Chapter 115: Heroes Unite - Part 2

Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, after being tortured by the Children of Ixis, Agatha was saved by her friends, Amy and Cream, and set off with them to save Silver and Gold. Once the group reunited, they steadied themselves to find the Children and stop them so they wouldn't be a threat later. Though the true mastermind was plotting behind the scenes as he watched this all unfold...

Starring:

Agatha the Cat - Ageless Scholar
Amy Rose - Leader of Team Rose
Cream the Rabbit - Cutest Rabbit
Silver the Hedgehog - Hero from the Future
Gold the Tenrec - Partner from the Future
Mephiles the Dark - Sinister Evil
Scorn the Cobra - Head of the Ixis

White Acropolis; Lab

*Within the not-so-secret lab that used to belong to Dr. Eggman, Jenni is seen studying the DNA acquired from Metallix after the brief fight with Shadow as well as a scan of Blaze the Cat on her computer. Nearby, Blaze was trying to escape her imprisonment by exploding her fire energy within the capsule bubble that was in.*

Jenni: "Give it a rest, you feline furball. My brother may be many things to me, but when it comes to traps, even I admit he has made perfection. Those capsules are strong enough to hold Sonic the Hedgehog, even if he tried burning them from the inside. No amount of internal force is going to pop them open."

Blaze: "You won't get away with this... Once Sally and Agatha find out we're captured-"

Jenni: "The chipmunk? Oh, she's drowned in the ocean by now, if not dead from her injuries from the missile I launched at her. And as for the other one... Well, if Shadow could not beat Metallix... What hope does some measly Mobian have?"

*Jenni starts making an analysis and comparison between Shadow's DNA and Blaze's.*

Jenni: "Interesting... From what I could gather based on a brain scan, you are from another dimension... One called 'Sol'. And yet, putting your DNA next to a Mobian DNA shows that you are in fact... One and the same... Which brings up a hypothetical question of how other Mobians exist in a dimension unlike our own?"

*Blaze looks on, admitting to being curious by that question as well, seeing as she had no knowledge of Mobius until she met Sonic.*

Jenni: "But that doesn't answer my biggest question... What makes you tick...?"

*Jenni approaches the bubble before staring down the cat. She then smiles before putting a hand on the bubble and letting loose a surge of electricity into it, causing Blaze to scream out before she lies on the floor. She is the popped out of the capsule and put on a table.*

Jenni: "Perhaps it is time to be a bit messy. See what really makes you-"

*Jenni is punched in the face by Blaze, the cat having faked being unconscious.*

Blaze: "Nice try, you psycho. But never underestimate a princess!"

*Jenni is kicked back by Blaze as alarms begin to set off. Blaze gets off the table and runs for the exit. But as she ran, she is headbutted by Metallix, knocking her to the ground.*

Blaze: "You... You must be..."

Jenni: "Metallix. Yes. And also my enforcer."

*Jenni walks in, two Shadowbots behind her. Blaze turns before igniting the fire on her hands.*

Blaze: "...Where is Elise?"

Jenni: "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Blaze: "Bad answer..."

*Blaze fires off a stream of fire at Jenni, aiming to burn her alive before turning to Metallix.*

Blaze: "I have no intentions of being merciful... You all hurt my friends... I will see to your destruction."

Metallix: "Big words, for a fleshy nobody like you. Also..."

*Blaze is sudden struck from behind, injuring her shoulder as she collapses to a knee.*

Metallix: "Don't turn your back to someone unless you are sure they are dead."

*Blaze turns to glare at Jenni, who had a Fire Shield over herself and her robots, which came from her gloves.*

Jenni: "An old device Ivo was working on. That and the Electric Shield. Quite fascinating, aren't they? Now...kill..."

*The robots begin to approach, encroaching Blaze as she seemed cornered. But she then starts melting the floor and falls through the hole she makes.*

Jenni: "What!? After her!"

Robots: "We obey."

