{Five Years Later...}
The day was dark and dreary, which tends to happen more often than not, unfortunately. With the sun barely being out and the skies being black and gray. It was the usual default mood of days like this, and it didn't really pan over too well with the inhabitants.
Said inhabitants were in a bit of a tough bind.
The bots were swarming over them, despite their best attempts at trying to resist them. With weapons at their disposal, they did what they could to repel them. But alas, their efforts were noble yet not quite enough.
"Ngh, they're tougher than I imagined they'd be!" One of the locals, a feline wearing a simple blue dress, shouted after a blast from her weapon did nothing. "Get everyone to shelter, quickly!"
"But-"
"There's no time! Go now!" She exclaimed quickly, while firing another blast from her weapon, only for it to once again do little to no harm to the bots in front of her. She clicked her tongue in irritation, before the bot lifted it's wrist an shot a beam in her direction, forcing her to barely dodge to the side to avoid it. "Grk!"
She ended up crashing into the ground, groaning as she tried to push themselves off of it. She looked up, her eyes widening as she came face to face with the bot, as it's laser was now aimed directly towards her. She grunted, closing her eyes and waiting for the end.
She was confused after seven seconds passed, realizing she wasn't dead yet. She opened her eyes and looked to her would have been executioner.
It was currently missing it's head, circuitry and sparks flying around, before it feel to it's knees and to it's side. The local was confuzzled by the entire ordeal, for she was so sure that it was over for her right then and there.
She then felt something tapping her shoulder.
"'Scuse me, miss."
"Wha-" She turned around and looked to see a teenaged blue hedgehog waving cheerily at her.
"Yo!"
"W-What...?"
"Ya did good out there. When even local folk can stand up for themselves and put up a fight for what's important to them, that's always a treat to see. Proves they aren't gonna give up without one."
She blinked owlishly. "You're...you're Sonic The Hedgehog! I-I thought you were a myth!"
"I'm a myth around here? Huh, crazy." He held out a hand, then helped her up. "Might wanna clear outta here. Help your friends outta trouble, while me and the crew go for the source of these troubles. Be sure to keep yourself safe, don't be too reckless. That's a me thing, but I'm able to get away with it a bit better."
She blinked, resisting a blush. "O-Okay. Got it."
"Cool." He then pointed at her dress. "Good choice of color. See ya!" Sonic soon zipped away in a bright blue light, with the wind following him. The feline looked on in awe for a moment, before she shook her head and regained focus, heading out to complete her own task.
He easily destroyed it. I thought they were supposed to be super durable, we couldn't even make it flinch! He's that strong..!?
Sonic soon screeched around another corner, only to see another group of Swat Bots around it. He flashed a peace sign.
"Wassup, Swatties? I was just around the neighborhood, figuring I could come by for a visit." He clapped. "So, how's your day?"
They beeped loudly. "HEDGEHOG, PRIORITY ONE! HEDGEHOG, PRIORITY ONE!"
"After all these years, I'm still considered to be your number one?" Sonic gasped with a hand over his heart in mock surprise. "You guys always know how to warm this wittle heggie's heart!"
They raised their lasers to blast him, though he had already vanished from their visors. They were soon blitzed in a serious of quick blue lines, before they ended up flying in different directions while being greatly dented all over, including some greatly dented or destroyed heads. Sonic landed with a huff, briefly brushing himself off.
"Too bad your own hearts are just a bit too cold for my taste. Sorry 'bout that."
"HEDGEHOG, PRIORITY ONE!"
"Oh wow, your friends are here already?" Sonic blinked, seeing that several Hovering Swat Bots were heading his way. "And you've got fliers! Talk about expansion of the crew!" He smirked and folded his arms. "Good thing I didn't come alone."
They've already prepared their way to blast at Sonic with their seeking missiles, only for their vehicles to briefly malfunction and be incapable of firing. Before long, they were swiftly smashed through by a blur of yellow speeding by within the sky. A pair of blue eyes opened with a smile as the owner of them landed by Sonic's side, watching as the Hovering Swat Bots crashed and exploded into the ground.
"What's the judgement, buddy?" Sonic asked his partner, Tails. The young fox turned to him as his namesakes wave behind him, tugging on a red scarf around his neck.
