Victor John Foxfire: I'm messing up the lore in some spots. Archie is very big, and I am having trouble securing perfectly accurate lore. I am trying though. As For Eggman, I found Sonic boom felt like two bored guys just having fun with their friends. There didn't seem be malice, but more, too much time, not enough to do. I don't feel like Scourge is dumb, but rather arrogant to the point of believing himself invincible. And as for Johan, there will be blood.
MerenDinoEmiliano: I try to give characters enough emotion to make them understandable.
Sonic was sweating. He went from being nearly frozen, to sudden Summer temperatures. The Tornado zipped through the sky, Tails in the cockpit.
"So nothing?" Tails finally asked.
"NOTHING!" Sonic exclaimed through the wind, "No one knows what's going on. The World is going crazy."
"There is a logical explanation." Tails tried, "We Just… Haven't figured out what it is yet."
Sonic smiled down at His buddy as they descended down.
"We haven't tried Mammoth Mogul yet?" Tails asked, "He's pretty powerful."
Sonic thought about. Yeah, He was a Mammoth, so he thrived in cold weather. The temperature change would scare everyone, and the cold would sap everyone but his strength. Still Sonic had doubts.
As they landed at the airstrip outside of Mobotropolis, Sonic jumped down and ran, but stopped at the runway so Tails could park the Tornado. Sonic began to tap his foot from waiting for a whopping thirty seconds.
Sonic wanted to find out the what was going on now, not in a few minutes. This was mildly terrifying. Tails caught up his tails spinning to boost his speed, "Alright, "I'm Ready to go."
Sonic and Tails took off towards the inside of the city. They ran past the market( Where Sonic admittedly had a few chilidogs) and into the Casino, where Mammoth Mogul resided.
They looked around, and found the Casino was…a Casino. People were rolling slot machines, Tables were rolling dice, and cards were being dealt. Nothing seemed to have happened.
Sonic walked in towards the staff hallway. Tails followed suite until they saw two guards standing in the "Staff only" area. They wore suites and dark glasses, incase you needed an indication that there was something shady going on here.
Sonic walked forward, putting on his confident smirk, "I'm here to see-"
"He's been expecting you." The two guards parted, and Sonic walked in the hallway.
Suddenly Tails cried out, "Hey!"
"The kid has to stay out here. Club rules." The Guard on the left said as the Guard on the right pressed the wire on his ear.
Tails growled, "Where he goes, I go."
"Tails." Sonic raised his hands, "I'll be out soon. If not, get me some help."
Tails opened his mouth, and a flash of anger burned in his face. Sonic gave him a comforting( or the best comforting) smile he could.
Tails took and nodded, the frown still on his face.
Sonic walked further down the hall to the big mahogany doors. Sonic opened them and walked in. As he could See Mammoth Mogul's hand in the chair that facing the outside window.
Sonic tapped his foot.
Mammoth Mogul finally spoke, "You're late."
"Late, Sound's like you've been expecting me." Sonic snorted jokingly.
"I knew as soon as something supernatural happened, you would assume I was the source. I am surprised I was not your first assumption." The Mammoth stated in his calm, collected voice.
Sonic shrugged. He had sort of forgotten that Mogul Existed. Sonic put on that confident smile, "I figured we were cool. I didn't see a reason for you to try anything. But I'm out of leads."
"We are not cool. I am simply going to comply while fate sides with you. There will come a day when you die, then I will have won." The Mammoth Stated as though it were a fact.
Sonic nodded, "So did you cause these random weather bursts?"
"No. There is no practical use for the extreme weather. From what you have told me, this appears to be a world wide phenomenon. I would not be so wasteful. I do believe it is someone inexperienced with their power, however." Mogul explained casually, "If this were to be me, I would start on a smaller scale, and gradually expand as my opponents grew. This is indeed supernatural, but who ever is doing it doesn't realize that they are, and it is sapping their energy."
Sonic nodded, "So you aren't responsible for any of this?"
"NO." Mogul groaned.
"Do you have anything else to add? Something to help us deal with this?" Sonic raised his hands expectantly.
"I have one thing." The Mammoth stood up and looked down at Sonic.
"Alright, let's hear it." Sonic shrugged.
Mogul had a glint in his eyes, "The Fates have convened, and a new critical force has entered this world. If you are not on guard, Everything you love will die."
Sonic snorted, "Ominous. Well, thanks for filling us in. Bye." He turned around, ignoring the head shake from Mogul, and he bolted out the doorway.
Tails was pacing outside. When Tails spotted Sonic, he walked over, "So what did you find out?"
"He didn't do it." Sonic groaned, "And something about a "new player in the ring" or something like that."
Tails also looked troubled. They ran back to Freedom HQ.
