Victor John Foxfire: Sally did pop the question, but it was also a sort of statement about Sonic's commitment. As for what happened to the kids… we'll see.
Did Johan just craft a deroboticizer, or something more?
MerendinoEmilano: Happy new year.
/*-*/
Sonic stood up and shook his head as more explosions went off. He looked around and saw the devastation in the room. The control panels were scattered along the metal floor, looking like they had been cut down by a saw. A saw with a very thick blade.
Sonic turned around and saw Mecha Sally get pulled down and thrown into the floor by Metal Johan.
"WAIT, DON'T HURT HER!" Sonic shouted and tried to rush at the weird badnik. Sonic didn't know why Metal Johan was attacking Eggman, but even if he was on their side, Sonic couldn't have him hurt Sally.
Unfortunately, when he started to run, Sonic felt pain shoot up his leg. He'd forgot Mecha Sally had stabbed him there.
Sonic heard Mecha Sally's blades ignite again. Sonic powered through his pain and tackled Mecha Sally to the ground. It really hurt!
"Come on, Sal, Fight it!" Sonic shouted, before rolling off her to avoid getting cut open.
"There is no fighting his will." Mecha Sally spoke back, boosting her body up with the rocket feet.
"DARN IT SAL, DON'T DO THIS!" Sonic shouted at her, getting ready to jump. He saw Metal Johan arm throw its fist at Mecha Sally.
Sonic changed course, and jumped on Metal Johan, knocking the fist off course. The Large Badnik let out a screech.
"I SAID DON'T HURT HER!" Sonic gasped before getting launched at the wall. He got hit pretty bad, but he couldn't sit back. Sally was in trouble. He would save her!"
Sonic got up to his feet and heard his back pop.
Mecha Sally retreated back to the command room, and Metal Johan marched into the command room.
Sonic zipped inside, powering through the pain in his legs.
He went through the destroyed door frame and saw Eggman scrambling with the controls.
"CHANGE HER BACK!" Sonic shouted at Eggman. He grit his teeth as he felt a surge of energy in his body.
"I don't have time for you, hedge-"Eggman growled before Sonic jumped on the control panel, and tackled Eggman to the ground, balling his fist.
"HEDGEHOG!" Eggman shouted angrily, and punched Sonic in the face with a surprising force Sonic wasn't prepared for. Sonic fell back, and clutched is nose, before shaking his head.
Sonic was suddenly slammed into the ground by Mecha Sally, before she flew off as a beam of energy struck the wall behind Sonic. He looked down and saw Metal Johan's mouth close.
Sonic scrambled to his feet and jumped back at Eggman as he continued to press buttons.
"ALERT, MAJOR WEAPON SYSTEMS: OFFLINE!" A mechanical voice spoke over the intercom.
"What is that damned beast doing? Why can't I control him?" Eggman shouted, slamming his fist against the control panel.
Sonic took his eyes off Eggman for a moment and saw the various security cameras' feeds. Walls, desks, computers, all of which were destroyed.
"What is he doing? It's like… oh no!" Eggman shouted with realization, scrambling to hit more buttons.
Sonic tackled Eggman again and gripped his collar, "THAT'S ENOUGH EGGMAN, CHANGE SALLY BACK!"
Eggman growled in his throat as if he were annoyed by Sonic, "Get off me!"
"CHANGE HER BACK!" Sonic pulled Eggman up.
"I CAN'T! Even if I wanted to Hedgehog, the roboticizer has been destroyed. You can thank your little beast for that." The mad Doctor Snarled, balling his fists, before snorting, "Face it, you're never getting her back."
His sinister smile… woke something up inside Sonic. Sonic had lost Tails from another life, he'd lost his father, he'd lost so many people who depended on him. Sonic couldn't lose Sally too. He pushed out the other possibilities.
Sonic Gripped Eggman tighter. He had to have another one of those stupid machines on this stupidly expensive ship. He had to. "TAKE ME TO ANOTHER ONE! NOW!" He shook Eggman perhaps a little harder than normal.
"SILENCE HEDGEHOG!" Eggman tossed Sonic onto the ground as the speaker made a sound.
