Water rushed and tore at Sonic from all sides, and when he could manage to break the surface the halfpipe shape of the channel assured he could not escape the current. Making matters worse were the fish like golems that tried to fire their bolts of green energy onto him forcing him to dodge about by kicking off the walls of the channel. His situation could have been marginally better as his ability to use Rings to create a bond between himself and another, or even an object of power, had granted him the ability to swim. It was none other than the hedgehog girl Amy Rose, who insisted on being called Rosy and recognized as an adventurer who Sonic had made yet another bond with to gain the ability. Yet for all his freedom to actually swim, his frustration with water kept him stubborn.

     The channels that forced him about as they pleased proved perhaps too much for Sonic’s stubbornness, but he had no intention of giving in to either and kicked off to dodge another shot. He had more of a plan in mind however as he curled into a fierce spin attack and smashed into one of the fish like golems chasing him. The force of the impact hurled him above the water and he at last found his balance on the edge of the stone channel. A sneeze both from the sudden chill of leaving the water and a warning from his heightened senses preceded him deftly dodging another bolt of energy.

     “Not this time guys,” Sonic mockingly wagged his finger at the underwater golems. “I’ve had more than my fair share of a swim today. I’d much rather be running.”

     Though running was his intention, Sonic found it easier to grind along the edge of the half pipe channel as he sought out more solid footing in the abyss he found himself in. Light was carried by the water from wherever it was it came and otherwise illuminated the darkness allowing Sonic to see even more channels all around him like some twisted water slide roller coaster. Rubbing his nose a moment as he weighed his options and pondered what it was that could have been triggering his next sneeze, he casually grinded the channels like rails until he caught sight of the floating spherical golems and smirked.

     “Well, better than riding this thing all the way down to the bottom. I needed to find a way up anyway.”

     With a flick of his nose Sonic leapt into his plan of action and the air, hurling himself at the nearest floating golem. His collision with it shattered the stone it was made of and sent a sparkling seed into the darkness below, but Sonic focused on directing his rebound to let him meet up with his next target. Deftly using the enemies that could not get a lock on him he made his way towards what appeared to be a more level channel. Then he sneezed.

     It was not enough warning and Sonic’s Rings scattered into the abyss as he was driven down into it. Struggling to get a grip on whatever it was that forced him down he just managed to kick off it and skipped across the surface of the water like a stone.

     “I’m not in the mood for another swim,” Sonic defied his situation and contorted his body to get his feet under him and up to speed. He sank for just a second but was able to build enough traction to leap off the surface of the water and into a better run. One that ended abruptly as he suddenly tripped over a slowly exposed ledge. “Gah!”

     Skidding on his face Sonic came to a stop with a groan. Forcing himself to his feet the first good bit of luck he had had since Rosy’s dowsing had led them into the flooded ruin appeared before him. “Well would you look at that.”

     The sight of the twirling string of Rings before him was a sight for sore eyes and Sonic slowly approached them. As he did, he felt the water rising over his feet again and another sneeze coming on. This time he was ready though.

     As the long cylindric golem shot across the platform the string of Rings took Sonic to safety well above it in the air above, his ability to make a bond with Rings granting him a Light Speed Dash where they appeared. From his new vantage point he could clearly see this golem was massive before it was submerged by the rising water level.

     “Ugh. Not really what I want to take on underwater. Achoo!”

     From behind him the long eel like golem suddenly smashed into him and sent him and his recently gathered Rings flying across the expanse of the Abyss. Squinting out against the impact and back at where the blow had come, he barely caught sight of it as it withdrew away and up into the darkness. Preparing himself for another collision before ultimately splashing down into the water Sonic was in for another surprise as he skidded and tumbled across dry ground.

     “Again!” the surprise in Sonic’s shout was emphasized by his wide-eyed look at where he had landed. “Okay, this is definitely starting to be more trouble than it’s worth.”

     Building up speed by running in place until his feet appeared as an indistinguishable red ribbon Sonic bolted off to put some distance between himself and his attacker. Much to his surprise he found himself running along its back and quickly sinking below the ground he had landed on.

     Skidding to a halt and looking back Sonic tried to piece together what was going on. “Just how many ledges are in this place. And how fast are you buddy to keep giving me so much trouble?” With his attention turned back onto the golem Sonic strode towards its front and heard rushing water.

     “It couldn’t be.”

     Wasting no time, he hurried towards the end and watched as the water was being consumed by the massive golem. At so great a pace as to cause the water level to decrease rapidly drawing an impressed whistle from Sonic. “Not bad. But if you could just drink it all up, I’d appreciate it. Or maybe I’d better not let you before you decide to headbutt me again.”

     With a sudden spin attack Sonic destroyed the green gem he had finally caught sight of on the head of the Golem, and the entire stone creature collapsed into the water as little more than crumbling stone. Using his collapsing opponent as a series of steppingstones he soon was rushing across the surface of the water again. Only to notice another problem.

     ‘That channel up above… It’s not getting closer is it?'

     Looking around through the dark abyss and at what shapes he could make out Sonic smiled nervously, a bead of sweat running down his face. “Don’t tell me that thing was keeping the water level in check? Unless…”

     Looking down beneath his speeding feet Sonic spotted the movement he was dreading. But not just below the water, but a shadow across the surface as well.

     “I get it now,” Sonic smirked once more, speaking aloud as if to challenge the golems. “There’s a whole bunch of you and if I’m getting out of this in one piece, I’m going to have to dismantle all of you. Fine by me, I don’t mind doing a little gardening every so often anyway.”

     Boastful as Sonic was however, dismantling the entire series of golems left him exhausted. Having to push himself even harder to avoid injury after having already lost the last of his Rings drained him even more and by the time it was at last over he was too exhausted to move with the danger gone. This did lead to one good thing to come out of the whole struggle and Sonic chuckled to himself.

     “Heh. Look at that. I’m actually floating.”

      Amused by his exhaustion allowing him to float on his back on the surface of the water, Sonic felt as though he had won another battle as well. “Shame you can’t see it kid, but even without the Ring Bond I’m doing just fine. But I think I’m going to need a little nap before I have to put up with your energy again…”

     With the last of his strength fading, Sonic trailed off as he thought about how Rosy had also ended up down there .He had nothing left at that moment though and had to trust in what he shared with her through the Ring Bond. Just as he would have to trust that he would wake up with a sneeze before he was in any real danger.

Scene 5 · CLEARED

Water Fight, End