Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Sally and Aleena arrive in the land of Mercia in order to find the Hidden City of Echidnas. However, upon arrival, Aleena is given a summons by the young King York, which turned out to be a trap created by the descendant of the late Duke of House Mercia, Lord Mordred Hood IV. Through a daring escape, Aleena and Sally vanish into the moat and go down the river where their fates remain unknown…
Sally opens her eyes to a yellow tiled ceiling above her. A pale yellowish color, around them being white tiles, not dissimilar to a hospital's ceiling. Her vision blurs a bit as she tries to clear her head. The sound of footsteps are heard as a female echidna in a doctor's lab coat carrying a clipboard walks into view.
Sally: "Wha… Who… are you…?"
Echidna: "Eep!"
The female jumps back, holding her clipboard in self defense as she sees her patient awake. She calms down before walking up to Sally.
Echidna: "Easy, miss. How do you feel right now?"
Sally: "I feel… dizzy… confused… I'm… I'm looking for… the Hidden City… of Echidnas…"
The echidna looks as Sally falls back to sleep, holding her clipboard defensively as she writes down some notes with her pencil.
Echidna: "Patient exhibits signs of confusion. Possibly delirium. Will need to approach with extreme caution if they prove violent. Sedatives at the ready."
Voice: "That won't be necessary, doctor."
A soft voice echoes into the room as a figure in a white robe floats - not walks, but floats - into the room. Long purple dreadlocks in the form of long flowing hair, connected to a lighter shade of pink fur belonging to another female echidna. Though her left hand is flesh and blood, her right hand was cybernetic though very much in the shape of a normal echidna hand. The doctor bowed her head in respect to the figure.
Doctor: "Patriarch. I did not expect to see you."
Patriarch: "Worry not, my child. You've done nothing wrong. Let me speak with this child alone."
Of note, the Patriarch's mouth does not move as she speaks, her voice echoing as if it were being channeled through her mind alone.
Doctor: "A-Are you sure? What if she proves dangerous?"
Patriarch: "Then I shall subdue her. I don't think I will need to. I sense a purity within this one that I hadn't felt in a long time."
The doctor bowed her head again as she stepped aside, allowing the Patriarch to approach the still unconscious Sally. The echidna placed her left hand on Sally's head and energy flowed into the chipmunk.
Within Sally's mind, the girl was in her castle. Standing in the halls as sunshine poured in from the windows. She walked down the halls as she passed by her soldiers, who she greeted with earnest. Despite her smile, in her heart, she could tell this wasn't real. She knew her home was gone, thanks to the madness of an evil dictating doctor. Even as she entered the throne room, the smiling image of her father brought her only regrets.
Voice: "Are these truly your thoughts though?"
Sally's ears twitched as she looked ahead. Sitting beside the fake image of her father, in the Queen's throne… was an echidna lady, dressed in a white robe. Though unlike her physical self, she was seemingly all flesh and blood.
Patriarch: "Or are these the invasive thoughts of a defeated young princess who thinks she has lost everything?"
Sally: "Who are you? How did you get here?"
Sally was trying to sound commanding, but the softness of the echidna rang in her ears, calming her down ever so slightly. It was like a healing light was washing over her.
Patriarch: "I am not a threat to you. So long as you are not a threat to me or my people, young one. I am named by the stars… As Lady Luna, Patriarch to the city you have been looking for…"
Sally: "City…? Wait. You mean… Me and Aleena? We made it?"
Luna: "If this was your destination, then yes."
Sally: "Thank goodness…"
The female echidna, Luna, stands from the throne as the visions of Sally's subjects and family vanish, leaving just the two of them. She walks up to Sally, placing her hands on the princess's shoulders.
Luna: "But child… Please tell me… Your heart. I wish to hear what you feel right now…"
Sally: "M-My heart…?"
Sally places her hands on her chest as she looks down. She then looks away as she didn't really want to tell.
Luna: "Young one…?"
Sally: "M-My name is Sally Acorn… And… I'm not sure if I should tell you… You are certainly soft hearted, Lady Luna… But you probably don't want to listen to me…"
Luna: "If I didn't… Would I have asked?"
Sally looked up at Luna, but instead of an echidna, she saw the vision of her mother. Sally's eyes widened as she started to tear up. Her emotions started to bubble before she hugs Luna and starts crying loudly.
Sally: "I… I failed my kingdom! My subjects! I let everyone down! I let Sonic down! He… He went off to fight Eggman and… He could be dead! How do you survive an explosion like that!? And then… My kingdom's people… So many of them are gone… Possibly dead… I… What kind of princess am I if I can't even protect the people I love!? Momma! P-Please help me!"
Luna let Sally continue to cry, holding her close as she smiled. She then spoke, soft and motherly now.
Luna: "But have you truly failed? Or is this just one of many trials you must overcome?"
Sally: "H-Huh?"
Luna: "Though your mind is wrought with guilt and grief… There is, deep down, a place in your heart that is telling you… Screaming at you… That you have not lost yet… There is still hope. A chance of deflecting the darkness in your heart…"
Sally looked up at Luna, the image of her mother still there as she smiles comfortingly at Sally. Whether it's Luna's strange abilities or her memory of her mother coming to comfort her, Sally felt at ease. The image of her castle faded as she took a deep breath. She then stood up straight, rubbing away her tears as the vision of her mother vanishes with the castle.
Sally: "I… I'm sorry… That was… a lot… Um… And… Uh…"
Luna: "I have that effect on a lot of people. In the over a hundred years of living I have experienced, I've learned to be something of a Healer of both the mind and body."