"SUPER GENESIS WAVE READY TO FIRE! READY TO FIRE! FIRE IT NOW, PLEASE!" a panicked shout came as the sound of bullets rang in the background.
Eggman smashed a glowing button and laughed, "Well, hedgehog, you might just get your wish… In the next life!"
Sonic jumped up as the world seemed to glow around him. The Super Genesis wave was firing again. He jumped up to stop it as the lines began to blur.
"SEE YOU SOON, HEDGEHOG!" Eggman cackled with glee as Sonic jumped at the control panel. It was too late!
Sonic flinched and braced to wake up with no memory.
Then his feet hit the metal floor. The sound of electronics shutting down rumbled in his ears. Sonic opened his eyes to see blackness. Then red light lit the edges of the room.
The mechanical voice spoke, "POWERL LEVELS: CRITICAL. SWITCHING TO EMERGENCY POWER."
Eggman's dimly lit face was terrified, "W-What? Retry CONTINGENCY PLAN!"
"Error, low power." Came from the system. Sonic saw the blue glow of blades clash against steel as the fighting continued.
Eggman scrambled, "SYSTEM, CHECK BATTER STORAGE LEVELS!"
"CHECKING…. BATTERY DETECTION: FAILED." The System proclaimed, "DISABLING ALL NON-ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS."
"No…. No no no nonono!" Eggman smashed the control panel again. Sonic heard a door wedge open as Lien-da rushed through.
"We have a fire in the engine room! We can't put it out!" The Echidna shouted, huffing.
"Give it up Eggman!" Sonic growled, balling his fist, "You've lost!"
"I have to go… I have to go. COMPUTER, PREPARE MY EGG MOBILE!" Eggman shouted in a terrified tone.
Sonic heard the sound of metal being ripped open. Wind blasted Sonic's back.
"WHAT ABOUT MY LEGIONNAIRES?" Lien-da shouted, sounding honestly worried about her men.
"They can fend for themselves. They'd better start running to an escape pod. Or not, I couldn't care less." Eggman grumbled as the Egg mobile came through the door Sonic had blown down, "Have Fun dying, hedgehog!"
He jumped in his little pod and flew towards a hole behind Sonic. "Where are you going?" Sonic shouted and jumped up, only to be pinned down by Mecha Sally.
Metal Johan was no where to be found, so Sonic had to be break her grip, "COME ON SAL, WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS! TOGETHER!" Sonic growled.
"You didn't want to be together." Mecha Sally spoke… bitterly? Was she upset with him? Did it leak through?
Sonic growled, "I LOVED YOU! I WANT YOU BACK!"
"but you don't want to make the commitment." Mecha Sally tightened her grip.
"MECHA SALLY, QUIT MESSING AROUND! GET OVER HERE… AND TELL THAT STUPID DEER TO PREPARE MY LUXURY QUARTERS!" Eggman shouted from outside.
Mecha Sally threw Sonic to the ground and soared out the massive hole in the command room. Lien-da ran out as well.
Sonic shook himself and stood up. He could hear the sounds of shouting coming from all around. "I got to get out of here." Sonic mumbled to himself, and began to run down the open hallway he had made. He turned and saw Mecha Sally flying around. He would save her!
Sonic couldn't run as fast, even if he tried to power through, but it wouldn't take long to get to the hanger area. Tails should be waiting to swoop down and pick him up with the tornado.
Sonic made his way to where the arena was, the Silver Sonic still scattered about. Eggman probably didn't have a janitor service running when they in battle… or it got knocked out. His eyes drifted to the door way… which had crumbled. Sonic took a deep breath, and spun into the debris.
He punched through, and uncurled. He ignored the pain in his legs and rushed towards the Docking bay. In reality, he staggered out and scanned the sky for the Tornado.
Instead, Sonic saw smoke, a lot of it. He looked down below. The Egg Carriers had made quite a mess, and-
Sonic saw the crashed plane in the ground. "TAILS!" He shouted from the dock. He had to pull himself back to keep from jumping to check on the little fox.
