SONIC HEROES: THE SERIES
Part 3 of 5 of the Zeenint Saga
Chapter Ninety-Seven: Master of the Emeralds, Part 3
The scene opens to the leafy plains of Angel Island. True to the words of the former master, Zeenint used his powers to force the legendary island into the air once more. What really concerned the Heroes is the fact that Zeenint only used a small fraction of his power to perform such a feat. Speaking of whom, the group of four was scrambling through the forest, making their way to the Master Emerald shrine. Rouge was flying over the canopy while Metal, Nazo, and Sonic dodged the tree trunks. They eventually came to a stop close to the visible plain around the Master Emerald shrine. Metal quickly spotted Zeenint sitting at the top step of the shrine, apparently sleeping, with the seven Chaos Emeralds resting on the surrounding pillars.
"We found him, but is that the real one?" Rouge asked cautiously.
"He's the real thing, all right." Nazo scowled. "I've never seen so much Chaos in one place since the God of Destruction himself. No clone could ever mimic this kind of power."
"So what are we supposed to do?" Sonic asked curiously. "Should we just take the Chaos Emeralds while he's napping?"
"Even if we do take the Chaos Emeralds, what then?" Metal glowered. "It two Mega Forms and our separate skills to take down a clone with only thirty percent of his original power. Unless you have some trick to push past the Mega Form, we don't stand a chance."
"Actually, I was going to suggest..." Sonic began.
"Might I suggest that you show yourselves?" Zeenint murmured; his voice traveled. "Listening to you bicker is really getting on my nerves."
The Heroes were caught off guard for the moment. Though Zeenint didn't even have to open his eyes, he was able to detect them in a matter of seconds. The group of four jumped from the shade of the trees and landed in front of the emerald shrine, poised to attack Zeenint if necessary. The emerald master slowly opened his eyes, staring down at them amusingly.
"That's better." Zeenint smirked. "Now I can see you smiling faces properly."
"Don't screw around with us, hedgehog." Metal warned.
"Don't call me that." Zeenint scowled. "Don't ever call me hedgehog. I am not the same as you deformed rejects of nature. I am a being beyond animalistic minds, beyond anything you could possibly comprehend!"
"You sure don't like animals." Rouge commented. "Especially being an animal yourself."
"I don't dislike animals...." Zeenint muttered dangerously. "I loathe them. You sentient outcast and your disfigured mutations. You think you can consider yourself our equals just because you try to act human? Filthy animals are not meant to walk, talk, or think. They are to exist for the survival of the human race! We are superior to you in every way!"
"So he's the reason they exist." Sonic said lowly.
"The reason who exists?" Rouge asked curiously.
"You already know that most humans and animals treat each other as equals." Sonic said; Rouge nodded. "But sometimes, there's always someone who feels that one race should be in control of the other. When my ancestor, Luscious the Hedgehog, became the first animal king of South Island, a civil war nearly broke out. The humans thought that their kind should be the only ones to rule. But Luscious and the former king reasoned with them, saying that no one is better than the other."
"It's discrimination." Metal stated.
"Just know that you're the guy that did it..." Sonic growled furiously. "Makes me want to kill you even more."
"Then try if you must." Zeenint shrugged. "But be warned: I was observing the battle with my clone and learned all of your tactics and powers. I never make the same mistake twice."
"Wait!" Nazo shouted. He threw out his hand to prevent Sonic from charging in. "Before we begin, I have some questions for your, Zeenint."
"Such as?" Zeenint asked; his brow raised.
"Back when we fought your clone, I noticed something different." Nazo explained. "You had enough power to perform a perfect Chaos Clone without suffering the backlash of the technique. That's when it came to me: you are ten times more powerful than you were on Parasiden. The thing I want to know is how that is possible."
"Like I said, I never made the same mistake twice." Zeenint chuckled, much to the confusion of his former servant. "Back on Parasiden, my plan was to release myself from this wretched hedgehog form using the souls of the dead. And to do that, I had you create a special weapon."
"The virus." Nazo said.
