Hover Totality: Dawn

Kaolin gasped softly as she awakened with a jolt, and her eyes scanned the dark bedroom, lit only slightly by the feeble rays of the incipient morning sun. It was just another nightmare, one of many she'd had over the past month. She gradually began to regain placidity, and turned her head to look at her dormant husband, Miles "Tails" Prower.

Two weeks had passed since their marriage. Their wedding day was one of the most memorable days in recent history for both New Knothole and New Mobotropolis, and was the happiest day of Kaolin's life. Many, many people attended, and various gifts were bestowed upon the newlyweds, including a new house and a modest plot of land.

She slowly propped herself up and sat on the side of the bed, and thought for a few moments while listening to Tails slumber away. Those dreams...she couldn't figure out why she was having those dreams. Each one pertained to war - bombings, invasions, massacres. A truly disheartening amount of bloodshed. She wondered if it was her rocky past coming back to haunt her, or if those dreams actually meant something.

Kaolin placed her hands on her forehead for a brief moment before making her way down the stairs and to the kitchen. She wondered what she could do so early in the morning. It wasn't like her to get up at six-thirty without going back to sleep, but she was wide awake. Suddenly, it hit her. She would make waffles! Such joy would it bring Tails to awaken with the smell of fresh waffles in the air, she thought to herself with a giggle. The smiling Kaolin grabbed the waffle iron and a large bowl, gathered the necessary ingredients, and began mixing. It didn't take long for the batter to be mixed, and minutes after she poured a portion of it into the iron, a loud 'thud' was heard from the ceiling. She correctly assumed that Tails had rolled off the bed.

Another minute passed before Tails stumbled his way down the stairs and into the kitchen with a big grin on his face. Kaolin looked over her shoulder and greeted him warmly, "Heya Tails. I guess the waffles got to you a little fas-..." but was cut short when he dipped her over and planted a large kiss on her lips.

"Good morning, Lin. I see you're up early. MAKING WAFFLES," exclaimed Tails enthusiastically.

"YES, I am indeed," she responded, beaming, and giggling slightly. Her eyes widened when the waffle began burning, and she rushed to retrieve it from the iron. Tails quickly goosed her the moment she turned her back, and she jumped with a yip. She rescued the waffle, which was only slightly burned, and placed it on a plate.

"Mmm, extra crispy," teased Tails. With a smirk, he continued with, "Needs some sugar, though," and wrapped his arms around his loving wife.

"Lots of sugar here," replied Kaolin as she gazed deeply into his eyes, and the two kissed passionately.

About a minute later, Tails made his way to the living room, and Kaolin continued making waffles. He stood in front of the TV with a spaced-out mien for a few moments before coming-to and switching it on, spilling multicolored light into the room. He, too, was not used to getting up so early. A news channel presented itself, and a story pertaining to the new socialist leader of a different country was shown. The story was to precede a live speech.

The leader, an elderly, gray-haired Human, had been elected months earlier. He had circular glasses, a large moustache, and sported a general's uniform. The people adored him almost to the point of worship. They had even named schools after him prior to him officially taking office. It wasn't his previous accomplishments which had earned him the seat of leadership, it was the way he talked. He elevated the people with sincere promises of perfection and wealth. He swore to place the nation at the top of the world. Few questioned him when he banned ammunition. Few questioned him when he added new taxes and raised existing ones. No matter what he did, the majority of the people believed in him - obsequious and unfaltering.

Shortly before the story was scheduled to end, a news alert appeared. His speech was beginning earlier than anticipated. The camera zoomed to a decorious podium upon an elegant stage, and from behind a large curtain walked the leader, grinning from ear to ear and waving to his followers. He was greeted with vociferous cheering and roaring applause. Once at the podium, he held up his hands, trying to calm the crowds. When they finally settled down, he began speaking, "My friends...my dear friends, we are on the verge of greatness. Just around the corner is a new era of prosperity and peace. The economy is soaring, crime is dropping, and morale is at an all-time high." In truth, his plans for the economy were sustainable only by very heavy taxation which would have adverse effects in the future, and the claim that crime was falling was an outright lie. Without a means of self defense, the law-abiding citizens were easy prey for criminals who simply smuggled ammunition in from the surrounding nations, and crime had actually gone up two-fold. His magniloquent speech then progressed into warnings of so-called enemies to his glorious cause, "Let us not be led into confusion and disarray by misguided groups such as the Global Firearms Alliance, the Mercia Defense Coalition, the United Cyborg Hegemony, and perhaps the most misguided of them all, the Freedom Fighters."

Tails' and Kaolin's ears perked up at that. Kaolin peeked her head into the room and asked, "Did I just hear what I think I did?"

Tails replied, "Sounds like it," and continued listening intently.

The speech continued for twenty more minutes, and he finished with, "In conclusion, I extend to you an invitation. I invite you, my nationwide family, the blood which sustains this great, great country, to continue working together, because together, our dreams will be made reality." The crowd was in almost uncontrollable elation.

"I just don't understand what they see in him. He's so controlling, and he bashes groups which have proven their worth," commented Kaolin as she nibbled on a waffle.

Tails gave a concerned expression and replied, "Yeah, he's crazy, no doubt about it. There's a bigger problem, though."

"There...is?" inquired Kaolin, puzzled and mildly worried.

Tails switched from the news channel to a club dance music channel, set the remote on a table between the couch and the television, and looked at his wife with a playful grin, "We're due for a dance."

Kaolin smiled brightly, and the two stood up and danced to the energizing music.

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Author's note: This story will probably be a bit shorter than Hover Beside and Hover Beyond; I plan to add three more chapters before beginning the next sequel. Though this story may not be as action-packed as the previous ones, there will be a far larger amount in the sequels. Thank you for reading, and please review!

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Canon Sonic characters and places © Sonic Team, Sega
Kaolin, story, original characters and organizations, etc © NuclearCookout