Authors note: After a break, I'm back. Christmas was great and it gave me time to clear my head and think of new ways to solve the Sally/Sonic crisis. But as of now I will return to the point when Sally and Bunnie were captured by Robotnik; enjoy and review.
CH.4: From worse, to so not cool
Princess Sally Acorn was frustrated; things were looking up with Sonic, now this…could it get worse? A drop of water hit the top of her head and she frowned up at the ceiling. "Bunnie…do you think Sonic is ok?"
"Well I think so," the half robotosized Bunnie said, "but its best not to dwell on that now," she added. As she approached the bars of their cell she grabbed a hold of the steel in her robotosized arm and began to pull until her head was filled with perspiration.
"I can't help it Bunnie," Sally got up and held onto the cell bar, "me and Sonic have been flirting with each other for so long…and now he is making a move…and look where I am!"
"Easy Sally sugar, I'm sure Sonic is healing fine," the look of relief filled Sally's blue eyes and Bunnie smiled as well. Just then the sound of boots hitting the cold floor rang into their cell.
"Are you enjoying your stay here Princess? I tried my best to get you the most spacious cell in my power…is it to your liking?"
"Bite me Robotnik!" Sally curled her hand into a fist and sent it into the unsuspecting Robotnik. The nearest SwatBot to Robotnik took its firearm and slammed the butt of the gun into Sally's chest. Sally went down hard.
"Such brashness for one of your position Princess," Robotnik gave her a chilly smile and stared at her, "however, it'd be wise if you know your place…or else-."
"Do your worse tin head because soon you'll be answering to Sonic!" Bunnie expected the rifle and with a firm grasp pulled it from the SwatBot's cold metal hands.
"So, it appears the table has turned now hm?" Robotnik gave the two his best startled expression, because in his head he expected the creature who he almost Robotosized to pull such a move. "Well Ms. Bunnie…what move shall you make?"
"I want you to release us…and to tell us how to cure Sonic's illness!" The evil in his eyes showed brighter upon hearing news of his enemy's dire situation.
"So…my creation worked did it?" Robotnik placed his hands to the small of his back and his mouth began to work itself into a satisfied smile. His red eyes glowed and his rotten teeth showed (much to the disgust of the girls). "How long has the hedgehog had this illness?"
"For about a day or two," Sally let the pain ease from chest as she rose up, "he was left in Knothole on account of his illness. You left those flowers there on purpose-."
"Well Princess I wasn't intending on entering them in some flower contest," Robotnik walked up to the bars and gave the Squirrel a cruel look, "there is no cure."
"W-What did you say?!" Sally pushed Bunnie's helping hand away and with all her strength stood to her full height, her blue eyes burned with hate. "How can there not be a cure? There must be some plant on Mobius that can-."
"Princess Sally…that's not the only reason why I'm here," as he caught her full attention he knew then that he had to robotosize her…and soon. The defiance in her eyes reminded him too much of her father. "In the flower patch I planted a camera, and what it saw made me smile to my fullest…for your friends led me directly to Knothole-."
"Y-You evil man…do you know how many innocent lives were in there? For this crime alone I will swear upon my very life that you will die for your crimes-."
"Yeah…I believe this is all too familiar territory for me…how a person of high power seeks vengeance, it's amusing but in the end just meager entertainment. My SwatBots left no house unturned and when they left…no house was standing."
"Alright Robotnik you asked for it now!" Bunnie raised the weapon up and as she readied to blow away their trouble for good…an electric bolt pierced her in the shoulder. The sudden quickness of it all made her drop the weapon and cry out in pain.
"I must admit you had me quacking in my boots…but only for a mere second," he said with a grin, "but the truth is I expected you to try and kill me. My pet Cluck was hiding in the shadows…when you were about to fire he detected the build of energy and shot the object…that happened to be you."
"Sally…I can't get up," Bunnie stared up at the ceiling and felt her eyes grow moist with tears, "it seems like every part of me that is robotosized has shut down."
"Don't worry Bunnie, I'm sure we'll find a way to get you up again," she kneeled beside her friend and gave her a weak smile.
"Dr. Robotnik we have detected two life signs approaching Knothole," a SwatBot commander said. As he awaited the orders he scanned the room to make sure no spy was around.
"Those two must've been the ones responsible for the earlier disaster," Robotnik said half aloud and half to himself "go and capture them…immediately!"
"Yes Dr. Robotnik," the SwatBot replied, "confirm order 2013 and head to point 23."
"As for your fait Princess," Dr. Robotnik got an evil glint in his eye as he savored saying the next sentence, "time for you to meet the Robotosizer!"
"You won't get away with this Dr. Robotnik! Sonic will stop you and once he does I hope you get what you deserve!"