"Precisely." Zeenint nodded. "Of course, I didn't realize that I was unintentionally making myself weaker with each death. It wasn't until after I was sealed away that I discovered the source of my power: the darkness within people's hearts. And by killing off most of Parasiden's population, I destroyed my own strength. So this time around, I was not going to make the same mistake."
"The news reports said there were no casualties." Rouge informed. "Zeenint must have intentionally let everyone live in order to keep himself powerful."
"That is exactly my reason." Zeenint acknowledged. "But without the souls of the dead to assist e, I needed to find an alternate means of freeing my true form. Imagine my joy when I learned that my former servant created an ideal source of unique power."
"The Chaos Emerald!" Sonic exclaimed.
"That's it." Zeenint snickered sinisterly. And with the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds, I will shatter this hideous shell and regain my full power." His eyes narrowed to Sonic, who shivered at his gaze. "Who ironic that our final battle would be in the same place where you betrayed me, Sonic."
"What are you talking about?" Sonic questioned. "I would never join someone like you."
"You mean you never told him?" Zeenint laughed cruelly to Nazo, who looked away sadly. "The memories of him must have been very painful. So to spare your feelings, I'll be the one to tell him."
"Tell me what?" Sonic asked anxiously.
"You are the reincarnation of Nazo's brother." Zeenint stated.
The cobalt hedgehog's body was frozen in shock and his mind was working rapidly to absorb this information. He, Sonic the Hedgehog, was the spiritual brother of the God of Darkness. His mind wanted to say that Zeenint was just trying to mess with him, but some part in his heart told him that it was true. It was then that he began to notice the similarities between them: the eyes, the structure, and their quills were almost the same when Sonic was in Super Form. Fate must really be screwing with them.
"This explains why Nazo has been so lenient around you." Zeenint continued. "When he looks at you, the memories of his beloved brother resurface within his mind."
"Nazo..." Sonic murmured softly.
"I want to know one thing." Nazo said, obviously trying to change the subject. "You said that your final battle would be in the same place where Sonic betrayed you. But Parasiden has disappeared for centuries. No one even knows it still exists."
"That is true." Zeenint said. "Parasiden no longer exists. But its essence still remains."
"What do you mean?" Metal questioned.
"To explain this story, I have to back." Zeenint said sagely. "Back to the beginning....of existence."
---Flashback---
The scene was nothing but an endless grey sheet with nothing left to occupy it. But then, two figures formed within the grey slate and glowed ominously. The creature to the left held a pair of sunny-gold eyes with a white aura and the one to the right had four blazing-red eyes with a black aura.
"In the beginning, there was nothing." Zeenint said. "There was only an endless shade of grey – no life, no death, no light, no darkness. But in the center of this endless abyss were two sentient beings. Two brothers to be exact. The Highest One, Mythril, and the Malevolent One, Orphius."
"Mythril was the one that created the universe, right?" Sonic asked.
"He didn't do it alone." Zeenint continued. "Though there was nothing in existence, they had already planned ahead for creations that won't exist for over a thousand years ahead of our time. And then, they formed reality."
The two brothers clapped hands with one another, creating a cataclysmic explosion that washed away the shade of grey. The darker brother painted the sheet with the endless vacuum of space, forming the foundation for their ultimate creation. The lighter brothers filled the dark platform with hundreds of stars, creating the planets and the suns. After what seemed like over a millennia, the two brothers had finally formed the first rough daft of the universe.
"The two brothers had created the universe, but noticed something missing." Zeenint continued with his story. "That's when Mythril realized he needed life to fill his creation. So he formed the first eight beings. I'm sure you already know one of them."
"Alucard..." Rouge hissed.
"Mythril used them as a basis to form the other species of the universe." Zeenint stated. "But just when things seemed to be looking up, disaster struck between the two brothers."
The two unknown creators were seemed battling against one another for control of dominance. With each punch and kick sent and blocked, the universe would literally shake at their presence. And when he finally spotted an opening, Orphius grabbed his brother by the throat and quickly increased his grip. Mythril grabbed his brother's wrist, trying to force him off.
