"Dormant Fires"
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: Hi to all our fans out there. I know this story took a while,
but I hope you think it was worth the wait. Anyway, just take a look and
we'll see what happens.
Now to attend to some more serious business. As some of you
already know, Francis has been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disorder. In
other words, his kidneys are failing. I have been found a suitable donor for
him, and we will have the surgery June 18th. Or at least, that was how it was
planned until June 10. Now the doctors have postponed the surgery until August
6th. But here's the kicker: If I don't lose about 20-25 lbs in 5 weeks, the
surgery may be postponed until December! As you can guess, we're not in very
good moods, but we will continue to write. Hopefully, I might even gain home
access during my recovery to continue writing. Keep us in your prayers and
wish us both luck. Till next time, happy reading.
Cast of Characters(in order of appearance)
Sonic Hedgehog
Princess Sally Acorn
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Bunnie Rabbot
Miles "Tails" Prower
Antoine D'Coolette
Rotor
Knuckles Echidna
Maurice Hedgehog***
Patricia Hedgehog***
Dulcy
Dr. Robotnik
Metal Sonic
#15
Sonic slumped against the corner turnbuckles, sweating profusely. Sally
stood in the opposite turnbuckle for a moment, then ran at him. Halfway across
the ring, she went into a handspring and landed elbow first against Sonic.
Sonic would have fallen to the mat, if there had been any room to. Sally
grabbed him by the hair-quills and dragged him to her corner where she tagged
in Sondra. Sondra stepped through the ropes and grabbed Sonic in a double
chicken-wing as Sally hopped up to the second turnbuckle. "Time to get out,
Sally," Bunnie said, starting a five-count.
Sally flew at Sonic with a clothesline just as Sondra bridged back into a
tiger suplex. Bunnie went down for the count. One...two....
Tails jumped in to make the save. Bunnie escorted him back to his corner,
during which time Sondra and Sally each grabbed a leg and pulled them in
opposite directions.
Sonic sat up immediately, yelling in pain. Sondra dragged him to his feet
only to put him back down with a snapmare. She ran to the ropes, bounced off,
and hit Sonic with a powerful leg drive. She tried to cover Sonic for the pin,
but he kicked out at one.
Sondra picked him up in a front face-lock. Then, changing her mind,
whipped him to the ropes. Sonic reversed the whip, caught Sondra around the
legs as she came off, twisted and dropped her throat first on the top rope.
"Come on, Sonic!" Tails yelled from the corner as Sonic dropped to his
knees. "Get over here!"
Sonic crawled toward his corner as Sondra crawled to hers. Sondra reached
first and tagged in Sally. Sally made a dash to cut Sonic off, but he managed
to tag in Tails. Tails jumped over the top rope, hitting Sally with a well-
timed drop kick. He got up and hit Sondra with one as she came over. He kept
alternating between them until Sondra fell out of the ring.
Tails picked Sally up on his shoulders and tagged in Sonic. Sonic climbed
to the top turnbuckle as Bunnie started counting. Sonic jumped off, wrapping
his legs around Sally's head and bringing her down in a Frankenstenier. Sonic
immediately made a cover, but Sondra interfered before Bunnie could get a
count.
At that point, everything broke loose. All four were in the ring,
pummeling each other, and Bunnie could not get control. Sally threw Sonic out
of the ring and went out after him. Sondra picked up Tails for a bodyslam, but
he kept kicking his feet and she overbalanced backward. Tails landed on his
feet, picked her up, and dropped down in the Tombstone piledriver. He fell on
her for the cover. Bunnie noticed it and ran over. One...two...three.
Sally jumped in the ring and started arguing with Bunnie. "Sonic and I
were legal; how could you count Sondra out?!" she screamed.
Bunnie thought for a moment. "She right, sugarfox?" she called to
Antoine, who was sitting ringside.
"Yes, she is," Antoine said.
"OK, match continues," Bunnie said.
Sally nodded. When she turned around, Sonic kicked her in the stomach,
grabbed her head, and DDT'd her. Bunnie went down to count as Sonic covered
her. One...two...three.
"Looks like it didn't matter," Rotor said, ringing the bell.
