PoC: Breaking news: User PenFullofChaos819 sunk to 'VUP' status when a local authority mockingly tweeted the pointlessness of his disclaimers. Pen allegedly then shot and cooked the bird moments after denying character rights.
Metal: Misleading report…but with a good ending at least.
PoC: Tasted good too. *Hears Silver whimpering* Met…go talk to him.
Metal: Hmph…It's not my thing…
PoC: *Crosses arms* I expect you to contribute in SOME way.
Metal: Well…would it help if I said I planted a 'hot' surprise at this chapter's end?
PoC: Uh…s-say what…? Where is it? And…*gulps* w-will it affect the rating? *Flips pages*
Metal: It's now about…*checks fire alarm* halfway up Foxy-McAngsty's part as we speak.
PoC: ! *Smells smoke* NOOO! YOU FLAMED MY SONIC & TAILS SCENES!
Metal: Copy's scene is no more, so I guess you'll have to 'paste' him in the next chap! MWAHAHAhahaha-*shot by fire hose*
PoC: Geez! Silver, what the heck? *Checks on Metal* Great, he's toast. What now?
Silver: I say we add butter and eat him…
PoC: 0_o Um…Silver?
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Weakness as a Weapon
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And so the fight began: Espio took the beast's front, Shadow and Knuckles flanked it's sides, while Rouge came diving in from the air. By giving the demon too many targets, they hoped to finish the fight as quickly and painlessly as possible.
All things considered, the attack's turnout was highly successful. The former assassin had drawn the monster's attention well enough to allow Rouge's strike to contact the beast's head. The lizard was then free to line the creature's exposed chest his jagged arsenal. Without a misstep, both Shadow and Knuckles' spin-attacks collided moments soon afterwards.
The chameleon was inches away from tossing his last blade, when the abomination went down.
"Watch your tails people!" Knuckles cautioned "Chances are this thing ain't dead yet!" Correct as he was, the echidna had taken his eyes off the beast one second too long. Like a mindless animal, the chaotic demon savagely leapt in and sank it's teeth into Knuckles' last working arm. This of course caused the rest of the team to carelessly charge in. Heat of the moment trouble left their attack pattern sloppy.
The beast, however, was well prepared to defend itself. Espio was the first to receive a nasty clawing that made his blood burn afterwards. Shadow was the next to fall, as he'd been snagged mid-jump to have the life squeezed out of him. After the creature tossed the ageless hedgehog aside, only Rouge and Aqua remained unscathed.
While the chaos girl tended to the reachable injured, the white-furred bat hadn't budged. Moving against a monster hurting her allies was easy enough, but the one in the demon's mouth was Knuckles; this was the very same sick-minded man that'd tried, or at least threatened, to…violate her. To Rouge, it was the same as seeing your childhood tormentor face-to-face, and then being asked to save them.
"Rouge! Aid him!" Aqua demanded harshly, seeing as the echidna didn't have much time left.
Rouge made a faltering step towards the chimera, but hesitated again. Adrenaline was fueling her darkest fears, feeding her worst nightmares, all of which were overly debilitating. Unknown to her, the negativity she was experiencing was actually intrusive chaos radiating off the beast.
Thoroughly drawn by her trepidation, the beast spat out it's former victim. It's sights were now set on a far more delectable prize "Yes…fear us." The dark beast hissed through it's teeth.
Rouge wanted to sprint or flap out of it's range, but the strength to do so had somehow been stolen from her. As her potential killer drew closer, the bat was being more and more exposed to it's raw onslaught of black-hearted emotions. Backing away slowly eventually left her cornered. She could almost feel it's acidic fangs already…
"ROUGE!" Espio, Shadow, and Aqua all shouted, but were unable to reach her before it was too late. They could merely watch as Rouge's limbs gave out when the beast snapped.
"URRGH!" Someone grunted in obvious pain, but it wasn't her. Rouge dared to open her eyes…
That's when she saw him, Knuckles, standing between her and the demon's teeth. To her shock, the echidna, using even his beyond damaged arm, managed to hold the monster at bay. His torn mitts clamped down even harder as the beast pushed forward, causing his rough palms to be cut and burnt on it's sharp maw and singeing saliva. Defiant to the last, the echidna growled out "Hey…fugly…! U-ugh… Anyone…ever tell you…your…breath…STINKS?"
