I'm back and I'm ready to continue with the story. It's time to reveal everyone's current position in the story. Let us move! Read and review please!
Chapter 30: What makes a brother…
So far Tails' road to his destiny has been a harsh one. After becoming a fugitive for his disturbing attack at the Station Square mall he now finds himself traveling with 2-year-old Charmy Bee and 12-year-old Espio the Chameleon in the ice region of 3-way villa after having defeated Karst Ice.
In the dessert region Knuckles and Amy having just defeated Igneous Rock decide to head toward Coordinates 000 in hopes that Tails would soon be there.
Flying overhead the desert region is Commander Smokestack, Rouge, and Big the Cat on there own mission to Coordinates 000.
Flying a little ways behind them are Government assassins sent by a special Admiral to stop Smoke's mission.
As of now the only one actually in Coordinates 000 are Bocoe, Decoe, and Eggman's newest commander: Hang Nail. Hang Nail waits there as his kid messenger Shimon makes his trek across the ice region to deliver Hang Nail's message to Tails.
Vector's whereabouts are unknown.
As for Sonic…
Green Hill Village: Green Hill zone of 3-way-villa
Sonic stood there panting and holding on too his chest as if for dear life after taking another one of Strobe's maxims head on.
His mouth was more than overly bleeding and his legs felt like gelatin. Strobe was in a similar condition. After Sonic had found a way to pierce through Strobe's electricity by spinning he had suffered a great amount of damage.
Sonic certainly was determined to save his little brother. It was a feeling of determination that Strobe would give anything to feel again for at least one more time. How he missed his own brother.
"My brother… the one that I killed… I don't deserve to feel his embrace again." Strobe said silently to himself.
Princess Patella was watching the fight and finding it hard to compose herself. She had known Strobe since they were kids and didn't see why he had to act this way. She of coarse had no idea that he was suffering like this for so long.
Sonic continued to stand and began to ponder what Tails was up to without him. He must be worried. Some big brother he was.
He looked up and saw Strobe coming at him again. He was moving noticeably slower this time. He pulled back his arm and launched it forward, electricity brimming with massive power in his palm.
Sonic grunted and bent his legs. He not so easily jumped off the ground and spun into a ball as Strobe's attack missed. Sonic then shot himself at the commander who jumped backward to evade it.
They were both tired and it showed. Their reflexes had slowed considerably. Sonic being as fast as he was and Strobe having similar speed due to his lightning powers made it seem odd to any spectators who had known of their powers who happened to be watching.
After a while Sonic began to clutch his chest harder. The attacks were starting to get to him again but he couldn't waver. Not until this whole ordeal was dealt with! Tails didn't deserve this damn it!
Sonic began to wonder about Strobe's own brother. He had said he was 5 when he was 'killed'. He said he was the one who did it too. That must've been why he followed Eggman's ambition instead of his own… because he thought his own couldn't be trusted!
Sonic decided to speak up.
"Strobe!" Sonic shouted directly at him.
The lightning themed commander looked at him intently, paying full well attention to whatever the hedgehog had to say.
"Are you acting this way because of the bomb Eggman put in your brain… or… did you just tell us that unwanted piece of information… to hide your true reason?"
Patella looked at Strobe quizingly. She had a feeling she knew what his answer to that question was going to be.
Strobe stood there, left totally speechless for a few seconds until he spoke up again.
"I can't… I can't allow myself to die yet! I had a reason to kill myself long ago but fate gave me a new reason to live… " Strobe turned to look at the princess who now felt ashamed of herself. Was she the reason he couldn't be at peace with himself?
"You mean the princess?" Sonic spoke out what the princess was thinking.
"… Yes."
Sonic still wanted to know more so he asked again.
"Before you said you originally thought it was an accident but then realized it was your fault… what made you change your mind… was it Eggman up there who told you!"
Eggman, who had remained silent in his mobile while all this talking went on perked up at the mention of his name.
"No… it was… a voice… or maybe it was my imagination… but it spoke with such reassuring words that I couldn't help but submit."
