-Chapter 181-

Last Ditch Effort


Soleanna Forest Zone

Sonic hurried back to the Sky Patrol. Once he was inside, Elise stood up, hugging him in gratitude.

"You came back…" she let out happily. "I knew you would."

Sonic patted her back, pulling away. "I always keep my word."

It was at that moment another rift opened up. Shadow, Silver, and Hope emerged.

"Glad you three made it back," Rouge said.

"What did you learn?" Lara-Su asked. "Do you know how to stop our future?"

"Yeah... we have a basic idea." Silver confirmed.

"We know the secret of the Flames of Disaster," Hope said. "All of it."

Elise clasped her hands as she sat down. Hope turned to her.

"Elise… do you want to tell them, or should we?"

"It's... better if I do it." Elise sighed.

"Elise…" Sally began, "what's going on?"

Elise sighed, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"The Flames of Disaster, the creature Silver and Lara-Su know as Iblis…" she tapped her own chest, "ten years ago, he was sealed away... in my body."

There was a collective gasp.

"That's why your death was the catalyst behind his release," Knuckles realized. "When you died, there was nothing containing him."

"And why it necessitated my father's last act of using me as the vessel," Elise added. "He was dying. Even if it worked, the flames wouldn't be contained for long."

"Your own father used you as a meatsuit to contain that thing?!" Amy exclaimed. "That's horrible!"

"He didn't like it either," Elise confirmed. "But the only alternative was to let the Flames of Disaster ravage Mobius."

"She's right," Hope chimed in. "He hated himself for it."

"I've read up on the details of the Solaris Project, of the Scepter of Darkness and the two creatures were released that day," Elise went on. "Iblis and the dark creature you call Mephiles... they were created when my father's experiments went awry, and split Solaris itself into two."

"So... they're both Solaris?" Silver asked.

Elise nodded.

"Iblis represents Solaris' raw power and savagery. Mephiles embodies his consciousness, will, and cunning mind."

"So we were right," Blaze realized. "He was trying to ensure the future would come to pass."

"And it would explain the use of the shades, and why he kept hiding when Shadow and I were fighting him," Hope added. "He has no power of his own. Not without Iblis."

"So he seeks to become one with him again, recreate Solaris," Rotor surmised. "Meaning Elise had to die."

"That's not the only way for Iblis to be released," Elise spoke up. "Why I've been so strong all these years, keeping my emotions in check... If I were ever to succumb to despair and shed tears, the seal will be broken."

"Whoa, hang on," Kat insisted, holding up a hand. "You haven't cried in ten years? Not once? How could you even do that?"

"The ladies-in-waiting who raised me, Anna and Sophia, taught me how to control my emotions." Elise explained.

"So that's it?" Sonic demanded. "Conceal, don't feel? Keep your emotions in check and act like a robot at all times? That's sick!"

He shook his head. "You shouldn't have to do that. That's no way to live."

"I know, it stinks," Elise confessed. "But what's one person's life and suffering, when weighed against the entire planet? It's how I've coped with it all these years; reminding myself it's for the good of the world."

"Either way, you shouldn't have to," Sonic insisted. "Day in and day out, acting like you have no feelings and keeping them suppressed… that isn't living."

"All that aside, we need to recreate the Scepter of Darkness," Shadow cut in. "It's our only chance of capturing Mephiles, and ending this for good."

He turned to Elise. "Princess, do you have any idea how we can do that?"

Elise crossed her arms in thought.

"There's an ancient text that predicted this," she recalled. "'When black flame lights the Candle of Darkness and the priest's prayers are answered, the dark seal will be no more, and so shall emerge the power.'"

"Mystic mumbo jumbo…" Sticks muttered. "What's that mean?"

Hope paced back and forth.

"Now that I think about it, there are a lot of candles near the fountain in the city."

"The Fountain of the Goddess," Elise explained. "The statue is a goddess said to have lured the Mobini of the forest to sleep with her lyre."

"Okay, so the prayer part is covered with that," Rouge mused. "But black flame... maybe a special light?"

Shadow perked after a moment, raising his hand, glowing with Chaos energy.

"Chaos Energy…" he said. "It's gotta be."

"So you use Chaos energy to light the torches, and this statue'll pop out a new Scepter of Darkness?" Sonic asked.

"Basically." Shadow turned to Omega. "Omega, you track Mephiles. I'll reforge the Scepter and meet up with you as soon as I can."

"Beginning tracking algorithm now," Omega's eyes unfocused before nodding. "Mephiles detected in the Wave Ocean Zone. Engaging pursuit."

"Someone should go with him," Kat insisted. "Keep him occupied."

"I require no backup," Omega insisted. "I am the ultimate E-Series robot."

