SONIC HEROES: THE SERIES
Chapter Forty-One: Two for One
Today was actually a dull day for our heroes. Eggman was gone for a week because he decided to take a vacation. Before leaving, he left Bokkun in charge of the black clones. He must have been drunk. They had at least expected Nazo to send a monster to steal them emeralds from them, but nothing of the sort happened. Nazo was up to something
The scene starts out at the Sonic Heroes base. Kumori was sitting on the couch in front of the TV; her brain rotting from watching three hours of mindless commercials. Then Amy walked in.
"Hey, Kumori, have you seen..." Amy began when she noticed Kumori's stupefied expression. "Hello! Anyone in there?!"
But Kumori remained impassive. She was so bored from the lack of action, she felt as if she could die on the spot. She was watching a commercial for deodorant when the set was crushed by a giant hammer. Kumori snapped back to reality instantly.
"That's the fourth one you've destroyed this week." Kumori sighed; picking up the broken set and threw it in a closet filled with other broken televisions. "Is there a reason you're destroying property...again."
"Yes!" Amy snapped. "I've been looking for Sonic all day and I can't find him anywhere!"
"Sonic?" Kumori scratched her head in thought. "Oh yeah! He left with Shadow hours ago."
"What?!" Amy screamed. "But he promised we would spend the day together! When I get my hands on him, he's dead meat! What could be more important then spending quality time with me?!"
"I have no idea." Kumori said nervously; even she wasn't dumb enough to argue with Amy when she's mad. "But it is strange. They took the chaos emeralds with them. I wonder what they're up to."
The scene changes to a mountainous region surround by a forest. Sudden, a ray of light shined miles into the forest. The light turned into a nuclear explosion that wiped out everything within a three mile radius. A crater formed in its place; Sonic and Shadow standing in the center. They panted heavily from exhaustion, clutching the green and white emeralds in there hands.
"Hey - Shad." Sonic gasped. "Do – you think – we could – take a break?"
"No." Shadow groaned; the muscles in his legs were contracting. "No, we have to keep working."
"If we keep this up..." Sonic hissed; his arm was starting to shake violently. "Who knows what'll happen."
"Do you want to stop Nazo or not?" Shadow asked, rubbing his shoulder blade.
Shadow did have a point. The only way they had been able to defeat Nazo was if he became Dark Sonic. Sonic had only transformed into Dark Sonic three times. But turning into a cold-blooded murderer was not something Sonic wished to live through again. If they could complete their training, he would never what to the scared looks on his friends faces again.
"All right..." Sonic sighed. "Let's go again."
The scene returns to the Sonic Heroes base. Kumori tried to find some other way to spend the day. She had somehow managed to dismantle the Tornado III by simply touching it, but put it back together in a flash. There were some extra parts though. Maybe Tails won't notice. Amy was in the kitchen preparing lunch, still upset at Sonic. Maybe she could torture him by eating the food and not giving him any. Everyone knows Sonic loves Amy's cooking. While Amy fantasized, a video screen appeared out with the commander on.
"Amy, we have a mission for you." The Commander informed.
"A mission?!" Kumori said eagerly as she bounded into the kitchen. "What mission? Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"
"Calm down." The commander ordered. "Anyway, there's trouble going on in Station Square. Reports have shown that black creatures are attacking the city."
"It must be the black clones." Kumori said thoughtfully.
"That's what I thought, too." The Commander said. "But then I received a report that the creatures were different from each other."
"Different? How?" Amy asked.
"That's what you have to find out." The commander said.
"Finally, some action!" Kumori cheered.
"We should be careful." Amy forewarned. "We don't know what we're going up against."
"Whatever." Kumori waved off.
To eager for battle to listen to Amy, Kumori raced out of the base with Amy following. Using their super speed, the two arrived in the city seconds later. Though it did come as a surprise when they didn't find any sign of trouble. The people were running about like they did everyday with out a care in the world.
"That's strange." Amy said. "I don't see any trouble around here."
"He lied to us!" Kumori exclaimed. "What a gyp!"
"What's that sound?" Amy said; hearing twitching slightly.
Kumori focused her abilities to her ears to hear what Amy was hearing. It was faint, but she could make it out. It sounded like...stone breaking. Just then, the wall of a building close by erupted. A figure zoomed out of the hole and collided with the ground; a crater formed in its wake. The people had finally realized the danger going on and quickly ran away, screaming frantically. Kumori and Amy moved in cautiously towards the crater. The figure could be seen in the cloud of dust starting to rise. When the dust cleared, they were not surprised to find a black clone.
"I knew it!" Kumori exclaimed. "Eggman is behind this."
"But I though he went on vacation." Amy stated.
"Evil doesn't take a break." Kumori grinned.
