Tale of Two Brothers

Hey peeps, I don't own anything related to Sonic or his universe, that's SEGA and all other companies relevant to the creation of his various back-stories, and even though most of them have tanked it now that is besides the point.. Honestly, I actually own very little in this fic (next to nothing to be exact) but this is my story and even though I am using characters from Archie, DiC and SEGA I will be fleshing many of them out because they were only 2-dimensional so in many ways they will appear very OC.. Hopefully you'll beat with me! Anyway, I've bored you enough so enjoy... And let me know what you think!

Reviews:

Zany the Nerd: I am so sorry, I have been absent for over a year and yeh, my house search and move got in the way. Most of the DIY is done and I am ready to write again.. Hopefully you'll still be reading..

FerrumFaustus: A character's story is really important I would never kill anyone for punishment or just for the sake of it. I have noticed that too in other stories it's a sign of poor story structure and that is really important to me, so much more than spelling and grammar. They can be forgiven if the story structure is solid..

astroshadow: Thanks... I'm glad you enjoy it..

Slayer666: I believe they abolished the sword for safety reasons. It is amazing the things they have changed over the years..

MJ dancer and Sonic fan: You really dance like MJ? That's cool if true, I like some of his stuff.. And yes, I found it hard to believe his speed was a freak of nature it made more sense to me if it was a genetic family trait. Jules is also very strong like Sonia, it has come up a few rare times..

Apologies for taking so long to update I have moved house in the last year and a few stresses have left me with a lot of writers block over the last year. Hopefully these will settle over 2016 and I can finish this story for all my loyal readers who will hopefully forgive me for my absence..

Chapter 27: Fighting for the Future

...Three months later...

The furious battle that had once raged Mobotroplis seemed to have reached a stand-still, the once heavy artillery had silenced.. For the moment it seemed. After facing off against Warlord Kintobor's badnink squad the Overlanders were forced to remain in the lower downtown of Mobotroplis. Although it was good that their advancements had been ceased for the moment it had left the fate of many mobians unknown.. The Overlanders had switched tactics now. After realising that a direct attack was now no longer working they had splintered from the main assault group into smaller troops and were working the downtown area, planning to gain multiple access and trying to confuse their mutant enemy.

The response from the Mobian Army had been swift.

The main units remained aggressive in pursuit of the Overlanders and had, at Warlord Kintobor's orders, had been sending scout troops to seek out a way behind enemy lines and surprise them from behind. While Warlord Kintobor seemed to be firmly in the control seat of battle keeping his spectacle-covered eyes on the war ahead Warlord Kodos seemed to have retreated somewhat into the background.

His real interest was the safety of the royal family and their security.

The mobian-lion had managed to convince King Ogilvie the Third to sign conscription meaning that now, by royal decree, every able-bodied Mobian was to stand and fight against the Overlanders in the name of King and country. The Mobian Council was disbanded leaving full control of affairs in the hands of King Ogilvie himself. The Royal Guard had also been disbanded and instantly transferred over to the Mobian Army, in their place was SWATbots of Warlord Kintobor's, cold metal sentries who were built and designed specifically to protect the royals using both visual and retinal scanning to identify them.

While King Ogilvie accepted them his daughter Princess Aleena was less than impressed with them. She had always liked the personal touch and warmth that came with living guards, especially since the male she loved had been a guard himself. The blonde-quilled Royal hedgehog had tried her hardest to stomach them but the princess disliked them immensely. She just couldn't find herself able to put her faith in these metal sentries, especially since they were good at impending her from leaving the palace. She had not heard from Jules since his knighthood and had become quite distressed as she had believed that this would be the end of their issues. No-one not even the royal court could stop her from being with her beloved knight now.. But she had not heard a word from him and she was worried. Where was he? What was he doing now?

"Take cover!" The loud voice of Colonel Tiger Stripes roared across the battlefield of Mobotroplis Central Park and the huge number of soldiers retreated from the mass bombs raining down on the city park where Jules Hedgehog had had his first secret date with Princess Aleena. Seeing the once beautiful lush greenery and breathtaking landscape blown apart by air strikes brought a painful lump to the twenty-one year old hedgehog.