"But… you…"
"As I said before after his death I could no longer follow my own ambition. So I came to Eggman. I didn't wish to be evil but after my brother's death I realized that I was… and I couldn't change that!"
Sonic began to feel weird fighting this guy. It was like fighting himself only he was fighting the version of himself that could've come to life if he had let Tails jump off that cliff and die back on Westside Island. The pain he'd have to go through would've been unbearable.
He couldn't live with himself anymore if he'd let that happen. He'd act just like Strobe. Wishing he were dead but forcing himself to stay alive based on the premise that he had a duty to protect the world from Eggman's control.
What an awful way to live… knowing that your brother's dead… and that you could've done something to stop it…
Meanwhile in the ice region
As luck would have it the little fox and bee found a cave during their trek to coordinates 000. They managed to make it inside while dragging Espio's body along as well.
Tails and Charmy didn't hesitate to cuddle beside each other as a way to dismiss the cold feeling they both had.
"Espo okay?" Charmy said all of a sudden
"Espo? Oh, Espio! I… I don't know." Tails began to shiver harder. Espio had been unconscious for a while now but he was still alive. They both made certain of that. It didn't take long for Charmy to ask something again.
"V-Vector okay?" Charmy's voice cracked as if he were ready to cry. Again Tails answered with a shaky I don't know.
"… T-Tails okay?"
This one Tails knew. He wasn't okay. He was in the middle of nowhere and he felt completely frozen. Espio was unconscious, they didn't know where Vector was, and Tails was worried about Sonic.
They'd been separated for so long it scared him. Tails tried not to cry but it was so hard. He was only 4-years-old after all. Why shouldn't he cry? He had a right to! He missed his big brother!
"I… I miss Sonic." Tails pouted. Charmy pouted as well.
"I miss Vector." He said as he put his head into his hands. Suddenly they both heard a very silent yet reassuring voice reach out to them.
"Don't worry you two… I'm sure he's fine." Said the voice that came from the ground. It was one Charmy knew all too well.
"ESPO! ESPO AWAKE!" Charmy shouted as the chameleon struggled to sit up.
"I know I'm asking a lot out of you two… but I'm going to need you to stay strong for me okay?" Espio had sat up and felt a strong pain in his back. Having been stabbed there he felt as though it made sense for him to have been out for so long.
Charmy however forgot that and immediately went to give the ninja a bear hug. Espio flinched but didn't want to make the kid sad by telling him to move. So he repositioned Charmy's hands so they hugged the upper part of his back instead of the middle part.
"Espo's back! Espo's back!"
"Yeah… sorry if I worried you Charmy. You too Tails." Espio said feeling happy to be in the presence of these two squirts.
Tails felt good for Charmy. At least he was happy. Tails however felt extremely low like he had always felt back on Westside Island. If stupid Bear Mayor didn't pass that law… no he couldn't dwell on the past now.
"Sonic… big brother… please… you said you work fast… so how come you're taking so long…"
Back in Green Hill Village
Sonic stood there with a sad expression on his face. He wanted to know what happened. He couldn't explain why but he just had to know.
"I sense you wish to know the story." Strobe spoke up all of a sudden. Sonic was about to ask how he knew but Strobe answered it for him.
"Our chaos emeralds. I have a yellow one inside me and you have the red one in your hand. I used their connection to feel what you were thinking. After all they do change people's thoughts into power."
"… I guess so." Sonic merely said.
"Then allow me to explain. I was merely 12-years-old when my brother died. When he was born it was far from the happiest day of my life. I felt jealous of him because he stole my mom's attention and as he grew I treated him even worse. It wasn't until he was 3 that I stopped being mean to him for he had done something that I never would've guessed he'd do."
Sonic waited patiently.
"He called me… the greatest big brother he could ever have. I knew full well that it wasn't true and it made me feel ashamed to even be a brother. It was then that I decided I was going to live up to that title.
