On a Mobius divergent from Sonic #110...
"All"
A Sonic the Hedgehog Fan Fiction Stub by Chronos the Cat
The people of Knothole were gathered together before Castle Acorn. Between them and the castle was a raised platform, to which the King and Queen's thrones had been temporarily moved. King Maxamilion and Queen Alicia sat on their thrones, waiting as the last of the people gathered.
Geoffrey St. John stepped up onto the platform's edge, and knelt. "All is ready, your Highness."
The King nodded, and Geoffrey stepped back into the crowd. Then, slowly, and jerkily, the King got to his feet. The crowd cheered.
In the crowd nearby, Sonic turned to his Uncle Chuck. "Wow, that mechanical exoskeleton you built for King Acorn really works!"
Chuck nodded, then sighed. "Yes. They were based on the prosthetics Nate Morgan used to wear." His voice was filled with sadness and regret. Sonic wasn't sure, but he also thought he heard a trace of accusation in his Uncle's voice.
Sonic sighed. Whether Uncle Chuck said it or not, Sonic knew it was his fault Nate was dead-- along with all the other roboticized Overlanders. He had thought-- assumed-- they would survive the nuclear explosion unscathed. After all, hadn't Sonic and Knuckles, in their Mecha forms, survived direct impact with a couple of nuclear missiles? But Sonic had underestimated the power of Station Square's nuclear weapons-- not to mention what confining the full force of their explosions to the city would do. When the Robian scouts had investigated the remains of Robotropolis, they had discovered that the entire city-- down to the last bolt and screw-- had been melted into one huge piece of radioactive slag...
Uncle Chuck elbowed him in the ribs, and Sonic realized that the King was giving a speech. He was talking about all the hardships they'd been through over the past few decades, and how, thanks to the bravery of many concerned citizens, peace had at last been achieved.
"There is one group whom I would like to personally thank, one group who displayed bravery and skill beyond measure, and whose courageous acts were to no small measure responsible for bringing our enemy Robotnik's despotic reign to destruction. I would like to thank... the Knothole village Freedom Fighters! If you would step up?"
Shocked, Sonic needed to be urged on by his uncle. Sonic, Sally, Tails, Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie stepped up onto the platform.
The King said, "On behalf of the citizens of Knothole, and from the depth of my heart, I thank you all."
The crowd went wild.
There was then a ceremony where they King presented them with medals. The first was to Rotor, then Bunnie, then Antoine. He stopped at Sally, whispered something to her, and then turned to the crowd. "It would be improper for me to present a medal to my own daughter, especially as I have already given her virtually all that was once mine. However, know that she played as great a role in the Freedom Fighters' triumphs as any of these others, save perhaps two... and I am certain the gratitude of all of us goes out to her."
He then turned back to Sally, and said quietly, but audibly, "Sally, our sword..." She nodded, drew the Sword of Acorns respectfully, and handed it to him. He then walked over to Tails.
"I mentioned that there were perhaps two who's bravery and acts exceeded even my daughters. This is one of those two. Miles Prower, kneel before your monarch."
Tails did so. The King put the sword to Tails' shoulder, and intoned, "By the power vested in me by the Source of All as Monarch of the Kingdom of Knothole, I dub the... Sir Tails!"
The crowd burst out in applause.
Then the King stepped back, allowing Tails to stand, and once more addressed the crowd. "It has now been nearly a year since these brave champions-- Sir Tails, formerly known as Miles Prower, and Sir Sonic-- ventured into Robotropolis and sabotaged Robotnik's attempts at protecting his city from Station Square's nuclear attack. This action not only sealed Robotnik's fate, but also saved the Great Forest from the radiation poisoning it would otherwise have received. They are truly this kingdom's greatest heroes, and as such I present them with its highest honor-- the Purple Cross." He gave them each a medal, larger and fancier than the ones given the other Freedom Fighters.
After the applause had died down-- and it took a few minutes-- the King had all the Freedom Fighters except Sally stand to the side, still on the platform, but out of the way.
The King cleared his throat, and began speaking once more. "And now, to the true purpose I have gathered you all here today. As you all know, I am growing old and infirm, though Sir Charles has performed a miracle and restored to me my ability to walk. I am also growing tired. Many of you may be aware of the fact that for some time I have left the day-to-day governing to Princess Sally. Now, the time has come for the next step. As of now, I am stepping down from the throne, and appointing Sally to rule in my stead.
