Freedom Fighter Inspection

[Mage's Brother]

The clearing just west of the Knothole. It was a perfect image. Six Rabbit soldiers standing broad shoulder to broad shoulder with perfect posture. Not a single hair was out of place. They stood stock still, their eyes trained to never lose their focus. Kato walks the line in front, with pride deep down inside.

"SOLDIERS. I appreciate you maggots remaining respectful to my age. You WILL do the same to our competitors. You will also TRASH THEM in EVERY WAY. We look good, and we ARE good. Are you going to let a bunch of forest dwelling yahoos show you up?"

"SIR, NO, SIR."

"Then stay in line, stay strong, and we'll whoop their asses! DO YOU GET ME?!"

"SIR, YES, SIR."

[Lans]

A sonic boom announced Sonic and Sally's arrival on the scene. "Here he is Sal. Looks like he brought along some buddies too."

[Leda]

The princess released her escourt's shoulders, shaking her wind-whipped hair from her eyes and approaching Kato with an extended hand and a smile. "Hello, my name is Sally. I'm the leader of the Knothole Freedom Fighters. I understand you wanted to arrange a meeting of sorts?"

[Mage's Brother]

Kato looked Sally over. "You don't mean to tell me that YOU'RE the Commanding officer of the famous Freedom Fighters." Kato does not shake her hand, but rather uses his riding crop to push it out of the way, then lean in for a closer look.

"Why look at you. You're just a Greenhorn with LUCK. I had no idea coming here'd be THIS much of a waste of time. I had intended to inspect your 'troops' but from what I'm seeing you're just a bunch of rag-tag happy-go-luckies who just happen to be in the right place at the right time! Why if it weren't for your blue-hedgehog's speed here, you'd all be worthless nothings fit for nothing less than a roboticizer! We're THROUGH HERE. Waste of my time...." Kato turns away from Sally.

[Lans]

A split second later Kato found a very pissed hedghog nose to nose with him. "Listen pal," Sonic snarled, poking the rabbit hard in the chest, "I don't care who you think you are, but you've got no right to come here and start dissing Sal. She's most of the reason Robotnik hasn't gotten EVERYBODY yet! And if your Rabid Army is soooo mondoly special, where the heck have you guys been the last five years, huh!?"

[Leda]

"Sonic, calm down!" the ground squirrel called, taking him by one arm and pulling him back a bit. "Clearly, you have a very distinct idea of how you think the war ought to be fought," Sally began, trying to keep things civil, "and I would be happy to listen to your ideas on how you think the Knothole Freedom Fighters' efforts could be improved. I'd also be more than willing to share our ideas with you. But in order for that to happen, you're going to have to be respectful of our team and keep in mind the fact that you are a guest. I don't think I need to remind you of the fact that you barged in on us; we didn't ask for an inspection, so if you find this a waste of your time, you have no one but yourself to blame."

As she spoke, Sally gave Sonic's arm a gentle squeeze, silently urging him to remain calm.

[Mage's Brother]

Kato's eyes softened. He looked at Sally calmly, turning over what she said. "Well then. It seems I owe you an apology. Sounds like you have a bit more than I give you credit for. Forgive me then, I'll make this brief, as both of us have things to do.

Up in the northern region we, the Rabbit Armada, have driven off the robot armies and for the past few years have prospered free of worry. In short, we had nothing else to do except move south and find out why the devil there's still problems here. You have the greatest weapon in the world...." Kato glared at Sonic, "despite his disreputable naivety and ignorance...." then looked back at Sally, "and yet your vast legions and innumerable soldiers have still failed. We want to know why, and potentially offer our support. Potentially. If...we find you worthy."

There was no sarcasm in his voice. Kato had no idea that the Freedom Fighters were just a small gathering of do-gooders.

[Lans]

Sonic just continued to scowl at Kato, looking like he'd like to spindash the hare through a wall, until he got to the part about 'vast legions and innumerable soldiers.' At that point he just looked at Sally, as if saying: "There somthing you know that I don't?"

[Leda]

Sally cleared her throat, giving Sonic's arm another squeeze in acknowledgement. "I think there may have been a miscommunication at some point when you received your information," she replied gently. "I'm afraid our numbers aren't so 'vast' as you've been led to believe. Most of us escaped the coup as children, and we've gained additional allies over the years." The princess smiled. "But despite our numbers, each member of our team has great individual skill. Sonic's talents are a great asset, but so are the abilities of the others. We fight against Robotnik in covert, group-oriented raids, rather than overwhelming in hand-to-hand combat with an army."

[Mage's Brother]

It started with a giggle. Then a chuckle. Then Kato was flat-out laughing. "You're pulling my fluffy cotton tail, right?" His grin dimmed. She wasn't joking.

"It seems I WAS misinformed....Well then." He tips his hat further down over his eyes.

"I suppose then I have nothing to do here. Come along soldiers, move out. There's nothing here, except a pack of wild animals." Kato scoffs and begins leaving with his troops.

[Lans]

You could almost see the steam comming from Sonic's ears by now. "Yeah, well while your fluffy bunny legion has been supposedly kicking it up north, this 'pack of animals' has been fighting the real fight! You think you've seen what Buttnik can dish out? Ha, pal you ain't seen nothing. You know all thos inumberal troops an' endless legions?" He pointed in the direction of Robotropolis, "Well there they are pal, why don't you go inspect them? I'm sure Buttnik's chrome domes would love to meet you!"

[L]

@walter@ Walter had tried to trail Bunnie, but unfortunately had found himself right where he DIDN'T want to be. The rabbit was standing only a few feet from him. "... Death and lettuce."

The waterbug dug his claws into the ground and pulled a huge chunk of dirt and turf out, throwing it in the direction of the hare. "DEATH AND LETTUCE!"

