"The Power Within"
Authors: Francis Tolbert and Robert Brown
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 or by another and we have
permission to use them). 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: Yo! It's me. I know, I know. I usually try to avoid this
things like the plague, but Robert couldn't think of anything to say.
Anyway, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to write this story. We
both underestimated how long this story had to be. Plus, we both got very
busy with the holidays. I just hope this story was the wait. Thanks for your
patience. Peace, See ya later.
Cast of Characters(in order of appearance):
Princess Sally Acorn
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Nadia***
Donovan###
Sonic Hedgehog
Tanis Shi-rat***
Rosie
Dr. Robotnik
Dorian Lexford***
Metal Sonic
Knuckles Echidna
Dionti Osaya###
Miles "Tails" Prower
Bunnie Rabbot
Antoine D'Coolette
Princess Lydia Evergreen^^^
Isabela Evergreen
Uncle Chuck
Rotor
Dulcy
Snively
#27
Just outside Knothole, Sally and Sondra were walking toward Donovan's hut.
"It will be good to see them again," Sondra said. "It's been almost a month
now without hearing from them."
Sally nodded quietly, but Sondra could tell her sister hadn't heard a word
she said. "Umm, Sally, you're about to walk into a tree," Sondra said
jokingly.
Again that same nod from Sally. Sondra just sighed, then had to push
Sally to the side when she saw it really hadn't been a joke. Sally landed hard
on her side and glared up at Sondra. "What did you do that for?" she asked,
sitting up and holding her ribs.
Sondra helped Sally to her feet. "It was either that or let you get
skewered."
Sally looked at the tree just to her side and saw a very sharp branch that
had been pointed right at her. "Thanks," she muttered, dusting herself off.
"What are sisters for?" Sondra asked, smiling. "But maybe this isn't the
best time to visit them."
Sally waved it off. "I'm just worried about Sonic. After all I haven't
seen all that much of him lately."
"What do you mean?" Sondra asked. "I haven't noticed him missing or
anything."
"That's just the thing. He's around, but he hasn't been with me. It's
not that he's avoiding me either. At least, I don't think he is."
"Oh come on Sally," Sondra said, nudging her sister in the ribs with an
elbow. "The day Sonic avoids you is the day I eat one of my crystals. He's
probably just working on something."
"What he needs to be working on is helping us get the three Emeralds we
don't have," Sally muttered, starting to walk down the path again. "He seems
so focused on something, but it's not what we need him to be focused on."
"We'll talk about it later," Sondra promised. "Right now, we'd better get
moving. We got a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it."
Sally nodded and the sisters walked in silence the rest of the way.
Sondra walked right up to the door and knocked on it. "Voice identification,
please," the computer said through a speaker set just to the side of the door.
"It's me, Sondra," Sondra said. "Come on, let us in."
"Us?" the computer asked. "Please identify."
"Princess Sally Alicia, of the House of Acorn," Sally said formally, but
with a slight sigh.
"Nice of you to grace us with your presence," the computer said with a
touch of sarcasm. Then it added, "Silly."
Sally reached for Nicole, but Sondra stopped her. "You asked for that
one, Sis."
"Yes, you did," the computer agreed. "Announcing your presence now."
Nadia was sitting in the chair in front of the computer. From the back,
it looked like she was working. Any other view, however, showed her fast
asleep. "Nadia," the computer said quietly, trying to wake her.
Nadia stirred, but did not wake. "Nadia!" the computer yelled at full
volume.
"What?" Nadia yelled back, grabbing something nearby and throwing it at
the speaker.
"Good, at least I didn't have to activate the alarms to wake you. Anyway,
you have visitors."
"Visitors?" Nadia asked, emphasizing the final "s". "Sondra said she
might drop by today, but didn't say she was bringing Tails."
"No, it's not Tails. She brought her sister."
"Oh. Well, let them in."
The door opened and Sondra and Sally walked in. "Thank you so much,"
Sally said, doing a curtsy mockingly.
"The pleasure is mine," the computer said, then fired a laser just close
enough to Sally to singe her tail. "Your Majesty."
Sally jumped with a small yell and swatted at her smoking tail as Sondra
just stood there laughing. "It did that to me once," Sondra said between
laughs. "Then I threatened to shove a few crystals into the main consoles and
it's left me alone since."
"Hi you two," Nadia said, giving them each a hug. "So what brings you out
this way?"
"Well, it wasn't to get my tail burnt," Sally said, frowning.
Nadia tried to hold in a chuckle, but not all that well. "Computer, you
know better. Should I have Donovan tweak your program again?"
"She asked for it," the computer returned.
"Let's not point fingers," Nadia said. "So what did you two come here
for?"
"I came to visit," Sondra said. "Sally wanted to talk to Donovan. Is he
around?"
"Umm, no," Nadia said, seeming slightly ill at ease. "But I can get him
here in a few minutes, if you care to wait."
"It is important that I talk to him," Sally said, sitting down in a nearby
chair. "Where is he anyway?"
"Training," Nadia said with a shrug.
Sally narrowed her eyes slightly. Nadia's manner had suddenly become a
bit forced, as if she were hiding something. But she was activating the
communicator, so Sally held her peace.
Somewhere in the Great Unknown, Donovan stood calmly with his arms folded,
looking down at his watch. Somewhere nearby, a crackle of electricity sounded,
followed by a yell of pain. Donovan just shook his head. "Again?" he thought
with an inward sigh.
Just then, his communicator beeped to life. Without looking, he grabbed
his communicator and clicked it on. "Is this an emergency?" he asked, not
taking his eyes off the watch.
"You decide," Nadia said. "Sally's here, and she wants to talk to you."
"Concerning?"
Silence followed for a moment. "Your surveillance of Robotropolis," Nadia
said finally. "She wants your help in locating the Emeralds."
"Hmmph, ironic. I'll be there as soon as I can." Donovan turned off the
communicator and replaced it in his pocket. All this time, his eyes had never
left his watch.
After a few minutes, Sonic came into view. He stumbled across a line that
had been scratched in the dirt and collapsed. "Since when did you start using
real traps?" Sonic asked, rubbing his side where some blood could be seen.
"Since you started running through the illusions." Donovan answered.
"Remember Quills, Robotnik won't be using any illusions. He's going to be out
to kill you."
"He won't get the chance if you do it," Sonic said, ripping off the
sneakers he was wearing. Where his normal sneakers were red with a white
stripe, these were yellow. "And I hate these sneakers."
"You asked me to improve your instincts so you won't rely on your speed as
much. That is why I made these. Can you think of a better way from stopping
you from using your speed than to send a few volts through your feet every time
you speed up?"
"I understand it, that doesn't mean I like it." Sonic rubbed his feet and
sighed. "At least I only forgot once this time. How's my time?"
"Good enough that I would have started using real traps anyway. Just know
that next time, more of them will be real. You've got to determine which ones
are and which are not."
"Yeah yeah, I know, my instincts. Let's head back."
"Me, yes. You can't. Silly's at the base."
Sonic's eyes widened. "You don't think she knows, do you?"
"I doubt it. She came over to discuss my surveillance equipment."
Sonic shook his head slowly. "That's my Sally, never giving up hope. But
I know it's going to come down to me and Robotnik in that fight Knuckles
mentioned. Whatever it was called."
"Armageddon," Donovan said gravely. "The fight for the seven Emeralds.
Well, I'd better be going before Silly starts to suspect something."
"What about my backpack? Remember, it's in your room."
Donovan groaned slightly. "I'll send you, and it, to Sanctuary. Just
wait there for it."
Sonic nodded, reaching for the teleporter chip Donovan held out to him.
A few seconds and the push of a button later, Sonic was surrounded by a white
light and disappeared. Donovan nodded to himself, picked up the yellow
sneakers, and disappeared in his own flash of light.
Sally, Sondra, and Nadia were talking calmly when Donovan appeared by the
doorway. All three turned to him, not surprised in the least by his sudden
appearance. "Hello. Excuse me one moment," he said, hurrying past them into
the bedroom.
"He seems in a hurry today," Sondra observed.
"Since when does he wear sneakers?" Sally asked.
