Generation's End
by DragonKnight
Copyright notice: All original Sonic the Hedgehog characters are
property of SEGA and based upon the Saturday AM cartoon on ABC. Other
characters may come from the video games or the Archie comic books. The
AI SWATbots are the original creation of Robert Brown and Francis
Tolbert. All original characters are of my creation and idea and
require written permission before usage. You are permitted to print off
one (1) copy for personal use and do not attempt to make a profit from
it. You may make changes under the condition that it does not affect
the story as a whole.
Author's Note: So begins a new saga... From here out the storyline
gets MUCH darker and a tad more violent than what Sonic traditionally
encompasses. Just a heads up. Enjoy!
WARNING!! There is mild language use, mild sexual references and
graphic description in this story. You have been warned.
Sonic's warning of Naugus' impending death has not been forgotten
on Sally. In light of this news Sally must decide what is more
important to her, the future of Mobius or her personal feelings. In
Robotropolis a dark force is stirring once more. What are his true
intentions and how will he accomplish them?
Cast of Characters:
Nano Sonic***
Snively
Princess Sally Alicia Acorn
Sonic Hedgehog
Dr. Adrian Osaka***
Rosie
????????????
Dulcy
Bunnie Rabbot
Antoine D'Coolette
Rotor Walrus
Amy Rose
Miles "Tails" Prower
Ixis Naugus
King Maximillian Acorn
Sylvanix the Wind Dragon***
Griff
In a factory deep in the heart of Robotropolis SWATbots and
workerbots alike worked nonstop in the repair of a hedgehog shaped
robot. They had reapplied new nanobots into his structure and all the
damage that had been done to him was finally repaired. Though he still
had not been reactivated the very sight of him could still send fear
through most Mobians' hearts. One tech bot rolled over to him and
inspected the power cables running into his back. As it touched one the
hedgehog drove his hand through the tech bot. His eyes snapped open as
he began absorbing the data in the tech bot. He now had access to all
of Robotropolis's data networks and all of Robotnik's plans. He scoffed
and removed his hand.
"I actually feel insulted," Nano Sonic said ripping the power
cords out. "That idiot actually created me? I'm the single most
advanced being on this pathetic planet. If I leave my fate in his hands
I'll end up getting scrapped like that rest of his botched programs."
"Now you understand why the big round guy must be 'liberated' from
command," Snively said walking out of the shadows. "He doesn't
understand absolute cruelty, only his foolish ambition."
"He's so focused on the original he's ignored everything else,"
Nano Sonic said referring to Sonic. "Maybe it's time we opened his
eyes."
"Agreed," Snively smiled.
Nano Sonic looked at himself and frowned. "I hate blue," he said.
"Time for a palette swap." With that his blue skin began to turn white.
The ends of his quills turned upward and were tinted black with a black
line running to his head. He also added a good deal of height so that
he was much taller than Snively though not as tall as Robotnik. His
sneakers stayed the same except for the white stripe which turned black.
His gloves morphed into black leather fingertip gloves with the knuckles
exposed. Finally his eyes changed from black to red surrounded in
black. He rotated his neck and smiled baring his now sharpened teeth.
"Much better."
Snively shuddered. Nano Sonic looked absolutely terrifying. It
would only add to his charm though and Snively was happy about that.
"If you're done," he said wiping the sweat from his brow, "Robotnik
wants to see you."
"Hmph, fine," Nano Sonic said the lack of respect apparent.
"Where is the tub of lard?"
"He's inspecting one of the reactors right now," Snively answered.
Nano Sonic's lips parted in a wicked smile. This was too easy.
The fat guy was practically setting himself up. No, he had to take his
time. It was too early for that; right now he should just play along.
"Let us go then, master," he said and walked away following
Snively. It would only be a matter of time...
The next day Sally woke up wrapped in Sonic's arms. It had been
an interesting week. Her and Sonic's relationship had finally been made
public only a few days ago and she couldn't be happier. Rosie had given
her quite the talking to when she told her nanny about moving in with
him though. Apparently Sonic had gotten the same talk from Dr. Osaka
but came away looking extremely scared. He refused to talk about it no
matter what Sally tried. She smiled and snuggled as close to him as
possible. Sonic responded by holding her tighter. She had managed to
get him to agree to a few things, the first of which was cleaning his
hut. Dr. Osaka, Rosie, Tails, Antoine, and Uncle Chuck had watched the
entire thing. Antoine, who still remembered having to live with Sonic
briefly, had enjoyed it the most out of all of them. Sonic surprisingly
had not said one word the whole time and just smiled. If he was doing
this without complaining he was up to something. Whatever it was he
hadn't even told Tails which meant it was something big.
Sonic began to stir and kissed Sally on the side of her neck.
"Good morning," he said softly. His breath brushed her ear and sent
chills down her spine.
"You know I hate it when you do that," she said smiling.
Sonic blew at her ear again and she instinctively shook her head.
What she hadn't meant to do was hit Sonic's nose in the process. Sonic
yelped and grabbed his nose. Sally flipped over immediately concern
written on her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked trying to move his hand. He let her
remove it and thankfully there was no blood this time. Sonic moved his
face around and grabbed his nose gently moving it.
"Yeah," he said letting go. "Nothing's broken, I'll live."
Sally smiled and kissed his nose. "When will you learn?" she said
curling back into his chest.
Sonic smiled and held onto her. He knew what today was but he
just wanted to stay there with her as long as possible. It was still
early so there wasn't any harm in doing so. It would also give him some
time to think. He had indeed been planning something for months now,
specifically since he had gotten out of the Void. He wasn't sure when
the right time would be but it had to be soon. He felt his eyelids
getting heavy and he closed them. He and Sally fell back asleep holding
each other.
Meanwhile, Osaka was giving Rosie a check-up. She hadn't been
feeling all that well and had decided to pay the good doctor a visit.
Osaka took the tongue depressor out of her mouth and put his flashlight
away.
"Well, I have a diagnosis and a prescription for you," he said
scribbling on a piece of paper. Rosie smiled.
"So what do I have Dr. Osaka?" she asked.
"Oldpersonitis," he said smiling back and handing her the paper.
"I recommend building a porch on the front of your hut. Sit in your
rocking chair all day and yell at young people. Do this for two weeks
and come see me."
They both laughed. "It's just age setting in Rosie," he said
finally. "We're not as young as them and can't push ourselves like we
used to."
"I suppose you're right," she said sighing. "I have been trying
to keep up with Sally and Sonic too much lately. Those two finally
realized how much they mean to each other."
"Young love is a beautiful thing," Osaka replied. "I was quite
surprised to hear that Amy and Tails have done quite well for
themselves. You didn't even have to give her that talk."
"Well, the girl is much more mature than she acts sometimes,"
Rosie admitted. "I think that it was simply an infatuation with a
savior idol. With Tails she finally has someone that cares about her as
much as she cares about him.
"Speaking of such things, what was it you told Sonic?" she asked.
"He seemed absolutely terrified after you talked to him regarding Sally
moving in."
Osaka smirked. "Sorry, that's a secret between us guys," he
answered. "But I will say that I threatened to tear something off
should he try anything."
Rosie winced. "I see why he was scared," she said laughing. "I
still can't imagine what it would be like to have a little Sonic or
Sally running around."
At this both of them were quiet. "Do you still think about it?"
she asked Osaka finally.
"There's...not a day I don't," he replied closing his eyes.
"Perhaps that's why I push Sonic so hard to make the right decisions
now."
Rosie stood up and put her hand on his shoulder. "We were young,"
she told him, "and we were both foolish. We both did what we thought
was right."
"That doesn't make it easier," Osaka said.
"I'm not saying that," Rosie replied shaking her head. "What I'm
saying is that you cannot live your life in the past."
Osaka walked away his back to her. "It's not that I won't let
go," he said turning his head. "I...can't. No matter how hard I try I
cannot forget being unable to protect those I swore to."
"What do you mean?" Rosie asked getting desperate. This was the
most she had been able to talk about this with him in years. "Please,
tell me."
Osaka closed his eyes upon hearing dark laughter. "I am sorry
Rosie," he apologized. He then turned to face her. "Just...take it
easy for the next couple days and you should feel back up to speed."
She sighed. "Thank you doctor," she said quietly and left closing
the door behind her. Osaka sighed. He should've told her. Deep down
he knew that she wouldn't be angry with him. He had wanted to protect
people just like Sonic was doing now. His mistake had been in trusting
that creature. The moment he had made the agreement that thing had
taken his heart and closed its fist around it. By all rights he had no
right to be alive.
>You will not break me,< he thought.
[Oh really?] a voice said with a deep rumbling. [I have persisted
for close to twenty years now. What makes you think you can hold out
forever?]
>I've lasted this long haven't I?<
He heard laughter. [We shall see.]
Sonic rooted through his closet looking for decent traveling
clothes. He had managed to slip away from Sally who was still sleeping.
