Sonic the Hedgehog© and all related characters are a copyright of SEGA Enterprises INC. and Archie Comic Publications. Delphine, Dimitria, Comet, Ali and Rick are all a copyright of ME(the author, duh!) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- All's well that ends well. I think. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Conclusions Part 4 of Newfound Alliances --by Delphine Delphine had calmed down. Dimitria was applying a majikal treatment that would keep Knuckles alive, at least as long as they needed before they could get him to the doctor. "Are you okay?" Ali asked Delphine. Sally had explained who she and Rick were. What Ali and Delphine didn't tell them was that Delphine had met Ali before. "Yeah, I'm fine now," Delphine said, although she was still wiping away tears. "When I didn't find a pulse, I thought...." "No." Ali said firmly. "Don't think about it." Delphine was about to answer when they heard the sound of someone falling. Delphine looked up. "Oh no," she said. She saw Sonic falling headfirst towards the ground. Everyone else looked up in time to see Delphine flying up towards him. She caught him about ten feet off the ground. She lowered slowly, being careful not to drop him. When she got to the ground, she laid him down. He started groaning. "Ohhh," he said. "I think I hit my head a little too hard...." Delphine helped him sit up. He looked at her. "You're okay?!" "Of course I am. It takes more than a little bump on the head to keep me down." "It was a lot than a little bump on the head," he told her. Sally walked over. "Are you all right?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." he said. He stood up. The three of them walked over to where everyone else was. Sonic saw Knuckles. He kneeled down next to him and asked, "Is he okay? What happened?" Mighty once again explained what had happened. "I wonder if this would help," he murmured, fingering the trinket Dimitria had given him. "It just might," Dimitria said. Sonic took it off and handed it to her. "It's a bit low," she said. "Yeah, I had a little fight up there. That's why I passed out." he said. "What happened?" Sally asked. "Robotnik's gone. I destroyed him." It took awhile for what he said to sink in. "Totally awesome!" Delphine said. Sally kissed him. "You finally did it," "IŠ.erŠ.umŠ." Sonic said intelligently. Dimitria shook her head. Then she took the emerald and placed it over Knuckles' head. He began glowing a bright green. Everyone looked on in awe. When he stopped glowing, Dimitria pulled the emerald away. "That should do it," she said. She distributed the emerald to her pocket. "He's gonna be okay, right?" Delphine asked worridly. "Of course he will." Dimitria said. Delphine sat down. Dimitria walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "He's gonna be fine," she said. Delphine nodded. "I know," she said. "You know what you're doing. I just keep thinking...." "Good. Thinking is a good habit." "Hey!" Delphine said. Dimitria laughed. Sonic heard a creak. He looked around, but didn't see anything. He turned his attention back to everyone complimenting him and cheering, but he heard it again. He looked around once more, but he still didn't see anything. This time Sally noticed him looking around. "What is it?" she asked. "I heard something," he said. "But I don't know what it is." Sonic shook his head. "Probably just side effects of this stupid headache. It's making me hear things." "Maybe the doc should take a look when we get back," Sally told him. Sonic nodded. The two of them walked back over to where Delphine, Dimitria, and Ali were watching over Knuckles. "Is he going to be all right?" Sally asked. "He'll be fine," Dimitria told her. "He had no pulse, remember? I know my majik." "I should hope so," Sally said, grinning. She sat down next to Delphine. "Are you going to be okay?" "I'll be fine," Delphine told her. Suddenly, Dimitria thought of something. She reached into her garment and pulled out a white jewel. "What's that?" Ali asked. "It's a white Chaos Emerald. I forgot I had it." Dimitria told her. Sally suddenly remembered something she had read. "It'll wake Knuckles up, won't it?" Sally asked her. "Not only that, but it will heal all his wound. They'll seem like a scratch by the time this thing is done." Dimitria told her." "So? What are we waiting for?" Sonic asked. Dimitria nodded. She held the emerald over Knuckles head. It started giving off a white glow, getting brighter and brighter until it almost blinded them. Dimitria held it there for almost a minute, squinting her eyes the entire time. When she pulled it away, everyone looked at her. She looked down at Knuckles, who was moaning. "Oh, boy. It's gonna take awhile for this one to go away," he said. Delphine looked on in awe. "Dimitria, you--he--I--" "I know," Dimitria said with a smile. Delphine knelt over Knuckles. "I don't believe it! You're okay!" she exclaimed. Knuckles looked up. "Delphine! I thought you were...." "I was," she said. She explained everything that had happened that she knew of. "Then that means she...." Knuckles said when she was done. "Yup. She did." Delphine told him. Knuckles turned to Dimitria. "Thanks," he said. "I--you're welcome." Dimitria said, surprised. No one had ever told her that they were grateful