Sonic In Between
Author's Note: Nothing much to say here, but welcome back fellow readers! Time to continue onward for Shadow's journey in Alternate-Sonic's Multiverse Adventure!
Summary of Story 14-Part 10: Upon rediscovering the Paradox Prism, Shadow and the new Alternate verison of Sonic soon find themselves absorbed by its power. Where has it taken them, and what has become of their world and friends? More importantly, who is now after the Ultimate Lifeform's life?
I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog. All rights belong to Sega. I only own the OCs such as Sun the Hedgehog(and his Boom Counterpart), Staria "Star" Amantha, ect,.
Alternate-Sonic's Multiverse Adventure-P10: Reality in Shadows-P2.
With Shadow and AP-Sonic...
If things weren't already bad enough for Shadow and AP-Sonic, being sucked into the Paradox Prism from the latter's home to descending through the never-ending bright swirls of light and colours, screaming past the abyss of the void threatening to imprison the hedgehogs in its wake, swallow them whole, was already making it's way to the top of the list of the worst things that ever happened to them.
"What the heck is doing on here!? That big, shiny rock just ate us!" AP-Sonic was panicking, his arms flailing in hopeless sense to maneuver for a way to end this nightmare, his heart beating wildly against his very rib cage, the hint of concern raising in his voice, a whimper making it's way through his throat.
He was scared, and besides the fact he couldn't stop to save his life, nothing seemed to make him fear anything all the years he'd been a hero. Well, maybe Amy's overwhelming flirting and her hammer when it withdrew the strength from it's fiery wielder. But this was far beyond what AP-Sonic the Hedgehog could ever have imagined, even in his worst dreams. Worse case scenarios raced through his mind, and the very last sight of all of his friends crossed his inner vision, silent prayers to Light Gaia, to Chaos, to any entity the cobalt teen could think of, for their safety back at home...
And said home to be safe and sound, without the shattering caused by the hero himself, once predicted by his former enemy and now his only ally by his side, Shadow the Hedgehog, who, once thought to have inadvertently changed course of history, now was seemingly proven to hail from an alternate reality himself.
Leaving the fate of AP-Sonic's counterpart and his companions in question. Yet, inspite for this revelation, the sense of relief that his world did not change at all remained out of reach from his compassionate heart. The blue hedgehog was concerned for the original Sonic's whereabouts, as well as those of this friends...including the missing Sun the Hedgehog and Staria Amantha.
"What're we gonna do!?" The blue hedgehog frantically turned to Shadow, his eyes wide for a hopeful solution.
Before the black hedgehog could answer his only companion over what to do, a shine caught both the heroes' attention, simultanously casting their destination below, a portal in bright light shone, beckoning them to enter.
"Be on your guard! We don't know what we will find in there!" Shadow instructed, duty for his new mission taking form, his stotic and determined demeanor flowing through his veins once more.
"Like I have a choice?" AP-Sonic dryly echoed, rolling his eyes.
The two hedgehogs squeezed their eyes shut, arms raised to shield their eyes from the blindness, seconds later they were engulfed by the light that soon faded, the strange swirls of purple and crystals floating ever so gently, the laws of gravity denied, cast upon them both. The moment Shadow and AP-Sonic slowly rose their eyelids, a collective sound of shocked gasps escaped into the air, many crystals and giant rings, lights illuminating the void, ripples like a delicate touch on water revealing images like a dream or memories.
"Whoa...! Where are we?" AP-Sonic breathed, awe and confusion mixing across his features.
"I...don't know," Shadow, his bravado mask creaking like a leak ever so slightly, slowly responded. "It looks like the void I saw in that vision, but...none of these crystals or rings were within them."
The two hedgehogs' descend slowed to a slow drifting, as though they were floating through the endless vast of space, a colorful dimension beyond reaches of the universal borders. As Shadow and AP-Sonic continued to helplessly fall, their collective gazes could not be torn from what they saw, prompting a shocked and horrified gasp from the latter. In three separate crystals, he saw himself, all exactly like him but with strange new shoes in different environments: One of a futuristic city with five people all strangely resembling to Eggman, another in a primative jungle with a giant pink bird accompaying Amy, and the third with them as pirates, yet strangely enough, the Sonic in each one would wrap upon a touch of a crystal identical to pieces of the Paradox Prism and end up in each three worlds.
"Uh...Shadow?" AP-Sonic began, nervously. "I think you and Tails might be right with the whole multiverse thing, 'cause I think that other me in there could be..."
Shadow did not need his current companion to finish, his ruby eyes cast upon the very same crystals, refusing to allow fear overcome him with questions swirling like a tornado wrecking upon its wrath of destruction in his mind. Yet one thing was clear as crystal now. His Sonic and the Sonic with him are not the cause of the Paradox Prism's shattering.
"I know. He is. This is what Sonic and I have seen, because him." The dark hedgehog hissed, fury igniting like an uncontrollable flame.
"I don't get it. If he's the trouble maker me causing this mess, why did you and your version of me see it through the visions and the two Paradox Prisms are still intact?" The blue hedgehog was perplexed, his mind racing faster than his legs.
Before the Ultimate Lifeform could even respond to the astonishing question even he still did not fully understand, his and AP-Sonic's attentions were now drawn to the portal rings with many more versions of the cobalt hero, only this time they saw many different worlds with him, his friends...and even Shadow himself. People unfamiliar included, some different with many of Sonic's friends absent, being accompinied by either Tails or Knuckles, or both, but all of the worlds had the blue hedgehog...and Eggman in their clash against one another, their ultimate battles never ending.
'What is this place? It is just like that void...but far different.' Shadow could not comprehend this new world, a void of timelines focusing on multiple incarnations of Shadow. Linger of thoughts swirled like a toxic whirlpool, his fists clenched tightly of the pressure of his fingers digging painfully into his palm, ignoring the sting threatening to make them bleed.
"Man, this is just like out of my weirdest nightmares." AP-Sonic murmured, his voice tingling with trepidation, his gaze stolen away and glued to the giant rings and crystals without escape.
It did indeed feel as eerie as a dream, the unwilling pull of slumber similiar to invisible tentacles coiling his soul with a painful violent yank as though it was ripped from his body, proving that even the Ultimate Lifeform was not truly invincible. What was the purpose of every single Paradox Prism? Why did the one in his world and now in AP-Sonic's retained him alongside the blue hedgehog?
Both in different worlds have experienced many unpredictable encounters beyond their comprehension, not even Dr. Eggman or his grandfather held any quelms of knowledge outside of the mortal worlds yet the evil scientist reached out far beyond his control, the desperation and greed he denied to resist like a hardened chest with the most unbreakable lock. Returning his gaze to the three new worlds encast through crystal, Shadow's eyes narrowed, the never-ending spiral of visions and memories spilling with the ink of truth.
Perhaps it was linked to the Multiverse itself, the calling of all other counterparts of the crystal seeking through each world for aid, the similairity akin to the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald not lost to his mind. Were they trying to reach out for a certain, particular Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog? Two inviduals holding no bitterness or impulsive as many, to save the worlds? Could that be why he and Sonic had those visions in their world? Were they the only ones to save the Multiverse?
"I wonder..." The burst of a large shock wave, thunderous to his ears like a terrifying deepening roar cut Shadow from his thoughts, the jolt of alarm engulfing him and AP-Sonic who collectively gasped, their attentions snapped towards from behind.
Like a lining of light, split through a knife's edge for a violent gust of wind swept across the twilight space, the impact collided against the hedgehogs. Shadow and AP-Sonic quickly raised their arms as they both grunted, caught off-guard enough for air to burst out from their lungs like they were kicked by very powerful martial artists.
