*Insert deep throat growl here* I normally don't like disclaimers of "Oh this is may have disturbing content", but you might be slightly disturbed by what you read. This is the vanguard chapter, though, so it won't get much worse than this.
There is a general rule to life: the younger you are, the simpler your needs. As a baby, all you do eat, poop, and cuddle with your parents. Then you become a toddler, and get to explore the worlds, and want to test your boundaries.
Then you become a child, and all the other kids finally come and play with you. You might have a few arguments with your friends, but by the next day, you two didn't even remember the fight. Next comes the tween years, and everyone feels awkward and insecure, and borders start be lined out for who is acceptable to befriend. The social system isn't set in stone, and there aren't really any penalties for breaking it, aside from the awkwardness of hanging out with two people of different "classes".
Then comes the teenage years. Something changes at that point. Friends seem to become life long enemies in a flash. People become vicious, malicious, like they will take any chance to break you down at any time. Nowhere is isolated, nowhere is forbidden.
Cream had found this out the hard way. Life had been wonderful when her ninth birthday came up. The previous year had been scary, her mother had been kidnapped by the nefarious doctor Eggman, but she had met the legendary Sonic the hedgehog. After meeting him, she met Miles Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, her self-appointed big sister Amy Rose, and a whole roster of merry people who would call her "family".
Cream longed for those days. Before Eggman blew himself up, before the "family" seemed to scatter across the globe, before her teenage years. Cream had grown fair enough. Was she a bombshell guy-drooling-model-agency-running hot, no, but she was fairly attractive. A little small in some areas, a little big in others, but certainly pretty. She was also very smart, having been teachers' favorite for the last three grades of middle-school. Cream was as a nice as she could be to everyone she could find.
All of this was the very reason she was public enemy number one to all of the girls at her new high school. Like piranhas, the sensed nice, kind blood, and they swarmed. Cream endured, and tried the "kill them kindness" approach for two weeks. Then she caved and asked for help from the very girls who tormented her for being "uncool".
"What do you think of that, Cream?" Vanilla asked, her voice concerned. Why was she worried?
Cream blinked, her thoughts shattered, "About what?"
Vanilla turned the radio of the car up.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. We have asked Ivly Branch manager what he intends to do to step up security?
Well miss, we have hired more security, and gone onto lock down. We are running back ground checks to see if we can find any footage without the masks on. These criminals will be found and brought to justice.
Princess Acorn has begun a new anti-robbery ta-
Vanilla turned the radio down, "Scary isn't it? You know, your grandmother used to keep her money under a mattress. "
Cream nodded, shifting uncomfortably, "Yeah…scary." Hardly, a bank robber might actually leave her alone, unlike the forces at school…
The car began to slow down, and side began to reach its end. Three cars were in front of them, letting out the students.
Cream reached for the door and got out of the vehicle. Before she could shut the door, her mom put the vehicle in park, and got out.
Cream felt a twinge of fear in her heart, "Mom, please, I am gonna be la-"
Her mom walked across the road onto the side walk and held her arms to her hips.
Cream corrected herself, "Mother, please, allow me to hurry to class to avoid being late."
Vanilla cocked her head, unconvinced, "You are ten minutes early, and you have avoid my pre-school cuddles for three weeks."
Vanilla leaned down. Cream started to panic, what if someone saw. Vanilla pressed her nose against Cream's, and began to rub back and forth. Cream couldn't help but fight her mouth. Vanilla stopped, and pulled and kissed Cream's forehead and said, "Have a good day."
Cream couldn't help but smile the biggest smile she had in a while. Then it ended when she thought she heard a vulture. Cream pulled away and walked up the steps of the large, intimidating building.
"BYE SWEETHEART!" Vanilla shouted. Cream pulled her green hoodie over her head, and rushed forward. She found the vulture alright. Bumped right into the blue Becky the Ferret.
Becky turned around with that horrible large grin, "Oh, hello Cream."
She pulled Cream's hoodie back down, revealing the tuffs of hair on the Rabbit's head. Confession time, Cream knew her hair cut was a boyish style, same as her mother's had been when cream had met Sonic. Rabbits needed to keep their hair trimmed, otherwise they would over heat.
Becky, however, didn't care about the reason, only that the ammunition to torment the rabbit had fallen in her lap. She pulled one of Cream's ears, "Amazing, how your barber missed these big things. Shame too, you might actually be pretty if you were a ferret, with nice normal ears."
Shaquel, an orange mink snickered from behind the rabbit, "She looks like a guy. Maybe if she ate less she might get a date."
