Sonic Beyond: The ProphecySonic Beyond

The Prophecy

part 5

by Sonique

"It's an echidna." Alison remarked.

In front of them, stood a large, forceful, red echidna with long, sharp

dreadlocks and fists the size of his head. He scowled through his purple eyes,

baring his piercing teeth at them; the jewel in the gold band on his head

shimmered in the dim shadows; the white line on his buff chest moved up and down

with each fierce breath he took; He punched his one first into the other hand as

if ready to brawl. Slowly he walked toward them with his green socks and white

sneakers stepping into the light.

He took a deep breath and hollered, "I fucking hate trespassers!"

"We-e meant no ha-arm.." Rotor stammered.

"No talking, walrus-boy!" the echidna snapped. He took a few steps forward and

when he saw Alison, he nearly did a double take. "What you bring this overlander

trash with you?"

"She's not like other overlanders." Rotor insisted. "She likes animals."

"Overlanders bring nothing, nothing but trouble." The echidna answered. Then, he

turned to Alison, "You will be the first to die."

"You're gonna kill us??" Dulcy shrieked.

"You trespass on my land. What is your goal? To destroy the Master Emerald? To

obtain the Chaos Emeralds?"

"W-we meant no h-harm." Rotor stammered.

The echidna yelled, "I fucking said no talking!"

Now, Alison had had enough of his yelling and threats, "Hey! You can't talk to

Motor Boat like that!"

"You dare raise your voice to me, overlander?"

"I'll raise my voice to whoever I want!" Alison yelled.

"Yell as loud as you want, overlander, you cannot stop me from inside that net!"

"Then," she whipped out her gun, "I'll do it from outside."

The echidna gasped as Alison shot lasers at the ropes of the net, breaking them

and making a hole large enough for Rotor and herself to escape. Alison leaped

out of the hole and pointed her gun right at the echidna's red chest. "Now back

off!" she warned.

"Stupid overlander piece of shit!" He yelled. "That is a fatal mistake." He held

out his giant fist to her, "I would have kill you quickly, but now you die

slowly and painfully."

Rotor angrily replied, "I'd like to see you get past us."

In a quick blue of red, the echidna darted off in the other direction.

"He ran away." Alison remarked.

"He's nothing but a coward."

Alison turned to Dulcy, "Let's get you out now." She chuckled, "I can't believe

that echidna."

"He seemed so serious." Rotor replied.

"I know."

"YEEEIIIIAAAAA!!!" From the sky, the large echidna swooped down using his

dreadlocks to keep him up. He charged down at Alison at incredible speeds with

his fists out in front of him, ready to attack.

In shock, Alison screamed and quickly ducked out of the rampaging echidna's way.

Rotor, however, did not move fast enough. In a instant, the echidna drove his

fists into Rotor's stomach causing Rotor to plummet backwards onto the hard

ground.

Alison gasped as she saw her friend lying on the ground with no movement at all.

"Motor Boat!" She ran over to him, knelt down and lifted his head up. Rotor

showed no signs of consciousness.

"Help me get out." Dulcy frantically tried to pull the net off herself.

Alison had completely forgot about Dulcy. "Oh yeah." She ran over to the net,

took out her weapon and tried to shoot the ropes, but in her panic, she missed

every time.

"YEEEIIIAAAA!"

"Not again!" Alison freaked. She whipped around and in the distance could see

the echidna plunging toward them again.

In a frenzy, Dulcy began to quickly flap her wings trying to ascend herself high

enough to escape from under the net. Alison heard Dulcy struggling behind her,

but her fear overtook her body and paralyzed her. Dulcy then realized the net

would stop at nothing to hold her down, so she tried to save Alison instead,

"Alison!! Look out!!"

As if coming to, Alison blinked her eyes and shook her head. She looked up in

time to see two white fists charging at her head. Alison again ducked out of the

way, but like before, Dulcy couldn't move away and the echidna struck her jaw.

