Waves of Change 2/4
(Theme song - Kim Possible by Disney Channel on YouTube)
(Abigail's POV)
*I stood in front of Amy & Pearly & put my hands on my swords just in case these guys tried anything funny. Sonic, Rotor, & Razor came out of the temple*
Sonic: Hey there, fellas. Do we have a problem here?
Captain Striker: That depends. It would seem the Priestess has allowed outsiders onto holy ground without Royal permission.
Razor: Like that ever mattered in the past! Coral has better authority to decide who visits the temple better than the King or Queen anyway!
Captain Striker: Ever quick to defend her honor, eh? Or are you covering for your failure to secure this place?
Razor: What!? I didn't fail - !
*Rotor got in-between them*
Rotor: Let it go, man. He's just trying to get you in trouble.
Captain Striker: This is why defense should be left to the professionals, not boys playing at being heroes.
Abigail: Hey! I don't know who you think you are, but I'll have you know that we don't play games. We take our jobs very seriously.
Captain Striker: We'll see about that.
*Coral came out of the temple*
Coral: G - Good morning, Captain.
Sonic: Is Mr. Personality a regular around here?
Coral: The Magic Rings here power the city, so they visit every morning. I'm sorry, Captain. I - It was too late last night . . .
Captain Striker: No one is to break curfew while the monsters roam the night waters. Although I suppose we all know why that is, hm? Speaking of your duties, the temple's Patron Chao was due to reincarnate. Where is she?
Coral: Aquarius . . . Um . . . Hasn't emerged from her cocoon yet . . .
Captain Striker: The evolution ceremony takes minutes. You're telling me . . .?
Coral: S - She's ancient. Maybe it's . . . Just taking longer this time . . .?
Captain Striker: Spare me your excuses. That Chao is central to our way of life! City Guard! We're bringing this charlatan and the trespassers before the King and Queen!
*One of the guards went to grab Coral by the arm, but I grabbed her wrist first & twisted it into an arm lock*
Abigail: Don't even think about it!
Sonic: "Taking"? Oh, you can try buddy. Or we could be invited to join our buddy Coral and come along quietly.
*Razor stood in front of Coral*
Razor: She's not going!
Coral: Razor, please! Captain, I'll go, but there must be someone to attend the temple at all times!
Sonic: Your call, Cap'n. Casual stroll or international incident?
*The Captain turned to Pearly*
Captain Striker: You there. You're the apprentice, correct? You've trained in the rites?
Pearly: Y - Yes, sir! I - I can stay if it'll help . . .
Captain Striker: Good. Then that's settled. You five will be escorted to the city. You can state your business before their Graces and beg forgiveness for breaking protocol.
Sonic: Heh, sure. We can work with that.
Rotor: I'll stick with Pearly and keep hae company. It'll give me time to keep researching this place.
Sonic: Does that work for you, Cap'n?
Captain Striker: Hmph. Echo, you stay here and keep an eye on things
Echo: Sir!
Captain Striker: Now let's stop wasting daylight and head for the city.
*Me, Sonic, Amy, & Huck put on Air Charms & swam into Meropis with Coral & Razor, surrounded by guards*
Amy: I wish we were here under different circumstances. This place is amazing! And just think, this is only one city in the whole wide ocean! I wonder if the other underwater cities are this gorgeous?
Sonic: Dunno. Probably just as wet. Y'know . . . Being under all this water.
*As we swam through the city, I could see the citizens giving Coral suspicious looks*
Abigail: Hey, is it just me or do the people here seem kind of . . .
Sonic: Cranky? Disapproving? Less-than-pleasant? I guess we stand out a bit, but c'mon . . .
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao.
Razor: It's not you. Ever since the earthquakes. The waters have gotten murkier and the citizens . . . Nastier.
Sonic: I wonder . . . Well, first, we'll talk to the Royal Whoevers and get this all straightened out!
*Crusher blew a raspberry at him. Huck bopped him on the head for that*
*We reached the castle throne room & found a short indigo male pufferfish with light blue eyes & a blue spike on each side of his muzzle as well as a thistle one on the bottom of his jaw, wearing a gold spiky crown with a white gem in the middle & a yellow cape which was held together by a blue thread, sitting on a throne. Sitting next to him was a tall green female angelfish with an illicium on her forehead, pink eyes, a white muzzle, & long green spikes on her head tied together with a deep pink hair tie, wearing golden forehead jewelry around her illicium, pink lipstick, a deep pink dress, a segmented white belt with a golden strap*
King Puff: Unacceptable! It's unthinkable! Insufferable! You can't just let anyone stamp around the temple grounds! We weren't even consulted! I'm so mad I could - !
