FicWad

Sonic, Sonia, and Manic wandered around a destroyed pavilion in the center of Hamarapi.
"What happened to this place?" Manic asked.
Sonic looked at a carving of a large wave of water in one of the pictures. "Depends on who you ask. There's a lot of legends about it."
Manic looked over the hieroglyphics on a slab of rubble. "So who are we meeting here again?"
"Whoever's king here now." Sonia replied.
"Aman-rapi the first." Manic said, prying a gem out of one of the fallen pillars.
"Who?" Sonia asked.
"For someone who's supposed to be a princess, you sure know absolutely nothing about current events." Manic replied.
Sonic glanced at Sonia. "He's got a point."
"I'll never understand why you've settled with crime, when you seem to be so well educated, Manic." Sonia said.
"Because no one wanted to have any dealings with runaway echidna property unless they wanted to sell you back." Manic replied. He slid his tunic sleeve up so Sonia could see the brand in his arm better. "That's why."
Sonic and Sonia winced.
Sonic pointed to a group in the distance. "There's a caravan." He said. "Let's check it out."
The hedgehogs walked closer and bowed down at the caravan.
The caravan stopped.
A hedgehog, who looked almost identical to Sonic except his elegant clothing, was being carried on a decorated palanquin.
Sonic smirked. "This country has class."
The other hedgehog got off the palanquin with the help of his guards.
"Aman-rapi?" Sonic asked.
"Yes, and are you the warriors who (my sources say) were supposed to come here?" Aman-rapi asked.
"Yes, sir; at your service." Sonia replied.
Aman-rapi noticed Manic. "Guards, seize him." He said, pointing to Manic.
Manic gulped as two of the guards grabbed him by his shoulders and a third pointed a sword at his chest. "S- Sonic?"
Sonic sighed. "What did he do?"
"He desecrated a sacred temple." Aman-rapi replied. "Chaos has terrorized our land because of his irreverence."
Manic rolled his eyes. "That's a coinci-"
Sonic slapped his hand over Manic's mouth. "He will make things right with you and your country, your highness." He said. "We need him. He defeated the dragon of Tashistan single handedly today."
Manic grinned nervously. "I- it was an easy job, your highness."
Aman-rapi looked at his nearly destroyed city. "I suppose I don't have a choice." He muttered under his breath. "Very well; let him go."
The two guards let Manic go while the other sheathed his sword.
"Let Chaos deal with him personally if he isn't pleased with his insolence." Aman-rapi said. "Guards, set up the meeting place."
The guards began to set up a tent that they unpacked from their camels.
Sonic pulled Manic aside. "You desecrated their temple?"
"Okay, so it sounds bad when you say it like that." Manic replied. "I was hungry and that junk sold for about a hundred rings, which is about… uh… one hundred and fifty Mobiums."
Sonic shook his head. "Look, I don't follow their religion and I know you don't either."
Manic nodded.
"They take it very seriously here." Sonic said. "Smart off about it and you are dead before you can say another word. Just keep your mouth shut and agree to disagree while we're here."
"Fine, fine." Manic muttered.
Sonic walked Manic to the tent. He held the entrance flap back to let Manic in.
Aman-rapi and Sonia were sitting down on the tent floor.
Manic sat down beside Sonia.
"So, Sonic, you and your brother are from Mobodoon." Aman-rapi said.
Sonic sat down beside Manic. "Yeah, why?"
"We're distantly related." Aman-rapi replied. "My uncle's family was sent to Mobodoon. It's a law here, but I don't want to bore you with our politics and customs. We need your help."
Sonia handed Manic and Sonic a papyrus scroll with a drawing of a shapeless, watery creature chasing villagers.
"This is Chaos." Aman-rapi said, pointing to the watery creature.
Manic chuckled. "It looks like a dragon-shaped puddle."
Aman-rapi grimaced. "I will be greatly surprised if you survive this ordeal."
Sonic shuddered. "It- it's made of water?!"
"Is that a problem?" Aman-rapi asked.
"Sonic's an aquaphobe." Sonia replied.
Aman-rapi groaned. "I may as well surrender to the echidnas if these are the warriors I get."
"We'll help you defend your country." Manic said.
"You have to if you value your life, Manic." Aman-rapi replied.
Manic subtly slid his hand to his knife, which he had strapped to his thigh. "Is that a threat?"
"If you are unable to defeat Chaos in combat, there's only two more solutions." Aman-rapi replied. "Sacrifice the one who offended him or sacrifice a male member of the royal family. You're Sonic's brother, so you are related to the Rapi royal family, and you offended Chaos."
Manic looked at Sonic, who was now balled up and shaking. "Great. I kinda figured robbing that temple would bite me in the behind."
Sonic slowly uncurled. "We- we'll fight Chaos."
