Notes: We were all excited when this happened

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Ch. 6: Something new, something annoying, and something powerful

Down they fell, deep into the underground. Until at last, they hit something. It was a slippery, green ramp.

"What in the world?"

"Just hang on, Tails!"

They slid down until they landed on solid rock.

"Not too soft of a landing, but we did it."

It was a vast cave with waterfalls in the distance.

"This place is so…shiny. It's obviously old, but it looks so new."

"Come on, Tails. We didn't come all this way just to look at it."

The area looked like someone stuck green jewels into almost everything. They crossed a bridge made of them, and it shined as they walked across.

"This place looks amazing!"

"You don't have to tell me twice, buddy."

They were so caught up in the sights, they didn't notice the sudden drop. They barely had time to react when they landed on a water slide.

"Talk about a great design."

"This is fun, pal, but a water slide means there's more water."

Sure enough, they were sent flying into an underground pool. Sonic rolled his eyes as he began to look for a way out, but suddenly, something appeared. It was a pair of jellyfish Badniks called Jellies. They were slowly floating towards them. When they got close enough, Sonic destroyed one. The other Badnik managed to grab Tails in its tentacles. It then began flashing, like it was about to explode. Sonic moved as fast as he could in water to jump at the Badnik and take it out before it could. Tails gestured to the surface. Sonic nodded and pointed forward. They climbed up some rocks to get to the surface.

"What a relief," Tails said.

"Don't relax yet, pal."

A small Badnik called Redz came walking towards them. As it got closer, it opened its mouth and began breathing fire.

"Well that's somewhat creative," Sonic conceded.

Then a swarm of large bat Badniks called BBat flew down from the ceiling.

"Bats? It's been done."

As if that wasn't enough, a Triceratops Badnik with wheels instead of legs called Stegway came up from behind.

"I guess this cave isn't that much of a secret, Sonic."

"Well it's time for a clean-up."

Sonic began spin dashing. Then in a flash, he slammed into every Badnik in the vicinity.

"That was amazing, Sonic."

"It's all down to practice, old chum. I know Eggman's here. Let's go find him."

Deeper into the cavern they went, until at last they came across something unlikely.

"Sonic, look at that huge emerald!"

It was indeed a large, dull green emerald. Sonic took a closer look.

"It's fake."

"What?"

"Observe, pal."

Sonic did a spin jump onto the emerald and shattered it. There was in fact a spring underneath.

"Well that was weird."

"Yeah. Let's keep going, Tails."

They then came to a much larger cavern.

"Sonic, is this huge thing a pipe organ?"

"You are correct, fox boy!"

The Eggmobile was outfitted to look like a cross between a trombone and a tuba.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen."

"You won't think so when I've played a few bars! You also might want to watch out for water."

Sonic quickly looked down to see the water level had risen, but not high enough to even graze his shoes. The doctor played four descending notes. The reverb caused four spiked balls to fall into the water. They floated on the surface, like mines, drifting close as the water inexplicably rose and fell. They then disappeared in small explosions.

"Very good, Sonic, but let's see how you like this music piece!"

The doctor play a very long, deep note. Rocks and stalactites fell from the ceiling. The duo dodged the debris, but then another large mine fell into the water. This one started to follow Sonic around. Meanwhile, Robotnik was laughing it up.

"Try to outrun it, Sonic!"

The mine began blinking, which of course meant it was about to explode. Sonic got an idea. He ran right underneath the Eggmobile. Just as the mine caught up to him, it went off. This explosion was much bigger. It caused a large spout of water to rise up and strike the mobile.

"What in world was-Waugh!"

The mobile fell to the ground.

"Now, Tails!"

The duo started smashing up the mobile. Robotnik was frantically pressing buttons, and then the boosters started back up. The mobile was flying overhead again.

"Don't be a music hater, Sonic," Robotnik joked as he began playing again.

Sonic and Tails avoided the mines.

"I love good music, Eggman. That's why I'm trying to stop you."

