Sonic GeneX: Doomsday
Chapter 21 - The Gaia Wellspring
Stage 11 - Gaia Remnants

Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related OCs are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.


"Only you can make any sense to me.
Though now apart, maybe somehow it could be.
Only time will tell if it's meant to be.
I'm yours alone even if you're not with me.
You will always be, be why I breathe.
Wish tomorrow would be that day that comes to make it up to you,
For all I never did.
Let me make it up to you.
Love is worth a chance." - Worth a Chance; Sonic & the Secret Rings


Previously on GeneX…
Shadow and Kosmo arrived at the Gaia Remnants, the crater left behind by a Temple of Gaia when the temples formed up a Golem to face Dark Gaia. Sally Acorn, Bunnie the Rabbit, and Antoine D'Coolette were gathered there to check out the ruins at the suggestion of Uncle Chuck and Professor Pickle. With Antoine and Bunnie joining them, Shadow and Kosmo set out to explore the ruins underneath the crater.
Lospecter used the Cacophonic Conch stolen from Shade to set the Deadly Six after them. Though Ozzie and Starr found the group and tried to help, things got dicey when Dark Gaia's Nightmare creatures surrounded our heroes as well. Tikal appeared and created a diversion, allowing our heroes to escape, and that's when Lospecter swapped the Deadly Six for Mephiles, plotting to use his power to silence Tikal once and for all!
Now, our tale continues...


Having used Chaos Control to warp his allies to safety quickly, Shadow found himself with them in a hallway lit by the glow of Tikal's light. Antoine shivered at the sight of her. "I-I-it is a g-g-ghostie!!" he said through chattering teeth. Tikal began to float down the hallway, and Starr started to follow her. "I think it wants to show us something!" she said. Kosmo looked at her funny. "No questions, just off she goes. I have no clue where she gets it." he muttered. Bunnie grabbed Antoine by the arm and took him along as the group followed Tikal's spirit. Shadow watched the orb intently. "You... You're this Tikal I've heard of before, aren't you?" He wasn't sure where he'd heard the name, but it had certainly been tossed around at different occasions over the years. "I am... Though the trauma that led to my death had been resolved, my spirit has never been able to rest. I've remained, watching the world. During my time sealed in the Master Emerald, I was gifted with knowledge... The emeralds, you see, have a connection with Gaia, and as we slumbered, Light Gaia taught me of the threat by communicating through the Master Emerald." she explained. The six following her were able to ponder her words until they arrived at a chamber that was different. It was a large chamber with a hole in the center, like a well. A pale energy seemed to flow forth from the well, and as the group came into close proximity to it, they felt strangely refreshed. "Hey! I was all tuckered out, but all of a sudden I'm all fine and dandy!" Bunnie said, summing it up nicely. Kosmo looked around. The energy coming from the well seemed to radiate through the room, seeping into the walls, floor and ceiling. "Is this the 'soul' we're looking for?" he wondered. Tikal's spirit floated to the edge of the well, and then took on her true form, the tribal princess of the ancient Knuckles Clan! "This is the Gaia Wellspring. The soul of Gaia Itself flows from here!" she announced.

Shadow looked at the Wellspring, energy flowing from it. He breathed a deep sigh as the energy calmed him. "This is... Creation energy. It's GeneX." he remarked. Tikal nodded. "Gaia's power flows from these points buried under the temples, feeding life to the planet." she stated. Antoine peered down the hole curiously, gasping. It appeared bottomless. Ozzie cleared his throat. "This is all fascinating, but...we're more or less leading the Lost Ones right down here, so... What happens when they get here?" he asked. Tikal had a grave look in her eyes, and she clasped her hands as though in prayer. "We must not let them get the Gaia Wellsprings, not any of them! With their corruptive power, they would use the Wellspring to transform the entire planet at once! It would be the end of the world!" she cried. Kosmo grit his teeth nervously. "We're doomed. Lospecter has legions at his command, can teleport them at will, and can float through walls! How are we supposed to stop them!?" he shouted. "Ah! He is right! It is hopeless!! We are doom-ed!!" Antoine cried, hugging Bunnie as he started to sob. Shadow glanced around the group and rested a hand on his hip. "Really? You've come all this way to give up? Pull yourselves together!" he snapped. Starr nodded. "Right! Tikal must've brought us here for a reason!" she pointed out. They all looked to Tikal, who had turned to the well. "...This is my destiny. I will use what remains of my power to purify and shield the Wellsprings of the world from the Lost Ones! They will not win!" she cried, raising her hands over the well, her whole body starting to glow! "This will take time if I want the spell to spread to the other springs. You need to defend this place until I complete my task!" she asked them. They all nodded, Bunnie gripping her Wispon as Antoine drew his sword. "Oui! I will fight to my very first breath to protect this sacred place!" Ant declared. Ozzie shrugged. "I'd correct him, but I think he means it that way..." he murmured. There were multiple doors leading out of the room, so Shadow pointed around. "Everyone take an entrance... This may be our most important battle yet!" he said with utter seriousness.


