Sonic X: Gotta Go Fast Again
Chapter 25: Masks and Mirrors
Rouge was not easily shaken. Her usual demeanor was one of playful confidence, a mix of wit and charm that she wielded as effortlessly as her wings. Yet, hearing that voice again—deep, enigmatic—had sent a jolt through her that she couldn't quite shake. Was it truly him? As the figure drew nearer, stepping out from the shadows of the forest, her heart skipped a beat. There was no mistaking those crimson eyes, the distinctive black fur streaked with red, and the Inhibitor Rings glinting on his wrists and ankles. It was him.
"You're... back," she managed to say, her voice a mix of disbelief and relief. A semblance of a grin had gently flickered onto her lips, one of triumph and joy. "I knew it. I knew you were still alive."
To her surprise, Shadow mirrored her grin, though his eyes scanned the surroundings with a measured calmness that was so characteristic of him. Rouge felt a flicker of warmth at this rare display of emotion; Shadow was not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, even with her.
Emboldened by his presence, Rouge stepped closer, curiosity burning in her eyes. "How did you get back?" she asked, seeking answers to the questions that had haunted her since his disappearance.
But Shadow remained silent, his expression unreadable. Rouge tilted her head in confusion, a frown creasing her brow. The moment stretched into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the rustling leaves and distant calls of night creatures.
Suddenly, without warning, Shadow lunged forward, his fist swinging toward her with unexpected aggression. Rouge's instincts kicked in immediately; she sidestepped just in time to avoid the blow, her heart pounding with shock and confusion.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" she demanded, her voice rising in alarm as she leapt upward. Her hands found purchase on a sturdy branch above, and with a graceful swing, she flipped herself onto a higher perch. From this vantage point, she looked down at him with wide eyes. "Shadow!"
The figure below her remained silent. His red eyes glowed ominously as it stared up at her, unmoving. Rouge's heart raced, her instincts screaming danger. This wasn't the Shadow she knew—something was terribly wrong. Without warning, the shadowy form lunged upward. Rouge gasped, barely managing to dodge as Shadow's fist slammed through the bark where she had been perched just moments before.
"What's gotten into you?!" she cried out, but received no response. Realizing the gravity of her situation, Rouge didn't wait for an explanation. She turned and fled deeper into the forest, her survival instincts kicking into high gear.
Rouge moved with the grace of a night breeze, leaping from branch to branch, the forest a blur around her. Shadow—or the figure that looked like him—was relentless, his pursuit a constant pressure at her back. Each time she felt his presence closing in, she narrowly evaded his strikes, the air whooshing past her as his fists cut through the space she'd just vacated.
But then, in a sudden burst of speed, Shadow tackled her mid-leap. The impact sent them both crashing through the canopy to the forest floor below, leaves cascading around them like confetti. The ground rushed up to meet them with a thud that reverberated through Rouge's bones.
Pinned beneath him, Rouge saw his fist draw back for another strike. Instinctively, she brought up her legs and delivered a powerful kick to his chest, sending him sprawling backward. The force of the kick propelled her upward, and she swiftly placed her hands on the forest floor. In one fluid motion, Rouge executed a graceful backflip, pushing off with her palms and arching her body through the air. She landed deftly on her feet, leaves crunching underfoot as she assumed a defensive stance.
"You just made a big mistake, Mimic!" she declared. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the figure before her. The silence stretched between them like a taut wire, but Shadow—or Mimic—gave no response other than to charge again.
Rouge had made up her mind; this was not Shadow. This was Mimic playing another cruel trick. Her resolve hardened, and she decided not to hold back anymore. As he closed in on her once more, she kicked up a flurry of leaves into his face. The sudden burst of foliage blinded him momentarily, causing his punch to veer off course and slam into a tree with a resounding crack.
Seizing the opportunity, Rouge spun into a roundhouse kick with all the force of her pent-up emotions behind it. She felt the satisfying impact against his head, but what happened next was beyond anything she had anticipated. In an instant that seemed to stretch into eternity, she watched in horror as his head separated from his body.
Rouge's breath caught in her throat as she watched the head roll to a stop on the forest floor. The body, now lifeless, slumped against the tree trunk, its limbs splayed awkwardly. In all her escapades, she had never faced the prospect of taking a life. Her battles had always been against machines or creatures devoid of true life. But as she took a tentative step forward, any lingering doubts were dispelled by the sight before her: from the severed neck, instead of blood, there were sparks and the faint whirring of dying machinery.
