Journey to the East 1/4
Note: The next 4 chapters will be issues 13 - 16 of Sonic Universe. My favorite arc in the Sonic Universe series.
(Theme song - Pokemon Journeys: The Series (Season 23) - English Dub Opening)
(Abigail's POV)
*It's only been a few hours since we arrived in the Dragon Kingdom & already we were fighting for our lives. Once we arrived in Stormtop Village, we were introduced to an old friend of Sonic & Tails, Li Yuen the Lion (a yellow & brown male lion with blue eyes wearing a white & blue robe & holding a brown cane). After that, while Sally & Khan went to visit the injured Shijin Warriors, he gave me, Sonic, & Tails a tour of the Temple of the Golden Lotus. What we saw inside really surprised us*
(Flashback - Hours ago)
Li Yuen: . . . And this is the Temple of the Golden Lotus.
Sonic: Cool.
Abigail: It's beautiful.
Tails: I'll say. What's the story of this place Mr. Li?
Li Yuen: It dates back before recorded time, my young friends. It is said this land was the birthplace of dragons. They were a young race, and they misused their power. They warred with each other horribly for generations. In time they saw the ruination that their fighting brought. Ashamed, they vowed to leave the land in peace and settle through out the world. Before they departed, they left the prophecy of a time when turmoil would return to the land, and the Great Lotus King would bring peace and unity to the Dragon Kingdom.
*He pointed towards a gold statue & my mouth dropped when I saw it*
Tails: Sonic! Abby! That's -
Sonic: No way . . .
Abigail: It's . . .
*It looked just like Khan*
*Suddenly, we were jumped by a bunch of spider ninjas. We fought them off, but they captured Sally, Tails, & Khan. Now it was just me, Huck, & Sonic*
Sonic: You guys really know how to make tourists feel welcome!
Abigail: I would have just preferred a "hello" and a handshake!
Li Yuen: Sonic! Abigail! To the Temple of the Golden Lotus! *before he could finish that sentence, Sonic grabbed me & zoomed towards the temple. once we were inside, Huck (who was hiding in the temple) hugged me* - Hurry?
Sonic: Sorry, pal. "Hurry" is too slow for me
Li Yuen: The temple is meant for welcoming people, but for now it might keep the Gossamer Clan out long enough for us to formulate a plan.
*I looked at the golden monkey statue*
Abigail:*in her mind* Now I understand why you're so unsure of yourself, Ken. You've got so much responsibility on your shoulders.
Li Yuen: While we are safe for now, I am afraid the others have been captured. I apologize. I have been a poor steward.
Sonic: Don't sweat it, Pops. I'll think of a way to make this work.
*I elbowed him at the nickname "Pops"*
Li Yuen: I envy your confidence, young man.
*I turned to where he was looking & saw two Gossamer Clan ninjas in the window above us*
Sonic: Thanks, but the windows were cleaned yesterday. Come back next week, okay?
*One of the ninjas jumped down to the floor*
Li Yuen: This is a sacred place! You cannot desecrate it with violence!
*Sonic spin dashed into the ninja*
Abigail: Sonic! He just said - !
*He held the ninja against the wall with his arm*
Sonic: We're not fighting though. We're just having a friendly conversation, right? I've tangled with some of you guys in the past, and I'm noting a serious lack of weaponry and webbing. You're pulling your punches. Why?
Spider Ninja: The Master learned of your arrival and decreed you would meet with her. There was no guarantee you would come willingly or peacefully. We were sent to make assurance.
*Sonic let go*
Sonic: So attacking and kidnapping our friends was the best you could come up with to get our cooperation? You couldn't just import a chili dog recipe?
Spider Ninja: It is not our place to question the Master.
*They headed for the door & I followed them. Huck hung on to my shoulder*
Sonic: Oh, well. We'll see you later, old man!
Li Yuen: You're simply going with them? Just like that?
Sonic: Sure! At this rate, what's the worst that can happen?
Abigail: Don't jinx it, Blue Boy.
*Sonic picked me up bridal style & we followed the ninjas through the forest until we reached another temple, only a little bit smaller then the Temple of the Golden Lotus*
Sonic: Wow! Nice place you've got here. *we found our friends tied up in the courtyard* Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to get back to you.
