Hey! No, no, I'm not dead. I am sorry for taking so long on this chapter. Lack of inspiration and coupled with something I call my bipolar depression is the cause. Some months I'll be fine then one month, BAM! I'm lower then dirt. That sometimes affects my writing. But I have endured! Getting this Chapter right was the other reason. I had a few false starts on it before finally getting what I wanted.
Now onwards!
Nearly all of Mobius was under the control of the Sith. In each city, town, village, and wilderness, the marching feet of the Sith echoed. Mobians and humans watched either on the TVs or out their watched the silver colored Sith Troopers march in perfect disciplined step. They saw Mandalorians riding their great war machines.
All countries had surrendered or been forcibly taken over.
Save one nation and city.
On the island of Southhammer, New Mobo was in a tizzy. They had all seen Revan restore the roboticized Princess Sally and subsequent death of Doctor Eggman at her hands. Sonic, Bunnie, and Antoine had been in shock at that.
Sonic thought Sally would have never killed...but he had seen it plain as day. She had. Shaking it off, the trio returned to New Mobo with several rescued mobians.
They arrived in the council chambers to a heated discussion between the council and 'King' Naugus.
"You said you could restore the princess, yet look! REVAN was able to do it far better then even you!" Sir Charles snapped, showing the recording. "Why should we keep you on as King?! All you have done is posture and speak speeches, but never once took any action!"
"How dare you speak to the King like that!" Hamlin snapped back, slamming his hands on the table.
That had Penelope jump in. The entire room fell into a screaming match, Amy's being the loudest.
Sonic placed two fingers between his lips and let out a very shrill whistle. The sound made everyone turn to him. Naugus' eyes narrowed, brandishing his staff.
"Speedster, why are you here? You should be out attacking the Sith!" Naugus sneered.
"Hey, I want to, really, but I think we're missing the bigger picture here." Sonic snapped. "Revan has Sally, who despite what others think, is the princess! He's got a political hostage not to mention the one reason why Robotnik AND Eggman tried to robotize her."
"Not to mention his ability to read minds. Tails may have outdated info now, but he's gotta be scanning her mind even as we speak." Bunnie pointed out.
Naugus frowned; the speedster and cyborg were right. He had promised many of the citizens that his magic was the one thing, the only thing that could revert the process. But that was no longer an option. Thanks to the broadcast, everyone saw it with their own eyes. With the princess no longer being a robot, his plan to solidify his rule had been greatly thwarted.
His mind was working overtime. How could he solidify his rule? The princess was already rescued...
That thought had another pop up. He leads a rescue team to get her out of the clutches of the Sith! THAT would have the public singing praises. Then he remembered that the Sith had five of the seven emeralds. Yes, a rescue would be a great course of action.
He came out of his planning, clearing his throat.
"Honorable council members, Freedom Fighters, I have a plan. We will rescue the princess from the clutches of the Sith."
"How are you going to do that?!" Sonic demanded, sizing up Naugus.
"I will need something of the princess'. An article of clothing will be more then enough. Someone alert Shadow I will need his aide."
A guard rushed away, returning with an extra of the Princess's vest. Geoffrey St John knew right away what his master was planning. They were going to teleport to wherever the princess was and save her.
The question was...could they also take Revan?
Sonic was distracted by all of this for one reason. Knuckles. He and Julie-Su were running past the hall. Sonic joined them and got the story. Albion was under siege. Sonic agreed to help them evacuate the city, leaving the rescue to Naugus and whoever else he recruited.
STHSW
Revan was in the medbay. Why? He was overseeing both the Egg Legion and Sally's therapy alongside his wife. Currently, he was watching the Egg Legion be de-legionized. At one point in time, a protocol droid came up with a holo communicator.
Flipping it on revealed one of his generals with an update to their report. During the attack on what was thought to be a remote area with Echidnas, a strange ring had opened and a red echidna quickly began to evacuate the city. Revan hummed.
"I am not surprised about that, Knuckles was probably taking his people to New Mobo." Revan said, walking around. "For now, they are of no threat. But there is still a force that wants things to remain the way they are. Naugus, so called 'King' of Acorns."
