Above all else, I am a storyteller. I love to tell the kinds of stories that get lost in the noise of the internet, especially when it comes to fandom. As a fan myself, I try to honor those stories while creating new and innovative twists (but even I can't help but love a harmless trope or two).
I engage in multiple forms of storytelling including the following:
Writing/Literature
Comics
Animatics/Animation
Mixed Media Art
Interactive Media/Videogames
Social Medias
KO-FI: chaotical
DISCORD: THE CHAO GARDEN
BLUESKY: Alter Chaos
YOUTUBE: @chaoalterchaos
TWITCH: chaoticalxe
(click on KEEP READING for updates and series links)
MAJOR UPDATES:
My coming out post (recent and still heavily exploring)
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 6 · NOW THAT THE TADC FINALE IS OUT · I really need to talk about what this movie did for me because it was so much more than j
ALTER CHAOS: THE TIME KEEPER SAGA ACT 1 PREVIEW BUILD AVAILABLE NOW
Announcement
Art Spotlights!!
💬 0 🔁 2 ❤️ 12 · “Isn’t She Lovely?”
Art Folders (coming soon…)
AUs & Fan Series
Listed below are the stories I have shared, including links (click the underlined titles to go to the respective pages). Feel free to read the descriptions and follow any that appeal to you.
ＡＬＴＥＲ ＣＨＡＯＳ
(Sept. 2023)
Genre: SHONEN-INSPIRED DRAMA/ACTION-ADVENTURE
PG-13 | FOUND FAMILY | MODERATE BLOOD/VIOLENCE | HEAVY FEELS | POSITIVE MESSAGING
ALTER CHAOS is a Sonic the Hedgehog self-insert (no smut/oc shipping) AU that explores the complex idea of love - for a significant other, a friend, family, and the self - and the dangers of a misguided heart.
For what is life without love, and destiny without life?
𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 ᗷEᗩᑎ ᗷEᗩᑎ 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐬.
(Jan. 2026)
Genre: SLICE OF LIFE
G | FAMILY-FRIENDLY | COMEDY | LIGHTHEARTED FLUFF | WHOLESOME
Join the Mario Brothers and their friends on their misadventures across the known universe.
Roxas, the boy who was never meant to exist, is at last free from the shackles of his fate. With his blindfolded opponent taken out, he hunts for the one they call "Sora", ready to take his life as his own.
🄰🄲🅄
(TBD)
Genre: COLLEGE LIFE SIM-INSPIRED
G | SPIN-OFF SERIES | COMEDY | LIGHT-HEARTED | REFERENCE-HEAVY | PLAYS ON TROPES FOR FUN
Enjoy this new take on the Alter Chaos story inspired by all those Japanese high school spin-offs.
Eve is a new student at ACU majoring in art, and she's ready to make friends. When things don't go as planned, however, she instead finds herself connecting with Nic, the popular jock-type who is far deeper than everyone makes him out to be. With their combined friendship and the support of those closest to them, can they show the world that they are more than just their labels?
With Nite and Don joining the fray, the battle to save Babylon from the evil doctor comes to its thrilling conclusion. Jet steps forth to find the answers he seeks...
PREVIOUS CHAPTER: BABYLON
NEXT CHAPTER: GAMERS
This was it. The final struggle to secure that amulet and the answers which Jet sought.
And, you know, protect the family he came to accept and all that.
Though he would rather be caught dead than admit that last part out loud, especially to the blue idiot downed behind him.
“Hmph. You still don’t have the wings to fly, do you, Sonic?” Jet turned, flashing a cocky grin, “Since when did THE Hero of Mobius give up so easily?”
“Heh.” Sonic remained down as the owl shot his blaster at the Gizoid hovering over him, opting to push himself up once it was safe to do so, “Nah. Ya got me all wrong, Jet.”
He picked up his unconscious friend with a smile.
“Even without wings, with the love of my friends to guide me, I will always fly.”
“...”
A weak smile escaped the girl in his arms even as she pretended to remain unconscious, lest she ruin such a special moment of camaraderie between the two stubborn egomaniacs.
It was all her heart could have ever hoped to hear.
With labored huffs behind him, the rest of his friends rose as well, unwilling to let the pair of champions face this battle alone.
Knuckles chuckled, “W-Well…” His left eye squinted against the salty sting of his sweat, “At least now we can even the odds…”
Tails took a few labored breaths as he struggled to rise to his knees, “B-By my…c-calculations…” He stumbled, “...o-our chances of success…sh-should have gone up by-”
“Approximately 120%?” Wave offered her hand.
Tails smiled, taking it, “Y-Yeah…that…”
“Ha!” Storm pounded his equally meaty fists next to the echidna, “You take the one on the left?”
Knuckles bumped his fist, “And I’ll take the one on the right!”
“I’ve got your back, Sonic.” The hedgehog turned, watching as the girl he loved summoned her hammer with a smile, “I always will.”
He, rather awkwardly, couldn’t find the words to reciprocate.
Amy blinked.
So did Sonic.
“EEK!!” They both hopped away from each other, faces nearly the same shade as the echidna’s fur.
Unfortunately for Sonic, Eve chose this particular time to ‘wake up’.
“Imma tell her.”
Sonic’s face slowly turned towards hers, eye twitching as he lowered his voice to a whisper, “I. Will. Drop. You.”
The girl’s impish grin widened, “No you won’t.”
Sonic sighed, “No I won’t…”
“Bah!” With a dramatic wave of his hand, the doctor pinched the bridge between his eyes, “I’ve had enough of all this sappy mumbo jumbo…” He thrusted his hand containing the amulet forward, “Gizoids!! Turn this band of miscreants into ancient rubble!!”
He smiled.
They charged.
“Let’s do it to it, guys!”
Sonic knew better than to race off on his own again. Though he’d be severely disadvantaged without the use of his arms, he had the weapons that mattered most: his legs. Taking more of a supporting role, he leapt up, kicking one of the ancient mechs that Knuckles had punched his way-
Behind him!
The Blue Blur threw his legs apart in a split, narrowly missing another fist as the girl in his arms released an involuntary grunt from the impact-
Another Gizoid!
