Violet Dreams

Chapter 3: War, Part 2

Dreams are the seedlings of reality.

Location: Unknown

Once more, Sonic found himself wandering the endless abyss of darkness, hopelessly making his way to the golden cage he saw so far in the distance. He felt heavier than a bag of rocks, and he thought his feet were attached to iron balls. No matter how far he walked, that goal he so desperately tried to reach seemed to get further away. The same white stone pillars passed him by countless times, and finally, the blue hero sighed, and stopped walking.

Where am I?

Emerald green eyes slowly flickered upwards, in order to gain a look at his surroundings above. Only a mass of gold and purple light filled his view, drifting towards a source of blackness far off in the "sky". The blue hero looked downwards, and rested his eyes on the golden cage once more, this time noticing a trail of white particles floating up into the dark void.

He was beginning to wonder if he was even on earth anymore.

Then, it happened again. His body was being sucked backwards, and dragged back into nothingness. Everything raced passed him in a flash, and finally everything went black.

Location: Tails' Workshop

"Sonic! Wake up!"

The blue hero's eyes flashed open immediately, allowing the rays of light to flood his vision. Everything seemed to be blurred by light for a couple seconds, but finally, his vision started to clear, and he found Tails and Amy sitting beside him. Sonic groaned dryly, and rubbed his forehead, feeling the soft bandages wrapped around his head – and a small wet spot on the side of his cranium.

"What happened...?" Sonic moaned, and leaned back in the bed, shutting his eyes again, "I feel like I was just thrown around like a rag doll."

"You were pretty beat up when I got there," Tails explained, turning around to check the hero's vitals, "But thankfully Eggman retreated from Central before he could cause anymore damage to you."

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Amy cried out, unable to hold it in any longer, "Don't you ever do that to me again, mister!"

Sonic chuckled, and moved his bandaged arm over to Amy, and rested his hand on her cheek, smiling warmly. "You worry too much, Ames." The blue hero teased, attempting to calm her down, "I'm not gonna go down by the hands of ol' Metal-head!"

Tears had started to stream down the young hedgehog's face, and finally the pink hero leapt at her idol, and embraced him in a tight hug. For the first time, Sonic didn't feel the urge to run, or push her away, but simply wrapped his arms around the sobbing Rose in a gentle embrace.

"If you ever die on me," Amy sniffed, "I'll beat you into the ground!"

The blue hero grinned, and wiped away the remaining tears from the pink hedgehog's eyes with his thumb, then nodded confidently.

"Don't worry," He assured, "The day I die, is the day the Earth stops being blue and cool like me!"

Amy slowly crawled off the hospital style bed, and returned to her chair, sniffling and wiping away stray tears, but managed to smile once again. The blue hero sighed in exhaustion and slumped back against the bed, rubbing the gash on his forehead, and stared up at the ceiling.

"What happened back there anyway?" The blue hero grumbled. "Last thing I remember is jumping off some building to catch Amy, then everything is a blank."

"Well...you hit the ground before me," Amy explained, still sniffing occasionally, "you hit your head pretty hard against a chunk of rock in the ground before you let go of me. Eggman left about five minutes after, saying something about a treasure he needed to find."

"Old Egghead's always up to something..." The blue hero moaned in annoyance, "Any idea what he's up to this time, Lil' Bro?"

Tails shook his head, and flicked on his computer screen. As the image booted up, four split screens of different locations within the United Federation showed up on the screen, showcasing the destruction that Eggman had created in each city.

"It's been the same each time he's attacked." The young fox began, "Eggman has dug a hole in the centre of each city, sent his robots into it, and left for his next target." Tails explained, bringing up another image.

This time, the screen flashed to the Mazuri Savannah, which had dozens of scenes of burnt up wild life, and forest fires. One last photo appeared on screen, showing a billowing cloud of smoke above the Great Mazuri Volcano.

"If I'm right, he's set up base in the volcano, and he's doing something pretty big in there." Tails trailed off, and turned off the screen. "The strangest thing about this whole attack, Eggman hasn't touched the Master Emerald yet."

"So, maybe that's next on his list, don't you think?" Sonic grinned, "If we can beat him to Angel Island, we might get the upper hand!"

