Sonic: Chaos in Equestria - Chapter: 26

Chapter: 26



Old wounds



An eerie silence hangs in the air as a moderately sized room sits packed. In it are the mane 6, the rulers of Equestria, a blue hedgehog, and a very confused purple cat. The group sits at a large round table, taking up much of the room. The alicorn sisters remain closest to the door. The blue hedgehog sits at the far end of the table, with Blaze, Rarity and Pinkie Pie at his right and Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight at his left.

He gazes at the sets of eyes that stare at him with varied expressions such as concern and curiosity. Twilight looks at him with sadness, knowing what Sonic is going to say.
The sisters approach the double doors and offer the group a solemn bow. "I hope this room is adequate for what you requested," Celestia begins as she uses her magic to open the doors.

"We shall be outside if you need us," Luna adds as she trots towards the doors.

"You can stay if you want," Sonic states as he gives the princesses a kind smile.
The two princesses exchange looks before turning back to the blue hedgehog. "Are you sure?” Luna inquires. “We have not been acquainted for very long." Celestia nods in agreement.

"True, but you two helped me out big time back there," Sonic states with his trademark grin. "Anyone that's willing to do that for a guy is pretty cool in my book and is someone I’d call a friend...or in this case, friends."
The two princesses exchange nods and take a seat at a few of the still-open chairs at the other end of the table. Luna closes the door as she sits down and takes a seat next to Pinkie Pie and Celestia takes hers next to Twilight.

Sonic's expression hardens at he lets out a heavy sigh and turns his gaze at the table in front of him. Blaze places a gloved hand on the hedgehog’s shoulder and gives him a kind smile. "If you aren't comfortable with this, we’ll understand." The ponies nod and comment in agreement. But this doesn't shake the blue hedgehog’s worried look.

"No this is something you guys should probably know. It might shed some light on a few things." He turns to the purple cat with a slight smile. "Maybe even helping me gets past this as well."

Blaze gives the hedgehog a solemn nod and removes her hand from his shoulder. "If you think it will help. I shall lend you my ear." Sonic snickers at the cat's word choice and the puzzled expression of the room’s other occupants as he turns back towards the group before him.

"I should probably start from the beginning."[hr]
A light breeze blows though the tall grass as the midday suns hangs overhead. The sounds of wrenching and drilling can be heard as a set of familiar orange twin tails jut out from the driver’s seat of a small red biplane. It sits on a palm-tree-lined runway with a certain workshop stands in the distance.

Celestia: "Pardon me for interrupting, but what is a biplane?"

Luna: "Sister!"

Sonic: "It's cool. It's an old single-engine plane that we use to get around, since it helps us go to places that’d normally not be able to get to. And it’s a bit more maneuverable than some other form of aircraft we have in my world."

Celestia: "I apologize, but I’m still confused."

Sonic: -Ruffling paper noise- *scratch-scratch* “You got the main part you sit in." *scratch-scratch* "Two sets of wings, a tail." *scratch-scratch* "A Propeller and landing gear." *scratch-scratch* "And a few other things I don't remember the name of."

Celestia: "Interesting. And you soar the skies in this contraption?"

Sonic: "Pretty much, we have other ways, but I always enjoyed this little guy. Plus, it's
a small target. So it's harder to knock out of the sky."

Luna: "We shall inquire about this at a later time, but please continue."

Sonic: "Alright."

A gust of wind blasts pasts the plane, bringing a small dust cloud in its wake. The sounds of progress continue as a certain blue hedgehog approaches the aircraft. "How's progress, little buddy?"

"It's coming along, just need to finish realigning the gyro-scoping and the...”
Sonic frowns at the response. "Tails, you know I don't understand any of that techno-mumbo-jumbo."

Tails lets out a loud sigh. "I need to sync everything to the control system or else the thing won't fly right."
The blue hedgehog nods at the reply. "Alright, I can understand that." He holds up a small white paper bag. "Why don't you take a break, I brought us lunch."
The wrenching sound continues. "I'll have some when I’m done. I need to get this finished before..."

