Genesis: The Animal Within

Chapter Nine

Inside, Arkayna has finished cleaning up the TV room and is now listening to a song called Not Just Royalty and Riches by Nikki Gregoroff (if SEGA decides to make another Sonic game, I'm currently working on the plot. Please note that it's a crossover between Sonic the Hedgehog and Mysticons called Sonic Geminan Resurrection). Whilst listening, she was wondering what happened to her regally rebellious sister and her heroically speedy friend. "I thought I said that once the sugar rush reached sugar crash mode, they must come back inside," she thought, "what's going on? Where are they?" She started to grow increasingly worried. "I better phone them," Arkayna finally thought. She then whipped out her phone and tried phoning Zarya. As the phone rang, Arkayna heard a song called Runaway Wild Child playing in Zarya's room. Arkayna followed the sound, and as soon as she entered her sister's room, she found Zarya's and Sonic's phone on the night stand, charging. "Wait a minute," she thought, "if they're both outside, but their phones are inside, then that means... Oh no! I have to tell the others, Sonic and Zarya are in..." She couldn't even finish her thought as she hung up and wrote a message to the others. The message read: Sonic and Zarya are missing! Meet me at HQ right now, I'll explain as we go along. Arkayna didn't even think twice before sending the message to the rest of the group, and so she sent it in an instant.

(A few minutes later)
Arkayna was pacing nervously by the door, hoping that everyone else is going to make it. She almost fell on her knees and sobbed when she heard the door swing open. Silver and Piper rushed back from Victory Heights, Em and Tails flew back from Rudiks Hollow, Knuckles glided back from Angel Island and Shadow skated back from Centaur Park to get some answers about Arkayna's message. "We got here as fast as we could," said Tails, "what happened?" "Sonic, Zarya and I were watching a movie," Arkayna sobbed, "and as soon as it ended, Sonic and Zarya were shivering. I assumed that it was a sugar rush, so I told them to go outside." "A sugar rush doesn't last that long," Tails and Em said in unison, "unless..." "IT WAS 2 MEASLY BOTTLES OF SODA," Arkayna yelled, "OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T LAST THAT LONG, GENIUSES!" Everyone else stared at Arkayna in shock and disbelief as Tails and Em curled up in fright. "Sorry, guys, I'm just worried about them," Arkayna said softly. "You were saying," Shadow sarcastically asked. Piper gave a low and irritated groan that really concerned her boyfriend, Silver. "Oh right," Arkayna said, "whilst I cleaned up, I heard some kind of noise outside that got me a bit worried. I got really worried when I tried phoning Zarya, but she didn't answer her phone." "No. If I knew Zarya like I do," Knuckles sighed, "I'd know that she'd never leave the house without her phone. Except if it's charging, or when we're in battle." "Exactly," Arkayna replied, gesturing to her sister's room, "we have to find Sonic and Zarya." "And I know exactly how," Piper exclaimed. She then turned into her Mysticon Striker form, then gave everyone else some sort of sinister look. "Uh, Pipes, what's up with the face," Em asked. "That is just step one," Piper replied, smirking, "and now for step two." "And, what is this step two," Knuckles asked. "I'm glad you asked, Knux," Piper said, " 'cause I'll need a Chaos Emerald." "Why," everyone else except Silver asked in unison. "Have you guys learned nothing about elves," Silver sarcastically said. "A handful of us can detect Chaos Energy, silly," Piper added, "and Sonic is covered in that stuff. And that's why I asked for the Chaos Emerald." "If your nose can sense Chaos Energy, then why don't you just sniff me," Shadow asked. "Sonic uses positive Chaos Energy in battle," Piper sighed, "and, no offense, Shadow, but you use negative Chaos Energy most of the time. We're trying to find Sonic, you'll only get in the way." "No wonder she calls you annoying, Shadow," Tails teased, "you two have some beef going on." Shadow restricted himself, but failed to hold back his response, so he growled. "Yeah, yeah, we have beef going on with one another, Tails," Piper sighed, "but we're not focusing on that. We have to find Sonic and Zarya, and for that I need that Chaos Emerald." Everyone then stared at the Ultimate Life Form, who reluctantly gave the Emerald to Piper. The enthusiastic elf then placed her nose on the powerful gem, summoned her Phoenix Bracer and sniffed the powerful energy. "Remind me again why you are sniffing everything," Shadow sarcastically asked. "Shut up, faker," the girls sighed. When she was finished sniffing the pure elements, Piper started sniffing around the area, specifically on the ground. Everyone else stared at the hardworking elf as she sniffed the floor like a bloodhound. The last whiff was taken when Piper gestured to the still open door. "This way," she commanded. "Well, what are we waiting for," Silver sarcastically asked, "let's go." With that, everyone ran outside, blindly following the Mysticon Striker.

