GeneX - Nightmare Zone: Act VI


Note: Sonic the Hedgehog and related characters are (c) SEGA and 
Sonic Team. You knew that, right?
GeneX and related fanchars are (c) 2BIT (TheGreatGator), the author.
The Raven was a poem written by author Edgar Allan Poe

Foreword - 2BIT here! Like last year, there are multiple stories in this year's Halloween Special. Yay! However, I decided to do it a bit different this time. The stories are contained within a single, larger story! Now where have we seen this sort of thing before, hmm... Eh, whatever. Enjoy!


There are many dimensions. Universes that exist entirely separate from our own. Some are similar to each other, and some are drastically different. Several of these realities are inhabited by intelligent animals, and several of them are home to a super fast being called Sonic the Hedgehog. One of those realities is GeneX Necros, home of the Nightmare Zone. Sonic and his allies have clashed with the dark forces gaining power from this evil zone for several Halloweens, with mixed results. Last Halloween, Sonic managed to break a curse placed upon him by the sinister witch, Tabitha the cat, and save numerous lives. Now, they all await next Halloween, for only then will Tabitha once again emerge from the shadows and attempt to awaken the Lord of Nightmares, and attempt to cover the planet in permanent darkness. However, this does not mean that Tabitha merely sleeps until October 31st. On dark, eerie nights, when others would not dare venture out into the Nightmare Zone, Tabitha takes to the skies on her broomstick, contemplating how she will exact her vengeance on the next All Hallows' Eve. One night, she found herself flying across the Mystic Ruins sky, past the workshop of young Tails, which was now converted into a laboratory and base for Sonic and his friends. Inside, they were all sleeping peacefully. "Hey... How can they sleep so soundly when the Nightmare Zone cloaks their very home in shadows!? The nerve!" Tabitha said to herself, peering into the locked windows. "They've no doubt cast barriers against my magic, to protect themselves here... I do sense a magic wielder in the building..." she grumbled, her eyes widening as she questioned what she was sensing. "No, no, that one's dead. That's not possible... Never mind. I can get one spell through that might be worth it for a bit of fun... Ha ha ha ha! Revenge is always sweet, no matter what the dish! Sweet screams, Sonic!" she cackled, pointing her finger at the window where she spied Sonic sleeping and firing a smoky purple spell in his direction! It seeped through the window and creeped over to him, and as he snored, he inhaled the gaseous spell! Tabitha cackled and flipped in the air with her broom, kicking up more of the smoke until it formed a picture, an image of something, which Tabitha flew back to observe. "If only I had some popcorn... Hee hee hee hee..." And so Tabitha started to watch Sonic's dream... or nightmare...

~~~
Nightmare 1 - The Devil and Sonic the Hedgehog

It had happened again. Somehow, it had happened YET AGAIN. Knuckles the echidna grumbled to himself as he searched around the caves of Angel Island for any sign of the pieces of the Master Emerald, which once again had managed to get shattered. "I am so sick of this happening! I ought to put a big 'Fragile' sticker over the emerald when I'm done putting it back together!" he groaned, pushing aside a big rock to check for any sign of a shard. "This is gonna take until Thanksgiving at this rate! I'm sick of this!" he grunted, kicking at the rock only to hurt himself, jumping up and down holding his foot as a result. "Yeow!! Darn it!!" he yelled. He sat down in a moment and sighed. "I'd sell my soul to get outta this for a change..." he sighed. As if in reaction to his words, some smoke started rising from the surrounding area. Knuckles shrugged it off as coming from the lava in the caves, but soon a figure emerged from the smoke! It resembled a red hedgehog, with brown furred legs ending in hooves, a