"Not to sound ungrateful or anything," began Flame as he looked around the world around him, "But couldn't you have resurrected us outside of this space?"
"I didn't know that we would be stuck here, okay? Jeez," said Ai as he then jumped from a building onto the pavement, landing perfectly and making sure that no one fell. "It ain't my fault that after I died, I was revived in this space that would make Link VRAINS look like an organized space."
"You can't really fault Ai for that, Flame," said Aqua as the Fire Ignis sighed.
"No, I can't." he replied as Earth looked around the space around him.
"Do you see any signs of life, my friend?" asked Lightning as he was annoyed that pass through all of his simulations, nothing could've predicted this.
"Or any way out?" asked Windy, with his previous red eyes now glowing in a magenta shade.
"I'm afraid… not." admitted Earth.
"That's okay, we still have to explore like… what? 95% of this space?" asked Ai as he sighed while walking around the space.
In truth, where the 6 Ignises were was a place that reminded them of their previous home before it was destroyed, the Cyberse, but this place was weird. It was an almost empty void that began to fill out worlds and places from the past of someone that they didn't knew, ranging from a Sky Island, Green Hill places, a ruined city that they were currently in or a cybernetic laboratory. Not to mention the crazy amount of helicopters and robots that they had to battle against.
The 6 Ignises are alive after the Ignis War due to Ai collecting the surrounding data around him and inside of his own deck, the Ignister Archetype, to revive his previously dead companions, even those that started the war in the first place. Which explains why only Ai, the Dark Ignis, was in his SOLtis body while the rest were in their normal states.
Aqua and Flame were on Ai's right shoulder, Lightning and Earth were on his left shoulder and Windy was on top of his head.
"I swear, this place almost makes the Mirror Link VRAINS World look complete. Nothing in here makes sense, even the data that is flowing down." said Lightning as he saw what he just described.
"I only hope that we don't see those helicopters, or those bee machines again. My legs are still sore from running." said Ai as he remembered that they were mostly paired up with motors that acted like bugs around him.
"A shame that our powers aren't strong enough to stop them." said Aqua with a slightly saddened face, recalling that there was a robot that looked far too complicated to build shrug off a Data Storm from Windy as they tried to run away.
"We can only hope." Flame patted her on the back as then Earth stood up. "What's wrong, Earth?"
"I see… two humans… in here." that made Ai stop for a moment as he looked at the Earth Ignis.
"What?!" he yelled, hoping that it was either Yusaku or Kolter so that he could talk to them.
"Wait, no…" Ai's shoulders dropped, "one human and one… AI."
An AI? There was another one of them? It was hard to imagine to see anyone here outside of those robots that continuously attacking them, but if so, they have to see who they were, even if to Ai there was a small part of him that thought it would be Varis and his new AI that he dueled not too long ago, Pandor.
Ai cautiously walked towards where his fellow Ignis pointed to, hiding behind a building to get a good view of them and they portrayed looks of confusion and slight surprise.
One of them was a man that was almost a caricature of a mad scientist. He was an obese bald man with googles on top of his head, a pink nose with a ludicrously long brown mustache while wearing dark blue glasses. He wore a leather red jacket that had yellow buttons on his chest and white gloves, with his pants also being that of leather, coloured black this time that also acted as his shoes as they were connected to each other.
The other was a small girl that was floating by the data around her. She had pale skin and white hair, with her eyes glowing dark red. She wore a black dress that covered her entire body, but what really stood out about her was the red data that covered her body and glew around her entire body.
"Holy smokes… there are people here other than us?" asked Ai as Aqua shushed him as they eavesdropped their conversation.
"Sage, have you found a way to get me out of this place?" asked the man as the floating child looked at the man before shaking her head.
"I'm afraid not. The Ancients have built this Cyber Space with integrity that is difficult to translate." said the girl now known as Sage as the man sighed.
"The Ancients? Cyber Space?" asked Lightning before Earth covered his mouth to let them continue.
"Great," he said with a scoff, "Have you tried looking for different simulations on ways to get me out of this place?"
"I am currently in the process of looking into looking for ways of getting you out as safely as possible." replied Sage which the man nodded.
"I'm confident that you can do it as quick as possible, you are the creation of the Great Doctor Eggman." the man now known as Eggman boasted about his creation, to which Sage showed a small smile, "Though I am curious. Have you found anything else regarding the Starfall Islands?"
"I have." Sage nodded, "Most of the technology that you left behind are now in conjunction with the Guardians that the Ancients left behind."
"Have you tried controlling them?" asked Eggman with narrowed eyes as Sage shook her head.
"I'm afraid not. They are like the Titans. I can get them to act, but I can't control them entirely." said Sage as she remembered a species that Eggman tried to control when he found out about the Lost Hex, "I doubt even Zetis could control them."
"Tch, like those beastly maniacs could do anything without my help." said Eggman, still bitter about the fact that Sonic kicked the device that was the only thing controlling the Zeti. "Anything else?"
"I've noticed there were portals that you used previously to get access to the data are rather common in all 5 of the Starfall Islands. Kronos, Ares, Chaos, Rhea and Ouranos." said Sage as Eggman allowed her to continue onwards, "Finally, there have been visitors on the Starfall Islands."
