Sonic and The Chaos Kingdom
Ch. 6
(So, I promised someone that because the last chapter was so short, I'd lengthen this one a bit more. I had a 'Welcome Home!' party I had to get too, cause… you know, it was about me! :D anyway, that's why the last one was so short. I'm making it a point now to edit and re-read before I submit. I hope that helps with the quality of my writing. I used to be one who had the theory, 'if you want to get popular in your stories, it's quantity over quality. But I find the best writers are those who value both the quantity and the quality. They're the truly dedicated ones. I thought to myself, 'how dedicated are you?' then I looked to you guys, your reviews, and I smiled. I'm dedicated to my friends, and that's why I have to keep writing. Because I know how the story ends, but they don't. I hope yall enjoy Sonic and The Chaos Kingdom. It's got a lot more to go! But I hope to finish it as I said I would when I got back. So here's me! Keeping my promises to my friends! Who you are :3 thanks again for supporting me buddies! I love each and everyone of ya. Even the haters make me feel like my stories are good enough to be hated upon xD At least that means it was popular enough for someone to be jealous about, right?)
"What? That' s impossible! The Chaos Kings have all been hedgehogs! You're just a tweety bird!" Sonic called out, confused by his notion of royalty.
"Erk!? YOU FOOL! I meant of REAL chaos! Not some mythological power source that keeps your stupid people 'happy' and 'dancing all around'." He acted silly as he said 'happy' and such, seeming to make fun of the ideologies of the Chaos people. "Pfft! I'm talking about the king of mayhem! Of disorder and fraud! Of lies…" he smirked, and then pointed a haughty finger at Sonic, "You're not even good enough to breathe the same air as me!"
Sonic clenched his teeth, not liking his mockery, and glared.
"Take them with us…
We'll have a field day with these fools…heheheh.."
As Jet chuckled to himself, his mind whirled with schemes on how to use this 'perfect' opportunity he's found himself in for his advantage. But Banks slowly, ever so quietly, hid and waited below, his eyes narrowed to a glare, also thinking…
When the shadows dispersed, the three soldiers and Sonic were all taken with them, as Knuckles and the rest of the army finally were able to turn around.
"SONIC!"
"He's been captured,… sir." Banks stood below the ditch, and got up from sitting near his horse, who followed his head motion of looking up at Knuckles.
"WHAT!? THAT GOOD FOR NOTHING, SON OF A HEDGE-"
"My Captain." Banks interrupted his rant.
"Grr… Banks! How many times have I told you to just let me… vent it out!" he flung an arm out, having the axe in his other, and breathed heavily in both anger, panic, and worry for his king and friend. "What is it? What news do you have for me?" There was now a softer tone in Knuckles's voice, he had deep respect for his sergeant, which looked to be a lot of trust.
"They've taken him captive, but I don't think they're going to hurt him just yet." Banks looked to his horse, "We should follow them. This Tunnel doesn't seem to have any other directions too it but a straight line. I suggest we follow silently behind, and see what they're up too." He got up on his horse, and looked up. "That is, if we can somehow find a skillful manner to get out of this mess…" he looked at the titles Sonic had impressively maneuvered his horse around and through, having leaped to the right square tablet of the upheaved floor to get up and out.
"Err… Fine then. We'll do as you say." Knuckles looked down, still upset, but channeled it as he harkened to his friend's words… "Move out! 10 or so of you forward! We can't bear to loose the king AGAIN." He cried out, rotating his arm with his axe to move them forward as a signal to the ones in the back, looking back and towards them. "Move it!" he ordered.
-In the Eggman Empire Tunnels…-
"Pee-yew! What's that smell? I didn't realize you creeps really had rotten eggs over here! I'm hacking my own spit! *Cough, cough* Whattaya all eat over here!? *HACK* Ughh.. I think I'm gonna be sick… now I know why you look so green, Mr. King of Stink!"
"Grrr… SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT. UP!" Jet was loosing his patience with Sonic's antics, as Sonic was tied to the back of a horse, sitting on its rum from a rather big lookin' fellas horse and back to back with the man. Backwards as it was, he was still able to have his voice travel pretty far up to the front of the line…
Wind Rider followed behind, tied to another mare, he kept trying to pull back or bite at its heels. Making the mare unsettled…
"I swear, if he speaks one more word about the 'scenery', 'smell', or 'aesthetics' of this place I'm going to kill him…!" Jet stated, as another cloaked girl turned to him, her beak stuck out slightly too.
"Patience, Jet. This is one cargo we mustn't loose."
"Grr… don't you think I know that, Wave?! Ughhh… I've been waiting for a chance to really do something around here, and my first chance I get, I have to be forced to stick with a .. a… well, look at him!" he gestured behind him, showing Sonic whistling and putting his shoe up to scratch his nose. "He's an imbecile! How'd he get to be 'King' of the Chaos kingdom!" Jet rolled his eyes at 'king' and looked to Wave as she started to answer.
"Some people are born into privileges they don't fully understand. Again… Patience, Jet." She moved her horse closer to his and put a hand on his hand, making him look at her funny and not sure if he liked the gesture. "For once, we're going to really scare the Prince." She grinned.
