Chapter 60: The Right Path
Shuigang Islands – Shuigang Docks, Noon Hours
The town of Shuigang was bathed in the soft orange glow of the descending sun, its rays stretching across the waters of the docks.
But despite the beauty of the scene, a grim weight hung over the island like a shroud. The townsfolk moved slowly through the streets, their voices were hushed, barely above whispers, and their gazes darted nervously toward the looming silhouette of the palace nestled high above. Fear lingered in their expressions, an unspoken dread of what tomorrow might bring.
Inside the local inn, the atmosphere was no different, as the once-lively heart of the docks was now filled with quiet murmurs. Patrons huddled around dimly lit tables, their faces drawn and weary.
Anni, the innkeeper, wiped the counter with a rag, her hands moving in slow, tired circles. Her eyes, distant and unfocused, her mind preoccupied by darker thoughts. Something was about to happen, they all felt it. The question was not if, but when.
"The prince… has been getting worse," Annie muttered, her voice low. She kept her gaze fixed on the counter, avoiding the eyes of the others.
"Oh, what will happen to these lands… what will happen to us..." croaked Feng, the elder tiger sat slouched over his drink. He downed the liquor, the sharp burn barely registering on his tongue. Anni opened her mouth to object, that he'd had enough, but then closed it again. Truth was, if she wasn't working, she might've been in the same sorry state.
In a shadowed corner, a panda sat quietly, a Shuigang's guard named Han. He stared at his untouched mug, his brows furrowed in thought, his heavy expression betraying the weight pressing on his chest.
It wasn't just the other kingdoms breathing down their necks, it was their own prince. Prince Dail, once the hope of Shuigang, had turned erratic, his decisions spiraling into madness. Every move he made seemed designed to provoke disaster. The attacks on both Shang Mu and Shang Tu the highlights of his madness. And even worse.
Those who spoke against him vanished without a trace. Han had once believed in him. Now, he feared him. He looked around at the others, at the their fearful eyes, and for the first time, truly felt the decay of his homeland. Their once-proud nation was sinking, and it seemed no one had the strength to save it.
Then, a sound. A rising murmur from outside that broke the silence like a stone tossed into still water.
"What's that?" cried Miri, one of Annies little deer children. She pointed skyward with wide eyes.
"Hey, isn't that the flying machine from Mister Bark and his friends?" piped up Rudi, her twin brother, squinting into the sunlight. His expression shifted from confusion to joy. "It is! It's really them!"
Miri clapped her hands. "Mister Bark is back! And the crazy woodpecker that almost blew up the kitchen! And…ugh, that mean purple wolf." Her excitement dimmed slightly at the mention of the last.
"Wait, I thought he was a weasel?" Rudi asked, puzzled.
"Who cares? Bark is back!" Miri laughed, grabbing her brother's hand as they rushed off toward the docks.
The Marvelous Queen descended from the sky, the vessel hissing as it touched down at the heart of the town, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Whispers spread among the townsfolk.
Bean leapt off the ship throwing his arms wide. "Goodie feels good to be back!" he chirped. "Maybe this time we can buy some souvenirs, eh?"
"We ain't buying crap," Fang growled, hopping off behind him with a scowl. His arms crossed. "Let's just get this over with."
And as Bark stepped down, the children swarmed him like a tide. Tiny arms wrapped around his legs and waist as they giggled.
"You're back!" they squealed in unison, hugging him tight.
Bark let out a grunt of surprise, staggering slightly as they clung to him. He blinked down at them, unsure how to react. Affection wasn't something he was used to… especially not like this. For a moment, his hands hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure of where to place them. Then slowly, he brought them down and gently patted their heads. A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. He didn't say anything, but it was there.
Bean beamed, bouncing on his heels at the heartwarming sight. "Awwww, look at ya, Bark! Who knew you had such a big heart under all that muscle?"
Fang scoffed and looked away. "Gag me."
"Children, please!" Anni hurried over, her voice stern but kind as she took her children away from the towering polar bear. "Give Mister Bark some space." She said as her eyes met Bark's, her tone softening. "But it's good seeing you here. Even if… even if the times aren't kind right now."
