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 besides 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:
NyxSeth27: Glad you like this chap hun, this one's slightly longer as I wanted to introduce a few new characters and try to get this fic going a bit quicker! X
Slayer 666; The parents I use in this fic will give you clues to what kids are going to be in this. Though this fic will end when most of them are babies and toddlers as this focuses more on the parents. Though it's funny you should mention Sally's parents because they get a slight mention in this chapter and will be appearing later. Although Max is obviously not King in this story he will be in a pretty high-powered job (which I won't give away just yet). As for Manic and Sonia, I honestly don't know if I'll use them yet, I'll have to get back to you on that… I hope you are enjoying the fic though! X
Chapter Three:What A Knockout!
Grunts and groans broke the usual serenity around the northern lip of Knothole's small crystal blue lake. Then with these straining noises an array of nets, heavy logs and sand bags were all strategically placed to form and impressive assault course.
'Easy… easy… little to the left..' The blonde lion adjusted his rounded spectacles as he oversaw the final log beam being erected to create a colossal climbing net over the water of the lake. 'Perfect!' The lion declared brightly as a white and silver-striped tiger and a navy walrus secured the post in place while a towering white polar bear held it's position securely. It had not been hard for Charles and Lionel to convince the rest of Jules' friends to help them build the assault course for their cobalt-blue best friend. In fact, the moment the others heard that the two of them were rigging up the course to help the sixteen year old hedgehog train for the Royal Guard they insisted in helping. Both Sherman and Tig were now on their first R&R break from their divisions in the Mobian Army so they had two weeks of freedom before they were recalled into the barracks. They hadn't planned their time off it was just a happy coincidence and the fact that it coincided with Gus' final days in Mobotroplis made it even better.
'Alright Gus, you can let go now..' Sherman grinned up at the large polar bear and Gus gingerly released his hold on the large wooden pole, which didn't even budge proving it was secure. With only a couple of weeks left until he was due to leave for the Artic Regions Gus had been keen to support his cobalt best friend any way he could and his gigantic size and strength certainly came in handy during the construction of the assault course. With the last post in place Sherman, Tig and Gus all backed away so they could take in the newly constructed course. Lionel looked at Charles and they exchanged a grin before they admired their joint design effort. It had taken the five of them a whole week to assemble but they'd managed to construct the whole thing without Jules even getting a hint of it. Admittedly this wasn't too hard as the cobalt sixteen year old hedgehog was either off training or out working.
'Well Chuck, if this doesn't challenge your brother nothing will.' Lionel said cheerily with a warm smile towards the elder mild-blue hedgehog.
'Oh this'll challenge Juice, it's gotta be the hardest course I've ever seen!' Tig exclaimed as his grey eyes surveyed the difficult course. The nets were high above the edge of the lake while the gaps between the challenges were almost impossible without Jules' speed. The course started out behind the Hedgehog family home and began with a run through the forest, a forty-five degree run up a fallen tree led to a swing which would propel the teen hedgehog towards the first net. After this net he would have to bounce through a succession of old tyres and strategically placed obstacles towards the second net which hung out over the edge of the lake. This was necessary as due to the height of the net the deep water below would soften the blow of a fall. The second net was the last built obstacle but Jules had to find a way across the expanse of water to the finish at the other shore.
'It sure is!' Sherman agreed as his eyes scanned the huge course. 'Not even the Army courses are this tough, you guys sure Juice call do this?' The walrus blinked towards the mild-blue hedgehog and Charles smirked in response.
'Oh Jules can handle this.. Trust me.' The mild-blue hedgehog responded lightly, he had calculated everything out precisely based on the results of the speed and agility tests he'd done on his brother.
'If anyone can pull this off it's Juice.' Lionel grinned. 'He wouldn't say no to a challenge like this.'
'Well I wanna be here for the maiden run, I have to see how he's gonna pull this off..' Gus sounded jovially.
'Me too.' Sherman added excitedly, his eyes widening as he tried to imagine his friend on the course.
'Well, stick around for the unveiling..' Charles threw the large polar bear a smile. 'Jules should be back from his shift at Lickety-Splits soon..'
'In that case boys we better get back to the house before he does.' Tig declared and immediately the five of them turned away from the course and headed back towards the Hedgehog home.
'Charlie..?' Jules called out as he entered the front door of the home he shared with his brother. There was no response to his call but this didn't bother the cobalt teenage hedgehog. If his brother was in his make-shift lab, which used to be the dining room, then his mild-blue brother was often too deep in his tinkering to hear him. Jules headed down the hallway towards the former dining room and pushed open the door, expecting to find his older brother immersed in his latest 'idea'. The cobalt hedgehog's hazel eyes widened in surprise when he found the room empty. It wasn't like Charles not to be working on something.. As Jules pondered the whereabouts of his older brother he wandered idly towards the kitchen at the back of the house, perhaps the fridge door would provide a clue. However when the cobalt hedgehog arrived in front of the fridge he blinked at the sticky note in Charles' writing: Come outside…Jules rolled his eyes though he was more curious than irked to see what his brother was planning. Deciding to quench his thirst before indulging his big brother's whims the cobalt teen opened the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice. He then grabbed a glass off the drying rack and filled it with the soft yellowy-orange liquid before putting the carton back in the fridge again. Downing the citrusy drink and enjoying the burst that sent his taste-buds into a tizzy, Jules smacked his lips before dumping the glass in the sink basin and heading out towards the door leading to the garage.