"Oh ho? Who might they be? Metal Sonic? Cubot and Orbot?" asked Eggman.
"Sonic The Hedgehog and his friends." she answered as Eggman groaned.
"Great. That lousy hedgehog always loves to messing up my plans." Eggman facepalmed as the Ignis looked at him. A hedgehog is his arch nemesis?
"They aren't the only ones." spoke Sage as they got quiet.
"There are others? Who are they?" asked Eggman, admittedly curious on who they might be.
"I looked around the Islands and I found 4 humans of rather ridiculous hair styles." spoke Sage, to which the Ignises widened their eyes before she continued, "I have heard that they were in the islands after a glitch happening in a world that is similar to that of the Cyber Space that is dubbed Link VRAINS."
That.
That sealed the deal as they knew what she was talking about.
There were several people that had ridiculous coloured hair, but if what she said was true and that something glitched in Link VRAINS, then… they were in the so-called Starfall Islands.
Playmaker, Soulburner, Blue Maiden and Varis.
"No way… they are here." Ai muttered.
That was enough for Sage to turn her head as Eggman heard it as well.
"Someone's here with us," said Eggman as he turned to the source with Sage pointing her hand towards the Ignises as her arm began to glow into deep crimson colouring.
"Talk. Why have you been eavesdropping?" asked Sage in a cold tone with her eyes glowing in a dark red manner, akin to a wolf.
"Great job, you dunce idiot!" Windy yelled at Ai as he flubbed his hands around.
"YO, YO, YO, CHILL! CHILL! CHILL! We come in peace! We come in peace!" Ai then raised his arms to the air to show that they didn't mean any harm, the action was replicated with the rest of them. "We are stuck here with you guys! We are trying to get out of here as well!"
Eggman glanced at Sage, "Are they telling the truth?" he asked as Sage's eyes began to calculate everything about them. Their postures, their body language, the tone of their voice and how they haven't attacked compared to the G.U.N. soldiers.
"Affirmative. Everything from their bodies to the tone of their voices show that they are speaking the truth." Sage told her creator, which made them look at Eggman, "That is not even mentioning the fact that they haven't ambushed us while they were listening to us. They could've attacked us at any moment, but chose not to."
"Hmm…" Eggman placed his hands under his chin as he stared at them. Despite how he looked, he has shown somehow more danger than the man that wanted to kill them for over 5 years. "Very well then, Sage, lower your hand."
"As you command." she said as she lowered her hand.
"You 6. Explain everything. Who you are, what you are considering there are 5 blobs that look like the Wisps if they were humans, and how you got here." demanded Eggman as the Ignis knew that they had to do as they were told.
"Alright, we aren't human, despite Ai arguably looking like one. Rather we are a highly developed AIs that have gained free will," began to explain Flame as Eggman nodded, "We were known as the Ignis, all representing 6 Elements of nature, tasked to guide humanity to solve their problems and to achieve peace." Sage nodded that was similar to her creation so that she could monitor the Starfall Islands and even potentially control the Eggnet.
Then, the Ignises took turns to explain to Eggman how they were created, taking 6 children from their families and forcing them into a living nightmare for over 6 months, mentally scaring the children, only being forced to duel, eat and sleep. For over 6 months. Eggman was honestly appalled when he heard that they were being electrocuted for those 6 months, nearly breaking their bodies as they were slammed onto the wall and even one was left in constant fear for over a decade, thinking that it was all a nightmare and that he never left. For over a decade.
Then, Eggman and Sage learned the truth of the Cyberse, the world that they lived in for the first 5 years of their lives, a living paradise that would make the Chao Garden look like a playhouse, with new cybernetic monsters born every day, new landscape being added and even time to relax. And then it all went to hell when Ryoken Kogami appeared to try and kill everyone there.
Eggman, who was basically an emperor of the World for over 6 months, was shocked to hear that it all started because of 1 Ignis that destroyed everyone else's odds of coexistence with the humans to the point that their creator, Kiyoshi Kogami, had no other solution, but to kill them for the survival of humanity. Sage turned to her creator in worry for the possibility that it might happen to her as well if so there was a chance that it might be detrimental for his safety.
It then lead to a goose chase for over 5 years with Ryoken and Ai, until he was picked up by his origin and with his help, he was defeated to save not only the Cyberse, not only everything that is linked to electricity as a whole, but all of humanity in one duel. Then Ai had to learn the shocking and tragic news that the Cyberse was destroyed by an AI. The AI was created by Lightning so that he could ensure his safety, which lead to a war between the Ignises once they found out.
With Flame, Aqua and Ai, who were on the side of humanity, battling Lightning and Windy, which the latter was brainwashed by the former, as Earth was killed by a former Pro Duelist, which resulted in almost everyone dying, leaving Ai the lone survivor. And then he has to explain why he was the only one that looks like a human, which in return, he has to explain that he took over a robot's body that looked like a human, betrayed his friends, duel some of them and sent them to a hospital and died.
They were now explaining how they were alive.
