Bonjour. It's been a three years since I posted on this site and I have to say I regret it. Took me forever to remember how to post stories and get them looking nice.
So, first off, this is a full on Canon divergence AU. Many of the characters will be a bit OOC at times. Second, I don't play the games. I am basing this off the IDW run of Sonic, Sonic X, and a bit of Sonic Boom for references on the characters roles. It follows close to the IDW comics but I will be using inspiration from those other sources. Third, this starts off pretty simple but gets to swearing, sexual situations, and suicidal themes.
Small headcanon note: In this verse, I put Eggman as the only human being on Mobius. I will explain how Shadow came to be later in this story.
Mr. Tinker waved good-bye to Sonic. He waved the blue blur away feeling relief. He was cleared of any confusion or mistaken identity because of Sonic and the help of little Charmy's guardians. Speaking of the Hyper Bee, he buzzed up to Tinker with a bashful expression.
"Er, I was wonderin'…is Eggman Land open?" The little bee rubbed his antennae. "It's for the assignment to really make sure it's safe."
"Sorry," Tinker said sighing. "I've yet to unveil to the public."
"Oh, okay," the buzzing of his wings lowered.
Tinker smiled at the sweet boy; he wanted to act so grown in front of his guardians. And well, he did need a test run through of the rides before he opened the park for the village. Who better than a trained fighter with his parents nearby.
"However," Tinker added. Charmy's eyes shot up his wings lifting him too. "If your guardians are willing you can test the finished rides and tell me how they handle."
Charmy's big smile was worth the extra work today.
Mr. Tinker walked the trio back to his work space. Charmy immediately flew to the rollercoaster.
"Charmy!" yelled Vector. "Don't jump on a man's work. Chaos kid, you might've electrocuted your behind!"
"Haha, Vector. I assure you all the rides are currently off. There's no need to worry," Mr. Tinker said to calm the poor crocodile.
"I am certain you are correct Tinker, however, Charmy is our charge, as such we must be diligent and alert," Espio said. He was so quiet Tinker had almost forgotten him.
Such fatherly warmth these two share. The thought made Tinker think of his other secret project…perhaps he could talk to them while Charmy tested the rides.
Mr. Tinker went to work on setting up the cables, switches, and knobs to start. He had the whole system connected to one masterbox so all he had to do was turn the labeled knobs for each ride. Charmy was patient throughout this process-only five minutes-and still excited as the young bee's head bobbed.
"All righty boys, test one on Centipede-Roller," Mr. Tinker announced. He turned the knob with baited breath.
The clank of the wheels began with Charmy giggling. A little slow to start but that's what a good coaster does.
The Centipede-Roller's ascent halted. Tinker watched the anticipation in Charmy's eyes. Rattatata-rattataa-scho! Down, down the coaster went making its' first successful turn. No bumps or stalls as Tinker clapped along to Charmy's screams of cheer.
"Success! Success!" Tinker whooped as he twirled. He ignored the looks of disbelief on the elder Chaotix. His first ride worked!
Soon after, Charmy tested the LadyBug Teacups, and then the Fish Swinger (a placeholder name until Tinker thought of a better one) all in one go. The little bee had so much spunk even going on the slide to land on Vector's snout.
"Charmy how many time does I's tells ya? Off the snout," Vector said, shaking his head.
Mr. Tinker observed this as a playful game between the two invertebrates. He grinned at the loving family.
"Excuseme, I must apologize," said a deep voice.
Mr. Tinker jumped to see Espio again so close. Right, ninja skills.
"Apologize for what good man," Tinker said.
Espio was looking at his other half and Charmy. "I will be the first to say I doubted your intentions. I like Shadow believed you were the right person we had been seeking. He's a dangerous man who can't see the beauty of the world as it is only what he wants it to be. He destroys…." Espio stopped. He looked up at Tinker. The older man felt as if he was behind a curtain and Espio was trying to take a peek of backstage. "Mr. Tinker, you've build. You are a carpenter for the common folk and kind. This place you made is wonderful and…Charmy's so happy to do this. He's our apprentice and sometimes I think we take away his childhood." Espio stopped. "I am sorry for doubting you and-"
"You're welcome," Mr. Tinker said. "Feel free to return anytime. Charmy's a good lad and an enthusiastic tester. I'd like to show him more of my future installments."
