New world, same hero.by Kitsune-sanChaptersBeyond MobiusFriends are just enemies who haven't betrayed you yet.Canterlot escapeDon't stop me nowThe Blue Neighbor and the Little AppleThe blue one and the CrusadersThe first of sevenThieves and CriminalsNew menace, new "friend"Meeting a heroHere is Tirek.The Blue Lightning.Interlude: From the Other Side.A new hero?Metal Sonic and the Forbidden Amulet.Good and bad times.Waking up on the wrong foot.Interlude: From the Other Side, Rescue Team.Beyond MobiusMobius, a peaceful planet full of beautiful landscapes and inhabitants living in harmony thanks to a dedicated group of brave individuals known as "The Resistance" and a courageous hero named "Sonic the Hedgehog". This hedgehog was now resting in the shade of a palm tree, accompanied by his friends and adventure companions, Tails Prower, a young orange fox with an unusual second tail that allows him to fly, and his great ingenuity and skill with all kinds of tools. This fox doesn't fall behind when it comes to facing his enemies. Outside the rest area was Knuckles the Echidna, a solitary warrior and guardian with long dreadlocks and red fur, his hands adorned with spiked gloves on his knuckles, honoring his name. "Is something bothering you, Knuckles? Come over here and relax. You're taking a break from your duties, and it’s not like the end of the world is going to happen just because you’ve left Angel Island for a while," Sonic said with a relaxed smile, resting his hands behind his head as pillows against the palm tree. Knuckles only grunted and turned his head, looking at him over his shoulder with his eyes closed. "It's the Master Emerald we're talking about, Sonic. Eggman hasn't shown up in a long time, and I'm worried he might reappear just when I decide to leave my post as guardian." After his comment, he returned to focusing, continuing his meditation. Sonic looked at Tails, and after exchanging a glance, they both shrugged, enjoying their day of relaxation. A few seconds later, Knuckles felt a disturbance in his connection to the Master Emerald. He grunted in frustration and quickly stood up, looking toward the horizon where he knew the problem lay. "Sonic! Tails! Get up! The Master Emerald is in danger!" Both of them immediately stood up, surprised to see that Sonic's mocking prediction had come true. "Well, I guess it might be the end of the world after all for you to leave the Master Emerald unguarded," said Sonic, shrugging. With the "Tornado", a red biplane with the word "Sonic" written on its sides, Tails quickly mounted it, started the engine, and put on his aviator goggles, showcasing his leadership and skill in piloting the aircraft. Knuckles quickly ran to the plane, jumping into the back seat, and as it began to accelerate, Sonic stood up, stretching his arms and legs while watching them take off, moving back to give the plane enough space to gain altitude. The arrogant hedgehog smiled, then suddenly disappeared from the shade of the palm tree to run alongside the plane. A huge jump with great precision allowed him to leap onto the upper wing, holding on tightly and keeping himself angled to avoid being blown away by the powerful wind. "Alright, team, let's give it everything we've got!" The plane accelerated and took off, turning in the direction of Angel Island, the air route leading toward the floating island. Angel Island On the floating island known as Angel Island, a flying fortress was retreating, descending toward the open sea. "I see the problem, Knux. Eggman and the Death Egg are back after all these years," exclaimed Sonic from the wing of the plane, looking at his friends. "The Death Egg? I thought we destroyed it after we infiltrated it when he stole the Master Emerald years ago and we retrieved it with the Chaos Emeralds," Tails pointed out as they gained altitude and headed toward the flying fortress. "Tails, can you make this thing go faster!?" complained Knuckles, slamming his palm against the side of the plane, desperate about the situation. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. You guys stay back. I'll be back in a moment!" Sonic shouted, showing the Chaos Emeralds floating around him. They merged with him, and he transformed into Super Sonic, taking off toward the enemy's fortress. "Sonic, take the Master Emerald to the island!" shouted Knuckles as he watched Sonic disappear, leaving a golden trail in the sky before reaching space, outside the planet's atmosphere. As both headed toward Angel Island, a bright flash illuminated the sky. The Death Egg shone like a sun, radiating energy until it blinded Tails while piloting the plane. The enemy fortress had disappeared into space, and they couldn’t see any signs of their friend. What they saw left them with many questions as they landed on Angel Island, which rested in the calm Pacific sea. "That was the Chaos Control, wasn’t it?" Tails looked at Knuckles as they disembarked from the plane on the island, analyzing the situation. Tails stared at the sky, seeing no trace of their friend or the Death Egg, only the blue sky and clouds. "Knuckles... do you think Sonic will be alright?" "Knowing him, if he used Chaos Control, it could have taken him to some unimaginable place, but he always finds a way to return from whatever trouble he's in." "I hope everything turns out fine. I have a bad feeling about this." Both looked to the sky as the wind and the sun provided the peaceful atmosphere of the island, waiting for some sign, but all they found was emptiness and mystery. Where could they have gone? Moments before - Death Egg Sonic tore through much of the robotic defenses, racing through the fortress at high speed, arriving at the control room where Eggman was waiting for him, seated and focused on his computer screen, wearing a confident smile. "Sonic! As nosy as always. Have you ever thought about leaving me alone?" Eggman snapped his fingers, and the Master Emerald emerged from the ground on a platform connected to it. "This is what you're after, isn't it? You can take it." "That's what I like about you, Eggman. Cooperating and without violence. I like it when we can settle things without having a battle." Sonic approached slowly to touch the Emerald, but as soon as he tried, he was hit with a powerful shock that made him stagger back in his Super form, revealing how the large gem was covered by an energy barrier powered by the Emerald itself. "Only if you can get past it, ho ho ho. You didn’t think I’d make it that easy, did you, Sonic?" Eggman hit a big green button, encasing himself in a protective capsule as the Emerald began to release energy through a network of connections beneath it. The entire fortress started to tremble, and a bright flash blinded both of them for a moment. After a second, Sonic opened his eyes, feeling that his body and mind weren’t in sync anymore. Sonic tried to break through the barrier with his hands, but the energy from the Emerald repelled him. The longer he made contact with it, the more power he needed to get closer. "Don’t think you’re getting away with this, Eggman! Even in my Super form, I can’t break through this barrier? The Master Emerald itself is keeping it active, and its own power is what’s protecting it." The iconic gloves of the hedgehog began to lose their Super form's glow, and small bits of fabric began to tear, showing how trying to release the Emerald with his bare hands was becoming dangerous. "Oh ho ho ho! Too late, Sonic! Right now, the Master Emerald is not only protecting itself and obeying the system it's connected to, but it's also powering up the entire Death Egg for my next plan! I’m going to take a vacation far away from you and your annoying friends. Right now, we’re traveling beyond your beloved planet, looking for a place where you won’t be able to bother me." A large screen appeared behind Sonic, showing the view from outside the Death Egg, where stars and planets seemed to disappear in flashes of light. It didn’t take long for Sonic to realize they were traveling at light speed, moving millions of kilometers away from Mobius. "So that’s why you needed the Master Emerald. You wanted to take something to remind us of you, huh?" Sonic smiled and managed to stand, regaining his balance to approach the Master Emerald. "Try all you want, Sonic, not even your Super form will be enough! The Master Emerald is protecting itself from you and anyone who tries to reach it. This barrier was programmed and powered up to only be deactivated by the Emerald itself, but it won’t be possible because of its infinite power, infinite barrier, and infinite energy." Eggman watched as his stubborn enemy attempted again to break through with his bare hands. Sonic stepped back, seeing the damage to his gloves and clenched his fists, frustrated by the situation. He analyzed the control room, noting that only Eggman and the Master Emerald were protected. "A vacation, huh? Will there be room for one more?" He crossed his arms, a smile of excitement on his face as he channeled energy around his body, which became surrounded by a golden aura. He then extended his arms, releasing a blast of energy that struck everything around him, causing massive damage to the systems. "Nooo! What are you doing!? Stop, you cursed hedgehog! You’re ruining my work!" Eggman could only watch as the entire control room took heavy damage, forcing him to accelerate his plan. "Hehe, that’s the idea! Your vacation plans are getting canceled." Sonic’s attack ended as he aimed both hands at the Master Emerald, concentrating more energy into his hands. He approached with force, managing to breach the barrier with difficulty, ultimately grabbing the Emerald while resisting as it denied him more power from the Chaos Emeralds, causing subtle changes between his Super form and his normal state. "Hey, Eggman!" Eggman looked down, seeing his nemesis smiling while holding the large gem and resisting the damage of the barrier created by the Emerald itself. "You may think the idea of the Master Emerald protecting itself from even the Chaos Emeralds is a good one, but don’t forget who you’re dealing with!" Sonic began to pull the Master Emerald, feeling his Super form slowly fading, forcing him to leave it inside of the barrier, but refusing to let go. "It’s true. You are a tenacious opponent, Sonic, but not even you can stop this! Chaos Control!" Eggman shouted as he pressed a rainbow-colored button on his console, causing the Master Emerald to release a massive amount of energy, creating a bright flash throughout the ship. "Not so fast! Two can play at that game, Eggman! Chaos Control!" Hoping to be quicker with his natural Chaos Control, Sonic risked using his own while Eggman’s was much stronger, powered by the infinite energy of the Master Emerald. The clash of both energies distorted space and time throughout the fortress. "Look at what you’ve done, you insufferable hedgehog!" Eggman yelled as he felt the Death Egg shaking from the collision of the two energy sources. Sonic just kept smiling, maintaining his Super form, until he was repelled by the massive energy discharge from the Master Emerald, radiating a blinding light that made it disappear mid-flight across space, which threw him across the ship. The same Emerald that powered the ship disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Eggman without a direction, losing the Master Emerald, the Chaos Emeralds, and his nemesis all in an instant. Present - Death Egg The Death Egg ended up appearing near what seemed to be a "moon" close to a planet, finally landing on its dark side as a last resort to analyze the current situation. Before he could vent his frustration on his control panel, a small spherical robot appeared, calmly observing the situation before looking back at its enraged creator. "Sir, I know the current situation may not be what you had planned, but look at the bright side." Eggman stopped his outburst and glared with fury in his eyes while lowering his fist and standing up to grab the robot’s thin body, pulling it away from the console. "What bright side? Tell me something good about what’s happened before I use you as a flagpole to mark this cold rock as my property!" "Sir, Sonic the Hedgehog is no longer here. Yes, we lost all the Chaos Emeralds along with the Master Emerald, but we are far from Mobius, or any constellation known to your great genius. Taking away the loss of the Emeralds, your Death Egg is still operational. We are in a new and unknown place to you, the inhabitants here don’t know who you are, your army is still operational, and Sonic is lost, who knows where, or how far we are from him." Eggman paused, listening, and before punching the robot, he stopped and let out a sigh to calm himself. "If that sounds like good news, then I want something better. Send in the investigation squad! I want to know what I’m going to conquer and what resources I can use to my benefit." He released Orbot, who reconnected to the console and carried out his orders via the main system. ??? On a dark night, illuminated by the moonlight in a clear sky that led toward the stars, a sonic explosion made its presence known upon entering the atmosphere, leaving a trail of golden light that traveled through the night sky like a shooting star. Those who were still awake at that moment witnessed the event as the golden trail turned blue, and it seemed as though a rainbow of stars accompanied it, before dispersing into seven different directions. As the blue trail fell faster toward a castle atop a mountain. Sonic felt the breeze of the air flowing across his body. It didn’t take long for him to open his eyes and realize he was about to crash into what appeared to be a large, elegant castle on the edge of a mountain. "AAAAAAAAAAGH!!" His scream was heard as he noticed how close he was to crashing into the castle's roof, hearing screams of terror. After a moment, his limbs hit the ground, signaling him to position himself and push with his arms and legs, lifting his face from the crater he had formed. "Face first... why do I always land face-first wherever I fall?" He shook his head to remove the debris from the ceiling and floor against which he impacted and quickly regained his composure, noticing that he wasn’t alone, and his vision was a bit blurry. He quickly recovered and saw who surrounded him. "Are those... ponies in dresses?" He wondered as he rose from the crater he had created upon landing, relieved that he hadn’t hurt anyone with his impact. The first thing he noticed was how everyone present backed away in fear at his presence. His ears perked up at the sound of quick, heavy footsteps that caught his attention. A group of ponies in armor approached, brandishing their spears at him. "Halt, intruder! You’ve just invaded the royal castle and the Grand Galloping Gala!" Sonic simply raised his hands, showing the damaged palms of his gloves, staying calm in front of the group of guards and analyzing his surroundings, planning his next move. "Who... and what are you?" The guards kept their eyes on him while whispers spread among the guests witnessing the scene. "Eeh... Mew? Friends are just enemies who haven't betrayed you yet."Our journal? Hmm… let’s go, girls, we need to figure out how to open the chest the Tree of Harmony left us." "To the Castle of the Two Sisters!" Rainbow shouted, totally excited by the idea, as if she were leading the group. In some part of Equestria, Tirek was feeding on a small amount of pony magic. He didn’t seem to have gained much, and just as he saw one last pony nearby to steal its magic, as soon as he had it only a few inches from his claws, his prey turned around, revealing an unexpected face, yellow eyes with red irises, horns completely different, and the body didn't seem to match the face, as though the head or the body were in the wrong creature. That strange appearance startled Tirek and made him step back in surprise. "I must assume you're Tiker, aren’t you?" Discord, now serious and fearless in front of him, stood as someone very weak and below in magical power at that moment. He didn’t take it as a challenge at all. His body returned to normal, and with a simple snap of his claws, Tirek was bound by chains on each limb and placed inside a cage, the chains holding the cage together. Tirek, seeing who had stopped him, was left speechless. The very Lord of Chaos was standing before him, holding him back. "Discord!? Are you free?" "More than you will be in a few seconds. I hope you enjoyed your time in Equestria." He snapped his fingers and made a battered metal cup appear, which he used to play against the bars of the cage. "I should have assumed you'd want all of Equestria for yourself." He struggled to grab the cup due to the chains and began playing with it against the bars. "Oh, no, no, I’m not doing this for my own pleasure. I do it for my friends." He leaned closer to the cage and whispered as if trying to avoid being heard, even though they were far from everyone. "But between you and me, I do this for Fluttershy." He made a deck of poker cards appear, showing Fluttershy as the queen and the rest as regular cards, then discarded the others except for Fluttershy. Tirek raised an eyebrow, realizing several things. Everything around him seemed 'normal,' no chaos in sight. So why, if Discord was free, was everything so calm? "Friends? Fluttershy? Don't tell me you've become friends with these ponies..." "Surprised?" "I’m surprised that someone of your intellect doesn’t see that this... friendship is just another form of imprisonment. You must have had to abandon your nature and a large part of your magical freedom to become a prisoner of creatures as insignificant as the ponies." Discord was playing a harp, smiling, but one of the strings broke. He turned to Tirek seriously. "I didn’t do anything like that. I’m as free as a bird!" "Oh, please. It's not the first time I’ve seen it. You’re Discord, you’re a legend. You can’t have fallen into the same trap that defeated my brother. Help me strengthen myself, and I’ll reward you with something far better than friendship: freedom. Once I strip the ponies of their magic, nothing will give me more pleasure than turning their beautiful world upside down. And who better to accomplish that than the very master of chaos? Join me, Discord, and claim your greatness, unless, of course, being a servant of ponies has truly made you weak and made you forget who you really are." Discord had been listening attentively. He turned to look at a portrait of Fluttershy and her friends. The offer was tempting, magic and freedom without being held back by friendship. "Tirek, you have my attention." "Get me more magic, and you’ll have your place for your chaos, and nothing and no one will be able to stop us!" Discord smiled, snapped his fingers, and the entire cage disappeared, freeing Tirek. They shook hands in an agreement that would benefit them both. The wind blew, showing that disaster was approaching, like a dangerous storm. An innocent piece of paper flew to Tirek and hit his face. He took it to read the title: SEEKING BLUE THREAT. After Discord set off on his mission to stop Tirek, Twilight and her friends headed towards the Castle of the Two Sisters to find answers about a strange chest that needed six missing keys. Spike / CMC - Sonic Spike was entering the Sweet Apple Acres territory to see the Crusaders and look after them as Twilight had asked, but suddenly he had to stop, burping up a scroll. "Mmmh? I’ll have to read it quickly." He glanced at it briefly, nothing very detailed or specific, the message was direct to what was needed. "Oh oh... okay, for Twilight!" He rolled it back up and focused, exhaling a purple flame, signaling it would be sent to her, burning the message and sending it on its way along the path he had traveled. He then resumed his journey toward the Crusaders' clubhouse, hearing their voices. "Water and snacks?" "Ready!" "Map, compass, and clock?" "Ready!" "Helmets, bungee cords, life vests, and parachutes?" "Ready too!" Spike approached, sighing with relief, hearing them plan their crazy ideas for earning their Cutie Marks, or so he thought. He climbed the ramp and knocked gently on the door. There was a silence, and the door opened to reveal Sweetie Belle, who answered. "Spike! Just in time, come in, we were about to leave on a trip!" She turned back to her friends excitedly while adjusting her magic satchel, giving Spike a safety helmet, followed by equipping herself just like her friends, with life vests, the bungee cord, and the parachutes. "Going on a trip? Is this a Cutie Mark exploration trip this time?" He looked at the helmet, confused, holding it under his arm. "Not this time! It’s an adventure trip! Our friend will take us to the Crystal Empire! He promises we’ll get there before the train." She explained, jumping up and down while her friends finished getting ready. "I don’t think anyone is fast enough to beat the speed of the train. If you’re lucky, you’ll get there before nightfall." "Sonic can take us in a flash, he’s really fast!" "Who’s... Sonic?" At that moment, a gust of wind blew forcefully into the clubhouse, revealing the well-known "blue threat" in front of Spike, eating an apple. "I think that would be me!" He pointed at himself with a thumb while smiling and taking another bite of the apple. "Mmh! Little apple, I must remind you that these apples from your family are the best I’ve ever tasted in my life!" "Thanks, Sonic, my family will be very happy to hear that when they meet you." Spike dropped the helmet as he realized who he was facing, talking so calmly and normally with the Crusaders. "Sonic, this is Spike, he’s a dragon and our friend," Sweetie Belle pointed to the young dragon, who stood there, wide-eyed as the hedgehog turned to look at him. "Hello, little buddy! I’ve never met a dragon before, nice to meet you! I’m Sonic the Hedgehog." He walked closer, then knelt down to his height, extending his fist, waiting for a response. Spike had a lot to think about. The blue threat they had been searching for had been so close all along! He was hanging out with the Crusaders, eating apples, and having a good time. The whole idea of the wanted poster, and who drew it, started to terrify him now that he was face to face with Sonic. Maybe if he didn’t mention the poster, or if Sonic didn’t know about it, he would be safe from his wrath. "Hmm? What are you waiting for? Don’t leave me hanging," Sonic said, prompting Spike to react, expecting a fist bump. "Eh? Oh, yeah..." Spike realized he hadn’t fist-bumped anyone before, only clashing claws with ponies all his life. He closed his right claw and bumped it against Sonic’s, a new feeling running through his body. A chill of positive emotions made each of his scales tingle. It was a hundred times better than bumping hooves with ponies, especially with girls; it felt like a bond of brotherhood. "Wow... that felt different..." He looked at his fist, amazed by the new sensation. All his worries faded, feeling renewed in the calm and positive atmosphere Sonic brought. With just his presence, anyone could go from being in a bad mood to smiling again. While he was still lost in thoughts about this new and positive feeling, the Crusaders were finishing their final check for the trip. "All set, Crusaders?" "All set, Sonic!" "And you, Spike? Ready for a high-speed trip?" Sonic turned to look at him, while Spike was still lost in thought. He reacted a second later, realizing Sonic was talking to him too. "Eh? Me? Ready... but for what?" A nervous smile appeared on his face as he remembered who he was talking to. All the fear came back. "For the trip, man! You’re coming too since you’re here. I can’t leave you out of this, especially now that I know who made this sketch of me," Sonic explained excitedly, showing the wanted poster with his monstrous portrait. Spike felt like the world was about to crash down on him. If he had to choose between being Garble’s punching bag or facing the blue threat, maybe being the punching bag didn’t sound so bad... "Maybe." "Well... uh, you see, I... I’m sorry..." His words were never finished, as Sonic approached, smiling and holding up the drawing. "I really like your work, but the description, these aren’t claws, they’re gloves. You also forgot to add how cool and handsome I am." He smiled, placing a fist on his hip, rubbing his chin with his hands as if emphasizing his personal beauty. This confused Spike a lot. Wasn’t he angry? The Crusaders started laughing at his silliness, and Sonic kept boasting about himself, creating a pleasant and fun atmosphere. "He really... isn’t a bad guy... The girls are having fun, and he seems really nice...You know? I’m glad you like it, but the description was Twilight’s work. You should tell her that when you get the chance. Although, I don’t know if she’ll think you’re handsome and cool." Spike shrugged, smiling and teasing him, not considering how Sonic might react to his words. "Hmm? Well, I could. I have a certain charm with the princesses, after all... Who wouldn’t think someone is handsome when they can save the world and face gods at the cost of their life, all to save others without asking for anything in return?" His reaction was far better than Spike had expected. He was mocking his response with another playful jab, more arrogant than Rainbow Dash. She always talks about how great she is, but Sonic talks about himself in a more fun and playful way. Not everyone would like an attitude like that, but the charisma of someone so arrogant made it fun to imagine him with such a playful and positive attitude around anyone. "You feel very confident, huh?" "My reputation precedes me." He set the paper aside and started walking out of the clubhouse, followed by the Crusaders, who were finishing their laughs, while Spike was the last to follow, seeing how they seemed to have adopted him as the fun brother or babysitter who always said 'yes.' Once outside, the Crusaders gave Sonic a harness that connected the bungee ropes to them. Spike walked over, and Sweetie Belle, using her magic, quickly equipped him with the bungee cord harness too, then put the helmet and other gear on him, just like the rest of the group. "Wait! What’s all this for? Why so much safety?" "You’ll see! Ready, Crusaders?" Scootaloo called to her friends. "Ready!" They both responded excitedly and prepared to pull the ropes for their parachutes. Spike, unsure of what to do, just copied them. "We’ll take off! I hope you’re ready for the ride. You’re strictly prohibited from eating and drinking during the trip until we arrive at our destination. If anyone gets lost, don’t hesitate to call for your captain at full volume. Please note this will be a very fast trip, so it’s best not to open your mouth in case you swallow flies. You may experience a lot of adrenaline, fear of heights, strong wind currents, turbulence, and a very low chance of personally experiencing the sound barrier breaking. The estimated trip time is..." He looked at the map the Crusaders had lent him, marking where they were now, Ponyville, and the Crystal Empire, while pretending to check the time on an invisible watch on his left wrist. "According to my calculations, it will take us less than an hour. Probably, if I take a direct route without detours, about 30 minutes. Any questions?" After all Sonic’s explanation, Spike, somewhat unsure, raised his claw to ask something. "Yes, Spike! Shoot!" "Eh... is this safe? I mean... shouldn’t we be more careful and take a safer route?" He smiled nervously, hoping he was right after everything Sonic had explained and thinking of a calmer way to travel. "Be 'careful'? Where’s the fun in that?" Sonic smiled confidently, holding his palm open as if holding the word 'careful' in it, as if saying that word wasn’t in his vocabulary. He prepared himself in a runner’s position, turning his back to the group of kids. "Ready!" The Crusaders checked that they were holding their parachute ropes. "Ready!" Spike, on his part, responded nervously, doing the same thing as them. "Re... ready!" "Go!" At that signal, they all pulled their parachutes open. Spike, confused, did the same, and immediately felt the pull of the bungee cord as his feet left the ground. He was stunned to see Sonic already speeding out of Sweet Apple Acres, with the Crusaders being lifted into the air by the parachutes and carried by his powerful speed. "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" A scream of terror and surprise escaped him as he felt like he was in danger, quickly gaining so much height and losing control of it. "WOOOOHOOOOO!!!" The Crusaders knew this would happen, and the excitement, along with the adrenaline, was thrilling them, their faces lit up with big smiles as Sonic, super-sonic, took them toward their destination. "Next stop! The Crystal Empire!" Canterlot - Meeting of the Four Princesses Twilight had received the letter from Spike and assumed he had read it. Seeing the urgency, she had forwarded it to her immediately. She had to abandon her efforts to understand how to acquire the key to the chest with Discord's help to head to Canterlot as quickly as possible. "I came as soon as I could. Is something happening? Is it Tirek?" Celestia rose from her seat and walked towards Twilight, remaining calm despite the urgency of the letter. "I'm afraid I trusted Discord too much, believing that the power of friendship would influence him. He has betrayed us, and now the ponies of Equestria are losing their magic because he has joined forces with Tirek, making his job much easier." "How could he do that?! I thought our friendship meant something to him! I thought he had changed! Fluttershy will be devastated when she finds out..." Twilight felt not only betrayed but also a bit disappointed, as she and her friends had worked hard to reform him, only to see that all their efforts had been for nothing. "Tirek has stolen so much magic that he will also steal the flight of the Pegasi. Without them to control the weather, there will be no rain in Equestria. And he is also after the Earth ponies. Without their strength, they won't be able to take care of the land." "We'll lose control of our world. That power will be in Tirek's hands alone, and with no one to stop him or Discord, we will be finished very soon," Luna added, stepping closer to her sister and Twilight. "There's no doubt that Tirek is after Alicorn magic. With Discord by his side, we won't have the strength to prevent him from taking it," Celestia continued after Luna, explaining the situation. "Once it’s under his control, his power will have no limits, and there will be no hope," Cadance added, looking down, her hope waning as she realized how Tirek would eventually come after them. "But we have a solution. Only by sacrificing our magic can Equestria and the lands beyond be saved. We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has the chance to steal it." Twilight immediately raised her helmet, determined to speak first. "I'm willing to do my part and sacrifice my magic." Luna, upon hearing this, looked at her with a stern gaze and explained the situation more carefully. "You don't understand. Our magic cannot just disappear into the air. Somepony must keep it safe." "And that somepony is you, Twilight. My student, and now Princess of Friendship, will be the one to protect and carry our magic for the safety of every pony." "Why me?" "We believe Tirek doesn't know about the existence of a fourth Alicorn princess in Equestria. If we transfer our magic to you, Tirek won't know where it went. Do you understand what we're asking?" "Yes... it’s just that... I’m still learning how to control my own Alicorn magic. Accepting even more—" "Twilight, you represent the Element of Magic. If anypony can do this, it's you." "I’m sorry, Princess Twilight, if we're asking you to carry such a responsibility, but this must remain between the four of us. If your friends find out about your new powers, it could put them in danger. Do you still think you can handle this responsibility?" "This is the role I must play as Princess of Equestria! I will not fail in my duty!" "Then let’s begin." As Celestia, Luna, and Cadance transferred their magic to the Princess of Friendship, Discord, elsewhere on the grounds of Canterlot, felt a shiver run through his body. A very intense magical disturbance had shaken him, and the only idea that came to mind was the most likely one. He decided to keep it a secret while continuing to aid Tirek as a distraction for the ponies who tried to resist or as support for those attempting to flee from him. Elsewhere in Equestria Known as Rouge, the jewel thief and professional spy from G.U.N, was flying, searching for a more pleasant place than the Crystal Empire. However, she didn’t like the idea of leaving without a little "souvenir." "As much as I don’t like the idea of ending up behind bars and spending the night in a cold, solitary, and uncomfortable cell, I’m not going to sleep in the trees until I figure out how to get back home." She was headed back to the Crystal Empire. To her surprise, during the day, the glow of the Empire was very beautiful and eye-catching, a peaceful place fit for royalty. It almost seemed like if this world and hers merged, the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds would fit perfectly here. She reached the entrance by flying, but upon landing, she found nothing, no ponies, no guards, nothing. It looked like a ghost town. She ventured into the village, hoping for a warm welcome, even if it was just from a guard who might try to detain her again. "Hello? Anyone? No one!?" She shouted, hoping for a response. And it came, two unicorn guards armed with swords appeared as they approached the thief. "Stop! In the name of the Crystal Empire, identify yourself!" Both guards drew their swords with magic, pointing them directly at her. Rouge remained calm, raising her hands to her sides to show she was unarmed. "Good morning, gentlemen. You see, I’m a little lost... As you can see, I’m not from around here, and last night I came looking for some help, but one of yours was very rude and disrespectful to me. He probably filed a report or something, but in my defense, I needed directions." The guards exchanged a glance for a second, and one of them stepped away to check the report. "My partner went to check the report from last night. One of ours gave a description of someone like you. If it’s you, then you'll have to explain your intentions." "That’s understandable. In the meantime, can you tell me what happened here? Shouldn’t such a beautiful place be abandoned?" "It seems you’re unaware. It’s said that Tirek escaped from Tartarus, and now the whole Empire is being protected to prevent his magic from being stolen." "Magic stolen? You’re magical? Well... you're a unicorn after all." Rouge now had questions she needed to ask to be better informed about this world. "You talk like you've never met a pony or like you're not from here. Who are you, and where are you from?" The guard asked, narrowing his eyes, stepping closer to her as he circled her from all angles. "I come from a very distant place, and to be honest, I don’t know how to get back home. Poor me, I’m lost and disoriented... I was hoping for some help, but all I got when I passed through here was to be locked up in a cold cell. A lady shouldn’t be treated like that." Her innocent lady act wasn’t working too well on the guard, who had a hardened mind. He remained firm and serious, his partner returned holding some scrolls with his magic. "The report says that last night a strange creature with wings, big ears, bipedal physiology, and a dark color was here. It’s clear that you’re the creature in question." "Guilty, darling, but what exactly am I being accused of to be detained?" A scroll was shown to her, one of a poorly drawn, monstrous version of Sonic. "Wanted: Blue threat? A strange blue creature that moves very quickly, white claws, mocking and defiant character, bla, bla, bla... And they think I’m related to this thing?" "Obviously, the blue one is here too... It’s better to play my cards well and disguise our friendship." "We’re not considering that. It’s just for the safety of our citizens." "Rest assured, I don’t know him and wouldn’t want to get near him. In fact, I’d prefer he be locked up for the good of everyone. If I find him, we’ll have to clear up this conversation." They both looked at her seriously. She was lying, but they didn’t know that. Her words and tone of voice sounded so convincing and calm that any lie would sound like a real story. The guard put away his weapon and stepped back, giving her some personal space. "We apologize for our actions. We’re just trying to protect the Crystal Empire and its citizens." "Understandable and very honorable of you, gentlemen. Now, if everything’s explained, may I see a bit of the Empire?" "Unfortunately, that will be impossible. The Empire will remain closed until further notice. The blue threat and now the one known as Lord Tirek are loose somewhere in Equestria. You’ll need to leave until everything is under control. You can find the train station on the outskirts. Good luck." With that, they simply walked away, leaving the bat alone, with not much help but with interesting information. "Well, I’ll take my leave then. If I find Sonic before he gets into more trouble than this, everything will be easier." She sighed, feeling exhausted, and started walking out of the Empire, disappointed. Reaching the outskirts of the town, she looked at the road to the train station, her face reflecting exhaustion and boredom. As she walked, she looked around. Unlike the night she had escaped, now she could see everything much better: open fields, free spaces, a beautiful and peaceful place. "I guess I can be rewarded if I help against that guy 'Tirek', but I still need to find Sonic. Knowing him, he’ll be roaming this world without anyone stopping him." She had only walked halfway to the station when a shout caught her attention. She stopped and turned toward the scream, noticing something approaching at high speed. Narrowing her eyes, she saw Sonic arriving, and behind him, four small figures were tied to him with parachutes. The entire journey they made was the wildest they had ever experienced: shortcuts, climbing and descending hills and mountains, running over the water of rivers, being stopped by a large wall where Sonic improvised, creating a high-speed tornado with Spike and the Crusaders' parachutes, lifting them into the air until they reached the top and continued their journey. Sonic and Rouge Sonic continued running at full speed, glancing over his shoulder as his passengers seemed to be enjoying the ride. Spike was still a bit terrified, but as the journey continued, he started to enjoy it just like his friends. The Crystal Empire was in sight, behind large frozen mountains. For everyone’s safety, Sonic had to go around and pass through the train tracks. Finally, the empire was just seconds away, but Sonic diverted his gaze, noticing a familiar figure near his destination. “Rouge?” He made an unexpected turn, shaking his passengers as he headed toward her. Rouge, on the other hand, seemed surprised at how they had run into each other so casually and in less time than she had anticipated. “Hey, Blue, I didn’t expect to find you this quickly.” Sonic had stopped in front of her and turned to watch as the kids safely landed thanks to their parachutes. “Rouge the Bat, I really didn’t expect to see you here, how did you get here exactly?” “Let’s just say it’s related to a Master Emerald, Eggman, and the local hero showing up to stop him.” She crossed her arms, smiling with her eyes narrowed, looking at him intently. “Oh! You were on the Death Egg too? Sorry, I had to do something to stop Eggman from getting the Master Emerald.” While the mobian duo talked and caught up on the situation, the Crusaders and Spike finished getting their feet on the ground and saw the Crystal Empire near them. Sonic’s speed really wasn’t a joke, but the surprise grew even bigger when they saw who he was talking to. “Sonic… who is she?” Applebloom asked timidly, accompanied by her fellow Crusaders. “Crusaders, this is Rouge! The best spy ever known in my world. Rouge, these are the Crusaders: Applebloom, or ‘Little Apple’ as I call her, Sweetie Belle the unicorn, and Scootaloo the pegasus.” He introduced them one by one as his bat friend knelt to their level. “Hi girls, nice to meet you, I’m a friend and partner of the local hero.” The Crusaders stared at her in awe, impressed by her warm voice and the beauty of her appearance. They noticed her wings, makeup, and the clothes she wore, and countless new questions about Rouge started forming, just like when they tried to learn about Sonic. “Nice to meet you!” they shouted in unison as they approached and surrounded her, examining her from every angle. “I see you waste no time and already have your little fan club.” Sonic just shrugged and smiled, feeling proud that his actions had made her some fans. Spike started walking closer, as he had gotten tangled in the parachutes and bungee cords. “What a ride! I gotta say, Sonic! You’re way faster than Rainbow—” His words trailed off as he saw Rouge, a small déjà vu feeling coming over him. “What beauty.” Sonic noticed the lost, love-struck look in his eyes, then saw Rouge and knew it was inevitable for someone so young to fall in love just by meeting someone like her. “Oh man... don’t take any risks with her, she’s a charm when she wants something.” Spike totally ignored him and walked closer, smiling, with his eyes lost in her beauty. “Well, we should catch up, Crusaders! Spike! Ready to go?” The trio of fillies nodded, but Spike snapped out of his romantic thoughts, realizing that the group was oblivious to the current situation. “AAAHHH! THAT’S RIGHT! TIREK IS STILL OUT THERE!!!” Everyone heard his terrified scream, wondering what he was talking about, except for Rouge. No one but them knew about Tirek. Sonic walked up to him and looked at him nonchalantly. “Who is Tirek?” Canterlot escapeIn the previous chapter, of all the places where Sonic could have landed, it was the one where he was going to want to go uninvited for the first time, to an elegant event to which, unfortunately, he hadn't brought his suit. "Halt, intruder! You’ve just invaded the royal castle and the Grand Galloping Gala!" Sonic simply raised his hands, showing the damaged palms of his gloves, staying calm in front of the group of guards and analyzing his surroundings, planning his next move. "Who... and what are you?" The guards kept their eyes on him while whispers spread among the guests witnessing the scene. "Eeh... Mew? And now we will see how our hedgehog fares during the rest of this elegant and awkward encounter.. Sonic stood in his 'landing zone' with his hands raised, watching as four guards kept a close eye on him, their spears aimed at him without a hint of distraction. He was slightly surprised by the fact that these 'guards' were mostly ponies white stallions wearing golden armor, from what he would consider their boots, to the armor covering their chest, sides, and back, all the way to the helmets they wore. The hardest question for him to answer was, "How could they use weapons without hands?" But his biggest concern was figuring out how to leave without completely ruining the scene. He analyzed the entire situation around him: an open and elegant area, which made him think of something resembling a 'ballroom' Large windows with glass panels depicting silhouettes of ponies with different traits and colors lined both sides one showing a white Pegasus with a golden sun above it, and another with a dark blue one and a crescent moon above it. He became more confused when he saw that these ponies had both horns and wings. He had noticed that the guards were simple ponies, but the guests had horns, wings, and some appeared to be just regular ponies, according to his idea of a typical Earth pony. The guards watched him seriously, waiting for an explanation, but the blue creature only admired the Gala they were securing with their presence as royal guards. They felt as though they weren’t being taken seriously and were being ignored, noticing how the blue being's gaze was fixed on the large double doors while it smiled. One of the guards took a step back, glancing at his three companions who remained in position, watching the intruder. "Keep an eye on him, I'll go inform the princesses" His companions nodded to his plan as he moved toward the door to leave quickly, but he stopped when he saw who was entering. It was a lavender alicorn, leaving the doors open behind her, wearing a sleeveless dress that was fitted at the torso, with a skirt flowing downward in soft layers. The dress was a light purple shade, and it included a light, flowing cape darker than the main dress, cascading elegantly behind her. The cape had golden edges that made it stand out even more, adding a royal touch. Everyone present fell silent at the entrance of the young alicorn, murmuring about the situation and why she should intervene on her own. "Princess Twilight!" gasped the guard approaching the door. "You arrived just in time! I was about to go find you or the other princesses to deal with this intruder." Sonic’s ears twitched when he heard the door open, and he listened carefully to every word the guard spoke to the newly arrived princess. "Princess, huh? This can't end well. With the way I made my 'grand entrance' and being surrounded like this, I’m probably public enemy number one around here. Better not risk it and take the chance as soon as I get it. I’ll get out of here without causing harm, find a place to orient myself, and after a ‘little’ tour away from here, I’ll have to explain myself," thought Sonic to himself after seeing the winged unicorn enter the room, noticing how she left those large doors open, which made him smile confidently at his plan. "Intruder? Are we being attacked during the gala?" Twilight asked, walking alongside the guard. "Be careful, Your Highness. We don’t know his intentions or what he’s capable of," explained the guard who was with her. He stepped aside, allowing him to see the creature, surprising her with its strange appearance: blue from head to toe, with six long spikes falling behind it, pointed ears, arms, abdomen, and mouth in a peach color, and emerald green eyes. But before he could get any closer, Sonic quickly revved up, darting past Twilight’s right side. In that split second as he zipped past her, he flashed a smile and winked. She barely had time to notice his appearance or physical features only a gust of wind remained, blowing from where he had been held captive to the door. "Don’t let him escape!" shouted one of the guards, immediately starting to chase after him. The other guards followed him, and one remained with Twilight for her safety. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" Twilight was still processing what had just happened. In the blink of an eye, a strange blue being had passed by her at a speed she hadn't thought possible. He shook his head, returning from his thoughts. "I'm fine. Was anyone injured?" The guard shook his head but sighed and pointed his spear at the ceiling, showing a large hole where it had entered, then pointed to the crater it made in the floor tiles, indicating the damage from the landing. "Other than the structural damage from where that thing came in, nothing else, but it didn’t attempt anything dangerous thanks to us stopping it in time while it was getting up" "I need you to stop it without causing any conflict, this is the Grand Gallop Gala, everything should be perfect, but now that 'that creature' has arrived, I need you to do everything possible for the safety of the ponies and to ensure no one gets hurt" The guard nodded after hearing her, gave a salute with his helmet, and left to support his comrades in the pursuit. Meanwhile with Sonic After the blue speedster’s quick escape, he came upon a fork in the hallway he had entered from the elegant castle. On the left he could hear slow, elegant music; he assumed it was the main foyer, or maybe 'a grand hall' where music and food brought all the guests together. From where he came, he guessed it was just another hall for guests to meet and enjoy the evening peacefully. To his right, he could hear only silence, the singing of birds, and the glass windows in the hallway displayed trees in a lively garden, which the hedgehog smiled at and quickly headed towards after hearing the galloping of the ponies searching for him. He reached the end of the hall and saw a large set of doors, which he slammed open with both hands, greeted by the gazes of many ponies in the beautiful and expansive garden, enjoying drinks and elegant food served by unicorn waiters holding trays with magic. Sonic let out a whistle, surprised by the well-kept garden, illuminated by the moonlight along with several street lamps. "Good evening, ladies and... uh... horses?" Everyone stared at him, confused and speechless, with only the sound of someone coughing in the distance and a cricket chirping somewhere. "Halt, intruder! In the name of Princess Twilight Sparkle's kingdom, surrender!" He turned to see the three stallions who had surrounded him earlier, speeding down the hallway trying to catch him. Quickly, Sonic slammed the double doors behind him and sped off, leaving the guests speechless at his speed, running toward the wall, climbing it, and reaching the roof. Some pegasus guards spotted him from the watchtowers and blew a horn to alert the entire castle about the intruder. "This place is about to get exciting," he said. Upon reaching the roof, he took a moment to glance at the vast unknown terrain before him; everything was new and unfamiliar, drawing a big smile of excitement on his face, feeling driven by his desire to explore this new world before figuring out how to return to his own (if there was even a way). His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a squadron of six pegasus ponies flying toward him, splitting to surround him, pointing their crossbows at him. "How can they use weapons that need hands... without hands?" he wondered before being blinded by a purple flash revealing the young princess flying with them. "Alright, let's do this the easy way, if you don't mind. Understood?" Sonic grinned, looking at her defiantly while scratching his right ear with his pinky finger. "And if I agree or refuse, will I still be locked up?" The princess seemed surprised that he could understand her language and even speak with such a carefree attitude in this situation. "I just don’t want you to ruin this important gala that I worked so hard to organize, and for no one to get hurt. That obviously includes you as well. Just surrender peacefully and we won’t have to harm you." Sonic finished scratching his ear and let out a disappointed sigh at her words, looking at the guards and noticing none of them were moving unless he did or they received orders. "Then I'll choose my favorite option: I refuse. You want me? Come get me, but only if you can catch me!" Those words were enough to get the guards ready to attack. Sonic, on the other hand, had already prepared himself by taking his running stance, with his right arm behind him and his left in front of his abdomen. At that exact moment, one of the guards shot from his back, surprising the young alicorn, as she had not given the order for that action. Sonic accelerated, dodging the arrow as he ran along the roof, being chased by the other guards while Twilight followed behind them, witnessing the blue being dodge every attack thrown at him. When he reached the edge of the roof, he jumped without fear of the direct fall into the castle’s entrance, surprising all the guests with his landing. With one knee on the ground and the other leg stretched out, he quickly recovered. When he looked up, he noticed a group of pony guards forcing him to retreat down the stairs, dodging all their attacks with swords in their mouths. "A creative method, if that's what you can call it, but ineffective," he thought, leaning backward with his feet firmly planted as if playing limbo to dodge a sword, seeing his reflection in it. He planted his hands on the floor and, using the momentum from his feet, kicked the gray stallion's jaw along with the sword, sending it into the air. He then pushed himself up with his arms, as if making a jump, catching the sword midair, and landing with it in his right hand. "Do you know how dangerous it is to play with these things? Want to poke someone’s eye out?" he mocked, quickly swinging the sword in front of him, blocking an arrow aimed at his head. He looked up, noticing the pegasus guards chasing him, along with the young princess, while all the guests moved away, fearing for their safety in the unfolding situation at the entrance. The unarmed guard retreated, rubbing his chin with his helmet after the blow that left him disarmed. A group of ponies, accompanied by a young dragon, arrived at the top of the stairs, witnessing the situation unfold: guards were armed, preparing to face an odd creature carrying a sword designed like the royal guards' weapons. "Twilight! What’s happening? And what is that thing?" exclaimed the cyan pegasus of the newly arrived group, drawing the attention of the named princess, who looked at her friends prepared for the gala behind the blue intruder. "An intruder who refuses to cooperate, be careful and stay back." "Don’t worry, Your Highness, we’ll stop him!" swore the guard with the sword in his mouth, charging into the attack, while the pegasi flew in closer, aiming their crossbows at the blue intruder. Sonic wasted no time, taking a defensive stance with the sword, stopping the arrows from the six pegasi who were covering the stallion charging solo towards the blue hero. "Five out of six arrows, where’s the last one?" His eyes focused on the stallion approaching, but it veered left, letting the last arrow pass by, surprising the speedster, who smiled at the clever movement of the equines, only to show how he would catch it just inches from his face with his left hand, showing no concern. The guard didn’t stop, and as he neared, he pivoted, pushing off with his front hooves to launch a double kick, but Sonic changed his grip on the sword, holding it upside down with the blade against his forearm, using it as a shield to block the stallion’s kick. Twilight used her magic to shield all the ponies near the entrance in individual bubbles. "This should be enough to prevent anyone from getting hurt. They’re taking too long to stop him. What is that thing?" As the stallion growled in anger, overpowered by the most strange being he’d ever faced, Sonic smiled at how thrilling the situation had become from trying to escape to facing royal guards. Magic flashes appeared on either side of Sonic, one blue and one yellow, revealing unicorn guards concentrating magic in their horns, with Sonic caught between them, still holding off the stallion’s kick. Quickly, he released the pressure, sliding his back legs to the right, causing the stallion to lose his balance. He then maneuvered his body, letting himself fall while spinning to the right, allowing him to launch the arrow from his left hand at the unicorn to his right, forcing him to use his magic to shield himself in a yellow barrier. As he came closer to the ground, Sonic changed his sword grip correctly and threw it at the unicorn on his left, who fired a magic beam at his hand, disarming him of the weapon. The sword slipped from Sonic’s grip and ended up embedded in the ground far from him. He fell on his back but quickly sprang back to his feet, using his hands to push himself up before a blast hit the ground where he’d just been, coming from the unicorn who had protected himself from the arrow. He now faced the princess and the pegasi, who had already reloaded their crossbows. Three of the six fired, Sonic made a great leap, curling his body into a ball of blue, soaring above the pegasi and the princess while dodging the arrows that struck the stairs. He broke free from his spherical form, just in time to see three arrows heading straight for him as he descended. He simply spun his body acrobatically, performing a triple kick to deflect each arrow, landing and leaving everyone amazed by his skills as he turned his back on them, eyes fixed on the doors leading to the event he’d tried to escape from. "Not bad, gentlemen, but you're not even close to catching me. Goodbye!" With that final remark, he disappeared in an instant, leaving a gust of wind as he made his way back toward the event, searching for his escape route. The pegasi guards split into two groups of three to widen the search. The unicorn guards disappeared in a magical flash, and the ground ponies recovered their weapons to calm the situation. Twilight released her magic, freeing everyone from their shield bubbles, allowing the guests to recover from the situation, and she could approach her friends. "Welcome… sorry you had to see… that," she said, looking behind her at where the scene with the guards and the strange blue figure had unfolded. "The situation changed so radically from a peaceful moment to stopping a strange, very fast, and agile creature." Spike stepped forward before anyone could speak. "So, how long has all this been going on? And why is he here?" Twilight shook her head and started walking with her group. "All we know is that he fell from the sky, broke through the ceiling, and landed in a room, leaving a crater. The guards stopped him, but when I arrived and was about to approach him, in just a fraction of a second, he passed by me, smiling and winking, and then escaped through the door." "Was he hurt?" Everyone turned to look at the yellow pegasus, who was trying to hide from the confused gazes of her friends. "I mean... if he fell through the ceiling and hit the ground, he should be badly hurt and wouldn't be able to move like he just did." "Actually, he had some scrapes and was covered in dust from falling through the ceiling," Twilight said as they entered the small main room, looking around for him while the guests murmured about a blue streak that had passed by at high speed. "He can speak, his attitude is daring and challenging, he refused to be captured and chose his ‘favorite option.’ He doesn’t seem to be afraid of dying to mock the guards." "Well, I’m not throwing a welcome party for someone who refuses to be our friend," Pinkie Pie said, bouncing around as she moved alongside her friends. "I think that’s one of the least of our concerns. Better throw a party when the guards catch him to congratulate them," Applejack clarified before taking a misstep in her words about how the party wasn’t important for their party-loving friend. "Twilight, let me go after him! I’ll stop him before he even knows what hit him!" Rainbow Dash declared, floating above her friends, just before they could hear a response from their friend, a guard appeared in front of them, bowing before Twilight. "Rainbow Dash! Right now, we’re guests and we’re dressed for the Grand Galloping Gala, we can't afford to act as if we were in Ponyville facing just any threat, like we did with Discord, or simply throw away these fabulous dresses I worked so hard on, like what happened at the wedding when the changelings attacked." Spike cleared his throat, calling the ponies' attention. "I know I don’t usually get involved in everything you six have done, but we should leave this situation to the guards, and if it gets too extreme, to the princesses, including you, Twi. I know you worked hard organizing everything here, and you don’t want anything or anyone to ruin it ‘this time.’ We should enjoy the gala while it lasts and wait for new updates, if that’s okay with everyone." They all exchanged glances for a moment, thinking over the young dragon's words, until Twilight approached him. "Spike’s right. You shouldn’t worry about what happens with that creature. The guards and the princesses will handle it. Enjoy while you can, okay? I appreciate your concern, but so far, I don’t see him as someone causing major problems, aside from escaping and defending himself." "Now you’re defending him!? Did he control your mind or something?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed upon hearing her friend’s opinion. "I’m not defending him, and he’s not controlling me. From what I’ve seen up close, he hasn’t hurt any other ponies besides that guard you saw earlier. He’s just on the defensive and seems to be enjoying the situation," Twilight explained, hoping to calm her pegasus friend. "Could he be scared?" Fluttershy asked timidly, earning surprised looks from her friends at her theory. "Scared? You saw him jump from the ceiling all the way here, dodging five arrows and catching the other with his hand, stopping a kick from a royal guard, and dodging two unicorns who surrounded him and were trying to take him down. If I had the chance to ask him face to face, I can imagine he’d laugh at the question." Before anyone could offer a different opinion on their new ‘enemy,’ a unicorn guard appeared in front of the group with a teleportation spell in a green flash, interrupting the discussion. "Your Highness, we have an update on the blue threat. We have him surrounded right where he landed. How would you like us to proceed?" Upon hearing the report, Twilight quickly turned to her friends. "Excuse me, but I’ll take care of this. Enjoy the gala," and before they could respond, the guard used his magic to teleport her along with him to the hall where they had found the intruder, now standing exactly where he landed, surrounded by the pegasi guard squad, the unicorn duo from before, and several earth pony guards pointing their spears at him. As Twilight arrived at the scene, she could see how the "blue threat" showed no fear in his gaze. His posture, despite her not knowing his physiology, indicated that he was ready for whatever might threaten him. But what caught her most was his smile... that smile that radiated confidence in the face of the difficult situation he was in. It seemed like he was just having fun with all the guards. First, he had wanted to escape, but now he wanted to have fun? The pegasi fired, and Sonic rolled to the ground, dodging all the arrows. Then he jumped toward the wall, running up it to leap again, launching a double kick that deflected the unicorns’ magic bolts. As he fell to the ground, he caught a spear that was heading straight for his face with both hands, pushing it away as he did. The other guards took advantage of this to attack his sides, but Sonic jumped, still holding the spear, and balanced himself on it. He dodged his attackers, landing on the head of the stallion in front of him, using it as a springboard to launch himself at the pegasi. He quickly disarmed one, taking his crossbow and throwing it to the ground, breaking it. "Alright, that was fun, but I’m tired of playing games. I’m leaving and no one can stop me." The entire room fell silent for a few seconds, before the sound of hooves approaching broke the stillness. Twilight passed in front of the guards, facing the speedster, who had placed his fist on his hip while smiling at her. "Lower your weapons. I’ll handle this. And no one is to act on their own," she declared fiercely, staring at her guards, who lowered their weapons and ceased their magic, watching as their princess prepared to face the threat. The two of them locked eyes, each analyzing the other, waiting for a move or a word. The silence didn’t last long, as Twilight was the first to break it. "So, tell me, you say you want to leave, is that true?" Sonic nodded, giving her a genuine smile as he saw the princess's determination to bring the chase to an end. "You had the chance to leave before, but you chose to come back in. Why would you do something so illogical?" she asked, observing him with a mix of nerves and determination, trying to demonstrate her leadership as the Princess of Friendship, handling the threat by herself without needing to face him physically. "I could’ve left. I knew that for sure," he said casually. "But something went wrong in that situation." Twilight’s nerves slowly eased as she heard him speak so relaxed, but that attitude was starting to worry her. Why was he so confident? Why didn’t he show any sign of wanting to give up or retreat? Her thoughts were filled with more questions just by looking at him. "And what went wrong in your escape plan?" "We were surrounded by innocent civilians who had no reason to get hurt. I also noticed the beautiful city below as I came here. It would’ve been a shame if it got damaged while the entire military force was after me. I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone, and I didn’t want to seriously hurt your boys just because I could easily take them down. So, I did what no one would think of or understand when I came back to where I arrived." All the ponies in the room exchanged glances, trying to comprehend his words. Sonic, for his part, looked behind him, noticing a balcony where moonlight was shining in. "And what exactly would that be?" Twilight asked, her horn glowing with magic, ready for any offensive move against the guests. Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. As Twilight snapped out of her daze and started looking for him, the guards behind her were frozen in place. "I didn’t expect that..." "But I wasn’t expecting anything, so it doesn’t count." Don't stop me nowI'm sorry, there were some issues where certain lines of the story didn't save, so I had to cancel and fix them quickly Of all the ideas Sonic could have considered in his life, this is definitely the one he would use the most in every situation against him, right? Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. As Twilight snapped out of her daze and started looking for him, the guards behind her were frozen in place. "I didn’t expect that..." "But I wasn’t expecting anything, so it doesn’t count." Now, did Sonic remember to bring his parachute? Or is it true! He doesn’t seem to need it. After his risky and crazy move, Twilight quickly approached the balcony to witness how her 'threat' was launching himself into the void of his own accord. But her eyes widened even more when she saw that he had his hands behind his head, legs crossed, an arrogant look fixed on her as if he knew someone would come to see him fall, and a calm smile that showed he didn’t care about the situation he was in. Before watching him disappear into the darkness of the night, during the long and high distance between the castle and the base of the mountain, she could only see him move his lips and wink while his body took a diving position, his gaze fixed on the ground. Twilight was ready to jump after him to reach him, but her body wouldn’t respond. She was confused, unsure whether she should save him or not but was "saving" him really the word she was looking for? He had jumped with complete confidence. Was it his idea of escape? Was he saying goodbye to her for now? Or would they meet again in another situation? The pegasus guards arrived flying above her, aiming their crossbows at the dark void without seeing their target. They put their weapons away, letting out a heavy sigh of frustration at having allowed the invader to escape despite the advantage they had over him. "Your Majesty, would you like us to send a search team?" asked one guard as she stepped away from the balcony, looking down and sighing. "Just hold your positions. Everyone who saw him up close, I want detailed descriptions of his appearance. I want a portrait of the intruder with every detail of his appearance and what he’s capable of doing." The guard saluted, tilting his helmet to the side, and left with the other guards. After they left, Twilight sighed and rubbed her forehead with her helmet as she headed down the hallway, remembering the last few seconds she saw the blue intruder after he jumped from the balcony and enjoyed the fall while staring at her. "He’s... he’s such a show-off and arrogant..." she complained, left speechless by the personality and attitude of the speedy intruder. "I see something’s bothering you," a warm and pleasant voice called her attention. She looked up to see the source of the words, a white alicorn who towered over her, wearing an elegant and majestic dress that was long and flowing, extending to the ground with layers of fabric that seemed to shine ethereally, almost as if made of light or stardust. The upper part of the dress had a fitted corset that accentuated Celestia’s figure, adorned with shiny details like gems or embroidery mimicking light sparks. The colors of the dress harmonized with her mane’s soft pink and violet tones, with rainbow reflections. Her soft, bright colors mainly highlighted white, light purple, pink, and blue, with subtle details adding a touch of luxury and magic. Her presence was accompanied by a gentle smile and a relaxed look, demonstrating inner peace of mind. "Welcome, Celestia, it’s nice to see you here. Is Luna still not ready?" Twilight smiled nervously, hoping she wouldn't find out what had happened, knowing deep down that it was impossible for her not to know because of the guards' alert. "My sister is finishing getting ready, and I imagine she’ll want to present herself to the guests to calm the 'situation' that occurred, about which I hope to learn from you what happened, unless you have plans with your friends." Celestia smiled calmly and began walking, with the young princess following her, taking a deep breath before releasing it to calm the fear of how the intruder had escaped from the castle. "Don’t worry, Celestia. Don’t worry about them; they should enjoy the gala, and I’ll take care of making sure everything is perfect. I’ve already asked the guards to give descriptions and create a portrait to identify him more easily. I have no idea what his goal is, but I can say that he simply outsmarted our security, escaped without a fight, and no one got hurt." As she explained to the ruling princess how they couldn’t stop the intruder, they unknowingly arrived at the grand hall where their friends were enjoying the food and staying together, talking somewhat worried after what they had experienced upon arriving at the gala. "Twilight and Princess Celestia are here!" Pinkie shouted energetically, jumping happily toward her princess friend, drawing the attention of the rest of their friends, who gathered around them, expecting good news. "Hello, girls. Are you having a good time?" she said, trying to hide her embarrassment for failing. "It could be better, but if you’re here, it means everything turned out fine!" Spike exclaimed, smiling as he sipped some punch. "Actually, Spike... that 'thing' escaped," she whispered as quietly as possible, knowing about her assistant’s sharp hearing, causing him to almost spit out the punch, but he quickly swallowed it, choking slightly, surprising the others with his reaction. Applejack didn’t hesitate and was the first to face the reality. "So, I’m assuming by Spike almost choking, that something went wrong, right?" "So Twilight... how many guards did that thing leave on the ground before they managed to stop him?" Rainbow asked, hoping for a winning response about the guards. "Actually, it’s something different... better follow me, you won’t believe it." They all exchanged a glance before following her as she started walking. Leaving Celestia to enjoy the gala, Twilight guided her friends to the hall where everything began, now empty of guests and awaiting repairs. "This is where everything started and ended. As you saw from Spike’s reaction, we couldn’t capture him. He escaped even though he was surrounded by all the guards who had seen him earlier, but he didn’t do anything serious beyond this," she pointed with her helmet at the hole in the ceiling and the severely cracked floor from his landing. "After that, he just ran and ran, then left in the most unexpected way possible." As they admired the hole in the ceiling and the impact area, Applejack looked around, curious about how he escaped from where he came in. "So, he... um, just flew out through the ceiling?" Twilight sighed, and her horn began to glow, enveloping her in magic. "It would be easier if I show you. I prepared an effective spell for situations like this." The whole area was covered in a magical purple field, showing a translucent illusion of the guests before everything started. "Twilight, dear, this spell is marvelous!" Rarity said, amazed, but upon seeing her alicorn friend, she noticed how focused she was and how difficult it must be to maintain. "Although I don’t think it's quite at the right level to use," she smiled awkwardly, knowing her own skill limits. They could see all the guests talking calmly, walking and enjoying the evening peacefully. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" A scream was heard, and they all looked around trying to find the source, until a loud, thunderous crash made a hole in the ceiling, releasing a cloud of dust, showing the blue figure face down on the ground. Everyone covered themselves but realized it was just an illusion and felt a bit silly for reacting that way. After a moment, they saw how his limbs touched the ground, signaling that he positioned himself and pushed up with his arms and legs, lifting his face from the crater he had formed. "Face first... why do I always land face first wherever I fall?" He shook his head to remove debris from the ceiling and floor that he had impacted, quickly regaining his composure, noticing he wasn’t alone and his vision was a bit blurry. He quickly recovered and saw who was surrounding him. "That was a bad landing, but I give him a seven out of ten for taking it and getting up," Rainbow Dash smiled, joking about the painful entrance the blue figure made. Suddenly, the guards had surrounded him, and "Don’t lose sight of him, I’ll inform the princesses" he said, and his companions nodded to his plan as he headed toward the door to leave quickly, but stopped when he saw who was entering. It was his lavender alicorn friend making an entrance. But before he could get any closer, Sonic quickly revved up, darting past Twilight’s right side. In that split second as he zipped past her, he flashed a smile and winked. She barely had time to notice his appearance or physical features; only a gust of wind remained, blowing from where he had been held captive to the door. "Don’t let him escape!" shouted one of the guards, immediately starting to chase after him. "Wow... and he had so little respect for you, dear, such a... such a..." "Wild? Crazy? Energetic!?" Pinkie started throwing out options while popping up on each side, circling Rarity. "I was going to go with rude, but yes! All of those are just as acceptable." Rainbow approached Twilight’s illusion at the moment Sonic escaped. "Can you stop this whenever? I want to see the moment when he goes." Twilight nodded and stopped the moment when he was passing by her illusion. "Just... here?" "Yeah! Look at him! He literally thinks he's the best just because he escaped from the guards, that silly smile and... winking at you? Who does this guy think he is?" Applejack approached, looking at the frozen illusion of the fast intruder along with her friend’s, then looked at her pegasus friend. "Doesn't he remind you of someone...?" But before Rainbow could respond, Twilight interrupted. "This is how it all started... now I'll fast-forward to just... a moment ago..." The entire scene began to speed up rapidly, showing how the guests were leaving the hall, leaving it empty, until the doors opened again, revealing Sonic braking, landing exactly where he had fallen, surrounded by all the guards, until Twilight arrived with the guard who had informed her of his location. "And here... it all ended..." The confrontation with the guards accelerated so quickly that it was barely visible due to everything that had happened, leaving only the moment where they exchanged words before the final decision. "Lower your weapons. I’ll handle this. And no one is to act on their own" she declared fiercely, staring at her guards, who lowered their weapons and ceased their magic, watching as their princess prepared to face the threat. The two of them locked eyes, each analyzing the other, waiting for a move or a word. The silence didn’t last long, as Twilight was the first to break it. "So, tell me, you say you want to leave, is that true?" Sonic nodded, giving her a genuine smile as he saw the princess's determination to bring the chase to an end. "You had the chance to leave before, but you chose to come back in. Why would you do something so illogical?" she asked, observing him with a mix of nerves and determination, trying to demonstrate her leadership as the Princess of Friendship, handling the threat by herself without needing to face him physically. "I could’ve left. I knew that for sure" he said casually. "But something went wrong in that situation." Twilight’s nerves slowly eased as she heard him speak so relaxed, but that attitude was starting to worry her. Why was he so confident? Why didn’t he show any sign of wanting to give up or retreat? Her thoughts were filled with more questions just by looking at him. "And what went wrong in your escape plan?" "We were surrounded by innocent civilians who had no reason to get hurt. I also noticed the beautiful city below as I came here. It would’ve been a shame if it got damaged while the entire military force was after me. I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone, and I didn’t want to seriously hurt your boys just because I could easily take them down. So, I did what no one would think of or understand when I came back to where I arrived." All the ponies in the room exchanged glances, trying to comprehend his words. Sonic, for his part, looked behind him, noticing a balcony where moonlight was shining in. "And what exactly would that be?" Twilight asked, her horn glowing with magic, ready for any offensive move against the guests. Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. Everyone watched as the illusion jumped off the balcony, leaving them speechless, and the spell vanished, leaving Twilight exhausted from the concentration required. Fluttershy approached the balcony, looking at the void and feeling fear from the great height, stepping back, trembling, crouching down as she recalled the event. "So...so he jumped from this! This height..." "I'm not sure what he was thinking when he did that! He just jumped and disappeared into the night. I'm not sure if it was the best idea he had, but... I... I don't wish him harm, but I also wouldn't want him free, causing trouble. Who knows what he's doing right now?" With Sonic, since his escape through the balcony After the leap and the visual exchange with the princess before disappearing into the darkness of the abyss and the night, he maneuvered by looking at the ground, letting himself be moved by the current of air created by his gravity to take him to see pine trees thanks to the moonlight. He prepared and acted quickly, grabbing the tip of a pine tree with his hands, spinning around it as he descended, turning around its sides and then launching himself at high speed through the forest. "That’s a party I’m not going back to! Not without an invitation and something to wear, obviously" he thought to himself as he ventured further into the forest, guided by the moonlight. His path continued for a few minutes until he managed to exit the forest and heard what seemed to be a horn. "Mmmh? That sounds like... a train?" He looked in the distance, noticing a train traveling and assuming that such a means of transport existed. This would mean that the technology here wasn’t too far from what he knew. He quickly made light of his situation, acting as if he were lost, while bringing his right hand to his quills, searching as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for in a large, full backpack. Eventually, he took out a phone with a blue case and some stickers on it. He turned it on and started checking it while bringing it close to his mouth, using it as a recorder for his personal act. "This is my situation! Unknown and inhabited planet, with... almost no resources," he said while checking with his left hand inside his quills, recalling what he had in them. "No chili dogs and no idea how to get back right now... I don’t think I’ll die here easily, but I think I can be back before my birthday," he finished his act, pretending to have made a voice recording, then putting on some music and starting to run toward the train tracks, following them. As the music accompanied his journey to the next, unknown destination, he didn’t waste time having fun as he traveled along the tracks, moving away from them. He soon reached a junction with a path that continued straight ahead, the one he had been following, and another that veered to the right, joining the same track. He just continued straight, knowing he had more to travel. Ahead of him was a tunnel inside a mountain for the tracks, but he quickly climbed the mountain, reaching the top and then descending at high speed, continuing alongside the track until he reached the first train station he saw. The music ended at the same time he arrived at his new destination, and he turned it off to avoid drawing attention during the night (more than he already had). As he stepped up to the station from the tracks, he noticed how well-maintained and well-lit it was. He looked up and saw a sign naming his current destination: 'Ponyville'. He walked out, noticing the silence of the village sleeping at night. "I’m glad to see a place that actually sleeps at night. Casino City, as fun as it looks and is... I can’t say I hate that place, but it’s always nice to sleep at night, and speaking of sleeping..." He covered his mouth while yawning and quickly walked away from the village, searching for a place to sleep. His unknown path, away from the village, led him to some apple trees, far from any possibility of encountering anyone. "Apple trees, huh? Thanks for the food." He gave the tree a light punch, making an apple fall directly into his hand and enjoyed it under the moonlight while leaning against the same tree. "Good night, apple tree. Good night, moon, Good night, pony planet!" Author's Note I apologize if the way I make a character act seems out of place compared to what you might expect. I can accept criticism with respect to the dialogues and actions. After all, I'm not an expert at interpreting actions and dialogues 100% perfectly as expected, but I'm glad to see that you point out those mistakes where I thought I was doing it right. Even if, as I'm writing everything, it doesn't end up being liked, I still appreciate being shown that I could have done a better job. Thx for reading! The Blue Neighbor and the Little AppleI already explained below the previous chapter why I had to cancel it quickly, I sincerely apologize for that and any other mistakes. I don't even know what really happened, and I felt very embarrassed for not having done another review before publishing it. Where did we leave off? He gave the tree a light punch, making an apple fall directly into his hand and enjoyed it under the moonlight while leaning against the same tree. "Good night, apple tree. Good night, moon, Good night, pony planet!" That's right! Good night, Sonic the Hedgehog... but unfortunately, it's time to wake up! Death Egg - Moon "The moon... what a beautiful planet, naturally fueled by the sun to have its own source of light, being the natural satellite of planet Earth, just like here." "ORBOT! If you’re done with your moment of appreciating the beauty of this rock, I want a report on how the DeathEgg repair is going so we can leave this place and be aware of the planet in front of my glorious mustache!" exclaimed the malevolent doctor to his metallic minion, while looking at the monitor, envisioning his new destination. "Sorry, sir, but the repair is already at full capacity. We haven't turned on the engines to leave because I thought it would be best to study the situation from a distance, so your plans would start off on the right foot." "BAH! Which one of us is the evil scientist here!? Besides, it's not like Sonic is there. Anyway, they'll just be another species under my control as soon as we're out of this inert rock!" he exclaimed, slamming his hand against his main control panel. "While you were resting, your malevolent self, I took the liberty of sending an aerial troop of 'Balkairys' to scout the terrain and gather information. Incredibly, what I found will make you feel like stealing candy from a child in your conquest plan... though..." As Eggman smiled at the words of his spherical assistant, his smile disappeared when he heard him hesitate at the end. "Though? Though what!? EXPLAIN!" If Orbot could have sighed, he would have, but instead, he approached his creator while reviewing the tablet with the data received shortly after their arrival. "Let's just say that, first, when we arrived it was nighttime from the planet’s perspective. Continuing on, they have no major technological advancements, beyond what we believe is their best technology, the 'train' as a means of transportation. They use carts, light up with candles, and it's a world where various species with magical properties exist." Upon hearing this interesting data, Eggman's smile widened from ear to ear, showing his excitement for an easy conquest. "So, I have before me a world where one could say they live like they're in the Middle Ages? HO HO HO HO! This is going to be so easy! And they're magical, you say? Even better! They'll become energy sources for my machines! Though first, I’ll need a test subject from each species." "All of that is the 'good news', now here comes the bad," Orbot explained directly, just to see the displeasure on his creator's face, who slowly turned to feel like he was staring into his soul, which of course, Orbot did not have. "And... what would those 'bad news' be, Orbot?" Lacking the biological ability to swallow nervously, Orbot simply displayed a signal of energy from the well-known Chaos Control they had already experienced. "That’s a Chaos Control, sir. If that happened at the entrance of the planet's gravitational atmosphere, it means three things. Sonic is on that planet... to our bad luck, the emeralds are scattered across it, and neither Sonic knows where they are, nor where he is standing... so... he’s lucky... Sonic arrived there at the same time we landed, without any Chaos Emeralds and lost..." He hid behind the tablet, waiting for his creator to unleash his wrath. To his surprise, that never happened. Eggman remained firm, admiring the screen that showed a flat interpretation of the planet, and in the center of it, the Chaos Control dispersing the emeralds across this new world and, to his misfortune, his arch-enemy was on it. "How long ago did the Chaos Control happen?" Orbot showed from the perspective of the bandicoot on the planet how it was daytime and returned the visual history until it reached the night. "Approximately... less than 15 hours ago, it would be 7 or 6 AM right now, but since this planet is unknown, we’re still working on the last details regarding the time and current date." "Sounds pretty good, all of that, aside from the fact that Sonic is also here, but now that he's alone, he can't do anything! No friends, and a stranger in an unfamiliar land! Right now, he could even be seen as the enemy!... But what primarily inhabits the area where the Chaos Control occurred? Sonic must have landed there, right?" "Mmh... if that’s the case... the area where it happened is primarily inhabited by ponies." "You repeat that?... What did you say?" "That territory where the emeralds were split is mainly inhabited by ponies. We currently have three different races in the files we've gathered by spying and scanning these beings from a safe distance." "Enlighten me, spherical tin can! What do you mean it's inhabited by equines!? Don’t humans exist on this planet? No one with opposable thumbs? Or even any creature that isn’t just an animal and has fingers!?" Orbot passed species by species on the screen, showing ponies, dragons, griffins, etc., and returning to the ponies. "Sorry, sir, but nothing similar to you and certainly nothing close." Eggman protested with a heavy sigh, exhausted by the situation on Mobius. His cruel fate led him to be surrounded by animals again. "Look at the bright side, sir, they’re animals with no technological capabilities or knowledge to face yours and your army. Though your troops are currently deactivated until the base is back at full capacity, you still have a big advantage." "A big advantage? Hmm… you might be right, Orbot, I think I have an idea to increase my advantage against that detestable hedgehog!" He approached the control panel and pressed a button, which raised a microphone to his face. "Metal Sonic! I have a mission for you. The planet in front of this insignificant rock is inhabited by magical equines. Take with you a squad of Eggrobos and capture capsules, bring me three of each different species of those ponies. Make sure they’re alive, full of energy, and that they don’t cause a commotion. Don’t fail me! Oh, and one more thing. Sonic is there, don’t confront him under any circumstances... I want him to get a nice surprise when the time comes." With that said, he looked at Orbot, who was still manipulating the tablet, studying the planet's data. "Sir, I should question your plans from time to time, but this seems like a strategic move to act in secret and avoid direct conflict with Sonic. But tell me, what do you plan to do with the ponies right now? You’re not planning to use animals as energy sources for your robots again, are you?" Eggman avoided looking at him and began to laugh, excited about the plans he had for his next move. "On the contrary, Orbot, I’m going to study the energy of these very equines to IMPROVE my machines, making them capable of harnessing 100% of every bit of magic. When all the tests are perfectly mastered, the time will come for Sonic. But in the meantime, I need to find the emeralds and stay informed about Sonic's whereabouts." "The location of the emeralds is nearly impossible. The planet is covered by a magic layer, which I believe comes from the inhabitants themselves, radiating it constantly and passively. In other words... in other words, they don’t know they are creating this magical layer, it only exists because they constantly use their own magic, and the problem with this is that it’s affecting the radars used to locate the emeralds. The bandiks and Metal Sonic will be fine since they’re on the planet, but we can’t locate them from here." "Then how do the data get here?" "Communication and data transmission are not a problem... but I don’t know why they work. I theorize that the magic is above the power of the emeralds or it’s simply an energy that counteracts the chaos emeralds’ radiation." Orbot finished, waiting for a tantrum, a sigh of exhaustion from the bad news, or whatever else. "Very well, prepare the laboratory for when Metal returns. I want our guests to feel comfortable during their long and painful stay." Orbot gave a salute like a soldier, with his hand at the side of his head, and Eggman left, leaving him alone with his cubic 'brother,' who approached with a white cup in his hand. "So... does that mean we have a break before continuing to work?" Orbot sighed at these words while shaking his head slightly. With Sonic -Sweet Apple Acres The call of dawn awakened the incredible dream of the blue hero. He yawned as he stretched out under the apple tree that had offered him comfort the night before. Without a fixed destination and not knowing where north was, even if he could guide himself without a compass, he was unsure if the world beneath his feet followed the same orientation rules as his own. Left with no other options, he simply smiled and began to run between the trees, admiring each apple tree planted perfectly and distantly from one another. His run was short, as his speed took him straight to what he recognized as a treehouse with a ramp leading up to it. Knowing that if ponies lived in the castle, they also likely lived here, so maybe ladders wouldn’t be as useful for them. "Mhh... HELLO!?" he shouted from under the treehouse, waiting for a response. "IS ANYONE HOME?" When there was no answer, he slowly climbed up and gently knocked on the door. It opened, as it wasn’t fully closed, revealing what appeared to be a club or playhouse for children. They didn’t have much, but it was clear that a lot of effort had gone into building it. After a quick visual exploration, he decided to turn around and start descending, but was met with a shock to his knees, which surprised him. Looking down, he saw a yellow filly with a reddish mane and a bow on top. She was carrying a strange backpack with two pouches on either side. The filly rubbed her head with her hoof after the sudden collision and looked up at the blue creature bending down in front of her, with a surprised look. "Hey, little one, are you okay?" He asked, extending his right hand to help her get up. The young pony looked at him, processing what had happened in her mind. Then, she noticed the unfamiliar blue creature in front of her: mostly blue with peach-colored arms, mouth, and belly, pointed ears, green eyes, and long, pointed hair. She took a while to come out of her trance as she analyzed it, then realized that he was offering to help. "Y-yes... sorry, I was in a hurry..." she said nervously after the sudden moment, extending her left hoof to her strange "paw," which he took gently, helping her to stand up. "Don’t worry, no one got hurt. By the way, is this treehouse yours?" he asked, turning around to look over his shoulder at the interior of the wooden house. "Oh, yes! This is the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ Clubhouse!" she said with a bright smile. "Oh wow! Sounds like a secret club too. Sorry for entering without your permission, miss..." Seeing him apologize and trying to figure out his name, she realized they hadn’t introduced themselves. "Oh, sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Applebloom, part of the Apple family. The farm over there is my family's." Sonic smiled when he heard her introduction, and his mind immediately began thinking about apples after hearing the word in her name and family. "Nice to meet you, Applebloom! I'm Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!" He introduced himself with a fist on his hip and the other giving a thumbs-up, pointing to himself. She raised an eyebrow upon hearing the word 'hedgehog' "Hedgehog? