Premature End - A Sonic Fan Fiction for the Foxes and Sorcery Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Written by: Aaron Lye email: prower@pacific.net.sg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LEGAL STUFF Sonic the Hedgehog and other characters used within this work of fan fiction are fully owned and copyrighted by one or more of the following: Sega of America, DIC and/or Archie Comics Several characters used herein may be the creations of fanfiction authors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This story's main characters are: Sonic Tayla - created by me :) Tails And supported by: Bookshire - created by David Pistone David - created by Shawn Wolski Tasha - also created by me ;) Other characters may or may not make appearances ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TIMELINE: February 3239, one week after the events in "Shattered Hope" This series expected to end: End of 3241 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With the aid of the Emerald of Healing, the members of Knothole recovered fully from the physical injuries inflicted on them by Angela. Three days of hard work repaired the damage to Knothole, and life returned to normal. ***** Bunnie watched Tayla as she went about her work, and couldn't help but admire her. Her life had been rough, to say the least, what with having to contend with Angela's torments, Snively's capture and roboticization of her entire people, and the most recent blow, the loss of her telepathy. However, each time, she had bounced back and managed to get her life back to some semblance of normality. This time had been no different, and Tayla once again was herself. ***** "It's been a long time since we've gone on a mission with each other, Sonic." Tails noted, as he flew towards their common destination. "Tell me about it, little bro." Sonic replied, as he paced himself to equal but not overtake the two-tailed fox. "It's been a while since we've actually traveled on foot..or by tails..for that matter, what with you zapping all over the place with that emerald.." The fox in question simply smirked. "So, why are we going to Northpass anyway?", Tails asked, referring to the valley due north fifty miles of Knothole. "Well, Sal sent a team there two days ago to check out some geological disturbance or something, and we've had no word from them since. Sal thinks something way uncool must've happened to them." Tails picked up where Sonic left off, "So, here we are..on a search and rescue.." The hedgehog nodded. ***** A few minutes later, the duo reached their destination. Sonic took out an area sensor and scanned the place. "Hmm...major problemo here..not a single life sign...no, hold up a sec... man, I'm getting some seriously messed-up readings from over there." The hedgehog pointed towards the north of the valley. Tails smiled, "Only one way to find out.." and flew in that direction, followed closely behind by Sonic. As they neared the location, Tails' sharp hearing noticed a sudden change.. Everything had seemingly gone silent..no wind, no birds...nothing.. Without warning, a large black creature burst out of the ground and a black limb grabbed Tails before either he or Sonic even got a proper glimpse of the creature. The creature moved as swift as lightning, but Sonic managed to get a look at it. It vaguely resembled a large black octopus.. Tails struggled in the creature's grasp, unable to break free. The thing brought Tails close to what could possibly be it's head and what could only be a mouth opened.. Sonic stood helplessly, his futile attacks on the creature not even attracting it's attention. Just as Sonic was about to get his last glimpse of the fox who was his friend, Tails suddenly glowed the color of the Emerald of Sorcery, in what could only be perceived as an attack. A bright multicolored light burst forth from him, and...simply passed through the creature, not doing a single bit of damage. Suddenly, the light converged into a bright white pulse...and impacted on Sonic... The hedgehog was thrown back several hundred meters, and was unconscious even before he hit the ground.. ***** Tayla sat on a bench in Knothole's medical facility and felt like a laboratory experiment. For surrounding her, armed with all kinds of medical scanners and devices, were David Prower and Bookshire. David attempted at some casual conversation while they went about their work. "So, Tayla, what happened to the workerbots you managed to free from Snively?" Tayla looked at the scanner that was shoved right in front of her face, and said, "No idea. Those bots with the sound weapon must've recaptured them...and re-brainwashed them.." Bookshire remarked, "Not all were recaptured. Ben escaped.", referring to the first squirrel workerbot that Tayla had freed because of her bet with Sonic. "Oh." Bookshire continued, "Well, at least one...hmm..this is peculiar...David, take a look at this." The cyberfox walked over and glanced at the sensor Bookshire was holding up. "Yes, it may be possible..." Tayla questioned, "What is possible?" David continued, "I predict there is a seventy percent chance of success." Tayla repeated, "WHAT IS POSSIBLE?!" The cyberfox blinked, and returned his