The doctor smirked, and then played the deep note again. Again, Sonic maneuvered the mine to explode under the Eggmobile. The duo quickly bashed the mobile as it fell to the ground again. The mobile could take no more, and the attachments fell apart.

"You win this round, Sonic, but I found out all I need to know. There's nothing but fake emeralds in here."

The doctor hightailed it out of there.

"He's right, Sonic, these are all fake."

"Maybe so, but there's something about this place. Like there's something special about it."

"It does seem like there was once something hidden here, but now I think we should just find a way out."

"I guess so, but I…"

Suddenly, the Chaos Emeralds began to vibrate.

"Why'd you stop, Sonic?"

"The Chaos Emeralds are —"

Then all seven floated into the air and began spinning. They were all glowing brightly.

"Sonic, what's going on?!"

Sonic seemed mesmerized by the Emeralds. Then there was a brilliant flash of light. Sonic thought he saw images in the light. There was a large, green emerald and a shining figure of gold. He then felt someone shaking him.

"Sonic, snap out of it."

Sonic shook his head, "I was on a snooze cruise, I guess."

"It looked more like a trance to me."

"I did see something…something to do with the Chaos Emeralds."

"Like what?"

"This place was once a Hidden Palace for the Emeralds. What's the magic ring number?"

"Fifty."

"Let's keep moving and I think we'll find out more."

The duo found their way out of the Hidden Palace and back in Mystic Cave. Thankfully they were very close to the exit. It seemed they were down in the cave longer than expected. The sun had already risen over the new landscape, which now lay before them: a vast desert.

"There's a desert on this island too? And here I though South Island was weird."

"With such a wide open space to run, now's the perfect time to get all the rings we need, Sonic."

"Right, pal. Let's go!"

They sped off through the desert, destroying Badniks along the way.

"All this sand is annoying," Sonic said while brushing himself off, "I think I'll call this place Dust Hill."

"Quite apropos, Sonic."

When they ran through one loop, it led them into the underground again.

"Sonic…this is incredible."

In the greatest contrast ever, while the above ground was a dry desert, the deep underground was covered in ice.

"How is this even possible?"

"Tails, what have I told you?"

"Don't question it?"

"Exactly. Now how many more rings do we need?"

"Only one more to go."

Sonic did a quick look around.

"There we are."

Sonic reached out to touch it.

"Sonic, are you sure you should?"

"…no."

Sonic grabbed the ring and…

"Nothing happened."

"Oh well. It was worth a shot."

"Maybe you have to do something else."

"Like what? Take a running leap and focus on the Emeralds like this?"

*BOOM*

Tails got up off the ground. What he saw was not what he was expecting.

"Sonic…is that you?"

Sonic's fur was now glowing bright gold, and his spikes were sticking upwards. His eyes had even changed color.

"It's me alright, buddy, and I feel the need for speed. Let's go!"

He grabbed a hold of Tails and sped away. His body wasn't even touching the ground.

"Sonic," Tails said as loud as he could without yelling, "This has to be because of the Chaos Emeralds. How do you feel?"

"I feel…super!"

The desert felt a lot smaller at the speed they were going.

"It looks like we're almost out of the desert. Maybe you should slow down."

"I would if I could, but I can't!"

Just then, he felt the power disappearing. He started to slow down, until he finally came to a stop.

"What happened?"

Sonic was trying to catch his breath, "Outta…rings…"

"Of course! The rings and the Emeralds are connected. Like you guessed, fifty rings triggered the transformation."

"I felt the rings…disappearing…as I ran."

"Something that powerful would drain you, I'm sure. No rings, no more super mode."

"Super mode?"

"There's no other way to put it. You went…Super Sonic."

Sonic shrugged, "Why not? I like it."

"Look around us, Sonic. We're out of Dust Hill."

"Good, because there was no scenery there worth seeing."

"I think we better get you something to eat."

A little later

"I feel better."

"I'll bet. Now where are we?"

Something large loomed in the distance.

"I think I recognize this place. Ready to go, Sonic?"

"Tails, right now I feel like I could take on Eggman's entire empire. Let's go!"