Dulcy made a whimpering noise and fell backwards just as easily as Rotor had.

"Oh my God!" Alison put her hands to her mouth in astonishment at the echidna's

strength. "Dulcy!"

In a daze Dulcy replied, "I'm fine Ma."

By now, Alison had seen enough of the echidna's evil ways and wanted to put a

stop to it. She peered upward to see the echidna making a U-turn and ready to

attack again. As he drew closer to her, Alison reached for her gun; closer he

flew with his fists outward facing her, but before he could make another attack,

Alison quickly pulled her gun out and fired at him. As if expecting this, he

dodged to his right avoiding her laser. Despite Alison's shaking and

nervousness, she regained her control and aim; with a graceful quick motion, she

aimed the weapon one more time and fired. The echidna began to move to his left

this time, but he didn't move fast enough, and the red-hot laser struck him in

his left shoulder. "Arugh!" He screamed in pain as he began plunging to the

ground. Alison watched him as he slammed down on his back with a thud.

"Yeah!" Alison exclaimed. She quickly began to shoot at the ropes on the net to

free Dulcy and eventually cut a hole big enough for Dulcy to escape out of,

"Okay, Dulcy."

Dulcy still felt a bit dazed, "Just a little headache, Ma."

Alison sighed and reached into her backpack where she had the scroll. She opened

it and quickly scanned it seeing if it possibly told where to find Athair. Then,

from behind her, she could hear the echidna begin to stir. She gasped in fright

and turned to watch him.

The echidna breathed heavily as he rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself

upward. "You.." He growled. He sat himself up and glared at her "you.. *cough*

stupid piece *cough* stupid piece of.." Suddenly, he gasped and his eyes

widened. He put his hands to his mouth and mumbled something.

Alison backed away and took out her gun again, "I-I'll shoot you again."

He shook his head, "Do not bother. I make a terrible mistake." He wearily stood

up and brushed himself off. "I do not know you had the scroll."

Alison looked at the scroll she had, "You mean this one?"

"You see another scroll somewhere?"

"Um.. no.. but..."

Dulcy came to at this point and sat up, "What's going on?" She stepped out of

the hole Alison had made in the net for her. "What'd I miss?"

Alison answered, "I think the echidna likes us now."

The echidna walked over to the girls, "I do not know who you are but I do now."

Alison became confused by his improper grammar, "What?"

He replied, "Why Tikal picks an overlander do to an animal's job, I do not

know."

Dulcy bent her head down by Alison's, "What's he talking about?"

Alison shook her head, "I have no idea, Dulcy."

"Come with me." The echidna spoke. "I bring you to Athair. He tells you

everything." He began walking towards the mountains.

"What about Rotor?" Dulcy asked.

"Oh yeah." Alison jogged over to Rotor who hadn't awaken yet. "He's still out."

She looked into the distance where the echidna walked without knowing he wasn't

being followed. "Hey!" Alison called to him. "Hey! Come back... um.. echidna

dude!"

Rotor began to slightly stir, but his eyes stayed shut. He let out a short moan

and rubbed his head.

"Motor Boat!" Alison looked down at him but quickly looked back up at the sound

of the echidna's rapid footsteps coming toward her.

He looked down at Rotor, "What's his problem?"

"You knocked him out!" Alison yelled.

"You pick him up and bring him with, then."

"I really don't think I'm strong enough... um.. what's your name?" She turned

her brown eyes to the echidna's.

After a small amount of silence he replied, "I don't have a name."

Dulcy walked over to them, "You don't have a name?"

He shook his head, "No name for me."

"What should we call you?" Alison asked.

"You call me your highness." He stood up straight and proud.

Alison rolled her eyes and sighed, "I'm not gonna call you 'your highness.'" She

peered at his large fists for a second then said, "We'll call you Knuckles."

"Knuckles?" The echidna smiled with pride, "I like it! I like it!" He held his

fists into the air as if celebrating a victory, "I am Knuckles Mc... I mean..

