Aquaphobia

SONIC?!?!"

It was a younger version of Sonic! The younger version was in the middle of running somewhere when he noticed himself! At that moment, he snapped back to reality and fell head first! He then recovered and stared happily at Sonic, remembering the adventure they recently had together. "Uh sugarcube, either I've been eating too many apples, or are there TWO Sonics!" Applejack said "Either I've been reading too many books or I'm seeing double!" "Either I've been eating too many sweets or there are 2 Sonics!" "Either I've been too deep in my outfit designing or I'm seeing 2 of Sonic! "Are there 2 Sonics or have I been in the clouds too long!" "I think I've been spending too much time with animals, or I'm seeing double of Sonic!" "Either I'm exhausted from helping Twilight so much, or are there 2 Sonics?!" Scarletta just stared slack-jaw. Young Sonic stared in disbelief at the sight of a unicorn and Pegasus. Then silently laughed at their comments. "It's a long story! I'll explain later." said the older Sonic.

Later in the Everfree Forest, Young and older Sonic were at the front of the group and older Sonic just explained the whole story to his younger self. "So yeah that's what happened so far." Young Sonic nodded. Twilight came up and stared at young Sonic curiously. "So this is you when you were little? You sure were pot-bellied back then!" Twilight giggled as she noticed young Sonic's belly size. "Well let's just say I loved chilidogs back then." Older Sonic said. Younger Sonic's cheeks then turned red of embarrassment. "So how old are you?" Scarletta asked pot-bellied Sonic. He tried to utter words but nothing came out. Older Sonic spoke for him. "He... or... well I was 4 years old back then." When traveling through time, it's difficult to explain between the same people from different time periods. "Oh yeah that reminds me! How's your attempt at a homing attack coming along?" Older Sonic asked. Young Sonic remembered as he snapped his fingers. Pointing to himself then to the path up ahead, he dashed off not too far from the group as he spin jumped in the air, then shot a straight line into a tree, snapping it from its trunk!  Older Sonic was amazed as his younger self learned a homing attack! "DUDE! SWEET! I think you finally have the hang of it!" he commented before young Sonic did a backflip and landed perfectly while happily giving a thumbs-up. Suddenly Scarletta gasped as her eyes turned completely white and started glowing! Twilight and the others noticed and rushed to snap her out of it when her eyes stopped glowing and returned to normal by themselves. "Scarletta?" Twilight said as she looked worriedly at her. Scarletta shook her head and snapped out of her stance and started backing away into the bushes. "We might want to duck for cover! Now!" she exclaimed. Younger Sonic was worried and took caution as he dived into a shrub. Sonic noticed a shadow on the ground and heard some metallic footsteps nearby. Tails noticed too and the duo backed away from the ponies. Unfortunately they hadn't noticed. Suddenly, a huge glass dome dropped from aloft, trapping Twilight and the others! Sonic looked up to see Eggman in his egg-mobile, with Nightmare Moon floating next to him! "N—N-Nightmare Moon?!" Twilight exclaimed trembling. "HOHOHOHO!!! I've got them now! And just in time to test out my latest invention! The Bullegg-Train!" Eggman gloated. "And it is speedy indeed ponies! Can the hedgehog keep up with it Doctor?" asked Nightmare sarcastically. "Well let's find out shall we?" Eggman said with a smile on his face as he pulled a lever, which came down on the glass dome which was now transformed into a half-dome and out of nowhere, a bullet train appears. The caboose's roof opens up revealing a claw. It grabs the pony prison and pulls it back to the train as the ponies inside scream in horror and yell for Sonic to free them. The roof shuts but the back end opens up and positions the glass dome into place to act as 'security monitor' with a camera hidden. Young Sonic notices and attempts a homing attack on the glass but he isn't strong enough to break through! Instead he hits the wall with a thud! "You ok there sugarcube?" asked Applejack. Young Sonic gave a thumbs-up. "Catch us if you can!" Eggman exclaimed as He got in the cab and Nightmare Moon got on the roof to be lookout. "SONIC!!" the ponies screamed as the train took off. The 2 Sonics and Tails raced after it! (BOSS: BULLEGG TRAIN)

