Hey people, so this is my first time publishing here, aaaand my first time trying to seriously write a story. So, let's see how this goes. Thank you in advance for any comments, reviews and such. Every bit of feedback is appreciated.

Note: English is not my first language, so I apologize for the mistakes I'm due to be making.

CHAPTER I

News, at last

It was raining heavily over Central City. It was late in autumn, and the night was cold and damp. Of course, that didn't mean much to the patrons at the Twin Bridges bar. Most of them payed little mind to anything aside for their drinks and not falling off the stools. The weather mattered very little to them. They had lost most of what they had cherished. A home, a future, their livelihood… Indeed, the times had become quite difficult for animals and humans alike since the blights had started. It all had begun some months ago, when all around the country the crops had started getting infected with a white fungus, which proved lethal to the plants in a few days. Pesticides had been tested, and until now, had been unsuccessful. Farmers everywhere faced financial ruin. So, more and more refugees from the countryside had started flooding the cities, eager to escape the increasing insecurity. Bars and taverns all over Central's slums were crowded with desperate people, drowning their sorrows.

Of course, the President and the Government had been, as they had stated time and time again, "devoting all resources in the search for a cure for this new plague, which is and will be our top priority until further notice." But unfortunately, despite all efforts and the rumoured involvement of military intelligence, successes fighting the Paleblight, as it had started to be known, were few and far between. Some experimental anti-fungal pesticides had been able to slow off the spread of the blight, but the fungus would always end up appearing. The country was facing a real risk of famine and financial ruin, should the Paleblight persist. It really didn't seem possible for things to get any worse.

But that night, while the thick raindrops hit the windows, the patrons at the Twin Bridges, and every other bar in town, for that matter, learnt that the situation was indeed able to get even more dire. The news was on every channel.

"This just in," had announced the newscaster, "after five years since it was last seen, the airship known as the Egg Carrier has been watched flying over Wave Ocean by several witnesses."

The news then proceeded to show footage of a large, red and black airship, with a crest of a moustachioed face, black over yellow. The until then apathetic clientele, had fell silent in full attention to the TV, their eyes fixed on the screen in horror and disbelief.

"All seems to indicate that the infamous mad doctor, Ivo Robotnik, also known as Doctor Eggman might be back, although we don't have confirmation that the criminal mastermind is behind this development yet. Doctor Eggman hasn't been seen since the Crescenton incident five years ago, when the eponymous town was completely destroyed by his robot army".

A file photo of the doctor appeared on screen. It showed a bald, fat man with a huge moustache, dressed in red and black, with his eyes hidden under black lenses.

"Military intelligence has declined to comment on this new turn of events. Government representatives had declared that their priorities will remain unchanged, with their focus still finding the origin of the blights, and hopefully, develop a solution by the end of the year."

Most of the patrons left shortly after. Ash the Wolf, however, stayed at his comfy spot near the stove. He was well on his third glass of scotch by the time the news of Doctor Eggman shook everyone in Central City, but just with hearing that name, his sobriety returned instantly. Not wanting to stay in such a dreaded state of mind, he ordered a fourth, a fifth and a sixth glass.

"About damn time the fat madman appeared," mused the grey wolf, after downing the last glass, his mouth curved in a sad smirk. "Well, no point in worrying about that now. We'll be meeting soon enough."

He then payed his bill, and stumbled out the door, into the night.

How Ash had managed to find his way back to the motel, he couldn't say, but somehow, he did, as he discovered the next morning when he woke up in his bed.

Ugh, I did it again, he thought, as he tried to get out of bed as fast as his throbbing headache let him. Moon is gonna kill me this time. Let's hope that at least she had some luck last night. Ash tried to convince himself that if Moon had found something useful, she wouldn't get that pissed at him. But he knew her sister better than that. There was an earful in store for him.

The grey wolf put on his old, white t-shirt, his worn jeans and his blue, muddy sneakers. He did his best to try and comb his fur, with limited success, and went outside the room. He had barely managed to close the door and head for the stairs when a sharp, cold voice froze him on the spot.

"And where are you going now, Ash?"

