Chapter 4


(The sun, the moon, and the beast!)


We join our two Heros this time, Xak and Shocram, on their way to Lathian, a town of Unknown Origin, and a place neither Xak or Shocram have ever heard of before, this was strange to Xak since it was in his kingdom's territory.
"Uhhh man I'm starving!.. What about you Xak?" Shocram said grunting.
"Stop complaining, you're the one that scarfed down all the food Syclone gave us... If anyone should be complaining... it should be me!" Xak stated, and looked at Shocram with a little hint of disappointment.
"Yeah well .. First come first serve you bare--," Shocram fell silent as he noticed Xak giving him the mean eye.
"Okay, okay.. I'm sorry if or when we find food; I'll let you have first dibs! Sound fair?" Shocram asked hoping it would put Xak in a chipper mood.
"Yeah I suppose that’s—“ Xak paused and put his finger up to his lips to silence Shocram if he were to talk out loud, “Shh you hear that?" he looked to Shocram for conformation.
They over heard voices a distance away, both sounded irritated.
"Why are you so damn mad all the time?" one asked, annoyance in his tone.
"Because of you! You're the reason why I'm so angry! I can't stand you!" the voice bickered back
"Yeah well that's a cryin' shame, I’m your brother we should be close... What did I do to you?"
"Everything." the arguing voices got louder and closer Xak and Shocram.
"Lunar, I didn't do anything to you besides be you older brother, and the way you are.. I wish that wasn't true.."
"You and me Both!" Lunar exclaimed.
"oh! so now you agree with me?" the white hedgehog fumed.
"uh.. er... Shut! I hate you Solar! You’re nothing but an ass!" the black hedgehog yelled.
"You’re the only ass I see, Lunar..." 
With that being said, the Black hedgehog and the white hedgehog stood in battle formation, ready to brawl it out.
"Hey Xak.. You think we should... you know. Do something about that?" Shocram said feeling a little worried.
"Na.. Let's just see what these two can do?" he answered with curiosity.
"What for?!" Shocram exclaimed.
Suddenly Solar and Lunar summoned two Orbs simultaneously , one pitch black and the other blinding white, they used the orbs to shoots out black and white bolts at the rock Xak and Shocram hid behind narrowing it down to dust before Xak and Shocram's eyes.
" Wow, wow. wow! Calm down! We're not your enemies!" Shocram said standing up quickly and his hands in a passive gesture, "why don't you two go back to killing each other while we just simply walk away…" Shocram continued.
Xak stood up on his feet calmly with no regret or apologetic expression, but of a serious stare, "My friend is right, we're not you're enemy... and I can sure you two you don't want to challenge me in my current condition right now..." Xak said bluffing them down as he clenched his fist.
"If you're not our foes then what are you doing stalking us?" The black hedgehog demanded.
"Yeah speak now, before I get a twitchy finger!" the white hedgehog followed to say.
"My name is Xak, once the Prince of these Lands, and this is my companion Shocram... we were on our way to a town called 'Lathian' when we heard arguing, we apologize for watching your feud, we only grew curious, was all." Xak said as a reply to their question.
"Wait, did you just say Prince?" Solar asked.
"Yes.. From the Grass Planes." Xak replied the white and black hedgehog's eyes wide with shock as they were witnessing the prince, being alive.
"So you're alive! We all heard what happened to the Kingdom--"
"Hold on.. as I last recall the prince was a brown hedgehog.. You’re obvious not Brown." Lunar interrupted, arms crossed.
"Hey yeah, I hardly noticed, when I met you but now that I think about it, you're not Brown at all." Shocram said entering the discussion
"Oh yeah Lunar's right.. You’re obviously not the Prince, so who are you!" Solar reproached.
"I am the Prince. My parents are dead... My betrothed was kidnapped... And I'm all that’s left of a fallen kingdom... as to my current appearance... I don't know why I'm black... but I assure you I was once Brown..." Xak replied attempting to persuade them to believe him.
