Chapter 16: The Trials of Master Zik pt 2
Seanzilla: Hey minna, Seanzilla115 once again to bring ya another chapter of Azure Rebellion. Also after this, we'll be almost halfway done with this arc after this chapters done. One last thing before I get to the disclaimer, after watching a playthrough of Sonic Lost World, I still say Zavok is the most dangerous of the Deadly six. I mean, he's got power, strength, and knows what he's doing, even more than Eggman. In fact, I'm surprised Archie comics didn't make a full arc featuring the Deadly six, but given they were dealing with...*growls*Ken Penders at the time, they had to rush to the Worlds Collide arc faster...*sighs*wasted potential. And we mostly have Ken Penders to blame. A-anyway...here's the disclaimer. I don't own anything in this story, nor do I own the Sonic the hedgehog series, Ben 10 series, or Blazblue series. GammaTron owns Roll Cyber Sakurai the Hedgefox while I own Haseo Yukimaru Sakurai.
The sun beamed down on Sonic-tachi as they stood between two paths, the left one mostly covered in ocean and a few palm trees while the other had cliffs with some moss and water.
"Okay. One of these paths have to lead to the last test..but the question is, which one?" Sonic pondered before looking at Tails, "Any word from Nicole?"
"No. I've been trying to contact her and the others on Mobius, but I cant' get a signal," the twin-tailed kitsune replied as he looked at his handheld device, which showed nothing but static on the screen, "Either something's blocking the signal, or Mobius is starting to get worse."
"If it's the latter, then we better hurry and find the girls," Ben stated.
"Yeah. Bad enough hearing it the first time," Sonic added, recalling what Tails told him the night before...of course, that was before he and the others ate that fruit that made them act like drunk idiots.
"Um...if I may make a suggestion, why don't you split into two groups?" Orbot suggested, making thetwo Mobians and human look at him, "That way, if one of you hits a dead end in one of these paths, you could go back and take the other."
"...That's actually not a bad idea," Ben noted.
"Doh...more walking? But my legs hurt!" Cubot whined.
"..Um...Cubot. I hate to remind you, but you''re just a head at the moment," Orbot reminded.
"What?! Ahh!" Cubot screamed, making Orbot face palm with his free hand.
"Ugh..I think it'll be best if I stay here," the orb shaped bot offered, "You know, keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"..Good point," Sonic replied, mentally thanking god for not having to deal with that annoying cube shaped robot, "I'll take the right path. Tails? Why don't you and Ben take Yacker and head to the left? I have a feeling there might be a Zeti down the right one."
"Good idea," Tails nodded as Yacker hid inside Ben's jacket when Sonic mentioned Zeti, "Good luck Sonic."
"Thanks man," Sonic nodded as he left down the right path in a blur while Ben and Tails ran down the other path.
'Okay, the girls (and eggbutt) have got to be around here somewhere,' Sonic thought as he looked around the area, but before he could take another step, a familiar wooden staff impaled the ground before him.
"Your time is almost over, brash hedgehog," a voice spoke, making sonic turn to see Master Zik staring down at him from one of the rock formations, "I shall prepare for you a lesson in respect. A painful lesson."
"...Fine then. But before we rumble old timer, Where are the girls and Eggman?" Sonic asked.
"They are down the path the boy and kitsune took. However.." Zik began as he leapt down from the rock formation he was standing on and landed next to his staff, "The opponent waiting for them there is quite dangerous."
"..Why? Who's waiting for them there?" Sonic asked with a small frown.
"That I cannot tell you, brash hedgehog," Zik stated as he pointed his staff at Sonic, "Now follow, if you dare!"
With that said, Zik leapt back from the hedgehog before leaping off, becoming a dot in the distance as Sonic ran after him.
"...Is something wrong, Tails?" Ben asked the twin-tailed fox, who was looking at the water surrounding their path.
"Something's not right...it's quiet, "Tails stated, eyeing the water in suspicion, "...Too quiet."
"...You're right," Ben answered, eyeing the water as well, "And that's never a good sign. We better..."
"Oi, Ben-kun, Tails!" a familiar voice called out, catching the two's attention.
"Makoto? Was that you?! Where are you?!" Ben replied as he and Tails looked around the area.
"We're over here!" Makoto's voice yelled, causing the two to look forward to see her, Tsubaki, and Roll tied up to a lone coconut tree with Eggman stuck in a cage that was a little too small for him.
