Worlds Collide: Triple Trouble
Cosmic Origins Part 2
The group of six approached the Resistance Base, a large, fortified structure nestled within a mountain pass. The entrance was heavily guarded, with makeshift barricades and security turrets scanning for any threats. As they drew closer, Fark couldn't help but notice the damage surrounding the entrance: scorched walls, debris scattered across the ground, and signs of recent repairs. It was clear that this base had seen its share of battles.
Fark glanced around, his mechanical eyes taking in every detail. His expression was filled with concern, evident in the sharpness of his gaze and the tension in his posture. "What happened here?" he asked, his voice flat yet conveying curiosity.
Tangle, walking beside him, scratched her head sheepishly. "Well, that's a long story. A while back, Eggman released a virus that turned people into liquid metal zombie robots. It nearly wiped us all out. If it hadn't been for Sonic, we would've been done for!"
Her words hung in the air, causing Lilac, Carol, Milla, and Fark to pause. Carol was the first to break the silence, her eyes wide and her tail bristling slightly. "Wait, what? Liquid metal zombies? That's… wild and crazy. How do you even fight something like that?"
Tangle nodded, her expression serious. "It was bad. Real bad. We don't like to talk about it much, but we won't hide it either. It's part of what we've been through, and we're stronger because of it."
Off to the side, Whisper remained quiet, her gaze distant. She clenched her fists slightly at the memory. Seeing Tangle sacrifice herself for them…for her. It hurt.
As they moved deeper into the base, they were led into a large control room bustling with activity. Various Resistance members were busy at consoles, analyzing data, coordinating missions, and communicating with outposts across the merged world. Amidst the chaos, Amy Rose and Jewel the Beetle were at the center, directing efforts and keeping everything organized.
Amy noticed their group approaching and quickly dismissed the nearby Resistance members, giving them a moment of reprieve. "Alright, everyone, take a break. I'll handle this," she said, her voice strong but kind.
As the room cleared out, Amy turned her attention to the newcomers. "Hey there! You must be the ones Tangle radioed about. I'm Amy Rose, and this is Jewel," she said, gesturing to the beetle beside her.
Jewel offered a warm smile and a polite nod. "It's nice to meet you all," she said, her tone friendly and welcoming.
Before anyone else could speak, Tangle dashed forward and threw her arms around Jewel in a big hug. "Jewel! It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed, her usual energy on full display.
Jewel laughed, returning the hug. "Good to see you too, Tangle. I'm glad you're okay."
Lilac stepped forward first. "I'm Lilac," she introduced herself with a friendly nod.
Carol followed closely behind, her grin wide and eyes sparkling with her usual playful energy. "And I'm Carol," she said, flipping her green hair back dramatically. "Nice to meet ya both!"
Milla stepped up next, her ears perked up in curiosity. "I'm Milla. Thank you for welcoming us!" she added with a shy smile.
Fark hesitated slightly before stepping forward, his metallic frame reflecting the lights of the room. His red eyes, usually intense and focused, softened slightly as he addressed Amy and Jewel. "I'm Fark," he said, his robotic voice calm and measured. Though he had no mouth, his body language and the way his eyes flicked between the two conveyed his sincerity. "Thank you for having us."
Amy greeted each of them with a nod. "Welcome to the Resistance Base. We're glad to have you here. Every bit of help counts in times like these."
Fark's gaze lingered on Amy for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "I just want to know if being a robot is going to be a problem. I know this Eggman has a lot of robotic enemies, and I don't want to cause any issues."
Amy shook her head, giving him a reassuring smile. "Not at all, Fark. We have several robotic allies who oppose Eggman. We judge by actions, not appearances. As long as you're here to help, that's all that matters to us."
Fark nodded, his posture relaxing, though his eyes still held a hint of caution. "Thank you. I'm definitely here to help."
Fark nodded, his posture relaxing, though his eyes still held a hint of caution. "Thank you. I'm definitely here to help."
