'The Legends of Sonic the Hedgehog'

Pretence

By Dib07

Rating: T

Summary:

Robotnik's forces are gathering. A congregation of horror eternal that threatens the Mobians. A final war is ushered. But not between two armies.

Between one overlander and a small, brave hedgehog. This final fight will dictate the end and nothing will ever be the same again.

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Dib07: Notes for Pretence that you don't have to read. But here are some details you may like to consider:

Anything that mentions the Victory/War refers to the battle in the story The Dawn to Darkness.

Sonic is smaller than both Shadow and Sally in physcial size.

Overlanders are also referred to as forerunners.

Also, Dr. Robotnik/Eggman is truly evil and will stop at nothing to kill Sonic.

This story is only going to be rated T, but I will forewarn you if there are character deaths/painful situations in later chapters, which there will be. So if you are sensitive, you will be warned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic da hedgehog and that includes all chapters henceforth. This is purely fanworks.

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

The sky was red.

Red like spilled crimson in a pool. Or red like the winter evening of a long cold day.

The mechanical giant foundered upon his victim like an iron behemoth. The ceiling above cracked as easily as glass, and the split grew and stretched violently, causing stone and metal rubble to fall.

The gem of power throbbed angrily in the background like an overseer. And overseer that counted the seconds. That brought death when it wanted. It was a ticking time bomb.

Its flashing thick green splashed across the walls. It illuminated every inch of flesh and it filled very crevice in detail.

The glow was huge. Immense. Light….

…The light…

There were caves. They were so cold and bitter, like twisted wire set against a glassy sky. Pain and sickness were down those tunnels. Blue spines littered the snowy floor veneered in bloody footprints.

It was morning. The light was too bright. The wind was still.

The sky was red that day.

With a red scarf flapping ruthlessly in the wind, a brave young hedgehog stopped at the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the sunny great plains of home. Of Mobius divine in all her beauty. The grassy dunes wavered in the rushing gales like waters on the ocean. The sun poured over the thin rivers and trees like a merciless goddess.

Robotnik had been beaten back. It had been a hard-won victory, and the overlander's cyborgs and androids had been vicious to the very last. So when Sonic thought about their recent fight in the war, he only remembered the numerous casualties. The deaths involved. And the pain.

Tails stood boldly beside him, his presence silent while he observed the plains with him. It was very enticing to think of a 'free' Mobius, but Robotnik would not go down easy. He had the upper hand – he always did. Yes, they had won the war. However, the sleazy overlander had a fortitude of bases, each one having the opportunity or not to house the brilliant warlord. The land was being snarled at his feet with pollution. More and more creatures were being senselessly slaughtered since the roboticization process was now inferior. Robotnik didn't need vessels anymore. He had gone beyond that. And would go further still. Unless he was stopped.

As Sonic surveyed the land, the land that could one day be free, he tried to think of a plan, a failsafe way of getting to Robotnik, avoiding his tricks and traps, and actually getting to him. Unfortunately, this task was impossible unless he thought of some way round it.

And soon before another war was staged. One they could not win against.

"Is that it over there?" Tails pointed to the west at a group of lonesome cliffs clinging to their mother mountain. The area was hilly and full of rocks that roughened the steep valley. Somewhere in that niche of stone and earth was Sonic's second home. His main one was in Knothole; a small, luxurious, if slightly messy cottage not far from Sally's. He only maintained the place if he had time... or could be bothered. And though Knothole was supposed to be safe, it was not completely private. And so, Sonic made another home, one so secret, that only Tails and the princess knew about it.

It was a snug little cave hidden behind a curtain of willow leaves at the entrance. It was complete with a wooden bed, enough blankets for a sleep-over party, a pantry and basic kitchen. Though it was too small to live in comfortably and too cold for the winter, it was a perfect hideout. Sonic and Tails often went there to enjoy secret camp fires and to tell each other songs and stories. It was a serenity for them that only the aegis of the mountains could offer.

In the winter, the shadows of the mountains lingered over the cave for months, and icicles would form crystal-like crust over the mouth like icing.

The cave itself offered a riotous view of the grass plains below, since the hedgehog home was so far up from ground level. If you stood on the edge of the ridge by the cave's entrance, you could see for leagues. The wind and the sound carried, so it was easier to tell when trouble was coming.

Tails himself wasn't keen on the old stone rubble and large hole that didn't go far or deep enough to be considered a cave. The fox preferred wooden housing high up in trees. It was safer, dryer and warmer. Since he could fly, that made sense.

The lurid summer had been a plentiful one, and the inhabitants of Mobius were reaping the rewards since the fiery winter of the war. Without recent hindrance from Dr. Robotnik, different tribes and villages were able to trade again. Of course, danger was never far off.

