Hedgehogs Unleashed Saga Episode 9: Chip, the Light Gaia
After traveling, the gang arrives in Adabat, which is a southern area that has buddhist statues and wooden huts perched upon stilts over shallow waters. Since it's still night time, Sonic remains in his werehog form, and there's close to no one out as of now.
"This place sure is different from the other towns of the world," Chip says.
"Yeah. This one seems a bit more tropical," Eve says.
Sonic looks to see that it's night, "Well, we still have time before the sun comes up, and the professor said this temple needs the Sun and Moon Key to open."
"Then let's go find it before the sun rises. The sooner we find it, the sooner we can find the other key in the day and the temple," Sonic says.
"I'll stay with the Tornado 1 and check on anything else that's been happening," Tails says.
"Thanks Tails," Sonic says.
And with that, the three head out to find the Moon Key of the Adabat Gaia Temple. They soon begin to explore different areas of the island. They see tropical trees, bushes, and even waterfalls and rivers.
"Well, as much as I don't like water, at least we can run through it," Sonic says.
"You don't like water, Sonic?" Chip asks.
"It's because he can't swim," Eve says.
"Oh, I see," Chip replies.
Suddenly, more Gaia monsters appear.
"Expected them to give us a warm welcome!" Sonic says, and slashes one of them.
Eve makes her fists glow and throw energy balls and then throws punches at them. Soon, the monsters are gone in this area. They begin running along the wooded docks and run into more monsters at different areas of the island. Both hedgehogs continue fighting the Gaia monsters as they explore around to find the Moon Key of the Gaia Temple. They continue exploring around, and end up finding a large Gaia Monster that spits out smaller monsters. Sonic and Eve use their powers to defeat them all. They kept exploring around until they managed to find the Moon Key.
"There it is," Sonic says.
Eve picks it up, "One half of the Gaia Key, now we just need the other half."
"Yeah," Chip says, and lets out a yawn, "I'm pretty tired."
Eve yawns as well, "Yeah. We've been working very late as of late."
"No kidding," Sonic says and lets out a yawn, "We've also been fighting alot of Eggman's monsters and those Gaia monsters as well. But who can sleep knowing these monsters are around."
"That's true. It's hard for me to get to sleep knowing these things attack at night," Eve says.
"Maybe we could take a little break and then search for the Sun key in the morning," Sonic says.
"Good idea, "Chip says.
The gang then head back to the Tornado 1 and get some sleep for the night.
The next day, the three get up bright and early as the sun rises and Sonic changes back to his original self.
Sonic stretches his arms, "What a nice day."
"Yeah. I didn't realize this place has a nice tropical breeze," Eve says.
"Yeah. And there are big brown nuts on the tree," Chip says and flies up to pick one.
"Those are coconuts," Eve says.
Chip then flies down and asks, "What are they?"
"They have fruits that have milk inside. People are able to drink the milk inside and eat the inner flesh," Eve says.
"Sounds yummy," Chip says, "Can I have some?"
"Sure," Sonic says and takes the coconut.
He breaks it in half and pour some of the milk in it.
Chip drinks it, and says, "They taste good."
Eve then cuts the coconut's flesh off of the shell. Chip eats it and loves it.
"Yum, it's good," Chip says.
"You should taste the coconut flakes, they're really good," Eve says.
"Well, let's go grab something to eat and find that key," Sonic days.
"Good idea," Sonic says.
The three begin to walk along the island to find some food.
Chip then notices, "Sonic. Eve. Look!" and points ahead.
Sonic and Eve turn their heads and are shocked to see a sigh.
"Oh no…" Sonic says.
"Oh my goodness…" Eve says.
The three look to see that there is a man with brown skin, and dark hair, wearing an ivory button up shirt, and wearing a green plaid skirt. He is sitting on what looks like the remains of a home, and he looks depressed.
Sonic, Eve, and Chip rush over to see what's the matter.
"What's wrong?" Eve asks.
"What happened here?" Sonic asks.
"What does it look like?" the man says, upset, "My ancestral home is lost, and the world has broken apart. Nothing is going to fix it."
"I'm… I'm sorry," Eve says.
Chip then presents some chocolate, "Maybe some chocolate can cheer you up?"
"Chocolate isn't going to fix that. Now get out! Leave me one!" The man says, sounding upset.
"I think we should go," Sonic says.
