Chapter Text
Prologue
April 30th, 3237
Knothole Forest, Oak Cemetery
The sky was gray, cloudy. Heavy.
The land, wet from the drizzle of rain.
The dark trees moved from the wind, creating a soft rustling sound that accompanied the somber voice of the minister. He never thought he would live to give these final prayers. No one in the sea of blackened clothes and heavy hearts thought they would be here, mourning a wasteful, tragic loss that was the royal family.
A young king, who was celebrated only months ago during his coronation, lay in a black, shining casket with a metal Acorn Family Crest carefully placed on the top-center. Beside him lay two other caskets, one significantly smaller than the other. A beautiful, strong queen and the would-have-been heir, a young princess, the crest also adorned on their truly lovely, black caskets.
Princess Sally Acorn, the king’s teenaged sister, looked at the three caskets with dry eyes, and a numb heart. She could feel her mother, a normally soft woman, trembling beside her, struggling from making a scene from her violent, internal sobs. She couldn’t see or feel her father, a once fierce leader who’s old age made him chair bound for the rest of his life. However, if she looked just slightly, she would see a broken man holding his face, hiding large tears.
The young princess did glance at the figure beside her, a blue hedgehog in black suit and heavy black jacket. She never thought she would see him in a suit and honestly, she wished she didn’t have to, given the circumstances, even if he did look rather dashing.
Much like the red headed chipmunk, Sonic’s face was still, stoic. His eyes were fixated on the little casket in front of him.
In the seven, hectic years he had spent as an official freedom fighter and, ultimately, a young soldier, he thought he had seen everything there was to see. Cities destroyed, friends and family in serious, real danger, war, even death. He saw it. But nothing made his stomach churn like this. He had never seen a casket so small, didn’t even know they made them.
He could feel blue eyes on him, and his green ones fell on the princess. She softly placed tired head on his heavy shoulder, and he wrapped a loving arm around her. After twelve years of knowing her, he knew what Sally was feeling. A cold numbness from the weight. He knew. He felt it himself.
The minister said his final peace, and stepped away. He wouldn’t look out onto the crowd that had gathered beyond the cemetery gates, mourning their king and his young family, only at the smaller gathering. Two couples of parents sobbed for their children, their grandchild. A pain he wished upon no one.
In the distance, a bell rang, and the caskets began their slow descent six feet under. The royal family stepped up, Sally included, leaving Sonic behind her. The parents looked to Sally, who walked up to the mound of burial dirt beside the graves to grab a small handful. She then looked to the first grave and weakly made her way to stand over it, watching the casket where her brother lay lower. She held her hand out in front of her, and softly muttered a royal prayer;
“...While lost…not forgotten…”
She began to sprinkle the dirt from her hand, struggling to continue.
“...may your Acorn… sprout life once more…
“Elias Acorn, King of the Acorn Kingdom.”
She began to walk toward the middle grave, still sprinkling the first dirt,
“...Queen Megan Acorn…”
Behind her, she could hear Megan’s mother let out a choked sob. Sally could feel the painful lump in her own throat try to break free. Still, she persisted as she dusted the last of the dirt on the third, smaller grave.
“...Princess… Alexis Acorn…”
The distant bell rang once more.
Afterward, when the caskets were fully covered and the crowd slowly dispersed, Sonic and Sally stepped off the grass and stood on the curb, her black heels clicking against the wet pavement. Holding a black umbrella and leaning against the large black SUV, he pulled Sally in close, to which she didn’t protest. She wrapped her arms around his body, resting her head on his chest.
Sonic’s eyes scanned the trees scattered around the cemetery, his thoughts wandering.
“Sal?” His voice was curious. It almost sounded loud against the near silence of the world around them.
“...Yeah?” she answered, her own voice muffled by Sonic’s jacket.
“...That prayer you said at the end… what does it mean?”
With a soft exhale Sally lifted her head and looked around the cemetery, trying to find the words. “Did you know acorns are seeds? They make oak trees,” She explained, still looking on.
