The Royal Archives: A Return To Origins

(A/N: Oh heck with it. This installment is almost over anyway. I'll put up one more chapter since it's really short. Okay, I don't put in Bunnie's last name because I'm not certain if it's still Rabbot, or if it's now D'Coolette. I'm pretty sure her name for Sally is Sal-Gal, but instead I used Sally-Gal just because. The one comic I read was the one where Sally and Sonic fought, and Sally gave him a choice between her and fighting Eggman. This is why you don't force people to choose. He chose Eggman over her, and she ran off. It's probably why I'm not a fan of the pairing, because she gave him the choice in the first place, but nonetheless, it's a fun pairing to work with and there will be more of it in future stories. I will never settle down into one pairing in this arc. Enjoy.)

Old Friends Revisited

Nic, meanwhile, had stayed only long enough for the Underground to go into the palace. She then looked up at a window and flew towards it. She had better drop the message to Sally quick, before anyone saw her.

Sally was pacing back and forth in her bedroom. She was agitated, to say the least. Eggman had practically disappeared from the face of the earth, and Sonic… He hadn't come back. Not for so long. Neither had a bunch of their friends. He just left, without any warning except the words, "It'll only be a few days." He brought only a chosen few with him. Why hadn't she been on the list? She supposed, in retrospect, it was a hint. Eggman was always after him, and with the fair sized group of friends he'd taken, why did he need any others? She sighed in exasperation. Where was Nic? She needed to know if the tip about Eggman had been on the level.

"Easy princess, don't lose your head now," a voice said suddenly from the window.

Sally gasped and turned. "Nic, what took you so long?"

"A near death experience," Nic truthfully admitted.

"What? What happened?" Sally asked, slightly concerned.

"Just a plane crash, it was no big deal," Nic brushed off. "Anyway…" she continued before Sally could probe, "…about Eggman. If he was ever on that island, he's not there now."

"No!" Sally exclaimed in anger. "Where is he!"

"Well, between you and me, I heard from a reliable source that Sonic and his chosen few have kept Eggman in his place for a long time now. In fact, Sonic doesn't even really want or need your help anymore Sally, you or the other freedom fighters. Something about a prophecy coming true… But who knows? You might get more information sooner than later. There are still some secrets remaining."

Sally looked shocked. Sonic didn't want her help anymore, her or the others? What had she done? Was he angry at her? She thought he cared… No, he did care, he just didn't want to see his friends hurt, so he took only the most powerful of his allies along. But Amy and Cream weren't all that powerful. Neither was Marine or Big for that matter. What was going on? What was this about a prophecy? "Oh…" Sally finally managed to say. "And who was this reliable source?" she finally asked.

"Oh no one important, just my brother," Nic casually replied.

Sally looked sharply up at her. "Fang? Really? Since when did Nack go back to stalking Sonic and his friends?" Sally questioned.

Suddenly the door was knocked on. Sally gasped, turning. "Uh oh, that's my cue to leave. Listen Sally, if you need help finding Eggman, I'll be willing to join you," Nic quickly said, knowing that soon there would be another confrontation between them. She might as well get it over with later tonight. She finished, "I've got to go."

"I'll take you up on that offer!" Sally warned as Nic flew off. She then hurried to the door to open it.

"Princess Sally, your father has summoned you," the soldier outside stated.

"All right, I'll be right down," Sally said. The soldier nodded then left. She looked back at the window with a suspicious frown. Something about Nic didn't ring true. She couldn't think on it now, though. Something sounded important. She left the room. Nic, meanwhile, watched from a tree outside. As soon as Sally was gone, she flew back up to the princess's room. She silently went in and sat on Sally's bed to wait. She knew where this was going to go.

Sally headed down towards the throne room, pondering over Nic's report. So if Eggman had been there, he was gone by now. Maybe Sonic was around that island somewhere, but then again, Robotnick had only been there a short time. Sonic might not have heard about the crash. If he had heard, he must not be anywhere near that island. She wished she knew where he and the others were. "Penny for your thoughts little sister?" a voice suddenly asked.

She looked back, slightly startled, then relaxed. "I'm just thinking, Elias," she replied.