Not long after Charmy finished, the Chaotix waved their good bye to Tinker.
Tinker locked his barn workshop only to facepalm.
Oh Tinker, your head's in the clouds. I forgot to show them Belle. Can't be helped. We were having such fun and I am so over elated to see my Eggman Land works. I can open soon for the kids and get back to finishing up Belle.
On the way to his cottage, Tinker reflected on the days's events. It was such an odd day. Truly, a peculiar week that started when the proclaimed Chaotix Detective Agency came to Windmill asking for a "mad scientist" who apparently resembled Tinker.
The man shuddered. He hoped they found this mad fellow; sounded like a bad egg from their descriptions of his evil deeds. Mr. Tinker shuddered again remembering the intense burning hatred he saw in that other dark hedgehog. 'Shadow' is what Espio and that bat called him.
Mr. Tinker deflated. He hoped that scary beast never came back. Chaos knows what that monster would do if he knew about Belle. Though, to be fair, I did hide it from Sonic. No idea why. Must've been unnerved by how all of them reacted to Eggman Land. As I understand, this scientist they're after makes robots too. Evil bots who harm folks like the ones today.
Tinker shook himself of these thoughts as he reached his humble cottage. It was bigger than the rest of the village for his height. The working men in town made it as a gift for all his hard work after he had completed the new windmill. Tinker helped of course; he made himself furniture and designed a custom workshop. He opened the door to his living room/kitchenette.
I'll need to add a new bedroom. The man's thoughts drifted as he walked through his small living space. His bedroom lay off in the hallway adjacent to the living room. There one bathroom connected to his room. Perhaps add a bath-no, she won't need it like that. Maybe a guest half-bath for visitors.
Tinker's workshop was located in-for lack of a better term-the basement of the house. It was only three steps to an un-elevated portion. The door was left of his bedroom. He descended the stairs turning the light switch on at the bottom. The workshop was spacious, littered with blueprints, broken or mended toys, and unfinished projects for future Eggman Land rides. Each corner neatly piled with the date of the work as Tinker walked purposely to his workbench where lay a head. It was a shapely head of a young girl with freckles and a cute nose. Her skull was open to reveal wires coming out of her brain to a custom computer.
"Hello Belle," Tinker said. "I think today you should be done with downloading all my woodworking skills. Oh, I can't wait to meet you. You'll be my greatest creation. My own family." Tinker said all this as he unwired the brain. As he rolled all the wires he recounted his day to Belle. He did this knowing that the brain was absorbing all this talk. He had discovered his creation could learn audibly as well as the downloads. It gave hope to Tinker that Belle would be alive when he awakened her. He glance at the router table were the girl's unfinished legs lay. The rest of her body hung behind the router in a marionette pose dressed in a feminine version of Tinker's overalls. It looked so light weight but Mr. Tinker knew the indo-skeleton was pure metal for the girl's safety.
He frowned as he finished his tidying and looked at the head. "I won't lie. I was scared today," he said. "They were convinced I was this other person, Belle. When the Chaotix came into town…I swear that Espio ninja had his weapons out and Vector looked ready to fight. Even Charmy was apprehensive of me for the first day. They asked me so many questions…Sonic too. He looked like he'd seen a rotten ghost."
Mr. Tinker took off his glasses. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.
"Funny, the village tasked me with so many questions too…I know I'm the only human these folks have seen. I suppose this mad scientist must be human too if I look like him so much. Or maybe they can't tell the difference between one human to another," Tinker shrugged. "Can't imagine we all look the same, but I've never seen another of my kind…who knows. I-I guess this other fellow could look like me…or…."
Mr. Tinker stared into the blue eyes opened. Belle had learned to open her eyes yesterday without his assistance. She was not fully functioning yet, her brain like a toddler…Mr. Tinker saw the empathy in her beautiful blue eyes. He made them the same color as him. The worry in Belle's gaze made Tinker lower himself to be eyelevel.
"Don't fret, daughter, no one will take me away," Mr. Tinker said.
He straightened and placed a green bandanna over her exposed brain.
Tomorrow I need to find Belle a wig. Mr. Tinker's last thoughts of the day as he retired to bed were what color to get for Belle and if pigtails were appropriate for a teenaged daughter.
