Chaotic Origins

"C'mon! We've gotta find out how to skip dimensions, and I have a feeling it won't be easy," Sonic said. He immediately took charge as part of instinct, and generally Tails and Knuckles went along with it. This time was no different, although considering the info dump they just went through, it was no surprise that they didn't say much. Before Sonic could take off, though, he was suddenly bowled over as he got blasted in the back. Turning, they all saw the last hedgehog they expected. Shadow, who was coincidentally holding a large, alien, smoking gun.

     "Shadow! What was that for?" Sonic complained, trying to look at the blackened patch on his back.

     "You were about to run off. I got your attention before that could happen," Shadow replied levelly.

     "Oh, and you couldn't just, I don't know, CALL MY NAME, for example?" Sonic snapped. Shadow just gestured to the weapon in his hand.

     "The gun was faster."

     "Oh, for the love of..." and Sonic threw his hands in the air in frustration. Tails swore he saw Shadow smirk. Knuckles, of course, was laughing his head off, thoroughly enjoying the subtle teasing and rivalry that the two hedgehogs maintained.

     "You'd think they were brothers," whispered Tails. Sonic flicked an ear at this, but continued giving Shadow the stink eye.

     "So did you come here for an actual reason? Or did you just want to shoot me?" Sonic finally asked.

     "I did come for a reason. Come." Shadow sped away, Sonic straight on his heels.

     "Well, while they're talking, we might as well explore the temple as much as we can." Tails suggested. Knuckles nodded, and they split up to search the area.

      Shadow had run for a mile or two before suddenly applying the brakes, immediately stopping. Sonic applied his heels to the ground and skidded for a few feet before coming to a halt as well.

     "So what's so important that you had to tell me in the middle of a desert?" Sonic questioned. The fact Shadow was telling him ANYTHING was unsettling, as he normally kept to himself.

     "This." Shadow handed Sonic a file. Emblazoned on the front were the GUN insignia, and several 'top secret' stamps. Sonic opened it, skimming through the documents, but paying close attention to the many pictures and images. As he continued to rifle through it, Shadow began explaining.

     "My latest mission for GUN had me exploring some of Proffesor Gerald's research and experiments, and, by extension, Eggman's. What I found was originally nothing new, but then I found out Eggman had been doing research on the same project that created myself, and the Biolizard. He started out about twenty, maybe twenty-one years ago, before abruptly stopping nineteen years ago." As Shadow said this, something clicked in Sonic's brain.

     "You're not saying..." Sonic began.

     "Yes."

     "..."

     "Eggman apparently knew that the Professor had gotten genetic material from somewhere else, but he didn't know about the Black Arms until the comet passed by. So he outsourced as well. I don't now where or how-"

     "I do. He got all of it from Discord, and possibly Sombra, and got Onigami to help! This suddenly makes a lot more sense, but to think..."

     "That you were created by Eggman?"

     "Yeah. That's... that's quite the bombshell." Sonic remained quiet for a moment, and Shadow saw no need to fill the silence. Sonic finally came to a decision.

     "But it doesn't matter. It doesn't change who I am or what I've done. In fact, it's funny. Eggman's plans always backfire on him." Sonic grinned at the consternation that Eggman must feel, getting his butt handed to him by one of his creations. And by Omega. And Metal Sonic. And Gamma. And by Rouge, who had only worked for him to steal the Chaos Emeralds. This day just kept getting better and

better.

     "Oh well. I've gotta go help Tails and Knuckles. See ya!" With that, Sonic blasted away, back to the temple. For a moment, Shadow held up his hand to forestall him, but decided not to go after him. He would find out who Discord and Sombra were soon enough. Shadow tucked away the file and ran off in the opposite direction.

     When Sonic made it to the temple, Tails and Knuckles hadn't made any progress on finding the gateways. They had been looking around where the pod was. Sonic, though, immediately looked at the pedestal the statue had rested on. Sonic hopped on to it, noticing the deep grooves the weight of the statue had dug. He bent down, tracing the stone's surface with his fingers.

     Acting on instinct, he pressed on one of the indentations. It disappeared into the stone. The pedestal began breaking apart, crumbling under Sonic's feet. He hopped off, just as it collapsed completely. Underneath was a swirling void, black and inky. Sonic grinned in triumph, just as Tails and Knuckles ran into the room.

     "See? I told you it would be near the pedestal!" Knuckles was saying.

     "No, actually, you didn't," Tails responded.

     "It doesn't matter who suggested it or not, we've gotta explore it!" Sonic cut in.

KNuckles looked at it warily.