"These bots are so last season." Tails rolled his eyes with a shrugged. "They didn't seem like they were expecting me. Don't tell me they were scared of a ten year old kid? Pfft! How sad is that?"
"I see what ya did there." Sonic knowingly pointed while ruffling the fur on top of his head.
"Still, it's best we not push our luck too much. Aunt Sally warned us about that."
"I know, I know." Sonic shrugged with his arms folded. "So, when's the next wave coming? They know I'm here, they're definitely gonna be gunning for me first and foremost. That should give the others time to do their thing."
"They're also cautious enough to know that the enemy might be savvy enough to expect that, and send some their way anyway. As for the wave, I'd say T-minus one minute."
"Sheesh, they move fast."
"'But not as fast as me!' Right?" Tails raised an eyebrow.
"You've been getting sassier, little buddy. Sal and I have taught you well." Sonic grinned as he began stretching his legs. "Alright, time to get semi-serious."
"Semi?"
"Too much seriousness for someone like me is rough on the joints."
"So, about seventy-five percent serious?"
"Eh, I'll settle for forty-five percent unless it's really dire."
Tails rolled his eyes as they noticed another platoon heading their way. "Here they come, Sonic!"
"Showtime!" Sonic grinned as Tails flew above his head, with the former jumping up and grabbing the matters hands so he can lift him upwards. Seeing the targets up ahead, he grinned even wider. "Time for the technique that you practiced!" He called out while curling up into a spiky ball.
"Thunder Shoot!" Tails briefly let go, before pulling back and kicking Sonic towards the bots while curled up. A lightning shield soon surrounded Sonic, and he managed to pierce straight through several of the bots at once. Once he ended up on the other side of the horde, they proceeded to fall over and explode into pieces. He ended up brushing himself off while Tails caught up with him.
"Heh, no sweat!"
"Yeah, but we still shouldn't get ahead of ourselves." Tails looked around. "It doesn't seem like this territory upgraded it's share of robots That's probably why they aren't as tough."
"Maybe, or maybe we're just that good? I'm cool with both, it only helps us more." Sonic smirked, shrugging. "In any case, that at least gives me even more confidence that the others are gonna be fine. We keep the bulk of their attention on us so the others can do their own thing, you cripple the ones here' with your tech savvy, we work together to smash them. Boom, territory free!"
"That is the plan. But we oughta keep an eye out for unknown variables."
"That's why you're my eye in the sky, buddy. Keep a lookout for something that could surprise us. While I go scouting on the ground to take them head on before they can spot ya. Pretty good, if I must say." Sonic rolled his arm, running in place for a bit. "Alrighty, break time's over. Still work to be done and a territory of people to free. So, let's do it-"
"-to it!" They bumped fists again with determined nods, as they sped off off to further rout the enemy.
Meanwhile...
Someone eyed a base up ahead, quietly thinking over many ways to approach it, as well as ways to approach the defensive forces that's sure to guard it.
Sally Acorn narrowed her eyes while thinking over her options.
"It looks like Sonic and Tails are proceeding with their part of the operation, Sally. A majority of the enemy forces will be focusing on them." Nicole beeped from her console on the princess's hip. "Are you confident about their success?"
"Of course. I'll worry, but I have a job to focus on. So long as those two stick together, knowing that they'll take care of each other, I'll be able to worry less." Sally nodded. "Nicole, you and I are going to hit the comms tower of the base so they can't alert anyone any further. Are you ready?"
"Indeed I am."
"As we're doing this, Rotor and Antoine will be hitting the cells to rescue kidnapped citizens, and Bunnie will keep the heavier hitters off of our tails." Sally sighed, briefly playing with her hair. "Usually I'd chastise Sonic for being far too reckless, but this is plenty risky, too. Be that as it may, proactivity is key when an opportunity to press an advantage comes." She briefly adjusted the blue rings around her wrists and nodded. "Alright, move out!"
With that, Sally quickly moved out. She kept to the shadows for now, eying the communications tower up ahead. Since most of he bors were already making note of Sonic and Tails' presence, they still had plenty left over to look after the tower. That being said, Sally was confident that she could handle any stragglers. Just to be sure...
"Nicole, do you think you can handle it? The comms?"