long, pointed tail, a pair of horns on his head above his ears, and jagged, pointy teeth in his mouth. "Good evening, sir... Did I happen to hear you say something about... selling your soul?" the demonic hedgehog asked in a low, wispy voice. Knuckles stared at him, a little spooked at first, but seeing no immediate danger, calmed himself quickly. "Bah, I was just remarking about how I wanted to get these Master Emerald shards gathered quickly, without spending forever searching for 'em..." he said. The stranger smiled at him. "You don't say... Well, that's a relatively simple matter. I think we could make a deal, if you're game..." he offered. Knuckles looked at him skeptically. "Huh? Yeah! Right! And what would you want in return for all that work?" he chuckled. The stranger shrugged. "I suppose your original offer will do... Your soul..." he said, extending his hand to Knuckles. He shrugged and shook his hand. "Whatever, mister joker..." he muttered. Suddenly, in a burst of fire and smoke, all the Master Emerald shards appeared in a pile at Knuckles' feet! "Yaaaah!! What the!?" Knuckles gasped, jumping in surprise. The stranger smirked and chuckled demonically. "Enjoy. I've fulfilled my end of the bargain. Oh, how silly of me... I never introduced myself... Call me Satan." he sneered, patting Knuckles on the head as he started to walk away, fire trailing behind him as he went. Knuckles started shivering as he turned to watch him. "S-satan!?" he gasped. "I'll give you until Halloween night to set your affairs in order. Your soul belongs to me now, and I'll be back to collect it in full... Pleasure doing business..." he chuckled, disappearing into the smoke. Knuckles stared with wide eyes, but shook his head. "He's screwy... I'll just get back home and forget this whole thing..."

That night, as he slept beside the repaired Master Emerald in the familiar setting of the emerald's shrine, his dreams were plagued by nightmares. He found himself falling, tumbling into fiery pits, surrounded by demons and tortured souls. Darkness swallowed him as ghouls and zombies moaned all around him. He covered his ears and shut his eyes. "No... stop it! I'm not goin' to... STOP IT!!!" he screamed as he woke with a start. He realized that he was more spooked by the stranger calling himself "Satan" than he wanted to admit. "I wonder... could he have been telling the truth? Maybe I should see someone mystical, just in case..." he said to himself.

Halloween was fast approaching, so he quickly sought out Gemini the fennec, knowing that she was at least familiar with magic. Upon relating his story to her, she jumped and backed away from him in fright! "You sold your soul to the devil!?" she gasped, shivering. Knuckles frowned. "Now, come on, Gemini. Don't tell me you buy into that..." he said, though he was actually getting more worried. "You should know better than to trust a stranger willing to strike a bargain like that, Knuckles!" Gemini whimpered, turning her back to him and shuddering. "Gemini? Don't freak out on me, Gemini. I need your help!" Knuckles said. She turned around with tears in her eyes. "I'm afraid it's too late... The devil isn't one to be reasoned with, and you can't stop him with brute force. Not even by magic..."she shivered. Knuckles backed away. "What!? You're saying I'm doomed!? Can't you use magic to block him or something!?" he yelped. Gemini held up her wand thoughtfully. "Well... No, but... Maybe there's another way. We'll need help, though." she said. After thinking on it briefly, they decided to seek out Sonic the hedgehog, the most heroic person they knew. If anyone had the purity of heart to stand up to the devil, it would be him. "You want me to fight off the devil himself for ya, Knuckles?" he said after hearing the story. "Not exactly..." Gemini started to say, but Sonic interrupted her. "Say no more! I'll handle it! No one messes with my pals, devil or no devil!" he said. Knuckles smiled a little. "Thanks, Sonic... I knew I could count on you." he sighed.