Sonic frowns at the comment and takes a few steps towards the plane. "This is the food of the gods; one doesn't simply wait to eat such an offering."
A familiar orange fox pops up from the plane's cockpit, with a smug expression. "There chili dogs, aren’t they?"
The hedgehog nods and holds the bag up. "What else could be called as such and be from the heavens above?"

"I can think of a lot of things that could be called that," Tails retorts as he gives his friend an annoyed look.

"Just get down here and have a few before they’re all gone." Sonic snaps, much to the amusement of the orange fox.

Tails climbs out of the red biplane, walks towards the blue hedgehog, and reaches into the outstretched white bag. He grabs a foil-wrapped object from it and proceeds to unwrap it. Sonic does the same and sets the bag on the ground, pulls out his own and begins to unwrap it like a kid on Christmas morning. The orange fox unwraps a small portion of his foil-wrapped meal and takes a bite and turns to the blue hedgehog next to him. "You could have just left it as lunch; you didn't have to go all prophet preacher on me."

Sonic scarfs down his own wrapped dish and crumples the foil into a ball before responding. "Yeah, but it wouldn't have nearly as amusing," he states as he gives the fox a cocky smile, prompting Tails to almost smirk in response and let out an amused chuckle.

"True, and knowing you, that would have been way too boring."

Sonic shoots the fox his trademark grin and reaches into the downed bag, pulls out another wrapped chili dog and proceeds to unwrap it. "So what do you still need to do to this thing?"

Tails finishes his own dog and reaches into the bag and pulls out another wrapped one before responding. "Well, I’d like to get the new weapon system online. The plane is getting a too much drag in the rear, so I’d like to fix that." He pauses as he takes a bite from his new dish.

"I need to update the cyber warfare protocols and make sure we have enough fuel to get us there and back."

The blue hedgehog crumples up the foil wrapper and tosses it next to the other one. "So, you have a few things then. Think you can get it done before we leave?"

Tails takes another bite of his chili dog. "I think so, the weapon system is updating as we speak and we won't be able to get the cyber system working till we get close enough to hack Eggman’s systems." He pauses as he crumples the foil wrapper into a ball. "So, all that really leaves is the fuel and drag in the rear?"

Applejack: "Sugar hog, I didn't understand a lick of that just now."

Rarity: "Me either, what in the world are you talking about?"

Sonic: "It's complicated, I don't have a great understanding of it myself or else I’d
explain it to you."

Pinkie: "Oh, Oh, I know how to explain it!"

Rainbow Dash: "You do not!"

Pinkie: "Its easy silly. That biplane Sonic was talking about has a series of weapons and the ability to hack nearby systems so that they don't attack the plane and so it can get by undetected. And the 'drag' slows the plane down and causes it to use way too much fuel."

Everyone: "..."

Blaze: "I am actually rather impressed, pink one."

Twilight: "Me too."

Luna: "Please continue, there shall be no more interruptions from here on out."[hr]

The two gaze upon the red biplane as the sound of heavy footsteps break their stance and turns towards the scores. "So, will this rust bucket really fly?" A familiar voice asks as a certain red echidna approaches the group with a sour look on his face.

"Don't mock 'Bucket," Sonic retorts as he smacks an open hand on the planes cock pit.

"This thing has saved our butts more than once." He shoots the echidna a grin. "It will get us there."

Tails retrieves his fallen wrappers along with Sonic's and places those in the now-empty white bag. "Knuckles, what are you doing here?” The orange fox inquires as he closes the bag and tosses it onto a nearby trash can.

"Oh, let me guess." Sonic interrupts. "The master Emeralds were stolen...again."
The red echidna lets out a heavy sigh. "Yes, right out from under me. That Robotnik is getting even cleverer when it comes to taking that thing."
"Five bucks says you were napping and he swooped by and took when you were out for the count."

Knuckles glares at the blue hedgehog and begins to close the gap between them. "How dare you, accuse me of lazing on my guardian duties."
Sonic zips backwards, creating another large space between them. "Hey, the truth hurts doesn’t it? Why don't you just bury that thing or at least find a better hiding spot, so Ro-butnic doesn’t keep taking it?"

