FicWad

Sonic and Uncle Chuck were sitting at the dinner table, enjoying their first decent meal in a week or two.

Sonic wiped his mouth. “That was awesome, Unc.” He said, tossing the napkin into the trash. “I guess I’ll check in with Tails and see how his invention is going before I video call Sally.”

Uncle Chuck caught Sonic’s arm before the latter could get up. “Your mom’s supposed to call.”

“When?” Sonic asked.

Uncle Chuck’s phone rang.

“That’s her.” Uncle Chuck said. He answered the phone and put it on speaker. “Everything okay, Aleena?”

“I’m just fine.” Aleena said. “Is Sonic there?”

“Hi, Mom.” Sonic replied.

“Hi, sweetie.” Aleena said enthusiastically. “I can finally come down to meet you.”

Sonic grinned. “Really?”

“Yes, sweetie.” Aleena replied. “I’m supposed to be there in a week. Can you get Sonia and Manic please?”

“Sure.” Sonic said.

“Okay, I’ll have to call later.” Aleena replied. “I have a meeting to get to.”

Sonic nodded. “Alright, Mom; I’m gonna contact Sonia and Manic now.”

“Sounds good; bye sweetie.” Aleena said. She hung up.

“Where do we go first, Unc?” Sonic asked.

*

Uncle Chuck drove the camper to uptown Robotropolis and parked in front of the gates of Windermere manor.

Sonic unbuckled his seatbelt. “I’ll go in and talk with her.” He said. “You use your connections with the resistance merchants to find Manic.”

“Alright, Sonny boy.” Uncle Chuck said. “If they seem inclined to send you to Robotnik, you run back here. Don’t try to reason with them.”

Sonic slowly nodded. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.” He replied. “Wish me luck.”

Sonic got out and approached the gates. He rang the doorbell, then paced as he waited for an answer.

The video screen came on.

Sonia raised an eyebrow. “Who is this?”

Sonic held up his medallion, the gate’s light reflecting off the silver pendant. “It’s Sonic, y’see I’m here-”

Sonia grinned. “Sonic! You still have the medallion!”

The gates opened.

“I was hoping you’d come over one day.” Sonia said, bouncing in her seat. “Come in.”

Sonic ran inside the gates.

Sonia opened the door to the mansion and hugged Sonic. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Sonic patted Sonia on the back. “So am I, sis.” He said. “Mom’s supposed to be here this week and I’m going to find Manic. Do you want to come and stay with Uncle Chuck and me for a week?”

Sonia led Sonic inside. “Sure; wait here and I’ll pack my bags.” She replied. She hurried up the flight of stairs.

Sonic leaned against the wall and whistled some song that he vaguely remembered the melody of.

A rather pompous looking mink strutted out of the living room and raised an eyebrow at Sonic.

“Oh, Sonia let me in.” Sonic said. “You’re Bartleby Montclair, right?”

“You’re with the resistance.” Bartleby said, looking down his nose at Sonic. “Sonia wouldn’t allow you in here.”

Sonia, with a backpack on her back and a purse slung over her arm, came bounding down the stairs with Lady Windermere right behind her.

“Slow down, Sonia.” Lady Windermere said.

Sonia reached Sonic and put her arm around his shoulders. “This is my big brother Sonic.”

“I wouldn’t claim a resistance member as family, Sonia.” Bartleby said, shaking his head.

Sonia and Lady Windermere gave Bartleby stunned looks.

“You knew it was important for her to meet her brothers.” Lady Windermere said. “She-”

Sonia patted Lady Windermere on the arm. “I can handle it, Mother.”

Lady Windermere stepped back. “Of course, dear.”

“Can you honestly say you support Robotnik, Bart?” Sonia asked. She motioned to Lady Windermere. “She’s right. You knew how important it was for me to find my biological family and Sonic shows up.”

“That was before we knew he was in the resistance.” Bartleby replied.

“So?” Sonia asked. “I’d only reject him if he sided with Robotnik.”