"Sneakers?" Nadia repeated.
Sally nodded. "He had a pair of sneakers similar to the ones Sonic wears,
except for the fact that they are bright yellow."
"Oh, those. I...gave them to him for his birthday. He doesn't really
like them, but he uses them to humor me."
Sally and Sondra exchanged a glance, and just shrugged. They all settled
back to wait for Donovan to come out of the room.
Meanwhile, Sonic paced around in his socks just inside Sanctuary's doors.
"Sonic?" a familiar, yet unfamiliar voice asked. "Is that you?"
Sonic turned and stopped when he saw Tanis. "Tanis? I hardly recognized
you."
"Well, you haven't been by to see me or Rosie since we were youthened,"
Tanis said, smiling. "So how is your training going?"
"I'm doing OK," Sonic said, shrugging. Then something occurred to him.
"Hey wait a minute, how did you know about that?"
"You forget who you talk to, Sonic. I may be young, and still unable to
interfere, but I keep watch over things...when I am not distracted, of course."
"Distracted?" Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm afraid I'm the cause of that," a quiet voice said from a side door.
Sonic looked over to the door and his jaw dropped in surprise. He knew
instinctively who it was that stood before him, but his mind refused to believe
his eyes. "Rosie?" he asked quietly.
Rosie smiled and nodded, stepping out into the light. She now wore the
same type of robe Tanis did, but it fit her similar to how one of Donovan's
sweatsuits fit Nadia. "I've been keeping him from his duties," she said,
walking to Tanis and leaning back against him, putting his hands around her
waist. "Not so much that the Almighty would be angry with us, but we do have
quite a lot of lost time to make up."
Sonic just shook his head slowly. "It's so different to see you like
this. Before, you were like my grandma. But now...." Sonic's words trailed
of as his backpack and sneakers suddenly appeared at his feet. He scooped them
up, muttered a quick goodbye, and sped out the door, putting his sneakers on as
he ran.
Rosie chuckled quietly as he left. "Now what do you suppose was bothering
him?" she asked softly.
Tanis smiled and kissed Rosie's cheek softly. "I haven't the faintest
idea."
Back at the hut, Donovan took a breath to compose himself and stepped out
to where the three women awaited him. "OK, I'm ready," he said. "What brings
you here?"
Sally looked at him as he sat down next to Nadia. "If what I've heard is
right, you have most, if not all, of Robotropolis under surveillance. I was
wondering if you'd found the Emeralds yet."
"Yes, and no Silly."
Sally grumbled something under her breath, but Sondra spoke up before her
sister could. "If I know you as well as I think I do, that means one of two
things. Either you found one and not the other, or you found them and they're
so well guarded you have no idea how to get them."
"Am I getting that predictable?" Donovan muttered, his mouth twisted to
one side.
Nadia smiled and held his hand between hers. "Part of being friends with
someone is getting to know them," she said quietly. "And other than me, I
don't think anyone's closer to you now than Sondra is."
"I guess," Donovan admitted. "In answer to your question Sondra, you're
correct and incorrect on both counts."
"Which one did you find and why can't we reach it?" Sally asked, sitting
straight up and leaning forward attentively.
Donovan looked at Sally for a moment, then glanced over to Nadia. "I'll
ask for an explanation on that one later," he mumbled quietly.
"What explanation?" Sally asked. "Give me one other way your words can
be taken."
Donovan turned back to Sally. "Perhaps. Anyway, I found the Fire
Emerald. As for why we can't get to it, it's down a long hallway surrounded by
lasers."
"Sonic and I wouldn't be able to run it?" Sondra asked.
"Two problems," Donovan said simply. "First, the corridor is kept under
freezing so that the floor is slick with ice. Second, each laser will fire at
exactly the same time."
Sondra and Sally both winced, but remained silent. "We're working on it,"
Nadia said.
"Without much success, I'm afraid," Donovan said a little tiredly.
"For now, could you tell me what Robotnik is up to?" Sally asked. "Maybe
we'll get lucky."
Donovan moved over to the keyboard and typed in a few commands. A room
of Robotropolis came on the screen, but not the one Robotnik was in. Donovan
switched from camera to camera, trying to locate Robotnik, and finally found
him in the main command center. After another typed command, the audio kicked
in and they were able to hear his every word.
"Computer," Robotnik said, "have you finished the latest scan I ordered?"
"Yes," the computer answered. "The Wind Emerald has been found."
"What?!" three of the four in the hut screamed simultaneously. But
Donovan just sat there, looking at the screen as Robotnik continued.
"Where is the Emerald then?" Robotnik asked.
"The Emerald's energy is spread within the roboticized Snively," the
computer answered. "From my calculations, the Emerald was merged with his
robotic form when he was roboticized."
"So then it's not something that I can just remove?"
"Affirmative. The only way to recover the Emerald is to de-roboticize
him."
Robotnik muttered a few curses and stalked back to his chair. "One other
thing sir," the computer continued. "I have finished my tests on the unknown
chip found in the roboticizer." A schematic appeared on screen with an arrow
pointing to one part of it. "It appears to be part of a de-roboticizing
circuit."
Donovan's eye widened in surprise, then narrowed in anger. "Uh oh," Nadia
and Sondra both muttered under their breath.
"A de-roboticizing circuit?" Sally asked, as if she couldn't believe what
she was hearing. "Such a thing exists?"
Donovan brought his finger to his lips and shushed Sally. Normally, Sally
would have started an arguement with Donovan at that point, but Sondra and
Nadia both grabbed her and whispered to her to be quiet.
"Part of a circuit?" Robotnik asked. "Have the others been located?"
"Negative, but it appears those parts could be synthesized," his computer
answered.
"What?" Donovan asked quietly, watching Robotnik nod on the screen in
front of him.
"Then do so," Robotnik ordered. "And after Snively is de-roboticized,
make sure the chip is destroyed. And one other thing. When the Emerald is
safe, eliminate him."
"Computer, end transmission," Nadia ordered. She walked over to Donovan
as he began to stand. "Oh no," she said, seeing his face. "Don't you dare."
Sondra and Sally moved to where they could see Donovan's face and froze.
Never before had either one seen his eye so red. His face, normally calm no
matter his inner turmoil, was contorted in rage. Donovan tried to push past
Nadia and head toward the door, but she stopped him. "Out of the way Nadia,"
Donovan said in a low, dark, cold voice.
"I could give you ten reasons you shouldn't go," Nadia said, holding on to
his arm, "but I'm only going to give you one." She grabbed his head and kissed
him soundly.
Donovan stood for a moment, shocked. Then he placed his hands on her
shoulders and tried to push her off.
That was what Nadia had been waiting for. As she fell back, she held on
to his head and sat down, slamming his head to the floor between her legs. She
rolled backward to her feet as he lay there, stunned and half-unconscious.
"Wait for us here," she said to Sally and Sondra, grabbing the remote from
Donovan's pocket. "One of us should be back soon."
"One of you?" Sondra asked as Nadia changed the settings on the control
and pushed the button, teleporting Donovan.
"Oh, he's not going. I am." Before either princess could stop her, Nadia
hurried out the front door and activated her rocket boots.
"I hope she'll be OK," Sondra said quietly.
"I hope we will," Sally said. "When Donovan gets back, he will not be in
a good mood."
"Probably not," the computer said, cutting in the conversation. "However,
he probably won't be in as bad a mood either."
Dorian sat in the hideout and slammed his fist down on the console in
front of him. He had been monitoring activity inside Robotropolis and had
intercepted the transmission that Donovan had received. "He's been found out,"
he said, cursing under his breath. "We've got to go in there and get him."
"And do what?" Metal Sonic asked. "Unless you have a plan of some kind,
we're just going to get ourselves destroyed and really be of no use to him."
Dorian glared at the robot, but admitted he was right. "I don't suppose
you have a plan, do you?"
"Me? I'm a robot of action, not of planning."
"Great," Dorian muttered sarcastically. "There is one chance, but you're
not going to like it."
"Don't you even think about it," Metal Sonic said coldly. "For one thing,
there's no way they'd agree to it."
