I felt motivated, and I have had this idea in my head for a while now. I hope you enjoy!
Note: If this sounds a little bit like The Hunger Games, I was slightly influenced by the series. :)
~Chapter One~
Emerald irises fluttered open as rays of sunshine shone through the bedroom window. Sonic yawned sleepily as he stretched out on his twin-sized bed. He looked up as his brother, Manic, walked in.
"So, you ready for tonight, bro?" Manic asked, staring intently at Sonic.
"No one's ever ready for this," Sonic replied, "but they have to deal with it."
Twice a year, sixteen Mobians are chosen to participate in the Spring/Fall Dream Games. Originally, it didn't matter your age, sex, or species; every civilian in Mobius was automatically entered in the drafting from birth. However, after numerous complaints, the government eventually raised the entry age to five and up.
Manic took a seat next to Sonic and sighed. "I just hope we aren't picked for the game. We managed to stay out of it for fifteen years already."
Sonic smiled. "Don't tempt fate, Manic." His smile faded. "Mother would be devastated if we were picked…"
Manic noted his brother's worry, and placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt of comfort. "Let's go down to the square. I'm sure mother has a shopping list made up. That'll at least get your mind off things for a while."
~Dream Games~
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea, after all…" Manic mumbled.
Every Mobian was dressed in dark clothes, standing around idly, wearing somber expressions on their features. They looked defeated and zombie-like, like they all were already selected for the game.
"Do you think we should just head back?" Sonic asked. He looked around, taking notice of all the 'closed' signs in the shop windows. "It doesn't look like anything's open."
Manic stopped and nodded. "You're right…" He stared at the other Mobians for a minute before sighing. "I know they're worried about being selected. I'm worried, too. But, they're acting like they're at a funeral or something."
"Well, only one person comes back after the games," Sonic said. "No one knows what happens to the rest of them… maybe they are dead."
Manic shook his head. "Let's head back. All this gloominess is starting to get to me…"
~Dream Games~
Sonic sat quietly on his bed, staring at the floor in thought. He jumped when he heard a knock at his door. He glanced up to see Manic and Sonia standing in the doorway.
"The government's going to announce the Dream Game participants in a few minutes," Manic said. Sonic could tell from Manic's tone of voice that he was slightly upset… and fearful.
Sonic stood and followed his siblings out to the living room where their mother was seated on the couch, watching the T.V screen, a worried expression on her face. Sonic sat down next to her, and took her hand and held it tightly. Aleena looked at Sonic and smiled. Manic and Sonia sat down on the opposite side of their mother.
"Did they call out any names yet?" Manic asked.
"No," Aleena replied, "but they said they would start in just a few minutes."
"Good evening, everyone!"
The four hedgehogs looked at the television screen. A grey and black hedgehog stood on the stage, adorned in a sparkling white dress. She stood next to a weird looking machine.
"The selections will now be picked!" she exclaimed, beaming as she hit a button on the contraption.
The machine made a whirring sound then spit out a piece of blue colored paper.
Sonic looked at Manic "What does the blue paper mean?"
Manic shrugged. "No idea."
The two returned their attention back to the hedgehog, who was currently unfolding the paper.
"Our first player is… Miles Prower!"
"No!" Sonic exclaimed. "They can't put him in! He's too young, and he doesn't know how to fight that well!"
Aleena pulled Sonic into her, trying to calm him down. "He can make it. He's smart. He knows how to make gadgets out of almost anything. He'll be fine."
The machine spit out a piece of pink paper this time.
"Our next player is Amy Rose!"
The machine kept spewing out paper, and the hedgehog keep rattling off names. Halfway through, another blue piece of paper was produced from the machine.
"Our eighth contestant is Manic the Hedgehog," the hedgehog announced.
Sonic, Sonia, and Aleena gasped. Manic turned pale, and he looked like he was going to faint.
"Sonic," Manic finally whispered.
"Yeah?" Sonic asked, somehow finding his voice.
"I tempted fate."
Sonia suddenly burst into tears. "They can't have you!" she exclaimed, her muzzle red from anger. "I won't let them!"
Aleena wiped away her tears, but remained silent. The four remained silent with the exception of Sonia's occasional sniffling. The rest of the names didn't matter anymore.
Eventually, the female hedgehog got to the last name.
"And our last player is..." She pauses, for some dramatic pause, apparently. "Sonic the Hedgehog!" She grins. "We thank you all for joining us tonight!"
Aleena looked at Sonic "No," she whispered, tears starting to fall down her face. "I can't let them take both of you."
Sonic hugged her, letting the news sink in as a fresh set of tears ran down his sister's face.
"It'll be alright," Sonic whispered, knowing deep down how wrong he was. How bad it was about to become…
End of chapter one! Hope you guys enjoyed it! The next chapter should be longer since we're meeting some of the other characters and we're getting ready to start the game. :)
