o3o: You might find the battle to be interesting or boring depending on your likes and hobbies. I'm partial to history, and so my writing reflects that idea. As such, the battle might be very one-sided.
The Bride of the Conquering Storm was only focused on one thing: The Wolverine. She has taken a great… interest in him. Her eyes were not wandering anywhere else.
Who will rescue Sonic? You'll find out. He's also got a fun little moment full of spoilers for those who know where to look coming up… soon.
Anonymous: Oh… I forgot to give the Song. The Song is "Sentinel" by Syr.
Regina may appear in the future. The era of witches and sorcerers isn't over… yet.
I haven't really been following BOTW2, I'll have to check it out.
Fiona had nothing to do. She was alone in a city that really didn't have anything going on. It was almost midnight, so nothing was open. She also took care to explain a little subplot I was working on.
00(Chapter 17): Sonic is not brilliant, but he's also not stupid. He has a strong sense of doing what he thinks is right, and that means schemers have to win him over by withholding information. Of course, he's also a passionate character, so those choices blew up in Sally and Elias's face.
/*-*/
It was strange for Sonic. The tortures were less frequent, and he was given plenty of time to breath. His restraints were still tight, and Sonic couldn't move around very much, but the pain was less. Part of him felt nervous, wondering what was coming next, why Eggman was letting him be.
Then again, Eggman wanted him to live, probably to prolong the suffering. Sonic had been pretty roughed up, so Eggman was trying give him time to heal, or at least that's what it seemed like.
Sonic closed his eyes after trying to pull his arms and legs. He wasn't going to get out the same way, and certainly not while his body was weak from the past few… how ever long he'd been tortured.
Sonic almost drifted off to sleep, when the door burst open and Eggman sauntered in with Mecha Sally, "OH, Ho-ho-ho, Hedgehog, it's time. Today is the day!"
Sonic sat up drowsily, "What?"
"You know what… TURN ON THE TELEVISION!" Eggman barked, and two Legionnaires rushed forward to connect the large machine.
Sonic's eyes opened in realization of what Eggman was talking about. He thrashed about in his magnetic restraints, "Eggman, You'll lose! I know you will!" Sonic barked as panic filled his voice.
Eggman grinned at Sonic, "I think your eyes will say otherwise." He rubbed his hands together as the screen turned on, and Sonic saw several camera views, giving him a full view of the Egg fleet as they flew over very familiar forests.
"Egg Army Number Six, on approach." The Green Deer called out through a static filled voice. Sonic expected to look and see the open field that led up to New Mobotropolis. Instead, what he saw was a rugged, dug out terrain, with rows of trenches and open squares which housed several mobians in them. Some had uniforms, some didn't.
They all stood in attention watching with a bit of nervousness in their eyes, or at least Sonic could tell as much from the cameras. Sonic saw the walls, filled with large guns and cannons, he saw the mobians on the walls, with banners lined up along the side.
Sonic felt his breath hitch, "EGGMAN! STOP IT!"
Eggman simply giggled to himself, "Alright, let's begin the show, EGG BOSS SIX, BEGIN THE ASSAULT!" Eggman barked, before turning back to Sonic, "Watch well, Hedghog." Eggman grinned evilly and the Egg Carriers began to move forward.
Sonic could tell he was dragging it out to savor his suffering as he thrashed about in his magnetic prison. Sonic snarled, "EGGMAN, IF YOU HURT THEM, YOU'LL REGRET IT!"
Eggman interlocked his fingers eagerly as Sonic continued to thrash about.
"EGGMAN!" Sonic shouted.
"STOP!" Eggman growled.
"Stopping all carriers!" Clove's voice came through and the carriers hovered over the bridge that had a raging river flowing underneath.
Sonic looked up at Eggman with a hopeful smile as he panted. Maybe Eggman had a change of heart, or maybe he was a little scared by the defenders.
Eggman's smug look on his face said otherwise.
"Um… sir?" Clove's voice sounded confused and somewhat relieved. Sonic had a feeling she was the cautious type, probably like…
Sonic's eyes drifted to Mecha Sally, who stood in attention at beside Eggman. Sonic's memory of being roboticized was long gone, but he wondering if Sally could think or realize what she was doing.
