Retaliation
The loud thumping sounds echoed from Bunnie's hut, the southern cyborg had locked herself in her little home ever since she heard Robotnik's announcement. Sally and Rotor sadly waited outside Bunnie's hut, deeply concerned. Robotnik's threat had sent all of Knothole into a frantic spin. Citizens, guards, even the king himself were baffled at how they would be able to stop Robotnik with Sonic still in recovery.
But Sally was more worried about her beloved friend Bunnie, so very worried. However, this problem was far more serious then Sally realized
The young 2 tailed fox, Tails approached Rotor curiously.
"So she's still in there huh?" Tails asked softly.
Rotor nodded "Yup".
Tails sighed "What do you suppose she's doing in there? It doesn't sound like she's crying or anything".
Rotor replied "Hmm, no you're absolutely right on that one Tails. Bunnie hasn't been making a sound; it's her bedroom that keeps making noises".
Sally blinks "I know it's strange; it almost sounds as if she's hitting something".
The sight of black and white fur emerged from the royal house of acorn, the skunk, Geoffrey St. John was approaching. A look of concern painted Sally's face.
St. John announced his presence "Princess Sally, I bring orders from your father".
Sally rubbed her forehead "Yes, yes I know (nods softly) this must mean my father's come up with a course of action to deal with Robotnik's cannon?".
St. John nodded "Indeed he has your majesty. King Acorn's orders are thus: terminate the individual known as Miracle, effective immediately".
Everyone burst out a loud "WHAT?".
St. John growled "Don't start crying up a river for me ears mates, I've got a job to do".
The princess shook her head "But this is insane, how could my father approve of this?".
Tails screamed "It's MURDER".
Rotor added "Be reasonable St. John, we should try and stop Robotnik, not resort to killing an innocent".
"That sham in a sheik is no bleeding innocent, my scout's report he was on his way to Robotnik's exact location. They speculate he was planning to terminate the eggman" St. John said.
Sally groaned "UGH, I'm not going to sit by and let this happen, orders or no orders. St John, I am forbidding you to".
The skunk agent interrupted "All rudeness aside your majesty, my orders come from a HIGHER source. You can take them up with your old man. Meanwhile, I've got a job to do".
"Oh no you don't" a voice called out from behind.
The gang turned to see Sonic, hobbling over on 2 crutches. The boy's was uncle close by, helping his black and blue burnt nephew on his crutches as he hobbled down towards Sally. The princess immediately ran to Sonic.
Sally gasped "Sonic are you out of your mind! Ugh, why bother even asking? You should be in bed, resting, you too Sir Charles".
Sonic frowned "Not happening Sal, sorry but I'm not gonna let stink tail over here 86 a friend no matter how banged up I am".
The angry skunk was getting fed up of the young hedgehog's protests, St. John had a mission to do and he was going to do it. Bunnie's hut door suddenly slammed open. The gang turned to see the young rabbit packed with a bag full of supplies. Bunnie's face was stern and firm, molded by determination.
Bunnie announced "I'm going after sugar hood, and that's that".
The young, once sweet Bunnie said, rather coldly to her friends. She started to walk past her friends, as if completely ignoring them. Angrily grabbing her arm, St. John called to Bunnie with a glaring growl in his voice. This was the last straw for St. John.
St. John shouted "Hold your bionic buns there Ms. Rabbot, I've had all that I can stand from you. You're going to stay right here and that's a direct".
BAM!
Bunnie's metallic fist slammed right into St. John's face, a groaning moan escaped him as he collapsed. Bunnie just socked St. John in the face with just one punch. Sally, Tails, Rotor, Sonic, and Uncle Chuck just stared wide eyed at the fury filling up Bunnie's, boiling red face.
"Ya'll want to try and stop me too?" Bunnie asked, cracking her metallic knuckles loudly.
Sonic gulped "Uh I think I speak for everyone Bunnie when I say, HELL no".
The rabbit nodded firmly and was just about to leave, but once again another arm stopped her from going. This time it was Sally, and Sonic's was right beside hers.
Bunnie immediately began to protest "I swear I'll hurt you if I have to, I'm not going to leave Miracle behind. And if y'all don't like that, you can".
"Were going with you" Sonic and Sally said.
Bunnie blinked in confusion "Huh? But, but I thought?".
Sally smiled "Bunnie, please listen to me. You're our friend, and you mean more to us then any stupid order. Miracle means the world to you, and it's high time I started trusting your judgment. You love him, and he loves you, and nothing's going to stop me from seeing you two love birds reunited".
Sonic grinned "Same goes for me. If you say Miracle's a good guy, then I believe you 100. No matter how much power he has or who he really is, the fact is that he's our friend. I trust your heart, but most of all I trust you Bunnie. So come on, what's say we go rescue your hooded honey bunny?".
The young rabbit sniffled, she could barely believe what she was hearing. Bunnie's eyes filled with soft tears as she smiled with such happiness in her heart. Bunnie hugged both Sonic and Sally, sobbing into their shoulders.
Bunnie sniffled a bit "Oh mah stars……thank you……my friends".
