-Chapter 217-
The Power of Emotion
Night Palace
Sally turned Sonic over, gaping at what she saw. The corruption had spread, and the Flame of Judgment had been reduced to a small ember.
"No, no, no, no…"
She began doing chest compressions, attempting to perform CPR.
"Sally…" Shahra began sadly. "It's too late. He's-"
"NO!" Sally snapped. "It can't end this way! Not when we're so close!"
She kept trying, tears streaming down her face. "Sonic, please! You can't die like this!"
-X-
In the limbo he found himself in, Sonic was just about to take Solaran's hand when he perked, hearing Sally and Shahra's voices. He pulled back, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I can't go with you, not yet. There's still some things I need to do."
Solaran lowered his hand, smiling. "I thought that's what you'd say. See you around, kid."
He pressed two glowing fingers to Sonic's forehead, then everything went white...
-X-
Just as Sally was about to give up and accept Sonic was gone, his body suddenly convulsed. He released a violent gasp, sitting up and grasping his chest before violently coughing, releasing enough ash from his mouth to fill an ashtray.
"Sonic!" Sally cried out.
"Next time I complain about something tasting like ash... slap me." He spat out another mouthful. "Hard."
"Thank Aurora…" Sally gasped, breathing a sigh of relief.
"In this case, my ancestor," Sonic wiped his mouth, rubbing his ring to summon Shahra. "How long have I got?"
"Master, the flame is nearly out," Shahra answered, looking sullen and mournful. "I'm not going to sugar-coat it. At this rate... I'd say minutes."
"Damn… We need to find that last ring," he grimaced, looking down at his chest as he struggled to breathe, "And pray Solaran's blessing means this flame isn't gonna kill me."
"Sonic, you need to tell us what to do," Shahra pleaded. "What do you want us or your friends to do? You know, if you don't-"
Sonic pulled himself to his feet through sheer willpower, gritting his teeth.
"I'll make it," he swore. "Eggman didn't kill me. Chaos didn't kill me. Metal didn't kill me. And I'll be damned if I let this stinking little judgment candle do me in. Nobody dies today, Shahra. Nobody."
"Then let's find that last ring," Sally decided. "Hopefully with all seven, we can break the curse before it's too late."
Sonic staggered along, Sally supporting him on one side. Eventually, they came across a door. Sonic looked at the seven holes and design, bearing the same design as the cover of the book Leila sold him. And in one of those holes was a purple World Ring.
"The last of the World Rings!" Sally exclaimed. "It's... been here the whole time?"
"Remember what Sinbad said," Shahra recalled. "Only the Legendary Blue Hedgehog can activate its full power."
"Well... let's see what this one is."
He reached out and touched it, the ring exploding into purple light. He stumbled back as emotions swirled inside him, and images filled his mind one last time. He was on his knees, being held by Longclaw as he watched Uncle Chuck emerge from the Roboticizer, now fully Robian. He was being held by Tails, seeing Kat screaming before him, still clad in a burnt, grey jumpsuit the first time they met. He was standing under a tree in the pouring rain, watching the funeral of Agnes Hopkins, the raindrops barely disguising the tears on his face. He was staring down at Mobius from orbit, Shadow vanishing from sight and leaving nothing but a golden ring behind. When it ended, Sonic's vision was blurry, tears streaming down his face. A hot lump was lodged in his throat, and he felt like he could barely breathe.
"Sonic?" Sally asked, confused.
Sonic sniffled, wiping his eyes and face. "Sadness. That's the emotion."
"Are you... gonna be okay?"
"When we get home, I'm gonna need to give a lot of people a lot of hugs, and let's just leave it at that. Now, let's see what we've got here."
They looked the door up and down.
"What was it Shahra said?" Sally asked. "'When the seven rings that control the worlds are gathered, the portal between worlds shall open.' This might be the portal."
Sonic looked down at the seven rings on his arm, then reached out, pressing his palm to the wood. One by one, all of the rings began to slide off, growing until they were their original sizes. They all began sliding into their color coded slots. Once the last one was in place, the door slowly slid open, revealing Erazor sitting on his throne in the classic "slouch of villainy" position, his chin propped up on his fist and his right leg folded over his left knee.