*He puffed up like a balloon*
Sonic: Well . . . He seems reasonable . . .
Abigail:*in her mind* Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to end well.
Coral: Y - Your Graces, I - I - I - If I may explain . . .
Queen Angelica: Explain? What is there to explain? *the King deflated* Due to your failures, Meropis had endured darkening waters and earthquakes. And monsters keep us trapped within our homes all night! And now - !
*Sonic stepped up to them*
Sonic: Can you stop you right there, Queenie? Hi there. Sonic the Hedgehog, greatest hero of the world and Dr. Eggman's number one pain in the butt. How's it going? So . . . What's this about Coral not doing her job? 'Cause to me, she seem pretty devout.
Queen Angelica: Ah . . . So you are the famous Sonic? Guards, stand down. Know this, in addition to allowing unauthorized foreigners into our most sacred grounds, because of Coral's failings . . .
(Third-Person POV)
*Meanwhile, Pearly was also explaining everything to Rotor*
Pearly: Things started going bad a few months ago. The water got really polluted. The city shield barley kept it out.
(Abigail's POV)
Queen Angelica: Which we could manage. But then the shield, sustained by the magic of her rites, began to weaken, exposing us to the noxious waters . . .
(Third-Person POV)
Pearly:*whispering* . . . And then there were earthquakes. That's when the night-monstets started coming out of the rift. I think the City Guard is scared of them 'cause . . .
(Abigail's POV)
Queen Angelica: . . . We have enough concerns, what with Ahklut and his Legion Army menacing the Great Blue Realm, even with the protection of the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters!
(Third-Person POV)
Pearly: And now Aquarius hasn't been reborn. She's been reincarnated here for generations. Ever since she taught the first settlers how to do the rites! It's not supposed to take this long. I'm worried that they'll blame Coral for this, too . . .
(Abigail's POV)
Coral: I - I know the fates have not been kind to us, and I have been . . . Strained . . . Lately . . . But my commitment to my duties, my city, and my people hasn't wavered. I swear it!
*Sonic made the "time out" sign with his hands*
Sonic: Okay, back up a step. No one's saying this bad stuff didn't happen, but I can explain. It's Coral's fault. Doctor Eggman is to blame. You see, a few months ago, he tried to change reality. I stopped him, but the energy left over from the crisis wound up shattering the world and letting loose some kind of dark power from it's core. That's where all your earthquakes and monsters are coming from. It's not just here. That's why we're here. We're looking to fix things!
*The King & Queen just stared at him for a moment*
King Puff: That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! Of all the idiotic, outlandish moronic - !
*He puffed up again*
Queen Angelica: I will not dispute that Dr. Eggman is a monster. Everyone knows this. But shattering the entire planet, that's ridiculous. The oceans would have drained if what you claim is true.
Sonic: I don't have all the answers, lady . . .
Amy: But we saw it, Your Grace! We were flying above it all -
*The Queen laughed*
Queen Angelica: Now you can fly as well. With what? Your tails? Your ears?
*I clenched my fists as I saw red. I wanted to pounce on these people & attack them. I could see Amy felt the same But Sonic grabbed our shoulders before we could do anything stupid*
Sonic: Let's not go there. It's not going to do is any favors right now.
Captain Striker: It's gotten worse, Your Graces. The Chao under this fraud's care, the being responsible for our way of life, has not been reborn.
Coral: I . . . It's . . . It's just taking an unusually long time . . .
Queen Angelica: . . . You lost Aquarius?
*The King deflated*
King Puff: I - Is that even possible? The sacred Chao has blessed our city for generations . . .
Coral: Your Graces, please listen! The spirit came to me and told me these land-walkers would come and help us! You must give me more time to set things right! To ensure things do not get worse!
Queen Angelica: ENOUGH! You have done enough without bringing the wrath of the spirits with your desperate lies! Priestess Coral, for your failures to perform your duties and this endangering Meropis, you are hearby stripped of your title and privileges!
