Chapter 41: Emperor Sleet:
Sonic's POV:
Coconuts and the swatbots were hunting us down. "Fine those Freedom Fighters," says Coconuts.
Me, Tails, and Knuckles were hiding.
"What do we do now," asks Tails.
"We gotta move," I said. We were then surrounded by swatbots. They came at us...
. . .
"That's three missions in a row now where we've come up empty! Three times! What's up with that?! We're getting nowhere fast here," I said.
"We're still beating him," says Knuckles.
"Oh yeah? Is Butt-nik still around? Does Sally know where her dad is? Are we making any real progress," I asked.
"Uh... Yes, no; and hard to say," says Tails.
"I have an idea," says Knuckles, "we talk to the Oracle!"
. . .
We then spoke with the Oracle. "Why have you come," asks the Oracle.
"We could use your help," I said.
"We still haven't really taken down Robotnik," says Tails.
"I can help," says the Oracle, "but there is a price!"
"What do you mean," asks Tails.
"The price is merely an act of valor," says the Oracle. He then opens a portal. "Through that portal are people laboring under the yoke of evil despots."
"You mean the yoke's on them," I asked.
"A sense of humor will always serve you well. Help those oppressed people and I will share my visions of the future with you," says the Oracle.
"Sounds like a deal to me, let's go," I said. We then went through a portal.
Tails' POV:
I was separated from the others. "Sonic? Knuckles?"
Then this robot came. "Make way. Make way!"
I saw a girl carrying a basket of fruit. A guy who looks like Dingo was riding a chariot and he was about to run her over. I then ran in front, startling Dingo's horse. I saved the girl. "Thank you. Oh no..."
"How dare you scare my horse," asks Dingo.
"Dingo, what happened to your accent," I asked.
"Dingo? I am Dingotus! Take him away!"
The robots then picked me up.
Knuckles' POV:
I was looking around, but then this robot came. "Citizen. Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"I don't answer to robots," I said.
I tried to fight, but the robots tazed me...
Sonic's POV:
I was in this cell when Tails and Knuckles came in. "Hmm... I bet you're wondering why I called this meeting," I said.
"Very funny," says Knuckles, "did you try your speed?"
"Yeah, and nothing," I said, "that's how I got caught."
"I think I lost my strength," I said.
"And I can't fly," says Tails.
"Well, we know who's in charge," says Knuckles, "robots, Dingo, it's gotta be..."
. . .
"Sleet," we all asked.
"That's Emperor Sleetus to you! Where is my juggler?"
"Sorry, your majesty. You sent him to the lion's den. Remember," asks Dingotus, "but I do have the new prisoners for your inspection."
"Well, who have we here," asks Emperor Sleetus.
"So, you're the one in charge," I asked.
"Silence! And bow to the Emperor," says Dingotus.
We bowed, but I let one rip.
"What was that," asks Emperor Sleetus.
"Gas... Sorry, dungeon gruel does it to you every time," I said.
"Send him to the gladiator pit, and see if his digestion improves," says Emperor Sleetus.
The Centurion drags me away. "Bye guys," I said.
. . .
I'm locked in a pit. "Hold it, pal! What's up with this dump," I asked. I then heard a snarling sound. "Uh... Probably just a real bad sinus condition." Then a large centaur came. "I'm guessing you're not here for milk and cookies, right?" The Centaur prepares to strike with the ax. I then backed away while the Centaur sniffs through its nostrils in confidence. It strikes the ax down on the ground just underneath my tummy. "Hey, yo! You've been pumping some iron, huh big guy?" It roars and beats its chest. It then releases gas from its nostrils which cover the screen. "Phew. That steam is probably not a hit with the Minotaur babes, huh?"
"Huh?"
"Yeah. I bet it ruins a lot of good hairstyles, huh," I asked.
"Huh?"
"You need some help with the honies," I asked.
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh."
"Well bud, you have come to the right place because when it comes to cool, the hedgehog's a slice of ice," I said.
Tails' POV:
Knuckles and I are forced to entertain Emperor Sleetus. "This job stinks," I said.
"Tails, this is Lydia," says Knuckles, "her father, Augustine's the rightful Emperor!"
"Those tyrants made me a slave, and threw my father into that tower," says Lydia.
"Well, don't worry," I said, "we know something about bad guys that steal someone else's throne."
"Why is there fruit on the floor," asks Emperor Sleetus. Lydia then runs away. "Feed them to the lions!"
Sonic's POV:
The Centaur puts on some sunglasses. "Smokin'! Now, walk the walk," I said. The Centaur trots around the area. It then balances its side legs on both sides. "Hmm... No... Almost." It twists its neck around to face me. "Well, it's a start."
Tails' POV:
Fans are gathered inside the stadium. Knuckles and I are holding spears. "What do we do," I asked, "I can't fly, and you can't fight them!"
"Tails, I've been trained for combat my entire life," says Knuckles, "you know what that means?"
"Your family expected too much from you," I asked.
"It means I can fight with our without strength," says Knuckles.
The lions then came at us and Knuckles took them on. The lions were all beaten. "That was amazing," I said.
"Now, let's find the Emperor," says Knuckles.
Sonic's POV:
"Alright, big guy," I said as the centaur trots in front of me. "That's it! Now you're officially styling."
"Now that you have helped me, hedgehog, how may I be of service?"
"Wow! You speak better than I do," I said.
"Well," asks the centaur.
"Since you offered..."
. . .
The centaur and I ran, and we found Tails and Knuckles. "Let's go," I said.
"After them," says Emperor Sleetus.
We then ran off.
. . .
We arrived at the tower. "So, Lydia's Father's the rightful Emperor," I asked, "wait, does Lydia..."
"No, she doesn't look like Sally," says Knuckles, "Lydia's a dog." Knuckles breaks the door down and Lydia's Father comes out.
"Father!" Lydia hugs him.
. . .
We then confronted Sleetus. "What," asks Sleetus, "you dare to come back?"
"Maybe you should listen to the hedgehogs," says the centaur.
"Yo, citizens! It's now officially time to take back your country," I said.
"Emperor Augustine has returned," says Knuckles.
The Centurions on either side bow as Augustine walks his way-out holding Lydia around her shoulder.
"You freed these people using only your natural abilities, and now, you have earned back your powers," says the centaur.
We then got our powers back. "Let's do it to it," I said.
We then took down Sleetus. Everyone cheers as we disappeared.
. . .
"Ah! Welcome back, my young friends. You succeeded without your powers! Now, think what you can do with them," says the Oracle.
"And the point of all this is..." I asked.
"You will defeat Robotnik if you are true to yourselves and your powers. And... if your hearts never lose faith."
"Long as I got a shot, I'm there," I said.
"Remember. Be true to yourselves," says the Oracle. We then left.
In the next chapter, Sonic and Sally befriend an ally who claims to be part of another Freedom Fighter group, but he is not what he seems to be.
