Alter Egos

Chapter 16

"So, we're finally meeting face to face."

Sonic opened his eyes slowly with a groan.
He took in his surroundings as he stood up.
The sky was bright and pastel colored, but not in a bad way, just more of a soft sunset with wispy looking cotton clouds. The grass underneath his feet was a beautiful shade of green and was dotted with multicolored flowers of all kinds.

"Where am I?" He then became aware of the presence of someone behind him. He spun around and almost panicked when he thought Achlys was there, but as the figure came more into focus, he realized that it was someone else.

They had the energy that radiated off Achlys, intense and slightly overwhelming, but it was also like a warm and comforting beam of sunlight on a clear day. "I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you face to face, but these circumstances aren't really the ones I expected to meet you in." The voice the figure spoke in was clear and soothing. And familiar.

Sonic's eyes widened in realization.
"You... you're me. I-I-I mean I was you- in a dream or something-" The figure laughed, "Well... perhaps you were, maybe not."

"My name is Lucian."

A shock of recognition jolted through Sonic. "You... you were the one Achlys was talking about that day..." Lucian did a startled take as Sonic observed him with a curious gaze.
Lucian appeared to also be a hedgehog, with long, pure white quills streaked with what looked like every color of the rainbow. He was laced with a few pieces of silver and gold jewelry and on his neck hung a simple rope necklace much like the one on Achlys. "That dream was simply a way of showing you what happened all those centuries ago before I... sealed Achlys away." He tensed up while he said Achlys' name out loud, and was silent for a few moments. Sonic opened his mouth to say something but was suddenly cut off. "Now listen, I don't have a lot of time, in the next 10 minutes, you are going to wake up, so I need to explain some things to you." Sonic threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "Finally, some answers about that weird guy? Geez... about time."

"Sorry" he added apologetically. Lucian smiled. "No problem, I would've probably said the same thing in your situation." Lucian sat down and patted a patch of grass next to him, inviting Sonic to sit down next to him.

"So where to start..." He mused quietly before speaking again."I'll just give you the basic details, as our time is short.  Me and Achlys were created by an old, primal godlike being who's time in this world was quickly running out. We were created out of the last of his energy, his... replacements, you could say. We were made to carry on his duties after he faded back into stardust."

"Me and Achlys were meant to balance each other out, to be opposites. He was the dark to my light, the night to my day, and yet despite all of our differences, we became close friends. We would hang out and maybe go sightseeing."
"In fact..." He motioned to the beautiful area surrounding them, "This was one of our favorite places to visit when I was... still alive."

He paused for a brief moment, his eyes filling with a sadness and quiet longing.
"That day seemed like any other day. I was helping out some people in a small village and I had plans to meet with Achlys later that day. I remember finishing up and flying off to meet him, but he wasn't there. Then the sky turned red and by the time I finally found him he had already destroyed so much... and the worst part was that I couldn't understand why he was doing this. I..."

A butterfly landed on his resting hand and he lifted it up gently, traces of deep sadness once again flashing across his face. "I had to seal him away, at the cost of my own life. I had never wanted it to come to this though."

Lucian watched the butterfly float away on the breeze, and his voice seemed more quiet now.
"He is angry. I can sense it. He is mad, frustrated, and so confused. When I tried to help you in that lab, he was shaken to his core. The sudden shock of my energy with his after so many years took a lot out of both of us, but he reacted in confusion and he still managed to get you..." He looked at Sonic before turning away, looking guilty.

"I chose you as a vessel to carry on my spirit, but I think now I should not have forced this responsibility upon you."

Sonic leaned over and placed a hand on his shoulder, staring firmly into his eyes.
"It wasn't your fault. I just got caught off guard, that's all. Now, I may have gotten injured, but without your help, I might've ended up worse. So don't blame yourself for doing what you thought was the right thing to do at the time."

Lucian stared, then smiled, genuinely. "It seems I was correct. You are a good person with a good heart. Choosing you was the right decision." Sonic smiled back.
Lucian stood up and extended his hand. "It is almost time for you to leave, I look forward to speaking with you once again. And about your injury... I should be able to use what limited power I have to speed up the process without a trace afterwards." Sonic smiled gratefully. "Well, don't overexert yourself then."
He took Lucian's outstretched hand, allowing himself to be helped up.

The butterfly from before landed on his hand.

The world suddenly began to fade in and out.

"Goodbye Sonic, and thank you."

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Back to the real world we go...

It's getting a little more difficult to find enough time to write, but I'll do my best and try to keep posting chapters.

Happy reading!