Sonic and Tails highfived each other, then went to wake up their fiancee/
girlfriend, as the case may be.
"I hate to break up your training," a voice said from the forest, "but the
time is at hand."
Everyone looked and saw Knuckles walking toward them. "The Emeralds are
hidden?" Sally asked, snapping to full alertness when she saw Knuckles.
Knuckles nodded. "I must now inform Robotnik of this, but you need not
wait until I return to begin looking for them. In fact, I suggest you start
as soon as possible." He chanted something under his breath and slowly
disappeared from view.
"He certainly knows how to make an exit," Tails mumbled. "You OK,
Sondra?"
"Oh, fine!" she said sarcastically as he helped her to her feet. "I
just got dropped on my head, that's all. How do you think I feel?!"
"Like you could use one of these," Tails said, giving her a long hug.
"I hate when you make it impossible for me to stay mad at you," Sondra
said, kissing his nose."
"Enough you two," Sally said. "We have to start planning our searches for
the Emeralds. Meet at the War Room in one hour."
As everyone started to leave, Maurice came running up. "Umm, did I hear
Knuckles just now?" he asked nervously.
"Yeah, but he already left," Rotor said. "Why?"
"Patricia's hungry, and she's in a bit of a bad mood. After all, she is
B.T.S."
"B.T.S.?" Antoine asked. "What is that?"
"Beginning To Show," Maurice said with a smirk.
"I heard that!!" Patricia yelled stalking to him. Before Maurice could
run away, she picked him up and dropped him on her knee, groin first.
Maurice was the only one who felt the pain, but every male there doubled
over. But when she kicked him there with her pointed boot, they all fell down.
"Beginning to show, my foot," she said, stalking away. "He says that again and
I'll make sure he walks tiptoe for the next year!"
"Wonder if we'll be like that?" Bunnie asked Sally.
"Nah, we'll be worse," she replied as Antoine and Sonic fainted.
"I won't kick," Sondra said, walking away. "After all, I do have my
crystals." And then Tails fainted.
"You women are cruel," Rotor said in a tight voice.
"Your point?" all three asked.
"Glad I'm not hooked up," Rotor muttered. Then, aloud, he asked, "By the
way, anyone seen Dulcy? She's been gone since this morning."
"Actually, I haven't," Sally said. "I'll contact her after I shower."
Dulcy stretched her wings luxuriously and went into a full glide. She
loved flying over the Lava Pools that lay near the Great Forest. The updrafts
were a bit tricky to navigate, but they helped her soar to heights she usually
had to "crack the whip" to attain. From those heights, only the towers of
Robotropolis reminded her that Mobius was not as peaceful as it looked, and
even they were far off in the distance.
Dulcy flew near a small mountain that had once been an active volcano.
The volcano had long since cooled off, the crater a half-moon of solid pumice
and obsidian. Dulcy often explored the crater during one of the quieter
periods in her life. On her last trip she had discovered the warming stone she
had given to Sondra for Christmas. It was another of the rare joys in her
life.
Dulcy winged over the crater, getting ready to land to do some more
exploring, but ended up pumping her wings furiously to gain altitude. What had
recently been solid rock was now a roiling lake of magma. Noxious gases boiled
up from the surface and filled her nostrils. To any other creature, those
fumes would have been lethal. But dragons give off those fumes in their fire
breath, so it was merely an irritation to Dulcy. The unexpected updrafts were
more of a problem to her.
Dulcy rose to a safe altitude and started circling the newly active
volcano. "What's going on here?" she thought. "This thing died out a long
time ago! How could it possibly be active again?"
She peered through the thick ash and smoke. All she could see was the
brown of the volcano and the orange lava. She flew lower, navigating the
updrafts carefully. In the center of the lake was a bright spot of red,
seemingly untouched by the lava that surrounded it. It glittered and shone,
like a jewel of some kind. But no ordinary jewel would last in the heat of
that volcano. Unless.....
"A Chaos Emerald!" Dulcy exclaimed. "That's gotta be the reason behind
this. I gotta go tell Sally."
