-Chapter 215-
Pirate's Scorn
Pirate Storm Zone
Before long, the Chimera came up to its destination: a series of black and desolate coastlines decorated with shipwrecks, patrolled by pirate galleons and filled with a perpetual storm. Much to Sonic's relief, the rain and water had no effect on the flickering flame in his chest.
"So, how'd you get the Flame of Judgment on your chest?" Sinbad asked.
"Erazor tried to shoot Shahra with it," Sonic replied. "I took the hit."
Sinbad whistled. "You're either really brave or really stupid."
"I'd say both," Sally mused.
"The deal was that if I get the World Rings, he'd remove the arrow," Sonic went on. "And before you say anything, I know about the sacrifice part of his little ritual. I don't expect him to keep his word, but what else can I do? I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place."
"It's always darkest just before the dawn," Sinbad mused. "Don't give up hope.
"I always do. In the meantime, what can you tell us about this Captain Bemoth?"
"He's a collector of the various automatons Erazor has created," Sinbad replied. "A big army of mechanical pirates. Including his right hand man, a copy of the Blue Hedgehog of Legend."
"Erazor hoped the facsimile would be able to collect the rings for him," Shahra added. "He was wrong."
"Copy of me... robot pirates…" Sonic perked, turning to Sally. "You thinking what I'm thinking, Sal?"
"Oh yeah," Sally nodded. "Metal Sonic and Badniks."
"Well, things are definitely getting interesting."
"Sinbad!" Marina shouted. "Storm ahead!"
Sinbad peered through a telescope, seeing an ominous black ship with tattered sales approaching. Manning it was an intimidating figure with blue-and-green skin, numerous horns sticking out of its head.
"That's Bemoth's ship, all right," he mused. "He must be using the Aqua Ring's power."
"I gotta get over there," Sonic mused. "But there's not enough space for me to run and jump."
"And in this wind, the carpet's too treacherous," Sally added.
Sonic turned to one of the cannons, an idea forming as he ran over to it. He rubbed Shahra's ring, summoning her.
"Shahra, can you light this for me?"
"Well yes, but-"
"All I need to know!" Sonic tucked into a ball before jumping into the barrel. "Fire when ready!"
Seeing what he was doing, Kale came forward.
"Aim the cannon right at Bemoth," Sinbad instructed, Kale doing as commanded.
"Are you CRAZY?!" Sally shrieked.
"Most likely," Sonic replied matter-of-factly. "But hey, if I wasn't, this plan wouldn't work."
"Fire!" Sinbad shouted.
Shahra snapped her fingers, lighting the fuse. The cannon exploded, launching Sonic right at Bemoth's ship.
"YAHOO!" he shouted as he went, landing heavily. As soon as he got to his feet, he was intercepted by Bemoth's first mate. As predicted, it was a Metal Sonic doppelganger.
"So, you're my loathsome copy," he spat.
"Yep," Sonic deadpanned. "You're Metal, all right."
"I am the true Legendary Blue Hedgehog," Metal retorted. "Be grateful. I will destroy you before the flame can extinguish."
"Or I'll kick your skidplate and take the Aqua Ring from your boss. Didn't think of that, did you?"
Bemoth looked down, laughing. "You and what army?"
Sonic grinned. "This one."
At that moment, Sinbad's crew all swung over, yelling all the while.
"Bemoth!" Sinbad declared. "You have something of mine!"
"The Aqua Ring's mine now, Sinbad!" Bemoth shot back. "I stole it from you, fair and square!"
"Then allow us to steal it back!" Marina declared.
A massive fight broke out, swords clashing as rain poured down. Sonic and Metal zipped around the deck, clashing violently.
"I'll show Lord Erazor I'm not a failure!" Metal swore. "I'll deliver the World Rings to him even if I have to pry them from your cold, dead hands!"
"If I had a Mobium for every time I heard that…" Sonic muttered.
Eventually, as their fight wore on, Sonic lost his patience.
"On any other day, I'd be happy to kick your ass, but I don't have time for this!" He tackled Metal to the ground, pinning him as his eyes glowed blue and he began to spark. The Green Ring flared, adding a tinge of green to the blue lightning. "Now fry!"
A massive explosion sounded, Metal sparking and twitching violently as the electricity flowed through him. He twitched, reaching for the sky as life left him.
"Lord… Erazor…"
His optics went blank, his arm dropping.
"Whoa…" Sally let out.
Atop the ship's rigging, Sinbad and Bemoth crossed blades, clashing violently.
"Shanazar isn't big enough for the two of us, Sinbad!" Bemoth ranted. "Your days as the greatest sailor in the world are over!"
"You're not the first to challenge my title, and you certainly won't be the last!" Sinbad shot back.
"I am stronger than you, more powerful than you, and my crew will never tire or mutiny against me!"
"Maybe, but mine are truly loyal to me, and will always have my back! Yours are just a bunch of rusty, steam-driven piles of hand-me-down junk Erazor didn't want!"
