Chapter 13- here we go again.

The guards allowed the Brothers to stand outside of Sally's room, but barred the entrance.

"You cannot disturb her until she is awake," the guard repeated for the fourth time. He was unconcerned that the two intruders were giving off rainbow lights. Sonic threw up his arms in exasperation.

"Well? How do we tell her?"

"Sonic, it is twenty to six in the morning. You could let her sleep for a while longer," Lazer said in a slightly tired voice. He and Sonic had slept beneath the stars, upon the swaying grass. Lazer remembered that Marble Gardens had been people-less during the day, and peaceful at night. He would surely return there to meditate.

"I wanted to tell her that we're going!"

"Good grief, we can wait, you know."

"With just today and tomorrow left? We're screwed if we don't get the battle over soon!"

"Whether or not we're screwed, I will tell her now. Just be quiet for a while."

"But."

"Shh!"

Lazer closed his eyes and focused his thoughts beyond the door, seeing into the room. Normally, he could not do this, but the Rainbow had greatly amplified his mental abilities. He saw Sally, fast asleep. She was dreaming of. well, only Lazer knew what she dreamt at that time. He smiled inwardly and contacted her mind.

"Princess."

Sally's breath paused for a moment.

"Princess. This is Lazer. Sonic and I will attempt to defeat the sorceress and bring Robotnik back to justice. Sonic says that he loves you, and will come back to you soon. Until then, Princess, sleep well. We will return."

He opened his eyes, and looked at Sonic.

"I told her that you love her and will come back from the battle."

"Well, you read my mind. HEY! Did you really read my mind?"

Lazer smiled again.

"I can do many things. Come, we're leaving now."

Sonic snorted irritably.

"You keep out of my head, you hear me? Just because we're temporary 'brothers' doesn't mean you have to peek at my thoughts!"

"Sonic, I would not want to peek at any of your thoughts for all the Chaos Emeralds on Mobius."

"Good. HEY! You insulted me again!"

Lazer had already flown through a window, framed against the foliage of the forest.

"Follow me, I know the fastest way to Robotropolis."

The other hedgehog mumbled disgustedly and lifted off the ground. When he was about a meter away from the window, he heard a very loud shout from behind him.

"SONIC! What are you two doing? GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!"

"Sal?!" he shouted in return. He turned away and cupped his hands:

"LAZER! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!"

"I heard her yell the first time!"

Seconds later, the two Brothers were standing before Sally, who was dressed in a white nightgown.

"Listen to me, you fools! You can't just up and go and defeat our archenemy whenever you want!" she said scathingly. Sonic was tempted to laugh at her, his furious gowned girl.

"Sal, we're doing everyone a favour."

"Oh, no, you're not!" she declared loudly. The guards in the hall flinched at her heated words, "You can't win the victory for yourselves alone! Have you forgotten that you're part of a team? The Freedom Fighters won't accept the fact that a pair of hedgehogs made them look worthless!"

"She has a point, Sonic," Lazer said. Sonic sighed heavily, and forced the frustration to pass. He did not want to be angry with Sally.

"Okay, Okay! We'll let everyone fight with us!"

"Good! Just make sure the same thing doesn't happen again! We can't afford to lose any more fighters to that fat bastard, or his sorceress!"

"Fine, Sally, fine! Give it a rest!"

She dropped her angry face and smiled again. It was a welcome change of attitude.

"Excellent. I like it when you listen to me. I'll tell my Dad, so we can gather the Freedom Fighters once more."

"The ultimate showdown," Lazer said gravely. He stepped out of the window (he had his own agenda) and left the couple behind. Sally invited Sonic to her room, and they talked, without the guards listening. He told her about the new powers he and Lazer had gained, and what they had accomplished the evening before at the zone. Her eyes shone with wonder at the amazing story he told.

"We're going to win," she whispered, convinced, "we can't lose now. Not even Super Sonic could match your combined power!"

"I know. Me and Lazer will deal out some major damage if Robotnik so much as hiccups."

"Don't forget the sorceress, Hannah, you said? I think that she'll pose a bigger threat."

"You may be right, then again, we're even more dangerous than she could hope to be!"

Sonic sat himself on her bedside and grinned.

"Heh. That little moment we had by the river yesterday was memorable."

"Shh! Don't let the guards hear!"

"Oh, yeah, I remember it all. I had to stop you! Imagine that, I had to say no, instead of you!"

Sally blushed furiously.

"Just. just shut up about that, okay?" she said weakly. A wide smile spread across Sonic's face, a smile of amusement and triumph. She was no longer the righteous one.

"Do you have any idea how big the scandal would be, if they found out that you wanted it worse than I did?"