Han emerged from the inn, his eyes sharp as he locked onto the trio with suspicion as he approached them. Despite the turmoil, he was still a guard of Shuigang, even now.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, his voice filled with authority. "Flying vessels and the like must dock at the designated area, like the instructions say." He jabbed a thumb toward the landing zone, where both sea and airborne ships were neatly stationed in the docks.
Fang rolled his eyes. "Shut up, we don't have time for that, and neither do you." He reached into his pockets and pulled out a dull gold medallion. "You people need to evacuate, now. Shang Tu and Shang Mu have joined forces and they're about to strike the palace."
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"What?!" Anni choked, her eyes widening as she pulled her children closer.
The townspeople around them broke into a ripple of panicked murmurs.
"That's impossible!" someone shouted from the back.
"The other kingdoms are attacking us?!"
"How is that even fair?! What about the prince?"
"Why didn't we know sooner?!"
Han stepped forward again, his hand reaching to his spear. "How do we know you're telling the truth? You're just a bunch of outsiders. Why should we trust you?" His eyes narrowed. "You stayed here for a single day, then vanished, and now you show up again just to bring us this? And weren't you the ones who nearly blew up half the docks?"
"Well we don't exactly have time for a flashback montage showing our credibility or our instance here, well maybe in an extra, but not now!" Bean snapped, motioning rapidly with both hands. "Fang! The shiny thingy! Show them the shiny!"
Fang groaned, pinching the bridge of his snout before turning toward the crowd. His gaze locked onto someone familiar.
"You, sack of bones" he pointed toward Feng, the old tiger, who was slowly rising from his seat. "You're old enough to recognize this piece of scrap. Take a look."
He held the medallion higher, letting the crowd see.
Feng's eyes squinted, then widened as the realization dawned. "Is that…?" he whispered as he stepped closer. "That's a really old medallion... G-Gong's…" His voice cracked under the weight of memory. "That's Gong's medallion!" he suddenly shouted.
A wave of recognition surged through the crowd.
"Gong?!" a female panda gasped from among the villagers. Her hands clasped over her mouth. "It's true!" she cried. "That's Gong's medallion!"
"The great panda warrior? Why do they have it?" another asked with confusion. "And isn't he with Shang Tu now? Why would he give it to them?"
Fang raised the medallion higher, waiting for the rising noise to stop. When the crowd finally hushed, he let out a breath through his nose.
"Yeah, yeah, listen up. Your good buddy Gong gave us this so you'd know we're not lying," he said bluntly. "He knew we'd have to come here. He wanted you to listen."
"But… why would he do that if they're planning to attack us?" someone asked from near the back, voice trembling.
"Because," Fang snapped, tail flicking with irritation, "what they want is to seize the palace, not burn your homes to the ground. They're trying to avoid unnecessary casualties, especially since your prince already knows they're here!"
There was a pause as the townspeople processed his words. The fear hadn't vanished, but it had twisted into something else—betrayal.
"They knew?" Anni whispered, her hands trembled against her children's shoulders. "The prince… already knew?"
"And no one warned us…" murmured a voice from the crowd.
"Why didn't the guards tell us anything?" another asked, eyes turning toward the soldiers among them.
Han's jaw clenched. He could feel the weight of dozens of eyes suddenly fixed on him and the others.
"I… we didn't…" Han began, faltering. "We weren't told anything. Not even a hint…" The guards beside him looked equally shaken. It was clear now, they'd didn't knew either.
Fang opened his mouth to elaborate, but before he could get a word out, Bean leaned forward, his voice bursting with enthusiasm.
"Uh-uh, that's easy!" he chirped, speaking rapidly. "Okay, so there's a lot, but basically, the prince has been brainwashed by an alien warlord named Brevon who came from space after another alien named Vortex crash-landed his ship in Shuigang's snowy plains! After that, Doctor Ivo Robotnik met up with him, and bam! They teamed up to steal the Kingdom Stone, the Chaos Emeralds, and the Master Emerald!"
Bean flailed his arms for emphasis, nearly hitting Bark.
