//------------------------------// // Tension Rising // Story: Sonic: Friendship is Eternal // by VGFanatic20 //------------------------------// Tension Rising Garble found himself standing before the Elder of his tribe, wondering why he was there and how much longer he’d have to be there. The emerald glowed softly in his clawed hand as he felt his patience growing thinner with each passing second. “Garble, do you know why I’ve called you here?” The elder asked, his scales a soft golden color with a purple underbelly. “No Elder, I haven’t the foggiest” he said, biting back as much of his sarcasm as possible. Yet he still sounded very sarcastic and rude. “I wanted to show you this” he said, revealing a small tablet of stone with Dragon writing on it. “So shall the prodigal son bring forth the cleansing of the world. His righteous fire will bring about a new age of Dragon kind” Garble read before looking to the elder with confusion. “Why are you showing me this?” “I believe you to be the Dragon we’ve been waiting for, the one to bring new life to the world in a wave of cleansing fire” Garble was stunned by this, it was certainly a bomb shell and he wasn’t sure if he really was the Dragon described there on the tablet. “How can you be sure?” “You seemed to have suddenly awoken a great power within yourself, you even developed markings” the Elder said, not knowing the gem was behind that. Garble looked at the Chaos Emerald, feeling its power just ooze into him. “There’s more of these” He said softly. “I can feel it” he then looked to the elder with an evil smile “Gather the forces, it’s time we went gem hunting” Griffon Kingdom “These Griffons are certainly useful” Metal Sonic said to himself as he tossed the purple emerald into the air before catching it. “Already have one under my belt, six more remain” Gilda just looked at him and smiled, “All the worlds power at your fingertips” she said in agreement to his earlier statement. Mephiles was just silent as he sat there, his eyes closed. A small smirk forming on his muzzle, though none could see it due to him not having a mouth. Ponyville “Would you please relax?” Dash asked as Pinkie kept bouncing around. “If anyone should be all over the place it should be me. I get the results of my application today” she said “I can’t help it, what if” she was cut off by Espio placing his hand over her mouth. “Relax, we shouldn’t do anything to make her any more anxious.” Pinkie nodded, doing her best to calm down, just as she started to Dash was handed a letter and she began to read it. “I didn’t make it” she said with a sad face, and after looking at everyone’s sympathetic reaction to it she laughed “Psych!” she shouted “I passed with flying colors!” They began to cheer, getting over the prank rather quickly. Rainbow couldn’t be happier, she was going to the Wonderbolt Academy later that day. “Wait Today?!” Rainbow said before re-reading that line. “I’m not the only one that can hear that…” Pinkie said feeling happy that she wasn’t the only one that could actually hear what I’m typing. Confusing I know, moving on. “Wow, that was fast” Sonic said. “I guess” Rainbow said before sighing. “Guess I’m heading there sooner than expected huh?” Griffon Kingdom “Our scouts have reported that an emerald is in the Dragon Highlands” a Griffon reported to Metal Sonic. “I see, dismissed” he said. The griffon saluted before flying off. “What are you going to do?” Gilda asked “Take what’s rightfully mine” Metal said before using Chaos Control and vanishing. “Let us hope nothing befalls him while he’s there. Tensions are high with the Dragons, and should anything happen. War will be upon us.” Wulok said somberly. Gilda immediately became worried. Mephiles however was just in the shadows, smiling to himself. Thinking how absolutely perfect this whole situation was turning out to be. Wonderbolt Academy Dash stood at attention, in formation with a number of other cadets, dressed in the uniform all those who attend the academy are required to wear. She waited for so long to finally go here, and she sure as hell wasn’t about to blow it. Spitfire walked down the row, analyzing each cadet. Rainbow began to envision making her superiors proud and earning a spot as a wonderbolt. She let her imagination soar as she kept playing her dream over and over. “Do you think I’m cute Private Chaser? Do you think I’m funny?!” Spitfire barked at Cloud Chaser, jarring Rainbow out of her thoughts. “Ma’am, no ma’am!” Cloud Chaser responded “Then wipe that disgusting grin off your face!” she ordered. “Ma’am, yes ma’am!” she said, however her face still showed half a smile. “Well any freaking time sweetheart!” she barked “Ma’am, I’m trying ma’am!” Cloud Chaser said “Private Chaser I’m gonna give you three seconds. Exactly three flapping seconds to