This time, Sonic was ready. He swiftly dropped to one knee before sweeping the other around himself within the blink of an eye. The approaching Gizoid tripped, stumbling and faceplanting into the other as he then kicked his other leg back out and pulled them together, realigning on his feet.
Sonic grinned, “Heh. Well, Eve? Ya got your wish! Whaddya think of being part of the action close up and personal?”
The girl’s eyes were swimming, “I think I’m gonna huuuuuuurrrrllll…”
“Appropriate response.” Sonic shrugged before charging another Gizoid Amy had knocked his direction, “Speaking of, I guess this means you won’t tell Amy our little secret, huh?”
He threw her a devillish grin of his own.
Eve’s eyes were still swimming, “Shut uuuuuupp…”
He then dashed forward, a mischievous laugh escaping him as the nauseating battle continued.
BLAM! BLAM!
PSHYOOOM!!
The pair of spousal birds leapt back together to catch a collective breath.
“Ha…Haaaa…” Nite wiped the sweat from his brow, “H-Hey, Donnie?”
“Huff…Huff…” The owl’s husband punched another Gizoid just before it could do his son in, “Y-Yeah? What?”
PSHYOOM! PSHYOOM!
“I was just remembering when we first raided this place. You know? Back in 3220?”
BLAM!
“The day we found Jet…” He struck again, “I remember…”
The pair of dads smiled.
“Yeah…remember how they all warned us of these Gizoi-!!?”
Jet blocked an attack that would otherwise take down the owl.
He grimaced, “Would you two geezers quit daydreaming about my birthday and focus!!?” He dashed ahead.
“G-Geezers!!?”
“Now you listen here, young man-!!”
But Jet was already gone, having sped up behind the doctor before he could notic-
WHAM!!!
The hawk’s body went tumbling from a sudden Gizoid’s impact.
“JET!!!”
PSHYOOM!! PSHYOOM PSHYOOM!!
“OW-!!!”
Before anyone could register what had happened, the doctor’s previously occupied hand was shaking, a small amount of blood splattering where it had been grazed by Nite’s laser.
clink
clink
clatter…
The robot army suddenly froze.
Then…
One by one…
A head turned…
Another head…
Soon, all ancient eyes were locked onto the owl.
“-!!!”
They charged-
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
fwoooooom
They suddenly all stopped again, though this time, the red in their eyes subsided, replaced by a calming blue.
They all turned to the source…
Kneeling in respect like an army to a king…
And at the center of it all was raised the amulet, high above the young hawk’s head.
He turned, glowering at the doctor who began to sweat.
“W-W-WAIT!!!! WAITWAITWAIT!!! JET!!! W-WE CAN STILL SORT THIS OU-!!!”
Though he didn’t have the chance to finish as that one word left the boy’s beaked lips: “Go.”
It didn’t take long after to run Eggman off the isle, protecting its sanctity once more from his dastardly schemes.
Jet turned –so did the Gizoids– lowering his amulet-equipped hand in tandem, “Is everyone okay?”
Thankfully, they were.
Well…all except the human at the edge of the woods puking her guts out to the tune of Sonic’s non-stop apologies.
—--------------------------
One thrashing from Amy’s hammer and Sonic was out of commission, though everyone else seemed to be alright, including the girl who’d –thankfully– regathered her bearings…again. The Gizoids returned, ready to serve the young hawk as their lord, though he dismissed them. While the unlimited power certainly suited his tastes, he’d had enough of the world handing him his wins on a silver platter for one lifetime. It just didn’t make life exciting, you know?
Plus Nite and Don had said no to the whole “can we keep them” thing…
Killjoys…
But the time had come for answers, whatever that road beyond looked like. Jet hesitated, for once openly unsure of himself as he looked back to the pair of birds for affirmation.
They nodded.
“We love you, Jet. Whatever truth you find…”
Everyone else nodded in solidarity.
Jet swallowed.
He held up the amulet, opening the gates to the palace beyond.
He stepped inside…
…
…
…
…
…
After a few minutes, he reemerged, the gates shutting decisively behind him.
There was no amulet in sight.
“...” Nite glanced at Don in worry, his husband reciprocating before letting him go to check if the boy was okay, “Jet…?”
The hawk remained still.
Nite continued to approach.
He reached out.
“...”
He hesitated out of respect.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Now, Jet stood before him, having taken those few steps to meet him where he was at, “I…found the answer I was looking for…”
Nite swallowed…hard.
“And…?”
Everyone watched with baited breath.
Jet smiled, a couple of tears making their way free.
“I’m your son.”
He embraced the owl, that first embrace since the night he had run away, and oh it was needed SO badly. Nite couldn’t even reciprocate, beak agape in pure shock at the scene playing out before him.
Though that didn’t stop his eyes from welling up with tears.
“I love you, Dad.”
At that, Nite finally found the strength inside himself to hug the boy back.
“I love you too, son.”
Jet glanced up, holding out a hand in the other man’s direction.
“Pa…”
Don smiled.
How could he, as a father, ever say no to that tiny eyas sparkling with joy as he announced his heart out upon his knee.
He joined the hug, “Welcome home, Jet.”
Jet squeezed him tighter, “I’m finally home…”
Eve smiled.
It was a happy ending after all.
“BOOOOSSSSSS!!!” Jet squawked as his burly, grey friend assaulted him with snot and tears flying free, “I WAS SO WORRIED YOU’D LEAVE USSSS!!!” He wailed into his leader’s chest once more.
Jet grimaced at the grossness he’d have to clean from his plumage later, “OKAY!! OKAY!! I GET IT!! GET OFF OF ME YOU BIG PALOOKA!!!”
fomf
For once, she didn’t need to say anything. Her tears were enough communication to Jet, “I know…” He smiled, a few more tears pushing themselves free, “Let’s go home, Wave.”
Before the three of them could let go, his parents were back for more, a family of five at his side.
“Ah, I can’t wait to go home, boss! Storm pulled away, swaying with a slight blush, “I hear this hot new singer that tours the galaxy is in town and I NEED to buy her tickets!”
