SONIC KABOOM
PROLOGUE CHAPTER, PART I
Pinecone Flats…an orphanage located somewhere on West Side Island, planet Mobius. We cut to the director of the said orphanage, which was an old badger wearing a pair of glasses, a neat suit with a bow tie, and was smoking a cigar. He sighed as he eyed the Mobian woman in front of him. She was a Mobian woodchuck. She was somewhere in her late thirties and aside from a few grey streaks in her hair she still looked good for her age.
The woman however didn't look happy and neither did the badger. She already could have guessed what she was here for, but she replied anyways: "You wanted to see me, Mr. Tate?"
The badger sighed. "Rosie…we're in a tough spot. We were sued by some angry parents. Because of the actions of the… 'Special Foursome'. Several kids had suffered injuries after a particular encounter with them." Mr. Tate said to the woman, apparently called Rosie.
"They didn't mean to. The kids were pulling Miles' tail and when they wouldn't stop, his brothers and sister came to their defense. The kids were bullying them." Rosie defended the actions of this special foursome.
"May be so, but one kid got a concussion, one needs several stitches and one had an arm that is broken and dislocated. And they're sending the medical bills out way." Mr. Tate said.
"The kids didn't mean to hurt them that bad, they just don't know their own strength, and they are not to blame; I know them, they wouldn't hurt a fly. The other kids have provoked them. Just because they're…different. I'm feel sorry for their injuries, but at the same time, those kids need to be taught manners." Rosie said, getting more unnerved.
"I know but those parents still have the right to sue us. And whether they are aware of their child's actions or uncaring or whatever, and while it not seems fair, it has caused trouble for the orphanage. And certain demands have been made." Mr. Tate said, who didn't seem any more happy with this as she did.
"You mean they have to go? Somewhere else? A closed institute or something? But they are not criminals, they are just kids. They have gifts but they are still normal kids. They just don't know how to handle their gifts. They were born that way, they haven't chosen to be like that. You aren't going to judge a bird because it can fly or a fish because it can swim? You know that they are not bad kids." Rosie said, close to tears.
"I know that…they're actually charming kids. But it's just because they don't know how to control it makes that they are considered dangerous. I know you care a lot for the kids, you are the best caretaker I have, and you have a big heart for all kids, but there are things that are out of my power at times." Mr. Tate said.
"The kids don't need punishment, they need guidance, they need help to learn to control their gifts. Otherwise they think being different is a sin. You don't want them to grow up believing that, would you?" Rosie asked.
Mr. Tate extinguished his cigar in the ash tray. He sighed deeply. "You are trying to be fair in a world that is not always fair Rosie. I don't know whether that's a brave or a foolish thought…" Mr. Tate said, keeping his face neutral. "But I wish people were more like you. I entrust you with the responsibility of taking care of this foursome. Either you help them control thier 'gifts' or you find someone who can help them with that. I'll try to talk my way out of this. But this is the only chance you get. Please don't squander it."
"Mr. Tate…thank you…you're a wonderful man. Thank you…you're so kind." Rosie said, grabbing his hand and shaking it vigorously.
"Otherwise I wouldn't have build Pinecone Flats." Mr. Tate said as he pulled his hand loose. "But be careful, the eyes are now on them. They take one more mishap and I'm not sure if I can help them next time." Mr. Tate said.
"I'll make sure that won't happen." Rosie assured them.
Rosie would soon afterwards make her way to the West Wing, an isolated part of the Flats, where the 'special foursome' temporarily were placed to keep thema way from the rest of the kids. Rosie came in, and saw three Mobian kids sulking on their beds. And one infant Mobian in the crib.
The first kid was a blue Mobian hedgehog. His chest and muzzle were of a peach color and he had emerald green eyes. He wore a red sash around his neck, red shoes with golden buckles and white gloves.