*Metallix leaps down the hole first before the Shadowbots pursue. But they were too late as Blaze had seemingly vanished to them, though reality she had hid in the ventilation shaft.*

Blaze: 'Those robots won't be able to find me for a while... But I need to get out of here and find some help... Assuming they need Elise alive for...something...'

*Blaze begins to crawl through the shaft, being careful not to cause too much unneeded noise before finding a vent that was producing cool air. Peeking out, she sees the outside, a snowy white mountainous area, and a badnik seemingly patrolling with its light dimmed. She kicked the vent out and struck at the supposed enemy, flames at the ready.*

Soleanna Catacombs

*Two Children patrol the darkened halls of the catacombs, carrying lanterns with them as they search for possible intruders.*

Child A: "Ugh... This gig isn't worth the hassle. What are we supposed to do once we find the intruders? Fight?"

Child B: "That's the idea... Master Scorn wants us to beat them up..."

Child A: "Us nobodies versus a group of Freedom Fighters... Honestly, I'd have better luck fighting a cockroach..."

Child B: "Yeah... This job does suck..."

*As the two leave the area, Agatha and her group peek out from behind a pillar, watching their lantern light fade away.*

Agatha: "Hmm... Shame. We could have convinced them to leave if they hate being apart of this cult so much..."

Silver: "You think they'd listen? I mean... You're not exactly popular with them..."

Agatha: "Many of the poor souls here are those found on the streets that have run their lives to a stop. They look to the cult as a form of salvation... But I would like to think some are doing it because they couldn't find a better alternative... Providing them one would be our best bet."

Amy: "Hehe. Thinking of others first... That's our Aggy."

*The group came to a sanctum where a meeting with many of the Children of Ixis stood, with Master Scorn speaking to them.*

Scorn: "Brothers and sisters! The great Mogul may have been taken from us but his legacy continues through me... We shall hunt down the Forbidden One and take what she truly values! We shall rise in the name of Mogul and become all powerful!"

Agatha: "Not so fast, Scorn!"

*The crowd of cult members turn to Agatha's voice, seeing her stand at the entry way and enter.*

Scorn: "Forbidden One! So you've come at lassst... I mussst sssay... You have a lot of nerve to come here... Children! Capture her!"

Agatha: "Before you do, let me ask you this, Children of Ixis. Do you truly believe in the things Scorn says to you? The things he preaches? I know of what sort of person Mogul is best from the lot of you... You know him as a God... But he is blasphemy... A demon who plagues on the minds of the weak..."

*Agatha approaches a Child, who visibly flinches at her approach.*

Agatha: "Many years ago, I had let myself be fooled into his words, feeling there was no longer a world for me. I was a puppet to him... A mere toy he could do away with at any time... I hid in a veil of shadow, lost in the darkness... Living in a nightmare as I was cursed to forever watch the world move forward without me... Until one day... I met a hedgehog..."

*She places her hands on the hood of the Child and slowly removes their hood, seeing a blind mole underneath.*

Agatha: "And he helped me removed that veil... I began to feel...happy around him... Proud to be his friend... And resentful of my actions... I was a puppet no longer and fought back against my fears... And nightmares... And though I was sealed away, I never forgot what that hedgehog did for me... And how I could help the world... Children of Ixis! Do you not see? If I, a lowly witch cat, who has seen death, destruction, and misery time and time again, can come back from the brink of wickedness, who says all of you can't as well!?"

*The Children all stare at Agatha, almost in awe of her speech. Amy and her group standby, but smile all the same. Agatha said her piece, so it was time to see how they'd respond.*

Scorn: "...Are you quite done, Forbidden One? Because it isss useless to ssspeak about such feats. Yesss, you are impressive for ssstanding back up after what you sssuffered through... But thessse children... They have been abandoned by sssociety! They hold no sssuch ssstrength. No sssuch power. They are only loyal to Mogul."

