Tloj: Welcome back! This is the sequel to my fic One Kind of Hero. If you haven't read that, then this won't make much sense. That being said, it's good to be back writing this, and welcome back Hero. :) Enjoy!
A blue blur about right years old dashes through green hills, and into the jungle. Sonic's adoptive son Scourge bounces between trees like a bullet, headed for...
He leaps a wall like an Olympic runner, and rolls to a stop inside the Amazon Tribe of the Echidnas. He dusts off his jacket, and starts walking for the palace.
"Hiya!" A white blur tackles him. Gabe laughs, "I gotcha!"
"You think so?" Scourge grabs Gabriel the hedgehog, and the two of them immediately go into a tussle.
"Oy! You two are fighting on sacred ground!" Julie-Su smiles gently, watching them.
Scourge pushes a foot against Gabe's face to hold him at bay, "Yeah Gabe, get off the sacred ground!"
"I'm the prince here, not you!" Gabe sweeps Scourge's other leg, taking him to the ground and pinning him there with a fist buried in his neck, smirking.
Scourge chokes for a second, and then kicks him off with both feet to the gut. He stands, coughing, "Son of *cough* a bitch..."
A bullet barely misses his foot. "Watch your language. Gabe's only five." Julie-Su growls, her gun smoking.
"Oh cry me a river," he grumbles. "He tried to kill me! Hey, what are you even doing here? Isn't your clan of dykes in the desert?"
She barely misses his foot again. "If you thought he was going to kill you, you should be training harder, young man. Don't forget I am a wife of the Guardian, I go where he goes. And if you don't stop using your potty mouth, I'll have your parents come down for a discussion."
"Oh yadda yadda yadda," Scourge says as he folds his hands behind his head. "No one scares me, and pops can't ground me. Trust me, he's tried."
"Okay, what if I bring Hero down from his job and tell him you're playing smart with his family? He could ban you from coming down and playing with Gabe and his siblings."
"Please, like he could-"
*BONK!*
"OW!" Scourge rubs the sore spot on his head where a rock the size of a softball bounced off of it. "WHO THREW THAT?!"
Suiting in a tree is a five year old black hedgehog with dark green highlights in his quills. His eyes are Ruby red, and he has a messy tangle of quills on his forehead. He pets a toy stuffed animal, a colorful fish, as he waves to them.
"Oh look, it's your dark brother." Julie-Su smirks with a giggle as Gabe laughs his head off.
Scourge grumbles, "Hey Wrath, where's your mommies at?"
Wrath shrugs, and slides off the branch, slowly floating softly to the ground as he hugs his fish.
"I'll go get Safeguard. Play nice, you're on sacred ground." Julie-Su warns, turning and walking into the castle.
"Sacred my ass," Scourge mutters as soon as she's out of earshot. "It's dirt for crying out loud..."
Wrath hops up on top of a large rock, and waves to Gabe.
"Hi Wrath! Learned how to talk yet?" Gabe smiles.
Wrath reaches a hand for Gabe, and crooks a finger at him.
Gabe walks over happily.
Wrath touches his forehead, and a voice echoes in Gabe's head.
I talks this way!
"I know, but what if you need to yell at someone across the room for ice cream?" Gabe giggles.
Wrath waves a hand, and another rock knocks against Scourge's head.
"OW! Alright you little..."
Gabe's fur turns black, and he turns to Scourge. "Watch it Scourge, we outnumber you two to one." He smirks, sparking Chaos energy in his hand.
"So. Fucking. What?" He cracks his knuckles.
Wrath cuddles his fish protectively.
Scourge opens his arms in a classic "Come at me Bro." He chuckles, "What? Can't stand up for yourself without the sparky fingers?"
Suddenly, Scourge is hoisted into the air. Knuckles stares at him. "No more fighting."
Scourge looks at him blandly, "Coming from you? That's rich, that's all you ever do."
Knuckles flicks his nose. "Unlike Sonic, I have no qualms showing you to respect your elders." He walks to the brick road and drops Scourge there. "You can fight here."
Scourge cracks his neck, "Thanks."
Wrath trots over to Knuckles, and raises one hand up to him.
Knuckles drops to a knee. "What is it?"
Wrath stretches up on his toes, and uses the arm not holding his fish to hug Knuckles around the neck, and purrs.
He chuckles. "Gabe, switch back. You know you only have five minutes in that form."