     "I don't know..." he began.

     "What, are you scared, Chuckles?"

     "What? Of course not! But how do we know this is actually what we're looking for?" Knuckles responded, frowning at Sonic's name.

     "Trust me. I know." Sonic replied cheekily, before hopping right in to the darkness. Tails followed right after him, but Knuckles hesitated. After a moment's thought, he hopped in as well.

     Sonic landed on his feet, standing on the same kind of inky blackness that there had been when he had met Onigami the first time. Now, though, the walls stretched in a long hallway, riddled with doorways. Each showed a different world. Sonic was surprised to see some he recognized. One of the ones closest to him showed a castle, buzzing with activity and repairs. It was Avalon, still being fixed after Merlina's attack. Farther down were others, showing different dimensions and worlds. No two of them looked the same.

     "There's hundreds of them! How are we going to find the one you're looking for, Sonic?" Tails asked. Knuckles stopped in front of one that showed an endless landscape of ocean.

     "We could always try this one," Knuckles suggested with a grin.

     "Sorry, but that's not the one I'm looking for. It actually has LAND." Sonic responded, not rising to the bait. Knuckles frowned irritably.

     "But my point still stands. There could be thousands of them. How do we find one out of that many?" Tails asked. "We could be down here for weeks!"

     "Unfortunately, we don't have weeks." Sonic answered. "Be right back." With that he sped down the corridor, leaving nothing but air currents in his wake. A few seconds later he called out from far down the hall. "Found it!"

     Tails and Knuckles ran down the hall. It took them a moment to get there, even though they were sprinting. Sonic tapped his foot impatiently. When they reached him, they looked into the portal, which looked fuzzy on the edges, but was clear in the middle. Far below, they saw a small colorful town with thatched roofs and small houses.

     "This is Ponyville. I got sent here in that virtual reality pod. I met the Elements of Harmony, and their Princess, whose name is Celestia. They're all about friendship and stuff, so try not to offend them, 'kay Knuckles?" Sonic explained. Knuckles just huffed and turned his head away.

     "But what will we tell them? Are we going to just tell the truth?" asked Tails. He didn't like lying, but he also stayed on the better side of caution.

     "Oh, we're just gonna tell them the truth. One of them, her name's Applejack, can see through a lie faster than anyone I've ever met. You either tell the truth, or don't say anything at all. Even then, she might see through you." Sonic clarified. Knuckles frowned, and Tails nodded in agreement.

    "Well, then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Sonic announced, jumping through the doorway. Knuckles and Tails followed suit, after looking down on the faraway town.

     Unfortunately, Sonic didn't realize that the portal was literally in the air, so that the view didn't change when he stepped through. This, however, left him falling through open sky. Knuckles and Tails realized the same thing. Tails grabbed Knuckles, who was closest. This left Sonic with no easy way down except to fall. As usual, he landed with a large thud. On his face.

     "Next time we jump through a portal, I'm sending Tails to make sure it ISN'T in the sky," he grumbled to himself. The landing had done nothing to help his wounds either, some of which were now bleeding again. He got up just as Tails touched down, letting go of Knuckles at the same time.

     "Sonic! Are you okay?" Tails asked, concerned.

     "I'm fine. Just catch me next time and I might reconsider killing you," growled Sonic. Tails could tell he was joking, though. It was pretty easy to tell, but it helped that Tails had known him for a long time.

     "So what now?" asked Knuckles impatiently.

     "We have to find Twilight Sparkle. She's the local librarian and brainiac. If she can't do something, nobody can," Sonic instructed. Tails looked a little upset at being outclassed by a pony, but didn't say anything.

     "Oh, and one last thing," Sonic remembered. "If she starts looking like she has an idea BEFORE we explain anything, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES." He didn't explain any further though, and set off for Ponyville.

     The three attracted a great many stares, but Tails and Knuckles were staring just as much. Sonic didn't make much of it, but he had spent about a month here in the pod, even though it had only been a couple of hours in real time. But then, he stopped dead.

     Rather than seeing the library he was used to, there was a blackened, burnt, stump. Ashes still littered the ground around its base. The scorch marks were at least a few weeks old, but were more likely from a month or two back.

     Sonic stared at it sadly. Real or not, he had spent a month here, and it was sad to see anything destroyed, in his opinion. 'Twilight must have been heartbroken at how many books must have been lost.' thought Sonic.

     "Can I, help you?" asked a very familiar voice (to Sonic, at least). He turned to see the very unicorn he had been looking for. Except she wasn't a unicorn anymore, but Sonic didn't notice at first.