The second one was the oldest of the kids, and the largest, in fact he was very large for his age. He was a red Mobian echidna, with dreadlocks on his head, purple eyes and spikes on his knuckles. He wore red shoes as well, but with green accents and blocky portrusions on it.
The third was a hedgehog too, but she was female and a little younger then the other. Her eyes were green as well, but of a lighter green, and her quills were brushed down, held in place by a red hairband. Her quills were pink and she had a red dress, violet socks and golden wristbands.
The infant in the crib was a mobian fox. He had yellow fur, the fur around his chest and muzzle white and fuzzy, but most perculiar he had two tails. He had baby blue eyes.
"Maurice…Mace…Amy…Miles…" Rosie said, half-sad and half-relieved. "You don't have to go. You'll have to stay in this room, but I convinced Mr. Tate for you to stay." She tried to cheer them up, but the four of them didn't seem to cheer up after that. "I thought that would seem like news to you."
"The mommies and daddies of those bullies are still mad at us, right? You and Mr. Tate are in trouble, are you? Because of us…" the blue hedgehog, called Maurice asked. "I just wanted to protect Miles. I didn't know my spikes were hard enough to…" Maurice interrupted. He just had acted on instinct, jumped and curled into a ball and sharpened his quills. It left some deep cuts on the bully.
"I also just wanted to grab the wrist of that one guy, nothing more. I didn't know I was that strong." The red echidna called Mace added.
"And that hammer…It just appeared out of nowhere. I just made it appear and dissapear. I don't know how I did that…" Amy Rose replied. The baby, called Miles just put his foot in his mouth, being adorable like only a baby can be.
"It was good you helped Miles. The kids got nothing serious, they're not dead or hurt for life. They'll think twice before bullying some others though. But their parents think you're dangerous." Rosie said.
"We kind of are…but we never wanted to be. We just couldn't be normal kids." Mace replied sadly.
"The gifts don't make you the real danger. It's how you use them. Normal Mobians are capable of as much if not more damage. I can know…" Rosie said. She grabbed her shoulder in pain…an old injury she got from a long time ago. "That's why I want to try and help you, help you understand your gifts, and help you control them."
"You can do that?" Amy asked. "But…how will you do that? You're a nice lady and all, but I am not sure if you know much about superpowers."
"I know nothing about those, but I know about training…before I worked here, I was a nurse…during a war in a distant land. I helped people, but when times called for it, I could fight too." She explained.
"Whoa, I bet you were really kick-butt!" Maurice noted, sounded excited at the thought their caretaker used to be a hero of sorts. Little he understood of actual war, but that is to be exptected from a kid.
"Those times are behind me. But you are my present. I am responsible for you now. I am going to help you in every way I can, so that people of the outside world will never be able to say anything about you again." Rosie said.
"You're a nice lady, Rosie…Like the mommy we never had." Maurice noted. He then sulked again. "Makes me wonder why our real mommies and daddies left us here. Did they not love us? Where they scared of us as well."
"I don't have the answers. All I found when the four of you were delivered on our doorsteps, were a note with your names on it. I have seen many reasons for the kids to be here: their parents lost, or too poor to take care of them, for protection…" Rosie noted. "But one thing I do know; I'll be there for you when no one else will be."
"We love you Rosie." Amy said as the three kids rushed up at her, and hugged her tightly.
"Now, how about we take some time to relax and make cookies together?" she asked. The kids gladly agreed. "This time, don't eat them all, Maurice. And no superspeed is no excuse for a bigger stomach."
"You know, Maurice is so…Maurice. I want a new name fitting of my gift. I want to be called Sonic. Sonic the hedgehog. Yeah, that sounds cool!" Maurice said.
"Oh, me too! I want a cool nickname…now, let me think. Er…" Mace said as he pondered for a bit. He looked down at his hands and saw the answer. "Oh, 'Knuckles'!" he said as he showed off the spikes on his namesakes.
