Review Responses:
To dbehi1: An astute observation. Being left to rot would explain Metal's descent to overthrowing his creator and yearning to take over the world.
What must be done… …The servers are the seven Chaos.
Chaos is power. A power enriched by the heart.
The controller is the one who unifies the Chaos.
…Feel within… The sea of Chaos… And the ancient waves.
May the light of its power shine down eternally and protect us all.
Cabinet Room, Parliament House, New Mobotropolis, Acornia
A month had passed since the trap laid by Dr. J. Ivo Robotnik and Naugus the Dark via Metallix along with the destruction of South Island. This was enough time for physical and emotional wounds to heal. However, one person has yet to awaken after the desolation of his former residence.
That young teenage Mobian being the renowned hero of Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog
By the end of the month-long break, the royal militia so desperately deserved after the traumatic events on South Island, the monarchy summoned the Freedom Fighters involved in the detour to discuss further actions they must and will be taking in order to ensure that their plan to end the war against the Ixis Warlock once and for all.
Within the room was a large roundtable made of oakwood with the royal insignia engraved at the center of it. Against the table, nine chairs were occupied by members of the royal council. Many of them were familiar faces, such as the Prower couple, Sir Charles Hedgehog, Sir Arthur Mongoose, and General Armand D'Coolette. But there were newer faces that Tails, who was called alongside the older members of the Freedom Fighters.
Three of them were Mobian women; a young white sheep, a young green and white pronghorn, and a mature teal and pink eastern dragon. They all wore the blue and red garb of the royal Acornian court with badges as proof of their position.
Their names were Lanolin (the sheep), Clove (the pronghorn), and Miru "Dulcy" Dragon.
While all of the members of the royal council sat around the table, King Maximillion N. Acorn sat at the top center where the tapestry of the royal symbol hung on the wall.
Standing adjacent to the council and the king himself were the Knothole Freedom Fighters, consisting of Princess Sarah Alicia "Sally" Acorn, Scarlet "Bunnie" Rabbot, Antoine D'Coolette, Rotor "Boomer" Walrus, and newcomer Miles "Tails" Prower.
All of them directed their attention to a projection of a news channel that covered the events of the Desolation of South Island thanks to the power of the AI servant of the Kingdom of Acornia, NICOLE. The news anchor in question was a female black Mobian cat with a beige muzzle and skin in her ears, green eyes with purple eyeshadow and wore a violet blazer with a light purple turtle-neck shirt and white gloves.
"A month has passed since the tragic incident that claimed the lives of the citizens of South Island. The hero of Mobius Sonic the Hedgehog, who was sighted alongside his comrades on South Island before the catastrophic disaster, has not appeared in public nor given any statements in regard to the event leading up to the island's destruction, prompting many across both Mobian and Overlander territories to wonder about the legitimacy of the claims made by Acornia regarding the fate of South Island. Since then, G.U.N. has fortified their defenses and increased security across United Federation territory while also deploying their forces to islands within Mobian territory, as to ensure they do not share South Island's fate. Crowds of protesters and journalists were spotted outside the White House, demanding to know whether or not the United Federation was at risk of being under attack by the assailant who destroyed South Island. President Langston Arbuckle, the United Federation's beloved leader, released this statement earlier today."
The news report then cut to a video of President Arbuckle standing behind his podium as he addressed the crowd of journalists, cameramen, and human and Mobian civilians alike.
"People of Mobius, the past few months have been turbulent and our lives have been put in peril yet again by the actions of those who seek to destroy all that we have accomplished and all that we have rebuilt from the Great War. Following the travesties that had befallen both Westopolis and South Island, the Guardian Units of Nations is hard at work deploying units across both the Federation and several major cities within the Mobian Alliance in bolstering defenses in case of a similar terrorist attack were to take place on either side. While it is unclear as to what party is responsible for these attacks, both the Federation and the Mobian Alliance are currently doing the best they can in seeking out a solution that is beneficial to the world we all share. As upstanding and dutiful citizens, it is your responsibility to prioritize your safety. We ask you to restrict long-distance traveling, stay with friends and loved ones, never travel alone, and comply with your local law enforcement at all times. Thank you for your time, ladies and gentleman, let unity prosper and division stay a shadow of the past."
The video then cut off and the broadcast returned back to the news studio where the Mobian news anchor continued to speak.
"With President Arbuckle's statement being loud and clear, all that we can do is wait for any response from Acornia or from the world's beloved blue hero himself on the matter. Until then, prayers are being sent all around the world for the lives that were lost on the Island of Paradise. This was the Channel 11 News. I'm Sasha Cornelia, and we will catch you at five. Have a blessed day, everyone."
When the news report ended, NICOLE cut the video projection from her handheld as she materialized in her holo-lynx form.
"Stellar work, NICOLE," Said King Max as the meeting officially began. "Now that we are all properly caught up on the situation, we can discuss our plans for handling the fallout of our current predicament on our end. What is the first order of business, Council?"
Clove was the first to speak, asking, "Permission to speak, Your Majesty?"
"Granted, Clove. You may speak loud and clear," The Mobian Squirrel nodded lightly.
"Ever since the events that took place on South Island, there's been a state of panic all over the kingdom. Many of your subjects have been urging us to issue a statement regarding the specifics of the island's destruction and question their safety within our walls." Clove stated. "Perhaps this should be the subject to start off with first."
The councilmen and councilwomen agreed, with the king trusting his people's judgment.
"Very well." The king agreed. "A statement is needed from us. However, crafting one should be handled with absolute care. Preserving the people's trust in the monarchy is of absolute importance."
"What should we tell them?" Rosemary Prower questioned.
"I know what we shouldn't tell them," Amadeus Prower suddenly spoke. "The Warlock's apparent collaboration with Robotnik. That would spark mass hysteria. Walkers forbid, a riot."
Armand took this time to speak, "Ahgreed. While I believe zat ze citizens finding out ze truth of ze matter ees inevitable, zere ees no need for zem to know everything now."
"But there was a cause for South Island's destruction," Lanolin said, now making her own presence known. "And the president did categorize the tragedy as a terrorist attack."
This caused a wave of recognition to come to the council, which didn't go unnoticed by the Freedom Fighters.
"Oh, that's right." Dulcy realized. "That's really putting us in a bit of a bind, huh."
"Yes, it is. There has to be a way to give an answer without revealing all of the cards in our hand," King Max stated as he placed his hands behind him. "What say you, Sir Charles?"
Without opening his eyes, the Professor answered evenly, "It was a terrorist attack by a machine, yes? Then we could simply shift the focus to a known terrorist that uses machinery as his calling card."
Everyone from the council and the Freedom Fighters immediately caught on to the older hedgehog's suggestion.
"So you're suggesting that we should place the blame on Robotnik alone?" King Max inquired rhetorically. "Not that I disagree, old friend, but what has brought you to this conclusion."
