Sonic walked down the borders of Knothole Village bored as ever. He never liked doing security at night when there was no action. He was dozing off while he was walking and suddenly realized that he must do something right now before he falls asleep. Also if Sally finds out, she would be mad at him for sleeping on the job again.
As Sonic turned around to continue his security detail, a small metal ball droped out of nowhere on his head.
"Oww! that hurts," he said while rubbing the small bump on his head. Sonic looked at the ball the size of a Chaos Emerald on the ground. As he reached down to pick it up, a holographic inmage shot out of the device startling him. He stumbled back and fell on the ground. He looked in amazement as the hologram showed someone on the screen. Sonic couldn't figure out who the person was since the picture was distorted. The image started to give it's message:
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG. YOU ARE INVITED TO THE FIRST MOBIUS FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP. THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE GREAT RESPECT AS THE BEST FIGHTER OF MOBIUS. YOU, TAILS, THE PRINCESS, ANTOINE AND BUNNIE ARE TO MEET AT NEUTRAL TERRITORY AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE FORBIDDEN ZONE IMMEDATELY. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL...
The image disappeared and the ball vainshed, leaving not a trace of it ever existing. Sonic was very excited and concerned as well because this could be one of Robotnik's evil plans again to take over Mobius. The reason he's excited because he could be the best fighter in all of Mobius and he could let off a little steam on his friend and rival Knuckles.
"I have to tell Sally about this," he said as he zipped through Knothole Village to find the Princess.
5 AmCharmy the Bee zipped through the Mushroom Hill Forest, cutting corners sharply, flying through holes in trees and blasting through giant leaves. She never felt this excited about a meeting with the other members of the Chaotix before(proably because she was sleeping through most of the meet ings).
"Hurry up Charm!" she snapped at herself for not being fast enough. But the message she received from Knuckles, the leader of the Chaotix and guardian of her home, the Floating Island said that it was very urgent.
She finally reached the Zoot Chute. A tunnel that leads to the source of the Floating Islands' power, one large Chaos Emerald that keeps the island up in the air and four members of the Chaotix waiting for her to arrive. Knuckles looked at her in amazement as he noticed her breathing heavily.
"Finally you're here," he bolted out.
"I...tried...to get here...as fast as...possible guys," she finally let out as she sat on Espio the Chamelion's shoulder to recover fron her long trip.
"Okay guys," Knux said, "here's the deal. Were going to a fighting tournament."
"WHAT!?" the rest of the Chaotix members said.
"Hold on guys. Let me explain here. Some ball dropped out of nowhere and a message came out of it. It said that we were to meet at the Forbidden Zone."
So where's the ball?" Mighty the Armadillo asked.
"Gone. No evidence of it ever existing."
So I guess that the Floating Island will be unguarded for a while then," Charmy said.
"Yeah," Knux replied, "I guess so but I'm more concerned about the Freedom Fighters being in the tournament."
"What do you mean?" Vector the Crocodile asked.
"For starters, Sonic might be there. And if he's there then..." Knux stopped himself just in time. He didn't want to reveal his personal feelings about Sally and Sonic being together. *Too close,* he said to himself.
"So when do we leave?" Espio asked.
"At the crack of dawn" Knuckles said, "We got a long journey ahead of us."
7:30 Am"Snivley, where the blazes are you? Snivley...SNIVLEY!!"
Dr. Ivo Robotnik's voice boomed loudly in the halls of Robotropolis looking for his assistant, Snivley. He finally found him in the briefing room snoring loudly. Robotnik took in a deep breath and shouted out "SNIVLEY!" Snivley jumped off his chair and fell hard on the floor.
"Sorry sir," Snivley said, "I must've fallen asleep."
"Forget that Snivley," Robotnik said with a sneer, "We got bigger plans ahead for us."
"Like what?" Snivley asked in confusion.
"Like preparing for the biggest of all fights."
"Shall I prepare the Mini Death Egg and Metal Sonic to escort us sir?" Snivley asked.
"Yes do that."
"When and where sir?"
"In an half hour," Robotnik responded, "We head for the Forbidden Zone."
8:30 AmSonic and the Freedom Fighters that was selected for the tournament just stood there in front of the Forbidden Zone waiting for anyone or anything come out of that huge wall of energy in front of them. Alot of things were going through their minds but on thing was going through Sonic's mind: Knuckles.
"So," Sally said to Sonic, "You're very sure about this?"
"What do you mean if I'm sure!?" Sonic snapped back.
"Well for starters, this isn't the first time that you were hallucinating at night watch," Bunnie said.
"HEY!" Sonic jumped back at Bunnie as well. Their noses was touching each other, "This is no dream. It's as real as my speed."