"I think you're right," Eve says.
Then the three take their leave.
"Gosh, that was awful," Chip says.
"I feel for him. We know what it's like to have our homes destroyed," Eve says.
"Yeah. I know what you mean," Sonic says.
The group continue walking around and soon meet up with another man with tan skin, dark hair, wears a blue hat, a white shirt, and wears a white and blue checkered skirt and sandals.
The man says, "Hello! Welcome to the Flying Fish Beach Shop! My name is Kaeo, what can I help you with today?"
"Hello," Eve says.
"Hi," sonic says.
"Hi Mister, do you have anything to eat?" Chip asks.
"Sure. We got a lot of tropical fruits here, bananas, coconuts, grape fruits, and even lychee, and guava," Kaeo says.
"Yummy," Chip says.
"That's nice, we'll take some. We need it for our little trip across the world," Sonic says.
"Sure," Kaoe says, and packs a few fruits for them.
Eve then asks, "Excuse me, do you know who that man is? The one sitting at the well…"
"Oh, you must mean my father, Teanchai. I'm his eldest son, and my family has been living here since our home was taken out when the world shattered…" Kaeo says.
"How awful," Eve says.
"I'm guessing he gave you a bit of a yell earlier?" Kaeo asks.
"He kind of did," Sonic says.
"I wish there's something we can do to help," Eve says.
"Hmm…" Kaeo thinks. He then says, "I think I know. Let's get the rest of my family first," and leaves his stand.
The others follow Kaeo to rally up the rest of the family.
Sometime later, at the destroyed home, Teanchai is still sitting, and feeling depressed.
Soon, a familiar voice calls out, "Dad."
Teanchai turns to see his son, and the rest of the family" His brother, Jamal, and his sisters, Nagi and Rudi, along with Sonic and Eve, and Chip.
Kaeo says, "We've put this off too long. We need to talk."
The first, sister, Rudi is the first to step forward. She has black hair, caucasian skin with a tint of brown, and dark brown eyes. She wears a thulian pink hair band. A light blue jacket with yale blue edges and waistband with a white shirt underneath, a thulian pink waist cloth with burgundy swirl patterns on lower edge, and dark blue sandals.
Rudi says, "You spend all day sitting on the wreckage. You've barely said a word to us since this disaster."
"And you cry all night long… it's scary…" The younger sister, Nagi says.
Nagi is a young girl with the same hair and eye color as her sister, but her skin is more of a tint of field drab. She wears a pink hair band, pink shirt, green-yellow waist cloth with olive leopard spots, and red sandals.
And then there's the brother, Jamal. He has black hair, caucasian skin, dark brown eyes. He wears a black sleeveless shirt, wisteria waist cloth, and matching sandals.
"The fishing has been really good lately. Good enough so that I can take time off to help rebuild," Jamal says.
And Kaeo says, "And my mascot charms have been selling like crazy. I can help pay for materials. It's no problem.
But Teanchai says, "You don't understand. This was my father's house, and his father before him. It was our legacy. You can't just rebuild that."
Eve steps forward and says, "I kind of understand what you mean. When Dr. Eggman invaded our home when we were children, we suffered so much, including one of my friends, who ended up having her arm and both legs released. It was hard for all of us, especially her. Of course, during that time, before learning about my origin, I had no past, nothing at all, except for my name, the necklace, and headband I have now. Even after all that, I ended up with a great brother, wonderful friends, and they became my family."
Then sighs, "What I'm saying is that I know what it's like to lose everything, but I also learn that I gotta keep moving forward, because I have so much support. You lost your family home, and that's a terrible thing to go through. But you didn't lose your family. They're right here, waiting to help you."
Teanchi thinks about it and soon says, "You're right. I've been a fool. Everything that's important has been with me all along," He then stands up and says to his family, "Forgive your shortsighted old man! I love you, kid! You mean the world to me!"
The family then join their father for a group hug.
"We'll clean up. We'll rebuild. And I'll make up for worrying you all," Teanchai says.
"Yeah!" The family cheer.
Teanchai turns to the hedgehogs and says, "Thank you for helping me see what is more important. And for that. I live to give you something, and I think it will help with your adventure."
Then turns to Kaeo, "Kaeo, you know the one."
"On it dad," Kaeo says, and hurries off.
Moments later, Kaeo gives Teanchi something wrapped in a cloth.