"That really fits. Hey, we could call our little buddy here 'Tails'!" Maurice…or rather Sonic said as he gestured at the baby fox. "You like that, little fella?" Miles responded happily by giggling and waving his hands. "He likes it. Say, Amy…"
"I'm not playing your boy games. I am just glad to be Amy Rose." Amy said. "But I must admit your nicknames are kind of fitting."
Over the next few years, the kids would spend training with Rosie. Sonic's speed was great, but Rosie also had to set up several courses so he could react in time to obstacles. He ran into a few things before he mastered this. He also needed to learn how to consiously alter the density of his quills, so he wouldn't hurt others while using them.
Knuckles had to keep his strength trained with heavy exercise, but at the same time he needed to be taught technique because brute force alone wouldn't cut it. And he also needed to learn to control the strength so he wouldn't accidentally hurt others or destroy objects.
Little Tails as he grew up showed off some amazing abilities, not only he somehow managed to use his namesakes as a propellor to fly. The tails themselves, like Sonic's quills could be used as weapons, so he recieved both flight and ground training. He also showed off surprising intellect for his age, as at age 5 he was able to reassemble an egg timer Rosie accidentally broke and made it sing afterwards. Though self-thought, he was something of a prodigy.
Amy was a bit tricky. She had the ability to summon that hammer of hers, but a training beyond controlling how to summon it was hard to think off. The hammer was light in weight but very hard and durable at the same time. This gave Rosie to train Amy in acrobatics. With a lightweight hammer she would be able to use it ways no other hammer wielders could. She also showed a great deal of interest in archeology and was considered a prodigy in her own right, like little Tails.
Though sadly, over the years, no one wanted to adopt any of them. The rumors the parents had spread killed it for the others. Even when rumors were to be forgotten, who would adopt a couple of 'freaks'?
There was this one time, though…Rosie just was being a good host towards a couple of Mobians. Both of them were Mobian chimps. Both of them dressed very classy, as if they were from the upper crust. Both of them had serous, firm looks on their face. "So, Mr. and Ms. Petty…you'd like to adopt one of our children?" Rosie asked, being uncomfortable in thier presence.
"Why else would we decide to come to a backwards place like this?" Mr. Petty pointed out. "But enough nonsense. My wife and I are unable to concieve. So instead we want to take a child in of more then average intelligence as well as great beauty, one worthy to carry our family name. Our line must be continued one way or another."
Rosie didn't like them. But still, always having to give them benefit of the doubt, after all they were unable to concieve so that make some people grouchy. She handed them a list of the kids that were available. "All of them are all either ordinary or from low backgrounds. Is this the best you have?" Ms. Petty asked in a snooty voice. Rosie resisted an urge to punch them in the face.
"But what's this…Amelia Rose? Odd coloring for a hedgehog, but at the same time, unique look, pretty face…progidy in archeology. She qualifies. We would like to meet this girl." Mr. Petty said with a smile on his face. It was not a warm smile but an unnerving one.
Rosie was conflicted. At the same time she wanted to find someone who could look beyond the kids' unusual traits and take interest in them, but at the same time she didn't trust these two. That and maybe she was too close to them and didn't like the thought of them being adopted made it personal for her. However, she had to follow procedure and allow them to meet her. "Follow me, if you will."
Both the chimps followed Rosie to the West Wing. "Don't be turned down if you notice if they act surprised. They are not used to someone showing interesting in adopting any of them." Rosie said before she knocked on the door and opened it.
Inside, the chimp couple looked wide eyed at the display in front of them. One of the kids was playing ping-pong by himself…using his superspeed. Another one was lifting up a heavy-looking couch with one hand to grab a toy that had stumbled under it. They also saw a third kid, the fox kid flying op to the lamp in the room to replace it. The chimps looked both awestruck and disgusted. "Sonic, Knuckles, Tails…has anyone seen Amy?"
"Amy? She was picking something up at the library, she'll be back any second. Why?" Tails asked.