Then another thought set in. That was his ride down there. He needed to get off, and fast. Sonic looked around, and saw Johan's Egg Carrier, still planted about two floors down, and several yards across. Still, it beat dying.
Sonic ran to the other end of the dock and jumped through the doorway. Rubble blocked his path, and Sonic spun through it. He made it to the stairs and zipped down them. This was almost-
Sonic felt a brief flash of pain as metal struck his face and his ears.
Sonic saw a dark figure standing overhead. He recognized the toned legs from somewhere. His vision was in black and white, so it was hard to make out exactly who exactly stood over him.
"How long?" The figure mumbled angrily.
Sonic blinked at her, "What?"
"How long do I have to wait?" The Figure shouted angrily.
Sonic heard wailing all around him. Babies Wailing.
"I've been patient with you, done everything you asked! Yet you still won't change?" She screamed at him, "I was better off without you! Everyone is better off without you!"
Sonic opened his mouth, "I WANTED TO SAVE YOU! PLEASE DON'T GO! SAL, PLEASE!"
The figure shook her head, "You still don't get it… wake up."
Sonic's eyes bolted open. He tried to lean up, but he felt something on his back. He could smell char and metal and burnt oil all around him. He turned around to look over his shoulder. He was pinned under collapsed metal from stairs.
Sonic jerked and tried to push up again. He was thoroughly stuck. He could feel his nerves lighting up letting him know that he was a complete idiot. There wasn't any gunshots outside, which was either really good or-
A jet engine told Sonic someone was overhead. He looked up and saw Mecha Sally descending towards him, her cold blue eyes not seeming to care about his predicament.
"We-he-he-ell, " Eggman laughed as he hovered through a hole on the Egg Mobile, "Isn't this a fine little rodent? Caught in a mousetrap, you poor thing." He taunted.
Sonic grit his teeth as more badniks appeared around him, "I'm just… taking a breather." Sonic was tired. He couldn't fight this many badniks and Mecha Sally.
"Oh no! Don't you worry, We'll get you out of that rubble and into a nice, comfy, chair for some… fun." Eggman cackled and flew off as Mecha Sally landed, and pinned Sonic down by his neck.
"Come on Sal, come back to me. Help me out." Sonic grumbled as the badniks came in. Her cold metal hands told Sonic all he needed to know: He was alone, no help was coming.
/*-*/
Fiona continued to climb the mountain, and take cover as the sound of fighting seemed to intensify. She felt her heart telling her to go back, to be the hero Sonic saw in her. Her head told her she was a complete moron.
But why did they deserve a hero? Fiona had done everything the kingdom had asked, risked everything she had, abandoned everything she'd known. And She was still a prisoner, still denied that status as free.
Even if I have all the freedom I really need. Fiona thought to herself bitterly. She was disgusting, hideous, a traitor. She knew it, which was why she was leaving.
Was she angry? Was she scared? It didn't matter. Fiona had made up her mind on the side of the cliff. She crept into a cave, and slumped against the wall of the cave. She could see the battlefield from the cliff and sighed.
She could see the firing of rifles from the trenches, but outside of Lanolin, Fiona couldn't make out who was in trenches. She thought that was Lanolin, Fiona saw white.
"Shit… Things look pretty fun right now." The rough voice laughed.
Fiona already knew who it was, "Alright, Scourge, What do you want?"
"To visit my babe." Scourge snorted and Fiona looked up at him, and saw his vicious grin. He would love this. His own little gladiatorial arena, "So… looks like things are going to shit quickly, ready to ditch? Or is that what you are doing already?"
Fiona felt her chest tighten up. She was fleeing, so what difference did it make if she left with Scourge or alone.
Fiona's eyes drifted down to the burning plane. Fiona knew Tails was still in the cockpit, probably still out. What did she care? If anything, this was fair play. He tried to kill her, she didn't have to save him.
But Sonic saved me. And he would be… destroyed if something happened to his little buddy.
Fiona growled to herself. This wasn't fair, it wasn't like she had a conscience or something.