"..Heh, yeah.." he pulled his hand away from hers, but rather slowly, as she didn't seem to mind his retraction from her action. "We'll have him wetting his pant once he finds out we have what he wants…"
"And he'll pay good sacrifice for it." Wave smirked even the more.
"All the wealth this pathetic country has left to offer." Jet clenched his fist up in the air in front of him, in his eyes were treasures and dreams untold… until that is, when Sonic spoke up again.
"Are we there yet?" He spoke up, as exasperated as ever.
"Grrr…" Jet had anger marks start popping up on his head, as his fist shook and his head lowered, "OHH, SOMEONE KNOCK HIM OUT!" Jet threw his hands up to his head and his head bent backwards, he cried out his command and threw his hands to his sides in utter bewilderment.
Sonic looked back behind him and snickered, before the bird he was behind turned around, showing his own beak and his fist, "Sorry, Y-your highness." And slammed his fist into his.
Sonic just stared at the fist coming down on him, a blank expression with a kinda stupid look in his widened eyes as you could slightly hear a 'oh-no..'.
WHA-PAM!
-Battle Dome of the Dungeon Tunnels-
"Uhh… where… where are we..?" Sonic slowly came too, blinking out of it as he was facedown on the ground, and lifted himself up off his belly, taking one hand to shake his head and hold it with.
He heard a movement and quickly got up, looking around he saw the three scouts, all coming too as well.
"Heh, sleepy times over, fellas. You alright?" Sonic got up and started helping the others up.
"M-my liege.." One was surprised at his gesture, and quickly got on his knees and bowed. "Forgive us, your grace! We were too late…"
"Uhh.." Sonic leaned back, feeling a little awkward at how he was acting towards him. "Sonic will do nicely. And it's alright, we're-"
"Doomed! The Kingdom is doomed!" Another spoke up behind him.
"U-uh.. ha-hang on guys, we're gonna be-" Sonic turned with an awkward sweat drop and hands outstretched slightly towards them, trying to calm them down before the third spoke up.
"We failed." The other solider hit the side of the sandy tomb of a cell they were in, and leaned up against it. His back was facing the others, as the one on the ground got up.
"….What are your names?" Sonic looked down for a moment, but then around to his men.
"..I'm Subert, sir." The one that was previously on the ground stated, and saluted him. "I'm 3rd to rank, and a commoner sir!"
"Alright, and you?" Sonic turned to the one directly behind him.
"I'm Yelpz, Sir. I'm a guard of the royal provisions for the army. Rank 2nd, and a commoner too."
"Subert, Yelpz, and you?" Sonic pointed to the last man.
He turned around, blinking in surprise at really being able to actually speak to his King for the first time! He had to write about this in his journal! If… he ever got back to his journal…
"I'm-" The cell doors suddenly flung open, as Jet and a few men stood at the door. Two came in with cloaks on, standing on either side of the door as Jet walked in. His hands on his hips in a confident manner, and breaking the conversation with his presence.
"Well, well, well… look who woke up from their beauty naps." He teased, as Wave and another bird that Sonic recognized came in behind him.
"The arena's ready at your command, Jet." Wave stated, hands behind her back, and then slightly bowing to him.
"Excellent, Wave. Great work." Jet just slightly glanced behind him to see her. "For once, you're all proving your worth!"
She grimaced at that, "Don't pretend this was all your idea…" She huffed, crossing her arms at him trying to steal all the credit. "If it weren't for me being the BRAINS behind this operation, you'd have tried to sell him off! Then where would we be? Upon further dwelling on YOUR theory, it was clear the Prince would of robotized us and just killed the stupid king! If it weren't for me, you'd have never-!"
"Pipe down, already! Sheesh! You'll get your prize!" Jet waved her off, annoyed with her rantings.
"Da-ha, h-hey! What about me, boss? I'm the one that heard the shouting in the tunnels th-that lead to us finding the young king!" The other bird, white in appearance and looking rather big and talking slower than the others, giving off a more 'stupider' vibe, leaned forward and desperately seemed to want to be apart of the credit and praise too.
Jet just shot his eyes over to him too, but acted like he was a nuisance too. "Yeah, yeah, that's great. Good job, buddy." He stated with every bit of forced effort he could, which really? Wasn't a whole lot… "ANYWAY!" he suddenly got pumped, putting his fist up and throwing his other arm in a crocked right angle behind him, "It's time to determine who the REAL king is, Sonic! We're gonna spar, just you and I, and once the citizens of the Eggman Empire see me dethroning you're sorry hide, they'll join my gang and we'll finally get our kingdom, and our lives, BACK! No way to escape this one, Sonic." He leaned back and straightened his back, glaring down at Sonic, as the three matched his cocky expression, and Sonic tilted his head, his eyes lighting up at the challenge, and slammed his fist together.
"You're on, Jet! I'll prove to you the power of the Chaos Emeralds!" he pointed a threat right back, as Jet nodded.
"Good, then we're agreed." He matched Sonic's pointing at him with his own reversed point back at Sonic, but with a bit more of a dramatic flare to it. "Winner becomes King! And loser surrenders to the king!"
