- Chapter 6 -

Royal Ruckus

Within the throne room of Castle Acorn, King Max and Queen Alicia were hashing things out with Sally, desperately trying to figure out what to do.

"I don't know what's become of Julian, but we can't be a part of this madness," Max insisted.

"So what can be done to stop him?" Alicia questioned.

Weighing their options, Max went to the throne, pressing a button that caused the throne to slide away and reveal a secret passage.

"Max?" Alicia asked.

"This passage was built in case of an emergency, during the time of the Great War," Max explained, turning to Sally. "Get in, and flee."

"What?" Sally demanded. "You expect me to leave you to the mercy of that lunatic?!"

"We're the ones Julian wants," Max insisted. "At least this way, you'll be safe."

"I won't leave you, Dad!" Sally said adamantly.

"I'm not giving you a choice."

There was pounding on the castle walls, shaking the building. In desperation, Max shoved Sally into the passage, sealing it.

"Dad!" Sally shrieked, pounding on the door and trying in vain to open it. "Don't do this!"

Max and Alicia slowly turned to face the music as the door was kicked in. A slew of Swatbots poured in, flanking Robotnik as he walked forward. He looked between them.

"So, the princess isn't here." He shrugged. "No matter. I'll find her soon enough.

In the meantime, King Max, you have a public appearance to make."

Outside the castle, a crowd had been assembled, held at gunpoint by several Badniks as Robotnik and Max exited.

"King Maximilian Acorn no longer rules Mobotropolis, or the Kingdom of Acorn!" Robotnik declared. "I, the great Dr. Ivo Robotnik, am your new ruler!"

He was immediately greeted by a series of boos from the crowd.

"Tough crowd. No matter. As they say, it's better to be feared than loved." He rose to his full height. "You've seen my might! My army of Badniks! You Mobians were made to be ruled by humans like me, and in the end, you will always kneel!"

A moment of silence followed before an older Mobian wolf slowly got to his feet.

"Not to men like you," he insisted.

Robotnik laughed mockingly. "There are no men like me."

"There are always men like you," the wolf shot back defiantly.

Robotnik shook his head at that before turning back to the crowd.

"Let this old mutt serve as an example. Those who defy me will die!"

Several Swatbots took aim at him, preparing to fire when a massive gust of wind suddenly whipped up around them. A blue blur darted around, smashing several Swatbots before coming to a stop before Robotnik, revealing it to be Sonic.

"You again?!" Robotnik shouted.

"Sorry I'm late," Sonic replied. "Had to deal with your pals."

The crowd burst into murmurs at the sight of Sonic, while Robotnik gritted his teeth in anger.

"You have an annoying habit of turning up where you're not welcome."

"And you have a habit of stomping on innocent people," Sonic shot back. "So consider this an intervention."

"I'd rather consider it a funeral." Robotnik retorted. "Swatbots, attack!"

The Swatbots immediately began firing on Sonic, who quickly started darting around, dodging every attack as the crowd ran for cover. He swerved around before tucking into a Spin Dash and shredding one Swatbot to pieces. As this was going on, Robotnik slipped away.

Eventually, only one Swatbot was left standing, but before Sonic could do anything, a blue energy blade slashes through it, cleaving it diagonally in two. As the two halves split apart, Sonic blinked in surprise to see Sally standing there, a solid, holographic double-edged energy blade extending from the bracelet around her wrist.

"Room for one more?" she quipped.

"Sally?" Sonic demanded. "What are you doing here?! It's not safe!"

"You honestly think that's gonna stop me?" Sally questioned. "You should know me better than that, Sonic."

Before the conversation could continue, Sonic looked around, noticing something was missing.

"Hey... where'd Robotnik go?" he pondered. "Did I scare him off already?"

"Somehow, I don't think it's gonna be that easy," Sally insisted.

Sure enough, a loud whirring sound reached their ears, and they whirled around to see a massive robot around three meters tall stomp into view. The Egg Mobile was linked into the center of the mech, Robotnik piloting it.

"I calculated the probability my Swatbots would only slow you down, Sonic," the doctor boasted. "So I came prepared. Meet the Egg Walker!"

"Oooh, scary," Sonic deadpanned. "I don't know how I'm gonna sleep tonight."

"Joke all you want. I was hoping to run a few more tests before deployment, but you forced my hand."

With that, he fired several missiles. Sonic immediately scooped up Sally, running out of the way and fleeing behind a building.

"Watch out for that Volkan Cannon!" Sally yelled. "It'll pulverize you!"