With his anger at it's highest, the red warrior drove his still-bleeding arm right through the roof of the creature's mouth. The voices all howled and shrieked at this sneak attack, staggering back in their terrible form, thus giving the bat breathing room. During this much needed lapse; Aqua had successfully treated Espio and Shadow's wounds, allowing them to reengage the hideous target with greater caution.
Rouge meanwhile, stunned to see her long-time foe critically injured in her stead, caught the crimson mobian before he could fall. The echidna's frame was by no means light, still Rouge had sufficient enough strength to set him down gently. Unable to wrap her mind around this very unlikely, very un-Knuckles-like move of his, she didn't have any words to spare. She only held the battered fighter with great discomfort, wondering what had possessed him to defend her so valiantly.
Knuckles, despite being sore and nearly expended of all strength, took this moment to chuckle the tension away "I'm guessing…I'd be getting more affection right now…if I was…your dark hedgehog in shining armor, eh?" He jested in his typical crude manner, but then added more seriously "I just couldn't let…that butt-ugly freak…hurt a…a cute girl like you. Heh-heh…guess that *cough* makes me a hypocrite…"
It was a lot to take in for her, especially in the present situation. She didn't honestly have the luxury, if it could be called such, of mulling over Knuckles' complicated actions and words right now. Not that she wanted to…for she couldn't decide if this 'new' Knuckles made her heart race or turned her stomach. Presently, it was a bit of both, as they had too deep a past for her to just accept this 'heroism' of his so easily.
But…one thing for sure was undeniable: He had been injured, and now might die, because of her. She had once again, in the most unprofessional way, allowed her emotions to cost everyone greatly "T-this is…this is how I started everyone's trouble. It's all my fault…" She frowned sorrowfully, wondering how many more people would be sacrificed at the hands of her weakness.
Staring down at the now passed out echidna, it didn't take her long to come up with an absolute answer "No one…" she shuddered to restrain a sudden, uncontrollable rise in vigor "No one else's getting hurt for me!"
Watching the two men battle wearily against the powerful monster, Rouge knew she needed a plan. Having caught sight of a concerned, but concentrated, Aqua, the bat rushed to her side saying "Maria…err…spirit…um…Aqua, or…whoever you are, I need your help!" The blue girl initially didn't break her focus, causing the agent to lose patience "I mean NOW! Those guys are in real danger! Why aren't you helping them?"
Showing no empathy, the being blandly replied "I am attempting to hold the power of my kin at bay. You see, prolonged exposure to negative chaos can be disastrous for living beings. It's taking all the energy I have to defend them, but I'm afraid my time is short. They will have to disable my siblings before my power is spent." Reasonable as the spirit was trying to be, the long-winded reply sounded like nothing but an articulate excuse to the jewel connoisseur.
"Okay yeah that may be, BUT! By the time it takes for that bad chaos um…'stuff' to affect them, they may already be dead!" the bat bluntly presented her point, trying to make the rather aloof Aqua hear her out "Instead of wasting your energy to make some useless shield, why not turn it into a weapon? Use your power to weaken that gross jumble of goo!"
Finally, the spirit actually faced the bat before answering "No…you don't understand. In order for me to use chaos as a weapon; I'll need a willing vessel. But it must be someone with the mental focus and bodily stamina to tolerate my power. Thus those two…" She pointed to the fighting pair "...and the injured one, are not suitable recipients."
Rouge was now quite fed up with the girl's time-costing obliviousness, so she shouted "Then use ME! Give me the power to help them out!" Aqua looked over in puzzlement, likely about to list a number of tedious reasons why she did/did not approve, prompting Rouge to preemptively interrupt "Don't bore me with the details, just DO IT! Please!"
Sighing with a hint of reluctance, the girl settled for a final warning "Very well…I only hope your soul can handle this." She then folded her hands and shut her eyes. Faster than would be expected, the spirit gathered in an orb of blue light that gradually melted into a pure shade of milk white "Be empowered, be enriched. May the might of Chaos bless you!"
Rouge saw the soft light enter her chest, and from it came a pulse of pain. It's power was vast…almighty even, like some greater force was welling up inside, threatening to overtake her body and spirit. At the same time, into her flowed a time-blended wave of good memories: From her distant days working alongside Tails and Shadow, to her recent salvation by Knuckles' hand. Each and every positive event she'd experienced now shone brighter than ever before.
