The hedgehogs rushed forward. Shadow, being Shadow, pulled out a weapon as he ran towards Infinite. The entity merely raised an eyebrow under his mask and manipulated the ground in front of him. When Shadow fired, the metal glided up from the ground in the form of a wall and blocked the shots. Some of the bullets ricocheted and threatened to fly back at the hedgehogs, so Silver had to block them with a shield of turquoise energy.
The Phantom Ruby glowed and Infinite's fingers twitched forward, sending the metal wall flying towards the trio. Sonic motioned to his partners to move sideways, which they did as he ran faster. Just before he and the moving wall rammed into each other, the speedster activated a Boost. Blue, chaotic energy enveloped him and he effortlessly crashed through the metal, shattering it, and came towards Infinite. The masked foe managed to move aside and also manipulate the ground again. A small hole appeared in Sonic's path. The hedgehog stomped into it and was carried away by his own momentum, causing his foot to be stuck as his body lurched forward.
CRACK!
With a scream, Sonic slammed to the ground with his foot still stuck in the hole at an unnatural angle.
Infinite laughed.
"A little faster and it would have been completely torn off your body. How could you have been the Fastest Thing Alive then? Then again..." He summoned the red saber in his hand. "...what is not yet can still be."
The entity raised the weapon above his head and tried to bring it down on Sonic's leg, but Silver slammed into him and pushed him away. Infinite turned to him, growling, but Shadow appeared at the time traveler's side and fired a Chaos Lance. Infinite held the flat of his blade across in front of him, blocking the powerful projectile even as the force behind it pushed him further back.
"Shadow! I'll keep him busy. You help Sonic!"
"Understood."
Silver flew towards their mutual opponent, tearing several metal panels from the walls. Using these as makeshift weapons and shields, he fought against the reality bending entity.
Shadow, meanwhile, knelt down next to Sonic. He placed a hand on his broken leg as carefully as necessary.
"This is going to hurt a lot," said the black hedgehog curtly and pulled his foot out of the hole. Sonic gritted his teeth to hold back another scream, even as the pain spread wildly from his leg through his entire body. Shadow gently touched the broken ankle and took out his Chaos Emerald with his other hand. It glowed as the Ultimate Lifeform channeled Chaos Energies from it through him into Sonic, healing him.
Bones and nerves reconnected and grew together, sending an unpleasant tingling sensation through the blue hedgehog. But finally it was over.
"Can you stand?" Shadow asked.
"If you could help me up..."
The ebony hedgehog did so without a word and Sonic got back to his feet. He stomped his previously injured foot. He grimaced. Definitely sensitive, but nothing that would stop him from helping out his friends.
"Yes, I can stand and fight."
"Good." Nothing more needed to be said. The two turned to Silver and Infinite and ran towards them.
The time-traveling hedgehog had sent the rotating planes to Infinite in an attempt to inflict serious wounds. But he made them always fly back to him so as not to lose them to the reality manipulator and prevent another buzz saw fiasco. Silver also used them for protection whenever Infinite attacked with his saber or lasers.
The entity ducked under a metal panel that Silver threw at him and then floated into the air. He raised his saber and channeled energy into its blade, preparing some kind of attack. Before Infinite could do it, however, Silver clapped his hands together and all the metal under his control closed around Infinite, locking him in a metal cocoon. He screamed into his prison and tried to fight back, but the symbols on Silver's gloves glowed brightly as he focused harder.
Groaning, the metal tightened around Infinite, squeezing him... and then contracting completely as the resisting body simply disappeared.
Silver blinked in confusion. With a teleport, Infinite appeared behind him, saber raised and ready to stab the hedgehog from behind. But Sonic reached him, jumped forward and kicked him away. Then the blue speedster grabbed Silver and pulled them both away. With a clear path, Shadow launched Chaos Spears at the masked opponent. At the same time, he took out his pistol again with his other hand and channeled energy into it so that the bullets came out crackling glowing a pulsating golden. Infinite dodged the different projectiles by teleporting several times more or deflected them with his saber, the blade still glitching with the energy of the Phantom Ruby. In fact, the gemstone continued to charge it with its power. When it was finished, the Ruby flashed. Infinite laughed and brought his saber down, unleashing the energies.