"Yeah right, you're just some imposter trying to get our hopes up... vile punks like you make me sick." Lunar growled.
"I hate to say it Xak but... I'm having doubts... How can you prove to us, you are the prince?" Shocram said warily.
Xak stood there clenching his fist tighter and his eyes getting blurred by tears looking down at the ground, "He took my home... he took my girl... he took my family... and now he's taken my identity too...." Xak growled under his breath, as he raised his head and looked at the white and black hedgehogs with his eyes turned a slightly red and his fangs growing sharp slowly.
Shocram and the white and black hedgehogs were frightened by Xak's strange development as they stood ready for battle, while as Shocram tried to snap Xak out of this deformity act, "Hey Xak, relax! What’s going on with you?" Shocram said.
Xak’s blinked hard and his appearance changed back to his blue eyed, small fanged self, “what? Wha-what was happening?"
"I don't know... You were like transforming or something..."
Xak only felt more anger knowing now the monster he was becoming. He turned and ran away from the three.
"Xak!" Shocram called out, watching Xak run. He turned and looked at the two hedgehogs, "Hey guys.,. um, look I don't know if he is the prince or not... but I do know that he's been through some crap... I’ve been traveling with him for a couple of days now and he's a good guy..." Shocram said, looking serious, and sincere.
"Hmph we've all been through some crap, so why should he be so special?" Lunar huffed.
"Yeah plus... why should we care about an imposter? Even if he was a good guy, it gives him no right to pose as dead prince." Solar followed saying, rolling his eyes at how ridiculous of an idea that was.
Shocram took off after Xak leaving the two hedgehogs behind to chase after Xak, "Xak wait! Stop!" 
"Well now that that's taken care of... where were we?" Lunar said.
"Oh, geez give it up Lunar... you're only gonna lose like the other times--"
"Boys come and eat!" a womanly voice called "alright ma!" the white hedgehog called out to her.
"uhhg.. fine!" the black hedgehog said as they left running home together.


meanwhile later that night
"Are you ready?" the mysterious voice spoke.
"oh yes, yes, yes, yes! heheheheeee! So ready!" another voice chuckled.
"Then do it tonight... Those two will be dead! Got it?" the mysterous voice said
"yeah, yeah, yeah.. You’re such a broken record... Just shut up and let me have my fun!" the second voice replied.

While…
"Xak! Where are you?" Shocram called out, as he searched for him in the dark inside the deep woods that was nearby.
"Xak! Dude c'mon, I don't care if you're the prince or not... you're my friend, c'mon come out already, “he paused to listen but there was no answer, “You know the more you sit out here and cry the more time you waste, when you could be saving your--" A growling sound interrupted Shocram, "What the hell?" Shocram went to check it out, he looked over a bush to see a black shape that looked eerily similar to Xak’s.
"Oh man there you are,” he sighed with relief, “Look forget those brats... we need to get to town it's getting really dark and quick."
The black shape turned its head and its glowy blood red, soul Piercing eyes landed on him.
"Xak? Iis that... you--" 
"aahahhhhhhhrrrrr!!!!!" the beast roared aggressively at Shocram. 
The Lightning Lord flinched and turned tail to run quicker than blitz out of the woods in a panic "What the hell was that!?" Shocram exclaimed to himself in fright., but he wasn’t watching where he was going, and it was extremely dark and he eventually tripped over an object and tumbled over and went down a hill, spraining his ankle. The beast was running after him as and the roars grew louder. 
"Oh crap, oh crap oh crap!" Shocram got back on his feet as he tried to run only tripping again, just noticing his sprained ankle, "oh son of a--" 
"AHHHHHHHH!!!" the roars got even louder. Soon it would be on top of him.
"Gotta move, gotta move!" Shocram muttered in panic, getting back up as he looked ahead and saw the glowing lights of the town Lathian "there gotta make it into town!"