Sonic’s own gaze fell back on her, “...I didn’t know that.” Sally continued.
“Every tree in this yard is oak. At the base of every tree, a member of the Acorn family lies at its base. We place a seed with them, so while their death is a tragedy…” Her eyes lifted to meet Sonic’s, who had been listening intently, “There's always hope for new life.”
Sonic smiled and hugged her close, kissing her forehead tenderly. Sally couldn’t help but breathe a sigh as she squeezed softly, smelling the light cologne on his body. She didn’t want to leave, she felt safe, but she could hear the cars around her spark on. It was time to go.
Before she let go of the taller hedgehog before her, Sally looked up and gently kissed him. Sonic lovingly reciprocated. They stood there only for a last second, before separating and he reached over to open the car door for her. Taking his strong hand, Sonic helped his royal girlfriend into the car. Before he closed it, he asked Sally if she wanted him to go with her.
She shook her head, “no, I’ll be okay, but I’ll call later.”
Sonic nodded and closed the door. She rolled down the black tinted window, and looked at him as he stood back so the car could move. She looked on with sad eyes, and Sonic gave her a sad smile, then mouthed words to her.
‘I love you.’
The simple gesture made her eyes sting, tears teasing her. She knew he loved her but it always made her heart flutter when he said it. She mouthed back as the car began to make its way toward the cemetery gates. Sally looked at her love for as long as she could before she had to sit right. Sonic watched them go.
He could hear footsteps approach him, and he knew who it was. He turned, and looked at the small, yellow fox-pup who’s suit looked too big and his hair a slight mess. Sonic knew Tails tried cleaning up as best he could for his first funeral, but he could still smell the motor oil and mint on him. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with her,” the little one said, his voice weak from crying.
Sonic glanced back at the cars, who were leaving the gates now, “I offered, but Sal said she’ll be okay, she probably just wants to be with her family,” he explained. “I’ll check in with her later on tonight.”
Silence fell between the two, and they stood there watching the string of black cars. Tails looked back at the field of headstones and oak trees, another tear slipping its way down his cheek, “...how could he have done this? He’s never…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Sonic swiveled his head down at his adopted brother, then at the cemetery. His face became stern. Tails was right to ask, how could the bad doctor do this? He never outwardly took lives before, even if he had tried several times to end Sonic’s.
Murder was never Dr. Ivo Robotnick’s MO. It was always cartoonish sized robots and squawking about taking over the world to create his own city-like theme parks, with everyone roboticized and working under his will. What pushed Ivo over the edge to do this? To kill a family? A child?
Sonic could feel Tails staring at him, almost waiting for him to share his thoughts.
“...I don’t know why he did what he did…” Sonic looked at Tails, his eyes burning now, “but he’s too dangerous now, and when I see him next…” His fist tightened around the base of the umbrella, his heart pounding with growing determination, “...I’m not hesitating. I’m going to get the justice that Elias and his family deserves…”
Sonic looks back at the now empty gate, the wind rustling his quills and the rain pattering on the vinyl umbrella.
“...That Sally deserves.”
May 2nd, 3237
New Mobotropolis, Acorn Royal Palace
Sally’s steps through the marble floored corridors echoed off the walls. Her face was as dark as the blackened outfit made of a dress shirt and trousers that lay on her body. Thoughts raced through her mind as she stepped straight and proper, however the constant wringing of her hands and wrists gave away her nervousness.
Footmen adorned in navy uniforms and gold accents opened doors as she walked through, but as she reached the final door to her destination, she hesitated only for a second. The servants, usually paid to be emotionless, broke character for a moment to look at her with sympathy. She could only smile back and nodded as she straightened, indicating that she was ready to face the other side. They opened the door, and she walked through.
His Royal Highness, King Maximillian Acorn, sat behind the large, dark oak desk of his office. Her mother, Queen Alicia Acorn, stood behind her husband, her posture pole-like. The bright window behind them silhouetted the couple, making them, in Sally’s eyes, even more frightful.
