CHAPTER 1 - RUMBLE IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE
Central City; the capital city of the east side of the planet which is run by the United Federation. It's the biggest city too both by population and sheer size, with other places like Station Square, or even Mobotropolis, which rests in the Great Forest on the west side of the planet, not even close for comparison. To some, it was also a cultural melting pot to boot, with many instances of coexistence occurring within its streets when the normality saw a sense of separation between the humans and Mobians.
To some, they simply saw it as home, never seeing it as more than what it offered to them. To others, though, it was not even a home - to that specific subset of the population, they tend to look at the city for what it was; a claustrophobic labyrinth that, with it, had more crime than any settlement on Planet Mobius has ever seen. Some blamed it on the humans, but strangely enough, it was the Mobians that were more likely to find themselves part of a news story later that day.
—
It wasn't much, but, as he had always heard people say, home is where you make it, and Maurice was just living in it.
It had been, give or take, about four years since he had run away from that dreadful orphanage up in Westopolis, another metropolis close by. Even going out the window wasn't the end of it, as police vehicles would soon follow, slowly eyeing the streets with large flashlights, looking in every nook and cranny. Since one of those awful people in suits took Manic and Sonia away from him, though, Maurice didn't have any reason to stay.
The hedgehog soon noticed by month six that the cops would stop searching and go back to bothering the many homeless and squatters that littered the streets or subway cars. Now, it was just a game of survival.
—
"Hey, buddy. No sleeping on the bench." a loud voice called out. Maurice's deep green hues looked over and saw two officers towering over a dog, who couldn't have been any older than Maurice himself. One officer leaned forward.
He shouted, "Hey, mister, I'm talkin' to you!"
The dog's eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, slowly fluttered open. Seeing the officers there, however, caused him to jump up immediately. "Oh, I'm… I- I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!-"
"When was the last time you had a bath or a haircut, huh?"
Maurice's nose couldn't help but take a small whiff of the overall odor in the car. Judging by the musk, it was safe to say that the mutt was probably in as bad a situation as the hedgehog was in, if not worse. The officers probably were bothering him over what could've been his home.
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to…" he whispered, extending a hand out to support himself, attempting to get up.
The second officer's eyes widened, before calling out to his partner; "Watch it, he's reaching!"
Maurice witnessed the ensuing scuffle as both the officers overpowered the kid, who held him down as they started bringing out the cuffs. His ears twitched from not just the sudden movements but the sound as well. The hedgehog was not a fan of yelling in general, especially if it was in the same vein as verbal abuse.
He mentally checked himself, though, as the subway car slowly screeched to a halt, causing the lights to flicker from unchecked wire connections. The double doors on both sides opened and as everyone got out, Maurice could hear the kid struggling as the officers said something about being arrested for vagrancy. As he got up, he couldn't help but look at the dog, whose eyes locked back, silently begging for help as he noticed that they both were one and the same.
The hedgehog looked, and knowing that he could not get involved, sighed sadly and started moving on. The officers didn't even realize the silent interaction between them as they started reading the kid his rights. Maurice shook his head, hoping that the kid would get off easy at least.
—
There were not that many obstacles left to pass, including a couple of stairs before he felt the night air and cool, crisp breeze pass through his long azure quills. Maurice breathed it in, and even though Central City didn't have the most attractive smell in the world, it was a sign to the hedgehog that he had finally made it back home. He walked through the crowds, dodging all of the hustlers, people who had coughing fits, and the tough guys who could probably shuffle him off the mortal coil with a single swing of their fists.
It was a certain alleyway entrance way that caught the hedgehog's attention, boarded up and decorated with labels threatening against any trespassers, and after he made sure no one was looking, he barreled to his left and made it past the entrance. Getting through that entrance changed the atmosphere of his surroundings almost instantly. The bright rainbow neon lighting, the cars, and the crowds of humans and Mobians alike transitioned to dark shadows, flickering amber lighting, box forts, cheap food stands, oil drum fire pits, and Mobians only as far as the eye can see.