Then presents it to Sonic, Eve, and Chip, "This was given to me from my father, and it was passed down from my great great grandfather."
He then unwraps the cloth and to the gang's surprise, it's the Sun Key of the Gaia Temple.
"It's the Sun Key," Chip says.
"My family have known about the stories of the Dark Gaia for centuries, and my children have been hearing that the world is being put back together," Teanchi says."
"Yeah. My sister and I were trying to put the world together and put a stop to it. We found the Moon Key of the Gaia Temple," Sonic says.
"Well then, I say this Key is in good hands," Teanchi says.
Sonic takes the Sun Key and says, "Thanks."
Eve then takes out the Moon Key.
Soon, the two put the two halves together and it becomes whole.
"Now that we found the two halves and make it full, we can open the Gaia Temple now," Chip says, happily.
Eve turns to Teanchi and asks, "By the way, do you know where the Gaia Temple is?"
"The temple is deep in the jungle, past the ancient ruins. You must be careful, there's been strange things going on there," Teanchi says.
"Will do. And don't worry, the world will be put back together in no time," Sonic says.
"Bye," Chip says.
Then the three make their leave as the family say their goodbyes and wish then luck on their adventure.
Time has passed, and the three have dashed through the jungle and made it to the stone path of the ancient ruins.
"This must be the ruins Teanchi told us about," Sonic says.
"If we keep running along this path, we'll make it there in no time," Chip says.
"Just remember to keep your eyes and ears open, Teanchi said that strange things have been happening here. And I have a feeling that it's Eggman's robots," Eve says.
The gang continues running along the path when they end up hearing something. Not far, a giant robot jumps onto one of the buildings of the ruins and jumps down to get in front of the hedgehogs as it flies back. What's more, it's ready for fight.
The robot looks like the Egg Beetle, but its black, and the ball where the cockpit is green, Its claw lines are red, not orange. Apparently, it is supposed to be called the Egg Lance, but looks a lot like the Egg Beetle.
"Sometimes I hate it when I'm right," Eve says.
"Looks like we got one more robotic bug to take care of," Sonic says.
"Let's hurry," Eve says.
Sonic and Eve speed ahead to try to catch up with the robot, but it is not making it easy for them. The two pick up speed as the Egg Lancer is moving away from then. It tries to fire lasers at them, but the two dodge and speed forward. However, the Egg Lancer continues to make lasers going at them, and their fight is taking them somewhere into the jungle area.
"That overgrown robotic bug," Eve says.
Sonic speeds forward, "I got it, sis," and spin dashes the robot causing some damages.
The two continue speeding ahead as the robot receives some damages. Sonic and Eve scale the building as they bounce and are able to perform a double spin dash at the Egg Lancer.
Suddenly they hear something, "Something about yellow and proceeding combat."
"What was that?" Eve asks.
"I think it's responding to the damages it took," Chip says.
"Let's go after it," Sonic says.
The two continue to gain speed as the Lancer is not making it easy to be caught. It continues using lasers, small robots, and spike bombs to lose the hedgehogs. Once the obstacles are out of their way, the two hedgehogs spin dash at the robot, causing more damage.
There's a robotic sound that says, red and level three, like it's increasing the defense and attacks.
"Looks like it reached the third level," Sonic says.
"Let's take it down," Eve says.
Just then, the robot begins to shoot fire and lasers at them.
"Look out!" Chip cires out.
Sonic and Eve dodge the attacks, and bounce in different directions on the wall areas. Together, they both perform the Spin Dash at the robot, and it begins to go down.
"What, over already?" Sonic questions.
"Well, it did put up a bit of a fight," Eve says.
"Oh well," Sonic says, shrugging his shoulders.
After defeating the Egg Lancer, Sonic, Eve, and Chip continue forward, and in no time, they've reached the entrance of the Gaia Temple. As they get close, Chip lands on the ground and begins to look worried.
Sonic notices Chip's worry and asks, "What's wrong, buddy?"
"Huh?" Chip responds, getting out of his thoughts, and says, "Oh, right. I'm just... scared."
"Scared?" Eve replies, confused.
She walks towards Chip and picks the little guy up.
Sonic then looks at the temple, "It's just another old temple. It doesn't look like there's anyone around either."
"That's... That's not what I mean. That's not…" Chip says, trying to find his words.