Jewel gave him a reassuring smile and added, "We're going to need all the help we can get, given the situation."
Lilac stepped forward, her expression serious but curious. "What exactly happened? How did all of this come about?"
Amy sighed, crossing her arms as she explained. "It seems several worlds have been merged into one. From what we can tell, everyone from each of these worlds has been thrown all over the place, causing a lot of confusion and chaos. Right now, we're working on establishing communications between all the scattered groups and using the Space Colony Ark as a makeshift satellite to create temporary maps and monitor the situation."
Carol raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "The Ark? What's that?"
Jewel turned to a nearby console and pressed a few buttons, bringing up an image on the large screen behind them. The display showed a massive, moon-sized object floating in space. Its design was peculiar, resembling a giant, round face with a pair of circular eyes and a protruding nose-like structure.
"That's the Ark," Jewel explained. "An old research station that's currently serving as neutral territory between the Resistance and Eggman's forces."
Amy nodded, pointing to the screen. "The Space Colony Ark was originally created by Eggman's grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik. It was a cutting-edge research facility, but it's also become a memorial for the lives lost during a tragic event that happened there a long time ago. The Ark also serves as a deterrent against alien forces."
Fark stared at the image on the screen, his eyes narrowing as he examined the structure closely. "The nose of the space colony… it looks like a highly sophisticated cannon," he observed.
Amy nodded again, her expression serious. "You're right, Fark. That's exactly what it is. The Ark is equipped with a powerful weapon called the Eclipse Cannon. It's been used successfully twice: the first time, Eggman used it to threaten the world, trying to force us all into submission. The second time, it was used to defend the planet from a race of aliens known as the Black Arms."
Lilac, Carol, and Milla exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the history and capabilities of the Ark. Carol was the first to speak up, a look of disbelief on her face. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! So you're telling me this thing can blow up planets and it's just floating around up there?"
Amy smiled slightly, understanding their shock. "It sounds crazy, I know. But the Ark has been a symbol of both hope and danger for a long time. Right now, it's one of the few things keeping us connected across this new world."
Lilac nodded, absorbing all the information. "I see. So, you're using the Ark to try and map out the merged worlds and find out where everyone is."
Jewel chimed in, "Exactly. We're hoping to establish stable communication networks and coordinate efforts to bring order to this chaos. With so many worlds and people thrown together, it's going to be a tough job."
Fark remained quiet for a moment, processing everything he'd just learned. His mechanical eyes shifted back to Amy and Jewel. "This Eggman guy… he sounds like a serious threat. What's our next move?"
Amy's expression turned resolute. "Our next move is to get everyone we can on the same page. We need to find out who's where, what we're up against, and how we can work together to stop Eggman and any other threats that might emerge from this mess. That's where you all come in. The more allies we have, the better our chances."
Carol pumped her fist in the air. "You can count on us! We're ready to do whatever it takes to help out!" Lilac, Fark, and Milla all nodded in agreement, their expressions determined. Well Lilac's and Milla's. Fark was stoic outside of his eyes.
Whisper, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward and spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Have Sonic, Tails, or even Knuckles reported in?"
Jewel checked her communicator and shook her head. "Knuckles hasn't reported in yet, but we did manage to contact Sonic and Tails. They were recently spotted in an area known as 'Flower Mountain City.'"
The mention of the city made Fark's eyes widen. He took a step forward, his mechanical body tensing. "Flower Mountain City?" he repeated, clearly surprised. "That city is from my world. It's only inhabitants are robots right now."
Amy and the others turned their attention to Fark, sensing the urgency in his voice. "What do you mean?" Amy asked, concern evident in her tone.
Fark took a moment to collect his thoughts before explaining. "A while back, a rogue AI caused a robot uprising in my world. It was a disaster. The AI digitized every non-robotic lifeform and stuffed them into a server. The entire population, except for the robots, was trapped in cyberspace. I was working on finding a way to free them and give everyone new bodies when… this incident happened."
