Chapter 4
Starring:
Maria the Tenrec - Widowed Wife of a Hero
Silver the Hedgehog - Assassin-turned-Hero
Gold the Tenrec - Assassin-turned-Hero
Eggman Neo - Superior Eggman
Metal Sonic 3.0 - Mechanized Enforcer
Four months have passed since the death of Mobius' most prized hero, Sonic the Hedgehog. Eggman Neo has slowly choked the world with his ever expanding empire, aiming to replace every bit of it with his industrialized factories. No resistance had the strength to fight back and any attempt was met with punishment. But unbeknownst to him, one hero from the old generation did still live. And with her, two new companions who were willing to amend their past deeds by saving their world. As such, they are staking out just outside of Neo's main tower, Neo Citadel, with Gold using her psychic powers to see what was waiting for them.
Maria: "Being this close to an Eggman base sure does bring back memories. Some good, some bad."
Silver: "We'll be following your lead, Maria. What's our plan?"
Maria: "First we figure out what Eggman is up to, then stop him. Along the way, free those he's enslaved. Leave no one under his influence."
Silver: "Understood. But what do you think Eggman is planning?"
Maria thought about it for a moment, but as she did, Gold chimes in.
Gold: "I see… a machine… Some kind of portal generator… The one I assume to be Eggman, given his rotund shape, just stepped out of it, possibly testing it."
Silver: "Is he going somewhere?"
Maria: "If he is, it's not a good thing. No one in the universe knows that Eggman is pure evil. So he could very well be causing trouble in other places… Silver? Gold? We need to stop him at all costs. You girls ready?"
Silver: "Ready when you are."
Gold: "Let's do this."
Maria smiles before leading the charge, jumping off the cliff with Silver and Gold following her down towards the base.
Meanwhile, in Eggman Neo's lab, the doctor steps of a portal as Gold stated, looking very pleased with himself. A black Metal Sonic with gold highlights walks up, crossing his arms as he looked at his master.
Metal Sonic: "Judging by the expression. I assume you went to the past?"
Neo: "Indeed I did, but not quite in the way I hoped. I need time to recalibrate the coordinates, but once that's done, I'll be in past Mobius for sure."
Metal Sonic: "And I get to destroy that blue hedgehog myself. And show that I have no equal."
Neo: "I love the enthusiasm, Metal Sonic 3.0, but remember who you serve. If you disobey, I have no trouble dismantling you and using you for spare parts."
Neo says, leaning closer to his much smaller creation with an intimidating smile. Metal Sonic though just glares back before looking away with a 'humph'. Alarms soon go off, causing Neo to scowl as he goes to the monitor to check what was going on.
Neo: "Another pathetic attempt to escape? Maybe the last smoldering flickers of hope? Either way, my Neo Bots will surely-"
Neo's voice cuts off as he sees Maria, Silver, and Gold making quick work of his robots. Particularly Maria which he was sure was gone given there hadn't been any activity from her until now.
Neo: "Well… My creator's past has spawned some unwelcoming pests. Metal Sonic 3.0!"
Metal Sonic: "I'm right here. State your order already!"
Neo: "Urgh… Get rid of those pests. I need to get the Neo Dragoon ready just in case they make it to my location. I will not be stopped by some insignificant bugs!"
Eggman Neo leaves the room as Metal Sonic stares at the monitor showing Maria. According to his data, this was the wife of Sonic the Hedgehog and a key figure in the fall of the original Eggman. He then accessed the Eggnet to discover some interesting bits of information.
Back outside, Maria, Silver, and Gold continued their raid on the Citadel as robots flooded the courtyard. Gold used her more limited offensive psychic powers to break open cages holding the captive Mobians and humans. Silver and Maria handled the robots coming out of the Citadel itself.
Maria: "You know, if you told me that I'd be fighting robots again ten years ago, I'd think you were crazy."
Silver: "If only. But this isn't exactly my idea of a vacation."
Maria: "No joke. Once we're done at this block, we'll head to the next one. Eggman's probably aware of our presence by now."
As the two banter, they are contacted by Gold using her telepathy as they kept the robot reinforcements at bay.