"They want to win, right? I'm sorry, but I think Snively's life and the
fate of the whole planet is more important then who wins. And to tell you the
truth, I'd rather they win instead of Fatboy."
"Good point," Metal Sonic said, grumbling a bit. "How are we going to go
about this though? We can't just stroll into Knothole and ask for their help.
You haven't even told me where it is."
"Oh but you see, we can." Dorian closed his eyes and pictured a path in
his mind, one a young cat had shown him.
Donovan lay still for a moment, still very disoriented and having no clue
where he was. "Why didn't I see that coming?" he asked himself, pushing up
off the hard stone floor.
"Donovan, is that you?" a voice asked from somewhere behind him. On
instinct, Donovan whirled around, trying to draw his sword. But the sword
glowed and refused to come loose in the scabbard. "Donovan!" the same voice
called sternly. "How dare you try to draw your weapon inside Sanctuary."
"Sanctuary?" Donovan said slowly, looking around. He looked down at his
sword, which still glowed slightly, and then at Tanis, walking down the center
aisle toward him almost angrily. "I should've known it was going to be one of
those days," he muttered, sinking back down to one knee.
"You're lucky you have that wish," Tanis said, helping Donovan to one of
the stone benches. "You draw a weapon in here--"
"I know, I know," Donovan said. "Thanks."
"Wait until I fix your nose to thank me," Tanis said, placing one hand on
Donovan's face.
"Nose?" Donovan asked, but winced when Tanis touched it.
"You mean you haven't noticed that you're dripping blood all over the
floor? How did this happen anyway?"
Donovan didn't say a word, just waited patiently as Tanis healed his nose
with a few chanted words. After that was done, Tanis pointed his finger at
the blood on the floor, spoke a few more words, and the blood was consumed in
a blue flame. "Thank you Tanis," Donovan said, standing. "Now, if you'll
excuse me."
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Tanis asked. "And you still
didn't answer my other question."
"I'm going to retrieve something before it's destroyed," Donovan said
simply, walking toward the doors. When he tried to open them, however, they
refused to budge, much as his sword would not draw. He pushed at the doors
with all his weight, but they didn't even open one inch. "Are these doors
stuck again?" he asked irritably, checking the hinges for rust.
"I haven't been neglecting my duties that much Donovan," Tanis said
quietly. "In fact, I don't think it's the doors at all."
"Then why won't these doors open?"
"Maybe it's you," a soft voice suggested from a side door. "Or more
specifically, your wish?"
"Rosie, you know the rules," Tanis said calmly. "We are forbidden to
interfere."
"You are," Rosie reminded him. "I have not been initiated yet." She
walked over and placed a hand on Donovan's shoulder. "If you answer me two
questions, I can tell you why these doors will not open."
Donovan tried to open the doors a couple moments longer, but eventually
gave up with a frustrated sigh. "Fine," he grumbled, sitting down on the
nearest stone bench.
Rosie smiled and sat down next to him, sweeping her long, black hair
behind her. "My first question is just what Tanis asked earlier: Who did this
to you?"
"No need to go into that," Donovan said. "Next question, please."
"Uh uh. You said you'd answer my questions, remember?"
"OK, I'd rather not get into that."
"That's answer enough," Rosie said, smiling. "The only reason you
wouldn't answer is if it was Nadia. My other question is this: Why do you
think your wish allowed her to do that to you?"
"My wish had nothing to do with it," Donovan said calmly. "She tried to
stop me from leaving, I tried to push her off, I ended up on the floor. Plain
and simple."
"Not so," Rosie countered. "If I understand correctly, your wish acts to
protect you from any kind of permanent harm, right?"
"Last I checked."
"But what happens if it's faced with two situations, one of which must
happen, and both of which will do you harm? Wouldn't it choose the lesser of
the two?"
"Your point being...?"
"I'll put this simply. What if there's something in Robotropolis your
wish cannot protect you from, so it's stopping you from even going there?"
Donovan looked right at her. "I never mentioned I was going to
Robotropolis. And besides, I don't have a choice."
Rosie blushed a bit. "I guess I messed up there. I was eavesdropping
on you and Tanis one time while you were here, so I know what you're going
after. But aside from that, I think you should know that--"
"If I don't go and retrieve this chip," Donovan said, cutting Rosie off,
"barring Sondra going through a lot of roboticization guns and a lot of
crystals, consuming a lot of time and not even mentioning the damage each gun
will cause when it blows up, anyone who's ever been roboticized will stay that
way. So I have to get that chip," he said, standing up and walking toward the
doors again.
"--Nadia is right now on her way to get that chip," Rosie finished
quietly.
Donovan stopped short, right inside the doors. "What?" he asked, turning
around slowly.
"You heard me. Nadia is either near or already in Robotropolis to get
that chip."
"Not if I can help it," Donovan said, reaching into his pocket for his
communicator. After a second, he realized it wasn't there. Sighing bitterly,
he leaned his head against the door. "Definitely not one of my better days,"
he muttered. "Looks like I have to do this from the hut."
At that moment, the doors to Sanctuary opened a bit, enough so that
Donovan fell through, landing face first on the steps. This time, nothing was
bloodied or broken though. Donovan got up, shook his head slightly, and ran
off toward his hut, not even trusting his luck enough to activate his rocket
boots.
Rosie smiled again as the doors to Sanctuary closed. She got up, smoothed
out some wrinkles in her robe, and turned to find Tanis glaring at her rather
sternly. "You know that wasn't right," he said quietly. "Making Donovan
believe it was his wish when you were the one doing it. I had a feeling I
shouldn't have asked the Almighty to start giving you magic before you were
initiated."
Rosie stepped up to him and kissed his nose. "Did you ever think this is
the reason why I have the magic now?" she asked playfully, walking slowly back
to the side room. "Besides, if the Almighty didn't like what I was doing, I
wouldn't be alive right now, would I?"
Tanis sighed, rubbing his temples lightly. "She's worse than when she
really was this age," he thought, walking toward the altar. "I can only
imagine what the rest of our life together will be like." A smile touched his
lips as he thought about it, and he just sighed and went about his duties.
Nadia crouched behind a wall in Robotropolis, letting a few SWATbots pass
by her. When they were out of sight, she made her way toward the roboticizer.
"I hope I know what I'm doing," she muttered.
She reached the room rather easily, which set her back some. She had
expected to dodge or fight a horde of SWATbots. But after those first few, she
had not even seen any. "Something's wrong here," she thought, pushing the door
open forcefully.
The room was deserted. Even more so then the halls. Now Nadia was
definitely suspicious, but she knew she didn't have much time. She ran in and
opened the access port that the arrow on Robotnik's computer had pointed to.
Inside, she found a chip that definitely seemed out of place. Nadia reached
inside and disconnected the chip.
As soon as she did, a laser struck her arm, burning it severely. Biting
her lip against the intense pain, she drew her arm out, still holding the chip.
Tearing some cloth from her sweatsuit, she bandaged it up carefully, but she
knew she had to get to Tanis. But through all the pain, something was nagging
at the back of her mind. Blocking the pain as best she could, she tracked
down the thought. "Donovan wouldn't have been hurt by this," she thought.
"Robotnik knows nothing permanent could happen to him. So what was that for?"
Looking back inside the port, she saw the trap. If the laser that struck
her arm had malfunctioned or been misdirected in any way, as Donovan's wish
would have done, a trigger would have been tripped. Following the wire that
led from the trigger, she saw that bombs had been placed around all the exits.
"This was meant for Donovan," she thought, putting the chip away and hugging
her arm close to her body. "He wouldn't have gotten hurt, just sealed in,
probably left in here until Robotnik could figure out what to do with him.
But that means he was on to us the whole time."
Gritting her teeth against the pain, she stumbled out of the room, just in
time to see Robotnik coming her way. "Oh no," she said, breaking off at a run.
Robotnik cursed when he saw Nadia. "Her again! All SWATbots, open fire!"
he commanded.
Nadia ran blindly, fear and pain shutting down her thoughts. All she was
aware of was the need for escape and the pain that made her arm pretty much
useless. She turned a corner, running into three SWATbots that were waiting
for her. But as they grabbed for her, a white light surrounded her and she
disappeared.
