Chapter Text
The inhuman, guttural wail of the metal tyrant pierced the cold air. The sound was painful— a droning mechanical roar that seemed to shake the entire island. The scream was accompanied by the deafening CRASH of the severed robotic arm smashing into the ground, obliterating the concrete. Where the beast’s limb was once attached, sparks began to sputter out from the torn and now exposed electrical wires. These flickers of light rained down, a cascading lightshow… until the sparks began to catch onto the flammable bits of rubble, erupting into a fiery blaze that painted the scene in red.
The earthy terrain rumbled, yet the heroes stood steadfast in their fight. While the monstrous amalgamation that towered above them was a greater force than any of them had ever faced before, the members of Team Chaotix refused to back down. The lone behemoth may have been colossal, but the friends that persevered against it were many .
The animals stuck together in pairs. Everyone clutched tightly onto the golden rings that bound them together, as they continued to focus their attacks at targeted points on their enemy’s crimson colored body.
This would mark the final night of Metal Sonic Kai’s reign.
Vector, the green scaled crocodile of the group, ducked, shielding his head with his arms as chunks of debris fell around him and his partner. Then Vector caught sight of the others.
An echidna with red quills had his sharp hand spikes jammed into the steel surface of Metal Sonic Kai’s shoulder. Knuckles was barely hanging on, with his free fist still pounding repeatedly into the robot’s outer shell. Dangling below him, Espio the chameleon was swinging in the air. The lizard quickly regained control of his momentum and clung onto the side of the machine using his sticky grip.
Vector sighed in relief after being able to locate them. They had survived. He raised his volume so he could be heard over the creaky squeals that Metal Sonic Kai’s joints made when they moved, “They did it!” For being so little compared to their foe, Knuckles and Espio sure were determined. Vector tugged slightly at the sparkly cord connected to his bound ring as he directed his attention over to Mighty, the armadillo he was paired with. “Now it’s our turn!”
Mighty nodded, “Right!”
Before they could enact their plan, knife-like claws came slashing down towards the two. Mighty and Vector scrambled out of the way of the oncoming daggers, just narrowly avoiding having been sliced into pieces. Metal Sonic Kai was flailing his remaining arm and slamming it repeatedly, invigorated with rage.
The engine embedded in the circular depression center of Metal Sonic Kai’s chest began to glow with a harsh orange light as it whirred to life.The fuselage installed deep inside of his body humming loudly was the final warning sign before the plasma beam erupted out. The rapidfire laser shot straight towards the Chaotix members—
Swoosh! Like a gust of wind, a flash of yellow flew past Metal Sonic Kai’s face. In turn, the lazer wobbled outside of its course and missed its targets. The giant swiveled his head to lock the thin line of sight he had from out his narrow visor onto the pests buzzing around his face.
The red light dancing in the smoky sky from the mix of fire and the setting sun glistened off of the flying squirrel’s fur. Ray had his arms outstretched, letting the air catch the flaps of skin under his arms so he could glide on the wind’s current. His bushy tail was wrapped around another shiny round bound ring. It connected him to the smaller bee that Ray had been dragging across the horizon. Charmy’s wings fluttered at full speed, and he hovered about distractingly.
Ray’s direction suddenly swerved, darting past the massive claw that tried to bat at him. Kai’s long and pointed teeth gnashed with ferocity. Ray squeaked. His face was stricken with terror, but he clenched his jaw before shouting, “Aah!… Th-that’s right, keep your eyes on me!” Then, he narrowed his arms and dove sharply, headed out of the monster’s direct reach.
Vector’s mouth dropped open, “What is he thinking?!”
Mighty had been standing straight, watching his teammates whizzing through the air. But then, he readied himself by curling his back forward, “He’s saving our hides!” Mighty closed himself into a shiny red ball of protective plated armor, “Now’s our chance to act, big guy!”
Though Vector followed along by taking hold of his bound ring and beginning to swing Mighty in a circular motion, he was still grumbling bitterly, “He’s got my kid! I told those two to go hide…”
Momentum grew fast. Vector and Mighty became a spinning whirlwind. Once they had enough force, Vector aimed for Metal Sonic Kai before releasing his hold on his ring, throwing the armadillo upwards.
