Sonic The Hedgehog - Chaos on Mobius
4th Saga: The Solaris Merger

Episode 99

Previously on Sonic The Hedgehog - Chaos on Mobius...
After Sally jumped out of Eggman's pod, Sonic arrived just in time to catch her. Anticipating this, Eggman piloted his new Egg Beetle to fight Sonic, although Sonic smashed it with ease! As dozens of Eggman's robots closed in on them, Sonic took Sally into the Great Forest and managed to lose the robots.
Meanwhile, Shadow and Silver had a pretty intense fight, before they unintentionally created a space-time rift that lead them to what happened seven years ago! After discovering that both Eggman and Eggman Nega were the only people involved with the Solaris Project, Shadow and Silver ran after Mephiles and Iblis, who were attempting to escape.
How long will Sally stay safe this time? Will Sonic ever catch a break? And can Shadow & Silver seal away Mephiles and Iblis? Find out in the next chapter of The Solaris Merger!

Chapter Ten: The Sealing of Mephiles and Iblis

As Sonic ran through the Great Forest with Sally in hand in the late afternoon, a wave of relief washed over them both.
"Looks like we lost them." Sally pointed out. "Just like you said."
"I know I'm brilliant." Sonic replied, with confidence.
"I'm sure you do..." There was an awkward moment when the two looked into each other's eyes.
"Uhh... Sal, I think you'd better lay low at Castle Acorn for a while..." Sonic told her.
"Yeah. That's not a bad idea..." All of a sudden, Sonic started running on a path that Sally failed to recognize... "Sonic, Castle Acorn is that way."
"I know." Was all Sonic said, making Sally a little grumpy... until she saw a lake filled with amazingly clear water, a handful of Chao flying around, and flower petals flowing through the air. This sight filled her with incredible joy as Sonic put her down on the ground. "I just wanted to show you the Lake of Rings before I dropped you off."
"It's so beautiful..." She said as she felt the flower petals fall onto her hands. "But... why is it called the Lake of Rings?" Sonic then pointed to a light in the center of the lake that had suddenly appeared. Seconds later, a Ring flew up high out of the water, and allowed the sun to reflect its light off of it before it fell back into the lake.
"That's why." Sonic replied as he walked closer to Sally, as she sat on the ground, hugging a Chao. "*sigh* I've known about this place for a long time. Ever since my mom showed it to me when I was five, it's been my own little slice of Angelic Chaotica." Sonic then sat down next to Sally, and started to blush... "It's also somethin' I... I wanna share with you, Sal."
"Wow." She said as she wrapped her arms around Sonic's left arm. "I had no idea that you could be this sweet, Sonic."
"...Think maybe we could keep that little fact about me between us?" Asked Sonic. Sally then kissed Sonic on the mouth.
"It'll be our little secret. Just like the Lake of Rings." Both Sonic and Sally held each other close as they watched the sun set over the Great Forest and the lake, while the Chao continued to play.

Seven years in the past, Shadow was chasing a black goo through the laboratory of Mercia.
"Mephiles, I won't let you escape!" He shouted, before the black substance left small parts of itself behind that formed into monsters that resembled the creatures in the future, but were filled with darkness instead of lava... and seemed stronger... Shadow tried a Homing Attack on the dog-like creature, but it was still standing with half of its energy. "Chaos... SPEAR!" Shadow then stabbed the monster in the head, using the Chaos Spear he had summoned. Continuing onward, Shadow couldn't help but look at the design of the base he was inside of. "Hmm... this base... it seems a little too advanced for the Doctor..." Shadow stopped when he saw four bubbles of the same dark substance that quickly morphed into bird-like creatures in front of him. Only these spat large orbs of dark energy at Shadow. Shadow then threw two Chaos Spears at the two creatures in front of him, then quickly threw two more to the other two that were on either side of him! "Hah, you think that those attacks are gonna keep me away?" The ooze slid through the fifty wooden crates blocking Shadow's path. Not even thinking of giving up, Shadow Spin Dashed through the crates, cornering the black substance.