Malignant robot guards, posted as sentries, attacked on sight, so complete freedom was still a dream as Eggman kept watch over a planet he believed to be his.

Here, on the cliffs, a much-needed breeze ruffled their fur. It had been the hottest day on record for two years. At this, Tails had commented on Sonic's fine scarf that had been wrapped around his neck. The hedgehog winked at his affable question with a teasing smile. "Been to the winter wastes to the north, buddy, to make sure old Eggman isn't setting up more factories there. So far, the whole continent is in the clear. And besides, a few hours away from the heat is bliss!"

Pale blue, admiral butterflies danced on the buds of flowers at their backs. The sky above was completely cloudless, forming a dense, rich blue. The sky looked so close, you could almost touch it.

Thunder storms were predicted in a few days time. The sudden lashing heat made the temperatures in the heavens climax with energy. The hidden, lurching tension only worsened Tails' apprehension. Even though Mobius seemed to be having a calm break, nothing could undo the spell of anxiety nestled within the fox.

Sonic's lungs exhaled a relaxed sigh. There was no baleful intentions here, no evil to spoil the freedom of the day, and no danger to look out for.

Peace.

Yet he felt the anguish emitting from his little brother.

With light steps and an even lighter heart, Sonic turned round and went back to the packed food the kitson had brought with him for lunch. He unwrapped the bread from its protective paper and rested the loaf on a patchwork mat that had been laid out on the grass. The kitson had also thought of bringing along a jug of herbal tea among the ginger biscuits.

The town of Nutley was opposite them across Amber Wood where the fields of cherries and oranges grew. Nutley was busy with trade, as they could hear the townsfolk play and chatter across the fields. Though there wasn't much wind, the sound carried.

Tails came and sat opposite him while Sonic cut a slice off the bread and buttered it with a knife.

"You know, this has been one of the best days I've ever had." He said, smiling just before he crammed the slice of bread into his mouth.

Tails listened to the mellow sound of life all around him. It was almost too good. "I wish I could enjoy the day with you, Sonic," he began with a dull air, "but I can't help worrying. Eggman will return with something worse. And what can we do? We've spent everything we had in the war."

"Wise words, but Ol'Robotnik sure spent everything he had too. He was planning on winning, so he threw everything he had at us."

"He can build robots fast."

"Well, I can destroy them ever faster. Have some bread."

Tails did. He cut off a slightly smaller portion and buttered it eagerly. Then he poured some tea from the jug and sipped gingerly. When he had finished and put his stone cup back down, he said after some comfortable silence, "you know what I'm really worried about? I'm worried Eggman'll catch us again... and hurt us..."

Sonic shrugged mirthfully and drank some tea himself. It wasn't very good cold, but all the same; cold tea was always welcome on a burning hot day. The grass was thick and when he laid down to stretch out on it, it felt like a warm, fuzzy carpet under his fur. "No more. That happened once; it's not going to happen again."

"But how?"

"I don't want to think about it. Let's enjoy our meal."

It felt like so far away. The cold walls – the mechanical stench. The fact that Eggman might have touched him. The thought made him shiver despite the hot weather.

He had made a vow to kill Robotnik after they were captured. Killing an overlander was different than say... destroying androids. But he would do it without hesitation if the time ever came.

"Is Knuckles... okay?" Tails would not stop with the questions. Sonic was slightly irritated, but instead he pretended to be nonchalant. He folded his arms gracefully behind his head and a fly buzzed around his ear.

"He's fine. He's guarding that stupid emerald on Angel Island. He must be loving this awesome weather."

Oh, they'll be action soon.

It would happen eventually. He just had to wait. Eggman was probably planning something lovely.

'"It's a shame I've only just caught on… you see I was busy planning… ahh planing yes… I love doing that…"'

The human's voice was a callous reminder that he would always be around to plot more evil on Mobius. If he was given enough time, he could convert the whole planet into a metal war factory.

At least he doesn't have any emeralds.

Sonic had the blue emerald hidden away somewhere safe. The green one Silver took back with him and Eggman had none. Those were good odds, so long as it stayed that way. Then he got an idea. He sat up, rubbed one eye and peered at Tails who was now finishing off the rest of the bread.

"What say we go out and hunt for some emeralds?" He suggested. Why not? An extra emerald would give them plenty of strength against any threat.

Tails did not share his sudden fervour. "I've lost my emerald radar."

"What? How?" His voice was sharp.

Tails looked at him and blinked. He could not remember how exactly. It had happened before the Victory. Perhaps Eggman had removed it from him when he got captured.

"I think it was stolen."

Sonic let off a low growl that sounded alien coming from him. He noticed Tails staring and quickly adorned a look of perplexity. "So what? We look for them the hard, normal way? That's all right isn't it? We might find something."

Tails shook his head. There was a one in thousand chance they'd find any emerald on Mobius without technology.