His general wondered again why not lay siege to New Mobo. Revan was quick to remind them to forget the idea. New Mobo was comprised of Nanites. Said nanites could make a impossibly dense energy shield that cannot be taken down in the usual methods.
Furthermore, T3 tried hacking them like before. All he got was a small shock to the system. They now had a new program in them.
"That's thanks to Rotor. After you hacked the Nanites when you captured us the first time, the council ordered him to add in firewalls." Sally stated from her bed.
"Huh, for once, they actually used their heads." Traya snarked, making Sally nod.
"Which means a siege is near impossible. And before you ask about their power source, they are fueled by the radioactive remains of Old Mobo under a shield. We are NOT letting that radiation out." Revan stated firmly, the general nodding.
Add in their ability to be self-sufficient, meant that a siege would go on for decades.
No, it was better to focus on cutting off New Mobo of support that they could give to any of their former allies first.
"But that brings me to this information. Naugus will attempt to rescue the Princess."
That didn't shocked anyone, recalling what Revan had said after the Death Egg's explosion. Naugus could use the Force, though it was twisted. He would find her and teleport right to the ship.
"He seeks to solidify his reign. Him reverting Sally would have done that, but I put paid to those plans. But he will attempt the rescue...and gain the five emeralds we have."
"Lord Revan, surely you do not mean to let them have that?!" A mandalorian commander asked, overhearing the conversation.
"I do."
The reason? He wanted them to have hope. He wanted the people of New Mobo to feel like they had a chance. Only for him to lay low those thoughts. To bring them nothing but despair and fear.
"The best way for that to happen? To allow Knuckles, Sonic, Naugus and Shadow go super."
Sally frowned, not liking what she was hearing, but not questioning why. Clearly, Revan still did not trust her and he would be right to assume that. Thanks to the IXIS magics, the people would NOT give up as long as Naugus held the throne. The Sith were not shy about killing and if this was the only way to spare more lives...well, who was she to argue?
She watched the meeting end. She locked eyes with mask that Tails wore. She lowered her head, Revan coming over. Mission came over, handing a pad to him. He looked over it and nodded.
"Good, thank you Mission. Glad to see that the last of the Egg Legion has been de-legionized. Now...something on your mind, Princess?"
"I...am sorry, Emperor Revan." Sally said, averting her gaze. "You were, no, ARE correct. We treated the war with Eggman like it was a game. Only now...now I see what has been literally staring me in the face for years. Our actions brought terrible consequences to the people of Mobius."
This was not just referencing her time as Mecha Sally. She had only cared about the island, never the world. Realizing this now, the war affected everyone. She had let her morals dictate how the war should have been fought, not how it needed to be.
As a result, many families and people had suffered for her in-actions.
"But now, I want to make it right."
Revan sensed through the Force that Sally was sincere in her apology. She wanted to make things right.
"I know how you can do that, Princess."
"How?"
"You get rid of the council and take back your throne." Revan stated, making her look up at him. "You led your people through the Robotnik War. You fought on the front lines more then your father and brother combined. The people love you. It is either this or the Sith rule from Mobius."
Sally bit her bottom lip, thinking hard. Once again, Revan was right. She had led the wars, not her father, not her brother. She been able to rule ever since her father was banished to the Zone of Silence and everyone assumed her brother was dead.
The council...that was just a bad idea altogether, made out of guilt for Tails supposed death.
She looked Revan in the visor.
With shaky legs, she got out of her bed. Revan and Traya went to stop her, but she gave them a glare. Standing on her legs, she slowly, ever so slowly lowered herself to one knee, postulating herself before Darth Revan.
"Lord Revan, Emperor of the Sith, I, Sally Alicia Acorn, Princess of the Royal Kingdom of Acorns, do swear my fealty to you and your empire. My life is yours to give and take at your command, my Emperor." Sally said, lowering her head and spreading her arms out.
Revan being shocked was a massive understatement. He was downright FLOORED that his Aunt would do this. But...this could work out well for him. He ignited his saber, holding it in front of him.