wipe that stupid looking grin off your face, or I will gouge out your eyeballs and skull-buck you!” she snapped at the cadet. Cloud Chaser had finally managed to remove the smirk on her face. “Keep it that way” Spitfire said before moving down the row again. “Alright Cadets! I’m spitfire, I’m your drill instructor while here at the Academy. You will learn all that there is to know about being a wonderbolt. Whoever told you this was going to be Candy Land, is a pansy!” Rainbow nearly flinched from hearing her bark out the word “pansy” with such emphasis. Spitfire saw that small twitch from her. “Something funny over there cadet?” “Ma’am, no ma’am!” Rainbow responded with heart. “Good” she said before continuing, “We will start off with 20 laps around the academy, you will be timed, you will be judged” Spitfire said, “When I blow my whistle you will take off and fly your laps” she said as she looked at them all “you’re time starts now” a few cadets took off at the word now. Rainbow and a few others remained on the ground. Spitfire smirked “For those of you who didn’t take off, you just earned an extra helping at chow today” she said before blowing her whistle, the cadets flying off at high speed. Rainbow flew around the academy, determined to prove she had what it takes to be a wonderbolt, though she soon realized she wasn’t alone, for a Pegasus with a teal coat and yellow mane and tail was keeping up with her. Rainbow smirked at her and she smirked back, the two of them pushing each other during laps. They both finished first, noticing the cadets that took off before the whistle were now doing 40 wing ups as punishment for not paying attention. “Good work ladies, keep that up and you’ll set a new record” Spitfire said to them. “Nice job out there, I’m Lightning Dust” the Pegasus said before she and Rainbow exchanged a wing slap similar to a high five. “Rainbow Dash” she said with a smile. “Let’s take a look around the academy a bit before we have to do the next part of our training” Lightning said “Sounds awesome” Rainbow said before they both went off to explore A few days passed with Sonic and friends wondering how she was doing up there, Pinkie was restless more than usual. Constantly checking her mailbox only to find nothing in there each time. “You know we should just go up there and see how she’s doing, the letter said visits aren’t forbidden” Twilight said looking over the letter that Dash received a few days ago. “Then let’s go” Sonic said, Twilight nodded before getting the hot air balloon and getting in with her friends and Sonic. Shadow decided he’d remain behind with the others while those 7 went to go see Dash. Soon Twilight, Trixie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Sonic were on their way to the academy. “Do you want to be a Wonderbolt or not?” Lightning asked, having discussed creating a tornado at this altitude to guarantee a win. Rainbow of course knew a tornado, no matter how small, at this altitude would get really ugly really fast. She really wanted to be a Wonderbolt though. “Fine, let’s do it!” she said before they began to spin around in circles, generating a tornado. However they lost control rather quickly and it began to get larger and stronger. “Uh oh” Rainbow said before they were tossed by it. She regained an upright position before noticing a familiar hot air balloon. “Oh no!” she said before rushing to them. The tornado got them first, tossing them all out of the basket. The other cadets were on it and grabbed them before they could get hurt. Rainbow turned to Lightning Dust after having caught Sonic. “See Dash? Nothing to worry about, all of them are safe” she said before a hoof collided with her jaw. “Screw you! You’re stupid plan nearly killed my friends and my boyfriend! I’ll tell you this right now Lightning, if I ever see you outside of the academy…you better hope I’m not faster than you for your sake” she said before setting Sonic on the solid ground the academy was built on before going to Spitfire’s office. “Any particular reason you decided to enter here without so much as a ‘permission to enter’?” she asked, unamused before seeing Rainbow set her badge down. “I quit. I can’t be a wonderbolt if somepony like Lightning Dust is going to be my leader” she said. “She endangered a number of lives today with that tornado, I can’t follow someone with no regard for safety” she said “Thank you for everything ma’am” she then turned and left. “Come on guys, let’s go home” Rainbow said, feeling just terrible now. “Hold it cadet!” Spitfire said before approaching her. “Ma’am?” “Lightning Dust! Front and Center!” Lightning Dust was there in a heartbeat. “Yes ma’am?” she said with a salute. Spitfire just looked at her before removing the badge on Lightning. “You’re dismissed from the academy. I’ve