"Well, Eggman originally had two, didn't he?" Sonic exclaimed. The same fly from earlier came to settle on his head. He waved it off with his gloved hand. "We lost one, then Knuckles tore the blue one from a robot in the Victory. He may have more."

"You're making me more worried now." Tails sulked. He was no longer enjoying the picnic and even the hazy, sleepy warmth wasn't helping. He sat tense and still like a rabbit that was snared with fear. Sonic came over and gave him a quick, reassuring hug.

"Everything will be okay, buddy. We'll form a plan of our own for when Robotnik comes. Then we'll be prepared. Right now as we speak, Knothole's having defences installed. That human will get a warm welcome when he comes knocking at our door."

Tails smiled grimly, but the gesture didn't touch his lucid eyes.

As it got later into the afternoon, it was too hot and dry to sit beyond the trees so they packed everything back into the basket and headed into the shade of the Amber Forest. Going back home sounded much better.

"Let's just get you back to Knothole."

They walked slowly back together, with Sonic carrying the picnic basket.

A pleasant zephyr swept past and the thinnest trees creaked. The warm air was amiably torrid and humid, and the air itself was sweet with the smell of blossoming flowers.

Knothole was located deep in the Great Forest, hidden from Eggman. Knothole Village was only accessible through hidden entrances at various points in the forest, which were guarded day and night.

Originally, long ago, Knothole was a retreat for the Royal Family, who otherwise lived in the capital city of Mobotropolis. When Ivo Robotnik took over and banished the king and the civilians roboticized, Sonic, Sally and those that survived were led to Knothole to hide. Eventually Knothole became their home and centre of operations. Through the years, Knothole remained undetected, and soon they had to build underground as their base expanded.

Now, Robotnik's base of operations was Mobotropolis, which he completely overthrew and then rechristened it Robotropolis. The human promptly transformed the once pristine, utopian paradise into an industrial wasteland, full of automated factories and pollution.

Sonic opened a partition of wood from the trunk of a tree, revealing a slide inside. He and Tails went down it, and into the village.

The villagers in Knothole were busy doing what they did not any normal day. The school was loud with kittens and pups. The builders were hard at work setting up mounds for weapons and a few burly hyenas were stocking up stone slabs for a wall. The females were either standing idly and gossiping or gathering food.

As Sonic and Tails were walking directly to their own dwelling, Tails couldn't help but overhear a story being told by one of the elders at the school. The school was an open building with no walls. The children sat outside on the grass with chalkboards in their laps.

The elder sat in front of twenty young animals, and for the most part, they were silent as he spoke.

The elder was an old stag, who was well past his prime. His muzzle was grisly and grey. His long robes were mud stained as if he had been traipsing in a swamp. His eyes however, burned with wisdom and youth, and his antlers were bone white, and immaculately clean. The stag's name was Uarua, and in his youth he had been a royal guard.

Tails stopped and listened to the story being told by Uarua.

"Once upon a time, all the animals were happy. They worked together. They played and danced. For the world was new and wondrous. The Mother Goddess had made it so for her children.

"Then, one day, the animals saw a man standing all on his own, looking very sad. A ferret said, 'cheer up. I do not like to see you so despondent.'

And the man said, 'I am sad because I have nothing. I am useless.'

The ferret replied, 'do not say that. I'll give my speed and courage.'

Then the man said, 'I want to be stronger than anything else.'

The Wolf replied, 'you can have my mettle and stamina.'

And the man said, 'I want to see everything.'

The Eagle said, 'I will let you.'

And the man said, 'I want to know everything of this world and more.'

And the bat said, 'I will lead you to knowledge.'

Then, after all the animals had given the man their stars of life and secrets, they were happy. But the bear came to them after the man had gone and he said, 'I am deeply sorry for us all.'

'Why?' Asked the wolf.

The bear looked at them sadly. 'Now the man has everything. For I saw a blackness in the man. A blackness he will never be able to fill. He will never be content. He will keep on taking and taking until the world has nothing left to give and all the stars of life are gone.'"

The tale ended and the children watched on, still and awed. Tails felt Sonic's hand over his, and he proceeded to follow him. When they got far from earshot, the fox said, "there is more truth in that story than there is in life."

"It's just a story." Sonic sighed. They got to his house and he nudged open the door with his foot. He seldom kept it properly closed.

They walked up the staircase in silence, until Sonic came to his bedroom. Like always the floor was littered in things he could never be bothered to tidy away. There were books scattered like confetti, there were pens, model rings and tiny models of Robotnik's robots.

Tails picked up an empty box and placed it on the duvet of Sonic's car bed.

"You really need to clean this place up." He told him, "or you'll break your ankle on something."

