A Thief's Heart
Part One
Manic sat still as Sonic carried him and
Sonia towards Knothole. They had never met anyone from Sonic's old
group of resistance fighters except for Knuckles and he wanted to meet
Princess Sally, especially after hearing so much about her from Sonic.
A long time ago, their two families had ruled over Mobius jointedly, unfortunately
Robotnik ruined that for everyone.
"Okay guys, we're here. Just
wait here until I have a chance to let them know about you guys."
"Sure Sonic, no prob."
"Be right back." With that he
was gone in a blue blur.
"So are you nervous Manic?"
He turned his green, spiked head towards
his sister. "Nah, I mean if they're half as cool as Sonic, this'll
be fun."
"Maybe you're right."
He put an aarm around his older sister's
shoulders. "Course I am sis, you'll see."
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Sonic zoomed into knothole, narrowly
avoiding crashing into Bunny. "Bunny!"
Bunny's eyes widdened in surprise.
"Sugarhog, that you?"
"In the quils, Bunny. Long time
no see." Anything else Sonic might have said was lost in Bunny's
bone-crushing hug. "Uh, Bun I kinda need my ribs intact."
"Oh sure, Sugahog. It's just
that I'm so happy ta see ya. I gotta go tell Sally. You just
wait your cure little ole self here."
"Uh, Bunny. I actually have
a couple of people with me. I'll go get them and be right back.
Get everyone together. Ciao." With that he sped back, barely
taking enough time to stop and explain to his siblings before grabbing
them and high-tailing it back.
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Manic stepped down and looked around
at the unfamilar faces and watched as his brother was greeted by pretty
much everybody.
"Hey everybody, chill. I have
a couple of people I'd like to introduce..."
Sally gave him a strange look as she
took in Sonia. "A new girlfriend?"
Sonia stood still a moment before
doubling over in laughter.
Manic stared at Princess Sally.
"No way. You think Sonia and Sonic. Oh, like, gross!
Bro, man do I think you gotta lot of stuff to explain."
"Yah, Manic, I have ta agree with
ya there."
Sonia seemed to catch her breath,
"Sorry Sonic. But me and you... Man even if we weren't related there
is no way I'd be caught dead..."
"Um, Sonia."
Manic waited till she looked at him.
"I think that's enough, I mean give Sonic a break, kay. I know he
got your point."
She seemed a little miffed at the
statement but turned to the confussed Knotholers. "Sorry, about that
but Sonic, Manic and I are triplets."
"Does that mean they're your brother
and sister, Sonic?"
Manic ran a hand through his green
quils as he looked at a young fox with two-tails.
His brother knelt down beside the
kid. "That's right Tails. Sonia's about a minute younger than
me and was raised by Lady Windimere and Manic is about two minutes younger
and was raised by a theif called Farrel."
The kid, Tails, looked up at Manic
with wide eyes. "You were raised by a theif?"
The words brought back hurtful memories
but Manic squashed them, Farrel had been his best friend. "Yep, at
least for a while I was."
"Cool."
"Now Tails, honey, you know that stealings
wrong..." Bunny started but Sonic and Sonia cut her off, both watching
Manic like hawks.
"Look, she has a right to think what
she wants. Still... but nah, she's just trying to teach the kid good
things. Best to leave it at that. I'm going to do a little
exploring while you two bring the other Freedom Fighters up to date, kay?"
Sonia started to reach out to her
younger brother but changed her mind quickly at the dark looke he gave
her, "Uh, sure Manic, just be careful okay."
He shrugged, "Yah, whatever."
He started to turn away, then stopped. "Hey Tails. Did you
want to be my guide, Dude?"
Nodding eagerly he ran up to Manic.
"You bet."
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As soon as they were out of sight
Sonic turned back to Bunny. "Bun, do me a favour and don't talk about
stealing and stuff around Manic."
"Well, why on Earth should I do that,
Sugahog?" Her hands were on her hips as she faced him but it was
Sonia who spoke.
"Let's just say it's a touchy subject..."