Robotnik almost growled in anger as he saw her disappear. "I want every
single inch of Robotropolis scoured to find those other two parts," he
thundered into his communicator to all SWATbots at once.
Nadia ran into a wall and crumpled to the floor. She yelled in pain as
she landed on her injured arm, but still kicked at the hands that grabbed her.
"Nadia!" a familiar voice yelled, slicing through the haze of pain.
"Sondra?" Nadia asked quietly, looking around. She noticed she was back
in the hut and relaxed, though she couldn't move her arm at all.
Donovan ran to her side. "What happened?" he asked. Then, before she
could answer, he said, "Never mind. We gotta have this looked at. Computer!"
"Say no more," the computer said, teleporting both Donovan and Nadia to
Sanctuary.
"Where'd they go?" Sally asked, looking around for them.
"The one place she could get this healed," Sondra said, heading for the
door. "You coming or not?"
Nadia tried to stand as she and Donovan appeared in Sanctuary, but she had
no strength to do so. Donovan caught her in his arms and laid her down on the
nearest stone bench. "Tanis!" he called. "Rosie!"
Tanis and Rosie rushed out of the side room. "Donovan?" Tanis asked.
"What's wrong?" Donovan pointed at Nadia's charred arm. Tanis covered the
wound with his hands, but Nadia kept squirming and writhing in pain. "Hold her
still!" Tanis ordered, grabbing Nadia's arm.
Nadia screamed and passed out, the pain finally too much for her to take.
Tanis' hands began to glow as he sent his healing power into her arm. "By the
Almighty," Tanis whispered as he worked. "What could have burned her so badly?
The burn goes all the way through to her bone."
"What?" Donovan asked unbelievingly. "By the Almighty I should have
went." He walked over to the wall and leaned his head against it.
Nadia stirred slightly, moaning in pain. "Donovan....." she whispered.
"Easy child," Rosie said, stroking her hair. "Donovan is here. Lie still
and let Tanis do his work."
"Trap," she said quietly, speaking in broken sentences. "Meant for him...
Would've killed him.... Played on his wish...."
"Hush now," Rosie said, sending Nadia back to sleep. "Can you heal it
Tanis?"
"I can heal it, but there'll be a bad scar," Tanis said, sweating slightly
from the effort. "I can take it from here; go see to Donovan."
Rosie nodded and walked over to him. "She's going to be OK," she said,
placing her hand on Donovan's shoulder.
"It should've been me going to Robotropolis, not her," he said quietly.
"Didn't you hear what she just said? Robotnik was waiting for you. He
had his trap set up just for you."
"I wouldn't have died."
"She didn't either."
"But she could have. I would not have."
"Don't be so sure," Nadia said, wide awake again. She sat up slowly,
waving Tanis aside. "Your wish would have deflected the laser that did this to
me, right?"
"If it didn't make the laser malfunction--"
"Which would have brought the ceiling down, blocking all the doors and
trapping you there," Nadia interrupted. "Donovan, he was ready for you."
"Still, I should've went."
Nadia sighed in exasperation as Sally and Sondra showed up. Donovan
turned to face Nadia and she caught her breath, spying tears flowing from his
good eye. "You don't get it do you?" he asked, walking over to her. "So
what if Robotnik was ready for me? So what if he had the trap triggered to
cause a cave-in? It was my responsibility. And even then, I'll be damned if
I have somebody die for me, especially you."
"Mind where you are," Tanis admonished softly, and got an elbow from Rosie
in his ribs for his trouble.
"We'll talk about it later," Nadia said quietly. "Right now, I need to
speak to Knuckles. Tanis, can you call him here?"
"I am here already," Knuckles said, stepping from the shadows. "What do
you need to talk to me about?"
"According to Robotnik, the Wind Emerald was fused with Snively when he
was roboticized. Can your magic get it out?"
Knuckles sighed and shook his head. "I've been trying to do that ever
since this disaster happened. But every way I look at it, using my magic would
destroy both Snively and the Emerald. You may not be so concerned about
Snively's life, but if the Emerald is destroyed, we all lose. Chaos will
immediately be reborn."
"So why didn't the Kavenoff just destroy the Shadow Emerald?" Sondra
asked.
"The power of a Guardian is needed to destroy an Emerald."
Nadia sighed. "Then it's as I thought." She turned to Donovan. "I know
what you promised Donovan," she said, "but we need to know now. Where are the
other two chips?"
"I don't know," Donovan said quietly.
"But you know how to find out."
"Somebody mind telling me what's going on?" Sally asked.
"I can't," Donovan said.
"You have to," Nadia countered. "This is the only way we can get the
Emerald from Snively. If we don't, the only way to avoid Chaos is to give him
the other six Emeralds! Now we might do that to save Mobius, but do you really
think Fatboy would?"
Donovan sat down on the nearest bench, silent as a stone. Nadia opened
her mouth to say something else, but was stopped by an unusual sight. The
scabbard at Donovan's side had begun to glow, and the sword was lifting from
it. Everyone stood or sat absolutely still as the sword floated over to Tanis
and hovered in front of him.
Tanis grasped the sword's hilt and closed his eyes. "I think someone
wants to talk to you," he said, then began to chant.
Everyone watched Tanis in surprise, trying to figure out what he meant.
But then, a ghostly form began to take shape in front of them. It was very
light at first; almost transparent. But as Tanis chanted, it grew sharper and
darker, as a picture coming into focus. As the ghost's face turned toward
them, they all knew that it could only be....
"Father?" Donovan asked, standing up in shock.
The ghost of Dionti Osaya nodded his head. "There must be great danger,"
he said quietly, "else I would not have been summoned."
"Greetings old friend," Tanis whispered quietly.
Dionti turned to Tanis, bowing in mid-air. "Greetings Holy One," he
returned. Then he raised one eyebrow, half-closing the other eye; a look they
had all seen on Donovan at one time or another. "Have you found a fountain of
youth or something?"
"The Almighty has seen fit to return my youth to me, as well as to Rosie."
"I'm sure I wasn't summoned here to congratulate you on your second chance
at life," Dionti said quietly.
"You're right," Nadia said, standing. "I need you to release Donovan of
his promise."
Dionti turned to look at Nadia, searching her face. "I don't recognize
you," he said slowly. "Who are you to want his promise released anyway?"
"I'm Nadia, hopefully soon to be your daughter-in-law."
Donovan just rested his face in his hands at that comment. "That's a
matter for Nancy," Dionti said. "Still, why should he be released? Does
Sally Alicia Acorn now sit on the throne of Mobius?"
"I do not," Sally said quietly, still not sure of what was happening, but
going along with it anyway. "And I almost lost my chance, were it not for your
son's help."
"Which is a big relief to me," Sondra said. "No offense Sis, but I don't
want to be Queen."
"Sis?" Dionti asked. "As I recall, the king only had one child."
Sondra held up her hand, showing her signet ring. "I'm Princess Sondra,
adopted into the House of Acorn, but still second in line to the throne."
Dionti waved it off irritably. "This still does not explain why no one
is sitting on the throne yet."
"Maybe this will help," Nadia said quietly. She held out her hand and a
grey Emerald appeared in it.
"The Emerald of Life?" Dionti asked disbelievingly. "How can this be?"
"I was wondering that myself," Knuckles said. "I thought only a Guardian
could call the Emeralds."
"This is the only one I can call Knuckles," Nadia explained. "Remember,
it gave me life. I'll always have a bond with it."
"Guardian Knuckles?" Dionti asked. "So then the Race for the Emeralds is
at hand. I gather it was started by Julian?"
"You gather correctly," Knuckles stated.
"How much further to the time of Chaos?"
"Just over a month remains."
"So shouldn't Armageddon be starting soon if the other Emeralds are not
acquired?"
"Which brings us back to why you're here," Nadia interrupted. "One of the
Emeralds, the Wind Emerald, is fused in a roboticized form. According to
Knuckles, the only way to get it out without destroying it is to de-roboticize
him. And that's why we need Donovan released from the promise."
Dionti's face grew serious. "Agreed," he said simply.
Donovan looked up in surprise. "Huh?"