"Give them a moment. I want to savor their fear, and let them fully understand how their days are numbered… It's almost sad to realize that our little games are almost over." Eggman cackled with a laugh. He roared and smacked the hardpoint on his Eggmobile.
Then Sonic saw a form rise above the trenches, holding a large red banner with a golden boar on it. It wasn't Johan… It was Lewis, or Gewis.
He seemed to sigh, and opened his mouth. Sound came through, as a soft, gentle lull, "How I long to breathe the air of Heaven, where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets."
Gewis sang so softly, Sonic was amazed that he could hear any of it, "To look upon the One who bled to save me, and walk with Him for all eternity."
Gewis' voice rose, as he seemed to muster some more attempt at courage, "There will be a day when all will bow before Him. There will be a day when death will be no more."
Sonic wanted to turn his head from the sight as he came to realize that this was a farewell song. He knew this was a farewell song. "Standing face to face with He who died and rose again. Holy, holy is the Lord." The Fox coughed at those words.
His men around him starred up at him. Without Johan the fox seemed so… soft.
Then Sonic heard a voice rise that he recognized. Sonic saw Fiona rise out of the trench, and sing louder, "And every prayer we prayed in desperation, The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear!" Her head rose high, with a rifle in her hand.
Fiona sang louder as the men turned to look at her, "In the end, we'll see that it was worth it, when He returns to wipe away our tears!"
The two foxes sang louder with the soldiers nodding their heads in agreement, "Oh, there will be a day when all will bow before Him! There will be a day when death will be no more!"
Gewis seemed to grow more confident as Fiona sang with him. Some of the soldiers around them nodded and sang along, "Standing face to face with He who died and rose again! Holy, holy is the Lord!"
The soldiers now seemed inspired. Mecha Sally clenched a fist, clearly upset by something she saw.
Fiona seemed to stop as Gewis sang alone, "And on that day, we join the resurrection, and stand beside the heroes of the faith. With one voice, a thousand generations Sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain"."
Fiona joined in with the fox as Sonic felt something stir inside, "And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith. "
Some of the soldiers began to sing together, their voices merging in a loud rumbling, "With one voice, a thousand generations, Sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain"
Suddenly, the entire trenches, the walls, all erupted into a shout, " Forever He shall reign!" The speakers crackles from the noise and there was a vibration in the cameras. Banners were removed from the walls only to be waved through the air.
Thunder crackled in the distance as the soldiers sang together, "So let it be today, we shout the hymn of Heaven! With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar!" As their voices rose, the cameras on the Egg Carriers began to shake, and there was shouting from the various captains.
The soldiers kept singing their loud, defiant song, " Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave! Holy, holy is the Lord!"
Gewis raised his banner and shouted at his men, "So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven! With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar!" He ran around the trenches, the men rising and mounting guns on the trench walls as he did, "Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave!"
The army sang out, "Holy, holy is the Lord!" Sonic saw fists rise in cheer as they sang again , "Holy, holy is the Lord!"
Sonic saw the cameras getting covered with rain as the sky continued to darken, and the soldiers finished their song, "Holy, holy is the Lord!"
Sonic felt strangely happy at the sight of the mobians, ready to fight and save their homeland. They went from being scared and hopeless to inspired in a few minutes. Their guns were now ready, the wall cannons had taken aim.
Eggman had plugged his ears in disgust, "Bah, those annoying knats… Egg Boss six, proceed."
Sonic's joy vanished at those words. He was going in for the kill. He was going to try and crush them. And all Sonic could do was watch.
/*-*/
Fiona raised her rifle over her head, the soldiers cheering to it. They weren't afraid anymore, or if they were, they were too excited to show it.
Then thunder crackled overhead. Fiona looked up and saw rain coming down, fast and hard. Was that a bad omen? Was God angry with them?
"Enemy on approach!" A call went out to the trenches, and Fiona turned around. The Egg Carriers seemed to be moving in, although slower and staggering.
Fiona jumped into the trenches with Gewis, and ran to the second row where she was stationed. Bosphor grunted at her, and shouted as she sat next to him, "I hope you're ready for some action!"
