Hiya! HealingHearts24 here! An idea has been nagging me so much that I couldn't take it anymore and have jotted it down. This is heavily inspired by The Giver by Lois Lowry, but you don't have to go run and read it to understand. This can get a bit confusing, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Since this is AU, yes, they wear clothes and are different ages. The age differences have vanished! Goodbye! Vamoose! So don't go saying, "But they have a 7 year difference" or whatever.
I'll stop ranting so YOU can start reading! Enjoy!
Freezing winds blew at the hedgehog, causing him to shiver. He shoved his white-gloved hands into the pockets of his bulky, dark blue jacket. His red and white sneakers left tracks in the thin layer of snow coating the sidewalk as he walked. He had left his bicycle at home and using his super speed was outlawed.
That was simply the downfall of living in the perfect community. Powers of any sort were actually somewhat common with Mobians. Though most were simple like enhanced strength or the ability of flight, though that was usually with birds and such of course. But such things would ruin the equality they so strictly followed.
The Council of Elders had decided long ago that such a thing was simply more of a nuisance than help. Being so different like that would bring up bragging. And bragging could lead to so much more; hatred, anger, annoyance, and such. And the Council decided it would be better to curb the people's emotions so that such a thing should not happen.
For without hatred and anger, who would murder? Without feelings of pride and superiority, who would bully? Without sadness and pain, who would commit suicide? So measures were taken to simply blunt the Communities emotions. Drastic measures must be taken for perfection, correct?
As for his bicycle, cars were outlawed. Such vehicles contaminated the environment and accidents took many lives. So they were done away with and replaced with a much safer way of travel: the bicycle. Because not much came about a bicycle accident besides maybe a sprain, cut, or bruise. Rarely if going fast enough, a broken bone, but nothing fatal. So school buses were an automatic no.
The blue hedgehog just wanted to get home and simply wrap himself up in his warm covers. He had had a long day at school – Advanced Algebra was definitely not his forte - and he just felt exhausted. He'd even passed up hanging out with his two best friends, Knuckles and Amy.
Knuckles the Echidna was a somewhat clumsy person. He was always mixing up his words and getting into trouble. They were small transgressions however, such as forgetting to tuck in his shirt at school or being late to class or the designated mealtime.
Amy Rose was a sweet girl, comforting and kind. She loved to take care of people and always volunteered to work at the Community nursing home. Sonic had never seen her get in trouble, but everyone has of course, no doubt.
Sonic was feeling very nervous about the Ceremony of 14. It was already December and the important ceremony would be at the end of the month. Nervous could probably be an understatement. Every 13 year-old was watched and at the ceremony, they would be given their Character Trait, and along with that, they would get a choice of jobs.
Sonic's father, Jules, was given the trait of Leadership and assigned the job of Nurturer. A Nurturer would take care of all of the newchildren the Birthmothers created until the end of their first December. If the newchild had developed like it should and was dubbed good, it would be named and assigned parents, thus becoming a family unit. But if the newchild had not developed enough or was dubbed marred (deformity or sickness), it would be Released.
Release was a process of expelling a person from the Community. It was given to those who repeated to sin against the major rules set, the unfit newchildren, and the very elderly. No one in the Community really knew exactly what Release was, other than the fact that they wouldn't be seen ever again. Even the simple thought of Release could make a grown man shudder.
Finally after what seemed to be ages, the chilly hedgehog reached his home. All of the homes were marked with number of designation. Sonic knew his was 1,234, Knuckle's was 908, and Amy's was 1,006. But that was the only difference in the housing section of the Community. All of the houses look completely alike, inside and out. The grass was always cut to the perfect length and the family's bicycles were neatly leaned up against the house in special racks underneath an awning for protection from weather.
He took off his shoes outside of the door to prevent tracking in the snow. He carefully opened the door (it was not locked, there was no need to lock it anyways) and trudged inside. After shedding his jacket and hanging it on a hook, he started toward his room, un-tucking his crimson shirt from his khaki pants while walking. School uniforms were simply the law. They took away the students ability to brag about having nicer clothing than others. But Sonic hated it.