"About time someone came, now get me out of here!" Eggman snapped as Ben and Tails ran up to the girls and began to untie them, "Hey! I said get me out first!"
"Just be pa.." Ben began before noticing Makoto and Tsubaki were wearing eachother's clothes(Makoto wearing Tsubaki's outfit while Tsubaki wore hers),"..wh.."
"Don't ask," Makoto replied as the rope binding them and Roll was undone, letting them get up, "Now do you guys mind closing your eyes while me and Tsubaki-chan change back?"
"R..right," Ben nodded as he and Tails quickly turned to give them privacy.
"...That includes you too, Eggman," Tsubaki frowned at the fat doctor.
"Tch! Whatever," Eggman scoffed as he managed to turn around.
While Makoto and Tsubaki were getting changed, Yacker heard a small, splashing sound, making him poke out of Ben's jacket before he floated over the the water. He then ducked his head into the water before screaming as he ran over to Roll.
"...Is Yacker okay, Roll?" Makoto asked as she finished putting the last of her clothes on, Tsubaki doing the same.
"I don't know. He keeps pointing at the water," Roll replied before she spotted what looked like a black fin in the water before it dove into the water, "...minna..." Roll paused as she held the shaking Yacker close, "I don't think we're alone."
"...She's right," Tsubaki noted as she brought her weapon out, eyeing the water a bit, "There's something here."
Ben and Makoto tensed a bit at that as the latter pulled her tonfa out while the former got his Omnitrix ready.
before Tails could say anything, something large splashed out of the water, making the twin-tailed fox roll out of the way quickly before whatever came out of the ocean could chomp at him.
"Was that...an Orca?" Ben blinked a bit, making Eggman freeze up a bit in his cage.
"I think it was..." Makoto noted before seeing more black fins poking out of the water, "And I think he brought friends.
"...Yacker-kun, Burst Bustersword, quick, Roll whispered to the Wisp.
"BURST!"
"..This is odd..." Tsubaki spoke as Ben, Makoto, tails, and roll gathered near her,"Orcas live near cold weather climates, yet we're in a warm weather climate, so it should be impossible...unless..."
"Let me out of here! Get me away before that monster shows up!" Eggman screamed as he tried to get out of his cage.
"Eh? What monster?" Makoto couldn't help but ask before something larger than the killer whales.
"I recognize these Orcas anywhere! And that huge one that's coming out of the water..!" Eggman began before it showed a larger Killer Whale/Orca with more cybernetic parts than the others, "Is Akhlut, The Dark Egg Legion Grandmaster I assigned to the Frozen North!"
"How pathetic. The once feared Robotnik now reduced to a weak coward, much like his nephew," Akhlut scoffed, "Most of your Legionnaires have left you thanks to those creatures Lien-da teamed up with, and it's thanks to them and her that we no longer have those bombs you implanted in us."
"What?!" Eggman snapped while mentally growling, 'Damn you Lien-Da, you traitorous witch!'
"This is not good..." Tails said quietly to the others, "If what Sonic and Rotor told me about this Akhlut guy is true, we're in for a tough fight."
"Got it," Ben nodded just as Akhlut turned his gaze towards him.
"So you're the one Lien-Da warned me about," the giant orca noted as he looked at the wielder of the Omnitrix, "While you currently don't look strong, the look in your eyes says otherwise...heh. I'm going to enjoy breaking you, Tennyson."
"..oh yeah," Ben began as he activated the Omnitrix and pressed down on it, transforming into Fourarms, "Well I'm gonna enjoy pounding you into chum, Moby."
"We shall see, boy," Akhlut frowned as his army of Dark Egg Legionnairs charged at the group, who immedeatly prepared themselves for battle.
Meanwhile with Sonic, the hedgehog was looking for Zik before stopping in a grove of palm trees.
"Okay...where is that old fart a-woah!" Sonic yelped as he rolled out of the way of a cyan energy sphere, "..well that answers my question."
"It seems you were able to dodge that one, brash hedgehog," Zik's voice noted, making Sonic look up to see the Zeti standing on top of one of the palm trees, "However, I assure you things will get harder from here on out."
"Oh yeah? Well we'll see about that," Sonic grinned a bit as he jumped into the air and prepared to use a Homing Attack on Zik, only for the old Zeti to send him rocketing to the ground with his staff, "...ow."
"Lesson number 1: never underestimate your opponent, no matter how old they are," Zik frowned as he fired another cyan energy sphere from his hand at Sonic.
