A 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 bear with me! Anyway, I've bored you enough so enjoy... And let me know what you think!

Reviews:

DaydreamingDuma: Y'know, where it says "guest" in the top line you can change the name and write your own name. And yeh.. I find there are enough similarities between Scourge and Manic where it would work. And I'm actually a pretty big Shadow, Sonic and Scourge fan myself.. Sorry for the delay, been doing other things so half of this chapter basically got abandoned, thank Chaos for iCloud or it may have been lost forever..

ConstanceFinnigan: Where you have got to with this story is not important, as long as you are enjoying the story is all that does. Details are kind of important but I leave just enough out so that people can imagine things how they want.. I'm flattered you considered my version good enough to be canonised, that's nice.. I can only apologise for the year gap in writing this story..

Yanin15: I'm glad you like the brotherly relationship. It was always undersold by Ken Penders and Archie. Why even bother introducing Sonic's father if you were never going to give him any bonding time with Charles. It frustrated me to no end that we never saw Sonic pair up with his dad, uncle and possibly Tails to do some missions or even any kind of real family bonding.. And yes, I've been really struggling to find the time to commit to writing this story properly. Please forgive me as I feel that you guys deserve a properly thought out plot and not just some writing that I churned out in a rush that will never match up to the patience, time and effort that went into the ones before. I never forgot about this, I just couldn't find my mojo.. it's sad..

Guest: Ok, ok... Your excited. I hear you loud in clear, no need for the capitals... He's coming soon, promise..

Vikturi Davai: Um... You read to your family? Wow, really? Your serious... I have no idea how to take that, I'm just kinda stunned and flattered, I think.. And I'm sorry for the lack of updates between being busy and then falling out of the creative loop it has taken a long time to find the drive to write properly..

PumpkinSpiceHedgehog: I'm amazed you found it to be honest. I can never find the stories that I am looking for. I'm glad you still enjoy the story, a lot of stories I go back to i wonder why I liked them in the first place.. Most of the bigger plot turns are preplanned. The fact that Charles and Jules are distant relatives of Aleena and that they carry the true royal family name was the plan from the start. That was all based on Sonic Underground material while a lot of the Great War is from Archie's old material. I stopped making sense of Archie a long time ago, personally I think Sally and her crew need to be shelved myself. They are too dated and Archie should just focus on Sega characters now.. Anyway, a lot of people like Jules as Sonic is like him just as he was like his own mother Sonia. Their kindness and willingness to help others is a genetic maker passed on down from Theodore and Thomas. Though Sonic and Jules are similar they have different training and different areas of expertise. And a lot of people seem to like the blending of Aleena which I found surprising, I always thought i would be flamed for not picking one over the other but I really couldn't chose one. I loved them both. I would love to answer your all questions but then I really would ruin the story so I will just answer one, to keep you on your seat... No, Jules will not be a Robian, that's all I will say.. Haha, yeh. I notice that writing kids can be difficult for some, though I don't have any of my own I have plenty of friends that have kids. Some of Bunnie is actually based on my niece..

Another Cuteness Warning: This is a chapter features some more of the future freedom fighters as babies and tots..

Dedicated to anyone still following this... Kudos!

Chapter 33: The Sanctuary of Knothole..

"Oh Jules, would you look how close the stars are.." Aleena breathed softly from her sun-lounger as the the Hedgehog couple sat side by side looking up at the nights sky through the darkened canopy clearing of the Great Forest. Jules had moved the fold-away sun-loungers outside the back of their small wooden cabin home so that they could stargaze in peace. Usually Jules would have climbed the great oak tree growing slightly over his home and gaze from it's branches but his pregnant wife could never have made the jump, so for the moment he was ground bound. This did not bother the cobalt-blue hedgehog at the moment as his hand rested comfortably on his wife's now six month baby bump.

