Chapter 116: Heroes Unite - Part 3

Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Team Rose had a decisive encounter with the Children of Ixis in their home lair. Through Agatha's words, the Children had quit the cult and moved on to better lives. Except for Scorn, who promises that he will return. Afterwards, as Silver and Gold escort the Children out, Team Rose encounter Mephiles the Dark, the true mastermind behind the actions of the Children of Ixis. As it seemed like he had the upper hand, Sally Acorn appears and manages to a rescue by blowing up the sanctum and causing a cave in, saving the group. Now the heroes plan their next move...

Starring:

Sally Acorn - Princess of Acorn
Blaze the Cat - Princess of Sol
Amelia Tower - Team Dark Support Division

Wave Ocean; Some time earlier

Sally: "Eggman!?"

Voice (Jenni): "Not quite."

*Sally turns and gets caught by a swarm of tiny bee-like Badniks, all attacking and lifting her up until she was over the ocean. Another missile is launched from the Egg Carrier, this one landing a direct hit on Sally as she is sent into the ocean, sinking underwater. She sinks down, she seeing the surface getting further and further away.*

Sally: 'No... It can't end...like this... Blaze... Elise... Hold...on...'

*Sally starts to choke, unable to hold on for much longer. The last thing she sees as her vision blacks out is a figure swimming at her.*

Wave Ocean Cave

*Sally starts to wake up, hearing voices... Muffled at first, but getting clearer as her hearing slowly returns.*

Voice 1: "Why did you bring her here?"

Voice 2: "Well, I couldn't just leave her drowning, Abyss!"

Voice 1: "Don't raise your tone at me! I joined this little club to get away from Akhlut, not attract his attention!"

Voice 3: "Guys! Come on... Let's not argue..."

*Sally starts sitting up, rubbing her cloudy vision away to see a spinner dolphin, a light green squid, and a yellow jellyfish talking amongst each other.*

Sally: "Uh... Am I interrupting something?"

*Their arguing cease as they see Sally awake.*

Tsunami: "Oh... You're awake. Cool! Ahem... No. Just some minor disagreements..."

Abyss: "Minor is putting it lightly..."

*Abyss just huffs as she crosses her arms.*

Tsunami: "...Anyway... My name is Tsunami the Spinner. And these two are Abyss the Squid and Opal the Jellyfish."

Opal: "Pleasure."

Tsunami: "I happen to find you drowning in the water after some big battleship appeared."

*Sally starts to recall what had happened and grits her teeth.*

Sally: "It was Eggman... He must've been after- Wait... But then why did I hear a woman's voice...?"

Abyss: "Nami. We really shouldn't get involved. If Akhlut really is working for Eggman then we should have-"

Tsunami: "Enough, Abyss. Look... I get that you used to work for Akhlut, but that's no excuse to toss people to the fishes."

Abyss: "Oh like I care about someone like her."

Sally: "...I should probably get going. Where am I anyway?"

Tsunami: "Not far from where I found you. Some guys in cloaks seem to be patrolling the area now though."

Sally: "Nothing I can't handle. I'm looking for a friend and I have a feeling that hatch I found will lead me to her. And after I help her, I'm finding out what Eggman is up to."

Tsunami: "Well... If you're feeling alright, go ahead and leave through that tunnel. A short swim under will get you back to the beach in no time."

Sally: "Thank you."

*Sally stands up, offering a handshake to Tsunami, which the dolphin accepts.*

Sally: "Name's Sally Acorn, by the way. Thanks for your help."

*Tsunami's expression changed for a moment upon hearing the name, but she just smiled and let go of the handshake. The chipmunk runs off into a dive before swimming back to shore, taking care of the Children of Ixis guarding the hatch before sneaking her way in.*

Soleanna Castle Town; Present Time

*At Soleanna, Sally finishes her story with Amy, Cream, Silver, Gold, and Agatha looking on with varying expressions.*

Sally: "After that, I came in and heard fighting. That's about when I barged in and..."

Agatha: "The rest is history. I can imagine."

Sally: "Not going to lie though, hearing that you convinced most of that cult to turn a new leaf was a shocker for me."

Amy: "But hearing about Eggman's involvement really makes my blood boil... He just won't quit..."

Sally: "That's the confusing part. I don't think it is Eggman this time..."

Silver: "I wish we could give any insight into this, but this new enemy seems entirely foreign to me and Gold."

Agatha: "Worry not. We'll get to the bottom of this somehow."

Sally: "Yeah. And that starts with finding Blaze."

Blaze: "No need. I'm here..."

*The group turn and find Blaze. But she wasn't alone, instead being accompanied by an injured Shadow, a big robot with a few burn scars on it, and a Tails Doll.*

Blaze: "...and I brought a bit of help."

Sally: "Shadow! And..."

*Amy looked at the robot and instantly recognized him. The robot looked down at Amy before a memory of the Egg Carrier flashed in his mind.*

Amy: "Mr. Robot!"

Gamma: "It has been a long time, Amy Rose. It is good to see you again."

