***

"It's been 20 minuets! Fuck this!" the incensed goat bolted. "Everyone follow me!"

"Hey y'all Sonic is in charge here, so just wait." Bunnie pleaded.

" If we wait any longer there won't be a village left!" The mouse responded.

"Yeah so lets go!" yelled the goat as he turned. Unexpectedly, he felt two hands on his chest.

"Watch were your goin' dude!" Soinc said as he pushed the goat back into balanced.

"Oh so you finally showed up! Well we don't need you. Where gonna fix this village ourselves! And for a leader, you've been trippin' up all week. You should let a real player run the game…. Like me." divulge the goat.

"Player? Please, I don't have time for you." Once again Sonic pushes the goat out of his way and moves to the middle of the crowd. "We, I mean all of Knothole has to work together to fix this mess. So listen up! I want Bunnie and Rot to…"

"Don't listen to him! All week he has been disin' this village!" the thirty-something goat heatedly said.

Sonic crossed his arms. The crowd awaited his response. Sonic looked at the guy very coldly.

"Ok. Tell us what you would do? Obviously, you know where the emergency materials are located. Oh and you must know how about how to manage groups of people and put them to work where they are most talented. Hey, then you must know…."

"I sure do!"

"Then prove it."

"I … I would start with … my fence. That's a major problem!"

The crowd reacted with low moans of disapproval. Quickly attention was given to Sonic.

" Well I guess we can get down to business now… as I was saying Bunnie and Rote I want you to get a group of people and work on the breaker walls."

"Sure do sugar-hog!"

"Antoine, you and me are working on the sewer."

"WHAT!!! No Sonique! That stuff stinks!"

"You should've thought of that before you slammed my door this morning."

"Oui." The coyote weakly stated.

***

Moonlight streamed through the bedroom window of the brave blue freedom fighter.
yawn

*Walkers! That was hard…* A second later the hedgehog crashed into his bed. * I can't believe I volunteered to work on the sewer main! THE SMELL! Still, it wasn't as bad as St. John…*

With his aching arms Sonic pulled the covers over himself. He began his nightly ritual of scratching his belly and letting out a deep yawn. Soon his hand passed over his navel. *Sally, why did you have to leave me now?! I mean, I need you here* The hedgehog felt his eyes become heaver * I better get some sleep .. I have a feeling' that Ant is gonna wake me up extra early tomorrow. *

***

The hedgehog outstretched his arms,* the ocean…* that is what Sonic felt as he stood in complete darkness. He felt the breeze across his body. From behind him he noticed a green glow. It quickly flickered and dissipated into mist.

"Your interior decorator must be on vacation."

"F-U-N-N-Y" the blue one scold.

"You promised me you would show some imagination!"

"Humm…"

Tikal crossed her arms as she stood plainly in front of Sonic. He closed his eyes and scratched his head.

"Hold up! Don't have an aneurysm." The apparition joked.

Like water colors dripping on to a blank canvas , they spread and blur. Only with the loving stroke of the artist the painting is born. That is what happened in Sonic's mind. Tikal's eyes widened as her skimpy clothing changed into a silk lavender nightie with lace see-through cups.

Soon the darkness melted away to reveal the snowy woods at night. The broken moon shimmered down on them. Almost naked Tikal wrapped her arms around herself. Sonic chuckled at her.

She shattered between her teeth, "Sonic it ccc…old!"

" I know I can see you nipples!" he shouted

" Stop staring at them!" she reached down to make a snowball.

"OK OK I'll stop" He smiled and turned around.

Sonic closed his eyes again. Soon Tikal felt a warm rug under her feet. She looked up and around with delight in her eyes. Her vision reveled a cozy rustic cabin. It was mostly made of light brown colored wood. To her right was a brick fireplace burning and flickering the glow of orange and yellow around the small room. The soft carpet beneath her and the loveseat to the left was a cream color. She felt the hedgehog's warm chest gently press against her back.

"Would you like to have a seat?" he suggested.

Tikal blushed with surprise at the blue one and sweetly sat down. Sonic followed her.

"Impressed. Huh!" Sonic smiled.

Tikal rolled her eyes. Then she turned her whole body towards him. At the same time Sonic put his right arm around the incased beauty.

"So … this Sonska guy, who is he?" asked hedgehog.

"He was a warrior in my grandfather's army 5,000 years ago on the Floating Island. He was a hedgehog, just like you, except he had a piercing in his nose and wore the traditional dress of his tribe.

"What did that look like?"

"It looked like a skirt except it was for males."

"Oh…Was it kinda checkered with blue and black in the front and mostly white?"

"Yes! That's exactly what it looked like! How did you know?"

"I had a dream for a few nights. It was so real like I was in a desert in the middle of a brutal battle!"

"Sandopolis! That's was a defining battle for Sonska. This is amazing you know who I'm talking about."

"Go on with the story."

"It was after the Battle of Sandopolis that our lives greatly changed. I guess that's the best place to start.