"Hmm.." Jules looked up through the trees to see what Aleena was talking about and sure enough amongst the billions of white dots three coloured stars sat almost in a perfect obtuse triangle with Manus and Sonus as the lower points and the pink star of Sonori sitting at the highest point. "So they are Ali, heh, looks like they might line up soon." He pulled his warm hand away from his wife's bump and lifted the flask of warm hot chocolate he had brought out and poured her a cup, handing it to her and screwing the cap back on to keep it warm.

"Thank you." The blonde-quilled hedgehog replied lightly taking a sip and pulling the blanket around her bump. "I heard that they are supposed to line up in a few of months time, that only happens once every few millenniums and that there is a solar eclipse happening around the due date of our twins birth."

"Really?" Jules blinked in surprise before smiling at his wife. "It's almost like the whole universe is screaming to get our attention. What do you think it means?" He kinked a brow studying her face in the darkened forest that was only lit by the faint glow of fireflies.

"I don't know.. Maybe there is something special about the two I'm carrying." His lilac-furred wife said gently petting her swollen bump tenderly.

"You mean other than the fact they will repair the Royal Hedgehog line as your father keeps reminding me.." Jules said in a slightly jaded tone signifying that he was already bored with the constant reminders from King Ogilvie on the subject. The Princess of Mobius smiled sympathetically with a soft sigh.

"My father is just excited to be a grandfather and yes, also about the fact that the family line is restored but it is not the most important thing. I love you for you, not because of our distant family connection. Your honest, brave and true.." She paused as a tender look crossed her face. "You have a big heart, any womobian would be grateful for a mobian like you, I just got lucky.." The lithe fingers of her free hand gripped his large hand comfortingly and gave it a squeeze.

"Aw.. I love you too." The cobalt-blue hedgehog replied narrowing his warm hazel eyes before sighing. "It just bothers me. Sometimes I think he believes that restoring greatness is the only reason he wanted me to marry you."

"You know that's not true, he has great respect for you, he told me that himself.." Aleena replied stroking her large round bump under the blanket covering it and her legs.

"He does?" Jules replied looking somewhat impressed. "Hmm, I just thought he saw me as a way to meet an end."

"Oh no, you mean more to my father than that. He just isn't good at expressing his inner feelings, it's been difficult for him since the death of my mother to open up to new mobians.. But he truly does care about you, that much I know." The lilac-furred hedgehog said before giving a slightly startled gasp and clutching her bump.

"Everything ok Ali?" Her cobalt husband said immediately taking her cup from her looking concerned.

"I felt a kick!" Aleena exclaimed brightly before adding, "Ooh! And another!"

"Whoa, really? Lemmie feel.." Jules responded immediately getting out of his seat and pressing a hand gently on either side on her bump then grinning as each hand was hit within only a few milliseconds. "Heh, they both have a pretty mean hit, maybe you'll be a hockey mom." He drawled with a playful smirk twisting his grin.

Aleena giggled at the thought.

"I don't think so. By that age you'll most likely be taking them. We're only staying here while the war is on going when it finishes father will be expecting us to return to the palace.." She replied pushing the long bangs of her soft blonde quills away from her face.

"Oh right.. Forgot about that.." Jules muttered as he moved his lounger right up beside his wife so he could stroke her bump fully without having to stretch out of his seat. "Heh, maybe I could convince a few guards to join us in a game, whadda you think?" He joked lightly as he cuddled his wife close continuing to rub her bump.

"Hmm, knowing you I bet you could convince a few.." His lilac-furred wife replied purring softly. There was a pause of silence as the young couple sat together continuing to gaze up at the peaceful nights sky listening to the crickets chirrup as fireflies glittered and danced around them.

"Come on Ali.. It's getting kinda chilly, let's get you inside now.." Jules said breaking the silence and getting out of his lounger and helping his pregnant wife up and guiding her inside..

