A/N: Welcome back readers! Here's chapter three of my first Sonic/Tailsko story "The Heart's Reward". In this chapter, Sonic and Tailsko have swimming class and Sonic has aqua-phobia, but Tailsko helps Sonic out with that and then two bullies; Slick and Turbo tries to bully her again but they will have to deal with Sonic first! Some fun facts and age list at the end of the chapter, I forgot to put in Chapters 1 and 2. Enjoy!

Yoshi 2.1: Thank you for another review. I totally agree with you Darkheart is indeed a evil bird and is a perfect villain for this story. I love stories with love triangles in them just like The Pebble and The Penguin and many more. Also, I don't mind Dr. Robotink being a villain but I wanted someone to be more evil than Dr. Robotink so he would have a rival just like Sonic with Shadow.

Now on with the story!

The Heart's Reward

Chapter 3: Swimming Class

Written by: KingSnow5092

A bell rang on the Tuesday afternoon and it was time for Swim Class, it always come after recess. All of the animals that loved the water were excited for swim class, but the animals that didn't like the water were moaning and groaning. The male animals changed into their swim suits and the females did the same. After they changed into their swim suits, the teacher came in. A male blue-green beaver with maroon eyes, whiskers, buck teeth, aqua muzzle/inner-fur, gloves, a brown beaver tail, and light orange shoes. He was also carrying a gray whistle and a brown clipboard. His name was Mr. Woodcock.

"OK students, it's time for you to learn how to swim." Mr. Woodcock said to the students. As he did the aquatic animals cheered, while the others moaned. The beaver smiled, when some of them cheered but was angry at the others for moaning. "Come on now, non-aquatic animals you have to learn to swim it might save someone's life one day." Woodcock said to the non-aquatic animals. The kids reluctantly got into the water, except for Sonic. Sonic was wearing an orange swimsuit, he wasn't going into the water for sure. Mr. Woodcock noticed this and walked over to the hedgehog.

"Sonic, why aren't you swimming with the other animals?" The beaver asked. Sonic blushed a bright red and he said "I'm kind afraid of the water." Woodcock smiled as he put his arm around Sonic. "Now, Sonic. The water is completely harmless it can't hurt you except if it's contaminated! But the water is perfectly safe, see!" Woodcock said, pointed to the pool where the animals are learning to swim. Sonic looked at the pool and then back at Woodcock then he felt someone tap his shoulder. Sonic turned around and saw Tailsko in a blue swim suit. "I'll swim with you Sonic." Tailsko suggested.

Sonic smiled. "OK Tailsko, no problem!" Then the two friends went into the water and swam together. Mr. Woodcock watched as the two friends swam together, he was glad Sonic was finally in the water and also glad that his best student, Tailsko was teaching Sonic how to swim. Woodcock thought Sonic was lucky to have a friend like Tailsko to have around to learn how to swim, and Tailsko was lucky to have a friend like Sonic to have around in case, if someone tries to touch Tailsko as always in swim class, Woodcock smiled at the thought then he went over to the lifeguard booth in case something happens.

3 Hours Later...

Swim class was almost over, so Mr. Woodcock decided for everyone to have a free swim just for the fun of it. The kids did whatever fun things they could do in the water as long as they do it safely. Sonic and Tailsko were on the side of the pool. "Thanks Tailsko, you really got me over my fear of water." Sonic said. "No problem Sonic, water can't hurt you." Tailsko said, smiling. Sonic blushed a deep red in embarrassment about what he said to Woodcock earlier. "Yeah, I guess Mr. Woodcock was right." Sonic said, laughing. Tailsko laughed too. "You're my best friend Sonic." Tailsko said, Sonic smiled and said "You're my best friend too Tailsko." Then Sonic and Tailsko hugged, as the two friends were hugging there was trouble on the other side of the pool.

On the other side of the pool, the two familiar bullies; Slick the Iguana and Turbo the Turtle were causing trouble in the pool. Slick and Turbo were picking on another animal, a male brown sea otter who was new to class, he had trouble swimming the right away. Slick was holding him with his arms while Turbo was punching him in the gut. "Hey otter boy, why don't you swim correctly like us?" Turbo asked, as he was punching him in the gut. "Yeah, you'll never be a natural born swimmer like us!" Slick said, chuckling.

