*-stares from under the bed and jumps out-* BOO!
Haha hope I got you and woke you up! I prepared myself and hid under my bed to surprise you!... well if it even worked lol. Funny how I almost ran into my Roomba as it was cleaning the floor and bumped near my leg which almost scared me as well, but it's a good thing it keeps the floor nice and clean or otherwise I'd be exposed with me sneezing from all the dust under there. Roombas make such good cleaning companions. ^w^
Anyway here's the next chapter and apologies for the delay! ^u^
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or locations. They belong to Sega.
Chapter 23: Spagonia Siege IV
"Dreams don't betray us. When we lose ourselves, that's when we lose our dreams. It's not that dreams don't come true…"
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"…We just give up on them."
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"Knuckles?" a small voice asked.
"Yeah what's up?" Knuckles asked the person. With a shy face did the person reveal what they were holding behind them, the red echidna's eyes lighting up.
A purple origami flower.
"Woah, this looks really nice!" Knuckles complimented causing the person to giggle. "Yep! I had a feeling you'd need something to lift that frown upside down haha!"
"Incredible." Knuckles took the flower and observed its sophisticated artwork. "Thanks, this looks really well made and it did lift my spirits hehe."
"Neat! Anything for you big brother!" the cheerful voice of the person said. Knuckles nodded with a grin and lifted a hand to pat their head.
"Thank you so much… little sister."
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Little sister.
That was something that many would find surprising coming from the former emerald guardian, the fact that he has no actual living relatives yet he said this some time ago. Being the last of the echidnas may have made him go stir crazy if anyone who knew him well were to hear this come from him, but in reality it has huge meaning.
Ever since he relieved himself of his duties did he leave to find a new path, a new future. He traveled far and wide for some time until he stumbled upon a small town hidden within the mountains and met several of the locals, with one in particular being curious about him. The local led him to the temple that was located nearby called the Shinjin Shrine where he met a group called the Shinjin Warriors and their master, Shuifon.
Knuckles then was given a choice on whether to travel more and find his purpose or that he stays at the temple and grow stronger. It took some thought and eventually he decided to stay, thinking that a good amount of time around new faces would give him a breath of fresh air.
Luckily in the half a decade he spent with them did he feel the complete opposite to what he felt before.
Everyone respected him for who he was and not for his bad traits. They helped him out in things he didn't know too much and were very patient with him. Not only that but they didn't insult or mock him as well which lifted a weight off his shoulders on the fact that they actually treated him like a person and didn't make fun of his more glaring qualities such as his gullible nature.
If anything this trait has decreased dramatically ever since he left Angel Island and his past friends.
At his new home not only did he grow incredibly powerful and gained new friends amongst the townsfolk, but the temple accepted him as something more than just a student.
They saw him as family.
It wasn't long for this to kick in upon Jian calling him big brother. The others were surprised when she said this but she didn't falter, even though she had a very prideful nature. If anything she respected Knuckles for his strength, courage and willingness to help others.
Not long after that did Bunker follow suit along with Dulcy with the wisest member and leader of the group, respectively, accepting him as one of their own.
Surprisingly, it was Cinder that was the last to call him an older sibling.
Reason for it was that ever since she became an orphan she didn't hold much trust with anyone outside the temple, only keeping close connections with the people living in the shrine. Ironic since she has a very bubbly personality as well.
But no she didn't hold bonds well with others besides her teammates and Master Shuifon.
Knuckles didn't mind the wait though as he understood her past. If anything it was quite similar to what he had before where he didn't trust many people, the only exception being… well he didn't want to talk about that part.
Once she accepted him as their own did the two become more inseparable, Knuckles and Cinder having a great time with one another with the red echidna playing around with the orange pheasant and training her in the fighting styles he knew.
Heck Cinder had a mean punch on her part even though her wings are pretty fragile.
Nonetheless he taught her many things with Cinder providing amazing support for Knuckles and not just when it comes to missions with the team.
