The thick brush of the Mystic Ruins' jungle was bustling with wildlife of all sorts. The trees sway with the breeze from the ocean. Peeking from atop the canopy were the large pyramids built by the ancient Echidna. They lie preserved yet derelict. Once a bustling ancient city was built up around these grand structures. Lost to time, to their own greed.
For a while they were a popular tourist spot though the pyramids themselves would remain untouched due to the dangers that were rumored to lie within. Now though it was a ghost town. Nobody on Mobius was as fascinated by them like they once were. Especially with the tram being out of commission for years following Perfect Chaos' rampage.
Three hedgehogs walked along what remained of a stone road. One green, one a deep cobalt blue and the fourth a bright icy blue. Sonic, and both of Rage's brothers, Icezer and Xage. "This had better be important, Sonic." Xage complains as they reach the foot of the largest of the pyramids.
"It is. If it wasn't I wouldn't be dragging you two along." Sonic says as they start ascending the stairs.
"Why not get Rage from Equestria?" Icezer asks. "He's the one who's all well versed in this ancient Echidna stuff...Xage and I just happen to be good at reading their stuff…"
"Because...he's being stubborn." Sonic sighs "He said he was doing something important with Rarity."
"Rarity? That's one of his new friends I'm guessing?" Xage asks.
"Yeah." Sonic nods "What he'd want to do with her though is beyond me. She is so haughty and all." he complains.
"I'd love to meet them someday." Icezer shrugs. "But he's so adamant about keeping Mobius at an arm's length. I'd almost say he's more attached to that world than he is here..."
"Yeah...he could at least come by and catch up with us more often. Once or twice a month just doesn't feel like enough." Xage scoffs.
"Awe it's not that bad." Sonic chuckles.
"Easy for you to say. You get a free pass to come and go as you please." Icezer scoffs as they reach the last few steps.
"...I see." A deep monotone voice could be heard as into view came Tails and Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow had one of Tail's many devices. This one had a screen and it appeared to have a map of the internals of the pyramid.
"Yeah, it's wild. I've never seen readings like this before." Tails says as Shadow hands him back the device "But given what's going on I thought it best to have you and Sonic check it out."
"Speaking of which..." Shadow says looking at Sonic with a glare.
"Shadow! Long time no see!" Sonic cheers.
"You brought the Guardian's leeches..." Shadow says.
"Brothers." Xage says glaring at Shadow.
"Save the bickering for later." Icezer says. "Sonic said something was going on here. He brought us because he thought we could help."
"What help could you possibly be?" Shadow scoffs.
"We can read the language of the Echidna." Xage says walking to the large opening that led into the pyramid. "So what's been going on?"
"I'm not exactly sure." Tails says as he waves to have them gather around him and he shows the map he had. A red blip was pulsing deep inside of the pyramid, near one of the innermost chambers. "Earlier today while I was working in my lab the whole earth shook and a massive spike of energy started coming from this pyramid.
"Are you sure this thing is calibrated?" Icezer asks looking closer, the dot that was pinpointing the location was away from any actual chambers. "Because looking at the map, there's nothing in that area.
"I think so, it is possible that all of the walls and stone are distorting the signal." Tails answers. "But...I've never even seen energy like it."
"But it's an energy that Sonic and I are familiar with." Shadow says, looking at Sonic.
"Which I am sure is a coincidence given the circumstances." Sonic says. "Regardless, whatever is causing it is still here. The only way we'll figure anything out is if we go in and see for ourselves.
"Agreed." Tails says.
The four then descend inwards, into the pyramid. "So, what do you know about these things then?" Shadow asks Icezer.
"Aside from them being built by the ancient Echidna?" Icezer asks. "The pyramid structures usually were for religious designs. Though some more than others. The ones here in the Mystic Ruins were built by Knuckle's ancestors. I'm sure Tikal knows more about them than anyone." He says as they continue down. "From what I can tell this one is a religious one. Used for burial and other rites."
"I remember this one." Sonic says. "This was where I found that mural depicting Perfect Chaos."
"Right." Tails says "I remember that, it's also where many of their other prophetic murals are right?"
"Yes. This one seemed to be dedicated to them." Xage says. "Perfect Chaos, The Final Light, Knuckles…they all had a home here."
The five stopped and looked at the mural that depicted Super Sonic and Perfect Chaos's battle. "It's crazy how well they were able to predict so many things…it makes you wonder…" Sonic says.
"You think it's possible they used Chaos Control to get glimpses of the future?" Tails asks.
"It's possible. It's not entirely clear how much the Echidna knew about the Chaos Emeralds." Icezer replies.
"Good point. They knew they were powerful but beyond that? Who knows." Sonic shrugs. "Maybe they weren't totally sure what they were doing?"
"If that's the case why would they build all of this?" Shadow asks. "I mean Angel Island, the shrine? They seem pretty purpose built.
"I've no idea." Icezer shakes his head as they stop. Their fur stood on end. The energy was almost tangible now with how deep they were. "We have to be close." he says "It's getting hard to move with all of this energy...it's almost like a…thick wall…"
"According to the map...it should be right in front of us." Tails says.
"Tails...there is a wall there." Shadow snarls. "You got us lost didn't you?!"
"No!" Tails exclaimed as they looked at the wall. There was a mural on it. Like many others throughout the pyramid. This one had a large amount of echidnas, all featureless at the foot of an altar and atop was a white echidna.
"What's this?" Sonic asks as they get closer.
"One of the murals." Tails says rubbing his chin.
"Clearly." Shadow scoffs, turning his head to Xage." What's it about?"
The green hedgehog walked closer and looked at it. "Hmm...it appears to be the imprisoning of Fintievus." Xage says.
