Sonic and Ruby stared tensely at the huge robot while Eggman's laughter echoed through Mortar Canyon.
"Gotcha!" His voice came out slightly distorted trough the speakers of his machine, tough not to the same extent as Infinite´s.
"My master plan has finally come to fruition!"
"Eggman! What is the meaning of this?" shouted Sonic. Ruby meanwhile just looked at Eggman´s robot with an uncomfortable feeling in her. Looking at it just felt… wrong, in a way the silver-eyed girl couldn't quite put into words. And it made a desire rise inside of her to fight that thing. She didn't have too much time to ponder about these weird feelings as Eggman didn't miss out on the chance to gloat about his intellect by answering Sonic´s question.
"Did you really think that it would be over after the Wyvern´s revival and Overclock Infinite? That the greatest mind of Mobius hadn't anything more in store after you destroyed the Death Egg? HA! A true winner keeps his trump card up his sleeve until the end!"
The mad doctor wanted to continue but some projectiles grazing his robot stopped him. He made it turn around and saw trough some of its sensors troops of the Resistance approaching them, trying to come to Sonic´s and Ruby´s aid. He pushed a few buttons.
The Phantom Ruby's power flared up and distorted reality. A red haze covered everything as glitches distorted the surroundings. When Sonic and Ruby had a clear view again, they saw that Mortar Canyon had changed. The place had been divided into several stony platforms on massive columns, divided by a cloudy abyss. Some of them were barren and empty. Others had mountains or factories of Eggman´s base on them. And enemies, for the Phantom Ruby had reassembled destroyed Badniks.
But that wasn't all. Sonic received several transmissions from the Resistance via his com:
"Sonic, what's going on? Several enemies appeared at once!"
"Confirmed sightings of Zavok, Chaos 0, Shadow, Metal Sonic, Cinder and some Grimm."
"Are these Phantoms?"
Sonic stared with a grim expression at the one responsible for all of this.
"What have you done?"
"Mwahahaha! I just merely integrated the Phantom Ruby into this specially designed machine and let it be powered by an inserted reactor similar to the emergency one inside my Mortar Canyon base." Eggman grinned. "Only difference is that aside from Chaos Cartridges it also contains the energy of the Fall Maiden Magic."
"The Maiden Magic? But then what about Cinder?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that lunatic anymore, Miss Rose. When I ripped the magic right out of her soul, I´m afraid it put too much of a strain on her."
Ruby's eyes widened as she realized what the mad doctor was implying.
"Are you saying you killed her? But… but, I thought she was your ally. How can you just-"
"She was nothing more than a means to an end! Just like Infinite´s host and his mutts had been. Tough I never imagined having pulled a potential energy source from another reality for my masterpiece here would have dragged in some welcomed and unwelcome side passengers, aka: You and the Wyvern. But meh, its all in the past. And Miss Fall wanted to stab me in the back anyway, she got what she deserved."
Ruby was at a loss for words. Of course, Cinder had tried to kill her and her friends several times and had been partially successful. And of course, all the terrible places of the Eggman Empire she had seen had showed Ruby just how ruthless the megalomaniacal doctor was.
But after just hearing Zero´s story and the apathetic, and even slightly mocking, way Eggman described his cruelties towards the Fall Maiden shocked the young huntress-in-training deeply. But the shock made quickly place for anger.
"Then what was the whole thing with Infinite about?! Why hurt Zero and his friends so much if you´re just gonna use a robot in the end? I thought you couldn't control the Phantom Ruby with technology because you lacked enough of that weird metal!"
"That was exactly the point! The Valtrom in the form of Infinite's mask and he himself helped me gather the necessary Data in creating a metal of similar properties that could be mass produced. Similar on how I needed to analyze the Fall Maiden Magic to perfectly utilize it as a power source!"
It was clear that the magic wasn't just usable as a glorified battery alone when Eggman had lightning bolts cascade down on Ruby and Sonic. The Speedsters managed to dodge the sudden attacks, but they were almost vaporized by the intense laser beam that shot from the visor on the robot´s head as red energy had built up inside it.
"With my latest creation, I have surpassed everything Cinder and Infinite ever hoped to achieve and am now the ultimate form! The Egg Naga will crush you and then I will take the remaining magic of Remnant, before I will rule it and Mobius. Both realities will be mine!"
Shadow ducked underneath the punch of an Egg Pawn and retaliated with one of his own. The machine stumbled back and, before Shadow could dispose of it himself, was decapitated by a red slash. The headless robot fell down and showed a heavy breathing Zero, one hand on his bandaged chest and with the other the jackal was leaning on his saber. Shadow raised an eyebrow at that.
"Where did you find that?"
"When Eggman distorted the surroundings I found myself dodging some attacks to the best I could. And somehow I found myself stumbling over my old weapon. Don't know if it is the universe or Eggman mocking me… or maybe fate offering a chance to do something right… I just took it."
"Can yo then tell me something else?" Shadow pointed at the Egg Naga in the distance. "What is THIS?!"
Zero shook his head. His face showed nothing but confusion and shock at the sudden turn their situation had taken in.
"I can assure you I have NO idea where the hell this is coming from. Eggman has never told Infinite about this. Though judging how it uses the Phantom Ruby, I don't think he would have appreciated of essentially ending up just another of Eggman´s wind-up toys. It- duck!"
Out of reflex, Shadow did so as Zero called out in a serious voice. The Jackal threw his saber, which sailed over Shadow's head and pierced into the head of an Egg Watcher who had snuck up on the hedgehog from behind.
Before the machine fell over, Shadow had pulled the weapon out of its metal skull and was alternately looking at it and its owner.
Zero seemed honest about his lack of knowledge about the Egg Naga, most likely not a tactic used by Infinite to buy time for his allies. Just as honest as he had been about his story. About his remorse and...
"Are you serious about the fact that the universe might have given you a chance to do the right thing?"
Zero was quiet for a while and then shrugged.
"I... I guess so. I made a grave mistake that cost me and others dearly. Doing something about it is the least I can do."
Make a mistake and then try to do the right thing...
It was something Shadow was very familiar with. He sighed and handed Zero his saber.
"All right, then let me give you a chance as well. But if you betray my trust in any way..."
Shadow didn't finish, but the threat was clear. Zero nodded.
"What's the plan?"
Before Shadow could say anything, a mechanical whirring and croaking made the two look up. They found themselves surrounded by Buzz Bombers and Phantoms of modified Griffins.
The flying Badniks aimed the barrels of their laser cannons at the Mobians while the Grimm prepared to dive. But they were stopped by yellow lightning bolts being fired at them. The electricity destroyed the Buzz Bombers and send the Griffins crashing to the ground where Zero and Shadow were able to destroy them.
Tails came flying towards them, Double-Wispon in hand. He changed its mode to incinerate another Phantom Grimm with fire before saying, "I have an idea."