They both screamed, their descend now increasing with gravity pulling them as though they feel from an airplane, and to make things worse, AP-Sonic's eyes, wincing as he wrapped his arm around his waist for his ribs ached faintly, opened one eye only to release a horrified gasp when he saw something that made his other eye open, fear mounting on his face. Materializing through the twilight abyss, the illumination of pink and purple light like a model clay, a giant panda, or black and white badger, or...whatever it was he couldn't even describe, its yellow pupiless eyes leering through another portal, the attire being only a single belt, gazing the aura of cold, icy wind like a blizzard in Holoska enough to creak through his brave soul.
"Uh, h-hey, Shadow...?" AP-Sonic squeaked, gaining his friend's attention as he meekly pointed at the colossal danger emboding the monster. "Are ya' seein' this?"
The black and red hedgehog's gaze swiftly turned to what the younger hero was gesturing, a jolt zapping through as though he had accidentally touched a 10,000 volt wired fence, shock rooting him on the spot. The massive, giant Panda-Badger's presence loomed as tall as the tallest skyscraper in existence on Mobius, or any world for that matter.
What's worse, the creature's near-lifeless gaze perced upon the Ultimate Lifeform himself, his yellow, bright eyes were poisonous to even look upon, so much hatred tainted his soul. Why was this giant creature glaring him with such distain and hatred? Could it be...he broke a tabbu neither he or his friends ever acknowledged?
"SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG..." The looming being began, his deepening, male, monstrous voice dripping with such negativity, confirming Shadow's suspicions. "YOU SHALL NOT ESCAPE FROM FEIST AGAIN. YOU ARE TO BE JUDGED WITH THE GREATEST PUNISHMENT BEYOND THE MORTAL REALM!"
Again? What did this giant thing, who spoke his name yet the "I's" absent from vocaliblity, even mean?
"Who are you?" Shadow demanded. "How do you know my name?"
"YOU CANNOT FOOL FEIST AGAIN, ULTIMATE LIFEFORM. FEIST SHALL NOT ALL AGAINST YOUR TRICKERY, OR THAT OF YOUR MORTAL AND MECHANICAL ALLIES." The giant Panda, identifying himself as Feist, snarled.
The black hedgehog's eyes narrowed, suspicion with perplex washing over him. Did he encounter this giant creature before? When and how long ago was this? He had thought all of his memories had been fully restored, his life with Maria in the short span of his existence, the crimes he committed alongside Dr. Eggman, his atonement and sacrifice, harsh and cruel battles against Black Doom, everything.
Or perhaps, there was something amiss? The mention of mortal and mechanical allies...how did this being know of Rouge and Omega, his most trusted allies and close friends? Another realization soon flooded him like a wave's wrath, his gaze shifting to the portals revealing other worlds.
'It is not me he is after. He is after one of my alternate counterparts,' Shadow felt a seed of dread drop into his stomach. 'And I doubt he is merciful enough to allow me to say that.'
The leering anger as if they were about to burst into flames silently confirmed the black hedgehog's suspicions. Feist would not tolorate with any mortals or see even a slight difference.
"This...is seriously a nightmare!" AP-Sonic whispered shakily to himself, struggling to will his rapidly beating heart to calm down. Panic gripped his chest, threatening to close his throat.
"YOUR FATE HAS BEEN DECIDED, ULTIMATE LIFEFORM. ONLY THE ABYSS OF VOID SHALL BE YOUR DOMAIN AND PRISON," Words spoken with vemon dripping in his voice, the giant creature soon reached for the two hedgehogs. "AS FOR YOU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG...HM?"
"What, hold on...How'd you know our names? Who...are you?" The aforementioned blue hedgehog questioned, tilting his head perplexed.
The giant panda's gaze never left the cobalt teen, pausing his attempts to capture them. His stare was as uncomfortable as a chorus-girl corset. They held such intentions for AP-Sonic and Shadow, yet none of them were noble, especially with whatever punishment befelled for his friend.
"YOU ARE NOT SONIC OF THE PRIME ZONE. YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE FEIST. FEIST CAN SENSE YOU HAIL FROM ANOTHER ZONE." He spoke with realization.
Shadow released a frustrated sigh. Feist could recognize AP-Sonic was an alternate counterpart but was blindside in his rage to tell the difference between himself and another Shadow the Hedgehog? It seems the universe, or the Paradox Prism to be exact, has ultimately decided against him. Never mind just the whole world.
"Uh..." AP-Sonic blinked. "Are you referring yourself in third-person, or are ya' talkin' about somebody else?"
Not answering the blue hedgehog's question, the giant creature instead resumed his position to grab the two heroes, anger boiling for Shadow's actions. His mind whirled with memories of the betrayal of mortals, their intentions provoking such dangerous territory mortals who had come to his domain against him time and time again. He will not allow it to happen anymore. There was only one he can place his trust only for one single shared purpose, and the blue hedgehog before him was one of the many incarnations of the hero himself.
AP-Sonic panicked, realizing his life was about to end with the omnious looming shadow of the colossal hand ready to swallow him and his friend, while Shadow hissed, frustration gripping at his chest with the acceptance of his demise lingering. Regret weighting down his heart, never see his companions again who would remain trapped in other realities, the dangers of the Paradox Prism threatening the very multiverse itself, and now AP-Sonic was about to die alongside him.
'Everyone...I'm sorry. Everything is...all my fault.' The ebony hedgehog's gaze lowered, squeezing his eyes shut bracing for his doom.
Just as the two hedgehogs were about to be trapped within the giant monster's grasp, a glimmer of green like a twinkle flickered above them, falling with a soft but hard thud on Shadow's head, the impact causing him to wince at the unexpected stone-like object giving him a slight headache.
"Ow!" Shadow yelped, subconsciously catching the object in his left hand, his right delicately rubbing the aching spot slowly to dull it. "What in the world...?"
His eyes shifting to the cause, a gasp escaped from him as his voice abandoned him, conjoined with the familiarity of the Chaos Energy flowing through his fingers into his veins and semi-opened heart, the green light slightly illuminating his face: It was a Chaos Emerald! The very same one, with desperation and his silent ways of farewell, given to Sonic before their sudden departure.
But would that mean...Sonic and the others have really perished?
No, that was not it. His mind rewinded to the most recent visions, of himself-one of his other counterparts, losing the Chaos Emerald upon the Paradox Prism's destruction, forever vanished into the void. Realization struck a cord in Shadow, his eyes flickering to the sky above with a black abyss looming before them. Could it be that simple? The destroyed crystal created the shift and links between worlds, and the void...was a gateway to this place, hidden and blocked until now?
Making the full decision to file his questions later, and snapping his gaze to a nearby giant portal ring, a world of the unknown being the sanctuary of safety from the giant panda, Shadow instantly snatched AP-Sonic's arm towards him.
"Hey-whoa!" The blue hedgehog let out a startled yelp, finding himself in the unexpected embrace of his rival, or alternate rival, confusion latched on his expression. "Light, what are you-?"
"Shut up and hold on tight!" Shadow snapped, gripping to focus on his connection with the Emerald, counterpart of his own but still the same none the less, holding it up above. "Chaos Control!"
AP-Sonic only had a little time to brace himself, his emerald eyes cast upon the Chaos Emerald with shock before squeezing them shut, clinging on desperately right before the giant monster's fingers coiled the make-shift cage to entrap the two heroes. Fortunately, the hedgehogs vanished before they would be held, instantly reappearing on a higher platform, wide as a pathway made of a massive lavender crystal slowly drifting in this place.