As Sonic and Tails arrived back at their home, Sonic patted Tails on the back, "Hey, you did good out there."
"I didn't do anything." Tails muttered, sounding quite bitter.
"Hey, buddy, you were back up, and if something did happen, I'd want you to have my back." Sonic raised his hands as if to show the gravity of the situation.
"Yeah, I guess." Tails muttered, a small smile appearing on his face. It was better than nothing.
Sonic nodded, trying to force a smile out of his little buddy, "You helped a lot. Mogul is scared of you, and he's scared of me. Together, we made sure he didn't try anything."
A small, poor concealed snicker emerged out of the Fox, "Sorry for being such a downer. We just haven't done anything lately. I-" His face suddenly got serious, and slightly ashamed, "I kind of wish Eggman would attack already. I know I shouldn't, but I feel useless, and I hate the anticipation."
Sonic frowned, but he understood the feeling all too well. He felt it like a flood inside him. Sonic shrugged, "Eh, makes no difference. Why would Egghead attack when he knows we're just going to stomp him anyway. We're the unbeatable duo."
Tails looked surprised before snickering, and the two entered the headquarters.
Sonic headed towards the command room and Tails went to his personal quarters.
The Command room opened to see two unfriendly faces as the monitor closed down.
Sonic coughed to signal his return, "So, uh, what was that about."
"The only good thing to come out of these weather fluctuations," Sally groaned, rubbing her temples, " The Sand-Blasters and Desert Dark Legion have signed a regional truce. Turns out, having gear made for high heat stops working in frigid weather." She was exhausted.
Sonic snorted, "Did the Great Sally Acorn just attempt a joke?"
Sally closed her eyes with a smirk, "Please tell me you found something."
"Flintavious didn't do it. Mammoth Mogul knows a little about it. Apparently we've got a "new player" in the field." Sonic tried to be comforting, "I could still look elsewhere."
Sally shook her head, "Can you…stay here, for just a few moments?"
Sonic immediately felt uncomfortable, "I guess."
She gestured to a seat right next to her. Sonic tried to hide his tense nature as he sat down. This was awkward for him. It got even more awkward when she rested her head on his shoulder. Sonic let out a breath as he tensed up even further, before giving in. She needed some sleep.
Sonic, on the other hand, was tired, but couldn't rest. SO it was a relief when Frederick walked in.
"Good evening, is Lord Sonic here?" The Fox asked, before making eye contact with Sonic.
Sonic smiled, as Sally shook herself awake, "Hey Freddie."
"Please do not call me that. I am here to invite to the Noble Assembly." Lord Frederick explained.
"Uh, ok, but why?" Sonic asked.
"We are placing a vote on a new law, specifically taxes on Nobility, since the Tax laws were destroyed in the previous war." Frederick explained, "And I came here to make a request to you, Lord Sonic."
"Stop calling me Lord, Just Sonic." Sonic sat up, as did Sally.
Frederick noticed her, "The Acorns are not nobility. You have not been invited."
Sally froze, as though the sudden reminder of the power that had been stripped of them was made apparent.
Sonic tried to change the subject, "So, what do you want from me?"
"I want to you to reject the bill." Frederick stated shamelessly.
"Why?" Sonic asked. It didn't seem right to give the nobility a tax break while the citizens got taxed.
"Because Nagus needs to understand that Simply being king does not give him the power to do as he pleases. We were not consulted for this bill, we were not measured or asked our means. Most of us are still rebuilding. If he wants our taxes, he will have to offer something in return." Frederick sounded a little…spiteful.
But Sonic didn't exactly see fault in that argument. Everyone deserved a voice, and Nagus got his parade rained on. It was a double win. "Slapping Nagus' pride, Count me in." Sonic said with a smirk.
Frederick returned his smile, "I'll see you at the Palace later tonight."
/*-*/
Fiona yawned, walking to the table where the whole village ate by the river. She sat down at the end of the table under the shade as the sun was over the house behind her.
Bill smiled, "Hello, our dearest new member of the village." He sat down at the end of the table, "I hope you slept well in your new home."
Fiona stretched, "It was an adjustment, but I think I like it." Did she? There was no reason to lie, and if she was being honest… this place wasn't so bad.
Oswald nodded, he was sitting next to Bill, "Hey, did you hear something last night?"
Fiona blinked a couple times… did he know? No, she had checked, "I think I heard movement, but I just assumed someone had to… go out back."
Oswald looked troubled, "If there are any Lightning clan members around here, we need to be vigilant. I don't want the kids getting hurt."
Speaking on which, a little wolf walked over with something behind her back. Fiona was on guard at first, but she realized: This was a child, what is she going to do?