Knuckles the Echidna!"

"Cool." Alison remarked with no enthusiasm. "Now help us carry Motor Boat."

"I can carry him on my back." Dulcy noted.

Knuckles picked up Rotor easily, "Very good then." He brought him over to Dulcy

and, she bent down for him; Knuckles laid Rotor on her back. "Okay, now we go

see Athair."

"That's what I'm here for." Alison said with a smile.

The two girls followed Knuckles to a small cave on top a hill. Knuckles stopped

when he reached the entrance of the cave, faced the girls, and said, "This is

where my Great Grandfather Athair lives." He pointed to Alison, "Bill, be sure

to pay attention to what he says. This is the most important information you'll

hear in your life."

Alison listened to him but was more concerned with the fact he had called her

Bill, "My name is Alison." She said.

"Your name is Bill." He retorted. "I say your name is Bill, it is Bill; I say

your name is Fred, it is Fred; I say your name is John-Jacob-Jinglehymer.."

Alison stopped him, "I get it. I get it."

"Come in."

Knuckles walked first into the cave and Alison followed, then realized Dulcy

hadn't come in with her. "Come on, Dulcy."

Dulcy shook her head, "Sorry, I'm afraid of little places like this. I have

claustrophobia."

"Well," Alison sighed, "I'll just go in with Knuckles then."

"No you won't." Rotor sat up on Dulcy's back and rubbed his head; he appeared

very tired and weak.

"You need your sleep Motor Boat." Alison told him. "Lay down and rest."

Ignoring Alison's suggestion, Rotor leaped off Dulcy's back, "I feel fine." He

smiled at her.

"Okay, if you say so."

Rotor walked up to Alison's side and together, they ventured into the cave.

"Wow." Alison remarked as she looked around the cave. Green crystals lined the

inside of the cave walls and glimmered in the dim cave lights. On the floor laid

a soft red rug leading up to the end of the cave.

Alison was looking around the cave when she heard a raspy voice behind her say,

"Alison, it is time for you to fulfill your quest."

"Huh?" Alison turned and saw yet another echidna behind her.

This echidna was red like Knuckles but appeared much older than he. At the end

of his dreadlocks, he wore beads of many colors. His furry brown vest matched

the color of his sandals.

"You're destiny awaits you, young girl." He spoke to her.

"Are you Athair?" Alison asked him.

He slowly nodded then motioned for her to follow him as he walked closer to the

end of the cave where he had a small desk. He opened one of the drawers of the

desk a pulled out an old photograph. From where Alison stood, she could not see

who was in the photo but Athair appeared to be studying it. After a few seconds,

he sheepishly walked over to Alison and handed her the photo.

"Oh my God!" Alison grew shocked as she realized the peach and robot echidna

were the ones in the photo. The tall echidna, who wasn't a robot in the photo,

stood in the center with her right arm around the peach echidna and her left arm

around another brown echidna. Each wore their old Inca style clothing and

appeared much younger than before. Alison pointed to the females, "These are the

same echidnas I saw before... something like, Tikal and Wendy."

Athair nodded, "Yes. You must bring them together and join forces with them."

Alison sighed deeply, for she did not want to hear this, "Look. I just want to

go home." She replied sternly, gradually growing angry. "I don't want to join

forces with them or bring them together. I know I said I'd help the one but, man

I've been here for months and nothing's happened! It's like she brought me here

for nothing!"

Rotor came up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It's gonna be okay.

We'll get you home.."

"That's easy for you to say!" Alison snapped. "You've never been taking away

from your home."

"I was when Robotnik took over. I haven't seen my parents in years."

Alison just sighed.

Athair then spoke, "If you want to go home, you must fulfill your quest, young

girl."

"What quest?" She asked.

"There is a prophecy and you are part of it."

"What does it say?"

