Episode 10: The Dark Gaia Saga (Part 4):
Remembering the Forgotten
In the Egyptian city of Shamar, during the daytime, the Spirit of Freedom was landing near one building. Outside the building, Olive was waiting for them. She was holding a fan trying to keep herself cool. The Spirit of Freedom landed and then it opened up. Then all the people who were frozen in Antarctica ran out, still trying to thaw out.
"What happened to those people?" Olive asked while the Mane 6, Sonic, Tails and Chip walked out of the Spirit of Freedom.
"Some Dark Gaia creature froze them solid," Twilight said. She then started fanning herself. "Wow, it's really hot here."
"No wonder they're so cold," Olive said. "Alright, guys. Follow me." Then they all headed inside the building. They walked into one room which was a laboratory with a giant vat of water.
"What's with the vat of water?" Twilight asked. Just then, Midpoint came out of the vat of water, getting the Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Olive and Chip wet.
"Sorry," Midpoint said. "It's really hot here. Otters need to cool off in the water."
"That answers my question," Twilight said. "So, where's the next temple that's here?"
"It's 5 miles West of the city," Midpoint said. "Although, we've got a bit of a problem getting in there."
"And why is that?" Applejack asked.
"There's a team of archaeologists out there trying to unbury the temple from a mountain of sand due to a sandstorm," Midpoint said. "The team is led by a Mobian and an Equestrian."
"Really?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Who's the Equestrian?"
"A pegasus mare named... Daring Do," Midpoint said.
"Daring Do?" Cozy Glow asked as Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked at each other with wide smiles. "Isn't she a fictional character in those books Rainbow Dash likes?"
Midpoint chuckled and said, "Oops."
"I know Daring Do," Rainbow Dash said. "Heck, the six of us do." She then remembered something. "Wait. Is the Mobian leader who's leading with Daring Do a purple dog named Ava Muttski, who happens to be Mutt's mom?"
"Sounds like we have a wildcard," Rarity said. "We better call the Freedom Fighters back home and tell Mutt to come here." The others nodded.
It was 5:30 in the morning back in Station Square. Mutt was sleeping in his bed. Just then, Mutt was being shaken. Mutt opened his eyes to see MC.
"MC?" Mutt asked, tiredly. "What is it?"
"Sonic just called," MC said. "He needs your help to get into the Temple of Gaia in Egypt."
"Really?" Mutt asked. He then yawned. "Why does he need me?"
"Because your mom and her team of archaeologists had found it and are cleaning it up," MC said. "They're keeping out anyone who gets near."
"Really?" Mutt asked. He then sat up. "Okay. Where in Egypt are they?"
"Follow me," MC said. Then Mutt got out of bed and followed MC, grabbing his hat, shoulder belt and shoes. When he got into the living room, Mutt had his hat, shoulder belt, and his right shoe on. He was still getting on his left shoe.
"Whoa!" Mutt said, tripping on the floor. "I'm okay!" He then got up. He then saw Sonic on the Television. "Oh, hey, Sonic."
"Hey, Mutt," Sonic said. "Okay, MC, I'm gonna need you to use your Super Warp Ring to send Mutt here."
"I'm gonna need to see where you are before I throw the ring," MC said.
"Okay, so picture this!" Sonic said. Then the screen flipped, revealing what was in front of him. Sonic was outside the lab at the moment. MC then nodded, pulled out his Super Warp Ring, and threw it towards the Foyer of Freedom Fighters Manor. Then the ring got bigger, becoming a portal to Shamar, which appeared on the screen.
"There's your ride, Mutt," MC said. "See you later."
"You sure you won't need me to help with the preparations for the Station Square Halloween Party?" Mutt asked.
"No, we got this," MC said. "All I need to know is what you're going to the party as."
"I already got my costume," Mutt said. "It's in the box underneath my bed. I'm going as Indiana Jones."
"Irony," MC said. "Now go." Mutt nodded and he headed through the portal. MC then closed the portal and reverted back into a ring.
Meanwhile, in Shamar, Mutt looked around, and he was already getting hot. Then Sally came up to him with a blanket, covering him from the heat.
"There you go, Mutt," Sally said. "Sorry about that. The sun here is brutal."
"The sand was even worse the last time I was in Egypt," Mutt said. "In fact, Mom was the one who gave me this stuff."
"Makes sense," Sally said. Then she, Sonic and Mutt went into the lab.
"Alright, guys," Sonic said, "Mutt's here."
"It was 5:30 back in Station Square and it's 12:30 here," Rarity said. "He looks really tired."
"I need something to eat first," Mutt said as Chip flew up to him, holding a chocolate bar.
