Metallic clangs was all that was heard inside Tails´ workshop. Both he and Ruby were deeply focused on their work. Various blueprints and parts of dismantled Wispons lay scattered around, be it on the tables or even the ground. Most people would have shaken their heads in face of this chaos, but Ruby and Tails weren't bothered by it. No, the two tinkerers were `in the zone´ so to speak. Remaining deeply focused they moved around to gather additional parts or tools, subconsciously avoiding all the junk laying around on the ground, and going back to their project. They were working with one another so smoothly in fact, one just had to hold out their hand and the other gave the exact thing needed. Finally, stepping back Tails and Ruby proudly admired their work.
On the workbench lay two different weapons. One was Crescent Rose, whose design seemingly remained unchanged.
The other one was a Wispon, but clearly different from all the previous ones created for the Resistance. Its overall appearance was similar to the Fire Wispon, but a bit bigger and bulkier. The front was colored red, designed in the shape of flames, while the rest was black and yellow with some lighting pattern.
Ruby giggled like a little kid at Christmas. "I cant believe that we´ve done it. And there will be many more to make!"
She wiped some sweat from her forehead, only to get it smeared with some grease and oil instead. She cringed a little, but Tails offered her a rag to wipe it of. Cleaning herself up Ruby listened to her friend saying, "We still need to find some compatible Wisps and test them out. And if they work… we´re going to spend many, MANY, more hours at making more."
"I know!", Ruby said in excitement. Tails just chuckled.
"I guess there are worse things to do. It was still a bit hard working out the exact mechanism."
Getting more serious, Ruby said, "I know, but with the first one done, and of course properly working, the following Double-Wispons should be more easy to make. And if they keep being successful… who knows what kind of designs we could come up further."
"Well, I guess there is only one way to find out."
Ruby took Crescent Rose and Tails took the Fire-Lighting Wispon hybrid. They wandered out of the base and wandered back to the Chao Garden where Ruby first had been introduced to the Chao and Wisps. Just like back then, the little creatures where playing around. But when they noticed the two coming they stopped and approached Tails and Ruby curiously. The fox waved and asked: "Hey there, how are you all doing?"
A choir of `Chao Chao!´ and alien noises was heard. From the enthusiastic tone Tails guessed they were all happy. He smiled.
"Glad to hear it. I… I´m sorry if this seems intrusive, but I was wondering if some of you guys were willing to help us out. Me and Ruby want to use some experimental new weapons and need some Wisps for testing and later using them on the battle field. Are there any who volunteer?"
The Wisps started to chatter among themselves. The Chao gave some input as well and Tails had to admit that he was surprised that the two different species were able to understand each other… somehow. He took out his Miles Electric and activated its translator. Good thing that ever since Mobius had gotten a Wisp population, he studied the aliens further and updated it. Ruby looked over the Mobians shoulder to see the various functions and files Tails was playing around.
"What are you doing?"
"I just need to… there!" Texts started to appear on the screen of the Miles Electric. "Now we can understand them."
Of course, Ruby started smiling. "Translating alien language? You´re so awesome! Is there anything you cant do?"
Tails just rubbed his head and smiled humbly. "Heh heh, I´m just trying my best helping everyone out with my skills. And yes, there is indeed one thing that is impossible for me: To resist mint."
Ruby laughed. She had by now spent enough time with the fox to become familiar with his borderline mint addiction. And because Sonic had during heir return from their first mission warned her to `look out in putting Tails and mint in the same room together or otherwise they would never be able to tinker together´. But the silver-eyed girl became serious as the critters in front of her came to a decision. "They are ready to help us, they are always ready to help us out against Eggman. They just need to know what kind of Wisp are required. Oh, and they ask us to do our experiments far away from this or any other Chao Garden in case of a repetition of… the shock wave incident."
Ruby turned as red as her cloak when she was reminded of how her and Sonic´s combined attack kind of destroyed a part of Angel Islands Nature.