After another long speech that Sonic tuned out, Sally knelt before the King, and the King removed his crown and placed it on her head. As she rose and took back the Sword, Maxamilion called out, "People of Knothole, I present to you your new ruler, Queen Sally of the House of Acorn!"
The crowd let out yet another roar, dwarfing the others and growing even louder as Queen Sally held up her sword above her head. The sword burst into white flames, and Sally's entire body glowed. Sally called out in a voice eloquent yet thunderous, loud enough to be heard over the roar, "The Vessel of All is now complete. Guided by the Source of All, Knothole shall now enter into an eternal age of peace and happiness. Let all who rejoice at these tidings give glory to the Source of All!"
The Sword's flame died out, and the glow around Sally began to fade. Sonic, was surprised to notice that as the glow faded, Sally's face seemed to be taking on an unpleasant aspect. Not thinking, he stepped toward her. Antoine grabbed him, and in a voice just loud enough for Sonic to hear over the crowd reminded her they were supposed to stay to the side. But he stopped mid sentence when Sally dropped the sword and let out a scream. It lacked the supernatural enhancement of her short speech, so only those on the platform were able to hear it, but for them it was a sound they would never forget, for the rest of their lives-- a wordless scream of unimaginable pain and agony...
...Several months later...
Summary of Future Events:
Unable to stand the growing bond between her and the royal objects, Sally one day goes out into the woods, puts the crown on the ground, and drives the sword into it.
Knothole is shocked by the pillar of golden light and the loud boom. The King realizes the gravity of the situation, and has Sonic take him to the source of the disturbance.
They are shocked to see a crater in a clearing, filled with a new silver and gold pool. Sally explains how she tried to destroy the crown—but she now realizes this was all the Source's doing, to recreate the pool.
Now it summons her into the pool, and she can't resist. Sonic wants to go to her aid, but the King forbids it. Sonic hesitates, until, as she is swallowed up, she calls for Sonic's help.
Sonic races into the pool, the King's protests reaching only empty air.
Inside the pool, the source explains to Sally that when the image of the future Sally had said there would be "no turning back" when Sally had been within Mobotropolis' Gold and Silver Pool, she hadn't meant Sally wouldn't have another chance to bond with the source—Sally already was linked to the Source, from the moment she first entered the pool. But by delaying the completion of her bonding, Sally had denied herself the tools necessary to properly combat Robo-Robotnik, thus dooming Mobotropolis, and causing all the other heartaches that had happened since Robotnik's return.
Now, the bonding must be completed, or Mobius's future would be even darker than it had already become.
Sally still refused... But the Source wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Meanwhile, Sonic fought past illusions of friends and enemies, trying to stop him from reaching Sally. Finally, he made it, and the Source went wild...
Using the power of a Power Ring, Sonic and Sally defied the Source—for Power Rings used Chaos energy, the opposite of the Source's power. The pool opened up, and the two prepared to leave.
But bolts of energy shot at them, and knocked out Sonic. Sally grabbed him and ran—at Sonic speed.
The King was aghast.
Sonic awoke, and was astonished when Sally told him of her speed.
Then, a storm grew, and the Voice of the Source resounded over the forest, cursing Sonic and Sally for their defiance. If they wished Chaos to rule their destiny, then so be it!
The Source seemed ready to wreak Knothole, but the King appeased it, saying it should not punish Knothole for the actions of its former ruler.
The Source then demanded a replacement. The assured it that his only child, Elias, would be found and brought to the Source to bond with it.
Warning that it would be waiting, the Source calmed, and the storm dissipated.
The King convicted Sonic and Sally of defying the Source of All, a greater crime than treason, and sentenced them to a greater punishment than death—exile, with the Curse of Source lying upon them.
He gave them 24 hours to leave Knothole, then left the clearing.
Sally suggested to Sonic they leave sooner—they had to find Elias and warn him. Sonic agreed. Sally raced out of the clearing to get her stuff, and say her good-byes. Sonic was dumbfounded. "She really does have super-speed! How did that happen?!"
Finally, shrugging it away, Sonic raced off for Knothole to make his own preparations, and say his own good-byes.