Even with an impending snow storm the Intercity Shuttle Bay of Xenodome was as busy as ever. They had just added a fleet of blue and gold shuttles with the seal of New Mobotropolis stamped on the side. One of these shuttles touched down at the diplomatic pad, following the docking instructions they were given by Air Command. The shuttle opened its doors and several Mobians walked out into the blistering cold.
"Brrr," Miles 'Tails' Prower chattered before pulling his hood tighter. "It was warmer back home. Why did we have to come here, Aunt Sally?"
"We were invited by the Xenodonian President," Sally Acorn answered as she slipped her mittens on. "He said something about a cultural festival that we were more than welcome to attend."
"In short, sugarfox, we needed to come," Bunnie Rabbot translated, smiling at her friend. "We don't wanna be ignoring some of the folks that are helpin' us rebuild our home."
"Can they at least turn up the heat?" Amy Rose asked her face barely visible in her red parka.
"I don't know what you guys are talking about," Rotor Walrus commented walking out in only a pair of pants and his utility belt. "This is still pretty pleasant."
"Some of us do not adapt as you do, Rotor," Regent Antoine D'Coolette said as he stepped out. "I am just glad the growing pains finally stopped from that medicine."
"Well, they did say that a human cold can put an unchanged Mobian in the hospital for weeks," Sally pointed out. "I still say it was worth it. Still, seeing them at eye level is going to take some getting used to."
"Didn't they say somethin' 'bout a military escort?" Bunnie asked. "Maybe the storm is holdin' him up."
"That would be accurate, Miss Rabbot," a human male answered as he walked up the platform. "Captain Terrance Phillip of the Diplomatic Corp. It's a pleasure to have you in the city finally and I apologize for the delay. As you said the storm has held traffic up considerably. We have a shuttle car ready to take you to your hotel."
"One shuttle to another," Tails sighed but got into the car all the same. "At least it's warm in here."
"I'm just happy that Customs let me keep my hammer," Amy said, patting the Piko Hammer on her back. "There are advantages to being Antoine's Guard. Er, I mean..."
"It is fine, Amy," Antoine said with a smile and shaking his head. "We are all friends and I would feel awkward if you were to address me as anything else."
"They have to learn some time, Antoine," Sally pointed out.
"Aw c'mon, Sally-girl," Bunnie said, mussing up Tails' hair. "Let the young'uns have some fun before they get all boring with protocol."
"Yeah, Aunt Sally," Tails and Amy said in stereo causing the entire party to laugh.
"I'm glad to see that the long trip hasn't put a damper on your spirits," Capt. Phillips said as he closed the door behind him. The car lurched forward as it joined the traffic stream. "The Festival itself has been pushed back a day while the storm blows through. They should have everything cleared by the morning."
"What exactly is this 'Festival'?" Sally asked curiously. "I didn't have time to do any research on it since Nicole is helping with the reconstruction efforts."
"La Fiesta de Guerra, or the Festival of War, has been a part of Xenodonian tradition for almost a millennium now," the captain explained. "It used to just be a series of prize fights but evolved into a city-wide celebration. It honors the strength of the military that fights every day to keep our city safe."
"That must generate a great deal of resentment among certain parties," Antoine said but the captain shook his head.
"Even the anti-war groups participate," he said. "They use the day as a way to honor the soldiers and not the battles they fight. People here used to have an issue with it but decided that the people are more important than the causes."
"What's there to do?" Tails asked, his tails wagging in anticipation.
"It's a festival so expect lots of food, drink, entertainment, even rides if the weather cooperates." The young fox was now bouncing in his seat. "You're fortunate to have made it now. Tomorrow is the last day of the Festival and that's when the Tournament is held." He looked out the window as their car came to a stop and he quickly paid the driver. "Well, we're here," he said as he opened the door. "If you'd like I can have information on the Festival sent up to your room."
"That would be appreciated," Antoine said as he bowed his head. "A map of the city would also help." They piled out of the car and checked into their room. The Diplomatic Corps had reserved the penthouse for the group and as they arrived they stared at their quarters for the weekend.
"This is a hotel room?" Amy asked. "It's as big as our place, Aunt Sally!"
"I think this is an exception," Sally answered. "Still, they really did pull out all the stops for us." After they were all settled in Sally decided to read up on the Festival. She could hear Amy and Tails jumping on one of the beds before Amy came flying out of the partition to their room, crashing into the floor. She hopped back up and rejoined Tails as the sounds of a pillow fight echoed from their room. Bunnie tried to put a stop to it but was quickly drawn in. Even Antoine, wanting to keep everything professional and mature, was pulled in by his fiancé to join the melee. Rotor shook his head as he tinkered with one of his latest projects.
"Read anything interesting, Sally?" he asked as he sat down next to her, his project still in his hands.
"This is mostly just history but still a good read," she said as she closed the window. "The Tournament is pretty much like it sounds: Prize fights between famous fighters in the city but certain military squads also use it as a proving ground for new recruits. There also seems to be a lot of anticipation for this year. Seems like some upstart hedgehog made his way through the lower tiers of the military fights."
