Metropolis Downfall (Pt. 1: Known to All)
Knuckles jumped slightly, sitting up quickly from his earlier position of lying on the couch as he heard the workshop/house door slam open, causing the fading migraine to return sharply. Cream quickly placed a wet rag on his head as she motioned for him to lay down once more as she watch an angry Shadow and worried Tails, Amy, and Rouge enter the building along with the whole Chaotix team, with Charmy being excited to have his buddies back.
"What happened?" she asked politely. She and Knuckles flinched slightly as ruby eyes glared angrily in their direction.
"What happened, that little bastard joined those Sharpscales and now they have a Chaos emerald, that's what happened!" he took a deep breathe before exhaling slowly as he leaned against one of the walls, repeating the process in an attempt to calm down, but the thought of his rival and once hero of Mobius was almost willingly helping an alien race from who knows where conquer the planet and enslave majority of its inhabitants was something most would never saw happening. Then again, he knew he would've possibly have been the same if he was entirely in those same shoes. He already been used by Eggman twice and had realized how much Sonic and his friends were trying to help him, but he continued to push them away as if they were insolent pest, even though a few, mostly the blue hedgehog, acted like one, until it was too late to try to truly make amends.
"Sheesh, calm down Shadow. It's not the end of the world as we know it. Ok forget I just said that, but we still have a chance to stop them and possibly convince Sonic to change his mind." Rouge said as she watched the Ultimate Lifeform's tensed shoulder relax slightly.
"Yeah, I shouldn't get worked up like that so easily. I'm sorry for yelling at you guys." he stated apologetically as he glanced at the bunny and still injured echidna.
"No problem, but remember to keep that temper in check next time ok." Knuckles replied with a smirk.
"Like you have anything to say 'bout it Knucklehead." Shadow replied as the echidna growled in response as he sat up slightly.
"Watch it hedgehog, I might still be a bit injured, but I have enough strength to make you feel like the Ultimate Punching Bag." Shadow chuckled a little as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh sure, like I'm scared of you, or should I remind you you got beat by Sonic several times with him having to not put so much effort in it, while I was able to go toe to toe with him, or is that a bit too embarrassing to the wittle Guardian." Knuckles hands were clenched up tightly as he sat up completely, ignoring Cream's small protest as everyone in the room became worried, knowing a fight might take place.
"Shut up or I'll make you." the echidna growled.
"Calm down boys, we don't..." Rouge tried to interrupt, but both mammals ignored her completely as Shadow smirked at Knuckles's response.
"Try it then, Knucklehead."
"That's it." Knuckles tossed the blanket he had off of him as he jumped off the couch, ignoring the returning headache or the aching bones and muscles as he rushed at the smirking hedgehog with a raised fist. Even with the quiet protest from Cream wouldn't be able to calm him with hearing the second most annoying yet well known nickname he received, especially when it come from somebody who tried to kill his friend and the entire plant, but mostly his annoying friend who later try to become pals as if nothing happen.
Shadow jumped to the side, landing several feet away from the enraged echidna as Knuckles spiked fist collided with the wall behind him almost exactly where his head was, leaving a huge hole in it.
"Guys, stop we don't have time for you two fighting." Tails stated, but also failed as Knuckles jumped at the red-striped hedgehog, forcing the green chair that Shadow stood near to turn into a pile of fluff and broken wood and metal pieces as he simply side-stepped.
"Stand still so I could punch those stripes right off of ya." Knuckles yelled as he prepared to jump at the hedgehog, but before either could make a move they were whacked in the head by Amy's Piko-Piko hammer, forcing them to the ground with a new sense of pain. Knuckles groaned as the growing migraine was finally acknowledged by the mobian.
"Well that ought to get you two attention." Amy said as she leaned the large red and yellow hammer against one of her shoulders as she examined the work she accomplished, "If you're done we have a certain hedgehog to be more worried about."
"Amy's right. Now that the Sharpscales have Sonic, we have to find out what they plan on doing next." Tails stated as the the green croc commented.
"But we don't know where to find them."
"Yes, they could be anywhere on the planet or even somewhere in space." Espio added as he rubbed his chin in thought.
"Or maybe he's in Metropolis." Charmy suggested, causing majority of the group to look at the bee in confusion.
"Why would you guess that?" Shadow asked as he got up from the ground, still rubbing his sore head, but the pain had now subsided. Charmy pointed to the tv.
"Because it's on the news." they all glanced at the muted electronic as they saw on the screen the news channel had just recently went to another person that was currently standing in what seemed to be Metropolis.
"Somebody turn it up." Tails quickly reached for the remote on the coffee table and turned back on the volume.
"Hello, I'm Jeffrey Jaguar here from downtown Metropolis, giving you Breaking News of the infamous alien race known as the Sharpscales has just recently begun to attack the city. Many of the residents have reported to have seen a non-reptile mobian assisting the Sharpscales invasion, but nobody was able to prove..." A building to the right of the reporter crumbled to the ground in a fiery explosion, causing everyone nearby to scream in horror at the sight.
"Greetings mobians and humans alike," Shadow, Rouge, Tails, Amy, and the Chaotix eyes widened as they recognized the speaking Sharpscale on the screen, "I come to you today to retrieve a precious item from you for our glorious leader Lord Scazer." Racko stated as several more of his kind appeared out from behind the fiery building, some using their claws to grip the sides of the nearby buildings, "If you cooperate well, we'll make sure you'll have wonderful time as our slaves."
"And why should we submit to you." The red Sharpscale laughed at the response.
