- Chapter 17 -

Hill Top Terror

Hill Top Zone

Leaving the Casino Night Zone behind, the Freedom Fighters soon found themselves entering the mountainous regions of the Hill Top Zone. The first thing they noticed was a plume of smoke emerging from a volcano in the distance.

"That's odd," Rotor mused. "The volcano on Westside has been dormant for decades."

"If it's active again, this entire Zone could be in danger," Tails insisted.

"Then we better get moving," Sonic decided. "This has Robuttnik's stink all over it."

They made their way to the village at the foot of the volcano, which was dotted with teepees and inhabited with Mobian birds similar to Native Americans. One saw them, and raised a hand in greeting.

"Greetings, outsiders," he said politely. "I am Kordon, chief of the Hill Top People."

"Greetings, Chief Kordon," Sally replied. "I am Princess Sally of the Kingdom of Acorn. These are my Freedom Fighters."

Kordon bowed. "It is an honor to meet all of you,"

"Chief, how long has that volcano been active?" Porker asked.

"It was only recently the Mountain of Destiny became active," Kordon answered. "The Ancient Walkers must be displeased with us."

"The what now?" Antoine asked.

"The Ancient Walkers," Sonic replied. "I remember Omni mentioned them once or twice."

"The gods of Mobius," Kordon explained. "Said to be at least equal to your Aurora, if not greater."

"With all due respect, Chief, I'm sure there's a logical explanation for all this," Tails said.

"You are welcome to believe what you will," Kordon said simply.

"No shame in checking it out," Shortfuse decided, looking up at the mountain. "And the only way we're getting any answers is by going in.

"Whoa, whoa," Johnny held up a hand. "You want us to go inside the volcano? That's suicide, Shorty!"

"In case you forgot, I'm basically indestructible," Shortfuse reminded him. "I'll pop in, see what's up, then pop out."

"I'm going with you," Sonic insisted. "As long as I don't actually touch the lava, I'll be fine."

"If you insist," Shortfuse decided.

"Be careful, you two," Bunnie warned.

"Hey, careful is my middle name," Sonic declared.

"Really?" Tails quipped. "I thought your middle name was 'the'."

Sonic just rolled his eyes before grabbing Shortfuse's hands, the two flying up toward the volcano. Making it to the top, Shortfuse slowly flew in. They looked down at the lava below, just as a plesiosaur-like Badnik surfaced from it, roaring at them.

"Badnik!" Sonic exclaimed. "Of course Robotnik's behind this!"

"So it would seem," Shortfuse remarked.

"Wonder what he's planning this time?" Sonic pondered.

The Rexon spat an energy ball at them, the two dodging before Shortfuse raised his arm cannon, blowing its head off. With that, they went further in, soon finding a cave deeper in the volcano. As they entered, they felt tremors that slowly increased until they found an ominous-looking machine. It was a large red box with a black dome on top. Several long, silver arms extended from the sides of the machine, embedding themselves into the rocks. There was a large screen on the front, providing data on the seismic activity, magma levels, and a countdown to detonation. Sonic let out a whistle in astonishment.

"He loves to go all out, doesn't he?"

After a moment, the screen flickered out. A familiar evil laugh sounded before Robotnik appeared in place of the data.

"Sonic!" he greeted cheerfully. "So glad you made it in time for my little trap."

"Why are you doing this, you maniac?!" Shortfuse demanded. "What do you accomplish with this machine?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Robotnik asked. "My Seismatron made the volcano active again. Any minute now, the volcano will erupt. With you in the dead center of it!"

"Not if we stop you first!" Sonic shot back.

Shortfuse aimed his blaster, but Robotnik just chuckled.

"You're too late, anyway," he boasted. "Even if you destroy the Seismatron, the volcano will blow!"

He turned to Sonic. "A pity I can't be there to watch you go down in a blaze of glory, but c'est la vie (1)."

He laughed once more, which was cut off when Shortfuse shot the Seismatron to pieces. At that very moment, the tremors reached their peak.

"Uh-oh…" Shortfuse let out.

"We need to move," Sonic insisted. "NOW!"

Shortfuse grabbed Sonic, jetting out of the volcano at full speed. The two made it out with mere seconds to spare, molten lava shooting into the sky like a fountain.

