alterchaos

[alterchaos]

Found an old meme in my cloud photos from 2015, so I redrew it…

[alterchaos]

UPDATE!

I have finished updating all of the saga pages with music, arc titles, and other hidden secrets that hint at what's to come. Be sure to check it out and share any theories!

[alterchaos]

Bluesky has entered the chat! Drop a follow for art reposts, updates, and overall positivity! ✨

"Time for a change of pace!"

Follow me over on Instagram if you'd like to see more timelapses and short-form side content like mini practice animatics and wips!

More social media updates will follow! ✌️

[alterchaos]

"Time for a change of pace!"

Follow me over on Instagram if you'd like to see more timelapses and short-form side content like mini practice animatics and wips!

More social media updates will follow! ✌️

[alterchaos]

A certain story arc is getting more script drafts...

[alterchaos]

THE SWORD IN THE STONE

Sonic and Merlina travel to the Misty Lake to retrieve an ancient relic, though that isn't the only surprise the past has to offer...

(cw: blood, graphic violence)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: BEING FROM A DISTANT WORLD

NEXT CHAPTER: ???

The whirlwind dissipated as quickly as it had come, the girl and the hedgehog now safely planted in a grove of trees near a misty lake. She looked down at him, eyes flying wide as he remained on his hands and knees, gasping for air as he clutched the golden heart around his neck, sweating profusely.

“...Sir Sonic?”

It was no use. His mind was lost to the night in the snowy glade, his memories mixing with those of the girl teleporting him above the cavern lake and smiling victoriously.

The wizard reached out a hand.

“A-Are you alri-”

Sonic batted her hand away, looking up at her in fury.

“WHAT WAS THAT!!?”

The girl jolted, gripping her staff nervously, “I-I’m sorry! I-I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re-”

“YOU SAID YOU WOULD SEND ME HOME AFTER I FOUGHT HIM!!!”

“Y-Yes…” The wizard looked away shamefully.

“I HAD HIM RIGHT WHERE I WANTED HIM SO WHY THE HELL DID YOU STOP ME!!?” He was crying now, fat tears rolling down his scrunched features. The girl with the purple hair relaxed a bit, sympathy lining her features as he fought to get ahold of himself. He turned away, wiping away his tears with a few sniffles, “…Please just…send me home…”

“I can’t. This world is in desperate need of a-”

“Trust me. You have the wrong guy…”

Both of them fell silent for a moment, unsure how to continue. The wizard finally sighed, opening a portal with her staff.

“Alright…I understand…”

Sonic got to his feet, stepping towards the portal that would take him back home. 

Tap. Tap…

…

He paused just shy of going through, turning his head slightly to address her.

“…What’s your name?”

The wizard looked at him in shock.

“M-Merlina…”

…

“Say…Merlina…”

“Yes?”

After a moment of hesitation, he released a small sigh and turned to partially face her.

“...Why did you stop me from fighting him?”

Merlina stared at him, perplexed by his sudden shift in demeanor.

“...Why should it concern you if you wish to leave?”

Sonic blushed slightly, averting his eyes.

“…I was just…curious…”

Merlina paused for a moment, watching the flustered hedgehog before a sly grin crossed her lips. 

“Is it perhaps that you do not wish to leave after all?”

“No no…I’m leaving…”

“Alright then…” She bowed dramatically, a knowing smile on her face, “Farewell, brave Sonic.”

“Farewell…Merlina…”

He paused again.

Merlina leaned in close, amused by the spectacle, “It seems as though you are stuck, Sir Sonic. Do you perhaps require my assistance?”

Sonic blushed harder, attempting to hide his struggle against his conscience. 

One step…

It would be so easy…

And yet…

Sonic sighed, turning to fully face the wizard in defeat. He rubbed his head sheepishly as he continued to avert his gaze.

“Look…Merlina…”

The wizard smiled in anticipation.

“Maybe…it couldn’t hurt…if I…you know…heard you out…for a moment…” He mumbled that last part, Merlina barely able to catch those final words. It didn’t matter though. She was simply happy to see him come around.

Maybe she hadn’t made a mistake in bringing him here after all.

“Of course. Let us walk and I will tell you all that I know.”

Sonic took one last look at the portal, his one-way ticket out of this nightmare now vanishing without a trace. He nodded, a bit frustrated but otherwise willing to go along with her, “Lead the way, Merlina.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So…this Arthur guy is invincible, huh?”

“Yes. That is why you require a sacred relic in order to beat him.”

“What kind of relic?”

The wizard stopped before a large stone. At its top, something golden glimmered against the cloudy sky, causing Sonic to shield his eyes slightly and squint. Before he had a chance to lower his hand, Merlina took something out of her pouch and slid it over top. It was a metallic gauntlet with gold trim and a ruby encrusted on the outside. Sonic startled but otherwise didn’t flinch, simply looking to Merlina with a questioning glance.

“There. You will need this in order to properly wield the relic.”

“Wield huh?” He shrugged off the notion and turned back towards his objective, “Alright. Wait here. I’ll be back in a flash.”

With that, Sonic leapt up the large stone and made his way over to the curious object sticking out the top. He observed it for a moment before realizing it was some kind of handle. 

“Well…Here goes…”

He gripped it, pulling with all his might.

It resisted a moment.

Then it lifted clean out of the stone.

Now, shining brilliantly as it bathed in the light he held it.

In his hand was…

Was…

…

His expression slowly shifted, first from a small sense of pride to confusion, then to pure terror as his whole body began to tremble. 

“Sir Sonic? Are you alright?”

Sonic quickly covered his mouth with his free hand as the panic set in. Of all the relics, all the weapons he could have possibly come to hold, why…

Why did it have to be a sword?

He felt sick to his stomach, eyes swimming as his vision focused ahead of him. She appeared once again. There was no hatred in her eyes this time as she came before him. 

No malice.

Nothing.

Not even the slightest sign of life.

Her eyes simply stared ahead, blank and glossy as she hung limp overtop him, his blade run completely through her.

drip

drip

“Sir Sonic?” The wizard began to grow worried seeing him freeze like he had, staring ahead at some invisible threat.

BA-BUMP!

He couldn’t…

BA-BUMP!

He couldn’t bring himself to look away…

BA-BUMP! 

She finally moved her hand, yet her eyes remained glossed over and lifeless. Her bloody fingertips made contact with the golden heart, yet unable to fully grasp the object of her desire. She stayed like that, frozen in time.

No words.

No emotion.

Just…silence…

Pure…stillness…

A statue frozen in an eternal sleep…

Sonic couldn’t take it. He almost preferred that she talk, even if her words reflected only hatred for what he had done. His gasps for air became increasingly rapid, his breaths increasingly shallow.

Finally, he couldn’t handle it anymore.

With a small scream escaping him, he threw the sword to the side with a satisfying clang, falling into a seated position at the same time as he fought to quell his rapid heartbeat.

“The nerve!”

“H-Huh!?”

