Chapter Three – Hostages
It didn't take Sonic long to cross the city. Winding in between the buildings, and when he got to the lake, it was in a lot worser state then he remembered. The area was known for being run down but this was almost dangerous. The lake itself was so badly polluted that it was shimmering orange, with stinking stream rising from it. The liquid poison was literally burn you if you got too close. Buildings had collapsed all around and the whole area was being used as an open rubbish dump. Sonic screeched to a halt and held his nose. The lake stunk so badly that it made him heave, so heavily, he was nearly sick. He knew that it had been some time since he had been to Robotropolis, but he had no idea that it had gotten this bad. Sonic's heart fell.
'Why would Manic come here?' He thought as he looked around in the darkness. But knew his brother. He loved the lake, no matter how bad it got. He slowly worked his through a collapsed building to lake's edge. In the silence of the surrounding, Sonic could hear the water lapping at the shore. It kissed his red shoes, and Sonic backed off slightly. He looked around, even in the darkness he could tell that he was alone.
He had got it wrong. Manic wasn't here.
The Blue Blur was fuming. He never got it wrong. Where was his brother?
"Hello?"
A voice behind him broke Sonic's thoughts. He whirled around. In the darkness, Sonic saw a young male Lion with tanned fur and an orange mane, and wearing a teal jumpsuit with green sleeves. He looked somewhat frightened. He was very nervous. He spoke again.
"Are you looking for Manic?" He asked.
Sonic's heart lifted and he nodded. He was about to say something, but got cut across.
"He said you would come. He asked me to stay and lookout for you. A black hedgehog with brown shoes."
Sonic frowned.
'Blue hedgehog with red shoes, you mean!' He thought.
Then he looked down. In the darkness, his red shoes looked a dark shade of brown and the blue fur looked almost jet black. Manic was absolutely right. He must have known that he would arrive in the dark. But Sonic was starting to get very concerned.
"Where is he?" He asked.
"He's been captured. They took him along with the others, when he didn't turn up with the Diamond." Said his new friend.
Wait. What!
It was a lot of information in just two sentences. Manic captured? Sonic found that hard to believe. He was too powerful to simply be captured. Manic was pretty much guaranteed to win any fight anywhere, so he must have allowed himself to be taken. The Sonic suddenly twigged. His brother was leaving him a trail and he needed Sonic to follow.
But others? What others?
This almost certainly meant that Manic's friends had been captured and the Heart Of Gold Diamond was the ransom for their release. It explained a lot. Why Manic would do something so out-of-character. The fact that Manic didn't turn up with the Diamond meant that he has no intention of doing so, but the publicity successfully brought Sonic here. Exactly what Manic wanted. Sonic began to fume again. He hated be taken advantage of, but Manic needed help, and very specifically, wanted Sonic's help. A setup it may have been, but Sonic couldn't turn down his own brother.
And who were they?
Sonic was about to ask, but they were rudely interrupted.
"Over there, get them!" A angry voice said.
There were three very well built thugs racing towards them, henchmen for some Warlord. Properly wanting to capture them as well. Sonic's new friend looked terrified. The Blue Blur grabbed him, and began to run, at the Lion's pace, around the edge of the lake. Time to be the hero and put all other thoughts out of his head.
"Which way?" Sonic asked.
"That way!" Replied the Lion, pointing to the other side of the lake. Then he panicked. "Oh no! There going to catch us!" He squealed, the henchmen very close on their tails.
Sonic smirked. From that reaction, he got the impression that the Lion didn't know who he was, or more specifically, what he could do. Sonic found that incredibly refreshing. He was famous worldwide. It was nice to be unknown for once.
The Lion was panting. Sonic was not. The lake was huge, several kilometres across. The Blue Blur looked back.
"What's your name?" Sonic called.
"Cyrus!" The Lion panted back.
Sonic had to do something and soon. The Lion's energy was failing. He wouldn't be able to keep up this level of running without help.
