Victor John Foxfire: Johan and Julie-Su are going to have some interesting interactions coming up. His views of the Chaotix… well, that's coming up.
Sonic is on the verge of collapse, one way or another. Of course, there are certain factors not yet seen, which might change how the fighting plays out. He might need cold efficiency, but does he have the ability to provide it?
And Fiona, her soul resides in limbo, leaning towards the light, but the light is uncomfortable for her. She's always been at her best when in the shadows, living in the dark. That's why she's able to do so well out in their incursion, being able to hide and trick their enemy. That piece of her has roots, and won't let her go so easily… even with the prayers of others. There is more to the, with a lot to unpack, but that'll come later.
o3o: Fiona is definitely seeing Sonic suffering in his efforts to save Sally. Eggman manipulating the situation like the schemer he is, Sonic is going to suffer a lot. That being said, does Eggman really know how to manipulate Sonic? They spend a lot of time fighting, but there's a lot of acting put up in each engagement, with neither showing their true colors. Ultimately, Eggman holds all of the cards right now…
Johan simply released the enemy of his enemy. Will they work together? Will Johan strangle Charmy within the first three lines… Find out, now!
/*-*/
Johan finished releasing the last of the prisoners. There were very few warriors among them. Many were scared and weak civilians. Johan found them revolting, that they would give up their strength and power for the idea of peace and protection. Their dependence on small armies had led them to their imprisonment and pain.
Still, the pink Garden Defender seemed to be dedicated to guiding the trapped Garden Defenders. She spoke with a fierceness that Johan had rarely seen among these people, and directed them as a chief would. Her allies, who followed her direction, seemed to shepherd the Garden Defenders out of the building, away from the alarm.
Johan stepped out with them, and watched carefully.
"Listen, you big thing, I need your help." The pink garden defender turned to him, watching over her now swarm of freed prisoners, likely just under one-hundred strong.
"I do not owe you anymore of my time." Johan growled at the small creature. He was not angry with her for laying a request before him. Johan simply wanted her to understand his right to refuse.
"I know, if anything, we owe you big time. The thing is, there are a lot of prisoners that were taken in the city. Hundreds if not thousands of Echidnas who call this city home." The pink one pleaded, wrapping her fingers together in a disgusting, begging plead.
Johan had yet to hear her request, "Speak plainly. Do not waste my time." His ears ached as the siren continued to sound. They had very little time to discuss left.
"Please rescue the other prisoners. We'll help you, I don't expect you to go it alone. Please. We can't do it… you saw how well our plan worked out." The pink Garden Defender pleaded, before balling a fist in a statement of strength.
"Come on, it won't take long, with the two of us working together." The red scaled turtle-mole spoke confidently, almost happily.
"I am here for only one of you. A white or pale one. The rest of your people do not worry me." Johan growled, turned to face the sound of rushing footsteps.
"Gala-Na? She's missing." The pink one frowned, her face turning to fear and sadness. She then shook her head, and looked up at Johan with a nervous smile, "Listen, I know where the Legion will keep her if they have her. If you help me, I'll get you to her."
Johan growled at the coming enemy forces. He could use her to speed up his search. The city would be indebted to him for saving its people, "Very well, tell one in three prisoners to make ready for war. They must be armed, get them weapons."
"They aren't soldiers. They didn't chose this." The pink Garden Defender argued, gesturing to the slightly scared crowd. Still, several of them did not run away. They were ready to defend themselves.
Johan growled at her, "They lost the right to chose what they did when they became peaceful. Now who ever makes war on them will chose what they become." He growled, before turning back around, "Get them weapons, I will destroy our enemy."
He left his order with them, and leapt through the building and burst through a glass window. There were many red Garden Defenders who screamed in terror as Johan rushed them down. They fired lasers into Johan's chest.
Johan quickly jumped into the group of disorganized Garden Defenders as some had their will to fight broken, and ran away from their allies. Johan endured the pain of the others shooting at him to attack the fleeing ones.
Johan chased down the closest one, biting into his leg, raising him up and slamming him into the ground. He then released the body of the red garden defender and ran after the next fleeing one. The light burns on his back, he could endure to ensure that the weak were punished for their cowardice.