Behind him, the beast was sprinting as fast as it could as Shocram was trying his hardest to limp his way to the town, "wait,” he sputtered, “I can use my lightning to kill it, why am I running?" Shocram chortled at himself. He halted his escape, and turned to be ready for the dark beast to show it face. Shocram was close enough to the town now, it was at his back and it’s lights brightened his vision to see what this monster was.
The beast finally caught with up Shocram; when seeing his quarry had stopped fleeing, it stopped as well and stood there staring down at Shocram. It growled at Shocram’s newly discovered bravery, and it's red eyes still frighteningly soul piercing as before. When the lights touched the beast, Shocram could see it’s features and suddenly he was too scared to move, "X-x-xak XAK? Is that you?" Shocram stuttering as his eyes shrunk in fear
Suddenly the two younger hedgehogs from that evening stepped in front of Shocram defensively, summoning their orbs and ready to fight, "Hey Shocster, you alright?" the white hedgehog asked.
"Y-yeah.. But Xak..." Shocram said in worry.
"What about him?" the black hedgehog asked.
"That's xak!" Shocram shouted as they all looked at the beastly form of Xak.
"Wait, that's the black guy saying he was the prince? He looks like his true colors showed after all..." the white hedgehog said.
"No that’s not him at all.. It's like he's being possessed…"
"Possessed or not, he holds a threat to our town and we can’t allow that!" the black hedgehog stated.
The beast charged at the three hedgehogs in full rage, his hands were lit up in a blaze of blacken flames, blasting large amounts of blak fire bolts at them. Solar formed his orb like a shield to guard Shocram and himself while his brother, Lunar took that opportunity to charge back at the beast shaping his orb like sword and swung at full strength at Xak but Xak caught the blade of the black sword with his teeth and used his power to throw Lunar aside. Xak leaped into the air dropping above Solar and Shocram, but unexpectedly the mental image of Ophilia had broken beast Xak's focus. He dropped to the ground, grasping his head roaring in pain before he held onto his chest.
Lunar got back on his feet and rushed over to the beast, prepared to strike, but Solar stopped him, "Wait Bro.. something’s not right here." Solar said.
"So! Are you gonna wait till it has time to recover?" Lunar shouted, noticed Shocram stand up and limp over to Xak.
"Dude.. I know you're in there, stop this crap! …What would your girlfriend say huh!?" Shocram said as the beasts roared in deeper pain as if Shocram's words had effect on him, "c'mon man, wake the hell up!"
"Lunar, do you smell smoke?" Solar mutter to Lunar.
"yes, actually I..,” he turned and his eyes gre wide, “THE TOWN!" Lunar yelled. Solar and lunar saw as their home town was lit on fire and heard the people screaming.
"Oh crap, Lunar go help the people! I'll take care of Shocram." Solar said quickly.
"Right!" Lunar ran towards the town as fast as he could run.
"C'mon Shocram, let's go."
"No! Xak needs help!" Shocram fought back stubbornly.
"Ugh! I swear you two are nothing but trouble!” Solar shaped his white Orb as a disc big enough to carry both Shocram and Xak who had fallen unconscious while reverting into his original form.
Solar had carried both Xak and Shocram towards Lathian for medical attention, to leave them there to help Lunar with the fire. The black starry night sky was lit up with the towns flames that had gotten to out of control. "This wasn't an accidental fire.... someone had set this." Solar said as they entered the town and rushed Xak and Shocram to the doctor which happened to be safely away from the fire for now.
"Lunar! Where are you?" Solar shouted out after leaving Shocram and Xak.
"Over here!" Lunar shouted back "Solar, this flame was intentionally set!"
"Yeah I figured that out already! And we'll figure that out later did you secure the town's people?" Solar asked in worry.
"Yes they're all safe but how are we going to put out this massive fire?" Lunar asked Panicking. 
"Relax! Lunar, I have an Idea." Solar said rushing to the nearest house with a bucket and filled it with water and rushed back out and poured the water on the fire, though having little effect.
"OH that’s smart!" Lunar criticized.
