Disclaimer: All Sonic: The Hedgehog ideas, names, etc. are Property of their creators and this Story in no way is to profit from this franchise.
Ryu Gabra'el, Dragyn, and all original ideas are the property of the author and may not be used save with express permission.
Ebon Wings Over Mobius: Prologue
***
Far to the west of the Great Jungle lies the start of a vast ocean. Here the tides normally hold calm and move as they have since the beginning. Even the war for survival to the east between the current holders of Mobius and their invader does nothing to disturb the water's flow. Today the sky is almost cloudless with the sun above shining brightly.
One would believe nothing could happen suddenly to change all this...and one would be right...save for today.
Now, here, a portion of the sky a kilometer up begins to shimmer. A nearby cloud begins to warp and distort before a massive sound like fabric torn violently booms from the center with a thunderclap sounding soon after. A jagged tear in the reality forms before reshaping into something vaguely like a vortex. The swirling blue construct holds steady for a few minutes then disappears in a flash leaving a materialized form to plummet to the sea below. Stunned from whatever occurred before, his brick-red hair rustles in the breeze.
As the stunned person comes to, the water grows ever closer. Suddenly he becomes alert as two great black scaled wings unfold from his back and catch the wind. A tail the same color and texture as the wings jerks righting the stranger's position before he flaps once and rockets eastward. Glancing down he notices just a few scant meters between him and the sea below.
"...Much too close...a moment more and I would be feeding the sea-dwellers."
Gazing in the distance he sees the first signs of land and forest. "T'would seem Dri'had is with me still. That woodland should provide what I need to heal...and prepare."
His course plotted the winged being glides to his destination unaware of the part he would soon play in this world's history.
Prologue End.
***
Chapter 1: Waking Spirits
It was one thing to the members of Knothole Village to see tall trees all around them no matter what. To them, as long as the Great Forest stood tall so did they, safe from Robotnik's armada....
"*Sigh*...This is Mondo Boring. Couldn't you guys just give me the coordinates of this thing and let me scope it out? It'd be over in less than a minute! Tops!" The huff and complaint came from a small, blue spiny being who easily had the running speed to back his boast. To the Freedom Fighters he was a hero...To Robotnik he was an eternal pest...and to chili dogs he was a nightmare made flesh...
Sonic The Hedgehog.
Who at the moment was forced to be patient while his group made their way to the newly christened Great Tree. Named such because over the last few weeks it's growth began accelerating beyond that of the rest of the forest making it look less like an Oak and more like a towering redwood. With the colossal plant-form now coming into sight, Sonic's need for speed only increased.
"This is more than just a scouting mission Sonic. IF this is one of Robotnik's traps we need to figure out what it is and what it's for. Just dashing around the tree a few times isn't going to do that." Said the voice of reason and leadership for the Knothole Freedom Fighters, Sally Acorn. "You have anything so far Nicole?"
Nicole, Sally's personal hand-held computer, would have shrugged were she equipped with shoulders to do so. ~Sorry Sally, not much beyond what you're heard before. Only things new I can get from this distance are that the tree is natural, enhanced growth percentage has been steadily declining, and the energy signature being emitted from it is a 98.8807% match to a Chaos Emerald.~
At the mention of the mysterious mystical energy stones seen throughout Mobius the trio came to a sudden stop. "Whoa...that would explain how the tree started growing so much. With an Emerald giving energy to it, that tree could keep growing, and going, for a long time!" Exclaimed the walrus inventor for the group, Rotor. "But like Nicole said, it's slowing down...wonder why?"
A snirk from the True Blue. "Maybe it's running outta Emerald Miracle-Gro?"
"I doubt it's fertilizer Sonic. But we should hurry anyway and find out-"
"Read my mind, Sal! I'll be there and back faster than you can say 'Giant Tree!" Before Sally could stop him the Blue Blur had revved up to speed and dashed away.
"*sigh*...Let's hurry Rotor, Hopefully Sonic won't need our help for whatever is over there."
***
Meanwhile, in a place where plants were an idea that wanted to be forgotten, and the only animal life was robotisized, hidden, or both...others had discovered the unique energy from the Great Forest.
"Report...Snively." Came the gravelly voice from the mechanical throne as it turned to face a smaller, younger man with a rather hard-to-miss nose.