Johan slapped the second fleeing red Garden Defender into a building before snarling and jumping onto the third one. He bit out the throat of the last fleeing Garden Defender, and turned his rage onto the formation of his courageous enemies, who ran behind damaged cars and into buildings while shooting at Johan.
Johan did not wait for them to continue. He growled and ran at the damaged cars, slamming into them which slammed into the Garden Defenders behind them. The forms of the small creatures flew onto their back, bits of blood lining the ground from their scrapes.
Johan turned his head towards the windows that were shooting at him as well. He leapt at the windows, crawling inside the building which stood to the right of the area which had housed prisoners.
He crawled onto what appeared to be marble floors as the soldiers scattered about firing at Johan. In a sense, they were clever, trying to put distance between them. It was pointless, as he would be upon them before their weapons could do real damage.
"THE WOLVERINE IS HERE! I REPEAT, THE WOLVERINE IS IN SECTION 7!" The leader of the team, or the one who was responsible for communication. They used a radio device of sorts.
Johan jumped at the leader, and tore the head of the Garden Defender off. He jerked his head to slam into the Garden Defender who stood next to his commander, sending him flying back into a box. He was not moving, which left only the third one to deal with.
Johan rushed across to the end of the building as the Garden Defender tried to open the door. Johan used his weight to slam into the doorway, tearing down the door with the body of the Garden Defender in between him and the door.
Johan landed onto the concrete and snarled out to the world. He sniffed the air, but he found issue with the mix of scents. He could not identify any single scent, and he could not distinguish any living creature from dead.
Fortunately for him, he would not have to, as the sound of metal scraping and chopping filled his ears. Johan perked up and looked across the square. There appeared to be a walker like the one he had destroyed in the city the night before.
Johan snarled at the machine, before realizing that it had not yet seen him. The machine lacked night vision, as it circled around.
"He's over there somewhere!" Shouted one of Johan's enemies. He had an opportunity there, waiting in the darkness. Their battle had crippled the lighting in the area, and the walker did not have a light or night vision system.
Johan crawled back inside the building that he had broken down. The smell of meat in the boxes made his mouth water. He was hungry. It did not matter, he could wait until his enemy was destroyed.
Johan growled and rushed out the other side of the building as the moon began its descent. He waited carefully behind the other building. He approached the destroyed car and got low. He waited for the walker to move in front of him.
The walker, however, kept its position. That was a smart decision, unfortunately. Johan backed away from the destroyed car, and moved behind the building which housed the soldiers. They were focused on the other building, at least that was what Johan saw.
Johan prowled into the alleyway, but didn't see any enemies in the area. He could hear the panicked breathing they were giving off, loud and annoying.
"REENFORCEMENTS ON THE WAY!" A shout went out. Johan didn't know if that was an honest statement, because the soldier who said that would be a fool to let Johan know they had more men coming.
Johan watched from the shadows as they shuffled around, maneuvering to encircle the building that they thought he was in. Johan crawled across the ground to spot the enemy walker. It was still in the same position. This pleased Johan; he was tired of hiding.
Johan let out a roar, at his enemies, causing them to panic, and several to scream in fear. They were disorganized as Johan leapt behind their lines and rushed straight towards the walker. The machine in question began to turn its turret slowly. Too slowly to catch Johan before he slammed into the walker.
The machine lurched from his weight, but Johan was not finished with his attack. He climbed up on top of the walker, causing its knees to bend down from the weight.
The controller quickly tried to undo his straps which kept him inside. Johan jumped onto the controls, smashing them into the machine, standing tall over the pilot. The pilot in question began to panic.
Johan thrust his claws into the creature, lodging them in his ribs and throat. Johan then jumped off the machine, and turned around as a volley of lasers flew at him. They seemed to have mustered themselves from his surprise attack. It would not change the outcome, only the time it would take to achieve it.
Johan leapt at his enemy and ran into their lines, expecting them to break and retreat. They did not, however. They stood together, firm like a shield wall. That was admirable, if it was true courage.
Johan impaled the first Legionnaire in the middle of the line with is claws, sucking the wind out of the weak creature.