"S-sire! You can't-!" the unnamed solider placed his worried hand on Sonic's shoulder, as Sonic looked back to hear him. "You just can't stake the kingdom on this-… this hooligan! It'll be the death and ruin of us all!" all he could think about was his dear Cynthia, and the world of darkness she'd be living in if this thief was to rule over her beloved land…
Sonic nodded back to him, "Chin up, kid! I've got this in the bag." Sonic gestured his hand in a 'flicking' like manner to try and calm his fears, and get the young solider to believe in him more. "Just stick with me until the end, got it?" he winked as he whispered to him, as the young Soldier pursed his lips, seeming concerned.
"Heh, the crack of dawn is about to be over with and threw, a new day is dawning! And that new day starts… now!" Jet's men rushed in, grabbing Sonic as the young soldiers were pushed aside. "With me at it's head! HAAHHAHA!"
"Your highness!" The other two called out.
"Don't worry about me! Just find a way out of here!" Sonic called back to them, as he was shoved out of the room.
He tried to fight them but these birds were too big, and brawny men….
Heh, like that would stop Sonic The Hedgehog!
Sonic quickly head butted the man behind him, making him stumble back and cry out in pain, holding his beak/nose. With his hands now free from the hold the cloaked man had on them, Sonic jumped down and did the same spin of his feet he did with Shadow the last time he battled him, knocking the men down.
Jet pivoted left and right, before looking concerned and afraid as Sonic rolled to his back, using his arms to push and his legs to propel his body upward, and landed on his feet, one hand down to catch himself, before rising up and dusting himself off. Jet's body language was one of shock and fright; he had a sweat drop on the side of his face as his body was spread out in his shock.
"…I'll walk myself out, thanks." Sonic smiled, challenging Jet with his eyes as he walked… right… by… him...
This was clearly a power move to intimidate Jet…
And it was working.
"Wha… what kind of move was that!?" Jet turned around, stomping his foot at Sonic walking away.
"I call it…" Sonic turned around, a stud if there ever was one. "Dancing."
Two cloaked girls squealed in the distance, almost seeming to become fans as Jet glared at them and they straightened themselves up, one hitting the other in the shoulder to quit giggling at Sonic's awesomeness and hotness already…
Well,… that's how Sonic told the story… anyway~
-Back in the Tunnels…-
"This is taking FOREVER!" Knuckles shouted out, as the men winced at how loud he was.
"General, please…" Banks, to his right, stated, and held his peace.
"What? There's nothing in this blasted tunnel now that we're only following the tracks of animal dung!" Knuckles gestured out in front of him, as the men behind him held their noses, also smelling the awful reek of the place.
"We're in an economically depressed continent with barely surviving people from a neglectful tyranny that forces them to comply to their fates. If they refuse to cooperate, they get turned into hefty and unfeeling killing machines…" Stated Banks, being politically correct.
Knuckles looked to Banks.
"Do you really think they care about maintenance or cleanliness?" Banks made a good point, as Knuckles quieted down, feeling pity for the citizens of the Eggman Empire, and looking down in his sorrow for thinking little of them.
"Can you really blame them?" Banks spoke up again.
"No… you really can't." Knuckles admitted, and looked forward, anger in his eyes. "UGH! THEN WHY DON'T THEY JUST-!? Rebel or something!?" he cried out, confused by their ways…
"…They have nothing to fight with." Banks stated, a look of pity for them in his eyes as well.
Knuckles huffed and puffed, but his anger slowly turned to hopeless sorrow for them, as he lightly hit his horse's withers. "… then there's nothing we can do…
But win."
Banks nodded, smiling to his compassionate, reformed barbarian general.
Then, hooves stomped the tunnels, and the similar sounds of before came once again to their ears.
"Oh no…"
Banks grabbed the reins of his horse, having it slightly rear up a moment, and glared after his first look of surprise from the familiar noise. "They're on to us, again!"
"Get ready your horses! Form your defensive lines! Back to the walls!" Knuckles ordered, as the men all raced towards some walls that slightly stuck out with loose tablets, making a great shelter from anything oncoming.
"We'll knock them out with their own gorilla warfare! The shadows!"
-Underground Arena-
"Ladies and Ruffians!" A man announced as Sonic's blindfold was taken off, having been captured again after his little 'dancing' stunt, as he looked around the large and spacious battle arena of the Eggman Empire… deep below the earth, this was the single, most enthralling thing the people could ever get of entertainment within their borders.
The poor citizens cried out their applause, pumped at seeing the blue of royalty, and knowing from legends and histories that this must be the King of the Chaos Kingdom, and the one piece of hope they may have to proving themselves to their Prince, that they aren't going to allow this lifestyle anymore!
"You've waited, you've even prayed, and though Chaos forsakes us, lady luck still grants us miracles!" the crowd shouted out in such an uproar that Sonic had to bend his ears and held one of them down from the screeches of these people's excitement.
