Chapter 110

Thrice Tempted, Thrice Proven

The Battle of Castle Town was over. Eggman's command ship loomed over the decimated town as fleets of smaller vessels shuttled rapidly between it and the surface. Upon the Emperor's decree, a massive rescue operation had been initiated. Imperial and rebel alike were pulled out of the wreckage of the bombarded town. Medical droids offered aid without distinction. Wounded rebels were taken towards an offsite pavilion while the imperials were taken up into Eggman's ship.

There was still much work to be done. Wails of agony pierced the night as the homeless wandered through the destroyed streets. Sonic walked alone through the wreckage. He recalled with sharp detail how lively Castle Town had been when he had visited it. Now it was a graveyard, all those faces he had seen, how many of them had survived? Sonic's chest compressed with a pang of intense guilt. Hadn't Simon begged him not to interfere? The citizens of Castle Town had revered the empire, Eggman had been their hero. Sonic had watched as children created a mud model of Eggman. Had that sin been so severe that it deserved this kind of punishment?

Sonic stopped suddenly. He had reached the central square of the town. The well had been destroyed leaving nothing but a huge fissure in the ground. The marble statue that had once stood beside it, had been knocked down. Beneath the marble mass, was a body. Sonic knelt down and saw Simon's expressionless face. His eyes were closed and his fur matted with dust.

Sonic closed his eyes. This had been his fault. He had driven Eggman into this world, and when that was not enough, he chased Eggman here and incited war. Why? Why couldn't he have just listened to the others? Hadn't they begged him to remain on earth? Sonic punched the ground. The impact nearly cracked his hand, but Sonic didn't care. He punched until the blows split his gloves and blood poured down from his knuckles.

He felt powerless, and the feeling filled him with rage and despair. It seemed that no matter what he did, somehow the situation always became worse. He felt confused, disoriented, and above all, alone. Why had he not gone back to earth with Amy? Sonic did not want to be in this world anymore. It was too real, the stakes were too high. Adventures had been fun, and though there was always the risk of death, it was always pushed to the periphery, out of sight and out of mind.

In Arvana, death was always before him. Death hovered over this world like an inescapable shadow. He saw it reflected in the grim faces of the knights, he heard it referenced in talks of honor, and he had seen it revered by the priests of Solaris. This land was steeped in death—it permeated everything. The knights did not seek to evade it; instead, they confronted it with unwavering valor. The empire endeavored to delay its arrival, striving for greater power to stave off its reach. But both, in their own way, seemed to worship death as a deity.

Such a world was alien to Sonic. He had no desire to confront or elude death. It was enough for him to push the thought out of his mind completely and live free of its control. He had always felt that this ethos made him unique, that if more people lived free then the world would be a better place. In that moment, Sonic was devastated by the depth of his own failure. "Many sing the praises of freedom, yet not all are willing to embrace its implications." What had Blaze meant by that? Had she foreseen this moment?

Was this the implication? Had Sonic's lust for freedom resulted in this perpetual war between him and Eggman, between Order and Chaos? What would the end of their struggle be, and how many worlds would suffer before their contest was over?

Before he could grabble with this question anymore, he heard footsteps behind him. Rayne had arrived, flanked by two of Eggman's improved Mecha Sonics. "Princess Blaze requests that you join her for the parlay."

Sonic rose slowly to his feet. He did not want to meet with Eggman, and he didn't see the point in doing so. All the same he followed meekly behind as they were escorted out of the town. Sonic paused as he saw the priest Roran gathering the fallen rebels into a mass pile. He held a chain of incense and swung it over the corpses, and chanted in a high voice. Again, Sonic was struck by this world's fascination with death.

Presently, Sonic turned away and was placed upon a transport that bore him up to Eggman's command ship. Sonic barely registered that Eggman's new ship was nearly a hundred times larger than the Egg Carrier. In other circumstances, he might have thought of a dozen quips he could use to insult Eggman's obsession with bigger and more impressive machines, but for once, Sonic found nothing humorous about the situation.