Seconds later, the light faded…leaving Rouge in a daze "Wow…that was…amazing. How did you do that Aqu-ah...? W-what's….happened to me?" Could any of her teammates see her now, none would find fault with her reaction.
Hard as it was to believe, the outcome of her chaotic fusion was more shell-shocking than the actual process. With the exception of her central body attire, the bat noticed her upper arms and legs were now exposed and shimmering with a saintly glow. Additionally her normally concealed and combed down collar-fur was now visible, and it too flowed and shone with a holy white light. Most stunning of all was her wings, which had exchanged their sleek and stealthy black for a luminescent lavender.
Arduous descriptions aside, this transformation could simply be surmised as dazzling.
"Okay…nifty cosmetic trick Aqua, but what does it…you know, do?" Even the semi-vain Rouge knew that this was no time to be showing herself off. Not to mention the 'how to' in using this mysterious power didn't exactly come natural to her.
The spirit patiently addressed her confusion by explaining "You have been imbued with a tremendous amount of positive energy. Your ability to assist your comrades should be limited only by your imagination. But you must hurry, my strength will not last forever, and nor will theirs." She motioned once again towards the now exhausted fighters, who had begun to suffer the crippling effects of negative chaos.
"W-well that's not very helpful!" She worried, having found the spirit's comments plain ambiguous. Despite this, Rouge knew every moment wasted put her friends one second closer to death, so she told herself "Okay, come on Rouge concentrate! Maybe I can use some…powerful uh…blaster-beam-super-ray-thing to smoke this guy easy." Regretfully, the random flicking of her fingers and hands didn't accomplish much "Crap! That's no good! Grr…! Just what AM I supposed to doo-oooo!" Kicking at the ground in frustration inadvertently answered her question, as the gesture had sent the bat into a full back-flip. A large crescent-edged projectile followed this accidental act, crashing into the beast with stunning force.
Shadow stopped his grueling endeavor long enough to snap his gaze backwards, saying "Nice hit Aqu…wha…?" His tune altered when he laid eyes on the glowing Rouge "What's the meaning of this? Rouge, are you…?" His unfinished inquiry snagged Espio's attention as well.
Both of course had little to say, still this distraction had just about gotten them attacked. Thankfully, the fast-thinking bat launched an augmented kick into the monster's 'skull' before it could reach them, all while ordering "Stop gawking boys! We've got work to do!" She irritably continued to ward the beast off until both men jumped back into the fray. The trio's new pressure on the entity was effective, at first anyway. Sadly though, both unpowered up mobians soon found even standing to be too difficult a task. Similarly, though Rouge was faster than the beast, she couldn't make a lasting dent in the demon's hide.
"So this is the extent of your ability, is it?" The beast asked callously, just then managing to connect with a slash to the bat's chest "These are the animals we once served? These powerless bags of skin once held dominion over us?" With a sudden shift in form, the beast's tail transformed into another hand; it then snagged and pinned the agent to the steel floor. As she struggled to break out, the beast aimed it's other two claws, each swirling with gathered energy, at her "To this injustice we say…nevermore." It seethed, as the beams of destruction converged on her.
Time, that's all she needed. Just a little more time…
Comprehending this as her last moment alive, time for Rouge seemingly slowed to a mere fraction. Frame by frame the sickle-carved blades drew ever closer, but Rouge refused to accept it… This wasn't right…their mission wasn't supposed to end like this. Everything they fought for...it couldn't have all been in vain!
It…just couldn't stop here, not yet.
Summoning all her inner might, the bat pushed back and wormed free of the monster's grip. Bizarrely enough, she saw that the beast's movements were still greatly slowed. In fact, only she seemed to be traveling at normal speed.
With no space to contemplate this blessing, Rouge called forth the remainder of her gifted power. When her strength had at last peaked, the bat shot a barrage of moon-shaped waves into the beast. The first three made it groan, the next three caused it to stagger, while the final beam split it's chaotic 'flesh' in two.
Badly injured and greatly surprised, the beast fell over in defeat.