"About what Sally?" her brother, who had been visiting them, asked.

"Nothing important," Sally dodged.

"Sonic?" he questioned.

She sighed deeply, then nodded, answering, "Why do I even bother trying to keep secrets from you?" He smirked. "Did dad and mom summon you?"

"Yes," he answered. All at once they found themselves in front of the throne room door. She blinked blankly. She hadn't realized they were there. She shook her head, cleared her throat, then prepared to enter with her brother, who gave her a reassuring smile.

Elias and Sally entered the throne room and stopped, startled. "Bunnie, Antoine, Rotor?" Sally asked, mildly surprised. "What's going on?"

"We don't know Sally-gal, somthin' important," Bunnie replied.

"It had better be. I have given up ze meal of a lifetime for zis summons," Antoine D'Coolette grumbled.

"We thought you knew," Rotor the Walrus remarked.

The group faced the adults curiously. All at once, though, they saw the new hedgehog woman standing in the room. They looked startled. "Mom, dad, who's this?" Sally asked, gesturing at the mysterious woman.

The hedgehog woman summed up the group, eyes settling on Sally and Elias. "Your children have grown so much. They're beautiful Alicia," the woman remarked.

"Mom, you know her?" Elias asked.

"We all do, son," Max stated.

"How, who is she?" Sally questioned.

"Kids, it's about time you met Queen Aleena the Hedgehog," Alicia introduced.

They gasped. "Queen!" Bunnie exclaimed. "But ain't you Queen, Queen Alicia?"

"I am," Alicia confirmed.

"Then how eez eet possible zat zis woman is also queen?" Antoine questioned.

"Have a seat, children, and we'll explain everything," Amadeus Prower stated, gesturing to a group of chairs that had been set up.

"You see children, once, before you were born and until Robotnick took over, there was a joint rulership over the land. You see, your father and mother, Sally and Elias, lived in a palace in the area around Knothole. There lived another queen with her residence in Mobotropolis. That queen was Aleena here," Rosemary briefly summed.

"After Eggman took over, the royal families were forced into exile, outlawed. Aleena fled with her three children, triplets, and was soon forced to give them up for their own protection. You'll hear more about this soon, but for now let's stick with a summary. Alicia and I held the throne of Mobotropolis for as long as we possibly could. You know what happened after," Max said.

"Before you ask questions, I find it my duty to add an important detail as of yet omitted. Aleena had two brothers who had forsaken the throne in order to live normal lives. When the royals were exiled, the brothers fled together. Those brothers were Jules and Chuck," Bernadette added.

The Knothole Freedom Fighters gasped. "Wait, Sonic has cousins, and you're his aunt?" Rotor asked the woman in shock.

"If you've come to find Sonic, he's not here," Elias declared apologetically.

"Forget zat! You are Sonic's aunt?" Antoine repeated in disbelief.

Aleena bowed her head solemnly and answered, "No… I am his mother." The Knothole gang's mouths dropped.

"Wait, you're his mother! That can't be right! Jules and Bernadette are his parents!" Sally exclaimed.

"No, we took him in for his mother, raising him as our own, when his first foster family was taken. He came to know us as mom and dad, and as far as we were concerned, he was ours. For all we knew Aleena was dead. Nonetheless, we are his aunt and uncle," Jules admitted.

"You'll understand soon enough," Chuck remarked.

They looked at them in shock. "Well bless ma soul honey chile," Bunnie said in awe.

"Wait, you fled with your children. Children as in plural? Triplets?" Rotor asked.

"Yes," Aleena admitted.

"Ah, so you are ze liar! Sonic has no siblings," Antoine flatly stated.

"Hey, don't call my mother a liar Antoine," a voice spoke suddenly. The group looked up with gasps, again. From behind the curtains, emerged the all too familiar blue blur, and behind him followed two more, one green with wild quills, and one with pink quills and Eggplant purple fur!

"Sonic!" they all breathed.

"You're back…" Elias stated in shock.

Sonic retreated behind his siblings, looking suddenly sheepish, and cautiously watching his old friend's reactions. "Sally, guys, this is Sonia and Manic, this is Queen Aleena. Meet my siblings and my mother," Sonic introduced, waving his hand solemnly over the Council of Four.