"Who?" Sonic asks.
"Finitevus?" Icezer asks. "You can't be serious...I thought he was killed off..."
Xage shook his head. "It says here that the foul power he wielded was too powerful and with no other options The Brotherhood of Guardians sealed him away in one of their most sacred places." He explains.
"The Brotherhood of Guardians? You mean the Chaos Guardians had something to do with it?" Sonic asks. "If that's the case we should get Rage. He'd know more." he says, turning. "I can be-"
"Hold on." Icezer says grabbing Sonic's arm. "No. The Brotherhood of Guardians were a group of Echidna...though there's not too much else known about them. They were very secretive."
"Knuckles could have told us..." Tails sighs. "...if he was still alive."
Sonic frowned as the ground shook. "What?!" he exclaimed as the wall cracked and whatever energy had been in the air suddenly seemed to vanish.
"Something isn't right." Tails says. "That amount of energy doesn't just vanish."
"Look." Shadow says pointing to an opening down a passageway. The five rushed towards it. Once they passed through it they were in a room. Inside a silver-gray hedgehog stood with a white Echidna a few feet from them, on their knees.
Sonic stopped and his mouth hung open in shock. "N-no..." he says
"I-it can't be..." Shadow gasps.
"Sonic..." Tails cries.
"Nazo..." Sonic whispers.
"It would seem we have company." The white Echidna says weakly as he stands up and Nazo turns to face them as well.
"Sonic the Hedgehog..." Nazo chuckled sinisterly.
"This is impossible...we..." Sonic says in shock.
"I told you. You can't stop me forever. So long as there is negative energy in the Chaos Emeralds I will be reborn..." Nazo laughs.
"Who are these...rats?" the white echidna asks.
"The blue and black hedgehogs are Sonic and Shadow...that fox is Tails...though I've never seen the other two." Nazo replies.
"No matter. We can entertain them later." The echidna says.
"I'd love to stay and...reminisce but I'm afraid Finitevus and I have...more important matters to attend to. I look forward to seeing you crushed under us in due time." Nazo chuckles. "Until then, do try not to die...I want the pleasure of killing you myself...Sonic the Hedgehog!"
"What makes you think we're just going to let you walk out of here?" Sonic asks defensively.
"Oh please." Finitevus laughs "What makes you think you have any say in the matter?" he asks as his hand glows and they walk forward. "You can't touch us...now be good little rats and scurry off..."
"Besides..." Nazo chuckles as he looks at them. "You don't have any of the Chaos Emeralds so how do you plan to stop us? Or should I remind you that it took both you and Shadow with the help of the Chaos Emeralds to stop me?"
"Dammit this isn't good." Shadow curses.
"We're in over our heads..." Xage says, looking at Sonic. "What should we do?"
"We have to tell Rage." Sonic says. "He's in danger too."
"You wouldn't happen to be plotting some zany plan to try and stop us now would you?" Finitevus chuckles from over Sonic's shoulder. Sonic looked shocked as they turned and looked at the two who were now behind them.
"It was nice to see you again but as I said, time is short and Nix isn't a patient man...Goodbye!" Nazo laughs as he fires a beam of energy at them. Icezer summons a large wall of ice and defends them. Afterwards it shattered and both were gone without a trace.
"This isn't good." Tails says.
"Who was that hedgehog?" Xage asks.
"Nazo." Sonic says darkly "He's a being born of the negative energy from the Chaos Emeralds. I figured he was gone after Shadow and I finished him off. But if he's here...no doubt he'll go after the Chaos Emeralds."
"Why would he be here though?" Tails asks. "Breaking Finitevus out?"
"He's probably working for someone else." Shadow says. "But that doesn't change anything."
"Uh hello? That changes everything!" Sonic exclaims "If he's following someone else then they're someone even STRONGER!"
"Yeah and we have our own ace in the hole now." Shadow smirks. "The red head."
"You think they don't know about him?" Tails asks as they begin to rush out of the pyramid.
"I doubt it. I mean Sonic and Shadow stopped Nazo before Rage came into the picture...and if that really is Dr. Finitevus, then he's been sealed away for thousands of years. Outside of maybe him knowing about that prophecy, he likely knows nothing about Rage either."
"Then we have to get to him, and fast." Sonic says. "They know Nix so that tells me that they're not aware of anything that's happened recently on Mobius."
"How do you plan on telling him?" Tails asks. "Because I don't recall him giving us a way to call him back here."
"We're going to Equestria." Sonic scoffs. "All of us. Regardless of what Rage told us. This is too important."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Xage asks. "Putting everything aside, you don't think the five of us just showing up out of nowhere wouldn't send a ton of red flags?"
"You got a better idea?" Shadow asks.
"Well...I mean Sonic could go alone?" Icezer suggests. "He's been around Equestria, they know him."
"And sooner or later something is gonna happen and we're all gonna get to know them all real well. I for one think we should rip the band-aid off now." Sonic rebukes.
"While I agree things have been weird ever since Eggman sent you and Rage to that place, are you positive you want to take such a risk...?" Tails asks. "Even for you Sonic this is a bit too ambitious."
"I'm positive. Besides, it's about time you all see for yourself why Rage stayed back." Sonic replies.
"I thought that was made pretty clear when you went to Dark Mobius a month ago..." Icezer complains, crossing his arms. "But knowing how Rage can be, the more of us that are there, the more likely he is to take this as a serious threat."
"Then we should stop wasting time." Shadow says with a huff. "Let's get this over with so I can go back to my own things..."
The five left the pyramid and were led to another part of the mystic ruins that Rage had told Sonic, Xage and Icezer about, to the location of the one place where anyone could reach Equestria...