The female hedgehogs moved in, but the clone did not seem to care. Just then, A black warrior stormed out where the clone came from with its sword raised high. The warrior swung down on the clone, but the clone caught it between his claws. But to the female's dismay, several more clones and warriors jumped in to fight with their brothers.
"The Black Arms!" Amy exclaimed. "What are they doing here?"
"Obviously, they don't like fakers." Kumori replied.
Amy seemed uncertain, but distantly watched the battle before them. Having sleek bodies and regenerative powers, the black clones held an advantage over the aliens. A warrior sliced a clone's arm off, which regenerated a second later. The clones relied on their acrobatic skills to slip around the warriors and stab them from behind. But the Black Arms are an intelligent race. They observed their opponents before figuring a way of defeating them. They cut at the clones cores, which resided in their heads. If either side had blood, it would be splattered all over the ground.
"What do we do?" Amy asked.
"Personally, I'm hoping the clones kick their butts!" Kumori cheered. "Come on! Give them a left hook! No, your other left!"
Just then, a surge of lightning and a red ball of chaos swooped in out of nowhere, destroying both side in an instant. Amy and Kumori stood dumbstruck and confused. A wave of lightning dispersed out of the ground and reformed into Metal Sonic, who looked gravely injured. His armor was dented, one of his eyes was offline, and his entire left arm was torn off. A black hole formed on the ground and Nazo emerged from it, unscratched.
"Nazo!" The females yelled.
"Oh, I did not expect you here." Nazo said to them. "But this does not concern you." He turned towards Metal. "Understand this, Metal Sonic. No matter how long you resist, you can't do it forever."
"I still have the strength to fight." Metal stated.
"How can you fight in your damaged state?" Nazo questioned.
"Think about it. Why did I retreat here, to this city?" Metal questioned. Nazo glared, obviously not having the answer. "When I discovered my natural affinity for electricity, I experimented. I was grateful to discover I have another ability. Observe."
Metal held his undamaged claw and raised it to a nearby lamppost. Electricity escaped from the post and into Metal's claw. The addition of electricity began to reform Metal's body. The dents were refilled, his eye replaced, and his arm restored. Metal stood up, examining his healed body with admiration.
"I must say, I am impressed." Nazo said amusingly.
"My body can restore itself by taking in a certain amount of electrical energy." Metal explained. "That's why I escaped into the city. As long as I remain here, I can't be destroyed."
"I wouldn't go that far." Nazo said. "Although I must admit, you have grown considerably since our last encounter. Your power is equal to that of my standard form. But, how powerful you truly are.
Nazo crouched into a fighter's stance as a vast aura of red chaos formed around him. The aura engulfed his body, transforming his normally silver fur to blood red. The iris of his eyes turned yellow, two more quills were added to his head, his shoes became gold and black boots, and the spines turned to an 'x' shape. Amy and Kumori were stunned in horror at the monstrous creature. They soon realized it was the same form that nearly killed Sonic and Shadow.
"I believe this is the first time we battle like this." Nazo said amusingly. "In this form, you may refer to me as Hell Nazo."
"I observed you previous battle against the heroes." Metal stated. "I know for a fact that your body is destroyed internally when in that form."
"That may be true, but that as before I found a way to transfer the pain." Nazo sniggered. Just then, the red, light-blue, yellow, and purple chaos emeralds floated around Nazo. Four strands of red chaos was expelled from his body and consumed by the emeralds. "With the emeralds on my side, I cannot possibly lose. Now return what you stole from me."
"Hand what over?" Amy whisper to Kumori.
"I think he might be talking about the chaos emerald." Kumori replied.
"You think I would be dimwitted as to hand 'that' over." Metal chuckled. "No, with 'that' at my side, I am closer to world domination then Eggman ever dreamed."
"Don't be a fool!" Nazo shouted. "You cannot possibly understand the kind of power it possesses!"
"I have a fair idea." Metal said.
"Ok, Maybe it's not the emerald." Kumori said uncertainly.
Nazo was furious and raced forward at Metal. If Metal could barely equal to Nazo at ten percent power, he stands no chance against him at fifty percent. Metal thrusted his claw at Nazo's head, but the demon vanished from sight. Metal seemed lost until Nazo came up from behind and kicked him in the head. Metal bounced off the ground before twisting around back to his feet. Metal attempted to use his speed to his advantage, but Nazo was already in front of him before he could even take his first step.
"If Sonic couldn't out run me, what chance do you have?" Nazo smirked.
Nazo kneed Metal in the chest, sending in to a wall twelve feet away. Metal pried himself from the wall, staggering slightly. Nazo was right. He was faster, stronger, and more knowledgeable then any living thing on the planet. He only had one chance left. Metal grasped his claw and drew energy to perform his signature technique.
"METAL SURGE!!"