"If you'll allow me, Sally."
"Sure. Are you able to do it yourself while fighting off any enemies?"
As Sally questioned, something began manifesting from the console, shining and eventually taking on a certain shape. Digital particles soon appeared in the spot next to her, until they eventually solidified. The person taking the spot had the console in her hand was a lynx. Who, after finishing her manifestation into the real world, smiled cheerily at Sally.
"Perhaps. I'm quite the multitasker."
With this, she began making her way up the tower, briefly vanishing. Sally herself took a deep breath, then turning around a corner to further pursue. Once she saw a Badnik just a bit further ahead, she made her move.
A sharp blade of blue energy suddenly pierced it from behind, and it eventually fell to the ground in a heap when said blade was pulled out. Sally briefly glared while one of her rings lit up and generated the energy. She looked forward as she could see four more Badniks up ahead. Taking a breath, she pulled her arm back and swiped her hand across. The Ring Blades soon shot four blades that pierced through their heads nearly effortlessly, and they fell to the ground defeated.
"Now then..."
A much larger, more ruthless looking Badnik, which one would refer to as an Egg Breaker, suddenly landed right behind her. It pulled it's spiked mace back and began to swing at her. She didn't even look back as the mace arm got closer to her, only for it to suddenly stop in place, barely displacing her hair due to the wind. Something stopped it dead in it's tracks.
"This seems like a heavy hittah, Sally-girl. Hope ya don't mind if ah cut in from here?"
"Not at all."
"Thank ya kindly."
Bunnie smirked under her hat as glowing lines lit up around her body, before she pushed her hand forward, forcing the Egg Breaker to stumble back a few feet. It seemed irritated by her defiance, for next it simply aimed it's mace arm towards her and shot it forth, looking to hit her head on with it. Sally stepped back a bit as Bunnie catches the spiky ball. It managed to push her back a few feet, cracking the ground around her slightly, but she was otherwise unharmed by it, lifting the mace above her head with an impudent smile.
"Ya dropped somethin', hun. Here, you can have it back." Bunnie pulled back slightly, before throwing the mace full force back to sender. The large bit was given no time to react, the mace taking it's top upper half clean off, circular including the head. It soon fell forward, crashing in a head. The flowing lines on Bunnie vanished as she briefly dusted off her hands. "Guess he didn't like to play catch and return."
Meanwhile, Nicole eventually made it to the top of the tower, briefly surprising the bots already inside. She smiled with a wave.
"Hello. And goodbye."
She struck quickly, multiple digital blades shooting forth and piercing them straight through their heads. They all fell over with barely any resistance. She levitated gently into the room, scanning the area further.
"Tails was correct. The Swatbots around here are old models for the most part. Perhaps they're too stubborn to upgrade just yet...well, no matter. There won't be any further communication for them from here. Potential Spy Bots, inactive."
Over towards the prison ward, Rotor was working on freeing the prisoners via a control panel. He was hard at work, intensely focused on seeing this through, casually punching the head of an Egg Pawn straight off of it's body while still glaring intently at the screen.
"How we doing, Antoine!? You need any help back there?!"
"I'm just fine, Rotor! You just focus on your work!" Antoine reassured while gripping his rapier. He huffed as he noticed several Egg Pawns wielding katanas and heading his way. "Think your swordplay is better than mine? Come and prove it! En guarde!"
Two of them slashed at him at once, with him being swift enough to dodge one and quickly party the other, before turning around and piercing the pawn right through the back. Noticing the second one attempting to strike him again, he turned around and parried the next slash that came his way, before piercing it right through the head, kicking it away from him.
Up ahead, was an Egg Pawn with a lance and shield, lowering the former and charging his way. Antoine took a deep breath and readied his stance, relaxing his breathing and adjusting his form. And right when the bot would attempt to pierce him with the lance, he parried directly upwards, the lance being knocked out of the poor bots hands. It didn't take long for him to swipe under it's legs to rob it of them, before jumping atop it and stabbing it right in the head once more. He harrumphed as he hopped off the hot and sheathed his sword.