"Well, you certainly took your time," he noted. "I was wondering if the flame had finished you off before you collected the last one."
"Well, we're such good buddies, after all," Sonic shot back.
"Okay, Erazor," Sally began. "We brought you the rings, now break the curse."
Erazor smirked. "I have a better idea." He turned to Shahra, his smirk growing even more malicious. "Shahra... you have done well in using him to gather the rings. Now, give them to me!"
They all turned to Shahra, seeing her pupils dilate and her eyes go blank as she began to collect the rings from the door.
"Please, quickly. Let us rule the world together, as we promised."
With all seven World Rings in hand, Shahra began walking toward Erazor.
"Shahra, what are you doing?!" Sally screamed.
"I... I must…" Shahra let out quietly.
"No, stop!" Sonic shouted. "You can't! Think of what'll happen if he gets the World Rings!"
"I'm sorry... I have no choice…" Shahra said sadly. "I just want to be back with him."
Sonic immediately began rubbing her ring.
"No! As your Master, I command you! Do what you truly think is right!"
Shahra gasped, her back arching as if she had been electrocuted. She fell to the ground, the rings dropping as well. Both Sally and Sonic rushed over to her.
"Are you okay?" Sally asked.
Sonic scowled, glaring at Erazor as he calmly gathered the rings.
"So that's it…" he hissed. "Marina's concubine comment makes sense now. You heartless, abusive pile of...!"
Erazor ignored him, looking over the rings.
"Prayers - Sadness - Rage - Hatred - Joy - Pleasure - Wishes," he listed off. "The seven hearts that make up the stories. These are the seven World Rings that bind these pages together! 'But the life of the collector of the rings shall be offered up in sacrifice as the key for that control.'"
He turned to Sonic, brandishing his blade. "And now, blue hedgehog... you must serve your purpose."
He slashed his sword down, but Shahra shoved him out of the way just in time, gasping as Erazor's blade sliced into her back.
"SHAHRA!" Sonic and Sally screamed in horror.
Erazor was equally surprised, withdrawing his blade. Shahra coughed, blood trickling from the slash in her back and from the corner of her lips as she collapsed. Sonic ran over, gathering her up in his arms.
"Why?" Sonic demanded. "Why did you do-?!"
"I knew... all along…" Shahra wheezed in pain. "I knew what would happen, and I still got you involved. I'm sorry, Sonic…"
"No, no, no, no, no... you don't get to die!" Sonic cried. "I wish for you to be alright! I wish for you to not die, and to go back to the way you were!"
Shahra smiled weakly. "I'm sorry Master... but I cannot... grant... that... wish…" she let out, tears spilling down her face as life left her. "Did I change my destiny? Did I... keep... our promise?"
Her head fell limp, Sonic's ring shattering as it did. Sally's hands went to her mouth in horror as Sonic winced, closing her eyes before laying her down respectfully. Erazor looked down at her, a tinge of sadness in his voice and expression.
"You shouldn't have betrayed me, Shahra," he remarked. "You could have been my queen. But now... you have left me alone."
Sonic stood up, glaring at him in rage. Before he could do anything, the World Rings reacted, phasing into Erazor's body. He winced in pain, his body swelling and distorting as he transformed and screamed in agony. In the end, Erazor barely even looked like himself, taking the form of an enormous purple ball with seven talon-like arms and a single eye emerging from it. Sally backed up in shock and horror, while Sonic just kept glaring as Erazor spoke, his voice distorted.
"I am Alf Layla wa-Layla. I AM the Arabian Nights. I will be its new creator! I will remake this world and this reality in my own image!"
Sonic was breathing hard, barely fazed. The black marks across his body began to retract, the flame over his heart growing. It began to flicker with different colors, green, red, and purple, as well as an all too familiar bluish black.
"You…" he growled. "You're no creator… you're just some incomplete monster!" He began sparking as he went on. "I'm gonna take you down, Erazor! If it's the last thing I ever do, YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE!"
Alf Layla wa-Layla screamed as his body began to convulse, three of the World Rings being forcefully ripped from him. These were the Green, Purple, and Red Rings. These rings swirled around Sonic, spinning faster and faster as the light began to engulf him. The flame on his chest expanded as well, burning through his clothes as his entire body was engulfed. As they phased into his body, Sonic threw back his head, screaming in pure sorrow, hatred, and rage.
