Daedriel: Sally is not at fault for what she did. She has virtually no control over what happened. I'm glad you were able to see that, because I did not want to make Sally out to be internally cruel or truly hate Sonic. She was just fulfilling her duties by using what she knew about a very close friend/lover. However, if she does look cruel, I'm also not entirely upset about that appearance, because that is how she is supposed to look in the eyes of Sonic, who doesn't have the mental fortitude to process who is in control. And Of course Eggman, with his incredible ego, wouldn't take any threat seriously until it is too late.
Victir John Foxfire: I agree that the Torture scenes were somewhat(If not mostly) repetitive. I wanted to draw attention to how much he was truly suffering. That being said, that was the last chapter I was going to have to with serious torture involved. It was… kind of meant to be indulgent with the pain and suffering.
I will also admit that the most fun I had writing the torture scenes was writing the compassionate side of the mobians in Eggman's base. That was fun, to show off Clove and her willingness to defy Eggman to save Sonic some pain, the Echidna's cleaning him up to give him just a bit of humanity.
I don't want to make Sally hated by the readers. She had no influence over anything she could do. Eggman wanted to know a plan, and she had to yield to the programming. That being said, Sonic has trouble stepping back and looking at things objectively on a good day. To him, this was cruel and meditated by Sally, not entirely Eggman.
Sonic is at his limits, I will say that much.
o3o: Eggman was really trying to squeeze every last bit of misery out of Sonic, not realizing that he wouldn't be able to savor it. If he had been more gradual with his torment, and pulled a few punches, he could have enjoyed Sonic's misery for a bit longer. I'm really glad that Eggman was in character. I struggle with how he would act throughout the entire process. Could he keep the secret long enough? Would he normally let it slip? I struggled with those parts.
Now for the plan, it was Sally's but only because she knew so much about Sonic and was forced to tell Eggman. There is virtually no wiggle room. Everything she did was approved by Eggman.
As for Sonic, he is definitely not ok. His heart, mind and body have been tormented horribly. There's only so much he can take.
/*-*/
The journey back to the center of the city should have been a moment of light triumph. Echidnapolis had been kept from Johan's enemies, and was indebted to him. Yet Johan knew the fighting wasn't over. There was something in the air, something that kept him on guard.
The unnatural scent which flowed around the city. Someone had been observing them all throughout the defense.
So Johan's guard was held up, with his ears perked up to listen for any threat as they marched back in formation.
"You seem tensed up, we won!" Gewis laughed, walking along side Johan, slapping his side, "Come on… take a win, celebrate a little."
"There will be a great celebration when our enemy is dead, and the kingdom holds the world in its hands." Johan growled, his nose growing angry with the scent of the abominations which lurked around.
"You really think we can take all that land?" Gewis mumbled, and Johan felt a tension in his head. He thought it was impossible, Johan could smell it from him.
"You do not have to. You simply need the strength to scare any challengers into servitude. They will pay to keep their freedoms, any you will grow rich in the fear of cowards." Johan explained. Indeed, they lacked the numbers to fight long wars. Johan could still consider them the rulers of the world when others submitted to their will, "You simply need a king who will take their submission. A king with ambition, not content with simply his kingdom."
"You?" Gewis asked softly. He was weighing Johan's words. Still, the offer he made was hilarious.
"Must I repeat myself?" Johan growled, before stopping and sniffing the air.
Julie-Su walked up to him, "What's up? Legionnaires?"
"Not quite, mate!" A loud accented voice boomed.
Johan looked up from the cracked ground to see a large, purple…. Garden Defender? He looked very different from the other Garden Defenders groups.
"Who the heck are you?" The dragon-beast, Vector demanded, pointing up at the strange Garden… rat. He was more like a rat than a Garden Defender.
The large purple rat looked down and laughed, "The name's Thrash, and I'm the bloody sins of your fathers."
"Do we know you? Long lost cousin maybe? Old enemy grunt?" Vector demanded, scratching his head curiously.
"He's the clown from my birthday!" the bee shouted in joy, once again making Johan question the small creature's existence of a brain.
Johan could smell a piece of the unholy scent coming from this Thrash, but he was not unnatural. There was something else around them.
"We haven't met, yet mate, and I got no trouble with the crocs, but I got plenty of problems with her wanky-ass." The rat pointed to the Pink Garden Defender, "You and all your oppressor kind are going to pay for what you did us."