"Yes sir...Approximately three hours ago sensors detected an anomaly coming from the Forest. Homing in on the signal revealed this..." Snively's narrative was accompanied by his working of the controls allowing the image of a tree to appear on the screen.
Glowing red eyes narrowed. "Is this supposed to amuse me Snively?"
For once, the tiny toady was not afraid. "Allow me a moment to change the zooming, sir." Slowly the image panned out...to reveal many smaller trees below. "At last report this towering specimen just passed the kilometer mark in height and seems to be slowing down. Computer projections indicate it will cease it's enhanced growth pattern at around 1253 ft."
The eyes widened in surprise before joining the rest of the face in a sinister grimace. "Interesting...if I were a plant lover. Get to the point Snively, before I use you as a footstool again."
Now sweating at the thought of holding up such massive feet once again, Snively quickly hurried through the remainder of his report. "I believe that a Chaos Emerald is causing the enhanced growth! You could conquer the rest of Mobius in a month with that kind of power at your call Dr. Robotnik!"
The grimace became a smirk as the throne rotated back around. "Then send a platoon of Swatbots to retrieve the prize, IF it exists. If not I'll have to think of something fitting to do to you for wasting my time like this."
The nephew of Kintobor hurried out the door, secretly hoping his theories were right...for his sake.
***
Trees and brush zipped past Sonic's point-of-view as the speedy hedgehog reached the giant tree and began to make a circuit around. Oddly enough few of the other trees were uprooted, and those that had been...were replanted elsewhere afterwards. The signs were all there to see: upturned soil, sudden breaks in the limited grass cover, and a deep moistness to the soil that could not have been so were this simply natural.
The last good rain had been two weeks ago.
"Whoa...Definitely more at work here than an Emerald. Least whoever it was cleaned up after himself, It would've been a pain to replant all these trees even with my speed."
Continuing his lap the Blue Blur soon began to hear something...something like a girl singing. "Someone's having a sing-along and didn't invite The Hedgehog? Definitely need to fix that!"
Following the song lead the son of Jules Hedgehog to an oddly fenced clearing, odd in that instead of being made of metal or plastic or planks of wood, Roots coming from somewhere below crossed and wove together to form a natural canopy that was helping to keep out any that might wish to take from what lay inside.
Inside was an orchard and lush garden being tended to by what looked to be a young female Overlander in a simple white toga gown. Her skin was slightly tanned in an attractive way, not too dark or too light. She glided from one grouping of plants to another as if her legs were made of mist, her steps never disturbing the blades of grass which almost seemed healthier and thicker after her walking upon them. A pair of leather sandals were upon her feet with connecting ties strung all up past her calves each fitting snugly. Not the oddest Overlander he'd seen by far.
Then again, the Fastest Thing Alive never met an Overlander with honest-to-chili dogs Palm tree fronds for hair. Suddenly she turned to the side and Sonic could see the plant she was working on, a sickly sapling that was having trouble holding up it's own weight, ...actually start growing faster and faster till it straightened out and stood tall. Only then did she stop her singing.
"Have you enjoyed my song, Warrior?"
The girl turned and looked straight at Sonic with rich, deep emerald eyes. "The forest sings of your presence, Sonic the Hedgehog...you are always welcome in my Garden. Please, will you not enter and be in my company for a time?"
"Uhh...That's jammin'." Was the hedgehog's reply as he walked up to the stranger."Nice tune by the way. Though I gotta know who got here faster than me to drop names like this, and why they didn't think to tell me yours." Not feeling any threat to his person the Blue Blur started looking around the young lady's handiwork with a growing smile. "Man O Man, it's like every plant in Mobius is here! Giant Mushrooms from the Floating Island, Winter Sunflowers from the Arctic Zone...Hey! You even have the ivy that used to grow all around Mobotropolis!...But this stuff's Way sensitive to pollution...how could it survive now?"
His smile turned upside down Sonic turned to the female Overlander. "Ok it's Q & A time, lady! How'd you get all these plants in this one place to grow up together? What's the deal with the enormous tree? How do you know my name?"
As the chili dog lover's spines began bristling, the girl continued smiling. "I know you because the Forest knows you, in the simple way the helpless know of the hero who protects them. I am She who all children know by the feeling of their heart...who begins the Great Circle on it's path...and who once taught 'They Who Live in the Sky' the power of Magic in all forms."
