Sonic the Hedgehog © and other related characters are a copyright of SEGA Enterprises and Archie Comics Publications. Delphine, Dimitria, Comet, Ali and Rick are a copyright of ME(the author, duh!) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Sometimes the end is really the beginning. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Final Battle Part 3 of Newfound Alliances --by Delphine Sally was explaining the plan to Sonic, Knuckles, Bunnie, Tails, the Chaotix, Ali and Rick. When she was done, they went off into the Great Forest. Antoine and Rotor watched them go, being as they had been left behind to watch over Knothole. "So, what do you think of those two, Antoine?" Rotor asked. Antoine was about to answer in his annoying French accent when suddenly a white cloud appeared in front of them. Antoine ran behind Rotor, hiding. "Ahh! What ez that! We ez all doomed! Doomed!" he yelled cowardly. Rotor sighed and looked to the sky. "Well, what's happening?" Dimitria asked. "Besides Antoine being the usual dumbell?" Rotor said. Dimitria smirked. "Whew! It ez only you." Antoine said when he saw Dimitria. "I see," she said with slitted eyes. She looked to Rotor. "Where's Delphine?" she asked him. "Oh. Um....she's in the doc's hut." Rotor told her "What?! What happened?" she asked him hurriedly. He quickly explained. "Oh dear," she said. "Can I see her?" she asked. "Sure. I don't think she's awake yet, but it wouldn't hurt. Dr. Quack has taken over now that it isn't much of an emergency." Rotor led Dimitria to Dr. Quack's office. When the Freedom Fighters got to Robotropolis, they all gathered to get into teams. Knuckles went with the Chaotix, and Ali and Rick went with the Freedom Fighters. The Chaotix team went north, towards the control building, while the Freedom Fighters went East, towards the center building. When the Freedom Fighters were out of earshot of the Chaotix, Espio started complaining. "We should be the ones taking down that stupid freak, not them," he grumbled. "Espio, it's their war. We're just here to help. Chill out." Knuckles told him. "I'd chill if...." "Shh, we're here." Vector told them. And they were. In the center building, Robotnik was watching the Chaotix and the Freedom Fighters on two separate monitors. He watched as the Chaotix entered the control building. "Snivley," he said, "Send one hundred of our best SWATbots to the Control Building." "Yes, sir," Snivley said. He walked off to issue complete his task. Robotnik watched the Freedom Fighters dodging in and out of the shadows towards the Center Building. When they were just outside it, Robotnik said, "Metal Sonic and Knuckles, go down to the second level. Wait for them there." The robots left, following their orders. "Now we shall see who is playing games, hedgehog," Robotnik said darkly. In the Control room, the Chaotix were sneaking towards the Center Room, where the major controls for the city were. Every once in a while they had to fight off a SWATbot or two, but besides that there was nothing. "Something smells," Mighty said. "And I don't just mean the air." "I know what you mean, Might. This has been way too easy." Knuckles told him. "I know I've said this before guys, but, we're here." Vector said. The five of them looked at the door. "Would you do the honors, Mighty?" Knuckles asked. "Gladly, Knux," Mighty smirked. He knocked the door down in three seconds. "C'mon guys, lets trash this place!" Knuckles yelled. They all ran into the room, ready for a fight. Sally was once again explaining to Rick the reason they were fighting Robotnik. "So that's why?" he asked. "Yes." she said, losing patience. Rick nodded. Sonic didn't like the way Rick was looking at Sally. Neither did she. "Um, come on, let's go." she said. The five of them followed Sally into the next room. Inside the found a stairway leading to the next level. The climbed up it. At the top, they looked around. "Don't you find it odd that we haven't ran into any SWATbots?" Tails asked. "You're right sugah, it is strange." Bunnie said. Just then the two robotic replicas walked into the room. "That's because we didn't need their help. We shall destroy you." The Freedom Fighters looked at the 'bots. Ali and Rick looked at them in awe. "Not if I have anything to say about it," Sonic said under his breath. The fight began. The Chaotix were stunned. In front of them they saw SWATbots. Lots of them. One hundred to be exact. "Um, Knux, was this part of the plan?" Charmy asked. "Shutup." Knuckles said. The head SWATbot spoke. "You shall be escorted to the roboticizaction chamber. Resistance is futile. You shall be escorted." Knuckles leapt at the head SWATbot and tore off its head. "So much for that!" Knuckles yelled. "C'mon guys, let's trash these 'bots!" Knuckles and his friends leapt at the robots. The SWATbots had lasers, but the Chaotix had brains, wits, and muscle. The 'bots were soon defeated. "All right!" Vector said. "Way to go!" Espio said, slapping Vector a high-five. "Uh, guys, I don't