"The fate of Mobius rests on obtaining all seven Emeralds. Even if
Armaggedon is won, you will only have six. Giving them to the roboticized
form doesn't guarantee he can produce the seventh. Thus, Chaos will be
reborn, and Mobius will be no more."
"All of which would have made no difference without your permission,"
Nadia said. "When Donovan makes a promise, he keeps it."
Dionti turned to face Donovan. Donovan stood slowly, meeting his father's
gaze with his own. "A man is only as worthy as his word," Dionti said quietly.
"You have grown to be quite an honorable man, my son. You make me very proud."
Dionti began to fade as the sword's glow faded. "Just remember to know
your enemy, or all this will be for nothing," he said, disappearing from view
completely. With the last glimmer of light, the sword left Tanis' hands and
floated before Donovan.
Donovan grabbed the sword's hilt and sheathed it, letting the tears flow
freely from his eye. He just stood there, silent, and the others allowed him a
few moments to compose himself. "We have work to do," he said with a sigh.
"First we must get back to the War Room. You have to get everyone who needs to
hear it there, because it will only be played once."
Sally nodded quietly. "Sondra and I will go on ahead," she said. "We'll
be waiting for the two of you whenever you're ready." She and Sondra walked
out of Sanctuary and then took off for Knothole.
Nadia walked over to Donovan and gave him a hug. "Everything will be all
right," she whispered. "Do you want to wait a few minutes, compose yourself?"
"Thanks," Donovan said, hugging her and kissing her cheek. "But we may
not have a few minutes."
"Actually, if Tanis would be so kind as to teleport us there...."
"I can't interfere Nadia, you know that," Tanis said quietly. "And this
is one spell Rosie does not know yet."
"But I do," Knuckles said. "Take all the time you need, and I will bring
you there myself."
"Thank you," Donovan said, "and I do mean for everything." Everyone just
smiled and/or nodded at his words.
Sally and Sondra ran to Knothole in silence. They knew how important the
information they were going to soon hear was, and they wanted everyone in the
War Room as soon as possible. There was absolutely nothing else on their minds
until they got to Knothole.
When they got there, however, whatever words they were going to say died
on their lips. Tails was pacing across the path, muttering and cursing to
himself. A little way away, Bunnie and Antoine were engaged in a heated
discussion. "What's going on?" Sondra asked as she and Sally slowed to a
stop.
Tails looked up and almost bit his tongue. "He's back," he said, a dark
edge to his voice.
"Who's back?"
Bunnie and Antoine turned toward the princesses. "Dorian's back," Bunnie
said calmly. "And he brought that no-good robot with him."
Sally and Sondra just looked at them. "I'm guessing he hasn't been
released from his debts yet." Sally said quietly.
Antoine shook his head slowly. "They have come here under a white flag
of truce," he said. "They are insistent that they speak with you as soon as
you arrive."
Sally sighed. "Where is he being held?"
"He's not," Tails said angrily. "Lydia claimed privilege again; they're
both at her hut."
"Believe me Sally-girl," Bunnie said, punching a fist into the palm of
her other hand, "I'd've loved nothing better than to throw them both in jail,
but your cousin wouldn't hear of it."
"Let's get over there before another fire 'breaks' out," Sally muttered.
She rushed over there with the others in tow, but stopped when she saw that
no crowd had gathered outside the hut. She walked calmly to the door and put
her ear to it, listening.
"Eavesdropping Sally?" Lydia asked, poking her head out a window. "Not
proper behavior for a princess."
Sally blushed and looked at her cousin. "I didn't want to intrude...."
she began.
"Uh huh," Lydia said with a smile. "Of course. But I'm actually glad
you're here. Dorian and Metal Sonic want to talk to you. It's about the
Emeralds."
Sally looked behind her. Tails and Bunnie were both shaking their heads,
but Sondra and Antoine were nodding. "Thanks for the help," she muttered.
"Anyone seen Sonic? I want him here for this."
"He's asleep," Tails said. "I'll go get him."
"He's doing that a lot lately," Sondra observed as Tails flew off. "I
hope nothing's wrong."
Antoine looked away from the others for a moment, not meeting their gazes.
He knew full well what was going on with Sonic. In fact, he was the one that
had encouraged him to seek Donovan's help. Fortunately, the others were too
preoccupied to notice.
In a moment, Sonic ran up with Tails flying next to him. "What's the big
news Sal?" he asked, yawning.
For answer, Sally just opened the door to Lydia's hut. Sonic walked
around Sally and stopped when he saw inside. Dorian was sitting in a chair
with Lydia now sitting on his lap. Metal Sonic paced around the hut, his
metallic face scowling. Isabela was pacing right along behind him, mimicing
his expression.
"What the--?!" Sonic exclaimed, stomping inside. "What the hell is he
doing here?"
"Take it easy Sonic," Lydia said. "I claimed royal privilege."
"I'm talking about the robot."
"Nice to see you too," Metal Sonic said sarcastically. "Believe me, this
is the last place I want to be...but we need your help."
"And what makes you think we'll give it?" Sally asked, coming up behind
Sonic.
"Because you need ours too," Dorian said calmly. "Give me a chance to
explain."
Sally looked at her watch. "We don't have time for this," she said.
"Donovan's going to show up any minute."
Dorian flinched slightly, and Lydia felt it. "He wouldn't dare hurt you
while your under my protection," she said.
"If you get that out before he stabs me," Dorian pointed out.
"Let's get to the War Room," Sally said. "We'll sort everything out when
he arrives."
Everyone filed into the War Room just as Donovan, Nadia, and Knuckles
showed up. Donovan took one look at Dorian and he charged him, sword drawn and
eye red. Sondra threw a crystal in front of Donovan that exploded as soon as
it hit the ground, blinding him. Donovan fell back, covering his eye. Before
his vision cleared, Sondra and Bunnie pounced on him, pinning him to the floor.
"Cool it Donovan!" Bunnie said. "Much as I don't like it, Lydia's claimed
royal privilege on him and the robot. We gotta leave them alone."
"Royal privilege from Linda may work on you," Donovan said when he could
see again, "but it has no meaning for me."
"Then accept it from me," Sondra said, struggling to hold his legs down.
"They say they have something to tell us."
"More specifically," Dorian interrupted, "we can help you get the Wind
Emerald."
Everyone in that hut turned to look at him. Even Donovan stayed quiet,
waiting for Dorian to continue. "Now that I have your attention," Dorian said,
"shall we get down to business? You know that Snively will never go with you
willingly, even if he were to be de-roboticized. And you can't risk fighting
him, or you might never get the Emerald. That's where we come in. If anyone
can convince him to go along with this, we can."
"This sounds too simple to me," Sonic said. "I know you two want
something in exchange for your 'help'."
"Not really," Metal Sonic said. "All we want is to be let go afterward;
all three of us."
"Unacceptable," Sally said. "Snively has to answer for his crimes."
"As princess, you can pardon him," Dorian pointed out. "What's more
important? Getting the Emerald, or your personal vengeance?"
Sally frowned and opened her mouth to make a sharp retort, but it was not
there. Much as she hated to admit it, they were right. "Unfortunately, they
have a point," Donovan said, giving voice to what they all thought. "But the
decision is yours, Princess."
Sally sighed. "All right, you can come along," she said slowly. "But be
warned, any sign of a double-cross, and I will order Donovan to put his sword
through your heart."
"Sally!" Lydia yelled. "How can you even say that?"
"Dorian knew the rules when he was exiled. Lying to us know means he
broke them."
"Then you have to kill me too. Or did you forget about my claim?"
Sally turned to Lydia calmly. "Your claim extends only within Knothole's
boundaries. You know that better than I do."
Lydia grimaced and turned her back on Sally. Sally nodded, and any
looking at her could see she had not wanted to do that. "Are you ready,
Donovan?" she asked with a small sigh.
"I will be as soon as somebody lets me up," he answered calmly. Sondra
and Bunnie both let him go and helped him up. Donovan walked over to Sally and
held his hand out for Nicole. "When I do this," he said, taking off his other
glove, "no one can touch me until it's over. You'll understand why when it
starts. Also, don't anyone make a sound or the recording will end. Since it
erases as it plays, there is no second chance."
