Reunion
[The scene opens with a pan-down shot of Pine Station. Having gotten into late November and edging into December, the station has been decorated for the Christmas season with garland on the canopies, lights twinkling on the walls, and a tree placed at the end of the platform. A gentle tune plays in the background as Duncan is waiting at the platform with a passenger train, his mood surprisingly content as Rusty passes by with a maintenance train, giving a friendly hoot in the Scottish engine's direction. The little diesel is given a grateful "peep" in return]
[On the platform as Duck passes by the station with a goods train, Robin and Little John are shown exchanging gifts with one another. Cruella's fancy cigar has been given a new look with a candy cane paint job. Lyra hovers a piece of mistletoe over Bon Bon and surprises her with a kiss to the creme pony's cheek. Even Norbert and Dagget are sharing a "get-along" Christmas sweater, as silly as it looks, much to the bemusement of Arnold]
[Rebecca pulls into the station to drop off passengers, a big smile on her face as she sees the glowing star atop the tree]
[We transition from that star to another star atop another tree, panning out to reveal the one standing in the middle of town square as Foghorn, Taz, Belle, Beast, Arthur, DW, Trixie, Starlight, Pingu, Pinga, Pongu, Pengi, Penelope, Barbie, Theo, Cleo, Lionel, and Leona are shown passing under the tree as it shines proudly with its twinkling lights and shiny ornaments. Next to Halloween, Christmas is perhaps the biggest holiday for the citizens of Anima]
[The same thing goes for the Ex-Mobians as we transition over to their alley, cutting to the inside of their old base. By stark contrast to before, it has recently been refurbished to look more like a regular apartment complex. There is now a sink with proper running water, a kitchen to the right corner of the room, a bonfire pit to keep warm, and the mattresses have been rearranged to suit the needs of their owners]
[Currently, the group is sitting at their new table with the Arctic Freedom Fighters, recapping the days of old]
Flip: And so I tell 'im, you're in the wrong town, bud, why don't you waddle off back to your workshop?
Erma: As I recall, you almost lost your tail feathers for that remark.
Flip: I-
[Several snickers are heard amongst the others]
Flip: Ehhhhhhhh, says you.
Fiona: You know, speaking of crazy times from back in the heyday, lemme tell you that I've had a wild ride.
Sleuth: Oh, your life story could fit a whole book with all that drama.
Fiona: At least I have a story to tell unlike some people.
Sleuth: Hey!
Fiona: Either way, I've been through love triangles, switching sides, escaping slavery, the whole nine.
Geoffrey: Huh, sounds a lot like my life…
Drago: Oh yeah, didn't that Tails kid go on a whole spiel over that crush he had on you?
Fiona: Yeeeeeeah, I recall that.
Sleuth: That was ballsy, I'll say, double crossing Sonic with his clone, that's a real gut punch if I eva' saw it.
Fiona: I'd rather not be reminded of that, thank you very much.
Drago: What's this? You feel a sense of guilt over that? Shocking.
Geoffrey: Honestly, I'd be more shocked seeing you express guilt over her.
Fiona: Look, those relationships are a whole can of worms I don't feel like reiterating. And it's not like most of you are any better, Drago.
Drago: Hey, it's not my fault the offer was tempting!
Fiona: Are you serious? You had the option to reject it, and you didn't. I guess it's no wonder everyone wanted a gut punch on you.
Drago: That's ironic given you actually got one, from Little Miss Perfect Princess herself.
Fiona: [blushes] I-! You…you did too, for the record.
Guntiver: Alright, alright, break it up you two.
Razorklaw: Please, you're both making me lose IQ points.
Sleek: Speak for yourself, I'm enjoying the entertainment.
Guntiver: Anyway, I gotta say, you guys really did this place some good.
Sealia: Indeed, it looks much more cozier than before. How did you afford it?
Drago: Weeeeeeell, let's just say we pulled a few strings, if ya' know what I mean.
Augustus: I assume that is referring to illegal activity, no?
Drago: Depends on your definition of it.
Erma: [coughs] Hookers! [coughs] Sorry, had something in my throat.
Guntiver: Well, regardless of all that, I'm glad to see you've been doing alright since then.
