Midnight got a new ref sheet so uhh. i guess here’s her lore for those who want it (?):
Midnight is introduced in a 2007 mainline spin-off game called Shadow Riders. This game acts as a parallel title to 2006’s Sonic Riders, as well as an unofficial sequel to Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). It features a similar core gameplay mechanic that involves Shadow facing off against a rival motorcyclist in various levels and boss stages. Midnight is introduced as said rival. The overall narrative focuses on themes of loss, grief, denial, and acceptance.
Now is where I reveal that this is not nearly as well thought-out as I make it sound because as it turns out: I Am Not A Game Dev. There’ll be a lot of ambiguity and vagary going forward so just don’t come after me <3
Midnight Drive hails from an alternate dimension of unknown name. There, she lived a fast, carefree life alongside her partner. The pair made a small-time living as a musical duo. As a hobby, Midnight was also a mechanic who generally specialized in augmenting and upgrading existing machines, but she eventually began working on an ambitious project — an engine that could teleport the user anywhere of their choosing. Unfortunately, she’d never be able to see this project to fruition as intended (this is where it’s gonna start getting vague gamers). A massive catastrophe devastated Midnight’s home dimension, leading in its total destruction. (undecided if it was something like a natural disaster or some weird kaiju) In a last-ditch attempt to escape, Midnight used a wrench to smash open her not-yet-completed teleportation engine. The dimension’s collapse and simultaneous activation of the engine’s mechanism produced an unexpected effect: Midnight was abruptly transported to another dimension. After realizing what had happened, Midnight was determined to find a way back home to her partner.
The first task in her pursuit was to complete her teleportation device. But now, her goal was to perfect an engine that could cross dimensions as she had previously. This eventually culminated in the Dimensional Engine, which she installed into a custom motorcycle of her own making named Moonlight. It was a success — on her bike, Midnight could traverse across dimensions at will. But for some reason, the Dimensional Engine couldn’t reach her home world. Midnight surmised that Moonlight needed more power, thus she began searching for a source. It was then that she heard talk of the Sol Emeralds, which were guarded by the land’s princess. It seemed clear that the key to acquiring the Sol Emeralds was in Blaze, their keeper. Thus, Midnight established contact with Blaze (this all took place BEFORE the events of Sonic Rush). This slowly bloomed into a bizarre friendship, and eventually, even something more. All the while, Blaze was unaware of Midnight’s goal. Midnight feared her feelings, still grieving her lost love and afraid to commit. She cared deeply for the princess, but couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge what they had between them. Eventually, the pair had become close enough that Midnight mustered the courage to ask Blaze directly for use of the Sol Emeralds, and explained her situation. Though Blaze felt for her, she refused. The reason cited of course being that she had a responsibility to guard the emeralds, and couldn’t allow anybody to access them, not even Midnight. She tried to explain that the only true explanation for the Dimensional Engine’s inability to access Midnight’s home world could only be that the dimension was destroyed. But, angry and not in her right mind, Midnight wouldn’t listen. After Blaze’s refusal, Midnight tried to steal the Sol Emeralds. She failed — she got caught. Hurt and betrayed, Blaze banished her from the Sol Dimension on the spot, and Midnight escaped to the Chaos Dimension. (Fun fact I actually have that scene written and may post it eventually idk)
Still searching for a means to power up Moonlight’s Dimensional Engine, it didn’t take Midnight long to learn of the Chaos Emeralds after she arrived. She had another chance, and she wasn’t about to waste it. it quickly became apparent that she wasn’t the only one after the emeralds. Midnight had a run-in with Dr. Eggman in her pursuit of the first Chaos Emerald. Rather than fight him for the prize, she proposed an alliance. She would use her tech and skill to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds, and Eggman would help her power up the Dimensional Engine, as well as back her up with his Badniks.
