This isn’t a full story, just a fun thing I wrote. I saw a mod of Sonic Frontiers that puts Whisper and Tangle in place of Sonic and Amy. The mod itself wasn’t that great, but it inspired me to write this silly remake of Frontiers where the Diamond Cutters are the main characters. This is mostly written in summary format.
When Eggman’s tech is picked up at a mysterious archipelago, the Diamond Cutters are sent to scout them. Upon their arrival, they are sucked into Cyberspace. Whisper manages to escape thanks to her Wisps: the digital environment allows her to absorb them much like Sonic can, and being able to convert her body into their energy forms allows her to breach the barrier.
In order to rescue her friends, Whisper must defeat the Titan of each island. To be able to face them, she must search for the Titan Crystals, which can be imbued into her Wispon thanks to its exposure to Cyberspace. With all seven crystals collected from each island, her Wispon gains tremendous power for epic boss battles: the Hyper Wispon. All her Wisps can be channeled through it as the Hyper Wispon fires massive neon beams (similar to Super Metroid’s Hyper Beam). Unfortunately, the power dissipates by the time she defeats a Titan.
Whisper can collect materials across the islands that can be used to upgrade her Wispon. To have it upgraded, she can find Cyber Gates that take her to an illusion of Belle the Tinkerer’s workshop. Whisper questions how Belle wound up here, to which Belle answers, “I’m always here whenever your Wispon needs a fix, Whisper!” In reality, it’s a fake Belle created by Cyberspace, after reading Whisper’s thoughts. Whisper was very grateful to Belle fixing Smithy’s Wispon and sees her as a kind and helpful friend. Belle can upgrade the Wispon’s Color Powers, such as Green shooting whirlwinds or hovering longer, Orange shooting missiles, etc..
On Kronos Island, she finds Tangle’s digital spirit. Whisper is wrought with worry as she asks Tangle’s well-being. But Tangle, spirited as ever, assures Whisper that she’s fine and she’s used to the sensation of feeling like a ghost. Unfortunately, the Wisps can’t directly interact with Tangle in the same manner. As they explore the island, Tangle has a blast swinging around the ruins, though finds it odd she can touch them and not anything else. They are later exposed to the history of this island as they feel great empathy for the Koco and the lovers whose happy future was robbed from them. Whisper starts to cry as she thinks of her first team. Tangle tries to hug her, but is saddened as her ghostly arms phase through her. Tangle promises that they’ll get out of here, so that they can keep pursuing the happy future Whisper deserves.
Unlike with Sonic, Whisper is more antagonistic with Sage, blaming her as the one who trapped them. However, Tangle is more open-minded to Sage’s feelings and tries to keep Whisper sensible about her true intentions. Whisper trusts Tangle’s judgment, but states she will keep her guard up around Sage.
On Ares Island, Whisper finds Surge also trapped in Cyberspace, and neither are happy to see each other. Surge reveals that she and Kit found some weird ruins on Angel Island, and in her attempt to channel her power into them, Surge was trapped in here. Whisper questions why they were even on Angel Island, to which Surge yells, “None of your business!” Though Whisper is reluctant to help her, she needs to rescue her own friends, anyway.
Surge states that she might be able to escape if she could get ahold of Whisper’s Wisps, which triggers the wolf. Whisper confides that they are all that’s left of her first team and that Surge neither understands or cares how much she hurt her. Surge argues, “At least you still remember them! I don’t even know if I HAD a family!” Eventually, Surge confides in her own trauma and what Starline did to her. She says that Kit is the only “family” she has and he was only programmed to like her. It also comes to light that the Metal Virus was used to make them, which also triggers Whisper, as she nearly lost Tangle to the virus. Whisper begins to feel sympathy and tries to comfort Surge. And while Surge initially replies in snideness, she mutters an apology for hurting Whisper. Whisper hopes they can try to be friends after this is over.
Whisper curiously asks how Surge feels seeing what became of the Ancients, and Surge answers that she feels disgusted. Surge comments how the people of their world are weak, quick to move on from disasters in pursuit of happiness. But deep down, she realizes they may be no different from Whisper or herself: trying to smile, move on from trauma, and find their own happiness.
On Chaos Island, Whisper finds Lanolin. As they explore the island and learn of the devastating battle that happened here, Lanolin thinks back to the Eggman War and how much people have lost. Even Lanolin’s own hometown was destroyed by the Zeti and Metal Virus. Lanolin reflects on how powerless she feels, especially in this situation, and how skilled and experienced Whisper is. Lanolin feels she doesn’t deserve to be leader, especially to carry on the legacy of Whisper’s family. Whisper comforts her, saying that despite the mistakes regarding Duo and the Clean Sweepstakes, she is proud to call Lanolin her leader. She believes Lanolin helped her grow stronger, much like Tangle has, while Lanolin feels they helped her grow, too. With renewed resolve, Lanolin orders Whisper to keep working hard to get them out of here, to which Whisper smiles and responds, “Copy that.”
Lanolin also tries to use Maggie to escape Cyberspace, but finds they aren’t able to do it. Whisper figures it’s because Lanolin only has one Wisp while Whisper has her five. It makes Whisper think of her family, whom she feels is with her even now.
After destroying the Titans, Whisper would later deactivate the towers and finally free her friends, at the cost of succumbing to Cyber Corruption. Tangle begins to cry: “No! Whisper can’t be gone! She just can’t be!”
