Sonic the Hedgehog: Solar Tides [IC/Accepting]

[Blade Mistress]

Cynthia watched as each member of her group was taken away to train with the mentors they were assigned, she let out a small chuckle when she saw Chimera get dragged off by Anais. "And you...what can you do?  What do you aspire to do?  I have yet to put a finger on your capabilities." She turned back to Blaze who was curious on what Cynthia was capable of.

 

"Well... I can do this for starters..." ​She changed her arms into their usual greyish color and proceeded to morph both of them into blades and slash at the air a bit to demonstrate. ​"Can cut just about anything, plus I can do more than just blades. As for what I aspire to do, well... Powers wise, I never really thought about that, I mainly want to hone my extreme gear skills so I can become a great racer... Doubt you have anything that could help with both."

 

​It was a simple answer to some simple questions, though she wasn't expecting anything special. Who was Blaze even gonna call to train her?

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dewdrop Citadel

 

As Ken followed the large Elephant Mobian, Turk, to his section of the castle, Ken couldn't help but marvel at all of the castle's inner works.  This place was amazing.  And Turk's quarters were nothing to shake a stick at.  Dozens of posters depicting elephant Mobians in a multitude of poses, were strung throughout the place.  It felt very spiritual in nature.  Ken was wondering if he would have to fight Turk in this place.  His fist tightened, and the leather of his glove made a slight crunching sound.  

 

"So...when do we fight?!"  Ken sputtered out.  

 

"No fighting..." Turk calmly said.  Ken's arms dropped to the side in disappointment.  

 

"No fighting?!  Then how am I supposed to get stronger?!"  A loud sigh could be heard escaping Turk's trunk.  

 

"Okay...you may come at me.  Whenever you want is the fine with me"  Excitedly, Ken leaped from the floor, making sure not to damage the pristine rug he took off from.  He cocked a punch, and threw it towards Turk, but Turk simply grabbed Ken's fist with his enormous hand.  The impact let loose a shock wave that made paper's flutter around the room.  "Oh dear...I just did the organizing with those."  Ken felt like he was almost being ignored.  "You look frustrated...try to calm yourself.  A fight without brain is not good fight."  Turk then flung Ken back to his original position.  

 

"I just don't want to hurt you is all!  You're lucky!"  Ken almost growled.  

 

"Oh?  Is this so?  Well by all means, please do not restrain yourself."  

 

"Your funeral..." Ken smiled before unlocking his 2nd inhibitor.  With a rush of power, and speed, Ken came at Turk with a fierce roundhouse kick.  However, instead of a straight on attack, Ken disappeared.  He came back into sight right behind Turk.  Again, the kick was immediately grabbed by him, without the elephant even having to look.  There was no shock this time, but a vein could be seen popping from Turk's hand.  "I-Impossible.." Ken looked distraught...one of his most fierce kicks, easily blocked.  Turk then threw Ken back over his head, placing him back onto the rug from whence he came.  

 

"You are very strong Ken...but this training will not be about strength.  You are plenty strong...and you will grow strong without me teaching you how...but I wish to teach you new lesson."  

 

Ken was frustrated...defeated even.  He took a knee...further unlocking a gate would just injure him more so than he already was.  

 

"Ah...I see you have calm down.  I was told by Blaze of your technique...it is like nothing I have seen in my life!  Truly incredible!  Unlocking latent chaotic energy that your body cannot access without help from mind and body.  Truly...only a master of Martial Arts could create such a thing."  

"I had help..." Ken whispered, remembering of the theory that Silver had proposed to him before he created this...power.  

 

"And these...Inhibitors, I think...how many can you break?"  

 

"Three..." 

 

"I see...well do it!  Right now!  I wish to see!"  Ken looked up to the smiling elephant.  Ken stood up...remembering the strain that Dragoon had put him through.  Where he had lost hope that they could win an even bigger battle...but then regaining said hope and showing it new heights!

 

"Inhibitor of Hope!  Release!"  Chaos energy flowed out of him...the carpet beneath him shuddered at the might that stood upon it.  "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"  Ken's muslces bulged...and ached.  He was about to charge Turk, until he spoke once more.  

 

"Amazing!  Now, meditate with me in that form."  

 

Ken's jaw almost hit the floor.

 

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

 

 

"I may not be able to do that fancy floating thing...but this is just as good!!" 

 

"Well my oh my, this pup can fly!  What a sly guy!"  As Zane made his way up to the ledge, Milo game him a high five.  When Zane reached the ledge, he would see a rather quaint looking door.  Nothing too major, but not too simple either.  "Welcome to my study, dude!"  As Milo opened the door, a large ceiling could be seen overhead.  Painting the ceiling was a map of the solar system, vast and ever shifting.  If one were to look closely, you would almost be able to see each nebula, and star, twist and turn, moving outward through the galaxy. Beneath the ceiling, the walls were line and stacked with books.  Some overturned onto random pages, and most of them piled one on top of the other.  "Sorry about the mess!"  He said scratching the back of his head.  

 

He beckoned Zane to come in, and as soon as he did, Milo would spring across the room, rummaging through his books.  

 

"Let's see...Let's see....Arctic Wolf...Arctic Wolves?"  It looked like he was searching for something in particular.  "Dangit...and I thought the Dewey Decimal system was for losers!"  tons and tons of books flew in Zanes direction, ranging in varying sizes.  "BRRRRRRRRRRRR!"  Milo could be heard exclaiming.  He pulled out a book that was almost steaming.  "Found it!  Here man, catch!"  Milo through it at Zane.  The book seemed to be very old, it's exterior wrapped in leather.  Clusters of ice formed on the edges, and on the outside of the pages.  This was where the vapor came from, but there didn't seem like any hint that the ice itself was melting.  The title of the book was slightly obscured by frost.  Dusting it away, one could read the title.  

 

"The Legend Hidden in Snow and Ice"

 

"Say kid...you ever heard of a Dire Wolf?"

 

 

 "You can't fool me... this isn't about training is it?  I'm sure you know that there's nothing someone like you can teach me...Silver trained me himself, whilst you sat lavishly in this castle, playing princess.  Nonetheless... I'll take great pleasure in demonstrating the difference between you and I!  if only to wipe that condescending look off your face..."

 

Anais was standing opposite of Axel.  His words sliced her deeper than anyone of her swords.  

 

"You...You pompous...a******!  You cocky, arrogant, moron!"  Anais turned to face Axel, a tear streaming down her eye.  "Do you honestly think I wanted this life of lavishness?!  My father left me...left me to train you and your brother!  I sat here alone...while my mother governed, looked for by the servants of Dewdrop!  Do you think my mother honestly had any time to train me herself!?"  Anais unsheathed her polished sword.  It sheened brightly across Axel's face.  

 

"You...you got to spend every waking moment with him!  What did I get?  Telepathic 'Happy Birthday Sweetheart''s.  Letters saying how he missed me so terribly."  Her other fist clenched.  "I burned them all.  And you know who I thought about when I burnt those letters?  The twins that ruined my life.  The twins that made me miserable!"  Her sword was engulfed in flames by this point.

"You're right about one thing at least.  This isn't training."  She disappeared in a flash of blinding light.  A familiar ability she must have acquired from Silver.  In Axel's mind, he would hear her voice shout, "This is a slaughter!"  Anais appeared above Axel's head, driving the flaming sword downwards onto him.  

 

 

Tiffany skipped ahead in front of Chimera.  The city was buzzing with activity.  Tiffany had lead Chimera into the heart of Dewdrop's trading district.  The whispers and such could be heard above the bustling that surrounded them.  

 

"Is that the Trigger?  I can't believe she has the gall to walk out in bright daylight among us."

"She's a threat...a threat to all of us..."

"They must have beefed up her security.  Just look at that thing walking with her.  I hope my tax dollars didn't go towards that."  

 

As they approached the middle of the circle, Tiffany twirled around to face Chimera.  Her face looked as cheerful as ever.  

 

"Isn't this a great city?!"  She exclaimed.  "The people are so lively!"  A shadow in the distance caught her eye, but it soon faded into an alleyway.  "Heh...I hope it wasn't those guys."  She said pointing to the alleyway.  She motioned for Chimera to follow her again, this time out of the trading district, and to a park.  Chimera would find her on a bench, her legs kicking at the ground.  

 

"You know...I think I know how you feel Mr. Chimera."  She said.  The ground beneath her hanging head was a little wet.  "People are afraid of me too.  Mobians don't like what they don't understand.  That goes for everyone I guess."  She wiped her face clear to meet Chimera's eyes.  "You know?  I kinda just wanted you to come with me to fend off those guys in case I was attacked...the Mephiles Descendants.  Those guys are crazy scary!"  She then jumped off of the bench and bowed apologetically.  "But I promise I still wanted to hang out with you!  Honest!"  

 

 

"Well... I can do this for starters..." ​She changed her arms into their usual greyish color and proceeded to morph both of them into blades and slash at the air a bit to demonstrate. ​"Can cut just about anything, plus I can do more than just blades. As for what I aspire to do, well... Powers wise, I never really thought about that, I mainly want to hone my extreme gear skills so I can become a great racer... Doubt you have anything that could help with both."

 

Blaze giggled a bit at the mention of an extreme gear.  

 

"What a dreamer you are!  I remember in my youth, riding an extreme gear myself.  But nowadays, I don't think I could show you anything new.  If I tried, I may end up breaking more than a nail!  Ohohohohohoho!"  She then cleared her throat and began to speak again.  "As for your powers...it's a very rare ability.  So rare in fact, no one in my kingdom that I know of is able to replicate that same ability."  She twirled her whiskers, and smiled.

 

"However...I have heard of cases like this.  Mobians absorbing raw materials, and making their physical properties cling to their body.  However, I have heard of no such case where someone wasn't able to absorb only one material."  She looked over Cynthia's Extreme Gear briefly.  She clanked on the metal, and then clanked on Cynthia's.  "And I believe I have found the reason.  It seems you've only absorbed the metals of your Extreme Gear.  That's what your body chooses to replicate, because it is the only thing it knows!  Have you ever tried to morph with something else?"  She twirled her whiskers again and started to walk towards her large doorway. 

 

"I have a challenge for you my dear.  Connect with the material around you...I want you to gather 5 materials around the city, and take them into your being.  Then, come back to the castle and show me your progress!  It should be an easy task...especially if you use your extreme gear skills to navigate the city.  Ohohohoho!  How nostalgic that term is!  Best of luck dear."  With that, Blaze walked back into the tower.  

 

 

"Shut yer mouth already!" 

 

The fireball curved under Cinder's stream of fire so sneakily, that it managed to uppercut her jaw.  It singed the fur, but just barely.  The force managed to actually shut her mouth, causing an explosion of black fire to erupt inside her mouth.  

 

"BWAH!"  She spat out smoke, and dropped to her knees.  The sound of doors could be heard slamming.  

 

"What is the meaning of this?!"  Blaze cried as she came running in.  "Cinder, this was not supposed to be combat training!  This was supposed to be a lesson in the ways of pyromancy!"  Cinder growled, before rising back to her feet.  A look of ferocity was pointed towards Alex.

 

"Apologies...again.  But why her Blaze?!  Why not me!  I've been leader of the royal guard for five years now, and you want to train this...ONE-ARMED LOW BREED, in our ways!"

 

"You speak out of turn Cinder...be reminded who your Queen is!"  Cinder frustratedly bowed towards Blaze.

 

"I am deeply ashamed of myself your highness.  I will excuse myself now."  Cinder walked towards a flight of stairs further back towards the room, black flames licked the railing.  As a matter of fact, black flames were still dancing across the entirety of the room itself.

 

"Good grief...that girl sometimes."  Blaze clasped her hands together, as all of the fire in the room headed towards the gaps that intertwined her fingers.  She condensed them, and turned them into a bright ball of light.  She revealed it, and let it gently fly over to Alex.  

 

"Tell me something, Alex dear...do you know of the duality of fire?  The balance of Pyromancy itself?"  

[Super Chaos Sonic]

 

"Well my oh my, this pup can fly! What a sly guy!"