Milla's eyes widened, her voice filled with sympathy. "That's awful! I'm so sorry, Fark."
Fark nodded, his eyes reflecting his worry. "Thank you. I just… I don't know where the servers are now, especially with how jumbled the planet has become after this merge. If they're still trapped, I need to find them and help them. But I have no idea where to start."
Amy stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Fark's shoulder. "Don't worry, Fark. We'll help you find those servers. We have a lot of people working on mapping out this new world, and we'll do everything we can to locate them. You're not alone in this."
Jewel nodded in agreement. "We're all in this together now. With everyone's combined knowledge and resources, we'll find a way to set things right."
Fark's posture relaxed slightly, and though he had no mouth to smile, his eyes softened with gratitude. "Thank you. It means a lot. I just want to make sure everyone can get back to their lives, or at least get a chance to live again."
Lilac, Carol, and Milla all nodded in agreement, each of them moved by Fark's story. They were determined to help their new friend, just as they were determined to bring order to this chaotic new world.
Amy looked around at the group, her resolve strengthening. "Alright, everyone. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Our first priority is to establish a solid communication network and locate all of our allies. Once we have a clearer picture, we'll start coordinating our efforts to tackle each problem, one at a time."
Tangle, eager to contribute, chimed in, "I'll help with the scouting missions! I'm great at finding things—and people!"
Whisper nodded, her eyes focused and serious. "I'll assist with the mapping and reconnaissance. The more information we gather, the better our chances."
Jewel gave a nod of approval, her expression determined. "Then let's get to work. We're not going to let this world stay in chaos. We're going to bring it back together, one step at a time."
Suddenly, the main screen in the control room flickered to life, and a new transmission came through. The image of Rouge the Bat appeared on the screen, her expression serious. "Hey, everyone. I've been doing some digging, and I think I might've found the origin point of this whole mess," she said, her tone indicating that the news was not good. "And trust me, it's a lot more complicated than we initially thought."
Before anyone could respond, another figure popped up on the screen next to Rouge. It was Knuckles the Echidna, looking slightly disheveled but as determined as ever. "Hey, everyone," Knuckles greeted, his voice echoing through the room.
The sudden appearance of Knuckles took everyone by surprise. Amy quickly recovered and introduced them. "Everyone, this is Rouge the Bat and Knuckles the Echidna," she said, gesturing toward the screen. "They're some of our best allies. Rouge, Knuckles, these are Fark, Lilac, Carol, and Milla."
Rouge gave a casual wave. "Nice to meet you all," she said, her tone friendly but focused. "Now, back to the matter at hand. I've been scouting the area, and a good portion of Forest Falls Zone is a wasteland now. Something incinerated the entire area with tremendous force."
The room fell silent as Rouge's words sank in. The idea that a beautiful and vibrant place like Forest Falls Zone could be reduced to a wasteland was unsettling, to say the least.
Knuckles chimed in, nodding in agreement with Rouge's report. "That makes sense," he said, his voice grim. "I ran into Chaos, the Water God, and Tikal. They told me that the Cosmic Beryl has been shattered."
Amy's eyes widened. "The Cosmic Beryl? What's that?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Knuckles sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he tried to explain. "From what I could understand, the Cosmic Beryl is a gem that existed to keep worlds from different dimensions from overlapping. It was kind of like a barrier or a seal that kept everything in its proper place."
Jewel's eyes lit up with realization. "So, if the Cosmic Beryl was shattered, that means all three planets were occupying the same space but in different dimensions," she deduced, piecing the information together. "With the Beryl gone, those dimensional barriers collapsed, causing all of our worlds to merge into one."
Lilac stepped forward, her expression one of urgency. "If that's the case, how do we fix it? There has to be a way to put things back the way they were."
Knuckles shook his head, his expression somber. "I'm afraid we can't, Lilac. The Cosmic Beryl is completely gone because of what happened. Tikal explained that it would take centuries before a new one reforms. There's nothing we can do to speed up that process."