In Robotropolis, Robotnik was musing over Knuckles' words, who had just
left after telling him it was time.. "So the Race is on," he thought. "Very
well." Aloud, he said, "Metal Sonic, scan all sectors for any unexpected
power sources."
"Funny you should mention that," the robot replied, zooming in on the
volcano Dulcy had just left. "This volcano, extinct for the past hundred years
or so, has just started up again. Doesn't look like a natural occurence to
me."
"I see," Robotnik said thoughtfully. "Very well. Gather a battalion of
SWATbots and we will examine that volcano. It is entirely possible that
Knuckles has hidden the Fire Emerald there. The only problem will be in how
to get it."
"I believe I may know a way, sir," Metal Sonic said. "I will inform you
once we reach the volcano."
"Whatever," Robotnik said, waving it aside. "If your way does not work,
I am sure I will come up with something. Get the SWATbots together and we will
see."
"Yo, Sally!" Sonic yelled, bursting into her hut with Tails close behind,
"Dulcy's back, and she's got some major news for you."
"SONIC!" Sally screamed, hurriedly tying her bathrobe. "Don't you knock
anymore?"
But Sonic didn't seem to notice. "Dulcy thinks she found one of the
Emeralds!"
"Why didn't you say so?" Sally asked, forgetting her earlier anger and
embarassment. "Let's go!"
"Umm, you might want to get dressed first, Aunt Sally," Tails said, his
eyes tightly closed.
"Good point, Tails," Sally muttered. "I'll wait till Sondra gets out of
the shower and we'll meet you in the War Room."
"Cool," Sonic said. "Grab on, little bro!" Tails grabbed on as Sonic
peeled out of the hut.
Sally just shook her head. "That was close," she thought. "Now I know
how Bunnie felt, almost." She walked to the bathroom door and banged on it.
"Move it, Sondra! An Emerald's been found."
A little while later, everyone was in the War Room, listening to Dulcy
tell her tale. "When I saw that red jewel, I knew it had to be an Emerald,"
she finished.
"What do you think, Sal?" Sonic asked.
"It could be the Fire Emerald that Knuckles mentioned," she said slowly.
"In any case, it's worth checking out. Dulcy, take Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine
to the volcano, the rest of us will follow on foot. Any questions?"
"None," they all chorused.
"Good, then let's get moving." The War Room cleared out except for Sonic
who appeared deep in thought. "Careful, Sonic," Sally joked, "don't want you
to hurt yourself."
Sonic looked up at Sally, and what Sally saw chilled her more than an
Arctic snowstorm could. For the first time in her life, she saw true fear in
the eyes of her betrothed. "Sonic?" she whispered, sitting down next to him.
"Sal...I..." Sonic began in a choked whisper.
"Sonic, what is it?" Sally asked, her voice insistent.
"I...I'm scared," Sonic said, then blushed at his confession.
"What?" Sally asked, not really understanding what he was saying.
"I said I'm scared," Sonic said softly. "I mean, yeah I was scared when
I first faced the Kavenoff, but this is different. Then, I was afraid for my
life. But now, it's like the fear is eating away at me."
"Sonic, you're scaring me. I've never known you to be like this, and I
don't like it. Now knock it off, we've got an Emerald to get."
"That's just it, Sal," Sonic said. "I feel like all of Mobius is on my
shoulders. Look, we both know that even though you have your powers and Sondra
has her crystals, everyone is looking to me to beat Robotnik down like I've
always done."
"Exactly, Sonic. Like you've always done."
"I just don't know if I got what it takes anymore. I mean, when we were
talking about getting the Emerald, I should've been thinking about ways to
outfox ol 'Butt-nik. But all I could keep thinking about was whether or not
I should let you get that close to an active volcano. Yeah, I was excited when
I first heard the news, but it didn't last too long. I should be concentrating
on saving Mobius, but all I can think of is making sure you stay safe."
"Sonic, are you sure this isn't just about how I got roboticized that
time? Come on, let it drop."
Sonic took Sally's hands in his, and Sally was shocked at how cold his
hands were. "I can't, Sal. You are the single most important thing in my
life right now. I know Mobius has to come first, but Mobius be damned if
you're not there with me."
"Sonic, I don't know what to say," Sally whispered.