Maurice looked to his left and right and had no thought to visit the dirty water dog stand tonight. He wasn't going to get paid his dues until later, after all. As he passed, he heard the rumblings and cheers of something fierce. Off in the distance was a small clearing with buildings that surrounded and towered over it, giving it the impression that this place was nothing more than an enclosure to those who found themselves there.
It was a sea of Mobians, who seemingly formed a circle, with two other Mobians in the center. 'Seems like they started without me,' Maurice thought to himself as he stood still to witness the commotion in front of him. After he stood there attempting to find a way through, he began to move into the crowds to make his way toward a small building near one of the clearing's walls.
Entering the door, Maurice threw his bag against the wall closest to him before sitting down on a sofa. The room itself was almost like an office, with a long desk, two black metal chairs, and the couch that he was sitting on. It was nice for what the office's purpose was.
Maurice's ears twitched as he heard the door once again open and shut.
"There's my number one." a voice called out in a sing-songy tone. Maurice's eyes darted towards the source and saw his boss, Fang the Jerboa-Wolf standing there proudly, leaning against the wall.
"How're ya' doin', Fang?"
"Good, good, business is good. How was th' ride over?"
Maurice sighed, not being able to help himself seeing that kid's pleading eyes before he shook it off once again. "Eh, it was fine. What's goin' on?"
"We got a new fighter for ya' today. Seems to be a real gentle guy, but I can just tell there's a fire in em'," Fang said as he walked over to the couch, leaning over the hedgehog with a smirk. "… so, do you think ya' can be a good kid and get us some cash in?"
The hedgehog sighed, almost as if he was hesitating. Fang noticed.
"Do you?" the hybrid whispered as he kneeled and put his hand on the top of Maurice's head. The hedgehog flinched at the sudden touch, before looking up.
"… Yeah, sure I can. Never failed ya' before, why would I disappoint you now?"
"That's my boy!"
The slowly building feeling of uneasiness finally dissipated as Maurice took Fang's approval and ran with it, taking his bag and moving to another door that led to what was usually a preparing room.
—
Thundering cries echoed out throughout the concrete clearing as Mighty the Armadillo made his way past the groups of crazed audience members and the constant changing of hands and currency. He was obviously nervous, not used to the absolute noise that filled his ears. Plus, seeing a few previous fights that night, he knew that this opportunity he had to earn a couple of extra bucks would be dangerous.
Mighty the Armadillo's peers would go so far as to describe the Mobian as a gentle giant, especially when in the company of his little brother, Ray. He was the type to avoid combat and talk things out with his opponent before resolving to throw fists. Now, as he walked towards the center of the circle, he was regretting coming to this place in the first place. Mighty looked down at his necklace, a good-luck charm of his complete with a silver chain and a shiny blue jewel.
The jewel shined bright with the reflections of the multiple light sources of the vicinity, while seemingly glowing on its own. The gemstone itself was something given to Mighty by a friend of a friend, stating that it was found somewhere in the deepest and darkest parts of the Great Forest, just outside Knothole. They said that it would give them the power to face anything with a strength they would never have believed you possessed. He never understood fully what that meant, aside from a sense comparable to a caffeine boost.
Whatever the necklace did, he knew he was going to need every ounce of it, as the armadillo witnessed a purple jerboa-wolf, now complete with a brown fedora, slowly make his way up to the center of the circle as well to meet with him. It looked him up and down, noticing the gemstone necklace wrapped around him. Mighty noticed and noticeably recoiled, holding the jewel in his right hand close to his chest.
Fang, in return, noticed that behavior as well, before turning to the crowds, throwing his arms up in the air, "Who is ready for the fight of the month?!"
In return, multiple screams of joy filled the atmosphere. Fang smiled at the dopamine that the reactions gave him, before breathing in to yell once again; "In the other corner, y'all know him well, the force of nature that leaves the chicks swoonin' and the boys hopin' they were him…"
Mighty's brow cocked at the description. 'Just who am I sparring with?'
"… Maurice the Blue Blur!"
At least the announcer knew how to hype up a match.
The reaction made Mighty once again recoil just from the sheer volume. Then, he heard the crowds start chanting the same name that the jerboa-wolf just called out. Mighty's eyes darted all around him, hoping to get a peak of his opponent. His hues finally landed on a certain part of the audience, as they slowly parted their way for someone to come through.
