Miracle in the Dark Dream Dimension

Synopsis: People of the planets of the Videogame Solar System to gain enough power to absorb them in their Dark Dream Dimension. The Dark Dream Dimension is in the Dream King and Queen's castle and absorbs the dream energy from every being that is captured within the mysterious Dream Boxes. The more people from these planets the dream royals kidnap, the larger the dream dimension gets. The Sonic Underground and the Resistance (minus King Sonic, who is captured during a fight with the royals' henchmen) must save everyone from the Videogame Solar System and prevent the Dark Dream Dimension from enveloping it entirely! In the castle's center, the massive Dark Dream Dimension is forming, gathering the magical "honey energy" of the sleeping beings. With Corneria, Kinoko and even Popstar and Phantomile trapped, it now will overtake Mobius, and all Mobians will enter Dream Boxes if the plan is not stopped.

 

Chapter 1—"We Interrupt This Program..."

           

            Although it had been a little harder than usual for everyone to get up and start moving, Sonic rallied everyone together for morning calisthenics while the automated breakfast machine Sunny made everyone’s favorite meals as well as pouring ice-cold tall glasses of orange juice for anyone who desired it.    Some of the hedgehoglets preferred apple, cranberry or grape juice.   There were the outliers who preferred green tea with two lumps of sugar but they weren’t so common as the orange juice quaffers. 

            There came a message over the holo screen.   A stressed looking armadillo reported a massive wave of sleepiness overtaking Mobius.   Armando the news anchor had also said that other planet’s inhabitants were starting to fall asleep in droves.  

            ‘It can only be two sinister forces.    The Dream King and Queen of the Dark Dimension !’, Amy said, looking at Sonic with intense concern.    Cortisol levels were starting to rise, and the Crystal Palace family started to show some signs of uncertainty and anxiety.    

            In the background, one of Sonic’s hegehoglets had seen something unusual in the background coming from footage that Armando and his team had captured from the Mushroom Kingdom.     It was Princess Peach, fast asleep, transported to another dimension in a transparent kind of bed.    

            Soon, they could see the residents of Phantomile, Corneria, Kinoko and Popstar as they were quickly and easily subdued after being lured to sleep by a gorgeous and relaxing melody.     One by one, people were enclosed in transparent, comfortable and airy places of repose, all lifted up by telekinesis and winked out of reality.   Sonic knew he would have to incorporate the help of an Immortal whose very realm was that of dreams and happened to be called Dream.   It was Morpheus, Lord of Reverie whom they sought and given his dealings with mortals, he was going to be far more sympathetic with the victims who were keeling over, conking out mid-walk. Sonic knew he had to act quickly, but to even reach Morpheus, he would need his siblings’ medallions to harken him.

 

Chapter 2—Our Conquest Thus Far is Successful, My Queen ! 

           

            The King looked haughty and overly satisfied with how effective his little lullaby and delivery had worked.    Each soul that he had put into stasis he placed into another room where each bed would be linked into a large repository.    The essence that was drained from each sleeping dreamer would then be imbibed by the King and Queen once it was collected and refined.    The drained husks would then be jettisoned into space, lifeless, of no use to anyone anymore.  Their own daughter had been put under a spell herself since the two of them knew full well she didn’t approve of them robbing people’s essence and remaining young forever.    The two despicable royals had been living this way for centuries without any consequence only because the worlds that had tried fighting back had their energy completely drained and they perished in their vain fight against the Dark King and his Queen.

 

            'The Dream Boxes are almost ready. What about the gondolas ?', she asked. 

            ‘I assure you, Nyx, is being taken care of.   Some gondolas have already arrived in the Dark Dimension.’, King Sombra stated, haughtily.    She levitated, sidling up to him and nuzzled her nose against his neck affectionately.  

            ‘This whole system will be under the Dark domain.’, Sombra added.   

            ‘Outstanding.   Who better to rule than us two ?’, Nyx agreed, with a giddy titter.   

           

            Everything was happening in rapid sequence for the king and until, somehow, Aurora awoke.   She had realized that glass of milk her dad had asked her to drink before bed had knocked her out.  In case she had awakened, there had been guards set at her door to disallow her from exiting.    She crossed her arms, pouting.  

            ‘This is horrible…I trusted them and they betrayed me…’, she thought, shedding a few tears.   She found that her tears crystallized and created a stunning wand.   She blinked.

            ‘How is that possible ?’, she wondered, picking up the weapon.   It seemed as though the elegant, prismatic staff would be extremely fragile.   It was shatterproof.   Upon picking it up, she felt a surge of unmistakable power.   She pondered, curiously, why this was happening and rushed to her mirror to look at herself.   Her ordinary attire had been transformed into something positively stunning.  She looked like a cosmic waterfall and the stars themselves sparkled in her garments.    She giggled.   Instantly, she knew what she had to do.