One of the swallow’s brows raised in intrigue, “Oh? You never mentioned being into celebrities like that, or that they were from another world. What’s their name?”
Storm swooned.
“H a t s u n e M i k u . . . “
Sonic’s eyes lit up, “Hey, yeah! I’ve heard of her! She played live for us back when we were traveling the stars!” He ignored his surprise at his first positive memory from the whole ordeal and instead nudged his golden-haired friend with a wink, “We should get some tickets, eh Eve?”
“Yeah...” Though the girl’s eyes fell somber, “...”
This concerned Sonic.
“Hey. What’s wrong?”
He really hoped this small moment of joy hadn’t resurfaced any bad memories for his friend.
Eve sighed, “It’s just…” Her gaze didn’t leave the feathered family’s even as her hands found the lonely sides of her arms, “I…miss him…” A sad smile escaped her, “I…bet he would have enjoyed this…getting to meet Jet and his parents…”
Sonic frowned, “Chris…” He followed her gaze, finally understanding her motivations for helping Jet in the first place, She…must have seen Chris and herself in Jet and his parents… Sonic’s heart pinged in remorse at his lack of ability to see it, How did I not notice it before? She was holding so much in just to make sure Jet got the help he needed…
His eyes fell on her again.
Eve…your kindness…it’s almost concerning just how much you’re willing to hide…
He watched as she continued to mask the depth of her sorrow behind that smile, the truth barely slipping through her tired eyes.
…and just how far you’re willing to go…
Then again, that kindness was what gave her that special place in his heart.
Still, it was disquieting the distress she must have suffered during the World Cup between Jet’s plight, Sonic’s emotions, and her own stirring of her heart (not to mention her multiple injuries). She was so strong– TOO strong to have to carry the weight of everyone else’s suffering alongside her own.
“...”
For a second, he was unsure what to say –what COULD he say to possibly make up for it taking him this long to see the truth– though it didn’t take much longer as his mind wandered to her words of encouragement just before the final race. He threw on a smile of his own, more than willing to let her be the weak one for once as he tugged her close, giving her no choice but to lean on him now, “Well, hey. You still have us, right? Don’t forget your annoying ‘twin brother’ over here…” He stuck his tongue out playfully, mimicking the girl’s earlier tone, “Ya got that? Ya f U z Z y H e A d E d G o O b E r ?”
“Snrk!” Eve rolled her eyes with a playful shove off of him, “Ewww…NEVER do that AGAIN…”
The two adoptive siblings laughed, best friends for life.
At least there’s still that spark of light behind her eyes…
The rest of her family joined her at her side as well.
It was time for all of them to go home.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“So boss…”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“What DID you find back in that palace?”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The ambling hawk shrugged with his hands behind his head, “Eh. Nothing.”
Wave shot him that look, “Seriously? What happened to being more honest about your feelings?”
“No, that’s the thing, Wave. Literally nothing.”
Wave’s eyes shot wide.
“Nothing?”
“Yeah…”
Jet’s eyes cast down as he recalled the incident.
There he was, opening the doors to the inner chamber, when suddenly…
…nothing.
There was just an empty altar, one barely big enough to hold a baby hawk and his bassinette.
He placed the amulet there, a sign of moving on despite the lack of answers.
He smiled, chuckling to himself, What a meaningless pursuit in the end…
But as he’d shut the doors to his past, he’d failed to notice the tiny stone creature watching him with its beady eyes in longing and, yet, happiness as it watched the boy leave towards a brighter future with pride.
The Gizoids took its side, raising it to the altar beside its amulet and tending to the weeping soul as their tears watered the mossy vines adorning its round body, their cries ringing out in little plinks like that of a high-pitched marimba.
With Eve secure and seemingly back to normal, the group makes way towards the palace at the center of the floating isle to face off against Eggman in one final battle. When things take a turn for the worse, however, who is it that you can always rely on...
PREVIOUS CHAPTER: WIN OR LOSE
NEXT CHAPTER: THE ANSWER
“Okay…now follow my finger…”
The girl’s oceanic irises moved along their sclera like obedient puppets on fox-driven strings.
Tails sighed with a frown as he pressed both hands once again into his knees, his gaze not once leaving the seated human’s in case of any sudden changes, “I don’t know, Sonic…Nothing’s wrong with her physically…You said you found her collapsed in the woods in some kind of panicked and dissociative state?”
“Yeah…It freaked me out…” The hedgehog with the folded arms grimaced as he took in his friend’s unusually still demeanor below, “The way she was talking…it was like all of her memories had been wiped clean…She…” He tore his gaze to the side in pain, “...barely even knew who I, or even she was…”
He swallowed hard, glancing back in her direction.
“...or even…how to exist in her own body…”
The entire group fell gravely quiet.
Following a few more confused blinks (though her condition was already significantly improving) Eve’s gaze dropped in palpable shame, “Sorry guys…I…” She methodically dug each of what she now knew as her fingers into the dark fabric of her leggings, “...wish I could remember what happened to me or how I ended up that way…” A few frustrated tears sprung into her eyes. At least she remembered now how to cry, “I’m…really trying my hardest to…”
“We know.” Amy –seated beside her for support– offered her adoptive sister another of the warm hugs she now recalled she loved so much, “It’s okay. You don’t need to push yourself so hard.”
The general consensus was formed that Eve had been attacked by one of the rumored Gizoids lingering upon the island using some kind of ancient technology that –thankfully– didn’t leave her with any lasting internal damage (her mind and memories seemed to be slowly waking back up like from a bad dream), and though it made sense, deep in her heart she didn’t agree with the sentiment.
It was more like…an accident of some kind…
One her assailant hadn’t necessarily intended for her to be put through…
Or was she saved by them?
It was all so confusing, and Eve wasn’t sure how her heart could come to what was clearly an irrational decision built on some mixture of brain trauma and panic-fueled delusion.
That stance just…didn’t make sense…
…
…right?
But there was no point in arguing the facts. This wasn’t like with Jet and the small behaviors she’d noticed throughout the World Cup. That situation was built on memories that pieced together a coherent story, but this…she didn’t even have the luxury of remembering…
It just simply wasn’t the same.