Ruby and Sonic barely were able to run out from underneath one of the Egg Naga´s bigger arms as it send its fist flying toward them. It crashed behind them into the ground, leaving a visible crater and red energy shock waves erupted from it. The speedster managed to jump over them, but then quickly fastened their pace to outrun another laser from the robot´s visor. However, red energy was also gathering inside the six hands of the Egg Naga and they fired additional beams at the duo. Ruby ducked her head to run under one, converting Crescent Rose into a sniper. As she ran, the huntress-in-training aimed at the massive combat robot and fired a laser of her own. It hit, but instead of causing any damage, the Egg Naga flared up surrounded by glitches.
"Oh crap, it has a Phantom Aura! Just like the Wyvern!"
"Of course it does, a huge robot made of solid metal would have been far too vulnerable," Sonic muttered sarcastically next to her.
The Egg Naga stopped its laser attacks on its two massive arms and instead fired missiles from their fingertips. Ruby managed to shoot them down, but in turn she slowed down a bit and the remaining lasers got closer behind her. Sonic took one of her arms and made her run faster with him. Of course in a speed possible for her. They finally got a chance to stop and catch their breath when the Egg Naga completely canceled its laser attacks. Instead it used the Phantom Ruby´s power to teleport some of the reconstructed Badniks on this Battle Field.
Egg Tanks and models of the E-2000 surrounded the speedsters, one of the later aiming its cannon at them.
Ruby was about to grab the white Chaos Emerald and use it to carry out a move against the strong robot, only to grab nothing inside the pocket she usually carried it. To late she remembered that her and the other six Chaos Emeralds had disappeared after the Super Forms had run out of power.
The E-2000 fired, with the other machines soon following. Ruby quickly grabbed Sonic and they both flew away as a red and blue cloud of rose petals. They manifested a good distance away from the machines.
"Sonic, please tell me you know a trick with which you can recall all seven Chaos Emeralds to unlock Super Forms for us again?"
"Unfortunatly we have to do without them but I think I know how."
Silver eyes stared at him questioningly.
"We may not have access to the Emeralds, but don't forget that the two of us pack quite the punch if we work together."
It took a while for Ruby to figure out what her friend meant.
"Of course, the Chaos Burst!" While not on the same level of power she had felt during her Super State, the huntress-in-training agreed that it would help them out in this situation immensely. However…
"But we are going to hit the Egg Naga´s Phantom Aura several times, even with Chaos Burst, if we want to break it."
"Then less talking and more running. That mad man isn't going to stop by himself."
The speedster duo stormed of toward the towering shape of the Egg Naga.
It shot more missiles from its fingertips and all the summoned Badniks aimed their canons at the incoming hedgehog and human. Just when the projectiles were about to hit them however…
"Chaos…"
… Burst!"
Ruby´s and Sonic´s special attack shoot right trough them and any Egg Tank and E-2000 standing between them and their goal. Eggman had only time to raise his eyebrows before the Chaos Burst crashed right into the Egg Naga and send it staggering backwards, down the edge of the platform´s cliff with a flickering Phantom Aura.
Sonic and Ruby watched as the robot disappeared into the mist covered depths.
"… yeah, that won´t be enough", said Sonic.
"Yup." Ruby nodded.
And so they were already on the move when thunder echoed from the storm cloud above and they send lighting crashing down. The speedsters tried their best to dodge, but the remaining Badniks fired lasers and missiles at them and gave the two organics more difficulty. Ruby and Sonic had managed to put a good distance between themselves and the machines when the Egg Naga reappeared. It teleported in the air and, rotating on its own axis, rushed towards the two of them, enveloped in red energies. Lightning struck the falling robot, causing additional electricity to dance around the metal outer shell of Eggman's creation. A shadow darkened everything around Sonic and Ruby as the giant robot rapidly approached.
The former quickly went through a few things in his head and shouted: "Hold on tight, Ruby!"
"Wha-AH!"
The hedgehog picked the human girl up bridal style and dashed in a burst of his true speed backwards to avoid the Egg Naga´s attack.
BOOM!
The robot crashed trough the ground and drilled right into it. Red energy shock waves erupted from the impact, alongside waves of iron spikes. The rumbling resulting from the Egg Naga rupturing trough the foundation of the platform caused Sonic to stumble and dropping Ruby. The silver-eyed girl was quick to pick herself up tough and was now the one helping her mobian friend.
She grabbed and held him with her right hand and jumped over the shock waves. When it got them into the path of some spikes growing toward them, Ruby swung Crescent Rose with her left hand and yelled: "Kurtis, Thorn Storm!"
The enhanced scythe blade cut trough the first spikes and, fighting fire with fire, the pink thorn erupting and firing from Ruby´s weapon destroyed the ones behind. Reality glitched in hues of red before the Egg Naga reappeared on the surface of the platform. The giant hole and spikes left by its descending drilling attack gone.
"You two may have the power of friendship behind your back, using it for some fancy special attack. But as you´ve just witnessed: My masterpiece has incredible combat abilities of its one and there is still so much more I can do!"
Eggman's war machine used its snake-like lower body to slither towards his enemies and raised all of its arms. The Phantom Ruby vibrated.
Sonic and Ruby sped away and the place where they had been standing just a few seconds ago was obliterated under the fists of the Egg Naga crashing down on it at the same time. Not only were the resulting shock waves more powerful, cracks spread from it and lava fountains came spewing out of them. Ruby used her Semblance to fly over the ring-shaped energies, but also evaded the globs of molten rock in the air. When the fountains died down and the ground was safe again, Ruby landed back on it with Sonic a good distance away from the Egg Naga.
"Another one." It was all the silver-eyed girl said and it was all she needed to say. Her companion nodded and together they started running for another Chaos Burst.
But this time Eggman was more prepared.
Buzzing with the Phantom Ruby´s power, the Egg Naga managed to grab the Chaos Burst before it collided into it. The robot managed to hold it in place until it was able to rip it apart. Reality flashed red during this and when it was over the Egg Naga held each Sonic and Ruby in one hand.
"What did I just say," Eggman said in a condecending tone. He made his machine tighten the grip of its fingers around the two. Mobian and human squirmed inside the robots grip. Eggman would have reduced them to dust, or at the very least broken several bones, if two alert screens wouldn't have appeared in front of the doctor´s face. They warned him about the Phantom Ruby and the Fall Maiden Magic acting up again, the latter still just showing 99% ever since the Resistance´s attack on Metropolis.
Eggman just grunted in annoyance and pushed a few buttons to electrocute the gemstone and golden energy. It made the Egg Naga pause for a moment. It gave Ruby time to focus and think rationally of a way out of this situation. With as a cloud of rose petals she was able to glide trough the Egg Naga´s thick fingers and manifested herself on top of its arm. She ran down its length, racking Crescent Rose behind her over the surface of the giant robot. The Phantom Aura flickered and Eggman yelled at her. He made the Egg Naga´s other arms try to slap Ruby down from the robot, but she dodged out of the way, outran the resulting shock waves, and reached Sonic. Just when Eggman wanted to squish the hedgehog, his silver-eyed friend grabbed him and they escaped via together with Petal Burst.
