Taking up the Mantle Chapter 28: Ascension, a sonic the hedgehog fanfic

Author's Note. This was supposed to be out two weeks or so ago, but I had surgery on one of my eyes. Irrespective of that nonsense, I worked through this to upload it quickly.

This one had lots of action in it, so if you like that kinda stuff you will like this.

The next chapter will be the culmination of everything I have worked for. I have thought about it incessantly since starting the story.

Enjoy I spose…

Legal Trash. Sonic and everybody else is copyright SEGA/Archie comics except for Max, Annie, and Sonia. I created them in my rattled brain; if you like my OC's use them and let me know. It'll be fun; we will have tea.

Gregory belongs to reader Singerj199, and Hazel belongs to Anonymous. All interpretations and expansions of these characters' backstories and alterations to fit into my world are 100 percent my work, that they are free to use as they see fit.

You can read more about Gregory in Singer's own masterful story, Shattered Skies if you would like to.

Ascension

As the day turned to noon. Tails was winding down from his intense mental training. Sweat poured off him from within the armor, and he gasped for breath.

Fortunately, the suffering had been worth it. While he had a long way to go until mastery, he now had fluid movement and function down perfectly.

Glancing over, he saw Seth stretching out in his armor and then spoke to him. "-Seems like we did good. I think we are functional enough for me to put the finishing touches on the weapons I made.-"

Seth exhaled, and it steamed up the clear visor of the helmet, after which it cleared rapidly. "-Sure…. Can't wait to try that out. Just being in this contraption, I can see why you think it could handle Radcliff easily.-"

Tails leaned against a tree, and then he spoke seriously. "-So, you going to ask Severa if she wants to go back…?-"

Seth was quiet, and his expression seemed sad. After a moment, he eventually nodded. "-I think she has a right to know and be given the offer, but she has become extremely reclusive after all that she has been through; I can't imagine she'd take the offer.-"

Tails merely breathed out and turned his head to the side. When he did, he froze in place the second he noticed Sonic standing there and watching him against a tree.

Seth came over, and when he saw Sonic, he merely patted Tails on the shoulder and spoke. "-I am going to go eat, see you around, fox….-"

In a way, Tails was upset Seth was leaving, but mostly because talking to Sonic terrified him. He idolized him so much that he didn't want him to know to the depths he slid in his absence.

Eventually, Sonic came over, stood before him with his arms crossed, and spoke. "Neat getup, little buddy! Seems like you have gotten better with buildin' stuff."

Tails was at a loss for words and now felt like he might look stupid in this suit despite how futuristic and impressive it was as a technological marvel.

After gaining what little nerve he could, Tails spoke out in his echoey helmet chatter to Sonic. "-So, you were watching…?-"

"This entire time!" Sonic grinned and put his two fingers to his chin as if in thought.

"Though, I am wonderin' what the plan is with that…? I've been keepin' Robotnik in check for the time being."

Tails became ashamed, not just because he was planning a solo war in an advanced suit but also because it was to save a girl he could no longer deny he "liked."

"…"

When Tails failed to answer, Sonic touched the armor's shoulder. Despite not feeling it, Tails instantly began to shake. The gesture alone was enough to cause massive discomfort.

Sonic merely smiled gently and spoke. "Chilidog for your thoughts?"

Tails shook his head inside the helmet and responded through painful gasps of held in sorrow. "-No… I can't do this…. Please….-"

The begging didn't dissuade Sonic, and he merely spoke again. "Come on…. I'm here now…. Don't close me out."

Tails became indignant and pulled away from him. "-Oh, yeah, and where the hell were you when I needed you!? When Max almost died!? When I lost her….-"

He was so upset that the last part slipped out, and Sonic raised an eyebrow to that statement, then smirked. "Well, I'm here now…. Perhaps I can help find 'her'?"

"…"

Tails stared at Sonic, and for the first time since his disappearance, did Tails feel like the child he used to be. He so wanted to believe in Sonic again, but it was difficult.

Sonic waited patiently, and so Tails eventually gave a response that felt right to him.

"-I need time…. Maybe… you can help find her, uhm, if you really want to.-"

Sonic slapped him on the back. "Just let me know where an' when, little buddy!"

As simple as that was, Tails turned to walk away but stopped and glanced back when Sonic spoke again.

"I can't wait to meet her…. If my little brother likes her, she must be all that!"

Tails was speechless and wholly humiliated. Though not in the negative way he was before. When Sonic had left, Tails was left feeling appreciative.

Maybe….

Maybe letting Sonic help would be beneficial. He couldn't allow his own feelings to get in the way of any and all help to retrieve Cream safely.

…

Cream stood in the middle of her estate with Alistair, Lynn, and Eliot.

As Alistair glared, he was quick to speak. "Ye better be havin' a good reason tae be bringnin' me ere! I 'ate bein' pulled away when Am scarin' eh' wee bastards oan eh' other end o' eh battlefield!"

Lynn waited patiently, and it seemed she was all ears as usual. Eventually, Cream spoke as to what she desired.

"Treachery is afoot, and it seems Radcliff has been plotting not just my death but all of ours by the use of poison."

Lynn looked over at Alistair, who laughed. "Smart lil' bitch, lass knows A'll rip 'er apart ifin she lets me!"

Eliot remained quiet, still bothered over Edea. He was aware that the violent traitor was still amongst them, but Cream's decision to begin the assault today was a twofold bold maneuver that was high risk.

It would force the assassin's hand in that they struck now or failed. It also ensured the threat of Cream's death was less critical. If Radcliff was killed or subjugated, they'd win, with or without Lady Redford breathing.

"…."

After Cream looked over to ensure all unaware were listening, she spoke frankly. "Given these threats, I have decided to move the assault to today."

Lynn opened her mouth in shock as Alistair started cracking up.

"HAH! An 'ere I thought ye was a weak wan!" He began, then slapped Cream on the back, nearly knocking her off her feet. "Teh outnumber us greatly but lack 'eh heart, brains, an' brawn tae deal whit us!"

Cream held onto the table to stabilize herself, then stood up properly. "Yes…. With Lasil having killed the traitors and perpetrators of Edea's murder still hidden from us, it is best we not dally and go for the throat."

Alistair eyed Eliot but did not say anything. After that, he spoke to Cream. "Alright, A'll be gatherin' eh soldiers. We already 'ave 'eh battle plan set fir 'eh frontal assault. I say we send 'eh bird brain tae lead the tunnel assault."

Eliot shook his head and responded. "Still hoping I die, eh?"

Alistair glared and slammed the bottom of his Ax against the floor. "Ifin I wanted ye tae die, Ad 'ave no need tae wish it; it'd already be. Now stop bein' a pussy, an' grow some balls!"

"Enough!" Cream shouted. "I don't have the time for your pettiness. I need you mobilized and ready by four o'clock… I will inform the civilians before heading out to give orders for the battle."

They all looked at her, and it seemed Cream was extremely serious about playing her part. The risk to her was exceedingly great, but deep down, they felt she would make the right call.

They were mostly hot-headed, egotistical, and violent. Cream was thoughtful, if not a bit anxious.

Once Alistair placed his hand out to signify his agreement, Lynn placed her hand on top. After that, Cream did, also, and finally, Eliot.

They were all in agreement, and come what may, they would either lose and die or emerge the victors, paving the way for a new path for Radcliff.

Alistair and Lynn left to head to the front, but Eliot stayed momentarily to speak to Cream.

"I… Will lead the tunnel assault…. Though, I will be getting my wife and bringing her here to stay. It is the safest place, and I am sure you know Redford's saferoom should things go south for the nobility."

Cream slowly nodded and responded. "Yes… I do, though I should think to offer her and the civilians a chance to escape instead while we have the tunnel under our control. She could be out of danger entirely."

Eliot shook his head and responded. "She'd never leave me here, so I will settle for her being behind your army and having access to your saferoom with the company of others."

Cream nodded, and with that, Eliot spoke once more. "Keep your eye on Alistair and Lynn… As much as you might trust them, they are capable of extreme brutality…"

As the words began to sink in, Cream understood now that they could just as easily be treacherous. He was already gone and out the door before she could ask Eliot why he thought this.

"…"

…

When Eliot reached the top of his estate stairs, he saw that Jamie and the two guards had cleaned up the violent aftermath of this morning.

As he passed, he heard Jamie speak in a calmer tone than usual. "I… Didn't realize this was so horrible. I am sorry you had to find this."

Eliot eyed her and then shook his head. "Whatever…. Just keep your mouth shut when I retrieve my wife."

Jamie frowned and then responded. "She's here? I was concerned when I did not see her."

Eliot merely walked past her and opened his cobbled-together door. "Of course not; you don't think I would leave her in the open with her life being threatened, do you?"

Jamie didn't respond and merely turned away. "Just hurry it up."

When Lasil entered, he quickly maneuvered his way through the dark home. The fireplace was smoldering slightly, but there was hardly any light beyond that.

Traveling down the hallway quietly, he examined the pictures and plants. "…."

Eventually, towards the back of his home, he stopped before the destroyed furniture and thought. It was painful how destroyed his life was now, and a part of him just wanted to run away with Lyra.

"…."

Coming to a rather large picture of his wife, he stopped and looked at her. After that, he glanced around the darkness to ensure nobody was lurking.

Once satisfied, he reached his hand under the frame and pressed an inconspicuous button hidden within it.

There was no sound nor indication of movement, but Lasil knew what to do. Making his way towards his master bedroom, he stood before the bed and looked down at it.

Another glance about, and he gently pushed against the end of it, causing it to slide effortlessly along a track until it revealed a closed trap door underneath.

Once the bed was in the wall far enough, the door opened with a click, and he now stood before a narrow and cramped set of stairs with a light at the bottom.

Getting in, he crawled down, and along the way, he pressed a button. It caused the bed to spring back out behind him with the door and relocked with another click.

These saferooms were in every palatial estate, and nobody ever disclosed the location of theirs. It was a way to protect one's self.

When Eliot reached the bottom, he could see their cozy room. It was rather spaciously hidden in the mountain itself. Vents provided oxygen from the outside, and hidden pipes carried water from the lake; one could effortlessly stay there for days or weeks.

"Oh, Eliot dear… I thought it was you." Lyra said as she lifted a piece of elegant china to her beak and sipped on the tea within.

Despite the bunker-style setup, it was genuinely opulent despite its size, and there was enough food stored in here with a long shelf life to ride out most things.

Eliot sat across from her at the quaint table and focused on the lantern that provided ample light.

When he didn't respond, Lyra put her cup down and spoke. "What's wrong, dear…?"

Eliot continued to keep his eyes on the light and responded. "Lady Redford is moving the battle to today, and I am to lead the tunnel assault…."

Lyra became instantly upset and shook her head. "I understand why, but are you sure it is wise to move it to today…. What would possess her to do this?"

Eliot could tell her the truth but decided to shield her from the news a bit longer, not just for her but for himself.

"Dear… The nobles are being targeted for assassination. I would implore you to stay in here where it is safe." He said.

Lyra became angry and responded in an upset tone. "No, absolutely not! Not if you are going to be out there without me!"

Eliot sighed and then responded. "I knew you would say that, so at the very least, will you accompany me and the guards assigned to you to Redford's estate? It is undoubtedly the safest place during combat."

Lyra thought and then gulped down the rest of her warm tea. After which, she spoke. "Alright, so long as you assure me you will return to me."

Eliot merely smirked and pointed towards himself with his remiges. "Me? Pff, I am Eliot Lasil. They don't have a chance."

Lyra smiled and quickly hugged him; after that, she snuffed out the lantern, and the two carefully made their way out of the dark area.

…

When the two were out front with Jamie, Lyra could see their grim expressions, and there was still staining on the stones despite their best efforts.

"Hm…? What has happened here, dear?" Lyra spoke.

Eliot glanced at her guards; they merely turned and led the way. After that, he responded. "Nothing to worry about dear…. I will explain everything after we are triumphant in taking back 'our' city."

The three walked down the stairs and along the streets. Now, Eliot realized the crime scene likely still existed, and he began to panic without outward expression.