Gold (Telepathically): "Maria. Silver. The last of the prisoners of this block have been escorted out."
Maria: "Good. Let's make like a car and drive out of here!"
Gold catches up to the other two as Silver flings robots aside using her telekinesis. As they make their way to the next block, Maria spots something speed at them - or her, specifically - from above. She tries to stop in time, but the speeding object, in a split second, redirects itself at her, quickly slamming her into the wall. Claws choke at her as she keeps a second set from stabbing her head. She looked at the figure who held her; though it was a different coat of paint, it was the undeniable shape of Metal Sonic.
Maria: "You again!? I thought Sonic turned you to scrap on the Egg Carrier!"
Metal Sonic: "Despite my model being in the same line, I am not the same Metal Sonic as the one from then. I am the superior model, Version 3.0."
Silver: "Maria!"
Silver uses his telekinesis to try and pry Metal Sonic off of Maria, but then several Neo Pawns with laser blasters rush in and start blasting at Silver and Gold. Silver uses her power to lift a piece of the ground to act as a shield, but it was clear it was hard to concentrate on both Metal Sonic and defending at the same time. Maria growls before reeling her head back and slamming it onto Metal Sonic's cranium, causing his eyes to static as his grip loosened and he was tossed off.
Maria: "Silver! Gold! You go on ahead! I'll take out Metal Sonic myself!"
Gold: "But Maria! We can't-"
Maria: "If we don't stop Eggman, it doesn't matter what happens to me! Defeating that madman is our top priority, no matter what!"
Maria then turns to Gold and Silver before flashing a smile and thumbs up, resembling Sonic's own pose.
Maria: "I got this. Don't you worry."
Silver looks at Maria before nodding. She then turns to Gold and grabs her before sending the piece of the floor she was using as a shield at the group of robots, scattering them before flying into the next block. As they left, Maria sees Metal Sonic stand back up, rubbing the dent in his head as he glares at her.
Metal Sonic: "I'll give you that one. That actually hurt. But you won't get a second lucky shot, meatbag."
Maria: "You may not be the same Metal Sonic, but you are a Metal Sonic. So I owe you a lot for the trouble your big brother gave me all those years ago."
Maria removes her Inhibitor Rings before unleashing her aura once again. Metal Sonic floats off the ground before the two combatants glare at each other. Within a split second, they clash, the force of the clash causing the walls around them to warp and bend. Maria strikes at Metal with a kick under the chin; Metal retaliates with a punch to the gut; Maria comes in with an elbow to the face; Metal grabs Maria's head and slams it onto his knee. The ferocious exchange of blows soon brings the fight outside as Maria is flung back out the courtyard she and her psychic friends left just before Metal arrived. Metal walks out of the entrance, his eyes glowing a piercing red as he glares at Maria.
Metal Sonic: "As to be expected of a creation of your stature, your endurance is to be complimented. But you lack finesse."
Maria: "Yeah, blame my husband. He's not one for fancy footwork beyond knowing how to turn his feet into super sonic wheels."
Maria says with a shrug before ducking a punch from Metal Sonic as he sped at her. She then quickly lands an upward kick onto Metal's stomach.
Maria: "But what my husband lacked in finesse, he more than made up for with power and speed!"
Metal is sent flying into the sky before he stops himself, slowly descending back onto the ground.
Metal Sonic: "I see. The fact I never got a chance to fight him only makes me angrier. But that will be remedied soon enough."
Maria: "What do you mean? Sonic is dead; you missed your chance for good."
Metal Sonic: "Hmph. You say that as if there wasn't a way to break through the boundaries of time itself. Eggman Neo has made sure of that."
This information causes Maria to pause. Her eyes then narrow as she glares at Metal Sonic.
Maria: "Eggman Neo? And he can go through time?"
Metal Sonic: "A work in progress. But one that will be worth it in his eyes. Imagine, a whole world that's waiting to be taken… A Sonic to be destroyed… I'm only interested in showing myself as the better Sonic, both to my 'older brother' and the 'original'. And once that's done, I care not for the world afterwards. In fact, I'd rather see it become a fireworks display."