"Leave me alone guys, I'm new around here!" The young otter protested. But the two aquatic reptiles only laughed. When Darkheart skips swimming class as always, Slick and Turbo bullied animals who have a hard time swimming, they think they can swim better than the other animals because being an iguana and a turtle, they believe they were natural born swimmers. Which was true, turtles and iguanas are able to swim. But Slick and Turbo takes things too far and act like the jerks they are.

"Shut it, flopper!" Turbo shouted. "Let's see how well you can breath underwater for a long time!"

"HEY! LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE!" Shouted a voice. The turtle and iguana turned and cringed in fear. A tall male brown otter more muscular than the bullies. "Brother!" The young otter shouted. The older otter pushed the two reptiles away from his brother. The young otter hugged his older brother. The elder otter looked at the bullies and said "If you ever pick on him again, I'll kill you!" Slick backed away in fear, as Turbo hid his head in his shell like all turtles do. Then the two otters swam away.

Slick and Turbo looked at each other. "Maybe we should leave that otter alone." Turbo said. Slick nodded. Then Slick noticed something he punched lightly on Turbo's shell and pointed in the direction where Sonic and Tailsko are hugging. Slick and Turbo grinned evilly. "Look, it's the freak again and she's hugging the hedgehog!" Slick said. "The very idea, I say we should teach her the lesson by bullying her!" Turbo said, grinning. "Yeah, let's go have some fun!" Slick agreed. Then the iguana and the turtle swam toward Sonic and Tailsko.

"Well, well, hugging your blue friend I see freak!" Slick said in a casual tone. Sonic and Tailsko turned and saw Slick and Turbo standing there in the water with evil looks on their faces. "Slick! Turbo! What do you boys want?" Tailsko asked. "We want to teach you the lesson freak. The idea of you and Sonic being together it's the sick idea Tailsko!" Turbo said. "So why don't you come over here so we can take care of it for you right now?" Slick asked. "No! Leave me alone you bullies I won't come to you!" Tailsko exclaimed as she backed away.

"Come, come, we won't hurt you...much!" The red iguana said smoothly.

"No! She's won't go with you guys why don't you just leave her alone?" Sonic shouted.

"Yeah, I'll never join you guys, so why don't you just mind your own business and leave me alone?" Tailsko asked.

Slick and Turbo looked at her and then looked at each other and they grinned evilly and then they looked back at Tailsko and screamed. "DUNKING TIME!" Slick and Turbo grabbed Tailsko away from Sonic and brought her to the middle of the pool. Turbo was holding Tailsko by the arms while Slick dunked her head into the water. "Let's see how long you can hold your breath, freak!" Slick said. The two bullies laughed. Sonic gasped but then he growled. He couldn't let those bullies hurt Tailsko again. Then the blue hedgehog jumped up and spun into a ball and rushed over to the bullies.

Slick turned and gasped. Sonic dived into the water and he came back up and slammed into the red iguana's stomach causing him to fly in the air. As he did Sonic kicked him and he fell down into the ground with a thud. Sonic then dove back into the water where Turbo was holding Tailsko, he then spin dash right toward the green turtle. Turbo looked up and gasped and he closed his eyes as he did Sonic stopped in front of him. Turbo opened his eyes again and Sonic said "Peek a boo!" Then the hedgehog slammed his fist into the green turtle's face causing him to let go of Tailsko and he was slammed against the side of the pool, knocking him out, luckily for him the sides were shallow so he won't drown.

Sonic then grabbed Tailsko who was nearly unconscious because of what Slick did to her and they got out of the water just fine. Sonic layed Tailsko on the ground to see if she was okay. Then Tailsko's eyes began to open and she looked at Sonic who had an concern look which turned into a relief one once he saw her eyes open. "Sonic?" Tailsko asked, as she tried to get up on her knees which Sonic helped her out with. Tailsko spat out some water and patted out some from her ears. Then she spat out a red fish who dove back into the water where he belongs. Then Sonic and Tailsko embraced and they looked at each other.

"You okay sis?" Sonic asked.

Tailsko nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine what happened Sonic?"