Sonic kissed her right hand, then her left, then the ring he had given
to her. "Just hold me," he whispered, putting her arms around him, and then
his around her.
Sally hugged Sonic close, cradling his head to her bosom. Sonic held
on to her as if for dear life. A mixture of emotions collided within Sally's
heart. All at once she felt like Sonic's mother, sister, friend, lover,
fiancee, and wife. She was each one, and she was all of them.
Sally turned Sonic's face up to hers. The fear had vanished from his
eyes, only to be replaced by a terrbile longing. Instantly, everything
vanished from Sally's world. Mobius, Robotnik, Knuckles, the Emeralds; all
gone. The only thing she knew right now was Sonic, that she loved him, and
wanted to be with him in every way that her love dictated. She lowered her
face to his, eyes closing.
"Hey, come on you two!" Tails yelled, stepping back in the War Room.
"Get the lead out!"
Sonic and Sally both jumped, brought back to reality. "We'll be right
out, Tails," Sally said in a shaky voice.
"Fine," Tails said, leaving.
"Sal, I..." Sonic began.
Sally kissed her finger and put it across Sonic's lips. "We'll finish
this later," she said.
Sonic nodded and they both stood up and walked outside. "Everyone ready?"
Sally asked, as if nothing had happened.
"Pretty much, Sis," Sondra said, taking Nadia from her boot and opening
her up. "Nadia, plot the safest course to the volcano."
"You got it, Sondra," Nadia said. "And while I'm doing that, I'll contact
Dono.... Oh yeah, I forgot, I can't anymore," she ended sadly, and then shut
herself off for some reason.
"Nadia, the route please. Nadia? Yo, Nadia, come on!" Sondra said,
shaking her a bit.
"I'll have Nicole do it," Sally said, taking Nicole from her boot and
repeating Sondra's request.
"Processing now, Sally," Nicole said dutifully.
"I don't know what's up with Nadia lately," Sondra said, closing her up
and putting her back on her boot. "Think I'll have Uncle Chuck take a look at
her later."
"Projecting map now, Sally," Nicole interrupted. A holographic map
appeared with a route highlighted in red.
"OK, everyone, you know where to go and how to get there," Sally said,
closing up Nicole. "Let's get a move on."
Robotnik sat quietly in his hovership by the rim of the volcano's crater.
He waited patiently for Metal Sonic to get his plan in motion. "SWATbot units
1, 3, and 5 through 15 move to the east side of the volcano," the robot said
into the communicator. "Report back when you are three-quarters of the way
up the side."
"UNDERSTOOD, SIR," a SWATbot droned back.
"I am waiting for this plan," Robotnik said, tapping his fingers together.
"I am not a very patient man."
"You will see everything in due time, sir," Metal Sonic said. "Trust me,
you won't be disappointed."
"I seem to remember a previous lackey of mine telling me that exact same
thing."
"IN POSITION, SIR," a SWATbot droned.
"Use your laser drills to drill through the side of the volcano," Metal
Sonic ordered.
"I see," Robotnik said appreciatively. "Lower the level of the lava and
we should be able to get the Emerald."
"And the placement of the hole will direct the lava right toward the
Great Forest," Metal Sonic added. "It's not our fault if the hole we create
to get the Emerald might cause some discomfort for the Freedom Fighters; that's
not the reason for the hole."
Robotnik let out a low chuckle that would have made Metal Sonic's quills
stand on end if they were not metal. "Oh yes, very good. Very good indeed.
I like the way you think."
"I do my best."
Dulcy flew high overhead as Sonic, Sally, Tails, and Sondra ran across
the ground. "Getting pretty fast myself, huh Sonic?" Tails asked, running
beside his best friend.
"I'll say. Not too long ago I was carrying you around everywhere. And
now this." Sonic sighed momentarily, then noticed how Tails' feet were not
really touching the ground as he ran. "Hey, what the...?"
Sondra straightened up from behind Tails. "Oh, it's just me," she said,
and Sonic could see her hands on his back, pushing him as she ran.
"Not funny you two," Sonic muttered.