Fiona yelled back as the rain seemed to drown out their voices. The water was pouring thick, and visibility seemed to be reduced to thirty feet( ~10 meters) Or at least, it was to see flesh.
The Egg Carriers lit up as they struggled to stabilize with the higher winds and torrents. The lightning arced around them, highlighting the silhouette.
Fiona heard the trench anti-air batteries fire of a set of shots into the sky. They flew upward and Fiona saw the impact from the explosions on the outside. The airbrakes and frontal thrusters activated for the first advancing Egg Carrier, trying to stop in the air.
A volleys began to fly out as Fiona heard Gewis shouting the orders to fire being carried by the wind. The impacts came in, striking the carrier in the center, causing it to lean. Fiona could also see leaks coming from the massive craft as water and oil poured out of the holes.
Then some of the large anti-air shells hit the wings, and the craft lurched straight towards the ground. The Egg Carriers which were following slowed down and turned to remain out of range of the large batteries.
Fiona watched as the first Egg Carrier struck the ground, flames and steel rising through the air as it exploded. The oil-fires illuminated the front of the trenches, allowing Fiona to at least make out some lights in the distance, even if they flickered from the torrent.
"Attention! Update from… Defense Commander… Gewis." A voice grumbled behind them, his teeth chattering.
Bosphor and Fiona turned to a soaked boar who seemed very annoyed at the current predicament. It was actually good thinking on his part, since he couldn't effectively call out orders.
The boar grumbled, "He believes they are going to attempt to land behind the bridge and advance over it. Be ready."
As he finished the sentence, Fiona heard rippling through the skies. Both she and Bosphor turned to see rocket trails flying through the sky at their trenches.
Red tracers flew through the air as heavy machine guns fired. Bosphor shouted, "DUCK YOU IDIOT!" He tackled her to the ground as rockets began to explode in the air.
Fiona suddenly felt the two of them go up, and Bosphor was knocked onto his side, off of her. Fiona shot up and looked at him. He didn't seem to be seriously injured, just winded, "Thanks."
"Shut up and be faster." Bosphor growled, grumpily. Fiona held out her hand, and he took it. She pulled him to his feet as more rockets exploded in the sky.
Some were getting through.
"EVERYONE, SCATTER!" Bospor shouted at the trenches, and the soldiers moved into a lose formation on the trench, with some running back as far as Fiona could tell. She couldn't see where they were going, but she assumed they were moving in reserve.
The rockets continued to fire from the two Egg Carriers, until they stopped. The front trench was re-enforced with logs at hardpoints. While the weaker, clay areas had collapsed, the hardpoints made fighting positions for some soldiers to be.
Fiona knew they probably lost a few to that barrage, but Bosphor's order had probably saved a lot of lives. Maybe he wasn't an arrogant prick after all.
"Come on, get ready, I won't look bad because of you!" Bosphor shouted at the men in his fighting position. Nope, Still absolutely full of himself.
The front army was reorganizing, and Fiona rushed over to the collapsed mud and began to dig through it. Fiona knew they had some ammo close by, and they did not want to run out because of something stupid.
She dug up a couple of metal boxes, ignoring the discomfort from the metal plate on her chest, and dragged them over to Bosphor's fighting position.
"Yeah, that's good. You two, make yourselves useful and help her." The bear shouted at another bear and a goat.
The two nodded and rushed over with Fiona. They set to work, digging up several boxes with their hands. The rain made the mud soft, but also began to fill up the trench. It was at Fiona's ankles when they dug up the fourth box.
Then a yellow tracer zipped over her head from the walls and Fiona heard the distinct sound of metal getting crushed.
"We're under attack!" Fiona shouted at the men. They dragged the boxes to the fighting positions as rifles began to open fire. The men in her fighting position raised their rifles.
It was then that Fiona realized that the badniks were not invisible in the rain. The Red Visors glowed though the storm, making them easy to see, and easy to aim at.
Bosphor shouted, "SHOOT AT THOSE RED LIGHTS!"
Fiona nodded and ran through the rain.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING! GET BACK HERE!" The bear's voice echoed behind Fiona.
She rushed through the now sticky and muddy trench, climbing over the dirt mounds to see soldiers pushed up on the wall with their rifles ready.
