His confusion was not surprising, and Mephiles only smirked some. A tilt of his head, placing a hand on his hip and shaking his head a moment later.
“Half of Solaris, the mind, with the ability to control and manipulate time, as well as other things, yes, of course. I know this. But stolen your identity?” Now quite the smirk adorned the clearly more experienced one’s face.
“You’re correct: I am you and you are me in quite the literal sense. I would assume that you have… heard of the multiverse theory, hm? I suppose the butterfly effect is also worth mentioning. One little change to a timeline and it either collapses or splits off into two or more timelines, creating a new plane of existence… a new universe, hm?”
The intelligent and clever mind of Solaris was having difficulty understanding this concept. Multiverse? A new universe? Yes, Mephiles knew and understood those theories, but he would have known of such things. He was a demi-god, half of Solaris no less! But then again, he had been trapped in a void of nothing since birth. Mephiles knew little of the world and its wonders.
“I see,” Mephiles spoke quietly. Another Mephiles? It explained quite a lot. The multiple blue hedgehogs he had encountered, Shadow’s with wings and others much different than the one he knew. There were different universes and in turn different worlds. “Then might I ask why you are here? How did you travel to this world? Is there a way to create some form of travel between different universes? How did you manage such a thing?”
This day was continually getting better and better! Another Shadow, and with Mephiles already on edge as it was, he wanted nothing more than to kill the red and black hedgehog standing in his presence.
“I suggest you leave,” Mephiles said, slowly tilting his head to the side. “I am in a rather cross mood.”
Sonic, for as thick as he could be sometimes, could tell at least that this had something to do with what he’d just told Blaze. He stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, shooting him a lazy smile and showing no signs of the hostility that Mephiles gave to him. It wasn’t mocking, but it certainly showed that he didn’t feel much discomfort at being around the other ‘hedgehog’.
“Ooh, someone’s mad,” he whispered, whistling. “What’d I do wrong, Scout?”
Scout? Was that some form of pet name or mockery? Mephiles frowned, and quickly deduced what he would do to the blue hedgehog. He still had the purple Chaos Emerald in his possession. It would be of little issue to kill this hedgehog where he stood. Because of his inability to keep his mouth shut, and his want to help people with issues that did not concern him, Mephiles would have to re-strategize.
“That is not my name. I am Mephiles, though I am sure you knew that already,” Mephiles scowled. Hm, in order to fight this enemy, a change of forms would be in order. Unfortunately, Mephiles hadn’t planned on doing that until a little farther along in his plans. “Oh, you do nor remember telling a purple feline of my true origin? Of my connection with Iblis? Hm, perhaps I should refresh your memory… the painful way, of course.”
Ah, yet another one. Usually such things would interest Mephiles or drive him to strike up a conversation with this new blue hedgehog, but recent events had the demi-god feeling not as welcoming as he’d have liked. There was also the fact that this particular blue hedgehog was the cause of Mephiles’ new found stress.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mephiles growled, “but it will also be a pleasure to kill you.” His voice was cold and dark, his eyes even more so.
“Hm… It seems a change of plans is in order…perhaps.”
Another? How was that possible? Mephiles kept his composer though his mind was racing as another blue hedgehog stood in front of him. Impossible… there could not be two? Yet, here he was. Mephiles’ first thought was to kill him, but first he should get answers to this anomaly.
“You there! State your business.”
“Who? Me?”
{ Sonic remained natural before this very strange looking alternate of Shadow... Sonic had swore he recognized him from somewhere else, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. And this guy seemed a little hostile, so the long furred hedgehog dared not to risk it for a biscuit. }“Uh… Name’s Chippy. I’m just exploring really? Sorry, is that a crime around here?”
Chippy? Strange, he resembled the blue hedgehog. Mephiles narrowed his eyes. He was no fool, if this imbecile thought he could fool a powerful hedgehog such as himself, he was incorrect.
“Hm. Unique name,” Mephiles replied. What a smart mouth this hedgehog had. Perhaps it needed to be ripped off. “It is not a crime, yet I am wondering… why. Tell me, do you know of the royalty in this city, ‘Chippy’?”
Mephiles’ eyes immediately narrowed. This Sonic was asking too many questions. Perhaps it would be in Mephiles’ best interest to kill the inquiring hedgehog right now. That is what Mephiles wanted to do, but he could not do so. There were too many pawns still not in place. He would need to wait.
“I suppose you could say that, hm,” Mephiles replied. If Mephiles was not careful, this Sonic would only get in his way. He could not have that, but he was rather curious as well. One harmless question couldn’t hurt, could it? “Tell me, blue hedgehog. Do you know of the girl called Princess Elise?”
