Chapter 25
When the day of the concert finally arrives, they spend all afternoon at the venue setting everything up and building the temporary stage. Manic drives the van back and forth to transport all the equipment over from the base. Sonia sets up the background screen, projector and laptop with Cyrus and they check all the background images line up with their performance. Star unfolds the stall table and unpacks all the band merch ready for selling later on. Sonic speeds around getting the lights, speaker amps and everything else set up and ready.
They decided they're donating all the ticket sales to the rescue centre and Sonic and Manic feel really proud when Sonia told them how much they'd raised so far. They were also planning to donate all the profit they make from band merch sales tonight.
Sonic, Manic and Sonia have one more practice rehearsal on stage to check everything is perfect.
"It's such a relief once it all comes together," Sonia sighs happily.
She has been stressing out a lot trying to get everything done in time and finally feels calm now it's almost over.
"Now all we have to do is wait," Sonic says, hating this part.
Once it's time for the doors to open, Cyrus and Trevor stand at the door to check tickets and make sure no uninvited guests arrive. Star is busy with a long line of fans desperate to buy band merch before the concert. A few other freedom fighters help out on food and drink stalls.
Sonic, Manic and Sonia wait in the dressing room getting ready. Sonic plays a game on his cell phone while he's waiting, then looks up and notices that Star is now backstage and goes over.
"I thought you were selling merch," he says, interrupting her and Manic's conversation.
"We've sold out already," Star shrugs. "I had to close up the stall and hide in here 'cause some fans were kicking off."
"I'll tell sis we need to order more next time," Sonic says and then pulls Manic over to tell him off.
"Bro, you know the rules," he indicates over to Star. "No girls backstage, apart from sis obviously."
"But you said mates are allowed backstage," Manic smirks, "and Star is friends with you and Sonia so that means she's allowed in."
Sonic feels annoyed that he's got around the rules, "fine, but no making out or she's banned."
Manic shakes his head at Sonic's strict backstage rules and returns back to Star. Sonic checks on Sonia and notices she's still applying makeup using the mirror.
"Girls always take forever to get ready," Sonic grumbles to himself.
He starts tuning his guitar and then waits impatiently. He gets bored and decides to speed out and get chilidogs.
"Urgh, couldn't those have waited until afterwards?" Sonia complains, hating the strong chili smell that now pollutes the dressing room.
"I have to keep my energy up," Sonic shrugs and gobbles down the rest of them.
"Dude, I am totally freaking out," Manic says, looking anxious. "There's way more fans at this gig. What if I screw up drumming and you guys can't follow? I need pot so bad right now."
"Manic, calm the fuck down," Sonic tells him loudly and shakes him.
Sonia rolls her eyes at Sonic's attempt to help and pushes past him to look after Manic.
"It's going to be okay," she says soothingly. "Just take a few deep breathes, you don't need drugs. It's just stage fright, you'll get over it once we start playing."
"You're an awesome drummer, Manic," Star reassures him. "You won't screw it up."
She offers him his favourite drink, a shot of Jack Daniels, to try and help calm him down. Manic takes it gratefully and knocks it back, feeling a little better.
"If any of us mess up, just carry on with the song," Sonic tells them. "The fans don't even realise if we keep playing and we've got the lyrics memorized."
"I need to go through my vocal exercises, I don't want to be off key," Sonia excuses herself and goes off to practice.
Star cuddles up to Manic to comfort him and he smiles.
"Are you gonna watch from outside?" he asks her.
"Yeah, I wouldn't miss it," Star answers excitedly.
Manic grins and feels happy that his girlfriend is there to watch and support him.
"I hate waiting. Why can't we just go on already?" Sonic moans.
"Bro, give the fans chance to get here," replies Manic. "They're not all fast like you. Besides, they only found out where it's at this morning."
"I hope this doesn't backfire," Sonic worries a little, knowing how much bad attention the concert could bring them. "I asked Cy to keep watch outside in case Buttnik sends anyone."
After nearly an hour of waiting, Trevor informs them that it's time to go on.
"Ready?" Sonic asks Manic, who looks nervous again.
Manic downs another shot then nods. Sonia brushes down her outfit and fluffs her hair, preparing herself.
Sonic speeds out onto the stage first as always and grins happily at the loud reception he gets. Fangirls are screaming and guys are cheering. Sonia follows and waves to everyone, pleased with the turn out. Manic doesn't dare look towards the huge crowd and jumps behind the safety of his drum kit. He takes a deep breath and keeps his eyes down on the kit, twirls his drum sticks and gets ready for the signal from his brother.
Sonic greets the crowd, loving to be the centre of attention, while Sonia gets ready behind her keyboard. Luckily they made sure everything was set up perfectly so they don't have to waste time adjusting and testing microphones.