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hedgehog like you before, and I don’t think they usually look like that. I have a friend who’s an expert on animals, and you don’t look anything like what she explained to me." Sonic shrugged and passed by the young filly to descend slowly from the treehouse. "Maybe it’s because I’m so cool that I don’t need to look like the other hedgehogs you know," he said with an arrogant smile. Once he reached the grass, he did a flip and landed on his hands, quickly transitioning into a breakdance move before finally resting on the grass with his hand holding his head, his elbow on the ground, and his legs crossed. His display of coolness made the young filly let out a cute giggle behind her hoof. She grabbed her bag and went back inside the clubhouse. Sonic looked at her without paying much attention to whether she was having fun or mocking him. He then followed her out and arrived at her side, still laughing. "You know? You’re a fun guy Sonic, What brought you here?" she asked. "Well, Applebloom, I'm not from around here, and I'm a bit lost. But that doesn’t really bother me, I always venture into unknown places. However, after how I ended up here last night... I feel like I need to orient myself first. Normally, I don’t use compasses or maps, and I like to run wherever the wind takes me. Do you have time to explain how things work around here?" When she heard the question about time, her eyes widened, remembering why she was in a hurry, alert to her school schedule. "AAAAH! I forgot! I’m going to be late for school! I have to go! see you later!" she shouted as she ran off as fast as her short legs could carry her. Suddenly, she felt her speed drastically increase and noticed that she was running over the ground. She looked up, seeing her blue friend carrying her at great speed. "Where’s the school?" Confused and surprised by the sudden speed of the supposed hedgehog, she quickly responded, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions stirring in her mind. "I-it’s straight ahead... and then... to the left..." Ponyville - Schoolhouse After a few seconds that would have felt like minutes to the young apple filly, she realized that she was suddenly standing in front of the school. "Is this it? Or is it on the other side of town? Because if this is it, I thought it would be farther away," she asked, unsure if they had arrived at the right building, considering her unfamiliarity with the town's layout. She had planned to stop at each building and ask if necessary. "It’s here! And I got here earlier than expected, thanks, Sonic!" She jumped down from his arms, landing perfectly, and walked up to the door, knocking softly. "Don’t thank me, I’m going to have fun! See you later little apple!" The door opened, catching the attention of the young farm filly, revealing a light pink mare with a purple mane and green eyes, her face showing warmth and happiness. "Applebloom, you’re on time. Who were you talking to?" asked the pony responsible for giving the class. "With my friend Son-" She turned to introduce him, but when she looked back, he was already gone, leaving only a faint cloud of dust disappearing. "nic..."Y-yeah... he sure is fast! AScootaloo and Sweetie Belle have to meet him!"" During class, everything remained calm and normal. Until recess, when Applebloom met with her friends under the shade of a tree, very excited about the news of her new friend. "Alright, Applebloom, what's the new news? I can tell by your smile," pointed out the young Pegasus known as Scootaloo. "I made a friend just now, and he's so... strange, but not in the sense of what he likes, more in what he is and what he can do!" she shouted, jumping around excitedly, spinning in place while her friends watched her with confusion, but excited about what she might say next. "So, this colt doesn’t have a Cutie Mark and is going to join the CMC?" her unicorn friend tried to guess, excited about the idea of another member in their club. Her words stopped Applebloom, who stopped jumping and looked at them with wide eyes, starting to get nervous. "Actually... he’s not... a pony, he says he's a hedgehog." Her friends looked at her, confused, thinking that her reasoning had suddenly abandoned her. "So... ‘he says’ he’s a hedgehog?" "Hedgehogs don’t talk, as Fluttershy explained to us," the Pegasus pointed out. "Well... uh... it’s much more believable when you see him, so you should meet him later! He'll probably come by the clubhouse. He's a fun guy, you'll like him!" They both just shrugged and then changed the topic to what they considered more important than the idea of a talking hedgehog. "You know, Crusaders? Rarity told me that last night during the Galloping Gala, an intruder got in. She said it was blue, fast, and escaped through the balcony." With those simple clues, the gears in Applebloom’s head started working, remembering her new friend’s speed and appearance, still having some doubts about what she had just heard and experienced recently. "He broke into the gala, caused damage, and escaped from the guards and the princesses!?" Scootaloo asked, stunned. Sweetie Belle nodded but also shook her head, finishing with a diagonal gesture with her head, making her friends look at each other even more confused than usual. "According to Rarity, he faced the knights, and after what Twilight showed him, he left without hurting anyone, except for a knight who got punched in the face. Although her friends didn’t help since Twilight insisted on handling the situation herself." While listening to her friend, Applebloom asked herself, "Sonic... I hope I’m wrong... what are you doing now...?" Sonic at that moment He had arrived in an instant from the base of a mountain to its peak, gazing at the vast landscape around him, only to then sneeze and hug himself. "Ugh... I think it’s a little cold up here..." Ponyville School At least the hedgehog himself could answer some questions about him before jumping to any wrong conclusions like last time with a certain zebra. She kept doubting for a moment until she was snapped out of her thoughts by the call of her friends. "Applebloom?... Applebloom!" "Huh!? What? Oh, sorry, I was thinking about a lot of things, what were you saying?" "Sweetie Belle asked if your sister told you anything about the gala." "Oh! I couldn’t ask her, I got up early and she came home a bit late, so she slept in a bit more. I'll ask her at dinner. I wonder what will happen with that intruder you mentioned." "The princesses and the guards are handling it, right?" Scootaloo affirmed confidently, lying back under the tree to rest, only for her ears to be filled with the ringing bell that marked the end of recess. Canterlot - Throne Room Princess Celestia, in charge of moving the sun and ruler of Equestria, was reviewing the report of what had happened the night before, which she held with her magic around her, looking at each page along with several portraits made hastily by her guards who took action that very night, and a young dragon who was present with them and also wanted to participate in the royal task of depicting the blue intruder through descriptions. A young alicorn near the door was waiting for the young dragon while the ruler admired each portrait, smiling at the 'low artistic levels' from the guards. As for the young dragon, she noticed his effort in the portrait, made as if his skill were 'professional' or rather an 'intermediate' level, not counting the fact that it was made with crayons considering his young age, but it looked decent enough alongside the description in the report. All the guards were silent, waiting for the verdict from their ruler, thinking of multiple fatal punishments, but when she finished reading the report, she set the scrolls aside and showed the portrait Spike had made. "Let me go over this, a blue being broke into the gala last night. I was present, but knowing Twilight's persistence, I assumed she would take full control and responsibility of the situation. But I see I should have intervened, knowing the intruder would escape. I feel useless seeing how I chose to relax instead of taking my role as ruler seriously. But the part of being a teacher and a princess equally, I must let her prove she can go on without me." The young alicorn in the back of the room became nervous, feeling her efforts were in vain, but they grew when she saw the older princess showing the portrait made by her dragon. "This is all we have to identify it. Thanks to everyone for contributing to the duty of depicting the blue threat," she said, showing a smile as all the portraits were shared among the guards who acted during the defense of the gala. "But I must say that Spike’s is the one that comes closest to the description I've read in the report, a blue being from head to toe, white claws, large green eyes, a mocking smile? Triangular red legs, blue long horns extending from behind its head and moving at great speed. Am I correct?" She asked, bringing the scroll with the description to Spike’s portrait. A drawing based on the illusion spell from Twilight, showing the moment when the guards had surrounded him, and he was raising his hands in surrender. While the princess gathered the others, leaving them to her assistant, a white unicorn with glasses, who, using her magic, took the discarded portraits, letting them float at her side. "Miss Raven, please send Spike’s portrait and the description report. I want posters about the creature. Take Twilight with you, and let her handle the details on these," the unicorn nodded and took the separate reports to leave with the young alicorn. Spike had been accompanying the guards since everything began, and his sharp hearing could assure him that he could hear the accelerated heartbeat of each one of them, his own included, but recognizing Celestia’s kindness calmed him down again, although it didn’t change the fact that his portrait humiliated the guards’, which made him feel that he was useful, even if it wasn’t in the way he had expected. "Spike, you may leave and return to Twilight. The rest, return to your posts. There will be no punishment for failing in your duty to protect the castle and the innocents who were there. However, I expect more obedience from those who acted impulsively. According to Twilight's report on each encounter with the intruder, there were actions taken too lightly when she was present." Spike nodded, and the guards lowered their heads to the ground, embarrassed by their reckless actions. Then, they all left, leaving the Sun Princess alone, except for the guards inside the hall who were guarding the door from within. She brought a hoof to her forehead, rubbing her head slowly and sighing, exhausted from all her tasks. The idea of a very fast threat disturbed her mental peace, wondering what it could be doing while she was sitting there. "Luckily... it doesn't seem like this could get any worse..." A bad choice of words. Author's Note Before anyone comes to correct whether Raven Inkwell is an Earth pony or a unicorn, I made sure and checked thoroughly before starting. But if you have doubts, you can check for yourselves, as both options are available for the character. I’m not sure what happened or why she’s shown in two different versions, but I prefer to leave her as a unicorn. The blue one and the Crusaders"Luckily... it doesn't seem like this could get any worse..." A bad choice of words. I hope you’re enjoying this as much as I enjoy letting go of all the ideas about what I want to write, the human imagination is truly amazing, isn’t it? ========== The day went on normally, with everyone going about their lives, but the blue hedgehog didn’t waste any time. From the moment he dropped off the young apple filly at school, he wasted no time exploring the surrounding areas of this unfamiliar world. From the outskirts of the town, on top of a snowy mountain to the southwest of Ponyville, he had no idea where the path he was taking would lead him. He simply smiled widely and sped down the mountain, only to end up in what seemed like a lifeless, dead farm. All he could see were rocks, rocks, and more rocks. "What a strange place. Could it be abandoned?" He ventured in, walking slowly, not hearing any typical farm animals or even signs of crops to be harvested. "Hello? Is anyone living here? And I thought Eggman Land lacked life," he thought to himself. His steps stopped when he heard a whistle that caught his attention, forcing him to turn his gaze to see who had called him. "Hey YOU! How did you get into our farm!?" A light gray-coated pony with a green mane, with a tough look in her eyes fixed on Sonic, showing no fear of confronting the hedgehog. "Oh, so the farm is still inhabited? Sorry, but it looks a bit... petrified if not dead," he thought to himself, trying not to provoke the pony’s impulsive temper. "That's right! This is the Rock Pie Farm! And who are you?" She approached, giving him a look as if trying to peer into his soul, only noticing pure blue fur and a silly, confident, and very calm smile. "I'm just a hedgehog exploring new lands, and your farm happened to cross my path by chance," he said indifferently, shrugging. "So, a rock farm, huh? It looks a bit... uh... rustic for my taste." "Well, friend! If you don’t like it, you can leave, or you can leave. Are you looking for any special rock, or are you just going to admire the scenery?" Sonic looked at her, trying to understand if it was a threat or if she was just trying to be friendly. "Well, I’m not sure if I’ll find what I’m looking for here, but what I’m sure about is that it’s not a rock... it looks more like a gem, shiny, and it fits perfectly in my hand," he demonstrated by picking up a rock from the ground, which fit perfectly in his hand, covering all his fingers without being too big or so small that he could close it. "Not a rock? Then I don’t think you’ll find it here. We only harvest and collect rocks." While the conversation continued between the earth pony and the hedgehog, a light brown leather-colored pony with a gray mane and tail, honey-colored eyes, and gray hair and whiskers like his tail, walked up. His cutie mark was a pickaxe. "Limestone? Who is our guest?" asked the stallion with a calm gaze fixed on the blue creature. "Hello, sir, good afternoon!" Sonic greeted politely, raising his right hand and waving it to the side of his head, with his left fist on his hip, while keeping his signature friendly smile. Immediately, the pony, named by the stallion, glared at him with hatred, as if the words he used were the worst way to greet someone. The stallion walked over to the young ones, remaining calm as he noticed the friendly smile of the blue guest, which seemed to remind him of someone very happy and energetic. "My name is Igneous Rock, and this is my daughter Limestone Pie. I apologize if she caused you any trouble, but we don’t usually expect surprise guests." "Don’t worry about her, I have friends with the same attitude," Sonic smiled pleasantly, while the pony beside him glared at him with hatred. "I was just exploring new horizons, and your farm caught my attention as I was coming down the mountain. I thought it was abandoned, but I was wrong. I’ve never seen anything like a rock farm." "It’s understandable that it might seem unusual to those unfamiliar with our family, but I assure you this farm has been in our family for generations." "I have a friend with a job related to a 'giant rock,' but enough talk," he said, glancing at her "pleasant" daughter. "She, upon hearing this, suddenly felt that it was a mockery of her attitude," he continued, "was searching for a gem or jewel, more specifically an emerald." "I’m sorry to say, you won’t find anything like that here," Sonic shrugged with a smile, not too concerned about the failure of his idea. Igneous continued, noting the calmness of his guest. "But why did you think you’d find emeralds on a rock farm?" Igneous asked as Sonic placed his hand on his chin, thinking. "Hmm… honestly, I didn’t expect to find anything like that so quickly, but the conversation just came up. Although the story is a bit different, what I’m looking for, I can tell you that the one who was driving me in their 'flying carriage' is a terrible driver, and I lost her during the flight." After that summary, Limestone was the first to speak. "And what made you really think your belongings would end up here?" "A hunch, I’d say… but it doesn’t matter. I’ll continue on my way, and I’m sorry for bothering you." "We’re sorry we couldn’t be of more help, sir..." Before asking for his name, the hedgehog prepared to run but looked over his shoulder to give them a smile. "I’m Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog, thank you so much, Mr. Rock! Goodbye, Miss Pie," he said, then quickly ran off, leaving them stunned by the surprising speed at which he sped away for a land creature. "He’s a very strange guy..." Limestone pointed out with little enthusiasm as she walked away to return to her work. "Yes, he is... he reminds me of your sister," Igneous smiled slightly and continued his way to continue working on the farm. The path Sonic took after leaving the rock farm was unknown, not knowing the direction which excited him even more to explore everything his body’s limits would allow. But recognizing the landscape he had already passed through earlier, combined with his great speed, he knew he was never far from anything. At his great speed and already far from the farm, he crossed a river at full speed, creating a wall of water and forming a rainbow with the mist from the water due to the speed he achieved while running from one side of the river to the other. As soon as he touched the ground, his speed increased dramatically as he had great traction on solid ground, accelerating without fear, only seeing barren land in every direction he looked. He could barely see anything that made it look different. The sun shone brightly, and the heat didn’t seem to affect him at all. But he knew that sooner or later, no matter how hot it got, it wouldn’t bother or affect him. The air blowing through his fur, due to the speed, kept him cool with every step he took. A heavy, loud sound caught his attention. He turned his gaze toward it and saw a stampede of buffalo running in the same direction as him. He smiled and sped up until he matched their speed and got close enough for the lead buffalo to notice him. "Hey, big guy! Where’s the fire?" he said casually, drawing the buffalo’s attention. The buffalo was surprised to see something as fast as him, so close to such a dangerous stampede. "Uhh… we’re not running to escape from a fire or to put one out. We run because we do it every year along this path." Those words made Sonic smile even more. He kept pace with the buffalo but slowly accelerated, getting ahead of him, then turned around to run backward with his arms crossed while looking at him, showing off his speed. "You know, running is my passion, and it’s something I don’t plan to stop doing for anything in life. You guys shouldn’t stop either. I hope it doesn’t bother you, but I’m going to take your running path for a moment. Goodbye, big guy!" Sonic said as he accelerated to distance himself, then struck his characteristic running pose while speeding away, leaving the stampede far behind. The buffaloes were left speechless by how they were surpassed by something faster than a buffalo. "Nice places, clean air, friendly inhabitants as far as I can see in these lands, what more can I ask for?" he thought to himself when a growl and a familiar sensation caught his attention, making him look at his belly asking for food. "Ugh... just when I was thinking about it, now you remind me of it. I suppose I could go back and talk to Applejack before continuing to wander. I should ask how things work around here before doing something I might regret, but I don't want to offend anyone." With that, he kept running, naturally following his instincts for direction. His idea of the path he had taken gave him an idea of how to return to the treehouse, but fate smiled upon him and showed him a train track on his way. He came across it, maintaining his speed and running alongside it, hoping it would lead him back to the starting line. Ponyville - ClubhouseCMC The time at school was over, and it was the moment when the youth left what could be considered a second home for most of their young lives. A trio of fillies, already far from school, headed towards the forest, reaching a treehouse near the farm and far from the school— a perfect middle point to live between work and education. At the treehouse, the trio set down their saddlebags and began a private meeting to discuss their next activities. "Alright, Crusaders! Tomorrow is Saturday! What haven’t we tried yet to get our Cutie Marks?" Apple Bloom asked as she pulled out a long list of unfinished activities, which rolled from her little podium to the front door of the clubhouse, with no end in sight. The young trio gathered around to see the last activity marked with an 'X' beside it, which was the one that didn’t work out as they had hoped. "We haven’t tried wood carving yet," Sweetie Belle pointed out on the list, only to be interrupted by the pegasus in front of her. "We haven’t tried treasure hunting either." "I don’t think that would be a good option. We have no idea where to find treasure, and we can’t go far without an adult. It would be best to pick something within our reach." Scootaloo lowered her ears in frustration at the rejection of her idea. "Then we also need to cross off studying dragons because Spike doesn’t know much about himself, and we couldn’t guarantee we’d survive if we came across another one." Her friends nodded, and then they took a red crayon and crossed off both ideas from the list. "How about making potions with Zecora?" Apple Bloom added, catching the attention of her friends, who thought it was the best and safest idea, though they still had the problem of how to get to the newly mentioned Zecora’s home. "The sun is still up; should we go now to ask her to teach us? Or should we meet tomorrow at the entrance of the Everfree Forest?" Sweetie Belle hesitated for a moment while looking out the window, where the sun gave warmth and light. After a moment of silence, they decided to leave it to a vote, with 2 in favor of going right now and 1 against it. No one said who voted for what option; they simply didn’t want to argue and respected the vote. Apple Bloom left a note on the clubhouse door: ‘If you’re looking for us, we’re in the Everfree Forest with Zecora.’ After a few minutes of walking, they ended up at the entrance to the path of a dark forest. Everfree Forest Inside the forest, following a poorly guided path by the passing of hooves, the trio managed to reach a house in a tree, more at ground level than above it. Everything seemed quiet, with no internal noise coming from the house. They didn’t hesitate to approach and knock on the door, looking for the owner of the home. "Zecora? It’s the Crusaders!" Apple Bloom called while knocking again, but receiving no answer. "Did she leave before we got here?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking around. "She probably went out to gather ingredients for her potions... or maybe she went to Ponyville to shop," they all looked at each other, wondering what their next move would be. "So, what do we do? We could wait for her," suggested Scootaloo, but Apple Bloom raised her hoof to dismiss that idea. "If she takes too long, it might get late, and we'll still be here in front of her door." "How about we wait for her outside the forest? After all, she always uses the same path, right?" Sweetie Belle suggested, offering a new point of view on the idea of waiting for her. Her fellow Crusaders didn’t take long to think over the idea, and they decided to return along the path that had led them to the house of the one they were searching for. They didn’t realize they were being watched by green eyes from the bushes. While they walked back, with the sun slowly setting, the eyes continued to follow them, more pairs of eyes appearing, revealing a beast growling with its companions. Throughout the entire journey, the Crusaders traversed the forest naturally and without issue, but suddenly Scootaloo stopped after hearing a twig snap behind them. She turned around only to see the entire path they had walked down completely empty. "Is something wrong, Scoots?" asked her unicorn friend, stopping next to Apple Bloom and looking at the pegasus in alert mode. "Shhh... I think we're being followed..." she whispered. After saying that, distant bushes rustled, revealing a pack of three wooden wolves growling at the trio of fillies, who slowly backed up, scared by their sudden wild hunters. "Timberwolves... what do we do?" Sweetie Belle worried, stepping back in sync with her friends. "The most logical thing... is to run!" With that, the trio turned around and started running towards the village, with the wolves chasing them, howling. Ahead of the Crusaders, more Timberwolves appeared, forcing them to split up individually, each chased by two wolves through the forest as they screamed desperately. "AAAAAAAYUUUUUDAAAAAAA!!!" The trio’s cries for help were heard by those closest to the forest, and the one nearest to the situation outside the forest didn’t waste any time. His ears turned toward the cries for help. In a flash of blue, he darted into the forest, dodging all the unnatural obstacles of the terrifying woods. The night was falling as he entered the territory, and the cries of the fillies grew louder around him. He focused on the nearest one and, from the branch of a tree, he spotted how a pair of wooden beasts had surrounded a white filly like a pearl against a large rock wall she couldn’t climb. He raised his index and thumb to his mouth, letting out a loud whistle that caught the attention of the beasts. Along with the filly, they turned to look at the shadow on the tree branch. Suddenly, something jumped down to the ground, emerging from the shadows of the night, illuminated by the moonlight, revealing a blue figure, bipedal, with white claws, red feet, a grin on his face, and green eyes. "Two against one? I don’t think that’s how you treat a lady" he said. The Timberwolves growled and lunged at him at the same time. "Watch out!" was the word that escaped the unicorn’s mouth. Sonic smiled, dodging the wolf's bite before jumping on its head, using it to propel himself into the air. Then, he curled up into a ball and performed a spin dash towards the other wolf, destroying it in an instant. The first wolf to attack turned around, only to find a white fist hitting him in the face, launching him into a tree where he crashed and broke on impact. "Not so tough, huh?" She couldn't understand what had happened in that second. The blue creature didn’t hesitate to save her in less than 1 seconds. The Timberwolves had been defeated, and her hero approached her, carrying her in his arms and running off in an instant. She wanted to ask questions, but more questions kept coming to her mind. She kept thinking until a voice pulled her away from her thoughts. "Are you okay, miss?" It was a simple question, but it woke her from her thoughts. When she looked up, she saw her savior’s face more clearly a kind look with eyes green as emeralds, and a calm, relaxed smile that made her feel the warmth of peace. Everything felt peaceful, and she was about to respond when a nearby scream sounded, and she felt the wind change direction, noticing how her hero was heading toward the source of the scream. When they arrived, they saw a little pegasus clinging to a high branch of a tree, holding on upside down as the wolves clawed at the sides of the tree, jumping and trying to use their claws to climb and reach her. "Scootaloo!!!" shouted the unicorn in Sonic’s arms. The wolves turned their gaze along with the pegasus, seeing them there, watching. "Can you save her? Please!" Her body gently touched the ground as she saw her savior set her down and give a thumbs-up, flashing a smile. "No problem! I'm used to this kind of thing!" Before she could say anything else, he disappeared in a sudden burst of wind, forcing her to shield her eyes from the dust cloud raised by his speed. Once again, she felt another gust of wind behind her and saw that her friend was safe in that very instant. "Wh... What happened?" asked the little pegasus, confused and trying to comprehend what had just happened, after passing from the tree branch to the ground next to her unicorn friend. "Scoots! You're safe!" the unicorn shouted, suddenly hugging her. Then she looked toward where the wolves had been, seeing the blue hero shaking dirt off his hands, looking at the destroyed wolves. He then turned his gaze to the fillies and gave them a thumbs-up while smiling. "Wh... What is that thing...?" Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie Belle, who simply shrugged, keeping a shy smile at the ignorance of the question. As he approached them, walking calmly, they looked at him with intrigue but with some security, since he had saved them. Before anyone could say anything, a scream was heard in the distance, which only Sonic managed to hear. He quickly grabbed both fillies, one in each arm, and dashed deeper into the forest at high speed, once again surprising the fillies with the intense speed he had achieved in such a short time. They arrived within seconds at an open area, seeing a terrestrial pony reaching the edge of a cliff, slowly backing up while still watching the approaching predators getting closer and closer. "Apple...Bloom!!!" Before they could react, both fillies were already on the ground, watching a blue streak charging toward the wolves. One of them noticed the blue threat and lunged at it. Sonic dodged to his left and split it in half with a spin dash. The other wolf lunged to attack the pony but was stopped when it was grabbed by the leg. It turned to see Sonic smiling and then began spinning faster and faster before launching the wolf into the air above his head. As the wolf started to fall, Sonic was already preparing another spin dash and launched into the sky, finishing the wolf off from its face to its tail. The fillies admired the scene, watching as their savior landed smoothly on the ground, only to see Applebloom jump into his arms. "Sonic!!!" she shouted as she leaped toward him, being caught in his embrace. Before she could fall to the ground from the force of the impact, he lifted her into the air, spinning her around while smiling. "Hey little apple! Are you okay? Did those sticks hurt you?" "N-no! Thanks for saving me!" Her friends quickly arrived, not letting her respond as they jumped at her, knocking her to the ground in a joyful hug. "Girls!! You're okay!" "Yeah, he saved us! It was awesome, and he's so fast!" Scootaloo excitedly remarked, running around her friends and pointing out every detail. Sonic just admired the scene, smiling with one hand by his side and a fist on his hip. "Ahem, ladies," the trio turned to see their savior waving his hand, drawing their attention. At that moment, Applebloom realized that there had been no introductions between her hero and her fellow Crusaders. "Girls! Let me introduce you to Sonic the Hedgehog! He's the one I talked about at school today. Sonic, these are Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, my fellow Crusaders!" Sonic smiled and approached both fillies, kneeling down in front of them. "A pleasure, girls. As little apple said, Sonic is my name, and the speed is my game," he said, extending his hand to each of them. They looked at him for a second, then each took a hoof and felt a gentle handshake while he smiled kindly at them. "Hey, you're so fast! The way you took down those Timberwolves was amazing! How do you do all that?" asked the pegasus, running around him, inspecting his body, which had no injuries. Sweetie Belle stepped closer and gently tapped his leg, drawing his attention. "Excuse me, Mr. Sonic, but how did you find us?" Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out the note that Applebloom had left at the clubhouse. "I found this at your treehouse and decided to explore, looking for that 'Everfree Forest.' Luckily, as I got close to this strange and eerie forest, I heard some cries for help. That's where I found each of you. It was just the three of you, right?" "Yep! Just us, and together, we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!!!" they all shouted in unison, jumping and striking a pose in mid-air while Sonic smiled at them with joy. When Sonic saw them together, posing and shouting their name in unison, he couldn't help but think of his friends Tails and Knuckles, which made him chuckle softly. This drew the attention of the young trio. "What’s so funny?" Scootaloo asked, feeling that his laughter was mocking them. "Hehe, it's nothing... you just reminded me of some friends I work with as a team during our adventures. One day, you might meet them." The fillies were about to speak, but then they heard a howl coming from the trees, and everyone turned to look at the forest. From between the trees, a pair of glowing eyes slowly appeared, revealing a giant Timberwolve that had grown in size by merging with the parts of the wolves Sonic had previously defeated to save Applebloom. It now had a more robust body and was twice as tall as the trees. "It’s...it’s...ENORMOUS!!!" The trio screamed in fear in unison as they quickly hid behind Sonic's legs. While they trembled in fear, Sonic crossed his arms and stared the giant wolf in the eyes with a confident smile, assessing his new, formidable enemy. Everything was calm in his mind until a beeping sound came from behind him, catching the group's attention. "Did you hear that?" Applebloom looked at her friends, who nodded as they listened to the beeping sound, now much closer. Hearing it again, Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out his phone, which was emitting the sound. He showed them the screen, which read CHAOS EMERALD LOCATED, as an arrow appeared pointing straight ahead of him. When he looked up, he noticed the giant Timberwolve growling at him, with a strange glow emanating from its chest. The first of seven"Did you hear that?" Applebloom looked at her friends, who nodded as they listened to the beeping sound, now much closer. Hearing it again, Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out his phone, which was emitting the sound. He showed them the screen, which read CHAOS EMERALD LOCATED, as an arrow appeared pointing straight ahead of him. When he looked up, he noticed the giant Timberwolve growling at him, with a strange glow emanating from its chest. "I think I'm posting chapters so quickly, one after another, that I'm afraid I might eventually suffer from the well-known 'Writer's Block.' ========== Before making his first move, Sonic had to consider the situation he was in: three small, delicate fillies behind him, a giant wooden wolf that seemed to grow stronger with the Chaos Emerald inside it, not to mention the cliff they and their friends were trapped on. A day like any other, thought the daring hedgehog to himself. He glanced at the wolf, noticing the green glow emanating from its chest. The wolf growled, asserting its dominance over such small beings. The girls trembled behind Sonic, but he was already planning how to move them out of the way so he could handle this personally. "Girls, I won't be able to fight him if I have to protect you. Do you know a safe place far from here?" Sonic asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the massive wolf, which was taking slow steps toward the small group. "Ponyville!" shouted Scootaloo. "Fluttershy's cabin!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Sweet Apple Acres!!!" mentioned Applebloom. Among all those options, Sonic was pretty sure the only place he knew was the farm Applebloom had just mentioned. He looked around, searching for something to create a distraction. Behind him, there was the cliff and the edge of the land that formed it. Beyond that, he had no other options. "Alright, I have a plan! I'll clear a path, and you all will run while I hold it off." The trio didn't seem to understand his plan. Run while he held it off? They exchanged glances, unsure, but before they could suggest another idea, Applebloom gathered her courage, accepting his plan, and stepped forward to stand at Sonic's left. "Alright! We'll run!" Applebloom said, her voice trembling as she faced the approaching wolf. Even with Sonic by her side, the fear didn't completely fade, but his presence gave her confidence that his plan would work just to protect them. Sonic, seeing her trembling but still standing tall, smiled proudly at her, impressed by how quickly she showed courage and trust in him, even after only knowing his name. "Alright, little apple! What about you two, girls?" he asked, looking at the scared duo. Both girls looked at their friend, then back at each other. They hesitated about whether it was a good idea, but they didn’t want to leave their friend behind either. "Alright!... we'll go straight to Ponyville!" Sweetie Belle emphasized, standing to the left of Applebloom. "And we'll get help!... we can't leave you alone, Sonic," Scootaloo explained, standing to the left of Sweetie Belle. The trio was trembling with fear. Something so powerful and terrifying stood before them; a single swipe of the wolf's jaws could devour them all. "I'll give you the signal, and you run! If anything happens, shout, and I'll be there in an instant. Don’t hesitate to call me!" Sonic positioned himself, fists against the ground, left leg extended, and his right leg bent. "Understood!" they shouted in unison. Sonic launched himself at the wolf, circling around it while the wolf tried to catch him with its claws. At the speed Sonic was moving, he managed to create a blue tornado, blowing fiercely and trapping the wolf. "Now, girls! Run!" The trio quickly fled the scene, and as they ran, they glanced backward, not losing their pace, only looking back to see how the trees hid their blue hero until they lost sight of him. As they ventured deeper into the dark forest during the night, not slowing their gallop, they suddenly crashed into something that let out a groan after the impact. "Timberwolves!!!" the trio screamed, only to realize they had collided with a familiar figure—a zebra with saddlebags, rings around her neck and front legs, and a lantern tied to a staff, who groaned in pain as she got up. "The Crusaders are here? What made them come all the way to me, without thinking of the dangers that lurk where the sun doesn't shine?" she asked in surprise, seeing the young trio at a time when she hadn't expected to. Upon seeing her zebra friend, Applebloom rushed forward and jumped at her with happiness. "Zecora! It's so good to see you! We came to ask if we could..." However, before she could finish explaining, Sweetie Belle interrupted to explain why they were running. "Applebloom, not now! Remember why we were running!?" Sweetie Belle reminded her, pulling her back from the thought of finding Zecora. "Oh, right! We were running from a giant, monstrous Timberwolf! It was the biggest one we’ve ever seen!" Applebloom explained, trying not to sound exaggerated. "Yes! And Sonic stayed behind to fight it at the edge of a cliff! He's so brave, but he didn’t want us anywhere near when he faced it!" Sweetie Belle continued, explaining how they escaped and what happened with the Timberwolf. "Now it's still back there! He managed to distract it so we could get away!" Scootaloo finished, and the trio looked worriedly at Zecora, who was now standing, holding her lantern and processing everything they had said. "One of your friends is facing a Timberwolf!? He's either very brave or very foolish to think he can face a Timberwolf that big!" Zecora said, her eyes widening. Before they could say anything else, a loud howl stopped them all, and they turned to look in the direction of the wild cry, toward the path the Crusaders had taken to get to Zecora. They watched with concern as the path seemed to lead them directly toward their blue friend. Unbeknownst to them, Timberwolves started circling around them, getting closer and trapping them with no way to escape. Zecora stood firm, trying to protect the small fillies behind her, but it was beyond her abilities. Before anyone could attack, a magical burst of light fell from the sky, striking one of the wolves and breaking it into splinters of wood. Another followed, and then another, until all of them were defeated. The group looked up to see Twilight arriving with Spike on her back and Rainbow Dash by her side. "We made it in time! Are you all okay?" asked the young princess as she landed in front of the group, only to be met with a big hug from the three younger ones. "Twilight, thank you! You came at the perfect time!" Sweetie Belle said happily, but they broke the hug soon after. "But... how did you find us?" Spike hopped off Twilight's back and approached Zecora. "It was because of Zecora's lantern! It shines brightly enough to be seen from above the forest," he explained. "Made specifically to survive in the Everfree," Zecora added proudly, showing off her homemade lantern. Rainbow landed, joining the conversation. "Sorry to interrupt the moment, but we should get out of here now, before things get worse!" Again, the wooden pieces of the Timberwolves' bodies were dragged away, moving in a specific direction, not rebuilding themselves. They just seemed to be called. "Had to say that, didn't you?" Spike asked sarcastically as the pieces of the Timberwolves moved away. Twilight, curious, decided to investigate. "I'm going to take care of this. Rainbow and Zecora, take the Crusaders and Spike out of the forest!" she said, her plan clear, then she galloped after the pieces of wood moving away into the darkness. "Twilight, let Sonic handle it! He said he could do it alone!" Applebloom called out to the already distant princess. "He never said that, right?" Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie Belle. "No, but if he managed to take care of the others to save us, maybe he can handle this one too." Moments earlier with Sonic After watching his little friends run, Sonic stopped making the tornado and dove under the Timberwolf leader, charging a Spin Dash that launched him into the air above the trees. He then delivered a double kick to the spot where the emerald was being held, only to see the wolf's abdomen change from wood to rocks and thick logs, which softened the impact. "Not bad, pup!" Sonic said, using the wolf’s body to propel himself to the ground, landing first. He looked up and saw the wolf falling heavily to crush him, but Sonic quickly moved away to avoid being flattened. As the wolf hit the ground, Sonic sprinted toward it, jumping and launching a barrage of kicks that created shockwaves, forcing the Timberwolf to step back but stand firm despite the damage. As long as Sonic kept attacking, the Timberwolf couldn't approach, but it tried to circle him. However, it was stopped by another shockwave that forced it to retreat and keep resisting. "Come on! Is that all you've got!? Even Metal Sonic would give me a challenge!" Sonic taunted, then stopped his attack and fell to the ground, immediately jumping up to face the wolf head-on. The wolf, seeing its chance to attack, instinctively opened its jaws, revealing a green glow. The emerald was reacting again, amplifying the wolf's instincts to face its prey. From its jaws, it fired an energy blast, surprising Sonic. As he rushed toward it, he quickly stopped and crossed his arms in an ‘X’ in front of himself to defend, taking the full force of the blast. A cloud of smoke formed from the impact, slowly dissipating to reveal Sonic’s injured arms. "I think this is... a bone much tougher to chew... than I thought..." he murmured, kneeling and looking at his arms, which had withstood the direct damage. The wolf recognized that it could unleash a powerful long-range attack. It repeated the move successfully, launching the energy ball at Sonic. Sonic quickly looked up, seeing the ball of energy approaching. Without hesitation, he dodged to the side, letting the ball pass by and hit a tree, causing a massive explosion. The explosion destroyed the surrounding trees and the ground beneath, creating a huge crater. "So much... chaos energy in one attack... luckily, I'm used to this... but it seems for him, it's like a new toy," Sonic thought to himself. He stood up again, only to see the wolf preparing to launch another energy ball. Sonic wasn't going to let himself be defeated so easily. He charged at the wolf. The Timberwolf, confident, fired again. But Sonic's green eyes shifted to an electric blue, and he vanished in a blue streak, countering the energy sphere with a left kick mid-air. The chaos energy blast was held in place by the sole of Sonic’s shoes. He kept it in check while quickly thinking about his next move before the blast exploded in his face. Maneuvering his body in the air while staying defensive, he managed to land a kick with his right leg, deflecting the blast toward the sky, where it exploded moments later with a green flare, like a flare from a rocket. "Not bad, not bad at all," Sonic said, smiling, surrounded by blue lightning, his eyes still glowing electric blue, and his gaze locked on his enemy. "Is that all you've got?" The wolf growled angrily, preparing to attack again with its new technique. But in that instant, Sonic appeared before its eyes in a Spin Dash, hitting it between the eyes like a rotating saw. The wolf endured the impact, struggling to stay on its feet. But the damage continued to build with every fraction of a second it was under attack. Sonic finished with a downward kick, driving his heel into the Timberwolf, knocking it to the ground. The wolf’s eyes lost their glow, and it fell defeated, its head crushed into the leaves, branches, and thick logs. A second earlier, Twilight arrives on the scene The Princess of Friendship arrived just in time, horrified at the sight of the massive Timberwolf that was beyond belief. "This is truly no ordinary Timberwolf..." she thought. Witnessing the great threat, she chose to stay hidden, scanning the area for the pony the fillies had mentioned—one who was facing the beast alone. Her worried expression shifted when she noticed the wolf locking its gaze in one direction. Twilight followed its eyes and felt a mix of fear and doubt when she saw the blue threat that had escaped from the castle. "He's still alive... it's impossible..." she thought to herself, admiring the scene as Sonic prepared to face such a beast alone. Sonic stood apart from the mutated Timberwolf, staring it down. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared in a blue flash and reappeared right in front of it. Twilight couldn't believe it—not only the courage to stand up to the massive Timberwolf but also the speed at which he had gone from one side to the other in an instant. As her thoughts gathered, she was snapped back to reality by a loud explosion that shook the ground, sending a gust of wind, and revealing the victor: Sonic. A green flash revealed a matching gem floating in the air, descending in front of Sonic. He bent down, watching it with a satisfied smile. In a sudden motion, he grabbed the gem and started dancing gracefully. After a few steps of his victory dance, he posed, placing a fist on his hip and snapping his fingers. The gem appeared in his hand, as if it were a magic trick. FACE TOFACE "Too easy!" was the only thing Twilight heard coming from Sonic's lips after his victory dance against the beast of the Everfree Forest. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Twilight approached him, her determination clear. But as she moved closer, Sonic turned in her direction. "Did he know I was here?" she wondered. "Hey, Princess...right?" he asked, making sure he was speaking to the same pony he had talked to before his escape from the castle. "Yes, I’m the same Princess you escaped from that night," Twilight said firmly, stepping closer but keeping a safe distance from him. "Good! Are the girls safe?" he asked nonchalantly. He knew they would be looking for him again, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Is he... referring to the Crusaders? Twilight thought as she analyzed him more closely, trying to match the descriptions the girls had given of him with his appearance. "If you're talking about the three fillies I found with my friends in the forest, yes! They're safe and sound." "Good! That’s all I needed to know. See you later," Sonic said nonchalantly, turning toward the cliff to look at the drop below, where the ocean could be seen far below. "Wait a second!" Twilight called out, feeling the weight of the situation. "You don’t understand the situation you’re in, do you? Don’t make this harder than it has to be!" Sonic sighed, looking at her directly while rubbing his injured arms and shaking off the dust. "Look, Princess, I’m pretty sure I know exactly what you're thinking: you want to capture me, lock me up, put me on trial and try to believe my story. But without a lawyer to defend me, and without my friends around, yeah, I know the mess I’m in. This isn’t the first, and probably won’t be the last time I end up in an unknown world with no knowledge of it. But that doesn’t mean I should just give up because you tell me to. I respect you, I’ve met other princesses too, but I’ve had some bad experiences being unjustly locked up or imprisoned for things I didn’t do or didn’t even commit." Twilight took a moment to process his words, shaking her head to regain her composure before responding. "Even so, you’re the most wanted pony right now! I can’t let you go free. It’s my responsibility to protect the ponies here. I want us to do this the right way. We don’t need to fight, just surrender, and we can fix this." She looked at him expectantly, hoping for a response that would bring resolution. Sonic, smiling, looked at her, knowing she was right. He could do that—he could try to show a more peaceful side and try to be seen differently. But the thought of the Chaos Emeralds being scattered across the world, and the fact that if a Timberwolf could fuse with one of them, who knew what other dangers could arise from them? "I could ask for help from royalty, but if I give out unnecessary information—or worse, the wrong information—it could end up in the wrong hands, and I’d be putting the power of the Chaos Emeralds in the hands of those who can’t control it... and if they try to hold onto the emeralds, I’d hate to face them just because I need them... I’ll have to do this my way." He crossed his arms and lowered his head, sighing. Then, he lifted his gaze and smiled at her. "First... I need to take care of something before I 'surrender'. But if you still don’t trust me enough to send someone after me, then go ahead! I don’t mind. You can think whatever you want about me, Princess. After all, ‘actions speak louder than words.’ It’s a saying back home," he said with a grin and a wink, then disappeared in an instant, speeding down the cliff at incredible velocity. Twilight processed his actions, then quickly rushed to the edge, surprised. He had survived before, but would he now? Her mind raced, wondering if he had some trick up his sleeve that she hadn’t seen yet. But as she approached the edge, all she felt was a gust of wind rushing past her, and she had a flash of déjà vu—remembering how he had escaped from her before. Once again, the situation was repeating itself, with him now running back into the forest. "That thing is so... so stubborn!" she muttered under her breath. "We’ll have to do something before someone gets hurt." She began to walk back toward the forest but stopped as she noticed the massive Timberwolf defeated and destroyed on the ground. "To think there’s something... someone... capable of facing that while we were fleeing from those... blue threats... Who are you?" she wondered aloud, gazing into the forest, unsure of where Sonic might be now. Author's Note I want to highlight a bit of the references to Sonic Frontiers in certain actions, that's all. Thieves and Criminals"That thing is so... so stubborn!" she muttered under her breath. "We’ll have to do something before someone gets hurt." She began to walk back toward the forest but stopped as she noticed the massive Timberwolf defeated and destroyed on the ground. "To think there’s something... someone... capable of facing that while we were fleeing from those... blue threats... Who are you?" she wondered aloud, gazing into the forest, unsure of where Sonic might be now. Here we are again, enjoy, and I hope you'll forgive me if it takes a while, but well... STUDIES!" While Sonic already had an emerald in his hands, Eggman was left with empty pockets, and much to the misfortune of the Equestrians, they still had no clue about their blue threat, nor why he was there or what he wanted. All they had was a description of his appearance and nothing more. Moon - Egg of Death Orbot was finishing supervising the repair status of his creator's fortress, but something about the repair progress puzzled him. He checked his tablet, receiving a damage notification: 'Cameras out of service.' "How are the cameras not working? We just fixed all the damage," he said. He performed a system check, but the same error remained. He approached the control area and began scanning the systems and programs for any signs of a virus or a possible glitch in the main camera system code. Unfortunately, everything was in perfect condition. So what happened? he wondered as he left his workstation and headed towards the area where the cameras were malfunctioning. He floated along on his lower spherical half and continued his journey to complete his task. Boarding Zone Orbot arrived and looked at the cameras on the ceiling and the hallways, noticing that they were physically destroyed. "We have an intruder! But how? There are no signs of life on the ship besides Dr. Eggman," he said. He grabbed his tablet and reviewed the camera footage before they were disabled. Pausing at the right moment, he revealed a bipedal figure, agile and dressed in black, with a height considerably shorter than his creator's. He continued reviewing the damaged camera system files until he reached the last one, watching as the figure arrived at the boarding zone and stole a ship shaped like a blue bee (Buzz Bomber). But before entering, the figure threw an object at the camera, causing it to disconnect. Orbot, seeing this move, flew up to the camera and grabbed the object, quickly recognizing it. "Oh no, the doctor’s not going to like this..." he said, examining what he recognized as a pink heart-shaped ninja shuriken. Equestria - Crystal Mountains From the night sky, a shooting star appeared in the view of those who looked up, but it quickly exploded into a red flame and began to descend rapidly due to the planet’s gravity. As it entered the atmosphere, it gained speed, transforming into a meteorite that fell directly towards snow-covered mountains. The ship crashed into the snow, melting the surrounding area with the impact and its heat. The entrance door started to bend from the inside slowly until it was blasted off into the air, revealing a leg. "Ugh... this wasn’t what I planned... I wanted to steal the Master Emerald! But NOOO! Eggman had to show up and ruin my plans! I was planning on stealing it from him, but then the blue one had to make his entrance... I can’t blame him, though, that’s what a hero does, besides, I didn’t know I’d be there," said the figure as they crawled out of the ship, adjusting the suit on their back to reveal a pair of black, featherless wings, more like a bat’s or a dragon’s. They jumped and took flight, leaving the crater behind to look around, noticing what appeared to be a radiant city in the distance. "Well, looks like luck is on my side. I just hope I don’t get a ticket for where I parked," they remarked, looking at the destroyed ship behind them. "Well, worse things have happened!" They soared into the sky, heading towards the city, noticing how it seemed to shimmer as if made of crystal or perhaps jewels. Their eyes lit up as they headed toward the train station to carry out their 'new arrival' act. As they landed and looked up at the welcome sign, they read: "Welcome to the 'Crystal Empire?' Well, looks like fate is leading me to a place that suits my tastes." As they walked from the train station along the long path to the Crystal Empire, a thought crossed their mind: "Is Sonic here too? I should make sure, in case my only way out is back to Eggman’s ship." They reached into their suit between their wings and pulled out a cell phone. "And great... no signal. I hope they have multi-universal coverage here." They put it away and continued on their way, arriving at the empire and admiring the beautiful night alongside the stunning crystal buildings. But what attracted them the most was a statue holding a heart in its hands. "Well, well, what do we have here? A great hero? Or just a decorative statue?" They approached the plaque at the base of the statue, reading the inscription: "Made in honor of Spike, brave and glorious, hero and savior of the Heart and the Crystal Empire." They circled the statue, admiring every brilliant detail of the crystal it was made from. It was hard to believe something like this was within anyone’s reach. Distracted by the beauty of the grand Crystal Empire, their gaze shifted to the center of the empire, where a very tall building stood like a tower supported by four bases. "If this is an empire, there must be a king, and if there’s a king, he must have very beautiful and valuable jewels." Before taking another step, they stopped upon hearing footsteps behind them, seeing something even harder to comprehend than the statue, a pony with purple fur, a horn on its head, and wearing blue armor all over its body, but what amazed them most was that its body seemed to be made of crystal. "Halt, identify yourself!" the guard shouted as he approached the mysterious creature, drawing a sword with his magic while watching her closely. "Oh, great, am I in trouble now, officer?" She raised her hands and acted innocently, playing dumb to toy with his thoughts. "Actually, no, but there have been recent cases of missing ponies, and we’re not willing to take any chances by letting strangers in without verifying their innocence. Now, you’re coming with me and will be taken to the prison until tomorrow when the princess and prince can see you." He tried to get closer smoothly, showing a set of shackles, but she fell to her knees, groaning and clutching her leg. "Aah... my... my leg, I think it’s still a little broken..." The guard paused, seeing her discomfort, but continued with his work, using his magic to lift her up and restrain her. "So, you think you’re too clever to help a lady in distress, huh?" As he approached to cuff her, the clever thief dropped some marbles from her hands, which caused a small explosion, instantly creating a smoke screen that distracted him, allowing her to break free and escape by flying away. "Sorry, darling, but you’re not my type. Besides, I don’t play those games in public." She turned and flew off, soaring above the height of the buildings, leaving the empire behind. The guard quickly used his magic to bring a call horn to his face, blowing into it with force, signaling to his fellow guards. "Am I in a world of ponies? Well, maybe it’s not so bad if they have jewels and can talk. If there's royalty, I could take this as an opportunity to bring home a couple of souvenirs from this interesting place." The mysterious and agile spy flew on until she reached a forest. As uncomfortable as it might have seemed, she chose it as her resting place for the night. With nothing much to do but wait for the morning, she slept face down on a tree like a bat while the night passed slowly for her. Golden Oak Library - Twilight and Her Friends - Night "Alright, girls... thanks for coming even at this hour of the night, but this is a serious matter to discuss," explained the alicorn as her friends looked at her, concerned by her tone. Relax, sugarcube! What’s got you so... worked up?" Applejack asked cautiously, hoping not to offend her friend. Spike arrived with hay and daisy sandwiches for the ponies, and a gem sandwich for himself. "Here you go, bon appétit!" He served the tray and took his portion to start eating. "Thanks, Spike. Well, this might sound crazy, but I was there! It... that thing was there!" Everyone looked at her confused, trying to understand what she was referring to by the tone in her voice. Her pink friend suddenly shook her helmet wildly. "Yes, Pinkie?" "Did you find Discord!? I still haven't found him since we started playing hide and seek!" Twilight simply shook her head and took a bite of her sandwich. After swallowing, she sighed and looked at them all. "The blue threat was there! It was alive and it faced the Timberwolf!" Rainbow Dash accidentally spat out what she was chewing towards Rarity, but Spike acted quickly, using the tray as a shield. Pinkie Pie took a sip of her water and then spat it out, soaking Applejack, who reluctantly tolerated the spit from her friend. Fluttershy trembled in fear under the table. After everyone had calmed down, Rarity patted Spike on the cheek for saving her from her friend's disgusting action. Applejack dried off with a towel, shaking her hat to dry it. Rainbow was still staring at her princess friend in disbelief. "THAT THING IS STILL ALIVE!?" she shouted, rising into the air above the table. "Rainbow, calm down and sit down! I haven’t finished telling you what happened," Twilight said, and Rainbow obeyed, returning to her seat. "Well... continuing with what I said, it was still alive, and it faced the monstrous Timberwolf the Crusaders were talking about." Again, Pinkie spat out water, but this time Applejack turned her head, making Pinkie spit in a different direction, soaking Spike and leaving him dripping wet. "Oops... sorry, partner" Applejack apologized, embarrassed by her move. Once again, Twilight had to intervene to continue. "No interruptions, please... Yes, it was facing it alone. The worst part is that not only is it fast and likes to play with us, escaping and avoiding us, this time it showed its true power. It was covered in some strange magic or blue aura, like lightning, and the damage it caused was so critical that it was mocking the Timberwolf, saying 'Too easy.'" Rainbow crossed her forelegs in front of her chest as if saying she could do the same. "Sure, I can take down a few Timberwolves if I really want to." "You don’t understand, Rainbow! It was alone, against what you could call an alpha or boss Timberwolf. I saw it with my own eyes, but if you don’t believe me, we still have witnesses who can speak honestly about what happened, maybe not to see exactly what I saw, but they were there when it faced it alone." All her friends looked at her confused, except for Spike, who was well aware of what had happened at the time. "Girls, Twilight’s talking about the Crusaders. They were there with Zecora and said something about a 'Sonic' facing a Timberwolf. You saw them there too, right, Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow’s eyes widened in surprise, realizing she had forgotten that detail about what happened when she landed to meet Zecora and the little fillies. "So... let me see if I’m getting this straight. My sister and her friends ran into that alpha Timberwolf or whatever, and the blue threat was there facing it?" Twilight nodded, but before she could speak, Fluttershy raised her helmet. "Yes, Fluttershy, what is it?" "Um... didn’t you say something about a 'Sonic'? Who is he? If we can know, of course," asked her shy friend, emerging slightly from under the table. "That’s something I’m still wondering... there was no other pony when I arrived, just them. I theorize that the arrival of the blue threat gave it the chance to escape through another part of the forest before I got there, or maybe..." "Oh, maybe Sonic is the name of the blue threat?" Pinkie Pie asked, not giving much importance to the reasoning as she continued eating her sandwich. Everyone stared at her, surprised by the idea. They didn’t have many clues about him and had no idea when or where they would encounter him again. Only one thought crossed Twilight's mind at that moment. "I’ve got it! Only they will know. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, it’s already late and it’s night, but tomorrow when you get the chance, talk to the Crusaders about that name 'Sonic.' We need all the help we can get to learn more about him, so we can determine if he’s still the threat we think he is." The trio looked at each other for a moment, thinking carefully. "I’m not asking you to interrogate them if that’s what you think. I just want you to ask if they know anything about him. Anything will help us understand who or what we’re facing." "Alright, sugarcube, tomorrow I’ll talk to Applebloom about the forest and ask her about it." "I’ll do the same with Sweetie Belle. If he’s a danger, we need to be careful, especially if we don’t know him well. We need their version of the story to understand him better." "I’ll look for Scoots tomorrow for some questions while we do some tricks. She’ll probably want to talk a lot with me." Twilight nodded upon hearing them and then looked at Spike. He understood the look and went to the study to return with some posters in his hands. "These are the notices so all the ponies stay alert when they see him. The portrait was made by Spike and approved by Princess Celestia. I helped with the description of his abilities, but I should update it tomorrow with the new details I saw today. Applejack, take two, one for you and your family, and the other for the Crusaders. The rest will get one, and the others we’ll start handing out first thing tomorrow." With that, Spike handed out the notices to his friends in the order Twilight had said, giving one to the rest of her friends and two to Applejack. Everyone, upon receiving them, examined the portrait made by the young dragon, along with the description provided by Twilight. WANTED! BLUE THREAT! NOTICE: All ponies are advised to stay alert in case of encountering this creature. Description: It can be recognized by its non-Equestrian physiology. It moves bipedally, its body is entirely blue except for certain areas. It has emerald green eyes with a fixed stare and smile whenever there is eye contact. Its claws are white, and its hind legs are red. It is believed that its claws are three joined together, forming a triangular shape. Abilities: Its abilities are entirely unknown, but the most notable feature is its incredible speed, which it can reach in confined spaces. It also displays great dexterity and agility in all its movements when faced. This last point is crucial. AVOID PURSUING, FACING, OR CAPTURING IT. Its intentions are unknown, but we must not risk any pony. "Wow, you really have talent, Spike! Did you beat the guards with this?" Rainbow Dash smiled, watching as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by the compliments about his victory over the guards in a criminal sketching task. "Heh, for a second I thought they were gonna kill me for winning at something like this, since it was the closest to the descriptions." "Well, girls, I hope this works and gives us more info about the blue threat..." Twilight took a deep breath and sighed, returning to her thoughts about the strange encounters. She went back to the first one, feeling déjà vu from the second encounter. While RD, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were chatting, Rarity noticed her staring intently at the table, that lost look when someone’s thinking about something for what seems like hours, but in reality, it was only a few seconds. She was analyzing those encounters but was interrupted by a voice calling her. "Twilight? Are you okay, dear?" asked her unicorn friend with a tone of concern. "Sorry... I’ve been distracted since I saw him again, but this time at least there was some logical exchange of words between him and me." At that, all her friends stopped talking and turned to listen. Spike sat next to her, eagerly awaiting the story, as did the others. "Did he insult you or something?" Rainbow quickly guessed, trying to figure out what might have been said. "No, but he was more... let’s say, direct in every way... some things he mentioned confused me, and I didn't know how to process them at the time. He said so many things that didn't make sense, but others did. I wanted to convince him to come peacefully, but he... just..." Annoyed and tired from explaining her confused thoughts, she used a spell, and a beam from her horn shot onto the table, creating an illusion of Sonic based on her memories. "It's a spell my brother uses to identify criminals, just remembered it. With all the stress from this situation, it's hard to speak and think at the same time..." The illusion recreated all the movements from the moment of their exchange of words. It said: "First... I need to take care of something before 'giving up.' But if you still don't trust me enough to send someone to look for me, go ahead! I don't care. You can think whatever you want about me, Princess. After all, 'actions speak louder than words.' It's a saying from home." Then the illusion vanished. "And that’s what he said... it’s so... frustrating!! I want to fix everything like the Princess of Friendship I am, but I can’t if he doesn’t want to be friendly... and worst of all, I don’t understand what he meant the first time when he jumped off the balcony." "And... what exactly did he say?" Spike asked, drawing her attention. Twilight looked down at the table, remembering the scene. He had jumped from the balcony onto the cliff during that night at the Grand Galloping Gala. He knew someone would come check if he was really falling. She arrived, watched him, he smiled, winked, and mouthed, "Catch me if you can." "He’s challenging us! It’s obvious! He thinks he's the fastest thing alive or something, he’s just showing off," Applejack looked at her sideways with a glance that said, ‘You’re not the best person to talk about this.’ "Umm... anything else we should know about what happened?" Fluttershy asked shyly as she finished her meal. "Yes... after the Timberwolf was defeated, it dropped a green gem... it seemed like he was looking for it, maybe it’s connected to what he said about 'needing to take care of something before giving up.' I don’t know how that gem relates to him because he still hasn’t handed it over." "What kind of gem was it? I mean, if it’s so valuable to him, we might get an idea of where to find him if he's looking for gems." "It was strange... when the Timberwolf fell, the gem appeared in a green flash and floated towards him. He just grabbed it, we talked, and he left... everything gets more confusing the more I think about it." "Don’t worry, Twi, we’re here to help. Plus, it’s not like he can travel all of Equestria in seconds, no matter how fast he is without wings. There are mountains to go around, forests to avoid, and with the warnings you made, everypony will be on alert if he shows up," Rainbow Dash said, surprising everyone with her deduction that it wouldn’t be a huge problem everywhere in Ponyville. They were about to speak, but a yawn interrupted them. All turned to see the young dragon yawning and struggling to keep his eyes open. "It’s really late now. We need to sleep first. Stay alert, remember to talk to the girls. We’ll distribute the warnings around Ponyville, and the Princess will take care of sending warnings to the other Equestrian cities." With that, they all said their goodbyes and went home, awaiting the new day. ??? - ??? That same night, in a dark, desolate alley, a unicorn pony was unloading fruit crates from his cart. He seemed to be coming back from a business trip late at night, unaware of a figure under a dirty, tattered cloak approaching him. It appeared small and weak until its presence caught the pony’s attention. He saw it come from the darkness and fell to the ground, looking weak and exhausted. "Hey, you okay, friend? Need something?" The unicorn approached him, concerned, offering a piece of fruit. "No... I’m not okay, I need... magic... give me magic..." The unicorn moved closer, trying to hear him. "What do you need? I didn’t quite understand you," as he got closer, a red claw reached out and grabbed his neck weakly. Before he could react, he started feeling drained, as the mysterious figure under the cloak began to grow, and the unicorn fell to the ground, losing control of his magic. He couldn’t even keep the fruit he was holding. Within the darkness of the cloak, yellow eyes and a grin revealing sharp teeth could be seen, a sinister sight. "W...who... are you? What... did you do to my... magic...?" the unicorn asked weakly, unable to stand. "I only took what belongs to me, and you, along with the rest of your kind, can call me Lord Tirek!" New menace, new "friend""W...who... are you? What... did you do to my... magic...?" the unicorn asked weakly, unable to stand. "I only took what belongs to me, and you, along with the rest of your kind, can call me Lord Tirek!" Sonic: 💎 Location: ??? Dr. Eggman: Location: Moon Rouge: Location: ??? Everything was dark, there was not a trace of life, only a laugh could be heard in the darkness. Then, yellow eyes appeared, and the same laugh grew louder. The face and shape of the one responsible for that evil laugh were revealed—a quadruped creature like a pony, where the head should have been, there was the torso of a minotaur, a muscular body, strong arms, and a great pair of horns on top of its head. This figure was illuminated by a wall of flames behind it and appeared to be fifty times larger than the pony bodies it stood over on the ground. Suddenly, a different figure appeared before it, as tall as a pony, meaning it was a small creature compared to the great centaur before it. A silhouette emanating a blue aura, bipedal, its hair—or rather, its mane—waving as if the ends of it were trying to rise. There was silence, and then everything disappeared. Only a faint voice could be heard: "Limits?... LIMITS!?" A blue lightning bolt struck from the sky, causing a powerful and surprising crash. A sudden gasp, and the dreamer awoke, revealing herself to be a frightened white alicorn from the nightmare. It had all been a dream, but one that left her uncomfortable to remember. Suddenly, the doors to her room burst open, revealing a younger alicorn with dark blue tones like the night. Her mane and tail resembled the night sky, and her sister entered, looking concerned for her. "Sister! Are you okay?" "I just had a terrible dream," Celestia expressed, frightened, as she got out of bed and rubbed her horn against her head. "Why do you think I’m here? You know as well as I do that it wasn’t a dream, but a vision... a very strange vision," her younger sister approached to hug her, trying to calm her worries. "Then there's no time. The stronger it gets, the more danger we're all in, and I'm not sure that we princesses are the ones meant to face this situation." "What are you talking about, sister?" "You saw my vision in your dream realm, you saw exactly what happened, right? We need to talk to Twilight and Cadance as soon as possible. Send for them, and by tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises, I... need to clear my thoughts..." Death Egg - Moon The base was fully operational, the robot units were finishing their work, and the base began to detach from the moon, now under control in space. "Sir, the Death Egg is fully restored, the attack units are charged and ready. The main power source is functioning perfectly, and the test subjects that Metal Sonic managed to acquire are being studied and analyzed. We are ready to invade whenever you wish," Orbot informed his creator after passing through automatic doors that led to his personal rest area. Dr. Eggman was reviewing and studying his plan for the next move he would make as soon as they were far enough from the moon. "Splendid news, Orbot. Any new information about the planet of those equines?" "In fact, sir, it seems I have something that will interest you." He approached, showing a piece of paper. Eggman glanced at it with little interest, but the bold words immediately caught his attention: SEEKING BLUE THREAT "Blue threat? Give me that!" He snatched it from Orbot's hands to read every part of the description and see the portrait of the creature. When he finished, a wicked smile formed on his face. "So your theory was correct, Sonic is down there and he's loose... and the best part is, he's the enemy of those equines! OH HO HO HO!!! This is magnificent! They see him as a threat and know nothing about him, other than this! Orbot, do you have the location of the rulers of those lands?" "We've determined that the main structure of their rulers is located where the Chaos Control took place a few days ago, under the surveillance of the bandicoots we sent. It’s a castle with a level of security we can consider useless against our technological advancements." "Excellent! Let me know when everything is ready to contact the rulers of those animals. I want to make a simple deal about their 'blue threat.'" With that said, he left with a big smile, heading to his laboratory to check on his "guests" from Equestria. Meeting of the Four Princesses - Canterlot A book opened, and the story within it was about to be told. Celestia's voice echoed as she began the tale from the book: "Tirek and his brother Scorpan came from a distant land, intent on stealing Equestrian magic. But soon, Scorpan came to appreciate the customs of Equestria, and even befriended a young unicorn wizard." Her sister Luna continued after Celestia: "Scorpan begged his brother to abandon his plans. When Tirek refused, Scorpan warned us of Tirek’s intentions. After that, Scorpan returned to his homeland, and Tirek was sent to Tartarus for his crimes. But it seems he found a way to escape." "We believe that happened when Cerberus left his post at the entrance," said Luna. The book then closed, revealing the four alicorn princesses sitting side by side around a round table, with the book resting in the center. "His time in Tartarus left him very weak. He barely gathered enough strength to use his dark powers, but with every moment that passes, he grows stronger, and more ponies lose their magic because of his actions," Celestia continued. "And I know the right princess to stop him," said the fourth alicorn princess with firm confidence. She had a light pink coat, long flowing pastel-colored mane with shades of pink and purple, and her name was Cadance, the Princess of Love. Twilight was about to speak, but was interrupted by someone she least expected. "Not you, Twilight. I know you'd be willing, but it won’t be you. I know enough about your dedication and commitment to something like this, and I’m sure you’d volunteer for it, but right now, you’re dealing with the Blue Threat. I suggest you focus on one task at a time until we know more about its nature." "Blue Threat? The one who invaded the Galloping Gala that night?" Cadance asked innocently, unaware of the matter. Twilight nodded and sighed, resting her face on the table. "Yes... it’s someone... it’s something very strange and crazy... I really don’t understand it..." Cadance looked at her, confused. It was a threat, but it sounded like Twilight was describing a person she didn’t even know. "Did... something happen with the Blue Threat, Twilight?" Twilight slammed her hooves on the table and raised her face, now with an expression of annoyance. "Did something happen? Everything happened! It can defeat the wildest and largest Timberwolves with ease! It can talk and understand our language but refuses to cooperate! It’s ridiculously fast for a land creature! It’s so arrogant, and we know nothing more than this about it!!!" she exclaimed, frustrated with everything she had gone through regarding this threat. With her magic, she summoned one of the notices she had created with Spike, placing it in front of Cadance. Cadance used her magic to take the notice, reading it in detail and admiring the portrait of the creature. "Coincidentally, I received a report from a Crystal Guard. Hours before dawn, he encountered a mysterious being. According to his report, it had dragon-like wings, walked on its hind legs, its fur or scales were black and white, and it had large ears. It seemed to be exploring the Crystal Empire." "And what happened with this creature? Were they able to capture it?" Luna dared to ask, hoping for some good news to calm the atmosphere, but her only response was Cadance's shake of the head. Now, the problems were growing. "Regarding this... blue threat, I can say that recently I was able to enter its dream realm." Her words caught the attention of the other princesses, who stared at the Princess of the Night in silence, waiting to hear more. Twilight was the first to speak. "Please, Luna, tell me you were able to talk to him and convince him to surrender. I know it’s my responsibility to stop him, but if you couldn’t do it, can we learn anything about him?" Luna smiled cheerfully and responded, "No, I couldn’t convince him, and even less so talk to him about this situation in which he is linked to you, but I couldn’t help but get distracted a little by the beautiful landscapes his dream showed me. It’s something I’ve never seen before. A floating island, cities more advanced than the ones we have now, even carriages without stallions pulling them." "What was that, Luna? After so much time doing your duties, did you decide to enjoy new experiences in the dreams of our unknown enemy?" Celestia asked with a smile, trying to joke about her actions. "Actually, his dreams are giving me a new perspective on how we are seeing him. He discovered me watching him very easily, didn’t hesitate to greet me, and I didn’t feel any malice in him. But before I could say anything, he interrupted me and said I wouldn’t be able to convince him to surrender. But according to his words, he hopes that in the future, our next encounter will not be one involving violence." "In our most recent encounter, he said, 'Actions speak louder than words.' Maybe I was judging him wrong?" The youngest of the princesses asked, starting to worry that she had acted wrongly towards the one she had seen as a threat, and beginning to doubt what was right. "You can’t blame yourself for that, Twilight. It’s normal to judge before knowing. You’ve experienced it yourself when you met Zecora. Maybe we’re just judging him based on the time and place he arrived, instead of letting him show us who he really is," Candace said, walking over to her sister-in-law to give her a hug, calming her own guilt. As the calm slowly returned to the Princess of Friendship, Celestia smiled faintly and looked at her sister. "Luna, I will assign Discord the task of stopping Tirek." Upon hearing her idea, Luna gasped, her jaw nearly unhinging before she could close it. Candace and Twilight heard them and looked at them in surprise. "Discord!?" They asked in unison, astonished. Celestia simply nodded without showing a smile, knowing that her decision did not fully please her. "Yes, as I said, I will give this task to Discord. He can sense disturbances in magic. Also, since Tirek will only be starting to steal magic from the ponies, we have a big advantage." No one said anything. There was a moment of silence, but Twilight's sigh broke it. "I understand, Princess. Then let Discord handle Tirek. I’ll keep searching for how to stop the blue threat." She explained, discouraged, and left the meeting without saying anything more. All the princesses present knew that she wanted to prove why she deserved her title as a princess, but what worried them more was when she would do it. "Can we do anything to help her, aunt?" Candace asked, saddened by her sister-in-law's behavior. Celestia simply shook her head. Then, a few knocks on the glass window caught the attention of the princesses. The shadow of a large bird was visible on the other side of the glass, something unexpected for them. To clear their doubts, Luna approached and used her magic to open the window. Suddenly, the bird entered and perched on the table the princesses were gathered around. A bird as large as a pony entered the room. It looked strange to them, with all its wings and body made of metal. It seemed like armor, but something like this had never been seen before. It opened its beak, and a voice sounded from within. "Good morning, Rulers of the Ponies," the voice echoed through the bird. The princesses were alarmed. An animal speaking was something they never expected to see, and the way it communicated and looked was even more suspicious. "In the name of Tartarus! What is this creature?" Luna shouted, expressing her surprise at the visit of the strange, metallic being. "Oh, don’t worry! I come in peace to offer my services for your problems," the voice said through the bird. The bird remained still, and only the voice came from inside its beak. "How can we be sure you're here to help us?" Candace asked defensively as her horn began to emanate magic. The robot turned toward the one who had asked the question. "Don’t worry, my intentions are completely honest. Since now, you are dealing with MY problem, your so-called Blue Threat…" The princesses all looked at each other, confused. He knew about their fast, new enemy, but he said it was HIS problem, which meant he had experience with the creature. They all exchanged glances, but before anyone could respond, the voice spoke again. "Let me introduce myself, ladies, I am Doctor Eggman, and the blue threat is my chaos in the place I once called home." Celestia took a step forward, standing firm and unafraid before the new creature. "Explain to us, Mr. Eggman, how you and the blue threat are related?" "As I said, Your Highness, he is my enemy, my problem, and a true threat in a certain sense... in my world! Both of us come from a distant planet, beyond the stars and constellations you know, a place I could call home, but I wanted to build MY home, full of attractions, safety, and without the need for any fragile being to be hurt. Just like you are seeing my mechanical creation through which I communicate, I have great scientific knowledge and technology that your world will not reach for several centuries." Luna, doubtful of his words, approached, putting her hooves on the table. "How do you know about us and our technology!? Have you been spying on us!?" "Please, miss, there’s no need to jump to conclusions without proof... but in fact, yes, I did! But for a necessary purpose. You see, before the blue threat arrived here, I was planning to leave the planet he quickly conquered, with his powerful and mysterious dark spells." The bird opened its wing, and a hologram appeared beneath it, showing the blue threat, but with dark fur, empty eyes, and one leg crushing the head of an EggRobo. "What you are seeing is his real appearance in all its dark being! A creature that disguises itself with a boastful and fun attitude, trying to warm the hearts of the innocent who start to care about him! Then, when everything is in his favor... he shows his twisted and dark appearance, seeking violence and fun! I had to base my creation of the perfect ally and soldier on him, using his skills and physical capabilities to design a mechanical being to face him... but I still only received defeats..." The hologram showed Metal Sonic with its head torn off and held by Dark Sonic, while its body was pierced by a dark energy blade coming from his hand, holding it in the air. "As you can see, I made sure that only my machines were damaged to ensure the well-being of the poor and delicate innocents. When I wanted to escape to avoid him taking me and my most valuable resources to find a way to stop him... he arrived and stopped my entire plan! By accident, both of us ended up in your world, Your Highnesses! Right now, my base is under recovery, and my army of machines only defends me..." Everyone seemed affected by his story and the evidence before them of how the blue threat was more dangerous than they had believed. Luna was confused. The dreams she had seen didn’t reflect anything regarding this story. Dreams were supposed to be the world where thoughts, desires, fears, emotions, and memories were reflected. If that was true, why didn’t she see any violence in the moments she explored that world? Everything was so peaceful and beautiful; he seemed happy, and his words were kind with little jokes, more reflecting a being of light than one of darkness. Was that the mask or his true face? The more she thought about it, the less she knew which side to vote for. "He came to ask for our help to stop him, right, doctor?" The elder ruler asked. This brought her sister out of her thoughts. Luna herself didn’t know which side to stand on now; she could only hope that during the night, she could gather more information from him or, as Twilight said, 'actions speak louder than words.' "Oh! No, no, obviously, I won’t ask you or any of your subjects to help me with my problem, but I just want your permission to let some of my creations locate in your world the objects that our shared threat stole from me." "He stole from you? What exactly did he steal?" Her question was answered when the hologram changed to show the 7 Chaos Emeralds. To the princesses, they were strange gems and even somewhat common to the dragons in their world. "What you have before you right now is a hologram of the 7 Power Emeralds. They are ancient jewels of great power, capable of achieving even the impossible. I managed to gather them to travel from the other side of the universe or perhaps from another dimension at the speed of light. I didn’t notice it; I was facing that monster when the journey happened. He stole them from me but couldn’t take all the power at that moment! So he disappeared, and at the same time, I arrived here a few days ago. Right now, he must be looking for them to become unstoppable, and once he does, nothing and no one will be able to stop him." The hologram showed how the blue threat absorbed the Chaos Emeralds into his body, his aura increased, and then a planet exploded in a burst of dark energy. He remained floating in space and proceeded to fly to his next target. The hologram ended, and the bird folded its wing. "I hope you understand the situation we are in, both you and I." The royal trio looked at each other, seeking approval from the others. Candace nodded, Luna seemed to do so with little enthusiasm, and Celestia gave the final approval. "Very well, doctor. We can trust that you’ll help us stop him, but we’ll need our next meeting to be more personal, rather than just sending a messenger in your place." "Don’t worry, Your Highness. This is just because I can’t get close to you yet; I am hundreds... no! Thousands of kilometers away from you, but I assure you something, when our shared enemy shows up and is weakening, I will handle him personally, and we will both be at peace." "You know how and when he will appear?" Candace seemed curious to know about his experiences with the monster. Would a way to attract him or challenge him work? "He has his 'heroic guy' act. He will appear where there is a great threat, and surely he will come to eliminate it. When he does, he will feed off the adoration of those he saved, and then he will end up destroying them just for trusting him." The minds of the three didn’t take long to think of a situation that could attract him. They found it a risky plan. "It was a pleasure meeting you, but I must go. We will stay in contact, but if we catch him first, the rest won’t be necessary." With that last statement, the bird closed its beak, and the communication was cut off. It took flight and exited through the window. There was silence in the room. No one said anything because the problem from both sides had escalated. Tirek and the blue threat—what would be the worst side to fight against? One would steal magic and destroy everything; the other would seek to be well-liked, only to stab them in the back. Neither was a good option. Luna stood up and left the room in silence. She didn’t seem to want to discuss the matter anymore. Who would? All of this had turned stressful in an instant. The only worry was the idea of what their shared enemy might be doing right now with this so-called 'doctor.' DeathEgg - Moon The communication had ended, and Orbot moved the microphone aside while leaving the table aside, showing what seemed to be intelligent responses to the princesses' questions. "All set, sir. The princesses will be taking your offer into account about handling Sonic for you and also allowing you to search for the 'Power Emeralds.'" Cubot approached, carrying a cup of coffee and placing it on the console. "Although that last part, he’s already doing it without asking for their permission." Eggman simply crushed him with his hand, forcing him to return to his cubic form. "Well, now tell me, how are the tests going on our tenants?" He asked, taking the cup of coffee. "We’ve managed to remove and test their magic in various EggRobos, but unfortunately, they don’t show compatibility to the point of controlling it. But the good news is that their magic works to power our weapons and also as an energy source." Eggman smiled broadly as he looked at the analysis. "Excellent! But what a waste that we can’t use it in my creations... but if we can extract it, it means we can manipulate it. Orbot, I want you to take all the magic out of their insignificant lives. Breathing is an optional result. We’ll try to use that magic in something similar to the Chaos Emeralds." Orbot simply saluted and headed to the laboratory to start the tests. Eggman took his coffee as he gazed at the planet below him and the moon he had been on. A new part of his plan was beginning to take shape. Meeting a heroAuthor's Note First of all, Merry Christmas! (even if it's a bit late) Second! Happy New Year (just in case it doesn't reach in time)! Third! I used a video from the intro of Sonic Unleashed, it's for those who haven't experienced the game yet, but it's one of my favorites! Meeting a hero The communication had ended, and Orbot moved the microphone aside while leaving the table aside, showing what seemed to be intelligent responses to the princesses' questions. "All set, sir. The princesses will be taking your offer into account about handling Sonic for you and also allowing you to search for the 'Power Emeralds.'" CMC Club House The trio of fillies gathered once again in their small clubhouse, only to realize that all three of them had long faces and looked discouraged. "So... I think we're all down because of last night, am I right?" Scootaloo asked directly, thinking it was the right question to address everyone's mood. Her friends nodded without much desire to talk about the subject, but they couldn't hide it forever. "It's not fair! Applejack said I should stay away from Sonic, she doesn't even know him! He saved our lives, but they treat him so unfairly just because they haven't seen him in action!" Applebloom shouted with a lot of annoyance in her voice, while also showing the warning her sister gave her, leaving it on the table for her friends to see. "It's true! I told my sister, and even though I explained how he saved us, she still insists that as long as the princesses view him badly, she can't fully trust him... If she were saved by Sonic and saw what he's capable of, she would probably change her mind." Sweetie Belle said in frustration as she rested her face on the floor. "Rainbow Dash came to see me this morning to say the same thing. I just told her everything Sonic did was 20% more awesome than anything I've ever seen! And still, she scolded me, telling me to stay away from him because he's dangerous, blah blah blah, blah blah blah." Her friends stared at her wide-eyed, not recognizing that their friend, a fan of the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria, was upset with the one she admired. "What?..." The three were upset, disappointed, and excluded from being able to say anything to defend their friend’s innocence. The silence in their clubhouse didn’t last long as they heard a knock on the door. They looked at each other, knowing they weren't expecting anyone. Applebloom stood up and walked over to open it, only to be surprised by a smile and a familiar blue friend. "Hey, little Apple! How are you?" That question was enough to make her smile and lift her spirits. "So... Sonic!" She approached and hugged one of his legs gently, receiving strokes on her mane from him. "Hey, I'm also glad to see that you and your friends are okay after that giant wolf incident." After that, her friends came closer to hug him. They seemed grateful that he saved them and that he was safe, though they didn't know how to talk to him after what their sisters told them about him, or what to ask first after he had taken on the Timberwolf alone. "Alright girls, I think it’s time we get to know each other better, don’t you think? After all, we’ve only met in dangerous situations, and we don’t know anything beyond our names. What do you say?" With that, the fillies looked at each other and smiled, knowing that despite their sisters’ reasoning, they couldn’t be sure until they got to know him better. They all nodded, smiling at him. "Well, I guess we can play a question game, one question for each of us," Applebloom suggested, receiving a smile from Sonic as he entered and closed the door behind him. "Alright, but in return, you’ll answer a few questions I need to ask so I can learn a bit about your world too. What do you think?" The Crusaders smiled, and they all sat down on the clubhouse floor, each raising a hoof with lots of questions to ask separately. Sonic chose Scootaloo for the first question. "How are you so fast? You don't have wings like the pegasi, but you're really fast for a land creature." "My speed is something that came with me when I was born. It's completely natural, and there's no way to separate it from me. Next?" Now Sweetie Belle came closer, smiling to try to outdo Applebloom. "You said 'our world', so that means you're not from here, right?" That question was direct and clever to learn more about their blue friend. "Exactly! I come from a planet called Mobius. It's my home, and I protect it from the bad guys." They all raised an eyebrow at hearing him say 'I protect it'. They were confused. Who was he to say he had that responsibility or what he was capable of to take the planet under his protection? "So, you come from another planet, one that you protect? Are you like a superhero?" The last question from the trio came from Applebloom. Sonic nodded while laying on the ground, smiling while lying on his back for comedic effect. "But I wouldn’t technically say I’m a SUPERHERO. I’m more like just the 'Hero of Mobius,' that’s all." He answered nonchalantly, as though it wasn’t a big deal, but the fillies realized they had someone pretty amazing with them. "My turn. Explain a little how things work here. Who is the princess that showed up after you all escaped from the Timberwolf?" Sweetie Belle moved closer, smiling. "She’s Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship!" "Princess Twilight, huh? Well, then I’ll continue. I saw buffalo in the desert, but are there more creatures besides ponies and their different races and the buffalo?" Applebloom stepped forward this time. "Yes! Lots more! Spike is a dragon, and he’s Princess Twilight's friend. There are also griffons, hippogriffs, minotaurs, changelings, and many more that we haven’t even seen or gotten to know yet, for sure!" "So, I haven’t even traveled half of this world. That just makes it more exciting. Alright, my last question, what do you think of me regarding all this?" He rested his head on his hand, with his elbow on the ground, while his other hand showed his "wanted" poster. The three of them looked behind him, noticing the poster was still there. So he must have gotten it from somewhere else, but the question was still there. What did they think of him now? He had saved them, but their sisters had given them reasons to stay away from him. "We can’t exactly say what we think... but, we need to get to know you better. Is that alright?" Applebloom took a chance with that answer, hoping he wouldn’t get upset. There was a few seconds of silence. The fillies were getting nervous, but Sonic remained with his eyes closed, concentrating on the response, then he sat up cross-legged as if meditating before looking at them and smiling. "Alright, Applebloom, you’re right about that, so then I can tell you some of my stories and answer all your questions so you can trust me. Does that seem fair?" The Crusaders looked at each other, surprised by his kindness even after that cowardly response. They knew he had saved them the night before, but they couldn’t be sure of everything. They were stuck between the words of their sisters and the wall that was Sonic. One side made them doubt him and his trustworthiness, while the other side filled them with curiosity to know more about him to feel at ease. "Alright, I’ll tell you one of my stories then. Is that okay?" Sonic stood up, grabbed some blank sheets of paper and some crayons from a corner, and sat back down in front of them. He began to draw on each sheet, illustrating different moments from his various adventures. One showed a planet split into pieces, another was him with two other beings, one yellow and the other red, another showed a dark-furred hedgehog with red stripes and a grumpy face, another showed him holding a sword, and one more showed him with a smaller version of himself. "Sonic... what is all of this?" Scootaloo asked, pointing at each drawing while her friends took them and looked at each one. "These drawings, my little friends, are like references to all my adventures so far, though I left out a few. These are some I can tell you about to make it quicker. Pick one, and I’ll tell you about that one." "Ooooohhh..." The three of them began to look at each drawing he had made. They didn’t look perfect or professional, but more like they were quickly and simply drawn, too childish, as they would say, but still understandable. Sweetie Belle used her magic to grab the one with the broken planet. "What does this drawing mean?" "Oh, this was when my arch-nemesis, Doctor Eggman, used a space cannon to destroy the world. This drawing represents what he did because I had to travel around the planet with my friend Chip to restore every part of it and make it whole again. Would you like to hear that story?" The three of them seemed fascinated but remained firm, thinking a lot about this explanation. "That sounds incredible!" "How did you fix the world?" Scootaloo began shouting while jumping energetically. "How did he destroy the world?" Sweetie Belle seemed most interested in the origin of the story. Sonic just smiled and started drawing more on the paper to illustrate some scenes from the story. "It all started in space, above Earth’s orbit. My arch-nemesis, Doctor Eggman, was there with his space fleet and his army of robots, ready to conquer the planet..." The Crusaders watched him draw and he dropped the completed drawings, showing the red and black space fleet above the planet, joining two sheets to represent the world’s horizon and the space army over it. "It looked like everything was going according to his plan, but he didn’t count on me being ready to stop him!" Beginning of the story The entire explanation of how that adventure began ended with the first drawing of the destroyed planet, a new friend with trouble remembering who he was, along with a wild and monstrous-looking Sonic. Sonic looked at them, smiling, but they were left with their mouths open, trying to process everything that had happened. They couldn’t comprehend many of the words and things he had explained, from the technology, the Chaos Emeralds, how they could be in space, or if it was possible that he had divided the continents of an entire planet, and he had only just started. "Uh... girls? A lot to process?" It seemed like the three of them had synchronized so perfectly that they were raising their hooves to ask something, but then they stopped, bringing them to their chins, then lowering them, and finally lifting their gazes with big smiles as they spoke in unison, "And what happened next?" This caught Sonic by surprise, but not too much. He just smiled at their enthusiasm to keep hearing the story. Sonic spent the rest of the hour telling them how he and his friend Chip repaired the world in every continent they traveled to with his best friend Tails’ plane. He explained how Chip regained his memories and who he was, how they stayed together until they reached the final Gaia temple, and how the last Chaos Emerald made sure to restore energy while the temple placed the continent back in its proper place. He also explained how they faced Eggman for the last time and then when Dark Gaia arrived. How Sonic lost his wolf-hedgehog form and then Chip, who summoned all the temples to form a colossus to face his destined enemy every thousand years. They would awaken again and again to battle. But this time, with Sonic, they both defeated the God of Darkness, sealing him in the center of the planet along with Chip. Sonic was sent by his friend to the surface to continue having adventures, accompanied by his friend who would be by his side every step of the way on the planet. "E... that's so sad... he sacrificed himself so... you could stay alive... and save the world..." Sweetie Belle was already crying, with tissues by her side wiping her tears. "It was... so beautiful and sweet... but it’s a shame about your friend..." Applebloom felt hurt knowing that their friendship didn’t even last a year, just to save the whole world. "He was... a small, brave, and really cool guy..." Scootaloo was trying to hold back her tears to appear tough, but it was hard for anyone to hear that story and not get emotional. Sonic showed a calm and sympathetic expression as he watched them react to what had happened during that adventure. He placed his right hand on his spikes, looking for something. "You don’t need to worry, he promised me he would always be with me wherever I went." He pulled his hand out, revealing a bracelet with a green pearl on it, then brought it closer to the fillies for them to see it up close. "He’s always with me." They all admired the silence of the object from the story. It was exactly as he had described, a white bracelet with a jewel that looked like a large pearl but was green. They really seemed to understand more about what had happened. Chip hadn’t gone anywhere; he would still be with him. After all, the fastest living thing on Earth still had a lot of ground to cover, and knowing that his friend was with him beneath his feet made everything feel more peaceful. "Well, does anyone have other questions they’d like me to answer?" Sonic called their attention and then put the bracelet back on his spikes. "What are those emeralds you mentioned?" Sweetie Belle asked, knowing that if her sister were there, that would be the only thing she’d care about. But she needed to find out why they seemed so important. "Oh, those are the 'Chaos Emeralds,' there are seven in total." He showed five fingers from one hand and two from the other, emphasizing the exact number, then drew each one with the same appearance and their respective colors on a full sheet of paper. "What makes them so special? They just look like regular gems that Spike could eat and that Sweetie Belle’s sister could use for her clothing designs." Scootaloo vaguely said, not seeing much importance in them. "Didn’t you hear how this whole adventure started? Those gems give superpowers! And her enemy uses them for evil purposes! He literally divided the continents of his planet with the power of those gems." Applebloom exclaimed, frustrated that Scootaloo didn’t understand how dangerous they were. Sonic stayed silent, waiting for the discussion between the fillies to continue. On one side, Scootaloo seemed to not see the value in the Chaos Emeralds, but on the other side, Applebloom defended how important they were. Sweetie Belle just stayed there, watching them argue with Sonic by her side. Both exchanged looks and shrugged. "If I could see one of those gems, then I’d believe it!" Scootaloo responded directly to the situation. Upon hearing these words, Sonic pretended to cough to get the fillies’ attention, and they all turned to look at him. He had his hand on his spikes and pulled out the green Chaos Emerald, which he had gotten from the giant Timberwolf. "Oh! You mean one like this?" Sonic teased as he tossed it in the air and caught it again in an endless cycle. The CMC approached, admiring the shiny emerald. The closer they got, the more they could feel it emanating a huge amount of energy. It felt warm and peaceful because Sonic held it in his hand. "This is one of the seven Chaos Emeralds. I need you to keep this a secret, okay? I know I’m trusting very secret information to such young fillies, but I once was in your... in your shoes and had to face the bad guys. Nobody asked me or denied me, but I did it for good reasons. Now I want to trust that you won’t say anything about the emerald we just talked about, okay?" The three of them looked away from the emerald to look at Sonic, noticing his kind smile and a calm expression. "Sonic, why are you telling us something so important? Aren’t you afraid we might betray you? We don’t know each other very well." Sweetie Belle asked uncertainly while she and her friends lowered their gazes. "I can see in you that you’re not bad girls, and I don’t think you have bad intentions toward me. Back in the forest, you were scared and needed help, and I saved you because I couldn’t let anything happen to you. I don’t care if we don’t know each other well, the reasons are the least important when someone is in trouble. You would do the same if you gathered the courage to face whatever it takes to do the right thing." "You’re so cool and wise at the same time." The trio smiled in unison while Sonic put the emerald away and made his characteristic gesture of scratching his nose, smiling proudly at himself. "Yeah, I have my moments. But enough about me! What do you think about going on a short but intense trip?" The three of them jumped up in excitement, shouting "YES!" in unison as they began preparing their things for the trip. Sonic watched them run back and forth at top speed, gathering food, water, and some saddlebags. After hearing the story, they had an idea of how wild and crazy this adventure with their new friend would be. It seemed like trust wouldn’t be earned just through the story, but by knowing what he had lived through in his adventures. They’d be able to get attached to the fastest one more quickly than they’d ever expected. Trust would only show itself when it was really needed in new friendships. From the Other Side of the Story Twilight had already informed her friends about Princess Celestia's plan. Discord would handle Tirek, while she would try to stop Sonic in the best way possible, but that would have to wait after their last encounter. Now, everyone had gathered with Discord, who was feeling proud of being assigned to such an important mission for his very embodiment of chaos. "Well, girls and Spike, I must take my leave, I have an extremely important mission to attend to!" He simply disappeared as if he were an illusion in front of Twilight and her friends. "Finally, some peace to calm the atmosphere," Rainbow said, stretching while staying airborne. Quickly, Discord reappeared behind the whole group, surprising everyone. "By the way, I’ve been very aware of your situation with a certain blue creature who moves like the wind. I must say, watching you fail at either befriending him or simply talking to him was quite fun! He