{Pre A/N}

Soooooo, I might have been watching a certain popular web series from around 2003 while writing this chapter, so, uh, beware of the blatant references up ahead.

Oh, also important notes in the end.

[Update, not so important now, lol]


Chapter 12: Why Are They Here?!

Relic Island – On the Shang Tu Bridge, Morning Hours

Relic Island, the central hub of the Avalice Archipelago, was connected to the surrounding islands by massive stone bridges, each a testament to ancient craftsmanship. The island served as a crossroads for the three kingdoms, a neutral ground where their interests converged.

Across a stone bridge that connected Shang Tu Island to Relic Island, the roar of engines cut through the morning air. Sonic and Lilac raced ahead, their feet pounding against the stone with effortless speed, while Carol followed closely on her bike, her engine revving loudly. Above them, the Tornado soared through the sky, piloted by Tails, with Torque sitting in the back, tinkering with his gun as they approached their destination. The wind rushed past them, carrying the scent of saltwater from the surrounding ocean.

"So, this is the heart of the archipelago," Sonic remarked, taking in the sights as they ran. The small island ahead was covered in lush greenery, with ancient ruins peeking through the trees.

"Yup," Lilac responded, her voice tinged with a mix of admiration and frustration. "Relic Island, right between the three kingdoms. It connects to each kingdom by a stone bridge, serving as a place to establish relationships and maintain balance between them..." She trailed off, a hint of bitterness creeping into her tone.

"And the place that is currently being raided," Carol added with a yawn, revving her bike's engine as she kept pace. "Seriously, what's up with the name of that mission? 'Zao's Reelection Project'?"

"Beats me, who's Zao, anyway?" Sonic asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Mayor Zao is the leader of Shang Mu," Lilac explained, her voice steady despite her disdain. "He governs the largest city in the archipelago and… he's kind of a sketchy guy. I can't believe he'd resort to something like this..."

"Well, not for long!" Sonic declared, his eyes narrowing as he glanced to his right, where the Tornado flew alongside them. "We're not letting him get the stone, no matter what!"

Tails, his eyes sharp, nodded in agreement. "There's smoke up ahead! That's where the train is! It's heading deeper into the woods!"

"That's where the Kingdom Stone is supposed to be!" Carol exclaimed. "There's an ancient temple there, probably where the Shang Tu Police are stationed too!"

Sonic's determination hardened, his pace quickening. "Well, let's not be late to the party!" he declared. The group sped towards the heart of the island, ready to confront the new threat and protect the Kingdom Stone from falling into the wrong hands.


Relic Island – Ruins of the Ancient Temple

Deep within Relic Island lay a blend of lush forests and ancient ruins, the centerpiece being the remains of an ancient temple. The temple, though dilapidated, still retained a majestic aura, its golden walls cracked and its pillars broken, yet standing tall against the passage of time. Moss and vines snaked along the stonework, giving the structure an almost mystical quality, as if it held secrets long forgotten.

Various soldiers of Shang Tu were scattered across the temple grounds, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. They wore the distinct Royal Guard uniform of Shang Tu, consisting of a silver helmet, black shoulder pads, black and blue armor with a silver chestplate, and white and blue sandals.

Amongst them, two soldiers stood guard near the temple's entrance. One was a grizzly bear with orange eyes and brown fur, and the other was a red panda with maroon eyes. Their armor sported unique accents matching their eye colors—orange for the bear, maroon for the red panda.

"…Hey," the red panda said, breaking the silence, as he turned to his companion.

"Yeah?" the bear responded, his gaze fixed on the surrounding forest.

"You ever wonder why we're here?" the red panda asked, his tone reflective.

The bear shrugged, his eyes scanning the horizon. "It's one of life's greatest mysteries, isn't it? Why are we here? I mean, are we the product of… some cosmic coincidence, or is there really a G—"

"Dexter! Richard! Focus!" A sharp, commanding female voice cut through their conversation, making both soldiers jump in surprise. The voice belonged to Neera Li, her purple eyes glinting with irritation. Her presence was commanding and her tone left no room for disobedience. "You are supposed to be guarding the temple, not spouting philosophical nonsense!" she reprimanded sternly.

The soldiers snapped to attention. "Yes, Lady Neera!" they responded in unison, their postures stiffening as they saluted her. Richard, the red panda, stood nervously at attention, while Dexter, the bear, lazily maintained his posture, a trace of defiance in his eyes.

Neera held them in her icy gaze for a moment longer before turning her attention back to the temple's entrance. Her presence alone commanded respect, and she knew it.

"Ah, come on, Neera, it was starting to get interesting," a deep male voice chimed in beside her, a playful grin spreading across his face.

A massive panda with white and black fur stood nearby, his arms crossed over his chest. This was General Gong, a seasoned warrior and leader with piercing purple eyes. He was dressed in black and gold armor adorned with spiked shoulder pads, a purple sash around his waist, gray gloves, black pants, and sturdy brown boots. A massive shield with a Tao symbol was strapped to his back.

Neera's eyes narrowed. "Gong, we can't afford any distractions," she said firmly. "Shuigang soldiers could try to raid the Kingdom Stone at any moment." Her voice carried a sharp edge, her gaze never wavering from the temple's entrance. "As the closest kingdom and the most neutral one during these times, we must take charge of protecting the stone for the good of Avalice."

Gong shook his head, leaning casually against a pillar. "I know that," he said, his tone softer, but his expression showed concern for his comrade. "But we shouldn't be so strict with our soldiers. Heck, there hasn't been any trace of Shuigang soldiers or anything for that matter."