The weight of Knuckles' words settled heavily on the room. The reality of the situation was grim, and the idea of being stuck in a merged world with no immediate solution was daunting.
Carol crossed her arms, frustration evident on her face. "So, we're stuck like this? There's nothing we can do to fix it right now?"
Rouge nodded, her expression serious. "Unfortunately, that's the situation. There's nothing we can do about the Cosmic Beryl right now, but we all know who's behind this mess. Team Dark is going to move on and start hunting down Eggman. This whole thing has his name written all over it."
Knuckles stepped forward, crossing his arms. "And the Resistance needs to be on high alert. We're going to have to work overtime to keep everyone safe and figure out what Eggman's next move is. I'll be returning to the Resistance full time to help out."
Amy raised an eyebrow, her concern evident. "What about the Master Emerald, Knuckles? You can't just leave it unguarded."
Knuckles chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Amy. Chaos is more than enough to deter any would-be jewel thieves. Isn't that right, Rouge?" He smirked, shooting a playful jab at Rouge.
Rouge giggled, giving Knuckles a teasing smile. "I love you too, Knux," she replied playfully, before signing off the transmission with a wink.
Knuckles, caught off guard by her comment, blushed slightly and quickly signed off as well, trying to hide his flustered expression.
As the screens went dark, Tangle grinned and leaned in closer to the group. "I've only known them for a little while, but even I think those two should just get together already!"
Amy giggled at that while the other girls merely smiled, having enjoyed seeing the byplay between Rouge and Knuckles. It was clear something was going on there.
Fark rolled his eyes, his mechanical gaze shifting away from the group. "Is it too late to go it solo?" he muttered, half-jokingly. "I don't know if I can handle being stuck with all these girls."
Before anyone could respond, the main screen flickered to life again, this time revealing Sonic and Tails. Sonic was grinning as usual, his confident demeanor shining through the screen. "Hey, Amy! Looks like we've got some new faces in the Resistance," he said, noticing the newcomers.
Amy nodded, smiling at the familiar faces. "That's right, Sonic. Meet Lilac, Carol, Milla, and Fark. They're here to help us with this whole mess."
Sonic gave them a friendly wave. "Nice to meet you all! I'm Sonic, the fastest thing alive!"
Both Lilac and Fark exchanged skeptical looks, and Lilac crossed her arms with a playful smirk. "Fastest thing alive, huh? I'm not so sure about that."
Fark nodded, his robotic eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah, I might have to challenge that claim, too."
Sonic chuckled, clearly enjoying the competitive spirit. "Well, I'm always up for a race! Maybe after we sort out this whole merged world situation, we can see who's really the fastest."
Tails stepped forward, his expression more serious. "Sonic and I have some news to report. We've encountered one of Eggman's bases, but it's been completely eradicated. The whole place was trashed, and the only clue we found was a bunch of sharp quills left in the bodies of the destroyed robots."
Amy's eyes widened in surprise. "Sharp quills? That sounds unusual."
Tails nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't match anything we've seen before. Whoever did this has some serious skill and a lot of anger directed at Eggman. But we have no idea who they are or what they're capable of."
Fark, Lilac, Carol, and Milla exchanged puzzled glances. This was new information, and it only added to the mystery of their already chaotic situation.
Sonic's grin widened. "Well, whoever they are, they might just be another ally we didn't know we had. Let's keep our eyes open and try to figure out who's behind this. If they're against Eggman, they're probably on our side."
Lilac nodded thoughtfully and then spoke up. "We should get in contact with our allies in Shang Tu, especially the Magister. They need to know what's going on, and they might have valuable information or resources that could help us."
Carol let out a groan, crossing her arms with a playful frown. "Does that mean we're gonna have to work with the Ice Queen?" she asked, referring to Neera Li.
Milla chimed in, her voice soft but sincere. "Lady Neera isn't that bad, Carol. She's actually a really good fighter and very brave. We could use her help."