“You called for me?” Sally put her hands behind her back, as she didn’t want her mother to see the constant fidgeting.
Her father looked upon his daughter with a strange sadness, however Sally couldn’t read it well with the light. His deepened voice nearly made her jump.
“...Sally… my best girl…” his sweetness, while usually welcomed by his daughter, made her blood run cold, “your brother’s death…while a catastrophe, left us with a major problem.”
Sally’s eyes flicked back and forth between her mother and father, watching them closely. Alicia gestured toward the chair in front of her daughter, “why don’t you sit, darling.”
Pausing only for a second, Sally did as her mother suggested and sat down, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst through her chest. Her father continued.
“As you know, my health… I am not fit to run a kingdom. This country needs a strong, fearless leader, a leader who will make the right decisions, a leader who…” he paused and looked down at the desk, thinking about his next words carefully, “...who will sacrifice anything and everything for her country.”
The princess’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates, her red bangs in her face, “...What…What are you-”
“Sally,” her father continued, “... you will be crowned Queen of the Acorn kingdom.”
Those words flew out of Max’s mouth and hit her like a freight train.
Queen? She was the little sister, not the heir to the throne. Not to mention her age, she only just turned eighteen. While she had fought for her country in several wars and battles, leading the Freedom Fighters to victory and regaining land to recreate Mobotropolis, she always understood she was a soldier for the Acorn Royal Family, not a Queen…
But as she sat in front of her parents, she examined them. Her father was in a wheelchair, her mother was his keeper. They weren’t fit to run Mobotropolis. She had no aunts, uncles, or cousins. Sally was the only one left.
So with as much courage she could muster, all she could say was, “...alright.”
Her father looked on to his daughter with intensity, “...Queen Sally Alicia Acorn… A fine name for a queen, I say.”
Sally looked down, overwhelmed now with responsibility. Alicia looked down as well, sensing her daughter’s apprehension. She could offer no words of encouragement, however. None would come to mind.
Max took hold of a pen, and began to write something down on the paper in front of him, “I will discuss with Cabinet about your coronation, set a date and all that, shouldn’t take too long.”
Sally nodded and stood to leave, to be alone with her thoughts, but as she turned, her father had one final thought, “oh, and um… we’ll have to discuss your wedding, I’m sure you’re mother and you will want to get that started.”
She froze, then looked back confused.
“...Wedding?” she asked. Max looked up from the top of his glasses.
“Well of course, it is customary that a royal head be married as soon as possible,” he explained. Sally grabbed the side of the chair she was previously sitting in, trying to comprehend his shocking words.
“...who on Mobius am I marrying?” Sonic certainly hadn’t proposed, he wasn’t eighteen himself yet. He hadn’t asked her parents for permission, had he? The thought of him on one knee wasn’t a new thought, however. She had often dreamed of him asking her to marry him and imagining their wedding, but they were older, more mature! Also, this was certainly not the time to think about a wedding after the death of her older brother.
“Well,” her mother started, “...we thought the young prince from the Southern Isles, Prince Charles Ratufa, would be a fitting match.” Alicia’s feet shuffled a little, adjusting her weight nervously.
Sally then squeezed the back of the chair that she was holding, leaning over, “...excuse me?”
“Well, you wouldn’t marry him right away, you would need to meet first,” Max added, ignoring Sally’s growing shock.
“What about Sonic?” Sally finally asked, appalled they forgot about her long term boyfriend of 2 years who had done so much to help their struggling family.
She was even more appalled to hear her father simply say, “...What about him?”
Sally’s nails could have ripped the upholstery with how tightly she was holding the back of that chair as she listened to her mother say, “sweetheart, Sonic is a good boy, but you couldn’t have really thought this was a permanent relationship, did you? He comes from…well-”
“From nothing?” Sally interrupted, “...you are seriously judging the hedgehog that has saved all of our lives, our kingdom, putting his life on the line time and time again because he didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth!?”
“He is not fit to be your partner!” Max’s booming voice shook Sally’s core, “we do not condemn him for his upbringing, but can you really see him standing in your shadow as Prince Consort?”