"Well I'll believe it when I see it," Bunnie said while turning her back to Sonic. But he knows that he's right. Although the others may not believe him, he just have to be paitent and wait. Tails just happened to land next to him to find out whatis going on.
"Sonic," he said, "How much longer?" Before Sonic could answer his little partner, a laser blast hit the Freedom Fighters. Tails was able to lift Sonic and Bunnie out of harms way but the princess had to push Antoine out of the way and in the process took a shot on her shoulder.
"It's an ambush," Antoine the Weasel shouted.
Sonic looked up and saw Robotnik and Metal Sonic coming down to land. The spikes on Sonic's back quivered as he saw the Dr. Robotnik's new and improved Mini Death Egg land as well.
*Son of a bitch!* Sonic thought, *This hunk of junk didn't hold that kind of firepower before.*
"So it was a trap after all," Bunnie said.
"First of all rabbit," Robotnik said as he got out of the cockpit of the Mini Death Egg, "This is no trap. Secondly, where the hell is the person who brought me here?"
"So you got the same message as us huh Buttnik?" Sonic said.
He nodded.
"Well then," Sally said clutching her shoulder, "I guess that we have to wait for the person responsible for this then."
"I agree princess," Robotnik said as he reached in his cape and took out a small canister and gave it to Sally.
"You could use that for your shoulder," he said.
Sally could not believe it. Dr. Robotnik...helping her? Of all the people in the planet...
"Th...Th...Thank you." Sal stuttered slowly.
"Don't take this the wrong way princess," Robotnik said, "But I suggest that we have a truce until this is finished. Don't think that I will forget who you are when this is over."
She nodded.
"We've been here for almost half an hour," Antoine said, "and all we got was sore feet, and injured princess, an impatient hedgehog, and a pissed beyond belief weasel! What the fuck else can happen?"
"Funny," Knuckles said, "I was just about to ask you the same damn thing."
9 Am"Knuckles," Sonic and Tails said together. Tails ran to greet his fellow Chaotix and his sweetheart, Charmy, as the others ran to them as well.
"I take it that you guys are here for a certain tournament huh buddy?" Knuckles said.
"Yeah we are Knux," Sonic said as he greeted his friendly rival with their crazy handshake.
"So," Robotnik interupted, "now that everyone is here, whats next?"
Before anyone could think of an answer, the energy wall of the Forbidden Zone opened up. Everyone looked shocked as a huge glowing ball emerged of the wall.
"What the hell is that?" Tails asked.
Everyone was about to find out as the ball let out a bright beam of energy on the whole group. The beam made everyone disappear. The ball stopped glowing and it showed our heroes inside the sphere all unconcious. Metal Sonic was the only one still active since it is a robot. It used its' CPU unit diagnostics to find a way out but it proved futile. It had no choice but to go to shutdown mode and rest.
11 AmSonic thought that headaches were severe before but the one he's feeling right now takes the cake. When he awoke, he was in a holding cell with the others except Bunnie and Antoine. *They must be in another cell* he thought. He also notice that Metal Sonic was not in the cell with them as well. Robotnik was already up and came to help Sonic up.
"Cmon hedgehog," he said while he was pulling him from the floor.
"My head is spinning wildly," Sonic said.
"You're about to find out more than you will ever know," Robotnik said.
Sonic looked around the cell once more and saw that everyone was wearing a electronic bracelet on their right wrist. He looked on his wrist and saw the same band on him too.
"What is this some kind of slavery shit?" Sonic asked.
"I guess so Sonic," Robotnik said. "They put these tracking devices on us. Somehow, though, my circuits on my cape is not picking up anything on these gadgets."
"But if these are not tracking devices, then what are they?"
"Don't know," Robotnik said in concern.
"How's the others?"
"There resting. Somehow, they must've taken a bigger dosage of what they put in us. Another thing Sonic."
"What?"
"There are others here, from different planets, dimensions, whatever. But I know for sure that they are not from Mobius."
"I see. So this is not just for Mobius, but for the universe as well."
"Yes," Robotnik went to to cell door. "Somehow I don't think that it is."
"So what is it for?" Sonic asked.
"I'm not sure," Robotnik said, "But they are hiding something."
"And we are going to find out what it is they are hiding," Sally said holding her head.
"Sal," Sonic said running to her aid, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine my love but Robotnik's right. They're hiding something from us."
"So we are the sacrifical goats for their tournament," Sonic said balling his fist, "And we are fighting all the way to the end."
12:30 PmThe Freedom Fighters, the Chaotix and Robotnik were escorted down a hall with the littlest doubt that they were going to be executed. But usually in the Forbidden Zone, fate is always a wild card.