"Oh lighten up, Sonic," Sally said on the other side of him. "Remember,
they are still twelve, no matter how they look."
"Yeah, yeah," Sonic said, speeding up a bit and pulling away.
"We didn't hurt his feelings, did we?" Tails asked, jumping up and
starting to fly. "He's been awfully touchy lately."
"He's just got a lot on his mind," Sally said evasively. "A lot's been
happening to him with his family and everything. Give him a little time."
"I'll go talk to him," Sondra said, running faster to catch up with Sonic.
Meanwhile, Tails was staring hard at Sally, who was doing everything she
could to avoid his gaze. "What exactly did I interrupt, Aunt Sally?" he asked
suddenly.
"Umm...keep your eyes forward, Tails," she said nervously.
Tails looked ahead just in time to avoid a tree. "Did it have something
to do with that talk Sonic had with me last summer?" he persisted.
Sally's turned the color of Sondra's hair. "Oh good, we're catching up,"
she said, stubbornly avoiding the subject.
Tails grumbled something, but remained silent as they rejoined the two
hedgehogs. "Everything settled?" he asked.
"Not really, little bro," Sonic said, "but I do feel better."
"So what did you two talk about?" Sally asked in a whisper.
"You," Sonic answered simply.
"What about me?"
"She just told me stuff I already knew, but it helped to hear it from
someone else's mouth."
Sally nodded. "We're almost there," she said to the others. "Sonic,
signal Dulcy to come in for a landing."
Sonic let out a shrill whistle as they reached the base of the volcano.
Dulcy dipped her wings down and came in for a landing. "Careful, Dulcy,"
Rotor said, shutting his eyes.
"Don't distract me," Dulcy said, turning her head to look at Rotor.
"Dulcy!" Bunnie yelled.
"What?" She turned back around and saw the ground rushing up. "Hang on!"
She opened her wings to try to brake her descent but she was too close. She
hit the ground hard, sending her three passengers flying. They managed to land
relatively safely a few feet away.
"What happened?" Sally asked, running up with the others.
"Dulcy blew it," Rotor said, standing and dusting himself off.
"Only because you distracted me," Dulcy retorted.
"Knock it off," Sondra said, getting in the middle of them. "Everyone's
nerves are frayed right now. Both of you chill!"
Dulcy and Rotor glared at each other a moment, then shrugged it off.
"Good," Sally said. "Dulcy, where exactly did you see that Emerald?"
"In the mouth of the volcano," Dulcy said, pointing. "It was perched on
a small rock in the center. Funny, I don't remember all those flashing lights
on the side of it."
"Say wha'?" Sonic asked, looking. "Oh man, SWAT-butts. Robotnik must've
found the Emerald. But what are they doing on the side?"
"Let's get up there and find out," Sally said. "The rest of you stay
here." Without waiting for an answer, they revved up and took off.
Sonic and Sally ran as close as they deemed safe and hid behind an
outcropping of rock. "Can you see what they're doing?" Sonic asked.
Sally pulled a pair of binoculars from her backpack. "It looks like
they're drilling into the side of the volcano. Omigosh, Sonic. If they break
through they'll send a river of lava heading straight for Knothole!"
"Time for those SWATbots to crash and burn," Sonic said. "I'll take care
of them; you get back and warn the others."
"No way, Sonic," Sally said. "I already told you, you don't have to
protect me."
"Sal, no time to argue."
"My point exactly," Sally said, running straight to the SWATbots.
Sonic ran after her just as she reached the first SWATbot. A few well-
timed blows, and it was out of comission. But the others didn't seem to
notice; they went right on drilling. "Yo, over here SWATbots!" Sonic yelled,
waving his arms. But they paid just as much attention to him. "What gives?"
At that moment, the laser drills punched through the volcano's side and
lava started spewing through. "Sonic!" Sally yelled. "Get up to the crater
and stop Robotnik. I'll take care of these bots and warn the others."
"Like I said originally," Sonic said, heading up the volcano.
Sally dumped each SWATbot into the lava before they could widen the hole
too far. She ran down to the others and told them what happened. "You've got
to find a way to divert the lava; I'm going up to help Sonic," she said,
heading back up.