Amy turned her attention back to Sonic on the screen. "Sonic, we'll use the Ark to help in the search for Shang Tu. Once we have a location, I need you and Tails to make contact with the Magister and coordinate with his team."
Sonic gave a thumbs-up, his usual confidence shining through. "You got it, Amy! We'll head there right away. C'mon, Tails, let's see if we can't bring some order to this chaos."
Amy's expression softened for a moment before turning stern. "And Sonic, make sure you're on your best behavior. The Magister sounds like an important figure, and we need to make a good impression."
Sonic laughed, waving off her concern. "Don't worry, Amy. I'll be the picture of diplomacy. You know me!"
Tails nodded in agreement. "We're on it. We'll report back as soon as we've made contact with Shang Tu." With that, Sonic and Tails signed off, the screen going dark once more.
Jewel then turned to the rest of the group, her expression filled with determination. "We have a lot of work to do, but I have faith that things will be okay. We've faced impossible odds before, and we've always found a way through. This time won't be any different."
The sun was setting over the remnants of an Eggman base, casting long shadows across the desolate landscape. Broken robots and smoldering wreckage littered the ground, the result of a one-man assault on the facility. Quill moved swiftly through the debris, his quills bristling as he searched for any remaining threats. His cloak billowed behind him, partially torn and singed from the intense combat.
He had been on a mission since the worlds merged, determined to find Eggman and stop his chaotic plans. As he moved, Quill silently calculated his next steps, his senses alert for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, without warning, a bolt of green electricity shot through the air, striking the ground near Quill's feet and sending him flying backwards. He landed hard, but quickly rolled to his feet, brushing off his cloak. Quill's eyes narrowed as he looked up to see two figures approaching from the shadows.
One was a green tenrec with a wild, electric look in her eyes. Beside her stood a blue fennec fox, his fur rippling like water as he moved. Both had a menacing air about them, clearly looking for a fight.
"Who are you?" Quill demanded, his voice calm but firm, despite the sudden attack.
The tenrec grinned, sparks of electricity dancing across her fur. "Name's Surge the Tenrec," she said with a cocky smirk, pointing a thumb at herself. "And this is Kitsunami," she added, nodding toward the fennec fox, who gave a silent nod. "I've never seen anyone tear through Eggman's robots with this much aggression before. Not bad, stranger."
Quill's eyes narrowed further as he sized up the two newcomers. "Do you work for Eggman?" he asked, his tone sharp with suspicion.
Surge laughed, the sound filled with disdain. "Work for him? Please. I'd rather see that egghead dead. But just because I hate Eggman doesn't mean I'm not going to attack whoever I feel like," she said with a shrug. "We saw you tearing up the place, and I figured it'd be fun to see what you're made of."
Quill closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clearly unimpressed by her reasoning. "Attacking me because you could? How reckless," he muttered, opening his eyes again.
As he did, a strange light flickered in Quill's eyes, a deep purple glow that seemed to pull at the air around them. Surge and Kitsunami froze, their bodies going rigid as if an invisible force had seized them.
"What the—?" Surge tried to speak, but found she couldn't move, her muscles locked in place.
Kitsunami's eyes widened in shock, unable to even turn his head.
Quill stepped forward, his eyes focused intently on the two. "I don't have time for this," he said softly. Before the paralysis could wear off, Quill swiftly reached back and pulled out two purple quills, then flicked his wrists. The quills shot forward, piercing Surge and Kitsunami in the arms.
Both of them gasped in pain, their bodies trembling as the effects of the paralysis and the quills took hold. Surge's vision began to blur, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. The last thing she saw was Quill's piercing eyes looking down at her, their glow fading as she blacked out.
Quill sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily. "Using the Predator Eyes always gives me serious dry eye," he muttered to himself, blinking a few times to clear his vision.
He knelt down, checking to make sure both Surge and Kitsunami were fully unconscious. Satisfied, Quill carefully picked them up, one over each shoulder. "You two have some explaining to do," he said quietly, turning to leave the ruined base. "But that can wait until you wake up. For now, let's get out of here before any more of Eggman's lackeys show up."