"You're not going to beat me in a battle of blades! Haha-AH!" He yelped and jumped back as the lance he parried came down several feet behind him, briefly cracking the ground it pierced into. He looked at it shocked, before collecting himself, dusting himself off and coughing into his fist. "Ah, I mean, 'ahem'. Barely even noticed it." He tried to play it off, but Rotor's deadpan stare told him he wasn't fooled in the slightest. "...Please don't tell Sonic."
"Didn't see a thing." Rotor shook his head, before his eyes lit up with a smile as he got the results he wanted. "Alright! That's done!" Soon many if the cells would soon unlock and open, and the scampering, terrified prisoners would stumble out, taking deep breaths while in shock at being released. "Everyone! We're not outta the woods yet, but please remain calm! We're gonna get you all outta here!"
"B-But how! There's still bound to be plenty of robots around!"
"Too many to get past!"
"How are you going to do this!"
Antoine briefly tapped the hilt of his sword, eyes narrowing with resolve. "You're all going to be fine. All I ask of you for now, is to stay behind me. I'll cut us a path forward."
At the meantime, Sonic and Tails, after diverting a majority of the Swatbots to their direction away from their friends before taking them down, eventually managed to regroup with the others. They briefly watched as Bunnie let out a cheerful holler, before leaving up and smashing another Egg Breaker with its own mace, right on to of it's head and crushing it. She briefly held her hand behind her, body glowing briefly as energy gathered around her hand, before a concussive blast went off and pierced right through another Egg Breaker. She lightly pumped her fist at the accomplishment.
"Huh. Bunnie's really taken into being a cyborg." Sonic smiled with folded arms. It was somewhat nice that she's managing to make the best of it, especially when it comes to helping her friends. He blinked as he sees another Swat-Bot, blasting Sally when it had the chance, which she quickly deflected as her rings generated a shield.
With a yell, Sally pushed forward, her eyes firmly set on the Swat-Bot with her blades deflecting blast after blast. Getting in close, she brought her hands together as another, singular blade formed around them. She swings around, the blade greatly extending as it proceeded to slash the bot diagonally, clean in half. Both halves fell to the ground while Sally was still glaring in one direction. She sighed as she stood up, lightly rolling her arm as the energy blades dissipated.
"Phew..."
Sonic could only blink in astonishment. "...Okay. Woah. Just...woah."
Sally then noticed the other duo, waving her hand. "Sonic! Tails! Did you complete your objectives?!"
"As best as we could, Aunt Sally!" Tails exclaimed. "We also heard from Antoine and Rotor! They managed to get the prisoners out!"
"In that case, we'd better skedaddle soon as, Sal! Any of their forces convergin' on this place at once will endanger the prisoners!" Bunnie suggested while landing next to her.
"You're right. Let's meet up with them and-bwah?!" Sally gasped as Sonic swiftly scooped her up in a princess carry with little to no warning. "Hey! Bit of a heads up would be nice, Sonic!"
"No time! We're outta here!" Sonic exclaimed as well before running off with Sally in his arms. She rolled her eyes and simply secured her arms around his neck while Bunnie, Nicole and Tails flew after them.
Sally took a moment to mentally go over their operation today. Jammed their comms, surveillance and spy bots. Destroying most of the bots guarding the area. Freeing the prisoners and providing them the supplies needed to protect their home if they're ever attacked again, not to mention potential rations. All of that adding up, with the addition to covering and erasing their tracks, this giving them little to nothing to follow them with?
Yeah, she'd call that a win for today, and listen to Bunnie's suggestion to get out while the going's good. Another successful, bold mission.
Again.
It happened again.
Someone's been messing around with the settled forces in the currently highlighted territories. For the most part,as annoyed as the person was about it, they also ignored it to an extent. Those territories could have easily been taken back at some point due to superior numbers and superior forces. It's happened plenty of times before, the nuisances not being able to hold the territory for very long before it's taken back. And many a punishment has been rushed out to the citizens who celebrated their abruptly cut short freedom.
King Naugus would not allow for such things.
However, things were different now.
Too different for his liking.
Those territories were being taken at a faster rate. The staying power of whoever's been taking them has been increasing. And the people's morale was slowly becoming much harder to break. It's like it's rebuilt to be stronger than ever, after a time. The momentum is growing. And growing quite...fast.
Fast?
Fast...