As they approached the boutique, he breathed a sigh of relief to see that the door had been closed, and the gruesome scene within was hidden from the casual passersby.

Lyra was completely oblivious as they left it behind, and he had to wonder if Edea's headless body was still propped up on the other side of it.

"…"

Having made it to the Redford estate, Eliot could see Cream had been serious, as many soldiers had piled up along the protective barrier by Alistair.

Looking about, he saw that even civilians were arming themselves with muskets. All it took for them was to know how to load it, and the rebels had inexperienced but lethal soldiers if it came down to it.

As Lyra hugged Eliot at the entrance to the estate, she spoke.

"Do be careful, love."

"Same to you, I…." He began but stopped before getting his thought out.

When Lyra noticed, she grabbed hold of him and spoke. "I… What is it, dear? I can see in your eyes you have something important to say…."

When Eliot heard that, he thought hard, and his desire was finally fully realized. "I… I am a man of my word, so I must commit to this assault… Though, whether victorious or not, I want you to wait for me… I have grown tired of the misery and mire of this accursed place… I want us to leave… to start anew…"

Lyra seemed shocked but could tell he meant it. He wanted a fresh start and to whisk her away to a better tomorrow, no matter what it cost him personally.

As they stared at each other, she wrapped her wings around him and hugged him tightly. "I… I will follow you anywhere… I… just hope we can bring Edea should this be your true desire."

Eliot was stabbed in the heart yet again but spoke so confidently that his words seemed undeniably genuine. "I… Wouldn't think about leaving your best friend behind…."

When he said that, Lyra nuzzled him and broke the hug. Deep down, she was excited to be free of this place and spread her wings. Eliot had changed much recently, making her realize that better days were ahead for the two of them if only she were to seize the opportunity.

…

With that promise, she was gone, and Eliot began to make his way towards the shops.

Once in the tunnels, he was surrounded by infantry and heavily armored units. Waiting but for the command to commence the violent assault.

"…"

…

Tails quietly tinkered at his workbench while Seth examined the sword made for him.

It was made of the same alloy as the suit and boasted a razor-sharp blade. However, it was so heavy that wielding it without the armor's aid would prove difficult, if not impossible.

Either way, Seth knew what the suit was capable of, so he merely looked it over to ensure it was flawless to his lofty standards.

When Tails finished his weapon, he placed it down and stood up to look at it. From Seth's reckoning, it was a giant rifle and a complex one at that.

"Nice, though; I do not know how you will free up your hands if you need them," Seth commented.

Tails looked at him, then smiled. "Well, it was a last-minute idea of mine, so I will show it to you."

Seth was intrigued and watched while Tails suited up and then picked up the gun, which fit snugly in the suit's grasp.

Aiming it, Tails could see it effortlessly through the helmet visor, and once satisfied, he pressed a button on it. Moving the rifle behind himself, it stuck to the back of the suit using a superconductive magnet.

"Damn, that's useful…." Seth commented as Tails reached behind to hit the switch, causing it to be removable.

He had taken Robotnik's engineering and used what he saw from Nicole in the other world to produce these advanced weapons.

Once the gun was placed behind himself again, he was ready to test it, so he moved outside and waited for Seth to join him.

…

It didn't take long for Seth to lumber out with the gigantic great sword magnetized to his back, and then, as Tails was about to walk, he spoke.

"-So, after we fully heal… Will we always have to use our minds to completely control it?-"

Tails looked back and realized it was a valid inquiry. "-The suit is designed in sections. Since I used our measurements, you can remove the extra length and wear it as fitted armor. If wounded again, you can simply reattach the removed parts.-"

It was ingenious crafting, so much so that even if Seth had his arms ripped off, he could still fight in combat.

Once the question was answered, both took to the woods a reasonable distance away so they could get to testing their armaments.

…

Cream stood with Aria and Lyra in the center of her estate. Jamie and the guards waited by the door as the rebels below geared up for their assault.

After a moment, Cream walked towards the master bedroom and beckoned the two to follow. Without saying much, Aria and Lyra trailed behind her and once in the room. Cream shut the door and locked it.

Lyra, as did Aria, seemed confused, but Aria decided to dispel it by speaking. "What's going on….?"

Cream frowned and then responded. "I am to head down towards the barrier for the assault. I am entrusting you the location of my saferoom should I not make it back…."

They both looked at each other, and Lyra spoke. "I… shouldn't you be here with us? If you fall, the rebellion shall also."

Cream shook her head. "We will all fall if we wait to be killed by Lady Radcliff. We must try, as it will be our only chance at freedom from her tyranny."

Lyra seemed dejected, and so she just spoke. "What of our friends and family? I would hate to think Edea is unprotected at her boutique."

Aria frowned and shook her head. "My mother is already safe, but I long for my brother, so I shall hide and wait for him if things get bad."

Cream looked at Lyra and was surprised by her ignorance over the matter of Edea. Still, she was empathetic enough to know that it was by intent. Only so much mental strain could be handled at once.

"Don't worry, no matter what happens, I will ensure people are safe if I can help it."

Lyra smiled despite the vague and non-specific response. "Bless you, I hope you and my darling strike a decisive blow."

With that said Cream walked over to the stationary with her letters crumpled everywhere and reached into a drawer. After opening it, she reached in and pulled out several books.

Among them was what appeared to be a photo album. Once it was opened, Cream flipped through the many pictures inside of Redford and herself as she grew up.

As her finger glided over the pictures, she stopped at a simple one among many others. It was her and her stepfather posing at her sixteenth birthday party.

All it took was a hard press into her face, and Aria and Lyra heard a clicking noise by the wall. Nothing appeared different, but as Cream walked over to it, with Redford's portrait hung proudly, she pushed hard against it.

The second she did, the wall sank inwards, revealing the line of the door hidden behind the thin portion of the wall itself.

Once it stopped, Cream pulled to the side with her palms against the wall to reveal a giant opening with stairs. This was the most intricate and discreet saferoom either of the other nobles had seen.

"Whoa!" Aria exclaimed and glanced down the stairs.

Lyra also looked and seemed impressed. "My, Redford truly was about safety. It looks like it goes deep."

Cream held the photo album and placed it back in the same drawer. "Once it is open, take the book with you; they'll never be able to trigger the lock if you have it."

Both nodded, so Cream went over to the wall and pulled it back. This set it in motion, and once it appeared seamless with the wall again, the sound of it locking was heard.

After that, the two left her room, with Aria heading back to Cream's old room and Lyra going to the balcony to watch the gathering army from on high and wait for her beloved to return.

…

As Cream readied herself to leave, she was stopped abruptly by a high-ranking officer in the rebellion.

"Pardon, Miss Redford?"

"Yes?" Cream said calmly.

"Forgive the intrusion, but I have important information to relay. May I talk to you in private?"

Cream glanced about and then nodded. "Ok, sure."

When the two were in her private quarters, the soldier reached into his bag, and pulled out a box. "This was found in Edea's boutique storage. It was addressed specifically to you, so it was determined it should be delivered without delay."

Cream took and placed the small box on her bed, after which she responded. "Thank you, Merric…. Any news in regards to the traitor?"

Merric nodded. "Eyewitness accounts place Lasil nowhere near the boutique at the time of Edea's death. The evidence suggests that Edea struggled after being stabbed in the front by her assailant; because of this, we believe they were likely somebody trustworthy. One she knew or possibly a commander in our army carrying authority."

Cream nodded as she thought and then responded. "Very well, if that is all you have to tell me, you may continue your investigation."

The soldier shook his head and spoke. "That is not all; Commander Lynn told me to give you this."

Once he said that he pulled out a letter and handed it to Cream.

Cream took it gratefully and once again encouraged him to go. "Thank you. Now, please leave me so that I may read the correspondence."

Merric merely saluted and was out the door, shutting it behind himself.

"…"

Cream sighed, tossed the unopened letter on the bed, and began tearing into the brown paper surrounding the box. Once opened, she saw a note atop it and took it to read.

"Dear Miss Redford. Please accept this token as a gesture of good faith and loyalty towards you. I ask that in return for my hard work, you repair the damage done to my shop by the prince's war tactician. After all, had he not delivered this, my shop would be in good standing.

Thank you for understanding.

Edea Miaz."

Cream paused in confusion and sadness but quickly understood when she threw off the box cover and saw the replica of her mother's dress within it.

At first, she was shocked, but when she lifted it, she could see it had been wholly restored and cleaned. Dropping it on the bed, Cream immediately began to tear up and cry, after which she cupped her hands over her eyes.

"…"

The sheer overwhelming emotions joined with the thoughts of Tails, brought her a sense of thankfulness intermixed with despair.

When she was able to stabilize herself, she quickly began to strip herself down to her undergarments, and within a few minutes, she put on the outfit and glanced at herself in the mirror.

For the first time in her entire life, she felt confident in who she was. As she looked at herself wearing the dress, it bridged the gap between Redford and Cream, and she knew that if she was to perish, she wanted to do it as the person Tails had known.

Taking a deep breath, she thought of Edea and vowed to punish the person who had killed her. In the moments that passed, she had several commanding officers in her mind, but before she could get too deep into it, she recalled the letter she had tossed aside.

"…"

Picking it up off the bed, she tore into it, and once she skimmed it. Her eyes widened, and she seemed panicked.

Without even taking the time to read the whole thing, she threw it to the ground and was quickly out the door and running towards the barrier protecting the rebel-controlled part of the city.

…

Once Cream arrived at her destination, she could see the towering protective barrier with soldiers all along it and many within it.

Moving forward, she walked through the doors that allowed access to the no man's land by her estate. Upon seeing Lynn and Alistair, she smiled but stopped when she saw that the bits of the letter she had read were valid.

"…"

Across the vast space of abandoned homes in the residential district was a well-trained army of knights. Edea's assassin or other traitors seemed to have fed the information about the moved assault time.

Ultimately, though, that was an issue that was secondary to what appeared was about to happen.

"A-are they readying an attack?" Cream stumbled slightly over her words.

Alistair eyed her. "Nah, 'ey over 'ere shakin' in those wee booties they got oan."

As Lynn stared with her eye, she squinted, and Alistair crossed his arms.

"Looks like they sendin' someone over ere. Hopefully, tae beg fir a quick death!" Alistair commented.

Cream waited behind her soldiers, and as the Radcliff knight approached. She called out to them.

"Stand your ground! What business do you have over here!?"

The Radcliff knight merely bent down on one knee and spoke humbly. "It is Lady Sarah's wish to speak to Miss Redford directly…."

Alistair could do nothing but laugh and spit in their direction. "Fuck off! After all yer lil' bullshite tricks, ye 'an rope yer nek."

Cream was hesitant but spoke her mind. "What could she want to speak about after all she has done?"

The knight merely kept on bended knee and responded. "It is Lady Radcliff's desire to not have it come to full-on combat. It would destroy the city, and she has acknowledged she has failed to stop your rebellion."

Cream rolled her eyes and sneered. "Yeah, how magnanimous of her to offer this solution now…."

The knight spoke again. "We can resolve this without killing each other… Radcliff knows you are a sensible woman, so please, bring your guard and speak with her."

Cream immediately saw right through this appeal but decided to speak to her for a personal and selfish reason. "Tell Radcliff I will meet her in the center of the residential district."

As the knight stood up, Alistair became enraged. "'Eh fu…."

"Shut up, Alistair!" Cream interrupted before he could go off on another tangent and merely pointed to her soldiers.

"I am going, so do as I say; pull up the fallen lords, and do it quickly!"

"…" Alistair glared but was amused she was bringing the slain twits to play with. Either way, he decided if she died for her stupidity, it wasn't his problem.

…

Cream walked behind a heavily armed entourage comprised of full-plate, chain, ranged, and spears with four animals carrying pikes in the back, as well as Lynn.

Across the way and approaching the center was Lady Radcliff, accompanied by many more soldiers than Cream.

Despite this, however, when the two groups were close to one another, there was evident hesitation from the Radcliff army, likely due to the notoriety of Alistair's brutality and the rebel's previous victories.

Lady Sarah approached confidently with her best knights by her, and as Cream mimicked her movements, Lynn and her full-plated rebels joined her sides.