"If I didn't know better then I would guess that's Sonic," the walrus said with a chuckle. "Speaking of, have you two talked since he left Knothole?"
Sally shook her head. "The military base put me in touch with Eric who gave me Sonic's number," she explained, "but he's not answering. All things considered I don't think I blame him."
"Sally, it's been almost eight months since he left," Rotor said. "Do you really think he'd hold that kind of grudge?"
Fiona walked onto the back patio of Sonic's house to see a large scar in the snow and Sonic standing with his sword drawn. "This have anything to do with the three missed calls from your ex?" she asked, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
"You think?" Sonic asked as he let loose another wave of aqua energy. "Why are they even in the city?"
"Twenty credits it's because of the Festival," Fiona replied as she held a mug out for him.
After a moment Sonic sheathed Kaiyō Mujō and accepted it. He took a large swig, sighing as he tried to relax."I'd be a fool to take that bet," Sonic said. "What are your plans?"
"Are you kidding me? I'm gonna be on the sidelines cheering you on when you win," Fiona said with a sly grin. "I might even wear that cheerleader outfit you like so much."
"If you do that I'm going to be laughing too hard to win when Mina lights you on fire."
Fiona's grin remained as she took another sip. "So when do you plan on telling me what happened after the concert?" she asked.
"Sorry, Fi," Sonic replied, returning her smirk. "That's our secret."
"Oh you know how I am about secrets," Fiona told him. "You and I both know how this ends. You say no, I say yes, I find out, I mock you, and then never bring it up again because you know how to kill me in my sleep." Sonic stood there in a daze.
"You honestly think I'd go that far?" Sonic asked and Fiona shrugged.
"Actually the more likely scenario is that you say no, I say yes, I push you onto the couch and we do it in the living room." She finished off her cocoa and smiled at a stunned Sonic. "Am I close?" she asked with a grin.
"You know, considering how long we've been together I really shouldn't be surprised at that," Sonic said after a few moments. "And yet at the same time I feel like you keep managing to come up with new ways to torture me." Fiona chuckled before taking their mugs and putting them in the sink.
"Answer me honestly, are you really okay with Sally being here?" she asked, leaning against the sink. "You've told me how things ended and while it seemed civil I picked up on just a little hostility."
"To say that it was a little is an understatement," Sonic admitted. "After I came back things were different. Sally apparently didn't feel anything but I still do."
"Either that or she's better at hiding it."
"Knowing Sally, yeah," Sonic agreed with a scoff, "but I'm willing to be civil now. Besides, I wasn't planning on talking to them if I didn't have to."
"You know what? I'm proud of you," Fiona said as she walked up to him and latched onto his neck, giving him a quick kiss. "So, how resistant are you feeling to temptation right now? Because that couch I mentioned earlier is looking comfier and comfier." Sonic rolled his eyes as she pulled him away from the patio door.
"You are insatiable," he answered as she spun him around and pushed him down onto the cushions.
The next day, as hoped, the weather had cleared up and the vendors outside the Coliseum were able to get everything cleared off for the citizens and guests to enjoy. Sally had lost track of Amy and Tails almost from the moment they'd hit the streets as the two kids had rushed off to sample everything they could. Aside from that they traveled as a group, trying new food and examining all the different cultures that could be found in a city. What amazed Sally is that there were so many within the city but what one man had told her it was because Xenodome accepted immigrants from all over the continent making the city a veritable melting pot. This was unlike cities such as Azosarria to the far west and Dragoras in the far northwest which were almost entirely made up of humans from the surrounding areas. It was only after talking to him for an hour did she realize the others had left her behind. By the time she caught up Amy and Tails had found them, souvenirs filling their arms and a large leg of meat in Tails' mouth. He began to speak but the food muffled his words.
"He said that we got try a bunch of different foods from all over the city and region," Amy translated. "Most of the humans here are really nice and answered all the questions we had especially this one guy named Thom, with an 'h'. He even showed us his mobile blacksmith's forge. It was so cool!"
"At least someone here knows how to have fun, eh Sally-girl?" Bunnie teased but Sally just rolled her eyes.
"Poke fun all you want but I learned a lot talking to him," she said. "Besides, those little meatballs he had were addicting and I couldn't stop eating them."
"Oh, then you'll love this guy we found over there," Amy interrupted, pointing somewhere behind her. "He makes these chili dogs that are almost as good as Uncle Chuck's!" Before they could say anything Amy dumped the souvenirs in Bunnie's arms and grabbed Sally's hand, dragging her to find the vendor. Tails followed suit but hung onto the food as he chased after the two women.
"This has been a nice distraction," Antoine said with a laugh. "It is good to see Sally focus on something other than the reconstruction."
"You mean something other than Sonic," Rotor corrected him. "I mean, if I noticed that Sally had issues about coming here then everyone did. She didn't even see him off when he left Knothole."
"Ah'm not sure Ah blame her," Bunnie said as she squeezed the last of the souvenirs into the bags Capt. Phillips had provided. "There are still a lot of folks who still see sugarhog as a traitor."