"Want some chocolate?" Chip asked.
"No thanks," Mutt said. "I'm allergic to chocolate."
"Oh. Okay," Chip said, flying back.
"Who is that?" Mutt asked.
"That's Chip," Sonic said. "Well, we don't know his real name. We found him outside of Rio with no memory. Speaking of which. Olive, did the guys of GUN figure out who he really is?"
"Not really," Olive said. "Although, it was weird. According to his blood, it says that he's over four-point-five billion years old."
"What?!" the Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Midpoint, Cozy Glow, Mutt, Amy, Truemen and Zipp all asked in unison.
"That's what I said," Olive said. "The guys at GUN had double-checked and even triple-checked to make sure their equipment wasn't buggy, but the computer kept coming up with the same result."
"So what is Chip?" Mutt asked. "Some kind of god or something?"
"He might be, but why he was found in Rio with no memory is a mystery to us all," Olive said.
Twilight then thought of something. She remembered all the times in the altars of the Temples of Gaia, and how Chip's collar glowed when he got near them.
"I wonder..." Twilight said.
"Well, I should take you all there," Olive said. "I already got some jeeps to get us there, but I won't be able to drive all of them."
"Ah can drive one," Applejack said.
"I can handle another one," Rarity said.
"You all can drive?" Midpoint asked.
"Thanks to the Freedom Fighters," Twilight said. "Although, Rainbow Dash barely passed her written test when we put some DMVs across Equestria."
"Alright, let's get going," Olive said. Then the Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Mutt, Olive and Chip headed out of there.
They drove through the dunes outside of the city of Shamar and towards where the Temple of Gaia should be. They saw a bunch of tents around a huge dune.
"Oh, yeah," Twilight said. "There's no way a dune like that can be that big."
The vehicles were stopped by some archaeologist security guards. One of them shouted, "Halt!" The group stopped the vehicles and got out. The Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Mutt, Olive and Chip moved towards the security guards.
"Excuse me, good sirs," Twilight said. She then used her magic to bring up Mutt. "This here is Ben Muttski, and he's..."
"Hold on, miss," one of the security guards said. "Does this Ben Muttski have any relationship with one of the head archaeologists, Ava Muttski?"
"She's my Mom," Mutt answered.
The security guard pulled out a walkie-talkie and said, "Miss Muttski, we have a group of Mobians and Equestrians, and we have one claiming to be your son."
"Ben's here?" came Ava's voice from the walkie-talkie.
Mutt then took the walkie-talkie and said, "Hey, Mom!"
"Yep! That's my son!" came Ava's voice. "Let them in!" Then the security guards let the group into the area. They went in and saw the area where the team of archaeologists were trying to unbury the temple.
"Whoa!" Rainbow Dash said. "That's a lot of people trying to clean up this place!"
"You said it, Dash," came a voice. The group turned around and saw Daring Do standing there.
"Daring Do!" the Mane 6 said in unison.
"Hey, guys!" Daring Do said. She then saw Mutt. "Hey, Ben. Your Mom wanted me to escort you and your friends to her. Follow me." Daring Do then started leading the group over towards a tent. And coming out of that tent was Mutt's Mom, Ava Muttski.
"Mom!" Mutt said, running up to his mother. The two of them hugged each other.
"I'm so glad you came," Ava said. She then saw the others. "Come in, all of you." All of them then headed into the temple and explained what they were doing there.
"And that's why we're here," Sonic said. "To restore the power of the Chaos Emeralds, bring the world back together, and prevent Dark Gaia from destroying the people of the world in its darkness."
"That would explain the strange behaviors during the night time," Ava said.
"And don't forget the creature," Daring Do said.
"Creature?" Tails asked.
"You see, at night, there's this strange beast that comes out of the sand and prevents anyone from getting near the temple," Ava said. "And it's very vicious."
"See for yourself," Daring Do said, pulling out a photo. The Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Mutt, Olive, and Chip looked at the photo and gasped.
"That thing looks mean!" Mutt said.
"It is," Daring Do said. "Trust me when I say, you do not want to be in the path of its hammer."
"Don't sweat it," Rainbow Dash said. "We can handle that thing when it comes back."
"Then you're gonna help us unbury that temple," Ava said. "We'll have to get it out before dark. Let's go." Then they all walked out of the tent, and headed to dig out the Temple of Gaia.
The Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Mutt, Olive and Chip were all helping the people dig out the Temple of Gaia. They were working through the harsh conditions through the heat of the desert. Some of them even gave each other water to drink. Eventually, they unburied the temple.
"Wow," Chip said. "It's finally uncovered."