His body took on an almost indigo color, white stripes trailing down his head and across his legs. His mouth vanished from sight, and his eyes became solid white. The three rings he had slid onto his right arm, and he slid into a fighting stance. Sally stared for a moment, then turned back to Alf Layla wa-Layla, who was starting to stabilize a bit. He was now a horribly grotesque, humanoid, pink demon with seven holes in him that shot white fire; two on his chest, one on each foot, one on each side on his spine, and one on his head that formed a single, horrific eye. He had no nose, an enormous mouth with shark-like teeth, six arms, each with a large corresponding inscribed muscle in his chest and an enormous, bulging torso. From the knees down, his legs were long, thin and segmented, like insect legs. The four World Rings that he still held were attached to his shoulders and thighs, and he had a long, sharp, scorpion-like tail with several spikes running down the back of the upper part of it. He looked down at the transformed Sonic, laughing evilly.
"You think you are a match for me?!" he demanded. "I am... the Creator! The stories of this world are... MIIIINE!"
"If this is your world, then it's a world that I don't want any part of!" Sonic snapped, his voice considerably darker and gruffer (1).
He charged at Erazor, tackling him through the roof and into the sky. As they breached the sky, Sonic grabbed onto the first ring he saw, the Wish Ring, and used it to throw Alf-Layla around. Alf Layla flew back, crashing through a mountain before unleashing a stream of purple energy balls from all six hands. Sonic immediately zipped around, dodging each one.
"You cannot defeat me!" Erazor shouted. "I am the new god of Shanazar, Alf Layla wa-Layla!"
"Well, I'm Darkspine Sonic, the one who's gonna kick your ass!"
He held up the Wish Ring, which Alf Layla realized was no longer attached. The ring shrunk, joining the other three on Sonic's arm.
"One down…"
"And the last you'll get! Let's see how you handle this!"
He raised his arms over his head, the words of the Arabian Nights flowing into a massive purple ball of energy before throwing it at Sonic.
"It would take a miracle for you to avoid my Spirit Blast!"
"One miracle comin' up!"
Sonic charged forward, catching it in his hands. After a moment of the two pushing back and forth, Sonic screamed in anger, rapidly kicking the ball before punting it back to its source. Erazor couldn't react in time and took the ball in the face, sending him flying back. Sonic practically materialized on top of him, grasping onto the Prayers Ring. With a mighty yank, he ripped it from Erazor's body.
"How can you have this power?!" Erazor demanded in shock. "What are you?!"
"Rip-roaring pissed, that's what!" Sonic shouted, the ring joining the others. "And I still have two more to go."
Erazor swiped at him with his tail blade, lines of flame appearing in its wake. Sonic easily evaded them all, locking eyes on the Pleasure Ring. He Boosted forward at full speed, grabbing onto it. Erazor scowled, hissing as he swiped and pounded at Sonic with his six fists. Sonic avoided each one with ease, ripping the ring out so it joined the others.
"And then there was one," he remarked.
He tucked into a Spin Dash, plowing into Erazor. On impact, the skin on his chest opened up, revealing the final ring in Erazor's heart.
"So you do have a heart. Who knew!"
"No!" Erazor shrieked. "NO!"
Sonic charged forward, his body flaming as he rained punches and kicks on the heart. With a final bellow of anger, he rapidly pummeled the heart before landing a double palm strike that knocked the final ring loose. Erazor roared as the power left him and his body shrank to normal. Sonic landed before him, the flames around him pulling back. His skin returned to its usual blue, color returning to his eyes as the last of the flames died out. He stood over Erazor, whole once more, and completely healthy.
"Your tale is finished, Erazor. Next time, try writing a better story."
Erazor laughed at that, pulling himself up.
"Foolish rat…" he spat. "I am immortal. You can't kill me! I'll keep coming back, again and again, until I destroy you!"
He laughed maniacally, until they heard the sound of a throat clearing. They turned to see Sally standing there, brandishing a lamp. Erazor gasped at the sight.
"That can't be! I crushed it! How did you-?!"