“It’s either him and your family or me, Sonia.” Bartleby said. “Surely you wouldn’t jeopardize your social-”

Sonia threw a ring at Bartleby. “I would.” She replied. She hugged Lady Windermere. “Goodbye, Mother. I’ll do my best to see you again.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” Lady Windermere said. “Be careful, dear. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Sonia replied. “Stay safe.”

Sonic and Sonia left the house.

“Do you think Bartleby will report us?” Sonic asked.

Sonia shook her head. “We may not agree on this, but he won’t report me.” She replied. “So where’s Manic?”

Sonic motioned to the camper. “Our uncle Chuck is looking for him as we speak.”

*

Sonic and Sonia knocked on the door of a little shack somewhere in the slums of Robotropolis.

Farrell opened the door and furrowed his brow.

“Hey, we’re Sonic and Sonia, and we’re here to see Manic.” Sonic said, fumbling to pull his medallion out of his jacket and shirt. “It-”

“I know all of his friends.” Farrell replied. “Neither of you are in his circle.”

“It’s about the medallions.” Sonic said, holding up his medallion.

Sonia held up her medallion.

Farrell nodded, then stepped aside. “Come in.”

Sonic and Sonia walked inside and sat down on the ragged loveseat in the slightly cluttered living room.

Farrell closed the door and started walking toward the hallway. “Let me get him.” He said over his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

Sonia and Sonic waited until Farrell got out of sight.

Sonia grinned and bounced in her seat as she held Sonic’s hands. “This is so exciting.” She squealed. “I can’t wait to meet our little brother.”

Sonic grinned. “Me either, sis.”

A few minutes later, Farrell and Manic, who was carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket (that looked much nicer than anything else in the home), walked out of the bedroom.

Sonia and Sonic stared wide eyed at Manic for a moment.

Manic coldly looked them over and sat down in the armchair across from them.

Farrell sat down on the couch next to Manic.

The baby reached its tiny peach hand toward Manic’s lime green and dyed black tipped spines.

“Is that your baby, Manic?” Sonic asked. “You’re just sixteen.”

Manic narrowed his eyes. “I’ll ask the questions here.”

Sonic and Sonia exchanged nervous glances.

“I’m sure you got my name and age off of the wanted posters, but how do you know I have a medallion?” Manic questioned. “No one knows that except me, Surge, and Farrell.”

“Because we have them too.” Sonic said as he and Sonia showed Manic their medallions. “They’re the royal medallions. We’re all siblings, children of Queen Aleena and King Brenden. Mom told me to look for you and she’ll reunite with us next week. Dad died twelve years ago.”

Sonic handed Manic the picture of their family. “This is our family, you’re in the picture between me and Sonia.”

Manic looked at the picture, then handed it back to Sonic. “Okay, that tracks with the message Ma left me.” He replied. He looked down at the baby. “I’d love to, but she’ll have to come here. Surge definitely isn’t up for leaving the house and it’s hard to take trips with a baby."

“Surge is your girlfriend or whatever?” Sonia asked. “Is she okay? Is that your baby?”

“Surge is my wife.” Manic replied. “‘Had to get married’. We almost lost both of them at the back alley doctor’s office. So I guess that answers your last question too.”

Sonic and Sonia winced.

“I’m glad they’re okay.” Sonic said.

“Me too.” Sonia said.

Manic shifted the baby, who was whimpering, to his other arm. “Thanks for coming by and-”

Faint metallic whirring caught everyone’s attention.

“Swatbots.” Sonic said. “They’re at the front door.”

“We have a back door if they don’t have it blocked too.” Manic said, getting up.

Sonic grabbed Sonia’s arm and raced to the door. “Our camper is outside if the Swatbots hadn’t gotten to it.”

Farrell ran into the bedroom.

Manic tightened his grip on the baby as he waited by the door.

The baby started crying.

Sonic touched Manic’s shoulder. “We have-”

“He’s getting Surge.” Manic snapped.

“Sorry.” Sonic replied.

The front door burst open.

Sonic ran over and spin dashed the Swatbot that came in.