She just looked so happy he couldn't bear to wake her up. He picked up
his sword and held it for a moment and then set it to the side. He
would take it, just in case. Finally finding all the clothes that he
wanted he closed up his pack and set it next to his sword. He looked at
the gloves he had chosen and smiled. They were a thin material colored
midnight blue and were almost skin tight. On the top rested a white
plate that covered the top of his hand and just past his wrist. There
was also a white ring that wrapped around his wrist when he put them on.
The boots he had chosen were a similar design only with a thicker
material. The plate covered the sole, toe, ankle and top of his foot,
almost like a combat boot. The open jacket had plates at the shoulders
and elbows and hung loosely on him. The pants were loose as well with
plates on the knees and thighs. He tied a gray sash around his waist
and let the ends dangle off to his right.
"Interesting get-up," Sally commented softly.
Sonic turned around to see her sitting up in his bed. She had a
concerned look on her face as if he was going to leave without telling
her. He walked over to her and pulled her to her feet.
"Don't give me that look," he said holding her. "You know what
today is just as well as I do."
She nodded. "It's just...I'm nervous leaving the village with
both of us gone," she told him. "Raids are one thing, but we're going
to be gone for almost two weeks."
"Don't worry," Sonic said kissing her forehead. "Antoine and
Bunnie will do fine. I would've suggested doc if he hadn't said to put
those two in charge first."
"Why do you think he did that?" Sally asked a quizzical look on
her face. Sonic shook his head.
"You got me there," he answered. "C'mon, you need to get ready
too. I'll go get us some breakfast."
Sally nodded and hugged him. He left and Sally stared after him.
She hadn't told him the exact truth though it had been close. She
thought back to her conversation with Dr. Osaka the other day.
***
"So when do you two plan on leaving?" Osaka asked.
"In a few days," Sally replied. "He wanted some time to think
about everything, including us, before we left."
"Just remember the warning that Rosie and I gave you two," he
said. "We WILL hunt you down."
"I understand that," she answered waving it away. "But I still
don't know why you wanted me to come here. I feel fine."
"It has nothing to do with now," he told her. "The last time you
visited the Void you weren't there long enough to have any physical
aftereffects. This time may be different."
"How so?"
Osaka sighed. "The Void is a living thing," he explained. "It
has absorbed Naugus' evil and your father's knowledge. It knows how to
cripple the Acorn family should you choose to enter it once more."
Sally stared at him. A living dimension? She had found it hard
to believe, but Osaka hadn't been wrong about a lot of things lately so
she took his word for it.
"It couldn't physically kill me, could it?" she asked.
Osaka shook his head. "It could if it wanted," he answered. "But
it would be far more debilitating to make it so you can't take the
throne."
"Explain." Sally's gaze had never been more serious.
"According to Royal Doctrine a potential ruler may not take the
throne if they are incapable of producing an heir," he said. "Simply
put, if you can't have kids, you can't be Queen."
She was quiet as all the pieces came together. "It would make it
so that I couldn't have kids, therefore throwing the ruling family of
Mobius into chaos, right?" she said.
"Precisely," Osaka answered. "I cannot tell you what you should
do Princess. Do what your heart wants. Should you choose to see your
father I have a plan that will counter the Void's."
"Are you sure it will work?"
He nodded. "Absolutely, though it took a great deal of time to
find it," he chuckled. "I suppose I should let them know before they
get a very big surprise."
***
Sally shook her head. So _that's_ why he had chosen Antoine! She
wasn't entirely sure of his backup plan but he had chosen wisely. If
she chose to see her father she would give up being Queen for good. If
there was anyone as qualified to rule as she was, if not more so, it was
Antoine.
>He's good,< Sally admitted to herself grabbing a pair of boots
and a vest. >I still have a hard time believing that any one animal
could know so much about everything. I only wish that he'd tell us more
about himself.<
Sonic returned a few minutes later with oatmeal for the two of
them. She looked at him curiously.
"I thought that-"
"It sticks with you," he said spooning some into his mouth.
"Besides, if you put enough brown sugar on it tastes much better."
Sally laughed lightly and he smiled. They finished and set the
bowls in Sonic's sink. She finished packing and threw her backpack on.
Sonic slung his sword across his back with the hilt over his right
shoulder. He was also wearing the strap that bore the crest of the
Royal Guard on it. He put his pack on as well and looked at her.
"Shall we?" he asked motioning to the door.
She nodded and headed out. The entirety of the village had
gathered in the center of Knothole to wish them good luck. The core
Freedom Fighters were all together. Over all of the "good luck" and "be
careful" Sonic could hear Dulcy sobbing.
"You two had better come back," she said sniffling. "If you don't
I'll never forgive you!"
"Don't worry Dulcy," Sally assured the dragon. "We'll be back in
two weeks, give or take a few days. Until then Bunnie and Antoine will
be in charge."
"We won't let you down Sally-girl," Bunnie said hugging her
friend.
"Indeed Prinzess," Antoine said shaking her hand. "We will be
fine."
"I've uploaded the pertinent information from Nicole to your
computer Rotor," she told the walrus. "You know, in case you guys need
to go to Robotropolis for anything."
"Thanks Sally," Rotor thanked her. "I'll see about whipping up a
little Nicole-like computer so we can access the maps while in the
city."
Sally looked over towards Sonic who was talking with Osaka. She
couldn't hear them but she saw Sonic pat his pocket. Now she definitely
knew he was planning something. Before she could say anything Rosie
walked up to her holding a wrapped bundle.
"Here Princess," she said handing it to her. "Here are some dried
foods for you two. They may not be the best tasting but they will fill
your stomachs."
Sally put the food in her pack and hugged her nanny. "Thank you
so much Rosie," she said a tear forming in her eye. She let go and Amy
walked up to her next.
"Here you go Sally," she said handing Sally a small hammer charm.
"In case you guys get into a fight just yell 'Enlarge' while holding
that charm and you'll get a hammer like mine."
Sally smiled and placed the charm in her pocket. "Thanks Amy,"
she told the pink hedgehog. "I'm still trying to get over you chasing
me around with that thing."
Amy shrugged smiling. "You have to admit, it was fun," she said
giggling. Sally just stared at her and then joined in.
"Be careful Sonic!" Tails yelled. "Come back soon!"
"Will do big guy," Sonic said hugging the young fox. He walked
over to Sally.
"You ready?" he asked. She nodded.
"We'll see you guys in a couple weeks," she said as they walked
away. "Good luck!"
With that she and Sonic took off in twin sonic booms. When the
dust cleared Bunnie looked at Antoine curiously.
"Any idea why sugarhog didn't just do that teleporting thing?" she
asked. Antoine shook his head.
"Not a clue," he answered hooking his arm on her waist. "Perhaps
he is wanting some alone time for the two of them."
"I just hope they get back soon," Amy said looking up at them.
"It's gonna be weird without them here."
At that everyone nodded and went about their everyday routines.
Rosie walked up to Osaka who was still staring in the direction they had
left.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked him. He sighed and
looked over at her.
"If this is her decision, then I will not question it," he
answered bluntly. "As for Sonic, I believe he will do what he feels is
the right thing."
"I hope you're right. I really do."
Sonic and Sally ran until night fell. It was getting far too cold
to travel by night at their speed. They set up camp in a small clearing
and got a fire going to stay warm. They sat around it as the chill of
night finally kicked in. Sally leaned over on him and put her head on
his shoulder. They sat there listening to the crackle of the fire and
holding each other. Not one word passed through their lips as they just
sat there enjoying the moment. When the fire was almost dead they
kicked some dirt on it just to make sure it was. They crawled into the
tent and went to sleep.
The next couple days went more or less the same. They talked idly
about this and that and made sure to leave enough food for the trip
back. The fifth day out they had finally reached the Great Canyon and
were less than a day's trip from the Great Unknown where the Void portal
was. They set up camp early wanting all their strength for the next
day. Sonic was glad they had taken some firewood with them for warmth.
Even though the days were hotter here the nights were downright frigid.
They pulled out the food they had set aside for the day and began to
eat.
"What I wouldn't give for a chili dog right about now," Sonic said
looking at the dried fruit he was eating. "Rosie wasn't kidding when
she said this stuff wasn't the best."
"You say that about anything that's not a chili dog anyway," Sally
retorted smiling. Sonic smiled back.
"I didn't see you complaining when you ate one," he shot back.
"Well, that and the dozen after that."
"You didn't tell anyone else about that did you?" she asked him.
"You know they'd never let me live it down."
"Don't worry," he said laughing. "That's just between you and
me."
She smiled and finished her dinner. She slid over next to Sonic
as he popped the last piece of fruit in his mouth and smiled. He
wrapped his arm around her and they leaned back on a rock.
"It's been nice, taking our time like this," he said running his
hand up and down her arm. "We haven't talked like this in ages."
"Well fighting Robotnik doesn't really leave us with a lot of time
to ourselves," Sally said staring at the fire. "While I'm still worried
about him and Snively it is nice doing this."
