Chapter 7: Flashback pt. 2
(Station Square; 1 year, 3 months, and 6 days ago)
Note: That means it is 15 years after Sonic's 'death' so everyone is way older!
Sonia rushed to Amy's side and covered Rogue's eyes. The bat desperately tried to escape Sonia's hands, but her grip was firm. Rouge gasped and ran to Knuckles, who felt his bleeding muzzle. Meanwhile, Sally, Espio, and Charmy pounced on Tails. As the infuriated fox plummeted to the ground, a bullet flew out of Tails' gun and ricocheted all over, echoing throughout the still room. Sally snatched the pistol as Espio and Charmy tried to pin the fox down. "Damn you all! Get off me!" More people filtered into the room after hearing the gunshot.
"Tails, get a hold of yourself," Rouge declared as she helped Knuckles to his feet. His cheek was black and blood dribbled from his lip. "You are out of control." Amy embraced Sonia and cried without end.
Meanwhile, Sally gave a disgusted stare at the fox and spat at his feet. "She is right." Tails shoved Charmy out of the way and stood up. He was resonating with hatred, and tried to smack Espio, who became invisible and punched Tails in the stomach. The fox fell to his knees, gasping for air. Everyone stared cruelly at Tails.
"None of you get it! It's Knuckles' fault. He is responsible for Sonic's death!" He exclaimed. Now, all eyes were on Knuckles. Sonia gasped, as Amy continued crying. Rouge remained indifferent. Sally dropped the gun, clattering to the ground, and Rogue rushed to Knuckles' side. Charmy and Espio gazed in disbelief. Knuckles said nothing, admitting to the accusation. His guilt already destroyed himself from the inside.
When Knuckles did not respond, Rogue hastily said in his defense, "It was an accident!" Rogue stood in front of Knuckles, with his hands out, as if protecting the echidna. "Everyone look at your selves. We are on the verge of battle, and all you people do is point fingers?" The creatures looked at the floor, embarrassed. Tails however stormed out of the room, leaving his gun behind.
(Pyramid Base: one day later)
The red sky transformed into a bloody crimson, as the moon ascended into the clouds. Roxie was waiting at the entrance of the pyramids, anticipating for the help, which Rogue promised. She anxiously paced back and forth. Roxie feared darkness, so she plopped to the ground and restlessly rolled over like a dog, attempting to shake off her impatience and panic. Roxie halted on her stomach when a dark figure could be seen on the horizon. Overjoyed to escape the shadows and return to base with a new ally, she leaped up and ran over. However, halting to a stop, she tripped and slid on the soil. Sand crammed into her pudgy mouth. A creature's shoes were now in Roxie's face. The bat spit out some sand and gazed up. It was an evil black and white demon, with burning red eyes. Roxie shook violently in fear. The warrior slowly drew out her blade and flashed a wicked smile. Sweating bullets, Roxie crawled away, breathing rapidly. Nothing came out when she opened her mouth to scream, so the bat turned and flew into the air. However, her wings were too tiny and Roxie toppled over. A shadow came over her eyes as the fighter cackled with delight and swung her blade at the defenseless bat. Roxie slammed her eyes closed, waiting for the end. A clank noise drew closer, but no blade. When she opened her eyes, Shadow was on top of the intruder.
"GO!" He yelled to Roxie. With no more said, she sprinted to the base, to warn the others.
The two fighters tumbled over each other as they wrestled. Shadow tried to snatch the chaos blade from the monster's hand, but failed. She violently kicked Shadow off and crouched on the ground, ready to pounce. The dark hedgehog as well, prepared for battle. "It isn't fair if you are armed and I am not," Shadow snickered.
The demon smirked and replied, "I serve only one, and he tells me to use the blade, so deal with it." She sprinted towards him, and swung. A wave of dust ensued but no blood. Shadow fell back down from his jump and kicked the warrior to the ground. Laughing, Shadow slowly approached her.
"I am Shadow, the ultimate life form. You think your sorry ass can defeat me?" Shadow stomped his foot on the creature's back. "I can't believe Knuckles is so worked up over y—" was all Shadow could mock as the beast plunged her poisoned blade deep in Shadow's ankle. She twisted it and thrust her sword out. Shadow shrieked from the poison and fell over. He clutched his leg and panted rigorously. The creature crawled to her feet, tilting her head to create a shadow over her eyes. Her teeth glistened through a wicked smile.