"Easier said than done, I’m afraid," Knuckles replies with a cocky snort. "Moving it from its sacred spot would cause the island to plummet into the sea."
Sonic shoots the echidna an annoyed look. "Bull crap, you can change the size of that thing at will and it just needs to stay on the island to keep it airborne." His expression fades into a grin. "You just like napping in the sunshine and don't want to hang out in some old cavern or something." Knuckles glares at the hedgehog in response. "But no seriously, that island is huge and has a million places to hide it; above and below ground."

The echidna’s glare turns to a straight snarl as he closes the gap once more and raises his right fist as he prepares to strike. Sonic continues to goad him on, waving his arms around in mock surprise. He’s stopped by a certain orange fox as he steps between them.
"Bickering amongst ourselves won't get us anywhere," Tails comments. "The three of us would have a better chance if we joined forces."

Sonic takes a step back at the comment. "Are you serious? Me team up with this Knucklehead?"

"The feeling is mutual you blue freak," Knuckles fires back, as he holds a gloved hand at the hedgehog.

"What did you call me?!" Sonic snaps as he charges at the red echidna.

"Enough!" Tails shouts, prompting the two to stop dead in their tracks. "We need to set aside out differences and focus on the bigger picture here."

"Eggman." Sonic comments with a strong annoyance in his voice.

"Exactly," The orange fox adds, with defining snap (what?). "As usual he's up to something and he has the chaos emeralds, so it's up to us to stop him." Tails glances at the two before continuing. "Besides, we can deliver a more devastating blow to his operation, if we work together."

Sonic and Knuckles both turn to one another, both with a perplexed expression. Tails silently glances as the two, waiting for a reply from either of them. "I'm game, what did you have in mind?" The red echidna asks, gaining an odd look from the other two.

"What?” Both the blue hedgehog and orange fox exchange glances. Sonic shrugs in response and Tails clears his throat in an attempt to draw attention back on him.

"Simply put, the plan is this: we infiltrate Eggman's flagship with the Tornado, sabotage his internal network and take out his fleet from the inside." He trails off as he notices Knuckles not following his explanation. "Also retaking possession of the chaos emeralds and hopefully recovering the Master one as well."

The red echidna nods at the orange fox's plan, but his expression turns worried as he glances at the red biplane then back at Tails. "Not to rain on your parade kid, but anything Eggman makes is usually heavily fortified and has some sort of defects. (did you mean defenses?)" He turns back to the plane. "I'm not sure the Tornado can get through that."

The blue hedgehog grins at the echidna's remark. "Tails has made a few upgrades, so it should be a breeze to get in there."
“Well, I wouldn't say a breeze, but if I can finish the improvements.... We should have a higher chance of success."

Sonic facepalms in response. "Oh right, I pulled you away for lunch."
Tails removes a wrench from his tool belt and tosses it into the air a few times before responding. "Good thing you did." Sonic raises am eyebrow at the fox's comment. "It gave me a minute to think; some of the controls need a few small tweaks, rather than rebuilding them and reinstalling them, like I had planned." Sonic and Knuckles exchange confused looks.

"And for those of us that don't speak nerd?" Sonic responds with a confused tone.

"Basically, it means we should be flying within the hour, rather than the end of the day," Tails responds, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Glad you’re near it," Sonic states with a gins and a thumbs up. "Make it happen."
Tails nods. "Will do." He uses his twin tails to fly back towards the plane.[hr]

Rainbow Dash: "He flies with his tails? How is that possible?"

Everyone: "DASH!"

Rainbow Dash: "Sorry, sorry, I was just curious. No need to bite my head off!"[hr]

A riveted and vented red panel snaps into place as a certain orange fox gives it one final shove with a closed fist, and then wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Alright guys, that should do it," Tails states as he glances at a now-shimmering red biplane.
Sonic lets out an impressed whistle as he approaches the now-restored plane. "Nice job, little buddy. Robuttnick won't know what to think when he sees this."