No doubt that the replaced King's daughter was leading this, and she has Quickster by her side to do most of the brute forcing. At this rate...
"Geoffrey."
At his beck and call, his apprentice, as well as strongest subordinate, soon arrived to his side, sighing and holding a staff. "Yes?" Geoffrey St. John crawled with disinterest.
"A certain problem has been persisting a bit too long for my liking. Now, I'm too busy managing home base to go and deal with it. If something happens while I'm away, and I'm not here to deal with it, things will prove disastrous." He turned to the skunk with a hum. "Would you like to lend your assistance to preserve the other territories with your precious allies, until we can corner the interlopers for good?" Not to mention that if he breaks concentration, Eggman could become wary of his plans. Not allowed to happen.
Geoffrey shook his head. "I'm not interested. Chasing down stragglers isn't what I had in mind on spending my time."
"Are you sure? Who knows, you might get quite a bit of combat experience out of it. You're an apprentice, after all. You're still learning."
"Fair enough a point, but I'm still not doing it. I'd rather just keep protecting this place from any intruders." He turned around and left with a wave. "Let me know when something actually urgent happens."
"Hah. I understand. You're dismissed." Naugus hummed as he turned and crossed his arms. "...Oh, before I forget. How's your wife, Hershey?"
Geoffrey stopped in his tracks.
"I heard she's been getting better, ever since her last brush with death. Aren't I a helpful master for helping you get to her in time for medical attention?" Naugus continued mockingly. "Of course, that could easily change. Her condition could, quite radically, take a turn for the worst...and who knows what might happen after that?! And this time, I might not be able to help you. It might be too late by then...what a tragedy that would be! A Healthy Hershey should be a happy Hershey, which also means a happy Geoffrey. I wouldn't want you to be unhappy, my pupil. How problematic would that be if she suddenly wasn't healthy anymore..."
Geoffrey slowly turned around, and Naugus turned to him as well. He grinned at the truly wrathful glare that the skunk was shooting his way, fully aware of what he was implying. The dark wizard could only chuckle.
Funny thing about apprentices. Sometimes you need something quite striking in order to get their attention, and even more to keep it. After all, they're learning.
"Are you feeling motivated now? Are we clear on your stake in this?"
Geoffrey took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to swear quite loudly, his master taking quite a bit of amusement at his frustration. He fully turned to Naugus with a very reluctant nod, hissing through his teeth:
"Crystal."
Everyone eventually made it back to Knothole safely. Sonic slowly skidded the a stop, before he got setting Sally back on her feet. He swiped some sweat from his brow as Tails descended by their side as well, looking just as beat.
"We managed to get out safely, and with time to spare!"
A certain owl descended from one of the trees, landing on her feet and tucking in her wings. "You've all made it back safely. I'm so relieved."
"You're always relieved to see us, Longclaw. Not that we're not happy to see you every time we come back, but you could do to relax a more." Sonic hummed while scratching his ear.
"It's always best to express caution with events like this, Sonic. All of you are not completely out of danger." Rosie The Woodchuck eventually came out to intervene, having just finished making supper for their return. Sally smiled as she went up to her nanny for a hug, which she graciously returned. "So of course, we're gonna fuss and worry. And just as well, we'll be relieved when you come back home."
Sonic sighed. "C'mon, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know. Just have to think about how it feels for us due to how dangerous it is out there. Of course, this isn't to make light of your accomplishments or to underestimate you. Fussin' is just what we do, sometimes." Rosie gestures inside. "Enough of that now. Come on in and eat. You're all certainly hungry after yet another successful venture."
"You don't know the half of it..." Tails sighed with his ears briefly folded, only somewhat embarrassed by his rumbling stomach. This garnered a laugh out of everyone as they gathered inside, eager for rest.
"Oh. That reminds me." Sally turned to Tails and briefly placed her hands on her shoulders. "You did good today, Tails. Mwah." Kiss on one cheek. "Mwah." Kiss on the other cheek. "Annnnd mwah." Kiss on his nose. Tails briefly blushed as his namesakes waved about slightly, shaking his head.
"You're going with the funny kiss again?"
"It's the victory edition. Why? Do you want me to stop?" Sally smirked with a raised eyebrow.
"...I didn't say that." Tails cutely pouted while turning to the side. Bunnie got a laugh out of that, which only made it worse for him.