Sir Charles stated while looking at the king, "It's no secret that all of us have at least some history with Robotnik and his misuse of his infernal contraptions from the Great War. But the personal war between him and my nephew is on a whole other scale. It doesn't leave much to the imagination of the casual bystander to conclude that Robotnik had some form of involvement in the tragedy. Besides, the island had seemed to have been a frequent target within the last few months."
Sally and the others silently nodded in agreement, making sense of Sir Charles' logic.
Sir Arthur Mongoose nodded, saying, "That could very well give them enough information to work with in statement form."
"I see," King Maximilian commented before turning to the rest of the council. "All councilmen and councilwomen in favor of this plan for the statement, raise your right hand and say I."
Everybody on the council had done so unanimously, voting for Sir Charles' plan without any problem.
Lanolin raised her hand, asking her ruler for permission to speak. With that, the squirrel granted her the metaphorical floor.
"There's still that matter of public and national security." The sheep said while trying to keep her voice steady without being under pressure. "While the assistance of GUN is ultimately beneficial to Acornia and the treaty of our joint alliance, the citizens of the kingdom made it very explicit that they would rather see their own people protecting them rather than…strangers, so to speak."
"Yes, that is also a factor in maintaining the people's trust," Sir Charles added.
"Maybe some of our allies are willing to spare some of their forces?" Dulcy suggested.
"Well, zere's always ze United Wolf Pack Nation." General Armand stated. "Besides, ze Waya tribe's chief ees more zan willing to aid us in ending ze Naugus War."
"That is true," King Max agreed. "Though, that wouldn't be enough reinforcements to guard the people. We would need to reach out to other neighboring kingdoms."
Duly pointed out, "We have great relations with the Dragon Kingdom of Chun-nan. It wouldn't hurt for us to get in touch with their king to see if they could help us."
Sally winced at the mention of her only remaining former lover, but quickly shook it off.
"That could work," Sir Arthur agreed along with everybody. "I think we just need at least one more neighboring kingdom."
"If I may suggest, we have made improvements in bettering our relations with the country of Aurora. How about we get in contact with High Chancellor Ix for assistance?" Amadeus said.
"...That sounds like a splendid idea, Amadeus." The king praised.
While most of the council nodded with hopeful expressions, Sir Charles mimicked Sonic's flat yet irritated expression.
'...Oh, joy. Now. I'll have to deal with Finitevus' arrogance face-to-face much sooner than I'd hoped for.' Sir Charles mentally groaned.
"Let's make it official, then," King Maximilian commented before turning to the rest of the council. "All councilmen and councilwomen in calling forth the Dragon Kingdom of Chun-nan and Onyx City of Aurora to increase public and national, raise your right hand and say I."
A round of vocal "I"s rang in the room, allowing the meeting to move on.
With a heavy heart, a grim expression formed on the muzzle of King Max as the king himself addressed the next topic of discussion.
"Ladies, gentlemen. I will be bringing up the next matter at hand. This will be a divisive topic, and there is no doubt in my mind that this will lead to a heated debate. So, to tip the scales, not only have I brought the Freedom Fighters to get involved in this meeting, but they will also be included in the final vote." King Max stated.
Dulcy raised her hand to ask a question, and Max allowed her to speak.
"What matter are we going to discuss, sire?"
In all seriousness, King Maximilian answered, "...The fate of Sonic the Hedgehog."
That sentence silenced the entire room, rendering the council speechless for a good fifteen seconds before Amadeus built up the courage to speak to his king.
"...H-His fate, Your Majesty? I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean by this." Amadeus confessed. "Are you implying that we are going to take terminal legal action against the boy?"
The Freedom Fighters gasped at the implications of Max's phrasing of his sentence, but the King of Acornia nearly had a small stroke upon his subjects' misunderstanding, letting out a few coughs before speaking.
"No! Good Lord, Amadeus! What do you take me for, Kodos the Conqueror? This isn't my father's era anymore! I abolished those archaic punishments after the Great War, and Acornia has been better off ever since."
"Please excuse my husband, Your Majesty. It was the phrasing of that sentence that threw him off. Perhaps we may need further context on what you were trying to convey." Rosemary said in a more diplomatic manner.
"...Right," The king nodded while providing further explanation. "As you all know, Sonic and his associates have registered and joined the ranks of the Knothole Freedom Fighters. For the last month, they have been embarking on missions to retrieve the seven Gems of Miracles as a means to finally put an end to the Naugus War we've all so desperately are trying to finish. But as you know, a certain deadly encounter took place exactly four weeks ago at Sonic's previous residence. And that not only led to him being hospitalized with a broken leg but the utter decimation of that entire location."
"Which now renders him homeless," Sir Arthur concluded.
"Indeed," King Max concurred before turning to the Freedom Fighters' leader. "Sally, you have the floor."
The princess nodded before walking up to the table with the others following behind her.
"From what he's told me, Sonic and Tails would generally stay by themselves in the home of the late Harvey Who and Mrs. Who had left them as part of their inheritance while also receiving money as the couple's beneficiaries," Sally explained.
"Wait just a second. The Spymaster Who? That old buzzard raised Jules' kid?" Arthur questioned.
General Armand commented, "I ahm more taken aback zat he was on South Island ze whole time ahnd nobody figured eet out."
"What about education?" Rosemary asked, looking directly at her son. "Did either of you boys attend school when growing up?"
Tails scratched his head bashfully but answered, "...Well, I did attend local summer schools in a village north of our house, but the curriculum was too basic for me. So, Old Man Owl tutored me personally until I had to continue studying on my own after he passed away."
Amadeus had a proud smile on his face from his son's response before asking Tails, "And what about Sonic?"
"Sonic was homeschooled from day one. Old Man Owl and Granny Owl quickly figured out that Sonic does not learn in a similar vein to other ordinary children. At a young age, his brain was wired to learn from hands-on experience through action rather than just reading and absorbing information. And he didn't like people watching him whenever he worked. I think Sonic had issues socializing when he was younger. He didn't talk much until I came into the picture."
The adults in the room nodded, satisfied at the answer they were given.
Sir Charles then added, "From what I've gathered, neither of them was employed, living off of the land that was provided for them to farm by their guardians."
"Okay, so you mean to tell me that the boy essentially lost everything to his name on that island?" Dulcy inquired.
The pale blue hedgehog sighed, then nodded, "I'm afraid so, Dulcy."
"What is he going to do? We can't just allow him to be homeless!" Amadeus interjected. "He doesn't have anywhere to go!"
"Peace, Amadeus," The king of Acornia, holding out a hand that signaled the fox to calm himself. "We're getting to that now. I've talked this over with Sally, Miles, President Arbuckle, and Sir Charles about the matter and we've all come into agreement on this next matter. From this day onward, Sonic the Hedgehog will be an official citizen of Acornia."
"You're kidding!" Rotor exclaimed with excitement before fist-bumping in the air. "Alright!"
"Well, ain't that the berries!" Bunnie said grinned, happy for the situation and for her best friend.