The hedgehogs could hardly dodge the attack. The whole area shook and a glowing and distorted cut ran across the room, just barely missing the generator.
"You know, you could have aimed a little more to your right and done the Resistance a favor by handicapping yourself."
"In your dreams maybe. But there is no more time for dreams…" Infinite summoned his red cubes. "…only nightmares that are under my control."
He send the cubes forward. At the same time the glow of the distorted cut brightened. Despite making from a spacial point no sense, the limbs and heads of elongated Phantoms squeezed out from it in an almost liquid-like manner and attacked the hedgehog trio alongside the cubes.
Tails and Ruby did their best to dodge giant balls of flame and blasts of wind. They had been able to carry out more attacks on Cinder to further reduce her Aura, but the Fall Maiden was far from at the end of her strength. And as her anger and frustration grew at her lack of progress in her revenge, her attacks seemed to become hotter and more powerful. But she managed to stay focused, using her anger to gain an edge over her enemies. However, Cinder knew that alone may not be enough. She could see it in their eyes, Ruby´s and Tails´ determination was unwavering. They wouldn't back down just like Cinder herself. The pyromaniac allowed herself a cruel smile to appear on her face.
Alright. Then I guess I should start trying to break their spirits alongside their bodies.
Heated glass formed between the Cyborg Maiden's fingers and molded together into the form of Pyrrha´s spear. Cinder´s smile became a smirk when she heard Ruby gasped and then shot a dark glance in her direction.
"Again with this?" the silver-eyed girl almost yelled. In response, Cinder swung the spear in a wide arc. Fire blazed out of the tip and came towards Ruby in a huge wave. She ran straight towards it and managed to jump over the flames and make steady progress towards the Cyborg Maiden. Tails tried to fly at her side, but Cinder threw her spear at him. The fox dodged it, but the glass construct glowed behind him and exploded, the force sending him flying away. Ruby gave her friend a worried sideways glance, but knew she couldn't get distracted now. She ran faster, putting Crescent Rose's barrel behind her and fired. The recoil and Petal Burst made her coming toward Cinder at high speed. The twisted Fall Maiden didn't have enough time to form another glass weapon to retaliate against the attack. Instead she put out all of her hands and managed to catch the scythe blade coming at her and holding it in place. The force send her sliding a few inches backwards but her stand remained solid.
"Hehe… you fell for my taunt."
One of Cinder´s arms let go and started to create another spear, but then suddenly, Ruby yelled: "Kurtis, Surprise Rose!"
"Wha- AAHH!"
At the human girls command the Spike Wisp had pumped more of his energy into Crescent Rose´s blade and dozen of pink energy thorns erupted from it. Since Cinder's Aura protected her, her arms weren't damaged from this attack. But the protrusions still pushed her hands back and made her Aura flicker. Before Ruby´s enemy could recover from her surprise, the silver-eyed girl swung her scythe and yelled this time: "Now Thorn Storm, Kurtis!"
Cinder managed to avoid the strike, but the energy thorns were fired like missiles and impacted the black-haired woman. She staggered backwards a few steps, but eventually regained her composure. As Ruby attempted another attack, Cinder swung her right arms and a violent gust of wind hit the huntress-in-training from the side, sending her flying into a wall. She slammed into it harshly and staggered around, dazed and with her Aura flickering. Crescent Rose had fallen out of her hands. But before she could figure out where her weapon ended up, she slammed into the wall again.
Cinder had used her control over the wind and flames from under her shoes to fly rapidly towards Ruby. She crashed into her and was now standing in front of her, holding the younger girl against the wall with her hands. Two let go to then grab Ruby by the throat and started squeezing.
Silver eyes widened as the huntress-in-training´s air supply was cut off. It brought back memories form Metropolis: When the Egg Watcher had managed to surprise her and when Cinder had literally pinned her down and started sputtering deranged stuff.
But this situation also brought a memory back to Cinder. She saw her younger self fighting against her mentor. Her hand wrapped around his throat, only for the old hunter to protect himself from her grasp by turning his skin into metal with his Semblance. Her focus returned to the here and now. She looked at her now metallic hands squeezing Ruby's delicate and organic throat.