A sharp kick hit Jules Hedgehog a few weeks later in the dead of night. His bloodshot hazel eyes only opened enough to make out the flashing numbers of the clock on the beside cabinet. A low irritable groan escaped his mouth at the ridiculously early time flashing back at him before he became aware of his wife's bump behind him. A second kick hit him from a different point in his back and his tired eyes rolled as an ungloved hand reached his stubbly chin and scratched with thick black nails. It seemed neither of his future hedgehoglets were asleep and they were determined to keep him awake with them. This seemed to be the norm from the moment these two could kick he had been losing sleep ever since.

Why did they always want attention in the middle of the night?

Yawning heavily the exhausted cobalt hedgehog rolled over finding the bleary sight of his sound asleep wife slightly irritating. It was amazing how his twins were already masters in keeping daddy awake without disturbing mommy in the slightest. Aleena looked peaceful as her quills sat slightly mussed-up, mostly due to the tossing and turning she had done trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. In those moments Jules pitied her. It couldn't be easy trying to sleep with two babies growing inside of her but pity was not what he felt right now, he was jealous of the fact that she was able to sleep through their kicking assault. But then the cobalt-hedgehog guessed this was only fair. She got to deal with them while she was awake so he got to deal with them now, in the dead of night..

Perfect... Just perfect...

Jules yawned heavily and this earned him a double-kick from both twins inside the huge bump now resting against his abdomen.

"Alright... Settle down there little guys.." He murmured sleepily as he rested both hands against his wife's baby bump. "Mission... accomplished.. Daddy is awake, thanks for that..." He let out a long tired sigh as he rubbed his hands in gentle circles. A small smile spread as he felt two little masses press against the bump under where his fingers were. "That's better.." He purred as the two masses seemed to move in a soft rubbing motion, purring along.. "Hmm, nice and settled..." A yawn escaped his mouth as his hazel eyes grew heavy and they closed, the smile still gracing his handsome muzzle as he fell back asleep with his hands remaining on his wife's bump.

"Ok Jules, be careful with that. We have no idea how old it really is.." Charles Hedgehog said as he followed his little brother down from the attic the following morning. This ancient old crib was the same baby crib that both of them had slept in a little over twenty years ago as well as being the same crib their father Maurice had slept in well over sixty years ago, the mild-blue hedgehog quirked a bushy pale-blue eyebrow as he considered this. "Y'know I am still amazed this crib was in the attic.."

"Why?" Jules replied looking around confused. "This family's worst habit is hoarding, we're all guilty of it including me and you. I mean look at all the stuff we threw out that dad left us after he died and we never really touched the attic.." The twenty-one year old added as he headed into his childhood bedroom with the ancient crib and setting it where his single bed used to be. They had dismantled that earlier and moved it into the attic for storage. Jules had given the room a fresh lick of paint after packing away his childhood belongings and storing them in the attic in carefully labelled boxes.

"That's a fair point.." Charles replied with a smile. "You and I are just as bad. You have all your music memorabilia and boxes of all your old clothes-"

"Hey, one day soon those will be vintage classics besides you have all your scientific junk.." Jules replied as he set out the cribs bedding then began unpacking some of the baby toys that their parents had managed to save from their toddler days.

"Right.." The older mild-blue hedgehog rolled his pale-blue eyes deciding not to point out that his inventions and scientific tools did not classify as 'junk'. "I could finish this if you want to go rest for a while, your looking tired Jules."

"Nah, it's fine Charlie-Boy.." Jules yawned once more and stretching. "I got two 'hoglets on the way, I better get used to very little sleep.."

"I will always be here to help out little brother, you know that.." The mild-blue hedgehog said warmly clapping his brother on the shoulder. "But you haven't slept right in days, you need to rest. You'll be no good to your wife if your half asleep, or General Prower if he calls with a new mission."

"Alright, fine... You made your point.." Jules yawned heavily once more feeling the effects of his tiredness even more now.