Johan hissed in pain as more burns amassed on his body. The wounds on his body were temporary, the wounds to his pride would be forever. Retreat was not an option. He kicked his foot and stomped on a Legionnaire's chest as he drew too close.
Johan then picked up the body and tossed it to a pair who were shooting from behind the destroyed car he had launched earlier. The form flew but fell short. It did serve as a distraction, however, and briefly shocked the two as Johan chased down a second set of Legionnaires.
Johan cut into them with his claws, and ripped through their clothes, cutting deep. He didn't break their bones, but blood was leaking out of the men, and they would be dead soon.
He focused on the next set of Garden Defenders. Who had gone to repeat the mist of their old officer by running and shooting from the building. Their will was waning, Johan could feel it in the air, seeing their weak, fast breathing. They did were losing confidence in their ability to fight.
Yet there were those who stood their ground. Johan rushed towards the already damaged building and jumped in through the window. The Garden Defender did not flee, he stayed and fired up at Johan. He was far enough away from the battle that he could afford to hold back. He headbutt the Garden Defender, knocking him unconscious.
His allies were firing at Johan in a fearful spray. Johan rushed the one in front of him down, and tore into his stomach with his claws.
Johan then turned around for the last two, who were still shooting at Johan's body. He ran at them with a growl, bounding forth on all fours.
The two kept firing, but the one in the front began to inch away, his breathing growing more fearful. As Johan closed the distance, she began to turn around. It was too late for her to escape his wrath.
Johan sank his teeth into the back of her neck, and jerked up with a loud *Crack*. He dropped the body and rushed the last one. This last Garden Defender was either brave or foolish, because he charged at Johan, drawing a glowing sword from his belt.
Johan used his full weight to knock the Garden Defender down before he could properly swing his weapon. This Garden Defender tumbled backwards, and crawled towards his sword. He had fighting spirit; he would live.
Johan crawled over the fallen warrior, and thrust his head into the Garden Defender's knocking him unconscious…. Hopefully. This one had been tossed around.
Johan turned to the outside, and jumped out. As he did, he heard the Feminine shout come from where the legionnaires had come from, "Let's go, We're fighting for freedom!"
The pink Garden Defender with her strange animal army rushed forward, being followed by several red Garden Defenders wielding Legionnaire weapons. They had finally come to aide Johan.
He would welcome their aide, and the two moved toward each other, enclosing the last of the Legionnaires. Johan rushed and tore apart the two he had distracted earlier. As he did, a few of the city Garden Defenders rushed at an entrenched enemy, and seemed to take him prisoner from behind a car.
Johan rushed to protect his new allies as another walker came in. Johan slammed into the machine before it could fire its large laser cannon. The machine lurched back and Johan crawled under the walker's base. He then pushed his back up, knocking the machine off balance, and sending it back.
Johan found himself… panting. He was tired, breathless and hot.
The pink Garden Defender was shouting orders at the new militia they had made, with many of the lasers and shots missing their targets entirely. Still, they provided a distraction.
Johan shook himself, throwing off exhaustion. He could sleep when the fighting was done.
He ran at the street which had the Legionnaires pouring in along with the silver glistening of machines. The mechanical soldiers had arrived, and were firing at the entrenched Garden Defenders who were allied to Johan.
Johan let out a breath to gather more energy, and jumped into the mass of machines. Johan smashed two metal heads down and kicked one that was behind him. Johan snarled as his body began to burn once again. The machines were shooting at him aggressively.
Johan jerked forward and tore into the machines, smashing their bodies with all his strength. His muscles burned and ached, an angering fact that Johan would be grateful for later. His body would grow stronger from the pain.
Johan roared at the machines, and slammed forward, using his body as a battering ram to crush the coming attack.
"GET OUT OF THERE YOU BIG GUY!" Shouted the Pink Garden Defender. The line of men she had were actually standing strong. Perhaps her presence encouraged them, or perhaps they understood what the leaders of the city did not: There was no home beyond this.
It did not matter if there was more land. Once they allowed themselves to be on the run, their enemy would chase them forever. It seemed like a lesson that more and more peoples needed to learn.