"Chip, is there something bothering you?" Eve asks.
But Chip says, "N-never mind. I'm fine. Let's go!"
He then leaves from Eve's arms as he lands on the ground and walks towards the Gaia Temple.
Sonic and Eve look at Chip with an odd and confused look before turning to each other.
"Something's wrong with Chip?" Eve asks.
"Yeah. I wonder what's bothering him," Sonic says.
He then says, "Come on, sis. Let's get to the temple."
"Okay," Eve says.
Sonic and Eve continue forward, following Chip from behind. Eve then brings out the Gaia Key from her bag and like before, it unlocks the door to the inner chambers of the temple. Once that's done, they make their way inside the Adabat's Gaia Temple.
The three walk deeper into the inner chamber until they reach the central altar. However, Chip seems very fixated on the mural of two beings, one of them is the Dark Gaia, but the other looks like Chip.
Sonic is surprised to see the mural, "Whoa."
"Wow," Eve says.
Soon, Eve notices, "Look Sonic, the top of the mural…"
Sonic looks up to see, "Hey, it's Chip. But why would Chip be in the picture in the temple?"
Just then, Chip jumps up on the central altar and makes the smaller pedestal appear while his necklace glows. Sonic and Eve turn to see the pedestal lifted up, and Eve's sword begins to glow purple, same with the emerald. Sonic walks up to the pedestal and places the purple Chaos Emerald there. As the Chaos Emerald rises up and has its power restored, Chip flies up to the mural. When touching it, the mural glows and Chip is sucked into it. Sonic and Eve look on in shock while the mural returns to normal, and Chip is pulled inside.
"Chip!" Sonic calls out.
"Chip!" Eve calls out.
Inside the mural, Chip appears in a space-like void where he meets an unknown orb of light.
Soon, a voice comes out from the Orb of light, "I welcome your return... Messenger of day, of light, of rebirth."
Chip absorbs some light from the orb, and adapts an expression of revelation. Back in the Gaia Temple, the mural glows and Chip emerges from it before it returns to normal.
"Chip!" Sonic says, relieved.
"You're okay!" Eve adds.
Chip nods at the two hedgehogs and flies down to them.
And with that, Chip says, "Sonic. Eve. I remember now. All of it."
Sonic and Eve look surprised to hear it.
Of course, with the sixth emerald gaining its power, the sixth piece of the planet has been restored to the rest of the world.
As the sunsets, Sonic, Eve, and Chip are sitting at the docks, relaxing a bit. And now that Chip regains his memories, Sonic and Eve end up getting answers about Chip's true origins.
Chip then explains, "My... My real name is Light Gaia."
"Light Gaia?" Sonic questions.
"So like, you're similar to Dark Gaia?" Eve asks.
"In a way," Chip says, "I draw power from the day and light, and guide the planet to its rebirth. My job was to protect the planet from Dark Gaia," Then turns to Sonic and Eve, "But Eggman broke the world apart himself, and Dark Gaia and I were awakened before we should've been."
Then turns away from them, "That's why Dark Gaia broke apart, and I didn't know who I was," and taps his head, "I didn't remember what I was supposed to do," and looks at the two hedgehogs, "All because this isn't the proper time of awakening."
"Time of awakening?" Eve questions.
Chip turns away and walks towards to see the sunset, "Dark Gaia grows over millions of years, then rises to destroy the world. And I put it all back together. We've been doing this over and over, again and again... since the very beginning of time."
"So you were asleep all this time, for millions of years?" Sonic asks.
Chip turns to Sonic and Eve, "Yes, for ages and ages."
"So in other words, Eggman ended up awakening both you and the Dark Gaia before your time to destroy and rebuild the world," Eve says.
"That's why the Dark Gaia spread across Mobius and created all these monsters, and why Chip lost his memories," Sonic says.
The three look at the sunset as they process everything that happened. When night falls and Sonic transforms into his Werehog form
"I'll bet it's thanks to you," Sonic says and walks up to Chip.
"Hmm?" Chip replies and turns to Sonic.
Sonic looks at his werehog hands, "Even at night, when I'm like this. I'm still myself. Not like all the other people we've seen, "And looks at Chip, "You must have been protecting me this whole time."
But Chip shakes his head and says, "I haven't done anything, Sonic. You're the reason you haven't changed at all. You're too strong to lose yourself!"
