Mother(All Rights Reserved)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sonic characters or Sonic X, they are all owned by SEGA.
Don't you just love early releases? I know I do!
To my spite, and love, the same.
Prologue
Imprisoned, forgotten, destitute of feeling and friendship. Mayhap I deserve it. I came, I repented, and I failed. I failed my home, my people, and most of all, I failed you, Mother. For you are his Love, and will bring about Hate through him. Although, it is done. Let it not be in vain, I will send someone to protect her. And she will destroy the world.
I was killed in vain, this much is true. My death gave little meaning to the world, but that does not mean yours will too. My name is Mammoth Mogul, and this is certainly not my story.
The once beautiful, magnificent, and prepossessing Beacon was made a ruinous wasteland. The Beacon of Reality and its precious gemstone that was the political sect: The Pantheon was no more. Once, it would have been the cornerstone of human, animal, and any other beings' peak of evolution. But to see it in the state of agitation and incredulity was humanizing, or even animalizing. Instead of being god-like it was reduced to rubble and debris. The once great blue pillars of the holy temple were now ash. Toppled over with great ease by a being known better as the Fallen One. Sargeras the Fallen Titan had lead the raid and killed more than half of the exalted beings. Why the once great Sargeras, son of Aman'Thul, the High Father, would ever stoop down to a level so abominable and foul was a mystery. But what he did, and who he killed was done. He was gone, and the Precursor Noma was dead, killed by the one they knew as Eleos.
The Pantheon had been infiltrated by the agents of the Old God. That was sure enough, but what would they have gained from killing Noma? That was a mystery Aman'Thul would take to his death. His son Aggramar was dead, killed by his own brother. His heart wrapped greatly with grief and sorrow. His mother Eonar wept salty tears, great rain covered the realities. The three brothers of the High Mother and Father, Norgannon, Khaz'Goroth, and Golganneth gathered the remaining beings to hold the last conference of reality. They spoke in silent prayer.
In the outskirts of the city were Soferia, a giant mammoth, Amel a formidable human, and the Inventor, a rabbit clothed and covered from top to bottom in a cloak.
"How can we trust anything you tell us?" Soferia asked impatiently.
"You can't, but I've come to finish my mission. I was hunting the creatures Himerope and Mephiles, one you call Lagneia." The rabbit spoke, trying her best to diffuse any confusion or rage the mammoth had for her.
"Perhaps she is the Inventor, let us at least hear her out." Amel tried to dissuade Soferia from doing anything rash.
"Better yet, let us take her to the High Father, he will judge her accordingly." Soferia brought the Idea to light and Amel agreed.
"Here they are now." Norgannon, a platinum being (brother of Aman'Thul) with a blue shield attached to his arm spoke. He had silver pauldrons on his shoulders and a robe and long beard, but not as long as the High Father's. His eyes shone with blue intensity.
What beings were left alive surrounded the High Father, Soferia, Amel and a stranger with long rabbit ears. Her face was soft but stern, she seemed more experienced than most. By her belt dangled a long sword no one there recognized. Her cloak was as black as the space that surrounded the Beacon.
"High Father, we have brought you this girl. She claims to be the Inventor." Soferia's voice was harsh, it was not like him to be so.
"I'm not just some girl! I am the Inventor." The tall rabbit pushed aside Soferia's arm, and she barged through to the High Father. "I'm here to help. I killed Himerope, the one you call Lagneia."
When the rabbit stated her claim there were gasps and chuckles in the audience.
"How do you know of the Inventor?" The High Father asked.
"I was told. I know of the machine- I was the one that built it. Or rather, finished it." The rabbit stood her ground, unfearful, and unrelenting.
"We fear it is not yet finished. Who told you?" The High Mother asked, still out of breath from the battle.
"I know, that is why I am hunting them. And, you all did, you speak of your Augury quite blatantly." The rabbit stated openly.
"Can we really trust her?" Soferia asked the High Father, "Do you trust her?"
"You are fools. You are fools to be so trusting." The rabbit had her mind made up, left the circle to scan for any remaining demons.
"It isn't a question of whether you trust her. We have no choice but to leave, it is not safe here. And she is right, we were compromised from the start of the Emergence." Golganneth, a younger brother of Aman'Thul, a being with a metal helm, with lightning blue eyes, spoke out in agreement. This brother had a chain staff with a giant blue pearl at the headpiece.