Sonic whipped his head around, searching frantically for the source of the sudden voice as he found his way back into reality.

“I say! Do you have ANY idea who I am!? Hmph! Knights these days…”

Sonic slowly looked back to the sword, crawling his way over to the curious blade.

“W-Weird…I coulda sworn I heard that voice coming from over here…”

“Of course you did, you fool!!”

“Gah!!”

Sonic practically fell off the stone in shock as a pair of silver eyes opened on the hilt of the sword, scowling at him disapprovingly. 

“Well? Go on with it!”

“Huh? Go on with what!?”

Was he really talking to a sword of all things?

“Bah! Must I do everything around here!? Pick me up!”

The vision of the girl flashed through his mind.

“N-No! I-I can’t!”

“Surely you jest! You pulled me free from the stone here did you not?”

“So?”

“So wield me! You must have had some purpose for needing my assistance.”

Sonic’s words caught in his throat as he stared ahead, trembling.

His purpose, huh?

What exactly was his reason for staying?

“Well? State your purpose, Knave.”

“My…purpose…?” The image of a smiling girl flashed in his mind, though he couldn’t see her eyes no matter how hard he tried. He quickly threw aside the thought, turning his face away in shame, “Does it really matter?”

The sword scoffed, “Of course it matters! A knight without purpose is doomed to fall to villainy!”

“Villainy, huh?”

The hedgehog chuckled slightly, flashing a cocky grin.

“Then I guess you could say…I’m the greatest villain of them all…”

The sword searched the hedgehog’s features, seeking an answer for such insolence. The more he looked, however, the more his own features softened. If what he just said was true, then why…

Why did his eyes tell a different story?

The sword sighed, looking away, “...Caliburn.”

“Huh?”

“That is my name, though I fear I do not know yours.”

“Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog.” He didn’t even attempt a smile.

“Very well, Sir Sonic. Now…” He flashed another comically angry glare, “Would you be so kind as to pick me up so I no longer lay here in such an unceremonious manner!”

Sonic hesitated a moment before grinning once more with a dark look in his eyes.

If he was to become a villain…

“Fine.”

…then so be it.

Sonic gripped Caliburn’s hilt with a sturdy clang of his gauntlet, lifting him up to face-level as yet another memory flashed in his mind, this time of him lifting the crying girl off him after he’d attacked her on that sandy shoreline. He paid no mind to it, fully accepting his new role in this world.

That’s right.

He was a villain now.

There was no going back from this.

The bloodied ghost watched him from behind, though he no longer cared. He rushed forward, jumping from the stone and landing before the wizard before looking up at her. Merlina’s eyes widened as she took in his dark gaze, heavy with burden from whatever purpose he decided upon.

“I see you found the sacred sword.”

Sonic turned, unfazed by the massive knight now awaiting battle beneath a nearby stone archway. Caliburn watched him meticulously, his suddenly dark and merciless gaze not lost on the sword.

“Sonic…careful now…”

Sonic reared back his equipped hand in response, paying no mind to the sword as he released a sinister chuckle.

“Careful? Where’s the fun in that?”

The king cocked his sword in anticipation.

“Now, let us see what that so-called ‘sacred sword’ of yours can do, ‘Sir Sonic’.”

“Bring it on, King Arthur…”

CHAPTER END

[alterchaos]

So this is a bit of a unique video that I've been debating making for a while now, but I feel ready. I eventually wanted to have the chance to share a bit of my life's story and how it's influenced Alter Chaos as well as just finding the space to safely open up about various struggles I've been going through (as well as some fun, more light-hearted stories like how I became a Sonic fan). I want to let you all get to know the real me behind the oc, to exist more as my own person and not just a fictionalized character. Today seemed like the right day for it.

NOTE: I keep most of the deeper topics censored to keep it friendly for all viewers. As always, use your best judgment and feel free to skip ahead to 22:19 for the more lighthearted content. My goal is to hopefully feel seen and understood, not to force my trauma onto anyone or demand pity. That was never what this au or community was about.

Thank you, everyone, for all the love and support so far. 🫶

[alterchaos]

Sneak peek...

[alterchaos]

BEING FROM A DISTANT WORLD

Sonic enters a strange new world inside another storybook. Still haunted by the events of the Arabian Nights, how will he handle his new surroundings...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: A WORLD OF GRAY

NEXT CHAPTER: THE SWORD IN THE STONE

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

THUD!

The blue hedgehog groaned in aggravation as his body remained face down on the dirt road beneath him, arms sprawled wide in resignation. He had no idea where he was or why he’d been summoned into yet another storybook, but one thing was certain.

He wanted to go home.

Sonic lifted his head, an equally aggravated scowl lining his features. He rose to his feet, effortlessly catching the bag of chilidogs with an outstretched arm as he furiously scanned the area for any sign of the perpetrator. The answer came in the form of a hooded figure running to him from his left, staff in hand.

So…that was the person to blame for interrupting his brooding…

“B-Being from a distant world…” The figure threw the hood back, revealing a girl with purple hair whose silver eyes were fraught with panic, “Forgive my abrupt summ-”

Sonic quickly held up a finger, shushing the girl before she could finish.

“No. I’m not doing this. Not again…”

“Again, sir…?”

“Sonic. Now, whoever you are, wherever I am, send me home…NOW.”

“But-”

“NOW!!”

Before he could argue further, Sonic’s ear twitched, catching the attention of hooves clopping against the dirt road. He turned to face the noise only to find a large, crowned knight riding atop an equally armored horse. Dark smoke seeped from every orifice, similar to the waves of creatures now summoned by the slash of his sword.

Sonic rolled his eyes, “Oh boy. Let me guess. You’re the big bad around here aren’t ya?”

Sonic noticed the girl shift back slightly in fear as the creatures surrounded them, the knight continuing his approach. He sighed and held up his hands in resignation, “Fine! Fine. I’ll take care of this guy, but after that you’re sending me home. Got it?”

The wizard nodded quickly, though the hero was already gone, his lunch bag tossed high into the air as he raced all around her in a whirlwind of blue. It felt awkward, racing at top speed for the first time since he awoke in his altered body three months ago, but he managed. A subsequent and powerful gust of wind followed where his feet had tread, threatening to blow the young wizard over. She slowly opened her eyes, turning behind her to look and gasping in shock at the sight.

All the king’s underlings…were gone…

How…

How had he…?

Sonic skidded to a halt, shooting his right arm out to the side and catching the bag of chilidogs with ease. He didn’t even need to look.

Yep…still got it.

A genuine smile threatened to creep across his lips before he quickly threw the feeling to the side, the ghost’s icy stare faintly reappearing in his mind.

No.

He shouldn’t be enjoying this.

Sonic refixed his gaze to the knight slowly approaching upon his dark, smoky steed. He cocked his massive sword in an attempt to intimidate the comparatively small hedgehog, as if to question what the hero could realistically accomplish against such a grand figure. 

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t up against just any small hedgehog.