"They're like, super powerful gems, right? So their plan was to take control of those, conquer the galaxy, and just ruin everything. But first, they had to start a war to distract everyone. That's where your prince comes in! They brainwashed him and made them siphon energy from the other kingdoms so the rest of y'all would be too busy fighting to notice when the real plan kicks off."
He paused for a dramatic inhale.
"But luckily! Sonic and friends are already fighting their way to the enemy's base to save the world. And we were sent here to warn you and stop more innocent people from getting hurt!"
He finished with a grin so proud you'd think he had just solved world hunger.
…
A long, stunned silence followed. The crowd stared at Bean like he had grown a second beak.
"W-where the heck did you get all that?" Fang finally asked, his brow twitching. "Who the hell is Vortex?"
Bean clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. Looks like someone hasn't been following the story."
Fang stared at him in exhausted silence for a moment, then just shook his head. "You know what? I'm not even gonna question it anymore."
One of the deer children shyly tugged on Bark's fur. Her big, innocent eyes looked up at him, trembling slightly. "Is it all true, Mister Bark?"
Bark glanced down at her, his expression softening. He hesitated, but then slowly gave a small nod. It was indeed true.
"It… it makes sense?" Anni murmured, blinking rapidly as pieces started falling into place. "The prince's sudden change… I thought maybe he was just influenced by his father's death, but this… his behavior, it wasn't just grief. It was something darker."
"And the way he suddenly pulled a robot army out of thin air…" Feng added. "How they look so advanced even for our standards, it was so obvious that they weren't build by us."
Han clenched his fists. "The disappearances… the silencing of guards…" His voice cracked with a mixture of guilt and disbelief. "I served under the king. I knew the prince. He was proud and kind, a little naïve, but he wasn't a tyrant. He wouldn't have done that on his own. Never!"
And this time, the crowd was not filled with confusion, but dawning realization. They finally knew the truth.
Fang gave a smug smirk. "Heh, thought we'd have to put up more of a fight. Guess we really did pick the least dangerous job."
But as he said those words…
"Look!" one of the children cried, pointing skyward.
All eyes turned to the skies as shadows began to stretch across the town. The sky, once calm and open, was now filled with the arrival of a vast fleet.
Airships, drones, and flying automatons poured from the direction of the palace. Buzz Bombers, Egg-Pawns driving flying vessels, and Brevon's spherical drones and saucers cut through the clouds. They they were marching in formation. Toward the snowy fields.
Feng's face drained of color. "Oh no… they're already launching the fleet! It's starting!"
Panic surged through the townsfolk like wildfire.
"So they are finally attacking" Fang hissed. "They know Sonic and the others are coming."
"Everyone!" Han shouted over the rising noise. "Stay calm and gather your things! Begin evacuation immediately!" His voice rang, cutting through the panic. "Help your neighbors, don't leave anyone behind! We need to be out of here before those things circle back!"
"But… what about our homes?" Anni cried, clutching her children close.
Han turned to her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "We can always rebuild," he said softly. "But lives? Those can't be replaced. What matters now is that all get out safely."
He turned, eyes narrowing as he looked toward the distant palace. "The guards who are left… we're going to the palace."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
"What?" Anni asked, stunned. "But you'll be walking right into it—"
Han straightened. "If what these folks said is true—and by this point, it is—then that means we've spent the last few weeks taking orders from an alien invader while our prince suffered under his control. We're going to do something about it."
The villagers were silent for a moment… then one by one, they nodded in understanding.
"Ah, something is flying toward us!" someone shouted, pointing frantically at the sky.
"And people are following it!"
"There are guards… wait no, who are they?!" another exclaimed as more figures came into view, following the aerial object. They wore Shuigang armor, but their movements were too uniform, too mechanical… and their faces orange with a single eye.
"What are they?! Why do they have our kingdom's armor?!"
"Hey! The flying thingy is coming our way!" Bean called out, hopping and pointing.
The object, a sleek satellite drone, descended swiftly, hovering before the Hooligans. In a flash of light, the projection of Doctor Robotnik appeared, looking as furious as ever.