Even so, it was a disquieting incident similar to what had happened with the seed-experimented astronauts on Leon’s base, both of which would stick with her for the rest of her life. At least this time, Tails was more understanding, and they weren’t up against a terror group that wanted to wipe all animal life from the universe…and horrifically turn them all into the very trees that surrounded the group now…
The girl shuddered.
Nope. This time, it was just some crazy old dude and his precious jewelry.
I wonder what Chris would think of all of this… Eve silently mused, though there was no use ruminating on a brother she was unlikely to ever see again thanks to the closed window between their dimensions. What would have happened had I completely forgotten about him… She didn’t want to sit with it but, still, the idea was enough to twist her stomach into a series of guilty knots.
“...”
She sighed, remembering she could rise to her feet as she did so with a small stumble and a much-needed overhead stretch, “Mnn…I’m okay now…” She turned, placing her hands on her hips with a well-crafted smile to ease the tension in the air, “Come on! Let’s go get that amulet back, gang!”
—--------------------------
Though a little unsteady at first, by the time they’d reached the courtyard beyond the trees, Eve had practiced enough to recall how to use her legs (rather effortlessly too she might add). She was seemingly back to normal –bright attitude and all– as if such a harrowing event had never even transpired in the first place, though that didn’t do much to ease the small pit planted deep in Sonic’s gut. Try as he might, he couldn’t get the image of her blank, memory-less stare out of his mind.
If she were to ever lose her sense of self like that again…
No. Sonic didn’t want to think like that.
She was okay now. There was no point in worrying whether she wasn’t. All he needed to do now was keep an eye out for these Gizoids or…any weird ancient tech-magicky threats in case of any more sudden attacks.
“...”
Still…why did he, too, get the strange feeling that wasn’t what happened…
That…what had happened was…SO much bigger than any of them could comprehend-
“Ah…Right. On. SCHEDULE.”
Sonic frowned as his emerald eyes fell furiously upon the doctor standing before what appeared to be a marble palace of some kind, “Eggman…”
He took a protective step towards Eve.
The man’s mustache raised, the rolls along his chin twisting into a sickening display meant to resemble a smile.
“What a surprise to see you so close to her given what happened last time.”
Sonic gulped, his pupils shrinking in panic though he did not stir from his position.
Eve noticed this, “Sonic?”
“No…H-He’s just…trying to get into my head…”
Even so, his hands…
They were trembling…
“...”
“-!!?”
The Hero of Mobius jolted as he felt her hand slide confidently into his. She stepped up beside him with a reassuring nod.
He continued to stare at her, his features contorting as he fought back against the guilt threatening to take over.
“Heh!” Eve smiled, “I’m the one with the memory issues, remember? Don’t tell me YOU’RE the one who forgot our promise?”
A sigh of relief escaped the Blue Blur, “Never.”
He held her hand just a little bit tighter.
“ Y O U ! ! ! “ The hawk stepped forward with a dark glare, pointing an accusational finger at the evil man, “Give me back my amulet…”
“Heheheh…”
Eggman took a step backwards, throwing his arms out wide.
Nobody had time to react. It was all so sudden, that Jet could hardly believe the sting of that powerful strike along his handsome face. Next thing he knew, he was flying, and everyone else was staring at a robot clad in varying shades of marigold and vines just like the surrounding architecture.
The entirety of Team Heroes jolted, Tails speaking for the group, “That thing looks just like Emerl!!”
Amy frowned, “I’m glad Cream isn’t here to see this then…” She summoned and drew back her hammer in a flurry of sparkling energy, “Looks like we’ll have no choice but to fight our way through!”
“Old fashioned…” Knuckles pounded his meaty fists together with a lunge and a grin, “I like it!!”
“You guys take care of that thing!” Sonic scooped the human up in his arms with a resounding Oop!, “I’m gonna have to sit this one out!” He leapt backwards into a nearby tree branch as a sort of perc-
Five sets of glowing eyes met the pair of heroes’ gazes.
“Shit!! There’s more of them!!?” The hedgehog leapt again as one Gizoid made a sweeping motion with its leg, knocking its neighbor clean out of the tree with a bit of arm flailing. Another went down with it, reluctantly joining the battle on the ground and leaving Sonic with only three remaining. Slippery and quick-witted as he always was, he hopped atop another’s head, leaping again once its twin’s fist met its face, spinning it backwards.
Finally! They were fre-!!?
The remaining Gizoid grabbed his ankle, pulling him and the human down HARD. They careened through the foliage with shared screams, Sonic throwing his body under hers to keep her from hitting the stone ground without some kind of cushion.
“EVE!!! YOU OKAY!!?”
No response. Between whatever trauma she suffered before and that sudden crash landing now, she was out cold. Sonic released a small curse from under his breath, barely getting the chance to sling her limp body over one of his shoulders before another kicking attack descended from above, shattering the stone where he’d just la-
Another one!
Sonic raised his arm, blocking a would-be punch to his fac-
Another swing!
Duc-!!
SLAM!!!
“...”
There was a moment of darkness, then a twinge of pain shooting throughout his quills where he’d been struck. His fuzzy gaze fell immediately onto the girl lying unconscious along the stony earth before him.
He leapt to his fee-
Another strike!
Sonic went down again. D-Dang it…They’ve…already copied my moves… He reached out, shaking slightly as he fought at the very least to raise himself from his stomach, Whatever Eve faced before…it…DEFINITELY wasn’t them… He didn’t want to think about it, but it was clear that had she actually come face to face with even ONE of these Gizoids, she’d be dead. From what he could tell, none of them were like Emerl had been with Cream, and Tails had been clear in his physical assessment that there were no injuries of any kind.
Relief washed over the hedgehog.
But so did unease.
Something else was in Babylon.
Shit! Sonic crawled towards the girl as each of his other friends fell one by one, We need to…l-leave…everyone…
He collapsed again.
Out of all the racers that had lost their respective battles, only one remained: Jet. For whatever reason, the Gizoids seemed less hostile towards him, more willing to let him go over the others.
