I'm calling Neo an 'it' because it is a robot. And I'm just gonna get right into this. But not before I do that;
I do Not- repeat; I do NOT abso-bally-lutely own Sonic the Hedgehog! I only own Alexis Rey Hedgehog and any other OC that I make up! All other properties belong to the rightful owners ooooofff (sing it along with me) SE-GAAAAAAAAA! (In case you forgot this wasn't Nintendo.)
Alexis stalked across the field, looking at the robot parts that were strewn along the ground. "Well, somebody doesn't know the meaning of taking out the trash," she joked.
*You joke child?* Alexis looked up as Neo Metal Sonic landed on top of a destroyed Super Badnik's head. *Is it because you are nervous?*
"Heck yeah!" cheered Alexis. "Plus joking in the face of impending doom and horror and destruction is sort of a Hedgehog sibling thing. I mean, have you ever heard my jokes? Let me tell you one right now! A man and a horse walk into a bar-"
*Silence!* Alexis decided to humor Neo and fall quiet, but not before mumbling, "To be honest, I don't even know the punchline. But I'm fairly certain that it's not, 'Boom! You looking for this?' I don't even know where that came from." Then she gave a playful wink and fell quiet.
Neo Metal Sonic stared at her for a few moments. *You're not nervous,* it realized, *You're confident. Why are you confident? I hold all the cards, so to speak. I hold all your friends powers. I even hold some of the properties of your brother's 'Dark' form, so to speak.* The metal hedgehog allowed a few wisps of dark energy to flicker in between its pointed fingers. *So why are you not afraid?*
"Oh don't get me wrong, I'm very nervous. But why am I not afraid? Because I know that I found the doorway out," said Alexis, "You must always look for an exit before going back through the entrance. That's something I just completely made up just now, believe it or not."
*I can believe it,* said Neo. *So child, are you ready to see your brother die, with you alongside him?*
"Actually," said Alexis, "I've got an answer for that question by giving a different question to you- Are you ready to fall?" The sword swung off of her shoulders, striking the ground next to her. Her free hand lit up with orange flames as her mismatched blue eyes glowed with a fire of their own.
*Then prepare to fall!* Neo surged forward, its arm lengthening as it reached for Alexis.
"Were you saying that to yourself? Becuase it sounded like you were talking to yourself right there!"
Alexis backflipped neatly, her cloak billowing behind her. She landed perfectly on her feet and swung out with her sword. The flat of the blade struck Neo's arm, causing it to be wrenched out of the ground. Neo continued forward, its arms turning into swords. As it swung, Alexis raised her own sword in a block. Her flames acted without any guestering. As she swung at Neo, the flames became shields, blocking Neo's own swords and other attacks.
The two of them were hard-pressed, but Alexis could see that Neo's red eyes were in their scanning mode. He was trying to get her powers. Might as well taunt him.
"Come on, you sorry son-of-a-glitch! You gonna dance for me, or am I gonna have to pull you into a waltz myself?"
*Do you ever shut up?!* growled Neo.
"Of course you say that. I'm like the hedgehog-female version of Spider-Man! I can't help putting my enemies cute little feelings in a twist! Or well, wires in your case. Do you even have feelings? Probably not, you're a robot after all. And back to my earlier statement, a team-up with Spider-Man and Sonic would be something to see. Eh, Fanfic story I guess."
*SHUT UP!* screamed Neo. A wave of dark energy burst from him as he swung out with clenched fists. Alexis back-flipped, deciding that for now, enough was enough with teasing the enemy. She could do that more later.
Time to see if her theory- and the 'voice'- was right.
"Well, you going to try it? I know what you're trying to do! So come on! Hit me!"
*You are asking for punishment, aren't you?* asked Neo. He sent out another shockwave of dark energy. Alexis moved back as Neo's eyes glowed silver. *Lifeform data-*
Neo paused, confusion in it's eyes, which were switching from silver to red. It tried again. *Lifeform data-* It stopped again.
"Something wrong?" asked Alexis. Inwardly, she was trying not to cheer just yet. She had been using her flames a lot, so it would've had a chance to scan her. Had she been right? Was she right about what the 'voice' had hinted? Oh please let her be right!
Neo looked up at her. *How?* it asked, *I am able to copy every power. I have even gained Sonic's 'Dark' form. How am I not able to do it?*
"Do what?" asked Alexis cheerfully, not stopping the wide grin that was spreading across her face.
Neo stared at her for a few seconds, then said the words that have never been said before-
*Lifeform data: Unable to copy.*
Alexis couldn't stop herself. She gave a loud cheer. "I was RIGHT!" she cheered, "Thank you Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. 'Voice'! THANK YOU! HAHAHAAAAA!" She sheathed her sword and started doing a little victory dance and singing the tune to 'Sonic Youth'.