Crap, thought Ash. He turned around, to face his interlocutor. Before him stood an angry raven girl, looking into his eyes with her piercing green ones. She was a foot shorter than him, although her feathers, which puffed up when she was mad, such as now, made her look bigger. And scarier. She was wearing an old and torn leather jacket a couple sizes too big for her, and grey cargo pants.

"Well?" insisted the girl.

"Oh, good morning, sis," said Ash nervously. "I was going down to the café, you know, for our meeting? I thought you'd be there already, having breakfast.

"I had breakfast," said the raven. "Hours ago. It's almost noon, Ash. We were supposed to meet at 9 o'clock. What on Earth did you do last night?"

Ash tried to remember what exactly had been his movements the night before. Recalling his memories felt like trying to catch a frog while knee-deep in muck.

"Okay," he begun, "so I was trying to gather some intel, as we had agreed and, uh, I remember going into the Twin Bridges bar to ask around." Which was the truth, for the most part. Ash had hoped the refugees would have brought news of their places of origin, and with luck, some leads as to Eggman's whereabouts.

"Anyway," continued Ash, "I bought some people some drinks and, well, I didn't want to rise suspicions, so I had a couple myself and… yeah, I got nothing," admitted the wolf. "The few people that wanted to talk would only speak of the blight. So I sat down to watch the game on TV, and then…"

"And then you got piss drunk," interjected the girl, her wings folded, "like you always do when I need you to do something!"

"Moon, you know that's not true!" said Ash, rubbing his forehead. His headache was getting worse. "I tried to find out something useful, I did, but it's been too long since he last… wait." Ash stopped himself. ¿How could he have forgotten? "Sis, did you watch the newscast last night?"

"Yes, I know what's happened, but I'm not done with you just yet-"

"Sis, he's back, at last!" exclaimed Ash, "We've got our first lead in ages. Don't you see?" A flurry of emotions went through his head. Only now that he was sober could he really understand what that news meant to them both. He tried to collect his thoughts. "We have to go to Soleanna right now, and from there to Wave Ocean, and-"

"Alright, stop!" shouted Moon. Her gaze went from furious to disappointed. "Yes, we have a lead, but I'm not doing this unless you can promise me you will take this seriously and stop drinking!" Her sad look made Ash feel like trash, like so many other times. He could only thank his thick fur for hiding his blushing.

Moon composed herself.

"I know you had lost hope," she continued, in a calmer tone. "You told me as much when we got here, and that we should try to settle down and forget about Eggman. Well, I see you have changed your mind about that. But if we are going to do this, I need to know that I can count on you. Okay?"

Ash didn't say anything for a little while. His sister was right, of course. She usually was when it came to his issues. Everyone faced his demons in their own way, and Ash had chosen the bottle. Too many times it had gotten him into trouble, and had ruined too many opportunities for both of them. It was time to draw a line in the sand. Seriously this time.

"Some big brother I turned out to be…" he said finally, in a sad tone. "But I want to make things right, Moon, I do. I know I promised it already before, but I mean it. From now on, no more drinking on the job, no more distractions no more nothing! We're gonna do this."

Moon leaned forward and hugged her brother. Ash hugged her back, a little insecurely. She wasn't usually that affectionate. Moon pulled back shortly after, looking a little embarrassed.

"I really hope you mean it this time," she said finally. "For your own sake, Bro."

Ash nodded meekly.

"So," he said. "What's our first move going to be? I think we should get to Wave Ocean as soon as we can, before the trail gets cold."

"You're right, but listen, last night I went asking some questions around Tinker's Quarter and meet someone who might be able to help us. I told him we'd be meeting with him this afternoon. If it's nothing, we'll only lose a couple of hours."

"So who is this guy?" asked Ash, "Can we trust him?"

"We" interjected Moon, sternly, "are saving our questions until you've had a cup of coffee. We can talk about it then. Come on."

She then started walking toward the stairs. Ash sighed, and went after her sister. When Moon told you you wouldn't be getting any answers from her until she wanted to share them, you stopped arguing. If that beak closed, it closed.

Well, what'd you know? thought Ash. Yesterday I was ready to throw everything aside and give up. Now we may finally get somewhere. At least I hope so. The fat bastard has been dodging his comeuppance for way too long.

Moon and Ash went out the motel and into the sunlight. Indeed, a new day was starting for them.