"Oui," Antoine agreed. "At least he will have a new place to call home."
Sally silently smirked at the decision, but then bit her lower lip when she remembered something that Sonic had said to her before they left his house.
I may have been born in Acornia, but I'm gonna keep it real when I say that I don't see myself as one of ya'll.
'...South Island was where he was brought up as Sonic. It is a part of who he is now. But there isn't a South Island to return to anymore. Maybe that can be a good thing. He doesn't have to compromise who he is, but this could be the best opportunity to at least give the kingdom a chance. Who knows, maybe he'll come to like it here.' Sally tried to rationalize the situation. '...At the same time, I can't help but think otherwise.'
"Okay, he has citizenship. That's great and all, but he was never emancipated nor is he legally of age to be out on his own like an adult. And from what I heard through Amadeus, the Whos are gone. So, where is the kid going to stay exactly?" Sir Arthur questioned, bringing up solid points that the other adults agreed to.
" Good questions, Sir Arthur. That leads into the next part of this matter," King Max continued. "I've appointed his uncle to be Sonic's new legal guardian until he reaches the legal age of twenty-one."
"...I wasn't aware that Sonic had any relatives in Acornia," Clove said, clueless to the depth of the situation. "Who are they?"
"That would be me," Sir Charles said, cheekily raising his hand.
While Dulcy was lost in thought at the revelation, Lanolin, and Clove's eyes widened as the sheep asked, "You're related to Sonic, Sir Charles? But how?"
"He's my long-lost nephew. Many thought he died after falling through my prototype of the first Warp Ring when he was four. But it turned out that- it sent him halfway across the world." The professor explained. "Though, the trauma of the coup caused him to suppress his past to the point of developing amnesia."
This explanation caused Dulcy's memory to spark a certain memory of her mother introducing her to a young Azurite couple.
"Oh. Oh! Now I get it!" Dulcy said with excitement. "That's Leena's boy, isn't he?"
Clove blinked her eyes for a minute before recognizing the name, "...Leena. As in Queen Aleena! The last monarch of Azuron? Are you saying that Sonic's…a prince?"
Dulcy and Sir Charles nodded, with the king explaining, "This is a secret that is only known by the royal inner circle. Sonic's true identity is Prince Oliver Maurice Cobalt, born to Sir Jules Hedgehog and Queen Aleena Cobalt. He is all that is left of a beloved and loyal allied nation and is the fifteenth generation of Azuron's royal line that was started by Arthur Cobalt."
"The King Arthur!?" Lanolin and Clove screamed at the same time as Clove added. "The one who slew the tyrannical Immortal Feist of ancient Chun-nan? The first Mobian to have traveled the entire world?"
"The same," King Max stated. "Which is another reason why his inclusion as a citizen of the kingdom is crucial. Though, there's another aspect to this situation that is to be considered when on the topic of Sonic."
The king turned to the Mobian holo-lynx and said, "NICOLE, the footage please?"
The AI's face frowned but she complied without hesitation, projecting the events of both incidents within the oil refinery in Sand Blast City and Hedgehog Pass where Sonic had lost control of his emotions and transformed into a dark reflection of his golden Super state.
Needless to say, the council's initial reaction to these events were varied as each individual had started to form their own new outlooks on the teenage adventure. Some began to see Sonic as an unstable agent of anarchy that may be a potential danger to himself and those around him. Others…well, they started to see Sonic as a ticking time bomb that could be a threat to the kingdom if he were to be set off.
Needless to say, everybody was unified by their rising concerns for their home now that the king has allowed Sonic asylum in Acornia.
As soon as the video feed was finished, one of the councilmen spoke.
"...My king, what on Mobius was that?" Sir Arthur questioned, voicing what the other councilpeople outside of Sir Charles had on their mind.
"An excellent question, Sir Arthur." Said King Max. "To give you a short answer, that was Sonic. However, this is the result of his negative emotions going awry and dictating his actions. He becomes unruly, out of control, and tends to lash out."
"But how can this be? The golden power he seems to possess is one thing, but this…" Rosemary trailed off, visibly unnerved at the appearance and power of Dark Sonic.
"Sir Charles, if you would explain?" The King asked, prompting Sonic's uncle to provide further exposition.
"Yes, my liege," The Minister of Science agreed before clearing his throat. "As previously stated, this Dark Sonic, as we've recently coined, is what happens when Sonic's emotions are negative and unstable. This ties into what I've discovered regarding my Chaos energy theory. From what I've gathered, Chaos energy is an entropic force. And in order to harness this force, one must have strong emotions or powerful thoughts. These thoughts and or feelings are then converted into power."
"Okay, that's informative. But what does this have to do with Sonic going completely postal? He almost killed one of the Desert Raiders." Clove inquired, not clearly understanding the situation.
"It has everything to do with it, young lady. At this point in his life, Sonic keeps the hardships and woes that he had experienced in his life to himself. Never talk about them. As you clearly can infer, this isn't a healthy way of dealing with problems in life and the raw emotions that come with these burdens. Over time, it eventually comes out in different ways. In Sonic's case, the stockpiling of festering unresolved emotions was so vast and so raw, he ended up harnessing negative Chaos energy while in close proximity to the Gems of Miracles. And just as the positive side of Chaos from the stones granted him that golden form, the negative side bestowed him with its twisted opposite."
"Unbelievable. One of our biggest trump cards to ending this war, and he just so happens to be the biggest danger to the kingdom." Lanolin said, wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead. "What are we supposed to even do about this?"
"If I may speak again, Your Majesty," Tails spoke quickly, to which Maximilian agreed. "I researched the rules that the Freedom Fighters must follow, and there's a certain standard of mental health that must be met in order to be considered eligible to continue on active duty."
This caught the attention of the other Freedom Fighters (especially Sally), and the royal council.
"Ah, I see where you're going with this, Miles." King Max stated as he looked at the young fox. "Let me hear it from you, then. You've been near Sonic longer than anybody in this room. Are you suggesting that Sonic is not fit to be on active duty?"
Tails' mind drifted to all of the times Sonic had been acting strange since they began their new adventure in Acornia. And while he tried to address his concerns for the blue hedgehog in the pass, Sonic had simply brushed it off. Even when he turned into that darker version of himself, Sonic had refused to speak on that matter and pretended that nothing happened.
Well, no more. Like it or not, Tails was going to help his older brother. And this will be the first step in doing so.
Steeling his nerves, Tails said with a straight face, "...Yes, sire. Sonic needs help more than anybody else I know. Even if he doesn't want to admit it to himself."
Turning to his daughter and the other Freedom Fighters, King Max asked, "Does this sync up with your individual experiences with him?"
Sally turned to her team, who looked amongst themselves with concerned expressions before hardening them and nodding to their leader.
