//------------------------------// // Another Distraction // Story: Sonic and EQG Forces // by SonicAKG //------------------------------// Another Distraction Seaside Hill, once a beautiful beach with fascinating architecture, was completely transformed under Eggman's control. The once clear blue water was now heavily polluted with oil, giving it a dark and murky color. The natural terrain was mostly covered in metallic plating. The area was originally home to palace-like ruins but these were now crumbling, with holes and crates littering the remaining pieces. It was now replaced with mechanical pieces such as pipes, metal buildings and barriers along with wires everywhere. A metallic factory was in the background, with large generators by its side. The once luscious green plants were now dry and orange colored. Alongside the seaside were red colored guard rails. Vector, Charmy, and AppleJack arrived and were displeased by what they saw. "This used to be a beach?" AppleJack questioned with disbelief. "Yikes. Eggman really did a number on this place." Vector commented while shaking his place. "Aw man. I loved this place! Remember when we had to find crabs?" Charmy brought up, which made Vector grimace at the thought of such a tedious task while AppleJack looked confused. "Why were y'all lookin' for crabs?" She asked. "Eh, our client, which turned out be Eggman, wanted to test our detective skills or something. It's a long story. I just never want to see another crab here again." Vector explained. The small team then started moving across the ground of the SeaSide Hill. Shortly after they did, they all felt and heard a large rumbling sound, stopping them in their tracks. This left them bewildered as they began to look around. "What in tarnation was that!?" AppleJack wondered out loud. Near the background of the Seaside hill, a giant battle mech was making it's way across. It resembled a large mechanical crab with eight legs and was the size of a building. It had a disk-shaped body with a large dark and gray shell while having a pale gray underbelly. Up front, it had many red featureless eyes, a small flat nose, and small dark gray claws. Its legs were made of dark gray metal and covered in spikes while having flat feet. 3 of them were blocking the path of the trio. AppleJack and Charmy looked on, shocked by its sight while Vector's face fell. "You have got to be kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?" He expressed with dismay. "Look at the size of that thing!" Charmy exclaimed as he lifted his hands up high to display how tall it was. "I guess I shouldn't be too surprised Eggman had another weapon up his sleeve." Vector grimly said. "Weapon or not, we still got a job to do." AppleJack said, her voice full of determination. " I aint gonna let no oversized crab stop me!" "Yeah! But it's weird that both times I was here, I have to deal with crabs." Charmy pointed out. The second distraction squad moved on ahead. They made their way across using moving platforms, which lead them to a higher path. The three of them were now in the section of a mechanized factory, with Egg Pawns littering the area. "Now, it's time for us to be distracting. " Vector declared as he cracked his knuckles. Charmy began to fire his stingers, piercing through Egg Pawns and also parts of the factory, leaving his needles stuck on various places. AppleJack and Vector brawled through their enemies using their fist, smashing any robot in sight. However, they also got creative. AppleJack took out various chunks of metal from either the ground or the walls, tossing them at the robots. Vector dug his hands in the metallic floor and lifted it up. This threw his mechanized foes into the air and they crashed randomly, either on the floor or other parts of the factory. "Finally! A fun mission!" Charmy cheered while firing around. "It's good to let loose and be wild! I haven't had a good time since Eggman's conquest!" Vector stated as he bashed a robots head into the ground. "This is one mess Ah'm ok leavin'!" AppleJack said, noticing the heavy destruction she and her teammates unleashed on the factory. Once the enemies were gone, the team continued to go through the factory section until they exited it back to a more a basic area. The three heroes moved across the metal pathway, with Charmy going the fastest. "That was so much fun!" Charmy said as he flew on ahead. "Come on guys, hurry up!" "Hey, hold on Charmy!" Vector scolded from behind. "Heh, he's just like Pinkie." AppleJack said to Vector with a slight smile. "And just one of him is a handful." Vector replied with a sigh. Charmy continued to eagerly fly. When he noticed how behind his two partners were, he turned around with a frown. "Hey, guys! Stop being so slow!" Charmy yelled up ahead. This made Vector grit his teeth in annoyance. "Charmy you-" He began Vector's sentence was cut off as his and AppleJack's faces shifted into ones of horror. One of the Death Crab's legs was coming down, straight on top of an unsuspecting Charmy. "Outta the way!" AppleJack yelled. Charmy looked up to see why AppleJack was yelling and froze in fear when he witnessed the foot of the robotic crab, which was heading to crush him. Charmy closed his eyes and expected the worst. He then heard the sound of metal crashing into something and a grunt. Charmy opened his eyes to see AppleJack struggling to hold up the Death Crab's leg. She was feeling the pressure and her knees wobbled a bit. "Move, partner!" She instructed. Charmy instantly did as he was told and flew out of the Death Crab's shadow. With him gone, AppleJack continued to hold the