When the cobalt teen exited the log-cabin through the garage where Charles kept his motorbike Jules' warm hazel eyes narrowed as he couldn't see his brother. His pointed ears suddenly twitched as the cobalt hedgehog picked up the sounds of laughter from further around the log-cabin. Following the sounds Jules turned the corner to find not only Charles but his four best friends waiting there too.
'So… what's up guys?' The sound of his curious voice made everyone turn in the direction of the cobalt sixteen year old hedgehog. Jules' eyebrow was kinking intrigued by this little gathering which had been hiding in a blind-spot.
'Juice!' His four best friends declared brightly upon setting sights on their best friend as Charles grinned.
'Your just in time buddy!' Tig sounded moving behind his best friend and gripping Jules' shoulders, forcing the hedgehog forward as the five of them walked together down the gap between the forest trees, away from the house.
'In time for what?' The cobalt teenage hedgehog allowed his friends and older brother to lead him into the forest.
'To test out the new assault course Chuck and I have been working on.' Lionel sounded from one side of Tig and Jules while Charles walked at the other. Sherman and Gus walked on either end forming a straight line.
'You guys finished it?' Jules blinked in amazement.
'Sure.' Charles smiled widely at his little brother. 'Your friends and I just finished it off this afternoon.' The mild-blue hedgehog brushed his moustache as he smirked.
'Oh..' Jules' eyes narrowed with understanding now. 'So you all decided to stick around and watch me try it out, huh?'
'Sure did.' Sherman chipped in.
'Wouldn't miss it for the world.' Gus added in his low rich tones.
'Really?' The teenage hedgehog blinked in surprise before turning his head and quills to look at his brother. 'What kind of course did you make?' Charles couldn't help but chuckle at his brother's words.
'You'll see..' The mild-blue hedgehog flashed his brother a smile that gave nothing away. As they rounded the corner Jules' hazel eyes widened in shock and awe as the start of the course came into view.
'Whoa…' The cobalt blue teenager stared in amazement at what parts of the course he could see. This was the run up to the leaning log, a swing in the distance and the top of the towering second net which was just poking above the tree-line canopy in the distance, everything else was obscured by natural turns and the greenery of the forest around them. 'This looks intense.' Jules added after a long moment of staring, trying to take in the staggering work the five of them had carried out just for him.
'It should be.' Charles spoke causing his brother to turn his hazel eyes to him. 'This course is designed to really test you.'
'So I see..' Jules smirked slightly. '-I was expecting something similar to what I'd get in cadet training at the royal palace, but this… this is awesome!' The cobalt hedgehog declared enthusiastically with a slight bounce backwards as he spun around to face all his friends at once.
'Well that was my original idea..' Charles began as he brushed his mild-blue moustache casually.
'-but I convinced him not to go that route.' Lionel added with a smile.
'There's no point Juice, you made my dad's old assault course look easy and that's built to Mobian Army standards, you'll ace the Royal Guards without even trying..' Tig chipped in, slapping the cobalt sixteen year old hedgehog across the back, carefully avoiding his sharp pointed back-quills. The silver-striped teenage tiger could clearly remember the previous summer when Jules had agreed to help him train so he was in peak condition. The cobalt hedgehog had easily sped over the course in the Stripes family backyard. Even Tig's father newly-retired Commander Stripes had been impressed by his son's best friend, saying Mobius needed more like him.. But the old ex-army tiger's words of praise were not enough to sway Jules into signing up for the military. Not then…
…And not now.
'I hear that..' Gus declared with a low chuckle. 'Now somebody better write to me and tell me when this little road-burner gets in.' The massive polar bear clapped Jules on the shoulder making the sixteen year old hedgehog wobble unsteadily on his feet for a second.
'You know we will..' Sherman beamed widely.
'So what do you say Jules..' Charles suddenly sounded, causing the cobalt hedgehog to turn and gaze into the pale blue eyes of his older brother. 'You ready to give this course a test run?' The mild blue hedgehog smiled warmly at his little brother as he said this and immediately it was followed by the excitable noises of Jules' four best friends. Their words merely washed over the cobalt teen as he pretended to consider his brother's question.
'Is the grass green and the sky blue?' Jules finally responded in a jaunty voice as one brow kinked in a cocky 'bring it on' manner. Immediately his friends cheered.
