"New Beginnings"
Authors: Robert Brown, Francis Tolbert, and Kelly Moule
Disclaimer: This story uses characters created and copyrighted by Sega of
America, Inc. and Archie Comics (except where noted, in which case
they were created and copyrighted by us or by another and we have
permission to use them). The authors hereby give permission for
this story to be downloaded and/or printed at 1 copy per user as
long as (1) no changes to the story are made without our express
written(not e-mailed) permission and (2) no attempt is made to
profit from this story. If either or both rules are violated, it
will be considered a violation of copyright law.
Author's Note: Hewwo! ~*giggles*~ This is Sonic's younger and cuter..
{Sonic} KELLY! {Kelly} ~*giggles cutely*~ ..sister! --BACK TO REALITY--
Hey to all you devoted Sonic fans, this is Kelly Min.. actually, Kelly
Moule. Kelly Min is my sign name. :) My e-mail is kellymin@usa.net or
kellymin@hotmail.com. Anyway, to give Robert and Francis a little bit of
relief, I told 'em I'd write their Author's Note. *nodnod*
If you're wondering, yes, I am the creator and owner of
Princess Lydia Evergreen and Isabela Evergreen. Cousin and great cousin to
Sondra, I -think-. If you're interested in knowing more about the
Evergreen family, I should have a page up soon. Family tree and
everything. *smirk* Maybe even detailed descriptions of each family
member. That'd be nice. Pardon me if this author's note is long, but I
need to talk this stuff out.
Anyway, I am writing a part of this story. Obvious, ne? Not
as obvious as Sonic and Sally's engagement or as nearly as heart-stopping
as Antoine and Bunnie's, but somewhere along those lines. *chuckles* Yes,
yes, I never though Ant would give up on Sally, but of course, I was
wrong.. hey, Robert! What 'bout UNcle Chuck? *grins* I think he's the only
one left.
To get back on subject with Lydia and Isabela. I know you
might have enjoyed them in the story, well, I plan to them out of it, and
Dorian too, if Robert will let me, if not, I might have to ask permission
to use him in my stories. You see, I now have the ability to upload
stories to the net when before I didn't. So I will be starting my own
series. My first story is already out, it's called Gypsy. And if you
e-mail me, I'll send you it.
GAH! ~_~; FOUR PARAGRAPHS ALREADY?! YEEESH! Sorry folks.
It seems I like to talk a lot. Well, anyway, enjoy and please, Robert and
Francis are two totally wonderful writers with a lot of talent, so if you
are just here to gripe, I suggest you be wise and close your window now,
thank you. :)
Note from Robert Brown: To make it official, I am hereby transferring
ownership and copyright of Dorian Lexford to Kelly Moule. After this
story, of course. :] And as for the part of this story Kelly has written,
it will be indicated with ^^^ before and after it. Also, Sally's father
is referred to as King Emeritus Acorn in this story. That doesn't mean
that Emeritus is his first name; it is used to refer to a former, but
still living, king.
Cast of Characters
Nadia***
Donovan Osaya###
Princess Sondra Acorn***
Princess Sally Acorn
Bunnie Rabbot
Patricia Hedgehog***
Miles "Tails" Prower
Sonic Hedgehog
Antoine D'Coolette
Torir L'Onati***
King Acorn
Naugus
Maurice Hedgehog***
Kelly Min Hedgehog**##
Knuckles Echidna
Julie-Su
Princess Lydia Evergreen^^^
Isabela Evergreen^^^
Dorian Lexford***
Uncle Chuck
Rosie
Tanis Shi-rat***
Dionti Osaya###
Nancy Osaya###
Lorelei Prower***
Miles Prower Sr.***
????????????
Rotor
#29
Nadia woke up with a smile on her face. But then, she always had a
smile on her face when she held Donovan throughout the night. She opened
her eyes and looked at Donovan, and her smile changed to a frown. From
the look on his face, the same look he had had since Sonic had defeated
Robotnik and Robotnik had slipped away, it was apparent that he had not
slept well.
Nadia sighed quietly, slipping her arms from around Donovan as she
sat up. She pulled on a robe and stood from the bed. "I wish there was
more I could do for him," she thought, watching as Donovan's sleep grew
more restless. "I wish there was more he'd let me do for him."
"Someone is approaching at a high rate of speed," the computer said
in an undertone so as not to wake Donovan.
"Who is it?" Nadia asked quietly.
"It appears to be Sondra, but I can't quite be sure."
"How can you not be sure?"
"You'll see," the computer said with what could have been a smirking
voice. "She's nearing the door now."
Nadia slipped out of the bedroom and made her way to the door. Just
as Sondra was about to knock, Nadia opened the door. "What brings you
here this early Sondra?" Nadia asked, blinking the last of the sleep from
her eyes.
"Isn't it obvious?" Sondra asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Nadia looked at Sondra and then did a double take. She was wearing a
bright pink dress and gloves, and Nadia knew that could only mean one
thing. "It's today?"
"Yeah, and both Sally and Bunnie have asked...no, demanded that you
two be there. The ceremony starts in two hours. Please don't be late or
you're going to have two very angry brides coming here to drag you to
Sanctuary."
"Sanctuary? But I thought it would be held in Mobotropolis."
"Nah, the reception will be there. But after all that's happened,
they wanted to finish what they started where they started it."
Nadia smiled and shook her head. "We'll be there," she promised.
"Now you get out of here so I can go wake him up."
"All right," Sondra grumbled, "but remember, you only have two hours
to get there."
"Sondra, I'm surprised at you," Nadia said, a hint of a smile on her
face and in her voice. "All I'm going to do is wake him up."
"Uh huh, sure. Next thing you'll tell me is that you don't plan on
marrying him," Sondra joked, shaking her head. "Anyway, I'd best be
getting back. Both Sally and Bunnie are freaking out."
"Everything OK?" Nadia asked, concerned.
"Pretty much, only Rosie's nowhere to be found. See you later
Nadia!" Sondra took off in a pink blur before Nadia could ask anymore
questions.
Nadia closed the door and went back to the bedroom. Donovan was
still asleep with that look upon his face. Nadia slipped into bed next to
him and tickled his ear. Donovan grumbled something in his sleep and
batted at her hand. Nadia arched one eyebrow and then kissed him lightly
on the lips.
"Not tonight," Donovan grumbled. "I'm not in the mood." Then he
turned on his side away from Nadia.
"Oh really?" Nadia muttered. She rolled out of bed and grabbed hold
of the mattress. "Time to wake up!" she yelled, dumping him and the
mattress on the floor.
"I didn't know you wanted me up so bad," Donovan groaned, not moving
from how he landed.
"It's not me," Nadia said, pulling the mattress on the bed. "Our
presence has been requested at Sanctuary."
"By Tanis?" Donovan asked, starting to get up.
"Nope, by a princess. Or should I say, the princess who will be
queen by day's end."
"Coronation?" Donovan asked, dusting himself off.
