FicWad

Nearly three years had passed since Sonic ran away.

Sonia had almost finished planning Manic’s escape, something he was silently holding her to if the death glares he would give her whenever they crossed paths were any indication.

Her father had made her efforts a lot harder. Guards were tripled and she rarely had a moment to speak with her little brother as he was constantly being instructed in royal duties, made to go on sham dates with Amy, and getting lectured by their dad more so than he had done before Sonic left.

She finally saw Manic in the hallway as he was being escorted to his room by their guards Shadow and Knuckles.

Sonia smirked. She knew Shadow loved her and that would make it easier for her to manipulate him to help her. Sonia grimaced at the thought. She hated to do that to Shadow as she loved him as well, though they couldn’t act on their feelings due to royalty customs.

Sonia turned around and followed Shadow, Knuckles, and Manic.

Manic made it to his room while Shadow and Knuckles stood guard.

“May I speak to my brother?” Sonia asked.

Shadow looked at Knuckles. “Let her in.”

Knuckles opened the door.

Sonia nodded. “Thank you.” She said as she walked into the room.

Knuckles shut the door behind her.

Manic was laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

“What’s wrong?” Sonia asked.

Manic huffed. “Go away. ‘M not speaking to you.”

“Come on, tell me.” Sonia said. “If you don’t, then I won’t tell you something.”

Manic sighed. “I’m having a hard time not hating Dad.”

“What happened?” Sonia asked.

“I said I’d rather you be queen and would abdicate the throne.” Manic replied. “I told Dad that my feelings toward Amy haven’t changed and that these forced dates have only made me resent her. He basically said ‘tough luck’.”

Sonia sat down at Manic’s feet.

“I told him there was no point in marrying me off.” Manic said. “I’ll be king regardless if I marry or not and even if he marries me off, there’s not gonna be any heirs. I don’t even want to look at Amy, let alone anything else.”

“What did he say to that?” Sonia asked.

“That I had to have heirs.” Manic replied. “It’s in the customs.”

Sonia slowly nodded.

“I don’t want to do this, sis.” Manic said, voice shaking. “It’s bad enough that I have to marry a girl I can’t stand, now I find out I’ll be forced to father children with her. What kind of sick custom is this?”

“I’ll get you out tonight.” Sonia replied. “Shadow and Knuckles have the guard shift until then. I’ll have them say you slipped out as soon as the guard change happened.”

“Thanks, sis.” Manic said. He sat up and hugged Sonia.

“You’re welcome.” Sonia replied. “Now, let me handle this.”

Manic let Sonia go. “Right, right.” He said. “I better pack and write a note.”

Sonia left the room, shutting the door behind her. “Shadow?”

“Yes, your highness?” Shadow asked.

“I need you to do me a favor.” Sonia replied. “Let Prince Manic escape tonight.”

“What?” Knuckles and Shadow asked.

“Just say he escaped during the guard change.” Sonia said. She rubbed Shadow’s shoulder. “You love me, don’t you, Shadow?”

“You know there’s no way we can be together.” Shadow replied.

“I can try to change that.” Sonia said, smiling. “Dad may be so distraught, he’ll let me marry you to keep me happy. It’s better than not trying at all, don’t you think?”

Shadow nodded.

Knuckles looked at Shadow. “Are you out of your mind?”

“I can set you up with Rouge, Knux.” Sonia said. “She does like you.”

“Alright, I’m in.” Knuckles replied.

Sonia smirked. “Perfect.”

*

Sonia was led to her dad’s study by Shadow and Knuckles bright and early that morning. She tried not to smile as she realized her plan was going well.

If it wasn’t, Shadow and Knuckles wouldn’t be leading her to a meeting with her dad. Instead, they would be executed.

Sonia finally made it to the study. “You called me, Dad?” She asked. “Where’s Manic?”

“He ran away.” Brenden replied. “Left a note, just like Sonic. The guards that took over for Shadow and Knuckles were at fault.”

Sonia hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, dear.” Brenden replied. “Shadow, Knuckles, can you two leave us?”

