Chapter 7: Tikaos Trouble
Stunned to see the disastrous monster with the water heading to the city. Sonic and the other Freedom Fighters are seeing it attacking the castle.
Belle says, "As papa might say… 'mon dieu.'"
"Sho' nuff," Jacque agrees.
"Oh no…" Laura-Su says.
"Anybody got any idea what that thing is and why it's wrecking my castle?" Sonic asks.
"It's Tikhaos… the poor dear…" Laura-Su says.
"'Tikhaos?' As in Tikal plus Chaos?" Sonic a sks.
"Exactly," Laura-Su say.
Jacque turns to Sonic and asks, "You do not recall the Ixis resurgence or the Elemental war?"
"No. I kind of wrote myself out of the timeline when I went back to fix it. Sue me," Sonic says.
Laura-Su steps in, "To summarized… the spirit Tikal had to fuse with the water God Chaos and became a very unstable being, especially when exposed to chao energy. And I'm sensing a lot of chaos energy in her. We had to seal her away for everyone's protection. So how did she get that much chaos energy?"
"I'm willing to bet Eggman has something to do with it. Not even the Dark Presence would so something like this," Lien-Da says.
"None of that matters right now. We've got a city… and a planet to save… we'll find out how this happen later," Sonic says.
Back in the airship, Yong-Ho, Shadow and the Rogues hurry inside to see what has happen. When they hurry inside, they gasp in shock to see a lab inside is destroyed. Eggman groans as he is unconscious. What shocked them the most is to see Maria laying on the ground with the emeralds turn gray.
"Maria!" Yong-Ho screams.
The Rogues deal with Eggman while Shadow and Yong-Ho check on Maria. Shadow looks stunned to see the unconscious Maria. It reminds him of what happened to his friend Maria, the day she has been shot down. Shadow slowly lifts Maria and holds her in his arms.
"Maria," Shadow says in thought.
Maria groans and slowly opens his eyes. She slowly turns her head to see Shadow.
"Dad…" Maria quietly speaks.
"It's okay Maria, you're safe now," Shadow says.
"But… the emeralds…" Maria softly says.
Yong-Ho picks up all seven emeralds that have lost their power, "What happened? The emeralds doesn't have their glow."
"It was… Eggman… he used… a strange machine… to syphon the emeralds and my chaos energy to Tikal. I manage to destroy the machine… but not enough to stop the emeralds powers from being drained," Maria weakly says.
"So what what happened?" Yong-Ho says.
"We got to stop Tikal. We need to get rid of the chaos energy she has," Maria says.
"And we will. But first, we need to get you somewhere to rest," Yong-Ho says.
Shadow picks up Maria while Yong-Ho puts the emeralds in his bag. The three Rogues secure Eggman, and take him back as well. Then all five of them leave the ship together. Back at the castle, Sonic and the others are trying to come up with a plan to stop Tikaos before damages can be done.
"Okay… on a scale of zero to perfect, how strong is she? Because Maria still has the chaos emeralds," Sonic asks.
"Near perfect, but not invincible. If we can keep her stationary and war her down, I might be able to use the 'Tikal's prayer' spell to calm her," Laura-Su says.
"Cool," sonic says.
He then gets in touch with Argyle and Chomper, "Guys? Can you still read me?"
"Can't stop the signal, sire. What do you want me to do?" Argyle asks.
"Get in touch with the E.S.T. Start them organizing an evacuation of portal," Sonic says.
"One step ahead of you sire. They were already on crowd control from this morning," Argyle says.
"The giant water monster helps too," Chomper says.
"Good to know. Laura-Su, take the Freedom Fighters and Stall Tikhaos," Sonic says.
"M-me? You want me running the show?" Laura-Su asks in shock.
"There's nobody better, guardian. You and Yong-Ho are Maria's second and third in command after all. I need to rescue my family from my crumbling castle," Sonic says.
"Hoo-boy… okay," Jacques, Belle, I want you on frontal assault. Keep her from moving forward," Laura-Su says.
"You can count on us, miss," Jaque says.
"Oui, capitaine," Belle says.
Laura-Su, "Everyone… can I ask you guys to run interference?"
"Oh I'll run all alright. That thing won't know where I came from," Melody says.
"And we'll what we can too," Mystic says.
Everyone else nod their heads in reply.
Laura-Su shout, "Freedom Fighters… Go!"
Heading to the castle, Maria is being cared by Shadow while the Rouges handle Eggman. Yong-Ho is keeping an eye. Just then, Tikaos begins to swing it's tentacles around like crazy.
"Woah! What is happening here?" Flash asks.
"I don't know, but this is crazier than one of the temple we went to," Tsunami says.
"Guys, focus here. I see a place for us to land" Yong-Ho says.
Everyone follow Yong-Ho to a safe building to land on. Sonic jumps on the falling debris until he reaches the panic room.
Sonic calls out, "Honey, I'm home!"
"Are you guys alright?" Sonic asks as the twins run up to their father for a hug.
"We're fine, daddy," Sonia answers.
"We're fine, did you see that awesome monster that came out of the castle! What was that?" Manic asks in excitement.
Sonic and Sally then pull each other to a hug.
"Don't worry about the castle, hom. Just a minor fixer-upper," sonic says.
"Pushing fifty and you haven't changed one iota," Sally says.
"King Hedgehog, thank you," Sonic says.
Silver has finally awaken from his rest.
"Good morning sleepy head," Sonic remarks.
"Ergh… I told you this would happen," Silver says.
Sonic asks, "Does this match the type of ruination in your future?"
"Pocket of civilization struggling against a global sea that seems to have a grudge? Yeah. I'd say this fits," Silver answers.