Hmm… I guess such is the irony of fate, thought the black-haired woman. She smiled. Oh, if only the old fool could see me now. Running away forever? I´m sure little Ruby here would agree that SHE would be the one to wish that she could run away.
Cinder wanted to strengthen her grip. But then she heard the Flap-Flap of rotating tails approaching. Without having to turn around, two more of Cinder´s hands let go and threw fire balls behind her. The mechanical limbs contorted in a way that would have been impossible for Cinder's original ones. But with her new body she managed to keep Tails at bay and hinder him from attacking behind. Luckily for him and Ruby, he wasn't alone. The Wisps appeared from the weapons. Kurtis, Zen, Flare and Strom tried to ram Cinder, their hyper-go-on energies forming around them in their respective abilities. But the Cyborg Maiden send out more arms and snatched the aliens. In the twins´ case she even used her magic to drain them.
"Hm, now I wonder what I could be achieving if I take their power completely away?"
Ruby struggled against Cinder´s hold. Black dots appeared in her vision, the grip of her enemies´ cypertronic hands was relentless. "To bad your Wisps are entirely useless to me. But then again, they…" She managed to catch and held Tails as he tried to Spindash against her. "…and your other friend are only here because you are too weak to fight your own battle. Because you drag them down. Because you couldn't help them. Just like Nikos. Just like your mother."
Cinder's hands that were holding her allies started to glow or drain them further. The twisted Fall Maiden smiled. But it quickly fell. Instead of cowering and accepting her fate, Ruby´s eyes instead narrowed and hardened. Even with being unable to talk and even breath she managed to get across what she wanted to say with that look: I won´t allow you to harm them.
With many of the arms having let go of her, alongside Cinder having some trouble holding the additional Resistance members in place, the hold on Ruby had lessened. The silver-eyed girl struggled harder, something inside of her refusing to just give up. She managed to pull her legs up and get them between herself and Cinder. She kicked with all her strength and pushed the megalomaniac away. The Fall Maiden staggered away and Tails managed to free himself. He instantly slammed his namesakes against Cinder´s arms and managed to free his Wisps. Ruby meanwhile flew upward as a petal cloud and manifested herself over her enemy. With gravity´s help she let herself fall on the Cyborg Maiden and stomped on to her head with her combat boots. It caught Cinder completely off guard and she buckled under the sudden weight, crashing head first into the ground. Ruby used her head as a springboard and landed on the ground a little away from Cinder. Zen and Kurtis flew at her side, freed from Cinder's grasp thanks to Ruby's actions. Tails, who had quickly distanced himself after realizing what his friend had been planning, had used the time to pick up Crescent Rose and landed next to Ruby.
"Are you guys okay?"
Zen and Kurtis waved it off, aside from slight burns they were fine. Strom and Flare on the other hand looked a bit drowsy and tired. Their colors seemed faded.
"Sorry guys, that must have been unpleasant. It would be best if you go back inside the Double-Wispon and sit this battle out for a while."
Tails´ Wisps didn't argue against his logic and instead did as he said. Zen and Kurtis returned into Crescent Rose as well. Just in time, because Cinder had managed to get up. Violent winds whirled around her and with every heavy breath she made, flames billowed out from her mouth like an agitated dragon. Her mismatching eyes glowed intensely as she stared at her enemies. The air around the Cyborg Maiden grow hotter and she unleashed her power in the form of a fiery tornado expanding from her. Ruby realized that she and the others couldn't escape this attack. She folded Crescent Rose, grabbed Tails and held her close while she turned her back to the firestorm, shielding her friends with her Aura.
The burning winds whirled and tossed them about, heat sucking the oxygen from their lungs before they fell to the ground.
Despite his pounding skull and aching body, Tails tried to free himself from Ruby's grasp. He knew that they couldn't show themselves vulnerable in Cinder's presence. Ruby groaned in protest but let go of the fox. He hastily stood up and hastily examined the silver-eyed girl. She seemed unharmed, even if her Aura flickered heavily from the amount of damage it had taken. Tails´ ears flicked as he heard steps approaching them. Knowing who was coming, the fox quickly took Crescent Rose out from Ruby´s arms and folded it out in its Sniper Rifle form. He stood protectively in front of Ruby and aimed the weapon at Cinder. The Fall Maiden stopped. Even though her eyes were still glowing with hatred, a sinister smile creeped on her face.