Confusion knitted her brow as she crouched down, her heeled boots crunching softly on the forest debris. With careful hands, she picked up the head, its weight unfamiliar and cold. Her gloved fingers traced over its surface, confirming what her eyes had already told her—this was no living being. The exterior was smooth and hard, lacking the warmth and texture of organic matter.
"A Shadow robot?" Rouge murmured to herself, her voice barely louder than a whisper as she switched her gaze between the dismembered head and the inert body. The realization settled over her like a heavy fog. This wasn't Shadow, nor was it Mimic playing another trick. This was something else entirely.
Her mind raced through possibilities until it landed on one inevitable conclusion: Doctor Eggman. Of course. Who else had both the audacity and the capability to create such a convincing replica? She couldn't help but pout in frustration. It was bad enough when Eggman had unleashed Metal Sonic upon them, causing chaos and destruction. Now he had moved on to crafting Shadow robots that mimicked the original with unsettling accuracy.
The forest around her seemed to close in, its shadows deepening as if sharing in her discontent. Rouge stood up, letting the robotic head drop back to the ground with a dull thud. Her thoughts turned to what this new development could mean—another scheme by Eggman that would undoubtedly require their intervention.
The discovery of the Shadow robot had ignited a spark of curiosity within her—a puzzle that begged to be solved. Ever the lone wolf, Rouge decided to leave the pursuit of Mimic to Sonic and the others. She had a different path to follow, one that promised answers and perhaps even a confrontation with the mastermind behind this mechanical mimicry.
Sonic was a blur of blue energy as he raced across the expansive terrain of Mystic Ruins. The wind whipped past him, carrying with it the scents of earth and foliage, but his mind was singularly focused on his quarry. He had scoured every inch of the perimeter multiple times, his speed a testament to his determination. Yet Mimic remained elusive, slipping through his grasp like a shadow at dusk. Unless Mimic had somehow acquired his speed, there was no logical way he could have outrun Sonic.
Just as frustration began to creep in, a voice pierced the night. "Sonic, help!" The urgency in Knuckles' voice sent a jolt through him. Instinctively, Sonic skidded to a halt, his shoes kicking up a spray of dirt and leaves as he pivoted toward the sound.
He sprinted toward the clearing where Knuckles' voice had originated, his heart pounding with adrenaline and concern. As he burst into the open space, he was met with an unexpected sight: Knuckles standing before him with arms crossed and a smug grin plastered across his face. At his feet lay another Knuckles, unconscious and sprawled on the forest floor—undoubtedly Mimic in disguise.
"I got him!" Knuckles declared triumphantly, flexing an arm in victory.
Sonic couldn't help but chuckle as he rested a hand on his hip. "Nice work," he acknowledged with a grin. "Just one little problem."
In an instant, Sonic dashed forward with blinding speed, delivering a swift kick to Knuckles' chin. The impact sent the echidna crashing into a nearby tree, where he slid down onto his stomach, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Knuckles is too stubborn to ask for help," Sonic remarked dryly, confirming that this was indeed Mimic's ruse.
Realizing that his deception had been uncovered, Mimic's form began to shift and contort. The false Knuckles melted away like wax under heat, revealing his true form—a bluish violet octopus whose tentacles writhed in agitation.
Knuckles groaned as he regained consciousness, his head throbbing from the unexpected blow he had taken. The memory of being blindsided by a tree branch was still fresh, and he could feel the dull ache where it had struck. Blinking rapidly, he shook off the lingering haze from his vision, focusing on the scene before him. Sonic stood confidently, facing off against Mimic.
The sight of Sonic holding his ground against their slippery adversary stoked Knuckles' simmering anger into a full-blown blaze. His fists clenched involuntarily, the familiar weight of his namesakes grounding him in the moment. "That does it, you big squid!"
With a surge of adrenaline, Knuckles charged at Mimic, who flailed his tentacles in a desperate attempt to fend off the approaching guardian. The tentacles snapped through the air like whips, but Knuckles was relentless. Each swing was met with a furious punch, his fists moving with the precision and power of a seasoned fighter.
In a deft maneuver, Knuckles caught one of Mimic's tentacles mid-swing, gripping it tightly with both hands. With a mighty yank that sent leaves scattering, he pulled Mimic off his feet and towards him. The momentum carried Mimic helplessly forward, right into the path of Knuckles' waiting fist. The right hook landed with satisfying force, sending Mimic sprawling to the ground.