Flashback
10-year-old Strobe and his little brother Streak were happily playing in their parents garden. Strobe wasn't metalic at all and had nice violet hair that complemented his sparkling blue eyes. Since their parents didn't get along with their kids that much Strobe had decided to play with Streak. Streak was 3-years-old, had light brown slightly spiky hair and blue eyes. He was actually quite intelligent for his age. He knew how too count and he could spell really well. Right now Strobe was showing him pictures of animals.
"Duckie!" He said as Strobe held up a picture of a duck.
"Good. Next one." Strobe held up a picture of a train. Streak's face began to twist and turn as he scratched his head cutely. Strobe smiled at this cuteness.
"Uhhhhhhhh… train?"
"Yeah! You got it!"
"Yay! I did it!"
"That's enough for today. We've got to get inside. It's getting dark."
"Really. Dark is bad." Streak said unconsciously clinging to Strobe.
"Yeah, I know but don't worry your big brother will protect you from the dark. "
"Okay!"
After that they both got up and went inside. Strobe had recently started acting nice toward his brother after he had falsely accused him of being the best big brother.
"I'm gonna do everything to prove it little bro. I promise."
End Flashback
"I guess you must've really loved him huh?" Sonic said feeling even worse.
"More than you know. It wasn't until a year later that my brother's kindness toward others was shown."
Flashback
"Ah! Big brother! Save me!" 4-year-old Streak ran through the forest as he was being chased by a stray dog.
Strobe wasn't far from his brother. They were at the park when Streak had suddenly disappeared while Strobe built a sand castle in the sand box. Right now he was calling for his brother in the forest.
"Streaky! Streaky! Where are you?" Strobe called out his little brother's nickname.
"Big brother! Is that you?!" Came his voice.
"Streaky?"
"Save me! Please!"
"I'm coming! Don't worry!" Strobe followed his brother's voice and ran as fast as he could to where he thought his voice was coming from.
He eventually found cornered against a rock by a dog.
"N-nice doggie! G-good boy!" Streak said pinning himself even harder against the rock.
Obviously the dog didn't care for his praise as it immediately launched itself at Streak.
"Streaky!" Strobe immediately ran over and pushed Streak out of the way. The dog collided with the rock as a result. It fell to the ground and stayed there while Strobe comforted his crying brother.
"Streaky. Are you okay?"
"Uh-huh. The doggie was scary."
"I know but I'm here now. I won't let it hurt you. Why was it chasing you anyway?"
"I… I tried feeding it an oatmeal cookie." Streak admitted.
"What? Why?"
"Because I heard that doggie's can't eat chocolate chip so I tried oatmeal and…"
"No I mean why did you try to feed it anything in the first place?" Strobe started to raise his voice.
"I-I don't know. I thought he looked hungry so I-"
"Don't you realize how stupid that was?! That was a stray dog! He could've had rabies and bitten you! Do you want to die?!" Strobe's voice was that of a shout now.
"N-no…" Streak was scared now. He began to sniff and hold back tears. It was just like when Strobe used to pick on him. Strobe quickly realized this and hugged his little bro as a means to comfort him.
"I 'm sorry I yelled at you… but… you really scared me. I don't want to see you get hurt little bro." Strobe said as he helped Streak up.
Streak couldn't help but feel bad that he had let his brother down. He held on to him as they made their way home. The park didn't seem at all appealing now.
" I really am sorry… big brother."
Meanwhile in the Ice region
Espio had taken off Charmy's helmet to see his hair all bloody a matted together. He quickly began to tend to the little bee while Tails was left alone to think.
The little fox couldn't help but think that Sonic was in trouble. As his little brother it was okay for him to worry about Sonic but something didn't feel quite right. Something felt extremely wrong. He felt that something bad was going to happen.
"As if sitting here and worrying would help…" Tails mumbled to himself.
"You say something Tails." Espio said not taking his eyes off Charmy's injured head.
"Oh… it's noth-I mean don't worry about it." Tails said not wanting to say something this scary was nothing.
Strobe's Flashback
A week later little Strobe and Streak had a run in with that dog again. This time however it was lying on the ground bleeding. It had an icicle piercing it's chest, which was strange because it happened to be summer. The dog was bleeding and clearly on it's way to death.