Sonic lifts Sally in bridal style as he says, "Well Laura-Su and the Freedom Fighters are on the case. Are you back to full power?"
"I… um… close enough?" Silver skeptical answers.
"Good," Sonic says.
He turns to the twins, and says, "Okay kids, it's time to play follow the leader! Do just like I do and we'll go down the castle, okay?"
"Okay," Sonia answers.
"On the outside?! Awesome!" Manic says, amazed by the fun.
"This I remember, oh boy…" Sally mutters.
Just then, the family jump out of the building and begin to slide down the water. Silver uses his psychic powers to levitate himself down. The twins are having a blast.
Manic says, "I bet I can get down faster!"
"Nuh-uh! I can," Sonia says.
"Sonia! Manic! Not now kids! Just follow daddy," Sonic says.
"Sorry dad," The twins reply.
All three land on the solid debris, and are using them like surfboards
Sonic can see his kids are doing a good job following him, "You're doing great! Keep it up!"
"Are you there Argyle? Chomper? I could use an update," Sonic says.
"Sorry sire. There's a lot of com-traffic right now…" Argyle says.
Argyle says, "The Echidna Security Team says evacuation of portal is slow, but it could be worse. Busses are already en route to Echidnaopolis, and they're preparing shuttles to escape the city."
"Tikaos is right on the city limits, but the damage has been pretty minimal so far… no injuries. That's thank to the Freedom Fighters. They've managed to stop her advance, but they're doing all they can to not get killed out there," Chomper says.
"I'm trying to get in touch with any of the Chaotix around the world for back-up, vut no luck so far," Argyle says.
Chomper says, "Get this, The Dark Presence are also able to help with the evacuation under Lien-Da's orders. They also said that they've freed Mister and Missus Prower and anyone of the old Freedom Fighters they trapped so we'll have some back-up soon."
"Have you heard anything from Yong-Ho or the Rogues?" Sonic asks.
"Yes. they have landed on one of the buildings close to you. You should meet them there," Chomper says.
Sonic looks around the area to find them. He then notices a few figures on top of the building. Sonic sees them and make his way to the building.
On the ground and the air, the Freedom Fighters are trying to stop Tikaos as fast as they can. So far, things are not working. Belle and Melody has to help their brothers get out of the way. The ones who can fly are getting scared of the mysterious water creature."
Laura-Su reaches Tikal's monstrous form," Tikaos! Tikal! I know you can hear me! You can stop this! You're better than this!"
But Tikaos smacks Laura-Su with her tentacle and almost knocks her out.
Suddenly someone catches her, "Don't give it up yet guardian. You're holding your own out there."
"Buh… Miles?" Laura-Su weary says, after getting hit on the head.
Laura-Su regains herself, and both her and Tails give it a hard hit. Mina comes along and helps the children out.
"You both sure are sure growing up so fast. However, you don't expect me to let you continue to do all this craziness so much until you're older," Mina says.
"Oh mom," Melody says.
Skye giggles in reply.
On one of the high buildings, Yong-Ho, Shadow and the Rogues are keeping an eye out on Maria and Eggman. Yong-Ho and the Rogues have their mysterious.
"What do you think happen to the chaos emeralds?" Flash asks.
"I don't know, but it looks like the emeralds have been drained of their powers. Maria said that Eggman drained all of its power including hers," Yong-Ho says.
Hurricane angrily says, "Eggman really done it this time."
"And I'll bet he knows how to get this to stop," Tsunami says.
Yong-Ho turns his head, "I'm worried about Maria, but there's someone else I'm worried about as well."
Yong-Ho look to see Shadow has been holding Maria for the longest time. Meeting his daughter for the first time is a surprising encounter, but seeing her hurt is another. Also, Yong-Ho can tell that something else is going on in Shadow's mind. Shadow continues to hold on to her and looks at her face.
"Maria," Shadow says in thought.
Maria moves her head, and soon opens her eyes," Tikal…"
Maria then begins to move and tries to sit up. Soon as she is able to sit, Maria clutches her head in pain. Maria then begins to stand on her feet, but her legs are wobbling.
"I… I gotta save… Tikal," Maria says, groggy.
Yong-Ho helps Maria, "Maria, you can't fight in the condition you're in."
"He's right. You're too weak to take on Tikal and the emeralds lost their power," Tsunami says.
Maria leaves Yong-Ho and begins to walk to the edge of the building.
"But Tikal is suffering. She's going out of control I… I gotta… do something," Maria says, finally reach the end of the building.
To everyone's shock, she is trying to climb on the edge.
"What are you doing?! Get down from there!" Flash screams.
"But Tikal needs me. I gotta do something," Maria says.
Before she can get off the building. Shadow grabs Maria and holds her in his arms.
"Not in the condition you're in. You're still too weak to fight. Eggman's machine drained your chaos energy and the chaos emeralds'. You have to stay here and rest," Shadow says.
"But…" Maria weakly speaks.
"No buts Maria, you're staying here," Yong-Ho says.
Maria feels hopeless, but she's still very weak to move.
"Yong-Ho!" A voice calls out.
Everyone look behind to see Sonic holding Sally, the twins, and Silver landing on the building. Sonic puts Sally down on the ground.
"There you are, we were getting…" Sonic says.
Sonic Sally and Silver gasp in shock to see Maria looking so weak and tired. What's more the emeralds are black and lost their glow and color. Sally and Silver are stunned to see Shadow standing before them.
"Wha… what happened to Maria?! What happened to the chaos emeralds?!" Silver asks in shock.
Suddenly, everyone hears a ground sound and turn to see Eggman has awaken. Yong-Ho walk towards Eggman with his fists. Eggman flinches in fright to see Yong-Ho's furry on his face.
"I believe he can give you all the details," Yong-Ho says.