Soon, it was Halloween night. Knuckles, Gemini, and Sonic awaited Satan's arrival at the shrine of the Master Emerald, prepared to attempt to save Knuckles' soul. As the night grew dark, smoke blew from below the shrine, and the red hedgehog walked up the stone steps, trailing fire behind him. "The time has come. I am here to collect my payment. We made a deal, after all..." Satan stated. Sonic stood between the devil and Knuckles, holding out his arms to bar the way. "Hold it, creepy. I'm not about to let you walk off with my friend!" he said defiantly. Satan smiled wryly at Sonic. "Is that so... Well, we had a deal. I'm afraid it's binding by a higher authority than your mortal laws..." he pointed out. Sonic looked at him smugly. "Then I guess I'll have to settle this outside of court." he said. Satan nodded. "I know all about you... The famous Sonic the hedgehog... The fastest thing alive. I'll tell you what. I'll offer you a... special deal. A wager. I challenge you to a race. Should be a simple matter... for you..." he said, his jagged teeth showing as he grinned wide. Sonic crossed his arms and listened. "Yeah, go on..." he said. "If you win... I'll relinquish your friend's soul. He will be free. However, if I win... your soul will belong to me, as well, and I will be taking you both down to Hell with me this very night!" he chuckled demonically. Knuckles glanced at Sonic nervously. "You don't have to do this, you know..." he said. Sonic snickered. "Heh! You think I'd lose?" he asked. Satan extended his hand to Sonic. "So, we have a deal?" he asked. Gemini growled softly and waved her wand at Sonic. "Puress Proplasmar!!" She cast a spell that cloaked Sonic in a soft light just before he shook hands with Satan, causing the red hedgehog to grimace a little from the touch. "What's the matter, prince of darkness?" Sonic asked. Satan quickly pulled back his hand and hissed a little. "Nothing... Our race will begin at midnight. I hope that's not past your bedtime..." he said, walking away. Sonic glanced at Gemini, who shrugged. "A little purification magic... To protect you from having your speed stolen away. The devil isn't known for playing fair." she said.

As midnight neared, the strange, costumed man known as Gator appeared and started acting as a sort of announcer. "It's almost time for the big race here on Angel Island! Our competitors are looking eager to get going! Sonic's busy stretching and whatnot, but that creepy goat-legged jerk is just standing around looking spooky and impatient. This promises to be the event of the evening, mainly because there aren't gonna be any more events at this hour! Boy, I could sure go for a hot dog..." he said. Satan approached him, a little irritated, but doing his best to hide it. "A... hot dog? Bit late for that... but I'm sure I could work something out for you..." he sneered. Gator shrieked. "Yaaaah!! You're never gettin' MY soul, Mephistopheles!!" he yelled, running off as fast as he could. Satan snapped his fingers in frustration. "I'll get him yet..." he sighed. He then returned to the starting line as midnight was about to arrive. "You better keep your word, Satan!" Sonic warned. Satan smirked at him. "On your mark, hedgehog..." he said. Fire trailed in front of them to create a starting line, and as midnight arrived, Gemini released a flare from her wand to officially begin the race! Sonic and Satan took off across the bridge leading away from the Master Emerald shrine. Their course would lead around Red Mountain's cliffs and soon take them back to the start. The devil had failed to curse Sonic before the start of the race, so the fastest feet in the world were still as fast as ever, and leaving his hooves in the dust! However, Satan always has tricks up his sleeves. First of all, he was quick on his feet to begin with, and was keeping Sonic set in his sights. "You're a fast customer, that's certain, but how's your skill?" he chuckled demonically. Sonic glanced back to see that Satan's hands were covered in flames, and an aura of darkness seemed to emanate from his body as he ran! Sonic turned his attention back to where he was running and shrugged. "Gimme your best shot, Satan! I'll take on your challenge fair and square!" he shouted. As they crossed into the Red Mountain area, Satan started working his evil. The ground cracked, the trails split open, and the course became dangerous for Sonic! Fire blew out of the cracks, lava spouts erupted where holes in the mountain burst open! Sonic jumped and rolled, weaved and dodged, watching out for the devil's tricks. Satan passed through the flames harmlessly, catching up as Sonic slowed down! They soon turned the corner and started back on the trail leading to the start. Sonic and Satan were neck and neck, and the devil's cheating would not stop. Ghoulish arms reached out of the ground, grabbing for Sonic's legs! He simply jumped into the air and leapt from the wall, speeding back into the lead. Satan growled. How could his plans to stop that hedgehog fail? He tried once more to tip the scales in his favor. The cliffs began to crumble, the trail collapsing all the way down into the sea below Angel Island! Sonic leapt from stable spot to stable spot, but fire and ghouls were being added to his worries as well as Satan proceeded without concern! Sonic kicked off some of the ghoulish arms grabbing for him as he evaded the other obstacles, but Satan was now in the lead, and they were nearing the gate back to the Master Emerald shrine area!