The golden brother of Aman'Thul spoke next, "Let us prepare, we leave for the Beacon of Hope." He carried a hammer with him. His eyes and skin burned red with fire. His name was Khaz'Goroth.
Amel had no possessions, but he neared the rabbit who claimed she was the Inventor. He closed his eyes and imagined his counterpart Majordomos. He thought, where are you? But there was no response this time from either Anub'Rakish, or Xan'thil. Amel's voice was soft when he spoke to her, "How can you be certain you killed Lagneia?"
The Inventor did not look to respond, she only scanned the wasteland of rubble. "Her body, it must still be here." She pointed around fallen debris.
"Show me." Amel asked, and that time she did look back at the human, doubting herself if she had finished the job or not.
When they turned a bend of fallen rubble, where the Inventor had killed Himerope, there was not body or evidence to show that she was ever there. "No!" The rabbit yelled. "I swear it, I saw her die. You must believe me." She said in hopes that the human would not tell the others of possible deceit.
Amel folded his arms and made a clicking sound with his mouth and lips. "I do trust you. I only fear that you did not truly kill her. They can only be killed from whence they came."
"And where is that, pray tell?" She asked, filled with self-disappointment.
"The dark abyss. That is where the demons spawn and reincarnate. It's Cream, isn't it?" Amel looked the rabbit over.
The rabbit gave the human a threatening look, "Do I know you?"
"You will." Amel smiled, and motioned for her to start their long journey.
Section I
Not only did the dark and many halls of Castle Knottingham echo the terrible name, but Amelia was reminded of it with every corner she turned. There were banners of her house sigil everywhere she turned. She tried her best to chase the ungrateful children away, but being a child herself, and wearing a heavy dress, it was awfully difficult to do so. The tanned hedgehog heard the name, and being called that made her as red as an echidna.
"Rosy, rosy the rascal!" The stone hallways echoed terribly and resounded in her eardrums. The children teasing her skidded off and outside the castle. Amelia stopped at the threshold of door that lead to the primary portcullis walls. It was snowing outside, and she wasn't ready to ruin her new dress.
"It's Amelia you curs!" The little hedgehog shouted, hoping the kids heard it. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands, realizing if someone had heard her they might tell her father. She felt a pain in her chest every time her so called friends would come over and tease her. She blamed herself most of the time, she was the one inviting them into the castle. But she wouldn't do so anymore. She felt tears coming again.
"No that is no way for a lady to sspeak." There came a slithery voice behind the hedgehog. She turned around and saw a familiar snake she knew. Commodore Hood, a military snake now becoming a royal advisor to the King, had on the norm for Knottingham's army uniform, black armor laced with pink. His piercing blue eyes could be seen in the dark, and he approached Amelia. "It's those bullies again, isn't it my princesss?" The snake reached to embrace her as he always did. "The best thing to do is to ignore them. They will always find a way-"
Suddenly the little girl grabbed for the snake and cried, "You're my friend, right Mordy?"
"Of course my princesss. But, shouldn't you be playing with someone your own age, like Antoine?" The snake sheltered Amelia from the cold with his cloak.
"No, he smells funny." Amelia made a face as if she smelled something rancid.
The snake chuckled, "Nonethelesss, I think it's time to see your father now. He's been awfully busssy and I think a visit would cheer him up, don't you agree?"
"Yes! I think a proper visit is in order." The girl made herself sound sophisticated and excitedly she ran to the Rose Hall, adorned with Kingsprays, Dragonsfoil, Silverdasters and Pinkroses. The halls always smelled of flowers, and they had to be new ones. Her father used the hall as a large council chamber, and he kept a long table in front of the throne so that he and his advisors would be able to sit. But only King Ban was present at the moment. He saw that Commodore Hood brought in his daughter, and with welcome arms he grabbed her and spun her in the air.
"There's my little princess!" King Ban greeted his daughter. "Friar Buck says you've excelled in your studies. Didn't I say you were a smart girl?"
"Yes, that is what I wanted to advise to you about daddy." Amelia asked to be let down and King Ban set her on his lap. The King looked over to Commodore Hood, he shrugged and mouthed "I didn't teach her that".
"Oh?" King Ban was impressed in the language of one so young. His daughter never failed to impress him.
"Friar Buck is so boring montonous." She struggled with the word.
"Monotonous." King Ban corrected and smiled.
"Yes, monotonous. He's so boring! Why can't someone teach me like mum used to do?" Amelia inquired and her father sighed with sadness.
