A Desire For Order

“I say we just go in there and take the dweebs out.” The gorilla grumbled absently to himself.

“I’m with the monkey on this one,” the orange furred lynx said as he jerked a thumb towards his oversized companion. “They may have us outnumbered, but we definitely got them outclassed.”

“That’s not the way I remember it.” The blue-hued hawk muttered.

“And I’m an ape,” the gorilla protested, “NOT a monkey.”

“What’s the difference?” The lynx snarled.

“Apes don’t have tails.”

“Will you two shut up?” The hawk growled. “We’re supposed to be on surveillance. They’ll hear us.”

“Let them,” the lynx smirked. “At least then we’d see some action.”

“Yeah,” the gorilla agreed, the squabble forgotten. “Lurking about in the bushes is not exactly my idea of a good time.”

“Patience, my friend.” The hawk smiled. “All things come to those who wait.”

~~~~~

“Are you okay, sugah?” Bunnie asked. “Ya been kinda preoccupied all day.”

“Huh?” Julie-Su looked up, blinking. It was obvious that she’d been miles away, and Bunnie was curious to know just where. “Oh, I was just thinking.” Julie-Su shrugged. She sighed and looked away, her expression a little melancholy, though she gave no explanation as to why. “Is something wrong?”

“Nah,” Bunnie admitted. “You just looked like you were worlds away.”

“I guess I was.” She agreed, still offering no more. “Sonic’s due back today isn’t he?”

“Yeah.” Bunnie nodded, frowning inwardly as the echidna changed the subject. “Sal and Tails are cookin’ up a big welcome home party. Ya any idea how he’s doin’?” Whatever it was that was bothering the echidna, she obviously didn’t want to talk about it.

“Elle called a couple of days ago. She said he was doing really well. He’s off the crutches now, but he still needs a cane.”

Sonic had been on the Island for months now. The surgery had been as much of a success as they could have hoped for. He had almost complete feeling back now, but it had been a lot of very hard work on the hedgehog’s part to get back on his feet.

And it had been painful, too. Mentally, physically and emotionally. But he’d gotten through the worst of it. He could walk without assistance now, except for the cane. He could do everything for himself now. Except run at breakneck speeds. But he’d even come to except the loss.

Sally had wanted to stay with him, but her duties to her family, and her fellow Freedom Fighters, had called her home. So she had left him in the caring and capable hands of the Chaotix.

“Ya think he’ll ever get completely better?” Bunnie asked.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath about him getting his full speed back,” Julie-Su sighed. “But the doctors are pretty sure he’ll be able to at least get back to normal hedgehog speed. Still, that’s not so bad…” She smiled slightly, sadly. ‘At least he’s alive…’

“C’mon,” Bunnie said, pulling the echidna to her feet. “Sal wants our help settin’ up for the party.”

~~~~~

“What have you to report?” The large, hooded figure commanded softly of the grinning green frog.

“Seems you were right on the money.” He said, his grin getting even wider. “There’s no sign of the hedgehog, and the female echidna looks real down. Poor sweet’ums misses her lovey.”

“My dear Flying Frog,” the figure said smugly. “I am never wrong. How are your companions?”

“Lightning Lynx and Sargent Simian are itching for a fight.” The frog admitted.

“And a fight they shall have.” The figure chuckled from deep within his robe.

~~~~~

“Do you think that’s gonna be enough chilli dogs?” Tails asked as he eyed the mountainous pile.

“It better be,” Sally smiled. “I don’t think there’s a hot dog frank left in all of Knothole. But, knowing Sonic…and with the Chaotix coming as well…”

“Maybe we could send out?” Tails suggested.

Antoine wrinkled his nose as he placed a large bowl of potato salad down next to the huge pile of Sonic’s favourite food. “I never could understand how he eats such things. He must ‘ave completely destroyed ‘is palate by now.”

“I have to agree with you on that one, Antoine.” Sally sighed. “But it IS Sonic’s party…”

“Well,” Bunnie beamed as she and Julie-Su entered the clearing. “Looks like we got here just in time.”

“You mean now that all the work’s done?” Tails raised a brow.

“Exactly.” The rabbit’s smile widened.