"Some people came to see her." Rosie said as she gestured at the Petty Couple.
"Someone came to see her? That is awesome news. It's the first time anyone wants to see us." Knuckles said as he accidentally let the couch crash on the ground in excitement. "Er…I'll fix that later."
Sonic eyed oddly at the two. "You two hurt yourselves, because you got pained looks on your faces…maybe you need some cheering up. I know a joke about a horse and a penguin going to the bar. The penguin asks: 'Why the long face?' and the the horse replies: 'Chill out!'" They gave him a dirty look. "Get it? Penguin, chill? It's a cold joke. Because penguins…"
"We understand, and it's dumb. Jokes are a waste. And as for our faces, it's not out of pain, it's called being serious, which you kids clearly don't know the meaning off. If this is what Ms. Rose hangs out with we have a lot of work ahead of us." Ms. Petty pointed out.
"He tried to be nice, you know." Tails pointed out.
"We'll say when we care." Mr. Petty added.
"What is going on?" the voice of Amy sounded as she came back into the room. She eyed the two Mobian Chimps. "Rosie, who are these people?"
"These are Mr. and Ms. Petty. They are interested in…adopting you." Rosie said, the last two words with considerable effort.
"M-m-me? Someone would like to adopt me?" Amy asked, like she couldn't believe it.
"You are correct, little Miss Rose. Me and my wife are interested in adopting you. We are looking for a perfect child, both intelligent and pretty, like you." Mr. Chimp said, yet he sounded so cold for something that was supposed to sound warm.
"Of course we have a bit of work ahead since you have spending your life around these…ruffians. You'll have to be educated about proper lady-like behavior. But that'll soon be a thing of the past." She pointed out.
"What do you mean? You mean I cannot visit them and Rosie afterwards anymore?" Amy asked.
"Of course not. These kids would be a bad influence of you and get in the way of your education. And that woman has served her purpose, she was nothing but a caretaker, she is no part of the family." Mr. Petty added.
"In that case, I'm not going!" Amy Rose said.
"What?" the couple asked.
"To you they are 'ruffians', but to me they are my brothers. They have been my family my entire life and I don't want to break the family apart. And Rosie is a nice lady, and she was like our mother. So either you take all of us and allow us to keep seeing Rosie, or you get nothing." Amy Rose said.
"You don't know what you're saying, you're just a kid. You don't know what's good for you and what not!" Ms. Petty growled.
"I think she does, and so do I. You are not adopting a pet from the pound, but a living being that can think for its own. And if the kid does not want to go, then she has any right to refuse the offer. Besides…you seem to only want to adopt her for selfish reasons, and to raise a child you need to genuinely care for the child, and love it for what he or she is. You are definately not able to do so." Rosie pointed out.
"Save us the sentimental stuff. We didn't get our reputation by bothering with such trivial and useless ideals. She clearly has been hanging around with those freaks for too long…and so have you." Mr. Petty noted.
"For your info…" Amy said as she conjured her hammer out of thin air. "I am a 'freak' as you call it."
"We clearly made a mistake coming here. Fine then, stay here for the rest of your life, unwanted and cooped up; who would want to adopt a freak anyways." Mr. Petty said as he and his wife departed.
"Those stuck-up, good-for-nothing, poo-throwing, banana-peeling, sons of…" Amy fumed as she had to resist going after them and clobbering them with her hammer. But instead she dropped on her knees and cried. "Maybe they are right…maybe there is no place in the world for us…"
"Don't you ever say that." Rosie said. "Those two have no idea of what family is about. They don't have the right to tell you where you do or don't belong. Everyone has a place in the world. Even if you don't know it now, you will find it. For a long time I didn't know where my place was…until I knew where it was…It was with you."
Amy wiped her nose with her arm. "Listen, Ames…you are not alone, we're all with you. Even if the entire world will turn against us, we'll keep going, and we stick together. Because we're family." Sonic said, putting his hand on the shoulder of his little sis."