seems more capable of being someone kinder to everyone than your attempt to stop him when he arrived. But aside from that, he’s still here and there, wandering through our lands." He made a small wooden puppet of Sonic, which he controlled with strings, making it run in its characteristic way on the ground in front of the ponies and the dragon. "If you were aware of his existence, why didn’t you stop him? You could have made things easier for everyone," Twilight yelled at him, confronting him while he nonchalantly filed his claws, and the wooden puppet was moving on its own, eventually climbing onto Twilight's head and sitting there. "And take all the credit for something that has been your responsibility since his arrival? How kind of a friend would I be if I did that? Besides, he hasn’t done anything dangerous or chaotic to catch my attention and stop him by my own means." "Wait a second! You’ve been watching him since he arrived?" Applejack approached the herald of chaos, feeling upset by the fact that he could have done something for everyone’s safety. He simply nodded, and a book and a beach chair appeared, lying on it. "You didn’t stop him because you found it amusing to watch him travel through Equestria? Where’s the fun in running wild?" Pinkie said as she emerged from the book when it opened, holding her face with her hooves. Discord simply picked her up, hugging her with his tail and bringing her to the ground with her friends. "He’s such a curious being! He escaped from the gala, went to Ponyville, arrived at Sweet Apple Acres the same night, ate an apple, and slept between the trees. He befriended the little Crusaders after saving them from the Timberwolves. Now, who knows what he’ll be doing next?" While recounting all this, Spike felt Twilight call him using her magic to pull him towards her and whispered, "Spike, go with the girls, okay? Make sure they’re okay, and if anything happens, send me a letter." The young dragon nodded, feeling honored by the small mission, and hurried off at top speed. "And I was a little busy with an interesting read. I’ll let you see the best parts; you’ve already marked them. Enjoy your break while I have more important things to do. Ta-ta!" Before disappearing in a confetti explosion, he handed the book to Twilight, which was one they all knew very well. "Our journal? Hmm… let’s go, girls, we need to figure out how to open the chest the Tree of Harmony left us." "To the Castle of the Two Sisters!" Rainbow shouted, totally excited by the idea, as if she were leading the group. Here is Tirek.Author's Note Enjoy and Happy New Year! I hope my arrival on FIMfiction has been to your liking, and I hope to continue writing a story or two. Here is Tirek. The trio of fillies nodded, but Spike snapped out of his romantic thoughts, realizing that the group was oblivious to the current situation. “AAAHHH! THAT’S RIGHT! TIREK IS STILL OUT THERE!!!” Everyone heard his terrified scream, wondering what he was talking about, except for Rouge. No one but them knew about Tirek. Sonic walked up to him and looked at him nonchalantly. “Who is Tirek?” I’ve started to like these things to divide what happened before for the next chapter. Three days until New Year's In the last encounter, the new 'Sonic team' met Rouge outside the Crystal Empire. There were introductions and many questions to ask. Now, everyone was focused on Spike, who was having a panic attack as he remembered that Tirek was still on the loose, and the last thing he knew about Twilight was that they needed her in Canterlot. He was now pacing back and forth, holding his head, thinking of the worst-case scenarios while talking to himself. The others watched as he fell into madness, having little idea of the situation. "This is bad, very, very bad! I don't know anything about Twilight! The princesses haven't written back, we don't know if Tirek was stopped by Discord or not!" Caught in his panic, he ignored the words of his friends around him. "Spike." Scootaloo tried to call his attention. "Spike!" Now it was Sweetie Belle who tried, standing in front of him, but he avoided her as he was too focused. "Spike!!!" Now Applebloom confronted him, but he turned around, walking back the way he came, ignoring the Crusaders. Sonic and Rouge watched the scene. They didn’t know what was happening, but it didn’t sound like anything good. Sonic approached and stopped him by putting a hand in front of his head, making him stay in place. Then he lifted him into the air, and his whole body shook uncontrollably. "WHAT'S GOING OOOOON!?" Sonic was shaking him quickly, hoping to snap him out of his thoughts. After the fast movements calmed down, Spike's feet hit the ground again, slightly dizzy, trying to find his balance as he staggered away, his body completely off balance. "Did you have to be so rough?" "He’s a strong dragon, he can handle it, right?" Rouge and Sonic watched as Spike took a few more steps, getting closer to the Crusaders before suddenly turning and falling flat on his back while they looked at him. "Ugh... six... nine Crusaders...?" His visual perception was so off-balance that he saw two of each pony. The Mobians approached the young dragon, who was now calm and recovering. They just needed to ask the questions. "Alright Spike, what has you so upset? And who is this 'Tirek'?" He shook his head quickly, recovering, and then looked at the fast hedgehog, kneeling down to meet his height. "Well... I’ll start with how we found out about him. Twilight was called to Canterlot to speak with the other princesses. Apparently, Princess Celestia had a vision about Tirek and told her that he was an evil centaur who was locked up in Tartarus many years ago. He felt his brother betrayed him by becoming friends with the ponies and their culture. Then the princesses defeated him and left him in Tartarus, but he escaped again." "That Tirek... is the one a guard told me about in the Crystal Empire. Is he really that powerful?" "I don’t know... Twilight said that Princess Celestia told her that he steals the magic of all the ponies, and I guess also that of dragons..." "But didn’t you say something about Discord stopping him or something like that?" Applebloom joined the conversation. "Princess Celestia told Twilight that Discord was tasked with stopping him, but even being a god of chaos, his magic can alter everything around him at will." "Sounds like an interesting guy. What do you think, Rouge?" "If his magic can do anything, then he’s someone better to have on your side." "He could literally change his mane like you change clothes on a mannequin. None of his magic makes sense! But right now, he should be stopping Tirek, and I have no idea what’s happening while we’re here." Spike was starting to get worked up again. He began walking away to clear his mind. "Girls, keep an eye on him and try to calm him down. Rouge and I need to come up with a plan, okay?" They all nodded and started following Spike. Scootaloo directly charged at him, knocking him to the ground, followed by her friends, one on top of the other, to prevent him from walking away again. "Okay... we need to catch up quickly! We already know how you ended up here, I fell in the middle of a fancy event and all the guards tried to stop me, accompanied by a winged unicorn princess, but I managed to escape and made friends with some fillies, traveled around a bit, and saved them from a gigantic wooden wolf that became stronger with a Chaos Emerald that I now have." "Well, that's already a big step, and the best short version. I was on Eggman's ship, waiting for the chance to steal the Master Emerald. You arrived, did whatever you did, and I was there until last night when I escaped. Right now, he's probably on the moon, or he might have already repaired his base and is waiting for the opportunity to invade this planet." "That's probably it. The Chaos Emeralds are here, and I'm sure I sent the Master Emerald home. Now that we’re caught up, we need to save some ponies, then explain my innocence about being the supposed 'blue threat' so they feel secure that we’re not looking for trouble. Afterward, we split up and look for the rest of the Chaos Emeralds." Rouge carefully thought about the very 'well-planned' plan, it was simple and direct, very much her style. "But what happens... if even after helping them, they refuse to help us?" "Well... I guess the blue streak and Mobius' best thief will have to work together to recover the Chaos Emeralds without resorting to violence." Rouge, hearing this, showed a surprised smile and approached him, playing coy. "Oh, what's this? Is the hero thinking of changing sides and becoming a thief? Because let me tell you, if that’s the case, I’m more than willing to give you some lessons in thievery. After all, I’m a professional." "Heh, only in case the emeralds are in someone’s hooves or claws and they don’t want to help us. Otherwise, we’ll go the traditional way." Rouge shrugged and sighed, pulling away. "As you say, hero, but now we need to find where that Tirek is and make sure no one gets hurt." Sonic nodded and approached Spike, who was still pinned under the Crusaders. "Alright, girls, mission accomplished, the whole plan is set. Now I need Spike." They stepped aside, allowing their dragon friend to catch his breath and stand up. Once he regained his composure, he looked at Sonic, who was smiling and extended a hand to help him up. Spike hesitated but quickly accepted, being lifted with ease. "Thanks, Sonic... I’m sorry for how I acted. I’m really worried about Twilight, the princesses, and the girls..." "Don’t worry, buddy. When my friends are in trouble, I worry too. But since I know them well and know what they’re capable of, I’m sure they’ll be fine on their own, or until I get there." He gave a thumbs-up, lifting Spike’s spirits. Spike smiled, feeling reassured and relaxed with those words. "Great! Now that you’re calm! Tell me where this... Canterlot is, I’ll look for the princesses if Tirek hasn’t reached them yet, and if he’s already there, I’ll take care of him so he doesn’t hurt anyone." "Eh!... it’s easier if I tell you that it’s the whole way you took and then you go back to the castle you jumped out of the night you arrived." "Perfect! Crusaders, the trip to the Crystal Empire is canceled due to a certain event where your captain has to face a crazy centaur to save his loved ones. Rouge, take two with you, I’ll take the other two." With that said, he turned to look at Spike and the fillies. "Alright! Who’s coming with me to Canterlot?" He smiled, pointing to himself with a thumb. Immediately, Applebloom jumped into his arms, and he held her under his left arm. Sweetie Belle jumped behind her and was supported under his right arm. Now with two ponies in each arm, only Spike and Scootaloo were left for Rouge. "We’ll see you there, Rouge! Let Spike guide you!" Before she could speak, Sonic was already gone, leaving behind everything they had packed for a fun and safe journey, now turning into a speed and rescue mission at a much faster pace than before. Rouge looked at Scootaloo and Spike, both smiling, waiting to be carried. She bent down, picking them up in her arms before opening her wings and flying in the same direction Sonic was heading. Twilight VS Tirek On the other side, while Sonic, Rouge, and the Crusaders were learning about what was happening with Tirek thanks to Spike, Twilight, after receiving the magic from the other princesses, kept herself away from the rest of the town. So much magic from three princesses and herself being one, she wouldn't be able to control it easily. So, staying outside of Ponyville was her best option. But between flying and using spells, nothing was going right. Flying peacefully? She ended up landing and leaving a long trench in the ground with her hooves, trying to stop. Teleporting? She went from moving a few meters calmly to ending up in the sky, falling from a great height. Then, she appeared behind a waterfall, flew over Appleloosa, and then ended up right where she started. She tried to turn a rock into a table but ended up making the rock explode, and every piece of it in different sizes became tables with different shapes and amounts of legs. "Ugh... this is becoming impossible... I can't even do a simple spell!" Her mood was not the best, and trying to pull a rock toward her made it fly in the opposite direction, thrown who knows where. "I wonder if Spike and the girls are okay... the blue threat hasn’t shown up again... hopefully, only Celestia knows where in all of Equestria they are right now. Now that Discord betrayed us, everything is going from bad to worse... I don't feel sure this has any solution..." She looked into the distance, noticing Canterlot on the side of the mountain, worrying if the other princesses would be okay when Tirek got to them. The other ponies were also losing their magic, and now only she and her friends were the last line of defense. As all her thoughts about whether there was any hope in this situation swirled, the voice of someone unexpected snapped her back to reality. "PRINCESS TWILIGHT!!!" A deep voice was calling her, and it sounded very close to her location. Twilight turned toward the source of the voice, seeing Tirek pushing his way through the trees, towering over them. His appearance was now more muscular and powerful, his horns much larger, his facial hair and mane grew even more. His physical strength and magic had increased significantly since Discord had found him. Now, with the magic of many ponies from every race, and the chaos god’s own power, he had more than enough to make sure no one could stand against him. She let out a gasp, frightened, as she saw him approaching. "AH! Tirek!" From afar, he looked powerful, but facing him up close would be a huge risk. If he managed to steal her magic, he would become invincible. She stared at him with fear, her heartbeat quickening, as the idea of being defeated seemed much worse than failing Celestia on one of her tasks. She focused her magic, hoping her teleportation spell would take her far away from him. "YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME!" With that, he leaped towards her, seeing the magical disaster and noticing how she didn’t seem able to fully control the massive amount of magic she now possessed. "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" A desperate scream caught his attention, and he lifted his gaze, seeing the princess he was after flying at full speed towards him. Without giving it much thought, the powerful centaur gathered magical energy between his horns. Twilight, seeing that he was about to attack her mercilessly, had to act and invoked a protective spell, managing to form a shield bubble around her. As Tirek fired a massive magical cannon at the princess, an explosion sent her flying through the sky, landing near the ruins of the old Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. She landed inside her protective bubble, bouncing off trees until the spell dissipated, letting out a soft groan of pain from the impact of the magic Tirek had used to attack her. Barely able to get up, she noticed how everything suddenly darkened. She looked up and saw Tirek already above her, plummeting towards her, intending to crush her under his four hooves. She barely had time to react, teleporting just in time, causing Tirek to create a massive earthquake with a powerful shockwave that toppled trees and destroyed the ground. The ground shook under his hooves, but Twilight managed to avoid it, reappearing above him and releasing a massive magic burst, much like he had done to her, enveloping him in the magic. The force of the magic set the trees on fire and damaged the grass. Tirek, however, managed to shield himself with his arms, creating a magical barrier around them and extending his hand, breaking through the magical beam, trapping Twilight in his grasp and halting her continuous attack. Twilight tried to break free, but his grip was tight enough to hurt her, preventing her from concentrating. She felt the urge to scream from the pain. Tirek held her tightly and threw her towards a mountain, causing her to crash into it. Fortunately, Twilight managed to create a force field to cushion the impact. She glared at the centaur with anger and frustration, but her eyes widened in shock when she saw him charging at her with his horns, carrying her through the mountain and out the other side. Exhausted from his relentless and merciless attacks that never gave her a chance to breathe, she quickly recovered and gathered a large amount of magic, disappearing and reappearing beneath him. She fired a powerful magical beam with all her fury, sending the enormous centaur soaring past the clouds, eventually falling face-first to the ground. The impact, like a meteorite, created a massive dust cloud, as though an explosion had gone off. "Is it over...?" She landed softly, but the ground began to tremble around her. Tirek managed to grab her by surprise, but she quickly shot at his hands, forcing him to release her. Now out of his reach, she used her magic to grab large rocks from the surroundings and hurled them at him, hoping that one would pierce his body. The unexpected attack barely fazed him, but Twilight reacted as quickly as she could, forming a shield bubble. Tirek, however, took one of the rocks and used his magic to mold it into a massive hammer, lifting it above his head and smashing it down onto the young alicorn, burying her into the ground. The damage was so great that her bubble cracked, surprising her. Not hesitating for a second, Tirek took the opportunity to transform the hammer into a spear and attacked, cornering her. The bubble shattered, and Twilight's concentration faltered when she realized she was facing his destructive power. Her spells were no match for his. The spear pierced the bubble and drove deep into her right wing, causing intense pain. She couldn't focus on her enemy anymore, as her ability to fly was compromised with such a grievous wound. In her state of pain and weakness, Tirek pulled her towards him with his magic. She resisted, teleporting to a safe distance and assuming an attack posture, her horn glowing, ready to continue the fight. "You have a lot of courage, wanting to continue after I broke your wing. I admit you're harder to defeat than I thought, but you won’t be able to keep up with me forever, Princess Twilight." "N-no... I won't give you... my magic... if you want it... you'll have to take it... from my defeated body..." Tirek grinned and began laughing, seeing how determined she was to keep fighting. He knew she wouldn't be able to keep up in her current state. "HA HA HA HA! You're in no condition to keep facing me! But if that's what you want, I can be generous and let you live in exchange for your magic... or else..." "Or else... what!?" She glared at him angrily, squinting her eyes, holding back the intense pain. With a bit of concentration, she cast a spell to numb her gravely injured wing, but she couldn’t stop the bleeding. A healing spell, perhaps? But she had no time to stop and use something so important, especially in front of someone who wouldn’t let her breathe. "I offer you a deal... your friends in exchange for your magic." He snapped his fingers, and six bubbles appeared, each showing Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Discord, all trapped inside. They appeared drained of strength and color, their magic stolen by Tirek. Seeing them, Twilight stopped charging a magic attack and stared at her friends, who were all pleading for her not to give Tirek anything. They would rather fall themselves than let their friend, the princess, face this alone. Twilight quickly thought it all through. Weak, injured, and with her friends in danger, she looked at her wing, visibly wounded, and her eyes showed fear, on the brink of tears, terrified of being so close to death. It was obvious that Tirek had attacked her wing on purpose. "Fine... I'll give you my magic, but first... free them!" He smiled, and hearing her, he simply threw the bubbles away between the trees, until they finally broke when they reached the trees, releasing her friends. But Discord was still trapped. "Release him too!" she shouted angrily, realizing he hadn't freed him. "What? You still consider him one of your own after he betrayed you?" She looked at him firmly, but Tirek only glanced at Discord and repeated the same process he had done with the others. While Twilight watched where Discord was thrown to ensure he was okay, she was stopped by Tirek's magic, which pulled her back towards him. With a devilish smile and a glint in his eyes, he opened his mouth, ready to steal her magic. She closed her eyes, unwilling to see how everything she had worked for would be lost. "Friends... Princess... I'm sorry..." She started feeling her magic leave her body, leaving her completely empty of magic. Tirek grew physically larger, his body and muscles becoming ten times harder to damage, and his magic, fueled by the magic of hundreds of ponies and four alicorns, was overwhelming. After his drastic and powerful power boost, he dropped the already defeated princess to the ground, grinning wickedly as a magical sphere formed between his horns, aimed directly at her. Defeated, hopeless, wingless, and with no one left to save her, she closed her eyes, waiting for her end, a single tear falling from her cheek. "GOODBYE, PRINCESS TWILIGHT!" Everything seemed over… but suddenly, she felt a strong gust of wind against her body. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel someone carrying her, and she heard Tirek groan in pain as his voice grew distant. When the wind stopped, she dared open her eyes and noticed her savior carrying her in his arms. His blue eyes, a calm smile, and a focused gaze on her were unmistakable. Looking directly into his eyes, she saw tiny sparks of blue, like little lightning flashes within his iris. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, but once he lowered her, there he was—the blue menace had saved her life. He had escaped from her, fought a Timberwolf to save the CMC, and now reappeared to save her. She had no idea what had just happened or why he was even there to save her. "Are you okay, Princess?" That was his first question. He wanted to know if she was alright after everything that had happened between them. "Well, let's skip the part where your wing is half-broken and you seem to have just suffered a major depression blow." His calm humor remained even in this situation, his confident and serene gaze, his warm smile to ease her troubled heart. He was definitely not the threat everyone thought he was. Twilight was still processing everything, but he walked away to face Tirek, who was recovering from the attack to his eyes that had saved Twilight. "Mmh, so that’s Tirek, huh?" "Yes... yes... Why are you here? Why did you save me?" "Relax, princess. Your good friend Spike told me everything. Now, relax and take a seat while I! deal with the bad guy of the day." With that, he disappeared in a flash of blue light, heading straight for his new target. "Thank you..." The Blue Lightning.Author's Note I hope you've had a great start to the year, I trust you'll take care, and we'll see each other in the next chapter.. The Blue Lightning. You might wonder when I wrote this? As soon as I finished the previous one, I started this, so don’t be too eager to accumulate ideas without writing a draft to continue the chapter. "Yes... yes... Why are you here? Why did you save me?" "Relax, princess. Your good friend Spike told me everything. Now, relax and take a seat while I! deal with the bad guy of the day." With that, he disappeared in a flash of blue light, heading straight for his new target. "Thank you..." Team Sonic Crusaders - Canterlot - Antes de enfrentar a Tirek Sonic had traveled the entire way from the Crystal Empire, but now that he was carrying the fillies in both hands, he decided to take a riskier route, choosing dangerous paths and performing acrobatics with every high jump to release and catch them again until he reached Canterlot. He climbed the walls at high speed and entered the royal gardens. "So this is Canterlot during the day? Doesn’t look too bad, it’s nice." He set the fillies down, and both were disheveled, their eyes wide open, and smiles forming on their faces, excited by how fast they had arrived. It had taken less time than they expected, and there they were in the royal gardens. They shook their heads to settle their manes and started walking slowly around the area. Sonic followed behind them, noticing how peaceful and quiet everything was, no guards in sight. The air and atmosphere around them felt mysterious, as if something was waiting to surprise them. "Strange, I don't see anyone, no guards or any other ponies," Sweetie Belle said. "We should go see the princesses, first! Sonic, can you take us?" Apple Bloom asked. He smiled and gave them a thumbs-up, agreeing with the idea. He quickly picked them up and left the courtyard, entering the castle at high speed. As they entered, they saw several guards lying unconscious on the floor, too weak to get up. Sonic stopped and checked them for their health. "Mmh... they’re still breathing, they don’t seem hurt… seems like they were just weakened." "Could it have been Tirek!?" Sweetie Belle asked in fear, looking around, staying alert, and joining Apple Bloom in a hug. "It must be him, didn’t Spike say he could steal magic?" Sonic glanced around, noticing the silence in the castle hallways. He approached the fillies and picked them up again, starting to walk down the halls, seeing more guards and servants lying unconscious on the floor. Everything remained like this until they reached a unicorn whom both fillies recognized. They jumped out of Sonic’s arms as he spotted him, and both approached the defeated guard, concerned. "Shining Armor! Are you okay?" The named unicorn, with the little strength he had left, opened his eyes and noticed two of the Cutie Mark Crusaders trying to help him stand. A groan of exhaustion was the first thing they heard from him as they helped him to his feet. Sonic rushed to give them a hand, helping him sit on the floor. After that, Shining Armor managed to see the two sisters of Twilight’s friends and the last one he would expect to see, the infamous blue threat that had been talked about and searched for in the past few days, was right there. "Ni... girls... stay away from him!... ugh..." He tried to stay strong to protect them from the mysterious and sought-after enemy, but as he tried to stand in a defensive position, he fell again. Sonic approached and caught him to help him back on his feet. "Hey, hey, easy there, buddy… looks like you won’t be getting up for a while." At that moment, Rouge arrived with Spike and Scootaloo in her arms. "It’s not easy keeping up with you when you’re the fastest living thing there is, you know? Luckily, this young, sweet dragon has good knowledge of royalty and could tell me where the castle is. Thanks, dear." She set them down gently, and the little dragon rushed over to his unicorn relative, worried. "Shining Armor!! What happened!?" "Spike... girls... Tirek came here... left everypony in Canterlot without magic, probably even... the princesses..." He looked down the hallway leading to the throne room, where they should be. "We failed... now Tirek is loose, with more power than anyone could imagine..." "But... but Discord!? He was supposed to stop him! Didn’t he succeed!?" Spike said, close to tears, full of concern and fear. These words reached Shining Armor, who frowned, showing anger. "Discord?... He betrayed us! He used his magic to help Tirek steal more magic... Now everything is ruined, with both of them working together..." Spike fell to his knees, praying that it wasn’t true. He feared the worst, especially since he didn’t know anything about his friends or Twilight. His thoughts were clouded with the worst possible scenarios for the situation and the enemy they would have to face. Sonic looked towards the path mentioned by the unicorn guard, whom the fillies and the dragon had helped stand. The hedgehog began to walk, and Rouge followed him. Shining Armor, seeing them leave, tried to get up but was about to fall again. "Wait!... you..." Spike quickly, along with the Crusaders, helped him stay on his feet while the children faced the fear of what could have happened to their loved ones. They helped their friend walk to follow Sonic to the throne room. Once they arrived, they found the princesses collapsed on the floor in front of their thrones. Sonic and Rouge quickly approached to check on them. Sonic checked Celestia and Luna, while Rouge checked Cadance. They checked their pulses and sighed in relief, knowing they were just weakened, meaning they had no magic left. The princesses began to open their eyes and noticed that those who were there were the ones they had heard about—the blue threat, easily recognized from the posters and what had been said about this being since the Gallop Gala and the strange intruder in the Crystal Empire. "A... blue threat...?" Celestia said, drawing attention to the hedgehog who was helping her sister remain upright against her throne. "Slow down, princess, you're not at full strength, you can't even lift a helmet. It’s better to make yourselves comfortable for now." After helping her sister, he went to assist Cadance to remain in the same position, noticing to his left that Cadance was being helped by the other strange creature that had been spoken of before. Shining Armor reached the throne room, assisted by the younger ones, until he collapsed on the floor in front of the princesses. "Pri... Princesses... we... we’ve failed..." he said weakly. "No... it's not your fault... Captain Armor... no one would have expected Discord... to do what he did... if anyone should be blamed, it should be me..." Celestia explained, resting her helmet on her golden pendant, expressing that she should be blamed for how everything went out of control. While Celestia blamed herself, Luna looked at her guests—the young and only Cutie Mark Crusaders, accompanied by Spike and their two new guests, the blue threat and the intruder from the Crystal Empire. She fixed her gaze on the blue one, remembering what she saw in her dreams and what Dr. Eggman had told her about how he approached the hearts of others only to betray them later. Now she had the chance to decide what to believe—whether it was what she had seen in her dreams or what she had heard from Dr. Eggman. Cadance looked at Rouge. The description they had received the night she appeared was exactly what she reflected. However, neither she nor her blue companion looked like threatening monsters or acted cruelly toward them or the children they came with. Speaking of them, something didn’t add up. How did they make it here, and how hadn’t Tirek found them yet? How were they able to move and stay on their feet? It seemed they hadn’t stolen their magic yet. A whistle interrupted the royalty, forcing them to look in the direction of the sound. Sonic had his fingers in his mouth, making the sharp sound. No one did anything, they just looked at him, intrigued. "Ready? Do I have everyone’s attention?" There was an awkward silence where the princesses, along with Shining Armor, stared at him, not understanding what was happening with his presence before them. "Alright... hello, nice to meet you, princesses, uh, Celestial, Lunar, and Candace? Was it like that?" he asked, turning to the fillies, who nodded while Spike accompanied them. Everyone walked closer to him and Rouge. "It’s actually Celestia, Cadance, and Luna, but two out of three is fine, right?" the young dragon tried to make a joke to lighten the mood after their defeat and betrayal, but it seemed no one found it funny, and he felt bad for trying. He heard a small laugh, seeing Sonic smile as he owned it. "Not bad, Spike. Well, I still need to get to know you better, your highnesses." He expressed his respect for them by bowing slightly and crossing his right arm over his chest, hiding his left arm behind his back. Just because the ponies saw him as a threat didn’t mean he should forget his manners in front of royalty in such a dire situation. "Blue threat... what brought you here? Are you here to finish what Tirek left behind?" Shining Armor asked sternly while trying to maintain an attack stance, even though he had no magic left. "Man, ease up on the anger, I understand you’re upset about whatever I did, but right now is the time you need allies, not enemies," Sonic said. "You call yourself a 'hero,' huh? But since it’s been known that you arrived in our lands... you’ve done nothing but avoid us. Why should we trust you?" insisted the Captain of the Royal Guard, taking a step forward, but his leg trembled, causing him to fall. Rouge approached him, crouched down, and lifted his chin with her hand while smiling. "Oh dear, look at you, you can’t even stand, I don’t see how you think you can stop the fastest living thing on Earth in your pathetic state. I’m sorry, but now you’ll have to trust us, whether you like it or not." She walked away, feeling Cadance’s piercing gaze, but knowing in her current state, she wasn’t a threat, especially with her flirty tone mocking any innocent. "The fastest... living thing...?" Luna asked, looking at him, sure of his title. "Or maybe the fastest in the whole universe, but I don’t like to brag," Sonic remarked while running his hands through his quills, as if styling them to look great. "And I know you don’t like the idea, but you have no choice." He said with pride, knowing he was right. At that moment, Apple Bloom approached him, calling his attention by softly touching his leg. "Sonic, Miss Rouge... what will happen now?... What about our sisters? And everypony's magic?" She looked like she was about to break down in tears, but the hero bent down and gently patted her head, smiling to calm her down. "It’s going to be okay, little apple, leave this to me. Rouge will stay here with you, and you can speak for both of us." She nodded, knowing she could strike a deal with the royalty in exchange for saving her equine subjects. No job is free for him, unlike Sonic, who did it because it’s the right thing to do. "And what will you do...? If I may ask?" Cadance asked, trying to appear strong in her calm demeanor, but it was useless since he didn’t seem to care that three princesses were staring at him as an unknown target to distrust. He didn’t mind in the least, his confident smile showing how sure he was of himself. "Me? Oh, nothing special, just tell me where to find this Tirek guy, and I’ll take care of him." His words were so confident and solid that they left all the ponies and dragons in the room with their jaws hanging open. Rouge, for her part, smiled, knowing he was about to do something crazy like face the enemy of those who consider him one. "Y-you're not serious, are you? ...But... we have no idea, he stole the magic and then came to us... he wanted to send us to Tartarus, but he gave up, saying 'the best way to make you suffer... would be to make you see how all of your kingdom is lost...'" Luna explained, her head bowed in sadness, knowing that after this, Tirek would come for them again. Before anyone could say anything, an explosion was heard in the distance. Sonic opened one of the windows to the balcony of the throne room, showing a view towards Ponyville, more specifically the Everfree Forest. A large cloud of dust had risen, and the explosion didn't seem to have been caused by magic, but rather the impact of something big and heavy against the ground itself. "Forget it! I think I've found him, Rouge, you're in charge, girls, Spike! Stay calm! I'll save your friends. Princesses! I'll make sure that guy falls, and you and yours get back the magic he stole!" In a blink, his green eyes turned blue, he jumped onto the balcony railing, and placed a foot over the edge, ready to leave in his own way. "Sonic!" The Crusaders’ voices shouted in unison, calling him. He stopped when he saw them approaching, and Spike also came closer, worried. "You said you're a hero in your world, right? Now you can prove it!" He just flashed a smile at Scootaloo, who was worried about her friends. "Save our sisters, we don't know you much more than from your stories, and just a couple of days ago, but we trust you." He nodded, knowing the truth in Sweetie Belle's words. "If you say you're so fast, you can beat him quickly, right?" He gave a thumbs up to Apple Bloom, assuring her that the victory was already in his hands. "Please, Sonic, I know we maybe didn’t start on the best foot after I silently doubted you... I was the one who made that horrible drawing of you... but... save Twilight, even if things didn’t start the best with her either, do you think you can forgive her?" The young dragon pleaded with the speedy hedgehog. Sonic extended his fist to the center, where the four of them could join it. "Clash your hooves and claws with me, I promise I’ll save your loved ones, sisters, friends, and princesses." The four young ones met his fist, smiled, and erased all trace of sadness, seeing the hope and confidence he kept. Then, the four of them bumped their hooves and claws with his fist. "And once all of this is over with that guy Tirek, we’re going to have a long talk, princesses. That way, we can clear things up, and we'll find a way to go back home." He looked at Rouge, who nodded with her arms crossed. With everything said, the children stepped back, and Sonic jumped to perform his Spin Dash, falling from the balcony to another part of the royal gardens. From there, he accelerated at great speed, dodging every building as he left a blue trail in his wake, already outside Canterlot in less time than anyone would have expected. The four watched in awe as he showed even more speed than before. "S-He's really fast..." Scootaloo said in amazement, as it seemed like she was starting to forget Rainbow Dash as the coolest and fastest. After Twilight's rescue Sonic quickly arrived in front of Tirek, who was already recovered, blinking to verify if his eyes were better after the surprise attack he had received out of nowhere. Once he felt better, he noticed that Twilight was no longer there, and instead, he saw a blue creature standing with crossed arms. Its size seemed similar to that of the princess, so it didn’t appear to be such a small target. "Tirek, right?" "Mmh? Who are you? Where is Princess Twilight?" "Sorry, buddy, but if you want to have a meeting with the princess, you’ll have to go through me first." Sonic smiled, keeping his arms crossed and closing his eyes with a cocky grin, not caring how big, intimidating, powerful, and close Tirek was to him. "And who do you think you are, to challenge me?" "Well, I’m not a princess or anything close to one, I can assure you of that... But me? I’m the one in charge of taking you down." He said with excitement and a big smile while pointing at the giant Tirek in front of him. Tirek only smiled in return, showing that he found it amusing that someone was so confident in being able to stop him at his full power. "You? How could a rat defeat the great and powerful Lord Tirek?" "Mmh, there’s a saying 'never judge a book by its cover,' and I can see you’re doing just that by assuming I can't beat you and calling me a rat. Now, come at me!" Tirek just looked at him without giving it too much thought. He gathered enough magic between his horns and created a magic sphere to throw at him. But in the blink of an eye, Sonic had disappeared in front of him. Tirek looked around, confused, searching for him while keeping his magic prepared to attack. It wasn’t until he felt a powerful blow to the back of his head that forced him to lean forward. When he turned around, he saw Sonic in the air, smiling, mocking him for how easily he had been surprised by that attack. Tirek raised his right hand to catch him, but Sonic, moving at lightning speed, used his hands as obstacle tracks, grabbing onto Tirek's giant fingers and maneuvering between them. He quickly climbed his arm and sped up, aiming to strike his face directly, but Tirek’s left hand got in the way, crushing him just before he reached his shoulder. Sonic jumped between the fingers of Tirek’s left hand and delivered a Sonic Boom kick to his face, causing him to stagger back from the slight impact. He stayed in the air, continuously attacking him with that same move, just as he had done against the Timberwolf. Tirek kept his guard up, blocking the constant barrage. He was forced to use his magic to create a barrier around himself, which then grew and pushed the hedgehog away, sending him flying through the air and stopping the blasts that had him on the defensive. Meanwhile, Sonic recovered and was ready to land, but when he looked in the direction where Tirek had been, he was already gone. Someone that big couldn’t move that fast… could they? No, Sonic’s danger sense alerted him to an attack from behind. When he turned around, Tirek was floating in the air with his magic, both arms raised, fingers interlocked, and he struck with both hands in a powerful lateral hammer blow, sending Sonic flying towards Ponyville. The landing was rough, but Sonic quickly stopped himself using his feet and hands on the ground, leaving a trail from his limbs as he used force to halt himself. "Ugh!... Not bad... he reacts fast." After stopping, he looked up and saw a magical blast, twice as big as his own height, heading straight for him. He stood up, clenched his right hand into a fist, and crossed it in front of his torso. When the attack was close enough to hit him, his right arm and fist were surrounded by an electric blue aura, which he used to block the attack while holding his ground to avoid losing ground. From a distance, Tirek watched as the hedgehog blocked the attack he had launched seconds after sending him to Ponyville. He smiled, expecting the blast to explode and end it there. But his smile disappeared when he saw how his attack was diverted far from the village, striking a mountain and destroying its peak. "Hmph! That thing is too tenacious, damn rat." At that moment, Tirek realized that if this fast creature stayed standing, it could become a very troublesome problem. It wasn’t that he was afraid, though, considering he had stolen the magic of four alicorn princesses, and this was just a blue rat who could move quickly. He had a huge advantage, but after seeing how his magic was deflected, he realized how fast Sonic had moved, and assumed he would come back to face him directly. However, the blue streak took another path, diverting away from Ponyville and heading towards a large mountain. In less than ten seconds, Sonic reached its summit, spiraling up, surpassing all dangerous terrain, where the odds of success were low for anyone. However, he was now at the very top of the mountain, where only a few ponies could fit in that small space, which barely spanned less than seven meters. "Oh, I see what you're trying to do, but it won’t help against me. Showing me where you are just makes it easier for me to figure out where and how to finish you off!" Sonic was there, staring at him, and the clouds above them started to gather, turning dark. Tirek began to control the clouds with the pegasus magic he had stolen and added to his alicorn magic. Everything became easier, and he would have more power to use them. A storm quickly arrived, with thunder and lightning roaring both in Ponyville and Canterlot. The rain never arrived, but Tirek was focused on using the magic he had to its most important purpose, which was to take down the meddling hedgehog. Sonic started flexing and stretching his legs, cracking his knuckles. Tirek had decided to come down to the ground, preparing himself by using his magic to grab large rocks from the terrain, rocks that were the size of his arms. However, he decided to destroy them to create more projectiles to control. They both stared at each other despite the great distance separating them—Tirek in the ruined interior of the Everfree Forest, and Sonic on top of the large mountain just outside Ponyville, where it was said that a dragon had once lived. The weather was irrelevant, and the place was as sparsely populated as possible so no one would be harmed. With the princesses and Rouge - Canterlot "Wow... this is starting to get out of our hands..." said the captain of the royal guard in surprise, as he looked through a telescope that the princesses had asked Spike to bring them so they could watch the scene. The three princesses, the captain, the Crusaders, and Spike were all watching from the balcony where Sonic had left, observing how the situation was unfolding. What caught their attention was how he deflected the attack that had cornered him in Ponyville. Seeing someone able to face Tirek at his current level was hard to believe. "That appearance of Tirek... does that mean he managed to... steal Twilight's magic?" Cadance asked the elder princesses, worried. "There’s no doubt that he did... we just hope she’s okay..." Celestia brought the telescope closer to herself, trying to find any sign of Twilight in the chaotic battlefield where Sonic and Tirek were now facing off. "Don’t worry, Princesses! Sonic can handle that guy! He promised, and he will!" Apple Bloom exclaimed happily as she smiled at them. "Yeah! He’s the coolest and fastest ever! Plus, he’s the hero of his world!" Sweetie Belle joined her friend, sharing the same positive attitude toward the royalty. The princesses and Rouge all looked at the Crusaders, not understanding why the fillies were supporting someone who was considered a threat and never formally introduced himself. Rouge stepped forward, approaching the balcony to join the conversation. She climbed onto the armrest and sat there, crossing her legs and letting them dangle in the air. Cadance noticed her getting comfortable while looking toward where the battle was taking place. "Aren’t you worried about him?" Rouge, hearing this, simply turned around, letting out a small laugh and smiling at her. "It’s not my problem, darling. The blue one knows how to handle bigger and stronger guys than him. You know the saying, 'Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?' Well, with him, you could say it another way. 'Why not pick on someone at your own level?' That sounds much better." "What did you say you two are called?" The Princess of the Night slowly approached the bat thief. "I’m Rouge the Bat, and as the girls have told you, the one fighting the bad guy is named Sonic. But it’d be best if he comes and introduces himself when everything is over." While they all looked at her, confident in their blue companion, and she seemed so relaxed in this situation, not caring about the possibility of him getting hurt, their attention was suddenly drawn by a distant thunderclap, right where the battle was taking place. Sonic VS Tirek Both stared at each other intently, waiting for a signal to launch their attack. Sonic prepared himself in his runner's stance, his gaze fixed on his target. Lightning crackled around his body, the energy he emitted seemed to stir the air around him. "READY...!?" Already prepared, Tirek stood with his arms outstretched, fully aware of his control over the rocks surrounding him on both sides. Silence reigned as neither prepared for this battle to end in the next move. What had come before was just the warm-up, what was about to begin now would be the true start. A thunderclap echoed, signaling the attack. "Ready or not! Here I COME!!!" Sonic launched himself directly, leaving behind a bright blue trail as he descended from the mountaintop at a blinding speed. His footsteps tore through the ground, leaving a great trail of dirt in his wake. The trees he passed swayed violently, their branches whipped by the wind currents Sonic created in his path. Tirek did not expect him to appear so quickly. He slammed the ground in Sonic's direction with both arms, causing massive damage to the terrain and creating enormous spikes of rock along the path his enemy was approaching. Tirek anticipated these spikes would strike Sonic directly. What he hadn’t accounted for was Sonic using the spikes, leaping from one to another, and using the tallest one as a ramp. There he was. With a great leap and a blue streak trailing behind him, Sonic had closed the distance faster than Tirek anticipated. "HA! Stupid rat," Tirek muttered as he had no choice but to hurl all the rocks at his disposal with both arms, aiming at Sonic in the air, where he lacked a surface to move on. Everything seemed to favor Tirek. Sonic was trapped mid-air, with no way to dodge the barrage of attacks—a creature without flight or magic abilities stood no chance. Confident that this would stop Sonic and make victory easier, Tirek never considered that HE would actually manage to evade it. Tirek's triumphant grin vanished along with the hedgehog. Sonic was no longer in the air about to be hit by the rain of rocks. Perhaps he was never really there. Instead, he now stood directly in front of Tirek—barely a meter away. His serious gaze locked onto Tirek’s, accompanied by a mocking smile and a fist charged with energy aimed at Tirek's face. The rocks collided in mid-air, shattering into pieces as Tirek failed to react in time to defend himself. His overconfidence had doomed him. The first blow connected, a solid, powerful punch to the face that snapped Tirek’s head to the side and sent him skidding backward, his four legs dragging through the ground as he was pushed several meters away. When he finally managed to stop and shake off the daze from the blow, Tirek noticed multiple homing shots resembling blue spheres heading straight for him. They struck his face and torso relentlessly. He didn’t have time to shield himself. "Im...impossible... how did he get in front of me!?... When did I let my guard down?" After recovering from the blasts and searching desperately for his opponent, Tirek couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. He had secured the attack perfectly, yet it failed. How? Did Sonic teleport? Create a magical clone to switch places? No matter how much he thought about it, there was no answer. His thoughts were interrupted as he looked upward. A sharp pain under his jaw made itself known instantly, and he let out a pained groan with every second that passed, enduring it. At the same time, he felt his face being struck repeatedly from all directions. It made no sense, how could Sonic be so fast that it seemed as if he was in more than one place at a time? Such an idea had never crossed Tirek’s mind. "UUUGHHH!! DAMN...DAMN RAT! WHEN!? HOW!? HOW IS HE DOING THIS!?!?!" He was taking an uppercut from below while his face was constantly bombarded by what seemed like residual images in the air, appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. But this was not the same as facing a princess. This creature was outnumbering him even though it was alone. The constant blows didn’t feel as powerful as the earlier punch, but they were affecting him every fraction of a second. The strike under his chin was particularly damaging, pushing him back with great force until he felt his front hooves lift off the ground. He resisted the force trying to topple him and, using his magic, teleported into the sky. From above, Tirek saw the hedgehog ascending, revealing his true form outside of his spinning state. But Sonic didn’t stop there; he appeared to be preparing his hands for another attack. A burst of cross-shaped energy slashes in the form of an "X" shot toward Tirek. Refusing to waste this opportunity, Tirek summoned lightning from the clouds, striking Sonic directly and sending him crashing to the ground, destroying his attack in the process. Sonic plummeted to the earth as more lightning bolts rained down on the spot where he fell. One strike after another hit the hedgehog relentlessly, about twenty times in the same location. When the assault finally ceased, Sonic emerged from the ground, smoke rising from his body due to the repeated strikes. He was visibly injured, his breathing slightly labored but still steady. Burn marks and minor wounds covered his body, leaving him battered. “Phew… that was close… This guy’s gonna be tough to take down...” Landing in front of him, Tirek and the Mobian locked eyes. Sonic grinned, while Tirek responded with a growl. One seemed to be enjoying himself, while the other grew increasingly irritated. "I see you’re truly strong. I’ll admit, you’re not easy to annihilate," Tirek said, to which Sonic proudly smirked and wiped his face with his gloved hand. He took a moment to notice how disheveled he looked but decided it wasn’t the time to worry about appearances. “I’ve got a bit of a track record with tougher fights than this.” “I don’t care. You’re more injured than I am. Sooner or later, your speed will falter, and then I’ll crush you.” “Oh? You really think that? Then let’s put it to the test.” Sonic prepared to sprint but suddenly found himself immobilized—Tirek had caught him in his magical grasp and pulled him forward. Without hesitation, Tirek tried to crush him between his massive hands. But the Mobian was too fast. Sonic broke free from the magical hold by channeling more energy, dodging the deadly clap with an aerial maneuver. His body became enveloped in a barrier that allowed him to zigzag midair, landing a direct hit to Tirek’s chest. The impact sent Tirek reeling, both shocked and angered. “How did he break free from my magic?” Tirek thought, shaken. “Who is he to accomplish something like that?” But there was no time to ponder. Sonic had already disappeared again, leaving only a faint blue streak that quickly faded. Tirek scanned the area and noticed a blue trail circling him. Although he couldn’t clearly see the hedgehog, the streak began accelerating, and the wind around him grew stronger with each passing second. Confused and desperate, Tirek started firing magical lightning bolts around him, but they were ineffective. Sonic dodged them effortlessly, continuously increasing the tornado’s force. The ground beneath Tirek began to loosen, and he could feel himself being lifted. When the opportunity arose, Sonic dashed in for an attack, striking Tirek while maintaining the vortex. It seemed as if Sonic was in two places at once. “What’s wrong? Can’t see me?” A sudden blow to the jaw caught Tirek off guard, snapping his head to the left. When he turned, Sonic was already gone. Another hit to the side of his torso, then his stomach, followed by the back of his head, and finally his legs. It was a relentless barrage, each blow coming faster than the last. The final strike was a devastating Spin Dash straight to Tirek’s quadrupedal abdomen. “Catch me if you can!” "AAAGGGHHH!!...UUGGG!! THIS...THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!!" Tirek was losing control of the battle. He was now enduring an assault at blinding speed. To call Sonic "fast" was an understatement. As his face and body took damage simultaneously, he couldn’t block or aim accurately. Sonic was everywhere and nowhere at once. Enraged, Tirek charged a massive orb of magic and hurled it at the ground, aiming to end the chaos. The enormous sphere descended rapidly into the base of the tornado, triggering a devastating explosion that shook the area. The shockwave reached Ponyville, shattering windows and damaging buildings. Even the Castle of the Two Sisters suffered significant destruction, leaving only a few walls and rooms intact. In Canterlot, the explosion was so noticeable that the entire castle trembled slightly. When the dust settled, Tirek used his magic to clear the area, searching for the hedgehog. Movement among the rubble caught his attention. There stood Sonic, struggling to rise as he leaned against a rock, panting heavily. “Nngh… That was overkill, you know…” “You’re an irritating pest,” Tirek snarled, approaching him. In a flash, Sonic took off running toward Tirek, but a massive fist came his way. Sonic leapt over it, scaling Tirek’s arm with incredible speed. However, he lost his balance and had to cling to the limb as Tirek shook it vigorously to dislodge him. Wasting no time, Sonic performed a Spin Dash, shooting himself to the ground and retreating at lightning speed. "Very clever of you… keeping your distance. I see you recognize my speed," Tirek taunted. “You’re just a crafty and agile rodent. Controlling your speed is all I need to stop you.” Between his horns, Tirek conjured a magical ray, firing it skyward. Sonic, puzzled, watched it rise like a flare. “Isn’t it a bit early to celebrate victory?” Sonic remarked, observing the flare as it ascended. Before reaching the clouds, it exploded, releasing a barrage of magical meteors aimed directly at him. “If you’re so fast, let’s see you dodge this. Good luck, speedy rat.” Tirek crossed his arms, summoning a magical barrier around himself for extra protection. The meteors homed in on Sonic, forcing him to run and evade. However, it quickly became apparent they were magically guided. Sonic turned to glance at Tirek, whose glowing eyes tracked his every move. Realizing he couldn’t shake them while being watched, Sonic dashed into the forest, weaving through the trees. But even there, the meteors followed, scorching and obliterating everything in their path until the final one struck. In the forest, hidden among the trees, a frightened and injured Princess of Friendship wandered aimlessly. Though aware of the distant conflict raging far from her, she focused on searching for her friends. She could clearly see the deadly duel between Tirek and her savior, who was also somewhat of a threat. It was a clash of the combined power of four princesses versus blinding speed. Neither seemed willing to yield or let the other unleash their full potential, which would end everything in an instant. After Tirek's lightning assault on the ground and the subsequent blow that sent Sonic hurtling toward Canterlot, Twilight lost sight of the hedgehog. But she knew staying put and watching the clash of two immensely powerful beings wasn’t an option, especially without knowing if her friends were safe. However, her injured wing, still unhealed and throbbing with pain, limited her options. Exhaustion, pain, and the absence of magic had left her weak. Running wasn’t feasible; even trotting was a struggle. Her hooves dragged against the ground, and her body begged to collapse. Her eyes grew heavy, and as she gave in, she let herself fall. But she never touched the ground. Instead, she landed on something soft and sweet-smelling. Opening her eyes, she saw Pinkie Pie beneath her, acting as a cushion to break her fall. “Hey, Twilight! Hehe… Are you okay?” Pinkie asked with a cheerful smile, trying to lift her spirits while pushing her hooves into the ground to help Twilight stand. “Pinkie…? Is it really you, or am I hallucinating from exhaustion?” Twilight weakly stood as the rest of her friends and Discord arrived. “Twilight! It’s so good to see you’re okay… though you don’t look so great,” Discord remarked, his usual joking tone replaced by genuine concern as he noticed her broken wing, slowly bleeding. “It’s no use now. Tirek has your chaos magic, the princesses’ magic…” Twilight muttered, turning her gaze toward the enormous centaur, who was staring northward for a few seconds without explanation. “I know… I haven’t been the best friend to you or anyone else,” Discord said, his voice heavy with regret. “After what I did, I realized that having magic without friends isn’t the same as having both in perfect harmony.” He paused, his sincerity evident. To emphasize his apology, he pulled out a golden, triangular medallion—a necklace. “Here. Tirek gave this to me as a token of friendship, but it belonged to his brother… the one who betrayed him just to make friends. I did the same to all of you, and I truly regret it. I only wish I could do more…” With delicate care, he placed the necklace around Twilight’s neck. As it began to glow, Twilight’s expression changed. She didn’t say a word, but the look in her eyes suggested she had an idea. “Girls, quickly! We have to get to the Tree of Harmony! I think… I have my key!” she exclaimed. The group headed toward the Tree of Harmony, with Discord carrying the fragile Twilight in his arms as a gesture of remorse, following the others. As they moved, the sounds of the distant battle were impossible to ignore. What startled them most, however, was the rain of meteors falling dangerously close to their location. The synchronized precision with which they chased their target was uncanny. One explosion after another resounded, sending powerful gusts of wind through the trees and shaking the ground with each impact. When the barrage finally ended, a massive explosion marked its conclusion. “DAMN IT… YOU STUPID CENTAUR!” a distant voice yelled in frustration. The group cautiously approached the source of the outburst to investigate. The impact zone revealed Sonic hanging upside down by one of his legs, caught in the branches of a tree. “Ugh… That… was awesome… nnngh…” he groaned, clearly in pain. He performed a Spin Dash, cutting through the branches and dropping to the ground. Upon landing, he heard rustling in a nearby bush. Turning toward the sound, he saw Twilight and her friends emerging from the undergrowth. “Oh… Princess and company. What an unexpected encounter. Is your wing alright?” His direct question made the group uneasy. Sonic, still injured and dirty, casually brushed the dirt off his body as if the situation didn’t faze him. Twilight watched him clean himself without a care. Despite everything, this hedgehog, who was facing a threat that had defeated her, had saved her. She felt deeply grateful. “Yes… I’ll be fine. Thank you so much for saving me.” “Don’t mention it… Just doing the right thing. But now I have to get back. By the way, Spike and the girls are with the princesses at the castle. Bye!” “Wait!” Twilight’s words stopped him just before he sped off. He turned to look at her. “After this… could we talk and clear things up? Maybe over some cake?” she asked shyly, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. It was an odd request, given the circumstances, and undeniably awkward. Sonic smiled at the idea, giving her a thumbs-up. “Sure, Princess. It’s a date.” He dashed off, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Twilight’s friends, overhearing her calm words of gratitude and her peculiar invitation, stared at her in confusion. But she seemed genuinely happy that Sonic had been there when they needed him most. “So… a date?” Rarity teased, giving her a knowing look that made Twilight blush even more. Sonic had sped off after the brief meeting with Twilight and her friends, only to find himself face-to-face with Tirek once again. However, this time, Tirek wasn’t caught off guard. His magic was already aimed directly at the hedgehog. Without hesitation, Sonic charged at him, unwilling to give Tirek the chance to attack. But he was surprised when Tirek didn’t retaliate immediately. Instead, Tirek stood there, waiting. Distracted by thoughts of how Tirek might counter, Sonic didn’t notice the ground beneath him shifting. From the earth rose a massive hand, attempting to grab him. Sonic’s sharp reflexes saved him as he leapt out of the way. “You’re too slow!” he taunted. But Tirek had predicted this. He knew Sonic’s aerial maneuvers left him vulnerable without a solid footing. With a wicked grin, he brought his fists together, a signal for the ground to respond. Two enormous rock fists, as massive as Tirek's own arms, emerged and clapped together with Sonic caught between them. “HA HA HA! Got you off guard this time, rat! You won’t escape me now!” Tirek bellowed, triumphant. The rock fists merged, holding their captive tight as they brought him closer to Tirek. Using his magic, Tirek conjured a colossal hammer of rock, even larger than the one before. He grinned victoriously, ready to end things for good. “You were a tenacious little pest, but now it’s time you learned to either surrender or serve the one who defeated you.” Sonic, trapped and visibly in pain from the crushing grip, managed a strained smirk. Despite his predicament, he chuckled mockingly through gritted teeth. “Heh… That’s never gonna happen, horn-head. But seriously… is that all you’ve got?” Though his body ached and escape seemed impossible, Sonic’s confidence didn’t waver. Even now, injured and exhausted, he faced his foe with defiance. He knew he would win. Or at least… he hoped so. Tirek’s eyes narrowed in anger. He decided it was time to finish this. With a wave of his hand, he hurled Sonic into the storm clouds above. The sky rumbled ominously as lightning began to gather. Sonic realized what was coming too late. “Ugh… Me and my big mouth…” A massive bolt of lightning struck, lighting up the sky with a deafening explosion. Sonic’s scream of pain echoed through the forest. “AAAAAAAGGGGH!!... aaahhh…” The cries faded, signaling apparent defeat. His limp body plummeted from the storm clouds, trailing smoke as he fell. Tirek showed no mercy. He raised his hammer over his shoulder, ready to deliver the final blow when Sonic came within range. Tirek was certain of his victory. The hedgehog could no longer move, and the earlier battle had left him battered, stunned, and unconscious. This was the end. “Goodbye, rat! Next time, you’ll know your limits before challenging me!” Tirek sneered, gripping the handle of his weapon tightly. As Sonic neared, Tirek prepared to swing, but something caught his eye. In that split second, Tirek noticed Sonic’s face. His eyes were open, a piercing emerald green glare locked onto Tirek’s. His expression was serious, determined, and unwavering despite his injuries. Tirek hesitated for a fraction of a second, unsettled by the intensity of Sonic’s gaze. But he quickly dismissed it, bringing his hammer down with added magical force. The head of the hammer ignited with crimson flames as it struck Sonic, sending him hurtling far to the north. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, causing a streak of green light to break free from Sonic’s quills. Sonic’s body shot across the sky like a comet, passing over Canterlot and nearly shattering the sound barrier in the process. The force of his flight shook windows throughout the city. Twilight, her friends, and the princesses watched in stunned silence as the hedgehog who had fought so valiantly was defeated. The hope he carried now seemed lost. Meanwhile, Tirek stood triumphant, watching Sonic disappear into the horizon. Raising a fist to the sky in victory, he caught sight of a faint green glimmer on the ground. Curious, he approached and found a small, radiant gem. Picking it up between his massive fingers, Tirek felt a strange energy emanating from the gem. A tingling sensation danced across his skin as he examined it. Intrigued, he attempted to siphon its energy. The moment he did, a surge of power coursed through him. Though he stopped before draining it completely, Tirek kept the gem, deciding it was too valuable to discard. He clenched it tightly in his fist, unsure if its energy was infinite or finite. Better to save it for later. The energy he absorbed began to alter him. His body grew even larger, towering over his previous form. New horns sprouted from his existing ones, branching like those of a mighty stag. His mane and beard darkened to a deep, ominous green, and his physique became more muscular and imposing. Now, Tirek felt invincible. Twilight - Tree of Harmony While Tirek, having disposed of Sonic to continue his conquest of Equestria, began attacking Ponyville, unleashing a barrage of lightning strikes left and right. Some bolts struck buildings, setting them ablaze, while others demolished structures with magical blasts. Tragically, the Golden Oak Library was reduced to rubble. An owl emerged from the debris, covered in ash and missing a few feathers, but largely unharmed. It flew away quickly, seeking safety from the chaos. Deep within the lesser-known parts of the Everfree Forest, Twilight's group finally reached the crystalline tree. Discord, who had carried her throughout the journey, gently set her down in front of a mysterious chest embedded at the tree's base. The chest had five keys already inserted, leaving just one space vacant. "Let’s hope this works... I hope he’s still standing..." Twilight murmured, glancing at the necklace Discord had given her before turning her eyes to the chest. "We believe it will," Applejack said firmly, standing alongside her friends as they took their places in front of their respective keys. "Thank you, friends... and thank you, Discord." Twilight gave the weakened spirit of chaos a grateful smile, which he returned with a timid nod, still burdened by his earlier betrayal. "Are we doing this or what? Tirek’s probably tearing through that guy—or vice versa—but either way, we can’t waste any more time!" Rainbow Dash urged impatiently. They all nodded, waiting for Twilight’s signal. "Alright, girls, on the count of three." "One..." They exchanged determined glances and placed their hooves on the keys. "Two..." "Three!" At the final word, they turned their keys in unison, and the mysterious chest finally opened. "We did it!" Twilight exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. The other ponies gathered around her, feeling the powerful magic radiating from the chest. It was as if the Tree of Harmony itself was bestowing its essence upon them, recognizing that its chosen bearers were ready to wield its power for the good of all Equestria. The light from the chest intensified briefly, and a radiant rainbow shot out, striking the tree squarely where Twilight's Cutie Mark was engraved. The rainbow then split into five streams, energizing the Elements of Harmony housed in each branch. In turn, the enhanced Elements responded to their bearers, not only restoring their magic but pushing them beyond their limits. They were transformed, their appearances reflecting the overwhelming power of the Tree of Harmony. Once ready, their magic fully restored and their bodies now accustomed to their newfound strength, the group ascended from the depths of the Tree of Harmony to confront a Tirek empowered by the unknown energy of the Chaos Emerald. The chosen wielders of the Elements of Harmony emerged together, encased within a glowing bubble of magic that radiated their newfound strength. They faced Tirek, who met their gaze with indifference, unbothered by the sight of their restored power. In the northern reaches, specifically halfway between the Crystal Mountains surrounding the Empire and an open field that provided a rear view of the great mountain towards Canterlot, our hero had crashed into the ground, leaving behind a large crater where he was buried. Covered in wounds, dirt, and blood, he still mustered the strength to rise and pull himself out of the deep pit where he had fallen. A single word echoed in his mind, "Limits." Upon recalling it, he gripped the earth tighter, managed to kneel, and heard the word again. Determined, he finally stood up and slowly emerged from the crater, his eyes fixed on the ground and one hand clutching his head. The impact had been severe, but once out of the hole, he realized just how far from safety he was. Worse still, there was no one around to stop Tirek from continuing his destruction. It seemed like he was on the verge of collapsing right there, but he shook his head. His own mind kept pushing him forward, reminding him that he had to return as fast as his body would allow. Do you want to give up? "No." He spoke aloud to himself, reaching into his quills and pulling out small golden rings that emitted a bright glow. With one on each hand, he clenched his fists tightly and pressed them into the earth as he knelt with one knee on the ground. Do you want to fall and rest? "I don’t have time for that!" He stretched out his other leg, digging the heel of his foot into the soil for more traction. His fists started to glow, and the golden aura traveled up his arms, charging his body with energy. You have to run! "I’m still breathing... I can still run... I can still make it!" He lifted his gaze, his determination reignited. He knew he had to go fast, really fast. His entire body began to glow with immense power, and in that moment, he started performing a Spin Dash in place. Small cyan orbs of light appeared around him in the air, attracted to his form and merging with his body. What did they say? About your Limits? "Limits...LIMITS!?!" After nearly a minute of gathering the cyan energy orbs into his body, he was now fully engulfed in a radiant glow of the same color, his eyes flashing white. The aura surrounding him was a mix of smoke-like energy from the power rings, with cyan sparks crackling around him. Fully charged, he planted his fingers into the ground, arching his body to position himself for a powerful sprint. The air around him vibrated from the sheer intensity of the energy he had accumulated. Using the power of the rings and his Light Speed form, he was now becoming an unstoppable force. "I'm going to show you MY LIMITS!!!" In Canterlot, the princesses, the fillies, and Spike admired the rainbow light illuminating the destroyed area in a dead field, while the dark clouds covering the landscape above them in the sky cleared, revealing a beam of sunlight shining down on the ponies. "They did it! They managed to open the chest!" Spike cheered, jumping with happiness. "They really did it... now they can stop Tirek, but..." Celestia's words faltered as she saw Tirek's new form, something strange happened in an instant. "What’s happening, Princess? Wasn’t that supposed to happen?" Apple Bloom asked, confused, not knowing about the chest Spike had mentioned. "No, that’s not it. But it seems Tirek has increased his power, but I don’t understand how he did it so quickly in such a short amount of time." Luna approached the telescope to look more closely, noticing how the tyrant showed Twilight and her friends something small and glowing green in his hands. "He has something in his hand... something green and glowing? Did he gain more magic from that thing?" Rouge, upon hearing Princess Luna, quickly approached and snatched the telescope to clearly see the scene. "Great, that big guy has a Chaos Emerald." She flew over the roof and looked behind the castle at the area where her companion had landed, using the telescope to observe the smoking impact zone. She adjusted the focus and saw a cyan glow and a white aura surrounding it. The princesses looked at her, confused by her words, but before anyone could speak, Rouge landed and handed the telescope to Spike, then went to the window on the other side of the room. When she opened it, everyone present noticed a distant glow. "Alright, your majesties, prepare to cover your ears, because when he passes by here, I’m more than sure the sound barrier won’t hold up with that speed." "The sound barrier?" Princess Cadance asked, confused. "What do you mean, Miss Rouge?" Sweetie Belle asked, as she and her friends looked at her, not understanding her words. "Have you ever experienced a sonic boom?" "When Rainbow Dash breaks the sound barrier to create a Sonic Rainboom," Celestia explained. "Well, I’m no expert on how strong those sonic explosions are around here, but this is going to leave you with your mane standing up." Everyone exchanged worried glances, but before anyone could say anything, they felt a shake and at the same time, a flash of light, which came from the magical clash between Tirek and the guardians of the Elements. In that moment, a sonic boom was heard from the other side. They couldn’t see it clearly, but Sonic had broken the sound barrier, and only a cyan trail passed at high speed across the open field, heading towards Canterlot, but more directly towards the mountain that is part of it. Another sonic explosion rang out above the castle, causing everyone to cover their ears due to the intensity of the sound. On one side, Tirek was facing the guardians of the Elements in a magical clash where neither seemed to yield. The energy he had taken from the Chaos Emerald was allowing him to withstand the magic granted to them by the Tree of Harmony. The strength of the six united was powerful, but now Tirek was on a new level, one that seemed capable of surpassing the magic they were using against him. However, the clash between both sides, no matter how powerful, was not enough to stop the enormous amount of magic they were directing at each other. There was a sonic explosion that caught the attention of the seven powerful beings. Still holding their ground, they looked toward the sound to see a cyan ray rising above the clouds on the largest mountain of Canterlot. The girls raised their gaze to the sky, and Tirek, for his part, knew what was coming. "That damn rat is still alive." He fired a magical beam from one of his arms to keep the ponies at bay while focusing on controlling all the clouds to form the largest storm cloud above him. Without letting up in the confrontation, he simply fixed his gaze on the sky as the clouds began to show signs of being charged with lightning. Above the clouds, within the troposphere, it almost felt like one could touch the stars. But Sonic was there for other reasons. The speed boost he got to reach up there above the clouds helped him prepare for his final attack. "It's time for the grand finale." He took a deep breath of the thin air at that altitude and looked below him, watching how the storm clouds covered his view. In his current state, with his entire body covered in cyan energy that prevented even his smile from being seen, he was grinning on the inside. "TIREK!" His shout could be heard by him and the ponies he was facing. "I HAVE YOUR LIMITS!!! RIGHT HERE!!!" He curled into himself and descended rapidly in a Spin Dash. Like a blue lightning bolt, he sped toward Tirek, causing a third Sonic Boom. He wouldn't give up so easily against the forces trying to stop him. While resisting the magical attack from the ponies, he snapped his fingers and made the clouds explode in a burst of lightning that illuminated the entire sky, accompanied by a violent explosion. But after that, the clouds were dispersed, revealing the blue meteor still plummeting without showing any sign of stopping. Twilight and her friends seized the distraction to use even more power against Tirek, pushing their magic until they forced him to protect himself with a magical barrier. But in that moment, a chill ran down his spine, and when he looked up, there was Sonic. Right above him, showing how he had a supercharged downward kick with an expression that made him immediately understand what he had mentioned when they first met. Now, in an instant, he knew he had been right to remember those words, "I’m the one who’s going to finish you off." Those words weren’t a mockery; they were a duty, a mission, a goal, one that truly showed his determination to complete. And right there, he was, delivering the final blow to knock him down. After breaking through the barrier, the Harmony magic hit Tirek directly, and Sonic landed a direct blow to his head, knocking him down as if a blue lightning bolt had struck him. A colossal explosion lifted a cloud as large as if a bomb had caused it, but within this, there was a glimmer of hope showing how six rainbow trails divided in the distance, restoring the magic of all the ponies whose magic had been taken from them. As the rainbows restored the magic in every corner of Equestria, Sonic was there, lying on his back on the ground, breathing heavily and admiring the clouds parting, revealing the beautiful sun that illuminated the day. The battle was over. Tirek was knocked down, looking weak and small beside him, with one of his horns from when he was giant cut off and driven into the ground. The Chaos Emerald fell near Tirek, and Sonic turned his head to look at the defeated centaur. "He...he...It was fun...nngghh," he said, trying to stand despite the severe wounds and exhaustion his body was enduring. Once on his feet, he walked to the emerald and grabbed it before Tirek could reach it again. "Sorry, buddy... but this beauty already has an owner..." "Nnnngg...how? How is this possible?" Tirek looked up from the ground, seeing the blue hero with the sun shining behind him and the emerald in his hand. That image proclaimed him as the victor. In front of Sonic, the ponies appeared in their new form. He and Twilight exchanged glances, but with a simple eye motion toward Tirek, she understood that their battle was over. "Alright, Tirek! Time to return where you belong, straight to Tartarus!" Along with her friends, they focused all the magic they had left into a portal that was opening in front of the defeated enemy. "No! I refuse to accept... being defeated by some ponies and a rat!" Sonic approached, already annoyed from hearing him call him that at every moment they faced each other. At that exact moment, chains emerged from the portal, grabbing Tirek by each of his limbs, dragging him inside the portal to trap him in a cage, and then both saw each other one last time as the portal closed. "That's enough! I'm not a rat! I'm a hedgehog! And my name is Sonic!" He said aloud while pointing at himself. And as the portal closed, Tirek could only watch him smile, with the punishment of remembering the name of the one who defeated him. Interlude: From the Other Side.Moments After Sonic Ended Up in Equestria As both headed toward Angel Island, a bright flash illuminated the sky. The Death Egg shone like a sun, radiating energy until it blinded Tails while piloting the plane. The enemy fortress had disappeared into space, and they couldn’t see any signs of their friend. What they saw left them with many questions as they landed on Angel Island, which rested in the calm Pacific sea. "That was the Chaos Control, wasn’t it?" Tails looked at Knuckles as they disembarked from the plane on the island, analyzing the situation. Tails stared at the sky, seeing no trace of their friend or the Death Egg, only the blue sky and clouds. "Knuckles... do you think Sonic will be alright?" "Knowing him, if he used Chaos Control, it could have taken him to some unimaginable place, but he always finds a way to return from whatever trouble he's in." "I hope everything turns out fine. I have a bad feeling about this." Both looked to the sky as the wind and the sun provided the peaceful atmosphere of the island, waiting for some sign, but all they found was emptiness and mystery. Where could they have gone? This takes place after his disappearance in the first chapter, just a heads-up to avoid confusion. A few minutes had passed since Sonic disappeared after forcefully entering Dr. Eggman's fortress. Tails and Knuckles looked at the sky, waiting for him to reappear, but suddenly the entire island they had landed on began to tremble, catching them by surprise. "W-What’s happening, Knuckles!?" "I don’t know! The island only acts like this when the Master Emerald is removed and returned to its altar, but that shouldn’t be possible! Eggman took it!" The island began to float above the surface of the sea, separating from the water and rising high into the sky. "We’re... in the sky. Angel Island is floating again! But how!?" Knuckles turned to look at his friend, but he began running into the jungle. "Hey, wait for me, Knuckles!" Tails followed him all the way, and after an intense run, they arrived at an altar where a dazzling green glow was visible at its peak. The Master Emerald was the source of the glow and the reason the island had floated again. "The Master Emerald is here... that fool actually succeeded." Knuckles said as he touched the large gem, making sure he wasn’t hallucinating. Once he confirmed it was real, he smiled and lay down on the ground, gazing at the sky. Tails arrived, seeing the large emerald at the center of the altar. "So, he did it! HA HA! I knew he could, we were just worried for nothing." He said proudly, but Knuckles wasn’t as relieved. The young fox reached into the fur of one of his tails to pull out his cellphone and opened a tracking app to find his blue friend’s location. "Hmm... that's strange, I can’t find Sonic’s cellphone signal, and even less the Chaos Emeralds." "In this area? Or the whole world?" Knuckles asked while enjoying the sunlight. "Hmm... worldwide for the Chaos Emeralds, but also for Sonic’s cellphone, and neither of them appear." He approached his friend to show him the screen, which displayed a globe and an alert: "Chaos Emeralds lost - Sonic's location lost." "Are you sure you checked it properly?" "Do you want to do it?" Tails asked with a frown, knowing Knuckles didn’t understand much about programming. "Let’s just call it lost in action." Tails sighed and extended the range, going beyond the planet, covering the entire solar system. "Not even within the solar system! And I have satellites in every sector of our solar system! He doesn’t show up." "Why did you think he’d be off-planet?" "Well, since he hasn’t returned, I theorized that maybe the Death Egg ended up on another planet when it disappeared with the Chaos Control, so maybe Sonic is also with Eggman, stranded on another planet. Like it’s happened before." Knuckles stood up and walked toward the Master Emerald, placing his hands on it and closing his eyes, concentrating. "Hmmm... I really can’t feel them. I don’t sense the Chaos Emeralds through the Master Emerald." He looked at Tails, confused; the emeralds and his friend had really disappeared. He looked at Tails, who seemed frustrated while touching his cellphone screen intently. "Hey, Tails... calm down, we're talking about Sonic, he didn’t die." At hearing this, Tails turned his head to look at him. "Oh, uh, I wasn’t thinking about that, Knuckles." Those words took him by surprise. He really thought Tails was trying to be strong and hold back his tears over the loss of his friend and brother. "Really? Then, what were you thinking?" "Well... I have a theory. It turns out that when Chaos Control is used with the emeralds, they split after usage, right?" "That’s true, they always do, and they won’t stop doing that. If Chaos Control isn’t used, then only Sonic is activating and deactivating his super form without needing to reach the power limit that forces the emeralds to scatter all over the world." "Well, if that’s what happens, then a secondary Chaos Control must’ve occurred at the same time as the first one." The young fox explained while finishing using his cellphone and putting it back in the fur of his tails. "A second Chaos Control? You mean there were two happening simultaneously! But for that..." While he rubbed his chin to think, he quickly turned to look at the Master Emerald. "Exactly! Eggman used Chaos Control with the Master Emerald! That’s when his fortress disappeared! And I’d bet my plane that Sonic used his own Chaos Control with the seven emeralds to send it back to Angel Island." His echidna friend nodded while crossing his arms, but before saying anything, Tails quickly presented his theory again. "But! By doing that, Sonic lost the Chaos Emeralds in a different plane of our universe! Maybe when the Death Egg disappeared, it traveled to another part of the universe or perhaps another dimension at a speed that only the Master Emerald could achieve if its energy was used." "So, to summarize, Eggman, his fortress, and Sonic along with the Chaos Emeralds are somewhere beyond Mobius or perhaps among the stars we know?" Knuckles said. "Exactly!" Tails smiled as he saw how well his theory was being accepted by his friend. "Now that everything’s clear, how do we help Sonic?" "Very easily! I have a plan, but it’ll take a few days, and it might not be to your liking..." He said nervously, playing with one of his tails as he considered his idea. "And why wouldn’t I like it?" Knuckles said gruffly, as if a plan to rescue their friend might annoy him. "Well... I need you to accept a few small parts of the plan for it to work." "Which would be..." Knuckles raised an eyebrow, still with arms crossed. "Uh... first, I need to set up my workshop and lab on your island until everything is over." Knuckles looked up with his eyes closed, thinking about it. "With one condition! No damage or trouble with the trees and plants." "Done! Now, secondly... I’d need the energy of the Master Emerald, which only you can release." "Well... we’ve done that before, and it’s not for anything evil, so I can accept that." "Perfect! And to finish, Shadow has to use Chaos Control with the Master Emerald to take us to Sonic." "Grrrr... I won’t let anyone touch my emerald. I’ve had enough of Rouge trying to steal it during my breaks." "But he’s the only one who can help us with that, just until we find Sonic and bring him back here." "Well, the problem is convincing him to help Sonic. You know how those two get along." Tails nodded, recalling how Sonic and Shadow’s encounters were all about fights, taunts, and insults. "I’m sure if I tell him Eggman is scheming something, he’ll cooperate." "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get what you need, I’ll clear some rocks so you have a space to do your thing without affecting nature." Tails smiled and spun his two tails like helicopter blades, then flew off toward his plane. After several hours, night had fallen, and an area in an open rocky terrain had a sign that read "Reserved for Tails". There, a workshop with a landing strip was lit, with its owner working late into the night. "How’s it going, Tails?" A sweet female voice asked, and a young rabbit spoke to the fox. "Everything’s perfect, Cream! It might take some time, but I just need to run a few tests before connecting it." "And what exactly is it?" She climbed up onto a chair to see a large technological device with all its components visible, like it was undergoing surgery. "This will allow us to track the Chaos Emeralds beyond the possible limit! I just need to keep it close to the Master Emerald, and it will create a compass with its energy to tell us which direction they’re in! It will also guide us to Sonic, as long as he’s near any emerald." "Ooooh, I guess Mr. Sonic is waiting to be rescued?" "Well, knowing him, he knows I’ll come to help him sooner or later. But it’s better if it’s sooner, because he always jokes about why it takes so long with anyone." The young rabbit let out a soft laugh that she covered with her hand, and Tails couldn’t help but smile in return. "Still awake?" A serious, cold voice came from behind them, and a black hedgehog with red lines on his quills, shoes that were more like skates, and golden rings on his gloves appeared. "Oh! Mr. Shadow, did we wake you?" He shook his head without saying anything, just approaching to look at Tails' invention. "Will this help us reach the Chaos Emeralds and Eggman too?" "It will also help us find Mr. Sonic." Cream exclaimed, smiling as if correcting Shadow for forgetting to mention him. "In theory, yes! But I need to run some tests, and I need Omega to connect this in different areas of the island." He handed him what looked like short metal sticks. "What are these things?" Shadow said coldly while examining the device. "They are containment masts. They’ll cover the entire island with an energy layer from the Master Emerald, so when everything is ready, no part of the island will separate during the trip, and it will also keep the oxygen inside." "Hm! I’ll give them to you right away. As for you..." He looked at the young rabbit who was smiling at him. "It’s better if you go to sleep. Amy must be looking for you by now." "Oh, right! I’m going! Good night, Mr. Shadow, good night, Tails, and thanks for letting us stay in your portable homes." She quickly left the workshop, heading toward a small house created by Tails' technology. "I’ll let you work. Don’t forget to sleep too, if you want to save him and stay awake." He said before disappearing into the darkness, leaving the fox to continue his work. "Don’t worry, Sonic! We’re on our way. No matter what you’re going through, just keep being yourself." On the other side, at that very moment, Sonic found himself in what seemed like an escape from a very formal event in a castle on the side of a mountain. It seemed that his first impression of wherever he had landed that night hadn’t been the best, as he had ended up facing armed pony guards. A new hero?"No! I refuse to accept... being defeated by some ponies and a rat!" Sonic approached, already annoyed from hearing him call him that at every moment they faced each other. At that exact moment, chains emerged from the portal, grabbing Tirek by each of his limbs, dragging him inside the portal to trap him in a cage, and then both saw each other one last time as the portal closed. "That's enough! I'm not a rat! I'm a hedgehog! And my name is Sonic!" He said aloud while pointing at himself. And as the portal closed, Tirek could only watch him smile, with the punishment of remembering the name of the one who defeated him. Shortly after Sonic reminded Tirek of his last moments of freedom before being imprisoned in Tartarus once again, the princesses and the other ponies who had lost their magic managed to recover it thanks to Twilight and her friends, who divided their efforts to help everyone regain their powers. The princesses looked at their horns, feeling the magic flowing back into them. Cadance and Shining Armor embraced, celebrating Twilight’s victory, while the Crusaders and Spike bumped hooves and claws, jumping and cheering with joy at their triumph. Rouge watched from the balcony with a smile before approaching the princesses. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this celebration, but we should meet with the heroes to have a long conversation." "Can you take us?" Spike asked with a smile, standing beside Scootaloo, who was grinning brightly. Rouge simply smiled and picked them up under her arms, leaping from the balcony and flying toward the place where everything had concluded. "Next stop: where the heroes won." "We must go as well; we can’t miss this," Luna said with a smile, spreading her wings and taking flight, accompanied by Cadance and Celestia, who carried Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle on her back. As the princesses left Canterlot Castle, on the outskirts of Ponyville, the Element Bearers, along with Discord, stood watching the gravely injured and barely conscious hedgehog, who remained there staring at them. His body screamed for rest, but he stayed upright, waiting for a moment of safety before allowing himself to collapse. The ponies standing before him slowly lost their transformations, returning to their true forms. Twilight had recovered from the injury to her wing, which had healed almost instantly. Sonic looked at the emerald in his hand and tucked it into his quills to keep it safe. "Heh..." His weak chuckle caught their attention, and they stared in surprise at how he managed to stay standing and even smiling despite his injuries. "Um, excuse me, but... are you okay? If you don’t mind me asking, of course," Fluttershy asked softly, stepping forward. The hedgehog’s eyes were barely open as he looked at the yellow pegasus and smiled faintly. "Yeah... nothing out of the ordinary." He grinned but felt the pain coursing through his body. He stayed strong, refusing to kneel. "That guy... heh, was way too easy," he said mockingly, even after facing Tirek and surviving his threats. "I don’t think you’re in any condition to joke, partner," Applejack said, stepping forward without fear. "Or to stand, for that matter," Discord added, snapping his fingers to conjure a poof behind Sonic. The hedgehog, seeing it, allowed himself to fall onto it. "Tch, I don’t think the town is in any condition to celebrate this victory," Sonic said, glancing behind him at the nearly destroyed Ponyville and the surrounding area. "I got it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying off to rally other pegasi to gather rain clouds. "Discord, even after everything you’ve done, could you still help us?" Fluttershy asked, noticing how his ears perked up at the opportunity to regain her trust. "That’s what friends are for, right? We’re still friends... aren’t we?" The timid pegasus giggled softly at the chaos spirit’s insecurity about their friendship. "Of course we are. Now go show them you’re willing to fix your mistakes." With that, Discord disappeared in a flash to help the town. Twilight stepped closer to Sonic, stopping just a meter away from where he rested, and they locked eyes. He was smiling, while she looked at him with concern, worried he might try to run away despite his condition. "Hey... I know you said you hoped our next meeting wouldn’t involve violence, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am that you came to save me and helped us against Tirek," the young princess said sincerely, smiling warmly at her savior. Sonic stood up slowly, his body screaming for rest, but he moved closer in silence. “You’re Princess Twilight, as I’ve been told, right? Don’t thank me, Princess. The last thing I want is royalty bowing to me just for doing the right thing.” “Yes, that’s me! And don’t worry about that. With my friends, I prefer not to be called ‘Princess,’ and you don’t have to either. But I just want to say, I don’t see you as someone bad, contrary to what you said last time. ‘Actions speak louder than a thousand words,’ right? Well, your actions now make me see you differently.” She felt confident they could now start off on the right foot. “Heh, glad you remembered... but how about we start with introductions?” Sonic suggested. Twilight smiled and turned to her friends. “Of course! Just give us a moment, okay?” she said nervously, gathering her friends for a quick private meeting. “Alright, girls... we should be able to talk to him without any issues now, but let’s be mindful of the questions we ask,” Twilight said. All her friends, except Rainbow Dash, who was helping put out fires in Ponyville, had gathered. “Can I ask him about parties?” Pinkie Pie chirped. The others nodded, knowing such an innocent question wouldn’t cause any trouble. “I have so many questions about what he really is! He said he’s a hedgehog? I want to know more about his species,” Fluttershy added, glancing at Sonic, who was resting with his hands behind his head on the poof. “I’d like to know how he’s connected to the fillies, how they met him and his story about coming here would be helpful,” Rarity suggested. “I’m curious about that beautiful gem Tirek had. It seems important to him,” Applejack added. While the mares talked, Sonic’s attention was drawn by the sound of wings. Turning, he saw Rouge approaching with the three princesses, the fillies, and Spike in tow. He smiled at the sight of his friend and her new companions. “Hey, Rouge! Kids! Haha! How are ya?” Sonic greeted them warmly as the princesses and the bat landed, letting the younger ones off. His shout caught the ponies’ attention as Spike and the fillies tackled Sonic into a group hug, knocking him back onto the poof. “Ugh! Kids... Haha... ouch…” Sonic chuckled, even as the others laughed at the scene. The princesses and Rouge watched with amusement, recognizing the blue hedgehog as the hero they now admired. “You did it! You beat Tirek!” Spike exclaimed, brimming with excitement. “I said I would, and I did! But I didn’t do it alone—the little princess and her friends delivered the final blow and sent him where he belongs,” Sonic explained, nodding toward the Element Bearers. As the group let him go and reunited with their families, Sonic asked, “By the way, where’s Rainbow Dash?” “She’s helping Discord and the weather team gather clouds to put out the fires in Ponyville,” Fluttershy explained as Spike hugged Twilight, Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity, and Apple Bloom embraced Applejack. Sonic stood, forcing himself to ignore his body’s protests. Rouge approached, helping him stay steady. “You’re lucky Amy isn’t here, or she’d lecture you for being in this state.” “Can I trust you not to mention this when we get back? But anyway, I guess we’ll need to talk for several hours,” Sonic said, glancing at the three princesses. “Unless you’ve already given them an explanation.” “Oops, my bad,” Rouge admitted. “Everyone was so focused on your performance that I didn’t get the chance to tell them much about us.” As Rainbow Dash returned, she was greeted by her number-one fan, who hugged her and celebrated her success. “We won! You know what that means!?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Uh... knowing you, it means par-” Spike started, but Pinkie interrupted. “A VICTORY PARTY!!!” she shouted, leaping into the air and firing confetti from a random cannon. While the group laughed at Pinkie’s enthusiasm, Sonic and Rouge exchanged amused glances before turning to the princesses. They looked at each other, silently agreeing how to proceed. “How about we move the celebration to Canterlot? A small victory gathering and a chance to get to know each other better,” Celestia suggested. “Really!? YEEHAW!!!” Pinkie Pie cheered, nearly exploding with excitement. “In the meantime, I’ll send the best builders to clean and repair Ponyville to prevent any accidents. You two are also invited,” Celestia said, addressing Sonic and Rouge. “Well, we’d love to, but…” Rouge hesitated, glancing at Sonic, who nodded with a smile. “But yes, we’d be happy to come.” “Fantastic! We’ll see you there tonight, and we’ll have a place for you to rest,” Celestia confirmed. “Will it be formal or just a casual gathering?” Luna asked. “Nothing too grand, just a chance to catch up,” Celestia replied. She then turned to Sonic, her horn glowing with golden magic. His wounds healed, the dirt vanished, and his pain disappeared, leaving him feeling refreshed. “I hope this is enough to thank you for your bravery. Do you feel better?” “Heh, better than ever. Thanks, Princess... Celestia!” Sonic said, glancing at Spike, who gave him a thumbs-up for getting her name right. “No need to thank me. It’s just a small gesture of gratitude for risking yourself for our kingdom, even though this matter was never your responsibility.” “So, you’re the ruler of these lands, right?” Sonic asked the tall white alicorn, who spread her wings to reveal her resemblance to Twilight. She nodded with a smile. “Well, where are my manners before royalty?” Sonic approached, took one of her hooves, and kissed it gently in a respectful gesture, taking her by surprise. Everyone present was shocked by the unexpected action. Celestia folded her wings, feeling a slight blush at the hedgehog’s chivalrous act. Sonic stood tall, his left hand behind his back and the other still holding her hoof. “Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, Your Highness, hero of Mobius and the fastest thing alive.” Quickly recovering herself, she looked at him with a calm smile, but there was a playful glint in her gaze directed toward her sister. