Tails the Fox
Chapter 08 - The Lost City
Stage 04 - Hidden Ruins

2BIT: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and 
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?

As Experiment 1 opened his eyes, he realized he had no idea where he was. He was lost in a dark area of Station Square. He slowly rose to his feet, and looked around, catching a glimpse of a creature with a blue cape heading down an alleyway. Experiment 1 sensed that he should follow him. "Hey, wait up!" he shouted.

When he ran into the alley, Experiment 1 noticed an open sewer grate. That had to be where the creature escaped to...

He hesitated a moment. "This is rediculous. I bet it smells down there..." But then, a voice called out to him. "This way, Dark One..." So, Experiment 1 dropped into the sewer....

....and discovered a new world!

Deep underneath Station Square was an underground cavern, filled with the ruins of an ancient city. Experiment 1 rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "This is... impossible..." But his gawking was suddenly interrupted by a loud voice. "Now what do I do!? There's monsters everywhere!" came a frustrated voice. "I'll just bet they stole them! A fine predicament! Where will I live now?" The owner of the voice quickly rounded the corner and ran right into Experiment 1, causing them both to fall over. "Yeow! 'Scuse me!" said the speedy character. Experiment 1 looked up and saw a female echidna in a green shirt & skirt. Her fur was yellow, but her quills were various bright colors. She had bright blue eyes, and wore a red ribbon on her shirt's collar. The colorful echidna girl helped Experiment 1 up. "I'm so sorry, sir! But what are you doin' down here? What's your name?" she asked. "Uh..." Experiment 1 was slightly startled. "I'm Experiment 1..."

"OK! I'll call ya One for short!" she said excitedly. "And my name's Rainbow!" Experiment 1 quickly decided that she was annoying. "Don't call me One!" Rainbow just ignored him. "Say, One? Can you help me out here? These monsters invaded my home and I think they stole the relics that unlock the doors! I gotta find them..." Experiment 1 took a look around the corner. Sure enough, the town was swarming with insect-like robots. "Those aren't monsters. I could smash 'em up easy!" Rainbow grinned excitedly. "Great! Let's go, then!"

"No!" Experiment 1 growled. "I don't see anything in it for me!"

"Aw, come on, One!" she said. "It's your civic duty! As an echidna, you should help me guard our tribe's treasure!"

"Treasure!?" Experiment 1 said. Suddenly, he felt it was his duty to help. Something inside him told him it was right. "Fine, just don't get in my way!" Rainbow ran off ahead. "Follow me!" she shouted. "Slow down!" Experiment 1 yelled, then took off after her. 

All the while, someone watched them from the darkness... 

A shrew, with dark grey fur, wearing a blue cape. "All right, Dark One. Now, the journey through shadows can begin..."

Experiment 1 smashed the robots one by one, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks, following Rainbow from the ground as she glided overhead. She led him to a large temple, with a magical force field blocking the door. Rainbow landed near the force field, then turned to Experiment 1. "Gee, can't you glide?" she asked. "It woulda been much faster that way!" Experiment 1 was holding a piece of one of the robots. It had the symbol of GUN on it. "What would GUN want here?" Experiment 1 said with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Listen up, One!" Rainbow said. "There are three relics that act as the keys to these force fields! If we find them, I can get back to my house!" Rainbow looked around the streets of the ruins. "Wow, you sure are a punchy critter... You clobbered all of 'em!" Experiment 1 chuckled. "'Punchy' eh? I like that. That'll be my new name." Rainbow laughed. "That's not a name! No, just stick with One."

"Dark One!" came another voice.

Punchy and Rainbow turned to the voice. It was the shrew! "Welcome, friends! I am Illusi the Shrew! Now, you will face your first test, Punchy the Dark One!"

Experiment 1, now calling himself Punchy, raised his fists. "What do you want?"

Illusi waved his hand, and darkness shrouded the ruins! "I hope you're not afraid of the dark! Because now you must face your inner darkness!"

To be continued...