As soon as Streak saw the dog he hid behind Strobe but then realized that it was suffering.
"Strobe… what's wrong with the doggie."
"…It's… it's dieing."
"What!? We've gotta help it!" Streak got from behind Strobe and ran to the dog he kneeled down and saw it's eyes close. Strobe had already known it was too late but Streak never liked coming to terms with things he didn't want.
Soon the dog was dead and Streak was crying.
"Poor doggie. Why'd you have to die… you didn't even get to taste my mom's oatmeal cookie yet." Streak said as he wiped his tears away. Strobe walked toward him and sighed.
"Come on. We've gotta go Streaky."
"…Okay." Streak got up and was about to follow his brother when he stopped and turned back to it.
"What is it Streaky?"
"…I'm gonna bury it."
"What? But…"
"We need a shovel. Let's go get one."
Strobe stared at Streak's determined face then gave in.
"Alright. We'll bury it." Strobe said wondering how his brother could've been so forgiving.
End Flashback.
"That being the first time Streaky had any experience with death I became more protective of him. However, a year later I made the biggest mistake of my life. I made three new 'friends' that I liked hanging out with. It was too late when I realized what their 'friendship' had done to me.
Sonic continued to listen getting more depressed as the story went on. It reminded him so much of him and Tails. He couldn't imagine having this happening to him.
Flashback
Strobe was hanging out with his new friends Tom, Zeck, and Marshal. The three of them hung out a lot before they met Strobe. Strobe really wanted to be friends with them because they were the neighborhoods cool kids. As of now Strobe was getting ready to go through his initiation.
"Stop following me Streaky!" Strobe said trying to drive his brother off once more but to no avail.
"But Strobe those kids are meanies! I saw them smoking one time too. They even stole a plastic flamingo off a guy's lawn once. Please don't go!"
"I already told you if you were scared of them then you should've stayed home." Strobe was beginning to lose his patience. It was dark out because Strobe was forced to sneak out in order to do this initiation. It wasn't long before lightning and thunder became present in the sky.
These were all the things that easily scared Streaky: Lightning, Thunder, and Darkness.
Knowing he'd be facing these things he still went out to try and stop Strobe from going to them. They were a bad crowd and Streaky loved Strobe more than he hated his fears.
"I couldn't stay home… not if it means you going to them."
Strobe sighed and continued into the forest where he met up with Tom, Zeck, and Marshal.
"Hey Strobe, whose the squirt." Zeck asked looking a little annoyed.
"He's my little brother. I told him to stay behind but he wouldn't listen."
"Well he'd better get lost unless he's doing the initiation too." Tom warned.
"He's not. In fact he was just about to head home. Right Streaky." Strobe said to his brother in a warning voice.
"I…uh…" Streak was too scared to speak.
"Well." Said Marshal impatient as well.
"I …um… " Streak wasn't sure what to say.
"Well Streaky! You DO know the way home right?"
"Y-yeah."
"Then what is it!?" Strobe was getting angry as the thunder roared behind them. Streak flinched and felt a rain drop. This was too scary for him.
"I want to go back but… it's too scary… the lightning and thunder… and the darkness…"
"What a wuss!" Tom joked.
"We wouldn't let you in our club even if you did pass the initiation!" Zeck shouted.
"Get out of here baby!" Marshal taunted.
Streak was near tears at this point but he still looked to his brother for support. Strobe however was just as impatient as the other three. He didn't know where it came from from but a huge rage had built up inside him. Didn't his brother want to have any friends? Did he want to hog him for the rest of his life? Strobe didn't know what to say or do. He even grew scared as his rage came full circle.
"Big brother?" Streak was getting even more scared as the rain joined the lightning and thunder.
"Leave Streaky…"
"B-but…"
"I SAID LEAVE! GO HOME! LEAVE ME ALONE AND DON'T COME BACK!!" Strobe shouted at his little brother. Everyone was frozen. Strobe had a look of regret on his face that Streak didn't care for at the moment.
Those words… those harsh words weren't like his big brother. The big brother he knew wouldn't have yelled like that. The big brother he knew would've protected him from the scary stuff… just like he promised him long ago.