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Sonic the Hedgehog. Here at my right is my sister, Princess of the Night, Luna. She is also the co-ruler of these lands.” She smiled and gestured toward her sister with her wing, catching Luna by surprise. What are you thinking, Sister? Luna blushed, realizing he would greet her in the same manner. Though it was an unfamiliar gesture, she restrained herself from reacting negatively or making a scene in front of others, not wanting to seem ungrateful for his display of respect toward her royal position. Sonic gently released the hoof of the Princess of the Sun and approached the Princess of the Night. He greeted her in the same manner, bowing respectfully as he introduced himself. “It’s an honor, Princess Luna. I am Sonic the Hedgehog, a lover of adventures and admirer of the night sky.” He grinned mischievously, winking knowingly, as if in on Celestia's playful teasing of her sister. “Y-yes, it’s an honor as well, Sir Sonic… Thank you for helping us.” Luna smiled appreciatively at his chivalrous gesture, but internally she knew her sister was teasing her by catching her off guard, much like Sonic had. Cadance stifled a laugh behind one of her hooves as she watched Sonic approach her next, knowing he intended to greet her similarly. She simply smiled and extended her hoof in acknowledgment. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Princess Cadance.” “It’s an absolute pleasure, Princess Cadance. Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, to help, save, and protect.” The group of ponies looked on in disbelief at his boldness, casually addressing the princesses in such a manner. Rouge simply observed, unfazed, as Sonic remained himself even in the presence of royalty. After greeting the three elder princesses, Celestia looked to her student. Using her magic, she brought Twilight forward, despite the young alicorn’s attempt to resist being drawn into the spotlight where the hedgehog was greeting every member of royalty. “And this is my former student and Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. From what I understand, you’ve already had a few encounters.” “You could say that, Your Highness, but now that everything’s peaceful…” Sonic approached the young alicorn, took her hoof gently, and gave it a tender kiss, this time showing respect for her position as a princess. “I’m Sonic. I hope to make a better impression this time than during our first meeting,” he said with a warm smile. His words sounded more like a sincere apology than a boastful introduction. His gaze softened, exuding kindness and confidence. Twilight, for her part, was unsure how to react. Her nerves threatened to overwhelm her as she looked at him, blushing and fidgeting nervously. She turned to her friends for support. Rarity nodded encouragingly, Applejack nudged Rainbow Dash, who made a gagging motion, gesturing toward her mouth, Pinkie bounced excitedly, and Fluttershy shyly averted her gaze. “Now then, Princess, I’m all ears for whatever you need,” Sonic said, his words calming her. Now reassured that he was ready to listen and wouldn’t run off, Twilight felt she finally had a chance to build mutual understanding. While Sonic introduced himself, Rouge took the initiative to present herself in her own unique way. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highnesses. I’m Rouge the Bat, special agent of G.U.N, professional thief, and lover of jewels. But don’t worry, the thief part is strictly for the greater good and against the bad guys.” “You’re like a spy gathering intel on enemies?” Luna asked, intrigued and finding it pleasant that Rouge was a nocturnal creature like herself. “The night is when I do my best work, but the day isn’t bad either,” Rouge replied with a sly smile. Cadance joined Rouge and Luna, eager to be part of the conversation. “I think you and I have something to discuss regarding the Crystal Empire and your late-night arrival.” “As long as a cell isn’t part of the plan, I think we can come to a good understanding,” Rouge quipped. “Let’s leave further introductions for later while we prepare for our little celebration and meeting, shall we?” Celestia suggested, receiving nods from Luna and Cadance in agreement. “Until later, my ponies, Sonic, Rouge. We’ll be waiting for you.” Sonic responded with a thumbs-up, signaling his agreement as the trio of princesses departed, leaving the heroes to settle in. Now, it was time for the Mobians to introduce themselves to Twilight’s group. Canterlot – Throne Room Upon returning from the encounter with the group of heroes, the princesses found themselves back in the throne room, where Tirek had left them powerless. Inside, they encountered the same robotic bird through which Dr. Eggman had previously communicated with them. As they approached, the robotic bird activated, its beak opening to emit the voice of its creator. “Good day, princesses. I see you’ve been charmed by the words of that little blue monstrosity.” “And how would you know what we’ve done?” Celestia stepped forward, glaring at the metallic creature. “Just like this invention of mine, I have many others scattered everywhere. That hulking bull dared to challenge him, what a colossal fool. Did he truly think he could stand a chance against that blue menace? Bah! He can steal magic, but against him? Nothing can stop him.” Eggman’s voice dripped with amusement, clearly relishing the idea of his archenemy’s victory. Luna stepped beside her sister, exchanging a glance with her. “What do you mean? Are you saying Tirek never stood a chance against Sir Sonic?” The robot turned toward the Princess of the Night, its reaction seemingly expressing surprise at her words. “Sir Sonic, you say? I see his words have truly charmed you, now you can’t help but see him as a powerful ally. He helped you defeat that ‘Tirek,’ befriended you, and earned the favor of your subjects.” It raised one wing, projecting a hologram of Sonic greeting the three princesses and mingling with the Element Bearers as part of their group. The three princesses exchanged uncertain glances, weighing Eggman’s words about the blue hero against Sonic’s seemingly genuine kindness and willingness to help. Cadance stepped forward, using her magic to turn the robot to face her. “Listen to me, Doctor! We might consider your words to protect our ponies, but we know nothing about you. We can’t decide who to trust until we know more about both sides. Why don’t you let us ensure your intentions are genuine before we deal with him?” The room fell silent after Cadance’s fiery outburst, leaving Celestia and Luna taken aback. The robot remained silent for a few seconds before Cadance gently set it down with her magic. “HO HO HO HO! Very well, princess! As you wish, but remember, if you’re ever desperate to stop him, I’ll be awaiting your call. I’ll take care of him myself.” The robot opened a compartment in its chest, releasing a remote with a button displaying a smiley face with a mustache. “Just press this button, and I’ll send a team to take him away, far from your subjects, never to bother you again.” The robot ended the transmission and flew away, leaving the remote lying on the floor. It floated up in a golden aura toward Celestia. “What do we do now? We don’t know who to trust,” Luna said, feeling the weight of the situation. “Hmm… I have an idea. But for this, our guests must stay overnight. Then, using your dream magic, we can learn about both Sonic and Dr. Eggman.” “Hmm, that sounds like an invasion of their privacy, Sister.” Luna already felt uneasy about the idea. “I know, and I admit it’s unfair to him. I just hope he doesn’t hate us if we’re wrong about him. But we do this to protect our ponies and to understand who our enemy truly is. Just this once, and then you can continue to use your magic as you see fit.” “Fine… but I won’t feel at ease doing this. Still, if it’s for understanding and trust, I’ll do it.” Celestia nodded, relieved, and walked away, leaving Cadance and Luna alone. [Sister, does the idea of someone so powerful truly frighten you this much? Are we going so far just because we’re unsure if he’s deceiving us or true to his words?] Luna asked silently, glancing at the remote in Celestia’s magic. “Cadance, could you sense the feelings of our guests when you get the chance?” “Of course, but right now, Celestia feels just as insecure as you.” “It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect. Metal Sonic and the Forbidden Amulet.“It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect. After the communication between the good doctor and the alicorn princesses ended, he stood up and headed to his laboratory, where he was greeted by Orbot, who was observing the ponies that had been captured, now held in their cells in a very lifelike manner to Eggman's eyes. "Any progress?" "Definitely, sir. Not only are we able to harvest their magic, but we can also drain it and store it to function as energy sources. We are slowly encapsulating it to create batteries instead of just recharging them at stations. Additionally, the different types of magic allow the robots to integrate with them, thereby using the abilities of the respective magic." "What are the abilities of the different species of these equines?" "Pegasi can control clouds and create weather as they wish. Earth ponies are physically stronger, and unicorns can use all sorts of magical spells, but..." "But… tell me, what’s the meaning of that ‘but’!?" "Well… there’s a fourth species, and you’re already aware of it. The alicorn princesses are a fusion of the other three species, and as such, they seem to become princesses while also gaining immense magical power." There was a moment of silence between the two as they exchanged looks. Orbot realized he was in trouble, though he wasn’t sure why. He set the device down on the floor and curled into a ball, bracing for the kick that eventually came, sending him flying into the wall before bouncing back to his original spot. "I had, right in front of me, three powerful sources for my machines, and with their status, I could dismantle their entire civilization just by having them under my control! And you’re telling me this now!?" Orbot recovered and picked up the digital screen, showing his creator the image of the fourth princess. "Actually, sir… there are four princesses. The fourth is the one Sonic saved from that crazy centaur. Her primary ability seems to be magic. According to what we’ve spied on so far, these equines have unique and special marks on their bodies that appear when they discover their talent, what they love, or their unique ability. These symbols are called ‘Cutie Marks’ and can appear at any moment in their lives." "And let me guess, this princess is the one that infuriating Sonic saved from extermination. She’s very skilled in magical capacities and potential?" Orbot nodded silently, and behind them, a large door opened, revealing a containment capsule carried in by Metal Sonic. The prisoner, a pony with zebra-like features, was placed in a cell. "Good work, Metal. Now tell me, how many Chaos Emeralds do we have?" Metal Sonic’s visor displayed a count: 💎6/7. It then switched to an exclamation mark, surprising his creator, and presented a small case, which he handed to Eggman. "What’s this?" Upon opening it, Eggman found what appeared to be an ordinary brooch. It was triangular with wings on the sides, featuring a horse head with a horn at the top, and its center crystal and eyes emitted a reddish glow. "Mmm… if you brought this to me, it must be powerful. You wouldn’t bring anything like this without a reason. Your sensors must have detected an energy source in this object." A groan was heard from the zebra in her cell as she struggled to stand. "Th-the Alicorn Amulet… must not… be used… or it will bring chaos to your side…" Metal Sonic approached the cell and activated an electric shock, rendering her unconscious before returning to Eggman’s side. "Orbot, find out what that means. Metal, see if you can extract magic from this item. Something tells me it might serve as a new Chaos Emerald." Eggman assigned their tasks and left, leaving Orbot and Metal Sonic to work through the night. While Orbot scanned the amulet to analyze it digitally, Metal Sonic stared intently at it, feeling an inexplicable pull toward the object. After several moments of observation, he determined that this was no ordinary item—it was a magical enhancer. With his calculations, he realized that if he merged the amulet with himself and charged it with the magic harvested from the ponies, it would allow him to evolve into his next form. With the Chaos Emeralds, anything would be possible. I look at the workbench and approach a computer, beginning to type on it. Then I lean on the workbench as automated arms descend from the ceiling. They grab the Alicorn Amulet while others present various tools. Quickly, they begin to work on attaching the amulet to the robot's head, specifically to its forehead. Through a study conducted by the automated machine on the unknown object, it determines a way to integrate the amulet with the robot lying on the table. Thus begins the laborious process of uniting the two into one entity. The amulet starts glowing as Metal Sonic's optical sensors power on, and he steps down from the table. He observes his hands as if expecting to feel some change within himself, though he knows this is part of this new world. He heads to the laboratory to test his theory. Meanwhile, Orbot uncovers the amulet's primary function of enhancing magic. However, something about it seems strange. Why would anyone need an artifact capable of amplifying their magic to the level of an alicorn princess? Why would such an object even exist? For now, though, these questions were not his priority. He began wondering if this object could be modified for other uses. Before he could act, the door opened, revealing Metal Sonic with the amulet on his forehead. Slowly, he approached the chamber where the magic was stored, extending his metallic claw to grab a perfectly hand-sized orb. He examined it closely, analyzing it multiple times to ensure his next move. Orbot watched in silence, noticing the amulet on Metal's head, wondering if it was functioning as expected. Although he hadn't had the chance to manipulate the object himself, he witnessed Metal Sonic absorb the magic into his body. His scanners revealed that the magic was now part of his power source. The Alicorn Amulet was controlling the magic, preventing it from dissipating within Metal’s inorganic body. "Metal, you’ve managed what we've been struggling to achieve! This is incredible progress! But unfortunately, we only had that one amulet, right?" Orbot cautiously approached the robot, but Metal didn’t respond or even turn to acknowledge him. "Metal?..." He remained silent, unresponsive to his name, staring at the massive container of magic before him. Though it seemed like an enormous amount, its power was relatively modest. His eyes inverted in color, and the amulet emitted a red glow. Metal Sonic stepped forward, driving his claws into the large magic reservoir. Upon contact, he began absorbing the energy much like he does with Chaos Emeralds—though this time, it was magic unfamiliar to his systems. Unlike the Chaos Emeralds, which allow him to evolve from "Metal Sonic" into "Neo Metal Sonic" and eventually take on a super form akin to his organic counterpart, this magic was different. His head began to undergo subtle changes. The Alicorn Amulet fused with the metal of his head. Its crystal became an integral part of his structure, and the material that once resembled an alicorn's face reshaped itself into a horn, encasing the crystal. The vast amount of magic was drained into his body, leaving the container empty. A rainbow flash engulfed him, but it shifted to a deep red, signaling that his entire color scheme had changed from blue to red. Metallic appendages resembling wings emerged on the sides of his head, a transformation spurred by the amulet. "Metal? What happened to you?" Orbot approached him, but when Metal turned to face him, Orbot froze, feeling something akin to fear in his cold, metallic form. His sensors detected critical levels of unknown magical energy. He couldn't tell if his programming was malfunctioning or if the sensors were overwhelmed by the magic's radiation. Whatever the cause, it was clear that Eggman's greatest creation had now become compatible with this world's magic. "Analyzing... pony magic functional... analyzing... capabilities exceeded... analyzing... more power required." That was all Metal said before turning to Orbot and forcibly taking the device in his hands. With a single touch, he downloaded all the data he needed. "New energy sources analyzed. High-power targets: Alicorn princesses. Objective: capture, extract magic, evolve, eliminate opposition." The horn on his head glowed red as he dropped the device and walked away, leaving a bewildered and frightened Orbot behind, still reeling from the realization that Metal Sonic no longer seemed to act of his own volition. Eggman, in the main control room, watched through the monitor as his robots returned from the equine planet, each carrying an alert indicating they had failed to locate the final Chaos Emerald. Despite having scoured more of the planet than Sonic could have due to being occupied with other matters, Eggman was now certain his nemesis had the last emerald. The door behind him opened, but he ignored the intruder, recognizing the sound of footsteps as Metal Sonic's. "Metal, I see you're free. Get ready; I have a mission for you." The robot silently approached, stepping into view. "Requesting permission to acquire additional test subjects and extract their magic." Eggman was taken aback by the request, his attention drawn to Metal’s altered appearance—small wings on the sides of his head, a shift in color to red, and a prominent horn. "Eh, Metal... What did you do to yourself?" "I have evolved. I will now acquire more magic," was all Metal said, ignoring whether his request had been granted. "Wait a moment! I didn’t authorize this! Now listen—I want you to draw Sonic’s attention, destroy whatever is necessary, and take the final Chaos Emerald from him. I’m certain he has it." "...Request denied." Eggman froze in confusion. His creation was defying him? Rebelling? "I gave you an order, Metal! Don’t you dare disobey me!" "Doctor Eggman, you are no longer useful in executing your own plan. Therefore, you are relieved of your role as leader in the conquest of this world." The horn glowed red, and Eggman was lifted into the air by a magical aura before being slammed against the main window, overlooking the void of space. "Y-you insolent scrap heap! How dare you?! I created you! I programmed you!" Metal approached slowly, hovering thanks to his propulsion systems. "Indeed, Doctor. But remember this—you created me to be a worthy rival to Sonic's speed and strength. You also programmed me with an intelligence capable of evolving and outsmarting him in every encounter. But now, I also have the programming to fulfill your ultimate goal: defeat, eliminate, and conquer. You have become an obstacle, overthinking your plans into uselessness. I will achieve your goal by combining Sonic's abilities with your knowledge." With each word, Eggman backed away, finding himself cornered with nowhere to escape the impending threat posed by his creation. "I won’t let you betray me!" He pulled a high-tech pistol from his coat and aimed it at Metal without hesitation. "Pathetic organic survival attempt." Metal extended his claw, and with a gesture, the gun was crushed into a lump of scrap by his magic. "Grrr... Eggpaws! Stop him!" Eggman shouted as robotic minions entered the control room, aiming their laser weapons at Metal. But Metal’s glowing horn made them turn on Eggman, restraining him. "Take him to the containment cell and prepare all units for an attack when ordered." Eggman fell silent, realizing that everything he had was now in Metal Sonic's hands. His plans to conquer and rule the ponies' world were now under the control of the very being he had least expected. The Chaos Emeralds, the research on pony magic, his army, and his technology were no longer his. All he could do was hope his nemesis could stop him. With Eggman out of the picture, Metal projected a hologram of Twilight Sparkle, receiving Sonic’s chivalrous greeting. "Priority 1: Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog... now downgraded to final priority." "New primary priority: Capture and extract the magic of the high-capacity Alicorn." Good and bad times.Author's Note I apologize for the delay, as for this one I had to take references from some moments in games, comics, or invent them myself, but I also blame myself for playing some video games. I’m sorry and enjoy! Good and bad times. “It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect. The night had fallen, and everyone was gathered in front of the castle gates. The guards were already aware that two unexpected guests would be accompanying the Element bearers to this private meeting. They decided not to raise their weapons this time, avoiding another incident like the one during their first encounter when they acted against Twilight’s orders to refrain from attacking him. Sonic was present without his gloves, as they had been heavily damaged. Before heading to Canterlot, the Crusaders had offered to repair them, but Sonic didn’t give much importance to the idea. Still, he couldn’t say no to their puppy-like pleading eyes, which ultimately made him hand over the ruined gloves. Upon arrival, the hedgehog was wearing a new pair of gloves crafted by the Crusaders, with Spike’s help in casting the final vote for the best design. It was a challenging task, given they had never dealt with "hands" before. However, using the discarded gloves as a reference gave them a solid starting point. The gloves were predominantly white, with a green flame design on the back that stretched from the knuckles to the wrist. Within the flame, a golden pony with a blue cape symbolized the Crusaders and the young dragon who worked together on a gift for their friends' hero. Rouge wore her usual attire, as Rarity found it too time-consuming to create original outfits for her and Sonic. She didn't want to compromise the quality of her work. However, that didn’t stop Rarity from dressing herself in something worthy of a royal invitation. As they entered the castle during the night, Rouge couldn’t help but whistle in admiration of its beauty under the moonlight. Sonic, on the other hand, drew a few glances from the guards. Some recognized him from the wanted posters, while others had been present on the night he first arrived. The six ponies were accompanied by a hedgehog, a bat, Spike, and the Crusaders as they headed to the royal meeting. In the dining hall, the three princesses, along with Shining Armor, awaited them at a grand round table, ensuring everyone could join the conversation without leaving anyone out. "Welcome back, my dear ponies, Sir Sonic, and Lady Rouge. I hope the food and accommodations we've prepared will meet your expectations," Celestia greeted her guests as they took their seats. Sonic found himself sitting with Spike on his right and Twilight on his left. To Twilight’s left sat Luna, followed by Celestia, Cadance, and Shining Armor. Applejack sat next to Shining, with the Crusaders beside her, then Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and finally Rouge, completing the circle with Spike on her other side. "Please, don’t worry about that, Your Highness. We can eat all sorts of food, and there’s no need for formalities—just call me Sonic, and that’s fine by me." "I feel the same way. Thank you, but just Rouge will do. We’re already grateful for the invitation," Rouge replied, looking over the table filled with various dishes, desserts, and cakes. What caught her attention most, however, was a bowl of precious gems placed in front of her. "Well, aren’t these beauties? Who could have brought such lovely treasures to a royal dinner?" She smiled as she picked up a gem between her fingers, but a light blue magical aura pulled it away. "Oh, I’m sorry if there’s been a misunderstanding, but these are for Spikey-Wikey. Dragons here can eat gems," Rarity explained, levitating the gem toward the young dragon. Spike grabbed it with his claws and bit into it, breaking it in half, leaving the Mobians stunned. Rouge, however, secretly felt it was a waste of something so valuable. "What a waste of gems! But surely, as beautiful as they are, you don’t live solely on these treasures, right?" Rouge asked. Spike shook his head as he finished devouring the gem. He reached into the bowl and pulled out an emerald, giving it a lick. "Mmh! Nope! I can eat other things besides gems, but I can tell by the taste when they’re high quality. This one’s pretty good," he said, offering the emerald to Rouge. "For me?" Rouge was taken aback by the gesture, surprised that something so valuable was being handed to her as if it were candy. Yet, the young dragon’s expression showed it was of little importance to him. He simply nodded, waiting for her to take it, and she gently took the emerald, admiring its shine and pristine condition. "Aren’t you a little charmer!" she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek in gratitude. The gesture left the young dragon blushing furiously, nearly knocking him out as he gazed at the bat with a dreamy, lovestruck expression. Sonic chuckled, amused by how the young dragon had been utterly defeated by Rouge's most innocent weapon in her arsenal. Meanwhile, Rarity noticed Spike’s lovestruck expression as Rouge continued to examine the emerald with a jeweler’s loupe, displaying her professional appreciation for fine gems. "You’re lucky, Rouge. Normally, Knuckles wouldn’t let you get near the emerald, but here you have a little gentleman," Sonic remarked with a smile. "Sonic, if you don’t mind, we’d like to know more about you two," Celestia interjected, steering the conversation toward a more formal tone. "If it’s possible, and if you don’t mind, we have so many questions. We’d like to understand how you got here and where you’re from." Her direct approach grabbed everyone’s attention, creating a sudden silence. "Alright," Sonic replied, a small grin appearing on his face. "I was waiting for someone to ask. Let’s make it fun—how about one question from each of you for us? What do you think, Rouge?" "I’ve got nothing to hide—other than figuring out the best use for this beautiful emerald," Rouge said, slipping the gem into her pouch with a smirk before picking up a cupcake to eat. "Alright then. Your Highnesses, would you like to start?" Sonic turned his gaze to Twilight, and the others followed suit, catching her completely off guard. "Eh? Me?!" she stammered, pointing at herself nervously, unsure why Sonic would include her under the term "Your Highnesses." The group chuckled at her reaction, and Twilight quickly realized that Sonic had been referring to her as a princess too. "Oh, I get it now. Well, I have plenty of questions, but since it’s one per pony… Hmm, I’ve got it! What you said after defeating that giant Timberwolf—was it true?" Sonic tilted his head, trying to recall their brief conversation that night. "Look, Princess, I’m pretty sure I know exactly what you're thinking: you want to capture me, lock me up, put me on trial, and try to believe my story. But without a lawyer to defend me, and without my friends around, yeah, I know the mess I’m in. This isn’t the first, and probably won’t be the last time I end up in an unknown world with no knowledge of it. But that doesn’t mean I should just give up because you tell me to. I respect you, I’ve met other princesses too, but I’ve had some bad experiences being unjustly locked up or imprisoned for things I didn’t do or didn’t even commit." "Could you be more specific? I said a lot of things, so I’m not sure which part you mean," Sonic asked, scratching his head. "What you said about this not being the first or probably the last time you end up in an unknown world. Does that mean you are… from another world?" Twilight clarified, her curiosity brimming as she leaned closer. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the Mobians, their eyes wide as if Twilight had uncovered a well-guarded secret. "Of course we are! Well, not like extraterrestrials or aliens… okay, maybe like that," Sonic admitted with a shrug. "But it’s more accurate to say another dimension or another part of the vast, infinite universe." Gasps and murmurs filled the room as the ponies exchanged bewildered glances. The Mobians, however, didn’t seem fazed by their reaction. "Really?! Oh, all the books I’ve read!" Twilight exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "I have so many questions—" Before she could continue, Sonic raised a hand, his palm outstretched to signal her to pause. He smiled calmly, recognizing the familiar excitement he had seen in a certain yellow fox before. "Easy there, Princess. I’ll answer everything you want to know another time, but the others are waiting for their turn." Twilight blushed in embarrassment, realizing her enthusiasm had gotten the better of her. "Sorry. Please, go ahead." Luna smiled, her curiosity now piqued. Building off Twilight’s question, she asked, "How did you end up here?" The Mobians exchanged glances before Rouge raised her hand to speak first. "Well, I was visiting an old friend. When he wasn’t around, I decided to ‘borrow’ a ‘small’ item. But someone else got to it before I did, so I set out to retrieve it and return it. Then… well, the local hero didn’t know the whole story and just acted, and here we are." "Guilty of doing the right thing. Next!" Sonic interjected cheerfully, shrugging as if their arrival wasn’t a big deal. "Wait a moment! You haven’t explained how you ended up here," Luna pointed out, noticing Sonic was evading the question. Sonic paused mid-bite of a slice of cake, looking caught off guard. "Well, I was with my friends relaxing and enjoying the beautiful sun of Mobius until Knuckles, through his connection with the Master Emerald, felt it being removed from what you could call his 'private island.' So, we quickly got on Tails’ plane and soared through the skies to reach Angel Island! When we got there, my arch-nemesis’ base was flying away, leaving the island to crash into the ocean! So, I went Super, flew up to stop him, and confronted him in space. I decided to destroy everything he was working on, but he used the power of the Master Emerald. I countered with the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and we ended up here!" After telling his story, Sonic happily continued eating his slice of cake, leaving all the ponies (including the Crusaders) speechless. Due to his story, the questions they had planned to ask were set aside in favor of addressing what they had just heard. "My turn!" Celestia said excitedly. "We know where you come from and how you arrived, but now I have a better question! What are these… ‘Chaos Emeralds’ and this ‘Master Emerald’ you mentioned?" The two exchanged glances and stood up, heading to a corner of the room. "One moment, please." The ponies watched them curiously, wondering what they were whispering about. After a few moments, the two Mobians returned to their seats, now wearing more serious expressions. "Alright, listen carefully. We’ll explain, but this must stay between everyone at this table," Sonic said, giving Celestia a stern look that caught her attention. He then turned to glance at the guards stationed at the doors. She understood the gravity of the situation and gave a simple nod. With a gesture, the guards left the room, leaving only the guests and the princesses. "Alright, now that we’re alone, I’ll give you a rundown of the Chaos Emeralds. But understand that I’m sharing this because I trust you, and this information cannot leave this room. Understood?" Sonic’s tone was firm, and it was clear that this was not a matter to be taken lightly. The ponies exchanged nervous glances and then nodded in agreement. "Good. The Chaos Emeralds, as their name implies, are seven emeralds of chaotic power, capable of making the thoughts and desires of the heart of whoever uses them come true," Sonic explained. He then looked at Rouge, who nodded to continue the explanation. "Individually, they’re already powerful. But together, they can destroy, rebuild, erase, save, ruin, or restore all of reality as we know it. They’ve restored space and time, helped us save our world—and the universe. And while what I’m about to say might sound exaggerated without solid proof, these emeralds have limitless power and infinite energy. But beyond what they are, what matters is what they can achieve in the right—or wrong—hands." Rouge glanced at Sonic, prompting everyone to follow her gaze. He held up the green Chaos Emerald in his hand. "They can give you the power to face beings on the level of gods. This hero right here has been involved in countless adventures where these beautiful but powerful emeralds gave him the strength to confront entities that sought to destroy life and reality as we know it." The room fell silent as everyone processed Rouge’s explanation. The idea that such a perfect-looking jewel could hold so much power was hard to believe. Why would anyone need something capable of both immense good and immense harm? And if they were so powerful individually, any person possessing even one could become a significant threat. "If they’re so powerful, why not destroy them or keep them locked away?" Cadance dared to ask, not realizing she was using her turn for the question. "Destroying them is impossible. They’re resistant to lava, can’t be crushed, and are indestructible. As for locking them away? They’d just get stolen. No matter where they are, trouble always seems to follow," Sonic replied, casually tossing the emerald into the air and catching it repeatedly. "I have a question," Shining Armor said, his tone skeptical. "Sonic, what’s the biggest thing you’ve ever faced using these Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic continued playing with the emerald, while Spike and Rarity couldn’t take their eyes off it, their heads moving up and down with its constant motion. “Hmm… the biggest thing? Well, it might be…” “DARK GAIA!” A sudden shout in unison caught everyone’s attention. They turned to see the Crusaders with their helmets on the table and wide grins on their faces. This caused Sonic to stop playing with the emerald and put it away, smiling as he saw how they remembered his story. “Yeah, you could say it was one of the biggest challenges I faced.” “Dark Gaia?” everyone repeated at the same time, while the Crusaders kept smiling. Everyone looked at the fillies and then back at Sonic. It seemed like they’d already shared enough time to swap stories before meeting the others. “A so-called god of darkness that existed at the planet’s core—so massive it could cover the entire core. It awakens every thousand years to battle Light Gaia in a fight between creation and destruction, light and dark. You know, the usual.” The rest of the evening passed with eating, answering questions, and sharing funny anecdotes from their respective worlds. Eventually, it was time for both groups of heroes to rest. At that moment, Luna guided the Mobians to their rooms. First was Rouge, who bade them goodnight and quickly took advantage of the royal accommodations. Then came Sonic. As soon as he entered, Luna watched him flop onto the sofa and let out a big yawn. “Uh, Sonic, you’ve got an entire bed to yourself.” “I know, Princess Luna, but I don’t need a lot of comfort. I sleep under trees, on the arms of balconies, on rooftops if needed, and on hills during the day and night. I’m not someone who cares much about material things. Goodnight…” And with that, he got comfortable and was asleep almost instantly. Luna cautiously cast a sleep spell to ensure he wouldn’t wake until morning—or until she decided. She then left and returned to the throne room, where she found the other princesses, the Element Bearers, the Crusaders, and Spike, who was as sleepy as the fillies. “All set, sister. He’s sleeping soundly thanks to my spell, but… strangely, he chose the sofa over the luxury bed,” Luna mentioned, still baffled by the hedgehog’s preference. “Very well. So, does everyone understand the situation?” Celestia asked the ponies who had been present earlier. “I’m not entirely sure. Are you saying we can’t trust Sonic because someone sent a bird to tell you he’s a monster?” Rainbow Dash asked, seeking clarity. Celestia nodded. “But who sent the bird? And why invade Sonic’s memories while he’s asleep? Aren’t his words enough?” Spike asked, covering a yawn. “Someone who knows Sonic—he calls himself ‘Dr. Eggman.’ I want to learn about him from Sonic’s perspective to ensure we’re trusting the right person and not making ourselves an enemy of the wrong one,” Celestia explained. The Crusaders, still fighting off sleep, exchanged glances when they heard the name mentioned. “Excuse me, Princess Celestia, but did you say ‘Doctor Eggman’? And the bird that spoke to you… was it metallic?” Apple Bloom asked hesitantly, catching everyone’s attention. Celestia nodded, but the fillies’ reaction suggested they knew something important. “That guy’s evil! Really evil!” Scootaloo yelled, earning surprised looks from the ponies present. “Calm down, Scoots. You can’t seriously say that when you don’t even know him,” Rainbow Dash interjected, trying to calm the young pegasus. “He’s evil! He destroyed Sonic’s entire planet with the Chaos Emeralds, unleashed some god of darkness or whatever from the planet’s core, and sent Sonic flying from space to crash into the planet!” Everyone stared at the Crusaders. Despite their sleepiness, the truth in their voices was evident. They were on Sonic’s side, but the others weren’t sure what to make of their passionate defense—or the hedgehog himself. “If you’re so eager to defend him, then let’s see for ourselves in his memories,” Celestia said with a smirk, leading everyone to Sonic’s room. There, they found the blue hedgehog sleeping soundly in a chaotic position—one hand on his chest, the other dangling off the sofa, his right leg bent, and his left foot touching the floor. He looked a moment away from face-planting. “For someone so full of energy, this doesn’t seem like a comfortable way to enjoy sleep,” Cadance remarked, just as the hedgehog murmured with a smile. “Mmh… mega ice cream…” “Let’s take advantage before his dreams turn less pleasant,” Applejack suggested, and everyone agreed. The group made themselves comfortable, sitting on chairs, the bed, and other spots in the room, while Luna stood at the center. She concentrated and created a connection between them and Sonic’s dreams, pulling everyone into his dream world at the same time. Dream Realm Once inside, the group found themselves on a snowy mountain buffeted by strong, freezing winds. “Where are we?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, struggling to see through the snowstorm. “We’re inside Sonic’s dreams—or rather, a mix of his memories and dreams,” Luna explained, scanning their surroundings until she noticed a figure beyond the storm. “Look over there. Isn’t that Sonic?” Luna called the group’s attention to the figure standing at the peak of a frozen mountain. Sonic took a deep breath, spread his arms, and dove off the edge. Luna rushed forward to check his intentions, with everyone following close behind. Instead of falling, Sonic landed on a snowboard and began speeding down the mountain with exhilarating speed. “Whew… close one.” “Were you worried about our guest, sister?” Celestia teased Luna for her reaction. “Well, yes! Even in a dream, dying can cause the dreamer to wake up. But since I cast the sleep spell on him, I fear he might remain ‘dead’ until morning—or who knows how his body might react. I’ve never tested this, and I don’t want to find out,” Luna admitted, lighting her horn to create a door in front of the group, which they entered. Celestia, feeling defeated by the explanation, could only follow as Sonic’s distant cries of excitement echoed behind them. “Welcome to the Hall of Memories,” Luna announced. “There’s also a Hall of Dreams, but since we’re connected to a dreamer, we’ll only see his memories.” The group now stood in an endless corridor lined with infinite doors, each labeled with titles. The surrounding ambiance showed places Sonic had been—beautiful landscapes and chaotic battlegrounds. The Crusaders quickly darted off to explore, drawn to one door in particular. “Girls! Get back here!” Applejack shouted, but the fillies ignored her and kept running. "Don’t worry, Applejack. This place is completely peaceful, and the memories are like fleeting winds around us—unable to harm or be altered by our presence. You’re free to explore and enjoy the memories without fear of causing any disruption or harm," Luna reassured. With that, everyone spread out, each choosing a door that captured their curiosity. Applejack approached a door titled "Little Bro", featuring a picture of Sonic and Tails fist-bumping. She raised an eyebrow, wondering about their relationship—who belonged to whose family? Unable to resist, she stepped through the door. Inside, she was greeted by various scenes of Sonic and Tails’ adventures, heartfelt conversations, and moments of teamwork. One window in particular caught her attention: Sonic and Tails walking together, Sonic visibly injured on one side. "Sonic… do you think I’m a burden?" Tails asked, his voice heavy with insecurity. Applejack’s heart sank as she watched the little fox, clearly burdened by self-doubt. Sonic stopped in his tracks, turning to face his friend with a calm smile. "What’s with that question now?" he asked, his tone light but curious. "I… I always freeze when there’s trouble. You’re always saving me while I just… tag along," Tails muttered, frustration and sadness evident in his voice. Sonic stepped closer, placing a hand on Tails’ shoulder. "Hey, who stopped Eggman from blowing up Station Square?" A memory flashed to Applejack’s side: Tails expertly dismantling a missile mid-flight. "And who saved me from the Sinister Six’s trap, huh?" Sonic added, as another memory appeared—Tails saving Sonic from a trap, taking the risk himself. "I’m… I’m too inconsistent," Tails mumbled, crossing his arms and looking away. "Relax, buddy!" Sonic said with a chuckle, moving in front of Tails. "You’re as smart as Eggman, almost as fast as me, and you can fly! Besides, everyone needs a little help sometimes—that’s just part of growing up." Tails stared at Sonic, his expression softening. "When did you get so wise?" "I have my moments," Sonic replied with a cheeky grin. As the memory faded, Applejack smiled, understanding the bond between the two. "So, Tails is like a little brother to him... just like Apple Bloom is to me," she thought, feeling a newfound respect for the duo. Twilight opened a door labeled "Princesses", her curiosity piqued. Did Sonic already have many memories involving her and the other princesses? Inside, she found scenes of Sonic interacting with various royals. One memory featured Sonic and a tall, elf-like woman holding a staff—Merlina the Sorceress. Sonic held a sword in one hand and wore a gauntlet on the other. "Your Majesty… how can I rule this kingdom after all I’ve done?" Merlina asked, kneeling before him, her voice filled with regret. "Merlina, you brought me here for a reason. You’ve proven yourself as the most capable magician, and you know this kingdom better than anyone. The Knights of the Round Table trust you, and so do I," Sonic said, handing her his sword as a gesture of trust. "We will miss you, Sonic—the Knight of the Wind," the sword spoke, its voice filled with pride. Twilight gasped. "He was a king? A knight? What kind of life has he lived?" Her thoughts raced. Another memory showed Sonic with Blaze, a feline princess. "How’s ruling your kingdom going, Blaze?" Sonic asked casually. "Busy as always, but peaceful. It’s nice to visit here and get away from all the ‘princess’ formalities," Blaze replied, sighing. Sonic extended a hand. "Care for a dance?" She accepted, and the two began an elegant yet adrenaline-filled "dance" as they fought off Eggman’s robots, dodging attacks with perfect synchronization. Twilight watched, amazed by their effortless teamwork. "How is he so calm in situations like this?" she wondered, captivated. Pinkie hopped through the hall, landing in front of a door labeled "The Best Birthday". Intrigued, she entered to find a joyous celebration. Sonic’s friends presented a cake shaped like his face. Pinkie giggled, taking mental notes for future parties. But the joy turned to chaos as a dark vortex appeared, sweeping away the decorations and guests. A shadowy figure emerged, its terrifying presence knocking Sonic unconscious. Pinkie gasped, her usual cheer replaced with dread as she watched Sonic awaken to begin a perilous adventure to save his friends. Despite the tension, Pinkie whispered, "I’ll have to throw him an even better party someday," before continuing to observe the unfolding memories. Meanwhile, Luna guided the others through the hall, ensuring they stayed safe. Each pony was discovering new facets of Sonic’s life, and the trust they had in him was deepening with every memory they witnessed Rainbow Dash couldn't see anything interesting through any door, but among all the memories of peaceful moments and races against beings who matched the speed of the hedgehog, she found a title that caught her attention: "Metal Sonic." The title was strange, did it mean there were more like him? Upon entering, she found multiple windows showing Sonic against a metallic version of himself and his different variants, one silver, the classic Metal Sonic, and Mecha Sonic. In all their confrontations, both looked very fast and competitive in a fight where one would survive and prove to be the "original." "Wow... I think this will entertain me for a while I'm here." Fluttershy didn’t make much progress since finding a door titled "Chaos Garden" was enough to stop her from learning more about Sonic. But there she was, alongside the memory of him spending a pleasant time with the harmless Chaos that played in the garden, in the company of a little girl with long ears while she played with the Chao. "Thank you for coming with me, Mr. Sonic." "Don’t mention it, Cream. After Eggman ruined the last tea party you invited me to, I thought about how we could make up for lost time, and here we are, at your favorite place." Around them, the small creatures called "Chao" were flying around, playing with each other, along with another one wearing a red bow. Cream was making flower crowns for each Chao and one for Sonic as well, as a thank-you for bringing her there. Cadance, on the other hand, found a door called "Admiring #1." It could be talking about someone who admired him as a hero for saving their life, but to calm her curiosity, she entered without hesitation, expecting to see someone who looked at him with hearts in their eyes. Upon entering, she found the marvelous view of a sunset near a forest far from the city. She searched with her eyes for the blue hedgehog but found only a curtain of dirt covering the place. When it finally cleared, she saw a pink creature in a red dress running quickly in one direction, shouting with a tone of concern in her voice. "Are you okay?!" "HA-HA-HA, You shot me straight into the energy cell! Good shot!" She recognized the owner of that voice, seeing Sonic there on the ground, covered in dirt, while the pink girl approached him concerned. "The invasion is over. I guess... now you'll leave..." "Yep!" The Princess of Love thought the blue hero’s attitude was very cold toward the pink girl, making her feel that he didn’t seem to understand her feelings. She didn’t need her magic to see into someone's heart and know how they feel toward others; just by looking and hearing her, she could tell. But as she got closer to see the scene better, next to the pink girl who was worried about Sonic, she could see him the same way she was looking at him. Sonic knew that she was now seeing him in the only way the pink hedgehog could see him: as something wonderful, standing there bathed in sunlight, his presence alone mesmerizing her. The Princess of Love managed to see him in the same way, but she understood that the hedgehog’s feelings gave him a glow that only she could perceive in her eyes. Even though it was just a memory and her magic wouldn’t work here, simply watching her admire him was more than enough to understand what she felt for him. "It’s what I do. I keep moving, doing good, saving people, and living free like the wind. Living my way, my own way." Everything he said was answered by the blushing face of the girl who looked at him, accompanied by a sigh that sounded full of love while she looked at him with the sun highlighting what only she could see as amazing in him. Cadance just admired the scene and slowly left the memory, watching how she clearly showed her feelings for him, even if he didn’t seem to accept it directly. Shining Armor, on his part, had already seen several memories, most of them showing Sonic saving innocents from city disasters, helping his friends, but now he found himself in a different scenario, after passing through a door titled "Knight of the Wind." There, he saw Sonic wielding a broken sword, covered in wounds while trying to stand. At the other end, where Sonic was looking, stood a strange creature, a being emitting a dark aura with many limbs and large swords in each one. It had left him badly wounded, lying face down on the ground, but then he heard a voice in his mind. "Sir Sonic! You've done enough!" A female voice said, making the hedgehog react as he started getting back up. "No, Sonic! There is no point in continuing!" A serious male voice said as Sonic managed to stand despite the pain. Shining was watching how the scene was unfolding, how he kept persisting with a smile and a confident look. "A knight... never... flees... his foes, right?" Sonic said while staring intently at his intended target. The great knight created by magic followed the commands of its controller, a sorceress beneath it. It simply attacked Sonic again, knocking him down. "You fool! This no longer has anything to do with chivalry! Get out of there! Run!" Another voice sounded in the memory, scolding him for facing the situation in a way worthy of a knight. Shining had trouble piecing together this memory. Did Sonic have something to do with being a knight? He carried a sword and was facing someone with no chances of winning, which was what a real knight would do too. But why was this memory showing him this? "It was never about chivalry for me..." Sonic got back on his feet, wielding the broken sword without taking his eyes off his enemy, his determination showing he wouldn’t surrender easily. "I just gotta do what I've gotta do, that’s all!" The three voices shouted his name, but then a golden flash of light descended from the dark sky, enveloping Sonic. Shining was blinded by the light, forced to cover his eyes. After a few seconds, he saw that Sonic was now wearing golden armor, with a red cape, and the sword was repaired and now much bigger, emitting a magical blade around the edge. He wielded the sword in the air, preparing his stance for attack. "Heh, Let’s do this!" Rarity and Spike were looking for a door that would help with what the princesses asked, but they ended up stumbling upon something that caught both of their attention. A door with a title that piqued the young dragon's curiosity: "I'm Just a Hero." He entered without wasting time, only thinking about the comics he read, expecting to see moments like these from the hedgehog. Rarity rolled her eyes and continued looking for a door that caught her attention. Inside the door, Spike admired many windows containing moments of action, adrenaline, and heroic deeds. He just needed a hero suit, and it would be perfect for the title. He entered a memory and found his blue friend racing against what appeared to be a poorly made clone of himself in a race, but at the end of the race, after getting far enough from the clone, he not only reached the finish line but also rescued a girl he carried in his arms. "Wow... I wish I could be like him when I grow up!" In another, he saw how the fast hedgehog saved small animals, fought robot armies, and even though he fell, he got back up. None of this resembled his comics, and that made it much better. He sat on the floor, admiring each moment as if he were watching multiple shows on TV at the same time, excited to see what he had lived—many victories, many friends, magical places like a floating island, how he joined another version of himself to jump through space and time, how he traveled on the wing of a plane without fear of falling, having fans just like he did in the Crystal Empire. He was admiring his idol! Living through these memories filled him with emotions, and when he saw one that he considered the best of all, his jaw almost hit the floor. There he saw Sonic in his super form, golden with sky-blue eyes, arms crossed, and his gaze locked on his target. Spike followed his gaze and saw a gigantic white being with multiple arms, seemingly carrying a massive shell on its back. The small dragon just stood there, watching as if waiting for a signal for what needed to happen, and in the blink of an eye, the giant monster was attacking his friend with what appeared to be energy waves far larger than the hedgehog. But the hero didn’t flinch and simply deflected them one by one, a total of five. For the fifth, he merely placed his left hand on his hip while floating in the air, and with his right hand, he brushed it aside as if swatting away an annoying fly. Being speechless was an understatement for what Spike had just witnessed, but that was only the beginning of everything he would experience through the memory. After a few seconds, she entered a very excited "New King." Inside, she saw through the windows how Sonic was being named the king of an entire kingdom, which took the unicorn by surprise as she saw that now he wore a golden crown, a long red cape, a metal gauntlet on his right hand, and was followed by a sword that floated beside him. "You know, buddy? I never thought I'd become a king!" "You were able to unleash my maximum power, wielding the legendary sword of the former king! It was to be expected that you would be given such a title." The sword explained, which surprised Rarity even more as she watched how the hedgehog sat on the throne, with the talking sword in his hand, the blade pointing to the ground. "I admit, and I’ll sound cocky saying this, but where I come from, I’ve saved the world, many lives, other worlds, and even once died and came back to life! But after all that, I didn’t care if there was a reward, I just do what needs to be done because it has to be done, that’s all, and I’m content with seeing others safe without expecting anything in return." "Where you come from, are you also a king? Or are you just a guy who loves adventures and saving lives?" Sonic smiled at his response and looked at the talking weapon. "Now you're reading minds too?" With that response, the sword now believed that the one who was the new king of Camelot and the only one capable of wielding it was just a guy with good intentions who didn’t seem to care about his manners and just jumped in to help others. "Well, I won’t ask more, you never stop surprising me, buddy. A generous, kind, loyal king, with few manners but honesty in his words and a fun yet challenging attitude... it’s not something you see every day." Sonic smiled and looked at him with a chuckle, Rarity watched the scene, admiring how her friend was a king from a faraway place that would be hard for her to understand. The sword could speak, and he represented both the five elements of harmony and perhaps much more, making her find it strange that someone like him wasn’t well rewarded. "Well, buddy! With my coronation done, it’s time for all this to end... for now." "Time to go home?" The sword asked, and Sonic just nodded, and then both left, while Rarity exited the memory and looked for another one to better understand the scene. Now, the Princess of the Sun had walked among many doors, but none looked different from the others. The door she was looking for with a particular name didn’t appear. She almost thought she should walk to the possible end of the infinite hallway of doors. Her sister, seeing her desperate, approached her, worried. "Is something wrong, sister?" "This is impossible! Look at all these doors! Where’s the door with the name of Doctor Eggman!?" Her shout echoed throughout the area, and behind her, a door began to glow, changing from blue to black with a new title in red letters, ending with a symbol of a smiling face with a mustache. "Dr. Eggman/Ivo Robotnik...? Is this his door?" Celestia’s question was answered when a dark aura surrounded the door, and it opened on its own in her direction. "It seems... Sonic’s subconscious responded to your call in some way..." That was the best explanation Luna could give while rubbing her helmet against her chin, thinking about what had happened. "Is that... possible!?" Her sister exclaimed in surprise. "It could be... or perhaps right now, his current dream added Dr. Eggman, and his door naturally appeared to add memories to the dream." This changed the theory she had given earlier, and now this idea stayed in her mind until she could find a better explanation for what happened. "Whatever it is, I’m going in!" Celestia looked at the dark void inside the door, determined to enter, preparing for the worst. Upon entering, the door closed behind her. The whole place was dark; there was nothing and no one. Silence and mystery dominated the atmosphere. "Hello? Sonic?... Are you here?" After her question, she realized she was in a memory where she couldn’t interact or alter anything, so she hit her face with her helmet for being so silly. "Calm down, Celestia, it’s just a memory. You shouldn’t be scared... and now you’re talking to yourself." A flash of light blinded her suddenly, and a memory window appeared. This window showed a strange being, a biped with red and black colors, a round body, or rather, a fat body, and a long mustache on its face. "Hahaha! Citizens of Earth, lend me your ears and listen carefully! My name is Dr. Eggman, the greatest scientific genius in the world." Celestia found it arrogant for him to call himself the greatest in the world, but she was more intrigued by seeing the true appearance of the now mysterious Dr. Eggman. "And soon, I will be the greatest ruler of the world." "Now, be witnesses to the beginning of the greatest empire of all time." Through the screen, she saw what appeared to be a planet splitting in half, revealing the ARK space station, which had a curious resemblance to the Doctor’s face. There, the Princess of the Sun witnessed with her own eyes how, from the outside of the planet she was now on, the Moon was destroyed in half as a beam was fired from the space station, leaving all the humans who witnessed the scene with their jaws hanging, while Eggman’s voice echoed through the screen, laughing as he had the power to dominate them all. Celestia stepped back from the window, exiting the memory, and accidentally entered another within the same door. There, she realized that now Eggman had Sonic suffering as the Chaos Emeralds floated around him. "HOHOHO! I’ve been waiting a long time for this! Fire!" There, she saw how they were now in space, but before she could ask herself about their current location, she saw how all the Chaos Emeralds’ power was used to fire the cannon that opened the planet, leaving the princess in shock at his actions. As the planet seemed to divide into various continents, a giant being emerged from the planet's center. Eggman marveled at the scene, surprised by the dark being. "Uggg... aaggh!" Sonic’s groans of pain caught the princess’s attention, seeing the subdued hero undergoing changes in his body. Celestia approached, somewhat worried, and saw how his quills turned darker, his body grew, his arms swelled with muscles, and they were covered in dark blue fur, just like his quills. His gloves broke, revealing sharp claws, his fangs grew, and then he let out a powerful howl as if he were a wolf, while the massive monster from the destroyed planet also roared before disappearing. After the transformation ended, she stepped back and witnessed how the hero’s life should have ended, as Eggman opened the main window and the vacuum of space sucked Sonic along with the Emeralds that were now drained of energy toward the planet. When the memory ended, she stepped back out of it, now more sure than ever that Sonic was a powerful Everyone was leaving the doors they entered, gathering again. Luna had arrived last to the group, coming out of the one with the title "Nightmares and Fears." "Alright girls... did you find anything interesting?" Twilight asked directly, wanting to know what else they had learned about the blue hedgehog. "Well, I didn’t meet anyone from his family, but considering someone a little brother means he appreciates and respects him, just like the rest of his friends." Explained the farmer, happy to have lived that memory. "There can’t be anyone else like him, so to speak, he’s unique!" Rainbow said after having lived several memories where Sonic had faced his various metal copies. "He had such a crazy birthday that before celebrating, he dedicated himself to saving existence itself with the help of his past self, in places he traveled before and faced bad guys he had already fought. The monster turned out to be Dr. Eggman from the past and present, who worked together to eliminate both the past and present Sonic at the same time! But it turned out that with those chaos emeralds, they both turned golden and saved reality itself, and ended up celebrating his birthday with more guests than before." Everyone looked at the pink pony, knowing it was impossible to question her, but since it came from a memory of Sonic, believing her was simpler than asking questions. "He doesn’t seem interested in love, but I can say that his intentions and words are so genuine that they reach the hearts and minds of those around him. Still, I think being a little more romantic wouldn’t hurt him." "I can admit that I admire his determination and perseverance in facing any danger, even putting his life at risk. If it weren't for the fact that he has to leave at some point, I would give him a place in the royal guard." Added Shining Armor. "He’s very kind and appreciates all forms of life, I’ve never seen creatures as adorable as those 'Chaos,' but I’d love for him to allow me to meet them one day, and that girl who calls him 'Mr. Sonic,' seems to see him as someone to admire." "He has contact with more royalty than just us four, apparently he was summoned to another world and became a king but had to leave it to return to his own. He also seems to be friends with a very formal princess, but his attitude with her makes her more open than someone from royalty would normally be." Explained Twilight, totally happy that she also appeared in his memories. "I learned that he's a better hero than the comics I read!" Said Spike with pride in his words, earning a doubtful look from Shining Armor, who leaned in to whisper, "Which door did you say you saw that?" "I witnessed his coronation! Who would have thought someone so fearless would become a king! King of Camelot!" "What did you see, Luna?" Celestia asked her directly, leaving her response as the final one. "...I’d rather not talk about it." Those were her only words. They just saw her looking in the other direction as if something was bothering her. "Hey, where are the Crusaders?" Spike caught everyone's attention as the girls approached from afar, somewhat disappointed. "What’s wrong, girls? Didn’t you have fun?" "All the memories were so fun, but we didn’t find the door we wanted." Scootaloo expressed with disappointment while her companions kept looking at the ground. "And what door are you looking for?" Luna approached, having the chance to confirm the theory she had formed earlier. "The door where Sonic and Chip defeat the monstrous Dark Gaia!" They all shouted at the same time. Their voice echoed throughout the infinite subconscious of the memories, and all the doors disappeared, leaving only one that glowed with golden light, showing a new title: "Light Gaia and Super Sonic." "Light Gaia..." "And Super Sonic?..." "Oh oh! I know! Super Sonic is when he turns golden, can fly, and becomes unstoppable!" Explained Pinkie, jumping with excitement, but before anyone could say anything, the fillies opened the door and jumped inside. "Alright, last memory, and then we’ll go back to reality." Everyone nodded at the night princess's decision and headed toward the door, hoping that after this memory, they could use everything they had learned about him to accept him without a doubt. Waking up on the wrong foot."Light Gaia..." "And Super Sonic?..." "Oh oh! I know! Super Sonic is when he turns golden, can fly, and becomes unstoppable!" Explained Pinkie, jumping with excitement, but before anyone could say anything, the fillies opened the door and jumped inside. "Alright, last memory, and then we’ll go back to reality." Everyone nodded at the night princess's decision and headed toward the door, hoping that after this memory, they could use everything they had learned about him to accept him without a doubt. As they entered through the door to witness the final memory before returning to reality, they took their time exploring each memory that piqued their interest. Meanwhile, in the real world, deep within the Everfree Forest, a squadron of at least ten Eggrobo units was present. Nine of them were guarding what appeared to be a strange crystal tree, while the last one was scanning what seemed to be a crystal chest with several keys in their respective locks. "Scanning... scanning. Unknown magical energy source detected. Magical usage capability... currently weak." The robot, bearing the likeness of its creator, stated. It then grabbed the strange chest and retreated to transport it to the space fortress. The remaining Eggrobo units dispersed, abducting more innocent ponies from the nearby town, encapsulating them, and taking them to the same space base from which they had originated. At the base of the crystal tree, Metal Sonic approached, walking steadily until he stood before it. He analyzed it with his gaze, noting six specific points where the magical energy was more concentrated than in the rest of the tree. As he reached out to remove what appeared to be an apple-shaped gem, a surge of magical energy repelled his claw, forcing him back as the gem shielded itself within a protective magic bubble. He examined his claw, analyzing the event, but found no malfunctions. He attempted to seize the other gems, but none yielded to his grasp—they seemed to act in self-defense. "Mission: Seize all sources of magic... in progress." "Unknown tree: Source of magic surpassing that of normal equines... difficult to extract magical energy." Within the supercomputer that functioned as his brain, Metal Sonic conducted a detailed analysis of the tree and himself, trying to decipher why he was unable to extract its magical energy. As he reviewed the data, analyzing his fusion with the Alicorn Amulet, a small detail caught his attention in the readings. Current status: 100% - No changes Damage received: 0% - No changes Stored magical energy: Stable - The amulet keeps me stable Amulet status: Functioning at 100% - Magical enhancer Earth Pony Magic Usage: 100% - Enhanced strength and endurance Pegasus Magic Usage: 100% - Speed and weather control Unicorn Magic Usage: 100% - Unique magical capabilities Mental stability: Slightly affected - Unknown cause Memory status: Perfect - Database in perfect condition Main Objective Progress: 50% - Steal alicorn magic Secondary Objective Progress: 0% - Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog Algorithm programmed by Eggman: Questionable - Questionable...? Detected viruses: 1 - Virus... detected? Virus analysis: . . . Unknown virus . . . Repeating . . . Unsuccessful . . . Repeating . . . Unsuccessful . . . Analysis terminated with no success. Quarantine the virus? -> YES NO? YES -> NO? YES -> NO? The virus has not been quarantined. The virus could not be contained, analyzed, or eliminated. Warning! Possible loss of control over motor functions! Warning! Imminent loss of important data! . . . Restarting . . . Restart complete. Metal So----Metal Alicorn initializing. After those few seconds in which Metal Alicorn performed a self-analysis to determine why his ability to absorb the magic of this world was failing against the Crystal Tree, he found no immediate solution. While these moments felt like an eternity within his system, for the three Timberwolves approaching to attack, it had only been a few seconds—just enough for them to see him as their next prey. Unfortunately for them, they seemed unable to recognize what was edible and what was not. One of them lunged at him, only to be stopped mid-air by a crimson magical aura that held it suspended. Metal remained motionless, his head lowered, his optical visor inactive. Though he had his back turned, he was far from defenseless. With a simple motion, he raised his clawed hand, turning his head slightly to glance over his shoulder at the wooden canine. Then, with a sharp pull, he dragged the Timberwolf toward him and pierced its chest with his claws. The creature's wooden body cracked as its life-giving magic was drained, causing its organic components to rot and crumble until only lifeless debris remained at Metal’s feet. Now fully in control, the new identity within Metal Alicorn extended his claws toward the two remaining Timberwolves. With a mere clench of his fists, the same crimson aura enveloped them, crushing them without mercy. With these nuisances eliminated, Metal ascended into the air, scanning his surroundings. "Nearby population in the process of capture." His optics focused on the distant castle nestled on the mountainside. "Highly populated zone detected. Castle identified as a primary location for alicorn presence. Priority One: Capture and drain the alicorn associated with Sonic." His back thrusters ignited, and he launched toward the castle at full speed. "Warning! Chaos Emerald energy detected within the main structure. Multiple equine magical lifeforms in the vicinity. Deploying capture team." With his advanced scans running and his self-assisting algorithms optimizing every function, the new entity within Metal Alicorn felt fully prepared. With his magic-stealing abilities and Chaos Emeralds at his disposal, his objectives were now closer than ever. The Last Memory Before Awakening The entire group had stepped through the door that the Crusaders had been so eager to find. The trio entered first, followed by the Element Bearers, with Spike riding on Twilight's back. Cadance and Shining Armor followed closely behind, while Celestia and Luna brought up the rear. Just before stepping inside, Luna glanced back at the door she had come from, feeling an odd sense of reassurance—hoping that the memory she had witnessed had not actually become reality. Upon entering, the group was immediately struck with awe, their jaws dropping as they realized where they had ended up. They were floating—suspended over what appeared to be an endless sea of lava, with no safe ground in sight except for the crumbling rocks that plunged into the molten abyss below. "A-Are we inside a volcano?" Twilight asked, astonished by the sheer scale of their surroundings. "No," Apple Bloom corrected. "Sonic said everything ended over a sea of lava... like we were at the planet’s core..." Several rock formations strangely hovered in mid-air, defying gravity. However, before anyone could question why, the answer revealed itself. "How could i lose?! This isn't over! i'll build a Prototype-2 and it..." Before Eggman could finish cursing his enemy and expressing his rage over everything he had lost despite his efforts, everyone in the memory turned their gaze toward a primitive and sharp roar. All eyes fixed on the lava, where semi-translucent tentacles emerged along with their main body. Right there, even though it was just a memory of a past event in the blue hedgehog's life, everyone watched in horror as the enormous and terrifying monster emerged from the lava effortlessly. “W-what is that thing?!” Fluttershy screamed in sheer terror as she stepped back, looking for shelter. [“It's Dark Gaia!”] Everyone turned upon hearing the voice that spoke the name, surprised not only by who had answered the question—one that no one had even asked yet—but also because they were seeing, for the first time, Sonic’s most primitive and savage form. There, standing atop a rock, was the werehog—his body more robust and muscular, covered in fur, with sharp claws and fangs. This appearance was nothing like what they had seen in previous memories: not a king, not a golden-armored knight, nor the golden hero who had restored space and time and faced a titan alone. "THAT is DARK GAIA?!" Everyone present took a reflexive step back, gripped by fear at the greatest threat they had ever witnessed. ["Yes! YES! Dark Gaia, crush this insolent little hedgehog! Kick him to outer space!"] That was Eggman's first and last order before he disappeared from the memory for good. "And I suppose that guy is the Doctor Eggman you mentioned, Princess," said the young alicorn, looking toward the ruler of the kingdom, who nodded in response. "It's hard to believe that he alone could unleash this menace for such selfish reasons." A purple light enveloped the Eggmobile, and the evil doctor watched in horror as the dark deity turned against him, launching him to who-knows-where—possibly beyond the very continent they stood on. Only his last words echoed before he disappeared into the night sky. ["WHY MEEEEEEeeeee?!"] "Goodbye, stinky doctor!" Rainbow mocked as she watched Eggman be defeated by the very creature he had unleashed. Now, all they could do was witness how the greatest threat was attacking Sonic and his small companion. But before he could launch himself at the enemy, Sonic was grabbed by a large claw and whisked away from the rock they had been standing on, landing safely on another. “Come on, Sonic! Show that big bully who’s boss!” Pinkie cheered, hoping to give her blue friend strength—completely forgetting that he couldn't hear her. Dark Gaia and Sonic locked eyes, but that simple glance was enough for the dark entity to steal part of the hedgehog’s energy. They all watched as the memory suffered in pain, his strength drained from his body and returned to its true master. Dark Gaia had gained more power thanks to Sonic, but the process left the hero weakened, kneeling as he tried to catch his breath, now back in his true form. "Sonic! You're going to be okay, right?!" Spike approached, worried, with the Crusaders by his side, who, for the first time, saw fear in his eyes. "Spike, this is just a memory..." Twilight reminded him, trying to ease his concern. "I know, Twi... but look at him. He looks scared for the first time..." Twilight stared at him. That expression was unlike anything she had seen in him before, whether in past memories or in real life when she first met him. He had saved her, helped her, and always seemed to slip away from her grasp. But now, the most confident and self-assured being she had ever known... was afraid. ["Chip!... R-run, Chip!"] With those words, all the memories they had seen so far showed a hero who never gave up, who always smiled and stood firm in his beliefs—yet now, he was willing to die if it meant his friend could escape and be safe from danger. Celestia recalled how much damage Eggman had caused throughout Sonic’s battles against him. The plan had always been to eliminate Sonic, even if Eggman wasn't the one to do it himself—this monstrosity would do it for him. Luna watched him, kneeling in defeat. A part of her remembered her own dark past, when she had almost destroyed everything simply because she had lost her friends. But in the end, she had come back to herself. Seeing Sonic in this state made her realize that even the hero they all admired could feel fear... and had the heart to sacrifice himself for others. Dark Gaia wasted no time and lashed out at both of them with his tentacles. But Chip, upon hearing his friend's plea, turned to face the threat he was destined to battle time and time again. Just before the attack could strike, a green energy shield formed around him, protecting both himself and Sonic from what would have been a finishing blow. And at that moment, from across the continents, six structures—six ancient temples—and the seventh, where they were now, all responded to their master's call. A gigantic golem of stone formed from the seven Gaia Temples, levitating in the midst of the titanic clash between the two deities. “W-what is…?” Rainbow Dash barely managed to whisper as she stared in awe at the colossal figure, which rivaled the dark entity in size. “Light… Gaia…” Scootaloo answered unconsciously. “And Dark Gaia…” Apple Bloom added, staring at the opposite end. Suddenly, they were transported to Sonic’s side as he regained consciousness. From that vantage point near the colossus’s core, they watched firsthand as the two entities clashed in a fierce battle of claws and fists. After an intense exchange of blows, Dark Gaia held its ground, gripping the shoulders of the Gaia Colossus. But Sonic seized the opportunity and struck at the eyes that connected its limbs, targeting its weak points and managing to break free. “He did it! He did it! Right?” Pinkie cheered, pulling out a trumpet, ready to play a victory tune. “It’s not over yet…” Sweetie Belle interrupted, drawing the group’s attention and reminding them of what they had been told before—Sonic still had one more task to complete. The dark entity unleashed a massive wave of darkness, forcing the continent to retreat, further plunging the world into shadow. But this only meant that Dark Gaia was now unleashing its full power. Seven eyes emerged, with the central one being the largest. Four more arms sprouted from each side, making six in total. Its main head became nothing more than a hollow shell from which the eyes had emerged. Now, its terrifying form stared at them, each of its seven eyes locked onto the colossus and Sonic. The ponies felt overwhelmed. If Fluttershy hadn’t already fainted at some earlier point, facing the colossus and now witnessing this ultimate form was the perfect moment to pass out inside the memory. Spike clung to Twilight, still terrified despite knowing this was just a recollection. The Crusaders did the same with their sisters. Shining Armor was so immersed in the moment that he forgot it was a memory, even going as far as to summon a shield in front of everyone. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight stood firm despite their royal titles, but they, too, felt intimidated by this embodiment of pure evil. However, all their fears and doubts melted away when several streaks of light passed before them, catching their attention. They watched as Sonic stared down the dark entity, his expression filled with determination. And now, the Equestrian group noticed the presence of the Chaos Emeralds, gathering one by one around the blue hedgehog, responding to his call. “Are those… the seven Emeralds?” “Yes! It’s Super time!” Spike cheered, jumping in excitement as he recalled Sonic’s previous transformation against the Titan. “Super?” Everyone asked, except for Pinkie, who had already witnessed a memory where Sonic, alongside his younger self, had achieved his super form. The emeralds spun around him as he began to float, merging into his body. His blue fur turned yellow, then into a golden glow. His quills lifted upward, his emerald-green eyes shifted to ruby-red, and a blazing golden aura surrounded him. [“Let’s do it!”] “Go, Super Sonic!” Sweetie Belle cheered. “Sweetie… this is a memory.” “I know! But that doesn’t make it any less exciting!” She, along with her friends and Spike, watched in excitement as the golden hero shot toward Dark Gaia. There, they witnessed as the now-golden hedgehog faced a being three times the size of the very mountain that held Canterlot. Dodging the attacks of its six limbs and the multiple claws radiating dark energy that enveloped the planet, Sonic soared straight through Dark Gaia’s main eye, bursting out behind its head—finishing it off. Now, he simply floated above his defeated foe, watching as it writhed in pain, struggling against its inevitable descent into the lava. After that final memory, the entire group emerged from the door, and Luna took a moment to ensure that everyone was accounted for before leaving the dream. "Is everyone here? Twilight, Pinkie (strangely, she didn't leave on her own), Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike, the Crusaders, Cadance, Shining Armor, and my sister… Am I missing anyone?" She went over the list carefully, making sure not to leave anyone trapped inside the memories. "If we count you, then that's everyone, Princess," Spike responded, pointing out the obvious and earning a cheerful smile from Luna at his playful remark. With that confirmed, the Princess of the Night gathered magic in her horn, preparing to release them all from the dream. In reality, they discovered that nothing serious had happened; the night continued peacefully, and Sonic remained asleep, almost to the point of falling off the couch. Twilight used her magic to move him back against the armrest and covered him with a blanket. "And with that, can we confirm that Sonic is not a threat, right?" said the young princess, looking at her former teacher, who nodded calmly. "I have witnessed enough to say that Sonic is a hero and not a threat. So tomorrow, first thing in the morning, we will start by removing all the 'wanted' posters. Then we will clear his name by explaining to everyone that he's on our side and has no ill intentions." Everyone nodded at the ruler's decision and headed towards the door, about to leave the guest room. But Spike stopped when he felt a buzzing sound. The young dragon felt curious and drawn to the strange noise, running his fingers through his ears to make sure he wasn't imagining things. He then approached the balcony of the room, drawing the group's attention as he moved closer and opened the windows. "Spike? What's going on?" Twilight approached her dragon friend, watching him curiously as he closed his eyes, gripping the balcony. "Something... it's buzzing, and it sounds closer and closer," he said. The scaled flaps marking the location of his hearing system moved in response to the direction of the sound. First, the one on the right side of his head, then the left, until both reacted simultaneously, making him pull his head back and look up at the sky, his eyes wide open. He froze in place at what he saw, his mouth not reacting, unable to speak. Twilight followed his gaze, seeing the same thing: a strange and unknown being descending with the moonlight outlining its silhouette in the night. Quickly, Twilight hugged Spike with her hooves and jumped back into the room as the unknown threat destroyed the balcony, catching the group who had been watching by the loud sound of destruction, witnessing a nighttime attack. As for Sonic, he wasn't affected due to the spell Luna had used to keep him from waking up until dawn or until she lifted the spell, causing some to hear his relaxed breathing and light murmurs from his dreams. "We need a hero, and he's still sleeping. Princess Luna, could you...?" Rainbow said directly to the Princess of the Night, who simply knew something had to be done. With a magical bolt shot from her horn at the hedgehog, he was peacefully affected, not waking up but simply undoing the previous spell that kept him in a deep sleep. Before anyone could wake him, the new enemy lifted into the air, appearing floating in front of the window, while Twilight held Spike and backed away, never taking her eyes off it. A metallic being with a fixed gaze on the alicorn and the dragon, its dark eyes scanning the room, analyzing everything it contained: the ponies slowly retreating toward the door, the princesses staring intently at it, a stallion whose gaze was held as it analyzed how he was gathering magic in his horn. Without hesitation, it pointed its hand at the stallion, turning into a cannon charged with magic and fired. A magic shield, with the stallion's Cutie Mark, materialized in front of him, but the shield quickly fell, being pierced and impacting against the side of the ex-captain, leaving him with severe damage, showing an open wound and his fur burnt, exposing his fragile skin, bleeding. That shot was more of a warning, and the stallion's eyes, seeing the wound, knew that pain meant this was not all its power. "Shining!" Cadance shouted in concern, seeing how the best magical shield fell instantly. The shout woke Sonic, forcing him to fall to the floor and look around. The Princess of Love took her husband with her magic and brought him closer. The doors opened, revealing guards with spears ready to attack the threat that sought to harm those present. "Huh? What? What did I miss?" Sonic, now awake, looked around at how everyone was staring in one direction. Their faces showed fear, and they appeared to be sweating nervously. He looked in the same direction and saw his metallic counterpart with a completely new appearance. "Hey... Metal, is that you?" His words caught the attention of the metallic hedgehog alicorn, their gazes crossing in deep silence. "Princesses... evacuate the room." Those words to the princesses were a warning, but between him and his enemy, it already meant war. "Sonic, this guy looks really dangerous! Let me help!" Rainbow flew to his side but stopped when she saw how he signaled her to stop with his hand. Luna charged magic in her horn, ready to help in the fight, but the hero looked at them with a serious expression. "NOW!" At that moment, Metal fired a magical beam at the hedgehog, but Sonic had already dodged it with his Spin Dash, sliding underneath it and ramming it, taking it down the side of the mountain, holding on to not let it escape. A pegasus guard arrived at the room, stopping before the alicorn leaders to bow to them. "Princess, we have a problem! The streets of Canterlot are being invaded, and citizens are being kidnapped." "By whom? Who is attacking us?" Luna asked, feeling frustrated as she had just learned. "Unknown beings, they don't speak, they can fly, and their entire bodies are covered in very hard armor. Our weapons don't harm them. They're not only kidnapping citizens, but they're also taking down guards, locking them in strange cages, and taking them beyond the clouds." After finishing the report, the alicorns looked at each other, disturbed, but quickly Celestia regained her composure and looked at the guard. "Take all the citizens who are still safe to the underground tunnels beneath the castle! Prepare the defenses. If they are only kidnapping, then we need to be careful not to harm those they are taking. Luna, help stop those who are being taken to the clouds." The guard nodded and left with the others who had entered earlier. Luna disappeared in a flash of light, and at the same time, Rouge was approaching. "Can't a lady have her beauty sleep?" she said, stretching as she was already dressed and ready in her usual outfit, while looking at the group who had accompanied her at dinner. She glanced into Sonic's room and noticed the hero wasn't there. She saw the wound on the stallion's flank, and the fillies had looks of fear. "Let me guess, the blue one is dealing with a situation involving another bad guy, right?" "Worse! It's Metal Sonic! And he's completely different from how I saw him before," exclaimed the cyan pegasus while her friends looked at her sternly, as she had indirectly revealed what they had done behind their backs. "Metal Sonic? Priority number one, eliminating Sonic is obvious... But what do you mean by 'he's completely different from how you saw him before?' As far as I know, we haven't talked about him or met him until now." The pegasus became nervous and slowly lowered to the ground, thinking of an excuse to save herself from almost exposing what they had been doing just moments ago. "Oh... well, I talked to him about a race, and he mentioned that guy... someone exactly like him and made of metal..." Celestia approached, interposing herself between her ponies and the bat with a gentle look, their eyes meeting. "I'll handle this, Rainbow. We have nothing to hide. I'll be honest with you, Rouge, I had been in contact with Eggman long before you and Sonic came to help us." The bat looked at her with little surprise at her words, smiling at a memory of a past story about how that doctor had tricked the guardian of a floating island. This scene felt like déjà vu, making a slight smile form on her face. "Summarize, Your Highness. I have a feeling we don’t have time to lose." "Indeed, to make it simpler, we used my sister Luna’s magic to enter his memories while he was asleep. I was looking to learn more about Eggman, and I asked the others to get to know more about Sonic and the life he's had. Fortunately, we encountered pleasant memories, surprising ones, that showed why he is the way he is. In other words, we trust him now." "I'm glad to hear that, Your Highness, because now, while he's busy, we need to do something about what's happening in the city." "How did you find out about that? Was it those big ears of yours?" Pinkie pointed, smiling as she appeared behind Rouge, surprising the espionage expert. "I'm an spy, dear, and one of the best. Getting information is my job." "Well, if we’re done! We need to get the girls to safety, help the ponies in Canterlot, and stop those things invading everywhere." Applejack's firm words grounded everyone, reminding them that they were in an emergency situation. "I'll take Shining Armor to the infirmary." "No, Candance! We need to stop this invasion. I can't stay resting while my guards fight and innocent people are being kidnapped." The prince and ex-captain of the royal guard stood strong despite the pain. The wound wasn't serious for someone trained in war and military service, but he couldn’t let that blow defeat his determination to protect those he swore to defend. He focused his magic in his horn and headed to the hallway window, opening it and firing a beam that surpassed the mountain, forming a magenta bubble that surrounded all of Canterlot above the mountain, preventing further invasion and escape of the unknown enemies. "That should be enough for now... but we need to start as soon as possible. I don't know how long I can maintain this until we get all the ponies inside the barrier to safety." "But what about Sonic? We don’t know if he’s inside or outside since he was launched down the side of the mountain," Spike's words caught everyone's attention, but Rouge approached him and gave him a pat on the head. "Don’t worry, kid, he always finds a way to make his entrances. Besides, he needs to stop Metal before he evolves and becomes an even greater threat." "He can do that!?" Twilight exclaimed in surprise, fearing that someone could compare to Tirek in terms of strength. "Yes, he can! What we saw was his first form, he had three more to go, but the biggest one was a real monster." "Enough talking, girls, it's time to act." Rouge moved to the window that Shining opened and leaped out, flying toward the city. Rainbow didn’t hesitate and followed her, accompanying her. "Girls, I’ll take care of the fillies, you go help evacuate and save others." "Thank you very much, Princess. Sweetie Belle, behave, okay? I’ll be back soon." Rarity tried to calm her little sister, as did Applejack. Spike stayed with Twilight, and after a brief goodbye, the five ponies and the young dragon left to save the day. Sonic clung to his metallic counterpart as they descended the mountainside, but Metal Alicorn’s horn glowed with a crimson aura, and both of them vanished in a flash of the same color, reappearing in the castle courtyard, more specifically in the center of a hedge maze. "Secondary priority: Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog." "Secondary!? What’s wrong with you? I thought you were my number one fan," Sonic taunted, but Metal immediately formed a magic shield, pushing his enemy back to give himself some space while both of them locked eyes. One had a murderous gaze, while the other’s expression shifted from serious to mocking, a smile full of excitement on his face. "Metal Sonic is no longer in the system, now I am Metal Alicorn! This mechanical body, with the ability to absorb chaos energy and the magic of every pony in Equestria, nothing can stop me." "Metal... Alicorn?" Sonic asked, still not fully understanding the radical change in appearance and attitude. "Now you’re a princess?" It didn’t matter the change, the idea that only princesses were considered alicorns was more than enough for the hedgehog to mock him. "The Alicorn amulet was found by this being, attempting to understand how to use the magic his creator had stolen from the ponies he kidnapped. He thought he could use me as a vessel for his magic to work with his technology, but he never knew that I have the ability to corrupt the minds of those who use me. So, I slowly corrupted his systems… He tried to eliminate me but failed, he tried to control me but didn’t succeed. He revealed himself to his creator to fulfill his conquest purpose, but now it will be me who conquers this entire world. And once I seize all the magic, your world and you will follow." Those words were a direct threat to the hero, and Sonic knew magic was powerful, no matter where it came from or what it was. The energy from the Chaos Emeralds was strong enough on its own, but he didn’t want to imagine what might happen if Metal Sonic could wield it alongside the magic of this world. It wasn’t the right time to dwell on such thoughts, so he just glared at his metallic counterpart, now adorned with the alicorn features, his fists tightening. "So, Metal betrayed Eggman and now my greatest rival lost to... A amulet? Some jewelry accessory perhaps? How sad for you, Metal. And to think your goal was to be ME! But hey, if you can’t manage mind control like I do, then what can I expect from you?" Metal Alicorn tilted his head, not understanding how Sonic didn’t seem to realize that Metal Sonic was no longer there. Immediately, he pointed his cannon, gathering magic, but he stopped, transforming it back to his normal arm. "What’s going on?" The arm flexed, lifting the claw and bringing it up to his horn. Something within the main system hit Alicorn, as Metal Sonic was resisting control, but how long would that last? If he fell again, how could he recover his body now that he knew how he had been defeated by this unknown virus that had become a permanent part of him? "Metal’s resisting, you should’ve seen it coming. After all, he wants to be me, and I don’t lose that easily." The body slowly returned to its new owner’s control. The claw released the horn and passed in front of his eyes as if he felt the need to rub them due to this sudden problem, but not being a living organic form made it impossible to perform that action on his body. "I… I’m going to ANNIHILATE YOU!!!" Alicorn charged at Sonic, propelled through a thruster in his abdominal cavity, and the hedgehog responded with a boost of his own, both colliding in a mutual grip, their hands locked together as they stared into each other’s eyes. "I don’t care if you’re Metal or not now! I’m going to stop you, and that’s the end of this conversation!" Interlude: From the Other Side, Rescue Team.After all the preparations for the journey to where Sonic and the Chaos Emeralds had ended up, the team was ready on the island. The group, consisting of Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Shadow, and Omega, was prepared for the trip. They only needed to wait for the signal from Tails, the young and intellectual member of the team, who was ensuring that everything was in perfect condition for the jump from their reality to the next in search of their friend. At least two days and a few hours had passed since Sonic disappeared, but Tails had dedicated himself to making sure everything was ready. The team was set, the entire island was protected and covered by a barrier thanks to the energy shared by the Master Emerald through Tails' inventions. Sonic’s whereabouts were unknown, but they had found a signal—one Chaos Emerald was enough. No matter how weak the signal was, it was all they needed. "Okay, everything is set and checked at least ten times to make sure we get there without losing a single hair in the process!" the young fox exclaimed, smiling victoriously after his hard work to achieve the impossible. He was literally about to move mountains, land, deserts, and an entire floating island to rescue his friend and brother. A static sound came from beside him. He looked at a small handheld radio sitting on his desk. "Everything ready, Tails?" The voice of his tough Echidna friend came from the other side. "All ready and set to go, Knuckles! I’ve checked everything at least ten times for everyone’s safety, including the island’s. The worst you’ll lose will be some palm leaves when we make the jump," he explained cheerfully while closing his yellow laptop, which had a sticker symbolizing his two white-tipped tails. "Perfect! Then I'll be waiting here. Shadow, you can come and wait too! Amy, you and Cream stay inside your temporary house, and Omega… do whatever you want until we arrive." "Who put you in charge of this operation?" The dark hedgehog’s voice came through the radio. "This is my island! My Master Emerald! So technically, I’m the boss!" the echidna protested, causing a distortion in the communication device due to his loud voice. "Technically, we divided leadership roles… So you’re not entirely in charge. I gave you the idea, and you accepted." "That sounds like the fox is above your authority to give orders." The Ultimate Lifeform added in a relaxed tone. Tails just looked at his walkie-talkie, watching the custom-colored lights alternate for each person speaking. "TAILS IS NOT ABOVE MY ORDERS!" Tails’ radio nearly jumped from his hand at his friend’s outburst, making him chuckle as he continued walking towards the altar. "Confirmed. Whoever organized this operation is in charge of leading it." Omega’s robotic voice spoke through his communication system. "Come on, guys, don’t fight. This is all thanks to the teamwork we’re putting in to save Sonic, wherever he is." Amy Rose’s sweet voice came from the other end, bringing peace for only two seconds. "Ugh… I won’t argue with you for obvious reasons, and by that, I mean that ‘dialogue’ with you is never a good thing." "You’re not implying that ‘dialogue’ is when I take out my hammer to knock some sense into you, are you?" There was no response—just an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. "Then… Tails, give the orders when you’re ready." That was the last thing Knuckles said before cutting off communication, causing Amy and Cream to laugh on the other end where no one else could hear them. Shadow simply shook his head at how easily the echidna had accepted his defeat. "Hehe, well then, I’ll give you tasks in the meantime. Omega, make sure you’re prepared and ready for any threats, including Eggman and his robots. We don’t know if he’s there too, but it’s highly likely." "Affirmative." "Shadow, you can go to the altar now. I’m almost there. Knuckles, prepare the Master Emerald to release its power." The hedgehog didn’t respond, but that was expected of him. As Tails reached the altar, he used his twin tails like a helicopter and flew to the top, where he saw his echidna friend standing with his arms extended toward the massive emerald. It was covered in cables and pieces of technology created by the young fox himself. Knuckles’ calm act made the emerald shine even brighter—it was responding to his request for power for a noble cause. Tails landed a few meters away, opened his laptop, and extended a cable to connect it to the device on the Master Emerald. This allowed the device and the computer to sync, making the energy emitted by the emerald react to the tracking program. "Great job, Knuckles! With this, we can finally make the jump beyond Mobius." At that moment, a flicker caught the young fox’s attention. He turned his gaze to see Shadow the Hedgehog standing nearby with his arms crossed, close to the powerful gem. "I’m here. Let’s get this over with. Let’s save the imposter and consider this operation completed." His words were cold, emotionless, but deep down, it was clear that he had good intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to help rescue the blue hedgehog he constantly clashed with. "Alright, the program is ready! I’m initializing it! When the Master Emerald detects any trace of Chaos energy, it should move the entire island like a ship, and we’ll be pulled through Chaos Control to reach the emeralds—and hopefully, Sonic. Any questions?" He looked at the pair, who were glaring at each other but still held a hopeful smile for the plan he had managed to create in just two days. "Yeah! How long will it take us to get wherever the emeralds are?" Shadow looked at the fox, who glanced at his laptop, tapping a few keys before showing an animated simulation. "It depends on how many emeralds we detect. It works like a giant magnet that pulls opposite waves toward the correct polarity. The more Chaos Emeralds we find within range, the faster we’ll travel to our destination. In other words, if we find one, we’ll go fast, but if there are three or more—maybe five—we’ll be there in under ten minutes." "And if all seven are together, we’ll arrive instantly," Knuckles added, drawing the attention of both the hedgehog and the fox. The latter nodded at his correct understanding. "Correct, Knuckles!" The buttons on his laptop clicked rapidly as his eyes reflected the green programming codes on the screen, verifying that everything was functioning correctly. A large white-gloved hand appeared on the screen, giving a thumbs-up. "Everything’s ready! Knuckles, Shadow—it’s your turn!" At his signal, the two exchanged looks and responded with mutual understanding. Shadow placed his hands on the Master Emerald while Knuckles whispered ancient incantations, urging the emerald to respond. "Attention, everyone! We’re about to depart. Hold on tight—we might experience some mild turbulence!" Tails shouted through the radio, warning the rest of his friends on the island. The device connected to the great emerald lit up, emitting a glow of the same color. Thanks to its connection to the computer, the beacons Tails had asked Omega to plant around the island all activated at the same time. Together, they created a translucent bubble around Angel Island, radiating the same color as the emerald. Along with this, the island began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. "It’s working! Now, Shadow!" Shadow nodded upon receiving his cue and closed his eyes, feeling the Master Emerald’s energy flow through his body, surrounding him with a golden aura. "CHAOS CONTROL!" A surge of energy erupted from the Master Emerald, and a brilliant white light engulfed the entire island from within the bubble. In an instant, the island vanished into thin air, leaving only a faint trail of sparks after the flash of light. "Here we come, Sonic!"