"Well, I don't see you coming up with anything, 'Smart’ one!" Solar taunted back when suddenly a blue wind circled the town in incredible speed, with fast blowing wind putting out the fire.
"What is that?" Lunar shouted in shock
"How the-?" Solar yelled in surprise.
"who the?" both solar and Lunar said
"Hey guys, “someone said, “next time you wanna have a campfire, make sure you be safe about it!" the wing spoke, and suddenly stopped on a dime, the blue wind was a blue hedgehog in red shoes...
"Who are you? And where did you come from" Solar asked.
"I'm Sonic, Sonic the hedgehog, and I was just out for an evening run when I say the fire near by...good thing I came, huh?" he smiled.
"Yeah, thank you for saving out town..." Solar said humbly
"Well... Sonic thanks for saving our town... but we had it under control" Lunar said in false pride.
"Shut up Lunar, be thankful for once!" Solar said punching Lunar in the shoulder
"Hey guys, its no Problem, it's what I do, I'll catch you later." and with that Sonic raced off after just saving the town.
"Wow.. He's pretty fast." Solar and Lunar said in sync, then looked to each other and turned the heads the opposite directions and crossed their arms, pouting.
"I still hate you". 
“Yeah, what else is new..." Solar said, annoyed, leaving to go check on Shocram and Xak.

"So doc.. are they alright?"
"Well I'm fine I just have a sprained ankle..." Shocram answered, sitting in a chair in the corner
"Well that’s good, I guess it could’ve been worse… and what about Xak?"
"No worries...” Said the doctor this time, “He just is resting... But his body is in some intense stress... never before in my life have I ever seen such a frail soul...emotional, mental, and physical traumas swarm this poor boy."
"Will he be okay?" Shocram said feeling worried
“He just needs a lot of rest. I’m sure if he can just get good night’s sleep he'll be fine." the doctor replied
"That’s relieving" Solar said.
"Peachy, but why are we helping him?" Lunar said.
"Because whether he is or not the Prince, or even on our side, he's a sick person, who needs some help, and maybe you don't feel that way but then again I guess that’s just another thing that separates you from me."
"uh... whatever I'm gonna go investigate the fire," Lunar said feeling stumped and shamed by Solar as he walked away he growled to himself, "damn, I hate you Solar..."


That Morning
Xak was having a nightmare of himself surrounded in darkness while another Xak stood in front of him.
"You know who you are Xak... I know who you are..." the other Xak said
"What? What do you mean, who am I?" Xak replied.
"If you don't know, then I can't tell you... Because only you know the answer."
"Don’t play games with me, what do you know about me, what is wrong with me? What’s going on?" Xak begged.
"Your soul is only fresh to the darkness, that’s regular... you'll adjust... Or you'll die and I'll die." the other Xak said calmly
"That doesn't seem to worry you, and what do you me, I’ll die.”
"Simple.. The darkness resides in your heart... I... reside in your heart... your black flames are a power of darkness, that fee doff of your anger, your rage, your hatred. The more emotion you feel the stronger your flames... but too strong.. And you'll lose your control..." the other Xak stated.
"So... my emotions are my power's source?"
"Correct"
"And so you're the soul embodiment of my dark powers right?"
"That is also correct"
"So then.. if I don't adjust,, why will I die?"
"Because your body will fall under too much stress... you will be worn mentally, and physically... and the end result will happen with your death... from your body slowly perishing." The other Xak stated.
"So how do I control my powers then?"
"Simple... Balance"
"Balance... explain?" Xak said
"I cannot.. For I am you and you are me.. if you’d know I cannot tell you."
"Bullcrap! You told me this much, and I didn't know it!"
"Ah but you're wrong.. You knew this all along.. When you helped your friend in the woods... when you discovered you powers... you notice then and there the power you felt.. The more anger you expressed."
Xak stood there in his dream, remember back to that day and time, remembering the power he felt, and the expression he was feeling, the burning, "I do remember..."
"See!... when you figure it out I'll tell you..." the other Xak stated as he morphed into a monster before him, frightening Xak .