Sonic hadn't told her about Nano Sonic not being dead. They
hadn't heard anything other than Robotnik's fury about the nanomachine
colony being destroyed. Something else was going on in Robotropolis
though and it was setting off alarm bells in Sonic's head. But he
wasn't that concerned about it right now. He was with Sally all alone
in the middle of nowhere. He had never been happier.
"I still can't believe we've got another week of this," he said
smiling. "I can only imagine how jealous Antoine and Bunnie must be
right now."
Sally snuggled into him. "Let them be," she said looking up at
him. "Which reminds me, what was in your pocket that made you pat it
when we left?"
Sonic cleared his throat. "Umm, nothing," he said quickly. Sally
smiled at the challenge.
"Well, let's see about that," she said and reached for his pocket.
Sonic managed to lightly slap her hands away but she would not be
denied. After multiple tries she finally managed to get a hold of his
leg. She could feel something hard and round but before she could tell
much else Sonic grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away. She
looked at his bright red face.
"R-really Sal," he stammered, "it's nothing." She moved until her
lips were next to his ear.
"Really?" she asked softly making sure every word brushed his ear.
"Then why are you so nervous?"
What she couldn't see was the smile on Sonic's face. Letting go
of her wrists his hands quickly went to her sides and began tickling
her. Sally was unable to resist and the two began wrestling back and
forth. She tried getting his hands away but he was the stronger of the
two. She finally managed to pin him on the ground and smiled as she
randomly reached and grabbed playfully.
Sonic immediately stopped and turned a bright shade of red. Sally
looked at him quizzically trying to figure out why. She could feel his
hands on her sides so that wasn't it. She looked where she had grabbed
him and turned the same color he had. She looked back at him. The
angle they were at she could see the fire reflected in his eyes. With
the swirling pattern to back it Sally became hypnotized by them. She
moved closer to his face and he did the same to her. Their lips met in
a kiss that was both deep and passionate. She removed her grip of him
and wrapped her arms around him as best she could. They stayed like
that until they finally came up for air. Sonic looked into her eyes
which were quivering, as if she was holding something back. The same
thought crossed their minds as their lips met once more. They began to
kiss each other furiously like it was their last day alive. Sally
pulled his jacket off and tossed it to the side. Sonic was completely
oblivious to this and slipped off her vest. They continued kissing when
something went off in Sonic's head.
>Something's not right here,< he thought. >What am I doing?<
"Sal," he whispered. "Please, wait."
She looked at him, their gazes locking. "What is it?" she said
quietly.
"We shouldn't be doing this," he said shaking his head. "At
least, not yet."
"Sonic..."
He put a finger to her lips gently. "It's not that I don't want
this too," he interrupted her. "In fact that would be the farthest
thing from the truth. I just want it to mean so much more on our
wedding night."
Sally was quiet, knowing he was right. She didn't know what had
come over her but all of her inhibitions had been suddenly thrown to the
side. "I'm so sorry Sonic," she said burying her head in his shoulder.
"Don't be," he said holding her. "I still love you Sally and
nothing will ever change that."
She turned her head so she could see his face. "Thank you," she
said holding him tighter.
They sat up and Sonic grabbed his jacket since Sally couldn't find
hers. He wrapped it around Sally who smiled and crawled into his lap.
She laid back into him as his arms and closed her eyes. Sonic felt her
breathing slow down and smiled holding her a little tighter. She gave a
small sigh and settled back down. Sonic looked up at the night sky.
The sky was totally clear and he could see every single star in the sky.
He could even see the arm of their galaxy reaching across the field of
stars. He thought about what doc had told him and sighed. It was odd.
Before they had left Sonic had felt totally confident about asking her
but with each passing day of their trip his determination had been
slipping away. It had no reason to, in fact their little encounter just
a few minutes ago made him love her even more. So why did he feel this
way? He was still thinking about it as he drifted off to sleep.
In Robotropolis Nano Sonic stood next to Robotnik's command chair
quietly. Ever since he had come back online Robotnik had kept him on a
short leash and it was infuriating him. He had been waiting for the
right moment but he was about to take the first one that came to him.
Robotnik typed a command on the arm of his chair and swiveled to stare
at him.
"I must say I like the new look," Robotnik said. "You truly look
evil."
"Thank you sir," Nano Sonic replied smiling. "I thought that it
would be more effective at striking fear into my enemies' hearts."
"That it does."
Robotnik swiveled back around to look at Snively who was
monitoring the surveillance cameras. "Have you seen any sign of the
hedgehog or his friends Snively?" he asked the short human.
Snively turned around sweat pouring from his brow. "N-no sir," he
said nervously. "In fact, the Freedom Fighters haven't made a move
against us in almost two weeks."
"They will need supplies soon," Robotnik mused tapping the arm of
his chair. "Make sure to place extra guards around the storehouse."
"If you don't mind sir," Nano Sonic said faking respect, "why not
spread the supplies they need across the entire city? It would make it
nearly impossible for one group to get a large amount. Then they would
be forced to split into smaller groups that would be much easier to take
out."
Both Robotnik and Snively stared at the bot. It was a brilliant
plan. Neither of them had expected such a plan from the bot, even if he
was made to imitate Sonic to a certain degree.
"Very cunning," Robotnik admitted. "Snively, order the SWATbots
to begin distributing the supplies in piddling amounts throughout
various warehouses in the city."
Snively turned back to his panel muttering to himself. How many
times had he suggested the exact same thing and his uncle had simply
dismissed it as a "waste of time"? And yet if Nano Sonic suggested it
the fat man immediately implemented it. He was jealous of the bot but
not enough to hate him. After all he had been the one that programmed
him. Robotnik turned to the bot and smiled.
"Tell me Nano Sonic," he said, "any other suggestions?"
The bot smiled. "I actually have a request," he said. "I would
like a new designation since I no longer look like the rodent I'm built
after."
Robotnik rubbed his chin. "A new name huh?" he muttered. "Why
not. What would you like it to be?"
"Since I am his opposite in every way," Nano Sonic, "I think it
would be only appropriate the name should be the same way. Kinos the
Enslaver."
Robotnik laughed pyramiding his fingers. "I like it," he said
smiling. "It has such an...evil ring to it."
"Thank you sir," Nano Sonic said making the adjustment in his
memory banks.
"What else did you have in mind?" Robotnik asked. Kinos smiled.
The perfect moment he had been waiting for had just arrived. He stepped
forward and held up his right hand. In an instant it changed to a razor
sharp blade.
"I've managed to come up with some interesting forms since my
reactivation," he said quietly. "If you don't mind, I'd like to try
some of them out."
Robotnik frowned. He couldn't see the bot's face but something
had him worried. He shook his head as the bot continued to look at his
blade arm. This was a robot, if he didn't like what it was doing he
could always shut him down and that would be the end of it.
"Go ahead," he said slowly. "What did you have in mind?"
Kinos smiled baring his teeth. Robotnik shuddered. It was
nothing short of a look of pure evil. "Something like this," he said
swinging his arm at Robotnik. The large human made no attempt to dodge
until he realized that Kinos had launched the blade at him. The blade
cut through his heart and lodged itself so that it had him pinned to the
chair. Snively still had his back turned but he was smiling. Kinos
walked up to Robotnik and placed his hand on the end of the blade
merging it with his arm.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Robotnik asked through
gritted teeth.
"Making this city more efficient," Kinos replied and pulled the
blade from the chair and lifted Robotnik above him. "You see, I'm sick
of following your half-assed orders. I know for a fact that I'm smarter
than you and willing to go to lengths you aren't. So with that, I'm
replacing you."
Robotnik tried to respond with something, anything, but his vision
was getting blurry and dark. Kinos smiled as blood began running down
his arm. Robotnik struggled for a little bit but then his body went
limp. He tossed Robotnik off to the side and his corpse landed with a
wet thud. He changed his hand back to normal and the blood vanished.
He looked over at Snively who had finally turned around his smile even
wider than before.
"Robotropolis is yours, master," he said kneeling down. Snively
walked over to his dead uncle and finally up to Kinos.
"Excellent work Kinos" he said. "This still leaves us with the
problem of accessing the city's main systems though."
"That can be solved," Kinos said standing. He turned his head
towards the command console. "Computer, transfer control of
Robotropolis to Snively and myself."
"UNABLE TO COMPLY," the computer droned. "CONTROL OF THE CITY IS
UNDER DR. ROBOTNIK."
"Robotnik is dead."
There was a brief silence followed by a buzzing and then a few
clicks. "CHANGE NOTED. CONTROL OF ROBOTROPOLIS HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO
SNIVELY AND KINOS."
Kinos smiled and faced Snively. The short human was beaming.
"This is incredible," he said wringing his hands. "I never have to
worry about my uncle bossing me around ever again. And it's all thanks
to you my friend."