Gabe pouts and switches back to normal. "Fine..."
Scourge blinks, "Wait, if Wrath is here then that means... Oh crap!"
Suddenly Luna appears behind him, putting Scourge in a headlock, and giving him a noogie, "Hey tough guy!"
"DAMMIT! GET OFF ME WOMAN!" He struggles to get free.
Wrath taps Knuckle's face. Hungry.
Knuckles laughs. "Okay, we'll feed you. Hey Luna, be sure to give Scourge extra love for me."
Gabe giggles and toddles inside the castle, Knuckles leading Wrath inside.
Scourge finally dislodges himself, and follows after them, "I think I'm seeing where Wrath got his eternal bedhead from..."
Wrath touches the quills on his forehead, and whines.
"Shut up, Scourge." Gabe rolls his eyes.
Julie-Su comes down with a white echidna with maroon highlights, about four years in age. She sets him down. "Now play nice, kids."
Safeguard looks at Scourge suspiciously before turning to Wrath. "Hi Wrath!"
Wrath waves, and walks over with a hug.
"Oh gag me," Scourge mutters, and pokes Wrath in the cheek. Wrath gives him a dirty look that clearly says "Touch me again, and it's MINE."
Scourge smirks, "Oh who's a tough guy all of a sudden-KYAAAAAAAA!" The sudden Scream is caused by Wrath pressing a hand into Scourge's chest, and firing green electricity into him until he drops on the ground, twitching like a bug.
Gabe laughs. "Good job, Wrath!"
Wrath smiles smugly, and snuggles his fish.
Lien-Da peeks in from the kitchen. "Oh dear... it's babysit day again?"
"Yep. I think it came too fast too." Knuckles nods with a smile.
Shade comes around the corner beside Lien-Da, "Is everyone playing nice?"
"Everyone but Scourge." Julie-Su looks at him with a dirty look.
"Typical," Shade says with a sigh. "And we high had hopes for him."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Scourge sits up.
"It means you're a spoiled punk that needs stricter teaching from his parents if he hopes to take his dad's role as a hero in the future." Knuckles gives him a pointed look.
"Oh don't preach at me," Scourge crosses his arms. "Every one of you has some special power to handicap on, even the ever-so-mighty Guardian has his Thunder Arrows. What do I got? Speed, and I'm not even grown-up enough to even CONSIDER filling Pops' shoes."
"All he has is speed as well." Lien-Da reminds him. "And if you grow up to be like Shadow, how do you think your dad would feel?"
"I think he'd be pretty damn proud, because look at what Shadow's done!"
He starts walking off, "People don't give a damn who saves the world so long as it gets saved, so get off my back."
"They DO care. Otherwise, this world would be conquered by some villain that claims to be a savior." Hero walks in, wearing navy blue armor similar to Shade's, but he has golden shoulderpads and a red cape. His helmet goes down, and he brushes his hair with a sigh.
Scourge stops, "Yeah? Well that worked until he died, didn't it? Maybe that's the right idea."
"It isn't, kid. What's to stop that 'savior' from killing children like you for being to disobedient to rules?" Hero says wearily, making a point even as he sits down, tired.
"He doesn't have to be evil," Scourge sighs. "How do we know what good, and evil really are anyways?"
"When you become one or the other, you'll know." Hero closes his eyes as Gabe and Safeguard walk up and hug him.
Scourge stares at him, "Did you take fluent Cryptic classes in highschool or something?"
"Leaned it from my adoptive mom, actually." Hero smiles gently.
Shade kisses him, and bends down to stroke a hand over Safeguard's head fondly.
Safeguard purrs happily as Hero kisses her back. "How's Sarah?" He smiles gently.
"Caring for your daughters," Shade replies, picking up her son. "Having fun Safeguard?"
"Yup!" Safeguard giggles.
Hero hugs his kids before letting them go. "Daddy needs a nap, he'll be back later, okay?"
"Okay!" Gabe and Safeguard say happily, going over to Wrath.
Hero tiredly stands and yawns, walking to the stairs.
Shade follows her husband, and rubs the small of his back. "Are you alright?"
"Just a bunch of pompous-ass gangs that think that their toys and big guys stand a chance against this small hedgie." He sighs, leaning into her. "I swear, how does Antonio do this every night?"
She kisses his cheek, "You're not Antonio, You don't have to be out there with him all the time. You can just use the Chaos Powers you copied to get to him if he needs you."
