Chapter 5 – Arrival at Station Square

It did not take long for the dragons to appear in the heart of Station Square, the bustling metropolis within New York City. Eventually, Sonic, Tails, and Blaze arrived as well. Sonic remembered how Eggman once attempted to ravage the city many years ago, and he was determined not to let it happen again. Fortunately, there were no robots present, but the team were certain that they would appear at any moment. There was also no sign of any of the five Robot Masters.

"Where are those guys?" Torden asked.

"Just hang in there, Torden," said Tails. "When they arrive, we'll have the chance to take them down, considering they don't have any devious tricks up their sleeves."

"Yeah, well, we can't be standing here like a pile of rocks," said Sonic. "Playing the waiting game isn't my forte, and I'm not going to sit here and allow Eggman and his robot goons to harm those peace-loving civilians."

"Searching for them will be the first thing we should do," said Cynder. "Once we do find, we better plan how we are going to battle against them."

"Good idea, Cynder," said Blaze. "Strategy is the key to prevailing against Eggman."

Cynder turned to Ash. "Now bear with me on this one, my young apprentice," she said. "If you want to become to fully fledged heroine, you better pay attention to my lead and watch how we take on Eggman and his robot army."

"Right, Cynder," said Ash with uncertainty.

The team made their way around the city searching for any sign of Eggman and his robots, but all they could see and hear are the people busy with their daily activities, not in the slightest concern about any possible threats.

"Maybe they're at the town square," suggested Tails. "It's a sure place for them to start an attack."

"Then let's get rushing!" exclaimed Sonic and he darted off like a bullet with the others catching up from behind.

Soon they arrived at the town square, but still they could not find Eggman or the Robot Masters anywhere.

Tails was starting to get worried. "Why do I have the feeling that we could be set up for a trap?" he wondered as he asked his friends.

"If it is, then we should spring it!" said Sonic brightly.

"Hold on a second, Sonic," said Blaze. "This isn't the time to be doing anything rash just to coax out Eggman!"

But just when Sonic was about to make his move, he stopped when sinister laughter rung all around the town square, and the team knew very well who the laughter belonged to. In no time, Doctor Eggman appeared on his Eggmobile, flanked by the five Robot Masters.

"Such gullible fools you are!" the doctor gloated. "I have you right where I wanted!"

"Eggman!" hissed Cynder. "What are you up to this time?"

"Just setting everything in place for my plans of world domination," laughed Eggman. "Now that you lot have fallen for my trap, one of my Robot Masters will take it from here and dispose all of you, unless you hand over the Chaos Emeralds, of course."

"We will never relinquish the Chaos Emeralds to the likes of you, you villainous swine!" shouted Torden.

Eggman looked at Torden with disgust. "Then you leave me no other," he said. "I'm afraid we'll have to do this the hard way!"

"Eggman, allow me to take care of the hedgehog and his comrades," said the robot mantis. "They shall fear the wrath of my razor blades!"

"As you wish, Metal Mantis," said Eggman. "Terminate them all with extreme prejudice."

"With pleasure, doctor," replied Metal Mantis.

Eggman sneered at Sonic, Tails, Blaze and the dragons. "You heard the Robot Master," he said to them. "Metal Mantis will teach you all a lesson, so he shall while Caribot, Cybird, Sharkinator, Pachytron, and I will carry out my grand scheme."

"Just you wait, Eggman," said Sonic. "We'll take out Metal Mantis, and the rest of you will be next!"

"Not very likely," laughed Eggman. "This time I'm the victor! Have fun, you pathetic lot!"

With that, Eggman zoomed off into the distance with the four Robot Masters, leaving the team to confront Metal Mantis.

"So now we have to fight you, I take it," said Cynder as the group focused on the Robot Master.

"That's correct," affirmed Metal Mantis. "But don't expect this is going to be an easy win for all of you. All those egg pawn type robots you have been tangling with are paltry compared to my great power!"

"Well, we shall see about that," said Sonic. "You're probably forgetting that I have dealt with Eggman's stronger robots years ago before you were even manufactured."

