Colliding Futures

Prolog: Marty, a son of one of the freedom fighters was once assigned on an important and risky mission, to change the past but in succeeding the future was changed.
Because of this time had to save itself, it did this by separating each future, the one that Marty grew up in and the one that he created.

Future 1: This future was before Marty had changed it, a vile unhappy world where Blake finally succeeds in total dominance, hope is only kept alive by the freedom fighters:

Sonic: The leader of the freedom fighters, and plan master, he was put in charge because no matter what the enemy tried he could not be caught, his speed gave him not only an advantage over the enemy but allowed him to find bases and other areas of operations with only a blue streak being seen.

Rex: Who was once on the enemy’s side but turned after marrying “Jewels” finally, he is the hand-to-hand combat expert and is mainly in charge of training newcomers.

Flame: The head of sector V, a big sector in the freedom fighter’s base of operations. He is one of the strongest leaders and is in charge of big missions, mostly search and rescue.

Knuckles: After loosing the task of guardian of the Master Emerald he used his time mostly on distractions for the freedom fighters, many of the freedom fighters think him to be very eccentric after loosing his task, after what happened to the Master Emerald he did gain a big chip on his shoulder, even so he continues to fight against Blake.

Eggman: Tactical genus and head of the defense unit, forced to fight alongside his worst enemies, he plans on double-crossing them when the war is over but as of now he works with Sonic and the others against Blake’s reign.

Marty: Rex’s son and fellow freedom fighter, despite is age he was assigned on a mission to change the past, so that Blake would never gain control.

Blake in this future is very distant from everything, most consider him mad, he lost his mind to his selfish lust for power and since then he’s tried taking out every person on the planet, Tai was forced to work under him and Spike also lost himself, fighting needlessly for control he could never have do to his father’s rule as well as spending his days trying to avoid being spotted by Blake’s troops.
Also Shadow the hedgehog joined up with Blake, nobody knows why but they assume Blake made him a promise he never intends on keeping.

Future 2: The changed future, Blake was taken and sealed in suspended animation to never return, while Trixie and Ken were reunited at last and were married soon afterwards.
Power and Spike gave up on their past goal and decided it was wrong to make others suffer for their own gain, and Tai dedicated his life to making sure Blake can never escape again, ever watching where he was sealed.
However in this future there is still a presence looming over them, Anna was never truly silenced and still proved a threat to them, as well as Doctor Eggman now seeing the opportunity to grow stronger with his own empire, and Shadow the hedgehog’s helping him and with his abilities it makes the threat twice as imminent.

These two futures have been separated from each other, put in separate dimensions to avoid time imploding on itself, but what happens when each, have to combine with each other? And is there a way of reversing the effect?

Chapter 1: Future 1

A loud breath and a quick paced heart beat, the tension was unbearable.

Sonic the hedgehog ran by quickly looking back to see the approaching robots. “How do they keep finding me?”

The hallway was dark with little lighting other then the swinging light bulb, his blue streak reflected against the metal polished walls.
His eyes ever focused with determination overridden in his step.
He smashed through the wall in his way; metal flying like a rock had run through glass, his quills moved up and down among the wind of the outside area.
Sonic the hedgehog’s attackers started to get further away and started to get out of focus from eyesight, his speed immediately took him out of danger’s way.
Despite being able to outrun the robots he would rather have faced them; but his mission did not need publicity.
The robots were shaped differently, almost like hedgehogs but without the quills and with black and red markings on them.
Anyway it didn’t matter now, they were long behind him.
In his hand was a glowing gold ring, he smirked.

“Knew one of these babies were hidden in there.” Sonic thought. “If these do what they’re supposed to, the freedom fighters will have a new trick up their sleeve.”

