Chapter 27: The Tournament of Prower
"Hey Tails, pass the syrup, would ya?" Sonic asked as he rudely stretched his arm over Tails' plate anyway, helping himself to the warm bottle. "Oop, never mind! Guess I was a bit too impatient!"
"Yeah, I'll say!" Tails replied with a laugh as Sonic poured a generous serving of the brown liquid over his stack of fluffy pancakes. The syrup ran down all sides of the stack.
"That's about enough, Sonic," Amy scolded as she yoinked the bottle away from the blue hedgehog's hands. "You almost have more syrup than pancakes!"
"And your point?" Sonic asked with a smirk.
"Oh, never mind," Amy replied with a sigh, taking her turn to pour a smaller amount over her single cake before passing the bottle to Cream.
"Thanks for the pancakes, Helen and Amy!" Cream cheered as she handed the bottle off to Bokkun, who, like Cream, was elevated with several pillows on his chair.
"It was no problem at all!" Helen said from the opposite side of the table. "I always love making breakfast for family!"
Chuck grinned as he sipped his coffee, holding up a newspaper with his other hand. Pulling the paper down, he shifted his attention to Sonic. "I see our special guest hasn't arrived yet." The aging scientist gestured to the empty chair on Tails' other side, a tall stack of pancakes, multiple pieces of crispy bacon, and a few eggs resting undisturbed along with a cup of grape juice.
"That knucklehead isn't known for his punctuality," Sonic replied as he wrapped a single pancake around his fork and slurped it up like a long spaghetti noodle, earning a look of disgust from his pink counterpart.
Ring, ring!
"That timing!" Sonic exclaimed as he pulled himself out of his chair.
"Knock knock, Sonic! It's Knuckles." Not a moment later did Sonic swing the door open, swaying his arm toward the kitchen like a butler welcoming an esteemed guest. The red echidna walked into the kitchen, taking his seat at the table.
"Hey, Knuckles!" Tails greeted. "How've you been?" He waited for a response as Knuckles took a big swig of his grape juice.
"Considering how my search for the Chaos Emeralds continues with little success, and the Master Emerald remains unguarded back on Mobius, I would say…okay." He proceeded to wrap the top cake like an enchilada and eat it with his gloved hands.
"Well, prepared to be stunned," Sonic replied as he returned to his seat, pulling the green gem from his quills. This was followed by Tails pulling the blue emerald from his namesakes, Amy retrieving the purple gem from her hammerspace, and Helen pulling the recently acquired turquoise gem from the zipped pocket on the side of her wheelchair. As the emeralds reunited, each started glowing in tandem, and as Knuckles pulled the red gem from his dreadlocks, his emerald joined the lightshow. The entire kitchen glowed in a majestic combination of all five brilliant colors, the party watching in awe.
"So much for being an expert treasure hunter," Knuckles said to himself as he put the red gem away. "I haven't been able to track down any on my own. Meanwhile, you guys managed to get yet another one!"
"To be fair," Tails replied as he pulled the Miles Electric from his namesakes, "I did have a little help from my detector. I still don't fully understand how it's able to connect with the Master Emerald way back on Mobius, but its spotty signal has helped us thus far."
"How ironic…" Knuckles took another swig of his juice. "That little machine has a stronger bond with the Master Emerald than I do. The guardian of the Master Emerald…tshhh…"
"It's not like that at all, Knuckles," Amy said. "You've been a wonderful guardian. You spent practically every day guarding the shrine until we were sent to Earth."
"Yeah, and plus," Tails added as he raised a single finger to the air, "if it weren't for your meditation lessons, I wouldn't have been able to establish my own connection with the Master Emerald necessary to get my detector to work in the first place!"[1]
"Don't feel bad, Knucklehead," Sonic slapped the red echidna's back, nearly causing him to choke on his pancakes, "sometimes Tails' tech beats all…except for my speed of course."
