Cry Freedom!
(Theme song - Pokemon Journeys: The Series (Season 23) - English Dub Opening)
(Sonic's POV)
*After I left the hospital, I went to Freedom HQ & sat down on the couch on the living room. I then thought back to something Scourge had said to me once*
(Flashback - Third-Person POV)
Scourge: And it's not the Fiona thing or that I'm better looking. It's that all it takes is one bad day, and you'd be just like me.
*Just then, Amy & Tails ran in*
Tails: Sonic! Are y - There he is! We've been looking all over for you! Sally's been roboticized, the whole city's lost their minds, and Antoine's in a coma! The team's falling apart!
Sonic: "Falling apart"? Dude, the Doc beat us. Naugus is the Royal Wizard again. The Freedom Fighters are done, so . . .
*Amy then hit my shoe*
Amy: Cut it out! We don't have time for those kinds of jokes!
Tails: Because you are joking, right? Because you'd never quit, especially when your friends need you most - right? We didn't learn to be Freedom Fighters from just anyone, y'know.
Amy: You didn't quit when you got arrested. You didn't quit when Robotnik came back. You don't quit when we lost Old Mobotropolis or our families or any other time! So get up! We've got Freedom Fighters to save!
Sonic: You're right, Amy. I'm not going to let it all get to me. And it's good to know you two are still in this all the way. What I was going to say, is we lost the old F.F., so we've got to come up with something new. We're going to have to seriously brain-storm. Though we're in rough shape, and we've got a lot on our plate right now.
Rotor:*off-screen* We hate to pile it on . . . *we all turned around & saw Rotor & Bunnie standing at the door**on-screen* But it just got worse today.
Bunnie: We just heard that Nicole has been temporarily suspended from the city's systems.
Amy: What!?
Tails: You mean my M . . . She voted for this!?
Rotor: I just finished touching up our server for her here to give her a little more "room", I wish it was as sophisticated as her handheld form, but . . .
Sonic: One step at a time, Rote.
Rotor: Right. Except with just the six of us. We can't keep watch over the city and chase Doctor Eggman. Like you said - we have to come up with something new.
Sonic: I think I may already have an idea. We just need to find Abby and we're all set.
Nicole:*off-screen* Yeah, about that. *Nicole suddenly appeared as a mini hologram in Amy's holographic wristwatch**on-screen* Apparently, she's locked herself in her bedroom at home and refuses to come out.
Bunnie: What? Why?
Nicole: I don't know. I've asked her Mother, but she didn't give me a straight answer. Apparently, Abby just ran up to her room and locked the door as soon as she came home. She didn't even eat lunch, which was grilled cheese sandwiches, her favorite.
*I face-palmed*
Sonic: Oh, man. I was afraid this would happen.
Rotor: What would happen?
Sonic: You guys remember when Julie-Su blamed her for Knuckles turning into Enerjak?
Tails: Yeah. Abby started thinking about quiting the team.
Sonic: Well, now she probably thinks that we blame her for what happened to Sally and Antoine.
All: WHAT!?
Amy: Where did she get that ridiculous idea!?
Sonic: Who knows. Right now, let's go to her house and talk some sense into her.
*We all left the HQ & ran straight for Abby's house*
(Abigail's POV)
*I sat on my bed, wrapped in my blankets & curled up in a ball. Huck sat in front of me, looking sad. Just then, I heard a knock at my door*
Laura:*off-screen* Sweetie. Your friends are here to see you.
Abigail: Tell them to go away. I don't want to see them.
Laura:*off-screen* But, Sweetheart . . .
Abigail: I said I don't want to see them! *I then heard her footsteps walking away. A few minutes later, I heard a faster set of footsteps coming up the stairs & then . . .*
CRASH!
*A familiar blue ball of spikes came crashing through my bedroom door, destroying it. Sonic then yanked at my blankets, causing me to fall to the floor. The rest of my "friends" came up right behind him*
Abigail: Sonic! Didn't you hear my Mom!? I said -
Sonic: Abby! Will you stop being so stubborn and just listen! We don't blame you for what happened to Sally or Antoine!
*I was surprised when I heard that*
Abigail: Y - You don't?
*Bunnie & Amy then bent down & hugged me as I sat on my bedroom floor*
Bunnie: Of course we don't, Abby-Girl.
Amy: We never did.
Rotor: You weren't the one who built that Roboticizer.
Tails: Or the one who ordered Sally to attack us yesterday.
Abigail. But . . . My visions . . . With them, I could have . . .
Sonic: Visions, Shmisions. Abby, bad things can and always will happen. We've all had to learn the hard way that life never goes the way we want it to. And besides, sure your visions have helped up turn the tide of a few battles, but they're not the reason we made you a part of this team. We all agreed to make you a member of the Freedom Fighters because we all saw how you risked your life to save the people you care about. And that's one of the many things a true Freedom Fighter must always be willing to sacrifice.