"I am Dri'had, Spirit of Life." Her 'hair' rustled as she bowed slightly to the spiny hero in greeting. "These symbols of life exist here in this manner because the Chosen One of my Kind brought the seedlings and spores to me in a gesture of worship. As for Mosqi'Arksis, he has not told me why he felt he needed to grow so tall, and I did not want to pry into his thoughts."
Sonic's gaping mouth was something to see. "Whoa whoa whoa! The tree can talk to you?!"
Her giggles were like bells chiming. "Oh yes, I can hear all the open feelings and thoughts of those who live but cannot speak. If you like, I can ask him why he has grown up so much...though I think it has something to do with you and your friends. I have never felt him so happy and determined in all the time I have known him since you began your trek to this place."
The True Blue could only scratch his head in confusion. "Man, didn't know I had friends of the hardwood sort..."
***
One thing Rotor would have loved to change above all else in the Forest was the lack of active transit throughout. Having a hover transport or even a simple wagon that Sonic could try pulling behind him would be much more desirable to the plump polar denizen. As it stood, he and Sally were still a few miles out from the Great Tree...and he was tuckered out.
"...huuh...uuhh...huhuh..H-how about we just wait for Sonic here Sally?" Panted the inventive walrus while he leaned heavily against an oddly shaped outcropping of rock to catch his breath. "Like he said, he could easily scout the area and be back in time for chili dogs."
The last heir to the House of Acorn sighed in exasperation with eyes rolling. "And like *I* said Rotor,' This is more than just a scouting mission.' A single tree in the forest has grown as tall as Castle Acorn used to be, while somehow managing to avoid uprooting the trees surrounding it...it's a mystery, pure and simple. That tree could hold secrets that threaten the very survival of the Freedom Fighters!"
While Sally would have continued the march onward by herself if she had too, another sudden voice intruded on the conversation. "No Secret tha' Mosqi'Arksis holds threatens yer bid for freadom, Sally o' House Acorn." The voice was old, yet strong. But if one were to listen carefully it seemed like someone were speaking through something hollow to produce the reverberation that the voice had.
But the voice might as well have been a thunderclap since both the Princess and Rotor jumped to attention searching the immediate area for any sign of the intruder, only to hear the voice start laughing loudly.
"My my my! Such quick thin's ya are. Surely ye canna be afraid o' this old spirit now?" The walrus inventor turned back to the rock he had just been leaning against to see it had begun to crumble and break, shift and steady, shape and form squat legs with feet in the shape of heavy boots with various gems set into the cuffs, a muscular torso and chest with a stone belt of solid marble with a jade buckle inlaid. Two powerful arms wearing wristguards of a smooth, shiny metal, one holding a rather large pickaxe and the other a steel-bound tome that looked well-read to the Mobian Royal's eyes. Finally a head appeared with two ice-blue lights for eyes, diamond shaped into both a semi-balding hairstyle tied into a short tail, and a long braided beard that seemed to sway like a beard of hair would despite being made of the strongest natural material in all of Mobius. Though the light grey stone that made up the stranger's skin looked roughly chiseled, his eyes seemed to help form a warm smile that began subduing the tense mood.
"'ere now..is this betta for ye eyes to see Lil' Princess? T'would be a shame it would, to have a fight with the spirit of tha soil ya walk on eh?"
"Um...yes. Truly it would be a awful thing to fight when there's no need to."
The master inventor of the Freedom Fighters chose at that moment to run up between the two of them with his back to Sally. "Better be careful Sal, who knows what kinda scheme ol' Robotnik's up to with this guy..."
Suddenly the ground under Rotor's feet sunk in then thrust upward tossing the walrus to the ground. Looking back to the strange being would show him shaking his head in disappointment. "I'll thank 'ye not te put me in tha same comp'ny as that daft grachot. Graven, Keeper of Secrets, Shaper of Worlds and Patron of tha' Wise will never answer to the likes of Ivo Kintobor or his kin."
Graven then hooked his book and pick to his belt and raised his left hand making a table of stone appear along with three circular benches, one of which he sat down upon. Gesturing to the other two seats he smiled again. "Would 'ye come join me fer a sit lass? You and yer toothy friend can catch yer breath while we wait for tha Gathering."
The two Mobians looked to each other for a moment before each taking a seat at the table, Sally to Graven's left, Rotor to the right. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking...what is this 'Gathering' you speak of? Are there more of your...people coming to this area?"