"Sure that's a good idea?" Shorty asked.

"Absolutely," Shadow agreed. "Mephiles is all bark and no bite."

"Agreed," said Hope. "Iblis got Solaris' raw power. Mephiles is the mind and will. He kept running and hiding when Shadow and I faced him, so against Omega, what harm could he possibly do?"

"Yeah, Omega's got this in the bag," Rouge agreed.

Omega headed out, Shadow, Rouge, and Hope following. Shortly after, they heard a loud screech, and ran out to see a massive red robot in the shape of a wyvern flying around, Robotnik piloting it, heading right for the Sky Patrol. Sonic sighed before going out to confront him, standing atop the Sky Patrol.

"Oh wise up, Eggman!" he shouted. "You already lost your Egg Carrier, and no matter how hard you try, Elise won't tell you the secret! Game over! You lose!"

"No!" Robotnik yelled. "I refuse to be beaten again! I will have what I came for, no matter what it takes, or how many of you I have to eradicate!"

"And he has officially lost any senses he managed to retain," Kat sighed.

"Elise, get inside!" Sally ordered. "We'll handle Robotnik!"

Elise quickly did so, the door closing behind her.

"No more games or half-measures, Sonic!" Robotnik ranted. "I'll get the secret of the Flames of Disaster out of Princess Elise, even if I have to slaughter you all and burn all of Soleanna to the ground to do it!"

"That's exactly what'll happen if you try and take the flames, you imbecile!" Lara-Su shouted.

"Forget it, Lara!" Silver said. "He won't listen to reason."

"Hence why we speak the only language he does understand," Sonic said. "Fists!"


Wave Ocean Zone

Meanwhile, Omega had made it to the Wave Ocean Zone, Soleanna's beachside resort, and was looking around for any sign of Mephiles. It wasn't long before he heard a dark chuckle.

"Welcome, Omega," Mephiles emerged from the ground before him. "It won't take much for me to deal with you."

"Falsehood," Omega replied. "You possess no real power. This will be over quickly, but not in your favor."

"I may not possess the raw might of Iblis as I am now, but I am far from helpless. Underestimate me at your own peril, Badnik."

"Correction. I am a Goodnik, and it is you who should not underestimate me."

He popped out his wrist guns and began firing.


Soleanna

As this was going on, Shadow, Rouge, and Hope had made it to the Fountain of the Goddess. In the center stood a statue of a woman with a lyre, and around it were four torches..

"This is it," Hope said. "We light the torches, and we get the Scepter of Darkness."

"Right," Shadow nodded. "Stand back."

Hope and Rouge moved away as Shadow summoned his Chaos Spears. One by one, he lit the torches, which, as predicted, burned with black flames.

"Looks like he called it," Rouge remarked.

"Look!" Hope pointed.

The fountain began to drain, the statue sliding back to reveal a secret compartment in which something was manifesting. After a few moments, Shadow reached in, pulling out the recreated Scepter of Darkness.

"Good," he said. "Now we can stop Mephiles."

He looked it over, letting out a sigh. "Let's regroup with Omega"

Hope activated her com.

"Omega, we have the scepter. What's your status?"

"Engaging the enemy," Omega's voice came. "Transmitting coordinates."

Omochao's eyes flickered as Omega did so. "They're at the inlet of the beach."

"Then let's get moving," Rouge said.


Wave Ocean Zone

Back on the beach, Omega was shooting Mephiles with limited success. He took multiple bullets to the chest, only being knocked back before chuckling.

"This only proves you were created to stop Shadow, the ultimate life form," he declared.

Omega pulled his arm back, confused.

"You speak nonsense. The purpose of my creation was to combat and destroy Sonic, not Shadow."

"I speak only the truth. You lead to Shadow's destruction, and subsequent capture. You sentence him to an eternity in a cage. Humanity turns on him when Iblis ravages the world... and you are the instrument of his downfall."

Something in Omega snapped at that. His wrist gun retracted, only for multiple panels on his arms, wrists, chest, and even head to open up, revealing a slew of numerous missile launchers, guns, flamethrowers, and laser cannons.

"Target acquired! Full Barrage!"

He immediately unleashed his full arsenal upon Mephiles.

-X-

Shadow, Rouge, and Hope were just entering the resort when they heard the sounds of gunfire and explosions, along with the sight of a mushroom cloud from the coordinates Omega gave them.

"For Aurora's sake!" Rouge exclaimed. "Is he trying to blow up the entire zone?!"

"We better stop him." Shadow insisted.

They raced for the area just as Omega's barrage ended, seeing Mephiles, riddled with burns and bullet holes, standing in the middle of a smoking crater in the sand. Black ooze seeped from his wounds as he fell back and disappeared in a puff of smoke, laughing maniacally all the while.

