HYBRID'S WRATH

OC's © respective authors

Chapter Twenty-Two: Beginning of a New Age

The scene draws open to the final stand for the Battle of East Island. The battle shot back and forth between the Sonic Heroes and their new allies and the Gizoids led by the Nocturnus leader, Ix. Just when the battle looked to fall in the heroes favor, Ix made a tremendous comeback by ultimately thrashing the heroes. But just as quickly as the tides had changed, Hybrid, the former antagonist, had awakened his true powers. Both sides of the battle stood and stared at the glistening hedgehog rising above them.

"It can't be." Ix muttered fearfully. "That Form is only supposed to be a legend!"

"This endless reign of violence has come to an end, Ix!" Hybrid proclaimed. "For your deception and disregard for the life of my friends and family, you must be punished! Beware, for you have called up the wrath of Hyper Hybrid!!"

"Hyper Hybrid?" Sonic repeated chuckling. "Sounds like two-headed dog hooked on sugar."

"Why does Hybrid look different, Knuckles?" Tails asked as he stepping between the Gizoids to reach the echidna. "It doesn't look anything like Sonic's Super Form. Shouldn't his fur be gold?"

"That's not the Super Form, Tails?" Knuckles said awestruck. "That's the legendary Hyper Form."

"Hyper Form?" Tails repeated confused. "I've never heard of it."

"That's because it's never been done before." Knuckles explained, never tearing his eyes away from Hybrid. "Sonic attempted the Hyper Form a few years back, but he only managed to complete it halfway. The Hyper Form is said to be a power that even Chaos feared during his time. That's why he remained on guard to prevent anyone from tapping into the Chaos Emeralds true power."

"So the Hyper Form is stronger than the Super Form?" Tails asked interestingly.

"I don't know." Knuckles said honestly.

While the heroes and Gizoids stared in wonderment at Hybrid's new power, Ix muttered a string of choice curses under his breathe. How dare this hedgehog, his own creation, hide a power that not even he could control? Why was he allowed to obtain the ultimate power when he himself was not chosen? Hybrid was going to pay dearly for this."

"You think this new form means anything?" Ix growled. "You may possess more power, but you are still weak compared to my power. I have existed for over four thousands years and you are just a mere child."

"What you say is true, Ix." Hybrid acknowledged. "But my power does not come from me, but for what I stand for. That is the reason you will be defeated."

"If that is what you believe." Ix sniggered. The imperator raised his hands and snapped his fingers, commanding. "Attack, my soldiers! Show this traitor what it means to defy your master!"

After receiving their orders, the Gizoids either pushed away their enemies or picked themselves up off the floor while faced with Hybrid. The mechanical warriors gripped their own version of the Leech Blade and jumped forward simultaneously around every point of the hedgehog. Hybrid closed his eyes. And suddenly, the world became silent; the Gizoids froze in midair and the heroes ceased to breathe. Time seemed close to stopping completely as the second became minutes to hour to days, all within Hybrid's own consciousness. Without sparing a look to anyone, the glowing hedgehog raised his hand with his palm held open. A surge of electricity flowed between his fingers before the hedgehog wakened from his trance.

"THUNDER LASH!!" Hybrid exclaimed.

Before anyone could blink, a web of lightning erupted from Hybrid's hand and struck down each Gizoid through the chest with perfect accuracy. As an extra precaution, Hybrid increased the level of power and eradicated the Gizoids from the inside. The heroes cleared a space for Hybrid to land while a storm of metal and oil rained down from the ceiling. Ix sneered in the greatest rage, unknowingly gripping his staff harder than normal. A pain-stricken cry brought Ix back to his senses as he became away of the traitor beneath his feet. Shade was chocking from the blood in her mouth, attempting not to look weak in front of Ix or her friends.

"You are certainly powerful, Hybrid. I will give you that." Ix said malevolently. The Imperator twisted his staff, earning another shriek from his dying captive; Hybrid and Rector hissed darkly. "But I still hold the advantage."