Johan held the line, he would not dishonor himself with cowardice, even as his body began to ache. He rushed at the machines and attacking with a violent fury, unleashing his rage on them and using it to carry him through the battle.
His claws tore through metal soldiers as they attacked. Their lines continued to be replenished by more machines, their numbers seeming to be infinite. Still, Johan stood as the bastion against these abominations, and he continued to attack.
Johan could hear the machines being shot behind him.
"Alright everyone, let's move!" Shouted the strange scaled beast. The firing from behind him stopped. Were they fleeing, Like cowards?
Johan snarled and began to push deeper into the machine's lines, ready to destroy their source. He clawed the next row of approaching machines, these ones now red.
"Everyone, keep moving, take only essentials." A soft, small voice called out. Johan didn't bother to look behind him. Johan just pushed forward, even as his arms became heavier with each blow and strike.
Something moved out of the corner of his eyes. Johan saw a red ball roll into the machines and the strange ridge-back creature. He then turned around and held out his arms as more lasers flew at them.
The Pink Garden Defender came to Johan's Side, "We need to go now! They're sending everything!" She shouted at Johan.
"I will not flee! I will destroy them all!" Johan roared, lurching forward. He felt hands grab his back foot.
"Listen, we can't stay here!" The winged-squirrel argued, landing right next to Johan as the Pink Garden Defender continued to pull against him as if she believed she would stop him.
Johan growled and pushed forward.
"We can deal with them later! We're getting pinned down, and we can't keep fighting. There are too many of them!" the pink Garden Defender growled at Johan, still trying to pull him back.
"The People are buzzing about like little bees." A loud, high voice shouted down at them. Johan raised his eyes and saw a bee which flew overhead. He was followed by a second bee.
"What he means to say is they are evacuated." The lady-bee stated, before dragging the young-boy-bee away.
"WE CAN'T STAY HERE!" The pink Garden Defender shouted, letting go of Johan's leg to return fire against the approaching machine armies. Then a blast knocked her back.
Johan turned his head to his ally. She was on the ground and the others were struggling. She had taken a laser for him, that was not something to take lightly.
"Grab her and I will stop their advance! We will retreat to a safe area in the city!" Johan barked at the swarm of creatures around him.
They quickly broke away as Johan gave one last charge at the machines, tearing into their red steel plates, as they moved to encircle him. Johan could not step back, he would lose his momentum. He needed every moment to count in this fight which was taking its toll on him. Johan attacked a line that was moving past him, cutting it off before crushing the severed section.
His back continued to burn and bleed under the heat of the weapons and constant pounding. Thankfully, his allies were quick, or quick enough because the Pink Garden Defender was dragged away before he count turn back around.
Johan fought for a few more seconds, tearing into the second strand that was moving past him, and crushing the remaining machines of the severed strand before running back to the others.
They were moving quickly, with the people in front. Once Johan had passed the former prison, Johan tore up the equipment in the city to delay the approach even further. Johan tore down light poles, tossed destroyed cars, and tore down railings from buildings.
The result was good, however. Once they moved out into the open areas which were destroyed the most, Johan returned to the group and they made their way into the patch of partially destroyed city.
They ran with lasers firing behind them, but the enemy gave up the pursuit after a few seconds. The small patch in the city was fair enough to house the several hundreds of Garden Defenders which had followed. Most were not warriors, that much was clear, and the ones who took up arms looked exhausted.
Still they walked into the area. The lady-bee flew down next to the pink Garden Defender and mumbled, "We need to get these people some shelter, and some food. They aren't doing good." She flew along side the pink one.
These people could endure some discomfort, it would be good for them. It would build patience and endurance.
"I know, lets' see if we can find any rooms in the houses." The Pink Garden Defender sighed, carrying herself towards the square of four buildings which were still partially standing.
"Charmy… Charmy needs a place to rest." The lady-bee stated as the male bee flew in a labored flight overhead.
"Vector… I'm tired, can we take a nap?" The flying bee whined in a rather childish nature.
"Hang in there, little guy, we're about to stop." The large scaled beast growled, crawling forward as if he were exhausted.
As Johan followed along, his wounds began to burn and ache. He was hungry, tired and lightly injured. He could sleep, but he would need food. Johan's nose continued to pick up the scent of strange abominations, but he did not growl and hiss.