Julie-Su had raised her pistol, as had some of Johan's men. Johan paid little mind to his pointless, weeping words. Johan was more focused on finding the stalking enemies.
"Listen, I didn't do anything to you, and I don't want any trouble out of you. But if you want to fight, you're going to regret every bit of it!" She growled back at the purple rat.
"You don't get to run away from your actions. Your parents problems came back to bite them." Thrash growled at her, before raising his arms.
Johan felt something approaching from all sides. Johan was surrounded by the scent of the strange creatures. Johan then saw the purple rat being flanked by two… strange four-legged lion-creatures. They looked like they smelled: like an abomination.
"Your people wiped out us Tasmanian Devils, or so you thought. I'm the last one, so I figured I'd crush you wankers, and leave one echidna, just to be safe." Thrash shouted as the Creatures around him dropped bloody Garden Defender bodies down, "You can either go through the warp ring, or I'll sick my family on you."
He held up a golden ring, and grinned.
"Tight formation!" Gewis shouted, and realized that they had been surrounded.
Johan overruled him, "Spear head! To the rear!" He growled as three of the ugly, disgusting, morbid abominations stepped out in front of Johan.
Gewis turned around to look at Johan with fear, "What?"
"Focus on the rear and sides, I will hold the front." Johan growled, stretching his claws out to show their sharpness.
"Oi, I know you're a strong bugger, but I'd say stand down." Thrash demanded with a confident grin, his monstrosities advanced forward with snarls a and growls from their maws.
Johan growled back, and felt foam dripping from his mouth as he did so. There were four approaching him, with two coming from the front and one on each of his sides. Johan held his ground and snarled at the approaching enemies.
"I just want the bloody Echidna's gone! I don't care about the rest of you!" Shouted the rat… or rather Tasmanian Devil, "I know you all got problems with the Legion echidnas. I'll take care of them too."
Johan weighed that option for a moment. He would open a second front, if these abominations were anything close to considerable fighters. He seemed to not rely on the civilized world, as he had no weapons on him, which was admirable. This man was strong by his own merit, which Johan would have to respect.
Still, Johan also weighed what would happen. Could this Tasmanian Devil and his hideous creatures do any real damage? Were the Garden Defenders weaker than him with their masses? What if those beasts were rather weak?
Johan growled in his throat. He was impatient with his own brain, which seemed to weigh both of the options and would not give a clear answer.
"Hey, I don't know what exactly is going on, but I would really like a weapon!" Ezra's voice called out from the back.
Johan stood up and turned his head over his shoulder as the monsters still prowled around them. Johan had assured Ezra of his protection. If he gave her over, then he would break that oath. He would live with that shame.
"No, You will leave us, and you will not attack any closer." Johan growled up at the Rat who stood on the pile of rubble.
"Shame, mate, truly. GET THEM! TAKE OUR REVENGE ON THOSE BLOODY ECHIDNAS!" Thrash shouted at the top of his lungs, before jumping down.
Johan threw his arms forward to grab the two that were coming from the front, before slamming his elbows down to prevent the abominations from biting his sides, instead, sending them into his ankles where they sank their teeth.
Johan grit his teeth, before tightening his hangs around the Monster-Cats throats who were coming from the front, before slamming them down into the concrete below. As they impacted, Johan came to realize that the ground was weaker than he thought as cracks and the ground indented, around him.
Guns started firing from behind Johan, along with shouting from Gewis as Johan spread his weight in the small crater. The ground was not strong at all-
"Are you good!" Gewis shouted at Johan, looking at him instead of the enemy around them.
"Stay focused!" Johan snarled back. As he finished the statement, with the two cat-monsters in his arms struggled while the other two clawed at Johan's sides, the ground suddenly fell beneath him.
Johan let out a high-pitched yelp as he tumbled down with concrete and metal falling down with him, tumbling and striking Johan's head and body as he plummeted into more concrete.
Johan felt his breath leave his body as he landed on the two grabbed, with his wrist bending and popping as his claws sank into the necks of the abominations. They went quiet from the impact as his palms crushed their throats.
Johan's full weight pressed down on the beasts. He felt his energy leave his body. Johan's eyes closed for a moment. Then he opened his eyes. Did any time pass? Had he slept? Johan felt blood still flowing onto his fingers, and shouting was still coming from above him.