The platform landed on the bridge of the great ship. Rayne and Sonic followed the mechas inside where they took an elevator down into the heart of the vessel. It only just struck Sonic that this could all just be a trap. Once Sonic and Rayne arrived, all of Blaze's top generals and supporters would be in one room. Perhaps Eggman meant to flood the room with gas and end them all in one stroke. Sonic placed his hand around Caliburn's hilt and he felt an immature rush of adrenaline. Part of Sonic wished that Eggman would try to trap them. In that case, Sonic could escape and end Eggman once and for all.

His palm slipped off Caliburn's hilt. Could he even do that? Despite everything, Sonic did not know if he could even kill Eggman. Sonic knew without having to form it into concrete form, that if he killed Eggman, he would never be the same.

The elevator doors gilded open, revealing a sprawling neon-lit chamber. A circular table dominated most of the space where a dozen chairs had been set. On the far end, sat Doctor Eggman, though he hardly resembled Sonic's old nemesis. Gone was his doctor's coat, replaced instead by a regal velvet doublet, adorned with opulent golden pauldrons. A lush purple cape hung down his shoulders. His massive girdle was constrained by a silver belt studded with precious gems. A diadem hung upon his brow encrusted with a dozen Sol Gems. These ostentatious embellishments transformed Eggman into a figure grotesquely larger than life, scarcely recognizable as human.

On the other side of the table, sat Blaze. Despite still recovering from the battle, Blaze still radiated a faint heat that made the air inside the room shimmer. Silver sat on her right, Gawain on her left. Eggman was joined by Lord Mesto and an aged Owl who Sonic did not recognize. The room was silent when Sonic entered, and no one spoke as Sonic and Rayne took their seats.

Sonic gazed across the room, but to his surprise, Eggman took no notice of him. Whether he was surprised by Sonic's presence or not, the emperor gave no indication. Once the door was closed, Eggman leaned forward, placing his huge hands in a pyramid upon the table. "Princess Blaze, I want to thank you for agreeing to this parlay. It is a sign of good faith, and I hope you can believe me when I say that I mean to negotiate." Even Eggman's voice had undergone a transformation. While traces of his old, metallic venom lingered, a subtle shift had taken place, infusing his words with a calculated diplomacy befitting an emperor. The sharp edges of his tone now carried a nuanced elegance, reminiscent of a shrewd politician navigating the intricacies of power.

"I can not negotiate with a man who intends to genocide my people," Blaze said stiffly. "As long as this puppet sits at your side, we have very little to discuss."

Lord Mesto smiled as if Blaze had just paid him a compliment. "I've tried to tell you my liege, these people are not open to civilized discussion. All they know is war and-"

Eggman silenced Mesto with a wave. "My Regents act upon my authority. Lord Mesto took provisions that he felt would best safeguard his province. Let us not forget, you declared war."

Blaze shifted in her seat. "What choice did I have? You and your scientists will destroy this planet." She pointed at his crown. "The harvesting of Sol Gems saps the planet's life force, you will destroy us all."

"Which is why my engineers are working on a solution. I have personally placed a quota on Sol Gem production. Why would I want to destroy my own home?"

"This isn't your home," Silver snapped. "And we know all about Project Solaris. You don't intend to stay here. You want to use Arvana like a cocoon, and break it apart once you've drained us of our energy and you're ready to leave."

Eggman's eyes flashed red as he glared at Silver, yet when he spoke, his voice was unnaturally pleasant. "Such vivid imagery. And who did you hear this from I wonder? An imperial deserter? Have you ever considered that they told you what they thought they wanted you to hear? Unfortunately, you rebels do not have the greatest reputation. These ingraints feared for their lives, so they fed into your lust for fear mongering."

"You will not trip us up with words," Blaze countered. "Regardless of your plans, your reign will still doom us all. Your science cannot stop the judgment of Solaris."

Eggman did not respond, and Sonic hated the look of triumph on Mesto's face. The aged Owl coughed before he spoke in a low raspy voice. "My lord, I warned you about this. The prophecies of Solaris are too deeply integrated into the psyche. It is not a matter of no longer choosing to believe it. For these poor souls, they simply cannot." The owl waved a wing towards the other end of the table. "Though I shudder at the thought, there are times when the slate simply needs to be wiped clean."