"While Mythril loved to create, Orphius preferred destruction." Zeenint explained. "Once Mythril had finished crafting a world, Orphius would secretly destroy it out of pure pleasure. Then came the time when Mythril discovered his brother's plot and battled him. The war seemed to fall in favor of Orphius until...."
All of a sudden, hundred of lights flashed across the universe and were absorbed into Mythril's back. The Highest One suddenly took control of the battle and forced his brother's hand away. Orphius was caught in immediate shock, leaving him wide open for the final strike. Mythril stabbed his hand into his brother's chest – trails of light spread throughout the Malevolent One's body. And just like that, Orphius exploded into millions of dark particles. But despite his proud victory, Mythril clutch his head in internal pain.
"Those who were thankful to Mythril surrender their power to him." Zeenint said. "This allowed the destruction of Orphius and the salvation of the universe. But without his brother to balance the light and darkness, Mythril was overcome by his own power and fell into a deep sleep."
"What does any of this have to do with my question?" Nazo asked.
"Patience." Zeenint said coolly. "Anyway, before Mythril fell into slumber, he divided the universe into four quadrants and chose four siblings to balance the universe and watch over his creation."
Mythril faded from sight and four characters appeared in his place – all of hem human. The tallest of all of the four siblings was had matted, fiery-red hair and a serious expression on his face. The second sibling was the only female among them with silky, violet hair and was winking flirtatiously. The third sibling was the fattest of all of them with a small tuft of messy blue hair and a playful expression. The four was the youngest of them with spiky, emerald-green hair and his features were shadowed from view.
Mythril chose four worthy guardians and named them Sovereign." Zeenint explained. "I was the youngest of the four siblings under the leadership of my eldest brother, Abedous. We monitored the universe along with my sister, Haleya, and my glutton of a brother, Kainek. For several millennia, everything was peaceful."
"Until you ruined it." Metal proclaimed.
"I will accept that fault." Zeenint said. "Unlike my siblings, I could see the possibilities behind the Highest One's true abilities. I wanted more power, so I took it."
Zeenint and Kainek were seen battling within the chasm of a frozen world, jumping across the icy stalagmites. The fatter brother was covered in a number of bruises and his clothes were torn ragged, leaving him tired and powerless. Kainek tried to turn and make a run for it, only to discover Zeenint was looming over him from above. The green-haired guardian held out his palm, summoning a sphere of emerald energy, and released it over his brother. When the dust cleared, all that was left was the tatted coat of his former sibling.
The scene then alternates to a grassy plain on a world across the universe from the previous planet. Zeenint and Haleya crossed their arms and smashed into one another, creating a shockwave that blew away most of the environment. The violet-haired female slammed her forehead into her brother's rendering him momentarily dazed. Taking this advantage, the female Sovereign coated her hand in a purple Chaos and jumped to slash her brother in half. Unfortunately, Zeenint used the same strategy and, with advanced movement, cleaved his sister in two.
"I had killed Haleya and Kainek, transferring their powers to my own." Zeenint said. "And I was on my way to battle Abedous. With his power, I would truly be master of the universe. But just as I approached my brother's world, everything fell apart."
The emerald-haired warrior was suddenly halted in the outer reaches of space, restrained by an invisible force. All of a sudden, the energy that Zeenint had collected escaped from the Sovereign's body and formed a cocoon around him. When the cocoon of energy faded away, Zeenint was discovered to be reverted to a hedgehog form, similar to his appearance today.
"The Highest One felt my growing presence and forced himself awake." Zeenint stated. "When he learned of my plan, he contained my power into this hedgehog shell you see now. Weakened and defeated, I was forced to retreat to the nearest planet, which was Parasiden. I'm sue you know what happens after."
"So where is Parasiden now?" Nazo questioned.
"Funny you should ask." Zeenint chuckled.