Maurice quietly made his way past all of the different Mobians that stood in his way with conviction; all he had was his fists. The armadillo in front of him looked the part of what he was told, but the hedgehog knew that it was a matter of whether or not their skills were a force to be reckoned with, for all intents and purposes. The two Mobians stared each other down, as Fang got up close and personal between the duo.
"Only a couple a' rules here, folks. No hittin' below the belt, no forfeiting once I say, and once we count ya' as down, no cheap tricks. No one kicks a guy while he's down 'round here, alright?"
The hedgehog and armadillo didn't break eye contact as they nodded to Fang, silently telling him that they understood. A smirk slowly drew itself onto Fang's muzzle as he walked back, letting the two have their space. "And go!" he finally yelled out.
The cheers and screams became almost thunderous now, but Maurice simply held his ground, as did Mighty as the two dared each other to bring the first attack. Mighty took the offer, jumping high up in the air and swinging. It was supposed to be a hit with how swift and with how much power there was, but when Mighty opened his eyes—
Maurice, that hedgehog, wasn't even there!
Mighty looked to his left and right, and the blue rat was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the armadillo felt a couple of taps on his shoulder, causing him to look behind, where his opponent was there, just about to clock him with his own swing. That punch made contact, and Mighty in turn flew through the air and into the arms of a few onlookers who pushed him back in.
The different Mobians in the crowd went nuts as if they knew this was going to happen! Like a tradition!
"Hey, bud. Here's some advice? Don't watch yer' fist, watch yer' landin'!"
"Come on, man. I don't wanna go too hard on ya'!" Mighty said in between a few coughs as he dusted himself off. 'As long as he stays still!'
Maurice scoffed at the armadillo's attempts of talking it out, "Oh, yer' that type; all talk and no bite? Then, when you do bite, it's like a puppy teethin'!"
The hedgehog leaped up in the air and before Mighty could react, felt the underside of the rubber shoe sole hit against his jaw. Mighty fell to the ground only to catch himself with his hands. Inside, the armadillo could feel a bubbling frustration, which he feared very dearly.
"Stay… still!"
Below Mighty's seething face, the gemstone on his necklace began to slowly increase in its glow. Maurice didn't seem to notice, however, as he slowly approached the armadillo, fists balled up and not a smirk to be seen. "Come on, dude, step it up!" he growled.
Maurice waited for Mighty to get up to an acceptable level before he lunged once again forward, only to feel his entire body whiplash as he was stopped in his tracks, suspended in the air by his opponent's right hand. The hedgehog's emerald hues looked deep into the armadillo's blues, seeing the lightning in them as Mighty's right fist flew in for a one-two punch. Maurice would admit that he had not had anyone hit him that hard in years, let alone in a circle like this. For some reason, however, he seemingly enjoyed it.
The blue hedgehog kicked Mighty in the chest, which sent the both of them to the ground. Fang, meanwhile, looked on in disbelief; his golden goose was actually struggling with their new opponent! He leaned forward, his hands balling up into fists as he called out, "Get up, kid!"
Maurice got up as the echoing cheers and pleads for either side to get up started to feel like pounding in his heart as well as his eardrums. He felt a warm sensation trickle down the side of his mouth. The hedgehog placed his fingers near the corner of his mouth and wiped at the possible source of the sensation, and saw crimson grace his fingertips. The attack caused him to bleed!
He couldn't help but chuckle. "Huh. Ya' actually got me good. No one's ever really given me a challenge before!"
Mighty let out a harsh growl as his temper finally got the best of him, his necklace gem now shining almost bright enough to blind. Maurice looked at the gem. He wondered if maybe somehow, this was the source of not just his power, but his heightened emotion too. He had no time to stand there and think, though, as Mighty swung yet again. Maurice had the cognitive reflex though to quickly dodge it before swinging back.
Fang cringed as both Mobians did a fair share of swinging, kicking, and dodging. It was almost too close to call, but as he looked at the hedgehog, he could tell that he was planning something, but what?