"Yeah, but it helps me better myself. Sitting here being king doesn't help my training. I'm just glad Knuckles, Mom, and Julie-Su step in when I'm absent." I say. "I can't believe it's been five years already... Geez, I feel old."
She turns him, and looks him in the eye, "You are a Hero, nothing will ever change that. But as our children grow, our time to protect this world will fade. If you want to do the best you can for future generations then focus on the future. Gabriel, and Safeguard are well on their way."
He smiles gently and kisses her. "I'm so glad I married you..." They walk into the bedroom, and Hero takes off his shoulderpads and cape off with a click, letting them fall off. He sighs happily and rotates his shoulders.
Shade rubs them soothingly as she guides him to the bed. "I hear Cinder will be joining us here within a few hours." She chuckles, "Hard to believe her clan was disgraced, now the commonfolk are rumoring her The Divine Bride."
"Amazing how things can change in a short period of time." He smiles and unzips his uniform, sighing as he takes it off. His fur is wet with sweat, and he wipes off his brow again.
Shade rubs her hands up his chest, and leans into him with a purr.
He smiles back and kisses her, laying on the bed and pulling her onto him.
She chuckles, and brushes her hair out of her face, "I thought you were tired."
"Yeah, but I've been out for five days. I need some love and attention from my wives." He purrs and kisses her.
She accepts his kisses lovingly, and rubs his chest, "I would go ask for Sarah, but she is feeding our daughter."
"It's okay, she'll be free later." He smiles with a purr.
*SCOURGE'S POV*
I kick a rock angrily before I take off running. Who do they think they are?! I can be a hero, my own kind of hero. Hell, if that glorified cape-wearing pimp back there can be called a hero while working with criminals then so can I!
I bolt back up the continent towards my home in Green Hill, but I don't go home. I like to chill out on the hills when I want to be alone. Finding a nice soft patch of grass I can pass out for hours at a time... unless someone walks by with a chilidog.
"Man, what's your beef?" Gabe tilts his head, keeping pace with me, his currently midnight black fur making him like a shadow next to me.
"Those holier-than-thou CREEPS back there," I reply.
"Maybe because they're adults, so they know better?" Gabe states easily.
I stop on top of a hill, and say, "Oh yeah? So what? My mom says no matter how long you've been alive you can still be WRONG! The whole reason I run like this is to figure this stuff out for myself. Go home so you can get coddled, but I'M gonna be a hero."
He shrugs. "Fine. But if you die, it's not my problem." He turns and shoots back.
"Hmph, loser," Scourge says bitterly, and takes a seat on the hill.
The calm sound of the wind carries a few noises, like metal working, off in the distance.
Scourge narrows his eyes, and stands, bolts towards the noise.
An abandoned factory, just in between Green Hill and Blue Ridge Zones, is seen in the distance.
The metal working sounds slowly fade away.
I frown, what is this? I cross my arms, and tilt my head in confusion.
Something moves from within the factory, blurred by the windows. This factory wasn't completely abandoned...
I smile, and take off for it. This kind of approach usually works for dad so I decide to give it a try.
The shape disappears deeper into the factory, into one of the larger buildings.
I run up the wall, and hang in the window frame, peeking inside.
The factory is quiet, no one has been in here for years. I know that isn't possible, as there was someone here.
I kick in the window, and jump over the broken glass. I put my hands on my hips as I look around.
"...Why'd he have to say that…?" I hear soft sobbing echoing off the walls.
I tilt my head, moving quickly through the factory towards the sound of the voice.
The sobbing becomes louder, starting to sound like one of those horror games.
I'm a little creeped out, but it's probably just the echo of an old building. I scare people all the time using that trick. I still pick up the pace there, more curious than afraid.,
"Um… who's there?" The girls voice asks fearfully, hearing my footsteps.
"Depends on who's asking," I reply. "I don't see you. Come here often?"
"No... I'm hiding… I don't want to go home right now..." The girl's voice says, still echoing so I couldn't tell anything about her location other than I was getting closer.
"Home huh?" I smile, "I don't spend much time at home, I like the outdoors too much. You?"
"Maybe a little…" She giggles softly, sounding less scared and more relieved, believing I'm not dangerous.
I smile, "Great, so we can be pals! Why not show that pretty face huh? Can't be friends if I don't know how to recognize you..."
"Fine..." She looks around the corner. Cream the Rabbit, now in her early teens.