Xak woke up in a start from his exhausting experience, he looked up and saw to Shocram’s big orange eyes and yellow face, "Hey Xak you're awake how do you feel dude?"
"Uhh wha.. What happened? why do I feel so weak? ARRHHH why does my head and chest hurt so much..." Xak asked barely able to move.
"Well, for one last night after you ran away from me and Solar and Lunar, so I chased after you and lost you in the woods, when I finally found you... you were this beastly monster with bright red eyes, and markings all over your body... and you had a mad blood thirst.. I ran away from you scared crapless.. and then Solar and Lunar were all like--"
"wait, wait, wait... I was a beast? And how is this Solar and Lunar?" Xak interrupted
"That would be us!" Solar and Lunar walked into the room right then.
"So Xak how do you feel?" Solar asked
"In pain!" Xak cried out.
"That’s normal after what your friend here said what happened.” The doctor stated, “Your body would be in large amounts of pain.. not to mention your mental, emotional, and physical health, young man if you don't start taking care of yourself you're gonna be walking into an early grave." 
Xak got up weakly from the bed, and started walking out of the room, "I can't stay here Ophilia needs me!" Xak said, barely able to stand, limping about.
"Wow Xak didn't you just hear him? You need to relax and rest dude you're practically a dead hog walking, man I'm here for you and I'll help find your girlfriend, but I can't help a dead guy..." Shocram said stopping Xak from walking around.
"Yeah plus we wanna help to... prince." Solar said.
Xak's eyes lit up looking at Solar "wh-what did you call me?" xak asked, stunned.
"That's right, I don't know why... but you seem like an honest guy.. even though your turned into a beast... something about you screams honorable... and that’s why I want to come with you guys on your journey!"
"what?" xak said, "what about your town?:
"Yeah, what about us?" Lunar said.
"Well Lunar you always say how much you hate me.. So I figured you can stay and be the hero of this town...while I go on an adventure...”
"Hmph fine by me..." Lunar said, but deep down feeling a bit regretful.
"So it's settled I'll come with you guys!" Solar testified.
"I guess that's fine" Shocram said "what do you think Xak?"
"Fine by me" Xak said in a hollow voice, dropping to the floor.
"That’s fine and dandy.. But you're not going anywhere until you're feeling better DOCOTORS ORDERS!" the doctor said shouting
"Alright, alright... fine... I’ll rest..." Xak said, “but only because I realized i'm useless to Ophilia if i'm dead..."
"hahahaa!" Solar, Shocram, Lunar, and the doctor all chuckled together.


A week had past sense then and our Heroes are on their feet good as new continuing onward on their journey.
"Wait up!" Lunar shouted catching up to Xak, Shocram, and Solar.
"Aww what does Lunar miss his big Bro already?" Solar taunted.
"Shut up I have my own reasons for coming long." Lunar stated, blushing a little.
"That’s fine but what about the town?" Solar asked.
"It’ll be fine... I mean nothing bad ever happened to Lathian when we weren’t looking...besides last night."
"Hey! Are you two coming or what?" Shocram shouted, he and Xak were already ahead of them.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Solar and Lunar said in sync as they ran to catch up.
"What now, Xak?" Shocram asked.
"we head to the next town... which happens to be...?" Xak trailed off, not knowing what it is.
"uhh really?" Shocram said disappointed
"hey. we know where to go follow me." Solar said
"NO! Follow me, Solar will get you lost!” Lunar said.
"shut up Lunar you're the one who's gonna get us lost!
"Grr shut up!" Lunar said growling.
" you first!" Solar said
The brothers wrestled over leadership while Xak and Shocram sat in the background laughing, "hahahaa! you guys are a riot, this will be a fun trip." Shocram said
"Yeah .. and an annoying one let's just go you both can lead!”
"got it!" Solar and Lunar said in sync
"Stop copying me!" they both said in sync again.
"you did it again!" again in sync
"sigh... this getting annoying already…" Xak said