'Knew you couldn't resist Juice!' Lionel cried out.
'Come on Chuck, you heard the hedgehog, let's get him to the starting line.' Tig laughed freely as both Sherman and Gus grinned animatedly.
A few moments later Jules found himself standing behind a line that had been scored out of the dirt of the Great Forest floor. Beside him stood Lionel holding a plain coloured flag which he'd wave to signal the starting time and next to the blonde lion was Charles holding a small stopwatch in his hand, intending to time his little cobalt brother as he sped through the course laid out in front. Tig, Sherman and Gus had all disappeared up nearby trees to get a good overall view of the tricky course so they could observe their best friend's progress.
'Remember Jules, this is your first time on the course..' Charles was saying seriously to his brother. 'Just take it easy and learn the layout before you-' The mild blue older hedgehog's words were suddenly cut off by an impatient flick of his little brother's wrist.
'Yeh, yeh, yeh.. Whatever Charlie.' The cobalt sixteen year old hedgehog rolled his hazel eyes at his older brother, not really listening to what Charles had been saying. He'd run enough assault courses to know what to expect, how was this going to be any different? In response to his little brother's dismissive words the mild blue hedgehog with the neat moustache and bushy brows raised his hands in defeat. If his brother wanted to just barrel through this course and learn the hard way that was his choice..
'Ok but don't say I didn't warn you then..' Charles sighed wearily, backing away to let the blonde lion beside him have enough room to wave the starting flag.
'Ready?' Lionel flashed his best friend a smile and the cobalt teen gave a sharp nod. 'On your marks..' Immediately following Lionel's words Jules dropped down to a starting position which his gloved hands resting comfortably on the ground and one foot in front of the other. 'Get set..' The cobalt hedgehog's eyes narrowed as he raised himself slightly, his full focus on the dust-track in front of him.
'Go!' As the blonde lion swung the flag Jules shot off in a blur of blue quills, disappearing down the track towards the first obstacle. The second the blonde lion had swung the flag Charles clicked the start of the stopwatch then twiddled his moustache anxiously with his free hand.
'Please don't run too fast little brother..' He murmured to himself in a soft worried tone which reflected in his pale blue eyes…
…As Jules Hedgehog sprinted down the dirt track, speeding his way towards the first obstacle his older brother's words of caution were still niggling in the back of his mind.. Charles always worried too much when it came to his running speed. Probably because when he was a youngster Jules was forever covered in bumps and bruises received from running or skidding and crashing into things as he learnt to handle his speed. Sure, the cobalt hedgehog had even knocked himself out a few times when he was a hedgehoglet but he wasn't a kid anymore. He knew how to handle himself, there was no need for Charles to keep worrying.. The trees of the forest around him blurred passed as the cobalt hedgehog approached the fallen log at the forty-five degree angle. Jules bounced up onto the leaning log and rapidly tottered his way to the tip before jumping to the swing and hurtling onto the first net. It took him around ten seconds to clamber his way to the top of the net and even less time to slide back down the other side. The cobalt teen hedgehog hurtled towards the tires dotted in front of him and quickly dipped his feet in and out of them. He knew he was making good time with this run, although his exact time could only be told by Charles the sixteen year old hedgehog was certain he was somewhere between near the fifty second mark. Was this course supposed to be challenging? He was sure Lionel and his older brother had said it was but Jules was still waiting for the 'challenge' to jump out at him. Feeling slightly cocky now and spurred on by his good time the cobalt teen swerved through the upright logs and ducked under a strategically placed fallen log that acted like a tunnel. As he shot out the other end Jules glanced back… this course way too easy!
This split second glance back turned out to be a huge mistake as unbeknown to Jules the course veered around at a surprisingly-sharp sixty degree right turn towards the lake for the final net. As the cobalt hedgehog turned back his hazel eyes widened in alarm as he realised too late he had over-shot the sudden turn-off and an enormous redwood tree appeared in his path. Slamming his feet to the ground far too late Jules skidded into it's wide trunk with an alarming..
…Smack!
And everything went black.
The first thing that returned to the cobalt sixteen year old hedgehog was the immense sense of throbbing pain on the left-hand side of his face, centred around his left eye.
'Oohhhh..!-!' A deep and slightly groggy groan absent-mindedly slipped out from Jules, sounding almost foreign to the cobalt hedgehog as he slowly returned from the darkness. He was lying on something soft and warm but it was not long enough to be a bed so it had to be one of the couches in the living room. The sound of movement immediately followed his unfamiliar groan, it sounded a bit like somebody nearby moving closer. The next second this Mobian touched the his heavy hand nearest them.
'Julius..' A soft voice sounded, laced with concern and a mixture of subtle delight and relief. It was his brother Charles' voice but it sounded almost distant and the cobalt hedgehog had to really concentrate as the hand clutching his squeezed tentatively. 'Little brother, say something..'