            ‘If I can’t get out in the usual way, I must try sending out a homing beacon.   The only question is, how far will my beacon go ?’, she asked herself.   She intrinsically knew spells but she was aware this was rudimentary power.   She had never implemented this power before, thus it would have to be honed and fine-tuned over time.    She took a deep breath and extended the wand with her left hand and sang,

            I need your aid

            Wherever you may be

            If you could

            Could you help me ?

            Perhaps we could assist one another ?

            And maybe there are others ?

            Perhaps sisters, brothers

            I need your aid

            Please come help me

            For I am imprisoned

            Emancipate me

 

 

Chapter 3—A Certain Spiny Blue Hero 

 

            The spell worked unbelievably well and its full intent was received.  

            ‘Do we even know where this is hailing from ?  How do we know we can trust Aurora ?  Until now I didn’t even know there was a Dream Dimension…’, Flake, a recently frozen frog that had come out hibernation stated.   Flake lived in his own little world at times, so for him to adapt took a little longer than most Mobians.   Though, the regenerative frog could do so, no questions asked.   

            ‘I’m like you, Flake.  I thought this was only a fable at first.’, Tails reassured his amphibious friend.   

            With Tails’ coordinates he had recently calibrated and the help of Cecil and their finest quantum engineers and physicists, the siblings, and their spouses, as well as Tails, Knuckles and a small faction of Freedom Fighters, would venture into what was literally ‘undiscovered country’ for them all.   Flake, wanting to see this for himself and being a bit of a greenhorn, wasn’t certain if he was ready for battle on this kind of scale.

            ‘You want to help the others who are falling into Nyx and Sombra’s clutches right ?’, Amy countered, to shake off Flake’s self-doubt. The young frog straightened himself up.   He knew how to fight, and counter impressively.   He hadn’t done so in a real-world scenario but with Amy backing him, he felt surer of his abilities.

            ‘Yeah !  Now, let’s get to scootin’.   Too many video game brethren are being taken to the Dark Dimension, and whatever reason they’re being delivered there can’t be good.’, Flake said, recalling the plots of many horror films he had seen.   This was exactly like one of those psychological horror movies that kept him up at night.    If his intuition was any indicator of truth being stranger than fiction, he had a feeling he was going to be seeing a therapist for a bit. 

 

‘Flake, it's good to see you !', King Sonic said, hugging the young frog.
'Likewise !', Flake replied.   The two patted each other’s backs heartily, enjoying their reunion, though short lived.   Using a crawler that he had invented before his seasonal cryosleep, Flake released Jailbreak into the Princess’ corridor, seeing that it wouldn’t trip any alarms or cause any suspicion.   

 

Chapter 4—Learn as You Go

            Aurora was impressed by Jailbreak’s abilities to unlock and hack through codes she had no idea were in existence.  Her overzealous parents had thought of everything to keep her imprisoned and from foiling their nefarious plans.   

            ‘You’re a magical girl ?  Cool !’, Zoey commented.  

            ‘Technically yes, but I don’t know the extent of my power just yet.’, Aurora confessed.    She would have to come up against her parents soon, but something deep inside her resonated with the calm reassurance that although her power was green, she would be even more potent than she ever dreamed.   

            Nyx and Sombra were incensed that Aurora had escaped.

            ‘You’re not supposed to be outside !’, Nyx spat in fierce anger. 

            ‘When we’re done with you, young lady, you’re never leaving your chambers ever again !’, Sombra concurred, gritting his teeth and clutching his fists irately.   

            The two brimmed with dark power.   Sonic and his siblings would take them on with the help of Aurora while the others would figure out a method of breaking the sleepers free from their gondolas.   There were others that were already zapped to the dream dimension, but Shadow had that overseen in seeking Morpheus’ help.

            In the Dark Dream Dimension…

            ‘I don’t condone this.  Not one bit.   They’re not even immortal…’, Dream said, disgusted by the fact that so many victims would be drained of vital energy and left dead as lifeless husks drifting in space. 

            ‘We weren’t certain if you would assist us, Sir.’, Shadow said as the two continued to work together.   He, Rouge, Nights (who somehow evaded capture), all worked in tandem to release the sleepers from their transparent capsules and return them to their home worlds.   At first, they were groggy and disoriented, but with a bit of patience and assistance, the sleepers fully awoke, thanked their saviors, and returned to life as normal back home where they belonged.   

            Back Amid the Void…   

            The Dark Dream King and Queen were irritated beyond all rational thought.   Nothing they could do was even touching the Hedgehogs.   The prophecies that they had heard whispered throughout the galaxy were true.    The visions they had experienced of their little girl, even more disparaging, were coming to fruition as well.    

            ‘You might have born me into the world, but you’re not my parents.’, Aurora said, with some bitterness in her voice as she stood ready to fight against her caretakers for the first time.   She, Sonic, Amy, Sonia, Manic and the other Freedom Fighters waited to see who would make the first move.   The fight against her parents would be hard, but until they were no longer an issue, her oppression and ostracization would continue.   There was no other option, it was regicide or nothing.  