"After the weddings," Nadia said. "We've got less than two hours to
get ready. And according to Sondra, if we're not there, those two brides
will come here and drag us there."
"They've waited over a year to get married," Donovan pointed out,
rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I doubt they'd take the time out to
walk here and drag us there."
"Do you want to chance it?"
Donovan shot Nadia a look that said, "What kind of question is that?"
Aloud, he said, "Besides, I have work to do."
Nadia stood in the doorway, barring his way. "Whatever it is, it
can, and _will_ wait," she said. "Like you said, this day has been a year
in the making."
"Which is all the more reason for me to do what I have to do, to make
sure it's not interrupted...like last year."
Nadia sighed in exasperation. "Donovan, I'm not arguing about this.
You have a choice: go take a shower and get ready to go, or get knocked
unconscious while I do it for you."
"Three reasons why you won't do that. One, I won't let you. Two,
I'm not worthy enough to go. Three, even if you managed to do it, which
you won't, we don't exactly have anything to wear."
Nadia's eyes grew hard as she stared at Donovan. "First of all, you
don't 'let' me do anything. Second, I don't ever want to hear you say
that again. The squirrel I love is one of the worthiest creatures on this
whole planet--"
"Even after failing to keep his word?" Donovan interrupted. "And in
doing so, may have cost Mobius its freedom some day in the future?"
"Who says you didn't keep your word? I see it just as delayed.
You'll get another chance, and next time you will be ready."
Donovan turned his good eye on Nadia, considering her words. "Very
well, I'll accept that. I just hope it's not too late."
"The future comes when it comes Donovan. We can't control it, we
just have to be ready for it. Now go shower."
"What about the third?"
"What about it?" Nadia asked with a mysterious smile.
"Black vest and boots is not exactly proper attire for a wedding."
Donovan said quietly. "Neither are black sweats."
Nadia said nothing more, just smiling that mysterious smile of hers.
She moved out of the doorway and started shoving him toward the bathroom.
Donovan sighed and went to take his shower.
When he was done, he walked back to the room. On the bed lay his
white uniform, the same one he had worn when he went into battle against
the Kavenoff. Though it had been pretty torn up that day, it looked as
good as new. "What the...?" Donovan whispered, walking to the bed and
picking up his uniform.
A note fell from a pocket. Donovan caught it before it hit the bed
and read it. The note read, "I figured you might need this today.
Rosie."
Donovan smiled a half-smile. "The legend lives again," he thought,
shaking his head. He got dressed and found that it fit him perfectly.
"Now I just have to worry about what Nadia's going to wear," he said.
"No you don't," Nadia said behind him.
Donovan turned to look at her, and caught his breath. Nadia was
wearing a grey dress that closely matched her fur. It was off the
shoulder and fell straight down to her knees. Her blonde hair was freshly
brushed and tied with a grey ribbon the same color as her dress. She had
on just a touch of make-up, not really noticable unless you were looking
for it. "So, what do you think?" she asked, doing a slow turn for
Donovan.
Donovan walked up to her and took her hand in his. He brought it to
his lips and kissed it gently. "I thought I'd never say this," he said
softly, "but you look more beautiful now then when I first saw you as a
squirrel."
Nadia blushed and smiled. "You've turned into a real charmer, you
know that?" She chuckled a moment then cleared her throat. "We really
should be going."
Just as Donovan and Nadia were leaving their hut, Sally and Bunnie
were in the royal chambers of the palace of Mobotropolis. "Where is she?"
Sally asked for the hundredth time, her face a mask of frustration.
Bunnie sighed loudly, her expression not far from Sally's. "I don't
know Sally-girl, but she better show up soon. I don't feel like bein'
late to my own wedding, especially seeing how long it took us to get
here."
"Exactly my thoughts," Sally said, adjusting her bathrobe. At the
sound of the door opening, Sally turned to see who was coming in. But
when she saw it wasn't Rosie, the frustration returned. "Oh, hi
Patricia," she muttered.
"Is that any way to greet you soon-to-be mother-in-law?" Patricia
asked with a smile, dragging in a bag behind her. "Especially one who's
going to help you get ready for your wedding?"
Sally and Bunnie were surprised. "You?" Bunnie asked. "But we were
thinking it was gonna be Rosie, just like last time."
"I thought that too," Patricia confessed, "until she came to me
earlier and asked me to take care of it. She said something really
important had come up."
A pit of worry opened up in Sally's stomach. "I hope it's nothing
serious."
"It probably is, from the way she was talking," Patricia said. "But
whatever it is, she said she could handle it, and I believe her. Now
then, let's get you two ready."
Sally and Bunnie nodded slowly and let Patricia go about her
business. They exchanged a look, each reading the other's thoughts.
"This doesn't feel right," they were both thinking. "It should be Rosie
doing this. What could have been so important to keep her from this?"
Meanwhile, Tails, Sonic, and Antoine were waiting outside Sanctuary.
"They should be here soon," Tails said. "After all the waiting, you guys
are finally going through with it."
"You can say that again little bro," Sonic said, smiling. He seemed
calm, at ease, sure of himself. Too bad the same couldn't be said for
Antoine.
"P-perhaps I should be checking on some things," Antoine stammered,
smoothing out his tuxedo jacket, his French accent returning with a force.
"Why so nervous Ant?" Tails joked, nudging Antoine in his ribs. "I
thought you'd be anxious to make Bunnie your wife."
"You are quite correct Tails," Antoine said, wiping his brow. "But I
am quite worried about tonight...especially with what Bunnie has been
promising me." With complete seriousness, Antoine added, "I am hoping I
will be able to survive it."
Sonic and Tails were about to laugh. Then, remembering that Bunnie
could still turn partly robotic, they stifled it and winced. "Don't worry
about it," Sonic said, clearing his throat. "I'm sure she'll be careful."
"And if worse comes to worse, I'm sure Tanis can heal you," Tails
said with a nervous chuckle.
"Is someone in need of healing?" a quiet voice asked.
They turned to look and say a lynx dressed in the robes of a Holy One
standing nearby. "Who are you?" Sonic asked.
"I am Torir L'Onati," the lynx answered, an accent similar to
Antoine's in his voice. "I will be presiding over the ceremony today.
May I assume that you are the grooms and the best man?"
"Presiding?" Sonic asked, surprised. "I thought Tanis would be
doing that."
Torir shrugged slightly, sending ripples through his grey robes. "He
has his reasons why he may not. Reasons, I might add, I am not at liberty
to discuss with anyone. If you will all excuse me, I will see you
inside."
Sonic, Tails, and Antoine nodded absently as Torir headed inside. "I
have a bad feeling about this," Sonic muttered, shaking his head.
"Something's not right about this."
"It's not like anything can happen inside Sanctuary," Tails said,
though his voice lacked a certain conviction. "Stop being such a worry
wart."
"If you say so little bro," Sonic said, not sounding convinced. "If
you say so."
