The Tension That Binds Us
[The scene opens with a shot of the evening sky, followed by a shot of Donald and Douglas coming down the line doubleheading a passenger train past a lake, followed by a shot of Emily with her own coaches going across the rail bridge that goes over a street. It then cuts to a shot of the nameplate of Amber Station, proceeded by a pan out of Thomas pulling into the platform with Annie and Clarabel to drop off passengers. Of the consensus that hops off the coaches; being Setsuna, Hotaru, Chance, Jake, Marceline, Elizabeth Brisby, and the Ed trio from Annie while Pongo, Tod, Flora, Angelina, and Jenna depart from Clarabel, the shot focuses on Sonic and Antoine stepping from the frontmost portion of the train]
Sonic: So tell me why we came out here again?
Antoine: Well, I told you before that it was a surprise, so you'll have to wait a bit longer before it's revealed.
Sonic: Keepin' me in suspense, eh, you crafty little thing.
[As the two walk down the platform, Thomas watches in bemusement]
Thomas: You know, it's sometimes hard to believe that those two would ever get along.
Annie: Well, things can often come in surprises, isn't that right, Clarabel?
Clarabel: Indeed, Annie, you didn't think we'd be your coaches, did you, Thomas?
Annie: Oh, yes, back in the day when he was young and impressionable.
Clarabel: Back when he wanted to see the world outside of the station yard.
Thomas: Hehe, okay, okay, you two, no need to get sentimental on me. I suppose stranger things have happened.
[The shot cuts to being on top of a hill where the blue hedgehog and tan coyote finally stop]
Sonic: Alright, Twan, whatchu drag me all the way out here for?
Antoine: For a friendly duel, per se. [pulls out a sword from his coat] A little bout between us, see what you've got in ze way of weaponry.
Sonic: [catches the sword from the coyote] Ant, c'mon, you know I'm more of a run-round sort of guy, I don't really use weapons.
Antoine: Perhaps, but let's see if your skill is as sharp as your speed, en garde!
[Antoine takes the first swing and Sonic briskly puts his sword up to defend himself. The two circle around each other, occasionally thrusting out to defend themselves, however, Sonic finds that Antoine is generally the better swordsman, particularly emphasized when the Frenchman knocks the sword out of the hedgehog's hand, causing him to fall to the ground. Sonic looks up to see a confident Antoine standing before him]
Antoine: It appears I win zis round, mon ami.
Sonic: Well, I gotta hand it to ya', you've really grown a pair over the years.
Antoine: I seem to recall that's when you started becoming more amicable with me.
Sonic: Yeah, well, could say the same for you, imagine that; once at each other's throats and now sharing a duel with no tension at each other. Time flies by sometimes, don't it?
Antoine: Indeed, it does, makes me think about the time that kickstarted this whole thing.
Sonic: Aaaaaaaah, that…that was a rollercoaster, wasn't it, ya' know with the things said and all.
Antoine: Hmm…not my finest moment either, I'll admit.
Sonic: Yes, but that came out of me being…you know.
Antoine: A jerk?
Sonic: Yeeeeeeeah, that…but hey, we all gotta start somewhere, you remember how it went, I mean, if you don't mind reciting.
Antoine: No, no, it's quite alright, I remember it well, started well over twenty years ago…
[The scene transitions to a flashback that takes place after the destruction of Robotnik's temple, but before Snively's resurrection. Antoine is seen walking through the forest in a rather sour mood]
Antoine: It's always about him, isn't it? "Oh, help me, Sonic, you're so great, Sonic, I wanna kiss you, Sonic", sure, don't think about the swordsman of the Royal Guard.
Sonic: [off-screen] Talkin' to yourself again, eh, Antwan?
Antoine: [with a visible vein on his forehead] Oh, pour l'amour de Dieu, it is Antoine, not Antwan, you prickly pinhead.
[The scene shows Sonic leaning against a tree]
Sonic: Hey, hey, hey, no need to get all fussy, you do it enough as it is.
Antoine: I do not get fussy.
Sonic: Um, yeah, ya' do, that's literally your whole schtick, well, besides being a complete coward.
Antoine: I believe the term is "rightfully annoyed", which is exactly what I feel whenever I have to hear something come out of your mouth.
Sonic: Man, you don't even see the irony of that statement, do you?
