Chapter 5: Lord Vincent
The morning came quickly with not a moments notice.
The night that the two heroes weathered
Sped up as fast as they fell into slumber,
And their health was restored in due time as well.
But now, their sleep comes to an end
For their pursuer has come back to haunt them both
His superior stands beside him, with the emeralds in sight
"Here we are my good friend, Angel Island." Said Spyke the Moon Wolf. His gesture looked as if he welcomed a god…someone very powerful. From the blackness of the shaded path steps out a man covered in a well-made black cloak, his face covered up by its hood and a long turtleneck able to protect his face from cold climates. A black cape with a strange white emblem hung from the back of his shoulders flowing excellently through the high altitude winds. The shoulders of the cloak were pointed at the sides like steel shoulder blades were under them, and the tail stretched to the ground but was opened up from the bottom waist down, which made it flow like the cape, and showed Armor plates that protected the hips. Lastly, his pants were black and were tucked into the boots he wore. His hands were positioned to his back but under the flowing cape.
"Well then, Shall we collect the bounty?" Spyke said to the dark figure. The man did not reply. Instead, he began walking ahead and passed up Spyke, who still kept a grin on his face even if he seemed to have been ignored.
"Sonic! Wake up! We got company!" Knuckles said to the drowsy Sonic. Sonic sat up in his bead and rubbed his eyes. "What Knuckles?" Then it hit him like a stone behind the head. "I was sleep talking wasn't I!?" Sonic yelled hastily. Knuckles slapped Sonic in the face to wake him up, "No you idiot! We got company! I saw them appear on the island.
It was Spyke, and he brought a friend, a strong friend. We need to get to the shrine and protect the Emeralds." Sonic shook his head. "Spyke? How the heck did he find us? Did he follow us here last night." Knuckles replied, "I'm not sure. But he's here nonetheless and we need to fight him off. We can do it this time Sonic. Let's send them both to hell!" Sonic nodded and leaped from his bedside. "Alright. That guy will wish he never slammed me into a tree!" So then both sonic and Knuckles took a shortcut through the corridors of the abandoned town.
"Hmm. I believe this door is in our way good friend. Doesn't look at all sturdy does it?" Said Spyke as the two stood before a great big doorway that leads to the main chamber, containing the emeralds inside. The dark cloaked figure gazed at the massive door. It looked to be more than 40 tons of solid rock, and on it were markings that showed the seven small emeralds, surrounding the Master Emerald in a halo. On the sides were pictures of the long forgotten Echidna race, bowing to the great gems in the middle. In the lower middle of the picture, was an orange echidna that raised its arms to the emeralds. A white shaded aura surrounded that one echidna. The figure kneeled before the picture of the orange one and put his hand on the solid stone surface. "So, this is your treasure isn't it? Thousands of years of toil and anguish…conceived such powerful stones.
Forgive me…Tikal. I will be taking them now. But fear not. I will take good care of your treasure. A knights promise to a kingdom's young princess."
The figure gave the picture one more stroke of respect and walked back a few steps, "Sebastian! Blast it down!" Spyke, or Sebastian, jumped ahead of the figure and assumed fighting stance. "As you wish!" With a single punch of deadly fire, the opposing wall came down like a weak dirt mound. The force summoned a gusting wind that covered the area in flying rocks and dust. The sound of the crash echoed through the islands woodland and abandoned settlements. The cloaked man didn't flinch at all as the wall was brought down.
"Let the smoke clear Sebastian." Said the man to stop Spyke from entering the doorway. "What for, Afraid of a little sand in yer eyes or somethin'? " The figure shook his head. "You don't want to proceed in front of them with your guard down." Spyke looked puzzled and turned back to his front waiting for the smoke to clear. Once the wind carried off most of the dust, Spyke saw the two protectors standing right in front of the shrine. Sonic the Hedgehog, and Knuckles the Echidna, fighting for the safety of the emeralds. "Sorry pal, but your search is going to end a little short." Sonic said.