Jet gritted his fangs, “Bastards…I’m not leaving them behind…”
“NYAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!” Eggman raised the amulet above his head, a small shimmer emanating from it, “Let’s finish this then shall we?”
The Gizoids’ eyes glowed red.
They turned towards Jet, ready to kill.
But Jet stood firm, not willing to abandon his family after coming this far, even if it meant losing out on the answers which he sough-
BLAM!!!
The hawk opened his shielded eyes. He gasped, his beak falling agape as his mind registered the backs of the two Mobians now standing before him.
Nite and Don smiled, “Get away from our son…”
Jet’s beak trembled.
He smiled too.
“You two…you really came?”
The owl clicked another round into his blaster, his husband charging the electric brass knuckles with a grunt, “We never stopped following you, Jet.”
“Whether you see us as your parents or not, we would NEVER abandon you…” Don struck a rushing Gizoid, “Remember what we’ve always said?”
Nite held out a hand towards the boy, “Birds of a feather…?”
“...”
Jet took it.
“...flock together.”
A tear escaped the announcer, “Now there’s the Jet I raised…”
Together at last, the family of birds stood firm against the army of Gizoids, ready to protect those they’d adopted into their hearts.
Chaos erupts at the winner's podium as Jet is awarded the win. Somewhere along the floating isle known as Babylon, a spirit sleeps, crying out for help where there is none...
PREVIOUS CHAPTER: THE FINAL RACE
NEXT CHAPTER: BABYLON
It was a spectacular loss.
Mobius almost couldn’t believe what they were seeing, Sonic the Hedgehog –usual top competitor– fumbling out on the track so hard it almost seemed intentional, and all the while smiling as if he was having the time of his life.
He even wiped just before the finish line for good measure, eating the sandy earth with his face and offering his feathered rival heaps of confusion as well as a mountain of questions for his mechanic. If she hadn’t used another emp, then what gives? Why the overly dramatic display of failure on the hedgehog’s part?
It almost seemed too convenient…
Just like…
Jet, now face to face with the rooster he once considered a father, was at last armed with a million more questions as to how he got away with his emp stunt during the first leg. He was family- er NOT- and he knew him too well to understand that getting away with such blatant cheating was equally NOT something that should have happened (and didn’t if his disapproving words after that race carried any weight). Don was too sharp, too seasoned in the field…
Though, the rooster refused an answer, simply awarding the hawk his well-deserved prize with a sympathetic smile.
Jet H A T E D it.
But there were more pressing matters at hand, namely the collection of HIS amulet and the subsequent plundering of Babylon to his nam-
“-!!?”
Though, in the black case clicked wide open in the palm of his hand lay not only the relic which he sought all these months, but a note, one unmistakably written and signed by the pair of birds he could no longer call his parents:
We wish you all the happiness, whatever leg of your journey comes next.
Love, N & D
Jet’s beak began to tremble as he crinkled the paper in his grasp. How could he have been so blind!?
They planned this.
Getting away with his cheating…
Him being awarded the exact prize which he sought…
They planned ALL of this!
And like a damn FOOL, Jet played RIGHT into their hands…
“RRRRRRGHHH!!!!” Scraps of paper went flying before he knew what his hands had done, “I DON’T NEED YOUR PITY!!!” He pulled the amulet free before throwing down the case at his father’s feet below the podium, “I NEVER ASKED FOR YOUR HELP-”
“JET WAIT!!!”
She was there, the girl with the golden hair, board thrown aside and already pulling against his wrist before he could flee, “PLEASE!!! THEY JUST WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY-!!”
It was as if a dagger had been plunged deep into his chest, “Eve…You knew?”
Well, at least she stopped him from running away a second time, however long it would last.
Tears stung the corners of her eyes, “They…rescued me from the storm…” Her family raced up behind her for support, including the unscathed hedgehog who’d faceplanted just minutes prior, “Please Jet, I-I didn’t know before then, but I knew something was wrong…” The pair of Rogues joined at the hawk’s side in like, glaring down the competition in challenge, as if daring them to get in their boss’s way now that he was so close to the truth, “I just…wanted to hel-”
“BY LETTING ME WIN!!?”
“...” The girl’s features drew back in guilt, “Jet, family isn’t just the one you’re born into…” She let go of him, taking a step back until the hedgehog’s hand met her shoulder, “Just look at me…at us…”
A swift and accusational finger met her chest, “YOU are NOT the same as ME!” Eve shifted her foot back, only for Jet to follow, “YOU LEFT your family behind!! I didn’t get the CHOICE!!”
Eve froze.
“I-I…” Her wet eyes grew wide, “I-I didn’t leav-”
“Oh, spare me the crap!” The hawk tapped his finger against her chest again and again in emphasis, “I GREW UP in the ‘#1 news station’ on all of Mobius! We ALL heard of how you STAYED behind of your own volit-”
Sonic grabbed the hawk’s finger, daring him to continue, “That’s enough, Jet.”
The false champion leaned in, “Or what?”
“...” For a moment, the hedgehog’s gaze grew dark.
He exhaled.
He let go, his tone softening, “Eve just wants to help, Jet. You don’t know her story, same as she didn’t know yours, and yet SHE chose to offer you compassion.” Sonic offered Eve’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, as a sign that however stern, he would not lose his temper again, “Apologize to her. Now.”
The rest of her family readied themselves in case of a fight.
Same as the Rogues.
“I’m okay, Sonic…” The girl with the golden hair gently nudged his hand from her shoulder before offering him a reassuring nod. He reciprocated, watching with baited breath as she slowly approached once more, “Jet, if you can’t relate to me, then think of your friends…The Babylon Rogues…Do you think they would have changed such an important name- followed you all this way for months if they didn’t see you as family?”
Wave and Storm shared a sympathetic glance.
“Th-That…” Desperate for some explanation that justified his stubbornness, the hawk threw his panicked gaze to the side, “That’s different…”
“Is it?”
“...”
She reached out again.
“Jet, please…You already know the answe-”
Before they could share a touch, the hawk leapt backwards onto his board, back turned to her as he prepared to ride off into the desert.