"Omega, what are you doing?!" Shadow demanded. "You could have destroyed the entire zone!"

Omega's arsenal retracted, and he slowly turned to face them.

"He told me what will happen in the future of Iblis," he said. "Shadow will be betrayed and imprisoned by humanity. The one that defeats and seals him... is me."

Everyone tensed at that.

"...Yeah," Shadow sighed. "I saw that in the future."

"That's just stupid!" Rouge shouted. "Shadow saved the world from the Black Arms, and Metal Overlord! Sonic wouldn't have been able to stop the ARK's fall if it weren't for his help, and that's the thanks he gets?!"

"Eventually, when something or someone is seen as too powerful, it is seen as a threat," Omega remarked. "And then the world becomes its enemy."

Hope sighed. "It's sad, but it's true."

Shadow walked away, clearly planning to head back to track Mephiles. Hope placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Shadow…" she began, "even if the entire world turns against you, I'll never abandon you. I'm with you to the end of the line. Don't ever forget that."

"That goes double for me," Rouge agreed.

"Know this," Omega said. "I will sooner go offline than attack this team. You are… important to me."

Shadow nodded, turning to the trio. "Thank you. All of you."


Soleanna Forest Zone

Back in the forest, the X-Tornado launched, Sonic and Tails piloting it as they went to face Robotnik's machine.

"If it's a dogfight you want, Eggman, you've got one!" Tails declared.

Tails opened fire on the Egg Wyvern, giving it all the firepower he could. The wings flapped, firing on the X-Tornado with lasers before Robotnik threw back the throttle, charging directly at them.

"Here I come, Sonic!"

"Bring it on!" Sonic shot back.

They circled around one another, firing on each other.

"You're not getting your grubby hands on Elise again, Robuttnik!" Sonic shouted. "Not while I'm here!"

"Something I'm more than happy to rectify!" Robotnik retorted.


Dusty Desert Zone

Meanwhile, Team Dark had departed the beach and tracked Mephiles down to the Dusty Desert. The signal led them to the pyramid where Robotnik had held Elise captive.

"Well, this place certainly looks like it belongs to my ex-uncle," Hope remarked.

They made it to the heart of the pyramid, where Mephiles floated, arms crossed.

"I was expecting you sooner," he said. "As you must know, you're already too late. But there's still time for you to change your mind. Join me, Shadow. Let us teach this world a lesson and rewrite the future."

"Don't try to deceive me, Mephiles," Shadow scoffed. "You don't seek revenge. You only crave destruction. To rejoin with Iblis and fuel the flames until there's nothing left of time itself."

Mephiles scoffed, holding the yellow Chaos Emerald aloft, along with the purple one.

"It's a pity, Shadow. Truly a shame that you wish to go against me!"

A shockwave pushed the quartet back as the entire surface of the platform they were standing on was covered in darkness.

"Uh-oh…" Rouge let out.

As the Emeralds in his hands glowed, Mephiles' shades swarming him, coalescing into a giant demonic mass of darkness that loomed over them.

"Massive uh-oh…" Hope said.

Shadow summoned his Chaos Spears, hardening one for Hope.

"Everyone… be ready," he warned.

Mephiles stomped around, slamming his fists and firing lasers at them. He grabbed Shadow in his fist, only for him to flare up brightly. Mephiles' hand began smoking on contact and he recoiled with a roar of pain. Hope perked at the sound.

"Wait... that's it! He's a creature of the dark! Light against darkness!

"Good thinking, kid!" Rouge cheered. "Shadow! Keep pouring on the light attacks!"

Shadow kept throwing Chaos Spears and flaring up, burning back Mephiles' monstrous form little by little until he was thrown out. Once he was, Rouge landed a Screw Kick. Omega followed up with a laser, and Hope ran him through with her Chaos Spear, nailing him to the floor.

"No…" Mephiles growled. "I am forever... I am... invincible…"

"Forever a pain in the ass," Shadow snapped.

He held the Scepter of Darkness aloft, and Mephiles was slowly drawn into it. For a brief few seconds, it all seemed to be over... only for the scepter to shake, glowing with a bright light before exploding.

"Does not compute," Omega insisted. "The scepter should contain you as it did before." Mephiles reformed. If he had a mouth, it would be clear he'd be smirking.

'The 'I' of now absorbed your power through your shadow in the past. What may have worked ten years ago no longer does!"

A shock wave knocked them back before Mephiles held his Chaos Emeralds aloft. The power flowed into him, before they were surrounded by hundreds of Mephiles clones. Nonetheless, they stood tall, ready to keep fighting.

"You must realize now that you cannot hope to stop me with your... limited power." Mephiles insisted.

