Chapter 6 - Speed of Sound
The Tornado soared across the sky, its engines roaring as it cut through the clouds with unparalleled speed. Inside, Sonic, Tails, and Amy sat together, their expressions a mix of anticipation and nostalgia as they journeyed back to South Island.
"I can't believe it's been so long since we've been back to South Island," Amy remarked, her voice tinged with nostalgic longing. "So many memories..."
"Yeah, 'cause of all these adventures we gotta go on now," Sonic said, "Eggman's schemes never gave us a chance to relax."
As they flew, memories of their adventures flooded their minds, laughter and friendship echoing in their hearts.
"Remember that time we took down the Egg Fleet?" Tails reminisced, a nostalgic smile gracing his lips.
Amy nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement. "And how about when we rescued the Wisps from that amusement park?"
Sonic laughed, his trademark smirk lighting up his face. "Good times, guys. Good times."
But their joyous reunion was cut short by the sudden sound of explosions echoing from the direction of Green Hill Zone.
"He never quits, does he…" Amy sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry," Sonic told Amy, "I'll make this quick."
Sonic's eyes widened in alarm as he dived from the Tornado, his instincts kicking into overdrive. Without a moment's hesitation, Sonic raced against the clock to save his home, his heart pounding with adrenaline.
As he arrived at Green Hill Zone, his worst fears were realized – Eggman's cruel laughter echoed through the air, as his formidable Egg Dragoon loomed over Sonic.
Eggman smirked triumphantly, his eyes gleaming with malice as he surveyed the destruction he had caused. "Ah, Sonic! I'm so glad you could make it to the light show! I'm simply here to rid the world of your pesky interference once and for all. But first, I'LL DESTROY YOUR HOME!"
Sonic gritted his teeth as he again prepared to face off against his old nemesis. "Not this time, Eggman. It's not recess time, and South Island isn't your playground."
Sonic launched into action, his blue blur streaking across the landscape as he clashed against Eggman and his monstrous machine. Sonic repeatedly punched and kicked the Egg Dragoon, as it fired relentlessly. The Egg Dragoon swatted Sonic away as Sonic retaliated with a Recovery Smash. Sonic then performed a Homing Shot. Suddenly, Eggman stopped as he took out a chip from his pocket and laughed.
"What's so funny?" Sonic asked, "The fact that you know your face is getting kicked in? AGAIN?"
"Oh I won't be losing this time," Eggman explained, "This particular chip allows me to enhance the strength of my machines EXPONENTIALLY with monstrous power! It's over for you Sonic!" Eggman's cunning smile soon turned into a furious frown. "At long last, I'll have my revenge on you for killing Sage…"
"WHAT?" Sonic asked, "You actually think I killed her? You've got it all wrong, Eggman! I didn't kill her! She-"
"ENOUGH!" Eggman yelled, while barely being able to contain his rage, "I'LL KILL YOU SONIC!" Eggman shot Sonic with a supercharged energy ball, knocking him out.
But just as Sonic found himself on the brink of defeat, the unstable dark power unleashed by Eggman's reckless gambit tore open a swirling portal. The portal sucked Sonic into it before he could react.
Eggman's rage boiled over, his fists clenched in frustration as his greatest foe slipped through his grasp once again. "NOOOO! BLAST THIS STUPID MACHINE! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS, YOU WON'T ESCAPE MY WRATH!"
In the desolate expanse of Red Canyon, Captain Falcon found himself driving when Samurai Goroh and his group stopped him.
"You stole the prize money from us last time. You'll pay for that," Samurai Goroh declared, "That's a fine-looking machine you're driving, Falcon. You know the law here in Red Canyon? If you lose the race you forfeit your machine! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Captain Falcon started to drive off as Samurai Goroh held his katana close to Falcon's throat. "You can't back down now! The mighty Falcon can't back down from a challenge now, can he?"
"Hmph. Let's do this…" Falcon said, confident in his driving skills.
Samurai Goroh pointed to a checkpoint across the canyon. "All right then! The first one to that checkpoint over there is the winner."
"I can't lose in my Fire Stingray." Samurai Goroh laughed.
"Come on Goroh," Falcon teased, "How many times have you lost to me again?"
Goroh gave Captain Falcon a mean look as they both raced toward the checkpoint. Suddenly, Sonic found himself surrounded by the roar of engines as two sleek racing cars sped past him in a blur of motion. It was the Blue Falcon and the Fire Stingray. Without hesitation, Sonic joined the race, his heart pounding with exhilaration as he pushed his speed to the limit. As the race drew close, Sonic and Captain Falcon exchanged nods of respect.
"Sonic, right?" Captain Falcon asked.
"Yeah, that's me," Sonic replied, his gaze surveying the unfamiliar landscape. "Where are we, anyway?"