"Sure thing. We don't want any of you to get hurt. As for the Wisps: We need a Fire and Lighting Wisp for Tails here." She made a gesture towards the Double-Wispon her friend was holding. "And I myself would like a Laser and Spike Wisp if that would be okay."
Again the aliens were chattering among themselves. Even without the translator it was clear they were searching around for voluntary candidates. There were quit a lot actually. Seems that some Wisps were very eager in taking an active stand against Eggman. After some discussion four Wisps glided and stopped in front of Ruby and Tails. Each single Wisp representing the requested hyper-go-on-energy. The quartet were saying something. Tails read the translation.
"Alright. The four of them are ready to help us out. They are some of the strongest of their kin and craving a chance of paste from Angel Islands constant idyll. The pink one is Kurtis, the Laser Wisp is Zen, and the elemental twins are Flare and Strom."
Flare… well… flared up on the mention of their name, ready to show the world what they were capable of. Strom made the Wisp equivalent of a cackle and produced some electricity. Zen hovered a bit away from Strom. Kurtis just stoically crossed his arms… tentacles… limbs and rolled his eye at the twins antics.
The group of six left the Chao garden and went back to the base. Their little travel led them to one of the training halls of the Resistance. It possessed several obstacle courses, shooting ranges and in one corner a closed of space that served as a combat arena. Ruby, Tails and their alien companions went to one of the ranges. It was one of the easier ones, the targets, dummies made of Badnik scraps, weren't moving. It was made for rookies who, once they started to get better, went to the ones with moving targets. But it also worked as testing ground for new weapons. Or in Crescent Rose´s case, a modified weapon.
Ruby pulled her weapon out. While it was folding out into a sniper rifle, the huntress-in-training had an eager grin on her face. She had always been excited over working on her baby, this was on a whole new level. If this worked Crescent Rose would have an upgrade that was literally out of this/hers world!
Zen and Kurtis gave the human girl a nod and went into the sniper rifle. Ruby examined it. Seemed to be storing and handling the energy of two Wisps well. Time for the next step. She aimed at one of the target dummies and pulled the trigger. A blue laser shot out of Crescent Rose´s barrel and obliterated the already demolished Badnik head. But Ruby wasn't celebrating yet. She transformed her weapon into its scythe form and rushed at the dummy, building up momentum with her Semblance. At the same time the blade started to glow pink. It became longer, sharper and grew thorns alongside its edge.
As Ruby rushed past the dummy it was easily cut in two by the modified scythe. The fifteen year old stopped, looked over her shoulder at the decimated dummy, folded her weapon back up and hugged it with a high squeal.
"Yeeeaasss! It worked! My baby is now the double amount of awesome! And you, Zen and Kurtis, you´re great as well! Thank you! Together we will crack some eggs!"
The Wisps inside Crescent Rose were flustered by the enthusiastic praise. Nonetheless they gave in their language a "You´re welcome" and a "I think this will be the start of a great partnership". Of course Ruby didn't understand them, but she could feel them being ready to be with her. Giggling and muttering to her new allies she went back to Tails and gave him the green lights for his try.
The yellow fox took aim at one of the dummies. He pulled the trigger and a beam of electricity destroyed it. Strom c(r)ackled.
"Alright. If it worked with Crescent Rose, then it should also work with this."
With his thumb he pressed a little button on the handle of the Double-Wispon.
Inside of every Wispon there was a core for a Wisp to nestle in. The core was designed to extract little bits of hyper-go-on-energy and utilize it in the most efficient way. This lowered the chance of draining the Wisp completely and turning it into a Nega Wisp. The Double-Wispon possessed two cores. The active one being Strom´s one. By pushing the button a mechanism, based on the one allowing Crescent Rose to change weapon mods, was activated that switched the two cores.
Tails pulled the trigger again and a stream of flames erupted from his weapon. His smile was almost enthusiastic as Ruby´s.
"We did it!"
They gave each other a fist bump.
"Still, we need to do some further testing, just to be sure. And after that… we shall see how well our inventions and friends will work on the battlefield."