Sleuth: Speakin' a which, are you all sharing that cabin back up north?
Guntiver: I mean, it would be a shame for that work to go to waste, wouldn't it? Certainly beats lying low in a cave, that's for sure.
Augustus: Agreed, it is nice to have a proper working fireplace for a change.
Erma: Tell me about it, guess all that tinkering did something useful after all.
Fiona: Ya' know, I like your style, you got a real sassy head on your shoulders.
Erma: Someone's gotta keep this lot in check, regardless of how it's said.
Flip: And believe me, she says a lot.
Sealia: Besides that, Fiona, if you don't mind, I'm rather curious to hear more about you.
Augustus: I think I remember hearing your name thrown out at some point, but never understood the full picture.
Erma: From what it sounds like, you could fit a whole book.
Fiona: Well, in case you must know, and this is all coming from my perspective, I never had it easy back then.
Flip: Whatcha' mean by that?
Fiona: I don't mean to sound like I had it worse than you guys…although I kinda did, but picture this; when you've had people break your trust more times than you can count, that sticks with you for long afterward.
Sealia: Oh…were there…specifics?
Fiona: How about being enslaved at the age of ten and being moved about like cattle between different scumbags?
Sealia: Ah…
Sleuth: Huh…that…almost sounds a lot like my background.
Fiona: I knew I could never escape that lifestyle, not even when the Freedom Fighters took me in. And of course, I had a few…odd relationships in my tenure.
[Above Fiona, a bubble appears with a flashback to her earlier appearance in the comics, donning her original outfit]
Sleuth: Oh yeah, with the little two-tails. I recall him being over the moon about you, got a little pissy when Sonic made a pass.
[Sleuth smirks as he recalls the memory with Tails appearing awestruck for Fiona and then gaining a vein on his head when Sonic slides up alongside her]
Fiona: First of all, I never liked him that way, he's younger than me for starters. Plus, Sonic and Sally were having some separation bullshit at the time, I dunno, so he turned to me for solace…I'll admit, it wasn't too bad being the center of attention, even if he is a massive dork…
[We transition to a flashback as Fiona talks with the silhouettes of her and Sonic sitting under a tree under the stars]
Drago: BUT then Scourge came into the picture.
[Cutting back to reality, Fiona gives a scowl at Drago]
Fiona: He certainly did…to be fair, when he did come into my life, he showed me things that felt like…magic to me. Something that reminded me of my roots, that urge to just…break the rules and not be held back by those that held power over me…
[One sequence shows Fiona on a balcony, donning her new attire while looking over Moebius. From behind the vixen, Scourge appears from the shadows and places his hands on her shoulders. She sighs]
Fiona: Part of me wonders if it was the adrenaline talking…do I feel bad…that's the thing, I don't know the answer.
Razorklaw: Shouldn't be too much of a puzzle, either you like causing chaos or you don't.
Fiona: You would not be saying that if you were in my position.
Razorklaw: I was in a position of "kill or be killed", and I made my choice.
Fiona: Good lot that did you for. Ya' practically mutilated yourself, and you weren't even the only one.
Drago: Enough with bringing that up!
Fiona: Look, when you've had a hard time trusting people as I have, you make decisions on impulse. Granted, some of it didn't work out, but I've already burned my bridges.
Sleek: …Well, if it's with that lot, hardly a waste if you ask me.
Fiona: I would agree to that…yet, for whatever reason, I can't stop thinking about them…
Geoffrey: So the cycle continues…
Fiona: What do you mean?
Geoffrey: I was in the same position a while back, I kept having these…flashes to the past. It messed me up a bit…
Fiona: Speaking of the past, Hershey still giving you the cold shoulder?
Geoffrey: It's…a bit complicated at present, but I'm slowly working my way back up.
Sleuth: Sooooo, are you two…?
Geoffrey: Nah, I already sunk that ship when I went the Naugus route. I did tell her the full story about that…[sighs]...it's a weird state we're in.
Erma: That means?
Geoffrey: I'm holding off romance for the time being, I got into enough trouble with it before.
Drago: Oh yeah, didn't you have that whole "thing" with Sally?