She gave a yelp as suddenly, Neo's enlengthened arms shot around her, pinning her arms to the sides. She struggled as Neo brought her in front of its face. *Any last words?* it asked, obviously now very annoyed.
"Homina, homina, homina comes to miIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNDDDDDDDD!" The last part ended on a scream as she was launched into the air by Neo.
"WHOAWHOAWHOA! STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOOOOOOOOOOOP!" Her flames rapidly surrounded her, trying to stop her rapid ascent into the air.
She finally managed to stop, although she was rather confused when she heard what sounded like an engine. She turned and found that she had stopped right in time- a strange looking airship was right behind her. She was peeking through a window to see three Mobian birds- a green hawk, a purple swallow, and a gray albatross- staring at her in several degrees of shock. "Ummm... hi?" she called through the window.
The green hawk promptly gave a "WHAT THE-!" as he fell over the chair that he was sitting in. The albatross promptly screamed like a little girl and the swallow continued to look on in shock.
Then Alexis remembered who had tossed her. "Ohyeahsorry! GottagodefeatNeo,bye!" she said rather quickly, then sped off.
She could've sworn that she heard someone yell, although it faded as she got further away, "WAVE, GET Us outta here!"
"Well, that was an experience."
()
Neo stalked towards the woods, looking around for the fallen bodies of Sonic and the remainder of the Knothole Fighters. Strangely, he couldn't see them, even though the crater that Sonic had been in was still there. Where could his rival have gone?
"Here's blue in your eye!"
Neo turned, only for a flame-covered fist to smack into its faceplates. It skidded back and looked up, not noticing that the dent refused to repair itself.
Alexis stood in front of it, her flames disappating from her hands. Her other hand returned to the sword that was sheathed on her waist. With a click of a button, the blade appeared again. "So, are we ready for round two?" she asked, "But if you don't want me to make more quips, just say so."
Neo gave an angry buzz of anger. It rushed forward, its arms turning once more into swords. Alexis spun to the side as flames surrounded her blade. She gave an angry yell as she swung downward.
Neo gave a buzz-like scream as its arms were cut off. It landed on its face a few yards away from her. It managed to stand and turned back towards Alexis. There were sparking stumps where its arms used to be.
"You're, uh, missing something," said Alexis, pointing.
Neo gave a droning scoff as its eyes darkened. After a few moments, however, the eyes appeared again. Once more, there was confusion in its red eyes. It looked down at its arms, as if it was expecting them to grow back. It looked back at her again. *How?* it asked again.
"That's like the fifth time that you've asked that," said Alexis, "Did I stop your arms from growing back or something- *gasp* oh!" The devilish smirk suddenly turned into a very deadly glare.
If looks could kill, Neo would've been a small puddle of super-hot liquid metal.
*Don't!* Neo started to say, but it was too late. Alexis sped forward, the flames surrounding her sword growing more intense. Neo screamed as it's legs were cut off as well.
"The arms were for Sonic!" declared Alexis, standing over Neo's body, "The legs were for my home! And this-!" She raised her sword above her head, aiming it towards Neo's chest, "-is for ME!"
The sword swung downward, impaling Neo Metal Sonic's chest. For a brief moment, all that could be heard was screaming. Then, the screaming stopped and Neo slumped, offline. Alexis pulled her sword out of Neo's chest and walked away, her sword, dripping with robot fluid and wierd silver stuff, slung over her shoulder.
"Never mess with a hedgehog's home," she quipped.
A small explosion came from behind her.
"-or your robots may be the next to explode. Huh, I oughta write that down."
()
[Next morning- Knothole Village]
"Sonic?"
Sonic gave a small moan as he came to, his eyes blinking slightly. Boy, was he sore! And who was talking to him? Suddenly, he remembered. Alexis! Was she okay?
He swiftly sat up, giving a cry of pain as his sore body moaned in protest. A hand grabbed his shoulder, steadying him as he struggled to sit up. "Easy! You were pretty badly hurt."
He managed to open his eyes. He looked towards his right. "Alexis?" he asked, recognizing his little sister.
"Good morning," she said, smiling. She helped him sit up as she said, "Neo did a number on you. I can do good with external damages, but you have some internal brusing and some cracked ribs. Those I unfortunately can't get, so you'll need to take it easy for a few days."
Sonic, managing to catch his breath and leaned against the pillows. "Well, that's nice," he said, slightly sarcastic. "Mom and Dad worried when you came in with me?"
"And everyone else," said Alexis. "The rest of the team is alright, although Elias says that he's suffering from a slightly smacked pride. And Mighty told me to tell you that you need to keep your temper down."