Antoine: Excuse me, I believe the same goes for the others given how much you mouth off to them, the only difference is that I actually say something about it.
Sonic: What are you talking about, all you do is say some dumb stuff that doesn't hold an ounce of water. And that's only on a good day.
Antoine: See, that's the thing, everyone's willing to let you say anything because you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, but whenever I say something, it's shot down like a pigeon.
Sonic: Probably because you don't have anything of value to say, or do for that matter.
Antoine: Excuse me, I have plenty to say and do of value, I have a literal sword in my coat, I am a member of the Royal Guard, I-
Sonic: -only have that sword because it came with the uniform, when was the last time it was actually useful? Do you even know how to use a sword, and by use it, I mean, not look like a total geek?
Antoine: I would if you lot would just give me ze chance instead of picking on me all the time.
Sonic: Not my fault you make yourself look like fresh meat.
Antoine: Wow, justifying the poor treatment of others, Mobius' favorite hero, everyone.
Sonic: Ya' know, maybe if you actually grew a backbone, you wouldn't be so easy to make fun of.
Antoine: Oh, it's not just me you do this to, I've seen that big blabbermouth of yours yak off to ze princess, how she puts up with that amazes me.
Sonic: Hey, that's because Sal and I are cool.
Antoine: Cool?! You put yourself in danger at times just to spite her, and the reason she doesn't get mad is because you're "invincible" or whatever.
Sonic: You're just jealous because she wouldn't be partners with the likes of you.
Antoine: At least I would know how to treat a lady with respect, and not have my idiotic behavior brushed aside by yesmen.
Sonic: Twan, you are the definition of idiotic behavior, literally one of us has to come and save your ass from getting blown up every time you screw up. In fact, the only reason you haven't been cast off to the rats is because Sally pities you enough to keep you in this group, because you would die otherwise!
Antoine: That is not true, I-
Sonic: Yes, it is true, you complete dolt! If we had the option between leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere and saving our asses, we'd go with the latter, in fact, I bet you're not even a real swordsman, hell, I bet your family ain't descendants of the Royal Guard and only wear those swanky uniforms for show, if only to hide the fact that they're completely useless, because that's what you are, Antwan, useless, so useless in fact that I wouldn't lose an ounce of sleep if you just disappeared and never came back!
[Antoine gapes at this. A long silence fills the air. Sonic blinks and thinks back at what he just said. He instantly regrets it as Antoine just stares at him]
Antoine: I see…
Sonic: Um, Ant, that stuff I just said, I didn't really mean…
[The shot cuts to Antoine walking away without another word]
Sonic: Ant? Antwan? Antoine!
[Sonic receives no reply back]
Sonic: [smacks his forehead] Aaaaah, Sonic, you dumbass, you've really done it now…
[Sonic turns to the nearest tree and hits his head against it, giving a heavy sigh. The scene transitions to the blue hedgehog walking past the huts around the Freedom Fighters' headquarters. He spots by the one housing the French coyote, no lights shining in the windows. Sonic hesitantly walks up to the door and is about to knock on it]
Sonic: Um…ah…[sighs]...I best leave him alone…
[Sonic turns around and walks away from his hut before the shot cuts to the inside of Antoine's hut, showing the coyote wrapped up in bed facing away from the window with his eyes half-lidded in a neutral expression. The scene cuts to new morning as Sally has gathered the other members of the group for a meeting. Tails and Antoine are noticeably absent and Sonic keeps shifting his legs as he sits. Rotor notices this as he looks down]
Rotor: You alright there? You're shaking a bit.
Sonic: What? Oh, nah, it's nothing, really, just wondering what Sal's called for us.
Rotor: Wonder what's keeping Tails and Twan up, I thought the little guy always followed you to these things.
Sonic: Yeeeeeeah, I wonder that myself.
[Sonic looks away as Rotor quirks a brow. The walrus shrugs and says no more. A few seconds go by before the kitsune is seen running into the meeting hall, followed by a slower coyote with the same expression he had on last night. Sonic visibly winces at this]
Sally: Alright, I'm glad you're all in attendance, Nicole has briefed me on some rather unsettling news regarding our recent victory.
Tails: Really, what's that? I thought Robotnik was destroyed.
Sally: Well, yes, but it turns out that the aftermath didn't leave us much in the path of getting things back to normal as we'd hoped. I think Nicole can explain it better than I can.