“Yes, your majesty.” Knuckles and Shadow said. They left the room.

Brenden sighed. “I wish things had been different. I really do.” He said. “I tried to change the laws, but it’s still being held up. The council won’t budge on it. I never wanted to put Manic through that.”

“Didn’t you tell him that?” Sonia asked.

“I wish I had.” Brenden replied. “I didn’t tell him since I couldn’t change the laws. I thought there wasn’t any point in telling him. Clearly, I was wrong.”

Sonia frowned. “I’m sorry.” She said, hugging her dad.

“No, no; it was my fault.” Brenden replied. “Go on, you have your lessons and I have things to arrange.”

“Yes, Dad.” Sonia said. She left the room. She thought about the search efforts that were most likely in effect as she walked to the royal classroom.

“I hope he can hide well.” Sonia thought. “Maybe he’ll find Sonic. I hope so.”

*

~meanwhile~

Manic arrived in Port Mobius with just the clothes he was wearing and a handful of his favorite belongings in his backpack. He pulled his hood over his head, hoping no one recognized him.

He froze as he saw Sonic and Sally walking down the street. “Bro?”

Sonic saw Manic and hurried over to him. He hugged his little brother. “Oh, I missed you.” He said. “I’m sorry, bro.”

“We’re cool.” Manic replied. “I’m out now.”

Sonic walked Manic and Sally to an alley. “You can stay with us.” He said. “We’re living in Green Hills.”

“I thought you wanted to travel.” Manic replied.

“We do, but we need a place to stay to relax.” Sonic said. He grinned. “Hey, uh… so… you want to be my best man? We’re getting married next week.”

Manic grinned. “Of course.”

“Oh, there’s a girl in the village you’d get along with.” Sally said. “You could go to the wedding with her.”

Manic sighed. “Please, I already escaped a fix up.”

“Didn’t say you had to marry Surge.” Sally said. “Just saying she looks like your type and I think you’d get along with her.”

“Eh, I’m ready to go back to Green Hills.” Sonic said. “Are you two ready to go?”

Sally and Manic shrugged.

“Why not?” Manic asked.

Sonic tossed a ring into the air.

Sonic, Sally, and Manic stepped through it.

“You could’ve used that to rescue me.” Manic said.

“I did; I checked your room, you weren’t there.” Sonic replied. “Found your note, then we went looking for you. We just got these perfected a few days ago.”

Tails, Sticks, and Kit hurried over to Sonic.

“Hey, bro.” Sonic said, ruffling Tails’ head fur. “We found Manic. Manic, this is my little bro Tails.”

“Nice to meet you, Manic.” Tails said. “We’ve heard all about you.”

“This is Sticks and Kit.” Sonic said, motioning to the two friends.

“Do they have you under mind control?” Sticks asked.

Manic laughed nervously. “No….”

“Ah, don’t worry about her.” Sonic said. “She’s a little nutty, but a great friend.”

“Cool spines, Manic.” Kit said, grinning. “You could be Surge’s twin, but she’s a tenrec.”

“Thanks, I like your wristbands.” Manic replied.

“I can make you some if you want.” Kit said.

Sonic led everyone further into the village.

“When Eggman isn’t bothering us, that is.” Kit said.

“Yeah, you’ll have to help fight him, bro.” Sonic said. “Right now, he’s on vacation.”

Surge walked over, adjusting her spine band. “You finally found him?”

Manic smirked.

Sonic put his arm around Manic’s shoulders. “Yep, this is Manic.” He said. “Manic, this is Surge.”

Surge played with Manic’s spines. “I’m surprised they let you grow your spines long.”

“I know.” Manic said. “I couldn’t get wristbands like yours or any cool clothes.”

Surge grabbed Manic’s arm and dragged him along. “You’re going shopping.”

“See you at your house, bro.” Manic said over his shoulder. He slid his hand into Surge’s hand.

Sonic laughed. “Have fun, bro.” He replied. He looked at Sally. “I knew he’d like her.”