Bemoth roared, sending out a wave of energy that threatened to blow Sinbad off the riggings. He put his knuckle spikes through the wood to get a handhold. Bemoth grinned, raising his sword.
"Game over!"
Unfortunately for Bemoth, he was so focused on Sinbad that he didn't see the threat coming from behind. Marina came swinging in from above, swinging her sabre and cleaving off two of his horns.
"Back off!" she shouted as she landed. Bemoth shrieked in pain and rage, turning to her.
"You little wretch!" he roared. "Attack me from behind, will you?! Bad form!"
Marina just smirked in response. "Pirate."
While he was focused on her, Sinbad got back to his feet, jumping right on Bemoth's back.
"Now... give me back the Aqua Ring!" he shouted.
"Everyone deserves what they've earned!" Behemoth declared, attempting to buck Sinbad off of him, "and I earned it!"
"No, you've earned THIS!" Sinbad pulled a knife from his belt, stabbing Bemoth right through the top of his head. The demonic pirate shrieked, and Marina quickly took notice of a glint of something cyan in color in his mouth.
"The ring!" she realized, immediately diving for it. She tugged with all her might, yanking out an aqua-colored World Ring, and taking a few of Bemoth's back teeth with it. "I got it!"
"Everyone!" Sinbad shouted, jumping down off Bemoth's back before grabbing Marina. "Back to the Chimera! Hurry!"
They all scrambled back to the ship, Sinbad setting Marina down as she handed him the ring. "I believe this is yours… Captain."
"Thanks." Sinbad raised the ring, which began to glow. "Don't bother with last words, Bemoth! They won't be remembered!" The storm intensified, a funnel cloud appearing over Bemoth's ship as it sparked and thunder rumbled. "And never, EVER threaten my crew!"
The funnel touched down, lightning cracking as Bemoth's ship was torn asunder. The ocean parted into a maelstrom, completely swallowing the pirate's destroyed vessel. Sonic and Sally were left in open-mouthed shock.
"And that's not the full power of the rings?" Sonic asked aloud.
"Only the Legendary Blue Hedgehog can unlock its true power," Sinbad replied. "Beings like me and mine can only use a fraction of it." He turned away from the closing maelstrom before holding it out to Sonic. Before the hedgehog took it, Sinbad retracted it briefly. "Tell me, what brings you pleasure?"
"Let me guess, that's the emotion the ring has?" Sonic asked, getting a nod.
"For me, it's the open ocean, wind in my sails, and an adventure on the horizon. I wonder what it is for you."
"Not really much to say. Living my life to the fullest, enjoying freedom."
Sinbad nodded in approval, holding out the ring. "A feeling I know all too well."
Sonic took the ring. As before, it exploded, filling Sonic with mental images and the associated emotions. He saw himself running through South Island, the wind in his quills, the world racing by. His ultimate pleasure: being free. It felt so real that he could almost taste the crisp air, and feel the wind whipping past. It erased the coldness in his chest and the heaviness in his limbs. Nothing mattered, save for his next steps. When he came out of it, the Aqua Ring was around his wrist just like the others.
"Does this mean we can't command the weather anymore?" Kale questioned.
Sinbad shrugged. "It was getting pretty boring having that little cheat anyway. We'll make do."
"Captain!" Marina suddenly shouted. "There's an entity approaching fast!"
She was standing on the rear deck, spyglass aimed towards the mainland. They looked, Sonic squinting to try and see. As they got closer, they saw it was Ali Baba and Morgiana, the former flying just like his Mobian counterpart and carrying his wife in his arms.
"It's Ali Baba!" he reported.
"Make room!" Sinbad shouted. "Let him land!"
The woodcutter touched down, clearly exhausted from the flight.
"Get him some water!" Sinbad ordered.
"There's no time," Morgiana insisted. "The Ifrit Golem… it's almost back to full power."
Ali Baba took a deep breath, quickly downing the water Jin offered him. "Smoke is coming from the Evil Foundry. It won't be long before it burns this world away."
"Damn it…" Sonic cursed.
"Hoist the sails and weigh anchor!" Sinbad suddenly ordered, all the pirates rushing to prepare the ship. "We make for the Foundry!"
"We can handle this," Sally insisted. "We can take the carpet and-"
"The Chimera is far faster then a measly carpet," Sinbad shot down. "Shanazar is on the line, and it would be my honor to aid in the Legendary Hedgehog's quest.
The Chimera rose out of the water, taking flight.
Evil Foundry
In record time, the Chimera docked outside of the Evil Foundry. They barely managed to drop anchor before Sonic hopped off, dashing into the Foundry and heading for the center of the area. The Ifrit Golem was practically glowing with heat, and merely standing near it felt like standing too close to an open oven.
"Alright, let's see if I can do this," He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of freedom he'd felt when touching the ring, trying to draw out its power. "Conjure up a mighty storm…"
Before long, it began raining heavily, steam hissing as the Ifrit was doused and cooled off. It roared in pain as it was weakened.
"Yes!" Sonic cheered. "It's working!"