A thundercloud enveloped her face. She trembled visibly before him, fists balled tightly.

"You. shut. up. about that, or I will kill you, slowly."

Sonic had sense enough to back off. Never argue with a woman when she was in that condition, he thought dismally.

"Calm down, Sal. I didn't mean it at all."

He got off the bed and drew nearer. Half-reluctantly, she allowed him to hug her.

"Don't worry, my princess. Hey, let's go for some breakfast. We're both starving."

"You're right. Let me get dressed."

"Okay."

He moved away and stood beside her dresser.

"I meant, let me get dressed, with you on the other side of the door," she said slowly.

"I take my leave," he said, defeated once again, and did a sweeping bow. He left the room with that same unbearable grin on his face. The door closed silently.

"Damn you, Sonic," she said softly, "Just. damn you."

But she was also smiling.



The morning passed. The King and his cohorts had done a marvelous job of gathering the Freedom Fighters once more, for the latest strike upon Robotropolis. The army needed convincing (not to mention a morale boost after three days ago); so Sonic called Lazer, and they performed a few new tricks. The army was about four thousand less strong, but Sonic and Lazer, the Brothers, would make up for any lost ground. Sally once more led the main unit, wearing body armour like her followers. The King did not lead the secondary unit, but Prince Elias did instead. Sir John had talked King Acorn out of facing battle once more, and facing the chance (albeit a tiny chance, but a chance nonetheless) of defeat. The Tornado was out of action, though, its previous flier bedridden with severe injuries and Tails preferring to fight beside his Aunt Sally.

"Sonic, I'm coming with you, even if you don't need my help," Mina was saying stubbornly. She was wearing the same scarf, but clutching a different laser knife.

"Mina, c'mon, it's way too dangerous. Remember what happened last time?"

She was defiant. Lazer, witnessing the petty argument, stepped in.

"Mina. You told me yesterday that you lost your parents in Robotropolis. I know better than anyone here how it feels to lose people you love, and how it feels to want revenge, but you would be far more useful with the army. You have supersonic speed, and the army has become much weaker. They'll need your help, but we won't."

She looked into his coal black eyes, and then at the colours glowing about his body. She had no argument left.

"Ugh, you're absolutely right. I hate it when I lose arguments! Oh well. goodbye, you two, and make sure you come back to tell me about the battle!"

She zipped away from them.

"Nice going, man. You got rid of her."

"I didn't get rid of her. I convinced her that she'd be useful elsewhere."

"In other words, you got rid of her."

"I can't change your opinion. Okay, they're going to start in five minutes. Let's get into position."

The rainbow-marked Brothers stood beside Sally, beneath the forest's canopy. Sonic wore his special silver gauntlets. Tension was in the air, and Lazer sensed that the soldiers behind him were all in doubt that they would be alive within the next few hours. He also sensed that they were not going to surrender without fighting to the bitter end. The great army of the Freedom Fighters was ready, for the last bid, the showdown to end all showdowns.

"Here we go again, people! ONWARD!" Sally cried.



Robotnik noticed the warning claxons that a large group of creatures was advancing upon Robotropolis. He yawned and pressed a single button, to mobilize all available military forces to that particular area. He was bored. They would simply be crushed again. He had eavesdropped upon the conversation that Hannah had with her emerald. He was very confident, and unafraid that the two Brothers presented a threat.

"Come to me and die, Sonic. Fly to your death, insect. She will swat you, and I shall stamp you dead."



The battle was one sided. The robots had been upgraded, supplied with new artillery, and given more accurate tactical programs, but they were being destroyed hundreds at a time. A single blast from any of the two shining Brothers sent the mechanical forces reeling back. Sonic, as you would understand, was having the time of his life.

"Wave your guns about! See if I care! Take THAT!"

Aimed a hundred feet from the ground, the rainbow beams brought fiery doom to the robots. Each ugly robot Sonic laid eyes upon reminded him of Robotnik. Lazer was also enjoying himself.

"Let's see. thirteen Hoverbots coming my way! I should be scared."

He flashed a smile and blasted the airborne troops out of the sky with a single rainbow. They trailed smoke to the ground, crashing into their own kind. After vanquishing many foes, he assessed the situation on the ground and called mentally to Sonic.

"Hey, Brother, let's take the cat out. We've helped our friends enough."

Sonic grimaced as the words spoke in his head.

"I ain't your bro. Let me have just one more minute!"

"One."

Sonic happily showed off his earth-shattering capabilities, leaving half of the enemy left for the other Fighters to handle. He looked upon his work, and saw that it was good. Then he followed Lazer's rainbow trail to their ultimate battle.