{A/N}
Welcome to my longest chapter to date, really proud. Also sorry for deleting spotted some big errors.
Chapter 14: A Fierce Battle Between Maidens!
Relic Island – On Top of the Egg-Bullet, Morning Hours
To say Sonic was disappointed would have been an understatement. The moment he spotted the Heavy Rider, he nearly stumbled mid-run, a groan escaping his lips. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Heavy Rider stood tall on her deranged Motobug, Jimmy, twirling her flail dramatically. "Hoho, it has been quite a while, hasn't it, Sonic thy Hedgehog?" Her voice was filled with exaggerated knightly flourish. Jimmy revved its engine beneath her, the Motobug's eyes swirling like a crazed beast. "But I shall deal with thee and thy companions later!" She pointed her flail at Neera, who stood in front of her, icy determination in her gaze.
Carol turned to Sonic with curiosity. "Who the heck is that?" she asked, noticing Sonic's unease.
"Someone annoying," Sonic grumbled, his tone flat with frustration. "She's part of a squad of Eggman's special robots that he created. They call themselves the Hard-Boiled Heavies. We've tangled with them a few times."
"Wait, she?" Lilac raised an eyebrow.
Sonic shrugged. "Yeah, she addresses herself that way. Might as well respect it." His tone was casual, but his eyes were locked on the armored figure ahead.
At the top of the train, Neera stood tall and poised, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto Heavy Rider. The armored knight sat confidently on her Motobug, Jimmy, lifting her massive flail in a dramatic arc.
"You!" Neera's voice was firm, her Cryo Staff in hand. "Get out of my way or be crushed, robot!"
Heavy Rider laughed, her voice filled with regal arrogance. "Ho! Not introducing thyself? What kind of maiden art thou?" She chuckled, Jimmy roaring beneath her. "No matter! Thy bravery is admirable, but thy fate is sealed!" With a sudden roar from Jimmy, Heavy Rider charged forward, her flail swinging.
"Have at you!" Heavy Rider cried, swinging her flail down at Neera. The clash of metal and ice rang out across the train as Neera blocked the blow with her Cryo Staff, the sheer force of the strike pushing her back but not knocking her down.
Neera gritted her teeth and retaliated with a barrage of ice shards, each one aimed precisely at her target. But Heavy Rider spun on Jimmy with surprising grace, deflecting the icy projectiles with her flail, her laughter echoing through the air. "Ha! Not bad, Ice Maiden," she taunted. "But thou art merely delaying thy inevitable doom!"
Jimmy zipped around the top of the train with erratic speed, dodging Neera's attacks. Neera's frustration grew, her movements becoming more forceful as she fought to keep up with the agile robot.
"Thy attempts art futile, Ice Maiden!" Heavy Rider swung her flail again, sending it crashing toward Neera's side. Neera barely dodged, but the relentless speed and weight of the weapon were wearing her down. "Face the might of Jimmy and me!" the knight declared, her red eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Neera launched another barrage of ice bullets, but Jimmy expertly dodged them once more, zooming past her with unnatural speed. The relentless barrage of attacks from Heavy Rider was taking its toll—Neera's movements slowed, her energy waning as exhaustion from the past few sleepless days began to creep in. The fight had barely begun, and already Neera felt like she was losing ground.
With a grunt, Neera blocked another strike, but the force sent her stumbling backward. "No…" she muttered under her breath, struggling to maintain her footing. "I can't…" The dizziness and exhaustion were getting worse. She barely had time to react as Heavy Rider's flail connected with her side, sending her tumbling across the top of the train.
"Ugh!" Neera gasped as she hit the metal roof hard, pain shooting through her body. Confetti burst from Jimmy's exhaust, the Motobug revving triumphantly, celebrating the hit. Neera grimaced in pain, struggling to stand as the world around her blurred.
"Lady Neera!" Lilac cried out, her voice filled with panic as she watched the fierce panda stumble.