Nadia looked at him worriedly, but nodded with the rest of them. Donovan
gave the stone of his ring a twist, and a sharp spike extended from it. He
placed the spike in a hidden access port on Nicole, and Nicole activated.
"Enter first access code," she said.
"Omega-three-four-niner," Donovan said calmly. His body jerked, as if
experiencing a mild electric shock.
"Enter second access code," Nicole said.
"Delta-six-one-theta-two-alpha." Donovan's body jerked again, and he
dropped to his knee. Everyone could see the sparks flying from his ring that
time.
"Donovan!" Nadia yelled, running over to him.
"No!" Sondra said, grabbing her and covering her mouth.
"Enter third access code," Nicole commanded, but it was in Dionti's voice.
"Pierre D'Coolette."
Antoine stiffened slightly when he heard the name. If it weren't for
Donovan's earlier admonition, he would've said something. But now, he could
only wonder why his father's name was that access code.
Donovan fell to the ground, his body convulsing with a constant electric
shock. "Greetings Queen Acorn," Dionti's voice came from Nicole. "My name is
Dionti Osaya. I was a member of the Royal Guard and have included this message
in your computer's programming.
"You see, I found out about Julian's intentions. But I fear, I could not
stop them. But there was something I could do. I knew you would have trouble
building a de-roboticizer, so I saved you the trouble. I created a circuit
that when installed in the roboticizer will reverse its properties.
"The circuit is comprised of three parts, each one in a different
location. One is with my son now, as it was one time with me. One was given
to one of you, who I knew would never throw it away. The last is located in
the very device that needs to be reversed. My son knows what these chips look
like, and how to put them together. Good luck, and goodbye.
"End recording."
As the recording ended, Donovan stopped moving. His hand fell to the
side, and Nicole skidded across the floor, his ring still attached to her.
Nadia broke free of Sondra and ran to him, kneeling down next to him and
cradling his head in her lap. "Donovan?" she whispered, stroking his hair.
While Nadia tended to Donovan, Sally walked over and picked up Nicole.
She pulled the ring from the port, and watched it crumble away in her hand.
"Nicole, status," she said, brushing her hand on her vest.
"One file deleted, Sally," Nicole said. "Systems analysis underway."
"How's he doing?" Sally asked.
"He's breathing, but I can't be sure of anything else," Nadia said
quietly. "I really should get him back to the hut."
"That's just great," Bunnie said. "He's probably the only one here who'd
have any chance of figuring out those hints from his father. I don't know
about the rest of you, but Dionti didn't give me nothing."
Everyone else there just shook their heads, but then Uncle Chuck spoke
up. "Wait a minute, I remember finding this odd chip in Rotor's closet when
I cleaned it up last winter. It looked like it was a part to a circuit, but
I had no idea what it did. Maybe we should ask him."
"Sounds like a good idea," Sally said. "Anyone know where he is?"
"Probably hiding from Dulcy," Tails muttered. "She hasn't been in too
good a mood lately."
"I think I know where to find him," Sonic said. "Be back in a Sonic
second."
"Sonic!" Sally yelled, but he was gone before she got it out. "Well,
at least he's acting more normal," she said with a smile. "But while he's
gone, anyone have any idea where the last chip is?"
Donovan let out a low moan, bringing his hand to his forehead. "He's
coming to," Nadia said, breathing a relieved sigh. "Donovan, are you OK?"
"I guess," he said, sitting up, "considering I had every nerve in my
body electrified."
"Did you hear any of the recording?" Sondra asked.
"Last thing I remember was entering the third access code."
"Well, we figured out two of the clues. But the third one has us
stumped. Something about it being with you now, as it was with your father
before."
Donovan struggled to his feet with Nadia's help. "I have a couple of
things from my father; take your pick."
"Actually, I don't think that's necessary," Sally said, walking to him.
She pulled at his sword and though it seemed to resist at first, it drew free
of the scabbard.
Donovan just turned to look at her. "What do you need my sword for?"
"What else means more to you that was your father's?" she countered,
examining the blade and hilt carefully.
"Point taken. Even though I don't see how."
"Neither do I," Sally admitted. "Let me have Nicole run a scan on it
when she gets done with her analysis."
"No need for that Sally-girl," Bunnie said, walking toward them. "If
anyone here knows about swords, it's me and sugarfox. Let us have a look at
it."
Sally raised an eyebrow questioningly at Donovan, who returned the look.
"It's your sword," she said simply.
"If she can hold it, be my guest," Donovan said.
Bunnie held her hand out, and Sally placed the hilt in her palm. But as
soon as Bunnie closed her hand around it, the sword tried to pull away from
her. "I see what you mean," Bunnie said, wrapping both hands around the hilt
and holding on with everything she had, even turning her left arm robotic for
additional strength.
The sword pulled every which way, but she held on to it. After a moment,
it looked like it was going to stop, and Bunnie relaxed slightly. As soon as
she did, the sword pulled a different way: up. Bunnie still held on, but was
soon lifted off the ground from the sword's pull. "Get me down from here!"
she yelled, kicking her feet as the sword raised her higher.
Antoine jumped up and grabbed hold of her foot, trying to get her down.
But the pull was so strong, he too was soon lifted off the ground. He quickly
climbed up Bunnie and got his hands on the blade of the sword.
As soon as Antoine touched the blade, it stopped pulling. It hovered in
mid-air for a second or two, began to lower slowly, then dropped. Antoine
landed hard on his back, and Bunnie landed on top of him. "Well now," she
murmured, smiling down at him. "I guess this sword wasn't so bad after all."
"Umm, Bunnie, could we be continuing this later?" Antoine asked, a bit
flustered. "Perhaps someplace a lot more private?"
Bunnie looked around, saw everyone staring at them, and blushed bright
red. "Umm, sure thing sugarfox," she stammered out, rolling to the side and
scrambling back to her feet.
Antoine sat up and took a deep breath. To hide his own embarassment, he
set about examining the sword. It was only a moment before he saw the trick.
Taking the hilt in one hand and the blade in another, he pushed his hands
together and twisted them in opposite directions. A loud click was heard and
the bottom of the hilt opened. Antoine shook it for a moment and a small
chip fell out. "Is this what we are looking for?" he asked, handing the
chip to Donovan and twisting the blade back into place.
Donovan took the chip. "I'm not going to ask how you knew," he said
quietly.
Antoine smiled. "It is simple. My father taught me it when I was young,
and my sword has such a place." He drew his sword and twisted it exactly as
he had Donovan's. The hilt opened and a small scrap of paper fell out. He
bent down to pick it up, but Bunnie got to it first. "Bunnie, can I be having
that back, please?"
Bunnie looked at him, and then down at the paper. Her eyes filled with
tears when she realized what it was. "This is the first love note I ever
wrote you," she said. "Where did you find it?"
"It has always been here," he said, taking it and placing it back in his
sword. "Remember what I said.... I never could forget."
"This is all very touching I'm sure," Metal Sonic interrupted, "but I
think we have a few more pressing matters at hand."
"The robot's right," Tails said. "We need to do this, and do it now."
"We can't do anything without the third piece," Sally pointed out. "I
wonder what's taking Sonic so long."
No sooner did Sally say that then Sonic dived through the door, the tips
of his quills smoking. "What happened Sonic?" Sally asked, helping him to his
feet.
Sonic slowly turned to Sally with an almost evil look on his face. "That
is the last time I go anywhere near a pregnant woman," he said roughly.
"And what about when we get married?" Sally asked.
The look of fear that crossed Sonic's face made Sally want to step back
and break out laughing at the same time. Resisting both urges, she returned
Sonic to the business at hand. "Did you ask Rotor?"
"Yeah," he said slowly. "He said that chip Uncle Chuck found was given
to him by Donovan's father. Looks like Uncle Chuck was right."
"Then this is it," Uncle Chuck said, handing it over to Donovan.
Donovan looked at the chip and nodded. "Then we have all three," he said.
"Now all we have to do is put them together, somehow hook it up to the
roboticizer, get Snive-ly in there to get the Emerald out, and make it out
alive."