"For this one time only… the King of thieves! Jet the Hawk!-"
Jet walked onto the area with his horse, a lance in his hand, and adorn with beautiful tapestry of the kingdom before it was the Eggman Empire, showing that in the history of the people, the symbol, and culture of their land, used to be way different…
His knight's armor looked well-made, however, and for a poor nation, he looked to be almost royal…
Sonic looked around to see he hadn't the slightest bit of a weapon or armor on him,… not even his horse.
He sighed, drooping his arms helplessly down before hearing a familiar whine…
"Vs. Sonic! The King of the Chaos Kingdom!"
"Rider!" Sonic saw Wind Rider being pulled out into the arena. His wild ways and kicks and rearings made the cloaked men pulling him afraid, and unable to control him.
Sonic whistled, putting two fingers in his mouth to do so, as the Horse's ears perked up, and looked around for the noise. "Come e're, buddy." Sonic dashed over to the now, rather tame horse, seeing as it was still musing somewhat over the strange noise, as it whined when he whirled himself around his neck and jumped aboard.
He patted Wind Rider's neck gently, bending down. "Miss me, kid?" he lovingly whispered, smiling that his favorite horse was able to tag along on the adventure.
They must have pulled him behind as Sonic was captured, seeing as Sonic was tied backwards from the rest of the crowd, and didn't see anything much ahead of him… but it was lucky too! It was beginning to be his favorite horse, and he was glad to have his comrade back in action!
"The King has already graciously agreed to surrender his kingdom and rights to our King Rogue, Jet! If he but merely takes him down in the heat of combat! Is it possible..?"
The people hollered, Let him be king!
"Will he really be able to fight the power of the Chaos bloodline?"
Jet sat cozy on his horse, beaming from ear to ear with that evil smirk of his…
The people shouted again, with a repeated emphasis- Let him be KING!
"W-wait, I didn't agree to surrender my Kingdom!" Sonic suddenly realized what his young solider friend had meant… this wasn't just a friendly competition… this was everything he just put on the line here!
"My good scum of the Eggman Empire… I give you… You're Battle of The Kings!"
The people's shouting quite literally became deafening. As Sonic realized that to them, this was their chance for change, their chance to fight back, with a leader who could do it…
They were all fighting for their lives. And Jet was their only hope of a kingdom where they ruled in freedom…
And it almost broke Sonic's heart to not be on their team.
As he looked around the coliseum of dirt and rumble, of sandy stones turned over to heights unimaginable where you had to crook your neck back, just to see their faces.
These people were in rags. In decaying health and brutally beaten. Both in body… and spirit…
He looked down, almost feeling unworthy to fight AGAINST their cause… all they wanted was their lives back… so their kingdom could prosper again…
This was not the kingdom he wanted for his people.
Sonic's head shot up, as they mounted on him armor, crooked and old, and a lance. Plain and rustic as it was, it was at least something to defend himself.
He realized that for the first part of the fight… it was gonna be a joust.
"Great…" Sonic sweat dropped, he wasn't used to these kind of games. Even as a young boy, the knights would hold a competition, but they weren't as… fierce as this Kingdom's games…
Considering to them… it wasn't a game…
He took courage, and spun his lance to fit more well in his hand. "Alright, king Jet! You can't wear that title till you're threw with me! And trust me, I'm no easy Hedgehog to overturn!"
"Hmph, we'll see about that, spiky." Jet narrowed his eyes, ready for anything.
"GAME ON!"
"Hyah!" Jet kicked his horse forward, a powerful stallion, as it raced to the other side of a large pole between the two, showing the two sides.
Sonic also kicked Wind Rider into gear, and began to slowly lower his lance, although, he wasn't use to this sport, that wasn't going to hold him back!
Aiming,… Jet winked an eye closed and hammered Sonic in the chest, whereas Sonic missed his target.
The people cried out in cheers and applause, as Jet's horse haughtily trotted back into its running place.
"Some king you are!" Jet shook his head behind him to Sonic, as his men quickly pulled Sonic's horse back into place, and handed him a new lance. "Even in my youth I wouldn't miss a shot!" he laughed a shrilly boast, and continued to get ready for round 2!
Sonic never was a fan of insults, but he sure liked to dish them back. "Save it, Jet. Or, you know, let it all out while you can. Considering I'll never let a crown be placed on your head! So long as I live." Sonic pulled up the ends of his gloves, and adjusted his shoes. Rolling his arm back, he gripped the lance more firmer and let the men take him back to the starting run line. "No bird-brain can run a kingdom!"
"Hmph! I wouldn't mock your future KING if I were you, SONIC!" Jet glared through his Knight's helmet and pointed his lance for Sonic's head, but lowered it to get ready to charge.
"First flag raised! Point for the Eggman Empire!"
The crowd's lungs never got tried of cheering and shouting for joy.
Sonic's ears sure did though... as he looked up and flinched at the inaudible words they were saying his way. All faces looked angry at him… but… what did he ever do to them?
Honestly, they should be cheering for him! He was gonna be the king to stop Shadow! The immortal prince! Hello..? They should all just sign up to join his kingdom! Why live under a false reign of egoisms and strife?
"That's it!" Sonic got an idea, and with a determined expression on his face, readied his lance.
"Just don't fall off, your majesty!"
"Huh?"