"Did Manic tell you who I was?" Sonic called again. Cyrus frowned.
"No!" He said. "Just to look out for you and to tell you what was going on!" There was a short pause. "Oh, and to trust you!" He nervously added.
Sonic smirked again.
"Good call!" He said, more to himself then to Cyrus. The Lion frowned again. He looked behind them. The henchmen were less them a foot again. One large lunge forwards and they were caught.
"Look out!" Cyrus screamed but Sonic, smiling broadly, picked the Lion up and to his complete and total surprise, and shoved him onto his back.
"Hey!" He squealed.
"Hang on!" Sonic called.
Time to put his foot down.
The acceleration was epic.
Ten miles an hour, then twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred.
Cyrus watched in amazement as the henchmen behind them, fell away into the distance, but Sonic was frustrated. This was why he preferred the countryside, he couldn't hit his top speed in the city. That was where he always instinctively wanted to go.
Within seconds, they had reached the other side of the lake. Sonic skidded to a halt and quickly found a place to hide. Further henchmen came out of large black tunnel, just to the side of them. Others came running to help those they had left behind. There was a lot of activity, in and out of that tunnel, and Sonic guessed correctly that the tunnel was where they were going next. Sonic knew where it lead, though he had never actually been there. To the Robotropolis Underworld. Sonic wasn't that surprised at that. The Underworld had been all over Manic for years trying to force him to do their dirty work for them. But because of his powers, but couldn't challenge him directly. So they forced a hostage situation on him. Now Sonic understood Manic's plan, to permanently put them in their place, so that they would leave him alone. Thats why he needed Sonic's help.
Sonic watched the henchmen go about their business, looking for an opportunity to make his move. He didn't know who the Warlord in charge was, but Sonic figured he was going to find out soon. As the Blue Blur watched the thugs, he felt someone watching him. Cyrus had been staring at him, ever since he stopped here. Sonic looked at the Lion.
"How did you do that?" He gasped. Cyrus was seriously impressed.
"What?" Sonic grinned, knowing full well what. He was being cocky again.
"The speed? How did you do...that?" The Lion asked again, but the question tailed off. Sonic could see the cogs working in his head as he was slowly putting the information together. Sonic's appearance, even if it was in the dark, the speed. Then it hit Cyrus, hard.
"Your Sonic The Hedgehog!" He gasped again.
Sonic rolled his eyes. His fame really did get everywhere, it was incredibly irritating. He politely nodded. Cyrus was beside himself with excitement, but Sonic calmed him. He was seeing a gap in the security, they still had people to rescue. Sonic indicating the large tunnel and Cyrus confirmed.
"Come on!" Sonic whispered and carrying Cyrus again, Sonic raced into the tunnel.
The tunnel was long, narrow, and wet, and neither of them liked it. It stank, and was a absolute labyrinth, with tunnels splitting and dividing in all directions. But all of them seemed to lead to one main large cavern in the centre. Soon they came across a large solid steel door. Letting Cyrus down, Sonic checked they had not been followed before he worked on the door.
The Lion was still bouncing with excitement. Sonic realised that he may have had a fan on his hands, but he could also read the Lion. He was trying to figure out how someone like Manic, would know someone as famous as Sonic. He smirked, Cyrus was going to go mad when he found out.
But Sonic had a problem. The door wasn't budging. Locked solid and completely blank, he tried everything he could to shift it and was cursing at the fact that he didn't have Super-Strength. Useful, at times like this.
Just Super-Speed, and his secret powers. But he had no idea how to attack the door using those, and now was not the time. Frustrated, he thought.
'Super-Speed!?' He pondered. 'Or Super-Speed Extreme!' He smirked again.
It was a long shot but just might work. It would mean pushing the laws of physics.
Molecular Vibration.
Sonic had read about it and had been practicing, but without much success. Its the ability to vibrate the molecules of their own body to such a high frequency that they can pass through a wall, or in this case, a solid steel door. Super-Speed Extreme!