~~~~~

Flanked by Lightning Lynx, Predator Hawk, Sargent Simian and Flying Frog, the hooded figure smiled.

“Well, my Fearsome Foursome, looks like we’ve got a party to crash.”

~~~~~

Antoine yelped as he suddenly found himself saturated head to toe in the punch he’d so painstakingly made for the party. He growled as he looked up into the clear sky, trying to locate who it had been that had dropped the coconut into the punchbowl, shattering the glass and dousing him in the icy cold liquid.

Bunnie was about to go to his aid when her feet were swept out from under her.

Tails felt a pair of hands grip one of his bushy tails moments before he was quickly spun around like a demented merry-go-round.

“Hello ladies.” A bright voice announced cheerfully from behind Sally and Julie-Su. The pair spun quickly to face their would-be assailant, and found themselves staring into the grinning face of Flying Frog.

“Oh, this is just great.” Sally mumbled.

“Friends of yours?” Julie-Su asked.

“Not exactly.”

“Hey,” the frog smirked. “What’s a party without a few gate crashers?”

“We were most distressed at not receiving an invitation.” Predator Hawk said as he sailed down, making a grab for the duo. Thanks to their combat training, however, he failed to make either target.

“Who the heck are these guys?” Julie-Su demanded.

“The Fearsome Foursome.” Sally explained. “They work for…”

“Mammoth Mogul.” Tails finished. “If they’re here, he can’t be far away.” He took to the air, rising quickly to a high altitude, searching for their ancient leader.

“TAILS!” Sally yelled at the departing fox.

“Four on four?” Sargent Simian smiled. “I like those odds.”

~~~~~

Tails caught a hint of movement amongst the trees below him with his peripheral vision. He dropped down, his eyes flicking left and right, trying to locate what he was sure he’d seen.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the mighty Chosen One.”

Tails turned to the sound of the voice, filled with spite and sarcasm. The massive form of Mammoth Mogul, mostly hidden within the folds of his dark cloak, stepped from the shadows of the trees.

An uncharacteristic scowl crossed the young fox’s face.

“Oooohhh,” the ancient elephant mocked. “And doesn’t he look mean?”

“What do you want?” Tails snarled at him.

“Temper, temper, little one.” He almost soothed. “I don’t want much…just the Blade of Order.”

Mention of the weapon took the young fox by surprise. He thought back to when he and Sonic had retrieved it. When Dimitri had stolen it. And what the nefarious cyborg had done with it.

“Just tell me where it is and my associates and I will be on our way.”

“What makes you think I know?” Tails glared at him.

“You’re the Chosen One, aren’t you?” He smirked. “Don’t you have some sort of sense for these things?” The massive being took a step towards him. Tails tensed, ready to fight.

“Oh, please,” Mammoth Mogul chuckled. “You really think you can take me on? The echidna is gone. The hedgehog is useless. Without your guardians, you’re nothing.”

~~~~~

“These fiends ‘ave been practicing.” Antoine said as he and Bunnie fought, back-to-back, against the onslaught of Lightning Lynx and Sargent Simian.

“You better believe it, Frenchie.” The big gorilla smirked. “And it seems there’s been a few changes,” his eyes travelled up and down Bunnie’s completely flesh and blood body. “And not entirely for the better.”

Bunnie was more than a little uncertain. She’d fought the massive gorilla before, but that had been with her robotic parts. Now she was simply a flesh and blood rabbit, and despite her training with Julie-Su, she wasn’t entirely sure that she even stood a chance against him. And she didn’t like the way he was looking at her…

Sally and Flying Frog were flipping around the clearing, easily evading each other in a rather energetic ballet.

“Bow to your corner, dosey-doe.” The frog began to sing to himself. “Gotta tell ya, sweetie, you’re one of the best dance partners I’ve ever had.”

“I wouldn’t dance with you if my life depended on it.”

Flying Frog shrugged. “It’s your loss.”

Julie-Su ducked as Predator Hawk swooped at her again. “Come down here and fight, you feathered ‘fraidy cat.” She growled at his departing back.

He screeched to a halt in mid air, turning to face the echidna with a thunderous look on his face. “It’s one thing to call me a coward,” he said in a voice tempered with steel. “But NOBODY calls me a cat!”