"Run!" Shadow shouted, his hold replaced from AP-Sonic's waist to his arm, pulling the bewildered younger hedgehog.
AP-Sonic, quickly realizing what had just happened, wisely decided to not argue and raced alongside his rival's counterpart. Their feet tapping against the crystal floor, their hearts racing for an immediate escape from their monstrous enemy seeking for Shadow the Hedgehog towards safety.
"YOU MORTALS SHALL NOT ESCAPE FROM ME!" Feist roared, flicking his right wrist as an purple orb, sparkling with destructive energy of a ball of lightning materialized.
With a powerful thrust of a baseball thrower, the giant panda tossed his attack towards the massive crystal, the thunderous impact shaking it violently with half of it shattering and flown into the air like a meteorite unleashing its destruction. Both Shadow and AP-Sonic etriched yelps and cries of alarm, the impact nearly causing them to slip with their soles sliding in the tilting crystal's unstable pathway.
"I'm open for any ideas, Shadow!" AP-Sonic shouted hysterically, arms pushed back as he jetted alongside his friend. "Got any suggestions?"
"Just keep moving! We reach the nearest portal and get inside to get away from this monster." Shadow responded.
"Yeah and then what?"
There was no time for another response, for the attacks became more violent and brutal, each destructive orb colliding against the crystal with every intentions to throw them off. Each blast licking at their heels with the burst of energy, echos soaring like a thunderous roar across this twilight world, Shadow and AP-Sonic dodging each attacks with difficulty.
Unfortunately their luck has run its limit as the two hedgehogs' path came to an enrupt end, both of them collectively gasping before they screeched to a halt, AP-Sonic's sneakers creating a light squeak as the friction against the crystal floor with a cliff blocking their path. It was still ten feet away from their escape route, space and abyss between it and the heroes.
"Aw, nerts..." The blue hedgehog grumbled, dismayed.
"...Darn it!" Shadow hissed.
Hearing Feist's roar of fury vibrate through the air, Shadow and AP-Sonic simultaneously gazed over their shoulders to see the giant panda rising before them, a second orb for destruction hovering in his awaited, black palm.
"O-Okay, I've battled against opponents this big, Eggy's giant robots and a big, ugly monster with spider-eyes and tentacles, but at least I was Super Sonic at the time..." AP-Sonic sweat dropped, terrified.
Shadow's eyes narrowed with determination, his gaze secretly shifting between their foe whom, even he concealed to admit to himself, was beyond his abilities which irked him to no end, to the portal's light illuminating their escape. Another idea with calculation speeding like a clock on rapid speed forming in his mind, he knew it was a risk they had to take. Flicking his own free hand, the golden light responding to his Chaos Power materalized for a foolish attempt.
But foolish enough to make their escape close to the destined portal.
"Chaos Spear!" The Ultimate Lifeform shot his attack perfectly timed as Feist launched his attack, the powerful energetic energies colliding against one another.
The collision course of Chaos Spear and the giant sphere burst of explosive energy, forcing a powerful shockwave shattering the remains of the path. AP-Sonic screamed, his fingers helplessly gripping the descending remains of the path he and his companion nearly fell. Yet as he and Shadow, who also held on, his hand firm on the crystal's remains, soon noticed they were both about to fall just below the portal. The two exchanged a look of understanding, the blue hedgehog realizing what his friend's intentions were, a collective nod of determination as though reading each other's thoughts following.
"WHAT!?" The giant Panda's expression morphed into shock and fury, his mouth agaped, one arm raised to shield his face.
Shadow refused to allow time to be wasted, he and AP-Sonic, not wanting to be in the close presence of the monster either, simultaneously released their hold on their platform, legs bending to push them upward, strengthening their resole and leaped a daring jump into the light, their gazes of stern and nervousness cast upon their new foe briefly being the only thing left behind as they disappeared.
The giant Panda's eyes fueled with the absolute fury, frustration of his prey's escape boiling like a volcano's unprecented eruption.
"YOU MAY HAVE ESCAPED FEIST THIS TIME, BUT YOU WILL SOON FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTIONS. SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG..." Feist will be ready to capture and destroy the Ultimate Lifeform.
He was certain of it.
The moment Shadow and AP-Sonic emerged through a ripple ripped through the sky as though a knife sliced through paper, a collective sound of shocked gasps escaped into the air, a right, colourful, mostly green area, with a strange familiarity hitting them. AP-Sonic screamed, arms and legs wildly flailing, panic overwhelming his senses.
Shadow on the other hand, gritting his teeth, quickly activated his shoes, flipping the right way up just as the jets from his soles ignited, catching the younger hero snow-white style, somersaulting a few times before finally landing in a styled crouch, briefly bending for a few seconds. He panted for a little bit, while AP-Sonic, the experience leaving him breathless with the aderaline washing over him, panted a bit more heavily.
"Oh...Man...That. Was. CRAZY!" AP-Sonic exclaimed, a groan joined seconds later, his hand rubbing his head in a slow, delicate manner.
"Are you alright?" Shadow asked, geniue concern secretly creeping his features, standing up before gently placing the blue hedgehog to his feet.
AP-Sonic nodded, his trademark smirk blooming his muzzle once again. "Besides nearly being flattened like a pancake, or at least having another unbooked faceplant treatment, I'm A-Okay!"
He should've known. Of course AP-Sonic would treat something like this as though he was talking about the weather. Shadow had known the original Sonic for quite sometime. His optimistic nature was part of his personality, the light brightening up even the deepest darkness engulfing the whole world.
"Phew! I'm exhausted!" The cobalt hero breathed, the anderaline of their near-death escape fading, his hands placing themselves on his knees as he bend forward, faiging a deep breath.
It was the kind of thrill for adventures he lived for, the race against all odds, the fights or escapes from enemies breathing in life for excitement through his very heart and soul.
"Okay, not to sound ungrateful for that stunt you pulled to save our butts back there, but I thought you said you gave that Chaos Emerald to the other me." AP-Sonic casually leaned against a nearby tree, his arms crossed with one leg looping behind the other.
"I did, but this it not the Chaos Emerald from my world," Shadow confirmed, extending the aforementioned gem outward. "This came from the world your counterpart destroyed, Sonic. One that my counterpart had lost in the abyss."
The blue hedgehog raised an eyebrow, perplexed. "So, then, how'd it end up in that weird, creepy portal place with a giant panda out to kill us?"
"I don't know. However, I have a theory that perhaps by accidentally destroying the Paradox Prism in the other world, it may have opened a gateway between realities and the abyss is a portal from that Shatterverse to the Multiverse itself." The Ultimate Lifeform knew his explanation provided more depths into this theory, but it was the only one he could come up with it would make sense.
"Hmmmm..." AP-Sonic hummed, cradling his chin thoughtfully. "Y'know what? That kinda makes a whole lotta sense, and if that's the case, then maybe...all of the other Paradox Prisms out there sensed it somehow and tried to send out visions to the rest of us while calling out for help. Reaching out for you and the other me."
"Maybe. We won't know unless it learn of the truth, and now...you're stuck alongside me in this mess, and now I have to get you back home." Shadow sighed, desponded.
AP-Sonic's cocky expression falted, the twinge of guilt and empathy mixing together. He was right. In his reckless desperation to save his friend, now the blue hedgehog was trapped in a new world, and worse still was he saw all of those worlds. The haunting images of another version of himself fufilling the horrific vision taunting AP-Sonic like an endless loop refusing to cease. He tried desperately to fight the tears that were pushing against the water gates.
