Sir Swift (A Sonic the Hedgehog story)

Chapter 9 - My Bounty

Swift had decided to stay at the Croc's den for one more day, since he noticed the gray clouds becoming heavy – an almost sure way of foretelling that rain would come. The tavern's caretakers agreed to let Swift stay until the rain stopped. During his stay, he got to know the two reptiles and the bee. Swift learnt why the three bounties (which they ran like scared little 4-year-old-girls) called Victor, "Victor the Victorious". He explained The Gellmyesh Battle to Swift and that it was on-going for 600 years between two rival lands, Gellmyesh - Victor's homeland; and Arosstik – the enemy land. But all that changed when he joined the fight. After training for 11 years, Victor had become part of Gellmyesh's armies. He quickly gained a reputation for attacking the opposed side with nothing but his hammer and after his first victory, the people of Gellmyesh started to call him Victor the Victorious, for always bringing victory in battle.

Espio came from the Eastern lands for 'personal' reasons which were as far as he would let on. (Ninjas, they are so strict on keeping secrets)

Christen surprised Swift a lot when he told him he was a prince from another kingdom. The young bee explained that being a royal was, in his words, "Too boring, too dull, no excitement and too many politics which were stupid." Swift just took his word because he didn't know anything about being a royal.

The tavern caretakers dished up some pretty good food. It surprised him that the Croc's den was not packed and that he was their first customer... ever. Swift only told them that he was traveling Galotem and when he's done with that... actually, he never thought that far ahead.

"What will I do when I kick Lee-ana off of her thrown?" asked Swift in his mind, so Victor, Espio and Christen wouldn't know about his secret mission.

Unknown forest with the three bounties

"I can't believe we lived to tell how the three of us survived Victor the Victorious." Said Edger who was sitting on a rock and still couldn't comprehend what he experienced. His life almost ended by Victor the Victorious and who was that blue hedgehog? "He moved so fast that I didn't even see him, like the wind too swift to be seen by anyone."

The Bulldogs were mumbling with each other about Victor until all three heard footsteps coming from their direction and getting louder with every step.

So the criminals prepared themselves for what they were good at, without knowing the great danger to come. Maxwell was hiding behind a boulder 10 feet away. Lucas was doing the same but with a tree. Finally Edger was hidden in the branches of the trees while all three were counting down in their minds to attack.

"4..." thought Edger while on habit wiggling his silver claws.

"3..." thought Maxwell, tightening the grip of his swords.

"2..." thought Lucas, doing the same with the axe.

And when the stranger was on the spot-

"1!" all three shouted, attacking from three angles, with the Bulldogs flanking from the left and the right while the lion dropped down from the trees. Everything seemed like time was moving slowly when the three criminals were a few feet away from their prey.

The target vanished and the three weapons struck the ground; Edger, Lucas and Maxwell had faces that said 'what just happened!!?' Their answer came in the form of a red light shining from behind the brown lion, making a strange sound. And before they had a chance to look, the bounties were sent flying 14 feet away. But Lucas and Maxwell's weapons were separated from them; however Edger's silver claws were shattered. All three lay on the rocky land with slightly burnt clothing.

"What was that light?" Lucas asked in an aching and confused voice while trying to get on his feet but only managing to sit.

"You took the words...-oh you have got to be kidding me." Edger started but then his voice trailed from annoyed to terrified.