Amelia: "I see everyone is well acquainted. That means we can get down to business."

Sally: "I recognize that voice...and this doll..."

Amelia: "Good to see you, your highness. It's me, Amelia! From that tournament Honey held a few weeks ago."*
* - A cut arc that never made into the story. Sorry for the lack of context there. - Dale

Sally: "Wow. Small world. Alright, miss Amelia. What business did you want to discuss?"

Amelia: "Plenty. Like what Shadow found out while he...uh..."

*Shadow sits at a table before sighing.*

Shadow: "I went on my own and confronted the one occupying the White Acropolis base. A woman who seems to be a relative to Dr. Eggman."

Sally: "Oh great... They're spreading faster than I thought."

Amelia: "I looked into Eggman's family tree and found a match - an older sister by the name of Jenni Robotnik. She's a researcher in robotics and a fairly infamous figure when it comes to botany and biology. I won't get into details, but it did lead into the Dodo's extinction and made her one of the wealthiest people on the planet."

Cream: "Oh my... But why would someone like Miss Jenni become like Dr. Eggman?"

Gamma: "My limited research into the Eggnet database suggests that Jenni had heard about Dr. Eggman's recent failings and decided to take action while Dr. Eggman is on vacation."

Sally: "So just as we're about to have a break... Ugh... Can never have even a moment of peace..."

Shadow: "Ahem... If I may continue my report? During my brief time there, I was intercepted by Jenni's own creation - a Metal Sonic she calls 'Metallix'."

Blaze: "I had a close encounter with this 'Metallix' as well. Even if I didn't directly fight him, it certainly looked dangerous... So I ran at the first chance."

Gamma: "We encountered Blaze as me and Tails Doll were about to extract Shadow. She mistaken me as an enemy and-"

Blaze: "I was still mentally recovering from my recent capture, Gamma. I am sorry..."

Sally: "What about Princess Elise?"

Amelia: "White Acropolis is heavily guarded both in and out of the facility. Even with the Eggnet, I couldn't tell you where she is. But she is in that base."

Gold: "So we know what to do..."

Agatha: "Indeed, but there are a few factors we need to consider. One - The base is heavily guarded like Amelia said. Two - Metallix is a big threat to any one of us so a team would have to fight him. Three - Elise is still in Jenni's custody and we haven't a clue on how dangerous she is..."

Blaze: "I might have an idea. But it requires access to my home in the Sol Dimension."

Amy: "What's there that you would need?"

Blaze: "The Sol Emeralds. If I can bring them here, I can probably destroy Metallix in an instant."

Agatha: "While not a bad idea, I'd like to save overpowered mcguffins for when we actually need them. Metallix isn't something we need them for I feel."

Sally: "Agatha's right. Sorry, Blaze..."

Blaze: "...Hmm... Very well."

Amelia: "If I may interrupt... There is one thing Agatha missed."

*Tails Doll's antenna begins glowing before a hologram appears on the table.*

Amelia: "The reason for Elise's capture in the first place. From what I could gather, she is related to something called 'Iblis'. I'm not entirely sure how though..."

Silver: "What!?"

*Agatha stares at Silver before placing a hand on his head to calm him down.*

Sally: "Ahem... With all due respect, Amelia, this information is very irrelevant right now. We'll discuss about Iblis later. So please..."

Amelia: "...Oh! Right... My apologies..."

*As the hologram disappears, Shadow just hmphs.*

Shadow: "Just leave that tin can and the new doctor to me. I'll have them both defeated in no time."

Amelia: "I'm sorry, Shadow. But I am not allowing you to go on your own twice. You almost got killed the first time and I will not allow that. Besides, with the Freedom Fighters' help, we stand a better chance than ever now."

Shadow: "I don't need help."

*Shadow stands up and walks away, leaving the group to stare.*

Sally: "What's up with him?"

Amelia: "...I may have an idea, but it may involve what happened to Rouge..."

White Acropolis Base

*At the White Acropolis base, screams could be heard as Elise is given electrocuted on a table, causing her body to convulse violently before the machine stops. Jenni stands nearby with goggles on as she smiles.*

Jenni: "Plan on talking now, princess? I can do this until eventually your heart stops."

Elise: "If I must sound so vulgar, I'll ask you to politely... Fuc-"

*Elise's mouth is grabbed as her head is slammed against the table, Jenni leaning in closer.*

Jenni: "I'd give up the sass if I were you. You have no power here. Even with those tiny barriers, they can only protect you for so long."

Elise: "My friends will come for me and-"

Jenni: "Those Freedom Fighters will be met by Metallix and die. And if that doesn't stop them, I have a lot more that I can shove down their throat."

*Jenni starts pacing around Elise before readying another shock session. But as she increased the watts, a presence appeared at the door way, hiding in the shadows.*

Jenni: "Who's there?"

*The presence makes their identity known, glowing green eyes piercing at Elise as he shambled his way into the light.*

"I am Mephiles the Dark... And I have come to offer my assistance to you..."

To be continued...