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Chapter III
A Pretty Snazzy Performance
"Mr. Sonic!"
"Just call me Sonic. Now then, are you okay?"
"I-I'm so glad that you came..."
"I always keep my word!"
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That girl is getting on my nerves! "Amy, I've told you three times now that I have no idea where Sonic went," Tails stated a little louder than he had actually intended, and some people standing next to him and his companions put their fingers to their lips. "Shhhhhh!"
After they had breakfast together at a café in Soleanna New City, Tails, Amy, Knuckles and Shadow had decided to pass some time by strolling through the extensive galleries of Soleanna's abundantly equipped history museum. All over the city, the preparations for tomorrow's festival were in full swing, and also the museum was more than well-attended, especially by tourists.
"I know... But I wanted to enjoy the sunrise at the harbor with him together so badly," Amy apologized. "It's sooo romantic to experience the morning sun rising, especially above the open sea. I'm sure he would finally fall in love with me on an occasion like that! I can literally see it in my mind... the two of us sitting there... holding hands... sharing our first kiss..." The pink-furred Hedgehog girl closed her eyes and pursed her lips, completely lost in dreams.
Shadow muttered something under his breath and went to one of the exhibited paintings, pretending to have a closer look at it, while Knuckles rolled his eyes and let out an audible sigh. The two of them could no longer stand her incessant, over-romantic chatter, which they already had listened to all morning.
"He didn't give the impression of being very interested in that sort of thing this morning, Amy," the young Fox tried to be a bit more diplomatic. "To be honest, he was in a pretty upset temper when he left the hotel."
Knuckles frowned. "That describes it not even remotely. And speaking of Sonic's temper, let's take the opportunity and talk 'bout his attitude over the past weeks, or better, months. It's getting worse by the day, if you ask me!"
Shadow had joined the others again. "You think so? In my opinion, the faker has always been a pain in the ass." His voice was as low and emotionless as always.
"Don't be so mean, Shadow. Maybe he has realized at last that he's actually in love with me after all, and is just a little insecure because he's not used to that feeling yet," Amy objected, all dreamy again.
"Sure. Or, and that's probably closer to the truth, you just finally managed to break the pitiful remnant of his sanity with your constant, annoying attempts to make him fall for you," the black-furred Hedgehog surmised without turning to her.
The girl stopped as abruptly as if she had run into an invisible wall, and her peach cheeks turned deep purple.
But before she could break into a tantrum, as she often did when things didn't go her way, Knuckles took the initiative. "Maybe we should just ask the speedster straight out."
Tails shook his head. "I've tried that a few times already, but he's always evading my questions."
"Then how about we simply beat it out of him?" the Echidna suggested, always practically minded.
"Get in line," Shadow hissed.
The Fox raised his hands in horror. "Guys! Our friend may have serious problems! We should rather offer him our help instead of putting even more pressure on him."
But Knuckles ignored the two-tailed Mobian. "I still owe him some for Rouge anyway," he declared, slamming his fist on the palm of his other hand.
"I said get in line," Shadow repeated.
"Careful you don't catch one yourself!" Knuckles barked and turned to the Hedgehog, his eyes widening in anger. "She's still my girl, after all!"
The G.U.N. agent returned the gaze of the red-furred hothead with cold serenety and without looking the least bit intimidated. "And she's also my closest colleague. And now?"
"You should start trying to get over it, Knuckles," Amy butted in again. "Sonic is reproaching himself long enough now for what happened back then. At least Rouge is still alive and on the mend."
"What?!" the Echidna finally exploded. "Long enough? On the mend? She'll be blind for all time!"
Again, some of the visitors to the museum angrily turned to the group of arguing aliens, and Amy lowered her eyes in shame.
For the next few minutes, the four Mobians walked through the galleries together without anyone saying anything.
Eventually, Tails tried to get the conversation back on track and decided to address the potential problems of his best friend once again. "Do any of you have any idea why Sonic wanted to come here with us so badly? To the City of Water, of all places..."