The pink Garden Defender stopped in the center of the square, and turned to the Garden defenders who were following along. She hesitated, looking weak and hopeless, before saying, "Everyone, we can sleep here tonight… Please make sure to share everything. If you find water or food, make sure to share it. We're all in this together." She sounded pathetic.
The Garden Defenders began to scatter about, visiting each of the buildings in masses to find a place to sleep. Johan instead began to prowl for bodies or something else to eat.
"Hey, thank you for coming to help." The pink Garden Defender offered her gratitude. She was smiling at him, her hand extended. Did she truly demand that he stand to face her, could she not see his exhaustion?
Johan growled at her, "I did not come for you. I was looking for someone else." He did not get up, and groaned, trying to sleep.
"Well… you did help us, and that's what counts…. I got some canned food, we grabbed as much as we could from the armory and the supply depot." The Pink Garden Defender sighed, holding out two cans of… something. It was completely wrapped in metal.
Johan opened his mouth and she recoiled, "What, You can't eat the metal, everyone knows that's not safe."
She was wrong, but Johan to explain himself, "Just put the cans in my mouth, I will open them."
The pink one placed the metal cans on his lower jaw, and Johan bit down, causing the cans to burst out onto the ground. The Pink Garden Defender looked surprised and repulsed by the sight of the food on the ground.
The food was brown and scattered about in a sludge. Still, it was able to be eaten, so Johan stretched out his tongue and ate the salty sludge. It was not normal food, Johan immediately knew that much from its feel and taste.
Still, he ate it, and swallowed, much to the disgust of the Pink Garden Defender, "Wow, did you like that? It looked aweful."
Johan simply growled in his throat and ignored her complaints, "It is food. It will fill me." He wanted to eat some of the corpses he had left there in the city. He would return tomorrow, there might still be some of the dead to enjoy.
The pink Garden Defender looked rather sad, before nodding at him, "I'll let you get some sleep."
She left, which made Johan grateful. Her insistence on keeping him awake was rather enraging. He closed his eyes and nestled into the concrete to get a stable footing under him.
Johan's eyes opened to his throne room. The room of the king, with dead cousin out on display. The nobles had come, wearing their fine robes won by taking from their own people. The Bree influence had infected them with a weakness of vanity.
Johan stood as the soft men entered the halls. His own guard stood in attention, the Teskans, Prubians and Natuk soldiers with their equipment from the previous war at the ready. Johan also had many Saxons who had settled the region look to him for comfort. There could be no negotiation, no foothold for weak men to sprout their seeds of evil.
Johan's eyes wandered to the doorway next to the elevated throne. A pair of brown eyes peaked from the cracked door, watching carefully. Odacer the orphan watched his distant cousin sitting on a throne that he would have inherited.
Johan felt no guilt, nor would he show weakness about it. If his cousin had wanted to be king, he should have been strong enough, and wise enough to keep the throne he desired.
"Let us begin." The Gothi stepped forward. Johan leaned on his fist, his revolver in his hand. He had been raised by the Guardian of Time, who encouraged him to find a god who would help him in battle. Johan had settled on The Savior, the one who defeated Death himself. Wotan and Toer were strong, but they would one day fall as was written.
The Gothi Scattered the Fonfar goat's blood along the stone alter which stood in the center of the room. He waited for the moment while the blood dripped down the stone ruins and grooves. Johan could hear his weak cousin's gasp and shaking. The boy needed to see what was happening.
These were traditions which had survived thanks to the colonies that were then the only free Saxon lands.
The Gothi nodded, "The gods have blessed this meeting. They shall provide wisdom and words to the worthy ones."
Johan gave the Gothi a nod, before standing, "We all know why were are here. Swear your oaths and you all may eat my food and leave."
The nobles did not approve of his words and an older noble, who had started to grey, either from stress or to allow himself a sign of seniority, spoke, "You are arrogant if you believe we will swear anything to you. You have come here with violence, and defiled our palace."
Johan glared down at the old Saxon noble, "I know what I have done. I have been chosen by my people to lead, and I have taken the throne with a necessary force. And to clarify, this is my palace, not our palace."