"Piece of cake," Sondra said sarcastically.
"Actually, it is," Sally said. "If Dorian can really get Snively to
cooperate, that is."
"If he won't for me, he won't for anyone," Dorian said seriously. "So
what's the plan?"
Sally walked over to activate the holographic projector, but she was
suddenly thrown to the ground, as was everyone in the hut, by a huge wave of
wind that struck the hut. Sally scrambled to her feet and looked out the
window. Rotor had flown right by the hut and "cracked the whip" as he did.
She was about to yell at him to be more careful, but had to pull her head back
inside before it got taken off by Dulcy doing the same thing. A second, more
powerful windblast hit the hut, nearly collapsing it.
Sally didn't move until she was sure the two dragons had left the area,
and the others followed her lead. "We don't have much time, so we'll discuss
it on the way. I'm going, as are Sonic, Donovan, Dorian, and Metal Sonic.
Anyone else?"
"I go wherever Donovan does," Nadia said.
"And I am thinking Bunnie and I should come as well," Antoine said. "Just
for protection."
"From us, right?" Metal Sonic sneered. "Man, you guys are almost as
mistrusting as Robotnik."
That stung, but Sally ignored it. "I'd be glad to have you two along,"
she said quickly. "I don't think anyone else though. We need to keep this
as small as we can. If there's nothing else, we should be going."
"Just give me a few seconds to grab my backpack," Sonic said. "I think
I have a few power rings stowed away in there."
Knuckles, who had been standing quietly in the shadows this whole time,
slowly faded from view as everyone left. More than anyone there, he knew how
important this was, and it killed him that he couldn't interfere. But he had
no experience with machines or robots, and anything he tried to do could cause
more harm than good. So all he would do was wait and watch from the Floating
Island.
On the way to Robotropolis, Sally outlined her plan. Dorian, Antoine, and
Bunnie would find Snively and convince him to go with them; Sally, Donovan, and
Nadia would set up the de-roboticizing circuit in the roboticizer; and Sonic
and Metal Sonic would cause Robotnik as much heartache as they could. It all
seemed so easy when Sally talked about it, but they all knew it wasn't going to
be.
When they hit the boundaries of Robotropolis, all three groups split up
and went their own ways. Sonic and Metal Sonic were the first ones to get into
position. "Now we wait," Sonic said, shifting his weight from one foot to the
other.
Metal Sonic looked at him for a moment. "Look," he said after a while, "I
know you don't trust me, but think of it this way: right now, I want to get
Snively back before Robotnik gets his hands on him, no matter what it takes."
"I can understand that," Sonic said, still shifting.
Metal Sonic looked down at Sonic's feet. "What happened to you?" he
asked, narrowing his robotic eyes.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself about."
"But if you're--"
"I'm fine!" Sonic snapped. "I ran here didn't I?"
Metal Sonic shrugged, but said nothing else. But he was keeping one eye
on Sonic, just in case something went wrong.
Both other groups arrived at their locations around the same time. "Is
everyone ready?" Sally asked quietly in her communicator.
"Ready and waiting," Bunnie said, getting nods from the two with her.
"Same here," Sonic said.
"Then do it to it Sonic," Sally said.
"That's our cue," Sonic said, revving up his legs.
Metal Sonic did the same, watching Sonic's face sidelong. He showed no
sign of the pain the robot had seen earlier, but the robot was not so easily
convinced. But for right now, they had a job to do.
Sonic and Metal Sonic ran right into Robotnik's control room and stopped
in front of him. "Yo 'Buttnik!" Sonic yelled.
"What?!" Robotnik screamed, glaring at the hedgehogs, one living, one
robotic. "Both of you?"
"Twice the hedgehogs, twice the trouble," Metal Sonic said. He and Sonic
took off in opposite directions, running around the control room. Their
movements created a type of double tornado, one inside the other. So Robotnik
was flying one way, and his equipment went the other. After a couple minutes,
they ran out, letting everything fall.
Robotnik staggered to his feet and pushed a button on the console. "All
units, after those hedgehogs!" he ordered.
"That's our signal," Sally said, watching as the SWATbots left the
roboticizer unguarded.
Meanwhile, Donovan was deep in thought, and it was apparent he hadn't
heard what Sally had said. "Hey," Nadia said, nudging him in the ribs with her
elbow, "what's wrong?"
"Hmm?" Donovan said, looking around. "Oh, sorry."
"Let's get inside before they get back," Sally said, heading toward the
room. Nadia had to lead Donovan inside as he had once more gotten very deep in
thought. "OK Donovan," Sally said when they reached the roboticizer. "You
tell me what's on your mind right now, or we abort. This is too important for
anything to mess up."
"Hmm?" he said again. "Oh, sorry."
"'Sorry' don't cut it this time Donovan," Nadia said. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Donovan admitted. "I just have this nagging thought in
the back of my mind and I can't call it up."
"Can you at least tell me if it's something that would make us stop?"
"I don't think so. Well, anyway, let me hook these things up. I'm sure
it'll come to me."
"Don't forget the trap," Nadia said, touching her arm where the burn mark
was and pointing to the bomb above the door. "If it's still active, I don't
want to get trapped in here."
"That's right," he said. "Now how do we get around that?"
Sally took Nicole from her boot. "Nicole, scan trap and find way to
deactivate it," she said.
"Scanning now, Sally," Nicole said. "I can jam the trap to prevent it
from going off."
"Good work Nicole," Sally said, smiling. "OK Donovan, it's up to you
now."
Meanwhile, Dorian was walking toward the roboticized Snively with Bunnie
and Antoine right behind him. Bunnie had her sword drawn and it glowed with a
quiet blue light. Antoine kept rubbing his metallic upper arm, as if it
itched. "I am very much not liking this," Antoine whispered harshly. "There
should be at least some SWATbots guarding him, no?"
"Sonic and Metal Sonic must be doing a better job than we figured," Dorian
said. "But you're right, Robotnik wouldn't be foolish enough to leave him
completely unguarded."
Bunnie turned her head slowly around from one side to the other. Her face
was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, except for the jagged scar over her eye.
"Every instinct in my body is telling me they're here somewhere," she said,
"in fact, there they are now!" Bunnie ran off into a shadow and disappeared
from sight.
Antoine started to run off after her, but stopped when he heard the
distinct sound of metal being torn asunder. From the electric flashes that
lit up the shadows, both he and Dorian could see that she had already wrecked
three SWATbots and a fourth was about to fall. "Let us be getting Snively and
going to the others," Antoine said.
"What about her?" Dorian asked.
"What about me?" Bunnie asked in kind, stepping from the shadows and
sheathing her sword.
Dorian looked at her for a moment and shrugged. He walked to Snively and
tapped him on his robotic shoulder. "Snively?"
Snively turned to face them. "Dorian, what are you doing here?" he
asked quickly. "You know it's not safe for you."
"It's less safe for you; Robotnik knows. We have to get you out of here."
"After we get the Emerald from him," Bunnie said, a touch forcefully.
"What are they doing here?" Snively sneered.
"Would you rather they get the Emerald or Robotnik?" Dorian asked simply.
Snively's red eyes narrowed. "Then why don't they give me their Emeralds?
Surely they know I'd be better than Robotnik."
Both Antoine and Bunnie opened their mouths to let Snively have it, but
Dorian calmly held up his hand. Leaning close to Snively, he whispered one
word that the others could not hear, then stepped back.
In the time it took for Dorian to step back, a change came over Snively.
All his cockiness, all his arrogance, all of it faded. Instead, Snively seemed
to withdraw into himself slightly, as if whatever Dorian had said had cut
straight to his heart. "You win," he whispered quietly. "I'll give you the
Emerald."
Dorian smiled and stepped to the side. Snively shuffled off toward the
roboticizer, leading the way. Bunnie walked behind him with Dorian and Antoine
bringing up the rear. "If I may be asking," Antoine said in an undertone to
Dorian, "what was it that you told him that got him to cooperate so easily?"
Dorian sighed quietly. "Just the name of someone who would be very
disappointed if she knew what he was doing. My sister, Lisa."
Antoine thought about that for a moment, then nodded to himself. "I see.