Neera clung to the edge of the train, gasping for breath but managing to hold on. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand, even as pain shot through her side. She couldn't let this robot defeat her—not now, not when the Kingdom Stone was in danger.
Sonic, watching the battle from a distance, couldn't help but be surprised by the Heavy's speed. "Shoot!" he muttered under his breath. "She's gotten faster!"
Heavy Rider, now reveling in her momentary upper hand, glanced at Sonic and the others with gleeful malice. "Ah! Thou hast noticed, Sonic thy Hedgehog!" she boomed dramatically. "After our last battle, King Robotnik hath bestowed upon us new technology from beyond the stars!" She raised her flail triumphantly. "This time, thou shall not defeat us so easily!"
The group exchanged worried glances as they tried to step in, but a sudden swarm of Badniks and robots, led by a group of Buzz Bombers and Iris drones, emerged from the train's compartments, heading straight for them.
"Oh no, thou shall not!" Heavy Rider cried out, commanding the Badniks and Shuigang robots to keep the group occupied. "This is a duel of honor, and thou shall not intervene!" Her voice carried a tone of knightly righteousness as she swung her flail in a wide arc.
"Lady Neera!" Lilac called again, cutting through a Buzz Bomber with a well-placed Dragon Boost. Her eyes were filled with concern.
Neera, panting heavily, gripped her staff tightly as she slowly stood up. Despite the pain, her eyes burned with a fierce determination. "Stay… out of this…" she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Huh?" Lilac asked, confusion written across her face as she and the others fended off the swarm of robots.
"All of you, stay out!" Neera's voice grew stronger as she raised her Cryo Staff, ice swirling around her. "I will not be defeated this easily!" She locked her gaze on Heavy Rider, her body trembling with fatigue but her spirit unbroken.
"Ah! Brave words, brave words!" Heavy Rider clapped mockingly. "Let us see if thou can keep up!" She urged Jimmy forward, the Motobug roaring as it charged at Neera once more, both with crazed eyes locked in battle.
Neera dodged the flail with swift precision, despite her exhaustion, and counterattacked with a flurry of ice shards. The two warriors continued their deadly dance, each attack met with a counter, their movements becoming a blur of speed and precision.
"We can't let her fight alone!" Lilac exclaimed, cutting through a group of Buzz Bombers as she watched Neera struggle against the relentless Heavy Rider.
Sonic, nonchalantly dealing with a swarm of Iris drones, smirked. "Nah, she's got this."
Lilac, Carol, Tails, and Torque looked at him in disbelief. "What?!" they shouted in unison.
"She said it herself—she's got this," Sonic repeated, casually spin-dashing through another wave of enemies. "We've got our own mission: stop the train." He gestured toward the front of the train.
They exchanged uncertain glances, but seeing Neera's fierce determination and focus, they decided to trust her. With a collective nod, they turned their attention to the front of the train, cutting through the waves of robots as they pressed forward.
Meanwhile, Torque and Tails, observing the battle from the Tornado, exchanged uneasy glances.
"Technology from beyond the stars?" Tails repeated, puzzled by Heavy Rider's earlier words. "What does that even mean?"
Torque, his hands trembling slightly, wiped the sweat from his brow. "I-I don't know," he stammered, his voice shaky. "She's probably just saying nonsense."
Tails glanced at him, his eyes narrowing as suspicion crept into his mind, but he held back for now, looking forward. "Let's just focus on the task at hand," he said, steering the Tornado towards the front of the train to provide air support.
Inside the control room of the Egg-Bullet, the two Shang Mu soldiers sat, their smug expressions matching the gaudy music that blared through the train. One was a lion with cobalt accents on his armor, while the other, a boar, sported aquamarine hues.
"Hohoho!" the lion grinned, his eyes gleaming with greed. "We're finally getting that promotion! This Egg-Bullet is insane! And the fact that we snatched those Shuigang robots? Genius!"