The little Wolf girl held up a circlet of flowers, red coralroot, larkspur and hallerbos. Fiona smiled, and lowered her head to be crowned. The little wolf girl placed it on her head, and giggled.
Fiona smiled back. This was…innocent, and maybe it wasn't so bad. They were gullible idiots, but they were useful, and…Fiona felt good. She felt… happy.
Fiona looked up and saw a plate of bread and fish soup being passed around. The bread had a light minty flavor and the soup seemed to have coriander and mushrooms in it. It was not bad, though, and it definitely beat starving.
Fiona smiled as the little wolf Girl sat with her friends and pointed at the crown on Fiona's head. The kids were whispering among themselves. The boys were looking at Fiona, and then looking away.
The Fox realized just how calming this place was. It was peaceful, without any talk or thought of war. She could live here.
After Breakfast, Oswald stood there at the docks, "Ms. Aria, would like to learn how to bait nets?"
"Why not." Fiona guessed.
"Alright, You see this smaller net?" He pointed to the area that seemed to be double layered. Fiona nodded.
"What you do, is you take something smelly, something that the fish just can't resist otherwise, and you put it right here. Then you rub this net over the bigger net and place it in the water." Oswald explained, though he seemed like he was thinking about something.
Fiona blinked, "It's really that simple?"
"The best traps catch the prey before they realize what they've been caught." Oswald shrugged, "It's worked for years."
Fiona guessed that works. She helped bait the nets, and they lowered them back into the river. She went and helped with the Gardens, and that little wolf Girl was there.
"Hello." She said cheerfully.
Fiona smiled, "Hi, thank you for my gift at breakfast."
"I thought it help make you my friend. Are you my friend?" The little girl asked, picking up a big cucumber, and pulling it off the vine.
Fiona was hesitant. "Friends" weren't really something she did. But, if worst came to worst, she could ditch the kid at any time.
Fiona nodded, "Yeah, I'm your friend."
The little girl did a shuffle. What seemed to be her mom came over, "Illia, Please stay focused."
"Yes momma." The little wolf replied, seeming to hum a little tune to herself. You are my sunshine. That was the song.
Fiona smiled and got back to work. Even as they finished up work, the Illia was humming a little song to herself. Then, she stopped, with the sun red in the sky, "Can you sing?"
Fiona blinked a couple times, "I-I guess I can."
"My papa could sing. He'd sing every night under the moon. He'd play the guitar, and Momma'd smile." The little girl frowned, "Papa left a while ago. I miss 'im."
Fiona frowned. She missed her family sometimes. Of course, that was become less and less frequent. The world was cruel, and if you didn't understand that, that was your fault.
Fiona frowned.
"Can you sing for me?" Illia asked, with the biggest eyes she could muster.
Fiona frowned. They had just met. "Sure." She unfortunately auto answered, "But later tonight."
Fiona Hope'd she'd forget. Illia didn't.
She laid in her bed, eyes big for the Fox's song. Fiona decided on, Illia's song she was humming. Fiona pulled out the old dusty guitar that was in their closet. She strummed the first note.
Fiona began to sing, as the little girl's drifted with every verse.
By the time she was done, Illia was practically snoring.
Fiona got up, and the mother wolf was sitting in a chair, sewing up the damaged clothes, "Thank you. She's always been a little shy, but she seems to trust you."
"I have a very trustable face." Fiona smiled. Kid has poor judgement.
Fiona walked back to her cabin, before remembering she was supposed to meet her boyfriend.
She walked out to the woods, and sure enough, he was behind a different tree.
"I guess I'll never sneak up on you." Scourge joked, and walked over to kiss her. She returned it.
"Did you find a warp ring, or a team?" Fiona asked when she pulled away.
There was a crack in the distance as Scourge sighed, "It takes time to get these things."
Fiona licked the inside of her mouth, "Well… maybe we don't have to go."
Scourge raised an eyebrow.
Fiona continued, "This place is nice. The people here are good, and we could hide from the w-"
"I don't do "hiding" babe, I'll settle down when I'm on top." Scourge growled, "Are you with me."
Fiona hesitated. This…wasn't a bad life she had. It wasn't glamorous, but she didn't go hungry, and these people made her feel good.
"Come on, you think we can really settle down, after all we've done. We'd get found out anyway. I mean, you betrayed everyone on this stupid little planet." Scourge gestured to her.
Fiona licked her lips. He was right. Gosh, she'd almost believed the lie.
"I'm with you." Fiona grinned.
"I'll be back soon, and we'll get a nice little team once again, and deal with little boy blue." Scourge smiled, and zipped off.
Fiona walked back to her cabin, and slumped down. She'd actually though these people would accept her. No one would accept her after all she's done. No one except Scourge.