Abigail: WHAT!?
Huckleberry: CHAO-CHAO!
Queen Angelica: Gather whatever belonging you have. This will be your last night taking up space in the Eusebes Temple.
*Coral looked like she had lost all feeling in her legs as tears formed in her eyes. Amy & Razor caught her*
Sonic: But you need her!
Queen Angelica: We need a competent Priestess. A replacement Priestess must be found immediately, if there are any former candidates left who aren't shamed by the title.
King Puff: If only our darling Princess wasn't abroad. She studied the rites . . . And yet you were chosen instead . . .
Queen Angelica: As for our . . . Visitors. Night will be upon us before you can reach shore. You may stay the night in the temple. If you haven't found what you seek by morning, that's simply your problem, not ours.
*Amy & Razor helped Coral walk out of the throne room*
Sonic: Thanks. You're so gracious!
*Razor & Amy helped Coral walk out. Before I could follow them, I saw Captain Striker giving us a smug look. I marched up him & gave him a hard slap across the face*
Abigail: Jerk! *I turned to the King & Queen* And as for you two! You could learn a thing or two from our own rulers. Unlike you two, they don't blame other people for everything that goes wrong or just because their daughter wasn't chosen for something. So, I suggest you get ready to eat your words when Coral proves you wrong.
*I stomped after my friends. Behind me, I could hear Huck blowing a raspberry at Stiker & the King & Queen*
*We went back to the temple. Amy told Rotor what happened. Sonic was pacing in a circle & I was sitting on a nearby rock*
Amy: - And then they they took away her title! Poor Coral could barely walk! I mean, swim! Whatever!
Rotor: Yikes. I guess that's it for our research here, then.
Amy: It's so unfair! I just wanna - RRGH!
*She hit the tree she was leaning on with her hammer & the fruit hanging off it fell. The Chao below it happily caught them & ate them*
Abigail: Yeah! I know they're the rulers, but that still doesn't give them the right!
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao!
Rotor: It ticks me off, too, and while I love a good scuffle, we can't take on the entire city.
Sonic: Right. So we've got to think of a way to convince them -
Rotor: No, first we have to keep working on how to save the whole world.
*Sonic stopped pacing*
Sonic: Uh, sorry? I couldn't hear you over your total lack of sympathy.
Rotor: Don't give me that! Arguing with some royal jerks doesn't help Coral, let alone everyone else! It stinks, but saving the world needs to come first.
Sonic: If we're not out to help everyone, then who are we fixing the world for, Rote!? Should we just skip over the people in trouble while you focus on the big picture?
*I immediately got in-between them*
Abigail: Knock it off! Both of you! This arguing isn't helping right now!
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao!
Rotor:*snort* Sorry.
Sonic: Yeah, you are
*I yanked his ear*
Abigail: Sonic!
Sonic: OW! Fine, me too.
Amy: If we can't help Coral now, maybe she can join us on the Sky Patrol? It'd give her some space, and then we could help her sort things out later.
Abigail: That's a great idea, Amy.
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao.
Rotor: Maybe. We've got the room.
Sonic: Yeah, but do we have the water?
*We discussed plans for a few minutes. Then Razor came out of the temple with Crusher*
Razor: Hey.
Abigail: Hey. How's Coral doing?
Huckleberry: Chao?
Razor: She's really shaken and because we wasted all day getting yelled at in the city, she doesn't have much time to do the rites.
Sonic: Well, it's real classy of her to do it anyway.
Amy: Abby and I will stay with her.
Abigail: We'll see if we can help.
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao.
Sonic: Cool.
*We went inside the temple & found Coral & Pearly trying to do Mystic Melody*
Amy: Coral? Sweetie? How are those rites coming?
Coral: I - I'm trying, but . . . But . . . *suddenly, she broke down* It's not working! I can't . . . I can't . . .! Why does everything keep going wrong!? E - Everyone's right about me . . . It's all my fault! I - It has to be! The pollution, the monsters . . .
Amy: You can't think like that! They need you! We need you!
*Coral fell to her knees*
Coral: . . . All my fault . . .
Amy: It's not! I'm telling you, it's not -
Coral: I killed Aquarius!
Abigail: We don't know that . . . It's not . . . Coral, please! The shield . . .!