Sonic watched the spectacle unfold with a grin playing on his lips, content to let Knuckles unleash his frustration. There was something almost cathartic about watching his friend take down their foe with such raw determination.
Mimic slumped against the forest floor, struggling to regain his footing. But before he could make any headway, Knuckles' boot pressed firmly against his back, pinning him in place with an unyielding weight. The shapeshifter squirmed under the pressure, but it was clear he was going nowhere fast.
Sonic sauntered over and crouched down beside Mimic's face, his expression one of playful mockery. With a teasing gesture that was pure Sonic, he pulled down one eyelid and stuck out his tongue—a gesture as defiant as it was childish.
Mimic glowered at Sonic with a mixture of frustration and defeat. His tentacles twitched irritably, but he remained pinned under the weight of his failed deception. The shapeshifter's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route, but found none.
"You know," Sonic began, his voice carrying a casual confidence as he gestured animatedly with one hand, "it was pretty smart trying to get me to walk with you when you were Amy." His tone was almost conversational, as if they were discussing a clever prank rather than a series of deceptions. "And taking Tails' place? Genius."
Mimic grunted in response, his body protesting under the pressure Knuckles exerted. The shapeshifter's eyes flickered with frustration and pain, but he remained silent, unwilling to give anything away.
Sonic continued, undeterred by Mimic's lack of response. "And trying to trick me by pretending to be Knucklehead? Not bad," he added with a grin, his fingers forming a mock applause as he clapped them together lightly in front of his chest, as if celebrating Mimic's efforts. "But your acting skills need some work."
Knuckles, embodying his role as the bad cop, pressed his foot down harder on Mimic's back. "Start talking! What do you want?"
Sonic, slipping into the role of good cop with practiced ease, leaned down slightly and pointed his thumb at Knuckles. His voice carried a hint of sarcasm as he addressed Mimic. "I'd listen to him," he advised with a playful wink. "He doesn't always ask this nicely."
Mimic grunted, his resolve crumbling under the relentless pressure of Knuckles' boot. The pain etched across his face was evident, his features contorting as he struggled against the urge to reveal his motives. But as the seconds ticked by, marked by the rhythmic chirping of crickets in the underbrush, it became clear that his resistance was futile.
"I... wanted you," Mimic finally grunted out, his eyes squeezed shut in a grimace of discomfort and defeat.
Sonic, ever the jokester even in tense situations, chuckled lightly. He placed a hand dramatically to his chest, his emerald eyes twinkling with mischief in the moonlight. "Me? I'm flattered," he quipped, his voice carrying a note of playful sarcasm that seemed at odds with the gravity of the situation.
Knuckles, however, was not in the mood for Sonic's antics. His patience, already worn thin by the night's events, was hanging by a thread. With a growl that seemed to rumble through the clearing, he pressed his foot down harder on Mimic's back. The shapeshifter let out another pained grunt, his body tensing under the increased pressure.
"Shut up, Sonic," Knuckles snapped. The guardian's mood was as dark as the shadows that stretched across the forest floor, a clear reminder of the toll the night's deceptions had taken on him.
Sonic, undeterred by Knuckles' harsh tone, turned his attention back to Mimic. His voice took on a theatrical quality, tinged with a subtle warning that belied his casual demeanor. "Oooh, see how he talks to me? And I'm his buddy," he said, gesturing towards Knuckles with a tilt of his head. "If he talks to his friends like that, how do you think he treats people he doesn't like?"
Desperation etched across Mimic's face as he lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of defeat and lingering resentment.
"I wanted to replace you," he spat out, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Ruin your reputation, turn all your friends against you."
Sonic tilted his head. His eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of curiosity and disbelief playing across his features. "All that just so you could replace me?" he asked, his tone a blend of incredulity and amusement.
Mimic's response burst forth like a dam breaking, his frustration and envy pouring out in a torrent of words. "Look at you! You have it all! The fame, the speed, the reputation!" His voice rose with each declaration, disgust and longing intertwining in every syllable. "I wanted the role of a lifetime!"
Sonic shook his head, his quills swaying with the motion, a physical manifestation of his disappointment. "Let me guess: Eggman?" he ventured, his voice tinged with resignation, as if expecting yet another scheme from their perennial foe.
"That foolish oaf? No!" Mimic's reply was sharp and immediate. "I did all this! It was supposed to be simple!" His words carried the bitter taste of a plan gone awry, of grand ambitions crumbling to dust.
