Chapter 6 – Call it a Truce
"We will not let you finish off our enemies, you metallic insect!" declared Ciara. "Now you shall battle with us!"
"You must be the Pyre Squad," said Metal Mantis. "Yes, I have heard a great about you from Doctor Eggman, how you've been disrupting his plans and cost him two of the Chaos Emeralds he needed to carry out his goal for world domination."
"That fat man is clearly dreaming on," laughed Cronk. "We three are the ones who will succeed in taking over the world and we will be collecting the Chaos Emeralds for our boss so he can use them for conquest!"
"It's those three again!" exclaimed Starfire as she watched the Pyre Squad with Metal Mantis. "What could they be up to this time?"
Zippy and Salem huddled close to Starfire in fear that they could be captured like before. "We're scared," they shuddered.
"Just stick with me," Starfire told the young Yoshi and Charmander. "We got my sister's back, so if they try anything, she and her team will put a stop to them."
"I think we won't have anything to worry about with the Pyre Squad, at least for now," said Cynder.
"What do you mean?" asked Zippy.
"Well, we have been witnessing them foiling Eggman's plans the last couple of instances," replied Cynder. "Perhaps for this time, they could actually be of some use for us."
"I don't get it," said Starfire. "Cynder, the Pyre Squad have caused a lot of grief for us, and now you're standing up for them just because they're going against that robot."
"I know it sounds crazy, but maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt," continued Cynder. "Besides, in spite of their attempts at villainy, I am starting to see that maybe the trio aren't entirely bad, and possibly misguided."
"Much like me when I was younger," said Bowser.
"Or me," added Ash. "Least only time will tell if they truly are redeemable."
"I'd say we do what we have done before with our last encounter with Eggman," suggested Cynder. "Let the Pyre Squad have it out with Metal Mantis, then once he is weak enough, we step in and assist them."
"Or how about we help them now straight off and continue the fight with the Robot Master instead?" asked Sonic.
"You're saying what I've been thinking too, Sonic," said Torden. "We can't just leave them to face Metal Mantis alone as we've experienced firsthand that he is very powerful."
"Alright," said Cynder. "I think we all need to figure out how we're going to put a stop to the Robot Master."
"I figured it out," said Bowser. "Draco and I will use our fire breath attacks, and Torden can try to zap him with his electricity."
"Wouldn't it be better to just use the Elemental Brooches?" asked Torden.
"No," said Cynder. "This is a fight were the brooches aren't a requirement."
"In that case, let's get going!" declared Sonic.
"If it's alright with you guys, I'm going to head back with Blaze and Darky," said Tails. "Much as I would like to help you guys out, part of me feels that this is going to be a very intense battle, and inventing is for me than fighting."
"That's perfectly fine, Tails," said Sonic. "I really am pleased with your honesty. You can head back and let Blaze know about your change of plan. The dragons and I should be fine without you."
Tails smiled and flew back to Blaze while the team rushed to the centre of the town square where already the Pyre Squad trio were duelling against Metal Mantis. The Robot Master tried to slice their knight robot, but the metal was so durable it could not even damage it.
"Don't be wasting your time," laughed Scorcher. "We have designed our mecha to resist even the sharpest of blades. It was designed originally to fend off against Cynder and her team, and it sure as well can be able to hold out against you too!"
"We shall see," said Metal Mantis. "You're going to regret for interfering in Eggman's affairs."
The Pyre Squad then noticed Sonic, Tails, and the dragons approaching them.
"Oh, it's you," said Ciara. "What do you twerps want? And why isn't that annoying two-tailed fox and blasted fire cat accompanying you?"
"For your information, we want to help you guys out," said Cynder. "As for Tails and Blaze, they're not joining in the battle, but we are, because we got a score to settle with Eggman too, and I think it's only fair that put aside our differences for once and work together so he can be stopped. What do you say to that?"
The Pyre Squad thought about the proposal. Although they had no intention of teaming up with their enemies as they felt it made them good, Ciara, Scorcher and Cronk considered that they might as well have a helping hand, especially when they witnessed how Metal Mantis was able to resist their powerful mecha knight.
"So what do you think?" Scorcher asked his partners.
"Teaming up with our enemies?" scoffed Ciara. "That's crazy!"
"I know," said Cronk. "But if we don't learn to cooperate with those meddlesome dragons, we won't be going anywhere with that mantis robot."