"It's kind of poetic." Tails adds. "It's like a Trojan horse, he'll at first think it's just our normal old plane, only to be surprised when he sees what it can do."
"Or till he scans it." Knuckles retorts with a cocky huff.
Tails rolls his eyes at the echidna's remark and turns to the blue hedgehog besides him.

"Hey, I have to grab a few things. Could you check the runway before takeoff?"
Sonic mockingly salutes at the fox's request. "Can do." He takes off in a burst of speed, sending a gust of wind towards the fox and echidna.

"Mind giving me a hand?  We should make it back before Sonic, if we both grab something."
Knuckles lets out a sigh. "Alright, lead the way."

------

Sonic skids to a stop at a now-empty plateau save for the red biplane sitting by the runway. The blue hedgehog approaches the edge of the cliff and watches the waves smash against the rock for a few moments. The sound of snapping twigs and ruffling leaves draws his attention towards his right; towards the empty runway and notices a few small footprints around the rear of the plane. "Tails must have loaded it up and realized he forgot something." Sonic lets out a small laugh. "He's such a scatter brain."  

"Who's a scatterbrain?” A familiar voice asks, prompting the blue hedgehog to turn around and notice Tails and Knuckles emerging from the hanger, with Tails carrying a small suitcase and Knuckles carrying a large duffle bag over his shoulder.

"Never mind, I was just thinking out loud."
Tails smirks at the comment and flips open the tan suitcase.
"What'cha got there?" Sonic asks, with an intrigued glance.

"Oh nothing much, just a little something that will help us out of a tight spot. If we need it." The blue hedgehog nods and turns to the red echidna, who is mounting something to the wings of the plane.

"And what about you?"
Knuckles smirks and pats the side of biplane. “Just a little extra firepower."

------

"Contact!" The blue hedgehog shouts as he gives the plane’s propeller a hard smack, causing it to start spinning on its own and begins to pick up speed.

"You know this thing has auto start now, that wasn't really necessary," Tails comments as he flips down a pair of aviation goggles.
Sonic grins and leaps on to the right side of the top wing. "Hey, but it's funnier this way."

"And a colossal waste of time," Knuckles comments as he takes position on the left side of the same wing. "

Sonic lets out a heavy sigh and turns to the two-tailed fox. "You sure you want to bring this guy? He's a real buzzkill."

"I heard that!" The red echidna snaps as he turns to the blue hedgehog beside him.
Tails nods and flips a few switches on the planes control panel. "Will you two try to at least get along or else this..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." The hedgehog begins. "We are stronger when we work together."
Tails gives the hedgehog an annoyed look and flips a few more switches. He finally hits the lever to the throttle and pulls onto the runway. "Alright guys, hang on," Tails comments, prompting the two to take a kneeling position.

Sighting up the small marker at the end of the runway, the orange fox readjusts his goggles and then jams the throttle, sending the red biplane rocketing down the runway.
The small plane lifts slightly from the ground, and then back down again. Lifting once more, it lands back on the ground. "Tails what’s wrong?" Sonic shouts back to the orange fox.

"We're too heavy; the Tornado won't lift off the ground," Tails replies as he frantically starts flipping switches and wrenching on the controls.

"I knew it was a bad idea to bring this knucklehead along." The blue hedgehog spits as he gives the red echidna a dirty look.

"Negative." Tails snaps. "I already compensated for the added wait and supplies. Something else is weighing us down." Sonic frowns at the fox's comment.

"Well you better think of something quick!" Knuckles shouts as he turns to the shrinking runway. "We're running out of runway and I don't think this thing can stop in time.”
Sonic glares at the echidna's comment, and then turns back at to Tails. "Any ideas?"

The orange fox nods as he slams the throttle to the floor. "Just one."
The small plane begins to pick up speed as it nears the end of the runway. "Whatever you have planned, you might want to do it now. Sonic comments as his expressions twist in worry.

"Not exactly how I saw myself going out." Knuckles comments bearing a similar expression as the blue hedgehog.

"Hang on!" Tails shouts as the plane falls over the cliff.
A dead stillness hangs in the air for a brief moment, only to be shattered as the small plane juts upwards and scores into the sky.