 

Zane chuckled, shaking his head because of the hedgehog as his icy grinding session came to a stop when he reached the ledge, giving Milo a high five. "Yeah well it's not as fancy as your little trick there, but it got the job done." he said, stretching out some, expecting a fight. That's how these things were done, right?

 

"Welcome to my study, dude! Sorry about the mess!"

 

When the arctic wolf saw this literal study, he was both amazed and puzzled. Amazed to the ceiling painting of the solar system, which had everything in a constant motion above along with a countless books in the room. But...puzzled as in...

 

"Um, Milo, was it?" Zane cleared his throat, seeing Milo picking a few papers off the ground. "Not to be disrespectful or anything, but are we...going to fight in here?"

 

This, of course, prompted a surprised reaction from the duster wearing hedgehog. "Fight? In here? Oh no!" he laughed, placing the papers on the small table near one of the walls. "I just had the floors waxed in here. No point in dirtying them up like that."

 

Zane honestly wasn't expecting such an honest answer from the hedgehog. While this upset him slightly, causing him to sigh some, he was counting this as a blessing. After all, Milo WAS a chaos professional, according to Blaze. Meaning he might've been ten times worse than Axel... Ya lucked out on this one, Zane. he thought, smiling slightly.

 

It wasn't long before the arctic wolf saw Milo zipping around the study looking for something, tossing books left and right in his direction. Thankfully he was able to dodge them accordingly, but he did wonder what this hedgehog was even looking for.

 

"BRRRRRRRRRRRR! Found it! Here man, catch!"

 

Zane looked up and saw Milo tossing a book specifically at him this time, to which he promptly caught it. The book was old, he could tell that. However, the leather exterior it had, whether old or not, was impressive to say the least. Zane could see the clusters of ice forming on the edges of the book, and the ice didn't look like it was melting at all. "What on Mobius....?" he muttered, puzzled.

 

He noticed finally that the title was covered in frost, to which he slowly began to dust it away. "The Legend...Hidden in Snow and Ice?"

 

"Say kid...you ever heard of a Dire Wolf?"

 

"Zane." he replied at first, before looking up at the puzzled Milo. "Sorry. My name is Zane. Never gave it out back there...so might as well now." With a chuckle, he looked back at the book for a moment before looking back up towards Milo.

 

-BGM-

 

"As for a Dire Wolf, yeah." he nodded. "Everyone in the Northern Tundra knows the stories and the legends of the Dire Wolves. Well, I say Dire Wolves...but legends pretty much only say there can usually only be one dire wolf. Dunno why though, no one really explained that." Zane shrugged before looking up at the ceiling. "The dire wolf is...well, its a legend...a fairy tale. But either way, they are said to be the strongest warriors to ever appear in the Northern Tundra."

 

He paused, before laughing a bit, shaking his head. "Sorry. Just remembered how my dad would be telling me all the fairy tales about some of the dire wolves when I was a pup. Heh, I probably begged him every night to tell me those stories. He must've been sick and tired of telling me them over and over." A small tear seemed to fall from his face, Zane only realizing it after it fell. He chuckled and wiped his face some, before smiling. "Sorry. Sorta rambled on there. But not sure if I answered your question or not, Milo."

[Hälō]

BMG

 

Axel sneered at the Princess. He could feel her anger spilling outwards, and it made the fur on the back of his neck stand up straight. He had struck a nerve. "Just like your mother, huh?" He said as he observed the flaming blade. 

 

"You're right about one thing at least. This isn't training."  She disappeared in a flash of blinding light. His own signature technique. Axel's eyes widened as the girl's voice boomed in his mind, just as she reappeared above his head whilst driving her blade down towards him.

 

"This is a slaughter!"  

 

"I couldn't agree more!" He spat back towards Anais as he warped across the room to avoid her strike. Already gathering energy in his palm, Axel quickly pivoted around and tossed a large sphere of chaos energy towards the princess, before suddenly forming a smaller orb and sending it speeding into the first one just before it reached it's target. The collision caused a large explosion the hungrily swallowed up the area Anais was in. "Let's see what you're made of princess!" 

 

"Child's play Chaos!  I see Milo snot better attacks than that!" He heard the girl's voice call out to him before sensing her teleport away from the blast. With a large cloud of dust now moving across the room, Anais used the smoke as cover to prepare her next attack. Igniting her blade once again, the princess began twirling her blade at a rapid speed.

 

Watching this through the smoke with his superior senses, Axel grit his teeth in preparation as a massive spiral of flame formed from Anais blade and proceed to fly towards him. "Warp..." Axel began to gather energy. "Fiction!" Vanishing from sight just before the flames could consume him, images of Axel began dancing around the room. 

 

"Here!" Axel voice sounded as he finally appeared at Anais's side, sweeping her legs with a low kick, in a maneuver borrowed straight from his brother.

 

"Tch...what a waste of chaos controoooooo-" The girl began to comment on Axel's technique, but was quickly silenced when she was knocked off her feet by the attack. However, before Axel could capitalize on the opening, Anais quickly regained her balanced and flipped backwards as if she were preforming some kind dance. 

 

Flipping and dancing across the room to regain some distance, Anais suddenly pivoted to the left and sent her sword flying towards Axel. Before he could respond, the blade vanished from sight as if it had used his teleportation technique. "What?!" Axel watched in shock as afterimages of the sword began to form all around him, pointing at him from every direction to form a prison of blades. 

 

"A pathetic display of physical power.  Now taste my Mirage Sword!" She screamed as the swords converged towards Axel.

 

"Dammit..." Axel growled. His eyes began darting around rapidly as he formed two chaos blades and began deflecting the oncoming rain of swords. Within seconds, the white hedgehog's form became a blur of movement as he did his best to swat away the assault. Though it seemed that even he had his limits...  

 

The loud clang of steel resonated throughout the room, as the final four blades of Anais technique broke through Axel's defense and drove themselves into the ground around the prodigy; leaving cuts across his shoulders, arms and inner thighs, and restraining his movement. Now standing with his head hung low, Axel remained silent moment.

 

"I suppose I underestimated you..." The prodigy suddenly spoke as he slowly brought his gaze up towards Anais. "But if you thought this was anything but a warm up, you're in for a rude awakening." Axel jeered as he began gathering his energy with a smirk. Without warning, the blades that pinned him down were sent flying across the room by a sudden pulse of chaos energy. Now able to stand up straight, Axel rolled his injured shoulder before forming another pair of chaos blades. 

 

"Don't blink!" Axel suddenly bursted into movement once again, sending both of his swords spinning towards Anais at frighting speed. Though only one would was truly aimed for her.

 

As the blade on the right moved straight towards it's target, the left blade broke off and flew over her shoulder. It was then skillfully caught by Axel as he warped behind Anais and brought the chaos blade down at the back of her head with a downwards swipe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[King K. Azo]

Chimera let out a metallic sigh as he watched the young girl skipping in front of him. How was he dragged into this? Seriously, how? He could have just stood there and she would be unable to move him. Oh yeah, right, recon and stuff. He was beginning to regret this, but he was getting a lot of great information. Like how people didn't seem to like Tiffany at all. Suddenly, Tiffany turned to him. 

"Isn't this a great city?!"  She exclaimed.  "The people are so lively!" She paused for a bit. "Heh...I hope it wasn't those guys."  She said pointing to an alleyway.  She motioned for Chimera to follow her again, this time out of the trading district, and to a park. Chimera looked at the alleyway, before following the girl. He found her on a bench, and it didn't take long for her to talk to him again.
 
"You know...I think I know how you feel Mr. Chimera."  She said.  The ground beneath her hanging head was a little wet.  "People are afraid of me too.  Mobians don't like what they don't understand.  That goes for everyone I guess."  She wiped her face clear to meet Chimera's eyes.  "You know?  I kinda just wanted you to come with me to fend off those guys in case I was attacked...the Mephiles Descendants.  Those guys are crazy scary!"  She then jumped off of the bench and bowed apologetically.  "But I promise I still wanted to hang out with you!  Honest!"  

 

Chimera listened to her, before casting at look towards the alley. Mephiles Descendants? He left a note to himself to ask someone else about those later. He turned back to the small cat in front of him before gently reaching out and placing one of his metal hands on her hand. 

"Do not let the ones that do not like you let you down," He stated, reminding himself of this fact as well. "In the end, they do not matter, not truly. And yes. I can protect you. I am... equipped for that," he took his hand off her hand. "Where did you want to show me next?"

[Wind Rider]

Alex's fireball had successful hit its mark after curving under Cinder's fire, she gave a slight smirk as Cinder belched out smoke after swallowing her flamethrower.

 

"What is the meaning of this?!" Blaze cried as she came running in. "Cinder, this was not supposed to be combat training! This was supposed to be a lesson in the ways of pyromancy!"

 

"Apologies...again. But why her Blaze?! Why not me! I've been leader of the royal guard for five years now, and you want to train this...ONE-ARMED LOW BREED, in our ways!"

 

Low breed!?! Alex's blood started to boil, she was just about to take one of her knives and throw it at Cinder's head. Thankfully, Blaze had sent her away leaving only herself and Alex in the black flame covered room. Blaze absorbed every single ember in the room and condensed it them into a floating ball of light. "Tell me something, Alex dear...do you know of the duality of fire? The balance of Pyromancy itself?"

 

The balance of pyromancer? Where is there balance in something that can only destroy? "... Don't know anything about balance..." Alex finally said. "Fire has always been destruction to me... And to everyone around me..." her mind went back to those ghosts, their panicked screams at the sight of Alex's fire, it gave her chills even now.

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dewdrop Citadel

 

With a vein popping out of his head, and his teeth grit, Ken sat on the rug next to his new....teacher?  The power flowing through him just wanted to escape, it wanted to be let loose all over the place.  His legs quivered, as they were tied together in a criss-cross fashion.  The pressure he exerted throughout the room was incredible, although Turk seemed unphased by all of this raw energy.  Instead, Turk sat calmly, his breathing was almost hypnotic.  Although, anytime Ken tried to clear his mind and focus, and urge told him to kick the damn elephant right in the trunk.  

 

"This is hard for you, yes?"  Turk stated, almost smiling.  

 

"You have...no idea."  Ken said, almost struggling to make words without spitting.  "How long has it been anyways?!"

 

"Five minutes."  Turk laughed.  "You know why we are doing this, do you not?" 

 

Ken shook his head.  He had no idea why this training was even taking place.  Couldn't he just like...do push ups or something?!  It felt like he was holding the weight of the world with all of this loose power.  

 

"These...inhibitors that you unlock.  They have enormous toll on body.  Yet, every time you use it, you do not care.  You hurt yourself to the point of bones snapping.  You have no control over this power you use...you have no proper connection to it."  

 

Ken could almost scream.

 

"Are you kidding me!  Do you know how much I've trained my body just to come this far?!"  

 

"And how do you think your body will take it if you go farther?  Do you wish to die?"  

 

Ken became instantly quiet.  He never thought about...farther.  

 

"Your body has to get used to this pressure.  This training...it will make body used to being filled with such overwhelming power.  You will be able to control it significantly better.  And, when your body becomes used to being like this, you can go further...without posing such a threat to yourself."  

 

Ken finally looked away from Turk.  His mind had finally wandered off from the pain...who could understand where he was coming from.  However, this was the toughest training Ken had had by far.  Kicking a tree 1000 times was nothing compared to sitting here with three inhibitors unlocked.  Turk had continued his breathing.  The rhythmic sounds came from his trunk...it sounded like a balloon being released of it's air little spurts at a time.  Ken took a deep breath, and focused on his teacher's breathing.  Although it was difficult, and not as fluid as Turk's, he tried his best not to breath out of sync.  

 

Was his leg not fidgeting as much?

 

 

 

"Zane. Sorry. My name is Zane. Never gave it out back there...so might as well now."

 

Milo nodded in respect, and signaling that he was sorry for not learning his name earlier. 