Neera's expression remained stern. "Yes… for now," she replied, her voice tinged with an edge of paranoia. Her eyes darted to the shadows between the trees, as if expecting an ambush at any moment.

Gong sighed, muttering under his breath, "I swear you can be so paranoid sometimes." His expression softened with worry as he looked at her. "Neera, you haven't slept in days. It's starting to worry us. Even the Magister is concerned about you," he said, trying to convince her to take a break. "You need to rest. You won't be able to protect anything if you're running on fumes."

Neera didn't budge, her gaze hardening. "There's no time for rest. The Magister will understand," she insisted, though her tired eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

Gong continued his efforts, knowing she wouldn't easily relent. "How about we talk about something else, huh? Something less worrisome?" he suggested, hoping to ease her thoughts, if only for a moment.

Neera didn't respond immediately but didn't dismiss the idea either, allowing Gong to steer the conversation in a lighter direction.

Meanwhile, Dexter and Richard, still within earshot, exchanged a glance. Dexter huffed and leaned closer to Richard. "No time for meaningless conversation, yeah right," he whispered. "Look at them, going back and forth. This is a lot of bull—"

"Hey now, Dexter, don't start saying stuff like that. I don't want to get in trouble," Richard warned, his eyes darting nervously toward Neera and Gong.

Dexter grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Like they would even care. Ugh, you're right. Why are we even here? Shuigang hasn't attacked in days, only that dumb prince decided to say 'screw you, Avalice' and send his lame-looking robots everywhere. And Shang Mu? They're too busy celebrating their new 'City Ruby' or some crap like that."

Richard tried to reason with him, his voice low. "We're here because we're the most trustworthy between the kingdoms right now. It's our duty to secure the future."

Dexter scoffed. "Man, shut up. This securing and guarding junk is tiring," he yawned, his eyes drooping. "Cover for me. I'm going to take a quick nap." He leaned more comfortably against the pillar, his eyelids growing heavy.

Richard panicked, shaking his friend. "Don't. Do. That! You always get me in trouble when you pull this crap!"

Dexter smirked, his eyes closing. But suddenly, the faint sound of a whistle followed by bombastic carnival music filled the air, growing louder. Dexter frowned, forcing his eyes open. "Uh, dude, you hear something?"

Richard, now alert, spotted smoke rising from the woods. "Uh oh!" His eyes widened in alarm, and he dashed toward Neera and Gong, Dexter reluctantly following.

As they approached, Neera was finishing her conversation with Gong. "And that is why I think the Magister's suggestion of establishing a Tim Tams currency exchange program is an excellent idea!" Neera concluded, her tone firm.

Gong, managing to keep Neera somewhat relaxed, looked confused as he scratched his head. "Wait, what are we talking about again?"

Before Neera could respond, Richard interrupted, panic evident in his voice. "Lady Neera, General Gong! There's something I must tell you!"

Neera's eyes narrowed. "Not now, soldier. Go back to your posts," she ordered, her tone sharp as the music grew louder.

"But we—" Richard began, glancing at the growing plume of smoke.

"We can talk later, Richard. Let me finish this discussion with Neera," Gong said, still puzzled but starting to sense the urgency.

"It's urgent!" Richard insisted, his voice edging toward panic.

"Silence!" Neera snapped, her patience wearing thin. "We will listen to you when I finish this ta—" She stopped mid-sentence, her ears perking up as the carnival music reached them. "What in the name of the dragons is that music?!"

Dexter pointed behind them, a look of horror on his face. "You might wanna look."

The group turned just in time to see a massive black and red train barreling toward them. Its headlights glowed like menacing blue eyes, and an evil smile was painted on its front, complete with pink paint on its nose and topped with a bushy orange mustache. The train's engine belched out bombastic music and loud whistles, signaling its sinister intent.

Inside the train's control cabin, two soldiers in standard Shang Mu uniforms—red helmets with black antennae and visors, red and black body armor with white belts, and red and white arm braces and boots—were grinning wickedly.

"Out of the way, morons!" one of the Shang Mu soldiers yelled, his voice laced with arrogance.

"Yeah! We're taking the stone for ourselves, baby! Woo! Red guys for the win!" the other shouted with glee, leaning on the horn, which blared obnoxiously as they sped toward the temple.

Gong and Neera sprang into action, their expressions shifting from disbelief to determination.

"Everybody out!" Gong shouted, shoving Richard out of the way.

"Ihhh! I'm going to faint!" Richard cried, his knees wobbling as he stumbled behind a pillar.

Neera leaped aside, her voice sharp and commanding as she barked orders. "Take cover! All units, prepare for impact!"

"Ahhh! I don't want to die!" Dexter yelled, diving behind another pillar with surprising agility for his size.

The train crashed into the ancient temple with devastating force, obliterating the entrance and several pillars in a single, thunderous impact. Debris flew in every direction, the sound of twisting metal and crumbling stone filling the air as the once-majestic ruins were reduced to shambles. Soldiers scattered, diving for cover as the temple collapsed around them.

A cloud of dust and smoke rose, obscuring the scene as the train's bombastic music and loud whistles filled the morning sky.


{Post A/N}

You know? I think this story needs a different name, Sonic in Avalice sounds, a bit too basic for my liking now that I look at it.

Going to be thinking of a new title for the story, something catchier. I will probably change it by tomorrow or the day after just so you guys know.

The one I have in mind is as of now is: Avalice Blue Winds.

[Update, I didnt pick that one]