-Chapter 132-
Of Birds and Foxes
Springtrap Village
Sonic flew across the street, crashing hard into a junk stand. He groaned a bit, picking himself up as Metal launched himself at his opponent. Sonic dove out of the way just in time.
"Seems even with your leg back, you're running away like a spineless coward!" Metal mocked.
"Any other day, I'd be happy to kick your can," Sonic shot back. "But I need to get back to Cocoa Island, so move!"
"Awww, worried your friends bit the big one without the big hero to save them?" Metal taunted. "Knowing the weaklings left on that island, and the forces they face, it may already be too late."
Sonic narrowed his eyes. "They're a lot tougher than you give them credit for, metal head."
"Please," Metal scoffed. "The princess, the two-tailed freak, the babysitter, and the brat. While the brat won't be killed, the others don't fall under Robotnik's protection. I'm afraid they'll be quite dead by the time you arrive."
Sonic began sparking, black mixing with blue.
"Careful, Sonic," Metal taunted. "Your Dark is showing."
Seeing this, Sonic put a hand over his face, taking a deep breath as the black lightning began to fade.
"Heh," Metal chuckled. "It's just like the doctor said. You're afraid of your own power. How pathetic. That's why your friends will die, and it'll be all… your… fault!"
Metal charged at Sonic, only for the hedgehog to brace himself and catch the bot's Spin Attack with his bare hands as he sparked blue.
"Metal... you picked the worst possible thing to say."
Lake Crystal
By this point, Tails and the others had made it to Caron Forest. They made their way through the woodlands, following the island's central river until they made it to Lake Crystal.
"Alright, we're in luck," Tails noted. "The last two Emeralds are in this area. One's in the lake, and the other's somewhere in the forest."
"I'll take Hope and search the forest," Sally decided. "Johnny, you stay with Tails and watch his back."
"Watch yourselves out there," Johnny warned.
Sally and Hope departed, leaving Tails and Johnny to look over the lake.
"So…" Johnny began, "which one of us dives in to look for the Emerald? Rock-paper-scissors?"
"I'm not Sonic," Tails replied. "I got this. Just keep an eye on the sky."
Johnny nodded. With that, Tails took a deep breath before diving into the water, using his tails as a propeller to speed through the lake.
Caron Forest
Meanwhile, Sally and Hope were looking around the forest. Hope flew on her Extreme Gear board, looking around.
"Not seeing anything yet," she noted. "How about you, Sal?"
Sally shook her head. "Nothing so far."
"Omochao, detecting anything?" Hope asked.
"Sensors are disabled while in safety mode," Omochao replied.
"Damn…" Hope cursed. "Gonna need to fix that."
Sally looked up at that, seeing Speedy flying overhead.
"Look alive!" she warned.
Hope looked up, gasping.
"It's Speedy! What's he doing here?"
"My guess, the same thing as us..."
Hope nodded. "C'mon. Let's see what he's up to."
The two followed after Speedy, keeping low to avoid detection. They were soon led to a rocky cliff base, where several Battle Bird troops were at work with pickaxes digging for something.
"A mining operation?" Sally pondered. "That doesn't make sense."
"Yeah," Hope agreed. "Why would birds who claim dominion in the skies be mining? Unless…"
Eventually, a rock fell and cracked open, revealing a glint of purple.
"There it is."
Speedy immediately snatched up the Chaos Emerald.
"Good work, men," he said. "And to double-check, our intel suggests there's another one somewhere else in the woods?"
"Well, you're not getting it!" Sally declared.
She stepped out into the open, Ring Blades at the ready.
"Now hand over that Chaos Emerald!"
Speedy scoffed, dropping the Emerald into a pouch on his belt.
"Lady, you may be Princess of the Kingdom of Acorn, but that doesn't mean diddly-squat to me. The Emerald is property of the Battle Bird Armada. We found it fair and square."
"Then I guess we'll just have to take it from you." Hope came out next to Sally, still on the board. "Unless you're afraid of getting beaten by a pair of surface walkers."
"I ain't afraid of anything!" Speedy snapped. "Besides, I've been meaning to pay you back for that little incident between you, me, and that fox boy on the mountain!"
He unconsciously crossed his legs at the thought. Sally raised an eyebrow.
"We lured him into the woods and he plowed into a tree," Hope explained. "Hit every branch on the way down... ending with one to the nads."
All the birds winced.
"I thought your voice seemed higher pitched," one said.
"Shut it!" Speedy took to the air. "It's curtains for you, little girl! And once I'm finished here, fox boy is next!"
"Come and get me!" Hope taunted.
She rocketed off as Sally faced down the remaining birds.