 

"As for a Dire Wolf, yeah.  Everyone in the Northern Tundra knows the stories and the legends of the Dire Wolves. Well, I say Dire Wolves...but legends pretty much only say there can usually only be one dire wolf. Dunno why though, no one really explained that.  The dire wolf is...well, its a legend...a fairy tale. But either way, they are said to be the strongest warriors to ever appear in the Northern Tundra."  He paused, before laughing a bit, shaking his head. "Sorry. Just remembered how my dad would be telling me all the fairy tales about some of the dire wolves when I was a pup. Heh, I probably begged him every night to tell me those stories. He must've been sick and tired of telling me them over and over.  Sorry. Sorta rambled on there. But not sure if I answered your question or not, Milo."

 

"Deep man..." Milo said, almost sniffing.  "You got me feelin' all sentimental for my pops now!"  Milo wiped his nose and smiled, but then rolled over to Zane, and snatched the book from right under him.  "But you talkin' about the Dire Wolf like it's a legend or some kiddie tale?  Now that's where you're wrong buckaroo!"  Sticking out of the book was a bookmark, the Silver Chaos Emerald sticker lay on the top of it.  Milo turned directly to that page.  "Ya see here!  At the end of each Legend, it's got like...a summary of sorts!  Teaching you some lesson or somethin.  But I think it tells a lot more!"  Milo said shoving it in his face.  The passage in the book read,

 

"The Wolves are a proud people.  They do not admit to their faults...they do not see their own faults for what they are.  It's holding them back.  Holding them back likes gas beneath the layers of a gigantic iceberg.  But to release all of that pressure, all of that tension, one must first crack the surface.  To crack the surface of one's being...that involves another tale."

 

Milo then flipped to another page, this one boasting a purple chaos emerald bookmark, and shoved the passage again in Zane's face.

 

"Trust is a key.  It is a key to one's very self.  However, one cannot wield trust themselves, but put it in the hands of another.  If put in the right hands...boundless potential can be yours."

 

"So, here's my hypothesis Zane...these two passages are intertwined.  One talks about a key, and another talks about releasing pressure.  So in order to make you a Dire Wolf..."  Milo rubbed his hands together.

 

"I'm gonna have to stab you..."

 

 

"Too fast!"  Anais exclaimed while the two blades thrown at her, hurtled towards her direction.  Axel appeared behind her, grabbing the blade that had whizzed past her shoulder.  He was indeed skillful...but this was the Princess of Dewdrop he was dealing with!  

 

Impossibly, the Chaos Blade that headed towards her body had seemingly been deflected, as if it hit some invisible wall.  With her left hand, and without looking up, she held her sword right above her head, blocking the other Chaos Blade.  The fur on the back of her neck was stiff, and stood straight up. 

 

"Your tricks...are boring.  You don't think I've copied this same tactic myself?!"  As Axel dropped from the air behind her, Anais delivered a swift back kick into Axel's stomach, her heels digging deep into his torso.  As he flew across the room, Anais conjured a brilliant white flame on the tip of her finger.  "It's no use...give it up while you still have a chance.  I'm the one who will save Mobius!"  She stuck out her pointer finger with the white flame hovering just above the tip, and aimed it towards Axel.  "HOLY PIERCE!"  She decreed, as a small singular stream of fire headed towards Axel.  

 

 

Unexpectedly, Tiffany felt the cold weight that she had felt earlier touch her hand.  She turned to Chimera to notice that the robot was trying to...console her?!  Her face turned bright red, and she could visibly be seen steaming.  Was Iblis being let free?!  She had never felt such a thing in her life!

 

"Do not let the ones that do not like you let you down.  In the end, they do not matter, not truly. And yes. I can protect you. I am... equipped for that.  Where did you want to show me next?"

 

The robot gently lifted his hand off hers.  She had really misjudged this robot...but he was truly kind in the most sincere way.  What hell had he been through to feel such empathy with her?  Still blushing, she smiled.  

 

"You know...you're really cool Chimera!  I want to show you someplace special!"  She grabbed his hand again, and began tugging away.  As soon as Chimera complied, she would lead him to the outskirts behind the city.  A giant cliff overlooked the horizon.  The sun was setting now.  However, the large barrier was slightly visible from the inside.  The rays of the sun could be seen penetrating, mirror like structures that surrounded just nearly outside the cliff.  Tiffany walked to the edge of the cliff and spread out her arms.  "When I was young...When I became the Iblis Trigger...I thought about jumping.  But now...with this barrier...I can't even do that."  She turned around, but jumped once she realized what she had said.  "I don't want to anymore!  I know I have a duty to Dewdrop and her people.  Blaze told me that Iblis' power...it allows this barrier to stay up.  If I were to be so selfish...I'd release Iblis...and the barrier would collapse."

 

She gripped her skirt.  

 

"I'm sorry...I had another ulterior motive for you coming with me...I just wanted to express my emotions to an emotionless piece of metal!"  Tiffany rushed up to Chimera, and hugged him.  "But I didn't know," tears ran down her cheeks, as she sniffled a little, "I didn't know you were more than that!  But Mr. Chimera...you're so much more.  You understand me!  You're more than I could have possibly ever imagined!"  Tiffany backed away.  "I'm truly sorry...you can hate me if you want.  Just add me to the list of Mobians you hate...hehe."  

 

Just then a rustling could be heard from some bushes behind the two.  A figure burst out and roared!

 

"Death to the Triggerrrrrooooooooooooh s***!  I didn't think she had escort duty today!!!"  The figure dusted himself off.  "Heh, no matter!  One scrap of junk ain't gonna stop the Mephiles Society from killin' her, got that metal man?!"  The hedgehog tightened it's fist before a dark aura could be seen pulsing forth from his body.  "Dark Chaos...Spear!"  The Hedgehog flicked it's arm to the side to shoot a rather small bolt of chaos energy towards Tiffany.  

 

 

"... Don't know anything about balance..." Alex finally said. "Fire has always been destruction to me... And to everyone around me..." 

 

"Ahh my dear...you have been scorched by your own flames."  Blaze gently patted Alex's forehead, before continuing to stroke it.  "But you mustn't be afraid of what you're capable of!"  Blaze lifted the light she had created above her head.  It followed her like a small lightning bug.  "Fire can bring forth life after all.  When the forest is burnt down, a new forest emerges, built upon the foundations of the old, and as strong as ever.  Fire keeps us warm on the coldest of nights.  It creates the light that let's us see the next day."  Blaze continued after strolling past Alex.  

 

"There is a balance in Fire my dear child.  Destruction....Life....they are merely two sides of the same Sol Emerald.  It is up to you to choose what you want a certain flame to be.  A warm light to cover your allies, or a stream of destruction to obliterate your foes."  Blaze tightened her fist.  "I know all too well the pain the latter can cause."  She turned around to face Alex.  "You are still young...so inexperienced!  Let me teach you the other side of that emerald.  The side of life!"  Blaze said unfurling her arms, the setting sun behind her, cascading the room in a beautiful reddish orange hue.  

[Super Chaos Sonic]

 

"Deep man...You got me feelin' all sentimental for my pops now!"

 

"Sorry." Zane chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, only to see Milo swiftly snag the book from him. It was almost too fast for him to react to at first. He could've sworn he was faster than Axel and Ken...then again, it was obvious hedgehogs were speedsters, so it didn't surprise him too much.

 

"But you talkin' about the Dire Wolf like it's a legend or some kiddie tale? Now that's where you're wrong buckaroo!"

 

Zane now had a puzzled look, hearing Milo say he was wrong for thinking this way, slowly crossing his arms as he watched the hedgehog flip through the pages of the book. No sooner than he began to ask what he was looking at, Milo immediately shoved the book in his face. Zane grumbled and looked at the book and the passage he was given.

 

"The Wolves are a proud people. They do not admit to their faults...they do not see their own faults for what they are. It's holding them back. Holding them back likes gas beneath the layers of a gigantic iceberg. But to release all of that pressure, all of that tension, one must first crack the surface. To crack the surface of one's being...that involves another tale."

 

"Wolves and proud, yeah that sounds about right. Same with them not admitting their faults...well for some of them anyway." Zane said, nodding. "But what does this-" he began to ask, only to have Milo snatch the book away. "Oh there's more...okay, yeah." he sighed, seeming like he was being ignored at this point. Yet again, however, Milo shoved the book in his face after flipping the pages. "Y-Ya know, you could just hand me the book." Zane rolled his eyes, rubbing his nose before reading the new passage.

 

"Trust is a key.  It is a key to one's very self.  However, one cannot wield trust themselves, but put it in the hands of another.  If put in the right hands...boundless potential can be yours."

 

One can't wield trust themselves, but put it in the hands of another? he thought, before looking up at Milo who closed the book and put it down. "Sooooooooooo?" He raised an eyebrow as Milo cleared his throat.

 

"So, here's my hypothesis Zane...these two passages are intertwined.  One talks about a key, and another talks about releasing pressure.  So in order to make you a Dire Wolf...I'm gonna have to stab you..."

 

Zane stared blankly at Milo before shoving a finger into his left ear. "Sorry...I must've not heard you right. You said you were...gonna...stab me?" he asked, with an attitude of disbelief. However, he saw Milo's excited face remain unchanged. The arctic wolf inhaled deeply, putting his hands together, thinking this whole thing over. He was silent for the longest time before finally gathering his thoughts.

 

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR CHAOS DAMNED MIND?!"

 

Milo smiled nervously, holding his hands up to calm Zane down. "Okay okay, settle down now. What you're going to need to do is...make an icicle blade....and then I'm gonna run it into your stomach!"

 

Zane, at this point, was pacing back and forth not running his hands over his head a few times. "And then what?! You want me to die? Jeez...I was all up for training, but NOT suicide!" he shouted, stopping as he slammed his hands on Milo's desk.

 

"Hey, uh...can you not beat on that desk please? It's mahogany." Milo said, concern in his voice, most likely for the desk.

 

He sighed, shaking his head a bit. This is absolutely insane... Zane thought, glancing over at the closed book. Right now Milo was tasked with training him. What other choice did he have? Well there was the obvious NOT DIE option...but would Milo really try to kill him? Honestly, Zane couldn't exactly read any ill-intent on the guy...but then again, reading people was more of Axel's forte anyway.

 

"....Alright..." Zane sighed, slowly turning around as an icicle formed in his hand. He quickly tossed it to the hedgehog who caught it with ease.

 

"Now...tell me something, Zane." Milo started, beginning to twirl the icicle in his hand. "Do you trust me? And let's take it another step further. Do you trust your allies?"

 

This was a strange question for the arctic wolf, but he crossed his arms before nodding. "I trust my allies with my life. I know they have my back. You, Milo...on the other hand, I've only just met you. My trust isn't as strong as it is with my friends...but, I trust you. Blaze thought you were perfect for training me, so I have that to reflect on."

 

"Awesome." Milo nodded, motioning for Zane to move from his desk. "Now...hold still." With that, the hedgehog rushed towards Zane and stabbed him in the chest with the icicle.

 

Zane winced, preparing to feel unbearable pain, but felt...none. "W-What?" he asked, looking down and seeing the wound begin to have ice spread from it. Before he knew it, it was encasing him. "W-What?! Milo! Milo, what's going o-" He was cut short by the ice slowly encasing him. Then...all there was...was darkness...

[King K. Azo]

Good news is, the small organic was smiling again. The bad news was, she seemed to be overheating. That couldn't be good. Could organics use coolant? Somehow, he doubt it. 

 

"You know...you're really cool Chimera!" Finally, an organic got it.  "I want to show you someplace special!" She grabbed his hand again, and began tugging away. This time, he offered no resistance and let her drag him away. She led him to the outskirts behind the city, right over a giant cliff that overlooked the horizon.  The sun was setting now, but they could still see the large barrier was slightly visible from the inside.  The rays of the sun could be seen penetrating, mirror like structures that surrounded just nearly outside the cliff.  Tiffany walked to the edge of the cliff and spread out her arms.  "When I was young...When I became the Iblis Trigger...I thought about jumping.  But now...with this barrier...I can't even do that." She turned around, but jumped once she realized what she had said. "I don't want to anymore!  I know I have a duty to Dewdrop and her people.  Blaze told me that Iblis' power...it allows this barrier to stay up.  If I were to be so selfish...I'd release Iblis...and the barrier would collapse."
 