"What I deserve hmmm? Princess I have no fear in that miserable hedgehog, he'll be gone soon, so why should I care? Take her to the Robotsizer and don't listen to any of her complaints…you'll likely get an overload from it."
"Bunnie take Nicole," Sally pulled her computer friend from her boot and handed it to a tearful Bunnie, "make sure you take care of her. If I'm to be robotosized find a way back to Knothole…and tell Sonic that I love him. Now you take care of him and remember-."
"This is happening so fast Sally," Bunnie said through tears, "you're my best friend a…and-."
"Goodbye Bunnie," Sally wrapped her arms around her best friend one last time before being pulled off the ground by the SwatBot. Bunnie got up on one knee and glared up at round Robotnik. Cluck shot another electrical beam into Bunnie and she blacked out.
Antoine was tired…far beyond that he was exhausted. The long march from Robotropolis had made him weary, but Rotor seemed unaffected by the walk. "Ah Rotor…it is hot so I was wondering-?"
"For the last time no Antoine," irritation was edging itself into his voice, "we have to get to Knothole and find Sonic. For all we know Sally and Bunnie could be heading to the Robotosizer-."
"You are right," Antoine said in defeat, "I will remain quiet while you walk ahead of my tired body."
"Well if it's any help," Rotor said with a grin, "we happen to be in the Great Forest already," when the wolf heard this news he fell to his knees.
"You mean that the whole time I was complaining…we were in our own home?!" This will surely make my journal interesting, he thought, operation help Sonic went fine…except for the part about nearly being caught and ending up in our own backyard-.
"Hmmm…do you smell that Antoine?" The wolf sniffed the air and sure enough the odd but familiar scent of fire filled his nostrils. "C'mon Antoine we have to hurry!"
"Yes I am coming," he replied, "I do hope that fuel of a hero is still alive, because if he is not then…ah who am I kidding!" They reached the entrance to Knothole and stood back horrified as they saw Knothole burnt to the ground.
"I guess we're too late," Rotor said in defeat, "they must've attacked while we were out in Robotropolis. Wait a second…where's Sonic and Tails?" As they both looked at each other the same feeling arose.
"T-Those mechanical fiends…they shall now know the true power of Antoine D'Coolette!!" Antoine raced forward into the approaching SwatBot army and Rotor just shrugged his walrus shoulders.
"Oh well," he said to himself, "if this is how my life will end…better here then spending eternity as an ally to Robotnik." With a yell he followed Antoine and together they tackled the approaching metal heads with such force, they were caught off guard.
"I will rip each and every one of your heads off you contraptions of evil," Antoine did a flying kick into a recovering SwatBot then fired one of their weapons.
"I have to say Antoine that your accuracy has greatly improved since our trip into Robotropolis," Rotor said with a grin, "now let's take out the trash!"
"Eh this gun…it just isn't me," Antoine tossed the weapon aside with disgust then noticed a sword lying beside a fallen SwatBot. "Hmmm I think I'm getting an idea-."
"Ok Antoine, this is no time to get contemplative…we have to take care of these SwatBots and return to Robotropolis. Sally may already be heading to the Robotsizer…we have no time to-." Just then a SwatBot caught Rotor off guard.
"Hold on Rotor…I am coming," Antoine kneeled down beside the sword and his eyes shined bright, for some reason this particular weapon caught his interest. Picking up the handle he was moved by the way the sun caught the silvery blade.
"Antoine…it is just a sword! Come over here and show these SwatBots what it means to be a Freedom Fighter." Antoine curled his lip into a devious smile and as he rose the blade became a part of him.
"This was once my home," Antoine said as he took a step forward, "it was where I made my meals, slept, even daydreamed about Princess Sally…but you imbeciles have burnt it to the ground. You follow the robust leader named Robotnik…well I am sorry for you…because you won't see that lard again!!" Then with his left hand raised he charged forward and sliced the SwatBot in half.
"A-Antoine…how did you do that?" Rotor was scared, sure he had almost been taken away to a terrible fate, but this side of Antoine…he had never seen before. Then he took a look at the pile of machinery once a SwatBot and grinned.
"It was the sight of my home…that caused me to unleash my Freedom Fighter strength. With Sonic around I felt overshadowed…like everything I did was nothing, but now…I am ready to fight." Antoine lowered his sword and Rotor patted him on the shoulder.
"It's about time Antoine," Rotor gave his friend a thumbs up and together they took one glance at their home, "are you ready to put your life on the line again?"
"Eh why not," Antoine saw a SwatBot coming from behind and with a yell he leaped into the air with his sword over his head, "this is for the Princess," and with that he cut off the SwatBot's arm and with a combo lunged into the chest of the SwatBot.
"Alright let's head to Robotropolis before the traffic becomes too heavy," then they turned their back on their home; both swearing to get even for Robotnik's devious plans.
