Rough Sonic Riders
Episode 10: The Highway In The Plains!
Part 4a: The Resulting Rush

By the way, the real results are there in this chapter, as some other teams get their chance to have a bit of a civil discussion, like teams with one member really holding them back does!

...No, that's not how anything works? Honestly, this is just more about the teams than anything!

The Nega Villains were a little bit panicky about their own plan, as they obvious didn't lose this one, but the losers' final wasn't really too far away for this team of random villains from whatever dimension picked them up.

Eggman Nega was actually more than satisified at his result, as he went into the second-to-last round of races for his own team.

"Oooh, getting creative I see. No wonder you're holding this team back." Mephiles remarked, as he came off an a high third place.

"To be fair, it's not like you're the perfect picture of patience. I could fix that, but it might involve some head breaking punches." Zavok fired back.

"Is that a dare that I'm willing to take you up on? Because my head will break your fists first...literally."

"I don't intend of actually doing something that dangerous. You really need to calm down for being in third place...in this race and for the team."

"You're not even remotely creative, which is just plain sad."

"I don't know what you were expecting, you idiotic anomaly."

With Zavok and Mephiles just fighting back with each other for obvious reasons, thanks to some great banter about being sent into the losers' final, Eggman Nega wasn't really surprised anymore, as he was working on the gears for some incremental improvements in the race.

"...You know, I admire the fact that despite your...definite hatred of each other, you two and put that aside for a common goal of defeating that blue hedgehog...and getting wealth."

"And our reputations back in check!" Zavok boasted, as Mephiles was just rolling his eyes at the comment. "Seriously, we've been made fools out of."

"That's another common factor between all of us good friends." Eggman Nega said, just gathering all of them together.

"While I don't mind being with my own kind, these are worthy teammates."

"That's right! We'll conquer the world and some other places!"

With the solidarity that was just permeating within the other two members, Mephiles was just sighing...for ten seconds straight and did his own quip.

"I'm fine with tormenting Shadow and as for you two, I've got no reputation to repair." Mephiles boasted. "New life, old rules."

"Shut up, you idiot." Zavok growled at the crystalline Shadow-esque god, despite the fact he probably could be knocked out. "Anyways, for the team."

"For the team." Mephiles enthusiastically said, even for his state. "We've got a goal to achieve and a means of achieving it."

The Nega Villains were just being themselves, as these three may not have wanted to be together, but they were a solid team that was...still in the race and still a massive problem.

And finally, all three members of the Bygone Riders were not in the best mood, considering that they lost pretty hard for the most part and in this racetrack of equal all-stars and random front-runners.

Perci and Sticks were more than happy to do something that may be stupid, as Soar wasn't really surprised at the accusations.

"You're just slow because you're trying to get famous and then dip on us." Sticks stated. "Otherwise, what are you actually doing?"

"I'm telling you I'm not the best at doing this compared to everyone else. Plus, I've got a job." Soar stated nervously.

"You've got a problem of just losing. I doubt it's just because you're not good at this."

"Yeah, I'm good and the rest are amazing. That's kind of the problem here."

"...Look, I've got my eye on you."

Perci was just a little bit unsure of what to really say, as these two wouldn't budge on what they were doing and the bandicoot just said it anyways.

"What matters is that we're done! And I don't know why you're thinking of a theory to do it, when Soar isn't the best at riding." Perci just told the big muscular bird the obvious fact with a oddly monotone.

Soar wasn't really too surprised at this, as the badger was just throwing some kind of hand signal of disappointment.

"Come on, don't sugarcoat it."

"You're probably the least good out of everyone in this competition." Perci looked at the not angry bird. "Sorry, but you told me to do it."

Sticks just calmly shrugged, as Perci was just a little bit confused at what was going on.

"I worked my hardest to be in this competition! Heck, I worked when I didn't need to for this World Grand Prix!" Soar yelled, almost crying at this point. "Trust me, I've trained pretty hard."

Sticks and Perci knew that they lost and this time, Soar was just complaining about it pretty obviously, especially since that the same bird that was a very boastful when this craziness started.

Either way, this ended as awkwardly as it started, as there was bound to be a returning team from Bygone Island and two of them were more than happy to bring a bit of a comeback.

"Yeah, don't quit your day job, you shill." Sticks made a quip.

"I don't know why you're all like this!"

"...I don't know what's up with you. I'm just saying you're a boring cheater."

"That's...better, I guess. Anyways, I know that I'm not in incredibly good company, so anyways."

"Well, that went bad fast. Don't worry, Soar, I'm sure that spectating from the sidelines is good."

With the Bygone Riders producing an very productive conversation, the ceremony of the points-giving and random controversy was about to begin, as the four teams that were compelled to make their points count.

The four teams that were about to be standing on stage, as there was a podium of sorts, as the silver and gold-colour stages indicated that this trio was about to get down to the winners' finals and the bronze stage is for the team that was about to get into the losers' finals.