~~~~~

“We’re coming up on Knothole.” Ellie-Za announced from the pilot seat of the EST shuttle they’d borrowed. “Hmmm.” She mused. “Looks like they started the party without us.”

Sonic frowned as he peered through the view screen from his seat beside her.

“I take it these guys weren’t invited?” She asked, taking in the dark expression on the hedgehog’s face.

“You could say that.” Sonic said grimly.

“Wanna blast ‘em?” Vector asked from his seat in the rear of the craft.

“We don’t have any weapons on this thing, Vector.” Mighty pointed out.

Sonic eyed Ellie-Za, a smile curling his mouth as he began to formulate a plan. “I’ve got a better idea anyway.” He announced. “Can somebody else fly this thing?”

~~~~~

The fight was not going well for either side. Evenly matched, all anybody could really do was wait until their opponent tired.

Flying Frog took a flying leap at Sally’s head, narrowly missing her.

“HEY!” A familiar voice rang out, loud and clear.

All battling ceased as Freedom Fighter and Fearsome Foursome alike turned as one towards the sound of the voice.

Atop a small incline, top figures stood silhouetted against the sun. It was hard to make out much about them beside the fact that one sported a blue mohawk and the other, long red dreadlocks.

“I thought those two were out of the picture.” Predator Hawk hissed at his fellow Fearsome Foursome.

“It would seem we were misinformed.” Lightning Lynx grumbled.

“Strategic withdrawal?” Flying Frog looked to his companions.

“Ah c’mon,” Sargent Simian protested. “When was the last time we had a good rumble?”

“Against those two?” The blue hawk gestured towards the newcomers. “I don’t like those odds.”

~~~~~

“They’re not going for it, Sonic.” Ellie-Za whispered to the hedgehog beside her. With the sun behind them, they knew the Fearsome Foursome could only get a vague impression of who they were looking at. They couldn’t see the cane Sonic was leaning on, or the fact that the echidna that stood beside him was a female.

Sonic shrugged. “Hey, when you bluff you’ve always got to be prepared to have that bluff called.”

She glanced at him angrily. “Oh, great. You’re in no condition to fight.”

“Maybe not,” Sonic admitted. “But we both know that you can kick some serious butt. And they’re butts have already been seriously kicked. And besides, you’ve got Ray as backup.”

His eyes flicked towards the yellow squirrel who was hugging the ground behind them, trying to keep out of sight so as not to ruin the illusion. With a bit of effort, he had managed to safely deposit the two much larger creatures on the ground while Moni-Ca piloted the shuttle and the remaining Chaotix to Knothole to pick up a few more reinforcements. However, the effort had taken a lot out of him, and he was currently panting as he tried to catch his breath.

“I think flying the two of us down here has pretty much taken the fight out of him for the moment.” Ellie-Za said as she glanced at the squirrel with concern.

“Don’t sweat if,” Sonic smirked. “He’s a tough little guy.”

“T-t-t-h-h-a-anks for the v-v-ote of con-con-confidence.” Ray stammered.

~~~~~

“What’s the vote, guys?” Lightning Lynx asked, not taking his eyes off the hedgehog and echidna.

“I say we can take ‘em.” Sargent Simian said.

“We don’t get paid enough to take on those two.” Flying Frog shook his head.

“Wait a minute…” Predator Hawk’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that echidna just a little bit…curvy?”

“Whatcha talkin’ about?” Flying Frog squinted into the sun.

“I’m saying…” the hawk snarled as the few clouds that were in the sky that day decided to block the sun at that moment. “That’s a FEMALE echidna.”

~~~~~

“Uh oh.” Sonic mumbled as the clouds rolled in.

“That’s all we need.” Ellie-Za grumbled her agreement. She reached behind her back and pulled out a short metal rod from a concealed pocket in the back of her vest.

“What are you going to do with that?” Sonic asked.

She flicked her wrist and the ends of the rod extended until it was a two-meter long staff.

“Kick some serious butt.” She shrugged. “You stay out of harm’s way.” She ordered, tapping his cane with one end of her metal bo.