Fiona ran up to them, "SHOOT AT RED VISORS!" She shouted, and the men nodded at her, or she thought they did. Fiona then ran up the trenches, telling everyone the orders, and spreading word of the assault.
Fiona then got to the end of the third row and rushed straight at the open gate. Fiona ran up the stairs of the tower, feeling strange to be in a warm and dry area, to Lanolin, panting, "We're under attack. Get the artillery ready."
Lanolin was sitting inside the tower, staying dry and looking out, when she turned to see Fiona. A simple nod was given, and she barked at her men, "Give the order to switch to Artillery pieces. Get the ammo moved up!"
Her men scrambled, and Fiona had a sigh of relief leave her throat, before realizing that there were still men down in that she was supposed to be fighting with.
Fiona ran down the stairs and out the gate and jumped back into the trenches. Men were rushing forward through the pathway to get to the frontlines. The heavy machineguns from the Sand Blasters had gone silent, probably from a lack of vision.
Fiona ran and got to the front, seeing most of the hard points full of soldiers firing rifles. Others were trying to repair the trenches and get solid line formed.
Fiona ran to the soldiers trying to fix the trenches, "Give it up, we can't work in this rain, go back up!" Fiona shouted at them.
Two wolves and a rabbit nodded and ran back. Fiona sighed, before she laid down on the slope of the collapsed trench and leveled her rifle to aim at some of the glowing visors. She saw little blue glowing dots coming forward, before flickering.
Fiona fired at the red visors. She couldn't hear anything, but when the first red visor went out, Fiona assumed it was down, and moved on to the next one. Her elbows sank in the soft mud as she fired her fifth and sixth shot at another badnik. It was then that Fiona realized the blue glows were motorbugs, getting stuck in the mud and not really able to pursue any further.
Fiona was grateful for the rain. Which was around the time it began to ease up. Fiona began to fire down at another badnik. Unfortunately, as she did, Fiona saw taller, larger visors appear. In her line of sight. Fiona took aim and fired at the larger badnik. It was like the Titan badniks from before.
Fiona fired again, and again, and again. She reached into her breast pouch and pulled out two clips, and reloaded her rifle as the Titans approached. Fiona aimed up at the head and began to fire again as screaming erupted around her.
The rain was still pouring down, but not as hard, so Fiona could hear Bosphor giving orders, "STAND FIRM, DON'T BE WIMPS!"
Fiona rolled onto her feet as the Titan stepped on the Edge of the trench, raising its shield to crush her.
Another yellow tracer soared through the air and went through the Titan Badnik, knocking it onto the ground. The machine did not get up and Fiona turned around to see a small glint from a scope. Fiona waved up at Whisper. She didn't know if Whisper saw, but that didn't really matter.
Fiona sat up and looked over the trench to realize that there were move Titan Badniks on the way. Then the sound of artillery fire filled the air. The cannons fired in rapid succession. The shells soared through the air and impacted the mud and clay around the trench, firing a little close for comfort.
Fiona ran at Bosphor, "We need to retreat to the Second trench."
"I won't look pathetic, we are going to hold this line!" Bosphor shouted angrily.
Fiona shook her head, and snarled, "It's not about looking bad! It's about those artillery guns hitting too close for comfort!"
Bosphor opened his mouth as a shell exploded in front of the hard point, making him duck down, before he looked at Fiona and nodded, "EVERYONE, PULL BACK TO TRENCH TWO!"
The men began to move, pulling back while others fired up at the approaching large badniks. Bosphor was with Fiona as they stood their ground, doing everything they could to delay the Titans while avoiding getting blown to pieces by the coming shells.
Speaking of which, Fiona heard the shells dropping down-
Fiona was suddenly blasted into the air, her body going high as she felt the wind sucked out of her lungs, before she plummeted to the ground.
Fiona floated through the air in a wispy state as she felt herself tugged along by an invisible force that demanded her presence. She flew over the rich forest, across vast swamps, though plains until she got to dark black stone and red sand. She passed several mechanical building built by Eggman before hovering over a large complex that was surrounded by three black walls, with spikes all up them. The fourth side of the fort was covered by jagged black rocks.