Cream didn't eat that much…right? She instinctively looked at her belly. It was pretty flat…a small amount of fat but nothing bulging…right? Too late.
Becky made a mocking frown and sad voice, "Maybe the butcher who cut her hair also stuffed her breasts in her stomach. It's not nice to make
Cream just needed to get inside, and this would be over, "Piss off."
Becky laughed, "Oh, and what are you gonna do, mama's girl. She's already left." Her head leaning down, her tongue accenting each syllable.
Cream's face scrunched up, her fist balled. She closed her eyes, ready to cry like the fat, ugly girl she was, but she couldn't show weakness. Not now, not in front of the ferret.
Bite back Cream thought before putting up a fake smile, "How's Charlie?"
Shaquel snickered at that.
Cream felt the blow to her cheek as she hit the pavement.
Shaquel shut up and ran past Cream, inside the 'safety' of the building, more likely looking for an alibi as opposed to being upset by what she saw.
Cream lay on the pavement, registering what had just happened. She saw the shoes of the long haired Ferret as the doors closed.
Cream picked herself up, and walked over to the door, rubbing her sore cheek. She opened it, and went inside.
/*-*/
"Hey, Cream...Cream…hello?" William Field, a green mouse who Cream had met in middle school. He had circular glasses and braces, but was smart as Professor Walrus himself. A nerd.
Cream smiled, "Sorry, what?"
William frowned, "Is something wrong with you? Your grades aren't good. This stuff is practically review for us?"
Cream smiled, "It's just kinda hard." Of course, it wasn't, but the cool boys were scared of smart girls. And cool girls had cool boyfriends…not nerds.
William put up a smile and shrugged, "Well, I can help you study if you'd like. I have a lot of free time." He was so sweet, the boy-vultures must be slow.
Cream forced her smile, "I think I can handle it."
William deflated a little, "Oh…ok, well I'm here if you need me, and you know where I live if you need someone to talk to."
Cream smiled and nodded her head, "I'll keep that in mind."
He walked off and she deflated. She felt terrible, because last year, the two were best of friends. Now, social class dictated different positions, different protocols. She really wanted to be his friend, and watch those horribly dorky action movies. She wanted to get cuddles from mom everyday before school started. She wanted to be good at math and language arts and get a good job and a good college.
Cream groaned and slumped her head into her locker. Maybe it will be better tomorrow She thought for the 65th day this semester.
/*-*/
Cream sat in class, while Professor Possum explained the difference of stored and kinetic energy. Cream didn't know much else he was talking about, aside from the fact that the monotonous voice was putting her to sleep. She felt her eye lids begin to close. No reason to fake failing this class. She felt so relaxed and safe in this class.
A snap woke Cream from her slumber.
"For example! If Cream were to be writing notes instead of sleeping in my class, she would be exerting kenetic energy. Instead, she is exhibiting stored energy by ignoring my lecture and choosing to make up for the late nights she has been partying." The professor snarled, earning a laugh from the class at Cream's expense.
Cream sat up, "Sorry, it won't happen again."
Professor Possum snorted out his nose, "Now, I have your tests to return from lax week's exam. Some of you did well, and others will be receiving extra practice work to take home."
He went back to his desk, and pulled out a stack of papers. Cream was not in any hurry to receive hers, as Professor Possum went around the desks. Unfortunately for her, the professor did eventually reach her desk. She gazed at the face down stapled pile of papers. She starred at it for a good two minutes, knowing she wasn't going to like the answer.
Cream took a deep breath and siked herself up, her heart pounding against her chest. The rabbit flipped the page. Her heart stopped pounding against her chest, because it stopped beating, which was perfectly ok with Cream because she wouldn't have to look her mother in the eye after this period.
Thump thump damn it.
Her heart roared to life. The bell rang. Cream remained in her seat, processing and thinking up an excuse.
"Ms. Rabbit, you will miss your bus if you remain here." Professor Possum said nonchalantly, reading a magazine he kept by his desk.
Cream rose out of her seat, and walked down the hallway, to bus docking area.
William ran up next to her, "Hey, Cream, how'd your classes go?"
Cream didn't answer, she simply walked on her bus.
"uh, Cream, do you want to come over sometime to watch a movie tomorrow?" William asked quickly as she walked to her seat.
Cream nodded slowly, still not speaking. It was fine, cool girl got by on their looks, right? She felt her heart rate increase at the lousy justification that her mother would almost certainly not agree with.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
Suddenly a smooth feminine voice called her name, "Hey Cream, come on, I saved you a seat."
Cream looked up to find Alice the Coyote patting a space on the burgundy leather seats. The Rabbit walked over and slumped down in the seat.
