Mecha Action!
Chapter 10: Two Worlds United
The clouds continued to part above the area where Prime Tower once stood. Tails, Amy, and Metal remained silent as they gazed upon the metal faces of ShadoMech and Knuckles embedded into the tree. Through the continuing rising dust behind them came the survivors of the Defender army. Leading them was the lion and his friend Phoenix and they were too distracted by the site of the gigantic metal tree to notice Metal Sonic. There was dead silence as the group looked upon their former leader who was a few feet below ShadoMech. The lion approached Amy asking her what happened.
"The powers of their emeralds reacted violently to each other and trapped them inside the tree." she answered quietly.
Murmurs of whispers and low conversation could be heard coming from the Defender group but suddenly they were overcome by the sounds of screeches and mechanical wails from all around them. In the dust, Mechas who were not affected by Tails' attack emerged out onto the rooftops, on empty streets, and out of the manholes in the area. They continued their sorrowed wails and screeches as they surrounded the small Defender army. Amy jumped to her feet gazing around at the hundreds of Mechas, all with glowing eyes aching to rip apart the enemy.
"What's going?" Amy asked. "Why did they show up?"
Metal Sonic was silent for a few seconds deciphering the wails.
"They're mourning the loss of their leader... and want to kill all Organics." Metal replied.
"Well stop them! You have the Emerald of Chaos, they'll listen to you."
Without hesitation, Metal tied the emerald around his neck and hovered into the air. The Emerald of Chaos glowed its shining purple/gray color grabbing the attention of all the Mechas.
"Listen to me my family!" Metal's voice echoed. "Please do not harm the Organics for the end of our leader."
An uproar of anger came from the masses.
"It is not their fault for this tragedy, nor does all the blame fall on us. Everyone is responsible. For years we have been fighting against each other, turned against our brethren because of the actions of one tyrant. But he is no longer with us freeing our wills and allowing us a chance to regain the lives we once had years ago."
There was dead silence among both groups. The Mechas were hanging onto Metal Sonic's every word and even giving thought to his message. Amy then climbed her way to the top of a debris pile and Metal joined her.
"Look around, all of you." the girl shouted. "Look and see who you have been fighting."
The Emerald of Order glowed a healthy green allowing her voice to carry out to everyone in the area. Both groups began to gaze around at each other; Mechas looking down at the Defenders and the Defenders looking up around them.
"You may be surprised to see someone who looks similar to you or what you once looked like. Do not but surprised or ashamed for they were once your family and you were turned against each other. You were taught to hate the other, fear the other, and even kill the other and look where it has brought us."
Amy then turned holding a hand out towards the metallic tree.
"This tree symbolizes something. It symbolizes the wall between our two worlds being torn down and the end of a dark era for our planet. However it is also a reminder of what happens when friends and family are pit against each other. Our two leaders hated each other right down to the core of their hearts until a few moments ago before their death. Everyone in battle would've suffered the same fate as well leaving behind a world in chaos."
Amy turned back to her audience to conclude her speech.
"Now that the fighting has stopped, let's use this time of peace to end this war and start rebuilding the world we once knew. It may take a few years to undo the damage Eggman has caused but together we can survive and so will future generations."
There was a slow reception of the speech but eventually both Mechas and the Defenders were cheering on Amy and Metal Sonic. Tails managed to stand on his own and joined Amy and Metal on the debris pile to look out at the two worlds.
"You did good Amy. You did good." Tails said to the hedgehog.
"I only did what was right, but we still have a long way to go." Amy replied.
Together the two looked upon Metal Sonic who, although could not show any expression, seemed pleased with the sight before him.
"You may not be here to see it Shadow, but I finally got the 'happy ending' I wanted." Metal said to himself.
The celebration continued of for what seemed like hours as the smog clouds parted over the capital of the Mechalands.
Twenty years into the future and things could have never been any better. The mountain chain barrier around Defender Territory was torn down using Amy's Emerald of Order and the capital of the Mechalands had been torn down as well and rebuilt as the capital of the entire world. Organics finally were able to leave the comfort of the Defender forest and for the first time saw the world outside of theirs. Some were reluctant to accept the conditions and even trust the Mechas, but the Mechas gained a positive reputation with the help of their leader Metal Sonic.
In a matter of years both Mechas and Organics were working together to clean up the mess of the Mechalands rebuilding little by little near the capital area hoping to restore the world to a state where Organics can live free without fear of diseases. Then came the day when the Defenders were officially disbanded and a memorial near the metallic tree, named the Grace Tree, was put up in recognition of all Defenders. Yet conflicts still came up so a police force of Organics and Mechas, known as the Protectors, was form to handle all conflicts and crime.