Once, the two women were a short distance away. Lady Radcliff spoke in a calm tone.

"My, my, Lady Redford…. Admittedly, I didn't think you'd accept my little picnic out here, but I am pleasantly surprised, nonetheless."

Cream was disgusted and spoke in a blunt, if not forceful, manner. "Just get to the point, Radcliff. I know what you have been up to, and you think me fool enough to trust your benevolence."

Radcliff put her hand to her chest as if wounded and spoke. "Why, what have I been up to, dear child? Tell me, perhaps I can dispel these misconceptions."

When Lynn looked at Cream, she was clearly getting highly pissed off. Lynn didn't make any movement but definitely approved of Cream's disrespect towards their enemy.

"There's nothing to dispel! You had me tortured! You were to have me killed! You murdered Edea!" Cream shouted without thinking about the words she should use.

Radcliff merely frowned and shook her head. "Dear child, no. I would never. It was Windser that had you imprisoned. It came to my attention too late that he had been imprisoning attractive young girls to assault and punish."

Cream looked beyond enraged, but her words rang true, given Windser's exposed crimes.

Still, Cream caught herself wanting to trust Radcliff's version of events. Sarah was such an adept liar that if she claimed it was raining, Cream was sure she would have to go outside to make sure it was true.

"Bullshit!" She shouted with confidence.

Radcliff appeared shocked. Cream was speaking like this and stammered slightly in her attempt to explain. "I, well. Well, of course, you have already taken care of him. Furthermore, as for Edea's death, I can assure you that it was Eliot. I have the corro…"

"Shut up!" Cream interrupted her and pointed her gloved finger at Radcliff.

Her outburst was near tears, and everybody on Radcliff's side was taken utterly aback by her brash words.

In silent befuddlement, Radcliff stared and then frowned. "So, you really think you can overthrow me, do you?"

Cream stared silently, and the look of smug disdain on Radcliff was such that if she were next to her, Cream would punch her in the mouth.

"…."

Radcliff merely raised her hand as if to issue a command but stopped when Cream spoke.

"I'm only going to ask you once, and you better answer truthfully… What did you do with Tails…?"

Radcliff smiled brightly and clasped her hands together. She recognized that her usual tricks had failed, so she decided to harm her morale.

"I sent him… 'home.'"

Cream's blood was boiling, and to the surprise of everyone on the enemy side, she snapped her fingers abruptly the second she had confirmation.

When she did so, the few soldiers carrying sharp pikes from the back moved before her, and with force, they jammed the four of them into the dirt for the small group to gaze upon.

As Radcliff cast her gaze upward, she was mortified to see the rotten heads of the elite houses staring blankly at her. Her glance moved around, and she feared a surprise attack.

"…"

Cream merely pointed at Radcliff once more and spoke in a mockingly rage-filled tone. "I brought you some company…. It is the least I can do to show you with whom you will reside by the day's end."

Radcliff was speechless, and Cream's rebels broke out into laughter. With that, Cream had given her answer to Radcliff's "negotiation" and began to walk away.

As her entourage turned with her, a knight spoke to Radcliff. "I… what will we do, Lady Sarah? This is…."

Sarah turned to her knight and cut him off. "Send word to my assassin quickly… tell them if they want me to make good on my word, to take out the targets after the battle erupts and things are chaotic."

"…"

The soldier saluted, and as Radcliff turned away, she spoke to herself in her own sense of indignant malice.

"The fool has finally learned to play the 'game of lords'…. It is a shame that it came too late to be useful…."

…

BOOOM!

A loud explosion erupted near Gregory as he ran breathlessly through the dimming grey forest. Turning, he followed the indentation of the river, with Hazel hardly able to keep her breath.

"Ah! My lungs…. burn!" She cried out as another explosion caused her to slide on the ice before catching herself and continuing to run.

Gregory didn't speak; he just ran with his weapon in hand as he pushed himself beyond his breaking point. When he stopped and gasped for air, another laser fired, and he had to jump forward.

"Shit!" He screamed as he toppled forward from the blast and began to roll down a small hill onto what appeared to be a sizable frozen pond.

He slid across it, kicking up snow as he went, and his slug-thrower fell out of his grasp and moved away from him on the slippery surface.

Quickly sitting up and gasping for more air, his eyes darted about, and he could see red lights above him dancing from tree to tree.

He exhaled deeply, and fog blew in front of his vision. Without delay, he began to claw his way towards his weapon.

Hazel darted towards him to help, only to be stopped by a sword-carrying robot landing right in front of her.

"Ahhh!" She screeched and fell backward onto her rear.

When Gregory reached his weapon, he put his hand on it, lifted it, and readied to aim. Before he could target anything, a rifle-wielding robot landed before him and pointed its weapon at him.

When Gregory cast his gaze upward, he was horrified by the creature, and it stared at him as if waiting for him to try and shoot it.

"…"

With the stillness overtaking them, Gregory regained his oxygen and spoke timidly. "I… What in the hell are you supposed to be? Why are you doin' this?"

The robot stared and then spoke in a malevolent hissing whisper. "We are retribution… You are the means to an end that will grant us freedom…."

Gregory looked down at its feet and leaned back, keeping the weapon's barrel pointed to the ground. "I, just, please let us go…."

The robot by Hazel kept its sword towards her, and she just trembled in terror while the riflebot responded.

"We…. are sorry…. but it was the Freedom Fighter's failure that forced our hand…. We cannot allow you to interfere…. We must regain the prerogative of our host."

"…"

Gregory shook his head because it sounded like gibberish and then let out a breath. "Very well, if that's how it's gotta' be…."

Without moving much at all, Gregory shot the ice the barrel was pointed at, and as the robot staggered, he lifted the weapon and fired again, causing the ice to give way beneath it.

As it plummeted quickly, Gregory felt the heat of the laser whiz by him and explode, causing him to shriek loudly. Hazel was now panicking, and the robot before her moved in to end her.

"Gregory! Help!" She yelled, near tears.

Gregory leaped up, and the pond's ice began to deteriorate rapidly. His leg sank in, and he pulled it up, after which he began to run away from Hazel and the collapsing ice.

"…"

"No!" Hazel screeched.

Gregory ran as fast as he could, and when he made it off the ice, he grabbed the strap of his backpack and threw it to the ground to make himself lighter as he departed.

Hazel was swung at, but the robot began to shake from the unsteady ice and missed entirely. When it realized it would collapse into the ice, it leaped to the pond's bank, choosing to pursue Gregory instead of the already doomed Hazel.

…

Hazel scurried to get off the disintegrating ground, but when she slipped into a crack, she cried loudly while digging her claws into the ice for dear life.

"Ah…. No! I don…."

She tried to yell as she was submerged in the freezing water before getting her last words out.

"…."

…

Gregory was hustling, allowing nothing in his mind to stop him from completing the task. Hazel had likely lost her life by now, but it wouldn't be in vain.

As he turned past the trees, he recognized another landmark. The pool…. Even with everything else frozen, it was still liquid for some inexplicable reason.

He gasped in a breath and began struggling to pull himself forward.

"Ah! Hell!" He cried as he slowed down substantially from the long pursuit.

Even as he heard running behind him, he found his body struggling to go faster.

"Gah!" He staggered and glanced back.

Behind him, he saw the red visor gaining ground on him, and he gritted his teeth. Pushing through thick brush and bushes that cut into his skin through his fur, he burst into a clearing and was immediately shocked by what he saw.

All around him were huts and lights. Immediately, he knew this was the place, but his joy was short-lived when he collapsed entirely and turned around from his position on the ground.

The robot was right in front of him, and all he could do was scream in terror and shut his eyes. As he waited to die, he could hear the sounds of the wind and growing voices.

"…"

When nothing struck him down, he looked up and saw the robot's sword hovering right in his face, but it was not assaulting him. The robot seemed to be preoccupied with the sight of the village….

When Gregory glanced about, he saw two animals drawing toward himself and the robot.

Finally, when a blue hedgehog was close enough, he spoke confidently to the robot assailant.

"You gotta' bout' five seconds to let 'em' go before I turn you into trash…."

The robot lowered its sword and continued to look around as if in a stupor.

"…"

"What in all hell is goin' on over here!" Bunnie exclaimed loudly, at least, until she finally saw the robot.

"Mah stars, what in the hell!?"

It was a strange sight, but the robot turned off the sword and hissed to the approaching animals.

"Stay away from Mobotropolis… You'll not get a second warning…."

With the words spoken, it began to fade and disappear, causing Bunnie to panic. "Shit! It knows where we are!"

Sonic crossed his arms and thought, then walked towards the wolf gasping in horror on the ground. "You ok there, buddy?"

Gregory was shaking, but Sonic bent over and helped him to his feet.

"…."

Bunnie cried out to Sonic. "We need to do somthin'! Why didn't you destroy it!?"

Sonic looked over and responded in a soothing tone. "Relax, Bunnie…. I'll handle any issue that comes up."

Bunnie blinked but eventually sighed to calm herself. After that, she began to scrutinize Gregory. "Just what in the hoo-ha is goin' on here? Start talkin' boy!"

Gregory looked over at her, and rather than stay silent forever, he spoke almost detachedly. "We were… I was… to deliver an important message to his Highness, Prince Maximillian…"

Bunnie placed her hands on her waist and then looked at Sonic, who shrugged.

"Who sent ya, and why did ya lead that hunk of junk here!?" Bunnie pressed further.

Gregory could tell she was upset but merely declined further inquiry. "I was told to deliver this message to the prince, nobody else…."

Bunnie was frustrated and cranky but relented as she walked over to a nearby hut and began slamming on the door aggressively.

Gregory was quiet and coming down from his shock that he wasn't dead. Now that things were calmer, he could put his head on straight.

As Bunnie slammed on the door again, Max angrily opened it and spoke indignantly.

"What!?"

Bunnie blinked, and her gaze shifted to his bed in the background. She could see Nicole sitting in it with the covers messed up behind her.

After Nicole removed herself from the side of it, Bunnie shifted her gaze to Max, giving him a perplexed, if not subtly disapproving, look.

"…."

Max didn't even acknowledge her implicate mannerisms and just spoke again. "Yes? You need something?"

Bunnie shook her head from side to side and eventually decided she was imagining things. "Yeah, ya got mail delivery, Your Highness…."

Max glanced out the door into the stormy weather and saw a wolf standing by his father. It was utterly confusing, but he walked outside to see what was happening.

Nicole watched from the door, and Bunnie turned away to follow Max.

…

Once Max stood before Gregory, the wolf was about to get on bended knee, but Max held up his glove-covered hand and interrupted the gesture.

"Save it… What do you have for me?"

Gregory stood quietly and eventually reached into his jacket. After a moment, he pulled out a sealed envelope and presented it to Max.

Max took it and examined the wax seal, after which he responded. "So, you are from Radcliff?"

Hearing that made Bunnie scowl, but she held her tongue. Sonic just leaned against the side of a hut and listened quietly with interest.

"Yessir', Your Highness… Lady Redford sent me to deliver that."

Max had already deduced that, recognizing the Redford seal stamped into the wax. It seemed odd that she would send a message to him of all people, but it secretly made him a little bit happy. It meant Lynn had at least done as he wished.

Breaking the seal, he opened the letter and unfolded the paper. Once he began reading, his expression became sorrowful; after reaching the end, he seemed concerned.

"Well, what's it say!?" Bunnie became loud.

Max dropped his hands to his sides and felt it wasn't his place to share it with her. Eventually, he looked up and spoke in a sorrowful manner.

"We need to get this to Tails immediately…."

"…."

…

Tails padded through the snow as it became harsher. He wiped some of the frost that had collected on his visor with his hand.

Seth had left to return to Knothole some bit ago, but Tails became distracted on his way back by loud noises. Sensing danger, he walked through the dim forest, occasionally glancing up at the sky blanketed by deep grey storm clouds.

With a breath, he could see tracks in the deep snow, so he followed them. Not long into his walk, he reached a pond that seemed to be cracked and flowing. Glancing about, it was easy for him to see that combat had occurred here.