Falcon glanced around, his expression thoughtful. "Red Canyon. And judging by the looks of it, you got here through some kind of portal. Probably related to that Smash Tournament stuff."
"Wait what?" Sonic asked with a confused look, "How do you know?"
Falcon stood proud as he turned to Sonic. "I've been smashing for a while, Sonic. I know when these sorts of things happen."
Before they could think of their next move, a news flash interrupted their conversation, casting a shadow of urgency over their reunion.
"Once again, Black Shadow is running riot in the Lightning area! All citizens are advised to evacuate immediately. I repeat all citizens are advised to evacuate immediately," the report blared.
In Lightning, Black Shadow was causing mayhem as Ganondorf came from a rift and levitated before him.
"Who the hell are you?" Black Shadow asked.
Ganondorf laughed as he stood in front of Black Shadow. "Don't worry about who I am, all you need to know is that I want to strike a deal with you. I bolster your power to unstoppable levels, and you bring the racer known as Captain Falcon to a place called 'Galeem and Dharkon's Domain'. He's the only thing stopping you from getting that prize, isn't he? So, are you in?"
"Normally I'd say no to strangers," Black Shadow laughed, "But who am I to say no to more power, and getting rid of Falcon? I'm in!"
Sonic and Captain Falcon entered the Blue Falcon without hesitation and raced toward the Lightning area. Noticing the silence, Sonic decided to start up a conversation. "So… Apparently you're a fast racer?"
"I am," Falcon replied, "Why?"
"You were pretty fast even outside of your car. I say we race."
"Hmph. I'm down for a race!" Falcon excitedly yelled, "But we've gotta take out Black Shadow."
As they arrived, chaos reigned supreme – Black Shadow, empowered by Ganondorf's dark influence, loomed over the landscape like a harbinger of doom. Captain Falcon stopped to help somebody from their destroyed car.
"Are you alright?" Falcon asked.
The racer got up and dusted himself off. "Yeah I'm fine, but Jody's still in the building! At this rate, the core's gonna detonate with her inside!"
"Hmm…" Falcon declared, "Sonic, you go save Jody! I'll take care of Black Shadow."
Sonic's eyes narrowed with determination while he sprang into action, his speed a blur as he darted through the chaos to go to the building.
"If I was a Jody, where would I be?" Sonic said. He turned around to see a woman unconscious on the ground. "That must be her," Sonic said to himself.
"Falco-" Jody Summers said, "Who are you? You look like a little rat."
"I'm not a rat…" Sonic sighed, "I'm a hedgehog, lady. Can't you tell by the spikes?" Sonic cleared his throat as he stood triumphantly. "Anyway, I'm here to save you!" Sonic declared, picking her up. Sonic ran as fast as he could before the building blew up. He approached the Blue Falcon, but Captain Falcon was nowhere to be found.
He put Jody down to make sure she was unharmed. "T-Thank you," Jody said.
"No problem ma'am," Sonic said, "Now I just need to find Captain Falcon…"
Meanwhile, Captain Falcon faced off against Black Shadow, his fists clenched with resolve. But, Black Shadow had other plans. Instead of a race, he sought a fight to the finish.
Black Shadow laughed as a dark aura was felt around him. "Falcon! You've come to die. I needed had wasted time looking for you then."
"Let's settle this at the Grand Prix. Not like this, it's the coward way." Falcon said.
"The coward's way? You make it sound so noble. I just plan to eliminate anyone who stands between me and the prize." Black Shadow laughed.
With a menacing grin, Black Shadow launched himself at Captain Falcon, his sinister power crackling with malevolent energy as he unleashed a relentless combo. Captain Falcon dodged, weaved his attacks, and countered with a Falcon Kick. Black Shadow retaliated with his own version of the Falcon Kick. Black Shadow jumped backward and fired three energy blasts at Falcon. Falcon performed a Falcon Dive. He leaped upward and grabbed Black Shadow, launching him away with an explosion.
Falcon backflipped and landed on the ground, yelling "Yes!" as Black Shadow landed on the ground.
"Give it up Black Shadow," Captain Falcon said, "You can't beat me in a race, and you can't beat me in a fight."
"THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK!" Black Shadow yelled as he suddenly got up and ensnared Captain Falcon in an energy blast.
"Falcon!" Sonic said while running, "I'm coming to help!"
"No! Sonic!" Falcon yelled, "IT'S A TRAP!"
Black Shadow also trapped Sonic with an energy blast. He then put a portal over the two of them.
"When were you able to do this?" Captain Falcon asked.
Black Shadow laughed, "Let's just say I got a little help. I won't need to worry about you getting in the way of our plans ANYMORE!"
Sonic and Captain Falcon vanished from the Lightning area as they fell through the swirling portal. And as the portal closed behind them, their destination remained shrouded in mystery, their journey far from over.