As the 2 hedgehogs neared the back end of the train, the ponies cheered with joy! Older Sonic boosted hard as he jumped to try to break the glass but he could only manage a tiny crack. Then Young Sonic had an idea. He motioned for Older Sonic to boost again. He obeyed as his younger self homing attacked the glass along with older Sonic's boost! The 2 attacks caused a huge crack in the glass. "Everypony stand back! This may get close!" Sonic yelled over the glass. The ponies obeyed as the 2 Sonics attacked again. It left an even bigger crack! "ONE MORE TIME!" the 2 attacked and as planned, the glass dome cracked open! But with nothing to stand on, the girls and Spike landed hard on the ground. On the cabs roof, Nightmare Moon had seen the ponies escape and informed Eggman. "Don't worry about them! As soon as I get to the Death Egg, ALL of Equestria will be under MY command!!" he said as the bullet train sped off towards a large area with many machines and metal casing covering up sheets of rock and brick making up a castle! Eggman's Base!

"Sonic! Is this what you meant by Eggman's base? I think we're here!" Scarletta exclaimed as the whole group gazed upon the millions of mechanical pistons, drills, vehicles, and Egg-Pawn Guards blocking passage to the main entrance. "We made it!!" Sonic exclaimed with joy and confidence as the girls cheered. The 2 Sonics ran towards it but stopped upon reaching a 40 foot wide moat surrounding the entire castle! "Uh oh! Water hazard! I give up! Oh well at least we tried right guys?" Older Sonic spoke as his younger self agreed with him as the 2 walked away from the edge but stopped upon reaching the rest of the group. "Sonic? What's wrong? You were all ready to take on Eggman but now you're chickening out? I thought you were fearless!" Spike said. "Well actually take a look." Older Sonic said as he and his younger self pushed the group forward. Twilight and Rainbow Dash laughed. "Don't tell me you're afraid of a little water Sonic!" Rainbow added as she looked back at the 2 spiked heroes. "Actually I forgot to tell you guys something about Sonic: He has Aqua-phobia." Tails explained. "You mean he's afraid of even being near water? Don't worry! I know a spell that will take away that fear!" Twilight added as the two Sonics looked at each other. "Wow there must be spells for EVERYTHING!" Sonic joked. "What's next? A spell to turn leaves and rocks into clothes?" he laughed as his younger self first made a face of thinking and wondering, then pointed his thumbs to his self, and then pointed to a tree nearby! (TRANSLATION: What about a spell to turn me into a tree?) "Guys! Focus! This is serious business!" Tails said as Twilights horn started glowing intensely. Both Sonics levitated in the air and suddenly felt their worry of water being sucked right out of them! Then they dropped to the ground with a thud! "Feel any different?" asked Pinkie Pie. Suddenly without warning, Sonic Boosted right across the moat as young Sonic followed with a spin dash. Sonics boost ended as soon as he touched shore then turned to face the group. "Uh Sonic, Don't you think it would've been easier to CARRY us with you?" Applejack questioned. Suddenly an Egg-pawn guard noticed Sonic and instantly charged at him with both arms swinging! Twilight noticed. "SONIC! LOOK OUT!" she yelled. Sonic turned around but didn't have enough time to get out of the way. The robot smacked Sonic so hard, he was sent flying and landed directly in the moat!! "SONIC!" the group exclaimed in worry and shock. "Tails, please don't tell us that not being able to swim is part of aqua phobia!" Scarletta exclaimed. "I'd say no but sadly, it IS!"