"Princess Sally Alicia Acorn, I, Darth Revan, Lord and Emperor of the Sith, do hereby accept your oath of fealty to me. By the Will of the Force, by my right as Sith Lord," Revan said, hovering his blade over her right shoulder, bringing it to her left. "I name you Knight of the Sith..."
"No...I ask that I be named a Knight...of Revan." Sally said, lifting her head up, staring at him.
He paused, before nodding.
"Correction, I name you Knight of Revan, the first of many, I hope. Rise." Revan commanded, extinguishing his saber.
Sally did so, nearly toppling over. Traya rushed over, catching her. She picked her up, placing her back in the bed. Traya chuckled, shaking her head.
"You are more stubborn then me, little sis."
Sally's eyes lit up at the name. Taking that as his cue to leave, he did so, allowing them the privacy to catch up.
STHSW
Traya was grateful for her husband leaving when he did. She and Sally had a lot to unpack. Traya sat down on the bed, looking at her younger sister. Sister. That was an odd thing to actually say aloud. She chuckled, though it was a bittersweet one. Sally caught this.
"Traya...I know its-" Sally began.
She was stopped by Traya raising her hand. The red vixen shook her head.
"If anyone has to apologize, its me. I was too cowardly to tell you the truth, too cowardly to actually stand up for myself, and too cowardly to trust you all. I hurt you all, ran off with a piss poor excuse of a Sonic, and did a lot of damage." Traya said, her face one of sadness.
"Traya...Fiona. You are forgiven. Gods, you do not know how much I wanted to say that."
Sally had been shown the pieces by the Force. Traya looked confused; how had she met the Force? The only way was the Chao Temple and that was hidden save for her and Revan!
Sally laughed, but explained. The Temple of Delphius had a Jedi of Old as a teacher. Far below it was a lake similar to the Source of All. She had gone in...and saw everything that Traya had gone through. Here, Sally grew saddened.
"I honestly cannot tell you why I let Eggman go. I'm thinking Naugus or Geoffrey used a mystic spell on me to do that. Why it didn't take with you, well, its obvious you had natural immunity. But you were correct back then. We had Eggman outnumbered, dead to rights and should have taken him in."
"That...actually makes some sense. The thing about Naugus anyways. But I have forgiven you for that, Sally." Traya said, looking away. "Why don't I tell you what happened to me after I abandoned Scourge."
Sally sat and listened. She knew about the whole thing with Moebius, but not what happened afterwards. Traya had fled, but had been guided by the Force to the graveyard.
Where Revan had been.
She had put two and two together about him and Tails being one and the same after he revealed his face to her. But had played along if only to further keep the FF in the dark. She had trained under Revan for five years.
"Though there was no shortage of idiots there either. Worst of it was Shan." Traya said, recalling the former Dark Jedi. "She tried to take me out several times...but I survived each plot of hers."
Then...came the war. Traya grew quiet, recalling the very first battle. She had not been prepared at all. The carnage and bloodshed...she still had dreams of them from time to time. One of the GC soldiers had survived, ambushing her. In her desperation, she had reacted with the Force. The soldier died.
"TD, that is the Tails Droid, was there to comfort me while Revan was busy. Once he heard though, he rushed to my side." Traya said, looking away. "The war we waged against the GC...it was nothing like the Robotnik wars, Sally. I learned that fast."
"I bet." Sally said, looking away. "All this time, I thought by not killing our enemies, we were the better ones. But its only now, looking back while I was Mecha Sally...I see now what a big mistake that was."
Several small villages and towns had been wiped off the map thanks to her letting Eggman or those allied with him go. Several familes had lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins and many, many more. Revan's and her intervention with Baron Beauregard was just a key piece of that.
Now she can't undo all that damage...but Sally was going to try and rebuild. She was not going to just sit idle this time.
"I'm not going to be a victim...not again."
Traya looked her her.
"Again?"
Sally nodded, turning away. She had been what Traya had always said; a leader. But once her father returned...things changed. Not for the better. Her father had taken back over which she allowed, thinking it was just rebuilding Mobo. But every time she tried to help or make a choice, her father belittled her. Made her question her choices. Even made her doubt her feelings for Sonic.