"Yeah," Sonic said. "Now let's go before..."
"The sun's going past the horizon!" Twilight said, pointing towards the sun. They all looked at the sun as it was descending. Just then, the Mane 6 and Sonic transformed into their nighttime forms.
"Gaaah!" Mutt said, jumping into Olive's arms. "They're monsters!"
"Grr... It's okay, Mutt," Sonic said. "We're still... us... while we're in these forms."
"It's true," Chip said, flying up to Mutt. "They won't hurt their friends. Even if they're currently monsters."
"Wait..." Sally said. "Mutt, didn't your Mom and Daring Do say something about a..." Just then, a beast came from above, slamming its hammer on the ground, making the group fall over. It was the same beast from the photo.
"It's that thing from the picture!" Twilight said.
The beast roared and went to attack Twilight, but Sonic got in its path and blocked the beast's hammer.
"This thing is strong!" Sonic said. "But I won't let it get the best of me!" Sonic then punched it in the face, the beast landing in front of the entrance. It then put its hammer in its mouth, raised its hands, and shot a beam straight up. Just then, a storm cloud appeared and started releasing bolts of purple lightning around the area.
"Shouldn't there be rain coming from that storm cloud?!" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It's dry lightning!" Ava said. "It's a storm cloud that has no rain in it to drop! Very dangerous if you're near it!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Applejack said, running up to the beast. The beast countered her with lightning landing in front of her, making her fall back.
"You wanna mess with my friends?!" Rainbow Dash asked. She then started flying upward, and then looped back around, and doing a barrage of attacks. "That... wasn't... very... cool!" She then flew upward and came back down, performing a Sonic Rainboom. The beast then roared because its ears were hurting. Then Rainbow Dash kicked the beast into a column. The column then started tipping over as the beast was trying to recover, but it didn't see the column coming towards it and it landed on top of it.
"Ooh!" everyone watching said. Just then, the beast vanished in a cloud of purple smoke. The dry lightning cloud vanished as well.
"Okay," Twilight said. "That thing's gone."
"Let's get this continent back into position," Sonic said.
"Okay, everyone!" Tails said. "You're gonna experience some shaking coming from the ground. It's just apart of bringing the planet back together!"
The Mane 6, Sonic and Chip went inside the Temple of Gaia. They reached the Altar. Sonic then handed Rainbow Dash one of the Chaos Emeralds, saying, "You're up."
Rainbow Dash nodded, walked over towards the altar as Chip's collar lit up, lifting the platform. Rainbow Dash then put the Chaos Emerald into the hole. The Chaos Emerald then started floating, and yellow energy started going into it, bringing the Emerald back to life.
Then the place started shaking. Then from a space view, the African Continent started coming down, getting back into place, merging with the European, Antarctic, and South American continents.
Later, the Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally, Mutt, Olive and Chip went back to the Professor's lab in Shamar. Midpoint and Professor Pickle were trying to find out where the next temple is.
"That's five," Sonic said. "We just need two more. Where in the Oceanian Continent is that Temple of Gaia?"
"It's pretty much difficult to find as we speak," Professor Pickle said. "We basically haven't found it yet."
"Found it," Midpoint said. "Ooh. This one is the most tropical."
"Where is it?" Rarity asked.
"It's actually in Koroyanitu National Park," Midpoint said.
"And where is that?" Tails asked.
"Fiji," Midpoint said.
"Ooh!" Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy said in unison.
"I've heard great things about Fiji," Twilight said. "If we weren't fighting Eggman, I would take the kids there for a family vacation."
"Hey, Alex," Mutt said. "Has... MC received any more of his powers?"
"According to Nicole... he got his Elemental Mimicry back," Midpoint said. "Looks like you're all heading to Fiji."
"Maybe I should stay behind," Mutt said while Olive was on the phone. "I can..."
"Hey, Michael!" Olive said. "We're gonna need you to use that Super Warp Ring to bring Mutt back to Station Square." Just then a ring portal opened up.
"Never mind," Mutt said. He then ran into the portal as it closed behind him.
Meanwhile, at Eggman's current base, Eggman was checking the percentage on his plan with his robot assistant.
"All systems are green," the robot said. "Dark Gaia activation is confirmed on all seven continents. Electromagnetic homing signals are locked on. All units converging on Point Zero."
"Yes, yes, perfect!" Eggman said before walking around. "Gathering Dark Gaia's pieces is such a pain. I'll have them come to me instead! A brilliant shift in perspective! An idea worthy of Dr. Eggman, super-genius! Oh ho ho ho!"
The robot started clapping as it said, "Your skill at self-aggrandizement is unparalleled."