On the deserted planet of Parasiden, Chaos had just finished sealing Nazo and created the seven Chaos Emeralds. Due to the strain of the battle, Chaos dropped to the ground and fell unconscious from exhaustion. But then moment he did, the Master Emerald glistened lightly and disappeared in a flash of light with Chaos and his emeralds. Several years past and Parasiden's appearance grew bleaker until it finally shattered into thousands of pieces, ending its existence. Fortunately, many of the pieces hurtled through space and landed on a planet with an endless ocean, forming the continents of the world.
"After Chaos' victory, he preformed and unintentional Chaos Control and traveled through time." Zeenint explained. "When he woke up, he believed that he had arrived on some distant world, but in reality, he never left. Parasiden's life so unstable that it collapsed. The remains left behind by the former planet crash landed onto a distant world called the EndlessOcean Planet. The remains formed the lands and new life was created."
"Thus, Earth was born."
---End Flashback---
The scene returns to the lands of Angel Island with Zeenint and the Heroes staring back at one another. Zeenint remained seated on the top steps of the shrine, watching amusingly at their confusion. The Heroes had a difficult time that Zeenint was really a chosen protector and that the former Parasiden was actually the predecessor of Earth. Feeling satisfied, Zeenint stood up – the Heroes moved into defensive positions – and turned back to the dull shards that remained of the Master Emerald.
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Zeenint chuckled. "The Highest One's simple plan of life turned into a complex disaster."
"A disaster you caused!" Sonic exclaimed.
"Even so, I have waited patiently for this moment." Zeenint said, stepping into the circle of shards. "I will not let a several millennia's worth of planning be halted by three rodents and a walking can opener. I will become the true god!"
"Not as long as we have something to say about it!" Rouge yelled.
"That's the point, my dear." Zeenint smirked. "You don't."
The emerald hedgehog looked away from the Heroes and raised his arms to the air, summoning the powers of the mystic gems surrounding him. The Chaos Emeralds glowed brilliants and shots seven colored beams of energy into their collectors body. The former Sovereign cackled wickedly as he felt his hedgehog shell slowly being ripped apart. The Heroes remained motionless at the base of the shrine, immobilized by the sudden chill running done their spine.
"Damn it." Nazo grunted. "This is the true extent of his power. He must be a god."
"Hey, we've face worse, right?" Sonic smiled feebly. "We'll just take him out like everyone else."
"This isn't Dark Gaia or Chaos!" Nazo snapped. "This is an unbeatable force with powers granted by the God of all existence! Even I should have realized that we stood no chance."
"You're just going to quit like that?" Rouge questioned in disbelief.
"What more can we do." Nazo said defeated. "It's hopeless."
Sonic didn't want to believe him. Even if they were only brother's in spirit, Sonic was not willing to let his sibling give in so easily. The cobalt hedgehog charged up the stairway with lightning speed, surprising his allies. He was either very brave or very stupid. Zeenint was nearly complete with his transformation when he felt the presence of Chaos Energy gathering into a small space. Sonic skipped off the top step of the stairway and raised his signature attack forward – a mere few inches separated them.
"Sonic Wind!!" Sonic screamed.
"Too late!!" Zeenint roared.
The shrine exploded – shockwaves rattled the island and forced the Heroes to their knees. As Nazo and the others looked to learn the outcome of the attack, their vision was obscured by a thick cloud of smoke.
"Did he get him?" Rouge asked hopefully.
"I don't think so." Metal stated. "If Zeenint was really defeated, the island would have fallen back into the ocean."
"Then what was Sonic thinking about attacking head-on?!" Rouge growled frustrated.
"He was trying to catch Zeenint in his moment of weakness." Metal explained. "If he had managed to strike at the opportune moment, he would have most likely killed him in that instant. But for the first time, Sonic was just too slow."
"Stupid hedgehog." Nazo commented.
A quick gale of wind passed over the island, revealing Sonic being held by his ankle in the hands of the true Zeenint. The emerald master was revealed to be a human that appeared around the age of 20 with spiky, emerald hair and jade-green eyes. He wore a pair of leather-brown boots, silky white pants held by a black belt, leather-brown braces with emerald fragments imbedded in the surface, and a sleeveless black coat. The coat was left open to reveal his muscular form in addition to the black scar present across his chest. The human Zeenint cackled lightly while raising Sonic to eyelevel.
