Sonic: Rise of the Iron Dominion

The Mighty Raiju

Acorn Royal Safe House, Unknown Location

Elias had known these lands like the back of his hand. There wasn't a tree, rock or hill he didn't recognize when it came to being within the kingdom's territory. After all, he'd spent much of his youth playing in these fields while his father was in meetings, before Elias eventually left with his mother. The only parts he had not recognized, were the very woods he again had to tread like he did days before when he had been banished.

He lead ahead bravely as he was accompanied with Meg and her darling daughter. They had been tired for hours, but they knew they couldn't stop. Not when they were so close. He despised the idea of pushing a young mother and her infant so brutally, but he wouldn't do it if it weren't dangerously important.

Up ahead they were nearing a minor cliff, which looked more like a natural overhang than it did a rocky cliff. Near the lip at the top of the hill lied the Royal Safe House, that only very few people knew existed. Most of the Freedom Fighters didn't even know of its existence, other than a small group.

The structure of the safe house was unique, with the furthest wall facing away from them held up with three support pillars. The pillars rest at an angle off the edge of the lip, overlooking a small ravine. The water that ran through the ravine came plowing down the massive waterfall, that sat at an angle to the edge of the cliff. It was an absolutely beautiful sight that looked more like a small getaway cabin than it did a safe house.

Elias stopped for a moment, just to take a brief look at the structure. He knew there was no point in stopping now, since they were oh so close. But part of him wanted to take a second and enjoy the sight. Near the natural green surroundings of the house he could see ghosts of himself and his father playing, like they used to when he didn't work. Those were simpler times, times that hadn't yet been affected by war or chaos.

Snapping himself from his nostalgia fused trance, he turned back to look at Meg and Alexis. Alexis was falling asleep in the cradle carried by her mother, with Meg herself looking worn and exhausted.
"How is she?" He finally spoke, his dry voice cracking after being unused for the last few hours.
"She's tuckered out. But thankfully we're almost there. I'm not sure how much longer I could have walked, myself." Meg tried to be strong for her daughter, though she knew she was beat. Elias huffed brief air from his nose with a short lived smile. He turned to look back to the safe house, and decided to finish leading the way.

At the front door of the safe house lied a small electrical box that he and Nicole had personally added over the years. It was a way of alerting other members of the royal family or navy that someone was inside, safe from whatever conflict that pushed them into the last resort home. There was a small bulb on it with a handprint sensor in the center. The bulb worked in only three colors; green, red and yellow.
When the light was green, it meant the safe house was clear and nobody was inside, letting any royalty know immediately it wasn't occupied. Yellow indicated that someone had been inside recently, alerting that someone of royal blood had used the safe house. And red meant it was in use, and whoever was inside desperately searched for asylum.

However the bulbs current state glowed in a yellow tint. Elias' eyes slightly widened at the sight, wondering who could have used the structure within the last couple days.
He opened the small box next to it, revealing a code pad that could be used instead of a handprint. He input a code Miles had come up with for the Royal Family, and the name of the last resident appeared: Hedgehog, Sonic.

His eyes grew further, wandering if they were still inside.
"Is something wrong Elias?" Meg questioned as she saw the man studying the electrical device.
"Sonic was just here. With my sister, no doubt." He briefly explained, as he pressed his hand on the pad to unlock the door. It wasn't alarming news of any kind that they had used it, but more surprising than anything.