"I just didn't...want to lose you again, Shadow," AP-Sonic struggled to swallow the heavy lump in his throat, one hand creeping along his right arm. "I didn't even know the shiny rock would just eat us like that."
Embarrassed to feel the urge to cry in front of his friends, let alone Shadow of all people, the very people he came to know and love only to be shown and told that in an alternate reality he would be the catalyst of their untimely demise, the destruction of their world, their entire home, with AP-Sonic himself and Shadow being the only survivors, multiple versions of their friends suffering terrible lives without any versions of the two hedgehogs, AP-Sonic hunched forward, struggling to hold back his sudden self-hatred, the guilt screaming at him he was to be the cause of his family's deaths, his hands flying to his face as he breathed heavily.
"I don't care if you're from an alternate reality," AP-Sonic groaned, lightly shaking his head. "Especially now I know that...that you were right all along. If you hadn't come...the same thing that happened to my other self could've happened...could've happened to me!"
AP-Sonic's hands clutched his head, ready to dig through his skull while ignoring the throb upon his touch. How was he supposed to be the indominatle leader and friend if he was to cause them to die, or would be in th same way one of his own counterparts had done? To unintentionally destroy their beloved home?
Shadow didn't reply, his expression softening ever so slightly he could ever allow, lowering his gaze with guilt and empthy of his own raising with his shame. Had he been far more careful, he would not have used Chaos Control to unintentionally trigger the transport of himself and his allies. Now yet another version of Sonic was caught in his ultimate mistake...a Sonic who was just as impulsive and cocky, yet the reality of the situation caught up to him so quickly seeing the teenager cry...
The Ultimate Lifeform had seen Sonic nearly breakdown yet gained full control...except how he almost cried in Tails' workshop. It seems the disasters upon their own actions, Sonic and AP-Sonic could only do so much to mask their emotions. His whole life seemed to be a never-ending battle, both physically and mentally.
"Sonic..." Shadow trailed a bit, a sigh escaping his lips. "I'm sorry."
Softly gasping upon hearing his friend's voice, the blue hedgehog hesitantly removing his face from his gloved hands to gaze at the Ultimate Lifeform. Of all the things AP-Sonic expected, an apology was nowhere on the list.
"I'm the one who brought you into this. It's my fault, and, more importantly, you shouldn't take the blame for what your other counterpart has done. If anything, you and Sonic in my world are not the true catalysts of the disaster. I only just made things worse." The Ultimate Lifeform gazed away, unable to meet the cobalt speedster's eyes.
"Then I guess we both screwed up, huh?" AP-Sonic sighed, one hand slowly crawling through his quills, his cheerful countenance crumbled. "I really help you, Shadow. I wanna help ya find your friends. Right now, though, I know this is pretty selfish but...I just wanna go home. I wanna see all of my friends again, to see if they're okay."
"And you will,"
"Huh?" The blue hedgehog blinked, his expression accenting his confusion.
"If there's one thing your counterpart back home taught me, is to never give up and there's always another way. As much as I hate to admit it, I know you do the same. In both worlds, you are Sonic the Hedgehog." Shadow's eyes narrowed, determination flaring across his features.
AP-Sonic's eyes widened, stunned with awe. Soon enough, a smirk pinching at his cheeks. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Shadow warned, earning a light chuckle in response. "To find our friends and homes, and to learn what we are dealing with, we'll have to work-"
"Together(?)." His sentence was finished collectively with AP-Sonic's hopeful tone echoing.
Exchanging stares, one of slight annoyance, another of hope and renewed confidence, Shadow shook his head with a faint smirk ghosted over his face. "Your lives may have been different in the past, but your optisim and kindness are identical."
"Would that mean you're jealous or somethin'?" AP-Sonic's grin splitting up his face as he lightly elbowed his friend in the ribs, the sly expression twinkling in his emerald eyes like the miscoloured stars of the night's sky. "I've seen you hang out with Rouge and Omega all the time, so I don't see why that's the case."
"I meant being able to live in the present and not let the past overcome you." The Ultimate Lifeform rolled his eyes. 'Despite what...Sonic in my world has gone through for five months.' He silently added only for himself.
The cobalt teen's smile brightened, playfully taking a couple steps back as he responded. "Hey, can't always think of the past, but sometimes it's good to remember the good old memories and think of what the present has in store. Thinking back of your old life 24/7 would only slow ya' down. And speaking of which, how 'bout you and me take a stroll around this place and see what we find."
"We have to focus on locating this world's Paradox Prism. It is the only way for us to traverse across the Multiverse without that monster destroying us all." Shadow firmly reminded.
"All the more reason to get goin'!" AP-Sonic agreed, his signature thumbs up and wink collectively following. "At least we now know both of ours ain't broken. Plus with your world's version of me and the rest of the gang still out there, we still gotta find them and who knows, one or all of them might even be here."
The logic in AP-Sonic's optisim was admittedly plausible, the thoughts of his friends stranded in this world may or not be likely. Yet Shadow knew unless they moved now, there was no telling what has become of the rest of Team Sonic.
"Let's go then." The black hedgehog nodded, earning one of agreement in return.
"And hey," The blue hedgehog began, a smile of deepening gratitude budded on his lips. "Thanks for cheerin' me up, Light."
Despite the irkness of his new nickname, Shadow's lips lips stretched into a thin smile. Perhaps temporarely teaming up with this version of Sonic wouldn't be as agonizing as he dreaded. AP-Sonic's personally was more of arrogance, but with careful training and their time together until they returned to their respective worlds, this blue hedgehog could avoid the same fate of the misplaced guilt and the shattering of his world at the same time.
"C'mon! Let's race!" AP-Sonic declared, the playful grin smearing his features as he hunched low, hands and feet digging into the soil.
Just as Shadow, a smirk of confidence and not allowing his pride to fade, was about to ready himself for the challenge, memories of his usual races against Sonic flowing through his mind like the recordings of a video camera in perfect quality, the Ultimate Lifeform's eyes widened as he gazed up ahead.
"Sonic...I believe we're in for a tough challenge than a race." The black hedgehog softly murmured, his eyes frozen in time with the horrific sight before him.
"Huh? Whaddya mean? What are you see...ing?" The cobalt speedster's trailed and faded away, a gasp escaping him as his emerald eyes soon landed upon the sight ahead.
Beyond the hill from which they found themselves rooted upon their arrival, was a huge polis city surrounded of a near wasteland, trees dark with their barks black and dry as though there had been a fire of poison, leaves all gone with no signs of return, walls crumbling yet the unmistakable gleams of metal with dull grey nearly endless. Towering structures of buildings, near heights of skyscrapers beckoning horror upon those who dared to approach with foolish courage, clouds, like a dirty old dust covering a portrait, hung heavily in the sky blocking out even the glimmer of fingers of the sun.
But what drew the attention of the hedgehogs was the one horribly familiar face at the top of each buildings, the grinning teeth and the bushy overgrown mustache.
"Oh,..." AP-Sonic groaned, one hand softly slapping over his face with annoyance. "You've gotta be kidding me. Did we just end up in the world with the Five Eggman or what?"
"No, it's different to the one was saw in those crystals. But it still a world ruled by Dr. Eggman." Shadow responded, his voice carrying the heaviness of disgust.
"Yeah, except any world of Egghead still makes him pretty ugly," AP-Sonic shrugged, the twinge of unease ensnaring his heart with webs freshly created from a spider's skilk. "I can't believe there's a world where Eggy's the stinky ruler, and he always smells so bad both inside and out."