"It will only temporarily paralyze you." She spat, "For an ultimate life from, you seem really weak." The grueling grin ceased and the vigilante flew up into the air. Shadow blankly stared, now paralyzed. The colors on the beast's skin became inverted as her blade blazed an eerie blue. Clouds appeared directly above her. Lightning struck the warrior's sword. Needles pierced the fighter, but her mindless body said nothing. The demon felt pain surge through her body, but remained indifferent. She deflected the lightening towards the headquarters. A searing crackling noise approached from the base. The top half of the pyramids cracked and fell off, completely slicing it in half. Determining that her mission was completed, the warrior flew above the opening, realizing that no one was inside. The demon returned to Shadow's side. "Where are they?!" She snarled, lifting Shadow up by the neck.
"Please." Shadow wheezed with sarcasm, "Like I would give you the time of day." The feeling came back to Shadow's arms. He socked her jaw, pummeling her to the ground. Shadow sprinted at her, screaming along the way. The warrior punched through the air, as Shadow leaped into the sky, inches away from her face. He landed behind her and punted the beast with his foot, like a football.
"My business is not with you hedgehog," she huffed, trying to stand on her feet.
"Oh, but it is. I was sent over to warn the base, and it worked perfectly." Shadow laughed. Roxie must have told everyone to escape through the underground passageways, which lead up to the Station Square headquarters. Suddenly he realized with these new forces, Knuckles could easily take on the warrior. She was having enough trouble with Shadow. Against everyone, she would not stand a ghost of a chance. Shadow snickered. "They headed to Station Square. I would like to see you try and stop them!" The blood-eyed beast smiled and ran off in the exact opposite direction of the city.
(Station Square: two days until the battle)
An arctic pack of ice was resting on Knuckles cheek. The poor echidna did not say a word since the fight with Tails. Gossip spread like wild fire, and whenever Knuckles walked in the hallways, he sensed cold stares from his peers. He was pacing around the watchtower, waiting for a response from the pyramid base. Rogue, as well, had a hint of anxiety.
"It's been two days. I don't understand. Roxie would've responded by now!" Rogue sniffed, hovering over the radio. Knuckles sat next to the boy in silence. Suddenly the radio began to crackle. Both of them held their breath, anxious to hear Roxie's voice.
"Kid, you there?" gasped a low voice. The bat and echidna switched glances. Rogue hesitantly took the microphone.
"...Shadow?"
"Impressive, kid. Hey listen, you were right." A smile flickered on the boy's childish face, but it quickly faded when he remembered his prophecy. "The chaos blade has revealed itself. The warrior is a woman. She was one bad ass fighter," Shadow added with several pauses in between; he was panting.
"What about Roxie?" Knuckles asked, as he took the microphone from Rogue.
"Good job, kid. You got Knuckles off his ass!" Rogue chuckled as Knuckles rolled his eyes. "She and everyone else are fine. They all escaped through the catacombs when I stalled for time. Also, they should be arriving in your base soon. Oh, and the pyramids are in ruins."
"How? When will they be arriving?" Knuckles nervously asked, thinking that Tails might speak to them first.
"It's hard to explain. The warrior charged up her blade and swung it at the pyramids. It was so weird. She was possessed by lightning!" Shadow elucidated. He grimaced and stroked his bloody ankle, remembering the previous battle. "Everyone should be there in about an hour."
Rogue stole the microphone back and asked, "What about you?"
"Sorry kid. The warrior shoved her damn sword into my leg. I won't be able to get back to Station Square for at least six days."
"That isn't too big of a deal," Rogue laughed at the short time period, considering the circumstances. There was an awkward silence on the hedgehog's end.
"The warrior is going to attack Station Square," Shadow stated.
"What!?" Both of them yelled through the radio in disbelief that Shadow knew of the warrior's strategy.
"Prepare yourselves. I am going to try and get there as fast as I can. Knuckles, you need to get everyone ready."
"But we aren't ready!" Knuckles screamed to defend his earlier decisions. His lip resumed bleeding as he nervously gnawed it. However, the echidna was not hesitant for a shallow reason anymore. Even if the distraught creatures were prepared, no one would listen to Knuckles. He was blinded by guilt and unable to lead. Without proper formation, everyone would fall in defeat.
"Deal with it." Shadow casually retorted.
"But we need you too! I spoke to everyone you asked, but they are way too depressed!" Rogue desperately argued. Knuckles sighed at the remark, knowing the comment was regarding him. "Do whatever you can! Take a train, dig underground or fly over here! I don't care!"