[Geoffrey gains an annoyed vein on his forehead]
Geoffrey: First of all, it was hardly a "thing", secondly, I didn't actually force myself upon her. That was just some tabloid rubbish that the editors phoned in.
Drago: Pfft, wouldn't be the first time I saw that…
Fiona: ANYWAY, back on me, I'm not saying I'd like to go back, not when they've got their own thing going on. There's just too much to consider.
Guntiver: What about your other group? What were they called again…?
Fiona: The Suppression Squad; basically, every mirror version of the Knothole Gang and then some. Pretty sure they have one for each of you.
Sealia: Hold on, does that mean there's a mirror version of yourself?
Fiona: If there is, I never saw it. I was pretty much Scourge's right hand during that time, he was practically the king of the kingdom…well, he got the title through…ahem, brutal means. I'll just let you fill in those gaps.
Augustus: Huh…how did you get here anyway?
Fiona: After I fled Hemlock, I laid low in Elm for a bit. I had to lay low in a crummy apartment till I ran low on cash. I managed to make it to the city through the river. I ended up being found by the police and they interrogated me, before letting me off. Then I met you guys and here we are.
Guntiver: Ah…
Fiona: Honestly, I just want to be able to settle without having to deal with past drama. If I don't see any of my old crew, I'm not gonna lose sleep over it.
[Fiona backs off the table as she sighs]
Fiona: I'm gonna get a bit of air.
[The vixen walks away from the group and heads towards the door, not before reaching over to get a jacket. After closing the door, she walks up the steps and stops at the top, taking in a breath as the cold air wisps around her]
Fiona: How ironic…even with things working out, I still can't get over…them…[sighs]...whatever happens, don't let me go back there…
[Fiona closes her eyes…for a brief moment, we flashback to a younger version of herself in the condition she was in…the moment is broken by the sound of someone behind her]
?: Hey, Fi.
[Fiona opens her eyes abruptly, does a 180 turn and who should appear before her is…]
Fiona: It's you…
[The scene pans up from a pair of green and black shoes, revealing green-furred legs before showing a chest with two deep scars running across it, a black jacket with flames on either end and ending with the head of a green hedgehog with blue eyes…Scourge]
Scourge: Miss me, toots?
[Fiona's shock evaporates as her eye twitches and her face contorts to an ugly sneer]
Fiona: What…the actual…FUCK are you doing here?!
Scourge: Whoa, hey, is that anyway to greet an old friend?
Fiona: Oh yeah, cuz friends assault each other whenever they feel like it, that makes sense, dipshit?!
Scourge: Hey, will ya' keep your voice down, you're gonna draw attention!
Fiona: You don't tell me what to do, I'll talk as loudly as I ple-!
[Scourge claps his hand over Fiona's mouth as Officer Dibble and Carmelita Fox are seen just passing the alley, pulling himself and Fiona behind some boxes for cover, even as she muffle-shouts under his glove. The officers glance suspiciously into the alley, but don't see anything unusual. They look at each other and then proceed to go on their way]
[Cut back to Fiona and Scourge]
Scourge: Phew, that was close.
[Fiona manages to bite down on Scourge's glove, causing him to release her and yelp in pain]
Scourge: AAAGH! Damn, bitch, that fuckin' hurt!
Fiona: Maybe don't put your hands on people's mouths then!
Scourge: Look, will you just chill and lemme explain all of this?!
Fiona: [inhales deeply] …Fine. BUT, if you're gonna explain this, lemme ask you a question? Are the others with you?
Scourge: We're…kinda split up at the moment.
Fiona: Good…now, tell me…what are you doing here?
Scourge: Why, isn't it obvious? Tryna' fit into society, of course. Isn't that you've been doing?
Fiona: Last time I checked, that wasn't your style. It was more "wreck shit up and cause a huge scene."
Scourge: Well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, I always like to put on a show, if you get my meaning.
Fiona: What are you really here for?
Scourge: I need to settle a score with an "old friend" of ours.
Fiona: Hold on, lemme do a scan of the previous attempts. Memory file selected, boop. Oh, that's right, none of them have been long-term!