"Come on Charles!" Jules roared seizing his brother and wrenching him away from their now broken radio. The cobalt lieutenant held onto his newest communications officer and raced towards the bomb shelter, the former subway station on third.

"But the radio.." Charles started finding himself hauled away from the bombs flying towards them.

"Is replaceable! You are not!" Jules bellowed over the noise of bombardment around them as he ducked and weaved through the blasts towards the shelter, the heavy doors clanging shut behind them. The deafening noise of the of the bombs as they ripped the city apart was lessened as they moved into the overcrowded subway.

"How long do you think the blasts will last?" Charles asked his younger brother and commanding officer unsurely, looking worried.

"Hard to say Charlie, I'm pretty sure we aren't going to be able to go back out that way either. We'll be slaughtered if we do. The moment those bombs stop they will send in their foot soldiers to sweep us out.." His older brother's pale blue eyes widened at Jules' hushed words. The subway around them was in an eerie silent as they listened to the dying noise outside with bated breath.

"That's horrible.." Charles sounded appalled, he had only joined the army and his brother's ranks in the last few weeks. This was his first field assignment and he was already terrified beyond belief. The former Minister of Science had found it difficult to accept that somebody would actually want to kill him for no logical reason whatsoever..

"Welcome to my world brother.." Jules replied grimly before pushing his way towards Colonel Stripes and General Prower who was stood only a few feet away. "Sir, we can't stay here much longer. Please tell me you have a plan!" The cobalt hedgehog hissed looking somewhat anxious and restless about the lack of noise now above them.

"We have female scouts already out trying to find us a safe passage and should be hearing from them soon.'' The white and silver-striped tiger responded briskly to his friend, he liked being a sitting target as much as Jules did.

"Sir!" Immediately the sound of a female voice made the boys look around as two female soldier pushed their way to towards their commanding officers. One was taller with black and white cat-mobian with piercing blue eyes the other was a red-headed chipmunk with soft brown fur and bright sapphire eyes.

"We've found a safe way to double-back and take Overlanders by surprise." Coca Cat continued seriously. "They already have a small ground unit out to sweep us out. We believe that the bomb fire was just a distraction.."

"That wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.." General Amadeus Prower sighed.

"Sir, this could be a great chance to strike back, we should take it." Tiger said to his superior as Amadeus stroked his white-furred chin.

"With out numbers we can easily overpower them with an ambush and have the upper hand." Alicia Acorn added flicking her long red ponytail back over her shoulder and holding her weapon securely. The red-headed chipmunk had always been tough and level-headed but army life had calmed her, giving her more discipline and as a quick study she was quick to learn combat skills.

"And you can guide us close enough to strike?" The golden-furred fox asked his female cadets.

"Absolutely. We got in pretty close and they didn't even notice us.." Alicia added keenly.

"This sounds like to good a chance to pass up!" Jules said looking excited. "We should take it.." Tiger Stripes nodded in agreement.

"He's right General, we may not get another chance like this again. What do you say?" The white and silver-striped tiger was looking to Amadeus who gave the orders.

"Alright, alright. Stripes, assemble the troops. Hedgehogs, back with your unit.." As Jules and Charles pushed their way back to rejoin the rest of the Knothole Dandies Tiger Stripes called for attention before calling out the orders.

"Alright girls. We're ready for you to show us the way." Tiger Stripes said standing beside a sombre looking Amadeus Prower.

"Just follow us boys." Coca Cat smiled serenely. Immediately the girls began guiding the soldiers down the abandoned subway track to the right location.

"It's a sneak attack!" The commanding Overlander roared as the mobian soldiers burst out of the sewer drain and began a charge. "You think you mutants will prevail? Your just primitively freaks of nature!"

"That's what you think!" Tiger Stripes roared over the gun fire, narrowly missing a bullet as it whizzed passed him and unfortunately it fired straight into Amadeus Prower's right eye causing the golden-furred fox-mobian to cry out and fall to the ground.

"Amadeus!" A cry from the ranks made every one of the mobian soldiers turn and momentarily look at their unconscious general who was now bleeding as a few medics from different units immediately fashioned a stretcher and bandaged his head, pulling him away. In that moment it hit all those fighting that this wasn't just about the war and protecting the city, this was about their very existence. Immediately there was an angry cry from a lot of the soldiers as their general had been well liked within their ranks. As the Overlanders and Mobians clashed weapons in their first hand-to-hand combat the fighting was vicious as both sides fought for their own survival..