     "Twilight! What happened to the library?" Sonic asked, completely forgetting that she had no idea who he was.

     "Wha? How do you know my name?" Twilight asked, her ears perking up in interest.

     "Um, it's a long story." Sonic answered, suddenly realizing his mistake.

     "I've got time. Come on, we can talk in my castle."

     'She has a castle now?' Sonic wondered. That was about when he saw the new wings that were folded tight to her sides. They twitched and rustled at every gust of wind or slight change in temperature that occurred during their walk. Knuckles and Tails also noticed her wings, but didn't think anything of it.

     After a few minutes, they finally reached the front doors of her castle. Sonic marveled at the flawless sheen of the crystal. For some reason, it looked familiar. Sonic soon realized that it was because the shape reminded him of the sketches of the Tree of Harmony that virtual Twilight had shown him.

     "So how did you end up getting a castle?" asked Sonic, his curiosity getting the best of him.

     "You know my name but not about the battle with Tirek?" asked Twilight. "I obviously get that you're not from around here, but forgive me if I find that strange," she continued. Her gaze swept across the three of them, but it held no malice, just simple curiosity.

     "Um, we actually know nothing about all this. You got any questions, you ask HIM," Knuckles jabbed his finger in Sonic's direction. Tails rolled his eyes, but remained silent.

     "Okay, now that no one's around to see..." Twilight began. "OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH! You are incredible! Are you one different species, or all you all from seperate races?" Twilight asked excitedly. Sonic was, of course, used to her antics, so he had no problem answering.

     "I'm a hedgehog, Tails there is a fox, and Chuckles is an echidna." Sonic pointed to each as he introduced their names.

     "Chuckles?" asked Twilight.

     "Nah, I just call him that for fun. His real name is Knuckles, and he's guardian of the Master Emerald." Sonic amended. Knuckles blinked, but then grinned as Sonic finally got serious about his introduction.

     "Oh. And what's your name?" Twilight gestured to Sonic.

     "I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog. The Fastest Thing Alive!"

     "Oh, really?" asked a more rough voice behind them. Sonic responded without turning.

     "Yes, really, Rainbow Dash. I'd race ya, but I've got more important things to do right now."

     "Two things: One, how do you know my name? And two, what could be more important than a race? You afraid of a little competition?" Rainbow responded.

     "It's a long story, and I'm just a little busy trying to save my world." Sonic answered. Twilight's eyes got real big when he said this.

     "What is it?" she asked. Saving the world was no small matter, no matter which world it was.

     "An interdimensional being who calls himself Onigami is trying to take over my world. Afterwards, he is going to conquer any and all other dimensions until everything is under his control." Sonic responded.

     "Cool!" Rainbow yelled, hovering just over Sonic's head. "If you need help, you came to the right place. Don't worry, the Elements of Harmony can fix it for you."

     "We don't NEED your help, this is just a failsafe. I can't risk him spreading to other galaxies. If there wasn't so much risk involved, I would take care of him myself." snapped Sonic. He was not about to let anyone (most of all Rainbow Dash) think that he needed help. He was stubborn like that. Not as bad as Shadow, but still stubborn.

     "If you say so," Rainbow quipped. Knuckles snickered.

     "They're so alike," Tails said under his breath.

     "Twilight interrupted. "If this is so important, we should probably round up the rest of the girls. After that," she turned to Sonic,"you're going to explain how you know me and Rainbow."

     "And Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy." Sonic teased.

     "You get Fluttershy and Applejack, and I'll get Rarity and Pinkie Pie, then." Rainbow decided. Sonic nodded, and they both sped off. Twilight shared a look with the two remaining Mobians.

     "Well, this should be interesting," stated Tails.

     A few minutes later, three of the six Elements were gathered in a meeting room of the castle. Fluttershy, of course, insisted on sitting right next to Sonic and crew, occasionally sneaking glances over at them. Sonic crossed his arms, waiting for Rainbow to come with her two. Twilight came in with a cup of tea for FLuttershy, who took it in her hooves, only to nearly drop it as the door exploded open.

     "Aha! See Twilight? I told you I'd get back...first." Dash finished as she noticed Sonic, Fluttershy, and Applejack.

     "You were saying?" Sonic asked cheekily. Rainbow grunted in frustration.

     "Wait. You were racing?" exploded Twilight. She glared at them. "This is serious!"

     "What do you expect?" Sonic asked. "She challenged me, I accepted. The whole point was to do it quickly anyways."

     "Still." Twilight complained. Then she shook her head, "Anyways, first things first. How exactly do you know us if you came from a different dimension?"

