"The Return of the King"
Authors: Robert Brown and Francis Tolbert
Disclaimer: This story uses characters created and copyrighted by Sega of
America, Inc. and Archie Comics (except where noted, in which case
they were created and copyrighted by us). The authors hereby give
permission for this story to be downloaded and/or printed at 1 copy
per user as long as (1) no changes to the story are made without our
express written(not e-mailed) permission and (2) no attempt is made
to profit from this story. If either or both rules are violated,
it will be considered a violation of copyright law.
Author's Note: At the request of Francis, I am also foregoing this Author's
Note to allow this story to stand on it's own. Till next time, Happy reading!
Peace, see ya later.
Cast of Characters (in order of appearance)
Princess Sally Acorn
Rosie
Tanis Shi-rat***
King Acorn
Sonic Hedgehog
Antoine D'Coolette
Bunnie Rabbot
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Miles "Tails" Prower
Donovan###
Alexi Kavenoff###
Uncle Chuck
Maurice Hedgehog***
Patricia Hedgehog***
Naugus
Snively
Metal Sonic
Dorian Lexford***
Dulcy
Rotor
????????????????
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#13
Sally awoke from the most peaceful slumber she had had in a very long
time. She sat up and stretched, basking in the ray of morning sunlight that
fell upon her bed. She looked over and saw that Sondra's bed was empty. She
stared for a second then remembered she and Tails had had guard duty the night
before. "I wonder how much time they actually spent watching for intruders
instead of watching each other," she mused.
She got out of bed and walked to the window. Knothole had been almost a
non-stop party for the past week. The combined excitement of the double
engagement and the return of her father put all the citizens in an extremely
joyful mood. She smiled, thinking that her life had never been better.
"Good morning, Princess," said a friendly voice near the window. "You
look well."
"Good morning, Rosie," Sally said, turning to her nanny. "Today is a
great day."
"As it should be, Princess," Tanis said, stepping into view. "I have not
felt this hopeful about the future in almost a decade."
Sally's smile widened, and she seemed to have a glow that competed with
the sun. "Thank you, Tanis. It's nice to know that everything is starting to
come together."
Tanis nodded thoughtfully. "If you will excuse me, I have some business
to attend to in Sanctuary." He turned, bowed to Rosie, and walked off.
"He still loves you, you know," Sally pointed out. She motioned to her
to come inside.
"And I suppose I love him," she said, walking in as Sally opened the door.
"I had thought us beyond this nonsense. But then, I guess there's no way to
reason with a heart, eh Princess?"
"I know that well enough," Sally answered, sitting down on her bed.
"There have been plenty of times when I thought I'd had enough of Sonic to last
me a lifetime. But then my heart got involved, and we always ended up back
together."
"You say that as if you regret it," Rosie said, sitting down and smoothing
her grey curls.
Sally looked at her engagement ring. "No, I could never say that," she
admitted. "To think, I'm soon to be Mrs. Sonic Hedgehog. I'll never say this
in front of him, but it's been a dream of mine since we were kids."
"I know, you've told me more than once. But along the same lines, Sonic
will one day be king of all Mobius. I wonder how he'll handle all that
responsibility."
Sally tried to imagine Sonic in royal garb. The pathetic look he had on
his face made her dissolve in laughter. Rosie must have been thinking the same
thing for she also started laughing.
After the laughter had subsided, they each took a deep breath. "I think
that's not the only reason you're happy," Rosie said.
Sally gave a crooked half-smile, which caused another small outbreak of
laughter. "Rosie, you know I love having my father back," Sally said with a
smile. "Most if not all of my dreams came true in that one night."
Rosie smiled, but it was half-hearted. Sally noticed the change in her
old friend's demeanor. "What's wrong?" she asked, immediately concerned.
Rosie cast a furtive glance around. "Princess, what I say now you must
promise to hold in the strictest confidence. No one, not even Sonic can know
of this until I am sure of what I say."
All traces of a smile left Sally's face. "What is it? Is it something
about my father? What is wrong with my father?"
Rosie sighed. "I can't put my finger on it," she said softly. "But there
is something about him that seems different. He is not the fox I helped to
bring up."
"What are you saying?" Sally asked, aghast. "Are you saying that this
is an impostor?"
Rosie shook her head. "No, I'm certain he is who he says he is. But I'm
referring to the being inside. He's different somehow, and it scares me."
Sally searched her nanny's face. "Oh, Rosie, think of what he's been
through," she said finally. "He's been away from everything he's known and
loved for almost twelve years. Of course he's changed!"
"But is it for the better?" Rosie wondered, though she wondered it
silently.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, just the ramblings of an old woman. Well, I've taken up too
much of your time," she said, rising. "Your father asked me to get you; he and
Sonic have things they want to talk about with you in his hut."
Sally smiled. "Tell them I'll be there as soon as I get dressed." She
got up and went to the bathroom.
Rosie looked at the door and sighed again. "I fear it's more than that,"
she thought as she left the hut. "But I know to whom I must speak."
Sally fairly skipped down the path to her father's hut. It was no
different from the rest of the huts, but it had been put together in record
time. When she opened the door, she saw Sonic and her father were sitting in
front of each other, discussing something animatedly. "Good morning, Daddy,"
she said, giving him a hug.
"Morning, Sally," the king said, returning the hug. "Sleep well?"