Sonic giggled and opened his old toy chest. Instead of toys it contained weapons. Some were old, others were new. Amongst the bows and slingshots he picked out a lumpy bit of cloth and unraveled it to reveal the blue emerald. Its powerful azure glow looked as clear and as beautiful as the tropical ocean. As Sonic gently turned it in his fingers, its radiant body shimmered like magic from the Goddess herself.

"You hide it in there?" Tails couldn't help but shriek in astonishment. "Isn't that a bit dangerous?"

"Where else do you suppose we hide it?" He used the cloth to tenderly stroke its hard surface, as if cleansing away any speck of dust on its coat, but he needn't have bothered because it was already perfectly clean.

Tails shrugged, not suggesting anything. "So much for the radar." He said, "I'm worried about who else might have it."

"We don't need a radar."

"What?"

Sonic grinned. "Now that I'm looking at it, I know what we can do. Emeralds react to one another, so we can use this one to seek out more."

"Of course." He said laconically.

Sonic chuckled and bounced the sacred gem in his hands like a ball. "Let's get started before it gets dark!"

"But we've just got back!" Tails did not want to go back out again. He was frightened out there. He had heard tales of Robotnik's troops stalking hapless victims, and striking ruthlessly until scores of animals were left dying in the sun without the faint idea of what had hit them.

"It's okay, Tails!" His comely voice was bursting with confidence. Sometimes Sonic's relaxed demeanor made the twin-tailed fox feel queasy. "We won't be long! Come on! Another emerald would be great, don't ya think?"

"Okay."

The emeralds had a long story behind them, one as possibly as old as time. The emeralds themselves herald a seemingly unlimited energy and they all are the source of vitality for all living things on Mobius. The more emeralds there are in one place, the more total energy than there would be with the same amount of emeralds separately because like most Mobians knew, emeralds reacted to one another.

It is also said (or rumored) that the emeralds may have been the product of the Xorda (the aliens that transformed the planet that we know as Mobius) gene bombs. Specifically they were formed by the absorption of the Xorda gene bombs' massive energy release into underground beryl deposits. But, this theory by the Mobian scientists had never been proven.

Amy was out making bread. She folded the gooey dough and then lathered it in crisp fresh flour. She liked working in the open, so that she could relish the summer's day. The table she was working on reached up to her waist, but even then she had to use a stool to bend over to exert extra force on the dough. But, when forming yeast, kneading became a tiring chore and she stood back and watched the young animals playing in the sun.

"I wish the weather would be like this every day."

Sally came by and dropped a bag of potatoes. "Peel these, will you?" She asked, "I've got more work to do on the defenses."

Amy scowled at the suggestion of more work, but only bit her tongue instead of flying off the handle. She had learned from before never to argue with a princess. "How are the defenses going?"

"Good. The stark plants have all been planted and the sentry guns we've stolen have been set up to monitor the west and east side. I'm working on the rest."

A storm suddenly cankered into the area and the trees and bushes rocked violently in the turbulence. The earth itself seemed to heave.

Sally looked up and saw a spinning blue blur running circles round them. She stamped her foot and groaned impatiently. "Sonic! That's enough!"

On request the blue hedgehog presently stopped with a playful smile on his lips. "Like my entrance? You know, the way I came flying in?"

Sally tried not to smile back. Though his childish ways brightened her day, sometimes his mood got very irritating. "You could have knocked down a tree." She said, flashing a look of ire, "it may be all right for you to run around, but you can scare the life out of me when you do that."

"I apologize, Sal. Me and Tails are going to go out emerald hunting." He showed her the blue emerald. She was no stranger at the sight of it.

Amy suddenly whimpered with excitement, "take me with you, Sonic!"

Sonic bleached.

Sally shook her head. "No, Sonic. No emerald hunting for today. I'm worried what Robotnik will do, and it's not safe out there."

"We were out camping and there was nothing dangerous!" Sonic said with despair at her decision, "come on Sal! Another emerald will help our chances!"

"No!" Her steel blue eyes did not falter. When she was this serious, her judgment was final.

Sonic gave her a vindictive grimace and walked away, feeling suddenly gloomy. Tails came up to him. He had his backpack ready with supplies for the adventure which had now been terminated.

"Sorry, Tails. No trip. Sal's orders."

"What?" His face was a picture of pure shock. "But that's not fair! It's dull and boring here!"

"I know. There's nothing to do. No Eggy to fight, so wars to spill. No gems to hunt."

Tails opened his mouth to say that they should go anyway, that finding an emerald would make everyone happy, but he shut his mouth instead and kept in step with his best friend. What was Sally so worried about?

Next week:

Sonic is haunted by the beginnings of a bad dream that will one day become a terrible reality.

Shadow is picked out by the dark overlander as his next pawn against the animals threatening to ruin his kingdom.

Til then, catch ya later!

Dib07