'Ahowwww!'The sharp throbbing pain in his head stabbed sharper this time and with it his sense of awareness returned and he became conscious of his own painful groan. Jules moved his head slightly from side to side as a slight sense of dizziness washed over him but was quickly replaced by nausea. Gingerly lifting the hand that Charles wasn't holding the cobalt teen moved it up to his eye and touched his eye. Immediately the ache was intensified by his touch so he lowered his hand again.
'Charlie?' Jules croaked gently and his older brother let out a gasp as his fingers clutched his brother's tighter.
'Yes Jules.. I'm here little brother..' Charles voice sounded soothingly and Jules felt his brother's other hand run through his quiff of quills gently.
'I've a shiner, don't I?' The cobalt teen added grimly, he tentatively flickered his eyelids and opened them just enough to peep out to his older brother who was knelt beside the couch. For a moment the mild blue hedgehog swam hazily in Jules' focus before he came properly into sight, just in time for Charles to frown faintly, more out of concern than anger.
'Yeh, you do.' The older Hedgehog brother replied with a soft sigh. The disappointment was not missed by the younger brother who pulled his hand out of Charles' and pushed himself up into a sitting position, realising as he did so his head hand been resting on a pillow rather than a cushion. Wincing slightly as his body felt incredibly stiff from being out for so long. Once he was in a more comfortable position with both feet resting on the seat of the couch rather than hanging off the side Jules tentatively opened his eyes wider, the pain of his bruised left-eye making him grimace. Now that he was upright the wave of nausea passed allowing the cobalt teen to become aware of the dimly lit living room. It was now dark outside and the room was lit by one nearby table lamp.
'How are you feeling?' Charles asked gently, his hands clasping together as he set his elbows on the side of the couch seat and lent his chin on his knuckles.
'Stiff and sore..' Jules responded with a weak smile and Charles clicked his tongue sympathetically.
'That's to be expected..' The older hedgehog murmured. 'No dizziness or nausea?' He added as his pale blue eyes flashed anxiously.
'I did but it's passed now..' Jules replied honestly.
'That's good. At least you haven't concussed yourself..' Charles smiled before picking up an untouched glass of water from the table he'd placed there earlier for his brother when he came to. Jules accepted it gratefully, his mouth feeling dry as a desire to quench his thirst pulsed through him.
'How long was I out?' The cobalt teen asked curiously now, also noting that Charles was the only one in the room meaning his friends must have gone home.
'Four, maybe five hours..' Charles replied unsurely before adding in a slightly disapproving tone. 'You must have been going at a speed of at least ninety-five kilometres when you crashed into the tree. What happened Jules? I told you to take it slow.' The cobalt hedgehog's pointed ears drooped slightly as a sheepish grin crossed his face.
'I got cocky..' Jules responded as his guilty manner made him look like a naughty school kid. His response made Charles sigh heavily, disappointment clearly showing on his face now.
'Julius.' The mild blue hedgehog rubbed his forehead just above his bushy brows. 'What have I told you about just barrelling through things without thinking, your gonna get yourself seriously hurt, or worse, killed if you don't start using your brain.' He shook his head and threw his brother a scowl.
'Ah Charlie..' Jules threw a fleeting scowl back, his bruised eye making it difficult to sustain for long. His older brother sounded just like their deceased father now. 'I didn't mean to throw myself into a tree. It was an accident.'
'Still, it could have been avoided if you'd just taken it slow.' Charles replied with a bite of annoyance in his rebuke. This caused Jules to shrink into the pillow he was leaning on, his pointed ears remaining drooped at the side of his face.
'Alright, I deserved that, I guess..' Jules raised his hands carefully in defeat. 'I'm sorry for not listening to you and making you worry. We even now bro?' His hazel eyes flashed apologetically to his elder brother, he didn't want to argue with him so soon after coming around. Charles smiled with a little relief and smiled grateful for the admission of guilt.
'Yeh, we're even.' The mild blue hedgehog lifted his head and brushed his moustache vaguely.
'I take it the guys went home after I blacked out.' Jules asked causing his older brother to nod, confirming his suspicions.
'Yeh, but I promised to call them when you came around.' Charles replied then stretched out and picked up a small cordless phone from the side before his expression brightened as he remembered something. 'Which reminds me, an officer from the Royal Guard called while you were out cold.'
'Oh yeh?' Jules kinked a brow intrigued, this was the information he'd been waiting for ever since he'd handed his questionnaire back into the palace.
'They're holding a physical trail for all new cadet-applicants in three weeks at their training grounds and you've to be there for precisely ten o'clock.' Charles said casually before dialling in a number and walking casually away from his brother with the small phone to his pointed ear.
