A Tale of Two Brothers

Hey Peeps, I don't own anything related to Sonic or his universe, that's SEGA and all other companies relevant to the creation of his various back-stories, and even though most of them have tanked it now that is beside the point. Honestly, I actually own very little in this fic (next to nothing to be exact) but this is my story and even though I am using characters from Archie, DiC and SEGA I will be fleshing many of them out because they were only 2-dimensional so in some ways they will appear very OC hopefully you'll bear with me! Anyway, I've bored you to tears with this disclaimer so enjoy and let me know what you think! X

Review Replies:

Nyx27Seth: And I thought the chambermaids would be more up your street! Though I must admit I love General D'Coolette, I swear I'm having waaay too much fun with that guy's character! And yeh, I love Missy too though I feel a little bad for her right now but I'll try to get back to her soon I promise! As for the sex thing… settle down hon, this fic is slow burning like P.o.P your just gonna have to wait.. X

Slayer 666: To be honest I was hoping to have finished the chapter by Wednesday but that kinda failed as the ending had to go through several edits before I was happy to post it, I really wanted this to be a 2-3 week til next update kinda thing but I ran over my deadline… So until I sort my timings out it's kinda just a random update at the minute. And I actually just laugh at Nyx, why don't you ask her directly and she can answer for you! As for Max, he IS a fox! I never made him a fox the artists of the Archie Sonic comic and SatAM made him a fox, seriously, look at his pictures! His tail has a white tip on the end of it and his face design is the same as both Tails and Amadeus Prower as far as I'm concerned he's a fox. Whoever wrote his wiki-profile needs their damn eyes examined because he is definitely not a squirrel! There are squirrels in that comic and he looks nothing like them… I think because his surname is Acorn they thought they'd just write squirrel but I am making a stand here: Maximillion Acorn is a fox! Anyway, glad that you liked Alicia's arrival into the story, you'll see her role pretty soon. And yes, I want my future chaps to be written sooner I just keep getting distracted… Gahhh! Why do I have friends? X

Chapter Fourteen: Not Quite The Fairy-Tale First Date..

Dedicated to anyone who checks out Maximillion Acorn's wiki-profile and agrees with me that he's a fox… come on! …And a gold star to anyone who points that out to the one who wrote his profile! Xx

'..In breaking news the Overlanders' continue their ruthless invasion of Mobius by seizing control of the Efrika continent, forcing our own Mobian Army back across the Terra Sea and into Mercia. As the Mobian Army help the fleeing refugees over the boarders to safety fresh aid is flown in from Mobius as Mercian missionaries help to settle the thousands who are now rendered homeless. With the death-toll rising and the Echidnae High Council still refusing to be drawn into what is escalating into a war for mobian survival, Warlord Kodos and the Mobian Council have arranged a G-Seven summit meeting with the Mobian World Leaders to figure out a plan of action before any more of Mobius is lost..'

'Things really are getting worse now, aren't they?' Charles Hedgehog murmured as he continued to work on the chipboard using needle-nose pliers and tweezers to manipulate the minute wires and tiny bits of metal. As he spoke the mild-blue hedgehog looked up from the chipboard, lowering his tools and lifting his microscope-spectacles, revealing his pale-blue eyes to the studio-lab around him.

'Yeh, I guess it's hitting home that we're really at war.' Lionel Lion said from the opposite side of Charles' workbench, lifting the safety-goggles away from his eyes. The blonde lion had dropped into his old lab-partner's studio-laboratory to help him put together both his holophones. Right now Lionel was fabricating the old holovision screen, creating a place that would hold the numberpad of this new digital-phone. In one hand was a small-flamed blow-torch; beside him was a long-handled precision-tipped set of pliers, a metal ruler and a small-headed hammer that he'd been using to manipulate the polibindum case held steady by a set of G-clamps on the solid mobibindum-workbench. The idea was that once Lionel and Charles had finished putting together the two holovideo communication systems they would set one up in Charles' lab and the other in the collage lab at Mobotroplis University. They had already sought out the permission of Professor Nate Morgan, though being a man of science himself it wasn't hard to seek approval for the idea.

'Riiight…' A third voice drawled causing the blonde-haired lion-mobian to swivel around from the plastic-product he had been manipulating to find Jules Hedgehog slumped across his brother's wall-bed smirking lazily. 'And all those war propaganda posters and the Mobian Army boys trying to recruit guys like us to..' The cobalt hedgehog then pulled a well-honed army burr and used his fist to emphasis his next words. '-'fight the good fight and protect the Mobius way of life'.' Jules then raised his brows at his best friend, his voice returning to its usual cheerful tone. 'Those things just totally escaped your notice, right?'

'Of course not.' Lionel said, frowning slightly at his best friend as the radio was now announcing the names of some of the fallen soldiers in the background. 'I just meant that sometimes at the university we can kind of forget we're at war.'

'You're lucky Lionel..' Jules replied with a slight smile. '-wish I could escape from the war at work but unfortunately looking miserable in the palace seems to be en vogue at the minute.' The cobalt hedgehog shook his spiny head slowly, wondering ideally how Princess Aleena could still remain cheerful while everybody else in Hedgington Hall was so down and serious.