Looking back to her father, Sally nodded, "We're all in agreement here as well. Sonic is an invaluable member of the team. But we are realists. And realistically speaking, it would be a detriment to our cause if we were to continue operating with a member that is a potential risk to our cause and his fellow comrades. Until progress is made on his recovery, Sonic should focus on improving his physical and mental health."
"Very good," King Max nodded as he turned to his trusted council.
"That sounds promising and all, but let's not forget who we're talking about," Dulcy stated, gaining attention from everybody. "Now, I'm not the one to be a pessimist, but what if he resists these stipulations? And he loses control and goes on a manic rampage? Who's going to stop him then? I know I can't, he destroyed a giant lizard in space."
"I hate to admit eet, but she has a point. What contingency do we have against a Sonic who might become a flight risk? Or worse?" Asked General Armand.
"There's no need to worry about that. I've already had a couple of contingencies at work in case a scenario of the sorts would arise." The King said while raising a hand. "I just hope to the Ancient Walkers that it doesn't come to that."
"Sonic does some like a very reasonable young man," Amadeus pointed out.
"He is for the most part," Sally stated. "However, I'd like to note that he doesn't seem to enjoy his freedom being stripped away from him."
"Well, it's a good thing that this has nothing to do with what he perceives as freedom." Sir Charles stated. "This is for his sake and the sake of the kingdom."
"Then it's settle. All those in favor of Sonic's suspension of his Freedom Fighter status and for his rehabilitation, say "I"." The king stated one last time.
"I!"
The vote was overwhelmingly unanimous.
"Then it's official. Sonic the Hedgehog is hereby recognized as a citizen of Acornia. Specifically, he will be taking residency in New Mobotropolis with his guardian, Sir Charles Hedgehog, his new legal guardian until he is of legal age. Furthermore, his status as a Freedom Fighter is hereby revoked until he has is deemed as mentally fit to be ready to return to action once more. Meeting adjourned. You are all dismissed." The king commanded.
While the body had existed the room, little did they know that a certain black hedgehog had been listening in on their entire conversation for himself before teleporting out of the building.
-Three days later, Fourth Floor, Queen Alicia Memorial Hospital, New Mobotropolis-
Sally, Bunnie, Rotor, and Antoine all had entered the hospital after finishing up their daily routines within Freedom HQ. Since the incident, the group made an effort to visit their long-lost friend and a new comrade in the hospital for one hour. Thankfully, two people are allowed to enter the room of a patient for an hour at a time. This made it easy for them to set aside a specific time to meet up after work and all make the hospital visit together regularly.
After signing and making it to the elevator, the Knothole Freedom Fighters brought it to the fourth floor where they were walking to Sonic's hospital room.
A person with a notable difference in appearance was Rotor, who took an entire month to work out. Now, Rotor has gone from having a robust body that is suitable for a walrus from the old area to having a well-built physique like that of a weight-lifting bodybuilder. He still wore his brown coat, tool belt, and glasses.
Sally found herself with her auburn eyebrows furrowed as she was in deep thought.
' A month has passed… So much has changed… Oliver, there are still no signs of him regaining consciousness. When is he going to wake up? Will he ever wake up?' Sally wondered with dark thoughts pouring into her mind before shaking her head. 'No, Sally. Don't think like that. He's going to make it! I just…have to temper my patience a little longer. Still, I don't know how he'll react to what awaits him. All I can do is pray that he doesn't hate us for it.'
"Sally-girl! Yoohoo! Is ya thayure?" Bunnie called out, prompting the princess to snap out of her thoughts.
"Huh? O-Oh! I'm sorry, I got lost in thought again." The Mobian chipmunk apologized.
"You've been doing that a lot lately." Rotor pointed out. "There's obviously things going through your mind. So, spill."
Letting out a light sigh, Sally expressed, "...You're right, Rotor. I haven't had much sleep since the meeting. No, since the fight on…you know."
"Oui." Antoine nodded with the other two Freedom Fighters. "We are understanding, princess. I am certain that ze fire brought about…horrible memories."
"You can say that again," Rotor groaned while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ah know thayure's more to it than that, Sally-girl." Said Bunnie, who had a knowing stare. "You're worried 'bout ol' Sugar-hog."
Sally shook her head, saying, "It's more than that, Bunnie. I'm less worried about his condition, given his extraordinary ability to heal his wounds, and more concerned with how he'll react to the stipulations recently placed on him."
"What are you saying that you're afraid that he'll hate our guts or something?" Rotor asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, it sucks that he has to be benched from the team and all but don't you think that's a bit of an overreaction?"
"I don't know, Rotor," Sally confessed. "On one hand, it sounds unreasonable. We're just doing our jobs and what's best for our kingdom along with its citizens. It sounds ridiculous to think that somebody like Oliver could hold a grudge for something so petty. Yet, I can't help but feel awful about it. I was given the order to prod him of information, which involved that…change in him. Information that he didn't have to share about himself with me, but felt comfortable enough to trust me with. And I used that against him. If and when he finds out-"
"-He's going to feel like he was used. Betrayed." Rotor concluded with a concerned expression.
This prompted the original team to fall silent as they stopped moving forward. It was true. The political nature and sometimes shady dealings of their job could potentially drive a wedge between them and the world's biggest hero in spite of the pragmatism behind their actions. This could cause issues later down the line in their plan to end the war if that conflict wasn't resolved. Therefore, the Knothole Freedom Fighters would have to deal with the potential outrage soon.
"Man, I didn't realize how bad this was. This is going to suck." Said Rotor.
Sally agreed as she expressed, "I know what we did was for the good of the kingdom, but I don't know if it was the right thing to do."
"Ah don't what to tell ya, darlin'. Ahm not to sure mahself." Bunnie admitted, staring elsewhere.
Antoine then spoke up with finality, saying, "My friends, ziss iz not a matter of morality but of upholding our duty to ze people we've sworn to protect. Zat now includes Oliver, himself. We must do our best to see zat we protect zem both at all costs. We'll deal with his ire once we cross zat road."
Rotor nodded, saying, "Yeah. I can get behind that, Ant. We should focus on checking up on Oliver."
"Right," Sally and Bunnie agreed, prompting the group to continue walking down the hall until they eventually came near Sonic's room.
When they spotted the room door, they came across two Mobian men that were familiar to them that stood in front of the door like bodyguards.
One happened to be Knuckles, who wore a green and white shawl, two yellow bands on two of the spines that hung from his head along with white bandages wrapped around his forearms.
Standing next to Knuckles happened to be the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow the Hedgehog. He sported his new green military-esque flak jacket with matching gloves and Jet Shoes. He still retained the scar across one of his eyes while one of his ears was slightly split from the battle he had against Metallix.
"Hey, look who's here!" Rotor said, getting the two heroes' attention. "Knuckles, Shadow, good to see you guys!"
"Likewise." Knuckles said evenly with a ghost of a smile. "It's nice to see a couple of friendly faces in times like these."
"You can say that again," Sally commented before turning to Shadow himself and bringing out her right hand out for a handshake. "I don't believe we've properly met. I'm Sally."
