Spark Two: Split Up

Sonic's Spark – Chapter 1: A Frosty Landscape

Sonic was travelling down a tube, hearing crackles of lightning in the distance. He could barely remember what had happened an hour ago. He felt light and tired. No matter how hard he tried, his eyes would not budge. He could feel himself floating down, but then it started to feel more like he was being shoved.

He landed somewhere completely different to Bird Island. Sonic probably would have broken his back, were it not for a pile of black goo covering his fall.

He woke up to see a forest around him. Orange leaves were being shed, slowly reaching the ground. "Urgh. Where am I?" He got up, and curled into a ball. Running in a circle, he managed to shake off the last of the gooey substance. He straightened up and watched the leaves slowly fall, as he tried to remember how he got here.

As the last leaf touched the floor, everything came back to him.

Sonic recalled everything he could remember. Landing on the beach, seeing Eggman, being zapped by that ray, and coming here all added up. He needed to find a way out. Taking a deep breath, the blue blur started running, thinking as he moved.

All of his memories seemed to be intact, except for who Eggman was. Why couldn't he remember? It seemed to be a key piece of him, but nothing he tried could jog his memory. He sped past the trees, looking around at the scenery. It was obviously autumn, as the only trees that were green still were pine trees.

Sonic saw something on the ground and jumped over it. Quickly, he screeched to a halt. He turned around. What was it he saw on the floor? A book? And was that… a lizard on FIRE?! Sonic put the book away inside his quills, and started running again, looking around for any water. If that lizard burned to death, he'd be responsible since there was only a hedgehog around here. He was a hero, not a villain!

He found a lake, grabbed a handful of water, and ran back, keeping it covered in his 100% waterproof gloves. He ran back to the lizard exactly where he found it. Drizzling the water over his back, the lizard let out a sigh of relief, as did Sonic. However, it was short lived, as the fire began once again.

"Ok… You don't seem to be concerned at all. Do you like the fire, little buddy?" The lizard nodded, and ran around in a little circle, panting. "Aw, you're cute. What's your name?" It thought for a moment, before running around on the floor. In small letters, it spelled out "Bruni". Sonic said, "Nice name! So, that means you understand me. Can you tell me where I am, and possibly how I can leave?" Sonic looked back at the lizard. It was clearly stumped. "Alright, how 'bout we start with what place this is?" The lizard jumped up and down pointing at a castle.

"Ok, that is humongous. So what is it… Aaand you're gone." The lizard had run off. "Oh well, I suppose I've got somewhere to begin." He was about to start running, when he noticed something weird about his gloves. They were covered in snowflakes, and a bright blue. "Hmm… I wonder what powers I've got here." He ran a few metres, and noticed a small ice trail behind him.

"Sweet!" He began running, and jumped, creating an icy ramp underneath him. He wasn't sure about where he was, but at least he had some assistance with him. Maybe it would be enough to prove who he was, once he got to the castle. It must have been built for some sort of purpose, most likely royalty, but it could be for meetings, a prison… Honestly, it wasn't easy to tell.

With every step of his foot, the castle drew closer, and ice grew on the floor, and eventually, he slowed down at a humble village outside the castle. It was mostly quiet, save for the children running around in the piles of leaves and the adults doing some market shopping. Houses with tiled roofs stood in rows, all huddling together for some warmth.

Sonic wanted to ask some questions, but seeing as they were all humans, he knew the reaction wouldn't be great. So, quite unlike his usual outgoing self, he hid. Watching carefully from behind the fish barrels he was in, the hedgehog was convinced he could see some movement in the castle.

He needed a plan, but unfortunately, he was more of the leap-before-you-think kind of person. This meant that he was behind the barrels for a long time, thinking about how to go up to these people, when something nudged his legs.

"What– Who's there? Oh it's you again, Bruni!" Sonic whispered to the lizard.

Bruni looked up at him, expecting him to give him a treat. "You look hungry. What do lizards eat again…?" He thought for a moment, but couldn't remember, so referred to the animal for advice.

The lizard pointed over to a fruit stall. It was selling fresh pineapples and papayas, and some apples. "Hmm, ok, but there's a problem. I have no money." He didn't want to admit it to anyone, but he felt extremely hungry as well. Stealing wasn't an option though. Earning money? How could he do it without any awkward questions being raised? This wasn't the best scenario for him to be in.

All of a sudden, the barrels were lifted up by someone. Sonic grabbed Bruni and dashed off to behind a pile of ice. Then, someone started moving those away. He dashed off to behind a house, getting closer to the stall and the castle. That gave him an idea.

Moving fast, he ran behind everything he could see, getting closer to some fruit on the floor. He stopped behind a barrel, opened up his hands and let the lizard crawl out. It tread on the leaves, and started eating the papaya on the floor. The blue blur was starving, but he wasn't too desperate. Not yet anyway.

The lizard finished eating, and climbed up to Sonic's face, nuzzling his face against him. It was quite warm, but not fiery. Sonic quite enjoyed it. "Aw, it's ok, little guy. But we better go now. Ready to run?" The lizard nodded, and once again, Sonic curled up, and started running.

Dodging the open streets, he moved left and right behind crates, chairs, barrels, the lot. He was nearing the castle now, and was starting to feel dizzy. Being behind too many massive, slightly rotten fish crates didn't help.

He dashed one last time to an ice barrel, and stopped behind it. The hedgehog was too tired to run like this. Secretive just wasn't his style.

Unfortunately, the barrel was being carried off. He wanted to run, but he decided to accept it. He had barely any energy left anyway. He closed his eyes, and waited, hoping for the best…