My epic return!!!
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Spagonia, Mobius
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It was raining, and Sonic the Hedgehog did not like running in the rain. He didn’t like getting wet, period. Usually, he’d hide out in some kind of building or shelter until the storm blew over, but now he couldn’t afford to. Just the day before, Sonic had received an anonymous note with directions telling him to be there at a specific time.
[COLLAPSE="The note"]Dear Sonic the Hedgehog:
I have information regarding Dr. Eggman’s plans to join The Dark One’s cause in this war. If you want this information, follow the enclosed directions to the location marked by a star. I will be waiting there. Don’t be late.
From, a friend.
[/COLLAPSE]
This ‘friend’ better have a darn good reason for dragging me out here in the pouring rain to-
Sonic’s thought was cut short when he saw what was looming ahead. He skidded to a stop, slipping a little and causing a small wave of rainwater behind him. He looked at the ancient building with shock…and dread.
The Temple of Gaia.
Sonic looked at the directions again and again. This was the place. After checking the directions a third time, he took a deep breath. He started to walk up the steps…but then stopped right at the entrance.
In was one of the few times in Sonic’s lifetime in which he hesitated to actually do something. It was not like him to think before acting. Most times, he would throw himself right into the face of danger, remaining steadfast to the end. To heck with consequences! You only live once, right?
But…This is the Temple of Gaia… A small voice in his head said.
The Temple of Gaia…
It happened a few years ago. Dr. Eggman had hatched another plan to take over Mobius. After a few months of searching, Sonic had finally caught up with him at his space armada. Turning into his super form with the power of the Chaos Emeralds, he chased Eggman into what he first thought was his control center for the armada. Sonic didn’t even have to do anything; he already had Eggman on his knees, basically.
But what was supposed to be their final battle, ( or not…) Eggman had one last ace up his sleeve, and that’s where things went horribly, horribly wrong…
[COLLAPSE="Flashback"](Super Sonic busts though the metal floor of Eggman’s control station. As soon as he does, Eggman drops to his knees.)
Dr. Eggman: S-sonic! I’m-I’m sorry…Look, go easy on me! I’ll turn over a new leaf, I swear! Just give me a chance!
(Snickering, Super Sonic lands just in front of Eggman)
Super Sonic: Well, this is new. Showing remorse, Eggman? If you’d played nice, I wouldn’t have to break all your toys!
(Seeing his chance, Eggman picks up a small hand-held button switch, and his lips slowly turn up in an evil smile.)
Eggman: Gotcha!
(As soon as he pressed the button, huge mechanical arms spring up from the floor and the ceiling.)
Super Sonic: Wha?
(Sonic tries to sprint out of the way, but it’s too late. The arms on the floor activate, trapping him in a high-energy shield. As Sonic struggles to break free, Eggman begins to laugh manically, and the arms on the ceiling release a strange, purple-lightning like beam, striping Sonic of the Chaos Emeralds while simultaneously draining them of their power. Sonic screams in pure agony during the whole process.)
Eggman: Gah, ha-ha! Ooh, I’ve waited a long time for this! FIRE!!!
(From a control console, Eggman reverses the polarity of the Chaos Emeralds with a press of a button, and releases it as a beam fired straight at Mobius. As the beam hits, Mobius breaks apart into seven continents, floating around the core. From the core, strange, tentacles of pure energy spill forth, and a great beast of darkness drags itself from its prison. Dark Gaia had been released.
But it was not the only beast unleashed. Due to Sonic’s proximity with the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic underwent a horrid transformation. He grew claws and fangs, his muscular density doubled, and his body became covered in a lush, heavy fur. Sonic had transformed into a Werehog.)
Eggman: I’ve done it, I’ve finally done it! It’s just as the Gaia Manuscripts foretold! The entity that was sealed inside the planet has awakened. Now I just need to harness its power, EggmanLand will finally come to be! GAH HA HA!
(Sonic slowly begins to pick himself off the floor, breathing hard.)
Werehog Sonic: You’ve really…gone and done it this time, Eggman…
(Eggman looks upon Sonic with an evil sneer)
Eggman: Ah, Sonic. That’s a good look for you. Festive! So long, friend!
(An air-tight glass dome surrounds Eggman as the window overlooking Mobius suddenly opens, sucking Sonic and the spent Chaos Emeralds out into space…)[/COLLAPSE]
Sonic still didn’t know how he survived the fall from space. But ever since Eggman broke apart Mobius to when he defeated Perfect Dark Gaia, whenever the sun went down or when he entered a Temple of Gaia, he would transform into the Werehog. He never entered a Temple of Gaia since.
In truth, it wasn’t the Werehog that stopped him from entering the temple; it was the sheer pain of the transformation itself that he didn’t like. That, and he looked completely unrecognizable in Werehog form. Amy Rose couldn’t even tell who he was, for crying out loud. This “friend” was fully expecting the blue hedgehog known throughout the worlds for his speed, only to find that some monster guy with claws and fangs just waltz in and-
“You’ll catch a cold if you stand there in the rain, Sonic.”
The soft voice snapped Sonic back to reality. Standing in front of him was a human wrapped in a cool blue cloak and hood. Judging from the voice, the human was a girl.
That voice…have I heard it before? Sonic thought.
“Who are you?” Sonic asked in a slightly annoyed tone. He REALLY didn’t love the fact that he was soaked to the bone, and he was letting her know it.
“We can’t speak out here.” The mysterious girl whispered. “You have to come inside.”
Yeah. Not gonna happen. “Nope. I think we can chat right here.” Sonic would rather stand in the rain for a whole week than turn into…that….well, maybe half a week…3 days, tops.