The gold ring sparkled feeling almost like a chaos emerald but not as powerful, Sonic felt adrenaline whenever holding one.
The hedgehog continued on his way leaving the blue blurred image across the barren land, the faster he ran the harder it was to see him.
He stopped quickly a few moments later, keeping the ring in his hand and was searching for something.
Out popped the figure of a hedgehog, her eyes glittered seeing Sonic there.

“SONIC!!” she shouted in anticipation.

Sonic looked at her as if he’d seen a ghost. “Amy?”

The girl immediately grabbed Sonic’s hands dancing with happiness until Sonic calmed her down.

“Amy how did you get out?” Sonic questioned with a half smile, looking pleased to see her.

Amy suddenly looked annoyed, she ruffled her red dress. “Sonic why didn’t you break me out!”

Sonic screeched from her angry response and stammered a little. “Errr I-I would have Amy but I didn’t know where they were keeping you.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “Well I got out all the same, did you miss me?”

Sonic shrugged. “Yeah, sure Amy.”

Amy smiled. “You won’t believe how I got out.”

The pink hedgehog changed her direction pointing somebody out, a red echidna stood leaned against the side of a tree.

“Knuckles?” Sonic said with a surprised sound to his voice.

The echidna snorted. “What about it?”

“You actually broke Amy out of the nut house?” Sonic said.
“I’m not really crazy Sonic! They locked me away because I insisted you existed! That empire wants to be sure nobody knows about you.” Amy said bluntly. “So in a way, I got in there because of you.”

Sonic laughed nervously. “Yeah heh, funny how things turn out.”

Knuckles smiled with his eyes closed and turned on his way; he looked back one time waving his hand. “Later.”

“Soooooo, Sonic what’s been happening without me?” Amy asked with an interested expression. “Are the freedom fighters still having trouble finding Blake’s bases?”

Sonic shushed her. “Don’t mention the freedom fighters Amy, not out in the open.” Sonic said. “We’ll talk when we get there.”

Sonic backed up ready to run, Amy stood in the way. “Sonic with the way you run it’d take me weeks to find you again.”

Sonic chuckled. “Ok Amy, hold on.”

The hedgehog grabbed her wrist sweeping her away with a whisk of blue lightning.
Sonic’s gold power ring glowing brightly in his other hand.
End chapter

Chapter 2: Future 2

The eyes of the young hedgehog opened slowly, vision dimly looking.
Everything started fuzzy and when he could see he felt his jaw breeched by a fist toughly.
A broken down house at his feet he could see when his eyes opened again.
A broken chair at the fallen support pillars; everything was burning, dust and ash clouding the air.
Marty rubbed his eyes and felt a choking breath when he saw who struck him.
A hedgehog stood there jeering at him.

“You fool!” he shouted.

Marty quivered. “Did you just punch me? W-why am I not dead? He took down the house and…and I was still inside…am I dead…? Did you kill me…?”

The hedgehog scuffed. “You really have no idea do you?”

The hedgehog was cloaked so you couldn’t see who it was, only his quills could be seen.
Marty didn’t understand what he was trying to imply.

“This is all your fault you fool.” He said.

Marty looked up, wiping the blood off his jaw and looking over his wounds. “Why is it my fault Blake tried to kill me?”

The hedgehog grunted angry.
Marty blinked feeling the pressure and fast pace of his heart.
The hedgehog watched the flames and sparks flicker as the house was alit with flames, Rex’s worn picture at Marty’s side.

“You were supposed to change the future…but you’ve made everything a whole lot worse…” The hedgehog said.
“What are you talking about?!” Marty objected.

The hedgehog stood there silent…something was wrong; the hedgehog’s lip quivered as he fell to his knees.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this…” he said.

Marty didn’t know what to say…He stood up grunting from his wounds.
A fire reflected in the hedgehog’s eyes as tears ran down his face despair covering him.
Marty was still trying to make sense of this; the last time he was awake Blake struck him and let a house fall on him.
Marty had not known about Blake’s final act, after leaving Marty he took the life of Melody and was suspended in animation by Tai.