attention to the rabbit. "We think we've found out how Snively erased your telepathy, and I think it's possible to restore it." Tayla was so elated at hearing those words, she could have cried for joy. ***** Sonic got up slowly, still dazed from the impact of hitting the ground. He shook his head, trying to clear his fuzzy senses. "Man, anybody saw who ran over me?" was the first thing that came out of Sonic's mouth. With a jolt, he remembered Tails, and sped off in the direction he thought he had been thrown from, altogether forgetting, or ignoring his injuries. He searched frantically, yelling Tails' name at the same time. For hours, he refused to give up, unwilling and unable to believe that his best friend was truly gone. When he finally gave up and returned to Knothole, he did so out of sheer exhaustion... The first thing he did was tell Sally what happened, who immediately consolidated a search team, consisting of Bunnie, herself, Rotor, Dulcy, Antoine and Tasha. Sally turned to Sonic, "I want you to get some rest. You look positively exhausted." The hedgehog stubbornly insisted, "No can do, Sal. I'm gonna go with you and that's final." Sally started, "Sonic..", but the hedgehog in question put a finger to her lips, and looked straight into her eyes. "Sal, I have to do this. No ifs,no buts." Sally looked at Sonic, saw the determination in his eyes, and knew there was no way she or anyone else in Knothole could persuade him otherwise. "OK." ***** The Freedom Fighters split into smaller groups, and searched the entire valley. Sally ended up with Sonic and Dulcy. The squirrel scanned the entire area. "Nothing..I'm not detecting any anomalous readings at all..." Sonic shook his head, "Not possible, Sal. I definitely got some fishy readings from up north." Sally scanned the area again, then spoke to Nicole, "Nicole, scan for five hundred meters due north. Also scan all visual spectrums, ultraviolet and infra-red included." The computer responded, "Scanning, Sally............all spectrums scanned. No anomalous readings." Sally turned to Sonic, "There's nothing here, Sonic. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do....we have to.. have to assume Tails is... dead." Sonic could see that Sally was forcing back tears by now, albeit not very successfully. He turned to Tasha, who sadly shook her head, indicating that she couldn't detect anything of Tails either. With that, the blue hedgehog turned around and sped off without warning, leaving the rest of the Freedom Fighters behind. It was fairly obvious why he did so, and most of the Freedom Fighters guessed the reason correctly. Sonic didn't want them to see that he, too, was crying... ***** The remainder of the search team got back into the transport that had brought them here, and headed back to Knothole. Sally was watching Tasha, who had a rather concerned expression on her face. The squirrel asked, "Something wrong, Tasha?" The two-tailed rabbit turned and looked at Sally, "Yes, dear. But, Ah don't think it's a good time ta bring it up." Sally retorted with a "No time like the present." The rabbit looked at her, and continued. "Well, Ah'm wondering what became of the power of Tails' emerald...if Ah rememb'a correctly, Angela never told him how ta transfer the energy ta another guardian..." She looked down, "The Emerald of Sorcery may be lost ta us for eternity." Just as it seemed like Tasha had finished, she spoke up again. "There is, however, one more dangerous possibility...whatever killed Tails, might've absorbed the emerald's power after doing so..especially if Tails just used the emerald's magic before he was killed..." That was a more chilling thought... ***** Sonic ran, ran as fast as he could, not thinking, not feeling. Just simply, purely, concentrating on running. At such high speeds, concentration was vital. One slight distraction, and wham! One splattered hedgehog or hood ornament, depending on where it occurred, Great Forest or Robotropolis. However, this time, Sonic was focusing all his attention on running because whatever else there was to focus on was to painful to bear. As he ran on, he started to feel dizzy. Before long, the ground seemed to start spinning, and the hedgehog faltered. A second later, Sonic seemed to see a bright white light with multi-colored streaks flash in front of his eyes...just before he once again slumped into unconsciousness. * Sonic and Tails are walking side by side on a dirt road, with vast open meadows on either side and mountains on the horizon. It's a nice sunny day, and the two are chatting amiably. Suddenly, the ground starts trembling slightly, then shaking violently. A large crack starts forming between the two companions, a large crack that quickly turns into a larger chasm that starts to widen in geometric proportions, separating the two friends. Tails looks at the chasm, then at Sonic, and pleads, "Please...come back...don't leave me..." Sonic tries to jump across the chasm, but by now it is so large that even he can't make it. He falls down the pit and hits the ground, surprisingly unhurt. He looks around, and sees a white emerald with multi-colored streaks in it, swirling around. He also sees the aged two-tailed fox now known