The battle progressed slowly but one by one the Overlander soldiers began to fall, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the Mobians taking them on. Knowing that his side was losing the commanding Overlander made a mad dash for the grate that the mobians had used to surprise his ground troops.

"Hey!" Alicia screeched giving chase with Cocoa Cat rushing to her aid. "Stop!"

"That'll be the day..." The red-headed human snorted. "I would never listen to witless female freaks like you!" He then jumped through the grate and dashed off through the sewers deep into the bowels city alone.

"Dammit!" Coca screeched out in annoyance.

"Maybe he'll get lost, it's like a maze down there. We had to use city hall's plans just to navigate our way here.." Alicia sounded hopefully.

"Hmph. He better pray he gets lost.." The white and black cat growled angrily as the other mobian soldiers.

It was late into the night of the hospital wing of Hedgington Hall before Doctor Quack came out of surgery to find Maximillion Acorn, his wife Alicia, Rose Prower and Jules Hedgehog all looking concerned and hopeful for news on Amadeus' condition.

"How is my husband doctor?" The red-headed female fox sounded wiping her wet eyes and looking terrified by what she might hear. Both she and the former Mayor of Mobotroplis had been stationed at another point of the city when Amadeus Prower had been shot but had rushed instantly towards the makeshift hospital in Hedgington Hall. The King of Mobius had allowed a temporary hospital be set up in his own home ever since Mobotroplis General Hospital had been lost in battle along with Emerald Abbey the old cathedral that had held every Royal wedding since the first Lord Hedgington had married Princess Sophia Hedgehog.

"Amadeus is stable and resting comfortably for now.." The white-feathered duck-doctor took Rose Prower's hands and petted them. "But we were unable to save his right eye, the bullet went straight through his corn is and lens, burying itself in the back of his eyeball. We had no choice but to remove it, luckily his socket has remained in tact."

"I see.." Rose replied gently glancing back at her family and friends. "May I see him?"

"Of course. But you may wish to keep it brief. He is still a little out of it from the anaesthetic and needs to rest.." Doctor Quack said pityingly. "Now if you'll excuse me I have other patients in need of my attention." He then moved away to converse with a colleague from the hospital who had just come out of a nearby room. Both of them were wearing grave expressions and Doctor Quack took the medical notes nodding and moved inside the room where his colleague had just been.

"You best see him on your own Rose.." Max said with an encouraging smile.

"And send him our love." Alicia added gently clinging to her husband, her facial fur still dirty from the war earlier.

It was at this moment that movement caught Jules' eye and his head turned to see Princess Aleena came out the very room where Doctor Quack had gone in a few moments before. He hadn't seen the princess in a few months as he had been to busy fighting in the war against the Overlanders, his heart still skipped a beat at the sight of her and swelled in his chest despite the fact that she was so forlorn looking. Curious as to why she was crying into a handkerchief Jules left Max and Alicia Acorn who were embraced in each other's arms waiting for Rose Prower to return so they could go home. Everything seemed to move slower than normal as he made his way across the crowded hospital wing towards the blonde-quilled princess as she continued to weep.

"Hey, are you ok princess?" He asked gently, reaching out a had and placing it on her shoulder causing the blonde-quilled hedgehog to turn in surprise and widen her emerald green eyes.

"Oh. Jules.." Princess Aleena sniffed before suddenly clinging to his shoulders burying her face in his chest. "I'm so glad your here.. I-it's Marie... It's s-so awful.." She was crying again, nuzzling her face into his dirty army uniform as she held him close seeking comfort. Through the open door of the room, that Jules now realised that housed Marie D'Coolette, he could see Armand stood looking sombre as Doctor Quack seemed to be talking to him serious about his wife's condition. He assumed little Antoine was in the arms of his mother.

"What's wrong with her Aleena?" The cobalt blue hedgehog asked stroking her quills as he held her close.

"She's been diagnosed with N.I.D.S.." Aleena sobbed trembling in his arms and Jules felt a pit in his stomach. It was the same disease his mother had died of. There was no cure. "It's terminal. She only has a few months left.."