'I understand how you feel Jules..' Charles finally spoke, throwing his brother a sympathetic look. 'The war is a heavy subject in the Council Building these days.' The mild-blue hedgehog sighed, thinking about when he had gone down to get the patent rights for his holophone designs.

'At least you can come here Charlie; I can't even use Knothole as an escape anymore. Missy has been staying with me in dad's old room because she's lonesome and doesn't like going back to an empty home. Every night before she sleeps she sheds a tear for Buck and prays that Sauna keeps him safe before kissing his picture.' At his little brother's words the mild-quilled older hedgehog brother clicked his tongue sympathetically.

'Jules, you know you're more than welcome here any time.' Charles added with a gentle smile to his little sibling. Yes, Jules was obnoxious and annoying at times and poked his long black nose into everything he did but at the same time his little brother was the light of his life. Charles would never admit it to him but his brother meant everything to him. He'd never been interested in womobians and he certainly wasn't interested in gentlemobians either. All throughout school Charles had never had the same struggles with his emotions, or tugs of the heartstrings that had caused his peers to pair off into couples while he remained glued to knowledge. He eventually came to the conclusion that he was completely asexual and could accept this; it meant that he would be free of sexual desires to pursue his career as an inventor.

'You think I would stop coming over if I wasn't welcome?' Jules kinked a brow in amusement at his older brother with a smirk.

'He's gotta point Chuck..' Lionel said in an agreeable tone, smiling with a light shake of the head.

'No. Something tells me you'd be bugging me more if that was the case..' Charles drawled with narrowed eyes of brotherly affection to his younger sibling.

'Ooh… Charlie you know me so well.' The seventeen year old cobalt-blue hedgehog waved his hand in a mock-camp manner completing it with a cheeky wink and grinning wider to reveal the chip in his right premolar.

'I should hope so; I've only had to put up with you your whole life.' The elder mid-blue hedgehog responded as the final deceased soldier's name was uttered and the radio turned towards the debate topics for this G-Seven summit meeting. 'So where is the G-Seven meeting anyway, the radio isn't saying where they're holding it?' Charles added curiously to his little brother and Jules folded his arms, frowning a little though a small secretive smile remained on his face.

'Sorry Charlie-Boy, I'm not at liberty to say. The king doesn't want the location of the meeting to slip out in case the Overlanders get wind of it and try to attack the Mobian World Leaders. Although I can tell you that I'll be away on duty the day it happens.'

'Makes sense.' Lionel said nodding his head slowly. 'The Overlanders could easily pick up the location through our digital radio airwaves.'

'So your part of the king's elite team this time?' Charles asked his brother kinking a brow curiously.

'Yeh, but it's mostly it's just ground security so it's nothing I don't do on home turf.'

'Mostly grounds?' Charles questioned in the same tone, wondering what else his brother was expected to do on this occupational-trip.

'I'm also expected to act as the princess' personal bodyguard while on this trip.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog added, rolling his eyes in what appeared to be a jaded fashion though really it was just a cover. 'Due to voluntary-draft transfers from our guard into the army we've lost a few good guys so we're a little short-handed.' He expression looked momentarily strained as he thought about Corporal Peckers and the others that had transferred to help the Mobian Army out both at home and abroad in the war. It was just as well he'd gone through such an extensive training program when he'd first joined the Royal Guard.

'Well that should be interesting for you Jules.' The elder Hedgehog brother said in a hinted tone, his other brow rising to join his first. He of course knew about how his brother felt about the princess. Immediately the cobalt hedgehog's hazel eyes lost a little of their usual warmth as Jules frowned, shaking his head a little from side to side to show Charles he wasn't to continue with this. His ticked expression was instantly wiped off his face when Lionel spoke next.

'So what happened to Bernadette?' The blonde lion asked curiously and the cobalt-blue hedgehog merely gazed at him coolly then sighed heavily.

'I had no choice but to break it off Lionel..' Jules finally drawled in a reluctant tone, with a half-glance to his brother hoping his tone was believable. '-things became waay too complicated bud.' His gut twisted uncomfortably as what he was saying was not technically true anymore as he had a secret date with the princess that very evening. The cobalt-blue hedgehog knew it was wrong to lie to them but he also knew that if they knew the full extent of the truth they'd both tell him he was crazy and to stop seeing her.

'Aw, I'm sorry about that pal.' Lionel said sympathetically. 'I know how much you liked her..' Jules hadn't really been listening to the blonde lion; instead his mind had drifted onto the princess. Just picturing her big green eyes, her soft lilac fur and silky blonde quills made his insides quiver in anticipation of their first official date later.

'Yeh…' The cobalt-blue hedgehog sighed, barely keeping the dreamy smile off of his face. To the other two it merely sounded and looked like the cobalt teenager was a little down and they didn't comment on his far-off look, assuming he was reminiscing about the lilac hedgehog.

'So Chuck, did you tell your brother about the symposium you were invited to?' Lionel decided to change the subject, hoping to rouse his cobalt best friend out of his 'funk'…

…And it worked! Jules' hazel eyes instantly snapped onto his older brother with a slight frown of both irritation and confusion.

'What symposium?' The younger Hedgehog brother asked as one brow kinked upwards.

