Sorry it took so long to update. After I came home from Tenerife I got my Creative Zen touch 20GB the weekend after so you can guess what I was doing that weekend.
This fic is getting difficult to write. As always I have an idea of what the ending is going to be but getting there and making it a decent length is proving to be very difficult.
I cannot wait until Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Rush are out. New games always inspire me and I need some good ideas.
All copyright info on first chapter
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TWO TRIBES
BY MASTER HUNTER
Chapter 4 - The Not-So-Calm before the storm
Manic led the Rose Petals and the Chaotix Detectives to the GASH armoury. Manic handed them a tranquilizer gun and a strange device.
"I'm not going to ask you to kill Sonic for us. But Please put him to sleep with this or use this tracking device", said Manic.
"No way. We're only going to talk to Sonic. I'm still not sure whether or not I should even be helping you", said Amy.
"While we're just going to talk it's still wise to arm ourselves. And these non-lethal weapons will give us a nice edge", said Espio.
"If things don't work out as planned you'll need to come back here…" said Manic
"Hiding behind weapons. And you think you're better than a group of Ultimate Lifeforms. Thanks but no thanks. My jaws and fists are all I need", said Vector.
"It's your choice", said Manic.
The Rose Petals and The Chaotix Detectives said their goodbyes and went after the brotherhood.
Meanwhile in the desert area where Manic had taken Sonic earlier, Rouge was examining the ground very carefully.
"How can you be so sure Grandpa…Oh, no need to take that tone with me oh great Master hunter", said Rouge
"What are you doing?" asked Raine
"According to my Grandpa's spirit Manic and Amy headed off in this direction", said Rouge.
"Grandpa's Spirit? You've lost me", said Raine.
"My Grandfather's spirit lives on in this blade. Through me he can use all his skills and communicate with everyone. He was once the greatest hunter this world has ever known so he knows how to track people down", said Rouge
"So we're meant to trust the word of a dead guy", said Raine.
"What other choice do we have?" said a Black fox.
This Black fox has already been introduced to the group as Nite the Wolf not too long ago. When Streak, Sonic's dark alter ego, split from Sonic all hell broke loose and it was Nite and some others that joined up with the five main teams to take him down. He was a black wolf who wore a black leather jacket. He had red marks on his gloves and boots and always carried two Magnums (the guns). He had already revealed his past as a Project Shadow prototype like Shadow.
"Good point", replied Raine, "Ok batgirl, lead the way"
"STOP!" shouted a familiar voice.
Out of nowhere the Rose Petals and the Chaotix Detectives appeared.
"Sonic please stay out of this war", said Vector.
"Sorry no can do. GASH want me dead, they want to pick on the Brotherhood, the Brotherhood is going to receive my help", said Sonic.
"Which mean the rest of the Sonic Heroes are going to help them too", said Tails
"As are the Rogues", said Shadow.
"Though I'm happy to see Amy is safe", said Sonic.
"Come on Sonic do you really want to start a war with GASH", said Amy, "You really want to fight my brother and grandmother"
"So Ruby is still alive huh? Take me to the Deadly gems. I'm sure they'll recognise this blade, after all it beat them the last time", said Rouge showing off The Annemuir.
"We're not going to reveal their location, it's not our place. Though know this, if you choose to fight GASH we'll be helping them", said Vector.
"HUH! Why?" asked Knuckles.
"Because members of both our teams have family within the organisation. We'll support them all the way", said Espio.
"Hold on…time really is cyclic", said Rouge.
Rouge pointed the Annemuir at Amy and said, "Ruby…"
Then at Cream and said, "Diamond…"
And finally Espio, "…and Emerald. Yes I can see the resemblance"
"You're right", said Shadow, "How come I didn't see it earlier?"
"Well, Well! Shadow the Hedgehog, it's been a long time. 45 years if I'm not mistaken", said a familiar voice.
Ruby, Emerald and Diamond suddenly appeared.