"Oh my..." Aleena's silvery well-mannered voice exclaimed in amazement as she gazed around the newly decorated baby room. "Doesn't it look wonderful in here, you boys have truly outdone yourselves the twins couldn't have a better room to start out life.." She pet her large bump before noticing her husband's exhausted visage. "Goodness Jules, you must lay down and rest. You look completely worn out.." The blonde-quilled princess said as she stroked his muzzle and pushed her baby bump into him. Jules sighed wearily at his wife's gentle words and rubbed her unusually still bump, the twins inside must be sleeping.

"Yeh, Charlie-Boy here just pointed that out too." He muttered nuzzling her tenderly.

"Come then, let's get you to bed to rest my darling." Aleena crooned gently as she slipped her arms around his middle and gently began trying to guide him out of the twins' room. She only got him as far as the doorway before her cobalt-quilled husband turned them around to the room.

"But I still have to finish-" He started before his wife shooshed him gently, placing a lithe finger on his full peach lips.

"I'm sure your brother would be a dear and finish off the twins' nursery." She then turned back to the mild-blue elder Hedgehog brother fluttering her long eyelashes adding softly. "Will that be acceptable Charles?"

"Huh? Oh sure, I can finish up here it's just placing furniture.." Charles replied lightly with a smile. "Have a good nap Jules.." He added vaguely shooing his brother away with a free hand as he continued to make up the cribs.

"Yeh.. Thanks bro." The cobalt hedgehog replied sighing as he realised that he would not win against both his brother and wife. He simply just gave in and allowed his blonde-quilled wife to pull him out of his former bedroom and into the one he now shared with her. The moment the door closed the lilac-furred female with blonde quills pulled her husband's lips to hers kissing him sweetly while gently removing his red sleeveless jacket.

"Come on, into bed.." She murmured once the kiss was broken then allowed her husband to lie down on his side of the bed and settle his head against the pillows. Jules exhaled lightly, his tired eyes already drooping a little.

"Rest well my love.." Aleena smiled stroking his stubbly muzzle with her tiny hand. "Perhaps when you wake you will consider a shave.." She added with a slight pout at the scratchy feel of his chin.

"Heh, sure thing darlin'.." Jules drawled then yawned heavily before his eyes closed, his exhaustion pulling him into sleep. Aleena stroked her large almost seven month bump before heaving herself up from the bed and out of their room so that their unborn twins could not disturb his rest..

The sound of voices caught Jules' attention as he dragged the sharp blade of the cut-throat razor across his chin, his cobalt brow frowned as he paused from his shave to try to distinguish the voices. He recognised his own brother's instantly along with his wife's but the third was higher, like a kiton's voice. It was too deep to be little Scarlett or even baby Sally's but at this moment there were no other kitons in Knothole. The Great War had frightened many of its occupants away despite the Dandies' success in keeping the small hamlet hidden from the Overlanders. Though it seemed that their attention was firmly focused on trying to conquer Mobotroplis and no doubt, assassinate the King.

Returning his hazel eyes to the reflection of himself and swiftly shaving what was left of his prickly bristles, rinsing his muzzle and slapping on his witch-hazel balm then massaging it in. He quickly dressed in his red sleeveless vest, white sport socks and maroon-red combat boots before heading out of the master bedroom to see what the commotion was about.

"Mousieur Jules! Mousieur Jules!" The tiny coyote-tower squealed out in joy and rushed upstairs to the cobalt hedgehog and instantly wrapped his arms around the adult hedgehog's waist.

"Oh, hey Ant!" Jules wrapped his arms around the small body embracing him, looking surprised to see the coyote-pup. "When did you get here?"

"About half an hour ago. You do remember we agreed to shelter him from the war for a couple of weeks, right?" Aleena's voice sounded sweetly drawing Jules' hazel eyes to her as she stood at the bottom of the stairs. "It was your idea. To let him experience life just being a kit and let Armand ."

"Oh. Right, yeh. Was that happening today?" Jules let go of Antoine and descending the last of the stairs. "I thought we still had to figure out where is he going to sleep?" The cobalt hedgehog asked curiously, a small frown forming at this conundrum. They had just completed the twins' nursery, perhaps too some it seemed..

