seen," said Alexis, rolling her eyes, "And now you're telling me that Metal Sonic has this evil dragon mode? What is with Eggman's taste? And here I thought that windy whirly bird thing and the Eggsterminator looked ridiculous enough!"
"Well, unlike the other Metal Sonics," said Sonic, "this guy is no pushover. He's actually really smart and really dangerous."
"I think I remember you telling us about him," said Mighty, "Weren't you fighting him when Shadow showed up again and joined Team Dark?"
Sonic nodded as Alexis asked, "How hard is he to beat?"
"Really hard," said Sonic, "The main thing that makes it hard to defeat him is that he has the ability to copy powers. My speed, Mighty's strength. It looks like he already added Tangle's tail and flexibility to his powers. And like I said before, if he gets enough power, he turns into a huge metal, dragon-like creature. Only way to defeat that is to have the Chaos Emeralds and go Super. At least that's how me, Tails, and Knuckles did it."
"Ah," said Alexis, now looking thoroughly shocked. Apparently this was serious. "And he's the one in charge of the robot blockade?"
"Apparently," said Elias, "He must have been waiting for Sonic to show up and rescue his family."
"That would explain why we made it through the blockade pretty easily," said Sonic, "and I wouldn't put it past Neo to try and do that."
"Then let's go and get this creep!" said Mighty, pounding his fists together.
"Yeah!" agreed Ray.
"We will," said Sonic. "Except you." He looked towards Alexis.
"What? Why?" protested Alexis.
"Did I mention that he copies powers?" asked Sonic, "He gets his hands on your fire-reality-bending powers, plus with all the rest of our powers, he'd be unstoppable! I doubt even you could defeat him."
"I defeated Infinite, didn't I?' asked Alexis, crossing her arms huffily.
"In your Phoenix form," added Sonic, "And if you haven't noticed, we're low on Chaos Emeralds."
"But Sonic, I can help! I know I can!" she protested.
"I know you can!" he told her. "It's just..." He gave an angry sigh and rubbed the back of his head.
Uncle Chuck looked at the two of them. "Ummm... who hasn't had a break yet?"
"But we're-" started Ray, only for Mighty to interrupt him. "Yeah, I think a break would be good!" said the armadillo. Everyone, including Tangle and the two soldiers, quickly left the room, leaving the two hedgehogs along.
Alexis looked at her brother. "What? It's just what?" she asked.
Sonic looked up at her. "Back on earth," he said, "I nearly lost you several times. I was forced to leave you behind for almost four years. I just..." He stopped again and gave an aggravated sigh.
Alexis looked at her brother, remembering...
[Flashbacks- the Eggsterminator]
"I'm getting to Sonic," she said. Then, she tossed herself over the edge, much to everyone's shock.
Alexis let the Chaos Emeralds drop out of her arms as she felt Rouge grab her. "Well, there goes my new jewelry." she heard the bat say, then they both yelped as Eggsterminator's hand shot out and grabbed the two of them.
Alexis' world was quiet for a while as they struggled to break free. She could faintly hear Rouge talking and yelling as wind started rippling around them in the confined space. And through the cracks of the hand, the light outside started getting brighter.
"What the-" she heard Rouge start to say, but it was quickly cut off as the hand gripping them became a little tighter. Then, it suddenly shattered, and Alexis opened her eyes slightly as Rouge grabbed onto her again. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the familiar figure.
It was Sonic, floating in the air in front of her, his fur now a brilliant gold and his eyes an amber brown. A brilliant shimmering yellow aura surrounded his body, and his quills floated upwards behind him, forming a sort of crown. His familiar cocky smile was still there and he wasn't hurt anymore.
As the Eggsterminator's good hand tried smashing on top of him, a bright light flashed. When it cleared, Sonic was holding back the hand with one of his own. "Well, Knuckles," he said to himself, "Your wish came true, but I've got some unfinished business. Take this, Eggman!" He sped forward and slashed through the machine, splitting it to pieces...
[Space Colony ARK]
Alexis stood beside Shadow, staring out the window, worry and fear building up inside her. Sonic must be worried sick about her right now. Was he even okay?
For a brief moment, her reflection changed. Instead of a blue-haired girl with aquamarine streaks and wearing a blue shirt and black jeans, there was a blond-haired girl wearing a short sky blue dress.
Maria?
Then, there came a massive explosion outside. Shadow said something about Sonic being dead. She ran.
Sonic can't be dead! she thought desperately. He can't be!
