Shattering the Stars

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Ah, welcome back, readers! It's been a bit. I've enjoyed being on break to be honest. Drew some art, made a lil Anju and Link comic, and have been brainstorming stories I didn't know I'd be writing! This chapter isn't quite an epilogue, though. Instead, it shows a previous battle between Shatterhand and a duo you might not be expecting. I do admit the pacing is rather fast, but I wanted to have this be just one bonus chapter and not two. Though now it means that this is the LONGEST chapter I've ever written. Anyways, thank you all for reading, and enjoy!
-Jooostan

Shattering the Stars
Bonus Chapter: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The dirt had been tainted by gallons of oil, all spurting out of each machine that trudged through the grasslands in unity, all destroyed with ease. They were popped like balloons, but not by the usual blue perpetrator. Instead, they had been reduced to scrap by missile fire, lasers, and a magic that not even the greatest mind on the planet could recognize.

All the animals had gone away, hidden like it were winter despite the humid, sunny weather. Fear corroded the walls of every underground den, their residents trembling as they heard the distant booms of a siege happening on the surface. The soft soil around them had become coarse and dry, the grass singed and reeking of smoke and gasoline.

One animal, however, was on the surface. A creature often mistaken for a rodent and ran with a speed that was unseen among humans. From him came an aura so strong that it made all the animals in hiding want to come out just to witness him blaze by. They didn't dare take the risk, the fumes threatening to send them into coughing fits that their little lungs couldn't handle.

Cutting through the dense, smog-filled air like a knife, a blue blur sped across the hills, following the pipeline that led towards the Chemical Plant. Sonic the Hedgehog, holding the Phantom Ruby, had his heart set on delivering the artifact to Eggman, whom he had formed an alliance with against the one they called 'Shatterhand'.

"This thing better be worth all this trouble," Sonic thought annoyedly, ignoring the throbbing pain in his feet. It wasn't often when he got tired of running, but his legs hadn't stopped moving for almost two hours straight.

More and more metal appeared along the ground as Sonic crossed the territory of Green Hills and into Eggman's Chemical Plant. He always despised the machinery, but now, with no other safe haven, it was all he and his friends could call a 'base'.

Sonic's footing was completely steel, tubing surrounding him, pumping liquid to who knows where for who knows what. Taking two turns to the right, heading straight down sliding down a slope, he approached a large, iron door.

"Hey, Eggman, I'm back! Lemme in!" Sonic shouted, putting the Phantom Ruby under his armpit so that he could cup both hands around his mouth. After a couple of seconds with no response, the hedgehog lowered his eyelids and groaned.

"Ugh, 'Robotnik', I'm back. Let me in!" Sonic begrudgingly corrected himself. Finally, the door opened with a hiss, sliding to the right and allowing him entry. Scoffing, Sonic ran in, the natural outside light being quickly replaced by artificial light.

There were surprised murmurs coming from every direction as Sonic slowed his pace to a speedwalk. All the Badniks and fellow freedom fighters greeted him with similar friendliness. Normally it would feel strange, such kindness coming from Eggman's little robots, but they'd been allied for so long that now it was natural. A month can feel like a year if the stress is high enough.

Entering the communication's hub, Sonic took the path to Eggman's lab, knowing that's where he'd be. A few waves between friends were exchanged before Tails spotted him, flying into the air and across the room.