     "That is a good question," murmured Rainbow.

     "I would tell you the long-story-short," Sonic began, "but I don't know how short I can make it."

     "Still, darling, you should tell us. You march in, asking for our help and, apparently, already know a great deal about us, even though we have never met? It is a bit suspicious," Rarity interrupted.

     "Just do one of your spell things, Twilight," suggested Rainbow.

     "Oh, you mean a memory spell. I would have to rework it a bit to be able to view it myself, but it might work. That is, if you're okay with it," Twilight said.

     "If you think it will work, Twi, I've got no problems with it," responded Sonic with a shrug.

     "Wait, seriously? YOu're just gonna let her go through your head like that?" cried Knuckles.

     "She's the best at what she does. I've got nothing to hide, anyways," Sonic placated.

     "I agree with Knuckles. It might be dangerous, letting someone in your head," agreed Tails.

     "Come on Tails. You too? It'll be fine," replied Sonic.

     "Are you're sure you're okay with this," Twilight broke in. Sonic nodded. Twilight closed her eyes, and her horn began to glow. A similar glow enshrouded Sonic's head, and his pupils widened as he felt her in his memories. After a minute or so, Twilight broke the connection, taking a deep breath. Sonic's pupils shrank to their normal size. Twilight looked at him with a new respect.

     "Well, that certainly explains things," Twilight said. She smiled at Sonic, no longer alarmed at his knowledge of her and her friends. He smiled back, glad that the intial awkwardness was gone.

     "What? What did you see?" asked Rainbow eagerly.

     "Ah am curious as ta how this hedgehog knows us," agreed Applejack. Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in her seat, somehow remaining seated in her chair while she did so.

     "Yeah! How does Spikey know about us? It's cool, cause it means I have an instant new friend, which is great! But does that mean I don't get to throw a party?" and Pinkie was lost in thought.

     "Couldn't you show them with a similar spell?" Sonic suggested. "Just reverse it so you're showing them instead of them showing you."

     "Maybe," Twilight considered. "Yeah, I can do that!" She immediately lit her horn again, but this time the glows surrounded the heads of the Mane 6. It took less time this time around, only lasting about thirty seconds.

     Afterwards, they were all much more comfortable with Sonic's familiarity. Rainbow blushed when she saw herself flirting though. Twilight and Rarity shared a look as well. Fluttershy immediately gave an adorable(and tiny) squeal and hugged Sonic. Knuckles threatened to burst into laughter at this, but Tails seemed a little disturbed. Sonic didn't mind though, and just waited for her to finish.

     "Now that that's out of the way," Sonic began.

     "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Rainbow interrupted. "Where are the Chaos Emeralds now?"

     "Back at Tails' workshop. Don't worry, they're safe there. We have safeguards in place."

     "Like what, exactly?" Rainbow asked skeptically.

     "Like if anyone but Tails or myself tries to take them, the machine we store them in blows up with enough force to level a small city." As Sonic said this, Twilight and the rest stared at him in shock.

     "You would hurt innocent people?!" she gasped.

     "NO! The workshop is in the middle of a desert. That's the only reason we felt safe putting those kind of measures in!" Sonic explained hurriedly. The Mane 6 breathed a sigh of relief.

     "Well. then what are we waiting for?" cried Rainbow Dash.

     "Well, I should probably send a letter to Princess Celestia, but otherwise, we can go anytime!" Twilight told her.

     "Don't take too long. We need to hurry. Who knows what Onigami is up to," Sonic said darkly.

     After all had been said and done, they began talking amongst themselves. Rarity and Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Sonic, Knuckles and Tails, had split up into their respective groups talking. Pinkie Pie had disappeared to tell the Cakes she would be gone for a while. Applejack and Twilight, however, moved into a corner where they wouldn't be overheard.

     "Applejack? I'm worried about what Sonic is capable of. Not only can he go super with those Chaos Emeralds, but he's the creation of Discord and Sombra! I'm not sure we can, or should, trust him completely."

     "Ah agree. Ah couldn't tell that he was lying, but we should watch him all the same. He might have some hidden agenda even HE doesn't know about."

     "We'll just have to keep an eye on him. We need to be ready to deal with anything he might try. If necessary, permanently."

     "Ah hope it don't come to that."

    "Me too."

     Knuckles and Tails shared a look as they heard the peculiar conversation. Apparently the ponies didn't trust them after all. Which meant they had to be on their guard. Tails and Knuckles weren't about to let them hurt Sonic, no matter the reason, or the cost.