Coral: It's not working! I tried and . . . And . . .!
Amy: Pearly! You're her apprentice, you teach me! Show me how to do it!
Pearly: I'm trying to do it! I've never done it before!
*Suddenly, I felt a familiar surge that I haven't felt in a long time go through me & images flashed before my eyes*
(Third-Person POV)
*Pearly & Coral gasped seeing Abigail's body, eyes, & pendant glow yellow*
Pearly: Wh - What's happening to Abby!?
Amy: W - We'll explain later.
(Raven's Home - Nia First Physic Vision - Sleevemore Part Two: Found)
(Vision)
*Monsters were coming out of the rift in droves. Some were swimming towards the temple. The shield around Meropis had gone down & the monsters were attacked the city*
Echo: Captain! The shield!
Captain Striker: That disgraceful little . . . Seal the castle! Move the citizens to the emergency shelters and lock them down! Stick together and let the beasts come to you! *he & the guards fought the monsters* Meropis will not fall under our watch!
(Reality - Abigail's POV)
*I felt a minor headache coming, but I ignored it as I turned to Coral*
Abigail: Coral! You have to get the shield up now!
Coral: I - I - I . . .
*Suddenly, we all heard a roar. Amy & I ran out of the temple to find a giant serpent-like monster had invaded the temple*
(Lacey's POV)
*Me, Sally, Tails, & Antoine stood in shock at the sight in front of us. It was a cave full of crystals*
Tails: Whoa . . .
Sally: This . . . Is incredible.
Lacey: Somebody pinch me. I have to be dreaming.
Tails: . . . It's like the inside of a giant geode.
Antoine: And we have limited time to find ze Chaos Emerald in all of this.
Sally: Then let's not waste that time!
*Tails picked all three of us up & we flew over the crystals. He set us down on giant crystal. Below us were some wrecked Worker-Bots*
Antoine: Now we know why Eggman stopped ze dig, eh? This is quite ze long drop!
Tails: Heh! Guess that's what happens when you use ground based equipment and there's suddenly no ground.
Lacey: Everything falls apart. Literally.
Sally: Luckily, that's not a problem for some of us. Here. Nicole will help you zero in on the Chaos Emerald.
*She handed Nicole to him*
Tails: You got it, Sally!
Antoine: Keep ze eye on the time! We need to leave before ze security is reactivating.
Lacey: Relax, Ant. We're professionals. We all know what to do.
Tails: We'll be careful!
*He & Nicole disappeared in the maze of crystals*
Sally: . . . It really is beautiful here.
Antoine: It is.
Lacey: Beyond gorgeous.
Antoine: And then think . . . If Eggman had not sent ze wrong robots, we never have seen this.
Lacey: So true.
*Half-an-hour later, Tails came back with the Emerald*
Tails: Ta-da!
Lacey: Yay!
Sally: Great work, Tails!
Nicole:*off-screen* And with that, we have just enough time to escape undetected. Doctor Eggman will never know we were here.
Antoine: About that . . . Once we leave, Eggman will be looking for the Emerald here.
Sally: When his new equipment arrives. It'll tear this place apart.
Lacey: And we all know thorough Eggman is when it comes to finding the Emeralds.
Nicole: Yes. Keeping him occupied. All to our advantage. Was that not our plan?
Sally: Yes, and that was short-sighted of me. This cavern is a natural wonder. It's a miracle that it survived the quakes. We can't be responsible for it's destruction.
Nicole:*off-screen* Making Doctor Eggman aware of our intrusion puts us and our mission at risk. I don't see how some mineral deposits are worth that.
*I took a Ring out of Sally's backpack*
Lacey: Maybe this will help you see.
*I handed the Ring to Sally & she put it in the slot on top of her handheld computer*
Nicole: Sally, we don't have time for . . . For . . .
*She stopped talking the minute she saw the beautiful crystal cave around her
Lacey: Now do you see?
Sally: Nicole, I . . .
Nicole: . . . No, you guys are right. It would be a shame . . . To let this place fall to ruin.
Tails: So . . . What now? The security systems are gonna be coming back online . . .
*Suddenly, all the robots came back online*
Sally: Now . . . We make absolutely sure Eggman knows we took the Emerald right from under his nose.
To be Continued . . .