[The lynx walks up to the screen to show a map of Mobius, still as dark and grim as ever]
Nicole: We detected activity festering the sewers of the city, it turns out that there are still the remnants of Robotnik's forces still at large in that area, they've just gone underground to make their operations less noticeable.
Bunnie: So, they could easily launch another attack on us?
Nicole: Affirmative, we also picked up some signals that a certain someone has massed these forces together, one of the spies was able to capture this transmission.
[Nicole pulls out a recorder and plays the message, the audio quality is a bit crackled, but can be made out]
?: Remember…keep his body warm…I need to use it…as leverage…when you hear the signal…repeat "Snively has landed…"
Bunnie: Hold on a minute, that sounds like them vermin Swatbots.
Tails: Wait, Snively's still alive? I almost forgot about him, but that blast should have gotten anyone in its path.
Nicole: Evidently, it appears we didn't completely finish the mission.
Sally: As such, we're launching an investigation to see if we can map out any weak spots in their operation. We'll be splitting into pairs and landing on a respective spot of the city.
Sonic: [sighs] I just hope she doesn't set me up with you know who…I hope I didn't say that out loud.
[The scene cuts to the team high up in the sky before it cuts to the inferior, the seating arrangement goes from Antoine on the far right, Bunnie, Rotor, Tails, and Sonic on the far left. The hedgehog occasionally glances at the coyote who is looking out the window with a plain expression on his face]
Bunnie: Antwan, sug, you ain't usually this quiet.
Antoine: Hmm…
Bunnie: Is somethin' the matter?
Antoine: [sighs] Nah…
Bunnie: Oh, I see…
Tails: I wonder what's got Antoine so…blue. I had to call him three times to come down.
Sonic: Ooooh, well, you know, prolly just not a morning person, hehe, heeeee…
Tails: Did something happen t-
Sonic: No, nothing happened, everything's fine, it…oh, sorry about that, don't know what came over me.
Tails: Okay, but you two are acting really strange today…
Rotor: I suspect someone's hiding something.
Sonic: [mutters] SSSShut up, Rotor.
[Sally turns around, seated at the cockpit with Nicole]
Sally: Once we get down, we'll split up into pairs, Bunnie, you're with me and Nicole, Tails and Rotor, you're together, and finally, Sonic, Antoine, you two are together, I trust there won't be any disagreements with that?
Sonic: [sweatdrops] You're having me on, Sal…I mean, you really think that's the best idea after-
Antoine: [flatly] It's fine…I'll go with him.
Sally: Oh…I didn't expect this from you, Twan…but I'm not complaining. Sonic?
Sonic: I…[sighs]...never mind, you made the arrangements, we gotta stick with 'em.
[As the plane begins its descent, Bunnie looks between Antoine and Sonic with an anxious expression on her face. The scene cuts to the plane having landed on the outskirts of the city, looking over the still broken and grey remains of what was once a bustling metropolis]
Rotor: This place doesn't get any less depressing to look at.
Sally: Yeah…[clears throat]...anyways, we'll take the highgrounds of the city, you two will take to the streets, and you two will look underground.
Antoine: Hmm…
Tails: He's not freaking out about going in the sewers…now I know something's off.
Bunnie: Sonic, sug, try and figua' out what's wrong with Antwan, he don't seem like his normal self.
Sonic: [sweatdrops] Ehhhhhhhh, yeah, I noticed, wonder why that could be…?
[Antoine rolls his eyes at this, which Sonic notices and frowns. As the three groups split up, the shot focuses on the hedgehog and coyote walking through the streets. An awkward silence fills the air as nothing can be heard besides the occasional wind making a metal structure creak or the metallic thumping of something in the background. Sonic looks between himself and Antoine and tries to think of a way to break the ice between them]
Sonic: So, uh…not a pleasant sight, is it?
Antoine: Yes…
Sonic: Um, yeah, you're right there, 100% correct, uh…yeah…
Antoine: Hmm…
Sonic: Uh, Antoine…about last night…what I said back there…was just heat of the moment, ya' know…I didn't really mean what was said…
Antoine: Of course you didn't, that means everything is all sunshine and rainbows, isn't it?
Sonic: Well, I didn't mean it like that, I just-
Antoine: No, you clearly meant every word you said to me last night, I've been around you long enough to know how you really feel about me.
