Chapter 20: A New Beginning
*It was a snowy day in winter for Station Square. Holiday lights were hung up, a Christmas tree was put in the center of the plaza. And people bundled up for the cold yet cheerful occasion ahead of them. As the people prepared for the celebration ahead, the Bunny Barista Cafe was receiving an impressive influx of customers as a result of the celebration. Newly hired baristas, both human and Mobian, gave customers their orders as best they could. Though Maria, Amy, Vanilla, and Cream were nowhere to be seen. Instead, acting as customers themselves, Rouge and Topaz acted as stand-in bosses to keep everything in check. Topaz wore a nice blue sweater and some pants while Rouge wore something akin to a ski suit, with of course hearts as her motif. The two seemed to be chatting over a warm cup of coffee.*
Rouge: "So you resigned from G.U.N.?"
Topaz: "After what happened, I can't stay with an organization that has such… views like that… I joined G.U.N. because I wanted to help people, not to act as some oppressive soldier. Besides, once the President was told about what was going on, he decided it best to disband G.U.N. and all those involved in that branch to be arrested and serve community service."
Rouge: "Hmph. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. Still, a bit extreme, isn't it? I mean, G.U.N. did some bad things, but surely dismantling the whole military is a bit much."
Topaz: "I asked about that, and the President reassures that he's not dismantling the entire military. He's going to look into further developing relationships with Mobians by establishing a new G.U.N.. This one he calls "Guardians of the United Nations" instead of "Guardian Unit of the Nation"."
Rouge: "Heh. So keeping the G.U.N. name but giving it a new meaning. I like it."
Topaz: "Oh, and he wanted to offer you to be a mediator for Mobians, as thanks for your contributions, even promising a few gems as a persuasion."
*Rouge laughs at this, waving off the offer.*
Rouge: "Thank you, but… I'll decline. This whole situation has me thinking about a lot of things. And honestly, I want to figure those out before I decide on my next move. Tell him to keep the gem open if he needs a professional gem thief though."
Topaz: "Ugh… You never change, do you?"
Rouge: "Were you expecting me to?"
*Topaz laughs at this, Rouge joining in as they wave off the question as a half joke.*
Rouge: "So… Serious question, Topaz. What do you intend to do?"
Topaz: "Dunno. Maybe I'll become a gym instructor. Use my military training to help people get healthier. Or I may just live out my life until my 70s. Maybe until my 90s if I play my cards right."
Rouge: "Hmm… Well, whatever you decide, I'll be supporting you, Topaz."
*Topaz stares at Rouge before blushing a bit, looking away as she awkwardly sips her coffee. She then looks out the window to find Cream and Vanilla carrying a couple of trash bags.*
*In the alley next to the Cafe, Vanilla and Cream were picking up various bits of trash off the ground, Cream looking quite tired.*
Cream: "Mom… Can we take a breather? We've been at this for hours…"
Vanilla: "Sure, Cream."
*The two sit on a bench, placing the trash bags aside as Cream sighs.*
Cream: "So why are we picking up garbage? I know a clean city is a lovely city and I support that… But why us?"
Vanilla: "Because, aside from the mayor coming to me for this favor, I wanted to teach you the importance of how simple acts can be its own form of heroism. You wanted to be a hero, right?"
Cream: "Yeah. I still do."
Vanilla: "Then sometimes it is better to show what kind of hero you want people to see you as. If you want to be with Sonic, then it's best you start with being environmentally friendly."
*Cream nods, but she did want to ask something, but couldn't quite figure out how to ask it.*
Vanilla: "Something the matter, Creamy?"
Cream: "Well… I… I wanted to learn how to… well… Um…"
Vanilla: "You want to use a gun, don't you?"
Cream: "Y-Yeah…"
Vanilla: "Cream, I can't teach you how to use a gun. Even if you knew how to handle one, just giving a child your age a gun would be very irresponsible."
*Cream looked down, disappointed by that answer, but then Vanilla pets Cream, smiling.*
Vanilla: "But nobody said anything about using energy based weaponry. If you're a good girl and responsible with it, I'm sure Santa would be happy to let you have something like that. Can you do that for me?"
Cream: "M-Mom! I-I'm not a little kid! Stop talking about Santa like I'm a kid! …But that would be awesome…"
*Cream was embarrassed as she crossed her arms, pouting a bit, but secretly, she was smiling at the compromise. Of course, maybe an energy gun wouldn't be that much better. She'd have to wait and see what the future holds for her. After their little chat, Cream and Vanilla continued their city wide cleaning process.*
*On Angel Island, Knuckles was standing in front of the altar, arms crossed as he kept a vigil eye on the Master Emerald. As he stared off at the sky, he started to think back on his life up to that point. He met Sonic, fought the blue hedgehog, and now was one of his best friends. But even so, Knuckles wanted to better himself for a rematch with Sonic.*
Knuckles: "Heh. Just you wait, Sonic. You and I have a score to settle and I aim to see which of us is truly the strongest. But… In the meantime… Don't stop running."
