It was no question an establishment run by someone named 'Bean the Dynamite' wouldn't be the most ethically or legally stable. But as the thunderous dubstep blasts on the surrounding speakers, and the crowds of enthusiastic Mobians yell out for the blood sports to begin in this barely lit, dark gymnasium-sized building, it becomes a wonder local authorities haven't shut this place down.
Some of the more passionate people in the crowd wear a mix of red, blue, and pink glow-up sticks around their necks, resulting in this event looking more like a rave party if anything. Shadow sits cross-armed, annoyed at the deafening music and obnoxious cheering. To his right is Rouge, taking an interested look around. This isn't her first time signing up to fight here. In all honesty, she did so once out of boredom. She walked away with five-hundred Starlight coins- spendable in all surrounding cities.
That was her last time signing up. While it may have been easy money, it wasn't anywhere near as exhilarating as she'd hoped. To her right is E-123 Omega, standing in front of two empty seats his hulking frame can't occupy. His glowing red eyes are mistaken as glow-up sticks to all but the surrounding audience, who dismiss him as a well-constructed part of the show.
"This is ridiculous," Shadow says, though, he's barely heard over the loud noise.
"What?" Rouge asks.
"You should have signed me up!" he says, louder. "With me fighting, our victory would be guaranteed."
"And you're saying it isn't with me?" Rouge says, personally offended. "In case you've forgotten, 'ultimate lifeform', we're trying not to draw attention to ourselves. A Sonic look-a-like who's very likely on GUN's hit list isn't my idea of staying low."
"WHAT ABOUT ME?" E-123 Omega turns to Rouge. "I DOUBT MANY WOULD TAKE NOTICE."
"Even if that were true Omega, which it most definitely is not, we don't want the referee wiping away what's left of your opponent. Like I said, I got-"
Almost immediately, Rouge wants to jump from her chair, but she's able to calm herself and ease back into it. When the others see what she sees, they'll likely act even more drastically. Almost directly across from them on the left-hand side of the bleachers are four, VERY recognizable Mobians. Sonic, the war hero, and his friends. A part of her is relieved, but most of all, impressed.
Nothing can stop them. They just keep coming back.
Shadow jumps to his feet, now having seen what has Rouge so taken back. He reels his arm.
"Time to end this tiresome game."
"Wait!" Rouge says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Think for a second! If the showrunners believe they're under attack, what do you think will be their first priority?"
Shadow remains silent, his arm still in the air, but from the look on his face, he knows what Rouge is getting at.
"They'll hide the emerald before we'll even get a chance to so much as glance at it."
"These four are a direct detriment to our mission," Shadow frowns. "We may not get another chance to catch them off guard. With them gone, there won't be anything standing in our way."
"Be smart about this," Rouge responds. "Why can't we do both? Let's wait until we've secured the emerald, THEN we can get noisy. If they're smart, they'll do the same."
"We'll lose the element of surprise."
"Shouldn't be a problem for the ultimate lifeform... right?"
Shadow continues standing for a few more moments, staring down at Rouge. Then, he takes a deep inhale and plops back into his seat.
"You annoy me."
"This sure is loud," Tails comments, plugging his ears with his fingers to suppress the noise.
"Bet they don't have this much excitement back at Station Square, do they, bud?" Sonic asks, laying back in his chair with a relaxed smile.
"So this is the arena where a warrior's strength is tested against another?" Knuckles observes. "I can't think of a more honorable place."
"I don't know much about your culture, Knuckles, But I don't think you'll find much 'honor' here," Amy responds, surveying the crowd of young, rough-looking Mobians.
"Let's just hope this isn't a waste of time," Tails says, with a finger on his chin.
"Why would you say that, buddy?" Sonic asks, sitting up.
"Well... think about it," Tails begins, getting the attention of Amy and Knuckles as well. "Realistically, Eggman should have easily detected the emerald by now. What if.. he did? I don't mean to cause panic, but what if he fabricated the flyer we saw as a way to slow us down? Or worse... what if this is a trap?"
"Well, you failed at not causing panic," Sonic mumbles, tensing up.
He's right... I hadn't even thought of that. If this is a trap, then Eggman is on his fifth emerald! And we're here... in danger.
Knuckles stands up, bringing Sonic out of his deep thinking.
"You're right about the trap, fox!" he says, punching his fists together.
The others follow his line of sight, and each of their adrenaline gets kicking upon seeing the entirety of Team Dark, sitting across the large room, watching them.
"Screw the match!" Knuckles yells. "That black hedgehog is mine!"
"Wait, Knuckles!" Tails yells, standing up. "Before you act, just think! Why haven't they attacked us yet?"
"Because they're too chicken to make the first move!!"
"You know that's not it," Tails facepalms. "They're trying not to make a scene, which can only mean one thing..."
"They're after the same emerald we came here for," Sonic realizes, leaning back into his chair and crossing his arms.
"All the more reason to attack!" Knuckles grunts.
"Come on, Knuckles, it's too risky," Amy says, rising out of her seat and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't want us to lose what we came here for, do you? The best way to settle a score is to rob them and their boss of their monstrous plans. Everyone is depending on us!"
Still shaking, Knuckles sits back down, along with Amy, wordlessly agreeing with her argument. It didn't make backing out of a fight any less easier. All the way across the room, Rouge gives her hand a kiss and blows it in Knuckle's direction, a playful smile on her face.