The ball of armor shot straight up towards the mechanical beast’s right shoulder. With a resounding BANG, A deep dent was driven into the metal. After the attack made contact, Mighty unfurled his body and clutched tightly onto one of the coils that protruded from the robot’s interior to prevent being thrown off.
Vector then ran full speed towards Metal Sonic Kai’s shiny scarlet boots. He wasn’t the best at climbing... Yet Vector knew that if he could scale up high enough, he could reach a point where Mighty would be able to dangle Vector’s bound ring low for the crocodile to grab hold of and be pulled up. That would allow for Vector to actually help in breaking Metal Sonic Kai’s remaining arm, just as Knuckles and Espio had. Vector hugged the wall of steel that made up the leg. He started to slowly shimmy up, his shoes slipping slightly on the smooth surface.
Lifting Vector was a breeze for the armadillo, given his amazing strength. When Vector landed by his side, the two began their assault. Mighty pounded on the seam of where the arm met Metal Sonic Kai’s torso. The pieces cracked, shattering further with each hit. Vector’s massive jaws clamped down on one of the exposed tubes that helped to power the appendage, ripping it out entirely.
A deafening Creaaaak droned out as the limb began to separate. Vector lost his footing when the arm began to give out from under him. Mighty didn’t fare much better, clutching onto the edge of a panel of steel he had ripped from Metal’s being. That didn’t matter much when the entire foundation on which they stood was now hurtling towards the ground.
They barely had time to brace for impact before everything crashed into the concrete below. Vector found himself lying flat on his back, the breath having been completely knocked out of him. He groaned. When he sat up, his surroundings appeared to be spinning all around him, but he still forced himself to scooch away from the sharp robotic pieces of rubble that now littered the ground.
Suddenly, Espio was at his side. The young chameleon’s forehead was creased with worry. He held out a hand, “Vector! Are you injured?”
When Vector grabbed onto him, he let Espio pull him to his feet. He shook his head, “Nah, I’m alright…. What about…?” Before Vector could ask about their safety, he spotted Knuckles and Mighty a short distance behind Espio.
Knuckles had a self assured grin as he approached, “…We’re good.” His eyes darted up to the smoldering shoulders where Metal Sonic Kai’s arms had been forcibly ripped from.
Espio followed his gaze, “…You both did well. Metal Sonic Kai has been completely… disarmed.” He said, in a very serious tone of voice.
Mighty snickered, while Knuckles groaned. The echidna gave Espio a dirty look, shoving him lightly, “Enough of that. It’s time for us to finish this, once and for all.” With that, Knuckles moved to pull out an item he had been concealing on his person: a massive ring that glowed with a vibrant purple light.
The rest of the Chaotix proceeded to do the same. They all took out one or two objects, each one similar in appearance to the chaos ring Knuckles now brandished. Vector clutched two: a bright green and a golden yellow. Mighty bore a cyan ring. Finally, Espio’s rings were as deep blue as the ocean and a pink shade that almost matched his scales. The group huddled into a close knit circle, holding the chaos rings out in front of them. The rainbow of colors glistened, reflecting off of each of their faces and mixing together in a pool of hues.
Being in such proximity to each other, the chaos rings' powers began to resonate with their holders. A white aura surrounded each figure, until Vector, Espio, Mighty and Knuckles felt a strange tingling sensation as energy began to course through every inch of their bodies…
Vector’s snout was stretched into a wide smile, “Alright boys… Team Chaotix, let’s take him down!”
“Team Chaotix!” Their unified shout filled the air, before the group broke out from their brigade and all dashed towards the still standing Metal Sonic Kai.