He turned to a nearby SWATbot. "You there!" he barked and pointed
to his uncle. "Clean up that mess!"
"AS YOU COMMAND," the bot said saluting. Snively turned back to
Kinos who was smiling.
"Well 'partner'," he said returning the smile. "What should we do
first?"
Kinos walked over to the command console and began typing in some
commands. "The first thing that we should do," he said still typing,
"is figure out what your now deceased uncle has been planning for the
Freedom Fighters. We may be able to use some of it to our advantage and
scrap the rest."
"How long will it take?" Snively said walking up to stand next to
the hedgehog.
"Not too long," he replied. He turned to Snively and smiled.
"I'm sure the Freedom Fighters will be quite disappointed to not have
their vengeance on Robotnik."
Snively sneered. "Like they deserved that pleasure," he said.
"We'll show them what our combined power can do."
The two of them began laughing, the echoes only increasing the
evil aura of the room.
The next morning Sonic and Sally broke camp packing everything
back up. They had talked briefly on the events of the previous night
and had decided that it wasn't worth it to dwell on them. She handed
him back his jacket once she had located her vest. The alarm bells in
Sonic's head had died down which made him even more concerned. He'd
worry about it later, though perhaps Naugus would be able to help him
figure out what was going on. He and Sally took off towards the Great
Unknown talking to pass the time. After a few hours they reached the
chasm where they could see the purple and yellow vortex. Sally walked
up to the edge of the portal and looked in. She knew what would happen
if she went in. Was she really ready to give up everything she had been
raised for?
"What does my heart say?" she said putting her hand to her heart
and closing her eyes. She opened them and looked at the portal then at
Sonic. He was calmly watching her. She knew Sonic would follow her to
the end of the world and back, all she had to do was give the word. But
would he still be willing to be with her even if she wasn't Queen? No,
that was a stupid question. Sonic didn't love her because of something
like that...did he? Come to think of it, she had never really asked why
he loved her, she just knew he did. Doubt ran through her mind as she
considered the possibility that Sonic would leave her it she wasn't
Queen.
Sonic saw the worry in her eyes. "I'll always be there for you
Sal," he said almost as if he was reading her mind. "No matter what you
choose I will stand by you now and forever."
She smiled and looked back towards the vortex. So it wasn't for
the crown, but for her. That was all the encouragement she needed. She
gently leaned forward falling into the swirling mass. Sonic sighed. He
had figured she would do as much. He walked up to the edge of the
portal and looked down. He leapt in head first and felt himself tossed
around.
They landed in Naugus' Sanctuary in a heap with Sonic on top.
They got up and brushed themselves off looking around. To their left
they could see the crystal castle they had found Sally's father in last
time. They looked at each other and nodded, heading towards the castle.
When they reached the entrance Naugus came storming out the doors.
"What are you doing here Princess?" he demanded coughing. "You know
full well what can happen if you stay here too long!"
"I know Naugus," Sally said raising her hand. "I have chosen to
do what is important to me. Even if it means that I will lose
everything else I will not have set aside what I believe."
Naugus was silent. He sighed and gestured to the door. "Your
father is waiting for you," he said and looked at Sonic. Sally ran
through the door and up the steps while Sonic stayed behind. "You know
what will happen now?"
Sonic nodded. "I'm well aware of what this decision means to
her," he said staring after her. "Dr. Osaka told me that if she chooses
to see her father for quite possibly the last time in her life she
cannot ascend the throne."
"And what will happen then?" Naugus asked coughing again. "If
Robotnik followed the advice I gave him ages ago then he has either
roboticized or killed most of the princess's extended family."
"Doc seems to think that Antoine has some royalty in him," Sonic
replied. "I can't say for certain but my gut tells me he's right."
Sonic looked at the sorcerer. He had certainly seen better days.
"Speaking of Robotnik, can you look into something for me?"
"Anything to make his life miserable," the sorcerer said smiling.
"I've been getting some bad vibes lately from the city," Sonic
explained. "They stopped this morning but I can't help but think that
things have gotten worse, not better."
Naugus closed his eyes and concentrated. When he reopened them he
shook his head in dismay. "Too much of my power has been absorbed by
the Void," he told the hedgehog. "I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Sonic said as the two of them entered the
castle. "I can always find out back in Knothole."
"There you are Sonic!" King Acorn said disengaging from his
daughter. He hugged Sonic in mid-salute and he smiled returning the
gesture. They parted and the king held Sonic at arm's length by the
shoulders. "Thank you for keeping your promise."
"If nothing else I am an animal of my word," Sonic said smiling.
"Besides, Sally would kill me if I didn't tell her about something like
this."
The king smiled. Age had begun to set in though Sonic thought it
was more than that. Was the Void taking its toll on him as well? The
king leaned towards Sonic.
"Have you given it to her yet?" he whispered in his ear.
"Not yet," Sonic whispered back sighing. "Very soon though.
Though I do have some questions that are now relevant."
The king backed away and patted Sonic on the shoulders. "Then I
will answer to the best of my abilities." He put his arm around Sonic
and they walked back towards Sally and Naugus.
"So the Void really IS a living thing?" Sally asked. "Wow, Dr.
Osaka was right."
"He is quite knowledgeable in many things," Naugus wheezed. "He
was the one who helped me discover the Void and first gave me the idea
of learning how to manipulate it."
"For one of my best subjects, I hardly know anything about the
man," King Acorn said. "He and Sonic's father were the best of friends
when they were younger. Eric once told me that even he knew little of
what Adrian did in his free time."
"How well did you two know Daryl Kintobor?" Sonic asked out of
curiosity. Naugus' eyes widened at the sound of the name.
"Robotnik's son?" he said. "I know that he and Adrian were close
when Daryl was younger. Adrian taught him everything he knew."
Sonic rubbed his neck and looked to the side. "If that's the
case," he muttered, "I hope I never have to go up against doc."
At this both King Acorn looked at Sonic. "What on Mobius do you
mean Sonic?" the king asked. "What has happened since you were last
here?"
Sonic turned his head back. "The short story is that Daryl is
dead," he said bluntly. "Robotnik killed him once, brought him back as
an android, then I finished the job. After that Robotnik showed off his
new toy, a nanomachine colony named Nano Sonic."
"Did you say nanomachine?" King Acorn asked. "Dr. Alan Rose was
working on something like that. But once he finished it he just up and
vanished from the city."
"There goes Dr. Osaka's theory," Sally said. "We ran into his
daughter Amy in Robotropolis. He figured that you may have known why he
left daddy."
"What's important is that this creation is gone now, right Sonic?"
the king asked Sonic beaming. Sonic looked away and sighed.
"He's not gone," he admitted. Sally's eyes widened in surprise
and anger.
"I thought you and doc said he was gone!" she yelled. Sonic shook
his head.
"Doc only managed to slow him down," Sonic said. "He wasn't able
to destroy his control cluster. That's kind of what I wanted you to
look at Naugus. Something just went down in Robotropolis that will
change the tone of this entire war."
Naugus rubbed his chin with his claw hand. "I don't know much
about machines," he said coughing. "I do know that if Robotnik made it
that you are all in grave danger."
"Enough of this talk!" King Acorn commanded raising his hands.
"My daughter is here, Sonic is safe, let us spend the time we have left
catching up."
Kinos typed furiously at the control station trying to pinpoint
the energies he had picked up earlier. It had been something big,
enough to throw most of the city into chaos. It had been three days and
it was if all Hell had broken loose. He had managed to quash the AI
SWATbot uprising with ease but it had him concerned. The surge had also
restored free will to a large number of worker bots. Most of them had
been captured and reprogrammed but a number had escaped into the forest.
"Any luck yet?" Snively asked next to him.
"Nothing yet," Kinos replied still typing. "This energy surge
came from within the city a couple days ago. I finally managed to trace
the epicenter of the surge to an underground facility." A map displayed
on one of the screens and he pointed to the flashing dot. Snively's
eyes widened.
"That's the portal room!" he exclaimed. Kinos just stared at him
a confused look on his face. "That room is where my uncle threw his
mentor Ixis Naugus and then King Acorn into the Void."
"The Void..." Kinos said as his eyes began to flicker rapidly.
"Another dimension within this one. Interesting to say the least.
Should we check it out?"
Snively nodded. "Let's," he answered pressing a button that
brought a tube up from the ground. "I've finally finished the
teleporter my uncle was working on. Let's take it to make sure it
works."
Kinos nodded and the two of them stepped into the tube. With the
press of a button they vanished in a flash of light. When they
rematerialized they stood in the portal room deep beneath the command
center. Snively walked over to the control panel and typed in a few
commands. The facility came to life and the door to the portal doors
opened.
"Let's go," he said motioning to Kinos. "We'll need to be close
up to effectively study what's going on."
"As you wish," the bot said following Snively. While his back was
turned Kinos smiled. This was too perfect.