Do not worry, I will tell no one of this."
"I don't think it'll matter for long," Dorian said gravely. The rest of
the walk was conducted in silence, broken only by Snively's metallic footsteps.
Sonic and Metal Sonic tore through the hallways of Robotropolis, causing
as much damage as they could both to SWATbots and the hallways themselves.
Everything was going along fine until Sonic suddenly went down, skidding face-
first along the floor. "Sonic?" Metal Sonic asked, pulling him to his feet
as he ran past. "What happened?"
Sonic tried to run, but yelled as soon as his left foot touched the floor.
"My foot's gone," he said, biting back the pain. "Go on without me."
"And have your fiancee rip me apart one piece at a time?" the robot
asked, putting Sonic over his shoulder. "Fat chance. Besides, you're the one
that's gonna have to take out Robotnik, we both know that."
"I'm slowing you down," Sonic said, watching as the hover units actually
started catching up.
"Can't help that. We might just have to turn and fight."
"Maybe not." Sonic reached into his backpack and pulled out a Power Ring.
Calling on the energy in the ring, Sonic flipped to his feet and took off
running, carrying the robot this time. He didn't feel any pain in his foot,
but he knew he was really tearing it up. But that would heal...hopefully.
In the roboticizer room, Snively watched as the glass tube lowered to
enclose him. "You're sure this will work?" he asked. "After all, if
something happens to me--"
"We're sure," Nadia interrupted. "And besides, if it doesn't, it won't
matter."
"Thanks for the comfort," Snively said sarcastically. "I'm ready whenever
you are."
Donovan nodded, standing near the console. Just before he pushed the
button, he got a strange pain in his forehead. He leaned forward slightly,
massaging his temples. After a few moments, he shook off the pain and pushed
it.
A yellow beam enveloped Snively, blocking him from view for a time. When
the beam faded, Snively, the flesh version, stood before them all and opened
his eyes. In his hands, he held a white Emerald that he handed to Sally when
the glass lifted. "As per the agreement," he said slowly.
Sally nodded, putting the Emerald away in a pocket of her vest. "I hope
you don't mind me fulfilling my end of it until we get out of here safely,"
she said.
"Let's just get the circuit and get out of here," Donovan said, opening
the port and reaching in. But as soon as he touched it, it crumbled away into
dust. Donovan just stood there, frozen, as that thought that had been nagging
him this whole time finally forced it's way to the forefront. "Know your enemy
or it will all be for nothing," he whispered, echoing his father's words.
Just then, a force shield enveloped the inside of the room. "We're
trapped!" Antoine said, punching the shield and getting an electric shock for
his trouble.
Donovan's head fell forward until his chin rested on his chest. Sally
pulled Nicole from her boot and opened her up. "Nicole, scan for weaknesses,"
she ordered. But Nicole's screen was blank. "Oh great," Sally said.
"Whatever that shield is, it's affecting Nicole."
Donovan just drew his hand back from the roboticizer and clapped it
across his face. That's when Sonic and Metal Sonic showed up. "Hey, what
happened?" Sonic asked, setting Metal Sonic down.
Bunnie drew her sword and slashed at the shield. Her strike opened a rip
in the shield, but it closed up almost immediately. "Stand back everyone,"
she said, adjusting her grip, "I'm gonna have to try Starfire."
"I got a better idea Bunnie," Sonic said, pulling another Power Ring from
his backpack. "Can you make another slice in the shield?"
Bunnie slashed at the shield again and Sonic wedged the ring into the
opening she created. He forced the ring to turn until he could reach through
the ring into the shield if he wanted. He backed away a few steps, and fell
to the ground, grabbing his foot.
"Sonic!" Sally yelled.
"Don't worry about me for now," he said. "Metal Sonic, try to expand the
ring, hurry!"
The robot nodded and placed his hands inside the hole created by the Power
Ring. Slowly he pushed his hands outward. Nothing happend at first, but then
everyone could see the ring was widening, though it grew thinner the bigger it
became. "That's as far as I can go," he said. "Any more and the ring will
collapse."
Sally looked at the opening. It wasn't wide enough for them to walk
through, but she judged it could be easily dived through. "Let's go everyone,"
she said. "Bunnie, you first."
Robotnik calmly walked toward the roboticizer room. Even if Sonic and
Metal Sonic got away, he had their friends. It would be simple to force them
to give up the Emeralds, especially if he threatened the life of the princess.
True, there was less of a threat with the other princess around, but he knew
Sonic would think with his heart, not his head.
But all his plans came to a stop once he actually reached the room. The
shield was still there, intact, but no one was inside. Nearly growling in
rage, Robotnik punched at a wall. "How? How does he always do that to me? I
truly _HATE_ that hedgehog!"
In Knothole, there was a general feeling of disquiet as Snively, Metal
Sonic, and Dorian were brought before the three princesses. "As much as it
bothers me," Sally began, "according to the deal we made, I now have to pardon
you for your crimes against Mobius. But just because you are pardoned doesn't
mean I trust you yet. You are free to stay if you choose, but we will be
watching your every movement if you do."
"With all due respect," Snively said, "under those conditions, I prefer to
seek my home elsewhere. Don't worry, you won't either see or hear from me
again. At least, until after the Race is over."
"I'll go with you," Metal Sonic said. "I don't think Knothole can take
both me and Sonic here at the same time."
Sonic nodded and smiled slightly. His foot was bandaged up and Sally had
ordered him to stay off it until Tanis could look at it. "We do make a pretty
good team though," he said. "Maybe we will again sometime."
"What about you Dorian?" Snively asked.
"I am honorbound to stay with you," Dorian said quietly, glancing at Lydia
momentarily.
Snively noticed the glance, as well as the return one from Lydia. "What
kind of friend would I be if I made you come with me, against the wishes of
your heart? Consider your debts to me paid, Dorian."
Dorian stood for a time, not sure what to say or do. But then he was
suddenly tackled by Lydia and drawn into a tight hug. "I think there's room
for one more in my hut," she said, planting a kiss on his surprised face.
Sally rolled her eyes and sighed. "If there is nothing else, you are free
to go."
Snively nodded and walked out with Metal Sonic in tow. The crowd
dispersed soon after those two had actually left Knothole and disappeared into
the Great Forest. Dorian, however, once he got free from Lydia, went straight
to his family's home. They had a party for him that night, extremely happy he
was home, and home to stay.
Donovan sat in front of Sanctuary's altar, his sword laying on top of it.
"What has become of me?" he thought. "There was a time in which I would've
seen any and all traps Robotnik could have thrown at me before he even thought
of them. Now, I not only got outdone by him twice in one day, because of my
negligence, all roboticized Mobians are doomed to an eternity of metal. And
worse yet, I may have doomed us all with how I've pushed Sonic!"
"There you are!" Nadia called, walking into Sanctuary. "Sally wanted to
give this to you, but you disappeared before she could."
"I didn't feel like being part of any type of celebration," Donovan said
quietly. "Besides, I just wanted to be by myself."
"Well, be that as it may, this is for you." Nadia handed him a small
diskette. "Sally had Nicole scan into memory the schematics of the
deroboticization circuit. She says you could use them to rebuild it."
Donovan just took the disk and looked at it. "Hang on to it," he said,
handing it back to her. "Even though it may not matter."
"Oh, there was also a message from Sonic. He said he looks forward to the
next training session. He seems to think it helped today. Said something
about trying to bust through the shield before you started working with him."
"If he's even able to stand up that is," Donovan said quietly. "In
training him, I might have ruined him."
"I don't think you did anything Tanis can't undo. And even so, Robotnik
will be expecting Sonic's speed, not his brains."
Donovan looked up at Nadia and then stood up. He walked over to her,
grabbed her cheeks, and kissed her full on the lips. He held it for a few
seconds then broke. "Thanks, I needed that," he said, going to get his sword.
"You're not the only one," Nadia said with a smile, slipping an arm
around his waist as they walked out.
Back at Knothole, Dorian was enjoying himself, watching Lydia talk to his
parents, when a thought struck him. He looked around and then posed a question
to which no one there knew the answer. "Does anyone know where Lisa is?"
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