*As Knuckles smiles toward the skies, Tikal and Chaos, as spiritual projections invisible to even the guardian, could only smile down at the former's fellow echidna. Looking at how far her kind has come since their warmongering days, she truly thought the world was in safe hands with Knuckles, as long as he had friends with him.*
*At Tails' Workshop in the Mystic Ruins, which hadn't snowed over mainly due to the area being too humid to sustain snow, Amy was helping move some supplies around as Tails began repairing his Tornado 2. While he appreciated the help, he was curious as to why Amy wasn't chasing Sonic like she usually did.*
Tails: "Hey. Amy?"
Amy: "Yeah?"
Tails: "Um… Just out of curiosity, why choose to help me today? I'm grateful and all, but don't you usually chase after Sonic?"
Amy: "I've stopped doing that actually. I've been reflecting a lot after we saved Maria. So I've decided on my New Year's Resolution…"
*Amy places down the box in the stack she had before pulling out the Lovers tarot card. The Lovers card was what started her journey in the first place, what told her that she'd meet that special someone. She held onto it as a good luck charm, but then what Maria said all the way back then when Amy told her fortune began to play in her mind.*
Maria: "I prefer to make my own destiny."
Amy: "Make my own destiny, huh? Maybe… Maybe I shouldn't be restricting myself to one path after all… I'll find that special someone one day…"
*As Amy talks to herself, she looks at Tails, who seems to not hear her as he tries rewiring the engine.*
Amy: "Though… Maybe I did in a way…"
*Amy then pockets the Lovers card before moving to help Tails by handing him a wrench, which he thanks gratefully for.*
*At Maria's apartment, Maria herself was doing some reorganizing in her home. She wasn't decorating since she was busy adding more things to her spacious housing. A new TV, some more furniture, and even some odds and ends. As she sighs, finishing putting up a group picture of herself with her friends, she hears the doorbell ring.*
Maria: "Coming!"
*Maria opens her door and sees Sonic on the other side, Sonic wearing a matching blue scarf but very little else otherwise besides his usual attire.*
Sonic: "Yo, Maria. Hope you're not busy. It's festival night tonight and I figured I'd invite you."
Maria: "A festival? You mean for Christmas?"
Sonic: "Yep. What do you say?"
Maria: "I would be happy to~ But… I kind of stopped celebrating Christmas… I had no family to celebrate with after my Mom and Dad rejected me… And since I can't age, each passing year just reminded me just how lonely I felt… After a while, I guess I began to hate Christmas…"
*Maria looks away, holding her arm as she seems sad. But then Sonic brought her eyes to stare at his own.*
Sonic: "Never too late to start loving it again though, right?"
Maria: "Sonic…"
*Maria then started laughing, making Sonic raise an eyebrow a bit.*
Maria: "You are such a dork sometimes, Sonic. But… You are right… It isn't too late to start loving Christmas again… If it means I can have friends like you…"
*Sonic smiles before extending a hand, Maria accepting it. The girl quickly changed into something warmer, now wearing a yellow sweater over a light blue gown, not like her usual dress that she used to wear. Along with the sweater, she wore a matching darker blue scarf, which Sonic only laughed at.*
Sonic: "On me, it looks natural. On you though?"
Maria: "Oh hush. At least I'm not wearing just a scarf in the cold, you clod."
*Sonic just laughs at that before returning to a more gentlemanly composure and politely escorts Maria out of the door and kindly takes her out on a walk.*
*As Sonic and Maria walk around the plaza where the festival was taking place, they see Amy and Tails approach, Tails wearing an orange scarf and more Christmas themed gloves, while Amy wore a pink and red jacket with matching pink mittens.*
Amy: "Yo! Maria! Sonic!"
Sonic: "Yo, you two! You made it to the festival after all!"
Tails: "All because Amy was a pretty big help. We're ready for whatever big adventure comes at us next."
Maria: "I can't wait. Whatever trouble comes at us, we'll beat them down together."
Rouge: "Boy, you kids sure know how to make a racket."
*The group turn to find Ex-Agent Topaz and Rouge walking up, Topaz raising a hand for a wave.*
Topaz: "Merry Christmas, Team Sonic. Hope you're enjoying yourselves."
Sonic: "Hehe. Sure am. What about you two?"
Rouge: "Well, I could be stealing some fancy emerald on a big floating island, but… I've decided to let that go today. Maybe some other time maybe."
Amy: "You seriously never change, do you?"
Maria: "I feel bad for Knuckles though… Because of his obligations, he can't come down to enjoy Christmas with us…"
Sonic: "Then we'll have to enjoy it twice as much for him."
*Maria was unsatisfied with that reply and made it known to Sonic with a look that made him backspace a bit.*
Sonic: "Err… I mean… We could try celebrating at Angel Island next time we get the chance…"
Amy: "Oh! How about we celebrate New Year's at Angel Island then!? That could help!"