Sonic turned left and right. Through the crowd of shouts and yellings, he could hear a familiar voice, and turned to see his three solders, all looking at him as if he was THEIR last hope…
He realized something then… as he stared at his men. They all looked to him as the symbol of their pride, their country, their kingdom…
Their freedom.
For once, Sonic felt the strangest feeling come over him. His heart started to race, this wasn't a game anymore!
He turned forward towards the battle at hand, seeing Jet's horse hitting the ground back and forth, swaying side to side in anticipation, as Wind Rider was still shaken up slightly by the collision of before.
"…I'm…." he looked down, then closed his eyes. "I'm…"
"Game 2, SET!"
"I'm…!"
"GAME ON!"
"Hyah!" Jet came bustling out of the runner's line, and began to move his lance into position.
"Your majesty!"
"King… Sonic!"
KA-KA-LING…
FOO-WHAAAMMM!
The crowd shouted out in distress and alarm, as Jet was flown off his horse, and landed terribly hard to the ground.
Sonic dismounted, and strode up to Jet's body as it rolled along the ground, before Jet finally got onto his stomach, and used his arms to lift him slightly up off the ground.
"H…how… how'd you..?!"
"I'm Sonic. King of the Chaos Kingdom." Sonic placed his lance under Jet's throat, making him tense back.
"…And this… Is the true power of chaos."
He looked to the crowd, "You want freedom? You want an end to your suffering? Well, tough luck, cause I'm the only way out!"
The three solders cheered, as the rest of the crowd fell silent.
Jet started to laugh.
Sonic's demeanor changed, from a cocky and noble stance to a now alarmed look of confusion. His eyes looked back and forth at Jet, as his lance slowly withdrew down and away, with each step Jet took to raise himself up.
"You? The only way..? Hahaha…
-What a joke."
He was crouched over at first, before leaning back and laughing even more.
The whole arena started to laugh with him, and the spookiness of that froze Sonic as he turned and started to breathe a little harder, wondering why they were all laughing in unison…
"You don't get it, do you?" Jet turned to him, as his men handed him a sword, and then held Sonic.
"H-huh!?" Sonic's lance was taken from him in a swift moment, and a ton of men had him, once again, immobilized.
They stripped him of his armor, and removed whatever else they gave him for protection.
"You're playing on home field advantage, loser." Jet rolled his hurt shoulder, and then his neck, before chuckling and slamming his fist, holding the hilt of his sword, into Sonic's gut.
Sonic coughed up the pain, and held his head down.
"King Sonic, huh? That almost sounded like the first time you were ever being serious." He swung another time at Sonic. This time spinning behind his men and slamming the sharp pierce of his sword's hilt into Sonic's back, forcing him to lunge forward and cry out in pain again.
Sonic fell to his knees as the men let go of him, and started to move back.
Jet laughed again, "I can't believe you..! No… I CAN'T STAND YOU! You arrogant kings are the reason we're all in this mess in the first place!" Jet swung his sword in the air, but was too far from Sonic to really be trying to swing at him.
"You know the legend right?" he started to walk towards the crowd, holding his hands up to them. "We were all once a happy little group of people… before the hedgehogs decided to be rulers over us!" he swung more powerfully back to Sonic, pointing with the tip of his long sword…
"Then they couldn't be satisfied with the little authority given them, no… could they? Never, they had to quarrel and squabble for more and more and more..! Till the whole of the land was left desolate and barren! Then, our great and noble king of TRASH grew jealous of his brotherly friend, if even that was a thing, and declared war for more to decimate! Leaving us all stranded over on a desert wasteland! Forced to be slaves and thieves from infancy, and what do we get for our undying loyalty..? MORE TRASH!" Jet swung his sword which ever way in his rage of his and his people's circumstances.
Sonic breathed the best he could in his pain, and slowly turned to look at Jet.
"You pathetic chaos wimps… always safe behind your twinkling emeralds… but did you ever look once at us? To see what we hid behind?" Jet began to walk up to Sonic, his sword dragging along the sand of the arena… creating a straight line before lifting it to Sonic's ear, the ear that usually holds his crown…
"You aren't worthy to be called a King… When you allow your cowards you so call your people, to hide behind myths and believe in legends… we've survived on our wit, brawns, and sheer lack of defeat! WE don't give up. WE don't surrender. Even if we have to play it… dirty!" Jet kicked up some sand from his feet and blinded Sonic for a moment, before taking his sword, tossing it in the air for a moment to spin it around, so he could stab Sonic, and with one hand began to raise it high…
"This is it! No more legends, FAKER! Where's your precious emeralds to save you now!?"
Then an arrow hit the hilt, and Jet let the sword go, his hand cut up from the impact. "AH! What?!" Jet held his hurt hand as the sword fell, and looked in bewilderment around the arena, before seeing something red in the distance.
Knuckles held a crossbow, probably the same one that deflected Sonic's hand from reaching the tip of the gates at his correlation 'get away' retreat, and handed it back to the Soldier. "I never do miss a beat." Knuckles cockily stated with a grin, and started ordering his men, dashing and slashing his way through any resistance, as most of the civilians were smart enough to run away from the charging horses.