Sonic the Hedgehog had sped through the city of Robotropolis for 2 hours, and sight of any theater was lost to him. Skidding to a stop he tapped his chin in confusion wondering if he had passed it, or he had missed it. "I don't want to disappoint Sally, but there are no theaters around…maybe she'll settle for some flowers instead-."
"Looking for a theater hmmm?" Sonic jumped into the air and held onto the nearest light pole within grabbing distance, as he looked down he saw a smiling rat.
"Hey what's the big idea scaring me out of my shoes for huh? The polite thing to do would've been to tap my shoulder…sheesh!" Sonic let go and landed right in front of the suspicious rat. "Say…what are you doing here…and not Robotosized I might add-."
"Robotnik may have a cleverly built army of SwatBots," he said with a grin, "but their concern isn't here. Forgive the rudeness…my name is Ronald."
"I'm Sonic," as they shook hands Sonic seemed to trust this rat more, "I just came from Knothole Village in the Great Forest…my girl Sally has fallen for the village idiot and I think her best friend has the hots for me-."
"No need to tell me your life story Sonic," the rat said with a laugh, "although I can already assume your not here looking for trouble." The rat folded his hands and gave the blue hedgehog his own suspicious look. "Are you looking for someone?"
"Yeah I wish," Sonic folded his arms across his chest and looked anywhere but the rat, "you see there's this movie theater that Sally has wanted to see, fact is there doesn't seem to be any around-."
"Ah the wonders of speed," the rat said in amusement, to which Sonic placed his hands on his hips in growing anger. "I am just saying that if you travel fast you will miss the most important things in life. I too once tried running through life's problems…for that I missed my daughter's birth and first birthday. While away they were captured…that time when I used my speed…it clearly failed. The things that mattered to me were gone in a flash…for that I have lived out my days walking."
"Gee…I never knew," Sonic chose a nearby box and sat down, "now I can see why Sally chose Antoine over me. Maybe I should slow down and smell the roses…that way I could relate to the others." Sonic gave the rat another suspicious look then asked, "just out of curiosity…how is it that you were able to get so much out of me?"
"When I lost my speed," he began with much thought, "my powers began to deplete…so they went elsewhere. It was this new power that enabled me to help with many of the survivors of Robotropolis…including lost ones like yourself-."
"You must be mistaken old man," Sonic got up and turned his back on him, "I'm just taking a breather…that's all," though in truth he knew that was a lie.
"Sonic…admitting you're lost is nothing big," the rat placed a comforting hand on Sonic's shoulder, "for a while I couldn't admit I was scared to my wife, when I did…it was too late. You are a young one Sonic…you still have time-."
"Time for what? Look here Ronald, my life is no where near ending…so why don't you back off and crawl back under whatever hole you left!" That isn't like me; Sonic thought remorsefully, what has come over me?
"I'm sure you do…but when you think about…are these surroundings to your liking?" The rat watched as Sonic gave his surroundings a once over then noticed him lower his arms.
"This surrounding…isn't where I should be," he said softly, "I tend to run away from my problems…I should talk with Sally." The rat smiled then, and Sonic smiled as well.
"Sonic…there is one more thing I should tell you before you leave," he waited for the young hedgehog to meet his eyes then said, "what is happening now does not exist…the relationship between Antoine and Sally is a figment of your imagination. The village that you once called home…does not stand anymore. And the love of your life is about out of time…I'm sorry-."
"W-Whoa hold the horses Ronald," Sonic sped ahead of the retreating old rat and held his hand out in front of him, "are you telling me that I have been suffering this whole time…and none of it is real?!"
"In a matter of speaking yes," he looked over at the building in the shadows and grinned, "why don't you watch a movie…I'm sure everything will be explained then."
"I don't have time to watch a movie-!" Sonic looked at where the old rat once was, but now noticed he wasn't there. "Hey hold up…how am I supposed to pay?"
"I already did that liberty," the far off voice said, "once you enter make a right and pick up any snacks you please. I am sorry I couldn't say bye, but I have places to go…and a speedy exit is the only way to leave."
"Yeah…I guess I can't blame you," Sonic walked over to the theater and accepted the ticket. The movie title said "On the other side" and Sonic smiled. As he entered the theater he immediately went and got himself a stack of chili dogs and a huge Cola. He stuffed a chili dog into his mouth as he took a seat and then the movie started.
"Hello Sonic," the creepy voice of Doctor Robotnik made Sonic spit out parts of his chili dog and made him frown in disgust, "the movie your about to see is real, all footage was taken by professionals…do enjoy the film…and no throwing food either-."
"If I wanted to see a movie…it wouldn't have you as the narrator Robuttnik!" Sonic smiled as the image of the villain faded away and then was replaced by a picture of Knothole. The quiet serene village that had been his home for a good time, then he noticed it was in black and white. "Ah…I thought we had moved out of that era-?"