It was also incredibly dangerous. It Sonic screwed up half way through, and stopped in the middle, he would die, instantly.
He took a deep breathe, and look at Cyrus. He'd got nothing. This was the only way they were getting through this door.
He asked Cyrus to stand aside and backed off, from the door, a couple of metres. A run up.
He stared at the door, and concentrated. He could hear voices in the distance behind him. It was now or never.
'This better be worth it!' Sonic thought. This was going to be painful and began to move. Cyrus gasped when he realised what Sonic was about to do, but the Blue Blur ignored him. As he moved, Sonic concentrated on his Super-Speed within him. He felt the Chaos inside of him increase dramatically, and he began to vibrate. The famous Hedgehog really became a pale blue blur as he moved forwards towards the door. Gritting his teeth, and with all of the core strength he had, he pushed the vibration to its limit. He saw the door coming towards him. He feared it. He shook himself.
'No.' He thought. 'You mustn't!' He warned.
Just about holding his nerve, he felt his hand touch the door and proceed to pass through it, followed by his arm and shoulder. Sonic was right, it was painful, but not as painful as he expected. In fact, the more of Sonic's body entered the door, the less painful it got. It was more shock then pain. Lifted by this, he concentrated on keeping the vibration high and in less then a minute, had completely passed through the door.
On the other side, he collapsed on the floor, completely exhausted. His body was solidifying, the vibration stopping. He was stunned. He done it! But there was no time to celebrate at voices came towards him fast, as they must have heard him land on the floor, and he instinctively got to his feet and ran for cover.
Two thugs came to check out the door, and as Sonic watched them from the shadows, he was panting. Seriously out of breathe. He laughed to himself. It had been many years since he's been this out of breathe and it wasn't caused by walking through doors. The thugs looked around, but with nothing to see, so they quickly moved off.
Sonic moved back to the door. He knew that Cyrus was the other side. His time was running out, before he was found. This time, the lock to the door was on this side.
Sonic smiled.
He could break locks!
His secret powers would make short work of that. But did he have enough core strength and Chaos within him to use them. The answer was...yes! He was recovering amazingly quickly from his Molecular Vibration. Sonic was surprised but time was against him as he quickly snapped his finger, broke the lock and opened the door.
Cyrus was dumbfounded. But he didn't have time to stand and stare, as Sonic grabbed him and moved him, very quickly, into the large cavern, they now entered. The cavern seemed to be large artificial brick-lined expanse with pillars running around the edge, creating a walkway and more importantly, somewhere to hide. The door they entered was one of a number of doors all along it's edge, from the labyrinth of tunnels behind them. It was very dimly lit and dark grey in colour, with a high ceilings. To Sonic's dismay, it was dripping with water.
From behind a pillar, Sonic could see that at the other end of the cavern, was a series of solid steel cages, a half a dozen or so, full of people of various species. Fifteen or so. There were Squirrels, Skunks, Cats, Dogs, Mice but only one Hedgehog.
Sonic's eyes immediately rested on the singular Hedgehog. A male. He was a green-furred Hedgehog whose quills are a lot shaggier than Sonic's, in stiff dreadlocks. He wore a brown vest, red and white shoes, black spiked wristbands and an orange small hip bag, which Sonic knew full well he fitted anything and everything in. From his drumsticks to his lock picks and to whatever he'd stolen. He had blue eyes, and his left ear was pierced with two small gold loop earrings in a 'punk' style. There was also something else about this Hedgehog that Sonic really noticed. His size. He'd grown, a lot, becoming very muscular.
Sonic knew it had been some time since he had seen his brother, but the change was drastic. Manic's powers must have really taken hold and was now showing his physical strength on his body. A lot of physical strength. Sonic laughed, Manic was not the type to work out, but did wonder if he was stronger then Knuckles.
