I wanna apologize for not uploading how I am supposed to. I actually have an excuse this time. I've been extremely busy with a few things, but now since everything is over, I can continue the story! And before we start, there will be major twists in this story. Anyway, enjoy chapter 2!
Chapter 2
An hour later with Doctor Eggman and Zero, they're both back inside the base with the Jackal Squad. Orbot and Cubot are showing the squad around, while Zero and his friend Jack are both with Eggman.
"I am so delighted that you have joined forces with me..."
"Zero."
Zero said, finishing his sentence.
"Zero! Since we have you and your squad, we are sure to be unstoppable. And this..."
Eggman shows them the Phantom Ruby he has in his hand.
"This will be the key to victory... to rule the world!"
Zero, surprisingly, didn't seem too intrigued about it that much. Jack though, he seemed a bit curious about it.
"What is that gemstone?"
He asked. Eggman looked down at the ruby.
"This here is called the Phantom Ruby. I mysteriously found it in front of the door. I don't know where it came from, how it got here, nor do I know much about the ruby. All I know is that it can give you strange illusions to the brain; seemingly it also give false information to the brain. Which is how I knew Zero's true nature about this world."
Zero raised his brows a bit, then looked at it.
"But just to make sure that my hypothesis are correct, I'm going to have a little fun with it."
He smiles a little. Jack looked down at the ground, then back at Zero.
"Eggman, I would like to talk to Zero for a little."
Zero looked at Jack.
"Hm? Oh yeah, sure. I'll be leaving shortly anyway."
He walked away, leaving the two alone in the hallway.
"Jack? What is it?"
Jack sighs a little, looking away.
"I'm a bit concerned for you, Zero."
He looked at him.
"You said you see this world differently... are you?..."
Zero stays silent, not looking at him in the eyes. Zero closes his eyes for a moment, having images going through his head. He's picturing himself as a child with a very horrified face watching a bunch of jackals running away from the opposite to where he's walking to. He had his eyes on two specific jackals that is a male and a female. They were running towards him in a panic. Zero started rushing towards them, screaming. All of a sudden, the male jackal fell on the ground. Zero suddenly snapped back into reality, feeling Jack's hand on his shoulder.
"Zero..."
Zero finally looked at him face to face.
"This world... is nothing but pain and misery... At least not after-"
"Sometimes, it's better to forget the past and move on."
Jack said, interrupting Zero's sentence.
"I know how hard it is to forget it, but-"
"You don't understand HOW hard it is to forget a traumatic moment!"
Zero barked at his close friend.
"You can't forget, forsake, or fail to remember anything traumatizing like that! I'm only doing this for you guys! You're all I have and I'll be damned if anything happens! I... I wanted to be there to save them! But... I couldn't."
Zero downcast as his face shadows over.
"It hurts seeing someone you love die. And you couldn't do anything about it."
Jack caresses his back a little, having to think about somethings himself.
"I know, but we were young and weren't trained to fight yet. You had to teach us most of the stuff that your mother and father taught you.
Zero closes his eyes for a moment, having another flashback from where he left off. He looked down and saw that it is his father that fell down in pain. Zero's eyes widen in horror, witnessing it in front of his eyes. His mother came from behind and scooped him up in a hurry. Zero hugged her around her neck, while she's running as fast as she can. Zero looked back and saw his lifeless father lying there. He then saw an army behind him holding deadly weapons. Back to reality, Zero opened up his eyes.
"Everyone back at the hideout considered you the Ultimate Mercenary because of your brave and courageous acts when leading us. You would say: "No matter how big of a challenge that we're facing, we continue to fight until we can no longer stand. We take no orders from anyone. We make our own decisions and movements, no one else." What happened to that?
Zero grits his teeth a little.
"You're like a brother to me, Zero. I hate to see you like this. Joining sides with Eggman is such a bad idea. And this is coming from your co-leader. We have the power and everything.
Tears are somewhat visible to see rolling down on Zero's face.
"... I... I'm sorry Jack, but there's no turning back. It is what it is..."
With that, Zero walked away from Jack, leaving him in the hallway by himself. Jack sighed a little then walked the opposite direction that Zero went.
An hour later on Angel Island, Knuckles is lying his back on the Master Emerald resting his eyes and relaxing. He soon opened his eyes and yawned loudly.
"It's been awhile since I've been pulled into Sonic's Adventure. As much as I like the peacefulness on Angel Island, it is getting a bit dull up here. But I do love it more than treasure-"
"KNUCKLES!"
Someone yelled his name out close by. He got up and looked around.
"Who called me?"
He asked, rubbing his finger near his temple.
"Up here!"
He looked up and saw Silver flying towards him at high speed. Knuckles squinted his eyes a little.
"Silver?"
Silver landed in front of him, panicking a little.