"Such a sad sight." Zeenint shook. "A stupid little rat believing he could beat me? What a joke." Without hesitation, he tossed Sonic to the ground, smashing him against the rocks. "Now that I have unlocked my true form, I am all-powerful."
"No one is all-powerful." Metal stated.
"You think you'll have better luck, faker." Zeenint taunted.
"Do not compare me to that degenerate filthy." Metal snarled. "I am superior. I am the alpha and the Omega. I am Metal!"
"And Haleya said I was overdramatic." Zeenint sniggered.
The metallic doppelganger grabbed hold of his right wrist, steadying it as he drew the inward energy. His claw was swiftly coated in a surge of electrical energy and he used his optical sensors to target his opponent. Zeenint merely grinned as Metal Sonic charged ahead and ripped apart the ground during his approach. Metal swung his claw around, swiping at the emerald master's claw, only to watch it be blocked by Zeenint's forearm. However, Metal seemed to have prepared for this as he opened his claw and released all his energy from his palm directly to the human's face. Unfortunately, Zeenint's own speed easily outstripped Sonic's. Faster than anyone could blink, the former master appeared behind the metallic doppelganger, who was frozen in fear.
"So fast..." Metal thought frightfully. "When did he...?"
"I already told you." Zeenint said menacingly. "I have become a true god."
Zeenint swiped his hand at Metal's neck, shooting the powerful machine into the ground. Though it was considered a light tap, Metal was drilled over ten feet into the ground, forming a miniature crater. While Zeenint stared down the hole to admire his work, Rouge took this opportunity for a quick counterattack. While her eyes reverting to a piercing gold, Rouge exposed her fangs and dived ahead for Zeenint's neck. Barely a second later, the vampire bat was found struggling within the emerald master's grip.
"How...did you...?" Rouge chocked.
"I really hate repeating myself." Zeenint sighed irritably. "I really don't have time to deal with you guys. In case you haven't notice, I have a world to conquer. And I really don't need to waste my precious moments."
He seemed ready to spare Rouge's lie and walk away until Zeenint felt something cold wrap around his ankle. Without warning, the emerald master cried out in pain as a violent surge of electricity coursed through his veins. Unfortunately, his grip on Rouge allowed the electricity to circulate into her body, dealing just as much damage. By the moment the attack end, Zeenint dropped to the ground after losing consciousness. Metal Sonic, who had pulled himself out of the hole, limped around until he stood over Zeenint's defeated form.
"Well...that was anticlimactic." Metal stated. Rouge then appeared over him and slammed her fist over his head. "OW! What the hell?!"
"What the hell was that all about?!" Rouge screeched. "You could have killed me!"
"Too bad I didn't." Metal muttered, not wanting her to hear. "At any rate, let's finish this before he wakes up."
Rouge set aside her anger for a moment and assisted in turning the human Sovereign on his back. But the results were not what they had hoped for. Zeenint was discovered to be wide awake and perfectly unharmed from Metal's direct assault. The former master quickly wrapped his hands around their throats, smiling devilishly.
"You know I'm just screwing with you, right?" Zeenint laughed.
Meanwhile, Nazo still remained I place from the beginning of the fight, watching the Heroes fruitlessly struggle. No matter what they did, nothing was powerful enough to stop Zeenint. Nazo had lost his friends, his home, and his family to the former lord of Parasiden. There was nothing left but to accept fate."
"This is pointless." Nazo commented, watching the continuing struggle. "Only the Highest One had the power to defeat him. And without his power, there is no hope left in the world. It would just be best if we..."
"Don't even bother finishing that sentence." Nazo sighed and looked over his shoulder to find Sonic, beaten and bruised from earlier. "This fight's not over yet."
"What could you possibly do?" Nazo questioned sternly. "You have nothing left that can defeat a god."
"It doesn't matter." Sonic panted. "No matter what happens, I can't give up. I have too much riding on this."
"What are you talking about?" Nazo asked.