Crab's leg, getting closer to kneeling. After a little bit, she leaped ahead, causing the robot's foot to slam the ground. She and Charmy were safe but separated from Vector, who was still behind. Before they could go on ahead, the Death Crab dropped three more of its leg in front. A few seconds passed and all of its legs were lifted. The trio then moved by as fast they could and managed to regroup when they got past the last leg. "Charmy, you ok?" Vector asked. "I am thanks to AppleJack swooping in!" Charmy gushed as he admired his rescuer with awe. "It was nothin'." AppleJack modestly replied. "Seein' ya like that made me think of ma sis bein' in danger and I just acted as fast as I could." " You didn't let that big crab stop you at all! That's one of the coolest things I've seen!" Charmy praised, making AJ a little more flustered. "Hey, we've done plenty of stuff together and you've never said that about me." Vector brought up. "Eh, we're always together, so it's nothing special." Charmy dismissed, which made Vector form a sour look on his face. The team went further into the area. This led them into the damaged ruins of the Seaside Hill's palace, which was in the process of being converted into a part of Eggman's base. Instead of Egg Pawns this time, there was a squad of 4 large robots 3 times their size. They shared the same color scheme with a black lower half, an armored neck collar, and large hands and feet. Each of them possessed a large gray spiked hammer. "So, a change of pace from the regular bots we've been smashing? Fine by me!" Vector loudly stated. He then cracked his knuckles. Vector charged straight towards an Egg Hammer just as it was bringing its hammer down. His fists clashed with the robot's weapon many times, putting both of them at a small stalemate. The Egg Hammer lifted it's hammer and tried to swing again but due to his superior agility, Vector avoided harm with a jump. Midair, Vector clasped both his hands together and smashed down on the Egg Hammer's helmet, slamming the robot in the ground. He bounced off the robot's body and came down for two more smashes in order to ensure it was down for the count. Another Egg Hammer was trying to smash AppleJack, who moved around quickly to dodge. The Egg Hammer then released a swing towards AppleJack's side. However, she caught the robot's hammer and yanked it out of her enemy's hand. AppleJack then released a series of powerful swings that smashed the Egg Hammer back and it crashed to the ground. The last two Egg Hammers kept frantically waving their mallets, desperately trying to hit Charmy. Charmy was too small and fast to hit and kept taunting his enemies by making obnoxious faces. Eventually, he came between the two Egg Hammers, leaving him seemingly trapped. The robots both unleashed two mighty swings, hoping to crush him. Instead, Charmy simply flew down, causing the Egg Hammers to take each out as they smashed each other clean in the head. " I'd say these fellas weren't too much of a step up from the usual robots." AppleJack commented as she, Vector and Charmy came together. "We're just that good!" Charmy boasted. "Yeah. You the way I took out that robot, right? Pretty amazing, huh?" Vector rhetorically asked Charmy "Eh,anyone can do that. I've seen you do better." Charmy simply said in an unimpressed tone. He then flew on ahead, leaving behind a stumped Vector. "What the? But? Vector stammered as he looked at AppleJack "Who knows, partner?" AppleJack told him. "Maybe you'll wreck somethin' bigger." The distraction team traversed in the area until they made it out the ruins. As they moved forward, Vector and AppleJack tore through metallic wires around the Seaside Hill, with Charmy flying above. They soon came across a gap with metallic platforms across it. Before anyone could move, 3 of the Death Crabs leg's slammed ahead. They rested for a few seconds before they lifted up, allowing the 3 heroes passage across the gap. The group then headed towards the outskirts of an industrial section. When they began to get closer, two robotic crabs legs stomped the ground, stopping them in their tracks. "Eggman's new machine is really getting on my nerves." Vector said in an irritated tone. "I'm really starting to hate crabs now." "So far, it hasn't been able to see where we are exactly. So far, so good, hasn't really stopped our mission. Let's hope it stays that way." AppleJack commented. The legs of Eggman's newest weapon were then raised up, with AppleJack, Charmy and Vector getting past them in no time. With the limbs no longer being a barrier, they entered the industrial section, which was filled with Egg Pawns and an Egg Hammers. "Time for more smashing!" Charmy cheerfully announced. Charmy used his stingers to fire at Egg Pawns, bringing them down. AppleJack took out her lasso and rounded up 3 Egg Pawns. She then swung them all over the place, taking out other robotic minions in the process. With much ferocity, Vector ripped apart Egg Pawns using his bare hands. During the battle, no one noticed the Death Crab in the background had taken a gigantic leap into the air. With the Egg Pawns gone, this left the Egg Hammer. It raised its hammer but before it could use it, AppleJack wrapped around the weapon with her rope. She then pulled with great strength, which brought the Egg Hammer down on the ground. "Vector, fastball, fastball!" Charmy pleaded. "I heard ya." Vector answered. Vector grabbed a hold of Charmy with both hands. He aimed Charmy at the head of the Egg Hammer as it rose up and using much of his strength, he tossed him as if he was a living arrow at the robotic brute's