"I don't think he's after the Master Emerald this time!" Tails exclaimed, "He hasn't came into contact with Angel Island since he activated the Eclipse Cannon! He's only been gathering the Chaos Emeralds -"

"He said something about his newest creation when he attacked Central the other day!" Amy piped up, "He said he needed the Chaos Emeralds to start it up or something like that!"

"Then we track down the Chaos Emeralds!"

"I'm afraid we can't Sonic..." Tails gulped, "My radar is showing seven high source Chaos readings in the Mazuri area – I think Eggman has them all..."

"I think it's 'bout time we pay the good Doctor a visit!" Sonic smirked, and slung his legs out of bed, "I feel like I've been in bed for a month!"

"You have been unconscious for about two weeks," Tails sighed, "Eggman's done a lot of damage. The most I could do was track his moves, sorry Sonic..."

The blue hero grinned and ruffled the young hero's hair, showing the fox boy a brotherly sign of affection.

"Good job, Tails!" Sonic grinned, "Now let's see what Eggman's been up to lately!"

The blue hero jumped onto the ground, and quickly strapped his signature runners on, before racing out of the room. Tails could only smile bright and run into his workshop, Amy following close behind him. The moment the young fox had made it into the hangar, he threw off the tarp that covered his most prized creation – The Tornado 2.

It's paint shimmered in the mid-day sunlight, and it seemed to sparkle in the light. Slowly, the small fox pulled it out of the workshop, and jumped into the pilot's seat, while Amy strapped into the passenger seat behind him.

Finally, things were returning to what they used to be.

"Hurry up, Tails!" Sonic exclaimed, already speeding across the train tracks and through the tunnel to Station Square.

After pulling his flight goggles over his eyes, the young fox flipped a few switches, which started up the planes engine. Slowly the the propellor that gave the small biplane life began to spin around, until finally it looked like a singular mass of metal sitting on the front of the plane. The young fox tapped a button, and from beneath the plane, a small hitch grabbed onto a latch on the body of the Tornado, only to switch shut.

"All system's go!" Tails said out loud, a smile on his face, "Tornado 2, ready for take off!"

After pushing the control sticks forward suddenly, the latch below the plane launched forward along the run way that the fox had made out of the cliff behind his work shop. Within a matter of second, the small plane had been launched into the air, allowing it to climb through the sky, and make it's way to the city of Station Square.

Within the tunnel, Sonic sped through the darkness, spinning around the circular path – or race track in his mind – whenever a train came by. Blue energy wrapped around his body, signifying his acceleration in speed, as he began to reach the barrier of sound. Within a couple seconds, the blue hero blasted out from the other side of the tunnel, and bounded off into the open fields on the outskirts of Station Square. Overhead, the Tornado loomed in the sky, slowly descending upon Sonic.

The blue hero jumped up slightly, allowing himself the momentum to decelerate. The blue biplane drooped down beside him, and Sonic quickly spun around, allowing himself to run backwards and face the aircraft beside him.

"I'll be waiting for you at the Emerald Coast, buddy!" Sonic yelled out above the roaring winds, "Don't be too slow!"

Jumping around once more, the blue hedgehog smirked and began to speed up, a cloaking of air spiralling around his body.

"Sonic, Wait!" Tails shouted, "I can't go-"

"Hurry up, Tails!" Amy hollered, "We have to keep up with my dear Sonic!"

But before the young fox could finish his sentence, Sonic shot off through the tall green grass, a barrier of blue energy engulfing him as he ran. From a bird's eye view, one could see a plume of dust trailing two seconds behind the blue hero, only catching up to the speed demon when he slowed down just enough to change his direction, and blast off towards his destination.

Slowly the flat, endless green fields began to drop down into small valleys, and then into rolling hills. Trees could now be seen coming in larger clusters, until finally the blue hero had made his way into the Evergreen Canyon. Sonic paid no attention to the narrow pathways he raced along, but simply sped up past any speed he had ever reached, nearly clocking in at around 2500mph. The trailing cloud of dust had begun to lag behind the blue blur nearly four seconds late, as the world renown hero blasted through the sharp turns and sudden drops of the canyon. Colours flashed by in a pallet of brown and green, the tree's mending into a mass of colour.

Then, a cliff came into view.

Where a normal traveller would slow down and turn back, Sonic grinned wide and sped up, his legs turning into simple blue flashes. Within seconds, the blue hero launched into the sky, and soared through the clouds.

"Watch out Eggman!" Sonic shouted to the heavens, "I'm back in action!"