As Lospecter attempted to follow the trail of Shadow, he found his forces blocked by the Nightmares. They snarled at him, and he snarled back. Mephiles tried to freeze them with his Time Eater power, but it didn't effect the Nightmares. "They come from another god... One that is more whole than I am." Mephiles reported. Lospecter whistled softly. "Ooooh! Guess we're on the right track! Yeeesss… I want the power of a god..." he murmured, "Buuut, I think I'll settle for his minions. Hehehe... This oughta be good. Kiddos think the Chaos Crown was just for controlling vines! I'll show 'em how it's done!" he smirked, pointing his key to open another portal. Mephiles glared at him. "Do try. It would be amusing to watch you disintegrate with too much Creation energy flowing through you..." he sneered. Out of the portal hopped the slimy form of Cuthburt, once again wearing the Chaos Crown. Lospecter zapped the portal closed and sighed. "One key drawback of true immortality. I can only play with so many toys! But I can whisper into my gator's ear..." he chuckled, floating up to Cuthburt and whispering instructions to him. The Lost Zombie nodded and stepped to the Nightmares. "As you command, master... By the power of this crown..." Cuthburt said, voice gurgling. Energy radiated from the crown, and then down through Cuthburt's feet, through the earth, and to the Nightmares. They screeched and held their heads, fighting the influence of the crown. But the crown held dominion over Creation energy, and if a being was not quite sentient enough on its own...the Chaos Crown could seize control! The eyes of the Nightmares began to glow a pale green as Cuthburt took control, and Lospecter burst out laughing. "Gaia's security is all ours! What a blast! C'mon, Mephy, let's eat some souls!" he cackled. Mephiles looked ahead blankly, hatred for his captors burning in his eyes. "I hope you all destroy one another..." he whispered, floating up to follow along.


There was a period of silent tension, where Shadow, Kosmo and the others stood guard while Tikal quietly chanted a spell. They knew Lospecter would reach them soon enough, so they had to be ready. Kosmo stood by one of the entrances with Ozzie and Starr nearby, and he watched them curiously. "Exactly what are you both doing here? You're not both my kids, are you?" Kosmo asked with a raised eyebrow. Ozzie laughed at the idea. "No, no... We showed up here together entirely by coincidence." he sighed. Starr stood with her back to the wall, arms folded and looking a bit sad. "You left me behind at the weird temple-ship. I came to the PAST to find you..." she murmured. Kosmo scratched his head. "I thought you came as part of some grand mission..." he murmured. Ozzie butted in without really reading the situation. "Funny you should mention the future, I came here because I got a visit from my actual future self! He told me to come to Earth and stop something, but then he kinda...fizzled out! I discovered Nova was here and thought I was here to stop him, but now I think the Lost Ones are the real threat... Considering this whole 'devouring a planet' thing." he stated. Kosmo looked at him like this answered nothing. "Exactly how well known is Nova back home? Do you know me? Fizzled out??" he babbled. Starr cleared her throat. "That means you die, Ozzie. You won't make it to the future..." she said softly. "You can't just casually drop a BOMB on me like that!!" Ozzie shouted. Kosmo scoffed at his questions being ignored. Maybe he'd never know about his past. Maybe he didn't even care. At that moment, Antoine yelped from the other entrance he was guarding! "Ahh, Th-the Night-terrors are coming back!" he stammered. Tikal looked up from her spell. "The Lost Ones have taken control of Gaia's defenses... Beware...!" she warned.