*I was completely silent for a few minutes, but then I cried happy tears*
Abigail: Thanks Sonic. *I stood up* I'm sorry for acting so stubborn. I was afraid you guys would be mad at me just like Julie-Su was during the whole Enerjak fiasco.
Rotor: Forget about it. We've all had a rough couple of weeks.
*Amy hugged me*
Amy: And we could never be mad a you.
Abigail: Glad to hear it. So, what are we gonna do now?
Sonic: I've already got a plan. We just need to talk to the Council first.
*Later, me, Sonic, & Rotor were standing in front of the Council of Acorn*
Sonic: . . . And since the old Freedom Fighter formula won't cut it, we want to split into two teams. I'll lead the first one, hunt down ol' Buttnik, and rescue Sally.
Ixis Naugus: There is no need for these teams, Quickster. I protect this city. Motion denied.
*The King glared at him*
Rosemary: We vote on motions here, Naugus. All in favor of the formation of the new teams?
Dylan: Yea.
Hamlin: I like that you went through the proper channels this time. Yea.
Rosemary: Yea.
King Nigel Acorn: If it means getting my daughter back, it's worth a shot. Yea.
Penelope: Yea.
Uncle Chuck: It never hurts to have back-up, Naugus. Yea.
Isabella: Yea.
Ixis Naugus: If such is the will of the Council . . . The motion carries.
Dylan: Who will stay behind and be on your team, Rotor?
Rotor: Actually, Tails is helping me bring two former Chaotix out of "retirement" to join Team Freedom first. Bunnie is joining my team as well so she can stay close to Antoine. Then I plan on holding a recruitment drive here in the city.
Uncle Chuck: "Team Freedom," hmm? And what about you, Sonny Boy?
Sonic: I'm taking Amy, Tails, & Abby for my team. We'll travel light, hit hard 'n' fast, bring some hope to Mobius. And as you probably guessed, we're calling ourselves . . .
(Third-Person POV)
*Later that day, in a town called Furville, the citizens were running for their lives as the Death Egg appeared in the sky above & Egg Pawns swarmed the town*
Dr. Eggman:*through speakers* Your attention, please! Everyone in this town is now the property of the Eggman Empire! Resistance will be met with mocking laughter and violence, not necessarily in that order!
*Up in the Death Egg, was sitting in his Eggmobile as he watched the terror unfold below. Orbot was holding a mirophone & Cubot had a tray, with a cup of coffee & a sugar bowl on it, on his head*
Dr. Eggman: Victims will be roboticized and made into my tireless thankless slaves. Those with pesky immunity will be Legionized, conscripted into my army and used hunt down their loved ones. If you have a preference, please inform the Egg Swats as they beat you into submission! *he laughed his maniacal laugh* AAAAnd out! That will do for now!
Orbot: ABOUT THAT "IMMUNITY", BOSS - I THOUGHT YOU TOOK CARE OF IT WITH THE COSMIC RESET BUTTON?
Dr. Eggman: No, unfortunately. Thanks to those meddling aliens, half the planet is still immune to my Roboticizer. But that still leaves plenty to subjugate!
Cubot: YEAH . . . ISN'T THE ROBOTICIZER BUSTED?
*Eggman took a sip from his coffee*
Orbot: INDEED. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE DANGEROUSLY LOW ON FUEL AND SUPPLIES AFTER OUT RECENT OUTINGS. WHY ARE WE MAKING A DETOUR ON OUR WAY TO THE SHAZAMAZON BASE?
*Eggman slammed his cup back on the tray*
Dr. Eggman: Firstly, I'll get around to fixing the Roboticizer. They can rot in prison eggs until then. Secondly, Furville managed to survive one attack already, and I won't stand for such an insult. And most import - it's one of the largest settlements on the continent. With New Mobotropolis surviving multiple attacks, I have to make an example out of somewhere to crush any insipid "hope". I don't need any new heroes showing up now that the Freedom Fighters have been broken.
*Down below, some of the citizens tried to sneak away from the Egg Pawns*
Mobian: Which way do we go?
Mobian #2: This way! We'll slip out along the edge of town and -
*Just as they left the alleyway, they ran into an Egg Pawn*
Egg Pawn: TARGETS REQUIRED!
*One of the Mobians jumped on the Egg Pawn, trying to distract it*
Mobian #2: Go! Go!
*The other Mobians tried to crawl under the Egg Pawn, but Mecha Sally grabbed one of them by his foot*
Mecha Sally: ALL WILL SERVE THE MASTER.