"Good question. It's actually far to wet here for the faker to be comfortable," Shadow took up the thought. "And I even had to renew my passport to get travel permission through the rift. Cost me a fortune, since it counts as a vacation this time."
But Knuckles was still argumentative. "Poor Hedgehog! Then I bet you're glad I just paid for your breakfast."
There was a hint of annoyance in Shadow's voice as he replied. Slowly but surely, he had enough. "Didn't ask for it. And if you think I now owe you something, you should ask your psychiatrist for better medication."
"Well, I guess I can hardly expect any compensation from someone who blows his money in the next-best bar every night," the Echidna stated condescendingly.
"Guys, please," Tails tried to arbitrate again, but like before, no one paid him any attention. How come nobody ever listens to me?
Instead, the red in Shadow's eyes began to glow like burning charcoal. "G.U.N. pays me well. And after all, it's not me who's hanging around like a bum on a deserted flying island all day."
"But only 'cause there's no pub on that deserted flying island, I suppose." A gloating grin appeared on Knuckles' lips. It was obvious that the rather physically inclined Mobian was proud of being able to come up with a good counter for a change. But out of sheer cockiness, he then crossed a line by touching Shadow's most sore spot. "And I bet you're drinking yourself into oblivion every night 'cause you're still trying to get over that twisted human blondie..."
In a sudden rush of adrenaline, the black Hedgehog's quills rose until he almost looked as if he had reached into a wall socket. Dangerously calm, he approached the other Mobian, and his hands curled into fists. "That settles it, you asshole. I'm gonna fuck you up."
I just can't believe it! Compared to these two, Sonic is downright easy-care! Tails raised his hands again and prepared to step between the two brawlers.
But all of a sudden, Amy completely freaked out and startled them all, interrupting the conflict. "What the fuck?!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
This time, literally everyone in the hall turned to stare at the Mobians. Most of the predominantly human visitors put their heads together, whispering. Obviously, their prejudices against the so-called 'anthros' had just been confirmed.
The inquisitive Fox gnashed his teeth in anger. He had really been looking forward to the museum visit, eager to learn more about Earth realm in general and the kingdom of Soleanna in particular. But now they would probably be kicked out of here at any moment, just because none of his friends seemed to be able to pull themselves together for even a single hour. "What's the matter, Amy?!" he snapped at her.
"Yeah, what's it?" growled Knuckles and Shadow simultaneously.
As if in shock, the Hedgehog girl just pointed at one of the canvasses on the wall, her eyes wide. Without realizing it, the group of friends had entered a gallery of the museum where the paintings of the ancestors and descendants of Soleanna's royal family were displayed. The portrait Amy was pointing at showed a young human woman with very fair skin and short, red hair. "That's that girl! The one from Tails' computer," she cried, almost panicking.
"W-What?!" The young Fox blushed fiercely at that unexpected insinuation. "What are you talking about?"
After Amy told them about her encounter with Sonic in Tails' basement about two weeks earlier, they all looked at each other in confusion.
Tails walked over to the painting and read the inscription on the frame. "Her name is Princess Elise the Third. She's the daughter and heir to the throne of Duke Hector of Soleanna."
A thought crossed Shadow's mind. She looks so graceful and yet so sad. And those blue eyes... He swallowed dryly. Somehow she vaguely reminds me of Maria. "Guys... do you think our faker might have come here because of... her?" he asked in a voice which, for the first time that morning, seemed to contain something like emotion.
While they all continued to stare at the girl on the picture in bemusement, none of them noticed Amy's tightly clenched, quivering fists, and also not the manic glint that slowly settled in her eyes.
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-===XXX===-
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Gotcha! Looks like I finally found her, Sonic thought with a smirk on his face. Hidden behind a tall rock, the Hedgehog watched a number of dancers and acrobats perform choreography aboard a couple of boats moored to a small, concealed jetty below the massive cliff of Kingdom Valley's castle rock. On the largest of the vessels, a magnificent galley with a raised platform at its front and a long bank of oars on each side, a group of dancers in yellow garbs was rehearsing some kind of ballet act. And in the midst of them he could make out a slender figure with red hair wearing a simple white dress.