"Noted!" Sonic shouted as he barely dodged the energy sphere, causing it the destroy the tree that was behind Sonic, 'He's right. I can't underestimate him, even though he's old. Naugus and Enerjak are proof of that.'
"Unless you want to die quickly hedgehog, i suggest you stay focused!" Zik shouted as he was before Sonic and used his staff to knock the hedgehog into a tree.
"Gah!" Sonic cried out in pain before managing to stay on his feet, a bit of blood dripping from his head, 'Okay. This guy's definitely different from those other two Zeti. And he's right, I gotta stay focused.'
"Raah!" Fourarms roared as he punched a Legionnaire back into the water before ducking under one that tried to bite his head off, "These guys are relentless."
"No kidding!" Makoto agreed as she rolled out of he way of a Legionnaire before punching its side, sending it crashing into another, "No matter how many times we knock them back, they keep coming!"
"Hai!" Roll added as she slashed a Legionnaire that flew right over her before it landed back in the water.
'Heh...what fools. When my kind finds its prey, we don't rest until we devour it,' Akhlut thought as he watched the five from a distance, 'But, even if they manage to beat my Legionnaires back, I have a surprise waiting for them.'
"Any ideas?" Tails whispered to Tsubaki as he fired a few energy spheres at the Legionnaires from a red and orange arm cannon.
"I do. I just hope to Kami it works," Tsubaki replied before looking at Roll, "Roll! I need you for a second!"
"Okay!" Roll nodded as she leapt back from a Legionnaire that was about to chomp at her and landed right next to Tsubaki and tails, "What is it, Tsubaki-chan?"
"We need to blind them," Tsubaki whispered, "Do you have any combinations with Yacker that you think could make a big enough flash?"
"I think so," Roll replied, "Laser may work best if I charge it long enough."
"Good," Tsubaki nodded as she turned towards Tails and whispered, "The moment the Legionnaires are blinded, I want you to send an electric attack at the water. That should possibly knock them out long enough for us to get Eggman and get out of here."
"Got it," Tails nodded quietly just as Akhlut's Legionnaires were getting ready to leap out of the water and attack the group of 5 from all sides.
"Yacker-kun, Laser," Roll ordered softly to her blade before it changed into its Laser Rapier form, "All set."
"Good. Ready..." Tsubaki paused just as Akhlut's army of Orca Legionnaires leapt out at the group, "Now!"
"Zap!" Roll shouted as she fired the laser at the water, unleashing a blast of electricity through the water.
"Fire!" Tails shouted, firing an electric energy orb at the water as well.
he Legionnaires cried out in pain as the electrified water coursed through their bodies, shorting out some of their cybernetic parts until they were knocked out.
"Yatta! Alright, Roll-chan!" Makoto whooped as she and Fourarms regrouped with Tsubaki and the others, the latter changing back into Ben, "Way to..!"
"Not the time to celebrate Makoto. We need to hurry and get Eggman out of that cage before they wake up," Tsubaki stated.
"She's right! Get me out of here this instant!" Eggman snapped from his cage.
"Hold on, eggbutt. We're co..." Makoto began before she, Tails, and Roll froze up mid-step.
"Huh?" Ben stopped first, "Uh...Guys?" he waved a hand before their face, "Hello?"
Makoto, Tails, and Roll didn't reply as their heads were facing down, their eyes shaded.
"...Okay guys, this isn't fu-woah!" Ben yelped as he dodged a punch from Makoto.
"Makoto?! Wha...?!" Tsubaki began with a gasp before she blocked a strike from Roll, "Roll?! What're you doing?!"
Yacker popped out of Roll's blade and hid in Tsubaki, "% $*(54y253g3 $!"
"Ugh! Seriously, why can't you translate him?!" Ben groaned at his Omnitrix before rolling out of the way of Makoto's punch, the impact blowing up the ground around her fist, "Son of a bitch!"
"Son of bitch!" Tsubaki yelped.
"Son of a bitch!" Eggman screamed in startlement.
"What the heck's going on here? Why're they attacking us?" Ben asked as he and Tsubaki stood back from Roll, Tails, and Makoto.
"I don't..wait. Ben look..." Tsubaki began as she pointed at their friend's faces, which were emotionless and their eyes dulled, "They're being controlled."
"What? By who?" Ben asked, his eyes widened a bit.
"..I think I know who," Tsubaki frowned, noticing Akhlut wasn't among the knocked out Legionnaires.
"Get me out of here!" Eggman demanded.
"Shut up!" both barked at him as they dodged another set of attack from the three.