20 feet underwater, Sonic held in his breath as he desperately find a way to the surface. He saw a pile of stones and rocks at one end of the moat which could be used as a ladder! Sonic smiled and took a step forward but almost lost his balance! He looked down and to his surprise; his foot was trapped under a boulder! Sonic went into full panic mode as he tried his hardest to dislodge the boulder from his foot but it was no use! His lungs screamed for oxygen. He tried a boost, but the rock was surprisingly heavy enough to hold him down! Sonic's only hope was for one of his friends to save him…

Back on dry land, the group worried as they looked at the surface of the water to see Sonics air bubbles notifying he was still alive, but not for long… "Twilight! What are you waiting for! Pull him out! He won't last any longer down there!" Tails exclaimed. "But my magic doesn't work from dry land it has to be in the same environment." Suddenly, Twilight knew what had to be done. "I'll have to go down there. He's the only one who can stop Dr. Eggman and return harmony to Equestria. And…. He's our friend." "But Twilight, You can't breathe down there!" Rarity said. "I know a spell that when I'm in water, I'll instantly be able to breathe. As long as I'm wet, I'll have no trouble at all." She explained as Scarletta stepped forward. "I'll go also! He's my friend too, you know! Plus I can do the same as Twilight's spell, but without using magic!" she said. The group had no time to question whether that was true or not. "LOOK!" Twilight exclaimed as Sonic's last air bubble popped upon reaching the surface! Twilight's horn glowed then the glow surrounded her whole body. Then the glow vanished instantly as it appeared. Suddenly, Twilight and Scarletta, dove in!

Underwater, the girls were able to breathe freely, but Twilight was unable to use any of her magic. "Do you see him anywhere Twilight?" Scarletta asked as she searched the bottom for any sign of movement. "Over there!" Twilight exclaimed as she pointed towards Sonics' lifeless body flowing in the current. The girls swam over to see the him with his eyes shut, and no movement what so ever. "Hurry! We gotta get him free! He may still be alive!" Twilight exclaimed. Scarletta closed her eyes and her horn glowed brightly, illuminating the murky dense water even from the surface! Suddenly, the boulder pinning Sonic down started to glow as well. Scarletta could practically feel the scale and mass of the boulder as she struggled with all her might to lift it, but she could only reach a few inches before tiring out and releasing the rock. "Ugh! Twilight! A little help here! I would really appreciate it!" Scarletta exclaimed. "Yeah... About that... If I use another spell, the breathing underwater spell WILL wear off!" Twilight explained. "Then try pushing or lifting WITHOUT magic!" The 2 ponies struggled to move the rock. Miraculously, Sonic woke up! He saw the girls trying to push the rock and had an idea. Sonic summoned all his strength and speed to attempt a boost to help move the boulder. Suddenly, as Sonic's speed barrier started to form, Twilight and Scarletta felt a sudden lack of air in their lungs! They both looked up to see Sonic attempting to push the rock holding him down. The girls saw this opportunity, and pushed. The boulder began to move!

Back on the surface, Younger Sonic, Tails, Spike, and the girls stared in awe as the Elements of Harmony started glowing brightly! The Chaos Emeralds too! Suddenly a bright light overtook the entire area as something started to take shape and materialize! When the glow subsided, the group looked to find…. A 7th Element of Harmony! The Elements and Emeralds continued to glow. Underwater, the trio felt a strong power surge through them! At last, the boulder holding Sonic down was pushed away! Sonic was free at last! Scarletta's horn stopped glowing as Sonic grabbed hold of Twilight's arm. The group swam to the surface.

As Sonic's head surfaced, he coughed and spat out water. Since Twilight was out of the water, she could breathe freely and use magic, and that's what she did to pull Sonic out. The group rushed to Sonic's side.

"Oh my! Sonic are you ok?" Fluttershy asked her friend worriedly. Sonic coughed out the last bits of water in his lungs. "Ugh. I'm ok. Thanks for asking Fluttershy! You could probably become a doctor one day!" Sonic said to the yellow pony. "Well I kind of already am. I take care of innocent woodland creatures and nurse them back to full health. Well actually I don't just take care of them, I live with some, including my friend Angel Bunny." Fluttershy said as her cheeks started blushing. "Well once we save the kingdom, you can show me a couple of them!" Sonic asked before Fluttershy smiled. "Oh why certainly Sonic!" she exclaimed meekly. " Now let's get into  that castle and kick some egg butt!" Sonic exclaimed before Boosting. Tails follows by flying  across the moat. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy also fly to the other side while Twilight teleports everypony else.