SONIC HEROES: THE SERIES
Now begins Part 2 of 3 in the Sol Emerald Saga.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Heart and Sol, Part 2
Twenty miles west they traveled and the heroes have yet to find this 'Coral Cave'. It was a half-hour since they suffered their most humiliating defeat at the hands of the ridiculous pirate themed villain, Captain Whisker. Marine was at the helm, whistling randomly. Tails was hanging over the side; he had just discovered he had sea sickness. Blaze, on the other hand, had not moved from the bow since the start of the journey. She looked out to the open water, hoping to see land soon. Silver took one glance to her before he walked up to Marine.
"Hey, what's up with Blaze?" Silver asked.
"I don't really know, mate." Marine said honestly.
"Then do you at least know what the Jeweled Scepter is?" Silver asked.
"Blaze told me once, but I didn't really understand." Marine said curiously. "What, she didn't tell you? I thought she would have told you something about it, mate."
"I thought so, too." Silver said. He stared longingly at Blaze. "But ever since we showed up here, I'm starting to doubt our relationship."
"Don't do that, mate!" Marine cried; she let go of the wheel, causing it to jerk slightly to the right. Blaze staggered and Tails fell in the water. Marine realized this and regained control of the ship. "Sorry."
"Keep an eye on where we're going." Blaze said as she pulled Tails back in.
"Ok." Marine said before rounding to Silver. "Silver, you shouldn't doubt what you and Blaze have, mate."
"But there's so much she hasn't told me." Silver said insecurely. "So many secrets she's kept from me."
"That shouldn't matter!" Marine exclaimed. "Do you love her, mate?"
"Yes." Silver answered.
"Does she love you?" Marine asked.
"Yes." Silver answered.
"Then that should be enough." Marine stated. "As long as you love each other, you know everything about each other, mate."
"Wow, Marine, that was very insightful." Silver said impressed.
"Thanks, mate. Want a taco?" Marine said; pulling a taco out of thin air.
"Where'd you get that?" Silver questioned.
"Hey, who took my taco?" Tails asked.
Silver shook his head as Tails resumed his usual position and Marine ate his taco. The rest of the trip, Silver sat back with is gaze fixated on Blaze's still form. Marine was right. Silver loves Blaze and that's all that should matter. But still, Silver couldn't help but feel that Blaze didn't trust him enough.
"Stop!" Blaze screamed; she raised her hand to signal Marine.
Marine hit the brake and the ship came to a sudden halt; Tails and Silver fell on their faces.
"I think I'm going to me sick." Tails moaned; his face slightly green.
"What's up, mate?" Marine asked.
"The cave." Blaze muttered. "What happened to the cave?"
Struggling a little, Silver pulled himself up to the side of the ship. Silver could see why Blaze was concerned. They were in the ocean, miles away from civilization, and the supposed cave was nowhere to be found.
"Oh, you meant 'that' cave." Marine said. Silver and Blaze looked curiously at the young girl; Tails was still sea sick. "I forgot to tell you. Two years ago, your parents died..."
"Good riddance." Blaze said disdainfully under her breath.
"...And the cave sank to the bottom of the ocean shortly after." Marine explained.
"That would explain why Whisker used sol control." Blaze stated.
"What is sol control, anyway?" Tails asked, finally recovered from his sea sickness after the ship stopped.
"Sol control is similar to chaos control." Blaze explained. "But instead of stopping time, it opens direct channels to the location of the user's desire. I used it when I fled this dimension."
"But if the cave is at the bottom of the sea, how do we get to the Jeweled Scepter?" Silver asked.
"Already taken care of, mate." Marine stated cheerfully. The others looked hopeful. "After the cave sank, some of my koala friends found a way to bring it back."
"How do we do it?" Blaze asked.
"First we need to find the island. I'll take us there, mate." Marine said.
Marine jerked the ship to the left; Tails falling back to his usual position. Not far from their point, Marine anchored the ship on a nearby deserted island. the crew jumped ship and Tails even kissed the ground. Marine walked the team up the side of the hill where they found a small alter with multiple holes punctured in it and a pile of small stones stacked on top.
"Is this it?" Tails asked.
"Yep!" Marine cheered.