“No sweat.”

The tall female waited for the quartet to make the first move. Sargent Simian, still itching for a fight, let loose a deafening battle cry and charged towards her. Ellie-Za began a quick sprint towards him, planting one end of her staff into the soft earth, she used her own momentum to pole-vault herself towards the gorilla. Her boots impacted solidly with his chest, knocking him backwards, right on top of Lightning Lynx, who had decided to follow his comrade’s lead.

Predator Hawk shook his feathered head. “Those two never did appreciate the first rule of combat,” he said softly. “Know your enemy.”

She twirled the staff above her head, dropping into a fighting stance, her weapon held at the ready as she watched the other two.

“Well,” Flying Frog smirked as he pointed at Sonic. “I know him. And he’s not the threat he used to be.” He added, eyeing the cane. He took a flying leap towards the hedgehog, only to be met by a barrage of expertly, and extremely rapidly thrown rocks. The effect was almost akin to a machine gun. He hit the ground heavily at Sonic’s feet, groaning as he began massaging the various nicks and bruises that covered his body.

Sonic looked down at him with his trademark smirk. “The legs may not be what they were,” he admitted. “But there’s nothing wrong with my arms.”

“Aw,” Vector lamented. “We missed all the action.” He, Mighty, Espio and Moni-Ca had collected Rotor and Amy Rose as they landed the EST shuttle, and now walked up to stand beside Sonic.

“Don’t sweat it guys,” Mighty smiled at the somewhat dishevelled Freedom Fighters. “The cavalry has arrived.” Ray rose from his concealment to add himself to the number.

The resulting groan from the Fearsome Foursome only make Vector smile all the wider. They huddled together, watching the creatures that surrounded them. They had fought the combined forces of the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix before, and had come out on the losing side. And, it appeared, there had been additions to both teams.

Sonic looked around at the demolished party setting. “Now that’s the way to throw a party.” He commented, grinning widely as Sally hugged him warmly. He frowned as she released him.

“Where’s Tails?”

~~~~~

“Where is the Blade, boy?” Mammoth Mogul demanded. “My patience is wearing thin.”

“We’ve already been through this.” Tails growled at him. “I don’t know. And if I did, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”

“You DO know.” The mammoth insisted. “You HAVE to.”

Tails frowned. There was a certain amount of desperation in his adversary’s words. ‘What does he need the Blade for, Tails wondered. ‘He’s got Chaos powers of his own. And I know first hand that the two don’t mix.’

Then it came to him. Mammoth Mogul hadn’t attacked. He was keeping safely out of reach. The last time they’d battled, Tails had drained him considerable with Dimitri’s Chaos Siphon, so much so that they’d been able to trap him, in the process making the Master Emerald that now kept the Floating Island in the heavens.

Mogul must have escaped when the Emerald had been shattered by Robotnik to feed his newly acquired ‘pet’, Chaos. But Mogul’s power, along with Mogul himself, had been in the gem. So when it was restored…

“You have no power…” Tails said softly.

Mammoth Mogul pulled himself up to his full, impressive height.

“What?”

“You have no power.” Tails repeated, louder, more forcefully. “Everything you had, everything you stole from Enerjak, it’s now all in the Master Emerald. That’s why you want the Blade, for the same reason Dimitri wanted it. To get back some of what you lost.”

“You’re grasping at straws, boy.” The mammoth glowered. “I could destroy you just like that.” He snapped his fingers.

“Then why don’t you?” Tails challenged.

The mammoth just glared at him. But Tails could see the faint look of fear on his face. His secret was out, and he didn’t like it one little bit.

“You can’t.” Tails smiled with a rather uncharacteristic smugness.

“Boss!” Predator Hawk’s voice called out from high overhead. “They got us outnumbered and outgunned.”

Flying Frog skipped past, hot on the heels of Lightning Lynx. “It’s time to beat feet.” He announced as he passed.

“This isn’t over, boy.” Mammoth Mogul promised as he spun around and retreated into the forest moments before Sargent Simian, several Freedom Fighters and Chaotix on his tail, lunged after him.

“Tails.” Sally cried in obvious relief. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He assured her. “He never laid a finger on me.”

“I wonder what he was after?” She mused, looking off into the trees in the direction he’d retreated.

“He was after the Blade Of Order.” Tails said softly.

“But, that’s gone.” Sally frowned. “Along with…”

“He seemed to think it was still around. And that I knew where it was.” Tails looked thoughtful for a moment, then he noticed Espio and Mighty. “What say we go party?” He suggested.