"I have too much to lose." Sonic said thoughtfully. "Amy, Tails, Cream, the team, my friends, mom, dad, and Stream. If I have to, I'll die to protect them." Nazo watched him with interest. "Thousands of people around the world look to me for hope. Mythril himself even said I have the power to defy fate." He chuckled weakly. "I'm not going let some street gang-looking wannabe beat me down."
"You fight to protect your friends." Nazo shook. "That's the reason you can't win. Zeenint fights only for himself, which is why he is so powerful. You petty emotions can't compare to his cold heart."
"I don't think you have the right to say that." Sonic smirked. "You have people you care for, too."
"I have no..."
"What about the Dark Rulers." Sonic interjected, cutting the God of Darkness. "I know you pretend you don't like them, but I can tell that – deep down – you care for them."
Ever since Lightra's death, Nazo had sworn that he would never show compassion to anyone ever again. But upon meeting Sonic, many aspects of his life changed. He fondly recalled all his times with the Dark Rulers. His plans with Mephiles, Shira healing everyone's wounds, Nack pulling some stupid stunt, and Tomo trying to kill him for it. Despite his best efforts, Nazo had indeed come to cherish them – it hurt him.
"You have something to fight for Nazo." Sonic said calmly. "You trying to act cold, but in the end, you're the same guy who helped save the Parasiden."
"What can we do?" Nazo asked seriously. "How can we find the strength to beat him?"
"Did you listen earlier?" Sonic grinned. "I have an idea."
Back to the battle, Zeenint had effortless defeated his two opponents. Metal's body was dented and sparking with his left arm tossed several feet away. Rouge wasn't as badly beaten, but she was too weak too even move her wings. The green Sovereign overshadowed the two as he held out his right palm.
"I'll admit, you two were a bit amusing." Zeenint claimed, forming a sphere into his hand. "But I have over a thousand worlds to conquer and I'd like to get them done before midnight."
"You won't be so lucky, Zeenint!" The human rolled his eyes and looked to the right, spotting Mega Sonic and Perfect Nazo holding their fists for battle. "You'll have to get through us first!"
"The Mega Form?" Zeenint chuckled tauntingly. "You're joking right? The only thing those forms give you are bad haircuts. You could barely beat a clone that had thirty percent of my power."
"It's normally considered that two are better than one." Nazo grinned deviously. "But we found an exception."
"You ready, Naz?" Sonic asked playfully.
"Always." Nazo nodded.
Nazo's brow rose as he watched the show incredulously. He resisted the urge to laugh as Sonic and Nazo performed a series of steps that Zeenint's found humorous. Metal and Rouge found it anything but humorous as they recalled the number of times Sonic, Shadow, Amy, and Kumori performed it. The ritual finally reached to a close at the point where both hedgehogs's touched each other's fingers, chanting along the way.
"FU-SION-HA!"
Zeenint was instantly blinded as a sphere of light formed around the hedgehog duo. Though he was not impressed by the dramatic lightshow, the emerald master couldn't help but shiver when he felt their energy suddenly spike tenfold. No Mega Form was this powerful. So when the light finally died, Zeenint was quick to study this technique. Instead of two hedgehogs, he discovered one in their place. The hedgehog greatly resembled Nazo, but with Sonic's playful attitude. The hedgehog had ruby-red fur with a tangle of quills reaching down his back – a golden streak on each quill. He wore a golden vest with crimson linen, white silk pants with a red sash, a pair of dark boots, and a pair of white gloves. The unknown hedgehog opened his eyes, giving off a wave of confidence.
"Who the hell are you?" Zeenint questioned. "What happened to Sonic and Nazo?"
"You're looking at them." Rouge smirked. "The fusion technique combines two people into one super warrior. And with two Mega Forms...."
"We have an Alpha form." Zeenint said interestingly. "All right, if you two are one person, what do you call yourself?"
"Just call me..."
Sonzo!
The Battle of the centuries moves to the next level. Will Alpha Sonzo prove to be a match for the ultimate enemy? Will the fusion technique last out long enough? Or will Zeenint finally succeed? Find out on the next Sonic Heroes!
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