"Because there's no one as smart as your mother. Except for Friar Buck, he comes close." King Ban winked at her and looked over at the chuckling snake.
"I have to agree with the princesss on this one, the deer can be quite unvaried in his teachingss." The snake walked close to Amelia and shook her head with his hand. He noticed the disapproving, sarcastic stare of the King and corrected himself, "B-but of coursse he is the besst teacher in Knottingham."
Amelia went to hug the snake, "Why can't Mordy teach me? We're practically best friends. And the answer is no, I will not play with Antoine, he smells. I know you told Mordy to tell me."
The snake looked sheepish and King Ban responded, "You're too smart for your own good Amelia. Before I forget the good news, your brother Hector is coming to visit soon, and your uncle Lionel sends his regards. He wished to be here but he's too sick to come."
"I miss Hector too." Amelia added.
"Come, come Amelia, it is time for bed. Your father still has work, let him be." A maidservant came for Amelia and she motioned goodbye.
"Goodnight daddy, goodnight Mordy." And Amelia was gone.
King Ban embraced his advisor's shoulder and told him, "Thank you, Mordred, for being the role model for Amelia."
The snake shook his head. "Everything I do iss for the crown, and for your wonderful family my King."
"Is she safe?" The King asked.
"Ssafe with the Deerwood Bandits. Whatever assassinss were hired have vanished, or they've stopped paying them. We don't know whom, but we susspect the Irons." Commodore Hood responded.
"Gods. It's always the Irons. Remind me never to side with the Irons." King Ban stroked his chin in thought.
"Duly noted." The snake smiled weakly.
"When can I see her again?" The King asked, with longing in his tone.
The snake shook his head remorsefully, "It would not be wisse to see her now, if we are to keep her disguissed and well. As your advissor, I would ssay a few more months, let the scares die down. As your friend, I would also ssay wait. Be of good cheer, the Bandits remain faithful to the crown. You have friendss in high places."
Princess Amelia stood on the stone window overlooking the rest of Castle Knottingham. She liked to watch the animals go about dying down for the night, although some made quite the racket, visiting tavern to tavern with their chums. Her back lay on the stone window and she fiddled with a golden trinket her mother had given her one birthday. It was a music box that helped her go to sleep when her mother wasn't around to do so. The night sky brought a sudden chill and even blew out her candles in her room. But she paid no mind to it, slowly and quickly she drifted off into a land filled with adventure. To tales of the old Deerwood Bandits. She imagined herself being one of them and leading them to fight crime and punishing the wicked kings of old.
She had on a green cap and a green outfit, just like the rest of them. She saw Alan Quail and Bow Sparrow, all the famous ones. They were in the middle of battling Jun Kun the Iron King. A sea of arrows came hurtling towards her but Alan Quail the magnificent, and don't forget handsome, came to her rescue. And he shielded her and called her by name, "Amelia, wake up."
And she responded, "But I want to be with my darling Alan Quail."
"Amelia, wake up." There came a whisper, it was her father waking her up. She had fallen asleep again on the window. Great, she thought, I'll catch a cold in no time. It took her another moment to realize she had just been woken up.
"Daddy?" She asked, slurry in her speech. Her father spooked her with neon green eyes. His eyes shined greatly in the dark. Not a characteristic she had known him for. He also slurred in his speech. And the manner of which he walked and presented himself was less than fashionable. There was a little limp in the way he walked. He readied her by packing some of her things. "Daddy what's going on? You're scaring me." Amelia was fully awake now.
"There's no time, I have to take you away now Amelia." King Ban spoke with hoarseness in his voice. He clothed her and wrapped her around a cloak too big for her.
"Where are we going?" She waited at the foot of her door.
"You'll be living with uncle Bors now." He finished packing for her.
"I thought," She yawned, "I only had an Uncle Lionel. Wait!" Amelia reached for and picked up her music box which had fallen to the ground. Quickly when he saw she was ready he picked her up and left her room. It was still dead of night so there weren't many people out in the castle. Only a few sleeping guards. Some were alerted by King Ban and stood up at attention. But Ban only ignored them and headed for the portcullis walls.
Ban met with an animal that was preparing a horse to be ridden. "It's all yours my King." The animal spoke, he trembled with what might have been fear or just the cold of the snow. Ban fastened his daughter on the horse first, then he made his way up. Amelia noticed he had not thanked the animal and they left, crossing the portcullis and making their way out of the city.