"Shahra came through for us," Sally replied. "My guess? Sonic's wish to 'go back to the way you were.'"
Sonic grinned at that. "So Erazor, correct me if I'm wrong, but... since I have your lamp, you owe me three wishes, right?"
"No!" Erazor scowled. "I will never grant a wish from the likes of you!"
"We'll see about that," With a confident smirk, Sonic waltzed right up to the throne, sitting down on it. "My first wish is for you to bring Shahra back to life."
He pointed the lamp at Erazor, which shot a beam that hit him in the chest. Much to his horror, his body moved by itself, waving his hands and casting a spell. Off to the side, Shahra's body glowed, the wound in her back healing before she moaned and stirred. Opening her eyes and coughing slightly, her ring was repaired and rematerialized around Sonic's finger.
"My second wish is for you to restore all of Shanazar, from the planet to its stories, back to the way they're supposed to be."
Another beam hit Erazor in the chest. Arabian texts and a wave of light spewed from his body, all of the damage he caused reversing itself.
"No… he wheezed. "My… power."
"And my third wish…" Sonic scowled, pointing the lamp at him. "Erazor Djinn, you will never threaten this world or any other again! You'll live out the rest of time, trapped inside your lamp as you were in days of old!"
One final beam hit Erazor, stirring up a massive gust of wind that began slowly sucking him toward his lamp as he tried vainly to resist.
"Shahra, I know you're there!" he shouted. "Please, stop him! We can start over, the two of us! I swear! I swear it!"
Sonic just rolled his eyes. Shahra teared up, but stayed firm, standing back and doing nothing.
"Reap what you have sown, Erazor," she spat.
Erazor screamed as he was pulled further into the lamp.
"Heed my words, Rat!" he shouted. "I will be free! And I will have my vengeance! This world is MINE! I will not be denied by vermin like you!" As he was sucked down the funnel of his lamp, he screamed one last thing in defiance: "WHYYYYY?!"
"I told you, I'm not a rat!" Sonic declared. The last of Erazor's power was sucked in, and the lid of the lamp sealed shut, leaving only a tiny flame coming out of the spout. "I'm a hedgehog."
He then blew out the flame, letting out a sigh of relief. Sally came over, hugging him before looking him over.
"You're alright," she sighed. "And whole. And… naked."
Sonic looked down at himself, blushing to see that aside from his sneakers, transforming into his Darkspine form had destroyed his clothing.
"Man, haven't had to deal with that since I was a kid," Sonic remarked, covering his crotch with his hands. "Shahra, you mind-"
She stopped when he saw Shahra sitting on a balcony, sobbing into her hands.
"Shahra?"
He and Sally slowly approached. She looked his way, wiping her eyes.
"I know... he was evil…and toxic," she remarked. "But... I can't help but feel sorry for him." She sniffed, then straightened. "Let me help you, Master."
She waved her hand, and Sonic found himself wearing a pair of cream, Arabian pants, along with a purple vest with golden trim. He smiled at that, then looked down at the ring still on his finger.
"If you don't mind, I have two more wishes."
Shahra sniffled, nodding.
"First, I wish for a mountain of handkerchiefs." Shahra waved a hand, handkerchiefs raining from the sky. "Now, just let yourself cry. As much as you need to. You'll have plenty of handkerchiefs to help you through it."
"And... your second wish?"
"Simple enough. Shahra... I wish for you to be free from the ring, and the need to grant wishes to people."
Shahra blinked in surprise before the ring began to glow. A few moments passed before she floated down, the ring around Sonic's finger now inert and powerless.
"No one will ever see you as property or abuse you again. You're your own master now." Sonic then slid the ring off, holding it out for her. "Leila gave this to you. So keep it, and let it remind you of what true friends can be like."
Shahra managed a smile, taking it.
"Thank you... for everything," she said gratefully. "Let me do one last thing for you."
She waved a hand, a swirling portal forming before them.
"This portal is linked to the book you bought from Leila. It'll take you back to Mobius." Sonic nodded, handing Shahra Erazor's lamp. "I think I can trust you to make sure no one finds this and stirs Erazor up again."
They jumped into the portal, vanishing from sight. Shahra closed the portal, then looked down at Erazor's lamp.