They landed a good distance away from their enemy.
"I don't want to say Eggman made a good point but he made a good point. Even if we try to hit him with Chaos Burst he can counter with the Phantom Ruby."
Sonic agreed with her statement, but of course that didn't mean he wanted to give up.
"There still has to be a way how or when we can attack him. Maybe with a distraction or..." His eyes widened.
"Wait a minute, I got it!"
Ruby wanted to ask what he meant, but the Egg Naga summoned sharp gusts of wind that cut through the ground like barely visible claws. The duo struggled to dodge the elemental attacks, but somehow they were able to do so and even call to each other over winds´ noises.
"When I fought Infinite's final form, I was able to damage the Phantom Ruby. And he didn't seem to be able to repair the damage. And I don't think Eggman was either, especially when he put it in his scrap pile shortly after the fight. That could limit the Ruby´s usefulness."
Sonic´s words got the Ruby on his side thinking. She made a side roll to avoid three wind slashes and yelled to her friend, "Maybe it already causes him trouble. There… there were moments when Eggman massively distorted reality and others were he used the Egg Naga like an ordinary killer robot of big size. Just firing rockets or trying to punch and crush us, just like a few minutes ago. And when it summoned those Badniks he didn't even do anything at all. If Zero is telling the truth then the Phantom Ruby sorta got a mind of its own and would probably try to fight back against Eggman´s control."
The Egg Naga swung one of its arms and fired a wide wind slash from it. Ruby and Sonic threw themselves on the ground and the attack went over their heads, cutting into some mountains on the other side of the platform.
Sonic looked at his human companion.
"So basically what I said: Wait for an opportunity to attack when Eggsters toy isn't working as intended."
"Yes, probably after a special move like that drill-spike attack."
They good back on their feet. They were ready to run when Sonic suddenly scratched his head.
"Speaking of the summoned Badniks: Did we get all of them with our Chaos Burst or not? It kinda slipped my mind."
The blue hedgehog got his answer after an energy sphere barely missed his head. A few E-2000s and a single Egg Tank came charging toward them. Ruby got ready to fight back against them, but Sonic laid a hand on her shoulder and told her to wait. He got another idea to harm the Egg Naga.
He sped to the incoming machines, the closest, in this case the Egg Tank, activating its flamethrower and setting Sonic´s path ablaze. But he just ran around the inferno and dented the Tank´s weapons beyond usage with homing attacks after getting close enough. He then starting running in circles around the Badniks, the E-2000s trying to put a stop to him with their range attacks. But Sonic was successful in creating a tornado and sucked all the robots into it. He wanted to use it to throw Eggman´s creations against his big one, but in his hastiness he forgot something important.
The mad doctor chuckled inside the Egg Naga.
"Foolish rodent, didn't you just witness that Miss Fall´s gift allows me to control the wind to a greater extend than you?" he said to himself.
With the Maiden Magic the tornado was dissolved and the Badniks inside of it send crashing to the ground, luckily broken and damaged. Unluckily the same couldn't be said for the Egg Naga. It swung its arms to create more of the wind slashes.
Sonic barely had time to think: Right, Cinder was able to stop my tornado during our fight in the android facility, I should have seen that coming, before he had to evade and dodge the attacks.
Things didn't look easier on Shadow´s, Tails´ and Zero´s side. The canines had split their work, Tails taking care against aerial enemies and Zero the ones on the ground. Shadow was helping both out with his attacks. He just destroyed an Egg Knight when a shadow fell over his group. The Phantom of a Nevermore appeared and spread its wings to fire its sharp feathers. A turquoise glow surrounding the Grimm stopped it from doing so.
Silver, hovering close by, pulled both his hands down and slammed the Phantom down on to the ground. He then made a sideways swipe with his hand and the false Nevermore slid trough the ground, its body wiping trough hordes of enemies and clearing a path for Shadow, Tails and Zero.
"Whatever your goal and plan is, I hope this helps!" the time traveler declared before he had flew away to help some Resistance Troops against Egg Hammers and Egg Burners.
Tails nodded gratefully after the flying hedgehog, even if he couldn't see the gesture, and followed after Zero and Shadow, who were already proceeding. Their goal was one of the combat airships of the Resistance that had been landed at the beginning of the Mortar Canyon assault. The big machine would be a big help in bringing them to the platform Ruby and Sonic were currently on and also gave much needed heavy firepower against the Egg Naga. Thanks to Silver´s help the trio was making progress much faster, only having here and there to dispose of single stragglers. Until…
Zero´s ears twitched as he heard many small somethings approach them fast, cutting trough the air with a sharp sound. It was one he recognized. He grabbed Tails and Shadow on the shoulders and pulled them down with him. A bunch of arrows shot overhead them and dug themselves into the ground behind them… and started to heat up. The projectiles exploded and threw the mobains forward. They soared trough the air and landed roughly on the ground. Groaning, the three of them stood up, with Zero having some trouble as he clutched his chest. They looked up as they heard steps approaching them. A Phantom of Cinder approached, although lacking any cybernetics the original had possessed. It still didn't stop Tails from making a slight groan at seeing the pyromaniac.
"When is it ever enough with you?"
As an answer the Phantom just summoned three more arrows into her bow, lit them up with heat, and let go of the string. Shadow moved forward and destroyed them with Chaos Spears. The explosions created a smokescreen trough which Phantom Cinder appeared, her bow slit apart into two sabers, and tried to attack. This time it was Zero who moved forward and blocked the sabers with the broadside of his own. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to push back when Tails flew up behind him, curled up and send their attacker flying backwards with a Spindash against the head.
"Great, even now she is being an annoyance", Zero muttered under his breath but then turned to Tails with a: "Thanks for the help."
"Of course."
"She is standing in our way," Shadow said as he watched the Phantom slowly get up. "We can dispose of her but it would cost time."
Zero pondered his statement for a bit and then said, "What if I give you time?"
His allies looked at him.
"Sonic and Ruby need someone of your caliber. Me? Well, look at Cinder. Not only isn't she possessing any of her robotic replacements but her eyes no longer shine with the Maiden´s magic."
The black haired Phantom had completely get back on her feet and gave the mobians a hostile look. And it made Shadow and Tails see that Zero was right.
"Apparently the doctor didn't want to put too much power into her and created a Phantom lacking any additional powers of Cinder´s except her Aura and Semblance. An enemy against even someone weak as me should have a chance. And if it gives you two the freedom to hurry up and help your friends…"
"Do you hear yourself?" Shadow asked while Tails kept the false Cinder at distance with a lightning bolt. "You´re hurt and this Phantom, while indeed lacking Magic and Cybernetics, still possesses more powers than you."