With the silent streets being desolate, every pounding of the horse's hoof was as clear as loud drums. Every gasping breath of the animal they rode on became louder, frightening Amelia more and more. But her father clutched to her, making sure she would not slip off. Their breaths could be seen in the light of the moon. But they made it out of the city walls past the gate that had been conveniently been opened. The trees they passed howled and spun at them blocking their path, and averting their view of the mud path. Where King Ban was leading them, Amelia did not know. But she saw the path was diminishing, and minutes became hours. Until finally she saw a greatness of blue. A great sea lay before her, and the horse they rode in on, still lead them farther from her home, somewhere where fish and salamanders shouted and cheated each other. Amelia dozed off the majority of the trip there, but was awake to see a grand vessel she had only seen in books. And adorned on the ships were piercing dragons of old. To Amelia they seemed to pop out of the ships with their long arms and wings and grab at her. She tried to be the strong princess her father always told her to be. She clutched hard at her father's hand as they made their way off the horse and onto the ship.
She let herself go for a moment and explored the beautifully carved mast-more dragons. She ran to the portside, staring out into the blue beyond. Amelia overheard her father talking to one of the fisherman.
"One-hundred Librams. As was promised." The King handed the fish a bag of currency.
"You have made Obasi very rich, sir, yes, rich King Ban." The fish responded without looking at Ban.
"Fool." King Ban muttered under his breath, and limped slowly to his daughter.
"Are you hurt daddy? You're limping." Amelia pointed out.
"I'll be fine Amelia. It will be daytime by the time we get there. You should get some rest." The King motioned for her to cuddle for warmth.
The little hedgehog woke up once to the uncomfortable wetness of the sea, it was being sprinkled on her cheeks and mouth. She spat the salt away and looked around. Her father was not next to her, but she heard whispers. The crew was motioning for each other to be quiet or shut up. They shushed and waved their hands around, until none of them made any noise or movement. They did all appear to be staring in the same direction. She got up to see what it was they were staring at.
It took Amelia's eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dark, and what was before her. Her eyes lead her to the top of the sky and down into the deepening ocean. It was an arm, or a tentacle. Raised from the water below and must have been a league or two tall and high, reaching for the sky. Its skin was jagged and seemed rough, there were sharp tendrils protruding from the sides. And the arm only extended higher and higher.
"Daddy!" Amelia screamed and they fisherman shushed. She saw her father on the edge of the boat with both hands extended. She ran to him and he also shushed her. "Daddy I'm scared."
"Hush Amelia!" Her father had never yelled at her, it only made her more frightened. She noticed his eyes again, the glowed with great, green intensity. His hands gave off a matter that could be seen, it was dark. And with one last pulse of matter, he shot it at the arm. And the arm obeyed, and sunk to the bottom.
Next Amelia woke up again to her father waking her up. She was tired and had trouble moving. So her father carried her. They walked the Acorn Harbor, until they reached another hedgehog. He seemed older than her father, he wasn't clean shaven. He was also a tanned hedgehog. He wore a red cape.
"Amelia this is your uncle Bors, he will be taking care of you now." Ban explained, he then directed to the hedgehog again, "Remember to keep an eye on her, otherwise, it's your head."
Ban left, and did not say goodbye to his daughter, leaving her shocked.
"Hello Amelia, I've heard so much about you." Her uncle Bors spoke a different accent than she and her father did.
She mustered what bravery she could and said, "It's nice to meet you uncle Bors."
"For your protection and those reasons I hope you understand, we will need to call you something else. Let's say, Amy. Still your name, just shortened." Bors held the little hedgehog at attention. They came to his Castle Little Beak in the kingdom they called Acorn. From the outside it looked more like a single tower with many banners of the house sigil of Lancelot and Rose which was: Lancelot's sword Arondight surrounded by a pink rose.
She stared outside, it was morning now, but not yet light out. She saw the busy, ugly, streets that were of Castle Little Beak. There were all sorts of foul smells not smelled in Knottingham. This place wasn't magical like her home, it stunk of pig and dung and other bodily fluids. She looked to see two women, a duck and another she could not recognize, they were yelling at each other over something. And then two other men came and took the women away. What on Mobius was that all about? She thought about this while her new Uncle Bors chatted away about some rules. This could not be her new home, how could it be? What was her father thinking? Sending her away was probably the worst thing that had ever happened to her. He didn't even say goodbye, she thought. "When can I see my daddy?" She interrupted.