Traya's face morphed into horror.
"He emotionally and mentally abused you." Traya stated, Sally nodded.
"This would be the part I say its my own fault, that I reverted back to a little girl again around him...and it partially was. I did revert to a little girl because I was so desperate to please him. I just...folded and let him do it. Add in Geoff manipulating things...its not a pretty picture."
For months, she had been subjected to this. Even when Robotnik's clone made itself known, the council picked up where Max left off. Constantly questioning her choices and decisions. It made her start to resent the council and the crown.
"All this could have been prevented if I had moved on from Tails' supposed death..."
Traya stayed quiet for a few minutes before embracing her in a hug.
"You raised him like he was your son. So its natural for you to feel grief."
"But-"
Traya shushed her sister with a finger on her lips.
"Don't say anything more alright. Let's just bury the hatchet and-"
Traya's face screwed up in shock. Sally heard her whisper. The Force was crying out. Traya dove to the side...just as a blast of magic came. Sally shouted Traya's name, feeling arms grab her. She was spun around to see-
"Naugus!" She cried out in shock.
"Shadow go! We need the Emeralds!"
Several of the Royal guards had picked her up, a black blur rushing by. Geoffrey St. John was currently going after Traya. But by now, Sally knew what she was capable of. Geoff was thrown back with just a twitch of her hand. Several Guards rushed, only to be slammed into walls and beds.
"You will PAY for this attack, 'King' Naugus." Traya snarled, standing tall, her crimson blade ignited.
"And you will pay for kidnapping the princess." Naugus sneered.
They were interrupted by Shadow speeding back in, a case in hand.
"We need to get gone, NOW! Revan is coming and he does not look happy!" Shadow reported.
Geoff looked at Traya before activating his Ixis magics. Sadly, Traya was more then a match for him. A bit of Force Terror had him staring at the dead body of his wife...who looked at him.
"Why did you abandon us!?" She screamed in his head.
His concentration broken, the spell fell apart. Seeing he was outclassed and now outnumbered as several Sith Troopers came in, cutting down three of the fifteen guards, he made his way back.
He was stopped by a red boot kicking him in the head. He fell back, staring at-
"Hershey?!" Geoff and Sally said, before Naugus' staff glowed.
With a burst of smoke, Naugus, Sally, and company was gone.
Revan came in to see Naugus escaping with Sally and then saw Geoff. Using the Force, the skunk was lifted up, gagging and struggling.
"You...have made our plans progress smoothly, Geoffrey St. John." Revan stated, shocking the skunk.
This...this was all planned?! Then...it was a trap. Revan chuckled, nodding. He let go of Geoff, though that was not for long. Several troopers were on him and he was in shackles. Revan looked to Hershey.
"Well done, Hershey."
"I live to serve the Sith Empire, Lord Revan." Hershey stated, bowing.
"You betrayed the kingdom-!" Geoff started, only for her punch him in the mouth.
"SPEAK NOT OF BETRAYAL, MONSTER! YOU SOLD THE KINGDOM OUT TO THE ONE WHO INSTIGATED THE ENTIRE GREAT WAR WITH THE OVERLANDERS!" Hershey roared, a year of anger and anguish coming to the forefront.
She was pulled away by two troopers, Revan staring at Geoffrey and the massive bruising. He watched his wife come up, lightsaber at her hip once more.
"Throw him in a cell. Traya, gather the Sith Legion. It's time for Phase two of Operation False Hope."
Traya nodded, hurrying away. Revan leaned in and whispered something to Geoffrey. The skunk's eyes went wide at the information that he now knew and that the council would soon know.
Revan had Angel Island.
STHSW
The group reappeared in the balcony of Castle Acorn. Below was a crowd of mobians. They all began to cheer and chant Naugus' name when they saw them appear. Sally was disgusted with her people. Cheering for a mass murderer. She looked to see the council...no, Hamlin and Amy looking smug. She frowned; what were they up to?