Apotos was known as a country on the seaside. Its beautiful white cities spread across several islands and were connected via mighty bridges. It used to be a very warm and nice place to live in. Now, after Eggman´s takeover, things changed. The white colored homes of people had been reduced to rubble and replaced by simpler, gray shacks where many people had to spend their time wasting away in dull rooms. Wasting away until their next shift started. People had to work inside the factories that had been build across the city landscapes or the beaches of the islands. The chemical waste ruining the beaches, giving the once clear and blue ocean water a greenish purple tint and filling the sky with smoke.
There were also several harbors that were important hubs for the transport routes of the Eggman Empire. Ships brought or received important resources there before proceeding to their next destinations. Since this was a very important process, most of the work in the docks was carried out by Badniks. The few Mobains and humans who worked there were under constant super vision by Egg Cutters and a different kind of spider like robots.
They possessed round bodies as well, but colored in black with red Eggman insignia and blinking lights. Each of them had eight freely movable limbs that ended in sharp claws. On top of their bodies were flat heads that could rotate around 180 degree. These Egg Watchers were perfect to keep everything under their sight.
Well… almost everything.
On one of the ports it just so happened to suddenly have a loud clang be heard. All of the Egg Watchers turned their heads to the source of the sound and barely saw a blue trail disappearing behind some crates. Immediately the robots followed their programming of locating and eliminating their creators Number 1 enemy, even if there was just the slightest of chances of Sonic being there. Something the Resistance was aware of and knew how to use to their advantage. While the Egg Watchers were moving out, they gave their brethren a mental command of resuming their work. The Egg Cutters and some Egg Pawns were left behind. The former swung their blade arms in a threatening manner, so that the slaves remained focused on their work and not let themselves be distracted from their work.
One of the Egg Pawns was about to pick up a wooden box, when it suddenly noticed something. An open crate. And from the way it looked like it had been opened by force from the inside. Odd.
The robot marched toward it and looked inside. There was nothing. Still, the machine started to look around in case of some potential disturbance roaming around. It noticed a blur of red a pink from the corner of its vision and turned around. The Egg Pawn managed to see a pair of silver eyes, before Ruby rushed past it and decapitated it with the enhanced Crescent Rose. With a loud CLANG the robot and its head fell to the ground. The remaining Pawns and Egg Cutters turned towards the huntress-in-training. She changed her weapon into a sniper rifle and started shooting them down. Egg Cutters left their victims alone, who searched for cover behind some crates, and rushed towards the girl. Egg Pawns pulled out laser canons and started firing back. Or would have if there hasn't been someone else. Putting all their focus on Ruby left the robots open for an attack from the skies. Tails flew above them, letting fire and lighting rain down upon them. The Egg Pawns looked above them and focused on the flying fox instead. He dodged their shoots and either took them down with his Double-Wispon or with Spindashes.
Ruby meanwhile was taking care of the Egg Cutters. When they got to close, she returned Crescent Rose to scythe mode and fought the robots up close. Some of them tried to block or parry her attacks, but their blades were cut apart by the upgraded scythe and their bodies soon followed. When it looked like the mechanical horde would overwhelm Ruby with their numbers, she jumped into the air and used Petal Burst to run on their heads to the edge of the swarm. There she jumped down and mockingly yelled: "Sonic and Tails told me you all have egg in your names because you´re all breakable as one. And they were right. Seems you guys can only push some helpless victims around instead of being real fighters."
One thing most Badniks shared with their creator was his short temper. Enraged the Egg Cutters followed Ruby, oblivious to the fact that she led them to several crates stocked on top of each other. When the robot hordes was between them, Ruby used her Semblance, and the momentum she had build up from her run, to jump and run sideways on the crates. From there, her scyhte in hand, she jumped onto the other stacks and repeated the process. From above it looked like a red blur of rose petals zick zacking between the crates, between all the robots. Once Ruby was done, she was standing among the scraps of her enemies she had shredded to scrap.
"See?" Ruby looked around to see Sonic having appeared to her side. "I told you that you can use your speed more effectively by using enclosed spaces."