Chimera looked at her. Seemed the small child was tasked with a massive burdren. He could relate, sadly. Sure, being the superior robot that he was, he could probably kill all of the Heroes of Old. That's what he told himself, but honestly, he was never sure if he could. And now, well, now he had to save the world. How was a robot supposed to do that? Especially with the world determined to kill him off.
 
"I'm sorry...I had another ulterior motive for you coming with me...I just wanted to express my emotions to an emotionless piece of metal!" Chimera looked over to her, but she rushed up to him, hugging the machine of death and destruction. "But I didn't know," tears ran down her cheeks, as she sniffled a little, "I didn't know you were more than that!  But Mr. Chimera...you're so much more.  You understand me!  You're more than I could have possibly ever imagined!"  Tiffany backed away.  "I'm truly sorry...you can hate me if you want.  Just add me to the list of Mobians you hate...hehe."  
 
Before the robot could answer, a rustling could be heard from some bushes behind the two. A hedgehog then appeared from the bushes, and he didn't seem friendly.
 
"Death to the Triggerrrrrooooooooooooh s***!  I didn't think she had escort duty today!!!"  The figure dusted himself off.  "Heh, no matter!  One scrap of junk ain't gonna stop the Mephiles Society from killin' her, got that metal man?!"  The hedgehog tightened it's fist before a dark aura could be seen pulsing forth from his body. "Dark Chaos...Spear!"  The Hedgehog flicked it's arm to the side to shoot a rather small bolt of chaos energy towards Tiffany. Chimera stared blankly at the 'Chaos Spear' before spinning around, smacking the shot with the back of his hand and slapping it out of existence.

"Pathetic. You call that a Chaos Spear? Axel's are closer to the real deal, and he is just a shadow of Shadow," He then dashed at the hedgehog, grabbing him by the throat, lifting him up in the air before smashing him into the ground, cracks forming on the ground. He then pointed his arm at the hedgehog's head, it morphing into a Gatling gun, the barrels spinning and whirling loudly. "Now tell me. What do you know about Mephlies? Tell me, before my literal gun hand decides to blow off your head,"

[Wind Rider]

"Ahh my dear...you have been scorched by your own flames." Blaze patted Alex's head to comfort her, it was almost... Soothing. "But you mustn't be afraid of what you're capable of!" Blaze lifted the light she had created above her head. It followed her like a small lightning bug. "Fire can bring forth life after all. When the forest is burnt down, a new forest emerges, built upon the foundations of the old, and as strong as ever. Fire keeps us warm on the coldest of nights. It creates the light that let's us see the next day." So fire... Was better for other things... Maybe in the right hands, Alex didn't know where to start with doing "good" with her fire.

 

"There is a balance in Fire my dear child. Destruction....Life....they are merely two sides of the same Sol Emerald. It is up to you to choose what you want a certain flame to be. A warm light to cover your allies, or a stream of destruction to obliterate your foes." Blaze tightened her fist. "I know all too well the pain the latter can cause." Balance between destruction and life, is that really how pyromancy is? The orange lights of the sunset seemed to fill the once burnt room, it was almost peaceful, surreal even.

 

"You are still young...so inexperienced! Let me teach you the other side of that emerald. The side of life!" Was this the real training Alex was to expect? Not... Learning to decimate legions with a single firestorm or incinerating your enemies before you? She had to admit it... It was a nice change of pace. Alex broke her silence again. "Ok... So how do I do this then, turn a destructive flame into a warming presence I mean?" Alex asked.

[Hälō]

  BMG

"It's no use...give it up while you still have a chance.  I'm the one who will save Mobius!" Axel heard Anais shout as he brought himself to a skidding halt with his hand clutching his bruised ribs. "H-How can someone this strong still exist?!" He panted. This girl's power was far more than he anticipated, and now he was in trouble...

 

"HOLY PIERCE!"  She decreed, as a small singular stream of fire headed towards Axel. 

 

Axel's eyes strained as he hastily observed the oncoming attack with his senses. It appeared that Anais was condensing large amounts of her flames and chaos energy into a single concentrated strike to increase their killing potential. The boy began to panic slightly. He couldn't allow it hit! Something like that would surely leave him as nothing more then a pile of ash.

 

Unable to force his body to move in time to evade, Axel was forced to tap into the negative chaos energy that had slept deep within in him. As the white flame rapidly approached, he could feel the wild power already bubbling up to the surface; it was getting easier to call upon.  "Chaos Blast!" Just as Anais's Holy Pierce were about to strike him, Axel threw his arms to either side and let loose a sudden explosion of red energy. 

 

The red wave of negative chaos energy quickly consumed Anais's attack, then proceed to ravenously expand until the entirety of of the training room was bathed in it's light. The explosion persisted for what felt like a small eternity before final dissipating. The majority of the blades within the room were now reduced to dust, leaving only a select few of the more exotic swords that were able to survive the blast.

 

Panting, Axel peered through the smoke to see the fate of his opponent. Not even the daughter of Silver could survive a direct hit from the Chaos Blast at this range, right?

 

"You think a wild attack like that would be able to beat me so easily?" Axel cursed under his breath as the dust cleared to reveal a relatively undamaged Aanis. Aside for a few minor scratched and the skid marks left from her original position, there was no indication that the attack did anything other than push her backwards...

 

"It was all over the place...no concentration...no focal point of power.  Pathetic." The Princess glared at him with an air of superiority as Axel struggled to bring himself to his feet. Every word that dripped from her smug little mouth filled the hedgehog with rage that fed the negative chaos energy that he had stirred, which in turn empowered his body and allowed him movement despite his injuries. "You might as well be telling your opponent, 'I don't know how to control chaos" Intentionally or not, she was giving him the means he needed to continue this battle. "Put your opponent down with a single, focused attack!" She jeered, causing him to suddenly shoot up.

 

"SHUT UP!" Axel snapped. Irritable from both Anais's insults and the effects of the negative chaos, Axel's eyes quickly shifted to a blood red. " A single attack, huh?!" He hissed whilst gathering all the negative energy he could muster, as if he were preforming a Chaos Blast. Red energy began to dancing in the air around the white hedgehog as he reached the level needed to release the explosion.

 

"I'll..." Axel voice was a low growl. Seamlessly mimicking what Anais had done to create her Holy Pierce, Axel channeled every bit of the chaos energy to the palm of his hands and began molding it. He wasn't deemed a prodigy for nothing...

 

"I'll atomize you with this!" With the molding complete, Axel called out towards his opponent whilst spreading his arms wide to form a spear of crackling energy.  Grabbing hold of the spear born from the condensed negative energy of the Chaos Blast, Axel lifted the chaotic warhead over his shoulder before sending it hurtling towards Anais.

 

Watching the spectacle closely with her single eye, Anais simply smiled. "Oh my...so threatening" Though despite the mocking tone she had used, the girl quickly moved her free hand up to her eyepatch. Spectacle aside, if she let herself get hit with that much condensed energy, it would be trouble even for someone like her... 

 

Moving her floral eyepatch to the side to reveal an iris that swirled with the colors of the rainbow, Anais seemed to focus as Axel's attack slammed into an inviable force only inches from her face. Sparks danced across the room as the spear struggle to push past the obstacle, and the invisible force held the attack in the air. "You're the first person to see my Crystal Eye in quite some time.  For that, I give you credit." Anais addressed Axel slowly whilst maintaining her focus. Just then, Axel's spear began to twist and and bend, only to sudden shoot back towards him. "What a shame you had to sink to such depths."

 

Axel could do nothing but watch as his attack exploded a few feet away from him. A pillar of crimson chaos energy swept over his form and sent him reeling into the nearby wall with a horrible crash. Sliding down to the ground and landing on his knee, Axel struggled to move as he glared up at Anais whilst she recovered her Crystal Eye. "Damn you..." He cursed her, his own eyes no brandishing murky black sclera. A sickly black ooze trickled down the side of his mouth as he hacked up a small amount of blood and stained the white floor with dark red. It was clear that Axel was struggling with controlling the negative energy, and it was now effecting his body. 

 

"Might... Controls... Everything." He forced himself to speak in an attempt to hold on to his sanity. Who was she to judge him? Bringing himself to his feet, Axel began gathering negative energy once again to form another spear. He had things he needed to protect. "For the planet... for my comrades... for my revenge..." Already completing the spear much faster than the first time, the tainted prodigy took up of his new technique once again. "I'll do whatever it takes for the power I need, even swim to the bottom of this abyss if I have too!"

 

Axel could feel it. He was only a step away from loosing his mind...

 

"The Chaos Emeralds have granted this gift ME!" The hedgehog cackled madly before vanishing in a blinding light. "Mephiles, Iblis, and even you! I'll use this to destroy it all!" Axel's voice called from the air above Anais as he reappeared and dashed downwards in a blur of movement. He'ed force this attack through her defense with his bare hands! 

 

"Chaos True Lance!" 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dewdrop Citadel

 

Ken could feel it now...He finally understood what it was to contain all of this raw power.  He would have to show Axel this later...maybe his brother would be proud!  Ken's meditation pose loosened, as he got up.  The air around him wasn't so pressurized due to the excessive amounts of chaos flowing out of him, rather they were constrained to rise slightly above Ken's fur.  

 

"This feels incredible!"  He said, amazed, while flexing his arms.  

 

"I can sense within you, Ken.  You're body has come to terms with the power it has obtained!  Congratulations!"  

 

Ken smiled, as he stroked the back of his head.  

 

"Heh, all thanks to you big guy!"

 

"Now...show me next inhibitor."  Turk said raising an eyebrow.  Ken's cocky demeanor slightly shifted to doubt.  

 

"The Inhibitor of Joy?  I haven't unlocked that yet...I don't know how.  Three is as far as I've ever gone before."  Turk patted Ken on the back.  

 

"This is no issue Ken!  All will come in due time."  

 

Ken looked to the floor, and stared at his shoes.  

 

"Joy, huh?"  

 

 

Milo watched in awe as Zane was encased in his own ice.  

 

"Whoah...that was a little unexpected."  He said as he scratched his chins, ignoring Zane's desperate cries as they were soon muffled by the ice.  From across the room, a door could be heard creaking open.  

 

"Sir Milo, the Nurse is here to take care of the Wolf now."  Milo looked past the now frozen Zane, and towards the doorway to see his receptionist.  

 

"Tell her everything turned out alright!  No dead wolves in here."  He then looked at the Zane-cicle as the secretary shut the door.  "At least...for now there aren't.  Good luck buddy."

 

For a while, all Zane would be able to see is the faint blur of vision behind the ice, but it soon would be overtaken by darkness.  Upon a couple of blinks, Zane would now be standing in the arctic.  The frozen wasteland he was so accustomed to.  However, there would be nothing in front of him besides the sun and the horizon.  When he would turn around, he would see his home village...in tatters.  Wolves lined the ground, lying in pools of their own fluids.  

 

"Zane...is that you?"  A voice would call to him.  One of the victims that lay on the ground, spoke to him.  "How could you....How could you leave the village Zane?  Look what has happened...look what has befallen the wolves..."  With the wolf's last breath, he spat on the ground in front of Zane.  "This is your fault Zane..."  

 

In the distance, he would see another figure, fighting an army of shades.  The figure was bloodied, and beaten, but he still gave the shades of Mephiles a hard time.  The Wolf sliced through multiple shades at a time, swinging a large sword.  A sight Zane had seen for most of his life, his father, Fang the Wolf, Leader of the Wolf Clan.  As he cleared most of the shades, he looked to his son.  

 

"Well...the prodigal son returns!"  He said with a smirk, slicing through a couple more shades before being slashed by another from behind.  "Care to help your Chief out...for old times sake?"  

 

 

The Hedgehog's attack was merely slapped away.  

 

"I-impossible!  I gave that everything I had!  This was supposed to be my one shot at this!"  