"Hmph." Sally briefly turned to Sonic with a just as affectionate smile, before kissing his cheek. "One for you, too. Good work out there, Hero."
"Heh!" Sonic briefly rubbed a finger under his nose with a chuckle, before he blinked and playfully glared at her. "Hey. How come Tails gets three and I only get one?"
"Because he's three times cuter than you." Sally deadpans.
"Oof! My poor, fragile ego!" Sonic mock gasped while grasping his chest and leaning backwards slightly. "It can't handle such brutal honesty! Ack! Gugh! How could ya, Sal?! Gwaaaah! I think I'm dying!"
Sally chuckled and lightly punched his shoulder. "Food's getting cold. Hurry up and eat. You're too slow."
"Oh! OH! Oh no you did not, Sal! I KNOW you did not just do that! You did NOT just go there!"
"But alas, I believe I did." Sally looked his chest with an lively smirk. "You gonna do something about it?"
"Hmph! Maybe I'll just eat both my own food AND yours!"
"I'll punch you for real."
Their playful bickering continued like this as they stepped inside, with Tails himself rolling his eyes at their banter.
Everyone got themselves situated for the most part. And as Rosie easily predicted, everyone was quite hungry. No sooner did she actually place some food down did nearly everyone begin helping themselves to it...rather messily. She chuckled and shook her head. Oh how manners tend to disappear when you pass a certain threshold of hunger. Sometimes it was amusing. Sometimes not. Fortunately, this falls squarely into the former.
Longclaw oversaw their feast with gentle eyes. She's seen them do this dozens of times as they were growing up, growing stronger, faster, smarter. Bettering themselves under her tutelage every day. Their ventures and missions outside of Knothole we're becoming easier to them. They still stumbled from time to time, and it's lead to some close calls, but they had each other to help pick up the slack and make sure they kept on going. She was truly proud of them for that. She hoped they would keep this sense of unity in the times to come. It would truly be a boon for them.
"We managed to get those kidnapped villagers back home safely." Rotor debriefed while taking a break from eating. "Their defenses have been upped quite a bit. They should be able to take care of themselves for a while."
"Those Egg Breakers weren't that big a deal. Although I'll reckon' that they'd be a lot tougher if they had someone actually workin' them." Bunnie hummed with a hand under her chin. "And the stuff about them bein' older models. That too."
"Be that as it may. We were able to rout the enemy handily. We should also expect them to react to that, sooner or later." Antoine noted a bit seriously.
"If we're going to keep progressing, Sally, we should do it while the opportunity is there." Nicole noted, in which she was surprisingly, and happily, eating the most out of everyone except maybe Tails. Given the circumstances of her development, that sight took a bit of adjusting to. "It's shooo yummy!" It was an adorable sight though, with her eyes lighting up with pure joy while briefly dropping her usual demeanor, having a hand on her cheek.
"With me and Nicole's combined efforts, we were able to keep them from tracking us back to Knothole. It's not bound to work forever, though." Tails noted while Sally briefly wiped his cheek of food. "Until we've better reinforced Knothole's defenses, we can't risk it being found too soon."
"We're gettin' close though, buddy. Real close. Soon, Knothole won't have to be scared anymore." Sonic turned to Sally with a nod. "You think we got it, Sal?"
"I wish I had more of your confidence in this, Sonic." Sally sighed, before she reaffirmed herself with a nod. "But yes. We're going to be moving around more. I'm not too found of making a move so soon and so swiftly, but if there's an opportunity present, we have to take it. And if we do take it, if we're able, we have to do it cautiously." She nodded again. "We've gathered the strength and skill to make a few more moves ahead. Every smaller territory we've freed and reinforced, slowly makes our advance smoother. But we're not out of the woods yet."
"Present location included?" Sonic raised a hand with a smile.
"I will smack you." Sally cheekily smiled back. "There are still some areas that are going to be too much for us as we are, because we know they're especially well guarded." Sally sighed as Nicole brought up Holo Projected maps of the locations being discussed. "Mobotropolis is still out of the question. The city is still under strong enough enemy control that liberation at the moment is impossible. Or at the very least, a heavy risk that will put you all in more danger than necessary. It's going to have to wait until we have stronger forces on our side, and/or keep weakening theirs."