As Cinder saw the team as older sisters, she was very happy to finally have an older brother. Knuckles himself teared up a bit when they announced this as one, trying to hold himself together since he never got to experience what a family was like.
Master Shuifon was proud of him as well and saw him as a son in a way, not only training him but also guiding him on making good decisions.
Knuckles may still have some old habits he goes back to but Shuifon didn't mind it. He liked it when the red echidna keeps in touch with his past self at times.
Back with Knuckles and Cinder, they were a pair that many would see as something that can never be separated.
Whether it be in life or in death.
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Unfortunately… even they are wrong.
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The earth trembled violently upon the scorched earth wasteland of Spagonia. Buildings that were destroyed yet standing started to fall from the seismic activity all around with debris and cracked windows shattering into the ground, scattered fires amongst the rubble. Gusts of wind blew all around sending dust and smoke in all directions and rising into the dark cloudy skies above. Thunder and lightning roared from the heavens with several bolts crackling and flashing.
Yet with all the destructive aspects happening at the same time, there was a heavy and ominous sense in the air.
It filled the surroundings in more powerful darkness and it wasn't from the clouds above.
Rather, it was coming from a source nearby.
And this source was living… and breathing.
Untamed fury was all anyone could say.
Spouts of dark energy released in swirls around the form of Knuckles… except he looked very different.
His vibrant crimson fur was now a very dark shade of red that was near black in color. His quills were elevated upward with several bits of white lightning running through their surface with the tips glowing a bright white.
The most noticeable aspect from all this… were his eyes.
Shining completely white with no visible irises or pupils, yet they held a truly angered expression. Huge streams of energy continued to emanate from him which caused the quakes to happen around, yet he didn't care.
What caused this was due to that something being broken. That something made his heart ache but all he feels is seething rage in his body. That something in mind… was no longer there.
"CINDEERRRRR!"
His ears picked up the horrified screams coming from Dulcy, but his eyes were set on the one thing that caused it. That took that something away.
And he was ready to kill.
The Phantom Shinobi hovered in front of him without a care in the world.
Knuckles was more than ready to tear it apart.
Appearing right before it less than a nanosecond and striking it tremendously hard.
BOOM!
The large green robot crashed into the ground and skidded within creating a large trench that kept on going, smoke and debris rising into the air. Knuckles teleported and swiftly appeared before it grabbing its arm, spinning it in the air and hurling it into a building across from him.
"RRAAAAAWWWWRRRRRRRRR!" Knuckles howled into the heavens, the dark aura around him growing more intense as he dashed forward faster than Sonic's signature speed. His fist was supercharged with crackling purple lightning with glowing eyes full of anger and sorrow, but his urge to annihilate his opponent was the only thing on his mind. Endless fury guided his primal instincts with the Phantom Shinobi his main prey, wanting to rid of its existence.
Several rockets fired off from behind the smoke and struck Knuckles head on, yet the red echidna was unfazed and continued to approach his adversary. Explosions rattled the air with each missile hitting its target but not dealing any damage. By the hundreds they were launched but none were able to make a scratch as the former emerald guardian soared through the scorched land and disappearing into the smoke.
POW!
The smoke dispersed revealing Knuckles and the Phantom Shinobi exchanging blows through their fists. A series of violent shockwaves followed with the two teleporting at random directions and throwing various attacks at each other at incredibly high speeds. A kick thrown was countered by a kick, a punch thrown was countered by a punch and switched back and forth. Knuckles' barrages however were more erratic and devastating, yet he delivered them with higher precision and accuracy noted by some strikes hitting the robot head on. The Phantom Shinobi tried using its blades to counterattack but Knuckles' punches began to break through them as some of the blades broke off.
The mech dashed back and charged up a dark purple energy ball, launching it towards Knuckles quickly. The red echidna wasn't fazed and flew forward raising an arm and punching the attack away as it struck a still standing building, a large explosion the end result.