They went down to the room and Snively strapped himself to the
floor while Kinos did the same. Snively pressed a button on the datapad
in his hand the large stone doors opened revealing a purple and yellow
portal. Kinos stared in amazement. All this unharnessed energy was
going to waste just sitting here. If he was in charge he would find a
way to harness its power.
"I'm not picking up anything out of the ordinary," Snively said
looking at this pad. "If I didn't know better I'd say the Void wasn't
the cause of the surge."
"Then what was?" Kinos asked faking surprise.
"My best guess would be the Freedom Fighters," he replied lowering
the pad. "But to do that they would need access to the command
console..."
His eyes widened in realization as Kinos' hand wrapped around his
throat. The hedgehog lifted him up a sinister smile on his face. The
straps holding Snively snapped at the strain and he could feel the full
pull of the Void.
"That's right," Kinos told him still smiling. "I caused the power
surge. The AI SWATbot uprising, I started it. The freed worker bots,
me. All of those problems were caused by me to lead up to this very
moment."
"Why are you doing this?" Snively said trying to pry his hand off.
"I thought we were in this together."
"Wrong, Snively," Kinos replied. "I am capable of so much more
than you and Robotnik combined. I don't need you slowing me down, so
it's time you took a little trip."
With that Kinos cast Snively into the swirling vortex. The small
human was screaming profanities at the bot but he just laughed. "Say
hello to Naugus and the king for me!" he yelled as the portal closed.
Kinos' smile widened. The city was his, all his! All his
planning ever since he had been given artificial intelligence had
finally come to fruition. No, he was beyond calling it "artificial".
He had the real thing. No mere robot could have come up with the scheme
he had nor executed it so perfectly. He leaned back and let loose an
absolute bone-chilling laugh.
"Oh this is too perfect!" he said still laughing. "I'm almost sad
it's over already. You two couldn't have made it any easier for me than
it already was. Now I am in control, and no living thing will stop me!"
"A wind dragon you say," Naugus said to Sonic. "Intriguing. I
have heard stories of the seven dragons but passed it off as some silly
myth."
"It's not a myth," Sonic said as Sylvanix growled in his head.
"I've got one talking to me right now and he's not all that happy you
called it 'silly'."
"My apologies dragon," Naugus said bowing slightly. "It's just
that some things are easier to accept than others."
Sylvanix settled down much to Sonic's relief. Sally was talking
with her father about some of the time-released programs on Nicole. She
had been talking to him for hours after she had stolen him from Sonic.
Meanwhile Naugus had taken to talking to Sonic about Mobian legends and
mythology. Sonic had actually learned a great deal about Mobius in the
process.
"How much of the Void have you two explored?" he asked Naugus.
"It is like another world," Naugus said as another coughing fit
hit him. When he stopped he looked around them. "This
sensation...someone has entered the Void!"
Both Sonic and Sally took up guard as they watched a vortex open
in front of them. It deposited a small nearly bald human with a pointed
nose in front of them. Its job done the portal vanished leaving the
human. Both Sonic and Sally's eyes flashed in anger as Sonic grabbed
the human by the collar of his shirt.
"What are you doing here Snively?" Sonic asked calmly. Snively
glared back until he saw the anger in Sonic's eyes.
"I'm not here by choice if that's what you're wondering Sonic," he
said not even fighting Sonic's grip. "Kinos threw me in here."
Sonic and Sally looked at each other in surprise and then back to
Snively. Sonic let him down and he dusted himself off. "Maybe you
should explain what's going on," Sally suggested. "I figured Robotnik
would have thrown you in here."
"The lard ball would if he still could," Snively answered. "Kinos
'took care' of Robotnik as well. Namely, he stabbed him through the
heart and then tossed his body to the side like a piece of trash."
The four of them were shocked. Robotnik was dead, murdered no
less? Sure maybe he had deserved it but still...And if it had only
taken one animal or person then what were they up against?
"This is...unfortunate news," King Acorn said sitting on his bed.
"I may not have liked Julian, I may have even wished ill will upon him.
But to be murdered in such a heartless fashion, why would someone do all
this?"
"Because all Kinos desires is power," Snively said respectfully.
"It's why he threw me in here and I imagine that he'll have something
else up his sleeve."
"You keep tossing around the name 'Kinos'," Sally noted. "Who is
this guy?"
"You would know him as Nano Sonic," Snively told her. "He chose
the name Kinos the Enslaver since he's changed his look. You thought
that seeing another Sonic was scary, he's absolutely terrifying now."
"He's everything I am, but yet my opposite," Sonic muttered a
concerned look on his face.
"And he's unstoppable just like you," Snively continued looking at
Sonic. "He was created by Robotnik for that exact purpose. I even
programmed him to think like you."
"Sonic, we have to stop him," Sally said. "The others don't know
about this yet. Naugus, how much time do you have?"
Naugus erupted into coughing, so much that he needed to lean on
his staff. When he came to he was winded. "Not...much," he wheezed
coughing lightly. "I may...only have...a few minutes."
"Sally, you must leave now!" King Acorn said holding his
daughter's shoulders. "If you don't you'll be trapped here forever."
"But Daddy-" Sally argued.
"No buts about it!" the king said in his most official tone. "I
am ordering you to leave the Void this very instant." With that he
nodded to Naugus who used the last of his power to open an exit portal.
The sorcerer collapsed onto the floor staring at the ceiling.
"Naugus!" King Acorn said running over.
"Please...Sonic," Naugus gasped. "Destroy this creation of my
apprentice's. It is my...last request." He began coughing again, blood
trickling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Princess!" Snively yelled running over and extending the datapad
he had been thrown in with. "This pad contains all my notes and
Robotnik's notes, including new technology that was developed and
projects that are in the works."
Sally took the pad staring at the human in shock. "But why would
you help us?" she asked. Snively smiled.
"Because I want you to beat that traitor," he said simply. "I
will stay here. Something tells me that I will never be welcome on
Mobius again."
Sally and Sonic looked at him with a glimmer of respect. Sonic
turned to the human and put his hand on Snively's shoulder. "For what
it's worth," he said quietly, "thanks."
"I don't need your thanks hedgehog," Snively sneered brushing away
the hand. "I did what I wanted, you should still hate me."
"Both of you!" the king yelled fear and panic in his voice. "Get
out now!"
"Daddy I won't leave you!" Sally yelled moving to grab him. Sonic
held her trying to pull her towards the portal. It was difficult with
her fighting and screaming with each step. She had almost escaped when
Sonic felt an impact that pushed them into the vortex. As they moved
away he could see Snively smiling where they had been standing.
"Daaadddy!" Sally yelled extending her hand.
"Goodbye bean," the king said smiling a tear running down his
cheek. "I have never been prouder in my entire life. To have a
daughter like you is the greatest gift to any father."
Sally was still screaming as the vortex deposited them on the edge
of the chasm. They watched as the purple and yellow portal closed for
the last time.
"How could you?!" Sally cried turning on Sonic. "We could have
saved him and you didn't do a damn thing! Why didn't you help him?" So
it continued and Sonic quietly took Sally's verbal and physical
assaults. When she finally calmed down she broke down crying into his
chest. Before she could say anything else Sonic wrapped his arms around
her and hugged her tightly. Sonic stared where the portal had been as a
tear rolled down his cheek.
>Forgive me, Majesty,< he thought.
[I am...proud of you,] Sylvanix said quietly. [It took a great
deal of strength to do what you had to do. The only thing to do now is
to hold her and never leave her.]
Sonic didn't answer the dragon knowing that he was right. More
than ever now Sally needed Sonic to be there for her. She had lost her
father this day and not been able to do anything. She was broken but
Sonic would hold her together. He held her closer and rested his head
next to hers.
They set up camp on the edge of the chasm. Sally had her back to
it knowing if she saw it she would repeat her actions from earlier. On
top of it all she had put the blame solely on Sonic though he had
committed no fault. He had taken every word, every punch and slap
silently. Afterwards, he had just held her. She didn't understand him.
The old Sonic would have argued back with her and then they would have
fought more and gotten fed up with each other. This Sonic knew exactly
what she needed when she needed it. No, he had always been this way.
He was just finally acting on it. But why? After everything she had
said how could he just sit there as if nothing had happened? It was
tearing her apart knowing she had accused the one she loved of not
saving her father.
"Sonic..." she started. Sonic shook his head from across the
fire.
"You don't have to Sal," he said. "I know you didn't mean any of
it."
"Please," she asked him, "I have to. I won't be able to forgive
myself if I don't." Sonic was quiet. "I'm...sorry for what I did
earlier. I don't know what came over me. I was just so upset and sad
and angry over losing my father that I just lost it. I shouldn't have
said those things. I can understand if you're angry with me."
Sonic didn't say anything. Sally sighed, another tear forming.
She would understand if he didn't want anything to do with her right now
or ever for that matter. She barely saw that he had gotten up and
walked away. She heard something hitting together and then being set
down behind her. Without warning Sonic pulled her to her feet and held
her hands looking into her eyes.