"Like a baby. Good morning, Sonic," she said, giving him a hug and kiss.
"Morning, Sal," Sonic said. "Your father's been telling me of everything
that'll be expected of me as king."
Sally sat on Sonic's lap. "Like what?" she asked.
"As you know, Sally," her father began, "the monarchy has traditionally
been handed down from father to son. In times when the only heir is female,
whomever she marries has become the king. It has also been traditional that
he take the name of Acorn instead of his wife taking his, to preserve the
line. Also, the first child born that is fox-like is the designated heir."
"Do you have a problem with any of that, Sonic?" she whispered.
"Not really," Sonic said. "I just never thought about it before. It'll
take me a little bit to absorb it all, but I guess there won't be a problem."
"There are a great many things you will have to think about now that you
are to be king," the king pointed out. "But our first objective should be to
get back Mobotropolis."
"Don't you mean 'Robotropolis'?"
"I will never refer to my city by that name!" the king thundered, causing
Sonic and Sally to jump a little. Then, in a more normal voice, he continued,
"That name is an abomination to everything I have ever believed in. I will
neither say it, nor shall I hear it spoken in my presence."
Sonic shot Sally a worried look, but she just shrugged. "Do you have a
plan?" she asked, changing the subject.
"I've had a plan for a few years now. But I have to see if it'll work
with what we have here." The king grew thoughtful for a moment. "I won't
say anything else until I'm sure. If you'll excuse me, I have some things I
want to discuss with some of the animals here." He stood up and, giving a
stiff bow, walked crisply from the hut.
"Wow, major mood swing," Sonic said after the king had gone. "I mean,
he was talking all normally, then he went ballistic! What do you think that
was all about, Sal?"
Sally shrugged again. "I don't know, Sonic," she confessed. "Maybe
it's just stress."
"Yeah, could be." But Sonic did not appear convinced. "How're you
doing?"
"I'm fine, Sonic," she said, smiling. "In fact, I'm supposed to meet
Bunnie soon and go over some plans."
"Oh, what kind of plans?" Sonic asked, beginning to nuzzle her neck.
"Wedding plans."
Sonic stopped moving so suddenly that Sally thought he might have
fainted. "Umm, Sal," he began in a croak, "don't you think that's moving a bit
fast?"
"Well, Sonic, I gotta run," she said, giving him a quick kiss and
standing up. "See you later!"
"Wait a minute..." Sonic started, but she was gone in a huge sonic boom
before he could finish. "Maybe it was a mistake to give her a power ring for
an engagement ring," he thought, picking himself up off the floor.
Sally stopped a few meters outside the hut, smiling to herself. She was
in no real hurry, just wanted to make Sonic think otherwise. She calmly walked
to Bunnie's hut and was surprised to see her father emerging from it. "What
are you doing here, Daddy?" she asked.
The king appeared discomfited for a moment, but shrugged it off. "I just
wanted to speak with Antoine," he said. As he spoke, Antoine walked out of the
hut. "If my plan is to work, he will be key."
"I am honored, my liege," Antoine said, bowing. "My services are at your
disposal."
"I see you have finally grasped the language," the king remarked.
Antoine smiled a half-smile. "Love can be doing many things to an
animal," he said, looking back at the hut. "But that will be for another
time."
"Of course. But now, we must discuss...." The king's voice faded as
he and Antoine walked off.
Sally shook her head, bemused. She walked through the open door and saw
Bunnie sitting on her bed, looking quite a bit upset. "What's the matter,
Bunnie?" she asked, sitting down next to her friend.
Bunnie took a deep breath. "Sally-girl, now don't go and take this the
wrong way, but your father has really ticked me off."
"What?" Sally asked, not sure what she was hearing.
"I mean, I can understand why he needs to talk to sugarfox, but he's got
no call to speak to me as he did."
"What do you mean?"
Bunnie looked at Sally. "Your father practically ordered sugarfox to go
with him. When I asked if they could talk later, he got really nasty, saying
how he was the king and his orders are to obeyed at once."
"That don't sound like my father," Sally said slowly. "Are you sure you
couldn't be reading more into this than is there?"
Bunnie's look hardened. "Sally, I wouldn't be tellin' you this if I
wasn't sure of myself."
"I'll have a talk with him, I promise."
Bunnie nodded. "Well, see that you do. You know I got me quite a temper,
and if it wasn't for sugarfox, king or no king, I woulda probably ended up
cursing him out."
"Take it easy Bunnie," Sally said, standing up. "I'll go talk to him
right now if you want. Just keep calm, OK?" She backed out the door, closing
it as she left. "My father's usually much more diplomatic than that," she
thought, walking the way she had seen her father and Antoine go. "I wonder if
he has something on his mind."
As she walked, she came across Tails and Sondra, both looking glum.
"What's with you two?" she asked.
"Father gave us a real tongue lashing," Sondra said, sniffling.
"Why? What did you do?"
"We fell asleep just as our guard duty was ending," Tails explained. "He
started yelling at us like we were in the army or something. I know we were
wrong, but did he have to yell at us for five minutes straight?"
"And he was even harder on me," Sondra said. "He accused me of not living
up to the faith he put in me, saying I'm setting a bad example for the rest of
Knothole. Oh, Sally, what's happened to him? He's not the father I remember."