Scourge: What's up with you, anyway, acting like there's a sudden surge of morals running through you.
Fiona: Hey! Do not play that card with me, mister! I have more than enough dirt on you to get the police involved if I wanted.
Scourge: You wouldn't dare say shit to the cops given your track record!
Fiona: I-! I just…look, all I'm saying is that we can't do anything to that standard anymore.
Scourge: The hell you talkin' about, we were literally running a gig back South!
Fiona: Yeah, and got caught! Why else do you think I was laying low? I'm tired of being on the run.
Scourge: Lookey here, so am I.
Fiona: Listen, if I let you stay with me, you gotta keep the usual schtick on the downlow.
Scourge: Pshaw, Fi, you know I'm a master of disguise. They won't even know I'm here.
Fiona: And no crimes unless I say so.
Scourge: What?! The hell kinda bullshit terms are those?!
[Fiona turns her back to Scourge]
Fiona: Or, I could leave you out in the cold, all on your own, and let you get captured.
Scourge: What the-?! I-! [growls and clenches his fists] Fine! I'll play it your way. But know this…
[Scourge goes up right to Fiona's shoulder and whispers in her ear]
…you can't run from the past forever.
[Fiona freezes…for a brief second, a flash covers the screen, showing a younger version of the vixen being held in captivity, followed by one of her being the newest addition to the Freedom Fighters, one of her turning coat, the explosion during Munitions, the raid of Hemlock, even what went on in her head during the Nightmare Saga…before coming back to reality…she looks down at her arm…]
Fiona: …Scourge…mention that again…and I will deck your throat.
[Scourge backs off with a dismissive shuffle]
Scourge: Okay…you staying in this dump?
Fiona: Yes, and I have roommates, some of which might be familiar to you.
Scourge: Oh, pray tell, who would they be?
Fiona: Why don't you see for yourself…?
[Fiona makes a 'come here' gesture at Scourge as he follows her down the steps]
[Cut to inside of the building as the others are still chatting amongst themselves. However, the peace is cut short as Fiona reenters the main room with her guest. Almost immediately, everyone goes into either fight or flight mode, or reacts with confusion]
Drago: What the hell is he doing here?!
Sleuth: The fuck did you crawl from?!
Geoffrey: Oh good lord, no…
Guntiver: What's going on?!
Erma: Oh, I'm not taking this!
Fiona: Everyone, SHUT UP!
[The room suddenly goes quiet as everyone looks at Fiona]
Fiona: I'm sure this one needs no introduction…for some of us anyway.
Scourge: Aaaaah, Drago, Sleuth…had a notion you two would be lurking around.
Drago: Speak of the devil and here he be…
Scourge: That's ironic coming from you, either way, looks like you boys have been keeping yourselves, and what you look at that, made some new friends, I'm sure.
Sleuth: Talkin' of whom, where's the rest of your little gang?
Scourge: Hmph, I'm going as a solo act for the time being. But, then again, now that you're all here, perhaps we can start up business once more.
Fiona: Um, excuse me, what did I just say, literally not even five minutes?
Scourge: Oh, take the stick outta your ass and chill out. It's nothing big, think of it as a new project of mine.
Erma: Pardon me, but just who are you?
Flip: Yeah, and what's up with those scars on ya' chest?
Scourge: Huh, don't recall seein' you lot before. Well, to put things short and simple, the name's Scourge, Scourge the Hedgehog.
Guntiver: Hold on…that name sounds…familiar, but I can't pin it…
Scourge: Well, while you're figurin' that out, I'mma find a seat to rest these legs, I'm downright bushed.
[Scourge makes his way over to a mattress where Sleek and Razorklaw are sat at, the felines sneer as the green hedgehog makes an abrupt entrance on their turf, laying down on the bed]
Sleek: Hey, who said you could lay there?!
Scourge: I said so, king rules.
Razorklaw: And you're king of what here, dare I ask?
Scourge: King of Nunnaya.
Sleek: Nunnya? What does that even mean?
Scourge: It means nunnaya goddamn business.
[The lynx and panther growl at the hedgehog, who returns the gesture with his sharp teeth bared]
Scourge: You wanna fuckin' go, bro? I'm the chaos charged hedgehog.