But before the two hedgehogs could begin to race off, clunks of metal could be heard cluttering together in the seemingly empty air, the bleeps dinging with the obnoxious beeps like a computer set off alarm bells in them. Shadow and AP-Sonic, both acting on defense and intincts, whirled around only for at the painful blindness while raising their arms to try and shade their visions, wincing.
"Intruders! Scans complete," The lifeless, monotone of digital volumed voice, deep to seep into one's soul, spoke. The two heroes each opened their eyes, the bright light with painful white dimming enough to identify it being an orange shealthbot, hovering before them. "Sonic the Hedgehog, you and the unfamiliar invidial are under arrest under orders of the Robotnik Empire."
Shock rooted upon the friends, an exchanged glance of disbelief between Shadow and AP-Sonic with realization. So there is a version of the blue hero in this world, and this world's version of Eggman, or Robotnik as he is still called, is clearly out to get him.
"Sorry, but you got the wrong hedgehogs. My friend and I aren't ice cream vendors, so you're gonna have to make a raincheck on the coupons." AP-Sonic, his confidence not completely faltering, taunted with a cheeky grin.
"You shall not resist. This is your final warning!" The Swatbot echoed, its body lowering its lower part to engage its laser, forcing AP-Sonic and Shadow to quickly prepare themselves, the former raging with excitement.
"And I have a warning for you. You will not survive my wrath," Shadow snarled, his tone dripping with venom. He flicked his wrist with the small illumination of yellow light forming in his palm, while his ally's light laughter echoed with acknowledgement. "Chaos Spear!"
With a powerful swipe and toss of Chaos Energy shot out faster than missiles, the Swatbot stood no chance as it was shot down, sparks and spark colliding as it exploded within seconds. Its destroyed body landed with a loud thud against the soft dry grassblades, tumbling a few times from the short few feet from the hedgehogs.
"You could've just left me to take out that bucket of bolts." AP-Sonic drily commented.
"If you wish to take out one, there's your chance." Shadow, his voice dripping with heavy sarcasm, gestured to the right as clinging of more metal rang through their ears.
His eyes widening with perplex and alarm, the blue hedgehog spun just in time to see Egg Pawns and more Swatbots approaching, two of the pawns with hands raised, and two swatbots of red rolling like softballs sending clouds of dust in their wake.
His chest fueling with the liquar of excitement and courage, AP-Sonic grinned as he readied himself for a fight, as did Shadow. "Yeah, now we're talkin'!"
The robots all opened fire with laser ammounts descending like a rain of electrical destruction, yet even they were no match for the speed of the two fastest hedgehogs as Shadow and AP-Sonic easily dodged with years of practice, aerial leaps and athele flips with cartwheels evading the attacks and sparing the two heroes from their impedenting doom. Shadow's skate shoes jeting across the fields, his expressions etched with determination take on the enemies, while AP-Sonic's legs vanished into discs of blurs with red and white, his chest bubbling with laughter of the fun he was greedily drinking like a sweet flavoured juice.
AP-Sonic seemingly vanished in a blur, the afterimage of his shape fading in the near miss of lasers oblierating the spot where he stood, the Egg Pawns' etched with confusion, attempted to locate where the blue hedgehog was.
"Yooo hoooo." The taunt of AP-Sonic, trailing in a sullably of a song, beckoned the two robots to turn behind them, only to face their elimination of the cobalt hero who mocked a laugh, his right leg thrust in a super fast roundhouse kick, sending his opponents rocketing towards a tree, wood split apart in the crushing echo where they crumbled and exploded.
Satisfaction coated AP-Sonic's body in the warmth of triumpth, before he dashed away to avoid more Shealthbots that turned in an aerial 90 degree fraction, their scanners attempting to lock in on the blue hedgehog. His speed, known to outrun many robots at home in his years of fighting Eggman, proved far superior to their AI components, AP-Sonic perfectly timed his agility to dodge, taking time to taunt the machines with silly expressions all the while.
Shadow, his focus on the three Egg Pawns, wasted no time in taking them out, his fist colliding with one's head with a powerful punch, his fist connecting with the machine as it was decatipated with a heavy metallic crush, the head sent flying while the body, its metallic wirings and systems blaring with the loss of the head, collapsed with a loud thud against the hard soil.
"Do not resist the Robotnik Empire, citizen! You shall pay for your disobedience." A Stealthbot warned, the lifeless tone seeping to send chills down one's spine, yet had no effect save for annoyance and impatience creepling along Shadow's body.
"Hmph, do I look as though I care?" Shadow scoffed, flipping with precise expertise of his training, his speed surpassing the lasers accelerating from the robot.
Deciding to sacrifice his power for speed, the Ultimate Lifeform's shoes flowed with ignited agility, loose of a fluence athleted skater with the gritted, dry ground not detering him. He flowed in a dance as though he were on ice, his Chaos Spears aimed and fired with delicate calculation, some colliding with the lasers that met with explosions, the rest forcing the Stealthbot, now panicking, comically dodging in a reflux of a clumsy invidual.
Shadow saw his chance, pushing his legs to levitate his jump, a roar of determination filling the air as he unleashed his flurries of strikes, his hands moving with incredible speed and strength. The robot stood no chance, the brutal force causing a hard grimace and overload in the systems to implode and shut down, shattering and lifeless as it crashed with a loud thud on the ground while the black hedgehog landed safely.
"Even in a world filled with uncertainty and darkness, these robots are as pathetic as the doctor's." He was admittedly disappointed, but Shadow never took pleasure for battles his comrades, especially Sonic and Knuckles, who lived for thrills and excitement, usually did.
The other two Egg Pawns, having bared witness with their comrade's untimely demise, suddenly held expressions of unease etched in their lifeless blue optics, exchanging glances as they realized they stood no chance against this new hedgehog.
One look at the the Ultimate Lifeform, the deadly glint in his narrowed eyes spoke louder than words, was enough for the two robots to sweat drop with panic.
With a movement looking like it was swallowing with fear, one of them murmured with worry seeped in its voice cord, "Uh oh! Retreat!" before they dropped their bravado and high-tailed to the opposite direction, comically bumping against one another as they made their escape.
The discarded head in the meantime, spinning aimlessly through the thickened air, was then grabbed by AP-Sonic who, noticing it with an idea flourising like the rays of sunlight, leaped upward of his legs bending inner strength, clutching it like a ball and cast his gaze back to the remaining robots.
"Yo, botheads! Play Egg-Ball!" The blue hedgehog's laughter ringing with a mix of taunt and tease, as he thrust the Egg Pawn's head right at the remaining Shealthbots, the impact shattering the optic lenses like glass, blinding the machines from their sensor rays.
Blinded with the loss of vision, static meeting the electrical circuits frying with looming threats of shutting down, the Shealthbots flew in every comical direction with two colliding with a roaring impact, pieces of metal descending like flakes of snow. This allowed AP-Sonic to curl tightly with his Homing Attack crushing the helpless machines, blue streak followed an erratic, zigzag path of mid-air skybomb.
Soon enough, all of the robots were all scattered around the two hedgehogs as AP-Sonic landed beside Shadow, litter of metal rendered useless. They both exchanged satisfied nods, the blue hero bubbling with laughter.
"Heh. Too easy!" AP-Sonic smirked, dusting his hands as he stood proudly. "These guys are so much more of losers than Egghead's toys back home."
Shadow was about to respond with caution looming through his chest, when his sensitive hearing alerted his senses, his ears twitching as he spun quickly, another remaining Egg Pawn creeping along behind him and his oblivious friend, a gasp escaping as he quickly pulled AP-Sonic aside.
"Look out!" The black hedgehog yanked the younger hero who let out a startled yelp, laser ammunination missing by deadly inches of their quills.