"AAATTAAAACK!" Knuckles shouted, as all that stood against the immense wave of Chaos Soldiers fell in their way.
"Kn-Knuckles..!" Sonic, in his weary and hurt state, looked up with a smile. The three soldiers cheered, and rushed to the aid of their king, hitting and fighting their way through and out of their captures 'protection'.
"Sonic!" they cried out, as Jet, in his fear, began to retreat behind his cloaked men's safety.
"It's not going to end like this… Not when we were… so…close!" Wave was quickly bandaging his arm, before handing him a javelin.
"Don't let them down!" She stated, meaning the Eggman Empire people, as he nodded and threw his helmet off.
"I say when this round is over… and it's… not… OVERRRR!" Jet ran up, and with his other hand, threw the javelin.
Sonic was just getting up when it was thrown, and quickly saw a soldier get in the way of it. "NO! Yelpz, look out!" his super speed sped him to grab Yelpz's waist and threw him on the ground to narrowly dodge the javelin.
"Ark! Y-your highness!"
"Don't EVER risk your life for mine! That's an order!" Sonic shouted out, even knowing full well the oath every soldier makes to guard his king, and looked back to Jet. "It's my turn…" Sonic wobbled to get up, but did so, as Subert tried to restrain him.
"Sir! The Generals back! We can get you to safety and-"
Sonic gently took his hand off of him. "S-…sorry, Subert… this is a king's mission. I need… to go it.. alone." He was getting weary, swaying back and forth in his pain and weakened state, but took the remainder of his strength with him and walked forward.
Wind Rider, standing behind Jet and his men, cocked his head up, whining slightly and seeming to be curious on what was going on.
"Jet… I'm sorry about your people…" Sonic began, holding his stomach with one hand, and barely being able to open one of his eyes due to the pain of it.
Jet's nostrils flared with hatred, and his face blared with loathing, as he started to tense up and looked enraged.
"It's a little late to say that, fake king." He hissed through his beak.
"I know… it was wrong of my fathers not to try and help your people… but you have to understand, we had to take care of our own." He straightened up his back, and blinked his eyes so they could both stay open together.
"I'm the true king of Chaos. I know the power of my people, it comes from the Master Emerald… it blesses my people to have brave hearts, and pure souls."
"I don't care about HEARTTTSSS!" Jet tackled Sonic, even without a weapon, his anger wouldn't let him just NOT attack. This was the last chance the kingdom had at a true rebellion, he wasn't gonna allow Sonic to ruin their last hope…
Insanity was clear in his eyes, only for the sake of knowing he was fighting for his people's last stand at a rebellion, their last chance for freedom, and for his last chance of leading said rebellion…
They rolled on the ground, Jet sharing punches as Sonic quickly found his footing as they stopped rolling, just trying to push him off, before kicking him and finally getting his bearings back.
The two duked it out as Knuckles came charging through the crowd, and finally, a swarm of horses leapt from ring to ring of the large and wide seats, as people scattered every which way.
Knuckles got off his horse, and glided through the air, holding his arms out while bold wielding his doubled-sided battle ax, coming to Sonic's aid.
Sonic and Jet continued to fight before Sonic's feet hit something.
Looking down, his eyes scanned the object, and then widened.
"This is yourrrr eeeeeEEEENNNNDDD!" Jet grabbed a hidden dagger from his long shoes and went for the final kill, before Sonic swung up with the sword that Jet had once held.
Ddddinnnnnggg..
The vibration carried, and almost all at once, the Eggman Empire was stilled….
The Sword started to glow, and ancient writing took place in brilliant green.
"..Wha…" Jet lowered his dagger, before it fell, and he fell to his knees.
The rest of the people fell too, some even covering their mouths, others sobbing.
"What's happening?!"
"Has Chaos truly not forsaken us after all..?"
"Our prayers… do you think the blessings of Chaos really exists?"
"Could it… be?" Someone said in the crowd, covered in rags.
An old man started to walk onto the battle field, uncloaking his face from his brown and scrapped up rags, as Sonic just held out the sword in confused surprise, not sure if he should even be holding it anymore…
"Young king… you hold the legendary Sword of Chaos." The old man spoke. "It has been a trophy to our people for centuries…"
"What are you trying to say, old man?" Knuckles landed to the ground, and glared at the aged civilian. "You mean to say that you stole that from one of us?!"
"…Yes." The old man admitted, and walked towards Sonic. "I'm… also from a battle that waged long before you two were ever born." He was meaning both Jet and Sonic, as he held out his hands, waiting for permission from Sonic to touch the sword.
Sonic nodded, and the man held Sonic's arms that were holding the sword. "This sword is known to our people. As the legend goes, only the true and rightful heir of the Chaos children... Who is destined to truly take down the monarch of the Eggman Empire... can fully wield the power of Chaos within it…"
Jet gaped, having carried the sword to prove it was him who was destined to lead, and hung his head low in anger at the man's words, shoving his fist in the sandy ground below. "That should have been ME."
"You, regardless of leadership skills and ambition, had no blood right." The old man stated, addressing Jet for only a moment. "If anyone is going to save us… it's the one who can activate the true ability of this sword." He looked to Sonic.