"Oh really, Sal?" Sonic said sarcastically. "I thought I'd just stand and let him shoot me. Thought that'd be a good idea."

"That's right, Sonic! Run away!" Robotnik shouted. "It's about time you realized my superiority!"

"The only thing I realized is that you love to hear yourself talk!" Sonic shot back.

He quickly turned around, dashing towards the Egg Walker as one of the missiles continued to follow him. Sonic then leapt over one of the walkers legs, causing the missile to hit it. The Walker's leg buckled briefly, but that was about it.

"This ends here, Sonic!" Robotnik ranted. "I will destroy you and purge this planet of all who oppose me, Mobian and human alike! Mobius will bow to my power, and the glorious era of the Robotnik Empire will soon begin!"

Sonic just stood there, making loud snoring noises.

"Oh, sorry. What was that?" he asked. "I nodded off while you were listening to the sound of your own preaching."

"The world will truly miss your razor-sharp wit. Goodbye, Sonic."

He aimed at him with the Volkan Cannon again, and Sonic quickly darted around before reconvening with Sally.

"Sal, you were always the smart one, the tactics girl. Any bright ideas?"

Sally carefully peeked out from her hiding place, looking over the Egg Walker.

"My best guess is the cockpit of the mech is the weak point."

"Okay, so aim for Robotnik's ugly mug. Seems simple enough."

Sonic then leapt back out and ran towards the Walker, swerving around the Volkan Cannon's fire as he did so. He vaulted off a missile as he charged, tucking into a ball before launching himself at the cockpit, slamming into it and knocking the Walker off-balance. Robotnik shouted in pain before scowling at him.

"Why, you little-!" he shouted.

"What's the matter, Robuttnik?" Sonic taunted. "Did I break your toy?"

"RAAGGHHHH!" Robotnik slammed his fists onto the controls in a rage. "You're way too stupid to realize what you're getting yourself into, hedgehog! This time, you've done it!"

While Robotnik was distracted fighting Sonic, Sally was sneaking up behind the mech, her Ring-Blades at the ready. As soon as she was close enough, Sally leapt forward with a cry, slashing through one of the Walker's legs. The Walker began to stagger, swaying back and forth.

"What?!" Robotnik screamed.

"Now, Sonic!" Sally shouted. "Let him have it!"

Sonic began revving in place before launching forward with a Spin Dash, slamming into the cockpit and knocking the Walker on his back.

"Timber!" he shouted as the Walker impacted the ground, the Egg Mobile shooting out before it blew. Robotnik glared down at him, incensed.

"You've interfered with my plans for the last time, Sonic!" he ranted as he flew away. "You haven't seen the last of me!"

"Oh, sure," Sonic said flippantly. "They say they'll call…"

"Sonic!" Sally shouted suddenly.

He turned, just in time to get a hug from her.

"You saved us…" she said softly. "Thank you…"

After a few minutes, Sonic slowly returned the hug.

In the throne room, Sonic knelt before Max and Alicia.

"You truly are your father's son," Max said respectfully. "And Sir Charles' nephew."

"Thank you, sir. And I promise, I'm gonna make sure Robotnik's reign of evil is put to an end. No matter what it takes." He looked out the window. "Now, I just gotta figure out where he's going next."

"Judging by the direction he was going when he split, I'd say the best bet is the Labyrinth Zone," Sally offered.

At the mere mention of the Labyrinth Zone, Sonic's quills drooped.

"The Labyrinth Zone?" he asked. "The ancient city in the Mystic Jungle caves that's almost completely flooded? That Labyrinth Zone?"

"No, I mean the other Labyrinth Zone," Sally replied, totally deadpan. "Of course I mean that one!"

Sonic took a breath before sprouting his trademark smirk.

"Well…" he began, "an adventure's no fun if it's too easy."

"Good luck, Sonic," Sally said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, who needs luck when you've got skills like mine?" Sonic bragged.

He flexed his muscles in a macho style before departing, but his bravado faded once he was out of view.

"Water…" he muttered to himself. "Why did it have to be water?"

Author's Note:

Another one down. And yeah, I know these chapters are really short, but the Sonic games and levels aren't the easiest to novelize.

The Egg Walker here is the first incarnation of the Egg Walker in general; it's derived from the Riddler's mech suit from Batman: Arkham Knight.

Next time, Sonic heads to the Labyrinth Zone in pursuit of Robotnik. Will he be able to conquer his fear of water, or will Mobius' hopes go down the drain?

Please R&R. Until next time!