"Yahoo!" The blue hedgehog shouts as he pumps his fist into the air. "What'd I tell ya? Tails had it covered all along."
Knuckles rolls his eyes at Sonic's claim. "Oh please, you about pissed yourself when we went over the cliff." The blue hedgehog glares at the red echidna, who gives him a cocky smirk. Both take a stance as if about to engage in a brawl atop the plane wing.

"Well, all that matters is we're safe," Tails mutters out, trying to ease the tension. Sonic lets out a sigh and turns to the horizon. "Alright fair enough, we managed to stay in one piece." He turns to the orange fox piloting the plane. "So how long, till we get to Eggman and stop whatever egg-themed scheme he has planned?"
Tails points to something in the distance. "Right over there."
Sonic and Knuckles turn in the direction the orange fox is pointing. "This is going to be harder than I thought." The blue hedgehog comments as he continues his gaze.

------

An armada of red airships fills the sky, each with an array of cannons and other assorted weapons mounted on the front and sides. One’s slightly larger than the others; decorated with green neon lights and other ornate objects. It leads the pack.
"Holy crap!" Knuckles shouts as he rears back in shock.
"Not really modest on which one is the flagship is he?" Sonic comments as he glances at Eggman's Egg Carrier.

“Probably because he figured you'd find out anyways," Tails replies as he glances down at the plane control panel.

A loud beep breaks the two from their trance and towards the orange fox. "What's that sound, little buddy?" Sonic inquires as he turns towards the direction of the noise.
"We're being targeted...and now being fired upon," Tails states as he pushes a button, causing a small keyboard to slide out from the plane’s control panel.
"Alright, time to put those countermeasures you built to use," Sonic comments as he gives the fox thumbs up.

Tails nods and begins typing on the small keyboard. A set of hatches on the rear of the plane open and small miniature sized paper-airplane-shaped objects come out and fly towards the now-oncoming missiles.

"Really? That's your failsafe?" Knuckles comments as he watches the small planes fly ahead.

"No that's to keep them occupied while Tails hacks the security system," Sonic comments. "Weren't you paying attention?" The red echidna lets out a sigh and folds him arms behind his head. "Apparently not." The hedgehog adds, much to Knuckle’s annoyance.
The small planes fly towards the missiles on an intercept course, only to be torn apart on impact; not even slowing them down in the process.

"Aw crap!" Tails comments as he watches the missiles continue to fly towards them.

"Do something!" Sonic shouts. "Fire at them, hack their flight patterns; deflect them with
a shield or something!"

"I can't!" Tails shouts back. "I'm still hacking Eggman's network. Everything else is offline."

"Do a barrel roll!" Knuckles suggests, gaining a look from both Sonic and Tails.

"Is he serious?" Tails asks as he turns to the blue hedgehog.

"I think he is." Sonic replies with an amused tone.
The orange fox lets out a heavy sigh and starts flipping a series of switches. "I was afraid of that."

The roar of an array of incoming missiles snuffs out the sound of the small plane’s engine and prompting the hedgehog and echidna to grow worried. "If you have any bright ideas, now would be the time to use one," Knuckles mutters out as he steps to the wings edge.

"Just one, hang on!" The orange fox shouts as he cranks the plane’s controls and forces it to barrel sideways across the sky, narrowly avoid the opposing threat. However, the plane jerks in the opposite directions as the tail seems to want to go in the other direction.

"What the hell was that?" the blue hedgehog inquires as he returns to a standing position.

"Something’s up with the rear of the plane," Tails responds as he presses a few buttons on the small key board. "It shouldn't have swung around like that."

The red echidna abruptly clears in throat, in an attempt to get everyone’s attention. When it fails, he does it louder, sounding as if he strained in voice in doing so.

"Got something to say, Knuckles?" The blue hedgehog asks, giving the echidna a dirty look.
"Aren’t you guys going to thank me?"
Sonic rears back in disgust. "From what?"

"For saving our lives. It was my idea that we should do a barrel roll. And a 'barrel roll' just saved our lives."