The sound of tinkling bells filled her ears as the stone being's smile widened and he nodded in the affirmative. "In a sense young noble. I am tha only Spirit o Stone, but my fellow Spirits are wakening and gathering to bless Mosqi'Arksis, 'Second Throne of the Forest King'. The Chosen Son of Lady Gigas herself has journeyed ta this world to grow inta tha warrior he must become to fufill the destiny of his kind."
The arctic master of machines jumped up suddenly. "Hold up! 'Forest KING?!' This guy just got here, how come he's suddenly the big guy around here??"
"Rotor, please calm down. He does have a point though sir. The Great Forest technically belongs to the people of Knothole Village. This 'Chosen Son' whoever he is, can't just show up one day and claim the entire area by himself without any sort of warning. Is there anyway we could speak to this man?" Sally spoke now in full diplomatic mode. The Keeper of Secrets ran a granite hand through his jingling, shiny beard in deep thought before speaking again. "To be truthful lass, Mosqi'arksis is more than just a throne...it's a city. A city full of empty homes at this moment. Though the young Caos Dragyn has made a partial claim of this land, he knows well they who have lived and protected this place before his arrival. That gives ye room to bargain for a place within the safety the tree provides from Kintobor and his like."
Raising his hand to stall any further comment, the Shaper of Worlds clapped his rocky hands together once and the table and seats answered his command lifting up slightly before moving in place with each other towards the tree. "I will lead ye to the Meeting Hall, and we'll set ye up right an' proper with ya new neighbors before company arrives."
Sally and Rotor spoke up as one. "Company?!"
"Aye...The Throne's presence has attracted yer foe to this place. Worry not fer Knothole, we spirits shall keep 'er safe from sight o' those who'd harm 'er. Old Graven's word on that."
The princess frowned deeply. "I hope you're right sir."
***
As The Spirit of Earth and Secrets made his own way to the colossal plantform, so too did Snively and his platoon of Swatbots in the hope of retrieving a source of mystical Chaos energies. Were he a man less desperate with keeping his hide intact the nephew of Ivo might have noticed his surroundings a bit more as one of the 'Bot steering the hover unit began subtly change it's shape. Hands took a larger, more natural shape and arms began showing details of thick corded muscle, Seams vanished on the torso and steel grey plating became a bright gold toga inscribed with glowing runes of power. Leg plates became shaped golden greaves up to the knee and bare muscled thighs joined the the torso. Finally the faceless dome helmet sunk in upon itself and became a true head and face, one of handsome male features and silver skin. Like Graven, his eyes were two bright blue lights within the sockets. His hair was a swept back platinum reaching to his neck.
Poor Snively was oblivious to this transformation until he has noticed the craft beginning to turn. "What are you doing Swatbot? Return to previous heading an-Gah-ha AH!"
His screaming came back doubled as the stranger made of metal leaned close to the tiny man's large nose and spoke with a deep, commanding tone. "Turn back little human...you and yours are not welcome here."
The almost bald assistant was shaking like a leaf now."T-t-tu-turn Back? B-but I...I..."
"I know what you seek in this woodland. You will not return to your lands with that prize. Continue onward, and This Spirit of War and Metal shall ensure that you NEVER return at all. Tell your master, he who destroys without cause and invokes my power without care, that the Seventh Son of House Gabrael has brought War to your lands. He foreswears to conquer this world in the name of Freedom..."
Before Snively could stutter a reply the metallic being faded into thin air leaving him alone in the hovercraft. "Dr. Robotnik isn't going to like this news at all."
Seconds later outside of Robotropolis a guttural bellow erupted from the city and several dozen hovercraft flew from the city towards Mosqi'arksis with a large red unit leading the pack, Julian's personal chariot. The conqueror of Mobius tuned his viewscreen on the sight of the giant tree several miles away.
"Computer...Estimated time of Arrival at designated coordinates."
The reply was swift. ETA at designate 'GREAT TREE' in 33 minutes, 17 seconds.
Robotnik's darkened eyes glowed in anticipation. "War...is it? I'll teach this Gabarale or whatever he calls himself the truest meaning of WAR! ...eh heeheh...Heh haha..Ha ah ha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
End Chapter 1
****
Here's the full prologue and Chapter 1 so everybody can read it without distractions. Lemme know if my OC is ok or if he needs work.