"Ben, I'll keep them distracted!" TSubaki told the Omnitrix wielder as she ducked under a strike from Roll and Tails, "You transform and see if you can find that Grand Master."
"Got it," Ben nodded as he was about to activate his Omnitrix until...
'I don't think so, child,' Akhlut's voice echoed from within Ben's mind.
"Wha...?" Ben began before he suddenly felt a huge wave of pain in his head, making him cry out in pain as he fell to his knees, holding his head, "GAAAH!"
"Ben! What's wrong?!" Tsubaki asked, which fell on deaf ears as Ben couldn't hear anything except the sound of Akhlut's voice in his head.
'You think I'll let you do as you please?' Akhult's voice questioned, 'Pathetic. Truly pathetic. And what's this? A mass murderer as well.' Ben's eyes widened, 'Oh, yes. I can see it all too clear. Such a slaughter. What carnage. Oh, you seemed to love ripping their heart out and forcing them to eat it.'
"No..no! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Ben shouted, slamming hsi head against the ground.
'Why should I, child? I'm quite..oh ho? What's this? Your parent's death, your grandfather now in a coma thanks to that Malware creature, and...oh this one is delicious...seeing the one you loved die in your arms...' Akhlut's voice chuckled darkly, making Ben's eyes widen in fear.
"No...Please no!" Ben shouted, his body beginning to tremble in fear, "Please god no! Don't make me relieve that!"
"Ben! Ben, snap out of it!" Tsubaki shouted, her shield barely blocking the two kicks and Makoto's fist aimed at them.
"NO! STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!" Ben shouted, fear and terror evident in his voice as his entire body shook, the teen slamming his head against the ground to try and dispel the images Akhlut was forcing him to see, "GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT!"
'No. I quite enjoy seeing my prey like this. Because the best kind of prey...' Akhlut's voice began as a dark grin grew on the Grand Master's face(the Orca/Killer whale taking refuge under the water), 'Are the kind that fall into a state of fear and despair.'
'..I'm sorry for this...' Tsubaki thought as she barely dodged all three strikes from Makoto, Roll, and Tails before she slammed the bottom of her weapon into their guts, knocking them out. She then bent down and lifted Ben up to his knees, the red-head placing her hands on his shoulders to hopefully get a reaction from him, "Ben, snap out of it!"
"...n..." Ben mumbled quietly.
"Ben? Come on sn.." Tsubaki began before she noticed what look like tears falling from his face, his body still shaking.
'My, my, my. Such darkness in your mind in that moment...'
"J...just stop..." Ben whispered a little louder, his voice shakey, "Just..please..."
"Ben!" Tsubaki called out.
"It's no use," Eggman spoke, making Tsubaki look at him, "He's already in Akhlut's psychonetic grip. And once he has you, he won't stop until his 'prey's' spirit is broken."
"Oh no..." Tsubaki whispered before her eyes widened in an idea and she turned on the Omnitrix on Ben's wrist, "Hopefully, this will work."
with that, Tsubaki began to search through the selection of Aliens in Ben's Omnitrix until she stopped on the one she need.
"Please let this work," the red-head whispered to herself as she pressed down on the Omnitrix, transforming Ben once more.
"Ghostfreak!" the Ectonurite hissed out.
'What is this?! I...Where is your mind?!'
"You want to know?" Ghostfreak asked, venom etched into each word, "You must be mistaken. I'm a ghost. There's no brain here. Care to see a little trick? Now you see me..." he faded away, his voice echoing at the end, "Now you don't."
"What?! Where'd he go?" Akhlut snarled, raising his head out of the water to look for him, 'Impossible..that wench managed to break my hold on him! Grr...I'll d-gah!'
Pain coursed through his head as claws dug into it. Something slammed into his face and sent him right out of the water and slammed against Eggman's cage, bending the bars on impact.
"You know what you've done? You've made me see hell again," Ghostfreak's voice echoed all over.
'B...Ben?' Tsubaki thought, shaking a bit before a series of claw marks formed on Akhult before a nearby rock followed up.
"You shouldn't have done that," Ghostfreak's voice continued, "Especially when we're in darkness."
"Wha...?" Akhlut began before (from his point of view) everything went pitchblack, "What's going on?! What is this?!" 'Is this that Tennyson brat's doing?'
"Perhaps...Perhaps not," Ghostfreak's voice echoed into his ear.