seen how you pushed yourself, but continuing to do so and recklessly endanger everypony, even your comrades?” she glared at the cadet “is foolhardy, get out of my sight before I have you escorted off” she said, the tone she used indicating you didn’t want the latter. Lighting growled at Rainbow before flying off. “This is yours Cadet” she said giving Dash her badge back. “I expect you back here next training season.” “Yes ma’am!” Rainbow said happily with a salute. Sonic just smiled, happy for Rainbow Dash. Dragon Highlands Garble was just marveling at the amount of Dragons willing to blindly follow him. He held out the Chaos Emerald “This Gem, there are more like it. Easiest way to tell is the way they glow, if you’re not sure then bite it. If it doesn’t scratch then it’s the real deal” he said. “Lesser beings such as yourself don’t deserve to even be within 5 feet of a Chaos Emerald” a metallic voice said from nearby, Garble turned and looked up, noticing something blue and shiny standing up high. “That higher power is mine and mine alone” “And who the hell are you?” Garble asked “I am Metal Sonic, soon to be overlord of this pathetic planet” he said “Please, if anyone is going to rule this planet, it’s going to be me” Garble’s eyes shot open as he felt something cold slam into his stomach, Metal Sonic had moved so quickly and punched him in the stomach before he realized it. “Keep dreaming” Metal said before a fire ball made him jump back. “Back off!” Garble snarled “He’s mine” Metal just stood there before firing a laser at Garble. He dodged it before unleashing a fire ball. Metal rolled out of the way only to get grabbed by Garble. The dragon grinned before slamming him into the ground and using his fire breath to burn him. Metal was unfazed by it and just looked at the dragon before kicking him off. “Gonna have to do better than that” Metal said as his arm opened a bit and a rocket launcher appeared before firing two projectiles that exploded as they hit the ground near Garble. “What the?!” The young dragon exclaimed before getting grabbed by the neck. Metal began to punch the dragon where he assumed the kidneys were. “Kidney punch! Kidney punch! Kidney Punch! Kidney Punch! And pause” Metal said before dropping him “Chest Kick!” he kicked Garble as hard as possible in the chest, a sickening crack was heard as the dragon was sent flying into a nearby rock face. Garble crawled out of the rock before growling, the emerald glowing brighter before he unleashed a blue flame at Metal. Metal dodged it before noticing Garble was already on him. Garble swung his arm as hard as he could, smacking Metal into the ground and preparing to incinerate him. Metal vanished just before the flames spewed from Garble’s mouth. The robot rushed at him and kicked him face first into the molten rock. Garble picked himself up, absolutely livid as he stared down the robot. “How did you do that?” “As I said, lesser beings do not deserve this power” he said before clenching his robotic fist “It shall be mine and mine alone” Garble just growled at him before unleashing a torrent of blue flames at him. Metal blocked it with his Black Shield. “My turn” he said before grabbing Garble and electrocuting him, making sure the shocks were painful. Slowly the intensity rose, higher and higher until Garble was literally a light bulb and couldn’t scream anymore. Metal reached out to take the yellow emerald now that his foe was beaten. That is until his arm was grabbed by the very foe in his hand. “It’s mine!!” Garble shouted as his eyes began to glow a bright yellow and more markings appeared on him. He slashed at Metal Sonic with his claws before sending him flying with an explosive fire ball. “Lucky shot” Metal said before his purple emerald began to glow and he unleashed an enhanced laser beam. Garble took the hit and didn’t even flinch before suddenly appearing in front of Metal. “He can use Chaos Control?!” he said in a panic before his arm was ripped off and the purple emerald taken. Garble then proceeded to beating the ever-loving crap out of Metal Sonic with his own metallic limb. “Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!” the dragon would mock and chant before winding up and slamming Metal so hard that the metallic arm shattered against the bots head. Metal focused what energy he had left to use Chaos Control and take every piece of himself out of there. He reappeared in front of Gilda before collapsing. “What the heck happened?!” Gilda asked shocked “Dragon…” Metal said before his system entered standby to repair itself. “The Dragons have attacked a brethren to our kind. They have also stolen the treasure he seeks” Wulok said. “This means War” Mephiles began to chuckle to himself upon hearing that, already planning many things for the coming events.