Sally shook her head. "I don't know, Sondra, but I'm determined to get to
the bottom of this. I'll let you know if I turn up anything. Gotta run." She
revved up her legs and took off after her father. "Oh, you might want to get
in touch with Donovan," she called over her shoulder.
"I'm gonna go talk to Sonic," Tails said, giving Sondra a hug. "Maybe we
could figure out what's up."
"OK," Sondra said. "Give me a few minutes to set Nadia up and I'll join
you."
Somewhere in the Great Forest, Donovan was following a set of large
footprints. "I must be almost on top of him," he thought, drawing his sword.
He thought back to the events of the past few weeks. The strange skunk
had wreaked havoc on a scale Donovan had never before seen. Two Freedom
Fighter villages had been nearly destroyed, and many of the villagers had been
either hurt, maimed, or outright killed. He probably would have completely
destroyed everything if Donovan hadn't stopped him when he did. As it was, it
would take months if not years to repair the damage.
"Come in, Squirrel-boy," Nadia's voice came over his communicator.
"Keep it down!" Donovan whispered fiercely, grabbing his communicator.
"He'll hear you!"
Just then, a large skunk burst out from the trees ahead of him, swinging
his runesword wildly. Donovan barely avoided the sword and ran as fast as he
could. "You will not escape me so easily!" the skunk yelled. "All the misery
you have prevented me from dishing out I will return on you ten times over!"
"What was that?" Nadia demanded.
"Some bugged-out skunk with a misery complex," Donovan said. "He's
as fast as I am, and I don't have enough room to fly with my boots!"
"Umm....did you say skunk? I don't suppose you got his name, did you?"
"He said it last time I fought him, when you nailed him with that black
sound, but I wasn't paying attention. Hey weirdo," he called to the skunk,
"what's your name?"
"I have been known by many names in my existence," he said in a pained
voice. "But for now, you may call me Alexi Kavenoff, at least until you die!"
"Kavenoff!" Nadia and Donovan screamed together.
"Get your butt outta there Donovan, now!" Nadia yelled.
"Wish I could!" Donovan said, dodging the sword. "But I might lead him
straight to Knothole!"
"Hold on!" Silence for a few seconds. "When I give the word, dive."
"But....."
"Now!"
Donovan dove forward and shut his eyes against a brilliant white light
that suddenly appeared. The next second, he was on the floor of Sally and
Sondra's hut. "How'd I end up here?" he asked when his head cleared.
"Sondra found one of your teleport receiver chips and incorporated it
into my circuitry. I just activated the chips you always carry around, using
myself as a point of reference. But I can also block it, so don't get any
ideas, Squirrel-boy."
"Quit calling me that, Nadine," he answered reflexively. "I'm sure this
has a very interesting story behind it, but I must go talk to Tanis. The
ancient spirit is released."
"Well, you don't have to go far. He's here in Knothole visiting Rosie."
Donovan nodded. "Oh, by the way, Nadine," he said as he walked out the
door, "don't think I was too preoccupied to notice that you called me by my
real name when I was fleeing Kavenoff." He waited for a smart remark, but it
didn't come. He looked back and swore that Nadia had developed a pinkish
tinge. "Must be the light," he muttered, and shrugged it off.
As he walked down the path, he noticed that there was a change in Knothole
since he had last visited. It was festive and upbeat in a way, but muted and
restless in another. The strange paradox worked its way into his mind and thus
he did not see Tanis until he was almost on top of him.
Tanis gracefully sidestepped as Donovan came up short. "There seems to be
much on your mind today, Donovan," Tanis remarked.
"Donovan?" a voice asked before he could respond. The king turned a
corner and came upon them. "Yes, I remember you from when I escaped the Void.
I did not know your name then. But now I see you are Dionti's son."
Donovan immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head. "I am here to
serve you, my liege," he said respectfully.
"I gather that you have not always been a Freedom Fighter, then?" the
king inquired disapprovingly.
"My apologies, but that story must keep for another time. It is
imperative that I speak with Tanis at once."
"I had thought to speak with him further, but there are other things that
I must do. Until next we meet," the king said and left.
Donovan rose to his feet as the king left. "I did not know that he had
returned," Donovan said. "Perhaps that was Nadia's purpose in summoning me
here. Considering the circumstances, I cannot blame her."
Tanis had been deep in thought, but that roused him. "What circumstances,
Donovan?"
Donovan looked at Tanis. "You have something on your mind, old friend.
What is it?"
"You first," Tanis insisted.
"The evil spirit is released," Donovan said gravely. "I fear all of
Mobius is at risk."
"Yes, I know. I had forgotten about it until Sonic went to look for his
parents and was alerted to its presence. I was going to tell you when the time
was right, but that won't be for many months."
"I remember the legend. I will do what I can to minimize the damage until
then. But now you had something on your mind."
Tanis sighed. "Yes. The king found out that the covenant is broken, and
wants to know if I can use my powers offensively against Snively."
"What?"
"According to the covenant, my powers are at his disposal. But I've never
used my powers except in defense of another. I don't know if I could bring
myself to wantonly destroy something, even a robot."
"You can only do what your conscience demands," Donovan said. "If you
try to go against your conscience, it will do harm; especially to you."
Tanis smiled ruefully. "So it seems the student has become the teacher,
eh?"
"Only because the teacher was so good," Donovan agreed, then yawned.