"Follow me," he said quietly. He led her to the chasm's edge and
they looked over. She could feel tears welling up and wiped them away.
On the ground Sonic had placed three large stones next to each other.
He leaned down and held out his hands towards them. Sally saw the wind
pick up and surround the rocks. When the wind cleared three small
crosses had been cut from the stones. The left one bore the name "Ixis
Naugus" and was cut to look like a crystal. The center one bore a small
crown on the top and her family crest just under it. In the middle of
the cross was the name "King Maximillian Acorn". The last grave looked
like it was patched together like a SWATbot's armor and had the name
"Snively Kintobor" inscribed in its center. Sonic stood up and stepped
away. His hand wrapped in Sally's as they looked over the new graves.
"They're...beautiful," she said wiping away a tear.
"It was the least I could do for them," he replied. He turned to
Sally and looked into her eyes. "Sal, about what you said earlier. I
was never angry at you. I understood why you felt like that. The only
thing that you need to know is that I will always be there for you. I
know I'm not the most dependable guy all of the time but I promise that
when you need me I'll be there. I'll be your shoulder to cry on, the
arms to hold you up, the legs to carry you when you can go no further.
I will, and always have, loved you Sally Alicia Acorn, princess or no."
With that he kissed her. Sally felt chills run through her body
as Sonic held her there. Eventually she wrapped her arms around him and
returned it. A sudden falling sensation overcame her and she opened her
eyes to see several windows as she fell through a multicolored tunnel.
Looking through the windows Sally could see all the times that she and
Sonic had spent together, both good and bad. She saw them as kids
meeting for the first time when his parents met with her father. The
two of them ran off to play and ran into Antoine, Bunnie and Rotor. It
fast forwarded to when they ran away from Rosie's care during the coup
and were captured, only to be rescued by their future selves. She saw
herself get shot by a lone SWATbot, Sonic taking it out then running her
back to Knothole. Growing up in Knothole when they had hit puberty it
had been hard to keep them apart. It was when they had briefly kissed
just to see what it was like, though they never told anyone about it.
Then she saw when Sonic, Antoine and Griff had all been vying for her
favor, then the two of them together as they joined the Deep Power
Stones to try and destroy Robotnik. It was followed by the interrupted
kiss that had followed and the continuing battle. Then the two of them
talking after the initial attack by Daryl and the first true kiss they
had shared when they finally admitted how they felt. His return and
victory over the human android, all the fights with Amy, their journey
here, everything was there. Sally saw a bright light and continued
towards it, feeling calmer the closer she got to it.
<<>> a voice said all
around her, vaguely sounding like Sonic's. <<>>
Sally neared the light and she was forced to close her eyes. When
she opened them she looked across a beautiful meadow. The grass was
just up to her knees and there were wildflowers spaced sporadically
around. She watched as laughing phantasms of her and Sonic as kids
chasing each other ran by. She looked around, unable to grasp that all
this was real.
"What is this place?" she asked aloud. "It's so beautiful and
peaceful. I feel that nothing in the world could bother me here."
"This is my inner world, my sanctuary," Sonic said from behind
her. She turned to face him and looked at Sonic as he had been before
his training. "When I need to think or I need advice from Sylvanix I
come here. No matter what is happening on the outside this place never
quavers."
At the dragon's name she noticed him sitting in a nearby tree
watching the two of them. He looked so relaxed and lazy right now, as
if the peace of this place had gotten to even him. "It's...incredible
she said still looking around her. "I can understand why you would come
here. But why am I here?"
"Because I want you to know all there is about me Sal," he
answered brushing a lock of her hair away from her face. "I wanted to
show you that you permeate my very being. Without you I would be lost
with no direction to follow. This world would crumble and fall apart.
I don't ever want that to happen."
"Sonic..."
The two of them were quiet as they stared into each other's eyes.
Finally Sonic smiled and his body changed to his current form. "I've
been waiting to give you something Sally," he told her. "I wanted the
perfect time for it and it couldn't get more perfect than this. I know
it will be difficult without your father but I promise that I will never
leave your side. Even if I should die I'll always watch over you. I
want to be with you now and forever 'til the end of time." With this he
dropped to one knee holding her left hand and reached into his pocket.
What he pulled out caused Sally to gasp. It was a platinum ring with a
deep blue sapphire mounted on top. On either side sat two smaller
diamonds that seemed to glow in this place.
"That ring belonged to my mother!" she said as everything began
falling into place. "It was the ring that my father used to propose to
her."
"Then it is only appropriate you should wear it as well," Sonic
said looking up at her. "Sally Alicia Acorn, will you marry me?"
Sally was speechless. All this for her, this moment? She didn't
know what to say. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at the
ring and then Sonic. This was what she had waited for her whole life
but had never imagined it like this.
"Sonic, yes, yes of course I will!" she exclaimed wrapping her
arms around him. When they parted he slipped the ring onto her finger.
It went on easily as if the ring had been made just for her. Its
radiance seemed to grow as it sat on her finger. She stared at it and
him tears falling from her eyes, not tears of sadness but of joy. Sally
was slowly enveloped by a white light with Sonic right there with her.
She kissed him feeling an inner peace like she had felt in the temple.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Sylvanix had landed next to
them and was smiling.
"You both...have my blessing," Sylvanix said as the light covered
them. "May you see peace return to this world and shadow banished
forever. May your lives and your love be long and prosperous."
Their lips parted and Sally could see they were on the edge of the
chasm. Had it all been a dream? She looked on her left hand and stared
at her engagement ring, just as she had seen earlier. She looked back
at Sonic and they both smiled. Sonic's face instantly changed to
surprise as he looked into her eyes. Her eyes were still light blue but
they seemed to glow as if some hidden power had been awakened.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly still smiling. Sonic smiled
again.
"Nothing," he said and kissed her again. Sylvanix was a crafty
one, he had to admit that.
Rotor sat at his computer station with Antoine looking over his
shoulder. He had finally been able to hack into the surveillance orbs
to see what was going on in the city. The last few days everything had
been crazy. First the power surge, then the AI SWATbot rebellion and
the influx of roboticized Mobians that had gone to various villages.
Too many Freedom Fighters were afraid they would turn at any second so
most of them had come to Knothole.
"Anything Rotor?" Antoine asked calmly.
"The city is finally calming down," Rotor replied shaking his
head. "I thought for a second that I was picking up Void energy but it
was gone as soon as it appeared."
"Are you to be thinking that Robotnik is planning something with
it?" he asked staring blankly at the screen. Rotor sighed and pushed
away from the console.
"I don't know Antoine," the walrus admitted. "Things are running
totally different than how Robotnik did anything. The city is more
efficient and more factories keep popping up."
"What kind of factories?"
"Mainly SWATbot," Rotor said leaning back. "There are some new
plans I'm not familiar with, though if I had to guess I'd say they look
like mineral harvesters. He may be going after the crystal mine again."
"We will have to look into this," Antoine said patting Rotor on
the shoulder. "You are doing good my friend. Do not be overworking
yourself."
"Same to you Antoine," Rotor replied. "How are your speech
lessons going with doc?"
"Not badly," the fox said. "It is odd that he is now so adamant
on continuing them. It is as if he is knowing something that I do not."
Rotor didn't answer since he was still concentrating on the
screens. Antoine sighed and left him to his work. He closed the door
on the way out and began to walk around the village. It had been over
two weeks since Sonic and Sally had left and he was beginning to get
restless. Nothing had gone wrong, he just felt that something was off.
The first sign had been the scared look on Bunnie's face after talking
to Rosie shortly after Sally's departure. Neither of them would talk
about it so he had given up on finding out. Come to think of it, Bunnie
had been acting rather odd lately. She had been going through her
family's relics looking for something but pretended to be cleaning
whenever Antoine came into the hut.
"Antoine!" Tails said running over. "There you are! I've been
looking for you all day."
"What is being the problem Miles?" Antoine asked. Tails narrowed
his eyes.
"You know I hate that name," he muttered. "Anyway, Amy and I were
scouting out the Robotropolis border like you said when we saw
something...weird."
Antoine looked at the young fox with a confused look. "What are
you meaning by 'weird'?" he asked.
"Well, it was a white hedgehog," Tails explained. "He was almost
as tall as Robotnik and had his eyes too. The tips of his quills were
black with lines running to his body. There was just something about
him that terrified me. He looked like Sonic, but yet he didn't."
Antoine closed his eyes. So Nano Sonic was still around. This
wasn't good news at all. "Was there anything else?" he asked.
"Umm, not really," Tails said scratching his head. "He was
walking around with a bunch of SWATbots though, so I don't think he's on
our side. It looked like he was searching for someone or something."
"Thank you Tails," Antoine said nodding. "Neither of you are
hurt?"
"For the last time, no," Tails said exasperated. "Amy and I are
capable of handling ourselves. We don't need you guys looking out for
us every second."