Is it really her? Darting from cover to cover, moving almost too fast for the naked eye, he approached the event to gain a better view. He hid behind another big boulder and continued to observe the goings-on, now able to see it in more detail from his new position.
The chin-length hair of the white-clad girl was slightly longer at her nape, and it was held in place by a pair of ivory hairpins designed to look like feathers. Apparently, she was being instructed in a dance performance by another woman dressed in an azure priestess robe. As the young woman was ordered to spin around in what appeared to be some sort of ceremonial dance step sequence, the Mobian was finally able to see her face. Yes! It's her! The girl I see in my dreams! So that's... Elise...!
He leaned out a little further from behind his rock. The stiff breeze coming in from the sea pressed the plain dress tightly against the girl's slender body, causing her shapely curves to stand out seductively underneath. Somehow she looks a bit more mature than she does in my dreams, Sonic wondered in his mind. At that moment, the rising morning sun touched the woman's scarlet hair and made it glow as if it were ablaze. When the wind then grabbed a tuft of her mane and lifted it up, the illusion of a burning fire was complete. She's really kinda pretty... at least for a human girl. Curious and fascinated, he stared at her, becoming more and more engrossed in the sight of her, not noticing that he was unconsciously further and further leaving his cover in the process. Gorgeous, to be more precise... Wait a sec! Am I attracted to her? That's ridiculous! What's wrong with me?
Again she turned in practicing her dance performance, and all of a sudden she raised her head and looked straight in his direction. The Hedgehog was completely taken by surprise. What the...! Did she spot me?!
Suddenly she seemed to flinch, and then she stumbled badly. It looked like she was about to topple off the deck of the boat at any moment. Shoot! She's going to fall! Without thinking twice, he raced off with full force, accelerating to almost top speed in a split second, creating a sonic boom that nearly shattered the castle rock.
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-===XXX===-
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"Miss Elise! You need to concentrate," the Solaris priestess, who had been assigned to teach the young princess the steps of the ceremonial dance performance this morning, impatiently complained. "Let's start from the beginning again." An upset undertone had crept into her voice.
Elise heaved an exasperated sigh, but did as she was told. This is so annoying and embarrassing, she thought. Why does father want me to dance with the other performers at all costs? He's parading me around like a circus animal at this year's festival! She gritted her teeth. If it were up to me, it would have been quite enough to give that little sermon, light the symbolic fire of Solaris, and wave to the crowd here and there... Oops! Again, she had made a step mistake.
"Miss Elise! Please!" the priestess groaned, irritated.
"Sorry, Juliana. I'll try again right away." Sure, he tried to explain it to me. Tried to make this nonsense palatable to me. It's because of my recent birthday, he said. Because I'm of age now. To make this year's ceremony special and unique, to held it not only in honor of our holy sun god, but also in honor of me personally, and maybe even to announce the potentially upcoming handover of the throne. A likely story! She had to stifle a snort. Oh kindhearted Solaris! Thinking of that... I hope he wasn't serious about forcing me to marry that strange Prince Bullforest, or whatever his name was- Ouch! She stumbled again, and this time she almost twisted her ankle.
The priestess threw her hands up in frustration, and even some of the other dancers now peered over at the two of them in confusion. "Don't tell me you're too clumsy for this," the clergywoman scolded the absent-minded girl. "Or maybe you're just too stupid!"
"Hey! Watch your mouth," Elise retorted angrily. "I'm still the Princess-"
"Better you watch your steps!" interrupted Juliana her no less incensed. "Princess or not, we both have orders from the king."
Elise rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course! I forgot! King's orders!"
"Come on, Miss Elise. We shouldn't disappoint your father. You know what he can be like. Let's try again. And please focus this time," the other woman appealed in a placating tone of voice.