"Eggman was well aware of his past failings, so he has programmed us to make sure we will not fall for the same mistakes," retorted Metal Mantis. "I'm afraid all of you are now out of your luck. Prepare to feel the vengeance of the Eggman Empire."

"Guess this is it," said Jakkin. "All of us better get ready so we can put a stop to that tin can."

"I say we start now!" declared Torden as he cracked his knuckles.

"Hey, guys!" called a voice. "Wait for us!"

The dragons paused for a moment, and quickly, the Daring Dragon Dynamos rushed into the battlefield.

"Starfire!" exclaimed Cynder. "What are you, Zippy and Salem doing here?"

"We're here to help you fight against Eggman and his robots," said Starfire. "We just heard all about his plan to subjugate the world using the Death Egg and considered it might be the perfect chance for us to become heroes like you."

"I don't think this is a good idea, you three," said Cynder. "We're up against a rather dangerous foe, and the last thing we want is to lose you during the heat of the battle."

"Please, let us fight alongside you," said Zippy. "We promise that we will be very careful not to get hurt."

"Starfire has trained us well," assured Salem. "You can bet that we are ready for the challenge."

"Very well," said Cynder. "But I will advise for you to stick close to us, because this is going to be a really intense fight as this robot is nothing like the ones we've been going up against."

"We will," said the three young dragons.

"So, this means more lambs for me to slaughter," said Metal Mantis. "It will be an absolute pleasure to carry out Eggman's command."

"None of us are afraid of you," said Sonic. "We're going to fight together and beat you down to a pile of bolts!"

"Very brave of you," said Metal Mantis. "But you will soon regret the choice you have made."

Sonic, Tails and the dragons battled against Metal Mantis, and as usual, Blaze stood back, holding Darky close to her.

Metal Mantis spun his two blade-like appendages rapidly and then launched them towards the team, who quickly dodged the attacks. Tails took a brief glimpse of the blades turning around.

"Look out!" he cried. "They're coming back again!"

Everyone ducked down just in time. The blades spun past them and reattached themselves to Metal Mantis.

"Nice dodging skills," said the Robot Master. "Even so, you're going to have to do more than dodging if you are to survive."

The team tried once more attacking Metal Mantis using their signature attacks, but the Robot Master deflected them with his blades and retaliated by firing rounds of energy from the blasters on his antennae. Sonic sped across the square, with the lasers narrowly missing him. He then performs a Super Spin Dash and hurtles himself towards the robot.

Metal Mantis sensed the hedgehog drawing near, so he quickly stopped his fire and clasped his blades to hold the spinning blue ball of spikes. Sparks flew from the friction as the Robot Master held his grip tightly, trying to keep Sonic from reaching him. At last he delivered a powerful swing which sent Sonic sailing into the ground, hurt from the impact.

"How dare you!" Percival shouted, and he lunged towards Metal Mantis with his sword unsheathed, but as he delivered a swift stroke, he found that his sword was unable to dent the robot's alloy.

With no effort, Metal Mantis swung the sword back, which made Percival lose his balance and fall. Torden and Jakkin rushed in to help, attacking Metal Mantis from behind, but even their attacks proved to be ineffective. The Robot Master then proceeded to knock the two dragons back, and they were reeling from the sheer force of the robot's strength.

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Tails. "We're losing this fight!"

"We've got to help them," said Cynder.

"Yes," said Draco. "But how can we do that? That Robot Master seems very powerful, and I don't think we would stand a chance either."

Things were starting to look grim as Metal Mantis eyed Tails and the remaining dragons. He was almost ready to fire his laser blasters when a strange, whirring noise stopped him. Everyone, including the downed heroes, looked up, and there was the Pyre Squad in another contraption which resembled a gigantic knight complete with a sword and shield with the Obsidian Devourers insignia on it. Boldly, the trio made their way towards Metal Mantis, who was looking at them with utmost curiosity.

Author's Note: Again, this is yet another chapter that took me awhile to complete, but at least it's done, and we've got yet another intense confrontation, this time with Metal Mantis of the Robot Masters. The final chapter shall be done where we'll see who emerges victorious, and only one will be left standing with the other in pieces!