"Come on, let's ditch this place before a stray bullet catches you." Scourge snorted, and turned around to run away, holding his arms up to her to climb into. She should have gone with him. It made the most sense.
Yet she got cold feet when it counted, "No… I'm going back down there." She could save Tails, and lord that over him. She'd get through just fine.
"What? Really? You used to be smart, babe. Come on, did you hit your head?" Scourge grumbled, clearly frustrated by the fact that they weren't going together.
"I've made up my mind." Fiona growled firmly. My possibly empty, emotion-fueled, mind.
"That's a stupid decision!" Scourge growled, frustrated.
"Maybe… But it's… mine to make." Fiona glared back at her boyfriend, "You can't stop me from making it."
"Wanna bet?" Scourge asked, and pinned her against the wall, "I could hold you right here until I get bored."
Fiona scowled at him, "Let-go." She growled firmly.
"Oh come on, listen to me, babe. I'm-" She stomped on his foot, and the green hedgehog yelped, "GAH, You stupid bit-" Scourge growled, before stopping himself, at least recognizing that he needed to mind his words, "-fine, You want to go and die, so be it. Just know that I'm gonna be pissed if you die."
He let go of her, and Fiona blinked. Maybe she had written off their relationship too soon. Fiona frowned, "Look… we need to talk, after this is all done."
Scourge tapped his foot impatiently, showing his clear agitation at the idea. He thought nothing good was coming from it. He might be surprised, "Fine…"
He backed away, and bowed in the most forced, uncomfortable way he could, gesturing to the trench lines below.
Fiona nodded and crawled down the mountain. She ran as fast as she could without slipping until she finally made it back to the trenches. The soldiers were fighting fiercely as Fiona jumped into the trenchline.
She made her way back towards the red plane. The fighting was actually focused elsewhere, at least for the moment, which allowed Fiona to not worry. The small yellow mutant was slumped over the controls of the plane. His head was shaking slowly as he started to wake up.
Fiona ran up to the plane and unclipped the fox from his seat belt. She pulled Tails out of the pilot seat, and carried him back to the trenches.
Tails jerked in her arms suddenly, "DON'T SHOOT-" He seemed to look around and Fiona set him in the trench, "Fiona? You… saved me?"
"Not really. Just got you out of the way." Fiona peaked over the trench line. No badiks were coming yet. She needed to get back and help the main force.
"Fiona…" Tails mumbled in slight shock.
"Yeah-" Fiona was about to groan when she saw what he was looking at. The Death Egg was glowing white.
Fiona got down and waited. Tails covered his head.
Nothing happened. Fiona blinked, "What was that?"
"I don't know… But Sonic must have…. Oh no!" Tails cried out with a realization.
"What?" Fiona grumbled, hefting her rifle over the trench line to shoot into the flank of some formations.
"I dropped Sonic off, and was supposed to pick him up! He's stuck up there!" Tails' tails began to spin up as he hovered over trench before dropping down, panting.
Fiona realized what he was saying. Sonic would either have to fight off everyone on the Death Egg, or-
"Wait, there's the Wolverine's Egg Carrier. He'll be fine." Fiona groaned. She really shouldn't have been so worried. Sonic always won, it was a thing that frustrated Scourge to many angry rants. Then She heard an explosion coming from the cracked station. Nothing too big.
She saw Sonic looking out over some open part, like a port or something. Sonic zipped along the station as Fiona kept watch, disappearing into a closed off area.
The Wolverine's Egg Carrier began to pull back. Fiona froze. Sonic made it on? Right? Fiona found herself holding her breath as the Egg Carrier finally hovered several feet away from the Death Egg.
"SOnic-" Tails called out when suddenly, several chunks of metal burst out of the Death Egg from several spots, with an explosion filling the air. Every hole on the Death Egg shot jets of flames and lit up the sky as. The hallways lit up even behind the metal, showing that the station was burning both inside and out.
"SONIC!" Fiona shouted quickly. He had to make it onto the Egg Carrier, right? Fiona put her trust in that belief. Sonic never lost.