"So how does it work?" Blaze asked.
"Hmm...I forgot." Marine stated. Everyone facefaulted. Marine ponder curiously as she leaned against the alter. "Was I supposed to get something first or maybe..."
But while Marine leaned into the alter, it somehow moved forward. Marine fell to the ground and the every one of the stones miraculously fell inside the holes. Suddenly, the island started rattling out of control.
"That can't be good!" Silver exclaimed.
"Earthquake!!" Marine screamed; jumping on Tails face.
--Meanwhile--
Whoever you are, stay away from my Tails!!" Cream screamed into the sky.
--Back with the Heroes--
Tails fell on his back from the sudden weight. Silver dropped to his knees to maintain control and Blaze inserted her claws into a tree to stand up straight. During all this, Silver saw something beginning to rise out of the water not far from them. It definitely looked like an opening to a cave. It held a circular stone entrance covered in algae and coral most likely obtained from the years of being at the bottom of the ocean. Once it had fully risen, the shaking island had clamed.
"What is that?" Tails asked.
"Bonza! Once again, I, Marine the Raccoon, have saved the day!" Marine cheered eagerly.
"Uh...right." Silver said awkwardly.
"Whisker is in there along with the Jeweled Scepter." Blaze stated. "I must stop him before he destroys the balance."
"Before we go, don't you think we should know what we're looking for?" Tails asked.
"There's no time for that!" Blaze growled. Tails trembled behind Silver. "We have to stop him before he gets the Scepter!"
"You're not going to tell us?" Silver questioned seriously. Blaze ignored him and walked away. "Does that mean you don't trust us?"
Blaze instantly stopped at the word and turned back, looking slightly hurt. She knew that she had been keeping this secret from Silver ever since they met. But Silver had always been honest with her, why couldn't she? Blaze sighed heavily.
"The Jeweled Scepter is legendary object created before recorded history." Blaze explained. "No one knows where it came from or how it was created, only that it held terrible powers. For you see, whoever controls the scepter controls the world."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Tails asked.
"I didn't want to push my burden on you." Blaze said sadly.
"Aw, don't be a steckybeak, Blaze." Marine said happily.
"What's a steckybeak?" Silver asked; Tails shrugged.
"We're all friends." Marine stated. "We'll always be there for you."
"She's right, you know?" Tails said.
"But this isn't your world." Blaze stated.
"No, but it is yours." Silver said. "We'll be there to protect it because you are important to all of us, Blaze. Especially me."
"T-thank you." Blaze stammered embarrassingly.
Her spirits held high, Blaze could stand pridefully alongside her friends. The crew made their way back to the ship; Tails resumed his position on the side. Marine quickly took the helm and wheeled it back around towards Coral Cave. They soon departed; Tails had to stop for a moment, and entered the cave mouth. The most fascinating sight awaited them inside the cave. The walls of the cave, from top to bottom, were covered in jewels of every shape, size, and type.
"Whoa! Rouge would have a field day with this place." Tails said in awe.
"She can have them." Blaze said. "Jewels are very common in this dimension. So common, in fact, they are used for building material."
"People build things from jewels?" Tails asked. Blaze nodded. "Wow."
"I bet I'd have a better view up here." Maine said as she climbed up the jeweled wall.
"Marine, be careful." Blaze said like a mother to her child.
"Don't worry, mate!" Marine called down. "There ain't nothing I – AHH!"
Marine grabbed a large ruby and fell through the wall. The others could hear Marine's body tumble on the other side of the wall and hit the ground with a loud thud. They pressed their ears along to the side and sighed in relief when they heard Marine mumble something about 'red rocks' and 'dingoladites'.
"Marine, are you ok?!" Silver shouted.
"Crikey! You have to see this!" Marine called back.
The trio looked at each other with bewildered expressions. Tails circled his namesake to fly upwards while Silver levitated himself and Blaze with his telekinetic powers. Tails was the first to go through the hole and land next to Marine, followed by Blaze and Silver. Marine pointed forward to redirect their attention. There, they found seven square-cut gems hovering in the air, each of different color: red, blue, yellow, purple, light-blue, green, and white. Just below them was a staff with a head covered in jewels and a circular hole in the center.