Quill carefully picked up Surge and Kitsunami, one over each shoulder. "You two have some explaining to do," he said quietly, turning to leave the ruined base. In a swift, graceful motion, he disappeared into the surrounding wilderness in a swirl of leaves, leaving no trace behind.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows—a panda with a mechanical arm and an imposing presence. Spade, now fully roboticized, surveyed the damage with a steely gaze. A platoon of Egg Pawns followed closely behind, their mechanical feet clanking against the debris-covered ground.
Spade tapped a button on his communicator, opening a channel to Eggman. "Lord Eggman, another one of our factories has been trashed beyond repair," he reported, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "And judging by the looks of it, it's the same person who's been causing all the trouble lately."
Eggman's scowl was audible through the comms. "Is anything salvageable, Spade?" he growled, clearly frustrated by the news.
Spade nodded, glancing at the piles of wrecked robots and machinery around him. "The robot parts can at least be salvaged, Doctor. Your latest acquisition can make do with scrap like no one else can."
A grin spread across Eggman's face at this. "Good. Very good. I do enjoy a bit of resourcefulness," he mused. "Serpentine, come in."
A moment later, another figure appeared next to Spade—a large, serpentine creature, now also fully roboticized, with a twisted grin on his face. Serpentine cackled, his eyes gleaming with malevolent glee. "Thank you, Lord Eggman, for such a bounty!" he exclaimed. "I'll definitely make something worthy of your praise. Something strong enough to crush the puny Resistance under our feet."
Eggman chuckled, pleased with the enthusiasm. "That's what I like to hear, Serpentine. Get to work and make those scraps useful. I want every piece of metal in that base repurposed into something that will serve the Eggman Empire."
Serpentine nodded eagerly and slithered over to the piles of debris, immediately beginning to sift through the wreckage with a keen eye for valuable parts.
Eggman then turned his attention back to Spade. "Now, Spade, I need you to find our next target. Someone is trying to hinder my progress, and I won't have it. We need to bring new blood into the Eggman Empire soon."
Spade saluted, his mechanical arm moving in precise, robotic motion. "Understood, Doctor. There are two individuals next on my list: a tech head named Aaa and Corozon Tea. Both could be valuable assets."
Eggman grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Make it so, Spade. I want them in the fold as soon as possible."
With that, Eggman cut the communication, leaving Spade to carry out his orders. Spade turned on his heel, signaling to the Egg Pawns to follow. "You heard the Doctor," he barked. "Let's move out and find our next targets. We have work to do."
Following Amy and Lilac's navigations, Sonic and Tails found themselves standing at the entrance to the grand city of Shang Tu. The city was a marvel of architecture, with towering pagodas, intricate carvings, and colorful banners fluttering in the wind. The streets were bustling with activity, filled with citizens going about their daily lives.
Sonic whistled in admiration as he took in the sights. "Wow, this place is pretty nice! Reminds me a lot of Chun-nan," he said, referencing the beautiful city they had visited in their own world.
Tails nodded, flying a little higher to get a better view of the city. "Yeah, the architecture and the vibe here definitely have that same peaceful, traditional feel," he agreed. "But let's not get too distracted. We're here on a mission."
As they made their way through the city, Tails suddenly noticed a faint glimmer in the corner of his eye. His instincts kicked in, and he quickly pushed Sonic out of the way. "Look out!" he shouted, just before a freezing blast of energy struck him squarely in the chest, encasing him in a solid block of ice.
Sonic landed on his feet a few meters away, his eyes wide with shock. "Tails!" he shouted, rushing back toward his friend, who was now frozen in ice.
Before he could reach Tails, a figure leaped down from a nearby rooftop, landing gracefully in front of him. It was Neera Li, the Frost Knight panda girl, her icy blue eyes glaring at Sonic. She held her staff out in front of her, a cold mist swirling around its tip. "You are a stranger to the city of Shang Tu," she declared, her voice authoritative and unyielding. "State your business here before you meet the same fate as your friend."