"Hm, if you put it that way…" Despite everything the mercenary managed to put up a crooked smile. "I like those odds."
"You-"
Phantom Cinder dodged another attack of Tails and rushed toward the Zero and Shadow. The former running toward her as well. Just when his opponent raised her sabers to strike him down, he let himself drop and slid underneath her attack and in between her legs, slicing his weapon against her ankle. This actually caused the Phantom to stagger, so Zero had enough time to rise up behind her and kick her to the ground. She tried to get up, but the mobain jackal jumped onto her back, grabbed her head and slammed it hard down.
"Go!" he shouted.
Shadow sighed and but decided to put trust into Zero´s abilities and accountability as he grabbed Tails and sped up ahead to the airship.
"Wait, what if Zero-"
"Needs help? So do Sonic and Ruby," Shadow interrupted the fox. "And who do you think need more of it."
It was a rhetorical question for Tails could of course figure out that the odds were worse looking for his two friends, for everyone, against the power of the Egg Naga.
Speaking of, the situation was looking tight for Ruby and Sonic. The duo had came up with a plan that involved the blue hedgehog to create another tornado to suck up all the dust and gavel laying around on the ground. Eggman dissolved that whirlwind too, but in doing so actually fell for their plan: The picked up dirt spread apart in a dusty cloud and hindered the doctor´s vision. Ruby and Sonic had used that opportunity to hit his robot with another Chaos Burst successfully.
However, that had lead to their current situation. An enraged Eggman decided to get back at his enemies by blocking their vision too. Or rather their entire perception of reality. Infinite´s red cubes had been summoned and now flew and swirled around in different formations and structures.
Ruby ran underneath or jumped over what was essentially an obstacle course. Sonic did his best to dodge entire clusters of the cubes slithering or expanding toward him. It felt like hours, even if it could only have been minutes, before the cubes disappeared.
Sonic and Ruby breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to try another Chaos Burst, but Eggman hadn't made the dice disappear because he was having problems with the Phantom Ruby, but because he had come up with a better idea on how to attack the speedsters. He forced the Fall Maiden Magic to conjure up a rainstorm.
Sonic and Ruby looked up in confusion as the water droplet started falling down. The confusion changed into fear and even pain as the Phantom Ruby turned the rain acidic and now the duo found themselves racing for cover in a damaging rain storm that got worse and worse.
"Ohohohahahaha! How do you like this?" Eggman proclaimed in a smug tone and his creation charge up its lasers.
Ruby and Sonic were fruitless in their endeavor. There were next to not boulders that could give them cover from the acidic rain. There were some mountains on the other side of their platform, but they were a good distance away and already Ruby´s Aura was flickering from the tiny yet constant amount of damage she received. It didn't help that she tried to cover Sonic to protect by shielding him as best as she could.
Luckily, just when the Egg Naga was about to fire its lasers and add more difficulty to the speedsters situation, a shadow fell over them. Sonic, Ruby and Eggman inside his machine looked up.
An airship was flying protectively over the blue hedgehog and silver-eyed girl, Shadow and Tails being at the helm.
"Target looked," the Ultimate Lifeform said as he got the information on a screen. Tails nodded and pushed a button. Huge missiles were fired from the ship. Eggman redirected the Egg Naga´s aim and destroyed a lot of them with the lasers. But some managed to pass by them and hit their target. Explosions shook the giant robot and its creator yelled a bunch of obscenities. And while the acid rain was still going strong, Ruby and Sonic decided to take their chance. They ran out from underneath the airship´s protective cover.
"Chaos…"
"...Burst!"
Eggman realized what was happening but was too slow to stop it. The Chaos Burst crashed into the Egg Naga and it was send rolling roughly over the ground until it once again fell into the abyss below.
Ruby and Sonic didn't waste any time and rushed back to the airship, but it was already flying as fast as it could over their location.
"Guys, are you okay?" Tails worried voice was heard over the intercom.
"We are now. Thanks for the help buddy. Anyone else with you?"
"Sonic, Ruby," Shadow´s voice answered the blue hedgehog´s question. "What was that strange glitch around Eggman´s machine when we hit it?"
"The Egg Naga uses an artificial Aura. Me and Sonic are tying our best to break trough it with our Chaos Burst but it is difficult because of the Phantom Ruby."
"Luckily that gemstone also seems to give old Eggster trouble and there are time frames we can use to attack."
"When are they?" Shadow asked.
"The best chance comes after Eggman performs a massive, reality-bending mega attack. And since the acid rain is still falling and we've pushed it down a precipice once again, you better be careful."
As soon as these words left Ruby's lips, the Egg Naga appeared in the sky and came towards the heroes again, rotating and enveloped in red energy.
Shadow cursed and warned Tails to fly to the side. The fox worked as quickly as he could and channeled extra energy into the shoots. The airship flew away and Ruby and Sonic rushed out of the danger zone with their speed.
The Egg Naga drilled into the ground, giant red shock waves and iron spikes erupted from the impact. Due to the still ongoing acid rain, dodging them would be more difficult than before. So instead of running around, exposing themselves to more rain droplets or risk slipping up in an acidic puddle, they stood their ground. Ruby cut trough any spike and together with Sonic she jumped over the shock waves.
Reality briefly glitched as the Egg Naga reappeared while the crater and spikes it created disappeared, the rain droplets turning back to regular ones.
"Guys, now!"
Tails immediately fired almost everything he had. Missiles and laser erupted from canons, but there was a big one that slowly gathered all kinds of hyper-go-on energy.
Ruby´s eyes widened as she recognized that one.
"Oh, that is the experimental design me and Tails came up with. I hope it will work."
"Huh, what will happen if it doesn't?"
"Well, the ship could explode. But the biggest drawback is that it´ll overload the systems and causes the ship to crash."
"Okay, with Tails being a flyer and Shadow being… Shadow, I think they will be okay. So maybe we should…"
Sonic gestured at the occupied Egg Naga. Ruby nodded with a determined look. She was tired and exhausted. Her muscles were aching from the constant movement and yet she refused to give in and stop. This was a though and grueling battle, but she refused to give up. She couldn't give up!
This was no longer about helping the people of Mobius but also protecting her world of the madness that was Dr. Eggman! After everything Cinder put her friends and family trough, Ruby refused them to experience any more hardship in the hands of another lunatic!
And so she started running alongside Sonic. Meanwhile, a door on the airships side opened and Shadow started firing Chaos Spears and Lances at the Egg Naga. Eggman gritted his teeth as his creation was bombarded by even more projectiles. It didn't stop him from noticing Ruby and Sonic, how they were starting another one of their special attack. He made the Egg Naga swung its tail at them while commanded the arms to tear of chunks from the ground and throw them at the airship. Shadow intercepted them with Chaos Spears and break them apart. But some remained big enough to impact the ships and make it tremble in the air. Shadow clung to the doorframe and asked over the ships intercom: "Tails, hows the status on the main canon?"
