30 Days of Sonic Prompt 27: Redemption
Media: Post-Reboot Archie Sonic the Hedgehog
Split Second Decision
"Oh, you wretched curs! As if I'll let you steal from me again!"
Those had been the brave words of King Nigel Acorn before the Hooligans attacked. He had been safeguarding a Chaos Emerald for his daughter, promising to do everything in his power to protect it from Eggman's clutches. But he hired the Hooligans to once again rob him, Nigel's failure at their hands a bruise upon his memories when his kingdom needed him most.
But while he had subdued Nack with a well-timed kick to the face, Bean had other ideas. He had thrown a bomb at Nigel that ignited at point-blank range. The pain had surged throughout his body as he slammed into the podium that held the Chaos Emerald. Glass had shattered around him, tiny shards falling onto his clothing and hair. Despite his spinning vision and smoke filling his lungs, he dismissed the agony burning in his back when a familiar voice shrieked.
"One of you better get the bloody emerald!" Nack shouted, dragging Nigel to reality.
Nigel squinted through the dark smog. A strong, bulky figure towered over him. In his mittened hand, he held the violet Chaos Emerald. Nigel's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the polar bear as the one who had delivered the finishing blow during their last encounter.
But although he tried to stand, Nigel doubled over. His lungs ached for clean air, the sulphuric scent poisoning him. Clapping his hand over his mouth, he struggled to breathe, his ring sword discarded by his side.
Bark observed him. He tilted his head, shuddering as another explosion burst behind him, and Nigel regretted defeating Nack first. Bark stood his guard, grinding down on his heels. Nack bellowed at Bean to cease over the noise ringing in Nigel's ears, and the king wearily raised his head, meeting Bark's narrowed gaze.
As his eyes stung, he snatched his sword and shoved it at Bark's neck. He made no move to cut through the thick fabric of his scarf, but it singed, a dark spot burning through it. He coughed and sputtered, his body craving oxygen, but through his hacking, he hissed for the Chaos Emerald.
"And if you don't-and if you don't give it to me, then I will have your head served to me on a-on a silver platter," he growled, his tongue shriveling at the smog entering his mouth.
Bark's expression did not betray his emotions. He stared at Nigel, then slowly moved his gaze to the blade by his throat. Bean's cackling and Nack's spluttering made no impact on him, even when the duck threw another bomb high above their heads that burst with another fiery explosion. Sparks danced around them, appearing brighter into the smog, but neither Hooligan nor king reacted to the intrusive flames pricking at their skin.
"The emerald, I won't-" Nigel choked and gnawed on his lower lip. "-let you steal it. My kingdom, oh, my kingdom will not f-fall to Eggman a second time."
Bark's brows furrowed. His grip tightened on the emerald, then loosened, his fingers parting like petals blooming on a flower. He tucked his head down, his ears flattening, and he screwed his eyes shut, baring his fangs in a scowl, Nigel wishing he knew what kind of thoughts waged war in his head.
Bark dropped the Chaos Emerald by their boots. Nigel's eyes widened, and he grimaced, the smoke searing his retinas. Tears welled in the corners of them, and he blinked them away, crouching to grab the emerald. Before Bark could steal it back, Nigel cradled it to his chest, retreating with quick hops to the rear exit of his throne room.
A thunderous boom filled his ears. He peered over his shoulder, dumbfounded to see Bark lying flat on his back. His arms splayed to the sides, and his tongue poked out of his mouth. It was an exaggerated pose completed with the shaking of a death rattle, the smoke parting in time for Nack and Bean to see their accomplice's dismal position.
"Bark's down? Bean, you idiot! All that smoke knocked him out! I told you to use one bomb as a smokescreen to cover for him!" Nack snarled, holding his bruised snout.
"Aw, c'mon! He's been through way more explosives than that! I bet kingy over there walloped real good him when he wasn't ready," Bean countered, juggling three lit bombs.
Nigel swallowed down his quips. Bean lunged at him, but he grabbed the door in time, swinging it open to connect with Bean's beak. As the duck yelped, dropping the bombs around him, Nigel slammed the door shut, yelping as it ricocheted into him, the explosions resounding in his throne room.
"Your Highness!" a voice down the hall called as he held his head.
Nigel raised his finger to the door barely hanging on by its hinges. The guards rushed past him when he shook his head, declining their aid. Breathing in deeply, the sounds of battle filling his throne room, he pressed his hand over his heart, sighing.
He couldn't fathom why Bark had surrendered as easily as he did. He could've crushed Nigel's head like a grape in the king's moment of weakness. As he replayed the scene again and again in his head, Nigel believed he had done nothing to earn Bark's sympathy, but for some reason unknown to him, Bark willingly returned the emerald and created the illusion of his loss.
Remorse? Regret? Nigel wondered, limping down the hallway. As the emerald glowed and the Marvelous Queen revved, he closed his eyes. Deciding to make himself a cup of tea, Nigel straightened his curved back, making a mental note to call his daughter. Perhaps, if anyone can persuade someone to leave Eggman's side and become an ally to our kingdom, it will be my Sally.
(While Nack raced away from the guards with Bean tossing bombs from his sidecar, Bark opened an eye to observe the Kingdom of Acorn, and he grinned to himself.)