Shadow looked at the hand, then back to the friend-looking princess before responding with a soft yet firm tone.
"Shadow," Shadow replied without changing his stoic expression, not interested in meeting the girl halfway. "And I'm well aware of who you and the Knothole Freedom Fighters are, Princess Sarah."
"O…kay…" Sally said awkwardly, putting her hand back to her side as she thought to herself, '...He's different from Oliver.'
Bunnie, after tipping her hat to the two males, asked, "Howdy! What are you boys doin' here?"
"After Sonic's admission to the hospital, the king ordered his men to guard his room. We've been helping the guards out with their rotation schedule at night until recently when our schedule has changed to noon." Knuckles explained.
"What of ze Master Emerald shards?" Antoine questioned.
Knuckles answered, "Sir Charles is looking after them back in his lab while I'm away."
"Good ol' Uncle Chuck. You can always count on him." Rotor commented with a smile.
"Are all of you here to see Sonic, yes?" Knuckles asked.
"You guessed correctly," Sally responded. "Did anybody else stop by before us?"
"Yes. Professor Hedgehog, Rosie, the pink hedgehog, Vanilla, and Cream came prior to your arrival." Said Shadow.
Sally beamed at this, thinking, 'It's nice to hear that they're people supporting his recovery. Hopefully, that'll soften the blow for what's to come.'
"You're timing couldn't be better, either. Right now, Tails and Sonar are in his room. They should be wrapping up their visit soon." Knuckles elaborated.
"Parfait!" Remarked Antoine with a hopeful smile.
Just then, Shadow and Knuckles heard the doorknob turn, prompting the two males to separate and allow the occupants to exit the room.
One was the yellow and white-furred Mobian Red Fox, Miles "Tails" Prower. He wore blue and white shoes that were modeled after his original sneakers, a tool belt that was given to him by Rotor, a light blue handkerchief around his neck, white gloves, and silver-colored goggles on the top of his head.
Sophia "Sonar" Grayson, a teal and white-furred Mobian fennec wore her normal violet and black mission clothing.
"H-Hi, everyone! When did you guys get here?" Sonar asked after greeting the original Freedom Fighters.
"Howdy, Sophie-girl. We arrived a couple of minutes ago." Bunnie ended up answering before turning to Tails. "How's Sugar-hog comin' along Tails?"
"Sonic is …getting better." Tails trailed off as his ears drooped a little bit. "His right leg is going to take a bit more time to heal properly. They recently performed tibial surgery and inserted a rod with a couple of fastened screws. Given how his body works, he'll probably be up and running soon. Hopefully…"
The others, namely the Knothole Freedom Fighters, had noticed that the young fox had also possessed a similar case of apprehension that Sally had.
"...Is something the matter, Tails?" Sally asked, voicing her and the team's concerns.
Tails remained silent, not trusting his voice. Sonar took this opportunity to answer for her friend (and crush).
"Don't mind him, guys. He's been stressing over the meeting you guys had with the council, but we've talked about it." The fennec explained as she turned to Tails. "You know he's not going to hold it against you, right? You're just looking out for him like he would do for you. There's nothing to worry about."
"I know, but this whole thing still bothers me." Tails confessed while staring at the floor.
"Don't be foolish," Shadow said, causing Tails and the others to stare at him. "I paid a visit to the Cabinet and listened to the entire conversation. You made the right call in that meeting, Prower. Trust me, this will do the blue hedgehog a favor."
"Huh? What makes you say that, Shadow?" Asked Tails.
"Set aside your personal feelings and think about it. One of the most powerful people on the planet and the most renowned hero in recent memory has been found to be mentally unstable and has practically gone nuclear. Now, he's been given citizenship and was hired by the same kingdom that gave him said citizenship to serve the people as their protector. Let's say he lashes out. He would then be liable for any and every sort of casualty and collateral charge, which would also reflect off the kingdom for being responsible for him. And that's not factoring in the lives he could endanger if he has nothing or nobody to help keep himself in check." Shadow explained. "At this point, Sonic's feelings towards you should be rendered irrelevant to you."
Everybody was speechless at Shadow's words, impressed with how he analyzed the situation with a hefty amount of pragmatism.
"...Wow, I never thought about looking at it that way." Tails said while thinking about the mature hedgehog's words.
"You know what? I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm going to have to agree with Shadow on this one." Knuckles agreed, taking Tails by surprise. "This isn't just about Sonic anymore. We're a part of something much bigger now. Bigger than any event we've come across in our lives, and it's affecting everybody on the planet. We don't have time to get caught up with ourselves when there's a larger picture to understand. If we're going to stop Eggman and that wizard, all of us are going to be at our best. Including Sonic. So he's going to have to tough it out and get with the program like the rest of us."
After a few seconds of silence, Sonar took a hold of Tails' arm and said, "Um… W-Well, we better get going! I promised him a sparring match back at the Prower Estate! Hope you enjoy your visit, guys! We'll catch you later! B-Bye!"
With that, Sonar sped walked out of the way with Tails practically being dragged beside her as he said, "W-Woah! Wait! Easy on the arm, Sophie. You're gonna pop it outta place!"
Everybody watched them moving out then let out a few chuckles/giggles except to Shadow, who had merely crackled an amused smirk.
Eggman's Base, Great Forest Mountain Range, Acornia
For a solid month, Dr. J. Ivo Robotnik was in the constant state of cloud nine. Why? Because after years being constantly being bested by his youthful adversary, he had finally done it.
The so-called "Eggman" had finally defeated Sonic the Hedgehog!
…Well, sort of.
Technically speaking, it was Metallix (formerly, Metal Sonic) who had done the deed of physically breaking the spirit of the blue hero.
Regardless, saying that Robotnik was overly elated at the outcome of his and Naugus' combined plan was an understatement. Hell, he had half a mind to celebrate the occasion with a bottle of red wine with his magical ally.
But, of course, there were two problems with the thought.
One, there was too much work for the roboticist to do to be able to sit back and truly let his victory sink in while enjoying a glass of alcohol. And two, there was still the matter of repairing his prized Badnik.
Frustratingly, Metallix had sustained nearly irreparable damage from the little Freedom Fighters' second-rate AI of all things. The damage was so great that the android was forced to shut down while his own artificial intelligence had to be salvaged by Robotnik so the Overlander could make improvements and repairs needed for the next time he would be deployed.
While he making progress with his AI, Dr. Robotnik stored Metallix's body inside an auto-repairing chamber for the time being.
As he spent his time quietly tinkering with projects both new and pre-existing, the man's mind lingered back towards the holo-lynx. The resentment for the thing was precedent, Robotnik couldn't help but find the technology she had to be intriguing. The power to influence a machine's programming and interact with physical objects as if it were a mere person. If Robotnik had something like that at his disposal, it could not only serve as a better administrator for his operation system than SNIVELY ever could, it could protect him from the likes of that cheap construct Acornia whipped up.