Meanwhile, deep in the darkest, thickest heart of the seemingly never ending Great forest, Robotnik paced around his chaos cannon. The mad doctor was almost too excited to sit down, eagerly awaiting his chance to finally be rid of Sonic and his friends once and for all. Miracle angrily growled "Monster, I won't help you hurt my friends, I swear on my very soul I won't". Another violent jolt of energy surged through Miracle's chained and shackled body.
Snively had hijacked several dozens of wires across Miracle's body, siphoning off the mystical man's energies to power the chaos cannon. Robotnik laughed "Oh but you can and you will. Even as we speak, my chaos cannon is sucking your body dry of every ounce of magical energy existing. Soon you'll be nothing more then a corpse in a cape, and I'll finally have the power to rid myself of that pestering hedgehog permanently".
Miracle cried out again, he silently sighed as he hanged his head "Fair damsel please, no, don't come, you mustn't come". But the hooded man knew there was nothing he could do to stop Sonic, Bunnie and the others from coming. Miracle knew that they would arrive soon, and that his dreadful premonitions would come true. Sonic and the Freedom fighters will die. Glowing tubes vibrated powerful energies coming from Miracle's body.
Robotnik rubbed his metallic gloves together in great excitement. "Chaos cannon power is at 86 and climbing sir" Snively said, Robotnik grinned "Excellent, calculate the most likely location of the kingdom of Knothole. I don't expect that hedgehog showing his ugly mug anytime soon, not after taking that bomb blast". Sonic smirked "Then think again Robuttnik". A blue, speeding blur suddenly crashed into Robotnik's face at high speeds.
The speedy little hedgehog had slammed his crutches right into the mad man's face, toppling both Robotnik and Sonic to the ground. "OW, didn't think it would hurt that much" Sonic grunted, still recoiling from his injuries. Snively was about to help his wicked uncle, but was immediately slammed back by a jump kick from Princess Sally. Bunnie immediately rushed towards the chaos cannon, and started ripping out all of the wires.
Miracle's sullen, weakened face smiled tiredly to Bunnie's sweet face, he weakly asked "Damsel, is that you?". The young rabbit nearly cried right there on the spot, her furry hand gently brushing along Miracle's hidden face. "Shhh sugar hood, you rest up, I'm here now and I ain't letting you out of my sight eveah again" Bunnie crooned. The masked man smiled as Bunnie helped him up, unaware that Robotnik was secretly aiming at them.
"No one's taking my cannon's battery pack anywhere iron tail" Robotnik said, preparing to blast Bunnie and Miracle with his arm blaster. Tails soared down and screamed "CHARGE". The twin tailed fox violently tackled Robotnik to the ground, giving Sonic, Sally, Bunnie, and Miracle enough time to escape. Tails laughed "Later chubsy-ubsy, gotta fly" before darting off after his friends. Robotnik angrily stood up and grabbed the cannon.
"Those disgusting little flea bags, boost the power servos with everything you've got Snively, were going to blast them all into oblivion, battery or no battery" Robotnik said. Sonic and Sally held each other's hands tightly as they raced through the forest, desperately running back to their hidden home. Bunnie and Miracle slouched a bit behind, the masked man was still weak from the energy drain. Tails bit his lip worriedly as he hovered over them.
Bunnie held Miracle tightly, helping him walk as she pleaded to him "Please hang on sugar, were almost home. You made it baby, we made it". The roaring engine of the chaos cannon suddenly stirred Miracle's sleepy purple eyes. "No" Miracle gasped, he suddenly stopped in the center of the forest, his white gloves clenched tightly. Sally blinked as she looked back "Bunnie, Miracle, is everything all right?". But everything was in fact not all right.
"Damsel, I want you and the others to get as far away from here as you can" Miracle said. Bunnie gasped out loud "What? But what about you sugar hood?", Miracle frowned "I must correct the mistakes I have made. Robotnik is using my energy to power his weapon, therefore only my power is strong enough to withstand the blast. It all ends right here fair damsel". Tears started to pour from Bunnie's cheeks, she can't let this happen again.
The cyborg approached Miracle, but he roared and fired a small energy shield to push Bunnie back. "GO, NOW, PLEASE, I beg of you fair damsel, go now before it's too late" Miracle begged. But Bunnie simply shook her head and continued to run to Miracle, and each time she did, another small blast pushed her back some more. Sonic gulped "Sally, we've got to do something". The princess nodded and quickly rushed to pull Bunnie back.
Miracle turned his hooded head and gasped "Oh no, here it comes, RUN". Dr. Robotnik shouted "Fire Snively", the gun blasted a colossal green energy beam straight into the forest. Trees and plants were vaporized in seconds by the searing, atomic heat. The hooded stranger growled and encased the Freedom Fighters in a small blue bubble, he then turned to face the blast. Miracle placed his hands forward and glared, shouting towards the beam.
Miracle: I will not let their future die because of my mistakes, you hear me Robotnik? By the gods of Heaven and Hell, by the forces of nature, for all that is good and just, for all that is mighty and strong, GIVE ME STRENGTH. (Energy charges up) Peace will return to these good people, I swear. And if I have to sacrifice my life just to guarantee that, then so be it!
To be continued……