The animals transformed into a flurry of shapes that dished out attacks at an incomprehensible speed. Metal Sonic Kai continued his attempt to try and fight. His pulsar laser powered up once more. The sound of the revving engine cut through the air at a volume that flooded all of their senses. But the hits began to be dulled out in every direction all at once: figures rolled up into tight balls that smashed into Metal Sonic Kai’s steel like bullets, punches, kicks, teeth ripping into his robotic flesh, small bladed weapons that were brutally stabbed into his being…
Every attempt Metal made to bash himself into one of his assailants was rebuked. They were simply moving too fast. There were too many of them, and his attention was split in a way where Metal couldn’t focus on predicting where the next attacks would come from. The Chaotix’s hits also felt stronger… as if their strength had somehow been reinforced and amplified by those damn rings…
Though he couldn’t feel the impacts enough to be hurt by them, every time Mighty’s hard armor slammed into Metal Sonic Kai, a slight rumble reverberated through his whole body. His breath hitched as he felt his heart rate increase… The beast’s loud cries of defeat was only pumping Mighty’s adrenaline levels up to an all time high.
Mighty bounced back some distance, making sure to land on his feet. He found himself standing in front of their opponent, separated by only a few dozen yards. Battered, roaring in anger as his sharp jaws snapped vigorously, the rigid spines lining his back breaking… Metal Sonic Kai was on his last leg. Most of the metal lining his body had been torn off or dented. Exposed motherboards were sparking dangerously.
Mighty tightened himself into a ball, revving up to prepare himself for top acceleration. At the precise moment he had a clear shot, Mighty let loose and propelled himself forward, launching himself at the enemy.
The speeding shot pierced directly through Metal Sonic Kai’s core, penetrating straight through where his heart would be… if the creature even had one at all.
Mighty blasted clean through to the other side, exiting Metal Sonic Kai’s backside. His armor then smashed into the dirt. The armadillo bounced momentarily, having to slow down considerably before Mighty could regain control enough to fully stop moving.
By the time that happened, Metal Sonic Kai was already crashing into the ground, wrecking into the rubble and remaining structures surrounding them. All light had left his eyes. He was officially decommissioned.
Several whoops and cheers erupted out as five cups were pumped into the air. The soft bonking noise when the rims of the cups gently bumped into each other was not as satisfying as the sharper clink sound glassware might make, but Vector was too stingy to afford actual glass. Hence, everyone’s juice and soda was sloshing around in plastic drinkware instead.
The Chaotix had gone all out in celebration. Defeating Metal Sonic Kai and finally closing a lid on the chaos ring case was a monumental occasion. They had splurged and ordered takeout. Now everyone was gathered around the dining table they had set up in the kitchen area. Boxes of steaming sticky white rice, chicken and vegetables coated in sauces, noodles, wontons and egg rolls were spread out across the oak surface. The friends were seated. They leaned over each other to try and reach the food so they could scoop it up and pile it high onto their individual plates.
“You guys were all really amazing!” Ray said, as he loaded his dish with some of the rice. “I can’t believe you all took down a robot that big!”
Mighty, who was situated in the chair directly to Ray’s left, playfully elbowed the squirrel, “You were pretty brave yourself, kiddo! Flying in there took a lot of guts!”
“Don’t encourage him, Mighty.” Vector was somewhat distracted making up a bowl of food for Charmy. The bee was reaching across the table, trying to grab the chicken with his hands. Vector had to gently pull his arms away and get him back in his booster seat. The crocodile continued to talk as he started cutting some of the vegetables and chicken into smaller pieces for him, “That was dangerous. Especially for Charmy. You two could've gotten hurt.”
Mighty was grinning, “Aw, you worry so much, Vec. Charmy’s fine, just look at him.”
Charmy must not have cared or noticed that they were talking about him. He whined a little, making grabby gestures at Vector, “…Gimme!”
Vector obliged by setting the platter down for the kid, before moving on to make a plate of his own. He still had a disapproving frown on his face, though.
Ray giggled, “To tell the truth, I was shaking the whole time I was in the air. I really thought Metal Sonic Kai was going to eat us!”
Knuckles leaned back lazily in his seat, “Well, he’s dealt with now. It’ll be good to have a break from pounding bad guys into the dirt.” He was itching to get back to his home, Angel Island.
“Yes. I doubt Eggman is going to interfere with the peace any time soon.” Espio was displaying his bad habit of talking with his mouth full.