Sonic rolled his eyes dramatically before shooting the massive knight a bored look. He pulled out one of the chilidogs and took a bite as if such a challenge meant nothing to him. The knight narrowed his eyes in fury as the hedgehog finished his snack, subsequently pulling out the other and taunting him by twirling it repeatedly in his grasp. He didn’t spill a single drop of condiment as he stared him down in like. The hero shifted his feet behind him, readying a fighting stance as the knight cocked his sword once more.

Challenge accepted.

A moment passed between the two as their eyes remained locked.

They reared back, ready to strike.

This was it.

The final battle.

3…

2…

1…

“Wait!! You musn’t!!”

He first noticed his feet flying through the air…

Then the chilidog leaving his hand…

His body…

…flying…backwards…

A sudden gust of wind ripped the empty bag from around his wrist as Sonic turned to the source of the voice, eyes wide in shock as he spotted the girl from before now gripping his hand, yanking him away from the start of the battle.

What the…

How was she this strong…?

Was she…even human…?

Or…was she just…

…just…like…

It all came back to him in a flash.

The space station…

Her head hitting the ground…

Her words…

Her cry for power…

The fight in the snowy glade…

The emerald…

“...Untiꓵu tiϝᴉɼ l thμe eԍnduq…”

“YoU mOnStEr!!!”

S H A T T E R ! !! !

His sweaty back hit the earth beneath him before he could regain any sense of where he was. He remained there, trembling with wide eyes as he stared at the wizard now teleporting them away in a gale with her staff. In a few flashes of light, the girl with the bloodied, golden hair reappeared, staring him down as the cyclone of wild magic picked up in strength. She didn’t speak, simply shifting her eyes towards the wizard girl’s abdomen before her judgemental eyes locked once more onto the hedgehog’s with a scoff. 

She turned away from him.

“Wait…”

He reached out a hand.

She was already gone.

“WAIT!!!”

The girl with the staff noticed the crying, trembling hedgehog. She looked to him first with shock, then with sympathy and understanding as she slid her free hand into his, continuing to teleport them away. 

“Sonic…I will save you…”

Sonic’s vision went blurry as confusion and panic continued to settle in, his mind unsure of what was real anymore.

“I promise…”

And then they were gone.

CHAPTER END

[alterchaos]

I think we all know who Blazia was designed after…

[alterchaos]

A WORLD OF GRAY

Three months following the fight against Dark Gaia, Sonic remains unwilling to venture out into the world around him, though some adventures will simply meet you right where you're at...

(cw: verbal/narcissistic abuse)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: THE MECHANIC'S APPRENTICE

NEXT CHAPTER: BEING FROM A DISTANT WORLD

knock knock knock

The young inventor waited patiently before the closed door, silence emanating from the darkened house as per usual. A few flickies chirped as they flew by, their colorful feathers shimmering brilliantly under the early autumn sun. The fox shivered as a cool gust of wind rustled the dying leaves of a nearby tree, clutching his scarf closer to his face as he knocked once more.

knock knock knock

“Sonic? It’s me, Tails.”

Silence.

“I brought some food.” Tails held up the warm bag, “Vanilla made your favorite, her special-recipe chili dogs, and I thought maybe we could-”

The door creaked open, revealing a tired, disheveled hedgehog. White fur tipped his quills, muzzle, ears, and tail. Even with his head hung low and his shoulders slack, he still stood tall over the fox before him, clutching the golden locket around his neck.

“...”

Tails sighed, offering a sincere smile, “Want to come over and have lunch? I made some cool new modifications to the tornado. Want to check them out?”

Sonic’s emerald eyes remained downcast, “...No thanks, Lil’ Bro…”

The fox handed his older brother the bag of food, worry crossing his features, “...Amy asked about you…Staying with Vanilla and Cream seems to have helped her a lot.”

“...”

“...Look, Sonic, if you ever change your mind about moving in-”

“...Tell her I said, ‘thanks’.”

“Oh…”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...It’s been three months…Do you want to talk about it?”

No response.

“...Okay…I’m here for you…We all are…Whenever you’re ready…” Tails turned to leave, finally defeated.

“...Thanks, Lil’ Bro…”

In a gentle motion, the depressed hero shut the door with a tiny click of the nob, returning once more to the dim, gray room, food in hand. He stood there a moment, unsure what to do next.

“You can’t seriously tell me you’re about to eat that.”

He didn’t need to turn to recognize the voice behind him, a sharp and icy hatred piercing his soul with every word.

“...”

“In front of me no less.” The voice scoffed, “The audacity!”

“Would you just stop…” Sonic turned to face the vengeful ghost with tired eyes. She stood there, face scarred and body drenched in her own blood. Her right arm was missing as well as her stomach, her hair chopped unevenly. She wore her stained, green wrap from their adventure inside the Arabian Nights as well as her black joggers with the white stripes from their final adventure across Gaia. She didn’t wear shoes, her feet stained red from the puddles of blood dripping from her wounds.

No locket was in sight.

The ghost of his friend moved to the sofa where she’d once laid, laying down on it once more with dramatic flair, “‘WoUlD yOu JuSt StOp’! Oh, give me a break…”

Sonic froze, eyes wide.

“I wonder if she begged the same as you tore her limb from limb…”

He began to tremble, a hint of anger seeping into his gaze.

He clenched his fist.

“Monster…You dare act as if you’re the victim here? Don’t make me laugh. You’re only getting what you deserve…”

He paused, taking in what she’d said. She was right. No matter his excuse, he couldn’t run from this.

She was right.

She was always right.

He unclenched his fist, looking down in defeat as he held the locket once more.

“...You’re right…It’s all my fault…”

“And don’t you dare forget that.”

Sonic began moving over to his kitchen to put the food away before stopping abruptly as something peculiar caught the corner of his vision.

“A…book…?”

He walked over to it, ignoring the ghost standing beside him. He picked it up, turning over the cover which read in gold, ornate letters, ‘The Tale of King Arthur’. 

“Wow. Another book, huh? At least you can’t murder me a second time.”

“Give me a break. Tails probably left it here on one of his visits. I’ll have to return it when I see him.”

“And when will that be, I wonder? You aren’t really suggesting going outside are you? A monster like you needs to remain locked up…”

“...No, of course not! I’ll give it back to him next time he comes over to-!!?”

The letters on the cover began to glow, a bright blue summoning circle surrounding the haunted hero.

“Now look what you did…”

The ghost faded away along with her words as Sonic grew overwhelmed by the scene before him, shielding his eyes from the growing light.

“Ohnononononononono….”

He took a step, ready to run for safety as the ground beneath him opened up, revealing a dirt road beneath a gray sky.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”

Too late.

The hedgehog disappeared through the portal, lost in the pages of his second storybook adventure.

CHAPTER END

[alterchaos]

THE MECHANIC'S APPRENTICE

A student becomes a...student? Our heroes' world just grew a whole lot bigger...

