Sonic GeneX - The Series: Countdown to Doomsday Mini Episode - Prologue: Aftermath Pt. 2 Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and Sonic Team. You knew that, right? GeneX and related fanchars are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author. Previously - Razor decided he wasn't ready to return to active duty, since he has limited memories of his time as Sagittarius and needs time to process. Fera's training led her to Anubis, who is very much still alive. She sent him to find other former Agents of Despair. Astra explained her past and the Creation Relics to Gemini, Libra, Timothy and Copter. Warned by Lospecter that Ophiuchus was coming from the past to see if his plans succeed, Gemini thought quickly and deceived him into believing he is successful, ensuring he keeps the timeline intact. Realizing the Lost Ones are still out there, Gemini decided to train the holders of the Chaos Relics after all... Razor found himself in a sort of former Zodiac Council support group set up by Capricorn. It was a few months after the defeat of the Zodiac Council, and the former members honestly hadn't made much progress reintegrating into society. "All right, who wants to share next?" Capricorn asked. "Oh! Me! Ahem... Taurus, former Zodiac... It's been, uhh... Two weeks since my last drink..." he mumbled. "This isn't AA!" Pisces snapped. "Wait your turn!" Aquarius grunted. Razor raised his hand. "Yes, Sagittarius?" Taurus asked. "Name's still Razor... Anyone make any progress finding their original names besides me?" he asked. Capricorn shrugged. "For many of us, the past doesn't matter." she stated. Libra was also sitting in on this group. "Not to mention, there's no telling what time some of us even originated from in the first place..." she stated. Razor sighed. "The past is very important to me... I can't get over how easily I was brainwashed... The things that Ophiuchus made me do...to my friends...my family..." he sighed. Everyone blinked. Taurus then cleared his throat. "So, as I was saying..." Rather than listen to this anymore, Razor got up and walked out of the meeting. "This is useless... There's gotta be a way past this..." he muttered. As he stepped outside, he heard a whoosh, and Guard the Gargoyle landed in front of him! "Grrr... Are you done feeling sorry for yourself yet?" he grunted. Razor stared at him. "Are you gettin' smart with me? Guard is gettin' smart with me!" he shouted, waving his arms in surprise. Guard smirked. "Things change while you're brainwashed. But it's been a year, and Mia is still missing. Grrr... I'm gathering those who would help save our friends. Will you join us, or did Zodiac break you?" he grunted. Razor looked at him and crossed his arms. "I still haven't joined active duty... Guess I'm a vigilante on this..." he smirked. "Or I could deputize you." Guard grinned. "You're no fun. Besides, Gunner doesn't know you're doing this, does he?" he teased. Guard growled softly. "...We're vigilantes, then. Rrrr..." he winked. Fera was busy meditating, sitting cross-legged in the burned-out remains of Hollow Manor. No one would bother her there. No one, that is, except Felicia. "You can...try to suppress me all you want... I fought off Infinite and Eggman's forces, I won't yield to the likes of you!" her defiant voice rang in her mind. "She is more resilient than I ever imagined..." Fera murmured, her eye shut tight as she tried to concentrate. "We will burn her out. Purge her from your being. Despair needs only Fera... This Felicia is a nuisance..." Howler said in her mind. Fera growled, dark energy surrounding her form. Felicia groaned in her mind, struggling to maintain herself. "You can't fight forever, child..." Howler sneered. A fourth voice broke Fera's concentration. "My, how many you got rattling in that head, dearie?" Opening her eye, Fera saw a real witch. It was Tabitha, who hadn't been spotted since the Tournament of Chaos. "Who dares interrupt me? I warn you, don't trifle with this wolf!" she snarled. Tabitha smirked. "I like your spirit. I was drawn to that glorious darkness you are weilding... Darkness is my ally, too." she said, holding out her hand, from which a burst of green flame emerged, which she held just to show a sample of what she can do. "...And what are your goals, dark feline?" Fera asked, remaining in her cross-legged pose. "Amassing power, primarily..." Tabitha smirked, "Controlling hearts and minds, using sorcery to remain youthful and full of life forever, all good goals..." she stated. "She lacks focus... We can offer her a path." Howler said in Fera's mind. The wolf nodded. "You're a witch, hmm... Part of a coven?" she asked. Tabitha grinned. "I had a thought you might ask that. What do you offer?" she asked. Fera smiled wide. "...Power..." she replied simply. The new Covenant of Despair would indeed have power... Fera and Howler would see to it! Within the Hidden Ruins, now known as Raisol Sanctuary in its restored state, training had begun. Tails and Blaze had shown up with the Chaos Tailbands and Chaos Crown, respectively. Marine had joined them as well, if only just to watch. Timothy sat beside her while Copter, Gemini and Astra stood ready to instruct the trainees, all of them outside the underground buildings and instead in the streets of the underground city proper. "Do a good job, Tails! Your girlfriend is watching!" Timothy teased. Tails and Marine both blushed. "W-we're just friends!" they both snapped. "...I don't have time to date right now..." Tails muttered. "I'm