"Hey quiet up there, can't you see we're trying to hear the movie," an angry voice said in the shadows of the seats.
"Oh my bad," Sonic slipped another chili dog into his mouth and watched as the characters came on…wait that was Sally! Most of what happened was a recap…but for Sonic it was dawning realization. The flower Antoine had picked sparked jealousy in him, so he and Tails went to find one better. However, he was shot by a SwatBot…then intoxicated by a flower in Robotnik's field. He was smooching with Sally, then he blacked out…only to notice Antoine's flower…which probably explained why his dream like world was like this.
"Having fun hedgehog?" Robotnik's round face appeared on the screen again and Sonic was tempted to throw his Cola. "This is what happened to you…but what about your dear friends? Oh yes…now I remember…but I shouldn't ruin the best, so enjoy-."
"Blast you Robotnik…I'll show you…whenever I wake," as he settled into his seat the next picture was of the group standing around him. It was all clear then…Sally was setting off to Robotropolis to find a cure. I shouldn't have gone to that field; he thought regretfully, if I hadn't…all would've not been lost.
"Hey in the front," a feminine voice said, "keep quiet or I'll throw you out the front door!"
"Alright lady…man can't anyone enjoy a movie without people telling me to be quiet?" The next scene was of Robotropolis and Antoine and Rotor. The machine Rotor made was going to aid them. Some explosions later and the first cast died…the robot. It managed to take down an enemy, but ended up sending Sally and Bunnie downhill.
"I'm about to appear you miserable hedgehog," the voice of Robotnik said, "be sure and pay close attention." It was true, Robotnik came on, and to Sonic's horror he witnessed Sally and Bunnie being dragged away. In Knothole all was well, until SwatBots came in.
"N-No…this can't be!" Sonic held his armrests as he watched the village being bombed and burned…then the view focused on Tails as he desperately hauled Sonic out of the building and into the forest. "Way to go Tails! You see that Robotnik?"
"So he lived…but let's see what happened to your lady friend shall we?" In a dark cell underground Bunnie and Sally were awaiting their sentence. Then he came in and as the line was delivered Sonic froze. "Oooooh I love how this movie was made-."
"T-This all happened while I was dreaming?" The footage began to slow down and most of the other footage showed Knothole in flames, Antoine and Rotor standing over a bunch of broken SwatBots…and then it went black. "H-Hey where's Tails?"
"You know…with a movie there can't be too much squeezed in, otherwise where would the sequel fit? However, since you've been a great audience I'll show you what you really want to see."
"N-No…I can't see it…I won't see it-." Tears began forming in his black pupils and just then the screen lit up showing Sally and Bunnie being led to the Robotosizer. Sally was staring ahead, her blue eyes bubbling with tears of regret, while Bunnie was looking down.
"Oh yes…I love a happy ending don't you? But this darn sound system won't work…say how stupid of me…I was holding the mute button the whole time." With a devious smile he played the dialogue surely meant to crush Sonic.
"It's a shame you won't be reunited with your hero Princess," Robotnik said, he gave her a sidelong glance before putting his hands to the small of his back.
"Even if you succeed Robotnik," Sally said with a harsh tone, "you will never defeat all the Freedom Fighters out there. Sonic will rise again and defeat you-."
"It is so touching to hear that Princess, but by the time your Robotosized he will be nearly a heartbroken hedgehog. He won't have the heart to beat anyone, so take this like a leader and accept your fate…like your father-." Robotnik then turned to the SwatBot behind him and watched the Princess stare in horror as Bunnie was pulled forward. "Your friend tried escaping in the night, when we tried to grab her she threw your computer out the door. But rest assured...I will find Nicole-."
"It doesn't end here Robotnik…no it won't!" Sally was thrown into the Robotosizer along with Bunnie and both looked at each other in defeat. "Sonic…I love you…nothing in the world will ever be different. My feelings will never change…even when I am Robotosized. Come and visit me anytime…I'm sure we can still hangout-."
"Snively throw the switch…I'm getting too emotional from hearing anymore," Robotnik said as he fake cried. The time seemed to tick by and the audience was captivated-
"NOOOOOOOOO I won't let you do that!" Sonic leaped out of his seat and ran to the projection room where the film was. As he spin dashed through the door he found no one there. Looking through the glass he saw the switch thrown. He fell to his knees and tears leaked out like Niagara Falls. The picture ended and Sonic slammed the ground with his knuckles. Clutching his heart he began to lose focus…then with a spin landed on his back. And then he blacked out.
Authors note: Phew…that sure was quiet a long chapter. I hope it makes up for lost time. Reviews are not forced…so maybe I should stop saying it, following chapters I'll lessen on the review thing. Well was that a cliffhanger or what? I'll see you all soon as the next chapter comes.