"The Jeweled Scepter!" Blaze exclaimed.
"But where's Whisker?" Silver asked as he searched the area.
"Be looking for me, Are ye?!"
Silver and Blaze pulled their younger allies back as a rocket fist flew past them and back to Whisker's arm, who was now standing in front of the emeralds with Johnny.
"Whisker!" Blaze growled.
"Ahoy, ye filthy bilge rats." Whisker greeted. "It warms me heart to see you witness my moment of triumph."
"As if." Silver said in spite. "The only thing you triumph in is having a bad accent."
"He's got you there, cap'n." Johnny sniggered. Whisker bashed him over the head. "Ow! Cranky."
"What do you plan to do, anyway?" Blaze questioned.
"Avast, ye wench." Whisker said. Tails and Marine held Silver back again. "Ye won't live long enough to find out. Johnny, join me so that we may rid ourselves of these pests."
"Uh-uh! No way! I still have the burns on my butt from last time! Your own your own pal!" Johnny exclaimed as he turned and zoomed down the cave. "Later!"
"Ye coward!" Whisker screamed.
"Looks like it's just us." Silver smirked.
"Very well." Whisker said surprisingly energetic. "Allow me to show ye the power of the Pirate King!"
--Somewhere in the Caribbean--
"Kill him, Silver!" Gale yelled.
"Who are you talking to?" Wrist asked frightfully.
"I have no idea." Gale said confused.
--Back with the Heroes--
Whisker held his arms forward and shot out both his fists like rockets. Silver and Blaze rolled away while Tails and Marine dropped to the floor. The rocket fists went through the walls as Silver charged forward at Whisker with his hands glowing bright. He was only a foot away when one of Whisker's fist jumped out of the floor and slammed into Silver's jaw. Silver fell on his back, his mouth bleeding slightly, as Whisker reattached his arm. Blaze jumped from the back and tried to kick him when Whisker's other fist caught her leg and threw her to the wall before reattaching itself.
"Had enough, wench?" Whisker asked Blaze tauntingly.
"You know, I am really sick of you calling her that!" Silver growled.
"I'll call her whatever I wish." Whisker stated, his arm held forward. "And there is nothing ye can do about it."
Whisker launched his left fist forward to Silver, but the grey hedgehog already beat him to it. Silver held his hand forward, stopping Whisker's fist in midair. Silver clasped his fist and crushed Whisker's into a useless scrap.
"Hey! I be needing that!" Whisker cried.
"Yeah? What are you going to do about it?" Silver grinned.
Whisker was furious and he had a way of expressing it. Whisker threw his head back and shot it forward to eject a jet of flame from his mouth. Silver was not expecting this, but reacted it time to roll away. Unfortunately, the fire managed to burn his left leg severely. Silver winced and hissed in pain, trying to mend the burn with his powers. Whisker, however, was no going to give him the opportunity. He reeled his head back again and shot the flames once more. This time Silver had no chance of escape. Just when Silver seemed doomed to death, Blaze jumped in and took the hit.
"Blaze!" Marine cried.
"That's the end of her." Whisker stated. Suddenly, he noticed Silver chuckling. "What are ye smirking about?"
"You just made a big mistake." Silver grinned.
True to Silver's words, The flames that engulfed Blaze was being redirected and Blaze remained unharmed. Blaze recalled Whisker's fire into her hands above her head to form a gigantic fireball. Whisker scamper back in terror, but Marine was crouching behind him to trip him over. Once Marine had cleared away, Blaze unleashed her fire and hit him square in the chest. Whisker's chest was blown wide open and thrown back to the Jeweled Scepter.
"Strewth! That was amazing, Blaze!" Marine cheered.
"Perfect as always." Silver complimented while Blaze lifted his arm over her shoulders.
"This isn't over." Whisker groaned as he stood. He quickly grabbed the Jeweled Scepter and raised over his head. "With the Jeweled Scepter, I cannot lose!"
"No! Don't!" Blaze exclaimed
Whisker twirled the Scepter over his head and slammed the bottom to the ground. A few silent seconds passed; everyone waiting for something to happen. But noting did.
"Uh...is this thing working right?" Whisker asked. Whisker slammed it again, but still nothing happened. "Why isn't this confounded thing working?!"
