Chapter 1 – New Beginnings

"ARGH! Watch it!" cried Sonic as he was almost bowled over by several children.

He staggered back and then walked towards the door again. He cringed slightly and then opened it. Inside the noise level was deafening. It was Alicia's eighth birthday and Sally had thought it wise to invite virtually the entire town's population of kids. As Sonic walked in Alicia looked up from behind a large stack of presents.

"Hi dad!" she screamed over the noise.

Sonic walked over to her and smiled.

"Enjoying yourself dear?" he asked.

"Oh yes father. Immensely!" she replied.

Alicia smiled broadly for a second and then screamed. She looked down to see that Miles had sneaked up on her. She spun and jumped on him, knocking him to the floor. Miles rolled over so he was on top and Alicia replied by doing the same. Just then there was a scream.

"PILE ON!" cried one kid in the room.

There was a flurry of calls and Miles and Alicia found themselves at the bottom of a large pile of children. Sonic was in stitches. He steadied himself against a table and then went to help Miles and Alicia. He pulled them both from under the stack and helped them up.

"Will you two stop doing that." he said half smirking.

Miles and Alicia only grinned at him and then charged off into the room screaming. Sonic thought it was best to leave them too it. He turned and left. As he walked along the corridors the noise gradually decreased until it became unnoticeable. He came to his and Sally's room and entered. Inside Sally was humming away as she usually did.

"Hi Sal." said Sonic cheerfully.

Sally turned around and smiled.

"Hi Sonic. Are the kids ok?"

"There fine. Never happier."

"I'm glad they're enjoying themselves."

"Yeah….but did you have to invite so many kids? Have you been in there yet?! It's like a mad house!"

Sally just gave a small laugh and smiled.

"Yes I did and no I haven't. I don't intend on doing so either. I want to leave them alone."

"Wish you'd told me that. I've just come from there. Boy talk about energy!"

"Yes they do have a lot of energy don't they. But that's good. It's healthy."

Sonic nodded and walked over to the window. He walked out onto the balcony and looked out. Below him Mobotropolis was alive and busy. Some areas of the city were still in ruins from a year ago when the city had been bombed from orbit. Most had been rebuilt but the southern edge of the city was still rumble. The Royal Gardens had been rebuilt but the waterfall that had once cascaded down the side was gone. The rivers course was too badly changed to fix that. It now ran down the eastern side of the palace and out across the fields and then joined itself again outside the city. Sonic was annoyed about this. He had liked the running water sound. Sally came up behind him and put and arm around his shoulder. Sonic put an arm around her. They stood in the afternoon sun together.

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Amy cringed. She slowly got up from her chair and walked out of the room. She sighed as she reached the room she wanted. She swung the door open and walked in. Inside was a small crib with a large noise coming from it. She reached in and picked up the screaming grey fox. She rocked her from side to side for a while and slowly she fell asleep again. She laided her back in the crib and quietly exited the room.

Amy walked back to the room she had been in and slumped into a chair with a sigh.

"So how is she?" asked her mother.

Amy looked over at her mother. She was sat on the couch next to her father. Amy just groaned slightly.

"That bad huh?" asked her father.

"Do you really want an answer to that?" Amy said.

"No, suppose not." replied her father.

"It reminds me of when you were young. Before…ah never mind." said her mother.

Amy just nodded.

"Say where's Tails today?" asked her father.

"He's in Mobotropolis training with Bunnie." replied Amy.

"Oh yes I remember. Does he help much?" said her father.

"Actually he does. He's real sweet with it too. I would never have thought Tails could be so good with kids." said Amy.

Tails and Amy had married just under a year ago after Tails had proposed to her and a few months ago there first child had been born. A grey tripled tailed fox they had called her Lavender. They had moved back to Little Planet and now lived a few miles from the Time Stone shrine.

"Well I'm glad to hear that he helps." smiled her mother.

"So when do you two set off?" asked Amy.

"Tonight. We plan to make Knothole by the tomorrow evening." said her father.

"Right. Well that should be too hard. It's not too far after all." replied Amy.

"When does Tails get back?" asked her mother.