Sally: "I see… Still… We just met and I kind of… cried like that… on your robe… If Sonic saw me now, he'd call me a total crybaby…"
Luna: "Would he though? Is that what your heart is telling you?"
Sally: "...No. He wouldn't…"
Sally smiled as she closed her eyes, sighing happily as she thought about Sonic; despite his immature, sometimes detrimental way of thinking, he does care about her and she was happy for that.
Luna: "Then… I believe it is time we spoke… In the conscious world… I need to hear your side of the story."
This snapped Sally out of her stupor for a moment as she remembered where she was and why she was there. After a moment, Luna vanished from sight as Sally attempted to awaken, her mind stirring her body to move.
Sally soon awakens with a yawn. She felt surprisingly more rested than when she arrived on Mercia, which is evident as she starts stretching.
Sally: "Man! I can't remember the last time I felt this rested!"
Luna: "Is that so? You should probably let your mind rest more often then."
Sally pauses before turning to Luna, an echidna with cybernetic parts in not just her right arm but also her eyes, who just… floated a few inches off the ground in place. Sally's mind went from zero to a hundred as questions filled her mind. She clears her throat and decides it best to ask some simple questions.
Sally: "Um… Sorry about that. When you showed up in my mind… My dreams… You were fully… uh…"
Luna: "Flesh and blood? Yes. An accident five years ago resulted in my losing an arm and initially my eyesight. However, I did not allow it to deter me. I walked on with an ever present smile upon my face for my people."
Sally: "I'm… I'm sorry… I really should not pry then…"
Luna waved it off with a smile as she floats ahead of Sally, ushering her to follow, which Sally does. It dawns on the princess that she really was in the hospital. For how long, she wasn't sure, but she was thankful to be alive. But then a memory hit her; Queen Aleena, after she and Sally jumped to escape Mordred, shielded the princess from the impact of the moat.
Sally: "Oh my gosh! Aleena! Lady Luna… Where is Aleena!? She's… She's hurt and I need to make sure she isn't-"
As Sally worried over Aleena's safety, she sees Luna giggle a bit. The calmness of the Patriarch was… something to behold. Did nothing shake her or is she just oblivious?
Luna: "I wouldn't worry. When I was told of Aleena's sudden presence, I raced my way over to her without hesitation. It was only mere hours ago when my scouts found you along the Usalong River. And much like you…"
Down the halls, Sally saw a figure approach. Her expression turned to shock, then joy as she saw Aleena, standing and fully healed, just like Sally was. The princess immediately ran up to Aleena to hug her.
Aleena: "Goodness, Sally. Easy, I just got up; I don't want to lie down again with how hard you're hugging."
Sally: "S-Sorry… I… Well, you…"
Aleena: "You are Nigel's daughter and Sonic's closest companion. I would never do anything to hurt you. I will sacrifice my body and spirit to make sure you are safe…"
Sally: "Your majesty… Thank you…"
Sally let's go before turning to Luna, who smiled happily. Sally bows her head to the Patriarch, thankful for her helping them out.
Luna: "Now… With that out of the way… I suppose I should ask why you two are here. Welcoming as I have been thus far, Aleena, you know our city is supposed to be hidden."
Aleena: "I know. But… Sally insisted we come here because…"
Sally: "Because of a recent threat to Mobius. One who might become stronger if left to his own devices. I was hoping I could convince you to help in our cause against this new threat."
Luna crosses her arms as she thinks on this, tilting her head.
Luna: "Does this have something to do with that space station we saw the other day? The one with the big mustache?"
Sally: "Yes. So you know about it?"
Luna: "We were about to destroy it outright before a wave of Chaos Energy brushed past me, resulting in its explosion. It… startled me, I admit…"
Sally wanted to ask about the "destroy" part, but she stayed quiet, keeping to the subject at hand.
Sally: "I was told by a reliable source that the one who built that space station isn't gone. In fact, he's the one who took my kingdom… My home… I want to save my home and my people, but I'd need strong allies to do that. So, Lady Luna…"
Luna looked at Sally, still with crossed arms. But she shook her head.
Luna: "I'm sorry, princess. But I must decline such an offer. Out of respect, we have long since cut off connections to the outside world a long time ago, for fear of our species' survival and for the fate of the world."
Sally: "I see… I suppose I'll respect your decision, but I'd need to know more. If I'm not prying."
Luna: "Hm? You're interested to know our history, princess?"
Sally: "I am. At least to better understand your point of view. As Princess of the Acorn Kingdom, and heir to its throne, it's my duty to understand the people who live on Mobius. My goal… My dream… Is to build a world where everyone can live peacefully and equally."
Luna looks at Sally, squinting her cybernetic eyes at the princess to detect even the slightest hint of deceit in her. But to her satisfaction, the Patriarch found nothing but an honest chipmunk.
Luna: "Very well…"
Luna walked to the end of the hall, Aleena and Sally joining her as the Patriarch stood in front of some closed curtains.
Luna: "Then as Patriarch, allow me to welcome you… To the Hidden City of Echidna… Albion."
Luna flung open the curtains, the bright lights blinding Sally and Aleena for a moment before they saw a glorious sight. Aleena smiled as Sally stepped up to the window for a better look. The city of Albion, a nearly perfect merge of ancient ruins and temples blending with modern day technology. Echidnas everywhere, some with cybernetics, some fully flesh and blood. The skyscrapers gave off a more distant future feel that made the United Federation look outdated by comparison. Sally's expression said all that needed to be said - she was excited to explore this great city and meet its residents…
To be continued…