"So you heard?" he asked.
"Yup. But then again, every hero has their dark side. Quite literaly for you."
"Sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his head, "Neo really pulled on my strings. I should've figured that he would've heard about what Eggman and Infinite did to me." He gave a sigh, trying not to think of what Eggman showed him with that Phantom Ruby.
Alexis's hand returned to his shoulder. Whe he looked up at her, she said, "It's the external wounds that heal the quickest."
"Did you get that from a tv show?" asked Sonic, raising an eyebrow, "Because that sounds like something from a tv show."
"Danny got big on Transformers a few years after you left." said Alexis, "Some of the quotes just stuck with me. Expecially Optimus Prime quotes."
"Transformers?"
"Long story."
Sonic nodded, deciding to drop the topic. besides, there was something else he needed to adress to. "Alexis... I'm sorry I didn't let you come along."
"You told me why you didn't let me come the first time," said Alexis gently. "And honestly, I would've done the same. But one thing." She gently flicked the end of his nose, "Next time, don't assume. I can take care of myself."
"I know," said Sonic, rolling his eyes, "I guess I'm a little too protective, aren't I?"
"A little," said Alexis, grinning. She took his hand and said, "But from now on, let's do it all together. As brother and sister."
"As family," mumbled Sonic. As she looked up at him, he gently squeezed her hand. "I will. I promise this time."
[Several Weeks later]
When Sonic had fully healed from his fight with Neo, he got the longing in his eyes as he looked at the secret entrance to Knothole. Alexis recognized the look, and felt the longing as well.
But their look was also noticed by their parents. So one morning, when they came down into the living room, they found two small backpacks waiting for them on the couch. One was brown with a small symbol on the top flap that Alexis didn't recognize, and the other green with a small bird symbol on the top flap. Next to it was Alexis's folded cloak and her sword.
As Alexis looked curiously at the packs, Sonic looked towards the entrance to the kitchen, where Jules and Bernadette were waiting. "Mom... Dad..." said Sonic softly.
"We've been noticing your looks, you two," said Jules as Alexis turned, "And out there is where you belong."
"Just try and visit more often, alright?" asked Bernadette.
Alexis and Sonic looked at their parents, then at each other. They smiled, the rushed forward and hugged their parents. "Deal," they both said at the same time.
"What's in the packs?" asked Sonic as the separated from their parents.
"Mostly food and a camping kit," said Jules, "But there's a gift as well from Chuck. Might want to take a look."
Alexis walked up to the green backpack, which was obviously hers, and rumaged around in it for a few seconds. She gasped as she pulled out a large sphere colored silver, red, and blue. "This looks like Kobara's compact form for her Extreme Gear! I got an Extreme Gear?!"
"Make sure you give her a few pointers, son," said Jules as Sonic walked over to his backpack and pulled it on, pulling out his own sphere, colored blue, silver, and yellow.
"I will," said Sonic.
After a few more goodbyes, the two of them set off. Once they were outside of Knothole, Alexis pressed the button on the side of her sphere, which turned into a sleek-looking hoverboard. "So," she asked, "Where to?"
"Wherever the wind blows!" said Sonic. He activated his own Extreme Gear and hopped on it as it floated int the air. "You with me?"
"I'm with you!" cheered Alexis. She hopped onto her own Extreme Gear and the two of them took off into the air with loud cheers. They were off on a new adventure.
And that's the end of 'Where I Belong'! Next up, possibly to everyone's confusion, is 'Phoenix Chronicles: Unleashed Awakening'! I know that 'Sonic Unleashed' takes place before 'Sonic Forces', but in this storyline, Dark Gaia hasn't happened yet.
Warning for the beginning of the story- it is going to be rather unexpected and very tear-jerky. I won't give the full sypnosis until the first chapter.
Now how about we get to Eggman, eh?
Eggman looked at the data that had been transmitted to him before Neo Metal Sonic had been destroyed. "So he was unable to replicate 'Phoenix's' powers. Interesting." His gaze darkened as he looked towards a picture of Alexis and muttured, "What, or who, are you?"
*Dr. Eggman?* Eggman turned as Orbot appeared beside him, holding a data-pad. *The regular Metal Sonic has just transmitted something interestiing. I think you might want to take a look.*
Egman snatched the data-pad from his robot assistant. He scanned it, his face turning into an evil smile. "Well, what do you know?" he muttured.
He turned and looked at the picture of Alexis again. "She may have defeated Infinite, but that was with Sonic's help.
"How well will she fare without her precious friend to stand by her side?"
Foreshadowing and darkness coming. I'll see you all next time! Peace!