"Honey, you can't see your daddy. Ever. Now get used to it!" Bors yelled, he hated being interrupted, so he continued with his important sermon of instructions. When he was finished he told her, "You can go to your room now. Breakfast in an hour, and supper at Eventide. Go on now." He motioned for her to leave him in his quarters. She bravely walked silently to her new room. It was much smaller than her old one, and it had no windows. Though it was bleak she still found the courage to unpack at least her music box. She turned a knob on the golden trinket and out was heard a lullaby her mother sang to her many a times.
Oh, sweet prince, how lovely he sleeps.
Watch his eyes as they go sweeps.
Far into the moon, far into the night,
He comes he goes, he takes in flight.
Her mother changed the word prince to princess just for Amelia. And she began to tear up when she realized how important the box was to her. It was the last thing she had to remember by her home, her family, her father and mother, Mordy. Everything she knew became crumbled and absconded from her mind and sight. Amelia let herself drown in pity and self-loathing. For a moment she thought that everything that had just happened to her was her fault. That for some reason her father was punishing her for not being a fit daughter or princess. But she would show him somehow that she was fit, and that she could be a better daughter. But she would not be able to shine and flourish in the hellhole that was Castle Little Beak. Luckily she was already packed.
Amelia waited until nighttime to leave. She snuck around the back, stone wall of the castle and climbed. Her fingernails dug deep into the dirt that now held together each stone. She was lucky to only be carrying a small bag with her with some clothes and her music box. She grunted louder than she had anticipated when she hit the grass on the other side. She looked around and when she thought she was clear, she ran. Amelia ran the clearing of trees, and the wind howled in her direction. Every waking moment she was not asleep gave her strange satisfaction. Running from the man who claimed to be her uncle was full of desire.
On the other side of the clearing was a hill that she climbed and overlooking was another clearing-more forest. She stopped to catch her breath at the peak of the hill and sat her back on a tree facing the new grove.
Amelia had no time to cry again, for she heard a loud crackle near her. And someone was yelling. She crawled to the other side of the tree and noticed something quite unfamiliar to her. It was a giant ball of metal shooting fire and making the trees go up in flame. She gasped when she realized it was coming towards her. And it only became bigger, and Amelia looked back and tripped. Her mouth hit the hard dirt and she was out.
"Nothing to worry about my dear, you're not in any real danger."
"Bahh!" Amelia gasped for breath when she woke to the sight of bright green all around her. She squirmed and found she could not move her arms, but she kicked her legs anyway. Did the metal ball kill her and was this heaven?
"Now, now my dear, save it for when the show starts." There was that voice again.
Amelia looked around to find the voice, she saw that she was dangling over a giant vat of green. She saw no entrance to the giant metal room she was in. But she squinted to see the giant ball, it was to the left of her and there was someone on it. "I demand to be released, at once!" She yelled.
"Pipe down you sniveling brat. Wait a minute that's good, I should write that down." It was the
voice of a man, now her eyes were adjusting to the much lit room. The voice came from a creature she had never beholden her eyes before. It was very round and red, his smaller round head was tan and hairless, and where the nose should be was only a much pink beak. But the most distinct feature was of his moustache, an orange from side to side set of hair. It reached for distances not ever reached by moustache kind. Where his eyes should have been there were a pair of small, blue glasses.
"Help!" Amelia yelled again, trying to get the attention of the bald bird, or possibly whale.
"Who do you think I am? Its Mobitanium rope, nothing is cutting through that." The bald whale explained.
There was a sudden crash, one wall of the metal room was crumbled into. She made out what was another hedgehog, he was blue. Had he done that himself?
"How did you-?" The man asked.
The blue hedgehog spoke raising a finger, "With a Sonic Spin! It can cut through anything ladies and gents. Like this wall." He pointed at the crumbled wall. "Let her go blubber-butt!"
"Poor choice of words you blue bozo! Give up now and I won't pull this lever, releasing her into a most untimely death." The man winked at her, raising his hands to show her he had no lever.
Just then a malicious purple wind cut the rope and sent Amelia down, deep into the green vat. It made both the doctor and the blue hedgehog shriek.
"I didn't do that" The doctor yelled. But it was too late, and the blue hedgehog dove in after her. Fortunately it was not deep enough for him not to drown in it himself. But sure enough he pulled Amelia out. Her skin burned and turned a brighter color. She ached all over but looked up at the blue stranger and couldn't help but smile, even with all the pain.
"My hero." The little hedgehog fainted.