The blue hedgehog’s mouth hangs open in complete shock at the echidna's claim. "It was actually an 'aileron roll.'” Tails comments.

"What?" Knuckles ask in confusion.

"A 'barrel roll," The fox says using air quotes. "It's called such, because you fly in a barrel formation. While an aileron roll, is when you perform 360 usually not moving too far from your original position."

Knuckles stares back at the fox, bearing the same expression Sonic once did. "HA!" The blue hedgehog shouts as he points at the red echidna.

Tails presses a few more buttons on the plane’s console, causing the small keyboard to retract and a set of high-powered machine guns to emerge from the front of the plane.

"Change of plans, little buddy?" Sonic inquires as he watches the guns emerge.

"Let's call it plan A-and-a-half. We're sitting ducks out here, with most of our weapons offline and the inability to maneuver this plane very well."

The blue hedgehog grins at the orange fox. "Talk about making an entrance." He then turns to the small set of missiles Knuckles installed. "We are using those too?"
Tails nods. “Why else would I have brought them?

------

A large hanger sits packed of all sizes of machines and other robots mostly appear to be milling about; performing numerous tasks to the other machines or to the large craft. A small green robot (resembling a scorpion) stops in front of the bay doors, as if trying to locate something. The sound of something striking the doors echoes in the large room as the robot falls to the ground with a smoldering hole in its head. The other robots turn towards the disturbance as a small hole bursts though one of the doors.

Another red robot (appearing as a squirrel) makes a mad dash towards a large red button, but is too struck down as another hole bursts into the bay doors. Having witnessed this, the other robots go into frenzy, making beeping and screeching noises. However, this is abruptly cut off as a barrage of bullets burst from the bays doors; turning both them and the robots into Swiss cheese.

------

"AAAAHHHHH!" Tails screams as he unleashes his fury onto the warship, unloading a spray of bullets from the twin machine guns onto Eggman's unsuspecting forces. Spent shell casings rain from the sky as belt after belt of bullets are fired from the guns. Sonic and Knuckles exchange worried looks as the orange fox continues his onslaught.

Glass shatters and metal dents as they’re sprayed with wave after wave of gunfire. Finally the two machine guns let out a loud click as their operator as exhausted the ammo supply; both smoldering as white smoke billows from both the guns' barrels.

Having used his ammo supply, Tails fires off two of the newly mounted rockets from the bottom of the top wing; destroying what little remained of the bay doors and taking out a large portion of the control panel inside.

With nothing else in its way, the Tornado flies though the newly 'opened' bay doors and lands on the now-scorched metal floor, knocking a few of the destroyed bots out of its way.

Sonic leaps from the right wing of the plane and lets out an impressed whistle as he surveys the damage. "Nice mess Tails. That will sure get his attention." Knuckles doesn’t seem to share the hedgehog’s view point and proceed to pull Tails from the plane’s cockpit and flings him on the floor; leaping from the plane himself and chasing after it. Sonic notices this and attempt to intercept, before Tails receives a pummeling.

The red echidna grabs the small fox, but the scruff of the neck and lifts him several feet into the air. "K-Knuckles..." Tails mutters out as his attempt to break free of the enraged echidna's grasp.

"What is wrong with you? You could have gotten us killed!" The orange fox takes a deep breath, as he tried to respond, but is sent crashing to the floor as his attacker is sent flying via a large leg sweep to the side of the head.

Knuckles crashes into the metal floor and skids several feet before coming to a complete stop. A furious echidna rises to his feet and barrows (barges?) towards the blue hedgehog. He crashes into one of the destroyed machines as Sonic sidesteps out of his way at the last second. Knuckles pulls himself from the wreckage and goes in for another attack, landing flat on his face as the blue hedgehog sidesteps him again and trips him as he runs past.

A disoriented echidna attempts to try once more, but is stopped as a cleated shoe stops on his back. "Enough!" Sonic shouts as he lifts his foot from down Knuckle’s back. "We're not going to get anything accomplished if we just keep fighting with each other."
Knuckles rolls to his side and leaps toward the hedgehog; receiving a cleated shoe to the face. "Alright fine!" He snaps; pulling his face way from the hedgehog's shoe. "But he started it!" The red echidna shouts as he points to the orange fox. "And I'm finishing it." Sonic adds, returning to a relaxed position.

