I woke up in some kind of cave, my hands chained to a rock with symbols I couldn't describe because they were behind me. Looking ahead, I saw my Edolas double approaching me.
Metal Sonic: Finally, you're awake.
Me: What do you guys even want from us?
Metal Sonic: Oh, nothing too bad. We're just going to take your Dragon Slayer magic.
Me: Let me guess, you're going to use it to create some sort of giant blaster to destroy the giant lacrima in the sky?
Metal Sonic: Close enough, yes. We'll use the Dragon Harpoon to pull the lacrima toward Extalia, which will be destroyed on impact.
Natsu: Are you insane?! You want to kill our friends?
I noticed that Natsu and Wendy were also tied up, but they were facing away, so I couldn't see them.
Me: Natsu, Wendy, are you okay?
Metal Sonic: Don't worry about them. They'll survive. You, on the other hand, are a different case.
I could hear Wendy and Natsu groaning. I started to struggle.
Me: What are you doing to them?!
Metal Sonic: Relax. They'll end up magic-deprived, but that shouldn't be a problem here.
Every word from his metallic microphone made my anger boil even more. He placed a hand on my stomach, and I screamed as lightning escaped my body and flowed into him. I struggled, but it was useless. This nightmare lasted ten minutes. I could no longer hear Natsu and Wendy crying out—they were probably unconscious. If I understood correctly, he wanted my magic...
But of course!
I began releasing a massive amount of magic. He was initially shocked and placed both hands to absorb more, but it stopped working. Maybe I could overload him by giving him more magic than he could handle. I felt like I was about to explode, but I kept going. He lost control, and a burst of magic blinded us all.
When I opened my eyes, there was smoke everywhere. I was unchained and lying on the ground, and so were the others. I had succeeded. I looked ahead and saw Metal Sonic buried under rubble.
Me (approaching and shaking Natsu): Natsu, wake up. We need to get out of here.
They began opening their eyes. I looked at my hands; they were larger. I had regained my Werehog form. I heard a noise behind the rubble—Metal Sonic was getting back up.
Me: Natsu, Wendy, go. You're in no condition to fight.
Wendy: What about you?
Me: I need to put this guy out of commission.
Purple lightning sparked around my hands, and an explosion blew away the rubble. He emerged with an aura more electrified than mine, his eyes now blue instead of red. I charged at him at full speed, but he struck me first with a right punch.
Metal Sonic: Thunder Dragon's Iron Fist!
The blow sent me flying out of the area, landing near the entrance of a massive amusement park. As I tried to stand, he grabbed me, flew into the air, and threw me onto a floating island that shattered upon impact. I fell, but he caught me by the neck and descended with me to the ground.
Metal Sonic: With your power, I've become even stronger and will dominate this world.
Me (still being strangled): I... I thought you worked... for your king.
Metal Sonic: True, but your energy is far too powerful for him to handle. Your magic even opens portals to other worlds. I've had my fun ever since your first visit and the magic you left behind.
Me: My first visit here? What are you talking about? I've never been here before...
I punched him, sending him three meters away. I stood up and launched a flurry of rapid attacks, but he blocked them effortlessly.
Metal Sonic (blocking my attacks): Oh, you forgot? The incident you caused here? It's thanks to you that we've come this far.
Me: Stop lying! I have nothing to do with this!
I unleashed a Thunder Dragon's Iron Fist, but he dodged and countered with a kick.
Metal Sonic: Thunder Dragon's Claws!
The electrified kick sent me crashing into the middle of the amusement park, landing near a pool. I struggled to stand.
Metal Sonic: Years ago, a hedgehog came to this world. He was lost, unsure of how he got here. He ran through the forest, unaware that he was leaving magic in his wake. He ran so fast that he overheated and exploded. That explosion was felt throughout Edolas. Thanks to that magic, we began our quest for power—all because of you, Sonic the Hedgehog.
I couldn't believe it. I'd been to Edolas before without realizing it. It must have been when lightning struck me.