"What are you idiots doing?!" Robotnik's voice boomed. "I've been trying to call you for days, trying to figure out just where on Earth you morons ran off to!"
The projection spun to glare at each of them, his voice dripping with contempt. His eyes then swept across the townsfolk, barely acknowledging them, before barking again at the trio.
"And why are you even here?! You were supposed to be tracking down the rest of the Chaos Emeralds!"
As his image rotated, the strange Shuigang-clad guards that had followed the drone began to move with eerie precision, slowly stepping toward the villagers and the palace's real guards. Bark instinctively stepped in front of a group of trembling townsfolk, tensing as the invaders closed in.
"Okay, okay, listen," Fang started slowly, trying to ease the pressure. "We were this close to snagging one of the emeralds, but, uh, Fleet Feet and Whip Strand got in our way and—"
"Ah, forget it!" Robotnik snarled, dismissing Fang's excuse with a wave of his hand. "You can explain your failure later! For now, look."
The hologram shifted to a topographical map showing the snowy mountain plains to west of the kingdom. A blinking red signal marked a location nestled deep within the terrain.
"These mountain plains aren't far from your position. I've uploaded the signal to your radar. Follow it. That's where I need you now." He leaned in, his eyes gleaming with glee. "My army and the forces of Shuigang will lure Sonic and his little friends toward our real main base. That's where we'll crush them once and for all!"
"W-why is the bald man ordering Mr. Bark…?" one of the children whispered, clutching their mothers side, staring wide-eyed at the grotesque obese man on the screen.
The townsfolk murmured in growing dread and confusion, their trust unraveling. They looked to the Hooligans, now with suspicion and fear.
"You do realize there are people listening, right?" Fang said with a raised brow, clearly annoyed but trying to stay composed.
Robotnik snorted. "Bah! Let them listen. At this point, it hardly matters. Soon enough, they'll either join the Robotnik Empire… or be torn to shreds."
Gasps erupted.
"You monster!" Feng roared, stepping forward, face red with fury. "Who do you think you are, coming to our town, demanding our loyalty?! We'll never join you! You brainwashed our prince, killed our king!"
Cries of agreement echoed from the crowd.
But the metal soldiers moved in sync, their weapons raised with menace. The villagers' shouts faltered into silence, replaced by fear yet again. Bark stepped forward, his large frame protective, his fists clenched.
Robotnik smirked at the display, his image hovering closer to Feng.
"Oh? That's interesting… And who told you that, hmm?" he asked with mockery. "Certainly not me."
"Grrr… D-Does it matter?!" Feng growled, stepping back protectively as he gestured to the Hooligans. "You're clearly planning something terrible and they're not going to let you get away with it!"
Robotnik blinked once, eyebrows raised then burst into a huge arrogant laugh. One that sent both shivers and confusion to the townsfolk.
"Ohoho! I was wondering when you idiots would finally piece it together," he chuckled darkly. "Thought I'd save the truth for after the world was already mine…"
Fang's eyes narrowed. "Right… that brings us to the big question." He stepped forward with irritation. "See, funny thing, one of the reasons we came here in the first place, care to explain why you never told us about the alien warlord hiding in your little science project?"
Bean slowly raised his hand. "Yeah! That would've been a really useful bit of information back when we weren't being chased by an army of bug-bots!"
Robotnik merely shrugged, his smile slightly twitching. "I had to make sure that if there was even the slightest possibility of Sonic showing up on these islands during our conquest, you three wouldn't spill out everything to him the second he smiled at you. But, well… they figured it out the moment they arrived anyway."
"Which still doesn't explain why you didn't tell us about it!" Fang snapped.
"Yeah! Yeah! Even if they already knew, you could've told us after, right? So why didn't you?" Bean asked with slight exasperation.
Bark remained silent but alert, eyes flicking nervously between the townsfolk and Robotnik's image. The way the crowd was watching them now, he didn't like it. He wished they'd all just evacuated while they still thought the trio were the good guys.
"You want to know?" Robotnik said with a smug grin as he slowly floated in circles around them, his tone laced with cruel amusement. "It's simple. Actually… really, really simple. To test your loyalty, of course!"