Eggman was still laughing before he looked at the robot in anger. He then slapped him while saying, "Silence!" The robot then leaned back. "Activate the Dark Gaia fusion furnace. And while you're at it, get those energy conversion circuits warmed up!"
The robot recovered and said, "Understood. Commencing 'Project Dark Gaia.' Requesting final clearance."
Then a button rose up from the panel in front of Eggman. Eggman slammed the button saying, "Granted! Finally, my ambitions will be achieved! Gah ha ha! Oh ho ho ho!"
Then the robot started beeping while saying, "Alert! Five of the Seven Continents are now placed back in their original position!"
"What?!" Eggman asked, angrily. "Drat! Those pesky Equestrians and that nasty hedgehog are trying to stop my plans! Get a mech to the one continent that hasn't been put down yet! Those pesky heroes don't know that I've built my base on top of the North American Temple of Gaia. Time to show them who's boss."
Meanwhile, the Spirit of Freedom was heading towards Fiji. The Mane 6, Sonic, Tails, Sally and Chip were all in it, all waiting to get to their destination.
Later in Fiji, there was an explosion behind some trees during the daylight hours. Robot parts were raining everywhere. The Mane 6, Sonic and Chip were walking away from the explosion.
"Seriously?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That was the best he could do to prevent us from reaching this temple? We've taken on King Sombra better than that!"
"Well, MC took on King Sombra back in Delphius," Twilight said. "Thanks to Joshua using runes and MC's claws, he cut off Sombra's horn and it fell into lava. Now Sombra is just a unicorn colt with no memory of the evil in him while being raised by Star Swirl."
"Sounds like Sombra became the next Nyx," Applejack said, making the others nod. Eventually, they made it to the Temple of Gaia that was there.
Chip looked around, giving a worried look and moaning.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Sonic asked, noticing Chip's worry.
"Huh?" Chip asked, looking at Sonic. "Oh, right. I'm just... scared."
"Scared?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It's just another old temple, darling," Rarity said.
"Yes," Fluttershy said. "And it doesn't look like anyone's around either."
"That's... That's not what I mean," Chip stuttered. "That's not... N-never mind. I'm fine. Let's go!" Then he started running towards the temple. The Mane 6 and Sonic were confused about Chip's behavior. Twilight especially. They then followed Chip into the Temple.
When they went inside, the Mane 6 and Sonic saw a mural over the altar.
"Whoa!" Sonic said. Twilight got a good look at the mural. She saw something in it, and compared it to Chip.
"Sonic, you handle this one," Twilight said. Sonic nodded and headed for the Altar. Twilight then pulled out her phone and aimed its camera towards the mural. "Alex, get a good look at this mural."
Meanwhile, in Shamar, Midpoint and Zipp were at the computer. They saw the mural that Twilight was showing them on her phone.
"Whoa!" Midpoint said. "Is that... Chip? Wait a minute!" Midpoint then grabbed the Gaia Manuscripts.
"According to this, each time the Earth was brought back, there was tale of a small creature that was able to banish Dark Gaia back under the crust of the planet!" Zipp said.
"It can't be...!" Midpoint and Zipp said.
"What is it?!" Twilight asked through the phone.
"There is darkness..." Midpoint said. "But there is also... light."
After Chip raised the platform on the Altar, Sonic put the Chaos Emerald into the hole. The Chaos Emerald then rose and it was surrounded in Purple Energy, restoring the glow of it, bringing it back to life.
Chip then flew up to the mural and gently touched it. Just then, the mural started glowing in a white light. Then there was some sort of suction trying to swallow up Chip. He was trying to get away, but the suction was too strong.
"Chip!" the Mane 6 and Sonic all said in unison.
Meanwhile, Chip found himself in a space-like void. He looked around, trying to see if he could find a way out when an orb of light floated near him.
"I welcome your return..." came a voice from the orb, getting Chip's attention. The orb even sounded like Chip. "Messenger of day, of light, of rebirth." Then the orb of light let out a piece, it entered into Chip. Just then, Chip went wide eyed.
Later, he came out of the Mural and hovered in front of the Mane 6 and Sonic.
"Sonic... Girls... I remember now. All of it," Chip said.
Later, at a dock, the Mane 6, Sonic and Chip were looking out at the setting sun.
Twilight looked at Chip and said, "Over 4 billion years old, a collar that can activate the altars inside the Gaia Temples, and a mural with you inside one of those temples, there is only one conclusive answer to who you are." Chip looked over at Twilight. "Since there's a Dark Gaia, there also has to be a Light Gaia. And you're him, aren't you?"