as Matthew Prower standing at one side of the Emerald, and his own Uncle Chuck on the other side. Matthew Prower speaks, "Why do you-" then suddenly fades. Uncle Chuck continues, "abandon him before it is time?" Sonic stares at Charles, then at the Emerald. * "SONIC! Wake up!" The hedgehog jumped up with a start, and saw Sally and the others crowding around him. "Man, I just had one strange dream...." Sally brought the exhausted hedgehog over to the transport, saying at the same time, "You can tell it to us on the way back in the transport." ***** Tasha listened to what Sonic had to say, but seemed skeptical. "Ah don't think the Emerald is trying to tell us something this time. If it was, it wouldn't just tell one person. At least two others would be informed as well. Ah think you're just upset over this whole thing and just had a simple nightmare. It's possible that since that whole Jacer incident was a nightmare in itself, this dream could've been partly derived from the content of those visions... by your own mind." Sonic looked down, hopes dashed. ***** Two days and several unsuccessful searches later, a memorial service was held for Tails in the rebuilt Reconstruction Hall. David Prower had made sure that the hall had been rebuilt with steel supports, unlike the wooden ones of old. David was speaking at the podium that had been constructed for the event, in front of the holographic display of Tails that Nicole had provided. It was naturally a somber event, and David had readjusted his vocalization subroutine accordingly. "I have only known Tails for roughly a year, but since I had only been activated a year, it would seem that I HAVE known him all my life. Tails was a friend and a brother to me, and because of my emotional program, I feel a loss and am saddened by my brother's passing..." The cyberfox continued for a while, then walked back to his seat. With a bit of persuasion, Sonic went up next. "Well, what can I say? Most of you have covered the usual stuff..... Tails was my brother...a sort of stepbrother, I guess, and like a son, as well...Man, this is lame....you know what I'd really like to say?! I'm saying here that I'm making a promise right here, and right now that I won't rest until I hunt down and repay that creature who did this to Tails! I will do everything within my power to KICK THAT CREATURE'S A**!", he concluded vehemently. As the hedgehog said that last word, he slammed his fists down on the podium and something happened. As his gloved fists struck the podium, they started glowing a bright white, streaked with varied colors. The white intensified, and enveloped the podium, disintegrating it's wooden frame into nothing. Everyone gasped, most in surprise, some in shock and one in understanding. That one was Tasha...the color-streaked white energy was the energy of the Emerald of Sorcery.... Tails had found his successor... ***** Sonic, too had recoiled instinctively, and was looking warily at his paws, then at the podium, too shocked for words. Tasha walked up to him. "Ah can't believe it..., Sonic, tell me exactly what happened when Tails was killed." Sonic did as she requested, then asked, "How is this possible?" The two-tailed rabbit shook her head, "Remember that Tails is a unique Guardian, in the sense that he is only one of two Guardians whose Emeralds were part of them... Ah myself am not too sure on the workings of such Emeralds.. but mah best guess would be that since Tails could not have known how to transfer the Emerald's energy, the emerald itself must have responded to some sort of non-sentient version of a self-preservation instinct... it didn't want to cease to exist, so it forced itself out of Tails into the nearest compatible host..." Sally asked, "How can Sonic be compatible? He isn't two-tailed.." Tasha turned to face the squirrel. "Actually, that is a popular misconception. Any living creature on Mobius can be a compatible host, including any of you here. Only those of two tails are able to harness the energy of the emerald and convert it to magic. That is why Guardians like Knuckles exist... one tailed Mobians who watch over Chaos Emeralds using their own capabilities, rather than the emerald energy. To distinguish the two, we divide ourselves into two main groups: The Ghylcanan Guardians, like me, who use the emerald's energy, and the Floating Island Guardians, who do not use it. Ghylcanan Guardians are more common, but Floating Island ones are starting to grow in number. Most Floating Island Guardians are echidnas.." Sonic asked, "If that's the case, then how do you explain this?" and he snapped his fingers, causing a pulse of the color-streaked white energy to form. Tasha replied, "Well, Ah see only one possible answer. Although y'all don't know this, I've been secretly doin' some tests on power rings. From those tests, Ah have determined that the power rings contain a form of energy similar to those held within the Chaos Emeralds, only that the power rings, when compared to the Emeralds, hold extremely minuscule amounts of the energy. Even the Deep Power Stones contained less than five percent of the total energy within one Chaos Emerald." She continued, "Well, Ah think that Sonic's extended use of