Aleena giggled girlishly at him, covering her mouth with a dainty hand.

"Charles said he can sleep in his room and he'll stay in the basement, he practically stays down there anyway.." The blonde-quilled female hedgehog replied before looking slightly unsure if that really was a suitable arrangement.

"Oh. Well if Charlie-Boy is sure about that then fine, the camp bed is down there anyway.." Jules scooped up Antoine grinning once more, this would save him looking for an answer.. "It'll be good practise for when our two appear.." He added to his wife.

"Mhm, only a few months now.." Aleena said with a soft serene smile, both hands stroking the sides of her bump. She had learnt early on that she needed to pay both twins equal attention because the other would not be happy if it did not receive the same attention. They seemed to have a natural sibling rivalry ingrained already.

"Can we be playing with Mademoiselle Scarlet this day?" Antoine asked with a curious smile, clinging to the collar of Jules' red vest.

"Sure thing bud, but we'll grab a grilled cheese before we go over. I dunno about you but I am starved." The cobalt hedgehog spoke as he carried the coyote-pup into the kitchen.

"What ees grilled cheese?" Antione's little voice sounded confused.

"Oh what? Ant my boy, you are in for a treat.." Her husband's jovial voice made Aleena smile fondly before a couple sharp kicks brought her attention back to her unborn twins who now seemed to have started a kicking war inside her.

"Ooh... Take it easy in there.." The lilac-furred female cooed in a soothing tone, rubbing her huge round bump with both hands and wearily moving towards the couch in the small lounge and slumping down in a manner more befitting her husband than the Princess of Mobodoon. "You two need to remember there is three of us.." She added before smelling the melted cheese and toasted bread and hoping her husband was making her a grilled cheese too.

Within a few short days of staying in Knothole little Antione seemed to feel right at home and he and Scarlet Rabbot were inseparable, much to the slight chagrin of Beauregard Rabbot as this friendship did not sit right with him. The conservative southern rabbit would watch them from Buchanan's old rocking chair as he cleaned the barrel of his rifle and watching them like a hawk as he chewed on his tobacco. Unphased the two year olds squealed happily playing various made-up games that Bunnie would come up with. She seemed to lead the twosome but the eager to please and slightly shyer Antoine was more than fine just to go along with her.

"C'mon Antwain... Lit's go to the lake, Ah wanna swim.." Little Scarlet Rabbot said tugging on the small coyote-pup by the sleeve one swelteringly hot early summer. The three year old female rabbit-kiton looked really excited by the idea of playing in Knothole lake.

"But I-I am not knowing how to be swimming.." Antoine stuttered timidly, reluctantly being forced along by the boisterous Bunnie because he was not as strong as she was.

"Whit ya mean ya dunno how t'swim, ain't ya daddy taught ya?" Scarlet Rabbot squeaked out in surprise her moss green eyes widening in shock and her mouth falling open. Her mama and Aunt Lulu had taught her.

"Non. Mon Papa is always busying. He hasn't been having the time much for me." The slightly smaller coyote pup was glad that his girl rabbit friend had finally stopped dragging him as his little arm starting to ache. He didn't squeak or complain about it, he just rubbed it and held his grit. 'Petit soldat de papa' was not supposed to cry, he was to hold himself tall, be strong, keep his shoulders high and carry on his family's honour and integrity. General Armand D'Colette did love his son very much but he was a military mobian, raised by the firm hand and cane of his own father before him. Though he would never raise so much as a finger to his own boy he was still fairly stern.

"Oh. Ah'm sorry, ma Uncle Beau don't see much of me either. He's always busy too." Scarlet replied with a sympathetic smile before a small pout twisted her white muzzle. "Ah shoot. Bein' growed up ain't any fun, huh?" She stamped her foot in a huffy manner as if just coming to this conclusion now.