Tails: Sonic! Abby!
*Sonic put me down*
Spider Ninja: You have to agree to meet the Master with obedience and humility.
Sonic: Yeah, because those are totally my key traits. Let our friends go and we'll hear what she has to say without a fuss.
Spider Ninja: Very well.
*Our friends were cut free*
Abigail: Is everybody okay?
Tails: Yeah, we're fine.
Monkey Khan: Speak for yourself. Being beaten so easily is only half as embarrassing as having to be rescued by Sonic.
Sonic: Get over yourself, Monkey Boy. You okay, Sal? . . . Sally?
*We looked at Sally & saw she was looking down, sad*
Abigail: I'll talk to her. You guys go on ahead *they both nodded & went inside with Tails* Sally, are you okay? We need to be at the top of our game now.
Sally: I don't think I've been at the top of my game for months, Abby. I didn't arrest Robotnik when I had the chance. It didn't even occur to me and I rationalized myself later as showing mercy. I almost lost New Mobotropolis to the Iron Dominion. And now I've spent my first few hours of this mission as a stupid hostage!
Abigail: Sally . . .
*She snapped her face towards me with tears in her eyes*
Sally: No! I used to handle Swatbots, Abby! Swatbots! I staged a winning campaign against Robotnik's Empire before I came of age! And now look at this mess we're in! I'm only free because I ran away from the fight! I feel like I'm at the end of my rope here!
*She looked down, crying. I put my hands on her shoulders & she looked at me*
Abigail: Sally, listen to me. Nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes. What's important is that we learn from them. Even if we lose one or two battles, we haven't lost the war. You've led the team to so many victories, even before I came along. And there's nobody else I would rather have as a leader.
Huck: Chao-Chao. Chao.
*Sally looked at me surprised. She then smiled, wiped her eyes, & pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back*
Sally: Thanks, Abby. You're a true friend.
Abigail: I know. I try.
Sally: All right. Let's go. Let's go see the woman in charge.
*We then went inside to meet up with the boys*
*Inside the temple, we met a red female spider with red eyes wearing a black & red robe, who was sitting on a throne in a lotus postion*
Bride of Endless Reach: I am the Bride of Endless Reach. Bride to the House of the Gossamer Clan. She who knows the course of fate. She who can obtain all things.
*Sally & Khan bowed to her*
Sally: I am Princess Sally Alicia Acorn, daughter of King Nigel and leader of the Freedom Fighters.
Monkey Khan: I am Monkey Khan. *Sally elbowed him* . . . The King of the Free People. Appointed defender of the Dragon Kingdom without a clan to call their own.
*Huck & I bowed to her in the same manner as Sally & Khan*
Abigail: My name is Abigail Catz. It's an honor to meet you. And this is Huckleberry, my pet Chao.
Huck: Chao-Chao.
Sonic: Yo, I'm Sonic.
Tails: My name is Tails. I'm with him.
*Sally & I glared at them both*
Sally: Guys! Would you please - !
Bride of Endless Reach: Ah, the Acorn Princess. We would very much like to hear your account of our dearest daughter, Uma Arachnis.
Sally: She was one of yours?
Monkey Khan: Wait, I thought you'd never been to the Dragon Kingdom?
Sally: She was a minion of the evil wizard Ixis Nagus and escaped from the Void with him a long while ago. She later worked with the former Warlord Kodos to steal the Sword of Acorns. But she ended up turning on him and helped me retrieve it.
Bride of Endless Reach: And then?
Sally: I'm sorry to say she died from radiation poisoning. She had laid a clutch of eggs, and her children eventually took the Sword of Acorns from us, but they escaped capture from Dr. Robotnik & disappeared. We have no idea where they are.
Bride of Endless Reach: Enough. What was the ultimate fate of the Sword of Acorns?
Sally: It was destroyed before it could fall into the wrong hands.
*The Bride stood up from her throne*
Bride of Endless Reach: As it was spun, so it has been done! Our heart breaks for the loss of our daughter and her children, but it is mended anew with new their fates fulfilled.
*Sonic & Tails looked at each other & shrugged*
Sonic: This is all very fascinating, really, but could you maybe have it make some sense to the uninitiated?