Akhult quickly turned, only for his face to be scratched deeply by a set of black claws. He cried out as he stumbled back from Ghostfreak, his right hand torn apart to expose razor sharp, pitch black claws. His gaze lowered to Ghostfreak's torso, where a series of black and white stripped tentacles were emerging from the folds, his green cuffs all on the floor.
"Wh...what is this?" Akhlut demanded, the Orca/Killer Whale Mobian starting to feel something he never felt before in his life...fear.
"Want to see something really scary?" Ghostfreak asked as the skin on his unchanged hand began to bulge and then rip apart, revealing the same claws his other hand had.
'Wh..what...?' Aklhut's eyes began to widen as he watched Ghostfreak beginning to tear his 'skin' off, 'Wh...what manner of cre..no...demon is he?!'
Ghostfreak let out a shriek that could terrify even a Banshee as he finished tearing apart his second skin, exposing his true form to the Mobian before him. He truly resembled a malevolent spirit, with the dark purple skin torn at various place, exposing his tail being another tentacle in terms of pattern color and a few ribs on the lower left side of its body. Four long, pitch black claws emerged from feathery. scaly hands that went up to scythe-like elbows. Parts of the purple 'skin' were put into layers on the neck, giving the look of gills on the sides, with a series of black spikes resembling his claws racing down its humped back and neck to halfway down to the middle of its body. The tentacles still exposed themselves from the stomach, each one thicker and one could barely see minute barbs decorating it. The final part of it was its head or, rather, the skull. It was twisted upside-down to have the sockets on the bottom and the open jaw exposing a set of mismatched length teeth, yellow and rotting away. The right socket sported Ghostfreak's eye while the Omnitrix symbol was fitted directly on the chest of the specter.
'A...A demon! H..he truly is a demon!' Akhlut thought, the Orca/Killer Whale starting to now shiver in fright as he saw Ghostfreak slowly approach him, "St...STAY AWAY!" he yelled as he fired a force of psychic energy at Ghostfreak, who dissapeared in a instant.
"Oh? What's the matter? Afraid of ol' Ghostfreak?" Ghostfreak raspy, whispering voice echoed.
"STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!" Akhlut roared as he sent a large wave of Psychic energy around him, nearly blowing everything away.
"So, you like to bring out the worst memories in others, hm?" Ghostfreak's voice questioned before a shiver went down the Orca/Killer Whale's spine as Ghostfreak's hand put itself on his shoulder, "Then let's see how you deal against someone you've broken to the point of blocking any sense of morals."
Akhult turned, only to see no one there. Looking over his shoulder, he screamed as it was only Ghostfreak's hand there. Nothing more, nothing less. Turning again, Ghostfreak's other hand slashed across his face once more.
"GAAH!" Akhlut roared in pain as blood dripped from his face, fresh claw marks over his cybernetic eyes, "D..damn you!"
"Oh yes!" Ghostfreak chuckled, sending more shivers up Akhult's spine at how sinister it sounded, "Damn a ghost. You know, we see those as mere compliments, yes?"
He let out another shriek right into Akhult's face at that.
Akhlut was about to send another wave of psychic energy at Ghostfreak before the Orca/Killer Whale was suddenly lifted off the ground.
"Wh...what is this?! Let me go this instant, brat!"
"You didn't release me despite my pleas," Ghostfreak informed before his claws erupted from the Mobian's side, ripping out a good chunk on his waist, "Do not assume I will do what you denied me."
Akhlut grunted in pain as blood dripped from his fresh wound, the claws slowly retracting back into his sides.
"What's the matter? You invaded my mind, so why don't I invade yours?"
Akhlut tried to snap at the Ectonurite, but couldn't as he felt like someone had ripped his vocal cords out.
"What's wrong?" Ghostfreak asked...in Akhult's voice, "Ghostfreak got your tongue?"
Aklhut couldn't do anythign except cry out in pain once more, feeling Ghostfreak's claws piercing his sides.
"How does it feel to be on the recieving end of it, Akhlut?" Ghostfreak asked with a dark chuckle.
Akhult couldn't reply through his pain.
"Heh..good..now you know how I felt. And as much as I'd like to continue this..." Ghostfreak began as he motioned to the Omnitrix symbol on his body, which began to beep red, "I'm afraid our little game must end. 'Till next time..."
With that said, the darkness surrounding Akhlut dissapeared just as Ghostfreak changed back into Ben, the teen shivering a bit.
"Man...That was darker than usual," Ben shivered as he turned to Tsubaki, who had a fear struck look on her face, "Tsubaki? Are you okay?"