"Then letting us be having ze fun, oui?" Antione suggested with a hopeful smile.

"Yes!" She squeaked out in excitement then tugged on his arm, once more dragging him with her towards her home.

"Where are we to be going?" The coyote pup gulped as is little legs struggled to keep pace behind his fleet-footed friend.

"We's gonna find us someone to take us swimmin'.." Bunnie replied as the two little tots arrived at the wooden porch of her home where Baron Beauregard Rabbot was sitting cleaning out the gun power residue from the barrel of his shotgun with a long cleaning brush. "Uncle Beau, can you take us to the lake?" She added in the sweetest voice she could muster complete with big adorable eyes.

"Sorry dahlin', can't. Gotta do a midnight dash with t'Freedom Fighters t'night. Just cleanin' out the ol' girl then Ah'll be hittin' t'hay.." The middle-aged honey-furred rabbit with untidy off-white muzzle and thick brown bushy brows drawled in response to his tiny niece.

"Oh... ok." The little female bunny sighed sadly, her ears sagging a little and this made the brown eyes of her uncle soften sympathetically and sigh.

"Ah shucks sugar-kiton, ya mama an Aunt Lulu are with t'Hedgehogs, Miss Alice an' her youngun. Maybe if yah lucky one o' them will take ya.." Beauregard said in a soft warm tone. This immediately brought back Scarlet Rabbot's happy smile.

"Thank yah Unca Beau.." She trilled before gripping onto Antoine's hand to drag him off again. "C'mon, Atwain t'Acorn cabin is this way.."

"Merci beaucoup Monsieur Beauregard." The young coyote pup said politely before being hauled off by the more boisterous female bunny. This only made Beauregard roll his deep-brown eyes and shake his head with disbelief.

"Dang.. That li'l fellah sure talks fancy." He murmured to himself as he pulled out the cleaning brush and inspected the grime..

The two kitons were in luck. By the time they had located Scarlet's mama they discovered that a picnic beside lake Knothole was exactly what Missy and her friendship in mind. So it wasn't very long before the two kitons were laughing and playing in the shallow waters of Knothole Lake. Because little Antoine didn't know how to swim he timidly stayed in water that only came up to his hips but this did not stop him from joining in Bunnie's splash fight.

"Oh. Sally dear, you are just darling.." Aleena cooed to the tiny baby chipmunk who was dressed in a simple pale blue baby bathing suit with matching bow in her small fluff of red head fur. The tiny chipmunk girl gurgled in delight, wriggling and smiling happily in the slim lilac hands of the Princess of Mobius who had her upright with her tiny socked feet resting on her knees.

"She's cuter than a dunebug in May.." Missy cooed from her siting position on the large blanket beside the heavily pregnant female hedgehog.

"So adorable, Alicia she really does look like a miniature you." Vanilla Cottontail said softly before adding, "But what happens with her when you and Max are both called out for duty?" She added in concern both the Acorns had active contracts with their separate units that they could not get out of in these dangerous times.

"Oh, Max has taken care of that already." The soft brown-furred chipmunk with long, luscious curls of copper red smiled sweetly at the eighteen year old cream and caramel coloured rabbit. "He has hired a young nanny named Rosie Woodchuck to live in with us in a couple of weeks time.. I've not met her but Max says she came highly recommended and was lovely."

"A nanny? Is that necessary? We as a community coulda all pitched in to help yah out.." Missy quirked her brows in surprise.

"I think it's wonderful. I was very close to my nanny Marie D'Coolette." Aleena chipped in before her muzzle suddenly turned a sickly pale tone making Alicia take back her tiny daughter in concern as the lilac and blonde hedgehog let out a small moan of discomfort.

"Hold on dahlin', I'll go git yah some raspberry leaf an' ginger tea." Tallulah-May said pulling out some freshly picked leaves out of her basket of herbs and snapping off a little ginger then mushing then together. "Mind passin' me t'flask o' water Alice?"