*Agatha glares at Scorn, angered by his words.*

Agatha: "Then you are nothing but a pawn in his game. Even if he were here, you would be nothing but a bug to his shoe. He would absorb your energy and think nothing more of you after. Just another source of power."

Scorn: "And a worthy sssacrifice I would be! It would be an honor to give up my life for he who would guide thisss world in the proper step! Now enough foolishness! Children of Ixis! Capture her for the nightmare ssscape!"

*...The Children do not respond to the command. Instead, they begin to mutter to themselves.*

Child A: "I... I miss my kids..."

Child B: "I want to go back to working at the theater..."

Child C: "This whole thing sucked anyway!"

*The Children begin to discard their hoods, tossing away their cloaks and glaring back at Scorn.*

Elk: "We don't work for you anymore, Scorn!"

Poodle: "Yes! Because of the Forbidden One... No, because of Agatha we were able to see through our own veils!"

Mole: "There is a life worth living and this isn't it!"

*Scorn looks in bafflement at the blasphemy he was seeing. His Children all going against him and his lord. Amy and her group step out of hiding.*

Amy: "Alright, Scorn! Give up and come quietly!"

Cream: "You can't win against all of us!"

Silver: "And you certainly won't either!"

*The crowd cheers at this and look ready to pile on Scorn, frightening him as he readies his magic to use against everyone. But Agatha just steps closer to him, her own magic glowing in her hands.*

Agatha: "...Try it. I dare you."

Scorn: "You... You... You...!"

*Scorn looks at Agatha, then at the crowd before smirking.*

Scorn: "Fine then... I'll jussst..."

*He slaps his hands together in a bright flash of light before vanishing without a trace. Though Agatha hears his voice in the echoes.*

Scorn: "Thisss isssn't the lassst you have ssseen of me!"

*Agatha's magic disappears off her hands as she stares on, growling before turning to the one unopened door that had caught her attention since she arrived.*

Agatha: "Silver! Gold! Get everyone out of here! Amy! Cream! You're with me!"

Amy: "Right!"

Cream: "Here we come!"

*As Silver and Gold start to escort the ex-Children of Ixis out of the sanctum, Agatha turns to the door and freezes it solid. Amy uses her hammer to smash it open with a mighty swing, revealing a throne room on the other side. There a figure claps, almost entertained by the performances.*

Mephiles: "An interesting development. Changing the lives of the Children of Ixis. And here, I thought mortals still carried the urge for bloodshed rather than words."

Agatha: "...Who are you? You're not a Child of Ixis."

*The figure slowly stands before bowing.*

Mephiles: "I am called Mephiles the Dark. And I must say... I am very intrigued by you... Agatha."

*Mephiles vanishes, freaking the girls out before he appeared behind them.*

Mephiles: "You developed a strong will from your experiences as a Child of Ixis and the carrier of evil. In some ways, I'm impressed. The creatures I have known were savages, hungry for power, and willing to kill at the littlest provacation."

Amy: "Well, we're heroes! We don't falter that easily, creep!"

*Mephiles stares at Amy before slowly approaching her, freaking her out at his slow, steady shuffle. He gets right into her face, and stares with an intense glare.*

Mephiles: "...Nobody...asked you..."

*Mephiles then unleashes a surprise blast of darkness right at Amy, launching her across the room and slamming into a pillar, Cream running to check on her.*

Agatha: "Amy!"

*Agatha is stopped by darkness surrounding her, Mephiles sending her into an illusionary state.*

Agatha: "Okay, this is getting ridiculous. If you want to frighten me, get in line! Mogul and Scorn both had a turn and I've already broken through them! Whatever you throw at me will not work!"

Mephiles: "Oh? Then let's try a different form of fear."

*Agatha is taken to a seemingly normal world, in fact almost not far off from her present. Her surroundings looked to be Castle Acorn's halls, which only made her apprehensive.*

Guard: "Freeze!"

*Two Acorn soldiers pointed their spears at Agatha, the cat holding her hands in the air, looking very confused.*

Agatha: "Okay... What's going on now?"

