9A/N: Hello, and welcome to my adaptation of Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. This story is dedicated to Taranea, who has always wanted to see a good Sonic DS game turn into a story.
Nocturnus Hiatus
By St. Noof
Chapter 1: The Return of Sonic
"Let's go, team!"
Blurs of red, blue, orange, and pink could be seen zipping across the surface of the Egg Carrier as bursts of laser shots erupted just seconds behind them. As the airlock door to the control room neared, the azure leader of the group pumped a little more kick into his step. The last thing to be seen before the door hissed shut was the red end of a yellow mallet.
"Hey, we made it!" Tails exclaimed as the four Mobians beheld the complicated control board. "Now we just need to shut this bad boy down!"
"That would've happened a long time ago if we had just used the laser turret I saw back there…" Knuckles grumbled, jerking his thumb backward.
"Easy, guys!" Sonic said loudly, stepping between Knuckles and Tails and holding his hands out to stop the argument. Man, when this is all over… the hedgehog thought, but was interrupted by a deep voice crackling over the intercom.
"You fools have foiled my plans for the last time!" said the voice.
"Eggman!" Amy shouted. This shout seemed almost inconsequential as Tails looked back from the many control monitors. "Got it!" the fox cried, punching a button that released the airlock. All four heroes rushed from the bridge as the pressure seemed to change instantaneously.
"To the Tornado!" Tails shouted over the howling wind caused by the massive aircraft's plummeting. As everyone boarded the red biplane, the amber kit fired up the engine and took off, leaving the Egg Carrier and its army to crash into Metropolis Zone.
xxx
"Why would you want to put us all in danger like that?!"
Tails and Knuckles glared at each other outside Tails' workshop. Since the events concerning Perfect Chaos about three years ago, the fox had had to relocate to the city, allowing GUN troops and archaeologists alike to scrutinize the wonders of the Mystic Ruins.
"I wanted to put the whole planet in a safer state, thank you!" the scarlet echidna shouted angrily in response to Tails' accusation.
"Activating Robotnik's weapon systems is not only difficult, but also dangerous! Do you know what the chances are of a simple hack going wrong?" Tails screamed. "Those turrets could've blasted us at point-blank range if the system was defended!"
"Like they were any further from hitting us without us trying to hack them…"
"Guys, stop it!" Sonic bellowed. "We stopped Eggman, isn't that all that matters?" The hedgehog's plea for peace was met with two resounding "No's" and several pointed comments.
"Face it, Sonic," Knuckles said flatly. "We're never going to get anywhere with Mr. Wet-Blanket Prower holding us back."
"Well, if it wasn't for Hard-Head the Echidna over there, we'd be safely back here two days ago!"
"You know what?!" Sonic shouted in exasperation. "If you two can't get along, I'm outta here. Robotnik's gone, so I'm gonna take a nice long vacation. Hope you guys cool it by the time I get back…" With that, the Blue Blur was gone.
xxx
That was a while back… the azure hero-on-vacation thought as he lounged on a chair by the Station Square Hotel's pool. He sucked in a breath of frosty air, took a sip of his hot chocolate, and watched the teenagers ice skating atop the frozen water. His serenity was soon ruined shortly thereafter by a beeping noise from his right glove. Pressing a minute button on the wristband, he could hear Tails' voice fizzling through the wrist communicator.
"Tails to Sonic! Come in, Sonic!" Shaking his spiky head, Sonic held the button down.
"This is Sonic. What's up, li'l bro?"
"Sonic, Knuckles has gone missing!" came the panicked reply. "I need you to go to Green Hill Zone to meet Amy, then head back to my place."
"Right," was all the hedgehog could say before releasing the button. When he left six months ago, the inventor and the Guardian couldn't even look at each other, let alone care if the other went missing. Why was Tails so worried? Slowly and reluctantly, Sonic rose from his chair and entered the building. In the main lobby, he finished his beverage and slid his card key across the reception desk.
"Leaving so soon, Sonic?" said the young blonde receptionist.
"I guess business is picking up again…" the hero muttered. "A hero's work is never done, after all." After a nod from the girl, Sonic walked to the front exit, deposited the Styrofoam cup into the trash can outside, and dashed at full speed to the north.
xxx
Red sneakers touched worn wood as the Blue Ridge cruise liner docked at Green Hill Zone. Being the only departing passenger, Sonic waved as the huge yacht continued its course along the west coast of the continent. Pressing the small button on his glove again, he said, "Sonic to Tails. I'm at Green Hill."
"All right, Sonic. I've got your coordinates," came the voice of Tails. "Just continue on to the next island to the south. Amy should meet you there." As the hedgehog ran to the old familiar loop-de-loop, he thought of the days when Robotnik had first started attacking Mobius. Sonic had been the only one willing to stand up to his tyranny, and had learned to hone his speed to keep up with the evil scientist's flying machines and roboticized animals. The loop came to an end, and the hero saw an old man by a small stand of trees.
"Sonic! Hey, Sonic!" the wizened man called. "I heard you were back!" Sonic came closer, and saw that the citizen was attending to a large pile of wood.
"What are you doing, old man?" the hedgehog asked.
"Well, I was working on getting all this wood chopped, but I'm afraid I'm just too tired to finish…" the man's gray brows drooped and he wiped his forehead.
"I guess it wouldn't be too much trouble to help you out…" Sonic said, shrugging. He began charging a Spin Dash and launched himself at the wood, twisting and jumping to slice the wood into neat boards. When he had finished, he shook the wood chips from his quills and gave a thumbs-up to the man.
"Oh, thank you, Sonic the Hedgehog!" the grandfatherly man exclaimed happily. "By the way, the only way to get to the southern islands is to get that raft to the north dock."
"I think I can handle that," the hedgehog replied, making his way to the dock. Not long after, he found the crank on the raft's pully and had the raft close enough to jump on. As he let go of the crank, the raft zoomed away, sending fresh spray in Sonic's face. Within a minute or so, he found himself on a dirt path leading southward. As the hedgehog continued along the road, he caught a glimpse of dark armor out of the corner of his eye. Within the next instant, a line of boxes had covered the path.
"What was that?" Sonic shouted.
"I'm detecting energy readings coming from your position, Sonic," came Tails' voice. "I think someone might be trying to block your way!" In a few moments, the dilemma was solved by a yellow mallet. The pink hedgehog swung her weapon with enthusiasm as she effortlessly smashed each box.
"Hi, Sonic!" cried Amy, a bright grin on her face. "I saw you were in trouble, so I came to help!"
"Thanks, Amy," Sonic replied.
"You mean it? I was actually helpful?"
"But I could've jumped those boxes." This comment was followed by a hammer blow to the stomach.
There you have it, the beginning of Hostile Reception. It sure feels good to get to writing again! Hope you like this chapter, and Happy Thanksgiving!