"You let her go you!" Rector demanded. "Or so help me, I will kick your...!"

"Language, Rector." Howl warned.

"You are in no position to bargain." Ix stated effectively, pulling his staff to give Shade a momentary reprieve. "Now, I am only going to say this once, Hybrid. If you swear your loyalty to me and follow in accordance to my laws, I will relinquish Shade and allow her to live."

"Hmm..." Hybrid hummed.

"Don't you dare listen to him, Hybrid." Shade groaned painfully. "You should not swear your loyalty to anyone other than yourself. You were born to be free of control."

"Silence!!" Ix commanded.

The Imperator stabbed his scepter further into the echidna's backside, earning another cry of agony. But this turned out to be the chance Hybrid was searching for. In a quick instant, Hybrid thrusted his fist forward and released a swift bolt of electricity. Since he had not seen the shot, Ix was stabbed in his shoulder and tossed backwards to the far end of the room, shattering the canisters along the way. Rector took this opportunity to run up to Shade and ripped the scepter from her beck; Shade hissed at the sudden movement. The ruby hedgehog snapped the golden staff to relieve his stress and quickly pulled the wounded echidna into his arms.

"Are you all right?" Rector asked, sincerely worried.

"Well...I've had better days." Shade groaned, somehow able to smirk.

"Don't worry." Hybrid said certainly. "I promise, this will all be over soon."

As they conversed, Ix pushed himself through the field of shattered glass, pushing aside the row of containers. The Imperator was clutching his bleeding shoulder through the rip in his robe, trying his best to look intimidating.

"You ungrateful urchins!" Ix shouted menacingly. "I sacrificed all my hard work to provide life for both of you and you show me nothing but treachery! I should have killed you both when I had the chance!"

"That most likely would have been the best option." Hybrid said lowly.

"No it would!" Sonic exclaimed. "You and Shade are nothing like Ix, so don't even think you are."

"He's right." Shadow smirked. "Because unlike him, you have friends on your side."

"It's over, Ix." Silver proclaimed, pointing to the Imperator. "Your army is gone and your plans are through. And not only that, Hybrid has the Hyper Form. There's no way you can beat us."

"You narrow-minded fools." Ix laughed harshly. "You don't believe I would enter a battle without saving a back up plan, did you? I have long expected something such as this to happen." The Imperator grinned with a crazed stare and he pulled away his bloody hand and wiped the crimson liquid over his face. He then clasped his hands together, spraying droplets of blood along the floor. "You have not even begun to see my power! Witness the ultimate power of the Nocturnus!"

Ix's voice quickly shifted to a trance-like repetition, muttering a long and powerful spell under his breathe. From the moment the first words breached his lips, the air around them became thick and nearly suffocated the heroes. While chocking on his own breathe, Hybrid whipped out a single stand of lightning, but an invisible force repelled the bolt to the wall. Then Ix's monstrous transformation began. The echidna's fur turned to a grim black with the dripping blood racing across his face and dreads. His muscles expanded, ripping his gloves and the upper portion of his robe, his teeth became sharper than daggers, and his empty eyes were painted blood-red. The heroes scurried backwards at the sight as Ix stomped closer to them.

"Ok, what is that?" Kumori questioned quickly.

"It is Ix's Twilight Form." Shade moaned sparingly. "He only uses it when he is in desperate need of power." He tilted her head backwards to face Hybrid. "Be careful. He can still use his magic to destroy you."

"Do not worry." Hybrid said grimly. "I am not the same as I once was."

"And soon enough," Ix laughed deviously; his voice sounded lower and closer to a demon's. "You won't be anything."