Beyond MobiusMobius, a peaceful planet full of beautiful landscapes and inhabitants living in harmony thanks to a dedicated group of brave individuals known as "The Resistance" and a courageous hero named "Sonic the Hedgehog". This hedgehog was now resting in the shade of a palm tree, accompanied by his friends and adventure companions, Tails Prower, a young orange fox with an unusual second tail that allows him to fly, and his great ingenuity and skill with all kinds of tools. This fox doesn't fall behind when it comes to facing his enemies. Outside the rest area was Knuckles the Echidna, a solitary warrior and guardian with long dreadlocks and red fur, his hands adorned with spiked gloves on his knuckles, honoring his name. "Is something bothering you, Knuckles? Come over here and relax. You're taking a break from your duties, and it’s not like the end of the world is going to happen just because you’ve left Angel Island for a while," Sonic said with a relaxed smile, resting his hands behind his head as pillows against the palm tree. Knuckles only grunted and turned his head, looking at him over his shoulder with his eyes closed. "It's the Master Emerald we're talking about, Sonic. Eggman hasn't shown up in a long time, and I'm worried he might reappear just when I decide to leave my post as guardian." After his comment, he returned to focusing, continuing his meditation. Sonic looked at Tails, and after exchanging a glance, they both shrugged, enjoying their day of relaxation. A few seconds later, Knuckles felt a disturbance in his connection to the Master Emerald. He grunted in frustration and quickly stood up, looking toward the horizon where he knew the problem lay. "Sonic! Tails! Get up! The Master Emerald is in danger!" Both of them immediately stood up, surprised to see that Sonic's mocking prediction had come true. "Well, I guess it might be the end of the world after all for you to leave the Master Emerald unguarded," said Sonic, shrugging. With the "Tornado", a red biplane with the word "Sonic" written on its sides, Tails quickly mounted it, started the engine, and put on his aviator goggles, showcasing his leadership and skill in piloting the aircraft. Knuckles quickly ran to the plane, jumping into the back seat, and as it began to accelerate, Sonic stood up, stretching his arms and legs while watching them take off, moving back to give the plane enough space to gain altitude. The arrogant hedgehog smiled, then suddenly disappeared from the shade of the palm tree to run alongside the plane. A huge jump with great precision allowed him to leap onto the upper wing, holding on tightly and keeping himself angled to avoid being blown away by the powerful wind. "Alright, team, let's give it everything we've got!" The plane accelerated and took off, turning in the direction of Angel Island, the air route leading toward the floating island. Angel Island On the floating island known as Angel Island, a flying fortress was retreating, descending toward the open sea. "I see the problem, Knux. Eggman and the Death Egg are back after all these years," exclaimed Sonic from the wing of the plane, looking at his friends. "The Death Egg? I thought we destroyed it after we infiltrated it when he stole the Master Emerald years ago and we retrieved it with the Chaos Emeralds," Tails pointed out as they gained altitude and headed toward the flying fortress. "Tails, can you make this thing go faster!?" complained Knuckles, slamming his palm against the side of the plane, desperate about the situation. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. You guys stay back. I'll be back in a moment!" Sonic shouted, showing the Chaos Emeralds floating around him. They merged with him, and he transformed into Super Sonic, taking off toward the enemy's fortress. "Sonic, take the Master Emerald to the island!" shouted Knuckles as he watched Sonic disappear, leaving a golden trail in the sky before reaching space, outside the planet's atmosphere. As both headed toward Angel Island, a bright flash illuminated the sky. The Death Egg shone like a sun, radiating energy until it blinded Tails while piloting the plane. The enemy fortress had disappeared into space, and they couldn’t see any signs of their friend. What they saw left them with many questions as they landed on Angel Island, which rested in the calm Pacific sea. "That was the Chaos Control, wasn’t it?" Tails looked at Knuckles as they disembarked from the plane on the island, analyzing the situation. Tails stared at the sky, seeing no trace of their friend or the Death Egg, only the blue sky and clouds. "Knuckles... do you think Sonic will be alright?" "Knowing him, if he used Chaos Control, it could have taken him to some unimaginable place, but he always finds a way to return from whatever trouble he's in." "I hope everything turns out fine. I have a bad feeling about this." Both looked to the sky as the wind and the sun provided the peaceful atmosphere of the island, waiting for some sign, but all they found was emptiness and mystery. Where could they have gone? Moments before - Death Egg Sonic tore through much of the robotic defenses, racing through the fortress at high speed, arriving at the control room where Eggman was waiting for him, seated and focused on his computer screen, wearing a confident smile. "Sonic! As nosy as always. Have you ever thought about leaving me alone?" Eggman snapped his fingers, and the Master Emerald emerged from the ground on a platform connected to it. "This is what you're after, isn't it? You can take it." "That's what I like about you, Eggman. Cooperating and without violence. I like it when we can settle things without having a battle." Sonic approached slowly to touch the Emerald, but as soon as he tried, he was hit with a powerful shock that made him stagger back in his Super form, revealing how the large gem was covered by an energy barrier powered by the Emerald itself. "Only if you can get past it, ho ho ho. You didn’t think I’d make it that easy, did you, Sonic?" Eggman hit a big green button, encasing himself in a protective capsule as the Emerald began to release energy through a network of connections beneath it. The entire fortress started to tremble, and a bright flash blinded both of them for a moment. After a second, Sonic opened his eyes, feeling that his body and mind weren’t in sync anymore. Sonic tried to break through the barrier with his hands, but the energy from the Emerald repelled him. The longer he made contact with it, the more power he needed to get closer. "Don’t think you’re getting away with this, Eggman! Even in my Super form, I can’t break through this barrier? The Master Emerald itself is keeping it active, and its own power is what’s protecting it." The iconic gloves of the hedgehog began to lose their Super form's glow, and small bits of fabric began to tear, showing how trying to release the Emerald with his bare hands was becoming dangerous. "Oh ho ho ho! Too late, Sonic! Right now, the Master Emerald is not only protecting itself and obeying the system it's connected to, but it's also powering up the entire Death Egg for my next plan! I’m going to take a vacation far away from you and your annoying friends. Right now, we’re traveling beyond your beloved planet, looking for a place where you won’t be able to bother me." A large screen appeared behind Sonic, showing the view from outside the Death Egg, where stars and planets seemed to disappear in flashes of light. It didn’t take long for Sonic to realize they were traveling at light speed, moving millions of kilometers away from Mobius. "So that’s why you needed the Master Emerald. You wanted to take something to remind us of you, huh?" Sonic smiled and managed to stand, regaining his balance to approach the Master Emerald. "Try all you want, Sonic, not even your Super form will be enough! The Master Emerald is protecting itself from you and anyone who tries to reach it. This barrier was programmed and powered up to only be deactivated by the Emerald itself, but it won’t be possible because of its infinite power, infinite barrier, and infinite energy." Eggman watched as his stubborn enemy attempted again to break through with his bare hands. Sonic stepped back, seeing the damage to his gloves and clenched his fists, frustrated by the situation. He analyzed the control room, noting that only Eggman and the Master Emerald were protected. "A vacation, huh? Will there be room for one more?" He crossed his arms, a smile of excitement on his face as he channeled energy around his body, which became surrounded by a golden aura. He then extended his arms, releasing a blast of energy that struck everything around him, causing massive damage to the systems. "Nooo! What are you doing!? Stop, you cursed hedgehog! You’re ruining my work!" Eggman could only watch as the entire control room took heavy damage, forcing him to accelerate his plan. "Hehe, that’s the idea! Your vacation plans are getting canceled." Sonic’s attack ended as he aimed both hands at the Master Emerald, concentrating more energy into his hands. He approached with force, managing to breach the barrier with difficulty, ultimately grabbing the Emerald while resisting as it denied him more power from the Chaos Emeralds, causing subtle changes between his Super form and his normal state. "Hey, Eggman!" Eggman looked down, seeing his nemesis smiling while holding the large gem and resisting the damage of the barrier created by the Emerald itself. "You may think the idea of the Master Emerald protecting itself from even the Chaos Emeralds is a good one, but don’t forget who you’re dealing with!" Sonic began to pull the Master Emerald, feeling his Super form slowly fading, forcing him to leave it inside of the barrier, but refusing to let go. "It’s true. You are a tenacious opponent, Sonic, but not even you can stop this! Chaos Control!" Eggman shouted as he pressed a rainbow-colored button on his console, causing the Master Emerald to release a massive amount of energy, creating a bright flash throughout the ship. "Not so fast! Two can play at that game, Eggman! Chaos Control!" Hoping to be quicker with his natural Chaos Control, Sonic risked using his own while Eggman’s was much stronger, powered by the infinite energy of the Master Emerald. The clash of both energies distorted space and time throughout the fortress. "Look at what you’ve done, you insufferable hedgehog!" Eggman yelled as he felt the Death Egg shaking from the collision of the two energy sources. Sonic just kept smiling, maintaining his Super form, until he was repelled by the massive energy discharge from the Master Emerald, radiating a blinding light that made it disappear mid-flight across space, which threw him across the ship. The same Emerald that powered the ship disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Eggman without a direction, losing the Master Emerald, the Chaos Emeralds, and his nemesis all in an instant. Present - Death Egg The Death Egg ended up appearing near what seemed to be a "moon" close to a planet, finally landing on its dark side as a last resort to analyze the current situation. Before he could vent his frustration on his control panel, a small spherical robot appeared, calmly observing the situation before looking back at its enraged creator. "Sir, I know the current situation may not be what you had planned, but look at the bright side." Eggman stopped his outburst and glared with fury in his eyes while lowering his fist and standing up to grab the robot’s thin body, pulling it away from the console. "What bright side? Tell me something good about what’s happened before I use you as a flagpole to mark this cold rock as my property!" "Sir, Sonic the Hedgehog is no longer here. Yes, we lost all the Chaos Emeralds along with the Master Emerald, but we are far from Mobius, or any constellation known to your great genius. Taking away the loss of the Emeralds, your Death Egg is still operational. We are in a new and unknown place to you, the inhabitants here don’t know who you are, your army is still operational, and Sonic is lost, who knows where, or how far we are from him." Eggman paused, listening, and before punching the robot, he stopped and let out a sigh to calm himself. "If that sounds like good news, then I want something better. Send in the investigation squad! I want to know what I’m going to conquer and what resources I can use to my benefit." He released Orbot, who reconnected to the console and carried out his orders via the main system. ??? On a dark night, illuminated by the moonlight in a clear sky that led toward the stars, a sonic explosion made its presence known upon entering the atmosphere, leaving a trail of golden light that traveled through the night sky like a shooting star. Those who were still awake at that moment witnessed the event as the golden trail turned blue, and it seemed as though a rainbow of stars accompanied it, before dispersing into seven different directions. As the blue trail fell faster toward a castle atop a mountain. Sonic felt the breeze of the air flowing across his body. It didn’t take long for him to open his eyes and realize he was about to crash into what appeared to be a large, elegant castle on the edge of a mountain. "AAAAAAAAAAGH!!" His scream was heard as he noticed how close he was to crashing into the castle's roof, hearing screams of terror. After a moment, his limbs hit the ground, signaling him to position himself and push with his arms and legs, lifting his face from the crater he had formed. "Face first... why do I always land face-first wherever I fall?" He shook his head to remove the debris from the ceiling and floor against which he impacted and quickly regained his composure, noticing that he wasn’t alone, and his vision was a bit blurry. He quickly recovered and saw who surrounded him. "Are those... ponies in dresses?" He wondered as he rose from the crater he had created upon landing, relieved that he hadn’t hurt anyone with his impact. The first thing he noticed was how everyone present backed away in fear at his presence. His ears perked up at the sound of quick, heavy footsteps that caught his attention. A group of ponies in armor approached, brandishing their spears at him. "Halt, intruder! You’ve just invaded the royal castle and the Grand Galloping Gala!" Sonic simply raised his hands, showing the damaged palms of his gloves, staying calm in front of the group of guards and analyzing his surroundings, planning his next move. "Who... and what are you?" The guards kept their eyes on him while whispers spread among the guests witnessing the scene. "Eeh... Mew?
Friends are just enemies who haven't betrayed you yet."Our journal? Hmm… let’s go, girls, we need to figure out how to open the chest the Tree of Harmony left us." "To the Castle of the Two Sisters!" Rainbow shouted, totally excited by the idea, as if she were leading the group. In some part of Equestria, Tirek was feeding on a small amount of pony magic. He didn’t seem to have gained much, and just as he saw one last pony nearby to steal its magic, as soon as he had it only a few inches from his claws, his prey turned around, revealing an unexpected face, yellow eyes with red irises, horns completely different, and the body didn't seem to match the face, as though the head or the body were in the wrong creature. That strange appearance startled Tirek and made him step back in surprise. "I must assume you're Tiker, aren’t you?" Discord, now serious and fearless in front of him, stood as someone very weak and below in magical power at that moment. He didn’t take it as a challenge at all. His body returned to normal, and with a simple snap of his claws, Tirek was bound by chains on each limb and placed inside a cage, the chains holding the cage together. Tirek, seeing who had stopped him, was left speechless. The very Lord of Chaos was standing before him, holding him back. "Discord!? Are you free?" "More than you will be in a few seconds. I hope you enjoyed your time in Equestria." He snapped his fingers and made a battered metal cup appear, which he used to play against the bars of the cage. "I should have assumed you'd want all of Equestria for yourself." He struggled to grab the cup due to the chains and began playing with it against the bars. "Oh, no, no, I’m not doing this for my own pleasure. I do it for my friends." He leaned closer to the cage and whispered as if trying to avoid being heard, even though they were far from everyone. "But between you and me, I do this for Fluttershy." He made a deck of poker cards appear, showing Fluttershy as the queen and the rest as regular cards, then discarded the others except for Fluttershy. Tirek raised an eyebrow, realizing several things. Everything around him seemed 'normal,' no chaos in sight. So why, if Discord was free, was everything so calm? "Friends? Fluttershy? Don't tell me you've become friends with these ponies..." "Surprised?" "I’m surprised that someone of your intellect doesn’t see that this... friendship is just another form of imprisonment. You must have had to abandon your nature and a large part of your magical freedom to become a prisoner of creatures as insignificant as the ponies." Discord was playing a harp, smiling, but one of the strings broke. He turned to Tirek seriously. "I didn’t do anything like that. I’m as free as a bird!" "Oh, please. It's not the first time I’ve seen it. You’re Discord, you’re a legend. You can’t have fallen into the same trap that defeated my brother. Help me strengthen myself, and I’ll reward you with something far better than friendship: freedom. Once I strip the ponies of their magic, nothing will give me more pleasure than turning their beautiful world upside down. And who better to accomplish that than the very master of chaos? Join me, Discord, and claim your greatness, unless, of course, being a servant of ponies has truly made you weak and made you forget who you really are." Discord had been listening attentively. He turned to look at a portrait of Fluttershy and her friends. The offer was tempting, magic and freedom without being held back by friendship. "Tirek, you have my attention." "Get me more magic, and you’ll have your place for your chaos, and nothing and no one will be able to stop us!" Discord smiled, snapped his fingers, and the entire cage disappeared, freeing Tirek. They shook hands in an agreement that would benefit them both. The wind blew, showing that disaster was approaching, like a dangerous storm. An innocent piece of paper flew to Tirek and hit his face. He took it to read the title: SEEKING BLUE THREAT. After Discord set off on his mission to stop Tirek, Twilight and her friends headed towards the Castle of the Two Sisters to find answers about a strange chest that needed six missing keys. Spike / CMC - Sonic Spike was entering the Sweet Apple Acres territory to see the Crusaders and look after them as Twilight had asked, but suddenly he had to stop, burping up a scroll. "Mmmh? I’ll have to read it quickly." He glanced at it briefly, nothing very detailed or specific, the message was direct to what was needed. "Oh oh... okay, for Twilight!" He rolled it back up and focused, exhaling a purple flame, signaling it would be sent to her, burning the message and sending it on its way along the path he had traveled. He then resumed his journey toward the Crusaders' clubhouse, hearing their voices. "Water and snacks?" "Ready!" "Map, compass, and clock?" "Ready!" "Helmets, bungee cords, life vests, and parachutes?" "Ready too!" Spike approached, sighing with relief, hearing them plan their crazy ideas for earning their Cutie Marks, or so he thought. He climbed the ramp and knocked gently on the door. There was a silence, and the door opened to reveal Sweetie Belle, who answered. "Spike! Just in time, come in, we were about to leave on a trip!" She turned back to her friends excitedly while adjusting her magic satchel, giving Spike a safety helmet, followed by equipping herself just like her friends, with life vests, the bungee cord, and the parachutes. "Going on a trip? Is this a Cutie Mark exploration trip this time?" He looked at the helmet, confused, holding it under his arm. "Not this time! It’s an adventure trip! Our friend will take us to the Crystal Empire! He promises we’ll get there before the train." She explained, jumping up and down while her friends finished getting ready. "I don’t think anyone is fast enough to beat the speed of the train. If you’re lucky, you’ll get there before nightfall." "Sonic can take us in a flash, he’s really fast!" "Who’s... Sonic?" At that moment, a gust of wind blew forcefully into the clubhouse, revealing the well-known "blue threat" in front of Spike, eating an apple. "I think that would be me!" He pointed at himself with a thumb while smiling and taking another bite of the apple. "Mmh! Little apple, I must remind you that these apples from your family are the best I’ve ever tasted in my life!" "Thanks, Sonic, my family will be very happy to hear that when they meet you." Spike dropped the helmet as he realized who he was facing, talking so calmly and normally with the Crusaders. "Sonic, this is Spike, he’s a dragon and our friend," Sweetie Belle pointed to the young dragon, who stood there, wide-eyed as the hedgehog turned to look at him. "Hello, little buddy! I’ve never met a dragon before, nice to meet you! I’m Sonic the Hedgehog." He walked closer, then knelt down to his height, extending his fist, waiting for a response. Spike had a lot to think about. The blue threat they had been searching for had been so close all along! He was hanging out with the Crusaders, eating apples, and having a good time. The whole idea of the wanted poster, and who drew it, started to terrify him now that he was face to face with Sonic. Maybe if he didn’t mention the poster, or if Sonic didn’t know about it, he would be safe from his wrath. "Hmm? What are you waiting for? Don’t leave me hanging," Sonic said, prompting Spike to react, expecting a fist bump. "Eh? Oh, yeah..." Spike realized he hadn’t fist-bumped anyone before, only clashing claws with ponies all his life. He closed his right claw and bumped it against Sonic’s, a new feeling running through his body. A chill of positive emotions made each of his scales tingle. It was a hundred times better than bumping hooves with ponies, especially with girls; it felt like a bond of brotherhood. "Wow... that felt different..." He looked at his fist, amazed by the new sensation. All his worries faded, feeling renewed in the calm and positive atmosphere Sonic brought. With just his presence, anyone could go from being in a bad mood to smiling again. While he was still lost in thoughts about this new and positive feeling, the Crusaders were finishing their final check for the trip. "All set, Crusaders?" "All set, Sonic!" "And you, Spike? Ready for a high-speed trip?" Sonic turned to look at him, while Spike was still lost in thought. He reacted a second later, realizing Sonic was talking to him too. "Eh? Me? Ready... but for what?" A nervous smile appeared on his face as he remembered who he was talking to. All the fear came back. "For the trip, man! You’re coming too since you’re here. I can’t leave you out of this, especially now that I know who made this sketch of me," Sonic explained excitedly, showing the wanted poster with his monstrous portrait. Spike felt like the world was about to crash down on him. If he had to choose between being Garble’s punching bag or facing the blue threat, maybe being the punching bag didn’t sound so bad... "Maybe." "Well... uh, you see, I... I’m sorry..." His words were never finished, as Sonic approached, smiling and holding up the drawing. "I really like your work, but the description, these aren’t claws, they’re gloves. You also forgot to add how cool and handsome I am." He smiled, placing a fist on his hip, rubbing his chin with his hands as if emphasizing his personal beauty. This confused Spike a lot. Wasn’t he angry? The Crusaders started laughing at his silliness, and Sonic kept boasting about himself, creating a pleasant and fun atmosphere. "He really... isn’t a bad guy... The girls are having fun, and he seems really nice...You know? I’m glad you like it, but the description was Twilight’s work. You should tell her that when you get the chance. Although, I don’t know if she’ll think you’re handsome and cool." Spike shrugged, smiling and teasing him, not considering how Sonic might react to his words. "Hmm? Well, I could. I have a certain charm with the princesses, after all... Who wouldn’t think someone is handsome when they can save the world and face gods at the cost of their life, all to save others without asking for anything in return?" His reaction was far better than Spike had expected. He was mocking his response with another playful jab, more arrogant than Rainbow Dash. She always talks about how great she is, but Sonic talks about himself in a more fun and playful way. Not everyone would like an attitude like that, but the charisma of someone so arrogant made it fun to imagine him with such a playful and positive attitude around anyone. "You feel very confident, huh?" "My reputation precedes me." He set the paper aside and started walking out of the clubhouse, followed by the Crusaders, who were finishing their laughs, while Spike was the last to follow, seeing how they seemed to have adopted him as the fun brother or babysitter who always said 'yes.' Once outside, the Crusaders gave Sonic a harness that connected the bungee ropes to them. Spike walked over, and Sweetie Belle, using her magic, quickly equipped him with the bungee cord harness too, then put the helmet and other gear on him, just like the rest of the group. "Wait! What’s all this for? Why so much safety?" "You’ll see! Ready, Crusaders?" Scootaloo called to her friends. "Ready!" They both responded excitedly and prepared to pull the ropes for their parachutes. Spike, unsure of what to do, just copied them. "We’ll take off! I hope you’re ready for the ride. You’re strictly prohibited from eating and drinking during the trip until we arrive at our destination. If anyone gets lost, don’t hesitate to call for your captain at full volume. Please note this will be a very fast trip, so it’s best not to open your mouth in case you swallow flies. You may experience a lot of adrenaline, fear of heights, strong wind currents, turbulence, and a very low chance of personally experiencing the sound barrier breaking. The estimated trip time is..." He looked at the map the Crusaders had lent him, marking where they were now, Ponyville, and the Crystal Empire, while pretending to check the time on an invisible watch on his left wrist. "According to my calculations, it will take us less than an hour. Probably, if I take a direct route without detours, about 30 minutes. Any questions?" After all Sonic’s explanation, Spike, somewhat unsure, raised his claw to ask something. "Yes, Spike! Shoot!" "Eh... is this safe? I mean... shouldn’t we be more careful and take a safer route?" He smiled nervously, hoping he was right after everything Sonic had explained and thinking of a calmer way to travel. "Be 'careful'? Where’s the fun in that?" Sonic smiled confidently, holding his palm open as if holding the word 'careful' in it, as if saying that word wasn’t in his vocabulary. He prepared himself in a runner’s position, turning his back to the group of kids. "Ready!" The Crusaders checked that they were holding their parachute ropes. "Ready!" Spike, on his part, responded nervously, doing the same thing as them. "Re... ready!" "Go!" At that signal, they all pulled their parachutes open. Spike, confused, did the same, and immediately felt the pull of the bungee cord as his feet left the ground. He was stunned to see Sonic already speeding out of Sweet Apple Acres, with the Crusaders being lifted into the air by the parachutes and carried by his powerful speed. "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" A scream of terror and surprise escaped him as he felt like he was in danger, quickly gaining so much height and losing control of it. "WOOOOHOOOOO!!!" The Crusaders knew this would happen, and the excitement, along with the adrenaline, was thrilling them, their faces lit up with big smiles as Sonic, super-sonic, took them toward their destination. "Next stop! The Crystal Empire!" Canterlot - Meeting of the Four Princesses Twilight had received the letter from Spike and assumed he had read it. Seeing the urgency, she had forwarded it to her immediately. She had to abandon her efforts to understand how to acquire the key to the chest with Discord's help to head to Canterlot as quickly as possible. "I came as soon as I could. Is something happening? Is it Tirek?" Celestia rose from her seat and walked towards Twilight, remaining calm despite the urgency of the letter. "I'm afraid I trusted Discord too much, believing that the power of friendship would influence him. He has betrayed us, and now the ponies of Equestria are losing their magic because he has joined forces with Tirek, making his job much easier." "How could he do that?! I thought our friendship meant something to him! I thought he had changed! Fluttershy will be devastated when she finds out..." Twilight felt not only betrayed but also a bit disappointed, as she and her friends had worked hard to reform him, only to see that all their efforts had been for nothing. "Tirek has stolen so much magic that he will also steal the flight of the Pegasi. Without them to control the weather, there will be no rain in Equestria. And he is also after the Earth ponies. Without their strength, they won't be able to take care of the land." "We'll lose control of our world. That power will be in Tirek's hands alone, and with no one to stop him or Discord, we will be finished very soon," Luna added, stepping closer to her sister and Twilight. "There's no doubt that Tirek is after Alicorn magic. With Discord by his side, we won't have the strength to prevent him from taking it," Celestia continued after Luna, explaining the situation. "Once it’s under his control, his power will have no limits, and there will be no hope," Cadance added, looking down, her hope waning as she realized how Tirek would eventually come after them. "But we have a solution. Only by sacrificing our magic can Equestria and the lands beyond be saved. We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has the chance to steal it." Twilight immediately raised her helmet, determined to speak first. "I'm willing to do my part and sacrifice my magic." Luna, upon hearing this, looked at her with a stern gaze and explained the situation more carefully. "You don't understand. Our magic cannot just disappear into the air. Somepony must keep it safe." "And that somepony is you, Twilight. My student, and now Princess of Friendship, will be the one to protect and carry our magic for the safety of every pony." "Why me?" "We believe Tirek doesn't know about the existence of a fourth Alicorn princess in Equestria. If we transfer our magic to you, Tirek won't know where it went. Do you understand what we're asking?" "Yes... it’s just that... I’m still learning how to control my own Alicorn magic. Accepting even more—" "Twilight, you represent the Element of Magic. If anypony can do this, it's you." "I’m sorry, Princess Twilight, if we're asking you to carry such a responsibility, but this must remain between the four of us. If your friends find out about your new powers, it could put them in danger. Do you still think you can handle this responsibility?" "This is the role I must play as Princess of Equestria! I will not fail in my duty!" "Then let’s begin." As Celestia, Luna, and Cadance transferred their magic to the Princess of Friendship, Discord, elsewhere on the grounds of Canterlot, felt a shiver run through his body. A very intense magical disturbance had shaken him, and the only idea that came to mind was the most likely one. He decided to keep it a secret while continuing to aid Tirek as a distraction for the ponies who tried to resist or as support for those attempting to flee from him. Elsewhere in Equestria Known as Rouge, the jewel thief and professional spy from G.U.N, was flying, searching for a more pleasant place than the Crystal Empire. However, she didn’t like the idea of leaving without a little "souvenir." "As much as I don’t like the idea of ending up behind bars and spending the night in a cold, solitary, and uncomfortable cell, I’m not going to sleep in the trees until I figure out how to get back home." She was headed back to the Crystal Empire. To her surprise, during the day, the glow of the Empire was very beautiful and eye-catching, a peaceful place fit for royalty. It almost seemed like if this world and hers merged, the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds would fit perfectly here. She reached the entrance by flying, but upon landing, she found nothing, no ponies, no guards, nothing. It looked like a ghost town. She ventured into the village, hoping for a warm welcome, even if it was just from a guard who might try to detain her again. "Hello? Anyone? No one!?" She shouted, hoping for a response. And it came, two unicorn guards armed with swords appeared as they approached the thief. "Stop! In the name of the Crystal Empire, identify yourself!" Both guards drew their swords with magic, pointing them directly at her. Rouge remained calm, raising her hands to her sides to show she was unarmed. "Good morning, gentlemen. You see, I’m a little lost... As you can see, I’m not from around here, and last night I came looking for some help, but one of yours was very rude and disrespectful to me. He probably filed a report or something, but in my defense, I needed directions." The guards exchanged a glance for a second, and one of them stepped away to check the report. "My partner went to check the report from last night. One of ours gave a description of someone like you. If it’s you, then you'll have to explain your intentions." "That’s understandable. In the meantime, can you tell me what happened here? Shouldn’t such a beautiful place be abandoned?" "It seems you’re unaware. It’s said that Tirek escaped from Tartarus, and now the whole Empire is being protected to prevent his magic from being stolen." "Magic stolen? You’re magical? Well... you're a unicorn after all." Rouge now had questions she needed to ask to be better informed about this world. "You talk like you've never met a pony or like you're not from here. Who are you, and where are you from?" The guard asked, narrowing his eyes, stepping closer to her as he circled her from all angles. "I come from a very distant place, and to be honest, I don’t know how to get back home. Poor me, I’m lost and disoriented... I was hoping for some help, but all I got when I passed through here was to be locked up in a cold cell. A lady shouldn’t be treated like that." Her innocent lady act wasn’t working too well on the guard, who had a hardened mind. He remained firm and serious, his partner returned holding some scrolls with his magic. "The report says that last night a strange creature with wings, big ears, bipedal physiology, and a dark color was here. It’s clear that you’re the creature in question." "Guilty, darling, but what exactly am I being accused of to be detained?" A scroll was shown to her, one of a poorly drawn, monstrous version of Sonic. "Wanted: Blue threat? A strange blue creature that moves very quickly, white claws, mocking and defiant character, bla, bla, bla... And they think I’m related to this thing?" "Obviously, the blue one is here too... It’s better to play my cards well and disguise our friendship." "We’re not considering that. It’s just for the safety of our citizens." "Rest assured, I don’t know him and wouldn’t want to get near him. In fact, I’d prefer he be locked up for the good of everyone. If I find him, we’ll have to clear up this conversation." They both looked at her seriously. She was lying, but they didn’t know that. Her words and tone of voice sounded so convincing and calm that any lie would sound like a real story. The guard put away his weapon and stepped back, giving her some personal space. "We apologize for our actions. We’re just trying to protect the Crystal Empire and its citizens." "Understandable and very honorable of you, gentlemen. Now, if everything’s explained, may I see a bit of the Empire?" "Unfortunately, that will be impossible. The Empire will remain closed until further notice. The blue threat and now the one known as Lord Tirek are loose somewhere in Equestria. You’ll need to leave until everything is under control. You can find the train station on the outskirts. Good luck." With that, they simply walked away, leaving the bat alone, with not much help but with interesting information. "Well, I’ll take my leave then. If I find Sonic before he gets into more trouble than this, everything will be easier." She sighed, feeling exhausted, and started walking out of the Empire, disappointed. Reaching the outskirts of the town, she looked at the road to the train station, her face reflecting exhaustion and boredom. As she walked, she looked around. Unlike the night she had escaped, now she could see everything much better: open fields, free spaces, a beautiful and peaceful place. "I guess I can be rewarded if I help against that guy 'Tirek', but I still need to find Sonic. Knowing him, he’ll be roaming this world without anyone stopping him." She had only walked halfway to the station when a shout caught her attention. She stopped and turned toward the scream, noticing something approaching at high speed. Narrowing her eyes, she saw Sonic arriving, and behind him, four small figures were tied to him with parachutes. The entire journey they made was the wildest they had ever experienced: shortcuts, climbing and descending hills and mountains, running over the water of rivers, being stopped by a large wall where Sonic improvised, creating a high-speed tornado with Spike and the Crusaders' parachutes, lifting them into the air until they reached the top and continued their journey. Sonic and Rouge Sonic continued running at full speed, glancing over his shoulder as his passengers seemed to be enjoying the ride. Spike was still a bit terrified, but as the journey continued, he started to enjoy it just like his friends. The Crystal Empire was in sight, behind large frozen mountains. For everyone’s safety, Sonic had to go around and pass through the train tracks. Finally, the empire was just seconds away, but Sonic diverted his gaze, noticing a familiar figure near his destination. “Rouge?” He made an unexpected turn, shaking his passengers as he headed toward her. Rouge, on the other hand, seemed surprised at how they had run into each other so casually and in less time than she had anticipated. “Hey, Blue, I didn’t expect to find you this quickly.” Sonic had stopped in front of her and turned to watch as the kids safely landed thanks to their parachutes. “Rouge the Bat, I really didn’t expect to see you here, how did you get here exactly?” “Let’s just say it’s related to a Master Emerald, Eggman, and the local hero showing up to stop him.” She crossed her arms, smiling with her eyes narrowed, looking at him intently. “Oh! You were on the Death Egg too? Sorry, I had to do something to stop Eggman from getting the Master Emerald.” While the mobian duo talked and caught up on the situation, the Crusaders and Spike finished getting their feet on the ground and saw the Crystal Empire near them. Sonic’s speed really wasn’t a joke, but the surprise grew even bigger when they saw who he was talking to. “Sonic… who is she?” Applebloom asked timidly, accompanied by her fellow Crusaders. “Crusaders, this is Rouge! The best spy ever known in my world. Rouge, these are the Crusaders: Applebloom, or ‘Little Apple’ as I call her, Sweetie Belle the unicorn, and Scootaloo the pegasus.” He introduced them one by one as his bat friend knelt to their level. “Hi girls, nice to meet you, I’m a friend and partner of the local hero.” The Crusaders stared at her in awe, impressed by her warm voice and the beauty of her appearance. They noticed her wings, makeup, and the clothes she wore, and countless new questions about Rouge started forming, just like when they tried to learn about Sonic. “Nice to meet you!” they shouted in unison as they approached and surrounded her, examining her from every angle. “I see you waste no time and already have your little fan club.” Sonic just shrugged and smiled, feeling proud that his actions had made her some fans. Spike started walking closer, as he had gotten tangled in the parachutes and bungee cords. “What a ride! I gotta say, Sonic! You’re way faster than Rainbow—” His words trailed off as he saw Rouge, a small déjà vu feeling coming over him. “What beauty.” Sonic noticed the lost, love-struck look in his eyes, then saw Rouge and knew it was inevitable for someone so young to fall in love just by meeting someone like her. “Oh man... don’t take any risks with her, she’s a charm when she wants something.” Spike totally ignored him and walked closer, smiling, with his eyes lost in her beauty. “Well, we should catch up, Crusaders! Spike! Ready to go?” The trio of fillies nodded, but Spike snapped out of his romantic thoughts, realizing that the group was oblivious to the current situation. “AAAHHH! THAT’S RIGHT! TIREK IS STILL OUT THERE!!!” Everyone heard his terrified scream, wondering what he was talking about, except for Rouge. No one but them knew about Tirek. Sonic walked up to him and looked at him nonchalantly. “Who is Tirek?”
Canterlot escapeIn the previous chapter, of all the places where Sonic could have landed, it was the one where he was going to want to go uninvited for the first time, to an elegant event to which, unfortunately, he hadn't brought his suit. "Halt, intruder! You’ve just invaded the royal castle and the Grand Galloping Gala!" Sonic simply raised his hands, showing the damaged palms of his gloves, staying calm in front of the group of guards and analyzing his surroundings, planning his next move. "Who... and what are you?" The guards kept their eyes on him while whispers spread among the guests witnessing the scene. "Eeh... Mew? And now we will see how our hedgehog fares during the rest of this elegant and awkward encounter.. Sonic stood in his 'landing zone' with his hands raised, watching as four guards kept a close eye on him, their spears aimed at him without a hint of distraction. He was slightly surprised by the fact that these 'guards' were mostly ponies white stallions wearing golden armor, from what he would consider their boots, to the armor covering their chest, sides, and back, all the way to the helmets they wore. The hardest question for him to answer was, "How could they use weapons without hands?" But his biggest concern was figuring out how to leave without completely ruining the scene. He analyzed the entire situation around him: an open and elegant area, which made him think of something resembling a 'ballroom' Large windows with glass panels depicting silhouettes of ponies with different traits and colors lined both sides one showing a white Pegasus with a golden sun above it, and another with a dark blue one and a crescent moon above it. He became more confused when he saw that these ponies had both horns and wings. He had noticed that the guards were simple ponies, but the guests had horns, wings, and some appeared to be just regular ponies, according to his idea of a typical Earth pony. The guards watched him seriously, waiting for an explanation, but the blue creature only admired the Gala they were securing with their presence as royal guards. They felt as though they weren’t being taken seriously and were being ignored, noticing how the blue being's gaze was fixed on the large double doors while it smiled. One of the guards took a step back, glancing at his three companions who remained in position, watching the intruder. "Keep an eye on him, I'll go inform the princesses" His companions nodded to his plan as he moved toward the door to leave quickly, but he stopped when he saw who was entering. It was a lavender alicorn, leaving the doors open behind her, wearing a sleeveless dress that was fitted at the torso, with a skirt flowing downward in soft layers. The dress was a light purple shade, and it included a light, flowing cape darker than the main dress, cascading elegantly behind her. The cape had golden edges that made it stand out even more, adding a royal touch. Everyone present fell silent at the entrance of the young alicorn, murmuring about the situation and why she should intervene on her own. "Princess Twilight!" gasped the guard approaching the door. "You arrived just in time! I was about to go find you or the other princesses to deal with this intruder." Sonic’s ears twitched when he heard the door open, and he listened carefully to every word the guard spoke to the newly arrived princess. "Princess, huh? This can't end well. With the way I made my 'grand entrance' and being surrounded like this, I’m probably public enemy number one around here. Better not risk it and take the chance as soon as I get it. I’ll get out of here without causing harm, find a place to orient myself, and after a ‘little’ tour away from here, I’ll have to explain myself," thought Sonic to himself after seeing the winged unicorn enter the room, noticing how she left those large doors open, which made him smile confidently at his plan. "Intruder? Are we being attacked during the gala?" Twilight asked, walking alongside the guard. "Be careful, Your Highness. We don’t know his intentions or what he’s capable of," explained the guard who was with her. He stepped aside, allowing him to see the creature, surprising her with its strange appearance: blue from head to toe, with six long spikes falling behind it, pointed ears, arms, abdomen, and mouth in a peach color, and emerald green eyes. But before he could get any closer, Sonic quickly revved up, darting past Twilight’s right side. In that split second as he zipped past her, he flashed a smile and winked. She barely had time to notice his appearance or physical features only a gust of wind remained, blowing from where he had been held captive to the door. "Don’t let him escape!" shouted one of the guards, immediately starting to chase after him. The other guards followed him, and one remained with Twilight for her safety. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" Twilight was still processing what had just happened. In the blink of an eye, a strange blue being had passed by her at a speed she hadn't thought possible. He shook his head, returning from his thoughts. "I'm fine. Was anyone injured?" The guard shook his head but sighed and pointed his spear at the ceiling, showing a large hole where it had entered, then pointed to the crater it made in the floor tiles, indicating the damage from the landing. "Other than the structural damage from where that thing came in, nothing else, but it didn’t attempt anything dangerous thanks to us stopping it in time while it was getting up" "I need you to stop it without causing any conflict, this is the Grand Gallop Gala, everything should be perfect, but now that 'that creature' has arrived, I need you to do everything possible for the safety of the ponies and to ensure no one gets hurt" The guard nodded after hearing her, gave a salute with his helmet, and left to support his comrades in the pursuit. Meanwhile with Sonic After the blue speedster’s quick escape, he came upon a fork in the hallway he had entered from the elegant castle. On the left he could hear slow, elegant music; he assumed it was the main foyer, or maybe 'a grand hall' where music and food brought all the guests together. From where he came, he guessed it was just another hall for guests to meet and enjoy the evening peacefully. To his right, he could hear only silence, the singing of birds, and the glass windows in the hallway displayed trees in a lively garden, which the hedgehog smiled at and quickly headed towards after hearing the galloping of the ponies searching for him. He reached the end of the hall and saw a large set of doors, which he slammed open with both hands, greeted by the gazes of many ponies in the beautiful and expansive garden, enjoying drinks and elegant food served by unicorn waiters holding trays with magic. Sonic let out a whistle, surprised by the well-kept garden, illuminated by the moonlight along with several street lamps. "Good evening, ladies and... uh... horses?" Everyone stared at him, confused and speechless, with only the sound of someone coughing in the distance and a cricket chirping somewhere. "Halt, intruder! In the name of Princess Twilight Sparkle's kingdom, surrender!" He turned to see the three stallions who had surrounded him earlier, speeding down the hallway trying to catch him. Quickly, Sonic slammed the double doors behind him and sped off, leaving the guests speechless at his speed, running toward the wall, climbing it, and reaching the roof. Some pegasus guards spotted him from the watchtowers and blew a horn to alert the entire castle about the intruder. "This place is about to get exciting," he said. Upon reaching the roof, he took a moment to glance at the vast unknown terrain before him; everything was new and unfamiliar, drawing a big smile of excitement on his face, feeling driven by his desire to explore this new world before figuring out how to return to his own (if there was even a way). His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a squadron of six pegasus ponies flying toward him, splitting to surround him, pointing their crossbows at him. "How can they use weapons that need hands... without hands?" he wondered before being blinded by a purple flash revealing the young princess flying with them. "Alright, let's do this the easy way, if you don't mind. Understood?" Sonic grinned, looking at her defiantly while scratching his right ear with his pinky finger. "And if I agree or refuse, will I still be locked up?" The princess seemed surprised that he could understand her language and even speak with such a carefree attitude in this situation. "I just don’t want you to ruin this important gala that I worked so hard to organize, and for no one to get hurt. That obviously includes you as well. Just surrender peacefully and we won’t have to harm you." Sonic finished scratching his ear and let out a disappointed sigh at her words, looking at the guards and noticing none of them were moving unless he did or they received orders. "Then I'll choose my favorite option: I refuse. You want me? Come get me, but only if you can catch me!" Those words were enough to get the guards ready to attack. Sonic, on the other hand, had already prepared himself by taking his running stance, with his right arm behind him and his left in front of his abdomen. At that exact moment, one of the guards shot from his back, surprising the young alicorn, as she had not given the order for that action. Sonic accelerated, dodging the arrow as he ran along the roof, being chased by the other guards while Twilight followed behind them, witnessing the blue being dodge every attack thrown at him. When he reached the edge of the roof, he jumped without fear of the direct fall into the castle’s entrance, surprising all the guests with his landing. With one knee on the ground and the other leg stretched out, he quickly recovered. When he looked up, he noticed a group of pony guards forcing him to retreat down the stairs, dodging all their attacks with swords in their mouths. "A creative method, if that's what you can call it, but ineffective," he thought, leaning backward with his feet firmly planted as if playing limbo to dodge a sword, seeing his reflection in it. He planted his hands on the floor and, using the momentum from his feet, kicked the gray stallion's jaw along with the sword, sending it into the air. He then pushed himself up with his arms, as if making a jump, catching the sword midair, and landing with it in his right hand. "Do you know how dangerous it is to play with these things? Want to poke someone’s eye out?" he mocked, quickly swinging the sword in front of him, blocking an arrow aimed at his head. He looked up, noticing the pegasus guards chasing him, along with the young princess, while all the guests moved away, fearing for their safety in the unfolding situation at the entrance. The unarmed guard retreated, rubbing his chin with his helmet after the blow that left him disarmed. A group of ponies, accompanied by a young dragon, arrived at the top of the stairs, witnessing the situation unfold: guards were armed, preparing to face an odd creature carrying a sword designed like the royal guards' weapons. "Twilight! What’s happening? And what is that thing?" exclaimed the cyan pegasus of the newly arrived group, drawing the attention of the named princess, who looked at her friends prepared for the gala behind the blue intruder. "An intruder who refuses to cooperate, be careful and stay back." "Don’t worry, Your Highness, we’ll stop him!" swore the guard with the sword in his mouth, charging into the attack, while the pegasi flew in closer, aiming their crossbows at the blue intruder. Sonic wasted no time, taking a defensive stance with the sword, stopping the arrows from the six pegasi who were covering the stallion charging solo towards the blue hero. "Five out of six arrows, where’s the last one?" His eyes focused on the stallion approaching, but it veered left, letting the last arrow pass by, surprising the speedster, who smiled at the clever movement of the equines, only to show how he would catch it just inches from his face with his left hand, showing no concern. The guard didn’t stop, and as he neared, he pivoted, pushing off with his front hooves to launch a double kick, but Sonic changed his grip on the sword, holding it upside down with the blade against his forearm, using it as a shield to block the stallion’s kick. Twilight used her magic to shield all the ponies near the entrance in individual bubbles. "This should be enough to prevent anyone from getting hurt. They’re taking too long to stop him. What is that thing?" As the stallion growled in anger, overpowered by the most strange being he’d ever faced, Sonic smiled at how thrilling the situation had become from trying to escape to facing royal guards. Magic flashes appeared on either side of Sonic, one blue and one yellow, revealing unicorn guards concentrating magic in their horns, with Sonic caught between them, still holding off the stallion’s kick. Quickly, he released the pressure, sliding his back legs to the right, causing the stallion to lose his balance. He then maneuvered his body, letting himself fall while spinning to the right, allowing him to launch the arrow from his left hand at the unicorn to his right, forcing him to use his magic to shield himself in a yellow barrier. As he came closer to the ground, Sonic changed his sword grip correctly and threw it at the unicorn on his left, who fired a magic beam at his hand, disarming him of the weapon. The sword slipped from Sonic’s grip and ended up embedded in the ground far from him. He fell on his back but quickly sprang back to his feet, using his hands to push himself up before a blast hit the ground where he’d just been, coming from the unicorn who had protected himself from the arrow. He now faced the princess and the pegasi, who had already reloaded their crossbows. Three of the six fired, Sonic made a great leap, curling his body into a ball of blue, soaring above the pegasi and the princess while dodging the arrows that struck the stairs. He broke free from his spherical form, just in time to see three arrows heading straight for him as he descended. He simply spun his body acrobatically, performing a triple kick to deflect each arrow, landing and leaving everyone amazed by his skills as he turned his back on them, eyes fixed on the doors leading to the event he’d tried to escape from. "Not bad, gentlemen, but you're not even close to catching me. Goodbye!" With that final remark, he disappeared in an instant, leaving a gust of wind as he made his way back toward the event, searching for his escape route. The pegasi guards split into two groups of three to widen the search. The unicorn guards disappeared in a magical flash, and the ground ponies recovered their weapons to calm the situation. Twilight released her magic, freeing everyone from their shield bubbles, allowing the guests to recover from the situation, and she could approach her friends. "Welcome… sorry you had to see… that," she said, looking behind her at where the scene with the guards and the strange blue figure had unfolded. "The situation changed so radically from a peaceful moment to stopping a strange, very fast, and agile creature." Spike stepped forward before anyone could speak. "So, how long has all this been going on? And why is he here?" Twilight shook her head and started walking with her group. "All we know is that he fell from the sky, broke through the ceiling, and landed in a room, leaving a crater. The guards stopped him, but when I arrived and was about to approach him, in just a fraction of a second, he passed by me, smiling and winking, and then escaped through the door." "Was he hurt?" Everyone turned to look at the yellow pegasus, who was trying to hide from the confused gazes of her friends. "I mean... if he fell through the ceiling and hit the ground, he should be badly hurt and wouldn't be able to move like he just did." "Actually, he had some scrapes and was covered in dust from falling through the ceiling," Twilight said as they entered the small main room, looking around for him while the guests murmured about a blue streak that had passed by at high speed. "He can speak, his attitude is daring and challenging, he refused to be captured and chose his ‘favorite option.’ He doesn’t seem to be afraid of dying to mock the guards." "Well, I’m not throwing a welcome party for someone who refuses to be our friend," Pinkie Pie said, bouncing around as she moved alongside her friends. "I think that’s one of the least of our concerns. Better throw a party when the guards catch him to congratulate them," Applejack clarified before taking a misstep in her words about how the party wasn’t important for their party-loving friend. "Twilight, let me go after him! I’ll stop him before he even knows what hit him!" Rainbow Dash declared, floating above her friends, just before they could hear a response from their friend, a guard appeared in front of them, bowing before Twilight. "Rainbow Dash! Right now, we’re guests and we’re dressed for the Grand Galloping Gala, we can't afford to act as if we were in Ponyville facing just any threat, like we did with Discord, or simply throw away these fabulous dresses I worked so hard on, like what happened at the wedding when the changelings attacked." Spike cleared his throat, calling the ponies' attention. "I know I don’t usually get involved in everything you six have done, but we should leave this situation to the guards, and if it gets too extreme, to the princesses, including you, Twi. I know you worked hard organizing everything here, and you don’t want anything or anyone to ruin it ‘this time.’ We should enjoy the gala while it lasts and wait for new updates, if that’s okay with everyone." They all exchanged glances for a moment, thinking over the young dragon's words, until Twilight approached him. "Spike’s right. You shouldn’t worry about what happens with that creature. The guards and the princesses will handle it. Enjoy while you can, okay? I appreciate your concern, but so far, I don’t see him as someone causing major problems, aside from escaping and defending himself." "Now you’re defending him!? Did he control your mind or something?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed upon hearing her friend’s opinion. "I’m not defending him, and he’s not controlling me. From what I’ve seen up close, he hasn’t hurt any other ponies besides that guard you saw earlier. He’s just on the defensive and seems to be enjoying the situation," Twilight explained, hoping to calm her pegasus friend. "Could he be scared?" Fluttershy asked timidly, earning surprised looks from her friends at her theory. "Scared? You saw him jump from the ceiling all the way here, dodging five arrows and catching the other with his hand, stopping a kick from a royal guard, and dodging two unicorns who surrounded him and were trying to take him down. If I had the chance to ask him face to face, I can imagine he’d laugh at the question." Before anyone could offer a different opinion on their new ‘enemy,’ a unicorn guard appeared in front of the group with a teleportation spell in a green flash, interrupting the discussion. "Your Highness, we have an update on the blue threat. We have him surrounded right where he landed. How would you like us to proceed?" Upon hearing the report, Twilight quickly turned to her friends. "Excuse me, but I’ll take care of this. Enjoy the gala," and before they could respond, the guard used his magic to teleport her along with him to the hall where they had found the intruder, now standing exactly where he landed, surrounded by the pegasi guard squad, the unicorn duo from before, and several earth pony guards pointing their spears at him. As Twilight arrived at the scene, she could see how the "blue threat" showed no fear in his gaze. His posture, despite her not knowing his physiology, indicated that he was ready for whatever might threaten him. But what caught her most was his smile... that smile that radiated confidence in the face of the difficult situation he was in. It seemed like he was just having fun with all the guards. First, he had wanted to escape, but now he wanted to have fun? The pegasi fired, and Sonic rolled to the ground, dodging all the arrows. Then he jumped toward the wall, running up it to leap again, launching a double kick that deflected the unicorns’ magic bolts. As he fell to the ground, he caught a spear that was heading straight for his face with both hands, pushing it away as he did. The other guards took advantage of this to attack his sides, but Sonic jumped, still holding the spear, and balanced himself on it. He dodged his attackers, landing on the head of the stallion in front of him, using it as a springboard to launch himself at the pegasi. He quickly disarmed one, taking his crossbow and throwing it to the ground, breaking it. "Alright, that was fun, but I’m tired of playing games. I’m leaving and no one can stop me." The entire room fell silent for a few seconds, before the sound of hooves approaching broke the stillness. Twilight passed in front of the guards, facing the speedster, who had placed his fist on his hip while smiling at her. "Lower your weapons. I’ll handle this. And no one is to act on their own," she declared fiercely, staring at her guards, who lowered their weapons and ceased their magic, watching as their princess prepared to face the threat. The two of them locked eyes, each analyzing the other, waiting for a move or a word. The silence didn’t last long, as Twilight was the first to break it. "So, tell me, you say you want to leave, is that true?" Sonic nodded, giving her a genuine smile as he saw the princess's determination to bring the chase to an end. "You had the chance to leave before, but you chose to come back in. Why would you do something so illogical?" she asked, observing him with a mix of nerves and determination, trying to demonstrate her leadership as the Princess of Friendship, handling the threat by herself without needing to face him physically. "I could’ve left. I knew that for sure," he said casually. "But something went wrong in that situation." Twilight’s nerves slowly eased as she heard him speak so relaxed, but that attitude was starting to worry her. Why was he so confident? Why didn’t he show any sign of wanting to give up or retreat? Her thoughts were filled with more questions just by looking at him. "And what went wrong in your escape plan?" "We were surrounded by innocent civilians who had no reason to get hurt. I also noticed the beautiful city below as I came here. It would’ve been a shame if it got damaged while the entire military force was after me. I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone, and I didn’t want to seriously hurt your boys just because I could easily take them down. So, I did what no one would think of or understand when I came back to where I arrived." All the ponies in the room exchanged glances, trying to comprehend his words. Sonic, for his part, looked behind him, noticing a balcony where moonlight was shining in. "And what exactly would that be?" Twilight asked, her horn glowing with magic, ready for any offensive move against the guests. Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. As Twilight snapped out of her daze and started looking for him, the guards behind her were frozen in place. "I didn’t expect that..." "But I wasn’t expecting anything, so it doesn’t count."
Don't stop me nowI'm sorry, there were some issues where certain lines of the story didn't save, so I had to cancel and fix them quickly Of all the ideas Sonic could have considered in his life, this is definitely the one he would use the most in every situation against him, right? Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. As Twilight snapped out of her daze and started looking for him, the guards behind her were frozen in place. "I didn’t expect that..." "But I wasn’t expecting anything, so it doesn’t count." Now, did Sonic remember to bring his parachute? Or is it true! He doesn’t seem to need it. After his risky and crazy move, Twilight quickly approached the balcony to witness how her 'threat' was launching himself into the void of his own accord. But her eyes widened even more when she saw that he had his hands behind his head, legs crossed, an arrogant look fixed on her as if he knew someone would come to see him fall, and a calm smile that showed he didn’t care about the situation he was in. Before watching him disappear into the darkness of the night, during the long and high distance between the castle and the base of the mountain, she could only see him move his lips and wink while his body took a diving position, his gaze fixed on the ground. Twilight was ready to jump after him to reach him, but her body wouldn’t respond. She was confused, unsure whether she should save him or not but was "saving" him really the word she was looking for? He had jumped with complete confidence. Was it his idea of escape? Was he saying goodbye to her for now? Or would they meet again in another situation? The pegasus guards arrived flying above her, aiming their crossbows at the dark void without seeing their target. They put their weapons away, letting out a heavy sigh of frustration at having allowed the invader to escape despite the advantage they had over him. "Your Majesty, would you like us to send a search team?" asked one guard as she stepped away from the balcony, looking down and sighing. "Just hold your positions. Everyone who saw him up close, I want detailed descriptions of his appearance. I want a portrait of the intruder with every detail of his appearance and what he’s capable of doing." The guard saluted, tilting his helmet to the side, and left with the other guards. After they left, Twilight sighed and rubbed her forehead with her helmet as she headed down the hallway, remembering the last few seconds she saw the blue intruder after he jumped from the balcony and enjoyed the fall while staring at her. "He’s... he’s such a show-off and arrogant..." she complained, left speechless by the personality and attitude of the speedy intruder. "I see something’s bothering you," a warm and pleasant voice called her attention. She looked up to see the source of the words, a white alicorn who towered over her, wearing an elegant and majestic dress that was long and flowing, extending to the ground with layers of fabric that seemed to shine ethereally, almost as if made of light or stardust. The upper part of the dress had a fitted corset that accentuated Celestia’s figure, adorned with shiny details like gems or embroidery mimicking light sparks. The colors of the dress harmonized with her mane’s soft pink and violet tones, with rainbow reflections. Her soft, bright colors mainly highlighted white, light purple, pink, and blue, with subtle details adding a touch of luxury and magic. Her presence was accompanied by a gentle smile and a relaxed look, demonstrating inner peace of mind. "Welcome, Celestia, it’s nice to see you here. Is Luna still not ready?" Twilight smiled nervously, hoping she wouldn't find out what had happened, knowing deep down that it was impossible for her not to know because of the guards' alert. "My sister is finishing getting ready, and I imagine she’ll want to present herself to the guests to calm the 'situation' that occurred, about which I hope to learn from you what happened, unless you have plans with your friends." Celestia smiled calmly and began walking, with the young princess following her, taking a deep breath before releasing it to calm the fear of how the intruder had escaped from the castle. "Don’t worry, Celestia. Don’t worry about them; they should enjoy the gala, and I’ll take care of making sure everything is perfect. I’ve already asked the guards to give descriptions and create a portrait to identify him more easily. I have no idea what his goal is, but I can say that he simply outsmarted our security, escaped without a fight, and no one got hurt." As she explained to the ruling princess how they couldn’t stop the intruder, they unknowingly arrived at the grand hall where their friends were enjoying the food and staying together, talking somewhat worried after what they had experienced upon arriving at the gala. "Twilight and Princess Celestia are here!" Pinkie shouted energetically, jumping happily toward her princess friend, drawing the attention of the rest of their friends, who gathered around them, expecting good news. "Hello, girls. Are you having a good time?" she said, trying to hide her embarrassment for failing. "It could be better, but if you’re here, it means everything turned out fine!" Spike exclaimed, smiling as he sipped some punch. "Actually, Spike... that 'thing' escaped," she whispered as quietly as possible, knowing about her assistant’s sharp hearing, causing him to almost spit out the punch, but he quickly swallowed it, choking slightly, surprising the others with his reaction. Applejack didn’t hesitate and was the first to face the reality. "So, I’m assuming by Spike almost choking, that something went wrong, right?" "So Twilight... how many guards did that thing leave on the ground before they managed to stop him?" Rainbow asked, hoping for a winning response about the guards. "Actually, it’s something different... better follow me, you won’t believe it." They all exchanged a glance before following her as she started walking. Leaving Celestia to enjoy the gala, Twilight guided her friends to the hall where everything began, now empty of guests and awaiting repairs. "This is where everything started and ended. As you saw from Spike’s reaction, we couldn’t capture him. He escaped even though he was surrounded by all the guards who had seen him earlier, but he didn’t do anything serious beyond this," she pointed with her helmet at the hole in the ceiling and the severely cracked floor from his landing. "After that, he just ran and ran, then left in the most unexpected way possible." As they admired the hole in the ceiling and the impact area, Applejack looked around, curious about how he escaped from where he came in. "So, he... um, just flew out through the ceiling?" Twilight sighed, and her horn began to glow, enveloping her in magic. "It would be easier if I show you. I prepared an effective spell for situations like this." The whole area was covered in a magical purple field, showing a translucent illusion of the guests before everything started. "Twilight, dear, this spell is marvelous!" Rarity said, amazed, but upon seeing her alicorn friend, she noticed how focused she was and how difficult it must be to maintain. "Although I don’t think it's quite at the right level to use," she smiled awkwardly, knowing her own skill limits. They could see all the guests talking calmly, walking and enjoying the evening peacefully. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" A scream was heard, and they all looked around trying to find the source, until a loud, thunderous crash made a hole in the ceiling, releasing a cloud of dust, showing the blue figure face down on the ground. Everyone covered themselves but realized it was just an illusion and felt a bit silly for reacting that way. After a moment, they saw how his limbs touched the ground, signaling that he positioned himself and pushed up with his arms and legs, lifting his face from the crater he had formed. "Face first... why do I always land face first wherever I fall?" He shook his head to remove debris from the ceiling and floor that he had impacted, quickly regaining his composure, noticing he wasn’t alone and his vision was a bit blurry. He quickly recovered and saw who was surrounding him. "That was a bad landing, but I give him a seven out of ten for taking it and getting up," Rainbow Dash smiled, joking about the painful entrance the blue figure made. Suddenly, the guards had surrounded him, and "Don’t lose sight of him, I’ll inform the princesses" he said, and his companions nodded to his plan as he headed toward the door to leave quickly, but stopped when he saw who was entering. It was his lavender alicorn friend making an entrance. But before he could get any closer, Sonic quickly revved up, darting past Twilight’s right side. In that split second as he zipped past her, he flashed a smile and winked. She barely had time to notice his appearance or physical features; only a gust of wind remained, blowing from where he had been held captive to the door. "Don’t let him escape!" shouted one of the guards, immediately starting to chase after him. "Wow... and he had so little respect for you, dear, such a... such a..." "Wild? Crazy? Energetic!?" Pinkie started throwing out options while popping up on each side, circling Rarity. "I was going to go with rude, but yes! All of those are just as acceptable." Rainbow approached Twilight’s illusion at the moment Sonic escaped. "Can you stop this whenever? I want to see the moment when he goes." Twilight nodded and stopped the moment when he was passing by her illusion. "Just... here?" "Yeah! Look at him! He literally thinks he's the best just because he escaped from the guards, that silly smile and... winking at you? Who does this guy think he is?" Applejack approached, looking at the frozen illusion of the fast intruder along with her friend’s, then looked at her pegasus friend. "Doesn't he remind you of someone...?" But before Rainbow could respond, Twilight interrupted. "This is how it all started... now I'll fast-forward to just... a moment ago..." The entire scene began to speed up rapidly, showing how the guests were leaving the hall, leaving it empty, until the doors opened again, revealing Sonic braking, landing exactly where he had fallen, surrounded by all the guards, until Twilight arrived with the guard who had informed her of his location. "And here... it all ended..." The confrontation with the guards accelerated so quickly that it was barely visible due to everything that had happened, leaving only the moment where they exchanged words before the final decision. "Lower your weapons. I’ll handle this. And no one is to act on their own" she declared fiercely, staring at her guards, who lowered their weapons and ceased their magic, watching as their princess prepared to face the threat. The two of them locked eyes, each analyzing the other, waiting for a move or a word. The silence didn’t last long, as Twilight was the first to break it. "So, tell me, you say you want to leave, is that true?" Sonic nodded, giving her a genuine smile as he saw the princess's determination to bring the chase to an end. "You had the chance to leave before, but you chose to come back in. Why would you do something so illogical?" she asked, observing him with a mix of nerves and determination, trying to demonstrate her leadership as the Princess of Friendship, handling the threat by herself without needing to face him physically. "I could’ve left. I knew that for sure" he said casually. "But something went wrong in that situation." Twilight’s nerves slowly eased as she heard him speak so relaxed, but that attitude was starting to worry her. Why was he so confident? Why didn’t he show any sign of wanting to give up or retreat? Her thoughts were filled with more questions just by looking at him. "And what went wrong in your escape plan?" "We were surrounded by innocent civilians who had no reason to get hurt. I also noticed the beautiful city below as I came here. It would’ve been a shame if it got damaged while the entire military force was after me. I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone, and I didn’t want to seriously hurt your boys just because I could easily take them down. So, I did what no one would think of or understand when I came back to where I arrived." All the ponies in the room exchanged glances, trying to comprehend his words. Sonic, for his part, looked behind him, noticing a balcony where moonlight was shining in. "And what exactly would that be?" Twilight asked, her horn glowing with magic, ready for any offensive move against the guests. Sonic smiled and quickly turned toward the balcony, starting to run and accelerate, leaving a faint blue trail behind. He reached the balcony, took a leap, and jumped off it, leaving everyone in shock. Everyone watched as the illusion jumped off the balcony, leaving them speechless, and the spell vanished, leaving Twilight exhausted from the concentration required. Fluttershy approached the balcony, looking at the void and feeling fear from the great height, stepping back, trembling, crouching down as she recalled the event. "So...so he jumped from this! This height..." "I'm not sure what he was thinking when he did that! He just jumped and disappeared into the night. I'm not sure if it was the best idea he had, but... I... I don't wish him harm, but I also wouldn't want him free, causing trouble. Who knows what he's doing right now?" With Sonic, since his escape through the balcony After the leap and the visual exchange with the princess before disappearing into the darkness of the abyss and the night, he maneuvered by looking at the ground, letting himself be moved by the current of air created by his gravity to take him to see pine trees thanks to the moonlight. He prepared and acted quickly, grabbing the tip of a pine tree with his hands, spinning around it as he descended, turning around its sides and then launching himself at high speed through the forest. "That’s a party I’m not going back to! Not without an invitation and something to wear, obviously" he thought to himself as he ventured further into the forest, guided by the moonlight. His path continued for a few minutes until he managed to exit the forest and heard what seemed to be a horn. "Mmmh? That sounds like... a train?" He looked in the distance, noticing a train traveling and assuming that such a means of transport existed. This would mean that the technology here wasn’t too far from what he knew. He quickly made light of his situation, acting as if he were lost, while bringing his right hand to his quills, searching as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for in a large, full backpack. Eventually, he took out a phone with a blue case and some stickers on it. He turned it on and started checking it while bringing it close to his mouth, using it as a recorder for his personal act. "This is my situation! Unknown and inhabited planet, with... almost no resources," he said while checking with his left hand inside his quills, recalling what he had in them. "No chili dogs and no idea how to get back right now... I don’t think I’ll die here easily, but I think I can be back before my birthday," he finished his act, pretending to have made a voice recording, then putting on some music and starting to run toward the train tracks, following them. As the music accompanied his journey to the next, unknown destination, he didn’t waste time having fun as he traveled along the tracks, moving away from them. He soon reached a junction with a path that continued straight ahead, the one he had been following, and another that veered to the right, joining the same track. He just continued straight, knowing he had more to travel. Ahead of him was a tunnel inside a mountain for the tracks, but he quickly climbed the mountain, reaching the top and then descending at high speed, continuing alongside the track until he reached the first train station he saw. The music ended at the same time he arrived at his new destination, and he turned it off to avoid drawing attention during the night (more than he already had). As he stepped up to the station from the tracks, he noticed how well-maintained and well-lit it was. He looked up and saw a sign naming his current destination: 'Ponyville'. He walked out, noticing the silence of the village sleeping at night. "I’m glad to see a place that actually sleeps at night. Casino City, as fun as it looks and is... I can’t say I hate that place, but it’s always nice to sleep at night, and speaking of sleeping..." He covered his mouth while yawning and quickly walked away from the village, searching for a place to sleep. His unknown path, away from the village, led him to some apple trees, far from any possibility of encountering anyone. "Apple trees, huh? Thanks for the food." He gave the tree a light punch, making an apple fall directly into his hand and enjoyed it under the moonlight while leaning against the same tree. "Good night, apple tree. Good night, moon, Good night, pony planet!" Author's Note I apologize if the way I make a character act seems out of place compared to what you might expect. I can accept criticism with respect to the dialogues and actions. After all, I'm not an expert at interpreting actions and dialogues 100% perfectly as expected, but I'm glad to see that you point out those mistakes where I thought I was doing it right. Even if, as I'm writing everything, it doesn't end up being liked, I still appreciate being shown that I could have done a better job. Thx for reading!
The Blue Neighbor and the Little AppleI already explained below the previous chapter why I had to cancel it quickly, I sincerely apologize for that and any other mistakes. I don't even know what really happened, and I felt very embarrassed for not having done another review before publishing it. Where did we leave off? He gave the tree a light punch, making an apple fall directly into his hand and enjoyed it under the moonlight while leaning against the same tree. "Good night, apple tree. Good night, moon, Good night, pony planet!" That's right! Good night, Sonic the Hedgehog... but unfortunately, it's time to wake up! Death Egg - Moon "The moon... what a beautiful planet, naturally fueled by the sun to have its own source of light, being the natural satellite of planet Earth, just like here." "ORBOT! If you’re done with your moment of appreciating the beauty of this rock, I want a report on how the DeathEgg repair is going so we can leave this place and be aware of the planet in front of my glorious mustache!" exclaimed the malevolent doctor to his metallic minion, while looking at the monitor, envisioning his new destination. "Sorry, sir, but the repair is already at full capacity. We haven't turned on the engines to leave because I thought it would be best to study the situation from a distance, so your plans would start off on the right foot." "BAH! Which one of us is the evil scientist here!? Besides, it's not like Sonic is there. Anyway, they'll just be another species under my control as soon as we're out of this inert rock!" he exclaimed, slamming his hand against his main control panel. "While you were resting, your malevolent self, I took the liberty of sending an aerial troop of 'Balkairys' to scout the terrain and gather information. Incredibly, what I found will make you feel like stealing candy from a child in your conquest plan... though..." As Eggman smiled at the words of his spherical assistant, his smile disappeared when he heard him hesitate at the end. "Though? Though what!? EXPLAIN!" If Orbot could have sighed, he would have, but instead, he approached his creator while reviewing the tablet with the data received shortly after their arrival. "Let's just say that, first, when we arrived it was nighttime from the planet’s perspective. Continuing on, they have no major technological advancements, beyond what we believe is their best technology, the 'train' as a means of transportation. They use carts, light up with candles, and it's a world where various species with magical properties exist." Upon hearing this interesting data, Eggman's smile widened from ear to ear, showing his excitement for an easy conquest. "So, I have before me a world where one could say they live like they're in the Middle Ages? HO HO HO HO! This is going to be so easy! And they're magical, you say? Even better! They'll become energy sources for my machines! Though first, I’ll need a test subject from each species." "All of that is the 'good news', now here comes the bad," Orbot explained directly, just to see the displeasure on his creator's face, who slowly turned to feel like he was staring into his soul, which of course, Orbot did not have. "And... what would those 'bad news' be, Orbot?" Lacking the biological ability to swallow nervously, Orbot simply displayed a signal of energy from the well-known Chaos Control they had already experienced. "That’s a Chaos Control, sir. If that happened at the entrance of the planet's gravitational atmosphere, it means three things. Sonic is on that planet... to our bad luck, the emeralds are scattered across it, and neither Sonic knows where they are, nor where he is standing... so... he’s lucky... Sonic arrived there at the same time we landed, without any Chaos Emeralds and lost..." He hid behind the tablet, waiting for his creator to unleash his wrath. To his surprise, that never happened. Eggman remained firm, admiring the screen that showed a flat interpretation of the planet, and in the center of it, the Chaos Control dispersing the emeralds across this new world and, to his misfortune, his arch-enemy was on it. "How long ago did the Chaos Control happen?" Orbot showed from the perspective of the bandicoot on the planet how it was daytime and returned the visual history until it reached the night. "Approximately... less than 15 hours ago, it would be 7 or 6 AM right now, but since this planet is unknown, we’re still working on the last details regarding the time and current date." "Sounds pretty good, all of that, aside from the fact that Sonic is also here, but now that he's alone, he can't do anything! No friends, and a stranger in an unfamiliar land! Right now, he could even be seen as the enemy!... But what primarily inhabits the area where the Chaos Control occurred? Sonic must have landed there, right?" "Mmh... if that’s the case... the area where it happened is primarily inhabited by ponies." "You repeat that?... What did you say?" "That territory where the emeralds were split is mainly inhabited by ponies. We currently have three different races in the files we've gathered by spying and scanning these beings from a safe distance." "Enlighten me, spherical tin can! What do you mean it's inhabited by equines!? Don’t humans exist on this planet? No one with opposable thumbs? Or even any creature that isn’t just an animal and has fingers!?" Orbot passed species by species on the screen, showing ponies, dragons, griffins, etc., and returning to the ponies. "Sorry, sir, but nothing similar to you and certainly nothing close." Eggman protested with a heavy sigh, exhausted by the situation on Mobius. His cruel fate led him to be surrounded by animals again. "Look at the bright side, sir, they’re animals with no technological capabilities or knowledge to face yours and your army. Though your troops are currently deactivated until the base is back at full capacity, you still have a big advantage." "A big advantage? Hmm… you might be right, Orbot, I think I have an idea to increase my advantage against that detestable hedgehog!" He approached the control panel and pressed a button, which raised a microphone to his face. "Metal Sonic! I have a mission for you. The planet in front of this insignificant rock is inhabited by magical equines. Take with you a squad of Eggrobos and capture capsules, bring me three of each different species of those ponies. Make sure they’re alive, full of energy, and that they don’t cause a commotion. Don’t fail me! Oh, and one more thing. Sonic is there, don’t confront him under any circumstances... I want him to get a nice surprise when the time comes." With that said, he looked at Orbot, who was still manipulating the tablet, studying the planet's data. "Sir, I should question your plans from time to time, but this seems like a strategic move to act in secret and avoid direct conflict with Sonic. But tell me, what do you plan to do with the ponies right now? You’re not planning to use animals as energy sources for your robots again, are you?" Eggman avoided looking at him and began to laugh, excited about the plans he had for his next move. "On the contrary, Orbot, I’m going to study the energy of these very equines to IMPROVE my machines, making them capable of harnessing 100% of every bit of magic. When all the tests are perfectly mastered, the time will come for Sonic. But in the meantime, I need to find the emeralds and stay informed about Sonic's whereabouts." "The location of the emeralds is nearly impossible. The planet is covered by a magic layer, which I believe comes from the inhabitants themselves, radiating it constantly and passively. In other words... in other words, they don’t know they are creating this magical layer, it only exists because they constantly use their own magic, and the problem with this is that it’s affecting the radars used to locate the emeralds. The bandiks and Metal Sonic will be fine since they’re on the planet, but we can’t locate them from here." "Then how do the data get here?" "Communication and data transmission are not a problem... but I don’t know why they work. I theorize that the magic is above the power of the emeralds or it’s simply an energy that counteracts the chaos emeralds’ radiation." Orbot finished, waiting for a tantrum, a sigh of exhaustion from the bad news, or whatever else. "Very well, prepare the laboratory for when Metal returns. I want our guests to feel comfortable during their long and painful stay." Orbot gave a salute like a soldier, with his hand at the side of his head, and Eggman left, leaving him alone with his cubic 'brother,' who approached with a white cup in his hand. "So... does that mean we have a break before continuing to work?" Orbot sighed at these words while shaking his head slightly. With Sonic -Sweet Apple Acres The call of dawn awakened the incredible dream of the blue hero. He yawned as he stretched out under the apple tree that had offered him comfort the night before. Without a fixed destination and not knowing where north was, even if he could guide himself without a compass, he was unsure if the world beneath his feet followed the same orientation rules as his own. Left with no other options, he simply smiled and began to run between the trees, admiring each apple tree planted perfectly and distantly from one another. His run was short, as his speed took him straight to what he recognized as a treehouse with a ramp leading up to it. Knowing that if ponies lived in the castle, they also likely lived here, so maybe ladders wouldn’t be as useful for them. "Mhh... HELLO!?" he shouted from under the treehouse, waiting for a response. "IS ANYONE HOME?" When there was no answer, he slowly climbed up and gently knocked on the door. It opened, as it wasn’t fully closed, revealing what appeared to be a club or playhouse for children. They didn’t have much, but it was clear that a lot of effort had gone into building it. After a quick visual exploration, he decided to turn around and start descending, but was met with a shock to his knees, which surprised him. Looking down, he saw a yellow filly with a reddish mane and a bow on top. She was carrying a strange backpack with two pouches on either side. The filly rubbed her head with her hoof after the sudden collision and looked up at the blue creature bending down in front of her, with a surprised look. "Hey, little one, are you okay?" He asked, extending his right hand to help her get up. The young pony looked at him, processing what had happened in her mind. Then, she noticed the unfamiliar blue creature in front of her: mostly blue with peach-colored arms, mouth, and belly, pointed ears, green eyes, and long, pointed hair. She took a while to come out of her trance as she analyzed it, then realized that he was offering to help. "Y-yes... sorry, I was in a hurry..." she said nervously after the sudden moment, extending her left hoof to her strange "paw," which he took gently, helping her to stand up. "Don’t worry, no one got hurt. By the way, is this treehouse yours?" he asked, turning around to look over his shoulder at the interior of the wooden house. "Oh, yes! This is the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ Clubhouse!" she said with a bright smile. "Oh wow! Sounds like a secret club too. Sorry for entering without your permission, miss..." Seeing him apologize and trying to figure out his name, she realized they hadn’t introduced themselves. "Oh, sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Applebloom, part of the Apple family. The farm over there is my family's." Sonic smiled when he heard her introduction, and his mind immediately began thinking about apples after hearing the word in her name and family. "Nice to meet you, Applebloom! I'm Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!" He introduced himself with a fist on his hip and the other giving a thumbs-up, pointing to himself. She raised an eyebrow upon hearing the word 'hedgehog' "Hedgehog? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hedgehog like you before, and I don’t think they usually look like that. I have a friend who’s an expert on animals, and you don’t look anything like what she explained to me." Sonic shrugged and passed by the young filly to descend slowly from the treehouse. "Maybe it’s because I’m so cool that I don’t need to look like the other hedgehogs you know," he said with an arrogant smile. Once he reached the grass, he did a flip and landed on his hands, quickly transitioning into a breakdance move before finally resting on the grass with his hand holding his head, his elbow on the ground, and his legs crossed. His display of coolness made the young filly let out a cute giggle behind her hoof. She grabbed her bag and went back inside the clubhouse. Sonic looked at her without paying much attention to whether she was having fun or mocking him. He then followed her out and arrived at her side, still laughing. "You know? You’re a fun guy Sonic, What brought you here?" she asked. "Well, Applebloom, I'm not from around here, and I'm a bit lost. But that doesn’t really bother me, I always venture into unknown places. However, after how I ended up here last night... I feel like I need to orient myself first. Normally, I don’t use compasses or maps, and I like to run wherever the wind takes me. Do you have time to explain how things work around here?" When she heard the question about time, her eyes widened, remembering why she was in a hurry, alert to her school schedule. "AAAAH! I forgot! I’m going to be late for school! I have to go! see you later!" she shouted as she ran off as fast as her short legs could carry her. Suddenly, she felt her speed drastically increase and noticed that she was running over the ground. She looked up, seeing her blue friend carrying her at great speed. "Where’s the school?" Confused and surprised by the sudden speed of the supposed hedgehog, she quickly responded, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions stirring in her mind. "I-it’s straight ahead... and then... to the left..." Ponyville - Schoolhouse After a few seconds that would have felt like minutes to the young apple filly, she realized that she was suddenly standing in front of the school. "Is this it? Or is it on the other side of town? Because if this is it, I thought it would be farther away," she asked, unsure if they had arrived at the right building, considering her unfamiliarity with the town's layout. She had planned to stop at each building and ask if necessary. "It’s here! And I got here earlier than expected, thanks, Sonic!" She jumped down from his arms, landing perfectly, and walked up to the door, knocking softly. "Don’t thank me, I’m going to have fun! See you later little apple!" The door opened, catching the attention of the young farm filly, revealing a light pink mare with a purple mane and green eyes, her face showing warmth and happiness. "Applebloom, you’re on time. Who were you talking to?" asked the pony responsible for giving the class. "With my friend Son-" She turned to introduce him, but when she looked back, he was already gone, leaving only a faint cloud of dust disappearing. "nic..."Y-yeah... he sure is fast! AScootaloo and Sweetie Belle have to meet him!"" During class, everything remained calm and normal. Until recess, when Applebloom met with her friends under the shade of a tree, very excited about the news of her new friend. "Alright, Applebloom, what's the new news? I can tell by your smile," pointed out the young Pegasus known as Scootaloo. "I made a friend just now, and he's so... strange, but not in the sense of what he likes, more in what he is and what he can do!" she shouted, jumping around excitedly, spinning in place while her friends watched her with confusion, but excited about what she might say next. "So, this colt doesn’t have a Cutie Mark and is going to join the CMC?" her unicorn friend tried to guess, excited about the idea of another member in their club. Her words stopped Applebloom, who stopped jumping and looked at them with wide eyes, starting to get nervous. "Actually... he’s not... a pony, he says he's a hedgehog." Her friends looked at her, confused, thinking that her reasoning had suddenly abandoned her. "So... ‘he says’ he’s a hedgehog?" "Hedgehogs don’t talk, as Fluttershy explained to us," the Pegasus pointed out. "Well... uh... it’s much more believable when you see him, so you should meet him later! He'll probably come by the clubhouse. He's a fun guy, you'll like him!" They both just shrugged and then changed the topic to what they considered more important than the idea of a talking hedgehog. "You know, Crusaders? Rarity told me that last night during the Galloping Gala, an intruder got in. She said it was blue, fast, and escaped through the balcony." With those simple clues, the gears in Applebloom’s head started working, remembering her new friend’s speed and appearance, still having some doubts about what she had just heard and experienced recently. "He broke into the gala, caused damage, and escaped from the guards and the princesses!?" Scootaloo asked, stunned. Sweetie Belle nodded but also shook her head, finishing with a diagonal gesture with her head, making her friends look at each other even more confused than usual. "According to Rarity, he faced the knights, and after what Twilight showed him, he left without hurting anyone, except for a knight who got punched in the face. Although her friends didn’t help since Twilight insisted on handling the situation herself." While listening to her friend, Applebloom asked herself, "Sonic... I hope I’m wrong... what are you doing now...?" Sonic at that moment He had arrived in an instant from the base of a mountain to its peak, gazing at the vast landscape around him, only to then sneeze and hug himself. "Ugh... I think it’s a little cold up here..." Ponyville School At least the hedgehog himself could answer some questions about him before jumping to any wrong conclusions like last time with a certain zebra. She kept doubting for a moment until she was snapped out of her thoughts by the call of her friends. "Applebloom?... Applebloom!" "Huh!? What? Oh, sorry, I was thinking about a lot of things, what were you saying?" "Sweetie Belle asked if your sister told you anything about the gala." "Oh! I couldn’t ask her, I got up early and she came home a bit late, so she slept in a bit more. I'll ask her at dinner. I wonder what will happen with that intruder you mentioned." "The princesses and the guards are handling it, right?" Scootaloo affirmed confidently, lying back under the tree to rest, only for her ears to be filled with the ringing bell that marked the end of recess. Canterlot - Throne Room Princess Celestia, in charge of moving the sun and ruler of Equestria, was reviewing the report of what had happened the night before, which she held with her magic around her, looking at each page along with several portraits made hastily by her guards who took action that very night, and a young dragon who was present with them and also wanted to participate in the royal task of depicting the blue intruder through descriptions. A young alicorn near the door was waiting for the young dragon while the ruler admired each portrait, smiling at the 'low artistic levels' from the guards. As for the young dragon, she noticed his effort in the portrait, made as if his skill were 'professional' or rather an 'intermediate' level, not counting the fact that it was made with crayons considering his young age, but it looked decent enough alongside the description in the report. All the guards were silent, waiting for the verdict from their ruler, thinking of multiple fatal punishments, but when she finished reading the report, she set the scrolls aside and showed the portrait Spike had made. "Let me go over this, a blue being broke into the gala last night. I was present, but knowing Twilight's persistence, I assumed she would take full control and responsibility of the situation. But I see I should have intervened, knowing the intruder would escape. I feel useless seeing how I chose to relax instead of taking my role as ruler seriously. But the part of being a teacher and a princess equally, I must let her prove she can go on without me." The young alicorn in the back of the room became nervous, feeling her efforts were in vain, but they grew when she saw the older princess showing the portrait made by her dragon. "This is all we have to identify it. Thanks to everyone for contributing to the duty of depicting the blue threat," she said, showing a smile as all the portraits were shared among the guards who acted during the defense of the gala. "But I must say that Spike’s is the one that comes closest to the description I've read in the report, a blue being from head to toe, white claws, large green eyes, a mocking smile? Triangular red legs, blue long horns extending from behind its head and moving at great speed. Am I correct?" She asked, bringing the scroll with the description to Spike’s portrait. A drawing based on the illusion spell from Twilight, showing the moment when the guards had surrounded him, and he was raising his hands in surrender. While the princess gathered the others, leaving them to her assistant, a white unicorn with glasses, who, using her magic, took the discarded portraits, letting them float at her side. "Miss Raven, please send Spike’s portrait and the description report. I want posters about the creature. Take Twilight with you, and let her handle the details on these," the unicorn nodded and took the separate reports to leave with the young alicorn. Spike had been accompanying the guards since everything began, and his sharp hearing could assure him that he could hear the accelerated heartbeat of each one of them, his own included, but recognizing Celestia’s kindness calmed him down again, although it didn’t change the fact that his portrait humiliated the guards’, which made him feel that he was useful, even if it wasn’t in the way he had expected. "Spike, you may leave and return to Twilight. The rest, return to your posts. There will be no punishment for failing in your duty to protect the castle and the innocents who were there. However, I expect more obedience from those who acted impulsively. According to Twilight's report on each encounter with the intruder, there were actions taken too lightly when she was present." Spike nodded, and the guards lowered their heads to the ground, embarrassed by their reckless actions. Then, they all left, leaving the Sun Princess alone, except for the guards inside the hall who were guarding the door from within. She brought a hoof to her forehead, rubbing her head slowly and sighing, exhausted from all her tasks. The idea of a very fast threat disturbed her mental peace, wondering what it could be doing while she was sitting there. "Luckily... it doesn't seem like this could get any worse..." A bad choice of words. Author's Note Before anyone comes to correct whether Raven Inkwell is an Earth pony or a unicorn, I made sure and checked thoroughly before starting. But if you have doubts, you can check for yourselves, as both options are available for the character. I’m not sure what happened or why she’s shown in two different versions, but I prefer to leave her as a unicorn.