'Hello.. is Tiger home?' The mild blue hedgehog was saying as Jules took another swig of water before his tongue ran over his teeth. He then paused as he reached a rough edge and his brows knitted in confusion. 'Yes, thank you, tell him it's Charles calling about Jules..' Clearly the older hedgehog had gotten one of Tig's parents. While he waited his little brother spotted a small mirror on the table beside the coaster his glass had been sat on. Picking it up he lifted it to inspect his eye. Upon seeing the swollen black bruise covering his left eye Jules winced as he tentatively poked the inflamed skin, this wasn't going to leave him in a hurry. His tongue then rubbed the rough tooth that seemed to be broken then he lowered his finger to his mouth and smiled widely into the mirror. The moment his lips parted and revealed his teeth the cause of his 'rough' tooth was obvious. One of his right-hand incisors had a large chip missing, creating a small imperfection in his otherwise perfectly square teeth. Jules grinned into the mirror, admiring this small blemish in his otherwise perfect smile. Sure, he'd have to call his dentist and have the tooth capped but perhaps he'd ask him to just cover the gap and not recreate the missing bit of tooth. This imperfection looked pretty cool in his eyes.
'Hello, Tiger?' Charles sounded, finally getting hold of Tig. 'Yes, he's fine. Just came around a few minutes ago..' There was a pause. 'Yeh, he just has a black shiner-'
'And I chipped a tooth!' Jules hollered out causing Charles to turn back to his little brother and stare as his little brother grinned widely, displaying the chip. The older hedgehog rolled his pale blue eyes in disbelief. 'And a chipped tooth.' He repeated his brother's words. 'Yeh, that's it. Oh you know Jules, he'll probably be up and about tomorrow… could you pass the news on to the others for me? Thanks, bye.' The mild blue hedgehog then hung up the phone and turned back to his little brother.
'Your gonna have to call the dentist tomorrow and book an appointment.' Charles sounded seriously as he put the phone back in its holder.
'Yeh, I know.' Jules responded casually, pulling the mirror back to his face and grinning in the mirror again. 'But I kinda like this little gap. Looks good.' Charles lowered his head into his hand and rubbed the pale-skinned bridge of his black nose in disbeleif, his brother's ability to find an upside to everything was amazing..
Augustus' last two weeks in Mobotroplis rolled by quickly and all too soon it was his last night before he left for his homeland of the Artic Regions. And true to their word Jules, Lionel, Sherman and Tig headed out with Gus to Macey's for their last night out together. They planned to make it a night they'd never forget. Despite trying to convince Charles to come out too the elder hedgehog refused. In the past two weeks Professor Nate Morgan had taken Charles' ring-restraint gun designs and blueprints to the Mobian Council. After hearing about the nearly twenty year old hedgehog that had invented it the impressed Council were keen to meet the brilliant young Mobian for themselves. So the Mobian Council of Ministers invited Charles to attend their annual symposium to demonstrate his invention to them in person. Since this was such a big deal to mild-blue hedgehog the others didn't push him to come out, though Charles did send his farewell out with his little brother for the Mobian polar bear.
The fact that Jules' older brother wasn't coming didn't bother any of the four teens and without him around the cobalt hedgehog was more relaxed. At least this way he didn't have to be conscious of what Charles thought of his behaviour, he could just be himself. As an added bonus Jules' black eye had just finished healing up so he no longer had to worry about what Mobians would think when they saw his face. Jules had dropped into Lickety Split Pizzas the day after it had happened to tell Mr Raccoon about his try-out for the Royal Guard. The middle-aged raccoon-Mobian had stared in shock at his swollen left-eye socket before laughing when he learnt how Jules had really 'obtained' the injury. Although the owner of the pizza takeaway was fine with the try-outs, he thought it was about time Jules moved onto a more serious job anyway, he was less than happy with the black eye and what his customers might think if they saw it… As a result the cobalt teen had to use a few sick days until the swelling had gone down enough for Mr Raccoon's satisfaction so the hedgehog could return to work.
'Alright boys, it's Gus' last night with us so we have to make this the best night ever!' Jules declared brightly with a wide grin that flashed the chip on the right-hand side of his mouth, the only permanent reminder of his run in with the tree. Although his dentist thought Jules was mad for wanting to keep this gap the chip had created the medical practitioner complied with the cobalt hedgehog's wishes and only filled the gap as requested.
'Darn right!' Tig exclaimed as he extended one clawed hand upwards to rub the massive polar bear's shoulder. 'We don't want the big guy to ever forget us!'
'Aw, like I could forget my bros..' Gus smirked affectionately and the others cheered and laughed together, heading down the steps to the doors at the bottom.
'Does anyone know who's playing tonight?' Lionel asked as the strings of music strained upwards through the closed doors.
'Nah, not a clue..' Sherman replied with a casual shrug.
'Who cares!' Jules laughed out in amusement. 'But if they suck as much as they did the last time we were here I'll get up there and play just to spare the crowd!'
'Oh-hoh!' Tig sniggered in amusement. 'Now I kinda hope they do suck just so I can see that happen..' He flashed the kind of look to the cobalt hedgehog that hoped his best friend was going to stay true to his word.
