Chapter 136
Master of Illusions
They buried Rayne in the marshes outside the great canals of the city. He was wrapped in his signature cloak and the shards of his broken blade were laid across his chest. Gawain knelt on the murky ground and bowed his head in reverence for the fallen warrior. Sonic watched Rayne's body sink beneath the water with a detached feeling in his heart. A cold emptiness captured him, his grief swallowed up by the despair of guilt.
He had awoken an hour after the fight with Infinite. Silver was still unconscious and the city was in too great a tumult to risk taking Rayne's body away. The rebels had been forced to spend a full day, closely packed together, stifled with the scent of a steadily rotting corpse.
Mesto's legions flooded the streets in search of Blaze and her comrades. The Hive had been unleashed. Some scouts had dared leaving the safe house, and the news they brought back only heightened their despair. Mesto's secret police initiated a ruthless purge. Hundreds of Thirteens had been taken captive without cause. Rapid public trials had seen them all charged with sedition and sentenced to imprisonment in the black cells in Mesto's tower. This random wave of violence poisoned the city under a toxic vapor of paranoia. Every Thirteen feared that they or their family would be targeted next.
Back at the hideout, Roran and the other healers tended to Silver. He had yet to fully recover from his stint in Mesto's cells, and the outburst of all his latent power left him completely drained. The duties of priesthood had fallen completely to Roran as the loss of his daughter had completely broken Priam. The old boar sat in a corner with a wide, far seeing stare permanently etched onto his face. It was torture to try and get him to eat, and at night he would whimper and call out feebly for Jasmine.
After twenty four hours of martial law, the imperial forces had finally been recalled. Sonic had hardly slept for the entire duration. His guilt kept him moored in tortured thoughts. None of the other knights had blamed him for what had happened. Blaze had said nothing. The loss of yet another of her knights, and the deaths of so many of her countrymen had taken a heavy toll on her. She remained solitary and distant, speaking only seldomly and with a grieved tone that conveyed a heavy sense of finality.
Once the city was opened up again, Sonic and Gawain smuggled Rayne's body to the marshes. Spending so much time in close quarters had taken their toll on Sonic. His muscles felt stiff and cramped and a general lethargy hung over him like a cold he couldn't quite shake.
"He was a great knight," Gawain said, after a long pause. Rayne's body had finally submerged beneath the water. "May the flames of Solaris keep him." The falcon rose and sighed heavily. "I am sorry I didn't get there sooner. I should have left as soon as I was sure the princess was safe, but I waited to gather more fighters."
"You did the right thing." Sonic's throat was dry from disuse. "If you had come alone, Infinite may have killed all of us." Sonic wanted to say more, but found that he couldn't. He had been replaying the previous battle in his head almost nonstop. Sonic had never quite felt so unmatched to an opponent. Thrice now, he had barely escaped a fight with Infinite with his life. Without a Chaos Emerald, Sonic was hardly even a challenge to Mesto's champion.
"I should have been there." The words escaped Sonic's lips before he could hold them back. The thought he had been wrestling with so intently finally overwhelmed him. "Blaze told me to stay behind and guard the estate. I didn't listen…"
Gawain approached Sonic and fixed him with a penetrating stare. "Rayne would not trade places with you. It was his duty to fight, and even to die at his post. Nor, I believe, would he judge you too harshly."
"He told me to stay," Sonic said bitterly. "He made me leave Caliburn."
"Rayne was a knight, and he understood the obligations of honor. You had no right to take the sword back to your world, but again, that does not mean he judges your actions as a person."
"It doesn't make any difference. I left, and because of me Rayne, Ivan…they're both dead. And Jasmine…" Sonic could hardly even think of the young hedgehog. Thinking of her, trapped within the dark prisons of the empire ripped at Sonic's very soul.
"This is a war." Gawain's keen stare pierced right through Sonic's attempts at deflection. "Our choices have consequences. The princess asked you to have faith, you doubted, and others have paid the price. That is the reality. You have more choices ahead of you, and what you decide to do will decide the fate of many."
"I don't want that..." Unable to meet Gawain's eye, Sonic turned away towards the rolling landscape.
"Nor do I wish to burden you with it. Much rests on your shoulders, and I do not envy your position. You made a mistake, but my trust in you has not wavered." Gawain motioned to the water where Rayne had just submerged. "Nor did he. The princess believes in you, as do we all."