"Isn't something supposed to happen?" Silver asked bewildered.
"Maybe he did something wrong." Blaze said, equally confused.
Whisker slammed the Jeweled Scepter like a raving monkey, but nothing happened. Taking this momentary distraction, Tails reached into the backpack he had with him and pulled out a set of gold rings. He threw the rings and exploded on Whisker, knocking him to the wall, sending the Scepter out of his hands. Marine caught the Scepter and Whisker weakly stood up.
"I don't understand." Whisker said. "He said it would work."
"Who said it would work?" Tails asked.
"The one who assigned me this mission." Whisker explained. "The one who told me the secrets of the emeralds and the Jeweled Scepter."
"Who is he?" Blaze questioned.
"Ugh, his name is..."
Before Whisker could finish, a bolt of black lightning struck his head. Whisker's entire upper body was blow off and the rest fell back. At the same time, all seven sol emeralds suddenly vanished. Blaze would have questioned the disappearance, but her mind was on the destruction of Whisker. The four scanned for any signs of the attacker, but found nothing.
"What happened, mate?" Marine asked shakily.
"I don't know." Tails said. "But whoever attacked him obviously didn't want us to find out."
"What do we do know?" Silver asked.
"There's nothing we can do but return to Southern Island to regroup." Blaze explained.
The others agreed with Blaze's plan. While Silver, Blaze, and Tails returned to the ship, Marine set the Jeweled Scepter back in its proper place. A moment before she turned, she thought she saw a pair of eerie blue eyes. She did a double take, but didn't see anything unusual. Marine skipped back to the ship and steered it back home; Tails resumed his normal position. But back in the cave, Johnny heard the commotion end and returned to check up on the fight. imagine his surprise when he found only half of Whisker's body lying on the ground.
"What happened? Did they do this?" Johnny asked. While Johnny inspected the remains of his captain, a low, ferocious growl echoed against the cave walls. "What was that?"
Johnny jumped to his feet and prepared to fight for his life. Too bad it ended shortly after a pair of steel jaws snapped over his head.
A half-hour later, Marine landed the ship on the docks, literally. Marine was apologizing to her koala friends for destroying it, Tails was kissing the sand; a crab grabbing his tongue, while Blaze and Silver rested under the shade of a palm tree.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." Blaze said suddenly. Silver looked at her confused. "About my past."
"It's ok." Silver said reassuringly. "You didn't want to talk about it. I understand."
"You still had a right to know." Blaze said.
"Blaze, I love you and you love me." Silver said fondly. "That's all I need to know. Marine told me that."
"She's very smart for her age." Blaze chuckled. "I think Cream might have some competition."
The two lovers enjoyed the moment together, which was ruined when the island was shaken by a sudden earthquake. Silver and Blaze quickly jumped up; Silver winced slightly from his bandaged leg. Tails joined them with Marine clutched to his face.
"Earthquake!!" Marine screamed.
"Where is it coming from?" Blaze questioned. "Earthquakes are not common in these parts."
"Perhaps I can explain."
Suddenly, a thin coil jumped out of the water and knocked Tails and Marine to the side. the coil whipped across Silver's face and threw him back away from Blaze. The coil returned to the water and a monstrous figure emerged from the depths and onto the beach. Blaze now came face-to-face with the dragon-faced, time rogue: Future Mecha. Blaze was slightly taken back by his appearance and even more by what he was holding. In one claw, he held the seven sol emeralds. In the other, the Jeweled Scepter.
"Who are you?" Blaze questioned furiously.
"Now, now, princess. No need to get hasty." Future Mecha chuckled. "I come from the future, from Silver's time period to be exact. You may remember me as Mecha Shadow."
"Mecha Shadow?" Silver questioned as he limped forward. "What happened to you?"
"The centuries have been good to me." Future Mecha said maliciously.
"What do you want?" Blaze questioned.
What I want is something only you can provide me, princess." Mecha stated. "I think it's time you knew the truth about the emeralds."
The servants have fallen and the master emerges. Why did the Jeweled Scepter fail? What secret does Future Mecha know about the Sol Emeralds? And what does Blaze possess that he needs? Find out on the next Sonic Heroes!
Please, read and review.