Fiona hovered for a moment as she observed the many buildings and towers within the complex. She saw blue veins flowing from the buildings to each other, creating a sort of network. Fiona could hear talk of orders and strange designations being called, the title "Sixth Egg Boss" and ranting from a voice she could recognize anywhere.
Then, her hovering was jolted, and Fiona was pulled straight into a building close to the rocks, plummeting towards its roof. Fiona braced for a hard impact before realizing she had phased right through it. Fiona felt herself dragged down a hallway by a the powerful force where she heard groaning… moans of pain.
Fiona moved with the force as she felt a strange twinge in her heart at the sound of the voice. She felt herself become entranced with the idea of finding the voice. It sounded like…
Fiona pushed into the walls where the groan was coming from. She saw black mist around various figures, covering their species and identity. One was really tall and lanky, which Fiona had a feeling was Eggman, there were several standing around her which Fiona assumed were loyalists. There was one left, a shadowy figure who appeared to be bound in chains or some form of shackles.
Fiona heard his groaning and laughing. He was in pain, but was also delighted that something was happening. Fiona leaned in to look, and just briefly, Fiona saw it. A green eye through the mist.
Sonic? Fiona shot up, sputtering up water as she looked around, facing the crashed Egg Carrier as the rain was letting up. She could see the badniks moving forward, and Titan badniks leading the way, although several were destroyed or firmly out of action. Fiona was currently in the lion's den, with badniks all around her on the top grass. Fiona lunged for her rifle and fell into the trenches.
It all felt so real, Fiona, needed to catch her breath. She clung to her rifle as gun fire and artillery fire filled the air. The Anti-Air guns were now firing as well, puncturing the larger badniks.
Sonic could be alive. They never found the body. Fiona felt her heart pumping both with anticipation, and a bit of anger. She could have been trying to save him. More over, part of her felt angry that Sonic didn't die. Fiona could never just move on quickly, he had to keep messing with her heart.
A Swatbot turned as it passed her to identify her. Fiona immediately raised her rifle and fired into its chest, knocking the badnik down. Fiona burst out of her little hole and ran through the trenches towards the front line.
Sonic… she loved him, she threw herself out there for him. And he chose Sally. Sonic was a good person. They had been trying to fix everything, and Sonic threw all that away for a single moment, he would be terrible. Fiona had to accept that. Sonic was good, and he deserved to live.
Fiona ducked as a swatbot turned to try and grab her. She pushed past it before turning around firing over her shoulder. She had to keep moving.
Fiona would save Sonic, she would sneak away and save him; she was not the spiteful, angry girl out for revenge. She was something else, changed and redeemed. Fiona was going to do what was right!
/*-*/
Johan walked through the forest, his men carrying the large guns to the end. They sat under the tree line and Johan watched carefully. Johan watched the large shapes begin to move closer to the river. This was the trap to be sprung.
An enemy between two woodlands, how foolish.
Johan waited as one of his men stepped forward, and gazed across the field, squinting to see where the other army was moving. Johan waited for the report as he helped the gunners set up their cannons. Some of the brigade began to dig small fighting holes underneath the trees, which was clever.
They were attacking the flanks of both the army and the enemy carriers, which was going to increase the cost of the attack massively.
The solder named William cleared his throat, "I see the badger, she's getting set up at the edge of the forest."
Johan turned to the cars as they began to unhook the large cannons designed to attack the flying carriers. They were within range of the large transports that would have bombarded the trenches. They instead stayed back while unloading more machines to fight their battles.
Johan smelled the air. Flesh was also joining the assaults, but that would mean very little soon. The Carriers were remaining back as predicted. A cowardly, but safe tactic normally. But Johan had no interest in turning the capitol into a siege. His desires were that the battle would be over today.
Johan turned to the large cannons, with men unloading the ammo to quickly load into the breaches. They were taking a serious risk, putting the ammo so close to the cannons, but it was so that they could continue firing endlessly. Johan had them make a shell for the barrels, which would be filled with water, or rather, was being filled with water.
The carriers began to move forward at a slow pace.
The guns began to line up, and take aim, targeting the carriers. Johan waited patiently. William spoke quickly, "They're signalling us, the other side is ready to go!"