Just as Shadow and AP-Sonic, the latter's expression morphing into annoyance for the unsuspected ambush, were about to take on the robot, their eyes soon widened to dinner plates when they saw another blue blur whirl with a vortex reflex, shattering the Egg Pawn to nothing. Bouncing with a hop, the blur soon extended its form into another blue hedgehog, very identical to AP-Sonic himself. Yet as the two friends gazed, shock forcing them to remain still, the new hedgehog slowly turned to reveal himself as another Sonic.
But what caught Shadow and AP-Sonic into utter silence, their minds shutting down with questions blaring like error messages, was that this new Sonic's colouring was a lighter blue, and his eyes...they were black pupils, and emerging from the corner, were three more Mobians: One being identical to Tails, yet his eyes, as well of that of the other two, were black, another being a female chipmunk with red hair, wearing a blue vest and boots, and the fourth, being a yellow-brown hound wearing a blue, long sleeved shirt with red laces and brown boots.
"Whoa!" The other Sonic yelped, as did AP-Sonic who recoiled slightly, startled beyoned belief. "That blue guy! He...He looks just like...like me!"
"Secre bleu!" The Mobian Hound exclaimed, his accent heavy with french. "Deux of Sonic!"
"...Another me, with another version of my little buddy, a Chipmunk girl I never met before, and a hound that ain't familiar either, all having black eyes I haven't had since my adventures in North Star Islands, I'm not so su-...wait, did you just speak in French?" AP-Sonic cut himself off, perplex etched across his face as he gazed at the Mobian Hound.
The Chipmunk, a frown deeply etched across her features, narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms, suspiction radiating like a canvas. "Who are you two? Are you robot replicas supposedly attempting to replace Sonic only Robotnik has poorly made due to your eye colours? Or are you imposters from another enemy?"
"We're not enemies, and we are not in cohorts with Dr. Eggman, or Robotnik. Sorry, we got lost from where we came from," Shadow, sensing tension about to accelerate, spoke with his tone lightened with politeness as he could muster. "My name is Shadow, and this is Sonic. We both hail from two different realities."
"S'up?" AP-Sonic waved, politely with his trademark grin collaborated with a wink.
The other Sonic and his group, realization yet suspicion engulfing them, all blinked collectively before exchanging glances, the other Tails' hand soon caressing his chin with deep thought.
"Different realities? Wait, you mean as in, the Multiverse stuff is like the real deal like Unc' said?" The other Sonic shrugged, a grin soon replacing his confusion combined with a light chuckle. "Dude, that's just way past cool! I thought all that stuff was a big baloney, but seeing you guys here, boy am I wrong?"
AP-Sonic chuckled, his hand trailing through his quills so fast his fingers seemingly vanished with a blurred motion. "That's what I thought, 'til Shads here turned up a few hours ago. It's kind of a crazy long story, heh heh heh."
"And how do ze' know you are not zith Dr. Robotnik and Professor Robotnik?" The Hound questioned, the flick of his wrist so fast it was near impressive to the two lost hedgehogs, a sword swiftly aimed directly at them.
Shadow and AP-Sonic, taking alarmed small steps back, simultaneously gasped with the latter instantly raising hands, nervously recoiling.
"Yo, Twain, cut 'em some slack, will ya? They just took out all of Buttnik's and Baldy's toys!" The other Sonic rolled his eyes, exasperation etched with a heaved sigh, facepalming himself.
"Sonic! Zhese are importers! Zhey cannot be trusted!" The Hound protested.
"It's imposters, not importers." The blue hedgehog sighed once more, shrugging.
AP-Sonic, with his eyes narrowed with annoyance, glared back. "Listen, bud. My friend and I here aren't imposters! We just came here by accident while my best friends and I were tryin' to get Shadow back to his world, since he got stuck here no thanks to his world's version of Egghead! Then those busted buckets of bolts came and attacked us, so we both took take of them. End of story."
"I think they're telling the truth. They're too organic to be Robotnik's machines, and they don't look like they've been roboticized either," The new Tails, his faith fully into trusting the other Sonic, agreed. "And we don't know any Shadow around here."
'Wonderful, a world where I don't exist and apparently there's two of Eggman. At least there's another version of Sonic and Tails.' Shadow's eyes slid closed, the throbbing pain of a headache as though someone was placing rocks inside his skull beginning to become unbearable.
"Even so, we can't fully trust them. How would they even get to our Zone without the Star Posts despite what Uncle Chuck says?" The Chipmunk questioned, arms still acrossed. Suspicion still dancing within her eyes.
Shadow's eyes widened like saucers, the ever so innocent yet suspicious remark triggering a memory like a fire cracker accidentally set alight. 'Uncle Chuck? So this version of Sonic's uncle...is still alive?'
"Aw, c'mon, Sal'," The other Sonic shrugged, his beliefs still justified. "What if there really are other ways of traversing across the Mutiverse? If other me and Shadow here came without mondo trouble, who's to say that it isn't possible, especially now we know there's other Zones out there?"
"I wouldn't call our arrival without trouble. We had no intentions of ever coming here." Shadow, mentally shaking away lingering questions of his troubling thoughts aside, arose his voice.
Everyone collectively shifted their gazes towards him.
"You didn't? Then, why are you both here?" Other Tails asked.
"I still zhink zis is all a trick!" The Hound grunted, distrust and anger mixed across his features.
AP-Sonic groaned, frustration boiling over. "Look, let's just say that we have our own certain Dr. Egghead problem in both our worlds, one of them being fully responsible on how Shads here got stuck in my world back home, my gang and I tried to help him get back to where he came from, but a shiny rock literally ate the both of us, we got tossed across the Multiverse, nearly got killed by a skyscraper super sized panda or badger or whatever he was, we made our way here for safety, and then we had to deal with lousy botheads that wanted to vaporize us, and ending our episode in a slight cliff-hanger until we figure out how to get to our homes. To be Continued."
The chirps of crickets came within the tingle in everyone's ears, the twinge of awkwardness chilling the air with discomfort.
"Shiny Rock?" Other Sonic and Other Tails collectively murmured, the two close friends exchanging perplexed glance with realization lacing upon their features. "The Master Emerald?"
"Uh, no, not that kind of shiny rock-Wait, you guys have a Master Emerald too?" The other blue hedgehog blinked, the words rang through his and Shadow's ears like a bell.
"I take that you have a version of Knuckles the Echidna who is the Guardian, yes?" Shadow questioned carefully.
"Sonic! Sally!"
The high-pitched chrip of a very familiar girl's voice, horror mounting quickly upon both Sonics who collectively flinched to the tip of their shoes, everyone all turning to the source. Fears of both AP-Sonic and Other-Sonic were confirmed, as a pink blur came racing towards them, faints pants of breathless wind escaping the girl, eyes matching of the citizens of this new world and to AP-Sonic's and Shadow's surprise, unlike Amy and AP-Amy, she wore a green shirt with an orange skirt and shoes with blue socks, yet there was no mistaking of her headband.
Behind here was a yellow squirrel, close to Other-Tails' age or maybe a bit older, and...Gasps of shock and horror escaping both eye-coloured hedgehogs upon the third arrival behind them. The new girl, or so they assumed, was a Mobian Squirrel, hair identical to the Chipmunk's, wearing a blue swimsuit with a lavender vest, but what stabbed the two with fear like a knife's sharpest edge was that...both her legs and her right arm were roboticized, replacing her organic limbs.
Just what in the world happened to this poor girl?