Gunfire stopped. Both sides seemed to watch the spectacle of the massive Station being dismantled. At least, that was what it looked like. The flames died down after two minutes, leaving the once shiny flying fortress, now charred black from fuel and fire.
The Death Egg seemed to lose all of its lights, weapons and utilities from what Fiona could see, but it didn't collapse. The Death Egg was severely damaged, not destroyed.
Fiona had a bad feeling as cheers went out. Fiona turned and saw the soldiers cheering, and the Egg armies retreating. The other Egg Carriers seemed to pull back, and the remaining Badniks were shot.
Fiona's throat felt tight. She had a feeling they didn't win this fight.
Scourge waited for her in the distance with a pleasant smile. Sonic hadn't come down.
/*-*/
Johan sat in the commander's seat as the Death Egg burst into a flash of light. Fire shot out of every hole the station had. If they had done enough damage, then Johan wouldn't have to fire the gun again.
As the Konig's Faust came to halt, and hovered overhead, Johan watched the giant station carefully. The station was heavily damaged, but could still be repaired if given enough time and resources. Johan closed his fist and his eyes.
He was turned into a robot. That horrid "scientist" had defiled Johan's body. His Anger surfaced as the battle station still hovered, barely staying up. If it was ship of the sky, then it should have been sinking.
"Fire the main cannon!" Johan roared angrily. He would destroy the scientist and the icons the fool had made. The Egg Man would be nothing more than a fable when Johan was done here.
"W-What?" Ezra asked, her body giving off the visible sight of sickly weakness.
"Fire the main cannon, again." Johan snarled. He hated weakness. He hated that weakness with his entire existence.
Ezra nodded slowly, acting as though she were in a trance, as she slowly turned to the rest of the Garden Defenders seemed to act very scared at the thought. Ezra sighed, "No."
Johan growled, cocking his head, "Fire the main cannon." His patience was already worn.
"I told you! I told you the ship couldn't handle it!" An angry red Garden Defender burst into the room, covered in black and smelling of oil, "DO NOT FIRE THAT WEAPON AGAIN!"
Johan stood up and prowled towards the Garden Defender. Johan snarled, "FIRE THE CANNON! I WILL FIRE IT!"
"NO!" Shouted the Garden Defender at Johan, "WE WON'T SURVIVE! I TOLD YOU, THE SHIP CAN'T HANDLE IT. WE HAVE SEVERAL FUEL LEAKS, HALLWAYS ARE CRUSHED. IF YOU FIRE THAT GUN AGAIN, WE WILL BE SPLIT IN HALF!" The Garden defender shouted.
Johan's anger snapped, and he threw a fist in the wall. He expected to go through it, but was once again reminded that he was weaker than before. No matter, he would become so much stronger. Johan had re-written his body, he had no limiters. All he had to do was keep trying to get stronger, and eventually, he would succeed.
His outburst of anger also gave him a moment of clarity.
Ezra spoke firmly, "He did warn us. I won't give that order."
Johan snarled in frustration as The Garden Defender whose courage had made him stand so tall, faltered. Johan sighed, "You are right."
The room seemed surprised, and the Garden Defender shifted, "w-What?"
"You are right. I was wrong." Johan growled, "I believed this ship was stronger than it truly was. You were wise, and I acted foolishly. I will keep that in my mind. Return to get repairs."
Johan's workers seemed rather shocked. Ezra nodded, "Take us home!"
As she said that, the sound of metal colliding above them drew Johan and the crew's attention.
Johan looked up and the screens that were still working showed the top of the ship. His metal copy stood there, waiting. Johan growled, "Come, let us attend to it."
He, Ezra and another Garden Defender went to the stairwell, and made their way to top of the ship. Ezra looked nervous, "Are we going to destroy it?"
"No… The machine is free now, and has chosen to ally me. We will welcome it as such." Johan growled, before the door opened.
Johan and his mechanical copy starred at each other for a moment. The Machine was cut and damaged in several places. Wires stuck out of gashes in the armor, and several chunks of metal were scorched. For the first time in a while, Johan felt doubt. He was not sure he could repair the machine.
He turned his head to look at Ezra. She looked back at him.