(cn: This chapter kicks off the official second half of the series known as Alter Chaos: Future, or 'Future Chaos' for short. I have been so excited to get to this content as this is the stuff I've planned the most [well before I started the au]. Thank you for joining me on this journey so far and I look forward to seeing you all in Avalon!)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: THE HEARTS WE TOUCH

NEXT CHAPTER: A WORLD OF GRAY

At the top of a hill near the cliffside not too far from a small town on the planet Mobius, there sat a workshop. Its owner was an inventor of the highest caliber, one who would someday sit among the legends of his time, a supporting cast member in the tale of the legendary hero who would one day destroy the darkness once and for all. For now though, this humble workshop was his home.

And on that fateful day, his home would be invaded by an intruder of the most curious sort, setting course a series of events; however small they seemed at the time, that would one day aid in this great battle to shake the heavens and the earth. 

At least, that’s what this intruder’s master already knew to be true.

To the intruder, however, well…

“Come on…Come on…There’s gotta be something here that can help… Let’s see…”

The intruder rummaged through the various mounds of disorganized scrap metal, tossing each new and hastily crafted invention to the side.

“No. No. No. Eww definitely not! No…Ah ha! Perfect!”

The intruder spun around, holding up the object of desire as he hummed a random tune.

Water pitcher acquired.

“This should help!”

“H-Hello?”

“Gasp!”

The intruder ducked just as the home’s owner flipped on the light, searching around with tired eyes.

“I-Is someone-!?”

The fox’s eyes fixed on the water pitcher curiously floating above one of his work benches with a soft, cyan glow.

“Uuuhhh…”

He grabbed a nearby metal rod, prodding the pitcher curiously.

“Huh…I don’t think I experimented with levitation tech before. I wonder how this thing’s-”

The dust from the fox’s movements kicked up some nearby dust.

“A-phew!”

“AHH!!!”

“AAHHH!!!”

“AAAAAHHHH!!!”

“AAAAAHHHHH!!!”

The pitcher dropped from its position, crashing down on the young intruder’s head. The fox fell back into a mound of scrap metal, shutting his eyes as it began to topple over.

It didn’t.

He opened his eyes, watching with wide eyes as the top of the pile floated gently above his head shrouded in the same soft glow. The intruder stood up, a white hedgehog with striking, golden eyes; black gloves with cyan patterns matching that on his forehead, and a pair of boots with what seemed to be a red hourglass design on the front. His messy, wild bangs were turned upward, his entire body glowing in the same aura as the objects above the fox. 

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to scare you Mr. Great-and-Wise-Inventor! I-I was just looking for-!” The hedgehog placed the scrap metal in a neat pile off to the side with a simple flick of his wrist, his aura fading as he did. He turned quickly to the shattered pitcher beneath his feet, “Uh oh…”

The young fox stood up, brushing off the dust from his person, “Who…Who are you?”

The hedgehog snapped back towards the fox, a nervous smile crossing his features, “I’m uuuhh…the delivery man?”

“I don’t have a delivery man.”

“Well you do now, Mr. Great-and-Wise-”

“The name’s, Tails.”

“R-Right! Tails…? Wait…it isn’t Prower? Huh, guess all those history books lie-”

Tails reared back his metal pole, ready to strike, “Okay, who are you and how do you know my actual name!”

“Yipes!!” The intruder held out a hand in defense, causing the fox to freeze and float gently off the ground.

“W-Whoa!!” He looked to the hedgehog who was glowing once more, “Hey! Put me down!”

“Promise to drop that thing and hear me out?”

“Alright, fine…” Tails was lowered to the ground with ease, dropping the pole as the hedgehog had requested, “Answers. Now.”

“Right…” The hedgehog rubbed his head sheepishly, “My name is Silver and…I…” 

“Well…?”

“I…” He looked around nervously as some unseen threat before leaning in and whispering, “Promise not to tell anyone?”

“Anyone except my family.”

“Good enough for me!” He leaned in again, barely audible, “I’m from…the  f u t u r e…”

“...”

Silver smiled at him expectantly.

“...I don’t have time for this.” The fox turned to leave.

“W-Wait! I can prove it!” Silver picked up the broken shards of the pitcher, focusing his energy on the broken glass. The pieces floated up together, slowly but surely reforming the familiar shape as if time itself was rewound. Silver then caught the completed pitcher, releasing a few heavy breaths as he wiped the sweat from his brow. 

He looked to the fox with proud, sparkling eyes.

Tails paused, eyes wide in disbelief, “Okay…maybe you are from the future…But why come all this way through time just for a pitcher of water? Don’t you have water where, or when, you’re from?”

“W-We do…in limited supply…”

Tails looked at him concerned, “...Well…if all you need is a drink I’d be happy to-”

“I’d love to but no. There’s no time for that.” A serious expression crossed his face, “I need your help. Please, Great Inventor Tails.”

“Just Tails is fine, and sure, I’ll help you get as much water as you need…How much do you need exactly?”

“As much as I need to heal my new friend!”

“...Well…water itself doesn’t heal necessarily…”

“But isn’t it used to put out fire?”

“F-Fire!?”

“Well, my friend isn’t on fire exactly. It’s more like they got burned by fire and I was hoping to find enough water to help heal their wounds.”

“Silver…Water won’t help your friend.”

“Oh…” The hedgehog looked down in defeat.

“But I have some ointment! And a bunch of other medical equipment too!”

The hedgehog’s eyes lit up with hope.

“It’ll depend on how badly your friend got burned. 1st degree? 2nd degree? …4th degree?”

“What’s a degree?”

“Uuh…” Tails paused, unsure exactly how to respond a moment. 

Just what kind of future did he come from?

“Well…a degree in this instance is like a scale depicting the level to which they were-”

“Oh! I get it now!”

“Yeah!”

“Like when I float up the side of a crumbling building!” Silver smiled with pride.

“What? No…Silver…a scale, as a noun, is…”

It took nearly the rest of the afternoon for Tails to teach Silver basic terms like ‘degree’, ‘scale’, and ‘noun’. He also got to learn more about Silver’s upbringing. The naive hedgehog was born nearly 200 years into the future in a time and dimension where instead of learning to read and write, children were forced to learn how to survive in the heat of an endless war against the darkness. Tails hesitated a bit at the mention, flashbacks of his previous adventure a little under a month ago playing over in his head, regret and sadness over the girl with the golden hair filling his heart once more. Silver asked if he wanted to talk about it, the fox rejecting his kind offer and continuing to focus on the lesson. By the time they finished, the sky glowed a brilliant gold, the reflection of the setting sun shimmering against the calm ocean outside. 

“Okay, I think I understand now.”

“Perfect! So what kind of burn is it?”

“5th degree.”

The fox froze.

“Silver, there is no 5th degree.”

“Well there should be.”

“Okay...Where exactly is this burn?”

“The whole body.”

The fox froze once more.