Eggman accepted the Owl's words with a nod. "Valom is a master of lore and history. He tells me that there is not a shred of evidence that this Solaris exists or that this kingdom was ever affected by the so-called Flames of Disaster. Your ancient city once suffered a great collapse, but this was a simple natural phenomenon. Over the years, myths have been adapted, that is all there is to it."

"You're wrong!" Silver protested.

Eggman smiled, stretching the corners of his face and making him resemble the image of the imperial persona. "What a cunning argument," Eggman mocked. "What evidence do you have that would change my mind?"

"I've seen it," Sonic interjected. "I saw the ground split apart and fires roar beneath. Then your science corps came along and sealed the breach."

Eggman did not look at Sonic. He kept his face forward as he answered. "I have already agreed that the mining of Sol Gems has had an impact on the planet. My regime is taking steps to mitigate these effects. This is a natural phenomenon, and one that can be solved with science."

"You don't really expect me to believe that," Blaze challenged. "But you must have a reason for calling me here?"

Eggman smirked and leaned back in his chair. "We may not be able to agree on much, but we can all agree that war is a terror. I have come here because this is the last of the provinces to remain in open conflict. I wish to have peace. In the past, I may have misunderstood the complexities of your particular province and its history. I see now that I may have acted unwisely in stripping you of your throne and your people of their name. You are a proud people, and though the stiffest metals often break, while the flexible polymer endures, you have proven more endurable than I believed. In a word, I underestimated you."

"You mean you overestimated your slaves? What lies did Mesto tell you? Did he believe that if you held my father, that we would submit?"

Eggman ignored her challenge. "Lord Mesto has served me well and he will remain as my Regent. However, things cannot stay as they currently are. This war serves no one. You fight to protect your people, then I ask you, can you make peace with an enemy to protect your people?"

Blaze hesitated. "We will not have peace on your terms. I will not have my people branded and tracked. Imperial peace is a fairy tale, meant to lull us to sleep before the disaster strikes."

Eggman leaned forward, his expression suddenly turned into an accurate facsimile of a genuine person. "What if we could build a lasting peace? I cannot force your people to fit into my world, I failed to integrate your kingdom into my empire. I ask you to help me try again. Come to Mestopolis, return to your capital and present yourself in front of your people. Let them see that their princess is alive and that she is working for their good."

"You want to make my sister your mascot?" Silver accused. "If she goes to Sol then she will be nothing but Mesto's prisoner!"

"Why would I put myself at such a risk?" Blaze continued, her expression and tone neutral. "Thus far, my armies have made significant gains, why should I stop my advancement?"

"Because you do not fight for glory or conquest. If you recapture your city, what is to stop me from wiping it from the face of Arvana? I have weapons that you cannot even fathom."

"We are not as defenseless as you might think." An ember burned inside Blaze's eyes that was so fierce, it even made Eggman retreat.

The emperor played it off by coughing and leaning back in his chair. "I want to negotiate. I have already admitted that I do not wish for further conflict. When I say return to Sol, I do not mean do so as a prisoner. I mean do so as the princess. Lord Mesto will retain control over the province, but only over imperial citizens. You will take control over all Thirteens. You can serve as the personal guarantee of the protection of your people. Lord Mesto will put a stop to his current policies, and return all possessions to their rightful owners. The Church of Solaris will be permitted to operate, with a few addendums. This will not be the world you knew, it is a compromise."

To Sonic's surprise, Blaze did not respond right away. She frowned and lowered her head as if she were deep in thought. Silver looked outraged, but before he could say anything, Blaze took his hand and squeezed it.

"We all want what is best for Soleanna," Mesto said softly. "I did not think that the old world and the new world could ever live together. Yet, as wise as ever, the emperor has made a way."

Valom removed his glasses and wiped them clean. "You should consider this offer. The emperor has never made one quite so generous. Your province is not the largest nor the most powerful, yet he has seen fit to bestow upon you an honor that eclipses everywhere else in the empire."

Blaze took a deep breath. "And what about the Sol Gems? The mines should be returned to Soleanna."

Eggman rubbed his chin. It was obvious to Sonic that Eggman was weighing his words carefully. "No one gains from the destruction of Arvana. Sol Gem production will be reduced, you have my word."