Maria: "So wait… This Neo guy's whole plan… is just to fight Sonic? Same as yours? You two… are absolute losers then! If that's really your plan, then you clearly have way more frail egos than Ivo ever did. And trust me, the guy snapped after I told him our grandfather wouldn't be happy with how he led his life. And I still think that… But you two… are way worse than him!"
Metal Sonic glares hard at Maria for being called a 'loser'. But then, he starts to laugh. Louder, more maniacally. He then raises a hand and places a clawed finger to his head.
Metal Sonic: "Say what you will, Tenrec. But you clearly don't understand the situation you've put yourself in. For you see… I have something my older brother didn't."
Metal Sonic then pushes a button on his personal computer in his arm, calling for a delivery. A Neo Pawn arrives with a case, opening it to reveal seven glowing gems. Maria's expression turned to fear as she knew exactly what Metal Sonic was up to. But before she could stop him, the Chaos Emeralds circled around the robot, giving him their energy before he let out a roar. A blinding golden light engulfs him, forcing Maria to shield her eyes as the force of the power slides her back a bit. Once the light vanishes, Maria looks up to see a now golden Metal Sonic, his colors inverted where he was now mostly gold with black highlights. As Maria processes what she's seeing, Metal speeds right at her, slamming a fist right at her face and sending her flying into a wall.
Metal Sonic: "How's that for being a 'loser'? Hmm… I think I'll call this form… Golden Metal Sonic. Yes, that'll do. Hehehe…"
Metal Sonic then curls up into a ball as he launches at where Maria impacted the ground, being stopped by a Maria, now unleashing her full aura, holding Metal Sonic with her legs, but only barely.
In another part of the Citadel, Silver and Gold run down the halls, blocking off the halls they run through as to keep pursuers at bay. But Silver pauses in her running as she felt the sudden surge of Chaos energy from Metal Sonic.
Gold: "Silver? What's wrong?"
Silver: "You… You feel that, right?"
It took Gold a moment to realize what exactly she was sensing, which only made her shiver.
Gold: "That's… a lot of Chaos energy… But it's not from Maria…"
Silver: "Yeah. It must be from that robot… But how? I thought robots weren't capable of gathering Chaos energy…"
A laser blast flying by the duo breaks them from their pause as they remember where they were. Silver sends out a psychic wave, spreading the robots away before turning to Gold.
Silver: "We need to keep moving. Regardless of what we're feeling, Maria is right. If we let Eggman win, then everyone is doomed. Stopping him is our priority."
Gold: "Of course… I just pray… that Maria will be okay…"
Back on the battle courtyard, clash after clash was occurring as Maria and Metal Sonic were speeding in the air, causing the air to distort with each collision they made. Maria though was on the losing end of this tussle as Metal Sonic had the clear advantage thanks to his Super form. As she fires off a barrage of Chaos Spears at Metal, the robot closed the distance and slammed a knee into her gut, causing her to cough out blood from the impact. He then grabs the girl's hair and swings her around before tossing her toward the ground.
Metal Sonic: "Don't tell me you're losing steam already. I've hardly begun to fight seriously."
Maria slowly stands up, blood rushing from her mouth as she was injured all over. She held her arm as she starts panting.
Maria: "This sucks… In his Super form, he's way too powerful… And worse yet, I don't know if his Super form works like Sonic's…"
Metal Sonic: "Spoiler warning… It doesn't."
Maria's eyes widen as she turns to see Metal Sonic behind her. He lunges at Maria, jabbing his thumb claw into her right eye as he grabs and slams her into the ground.
Metal Sonic: "Neo was very particular about that blasted time limit. So he gave me an infinity engine core - an experimental one - to ensure I would surpass even Super Sonic. And his tests proved successful."
Metal Sonic lifts Maria off the ground, she silently screams from her eye being stabbed through. He tosses her to the nearest wall, slamming his foot into her stomach, the impact embedding Maria further into the wall.
Metal Sonic: "How sad. Predictable, but sad regardless. I expected a much better fight from Sonic's other half. But if this is truly all you can muster, then it's no wonder you failed at avenging your precious friends."
Maria's remaining eye widens, she stutters her next words behind the pain she was feeling.