“You did this.” he said looking back at Marty with hateful eyes.
“What are you talking about?” Marty said grunting from the pain he was in. “Who are you?”

The hedgehog got on his feet and slapped him. “Stop asking stupid questions, do you not care what you’ve done to the future and past?”

He took a deep breath with the teary sound still in his voice. “Your interference in the future has disrupted the fabric of time itself, unraveling it, changing it.”

Marty shivered, the flames still burning but slowly dying down.
The hedgehog’s voice was tender as he spoke.

“You need to fix the mess you started.” He said.
“I don’t understand you.” Marty said. “What are you trying to say? The past eliminated the future?”
“No, but it could have, instead two were separated, two different versions both having calamities because of your interference!” he screeched sharp tongued. “Everyone could die in either future depending on how time rebuilds itself.”

Marty’s eyes widened…the faces of everyone he left behind…he tried telling himself that he wasn’t right.

“Who are you?” he asked again.

Tears were still running down the hedgehog’s face, feeling the weight of the world.
The hedgehog turned to face Marty but was obviously not going to answer the question; in fact he made very sure his hood was properly festooned.
He did catch his eyes though…there was a deepness in them as if he’d witnessed all of time itself, a knowledge above any person’s mind, his red eyes were not angry but…overwhelmed by something, like stories were never written left to stay locked in his mind.

“Because the future separated the future you are from and the future you created in saving Tails’ life, we have a problem that surpasses any you’ve seen or heard of.” said the hedgehog.

“Tails? Are you saying because I had stopped Tails from dying and Sonic from turning into Dark Sonic that…that time clashed with itself?” Marty asked.
“Yes…that is exactly what I am saying.” The hedgehog said. “Were you not paying attention?! I am here to see to it you fix what you have broken.”

Marty couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“It’s not my fault time travel was possible, Tails’ workshop! It’s his fault for toying with the idea and Blake for finding them.” Marty said.
“I have watched what happened first-hand, jumping from place to place against my will from time’s confusion on where to put me. You have single-handedly destroyed a piece of time itself.” The hedgehog said.
“How do I know you’re not lying?!” Marty said. “You’re saying some pretty unbelievable things.”

The hedgehog stepped close to him, looking sincere.

“Boy, this world will end when time collides, all that you know…is about to come to an end…don’t simplify the situation with questions.” He said.
End chapter

Chapter 3: Future 1

A captain sat at a table, going over papers.
There were people at his door guarding it but it seemed obvious he didn’t want them there.
He wore a cameo uniform bearing a scar across his arm.

He slammed his hand on the table. “Will you leave me alone, I don’t need guarded!”

“But sir? I was told to stand post here.” One of the guards said.
“And I am saying to leave.” He said commandingly.
“Sir I apologize but the king asked me himself.” The guard argued.
“I don’t care! The only reason you’re here is to annoy me, he’s insulting me by having people protect me, he’s punishing me, so you leave or I’ll force you to.” The captain said pulling out two bluish duel blades, pushing them in view. “Don’t make me insist.”

Immediately the guards scattered, leaving the building.

Tai looked displeased. “The nerve! How DARE he! I may serve under him but I’m not a footstool! He thinks he can just disrespect me like that!” he said throwing the table down breathing angrily.

A little while as he slowly gathered up the papers sadly, he turned the table upright.
Seeing as he was still obligated to Blake’s servos he did not want to disgrace him in return.
Tai continued with his work, going over maps and areas and perimeters controlled and areas that there could be possible freedom fighter bases of operations.
He used to be able to go over strategies with Blake but now he only assigned him over the perimeters they were in control over and when he was given a mission.
But work was a lot less hard, in a way of telling Tai he’s not to be trusted for such things.
When he was finally finished, his guards returned.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?!” Tai shouted demandingly.
“Sir please forgive me; but we’ve captured a renegade.” The guard said.
“What?!” Tai said standing up with haste in his voice.