Location: Skye Ruins

White clouds rolled through the sky, being pushed along by the gentle breeze that brushed through the hidden valley. Birds of all kinds flew through the air above the ruins of the former civilization. One could only imagine how beautiful the place looked when it was flourishing with its inhabitants. Elegant, crystal clear streams raced through the ruins like veins to a body. Fish jumped out of the water, and splashed back into the fresh liquid that took them to their destination.

However, a single figure walked through the beautiful ruins, making their way towards the centre of the once large city of ancient warriors. It's mechanical limbs hummed quietly against the sounds of nature, as the only thing present on its computer systems was the whereabouts of its target. Small animals fled into the surrounding forestry, while others hid in the homes they had made of the broken down homes that had been abandoned for nearly five hundred years.

Metal Sonic made his way through the ruins, until finally, the central shrine came into his view, where only a lone being sat asleep on the stone steps. The mechanical doppelganger made his way towards his target, electricity sparking to life in his claws. Within his information systems, several cycles began to run through his scanners, identifying the target ahead.

Finally, his scanners locked onto a match.

A yellow mouse.

About two and half feet high.

Twenty years of age. Female.

Vessel of the Key of Strength.

He'd have to be careful around this one.

The mechanical copy began to speed up, sprinting across the quiet shrine area, his footsteps in time with the splash of water only twenty feet away, which also masked the crackling of electricity from his palm. The navy blue doppelganger launched into the sky, and descended upon the oblivious vessel in the blink of an eye, and smashed his electrified claw into the ground.

Dust spiralled into the sky from the hit, but when it had cleared, Metal had struck only the stair case.

He had missed?

But how?

Quickly flipping around the upturned rubble, the small, yellow mouse smashed her fist into Metal's torso, launching the doppelganger through the air. Activating his thrusters, Metal Sonic quickly shot back towards the shrine, descending to the ground ten feet from his target.

"Who the hell are you?" The small girl snarled angrily, "What gives you any right to come into my home, and attack me!"

Executing power reroute. Five seconds until combat AI is reset.

Metal remained silent, and simply stared down the angry mouse, which only enraged her further. The young girl growled and crossed her arms.

"Answer me!"

Flashing bright crimson, Metal's eyes flickered on, and his thrusters sparked to life, launching his body at the mouse. Electricity had started to dance around the doppelgangers claw once again, and with seconds, the robot had smashed his claw into the young mouse, and thrown the girl into the shrine.

Smoke and dust wrapped around the young mouse as she burst through the thick layers of rock, and bounced across the open field behind the shrine. Dust shot into the air after each impact, until finally the vessel smashed into the mountain side, bringing about another plume of dust.

Metal had already made his way within attacking distance, and began to close in on his target.

"Surrender quietly under the rule of Doctor Robotnik, and give up the Key." Metal announced, a slight tinge of anger evident in his voice.

"Who the fuck is Doctor Robotnik?" The fiery tempered girl snapped, throwing a chunk of rock the size of a small car into the river.

Water smashed along the shore line, as drops of the river water rained down on the battlefield. Metal turned his attention towards the thrown rock briefly, but returned his attention to his target almost immediately. That one little distraction was a mistake.

A big one.

Within that second, the small mouse had made her way across the field, and drove her fist into Metal's torso, launching the navy doppelganger into the sky. Leaping into the air after her opponent, the young mouse then grabbed Metal and with the momentum from her jump, she threw the mechanical copy back down through the air, and into the ground.

This wasn't going to be an easy kill.

Metal bounced off the ground once, but simply spun around in mid-air and slid along the ground on his feet, his thrusters igniting in short bursts to slow him down.

"I'll be sure to kill you slowly, Target 001." Metal announced viciously.

"Good fucking luck, scrap heap!"

Electricity flashed back into existence around the robot's claw once more, but this time it allowed Metal to zip through the wreckage of the field, and grab the mouse all within the blink of an eye. Slabs of rock the size of large trucks had been overturned in the field, as chunks of grass had been thrown into the air from the sheer force of the attack within Metal's claw. The mouse grew wide eyed, her entire body being catapulted into the sky.

Arcs of powerful electrical bolts shot around Metal for a short second, before he finally shot into the sky, smashing his open claw into the spine of the small mouse.

Blood splashed out of the yellow mouse, and rained down on the field below, staining the green grass in red.