Back at the royal chambers, Patricia just finished putting the
final touches on Sally and Bunnie when there was a knock at the door.
"Don't either of you move," Patricia said, heading to the door. She
opened it, and caught her breath. "Umm, Sally, there's someone here to
see you."
Sally stood up and turned around as Patricia moved away from the
doorway. Her eyes widened when she saw who was standing there. "Daddy!"
she said, smiling.
"Hello Sally," King Acorn said, walking into the room. "I can't stay
long because you have a wedding to get to, but there is something I wanted
to tell you."
"Should I be leaving?" Bunnie asked, standing up as well.
"No need," King Acorn answered. "I wanted to tell you both how happy
I am for you...and goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Sally said slowly. "But Daddy...."
"No buts Sally, I've made up my mind. You and your friends have done
what I have only dreamed of; you have restored our planet. I would be out
of place in the times to come, especially with you as queen."
"But where will you go?"
"We have a mission of our own, Your Majesty," Naugus said, entering
the room. "Tanis has taken our evil from us, and though Robotnik is gone,
there is yet much evil in this world. You cannot fight it because your
place is here. We have no such place."
"Something big is coming Sally," King Acorn continued. "If Naugus
and I work fast, we may be able to head it off, whatever it is. I know
the kingdom and the planet will be in good hands."
"Will...will you at least stay for the wedding?" Sally asked
quietly.
"Of course. How could I miss the biggest day of my Bean's life?"
Sally smiled, but it was a sad smile. "All right Daddy. Please keep
in touch though."
"As you wish, Your Majesty," King Acorn said with a bow. "Now I will
leave you to finish your preparations." Before Sally could say anything
more, her father turned and left with Naugus in tow.
Sally wiped a tear from her eye as the door closed. "I guess it's
for the best," she said to no one in particular. "And yet, I don't want
to see him go."
"It'll be OK Sally-girl," Bunnie said, giving her best friend a hug,
careful not to mess up the makeup. "Come on, we've got a wedding to go
to."
At Sanctuary, Antoine had almost paced a rut in the ground when
Maurice came out. "They're on their way," he said, shifting a squirming
Kelly Min in his arms. "You boys should wait inside. Remember, no seeing
the brides till the ceremony."
"Thanks Dad," Sonic said, grabbing Antoine by the back of his jacket
and dragging him inside. Tails followed close behind, but Maurice had to
run after Kelly Min, who had managed to get to the ground and was
half-crawling, half-wriggling to the nearest mud puddle.
Meanwhile, on the Floating Island, two echidnas sat in the Emerald
Chamber, watching the proceedings. "They've earned this," Knuckles said,
his gloved hands clasped in his lap. "It looks like this time the
ceremony won't be interrupted. Not by me at least."
The other echidna smiled and sat down in Knuckles' lap. "That
reminds me," she said, brushing her banded locks from her face, "when are
we going to talk about our ceremony?"
Knuckles smiled back. "All in due time, Julie-Su," he said, kissing
her cheek. "All in due time, my love."
Some time later, Sally and Bunnie were waiting patiently outside
Sanctuary's doors, listening for the music that would signal their
entrances. "Are you ready Bunnie?" Sally whispered, nearly shaking with
nervousness and excitement.
"I've been ready for a year now Sally-girl," Bunnie said, nearly
wringing her bouquet of flowers in half. "In only a few minutes, I'm
gonna be Mrs. D'Coolette, and I can't wait!"
Sally nodded a reply, but could say no more as she heard the music
begin. "Let's go you two!" Sondra called, sticking her head out the
doors.
Sally and Bunnie walked slowly through the doors, each holding a
bouquet of flowers in one hand and clasping the other's hand for support.
They walked down the aisle behind Sondra, their steps slow and measured.
Sally looked around and saw Lydia, Isabela, and Dorian sitting together on
one of the benches. Sally didn't fully like the idea of her cousin being
with Dorian, but she had no reason to doubt his motives, not anymore.
As they continued down the aisle, Sally realized that the Holy One
standing before the altar was not Tanis, but some lynx she had never seen
before. "First Rosie, and now Tanis?" she wondered to herself. "What is
going on here?"
Seated in the front row were the families of the brides and grooms,
some of them just recently de-roboticized. Uncle Chuck whispered a few
last words of encouragement to Sonic before taking his seat beside his
brother. Sally smiled behind her veil and had the strange feeling that
Uncle Chuck had had to do the same thing when Maurice married Patricia.
Sondra moved to the side, and both brides went to stand before their
husbands-to-be. But the wedding march kept playing, and all of a sudden
Sally heard the crowd at Sanctuary draw in its collective breath. Sally
turned around to see what was wrong, and caught her breath herself.
Clad in a simple white dress, holding a bouquet of white roses, and
looking happier than Sally had ever seen her look, Rosie walked down the
aisle of Sanctuary. Though her veil was drawn low, Sally could still
recognize the face of the one she loved like her own mother, even though
they now looked the same age. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tanis
walk from his room in the back, dressed in his finest robes. They met at
the altar and took each other's hands.
Donovan looked from Tanis to Rosie, back to Tanis, and again to
Rosie. He started to lift his hand to his forehead, but Nadia caught his
wrist. "None of us saw this coming," she whispered. "Everyone in here is
surprised."
"I've got a lot more to learn," Donovan said to himself.
"Gentle creatures," Torir said warmly, "today we have gathered to
join these three couples in wedlock. If anyone has just cause why they
should not spend the rest of their lives together, let them speak now, or
forever hold their peace."
A chill ran through Sally, and she couldn't help but think Knuckles
was going to appear, just as he did one year ago. Many of the others who
had been there were doing the same. But no one came, and no one spoke.
Sally let out her breath, not even realizing she had been holding it until
that point.
"Marriage is a sacred pact," Torir continued. "It is a promise born
of love and the desire to be with the one you love for the rest of your
lives, if not longer. It is a joyous day when a man and a woman wish to
make this pact, and today that joy is threefold.
"Ordinarily, this is where I read the standard vows and those before
me say 'I do'. But this is anything but ordinary. I have been told that
they all wish to express their vows their own way, so I bid you all to
begin."
Each turned to face their love, a smile in the eyes and on their
lips. Antoine was the first to speak. "My love," he began, "for years, I
tried to keep my feelings for you hidden away from the world, especially
from myself. But you never gave up on me, and you stood by me even when
it seemed I could be the downfall of everything we were trying to do.
Never before have I heard of such a love, and I doubt I ever will again.
My only wish is to stand by your side for all eternity as your husband."
"My love," Bunnie started in a choked voice, "I knew I loved you from
even before the war began with Robotnik. All I've ever wanted to do was
to love you and to be loved by you. Today, we begin our lives as husband
and wife, and I promise to give you all the love that you deserve, even if
you don't always think you do."
"My dearest Rosie," Tanis said softly. "Through the grace of the
Almighty, we have been given our lives back. I want to spend it with you.