Strobe couldn't bare this any longer. He immediately turned and ran away from everyone. Streak immediately followed his older brother.
"Big Brother wait! Please don't go?!"
"Leave me alone! Go away!" Strobe began to tear up as he said those words. He wanted to be alone. At least he thought that was it. He ran for what seemed like an eternity until he stopped and realized Streak was no longer following him. Strobe turned back around and ran into the unfamiliar part of the forest looking aimlessly for Streak.
It was raining hard so he couldn't see very well but he couldn't give up. He had to find Streak and apologize.
It wasn't long until Strobe found him huddled on the ground. He thought he lied there like that because he was scared. Strobe approached him and bent down to face him.
"S-Streaky…"
No answer.
"S-Streaky I-it's okay… it's me… your big brother…"
Still no answer
"Streaky… please… say… something… your scaring me. Streaky?" Strobe turned his little brother over and nearly jumped back in fright.
There was an emotionless and spooky expression on his face. One that showed he was unaware of his brother's presence. Blood trickled from his mouth. What he saw last scared him the most.
Like the dog they saw a year ago, Streak had an icicle piercing his chest. Strobe began letting his tears fall on top of his brother. His thoughts trying to deceive him by suggesting her was merely in a state of shock. Maybe it wasn't a serious wound. Maybe it wasn't his fault that this happened. He knew they were all lies.
He brought his brother to his chest and hugged him as hard as he could. He cried and cried as the heavens wept along with him.
"STREAKY! PLEASE WAKE UP! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! PLEASE!" All his shouts fell on deaf ears now. His brother was gone. He promised to protect him and he let him down.
He regretted yelling at him. He never got the chance to say sorry so Streak could hear it. Streak's last memory of Strobe was of him acting like a bully towards him. It was his fault that Streak didn't die happy. It was his fault he died around the very things that scared him. It was all his fault… he was evil.
End Flashback
"Afterwards I met Eggman accompanied by a boy my age with blue hair. His name was Karst. It turns out that him and Eggman had been doing their training in that forest and upon seeing Streaky, Karst killed him. I realize this but am still smart enough to know who the one at fault really is." Strobe said.
Sonic stood there quietly with his head down. Strobe noticed this but continued.
"Shortly after that Eggman attacked the town I lived in. My parents fled. I went to Eggman seeking help. He trained me and I became a junior assistant just like Karst earning my own metallic parts. My first mission was to kill the survivors of Eggman's attack; the ones that fled. I ended up killing Tom, Zeck, and Marshal, though not out of spite. It was simply an order. I never saw my parents again."
Patella was now crying hard. She never knew Strobe had been through so much. Sonic had his fist clenched as if not believing that all this could happen. In truth it scared him. This was an out written story of what would happen if he had ever let Tails down.
His determination to find Tails had doubled now.
"After another mission with Eggman, I was left extremely injured… and was found by Patella. She took me in and tended to me."
Flashback
12-year-old Patella was now taking care of Strobe in her room. She began to wrap bandages around him when Strobe decided to speak up.
"Why must you help me? I'm undeserving of it. I'm an evil person." His voice was very plain and emotionless.
"Don't be silly. You're not evil. You probably would've refused my offer of help is you were."
Strobe decided not to say anything further as she continued to bandage his arm. He sighed and let himself drift to sleep.
End Flashback
"After that I stayed in that village. I found a way to keep in touch with Eggman and occasionally left the village to carry out certain missions that acquired my attention."
"But why?" Patella stood up still crying. "Why couldn't you leave Eggman and live with me. I love you."
She made her confession as Strobe, now taken a back, began to answer.
"I love you too… but I couldn't leave Eggman because of my evil heart. Not only that but I felt a duty to protect you. I do what he commands me because it is my ambition yet my love for you allows me to stray from it at times."
Patella became silent.
"Now have you heard all you wished to hear hedgehog? If so let us continue our battle."
Sonic looked forward and nodded. Strobe came at him again with his palm full of lightning. He didn't call out the attack name. He felt no need to.