"Sure, here you go." The female chipmunk said passing over the flask then unbuttoning her shirt to reveal her front-clasp maternity bra before holding her daughter to her and pulling down one bra-cup to allow little Sally to suckle. "I know Missy and your sweet to offer but Max can be away for weeks on end and although I'm never away any longer than Jules or Charles it is a lot to ask. Besides Rosie has a kiton-care degree and has experience dealing with small groups of kitons. I'm sure she would be happy to watch over your daughter as well as little Antoine sometimes too. Max told me that Jules wants her to be a real part of the community."

"Oh.." Missy blinked in surprise before snapping her head around to her sister-in-law and adding loudly, "Tallulah! Where's that darn remedah!"

"It's jista comin' quit yer belly achein', it ain't even fo' ya in a fi'st place." Lulu's voice came back slightly irked as she finished preparing the herbal tea.

"So my husband knows about Rosie coming? Hmm, he never said anything." Aleena murmured stroking her large squirming seven month bump as both twins inside her had started spinning once more now making her nausea worse.

"Of course, Max sought out him out before nanny hunting." Alice replied with a friendly smile as little Sally let go of her mother's teat then burped as the adult female chipmunk winded her after covering herself back up. Sally then nuzzled herself into her other and closed her eyes, resting while her tummy digested.

"Here ya areh princess." The soft voice of the soft yellow furred rabbit with blue eyes handed the blonde-quilled princess the herbal tea she had strained and infused with ginger. Aleena took it with a polite thank you before picking up her half-eaten packet of crackers. She then proceeded to take a neat sip and a small nibble of the tea feeling her babies settle a little.

The lithe pale-yellow furred female rabbit then squeezed back in next to her slightly more buxom golden-honey furred sister-in-law.

"It's nice t'see Bunnie with someone her own age, that li'l Antwan is a li'l bowl of sugar.." Missy smiled widely watching the two kitons squealing in laughter and enjoying themselves in the water.

"Yes, it's good to see Antoine having fun, especially after losing his mother." Aleena replied a little sadly, "Still can't believe she's gone.."

"Ah know t'feelin'.. Mah daddy died when Ah was a kit too. He used to work in the power stone mines an' they were mighty dangerous back in them days." She added sympathetically. "But we can make li'l Ant's time hereh happy." She paused frowning curiously at the little coyote. "Ah'm guessin' he ain't much of a swimmer like mah Bunnie.."

"I don't know, maybe he hasn't learned to yet, he only just turned three." Aleena replied lightly.

"Well maybe I could teach him, Chuck and Jules taught me when I was around his age." Vanilla Cottontail suggested with a bright smile then picked herself up off her spot on the blanket and heading over to the two tots and began to talk kindly to the little coyote pup. He smiled back as the eighteen year old rabbit pulled off her pumps and began to edge into the water with them.

"What about you Sally?" Alicia cooed softly to her daughter and Sally's sapphire blue eyes fluttered open a little sleepy but curious too. "You want to play in the water with the big kits?" She added to her tiny daughter, pulling the inflatable see-through ring with colourful spots to her. She had blown up the ring before leaving her cabin earlier. The tiny chipmunk baby squealed in a happy high-pitched voice wriggling her chubby little hands and kicking her feet excitedly. "Ok then, come on sweetie." Alicia giggled getting up with her daughter an the inflatable ring leaving Missy now sun-bathing on her front while Aleena and Tallulah-May were discussing the midnight dash that their husbands were leading a small group of freedom fighters on later that night. It was a plan to sabotage the incoming Overlanders supply convoy as it passed through the Great Forest..

...Late that same night...

"Uncle Ivo.." The timid voice of Colin Robotnik Jr broke the silence and Ivo Kintobor's concentration making the scientist in his early thirties grumble under his breath. He had been working on the Robotic Transformation Machine that Dr Charles Hedgehog had left in his possession. It truly was a glorious machine and would serve him well in forcing this world to fall to his whims.