before. Delphine noticed this. She decided to be nicer to Dimitria from now on. Suddenly, there was an even louder creak then before. "This time I know I heard it!" Sonic said. Knuckles got up. He had heard it to. Everyone had. "It must just be some building part or something ready to come down." Sally said. "I wish I could be as sure as you are, Sal." Sonic said. Knuckles walked up to them. "He's right. This looks very ominous." "Hmm. Maybe the two of you should look around, while I get everyone out of here. Is that all right with you two?" she asked. "Fine with me, Sal." "No problem." "Good," she said. She walked over to everyone else. "Come on, we're getting out of here." she told them. Everyone got up and walked towards the Great Forest. When they had gotten twenty feet away, Sonic and Knuckles started looking. "So you really got rid of Robotnik?" Knuckles asked. "Yup. Saw him blow up with my own eyes." Knuckles felt a pang of jealousy. he thought. Suddenly, the spot in front of him turned to ashes and dust with the sound of an engine. Knuckles put his arms in front of his face. Sonic saw what happened and came over. The two of them looked up and saw Metal Sonic hovering in the air. "You!" they both called at the same time. Metal Sonic swooped down. "Yes, me. And now you can die," "Not in this lifetime pal!" Sonic yelled. The three of them went into battle. Sonic and Knuckles sent fists flying while metal Sonic tried to blast them with his laser. It went on like that, Knuckles and Sonic kicking and punching, and Metal Sonic blasting. Suddenly, one of Metal Sonic's blasts hit Sonic in the chest. Sonic flew through the air and hit a wall. He wasn't unconscious, but he wasn't in very good shape, either. Knuckles ran over to Sonic. "Aw, damn. Are you all right?" he asked. "I--I don't know," Sonic wheezed out. Knuckles looked behind him. He raced towards the robot, leaped into the air, and hit Metal Sonic in the head. "Die, you stupid bot!" "You first, you idiotic echidna!" Knuckles fought for all he was worth. Soon Metal Sonic was destroyed. Knuckles threw him as hard as he could. He watched the robot land, then walked back over to Sonic, who was starting to stand up. Knuckles saw that he had a deep cut in his stomach. Sonic looked down at himself and saw it to. "C'mon, let's get outa here." Knuckles said, helping him up. "No," Sonic said, shaking his head. "I'm not leaving until this entire city is destroyed." "How are we supposed to do that?" "C'mon, I'll show ya," Sonic said, grinning. He grabbed Knuckles arm and sped to a large warehouse. "In here," he said, "is the biggest pile of bombs you'll ever see in your entire life." "Even bigger than the one we bumped into when we were both bots ourselves?" Knuckles asked. "Even bigger then that," Sonic said, nodding. The two of them opened the door. They walked in. Sonic picked up two of the bombs. He gave one to Knuckles. "Start placing these around the area. I'll go farther." Sonic said. He sped off with the bomb, and Knuckles went to place his. In about half an hour, they were done. Sonic picked up a small device that had only one button on it. "What's that for?" Knuckles asked, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse. "This little thing is gonna set them off," Sonic told him. He grabbed Knuckles' arm. "C'mon, let's go find the others before they send a search party." He sped off, still holding Knuckles' arm. Delphine saw them first. "There they are!" she shouted. Sally looked up. Sonic and Knuckles were there within two seconds of Delphine's yell. Sally saw Sonic's stomach. "Sonic! You're hurt!" "Oh, that. Don't worry about it." Sally noticed the device. "What's that?" she asked. "Watch," was all Sonic said. Everyone looked at the city. Sonic pressed the button. The city blew up in a cloud of fire. Everyone covered there faces, expecting bits and pieces to fall on them. "Now that was cool," Vector said. Everyone agreed with cheers and yells. "Okay," Sonic said. "Now that that's done with, let's get outa here!" Everyone walked into the forest. Delphine, Sally, Sonic, and Knuckles stayed behind. Sonic staggered. "Whoa!" Knuckles yelled. He put out an arm to support Sonic. "Thanks," Sonic wheezed, holding on to Knuckles. "Come on," Sally said softly, taking Sonic's arm and draping it across her shoulder. "Let's go." She and Sonic walked off, Sonic leaning on Sally. "Do you think he'll be okay?" Delphine asked Knuckles. "He'll be fine," Knuckles said. He put an arm around Delphine's waist. "C'mon, little girl. I'll help you back to Knothole." He grinned. "Little girl!" Delphine exploded. Knuckles broke down laughing. "I'm gonna get you, Knuckles Echidna!" Delphine yelled, laughing. She chased after Knuckles, running towards Knothole. Espio and Comet saw the whole thing. They stepped out of the bushes. "I'm starting to think that this is hopeless," Espio said. "If I were you I wouldn't bother. Besides, you'll find someone else," Comet told him. "But I don't want someone else. I want her. I--I can't explain it." "I can. You've fallen in love with Delphine. And she's already taken. Get over it." "I wish I could," Espio told her. Dr. Quack had fixed up Sonic's stomach. He was running around again, trying to find Sally. Sally was looking for Delphine. She found