Endgame: 'A Guardian's Tale'
By Rebecky-mo
The day seemed quiet enough on the Floating Island. No problems
between nieghbours to settle, no robots or evil geniuses to smash, no
intruders. Everything looked peaceful from where I stood.
Until I decided to look up. There in the sky was a slightly
familiar silhouette; a large body mass, long tail, and massive wings.
It seemed like I knew the creature, but from the distance I couldn't
make out exactly what it was. All I knew was that it was making a
beeline for the Island at top speed.
*This can't be good* I thought to myself, quickly dodging
into the bushes, waiting for it to pass over so I could strike.
Finally, I felt the rush of wings above me, and I leapt into action,
easily delivering a solid blow to the creature; unfortunately, after
that move I realized why it had been so familiar. It was Dulcy the
Dragon, a friend of the Freedom Fighters; she'd been here when we
retreived the Sword of Acorns. *Why would she come back?..*
"I might've known you'd attack the sweetest, most gentle
creature on the planet for NO reason, brain-dead redhead!"
The voice made me turn, *Sonic?!?* The guy was in rough shape;
his quills were covered in dirt and grime, messed up in every direction
rather than his normal striaght back look, and his eyes were heavy from
lack of sleep, plus, for some reason he was wearing shackles on his
wrists and ankles.
Now, I probably should've asked what was up, but as always, the
hedghogs remark got me riled up for some reason. "Oh, yeah?..Well,
you're next!"
Just like dozens of times before, he and I began to fight,
although something was...different. His energy was way down, and
his blows didn't sting as much as they usually did. His heart just
didn't seem into it this time. We were on a head-on collision with
each other, when a blast from above separated us.
"Back off, Knuckles! If anyone's taking the hedgehog down,
It'll be ME!"
I look up again, seeing a skunk parachuting down, a crossbow on
his wrist; I didn't know the guy, but Sonic obviously did:
"ST.JOHN!!"
He landed on the ground, and before I could I could ask him
what was doing here, Sonic spoke in almost desperation, our fight
seemingly forgotten; "Listen up Knux! I need your help to clear my
name! I'm being framed!" This was confusing to me, but it explained
the shackles at least. But my mind stopped when the skunk, St.John,
spoke next:
"As personal guard to King Acorn of Mobius, I deputize and
command you to help me bring Princess Sally's assassin to justice!!"
*ASSASSIN?!?* For a brief moment, I swear I felt my heart stop.
"What?! Puh-Princess Sally--DEAD?!" One of the best friends, the ONLY
friends I'd ever had, and now, she's...
Anger boiled through my veins, and I lost it. All I knew was
Sally was gone, and Sonic was responsible!! I turned to him and charged
forward; "I TOLD HER YOU WERE NO GOOD!!" For a second, the hedgehog
tried to convince me he was being honest, then realizing I wouldn't be
listening to him (How could I, he'd lied to Sally all this time!!) he
spinned his way out of my grasp, and I ate a mouthfull of grass.
Sonic avoided one of St. John's arrows, then decided to get
smart, trying to egg us on; little did he know that was the dumbest
thing he could've ever done. In mere seconds, Espio had Sonic's wrists
firmly in grip, making sure he wouldn't escape.
The King's guard tried to take command, but I quickly stopped
that, "Stuff that, pal! I give the orders here!" *And I also dish out
the justice.* I was all set to take one final swing at the hedgehog,
ending everything once and for all, when a female voice boomed, echoing
in the air.
"ENOUGH!!!!!!"
Dulcy crashed to the ground, making shock waves take us all off
our feet. What was she doing, she must know what Sonic's done! She can
tell truth from fiction; then she spoke again, more quietly, but far
more seriously:
"As you know, dragons cannot tell lies. That is why we can
sense the purity of truth and I know Sonic is NOT lying about being
framed!"
"Hmm, a dragon's spoken word is fact.." I muttered to myself.
Slowly, I felt the anger fade, until just confusment remained. *If
Sonic didn't do it..then who?* The group of us figured out that someone
must've wanted us to turn against each other, and who better than the
worst of the worst; Robotnik.
Leaving Espio and the dragon on the Island to stand guard with
the rest of the Chaotix, I decided to go with the others to take on the
enemy in Robotropolis and save Knothole. It was the least I could do
to protect Sally's beliefs...and help heal Sonic's pride.
**********************************************************************
Now, we were on the way back to the mainland, heading straight
for the rebel base of Knothole, determined to stop Robotnik once and
for all. Commander St. John was telling me the events that had led up
to thier intrusion of the island; King Acorns 'miraculous recovery',
the raid, Sally's tragic fall, Sonic's trial, arrest, and finally, his
escape.
"Seems you guys have been awful busy..." I tried to listen to
the skunk, but I kept glancing over to the other side of the plane
where Sonic sat, looking out the window. His shackles had been removed,
and he'd gotten a decent meal, but he still didn't seem normal. His
eyes were dark so I couldn't tell they were brown, and he wasn't even
moving an inch. He looked tired, worn... defeated. As if he'd lost
everything he cherished.
I almost smacked myself over the head; Sally. He'd loved her.
How could I have not seen it before?!? Well, I guess I did, but I was
too busy beating the heck out of him to notice.
Hesitantly, I went over the hedgehog as Geoffrey went to the
cockpit, "Hey man, you okay?"
"I guess." No jokes, just a melancholy voice. Man, I did not
like this. I placed a hand on his shoulder, and he finally broke his
gaze away from the clouds outside to look at me.