'It's this annual get together the scientific community have where they get together and present new ideas and hand out prizes to those who have made a great impact on Mobius. It's supposed to be a really fancy affair.' Charles responded and Jules gave a low impressed whistle.

'Sounds exciting..' He sounded brightly before qualifying his words. 'Well, exciting for you Charlie.. Is it gonna fancy shindig?'

'Oh yeh, it's a proper black-tie event..' Lionel replied with a smile before looking around to the elder mild-blue hedgehog with a look of bemusement. '-which brings up the subject of what you're going to wear.' Immediately Charles looked unsurely at the younger mobian-lion. The only suit he owned was the one he had worn to his father's funeral and he didn't want to wear that, it would feel inappropriate.

'No worries bud, I can take care of that. I know what looks good on Charlie.' Jules sounded with a wide smirk and immediately the mild-blue hedgehog flashed his little brother a grateful smile. The cobalt hedgehog had a real eye for colour and a knack for choosing the right kind of clothes. 'So when is this symposia-thingy?' Jules' hazel eyes had a bright curious gleam in them now.

'In a couple of weeks time.' Charles replied with a sigh. 'I'm presenting my holophone idea to Professor Owl and the others on that night too, should be plenty of time to finish these prototypes.'

'Alright but I'll be flying out of Mobotroplis at the end of the week so we'll have to get you kitted out before then.' Jules drawled conversationally before his eyes narrowed. 'I think I know exactly how to dress you bro.'

'I don't want anything flashy Jules, just a plain suit alright.' Charles narrowed his pale-blue eyes knowing how Jules usually dressed to get noticed when making an effort. 'No flares, no tails, no top hat… nothing like that. Just a regular boring suit.'

'Alright, alright, take it easy Charlie-Boy, don't give yourself a hernia.' The younger hedgehog brother waved his hands dismissively. 'We'll work something out. So who's your plus one?' He then added curiously.

'I am.' Lionel stated brightly. 'Your brother needs my help with his demonstration and like I'm gonna miss a chance to rub shoulders with Mobius' best and brightest. I may even be able to find an answer to stabilizing the propulsion outlet circuits to my board. Now that I've managed to split the power energy a new problem has emerged; the propulsion outlets just aren't calibrating in sync. It's causing the axis of the board to tilt so it's stuck in a perpetual spiral.' Jules blinked, utterly thrown by these words and not understanding the science behind them.

'Er…. What?' The cobalt hedgehog sounded dumbly.

'He means that although the board floats now it's stuck at an angle and only moves in circles.' Charles simplified Lionel's words for his brother and the younger hedgehog gave a moan of understanding.

'Well, good luck with that bud.' Jules responded in a tone of slight indifference. 'Hope you find an answer soon.'

'Me too…' Lionel added with a slight sigh. '-this project is starting to drive me nuts!' He then paused before turning to Charles once more. The mild-blue hedgehog had gotten out of his swivel-chair and moved towards the kitchen to fix himself a coffee. 'Speaking of which, how's that idea for robotic-transformation coming Chuck?'

'Well, I have figured out that the initial transformation could be possible but first I'm going to have to replicate a robotic droid to act as a digital instruction manual. Then of course, once that's created I will have to study the separate anatomies of every mobian species on the planet so that the CPU of this machine can recognise them and make alterations where necessary. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, this machine is going to take several years of meticulous planning and programing with advanced computerised software before I'll even be ready to build the final prototype.'

'I still think this is a bad idea Charlie..' Jules drawled as his hazel eyes narrowed and he rolled over onto his stomach on the wall-bed, casually glancing at the book his brother had obviously been using as bedtime reading. It was a book on advanced computer programming and the pale-skinned bridge before his long black nose curled in disgust… How boring can you get Charlie?

The night was dark, freezing cold and a thick blanket of snow covered the grounds of Central Green Hill Park. These public grounds were located in right in the heart of Mobotroplis, not too far from Fountain Square. Despite its central location the park grounds were quite vast so it was easy to become lost in amongst its barren trees and thick snow-capped shrubberies. Although the artic-like winter conditions were biting the night air the laughter coming from the solid frozen lake was instantly warming as two teenage hedgehogs clung to each other while sliding together on the solid lake surface. The great expanse of water had a rough kidney shape to it and was surrounded by a dirt footpath which had been trampled on by so many generations that it had been pounded smooth. Along this wide foot-made path was a twin-row of dimly lit power-stone street lamps that were only half the size of the ones in the streets of the city surrounding the park. Central Green Hill Park was surprisingly quiet considering the fact that it was in the middle of Mobotroplis and many mobians used it as a refuge from their hectic lives. To innocent passers-by who could see the male cobalt-blue hedgehog carrying on with his lilac female companion they merely looked like two infatuated teenagers enjoying each other's company. It was a very heart-warming sight for any mobian on such a bitter night and the couple generated smiles from nearly everyone who came across them..

A set of dainty white mittens gripped a larger red-mittened hand, desperately clinging to both it and the sleeve of the navy overcoat that was joined to it. The lilac-furred female hedgehog with blonde quills continued to grip the cobalt-blue male hedgehog's left arm as he guided her into a long sweeping spin across the icy surface of the lake. Her pink-painted lips formed a grimace as she wobbled slightly, a short squeal escaping as her footing remained shaky on the ice. His female companion's noise of panic only made the cobalt male hedgehog laugh some more at her discomfort and whirl her around with more speed and eliciting another shriek of surprise.