There was a short beat in which the conversation dropped so they could all shove food into their faces. The Chaotix were masters at devouring meals at a breakneck pace, and appetites were always greater after an exhausting battle. The utensils clacked lightly against the dishes whilst everyone slurped up noodles or crunched on the entrées.
Knuckles took a big gulp of his grape juice. When he placed the cup back down, he paused, “…..Speaking of Eggman…” The echidna glanced at the doorway that led into the next room. Though it was currently out of his line of sight, he knew that on the stubby office coffee table that they had recently acquired, the chaos rings lay. “…I don’t want him ever getting his hands on those rings again. It was a pain gathering them all up once. We should keep them someplace secure.”
Vector had finished his first plate, and was now helping himself to seconds. He hummed in thought, “…We could put a lock on one of the rooms we store evidence in, maybe…”
Knuckles shook his head, “We shouldn’t keep them all in one place, it’s asking for trouble. If Eggman were to send his robot lackeys here, they could break in and steal them all.”
“…You are suggesting we split the chaos rings’ locations, so in the event that any are taken, not all of them are lost at once?” Espio asked to confirm.
“Yeah, exactly.” Knuckles said. He was still leaning in his chair, causing it to tip backwards under his weight ever so slightly. “Say I take a few of them and hide them on Angel Island. I can guard them along with the Master Emerald.”
“Ray and I could hold onto some, too.” Mighty offered. “We don’t have anyplace fancy to store them, but if Eggman wanted to get his hands on ‘em, he would have to go through me first.” Mighty spoke with confidence… and for good reason. He had yet to be bested by any of Eggman’s mechanical creations.
“Then how about we keep two here at the office, have one each for Mighty and Ray, and then Knuckles can take care of the rest?” Vector suggested.
“Yeah, that sounds like a solid plan to me.” Knuckles said.
By that point, most of what remained of the meal was crumbs and empty takeout boxes. Everyone scooted back in their chairs. Mighty idly rubbed his full belly, before standing up to help Vector and Espio with some of the clean up. The actual chore of dishes would be handled later, but it wasn’t too difficult to get plates into the sink. The table was wiped after all of the wrappers and waste was thrown away.
The rest of the evening was occupied with enjoying themselves to the fullest, now that they were free of their obligations to fight against Eggman’s forces for the time being. After Charmy and Ray flew in circles over Vector’s head until the crocodile became fed up with the roughhousing, the Chaotix settled around the office to play a board game involving cards and collecting points. The younger kids were laughing while Mighty gently tried to calm Knuckles’ rage from being dealt a bad hand in the game. Espio and Vector locked into an ultra competitive bout, until the chameleon snatched victory and was declared the winner of the game over all.
It became late enough that the little bee had to be put down for the night. After Espio returned from tucking the kid into his bed, he noticed Knuckles standing over the coffee table.
Knuckles was examining each of the glowing chaos rings… before he selected two of them: the hot pink one and the one that was a close match in hue to his beloved green master emerald. “I’m taking these two back to Angel Island.”
Mighty turned his attention to the remaining rings. “Right, we’ll guard some too. Hm, let’s see…” Mighty’s gloved hand fell under his chin, puzzling for a moment over which ones he should choose. Each ring emanated an aura of absolute power, drawing him in…
Suddenly, the little squirrel was at Mighty’s side. His curious wide eyes were locked onto the objects on the table, “…Can I pick the colors we get?” Ray asked.
“Oh. Sure thing, buddy.” Mighty said. He stepped back to give his friend some space.
Ray glanced at each of the options, but gravitated quickly to the shimmering golden yellow ring. He carefully lifted it into his hands before presenting it to Mighty like an award, “…You get this one.”
Mighty felt a smile on his lips. “Yellow, huh?” He knew it was the kid’s favorite, “Like your fur.”
Ray nodded, “…And like the bright happy sun, too.” When he returned to the table, Ray selected a second choice. A deep azure light cascading from the ring danced across Ray’s face when he picked it up. “…I want this one. It’s the color of your eyes.”
“Dark blue and yellow… Good choices, bud.” Mighty patted Ray on the back.
“You can just leave the rest there, I’ll get them stored someplace safe later.” Vector said. He was in the middle of cleaning up the snacks and pieces from their board game.