Geoffrey: AHEM! Let it be known that you're on our turf now, so you'll need to abide by our rules.
Scourge: Hmph, is that any way to treat a guest?
Geoffrey: I'm serious, the last thing we need is you mucking around and makin' a nuisance of ya'self.
Scourge: …Come over here.
Geoffrey: Um…what?
Scourge: Just, just come here, I wanna say something.
Geoffrey: Uh…alright then?
[Against his better judgment, Geoffrey goes over to Scourge as the latter leads them both into a corner. Their backs are turned to the crowd. Once there, the hedgehog speaks in a hushed tone]
Scourge: I don't think you understand how this works…
Geoffrey: Come again?
Scourge: I'm not one that likes being challenged, and truth be told, I could deck each and everyone of you in this room if I so wanted.
Geoffrey: …You wouldn't dare plan something stupid, you're already not in a great shape.
Scourge: That can change, I've not forgotten what happened the last time, and mark my words, if you cross me, I will make your life a living hell. And don't think I don't know how to break you, I've already got several targets that are easier to crack…you're not gonna say a word about it, are you?
[Scourge suddenly pulls a switchblade from his jacket and sticks it to the skunk's throat]
Geoffrey: Uh…no…of course not…
Scourge: Gooood boy…now, run along, Aussie.
[Scourge pushes Geoffrey away as the skunk composes himself. However, as Scourge conceals the weapon in his pocket, Drago stands over him with an accusatory look in his eye]
Drago: What were you two talkin' about?
Scourge: Nothing that concerns big white wolves snooping in people's business.
Drago: You watch your mouth, shrimp.
Scourge: Oooh, you really wanna go there? Keep in mind, I used to be your leader, more than once actually.
[Scourge then gives Drago a look which makes the hedgehog appear as if he's on the same level as the lupine]
Scourge: I could break you with more than just my fists, given your…hmmhmm, fragility.
[Drago blinks…and then snarls]
Drago: You-!
Scourge: Uh-bup-bup! We don't wanna cause a scene, do we?
[Drago gives Scourge a death glare as the green hedgehog slyly smirks past him. Guntiver comes up to Drago with a concerned look on his face]
Guntiver: Is everything alright?
Drago: …Yeah, sure, it's fine.
[Guntiver feels unsure about the response, but decides not to press further on it, offering a paw to Drago's arm]
[Cut to night time as a gentle snow is shown falling from the wind, with the echo of the wind accompanying it. We then go to the inside of the apartment where the former members of Destructix, Felidae, and Freedom Fighters are sleeping on their respective mattresses…well, most of them…Drago and Geoffrey glance over at each other, and then over at a lone Scourge sleeping in the corner…]
[Cut to Fiona watching from a different angle, she feels overwhelmed, between her old beau resurfacing and memories of her old life coming back…she doesn't know what to feel…the vixen sighs as she wraps the blanket around herself]
[Cut to outside of the apartment as three silhouettes can be seen standing in the moonlight at the far end of the alley]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Fiona Fox, Scourge the Hedgehog, Geoffrey St. John, Drago Wolf, Guntiver the Arctic Wolf, Augustus the Polar Bear, Erma Ermine, Flip Penguin, Sealia Seal, Sleuth Dawg, Razorklaw, Sleek the Panther, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails the Fox, Sally Acorn, Hershey the Cat - Sonic the Hedgehog
Arnold Shortman - Hey Arnold!
Arthur Read, DW Read - Arthur
Barbie - Barbie
Belle, Beast - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Carmelita Fox - Sly Cooper
Cruella De Vil - 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Foghorn Leghorn, Taz, Penelope Pussycat - Looney Tunes
Starlight Glimmer, Trixie Lulamoon, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Norbert and Daggett - The Angry Beavers
Officer Dibble - Top Cat
Pingu, Pinga, Pengi (Pingu's Mother), Pongu (Pingu's Father) - Pingu
Robin Hood, Little John - Robin Hood (1973)
Theo Lion, Cleo Lion, Lionel Lion, Leona Lion - Between the Lions
Duck, Rebecca, Duncan, Rusty - Thomas and Friends