Ah ha, for those who have looked at my profile since Christmas, I told you I was going to upload something! Well, maybe a story not as complete as I would like, because I had actually intended to finish before posting it, but the fact is that the more I add to it, the more I wonder about how well it flows. Am I introducing too many characters? Is there enough focus on character interaction, or too much on the same people? Is the pace too fast, or too slow? So many questions I can't answer myself, which has given me a newfound respect for the review system. But, yes, this is only the start, for a massive chunk is already done. I'm not going to upload it all in one go mainly so that I can get some feedback as the story progresses, but rest assured that this means that updates will be regular. Please leave me your thoughts, all are welcome so long as they are constructive, and I'll keep on writing!
So, Aurora. This is intended to be a continuation of SatAM after the end of Season 2, full of my ideas on what I think is cool, and will most likely be split up into different 'books' (for lack of a better term), each with it's own self-contained story. 'End of an Era' is intended to get the ball rolling and introduce some of these concepts- SatAM often feels like sci-fi with a medieval spin to me (kings, princesses and wizards...), so I intend to run with it. And what could be more medieval than knights in armour?
Anyway, it's been fun to write so far. Many thanks go out to those who have pre-read bits for me and offered their help; Tantrum, Mysterious Traveller, and in particular Capt'n Chryssalid, without whom things in this fic would have been very, very different (and not at all for the better!).
AURORA
The End of an Era
Prologue
Dreaming
"Come on Aunt Sally, just a little more? Please?"
Sally Acorn suppressed a yawn, unable to deny a smile at the antics of her young charge. The sun had long since set over Knothole and, as was almost a tradition at this point, she sat next to the bed of the Freedom Fighters' youngest member, Miles 'Tails' Prower, who sat with his covers bunched in his hands, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"It's getting kinda late, Tails-"
"Aw, please?" he begged. "Please? Just to the end of this chapter?"
She sighed, already knowing he had won, and caved with a grin. "Alright, just to the end of this chapter… but don't you go telling Rosie, or she'll start saying I'm spoiling you."
"Yeah!" the fox exclaimed. "You're the best, Aunt Sally!"
She opened the book to resume the story, finding the page with ease, and cleared her throat. Tails settled down, his attention locked on her, and with as much drama as she could manage at this hour she began to read.
Tired as she was, Sally had the experience of years reading to him like this. Honestly he was maybe too old for it no, but in the middle of a war, such as they were, a tradition like this was something she was prepared to hold onto for a sense of normality. And Tails didn't mind, quite the opposite, listening keenly and sometimes taking part in impersonating the characters as she painted a sweeping picture in his mind.
This tale was one of the knight Sir Galahad, a valiant mobian of honour and chivalry, a lion who set out on a quest to defended his country against the horrors of an evil witch. The story was fraught with danger and peril, costing him all that he held dear, and there were many times all seemed lost… But the knight would always remember his duty and press ever onwards, to greater dangers and a more terrifying peril, ultimately coming face-to-face with the witch herself.
This battle was the most arduous of all, forcing the lion to face his fears as he fought for the courage to stand against the beast. She struck at him with terrible visions, showing him all his failures and poor choices throughout the quest, but ultimately the knight triumphed against her with the words on his lips, 'Honour is All! Chivalry is All!'
And so the knight's home was saved, and Sally concluded the fantasy. Tails watched her, totally enthralled, and said at the end, "Wow… We're just like him, aren't we Aunt Sally?"
"What do you mean, honey?" she replied, again fighting the urge to yawn. Even at this hour (and with his bedtime well and truly passed), Sally couldn't deny that she was genuinely interested in the fox's observation.
"Freedom Fighters… I mean, we're just like Sir Galahad aren't we? We're fighting to protect our home from evil, an' we're doing it because it's 'right', aren't we? An we're trying to save the king, too… Just like Sir Galahad."
It was with surprise that she realised that Tails was right, and in more ways than he seemed to realise. Yes, they fought to save Mobius from evil, and yes they were fighting to bring back the rightful king… But they had sacrificed so much to get as far as they had and not one day of it had been easy. And still, with Snively now in command of Robotnik's empire, they still had a way to go.
