Our story begins in a standard school. The hallways are full of students minding their business due to their routines, all of them wearing clothes of their liking. The entrance doors were opened by the act of a child who seemed to be very eager, which called the attention of the people within proximity.
"Who is this kid?"
"I don't know... But I've heard rumors about a transfer student."
"Transfer student? Well, guess this person is that one!"
"For being one, he needs to TRANSFER some weight to another place"
One of them said mockingly, even giggling for such a rude comment. The words of the students reached the ears of the young one, who was getting rapidly annoyed by the confusion, the indifference and even the mockery displayed, as if he expected praise rather than this reaction. Suddenly, he stops on his tracks to look at everyone around him, deciding to hide his frustrations for the moment with a confident smile, nuzzling his big nose with the fingertip of his index finger.
"HOHOHO! It seems that I caught your attention, didn't I? It's unfortunate that I did not make a proper entrance, but now I have the chance of a lifetime! Allow me to introduce myself: I am the number one student of this school!"
From the kid's backpack, a couple of juice boxes with mechanical limbs and head came out, carrying lanterns that were turned on in order to illuminate his back as if he was a superstar of some kind. The kid changes his pose to one where he crosses his arms with a confident, condescending smirk towards the other students who he considers to be inferior to him and his overwhelming intellect.
"I am the great, the brilliant and splendid-!"
"Ivo Robotnik, please go to the director's office to get your schedule"
The horn system of the school interrupted the finale of Ivo's speech abruptly, making the kid quickly change from a confident persona to a nervous one, giving a step back only to trip by one of the juice boxes that assisted him with the presentation and fall on the floor. As a result, the other students couldn't help but laugh at such a clumsy display. However, a few of them recognize the surname 'Robotnik': a prestigious family of archeologists and scientists, which made some of them have some sympathy for the little kid who just made a fool of himself.
Ivo, by his side, groans in frustration, looking at the closest horn nearby with anger, slowly getting up. The school's bell rings, indicating that the classes are going to start in a moment. Ivo stands up after a bit and, out of sheer rage, kicks the mechanical juice box that he tripped with. This one crashes against one of the lockers and falls to the floor, but it doesn't take long for it to get up and reunite with its partner. However, it does look ashamed by its corporal expression.
"You fool! Why didn't you move out of the way?! I looked like a complete idiot! Good grief, I have to do everything to earn my place."
A sigh escapes the lips of the young Ivo, getting his hand inside one of the pockets of his pants and getting a photo out of them. Both the mechanical juice boxes try to see from their position, but they cannot get a good angle out of this, unfortunately. They can only watch their master change his expressions in a smooth transition from angry to relieved and content.
"... Yes, you're right. I cannot give up. I am the mind of the new decade. I have to give everything and not do tantrums for meaningless acts."
The mechanical juice boxes look at each other in confusion. Their master seems to be talking with someone, but they don't seem to know who this is. Maybe Ivo is crazy? Who knows... They only climb up to return to the backpack once more, and Ivo begins his way towards the director's office, alone given that the other kids will be at their classes even if they wish to stay.
"Alright, the first step of the plan 'Cocky presentation' failed. But I can still make friends and a good position within this installation. I'm a genius after all. Mother and father would tell me to get myself together after such an embarrassing act. I, Ivo Robotnik of age 12 and an IQ of 300, will be the king of this school!"
The confident attitude of Ivo comes on full display, walking with more energy towards his destination, doing a small spin in the process.
The director's room seems to be a very elegant one, full of various artifacts and books related to distinct cultures from all over the world. The director, an old man of gentle aspect, asks Ivo to sit down so they can talk. He doesn't seem to be angry by any means, or that he could be at all. One man who represents joy and peace. Ivo felt particularly... uninterested in that, as if it is prescindible in the greater scheme of things..
"Mr. Robotnik, I'm thankful for this talk. First, let me tell you that it is such an honor to have a member of your prestigious family in Spagonia's Educational Institute. I'm sure you have a very high standard for us, and we also expect the best from you. Your class will be 1991-MD. Professor Pickle of Spagonia University will be leading it this year. Isn't it fantastic? One of the most brilliant researchers, an expert in the Gaia Culture."
Ivo's interest increases as the conversation goes, finding himself amused by the flattery he obtains. Albeit he has one wish in particular which he will discuss after the business here is done. The director didn't take long to give the young kid his uniform and schedule of classes. This is enough for today, in Ivo's eyes.