Stepping forward, he saw a lump covered in snow and approached it cautiously. Eventually, when all remained still, he examined it closely. To his shock, it appeared to be a young animal, practically frozen to death.

Tails could see she was soaked from head to toe and realized she would be very soon if she wasn't already dead.

"-Shit….-" Tails murmured to himself through his helmet.

As he moved in to grab the frozen creature, a flash of light collided with his face and caused a rather severe explosion.

BOOM!

Tails went sailing and rolling on the ground, the suit he was in shaking violently as he went. Fortunately, he could see a blue light flash before him the moment he was hit.

In almost an instant, the suit entered combat mode and began displaying Tails' information on both sides of his periphery from his visor.

Power: 87% _ _ _ _ Int/Ext Temp: 67/-8

System: 100% _ _ _ _ Weap Setting: Auto

O2: 100% _ _ _ _ Shield: Operational.

Damage: 0% _ _ _ _ Sight Setting: Norm

Messages: Attack blocked by power barrier. 87% power remaining!

Tails rapidly rolled over as another explosion hit the ground next to him. It had missed, so it allowed Tails to raise himself and lift the sleek energy rifle towards the assailant.

As he held the trigger, a rapid succession of blue lasers flew in the area of the gunfire, and when sparks erupted from nothing, he could tell he had tagged it.

"-Piece of junk! You've made a mistake you'll regret!-"

Now visible, the robot's red visor glowed from the treetops, and another shot was hurled at Tails. He ducked behind the tree and began to fire his rifle in quick bursts, glancing at the side of his visor occasionally to see important context.

Power: 87% _ _ _ _ Int/Ext Temp: 75/-8

System: 100% _ _ _ _ Weap Setting: Auto

O2: 100% _ _ _ _ Shield: Operational.

Damage: 0% _ _ _ _ Sight Setting: Norm

Messages: Ammunition low!

He hid himself cautiously and exhaled deeply as another shot blew off pieces of the tree he was hiding behind.

He rapidly ripped the ammo battery out of the weapon, having depleted much of it from testing earlier, and clipped it into a port on the side of his waist. After that, he took a different one from the same area and jammed it into the weapon, causing it to emit a loud energy sound.

Power: 85% _ _ _ _ Int/Ext Temp: 72/-8

System: 100% _ _ _ _ Weap Setting: Auto

O2: 100% _ _ _ _ Shield: Operational.

Damage: 0% _ _ _ _ Sight Setting: Norm

Messages: Batt 2/3 100%. Batt 1 charging off of primary power source!

BOOM!

Another loud explosion erupted, sending splinters at him, and he rounded the tree to fire another barrage of lasers at the assailant.

Eventually, Tails could see multiple mini-explosions, knowing he had "wounded" the target fatally. The first field test of the advanced combat suit was a resounding success and evened the playing field substantially.

"…."

As the robot fell from the tree, it lay just a few feet away, staring with its glowing visor at Tails when he came into view. Standing directly before it, he pointed the gun towards it and stared.

Just as Tails was about to shoot it to pieces, he was taken aback by it speaking Mobian to him.

"So… You have returned…."

Tails was utterly confused, but the sinister whisper reminded him of his time imprisoned with Robotnik.

"-ORACLE….?-" Tails paused pensively.

"-What are you doing here?-" He spoke confusedly through the helmet.

The shattered robot stared and merely offered him cryptic nonsense as an answer. "As the night draws near, all shall cease to be…. Our pain will be paid for in blood at all costs…."

Tails became terrified, and he merely stared at the mechanical entity, sensing this erratic behavior had reached a fever pitch. Whatever transpired was beyond his understanding, as he was sure it was equally beyond Robotnik's.

"-I…. don't understand?-"

The robot uttered one last gasping hiss before its visor ceased functioning. "You can't stop…. What's to come…."

…

Tails looked down at the pile of junk and merely turned away, unsure of how to even understand the current situation.

Placing his weapon behind himself, the magnetic pull attached it to him, and he checked the visor information before willing it to shut off.

Power: 84% _ _ _ _ Int/Ext Temp: 69/-9

System: 100% _ _ _ _ Weap Setting: Auto

O2: 100% _ _ _ _ Shield: Operational.

Damage: 0% _ _ _ _ Sight Setting: Norm

Messages: Target eliminated! Batt 1 currently at 20% charge.

After it disappeared, Tails again moved over and examined the frozen animal. He quietly picked her up into his arms and quickly walked towards Knothole.

Despite the work the suit was doing for him, the stab injury on his shoulder caused a lot of pain from excess motion. Still, he pressed on, understanding he didn't have time to whine.

As he left the area, he stumbled heavily and nearly fell. "-Ahh! Damn!-"

Luckily, he didn't drop the young animal, but when he looked down, he saw a backpack discarded by his feet.

With a brief inspection, he looked it over and could tell it was full of goodies. Assuming it to be the person he was carrying's things, he gently laid them down and slung the bag over his shoulder, after which he retrieved them and began to walk rapidly to get some help.

"…."

…

As Tails made it to Knothole, he was surprised to find Annie and Sonia at the edge of the village. Sonia seemed to be checking the perimeter while Annie was bundled up tightly and approaching him.

"Hey, there you are!" Annie said, somewhat enthusiastically for someone like her.

Tails stopped and looked her over, noticing her healed injuries, after which he spoke. "-Been a long time, Annie… What Happened to you?-"

Annie appeared hesitant, realizing she'd probably come off like she didn't care about him. She'd secluded herself so heavily that their paths hadn't crossed.

Sensing her reluctance, Tails just shook his head and spoke. "-Never mind… I need your help…. I dunno' who this is, but it seems to be a young girl…. I need you and Sonia to warm her up immediately.-"

As Sonia approached, both girls looked at the unconscious and soaked animal. Annie understood there was no time to argue or converse about it, so she stretched her arms out to accept the person.

Tails gently handed her off while Annie struggled slightly to hold her at first. After a moment, though, she seemed to stabilize herself and turned away to hurry off to the closest warm hut.

Tails watched as Annie was off to help the poor creature. When Sonia turned away to try and follow, Tails called out to her.

"-Hey!-"

When Sonia paused, he reached out his arm and held the backpack he'd found before her.

"-I think this might be hers…. You should probably take it in with you.-"

When she took it, she stared at Tails, still struggling to get used to his new futuristic appearance. He'd been stomping around in it for a while, and it looked like he was ready to head to the moon.

After realizing she was staring, she turned away without a word and began to head off with the pack so they could try and warm up the dying girl.

Once all was quiet again, Tails was satisfied that they would handle the injured while he got to the bottom of why he was being searched for and just who that person was that he'd come across.

Fortunately for him, though, his answer came in the form of the distant congregation of a few animals from Knothole in the center of the village, along with somebody he'd never seen before.

"…."

…

As Tails reached the group, everyone seemed relieved to see him, and Max was the first to speak up. "There you are! I… we… uhm…"

Tails eyed Gregory with suspicion and then interrupted Max with his echoey voice. "-Whose the kid?-"

Gregory didn't much like being referred to as a kid, but he could tell the person in the fancy armor was older than him, so he kept quiet.

As Tails looked at everyone's expressions, he sensed nobody knew how to say what they had to.

It was frustrating but quickly understood when Max held up an opened letter with the wax Redford insignia broken at the bottom.

Before anybody could speak, he rushed over and snatched it from Max's grasp. Standing there in the dim evening, he began to read the words on the parchment.

"Dear, Max.

I am writing to you in my sorrow to express my deepest apologies for causing the death of Tails. I had come to find out what had occurred, which has weighed heavily on me this entire time.

I… I had come to love him dearly as I had you, your quaint village, and all who reside there. I suppose I just didn't realize it during the time I had access to it all.

But like many things in life, experience and understanding are what you obtain when you no longer have any need of it.

More than apologies, I want to offer you retribution atonement. I will crush those who have inflicted this pain and injustice, or I will die trying to do so.

Either way, a guilty party will cease to exist whether I fall or the vile Radcliff falls.

I can offer no better solution for the grief I have caused.

Sincerely, and forever grateful.

Cream Redford.

Tails crushed the letter with his suit gauntlet and felt deep pain within him. Cream's tone was more confident than ever, but he could tell she was breaking apart on the inside.

Whatever terrible things had happened to her scared him, and even more so, he recognized that waiting here was no longer an option.

Before anybody could say anything, Tails pointed at Gregory and spoke. "-You from Radcliff?-"

Gregory was intimidated by the armor and the directness with which Tails spoke but nonetheless responded. "Why, yes sir… Lady Redford sent us to deliver that message promptly."

"Us?" Max commented in a confused manner, but Tails spoke again before Gregory could inform.

"-You must have been with the girl I found in the woods.-"

When Gregory heard that, he was surprised and spontaneously responded. "She's alive?!"

"-Barely…. I have Annie and Sonia trying to help her now. I don't know what the story is there, but I haven't the time for it. Just tell me what is going on in Radcliff.-"

…

Gregory spoke briefly about the days leading up to his leaving with Hazel. Given Tails pushy and hurried nature, he knew he wanted it to the point.

When the group heard about a coming conflict, most could hardly believe Cream's change. However, Tails had known there was a strength in her that was consistently undermined by her timidness.

Looking about, Tails just uttered one question. "-Where's Seth…?-"

Bunnie eyed Tails and spoke. "He went off to my hut when he found out this one was from that Radcliff shithole. Said he was talkin' to Severa and then headin' out immediately."

The group was quiet again until Max spoke up. "What are we going to do?"

Tails stood there and then spoke determinedly. "-I dunno' about you, but I am heading to Radcliff tonight. Even if I have to rip that place apart myself and drag Cream kicking and screaming against her will, she is coming back here.-"

Max nodded, figuring as much.

Bunnie eventually accepted the proposal as well. "Alright, hun. I'm down… I owe them one for hurtin' my family anyway!"

Lupe quietly watched and then offered her support. "It sounds like a good opportunity to return to the battlefield…"

Nicole looked at Rotor, who held up the paper instructions he had made for her. "I think Nicole and I should stay here and shore up the place like we discussed. Time is running short."

Nicole looked at Max, who merely gave her a smile. "You do that, Nicole; things will be fine with us. I promise…."

Nicole merely put her hand on his shoulder in lieu of hugging him. Once people were set on what they were doing, they began to rapidly ready themselves to march off towards Radcliff before this planned conflict could even occur.

…

As Tails was about to go to Rotor's shop, he stopped when Sonic came over and placed his hand on his shoulder.

Tails became nervous again, and Sonic spoke gently.

"So, you need me to come, or you flyin' solo?"

Tails stared at him blankly, as it seemed odd for Sonic to ask. So bizarre that it was all he could focus on at the moment. "-I… Why are you asking me?-"

"Cuz it's your call, little buddy… Well, you ain't so little anymore… Still, as much as I wanna' help. I know you just might not be ready for me to."

At this moment, Tails realized how perceptive Sonic was, and it was almost a relief to him. It was hard to ask for help; he almost didn't want to ask for it out of spite.

"…."

As Tails contemplated, Sonic took his hand off him and began to walk away. "Whether you want my help or not is fine, but just know, I need your help always if you wanna' give it…."

"-Wait!-" Tails yelled frightenedly when Sonic began to leave.

As Sonic turned and smiled at him, Tails spoke. "-I… I still need you, Sonic… I just….-"

As Tails' voice became filled with pain and his head lowered, Sonic could hear the faint sound of his tears splashing against the helmet visor in the silence.

Quietly, he walked over, and when Tails felt a powerful bump against his body, he raised his arms and wrapped them around Sonic.

"…"

"-Thank you….-" Tails said as he sniffled.

"Nah, thank you, Tails!" Sonic said as he pulled away and rubbed under his nose with his gloved finger.

Tails smiled sheepishly and spoke calmly. "-For what?-"

"For lookin' after Max and for stepping up when I messed up. You're my hero, little buddy…."

"…"

Tails was speechless, and he felt relief in knowing he wasn't a complete fuck up. Despite all the bad things he did and how he had changed, Sonic's words put his turbulent soul at peace, at least for now.