think this is the time for that." Charmy said. "Why not Charm? We just-- oh no." Espio looked over to where Vector was staring. Mighty was bent over Knuckles. He wasn't moving. Espio and Vector walked over. "Is he all right?" Espio asked. "I don't know. I don't think so." Mighty said in a shaky voice. There was a wound across Knuckles' head. "DAMNIT!" Espio screamed. He rammed into all the controls around the room at a speed even Sonic would be impressed by. Soon everything was destroyed, and all the lights went out. Sonic was surprised when the lights went out. he thought. Metal Sonic and Knuckles were surprised by it also. Sonic took the chance to go find Robotnik. He sped out of there, not thinking of the rest of the team. "Sonic, come back!" Sally called. Too late she realized her mistake. Now the robots knew that they were alone. Metal Sonic turned on his flashlight, which was embedded into his arm. The Freedom Fighters squinted against the bright light. "You shall all perish," Metal Knuckles said, an evil smile on his face. The two 'bots started firing. "Great. Just Great. Now what do we do?" Mighty said. He was just about sick of this place. "Let's get outa this hell-hole before one of us goes mad," Espio said. He was speaking mostly of himself. "Good idea," Charmy said. He took a flashlight out of Mighty's backpack and turned it on. He pointed it towards the doorway. "That way," he said. They walked out the door, down the stairs, and out the building. Mighty laid Knuckles down on the ground. Robotic parts were strewn everywhere. "What happened here?" Vector said to himself. "Who knows?" Espio said. His mind wasn't on the ground. It never is, really. "I do." "What?! Who said that?! "I did." Espio whirled around. he saw Comet, the Freedom Fighters Pegasus friend. "Oh, it's you!" he said. He was glad to see her. She was the only one that knew.... "Well? What happened?" Mighty asked her. "Me." she said simply. "What'd you do?" he asked. "I went bowling for badniks," she said with a half smirk. "What?!" they all said at the same time. "I flew threw the air, dived, and rolled into the robots." she explained. "Cool!" Vector exclaimed. "Yeah, I thought so," Comet said, still smirking. Then she noticed Knuckles. She stopped smirking. "Oh, geeze," she said softly. She nudged his head. It rolled to the left, then fell back to its original position. "What happened?" She asked. Mighty explained. "Oh boy," she whispered. "Isn't there anything we can do?" Charmy asked, holding down hysterics. "I'm afraid not, Charmy." Comet told him. "I'm afraid not." Dimitria walked into the room Dr. Quack was holding Delphine in with concern. She didn't know how badly Delphine had been hurt. She looked down at the unconscious form of her friend. She swept Delphine's hair back from her face. "I should've been there." she whispered. Suddenly Delphine moaned. Dimitria jumped back in surprise. "She's waking up!" Dr. Quack exclaimed. "I figured that one out on my own," Dimitria muttered. Delphine opened her eyes and looked around, then sat up. She felt a sharp pain in her head. She put her hand to it. "Ohhhhhhhhhh." she moaned. "You're okay!" Dimitria exclaimed. She felt like hugging her. "Somewhat," Delphine groaned. "What happened? The last thing I remember is hearing the machine turn on...." She shook her head. She didn't feel like thinking about it. Rotor quickly explained what had happened. "So now they're in Robotropolis with two people that they hardly know, without me, Comet, or even Dimitria?" Delphine shook her head. "It seems I wasn't the only one who bumped her head." She jumped down from the table. "Quetin! I need you to help me!" called Elizabeth Quack. "Coming Liz!" Dr. Quack yelled back. "I'll be right back," he told the four of them. He walked out to find his wife. "Zes ez wonderful! Now ze princess will be ze happy person, and I will be able to take ze credit!" Antoine said proudly. "Oh? And just how do you propose you do that?" Delphine asked him, glaring at him. "Well, I waz ze only one who waz here when you woke up." "No you weren't. Dimitria and Rotor were both here." Delphine told him. Antoine looked down. Delphine looked up and mouthed the word 'why' over and over. Suddenly, Dimitria got a message about the Chaotix's predicament from Comet. She gasped. "What is it?" Delphine asked. Dimitria quickly explained. "What?!" Delphine exclaimed when she was done. "C'mon, let's go!" Delphine yelled. She pulled Dimitria out of the office, and the two of them flew out of Knothole, Delphine holding Dimitria by the waist. When they got there, the first place they went was the Center Building. "But I thought we were...." Dimitria said. "No." Delphine interrupted. "I need to get these guys with us. I can't bring you and him back at the same time." Dimitria nodded. The two of them walked into the building, knowing that there would be no SWATbots to stop them. Sonic reached the outside of the room Robotnik was holed up in. he thought. He walked in. Robotnik