Spyke just laughed away at the brave heroes instead of preparing for a fight like he should. "Well now, look what we have here! It's the punks from the forest. Haven't had enough I guess. I thought you'd have abandoned this place for your Asses intact, like you did at our little fight." Sonic and Knuckles stood poised in front of Spyke regardless of his words. Spyke tilted his head, "By the way, Knuckles is it?" Knuckle's eyes widened. "That's right. I haven't thanked ya have I? You were the one that showed us how to get here in the first place." Knuckles didn't know what he was talking about. It took him awhile to say something to counter the monster. "What the hell are you talking about? I told you nothing of this place. Like I said. I was just a-"
"A mole?" Spyke interrupted. Knuckles flinched. "Maybe you're under estimatin' me. I would never be unfamiliar with the prey's spiritual essence, especially that of an echidna." Knuckles stepped back once. Never ever had he mentioned that he was a mole. He didn't even speak like an echidna. "Heh. Looks like me imitating a mole to throw you off was a waste of breath." Knuckles began to laugh, even if it was a weak one. Sonic looked at Knuckle, looking back at the last battle. "So? What? You pretended to be a mole so you would protect the emeralds?" Sonic said to Knuckles.
Knuckles shook his head slowly. "Sonic. First I saw this guy I knew he was bad. You didn't notice anything?" Knuckles still kept his smile from that weak laugh. Devoid of regret, Knuckles was simply amazed. "You won't be taking the emeralds Spyke. No matter what, I won't let you." Knuckles straightened his back and faces Spyke again. "So you tracked me. No big deal. Now you'll have to go through me!" Knuckles assumed the fighting stance and dust kicked up around him. Sonic joined in with Knuckles, wanting to help his friend at all cost. "Yeah. And this time, there's no way I'll be defeated again!" Spyke grinned. Another fight with these losers will be nothing. They are both toast.
"Hold it…" The dark figure finally spoke up after a long silence. Spyke flinched and turned around to the figure. "Wait up! Why don't I kill'em now. They ain't got a reason to live no more do they? They're nothing! Let me pound their brains out for the sake of running last time!"
The figure just walked past Spyke, stepping over the rubble that was once the stone door. "Hey! I'm talking to you! You said I can kill'em didn't you? You're bustin' my balls Vin-"
CRASH!! Spyke felt the side of him hitting the wall of the dome. His body was submersed in rock and rubble that covered every inch of him, except for his left leg sticking out from the pile. After the noise of the crash silenced, the dark figure put his right fist down and put it behind his back with his other arm. "Sebastian. Haven't I told you to leave this to me?" Sonic and Knuckles just froze. Spyke was the monster that messed them both up in a series of attacks and the dark man pushed him aside with just one fist. The two couldn't move or speak.
What? What the hell is this guy? How can he just punch Spyke so easily? Sonic's arms began to shake.
What the hell…I can't move my arms…Shit!
"Forgive me…" The figure said, "I believe we came at a bad start. My intentions aren't as evil ass you believe…" Knuckles finally was able to say something to the cloaked man, "Who…who the hell are you?"
The figure remained still, then his arms lifted up. Sonic and Knuckles readied themselves for a potential attack from the new enemy. But instead of causing harm, the left hand grabbed the zipper of the large turtleneck covering his face, and the right one took care of the hood. He then revealed his face to be that of a handsome canine with long blue-silver hair. The silver was seen at the tips of his hair. He had the muzzle of a wolf, and he had the white eyes of a ghost, or a powerful deity. His ears were perked up in a friendly gesture, but his expression showed no emotion.
"I am Lord Vincent of Requiem. I am the owner of the castle you were curious about."
Knuckles and Sonic couldn't believe it. The owner of the Castle of Requiem is no human, but a wolf. And Spyke must be his right hand man, or mercenary. Spyke rose from the pile of rocks and stood straight up with barely a scratch. "Jeez. You shoulda said so mate, instead of shove me. I got feelings too y'know?" Spyke walked back to Vincent's side still brushing off the dust and pebbles from his scarf.
"So," Knuckles said. "So you're the guy that lives in that huge castle right?" Vincent sighs, "Didn't I just inform you of that?" Sonic stepped up with another question. "And you were the one responsible for the explosion a couple days ago! Right?" Vincent brushes the hair from his face, looking like he didn't listen. Sonic tried again, with a louder voice. "Well!? Did you!?"
