Sonic Releashed: Chapter 1

CAUTION: This story contains spoilers for the multiplatform game Sonic Unleashed.  Viewer discretion is advised.

Chapter 1: Celebration

(Sonic's P.O.V., still)

Somehow I couldn't really enjoy the coming-home party.

As always, I put on my best face for everyone present.  Not only were Amy and Professor Pickle present, as well as Pickle's assistant, but so was just about everyone I'd met in Apotos, Mazuri, Chun-nan, Adabat, Spagonia, Shamar, and Holoska.  Everyone was in a tizzy about the world-saving feat I'd just accomplished.

"Sonic!  I knew you could do it!  You're free to come visit us in Adabat whenever you want!"

"Wow, it's warm here in Shamar.  Not like Holoska at all.  Thanks a bunch for everything, Sonic!"

"We're forever in your debt, Sonic.  Your adventures will surely become legend here in Chun-nan."

At first I took everything in stride, but finally I sat down at Pickle's research desk.  The loss of Chip had left a void in my heart, after all, and I needed some time alone.

At that moment, Layla, the foreign exchange student I'd met in Shamar, approached me with a chocolate bar.

"You look kinda down, Sonic.  Want some chocolate?"

Hearing that all-too-familiar query only made me feel worse.  I turned my head away from her.

"I'll, er, take that as a no."  And I could hear her walking away.

Chip... why'd you have to do that?  We could've both been saved... couldn't we?

"Sonic?"

That was Amy's voice.  I looked up.

"You don't look so happy for someone who just saved the world again, Sonic.  What's the matter?"

"I-It's nothing, Amy.  I'm just... it's about Chip."

Professor Pickle must have approached when I wasn't looking, because his voice caught me off guard.  "Chip?  Are you referring to Light Gaia?"

That one caught me off guard even more.  I hadn't yet told anyone about Chip's true identity, so Pickle's comment literally made me fall off my chair.

"What?!  When did you find out about that?  And how come you never told me?"

"There was a section on him in the Gaia Manuscripts, and you never asked," Pickle responded matter-of-factly, subsequently taking another bite of his cucumber sandwich.

Oh, yeah... somehow it never occurred to me to bring up the subject to him.  I turned around and explained everything that had happened, from Chip's revelation at the piers of Adabat to my final duel with Dark Gaia to my waking up in Apotos once again.  One by one, all the guests present turned to face me, and by the end tears began to fall from everyone's eyes.

Once I was done, I turned to face Professor Pickle and showed him Chip's ring.  "By the way, did those Gaia Manuscripts say anything about this little trinket?  Chip was wearing it around his neck the whole time I was with him."

Pickle rubbed his walking stick with one hand as he leaned closer to examine the ring.  "I think I know something about that.  Let me double-check my notes..."

The room was completely silent as the professor searched his documents.  Finally, he turned around and approached me again, a specific set of papers in his hands.

"Sonic, what I am about to tell you is critically important.  Listen very carefully, and don't hesitate to stop me if you don't understand something.  First of all..."

---

First of all, "Light Gaia" is not a name, but a title.  The creature you called "Chip" was not the first one to bear that title, either; in fact, if my math is correct (and I highly doubt it isn't) he was the seventh.  So far there have been seven individuals that have been known as Light Gaia, all of which have at some point opposed Dark Gaia when it emerged to wreak havoc on the Earth.

Your friend Chip- or rather, Light Gaia VII- was rather unlucky when it came to performing this task.  The last time he succeeded in sealing Dark Gaia away, he accidentally sealed himself away as well.  I hate to insult him, but that was the first time any Light Gaia had made such a mistake.  Perhaps that's another reason we should be thankful Dr. Eggman awakened Dark Gaia too early.

The ring you just showed me is known as the Stone of Light.  It is proof of the title of Light Gaia; when I saw it around the neck of Light Gaia VII, I knew straightaway who he was.  It also holds special powers that assist its bearer in performing its duties, but the Manuscripts were extremely vague regarding what those powers were.

When Light Gaia becomes incapable of performing their duty or decides that someone else is more worthy of it, they pass the title and the Stone on to whoever is to become the new Light Gaia.  Light Gaia VII must have thought of this when he left the Stone for you.

To make a long story short, Sonic, you are now Light Gaia VIII.

"Me?  Light Gaia?  Are you serious?"

I am too professional a man to joke about things like this.  And according to the Manuscripts, you cannot pass on the title until you've fulfilled your duty at least once.

"Well, I just finished off Dark Gaia last night, so I'm already off the hook, right?"

I'm afraid not, Sonic.  That was before you received the title, so it doesn't count towards your duty.  You'll have to wait until Dark Gaia surfaces again, and according to my math, that'll be in... let's see... approximately 500 years.

"Five hundred?!  Who am I, Rip van Winkle?  I'll be dead and buried by then!"

I don't know what to tell you, Sonic.  There must be some explanation for that, but I don't know what it is.  All I can tell you is to be prepared for anything, and remember that the Stone of Light's powers will most certainly help you fulfill your duties as Light Gaia.

---

I don't remember anything I did during the rest of the coming-home party; it was all a blur after what Pickle had told me.  I know I didn't become romantically involved with Amy, though, because I'd definitely remember something like that.

Still, 500 years?  For once I was in no hurry.  I figured I had a long time to wait before I'd have to worry about this whole Gaia business again.

And I was right.

...Well, a single week must seem like a long time to someone, right?