Sally came forward, flanked by Sinbad and Marina. All three had their various blades at the ready.
"Now!" Sally shouted.
They all launched themselves forward, attacking with all their might. The Ifrit swung its fists, firing laser beams from its eyes that caused everything they hit to burst into flames. Sonic poured on the power, water drenching everything in its path.
"We've let you play around more than enough for one day, pal!" he yelled.
With the Ifrit on its last legs, it threw a punch. Sonic hopped over it, tucking into a Spin Dash and rolling up its arm. He then plowed right through its head, the Ifrit losing power rapidly. It fell back into the lava pit, a small ball-like object flying out of its head and landing before them. They looked at it in confusion. Shahra knelt down, putting an ear to the side and hearing the sound of a heartbeat, which was slowly but surely getting faster, glowing brighter by the second.
"The Ifrit's power core…" Sinbad realized.
"And if I know my robot power sources…" Sonic perked. "It's gonna blow!"
"You're right!" Shahra cried. "What do we do?!"
Sonic darted forward, grabbing the orb.
"Get outta here! This thing has to explode out in the open!"
He rushed outside, then immediately dropkicked the core like a soccer ball.
"Shahra, I wish that thing would keep flying up until it explodes!" he shouted.
The core kept going up, never once beginning a downward arch. Eventually, it exploded. Something glinting brightly caught their attention, and they looked to see a red World Ring falling slowly from the bomb site.
"Another World Ring…" Sonic noted. "Makes sense. Omega has a Chaos Drive in him. Only makes sense his counterpart here would be similarly overpowered."
Shahra held out her hand for the ring, watching as it slipped through her fingers, quite literally.
"I have a question," Sally began. "Why can you guys touch the ring, but Shahra can't?"
"Because she's not a person," Marina said bluntly. "She's an extension of her Master's will."
At the hurt expression on Shahra's face, Sonic scowled, turning on Marina.
"She is a person," he snapped. "Don't talk about her like she's just someone's property."
Marina held up her hands defensively. "I meant no disrespect. But that is how genies under contract are. You own their totem, you own them until you get your wishes."
Shahra looked away at that.
"It doesn't matter," Sonic hissed. "She's my friend. Don't talk about her that way."
Marina took that in silently. Sinbad turned to her.
"So, Marina…" he began, "would you like some salt with your foot?"
With that, Sonic walked over to the red World Ring, picking it up. Once more, it exploded, and memories filled his mind. The coldness from his chest seemed to spread all across him, and he could see his quills turning a familiar, inky black. Around him, he saw Eggman standing next to a freshly roboticized Uncle Chuck, and Sally transforming into the horrifying visage of Metamorphia. He saw Neo Metal Sonic, once more holding the recorder containing Kat's tortured screams. His blood felt like ice in his veins, and it was like he'd been shoved into a thick pool of pure, unadulterated rage. When he came out of it, he was breathing heavily, trying to calm himself as he sparked black and blue.
"Uh-oh…" Sally immediately pushed everyone back. "Everyone stay back! Don't touch him!"
Sonic's eyes fell on Marina, remembering her counterpart's infamous attempt to calm him, and the light of reason slowly returned to his eyes. It took some time, but he was eventually able to compose himself.
"...No wonder the Ifrit was so crazy and aggro," he muttered. "He was powered by a solid chunk of berserker rage."
"Are you okay?" Sally questioned, cautiously approaching.
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before," Sonic took a deep breath, straightening up. "Just two more left."
"If we want to find them, then we should go and seek counsel from King Solomon," Ali Baba suggested. "The spirits Erazor is summoning, including the Ifrit, were all sealed away by him a long time ago. If anyone knows how to stop them and beat Erazor, it's him."
"Even in another world, you keep coming through for me, Tails," Sonic muttered. "Sinbad, can you get us to King Solomon?
"Do carpets fly?" Sinbad quipped, getting a grin.
As they headed back to the ship, Sonic wavered once more, feeling weak,
"Anyone else feel hot... all of a sudden...?" he let out.
His vision blurred and narrowed to a tiny point of light, highlighting Sally's increasingly worried face before he dropped to his hands and knees.
"Sonic?!" Sally cried out.
He looked up before hacking and coughing, ash coming out of his mouth. A few minutes passed before he got himself under control, spitting to clear his mouth of the taste.
"And that's why I don't smoke." he deadpanned.
"Shahra, what's wrong with him?" Sally demanded.
"The flame has burned through most of his soul," Shahra realized. "His time is growing shorter… I'm sorry."
Sonic pulled himself to his feet, staggering a bit before standing tall. "Well... we're gonna have to hurry and talk to Solomon, then."
Sally held him close, helping him onto the Chimera. The entire time, her eyes remained on that small flame over his heart, and the black marks now crawling along his neck...
Author's Note:
Oh no! Is this the end of Sonic the Hedgehog? Will our hero be fried from the inside by the deadly Flame of Judgment?
Tune in next time to find out. Please R&R.