With a few days until the solstice Sonic decided to treat the remaining time like a vacation while Dulcy was learning what it meant to be a Protector and while Sally spoke with the Elders about the treaty with New Mobotropolis. Several of the Elders were also willing to talk to him about their culture and history and, even though he was bored out of his skull, he listened intently if for no other reason than to add the information to the Index.
The next couple days passed quickly while Sonic waited on an answer from the Grand Elder. The night before the solstice he stared up at the full moon from the balcony outside their room. The blue light gently illuminated the desert giving it an almost eerie glow.
"Thinking about tomorrow?" a tired voice said from behind him. Sally yawned as she joined him at the view. "It's not like it's the first time you've had time to prepare for a big fight."
"At least this time you're in on the plan," Sonic reminded her and Sally lightly smiled. "Well, that's also assuming the Grand Elder even changes his mind."
"And what's stopping you from just going? Wouldn't be the first time you've done something completely irresponsible, rash and insane."
"Aww, I'm flattered you remember," he replied with a smile.
"Well, about ninety percent of those times is when I told you not to do it so..." They both laughed quietly.
"It's out of respect, for one," Sonic explained to her. "And second...well, I don't actually know where the island is. For all I know it's either right next door or on the other side of the planet." He shrugged at the options. "So I'm kinda stuck."
"I know it's none of my business but can I ask you something a bit...personal?" Sally asked him and Sonic shrugged again. "You and Mina...are the two of you a couple?"
"At least you cut to the chase," he replied with a chuckle. "We are...I think. We just wanna take things slow. Our lives don't exactly leave room for dating. Well, mine doesn't anyway." He looked at Sally with a curious expression. "Why do you ask?"
Sally's cheeks burned crimson. "When the two of you look at each other it's like I'm seeing us the way we used to be," she admitted. "And despite everything that's happened I miss that feeling." Without giving him a chance to stop her she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "Promise me that you'll be okay tomorrow."
Sonic stroked her hair and gently kissed her forehead. "I promise, Sal."
Morning came and Dulcy woke the two of them up at the crack of dawn. They made their way to the balcony where they had first landed to see the Elders and Almacca all gathered. Several of the younger Dragons were also there and Sonic thought for a moment he even saw Sabina in the crowd.
"This is one hell of a goodbye," Sonic commented adjusting his bag.
"You will not be needing your gear, Guardian," Terloviir said. "Our Lord has made his decision. You should be proud as you are the first being to ever change his mind. So do not let this opportunity go to waste." Sonic was about to ask when he had made his decision until he heard a flapping noise in the distance. Sally looked around for the source of the sound stopping only when she noticed everyone, including Sonic, was looking up. Her eyes widened as she saw a massive shape flying above them and rapidly coming closer. The dragon landed gently on the edge of the balcony and tucked its wings behind it and stared directly at Sonic.
My daughter assures me that you can defeat Gilgamesh, a voice in her head said. Sally looked at Sonic who just nodded towards the dragon. Despite how calm he was acting Sally could see the awe in his eyes as he stared down the massive dragon. Against my instincts I will go along with this plan of yours. But should you fail...
"Not gonna be a problem," Sonic assured him cockily. "So how do I get to the island?"
"One of us will take you," Almacca explained. "Based on the moon's position in the sky it will begin soon. You must leave now in order to arrive on time." The two Mobians looked to Dulcy but before they could say anything Almacca continued. "Dulcinea does not know where Isle Avalon is nor shall we tell her."
"No offense but I think she's earned that much," Sonic argued. Dulcy placed her hand on his shoulder and shook her head.
"I'm okay with this, Sonic," she told him. "It's not because I'm an exile. There's probably only a handful of Dragons that know where the island is anyway."
To be precise there is only one here that knows. They turned to the Grand Elder who smirked. I will take you there myself, Sonic Hedgehog. As I said, Almacca assures me of your strength but I wish to see it for myself. Sally hugged her friend tightly before he walked up to the dragon. When asked how he would be riding the Grand Elder scoffed and spread his wings. With a single flap he was airborne and picked Sonic up in one of his talons, much to hedgehog's loudly vocalized chagrin.
At their current altitude Sonic could see the desert stretch out for miles in any given direction except west where the desert dropped abruptly into the ocean. He looked south and could make out an island in the distance hanging lazily in the air.
"Is that Angel Island?" he asked the Grand Elder and dragon gave him an affirmative. "Place looks tiny from here."
We are quite some distance from the Echidnas, the dragon told him. The island is roughly the same size as Mobotropolis before it fell to Robotnik and is by far the largest of the sky islands.
"How does Isle Avalon measure up?"
Significantly smaller but Isle Avalon was never intended to support a civilization like Angel Island does, the dragon explained. Do not worry, Guardian. We will be there soon.