Sally stared at him as she let the words seep in.
Ultimately, her father was right.
Sonic loved his freedom, his fame. He lived for the sunlight that came with a free life. He would perish in the shadowy darkness that was royal politics and so many rules you could drown. Sally never really had to think about this before because she never thought she would be in this position. It would be selfish to ask him to give up his life for her, even if she knew he would do it. After a moment, she sighed, and her grip on the chair loosened.
Her usually strong voice was weak, “...How should I tell him?”
The night air was cold at the Mobotropolian City Park, but the trees were still. Sonic liked nights like this. The air felt good through his fur and the sky was clear enough to look at the twinkling stars above. His body was leaned up against the curved bridge rail, his arms crossed in front of him and his head up. He could hear the water down below, and while usually the sound of rushing water made him nervous, it was quiet tonight and he felt peaceful.
Sally slowly made her way up the bridge, watching him with sorrowful eyes. She wanted to run, tell her parents she couldn’t do it, but her brain betrayed her heart.
“...hey,” her voice was small and she almost thought he wouldn’t hear her, but his head turned and his face grew bright at the sight of her.
“Hey,” he greeted. As she grew closer, he could read her expression more clearly, which began to make him nervous, “what’s up, you were kind of unclear in the text.”
Sally walked over, and Sonic watched as she moved to the other side of him, resting her hand delicately on the side rail. The moonlight made her almost seem angelic in Sonic’s eyes, but her eyes were so heavy in thought, and her cheeks almost seemed puffy. He moved closer.
“...Sal?”
Sally closed her eyes, “I had a talk with my parent’s this morning…” She paused, struggling to speak.
Sonic pushed a little, “...yeah?”
“With my brother gone, and my father sick,” she could feel her throat tighten, “...I am the only one left to run the kingdom.”
Sonic looked at her, read her emotions, “...You’re going to be queen.” She turned towards him, nodding. Sonic smiled softly, she was scared. He knew that much. He touched her arm softly, “you’re going to be a great Queen, Sally.”
She suddenly choked back a sob, which caught Sonic off guard. Sally was usually so composed, he had only seen her cry a handful of times. She shook her head and backed away, “you don’t understand, Sonic…I…I have to get married.”
Sonic stared at her, almost not sure if he had heard her correctly, “...Married?”
The princess nodded, covering her mouth with her hand.
Sonic looked at the waters down below. Marriage had scared him, but he had definitely given it thought, especially with Sally. Ultimately, what it came down to was that he loved her, and had loved her for two wonderful years. His own father proposed to his mother five months after going on their first date, he could get married after two years, surely. His eyes shifted back up to his girl, tears falling down her moonlit, beautiful face. It broke his heart to see her this way, so stressed.
“Sal,” Sonic started as he gently took her hand in his, “...I would do anything for you…and…”
Sally started to shake her head and closed her eyes again. Please don’t do it, she thought, don’t say the words.
“...I was going to wait for the right time, but…” his voice choked back a bit, emotions swelling inside, “time really isn’t on our side…”
Sally backed away, shaking her head more, “...I beg of you…” she couldn’t get all the words out to stop him, and she could only think ‘please don’t make me reject you’. Sonic only persisted.
“Sally, I want to marry you,” his own tears started to threaten their appearance, “let's get married.”
Sally looked at him as her heart broke. He was so genuine with his words, she believed he really did want to marry her. If the situation were different, she would have said yes, let’s go have their small wedding that she dreamed of, with wild flowers and soft music. She wanted to run away and start a new life with him, but she couldn’t.
Her eyes looked so blue, like the deepest parts of the ocean was behind them. She didn’t smile. She didn’t laugh. She only cried more. Sonic didn’t understand, wasn’t this what they wanted? “Sal?”
Through soft whimpers, she finally spoke clearly, “I…I can’t marry you, Sonic…”
Sonic’s face contorted into confusion, trying to do the mental gymnastics on what she just said, asking himself why not? Before he could ask, she continued, “...There’s a prince… from the Southern Isles…”
Sonic looked up past Sally, trying to process.
