Chapter Text
This shouldn't have happened. The new locator program was fully integrated into the device's system now- why was he in the middle of a forest again ?!
The hell is wrong with the program?!
He may make that trip back to Universe 326 soon. He has no idea what is causing the device to act up like this and Nine is so tired of it.
Looking around, nothing immediately stands out about it. No spooky chill or uncanny silence. It seems normal.
So why was the locator sending him here ?! What was so important about this forest? In the last Universe he was in, Sonic- or King Arthur now, was there. In Universe 324, the forest was close to the school Sonic taught at. He half expects that damn blue hedgehog is going to crash through the tree line any second now. He could never get away from the hedgehog- not with fate so determined to keep them close.
He sighs but starts his routine anyway. These last few universes have been ok. Begrudgingly, he's started to enjoy the company he finds in these universes. This one could be different, but he won't know unless he does something.
His device detects birds, critters, and insects, all native to this forest. Nothing major. The device beeps and he opens up the I.D. on the specimen.
It's a bigger lifeform, around the size of a bear, about 1 ½ miles out. Though he's not sure if staying put would be a good idea. For one, it's completely made of some form of energy that's solidified into a semi-stable mass. He's not sure how this thing is staying together, let alone walking around.
He does another scan, now locked onto the creature. Some of the same energy is dispersed in the air around it. Could be a natural output. He's unsure if it serves any other purpose but Nine isn't even sure he wants to get closer.
The reading shows that it bears no visible flying capabilities, and he can always portal away if things get dire.
Well- he should be able to portal out of this Universe. Unlike that damn Trial of the Clouds.
Flying around would also give him a view of the area. So maybe a little examination of this mystery creature is in order.
He takes off, getting at a good height above the trees before taking a look around.
Damn it, he's really in the middle of nowhere. He can see the dark tree tops stretching for miles in the dim light. It seems like he's in the middle of a valley, with a snow capped mountain framing one end of it. The silver light of the moon makes the mountain shimmer. He doesn't see any towns in sight.
Ok, portaling out of here is looking more and more appealing.
Well, at least he can bide his time. He flies over to the location of the creature. The canopy is particularly dense, and the already low light doesn't make seeing through it any easier. Ideally, he doesn't want to get the attention of the creature. He just wants to observe it and it's weird energy. Maybe they're another creature like the Chaos that are just part of Sonic's world.
Nine slows down when he hears the sounds of fighting. Finding a strong looking tree and grabbing on, he angles his ears towards the noise. He can't quite see beyond the leaves but he can hear the noise without problem.
Definitely sounds like someone is struggling in a fight and not being restrained. Moving across the tree, he tries to find a place where he can see. Peering through the leaves, his eyes widen as he immediately spots the creature.
Or creatures.
He was right about them being the size of bears. Or maybe even bigger. Bright purple and greens highlight its forms in the dark, while dark blue makes up the rest. Its claws look over 3 inches long, thick and protruding from its appendages. Its body looks sturdy and thick, able to take any manner of hits.
Including the thing the group is trying to get.
There are about four of them now, all aiming for some smaller thing between them. It must be very good at dodging the creature's attacks. The creatures block his view completely. He sits and watches for a few seconds longer, thinking.
…it wouldn't be hard to shoot one in the back. Maybe target one of its weaker looking points? They still don't look like they can fly, so he would have the advantage.
He readies one tail to fire, the slight whine not grabbing their attention. He waits for one to angle themselves towards him. A shot in the eye should be a good start.
A yell startles him into nearly firing. From the middle of the creatures, a figure jumps up with a bright green light surrounding them.
“CHAOS- BLAST!”
Green light nearly blinds him, and Nine ducks down to avoid it. Opening his eyes, he sees two of the creatures on the ground, while the other two were knocked back into trees.
ccrrRCK-
“oh FUCK- ” Nine feels the tree he's in fall, and he tries to climb through the branches to escape being crushed by the tree. He lands on top of it just as it hits the ground.
Well that could have gone better.
He looks up to see the figure from before, fighting off two of the creatures. He watches, dazed, as the figure summons what looks like a bolt of green lightning and throws it at one. It pierces the creature's hide like nothing, and it falls with a screech. He watches as it disapears in a puff of purple smoke.
Huh.
His ears swivel back as he hears a low growl from behind him. Slowly turning his head, he meets the bright green and purple eyes of a creature.
So much for not getting their attention. He fires a beam at the creatures, hitting it in the center of it's head. It screeches as it rears back in pain, giving Nine a chance to get up. He uses his tails to give him more height, and continues firing at it, aiming for any weak looking areas he sees.
The creature roars and charges at him. Nine uses his tails to launch himself up- but the creature beats him. It catches his tails- two for each claw, and slams him into the ground. He grunts, pain blossoming in the back of his head but he ignores it. Readying two blasts, he glares at the creature as it roars in his face and bears its teeth ready to-
Nine hears another roar in the distance. In a second, the creature is knocked off of him. Something leaps over him and he takes his chance to launch into the air. He scans the area, seeing one last creature taking on the first figure. When the first figure jumps back, he launches a series of blasts at it. It doesn't go down but his distraction opens up one final attack from the figure, and they strike it down in one final bolt.
Looking around, they completely cleared the area. Nine lands, sighing. The pain in his head returns at full force, and he groans as it starts to throb. Does he still have pain meds, or well he have to get more?
“Are you ok?” Says a voice to his left. Opening his eyes, he sees none other than Shadow the Hedgehog. Or, this Universe's Shadow.
“Yeah, 'm alright.” He replies, resisting the urge to rub his head. Though it seems like the hedgehog doesn't believe him.
“Your ears are laying at completely different angles and I saw it pin you.”
Nine doesn't know what this feeling is. Being called out by Shadow is…different. Maybe because his universe's Shadow couldn't care less for him. He feels his ears adjust themselves as he folds them back.
“I can take care of it myself.” He replies. Pulling his arm close to him, he starts a self-scan. Shadow silently watches it all, staring at Nine with the same intensity as the other Shadows.
His results show that while he doesn't have a concussion, he should still monitor his head just in case.
“Hmm. Well if it's not a concussion then you won't need a hospital.” Shadow says, surprising him. How did he even read the scan's results, the print is not only backwards but also small. “I can bring you to a friend who can help. She's helping with any injuries me or my…team receive.”
He is probably talking about the Rose counterpart. Sonic had called her- Amy? Maybe.
“No, I should be fine-”
“Most people aren't 'fine’ when tackled by a beast that large. Let us get you help.”
Nine pauses. “...Us?”
“Area around us is cleare- where did he come from?!”
He turns around- only to see another creature.
It's about the same size as the other ones, except covered in dark blue and white fur. Bright purple markings cover its body in hypnotizing patterns, but they don't fade in or fade out like the other lifeforms did. A blue muzzle and a head of dark fur stare down at him. Green eyes filled with confusion and concern meet his, and a memory pops up in the back of his head.
'Eggman had used me to cause the Dark Gala event. It left me stuck in this cool monster form I call the 'Werehog’. Had to transform into it every night.’
“Sonic?” The name slips out of his mouth. He tenses when both hedgehogs stiffen at the name.
“How'd you-” The werehog pauses, tilting his head and looking closer at Nine. “You look like Tails. But…you're not.”
Shadow takes a step closer to him, peering down at him with those piercing red eyes. “Who are you and why were you here?”
Looking between the werehog and Shadow, Nine sighs. Guess he isn't leaving this universe anytime soon.