'Unlikely.' He thought. The Echidna was the master of Super-Strength, which was a Chaos-based power, but Manic's was different. Physical strength is from the muscles alone with external powers added. But he then thought that Manic could potentially take on Shadow and win.
Between Sonic and the cages, the cavern was full of people. The various thugs, goons and henchmen, going about their business, working for the Warlord, who sat proudly on his thrown in the centre of the room.
He was a Rat, the ugliest looking Rat Sonic had ever seen. Very charismatic, manipulative and sophisticated, with his black suit, cravat, and cigarette holder, and is absolutely appalled when he is called a Rat. Believing he is much better and more intelligent than anyone else, he has anyone who calls him a Rat suffered dearly. He was extremely tall, and very wide, more from fat then muscle, and ruled this Underworld with an iron fist.
His name was Kronos.
He was barking orders, right, left and centre. Sonic wondered how he was going to get around him. Or more specifically, what his brother was planning? With Sonic's speed, breaking out the hostages would be easy, it was just one Rat and a couple of dozen goons, nothing he hadn't dealt with before but he had a hunch that was not what Manic was wanting.
He was right.
He suddenly felt something on the ether, those faint, fuzzy messages that has been bugging him for days, began coming thick and fast. Sonic was really confused. He understood none of them, however, one thing did get through. Manic now knew he was there.
Sonic looked up towards his sibling, they met eye to eye, thankfully, no one else noticed. Sonic was frustrated again, he had to speak to him, he needed to know the plan. The messages on the ether were not getting through from Manic's end, maybe he could send one back. He had no idea if it would work, he had never tried it before. He stood still, relaxed and concentrated, which was not easy for him at all and tried to send out as clear a message as he could.
{Are you alright?} Sonic said without really speaking. Using his mind alone.
To his total amazement, Manic nodded. He'd heard him. Sonic was glad that they were all alright. Speaking on the ether was easier then he thought. Excitement came over him, but Sonic had to calm down for it to work again.
{So, whats the plan?} He asked, as easy as anything.
Sonic suddenly got a bombardment of messages in return from Manic. All fuzzy, all confused, all making absolutely no sense. Manic was getting frustrated. Sonic tried to calm him from a distance.
{Easy!} he replied. {Trying calming yourself down before you speak.} He suggested. Sonic watched his brother do exactly that, but got in return, the exact the same thing again, confused messages but something extra this time, an emotion, frustration.
Sonic quickly realised that Manic could hear him but couldn't respond, and the green Hedgehog tried everything. He couldn't speak on the ether. That was going to be problematic, but Sonic noticed he could send emotions, instead. Maybe he could work with that.
{Listen!} He said.
Manic raised an eyebrow and smirked. Sonic got the emotion of defiance back from him. He laughed. Manic never listened to him as a child, so why should be now? Sonic rolled his eyes.
{No, seriously. Listen!} He said. {You can hear me speak, but you can't reply.} He paused. Manic nodded. He looked upset. {But you can. You not be able to speak but you can reply by sending me an emotion. When I asked you to speak, I got frustration, when I asked you to listen, I got defiance, and now I get...} The sentence tailed off.
Manic was jumping up and down and Sonic got a sent an emotion through the ether as clear as anything.
{Joy!} He said, to Manic's total delight. Then Manic gave Sonic a series of sly hand-gestures which said he wanted to try something.
{Sure.} Replied Sonic.
Keeping his face completely straight, Sonic could see Manic concentrating. Sonic was surprised. He had never his brother so engrossed, in anything before. Then they came, the emotions, and then Sonic understood. Manic was trying to send Sonic emotions without giving anything away on his face. Sonic had to concentrate himself, these were manufactured emotions, not genuine ones, so were extremely faint. He tried to name them.
{Fear.}
{Regret.}
{Shame.}
{Happiness.} Then he paused. He wasn't sure on the last one.
{Sadness.} He guessed.
Sonic looked up at Manic, he was smiling at him, like a proud brother. Sonic was spot on. The emotion of pride from Manic followed. Then he made a hand-gesture indicating that he wanted Sonic to talk, pointing at the bars of his cage. Sonic understood. The plan. He looked around.