"Yo," Manic greeted.

"Hey guys," Sonia said. They could only gape.

Sally hadn't believed her eyes when she saw Sonic looking sheepishly at her, standing behind two other hedgehogs that looked just like him. He was almost hiding behind them for protection, but Sonic hardly trusted anyone but himself to protect him. These two he must have trusted with his life, trusted more than anyone else, must have meant everything to him. Sally had been ready to scream at him, to let him have it, but the other freedom fighters were there, and just as she had been about to speak, Sonic had given them the declaration. Meet my siblings and my mother. No hello, no how are you; just meet my siblings and my mother.

They were frozen; each one with their mouths hanging open. It was then that the questions had flown from both sides, and then that the stories had been exchanged. Soon enough the Knothole gang had no more questions. What could they ask anymore? It had all been cleared up. They could only look at the family, still stunned. After the general shock, they finally processed that Sonic was indeed there.

"Suga-hog, ya came back!" Bunnie cried, racing to Sonic and holding him tightly. The others caught her enthusiasm, and soon enough Sonic was smothered in a sea of his old friends.

"Hey, I told you I'd be back. I missed you guys too!" Sonic exclaimed happily. They looked at his siblings then warmly greeted them as well, introducing themselves formally. Sonia and Manic were beginning to like the group. The Knothole Freedom Fighters were awed at the stories told about the rightful ruler and the past that they had never known about. Sonic was a prince? He had siblings? Jules and Bernadette weren't his birth parents? Sally's parents weren't the only leaders of Mobius, or at least Mobotropolis and Knothole? They were stunned, still summing up Sonic's siblings, being scrutinized just as closely. Another friendship was in the works. They were beginning to grow accustomed to each others presence.

So there they were, each of them staring at Sonic and his siblings, the stories Sonic told still spinning around and around in their heads. They could hardly believe everything they'd been told, but there it was, right in front of them… They were as shocked as the others had been, if not more. Now there was silence, as they took the triplets and their mother in. The Council of Four; that was the prophecy Nic had informed Sally about. The shock and meetings and joyous reunion between Sonic and his old friends had been exchanged.

All at once Sally came back to her senses, snapping out of the daze. The joy of the reunion and excitement of the meeting of these new found friends passed. She noticed that Sonic was looking uncomfortable. It was then that her anger came back. So he was uncomfortable, huh? He should be! Her eyes grew hard. How dare he leave her! She suddenly marched up to him, right in front of the others. She watched him stiffen, eyes fearful, then open his mouth to say something, probably an apology. She didn't give him the chance. She struck him as hard as she could!

"Sally Acorn!" her mother shot angrily.

"Whoa, not cool princess!" his brother, Manic, exclaimed, getting defensive.

Sally couldn't be bothered with him. "How dare you!" she shrieked.

"Hey, take a chill pill Sally!" Manic shot. Aleena covered her son's mouth and shook her head.

"Sally, I'm sorry! I meant to come back, really!" Sonic exclaimed helplessly.

"You just left without a word with your chosen few and never came back!" she yelled, obviously hurt.

"Hey, back off sister!" Sonia angrily shouted, shoving Sally back from her brother before Aleena could react.

"Sonia, don't interfere," Sonic pleaded.

"Stay out of this Sonia! This is between me and Sonic!" Sally shouted with tears in her eyes.

Sonia almost felt sorry for her, almost, but she answered, "Don't ever hit my brother again Sally."

Sally shoved by and demanded, "Why didn't you take me with you? Wasn't I good enough for you?"

"Sally, you were good, just, I don't know, I couldn't take you…" Sonic began quietly, looking ashamedly away.

"Sally, give suga-hog a break. He's been through a lot," Bunnie timidly intervened.

"Why couldn't you?" Sally asked, ignoring Bunnie.

"That's enough young lady!" Alicia ordered her daughter. Sally sniffed then backed away.

"I don't know," Sonic admitted. "Sally, please forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You know I always forgive you, but right now I'm too mad," Sally replied, crossing her arms and looking away.

"Ugh, you are so better off with Amy," Sonia quietly said to her brother, so no one heard.

"Sonia, don't go there," Sonic warned.