Bride of Endless Reach: Uma, and indeed, all of the Arachne have always been our most gifted readers. *she walked down to us from her throne & led us down a hallway* She saw the last relics of the Source of All would fall into hands of evil and ensured they were destroyed even after her own death.
Sonic: Yuh - huh. About making this all make sense . . .?
*We all gasped at what we saw. It was the biggest spider web I'd ever seen. It went from the ceiling to the floor. Three spider ninjas were hanging on it*
Bride of Endless Reach: You are the first outsiders to look upon the Web of Fate. Woven by our first bride, it's strands foretell of what is to come - If you know how to read it. It tells of future prosperity. It set Uma on her mission. It even foretold of your coming here.
Monkey Khan: Now wait just a minute! If you can foresee all this, why have you been fighting!? Why have my people been made to suffer if you're already so well informed!? Why aren't you sharing your wisdom with the rest of the Dragon Kingdom!?
Sonic: Er . . . Khan? Maybe now isn't the best time to . . .
Bride of Endless Reach: It is our web. Woven by our bride and read by our chosen. It is not something for the rest of the Dragon Kingdom. The Web of Fate tells of key moments to come, but not the road to take. We cannot use it for something so base as day - to - day tactics. Furthermore, we believe this "King" born in another land, powered by Robotnik's gifts, and given title only by clanless people if forgetting he is talking to the Gossamer Clan's Bride!
*They glared at each other*
Monkey Khan: If you think I'm just going to - !
Sally: Ahem! If I may . . .? The Dragon Kingdom is a massive land. The unorganized "Free People" can live alongside the other clans comfortably, right?
Monkey Khan: Of course. All they want is to live in peace.
Sally: And you just said that the web doesn't show you the way to each point ahead, if that's the case, couldn't there always be a peaceful option?
Bride of Endless Reach: Perhaps.
Sally: Wouldn't it be worth the effort even if it isn't the fastest route? Your clan has already lost Uma and six you members who will probably never get to see their homeland.
Bride of Endless Reach: That . . . That is very true . . . *she turned back to Khan* But would the King of the Free People recognize the Gossamer Clan and it's land? Or would we be opening ourselves up to a new "King of the Four Houses"?
Monkey Khan: The people only want peace. As . . . As King of the Free People, I would be sure to honor your clan and it's claims. You have my word of honor.
Sonic: You think she's going to just buy your "word"?
Abigail: Sonic!
*I was about to elbow him, but Khan turned to him with a glare*
Monkey Khan: I don't know how you do things over there, but in the Dragon Kingdom ones "Word of Honor" is a sacred.
Sonic: Alright! Alright! Consider me culturally enlightened now.
*Ken turned back to the Bride*
Monkey Khan: I am the leader of the Shijin Warriors. If there's going to be peace, your clan is going to make the first gesture.
Bride of Endless Reach: We shall consult the web and see what it directs.
*She turned to the web*
Monkey Khan:*whispering* We're in the heart of their fortress. Is she says no, we're in deep trouble.
Sonic:*whispering* In that case, we'll keep the hundred limb brigade at bay while Tails gets Sally and Abby to safety.
*Tails gulped*
Abigail:*whispering* Sonic!
Sally:*whispering* If it comes to that, we stick together to the end.
Bride of Endless Reach: The path you ask of us is fraught with peril, and I see dark days to come if we choose it, but it should ensure peace and prosperity for all clans and all people in the end. We shall reject the Iron Dominion and you will have our support. You have my word of honor.
*Sonic & Tails high-fived*
Tails: Yeah!
Sonic: Score one for the good guys!
*Me, Huck, Sally, & Ken bowed to the bride*
Sally: Thank you, on behalf of the Republic of Acorn.
Bride of Endless Reach: We will be watching you with great interest, King of the Free People. *we turned to leave, when suddenly . . .* Wait! *we turned back to her* Before you leave, there is one more thing we must discuss. *she pointed at me* You. You said your name was Abigail Catz, correct?
Abigail: Yes . . .
Bride of Endless Reach: There is something we must discuss . . . Alone.
*Me & my friends all looked surprised. Sonic was about to open his mouth to argue, but I stopped him & pointed behind her. The three spider ninjas had their weapons ready. Sonic sighed in defeat*
Sonic:*whispering* Give a shout if you need anything.
