Sonic The Hedgehog: Dark-Bright

[INTERMISSION ARC] Chapter 45: Dreadlocks

Meanwhile, Sonic was off on the chase again. He had decided to find that power source. However, as he tried to search, two mysterious figures landed on a plain grassy area that looked like a park. The first figure asked, "It's safe to say this town has nothing left, although... there are a few living people out there, but... it's so little." He wondered to himself. Then the other figure looked up at the sky and spoke, "It looks like we are done checking the area. You will try to lurk around the town as much as possible while I'm on my important duty. You can do that by yourself, right?"

"Yeah...! I don't have any problem with that. This job will be as easy as it did!" He shouted to himself. It seemed like that person was less serious than the other one, showing a difference in their behavior. The bulkier figure threw that odd void ring again and entered the portal, leaving only the clumsy figure behind. But then he walked a bit and ventured into one of the town's districts.

The scene shifted to Aeon, who was in a bit of panic. Although he was inside a house, he held a button. "With this click, I can send a signal to Dijon. He'll surely react quickly and help Sonic, but it can be risky. He doesn't have his special powers anymore, but we'll do anything to ward them off." He pressed the button, triggering the signal. After a while, it seemed like Dijon was asleep until he was awakened by the alarm. It startled him, and the orange-quilled one turned the lights on. He looked at the strange expression on his face and said, "An... alarm? But our home didn't have any signal inside here. What's even going on?"

The signal kept beeping, annoying him, so he started looking for the source of the alarm. He heard the sounds coming from one of his small boxes on the desk, so he picked it up and examined it. "Wait... That's the gift that Aeon gave me. How interesting. Although I hid that plushie under the box, I can open it again to see how it's doing." He carefully opened the box, his face filled with anxiety. Inside was a green chao plushie, just as Aeon had said. Dijon pressed the button on the plushie, and it turned off. He looked slightly relieved. "Well, I'm glad it turned off normally..." Just as he said that the plushie jumped off the box, screaming. "'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'"

"What...?!'' Dijon then got a little jumpscare from that plushie and freaked out. "WHY IS THERE A LIVING DOLL IN MY ROOM?!"

"Hey...! I'm not a doll, I'm... BRASO...! Bras for short." He grinned afterward, feeling strange to make a facial expression as if he was just a Chao, a living plush toy. But then he replied, "I've had enough of weird shenanigans this past month, so I won't be creeped out by you. How can a living doll be this lively?"

"UGH...! I'm not a CREEP! You're just saying it because you feel like it. And I'm lively because I have a soul, D.O.O.F.US." With the doll's personality, he seemed like a guy who could crack up a thousand jokes. Dijon then knelt down and looked closely at him. "So, is there any reason why Aeon gifted you to me? Also... why were you beeping earlier?"

"Uhhh..." He paused for a moment before finally answering, "That Old Fart... He inserted something in me. I don't know what it does, but it actually makes a system that can be used as an alarm system. I expected him to make me use some miniguns, not be a boring alarm!" He began punching his own belly area with his fists.

"I get it now. Now... I need to find him, but how...?" Dijon shrugged.

"Ayy, I'm not much of a map guide, so I can't tell you, that geezer... He should've given me a map, forgetful!" He sat down, making a grumpy expression.

As he listened, Dijon put on his shoes and was ready to head outside. "Even if it's night, he is probably still waiting for me. I bet it's something important." Braso looked at him with a sad expression. "Wait, are you going to leave me here alone?"

"Uh, apologies... Maybe you can come with me, Braso guy." He looked down at him and picked him up onto his shoulder, like a pet. "We're ready to go."

"YAHOOO! This is going to be fun!" Braso expressed his happiness while Dijon looked embarrassed.

So, they went outside and were immediately greeted by Aeon, who smiled brightly as he looked at Braso and chuckled. "It's so great to see that you were able to awaken him, Dijon. He's surely a nice guy to talk to, right?"

"You...! Why did you let me be with this boy who barely has anything charming about him? I'm mad!" Braso couldn't hold back and started throwing random tantrums at the old guy, while Dijon tried to calm him down. "I think you should stay quiet."

"Oh, that's right." Strangely enough, he kept his mouth closed for now, and the orange one stared at Aeon. "So, can you explain what this gift you gave me is supposed to be?"

"Oh, that...? It's one of the experiments I made. I tried to bring that plushie doll to life, although I created it using an artificial soul. I didn't expect him to be this hot-headed." He sighed at that statement.

"So, there are... artificial souls. Impressive." It intrigued him, amusing him by Braso's existence.

"I think we should move to a more serious topic, boy. I believe one of your friends, out of foolishness, will encounter two individuals he should never cross paths with." Aeon's expression quickly changed to a more serious one.

"What are those two individuals you speak of? I'm not following." Dijon questioned.

"I must say, they are the ones who have a similar power to yours, the ability to wield a Soul Weapon," he exclaimed further.

"Wait...? These two are the wielders of the Soul Weapon, you say? But what good am I to use it? I don't even have this type of power anymore." He sighed, looking down at Aeon.

"That's why I'm telling you to warn your friend about it. Just make sure neither of your friends goes into this trouble." He rolled his eyes, aware of the danger these two mysterious beings pose.

"I told Sonic that even if I'm powerless, I'll still help people. So I'll help any of his friends, In need. " He clenched his fist, determined to provide assistance.

"Very well, Dijon. You may go now... and there's one thing to say, we will meet again." Aeon poked his cane to the ground, took a step away, and vanished into thin air. Braso looked amused as if still impressed by his creator.

"My old guy is reasonable, so you should follow his words, well," Braso said.

"Well... he never told me where my friend went." Dijon scratched his head, thinking about it.

"That's old him. He never tells the most important details, but we can try our luck..." Braso made a tired face, knowing that this hunt would be tough for them.

"It won't be that challenging for me." He smiled, and both agreed that they could trust themselves to fulfill their duty. They walked out.

Not long after, the bulked-up figure arrived on a floating island that resembled Angel Island. The figure took off its heavy suit, revealing a cloaked metallic uniform. It became apparent that the figure was some kind of metallic being. They began taking steps closer to the altars, and from the altar, Knuckles was seen asleep, still protecting Master Emerald. The Master Emerald had a slightly different appearance, with a darker shade compared to before. The figure approached Knuckles and stomped loudly, waking him up. Knuckles was infuriated. "UGH..!"

The figure kept getting closer and closer to the Master Emerald. "That gem's power is too wicked for you to keep it anymore. It needs some righteous hands to be on our side."

Knuckles looked confused and weren't sure what was going on or what he understood from the figure's words. He replied with a basic speech, "What..?"

"No time to play around. Surrender, or you will face an unfortunate end." The machine's visor glowed as they summoned a weapon, a Soulblade.

-Chapter End-