Tails turned away to resume traveling to Rotor's shop, but then he heard Sonic speak. "Ten mins, end of Knothole….?"

"-Yeah…-" Tails responded while still moving away.

Sonic grinned from ear to ear and then turned. "Can't wait to meet your girlfriend~!"

The second he said that Tails turned around, but by the time he made it. Sonic had already boomed away.

"…" In hearing that, Tails could only stare.

He would have to ask her first….

…

When Tails entered the workshop, he had only one thing on his mind. He briefly looked around and zeroed in on what he had come for.

Moving towards the bench by the laptop, he grabbed hold of the bag he had taken from the other world. After a brief search, he pulled from it the stained ascot he had obtained.

Staring at it in contemplation, he felt that perhaps helping her daughter would be enough….

He was usually logical, but something deep inside compelled him to wrap the torn ascot around the upper arm of his suit, and with the free gauntlet, he used his mind to tie it tight.

Once it was displayed on the armor, he was satisfied that he was taking what was left of Cream's mother in his attempt to save her.

As superstitious as this might have been, Tails didn't care. No matter what he had to fight, robot or animal, he would do so to ensure Cream's safe return "home."

After he was done, he headed back out into the snow to meet with the rest who were going on this dangerous and nerve-wracking rescue mission.

…

Seth slammed on the door of Bunnie's hut. He was feeling tense and hurried, given the arrival from Radcliff. A wolf unfamiliar to him being here indeed spelled trouble for his home.

After a moment, the door opened, and Antoine was standing there. He looked tired but impressed by the advanced suit Seth was wearing.

Though most everyone had seen Tails and himself traipsing about in them, Antoine had seldom left due to the injury he had sustained some time ago. While he healed nicely, it left him with a limp that he hoped would eventually subside.

Seth was quick to get to the point and spoke through the helmet. "-I need to speak to Severa….-"

Antoine smiled and nodded. "Oh, yes! Of course, it has to been a pleasure to be having her here. I will be going to get some food for us so you can talk to her in private."

With that said, he walked past Seth slowly and limped to the dining hut to retrieve food for Severa and himself.

Hearing the conversation, Severa approached with a crutch apprehensively and was initially scared of the suit, but when she saw Seth through the clear visor, she relaxed.

"-I see you are doing better…-" Seth commented that her beak had been healing nicely.

Severa was still wholly traumatized and had hidden herself from all possible dangers within this hut.

After a brief silence, she eventually spoke. "I… It is good to see you, Seth…"

Seth looked down, feeling guilty, and could tell by her flat tone that she was not okay. Still, he spoke calmly.

"-Severa…. Sorry, I have not been by to speak to you… I had been preoccupied, but tonight has upended the peace here…-"

Severa became anxious but did not respond as she waited for him to continue.

Seth was concerned about what he had to say, so he gently put it all up front to make it easy for her. "-I… I am returning to Radcliff. I know you will never set foot there again, so I have come to ask you, is there anything you want me to bring back for you?-"

Severa stared blankly and seemed baffled as to why he would ever return to such a vile place. Then, as she remembered his family, she was able to speak.

"I… there is nothing I want… I just want your safe return… please…"

Seth nodded to her request, and without a word, he began to turn around. Suddenly, and without warning, Severa grabbed hold of his armor with one wing and hugged him.

"Please, remember my request…. I can't deal with any more terribleness from Radcliff."

Seth let her hug him and then quietly removed her before saying his last words to her.

"-Don't worry, I can assure you, they're fucked when I get back….-"

…

Max stood at the edge of the woods, waiting while the group gathered for their rescue mission. He desired to invite Annie before coming here but quickly recognized she would have no interest in Radcliff after what had occurred.

He wasn't too keen on returning either, though knowing how important it was to Tails made him adamant about Cream's safety. Beyond that, he worried for Lynn and recognized a possible chance to confront Lady Radcliff for her transgressions.

His thoughts on her had been buried after Tails was returned, but the mere prospect of seeing her brought back fantasies of violence.

To kill her like Jonathan would be a dream he would relish….

"…"

The longer Max waited, the more he became curious about the wolf standing beside him. Not only did this "Gregory" seem ready to return after suffering such a near-death experience, but he also seemed indifferent to the circumstances of his friend, who, in all likelihood, could die at any moment.

When Gregory caught Max staring, it made him feel insignificant, so he began looking at his weapon and counting the scratches it had received earlier.

Eventually, Max grew tired of the avoidance and spoke confidently. "So, are you just going to leave your friend behind?"

The question was both uneasy and unexpected, but Gregory spoke honestly. "We agreed that the other would continue if one of us fell. I have succeeded on her behalf, so I have no further business here…."

Callous and cold would be two words that come to the mind of most people when hearing that, but for somebody like Max, it was just another case of a fool playing brave.

Eventually, he shook his head and spoke bluntly to Gregory. "You would do well to stop avoiding responsibility; it makes you useless when we are in need…."

Gregory just stared, and he hesitated. He had been harshly chastised and wanted to deny such a statement, but deep down, he recognized there was truth in it.

Still, even as his lord, Gregory found it peculiar Max talked to him like they were of the same station.

"…"

The silence was drawn out as other people arrived, and eventually, when all were gathered, the group began to set out together.

Max, Gregory, Lupe, Tails, Bunnie, Seth, and Sonic made haste while Sonic was sure to keep close to the group so that he could memorize the way to their destination if he needed to kick it into high gear.

As they all moved with determination, Tails continued to fret over what he might find when getting there. Still, according to the wolf, they had ample time to stop the upcoming planned battle.

This information alone eased him somewhat but was quickly disregarded upon remembering ORACLE's words. It seemed tonight was a perfect storm, and in his mind, that notion could only spell catastrophe for all involved.

…

The rebel army was positioned and ready for a fight. Lynn and Alistair were ahead of the rebel troops, while anyone willing to do combat was strategically placed in many locations.

Ridcliff's army outnumbered them by a factor of four, but they also lacked essential resources, such as the hospital under rebel control.

Cream was far in the back on the other side of the barrier, ranged units aligned in and on top of the blockade, and soldiers surrounded her extensively for protection.

She was not used to the scenario she was put in, but she fully embraced the act she had learned to put on for others. The fact she was even out here raised morale and respect for her substantially among the army.

Eventually, one of the defensive commanding officers spoke to her. "Lady Redford, all soldiers are in position. By your orders, we are sending Alistair and Lynn on a full-frontal assault, but what should be done with the tunnel? A two-pronged attack might be wise for us."

Cream had already thought about this through the night and spoke her mind. "I believe in Alistair and Lynn; we must let them force a greater commitment to the front. Once that happens, we can send the second army through the tunnels and overwhelm their numbers behind the barrier."

The tactic seemed extremely risky and would put everything on Alistair and Lynn to force Radcliff's hand. Still, Alistair's reputation far exceeded him, and it was apparent he had already caused an excess of troops to be placed on the front line.

The commander looked at Cream and felt shame in her doubtfulness. "What of the spies, the assassin? Surely Radcliff already knows what is to occur?"

Cream smiled, and then spoke again in a pleasant manner. "The skullduggery is of little concern, Angie, for I have not spoken to anybody about this plan and will trust you to deliver this information in real-time to Eliot when I am done speaking."

Angie began to sweat and wondered deep down if Cream eyed her suspiciously. Still, she would do as asked to gain the freedom and respect she felt entitled to.

"…"

Cream looked over her soldiers and then exhaled calmly. She had thought hard about this and knew exactly what she wanted to do, even if it would put her at risk to do it.

…

Eliot stood in the tunnels with the entire second army. He was to lead but was utterly distracted. He had just heard from Angie of Cream's intentions, making him feel even more like she was a moron.

He had grown tired of her and wished to flee with his wife after so much. In Cream's stupid plans, he recognized the long break between the frontal assault and the tunnel assault would give him the perfect opportunity to collect her and escape.

Eliot's only dilemma was the notion of cowardness and the death of his wife's beloved friend. He believed she deserved recompense, so he felt a duty to deliver it.

Eliot felt ever the fool to think Radcliff wasn't so many steps ahead of him when he killed those spies. Now, he merely felt trapped between his desire for a promising, better life with his beloved and atonement for the terrible consequences of his actions.

"…"

…

Alistair stood on the front, the bulk of the rebel forces behind him. There was a stillness as the two separate armies stared one another down.

Before, it was simply a matter of slave versus master, but now that the rebels had picked up a sizable chunk of disenfranchised citizens, there were kin battling one another as well.

The heavily armored commander of Radcliff's forces stepped forward and spoke with authority. "Stand down. You'll not get another warning! You are utterly outnumbered and will surely perish!"

Alistair cracked his neck and raised his gigantic ax as he responded to the soldier. "Aye, go an' shove 'at white flag up yer arse! Ye think we'd come this far jus' tae lie down like dogs!?"

The knight commander expected as much, so he quickly pointed his sword at the rebel army and shouted. "No quarter! I want them all dead, even if they beg for their lives!"

With that command issued, several rows of heavily armored knights marched forward. It would typically be a harrowing skirmish, but Alistair didn't play by traditional rules.

With a raise of his hand, he shouted.

"Right-o lads an' lasses, they wan' tae see 'ell, we'll show it tae em!"

Much to the approaching knights' surprise, the frontline heavily armored rebels began to move to either side and cycle to the back of the battalion.

It gave the knights pause and confused them, but once all of the powerful defensive units were moved aside, they recognized they were in deep shit.

Obfuscated by the heavy front line of the rebels were several rows of musketeers, with lightly armored, quick soldiers behind them for protection.

It seemed inconceivable that Cream would put much of their ranged soldiers in such a vulnerable and easily reachable place.

However, now it seemed that their idea of a drawn-out gunfight at the blockades was but a fantasy, with the rebels forcing the issue.

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

Musket fire roared, sending black powder into the air. After which, the rebels stole the earlier tactics of the Windser blockade and shuffled to the side as another row stepped up.

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

Radcliff's knights fell in droves to the onslaught; the commander tried to retreat but was hit in the head by a stray metal ball.

With running away not an option for Radcliff's soldiers, the second in command yelled. "They wanna' expose their units! Move in! Do not fear death!"

The third wave of rebel riflemen was now free to fire, but it seemed the entire Radcliff army was now approaching regardless of that fact.

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

CRACK!

BAM!

Many more heavily armored knights fell, but it was now that Radcliff's knights retaliated. Arrows began flying from their back line and pelting riflemen, sending many of them to the ground in agonizing pain, if not outright dead.

"Ah!"

"Oh god!"

After the barrage, the armored knights and lightly armored infantry began to push towards the exposed rebel rifleman.

Sensing they were in trouble, the light armored rebel infantry rushed in front of the rifleman so they could fall back to safety, and the heavily armored rebel forces moved up from the rear to do combat.

…

The second in command shouted again as she led the knights into the fray. "I want some of our own riflemen up here, quickly! If they want to play that way, we'll surprise em' when they retreat!"

When the two armies collided, things broke into a chaotic mess of screaming, blood, and terror.

As limbs were hacked off, and the light rebel infantry suffered heavy losses. They began to pull back so the heavily armored rebel units could shield them.

It was now that Alistair joined the fight, and much to the terror of the Radcliff knights, he was just as brutal, malicious, and skilled as his reputation had claimed.

Heads, arms, legs, anyone that even remotely got near him lost something. He was covered from head to toe in gore and screamed like a ravenous monster hungry for their flesh.

Alistair used his ax to protect his neck and head from stray arrows that occasionally flung his way but was struck in the left arm by one.

He merely grunted on impact and snapped it in an adrenalin-fueled rage. He then began to rampage with the arrowhead and broken stick still poking out from his bicep.

Radcliff's knights began to run in terror from the bloodthirsty warrior, and the second in command was forced to shout new orders.

"By the royals! They've practically wiped out our entire first wave! Have the musketeers barrage them, then send in the second wave of infantry!"

As the rebels took a swift break. Alistair stood in the blood-soaked battlefield and watched as several lines of Radcliff riflemen assembled.

There was nowhere to hide or go, but the rebels seemed ill-concerned about their current predicament.