Sonic: Ant, c'mon, you know I don't-
Antoine: Stop, what you said about ze others was true as well, they only keep me out of pity, so it doesn't matter what happens to me. I am expendable in their eyes as well as yours, so you've no reason to care.
Sonic: Well, I…Antoine, please, just let hear me out.
Antoine: There is nothing to hear out, backtracking is not going to get you any closer to "getting back to how things were"...one more thing; keep my family's name out of your mouth. [pokes the hedgehog's nose] Got that?
Sonic: I…[sighs]
[The two Freedom Fighters arrive upon one of the drains. Normally, Antoine would loathe the idea of going into the sewers, but in his current state, he doesn't have the energy to argue, nor care for that matter. Sonic lifts the cover off and takes the lead in climbing down the latter, with the Frenchman following behind]
Sonic: Man, this place ain't half creepy.
Antoine: Thought you were supposed to be the brave one.
Sonic: Never mind about that, let's just see if there's anything to stake out.
Antoine: [mutters] Princess, I respect you, but this arrangement of all times…
[The two begin to walk down the path, the sounds of dripping water and the rushing currents of the sewers being the only thing accompanying them. For a while, nothing seems to happen, although the return of the awkward silence doesn't do much to settle either of their nerves. However, as they turn a corner, a low, metallic sound rumbles through the tunnel, causing them both to stop]
Sonic: Did you hear that?
Antoine: Oui…
[The sound comes again, this time causing the two to turn around. The camera shifts to a different perspective as it seems to close in on the duo. Antoine turns his head at a ninety degree angle]
Antoine: Putain de merde!
Sonic: What?
[Something strikes Sonic hard in the head from behind, causing him to fall down]
Sonic: AGH! Oh, God, my head!
[With slightly blurry vision, Sonic looks to see Antoine backing away from something, but pulling out his sword regardless. Suddenly, the hedgehog feels something pinning him down before another strike goes to his head, knocking him out completely as the sound of clanking metal is heard]
[The scene cuts to a blurry POV as it looks around the area]
Sonic: [groans] What…what happened…? [looks over to see Antoine next to him] Antoine…oh my God, your face.
Antoine: [with visible scratches on his face] Sonic, I don't know how to tell you this, but you've got an awful gash on your head.
Sonic: What…[strains]...I'm stuck.
Antoine: As it would appear, so am I.
[The shot pans out to reveal the duo tied up by rope]
Sonic: Oh, great, this day just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
Antoine: If I didn't know any better, I'd say zis was the work of the Swatbots.
Sonic: If that's the case, they'd amped up their game since last time…agh, my head…I take it you got all those scrapes from somewhere.
Antoine: I was trying to find zem off, though I didn't come out unscathed, and I couldn't hold them off…
Sonic: You still tried at least…
[The sound of metallic footsteps approach the two animals as a group of Swatbots step before them]
Swatbot #1: Our leader will be here to collect you shortly, all you need to do is stay where you are.
Swatbot #2: We have ways of making sure you know your place.
[The second Swatbot pulls out a sharp object and slashes it across both Sonic and Antoine's faces, causing both to wince]
Sonic: Aw, man, this sucks!
Antoine: Can't you use those powers of yours to get us out?
Sonic: I'm too numb to move and I don't have one of those rings…guess we're screwed regardless.
Antoine: As it turns out…though whatever Snively's done, I can only imagine it's worse than misuse of margarine.
Sonic: You still remember that?
Antoine: Unfortunately.
Sonic: Ah, if only I could get free of these…ropes.
Swatbot #3: Do not struggle or you will be sliced open.
Sonic: Jeez, what kind of upgrades did these guys get?
Antoine: Personally, I don't want to know. But perhaps we can try a little, what you say, reverse psychology on them.
Sonic: Huh…that's some thinking outside the box on your part.
Antoine: I'm not as dense as you think I am. Shall we swindle a few Swatbots?
Sonic: Anything to get outta here. Hey, big tin cans!
Swatbot #4: What do you want, natural organism?
Sonic: You guys might have some sharp objects, but you wouldn't actually hurt us.
Swatbot #2: Of course we would, we are equipped to dealing with transit that don't abide our commands.