her in her hut. Sally was surprised, because it was a beautiful day and everyone else was out partying. She walked in without walking. "Delphine?" Delphine looked up in surprise. She didn't expect anyone to find her in there. "Oh, Sal, you startled me. What is it?" "What is it? What are you doing in here? You should be outside enjoying yourself along with everyone else. Knuckles is looking all over for you. Just why are you in here?" "I've been thinking. Maybe I should leave." "Leave? Do you mean leave the Freedom Fighters?" Sally asked in surprise. Delphine nodded. "Why on Mobius would you want to do that?" "I've been more of a danger than a help. If I hadn't gone to Robotropolis on my own, half of what happened wouldn't have. I shouldn't be here. I'm putting everyone in danger." "What?!" Sally exclaimed. "Look, if everyone left when the made one mistake, then we'd all be gone by now. You can't just give up because of one stupid mistake." Delphine looked up. "I don't know. I just keep thinking...." "What? That because of you, someone could've been killed? Delphine, Robotnik is gone. The city was destroyed. there is nothing else. No more danger." Delphine looked at Sally. She looked down. Then she looked up at Sally again. "Ya know Sal, you're absolutely right. I'm being stupid. Let's go have fun." Delphine smiled. Sally smiled back. They left Delphine's hut to go join the party. When they got there, Knuckles walked up to them. "It's about time! I've been looking all over for you," he told Delphine. "I heard," she said. The two of them walked off to go enjoy the party. Sally went to find Ali and Rick. She found them watching the party from a distance. She walked up to them. "How come you're not over there having fun?" Sally asked. "We need to leave," Rick said. Ali shook her head. "I keep telling him that we don't need to. He won't listen." Ali said. Rick was about to raise his hand, but remembered that Sally was there. "You can stay with us all you want. Do you really need to go back?" Sally asked. "No, we don't." Ali said. Rick sighed. "Yeah, you're right." He turned to Sally. "Do you really want us to stay?" "As long as you can." Sally answered. "Of course we'll stay. We don't really need to guard that silly cave anyway," Ali said, lying through her teeth. The truth was, they really did need to guard it. But Ali didn't want to live with Rick anymore. The three of them walked towards the party, so that Sally could tell everyone the news. Later, when it was dark, Bunnie decided that it was time to dance. She brought out an entertainment system, and turned the music on. The first couple of songs were fast songs, but Bunnie's romantic side got the best of her. She put on a slow song. Only four people were on the dance floor. Sonic and Sally, and Knuckles and Delphine. "I can't believe we've finally gotten rid of him," Sally said to Sonic. "Well, believe it. He's gone." Sonic said. He kissed Sally's cheek. "I'm sorry," Delphine said. "Sorry for what?" Knuckles asked. "That I got you into this whole mess." "Del, I don't care. As long as I'm with you," "You're sweet," Delphine said. She kissed Knuckles. He kissed her back. Espio was watching from the side. He wasn't very happy. Ali walked up to him. "Will you dance with me?" she asked him. He looked surprised. "Y--you--want to dance--w--with me?" "Yes." Ali said shyly. She looked down. Espio smiled. "Sure, why not?" Ali looked up. She smiled back at him. The two of them stepped onto the grass and started dancing to the music. "Well, it looks like Espio finally got what he wanted," Comet said to Dimitria. "So he has," Dimitria said. "So he has." In the ruins of Robotropolis, there was a rustling sound. The wind whipped through the broken buildings; cement cracked and fell, shattering on the hard ground. the twilight was sparkling down on the new cleaner air, making it brighter in Robotropolis than it had been in years. Suddenly, a hand came up through the rubble. Out climbed a small human. He looked around. he thought. . He heard a rustling sound. He turned. In front of him he found a robotic version of Knuckles the Echidna. "Robotnik is gone. He was destroyed by Sonic the hedgehog." the robot said. The human smiled. "Good. Now I shall rule, and you shall be my right hand robot." "But Lord Snively, how shall we defeat the Freedom Fighters if we don't even have a city?" "I plan on taking over more than this planet, Metal Knuckles. Have you ever heard of a place called Earth?" "No, sir, I haven't." "It is a planet, far from here. The only way to get there is through a dimensional portal. This portal is hidden in a place called the Caves of Eternal Death. It is usually guarded, but at the moment, there is no one there. If we hurry, we can go there and get to this Earth. Then we will take over this planet. It will be simple. No one will be expecting us. We can easily take over and be done with it. Then I will have two planets in my power. With those two, I will soon be able to take over the entire universe!" "Sounds like a wonderful plan, sir." Metal Knuckles said. "And the Freedom Fighters will not know until it is too late." Lord Snively said. "Earth, meet thy doom!" he looked at Metal Knuckles, who grinned evily. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The....End?