"You, and only you… can bring peace to our broken kingdom."
The old man… bowed.
The entire kingdom gasped, not only was that traitorous, but it was an insult to the little pride they had left in them.
The kingdom hated Chaos and all its people, for this one man to bow, stung them to their very cores….
"Save this people, Sonic! You are our only hope..!"
Sonic was amazed himself, and looked to the glowing sword…
"A family heirloom… lost all these years…"
Knuckles also stepped forward, putting his hand close to the fuming mist of chaos that surrounded the blade, as the ancient writing looked familiar…
"It… it's my language!" Knuckles, in his excitement, pulled Sonic's arm more towards him, having Sonic lose balance and have to wobble on one foot to regain it.
"W-wo-woah!"
"Hush!" Knuckles quickly shushed him, having turned his head, before looking the blade over. The standstill of the battle caused his men to wait on the lower seating ring of the ginormous battle dome, as the rest of the people also halted all movement,… if what the man said and did was true… Then the Chaos King standing before them was the destined son to slay the immortal prince… and end their suffering once… and for all…
"It reads…" Knuckles began, looking over the craftsmanship and only seeing the work of Ancient Echidnas on it.
The Seven Servers are the Seven Chaos. Chaos is power. Power enriched by the heart. The Controller is the one that unifies the Chaos.
"…Chaos is power.. the Controller's heart unifies it?" Sonic asked, still way confused.
"…Controller in Ancient Echidna can also mean…"
Knuckles turned to face Sonic.
"Ruler, Master, or…
King."
"You can't all really believe this!? Do you!?" Jet rose up, moving around in a circle to look at all his kingdom's people. "He's the enemy!" He pointed accusingly at Sonic, who narrowed his eyes, but… had some sorrow for him too.
"This war all started with hegdgehogs! Now you're going to just… bow down to them!? AGAIN!?"
"Jet." The old man stated, turning the raging and defeated wanna-be king to address himself, and not the people.
"What. Old man?" Jet growled out to him, hunched over like an animal, his anger to it's utter limits…
Every dream, every ambition, WASTED from one glowy sword..!
You couldn't blame him for his unyielding rage at this point…
"He is the chosen vessel of Chaos. So the writing said. None of his ancestors could wield the true power of the sword because they weren't destined to free us from this never-ending war and tyranny." He pointed to Sonic in his long draped robes over his arms and body, and having a necklace of sharp teeth and beads around his neck. He then continued, "If we give ourselves in allegiance with one who holds are fates in his hands… or to the least, has the same enemy as us, are we not then truly able to succeed in this? Granting ourselves our own freedoms?"
"…." Jet just glared at the man, as the whole of the sandy tomb floor was silent…
He shook his fist near his side.
People looked to one another; all feeling conflicted over the matter, before Sonic finally looked around, and held his stare to the floor, before lifting it in nobility, and walking the space of the battle coliseum.
"My ancestors may have abandoned you before, not realizing your struggles and longing for freedom." He began, as with each swish of the sword through his walking, it left a small trail of green ray behind it... "But I know now, that I really was called to be king." The people stared at him, some with raised heads of false pride in their birthright in the Eggman Empire, and glares of hatred lasting eons and scores of years, others with conflict in their hearts apparent in their eyes, some with hopeful trust, and others with joy at the prospect of life after this war.
"But I can promise you this." He stopped. "I didn't betray the council of my people for nothing, I didn't stay myself in standing up to do what I knew was right in bringing the Master Emerald back into our lands, and I as sure as I'm wielding this… doo-hickey here, sword-! Am not going to let you die without experiencing the wind!" He raised up the sword, which had a powerful pulse of Chaos energy spread through the whole underground tomb. "Now whose with me!?'
"…."
Citizens looked to each other.
Jet looked around, and seeing no response, smiled. Lowering his head and closing his eyes.
…Let him be king!
"What?" Jet blinked his eyes open in rapid shock, and flung his head each and every where.
Let him be king!
"N…NO!" his rage grew, but his spirit weakened, as he saw Sonic looking around, breathing in and out, before Sonic's face started to light up and beam with hope.
Sonic then closed his mouth to smile, and pumped his sword again, another pulsing wave of chaos engulfing the area for a split-second.
"N…Nnn…nnnNNNNOOOO!" Jet raised his hands to his head, lifting his head back in defeat.
Let him be king! LET HIM BE KING! LET.. HIM.. BE..
KIIIINNNNNG!
-The end of the Tunnel sewers, and the very next day…-
A man hole was being banged on from below, as suddenly, after a few hits, it crashed it's rust off by being smashed to the side, as Jet stuck his head out, lifting it up and over him as it came falling back down.
He angrily pushed it to the side, and him and Wave, along with the other white meat-bird! I said Bird… as Jet began to state under his breath, "My moment to reign… the rebellion of a lifetime… and now I'm just the stupid tour guidefor it!"
"Calm down, Jet. Maybe Sonic will make us something in the new kingdom." Wave tried to comfort, but she spoke through gritted teeth, clearly not liking the rank down she just experienced. "Storm! Get your foot off mine!"