The blue one and the Crusaders"Luckily... it doesn't seem like this could get any worse..." A bad choice of words. I hope you’re enjoying this as much as I enjoy letting go of all the ideas about what I want to write, the human imagination is truly amazing, isn’t it? ========== The day went on normally, with everyone going about their lives, but the blue hedgehog didn’t waste any time. From the moment he dropped off the young apple filly at school, he wasted no time exploring the surrounding areas of this unfamiliar world. From the outskirts of the town, on top of a snowy mountain to the southwest of Ponyville, he had no idea where the path he was taking would lead him. He simply smiled widely and sped down the mountain, only to end up in what seemed like a lifeless, dead farm. All he could see were rocks, rocks, and more rocks. "What a strange place. Could it be abandoned?" He ventured in, walking slowly, not hearing any typical farm animals or even signs of crops to be harvested. "Hello? Is anyone living here? And I thought Eggman Land lacked life," he thought to himself. His steps stopped when he heard a whistle that caught his attention, forcing him to turn his gaze to see who had called him. "Hey YOU! How did you get into our farm!?" A light gray-coated pony with a green mane, with a tough look in her eyes fixed on Sonic, showing no fear of confronting the hedgehog. "Oh, so the farm is still inhabited? Sorry, but it looks a bit... petrified if not dead," he thought to himself, trying not to provoke the pony’s impulsive temper. "That's right! This is the Rock Pie Farm! And who are you?" She approached, giving him a look as if trying to peer into his soul, only noticing pure blue fur and a silly, confident, and very calm smile. "I'm just a hedgehog exploring new lands, and your farm happened to cross my path by chance," he said indifferently, shrugging. "So, a rock farm, huh? It looks a bit... uh... rustic for my taste." "Well, friend! If you don’t like it, you can leave, or you can leave. Are you looking for any special rock, or are you just going to admire the scenery?" Sonic looked at her, trying to understand if it was a threat or if she was just trying to be friendly. "Well, I’m not sure if I’ll find what I’m looking for here, but what I’m sure about is that it’s not a rock... it looks more like a gem, shiny, and it fits perfectly in my hand," he demonstrated by picking up a rock from the ground, which fit perfectly in his hand, covering all his fingers without being too big or so small that he could close it. "Not a rock? Then I don’t think you’ll find it here. We only harvest and collect rocks." While the conversation continued between the earth pony and the hedgehog, a light brown leather-colored pony with a gray mane and tail, honey-colored eyes, and gray hair and whiskers like his tail, walked up. His cutie mark was a pickaxe. "Limestone? Who is our guest?" asked the stallion with a calm gaze fixed on the blue creature. "Hello, sir, good afternoon!" Sonic greeted politely, raising his right hand and waving it to the side of his head, with his left fist on his hip, while keeping his signature friendly smile. Immediately, the pony, named by the stallion, glared at him with hatred, as if the words he used were the worst way to greet someone. The stallion walked over to the young ones, remaining calm as he noticed the friendly smile of the blue guest, which seemed to remind him of someone very happy and energetic. "My name is Igneous Rock, and this is my daughter Limestone Pie. I apologize if she caused you any trouble, but we don’t usually expect surprise guests." "Don’t worry about her, I have friends with the same attitude," Sonic smiled pleasantly, while the pony beside him glared at him with hatred. "I was just exploring new horizons, and your farm caught my attention as I was coming down the mountain. I thought it was abandoned, but I was wrong. I’ve never seen anything like a rock farm." "It’s understandable that it might seem unusual to those unfamiliar with our family, but I assure you this farm has been in our family for generations." "I have a friend with a job related to a 'giant rock,' but enough talk," he said, glancing at her "pleasant" daughter. "She, upon hearing this, suddenly felt that it was a mockery of her attitude," he continued, "was searching for a gem or jewel, more specifically an emerald." "I’m sorry to say, you won’t find anything like that here," Sonic shrugged with a smile, not too concerned about the failure of his idea. Igneous continued, noting the calmness of his guest. "But why did you think you’d find emeralds on a rock farm?" Igneous asked as Sonic placed his hand on his chin, thinking. "Hmm… honestly, I didn’t expect to find anything like that so quickly, but the conversation just came up. Although the story is a bit different, what I’m looking for, I can tell you that the one who was driving me in their 'flying carriage' is a terrible driver, and I lost her during the flight." After that summary, Limestone was the first to speak. "And what made you really think your belongings would end up here?" "A hunch, I’d say… but it doesn’t matter. I’ll continue on my way, and I’m sorry for bothering you." "We’re sorry we couldn’t be of more help, sir..." Before asking for his name, the hedgehog prepared to run but looked over his shoulder to give them a smile. "I’m Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog, thank you so much, Mr. Rock! Goodbye, Miss Pie," he said, then quickly ran off, leaving them stunned by the surprising speed at which he sped away for a land creature. "He’s a very strange guy..." Limestone pointed out with little enthusiasm as she walked away to return to her work. "Yes, he is... he reminds me of your sister," Igneous smiled slightly and continued his way to continue working on the farm. The path Sonic took after leaving the rock farm was unknown, not knowing the direction which excited him even more to explore everything his body’s limits would allow. But recognizing the landscape he had already passed through earlier, combined with his great speed, he knew he was never far from anything. At his great speed and already far from the farm, he crossed a river at full speed, creating a wall of water and forming a rainbow with the mist from the water due to the speed he achieved while running from one side of the river to the other. As soon as he touched the ground, his speed increased dramatically as he had great traction on solid ground, accelerating without fear, only seeing barren land in every direction he looked. He could barely see anything that made it look different. The sun shone brightly, and the heat didn’t seem to affect him at all. But he knew that sooner or later, no matter how hot it got, it wouldn’t bother or affect him. The air blowing through his fur, due to the speed, kept him cool with every step he took. A heavy, loud sound caught his attention. He turned his gaze toward it and saw a stampede of buffalo running in the same direction as him. He smiled and sped up until he matched their speed and got close enough for the lead buffalo to notice him. "Hey, big guy! Where’s the fire?" he said casually, drawing the buffalo’s attention. The buffalo was surprised to see something as fast as him, so close to such a dangerous stampede. "Uhh… we’re not running to escape from a fire or to put one out. We run because we do it every year along this path." Those words made Sonic smile even more. He kept pace with the buffalo but slowly accelerated, getting ahead of him, then turned around to run backward with his arms crossed while looking at him, showing off his speed. "You know, running is my passion, and it’s something I don’t plan to stop doing for anything in life. You guys shouldn’t stop either. I hope it doesn’t bother you, but I’m going to take your running path for a moment. Goodbye, big guy!" Sonic said as he accelerated to distance himself, then struck his characteristic running pose while speeding away, leaving the stampede far behind. The buffaloes were left speechless by how they were surpassed by something faster than a buffalo. "Nice places, clean air, friendly inhabitants as far as I can see in these lands, what more can I ask for?" he thought to himself when a growl and a familiar sensation caught his attention, making him look at his belly asking for food. "Ugh... just when I was thinking about it, now you remind me of it. I suppose I could go back and talk to Applejack before continuing to wander. I should ask how things work around here before doing something I might regret, but I don't want to offend anyone." With that, he kept running, naturally following his instincts for direction. His idea of the path he had taken gave him an idea of how to return to the treehouse, but fate smiled upon him and showed him a train track on his way. He came across it, maintaining his speed and running alongside it, hoping it would lead him back to the starting line. Ponyville - ClubhouseCMC The time at school was over, and it was the moment when the youth left what could be considered a second home for most of their young lives. A trio of fillies, already far from school, headed towards the forest, reaching a treehouse near the farm and far from the school— a perfect middle point to live between work and education. At the treehouse, the trio set down their saddlebags and began a private meeting to discuss their next activities. "Alright, Crusaders! Tomorrow is Saturday! What haven’t we tried yet to get our Cutie Marks?" Apple Bloom asked as she pulled out a long list of unfinished activities, which rolled from her little podium to the front door of the clubhouse, with no end in sight. The young trio gathered around to see the last activity marked with an 'X' beside it, which was the one that didn’t work out as they had hoped. "We haven’t tried wood carving yet," Sweetie Belle pointed out on the list, only to be interrupted by the pegasus in front of her. "We haven’t tried treasure hunting either." "I don’t think that would be a good option. We have no idea where to find treasure, and we can’t go far without an adult. It would be best to pick something within our reach." Scootaloo lowered her ears in frustration at the rejection of her idea. "Then we also need to cross off studying dragons because Spike doesn’t know much about himself, and we couldn’t guarantee we’d survive if we came across another one." Her friends nodded, and then they took a red crayon and crossed off both ideas from the list. "How about making potions with Zecora?" Apple Bloom added, catching the attention of her friends, who thought it was the best and safest idea, though they still had the problem of how to get to the newly mentioned Zecora’s home. "The sun is still up; should we go now to ask her to teach us? Or should we meet tomorrow at the entrance of the Everfree Forest?" Sweetie Belle hesitated for a moment while looking out the window, where the sun gave warmth and light. After a moment of silence, they decided to leave it to a vote, with 2 in favor of going right now and 1 against it. No one said who voted for what option; they simply didn’t want to argue and respected the vote. Apple Bloom left a note on the clubhouse door: ‘If you’re looking for us, we’re in the Everfree Forest with Zecora.’ After a few minutes of walking, they ended up at the entrance to the path of a dark forest. Everfree Forest Inside the forest, following a poorly guided path by the passing of hooves, the trio managed to reach a house in a tree, more at ground level than above it. Everything seemed quiet, with no internal noise coming from the house. They didn’t hesitate to approach and knock on the door, looking for the owner of the home. "Zecora? It’s the Crusaders!" Apple Bloom called while knocking again, but receiving no answer. "Did she leave before we got here?" Sweetie Belle asked, looking around. "She probably went out to gather ingredients for her potions... or maybe she went to Ponyville to shop," they all looked at each other, wondering what their next move would be. "So, what do we do? We could wait for her," suggested Scootaloo, but Apple Bloom raised her hoof to dismiss that idea. "If she takes too long, it might get late, and we'll still be here in front of her door." "How about we wait for her outside the forest? After all, she always uses the same path, right?" Sweetie Belle suggested, offering a new point of view on the idea of waiting for her. Her fellow Crusaders didn’t take long to think over the idea, and they decided to return along the path that had led them to the house of the one they were searching for. They didn’t realize they were being watched by green eyes from the bushes. While they walked back, with the sun slowly setting, the eyes continued to follow them, more pairs of eyes appearing, revealing a beast growling with its companions. Throughout the entire journey, the Crusaders traversed the forest naturally and without issue, but suddenly Scootaloo stopped after hearing a twig snap behind them. She turned around only to see the entire path they had walked down completely empty. "Is something wrong, Scoots?" asked her unicorn friend, stopping next to Apple Bloom and looking at the pegasus in alert mode. "Shhh... I think we're being followed..." she whispered. After saying that, distant bushes rustled, revealing a pack of three wooden wolves growling at the trio of fillies, who slowly backed up, scared by their sudden wild hunters. "Timberwolves... what do we do?" Sweetie Belle worried, stepping back in sync with her friends. "The most logical thing... is to run!" With that, the trio turned around and started running towards the village, with the wolves chasing them, howling. Ahead of the Crusaders, more Timberwolves appeared, forcing them to split up individually, each chased by two wolves through the forest as they screamed desperately. "AAAAAAAYUUUUUDAAAAAAA!!!" The trio’s cries for help were heard by those closest to the forest, and the one nearest to the situation outside the forest didn’t waste any time. His ears turned toward the cries for help. In a flash of blue, he darted into the forest, dodging all the unnatural obstacles of the terrifying woods. The night was falling as he entered the territory, and the cries of the fillies grew louder around him. He focused on the nearest one and, from the branch of a tree, he spotted how a pair of wooden beasts had surrounded a white filly like a pearl against a large rock wall she couldn’t climb. He raised his index and thumb to his mouth, letting out a loud whistle that caught the attention of the beasts. Along with the filly, they turned to look at the shadow on the tree branch. Suddenly, something jumped down to the ground, emerging from the shadows of the night, illuminated by the moonlight, revealing a blue figure, bipedal, with white claws, red feet, a grin on his face, and green eyes. "Two against one? I don’t think that’s how you treat a lady" he said. The Timberwolves growled and lunged at him at the same time. "Watch out!" was the word that escaped the unicorn’s mouth. Sonic smiled, dodging the wolf's bite before jumping on its head, using it to propel himself into the air. Then, he curled up into a ball and performed a spin dash towards the other wolf, destroying it in an instant. The first wolf to attack turned around, only to find a white fist hitting him in the face, launching him into a tree where he crashed and broke on impact. "Not so tough, huh?" She couldn't understand what had happened in that second. The blue creature didn’t hesitate to save her in less than 1 seconds. The Timberwolves had been defeated, and her hero approached her, carrying her in his arms and running off in an instant. She wanted to ask questions, but more questions kept coming to her mind. She kept thinking until a voice pulled her away from her thoughts. "Are you okay, miss?" It was a simple question, but it woke her from her thoughts. When she looked up, she saw her savior’s face more clearly a kind look with eyes green as emeralds, and a calm, relaxed smile that made her feel the warmth of peace. Everything felt peaceful, and she was about to respond when a nearby scream sounded, and she felt the wind change direction, noticing how her hero was heading toward the source of the scream. When they arrived, they saw a little pegasus clinging to a high branch of a tree, holding on upside down as the wolves clawed at the sides of the tree, jumping and trying to use their claws to climb and reach her. "Scootaloo!!!" shouted the unicorn in Sonic’s arms. The wolves turned their gaze along with the pegasus, seeing them there, watching. "Can you save her? Please!" Her body gently touched the ground as she saw her savior set her down and give a thumbs-up, flashing a smile. "No problem! I'm used to this kind of thing!" Before she could say anything else, he disappeared in a sudden burst of wind, forcing her to shield her eyes from the dust cloud raised by his speed. Once again, she felt another gust of wind behind her and saw that her friend was safe in that very instant. "Wh... What happened?" asked the little pegasus, confused and trying to comprehend what had just happened, after passing from the tree branch to the ground next to her unicorn friend. "Scoots! You're safe!" the unicorn shouted, suddenly hugging her. Then she looked toward where the wolves had been, seeing the blue hero shaking dirt off his hands, looking at the destroyed wolves. He then turned his gaze to the fillies and gave them a thumbs-up while smiling. "Wh... What is that thing...?" Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie Belle, who simply shrugged, keeping a shy smile at the ignorance of the question. As he approached them, walking calmly, they looked at him with intrigue but with some security, since he had saved them. Before anyone could say anything, a scream was heard in the distance, which only Sonic managed to hear. He quickly grabbed both fillies, one in each arm, and dashed deeper into the forest at high speed, once again surprising the fillies with the intense speed he had achieved in such a short time. They arrived within seconds at an open area, seeing a terrestrial pony reaching the edge of a cliff, slowly backing up while still watching the approaching predators getting closer and closer. "Apple...Bloom!!!" Before they could react, both fillies were already on the ground, watching a blue streak charging toward the wolves. One of them noticed the blue threat and lunged at it. Sonic dodged to his left and split it in half with a spin dash. The other wolf lunged to attack the pony but was stopped when it was grabbed by the leg. It turned to see Sonic smiling and then began spinning faster and faster before launching the wolf into the air above his head. As the wolf started to fall, Sonic was already preparing another spin dash and launched into the sky, finishing the wolf off from its face to its tail. The fillies admired the scene, watching as their savior landed smoothly on the ground, only to see Applebloom jump into his arms. "Sonic!!!" she shouted as she leaped toward him, being caught in his embrace. Before she could fall to the ground from the force of the impact, he lifted her into the air, spinning her around while smiling. "Hey little apple! Are you okay? Did those sticks hurt you?" "N-no! Thanks for saving me!" Her friends quickly arrived, not letting her respond as they jumped at her, knocking her to the ground in a joyful hug. "Girls!! You're okay!" "Yeah, he saved us! It was awesome, and he's so fast!" Scootaloo excitedly remarked, running around her friends and pointing out every detail. Sonic just admired the scene, smiling with one hand by his side and a fist on his hip. "Ahem, ladies," the trio turned to see their savior waving his hand, drawing their attention. At that moment, Applebloom realized that there had been no introductions between her hero and her fellow Crusaders. "Girls! Let me introduce you to Sonic the Hedgehog! He's the one I talked about at school today. Sonic, these are Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, my fellow Crusaders!" Sonic smiled and approached both fillies, kneeling down in front of them. "A pleasure, girls. As little apple said, Sonic is my name, and the speed is my game," he said, extending his hand to each of them. They looked at him for a second, then each took a hoof and felt a gentle handshake while he smiled kindly at them. "Hey, you're so fast! The way you took down those Timberwolves was amazing! How do you do all that?" asked the pegasus, running around him, inspecting his body, which had no injuries. Sweetie Belle stepped closer and gently tapped his leg, drawing his attention. "Excuse me, Mr. Sonic, but how did you find us?" Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out the note that Applebloom had left at the clubhouse. "I found this at your treehouse and decided to explore, looking for that 'Everfree Forest.' Luckily, as I got close to this strange and eerie forest, I heard some cries for help. That's where I found each of you. It was just the three of you, right?" "Yep! Just us, and together, we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!!!" they all shouted in unison, jumping and striking a pose in mid-air while Sonic smiled at them with joy. When Sonic saw them together, posing and shouting their name in unison, he couldn't help but think of his friends Tails and Knuckles, which made him chuckle softly. This drew the attention of the young trio. "What’s so funny?" Scootaloo asked, feeling that his laughter was mocking them. "Hehe, it's nothing... you just reminded me of some friends I work with as a team during our adventures. One day, you might meet them." The fillies were about to speak, but then they heard a howl coming from the trees, and everyone turned to look at the forest. From between the trees, a pair of glowing eyes slowly appeared, revealing a giant Timberwolve that had grown in size by merging with the parts of the wolves Sonic had previously defeated to save Applebloom. It now had a more robust body and was twice as tall as the trees. "It’s...it’s...ENORMOUS!!!" The trio screamed in fear in unison as they quickly hid behind Sonic's legs. While they trembled in fear, Sonic crossed his arms and stared the giant wolf in the eyes with a confident smile, assessing his new, formidable enemy. Everything was calm in his mind until a beeping sound came from behind him, catching the group's attention. "Did you hear that?" Applebloom looked at her friends, who nodded as they listened to the beeping sound, now much closer. Hearing it again, Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out his phone, which was emitting the sound. He showed them the screen, which read CHAOS EMERALD LOCATED, as an arrow appeared pointing straight ahead of him. When he looked up, he noticed the giant Timberwolve growling at him, with a strange glow emanating from its chest.
The first of seven"Did you hear that?" Applebloom looked at her friends, who nodded as they listened to the beeping sound, now much closer. Hearing it again, Sonic reached into his spines and pulled out his phone, which was emitting the sound. He showed them the screen, which read CHAOS EMERALD LOCATED, as an arrow appeared pointing straight ahead of him. When he looked up, he noticed the giant Timberwolve growling at him, with a strange glow emanating from its chest. "I think I'm posting chapters so quickly, one after another, that I'm afraid I might eventually suffer from the well-known 'Writer's Block.' ========== Before making his first move, Sonic had to consider the situation he was in: three small, delicate fillies behind him, a giant wooden wolf that seemed to grow stronger with the Chaos Emerald inside it, not to mention the cliff they and their friends were trapped on. A day like any other, thought the daring hedgehog to himself. He glanced at the wolf, noticing the green glow emanating from its chest. The wolf growled, asserting its dominance over such small beings. The girls trembled behind Sonic, but he was already planning how to move them out of the way so he could handle this personally. "Girls, I won't be able to fight him if I have to protect you. Do you know a safe place far from here?" Sonic asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the massive wolf, which was taking slow steps toward the small group. "Ponyville!" shouted Scootaloo. "Fluttershy's cabin!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Sweet Apple Acres!!!" mentioned Applebloom. Among all those options, Sonic was pretty sure the only place he knew was the farm Applebloom had just mentioned. He looked around, searching for something to create a distraction. Behind him, there was the cliff and the edge of the land that formed it. Beyond that, he had no other options. "Alright, I have a plan! I'll clear a path, and you all will run while I hold it off." The trio didn't seem to understand his plan. Run while he held it off? They exchanged glances, unsure, but before they could suggest another idea, Applebloom gathered her courage, accepting his plan, and stepped forward to stand at Sonic's left. "Alright! We'll run!" Applebloom said, her voice trembling as she faced the approaching wolf. Even with Sonic by her side, the fear didn't completely fade, but his presence gave her confidence that his plan would work just to protect them. Sonic, seeing her trembling but still standing tall, smiled proudly at her, impressed by how quickly she showed courage and trust in him, even after only knowing his name. "Alright, little apple! What about you two, girls?" he asked, looking at the scared duo. Both girls looked at their friend, then back at each other. They hesitated about whether it was a good idea, but they didn’t want to leave their friend behind either. "Alright!... we'll go straight to Ponyville!" Sweetie Belle emphasized, standing to the left of Applebloom. "And we'll get help!... we can't leave you alone, Sonic," Scootaloo explained, standing to the left of Sweetie Belle. The trio was trembling with fear. Something so powerful and terrifying stood before them; a single swipe of the wolf's jaws could devour them all. "I'll give you the signal, and you run! If anything happens, shout, and I'll be there in an instant. Don’t hesitate to call me!" Sonic positioned himself, fists against the ground, left leg extended, and his right leg bent. "Understood!" they shouted in unison. Sonic launched himself at the wolf, circling around it while the wolf tried to catch him with its claws. At the speed Sonic was moving, he managed to create a blue tornado, blowing fiercely and trapping the wolf. "Now, girls! Run!" The trio quickly fled the scene, and as they ran, they glanced backward, not losing their pace, only looking back to see how the trees hid their blue hero until they lost sight of him. As they ventured deeper into the dark forest during the night, not slowing their gallop, they suddenly crashed into something that let out a groan after the impact. "Timberwolves!!!" the trio screamed, only to realize they had collided with a familiar figure—a zebra with saddlebags, rings around her neck and front legs, and a lantern tied to a staff, who groaned in pain as she got up. "The Crusaders are here? What made them come all the way to me, without thinking of the dangers that lurk where the sun doesn't shine?" she asked in surprise, seeing the young trio at a time when she hadn't expected to. Upon seeing her zebra friend, Applebloom rushed forward and jumped at her with happiness. "Zecora! It's so good to see you! We came to ask if we could..." However, before she could finish explaining, Sweetie Belle interrupted to explain why they were running. "Applebloom, not now! Remember why we were running!?" Sweetie Belle reminded her, pulling her back from the thought of finding Zecora. "Oh, right! We were running from a giant, monstrous Timberwolf! It was the biggest one we’ve ever seen!" Applebloom explained, trying not to sound exaggerated. "Yes! And Sonic stayed behind to fight it at the edge of a cliff! He's so brave, but he didn’t want us anywhere near when he faced it!" Sweetie Belle continued, explaining how they escaped and what happened with the Timberwolf. "Now it's still back there! He managed to distract it so we could get away!" Scootaloo finished, and the trio looked worriedly at Zecora, who was now standing, holding her lantern and processing everything they had said. "One of your friends is facing a Timberwolf!? He's either very brave or very foolish to think he can face a Timberwolf that big!" Zecora said, her eyes widening. Before they could say anything else, a loud howl stopped them all, and they turned to look in the direction of the wild cry, toward the path the Crusaders had taken to get to Zecora. They watched with concern as the path seemed to lead them directly toward their blue friend. Unbeknownst to them, Timberwolves started circling around them, getting closer and trapping them with no way to escape. Zecora stood firm, trying to protect the small fillies behind her, but it was beyond her abilities. Before anyone could attack, a magical burst of light fell from the sky, striking one of the wolves and breaking it into splinters of wood. Another followed, and then another, until all of them were defeated. The group looked up to see Twilight arriving with Spike on her back and Rainbow Dash by her side. "We made it in time! Are you all okay?" asked the young princess as she landed in front of the group, only to be met with a big hug from the three younger ones. "Twilight, thank you! You came at the perfect time!" Sweetie Belle said happily, but they broke the hug soon after. "But... how did you find us?" Spike hopped off Twilight's back and approached Zecora. "It was because of Zecora's lantern! It shines brightly enough to be seen from above the forest," he explained. "Made specifically to survive in the Everfree," Zecora added proudly, showing off her homemade lantern. Rainbow landed, joining the conversation. "Sorry to interrupt the moment, but we should get out of here now, before things get worse!" Again, the wooden pieces of the Timberwolves' bodies were dragged away, moving in a specific direction, not rebuilding themselves. They just seemed to be called. "Had to say that, didn't you?" Spike asked sarcastically as the pieces of the Timberwolves moved away. Twilight, curious, decided to investigate. "I'm going to take care of this. Rainbow and Zecora, take the Crusaders and Spike out of the forest!" she said, her plan clear, then she galloped after the pieces of wood moving away into the darkness. "Twilight, let Sonic handle it! He said he could do it alone!" Applebloom called out to the already distant princess. "He never said that, right?" Scootaloo whispered to Sweetie Belle. "No, but if he managed to take care of the others to save us, maybe he can handle this one too." Moments earlier with Sonic After watching his little friends run, Sonic stopped making the tornado and dove under the Timberwolf leader, charging a Spin Dash that launched him into the air above the trees. He then delivered a double kick to the spot where the emerald was being held, only to see the wolf's abdomen change from wood to rocks and thick logs, which softened the impact. "Not bad, pup!" Sonic said, using the wolf’s body to propel himself to the ground, landing first. He looked up and saw the wolf falling heavily to crush him, but Sonic quickly moved away to avoid being flattened. As the wolf hit the ground, Sonic sprinted toward it, jumping and launching a barrage of kicks that created shockwaves, forcing the Timberwolf to step back but stand firm despite the damage. As long as Sonic kept attacking, the Timberwolf couldn't approach, but it tried to circle him. However, it was stopped by another shockwave that forced it to retreat and keep resisting. "Come on! Is that all you've got!? Even Metal Sonic would give me a challenge!" Sonic taunted, then stopped his attack and fell to the ground, immediately jumping up to face the wolf head-on. The wolf, seeing its chance to attack, instinctively opened its jaws, revealing a green glow. The emerald was reacting again, amplifying the wolf's instincts to face its prey. From its jaws, it fired an energy blast, surprising Sonic. As he rushed toward it, he quickly stopped and crossed his arms in an ‘X’ in front of himself to defend, taking the full force of the blast. A cloud of smoke formed from the impact, slowly dissipating to reveal Sonic’s injured arms. "I think this is... a bone much tougher to chew... than I thought..." he murmured, kneeling and looking at his arms, which had withstood the direct damage. The wolf recognized that it could unleash a powerful long-range attack. It repeated the move successfully, launching the energy ball at Sonic. Sonic quickly looked up, seeing the ball of energy approaching. Without hesitation, he dodged to the side, letting the ball pass by and hit a tree, causing a massive explosion. The explosion destroyed the surrounding trees and the ground beneath, creating a huge crater. "So much... chaos energy in one attack... luckily, I'm used to this... but it seems for him, it's like a new toy," Sonic thought to himself. He stood up again, only to see the wolf preparing to launch another energy ball. Sonic wasn't going to let himself be defeated so easily. He charged at the wolf. The Timberwolf, confident, fired again. But Sonic's green eyes shifted to an electric blue, and he vanished in a blue streak, countering the energy sphere with a left kick mid-air. The chaos energy blast was held in place by the sole of Sonic’s shoes. He kept it in check while quickly thinking about his next move before the blast exploded in his face. Maneuvering his body in the air while staying defensive, he managed to land a kick with his right leg, deflecting the blast toward the sky, where it exploded moments later with a green flare, like a flare from a rocket. "Not bad, not bad at all," Sonic said, smiling, surrounded by blue lightning, his eyes still glowing electric blue, and his gaze locked on his enemy. "Is that all you've got?" The wolf growled angrily, preparing to attack again with its new technique. But in that instant, Sonic appeared before its eyes in a Spin Dash, hitting it between the eyes like a rotating saw. The wolf endured the impact, struggling to stay on its feet. But the damage continued to build with every fraction of a second it was under attack. Sonic finished with a downward kick, driving his heel into the Timberwolf, knocking it to the ground. The wolf’s eyes lost their glow, and it fell defeated, its head crushed into the leaves, branches, and thick logs. A second earlier, Twilight arrives on the scene The Princess of Friendship arrived just in time, horrified at the sight of the massive Timberwolf that was beyond belief. "This is truly no ordinary Timberwolf..." she thought. Witnessing the great threat, she chose to stay hidden, scanning the area for the pony the fillies had mentioned—one who was facing the beast alone. Her worried expression shifted when she noticed the wolf locking its gaze in one direction. Twilight followed its eyes and felt a mix of fear and doubt when she saw the blue threat that had escaped from the castle. "He's still alive... it's impossible..." she thought to herself, admiring the scene as Sonic prepared to face such a beast alone. Sonic stood apart from the mutated Timberwolf, staring it down. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared in a blue flash and reappeared right in front of it. Twilight couldn't believe it—not only the courage to stand up to the massive Timberwolf but also the speed at which he had gone from one side to the other in an instant. As her thoughts gathered, she was snapped back to reality by a loud explosion that shook the ground, sending a gust of wind, and revealing the victor: Sonic. A green flash revealed a matching gem floating in the air, descending in front of Sonic. He bent down, watching it with a satisfied smile. In a sudden motion, he grabbed the gem and started dancing gracefully. After a few steps of his victory dance, he posed, placing a fist on his hip and snapping his fingers. The gem appeared in his hand, as if it were a magic trick. FACE TOFACE "Too easy!" was the only thing Twilight heard coming from Sonic's lips after his victory dance against the beast of the Everfree Forest. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Twilight approached him, her determination clear. But as she moved closer, Sonic turned in her direction. "Did he know I was here?" she wondered. "Hey, Princess...right?" he asked, making sure he was speaking to the same pony he had talked to before his escape from the castle. "Yes, I’m the same Princess you escaped from that night," Twilight said firmly, stepping closer but keeping a safe distance from him. "Good! Are the girls safe?" he asked nonchalantly. He knew they would be looking for him again, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Is he... referring to the Crusaders? Twilight thought as she analyzed him more closely, trying to match the descriptions the girls had given of him with his appearance. "If you're talking about the three fillies I found with my friends in the forest, yes! They're safe and sound." "Good! That’s all I needed to know. See you later," Sonic said nonchalantly, turning toward the cliff to look at the drop below, where the ocean could be seen far below. "Wait a second!" Twilight called out, feeling the weight of the situation. "You don’t understand the situation you’re in, do you? Don’t make this harder than it has to be!" Sonic sighed, looking at her directly while rubbing his injured arms and shaking off the dust. "Look, Princess, I’m pretty sure I know exactly what you're thinking: you want to capture me, lock me up, put me on trial and try to believe my story. But without a lawyer to defend me, and without my friends around, yeah, I know the mess I’m in. This isn’t the first, and probably won’t be the last time I end up in an unknown world with no knowledge of it. But that doesn’t mean I should just give up because you tell me to. I respect you, I’ve met other princesses too, but I’ve had some bad experiences being unjustly locked up or imprisoned for things I didn’t do or didn’t even commit." Twilight took a moment to process his words, shaking her head to regain her composure before responding. "Even so, you’re the most wanted pony right now! I can’t let you go free. It’s my responsibility to protect the ponies here. I want us to do this the right way. We don’t need to fight, just surrender, and we can fix this." She looked at him expectantly, hoping for a response that would bring resolution. Sonic, smiling, looked at her, knowing she was right. He could do that—he could try to show a more peaceful side and try to be seen differently. But the thought of the Chaos Emeralds being scattered across the world, and the fact that if a Timberwolf could fuse with one of them, who knew what other dangers could arise from them? "I could ask for help from royalty, but if I give out unnecessary information—or worse, the wrong information—it could end up in the wrong hands, and I’d be putting the power of the Chaos Emeralds in the hands of those who can’t control it... and if they try to hold onto the emeralds, I’d hate to face them just because I need them... I’ll have to do this my way." He crossed his arms and lowered his head, sighing. Then, he lifted his gaze and smiled at her. "First... I need to take care of something before I 'surrender'. But if you still don’t trust me enough to send someone after me, then go ahead! I don’t mind. You can think whatever you want about me, Princess. After all, ‘actions speak louder than words.’ It’s a saying back home," he said with a grin and a wink, then disappeared in an instant, speeding down the cliff at incredible velocity. Twilight processed his actions, then quickly rushed to the edge, surprised. He had survived before, but would he now? Her mind raced, wondering if he had some trick up his sleeve that she hadn’t seen yet. But as she approached the edge, all she felt was a gust of wind rushing past her, and she had a flash of déjà vu—remembering how he had escaped from her before. Once again, the situation was repeating itself, with him now running back into the forest. "That thing is so... so stubborn!" she muttered under her breath. "We’ll have to do something before someone gets hurt." She began to walk back toward the forest but stopped as she noticed the massive Timberwolf defeated and destroyed on the ground. "To think there’s something... someone... capable of facing that while we were fleeing from those... blue threats... Who are you?" she wondered aloud, gazing into the forest, unsure of where Sonic might be now. Author's Note I want to highlight a bit of the references to Sonic Frontiers in certain actions, that's all.
Thieves and Criminals"That thing is so... so stubborn!" she muttered under her breath. "We’ll have to do something before someone gets hurt." She began to walk back toward the forest but stopped as she noticed the massive Timberwolf defeated and destroyed on the ground. "To think there’s something... someone... capable of facing that while we were fleeing from those... blue threats... Who are you?" she wondered aloud, gazing into the forest, unsure of where Sonic might be now. Here we are again, enjoy, and I hope you'll forgive me if it takes a while, but well... STUDIES!" While Sonic already had an emerald in his hands, Eggman was left with empty pockets, and much to the misfortune of the Equestrians, they still had no clue about their blue threat, nor why he was there or what he wanted. All they had was a description of his appearance and nothing more. Moon - Egg of Death Orbot was finishing supervising the repair status of his creator's fortress, but something about the repair progress puzzled him. He checked his tablet, receiving a damage notification: 'Cameras out of service.' "How are the cameras not working? We just fixed all the damage," he said. He performed a system check, but the same error remained. He approached the control area and began scanning the systems and programs for any signs of a virus or a possible glitch in the main camera system code. Unfortunately, everything was in perfect condition. So what happened? he wondered as he left his workstation and headed towards the area where the cameras were malfunctioning. He floated along on his lower spherical half and continued his journey to complete his task. Boarding Zone Orbot arrived and looked at the cameras on the ceiling and the hallways, noticing that they were physically destroyed. "We have an intruder! But how? There are no signs of life on the ship besides Dr. Eggman," he said. He grabbed his tablet and reviewed the camera footage before they were disabled. Pausing at the right moment, he revealed a bipedal figure, agile and dressed in black, with a height considerably shorter than his creator's. He continued reviewing the damaged camera system files until he reached the last one, watching as the figure arrived at the boarding zone and stole a ship shaped like a blue bee (Buzz Bomber). But before entering, the figure threw an object at the camera, causing it to disconnect. Orbot, seeing this move, flew up to the camera and grabbed the object, quickly recognizing it. "Oh no, the doctor’s not going to like this..." he said, examining what he recognized as a pink heart-shaped ninja shuriken. Equestria - Crystal Mountains From the night sky, a shooting star appeared in the view of those who looked up, but it quickly exploded into a red flame and began to descend rapidly due to the planet’s gravity. As it entered the atmosphere, it gained speed, transforming into a meteorite that fell directly towards snow-covered mountains. The ship crashed into the snow, melting the surrounding area with the impact and its heat. The entrance door started to bend from the inside slowly until it was blasted off into the air, revealing a leg. "Ugh... this wasn’t what I planned... I wanted to steal the Master Emerald! But NOOO! Eggman had to show up and ruin my plans! I was planning on stealing it from him, but then the blue one had to make his entrance... I can’t blame him, though, that’s what a hero does, besides, I didn’t know I’d be there," said the figure as they crawled out of the ship, adjusting the suit on their back to reveal a pair of black, featherless wings, more like a bat’s or a dragon’s. They jumped and took flight, leaving the crater behind to look around, noticing what appeared to be a radiant city in the distance. "Well, looks like luck is on my side. I just hope I don’t get a ticket for where I parked," they remarked, looking at the destroyed ship behind them. "Well, worse things have happened!" They soared into the sky, heading towards the city, noticing how it seemed to shimmer as if made of crystal or perhaps jewels. Their eyes lit up as they headed toward the train station to carry out their 'new arrival' act. As they landed and looked up at the welcome sign, they read: "Welcome to the 'Crystal Empire?' Well, looks like fate is leading me to a place that suits my tastes." As they walked from the train station along the long path to the Crystal Empire, a thought crossed their mind: "Is Sonic here too? I should make sure, in case my only way out is back to Eggman’s ship." They reached into their suit between their wings and pulled out a cell phone. "And great... no signal. I hope they have multi-universal coverage here." They put it away and continued on their way, arriving at the empire and admiring the beautiful night alongside the stunning crystal buildings. But what attracted them the most was a statue holding a heart in its hands. "Well, well, what do we have here? A great hero? Or just a decorative statue?" They approached the plaque at the base of the statue, reading the inscription: "Made in honor of Spike, brave and glorious, hero and savior of the Heart and the Crystal Empire." They circled the statue, admiring every brilliant detail of the crystal it was made from. It was hard to believe something like this was within anyone’s reach. Distracted by the beauty of the grand Crystal Empire, their gaze shifted to the center of the empire, where a very tall building stood like a tower supported by four bases. "If this is an empire, there must be a king, and if there’s a king, he must have very beautiful and valuable jewels." Before taking another step, they stopped upon hearing footsteps behind them, seeing something even harder to comprehend than the statue, a pony with purple fur, a horn on its head, and wearing blue armor all over its body, but what amazed them most was that its body seemed to be made of crystal. "Halt, identify yourself!" the guard shouted as he approached the mysterious creature, drawing a sword with his magic while watching her closely. "Oh, great, am I in trouble now, officer?" She raised her hands and acted innocently, playing dumb to toy with his thoughts. "Actually, no, but there have been recent cases of missing ponies, and we’re not willing to take any chances by letting strangers in without verifying their innocence. Now, you’re coming with me and will be taken to the prison until tomorrow when the princess and prince can see you." He tried to get closer smoothly, showing a set of shackles, but she fell to her knees, groaning and clutching her leg. "Aah... my... my leg, I think it’s still a little broken..." The guard paused, seeing her discomfort, but continued with his work, using his magic to lift her up and restrain her. "So, you think you’re too clever to help a lady in distress, huh?" As he approached to cuff her, the clever thief dropped some marbles from her hands, which caused a small explosion, instantly creating a smoke screen that distracted him, allowing her to break free and escape by flying away. "Sorry, darling, but you’re not my type. Besides, I don’t play those games in public." She turned and flew off, soaring above the height of the buildings, leaving the empire behind. The guard quickly used his magic to bring a call horn to his face, blowing into it with force, signaling to his fellow guards. "Am I in a world of ponies? Well, maybe it’s not so bad if they have jewels and can talk. If there's royalty, I could take this as an opportunity to bring home a couple of souvenirs from this interesting place." The mysterious and agile spy flew on until she reached a forest. As uncomfortable as it might have seemed, she chose it as her resting place for the night. With nothing much to do but wait for the morning, she slept face down on a tree like a bat while the night passed slowly for her. Golden Oak Library - Twilight and Her Friends - Night "Alright, girls... thanks for coming even at this hour of the night, but this is a serious matter to discuss," explained the alicorn as her friends looked at her, concerned by her tone. Relax, sugarcube! What’s got you so... worked up?" Applejack asked cautiously, hoping not to offend her friend. Spike arrived with hay and daisy sandwiches for the ponies, and a gem sandwich for himself. "Here you go, bon appétit!" He served the tray and took his portion to start eating. "Thanks, Spike. Well, this might sound crazy, but I was there! It... that thing was there!" Everyone looked at her confused, trying to understand what she was referring to by the tone in her voice. Her pink friend suddenly shook her helmet wildly. "Yes, Pinkie?" "Did you find Discord!? I still haven't found him since we started playing hide and seek!" Twilight simply shook her head and took a bite of her sandwich. After swallowing, she sighed and looked at them all. "The blue threat was there! It was alive and it faced the Timberwolf!" Rainbow Dash accidentally spat out what she was chewing towards Rarity, but Spike acted quickly, using the tray as a shield. Pinkie Pie took a sip of her water and then spat it out, soaking Applejack, who reluctantly tolerated the spit from her friend. Fluttershy trembled in fear under the table. After everyone had calmed down, Rarity patted Spike on the cheek for saving her from her friend's disgusting action. Applejack dried off with a towel, shaking her hat to dry it. Rainbow was still staring at her princess friend in disbelief. "THAT THING IS STILL ALIVE!?" she shouted, rising into the air above the table. "Rainbow, calm down and sit down! I haven’t finished telling you what happened," Twilight said, and Rainbow obeyed, returning to her seat. "Well... continuing with what I said, it was still alive, and it faced the monstrous Timberwolf the Crusaders were talking about." Again, Pinkie spat out water, but this time Applejack turned her head, making Pinkie spit in a different direction, soaking Spike and leaving him dripping wet. "Oops... sorry, partner" Applejack apologized, embarrassed by her move. Once again, Twilight had to intervene to continue. "No interruptions, please... Yes, it was facing it alone. The worst part is that not only is it fast and likes to play with us, escaping and avoiding us, this time it showed its true power. It was covered in some strange magic or blue aura, like lightning, and the damage it caused was so critical that it was mocking the Timberwolf, saying 'Too easy.'" Rainbow crossed her forelegs in front of her chest as if saying she could do the same. "Sure, I can take down a few Timberwolves if I really want to." "You don’t understand, Rainbow! It was alone, against what you could call an alpha or boss Timberwolf. I saw it with my own eyes, but if you don’t believe me, we still have witnesses who can speak honestly about what happened, maybe not to see exactly what I saw, but they were there when it faced it alone." All her friends looked at her confused, except for Spike, who was well aware of what had happened at the time. "Girls, Twilight’s talking about the Crusaders. They were there with Zecora and said something about a 'Sonic' facing a Timberwolf. You saw them there too, right, Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow’s eyes widened in surprise, realizing she had forgotten that detail about what happened when she landed to meet Zecora and the little fillies. "So... let me see if I’m getting this straight. My sister and her friends ran into that alpha Timberwolf or whatever, and the blue threat was there facing it?" Twilight nodded, but before she could speak, Fluttershy raised her helmet. "Yes, Fluttershy, what is it?" "Um... didn’t you say something about a 'Sonic'? Who is he? If we can know, of course," asked her shy friend, emerging slightly from under the table. "That’s something I’m still wondering... there was no other pony when I arrived, just them. I theorize that the arrival of the blue threat gave it the chance to escape through another part of the forest before I got there, or maybe..." "Oh, maybe Sonic is the name of the blue threat?" Pinkie Pie asked, not giving much importance to the reasoning as she continued eating her sandwich. Everyone stared at her, surprised by the idea. They didn’t have many clues about him and had no idea when or where they would encounter him again. Only one thought crossed Twilight's mind at that moment. "I’ve got it! Only they will know. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, it’s already late and it’s night, but tomorrow when you get the chance, talk to the Crusaders about that name 'Sonic.' We need all the help we can get to learn more about him, so we can determine if he’s still the threat we think he is." The trio looked at each other for a moment, thinking carefully. "I’m not asking you to interrogate them if that’s what you think. I just want you to ask if they know anything about him. Anything will help us understand who or what we’re facing." "Alright, sugarcube, tomorrow I’ll talk to Applebloom about the forest and ask her about it." "I’ll do the same with Sweetie Belle. If he’s a danger, we need to be careful, especially if we don’t know him well. We need their version of the story to understand him better." "I’ll look for Scoots tomorrow for some questions while we do some tricks. She’ll probably want to talk a lot with me." Twilight nodded upon hearing them and then looked at Spike. He understood the look and went to the study to return with some posters in his hands. "These are the notices so all the ponies stay alert when they see him. The portrait was made by Spike and approved by Princess Celestia. I helped with the description of his abilities, but I should update it tomorrow with the new details I saw today. Applejack, take two, one for you and your family, and the other for the Crusaders. The rest will get one, and the others we’ll start handing out first thing tomorrow." With that, Spike handed out the notices to his friends in the order Twilight had said, giving one to the rest of her friends and two to Applejack. Everyone, upon receiving them, examined the portrait made by the young dragon, along with the description provided by Twilight. WANTED! BLUE THREAT! NOTICE: All ponies are advised to stay alert in case of encountering this creature. Description: It can be recognized by its non-Equestrian physiology. It moves bipedally, its body is entirely blue except for certain areas. It has emerald green eyes with a fixed stare and smile whenever there is eye contact. Its claws are white, and its hind legs are red. It is believed that its claws are three joined together, forming a triangular shape. Abilities: Its abilities are entirely unknown, but the most notable feature is its incredible speed, which it can reach in confined spaces. It also displays great dexterity and agility in all its movements when faced. This last point is crucial. AVOID PURSUING, FACING, OR CAPTURING IT. Its intentions are unknown, but we must not risk any pony. "Wow, you really have talent, Spike! Did you beat the guards with this?" Rainbow Dash smiled, watching as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by the compliments about his victory over the guards in a criminal sketching task. "Heh, for a second I thought they were gonna kill me for winning at something like this, since it was the closest to the descriptions." "Well, girls, I hope this works and gives us more info about the blue threat..." Twilight took a deep breath and sighed, returning to her thoughts about the strange encounters. She went back to the first one, feeling déjà vu from the second encounter. While RD, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were chatting, Rarity noticed her staring intently at the table, that lost look when someone’s thinking about something for what seems like hours, but in reality, it was only a few seconds. She was analyzing those encounters but was interrupted by a voice calling her. "Twilight? Are you okay, dear?" asked her unicorn friend with a tone of concern. "Sorry... I’ve been distracted since I saw him again, but this time at least there was some logical exchange of words between him and me." At that, all her friends stopped talking and turned to listen. Spike sat next to her, eagerly awaiting the story, as did the others. "Did he insult you or something?" Rainbow quickly guessed, trying to figure out what might have been said. "No, but he was more... let’s say, direct in every way... some things he mentioned confused me, and I didn't know how to process them at the time. He said so many things that didn't make sense, but others did. I wanted to convince him to come peacefully, but he... just..." Annoyed and tired from explaining her confused thoughts, she used a spell, and a beam from her horn shot onto the table, creating an illusion of Sonic based on her memories. "It's a spell my brother uses to identify criminals, just remembered it. With all the stress from this situation, it's hard to speak and think at the same time..." The illusion recreated all the movements from the moment of their exchange of words. It said: "First... I need to take care of something before 'giving up.' But if you still don't trust me enough to send someone to look for me, go ahead! I don't care. You can think whatever you want about me, Princess. After all, 'actions speak louder than words.' It's a saying from home." Then the illusion vanished. "And that’s what he said... it’s so... frustrating!! I want to fix everything like the Princess of Friendship I am, but I can’t if he doesn’t want to be friendly... and worst of all, I don’t understand what he meant the first time when he jumped off the balcony." "And... what exactly did he say?" Spike asked, drawing her attention. Twilight looked down at the table, remembering the scene. He had jumped from the balcony onto the cliff during that night at the Grand Galloping Gala. He knew someone would come check if he was really falling. She arrived, watched him, he smiled, winked, and mouthed, "Catch me if you can." "He’s challenging us! It’s obvious! He thinks he's the fastest thing alive or something, he’s just showing off," Applejack looked at her sideways with a glance that said, ‘You’re not the best person to talk about this.’ "Umm... anything else we should know about what happened?" Fluttershy asked shyly as she finished her meal. "Yes... after the Timberwolf was defeated, it dropped a green gem... it seemed like he was looking for it, maybe it’s connected to what he said about 'needing to take care of something before giving up.' I don’t know how that gem relates to him because he still hasn’t handed it over." "What kind of gem was it? I mean, if it’s so valuable to him, we might get an idea of where to find him if he's looking for gems." "It was strange... when the Timberwolf fell, the gem appeared in a green flash and floated towards him. He just grabbed it, we talked, and he left... everything gets more confusing the more I think about it." "Don’t worry, Twi, we’re here to help. Plus, it’s not like he can travel all of Equestria in seconds, no matter how fast he is without wings. There are mountains to go around, forests to avoid, and with the warnings you made, everypony will be on alert if he shows up," Rainbow Dash said, surprising everyone with her deduction that it wouldn’t be a huge problem everywhere in Ponyville. They were about to speak, but a yawn interrupted them. All turned to see the young dragon yawning and struggling to keep his eyes open. "It’s really late now. We need to sleep first. Stay alert, remember to talk to the girls. We’ll distribute the warnings around Ponyville, and the Princess will take care of sending warnings to the other Equestrian cities." With that, they all said their goodbyes and went home, awaiting the new day. ??? - ??? That same night, in a dark, desolate alley, a unicorn pony was unloading fruit crates from his cart. He seemed to be coming back from a business trip late at night, unaware of a figure under a dirty, tattered cloak approaching him. It appeared small and weak until its presence caught the pony’s attention. He saw it come from the darkness and fell to the ground, looking weak and exhausted. "Hey, you okay, friend? Need something?" The unicorn approached him, concerned, offering a piece of fruit. "No... I’m not okay, I need... magic... give me magic..." The unicorn moved closer, trying to hear him. "What do you need? I didn’t quite understand you," as he got closer, a red claw reached out and grabbed his neck weakly. Before he could react, he started feeling drained, as the mysterious figure under the cloak began to grow, and the unicorn fell to the ground, losing control of his magic. He couldn’t even keep the fruit he was holding. Within the darkness of the cloak, yellow eyes and a grin revealing sharp teeth could be seen, a sinister sight. "W...who... are you? What... did you do to my... magic...?" the unicorn asked weakly, unable to stand. "I only took what belongs to me, and you, along with the rest of your kind, can call me Lord Tirek!"
New menace, new "friend""W...who... are you? What... did you do to my... magic...?" the unicorn asked weakly, unable to stand. "I only took what belongs to me, and you, along with the rest of your kind, can call me Lord Tirek!" Sonic: 💎 Location: ??? Dr. Eggman: Location: Moon Rouge: Location: ??? Everything was dark, there was not a trace of life, only a laugh could be heard in the darkness. Then, yellow eyes appeared, and the same laugh grew louder. The face and shape of the one responsible for that evil laugh were revealed—a quadruped creature like a pony, where the head should have been, there was the torso of a minotaur, a muscular body, strong arms, and a great pair of horns on top of its head. This figure was illuminated by a wall of flames behind it and appeared to be fifty times larger than the pony bodies it stood over on the ground. Suddenly, a different figure appeared before it, as tall as a pony, meaning it was a small creature compared to the great centaur before it. A silhouette emanating a blue aura, bipedal, its hair—or rather, its mane—waving as if the ends of it were trying to rise. There was silence, and then everything disappeared. Only a faint voice could be heard: "Limits?... LIMITS!?" A blue lightning bolt struck from the sky, causing a powerful and surprising crash. A sudden gasp, and the dreamer awoke, revealing herself to be a frightened white alicorn from the nightmare. It had all been a dream, but one that left her uncomfortable to remember. Suddenly, the doors to her room burst open, revealing a younger alicorn with dark blue tones like the night. Her mane and tail resembled the night sky, and her sister entered, looking concerned for her. "Sister! Are you okay?" "I just had a terrible dream," Celestia expressed, frightened, as she got out of bed and rubbed her horn against her head. "Why do you think I’m here? You know as well as I do that it wasn’t a dream, but a vision... a very strange vision," her younger sister approached to hug her, trying to calm her worries. "Then there's no time. The stronger it gets, the more danger we're all in, and I'm not sure that we princesses are the ones meant to face this situation." "What are you talking about, sister?" "You saw my vision in your dream realm, you saw exactly what happened, right? We need to talk to Twilight and Cadance as soon as possible. Send for them, and by tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises, I... need to clear my thoughts..." Death Egg - Moon The base was fully operational, the robot units were finishing their work, and the base began to detach from the moon, now under control in space. "Sir, the Death Egg is fully restored, the attack units are charged and ready. The main power source is functioning perfectly, and the test subjects that Metal Sonic managed to acquire are being studied and analyzed. We are ready to invade whenever you wish," Orbot informed his creator after passing through automatic doors that led to his personal rest area. Dr. Eggman was reviewing and studying his plan for the next move he would make as soon as they were far enough from the moon. "Splendid news, Orbot. Any new information about the planet of those equines?" "In fact, sir, it seems I have something that will interest you." He approached, showing a piece of paper. Eggman glanced at it with little interest, but the bold words immediately caught his attention: SEEKING BLUE THREAT "Blue threat? Give me that!" He snatched it from Orbot's hands to read every part of the description and see the portrait of the creature. When he finished, a wicked smile formed on his face. "So your theory was correct, Sonic is down there and he's loose... and the best part is, he's the enemy of those equines! OH HO HO HO!!! This is magnificent! They see him as a threat and know nothing about him, other than this! Orbot, do you have the location of the rulers of those lands?" "We've determined that the main structure of their rulers is located where the Chaos Control took place a few days ago, under the surveillance of the bandicoots we sent. It’s a castle with a level of security we can consider useless against our technological advancements." "Excellent! Let me know when everything is ready to contact the rulers of those animals. I want to make a simple deal about their 'blue threat.'" With that said, he left with a big smile, heading to his laboratory to check on his "guests" from Equestria. Meeting of the Four Princesses - Canterlot A book opened, and the story within it was about to be told. Celestia's voice echoed as she began the tale from the book: "Tirek and his brother Scorpan came from a distant land, intent on stealing Equestrian magic. But soon, Scorpan came to appreciate the customs of Equestria, and even befriended a young unicorn wizard." Her sister Luna continued after Celestia: "Scorpan begged his brother to abandon his plans. When Tirek refused, Scorpan warned us of Tirek’s intentions. After that, Scorpan returned to his homeland, and Tirek was sent to Tartarus for his crimes. But it seems he found a way to escape." "We believe that happened when Cerberus left his post at the entrance," said Luna. The book then closed, revealing the four alicorn princesses sitting side by side around a round table, with the book resting in the center. "His time in Tartarus left him very weak. He barely gathered enough strength to use his dark powers, but with every moment that passes, he grows stronger, and more ponies lose their magic because of his actions," Celestia continued. "And I know the right princess to stop him," said the fourth alicorn princess with firm confidence. She had a light pink coat, long flowing pastel-colored mane with shades of pink and purple, and her name was Cadance, the Princess of Love. Twilight was about to speak, but was interrupted by someone she least expected. "Not you, Twilight. I know you'd be willing, but it won’t be you. I know enough about your dedication and commitment to something like this, and I’m sure you’d volunteer for it, but right now, you’re dealing with the Blue Threat. I suggest you focus on one task at a time until we know more about its nature." "Blue Threat? The one who invaded the Galloping Gala that night?" Cadance asked innocently, unaware of the matter. Twilight nodded and sighed, resting her face on the table. "Yes... it’s someone... it’s something very strange and crazy... I really don’t understand it..." Cadance looked at her, confused. It was a threat, but it sounded like Twilight was describing a person she didn’t even know. "Did... something happen with the Blue Threat, Twilight?" Twilight slammed her hooves on the table and raised her face, now with an expression of annoyance. "Did something happen? Everything happened! It can defeat the wildest and largest Timberwolves with ease! It can talk and understand our language but refuses to cooperate! It’s ridiculously fast for a land creature! It’s so arrogant, and we know nothing more than this about it!!!" she exclaimed, frustrated with everything she had gone through regarding this threat. With her magic, she summoned one of the notices she had created with Spike, placing it in front of Cadance. Cadance used her magic to take the notice, reading it in detail and admiring the portrait of the creature. "Coincidentally, I received a report from a Crystal Guard. Hours before dawn, he encountered a mysterious being. According to his report, it had dragon-like wings, walked on its hind legs, its fur or scales were black and white, and it had large ears. It seemed to be exploring the Crystal Empire." "And what happened with this creature? Were they able to capture it?" Luna dared to ask, hoping for some good news to calm the atmosphere, but her only response was Cadance's shake of the head. Now, the problems were growing. "Regarding this... blue threat, I can say that recently I was able to enter its dream realm." Her words caught the attention of the other princesses, who stared at the Princess of the Night in silence, waiting to hear more. Twilight was the first to speak. "Please, Luna, tell me you were able to talk to him and convince him to surrender. I know it’s my responsibility to stop him, but if you couldn’t do it, can we learn anything about him?" Luna smiled cheerfully and responded, "No, I couldn’t convince him, and even less so talk to him about this situation in which he is linked to you, but I couldn’t help but get distracted a little by the beautiful landscapes his dream showed me. It’s something I’ve never seen before. A floating island, cities more advanced than the ones we have now, even carriages without stallions pulling them." "What was that, Luna? After so much time doing your duties, did you decide to enjoy new experiences in the dreams of our unknown enemy?" Celestia asked with a smile, trying to joke about her actions. "Actually, his dreams are giving me a new perspective on how we are seeing him. He discovered me watching him very easily, didn’t hesitate to greet me, and I didn’t feel any malice in him. But before I could say anything, he interrupted me and said I wouldn’t be able to convince him to surrender. But according to his words, he hopes that in the future, our next encounter will not be one involving violence." "In our most recent encounter, he said, 'Actions speak louder than words.' Maybe I was judging him wrong?" The youngest of the princesses asked, starting to worry that she had acted wrongly towards the one she had seen as a threat, and beginning to doubt what was right. "You can’t blame yourself for that, Twilight. It’s normal to judge before knowing. You’ve experienced it yourself when you met Zecora. Maybe we’re just judging him based on the time and place he arrived, instead of letting him show us who he really is," Candace said, walking over to her sister-in-law to give her a hug, calming her own guilt. As the calm slowly returned to the Princess of Friendship, Celestia smiled faintly and looked at her sister. "Luna, I will assign Discord the task of stopping Tirek." Upon hearing her idea, Luna gasped, her jaw nearly unhinging before she could close it. Candace and Twilight heard them and looked at them in surprise. "Discord!?" They asked in unison, astonished. Celestia simply nodded without showing a smile, knowing that her decision did not fully please her. "Yes, as I said, I will give this task to Discord. He can sense disturbances in magic. Also, since Tirek will only be starting to steal magic from the ponies, we have a big advantage." No one said anything. There was a moment of silence, but Twilight's sigh broke it. "I understand, Princess. Then let Discord handle Tirek. I’ll keep searching for how to stop the blue threat." She explained, discouraged, and left the meeting without saying anything more. All the princesses present knew that she wanted to prove why she deserved her title as a princess, but what worried them more was when she would do it. "Can we do anything to help her, aunt?" Candace asked, saddened by her sister-in-law's behavior. Celestia simply shook her head. Then, a few knocks on the glass window caught the attention of the princesses. The shadow of a large bird was visible on the other side of the glass, something unexpected for them. To clear their doubts, Luna approached and used her magic to open the window. Suddenly, the bird entered and perched on the table the princesses were gathered around. A bird as large as a pony entered the room. It looked strange to them, with all its wings and body made of metal. It seemed like armor, but something like this had never been seen before. It opened its beak, and a voice sounded from within. "Good morning, Rulers of the Ponies," the voice echoed through the bird. The princesses were alarmed. An animal speaking was something they never expected to see, and the way it communicated and looked was even more suspicious. "In the name of Tartarus! What is this creature?" Luna shouted, expressing her surprise at the visit of the strange, metallic being. "Oh, don’t worry! I come in peace to offer my services for your problems," the voice said through the bird. The bird remained still, and only the voice came from inside its beak. "How can we be sure you're here to help us?" Candace asked defensively as her horn began to emanate magic. The robot turned toward the one who had asked the question. "Don’t worry, my intentions are completely honest. Since now, you are dealing with MY problem, your so-called Blue Threat…" The princesses all looked at each other, confused. He knew about their fast, new enemy, but he said it was HIS problem, which meant he had experience with the creature. They all exchanged glances, but before anyone could respond, the voice spoke again. "Let me introduce myself, ladies, I am Doctor Eggman, and the blue threat is my chaos in the place I once called home." Celestia took a step forward, standing firm and unafraid before the new creature. "Explain to us, Mr. Eggman, how you and the blue threat are related?" "As I said, Your Highness, he is my enemy, my problem, and a true threat in a certain sense... in my world! Both of us come from a distant planet, beyond the stars and constellations you know, a place I could call home, but I wanted to build MY home, full of attractions, safety, and without the need for any fragile being to be hurt. Just like you are seeing my mechanical creation through which I communicate, I have great scientific knowledge and technology that your world will not reach for several centuries." Luna, doubtful of his words, approached, putting her hooves on the table. "How do you know about us and our technology!? Have you been spying on us!?" "Please, miss, there’s no need to jump to conclusions without proof... but in fact, yes, I did! But for a necessary purpose. You see, before the blue threat arrived here, I was planning to leave the planet he quickly conquered, with his powerful and mysterious dark spells." The bird opened its wing, and a hologram appeared beneath it, showing the blue threat, but with dark fur, empty eyes, and one leg crushing the head of an EggRobo. "What you are seeing is his real appearance in all its dark being! A creature that disguises itself with a boastful and fun attitude, trying to warm the hearts of the innocent who start to care about him! Then, when everything is in his favor... he shows his twisted and dark appearance, seeking violence and fun! I had to base my creation of the perfect ally and soldier on him, using his skills and physical capabilities to design a mechanical being to face him... but I still only received defeats..." The hologram showed Metal Sonic with its head torn off and held by Dark Sonic, while its body was pierced by a dark energy blade coming from his hand, holding it in the air. "As you can see, I made sure that only my machines were damaged to ensure the well-being of the poor and delicate innocents. When I wanted to escape to avoid him taking me and my most valuable resources to find a way to stop him... he arrived and stopped my entire plan! By accident, both of us ended up in your world, Your Highnesses! Right now, my base is under recovery, and my army of machines only defends me..." Everyone seemed affected by his story and the evidence before them of how the blue threat was more dangerous than they had believed. Luna was confused. The dreams she had seen didn’t reflect anything regarding this story. Dreams were supposed to be the world where thoughts, desires, fears, emotions, and memories were reflected. If that was true, why didn’t she see any violence in the moments she explored that world? Everything was so peaceful and beautiful; he seemed happy, and his words were kind with little jokes, more reflecting a being of light than one of darkness. Was that the mask or his true face? The more she thought about it, the less she knew which side to vote for. "He came to ask for our help to stop him, right, doctor?" The elder ruler asked. This brought her sister out of her thoughts. Luna herself didn’t know which side to stand on now; she could only hope that during the night, she could gather more information from him or, as Twilight said, 'actions speak louder than words.' "Oh! No, no, obviously, I won’t ask you or any of your subjects to help me with my problem, but I just want your permission to let some of my creations locate in your world the objects that our shared threat stole from me." "He stole from you? What exactly did he steal?" Her question was answered when the hologram changed to show the 7 Chaos Emeralds. To the princesses, they were strange gems and even somewhat common to the dragons in their world. "What you have before you right now is a hologram of the 7 Power Emeralds. They are ancient jewels of great power, capable of achieving even the impossible. I managed to gather them to travel from the other side of the universe or perhaps from another dimension at the speed of light. I didn’t notice it; I was facing that monster when the journey happened. He stole them from me but couldn’t take all the power at that moment! So he disappeared, and at the same time, I arrived here a few days ago. Right now, he must be looking for them to become unstoppable, and once he does, nothing and no one will be able to stop him." The hologram showed how the blue threat absorbed the Chaos Emeralds into his body, his aura increased, and then a planet exploded in a burst of dark energy. He remained floating in space and proceeded to fly to his next target. The hologram ended, and the bird folded its wing. "I hope you understand the situation we are in, both you and I." The royal trio looked at each other, seeking approval from the others. Candace nodded, Luna seemed to do so with little enthusiasm, and Celestia gave the final approval. "Very well, doctor. We can trust that you’ll help us stop him, but we’ll need our next meeting to be more personal, rather than just sending a messenger in your place." "Don’t worry, Your Highness. This is just because I can’t get close to you yet; I am hundreds... no! Thousands of kilometers away from you, but I assure you something, when our shared enemy shows up and is weakening, I will handle him personally, and we will both be at peace." "You know how and when he will appear?" Candace seemed curious to know about his experiences with the monster. Would a way to attract him or challenge him work? "He has his 'heroic guy' act. He will appear where there is a great threat, and surely he will come to eliminate it. When he does, he will feed off the adoration of those he saved, and then he will end up destroying them just for trusting him." The minds of the three didn’t take long to think of a situation that could attract him. They found it a risky plan. "It was a pleasure meeting you, but I must go. We will stay in contact, but if we catch him first, the rest won’t be necessary." With that last statement, the bird closed its beak, and the communication was cut off. It took flight and exited through the window. There was silence in the room. No one said anything because the problem from both sides had escalated. Tirek and the blue threat—what would be the worst side to fight against? One would steal magic and destroy everything; the other would seek to be well-liked, only to stab them in the back. Neither was a good option. Luna stood up and left the room in silence. She didn’t seem to want to discuss the matter anymore. Who would? All of this had turned stressful in an instant. The only worry was the idea of what their shared enemy might be doing right now with this so-called 'doctor.' DeathEgg - Moon The communication had ended, and Orbot moved the microphone aside while leaving the table aside, showing what seemed to be intelligent responses to the princesses' questions. "All set, sir. The princesses will be taking your offer into account about handling Sonic for you and also allowing you to search for the 'Power Emeralds.'" Cubot approached, carrying a cup of coffee and placing it on the console. "Although that last part, he’s already doing it without asking for their permission." Eggman simply crushed him with his hand, forcing him to return to his cubic form. "Well, now tell me, how are the tests going on our tenants?" He asked, taking the cup of coffee. "We’ve managed to remove and test their magic in various EggRobos, but unfortunately, they don’t show compatibility to the point of controlling it. But the good news is that their magic works to power our weapons and also as an energy source." Eggman smiled broadly as he looked at the analysis. "Excellent! But what a waste that we can’t use it in my creations... but if we can extract it, it means we can manipulate it. Orbot, I want you to take all the magic out of their insignificant lives. Breathing is an optional result. We’ll try to use that magic in something similar to the Chaos Emeralds." Orbot simply saluted and headed to the laboratory to start the tests. Eggman took his coffee as he gazed at the planet below him and the moon he had been on. A new part of his plan was beginning to take shape.
Meeting a heroAuthor's Note First of all, Merry Christmas! (even if it's a bit late) Second! Happy New Year (just in case it doesn't reach in time)! Third! I used a video from the intro of Sonic Unleashed, it's for those who haven't experienced the game yet, but it's one of my favorites! Meeting a hero The communication had ended, and Orbot moved the microphone aside while leaving the table aside, showing what seemed to be intelligent responses to the princesses' questions. "All set, sir. The princesses will be taking your offer into account about handling Sonic for you and also allowing you to search for the 'Power Emeralds.'" CMC Club House The trio of fillies gathered once again in their small clubhouse, only to realize that all three of them had long faces and looked discouraged. "So... I think we're all down because of last night, am I right?" Scootaloo asked directly, thinking it was the right question to address everyone's mood. Her friends nodded without much desire to talk about the subject, but they couldn't hide it forever. "It's not fair! Applejack said I should stay away from Sonic, she doesn't even know him! He saved our lives, but they treat him so unfairly just because they haven't seen him in action!" Applebloom shouted with a lot of annoyance in her voice, while also showing the warning her sister gave her, leaving it on the table for her friends to see. "It's true! I told my sister, and even though I explained how he saved us, she still insists that as long as the princesses view him badly, she can't fully trust him... If she were saved by Sonic and saw what he's capable of, she would probably change her mind." Sweetie Belle said in frustration as she rested her face on the floor. "Rainbow Dash came to see me this morning to say the same thing. I just told her everything Sonic did was 20% more awesome than anything I've ever seen! And still, she scolded me, telling me to stay away from him because he's dangerous, blah blah blah, blah blah blah." Her friends stared at her wide-eyed, not recognizing that their friend, a fan of the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria, was upset with the one she admired. "What?..." The three were upset, disappointed, and excluded from being able to say anything to defend their friend’s innocence. The silence in their clubhouse didn’t last long as they heard a knock on the door. They looked at each other, knowing they weren't expecting anyone. Applebloom stood up and walked over to open it, only to be surprised by a smile and a familiar blue friend. "Hey, little Apple! How are you?" That question was enough to make her smile and lift her spirits. "So... Sonic!" She approached and hugged one of his legs gently, receiving strokes on her mane from him. "Hey, I'm also glad to see that you and your friends are okay after that giant wolf incident." After that, her friends came closer to hug him. They seemed grateful that he saved them and that he was safe, though they didn't know how to talk to him after what their sisters told them about him, or what to ask first after he had taken on the Timberwolf alone. "Alright girls, I think it’s time we get to know each other better, don’t you think? After all, we’ve only met in dangerous situations, and we don’t know anything beyond our names. What do you say?" With that, the fillies looked at each other and smiled, knowing that despite their sisters’ reasoning, they couldn’t be sure until they got to know him better. They all nodded, smiling at him. "Well, I guess we can play a question game, one question for each of us," Applebloom suggested, receiving a smile from Sonic as he entered and closed the door behind him. "Alright, but in return, you’ll answer a few questions I need to ask so I can learn a bit about your world too. What do you think?" The Crusaders smiled, and they all sat down on the clubhouse floor, each raising a hoof with lots of questions to ask separately. Sonic chose Scootaloo for the first question. "How are you so fast? You don't have wings like the pegasi, but you're really fast for a land creature." "My speed is something that came with me when I was born. It's completely natural, and there's no way to separate it from me. Next?" Now Sweetie Belle came closer, smiling to try to outdo Applebloom. "You said 'our world', so that means you're not from here, right?" That question was direct and clever to learn more about their blue friend. "Exactly! I come from a planet called Mobius. It's my home, and I protect it from the bad guys." They all raised an eyebrow at hearing him say 'I protect it'. They were confused. Who was he to say he had that responsibility or what he was capable of to take the planet under his protection? "So, you come from another planet, one that you protect? Are you like a superhero?" The last question from the trio came from Applebloom. Sonic nodded while laying on the ground, smiling while lying on his back for comedic effect. "But I wouldn’t technically say I’m a SUPERHERO. I’m more like just the 'Hero of Mobius,' that’s all." He answered nonchalantly, as though it wasn’t a big deal, but the fillies realized they had someone pretty amazing with them. "My turn. Explain a little how things work here. Who is the princess that showed up after you all escaped from the Timberwolf?" Sweetie Belle moved closer, smiling. "She’s Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship!" "Princess Twilight, huh? Well, then I’ll continue. I saw buffalo in the desert, but are there more creatures besides ponies and their different races and the buffalo?" Applebloom stepped forward this time. "Yes! Lots more! Spike is a dragon, and he’s Princess Twilight's friend. There are also griffons, hippogriffs, minotaurs, changelings, and many more that we haven’t even seen or gotten to know yet, for sure!" "So, I haven’t even traveled half of this world. That just makes it more exciting. Alright, my last question, what do you think of me regarding all this?" He rested his head on his hand, with his elbow on the ground, while his other hand showed his "wanted" poster. The three of them looked behind him, noticing the poster was still there. So he must have gotten it from somewhere else, but the question was still there. What did they think of him now? He had saved them, but their sisters had given them reasons to stay away from him. "We can’t exactly say what we think... but, we need to get to know you better. Is that alright?" Applebloom took a chance with that answer, hoping he wouldn’t get upset. There was a few seconds of silence. The fillies were getting nervous, but Sonic remained with his eyes closed, concentrating on the response, then he sat up cross-legged as if meditating before looking at them and smiling. "Alright, Applebloom, you’re right about that, so then I can tell you some of my stories and answer all your questions so you can trust me. Does that seem fair?" The Crusaders looked at each other, surprised by his kindness even after that cowardly response. They knew he had saved them the night before, but they couldn’t be sure of everything. They were stuck between the words of their sisters and the wall that was Sonic. One side made them doubt him and his trustworthiness, while the other side filled them with curiosity to know more about him to feel at ease. "Alright, I’ll tell you one of my stories then. Is that okay?" Sonic stood up, grabbed some blank sheets of paper and some crayons from a corner, and sat back down in front of them. He began to draw on each sheet, illustrating different moments from his various adventures. One showed a planet split into pieces, another was him with two other beings, one yellow and the other red, another showed a dark-furred hedgehog with red stripes and a grumpy face, another showed him holding a sword, and one more showed him with a smaller version of himself. "Sonic... what is all of this?" Scootaloo asked, pointing at each drawing while her friends took them and looked at each one. "These drawings, my little friends, are like references to all my adventures so far, though I left out a few. These are some I can tell you about to make it quicker. Pick one, and I’ll tell you about that one." "Ooooohhh..." The three of them began to look at each drawing he had made. They didn’t look perfect or professional, but more like they were quickly and simply drawn, too childish, as they would say, but still understandable. Sweetie Belle used her magic to grab the one with the broken planet. "What does this drawing mean?" "Oh, this was when my arch-nemesis, Doctor Eggman, used a space cannon to destroy the world. This drawing represents what he did because I had to travel around the planet with my friend Chip to restore every part of it and make it whole again. Would you like to hear that story?" The three of them seemed fascinated but remained firm, thinking a lot about this explanation. "That sounds incredible!" "How did you fix the world?" Scootaloo began shouting while jumping energetically. "How did he destroy the world?" Sweetie Belle seemed most interested in the origin of the story. Sonic just smiled and started drawing more on the paper to illustrate some scenes from the story. "It all started in space, above Earth’s orbit. My arch-nemesis, Doctor Eggman, was there with his space fleet and his army of robots, ready to conquer the planet..." The Crusaders watched him draw and he dropped the completed drawings, showing the red and black space fleet above the planet, joining two sheets to represent the world’s horizon and the space army over it. "It looked like everything was going according to his plan, but he didn’t count on me being ready to stop him!" Beginning of the story The entire explanation of how that adventure began ended with the first drawing of the destroyed planet, a new friend with trouble remembering who he was, along with a wild and monstrous-looking Sonic. Sonic looked at them, smiling, but they were left with their mouths open, trying to process everything that had happened. They couldn’t comprehend many of the words and things he had explained, from the technology, the Chaos Emeralds, how they could be in space, or if it was possible that he had divided the continents of an entire planet, and he had only just started. "Uh... girls? A lot to process?" It seemed like the three of them had synchronized so perfectly that they were raising their hooves to ask something, but then they stopped, bringing them to their chins, then lowering them, and finally lifting their gazes with big smiles as they spoke in unison, "And what happened next?" This caught Sonic by surprise, but not too much. He just smiled at their enthusiasm to keep hearing the story. Sonic spent the rest of the hour telling them how he and his friend Chip repaired the world in every continent they traveled to with his best friend Tails’ plane. He explained how Chip regained his memories and who he was, how they stayed together until they reached the final Gaia temple, and how the last Chaos Emerald made sure to restore energy while the temple placed the continent back in its proper place. He also explained how they faced Eggman for the last time and then when Dark Gaia arrived. How Sonic lost his wolf-hedgehog form and then Chip, who summoned all the temples to form a colossus to face his destined enemy every thousand years. They would awaken again and again to battle. But this time, with Sonic, they both defeated the God of Darkness, sealing him in the center of the planet along with Chip. Sonic was sent by his friend to the surface to continue having adventures, accompanied by his friend who would be by his side every step of the way on the planet. "E... that's so sad... he sacrificed himself so... you could stay alive... and save the world..." Sweetie Belle was already crying, with tissues by her side wiping her tears. "It was... so beautiful and sweet... but it’s a shame about your friend..." Applebloom felt hurt knowing that their friendship didn’t even last a year, just to save the whole world. "He was... a small, brave, and really cool guy..." Scootaloo was trying to hold back her tears to appear tough, but it was hard for anyone to hear that story and not get emotional. Sonic showed a calm and sympathetic expression as he watched them react to what had happened during that adventure. He placed his right hand on his spikes, looking for something. "You don’t need to worry, he promised me he would always be with me wherever I went." He pulled his hand out, revealing a bracelet with a green pearl on it, then brought it closer to the fillies for them to see it up close. "He’s always with me." They all admired the silence of the object from the story. It was exactly as he had described, a white bracelet with a jewel that looked like a large pearl but was green. They really seemed to understand more about what had happened. Chip hadn’t gone anywhere; he would still be with him. After all, the fastest living thing on Earth still had a lot of ground to cover, and knowing that his friend was with him beneath his feet made everything feel more peaceful. "Well, does anyone have other questions they’d like me to answer?" Sonic called their attention and then put the bracelet back on his spikes. "What are those emeralds you mentioned?" Sweetie Belle asked, knowing that if her sister were there, that would be the only thing she’d care about. But she needed to find out why they seemed so important. "Oh, those are the 'Chaos Emeralds,' there are seven in total." He showed five fingers from one hand and two from the other, emphasizing the exact number, then drew each one with the same appearance and their respective colors on a full sheet of paper. "What makes them so special? They just look like regular gems that Spike could eat and that Sweetie Belle’s sister could use for her clothing designs." Scootaloo vaguely said, not seeing much importance in them. "Didn’t you hear how this whole adventure started? Those gems give superpowers! And her enemy uses them for evil purposes! He literally divided the continents of his planet with the power of those gems." Applebloom exclaimed, frustrated that Scootaloo didn’t understand how dangerous they were. Sonic stayed silent, waiting for the discussion between the fillies to continue. On one side, Scootaloo seemed to not see the value in the Chaos Emeralds, but on the other side, Applebloom defended how important they were. Sweetie Belle just stayed there, watching them argue with Sonic by her side. Both exchanged looks and shrugged. "If I could see one of those gems, then I’d believe it!" Scootaloo responded directly to the situation. Upon hearing these words, Sonic pretended to cough to get the fillies’ attention, and they all turned to look at him. He had his hand on his spikes and pulled out the green Chaos Emerald, which he had gotten from the giant Timberwolf. "Oh! You mean one like this?" Sonic teased as he tossed it in the air and caught it again in an endless cycle. The CMC approached, admiring the shiny emerald. The closer they got, the more they could feel it emanating a huge amount of energy. It felt warm and peaceful because Sonic held it in his hand. "This is one of the seven Chaos Emeralds. I need you to keep this a secret, okay? I know I’m trusting very secret information to such young fillies, but I once was in your... in your shoes and had to face the bad guys. Nobody asked me or denied me, but I did it for good reasons. Now I want to trust that you won’t say anything about the emerald we just talked about, okay?" The three of them looked away from the emerald to look at Sonic, noticing his kind smile and a calm expression. "Sonic, why are you telling us something so important? Aren’t you afraid we might betray you? We don’t know each other very well." Sweetie Belle asked uncertainly while she and her friends lowered their gazes. "I can see in you that you’re not bad girls, and I don’t think you have bad intentions toward me. Back in the forest, you were scared and needed help, and I saved you because I couldn’t let anything happen to you. I don’t care if we don’t know each other well, the reasons are the least important when someone is in trouble. You would do the same if you gathered the courage to face whatever it takes to do the right thing." "You’re so cool and wise at the same time." The trio smiled in unison while Sonic put the emerald away and made his characteristic gesture of scratching his nose, smiling proudly at himself. "Yeah, I have my moments. But enough about me! What do you think about going on a short but intense trip?" The three of them jumped up in excitement, shouting "YES!" in unison as they began preparing their things for the trip. Sonic watched them run back and forth at top speed, gathering food, water, and some saddlebags. After hearing the story, they had an idea of how wild and crazy this adventure with their new friend would be. It seemed like trust wouldn’t be earned just through the story, but by knowing what he had lived through in his adventures. They’d be able to get attached to the fastest one more quickly than they’d ever expected. Trust would only show itself when it was really needed in new friendships. From the Other Side of the Story Twilight had already informed her friends about Princess Celestia's plan. Discord would handle Tirek, while she would try to stop Sonic in the best way possible, but that would have to wait after their last encounter. Now, everyone had gathered with Discord, who was feeling proud of being assigned to such an important mission for his very embodiment of chaos. "Well, girls and Spike, I must take my leave, I have an extremely important mission to attend to!" He simply disappeared as if he were an illusion in front of Twilight and her friends. "Finally, some peace to calm the atmosphere," Rainbow said, stretching while staying airborne. Quickly, Discord reappeared behind the whole group, surprising everyone. "By the way, I’ve been very aware of your situation with a certain blue creature who moves like the wind. I must say, watching you fail at either befriending him or simply talking to him was quite fun! He seems more capable of being someone kinder to everyone than your attempt to stop him when he arrived. But aside from that, he’s still here and there, wandering through our lands." He made a small wooden puppet of Sonic, which he controlled with strings, making it run in its characteristic way on the ground in front of the ponies and the dragon. "If you were aware of his existence, why didn’t you stop him? You could have made things easier for everyone," Twilight yelled at him, confronting him while he nonchalantly filed his claws, and the wooden puppet was moving on its own, eventually climbing onto Twilight's head and sitting there. "And take all the credit for something that has been your responsibility since his arrival? How kind of a friend would I be if I did that? Besides, he hasn’t done anything dangerous or chaotic to catch my attention and stop him by my own means." "Wait a second! You’ve been watching him since he arrived?" Applejack approached the herald of chaos, feeling upset by the fact that he could have done something for everyone’s safety. He simply nodded, and a book and a beach chair appeared, lying on it. "You didn’t stop him because you found it amusing to watch him travel through Equestria? Where’s the fun in running wild?" Pinkie said as she emerged from the book when it opened, holding her face with her hooves. Discord simply picked her up, hugging her with his tail and bringing her to the ground with her friends. "He’s such a curious being! He escaped from the gala, went to Ponyville, arrived at Sweet Apple Acres the same night, ate an apple, and slept between the trees. He befriended the little Crusaders after saving them from the Timberwolves. Now, who knows what he’ll be doing next?" While recounting all this, Spike felt Twilight call him using her magic to pull him towards her and whispered, "Spike, go with the girls, okay? Make sure they’re okay, and if anything happens, send me a letter." The young dragon nodded, feeling honored by the small mission, and hurried off at top speed. "And I was a little busy with an interesting read. I’ll let you see the best parts; you’ve already marked them. Enjoy your break while I have more important things to do. Ta-ta!" Before disappearing in a confetti explosion, he handed the book to Twilight, which was one they all knew very well. "Our journal? Hmm… let’s go, girls, we need to figure out how to open the chest the Tree of Harmony left us." "To the Castle of the Two Sisters!" Rainbow shouted, totally excited by the idea, as if she were leading the group.