"Not reduced," Blaze insisted. "It must stop completely. The Sol Gems do not provide free energy. They are the life force of Arvana itself, every one that you use to power your machines wastes the energy of the planet."

"For now," Eggman agreed. "But we are nearly at the point where we no longer need the Sol Gems. End this war, and I promise that I will stop our usage of Sol Gems."

Blaze frowned. Sonic couldn't tell if she wanted Eggman to refuse. He did not understand why they were bothering with this farce at all. Didn't anyone else realize that Eggman couldn't be trusted?

"I will return to Sol," Blaze said heavily. "If Mesto agrees to end his cycle of persecution against my people, then my armies will stand down. But I will not disband them. My army will remain on command for seven months. If, at the end of that time, you have proven yourself trustworthy, then I will disband my troops."

Mesto snarled and turned furiously towards Eggman. "She thinks she can have it both ways, I-"

Again, Eggman silenced him with a wave. "Very well, I agree to those terms. You will be given safe passage to Sol and you will be welcomed there as princess. In time, all authority over the Thirteens will be passed over to you."

Blaze pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. "I must confer with my generals. I will return to Castle Town in three days and march for Sol."

Though he seemed ready to explode with outrage, Silver was forced to rise meekly and follow his sister. Gawian and Rayne did the same, but Eggman spoke before Sonic could go. "I wish to speak to you alone." Though Eggman did not look at him, no one in the room wondered who "you" referred to.

Sonic remained sitting as the room cleared. At last, it was just Eggman and Sonic. A low buzz filled the room as the two arch enemies glared at one another. All of Eggman's pretense faded. His imperial majesty seemed to wash off, as he returned to the grimy, maniacal villain Sonic knew him to be.

"What must I do to be rid of you?" He snarled. "I have traveled to the edge of reality and beyond, and yet, here you are. Will you follow me into the fires of hell also?"

"I might pop in just to make sure you're not taking the place over."

Eggman's mustache twitched. "Were you that bored without me? I took pains to make sure you could not follow me, I knew that you could not resist, and yet, here you are."

"Maybe you shouldn't have left your computer plugged in," Sonic quipped.

"Hah!" Eggman snorted. "I told Knuckles, I told him that your thirst for power and recognition is no less than my own. I knew…I knew you would have to chase me down." A twisted smile spread across his face. "I would have done the same. We are just alike."

"I'm nothing like you," Sonic protested. "You're a monster that pollutes everywhere he's ever been. You're a disease."

Eggman shrugged. "I am merely a fire, it is your hellish winds that spread me." He smiled again. "O yes, I have heard of your recent promotion. The Knight of the Wind is it?" Eggman laughed mockingly. "There is no depth to the insanity the powerless will sink to. Do they honestly believe that steel and words can save them?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Sonic's hand slid onto Caliburn's hilt. The movement was subtle, but Eggman caught it. His eyes gleamed with malevolence. "You could do it, you know?" He whispered softly. "My Imperial Guard is quick, but I've never been able to truly fabricate your speed. That is the sword of the princess is it not? I am unarmed, it would be easy."

Sonic grimaced as he felt a tingle trace from the base of his skull, through his back and down his arm. Slowly, he relaxed his grip. Eggman laughed again. "I almost pity you. You came here expecting another adventure, but you've been caught up in a game you hardly understand. This is not your kind of battle."

"I'm a quick learner," Sonic fired back.

Eggman pushed himself out of his chair. He smashed his huge hands on the table and leaned over at Sonic. "Why are you even here? What are these Thirteens to you?"

"Nobody, but no one deserves to have their freedom taken away."

Eggman recoiled as if those words made him physically ill. "The only thing faster than your feet is the rate at which drivel comes out of your mouth. Can you not honestly see yourself? What have you ever managed to actually preserve? The green world which you fought me so desperately over, has slowly been consumed by the humans you are too weak willed to fight. You think you can stand in the breach, be the balance and conserve what is good and right, but the universe only moves in one direction. You will fight your entire life, and in the end, you will be left with nothing but sand that slips through your fingers."

Sonic did not balk. "The right thing isn't always about outcomes. I will fight you, and I will fight anyone else who tries to impose their will over others. Even if I fail in the end, it won't stop me."