I skid to a dead stop, and stare, "Oh..."
She giggles and steps out, wiping a tear from her eyes. "Hello! You're Mr. Sonic's kid, aren't you?"
"Uh... Yeah..."
Mom showed me pictures of her from five years ago, never really saw much of her. Otherwise I might of noticed how this 13 year old got freaking HOT!
"So, why are you here?" She tilts her head.
"I... uh..." I clear my throat, "I was out for a run... heard machines, came to have a look... what are YOU doing here?"
Her ears droop, and she looks away. "My boyfriend dumped me, so I came here to clear my head..."
I blink, and take a step closer, "You... uh... you need a hug?"
I cannot believe that came out of my mouth.
She blinks. "Well... sure!" Even though she was older, she couldn't resist a hug.
I open my arms for her, and stand on my toes. I feel like an idiot, but...
She smiles and quickly wraps her arms around me, hugging my head to her developing chest tight. "It's been so long since I've had a hug..." She smiles.
I blink, and close my eyes. "It'll be okay... there's lots of guys, no use tearing yourself up over one asshole..."
"Thanks... what's your name?" She looks at me.
"Uh... Scourge... At least that's what my friends call me," I say, looking up at her.
"Thank you then, Scourge." She giggles. She then blinks. "Wait a second... you heard machines? There's nothing here."
I frown, "Seriously? How long have you been here?" I'm trying to ignore the fact my head is close enough to hear her heart.
"About two hours..." She frowns. "I've been sitting her for two hours."
Scourge frowns, and takes her hand, "We better get out of here."
Suddenly, the loud creak of a rusty door swinging open is heard.
Cream squeaks, and hugs me again fearfully.
I blush a bit, and pat her arm, "Hey, it's cool, you're with me the next big hero of Mobius."
Loud breathing is heard ricocheting off the halls, fast footsteps coming closer.
"Wh-who's there?!" Cream whimpers.
I frown, "Wait a minute... that... aw crap..." I droop my ears.
Something rounds the corner... a grotesque creature on all fours that looks like a hedgehog...
Cream screams, horrified.
"HOLY SHIT!"
Before I can even think I scoop Cream up, and RUN! I dash like a blur up the halls, up staircases, and back out the window. I keep my legs going so as soon as we hit the ground we're GONE!
"Oh man Cream, I thought it was just my dad, I'm SO sorry!" I glance over my shoulder to make sure we're not followed.
The creature was watching me from the window, now that I know what the heck it is. It seems to vanish before my eyes, as if it was never there in the first place.
She is visibly in shock, clinging to me as she whimpers.
I stop on a hillside with flowers, and gently set her down. I hadn't realized how tired that had made me since I'm used to my heart beating like that. "Cream? Hey Cream, look at me okay?"
She shudders, on the verge of tears as she hugs me again. "T-thanks for saving me..."
I pat her back, "You're... you're welcome... just don't go near any dark places alone, okay?"
She nods. "We... need to tell this to someone."
"My dad," I agree, and pick her up again. "Hang on tight!" I take off again, headed for home.
*Antonio's POV*
I walk down the sidewalk, whistling as I carry a bag of groceries. "Mm, I can almost taste the Italian dinner Millie's gonna whip up!" I lick my lips.
Suddenly, Scourge tears by, almost making me drop everything.
"Oy! Where's the burglary, sparky?!" I yelp.
He screeches to a stop, and bolts back. I'm a bit surprised to see he's carrying Cream, and wonder if he's been working out.
"Hey, you know where my dad is? It's an emergency!"
"Tell me what it is, and I'll tell you." I say, the Tails Doll part of my brain kicking on.
"There was some great big monster at this abandoned factory. It was all gross, and when we got outside it stopped chasing us."
I frown. "I saw Sonic at the market. He was drooling at new chili dog flavored snack puffs." I lie. Scourge has no idea what he has stumbled upon.
"Thanks," he takes off again with Cream.
I place my groceries in my tail before shooting off into the sky, landing in front of an abandoned hotel. I walk in slowly, recalling that while I was in good graces with Cinder, I'm not sure when was the last time she had been in her dojo.
Lilith looks up, "Ah, Antonio..."
"Hey." I nod. "I need Cinder. Or Smoke. Do you know where either of them are?"
"Smoke is at his club, Sifu is on Angel Island."