Sonic took a step back, his fists clenching at his sides as he silently apologized to Amy in his head. "Sorry, Amy," he thought, "I know you wanted me to be diplomatic, but this lady just attacked us out of nowhere."
He smirked, his cocky attitude masking the anger simmering beneath the surface. "You've made a big mistake, lady," he said, his tone deceptively light.
Neera narrowed her eyes, readying her staff to attack again. But before she could react, Sonic moved with blinding speed. He launched a kick so fast that Neera barely had a second to bring up her staff in a defensive stance. The impact sent her flying backward, crashing through a wooden wall and into the side of a building.
Sonic dusted his hands off, thinking the fight was over. "Well, that takes care of that," he muttered to himself, turning back toward Tails.
But just as he took a step forward, a sharp ice bolt whizzed past his head, forcing him to dodge. He turned to see Neera emerging from the hole in the wall, clutching her ribs. Her eyes were fierce, but Sonic could see the pain in her expression. She mentally admitted to herself that she might be in over her head with this one. This guy wasn't just fast—he was incredibly strong too. Faster than Lilac, even. He used the momentum he generated to power his strikes, making him a formidable opponent.
Determined not to back down, Neera charged at Sonic, her staff poised to strike. She intended to knock him out quickly, but Sonic let out a sigh, disappointed that this was escalating. "Guess we're doing this the hard way," he muttered under his breath.
In an instant, Sonic disappeared in a blur of blue light. He speed-blitzed Neera, moving so fast that she couldn't keep up. Before she knew it, she was lifted into the air by the force of his boost tackle, and everything went dark as she lost consciousness.
Sonic caught her before she could hit the ground, laying her gently on the pavement. "Sorry about that," he said quietly, looking down at the unconscious Neera. "But you kinda left me no choice."
As he turned back to Tails, another figure appeared from around the corner. It was Lanolin, the sheep girl from the Diamond Cutters. She took one look at the frozen Tails, the unconscious Neera, and the damage caused by the fight, and let out a long sigh as she approached. "Oh boy," she muttered, rubbing her forehead. "I am definitely not paid enough for this. Sonic, I'm pretty sure neither Amy nor Jewel would have wanted you to beat up the local law around here," she said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "But I guess I can understand why you did it."
Sonic gave her a sheepish grin, still holding the unconscious Neera. "Yeah, sorry about that. She kinda attacked us first, and, well, you know me—I don't take kindly to my friends being hurt."
Lanolin rolled her eyes with a small smile and bent down to pick up Neera's discarded staff. She walked over to the ice block encasing Tails and gently tapped it with the end of the staff. "Let's get Tails out of there," she said, focusing on freeing him.
As the ice began to crack and shatter, Tails shivered and stepped out of his frozen prison. "Thanks, Lanolin. I owe you one," he said, trying to warm himself up. "I wasn't expecting such a cold reception… pardon the pun."
Lanolin nodded, giving Sonic a more serious look. "You're going to have some explaining to do, though. Do you have any news from Resistance HQ?"
Sonic nodded. "Plenty. Let's go meet this Magister and get things sorted out." He looked down at the unconscious panda woman in his arms. "I'm not leaving her here," he said. "If we're going to explain things, we should make sure she's okay too."
Tails and Lanolin nodded in agreement. With Tails now free and Neera safely in Sonic's arms, the group quickly made their way through the city streets toward the palace. They moved swiftly, weaving through the bustling energy of Shang Tu, determined to reach the Magister and clear up the misunderstanding before things could escalate further.
As they approached the grand gates of the palace, Sonic carried Neera carefully, making sure she was secure. The guards, noticing their approach and the state of Neera, quickly moved to let them in, recognizing the urgency of the situation.
You think that I wouldn't have Neera shoot first and ask questions later? Please, I am TRYING to keep them in character lol