“You know what? I was wrong. The Babylon Rogues DON’T need someone like you…” He then turned, his pupils shrunken in heartache as a couple of tears slid down his beak, “You’re just as shallow as everyone else.”
Eve’s eyes widened in hurt.
She drew her hand back.
“...”
For an instant, regret crossed his features, though Jet pulled away before they could all see.
Even so…
Eve knew.
She knew his tongue lashed out from that all-to-familiar sting of betrayal.
That feeling of not belonging in someone else’s heart…
“Jet…”
“Jet…” With a gentle touch along his arm, he was stopped by the purple swallow, the smartest of their group and his closest ally, “Perhaps the human girl has a point. I mean, do you really think you’ll be happy if you go through with this?”
And there it was, that same lack of certainty he’d felt when his Dad had called out to him that night.
Jet froze.
He stole a glance at the owl in the blimp above.
He tore his gaze away.
“Of course I will…”
He hoped.
His arm gently pulled free from his mechanic’s grip, “Come on, Wave…Storm…”
…
…
Jet turned, “Storm?”
“Boss…” The albatross took a few hesitant steps back towards the girl whose pleading eyes never left the hawk’s, “I know I’m not that smart, but she’s right. If your folks can’t be family, then what about us?”
Eve drew her hopeful gaze from her sudden ally back towards the boy with the amulet, “...”
Jet groaned, “I don’t have time for this…” He turned back around, “Wave, let’s go.”
Nothing.
“Wave?”
He turned, but it was too late. Choice already made, she too stood beside Jet’s friend as well as his enemies.
“Jet…enough is enough…” She placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder in solidarity, “Eve may not know you as well as us, but she is right. I’ve been watching you beat yourself up over what happened between you and your dads for the past 10 months to the point of making yourself sick. It’s time to move on.”
Jet leaned back in betrayal, a lone figure sailing against the sea of those who loved and cherished him.
“Jet…go home.”
Everyone watched the hawk in anticipation.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
He looked to the amulet in his trembling hands, “...”
But even so…
Jet…
He…couldn’t silence that piece of his heart that tugged his gaze back towards them…
“I-I…”
That small piece begging to be saved from the demons of his own making…
“I-I-I-”
BOOM!!!
BOOOM!!! BOOM BOOM!!!
Everyone shielded the human girl as she shrieked, dust from the sudden explosions enough to blow her away should they let go. Jet too brought an elbow before his gaze lest he be blinded by the suddenly stirred sands of the desert beyond.
Then everything settled.
Though…when he opened his eyes…
The loudest SQUAWK! escaped his throat as the hawk checked every inch of his now-empty grasp for some kind of answer, “MY AMULET!!!”
“NYAHAHAHAHHAAAA!!!! It’s MY amulet now, you squawking heap of feathers!”
Sonic groaned in exasperation. He knew that maniacal laughter from anywhere, “Eggman…”
His and everyone else’s gazes drew skyward at the metallic pod…that…wasn’t there?
All eight racers leaned over the edge of the winner’s podium –at least what remained of the bombed wreckage– only to spot the mad doctor zipping beyond the horizon on an orange moped barely half his size.
The fox’s twin tails flicked in scientific intrigue, “How can he even FIT on that thing…”
“MY AMULET!!!”
The hawk was gone in an instant.
“WAIT!!! JET!!!”
Then, so was Eve.
Sonic hopped onto his board, his cerulean quills tainted golden with the coming sunset, “What are we waiting for!? Let’s go help them!!”
Both pairs of racing families shared a glance, then a nod of complete and total agreement in solidarity for the people they loved.
They hopped on their boards, following the Hero of Mobius’s lead.
SHOOM!
SHOOM! SHOOM!
“JET!!!”
Good thing she was as natural-born a racer as Jet had claimed, because it sure didn’t take Eve long to catch his tailwind even in his frantic, less technical state. She shifted her weight, drifting to the side until she rode directly behind him. The girl with the golden hair released a subtle thanks to the fox who had taught her before the World Cup how to catch another racer’s draft and use it to slip past them when the moment was right.
And that moment happened to be…
…
…
NOW!
SHOOOOOOM!!!
Jet nearly leapt from his feathers as her flowing golden locks entered his direct line of vision. Then, rage as he readied himself to be challenged, “EVE, YOU TRAITOR, DON’T TRY TO STOP ME!!!”
The human ignored the verbal attack, “I’m not here to stop you, Jet!” She leaned forward, throwing her arms back behind her to thrust her lighter-than-average –for a Mobian– body into another burst of speed, “I’m here to get you that amulet back!”
SHOOOM!!
The feathered Mobian jerked backwards in disbelief, “W-What…?”
This…wasn’t right…
She…was here to help him?
Even after trying to convince him to give up this charade…
Jet’s gaze drew to the side in a duo of contemplation and regret, “...”
SHOOOM!!!
Eve reached out her hand towards the doctor’s raised fist.
“Aaaaalmoooooost…”
SHOOOOM!!!
Thankfully, Tails’s safety modifications allowed her the grace to lean as far forward as she was.
“Juuuust….a liiiiittle…mooooor-”
“Gotcha!”
A trap. Of course it was a trap. His fist hadn’t contained the amulet at all, but the smallest badnik Eve had ever witnessed in the time she’d known her human counterpart. Before she could react, it attached itself to her board, a component clicking open along its spider-like back and revealing a glowing, red button pulsating in rhythm to the beeps now gracing her eardrums.
That’s…not good…
“EEEEK!!!” Eve’s blood ran cold with terror as she barely noticed the doctor make his escape ahead once more towards the rapidly approaching ruins in the distance. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t live to see them for herself, not if she didn’t take care of the obvious ticking bomb planted stubbornly at her feet.
“Sorry Tails…” She bent down to unlock the mechanisms securing her to the board. If she had to choose between being blown up point blank or hitting the sand a good 10 feet below at her speed, she’d rather risk her odds against the fall, “I know you worked hard on this board-”
clic-CLATHUNK!
Eve’s eyes flew wide.
Just as she undid her restraints, another metallic arm shot out from the tiny robot’s side, breaking down the manual safety mechanism and locking it in place.