~~~~~

It didn’t take long to clean up the mess the impromptu battle had caused, and Sonic’s welcome home party was soon in full swing. The two groups quickly exchanged stories of their exploits over the past few months, which proved to be quite minor in both cases. Ever since Dimitri’s defeat, it had been blissfully quiet on both the Floating Island and Mobius itself. They decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

“Where can I get me one of them sticks?” Bunnie asked Ellie-Za.

“This?” The echidna pulled out the mentioned weapon, handing it to the rabbit. “I made it myself. It’s multi-format. It can be a staff…” she showed Bunnie how to twist it one way, to extend its ends as she had before. “Or a Sa Tjat Koen…”

“A what?” Bunnie queried, unfamiliar with the term.

“A Sa Tjat Koen.” The burgundy echidna repeated. She took the weapon back, gripped either end, tugging firmly. It split into three equal sections, each end joined to the middle by a short length of chain. “It’s an ancient weapon, used in the East.” A mischievous look came into her dark eyes. “It’s pretty nasty,” she explained as she began to twirl it expertly. “You want one?”

Sonic sat quietly, tossing his cane from hand to hand.

“A credit for your thoughts.” Julie-Su said softly as she sat down beside him. He sighed, glancing at Sally, absently tapping his foot with the cane. A slight smile came to Julie-Su’s face. She could tell what he was thinking.

“Her feelings for you haven’t changed.”

He looked at her sharply, stunned. He lowered his head again. “I know, it’s just that…I’m not who I was…”

“You may not be WHAT you were,” Julie-Su assured him. “But you’ll ALWAYS be who you were. That’ll never change.” She could easily read the look on his face. The doubt, the longing…

“Maybe you should tell her how you feel…” She suggested.

“She knows.” He said in a whisper.

“Does she?” Julie-Su challenged.

He looked at her, then back to Sally. “I wouldn’t know what to say. Where to start…”

“Tell her she’s the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning. And the last thing you think of when you go to sleep at night. Tell her your hopes, your dreams…”

Sonic smiled, shyly. “You’re right.” He said as he struggled to his feet. “Thanks, Jules.”

She watched him go, her smile fading. “Tell her everything…” she whispered, “…I never got to say.”

Sally looked over to where Julie-Su was sitting quietly, alone, nibbling on a piece of bread. She leaned towards Mighty, who was busily devouring one of the many chilli dogs that had been prepared for the occasion.

“You got any idea what’s wrong with her?” She asked.

The armadillo swallowed as he followed the princess’s gaze. “She does seem kinda out of it.” He admitted. “I dunno.” He shrugged. “Now if it were yesterday, I could understand…”

“Yesterday?” Sally echoed.

Mighty looked around, making sure nobody within earshot was paying attention. He leaned towards Sally and whispered. “Yesterday would have been his seventeenth birthday.”

Sally’s eyes widened. With the fifteen-hour time difference between Knothole and the Floating Island, something Mighty had either forgotten about, or was unaware of, that would make the armadillo’s yesterday today.

‘His birthday?’

The anniversary of their first date. The anniversary of their first real kiss. It must have stirred memories of times she’d never know again.

‘And we’re celebrating it…’

“Will you excuse me?” She said to the armadillo.

“Sure.”

She rose and headed towards the pink echidna, but was intercepted by Sonic.

“Can we talk?” He asked. She was about to suggest another time, feeling Julie-Su needed her more, but something in the hedgehog’s wide green eyes made her pause.

“Sure,” she shrugged. “About what?”

He gently took a hold of her arm. “In private.”

A soft, and somewhat envious smile curled Julie-Su’s mouth for a moment as she watched Sonic lead Sally into the seclusion of the near by woods.

“Break a leg, blue boy.” She whispered.