Alice was certain popular, and pretty smart with how the school social structure worked. She was pretty, but hell if you were on her bad side. Fortunately, she was Cream's tutor on how to be popular in school.
Alice leaned a head forward, "Everything ok?" She sounded more inconvenienced by Cream's silence than concerned, but popular students didn't get attached to other students, so that why.
Cream showed the test paper, still in her hand.
Alice looked at the grade and suched in a breath, "That's not good at all."
One of the girls in the row behind them let out a breath, "My mom beat my ass for twice that grade."
Cream was visibly panicking, but she didn't know what to do, "Alice, how do I explain this?"
Alice breathed heavily through her nose, "Well, you don't. Your mom trusts you, so don't tell her. Make up the difference with a couple really good grades and then teller her you had a little trouble."
Cream was panting, "how? How am I gonna make this shit up."
Alice laughed, "Hey, there you go, using that language I told you. Really maturing from the little girl you were at the beginning of the year."
Cream turned her head with panicked eyes.
Alice nodded, "Tell you what, come by my place tonight, and I'll get something to help you. Ok?"
Cream nodded, "Ok." She let out a sigh of relief. She rubbed the bruise on her cheek that covered by her fur.
When the bus arrived, Cream got off and walked towards her house. When she got to the door, a boom of thunder was heard inside, shaking the house, followed by laughter.
Was Vector back again? Great! Cream thought angrily. Another attempt at wooing her mom, leading to an awkward few weeks before her mom inevitably told him to leave. A buzz burned in Cream's pocket.
Aly: Remember, Pretend nothing is wrong.
Cream began to type on the phone as she walked up to the door.
C: Easy for you to say, I never lie to my mom.
A:….
Cream pushed open the door.
"I feel really bad." Her mother said with a smile of guilt
"C'mon, it's not for you, its for her."
Cream knew that voice. It wasn't vector. Did she dare to hope?
She looked up, "Sonic!"
Sure enough, there was blue hedgehog sitting on the couch, with a suite case on the table. His feet were propped up against the coffee table, with her mom sitting in the recliner that sat perpendicular to the smiling.
Cream ran up to the hedgehog, the door slamming behind her. She jumped over the arm rest into her absent but still elder brother's arms.
Sonic laughed, "Hey, long time no see."
Cream's phone buzzed. She rolled back over the arm rest and opened the message.
Aly: Just fake what you can. Remember, you don't want to show her that grade.
Cream frowned.
Vanilla cleared her throat a little before raising her voice, "Cream, what are our rules about shoes in the house? And you're being rude to our guest by being on your phone."
Cream felt a wave of agitation overwhelm her. It was because of her mom that was punched and picked on. Cream took off her shoes, and marched over to the door. She dropped them down, starring her mother in the eye.
Sonic seemed to feel the tension, and popped his lips, saying "I just realized I didn't take off my shoes. Sorry, Vanilla, I guess I made a mess." He zipped by cream and left a pair of red shoes by the door.
Vanilla shook her head, "Oh it's fine. I get it, and you've helped us out so much I can't hold a dirty floor against you."
Cream smiled, remembering that SONIC THE HEDGEHOG was back, at her house. This was great, the two had such good history, and he was always so upbeat. A perfect distraction from a terrible school life. "So Sonic, where have you been all this time?"
Vanilla cleared her throat, "Cream, we use manners in this house."
Cream frowned, licking her front teeth inside her mouth, "Mister Sonic, can you tell us about your travels, please?"
Sonic frowned, and shifted uncomfortably. He could feel the seemingly spontaneous tension in the air. He forced a casual laugh, "She doesn't have to be so formal. C'mon, I'm still the same ol' Sonic the Hedgehog."
Vanilla forced a smile through slightly grit teeth, "Yes, but Cream understands the right way to talk. I don't know where this casual speech came from, but it needs to stop."
Cream 's anger festered. She should have clamped her mouth shut, but instead, "You know what needs to stop? You smothering me!"
The older rabbit recoiled slightly, "I haven't been tryin-"
"No, Of course not. You just drop me off at school, in front of the whole parade of bullies, and treat me like I'm your baby." Cream shouted. It was too late to back down now.
Sonic stood up, "Hey now, your mom loves yo-"
Cream growled, "Of course she does."
Vanilla frowned, and slumped down slightly, "You are my baby." She whispered.
Cream snorted, "I wish I wasn't. Today was hell tha-"
The land line suddenly started ringing. The coffee table to Vanilla's right began to jitter until she picked up the phone. "hello?" She masked her pain with a happy voice. Vanilla was content to look at the carpet.