Sonic picked up speed, fire trailing from his own feet as he went! The devil sure was fast, but there was none as fast as him! They reached the bridge to the island, and Satan could no longer cheat, for without the bridge, he could not cross himself, and any other method he might use to reach the finish line was against the rules. They each ran at top speed, and though the devil had gained a lead through his schemes, Sonic was far faster than he was. Though Satan summoned a mighty flame to block the finish line, Sonic merely leapt over it and soared over the line first, winning the race! As Satan reached the line, he wore a frown that showed off his jagged teeth. He knew he had been beaten, and he was furious. "The winner is Sonic!" Gemini cheered. "It's over, Satan. For all your tricks, I'm still the fastest! So, you gonna keep your word?" Sonic asked. Satan glanced at Knuckles, who raised his fists defensively. "I'm not goin' without a fight after all that!" he warned. Satan smiled wryly. "Perish the thought. You're free now. A deal's a deal, and I have been bested... I'm a man of my word." he said, before turning back to Sonic. Knuckles cheered and sighed in relief. "Thanks, Sonic! I owe you one!" he said, running up the steps to the Master Emerald, "Now maybe I can sleep without nightmares!" Sonic nodded to him, but noticed Satan was still there. "Shouldn't you be going, uh, home now?" he asked. Satan grinned mischievously at him. "Oh, I still have something on my mind... See, I never forget anyone who crosses me... Never." he growled demonically. Sonic stared at him uneasily. Smoke rose around the devil's body, blowing gently in the breeze. "Didn't you know? No one... can ever really outrun the devil. I will catch you someday, Sonic the hedgehog... No matter how long it takes..." he said, smiling from ear to ear and showing off all his teeth, as well as the flickering flames burning at the back of his throat! Sonic whimpered and then glanced at Gemini, who was shaking like a leaf. "D-don't look at me... Run, you idiot!" she stammered. Satan spit some fire from his mouth at Sonic, making him jump. "Yaaah!! Hey, I beat you fair and square! Dang, how do you get rid of this guy??" he yelped. "Start running..." Satan suggested, prompting Sonic to take off at high speed, with Satan hot on his heels, spitting fire at him! Gemini watched them run off and whimpered. "Well... Maybe he'll leave him alone... after Halloween... I hope..." she sighed.
~~~

Tabitha watched as Sonic tossed and turned in his sleep, sweating more and more as the devil started to torment him directly. She cackled. "Ha ha ha ha ha!! I was worried for a moment that my spell had misfired, but it seems I've got him good, now!" she grinned. As Sonic rolled in bed, he soon fell over, and Tabitha gasped. "Ooops... Best be off, lest he spot me out the window!" she murmured, flying off while chuckling softly. Sonic rubbed his head while he climbed back into bed. "Only a dream... Should have been tipped off when he got ahead of me..." he mumbled. As Tabitha kept flying, she soon spied Gator snoozing under a tree. "Hmmm? That fool is OUTSIDE?! Perfect! Now you die!" she shouted, hurling a lethal spell at him! However, upon striking, it simply blew up around him without hurting him, and Gator simply scratched his tummy and kept snoozing. Tabitha stared in disbelief. "No, no, that's not possible... They can't have developed complete immunity to my spells... Don't go off the deep end, Tabitha!" she babbled. Glaring at him angrily, she decided to simply put on another show for herself to watch. "Mess with my head will you? Then I'll mess with yours! Let's see how well you sleep after this!" she snickered, casting more purple gas towards Gator, which he inhaled as he snored as Sonic did before. She then waved around with her hands to cast a smoky viewing screen to enable her to view his nightmare. "I wonder what sort of things you fear? What will this strange sort of being conjure in his mind, after my spell takes effect?" she asked herself, watching intently.