"It´s still going but we are out munition and energy for the rest. Keep defending the ship and lets hope Ruby and Sonic are successful."
Said duo didn't stop when they saw the Egg Naga´s tail sailing toward them, the opposite actually. They got faster and, without even stopping, jumped on top of it with their high momentum and ran up its length. Then they did it with the upper body. The Egg Naga´s fists punched itself in an attempt to crush them, ignoring the damage it caused to the Phantom Aura. But it was useless. The human and hedgehog duo avoided them all and ran up the robots head, using it like a ramp and letting their momentum flung them into the air. They got higher and higher, Eggman made all sensors follow their movement, his mind tunnel visioning on the meddlesome hedgehog and what he might cook up with his friend. Therefore, he ignored Tails and what he was cooking up.
Inside the airship the fox got notifications that the canons energy reached its maximum and that the systems were failing due to it.
"Shadow, get ready! I am about to fire!" He called. Tails gaze wandered to a button glowing in all the colors of the rainbow and pushed it.
From the big canon of his airship a massive orb of pulsating, all-colored energy was fired. It surged trough the air, bright as a miniature sun, and that got Eggman´s attention at last. His eyes widened and he tried to use the Phantom Ruby. A familiar buzzing tone vibrated trough reality.
"Don´t you dare," Shadow said with narrowed eyes. He had indeed gotten ready but in a more drastic measure than Tails would have expected. The Ultimate Lifeform had taken off his inhibitor rings. An incredible surge of Chaos Energy erupted from his being, blazing different shades of red and gold, bending the surrounding metal. He channeled some of that into his air shoes and was able to use them like rocket booster, flying from the airship trough the air and behind the Egg Naga at high speed. Just when the machine was about to use a trick to nullify Tails big attack, the Ultimate Lifeform focused most of his powerful energy into a…
"CHAOS BLAST!"
The blazing explosion interrupted Eggman´s focus and the Phantom Ruby´s vibrations stopped. The Egg Naga was thrown forward and into the orb of hyper-go-on energy, causing a second explosion to send the giant machine crashing backwards into the ground. Shadow was luckily no longer behind it anymore. He had used the rest of his powers to fly back to the airship. Trough the side door he had been standing previously he landed into the interior. With an exhausted sigh he put back his inhibitor rings on his wrist. He nearly lost his balance when the airship trembled and started to descend. Tails appeared.
"There you are. We have to get down before the ship crashes."
"But I just-"
"No time!" The fox grabbed Shadow and jumped with him out of the door and into free fall. He rotated his Tails and the two mobians flew safely to the ground while behind them, the airship carried down into the depths surrounding their battlefield.
During all of this, Ruby and Sonic had reached the peak of their ascend and starting falling down. They got faster and faster and once they were close to the now laying Egg Naga, they looked at each other, Ruby surrounded by rose petals and Sonic by the blue chaos energy of his Boost, and nodded.
BOOM!
Like a meteorite from space, the Chaos Burst collided hard into Eggman´s creation, leaving a crater. The doctor, barely having gotten his bearings back after Shadow's and Tails´ combined attack, was now getting thrown around by the teamwork of his nemesis and the unintended side-passenger of his project. He yelled in pain and anger, but it wasn't over. The Chaos Burst bounced off the flickering surface of the Egg Naga and reechoed back into it. This processes repeated, the Chaos Burst essentially homing attacking the giant war machine. With each strike the Phantom Aura was glitching more notably and its user was pushed deeper into the earth.
At least it did until Eggman, trough sheer grit and contempt-fueled determination, managed to get his hands back on the controls.
It took all of the doctor´s self-control to, instead of just lashing out at his hated enemies, teleport away. With the Egg Naga gone, the Chaos Burst crashed into the earth and deepened the crater considerably. Dust billowed upward and a duo of mobian and human stood inside of it, leaning on each other for support. Ruby and Sonic were breathing heavily and not just because of the dust. This attack… it took a lot of willpower from them to keep it going.
"Sonic! Ruby!"
They looked up. From behind the settling dust they could see Tails flying into their directions, holding Shadow by his hands. They landed and the two duos started to exchange.
Tails gave both Sonic and Ruby a relieved hug.
"You´re okay!"
"Yeah, we are… for the most part."
"Careful bro, even someone as amazing as me and Ruby can get pushed to our limit. What we just did…"
"It was amazing!" Tails interrupted with a smile. Shadow scoffed. "Of course it was all a team effort. Without Shadow our attacks may have never hit."
This caused the black hedgehog´s scoff to disappear. The was even a brief smile to be seen. Still, he remained serious for the most part.
"What about Eggman? We got him good, no question that, but do you think we managed to destroy his Aura?"
Reality glitched in red. Almost in opposite of the group the Egg Naga reappeared between the mountains on the other side of the platform. Its Phantom Aura was flickering in an unstable manner.
"You little… you little…!" Eggman couldn't even get to fully articulate any sentence. He couldn't believe that even with all this power he was still losing to that annoying hedgehog and his meddlesome friends! Instead of trying to express his anger trough words, the doctor decided that actions spoke louder. He made all six of his machine´s arms tear off big chunks from the surrounding mountains and threw them at the heroes. With the help of the Phantom Ruby, they were transformed into huge, thorn-studded orbs of steel and the Fall Maiden's magic sent lightning bolts down on them, electrifying them.
Additionally, the Egg Naga fired its remaining missiles from its fingertips and multiplied them as well before swinging its arms to add wind slashes to the already abundant attacks.
Sonic, Shadow, Tails and Ruby looked at the oncoming projectile storm with serious and tense expressions.
"What now?" Tails asked. A glance showed that his allies looked pretty tired: Shadow from having used up a lot of energy while having his inhibitor rings off, and Sonic and Ruby from fighting the Egg Naga the longest. The Aura of the human girl was flickering as strongly as the artificial one of the robot.
Sonic answered the question of his brother.
"One last, big attack. Eggman is standing on his last leg." Sonic looked at Ruby. "You think you can still going partner?"
Ruby took a deep breath as she raised her hand and looked at it. At the weakened light of her soul barely shining around her body. Her Aura was low, very low. Probably in the red region if she would have the time to look at her scroll. But…
Ruby clenched her fist.
… it was still there.
Despite everything she, despite feeling bruised and tired, she wanted to keep going. The desire to protect the life of Mobius and Remnant shined bright within her.
Alongside the almost alien urge to fight and end the Egg Naga.
Ruby turned to Sonic. "I can still run. Lets do it."