Metal raced forward at top speed with his electrified claw held forward. Nazo seemed to be caught off guard by this, having never witnessed Metal's signature attack before. This provided Metal with an advantage. Metal reached at plunged his claw through Nazo's chest. Nazo's eyes opened wide in shock before his head fell limp. Metal, laughing victoriously, raised Nazo's dead body over his head like a trophy.
"The mighty God of Darkness is dead!" Metal stated. "Now I am the most powerful warrior in the world!"
"Don't be so sure."
Metal looked up in shock; Nazo gazing back down at him. The supposedly dead demon ripped swung his arm around to cut Metal's arm off again. Metal staggered back slightly; tripping backwards in fright. Nazo grabbed Metal's arm, which remained caught in his chest, and tore it from his body. The wound that metal created healed five seconds later.
"You really thought you stood a chance against me." Nazo chuckled lightly, throwing the arm away. He made his way menacingly towards his shaking opponent. "I have survived the greatest wars, endured three-thousand years of imprisonment. I have more power then you have ever dreamed of. And now, to reclaim what is mine."
Nazo held his hand out to Metal as he came closer. Meanwhile, Amy and Kumori stared horrifically at the outcome of the battle.
"We have to help him!" Amy cried.
"But he's the enemy!" Kumori stated.
"Who would you rather win: Nazo or Metal?" Amy questioned.
"I see your point." Kumori nodded.
Amy pulled out her Piko-Piko Hammer and zoomed towards Nazo with Kumori following. Nazo started to close the gap between him and his pray; his hand reaching out for his head. Suddenly, Amy's hammer and Kumori's foot came flying in and slammed into both sides of his face. But he didn't even flinch. On the contrary, he seemed rather annoyed. He shifted his gaze around towards the females, creating a huge gust of wind from out of nowhere that blew them twenty feet down the street.
"You simpletons thought such feeble attempts would defeat me?" Nazo glared. "You have disturbed me long enough. Now if you'll..." As he turned back, he found that Metal had escaped that split second he looked away. "You damn rodents! He was mine and you allowed him to escape! That will be your last mistake!"
Nazo raised his palm to the female hedgehog, forming a large orb of red chaos. Amy and Kumori tried to move away until a surge of electricity struck them from the ground. Metal left them a going away present. Nazo released the orb, which now overshadowed them. Amy shut eyes, hoping death would come painlessly. But instead of a cold death, it felt..."
"Warm." Amy thought.
You ok, Ames?"
Amy eyes swift snapped open. She was in Sonic's arms, safe from danger. She looked over to see Kumori in a similar position in Shadow's arms. The heroes set the females down, wincing slightly. It was then Amy noticed the state they were in. Sonic was covered is bruises, his lip bleeding, and had a big black eye. Shadow as also in a similar state, but handled it better.
"Sonic, what happened to you?" Amy asked worriedly.
"No worries, Amy." Sonic smiled. "Nothing I can't handle."
"What are you rats doing here?" Nazo sniggered. "By the looks of you, it's amazing you even made it."
"Yeah, well, we got a little surprise for you." Sonic grinned.
"Sonic, don't!" Amy cried. "If Metal couldn't beat him..."
"Amy, just trust me." Sonic said.
Sonic's gaze was the only thing that softened Amy. It was the kind of look that gave her reason to believe it him. It was the same look he gave when he promised to protect her all those years ago. Finally, Amy let him go.
You ready for this, Sonic?" Shadow asked as he stepped forward.
"Ready when you are, Shad." Sonic replied.
Sonic and Shadow pulled out their respective emeralds from their quills. The emeralds began to glow brighter then they ever have as the two hedgehogs link their arms together and called out.
"CHAOS FUSION!!"
A burst of light emitted from the emerald, engulfing the hedgehogs in their presence. Amy and Kumori covered their eyes while Nazo stared apprehensively. When the light faded, the two hedgehogs were replaced by one. He had a similar structure to the two, but his fur was dark-blue. He had six contour quills like Sonic, but had red highlights. He also had Shadow's white chest fur on his own. He wore Sonic's sneakers, but had Shadow's ring cuffs.
"Who are you?" Nazo asked. "Are you Sonic or Shadow?"
"The name's Shadic!" The new hedgehog introduced.
"You can pull whatever trick you like." Nazo growled. "But you are only delaying the inevitable."
Nazo held out his hand to fire another attack when Shadic's knee bounded in his chest. Nazo was thrown back half a mile and slammed through six office building before catching himself. Nazo used chaos control to return to the previous area, seething with anger.
"They have truly learned the power of chaos fusion." Nazo thought. "But I bet they don't know its side effect. I'll just ride this one out."
Nazo formed his chaos blade around his right hand and lunged at Shadic. Even Nazo had to admit that Shadic was clearly the fastest. The fused hedgehog disappeared and reappeared behind Nazo seconds after he jumped. Shadic grasped Nazo by his ankle and threw him backward. Nazo flipped around and landed on his feet, just before Shadic's fist collided his face. Nazo fell to his knees, clutching his face in agony.