The human girl gave the hedgehog a smile.
"True. But I honestly don't think it would have been possible without Kurtis. On her own Crescent Rose would have had met more resistance against the metal of the robot bodies and it would´ve slowed me done considerably."
"But you got him and Zen now and used their help and your new advantages to improve your skills. You should always strife to learn something new and become better."
"You´re right. Hope you can teach me more. Did you take care of the other mechanical Spider Man wannabes?"
"Heh, what do you think? Trashed them all. Well, almost all of them. One of my tornadoes got a little out of hand and threw some robots into the water. Eggman forgot to make those things Olympic swimmers from what I could tell."
Human and Mobian left the crates. Tails flew towards them. Behind him was a field of destroyed Badniks and freed slaves, who where more than ready to take a break.
"I see that everything is going smoothly with Crescent Rose, Ruby."
"Yup! And same with you from what I can tell."
While the two of them started some gadget related squabble, Sonic went towards the slaves.
"You guys alright?" He cringed a little, knowing that the people in front of him were being far from alright, but his brain didn't come up with something better at the moment. Luckily no one took offensive or anything like that, some even gave relieved smiles.
"Were going to be once you and the rest of the Resistance will Atopos from Eggman´s reign."
"Yes. Me and my Team will fight our way trough the city to get to the main factory. Our intel told us that we might get some important information there. Once we shut the place down, more of our troops will show up and take care of the rest. Until then, all of you should take cover here."
Mobians and humans gave the hero of their world grateful nods. The blue speedster joined his two friends.
"Okay, thing are settled with the civilians here. Where do we have to go to reach the main factory from here?"
Tails swapped the Douple-Wispon for the Miles Electric.
"According to this, we just have to more or less go south and we should reach a fortified bridge. Its hard to miss. Once there we should see the factory in the distance."
The fox reequipped his weapon as Ruby proclaimed: "Then what are we waiting for? Let´s go… uh…"
"Team Sonic!", the blue hedgehog cockily proclaimed and speed of into the distance. Tails just rolled his eyes, while Ruby mumbled in confusion, "But I´m not like Knuckles."
Nevertheless they followed Sonic into the rest of Apotos.
The city was full of robots. Egg Watchers jumped and climbed around the buildings. They, alongside searchlights were on the look out for trouble. When the machines found it in the form of Team Sonic, the Watchers went for the attack, while the searchlights turned red. The buildings they were mounted on opened up and released Egg Cutters. There were also some Egg Knights and Egg Gunners around and joined their fellow machines in combat. They were a mighty force. But they went against the fastest thing alive, a genius whose intellect rivaled Eggman´s and one of Beacons prodigy students, the last two additionally aided by the power of the Wisps.
They tore trough the combat machines, using their weaponry, skills and abilities to support each other.
Like simply watching the others back, taking care of enemies that tried to attack from behind. Then there were actual tactics. Sonic pulling enemies into tornadoes and then defending Ruby and Tails from other robots, while they were busy gunning the airborne Badniks down. Or Tails flying upwards and giving his speedster friends coordinates of where to best attack the hostile forces with their speed.
They were making good progress until Tails yelled, when he was again flying in the air, "Guys, I can see the bridge. But there are lots, and I mean LOTS, of robots coming this way."
And it didn't take long for Sonic and Ruby to see it. An army of metallic bodies and cold, glowing eyes was marching towards them. A wall between them and their destination. The speedster duo gave the army a serious look.
"Do you think we should…", Ruby didn't finish her sentence. But Sonic understood what she was implying.
"It would be the perfect opportunity. But…" He looked up. "Tails! Do you see any civilians being in the open?"
"No! There are some hiding away, but they are either in a safe enough distance or inside the buildings. They look sturdy enough to withhold the power of your combined attack. If that's why you´re asking."
"You got it buddy! Maybe you should also find some cover, just in case."
Tails nodded and landed. He disappeared in a secluded side street between two buildings. Sonic and Ruby looked at each other.