"You seem very tired," Tanis said worriedly. "Why don't you catch a
quick nap and I'll wake you up later. I'm sure Sondra wouldn't mind you using
her bed for a time."
"I don't think," Donovan began, but then suddenly felt very tired. "Maybe
I will take that nap." He walked back to Sondra's hut and without another
word, plopped down on the first bed he found and fell asleep.
Nadia lay on the table, her monitor blinking. Advanced calculations
suddenly began to flash across the screen. When they stopped, she fired her
laser at a very low power setting. It ricocheted of a few items and struck
Sondra's dresser. The top drawer fell open and a blanket fell out, landing
squarely on Donovan. Donovan grabbed the blanket and pulled it up around
him as Nadia activated her automatic shut-off routine, which had only been
recently installed.
Sally was running around Knothole, looking for her father. Everywhere
she went, some of the animals were grumbling about her father, and she did
not like what she was hearing. "I can't believe my father would talk like
this," she thought. "He'll be back to himself soon, I know it." But somehow,
she found it hard to believe her own words.
She ran back toward her hut, and saw her father speaking to Sondra and
Tails. "I've been looking all over for you!" she exclaimed, coming to a
stop. "Where have you been?"
The king looked at her, smiling. "Sorry, Sally. I've just been trying to
apologize to everyone for my attitude today. I am the king, but I forget that
you have led them for pretty much the past twelve years. It will take them
time to adjust to me being back."
"Is that true, Tails?"
"Yeah, Aunt Sally," Tails answered. "I understand now what's been going
on. No prob here."
"Same here, Sis," Sondra added. "Everything's under control now."
Sally gave a deep sigh of relief. "I'm so glad to hear that," she said,
giving her sister and father a hug. "You'll see; everyone'll come around."
"Sooner than you might think, Sally," the king whispered, hugging her
back. "Sooner than you think."
Later that day, just as the sun was starting to set, five animals sat
around a table. "You all know why we're here," Maurice said.
"We five are the only ones left that have known the king personally before
the coup and are old enough to remember how he used to be," Patricia added.
"And each one of us knows something is not right."
"I helped raise him," Rosie said, "just like I helped raise his daughter.
I know him better than any of you. But when I saw him today, he was not the
same fox I brought up."
"I worked for him for many years," Uncle Chuck said thoughtfully. "He
would often stop by the lab, just to say hi or talk about things. But since
he's been back, he only sees me to get updates on activity in Robotropolis.
And he refuses to call the city by that name, yelling at anyone who does."
"While he was king, he would often come to me for advice," Tanis said.
"But we were also friends. Now he wants me to go to war with him, though war
is not my nature. He has every right to ask this of me, according to the
covenant, but I thought he would never try to force me to do something I did
not agree with."
"And we have been friends with him all our lives," Maurice said. "He
confided everything in us, even when he first fell in love. But he tells us
nothing now. It's as if we have become strangers to him, or he to us."
"We're all agreed that something has happened to him," Patricia concluded.
"What we have to do is figure out what happened, why it happened, and what we
are going to do about it."
"Perhaps I can shed some light on this," said a low, raspy voice from the
shadows. All five turned to look and saw Naugus shuffling forward into view.
"I believe I know what has happened to your king."
"Then tell us," all five said together.
Naugus leaned against a wall and spoke slowly, as if standing and speaking
pained him. "While we were imprisoned in the Void, I discovered that it was a
thing of evil, as many of you already know. When the young ones destroyed its
core, all that evil was released. At first, I had thought the evil would
simply dissipate or spread out, but that was not the case.
"I first became aware of the truth while the king and I traveled in the
forest, trying to get used to being in Mobius again. He had never been a harsh
fox, but that was how he had seemed. I attributed it to stress, but it just
kept getting worse. I knew then something was wrong.
"When we came here, everything seemed to be fine. But from what I have
just overheard, that is not the case. The evil that was the Void has taken up
residence in the king's soul, turning him cold and cruel. If we don't find a
way to banish it, I fear he may be lost to us forever."
"But why him?" Rosie demanded. "Why not you or one of the others?"
"I have thought long and hard about that," Naugus admitted. "Just as the
young ones shielded themselves from its crystallizing properties with their
love, so did they shield themselves from its evil. That left only the king
and myself. I was an evil creature, so had lived with it most of my life. If
it were to infect me, I might be able to control it and hide it away. Such is
not the case with the king. The evil is controlling him."
"You said you were an evil creature," Uncle Chuck pointed out. "Are you
saying you are no longer?"
"Fourteen years in the Void can change a man, especially when the first
two are spent alone. I have come to terms with my evil. That is not to say
I am not vengeful, however. If Robotnik were to stand here in front of me, I
would gladly destroy him. But I have turned away from my evil."
"That explains much," Tanis said thoughtfully. "I may have a solution.
We Holy Ones have an ability to draw evil out of others an disperse it in the
universe. But it is a long and drawn out process, and must be performed at
Sanctuary. The trick will be to get him there."
At that moment, a loud cry rang through the village of Knothole. All six
of them fell silent, listening. The cry repeated itself, and it seemed to be
like a war cry. "What do you make of that?" Rosie asked, somewhat
apprehensively.
Maurice and Patricia exchanged glances. "The last time I heard that cry
was at the beginning of the Great War," Maurice said slowly.