Tension rising, AP-Sonic gaze shifted towards the readers/viewers, his expression twisting with discomfort and concern mixed, shrugging with the moment of breaking the fourth wall. "Okay, seriously. This whole Cybog and alternate realities shindig is just too crazy. Kids, don't try this space-time traveling at home, and don't mess with glowing, shiny rocks either."
"A-A-Amy!? Omph!" Other-Sonic, suddenly finding himself coiled by Other-Amy's arms bursting air from his lungs as though they were about to burst like a balloon, grunted with the sheer discomfort with a painful squeeze.
'Some things never change.' Shadow shook his head, exhaling with exasperation.
"Silva, Amy? What's wrong?" Sally, the Chipmunk, inquired. Her expression laced with concern.
"Rotor and Nicole need us back at HQ, right away! They think they've found what Ivo and Julian are...up...to..." Silva, the Cybog Squirrel, trailed to a baffled silence, a gasp escaping as she and Other-Amy, who cuddled the other Sonic, the radiance of her joy and relief bright as the sunlight, soon took sight of the two hedgehogs before them.
Collective dumbstruck hitting them hard, the new girls and the young Squirrel, all stared with complete silence upon the sight of them, especially AP-Sonic.
"Uh, Sonic...W-Who or w-what, is that hedgehog who l-looks like you?" The young Squirrel meekly asked, pointing shakily.
"Well, Ray, Ames-can you let me go now, please?-and Sil, that other blue guy is me from alternate universe, and that's his pal, Shadow the Hedgehog who comes from another world beyond that." Other Sonic, his face etched still with discomfort, gestured awkwardly.
"He's another you?" Other-Amy perked, her eyes dancing with nervousness and curiosity, drifting with the gentlest breeze towards AP-Sonic who waved casually, and Shadow crossing his arms, impatiently.
All the while, the hedgehog, still ensnared within her arms, strained to gently have her release him with his eyes pleadingly cast at his group of friends.
Before either could continue further, Sally held up a hand to silence the conversation, her tone lacing with authority. "Let's worry about who they really are and why they're here later. They're to come with us back to Freedom HQ and interrogate them for further details on what the Robotniks are up to this time."
"Th-they're spies of-of the R-Robotnik E-Empire?" Ray, the young squirrel, trembled with fear laced in his tone.
"We are not with Robotnik," Shadow sighed, silently praying for patience and sanity for this never-ending nightmare to stop. "However, we will do our best to answer your questions as much as we can."
"And you are supposed to be...?" Silva inquired, suspicously with her arms crossed.
"Shadow."
"Who I nicknamed Light since he has a slightly better sense of humor than his grumpy-self back where I come from," AP-Sonic grinned, before his expression flattened with realization. "Okay, that was pretty redundant. 'Cause I'm positive there aren't any other Shadow's that aren't Grouch-Zillas around."
"Do not make zis any harder, you liars!" The Hound growled, angrily. "You are both under arrest for-"
"Antwain!" Other-Sonic interrupted, tapping his foot loudly earlier, making his friend to recoil with fright. The hardened look flaring into the other Mobian's eyes enough to burn his soul. "Not. Another. Word! Geez, give these guys a break, will ya'?"
Sally sighed, shrugging. "Either way, we need to know more before the Badniks return and we're as good as sitting ducks. Shadow the Hedgehog and, other Sonic, you are to come with us, as of now." Her expression stoned with firm, her tone leaving no room for negotications.
Shadow and AP-Sonic exchanged a glance, a silent understanding communicated in their eyes with a collective nod in spite of the twinge of discomfort settling in their stomachs, while the latter's counterpart and friends all, with Other-Sonic being the only one without hesitation and gifting the two hedgehogs a wink and supportive thumbs up, reluctantly agreeing to allow them to follow. Taking the lead, the group of heroes all soon began to leave the dangerous Robopolis behind for safety and search for answers.
His thoughts racing with a waterfall of questions, Shadow's gaze lowered at each passing step, wondering how all of this unfolded and what answers awaited him in order to find his own allies and return them, himself and AP-Sonic back to their own worlds.
'If Dr. Eggman has conquered the world in this timeline, how and when did he succeed? And Julian...could he be...the counterpart of his older brother?' Questions plagued his increasingly concerned mind, the Ultimate Lifeform new this was just the beginning of the greater threats beyond.
All unaware of a pair of leering, red optic lenses detecting upon them. The cold, lifeless glare scanning body heats and Chaos Energy upon Other-Sonic, AP-Sonic and Shadow.
Meanwhile, with Sonic's Group in the Paradox Prism Link Passage...
"Hey, where's Eggman?" Sonic voiced, horror and growing frustration creeping through not just him, but soon the rest of his friends as well.
In turn of suddenly gaining the shard and being brought back here without even given a chance to say goodbye to their counterparts, Dr. Eggman and his cohorts were once again absent.
"Oh, come on! Don't tell me we went all that trouble just to find Ro-butt-nik and that shard only to end up losing him again!" Sun groaned, slapping his hand to his face, frustration laced in his voice.
"How could we have just lose him like that? When he was right where we wanted him?" Knuckles hissed, irritated.
Tails frowned, deepening concern etched across his face. The cogs in his clever mind began to spin at an alarming rate, eventually clicking into place. A startled gasp escaped him as he turned to his friends. "The shard piece must've caused Dr. Eggman and his robots to be separated from us again the moment it glowed, like how the Paradox Prism did back at home! Very likely because they could somehow sense the evil and dangers he possesses."
Shock rooted the rest of the Sonic Heroes with collective gasps echoing through the heavy air like a roar in a gorge, before they all swiftly turned to Eris and Nero, fear mounting their faces as Sonic asked, his voice trembling. "Is this true? Eggman can't be near us whenever we have found the shard piece?"
The Seer of Timelines, her heart sinking through her legs, shook her head somberly. "Miles is half correct. Your Paradox Prism sensed the dangers, calling forth to you, Sonic the Hedgehog. However, because of the imbalance of the shattered Prism not only across the Multiverse, but also to the Shatterverse, it is increasing the distortation and anomaly of all worlds. Especially if they are misused."
"So that means, if anybody with a greedy heart, such as Eggman or anybody not as cruel as him but still having no consideration for other people's safety, got their hands on it," Star's mouth fell agap with fear, her eyes shrinking smaller than peas as realization dawned like a stone avalanche. "It could easily corrupt their minds because of the darkness in their hearts!"
"That's why that guy Barker-whatever his name is-turned into that hooded creep to get to Blue Leader only for that crystal piece to mess up his head?" Sun questioned, bewildered.
To think that all it takes to mess up one's mind was for a piece of a Paradox Prism shard?...Wow.
"INDEED," Nero slowly nodded, his expression difficult to read yet the pupiless gaze, deepened with his muzzle downward still encasting fear upon the heroes' hearts. "THE SHARDS MUST NEVER BE USED EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE FAR WEAKER HEARTS FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES. YOU MUST LEARN TO GAIN THE CRYSTALS BEFORE THEY FALL IN THE WRONG HANDS, OR ELSE THE TELEPORTATION BETWEEN WORLDS WILL FOREVER CONTINUE TO BECOME UNSTABLED."
Realization hitting him like a ton of bricks with panic gripping at his chest, threatening to close his throat, Sonic winced in deep guilt as he bowed his head in shame. His emerald eyes cast upon the stone held in his hands, disdain eating away upon the cursed crystal capable of manipulating space and time itself.
'This is really is all my fault,' Sonic's eyes slid closed, he tried desperately to fight the tears that were pushing against the water gates. teeth were gently biting into her lower lip, trying to steady his emotions. 'If I had been careful, if only I hadn't gotten caught by Shadow, and if I had gone to Bygone Island a lot sooner, none of this would've happened.'