"Actually I'm leaving for Mobotropolis tomorrow morning with Lavender. Tails has some apartment rented or something and he has a little surprise for me."

"What?" asked her mother.

"I don't know. He wouldn't tell. I like surprises though. Especially his!" said Amy with a smile and a wink.

Her parents both nodded and smiled.

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"Ok Tails try it again." said Bunnie.

She steadied herself and then held up the pad.

"KIYA!" cried Tails as he launched another kick at the pad.

Bunnie almost fell over backwards at the force. She wobbled slightly and then lowered the pad.

"You're getting better Tails. Very nice."

"Thanks." said Tails with a smile.

The pair of them stood in the middle of a large hall. Mats lay across the whole area of the floor. They both wore a set of white martial art robes and a coloured belt.

"You'll be ready for your purple before you know it." said Bunnie.

Tails looked down at the blue belt that was tied around his middle. He gave a nod.

"I think a bit longer. I'm still not ready." he replied.

"Whatever, but you better watch out. I'm catching up."

Tails nodded. She was too. Bunnie had joined slightly after Tails and was now only one belt below him on green. She was going in for her blue belt grade in a month or so but Tails knew he'd be ready by then.

"So." said Bunnie as she walked to the edge of the mat, "What you doing tonight?"

"Nothing much. Amy is coming in from Little Planet tomorrow. I got a little surprise for her."

"Oh really." said Bunnie with a smile.

She stepped of the mat and turned round. She gave a little bow and then went over to her pack at the side of the room. She took out a water bottle and took a swig.

"So what's this little ol' surprise you got?" she asked.

"I'm taking her out for dinner. I haven't done that in ages."

"That's nice. If I still had my restaurant you could go there."

"Thanks Bunnie. But I was thinking of somewhere else."

Since the incident with the space station, Bunnie had felt she needed more excitement in her life. She had sold her restaurant chain, for quite a healthy price, and started to have a bit of fun. She regularly trained with Tails but also tried other things too.

Bunnie put the water bottle away and walked back onto mat, giving a little bow as she did.

"So where you thinking of going?" she asked picking up the pad again.

"There's a little place just off the eastern plaza. I've been in earlier today. It looks really nice."

"I know that place. Green Bay or something isn't it?"

"I think so."

After another hour or so they had finished their session. They stepped off the mat together giving a bow as they did. They walked over to their bags and took out a towel.

"Good session Bunnie." said Tails breathlessly as he wiped his forehead with a towel.

"Sure was sugah." replied Bunnie taking a sip of water.

"I think some food is in order."

"Do you ever stop thinking of food Tails?"

"Err………….no."

"Well come on then. We gotta get changed first."

Bunnie and Tails headed out of the hall and towards the changing rooms talking.

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"So then he said yeah but yours is twice as fat as mine!" said Knuckles.

Espio suddenly collapsed in fits of laugher. Knuckles soon joined him. After a few minutes Espio managed to compose himself slightly.

"If you ask me they both should have gone home!"

They both burst out laughing again. They were standing near the edge of the Floating Island near one of the waterfalls that cascaded off the edge of the island. After several minutes they stop laughing. Espio picks himself up of the ground and dusted himself off. He picked up a small rucksack and put it on.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Sure am." replied Knuckles.

"Well shall we?"

"After you Espio."

"Ok then. Geronimo!"

Espio suddenly leaped off the island followed closely by Knuckles. He spread his arms into a star pattern and closed his eyes for a second.

"Weeehooooooo!" he cried opening his eyes.

"Enjoying yourself?" asked Knuckles levelling out beside his friend upside down.

"You have to show off don't you!" cried Espio.

The ocean was getting close now. Espio reached beside him and grabbed a small toggle. He pulled it sharply and the backpack on his back opened up. A huge parachute folded out and deployed. Espio's speed was suddenly decreased and Knuckles flipped over and stuck his dreadlocks out giving him lift. He started to glide and Espio touched down in the sea.

"Having fun down there?" cried Knuckles.

"Can it Knuckles. You can glide!" said Espio.

