Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog
Chapter 1: I Wish to Die in My Grounds
I do not own the topic of this story as it belongs to those who created the spanish soap opera Cafe con Aroma de Mujer.
This version is more like Destilando Amor, but the original story belongs to the former.
Well, let's begin!
Maurice the Hedgehog couldn't take it anymore.
He was dying, slowly dying.
The plane ride didn't do much help, especially with his heart condition on the rise.
But he had to get there.
His grounds... his oh so special grounds.
He had to be there for the annual picking of the chili peppers.
He had to be there to watch the pickers.
He had to be there... one last time.
Their car turned the corner to Maurice's most treasured place.
He took a deep breathe and took in the fresh scent of Green Hill Zone, his birthplace.
Elena turned to her husband disapprovingly, "You're so stubborn Maurice! The doctor specifically told you to not travel, I really do think we should go back to the city, where a qualified doctor can keep an eye on you"
"Don't you understand woman, you know my purpose, I have never missed a chili pepper picking in my life, and I am not going to let a stupid heart problem become an obstacle," Maurice stated, followed by a cough and a deep breathe.
"Look at you! You can hardly talk! You can die any second if you're not careful!" Elena revoked, concered over the safety of her stubborn husband.
"Well then that would be a blessing. Green Hill Zone is where I was born, it's where I worked hard to gain my fortune, and it's the place where I want to die and be buried in," Maurice coughed louder than the last time, not offering his wife any comfort.
"Besides, I've lived my life, I did what I was destined to do," Maurice stated, smiling as he counted his accomplishments.
He remembered how he was once poor and had to tend to chaos for a living, just to place one plate of food on the table.
His parents didn't last long, his mother died of a sickness and his father died due to overworking himself.
He knew he needed to find a way to survive and he discovered the magic of creating a new kind of paprika using chili peppers and certain spices.
With this, he invented a new chili for chili dogs, which quickly became a hit.
Which led to his fortune and creating a business with the name of The Hedgehog Chili Industries, one of the most popular chili industries known to any Mobian today.
Today he has the industry split into two parts:
1) The Grounds: This is the agricultural half of the industry. This is where The Hedgehog family hire pickers to come to Green Hill Zone to pick many chili peppers to be used to manufacture the chili every year, the chili itself is also created here. His son Jules the Hedgehog is the head supervisor of this half.
2) The Corporation: This is the business half of the industry. In this building there are many departments that assist with Public Relations, Foreign Trade, and many other branches that assist in making the marketing a success. This building is set in the heart of the City of Station Square. His son Charles the Hedgehog is the director of this corporation.
Yes he's definitely done quite good for himself, but one can tell by looking into his eyes that he treasures The Grounds the most.
It is, after all, where everything started.
The Hedgehog Home (The Grounds)
"But how could it be possible?" Jules questioned as his manager, Amadeus Prower, nodded towards his boss.
"Yes, some of the villagers told me he's on his way right now!"
"Does my father not have any sense? He's ill! He's not in the proper condition to travel"
"What's wrong honey?" Jules' wife Bernadette asked as she walked in, followed by Rosemary Prower.
"My father is coming to the picking"
"But I thought he was ill!"
"He is! That's why I'm so discontent!" Jules sighed as he sat on his couch, rubbing his temples.
"Anyway on a brighter note, how's Tails doing Amadeus?" Jules asked.
"Great! As a matter of fact he is picking up the pickers right now!"
"He is such a nice boy," Bernadette responded.
"Indeed indeed, much like your children, how are they doing if you don't mind me asking?" Rosemary gleamed.
"Manic is in France perfecting his artistic capabilities, Sonia is on the verge of getting her bachelor's, and Sonic almost gets his license for agricultural science, both are studying in England, so yeah, all three of them are almost officially done with schooling" Jules gleamed, proud of his children.
"That is very lovely to hear!" Amadeus stated, realizing that it was time to get the pickers situated.
"Would you like anything before we leave Mrs. Hedgehog?" asked Rosemary.
"No no, you two are dismissed, thank you"
Rosemary and Amadeus bowed as they departed, leaving Jules to ponder about his father.
Amy Rose loved Green Hill Zone.
The air, the energy, it all filled her heart with joy.
The best of it all was the fact that she got to share this joy with her mother, Angela Rose, her best friend, her role model, her everything.
They along with many others were heading towards The Hedgehog Grounds for the annual picking.
Last year, she picked the second highest number of chilis. She lost against her mom but who could blame her? Angela has been working for The Hedgehogs for years and Amy admired her skill.
You see Amy and Angela are constantly questioned about their ability by the other workers since they are the only two female pickers.
Amy and Angela don't mind though, they let their skill do the talking, and that sure shuts them up.
Which is why the pickers gave her the nickname, Rosy the Rascal, for her tough and persistent demeanor.
"Hey Tails!" Amy exclaimed as she ran towards Tails.