Eggman moved away from the table. He paced a few steps, pausing in the shadows made by the neon lights of the room. "I will only make this offer once, so I urge you to consider it." Eggman turned back and reentered the light. His expression was cold and utterly implacable. "Go home. I will allow you to use one of my transporters to return to earth. Do so, and I swear on my life, that I will never bother the earth again. With the faintest of efforts, I have turned the earth upside down. Already a war threatens to tear it apart, and you may already be too late to save it. However, if you leave Arvana, then I will stop any interference. I will stop all contact with those I have aided."

Eggman leaned forward, his eyes were as dark as coal. "Stay, and I promise I will see the earth destroyed. Everyone you have ever known will die. Sol Gems and imperial armies will be sent out, and earth shall be the first interstellar colony of the empire." Eggman's glare seemed to penetrate Sonic's heart, filling him with a cold despair. "Earth cannot avail itself against me. Angel Island is destroyed along with the Master Emerald. My armies will wipe the earth clean of all life. Or…" Eggman stepped back. "Or you return at the eleventh hour like the hero you so love to be. An adventure awaits you at home, a threat that you can stop yourself with your little speed, and you would not even need to kill anyone."

Eggman walked back over to the far side of the room, his back towards Sonic. "This is not your world, this is game over. Go back to Green Hill and to a place you understand." Without another word, the emperor left and his Mecha Sonic badniks followed after him.

It seemed as if Eggman intended to give Sonic a moment alone to weigh his options. Sonic stood and started to walk around the table. He tried to piece his thoughts together, but he felt constrained inside his head and inside this room. Sonic entered the elevators and was born back up to the bridge of the ship.

Sonic watched as Blaze and the others rode a platform down to the surface. He did not try to catch up with them. They could not help him in this decision. Instead, Sonic turned aside and ran until he fell into the open air. Cold wind snapped against his face as he free fell towards the snow covered ground.

Halfway down, Sonic flipped over and rolled into a ball. His momentum grew and Sonic used the landing as a springboard into a drop dash. Snow rushed past him as Sonic unfurled into a dead sprint. The ruins of Castle Town passed away like a whisper. He ran across a long green sward and past the edges of the mountains. In a heartbeat he had already reached the city of Sol. Sonic did not even turn to look. He sped past it, willing himself not to get bogged down with painful thoughts.

All the same, memories of Levi and their adventure came rushing to the front of his mind. Sonic watched them play through, interrupted by scattered images of similar missions he had undergone with Tails. The dichotomy between the two sets of memories was as stark as the white snow against the ruby red ground. Sonic had reached the desert. In the distance, he could make out the vague outline of Masada rising like a pillar amongst a red sea.

More memories came crashing down over Sonic. He thought of the dead priest and the chase to find Darron. In that one instance, Sonic had witnessed more death than over all his adventures back on earth.

Sonic lowered his head and willed himself to run faster. Sand slipped beneath his feet, and try as he might, Sonic could not break past the sound barrier. It felt like an urge that he just couldn't itch, a pressure that he just couldn't release. Slowly, Sonic started to decelerate. An all out run devolved into a light sprint which failed into a jog. Then he stopped moving all together.

He had reached what appeared to be the middle of the desert. Behind him, he could just make out the vague shape of the distant mountains, beyond which lay the city of Sol. In front, Sonic could see the wavy lines that distinguished the shoreline of the great ocean. And what lies beyond that? There had been a time when Sonic could lay down at the shore of South Island and amuse himself with that very thought.

Then the day had come when he had ventured forth. The world had been an endless treasure of adventure and new discoveries. Yet over time, every discovery started to resemble the other, and the far shore looked the same as the one he had left. Sonic would not find anything new on the other side of the sea. Just another land, with another people, ruled beneath the whims of a tyrant.

Sonic fell back onto the sand. The sky of Arvana was alight with a multitude of stars. Distant planets loomed huge upon the stainless canopy. He felt his hand reach up before falling back to the ground beside him. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. Sonic felt paralyzed in place. He, whose signature power was the ability to move, was suddenly trapped. The choice before him was not a choice at all, but an ultimatum.