"Sonic!" Amy stared at her boyfriend with a frown on her face. "Can't you see he's upset? It's no time to be snarky."
"I'm fine," Knuckles replied, waving his hand away to brush off the concern. He took a long swig of his grape juice before wiping his mouth with his arm, seemingly fueled with renewed determination. "Tails may have the tech, but my treasure hunting skills will get us the remaining emeralds and return us home for sure!"
"I can drink to that!" Chuck replied as he lifted his coffee mug. Everyone else imitated this gesture with their own cups. Even Knuckles raised his empty grape juice cup, clinging his glass with Sonic's. They lowered their glasses, however, at the sound of the doorbell.
"I think I'll get it this time," Chuck said as he put his newspaper aside and went to the door. Standing on the porch were Rouge and Topaz.
"Good morning," Topaz said. "May we speak to Sonic and his friends?"
"Morning to you too," Chuck said as he turned to face the kitchen. "Just give us a few minutes to clean up. Have a seat in the living room." He gestured to the open sofa where the two agents took their seats. Rouge sat romantically close to Topaz, whose face turned red as a cherry.
"I told you, not while we're on the job," Topaz pleaded as she tried pushing the bat away.
"Only because you're so cute when you're flustered," Rouge replied as she scooted to the opposite end of the sofa. To Topaz's pleasant surprise, she noticed the bat being more respectful of her boundaries as of late. She still had work to do, but she was seemingly trying to improve, further earning the human agent's respect.
Within a few minutes, everyone made their way to the living room. Helen was next to Chuck, who took his normal seat on his reclining chair, Knuckles leaned against a nearby wall, and Tails, Amy, and Sonic sat on the other sofa. Cream, Cheese, and Bokkun sat on the floor between the sofas.
"You're awfully quiet, Knucky," Rouge said playfully, blowing the red echidna a kiss.
"Humph…" Knuckles turned his head away and crossed his arms.
"You jealous I'm no longer on the market?" The bat smirked as Knuckles' ears perked up.
"W-Why would I care about your private life?" He shifted his focus to Topaz. "Just spill it already! The less I need to put up with her batty nonsense the better!"
"I guess I'll get to the point." Standing up and clearing her throat, the human agent pulled her phone out of her pocket, using it to turn on the living room smart television and stream a video.
President Michael K. materialized out of nowhere in front of what was clearly a greenscreen, a fighting arena in the background. He was wearing a light, white vest with matching pants and a cloth black belt. He pointed at the camera. "Do you have what it takes to face off against the most powerful challengers around?" He flexed his artificial muscles. "Do you have the wherewithal to go all out in a competition that will push you beyond your limits?!" The President proceeded to chop a stack of bricks, the crumbling stack falling apart even before his arm made contact. "Then sign up today for the first annual Chaos Emerald Tournament Extravaganza!"
He gestured at a row of representatives stationed along a nearby table, with phones ringing constantly accompanied by flashing monitors. "Spots are filling up fast! If you want an opportunity to win a priceless Chaos Emerald," he pulled the yellow gem from his pocket, glowing in his palm with unconvincing sparkle effects surrounding it, "sign up today! Our operators are standing by to sign up any and all participants!" The President pulled his arms back, cupping his hands as a sphere of energy filled his palms before pushing his arms forward, releasing a violent beam like an anime character.
As the President's computer-generated attack continued, a separate announcer rattled off, "This event is sponsored by the President Michael Kennedy for Re-Election Campaign. Participation in the tournament does not obligate an endorsement of this campaign. Financial contributions to the campaign will not provide a competitive advantage during the tournament. Participants agree to enter the competition knowing risks of serious bodily harm or death while fighting in a controlled environment. Fighters agree not to press charges due to injury or death."
"That fool!" Knuckles exclaimed. "Who does he think he is, offering one of the Chaos Emeralds as a reward when it's not his to give away in the first place?"