Ryu Gabra'el, Dragyn, and all original ideas are the property of the author and may not be used save with express permission.
Ebon Wings Over Mobius: Prologue
***
Far to the west of the Great Jungle lies the start of a vast ocean. Here the tides normally hold calm and move as they have since the beginning. Even the war for survival to the east between the current holders of Mobius and their invader does nothing to disturb the water's flow. Today the sky is almost cloudless with the sun above shining brightly.
One would believe nothing could happen suddenly to change all this...and one would be right...save for today.
Now, here, a portion of the sky a kilometer up begins to shimmer. A nearby cloud begins to warp and distort before a massive sound like fabric torn violently booms from the center with a thunderclap sounding soon after. A jagged tear in the reality forms before reshaping into something vaguely like a vortex. The swirling blue construct holds steady for a few minutes then disappears in a flash leaving a materialized form to plummet to the sea below. Stunned from whatever occurred before, his brick-red hair rustles in the breeze.
As the stunned person comes to, the water grows ever closer. Suddenly he becomes alert as two great black scaled wings unfold from his back and catch the wind. A tail the same color and texture as the wings jerks righting the stranger's position before he flaps once and rockets eastward. Glancing down he notices just a few scant meters between him and the sea below.
"...Much too close...a moment more and I would be feeding the sea-dwellers."
Gazing in the distance he sees the first signs of land and forest. "T'would seem Dri'had is with me still. That woodland should provide what I need to heal...and prepare."
His course plotted the winged being glides to his destination unaware of the part he would soon play in this world's history.
Prologue End.
***
Chapter 1: Waking Spirits
It was one thing to the members of Knothole Village to see tall trees all around them no matter what. To them, as long as the Great Forest stood tall so did they, safe from Robotnik's armada....
"*Sigh*...This is Mondo Boring. Couldn't you guys just give me the coordinates of this thing and let me scope it out? It'd be over in less than a minute! Tops!" The huff and complaint came from a small, blue spiny being who easily had the running speed to back his boast. To the Freedom Fighters he was a hero...To Robotnik he was an eternal pest...and to chili dogs he was a nightmare made flesh...
Sonic The Hedgehog.
Who at the moment was forced to be patient while his group made their way to the newly christened Great Tree. Named such because over the last few weeks it's growth began accelerating beyond that of the rest of the forest making it look less like an Oak and more like a towering redwood. With the colossal plant-form now coming into sight, Sonic's need for speed only increased.
"This is more than just a scouting mission Sonic. IF this is one of Robotnik's traps we need to figure out what it is and what it's for. Just dashing around the tree a few times isn't going to do that." Said the voice of reason and leadership for the Knothole Freedom Fighters, Sally Acorn. "You have anything so far Nicole?"
Nicole, Sally's personal hand-held computer, would have shrugged were she equipped with shoulders to do so. ~Sorry Sally, not much beyond what you're heard before. Only things new I can get from this distance are that the tree is natural, enhanced growth percentage has been steadily declining, and the energy signature being emitted from it is a 98.8807% match to a Chaos Emerald.~
At the mention of the mysterious mystical energy stones seen throughout Mobius the trio came to a sudden stop. "Whoa...that would explain how the tree started growing so much. With an Emerald giving energy to it, that tree could keep growing, and going, for a long time!" Exclaimed the walrus inventor for the group, Rotor. "But like Nicole said, it's slowing down...wonder why?"
A snirk from the True Blue. "Maybe it's running outta Emerald Miracle-Gro?"
"I doubt it's fertilizer Sonic. But we should hurry anyway and find out-"
"Read my mind, Sal! I'll be there and back faster than you can say 'Giant Tree!" Before Sally could stop him the Blue Blur had revved up to speed and dashed away.
"*sigh*...Let's hurry Rotor, Hopefully Sonic won't need our help for whatever is over there."
***
Meanwhile, in a place where plants were an idea that wanted to be forgotten, and the only animal life was robotisized, hidden, or both...others had discovered the unique energy from the Great Forest.
"Report...Snively." Came the gravelly voice from the mechanical throne as it turned to face a smaller, younger man with a rather hard-to-miss nose.
"Yes sir...Approximately three hours ago sensors detected an anomaly coming from the Forest. Homing in on the signal revealed this..." Snively's narrative was accompanied by his working of the controls allowing the image of a tree to appear on the screen.