Every hour, every minute, every second that we have been given will not
mean anything to me if I am not to spend it with you. I swear to you that
all the happiness I would have brought you had we married all those years
ago will pale to the happiness I will bring you now."
"Oh Tanis," Rosie said. "I had this whole speech memorized, but
hearing you makes what I was going to say seem flat and useless. Let me
say this instead, from this moment on, wherever our lives take us, know
that I will always be beside you, and nothing will ever separate us
again."
"Sally," Sonic said, his voice filled with emotion, "ever since we
were children, I knew where I belonged. It wasn't as the fastest thing
alive, or the hero of Mobius, it was by your side as your husband. I may
not have always been able to say this, but you have become a part of me.
Not just my heart, but a part of me. My mind, heart, body, and soul are
yours; now and forever."
"Sonic," Sally said, smiling despite her tears, "though I may come to
rule Mobius, and all the animals who live upon it, I know that I myself
am ruled by one. That one is you Sonic, my love, my life. We have been
through almost everything that life could possibly throw at us, and yet we
remained strong in our love for each other. Now all Mobius shall know of
our love, as I become, now and forever, your wife."
"Exchange your rings," Torir said. As the six before him did so, he
continued, "Let the gold in those rings never tarnish, as your love for
each other never will. There is nothing more to say, save that I pronouce
you husbands and wives. You may now kiss your brides."
Sonic, Antoine, and Tanis lifted the veils of their new wives and
kissed them deeply and fully. The kisses were returned with as much, if
not more, feeling. And for that one moment, all that was there for any of
them was that kiss.
Tanis and Rosie were the first to break their kiss. "And now," Tanis
said quietly, "we have one more thing we must take care of."
Sonic and Sally took a slight step back and then turned to face
Tanis. Sally immediately dropped down to one knee with Sonic following
suit a second later. Torir stepped away from the altar as Tanis and Rosie
approached. "I almost forgot about this," Sonic whispered to Sally. "Are
you sure--"
"Don't even start Sonic," Sally whispered back fiercely. "There's no
one who deserves to be king more than you. You saved us all, and you're
my husband now. Now just be quiet and accept it."
Tanis and Rosie stepped out from behind the altar, each holding a
crown bearing the symbol of Mobius. As one, they stepped toward the
kneeling Sonic and Sally. And when they spoke, they also spoke as one.
"Sonic, Sally, for thirteen years you have both been the unrecognized
leaders of Mobius. Today, we rectify that. By accepting these crowns,
you accept the duties and responsibilities as King and Queen of Mobius.
Do you accept them?"
Sonic and Sally nodded their heads ever so slightly. Tanis placed
the crown he held on Sonic's head, the same one that Sally's father had
himself worn. Rosie placed the ohter crown on Sally's head, the crown
that had once been her mother's. "Now rise and greet your subjects,"
Tanis and Rosie said, smiling.
The new king and queen rose to their feet and turned to face the
others. "Let all know that the House of Acorn rules Mobius once more!"
Rosie called in a loud voice.
"No," Sally said, holding up her hand. "I will not make Sonic take
my name. For all he has done for this world, let it be known that from
this point on, the ruling family of Mobius is the House of Hedgehog."
"Sally!" King Emeritus Acorn called warningly, standing up.
"Father!" Queen Sally called. "It is my right to do so."
"But the covenant...."
"No one back then could have foreseen what we have all gone through.
And even if they had, they would have assumed that the House of Acorn
could settle it. We did not; Sonic did. With a new freedom for Mobius
comes a new ruling family." Sally turned to Tanis and directed her next
question at him. "Am I wrong?"
Tanis closed his eyes and said a quiet prayer. After a moment, he
opened his eyes and looked at Sally. "Your decision has the Almighty's
blessing," he said quietly.
Sally smiled and turned to her father. The former king bowed his
head in acquiescense and said no more. Sally turned to look at everyone
else, but no one had anything to say to her.
Applause and cheers filled Sanctuary as everyone realized that the
day that had been a year in coming had finally come to pass. But even
that paled in comparison to the applause and cheers that sounded through
all of Mobius as the doors to Sanctuary opened and the newlywed couples
emerged into the bright sunlight. They stood there for a moment, letting
it all sink in.
"It's finally over, isn't it?" Sally whispered, smiling radiantly.
"Where one journey ends, another one begins," Tanis said quietly.
"Yes, Robotnik is gone, but that doesn't mean all is over."
"Hey, no gloom and doom today," Sonic said. "We've all been waiting
for this, so I say we forget all that, even if just for today."
"Sounds good to me sugarhog," Bunnie said. "Let's get out there and
join the party!" Without waiting for anyone else, she grabbed her new
husband's hand and dragged him down the stairs.
And what a party it was. No one could remember a day when
Mobotropolis had been more alive and full of energy. There was more food
than anyone had ever seen, including chili dogs just for the royal couple,
of course. The wedding cake was made up of about five tiers, each
beautifully decorated with personal messages from those who had pitched
in. When the time came to cut the cake, Sally and Bunnie both warned
their men not to make a mess. Reluctantly, they agreed, only to have cake
stuffed in their faces.
Tanis laughed, smiling. Then he turned to Rosie just in time to get
cake pushed in his own face. He calmly wiped off his face and picked up a
piece in his hand. "Ordinarily, you'd pay for that," he said. "But I
don't feel like having our wedding reception degenerate into a foodfight."
Rosie let out an involuntary sigh as Tanis fed her the cake nicely.
"Besides," he whispered so that no one else could hear, "I'll save that
for afterward."
The reception continued on with a lot of singing, dancing, and
general happiness. Donovan, on the other hand, seemed to withdraw more
into himself as the day wore on. Nadia tried more than once to drag him
away from the wall, which she did, but he always returned to the wall.
"What is with you?" Nadia demanded. "You promised you wouldn't
dwell on it, remember?"
"And I'm keeping my promise," Donovan answered quietly.
"Then what is it?"
Donovan sighed. "Take a look around, what do you see?"
"I see a lot of animals enjoying themselves, especially the six
newlyweds."
"A lot of animals who were formerly roboticized, and currently find
themselves face-to-face with relatives they haven't seen since the coup."
Nadia's eyes softened as she realized what Donovan meant. "Oh
Donovan, I'm sorry," she said.
Donovan just waved it off. "So forgive me if I'm a little withdrawn,
but today's not a day to worry about me. Let's just let the couples enjoy
the day."
Nadia just nodded, and leaned against the wall near Donovan. "Don't
argue," she said. "The least I can do is keep you company."
Donovan put a finger on Nadia's lips. "Parties like this do not
happen very often. So you go out there and enjoy yourself."
Nadia shook her head, but said no more. She stayed quietly by
Donovan until two cloaked figures drew near. Nothing could really be
determined about these grey cloaked figures, not even if they were male or
female, as the hoods were drawn quite low.