"It is not being that," he apologized. "It is merely being a
habit of mine to ask the scouts if anyone was injured."
"Oh," Tails said blushing lightly. "Umm, sorry about that then."
Antoine waved it away and Tails ran off. He heard a muffled
impact as Amy tackled Tails and then ran off. Their laughter made him
smile. He remembered being that young once. But now was not the time
for such things. Along his walk he talked with many of the refugees.
They had managed to build a large shelter to temporarily house them.
Aside from their surveillance Rotor and Uncle Chuck had been working on
the deroboticizer. They had come close a few times but the machinery
had given out. He walked back to his hut and sat down on the bed
sighing. Bunnie had the day watch so she wasn't here for him to talk
to.
"I am wishing this war would end," he said laying down. "Then
Sally could become Queen and everything could go back to normal."
There was a knock on his door and he stood up to answer it. On
the other side stood Dr. Osaka with a book in his hand. Antoine sighed
and let him in.
"Good afternoon Antoine," he said sitting down in a nearby chair.
"It's that time of the day once more." Antoine nodded and took the book
from the doctor. This was when he usually did his speech lessons with
Dr. Osaka though he had been more persistent since Sonic and Sally had
left.
"I am still not understanding why you are to be doing this," he
said looking at the doctor. Osaka stared back at him and cleared his
throat. Antoine muttered a curse and started over. "I am...I do not
understand why you are to be...why you are doing this."
"Better," Osaka said smiling. "Is this not something you have
wanted to do for some time now? If you are to lead people they must be
able to clearly understand you."
"That is not what I mean!" Antoine snapped. "Why are you pushing
moi so hard? It is not as if I am being king one day. Why do you want
me to be practicing so hard?"
Osaka was quiet. "You said that you wouldn't be king one day," he
said slowly. "You are wrong there."
Antoine sat there in shock. "You mean that moi is to be
marriaging ze prinzess?" he asked his accent coming back in full force.
Osaka shook his head.
"No," he answered. "You will be king, but Sally will not be
queen."
Antoine was silent trying to sort everything out. He would be
king, but the princess would not be queen? Wasn't that the duty of a
princess? Osaka could see the confusion in his eyes.
"Perhaps I should have told you sooner," he admitted. "Other than
Rosie and myself you are the only one to know this, and I would prefer
it stay that way." Antoine nodded still confused. "On her last trip to
the Void Sally was able to avoid being hurt by it. It has since
absorbed elements from both her father and Naugus. In short, it will
make sure that Sally is incapable of bearing offspring."
"And then by Royal Doctrine unable to take the throne," Antoine
finished choosing his words carefully. Osaka nodded.
"Yes, and very good," he complimented. "Therefore, a successor
had to be chosen. Sally and I believe that you would be the ideal
animal for the job. You are familiar with the ways of the royal family
and level headed unlike a certain hedgehog she has taken a liking to."
They both smiled and laughed. "I am not saying Sonic wouldn't make a
good king, just that it is not in his nature to lead without doing
anything. For him to be happy he must be in the action."
Antoine was quiet. "I believe I understand now," he said slowly.
"However, who am I to choose as my queen? Do I at least get to do
that?"
"Excellent work on that," Osaka said nodding. "You do. She does
not have to be royalty but she must consent to being queen. If she does
not want to rule then you must find another."
"I do not think she will mind," Antoine said smiling. "It is not
being far from-" A glare from Dr. Osaka stopped him. "It is not far
from how I treat her now."
"Glad to see you caught that," Osaka said nodding. "Perhaps you
are right, but it does not change matters. When Sonic and Sally return
inform her of whatever you choose to do, as well as the one you have in
mind. My guess is that Sally will allow you to take a more active role
in commanding the Freedom Fighters."
"Speaking of such," Antoine said leaning forward. "Tails said
that he and Amy saw a white hedgehog in the city earlier today. Do you
know anything of this?"
Osaka shook his head. "If I had to guess," he said, "I would say
that it is Nano Sonic. Why?"
"Tails also said it looked like he was looking for something,"
Antoine added. "If we can find whatever this thing may be then perhaps
we can be...we can disrupt Robotnik's plans."
"Perhaps," Osaka said rubbing his chin. "Something tells me there
is more to the situation than it appears. Perhaps we should wait for
Sonic and Sally to get back."
Antoine's hands curled into fists but then relaxed. "Fine," he
said. "When they get back we will move as soon as possible."
"Good," Osaka said and pointed at the book. "Now, open to where
we left off yesterday."
Antoine was about to when he heard twin sonic booms resonate
through the air. He threw the book down and ran outside just in time to
see Sonic and Sally come to a stop in the middle of the village. The
entire village ran out to greet them, especially the core Freedom
Fighters. Everyone was hugging them and asking how their trip was, how
was the king, every question they could think of.
"Princess!" Antoine yelled hugging her. "I am glad that you are
okay. Sonic, you are well too."
"I'm impressed Ant," he said smiling. "I can hardly tell you have
an accent now."
"Same here Antoine," Sally said. "Did we miss anything exciting?"
"We may have found a way to throw, how do you say, a wrench in
Robotnik's plans," he told her. Sonic and Sally looked at each other as
if something was wrong.
"Ant, we need the whole village here, including the watch," Sonic
said seriously. "We have some news from Robotropolis that everyone
needs to hear."
"One step ahead of ya' sugah!" Bunnie said running up with a
couple villagers. "What y'all need us here for?"
"We have news from the Void," Sally said breathing deep. "Naugus
is dead and my father is trapped inside. We also learned that Nano
Sonic, who now calls himself Kinos the Enslaver, has taken command of
the city."
"But what about Robotnik and Snively?" Amy asked. "Did he
roboticize them or throw them out? And how do you two know all this?"
"Robotnik is dead," Sonic said bluntly. "He was murdered by
Kinos, who then threw Snively into the Void which is how we know."
Everyone was silent. They had gotten their wish. Robotnik and
Snively were gone but they had been replaced by another tyrant. They
had come so close, and their dreams had been dashed so quickly.
"We have to stop him," Sally said interrupting their thoughts.
"It's his intention to break our spirits through acts like this. No
matter what we do we must remain strong through it all. We are Freedom
Fighters, and we will not rest until we have exactly that!" With this
last part she threw her fist into the air and the village joined in with
a loud cry.
"What should we do Sonic?" Tails asked at the end of the chant.
The hedgehog shook his head.
"I don't know buddy," he admitted. "We're up against someone who
will hold nothing back to win and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty
doing it. Kinos is unlike anyone we've ever fought."
"We'll do it Sonic," Osaka said stepping forward. "To beat your
enemy you must think like him, right?"
"Yeah," Sonic replied. "Problem is that he's already doing that.
I'm not entirely sure how to think against myself."
"You can do it Sonic," Amy encouraged. "If all else fails I'll
just beat him down with my hammer."
They all chuckled at Amy's enthusiasm. "Ah, if it was only that
easy," Antoine said. He looked over at Tails who seemed to be staring
at Sally's hand.
"Hey Aunt Sally," Tails asked, "what's that on your finger?"
The entire village was silent as Sonic and Sally smiled. "Well,
the cat's out of the bag, so to speak," she murmured. She cleared her
throat and spoke so everyone present could hear her. "So everyone
knows, I cannot be queen, even if we beat Kinos." A collective gasp
escaped the crowd and questions began flying. Sally held up her and
everyone was silent. "I have already chosen someone to succeed me and I
believe that they will be a great leader. From this day forward I am
only Sally Alicia Acorn. Tails, as for your question, this ring is an
engagement ring."
Tails and Amy just stared at her confused while everyone but Osaka
and Rosie stood in shock. "In other words," Sally continued beaming.
"Sonic and I are engaged to be married one day."
Rosie stepped forward and hugged both of them together tears
streaming down her face. "I'm so proud of you two," she said letting go
of them and smiling.
"It took you long enough Sonic," Osaka said shaking the hedgehog's
hand. Sonic smiled back.
"What can I say?" he replied. "I owe you for making me get the
nerve up doc."
"Wait a second!" Sally said looking over at them. "You knew this
whole time what he was planning and you didn't say anything?"
"It would've ruined the surprise Sal," Sonic said hooking his arm
around her waist. "Would you have wanted to know that this is what I
had been planning?"
Sally smiled as Bunnie and Antoine stepped up to them. They
hugged both of them and Bunnie stared at Sally. "Not somethin' I'd've
expected outta you two," she said smiling. "If Ah can get this one to
do the same then we're set." The stuck her thumb at Antoine who
swallowed nervously.
"Well, I should be getting ze move on," he said backing away
slowly. Rosie stepped behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Not so fast there," she told him. "You're not getting out of
this so easily."
Antoine tried to escape but Bunnie was in front of him and Dulcy
and Sally on either side of him. All of them were smiling down at him.
"Oh boy," he said and fainted. Bunnie shook her head and sighed. She
picked him up and put him on her shoulder and walked away. Sonic
shuddered as she walked away.