Glowing red eyes narrowed. "Is this supposed to amuse me Snively?"
For once, the tiny toady was not afraid. "Allow me a moment to change the zooming, sir." Slowly the image panned out...to reveal many smaller trees below. "At last report this towering specimen just passed the kilometer mark in height and seems to be slowing down. Computer projections indicate it will cease it's enhanced growth pattern at around 1253 ft."
The eyes widened in surprise before joining the rest of the face in a sinister grimace. "Interesting...if I were a plant lover. Get to the point Snively, before I use you as a footstool again."
Now sweating at the thought of holding up such massive feet once again, Snively quickly hurried through the remainder of his report. "I believe that a Chaos Emerald is causing the enhanced growth! You could conquer the rest of Mobius in a month with that kind of power at your call Dr. Robotnik!"
The grimace became a smirk as the throne rotated back around. "Then send a platoon of Swatbots to retrieve the prize, IF it exists. If not I'll have to think of something fitting to do to you for wasting my time like this."
The nephew of Kintobor hurried out the door, secretly hoping his theories were right...for his sake.
***
Trees and brush zipped past Sonic's point-of-view as the speedy hedgehog reached the giant tree and began to make a circuit around. Oddly enough few of the other trees were uprooted, and those that had been...were replanted elsewhere afterwards. The signs were all there to see: upturned soil, sudden breaks in the limited grass cover, and a deep moistness to the soil that could not have been so were this simply natural.
The last good rain had been two weeks ago.
"Whoa...Definitely more at work here than an Emerald. Least whoever it was cleaned up after himself, It would've been a pain to replant all these trees even with my speed."
Continuing his lap the Blue Blur soon began to hear something...something like a girl singing. "Someone's having a sing-along and didn't invite The Hedgehog? Definitely need to fix that!"
Following the song lead the son of Jules Hedgehog to an oddly fenced clearing, odd in that instead of being made of metal or plastic or planks of wood, Roots coming from somewhere below crossed and wove together to form a natural canopy that was helping to keep out any that might wish to take from what lay inside.
Inside was an orchard and lush garden being tended to by what looked to be a young female Overlander in a simple white toga gown. Her skin was slightly tanned in an attractive way, not too dark or too light. She glided from one grouping of plants to another as if her legs were made of mist, her steps never disturbing the blades of grass which almost seemed healthier and thicker after her walking upon them. A pair of leather sandals were upon her feet with connecting ties strung all up past her calves each fitting snugly. Not the oddest Overlander he'd seen by far.
Then again, the Fastest Thing Alive never met an Overlander with honest-to-chili dogs Palm tree fronds for hair. Suddenly she turned to the side and Sonic could see the plant she was working on, a sickly sapling that was having trouble holding up it's own weight, ...actually start growing faster and faster till it straightened out and stood tall. Only then did she stop her singing.
"Have you enjoyed my song, Warrior?"
The girl turned and looked straight at Sonic with rich, deep emerald eyes. "The forest sings of your presence, Sonic the Hedgehog...you are always welcome in my Garden. Please, will you not enter and be in my company for a time?"
"Uhh...That's jammin'." Was the hedgehog's reply as he walked up to the stranger."Nice tune by the way. Though I gotta know who got here faster than me to drop names like this, and why they didn't think to tell me yours." Not feeling any threat to his person the Blue Blur started looking around the young lady's handiwork with a growing smile. "Man O Man, it's like every plant in Mobius is here! Giant Mushrooms from the Floating Island, Winter Sunflowers from the Arctic Zone...Hey! You even have the ivy that used to grow all around Mobotropolis!...But this stuff's Way sensitive to pollution...how could it survive now?"
His smile turned upside down Sonic turned to the female Overlander. "Ok it's Q & A time, lady! How'd you get all these plants in this one place to grow up together? What's the deal with the enormous tree? How do you know my name?"
As the chili dog lover's spines began bristling, the girl continued smiling. "I know you because the Forest knows you, in the simple way the helpless know of the hero who protects them. I am She who all children know by the feeling of their heart...who begins the Great Circle on it's path...and who once taught 'They Who Live in the Sky' the power of Magic in all forms."
