Characters (C) Respective Owners
Ch. 21: Honeybees Versus Babylonians
It had been such a long time since I had last been alone. Being alone is a terrible feeling for one to have. It stakes your stomach with emptiness, and a vast pit lodged inside of you will never move until someone appears. Of course, I was feeling it the exact same moment as I thought I would die from my first horrific fix against Rodrigo.
I paused on the stairs, wondering if I could do actually defeat Rodrigo. Rodrigo, the mastermind behind the Arks of the Cosmos and the traitor to Stolen's Babylon Rogues. Not to mention that he attempted to kill all his spieces on the Babylonian spaceship off course, but landed it on Earth.
Glancing down at my Ark, I noticed that the yellow core was glowing. It only glowed when someone was activating the gravity power. Fluttering upwards, I glanced up at the stairs. Elongated with a dreary grey color, leading to an unknown precarious fight. That I knew already I was going to lose.
Well, that wasn't really a fact. Remember that premonition the Master Emerald foreshadowed when I was with Jet, Wave, Mighty, Ray, and Knuckles? That image suddenly popped up in my mind, retrieving that same putrid feeling of fear and being alone.
Clenching my fist, I remember telling myself this over and over again, You're doing this for the Chaotix, Sonic, and Storm.
Rebuilding my confidence with those rather corny thoughts, I dashed up the stairs with my wings at hyper speeds. After what seemed like an eternity, and my wings ached for the record, I finally managed to find a black door with white flames around the corners. Good because my wings were about to fall off.
The doors opened on their own, thoroughly shocking me, even though I remained stoic. Hovering higher so I could look a tad bit more masculine, I floated inside where I was met with the greatest demon in Babylonian History.
The inside of the room was as blank as Shadow's personality when he first came out of his pod. A simple white circle was marked on the ground while the rest was recorded in an insidious black. Pale lights were hovering above us, making me feel like Rodrigo was a phantom. Speak of Rodrigo, he was sitting in a throne of a king's, thinking of ways to torment his subjects.
"Good day to you, Prince," Rodrigo purred, sitting in a throne that was perched upon a small tower-like structure at the end of the circle. Ascending his throne by leaping, he landed just a few yards away. "I'm glad you're doing fine. I was actually concerned for your welfare against my minions."
"You don't care about me or them," I snarled, glaring at him. "You're only concerned about you being the one to kill me."
Rodrigo grinned coyly at me, a hand by his beak in a rather bored fashion. "What gave it away? The sincerity of my tone?" Suddenly, he gave a quick burst of laughter. "Or maybe it was the way I had Cannon murder Storm and just allow that failure to perish."
"S-shut up! Storm isn't dead!" I cried back futily.
Rodrigo pulled a small photograph from his cloak, swiping it at me. It missed me, landing a foot from my foot. Heh, ironic. Catiously, I snagged it, noticing that it left a small indent from the ground from the corner. Each one of my brain cells exploded from the picture: Storm was on the ground. I made out a few splotches of some sort of liquid, a mix of purple and red.
"Does that alter your perception?" Rodrigo asked cynically, slowly hovering in the air by the Arks' power.
"He's...not...dead!" I snapped through clenched teeth, crumpling the photograph up and chucking it at him. It missed by several yards, making me feel like a total idiot.
Rodrigo floated up in the air, and I followed his lead. Suddenly, he waved a hand at me to pause. I did, but only out of curiousity. The crow was still grinning darkly like the night just arrived.
"Hold up on this mediocore banter for just one moment, sil vous plait," he commanded, with a his hand still raised in the air. The Arks, green and red, gleamed off his wrist against the pale light.
"Sil vous what?" I reitarated, cocking it my head.
"It means please in French which is where I ended up when I first came to this disgusting planet." Taking a sharp breathe, he added, "Do you recall when I first said your true past when we last met?"
I nodded.
"Than why don't I show the orginal treachery of the Babylon Rogues," Rodrigo suavely rasped. A black hole appeared behind me, suddenly devouring me and him into the dark abyss.
The inside of this black hole was oddly different from the other vortexes I had been inside. The inside was actually a blank, dull white, shunning the name of black hole. "White hole" was more like it with bolts of black and purple electricity or lightning tumbling around occasionally. Rodrigo wasn't around, making me shiver.
Suddenly the entire white hole collapsed, like vanished into thin air. Rodrigo appeared behind me, making me squeal as he slowly cackled. I took a look at our new surrondings: Some sort of aristocratic room. The room had a flourished amount of golden walls with black streaks, similar to my striped design. A few royal looking bees were surronding themselves around two large chairs. A wasp, the male, and a honeybee, the female, were looking exceptionally worried. In the female's hands was a garb of a towel drawled around something rather small with two antenae.