Sonic lifted his head, his quills catching the light as he gestured to Knuckles. The guardian, understanding the unspoken command, removed his boot from Mimic's back. In one fluid motion, Knuckles grabbed Mimic's arms, hauling him to his feet with a grunt. The echidna's powerful grip held Mimic's arms behind his back, ensuring the shapeshifter couldn't slip away.
Sonic scratched his head, his face twisting adorably as he thought long and hard. "So, that's why you broke into Amy's place and tried to trick me into leaving with you," he observed, piecing together the puzzle of Mimic's actions. "But something I still don't get. Why did you bring Knuckles and Rouge here?"
Mimic, held firmly in Knuckles' grasp, let out a resigned sigh. His tentacles twitched involuntarily, a physical manifestation of his discomfort and defeat. "Fine, I'll spill. It all started when I visited Knuckles and Rouge separately, disguised as Sonic. I invited them both to the workshop. Then, I broke into Amy's house disguised as Sonic, hoping to scare her before tying her up and taking her place."
He paused, frustration evident in his voice. "The plan was to lure the real Sonic somewhere isolated, get rid of him, and assume his identity. But that pink nuisance managed to alert you. I had to think on my feet. So, after I managed to slip away from you, I decided to head to the workshop, hoping I could salvage my plan somehow."
Sonic and Knuckles exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and growing understanding. Mimic pressed on, his frustration bubbling over. "When I noticed Knuckles and Rouge had arrived, and saw that Tails had conveniently left for the evening, I saw my chance. I disguised myself as Tails, thinking I could still pull this off."
His voice trailed off, the weight of his failure evident. "It almost worked too—if you hadn't called the Chaotix..."
Sonic let out a light chuckle, his carefree attitude seemingly unaffected by the night's chaotic events. "Well, I've had my fair share of copycats before," he mused, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "But this is something else."
Knuckles, still maintaining his iron grip on Mimic's arms, grunted in agreement. His eyes narrowed as he tightened his hold, causing Mimic to wince slightly. "Yeah," the echidna growled, his voice low and gravelly. "Now, what are we gonna do with you?" The question lingered, heavy with implication.
Sonic hummed thoughtfully, tapping his foot in a rapid rhythm that seemed to echo through the clearing. A thought bubble materialized above his head. Within this cartoonish manifestation, poorly drawn versions of themselves flickered through various scenarios, each more outlandish than the last. The bubble pulsed and shifted with each new idea.
As suddenly as it had appeared, the thought bubble popped with a comical 'bloop'. Sonic's face lit up with inspiration, his trademark grin spreading across his face. He snapped his fingers, the sharp click cutting through the night air. "I got an idea!"
Mimic, still held firmly in Knuckles' grasp, let out a comical whimper. His tentacles curled inward, as if trying to make himself smaller. The shapeshifter's eyes darted between Sonic and Knuckles, a look of apprehension clouding his features. It was clear from his expression that he had a sinking feeling about whatever Sonic had in mind.
The morning sun crept over the horizon, painting Metro Square in hues of gold and amber. The city was just beginning to stir, the early risers making their way through streets still damp with dew. Amidst this awakening urban landscape, an unusual group made their way towards the city. The dew-kissed grass sparkled under the early morning light as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy escorted a visibly distressed Mimic. As they reached the summit, the city unfurled beneath them
The night's events had given way to a new day and a new form of justice. After a brief but intense discussion with Metro's police force, during which Sonic's charisma and reputation had clearly swayed the authorities, an alternative punishment had been arranged for the shapeshifting miscreant.
Sonic paused, a glint of mischief in his eyes. He turned to face Mimic, who was still reeling from the events of the night before. It was clear that the hero had orchestrated this moment, choosing the overlook of Metro Square as the stage for his big reveal.
Mimic's eyes widened in horror as the weight of Sonic's words settled in. "I have to do what?!"
Sonic, his quills catching the early morning light, turned to Mimic with a grin that seemed to outshine the sun itself as he delivered the verdict. "Community service. You wanted to be Sonic. Well, Sonic always makes time to help those in need."
Tails, ever the technical genius, knelt beside Mimic as he examined his latest creation. The ankle bracelet, a marvel of hastily assembled but undoubtedly effective technology, gleamed in the morning light. "This bracelet will monitor Mimic's anatomy," he explained, his voice filled with pride in his work. "If he tries to transform, it'll send an instant alert to the police."
Mimic's jaw went slack. This was his punishment – to be stripped of his powers and forced to help the very community he had sought to deceive. The irony was not lost on him, and it seemed to weigh as heavily as the ankle bracelet that now adorned his limb.