The noblewoman nodded and gave her teacher a faint smile. "All right." Well, she has a point. But this is so not my thing, and the rocking ship also doesn't make it any easier for me. Once again, Elise's mind began to wander as she tried to fight her way through the sequence of steps. I wonder if Annie was right. I wonder if Sonic is really somewhere out there, here in Kingdom Valley, right now! Was he really asking for me, looking for me? And what does he want from me? Will I really meet the great Mobian hero? The fastest thing alive... Her thoughts were chasing each other, and she was getting more and more excited. Maybe we'll meet at the festival! But will he be there? And will I even have time for him there? Besides... father always keeps an eye on me... If he sees the two of us together, that scene he made me this morning was just foreplay!
Absorbed in thought again, she spun around, as her dance routine demanded, and raised her head. And then, all of a sudden, she caught sight of something that completely threw her off her stride. Half-hidden behind a rock at the bottom of the cliff stood a certain blue Hedgehog, and it looked like he was watching her. Sonic?! Totally caught off guard, Elise almost choked on the air she was breathing and messed up her performance again, this time losing her balance completely. Wings of Solaris! Help!
"Miss Elise!" the priestess cried in horror as she helplessly had to witness how the princess suddenly flinched violently for whatever reason and then staggered across the deck with arms flailing, flipping backwards over the railing in the end.
At the same second, a deafening bang shook the entire castle rock and caused all the windows on that side of the palace above them to explode.
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-===XXX===-
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Time seemed to stretch, reducing every movement in his field of vision to slow motion as Sonic rushed towards the falling princess at the speed he had been named after. Only peripherally did he perceive how the windows of the palace above him shattered from the bang he had caused by breaking the sound barrier.
He caught the girl in midair and took her in his arms, like he had done so many times before in his dreams, carrying her in the way he was familiar with by now; in bridal style. Countless shards of glass fell from above, reflecting the morning sun on their way to the ground and making the air around them look as if it were full of glowing sparks.
Elise opened her eyes. And saw him. Sonic! He had caught her, just one second before she, head first, would have hit the water. The speed with which he had slammed into her side had shaken every bone in her body and knocked all air out of her lungs, but she was far too surprised and excited to pay attention to such trivialities right now. One moment I was thinking about him, and the next he's suddenly carrying me in his arms!
Too fast to break the surface of the water, the Hedgehog raced a short distance out to the open sea with his precious load, and his legs moved so quickly that they were just a blur below him. To avoid having to slow down, he ran a wide arc, which created a foaming wave, and then headed back towards the pier. Skillfully dodging the numerous window shards still raining down from above, he finally came to a careful stop on one of the jetties.
Back on solid ground, he held the woman for a moment longer and directed his gaze at her. She glanced at him as well, a little shyly and with a slight blush forming on her cheeks, and this way Sonic and Elise finally locked eyes for the first time, at least in this timeline. But all of a sudden, everything went back to slow motion as an unexpected revelation almost painfully flashed through both their minds.
Those dreams... they're true, Sonic suddenly realized. They're no dreams at all, I think I really experienced that! It's like a forgotten memory that my mind is trying to process in my sleep. I'm not dreaming about my death. I can see it now, I can remember! Elise, she... she was in my arms, just like she's right now! We escaped from Eggman's battleship, fell off that cliff... but an explosion launched us up in the air again... and saved us!
Those nightmares... they're real, Elise suddenly became aware. They aren't nightmares at all, I think it really happened! It's like a repressed memory that my subconsciousness is turning into dreams. I'm not dreaming about my death. I can see it now, I can remember! Sonic, he... he caught me after I dropped myself, just like he did right now! Together we escaped Eggman, and Sonic held me, carried me... and saved me!
The human girl and the Mobian Hedgehog understood only one thing for sure, and that was the fact that this was most certainly not their first encounter. They must have met each other before. It left them with even more questions.
"Hello, I'm-", they wanted to introduce themselves to each other, but they spoke the same words at the same time. "I know," both of them tried to continue, but again in perfect unison. They both had to giggle at that.
Elise was the first to find her tongue again. "That bang... and... the windows..." She looked up at the destruction above them in disbelief. "Mr. Sonic! Was that you?"