"Princess, I'm glad you are okay." Penelope said, stepping forward.
"Okay is a relative term, Miss Penelope." Sally said curtly, making the woman confused. "I was okay with the Sith. They were caring for me and any injuries I sustained after my return to organic state. Then I find myself under attack from my own people who seemed to do more harm then good before finding myself kidnapped from my actual rescuers."
"I...see..." Penelope said hesitant.
They were interrupted by a massive warp ring opening. Several echidnas came rushing out, led by Julie-Su. In the ring, they saw the Sith destroying Avalon. The last of the Echidnas got through followed by a blue and red blur. Behind them, the warp ring snapped shut, landing at their feet. Both were panting hard.
"Damn...those Sith mean business!" Sonic quipped, looking to Knuckles.
"No joke..." The echidna said, looking around. "Okay, why the celebration?"
"We celebrate because King Naugus has brought back the Princess!" A mobian said, joining the festivities.
"Faker." Sonic sneered, seeing Shadow saunter up. "Thought you were in the Square still."
"I was. Naugus managed to teleport me out before the Sith could get their hands on me." Shadow said, smugness in the voice. "We rescued the princess and gained the last five emeralds. Revan is toast now."
Sonic and Knuckles looked at one another in shock. Knuckles had explained during the evacuation that Revan's forces had taken Angel Island. Did Naugus and Shadow not know?
"You...want to tell him Knux or me?" Sonic asked, making Shadow look at the pair.
"I better...and in front of this crowd." Knuckles stated, pushing Shadow aside, Julie joining him.
Shadow looked to Sonic with a scowl. All Sonic did was follow. Naugus was preening, showing off the seven chaos emeralds.
"With the seven Emeralds back with us, we will use their power to lay low the Sith fleet and the impudent upstart and traitor Revan also known as Miles Prower!" Naugus stated, the crowds cheering. "As your king, I promise you this! All nations will soon regret leaving us for the so called all powerful Sith!"
"Except for one thing!" Knuckles roared, standing up on the platform Naugus had made.
"Ah, the Guardian graces us! Now we are complete!"
"LISTEN TO ME!" Knuckles bellowed out, making everyone look at him. "Revan has taken Angel Island and the Master Emerald!"
That shocked everyone, even Naugus. If Angel Island had been taken, why would Revan give up the emeralds. Seeing that his subjects were quickly losing faith, he spoke up.
"Then we must make haste! Before Revan can strike, myself, the Quickster, Shadow, and the Guardian must ascend to Super form!" Naugus stated.
Sonic and Knuckles wanted to protest, but the people were cheering for them. Both grit their teeth, joining Shadow who looked smug. The case was opened to reveal the five emeralds that Revan had. They glowed brightly, Hamlin bringing out the gray emerald that once belonged to Mogul. With Naugus purple emerald and staff, the seven emeralds were assembled.
The energies surged into Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles and Naugus. White light envloped them all. Sonic and Shadow's quills stood upright, their fur turning gold. When they opened their eyes, their iris were ruby red.
Knuckles' entire body went from crimson red to a hot pink. His own eyes went from being black to red just like Shadow's and Sonic's. His dreadlocks floated in a unseen breeze.
The trio turned to Naugus who was hissing. They watched his back explode into a pair of leathery wings, his cape and shirt torn to shreds. His right hand/claw gained another two pincers to it, while his horn grew and curved back. His ears became more pointed like a bat's. His eyes, once red, became black with a tiny white dot. His fangs grew several inches. A tail sprung out of his back, dragging on the ground.
Sonic, seeing the 'super' form of Naugus made a face of disgust.
"And here I thought you couldn't get uglier!"
"Silence Quickster! We have no time for quips! TO ANGEL ISLAND!"
With a beat of his wings, Naugus took off, a purple blur to the people. Sonic, Shadow, and Kunckles followed suit, each one wondering how this was going to go down.
STHSW
On board the Will, which was orbiting around Angel island, several helmsmen saw the massive energy spike. One pressed a coms to the captain.
"Captain, its as Lord Revan predicted. We read a MASSIVE energy heading our way."