"Yeah, Leonard! When we get back with the Kingdom Stone, we're gonna be swimming in fame and fortune!" the boar added excitedly, his mind already drifting to fantasies of wealth and admiration. "Oh man, just think of all the chicks we'll get!"
Leonard rolled his eyes. "Forget the chicks, Vern. I just want to get paid."
Before they could revel in their fantasies any further, Sonic's voice interrupted them, catching them off guard. "You guys really need better priorities," Sonic quipped as he, Lilac, and Carol arrived at the cockpit from the sides. Above them, the Tornado flew close, with Tails and Torque keeping watch.
"What the heck?!" Vern shouted, his eyes wide in panic.
"Quick, stupid! Activate the defense mechanism!" Leonard yelled, fumbling with the controls.
The soldiers, clearly panicking, pressed a button, and two metallic claws emerged from the top of the cockpit, ready to lunge at the trio.
"Bring it on!" Sonic shouted with excitement, dodging the claws with ease.
Lilac, rolling her eyes, gracefully spun out of the way of another claw swipe. "Seriously? This is the best they've got?"
Carol zipped around the cockpit, taunting the soldiers with her bike. "I think they're more scared than we are!"
"No, we are NOT, you bunch of brats!" Leo shouted, his voice quivering with fear as he gripped the controls. "Keep swinging! We're so close!" His eyes were wide with desperation as the train hurtled toward its destination.
"What do you think I'm doing, dumbass?!" Vern yelled back, frantically mashing the control buttons. The mechanical arms attached to the Egg-Bullet flailed wildly, swinging in every direction.
On the other side, the Tornado swooped down, weaving between the chaotic swings of the mechanical arms. Torque fired a cyan laser at one of the arms, the beam striking its surface with a burst of sparks. "These things are tough!" Torque exclaimed, frustration clear in his voice as the laser only dented the arms.
One of the arms lunged toward the Tornado, its claw extended, ready to grab. "Yikes!" Tails yelped, quickly pulling up on the controls to dodge the incoming swipe. The Tornado narrowly avoided the claw, the wind from its motion shaking the plane.
"We're too close to the mountain!" Tails shouted over the noise of the battle. "We need to take control of the cockpit, now! It's the only way to stop this thing!"
Ahead of them, the massive mountain loomed ever closer, its rocky surface covered in lush greenery that made it look ancient and untouched. Nestled at the base of the mountain, barely visible, was a small cave—the entrance to the hidden Kingdom Stone.
As the claws swung frantically, Carol suddenly had an idea. She revved her bike and aimed for the cockpit, despite Lilac's protests. Just as she was about to land her stunt, one of the mechanical arms caught her off guard, swiping at her. Carol leaped off her bike in time, landing inside the control room as her bike got hit and careened into the distance.
"No!" Carol screamed dramatically, watching as her bike bounced off and exploded in the distance, parts scattering across the ground. "Cool Cat Carol Bike Number 16!" she wailed, arms raised to the heavens. "Whyyyyyy?!"
The others collectively sweat-dropped at her theatrics. "Number... 16?" Sonic asked, bewildered.
Lilac sighed, shaking her head. "You'd be surprised how many she breaks. And trust me, there are way more than sixteen."
Inside the control room, Carol turned her attention to the two soldiers, who were cowering behind the controls. "You broke my bike…" she said menacingly, unsheathing her claws. "You're gonna pay for it!"
"You did it yourself!" Leo protested, his voice cracking with fear. "Vern, shoot her!"
"Dude, I'm not shooting a kid!" Vern added, trembling as he fumbled with his weapon.
Carol leaped at them with a battle cry, and the cockpit shook as the sounds of their high-pitched screams echoed through the train. The rest of the group, watching from outside, chuckled in amusement as they heard the exaggerated yells of the soldiers filling the air.