Yes… The Eggman had some research to conduct.
As yellow and gray Chaos Emeralds sat in a console below the hanging display of Sonic's Warp Ring, the villainous mad doctor could be seen at the back with his tools as a silver rod with an arched top was lay on a work table. Behind the table sat a chamber where a familiar partially broken machine sat inside.
If one were to get closer, one could see flashes of what one could describe as digital irises before a pair of solid eyes fully materialized.
Sonic's Hospital Room, Queen Alicia Memorial Hospital, New Mobotropolis
Three days after the Freedom Fighters' encounter with Knuckles and Shadow, Sonic found himself waking up in his hospital bed with a face full of sweat, gasping for air with an expression of panic.
The sixteen-year-old tried to control his haggard breathing, his heart racing as each palpitation passed by his chest and jolts of his pulse could be felt in far-off parts of his body, from his shoulders, limbs, and head. He could feel that his numb right leg was raised from the resting position, and upon further inspection, realized that a cast had been wrapped around it for quite some time. All of this equated to a grizzly realization for the blue hedgehog as his worst nightmare was now his reality.
Sonic physically cannot run anytime soon.
"M-MY LEG!" Sonic screamed as his heart began to palpitate in an erratic manner. "MY LEG! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY…my…"
Before he could finish his question, the floodgate of horrible memories began to pour as flashes of Metallix attacking him and his friends, burning his island down, and defeating him in his darker transformation came rushing back.
"...leg," Sonic whispered in fear, recalling the many close encounters that he had with the Ixis-powered android that would have murdered him hadn't been for his friends.
Sonic then rested on his head, subconsciously placing his left gloveless pawed hand over his scarred chest as his mind started to run rampant with unstable thoughts.
'Your leg is broken. You can't run anymore. Not that you have anywhere to go anymore. You have no home to go back to. What are you goin' to do now, big shot? No momentum means no speed. And what are you gonna do when another mission comes up? Better yet, what'll happen when Eggman or Naugus decides to show their faces, and you're basically crippled, hm? You'd be as useful as an emergency door in a plane! Then, your friends are gonna get hurt, or worse, and you'll have to watch it all! Why? You'll be too weak to save them! Too slow to stop the bad guys! Face it, hedgehog! You're nothing, now! Just a useless, pathetic, piece of-'
"Apologies, lad, am I intruding?"
A familiar voice snapped Sonic back to reality as he turned to face its source. It was King Max, who stood in the doorway waiting for the young hedgehog's response.
"...Oh! Greetin's, You're Majesty!" Sonic weakly said, holding up a hand while instinctively sporting his trademark toothy grin. "How's it goin'?"
"Peachy." King Max replied, noting Sonic's quick change in demeanor. "I happened to find the time to visit you for quite a while when my schedule had wiggle room. I was alerted of your awakening as soon as I arrived at the hospital today."
"Huh, well that's awfully kind of you," Sonic said with a small genuine grin. "But, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be a-okay!"
"That remains to be seen, given your current predicament." King Max said before letting out a sigh.
"Speakin' of which, how long was I out for?" Sonic questioned as he sat up and scratched the back of his head. "And do ya' mind fillin' me in on what happened?"
"Walkers give me strength." King Max muttered before addressing Sonic. "Of course, but before I do, I need you to promise me something in return, Sonic."
Sonic raised one of his brows with curiosity as he repeated, "Promise? Heh, I guess we got somethin' in common. If you're asking that of me then it's gotta be really important, then. Okay, lay it on me."
King Max nodded before continuing to speak.
"Whatever information I divulge with you today, you must promise to listen and follow mine and the others' lead. Do you understand?"
Sonic blinked a few times, staring at the king while also having a pensive expression. But, given his trusting nature, Sonic complied with a thumb's up with his right hand.
"Sure thing, You're Majesty. You have my word. Whatever you need for me to do, I'll make it happen the best that I can." Sonic sincerely stated.
King Max took a few seconds to take Sonic's words into consideration, knowing that the information he was about to share with him could affect the trust between the two. However, the King of Acornia did not relent and he sat down beside the injured Mobian teenager.
"Well first things first, you have been in a coma for about a month and a week." King Max started to explain.
"A month!?" The blue hedgehog loudly reacted. "I've never been out of action for that long before! Where is everybody? And what about Naugus or Eggman? Shouldn't they have attacked by now? Were any Chaos Emeralds found yet? I don't know what's even happenin' anymore!"
"Sonic, please try and remain calm. If you wish for me to explain what has been happening in your absence, you must keep your composure." King Max said in a calm but direct manner.
"Calm," Sonic repeated, nodding his head as he took smaller breaths to control his erratic behavior. "Right. Calm. I-I can do calm."
"Obviously." King Max remarked with an eyebrow raised, then continued, "Fortunately as you slumbered, neither Robotnik nor Naugus has been active since your battle on South Island."
The name of his home caused Sonic to flinch at the concept of his former home being destroyed along with its inhabitants. Perhaps, it hadn't truly sunk in the boy yet.
"...Right," Sonic trailed off as his ears dropped down. "...that. Good to know, I guess."
"My condolences for the loss of your home and island." King Max said with a slight bow, before raising his head up again to speak. "Unfortunately, the aftermath has not been stellar, given the reactions of the Mobian Alliance and citizens of the United Federation. Many people do share our sentiment in regards to the incident, but others were not as sympathetic."
"What? I don't follow…" Sonic expressed, now furrowing both of his brows. "...I ain't the one to ask for pity, but what do the others have to say about…that?"
"To put it bluntly, lad, they blame you for South Island's destruction." King Max replied honestly.
Sonic's frame had frozen in place. His pupils dilated as his skin paled in horror.
"...They what?" Sonic whispered, completely crushed at such a notion being placed on him.
King Max sighed before elaborating, saying, "It is a complicated matter, son. But to keep it simple, there is a small but vocal majority of both Overlanders and Mobians that has placed a significant portion of the blame onto you. Namely for your inability to find a permanent method of dealing with Dr. Robotnik."
"Y-You can't be serious!" Sonic blurted out, raising his voice. "What do these people expect me to do!? End the guy? Put him in the slammer? Come on! I'm no murderer, and I wouldn't be caught dead wearin' a pig's cop badge!"
"Composure, lad, composure." King Max repeated to the Hero of Mobius, reminding him of his promise.
"Right, right. Gotta keep it calm," Sonic reminded himself before maintaining his composure once again. "...Okay, I'm good."
"In regards to your query concerning the Gems of Miracle, we currently only possess three of them, the one you acquired in Sand Blast City, the one given to you by Ms. Simone and the one currently in the possession of the Black Wind himself." King Max explained.
"Black Wind? So, Shadow's here, too?" Sonic repeated as a question.
King Max clarified, "He's been here for quite some time. In fact, he and his colleagues arrived at your former home in the nick of time and saved you from the brink of death."