'Same here..' Sherman quipped in a similar jovial tone. Although the idea of Jules getting up on stage and singing was amusing to his friends it was no secret that he could strum a guitar pretty well. The four of them then pushed they're way through the double doors and the music volume increased greatly. As four of the friends made there way to their regular booth Tig split away and headed towards the bar to get the first drinks..
'We really shouldn't be in this side of town..' A red-furred female echidna with long quills braided with white ribbons sounded nervously as her minty-green eyes looked around downtown Mobotroplis with unease. 'Our parents would be horrified if they ever found out we'd been down 'mingling with the commoners' in this way.' She looked around the dirty street and lifted the hem of her pretty yellow skirt so she wouldn't get it dirty. She then hurried to follow her hooded-companion who was walking a little ahead.
'Will you relax Lara-Le, they won't ever find out we were here, I promise.' Her friend looked back revealing her face. She was a petit female hedgehog with soft lilac-fur, a pale-skinned muzzle and huge emerald green eyes. She flashed a warm smile to her anxious friend, who'd reluctantly agreed to come with her in the first place.
'They better not. My father would never let me out again.' The female echidna huffed snootily, still struggling to keep up with her friend who was leading her further away from the aristocratic side of Mobotroplis. There was silence as the two upper-class girls travelled further into the maze of city streets.
'Where exactly are we going anyway?' Lara-Le spoke up again, clearly unable to restrain her curiosity any longer.
'There's a club around here somewhere, I overheard a couple of guards talking about it, apparently the music is really good!' The lilac hedgehog exclaimed excitedly before her tiny hand gripped the upper arm of her friend and she yanked the echidna down an alleyway.
'What?' Lara-Le squealed out in shock, forced to follow her friend. 'Princess, you can't be serious! We snuck out just to go to some place you heard about through guards!' The red-furred echidna's eyes widened in slight outrage and panic.
'Shh..!' The royal hedgehog hissed, pressing a slim finger to her lips as her friend scowled at her. 'Do you want us to get caught?' The lilac hedgehog scowled irritably. Immediately Lara-Le's expression softened a little. The princess smiled gently at the red-furred echidna who had loyally followed her here despite her complaints. 'Now we've come this far, haven't we? We may as well see what this place is like..' The lilac hedgehog concluded in a soft coaxing voice causing her friend to squirm unsurely on the spot. 'And if the Mobians there are really as uncouth as our peers make out we'll leave straight away..'
'You promise Aleena?' Lara-Le asked gently, her minty-green eyes widening hopeful for reassurance.
'Of course Lara-Le. You are my most trusted friend in the whole of Mobius.' Princess Aleena replied, her smile sweetened to her friend. The red-furred echidna's eyes widened emotionally, touched by the Princess of Mobius' words.
'Ohh.. you're my most trusted friend too!' Lara-Le said as small tears formed in her eyes. Immediately the two Mobian-girls embraced in a warm cuddle before pulling away and gazing at each other again.
'There's nobody I'd rather be down here with right now..' Princess Aleena sounded as she flicked her emotional tears away and threw her best friend a serious look. 'Are you with me Lara-Le?'
'I wouldn't be much of a friend to you if I said no, would I your highness?' The red-furred echidna replied with a smile as she wiped her tears away and took the princess' hand in her own gentle hand. The petit lilac hedgehog's smile widened at her best friend.
'Then let's go find this club!' She declared valiantly before the two Mobian-girls took off down the alleyway, careful not to attract attention to themselves…
'What in Mobius happened to Tig!' Jules' warm hazel eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the room for his missing best friend.
'Heh, relax Juice. He's probably chatting up some girl.' Sherman sounded leaning back in his usual seat opposite the cobalt teen.
'Yeh, you know what he's like..' Lionel replied with a smile. The sixteen year old hedgehog merely drummed his fingers and twisted in his seat again looking around once more.
'Yeh, yeh, Tig's a ladies' feline I know, I know.' Jules sighed impatiently. 'But if I thought he was gonna be this long I'da got the drinks myself!' The hedgehog kicked the leg of the table nearest him, using it to vent his frustration at being ditched by his best friend. Tiger Stripes had always had an eye for pretty girls and never passed up the chance to lay on the charm if the opportunity presented itself. Now he was in the Mobian Army his chances had greatly diminished.
'Hey guys!' The white and silver-stripped tiger grinned setting down a large tray of drinks in front of his friends.
'Oh. Finally.' Jules uttered under his breath in annoyance. The sixteen year old hedgehog stretched forward and picked up his root beer and took a swig.
'Look who I ran into at the bar..' Tig carried on as though Jules had said nothing. All four of the Mobian teens sitting glanced around to see who Tig had brought with him. Beside the white and silver-striped tiger was a slim female black and white cat with a long quiff of white fur that completely covered one of her blue eyes.