Inside the cockpit, the guards lay sprawled on the floor, their visors shattered and groaning in pain. Carol huffed, dusting off her palms. "Sorry, not sorry!" she quipped, then delivered a swift kick to the cockpit controls in a burst of triumphant energy in the heat of the moment. Sparks flew as the console shorted out, lights flickering ominously as the mechanical arms above began to spiral out of control.
Carol's eyes widened in realization, regret quickly replacing her smug expression. "Doh… maybe that wasn't smart…" she muttered as the controls sparked dangerously and the mechanical arms flailed more dangerously than before.
"Not smart at all!" Tails called from above, yanking the Tornado into a wider arc to avoid the flailing arms. "We need a direct attack to stop them!" he yelled out as the chaos worsened.
Sonic, thinking fast, locked his eyes with Lilac's, a mischievous gleam in his gaze. "Got an idea," he said, nodding toward the mechanical arms thrashing on top of the train.
Lilac hesitated for just a second, then caught on, grinning back. "If you say so!"
In perfect sync, they grabbed hands, and Lilac channeled her energy into a Dragon Boost. Together, they shot upwards, spiraling through the air with incredible speed. As they soared above the train's cockpit, they spotted the joints connecting the mechanical arms to the train. In one smooth motion, Lilac hurled Sonic like a missile midair as he curled into a ball. He smashed through the joints, shattering both mechanical arms mid-air. The arms fell to the ground below, breaking into pieces upon impact.
Sonic and Lilac landed gracefully on top of the train, high-fiving each other in victory. "Yeah!" they cheered.
"Alright!" Carol exclaimed, watching in satisfaction as the broken arms bounced harmlessly away. Tails and Torque sighed in relief, though both looked slightly disappointed that their efforts hadn't been as action-packed.
The Shang Mu soldiers, still groggy from Carol's earlier attack, stared in disbelief at the destruction. Their jaws practically hit the floor.
"These kids are monsters!" Leo shrieked, eyes wide as he looked at the ruined controls.
"Oh, man, Mayor Zao is going to kill us," Vern groaned, panic creeping into his voice. "I'm out of here!" Without a second thought, he opened the door and dove out of the cockpit.
"Don't leave me!" the lion soldier cried as he scrambled to follow. Both soldiers tumbled across the ground in a clumsy, uncoordinated escape.
Carol snorted, watching the two bounce away. "Cowards," she muttered, knowing the Shang Tu Police would apprehend them soon enough.
A minute passed, the adrenaline slowly ebbing as everyone caught their breath. Carol climbed up on top of the train to get a better view. She looked around, hands on her hips. "So… how do we stop the train?" she asked, her voice casual.
Silence fell over the group as the reality of their situation sank in. They glanced at each other, the thrill of victory giving way to a moment of awkward realization—they'd taken out the mechanical arms, but the train was still hurtling forward at full speed. And with the controls smashed to pieces, stopping it wasn't going to be easy.
Sonic scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin forming on his face. "Well, we might've gotten a bit ahead of ourselves there…"
Tails deadpanned, glaring at the broken controls. "Well, this clearly wasn't smart at all…" He shot Carol a look, who winced and looked away, clearly embarrassed.
Lilac giggled nervously. "Guess we'll have to improvise. Any bright ideas, genius?" she asked, nudging Sonic.
Carol scratched her head, looking sheepish herself. "Great, just great. Next time, maybe we figure out how to stop the giant, runaway train before we start smashing things?"
Sonic smirked, raising an eyebrow. "That comment goes for you, right?" he teased.
They all shared a nervous laugh, the absurdity of the situation sinking in as they began brainstorming their next move.
While Sonic and the others strategized, Neera and Heavy Rider, the ice and iron maidens, were still locked in their fierce duel atop the derailing train, trading blows with precision and force. Each strike echoed across the top of the train.
Neera launched a barrage of ice bullets toward Heavy Rider. But with a quick, almost playful spin, Heavy Rider dodged them effortlessly.