Some of them may have been a little bit more obvious than others, but there was bound to be some additional drama from the results of the competition.

"Welcome back to the results ceremony of the losers' semi-finals, where four of the best teams that we've picked for the competition have fought through the qualifiers, the first round and the quarter-finals and this time, they're tough, potentially deadly and determined to win!" Omochao announced, as the chao was happy to bring it on.

With four teams ready to take their places, as the Nega Villains, the Sonic Heroes, the Babylon Riders and the Bygone Riders were just set up for their special announcements.

"However, that means that one of these determined teams is going to go home unfortunate and in this crazy race, it could be anyone!"

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles looked determined to not lose.

"We had ground explosions, shoulder bashing, quick dodges, insane inside cornering, sudden speed-ups and even a little bit of troublesome teamwork in these country places!"

Jet, Wave and Storm were all looking self-assured.

"And to top it off, these teams really showed off their skills, wherever they were unique ones or just being good at riding! But it's the time again, where a team has to go!"

Mephiles just grunted, as Eggman Nega and Zavok were smiling with their mouth, which the crystal-like hedgehog didn't have.

"And to start things off, we start with the top spots, which despite being the most simple spot in this race, couldn't be more important to the teams!"

Perci was just a little more sweaty than usual, knowing what was about to happen.

"Jet leads with 30 points, but Sonic's not too far behind in second with 25 points for his team and Mephiles earns a solid 20 or so points for being third and Knuckles adds to Sonic's team total with 15 points for being in fourth!"

Sonic and Knuckles both made a knowing look towards each other, as know that they did good for their team.

Jet was just looking like that he was in the money, having a bit of a smirk.

"The real stars of the show are in the middle, ready to show off their own skills! Even then, there's a team that did really well and another that did better."

Tails wasn't looking too embarassed at the moment, as Zavok wasn't too scared of his position.

"Wave and Storm, respectively, have landed in fifth and sixth place respectively, earning their 12 and 10 points! Perci, the first of the Bygone Riders, earns 8 points for 7th! Tails earns 6 points for 8th!"

Tails was just trying to calculate pretty quickly, as knowing that there was going to be good stuff.

"And finally, the bottom...technically speaking, consists of four riders. Eggman Nega is 9th and earns 5 points this time...for his team. Sticks nails 3 points for her team, being in 10th. Zavok has added 2 points for being 11th and Soar has only a single point for being dead last."

Zavok just groaned at his position, as he knew that he could've done much better, but Eggman Nega had a certain calculated smirk that knew something else.

"To tally it up, the Sonic Heroes have 46 points to their name, the Bygone Riders have 10 points, the Nega Villains have 27 points for themselves and lastly and mostly, the Babylon Rogues has 52 points!"

Jet, Wave and Storm were just simply grinning at their competition, as Tails just wiped the sweat off.

"Yeah, two teams are moving onto the winners' finals, that being Sonic's speedy team and Jet's skilled team! And with the Nega Villains having 27 points...and moving onto the losers' finals and I'm sorry to say that, the Bygone Riders are out of the race with 10 points!"

Sticks were just giving an angry look towards Soar, who shared the same feeling for her, but Perci just sighed.

"I know I'm gonna miss them, but they did their best to represent their island! They're not the only ones representing their team, as The Lightning Bolts are from the same island and in the losers' finals! With Team Dark and The Nega Villains taking the other two spots...that match is going to be crazy!"

Sticks, Perci and Soar were remotely from the only ones that were excited about the competition, as the crowd was just going wild for these unexpected teams.

"However, Team Chaotix are now going to have to deal with the powerhouse teams of The Speed Heroes and The Babylon Riders and that's the winners' finals, which isn't going to be fun for the Chaotix."

The crowd was a lot more fired up than everyone, as they were expecting something big from the best of the best.

"This race is going to be a tough one to forget and all of the teams that are in this, but there's still three more races to go and the next two's locations are very confirmed!"

The crowd was wowed by the game that was still ahead of them, as the next two locations were still all new and all awesome to the race-goers.

"The winners' finals, which is in two weeks is going to take place in the famous and surprisingly tough Parkway Circle Circuit, which is tougher than you think and the losers' final, coming in four weeks is taking place in the Abandoned Trickhouse, taking place in a factory complex with a lot of ramps!"

An ominous lightning strike covered the fortress that had a special racetrack, probably one designed for the extreme riders in the teams.

"Then the Grand Finals will be taking three weeks after the losers' finals in the Fortress of the Forgiven, a tourist attraction and also, a imposing and long racetrack! We've got three matches left and they're all pretty spicy!"

Sonic and Jet were just giving each other the deadliest glares that they could, as the these three tracks were definitely a little bit brutal.

"Until we're in the park, this is Omochao signing off from the losers' semi-finals!" Omochao finished the broadcast, as the robotic chao was ready to do another one.

The four teams simply did their leave, as there was a whole lot of discussions happening.

To be continued in Part 4b, where some more frustrations are being voiced with all of the teams having some issues, just like every good team would!