"In our sophisticated age, some traditions are still held dear," Patricia
added. "That cry is supposed to bring luck and fortune to warriors, as well as
bring them back safely. But why would they be doing that now?"
Then it dawned on them. "He's going to attack Snively now!" Uncle Chuck
said. "We have to stop them!"
But by the time they reached the meeting place, no one was to be found.
"They must all be on their way to Robotropolis," Rosie said. "We'll never be
able to stop all of them!"
"Did anyone stay behind?" Maurice called, his voice ringing clearly
through Knothole. But no one answered. "He must be going for all or nothing.
He has to be stopped!"
"Wait," Tanis said suddenly, "there may be one who stayed behind." He
walked quickly to the hut shared by the princesses and went inside. "Wake up,
Donovan," he said, shaking him roughly by the shoulder.
"Wha'....who....?" Donovan said sleepily. He sat up and stretched.
"Tanis, what is it?"
"Grave news, I'm afraid. The king is under an evil influence, and is
leading all of Knothole to Robotropolis."
Donovan snapped alert. "Has he turned traitor?"
"No," Naugus said, coming in with the others. "He believes he can defeat
Snively and retake his throne. But he will do it at any cost."
"I understand," Donovan said, standing up. "Let's get to the War Room,
and we'll figure out what to do from there. No sense rushing in blindly." He
started to leave with the others when he noticed the blanket that had been
covering him. "How did...?"
Nadia blinked on. "What's up, Squirrel-boy?" she asked. "Enjoy your
nap?"
He picked up Nadia and carried her out. "Later for all that. We have a
serious situation."
In Robotropolis, Snively was carrying out his daily sector check. "Sector
C-35, report," he commanded.
"NO LIFEFORMS, SIR," a SWATbot droned back.
"Sector C-36, report."
"NO LIFEFORMS, SIR."
"Sector D-1, report."
No response. "Sector D-1, report!" Snively repeated. Still no response.
"Dorian, Metal Sonic, report to sector D-1 at once."
"As you command, sir," they said, bowing. They walked out, taking a few
SWATbots with them.
"What could have happened?" Snively wondered aloud. "Sector D-1,
report!"
"Does everyone know what to do?" Donovan asked, switching off the
holograph. "Timing will be crucial, so wait for my signal."
"How do you propose to give such a big diversion?" Maurice asked.
Donovan cast a sidelong glance at Tanis. "Just leave that to me and
Nadia."
Maurice just shrugged. They all started to leave when Patricia suddenly
doubled over, holding her stomach. "Patricia, what's wrong?" Maurice asked,
hurrying to his wife.
A small groan escaped Patricia's lips. "Just feeling a bit nauseous,"
she said, straightening up. "I'll be OK."
"Well, you're the one who had seven chili dogs with pickles and sauerkraut
for lunch!" Maurice said jokingly. "Not to mention a couple of fish fillet
sandwiches, and the ice cream."
Donovan felt a little sick himself after hearing that. "Are you going
to be OK enough to come?" he asked.
"I should be," she said. Then she turned a faint shade of green. "Then
again, maybe not." She ran out of the hut, her hand over her mouth.
"I'll stay behind with her," Rosie said. "I've never been one much for
missions."
"This was dangerous enough with seven of us," Donovan said, "now there're
only five. I like this less and less."
"Maybe I could call Lupe and have her send some reinforcements," Nadia
suggested. "By the way, love how you didn't include me."
"Sorry, Nadine, but you are a computer. And Lupe is busy rebuilding and
burying her dead. Of the eleven Wolf Pack members, now only five have
survived."
"The Kavenoff?" Tanis whispered.
Donovan nodded. "But that will be for later. Get to your positions and
await the signal." The others headed toward Robotropolis, but Donovan rocketed
off toward the heart of the Great Forest.
Rosie walked calmly after Patricia. "I'm glad to be out of that," she
thought. "Besides, I have a feeling my place is here with them."
Dorian and Metal Sonic arrived at the edge of Sector D-1. "I'll check the
eastern half," Metal Sonic said. "You check the western. Meet back here in
five minutes."
Dorian nodded and headed off with some SWATbots. Metal Sonic was about to
do the same when a loud shout of "Attack!" caught his attention. Suddenly, a
large number of animals ran out from their hiding places and attacked the
robots.
"Open fire!" Metal Sonic commanded, but the SWATbots were overrun before
they could even aim. Metal Sonic managed to get away and called for some
reinforcements.
"I've got the same problem here!" Dorian exclaimed. "Fall back to the
command center!"
"Stop them!" the king commanded. "Don't let them escape!" His subjects,
caught up in the fever of the battle, rushed forward heelessly.
"We got 'em on the run!" Sonic yelled, leading the charge. Sally,
Bunnie, and Antoine were to his left, while Tails, Sondra, and Rotor were to
his right. The rest of Knothole was following along behind, with the king
bringing up the rear. "See, Sal, all those plans didn't do what we're about to
do right now!"
"I don't know, Sonic," Sally said, yelling to be heard above the noise.
"It seems almost too easy."
Just as they were about to storm the main building, a battalion of
SWATbots appeared and started firing. "Take cover!" Sally yelled.
"No, keep going!" the king commanded. "Push them back!"
"Father, no! We'll be sitting ducks!"
"Do as I say!"