 

"Pathetic. You call that a Chaos Spear? Axel's are closer to the real deal, and he is just a shadow of Shadow," 

 

"H-H-How dare you!  I am the real deal!  I am Byass the Hedgeho-"

 

He was promptly hoisted into the air, and shoved into the ground beneath him.  He couldn't tell if it was the sound of the earth cracking beneath him, or his bones.  All he could muster was to let out a rather long and drawn out sigh, as if the life was slipping away from him in that instant.  The robot then morphed it's arm into a gatling gun and aimed it at Byass' head.  The barrels started to swirl, as beads of sweat ran down his head.  

 

"Now tell me. What do you know about Mephlies? Tell me, before my literal gun hand decides to blow off your head,"

 

"I-I-I don't know much!  But the Mephiles Society says that he hopes to make a better world for all of us!  One without pain or suffering...we just have to let him do what he needs to do!  Mephiles is a god!  He will protect us!"

 

"That's enough Mr. Chimera."  Tiffany said as she walked over to the sunken hedgehog.  She placed her hands out, and flaming chains emerged and wrapped themselves around Byass' wrists, forming into metal chains.  "I knew my life was at risk.  This, 'Mephiles Society', is trying to destroy the barrier...to let Mephiles into the sacred city of Dewdrop."  The chains tightened, as did Tiff's eyes.  "We'll take him back to the castle for interrogation."  She put her fists on her hips and smirked at the chained up Hedgehog.  "Way to ruin a moment you failed assassin."

 

"You were having a moment with your security detail?!  Gross!"  

 

Tiffany blushed as she cleared her throat.  

 

"Let's go back to the castle.  Lead the way Mr. Chimera!"  

 

 

"Ok... So how do I do this then, turn a destructive flame into a warming presence I mean?"

 

Blaze nodded.  

 

"It's actually pretty simple.  When you create a flame...your mindset shifts the properties of it.  In the midst of combat, without a clear mind, the fire only knows to destroy."  Blaze created a pure looking flame, simple in color.  "Nothing special about this flame, right?  But what if I told you that I have treated the wounds of many an ally by just holding a flame over them?"  Blaze clasped the flame, and placed it into Alex's single hand.  "This is the flame of life.  To create it...you must empty your mind, and give in to all the happiness in your life.  Those warm fuzzy feelings will overtake the property of your fire."  Blaze pointed to where Cinder had trailed off.

 

"Cinder knows of this, but hate blinds her senses...I hope to guide her to a brighter path, but for now, her flames are scarred with darkness.  I'm sure you could tell during her trial to see if you were worthy."  Blaze then created her own black flame, her eyes shifting to a predatory look.  "I have never seen such a young Mobian hold such malice before.  For an old lady like me who has seen such tragedies, this is an easy flame to create.  But creating a healing flame...it takes joy to do that.  Only the prime Pyromancers can learn such a feat."  Blaze looked into Alex's eyes, her expression now became that of a mother looking at a child.  

 

"But I believe you have the potential to do this...and so much more, Alex."

 

 

"Might... Controls... Everything.  For the planet... for my comrades... for my revenge...I'll do whatever it takes for the power I need, even swim to the bottom of this abyss if I have too!  The Chaos Emeralds have granted this gift ME!  Mephiles, Iblis, and even you! I'll use this to destroy it all!" 

 

"Chaos True Lance!" 

 

Anais looked on in pity, shaking her head as the boy rushed her.  Her rainbow eye glimmered, as it's effects activated once more.  However, this time, she seemed to struggle with the attack that Axel had perfomred, as her teeth started to grit, and her eye quivered.  A noticeable crack in the air became visible, at the tip of Axel's attack.  Was it powerful enough to break her crystal barrier?  It had never happened before...what would happen if he did?  There was no sense in trying to find out...Anais would stop Axel here and now.  Anais put her hands up, and a green hue outlined Axel's entire body.  

 

"I promised myself I would never use my father's powers..."  She said, not looking at Axel.  Instead, he would feel weightless...powerless.  He had no momentum now, Anais was in control.  "You're pathetic Axel.  You believe that this is true power?  That giving into darkness will grant you anything but redemption?  You're insane."  With one hand still stretched out to Axel, Anais lit a white fire in her other hand.  "Using that power...it's a bastardization of the Chaos Force."  She was now face to face with the insane hedgehog.  I have seen the depths at which you will sink to overcome an obstacle...and frankly I'm shocked.  How my father could raise such a revenge driven monster, I will never understand.  You give me no choice. "  Anais shoved the white flame into Axel's shoulder, searing his skin.  The dark aura receded into the single singed mark that Anais had placed on him.  With his eyes turning back to normal, and his chaos force fading, Anais released him from her binding.  

 

"You have allies...you must protect them.  How are you to protect them when your rage blinds you?"  Anais started to walk away.  "Without your main source of power that you rely so heavily on...you are of no use to your team anymore.  Give up."

[Super Chaos Sonic]

 

Silence and darkness was all Zane could see for the longest time...which was odd for him. Theoretically, he would be able to see shapes and shadows, or heard muffled voices...but he didn't.

 

A-Am...am I dying...? he thought to himself, beginning to blink. Once...twice...three times...

 

However, on the third blink he found himself no longer encased in ice, but rather in a location he knew almost anywhere. Zane now stood in the Northern Tundra. He was home...with the sun and the horizon in front of him. He was planning to go straight ahead, but something else seemed to want him to turn around. The arctic wolf did what he felt led to do...though he almost wished he hadn't.

 

"N-No...no, no, no!" Zane finally spoke, seeing the horrid landscape he found. His home village was in tatters... Wolves lined on the ground... The sight, it made Zane almost sick to his stomach as he clenched his fists. No...no...NO...NO!!! he thought, beginning to run some.

 

The arctic wolf stopped suddenly, seeing one wolf moving slightly. "H-Hey! Hey hang on...I-I'll get you some help!" he said, but what he heard from the wolf almost froze Zane to his very core.

 

"Zane...is that you? How could you....How could you leave the village Zane? Look what has happened...look what has befallen the wolves...This is your fault Zane..."

 

He knelt there dumbfounded, watching the wolf spit on the ground in front of him before leaving this world. Zane now felt even worse than he had ever felt. Was this wolf right? Was this his fault? N-No...no it's Mephiles' fault. He's the one who did this! he thought, shaking his head before looking up. As he did, he watched a figure swinging a large sword, slicing a number of shades. Zane's face almost lit up when he saw the figure.

 

"Well...the prodigal son returns! Care to help your Chief out...for old times sake?"

 

-BGM-

 

"D-Dad..." Zane said, tears almost filling his eyes. He wiped his eyes a bit, before standing up quickly. The first thing he wanted to do was hug him, but with the shades around, there wasn't really any time with it. Pulling the multi-tool from his vest pocket, he activated it and formed an ice sword, before rushing towards a few shades, slashing them with ease.

 

"Whoa-ho! New weapon?" Fang chuckled, taking another swing at two shades.

 

"H-Heh, yeah well I've been through a whole hell of a lot, dad." Zane flashed a smile, leaping above Fang as he shot two icicles at two shades behind him as well as slashing another shade on his side. "I-I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner."

 

"Don't apologize, son. You weren't able to know that this was to happen, especially to us." he chuckled, as he placed his hand on his blade. An icy aura surrounded his blade before he slashed another shade, sending it backwards by a shockwave, in which it instantly froze it and the other shade's it was knocked back into. "Heh, all yours."

 

"Lucky me." Zane smirked, before skating at a fast speed towards the frozen shades, before slashing through them. Within moments, they were shattering in a beautiful array of ice shards.

 

"Attaboy. Good work Za-" Fang said, sheathing his blade, only to be stopped as Zane immediately hugged him tightly. He was silent, only returning the hug towards Zane. "It's good to see you again, son."

 

"Dad...dad I was so worried." Zane said, almost on the verge of tears. "I...when I heard Mephiles was doing this all over Mobius...and that the Northern Tundra was hit. D-Dad I was thinking the worst."

 

Fang only smirked, rubbing Zane's head. "C'mon now Zane. I haven't found anything that could be me yet."

 

"My, my...what a touching little reunion. So much emotion...such a shame it'll all end."

 

-BGM-

 

Zane immediately heard this spine chilling voice, and his fur began to stand up on end. His eyes widened as he moved away from Fang, seeing Mephiles rising from the ground. He began to laugh, before calling a few more shades.

 

"Arctic wolf...I surprised to see you here." Mephiles spoke, glaring at Zane. "However, I told you already...your cryomancy is a weak form of chaos, and your struggle will be similar to these damned wolves who tried to stop me. And, unlike before...your alone. Your friends aren't here to bail you out."

 

"I can handle you on my own Mephiles..." Zane said, gripping his multi-tool, watching it spring to life as an ice blade formed once more. "Besides, I told you before. We wolves don't back down. We strike back at adversity with everything we have!!" He howled before rushing towards Mephiles, who simply faded away as his shades began to strike at the arctic wolf. With a few clean strikes, Zane took care of them, watching them dissipate from sight.

 

"STOP HIDING AND FIGHT ME!!" Zane shouted, looking around. He couldn't find Mephiles and it was worrying him. And unlike Axel...he couldn't sense chaos energy. He was literally fighting blind.

 

It was only a few moments before Mephiles slowly appeared, this time behind the unsuspecting Zane. "Enjoy hell, wolf..." he laughed, as he prepared to fire a blast straight through Zane.

 

"ZANE! MOVE!!"

 

Zane slowly turned around, as he felt himself being pushed by someone. He fell on the ground and heard the sounds of something piercing through another. When he finally looked up, his eyes widened greatly. Standing where he was...was Fang. And he had a hole shot through him. "NO!!!"

 

Mephiles saw this occur, only seeing Zane rushing towards Fang as he collapsed. This sight...it only brought him joy. Now, the dark being began to laugh at the misfortune that befell Zane. "That was intended for you...however, I suppose that old mutt needed to be put down anyway." he said, before fading once more.

 

-BGM-

 

"D-Dad...dad please...stay with me!" Zane frantically said, holding onto Fang and holding his hand tightly. "Please...I can't lose you..."

 

Fang only began to cough, before smiling at Zane. "Zane...it's alright. M-My time is up...but yours...yours is just beginning." he coughed more, before taking his other hand and touching Zane's tear stained face. "I...I am proud of you son..."

 

Zane couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He felt them streaming down his face, as he held his father. "Dad..." he started, before shaking his head. "I...I made new friends dad. I-I really wanted you to meet them. H-Heh...there's one friend who h-has a much colder demeanor than us wolves..."

 

"H-Heh...i-it sounds like he'd...f-fit right in." Fang smiled, coughing heavily now. "Zane...I love you...j-just never forget. Wolves...wolves strike back..."

 

"A-At adversity...with everything we got..." Zane responded, before seeing Fang stop breathing and pass right in his arms. He closed his eyes tightly, the tears just continuing to fall. "I-I'm sorry dad...I-I'm sorry!!"

 

It was only Zane and his fallen father for the longest time...and then...everything went dark for Zane once more.

[King K. Azo]

"I-I-I don't know much!  But the Mephiles Society says that he hopes to make a better world for all of us!  One without pain or suffering...we just have to let him do what he needs to do!  Mephiles is a god!  He will protect us!"

 

"You're a fool. Mephiles slaughtered one city. He will slaughter this one to," it seems these people were really sheltered. Must be because of the barrier.

 

"That's enough Mr. Chimera."  Tiffany said as she walked over to the sunken hedgehog.  She placed her hands out, and flaming chains emerged and wrapped themselves around Byass' wrists, forming into metal chains. That wasn't an ability that Chimera expected. How odd... "I knew my life was at risk.  This, 'Mephiles Society', is trying to destroy the barrier...to let Mephiles into the sacred city of Dewdrop. We'll take him back to the castle for interrogation."  She put her fists on her hips and smirked at the chained up Hedgehog.  "Way to ruin a moment you failed assassin."

 

"You were having a moment with your security detail?!  Gross!"  