Johan looked around, and realized that he was in the sewers again. The smell reached Johan's nose, but did not deter him. Johan needed to get up, and aide his men. He was tired, but his energy was slowly coming back.
Johan stood up, pressing his feet back down into the two corpses, pressing into their meet, as he arched his back, popping it as he looked straight up. He fell a great distance, so he could not climb back up.
Still, it was worth a try, if he could get back to his men. Johan walked on all fours, before feeling a pain shoot through his wrists. Johan growled to hide his yelp before putting his hand in his jaw, and jerking lightly.
More pain shot through his form, but it was sore instead of sharp. That was good for Johan… he would just need to be easier on his arms. He did the same with his other hand.
Johan then came to realize the error in his plan. If he climbed, he would break his wrists again. He couldn't climb back up… which meant that he needed to find another way up.
"GET THEM, SIS! TEAR THOSE ECHIDNA WANKERS TO PIECES!" Thrash's voice echoed down below as the abominations moved above.
Growled came from behind Johan. Johan turned around and saw glowing eyes in the darkness. Four had fallen with him, and two were dead. That left the other two.
There were two pairs of glowing eyes parted, going left and right, staying in the darkness. Johan snarled as they circled around him. Johan would have to show his back to one. Johan, however, was unique. He was a Saxon, and a Wolverine. His back was safe so Johan chose to focus on the creature to his left.
Johan did wonder how many there were. Did thrash bring his full force on them, or did he have others. Their scent was strong, so it was difficult to judge how many there were there. Still, Johan could only focus on those that were in front of him
The monster behind Johan jumped on him, launching him forward slightly as the creature pushed its full weight on him. The one in front of Johan jumped at him. Johan lurched forward with his jaw and bit down on the top of the creature's neck before twisting around slamming its head into the concrete wall.
Johan released his jaw as the abomination thrashed about. Johan then twisted around and lurched backwards slamming the other beast into the concrete wall. It yelped as Johan pulled away, but kept trying to put its jaws into Johan's thick hide. Johan slammed backwards again, getting another yelp from the creature.
Johan then twisted his body around as the abomination clung to his loose hide, before biting into the monster's shoulder, and slammed into the wall once again while pulling with his teeth. The left shoulder of the creature popped, earning a louder shriek from the creature as it dropped to the ground, trying to swing its body around while flopping on the ground.
Johan then turned as the other one jumped at Johan, knocking him back against the wall. Johan pushed his paws against its face as Johan pushed its head back. His soreness would have to wait until he could rest.
Johan jammed his claws into the eye of the abomination, cutting the organ open, causing the beast to retreat back with a yelp before Johan kicked its head, sending it back into the darkness. Johan grabbed its tail, and pulled back to dragged the stunned creatures back into the light as it scrambled around.
Johan sank his teeth into its neck. Johan then twisted upward, ripping the neck out from the back of its head. Johan tasted a sour blood that was disgusting by all flavors or accounts. The lifeless corpse fell to the ground.
Johan snarled and growled at the last one, who was scrambling around, feeling scarred of him. Johan pursued the limping abomination, grabbing it by the tail, jerking backwards, ignoring the pain rising form his wrists and arms.
The beast yelped and struggled as Johan closed his hands around its neck. The Beast yelped and thrashed about, swinging its claws against Johan's thick hide on his arms.
The monster scrapped across the thick skin as Johan pressed his claws into its neck, his wrists be damned. Johan continued his pressure with snarl, scratch across his skin under the fur. Then the claws rose and kicked Johan's chest, making him growl in pain as it brushed across Johan's wounds.
Johan roared, before pinning the abomination down and sinking his teeth into its neck as it tried to bite his head. Johan locked his jaw and pressed down, blood continuing to rush into his mouth.
The monster screeched and scratched at Johan's head, clawing at the hide as Johan continued to bite down until the beast stopped making noise out of its throat. It continued to try and throw its claws at Johan recklessly.
Johan finally caught the abomination's throat, ignoring the smacking of its paws as it struggled. The blood, being sour and terrible to taste made Johan desire less of the fighting. So he locked his paws into the creature's shoulders, and jerked upward with his teeth still in the neck. Flesh began to tear as Johan continued to apply pressure, ripping out the chunk of the throat, as the creature gave one last death-throw before going still.
Johan chewed the throat for only a moment, before spitting out the bits from the neck. Johan then stretched his jaws to breath in the stench of the air, before looking down. What had Thrash said about these creatures? That they were his family.