Maria: "H-How… do you know that…?"
Metal Sonic: "Neo has been keeping an eye on your activity the last several years. Ever since he heard that you and Sonic got married. When Sonic died, he decided to act and take over the world, with no one able to resist him. To say that he's aware of your friends' deaths…"
Metal Sonic lifts off his foot, reeling it back before slamming it into Maria again.
Metal Sonic: "WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT!"
Again. And again. Metal Sonic's foot slammed into Maria, pushing her deeper and deeper into the wall.
Metal Sonic: "Once I am in the past, I'll be sure to share this pain with your past self too. And with Sonic watching as I bury her too! I'll break not only his bones, but his spirit! He'll be begging me to stop!"
Metal Sonic continues his torture until he gets bored, seeing Maria cease any movement aside from the occasional flinching. He steps back as Maria falls to the ground, a broken mess of a tenrec.
Metal Sonic: "Let that be a lesson about trying to resist Neo's rule. Now sit there while I go and beat your friends to a pulp."
Metal Sonic then turns away, walking in the direction of the Citadel as Maria lays on the ground. Her body was broken, and her mind was left to wander. What Metal Sonic said about how she failed to avenge her friends… He was right… She did fail… This reality hit her, hitting her spirit hard as she cried.
Sonic's Voice: "Hey. Are you really going to accept that?"
Maria's ears perked up. She struggled to lift her head as she looked around. Whether it was a blood loss hallucination or just her mind playing tricks, she heard the voice of Sonic just now. Then another voice.
Amy's Voice: "Come on, Maria! You can't give up now!"
Knuckles' Voice: "We may be dead, but we aren't gone. Don't let that metal freakshow make you think otherwise."
Rouge's Voice: "Do pick yourself up too, dear. The ground doesn't suit you at all."
Cream's Voice: "We're all beside you! So keep fighting!"
Vanilla's Voice: "Don't forget… You have kids who are still waiting to see their mother. I want you to go greet them with your biggest smile."
Maria's eyes continued to pour out more tears as she heard these voices. But she still wasn't sure. But then, she saw a gloved hand reach out. It was Sonic, his trademark smile clear on his face.
Sonic: "Kick his metal butt, Maria. We'll be with you every step of the way."
Maria: "Sonic… Everyone… Thank you… Truly… Thank you…"
Maria raised a hand, gripping Sonic's as she felt energy course through her body. She took a deep breath as she got back on her feet. Metal Sonic's sensors start going off, causing him to turn and see Maria back on her feet.
Metal Sonic: "What? You still didn't get the message? Looks like I'll have to beat you more then."
Metal Sonic would have a smirk if he had a mouth as he cracks his knuckles. He then launches at Maria, throwing a hard punch in her direction. But Maria catches it, the force of the impact blowing some debris around them away, but Maria was otherwise unphased. Metal's expression changed into absolute shock as he stares at the girl.
Maria: "...Time for Round Two."
Maria pulls Metal closer as she slams a fist right into his chest. The force of it causing his armor to crack as he's sent into the sky. He tries to stop himself, but he finds it harder to do so than last time. But when he does, he finds Maria flying at him with a Chaos Spear- no, a Chaos Hammer in her hands. She closes in and swings the hammer over her head, slamming Metal Sonic back towards the ground where he bounces before skidding to a stop.
Metal Sonic: "D-Does not compute! Where did this strength come from all of a sudden!? And why is it capable of overpowering my Super form!?"
As Metal Sonic is trying to make sense of what he was witnessing, a rain of Chaos Spears came down from above. But unlike the usual Chaos Spears, these were far more explosive, causing him to get hit even if he did dodge any direct hit. One Chaos Spear even takes off his arm as he is hit by an explosion. Maria soon rushes down and crashes down on top of the robot with a drill kick, very similar to Rouge's own. This causes things to click for Metal as he realizes what was happening.
Metal Sonic: "Those attacks… How can this be… How do you have your friends' abilities!?"
Maria: "You wouldn't understand, Metal Sonic… The bond between me and my friends… is very special. Even when I'm alone… I'M NEVER TRULY ALONE!"