Sonic said nothing. Shame crept into his heart, bypassing the barrier of indifference that kept grief at bay.
With the burial over, Gawain drew up his hood and led Sonic away from the bog. To return to the city, they had to squeeze into the narrow gaps of the canals and swim up the filthy water. Sonic was not an adept swimmer, but fortunately, Gawain was able to drag him along. The canals themselves were filthy and by the time the duo reached a release hatch, Sonic's shoes were soaked with disgusting fluid.
The entrance into the sewers was guarded by imperial Sentinels. However, scouts on the inside waited beyond the guard posts with mirrors they used to give signals. Gawain popped his head out of the sewer gate and held up his matching mirror. It reflected a spark of sunlight which signaled the scouts to initiate a distraction. Sonic heard a cart crash and the sudden roar of angry voices. Sentinels whirred to life as they rushed towards the disturbance. Sonic grabbed Gawain and used his super speed to get out of sight.
They vanished behind a side street where they had stashed a change of clothes. Sonic threw out the disgusting old shoes and changed back into the purple ones Tails had made for him. Gawain and he hid themselves in commoners' rags and covered their faces beneath cloaks.
They trudged carefully through the city, choosing only the most secluded and empty streets. Whenever a column of soldiers or sentinels passed, they would hide behind a corner and wait for them to pass. "Wait," Gawain hissed as he seized Sonic by the back of the cloak and steered him towards a crowd of citizens. "I think something is going on."
Sure enough, the crowd merged with an ever larger party and soon enough it felt like half the city was marching towards the imperial palace. "Shouldn't we use this chance to get away?" Sonic asked in a hushed whisper.
"I want to see what is going on," Gawain returned.
The crowds moved towards the royal palace. A huge stage had been erected hastily in front of the ironwork fence that encircled the gardens. The stage towered over the crowds as more and more people steadily poured into the market. Hundreds of imperial guards had come to police the event. Sonic watched with growing apprehension as barricades were erected at the six arches leading out of the royal district.
"Looks like there is going to be some kind of announcement," Gawain said in a hushed whisper.
Raised voices filled the square as everyone noticed the aggressive formation of the soldiers. Shouts and panicked cries echoed as parts of the crowds started to rush for an exit. The imperial soldiers formed ranks, hemming everyone in and forcing them closer to the stage.
"Now what?" Sonic asked. He and Gawain were being steadily pushed into the center.
"Do nothing!" Gawain hissed.
The crowd's nerves were being pushed to their breaking point. Sonic heard a child break out in frantic sobs. One echidna let out a roar and rushed a soldier. There was a flash of laser bolts and the echidna fell to the floor in a smoking ruin. This earned a loud roar of rage from the people. Screams and insults were hurled at the imperial soldiers. Sonic's hair stood up on the back of his neck.
Suddenly, there was a loud piercing scream. Sonic saw many cover their heads and crouch. Fingers were pointed into the sky. Sonic looked up. Infinite floated above the crowds, clothed in an aura of black and red energy. His sudden appearance had terrified the crowds into temporary submission. This was followed swiftly by the blowing of trumpets.
Lord Mesto ascended the stage. His head was bowed beneath the weight of a heavy black cloak. Silence fell as Mesto raised his hand. All eyes were on Mesto as he drew his head back and slowly pulled back his hood. Sonic winced as the crowd let out a collective gasp. Mesto's face had been burned raw. The fur of his cheeks had been completely scorched, revealing pink, raw skin. One of his eyes had been replaced by a solid black stone of pure ebony. Scars crossed and intersected all over his snout and lower jaw. He looked as if he had been mauled by a rabid animal before being set ablaze.
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse, blackened by fire and inhaled smoke. However, by some foul craft of dark magic, it had not lost any of its luster. "Brethren…" He started with grave severity. "I stand before you in a state of abject humility. I have only just been pulled back from the brink of death. Damaged beyond the aid of our best healers, it was only by the skill and mercy of the emperor that I stand before you." Mesto paused and inclined his head as if he were praying.
"Four nights ago, I was viciously attacked and betrayed by one who I greatly admired. Though I lamented her shortsided reverence for the old world, I always respected princess Blaze for her ferocity and burning determination. She foolishly set herself against the emperor, and I begged his majesty to show her mercy. The princess had aligned herself with common criminals, crooks of low cunning who I believed had taken her by treachery disguised as promises of liberation."