The three Hooligans blinked, caught off guard by the explanation.
"Test our…what?" Fang muttered.
"Listen closely," Robotnik said, now sounding almost proud. "You three have been hired by me how many times now? Dozens? Hundreds? Each time, you willingly worked under me for that sweet, sweet paycheck. And now that I'm on the cusp of conquering this planet and ruling it under my glorious banner, I realized… I'll unfortunately need some fleshy minions for tasks my robots can't handle. That's where you come in!"
The drone drifted around them. "You three… yes, you messy, greedy little hooligans—you're the most trustworthy mercs I've got left! Well, the only ones! So I had to know… would you still be mine once you knew the truth? Could I trust you to stand beside me… and Brevon?"
Fang, Bean, and Bark exchanged glances.
"So this was a test?" Fang said slowly, his tone halfway between disbelief and disgust. "A test to see if, once we knew the truth, we'd still side with you?"
"Why of course!" Robotnik beamed with certainty, thought in his thoughts said otherwise. "Well… originally, no. You were just gonna get the Emeralds and scram. But then things started moving faster, and I thought, 'Hey! Better test their loyalties!'" he thought as he chuckled to himself.
Then jabbed a virtual finger at them, his voice turning sharp. "But enough of this nonsense! No more delays! You three stop wasting time and follow your orders! I'm paying you, aren't I?!"
That outburst made all three of them tense up. There was a harshness in Robotnik's voice they weren't used to. A venom that hadn't been there before. This for sure didn't feel like the usual gig with the usual paychecks and crazy schemes that always collapsed under their own weight.
No, this was something else entirely.
And for the first time… the Hooligans realized they might have taken the wrong job.
Just as that thought sank in, a quiet, shaken voice cut through.
"You…"
Everyone turned. Anni stood frozen, staring at them, her eyes wide and glossy.
"You… you're working with him? You're working for this man?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Bark's ears drooped, and a knot tightened in his chest.
Bean scratched the back of his head. "…Yeah," he muttered, barely above a whisper. "We, uh… get contracted by him. Now and then. For jobs and stuff." Bean tried to force a laugh. "Heh… surprise?"
But the townsfolk didn't laugh.
Instead, their faces shifted. These weren't heroes. They were mercenaries.
Mercenaries working for the man who broke their prince… and murdered their king.
The silence that followed Bean's awkward confession was suffocating. The people who had welcomed the Hooligans, who had clung to hope at their arrival, now looked at them with wide, wounded eyes.
They had placed their faith in them. And some still did.
Rudi's voice cracked. "B-but! They came all the way here and told us everything!"
"Y-yeah!" Miri added. "They wouldn't be bad if they came to find us, right, Mister Bark?" Her voice trembled as she looked directly at him with pleading eyes wide and hope she didn't want to lose. "You are here to help!" she said, glancing at the crowd. "Right?!"
Bark lowered his head slightly. These people, these children, they shouldn't have to bear this. Not the fear, not the pain, not the shadow of war creeping over their homes. He wasn't much of a speaker. He rarely had the right words. But he knew one thing, they didn't deserve any of this.
He looked down at his hands, that where only used for simple paychecks and brute force. But for the first time, he wondered if he could use that strength to do something that mattered. Could he fight Robotnik? Did he stand a chance against the madman and his machines?
…Did it even matter if it meant protecting them?
Robotnik's hologram sneered. "What nonsense are you brats blabbering about?!" he snapped, his voice sharp and irritated. "These morons are under my contract, and they serve me! They will follow my orders, they have to! Or else they'll fall like everyone else under my rule! Agh, enough of this sentimental garbage! Hold them off! We will use them to halt the march of the armies, to buy us some sweet time!"
At his command, the robotic guards surged forward as they raised their weapons and began to encircle the townsfolk.
Panic erupted as the villagers stumbled back. Shuigang guards tried to defend them, blades and spears ready, but it was clear—they were outnumbered.
And then…
"Please!" Rudi and Miri cried in unison, voices shaking, eyes wide and full of fear.
That was all he needed.