"Fortunately, we might not have much farther to go on that front." Rotor held up three fingers, which Nicole helpfully highlighted his meaning on the map. "These three locations have their strongest supports there. We cut them off, and we drastically reduce their chances for reliable reinforcements to come and blindsided us once we try and retake Mobotropolis."
"It might still be tricky, though. Because eventually they'll catch wind and know we're around." Tails wondered with concern.
Sally agreed to an extent, folding her arms. "Even so, it's inevitable. With how much bolder we've been getting, it's only a matter of time. Just as well, by the time that happens, it'll be too late for them to recover quickly."
"Not to mention the opportunities to, ahem, 'appropriate' some of their equipment and see how they can benefit Knothole. Of course, after we've disabled their ability to track us with it. Always gotta be cautious about that part." Rotor reminded while tapping his head. "Of course, it's also in these three locations that we're going to find the final components for our...'Special Project'." Rotor winked, and Tails nodded in understanding with an excited smile.
"I can't wait!"
"Neither can I, little dude! Once we claim those territories, we can get the parts we need, and once we do that, we'll be able to proceed with construction." Rotor clapped. "But before that last part, we'll have taken back Mobotropolis, and then the Kingdom, by then. From there, we can finish construction without heavy worries!"
Tails lit up more. "Do you think we'll be able to fill it up with more people?"
"If we can find more people willing to join up, then I don't see why not! Along the way, let's build ourselves a crew!" Tails and Rotor soon high-fived.
Sally was briefly stuck on the part about liberating Mobotropolis, and thus her Kingdom. And that also meant...
She sighed while running a hand through her hair. They've been preparing a long time for it, and there were still quite a few steps to go. But she was still worried about the things that could go wrong. After all, not every plan survives fully intact, if at all. They were about to make some truly bold moves, now. Could...could they really do this?
Sonic gently placed a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention. He smiled, and did a thumbs up. Sally looked around as the others gave affirmative nods and thumbs up as well. Sally looked at everyone with a bit of shine in her eyes.
"Everyone..."
"Sal, we've got your back. Keeping counting on us to lend you a hand whenever you're feeling stuck, cause we'll get ya free in no time."
Sally, reinvigorated by Sonic's reassurance, smiles back at him. "Always being the wind that pushes us forward, Sonic. When need be." Sally nodded, then turned to everyone. "Hopes. Dreams. The Freedom to be able to chase and achieve them. And much more that would enrich our world, but has been unfortunately been denied to the people, or they've lost the spirit to try. These are the things we fight for in a world that dearly needs more of them, no matter how harsh things get. The time is approaching to start making big moves. I'll be counting on all of you. Please, support me in this, and I'll do my best to keep properly leading you."
Sally held out her fist. Sonic smirked and bumped it with his own. Tails happily flew over and added his own. Bunnie and Antoine smiled while placing their own fists in the circle. Rotor and Nicole were the last ones to join in, placing their fists to the gathering. All of them nodded to each other. Longclaw and Rosie couldn't help but see the ignited, youthful fire in their eyes. Quite a bit of it was intense and passionate, fiery and radiant. And yet on the side, it could also be warm and comforting, cozy and inviting.
They wondered how many would gather around it.
Meanwhile, on a faraway, floating island...
Angel Island.
A place that was so far above the surface of Mobius that one could actually begin a new life there without ever having so so much as look down towards it. Greenery of all sorts flourished on this nearly forgotten land, home to many a kind of wildlife, some which haven't yet been seen by those living on the surface. Though there were other curious areas as well, such as deserts, volcanoes, and underwater caverns. All of that on one large floating island.
It was also the island that held the mighty Master Emerald, shining a brilliant, radiant jade, and sitting idly in it's temple. And the one guarding it was currently laying on top of the Emerald with his eyes closed.
Knuckles the Echidna.
He opened one eye, and curiously noticed a baby bird chirping, sitting on its rear. He then eyed the nest that it seemingly fell from, and found it fortunate that it wasn't hurt too badly. He took the time to jump off of the Emerald and make his way towards the bird, who's chirps became a bit more subdued and scared as his shadow loomed over it. With a small, annoyed grunt, he knelt down to the scared little bird...
