a/n: Shorter than the last few, but felt just as long for me. Now with 125% more drama. I believe I told a certain someone that this was going to be about 50 chapters at most…yeah. Not happening. But hey, that just means more for y'all to read, so everyone wins. Well, I think.
Thanks for all the support, and happy reading.
Eggman was waiting.
He sat inside of his newest machine, inside of a closed-off room. The only entrance was through the air vent on the ceiling, and he made sure of it by way of several tests. Anyone who came down that ventilation shaft was trapped with him.
Including that wretched hedgehog.
The doctor's latest 'toy' was simple in its design. An aerodynamic, bullet-shaped profile with two floating rings circling it, one on the front end and another on the back end. They rotated slowly in opposite directions as the machine hovered above the ground, idling as it waited for its opponent to arrive.
Eggman rested his arms on the dashboard, the cockpit opened for the moment. He stared at the far wall, meditating. Thinking about the possible scenarios in his head, how far and how quickly the hedgehog could move in a certain space. He wanted to believe that formulas and theorems would work one day against Sonic, but it seemed to be a pipe dream. If it were about reaching a speed, or a level of acceleration, it might have been possible. There were ways to ground the hedgehog, make him slow down. That wasn't the problem. It wasn't that he was fast. It was that he was good at being fast.
There were many instances where he would rely on instinct and create near misses out of direct hits. He'd brake for a split second to get behind you. He'd launch himself forward at just the right spot to overtake you. He'd accelerate by exactly one step to foul up your precise calculations. Every slope, every incline, every drop and visible gap…he would use them to his advantage, no matter what the situation. Crossing large stretches of land with ease, using lead pipes as rails, and all manner of absurd things…if it was even remotely conceivable, he was capable of it.
But here…he would be limited. He needed to be limited enough so that the doctor could gain the advantage. The room was too tight for him to have room to breathe. He had to be on the defensive this time.
Sonic dropped down from the vent at last, the grate crushed underneath his feet. He stared down Eggman as the latter closed his cockpit, preparing for battle.
"I'll make sure to kill you where you stand, Robotnik."
The scientist simply grunted at his nemesis' remark, though he felt extremely uneasy about the hedgehog's demeanour. It was…much darker than he had remembered. And he certainly didn't hand out death threats, even in his darkest hours.
"Whatever your game," Eggman said, feigning indifference, "if you're stupid enough to get in my way, you'll be crushed. It matters not who you are."
"…"
"But don't worry, my friend. I'll be sure to put you out of your misery…just like that little hedgehog."
"That…little hedgehog…?"
Sonic felt himself shaking with rage, the memories coming back to the surface in a torrent.
"Just like…that…hedgehog? You…you bastard. Her name…her name…!"
"Hm?"
"Her name was AMY!"
The machine shook violently at Sonic's roar, the walls vibrating with horrible screeches. A black aura streamed off of the hedgehog's body like a sheet of flame, billowing behind him.
"You…you've really gone this far, hedgehog. So be it…this will be our last fight. Today…destiny will be decided!"
"Shut your mouth! Your only future is death, fat man!"
"Come, then! Show me the future, if you dare!"
Eggman's hands blurred as they flew across the control panel in front of him, ion thrusters moving to full throttle and firing with reckless abandon. The machine shot across the room in a flash, aiming for Sonic and missing as he slid under it to safety. The hedgehog ran for the far wall and jumped off of it towards Eggman, his eyes void of emotion as he shot forward. A shell of black wind formed around him as he slammed into the machine, their momentum cancelling each other out.
The doctor input another sequence of commands, the ground ahead of him glowing white. The machine somehow shot forward at an even faster pace, catching Sonic off-guard and slamming into him. Before he could recover, the machine had created another pathway and shot down it, slamming into Sonic again before he could land on his feet.
Ion thrusters pulsed again, and the machine went into reverse to hit Sonic once more. The hedgehog bounced across the room, unable to see that the machine had moved in a lateral burst to get into position. He screamed as Eggman rammed him in the back, slamming him face-first into the far wall.
The doctor took a moment to ridicule his foe, a smile on his face as the hedgehog stirred slowly.
"Introducing my newest creation…the Egg Impulse."
Sonic cracked his neck and stood up, his dark eyes boring through Eggman's goggles.
"Bring all the eggs you want. I'll scramble them, and then I'll scramble you, egg-head."
He's taken damage like this before, but…this time, he just shrugged it off completely. This form…what is it? Although his propensity for horrible puns has not diminished, unfortunately…
"Just try it, you blue runt."
Sonic tensed his legs before shooting forward, drifting around the machine as he read its movements. He rammed himself head-first into the side of it, tilting it for a split second. Eggman moved like lightning, creating another accelerated pathway to escape down. Sonic read the move and bounded off of a corner before shooting towards the machine, a shell of red energy following him.
Eggman shot away in the nick of time, scrambling to the other side and shooting forward again as Sonic slammed into the wall, the force of his Chaos Boost leaving it severely dented. He felt the fur on his back stand on end as Eggman neared, and he performed a backflip to evade the machine. Eggman had the Impulse go into a quick spin before bursting back the other way towards the hedgehog. Sonic jumped on reflex and came down with an Earthquake Stomp, slamming the machine to the floor as it skidded on its floating rings.