Mephiles tried to move through the edges of the base, but they were sealed shut, allowing Shadow to reveal his Chaos Emerald and the rod he received from Dr. Eggman.
"Chaos CONTROL!" He shouted, causing the goo to flash purple as it experienced pain.
"What? Stop." It said to Shadow with a voice that the black hedgehog knew all too well... But it didn't faze him, as he had the rod start to float above him. "Who... who are... you?"
"I'm Shadow." He replied. "Shadow the Hedgehog. The Ultimate Lifeform."
"Shadow... your face... your form... I will remember..." The slime told Shadow as it started to flow into the rod. "Your death... certain. You... will DIE!" As all of the ooze seeped into the rod, it fell down to the ground and started to emit a dark aura before Shadow picked it up, and realized something...

Meanwhile, Silver was chasing the living flame that was flying through a different part of the base, and summoning familiar-looking beasts to hold off the hedgehog.
"Get back here, Iblis!" He angrily shouted after he defeated the Iblis Takers with their own attacks. Running around, Silver seemed to recognize the location... "Huh. This sure seems like the type of base Eggman Nega would use... but what's it doing here in the past? Heck, what's he doing here in the past?" Suddenly, an Iblis Worm appeared from the floor, startling Silver and making him jump back. The worm then spat a lava-ball, but Silver threw it right back with Psychokinesis! Arriving in a large room, Silver had trouble looking for Iblis, as three golem creatures were blocking his path. The middle one tried to throw a large lava-ball at Silver, but thanks to the hedgehog's Psychokinesis, it was thrown right back in its face, destroying it! "And you two?" One of the others tried throwing another lava-ball of the same size, while the last one tried to disable Silver by smacking him into the ground. Silver dodged the attack and threw the ball in the ground-slammer's face, which knocked the other one over, destroying them both!

Seeing the flames fly into a room, Silver quickly followed. When he walked into the room, he found the flames in the form of a Mobian cat girl... and she looked frightened.
"Huh? ...Iblis?" He asked, feeling confused.
"Please, stop!" Begged the flaming cat.
"I-I don't wanna hurt you..." Said Silver, walking closer.
"Don't come any closer!" Iblis shouted in fear. "I don't want to merge with Mephiles! I want to be a good girl!" This made Silver gasp in realization, as he remembered what he had heard about Iblis, Mephiles and the Iblis Trigger...
"...maybe there's a way to stop Iblis without destroying her..." Said Flare, as Silver remember when he first travelled to the past.
"King Sonic the Hedgehog is the greatest leader this world has ever known!" Lara-Su told him, as he remembered when they first met.
"Mephiles isn't trying to help you create a better future..." Shadow told Silver, as the young hedgehog remembered what happened after that fight. "He's trying to eliminate the past."
"(So Mephiles was just using me...)" Silver thought, before he held his head in regret. "*groan* (WHY did I listen to him?)"
"Wait... you're not Dr. Nega..." Said Iblis, getting Silver's attention.
"Huh? No, I'm not." Silver told her as he got closer. "My name is Silver... and I want to help you..." Before Silver could try to touch Iblis, her flames started to brighten, causing her great pain.

"Stop! Stay away from that inferno!" Shouted a familiar voice. When Silver turned around, he saw Eggman Nega holding an unconscious cat girl in his arms. "She needs to be sealed within this girl." That was when Silver stepped in front of Iblis, and prepared to use his Psychokinesis on the Overlander.
"Forget it, Eggman Nega." He told him. "I'm not letting you get anywhere near Iblis!"
"You don't understand, boy." Nega replied. "If Iblis isn't sealed within Princess Blaze here soon, the Flames of Disaster shall awaken! Do you want that?"
"...no. Of course not." Said Silver, before directing his Psychokinesis at Iblis, frightening her.
"Wha- what are you doing?" She asked.
"Iblis... you want to be a good girl, right?" Silver asked back, to which Iblis nodded. "Then you'll have to let me and Eggman Nega seal you within the Princess."
"Okay, Silver." Iblis replied as she layed back, allowing Silver's Psychokinesis to flow all around her. "I trust you." Silver then nodded at Eggman Nega, who placed Blaze on the table in the center of the room.
"Eternal Sun..." Said Nega. "...the living flame entrusted to the royal family... fall into slumber with a royal soul!" With those words and Silver's Psychokinesis to guide her, Iblis' flames flowed into Blaze's body without a fight. Once they were completely sealed, Nega fainted, revealing a Time Stone.
"A Time Stone!" Exclaimed Silver, before he picked it up. "It's better I have it than he does..." Silver than looked at Blaze, and decided to pick her up and make his way out of the lab. "I'd better get you two someplace safe..."