Donovan tried his best to maintain a neutral face as he addressed the
two figures. "Yes, may I help you?" he asked.
The figures looked at each other, then looked at Donovan. "Don't try
to hide your feelings like that," the one on the left, obviously male,
said. "You're not good at it."
"Especially from us," the one on the right, a female, said.
Donovan's eye popped wide open as he heard the voices. Nadia caught
his look out of the corner of her eye and turned to him. "What?" she
asked worriedly. "What is it?"
"It may be that he's surprised we're here," the male said. Then he
and his companion removed their cloaks.
Nadia then saw that they were squirrels. But more than that, she
knew who they were. "By the Almighty," she whispered. "But you're...."
"Yes, we are," the male said simply. "And you are right. It is 'by
the Almighty.'"
"The Almighty has allowed us a few hours back on Mobius," the female
said, "to be with our son."
A tear of joy slid from Nadia's eye. She poked Donovan in the ribs.
"Don't you have anything to say to your parents?" she whispered.
Donovan looked at the squirrels in front of him for a few seconds,
then he just wrapped his arms around them and hugged them, tears dropping
from his eye. "By the Almighty, I missed you," he said between sobs.
"We miss you too," Dionti said, hugging his son back. "But let's not
spend all this time getting emotional."
"Unfortunately, your father's right," Nancy said, also hugging her
son. "We're only here till those brides toss their bouquets."
Nadia smiled and turned away. "I'll leave you three alone," she
said.
Nancy grabbed Nadia's tail, almost without looking. "Oh no you
don't," she said, pulling away from her son's hug. "So, how close are you
to my son?"
Nadia turned a deep shade of pink. "Mom," Donovan said, covering his
face with his hand.
"'Mom' me later," Nancy said. "Right now, I want to find out as much
as I can before I have to leave." She turned back to Nadia, who was just
recovering from her blush. "So, are you two as close as I think you are?"
"How close would that be?" Nadia asked, a new blush starting.
Nancy glanced over at her son. "Close enough for me to ask my son
when is he going to put a ring on your finger so that there will be little
Osayas running around."
Donovan turned as red as Nadia, but got even worse when Nadia said,
"Actually, I've been wondering that myself."
Donovan turned to his father. "Dad, help!"
"I was on my own when her mother grilled me," Dionti said calmly.
"You're on your own now."
"And don't look for your wish to get you out of this," Nancy said.
"It's been...disabled for now."
"Umm...well...I...." Donovan stammered. "It's...getting hot in
here. I think I'll go get some punch."
"Sounds good to me," Nancy said. "Then I can talk to Nadia alone."
Donovan stopped in mid-step when his mother said that. He looked at
his father pleadingly. But Dionti only raised his hands as if to ward the
glance off and said, "Don't look at me."
A couple hours passed like that, Donovan's parents happily
questioning their son and his love. Nadia and Donovan answered the
questions as best they could, but were quickly overwhelmed. At the end,
all either one could do was stammer out either "Yes" or "No".
And that end came all too soon for Donovan. "Come on everyone,"
Sondra called. "They're getting ready to toss the bouquets!"
Nancy looked at her husband sadly. "Where did the time go?" she
asked, putting her cloak back on.
Donovan looked at his parents, tears in his eye. "Do you really have
to go?" he asked quietly.
"I'm afraid so," Dionti said, putting his cloak back on and pulling
the hood over his head. "But we'll be around, count on it."
"I will," Donovan whispered. He smiled and put his arm around Nadia
as he watched his parents turn and walk away. In moments, they had both
disappeared from view.
Nadia kissed Donovan's cheek lightly. "You see?" she whispered.
"The Almighty wouldn't have given you this gift unless you deserved it."
Donovan just nodded quietly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bouquet
to catch."
That almost snapped Donovan from his thoughts. Fortunately for
Nadia, it didn't, otherwise Donovan would have made sure she got nowhere
near any of the bouquets.
Sally, Bunnie, and Rosie were standing in front of a throng of single
females, each one more eager than the last to catch a bouquet. Just as it
is on Earth, tradition on Mobius held that whatever female caught a
wedding bouquet would be the next to marry.
One by one, the three brides turned their backs to the crowd, just so
they couldn't aim at their friends. Sally threw her bouquet first. Just
as it came with reach, a blue and pink blur snatched it from the air and
came to a stop just outside the group.
"No fair Sondra!" Nadia yelled, more than mildly upset.
Sondra smirked, then turned to look at Tails. "Oh Miles," she said
in a low, sultry voice.
"Uh oh," Tails said, edging back away from her.
Bunnie threw her bouquet high up in the air, but it didn't travel
very far backward. More than a few ladies fell down trying to catch it,
but it finally ended up in the hands of Lydia.
Lydia smiled and turned to face Dorian, her garnet eyes glittering
expectantly. "Umm, Dorian," she began, a smile creeping across her lips.
Dorian swallowed nervously and backed up slowly, glancing around as
if seeking some avenue of escape.
Rosie gave her bouquet a light kiss and then threw it as far back as
she could. To those watching, they could have sworn that the bouquet
dropped right as it was over Nadia, falling right into her hands. But
surely Rosie wouldn't use her powers like that, would she?
Nadia honestly didn't care. She saw Donovan pulled out of his
thoughts as Tails and Dorian backed up into him. "Would you two...." he
began angrily, then saw the bouquets held by Lydia, Sondra, and Nadia.
"...Mind waiting for me?" he finished, clearing his throat.
"Better idea," Tails said. "Gentlemen...scatter!"
Donovan and Dorian needed no further urging. All three males took
off at a run, heading in different directions.
Sondra looked calmly at Nadia and Lydia. "Ladies, shall we?"
"Just try and stop me," Nadia said, hurrying off with Sondra.
^^^
Lydia smiled as she saw Isabela prancing around in her new dress
Rosie had been kind enough to make for her. Lydia's eyes then moved to
the direction Dorian had run off in. She twirled Bunnie's bouquet in her
hand and her eyes moved to the now married couples; the three of them.
Her eyes twinkled with an idea that had been stirring in her mind ever
since Dorian came back. Walking over to Rosie, she tapped her shoulder,
sorry she had to interrupt the newlyweds.
Rosie stopped dancing with Tanis and looked to Lydia, smiling softly.
"Hello Lydia," she said quietly. "Do you want to cut in?"
"I wouldn't dream of it Mrs. Shi-rat," Lydia somewhat teased. Tanis
grinned at that and Rosie blushed slightly. "I was wondering if you
wouldn't mind watching Isabela for a while? I hate to disturb you both,
but you came to mind first Rosie," Lydia said rather apologetically. But
she couldn't take Isabela with her, not with what she was going to do.
"Don't be sorry Lydia," Tanis said. "It will give us practice. Go
and do what you need to." Rosie blushed a bit more and Lydia chuckled.
"Thank you both." Lydia smiled as Tanis and Rosie resumed dancing.
