The Fox and the Mechanic

Part 1

*Hey there, guys. I'd like to let you know that this is my very first fanfic ever on a writing site such as Wattpad, so I apologize if this story has some flaws--I am still an amateur in writing, but I'll do my best.

I first wrote this story out on paper a couple times, and the title of this on paper was initially "The Orphaned Kid and the Mechanic," but now I'm thinking that title doesn't sound too appealing, therefore I'm renaming this as "The Fox and the Mechanic" (similar to "The Fox and the Hound").

This fanfic is essentially a "prologue" of a "Ratchet and Clank" AU I came up with called "Ratchet and Clank SYNC," basically the same "Ratchet and Clank" we know except this AU features a certain character from "Sonic the Hedgehog" and we can all guess who, judging by the title of this fanfic. I'm not too sure about bringing this AU of mine to life or not, since I'm an amateur writer, and if you're not too fond of the "Ratchet and Clank" AU title here and want to help come up with a better name, feel free to let me know!

Anyways, enjoy my first fanfic!

And also, SPOILERS for the real "Ratchet and Clank!" Do not read this if you haven't played, beaten, or seen it.*

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Two familiar characters are strolling on the silver metal bridge to where they are heading to: the small garage up ahead, the home of the young now-hero of the Solana Galaxy, Ratchet.

Ratchet and his robot pal Clank were chuckling, chatting, and conversing about the epic adventure they just had. That was all new to him. For years, he longed for adventures and was very eager to go on one. He enjoyed his life on Veldin. A tad boring for many people on here, but life was at least enjoyable for the young Lombax. Eventually, that life grew restless and boring for him that it fully provoked his eagerness to explore everywhere and have a life of adventure. Now that Clank came along after crashing into his life (literally), he was certainly able to make that a reality.

"I'm telling you, Clank," Ratchet said with delight, "that was such an awesome adventure!"

"Indeed it was," replied Clank, still dragging his broken left arm.

"I knew I really need you some time in the future." But then Ratchet's grin turned into a frown that is a sign of guilt and remorse. "Although...I'm really sorry for being harsh to you earlier," as he still thought about how he berated his newfound friend after being led into a ridiculous trap set up by his former idol Captain Qwark on Umbris. His heart luckily has been changed as he felt it drop when an Infobot showed the duo the chaos being caused in Gorda City.

"It is alright, Ratchet. I forgive you," Clank reassured him. "At least we had showed Chairman Drek who is boss."

True, the duo was on an epic adventure...to stop the leader of the vicious species, the Blarg, and the mastermind behind the destruction of planets throughout the Solana Galaxy: Chairman Drek. All he wanted was a new planet for him and his species to dwell on. His original planet, Orxon, became overly polluted, overpopulated, and poisonous that he, along with the rest of his race, was no longer able to dwell there. Therefore, Drek came up with the perfect solution: construct a new planet using many desirable pieces from various other planets.

Luckily, a defect robot escaped from the robot factory on planet Quartu and unintentionally crashed on the dry, desert planet Veldin where he was found by the lone young Lombax Ratchet. With that, the robot, whom Ratchet called Clank, teamed up with him to find a certain someone who can help the newly-formed duo stop the havoc throughout Solana, only to later turn his back on them and tear apart the duo's alliance.

Eventually, the duo gradually began to be on good terms to stop the crisis of the Solana Galaxy from the malicious Blarg leader, up to the final chapter where they finally managed to defeat Chairman Drek from attempting to rid Veldin and the rest of his sinister deeds. The duo then used the Deplanetizer, the destructive weapon Drek intended to use to destroy planets, to disassemble the planet Drek built using various other planet pieces, which nearly knocked them off the course. To their luck, Clank held both of themselves onto the ledge. However, though, the little robot couldn't pull themselves back up and hold on any longer, as his arm was broken from the impact. Subsequently, he and Ratchet fell to their presumed deaths. They were about to hit the ground with a thud...when Clank thrusted Ratchet out of the way in his Thrusterpack form in the nick of time. They were lucky that they survived and saved the planet and primarily the entire Solana Galaxy, but Clank quickly became desperate when he noticed his broken arm. Ratchet became concerned, but quickly assured him that he will be fine, and shortly left him out in the opening. Still desperate, Clank was about to wander off with the broken arm of his when someone--a certain someone--called him over to fix his arm. Jumping for joy inside like a dog being adopted and accepted into a new family, the little robot, without hesitation, joined his newfound friend and stayed with him for the rest of his lifetime.

Ratchet was brought back into reality from everything that has happened. It was just marvelous. He let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah right!" as he and Clank both laughed together once more. It was just all too good to let go of.

The duo was almost there to the garage anyway. They'll talk more about their novel adventure for the rest of the night. As they say, the night is still young.

Out of nowhere, Ratchet stopped to his ears perking up to the sound of a bush rustling. Knitting his eyebrows, he cautiously turned around to where the sound came from. Clank noticed his friend stopped and looking behind.

"What is wrong, Ratchet?" he asked cautiously.

"I think something's following us," Ratchet replied slightly quietly.

Clank could see a likely suspicion in Ratchet's eyes. The young Lombax has always been this suspicious since their first adventure. He knows something is up when something is up. Carefully pulling out his Omniwrench, Ratchet slowly made his way to the one suspected plant-like bush. As he got close enough, he leaped at it with a grunt, about to slam his wrench down.

"Ah!!" came a yelp from the bush--there was no doubt someone was following the duo. A yellow orange-furred child with a pair of large pointy ears on his head somewhat similar to the Lombax's, a bit of white, two bushy tails, and no attire on besides a pair of white gloves and red and white shoes ran and swiftly climbed up away from Ratchet. Looking up, the Lombax began to notice something about the child. "Huh? A child?" he began quietly. "What is a child doing here...all alone?"

Ratchet's mind began racing. Decisively, he climbed up after the child, whose face is buried in his knees and having his back turned, as if he didn't want to face him. Gingerly, the Lombax approached him and prepared to kneel down. "Hey, kid. Are you OK?"

Before he could do anything else, the child abruptly ran away from him with speed he has never seen from an organic, giving him a huge surprise. "Whoa! Hey, wait! I didn't mean to offend you!"

Ratchet, with a bit of guilt, gazed up ahead to the cliff on the other side. But he cannot stop there; now that he has changed. Clank caught up to him, confused and concerned about what happened just now.

"I didn't mean to ambush it," Ratchet began. "He is just a...child." Without hesitation, he snapped out of it and turned to Clank behind him. "Clank, we gotta go find that kid. It's too dangerous for him to be alone out there."

Clank, however, was too hesitant. "Wait, but Ratchet--"

"I know," Ratchet quickly cut him off, "but he's only a lone child. He could get hurt by a Horny Toad or whatever's out there! We can't just leave him!"

"Ratchet--"

"Clank, please...! I promise I'll fix it when we come back!"

"Oh, very well..." Clank reluctantly accepted to go after the runaway kid, as the duo once again set off... barely.