Here is Tirek.Author's Note Enjoy and Happy New Year! I hope my arrival on FIMfiction has been to your liking, and I hope to continue writing a story or two. Here is Tirek. The trio of fillies nodded, but Spike snapped out of his romantic thoughts, realizing that the group was oblivious to the current situation. “AAAHHH! THAT’S RIGHT! TIREK IS STILL OUT THERE!!!” Everyone heard his terrified scream, wondering what he was talking about, except for Rouge. No one but them knew about Tirek. Sonic walked up to him and looked at him nonchalantly. “Who is Tirek?” I’ve started to like these things to divide what happened before for the next chapter. Three days until New Year's In the last encounter, the new 'Sonic team' met Rouge outside the Crystal Empire. There were introductions and many questions to ask. Now, everyone was focused on Spike, who was having a panic attack as he remembered that Tirek was still on the loose, and the last thing he knew about Twilight was that they needed her in Canterlot. He was now pacing back and forth, holding his head, thinking of the worst-case scenarios while talking to himself. The others watched as he fell into madness, having little idea of the situation. "This is bad, very, very bad! I don't know anything about Twilight! The princesses haven't written back, we don't know if Tirek was stopped by Discord or not!" Caught in his panic, he ignored the words of his friends around him. "Spike." Scootaloo tried to call his attention. "Spike!" Now it was Sweetie Belle who tried, standing in front of him, but he avoided her as he was too focused. "Spike!!!" Now Applebloom confronted him, but he turned around, walking back the way he came, ignoring the Crusaders. Sonic and Rouge watched the scene. They didn’t know what was happening, but it didn’t sound like anything good. Sonic approached and stopped him by putting a hand in front of his head, making him stay in place. Then he lifted him into the air, and his whole body shook uncontrollably. "WHAT'S GOING OOOOON!?" Sonic was shaking him quickly, hoping to snap him out of his thoughts. After the fast movements calmed down, Spike's feet hit the ground again, slightly dizzy, trying to find his balance as he staggered away, his body completely off balance. "Did you have to be so rough?" "He’s a strong dragon, he can handle it, right?" Rouge and Sonic watched as Spike took a few more steps, getting closer to the Crusaders before suddenly turning and falling flat on his back while they looked at him. "Ugh... six... nine Crusaders...?" His visual perception was so off-balance that he saw two of each pony. The Mobians approached the young dragon, who was now calm and recovering. They just needed to ask the questions. "Alright Spike, what has you so upset? And who is this 'Tirek'?" He shook his head quickly, recovering, and then looked at the fast hedgehog, kneeling down to meet his height. "Well... I’ll start with how we found out about him. Twilight was called to Canterlot to speak with the other princesses. Apparently, Princess Celestia had a vision about Tirek and told her that he was an evil centaur who was locked up in Tartarus many years ago. He felt his brother betrayed him by becoming friends with the ponies and their culture. Then the princesses defeated him and left him in Tartarus, but he escaped again." "That Tirek... is the one a guard told me about in the Crystal Empire. Is he really that powerful?" "I don’t know... Twilight said that Princess Celestia told her that he steals the magic of all the ponies, and I guess also that of dragons..." "But didn’t you say something about Discord stopping him or something like that?" Applebloom joined the conversation. "Princess Celestia told Twilight that Discord was tasked with stopping him, but even being a god of chaos, his magic can alter everything around him at will." "Sounds like an interesting guy. What do you think, Rouge?" "If his magic can do anything, then he’s someone better to have on your side." "He could literally change his mane like you change clothes on a mannequin. None of his magic makes sense! But right now, he should be stopping Tirek, and I have no idea what’s happening while we’re here." Spike was starting to get worked up again. He began walking away to clear his mind. "Girls, keep an eye on him and try to calm him down. Rouge and I need to come up with a plan, okay?" They all nodded and started following Spike. Scootaloo directly charged at him, knocking him to the ground, followed by her friends, one on top of the other, to prevent him from walking away again. "Okay... we need to catch up quickly! We already know how you ended up here, I fell in the middle of a fancy event and all the guards tried to stop me, accompanied by a winged unicorn princess, but I managed to escape and made friends with some fillies, traveled around a bit, and saved them from a gigantic wooden wolf that became stronger with a Chaos Emerald that I now have." "Well, that's already a big step, and the best short version. I was on Eggman's ship, waiting for the chance to steal the Master Emerald. You arrived, did whatever you did, and I was there until last night when I escaped. Right now, he's probably on the moon, or he might have already repaired his base and is waiting for the opportunity to invade this planet." "That's probably it. The Chaos Emeralds are here, and I'm sure I sent the Master Emerald home. Now that we’re caught up, we need to save some ponies, then explain my innocence about being the supposed 'blue threat' so they feel secure that we’re not looking for trouble. Afterward, we split up and look for the rest of the Chaos Emeralds." Rouge carefully thought about the very 'well-planned' plan, it was simple and direct, very much her style. "But what happens... if even after helping them, they refuse to help us?" "Well... I guess the blue streak and Mobius' best thief will have to work together to recover the Chaos Emeralds without resorting to violence." Rouge, hearing this, showed a surprised smile and approached him, playing coy. "Oh, what's this? Is the hero thinking of changing sides and becoming a thief? Because let me tell you, if that’s the case, I’m more than willing to give you some lessons in thievery. After all, I’m a professional." "Heh, only in case the emeralds are in someone’s hooves or claws and they don’t want to help us. Otherwise, we’ll go the traditional way." Rouge shrugged and sighed, pulling away. "As you say, hero, but now we need to find where that Tirek is and make sure no one gets hurt." Sonic nodded and approached Spike, who was still pinned under the Crusaders. "Alright, girls, mission accomplished, the whole plan is set. Now I need Spike." They stepped aside, allowing their dragon friend to catch his breath and stand up. Once he regained his composure, he looked at Sonic, who was smiling and extended a hand to help him up. Spike hesitated but quickly accepted, being lifted with ease. "Thanks, Sonic... I’m sorry for how I acted. I’m really worried about Twilight, the princesses, and the girls..." "Don’t worry, buddy. When my friends are in trouble, I worry too. But since I know them well and know what they’re capable of, I’m sure they’ll be fine on their own, or until I get there." He gave a thumbs-up, lifting Spike’s spirits. Spike smiled, feeling reassured and relaxed with those words. "Great! Now that you’re calm! Tell me where this... Canterlot is, I’ll look for the princesses if Tirek hasn’t reached them yet, and if he’s already there, I’ll take care of him so he doesn’t hurt anyone." "Eh!... it’s easier if I tell you that it’s the whole way you took and then you go back to the castle you jumped out of the night you arrived." "Perfect! Crusaders, the trip to the Crystal Empire is canceled due to a certain event where your captain has to face a crazy centaur to save his loved ones. Rouge, take two with you, I’ll take the other two." With that said, he turned to look at Spike and the fillies. "Alright! Who’s coming with me to Canterlot?" He smiled, pointing to himself with a thumb. Immediately, Applebloom jumped into his arms, and he held her under his left arm. Sweetie Belle jumped behind her and was supported under his right arm. Now with two ponies in each arm, only Spike and Scootaloo were left for Rouge. "We’ll see you there, Rouge! Let Spike guide you!" Before she could speak, Sonic was already gone, leaving behind everything they had packed for a fun and safe journey, now turning into a speed and rescue mission at a much faster pace than before. Rouge looked at Scootaloo and Spike, both smiling, waiting to be carried. She bent down, picking them up in her arms before opening her wings and flying in the same direction Sonic was heading. Twilight VS Tirek On the other side, while Sonic, Rouge, and the Crusaders were learning about what was happening with Tirek thanks to Spike, Twilight, after receiving the magic from the other princesses, kept herself away from the rest of the town. So much magic from three princesses and herself being one, she wouldn't be able to control it easily. So, staying outside of Ponyville was her best option. But between flying and using spells, nothing was going right. Flying peacefully? She ended up landing and leaving a long trench in the ground with her hooves, trying to stop. Teleporting? She went from moving a few meters calmly to ending up in the sky, falling from a great height. Then, she appeared behind a waterfall, flew over Appleloosa, and then ended up right where she started. She tried to turn a rock into a table but ended up making the rock explode, and every piece of it in different sizes became tables with different shapes and amounts of legs. "Ugh... this is becoming impossible... I can't even do a simple spell!" Her mood was not the best, and trying to pull a rock toward her made it fly in the opposite direction, thrown who knows where. "I wonder if Spike and the girls are okay... the blue threat hasn’t shown up again... hopefully, only Celestia knows where in all of Equestria they are right now. Now that Discord betrayed us, everything is going from bad to worse... I don't feel sure this has any solution..." She looked into the distance, noticing Canterlot on the side of the mountain, worrying if the other princesses would be okay when Tirek got to them. The other ponies were also losing their magic, and now only she and her friends were the last line of defense. As all her thoughts about whether there was any hope in this situation swirled, the voice of someone unexpected snapped her back to reality. "PRINCESS TWILIGHT!!!" A deep voice was calling her, and it sounded very close to her location. Twilight turned toward the source of the voice, seeing Tirek pushing his way through the trees, towering over them. His appearance was now more muscular and powerful, his horns much larger, his facial hair and mane grew even more. His physical strength and magic had increased significantly since Discord had found him. Now, with the magic of many ponies from every race, and the chaos god’s own power, he had more than enough to make sure no one could stand against him. She let out a gasp, frightened, as she saw him approaching. "AH! Tirek!" From afar, he looked powerful, but facing him up close would be a huge risk. If he managed to steal her magic, he would become invincible. She stared at him with fear, her heartbeat quickening, as the idea of being defeated seemed much worse than failing Celestia on one of her tasks. She focused her magic, hoping her teleportation spell would take her far away from him. "YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME!" With that, he leaped towards her, seeing the magical disaster and noticing how she didn’t seem able to fully control the massive amount of magic she now possessed. "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" A desperate scream caught his attention, and he lifted his gaze, seeing the princess he was after flying at full speed towards him. Without giving it much thought, the powerful centaur gathered magical energy between his horns. Twilight, seeing that he was about to attack her mercilessly, had to act and invoked a protective spell, managing to form a shield bubble around her. As Tirek fired a massive magical cannon at the princess, an explosion sent her flying through the sky, landing near the ruins of the old Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. She landed inside her protective bubble, bouncing off trees until the spell dissipated, letting out a soft groan of pain from the impact of the magic Tirek had used to attack her. Barely able to get up, she noticed how everything suddenly darkened. She looked up and saw Tirek already above her, plummeting towards her, intending to crush her under his four hooves. She barely had time to react, teleporting just in time, causing Tirek to create a massive earthquake with a powerful shockwave that toppled trees and destroyed the ground. The ground shook under his hooves, but Twilight managed to avoid it, reappearing above him and releasing a massive magic burst, much like he had done to her, enveloping him in the magic. The force of the magic set the trees on fire and damaged the grass. Tirek, however, managed to shield himself with his arms, creating a magical barrier around them and extending his hand, breaking through the magical beam, trapping Twilight in his grasp and halting her continuous attack. Twilight tried to break free, but his grip was tight enough to hurt her, preventing her from concentrating. She felt the urge to scream from the pain. Tirek held her tightly and threw her towards a mountain, causing her to crash into it. Fortunately, Twilight managed to create a force field to cushion the impact. She glared at the centaur with anger and frustration, but her eyes widened in shock when she saw him charging at her with his horns, carrying her through the mountain and out the other side. Exhausted from his relentless and merciless attacks that never gave her a chance to breathe, she quickly recovered and gathered a large amount of magic, disappearing and reappearing beneath him. She fired a powerful magical beam with all her fury, sending the enormous centaur soaring past the clouds, eventually falling face-first to the ground. The impact, like a meteorite, created a massive dust cloud, as though an explosion had gone off. "Is it over...?" She landed softly, but the ground began to tremble around her. Tirek managed to grab her by surprise, but she quickly shot at his hands, forcing him to release her. Now out of his reach, she used her magic to grab large rocks from the surroundings and hurled them at him, hoping that one would pierce his body. The unexpected attack barely fazed him, but Twilight reacted as quickly as she could, forming a shield bubble. Tirek, however, took one of the rocks and used his magic to mold it into a massive hammer, lifting it above his head and smashing it down onto the young alicorn, burying her into the ground. The damage was so great that her bubble cracked, surprising her. Not hesitating for a second, Tirek took the opportunity to transform the hammer into a spear and attacked, cornering her. The bubble shattered, and Twilight's concentration faltered when she realized she was facing his destructive power. Her spells were no match for his. The spear pierced the bubble and drove deep into her right wing, causing intense pain. She couldn't focus on her enemy anymore, as her ability to fly was compromised with such a grievous wound. In her state of pain and weakness, Tirek pulled her towards him with his magic. She resisted, teleporting to a safe distance and assuming an attack posture, her horn glowing, ready to continue the fight. "You have a lot of courage, wanting to continue after I broke your wing. I admit you're harder to defeat than I thought, but you won’t be able to keep up with me forever, Princess Twilight." "N-no... I won't give you... my magic... if you want it... you'll have to take it... from my defeated body..." Tirek grinned and began laughing, seeing how determined she was to keep fighting. He knew she wouldn't be able to keep up in her current state. "HA HA HA HA! You're in no condition to keep facing me! But if that's what you want, I can be generous and let you live in exchange for your magic... or else..." "Or else... what!?" She glared at him angrily, squinting her eyes, holding back the intense pain. With a bit of concentration, she cast a spell to numb her gravely injured wing, but she couldn’t stop the bleeding. A healing spell, perhaps? But she had no time to stop and use something so important, especially in front of someone who wouldn’t let her breathe. "I offer you a deal... your friends in exchange for your magic." He snapped his fingers, and six bubbles appeared, each showing Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Discord, all trapped inside. They appeared drained of strength and color, their magic stolen by Tirek. Seeing them, Twilight stopped charging a magic attack and stared at her friends, who were all pleading for her not to give Tirek anything. They would rather fall themselves than let their friend, the princess, face this alone. Twilight quickly thought it all through. Weak, injured, and with her friends in danger, she looked at her wing, visibly wounded, and her eyes showed fear, on the brink of tears, terrified of being so close to death. It was obvious that Tirek had attacked her wing on purpose. "Fine... I'll give you my magic, but first... free them!" He smiled, and hearing her, he simply threw the bubbles away between the trees, until they finally broke when they reached the trees, releasing her friends. But Discord was still trapped. "Release him too!" she shouted angrily, realizing he hadn't freed him. "What? You still consider him one of your own after he betrayed you?" She looked at him firmly, but Tirek only glanced at Discord and repeated the same process he had done with the others. While Twilight watched where Discord was thrown to ensure he was okay, she was stopped by Tirek's magic, which pulled her back towards him. With a devilish smile and a glint in his eyes, he opened his mouth, ready to steal her magic. She closed her eyes, unwilling to see how everything she had worked for would be lost. "Friends... Princess... I'm sorry..." She started feeling her magic leave her body, leaving her completely empty of magic. Tirek grew physically larger, his body and muscles becoming ten times harder to damage, and his magic, fueled by the magic of hundreds of ponies and four alicorns, was overwhelming. After his drastic and powerful power boost, he dropped the already defeated princess to the ground, grinning wickedly as a magical sphere formed between his horns, aimed directly at her. Defeated, hopeless, wingless, and with no one left to save her, she closed her eyes, waiting for her end, a single tear falling from her cheek. "GOODBYE, PRINCESS TWILIGHT!" Everything seemed over… but suddenly, she felt a strong gust of wind against her body. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel someone carrying her, and she heard Tirek groan in pain as his voice grew distant. When the wind stopped, she dared open her eyes and noticed her savior carrying her in his arms. His blue eyes, a calm smile, and a focused gaze on her were unmistakable. Looking directly into his eyes, she saw tiny sparks of blue, like little lightning flashes within his iris. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, but once he lowered her, there he was—the blue menace had saved her life. He had escaped from her, fought a Timberwolf to save the CMC, and now reappeared to save her. She had no idea what had just happened or why he was even there to save her. "Are you okay, Princess?" That was his first question. He wanted to know if she was alright after everything that had happened between them. "Well, let's skip the part where your wing is half-broken and you seem to have just suffered a major depression blow." His calm humor remained even in this situation, his confident and serene gaze, his warm smile to ease her troubled heart. He was definitely not the threat everyone thought he was. Twilight was still processing everything, but he walked away to face Tirek, who was recovering from the attack to his eyes that had saved Twilight. "Mmh, so that’s Tirek, huh?" "Yes... yes... Why are you here? Why did you save me?" "Relax, princess. Your good friend Spike told me everything. Now, relax and take a seat while I! deal with the bad guy of the day." With that, he disappeared in a flash of blue light, heading straight for his new target. "Thank you..."
The Blue Lightning.Author's Note I hope you've had a great start to the year, I trust you'll take care, and we'll see each other in the next chapter.. The Blue Lightning. You might wonder when I wrote this? As soon as I finished the previous one, I started this, so don’t be too eager to accumulate ideas without writing a draft to continue the chapter. "Yes... yes... Why are you here? Why did you save me?" "Relax, princess. Your good friend Spike told me everything. Now, relax and take a seat while I! deal with the bad guy of the day." With that, he disappeared in a flash of blue light, heading straight for his new target. "Thank you..." Team Sonic Crusaders - Canterlot - Antes de enfrentar a Tirek Sonic had traveled the entire way from the Crystal Empire, but now that he was carrying the fillies in both hands, he decided to take a riskier route, choosing dangerous paths and performing acrobatics with every high jump to release and catch them again until he reached Canterlot. He climbed the walls at high speed and entered the royal gardens. "So this is Canterlot during the day? Doesn’t look too bad, it’s nice." He set the fillies down, and both were disheveled, their eyes wide open, and smiles forming on their faces, excited by how fast they had arrived. It had taken less time than they expected, and there they were in the royal gardens. They shook their heads to settle their manes and started walking slowly around the area. Sonic followed behind them, noticing how peaceful and quiet everything was, no guards in sight. The air and atmosphere around them felt mysterious, as if something was waiting to surprise them. "Strange, I don't see anyone, no guards or any other ponies," Sweetie Belle said. "We should go see the princesses, first! Sonic, can you take us?" Apple Bloom asked. He smiled and gave them a thumbs-up, agreeing with the idea. He quickly picked them up and left the courtyard, entering the castle at high speed. As they entered, they saw several guards lying unconscious on the floor, too weak to get up. Sonic stopped and checked them for their health. "Mmh... they’re still breathing, they don’t seem hurt… seems like they were just weakened." "Could it have been Tirek!?" Sweetie Belle asked in fear, looking around, staying alert, and joining Apple Bloom in a hug. "It must be him, didn’t Spike say he could steal magic?" Sonic glanced around, noticing the silence in the castle hallways. He approached the fillies and picked them up again, starting to walk down the halls, seeing more guards and servants lying unconscious on the floor. Everything remained like this until they reached a unicorn whom both fillies recognized. They jumped out of Sonic’s arms as he spotted him, and both approached the defeated guard, concerned. "Shining Armor! Are you okay?" The named unicorn, with the little strength he had left, opened his eyes and noticed two of the Cutie Mark Crusaders trying to help him stand. A groan of exhaustion was the first thing they heard from him as they helped him to his feet. Sonic rushed to give them a hand, helping him sit on the floor. After that, Shining Armor managed to see the two sisters of Twilight’s friends and the last one he would expect to see, the infamous blue threat that had been talked about and searched for in the past few days, was right there. "Ni... girls... stay away from him!... ugh..." He tried to stay strong to protect them from the mysterious and sought-after enemy, but as he tried to stand in a defensive position, he fell again. Sonic approached and caught him to help him back on his feet. "Hey, hey, easy there, buddy… looks like you won’t be getting up for a while." At that moment, Rouge arrived with Spike and Scootaloo in her arms. "It’s not easy keeping up with you when you’re the fastest living thing there is, you know? Luckily, this young, sweet dragon has good knowledge of royalty and could tell me where the castle is. Thanks, dear." She set them down gently, and the little dragon rushed over to his unicorn relative, worried. "Shining Armor!! What happened!?" "Spike... girls... Tirek came here... left everypony in Canterlot without magic, probably even... the princesses..." He looked down the hallway leading to the throne room, where they should be. "We failed... now Tirek is loose, with more power than anyone could imagine..." "But... but Discord!? He was supposed to stop him! Didn’t he succeed!?" Spike said, close to tears, full of concern and fear. These words reached Shining Armor, who frowned, showing anger. "Discord?... He betrayed us! He used his magic to help Tirek steal more magic... Now everything is ruined, with both of them working together..." Spike fell to his knees, praying that it wasn’t true. He feared the worst, especially since he didn’t know anything about his friends or Twilight. His thoughts were clouded with the worst possible scenarios for the situation and the enemy they would have to face. Sonic looked towards the path mentioned by the unicorn guard, whom the fillies and the dragon had helped stand. The hedgehog began to walk, and Rouge followed him. Shining Armor, seeing them leave, tried to get up but was about to fall again. "Wait!... you..." Spike quickly, along with the Crusaders, helped him stay on his feet while the children faced the fear of what could have happened to their loved ones. They helped their friend walk to follow Sonic to the throne room. Once they arrived, they found the princesses collapsed on the floor in front of their thrones. Sonic and Rouge quickly approached to check on them. Sonic checked Celestia and Luna, while Rouge checked Cadance. They checked their pulses and sighed in relief, knowing they were just weakened, meaning they had no magic left. The princesses began to open their eyes and noticed that those who were there were the ones they had heard about—the blue threat, easily recognized from the posters and what had been said about this being since the Gallop Gala and the strange intruder in the Crystal Empire. "A... blue threat...?" Celestia said, drawing attention to the hedgehog who was helping her sister remain upright against her throne. "Slow down, princess, you're not at full strength, you can't even lift a helmet. It’s better to make yourselves comfortable for now." After helping her sister, he went to assist Cadance to remain in the same position, noticing to his left that Cadance was being helped by the other strange creature that had been spoken of before. Shining Armor reached the throne room, assisted by the younger ones, until he collapsed on the floor in front of the princesses. "Pri... Princesses... we... we’ve failed..." he said weakly. "No... it's not your fault... Captain Armor... no one would have expected Discord... to do what he did... if anyone should be blamed, it should be me..." Celestia explained, resting her helmet on her golden pendant, expressing that she should be blamed for how everything went out of control. While Celestia blamed herself, Luna looked at her guests—the young and only Cutie Mark Crusaders, accompanied by Spike and their two new guests, the blue threat and the intruder from the Crystal Empire. She fixed her gaze on the blue one, remembering what she saw in her dreams and what Dr. Eggman had told her about how he approached the hearts of others only to betray them later. Now she had the chance to decide what to believe—whether it was what she had seen in her dreams or what she had heard from Dr. Eggman. Cadance looked at Rouge. The description they had received the night she appeared was exactly what she reflected. However, neither she nor her blue companion looked like threatening monsters or acted cruelly toward them or the children they came with. Speaking of them, something didn’t add up. How did they make it here, and how hadn’t Tirek found them yet? How were they able to move and stay on their feet? It seemed they hadn’t stolen their magic yet. A whistle interrupted the royalty, forcing them to look in the direction of the sound. Sonic had his fingers in his mouth, making the sharp sound. No one did anything, they just looked at him, intrigued. "Ready? Do I have everyone’s attention?" There was an awkward silence where the princesses, along with Shining Armor, stared at him, not understanding what was happening with his presence before them. "Alright... hello, nice to meet you, princesses, uh, Celestial, Lunar, and Candace? Was it like that?" he asked, turning to the fillies, who nodded while Spike accompanied them. Everyone walked closer to him and Rouge. "It’s actually Celestia, Cadance, and Luna, but two out of three is fine, right?" the young dragon tried to make a joke to lighten the mood after their defeat and betrayal, but it seemed no one found it funny, and he felt bad for trying. He heard a small laugh, seeing Sonic smile as he owned it. "Not bad, Spike. Well, I still need to get to know you better, your highnesses." He expressed his respect for them by bowing slightly and crossing his right arm over his chest, hiding his left arm behind his back. Just because the ponies saw him as a threat didn’t mean he should forget his manners in front of royalty in such a dire situation. "Blue threat... what brought you here? Are you here to finish what Tirek left behind?" Shining Armor asked sternly while trying to maintain an attack stance, even though he had no magic left. "Man, ease up on the anger, I understand you’re upset about whatever I did, but right now is the time you need allies, not enemies," Sonic said. "You call yourself a 'hero,' huh? But since it’s been known that you arrived in our lands... you’ve done nothing but avoid us. Why should we trust you?" insisted the Captain of the Royal Guard, taking a step forward, but his leg trembled, causing him to fall. Rouge approached him, crouched down, and lifted his chin with her hand while smiling. "Oh dear, look at you, you can’t even stand, I don’t see how you think you can stop the fastest living thing on Earth in your pathetic state. I’m sorry, but now you’ll have to trust us, whether you like it or not." She walked away, feeling Cadance’s piercing gaze, but knowing in her current state, she wasn’t a threat, especially with her flirty tone mocking any innocent. "The fastest... living thing...?" Luna asked, looking at him, sure of his title. "Or maybe the fastest in the whole universe, but I don’t like to brag," Sonic remarked while running his hands through his quills, as if styling them to look great. "And I know you don’t like the idea, but you have no choice." He said with pride, knowing he was right. At that moment, Apple Bloom approached him, calling his attention by softly touching his leg. "Sonic, Miss Rouge... what will happen now?... What about our sisters? And everypony's magic?" She looked like she was about to break down in tears, but the hero bent down and gently patted her head, smiling to calm her down. "It’s going to be okay, little apple, leave this to me. Rouge will stay here with you, and you can speak for both of us." She nodded, knowing she could strike a deal with the royalty in exchange for saving her equine subjects. No job is free for him, unlike Sonic, who did it because it’s the right thing to do. "And what will you do...? If I may ask?" Cadance asked, trying to appear strong in her calm demeanor, but it was useless since he didn’t seem to care that three princesses were staring at him as an unknown target to distrust. He didn’t mind in the least, his confident smile showing how sure he was of himself. "Me? Oh, nothing special, just tell me where to find this Tirek guy, and I’ll take care of him." His words were so confident and solid that they left all the ponies and dragons in the room with their jaws hanging open. Rouge, for her part, smiled, knowing he was about to do something crazy like face the enemy of those who consider him one. "Y-you're not serious, are you? ...But... we have no idea, he stole the magic and then came to us... he wanted to send us to Tartarus, but he gave up, saying 'the best way to make you suffer... would be to make you see how all of your kingdom is lost...'" Luna explained, her head bowed in sadness, knowing that after this, Tirek would come for them again. Before anyone could say anything, an explosion was heard in the distance. Sonic opened one of the windows to the balcony of the throne room, showing a view towards Ponyville, more specifically the Everfree Forest. A large cloud of dust had risen, and the explosion didn't seem to have been caused by magic, but rather the impact of something big and heavy against the ground itself. "Forget it! I think I've found him, Rouge, you're in charge, girls, Spike! Stay calm! I'll save your friends. Princesses! I'll make sure that guy falls, and you and yours get back the magic he stole!" In a blink, his green eyes turned blue, he jumped onto the balcony railing, and placed a foot over the edge, ready to leave in his own way. "Sonic!" The Crusaders’ voices shouted in unison, calling him. He stopped when he saw them approaching, and Spike also came closer, worried. "You said you're a hero in your world, right? Now you can prove it!" He just flashed a smile at Scootaloo, who was worried about her friends. "Save our sisters, we don't know you much more than from your stories, and just a couple of days ago, but we trust you." He nodded, knowing the truth in Sweetie Belle's words. "If you say you're so fast, you can beat him quickly, right?" He gave a thumbs up to Apple Bloom, assuring her that the victory was already in his hands. "Please, Sonic, I know we maybe didn’t start on the best foot after I silently doubted you... I was the one who made that horrible drawing of you... but... save Twilight, even if things didn’t start the best with her either, do you think you can forgive her?" The young dragon pleaded with the speedy hedgehog. Sonic extended his fist to the center, where the four of them could join it. "Clash your hooves and claws with me, I promise I’ll save your loved ones, sisters, friends, and princesses." The four young ones met his fist, smiled, and erased all trace of sadness, seeing the hope and confidence he kept. Then, the four of them bumped their hooves and claws with his fist. "And once all of this is over with that guy Tirek, we’re going to have a long talk, princesses. That way, we can clear things up, and we'll find a way to go back home." He looked at Rouge, who nodded with her arms crossed. With everything said, the children stepped back, and Sonic jumped to perform his Spin Dash, falling from the balcony to another part of the royal gardens. From there, he accelerated at great speed, dodging every building as he left a blue trail in his wake, already outside Canterlot in less time than anyone would have expected. The four watched in awe as he showed even more speed than before. "S-He's really fast..." Scootaloo said in amazement, as it seemed like she was starting to forget Rainbow Dash as the coolest and fastest. After Twilight's rescue Sonic quickly arrived in front of Tirek, who was already recovered, blinking to verify if his eyes were better after the surprise attack he had received out of nowhere. Once he felt better, he noticed that Twilight was no longer there, and instead, he saw a blue creature standing with crossed arms. Its size seemed similar to that of the princess, so it didn’t appear to be such a small target. "Tirek, right?" "Mmh? Who are you? Where is Princess Twilight?" "Sorry, buddy, but if you want to have a meeting with the princess, you’ll have to go through me first." Sonic smiled, keeping his arms crossed and closing his eyes with a cocky grin, not caring how big, intimidating, powerful, and close Tirek was to him. "And who do you think you are, to challenge me?" "Well, I’m not a princess or anything close to one, I can assure you of that... But me? I’m the one in charge of taking you down." He said with excitement and a big smile while pointing at the giant Tirek in front of him. Tirek only smiled in return, showing that he found it amusing that someone was so confident in being able to stop him at his full power. "You? How could a rat defeat the great and powerful Lord Tirek?" "Mmh, there’s a saying 'never judge a book by its cover,' and I can see you’re doing just that by assuming I can't beat you and calling me a rat. Now, come at me!" Tirek just looked at him without giving it too much thought. He gathered enough magic between his horns and created a magic sphere to throw at him. But in the blink of an eye, Sonic had disappeared in front of him. Tirek looked around, confused, searching for him while keeping his magic prepared to attack. It wasn’t until he felt a powerful blow to the back of his head that forced him to lean forward. When he turned around, he saw Sonic in the air, smiling, mocking him for how easily he had been surprised by that attack. Tirek raised his right hand to catch him, but Sonic, moving at lightning speed, used his hands as obstacle tracks, grabbing onto Tirek's giant fingers and maneuvering between them. He quickly climbed his arm and sped up, aiming to strike his face directly, but Tirek’s left hand got in the way, crushing him just before he reached his shoulder. Sonic jumped between the fingers of Tirek’s left hand and delivered a Sonic Boom kick to his face, causing him to stagger back from the slight impact. He stayed in the air, continuously attacking him with that same move, just as he had done against the Timberwolf. Tirek kept his guard up, blocking the constant barrage. He was forced to use his magic to create a barrier around himself, which then grew and pushed the hedgehog away, sending him flying through the air and stopping the blasts that had him on the defensive. Meanwhile, Sonic recovered and was ready to land, but when he looked in the direction where Tirek had been, he was already gone. Someone that big couldn’t move that fast… could they? No, Sonic’s danger sense alerted him to an attack from behind. When he turned around, Tirek was floating in the air with his magic, both arms raised, fingers interlocked, and he struck with both hands in a powerful lateral hammer blow, sending Sonic flying towards Ponyville. The landing was rough, but Sonic quickly stopped himself using his feet and hands on the ground, leaving a trail from his limbs as he used force to halt himself. "Ugh!... Not bad... he reacts fast." After stopping, he looked up and saw a magical blast, twice as big as his own height, heading straight for him. He stood up, clenched his right hand into a fist, and crossed it in front of his torso. When the attack was close enough to hit him, his right arm and fist were surrounded by an electric blue aura, which he used to block the attack while holding his ground to avoid losing ground. From a distance, Tirek watched as the hedgehog blocked the attack he had launched seconds after sending him to Ponyville. He smiled, expecting the blast to explode and end it there. But his smile disappeared when he saw how his attack was diverted far from the village, striking a mountain and destroying its peak. "Hmph! That thing is too tenacious, damn rat." At that moment, Tirek realized that if this fast creature stayed standing, it could become a very troublesome problem. It wasn’t that he was afraid, though, considering he had stolen the magic of four alicorn princesses, and this was just a blue rat who could move quickly. He had a huge advantage, but after seeing how his magic was deflected, he realized how fast Sonic had moved, and assumed he would come back to face him directly. However, the blue streak took another path, diverting away from Ponyville and heading towards a large mountain. In less than ten seconds, Sonic reached its summit, spiraling up, surpassing all dangerous terrain, where the odds of success were low for anyone. However, he was now at the very top of the mountain, where only a few ponies could fit in that small space, which barely spanned less than seven meters. "Oh, I see what you're trying to do, but it won’t help against me. Showing me where you are just makes it easier for me to figure out where and how to finish you off!" Sonic was there, staring at him, and the clouds above them started to gather, turning dark. Tirek began to control the clouds with the pegasus magic he had stolen and added to his alicorn magic. Everything became easier, and he would have more power to use them. A storm quickly arrived, with thunder and lightning roaring both in Ponyville and Canterlot. The rain never arrived, but Tirek was focused on using the magic he had to its most important purpose, which was to take down the meddling hedgehog. Sonic started flexing and stretching his legs, cracking his knuckles. Tirek had decided to come down to the ground, preparing himself by using his magic to grab large rocks from the terrain, rocks that were the size of his arms. However, he decided to destroy them to create more projectiles to control. They both stared at each other despite the great distance separating them—Tirek in the ruined interior of the Everfree Forest, and Sonic on top of the large mountain just outside Ponyville, where it was said that a dragon had once lived. The weather was irrelevant, and the place was as sparsely populated as possible so no one would be harmed. With the princesses and Rouge - Canterlot "Wow... this is starting to get out of our hands..." said the captain of the royal guard in surprise, as he looked through a telescope that the princesses had asked Spike to bring them so they could watch the scene. The three princesses, the captain, the Crusaders, and Spike were all watching from the balcony where Sonic had left, observing how the situation was unfolding. What caught their attention was how he deflected the attack that had cornered him in Ponyville. Seeing someone able to face Tirek at his current level was hard to believe. "That appearance of Tirek... does that mean he managed to... steal Twilight's magic?" Cadance asked the elder princesses, worried. "There’s no doubt that he did... we just hope she’s okay..." Celestia brought the telescope closer to herself, trying to find any sign of Twilight in the chaotic battlefield where Sonic and Tirek were now facing off. "Don’t worry, Princesses! Sonic can handle that guy! He promised, and he will!" Apple Bloom exclaimed happily as she smiled at them. "Yeah! He’s the coolest and fastest ever! Plus, he’s the hero of his world!" Sweetie Belle joined her friend, sharing the same positive attitude toward the royalty. The princesses and Rouge all looked at the Crusaders, not understanding why the fillies were supporting someone who was considered a threat and never formally introduced himself. Rouge stepped forward, approaching the balcony to join the conversation. She climbed onto the armrest and sat there, crossing her legs and letting them dangle in the air. Cadance noticed her getting comfortable while looking toward where the battle was taking place. "Aren’t you worried about him?" Rouge, hearing this, simply turned around, letting out a small laugh and smiling at her. "It’s not my problem, darling. The blue one knows how to handle bigger and stronger guys than him. You know the saying, 'Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?' Well, with him, you could say it another way. 'Why not pick on someone at your own level?' That sounds much better." "What did you say you two are called?" The Princess of the Night slowly approached the bat thief. "I’m Rouge the Bat, and as the girls have told you, the one fighting the bad guy is named Sonic. But it’d be best if he comes and introduces himself when everything is over." While they all looked at her, confident in their blue companion, and she seemed so relaxed in this situation, not caring about the possibility of him getting hurt, their attention was suddenly drawn by a distant thunderclap, right where the battle was taking place. Sonic VS Tirek Both stared at each other intently, waiting for a signal to launch their attack. Sonic prepared himself in his runner's stance, his gaze fixed on his target. Lightning crackled around his body, the energy he emitted seemed to stir the air around him. "READY...!?" Already prepared, Tirek stood with his arms outstretched, fully aware of his control over the rocks surrounding him on both sides. Silence reigned as neither prepared for this battle to end in the next move. What had come before was just the warm-up, what was about to begin now would be the true start. A thunderclap echoed, signaling the attack. "Ready or not! Here I COME!!!" Sonic launched himself directly, leaving behind a bright blue trail as he descended from the mountaintop at a blinding speed. His footsteps tore through the ground, leaving a great trail of dirt in his wake. The trees he passed swayed violently, their branches whipped by the wind currents Sonic created in his path. Tirek did not expect him to appear so quickly. He slammed the ground in Sonic's direction with both arms, causing massive damage to the terrain and creating enormous spikes of rock along the path his enemy was approaching. Tirek anticipated these spikes would strike Sonic directly. What he hadn’t accounted for was Sonic using the spikes, leaping from one to another, and using the tallest one as a ramp. There he was. With a great leap and a blue streak trailing behind him, Sonic had closed the distance faster than Tirek anticipated. "HA! Stupid rat," Tirek muttered as he had no choice but to hurl all the rocks at his disposal with both arms, aiming at Sonic in the air, where he lacked a surface to move on. Everything seemed to favor Tirek. Sonic was trapped mid-air, with no way to dodge the barrage of attacks—a creature without flight or magic abilities stood no chance. Confident that this would stop Sonic and make victory easier, Tirek never considered that HE would actually manage to evade it. Tirek's triumphant grin vanished along with the hedgehog. Sonic was no longer in the air about to be hit by the rain of rocks. Perhaps he was never really there. Instead, he now stood directly in front of Tirek—barely a meter away. His serious gaze locked onto Tirek’s, accompanied by a mocking smile and a fist charged with energy aimed at Tirek's face. The rocks collided in mid-air, shattering into pieces as Tirek failed to react in time to defend himself. His overconfidence had doomed him. The first blow connected, a solid, powerful punch to the face that snapped Tirek’s head to the side and sent him skidding backward, his four legs dragging through the ground as he was pushed several meters away. When he finally managed to stop and shake off the daze from the blow, Tirek noticed multiple homing shots resembling blue spheres heading straight for him. They struck his face and torso relentlessly. He didn’t have time to shield himself. "Im...impossible... how did he get in front of me!?... When did I let my guard down?" After recovering from the blasts and searching desperately for his opponent, Tirek couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. He had secured the attack perfectly, yet it failed. How? Did Sonic teleport? Create a magical clone to switch places? No matter how much he thought about it, there was no answer. His thoughts were interrupted as he looked upward. A sharp pain under his jaw made itself known instantly, and he let out a pained groan with every second that passed, enduring it. At the same time, he felt his face being struck repeatedly from all directions. It made no sense, how could Sonic be so fast that it seemed as if he was in more than one place at a time? Such an idea had never crossed Tirek’s mind. "UUUGHHH!! DAMN...DAMN RAT! WHEN!? HOW!? HOW IS HE DOING THIS!?!?!" He was taking an uppercut from below while his face was constantly bombarded by what seemed like residual images in the air, appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. But this was not the same as facing a princess. This creature was outnumbering him even though it was alone. The constant blows didn’t feel as powerful as the earlier punch, but they were affecting him every fraction of a second. The strike under his chin was particularly damaging, pushing him back with great force until he felt his front hooves lift off the ground. He resisted the force trying to topple him and, using his magic, teleported into the sky. From above, Tirek saw the hedgehog ascending, revealing his true form outside of his spinning state. But Sonic didn’t stop there; he appeared to be preparing his hands for another attack. A burst of cross-shaped energy slashes in the form of an "X" shot toward Tirek. Refusing to waste this opportunity, Tirek summoned lightning from the clouds, striking Sonic directly and sending him crashing to the ground, destroying his attack in the process. Sonic plummeted to the earth as more lightning bolts rained down on the spot where he fell. One strike after another hit the hedgehog relentlessly, about twenty times in the same location. When the assault finally ceased, Sonic emerged from the ground, smoke rising from his body due to the repeated strikes. He was visibly injured, his breathing slightly labored but still steady. Burn marks and minor wounds covered his body, leaving him battered. “Phew… that was close… This guy’s gonna be tough to take down...” Landing in front of him, Tirek and the Mobian locked eyes. Sonic grinned, while Tirek responded with a growl. One seemed to be enjoying himself, while the other grew increasingly irritated. "I see you’re truly strong. I’ll admit, you’re not easy to annihilate," Tirek said, to which Sonic proudly smirked and wiped his face with his gloved hand. He took a moment to notice how disheveled he looked but decided it wasn’t the time to worry about appearances. “I’ve got a bit of a track record with tougher fights than this.” “I don’t care. You’re more injured than I am. Sooner or later, your speed will falter, and then I’ll crush you.” “Oh? You really think that? Then let’s put it to the test.” Sonic prepared to sprint but suddenly found himself immobilized—Tirek had caught him in his magical grasp and pulled him forward. Without hesitation, Tirek tried to crush him between his massive hands. But the Mobian was too fast. Sonic broke free from the magical hold by channeling more energy, dodging the deadly clap with an aerial maneuver. His body became enveloped in a barrier that allowed him to zigzag midair, landing a direct hit to Tirek’s chest. The impact sent Tirek reeling, both shocked and angered. “How did he break free from my magic?” Tirek thought, shaken. “Who is he to accomplish something like that?” But there was no time to ponder. Sonic had already disappeared again, leaving only a faint blue streak that quickly faded. Tirek scanned the area and noticed a blue trail circling him. Although he couldn’t clearly see the hedgehog, the streak began accelerating, and the wind around him grew stronger with each passing second. Confused and desperate, Tirek started firing magical lightning bolts around him, but they were ineffective. Sonic dodged them effortlessly, continuously increasing the tornado’s force. The ground beneath Tirek began to loosen, and he could feel himself being lifted. When the opportunity arose, Sonic dashed in for an attack, striking Tirek while maintaining the vortex. It seemed as if Sonic was in two places at once. “What’s wrong? Can’t see me?” A sudden blow to the jaw caught Tirek off guard, snapping his head to the left. When he turned, Sonic was already gone. Another hit to the side of his torso, then his stomach, followed by the back of his head, and finally his legs. It was a relentless barrage, each blow coming faster than the last. The final strike was a devastating Spin Dash straight to Tirek’s quadrupedal abdomen. “Catch me if you can!” "AAAGGGHHH!!...UUGGG!! THIS...THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!!" Tirek was losing control of the battle. He was now enduring an assault at blinding speed. To call Sonic "fast" was an understatement. As his face and body took damage simultaneously, he couldn’t block or aim accurately. Sonic was everywhere and nowhere at once. Enraged, Tirek charged a massive orb of magic and hurled it at the ground, aiming to end the chaos. The enormous sphere descended rapidly into the base of the tornado, triggering a devastating explosion that shook the area. The shockwave reached Ponyville, shattering windows and damaging buildings. Even the Castle of the Two Sisters suffered significant destruction, leaving only a few walls and rooms intact. In Canterlot, the explosion was so noticeable that the entire castle trembled slightly. When the dust settled, Tirek used his magic to clear the area, searching for the hedgehog. Movement among the rubble caught his attention. There stood Sonic, struggling to rise as he leaned against a rock, panting heavily. “Nngh… That was overkill, you know…” “You’re an irritating pest,” Tirek snarled, approaching him. In a flash, Sonic took off running toward Tirek, but a massive fist came his way. Sonic leapt over it, scaling Tirek’s arm with incredible speed. However, he lost his balance and had to cling to the limb as Tirek shook it vigorously to dislodge him. Wasting no time, Sonic performed a Spin Dash, shooting himself to the ground and retreating at lightning speed. "Very clever of you… keeping your distance. I see you recognize my speed," Tirek taunted. “You’re just a crafty and agile rodent. Controlling your speed is all I need to stop you.” Between his horns, Tirek conjured a magical ray, firing it skyward. Sonic, puzzled, watched it rise like a flare. “Isn’t it a bit early to celebrate victory?” Sonic remarked, observing the flare as it ascended. Before reaching the clouds, it exploded, releasing a barrage of magical meteors aimed directly at him. “If you’re so fast, let’s see you dodge this. Good luck, speedy rat.” Tirek crossed his arms, summoning a magical barrier around himself for extra protection. The meteors homed in on Sonic, forcing him to run and evade. However, it quickly became apparent they were magically guided. Sonic turned to glance at Tirek, whose glowing eyes tracked his every move. Realizing he couldn’t shake them while being watched, Sonic dashed into the forest, weaving through the trees. But even there, the meteors followed, scorching and obliterating everything in their path until the final one struck. In the forest, hidden among the trees, a frightened and injured Princess of Friendship wandered aimlessly. Though aware of the distant conflict raging far from her, she focused on searching for her friends. She could clearly see the deadly duel between Tirek and her savior, who was also somewhat of a threat. It was a clash of the combined power of four princesses versus blinding speed. Neither seemed willing to yield or let the other unleash their full potential, which would end everything in an instant. After Tirek's lightning assault on the ground and the subsequent blow that sent Sonic hurtling toward Canterlot, Twilight lost sight of the hedgehog. But she knew staying put and watching the clash of two immensely powerful beings wasn’t an option, especially without knowing if her friends were safe. However, her injured wing, still unhealed and throbbing with pain, limited her options. Exhaustion, pain, and the absence of magic had left her weak. Running wasn’t feasible; even trotting was a struggle. Her hooves dragged against the ground, and her body begged to collapse. Her eyes grew heavy, and as she gave in, she let herself fall. But she never touched the ground. Instead, she landed on something soft and sweet-smelling. Opening her eyes, she saw Pinkie Pie beneath her, acting as a cushion to break her fall. “Hey, Twilight! Hehe… Are you okay?” Pinkie asked with a cheerful smile, trying to lift her spirits while pushing her hooves into the ground to help Twilight stand. “Pinkie…? Is it really you, or am I hallucinating from exhaustion?” Twilight weakly stood as the rest of her friends and Discord arrived. “Twilight! It’s so good to see you’re okay… though you don’t look so great,” Discord remarked, his usual joking tone replaced by genuine concern as he noticed her broken wing, slowly bleeding. “It’s no use now. Tirek has your chaos magic, the princesses’ magic…” Twilight muttered, turning her gaze toward the enormous centaur, who was staring northward for a few seconds without explanation. “I know… I haven’t been the best friend to you or anyone else,” Discord said, his voice heavy with regret. “After what I did, I realized that having magic without friends isn’t the same as having both in perfect harmony.” He paused, his sincerity evident. To emphasize his apology, he pulled out a golden, triangular medallion—a necklace. “Here. Tirek gave this to me as a token of friendship, but it belonged to his brother… the one who betrayed him just to make friends. I did the same to all of you, and I truly regret it. I only wish I could do more…” With delicate care, he placed the necklace around Twilight’s neck. As it began to glow, Twilight’s expression changed. She didn’t say a word, but the look in her eyes suggested she had an idea. “Girls, quickly! We have to get to the Tree of Harmony! I think… I have my key!” she exclaimed. The group headed toward the Tree of Harmony, with Discord carrying the fragile Twilight in his arms as a gesture of remorse, following the others. As they moved, the sounds of the distant battle were impossible to ignore. What startled them most, however, was the rain of meteors falling dangerously close to their location. The synchronized precision with which they chased their target was uncanny. One explosion after another resounded, sending powerful gusts of wind through the trees and shaking the ground with each impact. When the barrage finally ended, a massive explosion marked its conclusion. “DAMN IT… YOU STUPID CENTAUR!” a distant voice yelled in frustration. The group cautiously approached the source of the outburst to investigate. The impact zone revealed Sonic hanging upside down by one of his legs, caught in the branches of a tree. “Ugh… That… was awesome… nnngh…” he groaned, clearly in pain. He performed a Spin Dash, cutting through the branches and dropping to the ground. Upon landing, he heard rustling in a nearby bush. Turning toward the sound, he saw Twilight and her friends emerging from the undergrowth. “Oh… Princess and company. What an unexpected encounter. Is your wing alright?” His direct question made the group uneasy. Sonic, still injured and dirty, casually brushed the dirt off his body as if the situation didn’t faze him. Twilight watched him clean himself without a care. Despite everything, this hedgehog, who was facing a threat that had defeated her, had saved her. She felt deeply grateful. “Yes… I’ll be fine. Thank you so much for saving me.” “Don’t mention it… Just doing the right thing. But now I have to get back. By the way, Spike and the girls are with the princesses at the castle. Bye!” “Wait!” Twilight’s words stopped him just before he sped off. He turned to look at her. “After this… could we talk and clear things up? Maybe over some cake?” she asked shyly, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. It was an odd request, given the circumstances, and undeniably awkward. Sonic smiled at the idea, giving her a thumbs-up. “Sure, Princess. It’s a date.” He dashed off, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Twilight’s friends, overhearing her calm words of gratitude and her peculiar invitation, stared at her in confusion. But she seemed genuinely happy that Sonic had been there when they needed him most. “So… a date?” Rarity teased, giving her a knowing look that made Twilight blush even more. Sonic had sped off after the brief meeting with Twilight and her friends, only to find himself face-to-face with Tirek once again. However, this time, Tirek wasn’t caught off guard. His magic was already aimed directly at the hedgehog. Without hesitation, Sonic charged at him, unwilling to give Tirek the chance to attack. But he was surprised when Tirek didn’t retaliate immediately. Instead, Tirek stood there, waiting. Distracted by thoughts of how Tirek might counter, Sonic didn’t notice the ground beneath him shifting. From the earth rose a massive hand, attempting to grab him. Sonic’s sharp reflexes saved him as he leapt out of the way. “You’re too slow!” he taunted. But Tirek had predicted this. He knew Sonic’s aerial maneuvers left him vulnerable without a solid footing. With a wicked grin, he brought his fists together, a signal for the ground to respond. Two enormous rock fists, as massive as Tirek's own arms, emerged and clapped together with Sonic caught between them. “HA HA HA! Got you off guard this time, rat! You won’t escape me now!” Tirek bellowed, triumphant. The rock fists merged, holding their captive tight as they brought him closer to Tirek. Using his magic, Tirek conjured a colossal hammer of rock, even larger than the one before. He grinned victoriously, ready to end things for good. “You were a tenacious little pest, but now it’s time you learned to either surrender or serve the one who defeated you.” Sonic, trapped and visibly in pain from the crushing grip, managed a strained smirk. Despite his predicament, he chuckled mockingly through gritted teeth. “Heh… That’s never gonna happen, horn-head. But seriously… is that all you’ve got?” Though his body ached and escape seemed impossible, Sonic’s confidence didn’t waver. Even now, injured and exhausted, he faced his foe with defiance. He knew he would win. Or at least… he hoped so. Tirek’s eyes narrowed in anger. He decided it was time to finish this. With a wave of his hand, he hurled Sonic into the storm clouds above. The sky rumbled ominously as lightning began to gather. Sonic realized what was coming too late. “Ugh… Me and my big mouth…” A massive bolt of lightning struck, lighting up the sky with a deafening explosion. Sonic’s scream of pain echoed through the forest. “AAAAAAAGGGGH!!... aaahhh…” The cries faded, signaling apparent defeat. His limp body plummeted from the storm clouds, trailing smoke as he fell. Tirek showed no mercy. He raised his hammer over his shoulder, ready to deliver the final blow when Sonic came within range. Tirek was certain of his victory. The hedgehog could no longer move, and the earlier battle had left him battered, stunned, and unconscious. This was the end. “Goodbye, rat! Next time, you’ll know your limits before challenging me!” Tirek sneered, gripping the handle of his weapon tightly. As Sonic neared, Tirek prepared to swing, but something caught his eye. In that split second, Tirek noticed Sonic’s face. His eyes were open, a piercing emerald green glare locked onto Tirek’s. His expression was serious, determined, and unwavering despite his injuries. Tirek hesitated for a fraction of a second, unsettled by the intensity of Sonic’s gaze. But he quickly dismissed it, bringing his hammer down with added magical force. The head of the hammer ignited with crimson flames as it struck Sonic, sending him hurtling far to the north. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, causing a streak of green light to break free from Sonic’s quills. Sonic’s body shot across the sky like a comet, passing over Canterlot and nearly shattering the sound barrier in the process. The force of his flight shook windows throughout the city. Twilight, her friends, and the princesses watched in stunned silence as the hedgehog who had fought so valiantly was defeated. The hope he carried now seemed lost. Meanwhile, Tirek stood triumphant, watching Sonic disappear into the horizon. Raising a fist to the sky in victory, he caught sight of a faint green glimmer on the ground. Curious, he approached and found a small, radiant gem. Picking it up between his massive fingers, Tirek felt a strange energy emanating from the gem. A tingling sensation danced across his skin as he examined it. Intrigued, he attempted to siphon its energy. The moment he did, a surge of power coursed through him. Though he stopped before draining it completely, Tirek kept the gem, deciding it was too valuable to discard. He clenched it tightly in his fist, unsure if its energy was infinite or finite. Better to save it for later. The energy he absorbed began to alter him. His body grew even larger, towering over his previous form. New horns sprouted from his existing ones, branching like those of a mighty stag. His mane and beard darkened to a deep, ominous green, and his physique became more muscular and imposing. Now, Tirek felt invincible. Twilight - Tree of Harmony While Tirek, having disposed of Sonic to continue his conquest of Equestria, began attacking Ponyville, unleashing a barrage of lightning strikes left and right. Some bolts struck buildings, setting them ablaze, while others demolished structures with magical blasts. Tragically, the Golden Oak Library was reduced to rubble. An owl emerged from the debris, covered in ash and missing a few feathers, but largely unharmed. It flew away quickly, seeking safety from the chaos. Deep within the lesser-known parts of the Everfree Forest, Twilight's group finally reached the crystalline tree. Discord, who had carried her throughout the journey, gently set her down in front of a mysterious chest embedded at the tree's base. The chest had five keys already inserted, leaving just one space vacant. "Let’s hope this works... I hope he’s still standing..." Twilight murmured, glancing at the necklace Discord had given her before turning her eyes to the chest. "We believe it will," Applejack said firmly, standing alongside her friends as they took their places in front of their respective keys. "Thank you, friends... and thank you, Discord." Twilight gave the weakened spirit of chaos a grateful smile, which he returned with a timid nod, still burdened by his earlier betrayal. "Are we doing this or what? Tirek’s probably tearing through that guy—or vice versa—but either way, we can’t waste any more time!" Rainbow Dash urged impatiently. They all nodded, waiting for Twilight’s signal. "Alright, girls, on the count of three." "One..." They exchanged determined glances and placed their hooves on the keys. "Two..." "Three!" At the final word, they turned their keys in unison, and the mysterious chest finally opened. "We did it!" Twilight exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. The other ponies gathered around her, feeling the powerful magic radiating from the chest. It was as if the Tree of Harmony itself was bestowing its essence upon them, recognizing that its chosen bearers were ready to wield its power for the good of all Equestria. The light from the chest intensified briefly, and a radiant rainbow shot out, striking the tree squarely where Twilight's Cutie Mark was engraved. The rainbow then split into five streams, energizing the Elements of Harmony housed in each branch. In turn, the enhanced Elements responded to their bearers, not only restoring their magic but pushing them beyond their limits. They were transformed, their appearances reflecting the overwhelming power of the Tree of Harmony. Once ready, their magic fully restored and their bodies now accustomed to their newfound strength, the group ascended from the depths of the Tree of Harmony to confront a Tirek empowered by the unknown energy of the Chaos Emerald. The chosen wielders of the Elements of Harmony emerged together, encased within a glowing bubble of magic that radiated their newfound strength. They faced Tirek, who met their gaze with indifference, unbothered by the sight of their restored power. In the northern reaches, specifically halfway between the Crystal Mountains surrounding the Empire and an open field that provided a rear view of the great mountain towards Canterlot, our hero had crashed into the ground, leaving behind a large crater where he was buried. Covered in wounds, dirt, and blood, he still mustered the strength to rise and pull himself out of the deep pit where he had fallen. A single word echoed in his mind, "Limits." Upon recalling it, he gripped the earth tighter, managed to kneel, and heard the word again. Determined, he finally stood up and slowly emerged from the crater, his eyes fixed on the ground and one hand clutching his head. The impact had been severe, but once out of the hole, he realized just how far from safety he was. Worse still, there was no one around to stop Tirek from continuing his destruction. It seemed like he was on the verge of collapsing right there, but he shook his head. His own mind kept pushing him forward, reminding him that he had to return as fast as his body would allow. Do you want to give up? "No." He spoke aloud to himself, reaching into his quills and pulling out small golden rings that emitted a bright glow. With one on each hand, he clenched his fists tightly and pressed them into the earth as he knelt with one knee on the ground. Do you want to fall and rest? "I don’t have time for that!" He stretched out his other leg, digging the heel of his foot into the soil for more traction. His fists started to glow, and the golden aura traveled up his arms, charging his body with energy. You have to run! "I’m still breathing... I can still run... I can still make it!" He lifted his gaze, his determination reignited. He knew he had to go fast, really fast. His entire body began to glow with immense power, and in that moment, he started performing a Spin Dash in place. Small cyan orbs of light appeared around him in the air, attracted to his form and merging with his body. What did they say? About your Limits? "Limits...LIMITS!?!" After nearly a minute of gathering the cyan energy orbs into his body, he was now fully engulfed in a radiant glow of the same color, his eyes flashing white. The aura surrounding him was a mix of smoke-like energy from the power rings, with cyan sparks crackling around him. Fully charged, he planted his fingers into the ground, arching his body to position himself for a powerful sprint. The air around him vibrated from the sheer intensity of the energy he had accumulated. Using the power of the rings and his Light Speed form, he was now becoming an unstoppable force. "I'm going to show you MY LIMITS!!!" In Canterlot, the princesses, the fillies, and Spike admired the rainbow light illuminating the destroyed area in a dead field, while the dark clouds covering the landscape above them in the sky cleared, revealing a beam of sunlight shining down on the ponies. "They did it! They managed to open the chest!" Spike cheered, jumping with happiness. "They really did it... now they can stop Tirek, but..." Celestia's words faltered as she saw Tirek's new form, something strange happened in an instant. "What’s happening, Princess? Wasn’t that supposed to happen?" Apple Bloom asked, confused, not knowing about the chest Spike had mentioned. "No, that’s not it. But it seems Tirek has increased his power, but I don’t understand how he did it so quickly in such a short amount of time." Luna approached the telescope to look more closely, noticing how the tyrant showed Twilight and her friends something small and glowing green in his hands. "He has something in his hand... something green and glowing? Did he gain more magic from that thing?" Rouge, upon hearing Princess Luna, quickly approached and snatched the telescope to clearly see the scene. "Great, that big guy has a Chaos Emerald." She flew over the roof and looked behind the castle at the area where her companion had landed, using the telescope to observe the smoking impact zone. She adjusted the focus and saw a cyan glow and a white aura surrounding it. The princesses looked at her, confused by her words, but before anyone could speak, Rouge landed and handed the telescope to Spike, then went to the window on the other side of the room. When she opened it, everyone present noticed a distant glow. "Alright, your majesties, prepare to cover your ears, because when he passes by here, I’m more than sure the sound barrier won’t hold up with that speed." "The sound barrier?" Princess Cadance asked, confused. "What do you mean, Miss Rouge?" Sweetie Belle asked, as she and her friends looked at her, not understanding her words. "Have you ever experienced a sonic boom?" "When Rainbow Dash breaks the sound barrier to create a Sonic Rainboom," Celestia explained. "Well, I’m no expert on how strong those sonic explosions are around here, but this is going to leave you with your mane standing up." Everyone exchanged worried glances, but before anyone could say anything, they felt a shake and at the same time, a flash of light, which came from the magical clash between Tirek and the guardians of the Elements. In that moment, a sonic boom was heard from the other side. They couldn’t see it clearly, but Sonic had broken the sound barrier, and only a cyan trail passed at high speed across the open field, heading towards Canterlot, but more directly towards the mountain that is part of it. Another sonic explosion rang out above the castle, causing everyone to cover their ears due to the intensity of the sound. On one side, Tirek was facing the guardians of the Elements in a magical clash where neither seemed to yield. The energy he had taken from the Chaos Emerald was allowing him to withstand the magic granted to them by the Tree of Harmony. The strength of the six united was powerful, but now Tirek was on a new level, one that seemed capable of surpassing the magic they were using against him. However, the clash between both sides, no matter how powerful, was not enough to stop the enormous amount of magic they were directing at each other. There was a sonic explosion that caught the attention of the seven powerful beings. Still holding their ground, they looked toward the sound to see a cyan ray rising above the clouds on the largest mountain of Canterlot. The girls raised their gaze to the sky, and Tirek, for his part, knew what was coming. "That damn rat is still alive." He fired a magical beam from one of his arms to keep the ponies at bay while focusing on controlling all the clouds to form the largest storm cloud above him. Without letting up in the confrontation, he simply fixed his gaze on the sky as the clouds began to show signs of being charged with lightning. Above the clouds, within the troposphere, it almost felt like one could touch the stars. But Sonic was there for other reasons. The speed boost he got to reach up there above the clouds helped him prepare for his final attack. "It's time for the grand finale." He took a deep breath of the thin air at that altitude and looked below him, watching how the storm clouds covered his view. In his current state, with his entire body covered in cyan energy that prevented even his smile from being seen, he was grinning on the inside. "TIREK!" His shout could be heard by him and the ponies he was facing. "I HAVE YOUR LIMITS!!! RIGHT HERE!!!" He curled into himself and descended rapidly in a Spin Dash. Like a blue lightning bolt, he sped toward Tirek, causing a third Sonic Boom. He wouldn't give up so easily against the forces trying to stop him. While resisting the magical attack from the ponies, he snapped his fingers and made the clouds explode in a burst of lightning that illuminated the entire sky, accompanied by a violent explosion. But after that, the clouds were dispersed, revealing the blue meteor still plummeting without showing any sign of stopping. Twilight and her friends seized the distraction to use even more power against Tirek, pushing their magic until they forced him to protect himself with a magical barrier. But in that moment, a chill ran down his spine, and when he looked up, there was Sonic. Right above him, showing how he had a supercharged downward kick with an expression that made him immediately understand what he had mentioned when they first met. Now, in an instant, he knew he had been right to remember those words, "I’m the one who’s going to finish you off." Those words weren’t a mockery; they were a duty, a mission, a goal, one that truly showed his determination to complete. And right there, he was, delivering the final blow to knock him down. After breaking through the barrier, the Harmony magic hit Tirek directly, and Sonic landed a direct blow to his head, knocking him down as if a blue lightning bolt had struck him. A colossal explosion lifted a cloud as large as if a bomb had caused it, but within this, there was a glimmer of hope showing how six rainbow trails divided in the distance, restoring the magic of all the ponies whose magic had been taken from them. As the rainbows restored the magic in every corner of Equestria, Sonic was there, lying on his back on the ground, breathing heavily and admiring the clouds parting, revealing the beautiful sun that illuminated the day. The battle was over. Tirek was knocked down, looking weak and small beside him, with one of his horns from when he was giant cut off and driven into the ground. The Chaos Emerald fell near Tirek, and Sonic turned his head to look at the defeated centaur. "He...he...It was fun...nngghh," he said, trying to stand despite the severe wounds and exhaustion his body was enduring. Once on his feet, he walked to the emerald and grabbed it before Tirek could reach it again. "Sorry, buddy... but this beauty already has an owner..." "Nnnngg...how? How is this possible?" Tirek looked up from the ground, seeing the blue hero with the sun shining behind him and the emerald in his hand. That image proclaimed him as the victor. In front of Sonic, the ponies appeared in their new form. He and Twilight exchanged glances, but with a simple eye motion toward Tirek, she understood that their battle was over. "Alright, Tirek! Time to return where you belong, straight to Tartarus!" Along with her friends, they focused all the magic they had left into a portal that was opening in front of the defeated enemy. "No! I refuse to accept... being defeated by some ponies and a rat!" Sonic approached, already annoyed from hearing him call him that at every moment they faced each other. At that exact moment, chains emerged from the portal, grabbing Tirek by each of his limbs, dragging him inside the portal to trap him in a cage, and then both saw each other one last time as the portal closed. "That's enough! I'm not a rat! I'm a hedgehog! And my name is Sonic!" He said aloud while pointing at himself. And as the portal closed, Tirek could only watch him smile, with the punishment of remembering the name of the one who defeated him.
Interlude: From the Other Side.Moments After Sonic Ended Up in Equestria As both headed toward Angel Island, a bright flash illuminated the sky. The Death Egg shone like a sun, radiating energy until it blinded Tails while piloting the plane. The enemy fortress had disappeared into space, and they couldn’t see any signs of their friend. What they saw left them with many questions as they landed on Angel Island, which rested in the calm Pacific sea. "That was the Chaos Control, wasn’t it?" Tails looked at Knuckles as they disembarked from the plane on the island, analyzing the situation. Tails stared at the sky, seeing no trace of their friend or the Death Egg, only the blue sky and clouds. "Knuckles... do you think Sonic will be alright?" "Knowing him, if he used Chaos Control, it could have taken him to some unimaginable place, but he always finds a way to return from whatever trouble he's in." "I hope everything turns out fine. I have a bad feeling about this." Both looked to the sky as the wind and the sun provided the peaceful atmosphere of the island, waiting for some sign, but all they found was emptiness and mystery. Where could they have gone? This takes place after his disappearance in the first chapter, just a heads-up to avoid confusion. A few minutes had passed since Sonic disappeared after forcefully entering Dr. Eggman's fortress. Tails and Knuckles looked at the sky, waiting for him to reappear, but suddenly the entire island they had landed on began to tremble, catching them by surprise. "W-What’s happening, Knuckles!?" "I don’t know! The island only acts like this when the Master Emerald is removed and returned to its altar, but that shouldn’t be possible! Eggman took it!" The island began to float above the surface of the sea, separating from the water and rising high into the sky. "We’re... in the sky. Angel Island is floating again! But how!?" Knuckles turned to look at his friend, but he began running into the jungle. "Hey, wait for me, Knuckles!" Tails followed him all the way, and after an intense run, they arrived at an altar where a dazzling green glow was visible at its peak. The Master Emerald was the source of the glow and the reason the island had floated again. "The Master Emerald is here... that fool actually succeeded." Knuckles said as he touched the large gem, making sure he wasn’t hallucinating. Once he confirmed it was real, he smiled and lay down on the ground, gazing at the sky. Tails arrived, seeing the large emerald at the center of the altar. "So, he did it! HA HA! I knew he could, we were just worried for nothing." He said proudly, but Knuckles wasn’t as relieved. The young fox reached into the fur of one of his tails to pull out his cellphone and opened a tracking app to find his blue friend’s location. "Hmm... that's strange, I can’t find Sonic’s cellphone signal, and even less the Chaos Emeralds." "In this area? Or the whole world?" Knuckles asked while enjoying the sunlight. "Hmm... worldwide for the Chaos Emeralds, but also for Sonic’s cellphone, and neither of them appear." He approached his friend to show him the screen, which displayed a globe and an alert: "Chaos Emeralds lost - Sonic's location lost." "Are you sure you checked it properly?" "Do you want to do it?" Tails asked with a frown, knowing Knuckles didn’t understand much about programming. "Let’s just call it lost in action." Tails sighed and extended the range, going beyond the planet, covering the entire solar system. "Not even within the solar system! And I have satellites in every sector of our solar system! He doesn’t show up." "Why did you think he’d be off-planet?" "Well, since he hasn’t returned, I theorized that maybe the Death Egg ended up on another planet when it disappeared with the Chaos Control, so maybe Sonic is also with Eggman, stranded on another planet. Like it’s happened before." Knuckles stood up and walked toward the Master Emerald, placing his hands on it and closing his eyes, concentrating. "Hmmm... I really can’t feel them. I don’t sense the Chaos Emeralds through the Master Emerald." He looked at Tails, confused; the emeralds and his friend had really disappeared. He looked at Tails, who seemed frustrated while touching his cellphone screen intently. "Hey, Tails... calm down, we're talking about Sonic, he didn’t die." At hearing this, Tails turned his head to look at him. "Oh, uh, I wasn’t thinking about that, Knuckles." Those words took him by surprise. He really thought Tails was trying to be strong and hold back his tears over the loss of his friend and brother. "Really? Then, what were you thinking?" "Well... I have a theory. It turns out that when Chaos Control is used with the emeralds, they split after usage, right?" "That’s true, they always do, and they won’t stop doing that. If Chaos Control isn’t used, then only Sonic is activating and deactivating his super form without needing to reach the power limit that forces the emeralds to scatter all over the world." "Well, if that’s what happens, then a secondary Chaos Control must’ve occurred at the same time as the first one." The young fox explained while finishing using his cellphone and putting it back in the fur of his tails. "A second Chaos Control? You mean there were two happening simultaneously! But for that..." While he rubbed his chin to think, he quickly turned to look at the Master Emerald. "Exactly! Eggman used Chaos Control with the Master Emerald! That’s when his fortress disappeared! And I’d bet my plane that Sonic used his own Chaos Control with the seven emeralds to send it back to Angel Island." His echidna friend nodded while crossing his arms, but before saying anything, Tails quickly presented his theory again. "But! By doing that, Sonic lost the Chaos Emeralds in a different plane of our universe! Maybe when the Death Egg disappeared, it traveled to another part of the universe or perhaps another dimension at a speed that only the Master Emerald could achieve if its energy was used." "So, to summarize, Eggman, his fortress, and Sonic along with the Chaos Emeralds are somewhere beyond Mobius or perhaps among the stars we know?" Knuckles said. "Exactly!" Tails smiled as he saw how well his theory was being accepted by his friend. "Now that everything’s clear, how do we help Sonic?" "Very easily! I have a plan, but it’ll take a few days, and it might not be to your liking..." He said nervously, playing with one of his tails as he considered his idea. "And why wouldn’t I like it?" Knuckles said gruffly, as if a plan to rescue their friend might annoy him. "Well... I need you to accept a few small parts of the plan for it to work." "Which would be..." Knuckles raised an eyebrow, still with arms crossed. "Uh... first, I need to set up my workshop and lab on your island until everything is over." Knuckles looked up with his eyes closed, thinking about it. "With one condition! No damage or trouble with the trees and plants." "Done! Now, secondly... I’d need the energy of the Master Emerald, which only you can release." "Well... we’ve done that before, and it’s not for anything evil, so I can accept that." "Perfect! And to finish, Shadow has to use Chaos Control with the Master Emerald to take us to Sonic." "Grrrr... I won’t let anyone touch my emerald. I’ve had enough of Rouge trying to steal it during my breaks." "But he’s the only one who can help us with that, just until we find Sonic and bring him back here." "Well, the problem is convincing him to help Sonic. You know how those two get along." Tails nodded, recalling how Sonic and Shadow’s encounters were all about fights, taunts, and insults. "I’m sure if I tell him Eggman is scheming something, he’ll cooperate." "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get what you need, I’ll clear some rocks so you have a space to do your thing without affecting nature." Tails smiled and spun his two tails like helicopter blades, then flew off toward his plane. After several hours, night had fallen, and an area in an open rocky terrain had a sign that read "Reserved for Tails". There, a workshop with a landing strip was lit, with its owner working late into the night. "How’s it going, Tails?" A sweet female voice asked, and a young rabbit spoke to the fox. "Everything’s perfect, Cream! It might take some time, but I just need to run a few tests before connecting it." "And what exactly is it?" She climbed up onto a chair to see a large technological device with all its components visible, like it was undergoing surgery. "This will allow us to track the Chaos Emeralds beyond the possible limit! I just need to keep it close to the Master Emerald, and it will create a compass with its energy to tell us which direction they’re in! It will also guide us to Sonic, as long as he’s near any emerald." "Ooooh, I guess Mr. Sonic is waiting to be rescued?" "Well, knowing him, he knows I’ll come to help him sooner or later. But it’s better if it’s sooner, because he always jokes about why it takes so long with anyone." The young rabbit let out a soft laugh that she covered with her hand, and Tails couldn’t help but smile in return. "Still awake?" A serious, cold voice came from behind them, and a black hedgehog with red lines on his quills, shoes that were more like skates, and golden rings on his gloves appeared. "Oh! Mr. Shadow, did we wake you?" He shook his head without saying anything, just approaching to look at Tails' invention. "Will this help us reach the Chaos Emeralds and Eggman too?" "It will also help us find Mr. Sonic." Cream exclaimed, smiling as if correcting Shadow for forgetting to mention him. "In theory, yes! But I need to run some tests, and I need Omega to connect this in different areas of the island." He handed him what looked like short metal sticks. "What are these things?" Shadow said coldly while examining the device. "They are containment masts. They’ll cover the entire island with an energy layer from the Master Emerald, so when everything is ready, no part of the island will separate during the trip, and it will also keep the oxygen inside." "Hm! I’ll give them to you right away. As for you..." He looked at the young rabbit who was smiling at him. "It’s better if you go to sleep. Amy must be looking for you by now." "Oh, right! I’m going! Good night, Mr. Shadow, good night, Tails, and thanks for letting us stay in your portable homes." She quickly left the workshop, heading toward a small house created by Tails' technology. "I’ll let you work. Don’t forget to sleep too, if you want to save him and stay awake." He said before disappearing into the darkness, leaving the fox to continue his work. "Don’t worry, Sonic! We’re on our way. No matter what you’re going through, just keep being yourself." On the other side, at that very moment, Sonic found himself in what seemed like an escape from a very formal event in a castle on the side of a mountain. It seemed that his first impression of wherever he had landed that night hadn’t been the best, as he had ended up facing armed pony guards.
A new hero?"No! I refuse to accept... being defeated by some ponies and a rat!" Sonic approached, already annoyed from hearing him call him that at every moment they faced each other. At that exact moment, chains emerged from the portal, grabbing Tirek by each of his limbs, dragging him inside the portal to trap him in a cage, and then both saw each other one last time as the portal closed. "That's enough! I'm not a rat! I'm a hedgehog! And my name is Sonic!" He said aloud while pointing at himself. And as the portal closed, Tirek could only watch him smile, with the punishment of remembering the name of the one who defeated him. Shortly after Sonic reminded Tirek of his last moments of freedom before being imprisoned in Tartarus once again, the princesses and the other ponies who had lost their magic managed to recover it thanks to Twilight and her friends, who divided their efforts to help everyone regain their powers. The princesses looked at their horns, feeling the magic flowing back into them. Cadance and Shining Armor embraced, celebrating Twilight’s victory, while the Crusaders and Spike bumped hooves and claws, jumping and cheering with joy at their triumph. Rouge watched from the balcony with a smile before approaching the princesses. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this celebration, but we should meet with the heroes to have a long conversation." "Can you take us?" Spike asked with a smile, standing beside Scootaloo, who was grinning brightly. Rouge simply smiled and picked them up under her arms, leaping from the balcony and flying toward the place where everything had concluded. "Next stop: where the heroes won." "We must go as well; we can’t miss this," Luna said with a smile, spreading her wings and taking flight, accompanied by Cadance and Celestia, who carried Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle on her back. As the princesses left Canterlot Castle, on the outskirts of Ponyville, the Element Bearers, along with Discord, stood watching the gravely injured and barely conscious hedgehog, who remained there staring at them. His body screamed for rest, but he stayed upright, waiting for a moment of safety before allowing himself to collapse. The ponies standing before him slowly lost their transformations, returning to their true forms. Twilight had recovered from the injury to her wing, which had healed almost instantly. Sonic looked at the emerald in his hand and tucked it into his quills to keep it safe. "Heh..." His weak chuckle caught their attention, and they stared in surprise at how he managed to stay standing and even smiling despite his injuries. "Um, excuse me, but... are you okay? If you don’t mind me asking, of course," Fluttershy asked softly, stepping forward. The hedgehog’s eyes were barely open as he looked at the yellow pegasus and smiled faintly. "Yeah... nothing out of the ordinary." He grinned but felt the pain coursing through his body. He stayed strong, refusing to kneel. "That guy... heh, was way too easy," he said mockingly, even after facing Tirek and surviving his threats. "I don’t think you’re in any condition to joke, partner," Applejack said, stepping forward without fear. "Or to stand, for that matter," Discord added, snapping his fingers to conjure a poof behind Sonic. The hedgehog, seeing it, allowed himself to fall onto it. "Tch, I don’t think the town is in any condition to celebrate this victory," Sonic said, glancing behind him at the nearly destroyed Ponyville and the surrounding area. "I got it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying off to rally other pegasi to gather rain clouds. "Discord, even after everything you’ve done, could you still help us?" Fluttershy asked, noticing how his ears perked up at the opportunity to regain her trust. "That’s what friends are for, right? We’re still friends... aren’t we?" The timid pegasus giggled softly at the chaos spirit’s insecurity about their friendship. "Of course we are. Now go show them you’re willing to fix your mistakes." With that, Discord disappeared in a flash to help the town. Twilight stepped closer to Sonic, stopping just a meter away from where he rested, and they locked eyes. He was smiling, while she looked at him with concern, worried he might try to run away despite his condition. "Hey... I know you said you hoped our next meeting wouldn’t involve violence, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am that you came to save me and helped us against Tirek," the young princess said sincerely, smiling warmly at her savior. Sonic stood up slowly, his body screaming for rest, but he moved closer in silence. “You’re Princess Twilight, as I’ve been told, right? Don’t thank me, Princess. The last thing I want is royalty bowing to me just for doing the right thing.” “Yes, that’s me! And don’t worry about that. With my friends, I prefer not to be called ‘Princess,’ and you don’t have to either. But I just want to say, I don’t see you as someone bad, contrary to what you said last time. ‘Actions speak louder than a thousand words,’ right? Well, your actions now make me see you differently.” She felt confident they could now start off on the right foot. “Heh, glad you remembered... but how about we start with introductions?” Sonic suggested. Twilight smiled and turned to her friends. “Of course! Just give us a moment, okay?” she said nervously, gathering her friends for a quick private meeting. “Alright, girls... we should be able to talk to him without any issues now, but let’s be mindful of the questions we ask,” Twilight said. All her friends, except Rainbow Dash, who was helping put out fires in Ponyville, had gathered. “Can I ask him about parties?” Pinkie Pie chirped. The others nodded, knowing such an innocent question wouldn’t cause any trouble. “I have so many questions about what he really is! He said he’s a hedgehog? I want to know more about his species,” Fluttershy added, glancing at Sonic, who was resting with his hands behind his head on the poof. “I’d like to know how he’s connected to the fillies, how they met him and his story about coming here would be helpful,” Rarity suggested. “I’m curious about that beautiful gem Tirek had. It seems important to him,” Applejack added. While the mares talked, Sonic’s attention was drawn by the sound of wings. Turning, he saw Rouge approaching with the three princesses, the fillies, and Spike in tow. He smiled at the sight of his friend and her new companions. “Hey, Rouge! Kids! Haha! How are ya?” Sonic greeted them warmly as the princesses and the bat landed, letting the younger ones off. His shout caught the ponies’ attention as Spike and the fillies tackled Sonic into a group hug, knocking him back onto the poof. “Ugh! Kids... Haha... ouch…” Sonic chuckled, even as the others laughed at the scene. The princesses and Rouge watched with amusement, recognizing the blue hedgehog as the hero they now admired. “You did it! You beat Tirek!” Spike exclaimed, brimming with excitement. “I said I would, and I did! But I didn’t do it alone—the little princess and her friends delivered the final blow and sent him where he belongs,” Sonic explained, nodding toward the Element Bearers. As the group let him go and reunited with their families, Sonic asked, “By the way, where’s Rainbow Dash?” “She’s helping Discord and the weather team gather clouds to put out the fires in Ponyville,” Fluttershy explained as Spike hugged Twilight, Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity, and Apple Bloom embraced Applejack. Sonic stood, forcing himself to ignore his body’s protests. Rouge approached, helping him stay steady. “You’re lucky Amy isn’t here, or she’d lecture you for being in this state.” “Can I trust you not to mention this when we get back? But anyway, I guess we’ll need to talk for several hours,” Sonic said, glancing at the three princesses. “Unless you’ve already given them an explanation.” “Oops, my bad,” Rouge admitted. “Everyone was so focused on your performance that I didn’t get the chance to tell them much about us.” As Rainbow Dash returned, she was greeted by her number-one fan, who hugged her and celebrated her success. “We won! You know what that means!?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Uh... knowing you, it means par-” Spike started, but Pinkie interrupted. “A VICTORY PARTY!!!” she shouted, leaping into the air and firing confetti from a random cannon. While the group laughed at Pinkie’s enthusiasm, Sonic and Rouge exchanged amused glances before turning to the princesses. They looked at each other, silently agreeing how to proceed. “How about we move the celebration to Canterlot? A small victory gathering and a chance to get to know each other better,” Celestia suggested. “Really!? YEEHAW!!!” Pinkie Pie cheered, nearly exploding with excitement. “In the meantime, I’ll send the best builders to clean and repair Ponyville to prevent any accidents. You two are also invited,” Celestia said, addressing Sonic and Rouge. “Well, we’d love to, but…” Rouge hesitated, glancing at Sonic, who nodded with a smile. “But yes, we’d be happy to come.” “Fantastic! We’ll see you there tonight, and we’ll have a place for you to rest,” Celestia confirmed. “Will it be formal or just a casual gathering?” Luna asked. “Nothing too grand, just a chance to catch up,” Celestia replied. She then turned to Sonic, her horn glowing with golden magic. His wounds healed, the dirt vanished, and his pain disappeared, leaving him feeling refreshed. “I hope this is enough to thank you for your bravery. Do you feel better?” “Heh, better than ever. Thanks, Princess... Celestia!” Sonic said, glancing at Spike, who gave him a thumbs-up for getting her name right. “No need to thank me. It’s just a small gesture of gratitude for risking yourself for our kingdom, even though this matter was never your responsibility.” “So, you’re the ruler of these lands, right?” Sonic asked the tall white alicorn, who spread her wings to reveal her resemblance to Twilight. She nodded with a smile. “Well, where are my manners before royalty?” Sonic approached, took one of her hooves, and kissed it gently in a respectful gesture, taking her by surprise. Everyone present was shocked by the unexpected action. Celestia folded her wings, feeling a slight blush at the hedgehog’s chivalrous act. Sonic stood tall, his left hand behind his back and the other still holding her hoof. “Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, Your Highness, hero of Mobius and the fastest thing alive.” Quickly recovering herself, she looked at him with a calm smile, but there was a playful glint in her gaze directed toward her sister. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Sonic the Hedgehog. Here at my right is my sister, Princess of the Night, Luna. She is also the co-ruler of these lands.” She smiled and gestured toward her sister with her wing, catching Luna by surprise. What are you thinking, Sister? Luna blushed, realizing he would greet her in the same manner. Though it was an unfamiliar gesture, she restrained herself from reacting negatively or making a scene in front of others, not wanting to seem ungrateful for his display of respect toward her royal position. Sonic gently released the hoof of the Princess of the Sun and approached the Princess of the Night. He greeted her in the same manner, bowing respectfully as he introduced himself. “It’s an honor, Princess Luna. I am Sonic the Hedgehog, a lover of adventures and admirer of the night sky.” He grinned mischievously, winking knowingly, as if in on Celestia's playful teasing of her sister. “Y-yes, it’s an honor as well, Sir Sonic… Thank you for helping us.” Luna smiled appreciatively at his chivalrous gesture, but internally she knew her sister was teasing her by catching her off guard, much like Sonic had. Cadance stifled a laugh behind one of her hooves as she watched Sonic approach her next, knowing he intended to greet her similarly. She simply smiled and extended her hoof in acknowledgment. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Princess Cadance.” “It’s an absolute pleasure, Princess Cadance. Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, to help, save, and protect.” The group of ponies looked on in disbelief at his boldness, casually addressing the princesses in such a manner. Rouge simply observed, unfazed, as Sonic remained himself even in the presence of royalty. After greeting the three elder princesses, Celestia looked to her student. Using her magic, she brought Twilight forward, despite the young alicorn’s attempt to resist being drawn into the spotlight where the hedgehog was greeting every member of royalty. “And this is my former student and Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. From what I understand, you’ve already had a few encounters.” “You could say that, Your Highness, but now that everything’s peaceful…” Sonic approached the young alicorn, took her hoof gently, and gave it a tender kiss, this time showing respect for her position as a princess. “I’m Sonic. I hope to make a better impression this time than during our first meeting,” he said with a warm smile. His words sounded more like a sincere apology than a boastful introduction. His gaze softened, exuding kindness and confidence. Twilight, for her part, was unsure how to react. Her nerves threatened to overwhelm her as she looked at him, blushing and fidgeting nervously. She turned to her friends for support. Rarity nodded encouragingly, Applejack nudged Rainbow Dash, who made a gagging motion, gesturing toward her mouth, Pinkie bounced excitedly, and Fluttershy shyly averted her gaze. “Now then, Princess, I’m all ears for whatever you need,” Sonic said, his words calming her. Now reassured that he was ready to listen and wouldn’t run off, Twilight felt she finally had a chance to build mutual understanding. While Sonic introduced himself, Rouge took the initiative to present herself in her own unique way. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highnesses. I’m Rouge the Bat, special agent of G.U.N, professional thief, and lover of jewels. But don’t worry, the thief part is strictly for the greater good and against the bad guys.” “You’re like a spy gathering intel on enemies?” Luna asked, intrigued and finding it pleasant that Rouge was a nocturnal creature like herself. “The night is when I do my best work, but the day isn’t bad either,” Rouge replied with a sly smile. Cadance joined Rouge and Luna, eager to be part of the conversation. “I think you and I have something to discuss regarding the Crystal Empire and your late-night arrival.” “As long as a cell isn’t part of the plan, I think we can come to a good understanding,” Rouge quipped. “Let’s leave further introductions for later while we prepare for our little celebration and meeting, shall we?” Celestia suggested, receiving nods from Luna and Cadance in agreement. “Until later, my ponies, Sonic, Rouge. We’ll be waiting for you.” Sonic responded with a thumbs-up, signaling his agreement as the trio of princesses departed, leaving the heroes to settle in. Now, it was time for the Mobians to introduce themselves to Twilight’s group. Canterlot – Throne Room Upon returning from the encounter with the group of heroes, the princesses found themselves back in the throne room, where Tirek had left them powerless. Inside, they encountered the same robotic bird through which Dr. Eggman had previously communicated with them. As they approached, the robotic bird activated, its beak opening to emit the voice of its creator. “Good day, princesses. I see you’ve been charmed by the words of that little blue monstrosity.” “And how would you know what we’ve done?” Celestia stepped forward, glaring at the metallic creature. “Just like this invention of mine, I have many others scattered everywhere. That hulking bull dared to challenge him, what a colossal fool. Did he truly think he could stand a chance against that blue menace? Bah! He can steal magic, but against him? Nothing can stop him.” Eggman’s voice dripped with amusement, clearly relishing the idea of his archenemy’s victory. Luna stepped beside her sister, exchanging a glance with her. “What do you mean? Are you saying Tirek never stood a chance against Sir Sonic?” The robot turned toward the Princess of the Night, its reaction seemingly expressing surprise at her words. “Sir Sonic, you say? I see his words have truly charmed you, now you can’t help but see him as a powerful ally. He helped you defeat that ‘Tirek,’ befriended you, and earned the favor of your subjects.” It raised one wing, projecting a hologram of Sonic greeting the three princesses and mingling with the Element Bearers as part of their group. The three princesses exchanged uncertain glances, weighing Eggman’s words about the blue hero against Sonic’s seemingly genuine kindness and willingness to help. Cadance stepped forward, using her magic to turn the robot to face her. “Listen to me, Doctor! We might consider your words to protect our ponies, but we know nothing about you. We can’t decide who to trust until we know more about both sides. Why don’t you let us ensure your intentions are genuine before we deal with him?” The room fell silent after Cadance’s fiery outburst, leaving Celestia and Luna taken aback. The robot remained silent for a few seconds before Cadance gently set it down with her magic. “HO HO HO HO! Very well, princess! As you wish, but remember, if you’re ever desperate to stop him, I’ll be awaiting your call. I’ll take care of him myself.” The robot opened a compartment in its chest, releasing a remote with a button displaying a smiley face with a mustache. “Just press this button, and I’ll send a team to take him away, far from your subjects, never to bother you again.” The robot ended the transmission and flew away, leaving the remote lying on the floor. It floated up in a golden aura toward Celestia. “What do we do now? We don’t know who to trust,” Luna said, feeling the weight of the situation. “Hmm… I have an idea. But for this, our guests must stay overnight. Then, using your dream magic, we can learn about both Sonic and Dr. Eggman.” “Hmm, that sounds like an invasion of their privacy, Sister.” Luna already felt uneasy about the idea. “I know, and I admit it’s unfair to him. I just hope he doesn’t hate us if we’re wrong about him. But we do this to protect our ponies and to understand who our enemy truly is. Just this once, and then you can continue to use your magic as you see fit.” “Fine… but I won’t feel at ease doing this. Still, if it’s for understanding and trust, I’ll do it.” Celestia nodded, relieved, and walked away, leaving Cadance and Luna alone. [Sister, does the idea of someone so powerful truly frighten you this much? Are we going so far just because we’re unsure if he’s deceiving us or true to his words?] Luna asked silently, glancing at the remote in Celestia’s magic. “Cadance, could you sense the feelings of our guests when you get the chance?” “Of course, but right now, Celestia feels just as insecure as you.” “It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect.