"RRRAAAAWWRRR!" Knuckles curled up into a ball and teleported, striking the Phantom Shinobi in the torso. His momentum and acceleration kept increasing pushing further and further into the metal surface, the dark aura around him covering his spherical body in an ominous mist.
The Phantom Shinobi raised an arm and superheated its hand as it glowed white hot and smashed it into the red echidna. An explosion followed suit engulfing the two with several more appearing across and creating a path indicating that they're still moving.
Eventually the evil mech managed to halt his momentum with its arm stretched and holding the spinning Knuckles in his palm. The launcher on his other arm charged up a deadly attack aimed at him.
SMASH!
A brutal collision sent the Phantom Shinobi into the ground causing a large crater and letting out several quakes. The earth beneath trembled violently and rose several feet high, cracks forming throughout and causing more of the land to be destroyed. Black smoke rose high into the air and covered more of the already dark sky with thunder and lightning still roaring overhead.
Knuckles suddenly rose up from the plume charging up a black energy ball in his hands. He flew higher into the air getting some distance and once his attack was ready, dashed down towards his target near the speed of light.
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Teleporting once again to avoid a laser fired at him and appearing onto the ground several meters away. His energy ball was still in his grasp with a pissed off expression watching where the attack came from.
VROOM VROOM!
The familiar sound of a loud engine was heard and through the smoke did it reveal the Phantom Rider introducing itself on its Moto-Bug. Red eyes watched Knuckles ominously with the Moto-Bug staring at him angrily. The Phantom Shinobi revealed itself as well walking to its side.
The green mech's body was moderately damaged from the blows against it.
Letting off another roar Knuckles dashed towards them leaving a streak of dark energy and threw the energy ball at them. The Phantom Rider was quick however and pulled out an energized flail, slamming the spiked ball into it and sending it back towards Knuckles.
The attack struck its target… but Knuckles came out of it unfazed and teleported.
A powered-up kick was blocked by a bulky robot arm which sent a shockwave across. The Phantom Rider almost fell out of its bike from the attack and countered with a missile. Knuckles instantly grabbed it before it fully left the silo and smashed it into the Phantom Shinobi as the latter almost performed a spinning blade attack. The red echidna then threw an unexpected roundhouse kick and landed a direct hit against the Phantom Rider's face.
VROOM!
The Moto-Bug felt the damage caused onto its operator and its eyes flashed several times. The tires began burning rubber and with a burst of acceleration bolted forward and away from the red echidna. Without its rider.
Knuckles slammed the purple mech into the ground but it threw its flail towards him quickly and made impact. Yet Knuckles was faster and caught the spiked ball, enclosing his hand around it and beginning to crush it with several cracks appearing on its surface.
WHOOSH!
Knuckles jumped out of the way just in time for the Phantom Shinobi to strike down with spinning blades tearing into the Phantom Rider's body. A loud robotic shriek of pain was let out from the purple robot as the sharp rotaries tore into its body and causing electrical components to fly out. The green mech pulled out quickly.
Only for the two to be engulfed by a violet barrage of instantaneous punches and kicks thrown by Knuckles. They were so fast that it appeared as if there were two of him, each strike making the same contact at the same time. Fast deadly blows hit their mark with some coming from brute force and others empowered by the unnatural dark energy coming from within him. Knuckles' rage and fury drove his power to new heights as he naturally overwhelmed the two Phantom Heavies.
The mechs retaliated with missiles and lasers backed by Chaos Control and tried to self-energize themselves with more corrupt power… but they were not able to as Knuckles was not only inflicting heavy damage onto them…
He was also absorbing their power somehow.
Knuckles ripped out the Phantom Shinobi's arm from its body and used the rotary blade it had on it and impaled it into the Phantom Rider's head. Sidestepping he then grabbed both its arms and flipped behind it, putting his legs onto its back and beginning to pull its arms off. The purple mech's beeps were apparent trying to pull against his titanic strength.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPP!