Her friend nodded. And so the speedsters did what they could do best. They started running. Not away from the attack, but toward it. Tails watched them go, nervous and anxious, yet also believing that they could do it. Shadow stood back with crossed arms. He hated doing nothing in a situation like this, but in his current state he was would be more of a liability. Better be prepared to help the others out when he had recovered a bit of his strength.
Ruby and Sonic ran, one leg after the other got them closer to the danger and their goal. Their movements blurred as she pushed the last of her Aura, the remaining energy of her Semblance, to its limit. As he channeled the chaotic force of creation around him.
Rose petals danced around in a blue glowing wind and the speedsters, just when they were about to collide with all of the Egg Naga´s attacks, joined together.
Their respective Forces of Speed becoming one.
"CHAOS!"
"BURST!"
BOOOM!
The resulting shock wave dissipated the wind slashes and blew the missiles and thorned orbs away. Some of the latter were even thrown back against the Egg Naga, making it stagger around. Eggman tried to remain in control and counter the Chaos Burst, only to be meet with trouble. But it was less from the side of the Phantom Ruby and more so from its main energy source, the Fall Maiden Magic.
Eggman gritted his teeth in frustration. But his almost-sneer was replaced by thoughtfulness as he wondered something when he looked at the 99% power bar of the magic and the very approaching blur of the Chaos Burst.
Wait, the reason why its energy dropped since the attack on Metropolis… Cinder said the red brat had pierced her arm with a Chaos Emerald… could it be…
The doctor didn't have much time to think about it. Without many options, he crossed all of his machine´s arms in front of it in a protective manner.
The Egg Naga still shook in place as the Chaos Burst collided with it, the Phantom Aura breaking almost immediately. Without a protective layer the Speedsters´ special attack tore trough the robots arms, shredding the artificial limbs apart. And from the torn and exposed wires golden energy flew into the red part of the Chaos Burst.
Eggman saw this, and how the 99% started rapidly to descend, and his face turned red.
So it really is-
The red and blue blur surrounded by crackling energy and petals caused the Egg Naga´s chest area to cave in before it completely tore trough it, erupting from the backside of the machine. It wobbled around for a while, the mutilated stumps of its limbs hanging limply down. Then it slowly tilted forward until it collided with its front side on to the ground.
The Chaos Burst slowed down as the rest of the golden energy followed and seeped into the red part, then it split apart and Ruby and Sonic stumbled around. The hedgehog was the first to catch his balance and helped his friend to regain a solid stance as well.
"You´re okay?"
Ruby nodded. "Yeah. My Aura probably is barely holding on at 1%. But I feel… fulfilled? I…"
Ruby looked behind her at the destroyed Egg Naga.
"Sonic… when we destroyed it, something happened. Did you feel it?"
He gave her a strange look. "No. When we´re in a Chaos Burst, everything is… blurry, for a lack of better word. But I definitely felt nothing but the destruction of steel underneath our power."
Ruby closed her eyes. "I…"
She opened them again when she heard mechanical shifting. The human girl turned around and saw from the hole of the Egg Naga a white tentacle emerge and aim its tip at Sonic, who continued to look at Ruby with a questioning look. Energy gathered on top of it.
"Sonic, look out!" she yelled and moved forward.
"Wha-" Sonic looked behind him as the tentacle already had fired a laser. Ruby was able to push him out of the way and take the hit. Her Aura shattered and she fell down with a yell.
"Ruby!" Sonic wanted to rush to her side and check on her, but he stilled as he saw something emerge from the Egg Naga´s wreckage. It was a machine that looked similar to the Nega Wisp Armor from Eggman´s Interstellar Amusement Park. But this one was colored a stark white for the most part. Only the tips of its mechanical tentacles possessed red claws and the eyes of its three heads glowed a toxic pink. Embedded into the forehead of the middle one was the Phantom Ruby, showing more creaks than previously. And of course, no one else was riding inside its cockpit than Eggman.
"What the… what´s up with that re-color of the Nega Wisps Armor?!"
"Oh Sonic," the mad doctor sneered at the mobian. "You really think I would give up that easily? You are allowed to fight for your vision of the world with all your might and tenacity. So why cant I do not the same? Behold: The Phantom Ruby Armor! The nervous system of the Egg Naga and able to run independent of it. Perfectly designed to regulate the power of the Phantom Ruby without an additional power source."
"Are you serious?" Sonic couldn't help but groan and sigh in exasperation. A friend of his got hurt, she and him did it their all AFTER having their battles with their Super Forms and it still wasn't over!
"Didn't you hear to what I just said? Bah, you´ve always been to dumb to understand anything of what my mind produces, be it actions or words. So be at least once a good dumb animal and hold still!"
The Phantom Ruby Armor´s red claws started to rotate before they were fired at the blue speedster. And even though he was tired, he was still determined to fight his nemesis and protect his friends from this mad man.
What Sonic didn't know was that his role in this fight had come to and end.
Suddenly, a strong burst of wind erupted from where Ruby was laying. It blew the claw projectiles away and caused Sonic to stagger while Eggman fiddled with the controls of his machine to remain hovering in place. The two residents of Mobius looked to the source of this phenomena and saw one of the few miracles Remnant had to offer.
Ruby was levitating in the air, magic was emitted as a silver, flame-like energy from her eyes. A new Fall Maiden was borne and it would have been a mythological moment if said new Maiden didn't look around in panic and confusion.
"Wait, w-what is going on. Am I… is this the Maiden Magic? Cinder´s magic?"
"It´s MY magic!" Eggman growled trough barred teeth. "And I will take it back!"
"W-wait, how did-"
The Phantom Ruby Armor lunged forward. With a yelp, Ruby managed to fly backwards and avoid its three jaws clamping down on her. She wobbled around in the air as she tried to get her bearings. Eggman raised a few of the Armor´s tentacles, the claws on them having regrown, to spear Ruby´s now vulnerable body. Instead he had to use them to deflect Sonic´s Spindash. The blue orb flew backward and the hedgehog curled outward to land on his feet, even if his stand wasn't as steady as he wished it could be. Is breath was ragged and tired.
"Okay, weird and sudden magic twist aside, I am not gonna stand here and let you hurt Ruby or anyone else!"
Eggman opened his mouth to retort, but steps made him look around. Tails and Shadow were approaching.
Against all of them I have no chance with the Phantom Ruby Armor alone. But I don't need to fight all of them. Eggman´s eyes went to Ruby and narrowed at her. I just need to get her, tear the magic from one ruby to the other and plan my revenge for ruining everything when I finally had won at last!
With its remaining excess energy the mad doctor used the Phantom Ruby to summon a Null Space portal that sucked the two human in.
"NO!" yelled the mobians. They all used their speed and jumped toward the phenomena. Only to crash into one another as they went trough it while the purple mist dissipated. They landed hard on the ground and looked at one another, either stupefied or frustrated, to where their friend and their enemy had been previously.