When Ray let out a long, drawn-out yawn, Mighty asked, “You getting tired there, buddy?”
Knuckles glanced out the window. The sky was littered with sparkling stars, “…It is getting late. I should be heading back to Angel Island. Give me a call when we get the next case.”
“Want Ray and I to walk you out?” Mighty offered.
Knuckles’ eyes met Mighty’s, surveying him for a moment. “…Sure.”
Vector was somewhat distracted, as he was almost finished cleaning up the board game with Espio. He was making sure all of the cards were stacked neatly and put back properly. He did call out though, “…You kids be careful out in the dark, ya hear?”
Mighty smiled, waving Vector’s concerns away lightheartedly, “…Again, you worry too much, Vector. We’ll only be a minute.”
“Alright then.” Vector said.
“…Farewell, Knuckles.” Espio had a strange look on his face. It wasn’t outright mean or distrustful, but his eyes were narrowed slightly and his frown was tight. Did he have a problem with Mighty briefly stepping out to bid Knuckles goodbye? Mighty wasn’t able to tell.
The cool night’s breeze hit their faces as soon as they exited out the door. The ambience of darkness closed in around them— The chirping of nocturnal bugs and critters rustling in the bushes, the moon’s rays shining down and illuminating the dirt path with a pale light, and the heavy cloak of shadows that had been draped over the area, leaving their senses inhibited. The three began to trek out some distance. Knuckles took the lead, while Mighty and Ray followed behind. Ray’s walking speed was sluggish. He had practically already fallen asleep, only really moving forward because of the armadillo holding his hand and keeping him close.
While Mighty preferred the brightness of day, he couldn’t deny enjoying the peacefulness that enveloped the world at night. Many would guess that Mighty was brash or abrasive simply because he was good at punching, but in reality it was quite the opposite. Fighting was truly his last resort, as the armadillo much preferred to solve conflicts through pacifist means if he could. Tranquil and quiet… Being out in nature suited his calm demeanor well.
Knuckles was glancing in every direction: from the leaves rustling in the towering overhead thicket to the road ahead of them… The guy always seemed on guard and generally mindful of his surroundings. They passed by a short tree with low hanging branches. Settled comfortably in one of the plant’s nooks, a straw nest housed a few flicky birds that were fast asleep, soft feathers pressed up against each other. Both Mighty’s and Knuckles’ gazes landed on the fowls, causing smiles to sneak onto their faces.
Mighty eventually broke the silence, speaking in a hushed tone, “…I appreciate my friends, but it is nice to step out into the quiet forest night for a break.” He paused, listening to the soundscape of the light wind and the distantly chittering creatures, “…Is Angel Island this quiet at night, too?”
Knuckles smirked. His head was turned upwards… They couldn’t see Angel Island here, not with the thick canopy of the woods. But Mighty could tell that Knuckles was looking towards his home, even if it wasn’t in sight. “…It’s quieter, if you can believe it.” He eventually answered. Then his eyes darted back over to Mighty, “…There’s nothing more beautiful than the natural wilderness of the island at night. The plants, the forest animals… The place is really amazing, when it’s calm enough to not have intruders chasing after my emerald and disturbing the peace…” Knuckles put on a sour expression, grumbling that last part. “…It’s worth it, though. Fighting against Eggman or anyone else, I mean. To protect it all.”
Mighty nodded. He had never been to Angel Island himself, but he had intently listened to Knuckles’ tales of the place before. “I hope you’ll let me visit sometime.” Mighty teased.
“Maybe….” Knuckles’ expression became serious, “Just so long as you keep your paws off my emerald.”
Mighty laughed, “Really? That’s a better offer than the first time I asked about your island.” When the echidna warrior had initially been introduced to Mighty, he had proudly proclaimed himself as the guardian of Angel Island. But when pressed about where the island was or what it was like, Knuckles would immediately become growly and defensive. He would stubbornly shout that none of the Chaotix were to ever set foot in the place, lest they bring harm to the environment or interfere with the treasure he was preserving. It was in stark contrast to the careful way Knuckles considered the thought of others on his homeland now. Mighty gently elbowed him, “…You’ve softened up, tough guy.”