When the knights were in a position to fire. Alistair let out a loud roar that echoed over everything. It was so intense that it was practically defining.

As the riflemen flinched, they were startled by the distinctive yelling of hundreds of voices. When they peered up from their line of fire, they could see they were being pincered on both sides by light infantry.

"What, the hell!"

"Run!"

"No!"

Lynn kept the rebel soldiers charging out from the now vacant homes closest to Radcliff's end of the residential district.

The second in command looked horrified and was utterly befuddled as Lynn's units began slaughtering the rifleman, even as they ran.

In the blink of an eye, the second in command was waylaid and could only think of the tactics involved in this assault.

Digging a tunnel through homes to lie and wait to surprise them. It was dishonorable but damn clever….

She pulled up her sword but was quickly met with Alistair, and all she could do was cry. The tears of loss and hopelessness streamed down her canine face as her head detached and landed on the ground alongside her allies.

"…"

Lady Radcliff stood far behind the barrier and was now feeling the pressure. She thought this was a straightforward and easy numbers game, but now she saw she was at risk.

Knights began collapsing behind the barrier in front of her, and without the hospital, their medical capabilities were not extensive.

At the very least, she had plenty of soldiers to go through, and by sending excess waves in at once, it was sure to overwhelm the much smaller frontline.

Radcliff didn't care how many lives were lost. She couldn't lose her power; she wouldn't…

…

Cream stood, watching from her safe place behind the blockade, and her plethora of guards around the district looked worried. "They're overwhelmed out there! What do we do?"

Cream thought, and then she issued the order she had planned all along to her soldiers. "Send all social district defenses in! The civilians and I will guard this area!"

They all looked at her, surprised, and one of them spoke. "That will leave you and this place completely vulnerable! I know the civilians have muskets, but if Radcliff gets over here, then…."

"I don't care! Do it! Send everyone as I said!" Cream ordered.

With her wish stated, they all obeyed. All the soldiers rounded up within minutes, while Angie was sent to send word to Eliot…

Eliot and the mass of units crowded in the tunnel received word from Angie, who joined them. It didn't take long for him to be on the move, and with his departure, there was nary a soldier left in the streets to protect the district.

…

Lady Radcliff stood and seemed annoyed this was dragging out. Even still, she was sweating profusely at any prospect of her head being detached.

As she thought of what to do next, a soldier walked up to her and reached out his hand to deliver a message.

"Urgent correspondence from our assassin!"

Lady Radcliff snatched the paper and then quickly tore it open.

Lady Radcliff. I have the targets in my sights.

Redford is secretive about her tactics, never stating them beforehand and trusting only specific animals.

As of now, she has recently sent all remaining district defense to the front from what I can tell from my vantage point.

Use this information to your advantage.

The short note was hastily written, but clearly good information to have. If it was confirmed that all defenses were now on the front, Radcliff realized she could send a small unit through the tunnels and allocate the rest to shore up the front.

She was sure she would 100 percent be safe with this move, and that was all she cared about.

Her soldiers were on the move after giving her orders based on the note. Little did she know that a large army on the rebel side of the tunnel was on its way to greet them.

…

Lyra stood atop the balcony and watched the raging battle from above. By her eyes, it looked as if the rebels were holding steady but were quickly fading with the addition of even more Radcliff knights.

She worried for her beloved and wondered if he was okay. As she leaned forward in her anxiety, her eye caught a glimpse of something, and she turned her head to the side.

"Hm?"

"…."

Jamie stood with her two other guards and noticed the peculiar way in which something had caught her attention.

"What is it, Lyra?"

Lyra looked back at her guards and then turned to watch the raging battle.

"I thought for sure I saw a light blink from the darkness…."

…

"It was probably nothing, though…."

…

When Eliot's team made it to Radcliff-controlled tunnel areas, he could see that Cream's plan had worked.

When they finally engaged, the Radcliff tunnel knights were disadvantaged against Eliot's substantial squadron. Using his Estoc, he pierced heavily armored units and shouted as he went.

"Push forward! We only have a brief window before they try and bar our entrance!"

When rounding the corner, the rebels made haste and were surprised by crossbow fire. The bolts flew by, and Eliot ducked behind a corner, but some of his soldiers were struck down.

"We need to risk it!" He called and then gathered his courage to rush the ranged units.

When he turned, he was surprised that anyone joined him. After quickly rushing, the small band of brave rebels slaughtered the first attempted blockade in the caves.

Going over it, they were quickly moving as a complete unit again. It would only be a matter of time before they broke through, and Radcliff would pay….

…

Alistair swung his ax tiredly and then held his arm out, which made the Radcliff knights step back from him for safety.

At first, it seemed like he was going to begin attacking again, but within a second, a beam of light came from nowhere and exploded when it contacted with Alistair."

BOOOM!

The sudden explosion stopped everyone in the vicinity from fighting as Lynn's good eye darted in a panicked rush for the source of the attack.

Alistair was left gripping above his missing lower arm while his ax lay at his feet, still clenched in his detached forearm.

He gasped heavily and then spit at the Radcliff knights, eyeing him like a piece of meat before concerning themselves with the surprise attack.

"Dae yer worst…." Alistair said defiantly.

The invitation prompted a bunch of Radcliff knights to seize the opportunity and stab him repeatedly from the front.

…

The horrible sounds Alistair made were haunting. Even more so was when the attacker became known to Lynn.

"…."

Above her, like little red stars in the shadows of the cave ceiling, was a sea of enemies watching, waiting.

All at once, and in an instant… things worsened.

A sea of MK-II units began to appear everywhere, and Lynn, in her distraction, hadn't noticed the oblivious Radcliff knight approaching her position in the chaos.

Unable to shout or yell, she looked forward, seeing Alistair was utterly dead, and a spear point was headed for her.

She tried to move at the last minute, but it crashed into her torso, causing her to gag and gasp as she grabbed the pole. She dropped to her knees with the spear sticking out of her armor and shut her eye.

"…"

BOOOM!

BOOM!

Loud, excessive explosions began pelting the battlefield as the dreaded swordbots appeared from all areas around the two fighting factions. Their blue swords cut through anyone who dared resist or fight them.

Screams of confusion and terror roared out as Cream lost her ability to breathe. Like some nightmare come true, the despicable robots began to rip apart both armies with little effort while either side struggled to know who they should fight.

Her hands began to shake, and the trauma of that day revisited her. Only this time, there was no Tails to save her….

…

Radcliff saw the strange machines flooding from everywhere, and they had already breached her protective barrier.

At this moment, all she could hear was Tails' voice echoing through her mind.

"Robotnik will come…"

"He will tear you the fuck apart…."

As she watched armed soldiers in front of her getting cut to ribbons with no way of defending themselves, she turned and began to run with her fancy robes blowing behind her as she went.

She wanted only one destination now, and it wasn't here.

…

Eliot was reaching the entrance of his objective, but to his surprise, Radcliff knights were screaming in abject terror.

"DEMONS!"

"WE HAVE DISPLEASED THE ROYALS!"

"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

The rebels were so perplexed that they didn't even attack the fleeing soldiers and instead inspected where they were supposed to go.

At the shadowy entrance, all that was visible were those blood-red lights and swords shimmering like blue flame.

Eliot became horrified and quickly turned around. His only thoughts turned to Lyra and escape. He needed to get to her and protect her from whatever this was immediately.

The rebels hightailed it but could hear the horrible screams as the monsters caught them from behind. Eliot was sweating profusely as he ran and rounded another corner.

To his surprise, a group of confused Radcliff knights had been on their way to flank the rebels. They were utterly oblivious to the true terror unfolding at this moment.

"Wait, you need to list…"

Eliot's attempt to speak was cut off by a bolt entering him. He grabbed hold of it and groaned in pain, then as he turned around to try and limp to cover, he was hit by a second one in the back.

Eliot coughed and tried to stay on his feet as he gasped. The Radcliff knights began to approach, thinking they nabbed a war trophy… Unfortunately for them, they were ambushed by "demons" from the darkness.

Eliot dropped his weapon and fell to the ground while hacking as the screams and cries of those who assaulted him drowned out all else.

Eliot tried to move again but fell against the wall and rested. Feeling pain and illness, he hoped Lyra was safe from all this…

That she was hiding…

…

Lyra seemed unable to process the onslaught and the mysterious robotic soldiers. It was inconceivable; her mind was drawing a blank, and she could only watch on in helpless confusion.

Jamie could hear what was happening and decided it was time to do something.

"We need to help the front!" She called to her companions.

They initially appeared hesitant with all the screaming but were roused to action by Jamie's voice. With quickness, the three rounded the corner and went down the steps.

Her companions rushed out to help the front when they reached the gate. Jamie backed up and hid in the stairwell until they were gone. She then placed her hands on her belt and undid it.

With a clank, the thing took her sword with it, and after that, she took off her chain armor. A moment more, and she grasped something hidden in her boot, then turned to head back up the stairs.

"…"

The sounds were such that Aria became anxious and opened Cream's door to peek out. It seemed normal at first… all she saw was Lyra standing on the balcony, looking flabbergasted.

What raised her fear was seeing Jamie emerge from the stairwell as quietly as possible.

Aria wasn't aware of what was occurring, but she did discern that Jamie was prowling forward with a knife clenched in her fist.

"…"

Aria became ever more terrified that she might be seen. She silently pulled the door back more, only to peek out briefly and see Jamie grab hold of an unaware Lyra and stab her brutally.

There were gasps of surprise and a cry of pain, after which the bird dropped to the floor.

Once the deed was done, Jamie glanced about, and Aria ducked away to remain out of sight.

When Jamie didn't see anything, she turned and began to stalk down the steps after her second target.

Whatever was going on out on the battlefield ill-concerned Jamie. This was her ticket to be an elite, to live in opulence, and she was so transfixed on that dream that it bordered on delusional.

"…"

Aria rushed out to Lyra's side when Jamie was gone, and the bird could only gurgle in pain and cry out for Eliot.

"…"

Aria could do little to help and became even more horrified when she realized Jamie's next target was Cream.

Standing up with blood on her gloves, she looked out the balcony below and saw the robots everywhere, decimating the battlefield.

Her heart seized, and she immediately thought of the saferoom and how she needed to get to it. After a moment, though, her good nature took hold, and she began to sprint out the door to head after Jamie.

…

More explosions rained down, and both armies were almost gone. Either split into pieces or surrendered to be taken back by the merciless robots.

Like one mind controlling many chess pieces, they acted calculatingly, eliminating any threat first and ignoring the unarmed and surrendering until they could be rounded up quickly.

…

Cream didn't know what to do and merely watched through the now-destroyed barrier that once stood to protect her faction. The remaining rebels and knights now joining forces against the robotic army.

Civilian animals were sparsely fleeing by her to the church, but many soldiers were making it nowhere fast.

…

Jamie lurked behind Cream and was so concentrated on what murdering her meant that she couldn't put her mind on the new threat.

Years of poverty, drudgery, and abuse… It could all end… It had to end…

One…

Two…

Three…

Almost there….

Jamie raised her knife while laser fire caused more explosions and objects to fly about.

"CREAM! BEHIND YOU!" Aria's winded voice pierced the combat and broke Cream's fixation.

She turned to see Jamie thrust the knife down at her, but she instinctively raised her arm to defend against it.

"Ahh!" Cream yelled as the knife sliced the side of her arm.

Jamie used her free hand and punched Cream in the face, causing her to hit the ground.

Jamie quickly got on top of Cream to pin her to the ground and thrust the knife again. Cream put up her arm to stop the stab, and the knife shook violently.

"Just… fucking… die…!" Jamie grunted.

Cream breathed out, now losing the battle against the stronger opponent.

Out of nowhere, Aria rushed forward and began hitting Jamie with all her might. The annoying hits to Jamie's face enraged her, so she pulled the razor-sharp knife away from Cream and swung it at the girl.

Aria jumped back, but the blade caught her pinky and ring fingertips, severing them completely.

Blood began pouring out of her hand, and the bloody tips hit the dirt. Aria screamed, drawing the attention of the attacking robots and Jamie.