Farrell, holding Surge (who had a couple of backpacks), ran out of the room as Sonic caught up to them and Manic

They hurried to Uncle Chuck’s camper, which was already running, and got in.

Sonic spin dashed a few more Swatbots, then ran into the camper.

Sonia closed the door as soon as Sonic made it inside. “That’s everybody.”

“Get us out of here, now.” Sonic said, jumping into his seat.

Uncle Chuck sped off.

The baby continued crying.

Manic gently bounced the baby in his arms. “Calm down, little dude.” He said softly. “You don’t want to attract Swatbots.”

The baby shrieked louder.

“I know you’re scared.” Manic said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. “I am too, just please calm down. We’re okay.”

The baby continued crying and flailed his little arms and legs around.

“Hush, Glitch.” Manic said exasperatedly.

Sonic groaned. “Can you shut him up, Manic?” He snapped. “He’s gonna attract the Swatbots.”

Manic narrowed his eyes. “You probably led them to our house.” He said, giving Sonic the coldest glare the blue hedgehog had ever seen.

Sonic eased away from Manic as much as he possibly could in the seat.

Manic handed Glitch to Surge, then got up as he cracked his knuckles. “You-”

“He’s probably hungry, Manic.” Surge said.

Manic glanced at Surge. “I think you’re right. Uh… there’s a regular bedroom in a camper, right?”

“Yeah, you two can have it.” Sonia said. She got up and led Manic and Surge to the bedroom.

Sonic exhaled slowly. “I really didn’t mean to snap at him.”

“I was concerned about that myself.” Farrell said. “They’ll be fine.”

“I know, but he was already stressed without me adding to it.” Sonic replied.

Sonia walked over. “Glitch must’ve been hungry,” She said, sitting down. “He’s quiet now.”

Sonic glanced back. “So… how angry do you think Manic is?”

“With you?” Sonia asked. She shrugged. “He looks completely calm now. Calm and exhausted.”

“He sits up with Glitch at night as much as he can so Surge can sleep.” Farrell said. “He rarely accepts my help.”

“I think it was sort of my fault.” Sonia said, rubbing her arms. “Maybe Bartleby actually reported us.”

“We can check the records or see if Tails knows anything as soon as we’re stopped.” Sonic said.

“So where are we heading?” Sonia asked.

“As soon as we’re out of town, we’ll stop at the old campgrounds by the hanging gardens so we can rest.” Uncle Chuck replied. “I’m exhausted. Why don’t you get everyone settled in, Sonny boy?”

“Sure.” Sonic replied. He got up. “Thanks, Unc.”

Farrell gave Uncle Chuck a puzzled look.

Sonic walked over and motioned for Farrell to help him out. “Thanks for taking care of my little brother.” He said, getting the blankets out of the cabinet.

“Don’t mention it.” Farrell replied. He set Manic and Surge’s backpacks on the floor by the bedroom door.

Sonic glanced at the bedroom as he set the blankets on the futon. “So… I heard he has a bad temper.”

“His friend Terios has a worse temper than he does.” Farrell replied.

“It’s hard to believe from what I’ve heard.” Sonic said, pulling some pillows out of another cabinet.

Sonia glanced at the bedroom door. “I don’t want to bother them by asking them if they’re hungry.”

“I can give you his number so you can text him.” Farrell said, getting his phone out of his coat pocket. “That’s usually what I have to do- wait. Their phones are in their backpacks. I’ll knock on the door in a minute.”

“Okay, I guess it doesn’t make a difference if they’re a little late.” Sonia replied. She pushed around a few items in the fridge. “We’re just having turkey sandwiches anyway.”

Sonic motioned to the backpacks. “What was so important about those?” He asked. “We could’ve been captured by Swatbots over something they could’ve borrowed from Sonia and me.”

“Surge got the bags ready when I went to get Manic to speak to you and Sonia in case something went wrong.” Farrell replied. “It’s Glitch’s supplies, a handful of their clothes, and their phones and chargers. Manic had a hard time stealing any of that.”

Sonic grimaced. “I can imagine.” He said. He snapped his fingers. “I better call Mom and let her know there’s been a change of plans.”