Guard: "By order of King Acorn, you have been deemed too dangerous to keep around! You are to be executed right away!"

Agatha: "Executed? This must be some joke... Where is Princess Sally?"

Guard: "Not here. And not protecting you."

*The soldiers attack, but Agatha deals with them rather effortlessly, knocking them out.*

Agatha: "Me? A danger? In what way?"

King Max: "Your growing power."

*Agatha turns around to see King Max, sword drawn, approaching her. She steps back as she stares.*

Agatha: "My power? Your majesty, know that my power was once used for evil, but I quit that eons ago."

King Max: "But who is to say someone else won't use that power? Just as Mogul did briefly? Eggman... Finitevus... Any evil out there could use your power and none of us would be able to stop it."

*This counter...did stop Agatha in her tracks as Max took a jumping swing at her. She ducks to the side, quickly moving aside before jumping out of the nearest window. Max looks on and pulls out a communicator.*

King Max: "Commander. Target has escaped and is heading your way."

Commander: "Copy that. Leave this to G.U.N.."

*Agatha flies over the ground using her gravity manipulation magic, thinking on what King Max said. She had considered the idea of someone stealing her body... And the idea did scare her... But as she began to reason with herself, she is hit by an electrical blast. She screams out before falling out of the air, hitting the ground hard.*

*Back in reality, Mephiles seemed to smile as he had Agatha right in his spell, keeping her mind in limbo as she stood like a statue. But as he stood in front of Agatha, Amy came in from behind with her hammer...only to be blocked by a Mephiles clone.*

Mephiles: "Nice try, but I'm afraid that won't work."

Amy: "I am getting very sick and tired of bullies like you mentally torturing my friends! If you really want to see me mad... You got it."

Cream: "Miss Amy...?"

Amy: "Oh... Uh... Too much?"

Cream: "A bit. ...But I won't stop you. Let's save Miss Agatha!"

*Cream launches Cheese at the Mephiles clone, but the clone just vanishes as Mephiles himself floats in the air, arms crossed.*

Mephiles: "Very well, vermin. I will release you from your mortal coil... And make it as slow and as agonizing as I can to enjoy it."

*Mephiles then spreads his arms out as an army of himself appears, surrounding the girls. Cream and Amy step until they were back to back now.*

Cream: "M-Miss Amy... I think we bit off more than we can chew..."

Amy: "Don't worry. We'll get out of this...somehow..."

*The Mephiles clones launched at the duo, ready to end them.*

Agatha's Subconscious

*Agatha was on the ground, looking very injured from the fall. But when she got up, she looked very annoyed as Mephiles appeared with the agents of G.U.N.*

Mephiles: "This is the future that awaits you. Accept your fate and you may avoid this inevitability. Surely you-"

*Mephiles is struck in the face with a bolt of lightning from Agatha as the cat rose to her feet, dusting herself off.*

Agatha: "If this was meant to elicit some kind of fear from me, Mephiles, then you have failed. This did nothing but make more determined to change things around for myself. Indeed, I may end up as a threat to the world just by existing... But let me tell you, you darkness filled fool..."

*Agatha ignites her aura before sending a shockwave of energy, destroying the illusions and bringing herself back to reality.*

Mephiles' Sanctum

*The energy release manages to destroy the attacking Mephiles clones that Amy and Cream were fighting against. The two turn back to see Agatha, looking far more determined than ever before.*

Agatha: "The world may turn against me... The world may hate me... The world may even try to destroy me... But I will fight like I always have been... I will protect it for as long as I am capable."

Amy: "Alright, Agatha!"

*Team Rose gets together as the remaining Mephiles clones begin to bombard the arena and try to fight the girls. Amy blocks attacks with her hammer, but gets knocked down by a ball of darkness hitting the ground next to her feet. Cream comes to back her up and sends Cheese to bash the clones, destroying some.*

Cream: "Miss Amy!"