Hybrid made a quick gesture of attack, but Ix suddenly appeared in front of the hedgehog in a split second. With a swing of his might arms, the Imperator sent Hybrid flying backwards into the far wall and crashed through the fortified stone. Hybrid remained hanging over the bottomless pit beneath the stairway before he managed to catch himself. The glowing hedgehog barely had a moment to catch his breathe before Ix appeared behind him and grabbed him by his head. With a sharp yell, Ix tossed Hybrid upward and sent him sailing through fifteen flights of stairs before reappear to punch him down a corridor.

"Damn it." Hybrid cursed silently. "At this rate, I'll be killed within an hour."

"Oh, it will be much faster that that."

Hybrid stared over his shoulder for a moment before Twilight Ix grasped Hybrid by his forehead and shot him through one of the doors. The glowing hedgehog burst into the dining hall, sliding across the polished table until dropping to the other side. Hybrid groaned in pain as Ix nonchalantly walks into the room.

"Why not face the facts?" Ix sniggered. "I am clearly superior to you. Why fight your fate."

"Because you don't control my fate." Hybrid sneered.

"That can be changed easily." Ix chuckled.

Hybrid jumped forward across the table and tossed ahead several strands of electrical energy. Unfortunately, Ix muttered another spell to form an invisible for protection. Realizing that long range wasn't going to help, the glowing hedgehog swung his foot around, coating it with invisible sparks. But Ix captured the hedgehog by his ankle, discontinued his flow of electricity, and slammed Hybrid into the table, fracturing the furniture in half. The dark Imperator raised a hand close to Hybrid's throat, but the hyper hedgehog held out his palms to release a duel wave of lightning. The power of the attack shot it through the crevices of the ceiling and up two floors, landing him in the training room. As Hybrid landed after him, he barely had time to dodge the echidna's swinging fist. The glowing hedgehog shot a wave of electricity of cover the floor, but Ix thought ahead and jumped to the ceiling.

"You have certainly improved farther than I had expected." Ix complimented while crossing his arms.

"But I don't think that will change your mind." Hybrid commented.

"Not in the slightest." Ix smirked.

With a twitch of his wrist, Hybrid commanded the electricity coating the floor to rise up and form a storm of wire-thin needles. The cumulative attack shot upwards, forcing the echidna to hide behind his shield once again. But when he removed the barrier, Ix was disturbed to find that Hybrid had vanished from sight. Suddenly, a glowing fist emerged from the corner of his vision and swiped across his chin, sending him crashing through the ceiling. The motion continued for several long minutes until Ix exploded through the roof and caught himself in midair. Hybrid appeared a moment later across from him; he was panting heavily.

"Heh! Your power is quickly draining." Ix said pointedly. "Your new Form has much power. But without the ability to control that power, your own strength fails at a faster rate."

"But...how can you...still...?" Hybrid panted, groaning occasionally.

"I have had four thousand years of training." Ix informed. "I have learned the limits of my own power and know every powerful technique that requires little energy. In fact, I believe that my reserves are only half used. Mostly due to the annoyance of your friends."

"Either way...I'm gonna...stop you." Hybrid proclaimed.

"I don't understand." Ix said seriously. "These creatures have done nothing but brought you pain and sorrow. It is like you said, these creatures only know how to create war. How long until they turn against you and form a war of their own? With your plan, you can create the peace your mother sought."

"My mother did want peace." Hybrid nodded, glaring to the echidna. "But she would not want people dying for that single purpose. Violence cannot solve violence. And I will make it my goal to seek a way to find true peace." He smiled weakly. "And even if I fail, I know people like Sonic and Shade will succeed. Because they have the one thing you don't have: Compassion."

"Compassion?" Ix repeated laughing. "You think compassion will change anything?"

"It's worth a try." Hybrid chuckled.

"Pitiful." Ix spat.

In that one instant, Ix vanished from sight and reappeared behind Hybrid. Before the glowing hedgehog could react, the Imperator grabbed both of his arms and pulled them backwards while keeping his knee to Hybrid's back. The glowing hedgehog could feel his muscles tearing as Ix threatened to rip his arms out of their sockets. He was too distracted by the pain being inflicted, Hybrid couldn't draw the strength need to summon his powers. An overwhelming sense of failure washed over him. Was this how it ended? Would he final perish for his deeds? From what Hybrid could see, there was no other way.