"Don't be a fool Sally-girl!" Bunnie yelled after her. "Let sugarhog
take care of it!"
"It is no use," Antoine said. "She is already out of hearshot."
"That's earshot," Bunnie corrected distractedly. "We better figure out a
way to stop that lava or we'll be living in the middle of the biggest forest
fire ever!"
Sondra took Nadia off her boot and opened her up. "Feel like doing a
little work, Nadia?"
"What's the problem, Sondra?" Nadia asked, seemingly back to herself.
"Lava's heading this way."
"So move!"
"Not that easy. If we don't stop it, it will destroy the Great Forest."
"I see, give me a minute." Nadia grew quiet as she considered her
options.
"The lava level is receding, sir," Metal Sonic announced. "It is now safe
enough to fly in and get the emerald."
"Excellent," Robotnik said. "And what of my favorite Freedom Fighters?"
"They are busy trying to figure a way to stop the lava."
"Take us in."
"Not so fast, 'Butt-nik!" Sonic yelled, bursting into the pod. "You
ain't going nowhere."
"Think again, hedgehog! Metal Sonic, take care of him."
Metal Sonic jumped at Sonic, but Sonic ducked out of the way. As they
struggled, Robotnik flew the ship over the Emerald. "Just a little bit more,"
he muttered.
Sonic planted his feet into Metal Sonic's gut and pushed him into
Robotnik. "Thanks for the lift!" Sonic said. "I think I can take it from
here."
"Look to your princess, hedgehog," Robotnik cautioned, gloating.
"What?!" Sonic looked out the open hatch.
"Sonic!" Sally yelled. She was trapped on a rapidly disappearing island
of rock in the lava river.
"Sal!" Sonic yelled back. "Fly outta there, hurry!"
"I can't! My foot's trapped! Get the Emerald; I'll be fine!"
"Your choice, hedgehog," Robotnik sneered. "Get the Emerald, or save your
girlfriend."
"One day, Robotnik," Sonic muttered. He revved up his legs and took off
toward Sally.
Robotnik threw Metal Sonic off him roughly. "Lower the craft as far as
you can."
"Yes, sir," Metal Sonic said, standing a little shakily. "Man," he
thought, "at least Snively checked to see how I was."
Sonic jumped over the lava to where Sally was trapped. "I'm getting you
outta here," he said, pulling at her boot.
"Oh no," Sally moaned. Sonic looked up and saw Robotnik's ship flying
off, momentarily lit by a reddish light. "He's got the Fire Emerald!"
"We'll get it back somehow," Sonic said. "Right now, I gotta get you to
safety." He pulled and wiggled her boot, but it wouldn't come loose. Sonic
started punching the rock, hoping to crack it enough to get her foot loose.
Finally, the rock gave way and Sonic was able to free her foot. "Can you
stand?" he asked.
Sally tested her foot gingerly and winced in pain. "No, but I should be
able to fly."
Sonic grabbed on to her hands. "Good, then fly us outta here. This
rock's getting too small for my taste."
Sally nodded and took off. Sonic let out a slight yelp of pain as they
flew over the lava. "What's wrong, Sonic?" she asked. Before Sonic could
answer, she felt something warm and sticky on her hand. "Sonic, your hand!"
she yelled, feeling one hand swell and seeing the glove torn and bloody.
"I'll be fine, Sal," Sonic said through gritted teeth. "Just get us back
to the others."
Sondra tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for Nadia to finish. "Come on
Nadia," she said, "that lava should be here soon."
"Hold your horses!" Nadia snapped. "I'm on to something. About 2 feet
below us is a hollow shaft that leads back into the volcano. If we can find a
way to get through to it, it should swallow up the lava."
"Is that all?" Bunnie asked, taking off her engagement ring and putting
it in a pocket. "Just leave that to li'l ol' me." She turned her left arm
robotic and started pounding on the volcano. "See, the thing's already
starting to crack."
"Here comes Sonic and Aunt Sally!" Tails exclaimed, pointing.
Everyone but Bunnie surrounded them as they landed. "Well, where is
this Emerald?" Antoine asked.