*I nodded, gave Huck to Sally, & they left. I turned back to the Bride*
Bride of Endless Reach: Come. We have much to discuss.
*She walked down another hallway & I followed her*
*She led me to a small room with a round table. We each sat on a pillow, across from the other. One ninja came into the room, holding a tray with a teapot & 2 teacups. She set the tray down & poured tea in each of the cups. She then bowed & left the room. The Bride picked up her cup & sipped. I just stared at mine*
Abigail: So . . . What did you want to talk about?
*She put her cup down*
Bride of Endless Reach: About the stone around your neck.
*I was surprised at first, but then I sighed*
Abigail: I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you know about it.
Bride of Endless Reach: Many years ago, the Web of Fate foretold of a girl who wears a purple stone that grants unlimited power to the one who wears it. When I saw the stone around your neck, I knew you were the one. The web also foretold that you would one day you would learn the secret of the stone's power. But it also warned of great evil that would try to stand in your way.
*I looked at her, surprised, again*
Abigail: Are you saying that . . .
Bride of Endless Reach: You must be very careful, Abigail. A great journey, as well as great danger looms in your future.
*My surprise turned to fear*
*That night, we were all back at Stormtop Village, having dinner with Li Yuen & his granddaughter, Li Moon the Fox (a red female fox with black hair & violet eyes wearing a violet tunic-like top, black armbands, violet pants, & black boots)*
Note: Sonic & Sally are sitting next to each other & Khan is sitting across from them.
Sonic: . . . And then Khan gets all in her face, and I'm thinking "Great. Way to get us into another fight, Monkey Boy!"
*Most of us laughed, but Ken just glared at him. I turned to Sally*
Abigail: So after all that talk about losing your touch, you just ended hundreds of years of hostility. Feeling better about yourself now?
Huck: Chao-Chao?
Sally: I did alright, I suppose. *she turned to Ken* It seems like you've just accepted yourself as the King of the Free People.
Monkey Khan: Yeah, yeah . . . I suppose I have to.
Tails: Do you think everyone is doing okay back home?
Sonic: Sure! Don't worry about them. Amy and everyone have everything under control.
*Li Moon came up to them, holding a teapot*
Li Moon: More tea?
*Tails turned to her with a blush as she poured him more tea. I hid a giggle.*
Abigail:*in her mind* So cute!
Tails: Oh! Um, yes please. Thank you, Li Moon.
Li Moon: My pleasure. It's so good to see you & Sonic again. *suddenly, a kunai, with a piece of paper attached to it, came flying through the window, destroying the teapot* AAH!
Tails: WHOA!
Li Yuen: Are you alright?
Li Moon: I'm fine, Grandfather. Just very wet.
*Tails shook himself dry*
Sonic: Gah! Tails! Cut it out!
Abigail: Quit it!
Huck: Chao!
*Sally took the kunai out of the wall & unattached the piece of paper*
Monkey Khan: Hurry, Sonic! Maybe we can still catch whoever that was before - !
Sally: They'd be long gone by now, Ken. If they meant to hurt us, they'd do more than destroy the kettle.
*Tails used hie twin tails to dry me & Li Moon*
Sonic: Well, they ticked me off. That was good tea. What's the note say?
*We all gathered around the note & read it*
Monkey Khan: It's from the leader of the local Yagyu encampment. He wants to meet with us.
Sally: Word travels fast around here.
Sonic: That suits me just fine! We've already gotten one clan to break away. Tommorow, we'll take on the Yagyu Clan!
*Just before we all went to bed, we decided to call home for a status report. The news we got wasn't pleasant. Snively had created his own A.I., it was called Phage. But it was more like a virus than an A.I. It wormed it's way into the computer system, captured Nicole, (or who it thought was Nicole. She created a digital copy of herself & Phage captured it instead of her. She was currently hiding in the computer at Freedom HQ) & took over the whole city. Luckily, most of the citizens were able to escape to Angel Island with the help of the Chaotix. Fortunately, my family, Lacey & her family were among those that had managed to escape. Zeke & his family, along with Nathan and Mason, were also able to escape. I slept peacefully that night, knowing they were safe. But I was still worried about the people that had been captured*
To be Continued . . .