Chip nodded and said, "I am. I draw power from the day and light, and guide the planet to its rebirth. My job was to protect the planet from Dark Gaia." He then looked towards the rest. "But Eggman broke the world apart himself, and Dark Gaia and I were awakened before we should've been." He then looked away. "That's why Dark Gaia broke apart, and I didn't know who I was." He tapped his head. "I didn't remember what I was supposed to do." He then looked back towards the Mane 6 and Sonic. "All because this isn't the proper Time of Awakening."
"Time of Awakening?" Sonic asked.
"Dark Gaia grows over millions of years, then rises to destroy the world," Chip said, walking towards the edge of the dock. "And I put it all back together. We've been doing this over and over, again and again... since the very beginning of time."
"So you were asleep all this time?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"For millions of years?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes. For ages and ages," Chip said, looking back at the Mane 6 and Sonic. He then faced the setting sun. As the sun set, the Mane 6 and Sonic transformed back into their monster forms.
"I'll bet it's thanks to you," Sonic said. Chip looked at Sonic confused. "Even at night when we're like this. We're still ourselves. Not like all the other people we've seen." He then looked at Chip. "You must've been protecting our minds this whole time."
Chip shook his head and said, "I haven't done anything, Sonic. You all are the reason you all haven't changed at all. You all are too strong to lose yourselves!"
"We're the reason?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah! You all never doubt yourselves, no matter what," Chip said. "You all never give in to the night, or to the darkness inside your hearts. I think it's because I knew that about you all. That's why I wanted you to help me." He then smiled. "Especially when you all found the missing piece of the planet and brought it back to Earth."
"Missing piece?" Twilight asked, confused. She then thought of something. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying that Equestria was originally from this world, and we never knew it?!"
Chip looked towards Twilight and said, "Yes. It all changed over a thousand years ago. It was then when Dark Gaia came back that year. So for all of your safety, I had to... banish the entire land of Equestria and beyond to the other side of the Galaxy before I did something about Dark Gaia that time. And to make it worse, I had to... erase all the memories of the inhabitants in that land, and the rest of the Earth, to keep each other safe from their darkness. But now that you're all back, it can be as peaceful as it was again."
"Whoa," the Mane 6 and Sonic said.
"It's been so fun!" Chip said as he flown up in front of the group. "Getting to see the world. I've lived here since the planet began, but... I didn't know a thing about it. That it's so pretty, or that food tastes so good, or that people are so nice! I'm so glad I got the chance to discover all that with you all! And I'm so glad that you all helped me find my memory. Sonic, girls, I will never, ever forget you all. Thank you. Goodbye, my friends!" He then started flying away.
"Hey!" Sonic said. He then stretched his arm out, grabbing Chip who was already 100 yards away.
"Whoa, wha-?!" Chip asked as he was being pulled by his tail and back to the group.
"Where do you think you're off to all by yourself?" Sonic asked.
Chip then walked around nervously, saying, "What... but... My memory is back now, and... Well, from here on out, it's my responsibility, so, um... I mean, there's no reason for you all to come along, so I should just..." He was trying to find a reason to leave the group, but just couldn't.
"Do we need a reason to want to help out a friend?" Twilight asked.
Chip then smiled and said, "Thanks, guys." Then the Mane 6 and Sonic put their hands in. Sonic turned towards Chip, leaned his head quickly, telling Chip to join in. Chip smiled and put his hand in as well. Then all of them put their hands up and cheered in celebration.
Back in Station Square, MC was looking around, his eyes glowing in a golden aura. Sunny was watching him.
"I can see it all!" MC said. "I have my Mind Sight back!"
"Okay, that's good," Sunny said. "Does that mean that the planet's restored?"
"No," MC said. "The North American Continent is still floating above the magma underneath the planet. They still need to restore the last Chaos Emerald and bring down the Continent, in order for the planet to be restored, and me getting the last of my powers back."
"That means you can lead Sonic, Twilight and her friends towards the last temple," Sunny said.
MC looked towards Sunny and nodded. He then said, "Your father would've been proud of you Sunny. For knowing the truth, and helping bring unity back to the ponies in your original timeline."
Sunny nodded. She then said, "I kinda wish he was still with me."
"Oh, he is, Sunny," MC said, walking up to her. He then put his hand on Sunny's chest. "In here. When you truly love someone, they never leave you. They remain in your heart forever."
"Is that a reference from 'The Haunted Mansion'?" Sunny asked.
"You've been streaming Disney again, haven't you?" MC asked.
"I gotta do something while I'm at home," Sunny said. "After all, I don't start working at the Smoothie Shop until after Halloween." Then the two of them laughed as they were walking out of the room.