Early in their pursuit, Midnight crossed paths with Shadow, who was also seeking the emeralds. As Shadow gave chase, he was quickly (and involuntarily) joined by Sonic, who of course sought to prevent the emeralds from being stolen. (This level + most others would play out a lot like Sonic Riders gameplay, essentially just playing as a motorcycle race between Shadow and Midnight with Sonic acting as an assist to slow her down). Facing both Shadow and Sonic, Midnight recognized that she was outmatched, and fled. Afterwards, she informed Dr. Eggman of the encounter, to his immense disdain. As they reconvened at Eggman’s lair, Midnight took notice of Metal Sonic in storage, decommissioned following the events of Sonic Heroes. When asked, Eggman dismissed her curiosity, but Midnight wanted to know more. Behind the Doctor’s back, Midnight repaired and reactivated Metal Sonic, restoring his shape-shifting abilities and appointing his help in taking down Shadow and Sonic.
(Side note: idk why everyone including Sonic Team acts like Metal can’t talk . He has voiced dialogue in Sonic CD, so do Sonic and Robotnik. So since i’m god and this is my world so he can talk because fuck yuo)
Alright so this is where things are gonna get a hell of a lot more vague and nonspecific because like I said I’m not a game dev and I don’t have every beat of this planned. The rest of my ideas are getting written thru bullet points:
- Following level(s) would then put Shadow and Midnight on equal grounds — Shadow with Sonic as support and Midnight with Metal as support.
-I imagine this game having a ‘Team Hero/Team Dark gameplay format like several other entries in the series. Team Dark being Midnight, Metal Sonic, and Dr. Eggman. Team Hero would likely be Shadow, Sonic, and Tails (he’d definitely be part of this I just haven’t fully decided how lmao)
- Neo Metal Sonic would be an early boss, possibly a repeating one that scales in difficulty. (it pees me off that you never fight him in Neo form in Sonic Heroes . Sonic Team casually gave him the coolest design and barely used it)
- I really want Blaze to be more involved in the plot later on, but I haven’t decided how. Tbh the lore about her and Midnight being weird exes is pretty recent so I haven’t fleshed it out quite as much as I’d like.
- Midnight’s pistol — the Starlight Shooter — fires bright purple energy beams (bullets). While playing as Midnight, the player must aim for Shadow and Sonic while racing. Hitting Sonic will force him into a cooldown period, while hitting Shadow will briefly slow him down. (Sonic would follow the pair on higher ground, atop buildings etc. thus making him more difficult to hit) Conversly, playing as Shadow would involve avoiding Midnight and Metal’s attacks and racing to catch her.
- Over the course of the narrative as Shadow catches on to Midnight’s predicament, he relates to the grief and denial she feels, sharing pieces of his experience on the Ark, and having to cope with Maria’s death. He urges her that her venture is born of delusion — her home is gone, and she shouldn’t run from her grief (but you know . in that Shadow way where he’s blunt as shit about it and possibly kind of mean) Midnight of course repeatedly rejects this notion, insisting that she knows her home is still out there, and that it can be saved if only she could collect the Chaos Emeralds.
- Midnight’s theme is Digital Circuit (1st lap) from Crossworlds bc it’s an original composition for that game which means It’s Free Real Estate. Also it just fits her vibe really perfectly (linked below)
Eventually, Dr. Eggman and Midnight are actually successful in collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds. Not only that, but Midnight succeeds in infusing her interdimensional tech with the Emeralds’ power, and opens a portal to her home world. Or at least, it would have. (Things are about to get vague again <3) The dimension was gone, and catastrophe that devastated Midnight’s home was still alive and active, and the portal she’d worked so hard to produce unleashed it upon their world. Herself and the Doctor realize their horrible error too late, and now the portal had to be accessed amid the danger, and closed. Shadow and Midnight come together in solidarity to close the portal and save their world, with help from their respective supports. (Like I said idk what the hell I’m talking about . probably some giant kaiju thing since that’s usually the case) Midnight ultimately has no choice but to accept what has happened — that her home was destroyed — and choose to move forward and rebuild her life. She forms a truce with Shadow and Sonic, mostly maintaining a friendship with Shadow. She also continued to act as Metal Sonic’s service provider for repairs, plus maintained an unconventional friendship with him.
OK I THINK THATS IT UHH UHHHH if you got this far thanks for reading my cringe ass word vomit. All this stuff is prone to change/addition so maybe if that happens i’ll post about it idk
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