"One more thing director. I don't want to be called 'Mr. Robotnik'. I prefer to be called simply Ivo Robotnik. I want to make a name for myself, one that doesn't depend on the success of my family but is inspired by it. Is that fine with you?"
The director shows a curious expression. This request in particular is certainly unique to his eyes, but he doesn't see it as anything bad per se. A smile is made afterward, agreeing with the notion that the kid asked out of him.
"Very well, Ivo. I look forward to seeing your success. You can go home now. Remember that tomorrow will be your first day. Don't be late."
Ivo nods to that, slowly leaving the room and school for the moment.
As he returns home, the sun sets, indicating that the day is setting and the night is taking over the sky. The kid is silent, a bit frustrated about returning home given the circumstances. His day didn't go as he wanted it to, but right now, he can close the chapter in order to begin a new one. He opens the door with a warm smile, walking in with great speed and an excited yell.
"I'M BACK!"
"Welcome back Master"
The robots of the home answered to one of the members of the core family, all of them of various sizes and shapes, making them unique in a physical sense. However, within their personalities, they were just serviceable. They only obey orders and ask for any wish that any Robotnik asks of them. Hollow in all senses of the word. Even the juice boxes that Ivo did have more personality than these. Ivo's father doesn't want to hire any humans to help them with the chores, and neither believes that they should have intelligence beyond basic parameters to accomplish the tasks given to them. Ivo disagrees with this, but prefers to keep it a secret. He wants to create a great robot that can embody his thoughts better. A juice box won't do that by any means.
"Out again?"
"Affirmative. Their current activities are unknown to us. Master Huevo decided to keep this a secret to everyone."
The robot answers the question directly. Ivo rolls his eyes at such a response. He doesn't blame the robots by any means, they only do what his father ordered them to do. The kid just doesn't get his father. Huevo is so secretive for no reason, including his family. It is like he is scared of showing who they are to the world. Ivo never really got that, and that has created a strained relationship between both of them on top of his parents being too busy to even attend to him. When was the last time they had dinner together? That memory is very distant to be remembered.
"It's useless. Continue cooking dinner. That's the only thing that can go well in this house. I'll return in 20 minutes."
Ivo decides to leave home for now to get some snacks for himself. The genius has some money with him to get whatever he needs or wants. The Robotnik family doesn't have to worry about money at all given their position as brilliant scientists or researchers. However, that means little to Ivo, who only feels like that surname brings nothing but trouble.
It only took a few minutes for him to get to a convenience store near a 5-star restaurant in the city. Ivo wonders what the owners were thinking when they opened their business here. It doesn't seem practical, but he can respect the decision, as it is one they are happy with. The kid walks into the store and buys a couple of candy and chips for himself, paying shortly after.
However, the little moment of joy would not last for long. A couple of trucks arrived, opening the back to reveal a lot of covered individuals with guns of high caliber. Ivo noticed the vehicles, calculating that the number of people in them was approximately 20. However, only 16 of them came out of the trucks, which means that 4 of them remained inside, two per truck. The weapons they wield are forbidden in many territories across the globe, with only the Guardians of the United Nations having permission to use them. Where did these guys get those weapons from?! To make things worse, the communications had been jammed. There is no signal either for standard telephones or cellphones.
WAM! The shots of their guns like consecutive lightning started, making the people of all the place fall in horror, cornered by the strategic position that these terrorists got. Ivo quickly pushed down the sellers of the store and himself, using the table as a shield to protect himself and the sellers from certain death. The store got hit with various of the shots, making a mess out of this.
One of them got a megaphone from one of his colleagues and got it on his mouth.
"ATTENTION ALL OF YOU! IF YOU WISH TO LIVE, YOU BETTER DON'T DO A SINGLE MOVE! IF YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE US, YOU'LL BE SENT TO GAIA BELOW!"
The leader of the terrorist group wanted money and elite equipment in order to stop his acts. Ivo is frustrated because his day could not get any worse. While he does like the mechanical equipment these guys possess, he finds their methods too dirty and simple-minded to even consider them worth his attention. Right now, all he can do is try a gamble.
The kid gets his two robots out of his backpack and looks at them with a certain spark in his eyes. The robots had never seen their master be so determined in something before, which made both of them be more willing to accomplish whatever he asks out of them.
"Listen, both of you! Those guys are too dangerous for the local police to stop them. We need to call the Guardians of the United Nations, and we only have one chance to do this! I want to live! You, on the left: Go to the closest truck and destroy it! That will cause a strong enough distraction to break their formation! You, on the right: Go to the other truck and invalidate their software! With that, we can call the Guardians of the United Nations to stop them. I don't want to die here, am I clear?!"
