Winds of Freedom

Chapter 36: I Notice I Notice

{Pre A/N}

Shadow Gens was awesome, now back to writing, thought a bit rusty mind you.

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Chapter 36: I Notice I Notice

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Avalice Archipelago - Above the Waters, Morning Hours

The morning sun cast its golden glow across the endless stretch of the Trail Ocean, the waves glistening below as a purple figure cut through the skies with a high-pitched hum. Metal Lilac's engines roared, moving smoothly toward her destination, Angel Island. She had only seen glimpses in her memory files of this strange and mystical place-vivid images stored deep within her system, detailing its lush greenery, expansive mushroom forests, and the ancient ruins that defied logic by floating in the sky.

Every sight filled her internal system with a strange electric warmth. The feeling was foreign. Was this... excitement? Could she feel things like this? Her mechanical body was meant for speed and precision, every part of her finely tuned for one purpose, but this feeling was definitely not part of her programming...was it? The cool morning air whipped around her, and for a moment, she slowed her flight, casting her gaze downward to the reflective waters.

The water's surface mirrored her image, and she found herself captivated by her own appearance-her metallic, lavender plating glinting in the sunlight. She studied herself, her metallic tendrils swaying in the wind, and felt an unexpected surge of gratitude. She existed. Out of all possible creations, she was brought to life by her creator. The world around her was unlike anything she'd imagined.

She could see the horizon stretching infinitely, the vibrant colors of sunrise merging with the deep blue of the ocean below. How beautiful the world was. She was here to experience it-to explore it, conquer it, even, if that's what her creator needed. There was so much for her to learn, an entire world. So many things to understand.

But as she drifted in her brief moment, a flash of colors caught her attention, pulling her focus back to the skies ahead. Metal Lilac's optics zoomed in on the small objects moving steadily across the ocean toward Angel Island. A red plane and a yellow one.

She narrowed her gaze, her processors analyzing the passengers instantly. In the red plane, she recognized the blue figure of Sonic, the swift hedgehog her creator had warned her about. In the controls sat an orange fox. Her gaze shifted to the yellow plane just ahead of them, where she spotted a peculiar, green-skinned figure, seated alongside a wildcat. And then her gaze landed on the last passenger.

Her optics flashed, her internal systems humming with newfound intensity. Sitting calmly in the cockpit was a purple dragon. In her systems, she recognized that familiar face instantly.

Something within her surged to life. A memory, a recognition, something primal that felt almost like... anger. An imitation of her own form, but inferior, flawed.

She noticed a look-alike

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The morning sunlight glinted off the wings of the two planes, racing side by side across the shimmering waters. In the lead was the Tornado, piloted by Tails with steady precision, and just behind it, the Spinner, the new addition to their team, skillfully handled by Torque. Both planes hurtled towards Angel Island.