[dice=6][rand=984556374419105973322984243370361463910767866924201325967872672]

[Mage's Brother]

[dice=6]
And now Kato had dirt on him. He cringed as his pupils burned with anger, his fingers clutched, and his muscles tensed. He pulled off his jacket very dramatically and tossed to a waiting soldier. He cracks his neck, then turns to face Crunch. He cracks his nuckles a few times. "Someone's going to be hurt now. Very badly." A soldier or two pulled out their guns but Kato waved them away. This was his challenge. He pulled up one leg, and began hopping the the typical Muay Thai way.

Kato flips forward forcing the weight of the flip into his hell which he tries to bring down on top of Crunch's head.
[dice=10][rand=680552085963684844694218571483784385878888296872441613772967007556]

[Leda]

"Sonic..." Sally started to try calming the hedgehog once more, but knew before she started that it would be useless. Besides, he did have a point, and deserved a chance to make it, even if she didn't agree with his composure. Instead she let out a short sigh and returned her attention to Kato. "I'm sorry you feel that way," she finally said, resting a hand on Sonic's shoulder in the hopes that he wouldn't indeed spindash the hare. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a shame that you're not interested in working together--"

The princess caught sight of the airborne mud pie smacking into Kato's head, and her eyes widened in horror. "CRUNCH!!" Sally made a mad dash at the little lobster, certain that the hare or one of his brutes would try to harm him.

[dice=4]

Which it turned out Kato did; Sally managed to shield Crunch with her body, but the force of the blow knocked her down on top of him, continuing to deliver half of the landing's force. The princess let out a cry of pain, but looked down at the lobster in spite of the trobbing in her back. "Crunch...!!"[rand=9318612389476666294140767144690278524726359169289712402299531729]

[Lans]

And that was the straw that broke the camel's back, or in this case, the hedgehog's patience. Sonic suddenly reved up into a spindash and shot at Kato.

[dice=11][rand=917828143538794238839388838374294994282066648333422368760065882537]

[Mage's Brother]

[dice=10]
Kato had no time to move out of the way of a Super Sonic Spindash. All he could do was hold his the backs of his forearms in defense. The blow pushed him backwards, and left lots of cuts on his arms.

Kato raises a hand, and a few of the soldiers aim their Guns at Sonic.

"Seems like we've found the reason why this clan fails." Kato leans in at Sonic. "You."

He turns his back and walks away. A soldier tosses him his jacket and follows close. A few others keep their guns trained for a few moments making sure no ones going to follow, then they themselves leave.[rand=96671941933005286054521051103021461831571603549505378349490266604]

[L]

@walter@ Walter had been knocked on his back quite out of nowhere, but was glad he was out of harm's way. Though, he was filled with quite a bit of guilt that Sally had thrown herself in harm's way to protect him. A simple "I'm sorry" or "thank you" wouldn't suffice, especially since she was now writhing in pain over him. The guilt was beginning to eat away at his innards. "Princess..."

The waterbug burst into tears and embraced, without warning, in a crushing huge that would more than likely do further harm to her back. The young insect's sobs had grown so loud so quickly that no one could make out exactly what he was saying, though bits such as "Sorry", "Scary Hare", and "Wanted him to go away" could just barely be made out.

[Leda]

There was a brief moment of relief when Kato backed off... But Crunch's guilt got the better of him, and of Sally. The pain abruptly returned, but that wasn't the issue -- this time her chest couldn't expand. If she could have gotten enough air to do so, she'd probably cry out again, but all that made it was a soft squawk. Doing her best not to panic Crunch, but still help herself, Sally gasped quickly for air and managed to choke the words, "Don't... worry..."

[Lans]

"Meh, good ridance to bad roughage." Sonic said as the rabbits left. "Yo, Sal, are you-" he stopped when he saw Crunch 'hugging' Sally. "Yo Crunch-man. I think you can let go now."

[L]

@walter@ Walter had let go of Sally and was now next to her, grovelling pathetically.

[Leda]

The princess took a big gasp of air as her companion released her and coughed several times. Ahh, oxygen felt good in the lungs. Sally took a moment to steady her breathing, patting Crunch twice on the knee. "It's okay, Crunch... Everything's fine now. But in the future, I don't think it'd be wise to fling giant hunks of dirt at visitors, alright?" She was obligated to do the scolding, but somewhere deep, deep inside, she was happy he'd done it.

Finally Sally pushed herself upright, but let out a loud "Ow!!" as she tried to stand. An outline of Kato's boots was probably forming beneath her fur. The princess's angry eyes shifted over in the direction the rabbits had left in, but her only utterance was a low, "Hmph."

[Lans]

"You okay, Sal?" Sonic asked.

[Leda]

Sally groaned, but managed to stand, pressing the base of her back with both hands. "Yeah," she answered at length, "I'll be fine. That was a heavy hare." She turned to Crunch and gave him a hand to his feet, letting out a pained grunt in the process. "Let's all head back. I'm getting hungry anyway."

[Lans]

"Sounds like a plan to me!" He turne dto Crunch, "How bout it Crunch-man. I'll show you how to make a REAL chillidog, the hedgehog way!"

[L]

@walter@ While the insect HIGHLY prefered seafood, it did seem as if he were off the hook. "Okay." He said wiping away his tears and breaking a smile. "Just no lettuce "

[Leda]

Sally chuckled softly. She wasn't really up for a chili dog herself, but wasn't about to incur the wrath of the two boys with her by saying so. "Alright then guys," she announced, heading back over to Sonic, this time with a light limp, "let's get going."

[Lans]

"All right!" He grabbed Sally's hand and Crunch's claw. "Juice and jam time guys!" he shouted, revving up his legs, then speeding back towards the main part of the village.