Despite her uneasiness on the ice Princess Aleena tried to flash a smile as Jules Hedgehog continued to guide her across the ice, letting her hold onto his good arm for support as he used his cast arm, no longer sling-bound, to steer their twirls. She had never skated across ice in a set regular boots before; this was a completely new experience for her. She had always worn proper ice-skates when on ice and had been shocked to learn that Jules had never worn them in his life, apparently he had never seen the point when he could slide over the ice without them. When they'd first arrived at Central Green Hill Park she thought the original idea had been to merely a stroll in along the power-stone lit park grounds. And that's what they had done until the moment her cobalt-blue boyfriend spotted the solid the frozen icy lake. Then a wide grin had split Jules' muzzle and he gripped her hand tightly, dragging the blonde-quilled princess onto the ice before she could protest that it might be too thin to support them. Before she knew it they were sliding together on the ice, just like they had been dancing together in Macey's the first night they had met.

'Relax Ali..' He sounded brightly, still chortling at her lack of grace and finding this amusing considering her royal status. 'Just go with the flow..' The cobalt hedgehog added as a smile curved his pale-skinned muzzle.

'Ohh, this would be much easier with skates.' The lilac hedgehog replied, a small flush of colour appearing on her pale cheeks. She felt a little silly sliding around the ice of the frozen lake in merely her pink snow-boots.

'Skates?' The cobalt hedgehog snorted, still looking at her in amusement. 'We don't need skates darlin', you can get a real feel for the ice without them.' Jules' smile widened as they straightened out of their spinning and the cobalt hedgehog began pulling her as he moved swiftly along the icy surface, his scuffed brown boots blurred as Jules took off down the frozen lake. Princess Aleena held onto his red-mittened hand tightly and squealed. This time it was a cry of delight as her blonde quills whipped up in the updraft, fluttering behind her lilac-furred face and soft-pink furry hat. Jules turned his cobalt-quilled head to look back at the princess as she closed her pretty green eyes, revealing her rosy-pink eyeshadow. Her smile was radiant and she looked untroubled being dragged along the ice, sliding behind him with more balance now they were moving in a straight line. Princess Aleena looked so beautiful in the dim light of the power-stone park-lights and because he was too busy gazing at her the cobalt hedgehog completely failed to notice the end of the frozen lake. The second Jules' boots switched from smooth ice to snow-covered grass they faltered on the sudden terrain change. His cobalt-blue head suddenly snapped back to the front and his hazel eyes widened in horror. His feet were suddenly left behind as the seventeen year old hedgehog's body lurched forwards. Jules automatically pulled his good arm loose from his date's grip and it moved in front of him to shield his body as his injured arm swung back in a protective manoeuvre. Moving his body in such a manner caused Jules to swivel around and land seconds later with a hard thump on his back, his cobalt back-quills curving around his snow covered body as he breathed hard, slightly winded. His lilac-furred companion, who had been sliding and flailing unsteadily nanoseconds behind him, screeched and tripped on the snowy-grassy verge just as he had done and landed with a flump, face down in the snow next to him.

'Al…' Jules' voice came out a little breathless as his head snapped around to the royal hedgehog as she lifted her blonde-quilled head out of the snow. 'You alright?' Princess Aleena suddenly giggled freely as she pushed herself upright, brushing the snow off of her three-quarter length violet jacket with soft-pink fur-trim.

'That was fun!' The lilac-furred hedgehog exclaimed brightly, before pulling herself upright and wiping the snow from her deep plum knitted-leggings. She then turned her emerald-green eyes towards her cobalt companion who was easing himself carefully upright. 'Thank you for bringing me out here.' Princess Aleena added sweetly to him making her cobalt partner smile.

'Hey, no problem Ali. I'm just sorry we haven't had a chance to do this sooner.' Jules replied amiable, his smile waning slightly. It had taken the young hedgehog couple just over a week to find the right time to sneak out on their first official date. Jules had been working nights after the debutant and Princess Aleena had been busy with the studies that were grooming her to become the next ruler of Mobius. It had been difficult but they had finally managed to find a night where they were both able to slip out and meet for an official date.

'Well, we're here together now, right? That's all that matters.' The blonde-quilled royal hedgehog said reassuringly as Jules straightened his old white and red striped scarf using both hands. The cobalt hedgehog then brushed the excess snow off of his navy overcoat and denim jeans before hauling himself up off of the ground, standing in front of her on the edge of the frozen lake.

'Yeh, your right Ali.' The seventeen year old hedgehog's smile slowly crept back onto his muzzle. He then noticed a shiver run over her as the princess was still sitting in the freezing snow and the cold night air was starting to seep into her. Jules immediately extended his uninjured arm out to her and pulled her up off of the snow-covered grassy verge, letting her fall against his chest as he curled his arms around her svelte frame. Princess Aleena slipped her arms around his shoulders feeling a slight flush of warmth cover her pale-skinned cheeks that had nothing to do with the fact that his body heat was staving off the night air.