For all of his efforts, how ironic the very thing Sonic had installed to keep her safe would end up being the very trap to bring her to her end.
Eve shrieked again, pulling at her ankles in a fruitless and (she thought) pretty stupid idea considering she was only losing precious seconds freaking out like this.
She needed a better plan.
“SONIIIIIIC!!!!”
Yep. Brilliant plan.
10/10 one might add.
His name catching along the wind, the hedgehog in the distance finally noticed her struggling and, with a jolt, sped straight to her past the distracted hawk, “What!? What’s wrong!?”
“EGGMAN PLANTED A BOMB ON MY BOARD!!!”
“WHAT!!? HERE, JUST UNDO YOUR RESTRAINTS!!! I’LL CATCH YOU!!!”
“I CAN’T!!! THIS BADNIK BROKE THE MECHANISM AND LOCKED IT IN PLACE!!!”
Well, shit!
Sonic understood perfectly well now why she’d cried out for him, “Be right back!! Tails will know what to do!!” He sped off.
How this band of bumbling, panicking teenagers ever survived this long and even managed to save not only Mobius but the entire galaxy, Eve would never know.
She watched as her best friend nearly collided with his brother in the distance, frantically explaining the situation to him. That was when Tails pulled a remote from his branded satchel that he always wore (for good measure) and clicked a button atop it.
click
click
Eve gasped, “I’m free!!”
MUSIC END
Yeah.
She was free alright.
Her now airborne body was direct proof of that.
Unfortunately, in her distress at the prospect of bursting apart like a firecracker she forgot to check her height.
And now…she was falling…
5
0
f
t
d
o
w
n
.
.
.
“AIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!” She shielded her eyes. It was better not to look. Then, maybe Knuckles would be there whisking her away just like that day she’d tumbled from the Tornado at Silver Valley.
“EVE!!!”
SHOOOOM!!!
But Sonic…
SHOOOOM!!!!
He…wasn’t close enough to reach her in time…
fomf!
Not while on his board anyway…
“...H-Huh?”
She knew Sonic’s grasp and this wasn’t it. It was too soft…like one of her feathery pillows back home…
Her eyes shot wide.
Feathers…?
She raised her gaze to his, “...Jet?”
The hawk flashed a grin so cocky one might mistake it for Sonic’s, “Ha! Didn’t think I’d leave you to fall like that, did you, racer?”
“...” A sparkle entered her gaze as the girl’s heart swelled with the same awe she felt when they’d first met, “Racer…” The word slipped out in almost a whisper, as if she couldn’t believe either the shift in the hawk’s demeanor or the drama that had ensued all this time. One of them had to be lying…right? She shook off the notion, pulling herself back into her complicated reality with a frown, “But Jet…” Her gaze fled his and drew towards the doctor disappearing into the ruins beyond their reach, “...What about the amulet?”
“Hmm…” The cheating champion rolled his eyes dramatically in some kind of false thought, “Well, there was this super awesome human I met once who told me that ‘win or lose, family supports each other no matter what’.”
Eve’s heart glowed with happiness.
A more sincere smile crossed his beak, “You were right. Wave and Storm…and even you…You’re all a part of my family. No amulet is worth your lives.”
The girl with the golden hair wiped a few sudden tears.
“We’ll win this race yet, but this time we’ll do it together.”
A soppy, beaming smile escaped her, “Yeah! Let’s win this thing, Jet!”
SHOOM!
“Yo! Jet!”
The pair of racers turned to catch their blue, quilly counterpart wearing a…scowl?
“What’dya do to make my friend cry like that?”
Eve slapped her palm against her face, “Oh brother…”
Jet scoffed, “Jerk! I saved her life! Where were you?”
“UNLOCKING HER RESTRAINTS, DUMBASS!!!”
“NO, TAILS UNLOCKED THEM, SO TELL ME WHO THE REAL DUMBASS IS HERE, SONIC!!!”
“STILL YOU!!!”
“Oh sweet merciful Chaos…” At least things were back to normal between them, but one question remained on Eve’s mind.
Where was her bomb-fused hoverboard?
“Tsch!” Jet zipped ahead a few meters before turning back with a teasing, sing-songy grin, incredulous human tucked safely in his arms, “W h A t E v E r . In the end, I’M the one who gets to carry her to victory~”
“...” Sonic pushed out an unamused huff, watching the pair of racers speed another few clicks ahead towards the entrance of the ruins when suddenly, Eve’s board reentered his view, making a nosedive for the hawk and his passenger.
Had… Had the robot been PILOTING it???
“WAIT, JET!!! LOOK OUT!!!”
BOOM!!!
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”
“AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”
—-----------------------------------
Thankfully, no one got hurt in the blast.
Sore however? Ooooh yeah. Eve would feel that one for DAYS.
Seeing how hopeless the trio of heroes were ahead, Tails had decided to catch himself back up in the commotion, ditching his board to help fly Eve the rest of the way inside and leaving Sonic –possibly as a sort of brotherly punishment for his ineptitude– to princess-carry Jet alongside them.
Well, at least they weren’t fighting anymore once they landed. In fact, Eve had never seen Sonic’s face so red, not even when he’d danced with Amy at the Festival of Hearts a few months back.
She grinned deviously as they awkwardly separated, knowing full well that she now had collateral for when the perfect moment struck.
“This never happened, Sonic.”
“Agreed, Jet.”
But Eve knew.
As the rest of their family caught up, the girl freed her golden hair from its half-undone ponytail. Hairband tucked safely between her fangless teeth, as she gathered the unruly, curly locks and took in the ruins now threatening to swallow her whole. Viny overgrowth decorated the stone pillars from tip to root, groves of trees lining every open inch between like sets of walls. It was surprising that such flora could blossom here given the endless desert sweeping the landscape below, but Eve figured it had more to do with the equally surprising amount of moisture trapped in the atmosphere as high up as they were –which was a good few hundred feet or so once they’d ascended the spiraling base.
“Babylon…” With a solid tug securing her new ponytail in its rightful place, she turned to face the emerald guardian behind her, “It reminds me of Angel Island, Knuckles.”