"Thanks!" I shoot out and jump into the sky, landing in front of Smoke's club. I walk in, where Seis and Spike are playing strip poker with a bunch of big-breasted women.
Smoke looks up, "Hey Ant, what's up?"
"Scourge and Cream found something you happen to like." I state seriously.
He goes serious, "...It's back?"
I nod. "I made Scourge take longer looking for his dad. Go follow, I'll get Cinder."
"Got it. Sies! To tell June that I'm out on a scotch run!"
"Gotcha. You going with him, Spikey? I'll get these girls nice and naked for you when you come back!" Seis winks.
"There's only one girl for me Sies, you know that," Spike replies. "Only reason I agreed to THIS was for the drinks."
"Oh. Well then, I'll be sure to win you some drinks." He smiles.
Spike sighs, and stands, putting his coat back on as he follows Smoke out the door.
I glance at Seis entertain the giggling girls before rolling my eyes and dashing out. Now I need to find Hero.
On second thought... I still need to see Cinder.
I shoot into the sky and fly towards Angel Island.
I'm on my way onto the island when a sudden gust of wind has me eating dirt.
"Augh... bleh." I spit out the dirt and keep running.
I finally find her by the shrine in meditation. She opens her eyes, and blinks at me, "Oh it's you. My apologies."
"Heh, I've been hit with worse." I smile. I turn serious. "I have some bad news for you."
She waits patiently for me to continue.
"Remember the soulless thingie from Death City?" I ask.
"Crime City," she corrects. "But yes. I take it that the monstrosity has resurfaced?"
"Well... it has, over the last five years. But it died down for the last two, so we thought it was gone. But... it's back." I nod.
She stands, "And you need a way to see it coming, hence you came to me."
"Well... no. Smoke has been tracking it, in hopes of slaying it for you..." I look at the ground, poking my index fingers together.
"Of course, but if you mean to hunt this abomination you will need more than he can provide," she says calmly.
"Yeah! So if you could save his ass, that would be great." I say.
Chaos comes from the forest. "I will come as well."
She raises her eyebrows at her husband, "and then who will take care of the young ones?"
I blink."Young... ones?"
She nods, "Yes Antonio, during my time on this island I conceived twins."
Said twins suddenly tackle me, and I yelp as I go down
"I got his leg!" A cyan echidna with green eyes and highlights the color of Cinder's fur says, his eyes filled with determination.
The other is female, and colored exactly opposite with irises the color of Chaos's eyes.
"Ruin, Flare," Cinder says kindly, but firmly. "He is not an enemy."
"Aw..." Ruin pouts, letting go.
Flare hugs me around the middle, "He's cute!"
"Married," Cinder says, and Flare lets me go with a pout.
I chuckle and pet her head. "Maybe you should drop them off with Knuckles. They don't mind taking care of the kids."
"I noticed he has his hands quite full already," Cinder replies. "I just returned from the Amazon Clan."
I study the two kids before sighing. "Well... me and Millie were gonna have spaghetti and stuff for dinner... I guess we could watch them for a bit..."
Cinder considers, and then smirks, "No, I shall leave them with Knuckles. He could use the training for his eventual fatherhood."
I smile. "Alright, let's go! I'm going there next anyways!"
Cinder nods, "Allow me a moment to change into better clothes, and set the traps." She brushes the dirt of her traditional echidna clothes, and steps around behind the Shrine.
I nod as Chaos corrals the kids together.
"Ready to go on a field trip?" Chaos asks excitedly. It makes me wonder if this will be the first time the two children have stepped foot off the island...
Flare raises her hand, "Will there be cute boys?"
I chuckle. Odds are, yes.
"Yeah, the Hero's kids are there. Two strapping young boys, plus a really handsome boy with a fish." I smile.
She jumps in the air excitedly, "Yay!"
Cinder comes out in her normal fighting clothes, even her mask, "I will never know where she got that kind of attitude about boys..."
"Wow, Mom..." Ruin blinks. "What are you wearing?"
I chuckle. "No use pondering it now, let's go."
Cinder chuckles at her son, "This was my warrior garb in another life. If my first son sees me traditionally dressed I shall never hear the end of it."
Chaos takes the children by the hand as he moves up to me, and I place my hand on him. "Chaos Control!" I call.
Tloj: Antonio's back too! Yay! :D Anyways, pretty introduction heavy I know, but I promise next chapter will be more action-packed! Read and Review, please!