Chapter 9: City in Flames
Location: Soleanna
That same time...
Firework launching into the sky, the multi-coloured lights reflecting off the water flowing through the canals. From the booth of a Japanese-style restaurant, Sonic, Tails, and Chris could see the firework show, all while dining on what passed as 'authentic' Japanese cuisine. The interior utilized a faux-Japanese design, with plenty of bamboo wood and Japanese artwork hanging on the walls. It was fortunate that the people of Soleanna accepted Mobiums, otherwise they'd have been forced to chow down on MREs.
"When do you suppose the festival will start?" Chris asked, finishing off the last of his Miso Soup.
"Uh...maybe we should consider leaving soon," Tails suggested.
"I suppose you're right," Sonic admitted, swirling the green tea in his cup, "Where'd that waitress go?"
There were surprisingly few diners within the restaurant, the sound of utensils and hushed conversations mixing with the soft music that emerged from a hidden speaker.
"Will you be needing anything else?" the waitress asked, approaching their table.
"Just the bill please," Sonic stated.
"I'll be back in just a moment," she said, turning and heading for the counter.
She returned several minutes later with their bill, placing it on the table so she could attent to another costumer. Pooling the Mobiums that they had between the two of them, Sonic and Tails were able to pay for the meal, while leaving a more then adequate tip for their waitress. The trio emerged from the restaurant to the cool night air, making their way through the crowd towards the waterfront. The fireworks ceased as soon as they reached their destination and they watched as an elegant looking gondola with six oars on either side emerging from beneath one of the bridges. A young woman stood on the bow of the gondola, dressed in a white gown that was adorned with gold and silk that reached her knees, a large necklace with diamonds set in it, long white gloves that reached her forearms, red heels, and feather clips in her fiery-red hair. She waved to the crowds of people that had gathered in the streets for the beginning of Soleanna's Sun Festival.
"She's beautiful," Chris commented, "Is that Princess Elise?"
Neither Sonic nor Tails said anything as they watched the gondola docked at the central platform and allowed the princess to disembark and approached a priest who stood at attention with two brown robed guards. She bowed to the priest and was handed a lit torch by one of her two red robed female bodyguards and stared into the flame her light blue eyes as he had another one of her visions. She floated high and watched much to her horror as the entire city of Soleanna was suddenly engulfed in flames.
"Miss Elise?" asked one of her bodyguards, bringing the princess out of her daze.
"It…it's alright," she replied before bowing to the priest in front of her.
"We give thanks for the blessed flame, may we always continue to have piece," Elise said aloud, "Sun of Soleanna, guide and watch over us with your eternal light…"
The princess approached the Alter of Flame that was located in the center of the platform and used the torch to ignite the tinder within a dish causing the flames to rush up along to another dish located higher on the platform to ignite. Fireworks resumed as Elise turned and waved to the crowd when suddenly missiles impacted the platform and buildings causing the crowd to erupt in screams including the princess as the Egg Carrier appeared over the city. Panic erupted throughout the city as the bottom of the ship opened and several Egg Gunners dropped down onto the platform surrounding the Princess and the guards with her as a hovering platform descended from the sky and hovered near the princess revealing the sinister scientist Dr. Eggman who bowed before her before straightening himself. He was dressed in a red jacket with yellow cuffs; a portion of it having been pinned back revealing the underside to be yellow. He wore gray pants and polished black boots, while a small device was attached to his right arm, held in place by a pair of steel rings.
"Eggman," Sonic snarled "What's he doing here?"
"A pleasure to meet you at last, Princess of Soleanna," Robotnik said, "I am Doctor Eggman, I've come here to annex your kingdom and make it a part of the Eggman Empire. Resistance is futile. You will submit to my rule or be swept away like dust bunnies! Now princess…this way…please."
"Chris, stay with Tails," the hedgehog ordered, leaping over the canal.
Elise took several steps back away from Dr. Eggman as the four guards present on the platform attempted to protect her from harm. Slowly the wind began to pick up spinning around the platform going faster and faster until stopping completely.
"My…that's a pretty snazzy performance there," Sonic said appearing on top of the now extinguished Alter of Flame.
"You…it can't be," Elise said recognizing the Mobian, but unsure where she had seen him.
The robots suddenly opened fire on the hedgehog who leapt off of the dish and attacked one robot with a homing attack, then another, and another until only one remained as Sonic raced towards it and kicked it off of the platform and into the water below.
"I'm Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog," he said racing over to the princess and scooping her up in his arms and leaping off of the platform.
"Not that irritating hedgehog again," Robotnik yelled, "ATTACK!"
Several more robots arrived on the scene immediately targeted the hedgehog and launched a barrage of missiles at him that impacted the now deserted streets of the city before Sonic escaped into the night.
"Um, why are you helping me?" Elise asked after several minutes.
"No special reason," Sonic said leaping over to a canal and onto another street and continued running.
"SONIC!" Elise warned as five of Eggman's robots landed in the streets.
Sonic put Elise down on her feet as raced towards one of the robots and planted his feet into its chest knocking it over and leapt into the air as another robot fired it's Vulcan Cannon but caught another robot in its line of fire as Sonic took out the remaining three with a homing attack before landing on his feet.
Elise's screams caused the blue hedgehog to turn around and see that the Princess was captured in one of the mechanical arms of Robotnik hover platform.
"Enough games hedgehog. I'll be taking the princess with me, you wouldn't put her life at risk would you?" asked Eggman.
"Whatever you're planning it isn't going to work," warned Sonic.
"Sonic!" Elise cried out.
"Don't worry, I'll save you," Sonic said looking directly at the Princess.
"I know."
The platform slowly began to rise higher into the air as a section of the Egg Carrier opened and Eggman's platform vanished into the bottom as it flew off towards the distance.