"Heh. I guess there was no keepin' Rouge and Omega out of the party either. Oh well. We could use all the help we can get if we wanna take those two creeps down and end the war." Sonic commented with an excited grin.
-"Yes, when the time comes, we will need you on the frontlines of this war." King Max said with a sigh. "However, as you have no doubt noticed, your leg won't be moving for a short while."
"Yeah. I won't lie to you, it's a bummer." Sonic said in a depressed state. "But, what doesn't kill me will only make me stronger, ya know? Not to worry, though. I got a crazy healing factor. Once this heals up, I'll be up and runnin' again-"
"Enough." King Max said bluntly, interrupting Sonic before taking a deep breath. "It appears that being indirect with you was a mistake, and I apologize for that in advance. Sonic the Hedgehog, by the power vested in me as the King of Acornia and in accordance with the Royal Council, your status as a member of the Freedom Fighters has been revoked."
"...What?" Was all that an utterly stunned Sonic could say.
"Your membership has been revoked, Sonic. Recently, it's been brought to our attention that your mental state has been questionable as of late, and given the events and situations you have witnessed, we have concerns that your state of mind is on a decline. With this information in mind, we have come to the conclusion that you no longer meet the required mental wellness and do not possess the mental fortitude needed to suit the role of a Freedom Fighter."
"Mental wellness, fortitude? What are you tryin' to say? That I'm crazy? Do I look like I need a shrink?" Sonic said, not liking what was being told about his mind. "Look, I know that I messed up! And I'm definitely not goin' to pretend that it wasn't all on me. Hell, I don't even blame you for essentially benching me for my injury, but to go so far as to tell me that I'm screwed in the head? There's nothing wrong with me there! I'm fine!"
"And yet all evidence to the contrary, lad, there's nothing fine about you or your situation, on a mental, physical, and societal level." The king retorted as his patience with the young Mobian hedgehog began to grow thin. "Let us be completely honest with ourselves with your current predicament. With South Island gone, you have no home or property to truly call your own, and the passing of Harvey Who and his wife means you no longer have any legal guardian to speak of either, which given that you're still a minor in the court of law, would be considered quite alarming and concerning for not only any authority figures but also parents in general On the financial side of things, all of the assets would have been you would holding on to physically has been utterly decimated by the flames of the burning island along with any of the local inhabitants and any visitors that had the unfortunate experience of spending their last day there."
"So I've lost my home and my belongings. Yeah, that blows! But I'm here! Still breathing! I'm not insane! Why cast me aside when there's still work to do? I don't have time to sit on the sidelines where there's a literal war criminal in cahoots with a demented sorcerer on the loose who could do what he did to my island to the kingdom or any other place on the planet! Come on, you know that I'm needed with my friends and can't leave them behind! I have to be on the front lines, sire!
"Excuse you! Who are you to assume that your friends can't survive without you?" Asked King Max, who was glaring at the boy's erratic behavior. "Honestly, I cannot tell if this is arrogance or you being absurdly delusional. It was your friends mind you that agreed to this plan. Ironically, it was young Miles who was the most vocal out of all of them, a testament to just how far Amadeus and Rosemary's boy has matured all of these years if it's him of all Mobians coming to this conclusion."
"...Even Tails was in on this?" Sonic whispered to himself as he scratched the back of his head in confusion and hurt. "What, are people just havin' meetin's behind my back now these days? Am I not trustworthy to hear how they feel about me? What did I ever do to them?"
"None of this would have been necessary if you were more upfront and honest about your feelings and trauma, Sonic. We could have figured something out together rather than scheme behind your back, but you were too focused on the needs of others, too focused on distractions and misguided ideals to simply take the time to process and come to terms with one simple and honest truth." King Max explained, his tone more hardened and assertive.
"Yeah? And what's that?" Sonic asked, not hiding the growing bitterness of the situation in his face and tone.
King Max leaned in towards Sonic, looking at him straight in the eyes with an undeterred gaze.
"That no matter how much you claim to be free, to possess true autonomy and to be unbound by laws or nations, you, like everyone else, answers to someone higher. You believe in the notion that by not following the rules and by choosing to follow your own path, regardless of the greater consequences, that this makes you free. But all I see are the actions of a lawless hooligan and anarchist who refuses to establish where their loyalties lie." King Max verbally deconstructed without a filter of any kind. "Which is an act of childish cowardice, I may add."
Sonic remained silent while feeling a white-hot rage boil from the blunt response of the ruler. Even though, deep down, he knew that Sally's father was correct. This had been a problem for a very long time for the blue hedgehog, but he chose to remain willfully ignorant and decided to chase adrenaline as an excuse to try and outrun his troubles in life.
But now, he can no longer do so. And thus, the accumulation of past regrets and mistakes had started to catch up with him.
After staying silent for a minute, Sonic asked slowly without looking into the king's eyes, "...So what happens now?"
"Now, young lad, comes the hard part. You have a chance to get your position as a Freedom Fighter reinstated, one that you cannot afford to waste, Sonic. Recovering your injuries from your fight with that mechanical monstrosity is minuscule compared to the work that must be done on your mind and emotional state. Firstly, a psychological diagnosis to determine the specific conditions plaguing your mind, even if one of them is clear as day. Once a diagnosis is given, you will be expected to attend mandatory therapy sessions, both one on one and group to help you learn to open up with your comrades in fieldwork. During this time, you will be assigned a therapy Mobini of your choosing to keep you company and for obvious reasons if the name didn't give it away." King Max explained to the passive-aggressive hedgehog.
"Right. These conditions aren't negotiable anyway, so what do I have to lose?" Sonic snarked sardonically. "Guess I'll have to play along with the cards that I have been dealt."
"Good, we understand one another then." King Max with a nod, before taking out an envelope and handing it to Sonic.
Sonic took the envelope with a stamp that read as "copy", tilting his head with a hint of curiosity before asking, "Huh? What's this supposed to be? A check or somethin'?"
"As of now, you are a citizen of the kingdom of Acornia, and that certificate you're holding is proof of your citizenship, signed by me and the Parliament of Acorn." King Max replied.
"...Hmph. Neat." Sonic said before opening it up and gazing at its contents, only to react to something in mild annoyance by smacking his lips. "...What's with the whole preferred name crap? For like the twentieth time, my name is Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog."
"No it isn't." King Max said, folding his hands behind his back. "Sonic the Hedgehog is the pseudonym Harvey Who gave you when he found you all those years ago on South Island, unaware of the legal name you were given upon birth. Your alias might be recognized by the public, but not by the court of law. Technically speaking, there is no Sonic the Hedgehog, he never existed. That is, until today."
Sonic let out an exasperated sigh but relented on the matter.
'...At least the name is still there. That counts for something, I guess.' Sonic thought to himself before putting the contents of the envelope away.
