Chapter Thirty:
A Future in Peril
Silver the Hedgehog descended to the floor of the lab, and his aura faded for a time. It had been a while since Sonic last saw the time-traveling hedgehog. Usually, he showed up whenever something happened to the world in his time. In order to save his world and his future, Silver would travel to Sonic's time to help the hedgehog and his friends prevent the disaster from coming to pass.
He didn't recall much, but Sonic could remember when he and Silver clashed in Soleanna, after the latter assumed the blue hedgehog was the Iblis Trigger. Thankfully, they put aside their differences and resolved the crisis, even though it led to the events being erased from the timeline entirely.
Since then, despite the few other instances where they'd fought, Sonic and Silver had managed to remain on good terms and the blue blur trusted the time-traveling hedgehog. While he often didn't expect to bump into him much, Sonic was glad that Silver arrived to help him and the other Sonics against the Eggman Alliance.
"If it isn't everyone's favorite future dude..." Sonic quipped happily.
"Don't think I've met someone like you before." Boom Sonic quipped, "But I am familiar with time travel."
"The TriChaosForce of Wisdom predicted something like this." Princess Amy #2 said with apprehension, "We have had visions of a hedgehog with psychokinetic abilities from an era yet to come, and if there was a point when he would arrive, now is likely the ideal time."
"I remember when I traveled into the future in a previous life." Myrule Sonic remarked.
Fleetway Sonic stepped forward next to Sonic, looking at Silver with curiosity. "Blimey." The British hedgehog said with amazement, "You remind me of a bloke I met some time ago, capable of travelin' through time and all. There ain't no way I'm unfamiliar with time travel, I've seen it in some form, and meetin' ya isn't out of the ordinary."
Silver studied Fleetway Sonic, then he looked at the various other Sonics in the room, and nodded to Blaze as she approached the time-traveling hedgehog. "I nearly wish I could form an alliance with various versions of myself..." Silver said, "...even though it would risk a paradox."
"I didn't think I'd meet you again, Silver." Shadow said as he locked eyes with the white hedgehog, "And let me guess, your future is all messed up thanks to Eggman and his counterparts? We're doing all we can to ensure the doctors don't control the world..."
"Everything is not looking good." Silver replied, "In my time, Eggman and his counterparts succeeded in taking down Sonic and they took over the multiverse. Whole universes came under their control and the world became the crown jewel of the Interdimensional Eggman-Robotnik Empire. Badniks are everywhere, along with monsters.
"And that isn't the worst of it, every single Eggman came together, forming a monster known as the Eggnikbrid... and I saw that thing for myself when I went up against one of Eggman's counterparts, that creep called Eggmandorf..."
-The Future-
Banners flapped in the wind, bearing the symbols of the Eggman Empire and smoke rose from chimneys into the air. Badniks patrolled the streets of every formerly civilized district across the world and every world. Red lightning flashed in the clouds, and beams of transdimensional energy shot into the sky, opening gateways to other worlds.
At the heart of the great rift, opened by the Chaos Emeralds and the Eggmen's technological inventions, the silver hedgehog braced himself as he faced the enemy. Red eyes glared at him, and the entity growled. He could see its shadow, he could see the mustache, and it was clear that the beast wasn't as human as it used to be.
Upon its head, the Black Emerald glowed, giving the Eggnikbrid power. The Eggnikbrid emerged from the mist, surrounded by lightning, and it stared down upon Silver. A chilling aura surrounded it, and Silver could see the desire for destruction, the eagerness to continue conquering. The world was a dystopian nightmare, the population partially roboticized, and cyber-converted.
He woke up to see the world like this, he would not allow the world to continue to be ruled by the force of the Eggmen. Doctor Eggman had perished after his victory long ago, but the monster he became a part of survived. The Eggnikbrid was the ruler of the world, the culmination of Eggman's mad desires for conquest.
Silver was confident, optimistic, and had always been prepared for this fight. The beast came closer and it raised a mechanical arm. The mighty Eggnikbrid attacked with its might, swiping at Silver, and the hedgehog evaded the strike.
The time-traveling hedgehog hero dodged the oncoming attacks and went straight for the monster, going towards the Black Emerald. He had this, he could take out the source of its power...
...but it was too strong.
Upon coming closer to the dark gemstone, Silver felt his powers dwindle. He tried to push forward, but he couldn't break through. He fought with all of his might, but Silver's efforts were countered, and the beast's power broke his defenses. Silver was pushed back. And in this moment, he knew there was no way to beat this monster then.
All other options were futile. It was this point where only one option was left. If the beast was to be beaten and if the world could still be saved, Silver had to travel back in time.
It was in the past where the way to defeat the Eggnikbrid could be found. The Chaos Emeralds, the ingredients to the entity's rise, were also the ingredients to its downfall. And the ultimate key to victory was the blue blur, the one who'd beaten the Eggman beforehand, and Silver had to help make it happen.
Facing the monster one last time, Silver made his retreat, and began making preparations for his trip to the past...
-Now-
"The beast arose, just as the Oracle of Delphius said..." Jim Robotnik remarked, having listened to the whole story.
"And this was in the future." Sonic punched his palm, "We can still prevent the apocalypse. Things just got more serious, especially since Eggman already has the Black Emerald. Your timing couldn't be more perfect, Silver. We better act fast, move fast, and think fast before it's too late. It's time to take the fight to the Eggmen."
"You said it, Sonic." Manhog Sonic quipped, "Let's kick some multiversal tail..."