The once fiery eyes of the vessel fell dull, and the final beats of her heart pounded slowly in her chest.

Metal Sonic reversed his direction, and ignited his thrusters once again, shooting down into the ground, and ultimately smashing the young girl into the already destroyed terrain. Rock and debris shot up into the sky, a crater opening up as the result of the impact.

Blood leaked from the young vessel's body, her legs had been mangled, and her face unrecognizable. The final breath of air escaped the mouse, as her body began to vanish.

White and green sparks of light slowly washed away from her body, giving way for a small sphere of green and white crystal. The small orb ceased it's glow, until finally the corpse of the mouse withered away, and the wind from the impact died down. The calm atmosphere of the shrine returned, and the life in the area went on as if nothing had happened.

However, a being began to form around the small orb of light, and slowly the sphere rose up into the air. Metal's scanners relayed the information he had acquired from the ancient Echidna texts from Eggman. If he was right, this was the true form of the Twilight Key, or otherwise it's consciousness.

White and green armour began to piece together around the sphere, forming a large being. When the light faded, it revealed a massive beast. It stood upon two muscular legs with clawed feet. It had four massive arms, with golden armour lacing its left arms. It's head was a mix between a horse and rhinoceros, as its gigantic golden horn grew from its snout. Golden battle armour slowly materialized around its head, and finally the small orb of energy settled in its chest.

Metal stood up, and looked towards the orb of energy planted in the core of the beast, his claw sparking once again.

"So this is what the doctor meant by a guardian." Metal grunted and moved to attack.

Suddenly, four massive fists crashed down into the ground, crushing Metal underneath the destructive power. Another crater formed next to the first, rocks shooting out of the ground from the sheer force of the hit. However, small sparks of energy leapt upwards along the edges of the crater, causing small pebbles to levitate into the air, signalling Metal's next attack.

A crack shot out from the fists of the beast, pushing it off guard, and allowing Metal to throw the beasts arms upwards, and launch through the air towards the open guardian. In a streak of electricity and black light, Metal tore through the chest cavity of the great guardian, and shot out through the other side, the small sphere safely tucked in his hand.

As the large guardian faded away from existence, the sphere began to gain colour – a brilliant white splash against an emerald green.

Eggman might have finally won.

"Twilight Key; acquired."

Location: Mazuri Savannah Volcano

The howl of the Tornado's engine echoed against the roaring winds of the desert sky. Sonic stood up inside the wing's of the small plane, ready to descend down into the volcano when his signal was given. A wide grin had been etched onto his face.

"Five seconds until we're directly over the mouth of the volcano, Sonic!" Tails shouted over the violent wind, "Ready?"

The blue hero gave a thumbs up to signal his understanding, and counted the seconds down in his head.

Clouds rushed by them in a flurry of grey and white. The moon's glow gave the entire savannah a silvery glow, as the citadel on the horizon shrunk with each passing second. The shimmering stars gave off additional light to the scene, giving the entire area a fairy tale feel.

However, the devilish red glow of the volcano contradicted the divinity of everything.

Three.

Two.

One!

Sonic smirked and bounded off the wing, causing the plane to wobble only slightly. The blue hero descended down into the mouth of the great Volcano, his body in a stream line position. Wind rushed by him, as the entire desert floor grew and expanded, showing his descent.

"Get ready to take out Eggman's arial defences, Sonic!"

Curling up into a sharp razor like ball of blue light, the blue hero shot through the night sky in a brilliant trail of cerulean light towards the first flying Egg Beetle above the volcano's entrance. The moment Sonic came into contact with the beetle, and bounced off, it erupted into a mess of flaming scrap metal and black smoke, allowing Sonic to target his next victim.

And thus, the blue hero shot down another hundred yards, once again followed by an elegant trail of azure light.

"It takes a true hero to keep a nation secure. For security is the foundation of peace." ~ John A. Richmond, 1st President of the United Federation, 1775

To Be Continued

Authors Note~ I'ma bringing back the Twilight Guardians! Yeehaw! I've changed the entire concept of the Guardian's a little, but I still have it set up the same way I did back in the first Dusk series. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I really wanted to show Metal's ruthlessness, and give him the power he so desperately deserves!

The next chapter we'll explore the infiltration of Eggmans base of operations, and the return of an old face you'll all love! Please leave your criticism, tips, theories and comments in a review!