The stone path was cracked and overgrown with shrubbery, showing signs of many years of misuse and neglect. A young hedgehog walked upon the stones, completely lost in thought, and a bow in his right hand. He had heard rumors of a powerful magic hidden within the dark Mercian forest from the village folk and for years had dismissed such rubbish. But tonight he was starting to believe.

The small light in the lantern he wore around his neck barely illuminated the path ahead of him as he ventured forward into the forest, though he was thankful for the light.

He saw the trees were thick enough to block out the moonlight above him from entering, and the color of their leaves were reminiscent of ashes. The air was filled with the smell of burnt wood which made the hedgehog cough every now and then. The grass around him was yellow and dead. Silence was the only sound to accompany the archer in the darkness besides the crunching sound of gravel underfoot.

The air grew thicker around the hedgehog as he descended deeper into the forest, suffocating him. Dense fog covered the forest floor, and the trees curved towards the path. Their scrawny limbs reaching for the archer.

The night was cold. Only the sound of rushing water from the river came to the archer's sensitive ears. His vibrant green eyes were a tint of gold as they reflected in the orange light of the lantern. His face was hidden in the shadow of his hood even with the light shining on his face. The fur on his ears were a shade of olive green and the fur on his legs were a very dark green just like the needles of the Douglas Firs around him.

Suddenly, he came to a clearing, and from ten yards away, a house stood before him. Outside, the house's roof was green with moss and caved in at one part. The windows were dark and grey with dirt as ivy clung to the outer walls. Around it was undergrowth as if the house had sprung up from the very earth itself.

The hedgehog approached the house with caution, his bow loaded and his arrow ready to be fired. He ran his forefingers along the edges of the golden red feathers on the end of his arrow.

"Hello?" He called towards the house. "Anyone home?"

The front door of the house creaked open and out of the darkness emerged a male hedgehog. He was fairly handsome but not quite the archer's type. His quills were reminiscent of a spider plant and on his bare chest was a red vest left open. His green fur reflected in the light of the archer hedgehog's lantern. The male with the vest's golden eyes met with the bright green eyes of the archer.

"Yo." He said with a smile, "My name is Manic. What is your name?"

The archer smiled and lowered his bow. "I am Hazen the Hedge'. Former King of Mercia." He said.

Manic looked Hazen from head to toe. He especially liked the way he talked with his old English accent. Hazen looked at him and Manic was hypnotized by the greenish glow of his eyes. Though, his eyes were unusual and where the whites would be were instead replaced with black. Then again, the majority of Hazen's face was hidden in the shadow of his dirty and tattered black hood with it tarnished silver lining.

"I've never met a king before," Manic said, a faint trace of pink on his muzzle, " well not one as charming as yourself. I could give you a tour of my property if you would like. Not much to look at really but it is quite peaceful out here."

"I would like that very much." Addressed the king.

The little green hedgehog lead the archer inside the house, his very stubby tail wagging.

There were three streaks of black across the walls as mold from the damp nights began to seep in. Flaking speckles of paint lined the floor with dust and the bodies of mice. The neglected wood furniture was rotting and stained with linchen while the curtains hung limp and moth eaten. The place was still and creaked occasionally.

"Well this is it," said Manic. "What do you think?"

"I was expecting a bit...more" replied Hazen.

"To be honest I wouldn't be living here if I wasn't in trouble with the law. I'm a prince. Well. Used to be prince. Now I'm just a thief and a begger."

"I don't do this so often but...how would you like to stay with me in Moebius? I'm sure Scourge wouldn't mind it."

Manic stopped to ponder at the larger male's offer. Finally, he nodded. "Sure, dude."

Suddenly, there was a loud crack and the sound of baying bloodhounds carried through out the forest along with the roaring of something mechanical.

"Oh no!" Cried Manic, "He's here!"

The tree trunks snapped and parted as if it were the Red Sea itself and made such a ruckus as they did; kicking up dirt as their large masses collided with the forest floor. In the distance two beeming eyes stared at the two hedgehogs and seemed to be getting bigger and brighter.

Hazen then noticed that these things were not the eyes of some beast but search lights as the hounds emerged followed by their owner. A blue hedgehog in a red and yellow uniform. The patches on his uniform immidiately gave him away as being a cop. Zonic the Zone Cop.

"Put your hands where I can see them! Now!" Demanded Zonic.

Manic did as he was told without hesitation. "Sheesh, Bro. What's got your panties in a bunch?" He mumbled.

"Manic. Run."

"What?" Manic turned to look at Hazen. The king had a smirk on his face.

"Trust me. Just go."

"Dude! He's got a gun!" Manic whispered sharply then eyed the gun resting in the holster at Zonic's belt. The Zone Cop glared at the two, not being able to make out what they were saying to each other.

"I know he has a gun," replied Hazen, "but don't worry. I'll distract him. Go. Leave. Head towards Mercia. You'll be safe there."

"O-Okay, dude. If ya say so..." Manic took a step back, not keeping his eyes off Zonic. The hounds growled at the thief's movement but he didn't care.

"See ya!" The little hedgehog lowered his arms and took off in the opposite direction of the cop and his pets.

"Dammit! After him!" Upon Zonic's order, the bloodhounds chased after the fleeing fugitive, their eyes glowing red with blood lust.

As Zonic kicked his hover bike into drive, he heard a Thunk! And the vehical vibrated. And a synthetic female voice spoke from the holographic dashboard. "All systems failing. Vehical 46 shutting down."

"Son of a bitch!" The Zone Cop muttered under his breath as the forest went dark once again. The only source of light was Hazen's lantern. Even in the dim light, Zonic could make out the shape of an arrow sticking out of the front of his bike.

"I do believe you and I have unfinished business to discuss...Zonic the Zone Cop..."