Sonic dodged quickly and leap to attack as well. He hit directly and knocked Strobe against a building. The commander then shot himself back at Sonic and launched punched after punch at him.
The speedy hedgehog dodged them all and grabbed his fist. He tried flipping Strobe over but he quickly retaliated by blasting Sonic in his back which sent him spiraling toward another run down building.
Sonic forced himself to regain his composure quickly as he came up on the building. He fixed his feet so they would hit against the wall and bounce him back. It ended up working and Sonic was able to launch himself back at Strobe.
Sonic tried kicking him as he made his way back but Strobe saw the attack coming and ducked. He then grabbed the hedgehog and thrust him hard against the gray soil. Strobe immediately retreated to the sky afterwards.
"Despite your speed, it would be very difficult for you to surpass the speed of lightning. Do you wish to continue?" Strobe asked.
Sonic struggled to his feet, wobbled a bit then chuckled. "Oh dear. I think you've got the wrong impression. I don't give up even if it's impossible for me to win."
Strobe simply nodded as he held out his finger and drew it across the sky in a straight horizontal line. When he did five sparkling dots appeared in front of him. Sonic was confused on what their purpose was when he saw them. However, they suddenly, quicker then the blink of an eye, all shot straight at him, leaving a streak of light behind as they did.
Sonic barely had time to dodge as it came toward him. When he decided to move there was already a huge crater in front of him and he had already been blown back and in front of the princess. She said nothing as he landed in front of her.
Sonic immediately got up and ran toward Strobe. Strobe expected an attack but he ran right past him. Ignoring the hedgehog's questionable tactics he created another horizontal line of dots and shot them at Sonic. This time they all split up in separate directions as a means to find different ways of destroying the hedgehog.
None worked however.
As soon as Sonic came up on one he immediately turned tail and ran. It was either that or leading the shots into other things such as buildings, crates, rocks, or themselves. When they were all gone Sonic had to actually stop to catch his breath.
"Behind you!" Came Strobe approaching voice. Sonic turned around to see the commander's palm in his face. Sonic immediately ducked backward as the shot came out, almost damaging his back as he did so. It ended up hitting the ground, which saved Sonic the trouble of dodging it any more.
Strobe simply looked as his finger then made another line across the air.
"If you're gonna try something new just let me know." Sonic said jumping backward. He seemed prepared for it this time.
"Very well… now!" Strobe immediately jumped toward Sonic, his palms overflowing with power. The hedgehog was completely surprised at this move as he quickly turned to run. As soon as he did the dots came to life and scattered to hunt the hedgehog down just like before only this time Strobe was coming too.
Having to deal with both Strobe and those troublesome blasts made the task of fending them off twice as difficult as before. They made their way around the entire destroyed village in doing this, both making sure to stay away from the princess as they fought.
Eggman and Bokkun simply watched in delight as the pawn did his job well. It made the genius feel really good inside.
Sonic kept dodging and kept running. The immense pain that he had dealt with earlier had re-built itself and began to take a huge toll on his body. Eventually Sonic made a grave mistake.
He tripped.
Immediately after his slip up a shot of lightning struck him in the back and sent him into the ground. Strobe stopped in his tracks to look at the hedgehog whining in pain.
"Argh! Damnit! Felt like a spear shot through my back! Sheesh!" Was all Sonic could say about the attack.
Strobe stared at the hedgehog as if he was the weirdest thing he has scene in a while. Getting hit by just one of those should've been enough to kill him.
"Yet you continue to surprise me…" Strobe said as Sonic continued to complain and roll on the ground. Strobe stood there and took in a deep breath. As soon as he let it out he whispered loud enough for Sonic to hear…
"Berserk mode! Max power!" Strobe immediately lit up with incredible blue lightning surrounding him. He raised his hands and accumulated many volts in his hands. By now sonic had stood up to see what he was doing.
It was an amazing sight! The amount of energy being accumulated into one huge mass at such as fast rate looked incredible. After about 30 seconds Sonic realized how serious the move Strobe was pulling was.