"And… that's about it." explained Ai as Eggman blinked. "Thoughts?"
"I'm both appalled and impressed." said Eggman with Sage being quiet.
"Thank you." said Lightning as they rolled their eyes, mentally thinking about putting him in some kiddie jail once they get out.
Eggman then sighed, "Honestly, I wouldn't mind teaming up with you, hopefully you don't backstab me." said Eggman as he then remembered all the times he got backstabbed by his 'allies'. Chaos, Metal Sonic, Dark Gaia, The Deadly Six, Trip, Dr. Starline and so much more. Infinite might honestly be one of the few people that hasn't backstabbed him yet. Including Sage.
"With your intellect? That alliance might honestly work out, my friend." said Lightning as the rest of the Ignis knew that they have to put him in a kiddie jail.
"Anyway… might I ask, will you help me get out of this place? All of you are stuck with me, so I'm asking if that is alright." said Eggman as he was willing to make a truce with anyone that wasn't the Blue Blur.
The Ignis turned to each other and they all found out that they all had to help out as what he said was true, they were all stuck there with the exception of Sage, who looked rather distraught for some reason.
"Sure, why not? As long as you don't stab us in the back." said Ai as he moved his arm forward with Eggman shook it.
"You have my word." said Eggman as Aqua's eyes shined brightly.
If Aqua had a mouth, she would smile, "He tells the truth." she spoke.
There it was, the alliance between the Eggman Empire and the Ignis.
Lightning jumped out of Ai's shoulders and landed onto the ground, "I will look for simulations of getting out of here. If you would give some data so I could learn more of this Cyber Space, that would be helpful."
Windy then jumped out Ai's head and landed onto Eggman's head as he took his googles, "And I will protect ya' while your kid is away! One helicopter here and I blow them away with my Data Storm!"
"Data Storm?" asked Eggman.
"Massive storms that… create Cyberse beings… and fueled… the Cyberse." explained Earth.
"I see." Eggman nodded.
"And the rest of us will go around Cyber Space, trying to find anything of worth." said Ai as he, Aqua, Flame and Earth waved goodbye towards the doctor as he walked off.
"Well that went better than what I would expect!" Eggman laughed as he held back a yell as Windy pulled back his googles back to his forehead, with the Wind Ignis rolling to his shoulders while laughing. "Anyways… Sage! We have to- Sage?" asked Eggman as he noticed that Sage looked rather distressed compared to the rest of the time.
He has noticed that ever since they explained what happened with them and Kiyoshi, she looked incredibly… scared for an AI.
Almost fearing what might happen to her if the same happens to him if he was scared of her and was a danger to him.
"What's wrong?" asked Eggman as he looked towards the small AI.
"...Would you try to kill me if I posed to be a threat to you?" Sage asked as she looked to be extremely uncomfortable, hugging herself as if she was anxious, "Would you terminate me if I scared you from the results that I would create? Would you be… scared of me?"
Eggman was shocked to hear such words from her.
Eggman was never a family man. He didn't even knew his cousin Maria all too much before she was killed at such a young age so he never knew what to say the right thing.
In truth, there were times where he was scared of his creations.
Metal Sonic was an example of that as one time, he did betray him. But despite that, he never tried to stop to fix him after he was defeated.
He continuously rebuilt him after every time he was defeated and he didn't feel ashamead of that fact.
In a way, Eggman knew what he wants to say, but doesn't know if he could.
Eggman breathed in, "Listen, I… wouldn't go to a length like that, I would try to find a different way. I won't be scared of you, I haven't been scared of one of my creations for quite some time. I trust you and you have been doing a good job. I hope you understand that." said Eggman as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Sage looked at Eggman and saw the look of his eyes and she, an AI, smiled as she glew blue and white for a moment.
The two Ignises that were around, looked at two and were a bit envious to the relationship between them, as they were reminded of their creator, Kiyoshi.
"Thank you, I will try my best." said Sage as she then teleported out of Cyber Space as Eggman kept his smile.
"You do that…" there was a part of him that wanted to call her his daughter, but he shook his head, there was no time for that.
He had time to work on an escape plan and he will work with the Ignis if he has to.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Guess who combined his two favourite Cybernetic worlds into one universe? This guy.
When I was playing Sonic Frontiers, the Cutscenes reminded me of Yugioh VRAINS and I wanted to write a story that combines both elements with them. The Ignis and The Eggman Empire. I wanted to continue to write the Ignis having a small conversation with Eggman and Sage and their relationship as a father daughter type, but I might write that as a one shot if I really wanted to.
Regarding Eggman's feelings towards Sage, it is canon due to the Egg Memos from the fishing mini game in Frontiers that he begins to think of Sage as his daughter, even somewhat linking her to his late cousin, Maria. And I can see the Ignis being envious of Sage due to the fact that she managed to have a father figure that was there for her compared to them and their creator trying to kill them for the safety of humanity.
I am playing the Final Horizon DLC and… Imma keep it a buck, I am playing a mix of the Easy and Normal Setting, the platforming is my worst enemy. I fear for the Boss Rush.
I think that is about it, so see ya'!