Sonic looked over at Cream and mouthed Are you ok?
Cream nodded. She did feel kind of bad though. Her mom didn't deserve that reaction.
Vanilla laughed, "Oh hello Mr. Possum…..No she hasn't yet….." Vanilla's sadness transformed, and she made eye contact with her daughter. Cream felt nervous as her mother kept the gaze letting out a tense, forced grin, "I will certainly look that over, thank you for bringing this to my attention. As you, good bye."
Sonic shifted uncomfortably and patted the suite case on the table, "Well, uh, put it in a savings account or something. I'll uh get going now."
Vanilla kept her force grin, "Thank you for dropping by mister Sonic. Cream say goodbye to him."
Cream's anger had been replaced with fear, and there wasn't much mystery behind that phone call. She forced the words out of her mouth, accepting the death sentence, "Goodbye mister Sonic." She opened the door, and Sonic zipped out, grabbing his shoes.
When Cream turned around, her mother was right in front of her, looking down with both anger and disappointment, "Show me the test!"
Cream shrunk down, "Mother i-"
"Show me…the test." She growled.
Cream reached inside her backpack, and pulled out the sheet.
Vanilla began to breathe heavily.
Cream squeaked, "It's not that big of a deal. I can make it up."
"A twenty six. On a science test. Give me your phone." Vanilla demanded shakily.
Cream frowned, "What?"
"Your phone! Then go to your room. You are grounded for a month!" Vanilla shouted.
Cream felt a wave of anger well up inside her. She pulled out her phone and shoved it into her mother's hands, and marched up stairs.
Cream stayed in her room until dinner, where she went down and ate a silent, angry meal with her mother. Carrot stew, normally a favorite, joyful food, turned bitter by the situation.
After dinner Cream went up in her room, and laid in bed. She wondered, how was she supposed to keep this up?
She had be pretty and dumb so the jocks wouldn't get intimidated, all while being prudent and brilliant for her strict mother. Cream had to change her very speech between school and home to even hope to have either be prosperous. How could she continue to live like this, here in a house that was so different from school.
Cream's brain told her the answer. She couldn't, but what the alternative was…
It was scary, but then again, if she did it, Cream would find out how to fit in with the class. Carefully, Cream crept down stairs, she pulled open the farthest left drawer and pulled out a good two hundred mobiums. Before opening the door, with her bag packed.
/*-*/
Cream shuddered as she walked down the street. The city seemed to turn from a hopeful symbol of civilization in the day, to a terrifying wilderness at night. She felt her body shake and shiver as she approached the street. The large skyscraper hotels created a looming forest of light and darkness, and the sound of traffic created a sinister lullaby.
A whistle was heard as Cream passed by an alleyway. Two jackals and a bandicoot crept towards Cream, who had frozen from the sudden attention. "Hello, sweet thing. You look lost, maybe we could give you some…direction."
Cream forced her legs to move into the nearest lit sidewalk, "Oh, no I know where to go, thank you." She felt her legs trembling.
You should go back. We don't even have a plan Her logos mind told her.
But I can't keep live two lives between locations. Her pathos mind retorted.
Then she saw it, Dalton Grand Hotel. Alice's home was a penthouse on the 54th floor.
Cream entered the building, and approached the receptionist, a light blue mink with a back vest over a white shirt with a red tie.
Cream smiled, "I'm here to see Alice Coyote."
The receptionist nodded with a smile, "I'll buzz her right away."
Cream walked over to the elevator, and pressed the up button. The door dinged open, and Cream walked in, and pressed the 54 button. She waited patiently. Because it was the middle of the night, no one seemed to be going up as well.
The door dinged open, and Cream stepped out onto the 54th floor. She walked over to the room she was looking for. 5411, 5413, 5415! She knocked on the door.
It immediately swung open, and Alice smiled, "Hey Cream! Come on in."
Cream walked in, and Alice asked, "Are you ok?"
Cream looked down to find her legs were still shaking. Cream took a deep breath and explained the situation.
Alice frowned, "Come with me."
Alice walked into the kitchen and opened the sink door. She reached under the sink and pulled out a pill bottle. "Here, you take one and you should feel better in no time. It helps me focus."
Cream looked at the bottle, "Um-"
"Don't worry, I've been taking this stuff since the school year started. It's actually helped me focus when I study." Alice re-assured.
Cream took the bottle, "I need somewhere to stay. Can I stay here?"
Alice coughed in her throat, "Um actually, my uncle and his kids moved in. We are booked."
Cream felt her heart rate increase, "Where am I going to sleep?" She didn't hear anyone.