"Whoa! A-are you crazy! That's enough power to destroy the entire island!"
"Fear not hedgehog. I know very well how to angle my attacks. The only one who will suffer from the maelstrom of lightning… will be you!"
As the attack grew and grew so did Sonic's determination. He had never seen anything so huge and destructive. Not even one of Eggman's robots. It actually made Sonic itch with both excitement and fear at the same time.
This was it, the final blow. When the shot is fired Sonic would have to go all out. The hedgehog wiped out both his red chaos emerald and his golden ring.
"I hope this works… heh heh, if it doesn't I'm screwed…"
Meanwhile in the Desert Region skies
Hato noticed the sky was all of a sudden darker then usual as he looked out the window. Something interesting was happening and he wasn't anywhere near the fun.
Buru being a man of many questionable words looked out the window with mild interest. Something huge was about to go down. Whatever it was it didn't concern him so long as it didn't interfere with their mission.
Rasshu was the only one to speak in words how he felt about the sudden change in atmosphere outside.
"Heh heh… death is approaching… for who I can not tell…"
Meanwhile just a little ahead of the Government agents
Rouge sat on top of Smoke's ship as the clouds began to darken and spark with electricity. A huge sphere of electricity was forming in the distance behind them.
Smoke remained silent, as what was happening didn't interest him. Neither did Big and Froggy for they were sleeping again.
Rouge however growled in disgust.
"Why do I feel like my precious emerald is in danger?"
In the Ice Region
Shimon had taken shelter in a small cave he had found while on his journey to search for Tails. He decided to look outside and what he saw surprised him.
Lightning had basically eclipsed the sky all of a sudden. It sure looked powerful and life threatening. Why'd he have to get caught up in this? He was about to ponder this some more when he heard footsteps outside.
Fearing it to be Hang Nail he sat as still as he possibly could. Little did he know the thing that just walked by had indeed noticed him but simply didn't care for his existence.
Metal Sonic stopped as he passed by the cave to watch the sky.
"Hmph… looks like the hedgehog's been busy while I was away…"
In another cave not far from there
Tails couldn't help but worry as he, Espio and Charmy watched the sky twist and turn in the distance. Espio and Charmy were busy eyeing the sky with interest in what was happening but Tails already knew.
"Sonic… Sonic's in danger… "
Back in the village
"SONIC! This is the extent of my power! If you cannot dodge or deflect this… then you will die!"
"Yeah… I know."
"Do you still wish to continue?"
"… I do."
"So be it."
Strobe allowed his ball of humungous power to fluctuate and circle around itself. It looked as though it was turning itself into a spear of lightning.
Sonic held up his ring and his emerald. He allowed the two to connect and a huge power began to spark through them both.
As Strobe prepared for his final blow; Sonic prepared for his. This was the end of it all for one of them.
In a flash the chaos emerald Sonic had was gone and the ring was now glowing red. He held it out in front of him as if to say he was ready. Strobe nodded as he fixed his lightning so it was pointed at Sonic and only Sonic.
After about a minute of silence Strobe spoke up.
"…Go forth." His lightning obviously hearing his words didn't waste time and shot toward Sonic as if it were a monstrous cannon. Sonic held on to the ring for dear life as the blast drew closer and it eventually completely over took the hedgehog.
As soon as it connected it sent Sonic in the air. However, he was still able to push against it. They stayed in the same position for a while until Sonic finally retaliated.
He clutched the ring and turned into his ball form, a red glow now around his body. He stayed within the blast for a while drawing in electricity while doing so.
"Now… it's finally my turn!" Sonic spun as fast as he could them immediately shot through Strobe's blast seemingly with ease.
The entire thing was cut apart with just one move!
Strobe was beyond surprised as he saw the now furiously spinning hedgehog make his way toward Strobe. He looked like a red and blue lightning bolt as he did so. Strobe couldn't help but smile.
"I guess this… is what makes a true brother… this shining determination..." Strobe said before Sonic struck him11 in the chest carrying a large amount of firepower including Strobe's own power with him. The attack was obviously too much for Strobe as red energy shot through his body and sent him flying back to Eggman and the princess' location.