"The tournament is being framed as an event to boost the President's approval ratings," Rouge said, "but that Jerome political consultant he keeps around thinks this will help draw out Eggman, and with Sonic in attendance…"
"…the President could claim credit for apprehending him as well," Chuck finished as he brought a finger to his chin in thought.
"Exactly," Rouge replied, pointing at the aging scientist. "Michael's hoping this will be doubly advantageous for his reelection campaign."
"Regardless," Knuckles said as he headed for the door, "he has no right to use the Chaos Emerald, for bait or any other reason. I'm going to go pay him a little visit."
"Wait, don't do that!" Tails said as he ran to the door, blocking the red echidna's path. "You don't want to show up to the White House unannounced, especially with such hostile intentions! Remember what they did to Sonic and Cream?"[2]
"The Area 99 scientists went too far," Topaz clarified, "but still, Tails has a point. You will be met with a swarm of secret service agents, and if they don't load you full of bullets, you'll be spending the rest of your life behind bars."
"So what do you suppose we do, huh!?" Knuckles exclaimed. "Just let us lose the Chaos Emerald to some random tournament fighter?"
"Not quite," Rouge replied. "As I mentioned before, the President wants Sonic to be there. In fact, he wants him to compete. What's more," the jewel thief gestured to the rest of the party, "he's offering all of you first dibs free of charge! The more heroes in attendance, the greater likelihood of defeating Eggman when he inevitably shows up. Us Mobians competing will drive up ratings, which will be icing on the cake for his campaign."
"I don't know…" Knuckles crossed his arms and closed his eyes before turning his attention to the blue hedgehog. "What do you think?"
"I must admit," Sonic replied as he stood up, scratching the base of his nose, "I don't fully understand all this political nonsense, but the plan sounds reasonable enough." He entered a fighting stance, throwing some air punches with knees bent. "Yeah, I could go for a good ol' tussle. Maybe we'll even get a match in the ring, Knucklehead."
"Ha! That fight would be over in a heartbeat!" Knuckles boasted.
"Yeah, you're right," Sonic replied, a smirk growing across his muzzle. "You'd be thrown out of the ring in ten seconds flat."
"You mind repeating those words?" Knuckles approached the blue hedgehog, their noses nearly touching.
"You heard me," Sonic replied, his grin ever widening as he closed his eyes, turned his head away, and folded his arms in satisfaction, "unless you're too chicken to find out?"
"Who you callin' chicken?" A blood vessel pulsated across his forehead. "I will enter that tournament, kick your butt into the pavement, and retrieve the Chaos Emerald before Eggman can get his greedy paws on it!" The red echidna swiped Topaz's cell phone and tried dialing the number on the television screen, but his oversized gloves made typing a challenge. Instead, he used the spikes on his knuckles to carefully dial the number before bringing the smartphone to his ears. "Yes, I will be entering the Chaos Emerald competition. Name? Knuckles. Knuckles the Echidna. Okay, bye."
"Anyone else wish to challenge me?" The red echidna banged his fist against his chest.
"Yeah, you're on!" Sonic swiped Topaz's phone. "Can I sign anyone else up too?"
"I'll try my hand at it!" Tails replied, his namesakes fluttering from behind. "I could go for some CQC experience!"
"I'll fight too!" Amy added, swinging her Piko Piko Hammer.
"Me too!" Cream said, waving her hand enthusiastically.
"Chao, chao!" Cheese added, waving their stubby arms to indicate their desire to join as well.
"Are you sure?" Tails asked. "I know you've been in your fair share of fights, but we don't know who'll be in this competition. You could get hurt."
"I know," Cream replied cheerfully, "but I've mastered Mr. Sonic's basic lessons! Plus, I have the element of adorableness on my side." As if to demonstrate, the young bunny gave her best "UwU" impression.
"C-Count me in too!" Bokkun added nervously from beside the bunny. "I don't like fighting, but if it helps us get the emerald, and helps Cheese reunite with her mom, I'm all in!" The messenger robot raised his fists in determination, but he froze as the young bunny beside him lunged for a surprise hug. A bright blush grew across his face.