"Speaking of, I would have thought to see him or Monsieur Hedgehog while we were here but I have yet to see either of them," Antoine mentioned.
"Not to mention Dr. Osaka," Rotor added. "Maybe it's just me but I feel like the old gang is falling apart. Crazy as it sounds I miss us all fighting together."
"It is not crazy," Antoine assured him, "but things inevitably change."
"Good gawd now y'all are gonna bore me to death," Bunnie said exasperated. "Ah'm gonna go find the kids. They know how to have a good time." She ran off in the direction the three of them had gone, leaving Antoine and Rotor to wander about, talking and sampling.
It was midafternoon before they met up again. Bunnie and Sally's arms were filled with bags of souvenirs and goods they had purchased or been given, both of them run ragged by the bouncing hedgehog and fox pre-teens. Antoine and Rotor could barely keep up with the two of them as they described their entire day in one long run-on sentence while Sally and Bunnie stood there like the living dead. A phone call finally interrupted them as Capt. Phillips told them how to get to the Coliseum from where they were, meeting him within a few minutes.
"How was your day?" he asked as Amy and Tails started from the beginning again. Rotor clapped his hands over their mouths and they continued as if they weren't there.
"It was great," he stated simply and Capt. Philips laughed.
"The city can be pretty overwhelming at first," he admitted. "With time I'm sure you guys will get accustomed to it. Miss Acorn and Miss Rabbot, would you like me to have someone take your things back to the hotel?" They both nodded quickly and a few moments later the bags were on a taxi back to their penthouse. "Your timing is perfect. They're about to start the final match of the Tournament."
"With all the running around we did I thought we missed it," Sally said. "Is there a reason they delayed it?"
"The Vanguard Commander was held up with work and was unable to meet the original match time," the captain explained.
"Wait, Monsieur Hedgehog is going to fight?" Antoine asked and Capt. Philips nodded.
"As the Commanding Officer of the Vanguard it's his right to challenge new recruits if he feels so inclined," the human explained, "and this new recruit has earned the right to take on one of the strongest in the city."
"How so?" Antoine asked.
"Well, most of this is just rumor but I heard he destroyed a research lab belonging to Cidana. On top of that, and I think this last bit is exaggerated, he wiped an entire city off the face of Mobius single-handedly." The Mobians' jaws dropped in unison as they realized who the captain was talking about.
"Are you talking about Sonic Hedgehog?" Sally asked.
"That sounds right," Capt. Philips answered. "I'd heard he was the Commander's son too but chalked the name up to coincidence. You know him?"
"Sugarhog was a Freedom Fighter like us," Bunnie explained, "and Ah assure you that he did destroy Robotropolis on his own, no exaggerations." The captain let out a low whistle.
"Kinda wish I'd put my money on him winning then," he said as he led them up a set of stairs. "Anyway this will lead you to your viewing box. There are some other guests, friends and family of both Sonic and the Commander." He opened the door for them and there stood Alura, Violet, Fiona, and Mina as they waited for the match to start. "If there's anything else you need feel free to call me," Capt. Philips told Antoine before shutting the door as he left.
"Mina?" Sally asked as Amy squealed in delight at meeting the pop star. "What are you doing here?"
"Cheering on Sonic, what else?" Fiona replied before Mina could, earning a glare from the mongoose. "I take it you guys are here for the same reason."
"We just found out Sonic was going to be fighting," Tails explained as he tried to calm Amy down. "Sorry, Miss Mongoose. She's always wanted to meet you." Mina smiled and chuckled.
"That's totally fine," she said. "But I'm afraid that I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here."
"It's good to see you again, Princess," Alura said with a small curtsy, her daughter's hand in hers. "Oh, this is my daughter, Sonia Violet Hedgehog."
"Violet's fine, mom," the eight year-old hedgehog said, staring up at her mother. "Sonia just sounds funny."
"It would seem that she has her brother's attitude," Antoine said with a laugh before turning to Mina. "I believe that I met with your brother, Mina. I am Antoine D'Coolette. This is Rotor Walrus, my lovely fiancé Bunnie Rabbot, Miles Prower, and Amy Rose. I understand that you and Sally have already met."
"Now that you mention it Sonic's talked about you guys a lot," Mina said shaking Antoine's extended hand and looked to Tails. "From what he's told me I know you hate being called Miles so he started calling you Tails." The fox nodded, his tails wagging. "And Amy, Sonic told me you're something of a superfan so if there's anything you want after the tournament just let me know, alright?" The pink hedgehog squealed again much to the amusement of them all.
"Looks like they're about to start," Alura said as she saw her husband walk out into the Coliseum. Sagittarius was strapped to his back while he held a large warhammer in each hand, the one in his right crackling with electricity. On the other side of the Coliseum was Sonic with only a kodachi strapped to the small of his back. "Seems Eric is going to take one of these challenges seriously for once. I've never seen him use both Mjölnir and Sunder together. Sonic is in for one serious fight."