"Ready?"
"Yes!"
"Then here we go!"
They rant towards the mechanical horde. Sonic felt the Chaos Energy gathering around him, becoming more potent and ready to give him a Boost.
Rose petals swirled around Ruby as her form lingered between rose cloud and solid body, controlling her Semblance with high focus. The two speedsters ran side by side. Just when they were about to crash into the enemy, they looked into the eyes of the other and nodded. Sonic held out his hand and Ruby took it. Both fully activating their Boost and Petal Burst.
BOOOOMM!
Just like before a shock wave erupted and made the Badniks stagger. It made them easier prey for the red and blue projectile shooting straight trough them! Surrounded by energy and petals, the fast blur left a trail of destruction behind it, mowing down everything in its path. Robots were thrown through the air or shattered by the sheer power of this attack!
After destroying the army, the blur broke up into Ruby and Sonic, who tried desperately to stop, but the momentum yanked them forward. The human girl slammed the blade of her scythe into the ground to slow herself down. The blue hedgehog braked hard on his heels, which didn't really do his shoes any good. Breathing heavily they looked behind them. Amazement shone in their eyes.
"Wow. That. Was. AMAZING! No, it was more than amazing!"
"You took the words right out of my mouth!"
"Guys!" Tails came in flying. "That was incredible!"
"Don´t have to tell us, it…" Sonic looked at his hands. "… it felt like we were invincible. Undefeatable."
Ruby gave a determined smile. "Like we could do anything together and we'd never be alone or desperate again. Oh I know that this special attack will be a great help in the future!"
Thoughtfully, Sonic looked down and tapped his foot up and down.
"Doesn't feel right just calling it special attack, I think we should give it a better name."
"Do you have anything in mind?", Tails asked.
"Well it's basically an amplified boost triggered by the power of two people. How about…" Sonic snapped his fingers. "Double Boost."
Tails scratched his head.
"Doesn't really sound that spectacular. What about you Ruby, any idea?"
"Hmm, the name of my Semblance is Petal Burst. Since it is amplified by the Chaos Energy from Sonic's Boost, we could call it Chaos Burst."
"Okay that sounds so much cooler than Double Boost", Sonic admitted. "Everyone who is for Chaos Burst, hold your hands up."
Sonic, Ruby and Tails raised their arms. Even the Wisps briefly appeared and hold up their limbs, before returning into the weapons.
"Great. So now that that topic is settled, I think we should proceed."
Team Sonic looked ahead. In front of them was a very long bridge. It was massive, looking similar to a New Yorker one. But the steel beams were a dull gray and coated in barbed wire. The light of the setting sun could barely penetrate the smoke that surrounded the bridge like fog. Still, the trio could vaguely see the outline of a large building in the distance.
"There is our goal. It looks pretty grim, but not that fortified. One would think Eggman would give this place some more security. Especially in face of our recent victories against him."
Sonic wanted to take the first step towards the bridge, when his ears twitched. He heard something closing in on him…
He jumped backwards and barely dodged something heavy crashing from the sky into the ground. Ruby yelped in surprise and Tails asked in worry: "Sonic, are you okay?"
"I´m fine, but what is… oh no."
Dust settled and everyone could see the being standing in the caters. It looked like a robotic version of Sonic, starring them down with its cold red eyes that reminded Ruby a bit of Cinder´s cypertronic one.
"A robot doppelgänger?", the huntress-in-training said confused.
"Ruby, may I present to you: Metal Sonic. Eggman decided the best way to get rid of me is creating a series of bootleg terminators stealing my style. This guy was the end result."
Metal Sonic´s eyes lowed a deeper red. Sonic thought he would attack him for that remark, but instead his counterpart held up a claw. It was holding a white gem.
"A Chaos Emerald!", yelled Tails. He, and his friends, tried to move in, to take the powerful gem from the killer robot. But Metal was faster. He put it into the yellow hole inside his chest while Infinite´s red energy glitched around him. A bright light erupted and made everyone close their eyes. When they opened them again, everyone was flaberghasted. Metal Sonic had changed forms. His quills had lengthened into massive spikes and were now streaked with white. Thick armor encased the torso and the limbs.