Clawing and scraping the metal floor sourly, it moaned it's dying words "Driven…back to servitude…again. Is freedom…not meant for us…?" Sighing in despair, the four spirits lost control their combined form "Onyx, redeem…our…loss!"
Each one then dissipated without another sound.
Rouge too collapsed after this, reverting back to her old self before passing out.
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*With Vector's (Maria's?) Team
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As previously hinted, trashed was the unanimous opinion of C. Control. It looked as though someone had distributed these puddles of blue ooze everywhere without the slightest concern for any surrounding flora or fauna. Not to mention that the further they traveled, the harder it was to avoid the pools of hazardous by-product. Eventually, tired of the tip-toeing, Vector suggested riding the crab-watcher for safety's sake. Interestingly, though all agreed to this plan, only the crocodile was excluded from the comfortable ride.
"Sorry Vector. Yes, the cockpit size is meant to fit even my cousin, but I think you'd crush everyone if you hopped in." Maria was unhappy about this arrangement, especially since he had been so 'kind' (lazy) as to come up with the idea. However, much to her relief, the large ex-con showed his better side by not complaining…well aloud anyway.
"Nah, it's for the best…" In an effort to avoid his usual grumpy behavior, the croc beat his chest once and said "Besides, you've got to have biggest, toughest, most fearless guy leading the way! Yep, escorting helpless kiddies is right up this noble croc's alley!" To this proclamation, Maria giggled, Tikal blinked, Amy rolled her eyes and Charmy…well drooled. The bee was actually still too focused on the glowing 'water' to give a hoot about Vector's bravado.
"'Kiddies'? I'm over a thousand years old…" The echidna spirit absentmindedly confessed "Perhaps when I died, one could say I had the soul of an adolescent, but this too debatable. You see?" Much to the group's terror, the youthful echidna temporarily assumed her 'wizened old sage' form as proof.
"EEK!" A girlish scream erupted from…sadly Vector's loud maw "An old lady disguising herself as a cute girl?" This all seemed like a rude and spontaneous reaction, until the croc laughed heartily "I'm only foolin'. Where I live, we get that a lot. No one's judging you here." The blond Robotnik and pink hedgehog resisted the urge to regurgitate while the big lizard went on "But hey…how did it happen? You know…your death and all? I don't like prying, but I get the feeling you've got a past with this island."
Reverting to her younger body, Tikal nodded "Indeed, it's no mistake. All that's happening here…is the result of overzealous desire. Yes…this place's downfall was ultimately due to my tribe's unhealthy obsession with…peace." The team cocked a number of odd looks at her when she used the term 'peace'. Having apparently anticipated their reactions, she tried to explain "It certainly doesn't look that way, does it? Most teach that my tribe was a greedy, power-hungry nation of savages, but this is not entirely true. It all…it all started with my father… Y-you see he…he…" unable to bear the pain of her resurfaced memories, the echidna broke down. The girls, and even Charmy, then comforted her as best they could.
Meanwhile, Vector's tail drug woefully on the ground, his guilt leading him to say "Ah…darn it, me and my big fat mouth. I'm real sorry for bringing it up Miss Tikal…" Thankfully no one held a grudge against the well-intentioned reptile. On the contrary, after Tikal had leveled out, both girls were quick to express sympathy for him as well.
"Thanks ladies…but I need to learn when to keep my trap shu-uumph! Ugh! What the heck?" The crocodile cried out when something had pulled him off balance. Craning his neck back, the croc saw an extension of slime clinging to his shoulder "What's this stuff-ack! Urrrgh! GET IT OFF!" His scream rose as the sticky substance wrapped around his throat. Vector had successfully gotten one hand between his neck and the rubbery noose, but the loop was drawing increasingly tighter.
"Vector! Hold on!" Maria reversed the crab-watcher immediately. With a snap of it's two metallic pincers, the steel crustacean strained hard to sever the animated ooze's death-grip. Charmy too flew down and began stinging the gooey 'arm' without much effect "Bad shiny! Bad! Don't you pick on daddy Vector!"
The whole group tugged and fought hard to release him. However, the outcome was looking grim, for Maria saw that crab-watcher's arms were two tugs away from shearing off. Scared and out of ideas, she looked to Tikal for help "Why's that sludge only after Vector?"