"What? I don't have the specs. We can't-" Ezra began to make excuses.
Johan's mechanical copy began to walk forward.
Johan allowed the machine into the ship. They followed behind, and John watched carefully. The Machine continued to trudge towards the main systems. His metal copy stopped at the console. Johan kept a careful eye on the on the machine when-
His metal copy released a cord which flew towards the console. The machine screeched before its lights went dim. Johan cocked his head, and approached it. He pressed his head against the machine for a response. It collapsed in a rigid form.
Suddenly, the Konig's Faust went dark.
Johan's Garden Defenders panicked, "We've lost controls!"
"OUR SYSTEM IS BRICKED!" Shouted another. Johan didn't know what that meant, but he was certain he had been betrayed.
"We've lost engine controls!"
Suddenly, the lights turned back on. The Screens turned back on, but instead of the old fool's banner, a new one appeared.
Rigid lines which made a long snout, rigid ears and hollow eyes. The lines were golden and covered a black background. Johan supposed it was only fitting, as the ship no longer served its old master.
"Very well, I like it. Proceed." Johan growled and the crew returned to their stations.
The brief distraction quickly faded. Johan had much on his mind, and plenty of time to think about them. He had failed. A bitter defeat. The battle had ended in defeat. Johan had retreated.
How disgraceful. His mind replayed the actions, trying find where his cowardice won out. He should have stayed and fired the weapon, ended the vile doctor once and for all. Yet he conceded. He chose survival over victory, his younger self would be ashamed.
Those memories of his youth still evaded him, fuzzy, as though being told story by a drunk Gothi.
Then Johan had to face the fact that he had been foolish. He was like a child, overjoyed by the idea of his cannon, which was bigger than anyone else had. The reality was that it was too much power. Johan had wasted time on a hopeless pride-project.
Still, he wanted something which possessed presence. He needed a ship that could endure the fighting, and face any battle station the enemy would send at him. Johan needed something to dominate the domain, a battleship of the sky… battle ship.
Johan's mind finally found a beautiful improvement to implement. He ordered some paper to be brought to him, and Set to work drawing. He would put his faith in his builders this time, and allow them to make adjustments, but he wanted a basic idea.
Eventually the ship came to stop and Johan handed the papers to Ezra, "I would this to be the new Konig's Faust."
"This… are those… more Egg Carriers?" Ezra looked at Johan in disbelief.
The design was rather simple. Three Carriers, interconnected, outfitted with several turrets and battery cannons.
"It is an idea. You are free to do what must be done to make it work, but I want this." Johan growled.
Ezra scowled, and flipped the papers sideways, "We'll need more resources."
Johan growled, frustrated, but something within him said that she would get what ever was needed, soon, "It will come in time. Have faith." Johan growled. He returned to the rabbit, and began to work on his body with time that wasn't used.
Johan needed to regain his strength, but he also held a strange feeling that he would have plenty of time to build his strength soon. The royal boy would come, and again demand his imprisonment. Johan could fight them off.
He had a more pressing enemy. Johan would go free again, if there was any justice in this…civilized world. Still, Johan guarded the rabbit the best he could.
Eventually, Johan saw the returning army which looked rather cheerful, except for the young prince, who seemed troubled. He approached Johan as the soldiers dispersed. A few stood close by, watching their prince as he seemed very scared.
"Where is my sister? Where is Sonic? Neither of them are in the base, and we didn't get any messages!" The boy sounded frustrated. Johan, for once, found no fault in his feelings.
"I do not know." Johan growled, as the rabbit looked over and saw them talking. She got closer.
"You… don't know?" The boy-prince sounded angry, as if Johan changing the answer would have any impact on the world.
"I do not. We were separated after I was… Roboticized? Is that the word. No matter, We were separated, and I did not see Sonic afterwards." Johan stated.
"What about my sister?" The boy-prince demanded, his voice quickly becoming angry and scared.
"She was captured and roboticized. I do not know of her fate." Johan stated, fully prepared for what was coming next. The boy would need someone to blame.
"Roboticized… what?" He panted angrily, "You weren't with her? You didn't stop her?"