His heart had no answers for him. There was no easy road to take, nor a set path to follow. Sonic grieved for his friends back on earth. Friends he had abandoned and left to suffer without him. Yet he also grieved for Blaze and the other Thirteens. But mostly, Sonic grieved for himself.

For all his life, he had been a shield for others. He thought he had been a selfless hero, but he realized that Eggman was right, they weren't so much different. Sonic had done what he wanted, and what he wanted just so happened to coincide with the saving of others. Didn't Eggman do the same? Pursue his own selfish desires, regardless of the collateral damage?

Sonic seized fistsfulls of the desert and allowed the sand to pass through his broken gloves. "You will fight your entire life, and in the end, you will be left with nothing but sand that slips through your fingers."

A tear streaked down Sonic's cheek. His bravado and pride had left him. He had no funny quips nor was there anyone around whose fear he needed to check. He was all alone. No! A small voice insisted. Not alone. Never. Sonic felt a wild rebellious kick rush through his body. He wasn't alone, and he never had been. In all his journeys, both good and bad, he had been supported by his friends. Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Blaze, Silver, Levi, they had been there for him, and they had never let him down.

Sonic sat up and gazed determinedly straight ahead. Eggman created that choice because it was the one that would have been most effective against him. To trust, to have faith in others, required something that Eggman did not have. But what was it? Sonic wondered.

"Love." Blaze appeared out of a spiral of yellow fire. She had changed out of her battle attire and into a simple purple dress. Her hand reached down and offered itself to Sonic.

He took it and allowed himself to be picked up. "How did-"

"Silver read your mind. He heard everything that went down between you and the emperor. I tried to follow you when you ran off, but you're a lot quicker than me." Blaze smiled. It was a smile that seemed totally out of place considering all that had happened that day. "You must make a terrible choice, and you are wondering how to make it. Eggman could never leave behind something he cherished, because he could never trust anyone else to preserve it. What he wants most, he guards personally and jealousy. If he were in your shoes, and he loved the earth, then he would race back to save it. Just as he loves the power that the Sol Gems offer, so he stays here where can exploit them and keep them safe. Do you understand?"

Sonic shook his head.

"Love requires faith. Because you love your friends then you must trust that they can save themselves."

"Then you're saying I should stay here?"

Blaze motioned to his sword. "You are the Knight of the Wind, sworn to my service, and I have not released you." She smiled again. "The time is coming, Sonic the Hedgehog, the final moment, and you must be here to thwart your old enemy. Thrice you have been tempted by this fateful choice, first when you chose to come here, second when your friend urged you to return. Now it is your enemy who puts the final offer before you. Once decided, you can never turn back."

Sonic closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His friends' faces passed in front of his eyes. His heart seemed to swell with the longing to see them again. If anything, it would be a relief beyond words just to talk with them again. Sonic exhaled and he felt a tremendous weight roll off his body. His yearning for his friends, the clear direction of his heart, gave him clarity on what to do next. "I'll stay, and I will see this to the end," He said firmly.

Blaze looked at him. He was again struck by the alien majesty that seemed to linger just below the surface. What was she exactly? What was the source of her tremendous power? "All will be revealed in time," She allowed, as if in answer to his thought. "Now that our course is set, we can run without hindrance. I will go to Sol. I know the emperor has some trick in store, but I must see my people and they must see me."

Sonic took her hand and the two of them stood side by side looking out across the desert towards the edge of the shore. They remained silent as the night passed away and a brisk morning woke in front of them. A yellow dawn burst above the far horizon, and illuminated against Blaze's crown. Sonic looked at her and saw the light reflected in her eyes. She blinked and then he was kissing her.

A new day had come, and Sonic did not know what the future held. Yet he felt that he had at least one certainty upon which he could stand. There were weapons that Eggman did not have, and shields that his evil could not shatter. A seed of belief sprouted inside Sonic's heart. Though he could not see them, and perhaps he would never visit them, there were far shores that were yet unstained. There, a free people lived without fear. For them, and for everyone else Sonic the Hedgehog would continue the fight.

AN: This is the end of Sonic's Story for Part IV. Thank you for reading and I would appreciate any feedback on the story!