*
Sonia, Sonic, and Manic made their way to the oasis where Chaos was last seen.
Sonic quickly glanced around, then turned to walk away. "Oh, he's moved on, let's-"
Chaos emerged from the pool and roared at them. He stretched his tentacles at the hedgehogs.
The hedgehogs stepped back.
Chaos towered over them, dripping water around them.
Sonic shivered. "That… that's a… a lot of water."
Manic drew his sword and struck the ground.
The clods of earth slammed into Chaos, but turned to mud.
Chaos shook off the mud and stretched his tentacle at Manic.
Manic grabbed his knife and stabbed Chaos' tentacle.
Chaos slapped Manic aside with his other tentacle.
Sonic helped Manic up.
Sonia drew her sword and activated it.
The sword glowed red and crackled with electricity.
Sonia threw her sword at Chaos' left side, hitting her target.
A large blast of electricity surged from Chaos and Sonia's sword.
Chaos let out an anguished howl as sparks of electricity crackled through and around his body.
Sonic grabbed Manic and Sonia's arms and dragged them to what he believed was a safe distance. "This can't be good."
The hedgehogs shielded their eyes as a blast of blinding light shined from Chaos and Sonia's sword.
The sound of the explosion was almost deafening.
The hedgehogs were knocked several feet back from the blast.
The flash of light faded away.
"Is it dead?" Manic asked.
Sonic got up and ran over to pick up her sword, which was burned to a crisp.
Manic sat up and looked at Sonia. "You okay?"
Sonia sat up, rubbing her head. "W- what happened?" She asked. "Is Chaos defeated?"
Sonic ran back over. "He's evaporated and your sword's destroyed."
Manic helped Sonia up. "That gets me off the hook."
Sonic motioned to a caravan. "Aman-rapi must've seen the explosion."
The hedgehogs approached the caravan and bowed.
"Chaos has been defeated, your majesty." Sonic said, motioning to the oasis and the burned palm trees around it.
Aman-rapi snapped his fingers for one of his guards, who was holding a large wooden chest. "I'm very impressed." He replied. "Thank you for saving what's left of my country. Here's your reward."
Sonic, Sonia, and Manic bowed again. "You're welcome, your majesty," They said.
Sonic took the chest.
"All charges against you are dropped, Manic." Aman-rapi replied. "You're a free male now. Don't squander this second chance."
Manic bowed. "Yes, your majesty. Thank you."
Aman-rapi looked at the guard holding extra swords. "Give Sonia her new sword."
The guard gave Sonia the sword in the ruby red scabbard.
"A visiting craftsman has these made for you all." Aman-rapi said.
Sonia took the sword. "Thank you, your majesty."
"Go in peace." Aman-rapi said. "I'm certain you three will succeed in your mission."
Sonic turned to Sonia and Manic. "Where to next?"
Sonia unrolled a scroll.
"Who keeps giving you the scrolls?" Sonic asked.
Sonia looked it over, then stuffed it back in her bag. "A trusted ally."
Manic snuck the scroll out of her bag while she wasn't looking.
"We're supposed to go to Port Mobius." Sonia said. "But first-"
"I guess you would trust your own Ma." Manic said, reading the scroll.
Sonia flinched, then whipped around to face Manic. "I-"
"Why is it a big secret if your mom's giving you messages?" Sonic asked.
"It's kind of creepy that she's been following us and assisting us." Manic replied. He closed the scroll and handed it back to Sonia. "That's how Sonia knew the dragon was elemental."
"She's not that fast." Sonic said. "How's she doing this?"
Sonia looked at Manic. "Mr. Skeptic will go into a speech."
Manic groaned. "Sonia, her royal craftsman had made our armor and swords for us, so he made a way for her to travel quickly." Manic said, folding his arms.
"Explain the monsters." Sonic replied.
"Explain how the weather works." Manic retorted.
Sonic sighed. "I can't deal with him."
"I'm saying the Owls made the Master Emerald." Manic said. "They know why and how it works, so I bet Tails knows how Aleena travels so quickly and I bet he could figure out how the Master Emerald generates monsters if you let him have a look at it."
"I hate to say it, but he has a point, Sonia." Sonic said. "Think about it. Would you want to share your secret about something that can be potentially misused and be very dangerous in the wrong hands?"
"I understand his theory." Sonia replied.
Mani shook his head.
Sonic took Sonia and Manic's hands.
"Wait." Sonia said, pulling her hand away. "I believe I already know what the cynic will say, but I need to ask. Do you two want to see the Oracle before we go to Port Mobius?"
Manic folded his arms. "He's breathing gas fumes and smoking oleander."
Sonia's jaw dropped.
Sonic laughed. "Were you expecting him to say that?"
"No." Sonia replied. "I guess we're off to Port Mobius."