"All right, so I'll register myself, Tails, Amy, Cream, Cheese, and Bokkun. Anyone else?"
"Rouge and I are already registered," Topaz said. "Being in the midst of the action will provide a strategic vantage point in case things go south."
"And more importantly," Rouge added, "that Chaos Emerald prize sounds quite enticing, although I can't imagine what winning it legitimately would do to my street cred."
"Hmph…bat thief…" Knuckles folded his arms once more as he judgmentally turned his head away.
"Can I join too?"
The party turned to Helen, who nervously raised her hand.
"I…don't know if that's a good idea," Tails said.
"Why not?" Helen tilted her head in concern. "Surely if Cream can enter, then I can as well?"
"Well, yeah…but…" The orange kitsune scratched the back of his head.
"It's about my disability, isn't it?" The young girl's face turned downcast. The fox struggled for words when the simple truth was as plain as day. "You think I can't fight or fend for myself?"
"We don't know what other challengers we'll face out in the ring," Tails replied, "and with your condition, I would hate for someone to do irreparable harm to you."
"I would have to agree with Tails on this one," Chuck added, his eyes closed and arms crossed, nodding his head. "I don't think your parents would want you fighting out there either."
"But it's not fair!" Helen protested, slamming her fists on her handlebars. "Everyone else is competing! Plus, I can hold my own just fine!" The young girl made a lap around the kitchen before returning to the living room. "Name anyone else who can go that fast in a wheelchair! Plus, I still have my arms!" She threw some air jabs to prove her point.
"True…" Chuck raised a finger to his chin in thought once more.
"If you compete," Topaz noted, "you would need to sign medical waivers, but we would also have trained medical personnel at hand in case you got injured."
"I understand," Helen replied, nodding her head, only interrupted by the mischievous chuckles coming from the orange kitsune. "What's got you all giggly?"
"Oh, just thinking about some enhancements for your wheelchair I've been putting off, but…" The orange kitsune crawled over to Helen's wheelchair, inspecting the seat, wheels, and armrests. "Yes…with a few modifications, and some training, you'd be able to hold your own in the fighting arena just fine." Tails rubbed his palms together suspiciously.
"I don't know…" Chuck looked sternly at the young fox. "I just don't think I could face my son and daughter-in-law if anything were to happen to their only child." The old man sighed before turning to Helen. "Do you promise to be safe out there?"
"Yes." Helen nodded.
"And if things get too rough, do you promise to wave the white flag?"
"Yes," she nodded once more.
"Okay then…" With one final sigh, Chuck turned to the blue hedgehog, giving him a thumbs up. "Add Helen to the list, and you know what?" He stood up, stretching his back. "Add me in too!"
"Now that's a decision that even I would question," Sonic retorted.
"What, you think I'm too old to go up against the youngins?" Chuck placed his hands on his hips.
"Well, maybe, kind of…" The blue hedgehog ran a hand through his quills, sweat starting to form along his brow.
"Back in my day," Chuck said as he returned to his seat, "we weren't afraid of a little thrill!" The aging scientist raised a fist to the air. "Or, to put it in a way the kids will understand: we yeeted our way to victory with a lot of drip. We were very based. In fact, I was the biggest pog champ around!"
"Okay, grandpa…" Helen gestured for her grandfather to sit down. "We get it. Please spare us this cringe."
"Back in my day," Chuck continued unabated, "we were on fleek, no cap! We were low-key vibin' until the cows came home, I tell you whippersnappers! Yep…" He sighed heavily, reminiscing of memories from his youth. "The times back then really hit differently."
"Okay, boomer, please stop."
"Bet." Chuck leaned back in his chair and took another sip of coffee.
"So…everyone is competing?" Sonic asked.
"Yep!" Everyone said in unison.