Antoine: Then it must be such a shame to your leader that you didn't come back with the bodies of his foes. Makes me wonder what he really thinks about you.
Swatbot #1: Do not push your luck, insignificant being, you will be terminated as soon as possible.
Sonic: You don't have the bolts.
Swatbot #3: Alright, you asked for it.
[The Swatbot closest to the duo raises its sharp blade and lunges it down, but Antoine backs up just far enough for the rope holding him to be split up. Using quick-thinking, the Frenchman kicks the robot from underneath before quickly untying Sonic]
Antoine: You ready to make a great escape?
Sonic: Just gotta take care of one little thing.
Antoine: Hmm, so do I.
[Sonic quickly dashes up and spins around two of the Swatbots while Antoine kicks one in the middle before slashing his sword at the other. The two Freedom Fighters end up back to back on each other as they fend off their respective parties]
Antoine: Sonic, I believe it's time we make our departure.
Sonic: I know a way that'll get outta here fast.
Antoine: It's going to require me being held in your arms, isn't it?
Sonic: Pretty much.
Antoine: Well then, let's get a move on!
[Sonic quickly picks up Antoine and dashes in the opposite direction. Eventually, the two come to the opening of the drain and quickly make their way up the ladder before Antoine shuts the lid. They then quickly make a run for the outskirts of town where the other groups are running towards the aircraft]
Bunnie: Make like rabbits and scatter, ya'll! We've done our bit for the day!
Tails: Sonic, Antoine, what happened to you?!
Sonic: I'll explain later, let's just get outta here!
[The group quickly boards the plane and make their way away from the city and back to HQ. The scene cuts to the Freedom Fighters exiting the aircraft, apart from Sonic and Antoine sustaining their injuries, Tails and Rotor have collected dirt of them while Sally, Bunnie, and Nicole's fur are rather frizzled]
Nicole: You both will need medical attention for those wounds.
Sally: And you two need a good bath.
Rotor: This is what I get for running through several alleys of mud and broken glass…
Tails: Oof, Sonic, that spot on your head looks pretty bad.
Sonic: Yeah, it still kinda hurts…ow…but I'll live.
Bunnie: At least ya' both got out when ya' did, that place is still crawlin' with vermin.
Sally: Indeed, it appears that our victory might have been short-lived after all, guess we need to keep our chins up, whatever's going on might just be more dangerous than we could have anticipated.
[As the groups walk off to their respective huts, Sonic and Antoine are left on their own]
Sonic: Sooooooo…Antoine?
Antoine: Yes, Sonic?
Sonic: Would you say that we're…cool?
Antoine: Don't get ahead of yourself, but given the circumstances of what happened today…I can say that I tolerate your presence a little bit more.
Sonic: Well, I'll take what I can get…and I'm really sorry for all the things I said yesterday, it was unprofessional of me and I stepped over the line with things that were said.
Antoine: [sighs] I admit, I could have handled things better myself…so perhaps we're both at fault in some capacity.
Sonic: I guess you could say that…
Antoine: Though I'd suggest you keep a better mind with that tongue of yours, you never know what you might say…
[Sonic looks down as Antoine walks away before the coyote turns around]
Antoine: Hey, chin up, we can't have everyone's favorite hero slouching like a sourpuss.
[Antoine manages to crack a small grin at this before walking away again. Sonic stands here in surprise for a little before giving a grin of his own]
Sonic: Oh, Antoine…
[The scene transitions back to present day. By this time, nighttime has fallen as the duo are seen sitting down on the hill]
Sonic: Yeah, you could say that moment opened my eyes a little bit, even if it wasn't the fondest of memories.
Antoine: At least we gained a little experience from it, gave us both a reality check you could say.
Sonic: Still, it showed me that you had guts, and that I kinda slip out with some…less than pleasant stuff sometime.
Antoine: Quite so…but at least that's all in the past, all we have to do is move on ahead…
Sonic: Truer words never spoken…
[The two sit in silence watching the stars up in the sky…until a loud BOOM breaks the quiet atmosphere]
Antoine: What the?!
[The two turn and the shot cuts to a red flare happening at the eastern side of the city]
Sonic: Sounds like something just blew up, we'd better investigate.
Antoine: Right.
[The two quickly set off down the hill as the shot pans up to the flare, following by something shooting up into the sky and blowing up like a firework]
To Be Continued…