"Quite the old trick, no?" Heavy Rider mocked, her voice dripping with smug confidence. She swung her flail in a wide arc, the spiked ball whistling through the air. Neera barely managed to dodge, but her relief was short-lived as Jimmy barreled into her side. The impact sent Neera rolling across the train's roof, barely clinging on before nearly tumbling off the edge once again. More confetti shot from Jimmy's exhaust as if celebrating her misstep.
"What's wrong, Ice Maiden?" Heavy Rider taunted. "Can't handle the pressure? If this continues, the Kingdom Stone will soon be ours!"
Neera panted heavily, sweat beading on her forehead. She was at her limit—the lack of rest, the relentless fighting—it was all catching up to her. Dizziness clouded her vision as she staggered to her feet, forcing herself to stay upright. She couldn't fall now, not like this. She clenched her staff tighter, her knuckles white from the strain.
In her mind, a single thought echoed: I need to protect… for the sake of everyone. But her legs wobbled, and she nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Her vision blurred, and her strength wavered.
Heavy Rider, noticing Neera's weakening stance, laughed cruelly. "How can you hope to protect them in such a state? You're on the brink of collapse!" She swung her flail again, tauntingly slow, as if savoring her supposed victory.
Neera's mind began to drift as her body screamed for rest. Time seemed to slow, her surroundings fading as old memories flooded her thoughts. "Protect…"
Years Ago – Shang Tu Royal Palace, Midnight Hours
The grand training hall of the Shang Tu Royal Palace stood silent under the moonlight, except for the sound of a young girl's grunts of exertion. The room, vast and echoing, was littered with destroyed training dummies and smashed targets. At its center was a teenage Neera, wearing a much simpler version of her later clothes, still in her signature shades of purple and black. Her long hair, tied in a messy ponytail, whipped around her as she swung an ordinary staff with relentless precision.
The rest of the soldiers had long since left for the night, but Neera remained, pushing herself beyond her limits. Sweat poured down her forehead, her chest heaving with ragged breaths. With each strike, her exhaustion became more apparent, but she continued—driven by something deeper. Finally, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees, barely able to hold herself up, panting heavily.
"Not enough..." she muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her voice as she struggled to get back to her feet.
"Young Neera," came a deep, authoritative voice from behind her, startling her out of her thoughts.
Neera jumped, scrambling to her feet in an instant, her eyes wide with surprise. Standing at the entrance of the hall was the Royal Magister, his figure tall and imposing. His helmet obscured most of his face, save for his piercing magenta eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"M-Magister!" Neera exclaimed, bowing deeply, her heart pounding in her chest.
"At ease, Neera," the Magister said gently, his voice calm and reassuring as he approached her. His eyes, though stern, held a kindness beneath them. "Why do you train at this hour? The others have long since left for the night."
Neera froze at the question, her mind racing for an answer. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "I… I need to improve," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to be better. I need to catch up."
The Magister tilted his head slightly, studying her intently. "And why is that? For someone your age, you've already surpassed many of my most seasoned soldiers. Why do you pressure yourself so harshly?"
Neera clenched her fists, taking a deep breath before finally looking up to meet his gaze. "Because... I want to protect you. The kingdom. Everyone I care about. If I'm not strong enough… if I'm not better..." Her voice faltered, and a wave of vulnerability washed over her.
The Magister's expression softened. He stepped closer, resting a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Neera," he began kindly, his voice steady and full of wisdom. "Strength is important, yes, but it is not the only thing that defines a protector." His words were calm yet carried weight. "You cannot bear the weight of the world alone, nor should you try. It's as vital to rest and allow others to help as it is to fight. Rest is a part of preparation, and balance is the key to enduring the challenges ahead."
Neera's eyes widened slightly at his words, the gravity of what he was saying slowly sinking in. After a long pause, she nodded, her fierce determination tempered by the wisdom she had just received. "I-I understand, Magister. I'll try not to push myself too hard." She bowed again, her respect and gratitude clear in her posture.