"I heard you the first time." Vincent said still getting his bangs out of his eyes. Sonic took a step and raised his fist.
"Answer me!!!" Sonic yelled.
Knuckles was about to tell Sonic to calm down but then Vincent came out with, "You. Echidna." Knuckles redirected his attention to Vincent, "What?" Vincent took a second to gaze at the emeralds. All seven of them glittered like diamonds fished out of spring water. Then Vincent turned to the Master Emerald, the jewel that created things both good and evil. It shined even brighter than the Chaos Emeralds. He could even see his reflection from a distance.
After a moment of silence, Vincent finally spoke, "These emeralds are widely demanded, are they not?" Knuckles looked puzzled, but kept listening. Sonic listened as well.
"They say these simple stones have unlimited power, that can be felt throughout the cosmos and beyond. Many people, no, many entities seek these stones for their personal gain. Or in your case, only use them to serve and protect these lands, because you follow the path of light. I stand for that exact purpose and follow the same path. I wish to use them for the greater good of all the races of the universe, at which includes yours, Echidna."
Knuckles eyes dilated. "What? My People?"
"Correct. My purpose is to restore the ancient races and technologies of archaic times. I wish to rebuild the long forgotten teachings of my people, to create a beacon that will draw in people's helping hands and awaken the light in their hearts. And lastly, decimate the darkness that sent me on this quest in the first place, the dark king. I have the power to change the history of my origin, and I can do the same for yours as well."
"Say what now?" Spyke asked with his arms folded as usual, but got no answer. Knuckles lowered his fists, going over each word that Vincent said. "You serious?"
"Yes Knuckles." Vincent replied, addressing Knuckles by his own name. "With the power of the emeralds, I can save the past, and make your future worth living. With that, the race of the newly formed echidnas will be forever protected…" Vincent's eyes glowed white with power.
"…under my rule."
Sonic turned to Knuckles and yelled, "Wait Knuckles! You don't know if this guy is telling the truth. Just look at him. He's terrifying. And he did say he was going to rule! There's no way that he means what he said! Knuckles! You can't just shake this guy's hand! Let's take him out before he-"
"Silence!" Vincent yelled out. Then at Sonic's feet, a cluster of ice shot up from the ground that could've skewered him if he hadn't jumped out of the way. Sonic skidded on the stone floor and assumed fighting stance. "You have no say in the matter hedgehog.
There are already more of you that I can put up with. You did not live alone like your friend. So keep your mouth shut before your race will be noted…as the first to go."
Sonic gritted his teeth. That's it! This guy is the main enemy! He has to be defeated!!! "As if!" Sonic yelled charging at the great wolf. Vincent's eyes glowed, "When will you be silenced!" then a wall of ice shot from the stone tiles and blocked Sonic's path to Vincent. On the other side of the wall, Vincent raised his fist and punched at the icy wall, shattering it to pieces and shooting out at Sonic.
Once the ice decimated on the wall of the dome, Sonic spun in the air shielding him from the larger chunks. He then landed on his feet, but fell to his knees in a second. Although he blocked the ice, the energy force of the punch still left cuts on him. Sonic looked to his left and saw Vincent standing right in front of Knuckles. Knuckles was already on his knees from the blast of ice that Vincent cast earlier. "Thousands of lives can be rebuilt, as well as their countless dreams. With my ancient ancestry, I can bring it all back from that fateful day that Chaos rained on your people. Knuckles. Will you trust me?"
Knuckles looked back up to Vincent like he was a real king. For his entire life, Knuckles thought of his people and what they were like back then. The men, women, children, and Tikal, could be restored if Knuckles was to leave the emeralds in the wolf's hands. His life will never be so lonesome.
"Knuckles!! Snap out of it!! He's going to trick you!! Knuckles." Just then, Sonic sensed another presence. Someone else was in the dome, but he could not see who it was. When he looked back at Knuckles he saw the wolf's right palm held out for him. "Join me, and the echidnas will be reawakened." Knuckles looked at Vincent with reassurance. It looked like he was falling for Vincent's tale. Then Knuckles' right hand rose to meet Vincent's in a handshake of trust.
