{Pre A/N}
Procastination is over, time to lock in... Ah, and to answer one question.
lazy lord: regarding any pairings... IDK, lol. I am not really a romance guy so I think that you shouldnt expect any pairing in my story, but who knows, I can change my mind later on.
Kenedy Bender: thanks for being my first comment ever by the way, really appreciate it.
Also happy anniversary to Freedom Planet 2!
Chapter 11: Brand New Day, Brand New Threat!
Avalice Archipelago – Relic Island, Night Hours
In the heart of the Avalice Archipelago lies Relic Island, nestled between the three major islands. The island is an enigma, its dense, emerald woods concealing ancient structures that have stood the test of time. The moonlight filters through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor as nocturnal creatures roamed the islands woods.
Under this starry night sky, a small hush basset finds herself in a secluded clearing, a place she has visited many times before. She is no older than ten, her ivory-white fur glowing softly in the moonlight, with bushy orange hair. Her bright green eyes are framed by her floppy ears adorned with green disks. She wears a sleeveless, beige unitard-like outfit, and around her wrists and ankles are sets of rings colored green and orange.
The young dog gazes up at the vast expanse of the night sky, her black nose twitching as she inhales the cool night air. She closes her eyes, and her small hands come together in a silent prayer. She stands like this for what feels like an eternity, her small form bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight.
"Please..." she murmurs, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves and distant sounds of the forest. The weight of loneliness and worry presses heavily upon her small frame, and as her eyes remain closed, tears begin to well up. She sniffles quietly, a small whimper escaping her as she desperately clings to the hope that the stars might answer her unspoken wish.
Just as her hope begins to falter, the sky above her suddenly ignites with a brilliant golden glow. Startled, she opens her eyes wide, looking up to see a radiant yellow light descending from the night sky. The young basset watches in awe as the light grows closer.
The light's descent slows as it nears her, and with a soft bonk, it lands gently on her head. "Ow!" she yelps, more in surprise than pain, as she reaches up to rub the sore spot. Blinking rapidly, she looks down to see what had fallen from the sky. Her breath catches in her throat as her eyes widen in disbelief.
Before her lies a yellow gem, shaped like a diamond and pulsating with a gentle, otherworldly energy. She carefully picks it up, cradling it in her hands as though it were the most precious thing in the world.
"Whoa..." she whispers, her voice trembling with awe. Her heart races with a mix of emotions—joy, relief, and hope—as she stares at the gem. A wide smile begins to spread across her face, pushing away her. "A wishing star! It... it worked!" she giggles, her voice filled with a childlike excitement.
She jumps to her feet, holding the gem high above her head, the moonlight reflecting off its light around her. For a brief moment, the clearing is filled with her joyous laughter. The mysterious gem, glowing brightly in her hands, fills her heart with a sense of wonder and possibility that she had almost forgotten.
Clutching the gem tightly to her chest, she closes her eyes once more, but this time, her prayer is one of gratitude. "Thank you..." she whispers to the stars, hugging the gem close to her.
Dragon Valley – Lilac's Treehouse, Morning Hours
As the first rays of dawn break over the horizon, the morning light filters through the windows of Lilac's treehouse, over the cozy living room. The room exudes a peaceful ambiance, with its family-sized sofa positioned comfortably in the center, a portrait of a dragon hanging proudly on the wooden walls, and a shelf filled with various trinkets. The television sits quietly in front of the sofa.
On top of the sofa lies Sonic the Hedgehog, sprawled out comfortably. He had insisted on taking the sofa to avoid bothering anyone. As the light of the morning sun begins to illuminate the room, Sonic stirs, a lazy yawn escaping his lips as he stretches his limbs.
"Huff, that was a good sleep," he mutters, rubbing his eyes and trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, the memories of the previous day slowly come back to him.
Sonic and Tails had spent the night in the treehouse, grateful for the warm hospitality of their new friends. After a long day of excitement and danger, the two had shared a hearty meal with Lilac and Carol, settling down for a much-needed rest. Sonic recalls the dinner—ramen, they had called it. It was a dish he wasn't too familiar with, but it wasn't half bad. He chuckles to himself, thinking that maybe it could have used a bit of chili for that extra kick, but overall, it had filled his belly. More importantly, the company had made the meal all the more enjoyable.