Meanwhile:
Sonic and Zarya were running through the forest, as far as the eye can see. It seems as if they didn't want to let the others see them as monsters. Little did they know, they were being watched (all shall be revealed throughout the story). They both stopped at the edge of a cliff and panted. "Zarya," Sonic gasped, "how did this happen. What is going on?" "I have no idea, Sonic," Zarya replied, "but perhaps we can use it to our advantage in the future. Who knows what'll happen next?" Suddenly, their ears twitched as a faint sound went across the forest. "You mean like right now," Sonic asked, smirking. Zarya giggled the moment he asked, then jokingly replied, "Yes, Sonic, like right now." She then paused as she recollected her first time exploring the forest: she remembered hearing a noise like that, but it sounded a lot less clear than what she heard just now. She then came back to the present and instantly followed the sound, but on all fours. Sonic was confused, but he reciprocated said movements as he followed Zarya. They sneaked through their surroundings as the sound became clearer and clearer. They stopped by a bush when the sound was clear enough to make out. "What is that," Sonic whispered. "Relax, dude," Zarya replied, "it's just the sounds of the night. Y'know, the nocturnal animals." They both stared at once another before quietly laughing. "Shall we join this nocturnal orchestra," Zarya whispered. "We shall, Z," Sonic replied. Zarya briefly gave Sonic a look that said, "Follow me," before leaving her somewhat awkward position and going back to the edge of the cliff. Sonic was obviously a few steps behind his friend as he awaited for what was to happen next. At the edge, they sat up but in a way that an animal would. The nocturnal animals kept on making their unique noises when Zarya howled, joining them. She stopped all of a sudden, then looked at Sonic. "Why aren't you, y'know," she asked. "I've never let anyone else hear me howl before," Sonic replied, blushing, "in fact, I think that it's kinda embarrassing." "Nonsense," Zarya sighed, "no howl is too embarrassing. You're just letting loose. My advice: find that inner animal and let it out. Just do it!" Zarya didn't even reconsider her decision as she howled again. Sonic thought for a moment, and he finally joined Zarya without any regrets. The two werewolves seemed to enjoy spending time together and howling at the Moon when they heard something from behind. Sonic and Zarya quickly turned around and faced behind them. "What's going on," Sonic whispered. "No idea," Zarya replied, "but maybe this'll be the perfect time to teach you a bit of wolf instincts needed for certain situations." Sonic nodded, awaiting the Princess's next command. "Just follow me," Zarya whispered. Without a moment to lose, she went on all fours and slowly walked to where the sound originated. Sonic hadn't wasted any more time as he followed Zarya yet again. The duo almost made it to the forest entrance when they finally saw what, or in this instance, who was making that noise. They found their friends! Piper was somehow leading the group, enthusiastically marching and merrily singing to keep everyone's spirits high:

Piper: We're off to go and find our friends, hoorah, hoorah! We're off to go and find our friends, hoorah, hoorah! We're off to go and find our friends...
Arkayna: Even though one of them is my sister and I miss her terribly.
(Everyone stops for a moment and shrugs)
Piper: We are off to find our friends!
Arkayna: Even if. It's takes us. The whole night!
"Uh oh, we gotta jet," Zarya whispered, "we can't let us see them like this!" Without a second to think, Zarya ran on all fours. "Zarya, wait," Sonic called. He went after Zarya on all fours too. They did not go very far when they suddenly heard something from afar as if it were right next to them. "Hey, Sonic, did you hear that," Zarya asked. "Yeah," Sonic replied, "it sounds like that sound used to censor swear words, but higher and more ongoing." The sound became louder and louder as they kept on listening. They suddenly started to feel pain slowly rushing through their bodies. The sound became louder and louder, and Sonic and Zarya started groaning as the pain manifested from their toes to their legs, from their torsos to their arms, from their necks to their brains. It was only a matter of time before they screamed in pain, and then, they fainted again.

Hey guys, I'm gonna put this on hold because I have no ideas for now. I want to thank you all so much for supporting me, and I hope you get back to this as soon as I have more ideas. In the meantime, please enjoy all my other stories, and as always have a good day/night. 😅