It had been a few days since we had left, the base. We found a cave and used some of the tools we had with us to create enough space for us to hide out of sight. Pear Butter approached me “Sonic, Ah need ya to collect some materials. We need to arm up and build up our technology.”

I nodded “Yes, I will collect what I can.”

Pear Butter put a hoof on my shoulder “Ah must thank ya, we have been running low on hope. Ya have lit fire under many here, that there may be a chance of victory.”

I gave her a thumbs up “I’ll be back soon.” I snuck out of the cave, slowly. After I made enough distance, I then sped away. I arrived at a huge factory with a big Eggman logo on it. I snuck up to the building, I pushed open a door. I poked my head in, there was no sign of any robots. I saw a camera on the wall looking away from the door, I grabbed a rock breaking the camera with it.

The interior was full of large conveyor belts and bits of scrap all over the dirty brown factory. I grabbed the rock and snuck around, there was no sound of robots. I broke several more cameras with the rock. I heard the sound of robots, I poked my head around the corner. I threw my rock at one of the cameras. The robots reacted to it breaking, I snuck out of sight and then when they turned their back I broke them apart.

It was two giant robot hornets and two giant robot beetles, easy to scrap. They were pushing a cart, it was full of high tech weapons and loads of computer parts. I pulled the cart out of the doorway, I entered in. I feel like this Eggman is too careless with his shipments, likely hasn’t faced true opposition in a while other than me.

I grinned, guess it’s time for his wake up call. It took me a bit longer to get the cart back, I had to steady it every now then and make sure I didn’t lose the cart. I looked around me as I ran, the ground was dead and piles of toxic waste was everywhere. I even saw a factory in the distance pumping toxic sludge into the oceans.

That idiot, life can’t survive without water. I managed to to get the cart back to the base, Pear Butter looked over the cart “This is high end equipment and material, used for building his strongest robots.” She looked at me “Where did you get this?”

I dusted myself off “I snuck into one of his factories, took out the guards and escaped. No-one has ever tried so it was lightly guarded. I doubt it will be so easy next time, if we wish to beat Eggman we need to take over his factories. Use them to make us better weapons and armaments, Eggman has been taking over other universes. This world is not his only base, we need to ready to face him.”

Pear Butter nodded turning to the crowd “Ah know this may seem reckless but we have been playing it safe! We have made no progress and our number are growing thin, to the point we have to send foals out to do what we should be doing! Today we take the first step to taking back our world!” The crowd roared, rushing in and grabbing the new weapons, preparing to face the enemy.

Pear Butter gestured me to follow her, we went into her private room. I took a seat next to her, there was a photo of herself, Big Mac, Applejack and another stallion in a worn out wooden frame. Applejack's father if I had to guess. Pear Butter frowned “Ah believe what ya said because you wouldn’t have Applejack’s name otherwise. Besides, before Eggman came there was no such thing as talking hedgehogs.” She then picked up the picture frame “That is my husband Bright Mac, he was the leader before me. He was strong, tougher than me. We had hope back then but after his death, then Big Mac followed his father to the grave as well. That alongside our dwindling numbers and resources caused hope to die in all of us.”

I nodded “It’s good that I’m here then. It is time for the Eggman’s reign of terror to end, not just in this world or even in this universe but all of them.”

Pear Butter nodded “Well let's start with the overtaking of his bases. Let’s do good tomorrow.” I gave her a thumbs up as I left. I headed to my cave room I laid against the wall, slowly descending into slumber.

I woke up early, joining Pear Butter in the briefing room. Pear Butter looked at me “Yare up early.”

I shrugged “I have lived on a farm for most of my life, it’s part of the job.”

Pear Butter nodded “Ah was a farmer before all of this, sadly now there is no farming to be done.”

I frowned “There will be again, after all an army marches on it’s stomach. Once we win here, we will need food to supply all of our new recruits. I doubt you are the only group trying to survive.”

Before we could discuss any more, everyone else joined us. They all had their weapons ready, we moved out. We had to strike hard and fast, we rushed out of our little outpost. Even young Applejack was carrying one of the smaller weapons. We marched towards the nearby factory, I frowned as I saw that there were Badniks everywhere “It seems that my intrusion was noted, enough to fortify the position against raiders.”

I went in first, starting the attack. Smashing apart the tiny bots with ease, Badniks were very easy to break.” I frowned as a Metal Overlord in it’s Super Mode emerged. I leapt at it, smashing it with a single strike. It seemed I had grown stronger. I signaled for the resistance to attack, before I could reengage I felt a pulse of sorrow. Something was crying out for help, it was coming from below.

I turned to see that the resistance was handling the Badniks handily, evidently the defense was based on the Super Overlord. I found a part of the wall that was slightly out of place I smashed through it. A white lit up stairway led downward, I headed down. I frowned as I saw a robotic Eggman, surrounded by Super Metal Sonics.

The emotional pulse echoed again from what seemed to be a cell, the Super Metal Sonics turned to the cell charging energy. I rushed forward, smashing the SMSs. I then destroyed the robotic Eggman with a punch. In the cell was a creature that was certainly strange. Hundreds of tentacles made up it’s body, teeth jutted out of the creature in random places. Eyes scattered across its body, each one filed with sorrow.

I looked at the console, there was big button that said do not press. I pressed it, the cell bars lowering into the floor. The creature came out, a cheery female voice came out of it’s mouths “My name is Carnith Soththog. Although you can call me Camie.”

I held out a hand “Well let’s get you out of this dingy dungeon Camie.”

Camie took my hand nervously with a tentacle “Your not scared of me, most are horrified at being in my presence.”

I shrugged “I care little for appearances, actions speak louder than words.” I guided her out of the dungeons, up the stairs. Once I guided her out, the ponies turned to me and then pointed their guns at Camie. I raised my hand “She was a prisoner of Eggman, she is not the enemy.”

Pear Butter frowned “You do realise she is a monster right?”

I raised an eyebrow “What defines a monster? Hmm, because you are defining her by her appearance. Just because someone thinks you looks scary or frightening doesn’t make them a monster.” I then shook my head “Right now, we need to establish a defensive perimeter and make this place livable for everyone.”

Pear Butter sighed “Fine but that creature is your responsibility.”

Pear Butter left to direct everyone around, Camie smiled nervously “Thank you for defending me. I was expecting that kind of reception so it is nothing new.”

I smiled “No need to worry about that, anyway my name is Henry or Sonic. You can use either.” We headed for a corner of the facility, I frowned “How did Eggman capture you anyway?”

Camie grimaced “I was wander between universes, looking for anything I find interesting. I liked this world, it was pretty and peaceful. At least until Eggman took over. I fought hard but I wasn’t strong enough. Ever since then I have been locked up in that cell and experimented on. They haven't got anything out of me but they keep doing it anyway.”

I gave her a hug “Don’t worry about it. We’ll fix this world together.” This is nice, I wonder if this is what friendship is supposed to be like. We sat there for a while, just watching the ponies go about their business.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, also I hope you like Camie so far. She is going to be a major character.