"Those bullies tried to drown you but I kicked their butts." Sonic explained. Tailsko smiled. "Thank you Sonic, for saving me again." Tailsko said. Tailsko kissed Sonic's cheek as the thank you. Sonic blushed but smiled as he put his hand on his cheek and said "You're welcome Tailsko." The two friends looked at each other and they felt something inside them began to heat up could it be love? But then someone cleared his their throat to get their attention, the hedgehog and the fox turned to find Mr. Woodcock standing there with an concern look on his face. Then he knelt down to the fox's side.

"Are you okay Miss Prower, what happened? Why are you all wet?" Mr. Woodcock asked.

"I saw what happened." Said a 12-year old African-American human boy in a green swimsuit. "Slick and Turbo were trying to drown Tailsko but Sonic came over and saved her from those bullies."

"Yeah! And that's not all, they also bullied me because it was my first time swimming!" Said the same young otter from before. His older brother nodded in agreement. Woodcock turned his head to the aquatic reptiles who did this to the victims. Slick and Turbo were waking up from the fight then they felt Woodcock grabbed them by the tails. "You rebel rousers are in big trouble! Just wait until Principal Vector hears of this!" Mr. Woodcock shouted sternly. The two reptiles gulped in fear and then the beaver dragged the bullies out of swim class.

Sonic and Tailsko laughed as they saw the bullies being dragged away by Mr. Woodcock. Tailsko felt lucky to have Sonic to protect her from bullies, without him she would be lost. She had a feeling that it was going to be a wonderful school year. Then they got up and walked to the side of the pool and sat down to enjoy the rest of class looking at the beautiful pool along with their beautiful friendship.

A/N: End of Chapter three. Chapter Four will be up soon (maybe). There you go chapter four is completed. Well, Sonic has gotten over his fear of water thanks to Tailsko. Sonic has save Tailsko once again from the bullies. This time, they tried to drown her but Sonic couldn't let that happen, it was a good thing Sonic gotten over his fear of water or otherwise bye bye Tailsko. Mr. Woodcock the beaver maybe the tough teacher but he has a heart of gold. The reason his name is Woodcock is because he acts just like him sometimes, without the bullying that is. Darkheart wasn't in swimming class, because he doesn't like it one bit so he just cut class. But he will return in the next chapter to get even with Sonic and Tailsko, or will he be in the next chapter? Who knows. Stay tuned. Read and Review please! But no flames allowed! Thank you again!

Fun Facts

1. Darkheart was originally going to be a vulture but I changed my mind because the vulture would be hard to do. Darkheart is now an eagle. The reason I made Darkheart the eagle is because I read on Wikipedia that some eagles eat foxes. So I figured the eagle would be a perfect bully for Tailsko. Now, don't get me wrong I love eagles they're my favorite kind of birds. But I thought it would be nice for the change because eagles don't have to always be good, just like the turtles in Jazz Jackrabbit. And some eagles do eat foxes. So I figured why not the eagle.

2. Tailsko has Ariel's voice from The Little Mermaid, Darkheart has Tony Jay's voice, Slick has Tim Curry's voice, Turbo has Whit Hertford's voice. Sonic and any related characters still have their same voices from Sonic X.

3. Turbo the Turtle's looks are similar to Devan Shell's design from Jazz Jackrabbit, he looks just like Devan Shell only his outer shell is dark blue while Devan's is purple and Turbo doesn't have glasses. Turbo the Turtle almost looks similar to Devan Shell.

4. The names of the bullies; Darkheart the eagle, Slick the Iguana and Turbo the Turtle were inspired by other shows. Darkheart the eagle was named after the Care Bears Villain named Darkheart who the evil boy who hated Care Bears. The red iguana's name was Slick, because I figured some iguanas can be slippery after they were in the water and they can swim slickly in the water. And the green turtle's name was Turbo, because I learned that turtles are slow on land but fast in the water so I named him Turbo like people saying Turbo Speed, he's similar to Sonic but is a fast swimmer in the water.

5. I used Slick the Iguana and Turbo the Turtle to be the bullies in swim class because I learned that iguanas and turtles are natural born swimmers. Since they're bullies (in this story that is!) they will pick on other aquatic animals who can't swim as fast. Darkheart isn't in it because he doesn't like to swim. So Slick and Turbo are show-offs and are mean to the other swimmers unlike the other iguanas and turtles who are kind to swimmers.

That's it for the fun facts for now. Now Read and Review!...BUT NO FLAMES ALLOWED! Thank you once again!