SMASH!
With a deafening crack, Bark's fist came crashing down on the nearest robot. Its head imploded in a shower of sparks, the metal folding like paper beneath the polar bear's raw strength. The shattered machine fell to the snow, the Shade Core from within quickly scaping from its metallic shell.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Robotnik roared, his voice suddenly filled with disbelief.
Bark didn't answer. He only stepped forward, shielding the children with his body. His eyes hard and burning with quiet fire.
Fang blinked in shock, taking a step back. Bean's beak hung open slightly. Even they hadn't expected it. Not from him.
Robotnik shouted again. "You brute! Do you have any idea what you're doing?! You want to end up like the rest of these useless fools?!"
BOOM!
A cluster of robot soldiers exploded into flaming metal chunks as a series of bombs detonated around them.
Bean cackled, tossing another explosive with a theatrical flourish. "I think we're well aware!" he cheered, blasting another pair of bots into the snow. "C'mon! I didn't sign up for this!"
The townsfolk stared in disbelief, that flicker of confusion and doubt turned into one of hope. The Shuigang guards, catching the moment, rallied to protect the civilians. Ready to drive back the machines.
"You'll regret this!" Robotnik's hologram shrieked, his image flickering with static. "You'll end up like the rest for this betrayal! No more fights, no more explosions, no more sewing materials, no more money, no more—eh?!"
CRUNCH!
Bark brought down his fist with force. The satellite sparked and crumpled under the blow, crashing into the snow, bits and pieces popped as it rolled to a halt.
Bean stood over it, rubbing his chin. "Well, I do enjoy blowing stuff up…" He smirked and glanced at Fang. "But I like blowing stuff up for fun, not for, y'know… global domination! So we are doing this for the good of our world!" He kicked the mangled satellite, sending it skidding across the snow.
Robotnik's voice buzzed from the broken device. "You idiots… you'll be obliterated for this… enemies of the Empire… I'm giving you… one… last…chance!"
The battered satellite lay at Fang's feet, sparking and twitching. He glanced between his comrades, Bean practically vibrating with glee, and Bark, silent but resolute. Something in their eyes sparked something in him too. Maybe it was the clarity of their conviction, or maybe the sheer absurdity of it all.
He looked around.
The villagers were watching him now. Their stares weren't as distrustful as before. There was hope in them. Desperation, sure, but hope all the same.
Fang exhaled through his nose, a low scoff. "You know," he said, eyes locked onto Robotnk, "you said you were gonna give us some high-ranking position if we stuck with you, but honestly?" He narrowed his eyes, his voice firm. "Maybe I would've bought that coming from the old Robotnik. But this one? The one that's clearly gone off the deep end even for me? Yeah… you're just full of crap. We would have ended like the rest eventually."
With a snap of his tail, Fang launched the satellite into the air. Robotnik's image spun wildly, his distorted face screeching.
"FANG!" Robotnik bellowed, his voice filled with fury.
Fang rolled his eyes. "Sorry, fat man," he muttered, leveling his pistol. "Looks like we just got ourselves a better job!"
BANG!
The bullet hit dead-center, and the satellite erupted in a fiery burst of sparks. Robotnik's voice died mid-scream, replaced by the hiss of static, the remains clattering against the snow.
"You… bxzxbz… will … bzbzbdab…regret… bzxxbzx…" His voice was cut off as the video finally died down, the mad doctors voice replaced by complete silence.
Fang holstered his pistol with a sharp click, turning to face the stunned crowd. "You idiots!" he snapped, his voice breaking the silence. "Didn't you hear us?! Start evacuating, now!"
That snapped them out of it. Panic turned to motion. The townsfolk scrambled, gathering their families, clutching bags of supplies and trinkets of home as they rushed toward the safety routes. Some of the Shuigang guards shifted into action as well, half rushing to help with the evacuation, while others were ready to go to the palace.
Han, spear in hand, called over his shoulder, "The ships are launching from the palace! There must be a central source, we might still be able to shut them down and secure it!"
"Geez," Fang muttered, hopping onto the Marvelous Queen, "you people are finally thinking for once."