Lydia walked off in the direction Dorian had headed off but stopped after
a short way, her mind directed to something. She glanced down at her
hands, looking at the two rings she wore, her family's seal and Jonathan's
engagement ring. Which meant more? She didn't know yet.
Dorian was in their hut, searching for something he had hidden the
first night he had returned to Knothole. He smiled as he found it. He
had discovered that Lydia preferred silver to gold. So silver it was, a
simple silver band with a garnet stone in the center. Garnet, like her
eyes.
He left the hut and headed back to the reception, but stopped short
when he saw Lydia only a few meters away. "Lydia, what are you doing
here?" Dorian asked sort of abruptly. She had the right, but he just
wanted to know.
"I was wondering where you went off to," Lydia whispered. She was
glad she had some alone time with him.
Dorian smiled. "I was going to come back, if that's what worried
you. I have no reason to leave anymore," Dorian reassured her, or tried
to.
"That's a relief," Lydia said, her voice fading a bit.
"Lydia...."
"Dorian...."
"Will you marry me?" They both asked in unison, revealing the rings
they had for the other. Lydia had chosen to give him her family's seal.
They both seemed a bit surprised at their simultaneous question.
"I didn't expect that," Dorian admitted, chuckling.
"I think, in a way, we both did," Lydia said, smiling. "Well?" she
asked, a touch of impatience in her voice.
"You honestly think I would deny you?" Dorian inquired.
Lydia's heart sunk. That had hurt. Tears stung her eyes. "Were you
thinking of it?" Lydia asked, her voice choked. Dorian, of course, had
only been joking, but her tears showed him how serious she was. His
regret was immediate.
"No, I was joking. I didn't think you would take it so seriously,"
he murmured as he embraced her.
"The last man I was engaged to died, remember?" Lydia whispered. "I
have to be serious about it. I don't want you to die off too." This
wasn't going as she planned.
"I should have realized, but it doesn't matter. I will be here
Lydia, for eternity. You have my word, and yes, Princess Lydia Evergreen,
I will marry you." Dorian felt a little odd saying this, but he would.
Lydia smiled through her tears. "Well then yes, Dorian Lexford, I
will marry you," she whispered as they exchanged rings. They just held
each other. Their minds were mingling with many emotions, but they were
content to hold each other.
Suddenly, someone tugged on Lydia's dress. She looked down to see
Isabela, who had appeared out of nowhere. "Mommie? Why'd you go off?"
Isabela asked, breaking the silence.
"I'll tell you later," Lydia said, picking her daughter up. "But I
want the others to hear it too. Let's head back."
^^^
As all this was happening, Tails was flying through Mobotropolis,
dodging down every side street he could to avoid Sondra. It wasn't that
he didn't want to get engaged, he just wasn't ready for it. In other
words, he had no ring for her, and he did not want to ask without it.
As he flew, he realized that he had gotten horribly lost. Things
looked so different from when the city had been dark and metallic. But
somehow, he felt drawn down a certain street and found himself stopping at
a certain door. Knowing Sondra was close behind, he opened the door, ran
inside, and slammed it shut behind him.
In the dim light of the house, Tails could make out two very startled
adult foxes, sitting at a table and eating a light lunch. "Oh, I'm
sorry...." he began, but found his voice trailing off. Even though the
light was dim, he could plainly see that one of the foxes had two tails.
"By the Almighty," the one with two tails, a female, whispered. "Is
it possible?"
"Miles?" the other, a male, asked, his voice breaking.
"Wh-who are...." Tails began, but then it hit him. "Mom...?
Dad...?"
The female raised her hand to her face, and Tails could see tears
glimmering in her eyes. "My baby," she whispered, then ran to Tails and
hugged him tight.
"Mom!" Tails yelled...before the air was squeezed from his lungs by
his mother's hug. "Um, Mom, I can't breathe," Tails whispered as loud as
he could.
"Oh, sorry. Let me take a look at you," his mother said, stepping
back. "You've grown into a fine figure of a fox Miles."
"Please Mom, call me 'Tails'. I never liked that name much."
"Didn't like your own father's name?" the male asked, still sitting
at the table.
Tails blushed a bright red. "Umm, I didn't know I was a junior," he
muttered.
"It's all right, I didn't like it either," his father said, smiling.
"Come on," his mother said, dragging Tails toward the table. "I want
to know everything about you and what you've been doing."
"Lorelei, let the boy alone," Miles Sr. said. "He's not over the
shock of finding us yet. I'm sure he has just as many questions for us."
"All right," Lorelei said, sitting Tails down in a chair. "You can
ask us whatever you want. But once we answer, we do the same for you."
"Fair enough," Tails said cautiously. "I just want to know why I
have two tails."
"That's a long story," Lorelei said. "The gist of it is this: one of
our ancestors, I don't remember his name, was in an accident and his tail
was split in half lengthwise. He went to a Holy One to have it healed,
but the spell was cast wrong and each half formed a separate tail. Since
then, at least one in each generation has had the double tail."
"Makes sense," Tails admitted. "But that doesn't explain how I can
fly."
"Fly?" Lorelei asked, surprised.
"Yeah, watch." Tails flew up to the roof of the house and then back
down.
"Amazing," Miles Sr. breathed. "I didn't know you can do that dear."
"I can't," Lorelei said quietly. "Nor can any of my ancestors. I
think our son is the first one who has even attempted it."
"There you are!" Sondra yelled, spying Tails through a window.
"Uh oh," Tails muttered, thinking about running but knowing it was
futile.
"Did you really think I was going to let you get away from me Miles?"
Sondra demanded, barging in the front door.
"Kids today, no manners," Lorelei murmured, but not low enough for it
to escape Sondra's attention.
"Oh, pardon me," Sondra said, looking down at her pink dress. "I
didn't mean to barge in like that. I was just trying to track down Miles
here."
"Sondra!" Tails almost whined. "Why do you insist on calling me by
my name?"
Sondra walked over to Tails and kissed him lightly. "Because I can,"
she said, smiling.
"Don't you think you should introduce all of us, son?" Lorelei
asked.
"Son?" Sondra half-whispered. "You mean you're...." At Lorelei's
nod, Sondra blushed a furious red. "Umm...I mean...I didn't think...
Miles, help me out here."
"Oh no, you're doing a great job digging your own hole," Tails
smirked. "I'm not going to bail you out of this one."
"Don't make me make this a royal order," Sondra threatened and was
immediately sorry she did.
"Royal?" Lorelei asked disbelievingly. "Just who are you anyway?"
"I'm Princess Sondra of the House of Acorn, second in line to the
throne of Mobius. That is, until my newly married sister has kids, which
shouldn't take too long."
"And just how close are you to our son?" Miles Sr. asked.
Sondra smiled at the bouquet she carried with her. "Well, if this
bouquet I caught is any indication, your son should be asking me a certain
question soon."
"You know I don't have a ring for you yet Sondra!" Tails exclaimed.