The Magister gave a warm, approving nod, his eyes softening with a small smile. "Good. Now, come. Tomorrow will bring new challenges to overcome. Be ready for them, but also know when to rest."
For the first time that night, Neera faintly smiled, a sense of peace settling over her. She stood straighter, feeling a
bit lighter, as she followed the Magister out of the training hall.
As they walked through the palace halls, the Magister broke the silence with a curious musing. "How about some ice cream on the way back?"
Neera blinked in surprise. "At this hour?"
The Magister chuckled softly. "Why not? It's been a long day, and even protectors deserve a little treat."
Neera smiled, the tension from earlier melting away. "Okay… vanilla?"
"Of course," the Magister replied with a chuckle, the two of them sharing a quiet, lighthearted moment as they made their way through the grand palace, the memory fading as the scene blurred.
Present Day
Neera crouched at the top of the speeding train, her body battered and weary. She steadied herself with her Cryo Staff, the weight of the battle pressing down on her. "Just a little more..." she told herself, her eyes slowly opening, filled with renewed determination. With a firm grip on her staff, she pushed herself to her feet, standing tall despite the pain.
Heavy Rider, still perched on Jimmy, watched with amusement, her red eyes gleaming with twisted delight. "Oh? What's this?" she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "Has the Ice Maiden found her second wind? Did thou discover something deep within thyself?"
Neera, eyes sharp and focused, gave a curt nod. "Yes," she said, her voice steady. She twirled her staff, its icy tip glinting in the sunlight. "I am Neera Li, Chief of the Shang Tu Police Department and Advisor to the Royal Magister. I will show you what I'm truly made of."
Heavy Rider stared for a moment before her laughter rang out across the train, full of manic energy. "Ohohoho! So be it! Let us see if thy newfound strength can best me!" she cried, raising her flail. "Onward, Jimmy! To victory!" At her command, Jimmy roared with fury, charging at Neera with increasing speed and aggression.
But this time, Neera was ready.
Neera stood firm, meeting the charge head-on. Her staff became a blur of ice and motion as she parried Heavy Rider's flail, delivering precise strikes against both the Motobug and its rider. The sound of ice clashing against metal echoed across the train, each blow more powerful than the last.
"Thy strength is commendable, Lady Neera!" Heavy Rider exclaimed, her tone both impressed and defiant. "But thou shall not claim victory so easily!" She swung her flail again, the spiked ball whistling as it cut through the air in a wide arc.
Neera ducked under the swing, her eyes never leaving Heavy Rider as she searched for an opening. With newfound clarity and strength, she lunged forward, unleashing her frost arts in a sudden burst. Ice spikes erupted from the ground, striking Jimmy head-on with a ferocious cry.
"Ugh!" Heavy Rider stumbled as her joints sparked and crackled from the impact. Her control over Jimmy faltered. "What is this?! How art thou gaining the upper hand?" she spat in disbelief.
Neera's smirk was subtle but full of confidence. She summoned a final surge of icy energy, creating a slick ice trail beneath Jimmy. The Motobug lost its traction, skidding wildly before careening out of control. With a decisive strike, Neera knocked Heavy Rider off her steed. Jimmy tumbled off the train, crashing into the ground and exploding in a shower of confetti and gears. A small seal emerged from the wreckage, stumbling around in a daze before scurrying off, freed from its mechanical prison.
Heavy Rider, meanwhile, collapsed onto the roof of the train, her body frozen and battered. Her circuits sputtered and sparked as the ice fried her systems. She glanced up at Neera, her red eyes dimming. "Thou… hast bested me..." she murmured, her voice weak and full of disbelief.
Neera, breathing heavily, reared back and used her Cryo Staff to support herself. Despite her exhaustion, she gazed down at Heavy Rider with respect. "You fought well," she admitted, her voice softer now, devoid of malice.