"Huh? oh! Y..yes, Ben. I am," Tsubaki nodded, snapping out of it before thinking, 'Wh...what was that just now? Th-the way Ben was when he was in that ..that murderous intent he had...it..it reminded me of...Hazama.'
"Mmm..." Makoto groaned as she, Roll, and Tails began to regain conciousnes, "What happened?"
"Ugh..my head feels like it got ran over.." Tails winced, holding his head a bit before he and the girls noticed teh claw mark riddled area, "..."
"...Ano..what happened?" Roll blinked.
"..W...well.." Tsubaki began, still a bit uneased at what happened after Ben changed into Ghostfreak.
"Ahem!" Eggman cleared his throat, getting Ben-tachi's attention, "If you're all done messing around like idiots, how about you..oh i don't know, GET ME OUT OF HERE ALREADY?!"
"..Ugh...fine," Ben sighed as he and the others walked over to the cage Eggman was in, the Omnitrix-wielder thinking, 'I'm seriously close to leaving him in that cage.'
While they weren't looking, Aklhut managed to slide back into the water before diving down, wincing due to the cuts all over his body.
'Grr...damn that boy...' the orca/killer whale thought with a growl before he managed the mentally activate the communicator in his head, "Lien-Da...send me back to the Frozen North now!"
-What?! Don't tell me you lost to that boy with the watch too!- Lien-Da snapped.
"That boy used something that terrified even me! It was humiliating! Now send me and my Legionnaires back to the Frozen North, now!"
-...Ugh...fine...-
'Grr...next time I see that boy...I'll destroy him,' Akhlut thought with a snarl as he and his Legionnaires vanished.
"Woah!"Sonic yelped as he rolled out of the way of Zik's energy sphere before he he zoomed off and tried to blindside the old Zeti, only for Zik to knock him back with a strike from his staff, 'Damn...I can't get a hit on this guy.'
"It is no use, brash hedgehog. You've already lost," Zik stated as he disappeared into the trees once more, "I've faced faster opponents than you in my younger days, so nothing you do will surprise me."
'He's right..I've already used up most of my tricks on this guy, and he countered all of them,' Sonic thought, keeping a close eye on the area before grinning a bit, 'Except maybe this one.'
After a moment of silence, another of Zik's energy spheres shot at Sonic from behind, the hedgehog back-flipping over it before dashing where the sphere came from.
Zik popped out of the hiding spot he was in to hit Sonic with his staff once more, only for the hedgehog to bounce off it and jump backwards, Zik immediately following after him as he cornered the hedgehog against the moss-covered rock formation.
"It's over, hedgehog. Prepare to..." Zik began before Sonic vanished in a blur. The old Zeti was about to follow him before he spotted a cyan glow from behind, making him turn his head to see his own energy sphere heading towards him. Without wasting time, Zik jumped high into the air to dodge the attack, causing it to crash into the rock formation, "Impudent brat, as if a ploy like that will..."
"Hey, blueberry raisen!" a voice shouted from above, making Zik look up to see Sonic heading towards him, "It's nap time!"
Zik didn't have to to counter as Sonic delivered an axe-kick to his head, sending the old Zeti crashing into the ground.
"Heh..how's that?" Sonic smirked a bit as he landed back on the ground, the dust beginning to settle to reveal a slightly frowning Zik.
"...Not bad, hedgehog. You've managed to surprise me..but only a tiny bit," Zik stated as he turned his back on the hedgehog.
"What's the matter? Back acting up again?" Sonic asked in a semi-cocky tone.
"No...I'm done fighting you for now,brash hedgehog. The next time we fight, I won't be afraid to use my full strength," Zik stated as he leapt away.
Sonic just blinked in confusion after the old Zeti left before the hedgehog thought in realization, 'He didn't..use his full strength the entire time?!...that's kinda disheartening.'
"Hey, Sonic!"
"Huh?" Sonic blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he turned to see Tails and the others heading towards him, Eggman and his two robo-assitances included, "Hey Tails. looks like you foudn teh girls, and unfortunatly, Eggman."
"Grr..." Eggman growled in annoyence at that before calming down.
"Yeah. W...wow..." Ben blinked as he saw the semi-destroyed area, "...what happened here?"
"Ran into that old Zeti again, and I barely managed to beat him by default," Sonic stated before gulping a bit, "Only to find out he wasn't really going all out."
"O-oh my," Roll gulped a bit as Yacker hid behind her.