"Ivo, no! That's too dangerous, we could get into problems!"
One of the sellers tried to make the young kid stop with this. This is a plan that's too reckless for it to be plausibly successful. Ivo rolled his eyes in annoyance, being negligent to a fault, but right now it was probably their best bet.
"Go now, both of you!"
Both robots nodded and quickly left the store. They have to make sure to remain in silence and not be spotted in order for this plan to work as their master wishes. The first one went to the closest truck as requested, analyzing it using its advanced software to determine the easiest way to destroy it. The biggest chance is by using the self-destruct function within the gasoline storage. The little juice box climbed with the best of its skill towards the gasoline tube and compressed itself to get in. It was not easy given it was a juice box to begin with, but alas, everything for their master.
Suddenly, the truck exploded due to the gasoline tank getting the spark out of the robot self-destroying itself. Ivo covered his face as well as the seller due to the sheer force of the explosion which broke the remaining windows.
The leader was in shock, making the other terrorists alarmed. What just happened?! Two of their men died for seemingly no reason! Everything was working perfectly, and now the plan is going downhill. And that was the least of the criminal group's concerns. The second robot managed to sneak within the circuits of the board and nullify the jamming of the communications.
Ivo smirked due to the success of his creations and quickly began the call to the Guardians of the United Nations, but the leader noticed him, running up at high speed and grabbing him by the shirt, making the kid drop the phone.
"Hey, No!"
"What did I say?!"
The terrorist places the gun on Ivo's head, ready to kill him. Ivo closed his eyes to not see what would happen next. However, a strong wind of blue color surrounds the place for a brief moment, making everyone be silent for a moment, even doubtful. It was as if a hurricane had just hit them, and they only saw the aftermath of it. The leader's weapon was gone suddenly, even when he was still holding the kid. Ivo, trying to let go, noticed something 1 or 2 meters away from the leader.
"Heh, quite the fireworks you got here, out there is a mess."
The figure said, tossing the weapon into the air and kicking it towards the leader's face. By the time this one turned, the weapon would hit and knock him out. Ivo would be set free as a result, falling on his butt.
"Ugh! That hurt…!"
"That's...!"
The seller was mesmerized while the figure turned to face the remaining 15 terrorists, nuzzling his nose with his index finger. Ivo recognized that trait in particular. He does it to reinforce his confidence in himself. This creature may be...!
Suddenly, this one runs at high speed, attacking the terrorists with ease, avoiding their attacks with stylistic movements without compromising the safety of the people. Sometimes, even taunting them to make them attack recklessly and punish them with a simple move. One of them got this figure jumping on their head and doing a flip before landing and making them trip with his foot.
"For having such weaponry, you barely know how to aim"
The rest of the soldiers were baffled by this sudden appearance, trying to attack with everything they got. The creature runs between them, taking the guns away before they get someone injured, tossing them to a side. He cleans his hands after that by hitting each other and quickly runs, tackling them all against the truck. The last truck tried to escape as the two soldiers who were jamming the communications before never got out of it. Now they have an opportunity, but soon they find out that the creature is inside as well.
"Sorry, I thought you'd like a ride with me"
The mercenaries were kicked out of the truck, quickly neutralized as the truck stops nearby a post.
Ivo could not believe his eyes. Some sort of creature stopped these criminals like nothing! With just sheer ability and charisma! This is a fascinating thing to discover. But his work would not end there, as the critter would reach to help him get up after that.
"Are you okay, kid?"
"Yeah... Thanks."
"I think this is yours. Robots are not my thing, but I have to admit that a juice box is creative"
The thing returned the mechanical juice box to Ivo. He is still in disbelief. The creature is now in front of him, as clear as day: a blue hedgehog of approximately 3'3 in height, with humanoid features, green eyes and red shoes. This hedgehog also shows a huge confidence in himself but also a kindness that he hasn't seen from anyone before. It was a strange paradox to witness.
"Anyway, I'll get going. There are plenty of adventures ahead and I cannot be taking detours. See ya!"
The blue hedgehog waves his hand to say goodbye, slowly walking out of the store. Ivo held his hand before he could get out.
"Wait a second! Who are you and why did you help us?"
"Hm? I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog. I just wanted to help, bye-bye~"
Sonic slowly lets go of Ivo's hand and runs off at high speed, leaving as fast as he came in. Ivo was still in disbelief, but he has an inspiration now, a spark that he thought was long-gone is ignited once more.
'A hero…! I see! That's how I can be at the top!'
To be continued...