 

Tiffany blushed as she cleared her throat.  

 

"Let's go back to the castle.  Lead the way Mr. Chimera!" Chimera picked the hedgehog and walked towards the castle. It was a quiet walk... Perhaps now would be a good time to his his original and most important mission.

 

"Tiffany," Chimera stated as he headed to their destination. "Do you know why Mecha Sonic attacked the city? If he could figure out what Mecha Sonic was doing, perhaps he could figure out where some of his family was.

[Hälō]

BMG

"You have allies...you must protect them.  How are you to protect them when your rage blinds you?"  Anais started to walk away.  "Without your main source of power that you rely so heavily on...you are of no use to your team anymore.  Give up."

 

"W-What... What did y-you do?!" Axel tried his best to speak through the excruciating burning sensation that erupted from his shoulder. He just barely caught the final glimpse of Anais as she walked out of the room. She had left him for dead...

 

"RAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWHHHHHGGGGG!"

 

Axel's cry filled the room as he dropped down to his knees. No longer being held back by his energy, blood began to poor from the hedgehog's wounds once more, staining the once white floor. Smoke billowed off of the brand on his shoulder, and even when he stopped screaming, the pain never relented. He could feel himself fading out of consciousness now. Was this how he'd meet his end? 

 

"Mother...Father..." The boy whispered before falling forward and landing on his stomach. "I'm sorry." He had failed his parents. Even with an opportunity to stop Mephiles and avenge their deaths just within his grasp... Thinking back on what had happened today, Axel couldn't help but curse himself for not following his first instinct! He should have acted sooner, and struck them down the moment he was face to face with that person.

 

An image of their face lingered in his mind as his vision began to fade. Killing them could change everything...

 

A suddenly light nearby stirred the young prodigy just as he were about to succumb his wounds. Axel grunted with effort as he struggled to move his head to the side to see what was shining with such a fierce light. "Silver..." He groaned as his dull gaze was met with the chaos emerald left to him by Silver. Having chosen to forsake the chaos emerald's power to pander to his pride, Axel had almost completely forgotten about the artifacts in his duel with Anais...

 

This was a chance. Using every ounce of his remaining strength, Axel reached out to the emerald and began drawing on its power. In his current state, he'd only barely be able to use chaos control. "Have to... find..." He gasped as he closed his eyes and began scouring the castle for familiar energy sources. Thankfully, it didn't take long to locate the aura of one of his friends. "There!" Axel's voice sounded as his form was consumed by a flash of green light. 

 

 

Axel's battered form reappeared moments later in front of a large door on the the opposite end of the castle. Panting profusely, Axel was immediately struck by a wave of heat the only served to worsen his already critical condition. Why was it so damned hot in here?!

 

With not a moment to waste, Axel shoved his body through the door with the last ounce of his strength. As the hedgehog tumbled on the floor, he looked up and wheezed. "A-Alex..." Were the last words he uttered before his mouth grew too dry to speak. 

[Wind Rider]

"It's actually pretty simple. When you create a flame...your mindset shifts the properties of it. In the midst of combat, without a clear mind, the fire only knows to destroy." Blaze created a pure looking flame, simple in color. "Nothing special about this flame, right? But what if I told you that I have treated the wounds of many an ally by just holding a flame over them?" Blaze clasped the flame, and placed it into Alex's single hand. "This is the flame of life. To create it...you must empty your mind, and give in to all the happiness in your life. Those warm fuzzy feelings will overtake the property of your fire."

 

Alex looked over the innocent looking flame, it flickered in a graceful way, not like the fierce flames that she was so used to creating. And warm, fuzzy feelings... In her mind there were only a couple, her time with her family before the fire, the impromptu skydiving lesson with Axel... She actually did have a few good moments in her life.

 

"Cinder knows of this, but hate blinds her senses...I hope to guide her to a brighter path, but for now, her flames are scarred with darkness. I'm sure you could tell during her trial to see if you were worthy. I have never seen such a young Mobian hold such malice before. For an old lady like me who has seen such tragedies, this is an easy flame to create. But creating a healing flame...it takes joy to do that. Only the prime Pyromancers can learn such a feat. But I believe you have the potential to do this...and so much more, Alex."

 

A prime pyromancer, one that could balance between destruction and life. Alex would've called Blaze crazy right then and there, that fire was nothing more than means of destruction. But all that she said, it started to make sense to Alex, in a way. She took a deep breath and concentrated a little. "If I do learn how to wield this flame... Will it help me to aid my... Friends?" she was a little hesitant to ask this, the whole time she was with the group she was just the group's destruction artist along with Chimera. Maybe now, she could do something better for the group.

 

Her thought process stopped however when the doors to the room bursted open. "A-Alex..." Axel tumbled out from the door and laid wheezing on the ground. "Axel! What the hell happened to you!?" Alex ran to his side and lifted him up a bit, he was badly beaten and even had what looked like a painful burn mark on his shoulder. What could've done this to him?!

[Blade Mistress]

"What a dreamer you are!  I remember in my youth, riding an extreme gear myself.  But nowadays, I don't think I could show you anything new.  If I tried, I may end up breaking more than a nail!  Ohohohohohoho!"  She then cleared her throat and began to speak again.  "As for your powers...it's a very rare ability.  So rare in fact, no one in my kingdom that I know of is able to replicate that same ability."  She twirled her whiskers, and smiled.​ Nobody like her huh? Seems like Cynthia was very special in some way.

 

"However...I have heard of cases like this.  Mobians absorbing raw materials, and making their physical properties cling to their body.  However, I have heard of no such case where someone wasn't able to absorb only one material."  She looked over Cynthia's Extreme Gear briefly.  She clanked on the metal, and then clanked on Cynthia's.  "And I believe I have found the reason.  It seems you've only absorbed the metals of your Extreme Gear.  That's what your body chooses to replicate, because it is the only thing it knows!  Have you ever tried to morph with something else?"  She twirled her whiskers again and started to walk towards her large doorway.​ So she could more than likely absorb other materials? That sounded a lot more interesting than absorbing just metal, Cynthia was grinning at just the thought of it.

 

"I have a challenge for you my dear.  Connect with the material around you...I want you to gather 5 materials around the city, and take them into your being.  Then, come back to the castle and show me your progress!  It should be an easy task...especially if you use your extreme gear skills to navigate the city.  Ohohohoho!  How nostalgic that term is!  Best of luck dear."  With that, Blaze walked back into the tower. Her eyes widened at the sound of the word challenge. ​"Ha! Is that even worthy of being called a challenge!?" ​She grabbed her extreme gear and ran towards the edge of the tower, she jumped off and hopped on her board, gliding down to the city below. ​"Should be simple, all I have to do is find a rock, a tree branch even, oh this sounds amazing!" ​She landed down on the streets and as she sped by, picked up a rock on the road, she made sure to look where she was going, that's all she need, to either crash into someone.

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dewdrop Citadel

 

Ken tried to think of when he was most joyful in his entire life while continuing his meditation.  He was approaching the hour mark, and it didn't even feel like the pressure of the third inhibitor was affecting him much.  In his thoughts, he remembered his youth with Axel...while those times were fun, it was more sibling rivalry than pure joy.  Ken always had a jealousy of his brother...so his intentions were never truly rid of that jealousy.  Maybe that's why he hadn't been able to advance through this inhibitor.  

 

After Silver perished, Ken found it almost impossible to be happy...even when tasked with this huge mission.  Nothing truly had made him...joyful.  

 

Meeting his parents gave him the same type of feeling as well.  While he was happy, he was also incredibly sad.  Sad that he never got to spend time with them.  Sad that he would probably never see them again in his lifetime.  

 

How could he feel joy?  Maybe he would talk to Axel about it.  Ken stood up, and bowed before Turk. 

 

"Thank you for the lesson, master."  Turk almost looked like he would fall over from excitement.  

 

"Master?  I think you should teach me your technique!  I should call you the teacher!  HEHEHAHA!"  Turk's trunks made a plethora of strange noises.  Ken could only laugh, but the thoughts in the back of his mind kept them from being anything more than a slight chuckle.  Ken walked out of Turk's study.  As he walked back into the bright orange sunlight, he noticed that Anais girl walk his way.  Her clothing seemed a bit dirtied, but she harbored no serious injuries.  Ken rushed up to her, his feet almost cracking the ground beneath him.  

 

"Hey Princess!  Axel must've taken it easy on you right?"  

 

Anais watched as the other brother approached.  This one seemed a lot more polite than the other...what a strange flip of the coin this was.  When he stood infront of her, she was almost blown back by the intense pressure of the air surrounding him.  What was this power?!  

 

"You...."  She said, almost in shock.  She regained her composure before speaking again.  "You could say that...although with that dark energy he used, he must've had a hard time dealing with the fact that he was fighting someone far stronger than he was."  Ken scratched the back of his head.

 

"Sheesh...he used that again...your training must've gotten really serious."  

 

Anais could only laugh.  

 

"I wouldn't call it training...the fool barely learned any kind of lesson.  So I made sure to burn one into him."  

 

Ken's face turned quickly to an angry expression.  

 

"What the hell does that mean?"  He said almost growling.  Anais hardly flinched from Ken's supposed threat.  

 

"So maybe you two aren't so different after all."  She said with a low voice.

 

"I can show you the difference if you'd like."  Ken's fist tightened.  Anais took a quick glimpse at this reaction and sighed.  

 

"No, I think not.  You would clearly overpower me, and I have nothing to teach you that Turk hasn't probably taught you already."  Anais began to walk away towards Turk's study, before directing Ken's attention to the main door.  "You'll find him in there.  If he doesn't make it, I'm sorry."

 

Ken looked back in shock, but the girl was already gone.  He hurried to the door.  

 

 

Zane would wake up in a pool, seemingly of his own sweat, when in reality, the ice around him had quickly melted.  He would feel an odd sensation rush throughout his body, one like nothing he had ever felt before.  A sort of mixture between pain, and thrill.  His muscles could visibly be seen bulging outwards, and then to their regular shape.  

 

A hand extended to him.  Upon realization, it was obvious that it was Milo.  He smiled.  

 

"I've been watching your muscles spasm for like...ten minutes straight now.  It's kinda gross but I can't look away."  He would then pull up the wolf, almost struggling to do so.  "Wow kid...I didn't expect that much outta ya!  But you totally did it!  You became the Legendary Dire Wolf!"  Milo pointed towards his desk, where piles of papers and photos of Zane in his melting process, and frozen state.  "This documentation will help so much in my research of the Dire Wolf.  Now I just need a demonstration of your new found power!...Just to complete my notes is all."  Milo thought hard about how he would get that data.  

 

"I got it!  You can test it against that friend of yours!  Ken, was it?"  Milo rubbed his chin.  "I bet you could go toe to toe with him now that you're a Dire Wolf!  Let's go find him!"  

 

With that, Milo went back out onto the ledge, where a semi-melted ice structure still remained.  

 

"Last one there's a rotten eggman!"  He yelled as he jumped down to the main door.

 

 

As Chimera hoisted Byass over his shoulder, he asked a strange question.  Although, she could barely hear the unintelligble yelling coming from their prisoner.  

 

"Tiffany, Do you know why Mecha Sonic attacked the city?"

 

"Mecha Sonic?"  Tiffany looked confused for a moment.  But once he realized who he was referring to, the visuals popped into her head.  "Ah!  That guy.  I was always instructed to head for cover when he came to attack the city.  He was only able to get in due to the loophole involved in the spell that created the barrier.  The spell states that no being shall be able to pass through the barrier, god or mortal...but it doesn't state anything about mechanical beings, such as yourselves.  Badniks could come and go through this barrier as they pleased."  Tiffany grabbed onto her arm.  

 

"Whenever Mecha Sonic invaded, he always screamed that he was reclaiming territory for New Eggland...and his master."  Tiffany shuddered.  "Mecha despised organics...which was why I was so afraid of you when we first met.  You two seem to have the same look in your eye."  Tiffany smiled.  "So you're from there right?  New Eggland?  Shouldn't you know about all of this?"  The two were quickly approaching the castle.  