Maria then curls up into a ball as she starts to charge up energy. Metal knew what this was, glaring as he starts charging up his own - the Lightspeed Attack. Once both were ready, glowing with energy, they stood in a ready position. Maria took a deep breath, closing her still working eye as the images of Sonic and Shadow appeared on both of her sides. They both nodded, Maria opening her eye as the two dashed at each other. The ensuing clashes were fierce; more fierce than they were earlier as time around them seemed to pause. Metal was getting angrier though, seeing the tables turn so drastically.
Metal Sonic: "No… No! NO! I refuse to lose to some… no count hero! I refuse to lose to you!"
Maria: "This is it! Chaotic Speed Attack!"
Maria then vanished as a mix of yellow and blue auras followed her speed. Metal Sonic's sensors couldn't catch up as his body was torn to shreds by the attack. Every strike was precise, strong, and without mercy. Metal Sonic could only watch as Maria grabs his detached head.
Maria: "Chaos… BLAAAAAAAST!"
Maria's aura then exploded outward from her hand, engulfing Metal Sonic's remains as a large portion of the Citadel's outdoors area was destroyed, leaving a sizable crater in its wake. Once the dust had settled, Maria could be seen in the center of the crater, on her back, staring at the sky above. A morning sun was beginning to break through, brightening the otherwise murky, smoke cloud covered sky. Maria smiled as she saw the sun, almost seeing it as a sign.
Maria: "Sonic… Shadow… Thank you all…"
Maria then passes out from exhaustion, a smile on her face as the morning sun continued to rise.
Back with Gold and Silver, Silver knocks down a set of doors as she and Gold run in. They sensed the fight with Metal Sonic had ceased and they'd check on Maria later, but for now, they had to deal with Eggman first. As they step into a large chamber near the top of the Citadel, they hear a booming laugh, causing them to get into a battle ready pose. A large mech soon descends from above, the Neo Dragoon. And in its cockpit, Eggman Neo himself.
Silver: "You must be Eggman!"
Neo: "You'd be half correct, you spiky haired pipsqueak. I am Eggman Neo! The successor to the late Dr. Eggman before me! And soon his superior once my grand master plan has been completed!"
Gold: "What do you mean by that!?"
Neo: "Oh like I'd tell you everything. What's the fun if I just tell you every little detail?"
Silver: "Grr… No matter! We'll stop you and save the day!"
Neo: "Big talk for a little nobody. Though I'll admit… Seeing that Maria destroy some of my Citadel did make me think… If I wasn't already so neck deep into my plan, I wouldn't mind staying here and seeing just what kind of struggle she would bring me. In fact, I'd even say she would make for a fantastic alternative to Sonic. But oh well. My mind's already set up."
Silver: "Why even do this!? What's the motivation, Eggman!?"
There was a brief pause as Neo tugged at his mustache. Then a smile crawled itself on his face as he answered.
Neo: "To prove a point. That I am better than the original Eggman. And that I can do what he could not before - destroy Sonic the Hedgehog. And once I've done that, the world will soon follow. I'll destroy it all and rebuild it into my perfect image! I'll call it… Neo Utopia Land! Name pending."
Silver grits her teeth as she clenched a fist.
Silver: "So your motivation boils down to you being nothing more than an entitled brat!? Are you some kind of heartless monster!?"
The mech leans down, almost glaring at Silver as Neo answered in a sinister tone.
Neo: "Why, yes. And I'm quite proud to be heartless. Now prepare to meet your demise!"
The mech flew back up before the Neo Dragoon points its drill at Silver and Gold, shooting the drill at the duo. They dodge around the drill, but then a barrage of fiery gatling shots come at them from the gun arm of the Dragoon.
Neo: "I'll admit, this model of the Neo Dragoon was designed with Sonic in mind, but with you two? It'll easily destroy you."
Silver: "Not if I can help it!"
Silver immediately concentrates her psychic powers on the gatling arm of the Dragoon, stopping it in its place. But this leaves her a sitting duck for the drill arm. Gold quickly grabs Silver as the drill arm is fired at her.
Silver: "Darn it! The mech's too big for me to fully stop without straining myself!"