Maurice moved swiftly out of the way of Mighty's measly attempt at headbutting, flipping into the air stylishly and landing on his feet and hand planted confidently on the ground. The crowd got quiet as the two Mobians stared each other down. Slowly, they felt the pressure in the atmosphere shift. Mighty noticed more tangible changes like the small flickers of lightning beginning to surround them.
The hedgehog slowly stood up, his torso and head turning slightly to the left to face Mighty straight on while his legs stayed in position, his arms slightly spread. His hands weren't balled up in fists, but were rather open, almost as if he was about to accept a handshake rather than an attack. Mighty's eyebrow cocked, seeing such a relaxed posture from someone who just a moment ago was giving him enough bruises to make his red shell look as blue as their quills.
Suddenly, Maurice jumped up in the air, twirling three hundred and sixty degrees so gracefully. Mighty couldn't help but be amazed by the imagery, the lightning that slowly began to envelop the hedgehog. Before he could think another thought, however, Maurice quickly rolled himself into a ball, falling onto the ground, and yet, he still spun! Mighty tried recoiling, but as soon as he tried reacting, he felt like a truck had run him over.
Again.
And again.
And again.
All coming from different directions, the hedgehog somersaulted into the armadillo probably dozens of times before Mighty could no longer take it, falling onto the ground. He felt a bit of a copper taste fill his mouth. He could hear nothing aside from an ear-piercing ringing, and the sounds of slow, methodical footsteps approaching him. Mighty looked up to see Maurice; head to toe, there were bits of cyan blue lightning dancing across his features, and his emerald green irises glowed almost like the necklace he too had.
Mighty knew he was in the wrong place with the wrong people. He wanted to fight back, to run away, something to get his body up and moving! That guy said that there would be no kicking or attacking when someone was down, but who's to say that these people would keep their word for it? He gritted his teeth and scowled at the hedgehog defiantly at last. Maurice, still towering over him, began to lean over him, and Mighty braced himself.
But, nothing came.
Mighty opened his left eye to see the hedgehog, slowly turning back to normal, with a friendly hand extended out to him, offering to help him get up. The ringing in his ears also began to clear out, and he still heard nothing. The crowds were silent.
To break the silence, Maurice slowly let a grin grow on his muzzle as he spoke out to the opponent, "Pretty snazzy performance ya' did there."
His voice was soft, unlike the other times that Mighty heard him speak. It felt so welcoming, and so inviting to hear such a friendly tone, and what a relief it was! Mighty smirked as he accepted defeat and took the hedgehog's hand, grunting as Maurice slowly pulled him up. Fang approached the two for the second time that night and held the hedgehog's free hand high up in the air.
"The undefeated golden boy still remains golden!" Fang announced and was received once again by thunderous cheers. Maurice looked at Mighty up and down. The armadillo, while packing a good force behind his defense and offense, Mighty just did not give the hedgehog a vibe that said that he meant to be here, let alone in these certain types of situations. "Alrighty, now pay up, kid."
Fang stating that demand caught the hedgehog's attention, turning to the hybrid. "Fang, it's cool…" he tried to say, before being cut off.
"What, you're gonna go soft on him now after ya' just beat the absolute crap outta him?"
"I said it's cool, man…"
Fang turned to Mighty, who looked confused, eyeing both Mobians in front of him. He looked to the hedgehog to see if he could spare him once again. Maurice's eyes narrowed, before starting to walk away into the crowds to Fang's office once again. Fang sighed as he turned to the armadillo. "Look, kid, it's nothin' personal. You lose a bet, you lose what ya' bet with."
Quickly, Fang gripped a hold of the blue gemstone of Mighty's necklace, who grunted from the grabbiness and the pulling that the fox attempted to get it off. After a few attempts, Fang finally broke the gem off, looking at it like it was some backyard showgirl. He cooed and mumbled sweet nothings to it before looking at the kid.
"Like I said. Nothin' personal."
Fang then turned back and walked towards his office.
—
"I dunno what this thing is, but it's shiny, and I betcha the cut alone makes this worth a pretty penny in some of the more… heh, underground markets." Fang mused, twirling the jewel in between his fingertips. Maurice just sat on the couch once again, going through the bag he took with him to make sure everything was still there. It wasn't uncommon for items in this little 'market square' to disappear even if all the Mobians that come here lived and understood the unwritten rules and laws. That was just a factor of life here in Central City.