"I'm afraid we've got a much bigger problem," Eggman spoke up, making the group look at him, "Once so large..." he paused as he took a deep breath, "It'll take all of us to overcome it."
"...tch. Whatever," Sonic scoffed a bit, angering Eggman, "I told you we can handle the Zeti by ourselves."
"...That maybe true, but the rebellious swine have gotten hold of a device of mine," Eggman frowned, "And they're using it in ways for which it was never designed."
"..I know I'm gonna regret this, but what was it designed for, doctor?" Tails asked.
"Watch," Eggman said as Orbot bonked Cubot's head, making his eyes light up as a holographic image showed the machine that was draining the life out of Mobius, "It was supposed to extract energy from our world, but the machine is unstable. Once it reaches full power, it can't be shut off. It'll drain our world dry."
"So that's what Nicole was talking about," Sonic noted to himself.
"And let me guess, you just want to go smash it, Right?" Tails asked, sweatdropping a bit.
"Well...yeah," Sonic chuckled a bit, making Tails sigh and Tsubaki facepalm a bit, "What?! It's what I do."
"Oh, always your answer to everything, hedgehog!" Eggman snapped a bit, glaring at Sonic, "If you and your little team wish to cause a cataclysmic explosion that'll evaporate everything within a hundred miles, please. Smash away."
Sonic was about to charge at Eggman before Roll stopped him, the hedgefox taking calming breaths to stay calm.
"So..there's no off switch?" Ben asked.
"No..not anymore," Eggman replied, "I need to get to the machine and reprogram the shut down sequence. I'll supply the brains, and you all will supply thebrawn needed to get past the Zeti."
"...No offense, but how can be sure to trust you?" Makoto frowned at him, "For all we know, you'll probably reprogram your machine to direct the energy to your robots."
"Hai," Roll agreed with a small frown.
"Grr...look. I don't like working with my most hated enemies, but the fate of Mobius is at stake!" Eggman snapped.
"Pfft! Yeah well, teaming up with you feels like the end of the world Eggman," Sonic frowned as he adn Eggman glared at each other, "Which you've nearly caused most of the time."
"What?! No i haven't!" Eggman growled.
"Uh..yeah you have. Chaos, A.R.C nearly falling to earth if my and Shadow hadn't stopped it, Metal Sonci going berserk..do I need to keep listing, or do i make my point?" Sonic countered.
"Oh yeah? We'll at least I didn't break up with my girlfriend and get roboticized and work for my most hated enemy later on..oh wait...that's y..." Eggman began before he was punched in the face by a livid sonic.
"You did NOT just go there," Sonic growled, a faint dark aura surrounding him for a sec, "You..did NOT just fucking go there!"
"What if I did?! It's your fault for letting her sacrifice herself in the first place!" Eggman snapped back, "In fact..." he pasued as he pointed at Roll, "If you were going out with that mixed breed, she'd probably end up Roboticized too!"
"YOU LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS, YOU MOTHER...!" Sonic began with an angry roar.
"ENOUGH!" Tsubaki snapped as Ben held back the livid hedgehog, "Honestly, you're both behaving like spoiled children."
"But he started it!" Sonic snapped in pure anger, "Let me just...!"
"No!We're stressed enough already! And as much as you despise him, we need him!" Tsubaki argued before turning towards Eggman, giving him a cold glare, "And you. Unless you have something to say that might help us, I suggest you stay quiet."
"What?! Don't you dare tell me what too...!" Eggman began.
"Makoto. Roll."
Eggman raised an eyebrow before he heard the sound of rocks crumbling nearby. He then slowly turned before his eyes bugged out of his head through his glasses, seeing the large rock formation in the area reduced to pebbles from a punch from Makoto and roll, the hedgefox's right arm covered in dark grey fur before it returned to it's normal yellow color as Yacker floated out of Roll's body.
"You were saying?" Tsubaki said with a frown.
"...Very well. I'll stay quiet unless I have something helpful to say," Eggman gulped, Orbot and Cubot shacking behind him.
"Doh...that was the almost as scary as the break room running out of donuts," Cubot gulped.
"N..not sure what to say about that, but indeed. That..was frightening," Orbot agreed.
"..okay," Tsubaki spoke after taking in a few deep, calming breaths, "If we're done here, let's get moving to the next area."
The others nodded as they began to laeve teh area, Makoto staying in the back with Ben to keep a close eye on Eggman while Roll walked next to Sonic and tails, the hedgefox glaring a bit at the fat doctor.