 

 

Seemingly from nowhere, Axel appeared right in front of them, bloody and bruised.  

 

"Axel! What the hell happened to you!?"

 

"Well what a fine exercise opportunity this will turn out to be."  Blaze knelt down beside Alex, and placed a hand on her back.  "This is your time to show him what you have learned from me.  Heal your friend, and quickly...these injuries look rather serious."  Blaze's focus was then drawn to the mark burned into Axel's skin.  It looked familiar, and Blaze could only shake her head in disappointment.  This was not the way to do things.  That daughter of hers was so rash.  

 

The door busted open, almost released from it's hinges.  The guards on both sides were knocked away accidentally, but all Ken cared about was his brother.  

 

"AXEL!"  He shouted as he knelt across from his brother's defeated body.  "WE HAVE TO GET HIM TO A HOSPITAL OR A CLERIC OR SOMETHING!"

 

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...."  Blaze put a finger to Ken's mouth, almost struggling to place it there due to Ken's enormous pressure presence.  "Let Alex concentrate.  This is an important task that she must do herself."

 

Ken could hardly contain himself, but he nodded in agreement.  He looked to Alex, almost in tears.  

 

"Please....save Axel."  

[Super Chaos Sonic]

 

"That was intended for you...however, I suppose that old mutt needed to be put down anyway."

 

Zane could these words from Mephiles amongst the silence, along with this eerie and soul piercing laugh. He wanted to run away, but all he could see was darkness for miles and miles. He just wanted to scream...but he couldn't. Was this all for him now...?

 

No sooner than that thought hitting his mind, Zane saw a faint light before him, which began to grow brighter...and brighter...until...

 

 

"D-Dad!" Zane shouted, finding himself awake now. He saw that he awoke in a pool of water, obviously from the ice which encased him, but still he could've sworn it was his sweat that he laid in. It honestly wouldn't surprise him if that was the case. However...Zane could feel an odd sensation rushing throughout his body. It was both painful and thrilling all at the same time to him...and he just couldn't explain it.

 

Further inspection, Zane could see his muscles bulging outwards slightly before returning to their regular shape. W-What...what on Mobius? he thought, before noticing Milo's hand being stretched towards him.

 

"I've been watching your muscles spasm for like...ten minutes straight now.  It's kinda gross but I can't look away."

 

"U-Uh...not sure how I should...t-take that..." Zane nodded, feeling Milo pull him up, as he seemed like he was struggling to do so. At the same time, Zane was struggling a bit to stand up as well.

 

"Wow kid...I didn't expect that much outta ya!  But you totally did it!  You became the Legendary Dire Wolf!"

 

The arctic wolf looked over at the pictures and files that Milo showed, and he was astonished. Where he felt like he had been warped to the Northern Tundra to see his father die...he was really just staying as a pup-sicle right here in Milo's study. Needless to say, he was speechless. "M-Milo...t-that whole thing...t-t-the fight I fought. T-The individuals I saw...w-was that real? O-Or was it a premonition of some events?" he finally asked, rubbing his left arm some. Zane needed at least some closure about that...

 

"The vision was supposed to be a fight against your worst fears...if you fear that what you saw might be the case...it's entirely possible that it could come to fruition."

 

Possible that it could come to fruition...meaning there might be a chance. A slim one, but one nonetheless...and Zane was going to hold onto it.

 

"Anyway! This documentation will help so much in my research of the Dire Wolf. Now I just need a demonstration of your new found power!...Just to complete my notes is all."

 

"Oh? And how do you figure I do that?" Zane asked, crossing his arms, raising an eyebrow.

 

"I got it! You can test it against that friend of yours! Ken, was it?I bet you could go toe to toe with him now that you're a Dire Wolf! Let's go find him!"

 

Now Zane's face had a look of disbelief on it, as Milo literally asked him to go toe to toe against Ken...the strongest member of the team. He slowly rubbed his temples some, shaking his head. This can't end good...I just know this... he thought, before seeing Milo going to the ledge and jumping off.

 

"Last one there's a rotten eggman!"

 

"H-HEY! Head start!! Ya cheater!!" Zane quickly rushed to the platform, deciding to take the more adrenaline pumping route and followed Milo off the ledge, falling down right behind him. "Yeah no worries about me...I'll just create a small ice pole and catch myself before I hit the ground!"

[King K. Azo]

"Mecha Sonic?"  She paused to think.  "Ah!  That guy.  I was always instructed to head for cover when he came to attack the city.  He was only able to get in due to the loophole involved in the spell that created the barrier.  The spell states that no being shall be able to pass through the barrier, god or mortal...but it doesn't state anything about mechanical beings, such as yourselves.  Badniks could come and go through this barrier as they pleased."  Tiffany grabbed onto her arm.  Well, that made sense. Loopholes for the win. He'd have to remember that when he gathered an army of badniks so they can purge the Mephlies Society from the face of Mobius. That was a perfect plan, with absolutely no way that could backfire. Nope. None at all.
 
"Whenever Mecha Sonic invaded, he always screamed that he was reclaiming territory for New Eggland...and his master."  Tiffany shuddered.  "Mecha despised organics...which was why I was so afraid of you when we first met.  You two seem to have the same look in your eye."  Tiffany smiled.  "So you're from there right?  New Eggland?  Shouldn't you know about all of this?"

 

"Well I'm from... wait... what did you say?" He looked over at Tiffany. "New Eggland? I know not of this. I was stuck in standby mode for over 200 years, awaking up in Eggman's old base," These implications were disturbing... but on top of it... "Mecha Sonic had a master...? Who could it be...?" Was it Eggman Nega? He wasn't too sure, but it seemed to be possible. He looked over at the rambling prisoner and quickly turned his free arm into the chainsaw, it revving up with a loud roar. "Shut up. Now," He then turned back to Tiffany, reverting his hand. "Do you know where New Eggland is...? Or who the master is?" If she did... he was going to drag everyone there. No argument. He was the only one who could fly the Egg Carrier anyways.

[Wind Rider]

"Well what a fine exercise opportunity this will turn out to be." Blaze knelt down beside Alex, and placed a hand on her back. "This is your time to show him what you have learned from me. Heal your friend, and quickly...these injuries look rather serious." Are you kidding!? Calling this an exercise when Axel is lying on the floor beaten and burned!? Though Alex didn't have time to worry about that, right now Axel needed help, and she was going to do just that.

 

Before she could start, Ken bursted into the room and the pressure he was emitting almost blew Alex over. "AXEL!" He shouted as he knelt across from his brother's defeated body. "WE HAVE TO GET HIM TO A HOSPITAL OR A CLERIC OR SOMETHING!" Loud as always but his voice seemed heavier with the pressure he was exerting. Blaze quieted him down so that Alex could focus. "Please....save Axel."

 

No pressure or anything, beads of sweat were already forming on Alex's head. No... No... She couldn't get nervous now, she had to concentrate. Alex formed a fire in her hand, it was bright and fierce, she needed to focus... Life... Not destruction... Life. "Ok... Think... Good thoughts... Warm, fuzzy thoughts... I can do this... I can do this..." In her mind, she was imagining a time before all this, a time way before all this. A time where... Her family was whole, happy, without a single shred of hate or pain. The flame in her hand seemed to calm down and the fierce embers were replaced by a glowing flame, one that seemed to wave gracefully in her hand. She hovered it over Axel's wounds. "Please Axel... Please be ok..." she muttered under her breath.

[Blade Mistress]

Cynthia was riding back to the castle counting on her fingers. As she counted, the subsequent finger would turn into a different substance. ​"Ok, I have rock... Rubber... Wood... Coal... And fiberglass... Yep, that's five, this feels weirder than metal... Ah well, bet this will be very useful, especially since I'm capable of absorbing other materials." ​With a proud smile on her face, Cynthia sped on towards the tower of the castle where Blaze and the others were at.

 

​Inside the castle, she looked where most of the commotion was going on, which happened to be a room that was hot enough to where it could be mistaken for a spa or something. ​"Hey, Blaze! I did your little challenge, check it ou... Whoa..." ​Cynthia had only just entered when she saw everyone gathered around Alex and Axel, and Axel looked like he was in bad shape. ​"Uhhh... I'm sorry am I... Interrupting something here?" ​She asked with a tone bordering between curiosity and nervousness.

[Hälō]

Pain. Loneliness. Hatred. Axel channeled these raw emotions, using them in tandem with the chaos force to keep himself alive. His vision had completely faded to black, and though he could hear the muffled voices of those around him, they seemed so far away now.

The immense pain his shoulder was the perfect vehicle for it all. He focused on it, reveled in the burning sensation as images of Mephiles, his ash covered home, Anais, and another figure flashed through the young hedgehog's mind. On the outside, his hand clutched the chaos emerald even tighter as he continued to draw in energy from the artifact. Though his emotions couldn't keep him alive forever...

Luckily it seemed that someone had already begun to attempt to bring his broken body back from the brink.

BMG

As Alex hovered her flame over his wounds, they began to seal themselves with new tissue. His broken bones begun to mend, and upon coming into contact with Alex's life-giving pyre, the twisted and burned flesh on Axel's arm began to sizzle before fading away to a form the same sun shaped symbol in what would appear to be a tattoo.

"Please Axel... Please be ok..." A feminine voice called out to him, breaching the vail of darkness that had swallowed Axel and filling his body with a warm sensation that washed away the pain.

"That voice..." Axel groaned as his eyes slowly opened. He could now sense an immense power nearby... why had Ken unlocked third inhibitor?!

When he was met with Alex kneeling over him, the prodigy couldn't hide his shock. She had somehow been using her ability to heal him just now. "Alex," He uttered her name as he slowly brought himself to his feet, and glanced around the room. Ken and Blaze where standing nearby, and Cynthia by the door away. It only took him a second to deduce that Blaze must of taught Alex a new technique.

"Thank you..." He peered into Alex's eyes and allowed the smallest semblance of a smile to form on his lips for a moment. Bringing his free hand up to grip his shoulder, he couldn't help be be thankful for Alex. She had saved his life yet again...

It seemed like time had slowed down without need for chaos control. Axel could sense the relief coming from his brother and the girls, and as his grip loosened on the chaos emerald in his left hand, Axel couldn't help but wish that this moment could last forever...

What was this? Was he... hesitating? Axel grit his teeth in frustration, the pain of conflict sprouting from his gut.

"No. I've already decided what path I'd walk..." He silently assured himself.

BMG

Without warning, Axel's expression suddenly sharpened. A second pressure filled the room, as the purple chaos emerald drifted from Axel's pocket and began floating in the air around him along with Silver's emerald. Closing his eyes, Axel let the power of both emeralds surge through him for the first time as he began scouring the area for a very specific aura. There were two large energy signatures rapidly approaching from above, but he quickly recognized Zane as one of them despite some obvious changes...

"There you are!" Axel growled as his senses registered the aura he was searching for as it entered the throne room along with Chimera. Without warning, Axel began to march towards the door. As he passed Ken, the prodigy met his brother's gaze with a look the other hedgehog would know all too well. Surely Ken would understand that what he was about to do was for him as well.

Slamming the door of the heated training room wide open with a swing of his arm, Axel vanished in a violent burst of light. "Iblis Trigger!" His voice echoed in the throne room as he reappeared before Chimera and Tiffany with his aura flaring viscously. "Mephiles requires Iblis to become whole again. That means you were his end game all along, and we have an advantage... He needs Iblis alive!" Axel spoke in a somber tone as he formed as chaos blade and began moving towards the girl. "For all the people that Iblis has burned to ash, for my mother, father, and the future of Mobius..."

"I'm going to destroy Iblis here and now!"

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dewdrop City: Citadel Outskirts

 

"Do you know where New Eggland is...? Or who the master is?"

 

Tiff scratched her head for a moment.  There wasn't much discussion on where Mecha Sonic had come from...but if she could remember correctly...