Amy: "Right! Time to play a little... Bunny Golf!"

*Cream curls up before Amy launches her with her hammer, sending the rabbit flying at a few more Mephiles clones. Agatha catches Cream and encases the girl in an ice shield before kicking her to the ground. Cream skates around the ground like a curling, hitting any grounded Mephiles clones before Amy smacked the still frozen Cream at any in the air. The impact into the wall smashes the ice, leaving Cream just fine.*

Mephiles: "Impressive... I suppose it was foolhardy of me to underestimate you... But the same could be said for the lot of you..."

*Mephiles summons more clones, this time actively attacking with them as they began to warp around.*

Agatha: "Careful. With this much warping they could get the drop on us..."

*Agatha is nearly struck in the back by an energy ball, she ducking it before a clone punches her below the chin by coming out of her shadow on the ground.*

Amy: "Uh oh... He's...really getting serious..."

*Agatha rubs her chin as she stands back up before thinking. She then ignites fire on her hand before...*

Agatha: "Amy, slam the ground!"

Amy: "What are you-"

Agatha: "Trust me! I have an idea!"

*Amy readies her hammer and swings it down. As it is swung, it is ignited on fire. With a huge slam, a massive shockwave of fire slowly starts to engulf the room. Agatha runs over to Cream and helps protect her using a barrier as the shockwave passes them over and destroys the Mephiles clones around them.*

Amy: "Whoa... Quick thinking, Aggy!"

Agatha: "Yes. Hopefully it got rid of Mephiles himself too..."

*Agatha looks at Cream, but notices Cream's scared expression. She looks up and sees Mephiles rise out of the darkness.*

Amy: "No way! How did you-"

Mephiles: "I can merge with the shadows at will. While you destroyed my clones, I slipped away and waited for your attack to pass by. An impressive attempt... But sadly..."

*More Mephiles clones appear, all glaring at the trio as they tiredly step back in desperation.*

Amy: "No no no... We're... We're getting too tired to keep going... We can't keep this up..."

Agatha: "Endure for a little longer... He can't keep this up forever..."

*A clone sneaks up on Cream and grabs her and Cheese, strangling them both.*

Agatha: "Cream!"

Mephiles: "I've grown bored... So let's end this...by snapping the young girl's neck..."

Voice: "Not on my watch!"

*The clone is suddenly sliced apart by a number of slashes as a new figure entered the scene - Sally Acorn.*

Sally: "Amy, Agatha, Cream! Get out of the room and catacombs! I'll follow!"

*Amy and Cream immediately run as they saw their exit cleared away, with Agatha followed them and Sally close behind her. Once they were past the doors, Sally pulls out a few dull golden rings and tosses them at the ceiling, to which they exploded on contact. This creates a cave in as Sally leads Team Rose down a tunnel leading to Wave Ocean, the group out of harm's way.

Wave Ocean; Beach

*Team Rose were seen panting and trying to breath after that experience, while Sally is seen welding the entrance to the catacombs shut with her blade bracelets.*

Amy: "Sometimes... I wish I stuck to being a fortune teller..."

Agatha: "Thanks, Sally... We owe you a great deal..."

Sally: "No problem. Though we have an issue..."

*As Sally starts explaining, Agatha gets contacted by Gold through telepathy.*

Gold: "Agatha. Are you safe? We thought we heard a loud explosion..."

Agatha: "Worry not. Sally just saved us. Listen, meet us at the cafe in town as soon as you can. It's time we regrouped..."

*Their link disconnects before Agatha turns to Sally.*

Agatha: "Would you like to explain what the issue is over a cup of tea?"

Sally: "...Yeah. I could go for a cup. But we better hurry... Because who knows what Eggman is up to..."

White Acropolis Base

*Elise is seen inside of a containment capsule as Jenni approaches, the woman smiling as she stares down at the sitting girl.*

Jenni: "Well, your highness... I think it is about time you and I had a little...chat. Hehehe..."

To be continued...