"My King Stinger! You and Queen Flora must flee!" One of the royals cried with the others shouting in agreement.
King Stinger the Wasp glared and demanded silence. "I've told you that I've conversed with my wife about this. We shall not run nor shall we hide. We'll face the Babylonians head-on! The GoldenHive Colony shall not fall!"
"What's going on?" I asked, realizing that it was like when Cannon transported the others and I into the past. I tried to slap a few people in the face to calm them down, but my hand went right through them.
Rodrigo smirked as he floated down to the floor. He slowly waltzed to Queen Flora the Honeybee, gesturing to the towel. "As you look at this baby, I'll explain everything in minor terms so that your little brain won't get confused. To put it simply, the Babylonians required a home, and the GoldenHive Colony were genorous enough to allow them to stay. However," His face suddenly grew grim as he watched the royals protest with the rulers. The baby I was watching started to move it his sleep. "the Babylonians grew in greed and started to take over some of the Colony's people. Those whom continued to resist were slaughtered at the hand of the person you call Boss' father."
I listened intently as I looked at the sleeping baby. The baby was a honeybee, a cute one at that with a tiny nose and large, unopened eyes. In his mouth was a pacifer with a small badge on his red shirt.
Rodrigo suddenly flew at the window, waving me to him. I obeyed, staring out the window. Outside was a dreadful site. A collection of powerful birds, Babylonians by the looks of it with their flamed ankles-Babylon Rogues have flamed wrists and ankles, like myself-were crushing the rather puny Colony army. Each time a type of bee fell, I felt myself dying inside. Because these were my people.
It was than I realized who that baby was: That baby...was me!
"Why are they doing this?" I whispered, but Rodrigo would not answer, and instead, he pointed a white talon at the door.
"Watch what will happen next," he ordered. "It will change you."
Suddenly, three male birds, a hawk, an albatross, and a swallow burst into the room riding souped-up Extreme Gear. The hawk I instantly recognized as Accel while the other two I remembered as Thunder the Albatross and Web the Swallow from photographs Wave showed me from her scrapbook. The royals screamed and scampered out of the room while Accel just smirked.
Stinger slowly ascended his thrown, outraged. "I allowed you to stay in my Colony where we treated you all as equals! And now you attack us, your providers?"
Shrugging innocently, Accel pulled out his bansho fans. "We only stayed long enough for my son to become the leader of the next generation of Babylon Rogues, and we wanted to show him want conquest really looked like."
The wasp snarled, his stinger on edge. "You're just trying to make him a little clone of yourself, Accel."
"What would make you accuse him of something so highly irritional?" Web asked, holding a large spanner in his hand.
Flora's wings slowly fluttered down to her husband. The queen glared at the avians, snapping, "You heartless monsters! We've-"
"Silence!" Accel shouted, raising his fans into a striking position. "The time for talk has passed, but the time for your excutions is now!"
Rodrigo closed his eyes suddenly, raising his wrist as two of the Arks glowed. Everyone suddenly froze as Accel and Stinger were ready to charge at each other, and we were back into the white hole. I blinked, looking around back at the dreary area.
"What happened to them? Were those people really my parents?" I asked when the white hole distentegrated.
Rodrigo nodded. "Yes, and I would just like to add that the battle was too gruesome, that it even made me shudder and wince as blood was spilled." The crow raised his arm. "The conspiracy has bantered on long enough. Your father, Stinger, was killed, and your Colony fell, but your mother, Flora, escaped with you."
Now, we were in a dark ally when the white hole evaporated where a few thugs were. I could make out a pinkish-purple chameleon wearing a ninja headband around his neck, and a light green crocodile wearing a leather jacket and headphones among the group. It seemed that they were in a fight as the other thugs around them went down against the wall hard. Very hard.
The crocodile gave a sudden whoop, making the three of us flinch. Rodrigo muttered about assinating them sooner. The chameleon covered his ears, while the crocoldile beamed with an ugly sunshine banner behind him. (I haven't forgetten about that, Sky Hawk!)
"Man, that was such an easy job, Espio," the fourteen-year-old crocodile proclaimed as they made their way towards us.
"Vector, you really need to calm yourself," the ten-year-old chameleon scolded, nudging Vector's scaly stomach. "We could've gotten seriously injured, and it would be all your fault! Besides, two against twenty? Are you insane in the membrane?"