the power rings has somehow conditioned him to be compatible with the Emerald's energy, allowing him to harness it, but not as efficiently as a normal Ghylcanan Guardian." She paused for breath, then continued, "There's just one little snag.." Sonic spoke up, eager to get a word in edgewise, "What?" Tasha continued, "You have only been exposed to minute amounts of this kind of energy, meaning that you would be unable to handle the Emerald's power for long. We have ta find a replacement soon." Bunnie suggested, "What 'bout you, Aunt Tasha?" The rabbit shook her head, "The Sorcery Emerald's energy would conflict with my own emerald, especially if Ah were ta use it. Ah could be seriously hurt." Sonic interrupted, "Tasha, does this have any effect on that vision I had two days ago about Tails?" Tasha thought for a moment, and her face lit up, "Ya know, you could be right..." Sally asked, "You mean Tails could still be alive..." Tasha nodded. Sonic jumped up, and nearly shouted, "Well, what are we waiting for?!" and without warning disappeared in a multicolored blaze of light. Tasha spoke out loud, "Come back here, Sonic." and raised a paw. A blaze of red materialized, revealing a startled hedgehog. The rabbit Guardian spoke to Sonic. "Now, now, let's not be rash... you saw what good the Emerald did for Tails when he was...abducted. What do you possibly expect to achieve by yourself?" Sonic calmed down, accepting the logic of what Tasha said. The two-tailed rabbit turned to Rotor, "I need you to gather together as many energy weapons as you can, but enough to at least arm every person going on this search and rescue." ***** One hour later, the usual group of Freedom Fighters has assembled outside the Reconstruction Hall. Rotor had gathered together the few phased energy pistols David had constructed, several laser rifles they had taken from downed SWATbots, and a cobbled-together solid projectile cannon utilizing spare parts they had scrounged from Robotropolis's massive junkyards. When all was ready, Tasha brought up her paws, and the entire group was zapped to Northpass. With the exception of Rotor, who was setting up the cannon, the Freedom Fighters spread out and searched the valley, concentrating more on the area where Tails had been 'killed'. At the start, the search seemed futile. Until Tasha stepped at the exact same spot Tails had been flying over when he was captured by the creature. Without warning, the same jet-black appendage shot out, followed by the octopus-like creature, and snagged the two-tailed rabbit. She blasted at the creature with the energy of the Emerald of Control, but that too, passed through the creature, like the energy of the Emerald of Sorcery before it. Sonic brought up his paws and sent whatever Emerald energy he could harness streaking towards the creature, with similar effect. The rest of the Freedom Fighters opened fire, and the phased and laser energy impacted on the creature, who visibly shook from the impact. Rotor's makeshift cannon unleashed a large rock at the creature, and it took the rock right in the head. It seemed to falter, then slumped down, tentacle- appendages hanging limp, and Tasha managed to force her way out of the arm that was holding her, with the help of David. She looked at the creature and made a small gasp. She turned around, and spoke, "Ah know this creature, although Ah have never laid eyes on one before... the last known one to exist supposedly died off two thousand years ago... but it would seem the Guardians were mistaken... these creatures are guards, used by a rival group of wizards who no longer exist, to protect their territories from the Guardians.. these are simple creatures, immune to the energy of the Chaos Emerald, with only one directive.. to capture any and all Guardians...alive for experimentation, then torture.." She concluded, "This can only mean one thing. Tails has been captured by a CaribStone wizard." ***** Sally peered down the tunnel the creature had come out from, and asked Nicole to scan down. The computer complied, and soon responded. "Affirmative, Sally. Detecting four Mobian life signs. Do you wish specifics as to race and gender?" "Yes." "First life sign, bipedal raccoon, male. Second life sign, bipedal ferret, female, third life sign, bipedal two-tailed fox, male, fourth life sign... cannot confirm gender or race of fourth life sign, localized EM interference at source." Tasha nodded. "Yes, that EM interference is consistent with the use of the energy of a CaribStone." Bunnie remarked, "What on Mobius is a CaribStone?" Tasha replied without turning, "It is a special stone which, like the Emeralds, hold large amounts of power, that can be transformed to magic. However, the conversion from energy to magic is less efficient than our Emeralds, and there are side-effects like the EM radiation. The CaribStone is more of an energy stone than a magical stone..." Bunnie continued, "What happened to the wizards?" Tasha started, "Well, -", but was interrupted by Sally. "I think we should be concentrating on getting Tails back first, before the history lesson?" Tasha blushed, and spoke, "Of course, sugah. We'll talk 'bout this some other time." With that, Tasha brought up