"Don't give up, son." A ghostly voice whispered in Hybrid's mind. "Never lose hope. Fight on."

"I...I will." Hybrid thought determinedly.

Against impossible odds, Hybrid somehow managed to call out an unexpected thrill of power. Ix stared in bewilderment as the hedgehog slowly began to pull back his arms until he was entirely free. Before the echidna could counteract, Hybrid shot around and nailed his heel into Ix's face, sending the Imperator stumbling to the roof. Meanwhile, Hybrid began to draw forth electricity from not only his body, but the very environment around him. Electricity existed in all things, even the very air they breathed. It took an enormous about of strain on Hybrid's part, but the results were praise enough as a spike of electrical energy encompassed his body. Ix slowly stood to his feet, watching Hybrid's expression for the last time as the battle drew to a close.

"LIGHTNING JAVELIN!!" Hybrid roared.

For not even half-a-second, Hybrid across the sky faster than even something Sonic could ever accomplish. The glowing hedgehog stabbed his own body into Ix's torso and thrusted him through the roof with unspeakable power. But Hybrid's attack continued to push Ix past his limits and shot through all twenty-five floors until they returned to the manufacturing room. The heroes raised their arms to shield their eyes as a cloud of smoke erupted from the floor without warning. The room was silent; no one even dared to blink. The uncertain heroes gathered around the cloud, waiting to see the outcome of the match. Thankfully, they did not have to wait long. As the smoke cleared away, the heroes could see Ix, returned to his normal form lying on the floor with a giant red scar on his chest. Hybrid, returned to his normal form, looked very weak as he stood over his opponent, but looked proud of his accomplishment.

"It's over, Ix." Hybrid moaned. "You lose."

"All right, Hybrid!!" Blue cheered loudly.

Way to go, man!!" Jet praised boastfully.

"You're so cool!!" Charmy screamed in a girly manner.

And one by one, the heroes and other guests took turns congratulating the mixed hedgehog for defeating the Imperator. Even Shadow, who was uncertain about the hedgehog, swallowed his pride and claimed he would prove a potential rival. But what Hybrid enjoyed most from the small kiss on his cheek he received from Shade; Rector willingly looked away. But while the heroes were too preoccupied with their victory, no one noticed as Ix regained consciousness and slapped his palms to the floor. With a quick strand of words, Ix performed a sufficient spell. All of a sudden, the castle began to quake.

"What was that?" Storm asked worried.

"That was the sound of your end." Ix said madly. "Soon, this castle will be transported to the Twilight Cage, where no one will be able to escape."

"But you'll be trapped in there with us." Espio pointed.

"I am no such fool!" Ix cackled. "Good bye forever!"

And with that, Ix vanished in a flash of light. The heroes had no time to worry about the escaped Imperator before their attention was drawn by Ix's remaining spell.

"Within a few short minutes, this whole castle will be sucked in." Shade informed. "If we don't find a way out of here soon, we'll be dragged in along with it."

"Can we take the boat out of here?" Tikal suggested.

"No, I was never intending to have the boat return." Hybrid informed. "And Ix was the only one who knew how to use the teleportation technique for long distances."

"Then what do we do?!" Vector screamed frantically.

"There might be one chance." Hybrid said, looking to the golden trio. "Can you three perform a combined Chaos Control and transport every back to the mainland?"

"If everyone provides the energy, we can." Shadow nodded.

"Good." Hybrid said. "Then I want everyone to form a circle around them. Give whatever spare energy you have left to assist with the Chaos Control."

"What about you?" Amy asked worried.

"I must remain here." Hybrid stated; the heroes instantly argued against this. "Listen! If this castle reaches the Twilight Cage, then there is a possibility that the Nocturnus Tribe will get a hold of the technology here. And if that happens, they could invade this world at a moments notice. That is why I must remain to destroy every trace of this castle."