"Do you ever speak in anything other than that snivelling pathetic tone.." The rotund human dressed in the red jacket with the long orange moustache sneered back in distaste, looking away from the wiring of Charles' machine that he had been fiddling with. He had not realised that his brother had raised such a simpering cowardly boy, although it would explain why Colin had always been disappointed in him. The boy was also very scrawny and stood at a minuscule three feet and a few inches tall and had absolutely no hair on his head. Colin Jr kind of resembled a shorter, slimmer, clean shaven version of himself, which was probably the reason that Ivo had been keeping him around. It certainly wasn't his lack of magnetic personality that had won his uncle over.

"My apologies Uncle but I was curious as to why you aren't using your real surname with those mobians." Colin Jr asked shaking a little as he approached the workbench that his uncle was sitting at with the control panel to the Robot Transformation Machine.

"Because when they realise the truth it will be too late for them all." Ivo replied in a deep sinister voice, his dark glasses twinkling darkly as a nasty grin twisted across his face. "Did you bring me the mirror that I requested?"

"Of course but why do you want it?" Colin Jr asked unsurely, gesturing to the golden-framed ornate mirror that had formerly stood in the dungeon quarters where Ixis Naugus had been staying before Doctor Kintobor had forced him through it and into the Zone of Silence. Immediately the six foot human got up, towering over his nephew and twiddling the huge bristles protruding out from under his long nose.

"Because this mirror conceals a portal into a void where I imprisoned that repulsive wizard Naugus. He was planning to imprison the King of Mobius inside it and take over the kingdom." Ivo's brow furrowed, his expression turning devious.

"I thought you wanted King Ogilvie dead? Why did you not just let the wizard follow through with his plan then take the kingdom from him." Colin Jr asked curiously, his fingers touching each other as his hands formed a neat pyramid in front of his green-clad chest.

"Because fool, Naugus would've been too powerful!" Ivo snapped and instantly Colin Jr squeaked and shrank back in fear, trembling with his hands protectively covering himself. Years of physical abuse from his own father had caused such an automatic reaction to become second nature. He had taken his chance to escape the awful tyranny of living underneath such a brutal parent that even his uncle's verbal abuse was preferable. He might yell insults or act threateningly but being so pathetic meant his uncle would never raised a hand against him.

"Quit being so snivelling.." Ivo drawled irritated by his nephew's cowardliness, his white gloved hands resting on his wide sides and slowly Colin Jr lowered his own white-gloved fingers to look at his uncle timidly once more. "The wizard served his purpose and our former Overlord and the King of Mobius will eventually have to meet in a final dual, if all goes to plan both of them will die by each others sword.. And while peace talks are taking place my SWATbots will attack, rounding up the citizens and bringing them to the Robotic Transform-" The human scientist sighed heavily at the name Charles Hedgehog had given his machine. "Hmh.. That name will have to go. It's hardly intimidating.." The scientist mused for a moment before grinning evilly. "I know what will give those creatures nightmares... The Robotisizer!" His maniacal evil laugh echoed horribly around the room that he and his young nephew were in...

Little Notes:

Hey everyone, I think I might have just surprised a number of you, huh? Didja think this story was dead?! I wouldn't blame you, it has been long over a year since my last update and all I can do is apologise profusely for having left it so long. I just got suckered into my other writing projects as I am more based on Wattpad now than anywhere else. Have considered shifting this story over because updating is so much ore streamlined and less restricted than it is here, this chapter was so long that I had to save it in sections so that would allow me to post it... Anyway, it has been so long since I wrote anything for this that I had to reread the whole thing (including the first half of this chap) to remember where the plot was going.. Sounds insane I know..

And I notice that a lot of you are bugging me about Sonic and when he is going to be born. In answer to one question: Yes, he is one of the twins and y'know why you are getting that answer? Because we are about to jump time again and the twins will be coming in the next chapter.. Stay tuned and hopefully it will take less than a year to write the next chapter!