The Evil Foundry
Shahra stood over the lava pit where they destroyed the Ifrit Golem, holding the lamp over the molten liquid below. Despite being trapped, Erazor made efforts to plead from within.
"Shahra, I beg of you! Don't do this to me! Have mercy!"
"Goodbye, Erazor."
With that, she dropped the lamp into the magma, watching it sink into the fiery depths. Shahra departed, watching the sunrise with a soft smile.
"I did it, Leila. Shanazar is safe. Now... to see the world, and live like I promised I would."
Knothole
Meanwhile, in Freedom HQ, Sticks sneezed, blowing her nose.
"Sally made that crazy genie give me Sonic's damned cold…" she spat. "With friends like her, who needs Badniks?"
"Oh, would you calm down?" Rotor asked. "It's just a cold. Besides, it was the only way for Sonic to be at his best."
"Anyways, whose turn is it to check the book?" Porker asked.
"I think it's Amy's," Johnny replied.
Amy went to check the book, stopping short to see it glowing before it opened on its own accord.
"Incoming!" she shouted.
The pages began to flip rapidly as Sally and Sonic were both sent flying out of it, landing on the couch in a heap.
"Ugh…" Sonic groaned. "Rough landing."
"Sonic! Sally!" Amy cried. "You're back!"
Both straightened up as the others began crowding around.
"Don't you two look the part?" Antoine asked.
"So how'd it go?" Bunnie asked.
Sonic stood up. "I'll explain later, but for now... I need some sleep. Things got hectic."
"Agreed," Sally nodded.
"Now wait just a sec!" Sticks objected. "You give me your cold, and plan to just-"
Sonic gave her a dirty look. The bags under his eyes and annoyance made her shut her mouth immediately.
"You can chew me out all you like after I take a nap," he hissed.
"What happened on Shanazar?" Tails asked.
"Long story short... I owe a lot of people a lot of hugs," Sonic said. "Now can you please leave me alone so I can go to my room and get some sleep?"
Everyone parted ways as Sonic walked towards his room. Sally trailed after him, removing her hijab as she did.
"Room for one more?" she asked.
"Absolutely."
They both headed into his room, collapsing onto his bed and falling asleep instantly.
Shanazar
Meanwhile, back on Shanazar, Shahra had decided to travel and see the world. She was marveling at the repaired worlds, and all of the happy citizens roaming the streets. After a few moments, she heard familiar laughter. Following the sound, she found herself entering a bustling bazaar, where she saw two familiar faces.
One looked like Princess Sally, dressed in a teal crop top that revealed her midriff and navel with sewn-in off-the-shoulder straps, matching puffy pants with a light-blue V-shaped waistline, and cerulean curled shoes. Her hair was in a ponytail, broken off in two sections with matching golden bands and ending in a small swirl. She had a golden headband which is centered with a sapphire resting right above her forehead. She also had large, golden earrings and a matching necklace.
The other was Sonic, wearing a long, teal vest with golden accents along the inner lining. His arms were covered in semi-translucent sleeves with leaf patterns across them, along with blue, fingerless gloves held on with teal cloth. His pants were a golden cream color, with tan leggings bunched around his ankles with leather cords, and curled shoes that looked almost identical to Sonic's sneakers. Over his quills, lavender cloth was gathered around them, adorned with pearls and the occasional gem.
"Impossible…" she let out.
She cautiously approached, and was quickly noticed.
"Oh, hello!" the Sonic lookalike said. "I'm Aladdin, and this is Princess Jasmine."
"I know you…" Jasmine realized. "You're the genie who helped the Hedgehog of Legend save Shanazar. We owe you a great debt of gratitude."
"Oh… thank you," Shahra replied.
"You ever need anything from us, just ask," Aladdin said. "We'd be more than happy to help."
"Thank you, but I want for nothing," Shahra said, rubbing her arm. "But... I would love it... if I could come to call you... my friends."
Their warm smiles were all the answer she needed.
Author's Note:
(1): Basically, either Roger Craig Smith's Batman voice in Arkham Origins, or his Chris Redfield voice.
And there we have it. The World Rings arc is complete; the final scene with Sonic and Sally as Aladdin and Jasmine was suggested by WindstarOsprey.
Please R&R. Until next time!