One of the Nightmares charged straight at Antoine, and though he yelped, he managed to block its claw with his sword! "Back! Back foul beastie!" he shouted. Bunnie fired shots from her Wispon to force the creature back, but more were coming. "I'm not sure how long we'll last, sugar-spirit! Hurry up and cast yer spell!" she said urgently. Kosmo could see more Nightmares approaching the door he and the morphs were guarding. Behind them was Cuthburt, wearing the Chaos Crown. "Your souls will feel my masters... Your bodies, we do not need..." he gurgled. "More are coming!" Starr pointed out, as claws tore open the fourth, unguarded door! Ozzie started in that direction. "Enjoy daddy-daughter time, Kosmo! I got this!" he shouted. "Yeah, or this is where you die!" Kosmo groaned. Shadow gazed into the darkness of the fourth entrance he was guarding, but saw nothing. He turned and looked at the others, who were quickly struggling against the strength of the Nightmares. Antoine and Bunnie together were barely keeping them at bay. Ozzie had to work overtime to push them back, taking on Zavok's imposing form to work on punching them back through the door. Kosmo morphed himself a robotic body and blocked the claws of the Nightmares from striking Starr. "Hands off my daughter!" he growled. "Dad! Stop! I'm the one that needs to protect you!" she shouted in a panic, turning toward Shadow, who was just standing there watching, "Come on! Help us!!" she shouted. Shadow stepped into the room, but didn't head for the Nightmares. "Not a Lost One in sight. Gaia itself can't corrupt the Gaia Wellspring. This is only a diversion." he said. "Some diversion!!" Bunnie grunted, standing behind Antoine and helping him push his blade against the slashing claws of a Nightmare! Shadow shut his eyes, his ears listening. "They want me distracted... The real attack can come from anywhere..." he whispered.

Bunnie stepped back and made some adjustments to the settings on her custom Wispon. "We're gonna need s'more oomph! Hope I don't run outta Hyper-g'wan energy..." she said, pointing past Antoine as he struggled to fend off the creatures with his blade. She fired a much wider, more powerful beam into the hall, knocking the Nightmares about! It didn't exactly destroy them, though. "Yes! More oomph! All of the oomphses!" Antoine shouted in a bit of a panic. In the meantime, Starr had taken on a sleek, slender dragon form, blowing fire into the passage to hold the Nightmares at bay. Her attack didn't reach Cuthburt, however, and the zombie gator's crown glowed brightly as he tapped into more of its power. "You are mighty creatures, but even a morph is no match for the Lost Ones...!" he snarled. Starr was about to blow more fire into the passage, when plant roots burst out of the ceiling and grew rapidly, grabbing up her draconian form in a tight grip! "Hey!! What the heck?!" she gagged as the roots wrapped around her throat! "Kid!! Morph out of it! Hurry!" Kosmo shouted. Starr groaned and struggled, and then shifted into a much smaller canary form, flapping free of the roots' grip! Cuthburt snarled. "You only delay the inevitable..." As he said this, Kosmo charged towards him in a spin dash, having taken a hedgehog form! He knocked aside Nightmares on the way to Cuthburt, but the undead gator stopped his advance with one hand! That hand snapped off when Kosmo bounced away, but as the Chaos Crown glowed, it quickly grew back. "I cannot die... I am doubly immortal..." Cuthburt gurgled. During all this, Shadow stood vigilant. "You won't sneak past me... Show yourself, Lospecter!" he grunted. Hearing a soft chuckle, Shadow turned to find Lospecter phasing through a wall. "Hey, hi, Shadow. Thanks for finding the McGuffin for us!" he snickered as Mephiles floated in through the fourth entrance. "Fate seems compelled to put you in my path. Personally...I've had enough of it." the Dark sneered.