*The army of Egg Pawns attacked the village without mercy. Citizen were captured & put in Egg Prisons. Mecha Sally gave orders to the Egg Pawns*
*Back in the Death Egg, Eggman was grinning wickedly*
Orbot: SEARCH TEAMS REPORT 70% OF THE CITIZENS DETAINED. RESISTANCE IS LESS THAN EXPECTED.
Dr. Eggman: And with no Freedom Fighters getting in the way for once . . . How . . . Refreshing.
(Third-Person POV)
Jem & The Holograms - To The Rescue - YouTube
*Just as an Egg Pawn was carrying two Mobians to an Egg Prison, an spiky blue ball came zooming in, taking off the Egg Pawn's head. Amy hit the top of tan Egg Prison with her hammer, Tails dropped bombs on the Egg Pawns, Abigail sliced off the head of one of Egg Pawns with her hook swords, & Huck led some of the citizens to safety*
(Abigail's POV)
Amy: Sorry we're running so late, everyone!
Sonic: You're in good hands now. Just leave everything to Team Fighters!
(Third-Person POV)
*Up in the Death Egg, Eggman was shocked. Orbot pulled the mirophone back out*
Dr. Eggman: Wha - !? N - !? That's not fair!
(Abigail's POV)
Dr. Eggman:*through speakers* How many more of your friends do I need to destroy before you give up, Rodent!?
Sonic: I won't give up until I've saved everyone you've captured! I'll never stop until I've honored the sacrifices of everyone who's fallen along the way! And I won't be through until I've kicked your flabby behind once and for all! *he destroyed one of the Egg Pawns* So just keep pushin' me, Doc! I'll push back!
*Mecha Sally appeared in front of him, arm swords at the ready*
Mecha Sally: BIG TALK. BUT ONLY TALK. SURRENDER TO THE MASTER.
Sonic: Sorry, Sal . . . *he hit her with a spin dash* But I can't pull my punches with you! It's like how you pulled out all the stops when I got roboticized. "Course I was a way cooler robot . . .
Abigail: Sonic? less banter, more saving people, please?
*Sonic dodged an attack from Mecha Sally*
Sonic: Would you quit nagging me? Sal is leading the ground troops! I am saving folks!
Abigail: I'm not nagging!
*I blocked an attack from Sally's swords with my own*
Mobian: Come on! If the four of them can fight for our homes, so can we!
*He, along a bunch of citizens, attacked the Egg Pawns*
Tails: Yeah! That's the way to do it!
(Third-Person POV)
*Up in the Death Egg, Eggman was getting angry*
Orbot: WE'RE RAPIDLY LOSING PRISONERS AND GROUND FORCES, BOSS. BY MY ESTIMATE, IF WE LEAVE NOW WE'LL HAVE JUST ENOUGH POWER TO ESCAPE AND REFUEL IN -
Dr. Eggman: Fine!
*He hit the tray that was on Cubot's head, knocking it off*
Cubot: FINALLY! I'M FREE!
Dr. Eggman: Full retreat! Bring in Mecha Sally, but leave the Egg Swats to cover us!
(Abigail's POV)
*Just then, Sally flew away*
Mecha Sally: ORDER RECEIVED. RETURNING TO BASE FOR SHAZAMAZON OBJECTIVE.
Sonic: Oh, no you don't! You're getting rescued whether you like it or not! *he was about to jump after he, but an Egg Pawn caught his foot* GAK! Tails! Bring her down!
*Tails got ready to aim missiles at Sally*
Mecha Sally: ALL GROUND UNITS, PROVIDE COVER FIRE ST THESE COORDINATES IN THREE, TWO . . . *The remaining Egg Pawns shot lasers at the Tornado while Sally escaped to the Death Egg* ONE RETURNING TO BASE.
Tails:*through the wristwatch* It's no good, Sonic. They're getting away!
Sonic: Don't sweat it. I heard where they're headed. You'll remember the place. Now help us finish last of the robots. The sooner we save Furville, the sooner we can move on.
Tails:*through the wristwatch* Roger that!
*Amy & I finished off two more Egg Pawns*
Amy: Whew! That's most of 'em. The citizens are really helping out.
Sonic: Yep. All they needed was a little inspiration from the right heroes. Bet I can take out more stragglers than you two can!
Abigail: You're on!
Huckleberry: Chao-Chao!
(Third-Person POV)
*Meanwhile, back in New Mobotropolis, a crowd had gathered in front of the Civic Center. On the front was a banner that said "Team Freedom Recruitment! Serve your city today!"*
(Lacey's POV)
Rotor: Citizens of New Mobotropolis and Knotehole! After considering all the volunteers (all two of them), we present your defenders of freedom at home . . . Team Freedom!
Cream: Hello, everyone! We'll do our best!