"And that's The Annemuir so you must be Rouge", said Ruby
"Ruby? You've aged quite well. You think your body can keep up with me in a young body like this. You couldn't keep up last time", said Rouge.
"Huh? Last time?" asked Ruby
"Oh sorry. My Grandfather's spirit lives on in this blade. I have all his moves and abilities with me", said Rouge, "With the genes of your old leader as well might I add. You wouldn't just be fighting a 17 year old girl; you'd be fighting the Master hunter and Sapphire all in one"
"Joz and Sapphire? Had Children?..." said Ruby with a puzzled look on her face
"I know they hardly seemed like the type to end up together", said Shadow.
"Oh I don't know… Sapphire definitely acted strangely around Joz", said Diamond.
"Could we please talk about the past later? Don't we have a fight to plan?" asked Raine.
"Oh yes, how rude of me. How about both teams meet up here tomorrow at noon?" asked Ruby
"Fine with us", said Raine.
"Do we really have to fight? Can't we just live in peace", said Sephie.
"You are protecting Sonic, one we've been hired to assassinate. You also have one of us", said Ruby
"Get real Ruby. This is another test of strength. You hate the fact that they are all Ultimate lifeforms", said Rouge.
"Maybe. The fact remains there will be a battle between our groups", said Ruby.
"It seems whenever anyone forms a group and starts believing they are better than everybody else, it leads to war", said Sephie, "So be it"
"Sonic are you still going to fight with them?" asked Amy.
"Yes", said Sonic.
"Please don't. I don't want to hurt you", said Amy turning her head away.
"Come again?" asked Sonic.
"Espio and Vector have made good points. I have to defend my family and even up the numbers. Tomorrow I will be fighting for GASH", said Amy.
Sonic remained stunned.
"I don't know what to say. Amy….I want you at your best tomorrow…Don't hold back", said Sonic.
Now it was everyone else's turn to be stunned. There was an awkward silence.
"Here tomorrow, bring Air", said Ruby breaking the silence.
"Well be there", said Raine.
Just as the two teams were about to depart for their bases Sonic collapsed. As the rest of the Brotherhood, heroes and rogues turned to see what the thud noise was they were bombarded by smoke bombs. When the smoke cleared Sonic, the gems, the petals and the Chaotix detectives were all gone.
"THOSE COWARDS!" shouted Knuckles.
"Come on we can't let them take Sonic", said Tails angrily.
The two remaining heroes dashed straight forward but there was no sign of them.
"Dammit! They disappeared!" said Tails.
"Now what do we do?" asked Knuckles.
Meanwhile Emerald held Sonic in her arms. Sonic has been tranquilized and unsurprisingly Amy wasn't happy.
"What are you going to do with Sonic?" asked Amy angrily.
"Our client should be at GASH headquarters any minute now. I think we'll let him decide the Blue Hedgehog's fate", said Ruby.
"Client? EGGMAN! You're going to let Eggman have his way with Sonic. LET HIM GO NOW", screamed Amy grasping her hammer tightly.
"Chill out Amy. That little stunt back there provided the perfect opportunity. Let that be a lesson to you my dear, never drop your guard", said Ruby.
"WHAT? How can you even suggest that to me? I won't let you or anyone else hurt Sonic, ever!" screamed Amy.
"Well what are you going to do about it?" asked Ruby, "You going to take me on?"
"I just might do that. Let him go right now", said Amy angrily.
"You do realise he's been hit by a tranquilizer. Even we did let him go he'll just drop to the ground", said Emerald.
Amy froze, realising Emerald was right.
"Ok fine. Take him to the base but when we get there know that I'll protect Sonic until my last breath", said Amy.
"Do what you want to do, though we will not fail a client, ever", said Ruby.
They arrived at GASH HQ to find Eggman waiting in the control room. Emerald dropped the unconscious Sonic at his feet.
"What is this", said Eggman.
"We thought maybe you'd like to finish him off", said Ruby
"Excellent", said Eggman, "Goodbye Sonic"
Eggman pulled out a gun and aimed it at Sonic. Amy quickly smashed her hammer across Eggman's hand, knocking the gun out of his hand and across the room.