"I dunno. Maybe?" Maurice replied, not paying too much attention to his "friend's" compulsive urges to keep talking.
Fang got up from his chair and started walking, pacing back and forth while holding the gemstone. It was then that Maurice noticed the blue shape in his hand. His eyes narrowed, now beginning to pay attention. "I… I'm sorry, where did you get that?"
The fox looked at the boy from the side, confused. "Are ya slow? This s' that pretty rock I got off that armadillo kid. What's it matter t' ya anyways?"
"I told ya I wanted nothing off him."
"And? I took the necklace for myself after yer' refusal. Not like he needs it."
"That doesn't mean ya' had to steal it off em'. Maybe I shoulda been more specific! I meant that WE didn't need anything off him." Maurice said.
"Are ya bad mouthin' me, kid?" Fang asked. Quickly, he set the gem down and began walking forward, toward the blue blur in a methodical fashion. "You know how much I sacrificed helpin' ya' out?"
Maurice quickly stood up. "Fang, you know ya' didn't sacrifice jack to help me. Or should I say, Nack?"
The name drop struck a chord deep within the hybrid's chest. He erupted a small yell of frustration as he quickly grabbed Maurice by the shoulder and pinned him to the wall. "Really?" the hedgehog croaked out, "You lettin' a simple name ruin your whole mood?"
"I told ya' not to call me that, ya' wanker!"
"I'm glad ya' gave me a home with only the simple catch that I had to do what y'all do too!"
"Maurice…" Fang sneered quietly.
"I'm glad that I'm worth nothin' to anybody unless I'm a thug like you!" Maurice continued to croak out, feeling less air than ever enter his lungs.
"Shut up…"
"Ya' know what, Nack? I'm done! I'm not gettin' involved anymore!"
Fang threw the hedgehog against one of the nearby walls, leaving a loud thump and a crack in the drywall behind. Maurice grunted, feeling what little air was left and coming back to him in droves milliseconds after. He coughed as he peered up to see Fang begin to walk out the door.
He cleared his throat, "Watch. You'll come crawlin' back. Until ya' get yer' head out yer' rear end, you know where the door is. Now, get stuffed, ya' derro!"
The door slam that followed the hybrid would make Maurice flinch, feeling the emotion in the room change just for a moment. Maurice breathed heavily, before getting back up on his two feet to assess himself and the next action he would take. His vision instantly snapped to the blue jewel; Fang foolishly left it on the table when they began to argue.
Maurice figured that he was perhaps so frustrated, as it wasn't in Fang's nature to just forget a shiny object. The hedgehog looked to his left and his right, before quickly zipping over. Was it childish to take revenge against him in such a way? 'Maybe, but who's to say he wouldn't forget about it within a week,' Maurice thought to himself. As he grabbed the jewel, something else took his attention.
—
Mighty the Armadillo kept walking down the sprawling maze of alleyways past many Mobians, who just simply stared him down. He didn't understand anything regarding tonight, and now, some of that stupidity cost him one of the only possessions he had worth something. Even if that Maurice kid gave him mercy and tried giving him fair treatment, he still lost. It felt even more like a loss the further and further away he got from the droves of people.
"Hey!"
That voice had to be calling out to him, as by this point, Mighty figured he should've been all alone. He sighed, turning around to face whoever was there, "Look, I already have nothing, man, plus, I'm sure as sh… oh, it's you."
That blue hedgehog again. He was just standing there, darkened by the shadows against the backlight of the micro-society buzzing behind him. His eyes, much like his voice, were softened, and in his hand was a small leather sack.
"M'sorry about yer' necklace."
"It's nothing. You weren't the one who ripped it off my neck."
"Still…" Maurice replied.
"Mate, I promise."
Maurice took the leather sack in his hand and shook it, looking at it. Before too long, he drew that hand back. "Catch," he called out.