“S-Silver…I-I really don’t know how to tell you this but-”

“I know it sounds crazy! I thought they were dead too but…” He recalled stumbling upon the barely breathing corpse, “They were alive…breathing…looking to me for help…” He recalled those eyes, scared, alone, and helpless even in their owner’s charred state, “I know I’m way in over my head but…I have to try.” Silver clenched his fist in determination. 

“Silver…” The fox couldn’t help but think of his lost friend once more, how he wished he’d done more for her, “Alright. I’ll teach you everything I know about medicine.”

The young hedgehog’s eyes sparkled with glee, “Thank you, Tails!”

A question popped into his new instructor’s mind, “Wait…If you’re here…Won’t they be unable to survive without you?”

Silver smiled confidently, “Oh, that’s easy! I just hid them away in my own little pocket dimension between space and time. Nothing will harm them there…probably…”

The fox stared at him blankly, “R-Right…easy…nothing strange or unusual about that…”

Just what had he gotten himself into?

Meanwhile in the realm of Silver’s mentioning lay the body hastily hidden beneath a pile of soft pillows. The large mammoth lifted the top of the fortress, taking in the sight of the charred and bloodied face. With a sarcastically inquisitive look and a hefty sigh, he lifted the body with his telekinesis and carried it to a more proper resting place among the stars. A pair of twin wolf spirits appeared at his command, speaking in unison.

“Yes, Master Mogul?”

“Please take care of our guest here and, under no circumstances, should my apprentice be made aware of our interference.”

“Yes, Master Mogul.”

The twin spirits carried the body away as the great Time Keeper paced beyond his realm. He closed his eyes, a small smile forming as he began to chuckle.

“My, my…Whatever will I do with you, young Silver…”

The mammoth’s eyes narrowed as he approached his destination.

“You on the other hand…will remain exactly as you are…”

The light of the prison reflected among the stars.

“Hmph. Clever move.”

“Not as clever as yours I fear.”

“You can’t keep me here forever! Your time is running out.”

“Funny you should say such a thing though…I guess it is.”

The prisoner pounded his fists against the glowing walls, “Don’t be cocky with me! You know damn well my champion is still out there! This isn’t over!”

“Perhaps not.” Mogul turned his back to the prison, “We’ll both just have to wait and see what their next move is, won’t we? Though…”

“Tsch!”

“ I a l r e a d y k n o w . ”

“...”

“Nothing more to say? Well then…” The Time Keeper began walking back towards his realm, “I guess we’ll just have to see who’s champion is stronger in the end.”

The trio of warrior spirits descended upon the scene, the prisoner glaring at them with glowing eyes.

“Now, let the true game begin.”

CHAPTER END

[alterchaos]

BEACH TRIP

A family of Mobians enjoys a pleasant day along South Island's shore. In their endlessly chaotic fun, memories are made to last a lifetime. Life never felt so free...

(cn: Regardless of whatever slice of life chapters are added, this one was always planned to be the FINAL chapter to take place before the start of the Seven Rings Saga. I wanted to take my time on this one, which is why it was never posted until now. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: ME AND MY SHADOW

NEXT CHAPTER: THE PERFECT DAY

“So…we meet again…”

The Hero of Mobius’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he stared down his deadly foe. Sweat dripped from his furrowed brow in a steady rhythm–plip plop–, the early summer sun beating down on him like one of Knuckles’s massive fists.

“Umm…Sonic…?”

He swallowed nervously.

This was it…

Life or death…

…

…

“O c e a n . . .”

The hedgehog remained where he was, staring menacingly at the calm waters as blue as him, the teen human sighing in exasperation from behind.

“Yup. We lost him.”

Tails facepalmed, “Sweet merciful chaos…”

The large echidna gave his fidgeting little brother a hard but affectionate clap on the shoulder, causing him to stumble forward onto one leg and flail his arms to keep his balance, “Ha ha! One of these days we’ll get you to overcome that fear of yours!”

Sonic faceplanted into the sandy beach below, “Oof!” He lifted his head, spitting out a mouthful of sun-baked sediment before sticking out his tongue, “Blegh! Watch where you swing that fist of yours, Knucklehead!”

“Or maybe you watch where you’re landing next time.” The echidna flashed a cocky grin as his brother grumbled and mimicked him in a sarcastic tone below.

Eve knelt down next to the pouting hedgehog, holding her wide-brimmed hat against her braided, shining head of hair, “Well, I guess you could say that this beach…” She stifled a snicker, “...rocks.”

He flipped over, pulling her down next to him.

“GAH!!!”

She faceplanted as well, the hat on her head blowing free in the wind. Sonic jumped up, grabbing it and placing it on his head in a single, swift motion.

“Mine!”

“EVERY TIME, SONIC!!!”

The blue hedgehog released a hearty laugh as the girl leapt up, going in for the tackle. Sonic’s hands met hers in playful challenge, the two of them struggling over the fate of the pretty hat resting upon his quilly head.

“I swear, Sonic, you act like a housecat more than a hedgehog!”

“Hey! That’s an insult to Blaze!”

“An Earth housecat!”

“Heeeey, that’s not-!!”

Eve held up her golden locket with a smirk, its frame catching and reflecting the sunlight back into Sonic’s gaze, his pupils widening in awe.

“Pretty…”

“Yoink!”

The human snatched the hat, placing it upon her poofy head and running as fast as she could across the beach.

“CATCH ME IF YOU CAN SLOWPO-”

He was already there.

“CRAP!!! I FORGOT YOU WERE FAST!!!”

They wrestled some more.

Knuckles and Tails laughed at the spectacle as Amy approached with a huff and a raised eyebrow, “Those two never change…”

Off in the distance, the human girl smiled deviously as she pulled out her locket and angled it ever so slightly.

”Heheheheheeee…”

”Hey, what are y-“

Before he had the chance to finish his statement, Sonic was blinded by a stray sunbeam caught in the golden heart’s reflection.

”MY EYES!!!!”

The hedgehog fell over in an overly dramatic, fantastical display of agony, causing his friend to laugh heartily as she stole her hat back.

”Thank you, Sonic.”

Eve leapt up, placing the hat neatly upon her braided, poofy hair once more as her friend rolled his eyes in playful exasperation with his arms sprawled wide. 

”Cheater…”

Knuckles approached, offering the girl a well-deserved high-five, “Damn. Soon I won’t be the strongest one in our group.”

”Hehehee…” The girl with the golden hair placed a hand to her chin smugly before flexing both of her toned biceps with pride, “I guess all my hard work is finally paying off, huh?”

Her adoptive sister smiled brightly, “Yeah! You look great!”

”Thanks!” Eve lowered her arms, a more relaxed smile crossing her features, “Well, at least being in shape can help make up somewhat for my lack of powers, right? Plus, I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after an intense session of exercise!” She pumped her fists near her face enthusiastically.

Sonic rose, dusting the sand from his figure, “Now you have the brawn AND the brains!” He leaned forward with a mischievous grin, “Take some notes, Knucklehead.”

”-!!?” The emerald guardian jolted before he returned the comment with a vengeful grin of his own, “At least I have the brawn. You’ve got neither.”