"If you want Sonic, you'll have to get through me first", said Amy.
"ARGH! Amy, what are you doing here?" asked Eggman.
"Protecting Sonic. So have you finally given up realising you'll never beat Sonic?" said Amy smiling.
"Impudent little girl. I will destroy all of you", said Eggman, "But not now. As I understand it you and the rest of GASH, the petals and Chaotix are about to fight the Brotherhood, the Rogues and the rest of the Heroes. Have fun fighting each other"
"What are you planning?" asked Vector.
"Nothing gets by you Vector. Oh well, with all of you distracted I'll destroy Station Square with my new weapon", said Eggman.
"Yeah like we're really going to let you destroy Station Square", said Charmy
"Oh you'll leave Espio's Grandmother and the rest of GASH to fight the Brotherhood alone?" asked Eggman.
The six heroes froze on the spot. They knew they had to protect their family, they knew the gems were much older yet still as stubborn as ever, but they also knew they couldn't let Eggman get his way. They were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Dammit, we have to get the others to call off the fight", said Vector, "again!"
"URGH! This is just one crazy thing after the other", said Espio.
"It doesn't matter. If we stop him now there's no way he can attack Station Square anyway", said Amy.
Amy struck at Eggman but found Ruby's spiked Hammer smashing into her stomach. The force of the hit sent her flying into the opposite wall. Amy sprang back to her feet, grabbing her stomach in pain. A small amount of blood dropped from her mouth. She looked back shocked.
"Grandma….why?" asked Amy confused.
"We have to protect our clients my dear. No Matter what", said Ruby.
A fishing line wrapped round Ruby's body as Big cast his line. He pulled back and swung the Red hedgehog into the air. Diamond dashed to the line and cut it with her sword, releasing Ruby. Cheese then smashed into Diamond's face.
"Sorry Grandma, but no-one messes with the Rose Petals", said Cream.
"So be it. I'll teach you to respect your elders", said Diamond.
Diamond dashed into Cream knocking her off her feet. Cream sprang back up and threw cheese at Diamond. Meanwhile Amy held Ruby back as their hammers smashed together. Amy tried her hardest to hold her back but eventually Ruby pushed Amy back. Smashing her across the face, Ruby sent Amy flying back down the floor. This time she didn't get back up. Big tried to cast his fishing rod again but found that it had disappeared. He looked over to find Emerald holding the fishing rod in her hands.
"Looking for this", said Emerald.
Big went after Emerald but soon got struck at the back of the head by Ruby. Big fell to the floor unconscious. Ruby threw Amy onto top of Big and Diamond smacked into Cream, sending the young rabbit onto the pile. Cream tried to get back up but collapsed in exhaustion. The Rose Petals had been beaten by the Deadly Gems who barely broke a sweat.
Meanwhile The Chaotix Detectives had sneaked by and chased Eggman through GASH HQ. Eggman had just managed to stay ahead as he reached his latest weapon. It looked like the Egg Gorilla only much bigger. During their time on Mother Egg the Sonic Heroes fought the Egg Gorilla, a machine that had two large arms and a laser on the base of the main body, and had defeated it. Though this was something else.
"Looks like I'll have to defeat you little pests first. Ok, feel the wrath of The Egg Gorilla Mark II", said Eggman.
The two massive fists smashed straight into Vector and Espio, who quickly dodged the attack. Charmy tried a direct attack but came out worse. The Egg Gorilla 2 fell backwards and charged its huge laser. The Chaotix Detectives froze in horror as the laser fired, completely consuming the width and height of the corridor.
When the dust settled the three detectives lay on the floor unconscious.
"How pathetic. I'll let you live for now Vector. But next time I hope you can prove to be more of a challenge", said Eggman.
Eggman left as the six heroes lay on the floor defeated. Sonic was down and everyone else was getting ready for the big fight. Who will be left to stand up to Eggman now?