The echidna nodded, “That’s because Babylon was always rumored to be one of the remaining floating isles that the ancient Ericius tribes inhabited.” He brought a gloved hand to his chin in contemplation, “Looking at it now though, I can’t believe those rumors actually turned out to be true…”
“The ancient civilization…” Jet took a deep breath, “But why was I discovered here of all places…The events of the past…They’re all so removed from us…”
Eve frowned.
“...right?”
She went to place a hand on his shoulder.
“Je-”
Rustle…
“Huh?”
The rest of the united party looking ahead, Eve turned back, barely catching sight of some kind of dark boot disappearing along the edges of a trembling bush.
“...”
Though unsure of herself, she approached, pulling back the now-still leaves like a curtain only to be met with more foliage, “H-Hello?”
Another small rustle, then stillness…
Quiet…
“Is…someone ther-?”
Shing!
Eve squinted against the sudden glimmer of light, raising a protective arm in tandem.
“Who-!?”
But when she lowered it, all traces of life were gone.
Disappeared…
As if their owner never existed in the first place…
“H-Hey!” She continued deeper into the forest, “Wait!! Are you perhaps an ancient!? Do you know Je-!?”
She froze.
Now, before her where she assumed more forest would be, lay a wall of dark smoke as pitch black as the night sky- no. Scratch that. It was as if she were staring the harbinger of death itself straight in its cold, unfeeling face.
She swallowed, a chill running up her spine.
She took a preemptive step back in fear.
And yet…she could sense something deeper…
Sadness…
Grief…
A kind of heaviness that pressed down upon her, threatening to take her very breath away…
“...”
Eve realigned herself with it, a new kind of determination overtaking her features.
If someone really was there, there was no way she could leave them to face such a cruel darkness alone.
After all, if that were her…
Eve reached out towards the billowing smoke.
I don’t think…
Its shadowy tendrils reached out in a desperate plea to be saved.
…I…can…
They began to envelop her, every inch of her body growing stiff as her muscles screamed out for her to continue pushing through, to reach the person on the other side at any cost.
….I…
She gazed helplessly into the beast’s glowing mouth as it gaped wide, a pure white void ready to swallow her whole.
...
What…
…
…
…was she…
…
…
…
…doing…
…just…
…
…n…o…
…w-?
MUSIC END
“Eve!! Where are you!!?”
E…x…ist…ance…
H…er…exi…stan…ce…
GAAASP!!!
The stunned being lurched forward, retching as every nerve buzzed back online, her eyes –pulled open as far back as they could be against her clammy skin– flicked back and forth in panic, though one she could not truly feel, not even as she fought to catch her dry, sticky breath along her scraped elbows in the middle of unknown woods. There was a persistent numbness, one that rendered her soul distant from the essence of her physical being as a primal instinct within fought to regain some semblance of life.
What…just happen-
The profusely sweating girl didn’t even flinch or otherwise blink as her best friend threw himself on her, checking her over frantically for any explanation as to the cause of her worrisome behavior.
She…just simply stared ahead…
…confused…
…unsure…if she even truly existed anymor-
“Hey! Snap out of it!”
Eve…that was her name right? Well whoever or…WHATEVER…she was –if ‘she’ was even the correct term for it– fought against her frozen nature to blink not once, but twice if you can believe it…
She readjusted what she could now feel was her head, staring blankly into the emerald gaze of the being before her, “S…o…nic…?” Yes. That was his name. But…was he even real…?
fomf
Her gaze softened as her tension melted into his warm embrace, “Sonic…” That was one feeling she ALWAYS knew was real.
“You wandered off. Please don’t do that again. We don’t know what we’ll find in these ruins and Jet says they’re known to be dangerou-”
“Je…t…?”
Sonic pulled back to try and read her dazed expression. He frowned, “Yeah. Jet? The guy you’ve been fighting this whole World Cup to get closer to?”
Eve blinked at him, a few more labored breaths escaping her.
“Are you…o k a y ?”
He really hoped that explosion hadn’t caused some kind of medical emergency, not when they were this far removed from civilization.
“...”
Eve blinked a couple of times again as her gaze now fell to her…hands, right? Yes. Her…hands…as they rested limp upon her lap…
She brought one of the stranger limbs up to the side of her head as she slowly regathered whatever bearings were left, “Mnnn…” Suddenly, she remembered how to properly speak, “I…I think…so?”
She turned behind her towards where…
Where…
“...I…don’t remember…”
She grimaced, feeling what she now recalled was the all-to-familiar sting of shame at her lack of memory.
“S-Something…Something…was…”
She pressed both fists into the sides of her head in frustration.
“...”
Then, weightlessness in her…legs…as her body was lifted from the dirt and cradled in her friend’s arms, “Come on, Eve. Let’s get you back to the others.”
“...” She looked back once more before relenting and turning into his chest with a mournful and labored huff, “...Okay.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Though neither hero in their exit noticed the torn scrap of brown fabric balancing gently against the leaves of a nearby bush, a gust of white-petaled wind blowing it free until it faded into the nothingness of a lost memory.
I was adding the new banners to the Moonbeast chapters and I noticed some of the links were broken in Arc 2 (namely after 'Rescue Mission'). I've fixed them! Apologies to anyone trying to read who couldn't find the next chapter.
So I had an idea in my quest to flesh things out better before Time Keeper…
What if I made banner art for every arc in the series? Something to highlight where the story is at as well as some of my favorite moments and panels? Not to mention it looks cleaner to have a consistent art style across sagas.
Given my late revamp of the Moonbeast Saga into more of a comic format I decided to start there, but more sagas are already sketched out and will be coming VERY soon. So stay tuned!
So for context, I was going through the rest of the Avalon chapters and organizing them between what needs to be written and what will be a comic (right is all the comic chapters)
So I'm clicking through each chapter to make sure I have them in the right order and skimming the detailed speech to text notes to get a visual again, right?
And when I click on the "Live Life" chapter I just see this and I am in TEARS 🤣🤣🤣
Nothing else. Just that.
Man I love finding my random plot notes... 🤣🤣🤣 If any of you have seen Game Grump's "updog" video, I'm laughing about as hard as Arin was.