"Oh, don't forget to start at the community center to help the kids with their garden project!" Sonic called out, his voice carrying a note of gleeful enthusiasm that seemed to dance on the morning air. "Nothing like a little sunshine and positivity to turn that frown upside down!"
The irony of his words was not lost on anyone present, least of all Mimic, whose tentacles drooped in resignation. The shapeshifter's expression was a mix of disbelief and dread, as if he were contemplating whether this punishment was worse than any jail cell.
Amy sauntered over to Mimic with the grace of a predator who knew her prey was cornered. Her trusty hammer rested casually over her shoulder, its polished surface gleaming menacingly in the sunlight. With a deliberate slowness, she lowered the hammer, gripping the handle with both hands and patting the business end lightly.
"Unless you have any objections?" Amy asked, her voice sweet as honey but with an underlying steel that sent a visible shiver through Mimic's form. She looked down at Mimic's true form - a pitiful octopus that seemed so much less threatening than the disguises he once wore. The memory of their last encounter, where she had cowered in fear, now seemed almost laughable.
Mimic flinched, the memory of her hammer's sting from the previous night still fresh. After Knuckles had dragged him back, Amy had made sure Mimic understood the consequences of his deception. The bruises might have faded, but the lesson had been indelibly imprinted.
Mimic, once a master of deception and now stripped of his powers, could only sigh in defeat. He shook his head, tentacles swaying limply with the motion. The realization that he had indeed gotten his wish to be Sonic, albeit in the most twisted and ironic way possible, seemed to weigh heavily on him.
With the air of a condemned man walking to the gallows, Mimic began his trudge down the hill towards Metro Square. His steps were slow and reluctant, each one seeming to take immense effort as if his feet were made of lead.
Sonic leaned casually against a nearby tree, one foot propped up, his trademark grin still in place. Tails hovered slightly above the ground, his namesakes spinning lazily as he observed with scientific curiosity. Knuckles stood with his arms crossed, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips, while Amy rested her hammer on the ground, leaning on it with an air of triumphant finality.
As Mimic's form grew smaller in the distance, blending into the morning crowd of Metro Square, the four friends shared a moment of silent victory. The city stretched out before them, a canvas of possibilities, while behind them, the rising sun seemed to herald not just a new day, but a new chapter in their ongoing adventures.
Amy wasted no time in celebrating their victory. With a joyous laugh that seemed to bubble up from her very soul, she tossed her hammer aside. The weapon spun through the air, landing with a soft thud on the grassy hill. In a blur of pink, Amy threw herself into Sonic's arms, her enthusiasm nearly bowling him over.
Sonic, caught off guard but pleasantly surprised, stumbled back a step before regaining his balance. His arm instinctively wrapped around Amy, returning her embrace with a warmth that belied his usual cool demeanor. His free hand, meanwhile, was busy cementing the team's triumph. He shared a high-five with Tails, followed with bumping fists with Knuckles.
Laughter bubbled up from the group, filling the air with a warm, joyful sound that echoed off the nearby trees. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
However, Amy's voice soon cut through the mirth, her tone tinged with curiosity. "Did anyone see what happened to Rouge?" she asked, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting the bat to materialize at any moment.
Sonic, still holding Amy with one arm, shrugged with his free shoulder. His trademark grin played across his face as he quipped, "Maybe she's got her eyes set on the Master Emerald."
The effect of Sonic's words on Knuckles was instantaneous and comical. The echidna's eyes widened to the size of saucers, a look of sheer panic replacing his previous contentment. Without a word, he took off down the hill, his dreadlocks flying behind him as he ran. "Oh no she doesn't!" he shouted, his voice fading as he disappeared into the bustling streets of the city.
Tails looked at Sonic with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "But the Master Emerald isn't even healed yet."
Sonic's grin widened, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I know," he chuckled, clearly relishing the moment. "How long do you think it'll take Knuckles to realize that?"
Tails and Amy exchanged exasperated glances before turning to Sonic with matching pouts, their expressions a mix of amusement and mild disapproval. Sonic, unfazed by their reactions, simply threw his head back and laughed heartily. His infectious laughter echoed across the hilltop, a reflection to his carefree spirit and the joy he found in these lighthearted moments with his friends.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, promising a beautiful day ahead – a day full of possibilities, adventures, and perhaps a few more good-natured pranks on their ever-gullible friend Knuckles.
And that concludes the Mimic Arc. For now, anyway. I will aim to get some longer chapters out next time. See you all next week!