"...Okay, you win." Sonic stated as he laid his head down, mentally weary of the conversation. "Guess even a guy like me can't beat the royal stronghold of a lordin' king's order. You know, with ya people servin' under you and all."
"Is that what you think that I am? Some authoritarian aristocrat who flaunts his status and lords over the people?" King Max asked with an eyebrow raised.
Looking in his direction, Sonic shrugged, saying, "Well, I wouldn't go that far. You seem pretty cool despite certain events taking place. But what else am I supposed to think when I think of a monarch or an emperor? I haven't got the chance to read that Knights of the Roundtable book that Sally told me about as a reference to make, but I'm pretty sure that's what a king does…right?"
"Yet again, my boy, you still have much to learn, especially in matters that you have no comprehension of. Had your parents survived and raised you as a Mobian royal like you should have been, then you would understand that the people do not serve me, rather I serve them. For without my people, Oliver, I and this kingdom, am nothing" King Max said as he turned towards the doorway and left. "Good day."
Sonic listened to the king leaving the room, processing the revelations and the words of the king. It was official. His old life was over. The guy can't run physically, emotionally, and psychologically. He may have a new residency, but his freedom had been stripped from him. Sonic had an official agency, but couldn't support his comrades' old and new his own way. It sucked for the teenager, feeling that his old way of life was ultimately wrong. It infuriated him to no end…
…Yet it was his old way of living and thinking that had cost him South Island and its inhabitants.
Maybe, this was a sign for the boy. Of what exactly, the emerald-eyed Mobian had no idea.
But one thing was for certain, things have changed and it's only going to get more complicated from here.
Closing his eyes, Sonic decided to rest his eyes and his mind, not looking forward to the old wounds that he'll have to dig up as his leg continues the slow recovery process.
To Be Continued…
Authors Note:
Hey, everyone! DSG451's back with the first chapter of Summer 2023!
First off, I'd like to give a shoutout to my good friend, UltimateDemonBeast65 for helping me with this chapter and the story overall!
Secondly, I like to state that while Rotor still sports his look as his Pre-Genesis Wave counterpart, he is now as jacked as his Post-Genesis Wave counterpart.
Let me explain the new inclusion and reworking of pre-existing characters for the sake of the new alternate universe/continuity of RESURGENCE.
Firstly, there are three that are a part of the Royal Council. Dulcy was a dragon that assisted the Freedom Fighters in Sonic SatAM. She also existed in the Pre-Genesis and Post-Genesis Wave runs of the Archie Comics. Dulcy's design here is based on her Post-Genesis Wave, though she does have the ability to turn into a full Eastern dragon form. She is older than the Knothole Freedom Fighters, but considerably younger than Sir Charles and King Max's generation. I'd say she is around Lupe's age. Dulcy's birth name is Miru, a Korean word meaning "dragon". Dulcy was chosen to be on the Royal Court as her mother, Sabrina, and she were refugees after their home in the kingdom of Azuron was destroyed during the Great War thanks to Naugus the Dark. Being raised there for quite, Sabrina was one of the older members of the orphaned youth that would later become the Knothole Freedom Fighters after losing her mother in the coup. After Naugus' initial defeat, Dulcy aided in the restoration of the kingdom. She would be later selected to be a part of the Royal Council of the Parliament.
Clove the Pronghorn was a character in the Post-Genesis Wave continuity who served under Dr. Eggman as one of his Eggbosses. Here, she is a young member of the Royal Council in the Acornian Parliament. Does she still have a sister (Cassia)? Yes. Has she been cybernized? No. Clove's full name in this continuity is Clover Evergreen. She may be considered a different character with a different life in RESURGENCE, she still retains her calm, calculating, and confident personality. She also is a diplomat, much like Sally hereself but could end up coming off as smug if and when she is often debating with other people.
Finally, there is Lanolin the Sheep, who hails from the ongoing IDW comics. After her hometown was attacked, Lanolin was determined to never feel helpless or let anybody else be caught in the same predicament, Lanolin would join the Restoration during the Metal Virus incident, then eventually be a part of the newly reformed Diamond Cutters. In Sonic RESURGENCE, she, along with Clove, was one of the few survivors that went to safe havens during the coup and lived in sanctuaries until Sally defeated Naugus and forced him into hiding for the time being. When King Max returned, she helped rebuild the kingdom and was elected to be a part of the nation's Parliament as a member of the Royal Court.
Now, there an obscure character that I've added from the Archie Comics that have made an appearance here. That being Sasha Cat, or more specifically her Light Mobius counterpart from the future. I used this version and her occupation to fill the needed slot of a need for a news anchor for New Mobotropolis. So, here she is, known as Sasha Corneila of Channel 11 News.
Let's move on to something else. Why have Shadow and Knuckles guarded Sonic? Well, there's a deeper meaning behind this. Knuckles feels indebted to Sonic, in a sense. Sonic has saved his island and helped retrieved the Master Emerald a couple of times, something that he couldn't exactly do on his own with the little experience Knuckles had of the outside world. And as the echidna continued interacting with Sonic, he started to form a kinship or a brotherly bond with Sonic. So, you can imagine how he felt when he found out what had Metal done to him and South Island. As for Shadow, the events of Adventure 2, Heroes, and Shadow the Hedgehog have spurred a growth of maturity within him in his outlook on life as a whole. When it comes to his relationship with Sonic, there has been mutual respect between both hedgehogs. But when they merged into Shadic and separated back into two beings once more, Shadow grew to respect Sonic further because he and the blue adventurer were one and the same and shared each other's experiences. Thus, his need to protect him was warranted.
What does King Max mean when he called Sonic an anarchist? Okay, remember that RESURGENCE Sonic may sound like his SatAM/Archie counterparts in terms of his dialect, but he very much is based on his SEGA/Japanese counterpart. Japanese Sonic's personality is described to have a strong sense of justice, and being irreverent to authority. With his speed and being an orphan for the most part, Sonic tends to run around and practically do whatever he pleases without any boundaries. And whenever any sort of law enforcement would try to place boundaries on Sonic, he shrugs the cops off and leaves them in the dust without a care in the world about the consequences. In this AU, Sonic does particularly like police officers, particularly GUN, referring to them as pigs. Having next to no regard for the governing body, Sonic subconsciously believes that he has no master and roams around anywhere that the wind takes him. And with his incredible powers, Sonic is seen as a potential threat if he one day decides to cut loose and conquer the world. Not to mention that his reckless actions could cause more problems to others over time.
For those who are wondering about Dr. Eggman or Naugus the Dark's whereabouts, they are both still around and are plotting something big, but UDB65 and I haven't exactly figured something out for what they could be doing yet before the climax of the war when the seven Chaos Emeralds have been collected. We would need time to brainstorm. I'm always open to suggestions, so feel free to leave them in a review or PM me.
There will be more chapters to come. I'd like to thank all of you for sticking around while this story was on hiatus. So, I humbly ask those who are interested to stay a while longer as the saga continues. See you guys next time!
-DarkShadowGames451