"Rosy! It's good to see you!" Tails exclaimed as they shared a hug.
"Hello Ms. Angela!" Tails said as he gave Angela a hug.
"Hello Tails my my you've grown! Did Mr. Maurice secure the..."
Tails caught on quickly and responded, "Yep! Your cottage is set and ready for you to settle in, just like Mr. The Hedgehog promised!"
"Oh if only I had the money to repay Mr. Maurice for all his kind hearted deeds..." Angela frowned.
"He truly is a wonderful man," Amy said, putting an arm around her mother.
"Enough moping! You know Mr. The Hedgehog doesn't mind a bit and it's not like you're completely getting it for free! You work for him don't you?" Tails asked, glad that his question left Angela and Amy at ease.
The three along with the other pickers started piling their things onto a truck, when all was said and done all pickers began getting onto the truck.
Amy was stepping on when she felt someone grab her waist.
"Let me help you there beautiful," the wolf said earning an elbow to his chest by Amy.
The wolf stumbled and Amy turned to look at him.
"Make that your next drunk story, 'I the almighty wolf was pushed around by Rosy the Rascal, the girl who I so thought I could hit on'"
This inflicted laughter among all the pickers and Angela was rooting her daughter on.
"Better luck next time bro," Tails said as he patted the wolf on the back, snickering at his predicament.
It wasn't long before Amy and the pickers headed towards The Hedgehog home.
"Mother I am so happy to see you!" Jules exclaimed as he greeted Elena with a hug, followed by Bernadette.
"Jules, you know that I more than anyone I love to visit you, but I'm worried about your father..."
"Yes, Amadeus told me everything"
"Talk to him Jules! Convince him to go back to Station Square, you and I both know he'd be safer there!"
"I will do everything I can," Jules said as he walked toward Maurice's room.
Bernadette walked up to Elena and smiled at her, Elena solemnly smiling in return.
"Wow Mr. Prower! I knew Mr. Maurice was a man of his word but this place is more spotless than I imagined!"
"Well Tails and I decided to clean it up a little bit before you arrived, no biggie" Amadeus stated, smiling at Angela's fascination.
Amy looked over towards her mother, pondering about Maurice.
Maurice the Hedgehog has always given them special treatment, they were the only pickers to be lent a small cottage with one room and a little kitchen. Amy always wondered why Maurice was so kind to them, but she was never vocal about it because she did not want to sound ungrateful.
"What's this Amy?" asked Tails, pointing at a little station on the dining table.
"Oh that's my study station, I've always had the dream to continue going to school but I was never able to because of work. But I use these books to study the alphabet and my numbers because I don't want to forget them and I want to finish school one day you know? I don't want to pick chilis for the rest of my life," Amy giggled as Amadeus nodded in approval.
"Well we better get going, I think Mr. Maurice and his wife arrived by now and they may need our services, make yourselves at home," said Amadeus as he and Tails headed out.
"Goodnight to you both," said Angela as they departed.
Once they were gone, Angela got up and headed toward the door.
"Where are you going mom?"
"To take a little walk in between the chili plants, you know how much I love to do that"
Amy nodded as her mother departed and Amy took out her alphabet book, excited to begin reading complex sentences.
"Are Angela and her daughter settled in their cottage?" Maurice asked Rosemary as she set up his bed for him.
He was sitting in a chair, looking out the window through the balcony, enjoying the bright stars twinkling in the sky.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, Tails and Amadeus are coming back from helping them settle in right now"
"Good, good," Maurice said as he coughed.
Jules then walked in and Rosemary took it as a cue to leave.
When the door closed Jules walked toward Maurice, concern written all over his face.
"I'm not going to Station Square"
"But dad," Jules said as he kneeled by his Maurice.
"You heard me son. I know your mother wants you to talk me out of staying, but as I told her, if I'm going to die, I want to die in these Grounds, not in some cookie cutter hospital!" Jules exclaimed as he stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"That is none of your concern," Maurice stated as he looked towards the chili pepper farm.
I need to see you one last time Angela...
"Dad! You are not in the condition to be walking around!"
"You mind your own..." suddenly Maurice lost his breathe and fell to the floor.
"Father!" Jules exclaimed as he grabbed Maurice.
"I'm fine. *cough* Don't tell your mother, you'll only worry her more," Maurice stated as Jules placed him on his bed.
"Okay I won't. BUT ONLY if you promise you will not go out right now and if you promise you'll head right back to Station Square tomorrow"
"Yes yes I promise now leave me alone"
Jules frowned but felt relieved with Maurice agreeing to go back to Station Square, and with that, left his room.
Maurice looked toward the balcony and frowned.
I'm sorry Angela, but I need to see you... one last time...
And with that, he fell into deep slumber.
The Next Morning
Maurice was up and intently watching the pickers do their job, admiring the hard work they put into something he created.