A pair of LoShadows followed behind Mephiles, hissing as they floated there, taunting the Ultimate Lifeform. It had been difficult to destroy one of them back at Casino Park, and now here was Mephiles with two. "I thought it fitting to bring along this reminder of how you've failed. Look at your creator's research, perverted and twisted...and not for the first time. After all, are you not the professor's first real failure?" Mephiles said. Shadow crossed his arms. "How do you figure that?" he asked. Lospecter let out an amused cackle. "You had one job. You were created for one reason, according to my snooping... An experiment to help cure his ailing granddaughter." he smirked. Mephiles then raised a clawed hand, and Shadow's eyes widened as the ghostly form of Maria appeared before him, despair in her eyes as her spectral form seemed tethered to Mephiles' clutches! "Shadow!! H-help me!!" she wailed. Mephiles let out a sadistic laugh as Shadow stood there in shock. "She died in front of you... Your ultimate failure. Why couldn't you protect her, Shadow?" he taunted, "You are destined to fail. Simply give in to your fate, and I can reunite you with Maria..." the Dark whispered. Maria cried out to him, "I need you...Shadow..." The black hedgehog held his head, grunting. "That's... not Maria. She's at rest. You have no access to her soul!" he shouted. Lospecter grinned. "Willing to bet on that?" he asked. Suddenly, an explosion sounded behind them, and Kosmo and Starr leapt away from the entrance they'd been guarding as it started to cave in! "This won't stop me!!" Cuthburt gurgled. "It'll sure slow ya down!" Starr shouted as Kosmo turned to Shadow. "Hey, pal, need a hand? I think my kid can handle herself a while..." he said, stepping to Shadow and offering his hand. Shadow looked from Maria's ghost to Kosmo's smirking face. The past was past. He took Kosmo's hand. "Let's bury Mephiles where he belongs... A mere memory..." Shadow said, looking at the Dark defiantly! Maria's "ghost" then vanished, leaving a glaring Mephiles floating there. "You can't put the past behind you! It defines you!! You can't escape the march of time!!" he howled, swiping his clawed hand in anger!

Mephiles floated above them, purple energy radiating from his hands and feet. Shadow glanced at Kosmo. "Be cautious... I have the feeling that he was brought back without his time travel abilities, but he may have other tricks..." he warned. "Oh, he'll be preoccupied..." Mephiles sneered as the LoShadows flew out from behind him, charging at Kosmo! The morph backed up, trying to think of what to turn into to battle with ghosts. He shifted into Copter's form. "Well, wind maybe? What's he say... Chaos Whirlwind!!" Mimicking Copter, Kosmo whipped up a wind of Chaos energy, but it only seemed to mildly annoy the spirits. "Weeeell… Good luck, Shadow!" Kosmo said, leading the spirits out of his way. At about the same time, Shadow dodged a blast shot from Mephiles, and observed the floor turn white where it struck! "You're still merged with the Time Eater!" he gasped. Mephiles chuckled softly and dove into the shadows, vanishing into a black smoke that swirled about the room. "Try and stop me, Shadow! Your time is about to run out!" he taunted. Shadow glanced at Lospecter to see him creeping towards Tikal. "Chaos Spear!!" he shouted, pelting Lospecter with spears and making him back away! However, while he was distracted, Mephiles emerged from the shadows behind him, looming over the hedgehog! Shadow expected this, however, and quickly leapt up to avoid the next time-freezing shot from Mephiles! He flipped backwards and kicked the Dark, who was knocked back slightly, but then repelled Shadow with a shockwave of dark energy! "This struggling is futile! I was able to destroy the world once, and I'll see it ended again...once and for all!" Mephiles declared, creating a ball of dark energy in his hands that grew larger and larger, lifting it over his head and turning towards Tikal! Shadow appeared in front of him suddenly. "Every time you try... I will always be here!!" he shouted, leaping at Mephiles as his body glowed red with Chaos energy! "Chaos Blast!!" The explosion knocked Mephiles back harder, causing him to drop his ball of dark energy...onto Shadow. The black hedgehog fell to his knee, grunting in pain, and looking in shock to see Lospecter getting close to the Wellspring!