"I am Dri'had, Spirit of Life." Her 'hair' rustled as she bowed slightly to the spiny hero in greeting. "These symbols of life exist here in this manner because the Chosen One of my Kind brought the seedlings and spores to me in a gesture of worship. As for Mosqi'Arksis, he has not told me why he felt he needed to grow so tall, and I did not want to pry into his thoughts."
Sonic's gaping mouth was something to see. "Whoa whoa whoa! The tree can talk to you?!"
Her giggles were like bells chiming. "Oh yes, I can hear all the open feelings and thoughts of those who live but cannot speak. If you like, I can ask him why he has grown up so much...though I think it has something to do with you and your friends. I have never felt him so happy and determined in all the time I have known him since you began your trek to this place."
The True Blue could only scratch his head in confusion. "Man, didn't know I had friends of the hardwood sort..."
***
One thing Rotor would have loved to change above all else in the Forest was the lack of active transit throughout. Having a hover transport or even a simple wagon that Sonic could try pulling behind him would be much more desirable to the plump polar denizen. As it stood, he and Sally were still a few miles out from the Great Tree...and he was tuckered out.
"...huuh...uuhh...huhuh..H-how about we just wait for Sonic here Sally?" Panted the inventive walrus while he leaned heavily against an oddly shaped outcropping of rock to catch his breath. "Like he said, he could easily scout the area and be back in time for chili dogs."
The last heir to the House of Acorn sighed in exasperation with eyes rolling. "And like *I* said Rotor,' This is more than just a scouting mission.' A single tree in the forest has grown as tall as Castle Acorn used to be, while somehow managing to avoid uprooting the trees surrounding it...it's a mystery, pure and simple. That tree could hold secrets that threaten the very survival of the Freedom Fighters!"
While Sally would have continued the march onward by herself if she had too, another sudden voice intruded on the conversation. "No Secret tha' Mosqi'Arksis holds threatens yer bid for freadom, Sally o' House Acorn." The voice was old, yet strong. But if one were to listen carefully it seemed like someone were speaking through something hollow to produce the reverberation that the voice had.
But the voice might as well have been a thunderclap since both the Princess and Rotor jumped to attention searching the immediate area for any sign of the intruder, only to hear the voice start laughing loudly.
"My my my! Such quick thin's ya are. Surely ye canna be afraid o' this old spirit now?" The walrus inventor turned back to the rock he had just been leaning against to see it had begun to crumble and break, shift and steady, shape and form squat legs with feet in the shape of heavy boots with various gems set into the cuffs, a muscular torso and chest with a stone belt of solid marble with a jade buckle inlaid. Two powerful arms wearing wristguards of a smooth, shiny metal, one holding a rather large pickaxe and the other a steel-bound tome that looked well-read to the Mobian Royal's eyes. Finally a head appeared with two ice-blue lights for eyes, diamond shaped into both a semi-balding hairstyle tied into a short tail, and a long braided beard that seemed to sway like a beard of hair would despite being made of the strongest natural material in all of Mobius. Though the light grey stone that made up the stranger's skin looked roughly chiseled, his eyes seemed to help form a warm smile that began subduing the tense mood.
"'ere now..is this betta for ye eyes to see Lil' Princess? T'would be a shame it would, to have a fight with the spirit of tha soil ya walk on eh?"
"Um...yes. Truly it would be a awful thing to fight when there's no need to."
The master inventor of the Freedom Fighters chose at that moment to run up between the two of them with his back to Sally. "Better be careful Sal, who knows what kinda scheme ol' Robotnik's up to with this guy..."
Suddenly the ground under Rotor's feet sunk in then thrust upward tossing the walrus to the ground. Looking back to the strange being would show him shaking his head in disappointment. "I'll thank 'ye not te put me in tha same comp'ny as that daft grachot. Graven, Keeper of Secrets, Shaper of Worlds and Patron of tha' Wise will never answer to the likes of Ivo Kintobor or his kin."
Graven then hooked his book and pick to his belt and raised his left hand making a table of stone appear along with three circular benches, one of which he sat down upon. Gesturing to the other two seats he smiled again. "Would 'ye come join me fer a sit lass? You and yer toothy friend can catch yer breath while we wait for tha Gathering."
The two Mobians looked to each other for a moment before each taking a seat at the table, Sally to Graven's left, Rotor to the right. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking...what is this 'Gathering' you speak of? Are there more of your...people coming to this area?"