Metal Sonic and the Forbidden Amulet.“It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect. After the communication between the good doctor and the alicorn princesses ended, he stood up and headed to his laboratory, where he was greeted by Orbot, who was observing the ponies that had been captured, now held in their cells in a very lifelike manner to Eggman's eyes. "Any progress?" "Definitely, sir. Not only are we able to harvest their magic, but we can also drain it and store it to function as energy sources. We are slowly encapsulating it to create batteries instead of just recharging them at stations. Additionally, the different types of magic allow the robots to integrate with them, thereby using the abilities of the respective magic." "What are the abilities of the different species of these equines?" "Pegasi can control clouds and create weather as they wish. Earth ponies are physically stronger, and unicorns can use all sorts of magical spells, but..." "But… tell me, what’s the meaning of that ‘but’!?" "Well… there’s a fourth species, and you’re already aware of it. The alicorn princesses are a fusion of the other three species, and as such, they seem to become princesses while also gaining immense magical power." There was a moment of silence between the two as they exchanged looks. Orbot realized he was in trouble, though he wasn’t sure why. He set the device down on the floor and curled into a ball, bracing for the kick that eventually came, sending him flying into the wall before bouncing back to his original spot. "I had, right in front of me, three powerful sources for my machines, and with their status, I could dismantle their entire civilization just by having them under my control! And you’re telling me this now!?" Orbot recovered and picked up the digital screen, showing his creator the image of the fourth princess. "Actually, sir… there are four princesses. The fourth is the one Sonic saved from that crazy centaur. Her primary ability seems to be magic. According to what we’ve spied on so far, these equines have unique and special marks on their bodies that appear when they discover their talent, what they love, or their unique ability. These symbols are called ‘Cutie Marks’ and can appear at any moment in their lives." "And let me guess, this princess is the one that infuriating Sonic saved from extermination. She’s very skilled in magical capacities and potential?" Orbot nodded silently, and behind them, a large door opened, revealing a containment capsule carried in by Metal Sonic. The prisoner, a pony with zebra-like features, was placed in a cell. "Good work, Metal. Now tell me, how many Chaos Emeralds do we have?" Metal Sonic’s visor displayed a count: 💎6/7. It then switched to an exclamation mark, surprising his creator, and presented a small case, which he handed to Eggman. "What’s this?" Upon opening it, Eggman found what appeared to be an ordinary brooch. It was triangular with wings on the sides, featuring a horse head with a horn at the top, and its center crystal and eyes emitted a reddish glow. "Mmm… if you brought this to me, it must be powerful. You wouldn’t bring anything like this without a reason. Your sensors must have detected an energy source in this object." A groan was heard from the zebra in her cell as she struggled to stand. "Th-the Alicorn Amulet… must not… be used… or it will bring chaos to your side…" Metal Sonic approached the cell and activated an electric shock, rendering her unconscious before returning to Eggman’s side. "Orbot, find out what that means. Metal, see if you can extract magic from this item. Something tells me it might serve as a new Chaos Emerald." Eggman assigned their tasks and left, leaving Orbot and Metal Sonic to work through the night. While Orbot scanned the amulet to analyze it digitally, Metal Sonic stared intently at it, feeling an inexplicable pull toward the object. After several moments of observation, he determined that this was no ordinary item—it was a magical enhancer. With his calculations, he realized that if he merged the amulet with himself and charged it with the magic harvested from the ponies, it would allow him to evolve into his next form. With the Chaos Emeralds, anything would be possible. I look at the workbench and approach a computer, beginning to type on it. Then I lean on the workbench as automated arms descend from the ceiling. They grab the Alicorn Amulet while others present various tools. Quickly, they begin to work on attaching the amulet to the robot's head, specifically to its forehead. Through a study conducted by the automated machine on the unknown object, it determines a way to integrate the amulet with the robot lying on the table. Thus begins the laborious process of uniting the two into one entity. The amulet starts glowing as Metal Sonic's optical sensors power on, and he steps down from the table. He observes his hands as if expecting to feel some change within himself, though he knows this is part of this new world. He heads to the laboratory to test his theory. Meanwhile, Orbot uncovers the amulet's primary function of enhancing magic. However, something about it seems strange. Why would anyone need an artifact capable of amplifying their magic to the level of an alicorn princess? Why would such an object even exist? For now, though, these questions were not his priority. He began wondering if this object could be modified for other uses. Before he could act, the door opened, revealing Metal Sonic with the amulet on his forehead. Slowly, he approached the chamber where the magic was stored, extending his metallic claw to grab a perfectly hand-sized orb. He examined it closely, analyzing it multiple times to ensure his next move. Orbot watched in silence, noticing the amulet on Metal's head, wondering if it was functioning as expected. Although he hadn't had the chance to manipulate the object himself, he witnessed Metal Sonic absorb the magic into his body. His scanners revealed that the magic was now part of his power source. The Alicorn Amulet was controlling the magic, preventing it from dissipating within Metal’s inorganic body. "Metal, you’ve managed what we've been struggling to achieve! This is incredible progress! But unfortunately, we only had that one amulet, right?" Orbot cautiously approached the robot, but Metal didn’t respond or even turn to acknowledge him. "Metal?..." He remained silent, unresponsive to his name, staring at the massive container of magic before him. Though it seemed like an enormous amount, its power was relatively modest. His eyes inverted in color, and the amulet emitted a red glow. Metal Sonic stepped forward, driving his claws into the large magic reservoir. Upon contact, he began absorbing the energy much like he does with Chaos Emeralds—though this time, it was magic unfamiliar to his systems. Unlike the Chaos Emeralds, which allow him to evolve from "Metal Sonic" into "Neo Metal Sonic" and eventually take on a super form akin to his organic counterpart, this magic was different. His head began to undergo subtle changes. The Alicorn Amulet fused with the metal of his head. Its crystal became an integral part of his structure, and the material that once resembled an alicorn's face reshaped itself into a horn, encasing the crystal. The vast amount of magic was drained into his body, leaving the container empty. A rainbow flash engulfed him, but it shifted to a deep red, signaling that his entire color scheme had changed from blue to red. Metallic appendages resembling wings emerged on the sides of his head, a transformation spurred by the amulet. "Metal? What happened to you?" Orbot approached him, but when Metal turned to face him, Orbot froze, feeling something akin to fear in his cold, metallic form. His sensors detected critical levels of unknown magical energy. He couldn't tell if his programming was malfunctioning or if the sensors were overwhelmed by the magic's radiation. Whatever the cause, it was clear that Eggman's greatest creation had now become compatible with this world's magic. "Analyzing... pony magic functional... analyzing... capabilities exceeded... analyzing... more power required." That was all Metal said before turning to Orbot and forcibly taking the device in his hands. With a single touch, he downloaded all the data he needed. "New energy sources analyzed. High-power targets: Alicorn princesses. Objective: capture, extract magic, evolve, eliminate opposition." The horn on his head glowed red as he dropped the device and walked away, leaving a bewildered and frightened Orbot behind, still reeling from the realization that Metal Sonic no longer seemed to act of his own volition. Eggman, in the main control room, watched through the monitor as his robots returned from the equine planet, each carrying an alert indicating they had failed to locate the final Chaos Emerald. Despite having scoured more of the planet than Sonic could have due to being occupied with other matters, Eggman was now certain his nemesis had the last emerald. The door behind him opened, but he ignored the intruder, recognizing the sound of footsteps as Metal Sonic's. "Metal, I see you're free. Get ready; I have a mission for you." The robot silently approached, stepping into view. "Requesting permission to acquire additional test subjects and extract their magic." Eggman was taken aback by the request, his attention drawn to Metal’s altered appearance—small wings on the sides of his head, a shift in color to red, and a prominent horn. "Eh, Metal... What did you do to yourself?" "I have evolved. I will now acquire more magic," was all Metal said, ignoring whether his request had been granted. "Wait a moment! I didn’t authorize this! Now listen—I want you to draw Sonic’s attention, destroy whatever is necessary, and take the final Chaos Emerald from him. I’m certain he has it." "...Request denied." Eggman froze in confusion. His creation was defying him? Rebelling? "I gave you an order, Metal! Don’t you dare disobey me!" "Doctor Eggman, you are no longer useful in executing your own plan. Therefore, you are relieved of your role as leader in the conquest of this world." The horn glowed red, and Eggman was lifted into the air by a magical aura before being slammed against the main window, overlooking the void of space. "Y-you insolent scrap heap! How dare you?! I created you! I programmed you!" Metal approached slowly, hovering thanks to his propulsion systems. "Indeed, Doctor. But remember this—you created me to be a worthy rival to Sonic's speed and strength. You also programmed me with an intelligence capable of evolving and outsmarting him in every encounter. But now, I also have the programming to fulfill your ultimate goal: defeat, eliminate, and conquer. You have become an obstacle, overthinking your plans into uselessness. I will achieve your goal by combining Sonic's abilities with your knowledge." With each word, Eggman backed away, finding himself cornered with nowhere to escape the impending threat posed by his creation. "I won’t let you betray me!" He pulled a high-tech pistol from his coat and aimed it at Metal without hesitation. "Pathetic organic survival attempt." Metal extended his claw, and with a gesture, the gun was crushed into a lump of scrap by his magic. "Grrr... Eggpaws! Stop him!" Eggman shouted as robotic minions entered the control room, aiming their laser weapons at Metal. But Metal’s glowing horn made them turn on Eggman, restraining him. "Take him to the containment cell and prepare all units for an attack when ordered." Eggman fell silent, realizing that everything he had was now in Metal Sonic's hands. His plans to conquer and rule the ponies' world were now under the control of the very being he had least expected. The Chaos Emeralds, the research on pony magic, his army, and his technology were no longer his. All he could do was hope his nemesis could stop him. With Eggman out of the picture, Metal projected a hologram of Twilight Sparkle, receiving Sonic’s chivalrous greeting. "Priority 1: Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog... now downgraded to final priority." "New primary priority: Capture and extract the magic of the high-capacity Alicorn."
Good and bad times.Author's Note I apologize for the delay, as for this one I had to take references from some moments in games, comics, or invent them myself, but I also blame myself for playing some video games. I’m sorry and enjoy! Good and bad times. “It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.” The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect. The night had fallen, and everyone was gathered in front of the castle gates. The guards were already aware that two unexpected guests would be accompanying the Element bearers to this private meeting. They decided not to raise their weapons this time, avoiding another incident like the one during their first encounter when they acted against Twilight’s orders to refrain from attacking him. Sonic was present without his gloves, as they had been heavily damaged. Before heading to Canterlot, the Crusaders had offered to repair them, but Sonic didn’t give much importance to the idea. Still, he couldn’t say no to their puppy-like pleading eyes, which ultimately made him hand over the ruined gloves. Upon arrival, the hedgehog was wearing a new pair of gloves crafted by the Crusaders, with Spike’s help in casting the final vote for the best design. It was a challenging task, given they had never dealt with "hands" before. However, using the discarded gloves as a reference gave them a solid starting point. The gloves were predominantly white, with a green flame design on the back that stretched from the knuckles to the wrist. Within the flame, a golden pony with a blue cape symbolized the Crusaders and the young dragon who worked together on a gift for their friends' hero. Rouge wore her usual attire, as Rarity found it too time-consuming to create original outfits for her and Sonic. She didn't want to compromise the quality of her work. However, that didn’t stop Rarity from dressing herself in something worthy of a royal invitation. As they entered the castle during the night, Rouge couldn’t help but whistle in admiration of its beauty under the moonlight. Sonic, on the other hand, drew a few glances from the guards. Some recognized him from the wanted posters, while others had been present on the night he first arrived. The six ponies were accompanied by a hedgehog, a bat, Spike, and the Crusaders as they headed to the royal meeting. In the dining hall, the three princesses, along with Shining Armor, awaited them at a grand round table, ensuring everyone could join the conversation without leaving anyone out. "Welcome back, my dear ponies, Sir Sonic, and Lady Rouge. I hope the food and accommodations we've prepared will meet your expectations," Celestia greeted her guests as they took their seats. Sonic found himself sitting with Spike on his right and Twilight on his left. To Twilight’s left sat Luna, followed by Celestia, Cadance, and Shining Armor. Applejack sat next to Shining, with the Crusaders beside her, then Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and finally Rouge, completing the circle with Spike on her other side. "Please, don’t worry about that, Your Highness. We can eat all sorts of food, and there’s no need for formalities—just call me Sonic, and that’s fine by me." "I feel the same way. Thank you, but just Rouge will do. We’re already grateful for the invitation," Rouge replied, looking over the table filled with various dishes, desserts, and cakes. What caught her attention most, however, was a bowl of precious gems placed in front of her. "Well, aren’t these beauties? Who could have brought such lovely treasures to a royal dinner?" She smiled as she picked up a gem between her fingers, but a light blue magical aura pulled it away. "Oh, I’m sorry if there’s been a misunderstanding, but these are for Spikey-Wikey. Dragons here can eat gems," Rarity explained, levitating the gem toward the young dragon. Spike grabbed it with his claws and bit into it, breaking it in half, leaving the Mobians stunned. Rouge, however, secretly felt it was a waste of something so valuable. "What a waste of gems! But surely, as beautiful as they are, you don’t live solely on these treasures, right?" Rouge asked. Spike shook his head as he finished devouring the gem. He reached into the bowl and pulled out an emerald, giving it a lick. "Mmh! Nope! I can eat other things besides gems, but I can tell by the taste when they’re high quality. This one’s pretty good," he said, offering the emerald to Rouge. "For me?" Rouge was taken aback by the gesture, surprised that something so valuable was being handed to her as if it were candy. Yet, the young dragon’s expression showed it was of little importance to him. He simply nodded, waiting for her to take it, and she gently took the emerald, admiring its shine and pristine condition. "Aren’t you a little charmer!" she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek in gratitude. The gesture left the young dragon blushing furiously, nearly knocking him out as he gazed at the bat with a dreamy, lovestruck expression. Sonic chuckled, amused by how the young dragon had been utterly defeated by Rouge's most innocent weapon in her arsenal. Meanwhile, Rarity noticed Spike’s lovestruck expression as Rouge continued to examine the emerald with a jeweler’s loupe, displaying her professional appreciation for fine gems. "You’re lucky, Rouge. Normally, Knuckles wouldn’t let you get near the emerald, but here you have a little gentleman," Sonic remarked with a smile. "Sonic, if you don’t mind, we’d like to know more about you two," Celestia interjected, steering the conversation toward a more formal tone. "If it’s possible, and if you don’t mind, we have so many questions. We’d like to understand how you got here and where you’re from." Her direct approach grabbed everyone’s attention, creating a sudden silence. "Alright," Sonic replied, a small grin appearing on his face. "I was waiting for someone to ask. Let’s make it fun—how about one question from each of you for us? What do you think, Rouge?" "I’ve got nothing to hide—other than figuring out the best use for this beautiful emerald," Rouge said, slipping the gem into her pouch with a smirk before picking up a cupcake to eat. "Alright then. Your Highnesses, would you like to start?" Sonic turned his gaze to Twilight, and the others followed suit, catching her completely off guard. "Eh? Me?!" she stammered, pointing at herself nervously, unsure why Sonic would include her under the term "Your Highnesses." The group chuckled at her reaction, and Twilight quickly realized that Sonic had been referring to her as a princess too. "Oh, I get it now. Well, I have plenty of questions, but since it’s one per pony… Hmm, I’ve got it! What you said after defeating that giant Timberwolf—was it true?" Sonic tilted his head, trying to recall their brief conversation that night. "Look, Princess, I’m pretty sure I know exactly what you're thinking: you want to capture me, lock me up, put me on trial, and try to believe my story. But without a lawyer to defend me, and without my friends around, yeah, I know the mess I’m in. This isn’t the first, and probably won’t be the last time I end up in an unknown world with no knowledge of it. But that doesn’t mean I should just give up because you tell me to. I respect you, I’ve met other princesses too, but I’ve had some bad experiences being unjustly locked up or imprisoned for things I didn’t do or didn’t even commit." "Could you be more specific? I said a lot of things, so I’m not sure which part you mean," Sonic asked, scratching his head. "What you said about this not being the first or probably the last time you end up in an unknown world. Does that mean you are… from another world?" Twilight clarified, her curiosity brimming as she leaned closer. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the Mobians, their eyes wide as if Twilight had uncovered a well-guarded secret. "Of course we are! Well, not like extraterrestrials or aliens… okay, maybe like that," Sonic admitted with a shrug. "But it’s more accurate to say another dimension or another part of the vast, infinite universe." Gasps and murmurs filled the room as the ponies exchanged bewildered glances. The Mobians, however, didn’t seem fazed by their reaction. "Really?! Oh, all the books I’ve read!" Twilight exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "I have so many questions—" Before she could continue, Sonic raised a hand, his palm outstretched to signal her to pause. He smiled calmly, recognizing the familiar excitement he had seen in a certain yellow fox before. "Easy there, Princess. I’ll answer everything you want to know another time, but the others are waiting for their turn." Twilight blushed in embarrassment, realizing her enthusiasm had gotten the better of her. "Sorry. Please, go ahead." Luna smiled, her curiosity now piqued. Building off Twilight’s question, she asked, "How did you end up here?" The Mobians exchanged glances before Rouge raised her hand to speak first. "Well, I was visiting an old friend. When he wasn’t around, I decided to ‘borrow’ a ‘small’ item. But someone else got to it before I did, so I set out to retrieve it and return it. Then… well, the local hero didn’t know the whole story and just acted, and here we are." "Guilty of doing the right thing. Next!" Sonic interjected cheerfully, shrugging as if their arrival wasn’t a big deal. "Wait a moment! You haven’t explained how you ended up here," Luna pointed out, noticing Sonic was evading the question. Sonic paused mid-bite of a slice of cake, looking caught off guard. "Well, I was with my friends relaxing and enjoying the beautiful sun of Mobius until Knuckles, through his connection with the Master Emerald, felt it being removed from what you could call his 'private island.' So, we quickly got on Tails’ plane and soared through the skies to reach Angel Island! When we got there, my arch-nemesis’ base was flying away, leaving the island to crash into the ocean! So, I went Super, flew up to stop him, and confronted him in space. I decided to destroy everything he was working on, but he used the power of the Master Emerald. I countered with the power of the Chaos Emeralds, and we ended up here!" After telling his story, Sonic happily continued eating his slice of cake, leaving all the ponies (including the Crusaders) speechless. Due to his story, the questions they had planned to ask were set aside in favor of addressing what they had just heard. "My turn!" Celestia said excitedly. "We know where you come from and how you arrived, but now I have a better question! What are these… ‘Chaos Emeralds’ and this ‘Master Emerald’ you mentioned?" The two exchanged glances and stood up, heading to a corner of the room. "One moment, please." The ponies watched them curiously, wondering what they were whispering about. After a few moments, the two Mobians returned to their seats, now wearing more serious expressions. "Alright, listen carefully. We’ll explain, but this must stay between everyone at this table," Sonic said, giving Celestia a stern look that caught her attention. He then turned to glance at the guards stationed at the doors. She understood the gravity of the situation and gave a simple nod. With a gesture, the guards left the room, leaving only the guests and the princesses. "Alright, now that we’re alone, I’ll give you a rundown of the Chaos Emeralds. But understand that I’m sharing this because I trust you, and this information cannot leave this room. Understood?" Sonic’s tone was firm, and it was clear that this was not a matter to be taken lightly. The ponies exchanged nervous glances and then nodded in agreement. "Good. The Chaos Emeralds, as their name implies, are seven emeralds of chaotic power, capable of making the thoughts and desires of the heart of whoever uses them come true," Sonic explained. He then looked at Rouge, who nodded to continue the explanation. "Individually, they’re already powerful. But together, they can destroy, rebuild, erase, save, ruin, or restore all of reality as we know it. They’ve restored space and time, helped us save our world—and the universe. And while what I’m about to say might sound exaggerated without solid proof, these emeralds have limitless power and infinite energy. But beyond what they are, what matters is what they can achieve in the right—or wrong—hands." Rouge glanced at Sonic, prompting everyone to follow her gaze. He held up the green Chaos Emerald in his hand. "They can give you the power to face beings on the level of gods. This hero right here has been involved in countless adventures where these beautiful but powerful emeralds gave him the strength to confront entities that sought to destroy life and reality as we know it." The room fell silent as everyone processed Rouge’s explanation. The idea that such a perfect-looking jewel could hold so much power was hard to believe. Why would anyone need something capable of both immense good and immense harm? And if they were so powerful individually, any person possessing even one could become a significant threat. "If they’re so powerful, why not destroy them or keep them locked away?" Cadance dared to ask, not realizing she was using her turn for the question. "Destroying them is impossible. They’re resistant to lava, can’t be crushed, and are indestructible. As for locking them away? They’d just get stolen. No matter where they are, trouble always seems to follow," Sonic replied, casually tossing the emerald into the air and catching it repeatedly. "I have a question," Shining Armor said, his tone skeptical. "Sonic, what’s the biggest thing you’ve ever faced using these Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic continued playing with the emerald, while Spike and Rarity couldn’t take their eyes off it, their heads moving up and down with its constant motion. “Hmm… the biggest thing? Well, it might be…” “DARK GAIA!” A sudden shout in unison caught everyone’s attention. They turned to see the Crusaders with their helmets on the table and wide grins on their faces. This caused Sonic to stop playing with the emerald and put it away, smiling as he saw how they remembered his story. “Yeah, you could say it was one of the biggest challenges I faced.” “Dark Gaia?” everyone repeated at the same time, while the Crusaders kept smiling. Everyone looked at the fillies and then back at Sonic. It seemed like they’d already shared enough time to swap stories before meeting the others. “A so-called god of darkness that existed at the planet’s core—so massive it could cover the entire core. It awakens every thousand years to battle Light Gaia in a fight between creation and destruction, light and dark. You know, the usual.” The rest of the evening passed with eating, answering questions, and sharing funny anecdotes from their respective worlds. Eventually, it was time for both groups of heroes to rest. At that moment, Luna guided the Mobians to their rooms. First was Rouge, who bade them goodnight and quickly took advantage of the royal accommodations. Then came Sonic. As soon as he entered, Luna watched him flop onto the sofa and let out a big yawn. “Uh, Sonic, you’ve got an entire bed to yourself.” “I know, Princess Luna, but I don’t need a lot of comfort. I sleep under trees, on the arms of balconies, on rooftops if needed, and on hills during the day and night. I’m not someone who cares much about material things. Goodnight…” And with that, he got comfortable and was asleep almost instantly. Luna cautiously cast a sleep spell to ensure he wouldn’t wake until morning—or until she decided. She then left and returned to the throne room, where she found the other princesses, the Element Bearers, the Crusaders, and Spike, who was as sleepy as the fillies. “All set, sister. He’s sleeping soundly thanks to my spell, but… strangely, he chose the sofa over the luxury bed,” Luna mentioned, still baffled by the hedgehog’s preference. “Very well. So, does everyone understand the situation?” Celestia asked the ponies who had been present earlier. “I’m not entirely sure. Are you saying we can’t trust Sonic because someone sent a bird to tell you he’s a monster?” Rainbow Dash asked, seeking clarity. Celestia nodded. “But who sent the bird? And why invade Sonic’s memories while he’s asleep? Aren’t his words enough?” Spike asked, covering a yawn. “Someone who knows Sonic—he calls himself ‘Dr. Eggman.’ I want to learn about him from Sonic’s perspective to ensure we’re trusting the right person and not making ourselves an enemy of the wrong one,” Celestia explained. The Crusaders, still fighting off sleep, exchanged glances when they heard the name mentioned. “Excuse me, Princess Celestia, but did you say ‘Doctor Eggman’? And the bird that spoke to you… was it metallic?” Apple Bloom asked hesitantly, catching everyone’s attention. Celestia nodded, but the fillies’ reaction suggested they knew something important. “That guy’s evil! Really evil!” Scootaloo yelled, earning surprised looks from the ponies present. “Calm down, Scoots. You can’t seriously say that when you don’t even know him,” Rainbow Dash interjected, trying to calm the young pegasus. “He’s evil! He destroyed Sonic’s entire planet with the Chaos Emeralds, unleashed some god of darkness or whatever from the planet’s core, and sent Sonic flying from space to crash into the planet!” Everyone stared at the Crusaders. Despite their sleepiness, the truth in their voices was evident. They were on Sonic’s side, but the others weren’t sure what to make of their passionate defense—or the hedgehog himself. “If you’re so eager to defend him, then let’s see for ourselves in his memories,” Celestia said with a smirk, leading everyone to Sonic’s room. There, they found the blue hedgehog sleeping soundly in a chaotic position—one hand on his chest, the other dangling off the sofa, his right leg bent, and his left foot touching the floor. He looked a moment away from face-planting. “For someone so full of energy, this doesn’t seem like a comfortable way to enjoy sleep,” Cadance remarked, just as the hedgehog murmured with a smile. “Mmh… mega ice cream…” “Let’s take advantage before his dreams turn less pleasant,” Applejack suggested, and everyone agreed. The group made themselves comfortable, sitting on chairs, the bed, and other spots in the room, while Luna stood at the center. She concentrated and created a connection between them and Sonic’s dreams, pulling everyone into his dream world at the same time. Dream Realm Once inside, the group found themselves on a snowy mountain buffeted by strong, freezing winds. “Where are we?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, struggling to see through the snowstorm. “We’re inside Sonic’s dreams—or rather, a mix of his memories and dreams,” Luna explained, scanning their surroundings until she noticed a figure beyond the storm. “Look over there. Isn’t that Sonic?” Luna called the group’s attention to the figure standing at the peak of a frozen mountain. Sonic took a deep breath, spread his arms, and dove off the edge. Luna rushed forward to check his intentions, with everyone following close behind. Instead of falling, Sonic landed on a snowboard and began speeding down the mountain with exhilarating speed. “Whew… close one.” “Were you worried about our guest, sister?” Celestia teased Luna for her reaction. “Well, yes! Even in a dream, dying can cause the dreamer to wake up. But since I cast the sleep spell on him, I fear he might remain ‘dead’ until morning—or who knows how his body might react. I’ve never tested this, and I don’t want to find out,” Luna admitted, lighting her horn to create a door in front of the group, which they entered. Celestia, feeling defeated by the explanation, could only follow as Sonic’s distant cries of excitement echoed behind them. “Welcome to the Hall of Memories,” Luna announced. “There’s also a Hall of Dreams, but since we’re connected to a dreamer, we’ll only see his memories.” The group now stood in an endless corridor lined with infinite doors, each labeled with titles. The surrounding ambiance showed places Sonic had been—beautiful landscapes and chaotic battlegrounds. The Crusaders quickly darted off to explore, drawn to one door in particular. “Girls! Get back here!” Applejack shouted, but the fillies ignored her and kept running. "Don’t worry, Applejack. This place is completely peaceful, and the memories are like fleeting winds around us—unable to harm or be altered by our presence. You’re free to explore and enjoy the memories without fear of causing any disruption or harm," Luna reassured. With that, everyone spread out, each choosing a door that captured their curiosity. Applejack approached a door titled "Little Bro", featuring a picture of Sonic and Tails fist-bumping. She raised an eyebrow, wondering about their relationship—who belonged to whose family? Unable to resist, she stepped through the door. Inside, she was greeted by various scenes of Sonic and Tails’ adventures, heartfelt conversations, and moments of teamwork. One window in particular caught her attention: Sonic and Tails walking together, Sonic visibly injured on one side. "Sonic… do you think I’m a burden?" Tails asked, his voice heavy with insecurity. Applejack’s heart sank as she watched the little fox, clearly burdened by self-doubt. Sonic stopped in his tracks, turning to face his friend with a calm smile. "What’s with that question now?" he asked, his tone light but curious. "I… I always freeze when there’s trouble. You’re always saving me while I just… tag along," Tails muttered, frustration and sadness evident in his voice. Sonic stepped closer, placing a hand on Tails’ shoulder. "Hey, who stopped Eggman from blowing up Station Square?" A memory flashed to Applejack’s side: Tails expertly dismantling a missile mid-flight. "And who saved me from the Sinister Six’s trap, huh?" Sonic added, as another memory appeared—Tails saving Sonic from a trap, taking the risk himself. "I’m… I’m too inconsistent," Tails mumbled, crossing his arms and looking away. "Relax, buddy!" Sonic said with a chuckle, moving in front of Tails. "You’re as smart as Eggman, almost as fast as me, and you can fly! Besides, everyone needs a little help sometimes—that’s just part of growing up." Tails stared at Sonic, his expression softening. "When did you get so wise?" "I have my moments," Sonic replied with a cheeky grin. As the memory faded, Applejack smiled, understanding the bond between the two. "So, Tails is like a little brother to him... just like Apple Bloom is to me," she thought, feeling a newfound respect for the duo. Twilight opened a door labeled "Princesses", her curiosity piqued. Did Sonic already have many memories involving her and the other princesses? Inside, she found scenes of Sonic interacting with various royals. One memory featured Sonic and a tall, elf-like woman holding a staff—Merlina the Sorceress. Sonic held a sword in one hand and wore a gauntlet on the other. "Your Majesty… how can I rule this kingdom after all I’ve done?" Merlina asked, kneeling before him, her voice filled with regret. "Merlina, you brought me here for a reason. You’ve proven yourself as the most capable magician, and you know this kingdom better than anyone. The Knights of the Round Table trust you, and so do I," Sonic said, handing her his sword as a gesture of trust. "We will miss you, Sonic—the Knight of the Wind," the sword spoke, its voice filled with pride. Twilight gasped. "He was a king? A knight? What kind of life has he lived?" Her thoughts raced. Another memory showed Sonic with Blaze, a feline princess. "How’s ruling your kingdom going, Blaze?" Sonic asked casually. "Busy as always, but peaceful. It’s nice to visit here and get away from all the ‘princess’ formalities," Blaze replied, sighing. Sonic extended a hand. "Care for a dance?" She accepted, and the two began an elegant yet adrenaline-filled "dance" as they fought off Eggman’s robots, dodging attacks with perfect synchronization. Twilight watched, amazed by their effortless teamwork. "How is he so calm in situations like this?" she wondered, captivated. Pinkie hopped through the hall, landing in front of a door labeled "The Best Birthday". Intrigued, she entered to find a joyous celebration. Sonic’s friends presented a cake shaped like his face. Pinkie giggled, taking mental notes for future parties. But the joy turned to chaos as a dark vortex appeared, sweeping away the decorations and guests. A shadowy figure emerged, its terrifying presence knocking Sonic unconscious. Pinkie gasped, her usual cheer replaced with dread as she watched Sonic awaken to begin a perilous adventure to save his friends. Despite the tension, Pinkie whispered, "I’ll have to throw him an even better party someday," before continuing to observe the unfolding memories. Meanwhile, Luna guided the others through the hall, ensuring they stayed safe. Each pony was discovering new facets of Sonic’s life, and the trust they had in him was deepening with every memory they witnessed Rainbow Dash couldn't see anything interesting through any door, but among all the memories of peaceful moments and races against beings who matched the speed of the hedgehog, she found a title that caught her attention: "Metal Sonic." The title was strange, did it mean there were more like him? Upon entering, she found multiple windows showing Sonic against a metallic version of himself and his different variants, one silver, the classic Metal Sonic, and Mecha Sonic. In all their confrontations, both looked very fast and competitive in a fight where one would survive and prove to be the "original." "Wow... I think this will entertain me for a while I'm here." Fluttershy didn’t make much progress since finding a door titled "Chaos Garden" was enough to stop her from learning more about Sonic. But there she was, alongside the memory of him spending a pleasant time with the harmless Chaos that played in the garden, in the company of a little girl with long ears while she played with the Chao. "Thank you for coming with me, Mr. Sonic." "Don’t mention it, Cream. After Eggman ruined the last tea party you invited me to, I thought about how we could make up for lost time, and here we are, at your favorite place." Around them, the small creatures called "Chao" were flying around, playing with each other, along with another one wearing a red bow. Cream was making flower crowns for each Chao and one for Sonic as well, as a thank-you for bringing her there. Cadance, on the other hand, found a door called "Admiring #1." It could be talking about someone who admired him as a hero for saving their life, but to calm her curiosity, she entered without hesitation, expecting to see someone who looked at him with hearts in their eyes. Upon entering, she found the marvelous view of a sunset near a forest far from the city. She searched with her eyes for the blue hedgehog but found only a curtain of dirt covering the place. When it finally cleared, she saw a pink creature in a red dress running quickly in one direction, shouting with a tone of concern in her voice. "Are you okay?!" "HA-HA-HA, You shot me straight into the energy cell! Good shot!" She recognized the owner of that voice, seeing Sonic there on the ground, covered in dirt, while the pink girl approached him concerned. "The invasion is over. I guess... now you'll leave..." "Yep!" The Princess of Love thought the blue hero’s attitude was very cold toward the pink girl, making her feel that he didn’t seem to understand her feelings. She didn’t need her magic to see into someone's heart and know how they feel toward others; just by looking and hearing her, she could tell. But as she got closer to see the scene better, next to the pink girl who was worried about Sonic, she could see him the same way she was looking at him. Sonic knew that she was now seeing him in the only way the pink hedgehog could see him: as something wonderful, standing there bathed in sunlight, his presence alone mesmerizing her. The Princess of Love managed to see him in the same way, but she understood that the hedgehog’s feelings gave him a glow that only she could perceive in her eyes. Even though it was just a memory and her magic wouldn’t work here, simply watching her admire him was more than enough to understand what she felt for him. "It’s what I do. I keep moving, doing good, saving people, and living free like the wind. Living my way, my own way." Everything he said was answered by the blushing face of the girl who looked at him, accompanied by a sigh that sounded full of love while she looked at him with the sun highlighting what only she could see as amazing in him. Cadance just admired the scene and slowly left the memory, watching how she clearly showed her feelings for him, even if he didn’t seem to accept it directly. Shining Armor, on his part, had already seen several memories, most of them showing Sonic saving innocents from city disasters, helping his friends, but now he found himself in a different scenario, after passing through a door titled "Knight of the Wind." There, he saw Sonic wielding a broken sword, covered in wounds while trying to stand. At the other end, where Sonic was looking, stood a strange creature, a being emitting a dark aura with many limbs and large swords in each one. It had left him badly wounded, lying face down on the ground, but then he heard a voice in his mind. "Sir Sonic! You've done enough!" A female voice said, making the hedgehog react as he started getting back up. "No, Sonic! There is no point in continuing!" A serious male voice said as Sonic managed to stand despite the pain. Shining was watching how the scene was unfolding, how he kept persisting with a smile and a confident look. "A knight... never... flees... his foes, right?" Sonic said while staring intently at his intended target. The great knight created by magic followed the commands of its controller, a sorceress beneath it. It simply attacked Sonic again, knocking him down. "You fool! This no longer has anything to do with chivalry! Get out of there! Run!" Another voice sounded in the memory, scolding him for facing the situation in a way worthy of a knight. Shining had trouble piecing together this memory. Did Sonic have something to do with being a knight? He carried a sword and was facing someone with no chances of winning, which was what a real knight would do too. But why was this memory showing him this? "It was never about chivalry for me..." Sonic got back on his feet, wielding the broken sword without taking his eyes off his enemy, his determination showing he wouldn’t surrender easily. "I just gotta do what I've gotta do, that’s all!" The three voices shouted his name, but then a golden flash of light descended from the dark sky, enveloping Sonic. Shining was blinded by the light, forced to cover his eyes. After a few seconds, he saw that Sonic was now wearing golden armor, with a red cape, and the sword was repaired and now much bigger, emitting a magical blade around the edge. He wielded the sword in the air, preparing his stance for attack. "Heh, Let’s do this!" Rarity and Spike were looking for a door that would help with what the princesses asked, but they ended up stumbling upon something that caught both of their attention. A door with a title that piqued the young dragon's curiosity: "I'm Just a Hero." He entered without wasting time, only thinking about the comics he read, expecting to see moments like these from the hedgehog. Rarity rolled her eyes and continued looking for a door that caught her attention. Inside the door, Spike admired many windows containing moments of action, adrenaline, and heroic deeds. He just needed a hero suit, and it would be perfect for the title. He entered a memory and found his blue friend racing against what appeared to be a poorly made clone of himself in a race, but at the end of the race, after getting far enough from the clone, he not only reached the finish line but also rescued a girl he carried in his arms. "Wow... I wish I could be like him when I grow up!" In another, he saw how the fast hedgehog saved small animals, fought robot armies, and even though he fell, he got back up. None of this resembled his comics, and that made it much better. He sat on the floor, admiring each moment as if he were watching multiple shows on TV at the same time, excited to see what he had lived—many victories, many friends, magical places like a floating island, how he joined another version of himself to jump through space and time, how he traveled on the wing of a plane without fear of falling, having fans just like he did in the Crystal Empire. He was admiring his idol! Living through these memories filled him with emotions, and when he saw one that he considered the best of all, his jaw almost hit the floor. There he saw Sonic in his super form, golden with sky-blue eyes, arms crossed, and his gaze locked on his target. Spike followed his gaze and saw a gigantic white being with multiple arms, seemingly carrying a massive shell on its back. The small dragon just stood there, watching as if waiting for a signal for what needed to happen, and in the blink of an eye, the giant monster was attacking his friend with what appeared to be energy waves far larger than the hedgehog. But the hero didn’t flinch and simply deflected them one by one, a total of five. For the fifth, he merely placed his left hand on his hip while floating in the air, and with his right hand, he brushed it aside as if swatting away an annoying fly. Being speechless was an understatement for what Spike had just witnessed, but that was only the beginning of everything he would experience through the memory. After a few seconds, she entered a very excited "New King." Inside, she saw through the windows how Sonic was being named the king of an entire kingdom, which took the unicorn by surprise as she saw that now he wore a golden crown, a long red cape, a metal gauntlet on his right hand, and was followed by a sword that floated beside him. "You know, buddy? I never thought I'd become a king!" "You were able to unleash my maximum power, wielding the legendary sword of the former king! It was to be expected that you would be given such a title." The sword explained, which surprised Rarity even more as she watched how the hedgehog sat on the throne, with the talking sword in his hand, the blade pointing to the ground. "I admit, and I’ll sound cocky saying this, but where I come from, I’ve saved the world, many lives, other worlds, and even once died and came back to life! But after all that, I didn’t care if there was a reward, I just do what needs to be done because it has to be done, that’s all, and I’m content with seeing others safe without expecting anything in return." "Where you come from, are you also a king? Or are you just a guy who loves adventures and saving lives?" Sonic smiled at his response and looked at the talking weapon. "Now you're reading minds too?" With that response, the sword now believed that the one who was the new king of Camelot and the only one capable of wielding it was just a guy with good intentions who didn’t seem to care about his manners and just jumped in to help others. "Well, I won’t ask more, you never stop surprising me, buddy. A generous, kind, loyal king, with few manners but honesty in his words and a fun yet challenging attitude... it’s not something you see every day." Sonic smiled and looked at him with a chuckle, Rarity watched the scene, admiring how her friend was a king from a faraway place that would be hard for her to understand. The sword could speak, and he represented both the five elements of harmony and perhaps much more, making her find it strange that someone like him wasn’t well rewarded. "Well, buddy! With my coronation done, it’s time for all this to end... for now." "Time to go home?" The sword asked, and Sonic just nodded, and then both left, while Rarity exited the memory and looked for another one to better understand the scene. Now, the Princess of the Sun had walked among many doors, but none looked different from the others. The door she was looking for with a particular name didn’t appear. She almost thought she should walk to the possible end of the infinite hallway of doors. Her sister, seeing her desperate, approached her, worried. "Is something wrong, sister?" "This is impossible! Look at all these doors! Where’s the door with the name of Doctor Eggman!?" Her shout echoed throughout the area, and behind her, a door began to glow, changing from blue to black with a new title in red letters, ending with a symbol of a smiling face with a mustache. "Dr. Eggman/Ivo Robotnik...? Is this his door?" Celestia’s question was answered when a dark aura surrounded the door, and it opened on its own in her direction. "It seems... Sonic’s subconscious responded to your call in some way..." That was the best explanation Luna could give while rubbing her helmet against her chin, thinking about what had happened. "Is that... possible!?" Her sister exclaimed in surprise. "It could be... or perhaps right now, his current dream added Dr. Eggman, and his door naturally appeared to add memories to the dream." This changed the theory she had given earlier, and now this idea stayed in her mind until she could find a better explanation for what happened. "Whatever it is, I’m going in!" Celestia looked at the dark void inside the door, determined to enter, preparing for the worst. Upon entering, the door closed behind her. The whole place was dark; there was nothing and no one. Silence and mystery dominated the atmosphere. "Hello? Sonic?... Are you here?" After her question, she realized she was in a memory where she couldn’t interact or alter anything, so she hit her face with her helmet for being so silly. "Calm down, Celestia, it’s just a memory. You shouldn’t be scared... and now you’re talking to yourself." A flash of light blinded her suddenly, and a memory window appeared. This window showed a strange being, a biped with red and black colors, a round body, or rather, a fat body, and a long mustache on its face. "Hahaha! Citizens of Earth, lend me your ears and listen carefully! My name is Dr. Eggman, the greatest scientific genius in the world." Celestia found it arrogant for him to call himself the greatest in the world, but she was more intrigued by seeing the true appearance of the now mysterious Dr. Eggman. "And soon, I will be the greatest ruler of the world." "Now, be witnesses to the beginning of the greatest empire of all time." Through the screen, she saw what appeared to be a planet splitting in half, revealing the ARK space station, which had a curious resemblance to the Doctor’s face. There, the Princess of the Sun witnessed with her own eyes how, from the outside of the planet she was now on, the Moon was destroyed in half as a beam was fired from the space station, leaving all the humans who witnessed the scene with their jaws hanging, while Eggman’s voice echoed through the screen, laughing as he had the power to dominate them all. Celestia stepped back from the window, exiting the memory, and accidentally entered another within the same door. There, she realized that now Eggman had Sonic suffering as the Chaos Emeralds floated around him. "HOHOHO! I’ve been waiting a long time for this! Fire!" There, she saw how they were now in space, but before she could ask herself about their current location, she saw how all the Chaos Emeralds’ power was used to fire the cannon that opened the planet, leaving the princess in shock at his actions. As the planet seemed to divide into various continents, a giant being emerged from the planet's center. Eggman marveled at the scene, surprised by the dark being. "Uggg... aaggh!" Sonic’s groans of pain caught the princess’s attention, seeing the subdued hero undergoing changes in his body. Celestia approached, somewhat worried, and saw how his quills turned darker, his body grew, his arms swelled with muscles, and they were covered in dark blue fur, just like his quills. His gloves broke, revealing sharp claws, his fangs grew, and then he let out a powerful howl as if he were a wolf, while the massive monster from the destroyed planet also roared before disappearing. After the transformation ended, she stepped back and witnessed how the hero’s life should have ended, as Eggman opened the main window and the vacuum of space sucked Sonic along with the Emeralds that were now drained of energy toward the planet. When the memory ended, she stepped back out of it, now more sure than ever that Sonic was a powerful Everyone was leaving the doors they entered, gathering again. Luna had arrived last to the group, coming out of the one with the title "Nightmares and Fears." "Alright girls... did you find anything interesting?" Twilight asked directly, wanting to know what else they had learned about the blue hedgehog. "Well, I didn’t meet anyone from his family, but considering someone a little brother means he appreciates and respects him, just like the rest of his friends." Explained the farmer, happy to have lived that memory. "There can’t be anyone else like him, so to speak, he’s unique!" Rainbow said after having lived several memories where Sonic had faced his various metal copies. "He had such a crazy birthday that before celebrating, he dedicated himself to saving existence itself with the help of his past self, in places he traveled before and faced bad guys he had already fought. The monster turned out to be Dr. Eggman from the past and present, who worked together to eliminate both the past and present Sonic at the same time! But it turned out that with those chaos emeralds, they both turned golden and saved reality itself, and ended up celebrating his birthday with more guests than before." Everyone looked at the pink pony, knowing it was impossible to question her, but since it came from a memory of Sonic, believing her was simpler than asking questions. "He doesn’t seem interested in love, but I can say that his intentions and words are so genuine that they reach the hearts and minds of those around him. Still, I think being a little more romantic wouldn’t hurt him." "I can admit that I admire his determination and perseverance in facing any danger, even putting his life at risk. If it weren't for the fact that he has to leave at some point, I would give him a place in the royal guard." Added Shining Armor. "He’s very kind and appreciates all forms of life, I’ve never seen creatures as adorable as those 'Chaos,' but I’d love for him to allow me to meet them one day, and that girl who calls him 'Mr. Sonic,' seems to see him as someone to admire." "He has contact with more royalty than just us four, apparently he was summoned to another world and became a king but had to leave it to return to his own. He also seems to be friends with a very formal princess, but his attitude with her makes her more open than someone from royalty would normally be." Explained Twilight, totally happy that she also appeared in his memories. "I learned that he's a better hero than the comics I read!" Said Spike with pride in his words, earning a doubtful look from Shining Armor, who leaned in to whisper, "Which door did you say you saw that?" "I witnessed his coronation! Who would have thought someone so fearless would become a king! King of Camelot!" "What did you see, Luna?" Celestia asked her directly, leaving her response as the final one. "...I’d rather not talk about it." Those were her only words. They just saw her looking in the other direction as if something was bothering her. "Hey, where are the Crusaders?" Spike caught everyone's attention as the girls approached from afar, somewhat disappointed. "What’s wrong, girls? Didn’t you have fun?" "All the memories were so fun, but we didn’t find the door we wanted." Scootaloo expressed with disappointment while her companions kept looking at the ground. "And what door are you looking for?" Luna approached, having the chance to confirm the theory she had formed earlier. "The door where Sonic and Chip defeat the monstrous Dark Gaia!" They all shouted at the same time. Their voice echoed throughout the infinite subconscious of the memories, and all the doors disappeared, leaving only one that glowed with golden light, showing a new title: "Light Gaia and Super Sonic." "Light Gaia..." "And Super Sonic?..." "Oh oh! I know! Super Sonic is when he turns golden, can fly, and becomes unstoppable!" Explained Pinkie, jumping with excitement, but before anyone could say anything, the fillies opened the door and jumped inside. "Alright, last memory, and then we’ll go back to reality." Everyone nodded at the night princess's decision and headed toward the door, hoping that after this memory, they could use everything they had learned about him to accept him without a doubt.
Waking up on the wrong foot."Light Gaia..." "And Super Sonic?..." "Oh oh! I know! Super Sonic is when he turns golden, can fly, and becomes unstoppable!" Explained Pinkie, jumping with excitement, but before anyone could say anything, the fillies opened the door and jumped inside. "Alright, last memory, and then we’ll go back to reality." Everyone nodded at the night princess's decision and headed toward the door, hoping that after this memory, they could use everything they had learned about him to accept him without a doubt. As they entered through the door to witness the final memory before returning to reality, they took their time exploring each memory that piqued their interest. Meanwhile, in the real world, deep within the Everfree Forest, a squadron of at least ten Eggrobo units was present. Nine of them were guarding what appeared to be a strange crystal tree, while the last one was scanning what seemed to be a crystal chest with several keys in their respective locks. "Scanning... scanning. Unknown magical energy source detected. Magical usage capability... currently weak." The robot, bearing the likeness of its creator, stated. It then grabbed the strange chest and retreated to transport it to the space fortress. The remaining Eggrobo units dispersed, abducting more innocent ponies from the nearby town, encapsulating them, and taking them to the same space base from which they had originated. At the base of the crystal tree, Metal Sonic approached, walking steadily until he stood before it. He analyzed it with his gaze, noting six specific points where the magical energy was more concentrated than in the rest of the tree. As he reached out to remove what appeared to be an apple-shaped gem, a surge of magical energy repelled his claw, forcing him back as the gem shielded itself within a protective magic bubble. He examined his claw, analyzing the event, but found no malfunctions. He attempted to seize the other gems, but none yielded to his grasp—they seemed to act in self-defense. "Mission: Seize all sources of magic... in progress." "Unknown tree: Source of magic surpassing that of normal equines... difficult to extract magical energy." Within the supercomputer that functioned as his brain, Metal Sonic conducted a detailed analysis of the tree and himself, trying to decipher why he was unable to extract its magical energy. As he reviewed the data, analyzing his fusion with the Alicorn Amulet, a small detail caught his attention in the readings. Current status: 100% - No changes Damage received: 0% - No changes Stored magical energy: Stable - The amulet keeps me stable Amulet status: Functioning at 100% - Magical enhancer Earth Pony Magic Usage: 100% - Enhanced strength and endurance Pegasus Magic Usage: 100% - Speed and weather control Unicorn Magic Usage: 100% - Unique magical capabilities Mental stability: Slightly affected - Unknown cause Memory status: Perfect - Database in perfect condition Main Objective Progress: 50% - Steal alicorn magic Secondary Objective Progress: 0% - Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog Algorithm programmed by Eggman: Questionable - Questionable...? Detected viruses: 1 - Virus... detected? Virus analysis: . . . Unknown virus . . . Repeating . . . Unsuccessful . . . Repeating . . . Unsuccessful . . . Analysis terminated with no success. Quarantine the virus? -> YES NO? YES -> NO? YES -> NO? The virus has not been quarantined. The virus could not be contained, analyzed, or eliminated. Warning! Possible loss of control over motor functions! Warning! Imminent loss of important data! . . . Restarting . . . Restart complete. Metal So----Metal Alicorn initializing. After those few seconds in which Metal Alicorn performed a self-analysis to determine why his ability to absorb the magic of this world was failing against the Crystal Tree, he found no immediate solution. While these moments felt like an eternity within his system, for the three Timberwolves approaching to attack, it had only been a few seconds—just enough for them to see him as their next prey. Unfortunately for them, they seemed unable to recognize what was edible and what was not. One of them lunged at him, only to be stopped mid-air by a crimson magical aura that held it suspended. Metal remained motionless, his head lowered, his optical visor inactive. Though he had his back turned, he was far from defenseless. With a simple motion, he raised his clawed hand, turning his head slightly to glance over his shoulder at the wooden canine. Then, with a sharp pull, he dragged the Timberwolf toward him and pierced its chest with his claws. The creature's wooden body cracked as its life-giving magic was drained, causing its organic components to rot and crumble until only lifeless debris remained at Metal’s feet. Now fully in control, the new identity within Metal Alicorn extended his claws toward the two remaining Timberwolves. With a mere clench of his fists, the same crimson aura enveloped them, crushing them without mercy. With these nuisances eliminated, Metal ascended into the air, scanning his surroundings. "Nearby population in the process of capture." His optics focused on the distant castle nestled on the mountainside. "Highly populated zone detected. Castle identified as a primary location for alicorn presence. Priority One: Capture and drain the alicorn associated with Sonic." His back thrusters ignited, and he launched toward the castle at full speed. "Warning! Chaos Emerald energy detected within the main structure. Multiple equine magical lifeforms in the vicinity. Deploying capture team." With his advanced scans running and his self-assisting algorithms optimizing every function, the new entity within Metal Alicorn felt fully prepared. With his magic-stealing abilities and Chaos Emeralds at his disposal, his objectives were now closer than ever. The Last Memory Before Awakening The entire group had stepped through the door that the Crusaders had been so eager to find. The trio entered first, followed by the Element Bearers, with Spike riding on Twilight's back. Cadance and Shining Armor followed closely behind, while Celestia and Luna brought up the rear. Just before stepping inside, Luna glanced back at the door she had come from, feeling an odd sense of reassurance—hoping that the memory she had witnessed had not actually become reality. Upon entering, the group was immediately struck with awe, their jaws dropping as they realized where they had ended up. They were floating—suspended over what appeared to be an endless sea of lava, with no safe ground in sight except for the crumbling rocks that plunged into the molten abyss below. "A-Are we inside a volcano?" Twilight asked, astonished by the sheer scale of their surroundings. "No," Apple Bloom corrected. "Sonic said everything ended over a sea of lava... like we were at the planet’s core..." Several rock formations strangely hovered in mid-air, defying gravity. However, before anyone could question why, the answer revealed itself. "How could i lose?! This isn't over! i'll build a Prototype-2 and it..." Before Eggman could finish cursing his enemy and expressing his rage over everything he had lost despite his efforts, everyone in the memory turned their gaze toward a primitive and sharp roar. All eyes fixed on the lava, where semi-translucent tentacles emerged along with their main body. Right there, even though it was just a memory of a past event in the blue hedgehog's life, everyone watched in horror as the enormous and terrifying monster emerged from the lava effortlessly. “W-what is that thing?!” Fluttershy screamed in sheer terror as she stepped back, looking for shelter. [“It's Dark Gaia!”] Everyone turned upon hearing the voice that spoke the name, surprised not only by who had answered the question—one that no one had even asked yet—but also because they were seeing, for the first time, Sonic’s most primitive and savage form. There, standing atop a rock, was the werehog—his body more robust and muscular, covered in fur, with sharp claws and fangs. This appearance was nothing like what they had seen in previous memories: not a king, not a golden-armored knight, nor the golden hero who had restored space and time and faced a titan alone. "THAT is DARK GAIA?!" Everyone present took a reflexive step back, gripped by fear at the greatest threat they had ever witnessed. ["Yes! YES! Dark Gaia, crush this insolent little hedgehog! Kick him to outer space!"] That was Eggman's first and last order before he disappeared from the memory for good. "And I suppose that guy is the Doctor Eggman you mentioned, Princess," said the young alicorn, looking toward the ruler of the kingdom, who nodded in response. "It's hard to believe that he alone could unleash this menace for such selfish reasons." A purple light enveloped the Eggmobile, and the evil doctor watched in horror as the dark deity turned against him, launching him to who-knows-where—possibly beyond the very continent they stood on. Only his last words echoed before he disappeared into the night sky. ["WHY MEEEEEEeeeee?!"] "Goodbye, stinky doctor!" Rainbow mocked as she watched Eggman be defeated by the very creature he had unleashed. Now, all they could do was witness how the greatest threat was attacking Sonic and his small companion. But before he could launch himself at the enemy, Sonic was grabbed by a large claw and whisked away from the rock they had been standing on, landing safely on another. “Come on, Sonic! Show that big bully who’s boss!” Pinkie cheered, hoping to give her blue friend strength—completely forgetting that he couldn't hear her. Dark Gaia and Sonic locked eyes, but that simple glance was enough for the dark entity to steal part of the hedgehog’s energy. They all watched as the memory suffered in pain, his strength drained from his body and returned to its true master. Dark Gaia had gained more power thanks to Sonic, but the process left the hero weakened, kneeling as he tried to catch his breath, now back in his true form. "Sonic! You're going to be okay, right?!" Spike approached, worried, with the Crusaders by his side, who, for the first time, saw fear in his eyes. "Spike, this is just a memory..." Twilight reminded him, trying to ease his concern. "I know, Twi... but look at him. He looks scared for the first time..." Twilight stared at him. That expression was unlike anything she had seen in him before, whether in past memories or in real life when she first met him. He had saved her, helped her, and always seemed to slip away from her grasp. But now, the most confident and self-assured being she had ever known... was afraid. ["Chip!... R-run, Chip!"] With those words, all the memories they had seen so far showed a hero who never gave up, who always smiled and stood firm in his beliefs—yet now, he was willing to die if it meant his friend could escape and be safe from danger. Celestia recalled how much damage Eggman had caused throughout Sonic’s battles against him. The plan had always been to eliminate Sonic, even if Eggman wasn't the one to do it himself—this monstrosity would do it for him. Luna watched him, kneeling in defeat. A part of her remembered her own dark past, when she had almost destroyed everything simply because she had lost her friends. But in the end, she had come back to herself. Seeing Sonic in this state made her realize that even the hero they all admired could feel fear... and had the heart to sacrifice himself for others. Dark Gaia wasted no time and lashed out at both of them with his tentacles. But Chip, upon hearing his friend's plea, turned to face the threat he was destined to battle time and time again. Just before the attack could strike, a green energy shield formed around him, protecting both himself and Sonic from what would have been a finishing blow. And at that moment, from across the continents, six structures—six ancient temples—and the seventh, where they were now, all responded to their master's call. A gigantic golem of stone formed from the seven Gaia Temples, levitating in the midst of the titanic clash between the two deities. “W-what is…?” Rainbow Dash barely managed to whisper as she stared in awe at the colossal figure, which rivaled the dark entity in size. “Light… Gaia…” Scootaloo answered unconsciously. “And Dark Gaia…” Apple Bloom added, staring at the opposite end. Suddenly, they were transported to Sonic’s side as he regained consciousness. From that vantage point near the colossus’s core, they watched firsthand as the two entities clashed in a fierce battle of claws and fists. After an intense exchange of blows, Dark Gaia held its ground, gripping the shoulders of the Gaia Colossus. But Sonic seized the opportunity and struck at the eyes that connected its limbs, targeting its weak points and managing to break free. “He did it! He did it! Right?” Pinkie cheered, pulling out a trumpet, ready to play a victory tune. “It’s not over yet…” Sweetie Belle interrupted, drawing the group’s attention and reminding them of what they had been told before—Sonic still had one more task to complete. The dark entity unleashed a massive wave of darkness, forcing the continent to retreat, further plunging the world into shadow. But this only meant that Dark Gaia was now unleashing its full power. Seven eyes emerged, with the central one being the largest. Four more arms sprouted from each side, making six in total. Its main head became nothing more than a hollow shell from which the eyes had emerged. Now, its terrifying form stared at them, each of its seven eyes locked onto the colossus and Sonic. The ponies felt overwhelmed. If Fluttershy hadn’t already fainted at some earlier point, facing the colossus and now witnessing this ultimate form was the perfect moment to pass out inside the memory. Spike clung to Twilight, still terrified despite knowing this was just a recollection. The Crusaders did the same with their sisters. Shining Armor was so immersed in the moment that he forgot it was a memory, even going as far as to summon a shield in front of everyone. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight stood firm despite their royal titles, but they, too, felt intimidated by this embodiment of pure evil. However, all their fears and doubts melted away when several streaks of light passed before them, catching their attention. They watched as Sonic stared down the dark entity, his expression filled with determination. And now, the Equestrian group noticed the presence of the Chaos Emeralds, gathering one by one around the blue hedgehog, responding to his call. “Are those… the seven Emeralds?” “Yes! It’s Super time!” Spike cheered, jumping in excitement as he recalled Sonic’s previous transformation against the Titan. “Super?” Everyone asked, except for Pinkie, who had already witnessed a memory where Sonic, alongside his younger self, had achieved his super form. The emeralds spun around him as he began to float, merging into his body. His blue fur turned yellow, then into a golden glow. His quills lifted upward, his emerald-green eyes shifted to ruby-red, and a blazing golden aura surrounded him. [“Let’s do it!”] “Go, Super Sonic!” Sweetie Belle cheered. “Sweetie… this is a memory.” “I know! But that doesn’t make it any less exciting!” She, along with her friends and Spike, watched in excitement as the golden hero shot toward Dark Gaia. There, they witnessed as the now-golden hedgehog faced a being three times the size of the very mountain that held Canterlot. Dodging the attacks of its six limbs and the multiple claws radiating dark energy that enveloped the planet, Sonic soared straight through Dark Gaia’s main eye, bursting out behind its head—finishing it off. Now, he simply floated above his defeated foe, watching as it writhed in pain, struggling against its inevitable descent into the lava. After that final memory, the entire group emerged from the door, and Luna took a moment to ensure that everyone was accounted for before leaving the dream. "Is everyone here? Twilight, Pinkie (strangely, she didn't leave on her own), Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike, the Crusaders, Cadance, Shining Armor, and my sister… Am I missing anyone?" She went over the list carefully, making sure not to leave anyone trapped inside the memories. "If we count you, then that's everyone, Princess," Spike responded, pointing out the obvious and earning a cheerful smile from Luna at his playful remark. With that confirmed, the Princess of the Night gathered magic in her horn, preparing to release them all from the dream. In reality, they discovered that nothing serious had happened; the night continued peacefully, and Sonic remained asleep, almost to the point of falling off the couch. Twilight used her magic to move him back against the armrest and covered him with a blanket. "And with that, can we confirm that Sonic is not a threat, right?" said the young princess, looking at her former teacher, who nodded calmly. "I have witnessed enough to say that Sonic is a hero and not a threat. So tomorrow, first thing in the morning, we will start by removing all the 'wanted' posters. Then we will clear his name by explaining to everyone that he's on our side and has no ill intentions." Everyone nodded at the ruler's decision and headed towards the door, about to leave the guest room. But Spike stopped when he felt a buzzing sound. The young dragon felt curious and drawn to the strange noise, running his fingers through his ears to make sure he wasn't imagining things. He then approached the balcony of the room, drawing the group's attention as he moved closer and opened the windows. "Spike? What's going on?" Twilight approached her dragon friend, watching him curiously as he closed his eyes, gripping the balcony. "Something... it's buzzing, and it sounds closer and closer," he said. The scaled flaps marking the location of his hearing system moved in response to the direction of the sound. First, the one on the right side of his head, then the left, until both reacted simultaneously, making him pull his head back and look up at the sky, his eyes wide open. He froze in place at what he saw, his mouth not reacting, unable to speak. Twilight followed his gaze, seeing the same thing: a strange and unknown being descending with the moonlight outlining its silhouette in the night. Quickly, Twilight hugged Spike with her hooves and jumped back into the room as the unknown threat destroyed the balcony, catching the group who had been watching by the loud sound of destruction, witnessing a nighttime attack. As for Sonic, he wasn't affected due to the spell Luna had used to keep him from waking up until dawn or until she lifted the spell, causing some to hear his relaxed breathing and light murmurs from his dreams. "We need a hero, and he's still sleeping. Princess Luna, could you...?" Rainbow said directly to the Princess of the Night, who simply knew something had to be done. With a magical bolt shot from her horn at the hedgehog, he was peacefully affected, not waking up but simply undoing the previous spell that kept him in a deep sleep. Before anyone could wake him, the new enemy lifted into the air, appearing floating in front of the window, while Twilight held Spike and backed away, never taking her eyes off it. A metallic being with a fixed gaze on the alicorn and the dragon, its dark eyes scanning the room, analyzing everything it contained: the ponies slowly retreating toward the door, the princesses staring intently at it, a stallion whose gaze was held as it analyzed how he was gathering magic in his horn. Without hesitation, it pointed its hand at the stallion, turning into a cannon charged with magic and fired. A magic shield, with the stallion's Cutie Mark, materialized in front of him, but the shield quickly fell, being pierced and impacting against the side of the ex-captain, leaving him with severe damage, showing an open wound and his fur burnt, exposing his fragile skin, bleeding. That shot was more of a warning, and the stallion's eyes, seeing the wound, knew that pain meant this was not all its power. "Shining!" Cadance shouted in concern, seeing how the best magical shield fell instantly. The shout woke Sonic, forcing him to fall to the floor and look around. The Princess of Love took her husband with her magic and brought him closer. The doors opened, revealing guards with spears ready to attack the threat that sought to harm those present. "Huh? What? What did I miss?" Sonic, now awake, looked around at how everyone was staring in one direction. Their faces showed fear, and they appeared to be sweating nervously. He looked in the same direction and saw his metallic counterpart with a completely new appearance. "Hey... Metal, is that you?" His words caught the attention of the metallic hedgehog alicorn, their gazes crossing in deep silence. "Princesses... evacuate the room." Those words to the princesses were a warning, but between him and his enemy, it already meant war. "Sonic, this guy looks really dangerous! Let me help!" Rainbow flew to his side but stopped when she saw how he signaled her to stop with his hand. Luna charged magic in her horn, ready to help in the fight, but the hero looked at them with a serious expression. "NOW!" At that moment, Metal fired a magical beam at the hedgehog, but Sonic had already dodged it with his Spin Dash, sliding underneath it and ramming it, taking it down the side of the mountain, holding on to not let it escape. A pegasus guard arrived at the room, stopping before the alicorn leaders to bow to them. "Princess, we have a problem! The streets of Canterlot are being invaded, and citizens are being kidnapped." "By whom? Who is attacking us?" Luna asked, feeling frustrated as she had just learned. "Unknown beings, they don't speak, they can fly, and their entire bodies are covered in very hard armor. Our weapons don't harm them. They're not only kidnapping citizens, but they're also taking down guards, locking them in strange cages, and taking them beyond the clouds." After finishing the report, the alicorns looked at each other, disturbed, but quickly Celestia regained her composure and looked at the guard. "Take all the citizens who are still safe to the underground tunnels beneath the castle! Prepare the defenses. If they are only kidnapping, then we need to be careful not to harm those they are taking. Luna, help stop those who are being taken to the clouds." The guard nodded and left with the others who had entered earlier. Luna disappeared in a flash of light, and at the same time, Rouge was approaching. "Can't a lady have her beauty sleep?" she said, stretching as she was already dressed and ready in her usual outfit, while looking at the group who had accompanied her at dinner. She glanced into Sonic's room and noticed the hero wasn't there. She saw the wound on the stallion's flank, and the fillies had looks of fear. "Let me guess, the blue one is dealing with a situation involving another bad guy, right?" "Worse! It's Metal Sonic! And he's completely different from how I saw him before," exclaimed the cyan pegasus while her friends looked at her sternly, as she had indirectly revealed what they had done behind their backs. "Metal Sonic? Priority number one, eliminating Sonic is obvious... But what do you mean by 'he's completely different from how you saw him before?' As far as I know, we haven't talked about him or met him until now." The pegasus became nervous and slowly lowered to the ground, thinking of an excuse to save herself from almost exposing what they had been doing just moments ago. "Oh... well, I talked to him about a race, and he mentioned that guy... someone exactly like him and made of metal..." Celestia approached, interposing herself between her ponies and the bat with a gentle look, their eyes meeting. "I'll handle this, Rainbow. We have nothing to hide. I'll be honest with you, Rouge, I had been in contact with Eggman long before you and Sonic came to help us." The bat looked at her with little surprise at her words, smiling at a memory of a past story about how that doctor had tricked the guardian of a floating island. This scene felt like déjà vu, making a slight smile form on her face. "Summarize, Your Highness. I have a feeling we don’t have time to lose." "Indeed, to make it simpler, we used my sister Luna’s magic to enter his memories while he was asleep. I was looking to learn more about Eggman, and I asked the others to get to know more about Sonic and the life he's had. Fortunately, we encountered pleasant memories, surprising ones, that showed why he is the way he is. In other words, we trust him now." "I'm glad to hear that, Your Highness, because now, while he's busy, we need to do something about what's happening in the city." "How did you find out about that? Was it those big ears of yours?" Pinkie pointed, smiling as she appeared behind Rouge, surprising the espionage expert. "I'm an spy, dear, and one of the best. Getting information is my job." "Well, if we’re done! We need to get the girls to safety, help the ponies in Canterlot, and stop those things invading everywhere." Applejack's firm words grounded everyone, reminding them that they were in an emergency situation. "I'll take Shining Armor to the infirmary." "No, Candance! We need to stop this invasion. I can't stay resting while my guards fight and innocent people are being kidnapped." The prince and ex-captain of the royal guard stood strong despite the pain. The wound wasn't serious for someone trained in war and military service, but he couldn’t let that blow defeat his determination to protect those he swore to defend. He focused his magic in his horn and headed to the hallway window, opening it and firing a beam that surpassed the mountain, forming a magenta bubble that surrounded all of Canterlot above the mountain, preventing further invasion and escape of the unknown enemies. "That should be enough for now... but we need to start as soon as possible. I don't know how long I can maintain this until we get all the ponies inside the barrier to safety." "But what about Sonic? We don’t know if he’s inside or outside since he was launched down the side of the mountain," Spike's words caught everyone's attention, but Rouge approached him and gave him a pat on the head. "Don’t worry, kid, he always finds a way to make his entrances. Besides, he needs to stop Metal before he evolves and becomes an even greater threat." "He can do that!?" Twilight exclaimed in surprise, fearing that someone could compare to Tirek in terms of strength. "Yes, he can! What we saw was his first form, he had three more to go, but the biggest one was a real monster." "Enough talking, girls, it's time to act." Rouge moved to the window that Shining opened and leaped out, flying toward the city. Rainbow didn’t hesitate and followed her, accompanying her. "Girls, I’ll take care of the fillies, you go help evacuate and save others." "Thank you very much, Princess. Sweetie Belle, behave, okay? I’ll be back soon." Rarity tried to calm her little sister, as did Applejack. Spike stayed with Twilight, and after a brief goodbye, the five ponies and the young dragon left to save the day. Sonic clung to his metallic counterpart as they descended the mountainside, but Metal Alicorn’s horn glowed with a crimson aura, and both of them vanished in a flash of the same color, reappearing in the castle courtyard, more specifically in the center of a hedge maze. "Secondary priority: Eliminate Sonic the Hedgehog." "Secondary!? What’s wrong with you? I thought you were my number one fan," Sonic taunted, but Metal immediately formed a magic shield, pushing his enemy back to give himself some space while both of them locked eyes. One had a murderous gaze, while the other’s expression shifted from serious to mocking, a smile full of excitement on his face. "Metal Sonic is no longer in the system, now I am Metal Alicorn! This mechanical body, with the ability to absorb chaos energy and the magic of every pony in Equestria, nothing can stop me." "Metal... Alicorn?" Sonic asked, still not fully understanding the radical change in appearance and attitude. "Now you’re a princess?" It didn’t matter the change, the idea that only princesses were considered alicorns was more than enough for the hedgehog to mock him. "The Alicorn amulet was found by this being, attempting to understand how to use the magic his creator had stolen from the ponies he kidnapped. He thought he could use me as a vessel for his magic to work with his technology, but he never knew that I have the ability to corrupt the minds of those who use me. So, I slowly corrupted his systems… He tried to eliminate me but failed, he tried to control me but didn’t succeed. He revealed himself to his creator to fulfill his conquest purpose, but now it will be me who conquers this entire world. And once I seize all the magic, your world and you will follow." Those words were a direct threat to the hero, and Sonic knew magic was powerful, no matter where it came from or what it was. The energy from the Chaos Emeralds was strong enough on its own, but he didn’t want to imagine what might happen if Metal Sonic could wield it alongside the magic of this world. It wasn’t the right time to dwell on such thoughts, so he just glared at his metallic counterpart, now adorned with the alicorn features, his fists tightening. "So, Metal betrayed Eggman and now my greatest rival lost to... A amulet? Some jewelry accessory perhaps? How sad for you, Metal. And to think your goal was to be ME! But hey, if you can’t manage mind control like I do, then what can I expect from you?" Metal Alicorn tilted his head, not understanding how Sonic didn’t seem to realize that Metal Sonic was no longer there. Immediately, he pointed his cannon, gathering magic, but he stopped, transforming it back to his normal arm. "What’s going on?" The arm flexed, lifting the claw and bringing it up to his horn. Something within the main system hit Alicorn, as Metal Sonic was resisting control, but how long would that last? If he fell again, how could he recover his body now that he knew how he had been defeated by this unknown virus that had become a permanent part of him? "Metal’s resisting, you should’ve seen it coming. After all, he wants to be me, and I don’t lose that easily." The body slowly returned to its new owner’s control. The claw released the horn and passed in front of his eyes as if he felt the need to rub them due to this sudden problem, but not being a living organic form made it impossible to perform that action on his body. "I… I’m going to ANNIHILATE YOU!!!" Alicorn charged at Sonic, propelled through a thruster in his abdominal cavity, and the hedgehog responded with a boost of his own, both colliding in a mutual grip, their hands locked together as they stared into each other’s eyes. "I don’t care if you’re Metal or not now! I’m going to stop you, and that’s the end of this conversation!"
Interlude: From the Other Side, Rescue Team.After all the preparations for the journey to where Sonic and the Chaos Emeralds had ended up, the team was ready on the island. The group, consisting of Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Shadow, and Omega, was prepared for the trip. They only needed to wait for the signal from Tails, the young and intellectual member of the team, who was ensuring that everything was in perfect condition for the jump from their reality to the next in search of their friend. At least two days and a few hours had passed since Sonic disappeared, but Tails had dedicated himself to making sure everything was ready. The team was set, the entire island was protected and covered by a barrier thanks to the energy shared by the Master Emerald through Tails' inventions. Sonic’s whereabouts were unknown, but they had found a signal—one Chaos Emerald was enough. No matter how weak the signal was, it was all they needed. "Okay, everything is set and checked at least ten times to make sure we get there without losing a single hair in the process!" the young fox exclaimed, smiling victoriously after his hard work to achieve the impossible. He was literally about to move mountains, land, deserts, and an entire floating island to rescue his friend and brother. A static sound came from beside him. He looked at a small handheld radio sitting on his desk. "Everything ready, Tails?" The voice of his tough Echidna friend came from the other side. "All ready and set to go, Knuckles! I’ve checked everything at least ten times for everyone’s safety, including the island’s. The worst you’ll lose will be some palm leaves when we make the jump," he explained cheerfully while closing his yellow laptop, which had a sticker symbolizing his two white-tipped tails. "Perfect! Then I'll be waiting here. Shadow, you can come and wait too! Amy, you and Cream stay inside your temporary house, and Omega… do whatever you want until we arrive." "Who put you in charge of this operation?" The dark hedgehog’s voice came through the radio. "This is my island! My Master Emerald! So technically, I’m the boss!" the echidna protested, causing a distortion in the communication device due to his loud voice. "Technically, we divided leadership roles… So you’re not entirely in charge. I gave you the idea, and you accepted." "That sounds like the fox is above your authority to give orders." The Ultimate Lifeform added in a relaxed tone. Tails just looked at his walkie-talkie, watching the custom-colored lights alternate for each person speaking. "TAILS IS NOT ABOVE MY ORDERS!" Tails’ radio nearly jumped from his hand at his friend’s outburst, making him chuckle as he continued walking towards the altar. "Confirmed. Whoever organized this operation is in charge of leading it." Omega’s robotic voice spoke through his communication system. "Come on, guys, don’t fight. This is all thanks to the teamwork we’re putting in to save Sonic, wherever he is." Amy Rose’s sweet voice came from the other end, bringing peace for only two seconds. "Ugh… I won’t argue with you for obvious reasons, and by that, I mean that ‘dialogue’ with you is never a good thing." "You’re not implying that ‘dialogue’ is when I take out my hammer to knock some sense into you, are you?" There was no response—just an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. "Then… Tails, give the orders when you’re ready." That was the last thing Knuckles said before cutting off communication, causing Amy and Cream to laugh on the other end where no one else could hear them. Shadow simply shook his head at how easily the echidna had accepted his defeat. "Hehe, well then, I’ll give you tasks in the meantime. Omega, make sure you’re prepared and ready for any threats, including Eggman and his robots. We don’t know if he’s there too, but it’s highly likely." "Affirmative." "Shadow, you can go to the altar now. I’m almost there. Knuckles, prepare the Master Emerald to release its power." The hedgehog didn’t respond, but that was expected of him. As Tails reached the altar, he used his twin tails like a helicopter and flew to the top, where he saw his echidna friend standing with his arms extended toward the massive emerald. It was covered in cables and pieces of technology created by the young fox himself. Knuckles’ calm act made the emerald shine even brighter—it was responding to his request for power for a noble cause. Tails landed a few meters away, opened his laptop, and extended a cable to connect it to the device on the Master Emerald. This allowed the device and the computer to sync, making the energy emitted by the emerald react to the tracking program. "Great job, Knuckles! With this, we can finally make the jump beyond Mobius." At that moment, a flicker caught the young fox’s attention. He turned his gaze to see Shadow the Hedgehog standing nearby with his arms crossed, close to the powerful gem. "I’m here. Let’s get this over with. Let’s save the imposter and consider this operation completed." His words were cold, emotionless, but deep down, it was clear that he had good intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to help rescue the blue hedgehog he constantly clashed with. "Alright, the program is ready! I’m initializing it! When the Master Emerald detects any trace of Chaos energy, it should move the entire island like a ship, and we’ll be pulled through Chaos Control to reach the emeralds—and hopefully, Sonic. Any questions?" He looked at the pair, who were glaring at each other but still held a hopeful smile for the plan he had managed to create in just two days. "Yeah! How long will it take us to get wherever the emeralds are?" Shadow looked at the fox, who glanced at his laptop, tapping a few keys before showing an animated simulation. "It depends on how many emeralds we detect. It works like a giant magnet that pulls opposite waves toward the correct polarity. The more Chaos Emeralds we find within range, the faster we’ll travel to our destination. In other words, if we find one, we’ll go fast, but if there are three or more—maybe five—we’ll be there in under ten minutes." "And if all seven are together, we’ll arrive instantly," Knuckles added, drawing the attention of both the hedgehog and the fox. The latter nodded at his correct understanding. "Correct, Knuckles!" The buttons on his laptop clicked rapidly as his eyes reflected the green programming codes on the screen, verifying that everything was functioning correctly. A large white-gloved hand appeared on the screen, giving a thumbs-up. "Everything’s ready! Knuckles, Shadow—it’s your turn!" At his signal, the two exchanged looks and responded with mutual understanding. Shadow placed his hands on the Master Emerald while Knuckles whispered ancient incantations, urging the emerald to respond. "Attention, everyone! We’re about to depart. Hold on tight—we might experience some mild turbulence!" Tails shouted through the radio, warning the rest of his friends on the island. The device connected to the great emerald lit up, emitting a glow of the same color. Thanks to its connection to the computer, the beacons Tails had asked Omega to plant around the island all activated at the same time. Together, they created a translucent bubble around Angel Island, radiating the same color as the emerald. Along with this, the island began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. "It’s working! Now, Shadow!" Shadow nodded upon receiving his cue and closed his eyes, feeling the Master Emerald’s energy flow through his body, surrounding him with a golden aura. "CHAOS CONTROL!" A surge of energy erupted from the Master Emerald, and a brilliant white light engulfed the entire island from within the bubble. In an instant, the island vanished into thin air, leaving only a faint trail of sparks after the flash of light. "Here we come, Sonic!"