Lospecter reached out for the Wellspring. "The creation energy makes my ectoplasm crawl... But inside... I can make the whole world...lost!" he said with a giddy voice. However, his hand recoiled, and he saw a dazzling light surround the Wellspring! "No, no no! Hah! I have the ultimate key! Open Sesame!!" he shouted, pointing the Chaos Key at the barrier...only for its unlocking beam to fizzle out! "No, nothing can block out the Chaos Key! NOTHING!! Open up!!" he yelled. Meanwhile, more explosions were heard from the passageways, and Starr stepped out twirling the Chaos Crown around her finger. "There's a lot of things you guys didn't see coming just now!" she smirked. With the crown retrieved, the Nightmares turned on the Lost Ones, and ran straight for the LoShadows, their particular energy causing the mutant creatures harm! "Never thought I'd want to hug one of those monsters..." Kosmo said of the Nightmares, sighing with relief now that he was no longer backed into a corner. Ozzie, Antoine and Bunnie approached Lospecter, sword and Wispon pointed at him threateningly. "I think it's time y'all skedaddled on outta here!" Bunnie growled. "Oui! Or face my blade of the fury!" Antoine added. Lospecter pouted. "Well, I'm not leaving empty handed." he said, snapping his fingers. Before anyone knew what that even meant, Mephiles burst out of the shadows beside the exhausted Tikal! "No!! Get back!!" she cried as his clawed hand seized her throat! Tikal gagged, and reverted to her spirit orb form, trapped in Mephiles' clutches! Shadow sped towards him in a rage. "Let...her...go!!" he snarled, only to find Mephiles floating away from him quickly, meeting Lospecter at an exit portal. "Well, she cast her spell and bought you some time! No matter! The boss has had millennia to think about our conquest from every angle! We'll make good use of your friend's sooooul!" the ghost taunted, waving goodbye as he and Mephiles vanished into the portal! Shadow stared at the spot where they'd escaped for a moment, then grit his teeth and punched the ground. "...I don't mean to cause undue lightness to the mood, but... Didn't we just win?" Ozzie asked. Kosmo looked at the glowing barrier around the Wellspring. "...I'm not sure." he said, "But let's get out of here." he suggested. Shadow stood up and nodded. "We have to find a way to save those souls... All the souls Mephiles has taken. Tikal deserves...to rest in peace." he sighed. And so, with heavy hearts, they started on their way back to where Sally awaited them outside.


All of these events were being observed through a crystal ball. Tabitha had set herself up in a cave, and Nova was resting close by, barely stirring from his electrocution at Kosmo's hands. "Good, you're awake now..." the witch said impatiently. Nova groaned. "What the heck's with you? Why won't you leave me alone?" he said, pain in his voice. Tabitha looked at him with an amused smirk. "Ohhh, are you injured? Are you at my mercy? Hahaha..." she taunted, "Perhaps you'll grant me the mask for saving you...or in exchange for not killing you?" she mused. Nova sat up and glared at her. "If you put on that mask, you'll kill me anyway. Enerjak is beyond control." he told her. Tabitha sighed, using her broom to sweep up the dirty cave a bit, looking rather calm. "I'm afraid we must come to an agreement. Enerjak is our only hope of surviving the coming cataclysm." she said simply. Nova let out a pained laugh, slowly rising to his feet. "Is this a new tact? What cataclysm? What could possibly frighten a morph, hmm?" he said with a cocky grin. Tabitha set her broom aside and pointed at her crystal ball, magical energy lifting it up and drawing it closer to Nova! She waved her hands, eyes glowing blue. "Let's rewind here..." she purred. Nova watched Tikal explain the Gaia Wellspring, and he learned what would happen if the Lost Ones were to seize it. He watched the battle play out, but he shrugged at the conclusion. "What's the point of all this?" he growled. Tabitha rolled her eyes. "You fool! The Lost Ones are amassing power! If there's a way past the protection, they'll find it! We need to destroy them first! We need to be the greater evil... True evil!!" she proclaimed with a cackle. Nova raised an eyebrow. "And you think losing our minds to Enerjak will save us?" he questioned. Tabitha smirked. "With my magic, perhaps it will be us controlling the mask...so what do you say?" she asked, extending her hand. Nova sighed. It wasn't like he had much choice. He shook her hand. "Our pact is forged...let's get started!" Tabitha smirked.

To be continued...