My eyes widened, and my jaw slacked. Rodrigo stared at me before lifting my jaw back to normal. Thanking him, I turned my attention back to the sudden bickerment ensuing between my deceased family. Vector was waving his arms in the air like a deranged monkey when high, while Espio was remaining rather unstoic by cursing at him. If Espio were alive and saw the uncanny scene, he'd be slapping his younger self silly. For Vector, however, he'd probably join right in on his side. I'd just be in the middle, like usual.
Suddenly, a buzzing filtered through the air. Espio raised his hand, silencing Vector. Almost. Vector continued to yap away until Espio clamped both of his hands on Vector's mighty jaws. Queen Flora swooped down in her long, ruby dress. However, the dress only covered the blood splatters on her body, and her mouth and nose were leaking blood. In her arms was baby me, and I was screaming my head off and crying. Drops of her blood were being dropped onto the towel and my faces.
"...The Babylon Rogues did this?" I asked, bewildered at her figure. Ambigious feelings rushed through me. The fact that I was being cared for my the offspring of those...those monsters was unspeakable!
Rodrigo nodded. "Yes, and I even I have to admit that Accel's actions and motivations were utterly dispicable."
Queen Flora was ready to collapse onto the street when Vector caught her. My mother gave a lurch, hacking blood while Espio snatched her shoulder. She glanced over to Vector, gulping.
"M-ma'am, what happened to you?!" Vector cried, desperation in his voice.
She gave a weary smile, her teal eyes glowing. Outstretching her hands, she gave my baby form to Vector, whispering, "He's name is Prince Charmy Bee of the fallen GoldenHive Colony. Please, protect him and raise him, fore I know that...that-that I n-never wi-will..." She doubled over in Espio's arm.
Dead. My mother just died before me. Dead. Dead, dead, dead! Clenching my fists, I screamed up at the sky, knowing that only Rodrigo could hear me. Surprisingly enough, Rodrigo didn't mock me or even stifle a laugh. The crow just remained silent and watched as the newly-made Chaotix walked sullenly away. I pounded my fists against the concrete wall besides me as I cursed.
They killed her, those damned Babylon Rogues!
"Charmy Bee," Vector crooned suddenly, taking me out of my frustration to stare up at him. "Alright, I'll take care of ya!"
"Vector, you can not be serious!" Espio cried suddenly. He paused to stare at my wide-eyed baby form. "He is pretty adorable with such giant eyes, however."
"Great! He's ours than," Vector proclaimed, holding me tightly
"Don't expect me to potty train him."
"I believe you've seen enough," Rodrigo cooly said as he raised his hand. The scene around us suddenly shattered into thousands of little pieces as I screamed out for my mother and the rest of the Chaotix.
Now, we were back into his castle. Rodrigo stood cockily in front of his throne steps while I was on the floor. Paralyzed with fear. Tears tortured my face, coming down in fat, heavy drops. Rage flowed through my blood as I remembered how sweet Storm was when he saved me from certain death when I first encountered Rodrigo. He was always there for me, but...
"Isn't betrayal terrible?" Rodrigo asked, walking towards me as I trembled feebly.
"It is," I whispered, holding myself in a tight hug.
"Don't you desire..." He kneeled down towards me; his violet eyes were clearly amused as the watched like a predator's. "Revenge?"
I didn't reply, but paused at the thought. Slowly, I began to look up at the demonic crow, and the words just started to fly out of my mouth with no thought at all. "What would you think, Rodrigo?! You just showed my that my friends' parents slaughtered my family! Of course I want them all to die!" Suddenly, I gasped and covered my offending mouth with my un-Arked hand.
Rodrigo suddenly burst into laughter, covering his eyes with his hand. Once the rather unneeded jeers were complete, he intently stared me down. I shuddered at what sick thoughts ran through his head at my outburst. "Let's crack a deal."
"Why should I?" I demanded, defensively as I fluttered upwards to face him.
"You'd want your mother and your father to be avenged, don't you? If the Babylon Rogues hadn't collided with this planet, than none of this would've happened!" Rodrigo claimed, waving his hands in the air. "Accel wouldn't have needed their assitance, but still, he accepted it, and what happened to your parents and heritage? They were murdered for political reasons only."
I remained gaping and wide-eyed. Ready to cry, I bit my lower lip, and quietly asked, "What do you want in return if I accept?"
Smirking, Rodrigo gave a light tap at my Master Ark, and I reeled it away. "Just the Master Ark, and once I have it, I'll make sure those accursed Babylon Rogues are prepared to face their ultimate demise for harming you."