'Come on Ali, whadda you say we get out of the cold? I know a place not too far from here that does a great hot chocolate.' The cobalt hedgehog suggested as he began guiding her up the snow-covered grassy verge and back onto the smooth path of the park grounds. They stood together as Jules had one arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her pressed into him so his body continued to keep her warm. Fresh flakes of snow had begun to fall down from the pitch black sky, dancing gently towards the frozen ground and swirling around them like tiny bits of white confetti.

'Sounds like a wonderful idea.' She replied amiably before pushing herself up onto the tip-toes of her pink snow-boots, kissing his pale-skinned cheek affectionately and the two of them began walking once more, heading towards the nearest park exit..

As they approached a cosy little coffee shop at the western entrance of Central Green Hill Park the lilac-furred female hedgehog smiled at the quaint rustic-style building that stood in front of the mass-maze of mobian urban-life. It looked rather like a little gingerbread cottage out of some long forgotten fairy-tale and the park beyond it was just like a snowy land of wonder, waiting to be explored. As Jules approached the wooden door he pulled it open with his good arm before throwing his blonde-quilled date a charismatic smile.

'After you miss.' The cobalt-blue hedgehog murmured in an oddly polite voice which didn't suit him, the fingers of his cast-bound hand beckoning the lilac-furred hedgehog inside the little late-night coffee shop. Princess Aleena couldn't stifle the light-hearted giggling that bubbled forth at this and she covered her mouth demurely with a dainty white-mittened hand. Her bright green eyes narrowed in both amusement and affection at his earnest attempt to be a gentlemobian for her.

'Thank you, my dear sir.' The princess replied in a soft tender voice as she moved beside her cobalt-blue boyfriend so she was stood in the threshold. Princess Aleena then leant in and kissed him sweetly on the lips before moving inside and looking around the coffee shop with interest.

'You're welcome darlin'..' He intoned softly, feeling slightly punch-drunk as she turned away from him and gazed around the coffee shop. It was kitsh and cute, decorated with many vintage hand-painted cups, saucers and teapots. Instead of the standard table and chairs that most bistros had further in town this place had plush comfy couches and low-sitting coffee tables perfect for couples who wanted to snuggle together with their hot beverages. At the far end of the little bistro was a roaring fire with decorative solid-wood surround which kept the whole place warm and toasty.

While Jules ordered their drinks and waited for them he let the princess pick out where they were going to sit. Predictably she picked the couch nearest the fire and the cobalt male hedgehog watched with dilated narrow hazel eyes as the lithe lilac female hedgehog pulled off her violet jacket with pink-trim revealing a white long-sleeved top which showed off her slim figure and the Heart of Mobius around her neck. Jules was so busy staring at the princess as she then pulled off her pink furry hat and white mittens then proceed to fluff her blonde quills that he failed to notice that his order was ready. He had to be prompted by the waitress behind the till. The cobalt hedgehog then apologised feeling slightly stupid before handing over his mobians and scooping up the drinks before moving to where the princess was now sitting, waiting for him.

'So what do you think Bernie?' Jules asked her with a smirk, still calling her 'Bernadette' as they had agreed to do while out in public together so nobody would realise her true identity.

'It's so lovely in here.' Princess Aleena beamed as Jules passed her one of the large mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows and a sprinkling of cocoa powder on top. 'I feel like I'm in some kind of fairy-tale cottage overlooking a land of wonder and adventure.' She sounded animatedly and her wide green eyes brightened as the royal hedgehog sat up a little so she could watch the snow falling onto the already white grounds of Central Green Hill Park. Jules couldn't help but smile wider at his date's eager expression, glad that this place had her seal of approval.

'Yeh.. I think that was the whole idea..' The cobalt hedgehog replied as he sunk down into the plush couch beside her and turning his eyes to the wintery scene outside, seeing how it would look like a place of wonder to her.. This was all so brand new to her.

'I'm glad you brought me here Jules.' She murmured as the princess finally tore her green eyes away from the winter wonderland outside and back to his warm hazel eyes.

'Well if you like the place, wait until you try their hot chocolate.' The cobalt hedgehog responded and Princess Aleena lowered herself back into her seat beside him and picked up her mug and teaspoon, stirring the hot chocolate silently so that none of the powder would stick to the bottom of the cup. The tinkling noise of Jules stirring his own mug made her lilac ears twitch before the young princess pulled her own teaspoon out, setting it neatly on the napkin beside her then extending her hand and stopping him from stirring. As her small pale-skinned hand covered his Jules immediately looked around to her gentle green gaze.

'You don't need to be so rough..' Princess Aleena sounded before pulling her hand away.

'Oh. I'm sorry.' He replied with a slight smile tweaking his lips. 'Is there a right way to stir?'

'Well, sure… I mean, there's a proper etiquette to it but I guess there is no 'wrong' way to stir a cup.' The lilac-furred princess sounded feeling a bit silly for stopping him from stirring merely because she was not used to the tinkling sound of the metal hitting the sides of the mug. The cobalt-blue hedgehog only smiled at the slight flush that appeared on her cheeks at this point.

'Ok, so why don't you show me the 'proper' way to stir Bernie.' Jules said with a hint of both amusement and seriousness to his voice. Though he found the idea of her stopping him from stirring merely because he was doing it wrong amusing, the male hedgehog also felt that if he was going to date a princess he should learn the correct way just for her.