Johan knew how to handle his enemy's family. Johan began to claw at the neck of the beast he had just slaughtered, tearing off meat and blood, before working his way to the bone. Johan began to tear out the chunks of bone, and raised up the severed head on the beast.
Johan was tired, but there would be time for rest when he city submitted to him. He saw the blood from the beasts as they were scattered along the concrete of the sewers. Johan felt his belly start to ache, hungering for meat. Still, he would not dare eat such unnatural meat, from creatures which were not supposed to exist.
So Johan clawed open their throats, and cut the bone in the back of the heads to pull off the heads of the beasts, still keeping the large tuffs on the backs of their heads. Johan tied the long hairs together, and tied the heads to his waist.
Johan then stood up, and raised his head. He couldn't go back up, so he would go around. Johan would return to his men, and then deal with their enemy. Victory was…
Johan shook his head, and started walking. No sense in salivating over a victory when he could achieve it.
Johan walked on his hind legs, before he heard a shout from further down the sewer system. Johan marched forward and saw another monster in the darkness chasing a hooded legionnaire as they scrambled back, firing his laser up at the beast.
It ignored the damage, prowling close to the Legionnaire. Johan moved in and sank his teeth into the back of its neck, before pulling it back. The creature yelped as Johan raised it up before slamming it down, and pilling it to the ground with his arms. He then twisted his jaw, snapping the creature's neck. They were mortal, they could still be killed with normal means.
Johan rose over the body, and began to cut into its head. He would carry five heads to face Thrash. They were his family, and he foolishly brought them to battle Johan. He would learn the cost of that stance.
Johan finished cutting through the meat of the neck when he heard the scrapping of the Legionaire. The man was still alive, and fearful. Johan was hungry, and needed meat. Johan turned to the Legionaire, and struck his throat, tearing off the clothing as he killed his prey.
Then Johan began to eat his meat, and felt his strength return, his wrists, restored. Johan was back, in some regards and ready to face his enemy once again.
He returned and finished severing the head of the abomination. He set out with his assortment of heads, moving along the sewer base. If his memory was good, then if he kept moving to the east, he would arrive at the exit pipe and be able to regroup with his team in the city.
If they died before he could get to them, then he could at least avenge them. If they would be so deserving despite their weakness. Johan continued along the pathway next to the waste water. The abominations had used the sewers as a base, or nest. Their scent was everywhere, which made Johan's blood boil.
He could understand how they were unnatural, however. They looked like wild beast. Aside from lacking fur or considerable hair, they did not strike him as different. Yet their scent told Johan that they did not belong in this world.
Johan's ears heard a loud crashing behind him. Johan perked up and turned around. It sounded like concrete collapsing, echoing though out the large tunnels. Johan walked towards the sound of the noise, feeling his wrists already starting to recover thanks to the flesh he had consumed.
Once Johan felt his wrists return to a mild soreness, he bounded forward on all fours, rushing towards the sound. He could hear scrapping and shouting echoing through the sewer system.
Then Johan arrived at the second breach, which had collapsed by an explosion. He could make out the voice of Gewis in the distance. Johan pursued.
He followed the crushed rubble and footprints of blood to a drainage area for the sewers, where pipes flowed into a large square basin, spewing the brown and green sludge down into the pit.
Gewis and a detachment of men, wrapped around Julie-Su and Ezra in a defensive circle. It brought Johan a sense of… happiness, that they would continue to fight and protect what he had sworn to.
They were, however, encircled by many of the abominations, with Thrash standing in front of the creatures which he held family with.
"Come on, those wankers deserve it! They butchered us, enslaved us, tortured us, experimented on our bloody bodies. They're the reason my brothers and sisters look like this." Thrash shouted, pointing at the two Garden Defenders.
"I don't care what your history is, they're with us, you fight them, you fight us!" Gewis barked, keeping his rifle level at Thrash.
"You're out of your bloody league. You'll do nothing to stop us Tasmanian Devils and Devil Hounds. You want to die, fine by me, get him!" Thrash barked, and his siblings closed in.
They were enslaved and transformed, which was disgusting. However, Johan had made a vow to protect the Garden Defender Allies. Johan was a man of his word, and he would not abandon them.
So Johan intervened, looking at the heads of the abominations he had killed, he walked towards the Tasmanian Devil, "For each man cast down his staff, and they became snakes."