"Yet, I believed that they should still be spared. I felt that if she had a taste of the emperor's clemency then she would see reason. The emperor, in his most gracious merit, agreed. He gave Blaze permission to return to her city, to take up a place in its governance. However, from her first arrival, Blaze made it clear that she had no intention of submitting to the generosity of the emperor. No matter what was given to her, she always demanded more. When it became clear that, in his majesty's absence, I would not cede absolute sovereignty to her, Blaze turned violent. While meeting in the temple, reports came to me that one of the rebels had attempted to sabotage one of our transport ships. Upon hearing this, the princess attacked and used her demonic art of pyromancy to try to murder me and my advisors. Had it not been the swift and heroic action of my greatest knight, I would be dead."
Mesto pressed hands together in a sign of humility. The crowd stirred. Anger rippled through the ranks. Sonic felt his face go flush. He wanted to storm the stage right there and plant Caliburn into the liar's heart. Gawain seized Sonic by the wrist. "Do nothing," He whispered.
"Upon my rescue, I sent my agents into the city to purge it of the princess' agents. She used her invitation here to flood our streets with her rebel spies. I am pleased to report that operation Zengoketa has been a rousing success. One thousand operatives were taken into custody." Even as he spoke, the crowd grew more and more restless. Faint yells and stifled shouts rained down on the stage.
"Citizens of the empire, those of you who know the legends of this ancient kingdom, heed my words. The princess came here under the false guise of the Phoenix. She claimed to be a champion of Solaris, but her actions have revealed her true identity. I tell you now, she is the trickster, and a false prophet."
At this, there was a colossal chorus of shouts. The yells were so deafening that, at first, Sonic thought the crowd was heaping abuse at Mesto, refusing to swallow the lies that he was spooning down their throats. But then Sonic heard the first shout of praise. It was quickly taken up by a dozen more voices. Sonic looked around in bewilderment. The crowd had changed completely. Far from looking annoyed or terrified, they suddenly looked ecstatic. Their eyes glistened with hopeful joy as they cheered Mesto on. Sonic didn't understand. How had it happened so quickly? He looked back at the stage, searching for some kind of device that could explain how everyone had been manipulated so easily.
But there was nothing there. Lord Mesto the Sly did not need machines or drugs to control the mind. His voice alone, his skill of rhetoric and presentation had been enough. Soon the crowd was filled with vitalizing energy. The ground shook as they stomped their feet. It began with calls of praise for the emperor, but it did not take long for the energy of the crowd to turn violent. They called for the deaths of the traitors, for those who had been captured to be hung. Sonic saw a hedgehog girl beside him, pull at her hair and scream as hard as she could. Fear had completely overwhelmed the crowd, giving way to a pure frenzied hate. "KILL THE PRINCESS!"
The call for Blaze actualized the change in the crowd. They were no longer people, but merely vessels for the spirit of domination and death. Their faces seemed to change as they howled for blood. "KILL THE PRINCESS!" "KILL THE TRAITOR!" The shouts continued to rise, the stomping footsteps shook the earth. Sonic was overwhelmed with stimuli at every corner. He wanted to hold his ears shut, to close out the mob. The ground was shaking so badly it made his jaw ache.
BOOOOOOM. Cries for death turned to cries of fear and surprise. The ground lurched and Sonic fell onto Gawain. BOOOOOOOOM! Everyone screamed as the floor beneath them crumbled. Sonic was lifted up as Gawain took to the skies. A sinkhole had opened up before the palace. The crowd screamed and ran in all directions in an attempt to escape falling into the sinking ground. Whoooosh! Scarlet flames rushed out of the gash of broken earth. They swept the sky, striking it with hot air. Sonic covered his face to shield his eyes against the heat.
"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" A voice magnified above the volume of the screams. Sonic saw the imperial forces hem together, preventing the crowds from escaping. More people screamed as fresh flames spewed out of the gap. Robes burst immediately into flames. Several dozen people were incinerated in a puff of black smoke.
Gawain flew as far away from the disaster as the imperial barriers would allow and dropped back into the crowd. Everyone was pushing and shoving their way forward, but it was no use. Imperial soldiers continued to hem them in, preventing them from escaping.
"Up there!" Fingers pointed to the sky. Sonic looked up and saw Science Corp ships descending swiftly onto the scene. As they had done that night in the forest, imperial science officers disembarked and started setting up their machines around the crater. The main ship hovered over the swirling flames and jettisoned a large coil down into the molten depths. Bolts of pink electricity fired from the various machines and met at the coil, sparking it to life. The glass canister shifted around to reveal the Sol Gems that powered the device.