I'm gonna get that bat!
Finally, a grown male feline makes his way onto the circular ring in the center of the building, prompting a passionate cheer from the excited audience in the surrounding bleachers. He wears a grey, well-ironed suit, a red tie, and brown shoes. He brings the microphone to his mouth, his perfect smile bright enough to be a flashbang.
"Welcome everyone to another wonderful night at BEAN THE DYNAMITE'S... FIGHTING ARENA!!!"
A roar of cheers and applause erupt from the large crowd.
"Tonight, we have a lot of exciting match-ups!" the Mobian continues. "Tourists, regulars, newcomers- all competing for a mysterious gem of unmatched beauty! It will only go to the stand-out fighter of tonight's selection! This is gonna be exciting, folks! Unfortunately, Bean couldn't be here in person due to legal information I am currently prohibited from sharing, but as always, his condolences go to the participants' families. Without further adieu, let's kick off tonight with our first fight!"
Another roar of cheers and applause.
"GIVE IT UP FOR A BRAVE NEWCOMER... STICKS THE BADGER!"
From the crowd flies an orange badger who lands perfectly on the ropes outlining the ring. She lets out a roar cry before finally landing inside the arena. She's a 2'9 foot tall badger with orange fur and two large brown stripes across her eyes. Her large, unkempt hair is tied in two locks, and she wears a grey, midriff-baring tube top along with a grey skirt. Her clothes seem to be worn down, either by excessive usage or demanding activities.
"BLUE SHINEY THING IS MINE!" she proclaims. "MINE, I TELL YA! WHO WANTS SOME?! IS IT YOU?"
She points at the referee, who immediately takes a step back and holds up an assuring hand.
"No, I am not- I'm just the referee!" he says nervously, taking a breath of relief when Sticks turns away from him. "Your ACTUAL opponent is a regular around these parts! A name every wise man fears! Our champion with a record of zero losses! Give it up for... FANG THE SNIPER!"
Somehow, everyone's cries of excitement are louder than the previous times as a 3'3 foot tall weasel-wolf hybrid materializes from the audience and proudly strides over to the ring. He has purple and white fur, with his face dawning a bushy beard with sharp edges. A ferocious, large tooth hangs from his upper lip and stops near the bottom of his face. On his head is a brown cowboy hat, and he wears brown gloves, shoes, and a belt with a shiny, gold buckle.
He calmly steps into the ring and acknowledges the badger in front of him with a sneer.
"Well ain't you a pretty little thang?" he teases, cracking his fingers. "Wasn't aware they allowed princesses to contend. Whatever, I'll take the easy money."
"Hopefully it'll be enough to cover your stay at the hospital!" she retorts, balling her fists.
"Aw, feisty are we? No need for all that, little lady. Here, I'll tell ya what. My Momma raised a gentleman. I'll give you a chance to dodge this bullet. Whadaya say? You wanna keep breathing, doncha?"
"ENOUGH WITH THE CHIT-CHAT! LET'S DO BATTLE!"
"Seems like our fighters are ready for some action!" the referee states, earning another easy cheer. "LET'S GIVE IT TO THEM! AND... FIGHT!"
With surprising precision fitting of his size, Fang makes a massive leap in the air, coming down on Sticks with a fast swing.
"DON'T SAY I AIN'T WARN-!"
In what looks like a flash, Sticks grabs hold of the Weasel's arm, squeezing it with an iron grip. Using his own inertia against him, she brings him over her head, slamming his body onto the cold floor with a large THUD that echoes through the building.
He unexpectedly gets to his feet immediately, visibly ticked off.
"Why, you-!"
His sentence is cut off when the badger pounces onto his back and sinks her teeth into his right shoulder.
"OW! WHA- OW! IS THIS EVEN ALLOWED?!" he asks in a panic, looking at the referee for his disapproval but only being met with a shrug.
He yells, stammering around the ring, shaking rapidly in an attempt to get his crazed opponent to get off. He gets his wish, but regrets he did once her boot leaves an imprint on his face, sending him sliding to the middle of the ring, dazed and confused.
"FINISH HI- WAIT!" the referee yells, quickly walking up to the downed champion.
"I can't remember- you signed our waiver right?" he asks.
"I... think so?"
"Gotcha."
The referee steps back to his previous position.
"FINISH HIM!!"
Sticks grabs hold of Fang's leg and begins effortlessly spinning his tired body around in a circle before finally launching him through the air, sending the weasel crashing into the side of one of the bleachers. The brutal noise of the violent impact gets a collective wince from the audience.
"LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN AND BEYOND, GIVE IT UP FOR TONIGHT'S FIRST WIN... STICKS THE BADGER!"
"YEEEEAAAAHHHH!" Sticks yells with triumph towards the heavens. "I AM THE WINNER! WHEN YOU MIX TWO STICKS TOGETHER, YOU GET LIGHTNING! OR FIRE! It's one of those..."
Still in their seats, and having watched the short battle with surprise, Sonic looks over at a wide-eyed Knuckles.
"Okay, some of these people may be skilled, and death is a high possibility," he says. "But I think you got this in the bag!"
"Not helping, Sonic..." Knuckles mutters, watching as two private paramedics rush to where Fang lies, a stretcher in their hands.
...