Sonic ran out to the two, "Knuckles!! No!!!"
Then the island began to shake violently like an earthquake, and the emeralds were glowing brighter and brighter. Vincent and Spyke flinched from the continuing tremor, "What the hell's goin' on!!" Spyke yelled. Vincent looked at Sonic, "Tell me! What Magic is this?"
Knuckles then rose to his feet and faces the angry Vincent. "It's the defense mechanism for the emeralds. When one is taken from the shrine by greedy hands, all the other emeralds are to automatically retreat from the island, along with the master emerald. They will hide themselves around the world from harm, and you will never find them."
Vincent looked back at Knuckles with gritting teeth. "Say what echidna!?"
"I said, " Said Knuckles raising his fists, "You have failed!!!" Knuckles then sent Vincent into the opposite side of the dome with a charged punch. "Graaaagghhhh!!!!!!!" The tyrant slammed into an ice wall that caught him just in time. Spyke ran to Vincent to see if he was all right, and Sonic was too busy facing the hedgehog that stole one of the emeralds.
"You!! You were the bitch that cheated at our race!! What the hell are you doing with that Emerald!?" Sonic said to the girl hedgehog with the long ponytail. "Why do you care? It's mine now and you can't have it! Suck on that Blue Balls!!" The girl then charged at Sonic with a lightning fast jump kick. Sonic steps aside from her kick and left her flying toward the wall. But instead of crashing she stopped in midair, surrounded by blades of wind.
"Nice try boy. But I'm a bit smarter than that." Before she could turn around, Sonic landed a solid blow to her pretty face. The girl was left spinning in the air frantically before landing on the ground. "Are you sure about that?" Sonic said to the girl. With the girl on her back, Sonic came up and presses his right foot on her chest to hold her down. "Now! Hand over the emerald or I break every rib in your cute little body!" the girl struggled but managed to take a giant breath, "Will you ever stop talking about my body!?" Clutching the emerald in her right hand, she began to glow all over.
With a loud cry, her body exploded with a powerful energy field, sending Sonic into the air towards the ceiling. The girl stood up, staggering in the process. "W-what? What the hell? What the hell just happened?"
"…I…did that?"
The girl put her left hand to her heart to see if it was still beating. It was beating faster than ever. She then gazed at the emerald and all its beauty. "This thing. That girl was right…they ARE powerful." She then looked at the two wolves that were facing the red echidna. The quake was still shaking the island.
"There's more where that came from you faker!" Knuckles said with a fist burning in a red flame. The two rose from the icy wall that Vincent cast in time. "What the hell is happening you little punk!?" Spyke yelled out with his sharp teeth showing. "Right now. The emeralds are retreating, and at the same time, the island will fall to the ocean, and it's going to take us all down with it." Knuckles said to the wolves. Spyke gasped and looked at the emeralds. At that moment, the Chaos Emeralds blasted into the air and through the top of the dome. The master emerald simply vanished. "Damn it!! Damn it all to hell!!" Spyke said bolting for the door. But Knuckles swooped in front of him and kicked him 10 feet back to where he was. "There's no escape now. Your plans are as dead as you'll be."
Vincent stepped up to Knuckles, "You're forgetting something you fool. You will be going down with us!" he yelled at the echidna.
"Not on my watch!!" Sonic jumped up to Knuckles' side with one of the Chaos Emeralds, the green one of the seven. "What the hell? Sonic?" Knuckles said puzzled. Sonic then grabbed Knuckles' arm and yelled out, "Chaos Control!!" With those words, the two vanished from the island as quick as the emeralds. And now the girl, Vincent, and Spyke were left on the island to await their fate in the bottom of the sea.
"Oh god no! This can't be happening!!" yelled the girl, but the water of the great ocean already began to engulf the island.
From miles away on a cliff beside the ocean, Sonic and Knuckles watched as the island submerged into the darkness.
Parting is such sweet sorrow, thought KnucklesAs his home plunges into the ocean's painful grasp.
Sonic could only look on, but feel the same way of his longtime friend.
But this would not be the end of the story
Many things have gone unexplained, and the secret of the weapon of ancients,
Has yet to reveal itself…