Alice raised her hands, "Hey, just go back before your mom finds out."
"My mom won't take me back." Cream frowned sadly, remembering the letter she had left.
Alice took Cream's hands, and looked her in the eyes, "Now look, a cool girl doesn't give up. She powers through her decisions and wins in the end. Now go out and win."
Cream felt so inspired, she didn't even think about the door slamming in her face. She didn't even question that she was led to the door. Cream had the pills, and her grades were going to improve, and her life was going to get better.
She made her way to the elevator and pressed the button to go down. When it opened, Cream stepped inside the empty elevator, and pressed the first floor button. As the doors were closing, she pulled the pills out of her pack, and took one…and another to help her in this stressful time…and one more just in case. A terrible decision.
She walked out of the hotel, and began to walk down the side walk. About ten minutes later, Cream started to feel woozy. The world seemed to blur, and darken. She heard a cackling…three voices faintly. She had to move…but her legs wouldn't obey. She fell into the alleyway, and the last thing she heard, was the sound of thunder rippling across the land.
/*-*/
Cream jerked up, her head feeling terrible. She immediately flopped back down, not of her own volition. The young rabbit started to panic, the last thing she remembered was…those guys, in the alley way.
Her arm wouldn't move to see if she was clothed. She only look around and notice…the white plaster room…. And a night stand with a black digital clock.
The door opened and a platypus in a white coat approached her, "Good evening Miss Rabbit. How are you feeling?"
Cream mustered all of her strength to speak, she opened her mouth, "Where am I?" Her voice was so weak.
The platypus smiled, "Ah, You are safe in your brother's house. I don't how you are related, but he called me due to a concern."
Cream blinked heavy lids. Brother?
A thunder shook the house, and standing in the doorway, was a seriously concerned blue hedgehog.
The platypus cleared his throat, "Good Mister Hedgehog, we can discuss her current condition and possible future solutions."
Sonic's voice, filled with dread, asked, "Condition?"
The platypus nodded, "As you know, she has almost all motor functions. I don't believe it will be permanent, but you will need to alert her school."
Sonic asked, "how long will she be like this?"
The Doctor frowned, "Well I don't know. Dioclepticidean is new to the street market. In small doses, there isn't much danger, and it actually helps the mind focus. But large doses can cause nerve damage, or even permanent partial paralysis. She doesn't appear to be paralyzed, but for the next two weeks, I recommend she have an aid all times."
Cream gasped, "What! Am I going to be stuck….like this…"
"Mister Hedgehog, perhaps I should talk to you in private." The doctor said.
They walked behind the door. Cream, however was a rabbit. Mustering all the strength she could, Her ears twitched.
"I believe she will need constant encouragement and physical therapy."
"Like?"
"Walking, moving, stretching. She may require aid. She may also require aid in hygiene and waste disposal."
"I am not helping her crap."
"What? No, I am simply stating that she will need help with almost everyday movement. She should be able to actually take care of any business she would have. But her arms and legs will be sluggish and unruly for next few weeks."
"Alright, I'll take care of her."
"Ahem! Mister Hedgehog, I don't do this for free."
The sound of a forced slump, against a jacket, like a large amount of bills were suddenly shoved into the doctor.
"This is it?"
A larger slump.
"I see, pleasure do-"
"One more thing."
"Yes Mister Hedgehog."
"This stays off the books. You never took care of Cream the Rabbit. You never even visited my house."
"I am obligated to-"
Another large slump.
"- Indeed. It seems poor old Gerald was having heart problems again."
"Good."
"I must ask why you are willing to pay so much for a simple piece of paper."
"She's a kid, who made a stupid decision in teenage rebellion. This could hurt her future. I don't want that."
"Ah, I understand. Well, if you should require my services, you need only call."
"Goodbye Doctor."
Sonic walked in the door, and Cream slumped down. He spoke with such a soft voice, "Hey… are you feeling alright. Do you need anything?"
Cream gasped, "Water."
Sonic zipped away, and returned with a round glass of water.
He placed an arm under her back and hoisted her up, pressing the glass to her lips. She drank gingerly.
Sonic spoke, "I didn't call your mom yet. I don't want her to see you like this. So for two weeks, You'll be staying here with me and Tails, ok?"
Cream's eyes seemed to clamp shut, and she fell back, with a hand to catch her.
Ok, So that is chapter one. This was a prototype story to test the waters, and maybe lead to an actual story.
PLEASE REVIEW, I can not stress how helpful reviews are for both morale and story improvement. Rip me apart, raise me up, I will take either, but I would like to improve, or at know what you felt about it.