Me (creating an explosion that separated us): What about the Animas?
Metal Sonic: Ah, yes, the Animas. With your magic, we were able to create them. We wanted to deprive your world of magic for our own gain. That's also why we sent the Exceeds to Earth—to eliminate the Dragon Slayers, your strongest fighters. We even altered their memories using lightning...
Me (shocked): Lightning?!
Metal Sonic: Yes, lightning. Why does that intrigue you? Oh maybe because I'm the one who separated you from your friend and your first family.
He didn't have a mouth, but I could sense the smirk in his words. So it was him… He was the one who caused the lightning that tore me away from Wendy… from everyone I held dear.
Metal Sonic launched a Thunder Dragon's Roar at me, blasting me into the pool. I hit the water hard, scratches all over my body. I was sinking fast. This couldn't be happening—I couldn't swim. Worse, I might not survive this. I flailed my arms, trying desperately to reach the surface, but they wouldn't stretch far enough. My lungs were burning, starved for air.
As I sank deeper, his words echoed in my head. Could this really all be my fault? If I hadn't panicked, I wouldn't have ended up in Edolas, and none of this would have happened. My friends wouldn't have been turned into lacrima, and Wendy...
I looked up. The lights from the park shimmered on the water's surface, taunting me.
Natsu (in my head): Are you seriously going to give up that easily?
I turned my head, and there he was—Natsu, glowing green, a figment of my imagination. I couldn't speak, only listen.
Lucy: Come on, don't let fear take over.
Erza: Why dwell on the past? It's shaped who you are now.
Gray: If you give up here, then yeah, you can blame yourself for all of it.
Carla: So get up and get out of that water!
Happy: You can do it, Sonic!
Wendy: We all have fears, which is why we never face them alone.
One by one, they appeared, speaking words of encouragement. Even without being here physically, they were with me. They were right—I couldn't give up now.
Stretching my hand, I managed to grab the edge of the pool and pulled myself out. Soaked and panting, I leaped into the sky, higher than I thought possible. As I soared above Metal Sonic, I unleashed a thunder-charged punch.
He tried to block it, but it overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground. I landed in front of him and unleashed a Thunder Dragon's Roar. He countered with his own, the blue of his energy clashing with the violet of mine. The beams collided, fighting for dominance. I pushed harder, but so did he.
When he began to gain the upper hand, my energy started to wane. In that moment, I made a decision—I let go. The explosion from his attack hit me directly, sending me flying back.
Metal Sonic: Finally, that took longer than expected.
Suddenly, the explosion was being absorbed. His shock was evident.
Metal Sonic: What?! How is this possible?
Me: Don't forget—it's my magic you're using. It has no effect on me.
As I spoke, I reverted to my regular hedgehog form. Spindashing toward him, I struck his torso, carrying him into the air.
Me: Thunder Spin Dash!
We landed on a roller coaster track, running side by side at lightning speed. The track began to glow blue from the friction of our battle. He spun into a drill and lunged at me. I dodged, but the impact caused me to fall from the track.
He descended after me, his energy clearly fading. His eyes were no longer blue.
Metal Sonic: Do you really think you can escape me?
Me: Escape? No, I came to take back what's mine.
I placed my hand on the electrified track. It was part of my plan all along. Forcing him to overexert himself while we raced had caused him to leave traces of my magic behind. Now, I was reclaiming it.
Metal Sonic: Impossible! You tricked me!
Me: Yep, and now you're going to pay the price.
I raised my hand to the stormy sky, lightning crackling around me. The clouds churned, dark and ominous, as my power surged.
Me: You'll be my first test subject... Secret Anti-Dragon Technique: Wrath of the Infinite Storm!
A massive bolt of blue lightning struck from the heavens, followed by another rising from the ground. Both struck Metal Sonic simultaneously, engulfing him in a vortex of electricity. When the storm subsided, he lay on the ground, his body charred and smoking.
I collapsed to my knees, completely drained of magic. But I'd done it. I had won.
I had to find the others...