"We have a HUGE problem!"
He warned, while Knuckles is rubbing his muzzle.
"When was the last time you were here, Silver?"
He questioned.
"As a matter of fact, didn't you return to your future? How can you still be here?"
"Well I-"
"Oh wait!"
Knuckles chuckled a little, whilst stroking down on his quill."
"I must be dreaming. I guess I have been relaxing for too long."
"Wh- what? N- No!"
Silver folded his fist, sweating.
"I've come back with a dire warning from the future!"
Knuckles raises his brows, shocked.
"What?! That's insane!"
"I know! That's why we have to act-"
"Not that!"
He said.
"That!"
He pointed at something behind Silver. Silver turned around and saw Pachacamac's Village
"What happened to Angel Island?!"
Silver looked around, puzzled.
"This is Pachacamac's Village."
Kncukles grabbed Silver by the shoulder and violently shook him.
"Silver! Explain to me what's going on! Everything seemed perfectly fine until you arrived!"
"I- I don't know! That's why I came here to warn you that strange- LOOK! WHAT'S THAT BEHIND YOU?!"
Silver yelled out, pointing. Knuckles turned around and saw Chaos standing on top of the Master Emerald.
"Chaos?!"
Knuckles let go of Silver's shoulder, looking up at the guardian.
"Silver... is this what you came ALL the way here for?"
Knuckles snorted.
"That's Chaos."
Chaos looked down at Knuckles, raising his hand.
"He's the peaceful guardian of Chao. He's harmless."
Knuckles surprisingly got punched in the face by Chaos. Knuckles landed next to Silver.
"Harmless, huh?"
Silver helped him up on the ground. Knuckles growled, looking at Chaos.
"I forgot that his water boil easily. But at least I know how to cool him down. AHHH!"
Knuckles lunged towards him and throws a punch at him. Water splashed all over the place as he landed two hits on him. Chaos throws a punch at him, forcing him to land on the ground with water in his mouth. Knuckles looked back with his gaze hard. Silver got into his fighting stance as his body glowed.
"I got this!"
Chaos floated in the air and dashed towards Knuckles for a finishing blow. Silver quickly got in front of him and used his psychokinesis to stop him.
"Gotcha!"
A puddle on the ground bubbled a little. it grew arms and whipped Silver in the face.
"AUGH!"
Silver flew back, freeing Chaos. Knuckles finally spit water out of his mouth, having a disgusted look on his face.
"Yuck..."
Silver landed next to Knuckles, kneeling on the ground.
"We need to work together on this, Silver."
Silver nodded his head, agreeing.
The puddle flew over to Chaos, splashing everywhere as. His arm grew back.
"I need a clear shot at him. I need you to distract him, so I can give him a taste of his own medicine."
Silver smirked, watching Chaos extend both of his arms to grab them.
"NOW!"
Knuckles yelled out. Silver used his psychokinesis to stop him. Chaos eyes widen, seeing Knuckles lunging towards him.
"Goodbye Chaos!"
As soon Knuckles threw a punch, Chaos suddenly disappeared.
"Huh?"
Knuckles looked around puzzled, and saw that the village is gone.
"Chaos and the village is gone. What the hell is going on?"
Knuckles rubbed his head.
"This is what I've been trying to tell you, Knuckles!"
Silver floated over.
"This all tie into the calamity that's about to befall us!"
Knuckles crossed his arms looking at him. Silver slammed his fist into his hand.
"In my future, the records are sparse or make no sense. Whatever is happening here during this time, it's effecting my future. I came back hoping to head off whatever is about to happen and save my future."
Knuckles was a bit surprised and confused as to why Silver came to him instead of going to Sonic or Tails.
"I'm just a bit shocked that you came to me instead of going to Sonic. I'm just the one that gets roped into his adventure. But aside to that, I wouldn't have known anything on the surface until it was too late. My involvement must be crucial to saving the world."
Knuckles pounded his fist into his hand.
"So I'm going to be very involved! Whatever is going on I''ll lead the resistance to it. And I guess it wouldn't be bad to bring S.T.A.R.R in this predicament too."
Silver smiled a little, having a little hope.
"I don't think all of that is necessary, but I'm glad to have your help!"
Knuckles nods, smirking. He started running towards the edge of the island with Silver following.
"Let's go and warn everyone!"
They both flew off the mountain. Having no acknowledge, Eggman is floating above the mountain holding the Phantom Ruby in his hand laughing.
"So my hypothesis were right! The ruby do send false information to the brain. Heheh..."
Eggman looked down at the Master Emerald.
"With power like this, there's no need to bother with the Master Emerald."
The sun in the sky reflected off his sunglasses.
"Oh Sonic, with the power of the Phantom Ruby, you'll never survive!"
See you next chapter!