The Diamond Cutters would then be surprised and horrified to find Dr. Eggman freed as well. “The last Diamond Cutter finally falls! At least you were actually useful in the end.”
Furious, the Diamonds try to attack the doctor, but Sage urges them to come to a truce. With the encroaching threat of The End, their only option would be to reactivate the Titans and become their new pilots. Sage would agree to help them if it would save Father: in exchange, she could restore Whisper by dividing her Cyber Corruption among them, but this same corruption could give them the power to pilot the Titans. Though the friends hesitate to work with Eggman, they would do anything for their friend.
“Whisper… I’ll give you a future where you can be happy.” Tangle vows.
“Whisper… as your leader, I refuse to let you harbor this burden alone!” Lanolin vows.
“Whisper… you owe me after this one, hah.” Surge smirks.
Following her restoration, Whisper is ridden with guilt knowing that her friends took her corruption for her sake. Tangle reminds Whisper that they promised to share each other’s burdens, though assures her in saying, “It’s not really the worst thing that’s happened to us.”
Though Whisper is briefed on the situation and their current mission, she is visibly repulsed having to work with Eggman. The group divides in the search for Keys to undertake the Master Trials, with the other three characters now playable. In Tangle’s gameplay, she can “Home Attack” high targets with her tail and does platforming involving swinging. For Surge, her Home Attacks are like thunderbolts and she is immune to electricity, which serves as a barrier to other characters. For Lanolin, her Cowbell Wispon can make intangible structures become solid, while certain other ones become intangible, so she must carefully toggle between them while platforming.
Whisper has some talks with Sage during this period, and when she learns of her father-daughter relationship with Eggman, Whisper only grows more furious. She questions how Eggman could even understand the concept of family, after he killed hers. Sage is aware of the Diamond Cutters, but admits she will not try to justify her father’s actions.
Whisper turns away and states, “People are disposable to him. He only sees his ‘family’ as tools. And if his tools have no value to him… he will dispose of them, too. Just as he did Belle.” As Sage is left behind, the program leaks a tear and argues that’s not true.
Sage later asks her father who Belle is; though she does recall seeing her in the Cyber Gates. Eggman hesitates to answer, but confides about his Mr. Tinker persona. He rationalizes that side of him as delusional and a mistake, to which Sage replies, “Then this Belle was a mistake as well. She did not meet your standards as I have.” Eggman stutters, “Y-Yes!” But internally, even he begins to feel guilt. Eggman no longer viewed Sage in the realm of “standards” and expectations… and he began to realize Belle was just as brilliant and precious as a daughter.
Soon, The End makes its return, possessing the final Titan, Supreme, which Whisper must still battle with her Hyper Wispon. Afterwards, she is able to take command of Supreme while her friends pilot the other Titans. They face The End in its awakened form; however, said form appears different from the eyes of each character. For both Whisper and Tangle, it looks like Eggman’s Faceship drooling Metal Virus, but with Mimic’s eyes and tentacles. To Lanolin, The End looks like herself, with a colder, scowling face, and wearing Duo the Cat’s scarf. To Surge, it’s a hideous fusion of Starline and Clutch’s faces.
Thanks to Sage lending her own power to the Titans, the Diamond Cutters are able to combat The End’s devastating power, with each of them chiming in an epic hero line: “I will bring justice to ALL the criminals who threaten our world! That includes YOU!” Lanolin declares. “When I’m through with you, people will call me the greatest hero EVER!” Surge yells. “You took away everything the Ancients loved… I WON’T let you do the same to anyone else!” Tangle vows. “That form you’ve taken… My fears… I won’t let them control me.” Whisper says. “My family’s legacy… will be your end.”
The End is destroyed, but the Diamond Cutters feel overwhelmed by their new cyber power and fear they will perish. Whisper starts to cry, not wanting her friends to die like this… but Sage appears before her. She uses her power to transfer their corruption into the Titans. The Titans return to Cyberspace while the Diamonds are freed.
The four friends return to their ship, happy to finally make the journey home. “This was well above our assignment for this mission.” Lanolin sighs. “But… I think we did a great job.”
“I’ll say we did!” Tangle cheers. “We saved the whole world! Imagine what the first Diamond Cutters are saying now! ‘Yeah, THAT’S our Whisper!’ ‘Whoa, these guys are no joke!’ And Claire would say, ‘I knew I foresaw a great future for them!’” Whisper giggles.
“Just be sure to drop me at Angel Island.” Surge says. “Kit must be worried sick. But I wouldn’t mind grabbin’ some pizza with ya afterwards!”
“I’m not sure about that.” Whisper replies.
“Come oooooooon, we’re besties now, aren’t we?” Surge puts an arm around Whisper.
“With boundaries.” Whisper pushes her off.
“Man, you’re no fun.”
“Still… this mission has taught me a lot.” Whisper begins reflectively. “Or rather… it’s reminded me of some things. I spent so much time alone. Wandering those islands… reminded me of that loneliness. But… even though Cyberspace separated us, I had you all with me. I wasn’t alone. I was never alone. Even my family…” She looked up at her Wisps, “was always there for me.”
Tangle smiles and takes her hand. “And we’ll always be there for you, too.”
As they leave for new horizons, Eggman and Sage watch them. “Father… shall we return home as well?”
Eggman smiles. “Yes, Sage.”
“I look forward to meeting my brothers.” Sage smiles hopefully.
“…It’s only fair that you meet your sister, too.”