Knowing what he had to do, Sonic inhaled sharply to swallow his guilt and growing sadness, before he gazed fearfully at the giant Polar Bear and the gentle, kind Seer, approaching them with apprehension with Amy, concern etched on her face, softly reached out. The blue hedgehog neared the edge of the platform, swallowing the lump with a whimper lingering while extending his arms in offering the shard before them.
While Eris's expresssion etched with sympathy and guilt for the poor cobalt teen's misguided guilt, Nero, sensing terror upon the hero of Mobius, soon reached out towards the fifteen year old, his massive palm overshadowing the normally brave and courageous hedgehog. Sonic, failing to withdraw a horrified gasp, winced before squeezing his eyes shut while trying to stretch his arms further out, fearing the giant Polar Bear could grab him once more.
"Sonic!" Tails, Amy, Sun, Knuckles and Star, all including Rouge entrapped with fear for their friend's safety, reached out before collectively racing over by the blue hedgehog's side, encircling the blue hedgehog protectively despite knowing they too could all be engulfed by the giant hand threatening them all once more.
Silent prayers were sent from within, the heroes all frightened to the core with the massive palm looming closer that Sonic attempted to reach out further his arms could allow, his hands shaking like a glass about to fall. He and his friends all nearly screamed as the giant shadow's blanket covered them in a masquade of darkness, only for the Prism shard to be gently plucked from his gloved fingers. Sensing this, Sonic almost immediately let go while hesitantly opening his eyes, the drums beating in his heart threatening to burst it.
"Huh?" Slowly blinking, perplexed, Sonic felt his heart skip a beat to see Nero withdraw his hand, two fingers ever so gently holding the shard with a delicate musture of a fragile glass sculpture.
His friends, sensing the danger no longer threatening them, all with the testiment of fear and anxiety slowly looked to see that they were safe while the giant Polar Bear, exchanging a nod of understanding and agreement with Eris who's expression was mixed with concern yet determination, extended the crystal to one of the portal shards above, a glimmer of light sparkling like a coated sprinkles enlightening the shard itself before it soon drifted from his grip and in a streak of a shooting star flew into the portal, one viewing Prism-Sonic now in the world of the large Jungle, his gloves and shoes taking on a theme matching within it.
The Sonic Heroes all exhaling a collective sigh of relief, with Amy and Star both having their hands rest soothingly at their hearts to will them to ease, Rouge and Knuckles exchanging wariy looks, Sun's hand resting heavily on his head, Tails was disciplining a shiver in his spine, and Sonic wiping away trickles of sweat forming on his face like rain drop dews.
"No offense to anybody, but I really don't like this place at all." Rouge heaved, her voice carrying the mixture of lingering fear and exhaustion.
"It's really giving me the creeps." Tails, his voice soft in a gentle whisper, agreed.
Sun nodded with agreement. "Yeah, no kidding. The sooner we find the rest of those shards, save Shadow and get Ro-butt-nik from running off again, the sooner we can get back home."
"You're tellin' me," Sonic shrugged, unease laced in his voice. "This whole thing with Prism-Me's mess is a nightmare!"
"But we can't just stop yet. I know we all want to go home, but we've got Paradox Prism from Prism-Sonic's world, Shadow and the whole Multiverse at stake." Star reminded, her voice flowing with firmness gentle but sharp within everyone's ears.
"Princess Aria is right," Eris's voice echoed in a gentle melody, bringing everyone's attentions back to the Seer and the giant Polar Bear. "While time flows differently in each world, all are in grave danger and should not go to waste."
The hero of Mobius, ever the determined leader despite all of the hardships he faced, the onslaught of memories threatening to engulf and swallow him whole, clenched his trembling fists before snapping his head. They had made it this far, and now with one shard recovered, he knew without a single doubt that time was both their ally and opponent.
"She's right, we've gotta get the other four pieces before Egghead does," Sonic declared, his voice laced with determination and bravado. A smirk pinching at his cheeks, he whirled around to his friends. "C'mon, guys! The whole Multiverse aren't gonna wait for us, and Shadow is still out there. Let's do it to it!"
Faced with the mists of realization dawning across them, Sonic's courage and purity were as infectious as the dawn's first light, Tails, Amy, Sun, Knuckles, Star and Rouge, all their lips curling with grins, smiles and smirks, exchanged their agreements, each placing their hands above each other before they cheered simultaneously.
"REMEMBER, YOUNG TRAVELERS. THE SHARDS MUST NOT BE USED FOR EVIL PURPOSES. YOU MUST FIND THEM BEFORE HISTORY REPEATS IN THE WORLD YOU HAVE TRAVERSED AND SAVED." Nero reminded, his tone heavy with powerful entity of his strength and abilities not to be tampered or taken lightly.
"Right! See ya' guys soon!" The fifteen year old promised, gifting the ethereal duo a wink and thumbs up, before he and his friends, gazing their next portal close by, this time one withdrawing the cyan aura of swirls like a mystic dream, shared looks understanding and all raced towards it, their bond of strength carrying them towards their next adventure.
Only for a powerful shockwave, violent as an Earthquake magnitude of 7.8 to rock not only the platform, forcing the Sonic Heroes to stumble in alarm, cries of fear, confusion and shock shifting their focus and balance with yelps comically escaping and flailing their arms towards the giant Warp Ring, but the entire heavy gravity, sending Eris and Nero to lose their balance as well.
"What!?" Eris exclaimed.
"W-What the!?" Knuckles yelped, failing to regain his position as he was the first to slip into the vortex, screaming loudly as he soon vanished into the other world.
He was soon followed by the others, Rouge falling in next while attempting to escape the uncertain ride, Sun's hand clasping tightly around Star's with the tangerine hedgehog unable to pull her and himself free, Amy's pleads for help, her voice bellowing with fear and devastation as she reached out for Sonic calling out his name, and Tails falling head first, his voice carrying the weight of panic upon reaching for his big brother.
"Tails! Amy! Knuckles! Sun! Star! Rouge!" Sonic screamed, devastated as he reached to try and save his friends.
But it was all for naught, as Eris' cries reached out his ears, the plasma energy blowing them away with brutal force, her and Nero's cries and roars of agony enough to drain away their strengths. Sonic in the meantime struggled against the pull, his legs buckling beneath him at the shock waves with the solid stone tilting like a tabletop wobbling and failing to keep his feet rooted before he too was finally engulfed by the portal itself, his petrified screams fading like whispers of the winds.
But not before he heard an ominous voice, booming with the crusade of anger and pure hate, echo through his mind and sending chills descend his spine.
"YOU MAY HAVE ESCAPED FEIST THIS TIME, BUT YOU WILL SOON FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ACTIONS..."
To be Continued!
A/N: Okay, I may not be a fan of cliffhangers, but I can't help with how each chapter tend to end sometimes. *Sweat drops sheepishly* And I do try to make the story as well written as possible, my deepest apologies on that.
In any case, Shadow and AP-Sonic have met new counterparts of the latter and their friends, while Sonic's group are now in for more trouble within the next world they have stumble into. Where it is, you will soon found out in the next chapter! *Winks cheekily*
The world the former duo are in is based on the SATAM Sonic series as well as the Archie comics, yet Sonic, Tails and Amy in this world are more closely to their designs in the Genesis era games while mostly based on their designs in Sonic Origins and Sonic Superstars cutscenes, and I replaced two characters such as Antonine and Bunnie Rabbot with two new OCs to fit this new world.
See you later!