A few days after the battle…"

***

A rare summer breeze sweeps open the sky-blue silk curtains that framed the balcony entrance. The room, itself, speaks boldly of Tikal's royal status. A small reading table stays in front if the balcony , just inside the room. The table legs and base are made of silver with the top cut out of the best Ru-Su marble. On the table a book and a lonely candle sits unlit. Next to the table is a chair made out of the same glimmering material. Parallel to the balcony is the princess's bed which is located across the room. The bed is large daunting piece of architecture forged from gold. The four pillars are supposed to be the bed posts, but for some reason, have been covered up by soft pastel blue and purple tapestries. The sheets on the bed have a light color of blue and were made from the finest silk. The theme of purple and blue hanging materials have been carried over onto the sand brick walls of the bedroom, shrouding the room in calm. Above the entrance to the bedroom is a sword and an ax wielded on a shield incrusted with the royal family's symbol. Before the room's door lies a medium size navy blue carpet. On the carpet princess Tikal stands in a glamorous silver dress, staring at the shield. Tears fill her eyes as she holds a small pot close to her chest. Slowly, she moves to the far corner of the room. In this spot there is a low table and a box. On the table are a few items like a bowl of water, a cloth, and some Leka leaves. In the box was the lid to the pot.

Tikal carefully placed the lid on the pot and put it in the box, making sure nothing spilled. The she took the cloth and wiped her mouth. She stood straight up and checked the dress. It was okay. As sigh of relief escaped from her * I didn't get any vomit on the dress, thanks the Walkers…* A sweet elderly female's voice spoke from the door.

"Tikal, are you ready? The festivities are about to begin! The Chief is asking for you."

"Yes, Grandma," Tikal responded softly.

Then the princess took a deep breath and headed out the door.

***

Tonight the echidna elite and the military highest officers are in full celebration together. Finally, after 10 long years of war against the Dingo Empire the Floating island is in procession of the Echidna Kingdom. Now the Kingdom gathers at the Ancient Echidna Temple, in the prosperous city of Echidnaopolis, to be merry in victory and to look to a positive future.

"Presenting our Royal Chief and his granddaughter, Princess Tikal" Joyously shouted the announcer as a timid echidna girl appeared before the audience. As Tikal stood behind the Chief, her grandfather, she seemed to want to take up as little space as possible. This was hardly feasible since her tribal dress made her sparkle like the first evening star.

Soon she took a small step forward. Her eyes captured fear at times as she looked across the cheering crowd. The Chief stood proudly, with a wide grin. He was an echidna of firm stature built like and ox. His barrel chest, heavy arms, and meaty hands made he seem bigger than what he really was. The Chief took his left hand and pushed Tikal forward. Instantly her body reacted and corrected it's posture.* Head up, shoulder's back. Relax! Relax! Relax!* She finally fell into place and looked like a princess.

Then with the Chief's rich baritone voice rumbling through the crowd he said, "JOY is what we have! The day we promised our children has come. We can finally live in peace. The Echidna Kingdom has conquered the Dingo Empire!"cheers wave throughout the audience "My heart is filled with happiness for out Kingdom, yet sadness occupies my heart as well---Many of our women had lost husbands, fathers, and sons in the war. Even in this time of joy we still have to help those of us in need.roaring cheers But we are alive today! Thanks greatly to our New High Royal General, Sonska The Hedgehog." The Leader of the Echidna Kingdom and his daughter began to promenade down the steps of the Temple to where Sonska was standing.

Sonska's classic confident smile seemed to be wielded to his face as the two royals approached him. Suddenly, the hedgehog felt himself being snatched up in a bear hug. The heavy arms of the Chief were almost crunching down on the blue one's athletic build. Sonska felt the last bit of air squeak out of his lungs.

Tikal softly spoke, "Grandfather you are—"

The Chief continued, "The Echidna Kingdom and I am deeply greatfull to you Sonska!"

The Leader of the Echidna Kingdom word's shook the room. Soon the hedgehog started to really turn blue.

Tikal stepped closer, "Grandfather you're hurting him."

"Why if you were an echidna I would give you a real reward. My granddaughter! Ha, ha …..ha." bellowed the Leader.

Loudly, Tikal scorned "Grandfather Please!"

Finally the blue one's eyes stopped dilating. The Chief dropped the hedgehog and promptly turned to Tikal. Her face filled with tension and she backed off. Sonska, slightly hunched over, grabbed his chest happy to be breathing again.

The leader's expression was of complete distain. "Do have any respect? You are a female! How dare you speak in the present of men!?...Impulsive creature…"

" Grandfather I .. didn't mean any—"

"Did not what? Embarrass me in front of the whole Kingdom?!!" The princess's shoulders seem to sink as her head tilted towards the floor. Silence embraced the grand temple.

Suddenly, the High Royal General spoke, " Your Majesty, I don't think the princess meant any harm…"

" Oh Sonska only someone as honorable as you would defend her actions….I can not blame her rude behavior on her alone. Her grandmother gives her these crazy ideas …. Anyway! This is a party! Where's the music! Go on live everyone! We are free!" smiled the Chief.

Soon the crowd returned to a joyful mood.

Then the Chief turn to Sonska, "I expect great things from you."

"Yes sir."

The Chief gave Sonska a prideful smile. "Mingle and enjoy this party. It is in your honor."

Sonska nodded.

The princess smiled sweetly at the hedgehog as she turned from him. The dress caught the torch light. It accentuated the curves of her back and the sensual shape of her legs. Heat rushed into Sonska's soul. His heart began to burn.

He smiled to him self, " I guess I should enjoy the party after all it for me."

***