"You can not name yourself king. You require the support of the Witan. Which is why we are here to discuss." The old Saxon smiled as if he had won some debate or humiliated Johan. The other nobles seemed to support this belief. They were fools.
Johan stood up, "My offer is this: If you name me King, you will be allowed to keep your lands. If you do not, I will find someone who will." He glared down at the noblemen who seemed rather confident in their place in the world.
A younger noble man stepped forward, "I was among the nobles who petitioned your coronation. I came here to swear my support, and encourage my fellow nobles to do the same." He turned to the rows of men who varied in their looks from fear, to annoyance, and few with respect, "He may be what we need to prosper… all of us."
"We do not care about the others. My house is prosperous." A young noble shouted, standing up, "My Family is rich and powerful."
"Yet your people starve under the weight of your appetite." An older nobles growled, standing up. To Johan's right, stood his supporters, Nine in number. To his left stood those who seemed to oppose him, or were not yet decided.
"My people can tend to themselves. My concern is my own prosperity, for which I have much to show." The noble boast, flaunting a crusted ring, studded with gems… and silver. More Vanity.
His culture had become corrupted, their ways… impure. These men were not Saxons Theigns, they were Teskan aristocrats speaking the Saxon Language, flaunting their dresses that belonged to their wives and calling themselves "Sophisticated."
Johan took a deep breath, controlling his anger, and turned to make eye contact with the boy, Odacer in the doorway. The boy froze, as he knew that retreating would look bad. Johan was expecting some argument, and he gave the boy a smile.
Odacer nodded at him, and Johan returned to the Witan. Who already stood, squabbling about wealth and courtesies and petty grievances which were so stupid to be angry over. These were the powerful men of the kingdom.
Johan stood up, "I have had enough of listen to your stupid displays of gold and jewels and silver and dresses. I'm already tired of you all. What have any of you done with your lives, how have your tribes prospered?" Johan glared down at the people, ignoring the headache that was forming in his mind.
"Do not tell us how to rule these lands, boy-king." An elder noble with a balding patch on his head glared up at Johan. Johan had been insulted. He would split that noble's skull and tear his limbs off-
"You do not rule this kingdom. I do." Johan asserted, "I am king, and I will decide how this land is governed."
"You are not king until we say you are." The old noble growled up at him with a grin, "And whatever you call yourself, you won't get far without offering us something in return."
Johan saw it, clearly and plain. It could be heard in their voice. These men were so self-absorbed in their illusions of greatness and power. The old kings had appeased the nobles to keep unity, sacrificing more and more of their own power to avoid a war.
The Saxon body had become sick. It was time for some blood-letting.
"You will be honored to have a house to your name. I will not give you any privileges at all. I will not pay you to serve me." Johan growled at the nobles who stood below him. descended the many steps down to the alter, and stood level with them. They paid no attention to his size.
"Then I suppose we wasted a trip. You will not be our king." One of the older men stated, standing up with his supporters. They gazed at Johan as if threats would make him yield to their childish demands.
"Anoint me." Johan commanded the Gothi, "Cast your signs and anoint me."
"You have not been accepted by the Witan, I will not." Stated the Gothi, crossing his arms at Johan's demand in defiance.
"The Witan are greedy and foolish. I overrule them." Johan growled at the Gothi.
"You are not King, you can not overrule them. I will not oppose them either. They have the support of the gods." The Gothi growled, flicking his robe at Johan's opponents.
Johan raised his nose at the Gothi, " You will not anoint me?" Johan growled, balling his fist.
The Gothi nodded, "That is what I have said."
Johan paused for a moment. He remained in deep thought at that time. Johan then smiled, "Then I have no need of you." He reached over his Cousin's wounds, and scooped blood up, Before smearing it all over his head, "I anoint myself king. Those of you who follow me will prosper. Those of you who reject me will suffer."
The opposing party stood up, "Then you will be king of nothing but this horrid city. We will forge our own kingdoms without you." Stated Johan's opponents.
"You will divide us, and I will unite us. " Johan growled at them, "I will not be a king, I will be the Konigundrr, the unifier our people. One people, one Konigundrr."