“WHAT WAS THAT!!?”

”YOU HEARD ME!!!”

Now it was their turn to wrestle. 

Eve giggled before turning and waving to her sister and the fox behind her, “Come on guys! I see a good spot!” She spun around and began to prance ahead gleeful-

WHAM!!!

“AIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!”

In less than an instant, the two spindashing brothers collided with her, catching her in their chaotic tumble across the sand as they attempted to no avail to come to a halt.

Tails sighed, “Geez…Those two are so reckless…”

Amy had already dropped everything and was running towards the scene, “OH MY GOSH!!! EVE ARE YOU OKAY!!?”

“Unnnh…” The human lay sprawled out on her back with her arms wide, her vision spinning from the impact of the unforeseen attack.

A literal blue blur zipped into her vision, “EVE, I’M SO SORRY!!!”

A splotch of red joined him on his right, “Here. Can you stand up?”

“Guuuh…” Knuckles tried lifting her slightly in his arms, though she went limp, her soul inevitably leaving her as she lost consciousness, “Blegh…”

Sonic fell to his knees in cartoonish panic, “AAAAH!!!! KNUCKLES, DO SOMETHING!!!!”

“WAKE UP, KID!!!! STAY WITH US!!!!”

Though, she was no longer with them beneath that sunny sky.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Nnngh…”

Eyes the color of the ocean beside the girl opened. She sat up slowly, her mind gradually reawakening as she took in each of her surroundings: the pink, green, and yellow striped beach towel laid neatly beneath her figure– though crinkling slightly under the shifted weight of her now-bent legs; the cool, salty droplets from the waves crashing near the shore to her left; the heat of the sun burning with the same fiery passion as her sister lounging in the chair beside her with some light reading…

The blue hedgehog taking off in a joyful sprint towards her direction…

That’s right…

Just before she blacked out…

Sonic…

He…

…

Without another thought, the girl with the shining, tangled locks pushed herself up onto her feet and began to run to him as well. Time seemed to slow in that moment, the two of them smiling with their arms wide as the distance between them shortened.

“Sonic!”

“Eve!”

The distance grew ever shorter.

“Sonic!”

“Eve!”

Her arms dropped, the hedgehog’s eyes widening as he noticed her brow furrow with changing expression.

“Sonic…”

“Eve?”

She took off into a full sprint, a terrifying fire behind her gaze.

“SONIIIC!!!

The hedgehog skidded to a halt, promptly turning and running in the opposite direction.

“Oh sugar-honey-iced-tea!!”

The pink hedgehog sighed as she lowered her book, flipping down her sunglasses to get a better look at her blue counterpart now hiding behind his older brother in fear. The echidna apologized nervously as the flaming human tried circling him to catch the pleading hedgehog on the other side to no avail. One thing was for sure, when it came to fighting with fire, Eve had them all beat.

Well…only because nobody dared to ever pick a fight with Amy in the first place…

At least nobody left to tell the tale…

The girl with the golden hair lunged with a seething breath, aiming to pull the derpy hedgehog into a shoulder lock and flip him onto the ground for a pin. By the time her arms wrapped around him, her hands were filled with nothing but air. Before she had a chance to properly register what was happening, she felt a gentle push from atop her shoulders from the leapfrogging hedgehog and the weight of her woven hat lifting clean from her head, the cool air left in his wake brushing against her frazzled braids. 

She turned, pouting as he placed it atop his quills. He turned as well, flashing her a wink as he crossed one leg in front of the other with runway flair, each step punctuated by a new word.

“Good! Great! Awesome! Outstanding!”

He zipped back to her, spinning around before plopping the hat back on her head and throwing his arms out in bedazzling, cheerleader-like fashion.

“AAAAA-MAZIIIING!!!”

“Hehehe!”

Everyone smiled at the wholesome display. No one could deny that the human and the hedgehog completed one another, each providing for the other something they’d never known as young children. For Eve, that had been a friend: the idea of trust and a community she’d earned simply by existing. For Sonic, a sense of self: the permission to look beyond his title as the Hero of Mobius and be his own person. Through each, they’d learned the magic of innocence and regained a sense of childlike wonder once stolen from them. That was what made their friendship special. It was what allowed them to understand one another so deeply. It was what gifted them the power to connect so spiritually. No one could ever take that away from them. Not now. Not ever. In the end, no matter what they faced, they were always right there, supporting one another side by side with unwavering conviction and hearts filled with love…

…until the end.

“Oh!” Eve popped up onto her feet, adjusting her hat and brushing the sand from her sun-caked figure, “We should play a game!”

Amy smiled as she set down her book and stood up, “A game sounds wonderful, Eve!”

Tails raced over excitedly from where he’d been building an intricate sand fortress, “What did you have in mind?”

“Hehee…” She shot a finger up into the sky as a powerful glint entered her eye, “I challenge you all to a good, old-fashioned game of volleyball!!!”

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Set!”

“Mine!”

PAFF!

The athletic girl with the golden hair leapt high into the air, striking the hard ball with the base of her palm.

“Ha!”

“Not so fast!”

SHOOM!

They’d decided on sisters versus brothers with Tails sitting out as referee to make both sides even. It hadn’t taken long for the group to locate a nearby cabana in which various beach-faring goods were sold: sunscreen, beach balls, towels, you name it! The small business was run by a local tribe of underwater Mobians who used the proceeds to fund upkeep for their sacred temple: a shrine erected to honor their chao goddess, Aquarius.The head manager– a shark Mobian named Razor– was initially distrustful of the human that resembled the villain who polluted their oceans. He was quickly reprimanded though by his co-manager, Coral, and their assistant, Pearly, who welcomed the teenage girl with open arms. Even their chao friend, Crusher, turned away from the shark, leading him to inevitably apologize and even offer the sporting goods for free, though Eve insisted it wasn’t necessary. 

After that, it was off to set up their game!

The first match had been swift, with ‘Team Bros’ winning 0-21 in absolute annihilation. A vote was then cast 4-1, deeming the use of near sound-breaking speed ‘cheating’ much to the Blue Blur’s dismay. When questioned why he voted against his own team, Knuckles simply stated that there was no honor or fun in winning if the ball could never pass the net. Of course, Sonic was left complaining over how ‘slow’ each volley was the entire next round, though no one paid him any mind.

As a result, the girls won the second match a solid 21-07.

Now– after a stern ‘pep-talk’ in which Knuckles’s massive fist convinced Sonic to stop whining and start taking the game seriously– it was down to match point, both teams locked in an intense battle 22-23

The end was near…

Sonic raced to the site of the spiked volleyball with ease, locking his hands together and setting his brother up for the win.

“It’s all you, Knux!”

“Heh!”

The echidna leapt high into the air.

“Here I come!”

He reared his massive fist back enthusiastically.

Though…perhaps a bit TOO enthusiastically…

Amy began to sweat, “Get ready, Eve! It looks like this one will be rougher than the rest of them!”