Tails lets out a relived sigh as the two make up and then walks toward the rear of the red biplane. "Not really the best time to be tinkering with that thing, we got to go," Sonic comments as he points to something behind him with his thumb.
"In a sec. "Tails replies. ”This is going to be a one-way trip, unless we figure out what's weighting us down."

Knuckles turns towards the fox and raises an eyebrow in response. "Is this really the best time to be messing with that thing?"

Tails grabs hold of a small handle on the rear of the plane and gives it a hard pull. "If this thing is a bust or we need to make a hasty escape, this is our only way out of here." He releases the handle and scratches his head in bewilderment. "It's stuck."

"Here, let me try," the red echidna adds as he approaches the plane, dusting off his massive gloves as he gets close. "We're going to be here all day, if we don't get this open." Knuckles cracks his neck and proceeds to limber up. "What you need is..." He raises his right and pulls it back."...a little force." The red echidna swings at the plane.

"No stop!" Tails shouts as the echidna swings a massive fist at the tail of the plane.

Upon contract the small plane spins the direction the echidna hit it. Its small tires squealing on the metal floor as it makes several 360-degree turns on the floor. It finally comes to rest as it falls out the semi-raised plat form. Knuckles crosses his arms and smirks at his handy work. "What did I tell ya? It just needed a little 'finesse'."

Tails's faces burst red in rage as he approaches the echidna. "You call that 'finesse'? You probably did more damage to the thing then it..." The orange fox trails off as the small latch swings open. Knuckles opens his mouth as if ready to say 'I told you so', but remains silent as a familiar pink hedgehog falls from the small compartment.

"Amy?" They say in unison.

The pink hedgehog lays motionless on the floor for a few moments, only to spring to her feet and lunge at the red echidna, taking him by surprise. "That hurt, you jerk!" Amy yells as she summons her Piko Hammer and swings it at the unsuspecting echidna. Knuckles leaps out of the way just in time to avoid being smashed by the hedgehog's massive hammer, making a sizeable dent at it makes contact with the floor. And then goes on the offense, attempting to strike his attacker with a barrage of haymakers. Amy back flips out of the echidna's range and brandishes her hammer for another attack.

"Stop it, the both of you!" The orange fox shouts as he flies towards the two.

"Yeah Amy, you need to drop the hammer." Knuckles adds in a cocky tone.

Tails turns to the red echidna and gives him a look as if saying. 'You idiot.' Amy maniacally grins at the remark (a bolt of thunder echoes from an unknown location) and begins spinning the Piko hammer with one hand as she charges at the echidna. "You want me to put the hammer down?"

Knuckles charges towards the pink hedgehog in an attempt to intercept her attack. Amy leaps into the air and swings the massive hammer above her head as it smashing down a large 'echidna-shaped' rivet. Knuckles charges forward and swings at the device with a mighty right hook.

The Piko hammer collides with the echidna's fist, creating a massive shockwave that knocks everyone back several feet.

Silence fills the room as even the once -moldering wreckage from the trio +1's entrance is now snuffed out from the colliding forces. Amy is the first to rise to her feet, with Knuckles doing the same as few moments later. The two make eye contact and lunge at each other once more, only to be halted by Sonic as he stops between them.
"Alright you two, this needs to stop!" The blue hedgehog shouts as he holds his arms out and forces the two further apart.

"But she started it!" Knuckles snaps, as he tries to push his way towards pink hedgehog.

"What? You're the one that punched the plane!" Amy retorts.

"I don't care who started it!" Sonic shouts back. "I'm finishing it!"
Amy and Knuckles glare at one another and then turn away in unison. "Fine," They both say also in unison.


[b]Next Chapter Preview:
[i]Tails: "This can't be good."
Amy: "HANG ON!"
Knuckles: "That's the last time I let you make the travel arrangements."
Sonic: "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"[/i]
To who the bell tolls[/b]