"Neo Metal Sonic?!"
"Indeed Sonic, my loathsome copy." The machines voice was hard and deep. "I'm not just a mere Phantom. I am the real Metal Sonic, fueled by the energies of the Phantom Ruby and now the Chaos Emerald. With them I was able to reach my true potential once again!"
"Why does the killer robot clone have another form?", asked Ruby.
Neo Metal Sonic held up his claw and a bluish lighting bolt shoot up in the sky, demonstrating the organics his powers.
"Ans why is he able to control electricity without Dust or anything similar?", Ruby asked once again.
"To be honest, we never figured it out. He used it once to activate yet another form of his, but he shouldn't be able to achieve it now…"
"I do not need Metal Madness nor Metal Overlord to destroy you! I am the one and true Sonic! I will show you what I´m made of and free the world from you and your friends pesky presence. The empire will triumph!"
With these words the battle against the final Phantom warrior started.
Next week it is once again boss time. And I decided to amp up the fight against Metal Sonic by making him achieve his Neo form. Like mentioned by Sonic, in the Sonic Heroes cutscnee, before the final boss, Neo Metal Sonic shoots up some lighting. So I decided to give him some lighting powers. Expect our robot doppelgänger to release his inner sith lord next chapter.
The design for this emperial Apotos was inspired by one of the conceptarts for Sonic Forces. Its also were the Egg Watcher originate from.
To Guest: A Easter egg I had build in last chapter was during Ruby´s ramble over Shadow´s statement that he liked guns. She said: "Oh my Gods (as in Brother Gods)…". So most people on Remnant will say Gods.
Because God is, alongside Jesus, the guy that brings miracles and goodness to the people. And that is disregarding the potential interpretations that Jesus wasn´t just the son of God but a human incarnation of the deity himself. But I wont be opening that can of worms. This is a place were we post fanfictions, not have hours long discussion about the ways our religions, cultures and languages evolved over time.
To Guest: Hallucination: You imagine that someone stabs you. There may be phantom pains, but there wont be any physical damage done to you.
Reality bending: Someone takes a spoon, turns it into a knife and stabs you. You´re hurt, wounded and bleeding all over the place.
It was mentioned that Shadow did take damage and felt pain. And his wounds remained after the battle. He just endured it better because he is the Ultimate Lifeform. And also stubborn.
Fixing RWBY as in changing some details here and there. Like for example making the Maiden powers more diverse. Or giving Dust and Aura more details on how they work.
To Guest: I had Sonic heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog at first in my thoughts. Having Shadow in a coma inside a capsule and Eggman utilizing this by restarting the process of creating Shadow Androids. Since they were never really used in gameplay/action scenes. But then I also remembered that the Androids already had ties to Sonic Forces trough Whisper and the Diamond Cutters. So I went with giving these Androids a proper origin here. And used their design, creating continuity and also have a better way of showing the Androids biomechanical nature.
I don´t get why you´re so hung up by this. And you say that `But now I question the stuff you write.´ You had been questioning my stuff ever since you started reviewing here. And instead of constructive criticism it feels very nitpicky. This is my fanfiction. I´m open to suggestions, but I wont be bending over backwards when someone demands that I should change my story for their personal preferences. If you don´t like my stuff, you´re welcomed to write your own.
EndeavorT: Indeed. But that makes me wonder how the Duke was able to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds. Are humans capable of using it like Mobians or did the royal family of Soleanna have something special going on? Other than keeping guard of a dormant Solaris that is. Maybe it would be an answered question if Sega kept continue in having humans (beside Eggman) appear in the Sonic series.
SuperSaiyanFever: Lol yeah, but Shadow didn't want to mention and explain every single miracle that the Chaos Emeralds pulled of. But in time Ruby will learn what these gems are truly capable of.
To Monster King: Thank you for your on going support.