Heavy Rider, though defeated, let out a faint chuckle. "Huhu… Thou has found a surge of power I did not expect..."
Neera nodded, recalling the memories from years ago. "I learned not to push myself too hard... A lesson that I had long forgotten, but now fully remember." She gave a final glance to her fallen foe, her voice firm. "This battle is over."
Heavy Rider chuckled weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "Huhu… Don't think this is over, Neera Li thy Ice Maiden. There are more challenges… for all of you… to overcome..." Her eyes flickered as the ice crept further into her circuits, dimming her red glow until it faded completely. With a final whirring sound, her systems shut down, and her robotic body crumbled into a heap of frozen metal.
Neera gazed at Heavy Rider's broken form, her expression thoughtful. "More challenges to overcome," she mused, her mind briefly drifting. "If that's so, I, along with the others, will be ready." The thought brought a sense of calm to her, a quiet resolve settling in her chest.
Suddenly, from the wreckage of the robot, a small blue Flicky emerged, chirping happily as it fluttered up to Neera's face. Startled, Neera took a step back, her eyes widening as the tiny bird gave her an adorable salute, as if thanking her for its freedom, before flying off into the sky, its happy chirps fading into the distance.
Neera, puzzled but touched by the gesture, raised her hand and gave a small, respectful salute in return. She watched it disappear as she sighed heavily, fatigue catching up to her. "Now... I could really use that rest..." she murmured with a tired smile. "After this, of course."
"Neera!" A familiar voice called out from behind, making her turn. It was Gong, leaping over the train's carts. His face was flushed from exertion.
"Just in time," Neera remarked dryly, a small smirk tugging at her lips despite her own fatigue.
Gong finally reached her, panting heavily, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "Hey! Huff You didn't have to cross puff ten carts full of robots to get here… huff"
Neera rolled her eyes. "I suppose that's a valid excuse," she teased, her smirk growing wider. But her expression quickly became serious. "There's no time to rest now. We need to—Ah!"
The train suddenly lurched violently beneath them, the screeching sound of metal grinding on metal filling the air. Both warriors snapped their heads forward, their eyes widening as they realized the Egg-Bullet was beginning to derail. The massive train teetered on its tracks, only meters away from crashing into Relic Mountain.
"Hold on, guys!" Sonic called out, his voice surprisingly steady amidst the chaos. The Egg-Bullet careened down the tracks, veering wildly as it barreled toward Relic Mountain. Lilac and Carol clung to the train, their knuckles white as they fought to stay upright against the jarring movements.
Tails, flying above in the Tornado, squinted as he pointed ahead. "Guys, look!" he shouted. "That's the location of the Kingdom Stone!" He pointed toward the looming mountain, its ancient mine shaft clearly visible at the base.
Sonic's eyes lit up with excitement as he saw their destination. A grin spread across his face as he turned to Lilac and Carol. "Well, we've got to check if the Kingdom Stone is safe anyway. You ready?"
Lilac met his gaze, her resolve hardening. After a brief pause, she smiled. "Let's do this."
Carol glanced between the two of them, rolling her eyes before grinning in agreement. "Eh, why the heck not?"
Tails, still piloting the Tornado, nodded toward them. "We'll try to find another way around to the cave!" he said, expertly maneuvering the plane toward the mountain's side. Torque gave them a thumbs-up from the backseat. "Good luck!"
Sonic, Lilac, and Carol waved as they prepared themselves for what was ahead.
"Here. We. Go!" Sonic yelled as the Egg-Bullet roared toward the mountain.
With a deafening crash, the train slammed into the mine shaft at the base of Relic Mountain, sending shockwaves through the island. The screeching of metal against stone echoed ominously as the train finally ground to a halt, its massive frame wedged into the entrance.
The force of the impact sent Sonic, Lilac, and Carol flying forwards, tumbling into the darkness of the mine shaft. As they fell deeper into the earth, their forms vanished into the shadows, ready to face whatever awaited them in the depths below.