"But Hybrid...you'll die." Rogue said discomfortingly.

"Then I will finally pay for my sins." Hybrid whispered lowly, glancing one last time at his friend. "Now leave."

Though they were reluctant to follow his orders, everyone knew Hybrid would not change his mind. The group gathered around Sonic, Shadow, and Silver as instructed and began pouring out whatever energy they could. The energy recharged the golden trio and allowed them to access their Super Forms. Shade looked back one last time to her closest friend before they all vanished in a flash of light. Now Hybrid was left alone to face his final enemy.

"My time has come." Hybrid thought.

"I will always be here, Hybrid." Sara's voice whispered. "I love you, my son."

"We can finally be together again, mother." Hybrid responded.

The mixed hedgehog clutched his chest as he felt a surge of electrical energy bind him. If he was going to die, he was going to go out with a bang.

"CHAOS IMPLOSION!!"

"So, they didn't find anything?" Sonic asked.

The scene had shifted to the Sonic Heroes base two days after the Battle of East Island. The heroes were sitting in the kitchen, eating their lunch as they normally did when there were no villains to fight. The only one who didn't seem interested was Blaze, who was chasing her archenemy: Gary the Mouse. At the head of the table, Shadow was reading an article aloud concerning the recent investigation of East Island.

"Not even a scrap of sheet metal." Shadow answered, tossing the paper aside. "Hybrid make a thorough sweep of the island with that last attack."

"Thank goodness we all made it out." Cream said cheerful; Tails was annoyed that she wouldn't let go of his arm. "For a minute there, I thought the Chaos Control wouldn't be able to carry all of us."

"We had a lot of help." Wave commented, surprisingly grateful. "I actually think it was a good idea to make them all members of the Sonic Heroes. They make powerful allies. But I still can't believe that faker Jet thought he could trick us into giving him a communicator."

"I still can't believe we let that wolf join the team." Shadow said irritably.

"Shadow, he helped save the world." Rouge said irritably. "He's a hero. Get over it!"

"Any news about Shade?" Blue asked hopefully.

"Rector said he offered her a membership in Team Virtex." Amy informed, moving her chair out of Blaze's line of fire. "But Shade turned the offer down and said she wanted to travel the world. Last time I heard from her, she met some guy called Prof. Pickle in Shamar, Egypt."

"She must still be sad about Hybrid." Omega stated. "Even I wish he was done destroyed."

"Well..." Amy grinned playfully. "I wouldn't say destroyed."

The heroes stared at her strangely.

The scene alternates to the heart of Station Square, in the home of Team Virtex. Rector was sitting at his office, his feet propped on the desk, and looked over the file that was presented to him. Howl, Raine, and Marine stood on either side of him, looking back and forth between their leader and the character standing in the shadows. After a long moment of silence, Rector closed the file and looked back to the unknown character.

"Why do you want to join Team Virtex?" Rector questioned.

"I want to make a difference." The character said hopefully. "I want to be given a chance to hunt down the wicked and to help those who cannot help themselves. I want to be able to know that I can change the world, one small step at a time."

"Your reason is a good one." Rector said sternly. "But your acceptance can only be decided by if we deem you worthy. All those in favor of allowing him to join?" Without any hesitation, Marine, Howl, and Raine raised their hands with honest smiles on their faces. Rector couldn't help but laugh. He knew this would happen. "Looks like the majority wins. Welcome to Team Virtex, Hybrid."

The mixed hedgehog sighed in relief and allowed himself to drop his guard. At first, he was afraid that they would not allow him to join because of his actions. But now he had a chance to make everything right. Rector reached into one of the desk drawers and tossed Hybrid something silver. The hedgehog caught it and stared at the object. It was a gleaming silver metal with Rector's kanji stamped inside: the badge of Team Virtex.