He turned and pointed at his crew. "You mooks!" he barked, jerking a thumb toward the advancing soldiers. "Follow their lead. We're taking that chaos-forsaken palace!"
Bark nodded, face hard with purpose. Bean gave a salute, grinning like a madman.
"Man, you're a lot nicer than before, Fangy!" Bean chirped as he juggled a bomb.
"Yeah, you're not so bad!" one of the kids called out as they passed, clutching their mother's hand. "Thank you!"
Fang turned his face away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tch… I just wanna get out of here alive, okay?" he grunted, but the hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Now get going!"
Annie rushed by, arms wrapped tightly around her children, but she paused just long enough to look at the trio. Her eyes brimmed with emotion. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick, genuine. "I truly thank you all."
Without warning, she threw her arms around Bark in a quick hug before hurrying after the others. Bark blinked, stunned, but a warm, quiet smile spread across his muzzle.
He felt lighter. For once, his strength had meant something more, but now wasn't the time to savor it, there was still a war to win.
He turned to Bean, and the two of them charged forward, catching up with Han and the Shuigang guard. The snow crunched beneath their feet, the townsfolk shouting hurried thanks in their wake.
Fang, meanwhile, stayed perched on the Marvelous Queen, radio in hand. He twisted the dial until he found the right channel as he leaned into the speaker.
"Fat panda," he said into the radio, " fat panda do you hear me?"
Shuigang Island – Snowy Fields
Snow whipped past the windshield of the military truck, the skies above now grey with the weight of the coming battle. Neera's grip on the wheel was tight, her eyes on the road ahead, until the truck's radio sputtered and crackled with static.
"Fat panda, do you hear me?" Fang's voice suddenly burst through the speaker with urgency.
Neera's ears twitched in surprise. "Fang the Hunter?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "How did you get the frequency of this truck?"
"I have my ways, Hag," Fang answered dryly, clearly enjoying himself.
"What did you…!" Neera hissed as she was about to give Fang a verbal lashing.
Gong quickly reached out and pushed her hand down. "Er, yes, Fang, we hear you," he interjected, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he tried to ease the tension. "Go on."
"We got through to the town. The people are evacuating, and they know the truth about Brevon now. Even the guards, they are now heading to the palace in order to help you. My mooks are in too... I guess."
"They are safe." Gong exhaled, a quiet breath of relief. "That's good news… Thank you, Fang. Truly."
"…Yeah, whatever," came the jerboa's dismissive reply. "But listen up. You've got a bigger problem, flying robots heading your way. And not just that, they're trying to pull a fast one on Fleet Feet and his crew. Divert them from the palace to the real hideout."
Neera's eyes narrowed again. "Explain, jerboa."
"They want Sonic and the others to chase a false trail, pretty sure that's where they're holed up with whatever they're planning. I'll send the location the Fat Man gave me. They handle the signal, we handle the palace."
"Understood," Gong said, his tone serious. "And again, thank you."
"Yeah, yeah," Fang muttered before the radio cut to silence.
For a moment, only the low rumble of the truck's engine and the wind outside remained.
"So…" Gong said with a breath, "we were luring each other all along."
Neera wasted no time. She flicked a switch, activating the communication system. "I believe we weren't the only ones who received that call?"
Her voice was immediately answered from above.
"Yes! We heard everything!" Tails responded from the skies in the Spinner, his eyes darting across the radar screen. "We also received the signal, and its pointing to the mountains!"
"Is this thing on? Hello?" Knuckles' clumsy voice came through next, followed by a thump and some background shuffling. Milla sat beside him, nodding encouragingly as he continued. "Yeah, I remember Robotnik saying something about that back during his little story in the Egg-Thermos, Brevon's ship went down in the snowy mountains, and he set up shop there."
"So we are going to the Dreadnaughts crash site," Torque said, his voice calm but calculating. "They want us to bring the emeralds to them, not surprising now that I say it out loud."
"Pfft! Yeah?" Carol's voice cut through the line as she zipped past Neera and Gong's truck. "Not if I get the emeralds first!"
Tails spoke again. "So… we follow the coordinates, right?"