{How many of those goons are there?} Sonic asked, indicating ahead of him. Manic gestured a number.
{About twenty to thirty!} Sonic approximated. Manic nodded, but then he looked utterly fed up. Sonic sighed and smiled.
{How long have you been down here?} He asked. Manic shrugged. He held up a couple of fingers.
{A few days.} Sonic replied and got boredom from Manic in return. He giggled. {I can see how that would make you bored. Why haven't you broken everyone out? You have the power to do so.}
Manic looked at Kronos, the big fat Rat, and growled. There was anger, a lot of anger. Sonic frowned. But Manic looked straight at Sonic, and slammed his fists together. He had had enough of Kronos and wanted him gone, out of his life. Manic gave Sonic a look, a look he hadn't seen in years, a look that simply said, 'Trust me'.
Manic had asked Cyrus to trust him and now he was asking his own brother to return the favour. Sonic couldn't say no.
{Ok.} He said. {So what do we do?} He asked.
He felt mischief from Manic as he put a hand to his neck and made the gesture of slicing it off. The gesture used for killing. Sonic frowned again. Neither he nor his brother were killers, but then he finally understood what Manic had been trying to get at, the plan. Sonic knew that if Manic broke out the hostages alone, then Kronos would be forever chasing him for his powers, believing that one hedgehog can always be subdued. However, if another equally powerful Hedgehog turns up along side Manic and they break out the hostages together, then Kronos would realise that Manic has backup and then it was highly likely that the big fat Rat would realise that he was outnumbered. He'd cut his losses and leave Manic alone, which was what the green Hedgehog really wanted. Only Sonic could do this with Manic and this was why he specifically wanted his help.
As there eyes met, complete understanding fell between the two brothers.
Cyrus was looking really nervous, they has stayed behind this pillar for far to long. He prodded Sonic on the shoulder. The Blue Blur jumped. He'd forgotten the Lion was there. But he was right, they had stayed for to long, and from the look on his face, he had no idea of the conversation that had just happened. It seemed that Manic, and only Manic could hear him speak on the either. To carry out the plan, it would be easier if Cyrus moved round the edge of the cavern, and slowly helped the hostages moved round the only unlocked door in the place, the one they came through.
Unlocking the cages would be easy, both Manic and Sonic had the ability to open them with a simple hand gesture. But how best to catch Kronos off his guard.
'From behind!' Sonic though. Sat on his thrown, the cages were directly behind him. It was old-school but the best option in the given situation. Sonic decided to join Cyrus moving around the edge of the cavern, dodging goons and henchmen as they went.
Once they arrived at the cages, Sonic's and Manic's eyes met and in agreement, unlocked the cages. Sonic snapping his fingers, emitting a silvery hue and Manic making a different hand-gesture and locks completely disintegrated. As silently as they could, Sonic, Manic and Cyrus began herding the hostages towards the exit.
Then it happened.
They were surrounded.
Goons, henchmen and thugs, suddenly came from all directions. The estimate of about twenty to thirty of them, was wildly under. It closer to two to three hundred, and soon they found themselves being pushed towards the centre of the cavern, in full view of Kronos.
It was a trap.
The enormous Rat, smirked evilly to himself, lifted himself off his mighty thrown.
"I knew that punk Hedgehog had asked for help, but you were the last person I'd expected." He grinned.
Manic growled but the question was very obviously pointed directly at Sonic. It wasn't surprised that he knew who he was. Hell, everybody knew. Sonic said nothing.
The Rat smile broadened, and walked towards Manic.
"I'm just surprised that you had friends in such high places." He leered, sounding almost respectful. Sonic and Manic looked at each other, confused, the rat obviously didn't know that they were family. Manic didn't answer, either. Frustrated, the Rat continued.