"That all?" Shadic smirked. "Come on, I thought you were tougher then that."
"Damn you!!" Nazo screamed.
Nazo called forth a barrage of chaos spears behind him. but at the same time, Shadic also summoned up a horde of chaos spears. Shadic's spears collided with Nazo's, but easily overpowered them and hit Nazo square in the chest. Nazo hissed from the pain, but weakly stood up. Then he realized something: he was in pain, his healing powers weren't working.
"His powers have reached a level where it is impossible for me to heal." Nazo thought. "But no matter. Three minutes have already passed. Just a little longer."
Nazo summoned up his chaos blade again, but Shadic's foot kicked in the chest before anything else. Shadic flipped around, kicked Nazo in the chin and sending him flying to the air. Shadic jumped up in the air, passing Nazo on the way up until he reached the clouds. Shadic curled into a ball and shot down for Nazo. The meteoric spin dash made contact with Nazo and slammed him into the ground, creating a crater the size of Babylon. Shadic flipped out of the crater and gazed down. Amy and Kumori joined by his side, where they found Nazo's body lying motionlessly.
"Is it over?" Amy asked.
"If that didn't finish him, then nothing will." Shadic chuckled.
"Then you could consider me immortal."
Shadic and the females gasped horribly as Nazo started lifting himself back up to his feet. He looked worse then he's ever been. One of his eyes was bleeding, his right leg was shaking, and two of his spines seemed to be snapped. But what amazed them most was that Nazo was able to smile after all that.
"Doesn't he ever give up?" Kumori moaned.
"I must admit, you have even more power then I imagined, Shadic." Nazo stated. "But even so, you still failed to defeat me."
"We'll take care of that!" Shadic proclaimed.
Shadic ran in and full speed and raised his hand to summon a sonic wind into his palm. Shadic neared the attack to Nazo face when he suddenly felt weak. The sonic wind was dispersed and Shadic's body began to glow. A second later, Sonic and Shadow were back to their original forms. Nazo saw this as a chance and bashed his fists into their chest, forcing them to release the chaos emeralds. Sonic and Shadow fell backwards as Nazo took their emeralds.
"I–I don't understand." Shadow said weakly. "What went wrong?"
"Obviously you don't know all the powers of the emeralds." Nazo smirked. "Chaos fusion is a failed technique. It boosts your powers, but it only lasts for five minutes. When the fusion is released, the users experiences pain beyond measure."
"How – do you know all that?" Sonic asked.
"It won't matter in a moment." Nazo stated.
Nazo released one of the emerald and held his palm to them. Just as Nazo was ready to kill them, Chaos appeared though the power of chaos control. Nazo did not look pleased.
"What are you doing here, Chaos?" Nazo said in a language only they could understand.
"You can't kill Sonic." Chaos stated. "If you do, you will regret it."
"And why is that?" Nazo asked.
"Look at his eyes." Chaos said. "Do they remind you of anything?"
Nazo averted his gaze to stare at Sonic. He didn't understand. What was the point of looking into his enemy's eyes? They were the same shade of jade they had always been. Ambitious, courageous, loyal, and a certain sense of pride. That's when it hit him.
"That's impossible!" Nazo exclaimed. "He's supposed to be dead!"
Chaos saw an opportunity. He performed a hand sign and formed a black swirl in his claw. He held it to Nazo, silently shouting. "Chaos seal." Six multi-colored rings appeared on Nazo's arms, legs, neck, and right spine. The rings tightened to send a wave of pain coursing through his body, forcing him to release the green emerald. See as how he stood no chance at this state, Nazo evaporated into the air, taking the five emeralds with him.
Later, Amy, Kumori, and Chaos help bring Sonic and Shadow back into the base. They were placed in the infirmary where Wave and Tails were bandaging them up. Luckily, they were as bad as the last time. Hearing about the battle, all the remaining heroes gathered around Sonic and Shadow's beds. Even Tikal and Chaos joined them.
"What was that all about?" Sonic asked. "How did he know all that about chaos fusion?"
"It's as if he knew the emeralds inside and out." Shadow stated.
"That's because he does." Tikal said before she could stop herself.
Tikal clamped her mouth shut, hoping no one had heard. But they had heard and were now staring at her with questioning expressions. Tikal looked to Chaos for help. The aquatic god spoke in a language only they understood,; Tikal looked startled.
"Are you sure?" Tikal asked. Chaos nodded. "Ok, then. It's time we tell them the truth."
"What truth?" Silver asked.
"It's time you learned the truth about the creation of Nazo and the emeralds." Tikal answered
The truth comes out. How did Nazo and the emeralds come to be? What did Nazo see in Sonic? And what was it that Metal stole from him? Find out on the next Sonic Heroes!
Please, read and review.