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Chip (also known as Light Gaia) is a spirit in the form of a small Mobini-like creature who holds the key to restoring the world to normal during the Shattered World Crisis.
History
Caught in the Middle
Light Gaia emerged from the broken planet Mobius at the same time that the essence of his antithesis, Dark Gaia, was spread across the planet. His presence was sensed by Tikal, at whose urging Knuckles the Echidna traveled from Angel Island to the surface in order to search for him. Knuckles and the Chaotix located him with the red Chaos Emerald in the Aquatic Mine Zone, where the Chaotix unfortunately chased him in pursuit of the gem. After being halted by Knuckles, the group explained that the Emerald was intended to save the world. It was at this point that Chip revealed to the group that he had amnesia, and was unaware of his true purpose or real name. As he compared the situation to cookies, Charmy Bee was inspired to dub him Chip. Unfortunately, the new found friends were soon menaced by the Hooligans, who were also after the Emerald, and a Dark Gaia Titan. Chip was abducted by the Hooligans, who left his friends trapped in the flooding mine with the Titan. (StH: #259, SU: 63, 64, 65)
Fortunately, Knuckles and the Chaotix escaped the mine and caught up to Chip's abductors, and were followed by the Titan. In the confusion, Vector recovered Chip and the Emerald and hid them in the only available place: inside his mouth. Once the Titan had been dispatched and the Hooligans been sent off on a false Emerald trail, Chip emerged, and Knuckles took him back to Angel Island. There he met and befriended Tikal, who later took him to the Hidden Palace Zone while Knuckles addressed the threat of Eclipse the Darkling. Subsequently, Chip traveled back to the surface with Knuckles, who was searching for the shards of the Master Emerald, with the two eventually arriving in Casino Park. (SU: 66, #67, StH: #268)
Chip would later watched from the audience as Knuckles took part in the Chaos Emerald Championship. Afterwards, the pair joined the Knothole Freedom Fighters aboard the Sky Patrol, which they reached by boarding the Speed Star. On the way back, the pair were introduced to Sonic the Hedgehog's Werehog form. Chip subsequently accompanied Sonic and Antoine D'Coolette to Apotos to meet Gregorios, though they had to deal with a Badnik patrol along the way. Chip felt bad about not being able to help out more, but Sonic assured him of his value and they continued on their way, though not before Chip spotted a man selling ice cream. After getting information from Gregorios about the Gaia Gate and Gaia Keys, the setting sun caused Sonic to become the Werehog again, a transformation he hoped would end with the planet's restoration. Chip expressed hopes that this event would also cure his amnesia, but before they could dwell on it for long, a force of Dark Gaia's Minions attacked. Knuckles, Amy Rose, and Bunnie Rabbot-D'Coolette arrived to back them up, and they managed to recover a Master Emerald shard before returning to the Sky Patrol. (StH: #269, #270, #271, #272)
Personality
Chip is a cheerful, optimistic individual, but struggled for a time with his lost memories. He is quite friendly and quickly becomes loyal, seeking to help his friends with their endeavors. Even though he is easily distracted from the importance of recovering his memories, he is willing to saving the shattered world. He also has quite the sweet tooth, from using metaphors about cookies to eagerly setting his sights on a nearby ice cream stand after a battle.
Abilities
Despite the small size of his wings, Chip is capable of rapid flight. As the Light Gaia he has the potential to restore Mobius to its state of wholeness, but due to the ill-timed occurrence of the Shattered World Crisis his abilities were greatly limited.
Background Information
- Chip originates from the game Sonic Unleashed, and his backstory and role in the comic is loosely adapted from that game.
- Chip is inexplicably absent from the Worlds Unite crossover event, with no information being given as to why he didn't appear.
- It’s possible that the Unite events took place either before or after the events of the Shattered World crisis.