Sally stared at her father wordlessly, not understanding what was
happening. Just then, Antoine took a laser shot in the leg. He collapsed,
howling in pain.
"Sugarfox!" Bunnie yelled, clearing a path to him. "You alright?"
Antoine clutched his leg. " I can't stand on it!" he said through gritted
teeth.
"I'm getting you outta here!" Bunnie hauled him up on her shoulder and
turned to leave, but the king barred her way. "What do you think you're
doing?"
"You should be going that way!" the king said, pointing toward the
building.
"Antoine's hurt; I'm getting him outta here!"
"Leave him, if you must, but you're going inside!"
Bunnie had never been more angry in her life. But as she opened her mouth
to barrage the king with curses, a stray laser shot hit her robotic arm,
blowing it off at the elbow. She grabbed at the stump, refusing to cry out.
"Dulcy!" she called.
"Coming Bunnie!" Dulcy swooped down, put Antoine in her pouch, then did
the same with Bunnie after she had picked up her severed arm. "Outta here!"
Dulcy said, cracking the whip and flying off.
"Traitors!" the king yelled, shaking his fist at them.
"Your Majesty!" Rotor yelled, diving on top of him. A laser blast just
missed Rotor by inches, roboticizing the animal behind him.
"Get off of me!" the king yelled, throwing Rotor off. One section of
SWATbots fell back, and he took the opportunity to get into the building.
"You OK, Rotor?" Sally asked, going to him.
"I think I broke my leg!" Rotor yelled.
"Sonic, go get my father!" Sally yelled. "Everyone else get back to
Knothole!"
"Meet ya there, Sal!" Sonic said, revving up his legs. But before he
could get started, a SWATbot fired at him, hitting him in the stomach. Sonic
slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"Sonic!" Sally yelled, kneeling beside him. She turned him over and saw
a large burn mark where he had been hit.
"I'll get them out of here," Tails said, grabbing Sonic while directing
another to grab Rotor. "You and Sondra get your father!"
"Let's do it, Sis!" Sondra yelled, running after the king.
Sally followed close behind. A handful of SWATbots appeared from a side
room, but Sondra took care of them with a well-timed Spin Dash. As they passed
by, Sally noticed one of the SWATbots getting up and aiming at Sondra. "No!"
Sally yelled, veering for it.
Sally's engagement ring started to glow, and the glow surrounded her.
Hardly knowing what she was doing, she curled into a ball and struck the
SWATbot with her own version of the spin dash. But because she had no quills,
she did not tear through the SWATbot as Sonic and Sondra would have. Instead,
the power unleashed overloaded the SWATbot's circuits and turned it into a
steaming pile of molten metal, which Sally was then able to break through.
"Wow, Sis," Sondra said, making a u-turn and coming up beside Sally.
"Never would've thought you had it in you."
Sally smiled weakly. "I didn't either," she admitted, taking a deep
breath. "How can you and Sonic do this so much?"
Sondra smiled. "You get used to it," she said. "But for right now, let's
go get Father."
The princesses revved up their legs and took off down the corridor. They
reached the main control room and burst inside. The king had Snively by the
throat, holding him above his head. "Now I shall make you pay for all the
misery I suffered over twelve years!" he growled, tightening his grip.
Snively squirmed and struggled, but could not get out of the king's death
grip. "Kill me, and every SWATbot in this room will open fire on you," he
whispered, for he could not draw in enough air to make it any louder.
"I don't care if I die! As long as you are gone!"
Snively caught sight of Sally and Sondra and smiled. He made a gesture to
the SWATbots, who turned and aimed at them. "What about the lives of your
daughters?" he inquired.
The king turned to look at them. "I'm gonna scrap these SWATbots," Sondra
whispered, clenching her fists.
"No, don't," Sally whispered. "I want to see what Daddy will do."
The king's lip curled into a sneer. "No matter the cost, Mobius must be
freed!"
"Daddy?" Sally asked plaintively. "You don't mean that!?"
The king stood watching her, unmoved. Then something happened. It was as
if Sally was growing younger right before his eyes. What he saw now was a
five-year-old vixen, his little Bean, just as she had been days before the
coup. All those years he had been away from her just melted away. All those
years when she had grown, matured, strengthened...all those years he had missed
her.
With a anguished cry, King Acorn hurled Snively into the SWATbots guarding
the door and collapsed. Amid all the confusion, Sally grabbed the king and
tried to run out while Sondra used her crystals to waste the remaining
SWATbots.
"You're not going anywhere, Princess," Dorian said from the doorway. He
and Metal Sonic sighted their rifles at Sally's and Sondra's heads. "One false
move and we fire."
Sally slowly laid her father on the ground and raised her hands. Sondra
walked next to her and did likewise. "This isn't over," Sondra said, her hands
glowing crystalline for a moment.
Dorian and Metal Sonic cocked their rifles. "What should we do with
them?" Metal Sonic asked, looking at Snively who was just now standing up.
"The way I feel right now, I don't care if they get roboticized or shot; I
just want to be rid of them!" Snively yelled.
Metal Sonic smiled, but Dorian looked glum. "I derive no pleasure from
this," he said, almost as an apology.
But before they could fire, Donovan suddenly appeared in the room. "Why
don't you try shooting me?" he inquired snidely.
Dorian growled in anger. "Now him I'm gonna enjoy shooting!" He brought
his rifle to bear on Donovan and fired.