He landed in the dirt in front of Princess Patella… defeated.
Sonic stopped spinning and allowed himself to regain control of his body. When he saw the scene in front of him he forced himself to hold back his tears of regret.
Patella wasted no time in going over to him and holding his hand. She began crying and telling him it was going to be okay even though they both knew it wouldn't. Sonic walked up to both of them and saw Strobe in the condition he expected him to be in, A life-threatening one.
If anyone looked up they'd notice that Eggman was no longer there. He had already deduced the outcome of the fight the minute Sonic pulled out his chaos emerald. However, Bokkun remained behind to watch the situation unfold. He himself was near tears as well.
Sonic bent down to Strobe as him and the princess spoke to each other. The mood was far from calm in the conversation though.
"Why did you do such a thing!? Why did you HAVE to FIGHT!?" Patella didn't want this. It wasn't right. Thus couldn't happen now. It just couldn't. Strobe smiled and held her hand tighter.
"… Princess… this was indeed all to protect you… but… do not feel the need to be held responsible. I was on the verge of death either way. If… I refused to fight… Eggman would've pressed the button… and I would've been… destroyed. I doubt that I'd be of much help… without… a brain now would I…"
Patella cried, as did Bokkun who hated to see a fellow comrade die in front of him.
"The reason… I chose to fight… was to make sure that when I did die… there would be someone left alive to ensure of your safety… " Strobe felt his insides twist as he struggled to speak right. "…You… do know… by now that I love you… and I always have…"
Patella leaned in and for the first and last time gave the man who appeared so suddenly in her life the passionate kiss both desperately wished for. When she finally broke apart from him she could no longer speak. It was too hard too. However, Strobe still barely could so this time he directed his words toward Sonic.
The hedgehog stood in front of him feeling extremely low. Strobe seemed to notice this and smiled.
"…You're truly an amazing kid… 11-years-old and still so powerful… your little brother must look up to you greatly…"
"…I… uh… didn't… want it to end…this way… I just…"
"You have a brother to protect… I was the enemy trying to stop you from reaching your goal… It's an older brother's duty to do whatever it takes to make sure his little brother is kept safe… something I failed miserably on…"
"But you shouldn't blame yourself so much! It was Karst's fault NOT YOURS!"
"Would you have you forgiven yourself if you allowed your brother to be killed by someone as twisted as Karst…"
"…"
"I… thought so… never the less… I do realize now how unfair I've been toward myself… Streaky was always so kind… I bet he would've forgiven me… If only I could've forgiven myself…"
"Strobe…"
"Listen… your friend is in the ice region… he's heading steadily toward coordinates 000… my chaos emerald is in my chest compartment… with this information go forth… and save your little brother… become the big brother… that didn't make my awful mistake…protect him with your life… or you'll regret it FOR the rest of your life… understand…?"
"Y-yes… I-I understand…"
"Good… Sonic… Patella… I wish… the best for you too… despite my death… I'm happy… I've finally… come to… terms… with my… past… and… I'll get to see… my little brother… again… Streaky…"
The silence that followed signaled for Patella and Bokkun to continue crying. Strobe was gone. Regardless, Sonic reached into his chest compartment and took out a yellow chaos emerald. This made two for him. Without so much as a goodbye to the princess Sonic took off toward the ice region.
Strobe had died and the determination he now felt in rescuing his brother had once again doubled.
If only Strobe had been given a second chance... maybe him and Streaky could've died together instead of so devastatingly apart.
In the Ice region
Tails looked at the sky and noticed the electric sparks were gone. He felt a pain in his heart. As if something terrible just happened… however… it wasn't anything bad to Sonic… he was sure of it.
"Tails! You okay out there?" Espio asked noticing the little fox kid had been standing out there in the open for quite sometime. Tails took in a deep breath and silently answered.
"No… my heart feels… cold…"
This was by far the longest chapter I have ever written! It feels great that I was able to do such an amazing thing. Anyway please read and review everyone. I'll be waiting to hear your responses.