her paws again, and the FFs were all teleported to just outside the underground chamber where Tails was being held captive. On Sally's order, the entire group stormed the room, directed-energy weapons at the ready. There they saw Tails, apparently unharmed, but restrained by energy binds. Alongside the two-tailed fox were the raccoon and the ferret, the geological team that Sally had sent out earlier. And standing in front of them, holding a shining yellow stone, was a familiar figure... Angela. ***** Tasha glared at the renegade Guardian. "Ah should've guessed it was you!" The squirrel smirked, "Well, well, we have a full house now, don't we?" Sonic barged to the front and confronted the ground squirrel, "Let him go! NOW!" Angela looked at him and sighed, "Nothing changes...you, hedgehog, are just as rude as I remember you.." The hedgehog Angela called rude visibly shook with rage and a blast of emerald magic soon was streaking towards Angela. The squirrel's eyes widened in surprise, but used her stone to teleport out of the way before the wave impacted. She reappeared a little way off, and spoke incredulously, "So, Tails was telling the truth after all, and wasn't just carefully hiding the energy from me..." It was then that everyone realized what this entire charade had taken place for... Angela had wanted to take the energy of Tails' Emerald.. and had abducted the geological team as a bait. If the search team looking for the missing geologists did not include Tails, she would probably have continued abducting teams until one did include Tails. It occurred to them that the pulse that had transferred the energy from Tails to Sonic had also enabled him to escape from being captured by the creature, who had been controlled by Angela's CaribStone. The renegade Guardian turned to Sonic and raised her CaribStone, as if planning to attack the hedgehog, but realized the number of reinforcements he had, and thought better of it. She simply smiled, and said, "You win this time, Tasha.... until we meet again." With that, Angela disappeared in a blaze of yellow. At the same time, the energy binds holding Tails and the other two winked out of existence, Tails ran to Sonic, and held him tight in a hug. Sally smiled at the sight of the two of them. After all, they were brothers. ***** Tasha soon briefed Sonic on the procedure to return the Emerald to Tails, and the hedgehog was more than willing to return it. They sat down in Tasha's hut and in between them was Tasha's Control Emerald. Tails placed his paws on one side, and Sonic on the other. Tasha then placed one of her paws on top of her emerald and the gem started glowing red. Slowly at first, gathering speed as it proceeded, a white, color-streaked energy flowed out of Sonic, through the Control Emerald, ignoring Tasha, and flowed into Tails. Just as the procedure was about to end, Sonic caught sight of a small flow of the emerald's energy flow quickly out of Tails and back into him. He looked first at Tails, then at Tasha, and soon realized that other than himself,no one else had seen it happen. He mentioned it to Tasha later, when Tails had left, but the Guardian simply smiled, and said that nothing was wrong, it was just a trick of the eye that had made him think he saw it occur. Tasha watched Sonic leave, and smiled to herself. She would let him find out by himself, in his own time... ***** Bookshire injected Tayla with a stimulant, and she slowly woke up from the effects of the sedative. She looked up and saw Bookshire and David looking over her. Both were smiling. The raccoon looked at her and said, "The procedure was a success." It was, however, unnecessary. Tayla had read his mind seconds before he had uttered the words, and had flown into his arms when he did speak. Everything had returned to normal. ***** EPILOGUE It was late at night, and the members of Knothole, not including those on guard, were all soundly asleep. All except one. Sonic sat at the power ring pool, leaning comfortably on a tree, and gazed up at the star-filled sky, and felt contented. The area was suddenly bathed in a bright golden yellow light and Sonic looked towards the pool, and saw a power ring coming up from the depths of the pool. He glanced around, making sure no one else was around, then walked over to the pool to retrieve the ring. He took hold of it with a cloth, so that his DNA would not activate the ring just yet. He sat back down, the glow of the ring illuminating the immediate area faintly. He removed the cloth, and held the power ring, activating it's power. The energy filled him as it normally did, and he felt an instinctive urge to run. This wasn't meant to be this time, though. Instead of jumping up and speeding off, the hedgehog controlled himself and simply snapped his fingers. As he did, a small amount of white, color-streaked energy formed around one finger. Sonic looked at the energy, watched it as it swirled around his finger like a moth attracted to light, then pointed the appendage to the ground. A small wave of emerald energy streaked out, and a small patch of grass went up in flames. The hedgehog smiled to himself, stood up and walked back to the forest village that was his home... TO BE CONTINUED