The laser went right through him and fried the computer console on the
other side. "A hologram!" Metal Sonic exclaimed. The hologram smiled and
pointed outside.
"Time to dish out some misery!" screamed a voice just outside the door.
Before anyone could react, a large skunk burst in the room, swinging a sword
covered in runes. Spying the hologram, he let out a cackle of pure glee.
"Finally, I can revenge myself on the one who has caused me the most pain!"
"Who do you think..." Dorian began. Alexi grabbed both him and Metal
Sonic and banged their heads together. Dorian slumped to the floor,
unconscious and with a gash open on his forehead.
Metal Sonic, unaffected, grabbed the skunk by his throat. "I don't know
who you are," he said, "but get ready to die!"
"Oh, but I cannot be killed by one such as you!" One swing of his
runesword later, and Metal Sonic was on the floor next to Dorian, wires exposed
and short circuiting. "And now for the squirrel!" Alexi dove at the hologram,
striking again and again though his blows did no damage.
"Let's get out of here!" Sally said, grabbing her father.
"Allow me, Princess," Tanis said, walking into the room. "The others are
making sure that everyone is escaping. Quickly, grab my hands."
Sally grabbed on to Tanis' left hand while Sondra held on to his right.
Tanis started chanting and a wind began to build around them.
At the sound of chanting, Alexi turned. "I know one of the Shi-rat when I
see him," he said, advancing on Tanis. "You cursed me with this pendant, and
now, I will curse you with death!" He leaped at Tanis, runesword slashing.
The wind surrounding Tanis, Sondra, and Sally rose up, blocking them from
view and throwing Alexi back. When the wind died down, they were gone. "NO!"
Alexi screamed in anger. "I must have vengeance!"
"You won't have it here!" Snively yelled, pushing a button. A trap door
opened under Alexi. Screaming and cursing, the skunk grabbed on to the edge of
the pit. Snively calmly walked up to the edge. "I don't care who or what you
are; get out of my city!" He stepped on the skunk's hands.
Alexi screamed and let go. He dropped down into the pit as the cover slid
back on top. "So much for him," Snively thought. He bandaged Dorian's head
and managed to revive him. "How do you feel?"
"Like someone rammed my head into the wall," Dorian groaned. "But I'll be
OK."
"While I repair Metal Sonic, I want you to assess the damage to the city.
Something tells me that skunk caused a lot of damage."
Dorian nodded and stood up. He walked off somewhat unsteadily, but
managed to get out of the room.
Alexi ended up far outside Robotropolis, once he stopped rolling. The
chute had ended rather abruptly, and he had rolled on for quite a while. "I
will return for you," he swore, laughing. "But first, I must find the one who
most deserves misery!"
Back at Knothole, the mood was very grim. There were few, if any, who
were completely uninjured. Those who were not badly injured tended to those
who were. Those who could prepared those who had died for burial., Sally
helped Tanis as he did his best to heal those who needed it.
Sonic came up to them, head hanging low. "How bad is it, Sonic?" Sally
asked, even though she didn't really want to know.
Sonic sighed heavily. "Of everyone who went, 25 are injured, 10 missing
in action and feared roboticized, and 5 known dead. I have already begun
informing the families and making preparations for the burials. I figured I
would spare you that."
"Thank you, Sonic," she whispered. "How are you doing?"
He shrugged. "Tanis healed me up just fine. But I'm a little tender."
"You'll be OK in a day or two," Tanis said. "Princess, I think you
should go check on your father."
Sally nodded. Sonic started to walk with her but Sally stopped him.
"I understand," Sonic said before she could speak. He gave her a quick kiss of
encouragement.
Wiping away tears, Sally walked to her father's hut and knocked softly on
the door. "Daddy, can I come in?"
"Come in, Sally," her father answered. The sadness in his voice brought
tears to her eyes. She opened the door slowly and saw her father sitting by
the window. "How, from where I began, did I end up here?" he wondered aloud.
"Oh Daddy, don't blame yourself," Sally said, crying. "Naugus told us
what happened; it's not your fault."
"Yes it is!" the king insisted. "I should have been able to control the
evil. Instead, I let it control me. I thought it would help me get the throne
back; I should have known the cost!"
"Maybe you should have, but it's over and done with. Five good animals
are dead because of this. You can either wallow in self-pity, or fight it. My
father told me never to give up at anything."
A rueful smile crossed the king's face. "You're right, Sally. I will
fight it."
"And I will help you," Tanis said, walking into the hut. "But first, I
needed you to agree to fight it, but only Sally or Sondra could do that. I
would have gotten Sondra, but she is occupied with Tails."
"How can I fight it?" the king asked.
"Not 'how' but 'where'. This is a battle that must be fought at Sanctuary
and with help. I will help you as will Naugus, because he knows the Void well.
All of us working together can get the evil from you."
"How long will this take?" Sally asked.
"I'll be very honest. It will take months, perhaps years. And even then,
some of the evil may remain; your father will never be the fox he once was."
"Will you come visit me, Sally?" the king asked.
"Of course, Daddy," Sally answered. "Anytime I can, if Tanis will allow
it."
"I think it will help very much," Tanis agreed. "But now we must go."
"Farewell, Sally," the king said, leaving with Tanis.
