Dresden Estates

Chapter 2

At Sonic's request, he and Sir Charles were given a room to share the first night. Lady Wyndermere made it clear, however, that he would need to sleep in a room by himself eventually. "Sorry about this Uncle Chuck. You were caught because you went to get a doctor for me…" Sonic said as he settled into the twin bed on his side of the room.

Sir Charles smiled at his nephew. "No, Sonny-boy, you did well. You got us within inches of victory." He said. "I'm very proud of you. Soon, Robotnik will be defeated and our people will be free once more."

Sonic nodded. "Yeah… I guess… Uncle Chuck, what if we don't need to defeat him?" He asked. "I mean, sis is engaged to his heir. It almost seems as though we've already won."

Chuck nodded. "That's what I'm talking about. I was unaware that your sister had such a rapport with his royal roundness." He settled into his bed. "Things are looking up for us, Sonny.

Dingo stood just outside Sonia's door, passively listening to her talking to her best friend over the telephone, having been assigned to guard her since their original job was done. She was so pretty and she spoke with such confidence and wisdom.

The next day, Sonic explored the fancy manor. It was enormous in comparison with their safehouse. With two floors and two wings. He and his uncle were in the eastern wing. Paintings of former barons and baronesses adorned the wall. One corridor held paintings and photographs of Sonia's growing up. He laughed when he saw a photograph of a small Sonia sitting on Robotnik's back with Bartleby in a playroom. A painting of her in a blue gown at around six or seven years of age was beside that one. He examined each image, feeling pride when he saw her high school diploma and a bachelor's degree on the wall.

"Ahhh, Lady Sonia, you are a vision of loveliness…" He heard a voice as he neared an open room. He saw a middle-aged woman of the otter family placing pins into a long, white gown.

"Oh wow! Sonia, you look great!" He said, announcing his presence. "Is that your wedding dress?" He asked as he looked it over.

Sonia giggled and shook her head. "Mauve, this is my brother, Sonic. I met him yesterday. No, Sonic, this is my presentation gown. Next Friday is the annual presentation of all of the newly eligible young ladies, to signify that they are now ready to enter the dating scene."

Sonic nodded. "But I thought you and Bartleby were already engaged. So, you're not really entering the dating scene.:

Sonia smiled as she looked at the ring around her finger. "It happens this way sometimes. Technically, we're not really engaged yet. He has to formally ask me in front of the whole court," she giggled. "It's a tradition."

The blue hedgehog walked around her. "Well, you look great."

Sonia nodded. "Manic should be here soon so I won't be too much longer here. We can check the cotillion gown tomorrow. Thank you." She slipped Mauve a small wad of bills and climbed down. She went behind the dressing curtain and got into her red tank top and purple skirt. "So, what do you think so far?"

Sonic thought about it. "It's a big house. I've just been exploring. Uncle Chuck isn't allowed to leave his room for a while…" He scratched his head, explaining why he was not there. "Look, you should know… You and Manic both need to know. Can we talk together, alone, at some point? Just the three of us?"

"Of course we can, Sonic. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you and Manic horseback riding and we can talk." She promised him. She looked over to the door as Lady Wyndermere came in.

"Ahhh, Sonic, here you are dear. I have a guest here to see you." The baroness smiled at the boy.

Downstairs, in the sitting room, an old alligator with thick, green scales sat in a long dark robe. He held a notebook in his arm and a pair of thick glasses sat on his long green nose. "Hello, young man. I am Professor Hogan, the headmaster of the Robotopolis High School, District two. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sonic sat nervously across from the headmaster. "It's good to meet you too…" He said while Virginia served them tea. He was impressed that she didn't have a servant to do it. "You're really going to let me go to school?" He asked.

"Yes, dear, of course. Have you ever been to school?" She asked him curiously.

"No, ma'am. Uncle Chuck couldn't send me because he was afraid that Robotnik would find me." He explained. "And he couldn't afford it anyway."

The headmaster nodded. "Well, we will simply need to do some tests so that we can get you up to speed. Is there any subject that interests you particularly?"

Sonic considered it. "Is running a subject? I'm really fast. Uncle Chuck helped me train my speed."

"So, physical education is a good course for you. Track and Field with Professor Khan." The gator made a notation in his notebook. "What about mathematics and reading?"

Sonic thought. "Uncle taught me how to read and write. And basic math. But that was it. Addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication." Another note went into the book.

"I know people older than you who struggle with both of those. Not to worry. You seem very bright to me. I think you'll catch up with your sister or at least with Bartleby in no time. Remedial mathematics. Tell me, what is your favorite book?"

"That's easy, the Mobius Almanac of Records. Did you know that a guy named Geoffrey Frinkle ate 89 chili dogs in ten minutes on July 15th, 2880? I'm going to beat that record someday." Sonic promised, making both of them laugh.

Lady Wyndermere patted his head. "Do you like chili dogs, Sonic?" She asked. When he nodded emphatically, she smiled. "I'll make sure we add them to the menu for future dinners. Mrs. Nichols and her assistant cook, Christa are always looking for new things to try." She was so nice, Sonic couldn't help thinking of his ma. He missed her. He missed this. He wanted a mother again.

"It is time for you to find your mother, Sonic…" The Oracle's voice echoed in his voice and he remembered. He had a mother out there. Waiting for him to find her. He was being disloyal. Carefully, he pulled away, his chest heavy as he saw her eyes.

"Well, so we have an action plan…" The headmaster pulled out a patch and offered it to him. On the patch was the symbol of a hammer and anvil. "For your backpack. All new students get one. You'll get your uniform on Monday."

Sonic stuck out his tongue. "A uniform? Blech…" Again, the adults laughed as the doorbell rang.

Lady Wyndermere smiled. "That's probably your brother…" She didn't need to say anything else. Sonic took off like a shot towards the door. "Thank you for coming Headmaster. You'll be able to meet with Manic on Monday before class."

He nodded. "I look forward to it, Lady Wyndermere. The more bright, young minds there are to cultivate, the better. I wonder how he'll react when he gets to science class."

Everyone sat together around the dining room table that was set for ten although there were only six of them there. Ferrell looked at Manic as he enjoyed the ample feast before them. "Thank you for inviting us to dinner. I had no idea that Manic had siblings. He was found all alone. Left outside a small home."

Lady Wyndermere nodded as she looked down to where Sonia was talking with her brothers and Bartleby. "It was my pleasure, Mr. Palmetto. Sonia told me about your unfortunate circumstances. I've already prepared rooms for each of you."

Ferrell nodded. "Anything you feel like giving, I'm not proud. We, thieves, have our own place in this world but it's not a place that I really want Manic. I want him to have a real chance. An education. I don't care about myself, only him."

She giggled. "That's as it should be. I want to give this to you. A home and a path out of that life for both of you. And I've already arranged for his education. They start on Monday."

In his bedroom, with Sleet outside, Charles knew he had to get a message to his contact on the inside. He was not going to let this chance slip through his fingers. Robotropolis would be within his control again. He would not be denied.

AN: What does Uncle Chuck have planned? How will Sonic and Manic fare in their first days at school? I'm not showing much of Dingo and Sleet yet because I haven't yet figured out a real place for them in the story. I want them there because they could be useful but I just don't know where. I can't put Sleet with Manic yet. Manic is still a minor. and Sleet is an adult.