"He makes a very good point," said Scorcher. "Best that we swallow our pride and just have a temporary truce with them."
"Fine," conceded Ciara and she looked down to the dragons. "We have come to a consensus that we will battle alongside you lot for this occasion, but only for this once."
Cynder smiled. "Perfect, I know you three would come through," she said.
"Don't look now, cause Metal Mantis is coming after us!" exclaimed Draco.
"Showtime!" declared Bowser as he took a fighting stance.
With that, everyone charged at the Robot Master. At first Metal Mantis did not seem all that worried with taking on a group of dragons as he was programmed by Eggman to know when they were going to attack. However, as the battle raged on, the Robot Master sound found that he starting to find himself struggling against them. As the Pyre Squad, Percival, Lily, Jakkin, Jeremy and Sonic engaged in close combat with the robot, Bowser, Draco, Charonus and Salem used their fire attacks against him. Cynder, Starfire, and Torden delivered an array of plasma bursts and energy breaths and Zippy unleashed rounds of Yoshi eggs. Soon, the combined forces of the team finally overwhelmed Metal Mantis and he crumbled down from their might.
"This is it, Metal Mantis," said Sonic. "Now, give it up!"
"Alright, you win," conceded Metal Mantis. "All of you have won this fight, Come closer so I can congratulate you on your victory."
Hesitant, yet certain that the battle has been won, Sonic slowly approached Metal Mantis without suspecting a thing. Cynder could sense that there was something amiss, and her suspicions were proven correct when Metal Mantis prepared to fire a sneak attack on the blue hedgehog.
"Look out, Sonic!" Jeremy shouted, and he raced forward and intercepted a pair of laser shots aimed at Sonic, sending them back to Metal Mantis. The Robot Master was unable to dodge the attack and he got zapped right on the spot before exploding into pieces.
Sonic sighed. "Man that was close. I would have been fried otherwise! Thanks a lot, Jeremy!"
"Don't mention it," said Jeremy.
Everyone turned to the remains of Metal Mantis. Smoke poured from his disassembled parts and he could only spout out garbled speech.
"Bzzt… the Eggman Empire… shall rise again…" he managed to buzz out, and then there was silence.
"We did it," said Cynder. "We've managed to defeat the first of the Robot Masters."
"Way to go, guys!" cheered Tails and Blaze as they rushed towards the group.
"You were really awesome there, big sis!" exclaimed Darky.
"None of us could have been able to win the battle if it hadn't been for the Pyre Squad," said Cynder. "I think we should give them credit for their heroic deed."
The Pyre Squad looked at the team and smirked.
"Don't think that just because we have helped you take out that robot it means that the hatchet is buried between us," said Ciara. "This is merely a truce, and once the threat of Eggman is over, we're back to being enemies again!"
Laughing evilly, the Pyre Squad turned their mecha knight around and took off in the opposite direction. All the team could do is muse at the unexpected turn of events.
"You know, for a bunch of bad guys, they can make potential heroes if they have taken the opportunity," said Bowser.
"Yeah, but it's a shame that they would never make that choice to redeem themselves," said Jakkin. "Still, at least we've defeated one of the Robot Masters."
"Only four more to go," said Sonic. "But together we should be able to take them all out one by one."
Starfire turned to her sister. "So now that we have defeated Metal Mantis, where do we go from here?" she asked.
"I have an idea," said Tails. "Let Sonic and I take you on a tour around Station Square. I'm sure all of you will be intrigued to see what the city has to offer."
"Oh, boy, that sounds really fun!" said Lily exuberantly.
"Now that you mention it, I recall that the Nightriders said we could find them at the hotel and casino," said Torden. "This could be the perfect chance to see them again!"
Sonic smiled. "Well, what are we waiting for?" he urged. "Follow me, everyone! The Grand Tour of the Station Square is at hand!"
Everyone followed Sonic as they started their sightseeing around Station Square. Although they were aware they needed to continue their search for the Chaos Emeralds, defeat Eggman and destroy the new Death Egg, they knew that they always needed their moments of rest and relaxation.
To Be Continued…
Well, This is quite an amazing development! For the first time ever, our heroes and the Pyre Squad have temporarily teamed up to defeat Eggman and his minions. Who knows what this could mean for the Pyre Squad in the future? See you all in the next story!