was surprised to see him, but not that surprised. "Well, well. What stupidity do you have in mind this time, hedgehog?" Robotnik asked him. "This is it. No more games. This is the end, Robuttnik." Sonic said solemnly. Robotnik nodded. They had a mutual understandment. "I expected as much. But I'm not through yet." Robotnik gave a half smirk. He pressed a button on the chair he was sitting in. The chair rose up into the room. It was a hovercraft, but without a top. Robotnik pressed another button. A hole appeared in the wall. "You see, I don't plan on fighting you. So I decided to take a little vacation." He grinned. It sent shivers up Sonic's spine. "You have ten minutes to defeat my bots before this building self-destructs." Robotnik smiled in satisfaction as he flew out the hole. "NO!" Sonic screamed. He ran to the hole. He hit his hand against the wall. "DAMNIT! Now what do I do?" Delphine and Dimitria came upon the fight just as the two robots were about to win. "You trash cans!" Delphine yelled. She shot an energy ball at the two bots. They both dodged. "You!" they both yelled at the same time. "Delphine!" Sally yelled. "I thought we got rid of you for good!" The bots yelled. "I thought you were unconscious!" Sally yelled. "I was. But now I'm back. And these guys aren't gonna cause any more trouble." She turned to Dimitria, but she was gone. "What the-- oh well. I'll ask her later." Delphine threw another energy ball at the bots. It landed right in front of them, causing a small explosion. The two bots were thrown against the walls, therefore destroying the light. Delphine reached into her backpack and produced a flashlight. "That was definitely cool," Tails said. "Thanks, bud." Delphine said, blushing. "We've go to find Sonic," Sally said, getting worried. she thought. "No need." Dimitria suddenly appeared in a white cloud in front of Delphine. Dimitria had gone off to help Sonic. Suddenly Dimitria appeared in front of Sonic, who had turned away from the hole. "Dimitria? What are you doing here?" he asked. She pulled a necklace out of her pocket. She gave it to him. It looked like a miniature Chaos Emerald. "Is this...." "Yes," she interrupted. "It is." Sonic nodded. He put it around his neck. He felt the emerald's energy pulse through him. "Thanks, Dimitria." Sonic said. "No problem," Dimitria said. Sonic flew out the hole, towards Robotnik. "I don't believe you!" Delphine said when she Dimitria was done explaining what she had been doing. "Hey, he wanted to. Chill." Dimitria said. Delphine glared at her, but couldn't stay mad forever. "We should go find the Chaotix," Ali told Sally. "You're right. Let's go." Sally answered back. As they were leaving, Delphine and Dimitria suddenly remembered the message Comet had sent. They both gasped, glanced at each other, and ran ahead of the group, out of the building towards the control Center. As they were leaving, Ali heard the sound of ticking. "There's a bomb in here!" she shouted. Everyone gasped, then leapt out of the building just as it exploded into millions of pieces. Rick protected both Sally and Ali. When it was over, Delphine got up. "Is everyone okay?" she asked. Everyone nodded. Somehow, no one had gotten any serious injuries. Everyone got up, and walked towards the Control Building. Mighty saw them coming first. "They're here," he told the others. They looked up. Most of them had been sitting, trying to figure some way to save Knuckles. Delphine arrived first. "Oh my gosh," she said when she saw Knuckles head. She knelt down beside him, and held his head in her hands. The rest of the Freedom Fighters came up. Sally asked what happened. Mighty explained. Delphine wasn't listening. She didn't care. She had felt for a pulse. She couldn't find one. "No." she whispered. "NOOOOOOO!" She broke down, sobbing. Sonic rammed into the side of Robotnik's flying machine. "What the--" "ME! THAT'S WHAT!" Sonic yelled at the top of his lungs. "You littleŠ." Robotnik didn't continue. Sonic rammed into the side again. Robotnik took out a laser and shot at Sonic. Sonic dodged, then ran into the machine again. Robotnik fired his laser again, and this time it hit Sonic. Sonic fell a few feet, then regained his balance. He felt all the hate he had ever felt for Robotnik flow through him. He suddenly felt stronger. "YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!" Sonic screamed at Robotnik. He flew straight up at him and rammed into the hovercraft full force, at the speed of light. Below, the Freedom Fighters heard the crack of thunder as the air quickly filled the space that Sonic had left. The hovercraft tilted, then fell. As he fell, Robotnik shouted "I HATE THAT HEDGEHOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!" Halfway to the ground, the hovercraft exploded. Sonic raised his arms in triumph. "YES!" he shouted. "FINALLY!" Then, as the power of the emerald dwindled down, he passed out from exhaustion, and fell towards the ground. To be continued.... End of part three.