"Well, well, well, look where we are again. Little Rose incapable of fighting and useless and a scared little puppy is trying to act like a brave hero and protect her."
Tails stared back into Cinder´s amber eye. It no longer reminded him much of Infinite´s and the pain the entity had caused him. No, by now Cinder was standing out on her own for what she had done to Ruby and him. But even then, Tails' stance remained calm and strong. In a brave voice he said, "I don't care what a crazy person like you says or does. I won't let you hurt anyone!"
Cinder's smile faltered.
"You dare-"
"Yes, I dare! You think you are something special with your powers and cruelty? No, you are just like Infinite and Eggman: A bully that never grew up! Face it, you´re just another enemy to defeat!"
"Famous last words from someone who has no idea what I went through! You so-called heroes always think you're so good and can judge everyone as you like without understanding what's really going on!" Cinder hissed.
Tails opened his mouth. But someone else spoke up.
"No, he is right." Tails and Cinder looked at Ruby, who managed to stand back up despite everything she had to endure. Hearing what Tails said and how willing he was to protect her, how could she do nothing? "You talk like you were a victim. Maybe you were, maybe you were failed by a hunter and that´s is why you´re so hateful and bitter. But you know what Cinder? That is not an excuse. You could have grown past the pain the world has caused you and be better. Yet instead you let yourself be consumed by it and cause more misery." Ruby´s scars caused by Cinder were aching. She thought about Penny, Pyrrha and everyone else that fell alongside Beacon. Yet she pushed trough and stood strong alongside Tails.
"If you were wronged in the past, you are still not a victim. Not anymore. Like Tails said: Just another enemy that others need to be protected from."
Cinder gritted her teeth. Did that brat really just say that? Her, that had been born unfairly with great powers instead of earning them? And, if Cinder interpreted Ruby´s statement to her silver eyes right, apparently didn´t even make any use at all! Did she not realize what she was squandering?
"Shut up! SHUT YOUR STUPID, IGNORANT TRAP!"
Each of Cinder´s hands created a flaming saber and she charged towards the duo. Tails threw Crescent Rose to Ruby, who caught it with a grateful nod. The fox himself assumed a pose ready to fight. The friends were ready to confront their opponent. But just before Cinder reached them...
Boom.
She stopped. Everyone stood still and looked for the source of that noise.
Boom!
They all looked up. A bulge had formed in the ceiling of the hall. Cinder frowned. "What the…"
BOOM!
The bulge burst open and something fell from the upper floor. Cinder, Ruby and Tails hastily backed away to avoid being crushed. The massive something crashed hard into the ground. It was Rouge and Omega. The former of the two sat on the robot's right shoulder plate and looked at Ruby. "It seems that Omega's scans were right in regards of a Chaos Emerald being in close proximity."Her eyes switched over to Cinder. "And it seems we showed up just in time."
"Rouge! Omega" Tails and Ruby exclaimed in relief in seeing more of their allies.
"NO!" screamed Cinder for the complete opposite reason. "You were the first resident of Mobius that took my vengeance from me! The one that dared to use my powers against me! And now you aid that stupid child yet again!?"
Omega´s gaze fell on the Cyborg Maiden.
"I AM E-123 OMEGA, THE ULTIMATE PRODUCT OF THE E-SERIES. ONCE A SUBJECT/OBJECT IS ARCHIVED WITHIN MY DATA AS A TARGET I WONT STOP UNTIL IT IS ELIMINATED! CURRENT LOCATED TARGET: CINDER FALL."
Rouge flew from his shoulder as Omega raised his arm and retracted his claw for a gun. It rotated and channeled electricity.
"Omega, wait!" Tails screamed, but it was too late.
The combat robot fired electrical projectiles. Cinder took a nervous step back before loudly saying to herself, "NO!"
She reached out and used her magic to absorb Omega's attack and let it crackle between her fingers.
"Lightning is no longer my weakness. And I will show you the pain you and everyone else who thought they were above me as made me suffer trough!"