"Is that all?" Lorelei asked. She disappeared into a back room for
a moment. When she emerged, she held a small pouch in her hand. "Here
you go," she said, handing it to her son.
Tails opened up the pouch. Inside were three rings. Two were plain
gold bands, save for the image of two intertwined tails on each. The
third was a platinum band set with a small but flawless diamond. "What
are these?" Tails asked.
"They belonged to your grandparents," Lorelei said gently. "When I
found out I was pregnant, they gave them to me for when you found
someone."
Tails looked down for a moment. When he looked up, his eyes were
bright with tears. He walked quietly over to Sondra and dropped to one
knee. "Princess Sondra Acorn," he spoke quietly, but with great feeling,
"would you do me the immense honor of becoming my wife?" He took the
platinum ring from the pouch and slipped it on Sondra's finger. "Will
you?"
Sondra's lips quivered as she tried to smile. "As if you even need
to ask," she whispered. She fell to her knees in front of him and kissed
him full on the lips, but softly. They stayed there for a few moments and
then looked up at his parents. "Looks like I should get to know my future
in-laws," Sondra said with a small smile.
Meanwhile, Donovan had decided to seek refuge inside Sanctuary, of
all places. He slammed the doors and leaned back against them, hoping
Nadia wouldn't find him there. As with Tails, it wasn't that he didn't
want to ask, he just didn't have a ring.
Donovan sighed. With all the rebuilding that needed to be done, both
the buildings and the economy, he knew it would be years before a remotely
suitable engagement ring would become available, assuming he would have
the money for it. Even worse, he knew he and Nadia couldn't wait that
long.
"I need time to think," he muttered, heading back toward his old
room. When he opened the door, it was just as he left it. "He didn't
change it yet?" he thought. "I guess he's just sentimental, not that
that's a surprise." A small smile touched his lips. "Unless he's waiting
until he has to."
Donovan sat down on the bed, then stood right back up when he sat on
something hard. "Huh?" he said, looking at a bulge under the covers.
"What is this?" he wondered, lifting the covers.
A box sat on the center of the bed with a note taped to the top.
Donovan tore the note off and looked at it. "Your mother thought you
might need this today," he read. "She left it when she left you with me.
I can guarantee she's watching you right now, with her blessing. Tanis."
Donovan looked down at the box, then at the note, then back at the
box. "Is this what I think it is?" he asked silently. Suddenly, Donovan
got the feeling of being hugged, the same feeling that was the last memory
of his mom before she died. "I love you, Mommy," he whispered, a tear
creeping from his eye.
He picked up the box just as Nadia threw open the door to his room.
"I thought you might be here," she said. "What's that in your hand?"
Donovan took a deep breath. "I'd better do this before I faint," he
said to himself. He walked over to Nadia and opened the box. He took a
golden ring out of the box, looking very nervous as he dropped to one
knee. He dropped the box and took hold of Nadia's left hand. "N-Nadia,"
he managed to stammer out before his voice failed him.
Nadia smiled knowingly. "Donovan," she whispered, a tear of joy
falling from her eyes, "if you're trying to ask what I think you're trying
to, there's no need, because you already know my answer."
Donovan amiled up at Nadia, grateful to her that she spared him this.
He slid a golden ring set with black beryl on her finger. Nadia pulled
him up to his feet and kissed him with all her heart. Donovan returned
the kiss in kind, but stopped before it could go any further. "As much as
I'd love to, this really isn't the place for it," he said quickly.
Nadia seemed to be about to argue the point, but held her tongue as a
small warning rumble shook Sanctuary. "Umm, I guess you're right," she
said, taking Donovan's hand in hers. "Come on, we've got to tell the
others."
Donovan smiled to himself. He knew, as did the other two who
proposed that day, that life was just about to get a little different, and
a lot better.
Back at the party, Sally was looking for her sister. It was almost
time for the newlyweds to leave on their honeymoons and Sally knew Sondra
would want to be at the very beginning of the line of animals wishing them
all farewell and good luck.
"Sis!" Sondra yelled, running into Sally and almost crushing her
with a powerful hug.
"Umm, Sondra, I can't breathe here," Sally squeaked out, sounding
much as Tails did earlier when he was being hugged by his mom.
"Oh, sorry. But you'll never guess what happened!" Sondra released
her sister and held up her left hand. "We're getting married!"
Sally's eyes narrowed. "Don't you think you're a little young to be
getting married?"
"Did I say right this minute? But this just proves that we're going
to, when we're ready."
Sally relaxed and smiled. "I'm happy for you Sondra," she said,
taking a closer look at her sister's engagement ring. "But where did
Tails get this ring?"
"From us," a quiet voice said. Sally looked up and saw Tails
standing behind Sondra with two other foxes. But what surprised Sally the
most was that one had two tails....
The two foxes walked up to Sally and dropped to one knee. "Lorelei
Prower, at your service, my Queen," the one with two tails said.
"Miles Prower, Sr. also at your service, Your Majesty," the other
said.
"Then you are...." She trailed off as she saw Tails nodding. "Oh
Tails, I'm so happy for you. I know how much this must mean to you."
"Thanks Aunt Sally," Tails said, sounding a little like he used to
before he went to the Void.
"What's going on Sally?" Sonic asked, hugging his beautiful bride
from behind.
"Sonic, I want you to meet Tails' parents," Sally said quietly.
"Are you serious?" At Sally's nod, he gave Tails the thumbs-up.
"Way to go Tails. I always knew you'd find them someday. But just
because you have your real family back doesn't mean you're not my little
bro anymore, got that?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way Sonic," Tails said, wiping a tear
from his eye. "Or should I say Your Majesty?"
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Don't start...." he began, but Sally's kiss
cut him off. "I wonder if there's gonna be any more surprises," he
wondered.
As if on cue, Nadia and Donovan joined the group. "Guess what!"
Nadia called, waving to them as they got closer.
"You too?!" Sondra exclaimed happily.
"No way!" Nadia said, hugging Sondra.
"Do you have any chance?" Tails whispered to Donovan in an
undertone.
"What do you think?" Donovan answered in the same voice.
Tails sighed. "Well, maybe Dorian got away. I may not like him, but
today's not a good day to have a girlfriend who caught a bouquet."
Donovan nodded, then sighed himself. "Think again," he said,
gesturing toward Dorian, who both Lydia and Isabela were dragging toward
the group.
"Dorian's gonna be my Daddy!" Isabela yelled, hugging Dorian's leg
happily.
Sally smiled at the three newly engaged couples. "I'm happy for all
of you, truly. Looks like there's going to be some more wedding plans
coming up."
"Oh good, you're all back," Bunnie said as she walked up to them.
"Come on, everyone's waiting to see us off! It's honeymoon time!"
Sally and the others couldn't help but laugh at Bunnie's eagerness.
Sally could definitely relate, as she too had been waiting over a year for
this to finally happen. And so the line of well-wishers formed, each
animal in attendance congratulating the brides and grooms. It took well
over an hour for the line to near the end, and though they were tired,
they all knew it was worth it.