Knuckles smiled.

Sonic’s eyes widened, “W-Woah! E-Easy, Knux!”

But it was too late.

He had an opponent to beat.

WHAM!!!!

SHOOOOOM!!!!!

“AIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”

THUD!

BOOM!!!!!!

The human leapt out of the way just in time for the volleyball– nearly bursting with flames from the speed and impact of the echidna’s punch– to whizz past her side with missile-like precision. An explosion of sand erupted from behind her, Amy shrieking as she shielded her eyes instinctively. After a moment, the dust settled, everyone falling quiet in pure shock and horror, including the echidna.

Whoops…

Amy burst into flames, “WHAT THE  H E L L , KNUCKLES!!?!?”

The emerald guardian practically shrunk inside his skin, “I…thought she was ready…?”

The girl with the golden hair flipped onto her back, eyes swimming with terror as she placed a hand over her chest to try and quell her still-racing heart, “K-Knuckles…L-Look man…I-I appreciate you acknowledging my strength a-and all…but like…m-maybe take a page o-out of Sonic’s book…j-just this once…”

Sonic continued to stare at his brother nervously, “Y-Yeah dude, maybe you should just-” He paused, his eyes narrowing as he realized what his human friend was implying, “Wait a sec…”

Tails blew his whistle, throwing his hand down in front of him to call the match. 

Unfortunately, Knuckles– having broken their rule about excessive use of powers– forfeit the match and, therefore, the impromptu tournament by default.

The girls, after a hard-fought battle, walked away victorious that hot, sunny day.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Flicky!”

“Pocky!”

The girl with the golden hair dodged as her adoptive sister swiped, grasping nothing but air. She dove, swimming a few meters underneath the steady waves before resurfacing to Amy’s left away from the shoreline. The hedgehog’s ear flicked in the human’s direction, a devilish smile forming along her lips as she turned in the opposite direction.

“Flicky!”

Though Eve knew better.

Shwooo…

The human teen slipped under the surface once more before pushing off the sandy floor beneath her feet. She gracefully glided through the crystal-like waters, circling past Amy to misdirect he-

“Gotcha!”

SPLASH!!!

“Gurgrlpff-!!!”

Eve fought between laughing and screaming as her sister grabbed her. She surfaced, coughing slightly before splashing and shoving back playfully, each droplet of water capturing each stray, glittering ray of sunlight. The two Mobians’ voices rang out in a symphony of joyous laughter as they enjoyed such a wonderful moment full of life and peace. 

Sonic watched from the distance with a smile, content to see his friends so happy.

“Mmmn…”

He stretched, pulling his sunglasses down over his eyes and placing his hands behind his quills as he leaned back, the banded beach chair creaking ever so slightly under his frame.

“What a perfect da-”

“Whoo hoo!”

“-??”

The hedgehog’s ear flicked in curiosity as it picked up on the sound of his younger brother cheering triumphantly in the distance. He pulled down his sunglasses slightly, taking in the sight of the orange fox catching a wave beneath a blue and yellow surfboard he’d excitedly snagged from the cabana.

“Huh…thought he’d bought it to mod, not surf…”

Sonic flicked back down his sunglasses, smiling once more as he leaned back to take a nap.

“Nice to see him trying something new for a change.”

SHWOOOSH!

The fox Mobian glided along the water’s surface, the thrill of his newest endeavor plastering a fanged smile all over his face. Though it’d taken a few tries to stand consistently, he’d never given up.

He was going to fly high, no matter the obstacle-

Shwoosh…

“Huh?”

Tails glanced around him, unease settling along his features as his ears picked up on the sound of something submerged in the water.

“Uuuh…”

He squinted his sky blue eyes, attempting to make out what seemed to be a blurry figure beneath the surface.

It moved.

Tails jolted. 

“Guys…GUYS!!!”

Though no one answered.

The terrified fox continued to balance atop his surfboard as he turned, calling out to his brother from the shore, “Sonic!”

“...”

The figure got closer.

“H-Hey!! SONIC!!”

“...”

Closer…

“SONIC!!!”

The hedgehog’s ear twitched.

Closer…

“SONIC LOOK OVER HERE!!!! HEY!!!! SONIC!!!!”

The hedgehog grumbled before turning over and covering his ears.

Almost there…

“SONIIIIIIC!!!!!”

The blue blur clenched his jaw before revving into a spindash out of pure irritated instinct. He threw off his sunglasses in annoyance before turning to his brother on the waves.

“SHUT UP, TAILS!!!! I’M TRYING TO- Huh?” His eyes flew wide as he caught sight of the shadows beneath the waves as well. He jolted, turning his head to call out to his friends.

“HEY, GUYS!!! GET OUT OF THE WATER!!! THERE’S SOMETHIN-”

Though everyone was already gone.

“Shit!”

Without another thought, Sonic leapt up and raced towards the water’s edge.

“HANG ON, LIL’ BRO I’M-!!!”

Knee-deep, something grabbed at his ankles from beneath the sandy surface.

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! HELPTAILSHELPTAILSHELPTAILSHEL-”

“Hehehe…”

The two girls surfaced from the dying wave in the distance with a small “Boo”, causing the fox to jolt and wipe. His board slipped beneath his feet, flying forward and straight into the human’s gut.

K.O.!!

“PUH-!!!”

She fell limp, Amy having to grab her floating body as she spat out a mouthful of saltwater and well-deserved karma.

As for the hedgehog still near the shore, he remained stuck, caught by whatever impenetrable force of nature held him captive from beneath the surface. He reached down, grabbing his ankle in a desperate attempt to free himself from his watery demise. 

It was no use.

Panic overtook the hedgehog as blue as the ocean that threatened to swallow him whole should he let it. He scrunched his eyes, attempting to rev into another spindash when the figure beneath the wet sediment suddenly emerged. With one swift and powerful motion of his arm, the echidna glistening with the light refracting off a constellation of oceanic droplets threw his screaming brother high over his shoulder.

SPLASH!!!

Knuckles brushed his hands together with a snarky grin, “I win.”

“GRGBLFFPFSHT-!!!”

Sonic began to splash his arms in a feeble attempt to swim, though Knuckles paid him no mind. The echidna simply folded his arms and closed his eyes with confidence.

“Nice try, but I’m not falling for that tired old trick, little brother.”

“GLRGLPFFSH-!!!”

Knuckles continued to smile.

“I made sure to throw you near enough to the shore to get out. You’re just waiting for me to rescue you so you can pin me like all those other times. Nice try!”

“GRBLub…blub…blub…”

He remained as he was.

“...blub…”

“...”

“...”

His smile fell.

“Uhh…Sonic? You can stop pretending now…”

“...”

“...”

He turned, noticing only bubbles where his brother once resided.

“Oh no!”

He dove in after him.