"Storm! You're crushing me!"
"Oh, S-sorry.."
Storm tried to adjust his footing, but then slammed poor Jet up against the man hole's edge, leaving him half out winded, as the team crawled out.
"We have to open the draw bridge to the cave's dam. That's the only way their militaries coming through here and into the castle!" Jet whispered, as robots trailed each and every which way the roads led too. "…Come on."
Jet put his cloak's hoody on, as the others followed.
Like shadows, they truly were. Clinging to the walls, and ducking and dodging every light that came from those red eyes of the robots…
One wrong move… and they would be taken to be robotized for the ever improving army of the Eggman Empire!
That fate… was one that every child must learn to avoid… even if it meant becoming a rogue thief.
Their clanging and racketing made it easy to know when they were coming, and these three were masters at their craft.
They made it to the cave with the drawbridge, and lowered it.
"Quickly! Quickly!" Jet rushed them, whispering his shouts, as the chains noises couldn't be hushed.
"MOVEMENT UNAUTHORIZED."
"Shoot!" The three leaped through the only little opening there was. Storm leaned down as the two jumped off his cupped hands, overlapping each other; and skillfully made it up.
Storm then walked up to the robots as he heard them coming, laughing goofily as he hit his fists together, before Wave activated some sort of technology, and from below his feet, a hovering board was formed.
"W-wha-woah!" He wobbled as the device lifted him into the air, and pulling him through the little crack still left.
The robots came storming in, slow as ever, and looked around, not seeing any form of life or machine.
"MUST HAVE BEEN A GLITCH." One sounded off, as another, bigger robot, whacked him upside the head and they all moved back into positions.
"So? Did you do it?" Sonic asked, yawning slightly after the nap they all took in the tunnels.
"Grrrr.." Jet was still not over yesterday, but Wave gave him a look and he grew even more mad at her. "WHAT!?"
"Yes, your… Sonic." She stated, speaking for Jet who would've just insulted him. But she still refused to see him as her 'ruler', quite yet. She folded her arms. "We weren't able to lower the drawbridge all the way, but you should be able to hammer it down now from this side."
"Hammer it down?" Sonic suddenly thought of Amy, and the memory of her before left him biting down on his jaw a bit…
He mustn't forget what he needed to do when he got home…
"Yes. With brute force." She glared at him, seeing he was somewhat in la-la land. "Wake up, Sonic. You're looking like an embarrassment." She stated harshly, as Knuckles glared at her, and she just returned the stare, and gave him a goofy teasing face to show she wasn't scared of him.
Jet smiled at her, raising an eyebrow as he noticed even SHE couldn't help but insult the new royalty in their mist.
He folded his arms and looked back to Sonic. "So, great and noble –worthless- leader." He used his hand to block the sounds from the others so that only Wave and Storm heard his other comment, before going on with his 'show' of sarcasm. "What next?"
"…We storm the castle." Sonic grinned, but totally hearing that comment, he just frowned and ignored it. "Or, you know, if you're not up for that challenge, you can always… I don't know… work on your kingly stride…." Sonic teased, as Jet almost lost it, before Storm held both him AND Wave back, as they both kicked and screamed. However, their muffled replies, so to speak, were very much inaudible as Storm's large arms covered their mouths.
"R-right this way, Da-hah. You're majesty." He seemed to have spared later that day with Knuckles, and for whatsoever reason, found that he wasn't so much as upset with Sonic as he just wanted to out best Knuckles.
"Thanks, big guy!" Sonic gave him a signature wink and thumbs up, and having strapped the legendary Chaos sword to his belt, he was ready to take on Prince Shadow!
"Don't even think about seeing Shadow." Knuckles moved ahead of Sonic, who was amazed he knew what he was thinking.
"H-how'd you..?"
"It's not much of a guessing game when you're eyes light up like that, Sonic." Knuckles began, and then started to chastise him again. "Remember what happened LAST TIME you tried a move like that? It's just best you let the 'big dogs' handle this, alright?"
"Yeah, like me. Not weak little echidnas or anything."
Knuckles's eyebrow twitched.
"Da-hah. There's a reason they all went extinct…"
"WHY YOU-!"
Jet finally got his mouth uncovered from Storm's arm, "WHY DON'T YOU WORK ON YOUR AIM WHILE THEIR AT IT, SONIC?!"
"YOU LITTLE-! PUNK!"
The two jumped off their horses and started to brawl again, as Banks and Wave stepped to the side.
"Heh, well, if you can't beat them-" Wave got out her wrench, "Join them, right?" She grinned, seeing as that's what happened to them, and shrugged, and jumped into the fray as if to slam her elbow down on someone.
Bank shook his head and lowered it into his hands, which rubbed his eyes. "How are we ever going to work with these people..?"
"One Knuckle-head sandwich at a time!" Knuckles grinned from ear to ear as he got Storm in a head lock and started noggying the living daylights out of him, making his tongue stick out and make vibration noises with each wiggle of his head.
(There might be a theme of ending every chapter with someone insulting Knuckles and him going 'WHY YOU-!' at the end cause I think that's comedy gold and no one can tell me otherwise xD)