The guard turned his head moving two fingers; telling the other guard to come in.
A hedgehog was being dragged in, blood was rushing down his cheek and his lips were chafed he was also scarred all over; he’d been beaten by the guards and struck at and worse.
The hedgehog was breathing slowly; his eyes were staying open only by his will power.
The other guard put his hand under his shoulder to hold him up.

“Show more respect filth!” another guard said giving him a smack.

The hedgehog continued to breathe without a word.

Tai stood up in amazement. “Well well, I never expected to see you come through these doors, did your Master turn you away so soon? The king is wrong about a lot of things in my eyes, but not concerning you.”

The hedgehog was wearing a pair of broken goggles, one of the lenses looked like they’d been shot through.
His quills were pointed down with brown stripes, he was wearing a plate of metal on his elbow looking like it was used to keep bullets away as there were dents in it like he’d been shot there before.
He had two patches of black around his eyes and his fur was rough and as of now it was scarred with red streaks and wounds.
It was Power; the guards did a number on him when capturing him as he was in pretty bad shape, however the bullet dents were there before then.
He had this different look in his eye, Tai was more short tempered now and Power’s distaste for him was not helping his chances any.

“At least my Master set me free instead of dangling me on a leash, CAPTAIN Tai.” Power spoke emphasizing the fact Tai was demoted.
“Let him go.” Tai said.

And the guards obeyed, pushing the hedgehog down to hold his own weight laying there on the floor because he was too wounded to stand.
He didn’t take his eyes of Tai though.

“My men have been looking for your commander a long time Power; you could save us all a lot of time by telling me where he is. I give you my word you will not be harmed nearly as much.” Tai said as if he were giving him a get out of jail free card.
“Why? You’ll just shoot me when I tell you.” Power said.
“Who do you think I am?! Am I so heartless to completely dismiss my word? If I give you my word on something, I keep it! Would I dare compromise my honor for you or anybody else?!” Tai said insulted.
“Your ‘honor’ is what Blake calls your leash!” Power said angrily.

Tai wanted very badly to draw his swords at the moment; he still believed that Honor was possible under Blake.
Power moved his hand in front on him, trying to sit up.
Both of them were older now, they’d gotten a lot of history behind them whether good or bad.

“Listen Power, I was demoted and because of that fact my job is a lot more blue-collar, I don’t have the luxury of having somebody else come in and force you into giving me the information.” Tai said almost sounding concerned. “I’m not evil at heart, I truthfully don’t like hurting anybody and I wish so much to not have to stay in this line of work but I have no choice in this matter.”
“And if you don’t want to go through the routine of my dunking your head under water until you want air so bad you’ll give me the information or force me to burn your hand with a blowtorch or anything like that PLEASE if you have any decency tell me, I’m going to get the information one way or another, if Blake sees any weakness in me he’ll have me in your position so you know I’m motivated and will do what I have to, I am obligated to try getting the information out of renegades even if it kills you OR me to get it, now save us both the trouble…and tell me where Spike is.” Tai said sincerely.

A few silent moments passed as Tai waited for the war weary hedgehog to answer him.
Power knew he would eventually be forced into telling Tai and he also knew Tai would do whatever is necessary in getting the info.
There was no way out of this situation…but at least Tai was one to keep his word.
Tai was more experienced and was a lot more lenient most of the time but when it came to the big jobs that Blake would personally make sure was taken care of, he did everything by the book.

His eyes lowered. “Blue Creek…he was at blue creek the last time I saw him...”

Tai looked relieved. “You’d better be telling the truth, because if you lied I’ll hand you over to the king personally; but I am a man of my word, take him away.”

The end of the sentence was a commend to the soldiers and they again obeyed.

“Make sure he’s treated well, he’s a man following orders as I am and I understand his dilemma, no more beatings or you’ll deal with me.” Tai said. “After that clean up this mess.”
End chapter