~~~
Nightmare 2 - Nevermore

Once upon a midnight dreary, Shadow pondered weak and weary, over many volumes of forgotten lore. He was growing drowsy, and started to nod off. Before he could begin his napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as if someone were gently rapping at his chamber door. "It's some visitor," he grumbled, "tapping at the door. At this late hour... An inconsiderate visitor, nothing more." He ignored the noise and turned back to reading, though the room was dimly lit and it was a strain on his eyes. "This bleak December will not end..." he sighed. His books failed to cease his sorrow, a pain even lost memories could not ignore. "...Maria..." The one true friend, his angel named Maria. Absent now forevermore. The rustling of the curtains in the darkness of the room, the continued rapping on his chamber door, nightmares began to invade his mind. "It is a visitor at my chamber door... a late visitor, and nothing more." he insisted to himself. The rapping at his door became a loud banging, and his heart skipped a beat. "Cursed fiend!" he growled, rising from his seat. "Very well, I'm coming!" So, he opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. Shadow cursed under his breath. "Pranksters... There ought to be laws..." he grumbled. Deep into the darkness he peered, standing there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. And then the silence was broken. "Sorry I ran off!" Startled, Shadow jumped back into his chamber. In the street stood Mr. Gator, wearing the trademark costume of his namesake. "I heard an ice cream truck while I was waiting, so I ran off to chase it!" he grinned, munching on a sweet treat. Shadow frowned at the unwanted visitor. "You're spoiling a mood. Go away and leave me in peace." he said, shutting the door, and leaving the pleasant Mr. Gator standing in the snow. "Why are they selling ice cream in December anyway? Oh well...?" he sighed.

Back into the chamber turning, all Shadow's soul within him burning, soon again he heard a tapping, even louder than before. "Now what... That was the window! Let me see then, what that is, and this mystery explore... Perhaps the wind, and nothing more." He walked over and flung open the shutter, seeing Sonic at his window. "Shadow! Ya gotta help me! The devil's after me!!" he pleaded. Shadow shook his head. "Good night, Sonic." he grumbled. Sonic whimpered and ran off hurriedly. Just then, with many a flirt and flutter, in the window stepped a scruffy Flicky with raven colored feathers. No greeting, not even a look at Shadow, and the bird flew into the room, perching above his chamber door. It perched upon a bust of Pallas just above the chamber door. Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Shadow stared up in curiosity, wondering at the creature's audacity, barging in through his window and seizing the spot above his door. However, before he could react further, there came yet another rapping, yet another tapping upon his chamber door. Shadow rolled his eyes, fear having left in favor of aggravation. He threw open the door. Outside, Gator had returned, accompanied by Copter the fox, Punchy the echidna, and Rainbow the echidna, all bundled up and holding song sheets. "Let's cheer up Mr. Grouchy! And a-one two three!" Gator said before they began to sing. "We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas! And a Happy--" Presently, Shadow slammed the door on the carolers. "-New Year..." Rainbow could be heard concluding. "Humbug..." Shadow grumbled. The scruffy Flicky observed him from the bust of Pallas, silently and unblinking. Shadow noticed the open window and remembered his remaining guest. "Well, you so intently let yourself in. Would you at least do as much as introduce yourself?" he said smugly. Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore." Shocked was Shadow to hear a reply, though it bore little relevancy. "You say that's your name? Heh... No, doubtful. You don't understand my words, do you?" Shadow mused. Yet again, a tapping at the chamber door. Shadow held his ears. "Away!! No more visitors!" he growled. The Flicky stared, judgmentally even, urging him to answer the door. "Why should I obey you? You won't be staying long..." he grumbled. The Flicky stared unblinking. Shadow sighed and opened the door. Punchy stood there. "Penny for the song, good sir?" he asked. Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore." Shadow smirked and nodded in agreement, slamming the door. "Scrooge." Punchy grumbled. 