She refused to believe that her brother was dead...
[Lake- Sonic's Goodbye]
Suddenly, something wet struck her cheek. Her eyes opened and she looked at Sonic. Drops of water were coming from in front of him. No, not water... tears.
Sonic, the toughest person that she had ever met, was crying.
Tears started to come from her eyes. She clung to Sonic tighter and whispered his name as their tears mingled together. "Sonic..."
[End Flashbacks]
"You don't want to lose me."
Sonic looked up as Alexis walked forward, standing in front of him. Her mis-matched blue eyes stared into his vibrant green emerald ones. She finally hugged him, her head resting next to his. Sonic froze for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around her as well. "I nearly lost you too," she whispered, "For me it was six years. I nearly lost you to the Eggsterminator, Chaos, the Ark... I almost lost you to Infinite, too. I don't want to lose you again either."
"I know," he said. "but I can't take the chance that I'll lose you again. And there's something else. If Neo-"
"Don't." She looked back at him, grasping his arms, "Don't say that."
He grasped her arms also. "If Neo does defeat us," he said, "A very big 'if', he may decide to attack Knothole. Someone needs to defend the village in case that happens. And there's no one that I can think better to do the job than you."
Alexis looked at her brother, then gave a shy nod. She hugged him again and said, "I will. Just... promise me that you will come back."
Sonic held her tightly, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to take over his eyes.
"I'll try."
()
[A few hours later]
Alexis sat in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed. She was looking down at her blue-black and aquamarine hands, frustration and worry building up inside of her. She wanted to help her brother! But if she went, Neo Metal Sonic could get even more powerful! She was stuck and didn't know what to do.
A gentle knock at the door made her look up. "C-come in," she called out.
The door opened, revealing Jules. "You didn't go?" asked her father.
"More like couldn't," said Alexis. She gave an angry sigh and explained. "Sonic says that Neo can copy anyones powers. And if he gets a hold of mine, he'd probably be virtually unstoppable. So, I'm the third wheel that gets left behind this chapter." She gave an angry sigh, burrowing her head in her hands.
Jules sat next to her on her bed. "I know you're worried," he told her.
"Worried is an understatement," she said, "I'm downright terrified for them! I don't even know if they'll make it back alive! And if Neo does come to the village, he'll just get my powers anyways! There's nothing that can stop that!" she looked down, tears threatening to come out of her blue dual-colored eyes. "I'm scared."
"Everyone gets scared." Alexis looked up at him as her father continued, "Even Sonic. He's scared about losing you. He's scared to lose his friends and family. But sometimes what he can't see through his fear is that there is always another way." He stood, kissing her on the head and prepared to leave the room.
At the doorway, he paused and looked back at her. "That's why its always up to other people to find the other door for him." And then he left.
Alexis looked at the closed door for a short while, then stood up and started to pace. Another way, there was always another way. But what was that way? She wasn't sure and couldn't see it either. then she remembered what Mr. Tanaka said to her whenever she got frustrated.
"Meditation relaxes an agitated mind."
Alexis stopped pacing. She sat on the floor and crossed her legs. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying to relax her mind. If meditation could help, she might as well try it.
I need to see the other door, she thought to herself, How can I help my brother and his friends? What's the other path?
To just go.
The new 'voice' made Alexis's eyes snap open. She swiftly stood up, looking around her room. "Who's there?" she asked, flames gathering at her fingertips.
Someone... and no one.
"That's... not really an answer."
But it is the answer you will get for the time being... Now you wish to help your brother and his friends?
"Yes," said Alexis, "But I don't know how. Neo Metal Sonic could easily turn my powers against me."
What makes you think he can do that?
"Because Sonic says that he can."
But what makes you think he can do that to you?
"Well-" The 'voice' made Alexis stop and think. Was the 'voice' really saying..?
She made up her mind there and then. She knew what she had to do. She quickly headed to the door. Before leaving, she turned. "Um... thank you?" she said tentatively to the air.
The 'voice' didn't respond back, but she imagined it said "Your welcome". At least she would.
Aaaaaaannnnndddd... I'm gonna leave you all on a cliffhanger. The 'voice' is like one of those silent voices that Sora hears in 'Kingdom Hearts'. It doesn't really have a tone, it's just there. I don't play the games, but I do watch all the cutscenes, so I know the general storyline and what happens.
One other thing that I can say about the 'voice', it will have a major roll in the later stories.
R&R! Pleaseeeeeeee... I kinda crave feedback.