#I haven't shaken off my Sonic kick yet

[starakex]

Getting back into the swing of things, I've decided to rework my ill-fated Shadow cosplay! I wasn't super satisfied with it, so there's a lot to do to bring it up to snuff. (it's a bit of a hellscape getting anything shipped right now, so I can't really work on a whole lot unless it uses leftover materials at home.) Spent a couple days digging around to find a good pair of shoes that look the part. I considered making Air Shoes covers to go over a pair of regular shoes... But it wouldn't be solid enough for my taste. Don't want them getting too damaged after just a day.

These are by far the coolest shoes I own now, haha. Even has little bits underneath that are reminiscent of the jets, they're perfect!

[the-duck-dealer]

Sonic Forces: Fallen Guardian - Part 1

Central City - December 1st, 2017

[Resistance Soldiers fire on rows and rows of Badnik hordes.]

Knuckles: Push forward! We can take Central City back! Just keep moving!

[A streak of red pierces through the clouds, before impacting the ground, sending a blast of energy across the battlefield. As the dust clears, a tall, shadowy figure rises.]

Knuckles: What is that?!

[A single, yellow, glowing eye centers on Knuckles. In the blink of an eye, the figure appears directly in front of Knuckles.]

Knuckles: Huh?!

Infinite: ...Ah. So the rumors were true. You are the commander of this little Resistance. All hope is truly lost.

[Knuckles growls, swinging at the figure, but they warp out of the way, hovering overhead.]

Knuckles: Open fire!

[The soldiers fire hundreds of blasts at Infinite. He snaps his fingers, and they stop mid-fire, spiraling together into a massive laser blast, which tears through the battlefield.]

Knuckles: What the-?!

[Infinite warps into the middle of the crowd of soldiers, a sharp, red sword materializing in his grip. He slices his opponent's weapon in half, before blasting them away with a laser. Another one leaps onto him, attempting to stab him with a knife. Infinite's tail morphs into a clawed hand, pulling them off and slamming them into the pavement.]

Knuckles: Hey!

[Knuckles leaps towards Infinite, fist extended. Infinite dodges, grabbing Knuckles by the dreads and tossing him away.]

[Knuckles uses the momentum to glide and steer himself around. He lands, throwing punches at Infinite left and right. An energy shield appears, blocking the attacks. Knuckles throws another punch, causing Infinite to skid back.]

Infinite: Hmm… Your attacks are quite powerful.

Knuckles: You haven't seen anything, yet!

Infinite: Neither have you.

[A plethora of glowing, red tesseracts appear overhead, firing down on the ground in Knuckles’ direction. Infinite kicks Knuckles towards the cubes. Thinking quickly, Knuckles burrows underground, avoiding the fire. He emerges underneath Infinite, who backflips away, narrowly avoiding an uppercut, which chips off part of his mask.]

Infinite: Heh. Not much of a commander if you can't protect your own soldiers.

Knuckles: Huh?!

[Infinite snaps his fingers, and the entire group of soldiers are visibly beaten and shaken up, surrounded by an army of Egg Fighters.]

Knuckles: What did you do to them?!

Infinite: I showed them a taste of my reality.

Knuckles: Grrr…!

[Knuckles punches the ground, sending a shockwave towards Infinite. The Ruby stops the shockwave, inverting it back towards Knuckles.]

[Knuckles leaps upwards, gliding over the fissure in the ground. He slams down towards Infinite, who warps out of the way and delivers a kick to his head.]

[Knuckles spins around, swinging at Infinite. Infinite dodges out of the way, uppercutting Knuckles and hitting him again by causing the ground beneath him to raise.]

[Infinite raises his hand, and slams it down. The clouds above spiral downwards, encasing Knuckles in a tornado, which throws him through a wall.]

Knuckles: Rghh…

Infinite: You're supposed to be their greatest fighter? Even Sonic was more coordinated before I put him to rest.

Knuckles: Wh…What did you just say?!

[Infinite raises his blade.]

Infinite: I guess the Echidnas truly amounted to nothing, in the end.

[Knuckles growls, slamming the ground as hard as he can. The ground crumbles apart, and Knuckles takes the opportunity to punch Infinite back.]

Knuckles: So you're the one responsible for all of this… For what happened to Sonic. If I'd known that… I wouldn't have been holding back!

Infinite: Oh?

[Knuckles charges the most powerful punches he can muster. The very ground beneath him crumbles to dust at the force of his blows.]

Infinite: Heh.

[Knuckles dashes at Infinite at lightning fast speeds, hitting him in the ribs. Infinite flies backwards before Knuckles elbow drops him, bouncing off of the ground and hitting him once more with a drill knuckle.]

Knuckles: I'll make you pay!

[Infinite cackles. He immediately stands up tall, pushing Knuckles back.]

Infinite: Hahahah! That's more like it!

Knuckles: Not enough for you, eh?

Infinite: You will never be strong enough.

[Knuckles growls, unleashing his most powerful swing towards the masked tyrant.]

[Infinite stops the punch with a single finger.]

Knuckles: What?!

[Infinite grabs Knuckles' arm, swinging him overhead and slamming him down on the ground as hard as he can, before raising his leg.]

Knuckles: ?!

[Infinite slams his foot down on Knuckles' arm, shattering his bones.]

Knuckles: RGGAAAGHHHH!!!

[He kicks Knuckles to the wall.]

Infinite: No miracle gem to heal you this time.

[He lifts Knuckles by his broken arm.]

Infinite: I could finish you right here and now... But first, let your soldiers see what's left of their heroes.

[Infinite holds Knuckles over the fallen soldiers.]

Infinite: The Eggman Empire stands triumphant. There is nothing any of you can do.

???: We can live to fight another day!

Infinite: What? Grh-!!

[Suddenly, Knuckles is torn from Infinite's grasp by an invisible force, and a wave of rubble and shrapnel is sent hurdling towards Infinite, encased in a blue aura. Infinite blasts the debris away.]

Infinite: Ah, so now the Resistance puts up an effort.

Silver: Espio, take Knuckles and get everyone out of here!

Knuckles: Huh…? What…?

[Espio decloaks.]

Espio: This operation is over. We're pulling everyone out.

Knuckles: N…No! We…W-Were're so close!

Espio: That tyrant took out our entire army in under a minute. You're injured. We are leaving.

[Resistance trucks swerve in, tearing through the wall of Egg Fighters. The defeated Soldiers & Knuckles are loaded into the trucks, and they take off.]

Infinite: I don't think so.

[The road starts to spiral inwards on itself, preventing the escape of the trucks.]

Espio: What the-?! Silver!

Silver: Hold on!

[Silver attempts to lift the truck, but Infinite charges into him from behind, slamming him down. A wall of cubes encases Silver, slowly closing in on him.]

Silver: Rggh-!

[Silver tries to stop the cubes with his Psychokinesis, but there is no effect.]

Silver: What?!

Knuckles: I… I have to help him!

Espio: You are in no condition to--Knuckles!

[Knuckles falls onto the pavement, looking up towards Silver & Infinite.]

Knuckles: G-Grrr… RrrRAAH!

[Knuckles slams his good arm on the ground hard enough to cause the ground under Silver to crumble just before the cubes close in.]

Knuckles: Silver!! Hurry!

[Silver uses his psychokinesis to rip as much debris as he can from the surrounding area, creating a whirlwind of debris as he flees, grabbing the truck and Knuckles.]

[Infinite blasts lasers through the debris, only to find that the enemy has escaped.]

Infinite: Next time, you psychokinetic brat.

[As they fly away, Knuckles passes out on the floor of the carrier truck.]

Espio: Knuckles…!