Chapter 1 - Triopolis
"Tell me, why must you learn the ways of my people?" asked Slypher, a green-spotted yellow linsang. He's the closest father figure to Sonic since the incident of Dr. Robotnik's take on the Triopolis.
"For the good people of Mobius to live without fearing for their lives in the shadow of the evil Dr. Robotnik." Said Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sonic had been training here for most of his youth, mastering his inborn ability to move faster then any normal mortal could accomplish. The one exception was none other then his own mentor, Slypher. At first, it was about controlling his legs, breaking, accelerating and turning while moving at high speed. Only Slypher can catch up which makes the two of them, perfect blurs of speed.
"You are done for today. Go home."
"Thanks teach," Said Sonic, "I'm hungry for some chili dogs."
"Is Mara making them tonight?" asked Slypher.
"You betcha!" Sonic replied, "Wanna race, ace?" He readies his kicks.
Slypher tightens his own running shoes and stomps the ground to make them fit in place. "Sure thing, dude. You're on." The two of them once again went off in a blur.
Several Mobians gathered in a clearing in the Wild Green Forest. The clearing was just on the border of where the trees start to thicken and darken. It has been a scary place even when Mobians lived in the cities as many spooky stories were told about it. It now is the safest place to be since the robot master doesn't suspect Mobians to live here. What's left of the people in Triopolis lived here in the trees bordering the clearing. They lived either on top of the trees or half buried inside the base where the roots don't properly take root. Nobody goes into the thick, dark center of the forest, at least not alone. People were known to get lost in the black wild labyrinth.
Everyone got along and looked out for each other. The exceptions were the three royal brats, last living heirs to the three kingdoms that make up Triopolis. They often bicker and prank one another like siblings.
Sonic and Slypher arrived just in time to see the three of them fighting again. This time the boys picked on the princess. She was seen with patches of mud all over her body.
Slypher confronted the trio, "Ok what did she do to deserve this punishment?" he asked.
"It's her fault!" Said Prince Ross, "She did that flying thing in the trees and chased us around. We just knocked her down with a little mud." He dusts his red fur knocking off some excessive dirt.
"That's not true! I didn't say anything!" yells Princess Airoma.
"Liar! Liar! Liar!" Prince Riff yells back at her.
"That's enough! You kids should be looking out for each other like family! If we all behaved like you three do, we all will be roboticized before you realize you could've been nicer." Scolded Slypher.
"Teach, I'm going to tell Mara that we're back." said Sonic.
Slypher nodded, "Alright, make sure she puts nacho cheese on mine."
Sonic took off in a flash.
Slypher kneels down on their level and speaks, "Why do you guys fight each other when we all have one common enemy outside of this forest?"
"She started it!" Ross yells.
"It doesn't matter who started it." Said Slypher, "What matters is that we need each other. Especially the three of you."
"Alright teacher." Riff sighs. He looked at the ground in shame.
Ross glanced at him in disappointment. "Awww, fine." he said as he turned away to pout.
Airoma says nothing but looks down and away from the boys.
"Alright," Said Slypher, getting back up, "I better not see you fight again. Are we clear? Learn to be a team!"
"Yes sir," The trio said seperately in disappointed tones.
"Those poor kids are fighting again?" asked Mara.
"Yeah they are." Said Sonic, taking a bite of his chili dog. "Were they always like that?"
"Seems forever," She answers, "They didn't get along when the royal courts got together."
"Tails and I never acted like that. We always got along; we're best buddies. Must be a lame-o royal thing." Sonic was now on his second chili dog.
"Where's Slypher?" She asked.
"He's catching up." answered Sonic, "He was giving those royal messes a talking to."
The door to the restaurant opened revealing Slypher, "Yo, Mara how's it going?" He sits down by Sonic and Mara passed him his chili dog.
"Slypher," Said Mara, getting his attention, "You got a letter from the Freedom Fighters."
"Oh," He said, his once bright face turned uneasy, "Let me see it."
Mara hands him the letter.
Slypher tears it open with a claw and reads it. He then stands up with a determined face. "Mara, take care of Sonic, I got to go."
"Yo, teach! What happened? Where're you going?" Sonic frantically asks.
"I'm sorry Sonic, it's duty calls." He says.
"Can I be a Freedom Fighter too and go with you?" asked Sonic.
"Tell you what, you stay here and protect this place from the badniks and when I get back and nothing goes wrong here, I'll personally make you an honorary Freedom Fighter. How's that?" Said Slypher.
"But I want to go with teach! I want to fight Robotnik!" Said Sonic.
"I need someone here Sonic to protect these people. You're the only one I can count on to do that!"
Every inch of being in Sonic was ready to jump into action, but his conscious holds him back. It's true, these people lack a hero if they are both gone, but he wanted to fight. He sighs in sadness but swallows the disappointment and tries to put on the same determined face. "Alright, I'll stay and protect them."
"Thanks, buddy, I know I can count on you." Said Slypher and he took off so fast as if the door opened itself.
Sonic sat to his empty plate.
Mara takes his plate, "Do you want any more chili dogs dear?"
"Maybe later, Mar."