Maria: "Oh! That's a terrific idea, Amy!"
Cream: "Who said New Year's!? Because I want in!"
*Cream and Vanilla approach the bunch with the younger rabbit having a skip to her walk.*
Sonic: "Sup you two? And we said New Year's celebration at Angel Island. You in?"
Cream: "Oh yeah! I'm totally there! I can bake a cake, set up some decorations, maybe even put in a timer for the New Year's clock! AH! That sounds exciting!"
Vanilla: "Of all the holidays, New Year's her third favorite so she gets exceptionally excited over it."
Maria: "What's the second and first then?"
Vanilla: "Second: St. Patrick's Day. Don't ask me why, I could never get a clear answer. And Fourth of July. Just another excuse to party, which she loves… for ice cream."
Cream: "ICE CREAM!"
Maria: "Y-You don't say…"
*Maria could only laugh nervously as she saw Cream bounce up and down in delightful cheers. As the crowd was gathering to see the central Christmas Tree light up, the group decided to head there as well.*
Amy: "Maria? Sonic? Are you coming?"
Maria: "You guys go on ahead. I want to speak to Sonic privately."
*Amy had a look to her, but decided not to pry, instead just leaving the two alone as the rest left to the Christmas Tree. Sonic turns to Maria, noticing how sheepish was becoming now.*
Maria: "Sonic… I… I wanted to thank you… For everything… I never got to thank you properly… But I am now… You changed my life… Gave me a reason to keep fighting when… I've all just resigned myself to an eternal loop of nothing happening… You… and our friends… They changed who Maria Robotnik is… Who I am…"
Sonic: "And who are you then?"
Maria: "...I'm a girl who walks her own path. No longer bound by the past… No longer bound by her previous life… Maria died… so I could live… I may no longer be her… But I am her soul… Given the chance to run… This is who I am."
*Sonic smiles at this, placing a hand on Maria's shoulder as he nods.*
Sonic: "And I'll be there to help you run, Maria the Tenrec…"
Maria: "Thank you… Sonic the Hedgehog…"
*Maria smiles brightly at Sonic before the two hold hands and walk towards the crowd to enjoy the Christmas Tree display with everyone else.*
*Meanwhile, at one of Eggman's hidden bases, Orbot, Cubot, and a select number of robots were on the floor, cups and barrels of oil littering the floor as they seemed to be simulating something akin to being drunk.*
Orbot: "Ugh… Cubot… Hic! …Cubot… Where's… Where's my pain reliever installer…?"
*Cubot didn't respond, instead snoring as he was practically dead asleep. Orbot just begrudgingly got up, pulling himself up using the nearby table. He optics adjusted as he saw the flier for their 'No Eggman' celebration.*
Orbot: "Tch… Boss'll absolutely dismantle me if he saw this… Good thing he isn't here."
*Orbot just shrugged before moving to another room. As he opened the door, he bumps into a figure.*
Orbot: "Hey… Watch it, bub… Hic! I could clobber ya something fierce… If my optics wasn't spinning…"
*The figure then casually hands an CD to Orbot, which he takes and recognizes it as the installer he asked for earlier. He then installs it into his main frame, readjusting his optics as he stares at the figure more clearly. His earlier bravado suddenly shifted to absolute fear as he looked up, finding a familiar shape, though different shape of glasses, stare down at him.*
Stranger: "Hello, Orbot. I see things are in quite a mess… But don't worry… The Eggman Empire is now under new management…"
*The figure walks by Orbot, approaching a monitor as he smiles gleefully. As he extends a finger, the finger suddenly turns into some kind of tendril, connecting to the computer before reprogramming the entire base. The robots inside, as well as the security system, began to respond with red eyes glowing. A new logo appears, replacing the usual Eggman logo with something different, but similar. The logo now had fiercer look to the eyes, almost like a glare compared to the overly joyful look of the previous logo. The figure turned, a white mustache now being visible.*
Stranger: "Hehehe… Those heroes can enjoy what little peace they can… Because it is time for the rise of a new Eggman Empire… The Eggman Nega Empire! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
*The new entity's laugh echoes throughout the facility. As one villain falls, another comes to take his place. But what evil machinations does this new villain hold? And will Sonic and friends be able to stop him? That's a story… for another day.*
The End…?
Author's Note: From here, this arc of Maria's story is over. But obviously, I have more of a story to tell. But I want to know if any of you would be interested in seeing a sequel to this story. I will have a poll set up so you can vote. May take me flying through hoops just to get the poll set up. If you don't see any, blame this site and its extreme bias against links.
Anyway, in the meantime, I'm taking a break from story writing, but next time you see me, I'll have a new project in the works. Who knows what it might be? I certainly don't know. :)
Anyway, have a good night or day or what have you. See you next time.