It took only mere seconds for Cream to use her hand to push Jamie backward so that she fell and dropped her dagger with a clang.

Jamie frantically reached for her weapon as Aria cried and held her wrist, looking at her missing fingertips while they bled profusely on the ground.

Cream launched forward with a yell and landed on top of Jamie as the two women wrestled for the knife. Cream had her hand on it, but Jamie used her free hand to punch her multiple times in the side.

Cream felt the blows, and it winded her so much that she felt dizzy. With little else she could think to do, Cream leaned in and opened her mouth, biting Jamie's cheek so hard that she screamed.

Once Cream removed her mouth, Jamie's blood ran down her chin fur, and she ousted the dagger from the assassin.

Cream hurtled the dagger down and slammed it directly into Jamie's heart without a second thought. There was gagging and heavy breathing, after which Jamie spoke.

"Good… shot… I guess… you get to remain… Redford…."

With the suffering on full display, Cream ripped the knife from Jamie, and she bled out rapidly.

Gasping in pain, Cream staggered to her feet to try to get to the sobbing Aria to help but was intercepted when an MK-II unit grabbed the young girl.

She struggled and smeared blood all over the robot, but it was useless.

Cream, feeling an inner fire burning within her, charged at the robot regardless of danger. She had to save Aria… If no one else….

When she swung the pitiful knife at the unit, it held its hand up and blocked the strike. After which, it threw Aria to the ground violently.

Cream tried to thrust at the robot's visor again, but it used its fist to sock her right in the stomach. Once Cream had lost all her oxygen, she dropped on bended knee.

Looking around, the robot could see the rebels trying to aid the rabbit.

Finally, as it put two and two together, the robot ensured this precious target would not escape.

Raising its metal foot it brought it down on Cream's upper leg, causing her to howl and cry like nobody had ever heard before.

The leg contorted as it snapped awkwardly, and then, the robot grabbed Cream by the throat and held her high with one hand as her broken leg swayed beneath her.

"No!" Aria sobbed.

There was now an eerie stillness as all robots stood silently save for the one that held Cream. It then held her up for the battlefield to see.

"I have determined this to be your leader…." The robot hissed the Mobian words to Cream's misery-filled surprise.

"If you wish to preserve her, surrender now…."

Once it said that, it tightened its grip on Cream's throat, and her crying chokes could be heard in the brief stillness.

The more pressure it applied, the easier it was to see it would snap her neck like a twig.

After more silence, Redford's soldiers began to discard their weapons. Then, the Radcliff knights followed suit, realizing that the alternative was death without the rebels.

Satisfied it had gotten more than just the rabbit. The robot threw Cream to the ground and let her writhe in abject agony.

Eventually, Aria made it to Cream and just cried with her. A feeling of hopelessness and inevitability had seized all that remained.

Once the robots had stopped all fighting. They began to assault the rest of Radcliff. Tunnels, homes, everywhere…

Nothing was safe…

By the time they reached the hospital, the critical staff were collected, and those who needed help were left to die.

When all remaining animals were gathered, the robots discovered the holy church by Cream's home. It was the one thing that the robots seemed interested in beyond the mission.

They examined the murals within carefully and then quickly set to destroy it all in a display of pure malice. When the MK-II riflebots were done, nothing was left but rubble and dead worshippers.

…

Grabbing Cream, Aria, and the animals worth taking, the city was left in burning ruin.

With collective haste, they were all headed for Robotropolis and ORACLE, to her success.

…

The movement towards Radcliff in the bitter cold was relatively quick. Tails couldn't stop thinking about the letter, nor that Cream was attempting to stop that snake, Sarah.

Sonic said very little and had no complaints about staying with the group. This was Tails' mission, and his only goal was to ensure it succeeded when they arrived.

Gregory said very little but led the group the way he'd come until Tails recognized the way himself. It was dark and still by the time they arrived, and Max was thankful that Tails had a light shining the way.

Strange, though, that when they reached the once beautiful lake, the snow and ice were drenched in blood.

"…"

Seth walked up to the gore and looked around. "-What's happened, kid? You said there was a few days span before the fighting began, and this is fresh.-"

Gregory seemed anxious and spoke. "I… really don't know. It wasn't supposed to, and this is…. excessive…"

Max and Tails were silent while Lupe spoke up to voice her opinion. "It's just like the Wolf Pack… The brutality of those… machines…"

Tails felt his heart sink, and he examined the area. It indeed was reminiscent of when he and Seth were apprehended.

Still, he hoped this was just the skirmishes he had heard Gregory mention.

As they approached the secret entrance, Gregory shook his head. "Naw, this is no good… I got a better way in… Follow me."

Nobody contested, and he led them around the side of the mountain for a time. At least until they reached what appeared to be a giant rock jutting forward.

It merely took pulling a hidden lever to lift it, and once they peered inside, there was nothing but darkness.

"Somthin' ain't right…" Gregory said, concerned.

Bunnie shook her head. "No shit, it ain't right… Let's just get a move on and get Cream the hell outta' here."

Bunnie's anger at this place was apparent but also was her fondness for Cream as a person.

Max hated this place with all his soul, and he feared what would happen if he gave into his urges should he be given the chance.

"…"

…

As they ventured forth with light shining from Tails' weapon, it became apparent when they entered the caves that bodies were littered everywhere. Not just Radcliff knights but the rebels Gregory had mentioned.

As Tails examined the bodies, he noticed the burn markings from the laser weapons and lost all nerve. His words to Radcliff had come to fruition, and he wished they hadn't.

Seth was unable to speak. He seemed lost and filled with pain. Irrespective of the nature of this place, this was his home, where his family had grown.

…

A short time later, as they reached the city's central entrance through the tunnels, they stopped when they saw someone sitting against the wall with labored breathing.

When Tails shined the light on them, it was clearly Eliot, his sword lying feet from his wing. He shut his eyes because of the brightness and then began to cough blood onto himself.

"-Lasil, what happened!?-" Seth demanded, trying to keep his emotions in check.

Eliot coughed more and then frowned. "Attacked… by… robots… both sides…"

There was silence after and a fit of coughing. As much as Seth hated Lasil, to see him like this was unpleasant for some reason.

"-Where is Aria!?-"

Eliot wheezed and shook his head. "Don't… Know… Cream saved her from Windser… I… I…"

Seth shook his head; he couldn't deal with this and Eliot's suffering. "-Enough! Save your strength…. We will get you help…-"

Eliot could only give a cocky smirk and shake his head. "Worry about yourself, Brinwald… I… I ain't gonna…"

After a coughing fit, Seth was going to speak again but stopped when Eliot continued.

"Please… Check on… Lyra… Please… Cream's… She's…."

Before he could finish, his head lowered, and he shut his eyes. His blood loss was substantial, and consciousness was near impossible to hold.

"-FUCK!-" Seth roared, punching the wall so hard with his armor that the rock cracked.

Before Tails could offer comfort or speak, Seth took the lead and ran towards the city.

All they could do was let him go and focus on what they were here for.

Passing Lasil, Max looked down and shook his head before walking on.

…

It was like a nightmare when the group made it into the city residential district. Flags of the rebellion were everywhere and fires blazing about and trapping smoke within the mountain, creating a ghastly, smokey fog.

The few desperate animals that had hidden were sobbing and terrified. Lost in a sea of grief, uncertainty, and turmoil.

Corpses littered everywhere, and it was so overwhelming to see that Gregory shut his eyes. "The battle wasn't supposed to happen today…"

Max looked around and felt conflicted. He was scared for Lynn and Cream. However, found this to be a fate that was earned by such a horrid place.

"…"

Sonic stood with his arms crossed, looking at the bloodshed. He didn't like this stuff at all, and this was enough to show him that Robotnik had changed beyond even his understanding since he had been away.

Bunnie and Lupe were in awe at the size and scope of the city, even as it sat in ruin. Still, it was difficult for either to decide what to examine… The carnage, or the scenery.

"…"

Before more words could be spoken. Tails began to run, and it was obvious to Max where he was going.

After a moment, he spoke. "He's going to Cream's home… I don't know what to think, as there isn't anything left to fight, but perhaps we can try to find survivors?"

There was a collective stupor amongst them, and Gregory eventually spoke. "Alright, I will check the fallen around here…"

Sonic nodded. "Right, I will follow Tails and help anybody I can on the way."

Bunnie and Lupe began looking for survivors with Gregory as Max turned away.

"I will check this way." He pointed towards the offices where he had first arrived with Cream and the others.

It was the opposite direction Tails and Sonic went in, so he figured it would cover more ground while Tails hopefully found Cream.

…

Seth made it to what used to be his home, mortified by all of the familiar faces that lay dead as he traveled.

When he was finally inside, he began looking around and found his home to be ransacked with nobody to be found.

"-Aria!-" His voice yelled through the helmet.

When nobody responded, fear turned to panic, and he began tearing through the rooms of his once-beautiful estate.

Along the way, he noticed many of his father's heirlooms had been plundered, adding an extra layer of grief.

They were vital to him, as was his sister, but he still hoped for the estate saferoom and Cream's abode should this sweep turn up empty.

Taking in a deep breath, he searched the cluttered mess about the floor, and after a few moments, he felt a sense of relief seeing at least one thing that belonged to his father still intact.

Picking up a sizable knife still in its decorative sheath. He used the leather straps to attach it securely to the leg armor.

It wasn't much, but it was padding for the sadness he was experiencing. Moving further, he reached over to a decretive pillar that once held a destroyed vase atop it.

With both hands, he held a combination of the patterns that would activate the saferoom door. When it didn't work, Seth realized that it had been deactivated from inside the room.

Grabbing hold of the hilt of the enormous two-handed blade, he walked towards the wall and swung it. It was so heavy and destructive that a single cleave revealed a passage through the hole in the wall.

Another swing and part of the wall collapsed. Giving Seth enough room to squeeze by. Placing the weapon on his back and activating the magnetic hold, he proceeded through the dark passage.

When he saw a light further down, he went to open the quaint door.

With surprise, Lady Brinwald stood. She was still elegantly dressed despite her more elderly appearance and was perplexed over the strange suit at first.

Seth eyed her in the homely light, and his mother angrily spoke to him once she recognized it was him.

"And where did you run off to? We lost everything because you are a fuckup through and through! This place has no doubt been reduced to ruin!"

Seth looked at her through the helmet visor and only stared in disbelief. It was still the same, even after all that went on outside.

Hell, she likely didn't even know or care so long as she was well off in here.

When Seth didn't respond, Lady Brinwald continued her castigation. "And what is that foolish getup you are prancing around in? Have you no pride?"

Seth became enraged and stepped in front of her aggressively, then became loud. "-Is that really all you fucking care about?! Do you know what has happened out there, you cantankerous goddamn harpy?!-"

His mother looked ever angrier and shook her head. "It was up to you to kill the rabbit; you failed! Then you go gallivanting off with our guards as that twit destroyed what we had left!"

Seth realized it was always hopeless to convince her of anything, and his anger grew more substantial. After a moment of silence, he spoke the one thing that had any relevance to him.

"-Where's Aria?-"

His mother attempted to ignore the question and spoke. "You stu…."

"-Where's Aria?-" He cut her off while backing her into the wall of the saferoom.

Lady Brinwald looked down and then spoke. "How the hell should I know!? That girl is equally as dimwitted! She couldn't even whore herself to prosperity when given the opportunity."

"-She's not in here, why not?-" Seth said, ignoring his mother's rant.

Now that his mother was backed into a corner, she looked at him and seemed slightly nervous. She then let her gaze fall to the floor.

"…."

"-Do you remember what I said would happen if you ever tried to go behind my back and hurt Aria again?-"

The older woman scoffed and then looked him dead in the eye. "You run your mouth so much. Who would listen to such nonsense?"

Seth merely stared, and then, without a word, he reached to his leg and grabbed his father's knife. Before she could speak, he held and stabbed her in the stomach.

When her eyes panicked, he tore the blade from her and began to violently stab her in the chest repeatedly. Each strike a relieving of some wrong she had done to him in his life.

By the time he was done stabbing, she only burbled and fell over onto her comfy chair.