Sonic and the rest of the crowd watched in stunned silence as the imperial machinery stitched the very ground back together.
"BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE EMPEROR!" Mesto's voice deafened all other sounds. Everyone turned back to the stage. Mesto had put on his metallic glove powered by Sol Gems. He held it up and the pinkish light danced in his burned face. "The emperor's wrath has been kindled. If we do not cleanse our city of traitors we shall all be pulled into the abyss. We have been given a small glimpse into his boundless power. It is his mercy to give us another chance, a chance to prove our loyalty to him."
The people had no defense against this barrage of manipulation. Terrified by what they had seen and temporarily relieved by swift safety, they were now at Mesto's complete mercy. They would believe anything he said. "The burden is on us, on all of us. Return to your homes, but keep your eyes open. Always the enemies of the empire are on the prowl. They desire to destroy everything we have built and drag it into the flames of oblivion. Yet the fire of their hatred is but cold wind compared to the inferno of our love. Let your love for the emperor be demonstrated in your zeal. Search every corner of your heart for lingering shadows of doubt. Hold nothing as sacred apart for the emperor's approval, not even your own family. For that is true love, terror, the terror of failing your sovereign king. The world we wish to build, the end of history is at hand, but we must bring it forth. Our loyalty, our devotion will make it real."
The bubble burst. The crowd, terrorized by fear and spectacle, completely lost themselves. Women and children wept, not in fear, but in an overflow of devotion. Everyone seemed to be trying to outdo the other in outward signs of fealty. Clothes were torn, fists were raised, fights broke out. Neighbors seized one another by the throat and dragged them to the feet of the imperial police. A tumult of denunciations followed. Everyone was guilty, everyone had been a traitor. Sonic watched an echidna fall to his knees and beg to be arrested, guilty as he was for doubting the power of the emperor.
"Let's go." The imperials removed the blockades. There was no need to shepherd the crowds anymore. The riot of pitched emotion spread out, moving swiftly from the palace to every corner of the city.
"That bastard!" Gawain raged and threw his cloak in a bundled mess onto the floor. It had taken Sonic and him almost two hours to return to the safe house. They made sure not to take a direct route back, but to go in a confused, untraceable route. As soon as they reunited with the others, Gawain had wasted no time telling Blaze about Mesto's speech.
The princess sat with her legs crossed upon a blanket beside Silver. Her head was bent and her eyes closed. A heavy grief hung over her, and she had not spoken since Gawain had started his report.
"One thousand spies!" Gawain spat. "As if we could possibly have that many. Mesto went and captured people at random, I have no doubt of that. Now after this display everyone will be too blinded by fear and suspicion to know what is really going on."
"Did they mention if any of them had been killed yet?" Priam asked faintly. The old priest held his arms over his knees and rocked back and forth like a child.
"No," Gawain admitted. "But it won't be long now. Those trials are sure to be a sham."
"Wait…" Priam raised his head. "So my Jasmine…she…she might still be alive?"
Gawain didn't answer. He sat down on the table and buried his face into his hands. "And what were those burns all about?" Gawain wondered, his voice muffled by his covered mouth.
"No doubt it is one of Mesto's spells," Blaze answered blankly. "He is a master of illusion."
Sonic watched her closely. He had not said anything since they returned. Instead, he had simply observed Blaze. He felt an irrational apprehension growing inside him, as if Blaze might suddenly storm at him and blame him for everything that had happened. That apprehension morphed into bitter resentment, resentment directed at the princess. Hadn't he warned her that something like this might happen? Why hadn't she listened? Sonic knew Eggman more than anyone, and yet, they had come to this city all the same. And for what?
Silence fell as Gawain had tired himself out in his rage. Sonic couldn't stand to remain cramped up in this tiny space. He left the living room and climbed out the hidden entrance. Sonic was about to slip out of the hidden alcove when a blast of hot air whooshed by his face. He turned to see Blaze with her hand outstretched. "I did not give you permission to leave."
"I'm sick of being crammed up," He returned hotly.
"I don't care. I did not give you leave."
Sonic tensed. His buried anger came bubbling to the surface. "I told you this might happen. I told you we couldn't trust Eggman."