"She's an independent little tomboy princess, probably used to getting what she wants. As far as I'm concerned, all of them translate into spoiled little…" she began.

Quickly Sonic interrupted, saying, "Oh and you're not?"

"I am not!" Sonia shot back.

"Yes you are; Sally's nothing compared to you," Manic said, having heard the conversation and pried his mother's hand from his mouth.

"Stay out of this Manic!" Sonia demanded.

"Can't you at least try to get along with my friends?" Sonic demanded.

"Hey, I like them, all of them, even Sally, but not when she's acting like this," Sonia hissed.

"Thought you loved yourself sis," Manic bit.

"Manic!" Sonia yelled.

"Children, enough!" Aleena firmly ordered. Only then did they notice the others watching their whispered argument, having been alerted by the occasional sharp word or hiss, then Sonia's yell. The triplets scowled at each other and fell silent.

"Maybe things have been a bit too much for them," Max said. "Let's all just calm down and turn in."

"Eggman's still on the loose. We need to find him," Sally stated.

Suddenly, though, Sonic shot, "Sally, Eggman isn't your problem anymore, none of you! Do you understand! He's mine and my sibling's, and our other friends! Let it go! He's out of your hair! You should be grateful! The Knothole Freedom Fighters aren't needed anymore, okay!"

The others looked at him in shock. "Not needed?" Rotor asked, slightly hurt.

"Don't be silly. As long as ze Doctor eez out there, we will always be needed," Antoine declared practically, knowing instantly that Sonic was exaggerating.

"Well, we'll always be there to help," Bunnie said. "Frankly, I'm relieved Antoine honey. Things was getting' dangerous."

"None of us believe that," Elias stated, as much to Bunnie's declaration as to Sonic's claim to them not being needed.

Sonic just turned and ran off. "Sonic!" his mother called after him. She turned to Max and the others, saying, "I'm sorry about this."

"It's okay. Sonic's just stressed," Rotor replied. "We're glad to see him though, and he was sure glad to see us."

"Go after him Aleena," Jules said, noticing her longing look. "You're his parent now. It's time to make up for lost years." Aleena smiled then ran after her son.

"Maybe we should go too," Manic worriedly said.

"Nonsense young'uns. Sonia, Manic, come along we'll show you where you and your family will be sleeping. Aleena will have brought Sonic back by then," Charles reassured.

"If you say so Uncle Chuck," Manic said, unable to help but smile. With that they followed their family and their new found friends.

Sonic kept running until suddenly he stopped by the ocean. He looked angrily over it, almost too mad to think. "Sonic!" he heard his mother call. His shoulders sagged sadly. He looked back at her helplessly. She appeared, but stopped on seeing him. After a moment she slowly went to him. "Darling…" she began.

All at once, though, he was hugging her, tears of fury in his eyes. "I knew something like this would happen. I don't see them forever, then when I show up, Sally turns on me. What about the others? What are they thinking? Why did I bother trying with Sally? All I wanted was to apologize and see them again."

"Shh honey, it's all right. Your old friends missed you, all of them. They love you Sonic. As for Sally… she just needs time to adjust. You overwhelmed them with your sudden appearance, then with the news of Sonia and Manic. Tomorrow will be better, I promise," Aleena assured.

"I don't want to wait that long," Sonic replied.

"You want to run away from your problems," his mother diagnosed.

Sonic grimaced. "It sounds worse when you say it like that," he remarked.

She giggled, saying, "I used to try to run too." She then pulled from the hug. "Things will get better," she repeated, hands on his shoulders reassuringly. "Tomorrow things will look up, you can catch up, and Sonia and Manic will be accepted into their circles, don't worry about that." Sonic smiled up at her then nodded. The two headed back. Sonic looked up at her. She grinned lovingly down at him, stroking back his quills. It was good to have his mother back.

Aleena looked back at the ocean. Her smile fell into a frown, eyes hardening as she remembered the last time she had sailed across that ocean. Sleet had been there. There first kiss… Gods he was everywhere. Why couldn't he just disappear? Chaos and Solaris strike him down. She just wanted to forget. She focused once more on her child, willing all thoughts of the wolf away. She had her children now.