"Now I can make your dream a reality, mother." Hybrid thought happily.

"I am so proud of you, my brave little boy." Sara's voice echoed for the final time.

The scene alternates to a far off desert plain in the middle of an unknown region. It was hear where we find Imperator Ix trudging through the cracked Earth; he brow sweating from the heat of the sun. Since the Battle of East Island, Ix could no longer risk that chance of revealing himself to the world. He needed to regain his strength before he could seek his revenge.

"This isn't over." Ix claimed firmly. "I swear, I will make those ungrateful cretins pay for their defiance."

"Hey, I think he's gone delirious." A gruff voice laughed.

At once, the former Imperator swirled around towards the source of the sound. There, covered in the shade of a tree Ix missed, sat Terro the Bat and Kuanga the Shark sitting on a small rock formation. The sword-carrying shark was devouring the liquid he carried in his portable bottles while Terro stared intently at Ix.

"Who are you?" Ix questioned

"Allow me to introduce ourselves." Terro said formally as he stood up. "My partner's name is Kuanga, a member of the Seven Sword Lords. And I am Terro the Bat, the direct descendant of the Knuckles Tribe."

"You take me for a fool!" Ix screamed. "You do not expect me to believe such an outrageous remark!"

"Seeing is believing." Terro said coolly.

Ix's expression was furious at Terro's proclamation until his gaze shifted to Terro's eyes. The former Imperator nearly feel backwards when he stared into the sight of the Kuasagan, his worst nightmare. Before Ix even knew what happened, his knees suddenly fractured and his shoulder blades were suddenly cracked. As the fearful echidna was forced to his knees, the crimson bat drifted over to Ix and forced him to look into his eyes.

"Now, I am only going to ask this once." Terro said, his eyes locked on Ix. "What have you done with the Sol Emeralds?"

The final scene opens to a dark and desolate dimension very similar to the Dark Rulers, but was more isolated. Several chucks of land drifted endlessly across the starry plains, never ending in their journey. One of the larger chunks of land was inhabited by a colony of warriors all wearing the same battle suit as Shade. The Nocturnus Tribe was arguing amongst each other after the recent change of events.

"Imperator Ix betrayed us!" Soldier #1 shouted.

"We're trapped forever in this miserable dimension!" Soldier #2 yelled.

"What will we do now?!" A female warrior cried. "Who will lead us?!"

"Allow me to answer those questions."

At once, the Nocturnus pressed their guard as a flash of emerald light broken out between them. Once their vision had cleared, the black-suited echidnas were faced with Black Doom and a group of his most trust elite soldiers. The Black Arms snarled at the echidnas, forcing the Nocturnus to react, but Black Doom waved his hand to silence them. When no one made any effort to approach them, the female warrior called out to the overlord.

"Who are you?" The female questioned.

"I am your savior." Black Doom said proficiently. "I am Black Doom, leader of the Black Arms."

"Why are you here?" Soldier #2 questioned.

"Why, I am here to lead you to salvation." Black Doom proclaimed thoughtfully. "I have learned that your former leader has abandoned you in your time of need. And I thought you would require my help."

"What's in it for you?" Soldier #1 asked.

"Not for me, but for all of us." Black Doom stated. "I need an army to help achieve a glorious victory against the humans. And you need a way to escape this infernal cage. Together, we can help each other and take our revenge on those who have hindered us." He held out his hand. "Will you accept?"

For a long while, none of the Nocturnus moved to agree, but there was a clear echo of talking amongst their ranks. When the babble had finally died down, the female warrior approached the alien overlord and kneeled before his with the rest of her tribe following in her place. The female warrior removed her helmet and bowed her head in acceptance.

"I, Terra the Echidna, as representative of the Nocturnus, swear our loyalty to you, Black Doom." Terra said finally.

"Excellent." Black Doom said malevolently. "And the Dawn of Darkness can finally begin."

THE END

This story will continue on to Sonic Unleashed.

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