"Guess that means I get all of you," She grinned and got into a fighting stance. "Good."
Lake Crystal
Hope sped off with Speedy in hot pursuit, the bird much more careful about avoiding trees as he went.
"Slowing down, Speedy?" she mocked. "Maybe they should call you slowpoke instead!"
"You can't run forever!"
"Technically, I can. I'm on an Extreme Gear board. You're on wing power. You're gonna run out of stamina long before I do."
They made it to the lake just as Speedy began spinning in the air and launched at her beak-first. He slammed into the board, knocking her into the air and sending a screaming Hope into the water. Under the water, Tails had managed to locate the final Emerald, pulling it out of the silt. He smiled at it, then heard the muted splash above him. He looked up to see Hope slowly sinking. He gasped, then rocketed towards her, grabbing her and aiming for the sky. They both broke the surface, gasping for air.
"Thanks for the save," Hope said in relief.
Tails nodded. "Anytime."
"You!" Speedy screeched.
Tails set Hope down before turning to face him.
"I've been looking all over for you, fox boy!" the bird squawked. "It's payback time!"
"I couldn't agree more," Tails agreed. "Nobody tries to drown my friends!"
"My giblets still ache from that stunt you pulled on the mountain. It's time I clipped your tails, freak!"
"Come and try! I'll make chicken nuggets out of you!"
The two took to the skies and engaged in a dogfight, dodging each other's attacks and landing their own whenever possible.
Caron Forest
Meanwhile, Sally was facing off against all the other birds. One charged at her, only to get a whack from Johnny's staff.
"Is this a private fight, or can I join in?" he quipped.
"Johnny!" Sally exclaimed.
"Saw Hope splash down in the lake. Came to see if you needed some back-up."
Sally smirked. "I'm not complaining. Let's do this!"
"Right!"
They stood back to back, repelling the Battle Birds one by one.
Springtrap Village
Metal and Sonic clashed furiously, pavement cracking and windows breaking in their wake.
"Give it up, Sonic!" Metal shouted. "You can't hope to beat me! And even if you do, it's too late for your friends!"
"'Can't hope to beat you'? You say that every time we tangle, and every time, I beat you!"
"And yet, here we are, continuing this little song and dance."
He aimed a kick at Sonic's leg, hoping there was still a trace of the injury. His foot connected solidly with Sonic's knee. Aside from a wince and grunt of pain, Sonic seemed unaffected before lashing out and kicking Metal back.
"Trying to attack an injured part? That's low, Metal, even for you."
"How have you healed up so fast?! The Battle Birds practically blew your leg off!"
"Sure, Metal, let me tell you all about my cool healing ability!" Sonic said sarcastically.
He then proceeded to kick Metal in the face as hard as he could. "Psyche!"
The bot flew back, sailing through the wall of a building and being buried in rubble on impact.
"Do yourself a favor, Metal. Stay down."
He then shot out of the village as fast as he could, leaving a sonic boom in his wake.
Lake Crystal
Back at Lake Crystal, Tails and Speedy had gotten into an aerial slugfest. They crashed down near the trees, trading punches. As they fought, Tails noticed the purple Chaos Emerald in his pocket.
"The last Emerald!" he exclaimed. "Hand it over!"
"You'll get it when you pry it from my cold, lifeless wings!"
"If you insist," Tails decided.
He charged forward as fast as he could, becoming an orange streak in the sky. He tackled Speedy, sending him through the treetops before tossing him aside. Speedy righted himself, scowling.
"I hate running away from a fight, but sometimes, the way of the chicken is the smart way," he mused. "I'll get you next time, Tails!"
He darted away at that.
"Tails!" Hope ran over. "That was amazing!"
"Maybe, but he still has the seventh Emerald," Tails pointed out.
"We still have the other six. We'll get him."
After regrouping with Sally and Johnny, Tails checked the Miles Electric.
"The signal's leading into the sky. Speedy must've headed back to their flying fortress."
"Well, we lost Hope's Extreme Gear," Johnny pointed out. "And I don't think you could carry all three of us."
"Don't worry," Tails assured. "I've got it covered."
He swiped left, revealing an image of the X-Tornado before pressing a button.
Elsewhere, Sonic was racing, completely and utterly lost.
"Ugh!" he threw up his hands. "I have no idea where Cocoa Island even is! And even if I get there, I don't even know where to begin looking!"
Just as he was about to kick something in rage, he heard a familiar jet engine, and looked up to see the X-Tornado flying overhead.
"The X-Tornado…" he perked. "Tails!"
Grinning, he took off after the plane.
Author's Note:
We're on the home stretch, baby! Can Tails and co. repel the Battle Bird Armada and win the day?
Please R&R. Until next time!