The scientist threw the machine into a violent spin, tossing Sonic off as it locked onto him. In a flash, it had slammed into him again, sending him across the floor. Eggman made the machine jump in midair before directing it downwards on its nose, intending to squash Sonic like a bug. The hedgehog recovered at the last moment and kicked off of the machine back into the nearby wall. He lowered a shoulder and unleashed another Chaos Boost, ramming it hard and sending Eggman into the back wall, the Egg Impulse whirring as it repaired the damage to its back end.
"Fading…c-can't be fading…I have to…I need this! He took my friends away!"
Arcs of black energy jumped over Sonic's body, his breathing getting heavier with each passing moment.
"H-he…killed her! I have to…have to destroy him! I have to kill him! This is the only way!"
Who was fighting him? Who…? He had to kill Robotnik! Amy was dead because of him!
This isn't the way. She wouldn't want this.
"Shut up!"
Don't you remember the last time? She was crying…for you. You can't do it this way. You won't win.
"I will…I will…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
Sonic's quills were starting to stand on end, the overwhelming energy starting to pour from his body. Eggman growled and pushed the Egg Impluse to full throttle.
He was too slow.
Even at the machine's incredible speeds, Sonic's reaction was too quick. He threw a punch at the cockpit window, cracking it in every direction. Eggman did a barrel roll, hoping to throw him off again, but Sonic simply overpowered the machine's thrust and flipped the other way at an even faster rate. Eggman's high-speed gyratory stabilizers couldn't handle the speed and started to fail, throwing the doctor's equilibrium into chaos.
Sonic grabbed the machine, arresting its spin before slamming it into the ground, the floating rings shattering to pieces from the impact. His hands dug into the steel frame and tore it apart. He punched through the cockpit glass and grabbed Eggman, throwing him into the wall viciously.
The doctor got up slowly, only to be kicked into the nearby wall by his nemesis. Sonic rushed over to the fallen man and turned him over, punching him in the face repeatedly. His fist became a blur of red and white as the scientist bled, Sonic turning his head into a speedball as it met his fist again and again.
"Sonic! Stop!"
He ignored the voice, instead continuing to beat down on Eggman as he cried out in pain. Espio continued to yell at him, seeing no change in the situation. The human's blood was flying out with each punch…he knew there was only one way. Only one solution.
Espio threw a pair of kunai at Sonic, forcing him to drop the bleeding doctor to catch them. In a flash, he threw them back at a vicious speed, puncturing the chameleon's arm guards and piercing his flesh.
"It's done…"
Sonic watched his world go black as he fell to the ground, two senbon stuck in his throat.
For all intents and purposes…he was dead.
Dead, but not beyond salvation.
The shinobi walked up to his comrade, placing two fingers on his neck for a pulse. Nothing. The needles had done their jobs…now he simply needed to get some sort of help in time. He looked at Eggman, lying motionless on the floor.
"…"
He threw Sonic over his shoulder and leapt back up into the vent, scaling it with expertise as he held the hedgehog by one hand.
A loud boom sounded down the shaft, and he emerged at the top to find himself in the control room. A battered Mighty shook out his hand as the prison around the hedgehog girl fell.
"Luna, I'm guessing?"
She nodded, giving the armadillo a hug.
"Uh…you're welcome. Friendly, isn't she?" he said to Espio.
"Indeed," he replied, pulling the shuriken out of his hands. He wrapped bandages around the wounds before putting his gloves back on, flexing his hands.
"What happened to…Sonic? Why are there-"
"He's dead."
"What?"
"Temporarily," Espio added. "Though if we take too long, it will be permanent…"
"So let's get the hell out of here!"
The three heard a noise coming from the other side of the room. Emerging from the shadows was a red robot, the same red robot that had been tormenting them for the past few days.
"Knuckles?"
"No," Espio said with realization. "Metal Knuckles."
The robot was sleek looking, arms made like metal wings to catch air when gliding, yet with enough flexibility to bend when needed. Sharp, diamond-edged claws stuck out like blades on each hand. A metal suit protected it like a jacket, preventing damage to the internal system. The overdriven jet engine at its back roared loudly.
"Sweet mother of Chaos…we're screwed."
Espio shared the same sentiments, even as he drew a kunai and stood in front of Luna protectively. The robot shot forward at an insane speed, red eyes glowing in a sinister way.
And it was suddenly that he arrived.
In a burst of crimson light, Shadow the Hedgehog slammed into Metal Knuckles, sending the robot straight through the main computer and several of the rooms behind it.
His eyes flashed, and he wasted no more time. With a snap of his fingers, he had Amy, Tails, and Vector appear around him. He tossed a green Chaos Emerald to the girl and barked out orders.
"All of them! Chaos Control! Now! Prower, third computer from your right, move it! Espio, back me up!"
Amy focused with all she could muster, the Emerald's energy starting to swirl around her.
"So help me, Rose…if you don't move your sorry ass-"
"Chaos Control!"
In a flash, Mighty, Vector, Luna, and Sonic disappeared along with Amy. She returned a moment later, panting.
"Tails, before I lose my nerve…!"
"Dammit, move your behind, boy! I can't guarantee your safety!" Shadow yelled.
"Got it! Amy, turn n' burn!"
"No need to remind me…Chaos Control!"
The two disappeared a moment later as Shadow threw a barrage of Chaos Spears at the approaching machine.
"Eggman?" the hedgehog asked as the dust started to settle.
"Incapacitated."
"The other hostage?"
"No sign of him."
"Fine…here we go."
Espio readied his shuriken, while pulses of energy crackled in Shadow's hands.
Flames illuminated the far end of the building as a jet engine cut through the silence with a roar.
The machine was ready.
It charged.