 

"Far East I believe...In some sort of crater.  Some place where you couldn't see it on the horizon.  It shouldn't be hard to spot from the air!"  Tiffany smiled as she walked towards the Citadel to meet with the others.  "If I was of any help..."  Her eyes wandered to the side over to him, as she gripped his cold hand, "I'm glad."  With all the commotion that was happening when they approached the throne room, it caused Tiffany to quickly let go of Chimera's hand.  

 

"Iblis Trigger!  Mephiles requires Iblis to become whole again. That means you were his end game all along, and we have an advantage... He needs Iblis alive!  For all the people that Iblis has burned to ash, for my mother, father, and the future of Mobius..."

 

Tiffany shuddered as the hedgehog drew a blade of chaos energy.  

 

"I'm going to destroy Iblis here and now!" 

 

 

 

"Axel..."  Ken knew all too well that look in his brother's eyes.  He was afraid of what his brother was going to do.  Was he justified in all of this?  He made a valid point...but to sacrifice a life in the process.  

 

Blaze's eyes narrowed as the weapon wielding hedgehog was now heading for their only line of defense here in Dewdrop.  Blaze snapped her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, her royal guard had sprung into action, and acted as a barrier between Axel and Tiffany.  Milo, Turk, Cinder, and Anais all looked at the hedgehog with such intense pressure, that it would make even an old hero feel uneasy.  Anais especially looked at Axel with ferocity.  

 

"Round two so soon?  Maybe you didn't learn your lesson after all!"  She hissed.  

 

Ken jumped into the fray as well, his enormous pressure acting as a wall to stop his brother from proceeding any further.  He stuck out his hand and grinned.

 

"Axel...you know this isn't the way.  This isn't what Silver would want.  This isn't what our parents would want!"    If he had to, Ken would snap his brother out of it right here and now...and he would be the only one to do it.  Ken looked back at the royal guard.  "Let me handle this."  Turk's sinister presence seemingly disappeared, as a smile could be seen forming under his trunk.  The elephant nodded, and the other members of the guard relaxed, besides Cinder and Anais.  

 

"Ken!  Your brother is out of control!  If he threatens to kill Tiffany, he threatens all of Dewdrop!  I will not take these threats lightly...especially not from the so called 'Defenders of Mobius'".  

 

"I actually like this guy...he might be a good addition to the Mephiles Society!"  A voice could be heard from atop of Chimera's shoulder.  Byass snickered.  

 

"Axel is my brother and I won't have anybody hurt him again!"  Ken's eyes then shifted towards his brother.  "Unless that someone laying the hurt on him is me!"  Ken laughed as he cracked his knuckles.  "C'mon Axel...snap out of it.  You've been acting weird lately..."  What caused this shift in his brother?  The chaos emeralds?  The things disgusted Ken anyways.  

 

"Mr...Chimera?..."  A voice whimpered behind all of those who's attention was focused on the two brothers.  When they would all turn around, the sight would shake even Axel to his core.  

 

A stream of fire now jutted from Tiffany's torso.  Her eyes were white, her face expressionless.  Tiffany's arms fell limp to the side, as she drew her last breaths.  As the flames flickered and disappeared, Tiffany fell to the ground in front of her, face first.  Behind her, a familiar face.  

 

Cinder.

 

End of Chapter 5

 

 

Chapter 6: Evaporation

 

The room was silent.  Blaze was the first person to break it.  

 

"Cinder...what have you done...why...why have you done this."  Another snicker came from Byass, as the chains that bind him had quickly faded from existence.  Her rubbed his wrists and jumped off of Chimera, landing right beside Cinder.  

 

"'Bout time!"  He scoffed.  

 

Cinder eyed the queen, hatred plaguing her pupils.  

 

"Why?  Do you not know who I am?  I am Cinder the Cat!  Descendant of Mephiles the Dark!"  Black flames danced across her body.  "I can't believe an old bag like you was so easily blinded by trust to not see me for who I truly was!  Ever since this barrier went up, the Mephiles Society desperately tried to figure out how to bring it down.  Luckily...there leader was right under the Queen's nose this whole time."  

 

Tears streamed down Blaze's face.  

 

"I thought...I thought I could change your fate..."  

 

Anais lunged at Cinder, her sword drenched in white flames.  The sound of clashing metal could be heard against Cinder's black flame covered nails.  Turk let a swift punch fly through the air towards Cinder, which was quickly blocked by Byass.  Milo warped over to Blaze.  

 

"We need to go, your highness.  They'll be here any moment."  

 

Blaze could only stare at Tiffany's limp body.  In a flash of light, they were warped away, leaving the others to fend for themselves.  Soon, from Tiffany's wound, a small flame would seep out.  Eventually, the flame would turn into a giant pillar that shot upwards and through the roof of the citadel.  The flame traveled upwards until it reached the barrier of Dewdrop.  When the flames came in contact with the barrier, it seemingly melted, quickly fading around the city.  Atop of the flame, a creature emergred.  

 

Iblis.

 

 

"Ahhhh...there you are."

 

The small flame that sat on a throne of rock started to hover in the air, almost exhilarated by the mere presence of his other creation.

 

  "Mephiles...let us be off then."

 

"Yes, Lord Gwynn!"  Mephiles stood beneath the flame, as a strange pillar of energy enveloped the two.  The pillar of energy soared upwards from the small isle and shot across the sky, heading for Dewdrop.

 

 

Ken dropped to his knees.  This was the worst possible scenario imaginable.  They had failed, and now Iblis was released.  But this was no time to be wallowing...it was time to fight.  Ken punched the ground, as the floor of the palace was cratered underneath his fist.  The presence of Mephiles could be felt all throughout the city.  The shades were invading.  Familiar screams could be heard from all throughout Dewdrop, as flames fell from the skies.  The roar of Iblis shook the entire Citadel.  

 

"I've been raring to fight all day..."  His pent up fury...the feeling of the third gate...they clashed until nothing could hold him back.  "Find someone...and tear them to shreds."  Ken directed towards the others.  He bolted off, past Turk and Anais, and grabbing Cinder on the way into the city.  Cinder lost her breath from the sheer impact of Ken, as he raced through the streets.  Ken spotted a wall, and rammed Cinder into it, causing the wall to shatter and make a perfect imprint of Cinder lodged in it's surface.  Cinder spat up blood, as she smiled.  

 

"It's too late little hedgehog.  He's already here.  And there's nothing you can do to stop i-"  Ken's fist landed in Cinder's abdomen, knocking her unconscious.  There were shades, and there were also civilians...he had to start saving people.  

 

Back at the castle, Byass looked ahead of him.  The royal guard and the Defenders of Mobius stood in front of him.  

 

"Heh.  Now I guess I can show my true colors."  A black energy enveloped Byass, as the Emeralds that Axel held in the air around him also began to sink into an inky color.  His iris' turned Black, and his hair stood on end.  "My real name?  Obsidian!  Just call me the bringer of the apocalypse!"  

[Super Chaos Sonic]

 

Zane finally made it to the bottom of the tower, moving as he saw the group huddled up and literally almost at each others throats. "Jeez...first Milo ups and vanishes and now this. What the heck did I just miss?" he asked, moving up towards the group.

 

"Ken! Your brother is out of control! If he threatens to kill Tiffany, he threatens all of Dewdrop! I will not take these threats lightly...especially not from the so called 'Defenders of Mobius'"

 

"Wait, what?!" he asked, shocked, looking at Ken and Axel. Axel was threatening to KILL Tiffany? That didn't sound right at all. And right now, Axel seemed a lot more on edge than he did before...what the heck happened during his training with Anais? However, before he could say anything...

 

"Mr...Chimera?..."

 

Zane's eyes widened, seeing the appearance of Tiffany with a stream of fire jettisoning from her torso. In a split moment, he saw what had happened to his father in that vision he underwent. His fists began to clench tightly...they were going to pay for harming someone so innocent.

 

 

 

"Why? Do you not know who I am? I am Cinder the Cat! Descendant of Mephiles the Dark! I can't believe an old bag like you was so easily blinded by trust to not see me for who I truly was! Ever since this barrier went up, the Mephiles Society desperately tried to figure out how to bring it down. Luckily...there leader was right under the Queen's nose this whole time."

"I thought...I thought I could change your fate..."

"We need to go, your highness. They'll be here any moment."

 

Before he knew it, he saw Milo taking Blaze. Before he warped, he saw the hedgehog simply nod firmly in his direction. The arctic wolf could only assume that meant to test his abilities here and now...and he had no problem with that. Though all the while, he could see the flames seeping out from Tiffany...only to see the being known as Iblis appear with a monstrous roar.

 

Looking up at the beast, getting a good look at it, he shivered some. Damn...that is one ugly thing...so that's what they were trying to keep away... he thought before turning his attention to Cinder and Byass. "Descendant of Mephiles? Well that explains the obvious method of execution..." Zane said, cracking his knuckles some. He was initially going to go after Cinder, but Ken, like an ivory blur took care of Cinder, taking her outside.

 

"Guess he got dibs on her..." Zane said, turning his attention over to Byass...who began to morph into a new form.

 

"My real name? Obsidian! Just call me the bringer of the apocalypse!"

 

Looking around him, he saw that Turk, Anais, and even Chimera remained in the hall and were staring Obsidian down. No one took the immediate first move...and the sight of Obsidian was becoming sickening to the arctic wolf. He finally exhaled, before fixating his gaze on Obsidian....

 

-BGM-

 

Zane immediately sprinted forward, rushing towards Obsidian. He was surprised at this...he felt himself moving quite a bit faster than he had before. But with the quick surprise out of the way, Zane kept rushing towards Obsidian, readying his right fist for a punch.

 

Obsidian lifted his arm in response, punching as well...the two fists of the two individuals colliding loudly. However, Obsidian felt his arm quaking when they collided and watched as the punch simply land square into his shoulder. With a loud yell, he held his injured arm. "What the heck!  You're just a wolf!  Wolf's ain't supposed to be this strong!"

 

He's right...I've become faster...and stronger! Zane thought, focusing on how much damage his punch just caused. So this...this was the power of a Dire Wolf.

 

As Obsidian held his shoulder, he noticed Turk in the process of attempting to punch him from the side. The inky looking hedgehog spun around Turk's punch quickly, dodging it with ease. Backing away some, he glanced over at Zane and threw a Dark Chaos Arrow with his good arm.

 

The arctic wolf swiftly sidestepped, the arrow colliding with the wall. He smirked a little, he could feel his adrenaline pumping at this point. He really wanted to see how his abilities went now. Once more, he rushed towards Obsidian, before immediately creating an ice floor in front of him. Now Zane became a quick blur, almost as fast as a bullet. "One...two...three...KICK!!" he shouted, getting right up to Obsidian and delivering a strong kick with his right leg.

 

"W-WHAT?!" Obsidian exclaimed, not able to dodge in time and his face met the Zane's shoe. The kick impacted on his jaw and sent him skyrocketing towards the ceiling, crashing into it.

 

"Damn! This...this is incredible!!" Zane whistled, before punching his fists together.

 

"W-w-what is this...Impossible.  I was holding back against that robot...but this wolf...what the hell!" Obsidian groaned out, trying to dislodge himself from the ceiling. It took a bit, but he finally was dislodged...and he was pissed. With a loud yell, a black sphere enveloped him before being immediately risen above him. "Take this and go to oblivion!!" he shouted, throwing the black sphere towards the group.

 

Before anyone else could react, Turk immediately stopped it with his bare hands. The elephant was obviously struggling, but he kept his concentration the best he could. Meanwhile, Anais swiftly and gracefully jumped off Turk's shoulder, heading towards Obsidian. "Whatever you have planned, Wolf, forget about it!  These guys killed the closest thing I had to a sister!"

 

"W-Wait a minute!!" Zane shouted, watching Anais prepare to run Obsidian straight through with her sword.

 

Unfortunately, Obsidian deflected the sword with a black orb from his hands. With a small grin, he began to move it to force it into her stomach. Zane began to grit his teeth, before rushed a bit, looking up to find an opening. He found one, and he took it. Skidding to a halt, Zane formed an icicle in his hand and threw it like a javelin towards Obsidian's arm...hoping it would make contact.