Neo: "Good news for me! Not so good for you!"
Neo then flies up as he launches his mech's Separation Laser attack, aiming lasers down at the duo and forcing them to dodge the incoming laser barrage. Gold began to think about what she could do. Her abilities as they were were limited; but then an idea came to her.
Gold: "Silver! Can you try to grab the machine again!?"
Silver: "Sure, but why!?"
Gold: "Just do it! Hurry!"
Silver looked at her partner before nodding. She then flew around the laser barrage and quickly grabbed at the robot again, holding it in place again. Neo only laughed.
Neo: "Ho ho ho! Don't you pests ever learn?"
Neo prepares to launch his drill arm, but then something unexpected happens. He hears a voice in his head. It was Gold's voice.
Gold: "No you don't! I may not have Silver's telekinesis, but I can stop you in another way! With psychokinesis!"
Neo: "M-My body!? Wh-Why can't I control it!? R-Running… internal diagnostics!"
Gold: "S-Silver! H-He's fighting me from within! Whatever you need to do, do it!"
Silver doesn't need to be told twice. She makes a gripping motion at the Neo Dragoon as she grabs the drill arm and rips it off the mech. She then turns it around and tosses it at the mech, stabbing it through the robot. Gold continues to struggle with Eggman Neo directly, but the force of her being knocked out of him causes her to hit the ground hard. Neo quickly gets out of his destroyed mech, looking physically exhausted, but so did Silver and Gold fortunately for him.
Neo: "Cursed brats… They may prove to be more trouble if I don't plan around them…"
Neo grits his teeth before his Egg Mobile computer alerts him that the portal's calibrations were complete. He smiles as he stares down at the duo.
Neo: "Looks like I've still won after all! I may have lost my Neo Dragoon, but the past is still mine to conquer! And to destroy!"
Neo laughs as he makes his escape to his lab. Silver, though exhausted, quickly grabs Gold and the two fly after him, entering his lab as his portal opens. Neo taunts them as he enters the portal, shooting the controls as he enters to scramble the coordinates.
Silver: "No! We need to go after him!"
Gold: "But… What if we get lost in time? What will happen?"
Silver looks at Gold before closing her eyes.
Silver: "It's a risk we have to take. We can't let him win."
Gold looks at Silver, then the portal. But then she sees something glowing in the machine. A gem of some kind. She digs it out and examines it.
Gold: "Is this… a Chaos Emerald?"
Silver: "I… don't feel anything from it. But it must be a power source to the machine… Maybe…"
Silver gets an idea, though an admittedly stupid one. She concentrates energy into the jewel, seemingly reacting to her energy as it glows.
Silver: "Gold… I'm going to try something… Do you mind holding onto me and never letting go?"
Gold wasn't sure what Silver was thinking, but she gripped the hedgehog's offered hand, holding onto it tightly. Silver took a deep breath as she then holds the jewel high above her head.
Silver: "Chaos… Control!"
At first, nothing seemed to happen. But then reality around them began to slow then suddenly stop. The clock nearby began to count backwards, going faster and faster until the world around the duo started to change, the Citadel they stood in vanishing as if it were deconstructing itself. A city was soon rebuilt in its place, Mobians and humans walking around, albeit in reverse and at fast speeds that made it hard to watch.
Time soon slowed again before stopping, then starting again at regular speed. Silver and Gold were left dizzy from watching everything spin around them. They were in some kind of street, in the midst of a tall series of buildings. Once the vertigo left them, Silver and Gold processed where they were as people gave them glances.
Silver: "Did we make it? Is this the past?"
Gold: "I'm not sure… Um… How do we check?"
The duo were unsure of how before Gold was tapped on the shoulder. Standing behind them were two figures. A light blue tenrec in a barista outfit and a pink hedgehog in a red dress. Gold and Silver's eyes widened as they recognized the tenrec.
Maria: "Excuse me. We're looking for Breezie Media. Do you know where it is?"
The two pause, their minds going all over the place as they stare at Maria. And the pink hedgehog, from what they recall, looked to be a younger Amy Rose. This confirmed it… They had made it to the past. …But was this the right past…?
The End… for now…