"And I told you to stay at the estate." Blaze's eyes flashed. Her yellow irises pulsed with burning intensity.
"I had to know!"
"And now you do. The cost of that confirmation was high."
Sonic shook his head. "I'm tired of waiting. I should never have done that in the first place. I should have ran straight to Eggman as soon as I got to this planet." He clenched his hands into fists and shook with rage. "Every choice I've made has only made things worse. I have to act now, I have to do something."
"You aren't strong enough." Blaze's words struck Sonic like a whip. "If you reveal yourself now then Mesto will set his pet on you. Infinite will kill you if you fight him again."
"I don't care! It's better than sitting around here."
Sparks emitted from Blaze's eyes. "Don't be a fool."
Sonic grabbed his hair and pulled it. He felt as if he was being torn apart. "I can't stand this…I can't…"
"You must. I named you Knight of the Wind, and that means you must endure anything to protect the people of Soleanna."
Sonic lowered his head. "I'm not what you think I am. Call me selfish, I don't care. I'm not a knight. I can't sit back and wait for others to act." Overwhelmed with his emotions, Sonic ripped Caliburn's belt from his shoulders and threw it down at Blaze's feet. He regretted his action as soon as his hands were empty. Sonic was physically shaking with a rage he could not direct. He made to turn aside, but Blaze reached out and seized him by the wrist. Her grip was amazingly strong. Sonic almost expected Blaze to hit him. Instead, she released him and gently bent down to scoop up the sword. She held the belt and scabbard reverently as if it were a child.
"I am sorry, Sonic." Her voice was strained and tears glistened in her eyes. "I have asked so much of you, and given you nothing in return."
Sonic said nothing. His chest was still heaving though the anger that had so possessed him a moment ago was already gone, replaced by cold regret and shame. Blaze stepped closer to him, holding out the bundle. "Have you lost all faith in me?" She asked softly. Blaze moved her hand and placed it flat upon Sonic's chest. Her eyes sparkled faintly and Sonic felt warmth enter his body. His heart slowed as he was flooded with a rejuvenating heat.
"We have not been defeated yet," Blaze whispered.
Sonic accepted Caliburn and Blaze helped strap the belt to his back. "I'm not like all of you," Sonic said. "I don't think I ever learned how to lose."
Blaze smirked. "And that is why we need you. I did not name you the Knight of the Wind because I needed another warrior of honor. I did so because my people need a hero."
Sonic looked into her eyes. There was so much he wanted to say, but his feelings felt confused. Just before he could try to and respond, they were interrupted by the arrival of two gray robed scouts. They knelt before Blaze and crossed their arms over their chests.
"Princess," Began a vole with snow white fur. Before it continued, the vole gave Sonic a curious look. "There is a stranger in the city who has been asking about Sonic. I thought at first he was an imperial agent, but then I saw that he fled when the imperial soldiers drew near. The stranger has a passing resemblance to Sonic."
Blaze looked at Sonic in confusion. "What did you tell this stranger?"
"I told him I would meet him in the eastern market at dusk."
Sonic stepped forward to question the scout. "What do you mean that he looked like me?"
"Well…he is a hedgehog, but with black fur. Also the shoes he wore, they are nothing at all like what you find here, but are somewhat similar to those that you wear."
Sonic felt a jolt shoot down the length of his body. Was it possible? Could he really be here? Sonic turned to Blaze. "Let me go with them. There is a chance I know this hedgehog, but I need to be sure before bringing him here."
The market began to clear as the sky above darkened. No one spoke as they moved timidly about their daily activities. Mesto's scare tactics had successfully isolated the people of the city. No one knew who to trust. Imperial soldiers would randomly accost passerbys and start berating them with accusations. Sonic and the other scouts remained hidden in an alcove behind a tanner's shop. The large linens helped keep them out of sight.
As they waited, Sonic scanned the crowds, searching intently for the signature silhouette. Hive agents announced that the market would soon be closed. Lord Mesto had called for harsher curfews. The stalls cleared as everyone rushed to return to the relative safety of their homes.
As the roads cleared, Sonic saw him. He was avoiding the gaze of the imperials by covering his head with a dark shawl. However, Sonic recognized the signature red stripes. He checked to make sure that no soldiers were watching before he left their hiding spot. Sonic led the others directly to the stranger. "Shadow?" Sonic asked, hardly able to believe what his eyes were seeing. "What are you doing here?"