They were led to a big arena where the other captives were there as well waiting for their fate. Sonic was shocked to see who was st the throne up ahead. And Robotink was furious. He never thought that his 'former' assistant, Snivley was responsible for all this.
"Snivley," Robotnik growled, "You backstabbing son of a..."
"If I were you," Snivley said, "I would take back those words you've just said."
As he said that, five guards surrounded Robotnik and the others. Robotnik knew that he was in no position to fight at that time. He backed down instantly.
"Since when do little bald midgets rule a whole zone?" Knuckles whispered to Sonic.
"I don't know," Sonic said, "But it looks that Robotnik isn't going to take much more of this."
"Now," Snivley said, "Would anyone else want to defy my power?" Everyone in the arena bowed down. Some in respect and some in fear, except for our heroes. Snivley turned boiling mad.
"GUARDS!" Snivley screamed. The instant he said it, more guards surrounded our fellow heroes with their weapons drawn.
"This is getting fucking tedious." Antoine said.
"Your right buddy," Sonic said, "But we're not taking this sitting down. I say we fight!."
"You took the words right out of my mouth," Knuckles said as he lunged forth to one of the guards and instantly took his head off with his patented Glide Attack.
"It looks like I don't get a say in this again," Sally sighed.
All of the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix, even Robotink were toe to toe with the guards. They tried everything and it looked like they were going to win the battle and have a chance to escape.
As the last guard was downed, a huge blast of energy, like a laser beam shot out at our fellow Mobians. Robotnik tried exaustedly at shielding most of the blast but the circuitry from his cape overloaded and gave him an electric shock as strong as a lightning bolt. He was out cold. The others couldn't believe their eyes as they saw the impossible. None of them couldn't move except for Tails and Charmy as they were in the air still. They landed to attend to their injured party. Everyone had no choice but to give up there on the spot.
"Guards," Snivley said as he approached the motionless Robotnik, "Take them away. I want them to be my first victims for the tournament tomorrow. And as for my former 'boss', well...put him in a isolation cell. I want to speak to him personally."
"You're fucking nuts Snivley," Sonic said as he was being dragged away. "Even Robotnik couldn't get as evil as you."
"Hold him there," Snivley said. The guards holding Sonic brought him to the maniacal scientist. Snivley looked into Sonic's eyes, just smiled and turned his back only to return with a quick sucker punch right across his jaw. He was dazed but not knocked out. Snivley laughed loudly.
"I always wanted to do that," he said, "Take him away."
As the guards started to drag him away to his cell, Sonic smirked soundly and thought to himself *Soon Snivley. You'll pay for that. I swear it.*
8 PmDarkness surrounded Dr. Ivo Robotnik's cell. Not even a small glimpse of light showed anywhere and for the first time, he felt a small taste of true fear in his heart. He wasn't sure what was going to happen to him. Also, he was concerned for the others in the prison as well. This time...he felt human. Like the first time that he met Sonic when he was Dr. Ovi Kintobor.
He was suddenly blinded by the light coming from the cell door opening. Snivley and two guards entered the cell. Robotnik felt pure hatred at his former assistant for betraying him. Never had he thought that Snivley would do such a thing. Robotnik saved his life....long ago.
There was a silence for a few minutes. Snviley looked at Robotnik's eyes and knew what he was thinking and he savored it. There was once a trust between them and it was now broken. Snivley knew that. But he didn't give a fuck about it. *You think that I give a shit about you 'boss'? Yeah right!*
"Of all the people that betrayed me in the past," Robotnik decided to break the silence, "I never thought that it would be you. How did you get ahold of such power?"
"Simple, I had it all this time. It's more powerful than your foolish Death Egg you created before. In fact, I gave it a taste of my power to help Sonic destroy it."
"How can anyone bow down to a no good sorry runt like you?" Robotnik bolted, "Even I cannot hold such power."
"Well for starters," Snivley said, "this power alone can destroy every living thing on this planet leaving nothing but a dust planet. You can't even stop it."
"We'll stop it. We'll stop you even if we have to die doing it."
"And how can you stop me, huh? You guys will be occupied with the tournament tomorrow. And trying to escape during the fights will be futile. Those devices on your wrist will detonate by me if you do not fight or attempt to escape."
"You mean that we have bombs on us?"
"Yes my former tub of lard master. And in fact, you'll see a demonstration tomorrow." Snivley started to leave the cell. "Sleep well. You'll need it for your first match."
"SNIVLEY," Robotnik shouted, "YOU WILL DEFINITLEY PAY FOR THIS. THERE WILL BE A PRICE ON YOUR HEAD AND YOU WILL DIE! BASTARD! DO YOU HEAR ME YOU BASTARD!"