Johan crawled on all fours as all of the heads turned. Gewis's face became happy and safe, as did the men who recognized Johan.
"But Aron's staff swallowed up their staffs" Johan growled, before tossing the bundle of heads into the light as Johan crawled out.
Thrash froze, looking down at the heads of the monsters Johan had slain, grumbling, "S-Sis? You cunt! You Wanker!" He shouted, pointed at Johan angrily.
Johan was to assume he was being insulted, so he stood on his hind legs and looked down at the Tasmanian Devil.
Thrash shook for a moment. Did he expect his family to survive by sending them after Johan? What a fool. This fool thought it was time for battle, and he shouted, "Get him! Get revenge for sis!"
Thrash ran as the circle broke around Johan's men, and the beasts ran straight at Johan to try and attack him in a rush.
Johan raised his right foot as one of the abominations rushed at Johan's ankle, instead feeling Johan's foot collide with its skull, bursting against the ground as Johan stomped with all his might. Blood and bone scattered across the ground, but Johan didn't have time to savor the show of strength.
Another abomination immediately jumped at Johan as his foot made contact with the floor. Johan raised his left paw and grabbed the abomination by the throat, strengthening his stance to keep from falling backwards.
Johan jammed his thumb into the beasts neck, pressing into the throat as the muscles began to give. Johan had to swing his right claws to stab behind the jaw bone of another abomination, cutting into the fleshy soft skin, and pulling back with his right arm, creating a popping sound.
Johan continued to press his thumb into the left Devil Hound, while still pulling back with his right hand on the right one.
Johan heard a gun shot and yelp from behind Johan. He saw Gewis holding up his rifle, before pulling the bolt back as an abomination came from behind Johan, snarling and growling. Gewis pulled the trigger again.
Click
Gewis's eyes widened in realization, as did the abomination. The Devil hound ran toward Johan's faithful follower. Johan roared, and punched his thumb through the struggling Devil Hound, before tossing the abomination into the water with his left hand.
Johan finally jerked hard with his right, pulling the jaw of the right abomination loose. The Creature shrieked in pain as Johan finished the job by tearing the lower jaw off the abomination and twisting the bone to stab into its owner's throat.
Johan saw Thrash jump on Gewis as Johan's men scrambled and fired the last of their ammunition. Gun fire rang from outside, which told Johan that some of his men were still alive.
Gewis drew his knife and stabbed thrash in the chest.
"RAH, You cunt! Just die already!" He continued to press his paws down onto the Fox's throat Gewis struggled and kicked, before pulling his knife back and slashing Thrash's forearm open. He jerked back as Gewis took in a breath, which was short lived as another Devil hound jumped on him.
Gewis shouted as he flailed about and the Beast's head shot down at him.
Johan roared and ran towards the Tasmanian Devil, who struggled to get his focus back as he clutched his arm.
Johan swung his arm and smacked the fool to the ground. His siblings responded by breaking off and attacking Johan with jumps.
Gewis pushed the beast off of him, a serious set of cuts visible on his chest as he removed the knife from the war monster's head. Gewis rose to his feet, panting as Julie-su fired her weapon at the other Devil Hounds, with little success.
Johan swung his fist to slam two of the abominations into each other, crawling on the ground. Johan's men drew their knives and swung their empty rifles to attack the now confused abominations.
The abominations were being beaten down as Thrash rushed at Johan, throwing a punch at the Wolverine. Johan grabbed his forearm, and threw him to Johan's back.
Thrash had some good arms, Johan could use a man like him in his ranks.
"You wanking bastard!" Thrash shouted, before turning around and throwing another punch, " You stand with those abominations! I never had a problem with you, but I'll tear your limns off for helping them!"
"I have no grudge against you, but if you are fighting those I am sworn to protect, I will destroy you." Johan snarled, punching Thrash in the chest, sending him to the concrete.
Shrieks came from behind Johan as the as his men began to stab the abominations.
Thrash gasped, but still rose to fight Johan. He had spirit, and endurance… and fire.
Thrash staggered towards Johan and threw another punch, but his was off balance, and succumbed to the force of gravity. Johan caught the fool to keep him from falling down on his face. Johan would not let this warrior die from tripping.
Thrash seemed surprised that Johan would show such respect. Then Johan pushed the Tasmanian Devil Back.
He staggered back and caught himself, before growling, "They enslaved my whole bloody race, they tortured us, turned us into monsters, and you side with them?"