"No matter, when I done here, you will work for me!" He demanded. He snapped his finger. All of a sudden, various henchmen and goons began grabbing all of the hostages. Dragging them away through the various doors, out of the cavern. Screams filled the space. All of the hostages were being taken, all at the same time. Being dragged away, in different directions. Through the doors around the edge the cavern, which were being flung open from the other side. If a hostage disappeared through a door, there was a good chance that they would be never seen again.
Kronos was forcing Manic's hand. It was an extremely clever move. The Hedgehogs did what they could, Sonic used his Super-Speed, more specifically, his Super-Spin, the ability to curl up in a ball, quills on the outside, and spin at Super-Speed, attacking enemies. He rescued a few hostages, but not enough. Manic was having the same issue, he send boulders and rocks at Kronos's men, by simply stamping of the ground and sending the skywards, but again only rescued a few hostages. This was too well co-ordinated, they just didn't have enough time to rescue everyone.
They were going to loose.
Sonic was getting frustrated. He had never lost a fight in his life, and he wasn't going to let Manic give into Kronos's demands either. As he attacked, the more his temper began to flare. It didn't seem to make a dint in the numbers of Kronos's men. They just kept coming.
It was an all-out fight.
There wasn't enough speed, there wasn't enough time. Manic was getting desperate. He would give in to Kronos, if it meant saving his friends. Sonic knew they had to be another way. But as more goons attacked him, his temper really flared. Until it got too much.
He snapped! it exploded.
"ENOUGH!" He shouted.
He lost his temper, completely. He transformed. There was only one thing in the world more famous then Sonic, and that was his temper. It was infamous. He would transform, into version of himself, where Chaos Darkness ruled. Dark Sonic. His body completely changing. His quills turning upwards. His middle back quills varying in position though, either gaining an angled slant with a more pointy shape or getting upturned like his other quills and his back quills growing longer. He would create a dark blue aura around himself, his fur turning black, his skin a dark grey colour and his eyes have no pupils or irises. This wasn't the first time Sonic had completely lost it but this time it was different. Now his eyes were glowing silver, and glaring at Kronos.
He was stood in the centre of the cavern, breathing heavily and growling, with both hands in the air, above his head. There were extremely large quantities of silver hue and mist emanating from them. Trapped inside of the mist was Kronos's men, every single goon, henchman and thug was suspended six feet in the air, unable to move. All of the hostages were now freed. Silence filled the cavern where the noise had been deafening, everyone standing and staring at Sonic.
But the Blue Blur was fuming. He was no longer in control, this was purely subconscious. Right there and then, he just didn't care who saw his secret powers.
Kronos was extremely frightened, he was now way out of his depth.
"Whoa, whoa. Hey! Eggman didn't mention Magic. He said this would be an easy job!" He stammered.
Manic took the lead. But he was stunned. He'd always known about Sonic's secret powers but had never seen them used to this extent. He was now really frightened and wondered why Sonic would risk everything like this? It wasn't part of the plan. It was extremely dangerous and they were almost certain to be found out. He tried contacting Sonic on the ether, sending what emotions he could down it. But got no reply. Sonic's temper was to much in control. But he did know that temper, and right now Sonic needed guidance in order to calm down. The green Hedgehog stood between Kronos and Sonic giving the impression that this was a setup. It was all he could do. He growled at Kronos.
"So Eggman paid you to kidnap us!" He spat. "Why?" He glared.
But the big fat Rat looked extremely nervous, unsure of what Sonic would do next. There was fear in those eyes, of the Blue Blur. A fear of those secret powers. A fear of Magic. But the Rat wasn't going to answer, he was just too frightened. But Manic could feel Sonic begin to waver. How long could his brother hold this for? Even in full temper.
Manic growled again. Time for a different strategy.
"We're leaving!" He spat.
"No!" Cried Kronos, the big fat Rat sounding desperate. But Sonic smirked evilly, and twisted his wrists in the air, caused the backs to painfully arc of everyone he'd captured in his silvery mist. The cavern filled with cries of pain. It was just too much for Kronos. Manic was very surprised. That was unusually brutal for his brother, but now was not the time to argue.