The sound of tinkling bells filled her ears as the stone being's smile widened and he nodded in the affirmative. "In a sense young noble. I am tha only Spirit o Stone, but my fellow Spirits are wakening and gathering to bless Mosqi'Arksis, 'Second Throne of the Forest King'. The Chosen Son of Lady Gigas herself has journeyed ta this world to grow inta tha warrior he must become to fufill the destiny of his kind."
The arctic master of machines jumped up suddenly. "Hold up! 'Forest KING?!' This guy just got here, how come he's suddenly the big guy around here??"
"Rotor, please calm down. He does have a point though sir. The Great Forest technically belongs to the people of Knothole Village. This 'Chosen Son' whoever he is, can't just show up one day and claim the entire area by himself without any sort of warning. Is there anyway we could speak to this man?" Sally spoke now in full diplomatic mode. The Keeper of Secrets ran a granite hand through his jingling, shiny beard in deep thought before speaking again. "To be truthful lass, Mosqi'arksis is more than just a throne...it's a city. A city full of empty homes at this moment. Though the young Caos Dragyn has made a partial claim of this land, he knows well they who have lived and protected this place before his arrival. That gives ye room to bargain for a place within the safety the tree provides from Kintobor and his like."
Raising his hand to stall any further comment, the Shaper of Worlds clapped his rocky hands together once and the table and seats answered his command lifting up slightly before moving in place with each other towards the tree. "I will lead ye to the Meeting Hall, and we'll set ye up right an' proper with ya new neighbors before company arrives."
Sally and Rotor spoke up as one. "Company?!"
"Aye...The Throne's presence has attracted yer foe to this place. Worry not fer Knothole, we spirits shall keep 'er safe from sight o' those who'd harm 'er. Old Graven's word on that."
The princess frowned deeply. "I hope you're right sir."
***
As The Spirit of Earth and Secrets made his own way to the colossal plantform, so too did Snively and his platoon of Swatbots in the hope of retrieving a source of mystical Chaos energies. Were he a man less desperate with keeping his hide intact the nephew of Ivo might have noticed his surroundings a bit more as one of the 'Bot steering the hover unit began subtly change it's shape. Hands took a larger, more natural shape and arms began showing details of thick corded muscle, Seams vanished on the torso and steel grey plating became a bright gold toga inscribed with glowing runes of power. Leg plates became shaped golden greaves up to the knee and bare muscled thighs joined the the torso. Finally the faceless dome helmet sunk in upon itself and became a true head and face, one of handsome male features and silver skin. Like Graven, his eyes were two bright blue lights within the sockets. His hair was a swept back platinum reaching to his neck.
Poor Snively was oblivious to this transformation until he has noticed the craft beginning to turn. "What are you doing Swatbot? Return to previous heading an-Gah-ha AH!"
His screaming came back doubled as the stranger made of metal leaned close to the tiny man's large nose and spoke with a deep, commanding tone. "Turn back little human...you and yours are not welcome here."
The almost bald assistant was shaking like a leaf now."T-t-tu-turn Back? B-but I...I..."
"I know what you seek in this woodland. You will not return to your lands with that prize. Continue onward, and This Spirit of War and Metal shall ensure that you NEVER return at all. Tell your master, he who destroys without cause and invokes my power without care, that the Seventh Son of House Gabrael has brought War to your lands. He foreswears to conquer this world in the name of Freedom..."
Before Snively could stutter a reply the metallic being faded into thin air leaving him alone in the hovercraft. "Dr. Robotnik isn't going to like this news at all."
Seconds later outside of Robotropolis a guttural bellow erupted from the city and several dozen hovercraft flew from the city towards Mosqi'arksis with a large red unit leading the pack, Julian's personal chariot. The conqueror of Mobius tuned his viewscreen on the sight of the giant tree several miles away.
"Computer...Estimated time of Arrival at designated coordinates."
The reply was swift. ETA at designate 'GREAT TREE' in 33 minutes, 17 seconds.
Robotnik's darkened eyes glowed in anticipation. "War...is it? I'll teach this Gabarale or whatever he calls himself the truest meaning of WAR! ...eh heeheh...Heh haha..Ha ah ha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
End Chapter 1
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Here's the full prologue and Chapter 1 so everybody can read it without distractions. Lemme know if my OC is ok or if he needs work.