"I was not in charge of her. What ever happened to her, I only arrived in time to see it." Johan growled, eager to simply get on with his accusation.
"You… You had a contract! You-" The boy shouted angrily.
"-Had an obligation to defend the kingdom and its people. I know my duties to my oaths. But those oaths expired." Johan growled, glaring down at the prince.
He seemed to grow flustered with rage. Perhaps Johan should have attempted to calm the boy.
But Johan wasn't a cowardly liar.
"D-Did you even try to save my sister?" the boy shouted, balling his fist like a child getting ready to tantrum after his father failed to discipline him.
"I suppose not, I was more focused on destroying the station, and the weapons it housed." Johan growled, having to think about the battle. Indeed, he did not really try to capture or obtain the princess. A mistake, perhaps, but there was little time.
"You… left my family, left Sonic on the Death Egg?" The boy finally snapped, "ARREST HIM!"
Johan saw the soldiers step forward. He could smell the fear in their bodies. Their hands shook as they lowered their weapons.
Johan saw Lanolin holding her rifle at Johan, but her hands didn't shake. Johan felt a small amount of pride in that, that he had fought beside someone who knew the risks, and could banish their fear.
Gewis ran over and saw what was going on, "WAIT, What is he guilty of?"
"He's guilty of… desertion!" The boy-prince shouted, drawing an adorable curved sword.
Johan cocked his head. Perhaps that wasn't a simple lash out. Johan did technically leave the battlefield. Regardless, he wasn't a mercenary for them anymore. His contract had expired.
Which meant Johan had a choice to make on what he was going to do. He could simply fight off these guards which were trying to encircle and imprison him. He might have less strength than before, but he still had enough to kill.
But if he did, and flee, then the kingdom he had put so much effort into building up would fall to the fat fool, assuming he survived.
Did Sonic survive? Johan hoped so. It was his job to kill Sonic.
"That's bull!" Gewis shouted, balling his fist.
"ARREST HIM NOW! TAKE HIM TO FREEDOM HQ!" The boy-prince shouted with rage in his heart.
Johan made up his mind. He would stay. Opportunities would arise, or Johan would simply escape later. "I will go with you, of my choice, to your prison." Johan snarled. He had a feeling they wouldn't keep him there long.
The kingdom needed Johan, and Johan would protect it. It was not the Egg Man's to destroy.
So Johan went, and sat in the prison. He worked his body, doing push ups and bending to aid his flexibility. Small things to prepare himself for war.
Gewis kept him company, and Johan enjoyed talks with him. Johan felt like Gewis was more upset about his imprisonment that Johan himself was.
How many days had passed? Johan didn't know.
But he did know when he heard foot steps, and a strange creaking. Johan cocked his head towards the doorway.
He saw the old squirrel, who was the king of the kingdom, being wheeled in by his son. Johan growled and returned back to his cell, and returned to doing push ups.
"My, He is a lively one." The old squirrel remarked, as he was wheeled in on his lame-chair.
"Leave me." Johan growled, "I have no time for you."
"Hey, Show respect, my father is the king on the Kingdom of Acorn!" The boy-prince shouted.
Johan snorted and disregarded the boy, "He is no king that I chose."
The old squirrel laughed, "I get the feeling you don't like me very much, do you?"
Johan frowned. Perhaps it was unfair to hate the man, but his imperfection was clear, "You are weak, lame. Your mind fails you. You are not fit to lead, you old fool."
The boy-prince was quick to anger, "YOU WILL SHOW RESPECT-"
The boy's ranting was interrupted by something that disturbed both Johan and the boy-prince. Laughing.
The old fool was laughing, "I suppose so…"
Johan cocked his head, curious. He expected anger, but was met with… acceptance?
"You don't tell me anything I haven't already told myself." The old king laughed, "It was especially bad when I first got injured. I lose control of my legs, and I was, indeed, half a man."
Johan was even more curious, "You were not born weak?"
"No…no, I was coming to reclaim my throne, and I was injured, trying to protect young Sonic. I suppose I haven't been fair to the boy." The old squirrel sighed in anger.