"If the destruction of Westopolis and the conquering of Angel Island was not enough to convince you, then I bet this will." His scaly fingers snapped as if giving a signal as a sudden gust of wind moved throughout the area. Gasps of surprise could be heard as they were caught off guard by the sudden action, "The residents were right,however. Our new associate is not a reptile, entirely."
"I wish beginning to grow bored Racko, can we get started." the camera had shook around, trying to locate the source of the sound before finding the person standing on the top of the tallest building nearby. Another round of gasping as the mutters from the inhabitants were barely heard coming from the tv.
"Behold, the Sharpscale's ultimate weapon of destruction, Sonic." Racko cackled madly as a wind crescent sent hurtling toward the camera from the blue hedgehog, knocking it our of its holder's hands and crashed against the ground below.
"Well then, I guess we're off to Metropolis." Knuckles stated as he punched one of his hands into the other one's palm.
"Seems like you're ready for some payback," Shadow replied with a smirk before glancing at the blank screen, "but I do wonder about what they are looking for in Metropolis."
(Earlier with Sonic and Racko)
"Why do I have to be partnered up with you." Sonic growled as emerald eyes glanced at his companion with dislike.
"I have direct contact with Lord Scazer and he also ordered for us to work together." Racko replied as he walked alongside the hedgehog as they spotted Metropolis several miles away. The city's lights gleamed brightly in the night.
"You do remember that we are on an important mission to retrieve a precious item needed in our plan to conquer the planet." Sonic nodded as they continued walking.
"What I wish to know is what is this item that you guys are seeking. Neither you or Scazer..."
"Lord Scazer." the hedgehog rolled his eyes.
"Right, whatever. Anyway, you two have yet to discuss the information with me. All I am informed is that it is in Metropolis somewhere." the Sharpscale chuckles as he kept his attention forward.
"You will learn all at good time, Sonic. Are you ready to invade the place?" his comrade grin as Sonic cracked his hands in anticipation.
"G.U.N.'s suppose to be there too, right?" Racko nodded, causing Sonic's grin to turn into a devious smirk, "Then what are we waiting for, getting some payback on that organization of humans will be a bonus to this mission." Racko laughed in delight as he stood up on his hind legs, pressing the right side of the circle on the device as the orb began to light up. Seconds later, hundreds of Sharpscales came rushing past them in excitement from both by land and by air toward the city.
"They seem a little too impatient, don't you agree."
"Yeah, but we don't want them to take all the fun now. Just remember not to be seen, we want to make your appearance known to all." Sonic nodded before the two dashed toward the city as the first wave of the alien race bombarded its outskirt, setting ablaze the buildings and anything in its way. Sonic ran up the side of the undamaged buildings as Racko used the window sills to propel himself to the top.
"Ah!" Racko shouted as he felt something struck his tail, leaving a scorch mark and a stinging feeling. They both turned around to spot a small group of G.U.N. bots flying toward them. Sonic growled slightly as he swung his arm in an arching formation in front of him, sending five Chaos Spears at the robots as they exploded on impact. The remaining four rushed out of the smoke and fired lasers at them, forcing the duo to dodge to the side as Racko let lose a torrent of fire. The unlucky bot overheated and exploded, a shard from its destroyed body collided with the nearest G.U.N. bot and forced it to malfunction, flying crazily around and shooting everything before crashing into the roof. The last two were struck down as two air balls struck them.
"That was a bit entertaining." Sonic noted as his ears perked up, catching the sound of a vehicle entering the city. "What type of idiot drives into a city being invaded?" Emerald eyes peered over the roof's edge, spotting a news van speeding down a Sharpscale free road and heading straight for the city's downtown area.
"I'm guessing the necessary requirements for everyone on Mobius to know is here." Racko looked down, smirking as he spotted the vehicle, he pressed the orb once more, this time mashing the button left side of the circle.
"I want all Sharpscales and Mobian reptiles to head toward downtown Metropolis. It's show time." Racko glanced back at Sonic, beckoning with his tail for them to proceed as they headed toward the meeting place. Racko jumped across the window sills, purposely using his tail to break some of the buildings glass as he heard the occasional frightened scream which showed its inhabitants to be home. Sonic and Racko stopped as they noticed the news van park itself in the overcrowded shopping area, people scared out of their wits as many more had taken refuge in the nearby stores.
"Stay here until I give the signal." Sonic nodded as he watch the reptilian alien jump off the building and land near the waiting Sharpscales. He returned his attention to the people stepping out of the van, one was a jaguar dressed in a reporter outfit and another a dog, which seemed to be the cameraman as he positioned the camera for taping. He listened to the conversation, chuckling slightly as he heard the mobian mention a non-reptilian mobian aiding the Sharpscale, and smirked when Racko made his appearance by destroying one of the large shops.
"And why should we submit to you?" blue ears perked up as their owner was starting to grow weary of just standing there.
"If the destruction of Westopolis and the conquering of Angel Island was not enough to convince you, then I bet this will." Racko's fingers snapped, that was the signal. Sonic ran around the sides of the buildings, the flaming building and the sudden action was enough for people to vaguely notice the blue streaks he produced as he could hear the sounds of people gasping in surprise, "The residents were right,however. Our new associate is not a reptile, entirely." The blue hedgehog stop running around the area in circle and ran up the side of the building he was currently on, which was the tallest shopping building in the small area.
"Behold, the Sharpscale's ultimate weapon of destruction, Sonic." Racko cackled madly as Sonic threw a air crescent at the cameraman, striking the electronic out of the dog's hands and caused it to break against the cemented ground.
"Sharpscales..." a villainous smirk spread across his peach muzzle as he noticed the crowd's scared expression,
"...attack!"