'You really want me to show you?' Princess Aleena blinked her emerald-green eyes in amazement at the cobalt-blue male hedgehog beside her.

'Sure thing darlin'..' He drawled amiably, his smile widening to reveal the chip in his right-side premolar.

'Alright then Jules, if you insist.' Princess Aleena said with a smile and pulled his teaspoon out of his cup and wiped it with his napkin. 'First the mug must remain on the table and the spoon enters the liquid at the right-hand side. Then you stir slowly in a small clockwise arc, it's considered quite rude to make unnecessary noise by hitting the sides.' She demonstrated the movement of stirring silently in her own mug before pulling the teaspoon out of the cup. 'Never hit your spoon off the top of your cup and always place it neatly to the side when finished with it. Then you're good to go.' The lilac-furred princess smiled sweetly as Jules gazed at her in amazement.

'Wow. That doesn't look so hard.' The cobalt hedgehog then mimicked her stirring only hitting the side of his mug once as he stirred, cursing mildly as he did so as he'd really been trying not to make a noise. The princess giggled at him as he made this one error then set his spoon on his napkin like she had done. He then lifted his cup with his uninjured left hand as the princess lifted hers with her right hand.

'Are you left-handed Jules?' Princess Aleena asked gently wondering if he was using his normal hand or if the fact that his right hand being bound in a cast was forcing him to rely on his left.

'Yeh, I am but thanks to my old kindergarten teacher forcing me to do things right-handed I'm ambidextrous in most things now.' The cobalt hedgehog replied before frowning a little.

'Your teacher forced you to write with your right hand when you were left-handed?' The princess gasped horrified, setting her hot mug on the table before she had even taken her first sip.

'Sure, it used to be standard practise back then. In fact I believe I was one of the last to get the 'ruler rap' as the Minister of Education abolished that kind of 'corrective punishment' when I was seven.' The cobalt hedgehog flashed a slick grin. At seven years old he was still young enough to learn to write with both hands and not be punished in class for using his left more often.

'What happened to your teacher then?' The princess' emerald eyes widened as she gazed in anticipation; fascinated to know what happened next.

'She retired the same year.' Jules replied, flicking his quill of cobalt-blue back as it had flopped into his eyes. 'My dad reckoned that she had no choice.. Old Mrs Squirrel was so set in her ways that she would never have coped with the new punishment guidelines. She moved to Lake Valley shortly after my dad's funeral wanting to be closer to relatives. It's Missy and Buck that own her cabin now. Did you try your hot chocolate?' He then added innocently at the end knowing full well that she hadn't had her first sip.

'Oh, no. Sorry.' The lilac-furred female hedgehog flushed a little then picked up her mug which was a little heavier than the fine bone-mobia teacups she was so used to holding. This meant she was forced to hold it in both hands and as a mobian of high society she knew that if any of her peers saw her doing this she'd be instantly glared at as this was a big no-no. Fortunately they would never be seen in a place like this so she was free from the usual repressive form of set etiquette she was expected as a princess to follow. As soon as Princess Aleena realised that she was, in this moment, free from the rigorous rules of etiquette that she'd had to follow all of her life she sank back into the couch in a slouch unbefitting of a lady of her stature. Relaxing as the warmth of the mug filled her hands the blonde-quilled hedgehog lifted her hot chocolate to her pink-painted lips and took a long sip. The moment the sweet, sticky brown liquid hit her taste-buds she immediately was seduced by the warm, creamy, chocolate that filled her mouth. As she swallowed it the lilac-furred hedgehog let out a pleasant sigh, closing her eyes and leaning back and letting herself sink further into the plush couch.

'It's good, isn't it?' Jules murmured from beside her and Princess Aleena opened her eyes and turned her blonde-quilled head towards the cobalt-blue hedgehog.

'It's absolutely delicious, thank you.' The princess sounded in agreement then smiled warmly as the cobalt-blue hedgehog slipped his uninjured arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him so her blonde-quilled head was resting on his shoulder. His white-gloved fingers played with her silky long blonde quills absent-mindedly as his hazel eyes gazed off into the glowing fire in front of them. There was a light furrow in his brow as his mouth was set in a brooding line underneath his long black nose. The lilac-furred female hedgehog turned her head a little so she could gaze up at his face, wondering idly what he was thinking as the index fingers of his bound hand twitched restlessly. It then hit the princess as she felt the fingers of his other hand suddenly brush through her quills in the wrong direction that he seemed to be miming the strumming of strings while his bound fingers could easily have been holding chords… He missed his guitar! With his broken arm the cobalt hedgehog wouldn't have been able to strum his most cherished possession..

'Jules..' The moment his name escaped Princess Aleena's pink-painted lips the spell of mimicking guitar strums ceased and the cobalt hedgehog's hazel eyes widened before his pupils swivelled around to her. She regretted breaking him out of his absent-minded strumming of her quills because he'd gone from looking serene to looking like he'd been caught doing a misdeed.

'Oh. Sorry hon, was I irritating you?' Jules sounded apologetic and moving back from her so she was now leaning on the bicep of his arm instead of his shoulder. His hazel eyes seemed to be searching her face as if looking for forgiveness for his actions.