"Okay, I'll make the call!" The blue hedgehog redialed the number. "Yes, I would like to sign my friends and I up for the tournament." He proceeded to give the operator his name and the names of each of the competitors before hanging up.
"Well, that's a wrap!" Sonic said as he gave Topaz back her smartphone and headed for the door. "I'll be on my morning run if anyone needs me!" He gently slapped his belly with his palms. "I ate so much for breakfast that I need to burn some of this off!" He stepped out onto the patio and spindashed down the driveway, taking a sharp turn down the street at rapid speed.
"The tournament is one week from today," Rouge said as she made her way to the door, followed behind by Topaz. She approached Knuckles on her way out, bringing her lips to his ear. "Can't wait to see you out there, Knucky." This caused the red echidna to blush profusely, steam escaping his nostrils and ears like a train engine.
"One week to prepare the enhancements?" Tails chuckled under his breath as the secret agents left the abode. "I'll only need one day!"
In the clearing behind Chuck's barn/laboratory in the outskirts of town, roughly 24 hours after Rouge and Topaz's visit, Helen observed as the orange kitsune made his final preparations on the wheelchair.
"That ought to do it!" Tails exclaimed as he lifted himself up, wiping the sweat from his brow before returning his screwdriver to his namesakes. "You remember how to work the controls?"
"Yep!" Helen replied cheerfully.
"Go ahead and press the activation button."
"With pleasure." A grin across her face, the young girl pressed the red button on her right armrest. The wheelchair rapidly transformed, elevating the young girl as the contraption folded out various machinations that eventually resembled a mech. "Woah, this is really cool!" She peered around the protective casing around her body; she was still sitting in the original chair, the wheels serving as side bracings for the mech's metallic legs. A Switch Pro controller wired to the mech like a mall videogame kiosk would give the young girl, who was adept at gaming, the ability to swiftly maneuver the arms and legs with simple button inputs.
"Press the shoulder button!" Tails yelled from below.
"All right!" Helen's voice echoed through the speakers installed on the mech for added effect. Pressing the shoulder button on the controller, the mech raised a single arm, a blaster folding out from the top part of its wrist.
"Now, I want you to fire at the target!" The orange kitsune pointed at the stack of Mountain Dew Baja Blast cans arranged around the perimeter of their makeshift sparring arena.
"Okay!" Sticking out her tongue in concentration, Helen pulled the trigger on her controller, a laser shooting from the blaster and destroying the metal cans like they were candy wrappers. She proceeded to take out a few other stacks with ease. In the process, she fiddled with the buttons, even managing to perform a tactical roll, which was scary at first until she realized that she was completely secured in the confines of the mech.
"Now that you've taken out our practice targets…" Tails gestured to the blue hedgehog standing on the opposite end of the yard. "…let's see if you can land a shot on the fastest thing alive!"
"Wouldn't that be lethal?" Helen asked, tilting her head in concern, the mech matching this movement.
"The blasts will not result in any real damage," Tails replied, sticking a finger in the air. "A successful hit will render the target paralyzed for several seconds, and it may sting similar to a mild electrical shock, but there should be no actual damage from getting hit by your laser blaster."
"Well, if that's the case…" Helen grinned in determination as she eyed the blue hedgehog. "Are you ready to get vaporized?"
"Oh wow, you almost made me think you were possessed by Dr. Eggman!" Sonic replied with a chuckle. "If you think your new mech has a chance of keeping up with the fastest hedgehog in the multiverse, then give it your best sho—" The blue hedgehog froze as Helen aimed the mechanical arm and blasted several laser rounds at him. "Woahh!" He ducked the first one, dove away from the second, and spindashed to safety from the third. "You playin' dirty too? Is today Eggman Cosplay Day or somethin', because I definitely didn't get the memo 'round the watercooler."
"Silly hedgehog!" Helen exclaimed, doing her best Eggman impression. "When I'm through with you, you'll be a black mark on the floor! Get a load of thiiiis!" The young girl pulled the trigger once more, the mech shooting its blaster in rapid succession, but the hedgehog was able to dodge every single laser.