They couldn't do anything anymore. It was now all up to Ruby.
Said human girl found herself standing on a hovering platform inside the void of Null Space for the third time. Only that this time she wasn't either alone or with friends, but rather with an enemy.
"Now then, Miss Rose. I would love to make an offer to you in giving up the magic and I will let you go. But we both know that this isn't a possibility."
Ruby looked at the Phantom Ruby Armor in front of her and the sneer/grinning mad man controlling it.
She was afraid, tired and confused. She didn't understand how exactly she got the Magic that had a few minutes ago powered a giant war machine, belonged previously to a terrorist that had been out for her blood and before that…
Yeah, were exactly had the Fall Maiden Magic been coming from?
Ruby shook her head to clear her head from all these questions. Despite all the negative emotions weighting down on her, she knew now wasn't the time to give up. The silver-eyed Fall Maiden pulled out Crescent Rose and pointed the scythe at Eggman.
"I have no freaking clue at what´s going on but I understand one thing: I won´t let you win and get your hands on this power! Only over my dead body!"
Eggman chuckled in a deranged tone. The ever slipping rasp of his Empire, of his victory against Sonic, was weigthing down more heavily on his mental state by the second. If this little girl was standing in his way of reclaminig it all… "Oh Miss Rose… that´s what I´m hoping for."
The fifteen year old shuddered at the sinister tone her opponent had used to say these words. The Phantom Ruby Armor raised a few of its tentacles and smashed apart the platform of purple cubes Ruby had been standing on. She made a startled scream and fell down. But she quickly managed to focus.
Come on, think of that power when the Maiden Magic… I guess you could say awakened, inside of me and made me fly. It wasn't to dissimilar to when I use Petal Burst´s cloud mode or even the Super Form´s levitation.
With enough concentration, Ruby was able to remember the sensation of flying. The feeling of rushing through the air. Kind of like running but somehow freer.
Her fall stopped. She imagined rising upwards and felt the winds carry her back to the Phantom Ruby Armor so that she was floating at eye level with Eggman.
He just grunted.
"It would have been too easy."
His machine shot forward with lashing tentacles but Ruby was able to escape its strikes and grasps. One of the mechanical limbs shot straight at her with a rotating claw, but Ruby simply sliced through it with Crescent Rose. The Phantom Ruby Armor produced a mechanical growl and flew backwards out of reach of further scythe strikes. It raised its tentacles and fired its claws in a rotating manner. At the same time, Eggman let energy collect in his three open mouths and fired one energy ball after the other.
Ruby either flew around the claws or slashed them with her weapon. As the first ball shot towards her, she sidestepped it and dove beneath the second. In the third, she had turned Crescent Rose into a sniper rifle, took aim and fired. The light blue laser pierced the red energy sphere and caused it to explode.
Eggman had several tentacles in front of him block Ruby's fired laser. Then he pressed a button as a small screen gave him a warning display and a few electrical sparks danced around the Phantom Ruby.
The silver-eyed Ruby saw this and remembered that the doctor had most likely problems with the gemstone. This made her realize something.
Wait, I don't need to win this by defeating Eggman trough brute force. The Ruby is completely exposed and its power is probably all that keeps the robot running. Or at the very least flying. If I could take it… but no, he probably expects it. If I get to close those tentacles will tear me apart. Unless…
A plan was slowly forming inside Ruby´s head and she…
Meanwhile, Eggman was done putting the Phantom Ruby in its place and looked up. He saw Ruby flying toward him with a raised scythe. He couldn't help but produce another sneer-like grin.
"Well, I have to say that you are certainly brave for attacking and generally fighting me like this. But bravery is nothing but a fool´s substitute for intelligence!"
"And your ego is your substitute for empathy you nutcase! Thorn Storm!"
She swung her scythe and send pink energy thorns flying in a wide arch. Eggman just gathered energy in the Phantom Ruby Armor´s newly created claws and fired lasers that destroyed them. It gave the flying, silver-eyed girl to fly past Eggman and cut off more of his machines tentacles.
"You annoying little red-hooded brat!"
The Phantom Ruby Armor turned around and fired energy balls after Ruby. She flew around and evaded them, the vast emptiness of Null Space giving her rather plentful space. She then proceeded to get closer to Eggman again. She used another Thorn Storm with Kurtis help, this time though Eggman was more prepared. A few tentacles fired laser to destroy the projectiles, the rest swung their rotating claws wildly around in an erratic manner. Ruby had to fly around the Phantom Ruby Armor to avoid getting hit or slashed.
Crap, my plan cant work if I don't get at least one hit. How should I…
The Phantom Ruby Armor gathered energy in its three mouths and fired several energy balls alongside its claws. Ruby decided to just go for it and flew toward them. She dodged the attacks or cut trough them. When she got close, a tentacle lashed out at her, but the new Fall Maiden temporary stopped her flight ability and let herself drop. The metallic limb slashed over her, barely missing her head, and then she quickly rose back up and managed to get a hit against the Armor´s underside.
"Kurtis, Surprise Rose!"
The explosion of thorns shook the entire machine and its master up good. Eggman lost briefly hold of his controls and Ruby used the opportunity to fly in front of the Phantom Ruby Armor and got another strike against its middle head. Crescent Rose slashed trough its metal skull, close to the Phantom Ruby and loosened the setting of the gemstone. But also caused a few more cracks to appear on its surface.
"Careful now! That is your only way back home. Destroying it may allow you to defeat me but you would be forever stuck and never see your loved ones again."
"Don't waste your breath with mind games. I won´t fall for them since I know that Tails and the other will find me a way back home, with our without the Phantom Ruby. It may be harder but it´s possible."
"You don't fall for mind games you say?"
A tentacle that had slowly coiled itself while Eggman had Ruby occupied with his speech lashed out. She was caught off guard and screamed as the heavy machinery hit her square against her right side. Several snaps were heard and Ruby was thrown trough the void of Null Space. When she managed to get back a stable position, her right arm hung limply down and breathing had suddenly become hard for the silver-eyed girl. Every move caused strong pain to radiate throughout her entire body and it took all her willpower to not let go of Crescent Rose with her remaining, working hand.
It was rather easy now for the Phantom Ruby to fly up to the wounded girl and grab her with one of its tentacles. Ruby screamed more as the machine´s grip coiled around her arms and body without any mercy and put more strain on her broken bones. She could no longer keep holding on Crescent Rose and it slipped her fingers. Surprisingly the Phantom Ruby Armor caught it… only to hold its blade threateningly over the girl´s head.
Eggman leaned forward, Ruby could see the reflection of her scared and pale face on the mad man´s glasses.
"Well well well… they say every rose has its thorns. And I must agree with that statement." He briefly looked up at Crescent Rose, now under the control of his machine. "But what happens when you pluck them all out. Hehe… this."