"Just call me Sonic. And, well... to be honest..." He lowered his eyes in embarrassment. "It was a sonic boom. Unfortunately, I produce these things all the time if I'm not careful."
The girl became alternately hot and cold. Solaris, save us! Father will go berserk, that's for sure!
Gently, the Mobian set her down. But suddenly she gasped and felt for her ribs. It looked as if her legs were about to give way under her, and he immediately held out his hand to her so she could lean on him. "Whoa! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine," the princess tried to play things down, but the effort it took her to straighten up again spoke a different language. There was no mistaking that she was in pain and barely able to stand upright.
"Miss Elise... you're hurt! I... I've hurt you!" he suddenly realized in horror.
"Just call me Elise. And it's nothing, really." She wanted to show him a smile, but it contorted into a grimace of pain.
"Don't say that! Holy smoke! I must have crashed into your side," the Hedgehog contradicted. Both his quills and ears drooped in shame. He looked very guilty. "I'm so sorry!" He glanced up to the now windowless side of the castle and shook his head. "Seems I pretty much overdid it... Wrecked your home, and even hurt you..." With sad eyes, he turned back to her. "I screwed up big-time!"
Now it was the princess who shook her head. "Don't worry too much about it, Sonic. It looks like you didn't break anything that can't be fixed, and also I will survive that little bump for sure. Besides, I can't even begin to imagine that you did this on purpose. You certainly just wanted to help." Her next smile was a pristine one. "And it was definitely a pretty snazzy performance!" She laughed.
Again, something clicked in Sonic's mind, as if he was experiencing some kind of déjà-vu, but this time he couldn't put his finger on it. But her kind words, her warm smile, and not least her silvery, charming laugh instantly brightened his mood again.
"Anyway, I'm so glad that you came," Elise continued. "I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to meet you for once!" Another soft blush settled on her cheeks. "I-I was told that you were asking for me."
"Yeah! To tell the truth, I have come with some questions. Well... I..." The Mobian scratched the back of his head and snickered insecurely. "I'd like to talk to you in private sometime, if that's okay with ya!" he finally blurted out.
"Of course! And that makes two of us!" the noblewoman replied happily. She threw a brief glimpse over to the boats, where the priestess and most of the dancers seemed to have recovered from their initial surprise in the meantime. Some of them were just leaving the ships, which still swayed from the wave the Hedgehog had caused, and now came to check on the princess. "But this isn't the time or the place."
Sonic and Elise looked at each other. "Can we meet another time?" Again, they both spoke the same words in one breath, and it made them burst out laughing.
"Come to my balcony around noon," she invited him. "It's the one with the railing columns that look like feathers."
Feathers seem to be her thing, Sonic thought, glancing at her hairpins, which were of the same design. "I will," he promised her and gave her a thumbs up. "See ya!" Then he sped away, just one moment before the Elise's entourage arrived.
"M-Miss Elise," Juliana gasped, quite out of breath. "Is... everything... all right? Did... did it harass you?"
"No, Julie, he didn't. And he is a Mobian. A Mobian Hedgehog, to be precise," Elise clarified.
"It was one of those anthros..." the priestess muttered and seem to feel uncomfortable at the mere thought. She stared in the direction in which the one she was talking about had disappeared, as if he might return at any moment to devour her.
For more than a decade we're now in touch with that other world called Mobius. But still so many people can't or won't get used to its different-looking inhabitants. "His name is Sonic. And he saved me, by the way," the princess remarked.
Juliana looked up at the damaged palace and back at Soleanna's heir to the throne. "That creature caused this much havoc just to keep you from... falling into the water?!"
"By accident." Elise wasn't in the mood for that kind of discussion right now. Her father's words from earlier this morning were still painfully in her mind. "Julie, we have to continue our training, don't you think? This time I'll get it right. I promise."
Finally, they went back to the boats. Although every breath burned like fire in her chest and she had to try pretty hard to hide from the others that she was limping a little, nothing and nobody could drive away the dreamy smile that was curling up Elise's lips.
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