As he lay on the sofa, Sonic reminisces about the conversations they had shared the night before. He and Tails had eagerly recounted their past adventures to the girls, each story met with wide-eyed amazement and enthusiasm. Sonic had told of his early days on South Island, while Tails excitedly explained how they had met on West Side Island. The girls had listened intently to their stories.
Sonic chuckles as he remembers the look on Lilac and Carols face when he mentioned Little Planet and its mysterious time-warping abilities. The story had left them in shock, their eyes practically sparkling with fascination. He snorts as he recalls how Lilac had practically begged him to share every detail about Angel Island, her excitement palpable.
"Yep, the moment she steps on Angel Island, she's going to combust with joy," Sonic says to himself with a smirk as he sits up on the couch. He hadn't told them everything, preferring to let Lilac experience the wonders of Angel Island for herself when the time came. But his mind was now occupied with more pressing matters.
"Eggman…" Sonic thinks to himself, his expression growing serious. It seemed that the doctor wasn't working alone this time. He had that Serpentine guy with him, which was strange enough, but there was something else—something off about the whole situation. Eggman had seemed…colder, more sinister than usual. And then there was that other name that had been mentioned: Brevon. Sonic didn't know why, but something about it all felt... wrong.
He lets out another yawn, shaking his head. "Eh, whatever. We'll figure it out later," he finally says, brushing it off the uneasy feeling.
Sonic glances toward the door where his friends had slept, noticing that it was half-open. He peeks inside curiously and sees the spare bed where Tails had slept—it's empty. Tails is already up and about, but the girls—Lilac and Carol—are still sound asleep in their respective bunk beds. Lilac sleeps peacefully on the top bunk, a small smile on her face as she dreams, while Carol is slumped over on the bottom bunk, drool hanging from the corner of her mouth. Sonic can't help but snicker as he gently closes the door, careful not to wake them.
"I wonder where Tails is," Sonic muses as he slides the wooden door open and steps outside to take in the fresh morning air. The forest valley is quiet, the only sounds being the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. A soft breeze carries the scent of grass and morning dew.
He takes in the breeze with a smile, his ears perking up as he starts to hear a faint noise coming from Torque's tent, not too far from the treehouse. Curious, Sonic decides to investigate, leaping down from the treehouse and landing softly on the grass. He listens intently as the voices from inside the tent become clearer.
"Your gun used to do that?!" a young, excited voice exclaims from within.
"Yeah," replies a second, more mature voice with a hint of awkwardness. "My gun used to be able to harness the power of different elements. I could shoot stuff like fire, electricity, water, and the like. But after, uh, some 'unexpected variables,' I had to modify it so it could only shoot lasers."
"Aw, man," the young voice sighs, sounding a little disappointed. "I wish I could have seen it…"
The older voice chuckles. "Don't worry, if you want, I can give you the gun schematics."
"Really?!" the young voice perks up instantly, filled with enthusiasm.
"Sure, why not?"
At that point, Sonic decides to call out. "Hey, Torque! What are you doing in there?" he calls out, his voice carrying across the clearing.
The tent flaps rustle, and Tails cheerful face appears, beaming up at Sonic. "Morning, Sonic!" Tails greets him, looking particularly excited.
Sonic grins back. "Morning to you too, bro. What's up? Couldn't sleep?" he teases, knowing full well that Tails is always the first to wake.
Tails chuckles, shaking his head. "You know I'm an early riser. I'm doing fine. I just thought I'd check in on Torque, and, well, we've been geeking out a bit," he explains, his eyes practically sparkling.
Sonic perks up, intrigued. "You guys building something in there?"
Tails nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, come check it out! We've been working on something really cool." He motions for Sonic to follow him inside the tent.
Sonic, now fully curious, steps inside the tent. To his surprise, the inside is much larger than it appeared from the outside. The space is filled with crates, various gadgets, and a workbench cluttered with tools and electronic components. Torque sits at the desk, focused on tinkering with what looks like a radio, his expression one of intense concentration.
