Chapter 108: True-Blue Friend:
Knuckles' POV:
We went through Tails' wormhole generator, and we made it to the Black Comet. Now we just have to find our friend.
Singer/Chorus: Whoa...
You never know
Where you might make some brand-new friends
Whoa...
Don't shut 'em out
With a closed mind, let them come in
Whoa...
'Cause there's nothin' like a true, true-blue friend
Nothin' like a true-blue friend
When your world is crashing down
And there's trouble all around
Nothin' like a true-blue friend
Nothin' like a true, true-blue friend
Nothin' like a true-blue friend
In the quicksand of doubt
It's a friend that pulls you out
Nothin' like a true-blue friend
There's nothin', nothin', nothin' like a true-blue friend!
"I dahn't know ahbout ze rest of you, but I wahs expecteeng ahn ahmbush," says Antoine.
"You'll be getting it now! Behold, I am Black Inventor and I... what was I talking about again?"
"Let's go," says Shadow.
"Now I remember, I was going to introduce my deadly machines!"
Then large robots came.
"That's not good," says Amy.
"Aah was expectin'-"
"Whaht? Bunnie, why deed you naht tell me ziss befahre?"
"Aah meant aah was expectin' that we'd have to fight somethin' lak this, Sweety Pie," says Bunnie.
Then the robots were coming towards us.
"Let's do it to it," I said.
We then fought the robots... but it was like they were designed to counter every move we make. Then the strangest thing happened... they were hit by some sort of lightning whip. We then saw who did it.
"Oh yeah, who's the wolf? I'm the wolf! Who's the wolf? I'm the wolf!"
"Who's that wolf," asks Scar.
"When did you get here," I asked, "and who are you?"
"Oh, hey. What's up? The name's Grappler." He was a green furred wolf carrying some weird gizmo that he used to make that lightning whip.
"How did you get here," asks Tails.
"Don't know," says Grappler, "I just woke up here. There've been a lot of crazy things going on."
"Have you seen a blue hedgehog," asks Sally.
"Blue hedgehog," says Grappler, "I didn't see one, but I did hear some of the Black Arms dudes talk about one."
"We need to find him," says Tails.
"Hey, I can help," says Grappler, "I'll tag along!"
"I don't think so," I said.
"C'mon, I'm awesome and that could be very useful for you," says Grappler.
"Did he say awesome or arrogant," asks Shadow.
"We could use all the help we can get," says Sally.
I then sighed. "Fine," I said, "but don't get in our way, Rookie."
"UUUUUUUUUhhhhhhhhh... the name's Grappler."
"Just come on," I said. We then started moving.
"I don't recall making you the leader," says Shadow.
"Someone has to take charge," I said.
Black Doom's POV:
They're all here. Interesting. But they have no idea what they're getting themselves into. HHHHHHHHHmmmmmmmmm. Knuckles and Shadow might help me without even knowing it.
Sonic's POV:
I was back in my cell. These guys were tricky. If only I knew how that Phantom Ruby works. I then tried to get up... but with my leg now broken... things are going to get more complicated.
Knuckles' POV:
We were searching the area, but then a big plant came out of the ground.
"Oh yeah, forgot about the Killer Plant," says Grappler.
The plant then came at us, and we had to move out of the way. We fought the plant, but then Shadow manages to destroy it.
"Let's keep moving," I said.
"Hold it," says Shadow, "if we're going to save Sonic, then we need to work on a chain of command."
"What are you saying," I asked, "and you better choose your words, carefully."
"Someone needs to take charge and it can't be you," says Shadow, "I'm taking over!"
"We don't have time for an ego war," says Sally, "we have to find Sonic!"
"And we will, I'm going to make sure of that," I said.
"We need a real leader," says Shadow.
"Fine," I said, "everyone, pick a side!"
Tails then walks over to me. "Sonic, Knuckles, and I are a trio," says Tails, "we're like brothers and I'm saving one brother with another!"
Amy walks over to Shadow. "Sorry Knuckles," says Amy.
Sally walks over to me. "While I do find this ridiculous, I at least trust Knuckles more then you," says Sally.
Rouge walks over to Shadow. "I'm sticking with Shadow," says Rouge.
Vector walks over to me. "I'm with you," says Vector.
Espio walks over to Shadow. "This requires stealth," says Espio.
Charmy walks over to me. "I can't believe the band's broken up," says Charmy.
Mighty walks over to Shadow. "Sorry," says Mighty.
Sticks walks over to me. "I pick the strong one," says Sticks.
Rotor walks over to Shadow. "They might need my mechanical skills," says Rotor.
Flame walks over to me. "I'm sticking with Knuckles," says Blaze.
Omega walks over to Shadow and says nothing.
Stardust walks over to me. "I choose Knuckles," says Stardust.
"Looks like eet ees our turn, My Lahve." Antoine and Bunnie move... but to their surprise, to opposite sides. "Shahdow ees ze ulteemahte lifefahrm ahnd I would feel sahfair weeth heem leadeeng"
"Knuckles' side has mah best friend," says Bunnie.
"Zen au revoir fahr now."
Odette walks over to Shadow. Mina walks over to me.
"I'm sorry, Knuckles." Julie-Su walks over to Shadow.
Cream and Cheese walk over to me. Big walks over to Shadow.
"Oh, me, right," asks Grappler, "well, I don't know either of you that well... let's see, grouchy guy with big fists or creepy guy. I'll take the grouchy guy." Grappler then walks over to me.
"This can't be happening," says Jet.
"You guys are supposed to be a team," says Scar, "and I just realized what a big team you are... no wonder only a few of you ever goes with Sonic on these missions."
"Technically, Shadow, Rouge, and I are a team on our own," says Omega, "we work for G.U.N."
"Good point," says Scar, "Jet, what do we do?"
Jet sighs. "They may need us to talk some sense into them," says Jet, "Scar, you go with Shadow, I'll go with Knuckles."
They then do that. Both sides look at each other and then we go our separate ways.
Black Doom's POV:
This was even better than I could ever hope! Divided, they will fall! I then laughed.
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, both sides look for Sonic.