She threw the lightning back, it wasn't however aimed at Omega, but at Rouge, Ruby and Tails. The combat robot activated its jets to quickly appear in front of his organic allies and absorb the attack.
"Cinder's control over elemental phenomena has increased. Attacking her with electricity and other elements she controls is now less effective," Tails explained to Omega.
"UNDERSTOOD," was all the last of the E-series said. As Cinder formed several bows and shot flaming arrows at the group, compartments on Omega's body opened and missiles shot out, blowing the arrows up. The explosions created a smoke screen. Omega activated his scanners to locate Cinder beyond all the smoke and activated his jets again to come flying at her. The Fall Maiden failed to dodge as the massive machine suddenly shot out from the smoke cloud and crashed right into her. Just like in the fight at the Shadow Android Factory, Cinder felt like she had been hit by a train. Thanks to her cybernetics, she remained steadfast and was 'only' pushed back several meters.
"Don't you get it? I have become stronger! Your attempt at breaking my body and spirit only-"
She barely ducked underneath Omega´s massive fist he swung at her.
"YOUR SELF-DELUSIONAL PROCLAIMS OF SUPERIORITY ARE GETTING TIRESOME FOR THIS UNIT. ADDITIONALLY: THIS IS A FIGHT. SO LESS BORING TALKING AND MORE FIGHTING."
While the killer robot and magical cyborg were busy with one another, Rouge used this opportunity to exchange some information with Ruby and Tails.
"So, how have you been?"
Ruby shrugged. "Well, fighting trough dangerous enemies Eggman has laid out for us and then battling Cinder. Nothing new. What about you, Rouge?"
"Not too different to what you have experienced. Me and Omega had been teleported to a room full of Badniks and since then fought our way trough hordes of them and Grimm. At least until he got a signal from your Chaos Emerald."
"There had been some tigth spots," Tails admitted as he rubbed the chest wound he had gotten from the Ruceb Grimm. The cut was aching underneath the bandages. "But we were managing Cinder fine. Still glad you and Omega have showed up. Especially since Ruby´s Aura had just taken a massive hit."
The last part was stated in a worried and slightly accusing tone at the silver-eyed girl.
"I was just trying to protect you! I am the only one with Aura, I didn't want to take my chances when Cinder unleashed a literal fire storm!"
"I get where you´re coming from, Ruby," Rouge remarked. "It is indeed important to support your comrades, but that doesn't mean you should completely neglect your own health. Such actions can also endanger your teammates. Sure, thanks to your miracle aura, you haven't suffered any physical damage yet. Emphasis on yet."
Ruby flinched. What Rouge just said reminded her of the lesson Shadow had taught her about being a leader. Well, it made sense since the ebony hedgehog was the leader of the bat.
"You´re right. I just didn't know what to do else."
"It´s not like I hate what you have done or am ungrateful. Just be more careful with your own health." Tails said it in a serious tone.
"I uh… yeah, you are right. Still doesn't chance the fact that you wouldn't have been able to dodge an ever-expanding whirlwind on fire."
The roar of flames drew the three's attention from their conversation to their enemy and ally.
Cinder had fired a point-blank blast of white fire into Omega's face. In return the machine punched her away, his face plate glowing from the intense heat.
"How about we join in the fight and help Omega out instead of letting him have all the fun. I'm sure you're not done with Cinder yet, Ruby," Rouge said.
Said girl was looking at the Fall Maiden with an intense look. The murderess of many lives and Ruby´s personal tormentor on Mobius. A deep desire to face that monster and defeat her was swelling inside the huntress-in-training. It seemed almost alien to her, but she didn't question it. Instead she activated Crescent Rose´s scythe form. "Yeah. Let´s take her down for good."
With her weapon firmly in her grip, Ruby ran toward her enemy, Tails flying left to her and Rouge to her right.
Rouge and Omega have joined the fight against Cinder. Next time we will see how Team ROT and Rouge, or Team ROTR, will hold up against her in the next chapter.
To Guest: ok
To Guest: Thanks for your on going support.
To quirky2023: Thank you and they will.
To Monster King: I will.
To SuperSaiyanFever: Like Shadow said to Ruby, she and everyone else determine their own destiny. The villains are taking heavy hits but they wont go down easily.