The human girl was silent for a few minutes, and then she extended her hand towards him. “Nothing will happen when you step inside. I promise. You won’t feel a thing.”
Sonic arched an eyebrow. “And I should trust you because…?”
The girl sighed. She didn’t want to reveal herself here, in the open. She needed to get him inside, somehow. “Because…you already do…Teach.”
Sonic’s eyes widened. “Teach…?”
Why did she just call him that? He wasn’t…wait…”Do…Do I know you?” he asked hesitantly.
The human chuckled lightly. “You have to come inside if you wanna find out.” With that, she withdrew back into the temple, as if she was never there.
The more Sonic thought about it, the more he was sure that he met this human somewhere before.…and that voice…it was so…
familiar…
“We don’t have much time, Sonic.” The girl’s voice called from the temple.
The blue hedgehog pushed his fear away and closed his eyes.
OK, on the count of three, you are just going to run in there….OK…1…2…2 ½….2 and ¼….
3!
Sonic sped past the door and the stairs inside, almost running into one of the giant pillars. Instead, he thrust his feet out in front of him, stopping his momentum. Placing his hand on the pillar, he waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Nothing happened.
“See?” The human girl’s voice came from beside him. “Told you.”
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Sonic slowly opened his eyes. What he saw next nearly made him gasp.
When he rushed into the ancient temple, the wind he created blew the human’s cloak off. He could clearly see the white shirt she wore underneath a jacket with blue flames on it. She was also wearing white shorts that stopped at her knees, and regular blue sneakers.
Her bright attire was a stark contrast to her physical features. Tan skin, a wiry frame, straight black hair that fell just above her shoulders, gold eyes….gold eyes?
But her face…that fire in her eyes…It was unmistakable. Almost impossible.
“…Mari?”
She smiled. “It’s been a while, Tea-“
“
BEEN A WHILE?!” Sonic suddenly shouted. “You’ve been gone for…for-“
“I know.” Mari said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
Sonic blinked. “You’re…sorry?” This was new. Usually, Mari got angry when someone yelled at her for no apparent reason.
“Yeah. I just disappeared so suddenly without saying good-bye and…” Mari stopped short. She didn’t really plan out what she was going to say to him.
“No, it’s just…” Sonic seemed to be at a loss for words as well. “Is this…where you’ve been all this time?”
“Yes.” Mari simply said. “I’ve been training here. It’s so…peaceful. It’s sort of…grown on me.”
“Yeah, I can tell. You seem…different. And where did the gold eyes come from? And your hair-“
“Whoa, slow down! One question at a time!” Mari paused. “I cut it yesterday. And the gold eyes must be from all my magical training. Magolor has them too, remember?”
“Oh, yeah! Ha, wait until I tell him, I bet it means something!” Sonic beamed at Mari. “It’s good to see your doing well on your own, Mari. I’m proud of you.”
Mari smiled back. All this time and Sonic still hasn’t changed one bit. Even with this war going on. “Sonic…I’m glad you feel that way. It’s thanks to you I developed basic battle skills, and Magolor for teaching me basic magic. By the way, how is he?”
“Actually, I was talking to him the other day and…”
They spent the next few minutes catching up, chatting about how Smashfan returned, the Dark One’s plot to control everything, how hungry they were…
Then Xiroey came up.
“I heard that he was competing in a tournament in the Battle Frontier.” Sonic explained. “I was actually heading planning to head over there.”
“How is he? Has he…changed?” Mari asked.
“Uh…to be honest, I don’t know anymore than you do. I haven’t been keeping tabs on him until lately.” Sonic shrugged. “Maybe he’s still the same, albeit much stronger.”
“Yeah…” Mari was confident that Xiro had not changed…But would he recognize her?
“Hey, Mari?”
“Yes?”
“I understand that you ran here to train in solitude…but why didn’t you tell me? Or Magolor? Man, he went
CRAZY with worry when you just…you know…and it took a long time for him to get over it. In fact, A lot of people think you’re dead.” Sonic’s voice became small towards the end. A little while ago, Sonic was beginning to believe that himself.
“Me? Dead? Really?” Mari questioned. “Well, I suppose that was expected…Hopefully, Xiro isn’t one of those people. Otherwise, He’ll have one heck of a fright when I show up.”
“Naw, He’d prob- Say what, now?” Sonic said.
“It’s time I came out, Sonic. No more hiding away. I’m sick of just training around here by myself. I want to see how the world has changed. Besides…” Mari stood up and began to walk deeper into the temple. “It would be nice to see Xiro again…”
“Aw, You’re serious!?
Really?!” Sonic screamed with excitement. “
Sweet!” He started to pump his fist into the air, but stopped midway. “Wait, so that note about Egghead…?”
“Fake, as far as I know. Had to get your attention somehow, and if there’s one thing that does, it’s Dr. Eggman.” Mari smiled slyly. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s OK,” He said. “So, where do we go from here?”
“Didn’t I just say how nice it would be to see Xiro? We’re going to the Battle Frontier.” Mari’s eyes suddenly started to glow. “And we’re taking the express route.”
“Uh…Express route?” Sonic asked uneasily
“Look at your feet, Sonic.”
He did, and he found himself right in the middle of a Popstarian magic circle, with candles lighting all five points of the star. Halcandrian runes could be seen just outside the circle, a product of Magolor’s teachings.
“I don’t remember Magolor teaching you this…” Sonic spoke with a nervous tone.
“I taught myself. I’ve done this lots of times. Now for once, stand still.” Mari closed her eyes, and her lips began to move in Halcandrian language. At once, a white aura began to pulse around the two, growing faster in rhythm as Mari finished her incantation.
When she spoke the last ancient word, the circle exploded with a brilliant flash of blue energy. When it faded, Both student and teacher where gone…