*Big just waved to the crowd. Among the crowd was Rosie & Vanilla, who was holding Tails Doll*
Rosie: I have to admit, Vanilla, I'm surprised you'd allow this. You weren't very pleased the last time Cream had a little . . . ERM . . . Adventure.
Vanilla: I know. I'm used to a quiet life, Rosie, and I want my daughter safe. But at the same time, Cream could never pass by the opportunity to help. Princess Sally once said Cream has the potential to be a great hero and I believe her. This way, she can close to me. After all, the children in your care turned out quite extraordinary!
Rosie: Aye, my little charges have saved the world dozens of times over. I'm sure yours has just brave a heart.
*I stood in the crowd with my family. My parents. looking at me nervously*
Peter: Are you really sure you want to do this, pumpkin?
Lacey: Yes. Like I explained last night during dinner. I'm tired of sitting on the side lines. I want to help Abby protect our home.
Peter: But . . .
*Mother grabbed his arm*
Jane: Honey, think of it this way. At least she's going to be close to home and don't forget, Abigail has been teaching her martial arts since they were young.
*Daddy was quiet for a few seconds. Then he sighed*
Peter: You have a point there. *he looked at me* Just promise you'll be careful.
*I smiled & hugged my Daddy*
Lacey: Thank you, Daddy!
Johnny: Wow! Our big sister's going to be a super hero!
Benny: Wait till I tell everyone at school!
Travis: You're the coolest big sister ever!
Lacey: Aw, thanks Tweebs.
?:*off-screen* Hey, don't forget about us.
*I turned to my right & Zeke, Nathan, & Mason (the Plus Ultra Squad) in front of me, in their signature pose*
Note: See Chapter 27 if you forgot it.
Lacey: What are you guys doing here?
Zeke: Like you, we're signing up to join Team Freedom.
Nathan: It's time for us to join the fight and protect our home and families.
Mason: And smash a few bad guys while we're at it.
Lacey: Yeah . . . And so you're not joining just to impress Abby?
*Zeke's face turned red*
Zeke: N-No! Of course not!
Lacey: Uh-huh. Sure . . .
*Suddenly, Naugus, the "Royal Wizard", appeared*
Ixis Naugus: So these will be our defenders should the Doctor attack with unyielding steel and uncaring fire? You'd defend us with Badnicks. Two who have attacked you in the past?
Heavy: SALUTATIONS. WE ARE HAPPY TO RETURN TO SERVICE.
Bomb: PING!
Rotor: Just as you fought us before? Heavy and Bomb rebelled against Doctor first. Tails and I covered their primary cores and rebuilt them.
Ixis Naugus: The rest of the citizens believe I am enough to protect them! Those who don't are - what? This child and this simpleton.
Big: My name is "Big".
Ixis Naugus: PFFT. Of course it is. Tell these well-meaning misguided few they are unneeded. My people, the Royal Wizard is all you need!
Bunnie: We are sanctioned by the Council and are here to help! One man can't protect all of New Mobotropolis.
Rotor: He couldn't stop the Battle Bird Armada from attacking the city! And it's thanks to Nicole that it's still standing!
Ixis Naugus: Your words border on treason, Walrus. *suddenly, the Civic Center started to collapse. people screamed & ran away* Shut up! Shut up! Let me work! We'll all be crushed - !
Rotor: Heavy! Big! Catch the Civic Center!
*Big & Heavy held up the falling structure*
Big: Okay!
Rotor: Cream! Start sir-lifting people to safety!
Cream: Right away, sir!
*Rosie pulled Vanilla away*
Vanilla: Be careful, dear!
Lacey: Come on, you three! We've gotta help!
*Me, Zeke, Nathan, & Mason all ran towards the building to help people evacuate the building*
Rotor: Cheese, throw Bomb towards the collapsing roof. Bomb, I need a blast to reduce the rubble and blow it back, got it!
Cheese: Chao!
Bomb: PING!
Rotor: Bunnie, help Bomb with a laser blast!
Bunnie: You got it, Sugar!
Rotor: Good! On my mark! Three - two - one -
*Bunnie shot a laser from her hand at the roof as Bomb exploded, minimizing the damage. The crowd cheered*
Ixis Naugus: Now do you see what you've done? You've ruined everything!
Lacey: Excuse me?
Ixis Naugus: Nothing! Just . . . Talking to myselves. Myself! Behold! Nicole has betrayed us again!
Rotor: Nicole's not here! If anything, she would've prevented this glitch before it happened! We can rebuild, but it would be faster & more efficient if she was still with us!
Ixis Naugus: Then I will investigate the earth beneath.
*The crowd cheered again. I watched Naugus walk away, a creepy smile on his face & drool dripping from his mouth. I better keep an eye on him for Abby's sake*