A prince. Of course. A man of poise and elegance no doubt, Sally’s perfect match by her royal parents account. Sonic let go of her hand as he turned away, trying to hide his pain.
“...I don’t love him,” she stated, “I don’t even know him…”
“Then why go through with it?” Sonic quickly turned back around, his eyes pleading with hers. She could only cry more as she spoke.
“I don’t have a choice, Sonic.”
Sonic grabbed her shoulders abruptly, not to hurt her, but to steady her as he moved in close, “of course you do! Tell your father no! I am willing to do anything, any training, give up whatever he wants…” his voice grew soft, “...I can’t lose you, Sal.”
Sally easily moved away from his grip, leaving Sonic reaching out for her, “...I’m so sorry, Sonic, I can’t ask that of you…” She quickly began to move past him, ignoring his pleas to not go.
She left the bridge.
She left the park.
She left Sonic, who leaned up against the bridge railing again, alone.
May 5th, 3237
The Mystic Ruins, Tails’ Home/Workshop
“We are coming to you live from Mobo Eight News, where an official missing person’s report has been filed with the Mobotropolian Police Department for seventeen year old international celebrity and local hero, Sonic Maurice Hedgehog.
“Reports say he was last seen May 3rd with Royal Princess, Sally Acorn, who was also recently reported to be taking the place of her late brother, King Elias Acorn, who tragically passed away, along with his family, this past April when their plane was shot down and crashed landed near the southern island, The Centrum.
“Ten year old Miles Prower, known to friends and fans as Tails, made the report only hours ago, stating, while the hero being gone for days is not unusual, not making any contact or turning off GPS on his phone certainly was. When Miles started to worry, he went looking for the hedgehog, asking friends and family if they had seen or heard from him, but to no avail. After looking further, what is believed to be blood was found near the Palace grounds at the Mobotropolian City Park where Sonic was last seen with Princess Sally. We have a reporter, James Booker, at the scene, James what can you tell us?”
“...Thanks Kathy. Behind me you can see several cops and forensic scientists trying to make sense of just what happened, and to see if the scene behind me has any relevance to the latest disappearance of seventeen year old Sonic Hedgehog…”
Tails watched from the couch, eyes the size of dinner plates as they scanned the TV. The room around him seemed dark, but he couldn’t tell if that was because the television was so bright. Knuckles and Amy stood behind him, watching with worried looks as the police walked in and out of the hall and out the house.
Sonic’s room was now a crime scene, trying to see if there was any indication of where he might be. However, with the scene that Tails found, they were also gathering D.N.A. evidence anywhere they could find it.
Looking through that park only seemed logical at the time. He had texted Sally, asking if she had seen him. She responded that she hadn’t seen Sonic since Tuesday at the park. He never expected to go through the bushes and see that amount of blood and blue quills scraped on the grass and tree bark.
Amy tried to say it wasn’t Sonic’s blood, but Tails knew otherwise. The quills were a perfect shade match, curvature, hell the place smelled Sonic. His light cologne with the slightest bit of chili. It was Sonic’s blood, his quills on the ground.
At first, Tails didn’t know what to do, what to think. It took him at least twenty minutes to just pull out his phone and call the police. He was caught off guard, scared. He had never seen anything so gruesome, even in the last 3 years that he had been adventuring with Sonic and fighting Dr. Robotnick.
Did the evil doctor swoop in when Sonic wasn’t looking? Tails could only think of one person that could do this sort of thing, especially after the murder of the king. Did Sonic get hurt and is laying somewhere stuck, unable to help himself?
Questions would continue to rattle his young brain. Amy and Knuckles tried to help, telling him Sonic was fine, he’ll show up. They will find him. However, Tails could barely listen from his own thoughts being so loud.
Days turned into a week.
A week turned into two, then four.
Months blended together, Sonic’s case began to slow down. There was no other evidence. No other people went missing mysteriously like he did.
After a year, the case… just went cold.