"Tikal and Wendy belonged to a tribe of ancient sorceress and sorceresses. They

were very young when the curse was put upon them that separated them, limited

their powers and taking away most of their strength. This prophecy says that

someday you will join forces with Tikal and Wendy and destroy the greatest evil

the world has ever known. Once that is finished, the curse that has condemned

their clan for many years will vanish, the world will be saved and Tikal will

regain her strength and powers; she will take you home."

Silence fell over everyone in the cave; Alison could not believe all this weight

had been placed on her shoulders. She sat down on a rock and put her head in her

hands asking herself questions, "Why does this sorceress want me to help her?

Can't someone else help her? Why did I have to be taken from my home for this?"

Athair touched her shoulder, "If you do not stay, the world will be corrupt, and

Robotnik's reign of terror will last forever."

Alison let her watery eyes meet his, "How can Robotnik rule forever? He's.." Her

voice traded off when she noticed the serious expression Athair had. She

swallowed the lump in her throat and sighed.

Rotor said to Alison in a comforting tone, "We'll get you home. We'll do

everything and anything you can to help you find them and bring them together."

Alison sat up and once again sighed, "Okay, I'll do this prophecy thing."

Athair responded, "All you need to do is believe in yourself and never loose

faith and the prophecy will come true."

"And we'll always be here to help you." said Rotor. "I promise we'll find those

two and bring them together, somehow."

"Remember, just believe in yourself."

Alison nodded, "Okay."

"You don't really mean that." Athair replied. "It's not enough to say you do,

you must actually do it. Now, do you believe in yourself or not?"

"I do." Alison remarked in a pestered voice.

"With confidence."

Alison rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Knuckles came forward, "Alison, this is the only way you can get home. If you do

not trust yourself, you'll never get home and the world will be corrupt. IS that

what you want?"

Alison shook her head, "No, but..."

"Do you want to let that poor echidna down that you promise you'd help?" He

asked louder.

Then, it came back to Alison why she had come to Mobius: to help that poor

echidna. She thought to herself, "That echidna, that sorceress was separated

from her family, her sister, just like I was. She must feel lonely like me, but

if we work together we can both be with our families again. I can't let her

down!" Alison answered Knuckles' question, "No!"

Rotor asked, "Do you want Robotnik to reign his terror across Mobius forever,

Roboticising animals, killing people and sending Snively and his robots after

us?"

Alison tingled at Snively's name again, for she still felt feelings for him, but

she kept her cool and answered confidently, "NO! You're right, we can do this!

We can bring them together and work to defeat this evil thing.. this..." she

turned to Athair, "What exactly are we defeating."

"The greatest evil ever to come upon this planet."

"Oh." Alison replied slightly confused.

Rotor came up to Alison, "C'mon, we got work to do. We gotta find that

sorceress."

Alison nodded and smiled, "Yep, in the words of Sonic, let's do it to it."

Athair turned to Knuckles, "Thank you for guiding her here, Bobby."

"Bobby?!" Alison giggled at Knuckles. "I thought you didn't have a name."

"Well..." He began to blush, "I have a name, but I hate it, so now I change it

to Knuckles." He finished with a stern expression.

"We'll call you Knuckles." said Rotor.

Alison waved good-bye to Athair, "Thanks so much!"

"Alison!" Athair called before she and Rotor left; he motioned for her to come

close to him as if he had a secret to tell her. She came over to him and he drew

her and whispered to her, "You must never loose faith in yourself. If you do,

you will die."

For some reason, this came as no surprise to Alison. She smiled and replied, "I

understand." Athair smiled back at her and let her go.

Alison walked up to Rotor and the two of them walked to the cave entrance, "What

did he say." Rotor asked.

Alison shrugged, "He just told me to believe in myself."

"That's good advice."

Alison chuckled to herself; she and Rotor exited the cave where Dulcy was

waiting to take them back to Knothole.

So began Alison's quest and journey. A journey that would bring her to her true

destiny and beyond.

All comments about this fic can be written to me, Sonique, at

soneec@sonicrules.zzn.com