"I'm the reason?" Sonic questions.
"Yeah!" Chip says, "You never doubt yourself, no matter what. You never give in to the night, or to the darkness inside your heart. And, I think it's also because of both you and Eve that I'm drawn to you."
"Drawn to us?" Eve questions.
"Yes. Both you and Sonic have been so strong throughout the whole thing, and I think it's because I knew that about you," Chip says.
Then flies to Eve, "When I get my memories back, I can sense some of my powers inside of you. I think after the world broke apart and your powers drained, some of my own powers were absorbed within you because of the goodness in your heart."
Eve then looks at her hands and makes it glow green, "So then, I ended absorbing some of your powers."
"Yes. And you were able to use it to stop the monsters that've been appearing at night. And with that, I've gotten to know you both more. That's why I wanted you both to help me," and flies up in front of Sonic and Eve, "It's been so fun! Getting to see the world. I've lived here since the planet began, but... I didn't know a thing about it. That it's so pretty, or that food tastes so good, or that people are so nice! I'm so glad I got the chance to discover all that with you. And I'm so glad that you helped me find my memory. Sonic, Eve, I will never, ever forget you. Thank you, guys. Goodbye, friend!" And takes his leave.
"Hey!" Sonic calls out.
"Chip!" Eve calls out.
Chip flies away while Sonic stretches out his arm after Chip and grabs his tail.
"Whoa, wha-?!" Chip yelps, and is pulled back to Sonic the Werehog and lands on the ground
"Where do you think you're off all by yourself?" Sonic asks.
Chip walks around nervously as he explains, "What... but... My memory is back now, and... Well, from here on out, it's my responsibility, so, um... I mean, there's no reason for you to come along, so I should just…"
"Do I need a reason to want to help out a friend?" Sonic asks.
Eve then says, "We all started this adventure together, and we're going to finish it together.
This makes Chip happy, "Thanks, Sonic! You too, Eve!"
Sonic and Eve point at Chip smiling and Chip perks up. The three of them share a happy high-5.
"Yeah!" The three cheer and laugh.
Chip happily nods.
Sometime later, after returning to the professor lab in Shamar, Sonic and Eve told everyone about them powering the sixth Chaos Emerald, and another piece of the world has been restored. And there, they also explain about Chip's memories returning and an important role.
"No way!" Amy says, shocked.
"Chio's real name is Light Gaia?!" Maria asks, surprised.
"Yes. Chip told us everything. His job was to guide the planet to rebirth while Dark Gaia's job was to destroy it, and they've both been asleep for centuries, maybe eons," Sonic says.
"And because of what Eggman did, they both woke up before they should. That's why Dark Gaia broke apart, and Chip didn't remember who he was," Eve adds.
"So what happened?" Cosmo says.
"Yes. Eggman's sudden awakening most likely did the trick," Professor Pickle says.
"So what do we do now?" Amy asks.
"Simple, we help Chip finish the job. We started it out together and we plan to finish it," Sonic says.
"Indeed. And thanks to the restoration of the Sixth Temple, and powering the temple, the manuscript is able to reveal the seventh and last Gaia Temple," Professor Pickle says.
"That's great," Eve says.
"Where is it?" Chip asks.
"Well, the thing is, it's here," Tails says, and presents his computer screen.
Sonic, Eve, and Chip look to see some kind of amusement park with the word, 'Eggmanland,' on it.
"Oh no," Eve says.
"Figures Eggman would have built his weird park where the temple is," Sonic says.
"We gotta get over there, and fast," Eve says.
Tails says, "We can get there using the Tornado 1! We can leave there right away!"
"Well then Tails, lets fly!" Sonic says.
And with that, Sonic, Eve, and Chip are standing on the Tornado 1 while Tails starts up the engines. Professor Pickle and the others say their goodbyes.
"Good luck!" Maria calls out.
"Please make it back safe," Amy says.
"Be careful!" Cosmo says.
"Chao Chao," Jazz says.
"Don't worry, we'll be okay," Eve says.
"And to be sure to kick Eggman's butt for all the trouble he caused," Sonic says.
"Yeah!" Chip says.
Tails says, "Alright everyone, hang on!"
And with that, the Tornado 1 takes off as Professor Pickle and the girls wave their goodbyes and wish them the best of luck in defeating Eggman, restoring the planet, and helping Chip finish his job.