"Fly? You realize that you are speaking to a hedgehog, right?"
"Wait, I think he is on to something Shadow," Knuckles hastily replied. He closed his eyes and thought of the Tornado. "Tails left his plane at the pyramid base many years ago. It is probably in some disrepair, but still capable of flight. You might make it back if you use that!" Silence.
"And how do I fly a plane?"
"Deal with it," Rogue giggled. Shadow laughed too, but did not click on the microphone to let Knuckles hear it.
"Okay kid. I will be there."
"Promise?" Rogue squeaked.
Shadow rolled his eyes and deeply sighed into the radio. "I'll be there. Shadow, signing off." Rogue waited over the microphone, making sure that the hedgehog turned off the radio. He looked at Knuckles who was kneeling over the railing with arms crossed. The echidna was sweating bullets. Sonic was unable to defeat Eggman who used a pathetic laser gun, and now Shadow expected Knuckles to take on a warrior with infinite power. The rebels refused to stand as one without an acceptable leader, and Tails already revealed to the public Knuckles' treason. Panic and doubt revolved around Knuckles.
Pulling on the echidna's arm, Rogue edged towards the rickety stairs. Hesitantly, Knuckles slogged behind the eager child. The boy, thrilled that Shadow might arrive sooner than expected, skipped down the hall, ahead of the depressed commander and accidentally crashed into someone. He, as well as the stranger, toppled onto the cold ground.
He stroked his throbbing ears and half opened his eyes to see Cream. The bunny giggled with a low, feminine voice as she rose to her feet. She dusted the dirt off her dull army boots, tight jeans, and red vest with chains draped out of its pockets. Cream re-fastened her ears back into a pony tail with a velvet ribbon and re-tied a crossbow on her arm. "You are here already?" Rogue gasped with relief.
"Yeah, Manic found a short cut," She weakly smiled with relief to escape from the endless dark passageways. "Your sister is in the nursery."
"With the babies?" Rogue stuck out his tongue in disgust.
"Why yes. All your friends are there," Cream patted Rogue's head. "We, adults, have been called for a meeting, so you are going to have to baby sit. Sorry, that's the way the cookie crumbles!" Cream laughed, teasingly waving farewell, and sauntered off with Knuckles, who was aware of this meeting as well. Rogue felt left out and angrily marched to the nursery.
When he tramped in, Roxie joyfully embraced him, streaming tears. A little confused, he remained still while the children around them clapped their hands laughing. "Uh, sis? Is there a problem?" Roxie let out an uneasy chuckle, and blushed as she released her sibling.
"Sorry, big brother. I was just so scared. The warrior tried to cut me in half!" Rogue gasped at her sister's plight. However, his surprise instantly switched to annoyance as a baby from behind slobbered on Rogue's wing. It was an orange rabbit. Rogue clenched his fists.
"Damnit Cheddar!" He yelled as he pried the toddler off himself. Cheddar sobbed uncontrollably, calling her friends. Soon all the children swarmed around Roxie and Rogue. Seven bees, an alligator, another bunny, three chameleons, and an echidna all stared at them with humongous, relentless eyes. "Let's get out of here already," Rogue commented with a twinge of nausea after looking at his drenched wing.
The siblings circled the hallways as they explained to each other, the course of events over the past two days. When each others' speeches ceased, they returned to the watchtower. "I wonder when Shadow will get back. I mean it has been another twenty-four hours since he contacted you right?" Roxie asked, gazing into the stars. They twinkled vibrantly reflecting on the ocean front. The sea shimmered brightly. "... a little too brightly," the bat thought. Roxie squinted at it to see a surge of glowing water. "Big brother?" She said with her voice shaking and trailed off.
"What?" Rogue replied with fear, sensing his sister's angst. Roxie pointed towards the sea, shaking viciously with her mouth half open. Rogue clutched his binoculars and cautiously looked through them. "Holy crap! The warrior is on the water, with all seven chaos emeralds!" He shrieked. Roxie fainted at the mention of the emeralds, and the binoculars tumbled out of Rogue's hands, plummeting over the railing and onto the ground.
A/N: Thanx for reading Chapter 7! If there is anything you would like to comment on, please do so! Nothing makes me happier than to hear that AOL guy say, "You've got mail!" Hahaha. Anyway, please stay tuned to the upcoming chapters!