"Sonic, whoever did this is gonna pay. Knothole will be freed,
and Robotnik's evil ends today."
"I'm not fighting."
SAY WHAT?!?! He wasn't gonna fight?! Of all the timing--!!
"Sonic, don't go into self pity on me now! Everyone needs us, we're the
only ones..."
"What's left to fight for? The others are probably all
roboticized by now, Knothole's gonna be in ashes, and Sally..."
I hated to say this but..."Would she have surrendered?"
"What?!"
"You heard me; if Sally were here, would she give up and
watch as the doc took Mobius?"
"Of course not! She didn't believe in quitting."
"And neither do you" I replied. "Sonic, Sally might be gone,
but she's still in you, and she wants you to not give up! There's
still hope for the Freedom Fighters, even if they're roboticized,
they can be changed back! I'm not giving up, but I--I need your help
Together we can grant Sally's wish."
Blue blinked, and I swear I saw a fire burn in his eyes, a
very familiar one; one of purpose. "Yeah, together." We shook hands,
and fell silent for awhile, until I spoke again:
"Sonic, when you knew you needed help...why'd you come to me?"
He chuckled softly and looked right into my eyes, almost
enviously "Because I knew you loved her too."
I smiled, "Only as a sister Sonic. Trust me, nothing more." The
rest of the trip was silent as we continued our journey to our
destiny, not as rivals...but friends.
**********************************************************************
The number of robots in Knothole were incalcuable! They were
everywhere, battling against the Freedom Fighters that had been rescued
from the prisons. I was up to my neck in swatbots, but I kept an eye
out for Sonic. I'd lost view of him a few minutes ago, and he hadn't
resurfaced.
Finally, we managed to take them all down, but still no sign
of Sonic. I looked over to Tails "We'd better go search for him, he's
weakened right now." We hadn't moved two steps when a voice rang out.
"I saw him!"
I turned to see a female black and white cat wearing a bandana
on her neck, dragging a white wolf behind her. I asked her where he
went, and she pointed to the east...towards Robotropolis!! The IDIOT!!
He was going to take on Robotnik himself! "Let's go!" I cried as I took
to the air, Tails and Rotor right behind me as well as a few others I
didn't know.
We had gotten just inside the perimeters of Robotropolis when a
huge beam shot over my head, going for Knothole. At impact, there was a
bright flash of light, then....nothing. Knothole was gone!! Tails cried
out in anguish, and I almost fell to the ground in shock. Many of the
group went back in search of survivors, but I think Rotor and myself
knew they're wouldn't be, save a miracle occured.
Then, minutes later, shock waves were shooting around us after
a massive explosion at the Doctors main fortress. We never saw the
bright force field show up at Knothole's former place, the one that
now held Knothole in it. Guess miracles do exist...
We continued our way to the main fortress, now more determined
than ever to make certain it was over. We (literally) ran into Bunnie
and Antione, and they explained about the bomb they placed on the
Ultimate Annihilator; even the name gives me chills. Now with the
coyote and rabbit, we finally made it to the war room.
The place was in shambles. The explosion had been here.
Our group split up in search of either Robotnik and Sonic;
or at least thier bodies. I searched a small hallway in the north
corner, almost giving up hope, until I heard a
"There he is!"
The others joined me, and I picked up Sonic's unconcious body
as Rotor spoke "He was closest to ground zero, so he'll probably need
medical attention immediatly!"...
********************************************************************
I breathed a sigh a relief about an hour later as the doctor
explained that Sonic was alright, save exhaustion. I couldn't help but
be impressed; he'd taken on his friends and his enemies in two weeks,
and beaten them all. Thanks to one small, loudmouthed hedgehog,
Mobius knew peace.
*But at what price?* I thought to myself as I left the hut,
towards a clearing outside the village. The doctor told the whole story
of how he came to work with Robotnik, and I swear I was a second away
from slugging him. But for some reason, I wasn't in the mood.
As I approached the clearing, I slowly saw a golden
casket-like box, with a body inside. Sally. Now, I knew she wasn't
dead, but just seeing her like, quiet, motionless, it made my
stomach twist. Tears slowly began to fall down my cheeks as I looked at
her through the glass, not bothering to wipe them away; I doubted I
could lift my hands right then anyway, they felt like cement blocks.
A sound coming up the road finally broke me out of my mourning,
and I saw clouds of dust rising. It had to be Sonic. I barely had time
to hide in the bushes before the hedgehog appeared. He made his way to
the casket; I knew I should have left, given him some timr to himself,
but those blocks in my hands decided to move down to my feet.
Carefully, he lifted the opening of the box, and seemed to
just gaze at her. He must have known about her true condition, because
he spoke softly as he kissed her cheek "Please come back." I finally
felt the blocks smashing off my feet, and started to leave, but a new
voice stopped me dead in my tracks. It was quiet, weak, but I knew it
too well to mistake it.
"Sonic?"
SALLY!! I made a heel spin and raced back to my place in the
shrubs, getting the best view I'd seen all day. Sonic was holding
Sally in his arms, her eyes open. She was alright!! Sonic lifted her
into her arms and carried her down to Knothole, and I emerged into
the clearing once more, watching them.
I chose not to go back to the village after them; instead, I
took to the air and headed for home, and smiled as I heard wild cheers
of happiness coming from below. This was Sonic's time to shine, he
deserved it. As for me, it's time to spread the word....
And the word was 'victory'.