Yet Knuckles was successful and dislodged them off the robot as well. He wasn't done with the Phantom Shinobi yet seeing as it tried to attack him through Chaos Control, using his own to slice away at its remaining limbs quicker with the same blades. The red echidna appeared behind its back hearing a crashing sound and turning his head he saw the green mech having collided with the other one.
Anger still coursed through him as Knuckles raised his hands up for the finishing blow. Brilliant white eyes watched the two downed foes trying to get up but failing, leaving themselves defenseless.
Dark red spheres converged from the surroundings above Knuckles as he began charging energy into another attack. The earth and air shook heavily with debris rising into the air and fire being caught in small tornadoes that formed, the land becoming more devastated. Lightning struck the forming energy ball above Knuckles but it only further added to the increasing size with the top of the sphere poking through the dark clouds above. The attack continued to grow and grow, Knuckles adding more and more power with his rage never ending.
'They think you're weak… they took someone you love… destroy them… end them…'
Knuckles let out a deafening roar, his form emitting a wild aura mixed with black lightning. His quills flailed just as erratic with the strong winds flowing around him, his blinding white eyes expressing the deep hatred he keeps within.
'They insult you… make fun of you… so gullible… they… must… pay…'
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Louds sobs came off Dulcy, the teal green dragon mourning the loss of her teammate and fellow sister at the metallic hands of the Phantom Shinobi. She clutched at Cinder's lifeless upper body with the orange pheasant's expression devoid of emotion… just vacant.
"W-WHY…. W-WHY DID THEY TAKE YOU! IT SHOULD'VE BEEN MEEEE!" Dulcy wailed and continued to cry, ignoring the scenes of destruction happening in front of her. The dragon's sorrow was making her unaware of the events happening, right now her focus was trying not to believe that the happiest member of the team… was…
"RRAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRRRR!"
An ear shattering roar bellowed out causing Dulcy to jump in fright. Black eyes switched over to the source, a gasp being let out.
A huge ball of dark energy covered almost the whole sky with the form of Knuckles underneath… but he didn't look like his regular self.
"K-Knuckles?!... No… h-he isn't-." Dulcy stopped herself looking back down at Cinder's devoid face. She took a few seconds in then slowly raised her head with tears going down her face.
A determined expression on her face.
"It looks like I'm not the only one hurting right now… I won't let go of anyone else… never again." Dulcy then took off into the sky towards Knuckles.
Cinder's body laid on the ground as it slowly dissipated away.
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Tikal watched in terror ahead of her. The wall separating Sonic's group from Knuckles disappeared when that unknown pillar of energy suddenly came into existence, the Phantom Rider zooming off from her location. Once she knew it was safe she came out of the building she was in and was horrified to see the others having been defeated.
Unconscious and in critical condition.
With effort the echidna princess managed to bring them together inside the same building and away from the ongoing destruction. Stepping out once again her gaze was at its present state with wide blue eyes.
Witnessing Knuckles' violent fight against the two mechs and while he started triumphing, she sensed something far different.
'W… What is this…'
Her gaze never left Knuckles, the energy ball growing above him. That wasn't what frightened her however.
'He is in pain… I can feel it…' subconsciously her legs began walking forward. 'Knuckles is so angry… but his heart is in pain… I must get to him!' Tikal thought as she then made a full sprint towards the echidna. 'Please hold on Knuckles… please…'
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"Worthless consumer model."
A robotic voice spoke standing in front of a destroyed Metal Sonic, teleporting away afterward.
End of Chapter 23
And that's the chapter!
Oh boy a passing happened... will they be able recover from this? Will they come out victorious from this battle? Will Knuckles lose control or go back to normal? Who was that in the end?
So many questions that will only be answered next chapter! Stay tuned! ouo/