"So you say." Shadow retorted.

Mephiles scoffed. "It's futile. The world will betray you. Why fight at all? Why risk your life for those who will persecute you later?"

"The people who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do!" Hope shot back.

Shadow raised his arms, beginning to remove his Inhibitor Rings.

"If the world chooses to become my enemy, Mephiles... then I will fight like I always have!"

He removed the rings, his aura flaring up as the clones surrounded them. Surrounded by the same reddish-yellow hue and flaming red and yellow energy aura as he used against Enerjak, he plowed through the Mephiles army. Eventually, they were all seemingly destroyed. A few moments passed before Mephiles emerged from the ground, weakened but alive.

"Don't you ever freaking die?!" Rouge demanded.

"If you're so insistent on going to war with me, who am I to deny you?" Mephiles spat. "But I will draw first blood... from the throat of the Hero of Mobius."

He melted away before they could do anything.

"Damn it!" Shadow cursed. "We need to get out of here! We need to get back to Sonic!"

They all hurried out, desperate to get to Sonic before Mephiles did…


Soleanna Forest Zone

The dogfight between the X-Tornado and Egg Wyvern remained at a stalemate. By this point, the others decided enough was enough. Tekno made for the weapons, turning on the Anti-air Missiles, taking aim at the Wyvern, and firing. The missiles impacted the Wyvern, sending it spinning out of control to land within sight of the Sky Patrol. Robotnik himself jumped out, scowling in rage as the X-Tornado landed. Sonic hopped out as Robotnik stomped forward.

"It's. Not. Over. YET!" the doctor screamed.

He swung at Sonic in a fury, but Sonic effortlessly dodged all his attacks and knocked him down. As he got back up, he was yanked over to an agitated Silver.

"Enough's enough," the psionic hedgehog spat. "It's time to end this madness. Since you won't believe us when we tell you what'll happen if you unleash the Flames of Disaster, I'll have to show you!"

Glowing all the while, he grabbed Robotnik's head with both hands, focusing all his psychic power on the doctor. Both were screaming as Silver shoved all his memories of the future into Robotnik's head. He showed him every battle, every ruin, and every feeling of hopelessness. When he pulled away, he dropped to his knees, overcome with emotion. Lara-Su caught him, steadying him. Robotnik just threw up.

"W…" the doctor managed. "What was that…?"

"The future I live in every day, Doctor," Silver informed him. "One where the Flames of Disaster take form as an immortal monster named Iblis and reduce Mobius to a living hell. That's what will happen if you unleash their power... and what would have happened if you and Princess Elise had died in the Egg Carrier's crash like you were originally supposed to!"

"So... you still think you can 'whip up something' to control them?" Lara-Su questioned.

Robotnik stumbled back.

"No…" he let out. "No, I can't. If... if that's what will happen if the flames are unleashed, it's not worth it. I'm done. This plan is over."

Sonic let out a breath.

"Finally!" he let out. "Sweet Aurora."

As everyone relaxed, he thumbed his nose. "All's well that ends w-"

Suddenly, they heard the sound of an object piercing flesh. Sonic's eyes widened, his mouth agape, before he and everyone else looked to see he had been impaled in the stomach and out the back by a rainbow colored energy spear. They followed the spear to see it extending from the hand of Mephiles. Team Dark ran in just in time, stopping short at the horrific sight before them.

"NO!" Hope screamed.

Mephiles retracted the spear as Sonic stood there, looking down at his chest to see his white hoodie turning red. He dropped to his knees, falling over only to be caught by Sally. Everyone ran in, especially Elise as he had a hand to his wound.

"Sonic!" Elise cried. "Please, don't leave us! You need to hold on! PLEASE!"

Sonic just chuckled, looking at everyone in turn before turning to Elise.

"Don't you see...?" he let out weakly. "It's okay. I did it. I couldn't save them. Hope's grandma, Kat's folks, Uncle Chuck. I couldn't save them... No matter what I did. But I saved you. I did it. I did it…"

With that, his eyes glazed over and his hand went limp.

"No…" Elise hiccupped. "No… Sonic."

Mephiles laughed maniacally at the sight. The minute the tear hit the ground, a column of flame burst out of her, gathering into a ball of fire above everyone.

"Iblis!" Silver gasped.

"No," Mephiles corrected. "Solaris. The seal is finally broken! At long last, Iblis and I will be whole!"


Author's Note:

Say it isn't so... Sonic is dead! What will happen now?!

Also, for those complaining Silver isn't telepathic, that part comes from Archie. He had latent potential for that there, but generally needed amplification to do much more than give someone a headache, induce vertigo, or talk with another telepath.

Next chapter: the final chapter of the Soleanna arc!

Please R&R. Until next time!