Chapter 1 – The Mystery Begins
"Yo Bunnie pass me that wrench will you." cried Tails across the room.
"Sure thing sugah." replied Bunnie.
She picked up a large wrench from beside her and walked across the room. Tails and Bunnie were standing in a large workshop. In the centre of it stood a large craft. Tails rolled out from under it on a small trolley.
"Here ya'll go Tails." said Bunnie handing him the wrench.
"Thanks Bunnie. Be back in a second." said Tails.
He rolled back under the craft and a few seconds later the craft started to humm. Tails rolled out again and stood up. He picked up a rag from a nearby bench and wiped the grease off his head. Bunnie was running her eyes over the craft.
"How's she doing?" she asked.
"Great. Should be ready for the start of the season. It's taken longer than I had hoped but the Whirlwind 2 is almost ready to go!"
He ran his hand over the hull. The Whirlwind 2 was a grav-racer and quite a beauty. Tails had kept her locked away in the workshop since he had started making her. She was about ten meters long and was a hybrid design of the old serpent and swallow designs. She had two large wings sticking downwards out of the body with a large jet engine mounted on the end of each. The engines had a stabiliser fins mounted at 45° sticking upwards. The tails of the craft had two sets of fins, one horizontal and one vertical, sticking out of it. The grav pads and main booster engines ran along the bottom of the craft. Tails smiled.
"I've missed racing you know Bunnie."
"Ah bet you have Tails. Ever since your last racer was destroyed you haven't raced. What's it been? Six years?"
"Yep six years. Where does the time go?"
"Amazing. Well she's nearly ready."
"She sure is. I couldn't have done it without your help Bunnie. Thanks."
"You're welcome sugah." said Bunnie with a smile, "So when is the first race?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait."
Bunnie looked back at the Whirlwind 2. A thought came to mind.
"Say Tails. Where is T2? I haven't seen him for a while."
"He's been living in Knothole. At the moment he's over at mine and Amy's apartment in Mobotropolis. He's helping Amy with the kids."
"Kids? As in plural?"
"Yep. Sonic and Sally are taking a break in Knothole and Amy and T2 volunteered to look after Miles and Alicia."
"They must be having fun."
"Who Sonic and Sally or Amy and T2?"
Bunnie gave a chuckle.
"Maybe both." she said.
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Sonic stretched out on a deckchair. The dapple shade provided by the trees was lovely. Yet another sunny day in Knothole village.
"It never seems to rain here." said Sonic to himself.
Just then Sally walked out of a hut carrying two large glasses of lemonade.
"Sally you read my mind." said Sonic as he sat up.
Sally put the glasses down on a small table and sat down next to him in another chair.
"So sue me." she said.
"I will. After this." said Sonic picking up a glass.
He took a long drink and set the glass down.
"Man I never get tired of Knothole." he said stretching out again.
"Yes it never loses its charm." agreed Sally lying down too.
The village was still as peaceful as ever. Even though it was mainly holiday makers that used it now, the village was always alive with activity. Some people had permanent residences here like T2 but it was mostly holiday makers. At the moment the village was fairly quiet. It was a low time in the season and that is why they had chosen now to come.
"I wonder how the kids are doing?" said Sonic.
"Quit worrying about them." said Sally with an irritated tone.
Sonic just smiled at her and took another sip of his lemonade.
"You know I almost forgot. The first grav race of the season is tomorrow." said Sonic.
"Really? Well Tails should be pleased." replied Sally.
"He should be. He hasn't stopped talking about it for weeks. I'm just glad I've been here the last couple of days."
"Hmm."
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Sonic and Sally." said a voice.
Sonic sat up. Heading towards them were Patrick and Marian. They got closer and both did a little bow.
"Your majesty." said Marian.
"Well hello." said Sonic, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"You forget we have our own little get away place here too." said Marian.
"It's nice to see you again." said Sally sitting up.
"My queen." said Patrick, "We're as surprised as you. We didn't expect to find you here."
"We decided to take a break away from thing. We haven't had one in ages." said Sonic.
"I think you deserve it too. You've done an excellent job so far." said Patrick.
"Thanks." replied Sonic.
"So how are the children?" asked Marian leaning against the veranda railing.
"They're doing fine." replied Sally, "Alicia has taken a very keen interest in the library recently and Miles…….well let's just say he's his usual self."
"Well that's good to hear." said Marian with a smile.
Sonic sighed and lay back in his chair.