Sally leaned on Sonic and pointed at a small dot in the sky that was
rapidly receding. "No way!" Dulcy exclaimed. "How could Robotnik beat you?"
"Robotnik didn't," Sally said ruefully. "I did. Sonic had to save me so
Robotnik got the Emerald."
"You two look a little worse for wear," Sondra observed.
"We'll be fine," Sonic said. "What's Bunnie doing?"
"Trying to open a..." Sondra began, but stopped and stared.
Bunnie was kneeling on the volcano, eyes closed in concentration. She
made punching motions with her robotic fist, but they were slow and never
touched the volcano. The motions seemed to be in time with her breathing which
was deep and even. "What is she...?" Sondra started, but Antoine clapped his
hand across her mouth.
"Just watch," he said, smiling.
Bunnie's eyes snapped open. With a loud yell, "Kiai!" she struck the
volcano. At first, nothing happened. Bunnie got up and calmly walked to the
others. Almost as soon as she stopped, the volcano began to cave in where she
had punched it. A ten-foot diameter circle fell away, revealing the shaft
Nadia had described.
The others stood open-mouthed as Bunnie returned her arm to normal and
replaced the ring. "We might want to move," she said, as if nothing had
happened. "That lava's gonna be on top of us pretty soon."
"How did you do that?" Tails asked as they all moved to a safe distance.
"Years of training," Bunnie said simply, and stoutly refused to say more
on the subject.
Everyone watched and waited as the lava inched closer to the hole. When
the lava reached the lip, they all held their collective breaths. When it
poured over the side and into the hole, they all cheered. "Way to go Bunnie!"
they said.
"It's not over yet," Dulcy said, subdued. "Look!" They turned to look
and saw that some of the lava had skirted the hole and was making a beeline
for the Great Forest. "I'll get it," she said, spreading her wings.
"No," Sally said, limping along with Sonic's help. "We'll get it. See
if you can freeze up the hole it's coming through."
"Gotcha, Sal!" Dulcy said. She took off and headed for the hole in the
volcano.
"What can we do here?" Rotor asked, eyeing the lava nervously.
"Sonic, Sondra, see if you can whip up a cyclone and cool that lava off,"
Sally suggested.
"Let's do it..." Sonic began.
"...To it!" Sondra finished, bumping her fist against Sonic's.
"I'll help too," Tails said. "I can use my tails as a fan. I'm just
gonna need someone to hold me down so I don't fly off."
Dulcy flew swiftly to the hole in the volcano. It was wider than she had
figured it would be. "This ain't gonna be easy," she thought. She took a few
deep breaths and let out a freezing blast through her nostrils. The lava
steamed and sputtered where her breath touched it, almost immediately slowing
and starting to cool. But as fast as it cooled, more hot lava came out of the
hole, nullifying her work.
"This ain't working," she thought. She flew closer and let out another
blast, hitting the lava stream dead on. It seemed to be working, but then she
ran out of breath and all her work was undone. "There has to be another way!"
She circled above the hole for a few moments, pondering. Then she hit
upon a way. She flew to the side and aimed her breath at an angle, hitting the
lava stream on the side. When she ran out of breath this time, she was glad to
see that the hole had closed somewhat.
Dulcy flew above the hole and did the same there, then to the other side.
She repeated the process a few times, closing the hole a little bit each time
she made a pass. Finally, the hole was closed, and she slumped down on the
volcano, exhausted. She laid her head down, trying to catch her breath. "Glad
that's over," she thought.
A loud rumble shook the volcano. She wearily raised her head and looked
up. Thick clouds of ash and smoke had begun billowing from the volcano. "Oh
no," Dulcy thought, "it's getting ready to erupt! I ain't gonna be able to
stop it if it does!"
She pushed herself up to a standing position and took off. She flew over
the top of the volcano and started blasting the edge with her freezing breath.
In much the same manner as she had closed the hole, she began closing the mouth
of the volcano. She pushed herself to her limits and beyond, refusing to stop
until the threat was over.
A red-tinged darkness began to cover her sight. Her lungs were burning
from the effort. Her wings ached and it was a struggle to remain airborne.