"'Bye Daddy," Sally said, waving. She walked through Knothole, full of
sadness, and came upon Bunnie, Antoine, Rotor, and Donovan. "How is everyone
here?" she asked half-heartedly.
"I will be limping for a time," Antoine said. "As will Rotor. But I am
more concerned with Bunnie."
"Rotor and I've been trying to re-attach her arm," Donovan said. "But the
damage is quite severe. It will take a few days to get it back in service."
"Will I still be able to change it?" Bunnie asked.
"I'm not sure, but I see no reason why you couldn't. But not yet!"
Donovan yelled, too late.
Bunnie changed her arm back, and it immediately swelled up. She grabbed
it, yelling in pain. "Feels like my arm is broken!"
"It is," Donovan said as Antoine applied a splint. "Now you can't change
it back to robotic until it is fully healed."
"I'll see Tanis in the morning. I just wanted to put my ring back on."
"Ring?" Donovan asked. Bunnie took her engagement ring out of her pocket
and put it on her finger. Donovan looked at the ring, then at Antoine. He
also noticed the ring on Sally's finger. "Congratulations," he said simply.
"Now, I think I'd better leave."
A loud beep came from his boot. Donovan looked down and saw Nadia
attached to it. "Sorry, Nadine," he said, taking her and opening her up. "I
forgot I had you."
"Don't let it happen again, Squirrel-boy!" Nadia said angrily. But to
Sally's ear, the anger seemed a little forced.
"I'll get her back to Sondra," Sally said, taking Nadia and closing her
up.
Donovan nodded. "I must admit, she was helpful in tracking the Kavenoff
down and fashioning that hologram. But don't let her know I said that." He
bowed, activated his rocket boots, and took off.
"You are going to bed," Antoine said, picking Bunnie up gently. He limped
off, holding her close. "And I do not want to hear any arguemints."
"That's arguements, Antoine," Bunnie said softly, looping her good arm
around his neck.
"I'd better get to my hut," Rotor said. "Tanis told me to rest for three
days at least."
"Get going Rotor," Sally said. "I'll let you know if we need you." She
began to walk off to give Nadia back to Sondra, but came across a very excited
Patricia and Rosie. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Patricia exclaimed. "I just need to find Maurice and Sonic;
I have great news for them!"
"I could use some great news," Sally muttered. "Mind if I tag along?"
"Sure!" Patricia practically dragged Sally off as she searched for her
family.
"Patricia, I told you it is not a good idea to get so worked up," Rosie
cautioned.
"Later, Rosie," Patricia said, spying Sonic and Maurice. She ran to them,
still dragging Sally along. Just as they caught sight of her, she let go of
Sally and jumped into Maurice's arms, kissing him wildly.
"What's gotten into her?" Sally asked.
"I'd like to know that myself!" Maurice exclaimed, when he was able to.
"I ain't complaining, but I wanna know what's going on!"
Patricia whispered something in Maurice's ear. Maurice's eyes widened as
far as they could. He looked at her, trying to say something. Patricia just
kept nodding, smiling. Maurice's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed
in a dead faint.
"What happened?" Sonic demanded, helping his mother up.
"Oh nothing," Patricia said, still smiling. "I just gave him some good
news."
Sonic and Sally exchanged a few glances. "Then why did he faint?" Sally
asked.
"Probably from system shock," Patricia answered mysteriously.
"Quit stalling and tell us!" Sonic said, getting very impatient.
"Well Sonic, let me put it this way: how would you feel about no longer
being an only child?"
Both Sonic's and Sally's mouths dropped wide open. "You mean...." they
both started.
"I'm pregnant!" Patricia exclaimed, hugging them.
Sally hugged her back enthusiastically. But Sonic's eyes rolled back in
his head, and he collapsed in a dead faint. "Like father, like son," Patricia
murmured.
"But how...." Sally began.
"Sally, didn't I have that talk with you?" Rosie joked.
"That's not what I mean!" Sally said, blushing.
"We know," Patricia said, laughing. "After all, I'm only thirty-nine."
"This is great!" Sally said. "We have to tell the others. It'll do a
lot to restore everyone's mood."
"What should we do about them?" Rosie asked, pointing to the two males.
Sally and Patricia smiled. "Leave them there," they said together, and
walked off. Rosie just smiled and followed them.
Somewhere over Mobius, a tropical island floated randomly through the air,
kept aloft by some unseen source. On this island, in a secret cavern, a red-
quilled echidna sat watching the events in Knothole through an oddly colored
grey emerald that pulsated with a soft light. "So these are the ones you would
have oppose you for control of the Emeralds?" he asked an unseen companion.
"Yes," he answered in a whispery voice, stroking his mustache with his
robotic hand. "They have long been a thorn in my side; it is only fitting that
they have the opportunity to save their planet."
The echidna nodded. "Then prepare yourself. We will leave for your city
in one month's time. "You remember what I have taught you; you know what will
happen."
"I do," the human answered. "I take my leave of you." He turned around
and left the chamber, his cape sweeping across the floor.
The echidna glanced around the room at six other emeralds floating in
mid-air, as well the one in the center. Red, Blue, Green, Grey, White, Purple,
Yellow. Fire, Water, Earth, Life, Wind, Shadow, Lightning. "The fate of this
planet is about to be determined," he thought. "Whichever side wins, Mobius
shall never be the same for it." He began chanting, calling up the spells
needed to support the island when the emeralds were removed.
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