Johan… had much to think about. He had been the fool, to assume that the man was born weak, rather than be injured in a display of courage. He needed to be more aware of such mistakes.
"Tell me, will you answer this old fool's questions?" The king sighed with a low groan.
"Dad, don't-" The boy started, sounding angry.
"Enough, Elias!" The king shouted angrily, a sudden burst of rage coming from him, "Your people are terrified and hopeless. You should be inspiring them!"
Elias, the boy-prince who had a name, opened his mouth in protest.
"Boy, leave me!" The old king shouted angrily at his son. The boy looked wounded, and left the two of them. The king turned back to Johan, "Will you answer my questions?"
"I will answer what ever questions you have." Johan growled. He would not undervalue this king again. Johan had developed a short amount of respect for the old man.
The king smiled, and opened his mouth. His eyes, however, went dim. He blinked for a brief moment.
"Speak your questions." Johan growled at him.
The king blinked twice, before nodding, "Yes… Yes. I suppose I only have two that matter. Do you desire my throne, to be king of my lands?"
"I grow tired of this question. No, I do not." Johan growled, wondering how many times he had truly answered the question.
The king nodded slowly, "Do you desire land?"
"I do." Johan growled, "But not lands which I am given. I wish lands I have taken with my own hands. To carve a kingdom of my own from the rubble of this ruined world."
The king frowned, but nodded, "Yes… I suppose you're at least more honest than the last person I trusted with this."
Johan cocked his head as the king continued, wheeling himself to look at the window, "I was a fool, truly, in my youth. I am the reason Robotnik… Eggman, is so powerful today. During the great, young Robotnik came to me, and with a small portion of the military, won us the war with his badniks."
Johan growled, "I do not see how." The machines were easily destroyed.
"It worked, and in my youth and ambition, I thought of the potential if he was given full control of the army." The old king mumbled, and sighed again, "And I gave him that control."
That was a foolish decision.
The king growled in his throat again, "Now… In a twist of fate, to save my kingdom, I must make that same foolish decision once again."
Johan waited for a moment. He turned to Johan, "I need your help. I am willing to pay what ever it takes, but right now, my kingdom's generals are young and inexperienced, and my son still has much to learn."
Johan was not keen on enslaving himself once again. Still, Johan was going to fight for the kingdom anyway…
"I don't have any major requests, all I ask is two things: You protect my kingdom, driving back Eggman and his accursed hoards, and that you bring my daughter home." The old king demanded.
"I will not sacrifice the lives of my men to bring your daughter home." Johan growled firmly.
"So you will accept?" The king assumed. Johan had spoke as if he was agreeing to the deal.
"I will." Johan affirmed, growling, "Upon my honor, I vow to protect this kingdom for the time of my service. I will drive your enemies into the forests and hills, and protect what I must."
"Then, by the power of the Kingdom of Acorn, I proclaim you the new Martial of the Realm, with full authority over all military operations and armies." The king groaned, before blinking a few times. He shook his head, and grabbed a key to Johan's cell. He put the key in, and twisted, "I trust your word. I won't draft a paper contract."
The door opened, and Johan rose to stand up. He climbed out the cell, and stood over the lame king, yet the king seemed to stand taller than Johan had ever seen.
The king pleaded, "Save my kingdom."
/*-*/
Alright, and that is "The Darkest Hour" arc. Rather small, but I wanted chapter 100 to be a big moment in the story. I can also start eating solid foods again, which is a nice bonus.
Sonic is captured, Sally now serves the enemy. The most important characters in the Freedom Fighters are now unable to help the organization. Things have gotten truly dire for the kingdom. Fiona can see the writing on the wall, and vultures wait to seize on the weakness of her resolve. Johan now has complete control of the army, with freedom to do as he pleases.
I am going to take a break from posting. I've lost my entire buffer, and need some time to build it up.
The next few arcs will be very Johan and Fiona centric.
So, I would love to see some reviews or PMs. Theories about what is coming, interpretations or things you liked about the arc or story so far, places I could improve. I welcome all of it. This was fun, and happy chapter 100.