head. Charmy stuck out his arms so his stingers were in front. He then penetrated through the top of the robot and came out the other side. The Egg Hammer fell to the floor with a large thud instantly while Charmy floated on the other side. "I love doing that!" He exclaimed. "Let me guess, he came up with that?" AppleJack questioned, to which Vector nodded. "It kills two birds with one stone. Gets the job done and he has fun too." He elaborated. "Ah just hope Pinkie doesn't come up with a crazy idea like that." AppleJack wishfully replied. "Seeing as they are so much alike, I'd say you better start practicing." Vector jokingly advised. Seeing as the enemies were defeated, AppleJack and the two Chaotix members went on ahead into the direction of another wrecked palace, though it wasn't bad as the one before, due to it only being slightly mechanical. "I'd say we've made a big enough ruckus." AppleJack decided. "I'd say it's time for us to head back." "Aw, already?" Charmy said in a disappointed tone. "I would say our work here is done." Vector started. "But we haven't seen that mechanical crab in a while. Something doesn't add up...." Before anyone else could speak, an enormous thundering noise erupted behind the 3 members of the Resistance. This immediatley caught their attention and they turned around to see that the Death Crab had landed on the ground, a couple of feet away from them. It lifted its hind legs up, winding them up before it started to charge towards the trespassers, crashing through the remains of the oceanic palace like it was nothing. Vector, Charmy, and AppleJack gasped and formed frightened looks as the metallic behemoth was headed their way. "Run for it!" Charmy shrieked as he and his teammates began to flee from their pursuer. "I really hate crabs!" Vector yelled while he ran. "We can't let it get to the Chemical Plant or otherwise this will all have been for nothin'. We have to keep it busy here." AppleJack ordered. While it was in hot pursuit, the Death Crab lifted up large pieces of debris from the ground, sending it towards the 3 man team. Thanks to his size and speed, Charmy was able to maneuver around them while airborne. On the other hand, AppleJack and Vector occasionally turned to smash the large chunks into pieces with punches. "This is no good. It's got us on the run." Vector realized, knowing he and the others couldn't keep this up forever. AppleJack saw that there was truth in Vector's words. She then remembered his fastball special with Charmy and decided to act. She once again took out her lasso and swung it for a while. "Hey, Charmy, up for somethin' fun?!" She called out to the hyperactive flyer. "You bet!"He quickly replied from above. While avoiding rubble instead of hitting it like Vector, AppleJack grabbed a hold of Charm with her rope. "Hope this works!" She called out as she swung Charmy back towards the center of the Death Crab's eye. "Wheee!" Charmy called out. Charmy pointed both of his stingers and jammed them into the eye of the mechanical crustacean, stunning it and causing it to fall back slightly. This left the eye cracked and giving off some electricity. "Surprise Suckah!" Vector declared, seeing there was an opening for him to attack. Vector took a mighty leap and unleashed a powerful punch on one of the Death Crab's leg, making it stagger. This sent it even more behind as all its leg fell front. It was now stationary. "Great, let's get it y'all!" AppleJack announced. The Death Crab lifted it's legs up and prepared to bring them down. However, Charmy started to fly around it, firing his stingers. They didn't do much damage, but they left his robotic enemy disorientated. "Vector, can ya give me a toss?" AppleJack requested. "No problem." He complied as he grabbed AppleJack by the shoulders. Vector aimed AppleJack straight towards the Death Crab and flung her in the air. As she was headed towards the Crab, AppleJack took out her lasso and wrapped it around one of its legs. She then swung around to the closest limb and placed the remainder of her rope around it, entangling it. Due to this, the Death Crab fell and crashed to the ground upside down. It was now helpless as it started to slide on the ground. "Now to make sure there's no more out of you!" Vector shouted as he jumped in the air, placing his two hands together. Vector smashed down on the Death Crab with a powerful belly flop, leaving an impact. This left a large dent in the weapon's center and made all of its light's flicker out, indicating it had shut down. "Now that's one cracked crab." Vector quipped as he dusted his hands. He then turned to see Charmy and AppleJack coming in to join him. "Great work, y'all!" AppleJack congratulated. "That's one less weapon for Eggman to use." "This was the most fun I've ever had on a mission!" Charmy cheered. "AppleJack, that rope makes fastball so much cooler! I go a lot faster and I swing around like a yo-yo! Can you go with me on my next mission and we can do that all the time?" "Heh, we'll have to see what's in store for us." was AppleJack's answer. "Ahem, aren't you forgetting something, Charmy?" Vector pointed out. "I was the one who took down that mech in the end. Who's the coolest now?" "Well, it was more of a team effort. You wouldn't have been able to if AppleJack and I didn't help." Charmy reminded him. Vector placed his hand on his face face. "Ah, come on." He complained while AppleJack chuckled slightly. "Like I said earlier, you'll probably get somethin' big guy." AppleJack said to comfort him. Vector just let out a hefty sigh while an oblivious Charmy pranced around in celebration.