"I'm so sorry Aleena.." Jules nuzzled Aleena tenderly continuing to hold her close. "My mother died of that disease too. I wasn't old enough to really remember but I know on some level how it can devastate lives.." He stroked her fringe back and kissed her forehead.

"S-she was like a mother to me.. B-but it's Antoine I feel sorry for.. He'll never know his mother.." Aleena turned her head up to look at the cobalt hedgehog through teary green eyes.

"Yes he will.." Jules crooned stroking her cheek gently. "He will have you and Armand and your father to tell him all about her.." He rocked gently on the spot with her in his arms. "Through you he will know her and how much she loved him. It's not the same... but he will still love her, trust me.." The princess seemed to calm slightly in his arms.

"Your right.. She'll never be forgotten in the hearts of those who knew her best." Princess Aleena smiled up at him serenely. "Jules, it has been so long since I have seen you.. How have you been?"

"Heh, fighting for my life.." The cobalt blue hedgehog smirked lightly before he turned serious. "Actually I was just here because Amadeus Prower was shot in action out on the battlefield today. You remember he was always a friend as well as my superior.."

"Oh no.. Is he ok?" Princess Aleena immediately asked looking worried once more.

"He's lost his right eye but he's ok other than that. Heh he can wear a patch like Argus since he lost his left eye trying to defend the hospital from being blown apart.." Jules replied lightly looking sombre.

"This war is ruining everything.. Do you really think we can prevail?" Aleena asked him looking worried. "Half the city has been decimated thousands of lives have been lost.. I pray every day that you are not amongst them.." She stood at her full height, only coming up to the cobalt hedgehog's chin turning her nude lips towards his cobalt ear and whispering. "Julius.. I still love you with all my heart.. I've missed you so.." The princess turned her head towards him once more and sighed breathing in his scent..

"Aleena, I love you too.." Jules replied softly, holding her close once more and softly kissing her lips in compassion. "We'll find some way to prevail, I promise you that.."

In the throne room King Ogilvie the Third was stood with Warlord Kintobor.

"Our boys on the field did a terrific job of seeing off those invading Overlanders. Unfortunately for us however the survivors are now scattered in the ruins of downtown Mobotroplis. And one of your camera probes took a picture of their leader somewhere in the bowels of our sewer system which is very troubling indeed.." The green-quilled Royal hedgehog's maroon eyes left the picture of the red-headed human and passed it to Ivo Kintobor. He took the picture and raised it to his spectacled eyes to see it. Immediately the large human scientist gave a slight start at seeing the picture, almost dropping it..

...That's my brother Colin...

Catching himself before he could give away the fact that he recognised the man in the picture Ivo bristled his moustache and resumed a poker face of indifference as the King spoke again.

"What do you suppose the chances are of him escaping and biding his time, waiting for his next chance to strike?" King Ogilvie mused, scratching his clean-shaven chin and wondering just how much more his poor city could take before it fell into ruin. They had already lost some major landmarks as it was.

"They will fight until they have no breath left to fight with. If we don't destroy them they will destroy all of us.." Ivo Kintobor said sternly.

"I was afraid you would say something like that.." King Ogilvie sighed grimly as he clasped his hands behind his back thinking.

"Sire, I will see it that they will not succeed. In the time I have been warlord our forces have been successfully countering their attacks. We have a future in sight we just need one final push to secure it.." Doctor Ivo sounded his large gut wobbling a little as he punctuated his point by swinging his arm and grasping thin air with a large grin.

His words gave King Ogilvie the Third a start, his maroon eyes widening as an idea came to him.

"Securing a future..." The green-quilled King uttered mindlessly as his daughter came to the front of his mind. "Yes, Ivo you are absolutely right.. That is exactly what we need to do.."

Little Notes:

Hey! That's right... I'm back! I am so sorry for the super long absence from this story. As you may have noticed I have started the sequel to this story called: Secrets of the Past.. My hope was that this would jumpstart me into writing this story again and yes. It seems to have worked! Hopefully I can keep up a new pace as this story is now halfway, the war is close to finishing but the best is yet to come!

i wonder how many will still be following? Give me a holler!