I held onto my Ark as the words sank into my skull. I wanted to hurt the Babylon Rogues for their parents and comrades for the politically induced death of my family and former life. I wanted them to die at the moment. But all they've done for me. Storm saving me and teaching me ways of life and comforting; Wave teaching me to ride Extreme Gear and about the world, and Jet taught me how to stand up for myself and to let myself be my own guide. Storm's fallen body flashed through my mind once more, but was he really dead? My heart did a flop-flip as anxiety rushed through me.
Slowly, I started to slide my Ark off my wrist and onto my fingers, letting it dangle. Rodrigo reached out to grab it, telling me that I made the right decision. Once Rodrigo was arm's length away, I blasted Rodrigo with a sudden Gravity Beam. Rodrigo was sent flying into his throne, surprised at the sudden counterattack.
Stunned by my powerful move, Rodrigo leaped to his feet and hovered in the air roughly. "You little brat! They killed your family!"
"I would've died if Storm hadn't saved me that day," I replied earnestly. "Everything was all your fault! If you hadn't been crazy and sabotaged the spaceship, nothing would've happened, but for that. Thank you."
Taken back from my response, Rodrigo sputtered, "Wh-what did you say?"
"Thank you, and I hate you. I am going to get revenge for the Chaotix, but I hadn't met you, I never would've become a Babylon Rogue. So all I can do is just says thanks, but I still am going to kill you."
Rodrigo suddenly grinned, cackling softly. Man, he laughs alot. What is he, a clown? "Alrighty then, deal's off. You've had your chance, Prince Charmy, but now it's the time for you perish!"
"Bring it on, Roddy!"
--
Kiba Sniper is sitting in a chair, looking completely outraged. "Hello, dear readers. Kiba Sniper at your honored service. I'm to discuss these stupid wars, and where I stand on them."
She gets up and moves towards three pictures with hearts in between. The first is Amy Rose, a heart, followed by Sonic, a heart, and finally, Sally Acorn. The three look utterly distraught.
"Here, we have the typical Amy and Sonic and Sally bickerment. Many fans accuse Sally of being a "whore" because she doesn't wear a shirt or a pair of shorts or pants or underwear for that matter. Same for Amy because her panties show in nearly every game like Heroes, for example. Quite honestly, niether one are "whores" as bashers claim them to be. Has Amy or Sally every flirted with someone other than Sonic? No? Well, I haven't seen any proof."
She shrugs her shoulders and sighs. "My verdict? I honestly don't care for pairings. You can like Sonamy or Sonally. Heck, you even like Sonadow, and I will respect your opinion, but fans, please don't just go and accuse these characters for being "sluttish" or "whorelike." Thank you."
She moves towards four more pictures. This time it was the same set-up, expect the pictures were now seen as Charmy Beem Cream the Rabbit, no Cheese, Tails, and Cosmo. Cream is crying with Cosmo, while Charmy and Tails stare down at their feet.
"Now, here is the love square of Charmy, Cream, Tails, and Cosmo. Before anyone goes and screams that Cosmo "ruined Tails and Cream's relationship" please think back. Both are featured in seperate Sonic universes. Cosmo is from the Sonic X verse, while Cream and boys are from the game universe."
Kiba pauses and shakes her head. "To be quite honest, none are even old enough to date, and I've seen LEMONS with these poor characters. The ages weren't raised! Nope, we can just have a good old time and not even know where babies are from!"
"My verdict? It's just like I said, Taismo was somewhat canon in the Sonic X universe, but was not featured in the game universe. Leaving poor Cream to be a little toy for either Charmy or Tails. Which is really, really sad."
The last set of pictures show an angry Knuckles, an annoyed Rouge, and an aggrivated Shadow. Kiba points a finger at all three before starting. "This triangle is different because it is two boys fighting over a girl. Knuckles versus Shadow over Rouge. In several sources, it states that Rouge has a crush on Knuckles while Shadow is her best friend. Now, this pairing can work either way, which I have no problem with."
"In fact, I support all couples, so long as it can make sense. However, it is not the characters at all. It is our fault. We, the fans, the push these characters to their limits until they snap and break. We fight over pairings that sometimes makes no sense, and all the Mary-Sues and Gary-Stus just make life worse."
Kiba closes her eyes and sits back down as the light slowly fades. "Please, fans, don't fight over pairings, or the characters even! You just make the game or comic or show, whatever you like! Seem utterly stupid. In Sonic the Hedgehog's words from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: That's no good."
Goodbye.