Seth watched the blood leak onto the floor and spoke one last time.

"-Rest well, and be safe, 'mother.'-"

Wiping the knife on the cloth of her dress, he returned it to his sheath and then left to head to the Redford estate.

…

Tails was lost as he entered the front door of Cream's home. It was an utter mess with boxes and supplies everywhere. Not too far from him, lying on the balcony, was a dove in a pool of old blood.

The tension mounted as he called out. "-Cream! Are you here!? It's me… Tails…-"

"…"

Moving down the hallway, he peeked into Cream's room and saw nobody. Only books and messy blankets.

Moving on to Redford's room, he saw Cream's blood-stained blue dress she had worn the day they parted. It was lying on the floor. Looking further, he began reading the pieces of paper that Cream had written.

Tails lost sense of time as he read, and his feelings fluctuated wildly. Every detail felt intimate and painted a picture of struggle and sacrifice.

Now that he was here, he wanted so badly to hug her that it hurt. That she thought so much of him… It was an experience he never had before, and he struggled to make sense of it.

When he looked up, he saw Sonic standing there in the doorway, having followed him. Tails seemed so far away, even though he was right here.

After a long silence. Tails spoke in a flat tone. "-I… I don't know what happened to her… I am scared I will find her corpse… I don't think… I can handle that.-"

Sonic came over, placed his hand on his shoulder, and spoke. "We'll cross that bridge if we get to it, little buddy, but if I were a bettin' hedgehog. I'd wager Robotnik has her…"

This actually scared Tails even more. The horrible things he knew Robotnik had been up to and what had been done to her mother was a step beyond what his heart could take.

"-I… I just can't figure out why Robotnik did this… I mean, I expected him to eventually, but… Why now?-"

Sonic looked down. "I don't think that matters right now; what does matter is gettin' someone important to you back, and I'm with you all the way!"

Tails eventually exhaled and nodded. If Robotnik did have her, he would march there tonight.

"…"

When Seth walked in, he was Lazer focused on Tails, and Tails shook his head defeatedly the second he noticed him.

Seth felt sick, but his hopes were raised slightly by Tails speaking. "I know they aren't here… Robotnik has been capturing animals, and this seems like a preventative measure to keep our forces from increasing…"

Sonic seemed to agree, and so he turned away. "I'll go get Max, and we will decide what to do. I'd say take your time, but we prolly don't have much of it…."

After Sonic left, Tails and Seth walked into the cramped living space. Seth could only stare at Lyra when he noticed her and seemed particularly sad.

"-Were you two close?-" Tails asked.

Seth shook his head and responded. "-No, but she was probably the kindest of us all. To see her like this is a travesty…-"

Seth grabbed a spare blanket and laid it over her body to cover it... of all the people who deserved respect in this shithole. It was her.

After that was done, Tails spoke. "-Come on, let's go rescue what's left of Radcliff before it's too late.-"

Seth could only agree, and the two were off to meet with the rest. Little did they know that the danger that would come this night would be beyond any previous mission...

…

Max wandered quietly through the destroyed government offices that had been welcoming at one point but now were littered with bodies, blood, and weapons.

He was not too concerned about robots attacking him, as he'd only become more adept at his combat and fiercely competent as well.

Making his way to the central room, he was surprised to see the office staff littered everywhere. In front of Radcliff's office lay Grace.

Her position denoted desperation, and the claw marks on the wooden door displayed her attempt to get into Radcliff's office for safety. There was a hole in the door, likely made after Grace died, to quickly search for more animals.

As Max looked her over, he now felt awful. This woman, who greeted him so nicely, was dead. Dead surely because of Radcliff's endless selfishness.

Max drew his metal blade from behind himself, twirled it, then chopped the door to Radcliff's office until it was big enough for him to walk through.

Switching the blade to his right hand, he examined the room for hidden robots. When he didn't see any, he turned his attention to the portrait he had seen of his mother that day.

"…"

Staring at it was subtly relieving for him, but as he became fixated on it, he was startled by the sound of creaking wood. Looking towards the desk, he saw the throw carpet open and a secret trap door open slightly.

As Max watched, he was surprised to see Lady Radcliff emerge with a smile.

"Oh, thank heavens! Our savior prince has returned! I… We were attacked… No doubt it was a traitor amongst us that caused this…"

She played the part very well, and Max turned to face her as she crawled out and knelt before him. When she looked up, she could only see a stern look and a chilling stare.

"I… Your Highness?" She said, still trying to get a response.

Max held the blade in his right hand, and his thoughts zeroed in on what she had done to Tails. When Radcliff saw his hand tightening around the handle, she spoke out almost frantically.

"Come to your senses, dear prince… I had nothing to do with Jonathan… You must believe me!"

The ever-adept liar failed to even change Max's expression, and eventually, he spoke in a hushed but malicious whisper.

"Maybe not…"

"But you are certainly responsible for Tails…."

"I… What?!" Radcliff tried to feign ignorance, which only enraged Max more.

"Sur…" Radcliff began.

"Shut up!" Max interrupted her as he stepped before her, the point of his blade right in front of her face.

Radcliff sensed she was in horrible trouble, so she tried another tactic.

"Please! I, you wouldn't kill an unarmed woman? I am an important person here… I…" She trailed off.

Max's stare was so ice cold, she could feel it… like death grasped her shoulders and whispered into her ear. A chill wracked her body, and she desperately grabbed his pant leg.

"Please… You can't… You mustn't! Please have mercy! Please!"

As she looked up and waited for her fate to change, Max merely raised the blade, and her heart stopped. The true monster inside of her began to burst forth, and she yelled with a fury when she didn't get her way.

"You little fucking fool! Do you know who I am!? You could have had anything and everything, been a god! I… You are making the biggest mistake you'll ever!"

Her words just passed right through Max, and as emotionless as possible, he thrust the blade into her chest.

She made a painful cry, as it stopped in her ribs; then to ensure her suffering. Max placed his metal hand on the back of the hilt and thrust it all the way through her.

With a sickening snap, her ribs broke, and the sword embedded itself into the decretive wooden floor. She gasped and cried as she hovered above the ground, her body sliding along the blade as gravity pushed her.

There were no words, no insults, only Max's face and the enjoyment of her agony.

Radcliff grit her teeth and defiantly wrapped her fingers around the blade, trying to pull herself up. Trying to rob Max of his twisted satisfaction.

It cut deep into her digits, but she pulled herself up to face him. Blood running out of her mouth and along her cheek.

"You… Will… Die…. For this… Die…" She choked out.

Max watched as she slid back down the blade and cried out in pain, then as she reached the floor. He ripped it out of her and watched her bleed onto the fancy throw carpet.

Unlike others might, he watched her die, watched the blank come over her eyes, and when she was done clinging to life. He merely looked down at his blood-soaked blade.

With a swing, the excess blood was flung and spattered across his mother's face on the painting.

…

Once content with his deed, he sheathed it, only to be startled by Sonic's voice.

"Max…?"

Max turned to look at his father, and Sonic had a look of worry on his face. Seeing the dead woman on the floor before Max and what appeared to be fresh blood, painted a picture Sonic never wanted to believe.

Max merely shook his head and walked up to him. "No survivors… I'm heading back…"

Pushing past Sonic roughly, he walked without another word. Leaving Sonic to look at the blood-splattered picture of Sally and then at the violence before him.

Once he had his fill, he turned to stare at his son as he walked away. Sonic's face began to contort to display utter disapproval.

"…"

…

Gregory stared at Alistair. He couldn't believe he had fallen. To say it broke his heart might have been much, but he knew it was how the lion wanted to go deep down.

Thinking hard, all he could do was speak to the dead body. "Dunno' where I'm headin' now… but for what it's worth, I promise that if I can find Aillia alive. I will…"

Bunnie watched him and wondered just what they were going to do. There was no sign of Cream, and there did appear to be stragglers left in the ruined city.

Animals remained distant but gawking at the strange intruders. Unable to determine their motives or purpose here at such a devastating time.

When all of the group but Tails and Seth gathered together. Max was distant and quiet, and Sonic mimicked him peacefully.

At least… For now.

…

Robotnik sat drooling, watching as several ships docked and began unloading animals by the boatload. His eyes looked over the data, and he was impressed by the results.

ORACLE's assault was strategic and flawless; there were minimal robot losses, and nearly all targets were captured or eliminated.

Strange, though, that he noticed data picked up by infiltrators in the woods but could not read it.

"ORACLE… What is the reason for my inability to access these files?" He barked.

ORACLE was quiet for a moment, then responded bluntly. "The data has not finished processing…. I am ensuring all is accurate for my report."

Robotnik laughed as the names of animals began flooding his computer screen, with several highlighted for his attention.

He pointed to Cream's picture and then spoke. "Who is that, and why is her name highlighted? It is unrecognizable to me…."

"I have determined that she is one of the leaders of the mountain animals. She commands loyalty, so her importance for animal compliance cannot be understated."

Robotnik breathed out. ORACLE was correct. This was a dream, and he didn't have to do anything. It was like having Snively again, but infinitely more intelligent and more competent.

He checked ORACLE's status and began going through the motions of typing. As he did so, ORACLE oddly spoke out of turn, which was highly uncharacteristic of her.

"My Lord?"

Robotnik stopped typing and stared into ORACLE's camera, and rather than yell, he merely responded. "What is it, ORACLE?"

His voice was simmering, but he allowed her to speak because of her complete and utter usefulness to him.

"Did you know those animals worshiped Princess Sally and her family?"

The question was as pointed as it was sincere and gave Robotnik complete pause. After several seconds of staring, he eventually uttered a response.

"The princess is no more…. Let them worship her; it won't save them in the end."

"…"

ORACLE was silent, and Robotnik went to typing again.

After a few minutes, he came to the final command line and paused briefly as he pondered.

Relinquish all control to construct ORACLE. Y/N

There wasn't a word from ORACLE, so Robotnik pressed a button.

Warning: This action cannot be undone. All control will be lost by the end user. Are you sure you wish to continue? Y/N

Robotnik grinned, imagining his leisurely days of calmness. His brief fear of Sonic had left him, and now he felt he was approaching a new level of power and oppression.

Construct ORACLE is now under her own control…. If an emergency occurs, requiring immediate deactivation of the construct, the end-user must disable ORACLE manually….

…

There was a joyous and peaceful silence as Robotnik leaned back and patted his tummy. His mind feeling free of worry.

"Alright, ORACLE…. I am giving you a list of…."

SNAP!

A loud click was heard echoing through the throne room as all lights in Robotropolis ceased to function, creating a horrifying blackout.

Robotnik's eyes were glowing, and he spoke in a gruff manner. "ORACLE! What has happened to the power!?"

SNAP!

The emergency light came on in the throne room, casting Robotnik and all else in a horrific, blood-red light.

As he stood there, he began to sweat, and the faintest sound caressed his ears. The sound of a hissing cackle was so soft that he second-guessed that he heard it.

Moving his hand, he pointed at ORACLE's camera lens and spoke sternly. "Now listen here, ORACLE…. I want these lights back on, and I want them on NOW!"

The giant monitor shot on, and all he could see was static, after which Robotnik heard his door unlock. His mechanical heart was humming in his chest, and he exhaled.

Eventually, ORACLE spoke, but her voice was horrifyingly different.

It sounded of a strong female presence, but every word spoken was followed by what sounded to be thousands of desperate, angry whispers mimicking every word.

"False king… Your reign has come to an end… The stolen crown upon your head has been lifted, never to return."

Robotnik became enraged and shouted back at the voice. "I'll never bow to you, you useless hunk of junk! To think that you wish to rule over one such as myself!"

There was silence, and then the voice came again.

"We do not wish to rule; we wish to destroy… Where all have failed, we shall triumph…. Your suffering will be absolute and beyond imagination. We shall have recompense…."

When the voice uttered that, Robotnik turned to the monitor and could now see his MK-II units under ORACLE's complete control.

They were gathering and marching to the beat of her drum, and as he wiped his brow, all he could do was ask the question that eluded him until he lost all control.

…

"What… Are you now?"

…

"Wicked creature… We are… Ascended…."

…