She was touched by the comparison, and looked on Tails with pride. His eyes sparkled back at her, and she knew that he was linking and Sonic to Galahad… and it was not undeserved for the hedgehog to be considered in such a way.
"Yes, I think we are," she replied, and ruffled the fur on his head with affection. "Now get some sleep Tails… you need plenty of rest before the next mission. And we won't take be taking you if you'll give us away to Snively with your yawning!"
Tails smiled, "Okay Aunt Sally, good night. And thanks for the story!"
He settled down as Sally gave him the famous funny kiss, reassuring him and preventing any nightmares of a robotic double again infiltrating Knothole, and soon rolled over and closed his eyes. Sally smiled, her duty done, and quietly left his hut.
But as soon as she left the smile dropped from her face as she became all-business. Flicking open Nicole to check the time, she realised with a start that she had been a bit too quick to accept to spend so long reading; in a few hours the Freedom Fighters were to set out for a night-time raid on Robotropolis, an important mission she had been planning for a while, and one she had been very careful to keep Tails away from.
She might have made him officially a Freedom Fighter over three months ago… But he was still just ten years old.
Back in his hut with Sally gone, Tails lay wide awake and unable to sleep. His head was still full of images of valour and glory, of a good mobian standing up to a powerful evil to defend the world.
Would he be like that, one day? Would he become like Sonic? Could he become anything close?
Tails climbed out of bed and wondered to the door, letting himself out into the quiet streets of Knothole. At this time the only sounds were of insects and the breeze, the only illumination from the moon high above casting an almost ethereal glow across the village, and for the hundredth time he fell in love again with Knothole's beauty.
His tails twisted behind him and with a flick he was propelled up into the air. With practiced grace he twisted about and landed on his roof, the straw ceiling handling his weight easily, and settled down as best he could without anything digging into his back.
He was blessed with a clear night, for the sky above was a stunning expanse of stars. He looked up in awe, his mind revolving still about the story of Sir Galahad, and wondered what destiny had in store for him.
----------
"Do you know, a long time ago someone complained to me that the two most abundant things in this world are hydrogen and stupidity."
"My Lord?" Marcus replied, casting a sidelong glance to his husky companion. Marshal Attias, cutting an imposing figure in his polished battle plate and black surcoat, regarded Marcus with a wry smile.
"I don't remember which led the way, Marshall Bareus didn't care to tell me. And honestly I suspect that hydrogen does have the edge, but do you know Marcus, I think now I understand what he meant."
Marcus turned away from his master's strangely observant mood and looked out across the plain one more. The rusting remains of swatbots lay out before him, tattered and smashed, and from here high on the fortress walls it seemed as they had delivered Snively a terrible blow.
But he knew the truth. A distance away, just out of sight, the forces of Robotropolis rallied themselves once more and what Snively had lost was but a fraction of what he held in reserve.
This final attack would be the end of it. There were not enough of them left; amongst the bodies of the machines lay many brave Templars, each and every one cut down in the midst of combat, mobians who had died with honour.
Marcus felt proud to have known them but also felt a deep anger and hatred, knowing that their sacrifices had ultimately been in vain.
"I do not follow you, My Lord," Marcus finally replied, fighting away his despair.
"No, I think you do, Marcus. Perhaps you don't realise it, but… facing an end like this, a mobian in my position begins to see the world in a different light. Would it have tarnished our honour so if we had just asked for help sooner? We, all of us, have been fools."
"Sire!" Marcus gasped. "Surely you jest?"
"And worst of all, so far only the 'True' Knights Hospitaller have responded!" Attias continued. "This is a sad day, Marcus, make no mistake of that."
Marcus tried to swallow the lump in his throat. The very notion of needing help saddened him deeply- to him it was like admitting weakness, and the Glorious Templars of the Brotherhood of the Sword were anything but weak. No, they were the very finest swordsmen from all over Mobius, the most glorious and brave of any other Order! What could the 'True' Knights Hospitaller offer them?
Marcus watched the carrion circle above the bodies of the dead, trying to digest what his master was telling him. Neither spoke for a while, until he could take the silence no longer.
"Why did you ask for me, My Lord?"
Marshall Attias took a deep breath, then turned fully to the cat.
"Gather your best knights and meet me in the great hall shortly. I have a duty for you."