Sonic and his friends had always seemed somewhat different from the rest of society. They followed the rules, of course, but sometimes they were left questioning why that some rules had even come about. Some just seemed silly and over thought. But they didn't dare question it out loud, for that would be rude, thus breaking the rules and requiring an apology. That also seemed strange to them. Why would we be chastised for asking a question? They would always think. But they would simply accept it and move on like the other children.
Sonic slipped his book bag off of his shoulders and set it beside the desk in his bedroom. He pulled out his notebook and Algebra textbook out and set them on the desk next to his pencil. The hedgehog groaned.
"I hate Algebra!" He grumbled as he shifted his head toward the window next to his desk. Had his parents or teachers heard him say such a thing, they would lecture him not to use such a strong, distasteful word. And hate would be anger, thus punishable. Not serious, but not fun either.
Outside, the snow was falling gently, covering the ground inch by inch in a perfect blanket. The trees were also coated in a thin topping of snow, with delicate, shimmering icicles frozen to the bottom of their branches. It was a beautiful sight and how the hedgehog wished he could go out and play with his friends. But in front of him was his roadblock.
He laid his head down onto the notebook, eyes drooping slightly, and he found himself drifting off to sleep.
Later that night, Sonic, his father Jules, his mother Bernadette, and his little sister Sonya sat down at the supper table to begin their dinner. Everyone in the Community started their dinner precisely at 6:00 PM, not sooner, no later.
Sonya had begun to chat about her day. Being only a seven year old, she hadn't had many serious topics. Though it was considered rude to talk for a lengthy time at the supper table, his parents let it slide tonight. After she had finished (Finally, Sonic had thought), his parents took turns telling about their days.
"He simply continues to break the law!" Bernadette said calmly, though there was a slight twinge of irritation.
"I'm not sure what to do anymore…" she trailed off looking to her husband, giving him the signal to talk about his day.
"Well, everything seems to be going fine. Except for one newchild. He isn't developing, as he should be! He simply cannot stay asleep at night!" He sighed. His mother grabbed his hand soothingly and gave him an apathetic look.
"Will he have to be released, daddy?" Sonya asked with more solemnity than a child her age should have. Jules rubbed his temple with his free hand as he shook his head.
"They're definitely thinking about it. The lil' guy is deformed anyways. But I like him and some of the other workers do to. So I'm going to try to wiggle his deformity into the abilities category. But even if that works, if he doesn't start developing, we can't keep him around." He sat back in his chair.
"Daddy, why don't we just bring him here! You said you don't think the night workers are good, right?" Sonya tried to reason.
She was correct, however. The night workers at the Nurturing Center were simply too impatient with the newchildren. But really, the girl was fishing for a reason to be able to play with the newchild.
Jules sat back up and pondered her suggestion for a moment, "You know, Sonya-girl, that wouldn't be such a bad idea. I could take care of him here so I could help him develop unlike those lazy, worthless-" Bernadette moved her hand from his and onto his shoulder.
"Dear…" she interrupted with a warning. He chuckled sheepishly and stopped his description. Sonic and Sonya giggled quietly, and then turned their attention back to their mother.
"I suppose that would be alright, so long as it's alright…" Jules kissed his wife on the cheek. Jules then turned to his son.
"Sonic, you may start on your day." Sonic shook his head.
"Nothing really happened father. Nothing out of the ordinary," he said in a bored tone. It was true, nothing much really happened around the Community. And although he felt a building of anxiety for the Ceremony of 14, he really didn't feel like talking about such a thing right now.
"Alright then…" his father answered, standing up from the table.
"I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted…"
Did you like it? I think this chapter turned out pretty good. Was it long enough, or too short? Should I continue?
You can thank Spell check for the not completely horrid spelling! *Applause* because without it, this would be an illiterate mess.
Anyways, reviews would mean a lot to me! So, please review!