Knuckles grabbed both of his siblings in one of his arms and lifted them with an affectionate hug. "We'll find out place in the world. Even if it takes years to find, we'll find it."
"No one takes us apart!" Tails said as he flew up and landed on Knuckles' shoulder, sharing in this sweet family moment. "Besides, I also left behind a surprise for those two chimps, put it in their pockets when they weren't looking. A nano-itching powder dispensor. They'll be scratching themselves for weeks and they'll never find what caused it."
"Sonic, you stop learning him those silly pranks…" Amy said, raising an eyebrow at the blue hedgehog. "But I'll let it slide just for now. Because they did deserve it." The four laughed heartily.
A few more years later…still the four did not get adopted. And they were getting in their late teens. Aside from Tails, who was still pre-teens. They were getting too old to be kept in the orphanage. And sometimes even Mr. Tate couldn't fix things. So the heroes had to go out in the wide world and find their place on their own. Tails was young enough to stay, but he couldn't part with his siblings, and Rosie wouldn't always be around since other kids need their guidance and he'd be alone.
"I wish that this wouldn't have happened. I knew that as a caretaker I'd have hoped you find a couple who would love you as their own and raise you…but I did something that shouldn't have happened and grew too close to you…you were the sons and daughter I never had." Rosie said as she didn't bother holding back her tears.
"And you were our mother. But every mother must let their children go at one point to live their own lives. And we still haven't found our place in the world. That's why we'll venture our and find it ourselves. It's not like it will be tossed in our lap." Sonic said.
"But we'll keep in touch. Just take care of the other kids like you did before. You are the best caretaker one could ask for. If many more people were like you…then maybe we would have found our place ages ago." Amy said.
"But we'll never forget this place. It was our home…and if it doesn't work out, out there, there is a way back, somehow." Knuckles said.
"Rosie…I made you something…" Tails said as he pulled out something out of his backpack. It was a tiny robot with a propeller on his head. It let out a mechanical purring out as it flew up to Rosie and rubbed his cheek against her. "I call it Omachao…I modeled it after the legendary chao I read about in Amy's books. He'll keep you company while we're gone. Don't worry about feeding him, he just have to recharge every two weeks or something. There is also a manual included just in case…just so you wouldn't be alone."
"I'll treasure it…just like the memories I had of you." Rosie said with a warm and sad smile on her face. The 'special foursome' joined in a 'family hug' with Rosie. It lasted a few minutes before they broke apart. "I know you four are destined to do great things. One day, you'll show the world how blind they've been and may be able to inspire people to do good things."
"I hope so…" Sonic said as he rubbed a few tears from his eyes with his arm. "But we'll always take your teaching to heart Rosie…until we meet again…mother." Sonic said as he manned up and then told to his siblings: "What are we waiting for? The world is not going to explore themselves!"
Sonic rushed ahead, Knuckles and Amy running behind him with inferior but still impressive speed so they were keeping up, Tails flying behind them, also keeping up. They turned around and waved before rushing off at mach speeds over the horizon.
Rosie sighed. "You did a great job with them." Rosie turned around to see the person who did say that. Mr. Tate…though he was a lot older, and now in a wheelchair. "You were the best employee I ever had, because you had heart. And now…I'm sure that picking you to take over was no mistake. I'm sure that even if it's a little, you can make a difference in this world. You didn't give up on them. That's something I'll always admire."
Rosie looked at the sunset "You sound like that's a rarity. I refuse to believe that it is. They'll find others…like us out there, who won't judge them. Who will be able to love them. Admire them…Those four…they are the future. And they will brighen it…like a solar flare, a big bang…a…"
"Boom?" Mr. Tate asked.
"Maybe…or rather a Ka-boom. A single syllable won't cut this." Rosie said certain of herself.
TO BE CONTINUED