...gently scooped it into his hands, climbed back up to the nest, and set it there where it belonged, with it's siblings chirping around it, and the mother arriving just in time for feeding.
"You're not ready to be on your own, just yet." Knuckles muttered as he crossed his arms. Then he solemnly closed his eyes. "Unlike me, who doesn't have a choice in the matter..."
Perks of being the last echidna. Fated to guard the Master Emerald for the rest of his days. He can't even remember who gave him this duty or why. As far as he could remember, things have always been this way. He just knew that he had to do it, to protect it from any that try to abuse it's power for malevolent purposes.
Even if it meant forming no connections outside of this island.
While he was stuck within his thoughts, the violent vibrations started. And they came from a roar.
Knuckles wasn't moved by it. More annoyed than anything, because he knew precisely what was going on. He turned around and leapt down off of the alter, and onto the much softer soil ahead of it. He looked up, glaring at the one causing the ruckus.
"Oh, I'm SO sorry, Mr. Guardian! Did I wake you?" Came a voice laced with condescension. "Terribly sorry about that! Truly I am!"
Knuckles could only sigh, closing his eyes as he had his arms folded, shaking his head. "How many times am I gonna have to beat you down and kick you out, until you finally leave me be? I told you many times before, and I'll tell you again. I don't care about your petty, worthless grudge. At this point it's nothing but hate for the sake of hate, which I have no interest in indulging. So how about you do us both a favor? Stop making a mess of my island, take a hike, and never come back."
He looked up towards the arrival in front of him, who was looking down on him with a vicious smirk that was promising a conflict he couldn't dissuade with words. But he had to try, if at least to keep the peace and quiet he was enjoying a moment ago. Alas, he couldn't let him just be, either. He'd cause a destructive rampage across Angel Island just to spite him.
He knows, for this wasn't the first time the two of them came to blows. And it unfortunately wouldn't be the last, despite his protests.
"Thrash."
The purple tasmanian devil chuckled darkly.
"How can I? When every waking moment sharing the same world as an echidna, makes me sick to my stomach?"
Knuckles smirked tauntingly. "Sick to your stomach? Sounds awful. You should probably get medicine for that, wouldn't wanna use that as an excuse for when you lose to me again."
Thrash frowned. The smile soon left Knuckles face. If Thrash wasn't going to leave peacefully without a fight, then Knuckles hasn't a single good reason to act cordial.
Both of them reared their fists back and launched them forward for a powerful punch.
The shockwave from the clashing impact surged the ground around them upwards, and briefly swayed several trees around them, dust and dirt billowing outwards in waves.
Against Knuckles' wishes, their battle was renewed.
A bit of clearing up and clarification for Bunnie and Nicole regarding their natures and powers, just in case.
In the manner of the former, she's still fully organic, but due to the customized Power Core known as a 'Nano-Core', having merged with the energy instead of simply absorbing it, she's still able to use bionic abilities. It managed to heal and improve/empower her body drastically even when not actively using abilities. When she is using her bionic powers, glowing lines appear all over her body, glowing brightest when she focuses on certain areas. Some can 'hear' the sound of mechanized gears turning and powering whenever she's using said abilities. This took a certain gathering of geniuses putting their thinking caps together, so it isn't easily replicable. Bunnie was lucky.
As for how Nicole materialized an actual body at will, not just a hologram, AND without a Power Ring? It was definitely not an easy process, which is why Sally said she needed more time to get a handle on it. Might go deeper into it in time, but as a hint, Chaos Emerald shenanigans were involved. As for her powers, think of a character known as Eugene Sims from Infamous. Nicole has Digital Energy Manipulation in and out of the virtual world, and materializes an actual body in the real world so she can do simple fun things like hugging and eating. And fighting, when need be, as she demonstrated. She 'recharges' faster resting in her computer.
Also fun fact, she can switch between her pre-reboot and post-reboot appearances. She's most likely to use the latter when on a mission, and the former in more casual and mundane atmospheres.
Hopefully I'm making some sense with them.
Knuckles solemnly enters the story. With unwelcome company.
I was able to get this one out fast because I was working on the first two chapters as one, then split them up. After this, updates for this might be a bit slower.