here to watch Blaze, ya doof!" Marine said, nudging Timothy. Gemini cleared her throat, looking to Copter and Astra, who gave her encouraging smiles. "So, ah... As we've said before, the Chaos Relics are actually made from Creation Crystals. Thus, they manipulate creation energy, not Chaos." she stated. Blaze shrugged. "That's a nice clarification, but can you tell me anything more helpful than Illusi? When I try to use the life-growing power of the crown, my flames counteract it and burn it away..." she stated. "And how do I channel the energy of the tailbands so that I... don't use TOO much of their power? I don't want the power to get out of control, that's why I don't use the tailbands..." he muttered. "And where's Knuckles? Haven't we been trying to get ahold of him?" Copter added, to which Gemini just began to sweat. "...Sorry..." he mumbled. "Relax, dear." Astra told Gemini. The fennec took a breath. "The place to start is practice. Why don't the two of you show us what you got... Just use one tailband for now, Tails..." she suggested, stepping away and leaving Copter and Astra with them. "Gem? You alright?" Copter wondered, watching her. She went into an alley and clutched her chest, breathing hard. "What was I thinking? I can't answer their questions... I've never used a Chaos Relic..." she huffed. Copter stepped up behind her. "Gem... Relax!" he said a bit too loud, making her jump, "...sorry again. It's just, it's weird seeing you like this. Even when you don't know what you're doing, you always seem pretty optimistic." he said. "That's a front. As soon as you're not looking, I'm a mess..." she stammered. "You can do this, though. Don't think about the science of it. You're a mage!" he pointed out. She looked at him with a light smile. However, it faded as she saw Lospecter float behind him. "Look at you two! Stealing kisses in private?" he teased. Copter spun around and growled. "What do you want?" he spat. Lospecter smirked. "I wanna help you two out. See, you're headed down the same road me and Astra were goin' down when we tried to stop those nasty old Doomlings. Wanna know how the story ends, Hell-Copter? The beautiful fennec... sees the boy for who he really is... and then she dumps him, hard! Right, Astra? Right! Right!?!" he said, shouting over his shoulder a bit. Copter grabbed Gemini's hand. "Whatever you're plotting, Lospecter, it won't work! We'll wreck you and your undead pals' plans!" he warned. Lospecter laughed at him. "You are so me! So full of yourself! But your tune will change when she sees the real you... And I'll show him to her!" Pointing the Chaos Key right at Copter's chest, he turned it and laughed, "Time to unlock your heart...and let out the beast within!!" he shouted, the Chaos Key glowing and darkness pouring from Copter! "G-gemini!! Get back!" Copter shouted, grunting! In the next instant, a second fox was standing before Copter. It looked just like him, but with darker black fur, blue chest fur, and blue highlights on his bangs and tail tips. His eyes glowed red briefly, fixed on Copter. "You... You kept me bottled up...so long! I'll... kill you!" the dark fox snarled, grabbing Copter by the throat! Lospecter clapped. "May I introduce Dark Copter at long last! This oughta give you kids something to think about!" Lospecter cackled. Suddenly, vines grew up and wrapped Dark Copter's legs, and Tails ran up, smacking him with a tailband-powered tail whip! Dark Copter groaned, but broke free as the vines caught fire, and then swiftly tossed Copter into Tails! "I'll be back for you... I'm going to enjoy my freedom for a bit first!" Dark Copter snickered, spinning his tails and flying off at high speed! Lospecter followed after him. "Ta ta, Gemini! Invite me to the wedding, please!" he cackled. Gemini helped Copter up, while Blaze helped up Tails. "Strewth! There's another clone of Tails now, what??" Marine shouted as she arrived. Gemini hugged Copter. "I'm sorry! He did this to you because he wants to mess with me! He thinks I like you or something, I guess? Weird, where'd he get that idea?" she said, turning to look at where Dark Copter had gone. "Y-yeah... Weird..." Copter said, blushing in Gemini's arms. Suddenly, Punchy sped onto the scene wearing the Chaos Boots. "What in the name of Tikal?! Copter, are there two of you now?" he babbled. Astra cleared her throat. "It seems Spiro has worked out quite a bit of the Chaos Key's abilities already..." she stated. Punchy tapped his foot with a frown. "We leave our home in your care, and you guys are doing what with it? No, really, tell me?" he asked. Behind him, Rainbow was approaching with her sister Violet beside her. They looked somewhat excited. Tails perked up to see that Rainbow was holding a very obvious sort of bundle in her arms. "R-rainbow... We were wondering why your honeymoon was so long..." he babbled with a smile and a blush. Looking, everyone gasped and let out "Awwws" as they saw. Rainbow was holding a small, green furred echidna baby! "Hehe... Uhm... Fellas, I want you all to meet Aurora... Our daughter!" Rainbow said with a blush. Violet giggled. "I'm an aunt!" Copter rubbed his head. "Am I an uncle? Wait... Punchy, you dog!" he laughed, punching him in the arm. Gemini smiled as well, heading over to join their friends in welcoming this new life. It was good to know that, despite all the danger still ahead...good things could still take root and grow. What's in store next? Find out as the Final Season of Sonic GeneX: the Series begins, starting soon!