 

Chapter 5—Light Overpowering Darkness

            'That blue hedgehog's honey energy...we must have it !', Nyx said.  

            ‘First things first.  There’s a certain insubordinate child that needs discipling !’, Sombra stated, directing his attention on Aurora.   Instead of using their necromancy to drain Sonic and his siblings of their combined energy, he focused his ire totally on her.

            Whatever rage Sombra had was broken by a massive shield that Aurora produced without breaking a sweat.

            ‘Don’t make me have to fight you.   We can talk, mom !  Dad, please !   I do not wish to be your enemy, but if you give me no choice…’, Aurora said.    Her silver eyes had begun to water, searching for at least a glimmer of hope in a murky outcome at best.

            ‘Foolish girl.   We never should have had you.’, Nyx snorted petulantly.    Aurora wasn’t the type to become miffed, but this rankled her. Seething, clutching her fists, she called on the others to attack before the King and Queen could retaliate. 

            Sonic’s guitar shot a laser clean through Nyx, and Sonia followed her brother’s strategy with her keyboard.   Manic accompanied with his drum set, Knuckles played digeridoo, Amy, Rouge and Zooey sang.   Aurora brought her palms together and revealed a sword when the King and Queen broke through the laser light show, undeterred and unscathed.

            ‘Pathetic !   Weak !   I’ll handle you first, insect.’, she roared, facing her daughter one-on-one.    Both of them fought against their flesh and blood, blow for blow, it was incredible that Aurora could deflect everything thrown at her.

            ‘ENOUGH !’, she screamed.   Her voice caused ripples and cracks to run up the legs of her parents.

            ‘You think a small fissure will be enough to stunt us, child ?’, she questioned.       

            ‘I used the Light of Truth, mother.   Your reign ends today.’, Aurora replied.    All it had taken was one shout, and both were starting to flake away and peel until there was nothing left.   The gondolas appeared in front of her, and Dream looked a bit surprised.

            ‘You did this yourself ?   You’re more powerful than you know.’, he said, in amazement.   As an Endless, he was a God among mortals and to see this mortal wielding god-tier abilities surprised him.   There was so much about humanity he still didn’t understand.   He did realize that it would take her a long time to return these people back to their planets.   They would be restored with a simple touch to the middle of their forehead from Aurora’s healing finger and then they would be on their way.  

 

Chapter 6—The New Ruler of Dreamtime

            The dark dream dimension crumbled without its rulers overseeing it.   It required refurbishing and complete retooling by Aurora herself.   Without the constant condescending she received from her parents, she planned on becoming the realm’s fairest princess.  One day, she would have a prince to rule beside her, but she was still young for now.   That would come much later in her reign.   

            With everyone who had been ‘taken up’ having been returned to their subsequent planets, Sonic and his siblings thanked Aurora for her unbelievable assistance.

            ‘We couldn’t have done it without you, Princess.’, Sonic said, taking a knee and bowing to show deference.   They all did, reverently.  It was only polite they uphold etiquette and proper decorum in this instance.

            ‘That may be true, but it was you who saved me.’, Aurora said, kissing Sonic’s cheek.   Amy felt a flash of jealousy momentarily but realized the act itself was out of pure appreciation and there were no undue advances being made by the youthful royal.  

            ‘I’m dying for some chili dogs !’, Sonic said, to break the pregnant silence.   Manic and Sonia agreed.   They would be visiting their favorite chili dog place Mork n’ Suds, which had its acclaimed root beer float that had been praised since its opening decades ago.  

Aurora grinned and hugged the hedgehogs again.   Somehow she had the feeling it wouldn’t be the last time she would see them, let alone Dream the Endless.   She thanked the immortal for his wisdom and his help, and was really quite impressed that he wasn’t calculating, cold and callous as the stories had depicted him to be.   

 

Epilogue

            Flake had been rewarded a medal for bravery in what he had done.  It was Aurora who had gifted him with a special pendant to commemorate her ‘jail break’ back in the dark dimension.   From what everyone could see back in the crystal palace by holo view, everything was coming along nicely.   Aurora’s colorful touches on the new castle, the overlooks, its seas, lakes and more, were resplendent. 

            ‘Granted, you’ll probably see these silver streams in your dreams.   These waters will restore you when you are asleep, so don’t be afraid to drink deeply of them.’, she said, knowing that the water in the dream dimension was healing.   In a few more months, everything would be as it was once long before Nyx and Sombra became overzealous with their quest for immortality and had become tainted with the ephemeral and pointless quest of chasing youth.    Now they were gone, a footnote in the history of Dreamland’s annals.    Aurora would rule justly as she had always wanted to, and the change was a massive improvement.  

 

To Be Continued…