Amy and Metal were hailed as leaders of the world for a short time but they handed the title over to Tails who had grown to be quite the visionary for all. After mastering his magnetic psychic abilities, the fox also gained the ability to communicate with all Mechas making him the perfect candidate to lead the world. Amy and Metal were merely representatives of both populations of the world thus becoming subordinates to Tails.
In eighteen years the Capital of the World was finally complete as well as a few areas around it. The skies were crystal clear and eventually natural weather conditions returned to the area as well. But on this sunny day in the Capital, an emotional cloud of darkness hung over the city. A progression of black limousines were winding through the city towards the gigantic glass dome that was built over the Grace Tree. Protector officers escorted the nine limousines to the front of the dome and several attendants approached each limousine to welcome the delegates of the world to the mourning ceremony of the death of Knuckles and ShadoMech. Out of the first limo marked with flags came Tails, Amy and Metal Sonic.
Despite Tails' chronological age he had aged normally into a handsome adult. Wearing a navy blue tuxedo with a red and gold sash across his chest, the fox helped out a beautiful Amy who had flowing pink hair and carried a bouquet of flowers. She wore a white formal dress and even had the Emerald of Order still hung around her neck where it had always been for the past twenty years. Metal Sonic, who was the last to exit, had his entire body coated a platinum color. The Emerald of Chaos hung around his neck glowing as bright as it could with the sun's rays reflecting through it.
Together the three stood gazing at the dome ahead of them, memories of the tragic day rushing into their minds.
"I can hardly believe it's been twenty years already." said Amy.
"Yes, but life goes on and so must we." Tails said walking slowly towards the entrance. Metal followed and Amy was about to do the same until someone called out her name.
"Amy!" a young woman's voice called out to her.
The hedgehog looked off to her right to see an adult Cream heading towards her. Amy felt a light smile come onto her face as her old friend approached. The two women could only smile and hug for it had been years since they had last spoken. Cream, who was the delegate of State 9 which was once Defender Territory, had grown into a lovely young woman. Much to Amy's surprise, the rabbit had grown out a ponytail and Cream had on a gray suit with a knee length skirt.
"I never get tired of looking up to you." Cream said to her best friend.
"Well it's something I'm used to now that others are doing the same." Amy replied.
Together the two walked towards the entrance of the dome. Cream noticed Amy's outfit and became curious as to why she wore such a pure color on a sorrowful day.
"Why white Amy? Does today mean something different to you?" Cream asked gently.
Amy nodded.
"I wear white because Knuckles and Shadow may have died on this date, but their deaths were a blessing to the world. Had it not been for them then who knows where we would be."
A valiant reason to where such a pure color. The sacrifice of the two did mean freedom for all but there were still others who mourned with sorrow in their hearts. Inside the glass dome a garden had been built around the metallic tree. Fountains and springs of clear water ran about and trees and flowers were abundant all around. A seating of chairs and a podium was set up at the base of the Grace Tree but Tails and Metal Sonic stood off to the side looking up at where Knuckles and ShadoMech were in the tree. The ceremony had not begun yet so the girls joined the guys at the tree. Amy quietly grabbed onto Tails' hand as he gazed up at his brother.
"So he wanted a happy ending?" Tails asked Metal.
"Yes, even though he didn't believe they were possible in a war." the Mecha replied.
The two remained silent as they reflected upon their past lives. A few seconds later Amy parted from the guys followed by Cream. Together they approached a large headstone with the name 'Rouge' engraved onto it as well as her birth date and death date. Right behind the headstone was a tall stone statue of Rouge facing the Grace Tree. Amy had requested the grave to be placed in the direction Knuckles was looking in an open area of grass in hopes of the two reconnecting with each other in the afterlife. Together, Amy and Cream knelt down in front of the headstone and placed the bouquet of flowers on it. After a few moments of silence, the two women opened their eyes, Amy's filled with tears.
"I only knew her for a short time, but I could easily tell that she had suffered so much in her life." the hedgehog spoke with a broken voice.
Cream only hugged Amy gently and the two went back to the ceremony area where the other delegates and special guest were gathering. The four friends found their seats in the front row; Tails and Cream on the outside with Metal Sonic and Amy in between. As the reverend began his speech, Amy held onto Metal's hand and squeezed it. He looked down at her curiously.
"We made it..." she whispered with a smile.
Metal Sonic nodded in agreement. Together they broke an ongoing cycle against all odds and made it out with a renewed love and appreciation for life and a promise to protect the new world they had created.
The End