"My people were once enslaved, and we understand your hatred, but not your weakness. You will not destroy them." Johan growled, lowering his eyes and allowing his gaze to pierce his opponent's soul, "You can not win this fight."
As he said the words, three of the Devil Hounds limped to Thrash, whimpering as they bled weakly. The knife wounds leaked down their sides, dripping and staining.
Only then did Thrash realize what position he was in. Only three of those around him survived. There may be more in the city, but he was alone. The ones in the city would not be able to stop Johan once his wrath came to be.
Johan's men, however, were not doing exceptional either. Ezra and Julie-Su were alive and well, which was good, but the rest were bruised and limping… if alive at all.
Thrash staggered, looking around at what remained of his family.
"Look at what your grudge has cost you. You're people are so few in number, do you wish to die out?" Johan growled, showing his large claws to remind his foe who was most powerful, "You could spare what remains of your people by submitting to my will. You are a powerful warrior, and I respect your strength."
Gewis looked up at Johan with a look of betrayal, "What? He's killed… a lot of us, and you want him to join us?"
"He is a warrior, strong and powerful. What a waste to kill such a powerful creature." Johan growled, continuing to look at the Tasmanian Devil expectantly.
The fool looked at the remainder of his tribe. His strength would be wasted to die here, which Johan hated.
Gewis looked at Johan angrily, before his expression softened, and he nodded, "I… trust you." The words were forced out. Johan could tell Gewis did not believe in Johan's ideals when it came to inviting enemies. But that was when ideals should be kept, when there is little to gain by keeping them.
"Fuck off." Thrash growled at Johan, panting, and balling his fist.
Johan cocked his head at the Creature, and his abomination siblings. Perhaps the warrior needed to be assured of Johan's justice, "These Garden Defenders need to pay for their crimes against the world, and I will help you in time, but not now."
Ezra and Julie-Su tensed up at his words of justice, but surely they did not expect their people to commit such great crimes against the natural world, and be free of justice?
"Fuck off, you wanker. You won't do anything but sit in their pockets. Well I ain't gonna stand for it!" Thrash shouted, picking up a pipe and rushing towards Johan. His men readied their knives.
"So be it, I will do what the Garden Defenders should have done long ago!" Johan growled, throwing his claws forward into Thrash's chest. He then pulled his claws back as the Tasmanian Devil staggered back with blood dripping down his chest, still clinging to the pipe.
Thrash stepped forward and swung the pipe at Johan's head, striking it and actually sending pain to Johan's brain. Still, It was not enough to keep Johan away.
Johan turned back as Thrash raised his pipe once again.
Gewis held the men back as they tried to come to Johan's aide. Johan did not need their aide, and he would not want it.
Julie-Su raised her gun at Thrash. Johan shouted, "NO! DO NOT INTERFERE!"
Johan ducked under the pipe, instead letting it strike his shoulder before Thrash raised his pipe once again. Johan threw his claws upward right as thrash brought the pipe. Johan's claws struck first, cutting in to Thrash's throat.
The warrior's eyes widened as blood poured out of his throat. The Tasmanian Devil staggered back, clutching his neck, dropping the pipe in the process. Johan approached as the abominations began to whimper and cry for their falling brother, who had little time left.
Thrash collapsed onto the ground, his arms falling loose as his life began to fade. Johan picked up the pipe and placed it in Thrash's hand, closing the his fist around it, "Die a warrior." Johan growled before looking back at the abominations, "Finish their kind!"
Johan's men rushed forward with knives facing the defeated monsters in a furry of slashes and stabs as the creatures wailed in pain. Johan caught one of the Devil Hounds as it leapt at one of his men, a wolf who was approaching with a knife.
Johan slammed his claws into the abomination's neck spilling its blood across the dark concrete. Johan tossed the body into the river of sludge. Johan and his men finished their vengeance, and stood there in the dark sewers.
Johan growled in approval, "We must rally our men, and deal with-"
"We're fine!" a shout came from above them, "… Mostly."
Johan looked up and saw most of his men walking down the hole, some limping and bloody, but alive. They would need either medical attention, or a weapon to pass.
"I'm good." Gasped one, a boar who had lost his rifle. His thick skin made the cuts less dangerous.
Johan was grateful. He would need experienced men for the coming fights, "We will rally at the center, and then we will make our demands! We will make Ezra Queen of this city, and our enemy shall falter!" Johan roared.