"Tell them to fire. OPEN FIRE!" Johan shouted at his men. Several large guns fired behind him, flying up in a nearly straight arc into the approaching carriers.
The carriers stopped and began to take evasive action. Johan had given the order to have four men on each gun, allowing one to load, and one to aim, one to fire, and one on standby with another shell.
Johan could make out explosions on the side of two large carriers, counting fourteen in total. The carrier creaked and groaned under the damages done by the large cannons. A fire sprouted, arching around the Carrier as it began to smolder.
"Find a new target!" Johan shouted at his men. The guns began to turn as an explosion shook the carrier they had shot, causing it to collapse on to the ground, snapping its wings off as it fell on its side.
The next carrier was partially retreated, and their shots were going to need to be adjusted, but they fired off at it. The other side had brought down their first carrier, and were targeting a second.
The machines and deer moved to charge Johan's position. He met them by rushing out at them, his fists brought to bear. He smashed a machine, but his fists ached from the punch. Johan would need to use a weapon. He tore off one of arms of the machines as the deer fired their lasers at him.
Johan rushed them down, destroying other machines with the torn off arm where he could. Johan trusted the men in the trenches back at the capitol could retake any lost positions. They would have to move and repair in the night, while Johan and Stoix returned their camps.
That would come later, however. Johan's body burned lightly from the lasers, but he would get tougher from the pain. He leapt through a crushed row of machined to the soft deer, who tried to scatter in different directions.
Johan's hunger got the better of him, and he bit into a deer's leg, tearing out a chunk of flesh as the deer cried out and shrieked in pain, "DON'T LEAVE ME!" He cried as Johan bit the back of his neck, and twist, snapping it. It was a happy sound to a boring fight.
Johan left the body there and chased down the others, who were scrambling and running towards a landing carrier. Johan quickly closed the distance on one, and clawed open his stomach. And continued to pursue, catching two more when he realized the rockets were flying overhead.
Johan turned around and ran back to the emplacements, barking the orders at the men, "TAKE COVER!"
The men braced behind the shields… and survived. The men in the fighting holes were fine as well. The rockets overshot, and landed off behind them.
Johan then heard the sharp sound of a loud rocket fired into the air. He turned around and saw red smoke coming from a carrier. The deer turned around and moved back, while the machines stayed and were destroyed by Johan and Stoix's men.
The carrier that had landed did not rise as the sun set. The large machine's engines were black and looked cold. They were damaged beyond flying capabilities.
However, both sides could use rest, and there was no point in destroying a carrier anymore if it wasn't a threat. The thing was down, and there was no reason to waste anymore ammo on it.
Johan returned to the forest, "Move before they hit us. Return to the camp!"
The men set to work, picking up boxes of munitions to move them onto the trucks. They picked them up and moved them quickly, Stoix men likely doing the same.
When the army returned to camp, Johan did a head count. Everyone had returned, with on a few taking scrapes. No losses, which was good.
Johan gave the order, "Rest, eat, this battle is not over. Tomorrow, they will try again, and tomorrow, they will fail again."
He turned to walk back to the small crossing that they had set up to go and assist with repairs to the trenches.
"Where are you going?" Sonar asked with shock more than anger.
"To inspire my other men. I feel they are tired." Johan growled, and kept moving.
Sonar gave her approval, "I'll go too. I think everyone might need a little pep-talk." Johan heard her walk with him.
He did not know what a "pep talk" was, but using the way she spoke, he believed she was doing the same as him.
Their first victory, the first of many, was a good one.
/*-*/
The Song is "Hymn of Heaven" by Phil Wickham
If you did not read the responses above, I forgot to give credit to the song in the previous chapter, "Sentinel" by Syr.
Eggman's victory has eluded him, at the expense of Sonic. The walls of New Mobotropolis stand, with men and women passionate about defending their homes. The die has been cast, and the battle will wage… next chapter.
And poor Clove.
Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter. You can leave pretty much anything, and I'll respond next chapter. I don't mind criticism, theories or even a simple "good job". Alternatively, you can PM me questions or views you don't feel comfortable in sharing, and I will keep it private.