"Yes," Neera answered, her tone resolute. "Only you have the speed and strength to reach them in time. We will take the palace while you stop whatever madness lies in the mountains."
Then a voice called from one of the other trucks.
"Multiple flying objects up ahead! It's an entire fleet!"
Neera and Gong looked up through the windshield. A cloud of enemy robots loomed in the sky, the mechanical monstrosities under both Brevon and Robotnik's command their weapons glowing with power.
"It's time," Gong said, his voice low and steady.
"FORWARD!" Neera shouted, her command like thunder.
With a united roar, the vehicles charged across the snowy plains. The trucks, tanks, and snowmobiles surged ahead, treads tearing across the snow as the skies filled with burning red lights.
Lasers fired from above followed by explosions that rocked the earth.
And yet the soldiers did not falter, they rushed onward into the chaos, the wind howling around them as lasers descended on them.
Above them, Pangu soared through the skies, Sonic stood firm on her head, scanning the horizon, while Lilac balanced beside him, the cold wind whipping through her hair.
"Alright, first wave!" Sonic shouted, eyes narrowing at the incoming enemies. His voice carried the thrill of the fight, but he noticed Lilac glancing back over her shoulder, distracted. "You ok?" he asked.
"Huh? Of course!" Lilac snapped her gaze forward, a smile in her lips. "Just… having some glimpses of the past. But never mind me, now. Let's not leave a single robot intact!" She tightened her stance. "Let's do this, Pangu!"
With a roar that echoed like thunder, Pangu unleashed a brilliant beam of azure light from her maw. The sky lit up as the beam tore through the first wave of robotic foes, their metal bodies exploding midair in a hail of sparks and shards.
Shuigang Island – Shuigang Palace
In the heart of Shuigang Palace, the grand halls were overrun by Brevon and Robotnik's machines, standing at full alert, ready to strike at any sign of rebellion. Ready to apprehend the townsfolk and those who dare to oppose their creator wishes. Ready to send more fleet of robots in order to stop the approaching armies, they where even ready to launch the Shuigang Sky Battalion for extra aid.
Until—
SMASH!
The front gates reverberated with a sudden, thunderous impact. The robotic cyclops units turned toward the door, their single eyes flickering with confusion.
BOOM!
A blinding explosion ripped the entrance apart engulfing everything in smoke. The robotic guards were hurled backwards in every direction. A storm of chaos swept through the palace entrance as bombs, fists, and bullets where send to their direction.
Metal limbs were torn apart mid-motion and Shade Cores burst free from their shattered vessels.
Through the rising smoke, the true defenders of the kingdom emerged.
Shuigang guards poured in, cutting through enemy lines to rescue those trapped deeper inside. And leading the charge, standing with them—
The Hooligans.
Bark, fists clenched and ready while Bean cackled with unhinged glee as he lobbed bombs into the fray, until Bark smacked him on the back of the head.
"Au! Okay okay, not too much!" Bean muttered, rubbing his head but still giggling.
Bark only rolled his eyes as he stepped forward, his focus locked on the incoming waves.
Atop the Marvelous Queen, Fang twirled his revolver before holstering it with flair. His smirk stretched wide across his face. "Heh… this ain't that bad after all," he muttered, as he leaped out of his ride.
"But dilly-dallyin' won't get us paid," he barked to his crew. "Hooligans let's show these mad idiots what a real job looks like!"
The hall shook again as new reinforcements from the enemy descended, eager to reclaim control.
But it was too late, as the tides had turned.
With a battle cry—half serious, half chaotic—the Hooligans charged forward.
Together with the Shuigang soldiers, they launched themselves into the heart of the palace. Ready to retake the palace in a heartbeat!
BOOM!
{A/N}
Heeeeey didnt take a whole month this time!
An important detail I forgot to mention, was the fact that Annie, the deer inkeeper is married to Buck, the white deer who carries a shovel in FP2.
And now for something important, in my Deviantart: TafuTofu1, I have uploaded the official Winds of Freedom map in its corresponding section, you can chekt it out, althought is a little shitty. Thanks for reading!