He caused the Armor´s grip around Ruby to tighten. Her body screamed in pain and she could feel the strain on the rest of her body. Despite that she still managed to shout: "NOW!"
Eggman raised an eyebrow. "Now? What is- eh, better take the Maiden Magic back before your plans comes to fruition."
Just when he was about to command the Phantom Ruby Armor to end his advesary with her own weapon, a streak of ping light stopped Eggman. His head was thrown backwards and erupted in pain. Confused he touched his face and his glove came back bloodied from the deep scratches that had been added to it.
Kurtis hovered in front of the doctor with a hostile look.
"You little cretin! I should have reduced your entire species into Nega Wisps and then exterminated you into extinction! Because then I wouldn't have to bother with you being a lousy Plan B from this girl´s distraction-"
"That´s the thing, Eggman," Ruby managed to bring forth despite her immense discomfort. "Both me AND Kurtis are the distraction."
He looked at her and missed the blue light streak that had moved across the Phantom Ruby Armor´s middle head. That had taken the loosened red gem out from its hold.
When Eggman had trouble with the Phantom Ruby, the silver-eyed girl had told the Wisps of her plan.
Zen had kept his distance and waited for the right moment to take the reality bending crystal once its hold was loosened.
And now the machine that had been housing it powered down.
"WHAT!?"
Eggman just gabbed down at the now dark screens of his cockpit. It gave Kurtis the opportunity to focus all of his power into a buzz saw-like attack that cut trough the tentacle holding Ruby and freed her. And just in time, because as the last bit of energy left the Phantom Ruby Armor, it immediately started to descend.
Eggman stood up and jumped, trying to grab a hold of Ruby. But she just moved out of the way while Kurtis rammed his spikes head again against the doctor´s and pushed him back down into the cockpit of his falling creation, where he lay in a daze.
As for Ruby, the pain of her broken bones got worse. Kurtis gently laid a limb on her healthy shoulder and guided her to the closest platform. Ruby landed there roughly, staggered, and slumped on to her knees. Then he disappeared. The Wisps came back with Zen. Not only did they have the cracked Phantom Ruby but they also managed to get a hold on Crescent Rose and saved it from getting lost in the depths of Null Space.
Ruby smiled in pained happiness and relief.
"You guys… thanks. I… wait, what about Eggman?"
The Wisps just shrugged. The human girl got back on her feet and slowly wandered to the edge of the platform. She looked down. Nothing but an infinite amount of purple nothingness with a few glitches here and there. Not a glimpse of the mad doctor or his creation. He had disappeared into the nothingness.
"I…" More nauseating pain came over her. Ruby took a heavy breath. "I… just want to go home. Or anywhere that isn't a battlefield or… this place."
She got an idea and held out her left hand. Kurtis and Zen shared a look and decided to put their trust into the young human. They gave her the Phantom Ruby.
Tired, silver eyes stared at it. The reason why she was torn from her world when her Team needed her the most. That took over Zero´s body and forced him to commit countless atrocities. That scarred Tails and helped Eggman take over the world. And even now, broken and defenseless, it glowed maliciously at the girl that it was sharing part of its name. Beckoned her in using its power to hurt anyone like Cinder that dared to hurt her and others. Its reflection showed her visions of Grimm and evil Aura users trembling before Ruby´s power as her silver eyes shined in a dark glow. It even showed her bringing back her mother and be reunited with her. All she needed to do was accepting its infinite power.
"No. I wont be another puppet for you."
The Phantom Ruby flickered like it wanted to ask in an amused manner: Then you do you want to escape this place?
"… fine, if you want to be like this." Ruby raised her hand and was ready to throw the red gemstone to the ground, causing the crystal to glow in confusion and panic. Just when she was actually about to do it a portal opened up that lead back to reality.
Despite her immense exhaustion and pain, Ruby cracked a smile.
Heh, my idea worked.
Before the Phantom Ruby realized it had been duped, the human Ruby and her Wisps went trough the portal. Or rather, she staggered trough it. Ruby felt how she lost her footing and fell forward. But several hands were ready to catch her. She blinked and looked around.
She was back in Mortar Canyon. Tails, Sonic and Shadow held her and gently lowered the human girl with her back onn the ground.
"Ruby, are you al… well, no. You look messed up!"
"That´s how I´m feeling. But…" She raised her left hand and showed her friends the Phantom Ruby. They looked at it with awe. Tails carefully took it and held it as he analyzed it.
"You managed to win against Eggman all alone, without your usual abilities and took the Phantom Ruby from his grasp? That´s amazing!"
"T-thanks Tails, but I got help." Ruby managed a slight nod to the Wisps that were still carrying Crescent Rose. The aliens gave her concerned looks as the Null Space portal behind them closed. Shadow watched with crossed arms as the purple mist disappeared.
"What about Eggman? Is he still a threat?"
Ruby pondered about it for a while. She then shook weakly her head. The Wisps described what had happened in their language, which Tails was able to translate with the Miles-Electric.
He, Sonic and Shadow visibly relaxed as they realized what that meant. They could take care of Ruby and everyone else that got wounded or damaged during the war in peace because said war was over.
They had won.
Done. And by that I mean the chapter and my mental state. I had a busy week and barely had time to write the final battle, but somehow I still managed to do it.
So this is it. Eggman has been defeated and fallen into the depths of Null Space, Cinder is death and Infinite/the Phantom Ruby is as good as incapacitated as it could be. Now all that is left to do is to use the gem to bring the other Ruby back home. Oh and she got a glow up in becoming the new Fall Maiden. Next chapter a few more details will be shared about that.
Also for those wondering why I changed the final boss´ name from Mega Death Egg Robot to Egg Naga, well, because that thing, while a cool design, looks nothing like a Death Egg Robot. The re-name of Egg Naga comes from the Youtuber´s Garrulous64 Sonic Forces rewrite. It was also that inspired me a bit for how I designed Infinite/zero for this fic.
To Haxorus knight: Eggman has gotten, as for now, a backseat inside Null Space. Doesn't mean the RWBY villains will have a bad time with Mobius´ heroes. There is also... ah, but I don´t want to spoil anything for the sequel.
To Guest: Thank you. Zero will face difficulties, but as this chapter shows is that some people are ready to give him a shot. And that he his willing to take it.
To Shadow Driver: Thank you. As for how much times has passed, around a few months. But the situation on Remnant will be revealed next chapter.
To quirky2023: This was indeed the end. The Eggman Empire has fallen and the Resistance can finally start taking care of the damage the villains have done. Including sending Ruby back to the world she was torn from.
To Grand Chaos Master: Of course not every single person on Remnant will suddenly use the Chaos Emeralds and turn Super. But I have to inform you that we haven't seen the last of Super Ruby. Also, Knuckles and Tails had Super Forms as well in the Classic era. The former even having used his alongside Ruby.
To Monster King: Thank you.