'No, of course not.' Princess Aleena sounded honestly, not wanting him to feel guilty for doing nothing wrong. 'It was just a little strange.' She added with a kind smile not wanting him to feel bad for missing his instrument and wishing she'd never stopped him.

'I'm sorry.' He uttered again pulling his arm back around and picked up his mug, sipping the last of his hot chocolate before placing his cup on the coffee table.

'Please, don't be.' The princess immediately placed her half-drunk mug on the table before turning to face him properly and holding his pale-skinned muzzle in both her dainty hands. The tips of her fingers ran along the outline of his muzzle gently. 'I'm the one who should be sorry. I forgot that with your arm bound in a cast you won't be able to play your guitar.' Jules immediately sighed before a smile curved his muzzle and his larger white-gloved fingers curled around hers and pulled them away from his face.

'It's ok. I only gotta suffer another week at the most and then I can strum all the music I want.' He paused as his brows raised and he added as his smile twisted wryly. 'You know what the first thing I'm gonna do when I have my guitar back in my arms?'

Princess Aleena shook her blonde-quilled head as her green eyes closed momentarily, having no idea what he would do.

'I'm gonna write you a song.' Jules replied and immediately the princess' eyes widened in delight and amazement, gasping as a flattered smile curved her pale-skinned muzzle.

'Really? You want to write me a song?' The lilac-furred female hedgehog gazed up into his face in wonder. His talent with a guitar had always delighted her and she vaguely remembered him saying he'd sing her a song back when he'd first shown an interest in getting to know her, but to actually receive a song from him personalized just for her brought a pleasant fluttering to her insides.

'Sure I do. You're my girl.' The cobalt hedgehog winked playfully. 'Why wouldn't I write you a song?' His warm-hazel eyes narrowed affectionately as he gazed into the depths of her narrowed emerald-green eyes. 'That's kinda what I was thinking about when I was..' He tailed off as his cobalt-blue eyelids lifted slightly and his soft smile twisted into a sheepish smirk.

'When you were strumming my quills.' The princess finished his sentence as her own eyes narrowed a little more and her smile widened in an adoring fashion, finding this shy, awkward side to him very endearing. He really was useless at sharing his inner feelings but she was finding him easy enough to read.

'Um, yeh…' Jules murmured as he ran the fingers of his uninjured hand through his quiff of blue quills in slight embarrassment. 'Well, I was just trying to play with a melody but without being able to strum ideas and refine a tune I'm kinda shooting in the dark at the moment.'

'Oh, now I feel bad for disturbing your train of thought.' Princess Aleena said in a soft sweet voice as her eyelashes fluttered with innocent allure. She then leant forward and picked up her half-drunk mug, leant back and began to sip her hot chocolate once more. In immediate response Jules, who had already finished his own mug, leant forwards into the side of her soft lilac-furred face. His hazel eyes were still narrowed as he watched her sip her drink in a demure lady-like fashion before the mug lowered as she returned it to the table.

'Don't..' His voice oozed with a low fervent tone. Jules then hooked the princess around her soft round chin and tilted her to so she was facing him fully. 'I don't want you to feel bad on our first date.' Princess Aleena smiled brightly at his words before pushing herself up straight and kissing him right on his lips. Immediately her arms wrapped around his shoulders as Jules responded eagerly to her kiss and his unbound hand caressed her jawline before entwining its white-gloved fingers in her blonde quills. He moved his cast-bound arm so that it was resting comfortably on her back, cradling her gently to him. This time it was Princess Aleena who surprised Jules by pressing harder onto his lips as if encouraging him to deepen their kiss. Her breathing had quickened and his slim fingers were stroking the front of his bright-red vest top, following the seam-line of his closed white zipper.

Perhaps it was because none of the other mobians around them were staring at the young hedgehogs, merely presuming that they were just another loved-up couple enjoying each other's company. Complying with her bold move Jules pressed further and slipped his tongue inside her mouth feeling hers respond by tentatively touching his as it swirled. She seemed to be more in tune with her own breathing as even though it was still uneven it was not quite as erratic as it had been before. Her kisses were no longer as wet either. With every kiss they shared the blonde-quilled princess seemed to grow in confidence, becoming braver in her touches and caresses. His the cobalt male twirled his fingers through her mane of blonde quills Princess Aleena stroked up his shoulders and slipped her hands around his back, touching his long head quills for the first time.

'Al..' Jules moaned softly with a slight frown of concern but before he could protest further the princess pressed her pink-painted lips harder as her tongue stroked his encouragingly, forcing him to respond with vigour. His head quills were much coarser than hers were, rather than being soft they felt bristly and rough as she ran her fingers through them.

'Ouch!' The blonde-quilled female suddenly squealed, ripping away from Jules' lips as she pricked herself sharply on the edge of one of his quills. Pulling away from him and bringing the fingers of her injured hand back around as her other remained around his shoulders. The cobalt hedgehog raised his cast arm and took hold of her hand, which had a cobalt-blue quill sticking out of her middle finger.

'Yeh, sorry. Best not to get too friendly with the quills.' Jules flashed Princess Aleena's a sheepish grin before raising her hand and studying it like it was a splinter. Although her skin was pink and a little inflamed by his quill it didn't look deep enough to cause any bleeding. 'It doesn't look so bad darlin'. You want me to pull it out?' He asked her gently and Princess Aleena nodded with a wince as it felt like the same pain that came from getting a sharp splinter.