Sonic muttered under his breath as they glided over the ocean. Every now and then he could see various marine life jumping out of the water on their same path. He couldn't tell if it was just coincidence or if they were actually following them but Sonic took the time to admire the view he had all the same. The Grand Elder growled at him when he asked, "Are we there yet?" but beyond that the two didn't converse. A look into the sky told Sonic the eclipse was almost upon them as the black disc of the moon began to slide in front of the sun. Darkness quickly descended across the ocean and Sonic watched as everything around them practically vanished.
Everything except for a shimmer of light nearly a mile ahead of them. Sonic locked his eyes onto it just as the Grand Elder sped up. We have only a brief window to get on the island, he explained when Sonic asked about the boost. Once we land the island will remain visible until the sun sets. After that any left there will be trapped. An enormous crack! sounded and Sonic felt like his eyes were being pushed into the back of his skull. He felt a tingle as they passed through the barrier and the Grand Elder began to slow down. He dropped Sonic a few feet from the ground before landing himself, curling into a large ball.
The hedgehog had expected the island to be a paradise but he'd underestimated what that meant. Many of the flowers glowed with a soft light that gently illuminated the clearing they were in. As he tried to touch one it snapped its petals shut and the light vanished. "This is incredible," he said as he turned to the Grand Elder.
This island is a sanctuary for more than Excalibur, the dragon explained. You will need to find a waterfall cave. That is where we were told Excalibur sleeps. I would hurry, though. I could feel the presence of the human on our way here. You do not want him to catch you off-guard.
"Yeah, yeah," Sonic muttered as he tried to find a clearing. "Any idea what direction I should head in to find this cave of yours?" The Grand Elder shrugged as he closed his eyes and began to snore. "You've gotta be kidding me." He walked towards one of the walls of flowers, working his way through the darkness. He tried to shut out the noise of the forest but there were too many new sounds for him to ignore. There was a bird above him that let out a gentle trill that reminded him of a lullaby. Off to his side was another grouping of the glowing flowers. These ones, however, seemed to follow his every move and snapped shut whenever he tried to get closer to them.
It would be easy to get lost in this place's beauty, he thought to himself as he tried to focus on the task at hand. He closed his eyes and filtered out as many of the new sounds as he could. Sylvanix had shown him how to do this ages ago but it was the first time Sonic had seen fit to use it. Everything that makes sound sends it on a current of wind, he said repeating the Magan's words. In order to find a particular current you need to filter out any and all distractions. Focus on the memory of a sound and let your instincts guide you.
He opened his eyes and looked around again. "But I still can't hear a damn thing," he muttered, walking around the forest again.
It was another hour before Sonic heard the whisperings of a river. By now the sun was visible again and the island was illuminated by daylight. As much as the beauty of the island in the darkness dazzled him he preferred to not trip over tree roots every other minute. The sound of rushing water led him to a river and, once he had drunk his fill of water, followed it upstream. There was a small clearing ahead where he could see the waterfall. The water poured down from one of the mountains but from where he stood Sonic could see no cave. He groaned at the thought of having to get wet finding it but nonetheless he stripped down so as to keep the majority of his clothes dry.
He dove into the pool and was relieved to see a tunnel leading into the mountain. He followed it for a short time before coming up for air. The cavern wasn't as large as he'd been expecting. In fact, it reminded him of the waiting room in the Senate Hall. At the back of the cavern was a small flattened area with a sword resting in a pedestal.
"So this is the mighty Excalibur," Sonic said as he looked the sword over. It looked like an ordinary claymore to the untrained eye but Sonic could also feel an enormous presence from within it. Out of curiosity he grabbed the hilt and tried to pull it from the pedestal but the blade didn't budge. "Either it's really stuck or there's something to the old legend," he mused as he headed back to the entrance. Once outside again he laid down in the grass. Once he was sure he was dry he put his uniform back on and laid back down. He knew Gilgamesh was on the island now but most likely having the same issues he'd had. He let out a tendril of his reiatsu, not sure if the human could actually sense it but wanting to speed things up if possible.
After almost two hours there was a noise on the opposite side of the clearing from Sonic. The red-cloaked human had leaves and branches sticking out of various places in his clothes and his red eyes were narrowed at Sonic. "Took you long enough," Sonic said as he stood up. "I was worried you weren't gonna show."
"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" the human asked dejectedly as he drew a katana from its sheath.
"You've tracked me down once so I figured it was only polite to return the favor." As Gilgamesh came at him Sonic easily dodged the attack, removing Kaiyō Mujō from his back to block the second swing, easily catching Gilgamesh's blade between the sheath and guard. Gilgamesh snarled and lifted up his sword to bring it down again. Sonic vanished as the blade sliced through the air and, out of instinct, Gilgamesh spun around only to be hit square on the bridge of his nose by Kaiyō Mujō's sheath. Sonic charged him, grabbed the sheath and swung it like a blade, scoring hits across Gilgamesh's torso. Sonic rammed his knee into the human's gut and, while he was still airborne, grabbed his head and threw him towards the underwater cave.
"Time to get this party started," he said as Gilgamesh vanished into the cave.