Rosy the Rascal, do not cry, anymore
Rosy the Rascal, please dry off those tears
Please, Rosy the Rascal, keep your head up
Keep your head up, maybe tomorrow, your luck will change
"Is that same girl from every year singing again!?" Elena exclaimed as she walked into their room with Maurice's breakfast.
"Let her, she's not harming anyone, in fact, she is lighting up everyone's hearts with her singing"
"She better be lighting up yours because as you and I both well know, you are not doing well, and we are leaving for Station Square tonight!"
"Woman! How many times do I have to te..." Maurice suddenly lost his breathe and collapsed on the floor.
"Oh no... MAURICE!" Elena quickly got up and called out the door.
"JULES! COME QUICKLY! YOUR FATHER!"
"Jules quickly came into the room and asked his father if he was okay.
"BERNADETTE! CALL A DOCTOR!" Jules yelled.
"No..." said Maurice.
Jules looked down at him, puzzled about his objection.
"Call the priest..."
Mobotropolis
Charles the Hedgehog filed his last set of documents into his file cabinet, ready to meet with the foreign chili marketers.
"Honey the phone is ringing," his wife Cocoa said as she walked in, her black and red striped quills cut to her shoulders.
"Hello?" Charles asked as he looked through his files.
"What's wrong mother?" Charles asked, Cocoa immediately taking her red eyes off her magazine to look up at him.
"We'll be on the next flight!" Charles said as he ran into his room to get his suitcase.
"What's wrong?" Cocoa asked.
"My father is very ill, my mom doesn't think he's going to make it, call our son!"
"Shadow? He's in England he could be sleeping," Cocoa said as Charles froze and glared at her.
"Alright I'm on the phone," Cocoa said as she grabbed her cellphone.
France
Manic the Hedgehog stared into his now completed painting, admiring the qualities until he felt his phone ring.
"Wassup, wassup this is Manic the Hedgehog how may I help you?"
Manic's smile suddenly dropped as he grabbed his stuff and started packing.
"I'll be on the next flight mom! I'll be right there!" Manic said as he ran out of the studio.
England
"You did all this for me?" Sonia the Hedgehog asked as her boyfriend Knuckles smiled.
"Yep, what do you think?" Knuckles said as he motioned to the table full of delicious food.
"It's..." suddenly Sonia heard her phone ring.
"Hello? Mom what's wrong why are you crying?"
Knuckles curiously looked at Sonia as her face expression turned solemn.
"I'll be right there and don't worry about Sonic I'll tell him!" Sonia said as she hung up.
"What happened?"
"My grandfather is dying... I... I have to take the next flight to Green Hill Zone now!"
"I can come with you!"
"No! I mean... no Knuckles... it's not the most convenient time..." Sonia said as she grabbed the phone and started dialing for Sonic's number.
Knuckles frowned as she did so, wishing he could offer his comfort.
Sonic the Hedgehog cringed as he heard yet another moan coming from Shadow's room.
Remind me why I decided to room with Shadow again?
Shadow had found two dates for him and Sonic to spend the night with, obviously trying to finally hook Sonic up with some girl.
You see, Sonic had a bit of a problem...
No matter how much he tried, he simply couldn't be sexually attracted to a woman.
No with all due respect he wasn't gay.
He finds women attractive but he just can't have sex with them.
He feels disgust when even thinking about it, why consume your love with someone whom you hardly know and are not in love with?
So long story short, Marissa (was that even her name?) slapped Sonic cold across the face and left, disappointed at not getting what she wanted.
Shadow and his one night stand of the day then stumbled onto the living room, still making out.
Shadow stopped kissing her and turned towards Sonic, who was staring at him with a straight face.
"Let me guess... Mayra didn't work out either"
So that was her name...
Sonic's silence was enough of an answer for Shadow to face palm.
"Sonic the Hedgehog. A bachelor on the verge of getting his doctorate in agricultural science, is currently 22 years old, and is STILL a virgin," Shadow busted out laughing as Sonic blushed and turned to the side.
"For your information there is nothing wrong with being a virgin at twenty-two!"
Shadow rolled his eyes as he continued kissing his bimbo as Sonic liked to call them.
Suddenly both Sonic's and Shadow's phones rang, Sonic took his phone and answered it and turned to Shadow, who was still busy with his bimbo.
Sonic shook his head in disapproval as he answered his phone.
"Hello? Sonia... Wait what? I can't tell what you're saying why are you crying?"
That caused Shadow to pause and turn towards Sonic.
"Wait! Grandpa what?!" Sonic exclaimed. "Shadow and I will meet you at the airport," Sonic said as he ended the call and looked at Shadow.
"What happened this time?"
"Our grandfather... he got ill... seems like the old man's not gonna make it..."
Man this was pretty long!
Well I hoped you liked the first chapter of Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog!
Shadow: Why am I such a slut?
THAT'S HOW IT IS IN THE NOVELA OKAY!?
Shadow: I should forbid you from watching those things
You should. Anyway, review!