'Hi fellas.' The cat beamed widely around the group as she looked around her old school mates, adjusting her denim vest and green scarf as she did.
'Cocoa!' The guys all stared in surprise at her as she slipped into the seat beside Jules, which was Tig's usual seat. The cobalt hedgehog flashed the female cat a breif scowl but Tig had already taken the seat by Lionel so he didn't raise the issue.
'Tiger told me it was Gus' last night here and I had to come over and say my goodbyes.' Cocoa explained airily before turning to the Mobian polar bear. 'I know I haven't seen much of you since we all left Acorn Academy but I didn't think it would be right if I didn't come over. Especially since we used to be study buddies..'
'It's much appreciated Cocoa.' The Mobian polar bear smiled widely.
'As were your map-reading tips..' The black and white cat raised her cream-like drink with a smile. The two shared a slight laugh of amusement at this private little joke.
'So Cocoa, what are you doing with yourself these days?' Lionel chipped in as the cat took a drink out of her glass.
'I'm at Mobius University studying a teaching degree.' Cocoa replied lightly causing the blonde lion to kink a brow intrigued.
'Really. I've never seen you on campus..' Lionel stated matter-of-factly.
'I guess we must keep missing each other because I heard you were at Mobi-U too but I've never seen you about either..' The black and white cat laughed freely at her own words.
'So what you wanna teach when you get your degree?' Sherman asked curiously, dragging Cocoa's attention onto him..
'Physical Education..' The female cat replied lightly. 'That was your favourite class, right Jules?'
'Yeh, it was..' The cobalt hedgehog responded indifferently, taking another swig of his root beer before turning to the cat beside him. 'So, you still friends with Alice?' He asked curiously.
'Yes.' Cocoa replied, throwing him a curious look, wondering why Jules would want to talk about his ex-girlfriend Alicia after how they broke up.
'How is she?' Jules asked politely.
'She's doing well..' The black and white cat replied with a smile. 'She's, uh, started seeing someone else now.' Cocoa added tentatively, hoping that the cobalt hedgehog would be ok with this information.
'She has?' Jules raised his brows curiously. For a moment Cocoa and the others at the table tensed then relaxed as the cobalt hedgehog smiled. 'That's great, I'm glad she's happy now. What's her new beau like?'
'I honesty don't know.' Cocoa replied. 'I haven't met him yet but Alicia tells me that he's very sweet and despite their age gap I can tell she's really into him too.'
'Age gap?' Jules coughed, almost choking on the swig of root beer he'd just taken.
'Uh… yeh, the guy she's seeing is at least eight years older than her.' Cocoa sounded softly while Sherman and Tig exchanged a glance with each other. Apparently when Alicia had said to Jules she wanted a more mature guy she wasn't kidding. As silence spiralled over the group another figure appeared at the table.
'Ah, here you are Cocoa, I've been looking everywhere for you.' The sound of this voice distracted them all and caused them to turn to this new voice. Standing at the front of the table was a female tiger with soft orange fur and black stripes with a muzzle of white. Her yellow eyes widened at the group, wondering if she'd spoken out of turn. 'Sorry, was I interrupting?' The girl tiger asked unsurely.
'No, no..' Tig was the first to respond, suddenly looking awe-struck at this new arrival. 'Pull up a seat and join us why don't you?' The male tiger sounded in a low rolling purr.
'Don't bother.' Jules added curtly, pulling himself out of his seat. 'You can have mine, I'm going for a wander.' He then slid out passed Cocoa and gestured the female tiger into his seat.
'Um, thank you.' The female tiger responded sitting down and flashing him a thankful yet confused look.
'Hey Juice, you want one of us to come with you buddy?' Lionel asked curiously while Gus and Sherman both looked concerned. Tig threw his cobalt best friend a half-glance but his attention was soon back on the pretty tiger now sitting opposite him.
'No it's ok, I'll be back in a bit, you guys carry on..' The cobalt hedgehog sighed before heading off into the crowd.
'I am so sorry Ginger..' Cocoa turned to her friend. 'I didn't mean to worry you. I was just catching up with some old friends.'
'Oh, it's ok, I knew you were here somewhere.' The female tiger smiled before her eyes flashed in concern. 'Is he gonna to be ok?'
'Jules will be fine..' Tig suddenly chipped in causing Ginger to glance over at him. 'He always bounces back.' He flashed her a suave and slightly crooked grin.
At that same moment Princess Aleena and Lara-Le finally arrived outside the club with it's big pink neon sign, which was the only thing visible from the street-level.
'This must be the place..' The lilac hedgehog mused as they gazed at the building before them. 'Let's go inside and see what it's like.' The royal hedgehog sounded keenly as she pulled off the purple scarf that had been covering her head, revealing a head of long blonde quills that curled around her back with two loose bangs framing her face.