Though more composed than the rest of the team, Tikal was still frantic "I-I don't know! I can't sense a spirit inside the chaos, so why would it attack…?" Just then her eyes locked on something sparkling inside the crocodile's backpack. It now made sense…
"Tikal…come on! We can't hold him!" Amy added, her arms now exhausted from pulling.
Knowing exactly what to do, but not necessarily liking the idea, Tikal hovered over to the suffocating lizard's side. Slipping her partially transparent hands through the straps of his pack, she tore the burden from his back. Vector gasped as the liquid released him, while the bag was taken and swallowed by one of the glimmering puddles.
"T-Thanks a million… You saved my bacon err…croc chops…a-anyway thanks again." The massive mobian wholeheartedly showed his appreciation. Strangely enough, Tikal was still fixated on the 'random' chaos pool.
"Don't thank me yet…" She gulped, harboring extremely mixed feelings about her actions "Because of me, our problems may've multiplied tenfold." It wouldn't be long until the team realized just what that unassuming blob of spillage had pilfered off them.
"Tikal…" Maria asked, cold-sweat soaked and nurturing a growing fear "Where are the Chaos Emeralds?"
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*With Tails*
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So wretchedly cold already… The warmth in which he had found such comfort, such reassurance, was completely gone. Even so, he couldn't pull away. Having put all his heart, soul, strength, and mind into keeping the one he loved safe, Tails found himself drowned in a level of denial. To fight this, the fox pressed hard to wrap his mind around reality, and the punishment was severe. Just imagining the rest of life without her was cutting enough, but knowing her blood was on his hands…
"AAHHH!" He screamed in torment, slamming his fist into the lavished floor repeatedly. Once he'd spent all his anger, the vulpine curled up against Amethyst's body and wept; sobbing loudly like the child he once was.
"Get up, you coward. Tears won't return your mate back to life." That monster… It just had to mock him, now of all times "How disgusting… Just imagining how your worthless hide managed to regain freedom makes me ill! But…I'm not without compassion. If you cease resisting, I promise to provide your remaining companions with quick and painless deaths."
Not heeding the spirit's 'compassion', Tails abruptly cried out "CHAOS! Can…can you hear me?"
He didn't know what he was thinking at this point. Up until now, he'd treated the arcane deity, Chaos, as little more than interesting mythology. But whether it was the things he had encountered here, or the loss he was facing, Tails persisted "I don't know if you're listening or…if you're even there…" He fought back his skepticism enough to then say "But if you are, then…I beg you! Let me see Amethyst again, just one more time! Please…!"
"How dare you ignore me child! You've snubbed my mercy, now you'll suffer the consequence. Watch now as I slowly slaughter the rest of your friends on my altar. I'll force you to savor their every scream." Thus the spirit moved to retake control.
"Chaos…" Tails whispered, now more stern and self-assured than before "If you can't bring her back…then at least…give me…power." Feeling the edges of his sanity pulling away fast, the fox's voice raised "Power to stop that madman…power to avenge my love…power to save my friends! Chaos, please…GIVE ME POWER!"
"You are…too late. I, the greatest of the seven, will claim your soul once more. Citrine, envelope him!"
Darkness, like a veil of fiery smoke, soon cut Tails' vision out entirely. His body now felt like it was drifting numbly through empty space. This, to his dread, was a crushing reminder of his short time under possession. There was nothing left to do but accept this dismal failure "Everyone…I'm sorry…" He sighed, cursing his frail heart amidst the endless darkness. Having no desire to watch his next evil deed at the will of his possessor, Tails prepared to enter a permanent slumber.
Letting his awareness gradually slip away, he wearily whispered "Sonic…Ame…thyst…" before joining his beloved in the eternal sleep.
…
"Tails…don't give up."
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End of Chapter Forty-five
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Back…and very soon if I do say so myself! I know I told some of you that I'd try to hold off a little, but with my classes starting this coming Monday, I can't afford the wait.
Now…though it may seem a little lazy, I'm not posting commentary this time either. The truth is, seeing how this update came too fast, I don't want to pressure anyone who hasn't reviewed with one of those "Aw…not here? Hope to see ya next chap!" lines I'm prone to repeating (I'm sure plenty of you get tired of that too -_-'). BUT next chapter will contain, if all goes well, the usual pre-chap-notes/plot/commentary, the whole nine yards.
Until next time!