"Fine, go!" He spat, unwillingly. But he just wanted that Magical Hedgehog gone.
Manic didn't respond, and with Cyrus' help, very quickly ushered all of the hostages through the door, that he and Sonic came in through. The Blue Blur watched them leave, but he too had had enough, and was extremely eager to leave as well. Once the hostages were gone and the coast were clear, he released everyone from his Magical grip and through them at Kronos. The confusion that followed gave Sonic enough time to run out of there at top speed. Through the door, down the labyrinth of tunnels and out into bright daylight. Sonic squinted, blinded, he only barely managing to stop just before the lake, his shoes getting slightly wet.
The crash of boulders and rocks from behind told him that Manic had created a land slide to block the entrance to the tunnel, they had all just come out of. They couldn't be followed that way. But Sonic didn't care, he'd ran past everyone. Now they were now all behind him. But he just stood there staring at the lake, his eyes slowly adjusting to the light. He was still fuming.
Manic stared at his brother, they all did. He was glad to be on the surface and no longer underground, but he now seriously fearing the repercussions of what had just happened. Someone read his mind.
"Manic?" A voice to the side of him spoke, breaking the silence. Manic swung round.
"Charlie!" He spat, surprised to see his old friend. Charlie had followed Sonic to the lake, had seen him enter the tunnel and had been waiting for them. He had correctly guessed from the look of Manic's face, what had happened.
"More Magic again?" He whispered, just like when Sonic had teleported them without a Chaos Emerald.
Manic stared at Charlie. Wait! He knew? Now Manic was very, very frightened indeed, but he needed the chestnut Hedgehog's help. He seemed to have some knowledge of the subject matter. Manic had no choice but to trust him, plus if Charlie was to tell on them to the Mobian Authorities, he would have already have done so by now. Manic desperately wanted to help his brother, they only ever had each other. Sonic would instantly have done the same for him and wouldn't think twice about it. He sighed and told the truth.
"He's subconsciously casting!" He sighed. "What do I do?" He stammered. Charlie looked stunned. The ability to cast was bad enough but doing it subconsciously, meant that Sonic had some serious power under the hood. It was almost certain, it would happen again. Charlie grabbed Manic.
"Look." He said. "I think you may have just gotten away with it here. Who outside of Robotropolis is going to believe you!" Manic stared at the chestnut Hedgehog. He did have a point and was somewhat relieved. But Charlie continued.
"But out there..." He said, indicating the city's edge. "That's a different matter!" Manic looked back at his brother, the blue Hedgehog was still staring at the lake, growling under his breath.
"So, What do I do?" He asked again.
"Go with him. You have to keep a lid on it." He looked directly at Manic, a serious look on his face. But then he turned away, towards the lake. "He's due at a Grand Prix tonight!" he added, rather loudly.
Sonic looked up from his temper fuelled stare and was immediately snapped out of it, by the words 'Grand Prix'!
That was tonight!
He hadn't realised he'd been underground for so long.
He had to leave, now. If he missed the Opening Ceremony, Knuckles and Tails would never forgive him. He'd promised he'd be there. He never broke a promise.
He began to panic.
"I have to go!" He stammered. Agreeing with Charlie, Manic grabbed Sonic.
"Not without me, you ain't." He smirked. Sonic tried to shake his brother off him, but against his formidable strength, he failed. He had no choice but to agree.
"Do you even have Extreme Gear?" Sonic spat back, unimpressed. Manic raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Oh, yeah." He grinned. "We can get it on the way." He said, very cocky.
"What!" Sonic squealed. "No!" He stared at his brother.
Manic got the distinct impression that Sonic had no idea of the scale of what he had just done.
Time for the green Hedgehog to put his foot down. Literally. The ground cracked and splinted beneath him.
"I'm coming with you!"