His men gave an exhausted but assured cheer. They had faith in him. They marched up to the center, and a few more of his men joined them. They had lost seventeen men to the fighting. It was a necessary loss, which Johan wished to avoid. Those warriors, however, would build a legacy of freedom for their home, and their people.
Then, Johan marched to the center of the city. His men walked with him, limped with him, were carried with him. They had paid for their right to rule, while those cowards remained in their precious city hall. Now it was time for them to pay for their cowardice…
As they approached the large building, Johan could tell that something was different. There was a blue glow to the building and its walls.
"I think that might stop us…" Gewis mumbled, his voice quickly losing hope.
Johan crawled up to the barrier, and touched it. It was hard, but not dangerous, "Open your gates! Your enemy has been routed and crushed under our feet!" Johan roared the command through the barrier.
Remington limped out, "You're late!" He had been clawed by the abominations.
"They came here?" Johan growled. It was smart, to attack while the army was away, but Johan had assumed the now extinct Tasmanian Devil and Devil Hounds had brought their full force to bear against Johan.
"No, I got these cuts from a bad blender accident." Remington growled at Johan.
Johan cocked his head at the Garden Defender.
"That was sarcasm." The red Garden Defender growled at Johan, "Anyway… you're not welcome back… Council's orders."
Johan lowered his head to listen and ensure that he heard correct, "Speak again?"
A loud rumbling came as the voice of the pale Garden Defender came from the hall, "We thank you for your aide, but we have no desire to keep you in our city. Leave."
Johan growled, and balled his fist before slamming it into the barrier, "I will break this down! MY MEN NEED FOOD! I WILL TEAR YOU APART!"
Could they not see that the damage they were doing? Were they so ungrateful that they could not submit?
"You will not attack us. We are under the protection of King Maximillion Acorn. We swore allegiance to him and his kingdom last night." Gala-Na's voice stirred an anger inside Johan.
He growled and slammed into the barrier as his men slumped in a sadness.
"You will not deny me-" Johan roared, slamming into the barrier.
"You will not break your word. You swore to protect the kingdom, and by attacking us, you would be breaking that oath." Gala-Na sounded so proud of her achievement, "The young prince has already agreed to our allegiance."
Johan froze. He could not attack them. He was a man of honor.
But they denied him what he was promised. He was supposed to take the city, and break the enemy's will to fight. Instead, all he did was lose men.
Johan roared and smashed his fist against the barrier again, before pulling away. He marched past Gewis, who looked surprised. And turned around, before rushing straight towards the barrier to slam into it. The barrier pulsed, and Johan felt his shoulder pop against it.
Johan snarled again, when Gewis sighed, "That's enough… come on, let's go."
Johan turned to Gewis, "I vowed I would give Ezra this city!" He snarled. What kind of man would Johan be if he went back on his word?
"We don't have anymore ammo. We're stuck here. We can… I don't know… do something else. Don't you have a trade system or something? You can give her something else instead, right?" Gewis insisted, before gesturing to the wounded and tired men, "We can't fight any more."
Johan stopped and looked at his men. They were fatigued and exhausted. If they were Saxons, they would be ready to keep fighting. But they weren't, and they were still his men. Johan turned around and walked away from the city. He would have to find some way to repay his failed oath.
"Tend to the men, then we will leave this city. They will pay for this… not today, but I will claim justice over them!" Johan growled before looking down at Ezra, and bowing his head, "I am truly disgraced by my failure…. Curse their blood."
Ezra did not seem angry. She looked content, "It's good…. I'm out of the firing range at least…"
Johan growled, and walked towards the edge of the city. The next day, they would fly home, with only losses to show for their battles.
/*-*/
The Battle for Echidnapolis has ended… in a pyrrhic victory. A win with nothing to show for it…. Sort of. They are all exhausted, and the Echidna's played politics beautifully.
Alright, so I'll be taking some more time off to build up more chapters, and get ready for some more disruption in my life. A lot happened with our characters, and their views. Fiona is still deep in Eggman's territory, while Sonic is in a deep emotional vortex. Johan has been outplayed, but the Echidnas are safe.
Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of the arc. I will respond in the next chapter. If you want anonymity/privacy, send me a private message, and I'll respond as soon as I can. Thank you all for working through this arc. I'll see you in the next Arc: The First Offensive.