"...I really don't like him," Roll frowned as she turned her head back forward.
"Welcome to the club, Roll," Sonic stated.
Back at the Zeti's hideout, Zavok stood quiet as he sat on the ground, his eyes clothes as Lien-Da was standing nearby, looking at the status of the machine that drained Mobius of it's energy.
"So..what's the plan now? Both Zik, and the Grand Master he requested were both defeated by Sonic and Ben Tennyson," Lien-da spoke up as she turned to face him.
"...My master didn't lose. He merely walked away, knowing the hedgehog wouldn't last agaisnt hsi full power," Zavok spoke as he opened his eyes, "Where are they headed next, Lien-Da?
"Let me check," teh female echidna answered as she turned back towards the machine adn checked one of the monitors, "If I can guess right, they're headed to the Frozen Factory area. If I recall right, that's Zeena's place."
"...I see...speaking off..." Zavok began as he sat up and glared at a female Zeti, "Why are you still here?"
The Female Zeti had slender upper body that curved out into fairly wide hips. The female Zeti's upper body was lime green with two black stripes around her waist while the lower half of her body is black. Her small feet were tipped by small lime green claws with a third smaller one on each heel. Her tail was thin and curly, ending in a chameleon-like swirl. Her wrists had black stripes around them while her five-fingered hands were black, each digit tipped by a hot pink nail. The Female Zeti also had long green hair that parted to the right, extending down to her lower legs. On the left side of her head was a single curved horn with an alternating black and hot pink coloration. Her circular eyes were surrounded by black rings while her eyes were blue with yellow sclera and yellow-orange eyelids. She also has orange lips.
"I'm just gettign ready," the female Zeti replied as she filed her nails, making Zavok roll his eyes a bit.
"Well..you seem to be taking your time," the larger Zeti frowned a bit.
"Well, it is my time to take now, isn't it?" Zeena smiled a bit as she admired her nails a bit before going back to filing them.
"..." Zavok let out a low sigh,knowing how 'lazy' the female Zeti can be at times. An idea then popped into his head, making a small grin grow on his face, "Well...What if I told that you were the only one I trusted to be fast enough, smart enough, and pretty enough to beat the blue nuisance and his friends?"
"..Well..." Zeena began with a pride filled smirk as she got off the console she was sitting on, "I've say you've got the right girl for the job."
She then gave the larger Zeti a wink, brushing her hair to the side as she began to walk away, her hips swaying a bit with each step she took.
"..Well..." Zavok began with a low chuckle as the female Zeti left the room, "That was so easy, I almost feel guilty. Almost..."
"..heh...this is why I prefer you over Eggman, Zavok," Lien-Da smirked, having watched the scene between the two, "When you want someone to do something, you 'flatter' them enough until they get the job done."
"I have my moments," Zavok answered, "But what I said is half true. If there is anyone who can get the job done in the Frozen Factory area, it's Zeena."
Meanwhile, in a frozen snow covered area, a Dark Egg Legionnaire let out a dying gasp as his body began to be engulfed in ice.
Nearby, a shaded figure looked at the now frozen Legionnaire before looking up at the area in front of him, seeing it littered with Badniks and EggPawns that were sliced into scrape, along with a few frozen figure then looked up to see the sky, frowning as he saw the barely seen moon. No matter what anybody said, he despised that damned moon greatly.
Instru...
*BZZZT!*
SZ: What the?! What happened to the Omake?! I was sure...*sees a certain merc with a mouth sneak by, holding the camera for the Omakes*..DEADPOOL!
Deadpool:...later, bitches!*runs out, whooping like Curly from the 3 Stooges.*
SZ:...ugh...damn it. I finally had the Omake raedy...freaking Deadpool...*calms down*anyway...sorry to keep you folks waiting, but I'm finally done with this chapter. Hope you enjoy it, and leave a review. If ya have any suggestions or questions for the 'Help me: Professor Kokonoe' Omake in chapter 20, place them in the review. Anyway...who or what is exactly is in the Frozen Factory area aside from Zeena,?And will the temporary alliance between Eggman and Sonic's team last? Find out next time in the next chapter of Azure Rebellion. 'Till then, I'm Seanzilla115, and I wish you, good day. Ja ne...*walks towards a TV and leaps into it*and see you at one of my other stories!*pops back otu*oh, and before I forget...*pulls out a folding chair and chases after Deadpool*get back here with my Omake camera, you ass!
Deadpool: Nevah!