Later, Shadow had exited the lab, and found Silver holding a Mobian.
"Did you do it?" Silver asked the black hedgehog, but he was distracted by who Silver was holding...
"(Blaze?)" He thought.
"Well, Shadow?"
"Y-yes." Shadow eventually replied. "And you?"
"Yes. The flames are properly sealed." Said Silver, before he layed Blaze down against a nearby tree, giving Shadow the opportunity to leave the rod next to Blaze. "You're going to leave it behind?"
"Yes. I already know what becomes of it in the future." Shadow replied, before revealing his Chaos Emerald. "It's time to return."
"Yes, of course." Said Silver as he got to his feet and revealed the blue Time Stone he had. "Chronos..."
"Chaos..."
"...CONTROL!" Shadow and Silver had once again created a space-time rift that Shadow instantly jumped through. Silver was just about to follow when...
"Hey, Mister!" Shouted a young girl's voice. When Silver turned around, he saw a young squirrel girl running towards him, before she pointed to Blaze. "What happened to Blaze?"
"Oh. Don't worry, she'll be fine." Silver told her. "Although, could you hold onto this for me?" Silver then hands the girl the Time Stone he was holding.
"Sure. What is it?" She asked. Silver just pat her on the head.
"You'll find out in time." Silver replied with a smile on his face. "Until then, keep it as a lucky charm." Waving at the girl, Silver jumped through the rift before it disappeared, leaving the girl to look at the Time Stone and Blaze...

Back in the present day (or should that be night), Shadow had returned to Station Square through the space-time rift.
"You're back sooner than I expected..." Said a familiar voice. When Shadow stood up, he saw Rouge waving at him, before pointing at the Emerald Coast. "Omega's still in pursuit of Mephiles. So... what'd you find seven years ago?"
"I need you to access GUN's database." Shadow told her. "Specifically, find out what materials the Scepter of Darkness was made from."
"Sure..." Rouge replied. "But you haven't answered my question yet..." Before Rouge knew it, Shadow had disappered, then reappeared with the Scepter of Darkness in hand.
"I've found the means to seal Mephiles." Said Shadow, before walking towards the Emerald Coast with Rouge following him.

At dawn, the Egg Carrier 2 was seen floating above Knothole, and it terrified most of the Mobians in the Kingdom.
"Princess Sally Alicia Acorn." Said Dr. Eggman via loudspeaker. "You have tried my patience long enough. Meet me at the specified point between the Great Plains and the Great Desert at 4pm today. Failure to do so on time will result in my levelling of the Great Forest, so that nothing but ashes remain!" Watching the Egg Carrier 2 flying above Knothole was Sally and her brother King Elias from her bedroom.
"*sigh* I guess I have no choice..." Sally said as she started to leave her room, but Elias blocked her path.
"Sally, wait!" He said. "It doesn't have to be like this. I-I'll rally the Royal Guard and fend that monster off!" As Sally placed her hand on her brother's shoulder, she shook her head.
"It won't work, Elias..." She told him. "The only people who could help me now are the Freedom Fighters... but I can't ask for their help now..."
"Maybe you can't ask them, sister..." Said Elias as Sally walked further and further away. "...but I can..."

END OF CHAPTER