A faint trace of red brushed Knuckles’ cheeks, but it was difficult to make out in the dim moonlight. “Well, I know I can trust you. I’m still not sure about any of the other clowns…” He turned back towards the general direction of the detective agency.
At that moment Ray, who had been leaning against Mighty’s side whilst clutching his hand, let out a mumbling sound. When Mighty looked down, he realized he was snoring— the kid had actually fallen asleep while they had been standing talking in the forest clearing. He bent down a little to hold the squirrel steady, keeping Ray from tumbling off his feet, “…Oh. Guess that means we should be heading back.”
Knuckles nodded curtly. “I can make it on my own from here.”
Mighty paused. He set Ray down so he was comfortably seated on the grass. Then, he stepped over to Knuckles and wrapped an arm over his shoulder in a hug, pressing his body up against his. Mighty squeezed his eyes shut so he could focus on taking in the moment…. Knuckles’ fur was warm, and he could hear his breath catching slightly. Might could also feel the thump of Knuckles’ steady heart against his chest.
Knuckles stood somewhat awkwardly stiff. He wasn’t as touchy feely as his armored friend, but he didn’t mind the intimate goodbye. Really, Mighty was the one person Knuckles could admit to liking enough that he was comfortable with such closeness.
They savored the interaction a while longer… Mighty whispered, “…Take it easy when you get home, will you?” He sometimes worried that Knuckles took everything, including his guard duties, far too seriously.
“….Sure.” Knuckles said. He slowly pulled away from Mighty’s embrace. “Keep them all safe while I’m gone, yeah?”
Mighty nodded, “You can count on me. See you later, big guy.”
Knuckles gestured with his hand. The motion was half a salute and half a wave goodbye. He still had a smile on his lips as he continued down the long forest path, quickly disappearing into the brushes.
Mighty watched until Knuckles had made enough distance to fall out of his line of sight. He was still a moment longer, his mind lingering on the echidna. Knuckles was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, so there really was no worry as to whether he’d be able to get to his island safely in the night. But Mighty still truly wished him good luck in that everything would be peaceful on that floating paradise in the clouds.
Eventually, Mighty decided that it was time to head back. He turned around, trotting over to the grassy patch he had left Ray in… before stopping in his tracks.
“…Ray?” Mighty blinked. He swivelled his head in every direction, looking for the squirrel. He had been sleeping on the ground right in this forest clearing, hadn’t he? Mighty could see the spot where the grass had been flattened by his weight, where he knew he had laid the kid to rest momentarily… Yet somehow, Ray had completely vanished.
Mighty’s forehead creased. Maybe he had woken up and drowsily wandered off, looking for the agency? He called out again, his volume raising, “…Ray, where’d you go, kiddo?”
Mighty’s ears flickered. There wasn’t any response from the woods, aside from the distant cries of nocturnal creatures and the wind that was picking up speed. The air was getting colder. That had to be the reason a sudden chill was snaking its way up his spine… At least, that’s what Mighty told himself as he tried to ignore the ominous shifting shadows being casted by the trees.
Mighty began to walk. It was a much faster pace than any he had taken previously during the nighttime stroll. He held his hands near his mouth to try and amplify his voice as he yelled, “Ray!? Buddy???” Mighty looked left, then right, then left again, quickly scanning the shrubbery and bushes and everything off the beaten path. His eyes even searched the tops of the trees. He didn’t know why Ray would be so high at such a late hour, but it was instinct for Mighty to look upwards for his friend, since Ray could soar through the sky.
The only direction Mighty didn’t look was down. Perhaps that is why he didn’t see danger coming…
Something suddenly roughly snagged itself onto his ankle and yanked, hard. Mighty stumbled, tumbling forward. His face smashed into the rock littered ground. His mouth was met with a mix of dirt and blood, likely from his now stinging tongue that he had accidentally bitten. Mighty groaned, trying to push himself up with his arms. He didn’t have the time to make out what was happening. Everything was abruptly cut short when a blunt object struck the side of his skull at full force, hitting part of his temple that was unshielded by his armor. The throbbing pain was accompanied by his vision going completely black.