'Don't forget to take off your crown.' The red-furred echidna reminded her friend and the princess gasped and raised her delicate hands to her head and removed her royal tiara.
'Oh my gosh, thank you Lara-Le..' Princess Aleena laughed freely. 'That could've been awkward..' She then wrapped her crown up in her purple scarf and shoved it into her white designer handbag. Lara-Le then pushed the double doors open to reveal the darkened reception area. The two upper-class girls gazed slightly confused around.
'This can't be it, can it?' The red-furred echidna asked in bemusement.
'No, look.' Princess Aleena replied with a smile as she spotted the doors at the other side. 'We must have to go through there.' She pointed towards them eagerly. 'I wonder why there's nobody to greet us..' The princess asked her friend still not understanding why there was nobody around in the reception area.
'I don't know, I guess they don't have a greeter.' Lara-Le concluded in the same tone of bemusement. Unknown to these two Mobian-girls Macey's had always been a free-entry club and since violence was rare amongst Mobians there was no real need for bouncers. When trouble did start most of the other patrons inside would usually defuse the situation and turf the trouble-makers out themselves.
'Well that seems odd.' The royal hedgehog added before shrugging.
'I know, but we're not in high society now so I guess they just greet each other.' Lara-Le said gently before the two Mobian-girls pushed open the doors and gingerly descended the steps towards the doors of the club.
'Wow. They don't have a someone to announce your presence either?' Princess Aleena wondered aloud noticing that there was nobody at this door either. 'I guess they just announce themselves then, huh?'
'I guess..' Lara-Le sounded in an agreeable tone.
'I never realised that lower-class Mobians did so much for themselves.' The lilac hedgehog added. 'It must be really liberating not to have to answer to somebody all the time.' She smiled widely. Finally, a place where she was free to just be herself without having to wonder if anybody would see her as 'weird' or 'strange' for not fitting in with everybody else.
'You ready to go inside?' Lara-Le's minty green eyes surveyed her best friend in the dimly lit stairwell.
'Ready as I'll ever be..' Princess Aleena replied, bracing herself for what she might find. The strains of unfamiliar music could be heard from the other side of the double doors. The female echidna put her hands to the doors as the royal lilac hedgehog sighed nervously. With a reassuring smile to each other Lara-Le pushed open the doors and they entered the room. In a single fluid motion the female echidna pushed open the doors and the music inside immediately blared with the kind of volume that would never be found at one of their usual high-society balls.
'Oh my..' Princess Aleena squealed in shock, having to place her dainty pale-skinned fingers over her blonde quills, covering her lilac pointed-ears.
'It's so loud..' Lara-Le added as the red-furred echidna pressed down on the side of the quills covering her own ears. 'How can they stand this volume?'
'Maybe they're deaf..' The royal lilac hedgehog replied.
'They'd have to be to put up with this level of music.' Her echidna friend reasoned solemnly.
'Perhaps our ears will adjust to it the longer we stay.' Princess Aleena sounded matter-of-factly.
'I hope so.' Lara-Le replied with a slight edge of doubt in her voice which suggested she would want to leave if not.
'Come on, let's see if we can find the waiter who has the drinks.' The blonde-quilled princess added, motioning her friend to follow her as the lilac hedgehog moved away from the double doors..
Little Notes:
Hey peeps! Hope your all enjoying the story and I'm still looking for constructive feedback to help me with my fic so I not only know what readers think but also what they're looking for in future chapters. There are so little fics based on the parents of the main characters and I'm open to suggestions to parental-characters to use so feel free to offer some up… and if I haven't got plans for them already I'll try to squeeze them in. No OC's though as they're too difficult to work around and as I've stated before the parents designs and characters have been altered to make them more OC anyway.
Ok, the idea for creating Jules' chipped tooth was taken from my own childhood when my own brother chipped my tooth by throwing a sick for our dog while I was still holding onto the leash. I smacked face (mouth) first onto the pavement and had to go to the dentist right away to have it capped… cheers bro, much appreciated! Although, I don't believe for five seconds that someone with Jules' speed (or Sonic's for that matter) could just run around without picking up injuries as they learned to handle themselves or practicing new tricks. That and I want to project a sense of realism into this story which I think has been somewhat lost.
I hope you like my introduction to Princess Aleena and her friend Lara-Le, the next chapter picks up exactly where this one left off so don't worry, you won't miss a second from this little cliff-hanger! I will be highlighting more differences between Mobian high-society and the lower-class as this story continues and will become something of a feature as Jules and Princess Aleena's relationship develops. Also, you will notice may social differences as the story goes on from what we're used to and to how Mobians live there lives. For example, though Macey's is a free entry club, eliminating the need for a receptionist and since they're generally quite peaceful and honourable beings bouncers aren't really necessary either. I wanted to show them as similar yet completely different from humans/Overlanders… so they're whole society with have similarities but also key differences that separate how they live.
Stay tuned for more soon!
~Ditzy x