The loud screams of his voice echoed throughout the hall of the prison. Sonic and the others that was awake listened to his screams and knew that it would be soon that maybe Robotnik would get his revenge. Sally knew that Robotnik would be on their side now until the end. But things still doesn't seem right about it.
Knuckles couldn't sleep through the night. He looked at the other members of the Chaotix who were all asleep snoring their brains out. He couldn't help but to say to himself *I can't protect them this time*.
Tails was in a corner with Charmy laying on his lap fast asleep. He was rubbing the detonation device on his wrist. It's been feeling kinda sore for the past few hours, but pain wasn't an emotion to him right now. He looked up to see Sonic leaning on the wall thinking to himself as usual. Tails suddenly realize that feeling that his partner usually has when he gets ready to fight. As he started to nod off, the whispers of *I'm not a kid anymore* to himself echoed in his mind.
Antoine and Bunnie were not in the same cell as the others. Bunnie was looking out at the barred window looking at the full moon. An Antoine approached her, tears were falling down her eyes.
"Whats wrong my dear?" he asked.
"What do we have left to fight this crazy fool?" Bunnie asked.
"What do you mean?"
"This man is more evil than ten Robotnik's put together Antoine. And I don't think that we could beat him. He..." She started to cry again and Antoine couldn't take it anymore.
"Listen to me," he said, "We will stop him and I will see to it that nothing will happen to you."
"Huh!?" Bunnie said surprised, "What do you mean by that?"
"Bunnie, I can't hold this in any longer. I care for you so much. I remember the last time we were going against Robotnik and it was like a dream come true. Us side by side blowing up all those SwatBots."
"Well we did have help that day Shugah!" Bunnie giggled.
"Yeah we did," he said as he held her hand, "But did you noticed that feeling inside you?"
"I did but I never thought it would happen again...until today."
"Then I guess you know what I'm about to say then Bunnie."
"Yes," she said, "And you don't have to say it because I love you as well. All I ask from you is that you promise me that we will be tigether through this."
As Antoine kised her on her forehead, and held her softly, that lonely whisper calmed her fears. "I promise."
Day 2 9 AmTrumpets echoed, drums boomed loudly and the crowd chered as the fighters were led to the gigantic arena again. Sonic and Knuckles looked in awe as they saw the other captives that they might be going againsts. Sally and Robotnik was both looking at Snivley who was high above the crowd at his throne. She clenched her fist in anger knowing that not everyone in their gorup will live. Antoine and Bunnie came in with determination on their faces and with their promise that they made. The Chaotix were always battle ready but as they looked around, they felt a little concerned afterwards.
"Damn!" Mighty the Armadillo said, "This place is bigger than I thought."
Tails came out looking emotionless. He looked around the arena and smiled flatly. *I can't wait,* he thought. Sonic noticed it right away and knew that his little buddy will be relentless in battle today.
Snivley signaled to one of the guards and he moved to a switch on the wall. He lifted the switch to open the gate and Metal Sonic was led out by two more guards. Robotnik noticed that it was still in shutdown mode. and that it also had one of the bombs on it's wrist. He realized too late what Snivley said about his demonstration. Metal Sonic was about to be blown up.
"Shit!" he said, "He's about to destroy my favorite creation."
"Can't you do anything?" Sally asked.
"I wish that I could," he responded.
"Yes you can," Mighty said as he lifted Robotnik up and waited for the right timing to throw him to the robot.
Snivley raised his hand with the detonator in it.
"This," he started, "is what will happen if you lose."
Mighty threw him as hard as possible. The timimg was perfect but Snivley was a little bit faster.
"NO!" Robotnik screamed but it was too late. Snivley pressed the button and device started to beep. When Robotnik was within thirty feet to Metal Sonic, the bomb exploded.
"ROBOTNIK!" Sally shouted.
"No...it...can't be," Tails said. As he was about to start running to the firery explosion, he was stopped by Knuckles who was holding his tails preventing him to move.
"We can't do anything now little buddy," he said, "Leave it be."
When the smoke cleared, everyone couldn't believe their eyes. Metal Sonic was still intact and Robotnik was still alive. Though he was dazed, he slowly picked himself up and looked at his most valued creation, and smiled wickedly.
Sally was checking out the reaction on Snivley's face and was not surprised at his emotionless look at all.
*I knew it,* she thought, *He's playing with him. All this fucking time he's playing with him.*
Snivley got up from his throne and the crowd became silent immediately. As the fighters looked on knowing that their lives is on the line, this may be their last fight ever.
"LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!" Snivley shouted.
The crowd cheered loudly.
END OF PART I