"Sonic!" Sally shouted as they made it back to the others. "What happened in there?!"

"Robotnik happened," Sonic replied. "He had some kinda seismic machine. It was all a trap to get me. Boil me in lava."

They turned as the lava slowly seeped down the mountain, headed right for the village.

"We can't let these people die!" Johnny shouted. "We gotta do something!"

Sonic paced around, wracking his brain desperately before perking.

"I've got an idea!" He pulled the two Chaos Emeralds in his pocket. "If I can use the Emeralds' energy, maybe I can stop the lava. Redirect it or something. Think it's worth a try?"

"At this rate, I think anything's worth a try!" Antoine shrieked.

"Just be careful, Sonic," Sally pleaded. "Please."

"Hey, it's me we're talking about," Sonic answered. "Now stand back!"

He closed his eyes in concentration, channeling the chaos energy into his body. He was soon surrounded by a yellow aura, and took off at super-speed, running around the volcano and its lava spout so fast that he whipped up a tornado around both, rapidly cooling the lava and sending up clouds of dust. When it cleared, Sonic stood triumphantly, revealing he had carved a massive statue of himself out of the cooling rock, flashing the V-sign with a triumphant grin.

"Missed my calling as a sculptor, wouldn't you say?" he quipped.

"I don't know," Sally said playfully. "I think the head could be a bit bigger."

Sonic looked at her, a deadpan expression on his face. "Tee-hee."

-X-

Later, they stood before Chief Kordon and his tribe, the old bird looking at them gratefully.

"You have earned the respect and gratitude of me and my people," he declared.

"Just doing what I do best," Sonic boasted.

"Please, allow me to show you our gratitude,"

Kordon reached around his neck, removing a necklace. They all gasped. At the end of the necklace, previously hidden by his feathers, was the red Chaos Emerald.

"No way…" Tails let out. "A Chaos Emerald!"

"Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed.

"This gem is important to you?" Kordon asked, getting a nod. "Then it is yours."

He held it out to Sonic, who took it.

"Thanks," the hedgehog said. "That makes three."

Tails held up the Miles Electric. Once he switched to the Emerald Radar, he gaped in shock.

"The next stop is the Mystic Cave Zone," he reported. "But... that's odd. I'm getting readings from dozens of Chaos Emeralds there."

Everyone looked confused.

"You sure that thing ain't busted?" Bunnie asked.

"Positive," Tails insisted. "Something's going on."

"Relic did say that dozens of Chaos Emeralds rained down on Mobius in ancient times," Sally recalled. "But so many in one place…"

"Let's check it out," Sonic insisted.

Robotropolis

Robotnik took one look at the monitor showing the Sonic statue on the Mountain of Destiny, and promptly put his bionic fist through the screen with a growl.

"I'm beginning to see why Sonic is my arch-nemesis," he spat. "He's harder to squash than a damned cockroach!"

"Perhaps you will get him next time, sir," Snively suggested.

"Most definitely," Grimer agreed. "After all, just see where they're heading next."

Robotnik took a look, seeing where exactly the Freedom Fighters were heading.

"The Mystic Cave Zone…" he mused. "They must have gotten a whiff of the energy signatures down there as well."

"What should we do, Uncle?" Snively asked.

Robotnik smirked, going over to a section of the lab where a robot stood dormant. It was eerily similar to Sonic, a silver color with a red bar for eyes and long, claw-like arms.

"We give Sonic the shock of his life," he boasted. "Now's the perfect time to let loose with the Silver Sonic."

"But Dr. Robotnik, the Silver Sonic is just a prototype!" Grimer objected. "It hasn't been properly tested yet!"

"Well, I'd say now's a good time," Robotnik said flippantly.

He flipped a few switches, sending power to the robot, its eyes beginning to light up ominously…

Author's Note:

(1): "That's life" in French.

Yet another storyline adapted from Sonic the Comic. The next chapter, however, will be my original flavor for once.

Next chapter, Sonic finds himself literally fighting himself in the Mystic Cave Zone, while the Freedom Fighters discover a shocking secret within.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Kordon - Jay Tavare (Vega from the Street Fighter movie, Koba from Turok: Son of Stone, Code Talker from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)

Please R&R. Until next time!