"Dismal December. Will it ever pass and leave me be?" Shadow sighed as he retreated into his chamber. The Flicky repeated "Nevermore." Shadow glanced back up at the bleak bird. "Depressed craven, what unhappiness has it come across so often to have picked up that word, yet only that word? This 'Never-nevermore.'" Still, this Flicky seemed a fine distraction, so he moved his chair in front of it. In front of bird and bust and door. He started thinking, wondering. Could there be meaning in it? In "Nevermore?" He sat, thinking, guessing, while the bird's gaze continued at him, unblinking still. He would meet HER, nevermore...

"Wretch!" he cried, "Whatever angels or demons have sent you!! I beg respite!! Allow me, forget the lost Maria!!" Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore." Shadow shook his head. This bird was getting to him, or perhaps it was the late hour? Still, the phrase repeated by the bird angered him further. "Thing of evil! Bird or devil! Allow my soul peace! Let me live a moment without this sorrow!!" Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore." The word, repeated yet again, filled him with a true fury. "Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" he shrieked upstarting, "Get back into the tempest from whence you came! Leave no black plume as a token of the lie your soul has spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! Leave the bust above my door! Take your beak from out my heart, and take your form from off my door!" Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore." And Shadow could take no more. He lashed out, leaping up at the bird, which flew up to avoid his grasp. "Chaos Spear!!" Shadow hurled spear after spear, hoping to strike down the hated creature. It flew around like a spectre, the dim lighting making it difficult to strike. Shadow knocked books from his shelves, struck down lamps, and shattered his window! He jumped at the bird, but it weaved aside, and he tumbled to the ground! The Flicky briefly dropped down and bounced off his head before returning to the bust above his chamber door. A tapping was heard once more. "Police officer! Is everything all right in there?" a voice called. Shadow rose shakily to his feet. "Yes, sir... Sleepwalking." he said. "Be careful, sir. Good night." the officer said, leaving. Shadow plopped himself down in his chair, exhausted. "I could do with sleep..." he murmured. Quoth the Flicky, "Nevermore."

And the Flicky, never flitting, still is sitting, STILL is sitting on the pallid bust of Pallas just above Shadow's chamber door. And his unblinking eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming. And the lamp light over him streaming throws his shadow on the floor. And Shadow's soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted - nevermore!
~~~

Tabitha raised an eyebrow after having viewed Gator's dream. "What was THAT!? Was that even HIS dream? I mean, he was in it, but..." she muttered, glancing at him. He was moaning and mumbling in his sleep, looking a bit distraught. "Ice...cream...headache!! NOOOOO!!!" he screamed. Tabitha shook her head. "I asked for it, didn't I?" she said. Suddenly, Gator sprang awake. "I forgot to do my Christmas shopping!!" he stammered. Tabitha hurriedly hid behind some tree branches, not wanting the whole area alerted to her presence at the moment. Gator glanced around and scratched his head. "Oh, right. It's not December. It's April Fool's Day." he yawned, "Good night, evil kitty." he said before sitting back to try to sleep again. Tabitha flew out into the open and sighed. "That's enough... Maybe I should get some sleep, too..." she grumbled. As she flew away, she started humming a festive December tune, influenced by Gator's dream. Realizing she was doing this, she slapped herself. "What am I DOING!? I HATE that stuff!! Oooh... Now I'm going to have nightmares..." she shivered, her thoughts haunted by cheerful carolers, snowy landscapes, and a large, bearded man in a red suit.

The End!
...HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! HO HO HO HO!!

Err, I mean... Happy Halloween!