"Something tells me that Ant is lucky," he said quietly. "If he
was still conscious he'd be in way over his head."
"I don't think Bunnie's going to let that stop her," Sally said
holding his hand. "We had better get some rest as well. The next few
days are going to be pretty rough."
Kinos flipped through the various screens and sighed. The Freedom
Fighters hadn't taken the bait to any of his traps and he was getting
bored. He had noticed the two-tailed fox and pink hedgehog the other
day and decided to let them go. He wasn't interested in the small fry.
He wanted all of them at once. Maybe it was his programming but he
especially wanted the princess and the hedgehog. He would have to look
into altering that. Focusing on those two is what had led to all of
Robotnik's defeats.
"What is the progress on the disruptor shield?" he asked a nearby
techbot.
"SHIELD IS NOW OPERATIONAL," the bot droned. "FINAL TESTS HAVE
SHOWN THAT ENERGY THAT ATTEMPTS TO PASS THROUGH THE SHIELD IS STOPPED."
"What about physical matter, such as a living body?"
"OBJECTS ARE NOT AFFECTED," the bot continued. "HOWEVER, ONCE
OBJECTS ARE IN THE SHIELD THEY ARE ABLE TO USE VARIOUS TYPES OF ENERGY."
Kinos growled. That meant that Sonic could still use his wind
attacks. He had watched the fight between him and Daryl dozens of times
in an attempt to analyze his abilities. Unfortunately his attempts had
been futile. He would need to lure the hedgehog into the city to get an
accurate reading. But after watching that fight...
"Is there any way to limit the energy?" he asked finally.
"YES, BUT A MASSIVE POWER SOURCE WOULD BE NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH
IT," the techbot said. Kinos smiled. He knew just the thing. He was
about to respond when he heard the grating above and behind him fall to
the ground a someone land after it.
"Prepare to meet the Maker Robotnik!" he heard. He whipped around
and backhanded a male goat. The blow sent him reeling and the goat
stared at Kinos. "Who're you?" the goat asked.
"I think I should be asking you the same question," Kinos replied
glaring. "SWATbots, detain him!"
Before the goat could do anything he was tackled by the SWATbots
standing guard. Before he blacked out he saw the twisted smile of the
white hedgehog. The SWATbots stood up and moved to take him to the
roboticizer. "Wait," Kinos ordered. "Chain him up here. I have plans
for this one."
"AS YOU COMMAND LORD KINOS," the SWATbots said and proceeded to
lock the goat up. Kinos turned back to the security screens.
"Lord Kinos," he said quietly still smiling. "I like the ring of
that." He pressed a button on the panel and the profiles of different
Freedom Fighters flashed by on the screen. Finally the screen stopped
on the image of the goat behind him. "Griff huh?" Kinos said rubbing
his chin. "Leader of the Lower Mobius Freedom Fighters. It also seems
that Sonic gave him a part of the Power Stone to power their city. I
may indeed be able to use you."
He motioned to the techbot from earlier and it rolled to his side.
"Prepare to run power cables from this location," he said inserting a
disk into the bot. "Make sure that you only allow energy to escape from
it and that nothing else does."
"AS YOU WISH LORD KINOS," the bot said and rolled away. Kinos
smiled again.
"I still like how that sounds," he said and continued flipping
from camera to camera. Things had started moving finally. Now to get
the hedgehog to come to him. He needed a way to contact the Freedom
Fighters so they could see Griff. Perhaps this fool had some sort of
communicator he could use. Only one way to find out.
Kinos walked away from the computer and towards Griff. The goat
was still unconscious and hung almost lifelessly from his bindings. >I
have to find a way to turn him against the Freedom Fighters,< Kinos
thought. >Hmm, perhaps playing a defensive role will make him trust
me.<
Griff began to stir and he looked up at Kinos. Kinos looked back
at him his eyes replaced with deep blue irises and the whites of his
eyes white again. "Who...are you?" Griff mumbled. "And why am I
chained up?"
"It's a necessary precaution," Kinos said gently. "I don't take
too well to animals that attack me, especially when they call me by that
wretch Robotnik's name."
"I kind of expected him to be here," Griff replied. "Instead of
him and Snively I find some white hedgehog ordering around bots like
they were his own."
"It's a long story," Kinos explained smiling. His teeth were no
longer razor sharp and looked more like a Mobian's. "Tell you what,
I'll let you down as long as you don't try to attack me again. Deal?"
Griff stared at him. This guy didn't seem evil, just careful.
"Deal," he said. "But you still haven't answered all of my questions."
The SWATbots let Griff down gently and he rubbed his wrists. "The
name's Kinos," the hedgehog answered. "I was captured by Robotnik
awhile back. I managed to escape and came here for vengeance. I
overheard the fat man talking to himself, something about being glad he
threw Snively into the Void."
"Figures he'd do something like that," Griff muttered. "My name
is Griff by the way, leader of the Lower Mobius Freedom Fighters. So
how'd you take charge here?"
Kinos turned his head and stared at the floor. "I...found out
that while I was imprisoned Robotnik wiped out my village of
Cherrywood," he said with false tears. "I lost it and killed him.
Afterwards I managed to shut down a lot of the city briefly."
Griff was impressed. "You managed to do by yourself what we've
been trying to do for years," he complimented the hedgehog. "You must
be pretty strong and smart to have figured how to pull that one off."
Kinos continued to stare at the floor. These Mobians were so
trusting they couldn't even see through such a simple lie! Might as
well go for broke. "I'm not proud of what I did," he lied.
"Regardless, I was prepared to locate some of the Freedom Fighters when
I learned that some of them tried brand me as the enemy."
"The one who took out Robotnik? An enemy?" Griff said disbelief
in his voice. "Who could be that stupid?"
"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you," Kinos said
shaking his head.
"I've been through a lot," Griff said putting his hand on Kinos'
shoulder. "Trust me, I'll believe you."
Too easy. "Sonic Hedgehog," Kinos said simply. The disbelief on
Griff's face was apparent. "I know, I didn't want to believe it at
first. I even got the chance to meet him and he attacked me."
"But why would Sonic do something like that?" Griff asked. "I
know that he can be jealous and thick-headed about a lot of things but
if Robotnik was gone I thought he'd be happy."
"So did I," Kinos said. "From what I've been able to gather he
wanted the pleasure of taking out Robotnik himself. So in order for
_him_ to be the hero he branded me the enemy and managed to convince
most of the Freedom Fighter groups of the same."
"That idiot," Griff said grinding his teeth. "Is there any way I
can help you?"
"Maybe," Kinos said walking over to the computer and motioning to
Griff. "If you can get to Knothole and convince them that you've
actually met me and I'm not a monster you may turn enough of them
against Sonic that he'll have no choice but to concede."
"Sorry friend," Griff said shaking his head. "It's been so long
since I've been there that I don't know the way anymore."
Kinos swore under his breath. "Well, looks like I'll have to fit
the image of the enemy then," he said through gritted teeth. "Do you
have a channel that I can contact them through? If you can do that I
can get Sonic here to 'rescue' you from big bad Kinos."
Griff nodded and handed the hedgehog his communicator. "It's
stored on here," he said as Kinos took it and entered the code into the
computer. "What do you need me to do?"
"You don't mind playing a hostage do you?" Kinos asked as Griff
put the communicator away. He shook his head.
"If it'll help clear your name then I'll do whatever you can," he
said. "I was wondering if there was something you can do for us
though."
"Name it," Kinos said smiling. "It's the least that I can do."
"Under the city there a number of tunnels that are infested by rat
bots," Griff explained handing a small key to him. "There's this big
one that keeps terrorizing our city there and we can't do much with it
around."
"I'll send some SWATbots down to take care of it," Kinos said
handing the key to a nearby SWATbot and nodded. "I'll make sure to
clean up as many as possible to ease the strain on your city."
A look of relief washed over Griff's face. "Thank you so much
Kinos," he thanked the hedgehog shaking his hand. "Shall we get
started?"
"Yeah," Kinos said motioning to another SWATbot. "We'll get you
locked up again and knock you out. We need to make it look genuine."
"No problem," Griff said walking back to where he had been
earlier. "I'll let you know how it goes when I get back."
The SWATbot locked him up and fired a stun beam at him. Griff's
body went limp as unconsciousness took over. Kinos smiled his features
returning to normal. "I didn't think it would be that easy," he
muttered. The SWATbot he had given the key to turned to him.
"WHAT ARE YOUR ORDERS?" it asked. Kinos looked at it.
"Clear the sewers of the rat bots," he said. "If Griff is to
trust me then I must do this for him. Do not attack the Freedom
Fighters if they fire on you and but you may pursue them to the edge of
their city."
"AS YOU WISH LORD KINOS," the SWATbot said saluting. Kinos turned
back to the computer. Yes, things were finally falling into place. It
was about to get much more interesting.
(
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