Espio floated while he unfastened his rucksack. He let go and it sunk into the ocean.

"Oh well. Another parachute down the drain."

"Lousy pun." came a voice.

"Shut up Knuckles." groaned Espio.

A little while later Espio had swum the short distance to the shore. He dragged himself out onto the beach and lay down. He stared up at the sky as Knuckles landed nearby.

"So Espio. How was that?" he asked.

"Just as good as the last three times." replied Espio with a sigh.

He stretched out on the sand and then sat up.

"So what now?"

"We better get back. My father has slipped back into his old ways in recent months. If he finds me missing from the palace then I could be in for it."

"Knuckles…….you're twenty six!"

"Age has never stopped him before and believe me he's scary when he gets mad."

"Hmm….well I suppose we should head back then." said Espio.

"Come on then." said Knuckles as he started to walk up the beach.

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Marian closed her suitcase and nodded to herself.

"Yes. I think that is everything." she said to herself.

"You ready dear." came Patrick's voice from outside the room.

"I think so. Be out in a minute." she called back.

She picked up her suitcase and walked outside. In the hall Patrick and Amy were waiting.

"All set." she said, "Patrick, give me a hand here."

"Of course." replied Patrick taking Marian's suitcase.

He picked his own up in his other hand.

"I'll see you in a few days then." said Amy.

"I suppose so." said her mother, "I'm looking forwards to this."

"Knothole is beautiful at this time of year. The leaves should just be going golden in colour and…."

"Amy stop. I don't want to hear everything. Remember I've only been there once before." said her mother.

"Sorry. It's just that I spent so much time there in the past."

"Well I'll see you in a few days. And take care of Lavendar."

"I will mother."

After a few more minutes of goodbyes Marian and Patrick were sitting in a small hover car.

"Bye honey!" called her mother.

"Will you get out of here!" said Amy, "Go on shoo!"

Her mother laughed and Patrick started the car. A few minutes later they had disappeared from sight. Amy turned back to the house. She walked in and made herself a coffee. She was about to sit down when there was a loud cry. Amy groaned and got up.

"Some things never change."

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A small monitor blinked into life. A flashing green cursor appeared. Nothing happened for a second and then the cursor flashed across the screen leaving a message behind it.

Awakening…………..confirmed.

All station systems operational……….checking.

Transfer systems……….confirmed.

Tank systems………confirmed.

Transport systems……………………error………….system off line.

Initiating secondary protocol……..confirmed.

Activating tank one and two……….confirmed.

The room lit up with a soft glow as two large circular tanks lit up green. A shadowy figure could be seen in each tank. Bubbles started to rise from the bottom of each tank. The monitor flashed again.

Subject 1 and 2 initialised.

Awaiting orders.

There was a few seconds of quiet and then the monitor flickered again.

Orders received……opening secondary protocol files.

Error in secondary protocol…………transport systems required.

Requesting backup protocols……………..found.

Landing systems engaged………..confirmed.

Error…………landing systems operating at 65%.

Power insufficient for safe landing………….override received.

The room gave a lurch.

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Far below on the planet Mobius a small flicker of light could be seen in the sky over the Aquatic Ruins. The flicker soon became a large streak of fire as an object started to enter the atmosphere. The flame trail shot towards the ground and finally crashed heavily into the marshes of the Aquatic Ruins. Everything was silent again. Inside the object a monitor flashed again.

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Landing complete………….landing jets failed to fire.

Unit off course by three miles.

Checking all systems…………………error found……..tank one systems disrupted.

Checking tank one…………..error……tank one offline………subject lost.

One of the green tanks suddenly dulled and lost its green glow. The other tank remained lit.

Tank two still operational.

Switching all secondary protocol systems to tank two……confirmed.

Initiating transfer systems…..confirmed.

Transferring personality………..confirmed.

Transferring second personality……………………………..confirmed.

Initiating hatching procedures.

The second tank glowed yellow for a second and then the liquid in it drained away. The figure inside dropped to the bottom of the tank and then, with a splutter, got up. The capsule rose and the figure stepped out. The monitor flashed.

Control systems engaged.

Initiating second phase.