"You will try, foolish boy." Growled the old noble with the balding spot as he left.
Johan would unify them, and not have those foolish nobles to oppose him.
Johan's eyes opened once again as light cast down from overhead. It was morning, and he was still a beast. He arose and shook himself, feeling his body ache with a reminder of the battle before. He had pain, and the shame of retreat.
Johan looked around and saw the red Garden Defenders moving about, trading small trinkets and various objects from the area. It was not a complete loss. It would anger who ever desired the prisoners.
Johan shook himself and sniffed the area for the familiar scents. The small group of strange creatures seemed to be the most likely to lead, and he would desire some aid to distract the Legion, if not provide their strength to help him finish his conquest.
He found the scent of the pink garden defender and followed it to a small room where the six sat around with each other. They appeared to speaking secretively, quietly as if to not let the other Garden Defenders know what they were speaking of.
Johan approached and the scaled, beast who was larger than the others, spoke, "Hey man, thanks for the save back there."
Johan growled in his throat, and dismissed the scaled dragon-like creature, "We need to attack again. While they are disorganized and broken."
The pink Garden Defender nodded, "We're talking about what we are going to do next. I agree, we need to go and free the other prison camps. There are three that I know of, minus one from last night. Two more."
"But we to get these people to a safe place." The female bee flew overhead, "They might get hurt."
"I know, we'll need to get them somewhere safe. Hey big guy, do you know if city hall still stands?" The pink Garden Defender sighed, looking up at Johan.
"It does, I left the night before." Johan growled at them, "My men also defend it."
"Your men?" The purple scaled lizard spoke as if he had proposed something strange.
"I am here from the Kingdom of Acorn. I serve as their Martial." Johan clarified, before gesturing back.
The large dragon-man spoke with joy, "Alright, then we take everyone back to city hall till everything blows over. We go back, get some sleep and good food, and then get back out here."
The pink Garden Defender sighed, "It's not that simple."
"What? What's so complicated about it?" The dragon-man asked.
"Vector… we freed a lot of prisoners. They're going to start legionizing early to keep us from running off with them. We're against the clock on this one." The pink Garden Defender sighed in anger. She slumped, angry at the position she was in.
"Then we'll have to split up." The lady-bee stated weakly, sounding sad.
Johan growled, at the Pink Garden Defender, "Go among the people and seek volunteers. We will need all the men we can muster."
"I can't ask them to risk their lives over this! They aren't fighters… We are…" She stood up in protest, but her voice fell silent.
Johan's ears felt wind behind him. He turned around and saw several Garden Defenders holding up their weapons. Less than the previous night, but still, thirty men stood there with their captured weapons.
An old one stepped forward, "I don't want to hurt anyone, but we have our future to protect. I'll do what I can." The rest behind him nodded to show their support.
The pink Garden Defender looked scared for the men, but Johan found himself pleased. They were already in danger, but now they could die on their feet, fighting for their home.
Johan turned to the group, "Who ever returns, find the white fox, Gewis, and tell him that I live, and continue my search."
"You sure you don't want to come back, you don't look too good." The red turtle-beast stated, asking out of fear for Johan. He was well intentioned.
Johan, however, felt insulted, "This pain will pass. I assure you, I am ready for blood." Johan growled, glaring at the red turtle-beast.
The Turtle beast blinked at him, and raised his hand in surrender.
"Vector, Espio, Sapphron, can you take Charmy and the echidna's who aren't fighting back to the cityhall." The pink Garden Defender stated, before looking at Johan, "We have a rescue operation to do."
/*-*/
So, The Chaotix and Johan are working together. I will confess that I had trouble really distinguishing the Chaotix from the Freedom Fighters, as I didn't really read the Knuckles spin-off, and so they just seemed like an extension/spin off of the Freedom Fighters, as they mostly worked together… so understand there will be a lot of parallels as we go through this arc.
I am also in the process of evaluating how I will handle the stories in the future with the current situation surrounding work and other things.
Please leave a review, and keep morale high. I don't mind critiques, if you have something to say, I'd love to hear it. If you maybe want to keep something private, send me a Private message, and I'll respond when I can. Otherwise, expect a response next chapter.