By the time Amy and Tails dragged their still-delirious friend to shore, the two brothers had disappeared from the scene. The human’s adoptive sister turned, shielding her eyes from the evening sun as she gazed out worriedly among the waves. Beside her, the fox apologized profusely to the human now doubled over on her side clutching her stomach. She held up a shaky thumbs-up as Amy gasped. Tails and Eve glanced over only to find Knuckles emerging from the vast waters, half-dragging his limp brother along his shoulder. 

The pink hedgehog ran up to them, “Oh my-! Knuckles, what happened!!?”

The echidna began to sweat, “W-Well…” He glanced anxiously to the side, “Y-You s-see, Amy…”

“Eeeeugh…” The Hero of Mobius’s eyes continued to swim as he swayed. He slumped into Knuckles a bit more as whatever remaining balance he possessed left him, coughing up another wave of water in the process.

“Woah! Easy there, Sonic!” The emerald guardian propped him up.

“Here, Knuckles,” Tails ran to help lower his ailing brother to the sandy earth beneath, “Sonic? Can you hear me?”

“Nnnnngh…” The hedgehog coughed a couple more times before sniffling and flicking his waterlogged ears instinctively, “W-Wha wuss tha Lil’ Bruh…?”

The fox’s eyes widened, “Seems like the saltwater clogged his sinuses due to some sort of intense pressure or force while going in. Hopefully it doesn’t settle, especially in his lungs, or else he’ll be fighting the bacteria growth for at least a week if not longer…”

The echidna’s brow furrowed in worry, “Uh…English please?”

“He took in too much water and now he’s sick.”

Knuckles gulped.

Eve slowly crawled her way over, still clutching the area of the surfboard’s impact, “Okay but…how exactly did Sonic end up that far into the ocean?”

The hedgehog turned to his side, coughing again before shooting an exasperated look in his older brother’s direction, “A-Assk…Knucklehea…”

Everyone turned to face Knuckles.

The echidna smiled sheepishly, “I uh…may have…you know…thrown Sonic in…”

“...”

“...”

“...”

He turned away, “I-I mean no big deal, right? Tails knows medicine! H-He’ll be well in no time a-an-”

Wait…

Why did he hear boss music?

The echidna turned back around, practically shrinking in the face of the pair of sisters now flaming with a might and power only rivaled by that of the Master Emerald.

‘Oh no’ indeed…

“WAITWAITWAI-!!!!”

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

It didn’t take long to find driftwood and draw up a bonfire, an idea courtesy of the human who loved to go camping back on Earth. Each bright flame danced and flickered against one another, providing light and warmth for the sick hedgehog now curled up with one of the beach towels. His congested snores filled the peaceful night air, providing an instrument of noise to accompany the crackling fire against the backdrop of the swaying ocean brushing against the coarse sand. 

snap

crackle

pop

“Ow!”

The echidna jolted as his littlest brother wrapped another round of bandages over one of his hammer-bent dreadlocks. The fox at his side sighed unsympathetically, “Serves you right. Now hold still.”

“Hmph!” Amy folded her arms in satisfaction, “I’ll say!”

“...” The girl with the golden hair continued leaning back nonchalantly with her left hand and locked arm to prop her up. Her legs remained stretched out before her, her right hand at her chest, fiddling aimlessly with the heart whose shell shimmered against a few loose sparks. She stared into the flames apathetically, allowing their light to guide her into a meditative state – it was why she loved things like the stars above or the strands of warm bulbs lining her ceiling at home. She took another steady breath, her relaxed mind flowing into some distant journey through the vast library of memories perpetually dancing through her subconscious.

She recalled her earlier years, the endless days spent reading stories, watching cartoons, or playing games alongside her brother, Tanaka, and Ella. 

She recalled her anxiety at leaving home for the first time, throwing that fear aside as she stepped foot into an environment where she was excited to learn.

She recalled meeting two of her classmates, the three of them quickly becoming inseparable.

She recalled their jokes…

Their laughter…

Their joy…

…as well as the gradual realization that such joy didn’t include her.

She recalled that day, the day the rest of her world joined them…

The hate lining their words…

The embarrassment she wore like a tiara…

She recalled her brother turning his back, not wishing to become an accomplice in such a crime as her existence.

She recalled that blank year…

The memories her mind couldn’t hold under such duress…

The gaps filled only by the automated responses that would ensure her survival…

She recalled one of the nicer teachers reporting the two children who harassed her to no end, their threats to do away with her once and for all on top of the warning from the head adult to her to remain silent ‘or else’.

She recalled her mind going blank in that moment, her legs moving without conscious input.

She recalled her brother hesitating to speak out even as she crashed into him in her terror.

She recalled the sunlight hitting her face as she escaped the confines of that prison…

Grass turning to concrete as she reached the city…

Her frightened eyes scanning for somewhere, anywhere, she would be safe from them…

From the world…

From her life…

She recalled spotting it, the building as lonely and abandoned as she.

She recalled stepping inside, her mind not so much as registering the peculiar, otherworldly child watching her from the other side.

She recalled her hands reaching upwards, grasping and pulling at cement…

Her legs soon following…

Her little heart nearly flying out of her chest…

Gasping…

Panting…

She recalled pulling herself up, staggering slightly as she spotted the dark corner.

She recalled making her way over, hugging the wall for support before sliding down and curling up…

Dark…

Her whole world…was dark…

Cold…

Numb…

…

…

Empty…

…

…

…

She then recalled it…

Light…

Warmth…

Her only consolation in a world so dark…

Then…

Falling…

She…was falling…

Unwanted…

Unloved…

…

…

…or so she thought.

She recalled the sensation of being held in her grief, a comforting breeze hitting her face as a gentle rocking motion quelled all fear…

The pressure as her head rested there…

A heartbeat…

Someone…

Someone who wanted her to live…

Her friend…

Her saviour…

Sonic…

“Eve?”

“Hm?”

The meditative teen was pulled from her memories, eyes widening slightly as she registered her hand still massaging the golden locket rhythmically as it hung from her neck. Her aqua gaze met that of chartreuse, her sister cocking her head slightly in concern as she tried her best to read her sister’s expression, “You okay?”

Eve smiled.

“Yeah. I was just thinking.”

“Hm? About what?”

The girl with the golden hair looked up into the vast cosmic sky as her first friend continued to rest at her side.

“I was just thinking…how lucky I am to have all of you.”

Everyone smiled.

Beneath Mobius’s starry sky, five friends sat, content in each others’ company. Though many trials lay ahead, some of which remained to be told by the spirit resting among those very stars, they simply existed as one in that moment. Nothing could separate their bond, not even the thin veil between adventure and death.

Thank you, everyone, for this life.

CHAPTER END

[alterchaos]

SMALL UPDATE:

There may or may not be a new chapter at 12am on Friday. I've been super busy this week catching up on life stuff and may have to post the Future Chaos Prologue after. (It will be posted sometime this week though.)

Then it's off to my favorite Sonic game story!

(I hope you enjoy my take on this scene later 💐)

[alterchaos]

Writing the Lancelot fight be like:

[alterchaos]

👀

[alterchaos]

Prepare yourselves...