Torque looks up as Sonic enters, offering a friendly smile. "Hey, Sonic. Slept well?" he asks, setting down his tools and turning to face him.
"You bet," Sonic replies, stretching once more. "So, what's all this?" He gestures to the array of equipment scattered around the tent, his curiosity piqued.
Tails beams with pride, unable to contain his excitement. "Torque and I built an interference radio! With it, we can intercept any transmissions that Robotnik or Serpentine might send to each other." His eyes shine with enthusiasm as he explains the device. "There are a lot of people living on these islands, so it might be difficult to locate them directly. But with this radio, we can track any suspicious communications and pinpoint their locations much faster!"
Sonic raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Nice work, guys. Does it work?"
"Let's find out!" Tails says eagerly, turning to Torque. "Hit it, Torque!"
Torque nods with a confident smile and flips a switch on the radio. The device crackles to life, emitting a series of beeps and static before a distorted voice breaks through the noise.
The voice, though distorted, is clearly not Robotnik or Serpentine. "...coordinates set...project proceeding as planned...ensure no interference..." it says, the words growing clearer with each repetition.
Sonic, Tails, and Torque exchange wide-eyed looks as the transmission continues. The voice grows louder and clearer until it is unmistakable.
The tent falls silent as the weight of the message sinks in.
Back in the treehouse, Lilac and Carol are still fast asleep, curled up in their respective bunk beds. Lilac sleeps with a contented smile, dreaming peacefully, while Carol snores loudly, her face buried in her pillow.
Within moments, a blue blur races back into the treehouse, the front door swinging open and closed in a flash. Sonic darts through the living room and into the bedroom, where he quickly grabs Lilac's hand and Carol's foot, startling them both awake with a jolt.
"S-Sonic?" Lilac stammers, blinking groggily as she tries to make sense of the situation. She looks at him, still holding her hand, confusion written all over her face. "What are you—"
"No time to explain!" Sonic interrupts, urgency in his voice as he tugs her out of bed.
"W-what do you... Whoa!" Lilac yelps as Sonic pulls her to her feet, nearly causing her to stumble.
"Nana… I don't wanna train... Nya!" Carol mumbles, still half-asleep as she's yanked from her bunk like a ragdoll.
Sonic, not wasting any time, drags the groggy girls out of the bedroom and straight to Torque's tent. Lilac and Carol, still disoriented from being so abruptly awoken, can do little more than scream behind him. Once inside the tent, Sonic unceremoniously drops them to the floor, causing Lilac to land on her butt with a soft thud and Carol to faceplant into the ground.
"Ow! Sonic!" Lilac protests, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep as she rubs her sore bottom.
"Yeah, Bluey... What gives?" Carol grumbles, her voice muffled by the ground as she attempts to push herself up, still more asleep than awake.
Sonic, slightly embarrassed, scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, but you need to hear this," he says, gesturing toward the radio that Tails and Torque had been working on.
Torque, seeing that everyone is now present, presses the play button on the radio, allowing the earlier transmission to repeat itself clearly for Lilac and Carol to hear:
"Kingdom Stone coordinates set, Zao's mayor reelections project proceeding as planned, arriving at destination, ensure no interference from the Shang Tu Police. Go, go, go!" The sound of a train horn blares before the transmission ends.
The tent falls into a tense silence as everyone processes the message. The Kingdom Stone was in danger, yet again, and this time, the threat was more immediate than ever before.
"Ughhhhhhh!" Carol groans, still half-asleep as she slams her head back onto the floor in frustration. "Five more minutes..."
Sonic can't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "Sorry, Greenie. Looks like our next adventure starts now!" he announces, his voice filled with the eager anticipation of a brand new day.
{Post A/N}
"Whoa wait a moment, Relic Island? Not Relic Maze?"
Thats right, I decided to change some stuff to better fit into the story, Relic Maze is now a whole new separated island and is in the center of the three main ones as well as the place where the Kingdom Stone is located.
Thats all I am going to say as we start a brand new arc.