"Understood! Retreat to the upper atmosphere, number two."
"Sir!"
The orders were given and the ships began their ascent. Number two looked at the retreating island.
"May the Force be with you and those with you, Lord Revan."
STHSW
The four Supers arrived at Angel Island, seeing the last of the Sith Ships retreating. Naugus paid it no mind, same with Shadow. Sonic and Knuckles watched the ships leave, but joined the other two.
"What are we doing?" Knuckles asked, Naugus turning to him.
"Search below! Find Revan!" Naugus commanded.
The four spread out, doing just that. None of them saw a lone shadow making its way through the forest, too busy focusing on trying to find the Dark Lord. Sonic flew over a clearing and then came to a stop. He spun around to see them.
"I found him! Whose closest to me?!"
"That's me!" Knuckles shouted, flying up.
Together they charged.
Revan moved with the Sith Legion, a top lieutenant at his side. Traya and he had split for the plan. When the lieutenant was knocked aside by a pink blur, Revan knew it was Knuckles. He watched them take out the legion that was with him with the greatest of ease.
Both stood before him, making him take a step back. Sonic came forward, grabbing the mask.
"This ends now, Tails!" Sonic roared, tearing away the mask.
"No, Sonic the Hedgehog...this is just the beginning." 'Revan' said.
Both started staring at who had spoken. The hood fell away to reveal-
"Lein-Da?!" Knuckles said in shock.
"As predicted...Lord Revan truly is the hero this galaxy needs." Lein-Da said in sheer awe at the plan unfolding exactly as Revan had said it would.
STHSW
Shadow heard Sonic shout. He was about to join when he saw Revan dashing through the trees. Realizing that Sonic had found a decoy, Shadow gave pursuit.
Revan turned around to see who was chasing him. When he saw it was Shadow, he ducked under the first swipe the hedgehog gave. Recovering, he rushed into the forest. Shadow smashed into a tree, snarling.
He was not going to let that two tailed freak get away!
He pushed off the ground, leaving a crater behind. Revan heard the crater being made, turning. He was slammed down by Shadow, the hedgehog laughing.
"You lose, freak!"
"W-w-wrong..." 'Revan' wheezed out, the mask cracking and crumbling away.
Shadow stared in shock. It was not Revan! It was a Dark Legionnaire disguised as Revan!
"M-m-m-my l-l-l-life...for...the...glory...and...light...of...Revan~..." the legionnaire wheezed out, the light leaving their eyes.
Shadow roared to the clouds overheard, enraged.
STHSW
Naugus found Revan easily enough. The fox led him on a merry chase, but had now been cornered in the canyons. By this time, lightning flashed across the skies. Rain began to fall down...first in drops, then in a torrent. Revan looked at Naugus who just smiled right back.
"At long last...one thorn in my side is plucked." Naugus said, raising his hand.
The hand became awash in fire, Naugus sending it right at Revan. Revan simply raised his own hand, the fire hitting an invisible wall. Naugus snarled, not seeing some rocks rise up. He felt them though, smashing into his back. He hissed, snarling.
"A cheap shot!"
Revan did not say a thing, simply causing more rocks to fly at Naugus. The wizard snarled, flying back some before using Earth magic. Revan staggered from the earthquake Naugus made. He fell against a rock, cracking his mask. He staggered to his feet, the mask crumbling away.
"Now...to finish what was started by Ixis Mogul!"
"Wrong...its time to finish what Lord Revan started." 'Revan' said, the mask falling to reveal-
"The vixen?!"
"That's right Naugus...by my estimates..."
She was interrupted by a pillar of light shooting into the sky. The clouds dispersed, revealing the stars above. Traya felt the Force singing, both Dark and Light in perfect synchronicity with one another. Naugus took flight, snarling. Sonic, Knuckles and Shadow did the same, joining the King.
Each one saw a shadow in the pillar of light...then all they saw was white.
Whew! Hate to leave it on a cliffie here, folks, but it was needed. After all, can't show off the new form just yet can I? Don't worry though! Naugus will get his just desserts.