"I wonder how T2 is doing with the kids?" he said quietly to himself.
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"But mummy." moaned Lavender.
"Now Lavender you know its bedtime." said Amy sternly.
"But Miles and Alicia aren't going to bed."
"Yes. That's because there older. They can stay up later….but not by much. Now come on."
Lavender looked sad for a moment and then turned and walked into her room. Amy watched her for a moment. Just then she heard T2 calling from the other room.
"I'll be there in a moment Lavender." she said and turned round, "What is it T2?"
"I could use a little help here." came a reply.
"I'm kind of busy with Lavender. Can't you deal with it yourself?"
"Well no. I'm a bit TIED UP at the moment."
"Tied up?" Amy said to herself.
She decided to investigate and walked down the corridor towards the sitting room. She opened the door and almost broke down laughing. T2 was standing in the middle of the room wrapped up in several pieces of rope. Miles and Alicia were running around him holding an end of rope each. T2 saw Amy come in. He smiled awkwardly at her.
"Um…..a little help." he said.
Amy shook her head and giggled to herself. She walked into the room.
"Miles. Alicia. What are you doing?" she asked.
"T2 said he'd play cops and robbers with us." said Alicia.
"We caught him, so were tying him up now." finished Miles.
Amy gave T2 a funny look and rolled her eyes. T2 smiled awkwardly again.
"Ok then. You caught him now untie him before he falls over." said Amy.
"Too late." said T2 suddenly wobbling and falling over backwards.
He landed on a thick rug on the floor with a bang. Miles and Alicia glanced at each other and then ran from the room. Amy helped T2 into a sitting position.
"Oooh my head." moaned T2.
"Oh it's just a bruise. You'll live." said Amy.
"Those kids will be the death of me."
"Maybe. But what better way to go." smiled Amy starting to undo the ropes.
"Yeah well………whatever."
Eventually Amy had untied T2 upper body.
"Can you do the rest? I have to go and see to Lavender."
"Of course. Thanks."
With that Amy stood up and walked out of the room. T2 started to undo the ropes around his legs. A few minutes later he had done so and stood up.
"Oh man. I need a drink." he said to himself.
T2 walked into the kitchen and started to look through the cupboards. He kept shaking his head in frustration.
"The only problem with Tails is that he doesn't keep and liquor in the house." he said to himself closing the final cupboard, "Oh well. Looks like its coffee again."
T2 switch the kettle on and a few minute later exited the kitchen holding a large cup of coffee. He slumped down into a large padded chair and sighed. A few minutes later Amy walked into the room.
"I tell you! That girl gets more awkward at bedtime every night. I had to read her three stories tonight before she'd settle."
"Maybe you should try tying her down?" moaned T2.
Amy put her hands on her hips and stared at him.
"Just kidding." said the fox.
Amy rolled her eyes and then sat down.
"Where are Miles and Alicia?" she asked.
"Oh somewhere around." said T2.
"Well I hope they don't make any big noises." said Amy sternly, "If they wake Lavender they'll be in fo……."
Amy was cut off as a loud boom echoed around the apartment. A loud screamed followed it.
"Why those……ooooh!" cried Amy jumping up, "T2! Go deal with them. I'll see to Lavender."
T2 looked a little nervous as Amy stormed from the room cursing to herself. T2 got up and went to find Miles and Alicia. The children came running out of their room looking a bit nervous.T2 looked at them hard and the children looked at their feet. T2 glanced into their room. Somehow the children had managed to topple the large chest of drawers in their room over.
"Amy isn't going to like this you know." he said looking back at the children, "Not only did you make this mess, you also woke Lavender. Amy is not happy."
"We're sorry." said Alicia quietly.
"Well you better get this mess cleaned up. I'll give you a hand." said T2.
The three of them entered the room.
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Night was starting to fall on Mobotropolis. The city lights had lit up and filled the city with a soft yellow glow. A figure slowly sat down on a small hill crest to the east of the city. The figure took out a small lamp from a backpack and lit it. A bright white glow erupted from lamp filling the area with light. The figure features became apparent in the light. She was a grey wolf. She wore a pair of green ankle length trousers and a blue one strapped top. A golden amulet hung round her neck. Her expression was soft and she smiled as she stared out over the city.
"Mobotropolis." she said with a strong Russian accent, "I knew one day I would come here."
She sighed and looked at the city for a few more moments. Slowly she packed the light away in her rucksack and stood up. She turned away from the city and took a small path that led down the hill.