'Please..' She uttered softly as at her response Jules unhooked his uninjured arm from around her waist and took hold of his rouge quill. With one swift yank the quill came free and the lilac-furred female only gave a little flinch of discomfort before feeling instantly better for having it out. Jules flicked the offending quill away before lifting her wounded finger to his lips and kissing it tenderly. This caused the blonde-quilled hedgehog to giggle as his tongue ran over her injury.

'Alright Bernie, whadda you say I get you home before anything else happens.' Jules said with a sigh and a smile..

…As the concealed entrance in the back of the dressing room fireplace opened Princess Aleena stepped back inside her private chambers. She then turned her green eyes back towards the fireplace where Jules was now standing on the threshold to her dressing room. He made no attempt to follow her inside knowing it was considered highly inappropriate to enter the princess' boudoir.

'I had a wonderful time tonight Jules.' Princess Aleena replied, pulling the soft-pink furry hat off of her head and placing it down on the dressing table before peeling off her white mittens.

'Me too darlin'..' The cobalt-blue hedgehog intoned with a warm smile. The princess took off her jacket and hung it on a coat-hanger. She then walked back over to the fireplace and stood in front of Jules with a sweet smile. The cobalt male hedgehog then raised his unbound left hand and touched her cheek and the lilac-furred female leant into it.

'Remember Ali, we need to be really careful if we're gonna make this work between us.' Jules murmured softly as he leant his head a little towards her lilac pointed-ear, his arm moved from her face to curl her around the shoulders and slide to her mid-back.

'Will we always have to sneak around?' Princess Aleena asked in a quiet, almost inaudible whisper.

'Hopefully not but for now, it's the only way. We can't risk your dad or anyone close to him in the palace knowing that we're together like this.' The cobalt hedgehog sighed and lowered his long black nose to the top of her head as his bandaged right arm encircled her into a warm embrace.

'So nobody can know about us?' The blonde-quilled hedgehog asked curiously, her green eyes looking up towards the side of his head as she could only see a corner of his pale-skinned muzzle and his long cobalt-blue head-quills.

'Well…' Jules murmured back, stroking the underside of his muzzle thoughtfully as a slight frown crossed his brows. It didn't seem fair to just expect her not to tell a single soul. 'I guess we could just keep this between us and a few close friends we know we can trust.' He pulled back so he could look down into her pretty green eyes while still holding her close. Princess Aleena immediately leant up and kissed him compassionately.

'It's a deal.' She replied with a bright smile as she pulled away. 'Thank you for tonight, it was fun.'

'Hey, no problem and the pleasure was all mine.' Jules replied as he run his hands over her back before pulling away and moving back into the secret passageway.

'Will we see each other before the G-Seven summit meeting takes place on the Floating Island?' Princess Aleena asked both curious and hopeful at the same time.

'I dunno darlin' but if not then I promise to find us a little private time while we're away.' Jules replied with a wide grin and immediately the princess' emerald-green eyes brightened at his words.

'I'll hold you to that.' Princess Aleena replied immediately.

'Hmmm… you do that.' Jules sounded in a low gentle voice, leaning into her and giving her a short but sweet kiss goodbye. The lilac-furred female pulled back biting her lower lip to savour the moment then smiled sweetly at him.

'Goodnight my darling.' She uttered softly as the cobalt hedgehog put his hand to the lever that would close the secret doorway from his side.

'Night Ali..' He replied with a smile before pulling down the switch and the back stone-wall of the fire surround slid back into place..

Little Notes:

Hey Peeps, sorry for the slightly late update… been distracted as usual, my bad. Anyway, hope you all enjoy and get inspired to draw some cool artwork as it inspires me… I was inspired by a piece by AllesiaTheHedgehog on deviantArt which featured Jules and Bernie ice-skating which I thought was cute. Obviously I had a little different a view in my head about how Jules and Princess Aleena would go about it but hopefully it's still cute.. Speaking of artwork I have yet to complete my cover for my story, as you have noticed I'm sure. It's an even slower process than writing these chapters as I want it to be right..

Anyway, as a little side note: The geography of Mobius is based loosely on Earth's continent layout. I figured it would probably be easiest to just stick with the Sonic X and Sonic Adventure theory that both Earth and Mobius are technically the same planet on different planes of existence.. Confusing, I know but it means that I have merely replaced or rewritten the names of continents and oceans to suit my story. For example: Africa is Efrika, the Terra Sea is the Mediterranean Sea, Mercia is Europe, Mobius in the place of North America while South America will be the Echidnae homeland and the Sapphire Ocean will be the Atlantic Ocean… I state this so you have a rough idea how I perceive the Mobius planet layout and hopefully will be able to spot where things are geographically… I've never actually found a full map of Mobius so it's pretty hard and I'm just winging it to be honest.

Also, I'm really itching to write another chapter on Chuck but after the reception my first one got, not great, I'm a little nervous. It would basically feature his time at the symposia and wheat else he got up to while his little brother was away, though Jules will be making an appearance in the chapter too. Anyway, let me know what you think about the idea…

Until next time…

~Ditzy x