Soar broke the news to both hedgehogs. "Gentlemen, it's time for round two. Gotta get up." He ordered.
Manic grunted and stood up. The burn relieving gel had taken its effect and made him harder to grab. Blaze whimpered as Silver slowly moved out of position. He gently transferred her to Shadow. The MI6 mercenary did not hold her as closely as her fiance did, but still allowed her to rest.
Silver and Manic met in the middle and shook hands. "The living torch wishes to fight me." Silver began.
"The living leaf blower has issued a challenge." Manic retorted. His verbal savagery had made him popular.
Silver sighed in disappointment. "You really think all this roasting will get you remembered?" He questioned.
Manic shrugged nonchalantly. "Remembered? I'll be remembered for taking down Knuckles. You're remembered for getting dropped in the bay."
Silver smiled eerily. "You got me. I'll stop talking."
Soar breathed a sigh of relief that the competitors had not turned each other hostile. He separated the competitors. "Gentlemen, it's round two. Prepare yourselves. FIGHT!"
Silver predicted Manic's hops to one side, but the wrong side. As Manic prepared to punch, Silver turned on his left leg to deliver a spinning back kick under Manic's left knee. He grabbed the green one's shoe off his foot using telekinesis, and Manic slipped to the ground. The scrapes to his knee were mild.
Manic recovered and continued his unorthodox stance to avoid staying still. Silver tried to kick his head, but Manic hopped the other direction. He grabbed Silver's leg and forced him off his right foot. Manic grabbed his other leg as he slammed Silver to the stone floor, legs spread wide to pull the muscles; a degrading position for a future prince on live TV.
Silver called in Rouge with tears in his eyes. The bat characteristically strode into action. The other sporter of heels dug one heel into Manic's unguarded right thigh. He bent over, canceling the kick he charged for. She choked him, momentum forward.
The two struggled violently until Manic kicked her away. Silver reappeared instantly. A well placed punch just under Manic's chest forced what little air he had out of his system. He collapsed to the ground, reached to get up, but could not. Soar came over for the ten count.
"One. Two… Nine. Ten." Soar concluded. Manic had not gotten up in time. "Round two goes to Team England!"
Silver, minimally injured, returned victorious to his team. "Doing good out there. Keep it up." Shadow said proudly. He smiled and attended to Blaze, now much better. Rouge and Amy continued chatting it up, much to Sonic's annoyance.
He and Sonia assisted Manic out of the combat zone. Medical staff disinfected his pierced leg and stitched it shut. Amy and Rouge continued chatting as Manic was passed to Amy. The mom of the group set his head on her lap and he rested.
"The teams seem to have coordinated everything. That about does it for Round Two. Sonia and Silver prepare for round three, and we'll be right back!"