"Is that the best ya got, Helen?" Sonic turned around, bent his back, and slapped his rear end, utilizing one of his top twenty favorite taunts. "It's gonna take much more than using Eggman's lame catch phrases to even come close to hitting me!"
"Oh yeah?" Helen grinned. "How 'bout this!?" With a button press combo, she had the mech's legs swipe in Sonic's general direction, an unexpected maneuver that forced Sonic to jump at nearly the last second.
"Now this is gettin' interesting!" Sonic cheered. "If this keeps up, I will have to actually try!"
With another combination of buttons, the mech attempted to stomp out Sonic with its metallic palms, but to no avail.
"You're too slow!" Sonic chuckled as he turned around, about to blitz away from Helen's next attack, when he heard a call from the pink hedgehog.
"Lunch is ready! Dozens of chili dogs with the works!"
"Did Amy just say chili dogs?" Sonic asked, his stomach instantly gurgling at the thought of his favorite food.
The distraction proved to be a welcome opportunity for Helen to go in for the kill; with a press of the shoulder button, the young girl landed a blast on Sonic, causing him to yelp in surprise before falling to the ground, temporarily paralyzed.
"Hurray, I finally captured that meddlesome hedgehog!" Helen cheered before pressing a few buttons on her armrest. This made the mech transform back into her normal wheelchair. By the time the devolution finished, Sonic had already pulled himself up.
"Good game." Sonic offered his hand to Helen, a smile appearing across his muzzle.
"Agreed!" Helen nodded as she accepted the gesture, gripping his gloved hand for a firm shake.
"Now how 'bout we head back to the lab and have some of Amy's chili dogs?" The blue hedgehog clasped his gurgling stomach.
"Agreed!" Helen rubbed her belly as well. "Controlling a mech really takes a lot out of ya!"
"Last one in is a rotten egg bellied slowmo!" Sonic spindashed into the barn, leaving Helen and Tails behind.
"Hey Tails?" Helen turned to face the orange kitsune.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." A smile appeared across her face. "I never would've ever imagined having the opportunity to pilot such a thing! I've never felt so much power at my fingertips!" She peered down at her palms, wiggling her fingers. "I imagine this is what it must be like to pilot an Eva."
"A what now?" Tails asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Oh yeah, I still need to show you Evangelion! It's best known as being a deconstruction of the mecha genre."
"I'd love to watch it with you!" Tails replied enthusiastically, his namesakes fluttering from behind. "Just remember what Sonic once told me, though: with great power comes great responsibility. Be sure to use the mech only as necessary, and be wary of civilian casualties."
'Was that…a Spiderman quote?" Helen brought a finger to her chin in thought.
"You know, I thought Sonic was lying when he said he made that up himself!" Tails crashed a fist against the open palm of his other hand. "I guess not even copyright laws can stop the fastest thing alive!"
The two laughed as Tails gripped Helen's handlebars, the fox helping the girl back to the lab.
"Even if Sonic totally stole that quote," Helen replied, "I'll be sure to use this suit responsibly."
"Good to hear," Tails replied with a smile. "I just hope I won't have to compete against you in the tournament!"
"It'll be like…the Tournament of Prower!" Tails stopped the wheelchair and looked at Helen confusedly. "Oh, it's another one of my Japanese anime references. It's like the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super but Prower…like your last name." She peered up at the kitsune, chuckling nervously as an anime-sized sweat droplet appeared across the side of her face and a blush covered her cheeks.
"I'll take your word for it!" The fox gave her a thumbs up. The two laughed merrily once more as they entered the lab, fresh chili dogs awaiting them.
1: See chapter 11 of A Prelude to Chaos Control.
2: See chapters 4-6.
I hope you all enjoyed the start of this longfic's obligatory tournament arc! The next chapter will begin with the actual tournament, so feel free to tune in! Any comments or critiques are highly encouraged. :D