Mighty saw that Maurice had thrown the sack towards him, and without trouble, caught it. He cautiously opened it and his eyes widened in response. There had to be forty, maybe even fifty rings in it! He looked back at the hedgehog. "How did you… why did you…"
The hedgehog looked down at the ground, feeling a ton of guilt about what he was doing. Maurice, even though in the life that he had since chosen since he got out of that orphanage, had to lie to survive, the situation felt different with Mighty. He had to, though, or maybe that was what he wanted to tell himself.
"It's the least I could do. That emerald's long gone, I tried gettin' it back, but they already got it in circulation. It took me a bit of sneakin' around, but, like I said."
Mighty silently nodded, looking again at the rings. "Thank you… You know, I have a little brother, Ray? This could really…"
He was about to start a rambling tangent on top of his outward appreciation for such a kind gift before he looked up and noticed that the blue blur was nowhere to be found. Mighty's eyes widened, as he didn't even hear a sound. At first, the armadillo couldn't help but be almost frightened by the sudden disappearance, but his mind slowly eased. Mighty chuckled to himself, once again mentally thanking the hedgehog before going on his way.
—
It admittedly would have been nice if the switch worked as night finally found itself creeping through the windows, limiting the light levels that spread the small space, but the Mobian didn't mind one bit. The moonlight, with it being a full moon tonight, gave a very comforting ambiance. But the noise, the constant, everlasting noise!
The sound was more liable to bother him; Maurice absolutely hated the noise as he would sometimes find himself using pillows to smother his eyes to repress the calls of Central City. Somehow, though, there was none that he could register, as if the city had decided to calm down just for him. He thought to himself at first whether or not his senses were dulling but simply brushed it off, deciding to enjoy the peace rather than question it.
Of course, even then, it was now too silent for Maurice. Shrugging it off as he did with his last set of thoughts, he sped over to his small set of drawers, colored red, blue, yellow, and green, like ones he probably would have seen back home, rummaging through their contents. He finally found the items; a music player alongside a miniature tape that was labeled 'My Mix' in permanent marker.
Maurice put the tape in the player and once again sped over, this time to his mattress. It wasn't much, but it was perhaps the cleanest thing in the whole room with only a small circular burn near the edges. The smell was probably the worst aspect, and the hedgehog sighed as he remembered that he needed to wash it out. It wasn't like he could do anything currently, however; so, as slightly disgusted as he was, he still adjusted himself on top of the sheets and further into the warmth the mattress offered.
The hedgehog then placed his earphones comfortably within his ears which twitched as the foam came into contact with the sensitive skin before he softly kissed the play button with his fingertip. The first song instantly traveled and made its presence known to his eardrums with the bass gently caressing and vibrating through his head.
As he lay, he couldn't help but look out at his place; Maurice's room was nothing short of a pigsty, but the hedgehog would always come to appreciate simply being in its sheer presence anyways. It was better with the social circle he had since accumulated. It was better being out and searching as far and wide as possible to find his brother and sister. Well, anything was better than being stuck in that god-forbidden orphanage where there were so many rules, it was more a prison than a home for children in need.
Maurice the Hedgehog may have no family in terms of sharing flesh and blood here, but at least there's support when there was seemingly no one to turn to.
As he thought back on all of the things he was thankful for when the first song ended, the once again growing silence brought his attention back to the jewel that he won in that fight with Mighty. Maurice was throwing it in the air and catching it perfectly with one hand, the stone landing comfortably within his gloved palm. Now, Maurice's mind went to the stone.
He may not have had many lessons in geology in his years at the orphanage, but never in his textbooks or lectures did he see any gemstone that actually glowed in the dark, let alone having the ability to seemingly amplify the person's strength tenfold…
"Now, what are you supposed to be?..." he quietly mused, holding the glowing jewel in his hand, now holding it still rather than juggling it for his emerald hues to look past its glistening luster and let himself go into a trance through its many beautiful inclusions.
—
Author Notes: Hi, TennesseeanArtist/TeenageHedgie here again!
So, that gem! Wonder what that's supposed to be, indeed. Next chapter, we're catching up on an old friend and meeting one or two new ones along the way! Stay tuned. As stated in the last author note, (constructive) criticism is always appreciated! Hope y'all are enjoying this so far!
Yours truly, TA/TH!