"Let's get things started with something you can all sing along to," Sonic tells them. "This is the first song we released as a band."
He looks back at Manic with a slight nod, and Manic clicks his sticks and starts drumming hard.
Sonia and Sonic begin to play along and they all sing the first verse. Once they get to the second chorus, they all stop singing as rehearsed and Sonic holds out the microphone so the crowd can sing along instead. They all smile with pride when the audience belts out all the words, then they return to singing the next verse.
Half way through the concert, Sonic and Manic get out the t-shirt cannons they've bought specially for the gig.
"Who wants a free t-shirt?" Sonic calls out and the crowd cheer excitedly.
"Sonic! I said we shouldn't use those," Sonia yells over the noise.
"Relax, we'll try not to take anyone out with it," Sonic replies loudly. "Just be glad it's not filled with chilidogs like I wanted."
Sonia rolls her eyes.
Sonic takes the right side of the stage while Manic takes the left, and they fire out a few rolled up t-shirts, shooting in different areas and trying not to hit anyone. The fans scream excitedly and try to catch them.
After two more songs, Sonic winks over at Manic, who grins and runs towards the front of the stage. Sonia realises what he's doing and begins to feel nervous.
"Manic, be careful!" she yells at him.
He jumps off the stage and dives into the crowd. Sonic whips out his cell phone to record it and smirks, half hoping Manic will fail the crowd surfing and fall, because that would make a funny band video. However, the surprised crowd successfully catch him and pass him backwards. He grins triumphantly as he lies on his back and travels through the crowd.
"This is totally awesome!" he calls out and laughs at how ticklish it is.
Once he's reached the end, Manic jumps back down to the floor. It's too crowded to get back to the stage from here, so he has to run out and take the long way around through backstage.
Sonic knows he needs to distract the fans while Manic is returning.
"Who wants a kiss from Sonia?" he calls out.
Manic had joked about the fans wanting this earlier, after receiving a lot of suggestions on their band page, and he'd dared Sonic to do it.
Sonia gives Sonic a disapproving look, but she can't refuse with the fans looking so hopeful and excited. A lot of boys and a few girls are jumping up and down screaming to be chosen.
"Pick someone," Sonic tells her.
Sonia uncertainly scans the crowd and points out a shy, male sixteen year old near the front. He looks really nervous as he makes his way through the crowd. Sonic and Sonia help pull him up onto the stage and then Sonia gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. The boy blushes and everyone cheers.
"I'll get you back later," she loudly warns Sonic, as the fan returns to the crowd.
"I had to, Manic dared me," he replies.
"Then I'll get revenge on you both," she replies and goes back to her keyboard.
Manic gets back on stage and behind his drum kit, panting from all that running.
They play the last three songs and finish to deafening cheers.
"I think that went well," Sonic yells to them over the noise as they leave the stage.
"Totally," Manic grins.
His anxiety has long gone and now he's pumped up on adrenaline and feeling hyper. He's really happy he finally got to crowd surf.
Sonia goes straight for her water bottle and has a long drink.
"Okay, let's finish our meet and greet and then we can get outta here," Sonic tells them.
"Hold on, I need to freshen up first," Sonia says and goes off to check on her appearance and use body spray.
Sonic and Manic gulp down water too.
"Ewww, you're almost melting, bro," Sonic teases Manic.
Manic is dripping with sweat after all the drumming and has to wipe himself over with a towel and apply more deodorant.
"You stink too," Manic retorts and throws him the can.
"No I don't!" Sonic catches it.
He quickly uses it when he thinks Manic isn't looking.
Two fangirls are lurking nearby away from the excited line waiting to enter the meet and greet room. Dingo has been shape shifted into a teenage girl, looking similar to the other fans waiting. He's got blonde pigtails and wearing a band t-shirt and skinny jeans. Sleet is wearing a long, black wig, glasses and a hoodie. With their perfect disguises and the concert tickets they were forced to buy, they had managed to get past Cyrus and Trevor into the venue.
"My ears hurt," Dingo whines. "Why are concerts so noisy?"
Sleet shudders, "as much as I hated every second of that horrible concert, it will be worth it once we get our hands on Sonic."
"I don't want to see Sonia again, it makes me sad," Dingo says, feeling hurt and teary eyed.
He thought she looked beautiful up on stage earlier, but all he could think about was her mystery boyfriend and the aching pain in his heart.
"She won't be around for much longer," Sleet grins evilly. "I can't wait for those hedgehog brats to be robotisized."
"When do we catch him, Sleet?" Dingo asks eagerly.
"Not here…there are too many people around," Sleet decides. "We'll surprise him later when he's alone. Once he's out of the way, Sonia and Manic will be easy to arrest."