At the end of the line was King Emeritus Acorn and Naugus. "It's
time for us to go, Your Majesties," Naugus said, bowing to both her and
Sonic. "But we will not be gone forever.
"I hope you'll both be here for the births of our children," Sally
said, smiling.
"Births?" Sonic asked, paling visibly.
Sally gave Sonic a playful nudge and smiled innocently at him.
"What, you expected only one child?"
Everyone there gave a hearty chuckle and then made way for the
couples to leave. "Excuse me," a strange voice said, causing them all to
turn back, "I too wish to give my congratulations to the newlyweds."
Sally regarded the robed figure in front of her cautiously. She was
sure she had not seen him at the party until this moment. Him? She
wasn't even sure of that. The figure's face was lost in the hood of its
robe, and its voice was an unusual mixture of both male and female that
left her feeling really weird. She saw the same expression on Sonic's
face, but the faces of the four others was much different. Their
expressions could best be described as some mixture of shocked disbelief
and awe.
"Thank you," Sally said, forcing a smile as she offered her hand.
The white-robed figure took her hand and kissed the back of it
softly. Sally felt a subtle warmth rushing through her body, centering
just slightly below her stomach. She laid her hand over the feeling in
surprise, and saw both Bunnie and Rosie do the same as the figure kissed
each of their hands in turn. "May your lives be filled with all the
happiness Mobius has to offer," the figure said to them all.
"Everything OK Sally?" Sonic asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Sally said, turning to Sonic. WHen she turned back
to the robed figure, it was gone. "Where'd he go?"
"He? Funny, I thought it was a she," Sonic admitted. "But to be
honest, I couldn't tell."
Sally shrugged it off, but the feeling wouldn't leave her. She
wanted to ask Rosie about it, but something stopped her. It wasn't
anything she could describe, but somehow she knew that whatever had
happened was something wonderful and shouldn't be explained.
A loud roaring sounded in the forest just outside the city. Most of
the Mobians were shocked and more than a few were scared. But the three
married couples just walked outside as if they had expected it.
Three dragons stood there. Two were red-scaled and dressed in blue
metal armor. They stood proud and tall, their bearing reminding Sally
more than a little of Antoine's. The third was platinum-scaled, the same
color he used to have when he had fur instead of scales.
"Congratulations," Rotor said with a toothy grin.
"Thanks Rote," Sonic said. That earned him a glare from the two
other dragons. "What's with them?"
Rotor chuckled deep in his throat. "They're my royal guards," he
explained. "The other dragons won't let me out of their sight unless at
least two of them accompany me. And they're sticklers about proper form,
even more than Antoine."
"Is that being possible?" Antoine asked before anyone else could.
"Well, I think they'd better stand down in front of the King of
Mobius," Sonic said with just a hint of a smile.
The two red dragons looked surprised, then shocked, then meekly
turned their heads away. "Let's get going," Rotor said, lowering his head
so that Sonic and Sally could climb aboard. He gestured to the other
dragons and they did the same for Bunnie and Antoine, and Tanis and Rosie.
With a loud roar, Rotor took to the skies with his guards flanking him.
"Was that necessary?" Sally asked, holding her ears.
Even though they couldn't see his face, Sonic and Sally could tell
Rotor had a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry, but lately when I take off, I
can't help but roar. It must be something Bahamut used to do. I'm still
having trouble getting used to the fact that I'm a king."
"I can definitely sympathize," Sonic muttered, looking at the forest
below them.
"You'll do fine," Sally said. Sonic looked over at her, wondering
who she was talking to. From the expression on her face, it could have
been himself, Rotor, or maybe even both.
"Well, we're here," Rotor said, beginning a slow descent. "Of all
the places you could go for your honeymoons, why'd you choose here?"
Sonic and Sally smiled and held hands. "Everything started here
Rotor," Sonic said. "It's only right that our lives together start here
too."
Rotor chuckled as he touched down for a perfect landing with his two
bodyguards right next to him. "Take care," he said as they slid off.
"Do you want us to come back for you in two weeks, or are you going to go
back to Mobotropolis the more conventional way?"
"We'll handle it Rotor," Sally said. "You just get comfortable with
your new position. And keep an eye on Dulcy! I expect to know the moment
your baby hatches."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Rotor said with a smile. He looked
around and nodded when he saw the other two dragons had set their
passengers down. With another roar, he took to the skies, leaving his two
bodyguards to catch up.
The six looked around at the place they had chosen for their
honeymoons, a place that had been shelter to most of them for thirteen
long years, a place that had withstood the horrors of war, a place that
was their home: Knothole.
"We're home," Bunnie whispered. Everyone, including Tanis, nodded.
Though Mobotropolis and the rest of Mobius had been restored, this would
be the only place they would all truly call home.
They looked at each other for a moment, and then they walked in three
separate directions. Candles flickered briefly in the twilight, but faded
as night fell. Under the light of the full moon, three newlywed couples
finally knew all the joy they had been forced to keep from themselves for
so long.
The next morning, the sun illuminated Queen Sally's face as it rose
over Knothole. She blinked open her eyes sleepily and stretched. As she
stretched, she felt Sonic's arms pull her closer to him. Sally smiled and
relaxed for a moment. Part of her wanted nothing more than to lay there
in the arms of her king, perhaps even restarting their activity from the
previous night. But another part was telling her to get up and go
outside.
Sally slipped out of the bed and into a robe that hung on one of the
bedposts. She walked to the door, opened it, and walked outside. She
reveled in the early morning sunlight, feeling more alive than she ever
had. Without being consciously aware of it, she walked straight to the
center of Knothole where two other robed figures were waiting.
Not a word was spoken as the three ladies looked at each other. They
held each others hands and smiled, tears in their eyes. They stood there
quietly as each felt their beloved hug her around the waist from behind
and place a soft kiss on her cheek. They all knew that whatever happened,
this was the moment they would most remember of all their lives.
But this was not an end, merely a new beginning.
==========================================================================
And so, the Race for the Emeralds has come to an end. I know I said that
all those who wanted to post our stories would have to wait a month to
take these stories to your website, but because of the tremendous delay in
the writing, consider that limitation lifted. But also know that all
future stories (and there _are_ going to be future stories) are to remain
exclusive to Tyro's site until we say otherwise. Thanks to all you fans
who stuck by us all these years. You're the reason we wrote them in the
first place. Take care to all of you and till next time,
Happy Reading!
Robert K. Brown
==========================================================================
I must agree with Robert. It is you, the readers, that encourage us to
write and improve our stories. We just hope we can continue to entertain
with our next stories, as we did with these. It may be a while before our
next story, but please be patient. We will try to make 'em worth the
wait.
Peace, see ya later.
Francis L. Tolbert
(
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geocities.com/televisioncity/satellite) (
geocities.com/televisioncity)