Dulcy was forced to land on the lip of the crater to conserve her strength, but
continued with her freezing breath. As she was about to pass out from sheer
exhaustion, she had the satisfaction of seeing the last area of lava cool and
solidify.
"That wraps up things here," Sonic said in satisfaction. "Dulcy must've
taken care of things at her end."
"I'm getting a little worried," Tails said. "She should've been back by
now. I'm gonna go look for her. Coming Sondra?"
"Sure!" Sondra said running up the volcano with Tails following.
Sonic looked at his hand, which was turning an ugly reddish color. "I
think I'd better go and get this hand looked at," he said. "You should get
your ankle checked too, Sal."
"While I'm flying, I don't feel any pain," she said. "Besides, I want to
wait for Dulcy."
"Here they come," Antoine said, pointing.
Tails and Sondra came down the mountain slowly, supporting a very tired
Dulcy between them. "What happened?" Bunnie asked.
"We found her at the top, completely passed out," Tails said. "She was
coming to when we found her, but she'll need a few days' rest to get back to
normal."
"I'm fine, Ma," Dulcy said, still halfway unconscious. "I just need to
take a nap."
"Not till we get back to Knothole," Sondra said. "Meet you guys there."
Robotnik watched as they turned back to the Great Forest from his ship
which was still nearby, only cloaked. "Such a pity," he said. "They seem to
have sustained a few injuries."
"So it seems," Metal Sonic agreed. "Think it will hamper them in future
Emerald hunts?"
"I'm afraid not," Robotnik sighed. "If I know the Guardian, Knuckles will
heal them up before the night is done, if they don't heal themselves. It's all
about his sense of fairness."
"Is it fair to us that he does that?"
"Perhaps not, but he wants each separate contest to be fought on equal
terms. Too bad, I was hoping they would suffer a good, long time."
"That is quite cruel of you," Metal Sonic muttered.
"I know, and I take it as a compliment," Robotnik said.
Later that night, Sonic lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His hand
didn't hurt too much anymore; Rosie had seen to it. It seems she had learned
some healing arts from Tanis while she was visiting him. Sally's ankle was
probably doing just as well, and all Dulcy needed was rest.
But they had lost the first Emerald. He knew in his heart he had done the
right thing by saving Sally, but he had put their entire campaign at risk. He
made a solemn oath not to let Robotnik get any more of the Emeralds if he could
help it. But he knew he would break that oath in an instant if Sally got in
trouble again.
The door to his hut creaked open, and he could tell who it was just by her
silhouette. "What's up, Sal?"
Sally walked in quietly and shut the door behind her. "I just wanted to
thank you for saving my life," she whispered, walking to the side of his bed.
"You know I'd do it again," Sonic said, smiling. "You don't have to thank
me for it."
"Well then, I want to apologize for not listening to you. If I hadn't've
been so stubborn you would've gotten the Fire Emerald."
"We'll get it back. It's only one Emerald."
Sally lay down on the bed next to Sonic. "Sal, what are you doing?"
Sonic asked.
"I told you before we'd finish our 'talk' later," Sally said, smiling.
"It's later."
"Umm...Sal...I," Sonic started, extremely red in the face. He took a deep
breath and cleared his throat. "About what happened. Look Sal, I know what
would've happened if Tails hadn't interrupted us, but I'm glad he did."
"What?" Sally asked, sitting up and looking at him.
Sonic sat up and looked at her, noticing for the first time that she did
not have her nightgown on. He swallowed a few times before continuing. "I
just don't think I'm ready yet," he said. "If we were married, it would be
different. But now, like this?"
Sally sighed. "I guess I understand, though I can't say I'm not
disappointed. Still, I'll respect your wishes."
Sonic sighed in relief. "Then why are you still here?" he asked.
Sally smiled and looped her arms around him. "If I can't do what I want
to, then I'll do this. Before you asked me to just hold you, now I'm asking
you that. Hold me tonight, Sonic, that's all I'm asking."
Sonic hugged Sally close and lay back down with her next to him. For the
first time in a month, he felt warm, safe, and secure. He drifted off to sleep
almost immediately, as did Sally. They spent the whole night like that, just
laying there, content only to be with each other. Nothing else was required.
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