Sonic crosses his arms, giving Mephiles a confused stare. It could just be that Mephiles couldn’t give him an answer as to why him and Shadow look so alike. Or that the hedgehog didn’t want to tell him. He would just have to ignore it for now.
“Huh? Princess Elise?” Sonic thinks for a few moments, “Never heard of her.”
What? Impossible. Sonic knew of Princess Elise, as he had saved her by this time. Mephiles knew that for a fact. Did the portal he created send them to a different point in time? Mephiles glanced around for a moment as he concentrated. No, he was at the correct moment in time. Had his plans failed already?
“You must have heard of her. She is the Princess of Soleanna, the city we are in now,” Mephiles said. His voice grew cold and dark. His plans could not fail, not after all these years!
Another? How was that possible? Mephiles kept his composer though his mind was racing as another blue hedgehog stood in front of him. Impossible… there could not be two? Yet, here he was. Mephiles’ first thought was to kill him, but first he should get answers to this anomaly.
“You there! State your business.”
Adventuring. Of course. Mephiles would need to watch this blue hedgehog carefully. He could very well disrupt his plans with his need for adventure and the like. Mephiles very much wanted to kill him, but that had to wait. Not yet, he reminded himself, very soon though.
“I know of your name,” Mephiles replied, crossing his arms with an air of superiority and impatience around him. “My name… is Mephiles. I know of the hedgehog you speak of.” Mephiles said nothing more. He did not need this Sonic getting suspicious and snooping around when he did not need to.
So the hedgehog had heard of him… Didn’t really explain his attitude towards Sonic when he first saw him. Most regarded him with happiness the first time they met. But this guy, Mephiles, had regarded him with such hatefulness it surprised the hedgehog. Maybe he’s just a bit weary of newcomers.
“Ya do?” Sonic glaces suspiciously at Mephiles, but only for a moment. “Guess that’s why ya look alike, huh?” That was the only explanation Sonic could think of as to why the two hedgehogs were so similar in appearance.
Mephiles’ eyes immediately narrowed. This Sonic was asking too many questions. Perhaps it would be in Mephiles’ best interest to kill the inquiring hedgehog right now. That is what Mephiles wanted to do, but he could not do so. There were too many pawns still not in place. He would need to wait.
“I suppose you could say that, hm,” Mephiles replied. If Mephiles was not careful, this Sonic would only get in his way. He could not have that, but he was rather curious as well. One harmless question couldn’t hurt, could it? “Tell me, blue hedgehog. Do you know of the girl called Princess Elise?”
Exploration. Traveling. Adventuring. Why were all of these hedgehogs and other beings deciding to do such mundane things when he had a very intricate plan set into place? He did not need anyone hindering his plan, or trying to stop him. It was only a matter of time before everything came together. Only a matter of time…
Mephiles did not move from his spot. He only glared at this newcomer. Her energy… she was strong, but it felt similar to his own. Who was this hedgehog?
“I suppose. I do not care for sights such as these. The sky and air mean little to me. What is more important, now, is your name, traveler. Give me yours, and I will give you mine.”
Mephiles smirked. “I believe the sky and air are important, at least in some ways. I believe they do mean more to you than you state.” She paused in her strides, looking to the other. “Fellow travelers should be courteous. Hm. Yes.” A blink as she put together her next words and actions. “Yes. I apologize for being so… curt to tease you. It’s only nature, hm?”
Now the dark hedgehog brought a hand up, snapping her fingers and shifting the energy of her body. Feathers and long streaks of fur turned to crystal, the thin and near black that was always present darkening even further, and gender changed to male. The hedgehog that was left was, in a way, a near mirror image of the other one. “Zu’u fin osos ol hi; fin gein wo fent drun vulom wah fin lein ahrk tiid.”
He doubted very much that the other would understand, seeing as knowing that language seemed to be a specialty, and quickly added, voice deep and smooth though not aggressive or unkind: “You see, names are not important; we are quite… similar, hm?”
This traveler was a strange one. Mephiles was not sure of her intentions. He could not afford to get distracted. He needed to focus on his plan. The energy he felt troubled him though. Who was this person? Mephiles remained on his guard and kept alert. She would reveal her identity in time.
“Only nature?” he repeated. No, he did not like this traveler. She was strange and liked to avoid his questions. She was not afraid or disturbed by his appearance. There was no fear in her eyes. Could she not feel his energy?
Wait… wait, crystal? It couldn’t be. This person looked almost identical to Mephiles himself. She was no longer female, but male. The crystals adorned on her body reminded Mephiles of his own similar form. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be!
“You are… me?” he asked, his eyes open wide in disbelief. How was this possible? “What sort of trickery is this? I am Mephiles the Dark. I am the mind of Solaris. I can control and manipulate time. Why have you stolen my identity? Speak now! Explain yourself to me!”
