Sonic The Hedgehog

Chapter 2

Sonic raced through the forest floor, curling up into a spiny ball and catapulting himself down a hill. Sonic laughed as he rolled himself into a small opening in a medium-sized cave. It didn't look like much on the outside, but on the inside it was a whole different ballpark. Movie posters were taped all over the walls, christmas lights of every variety had been strewn all over the roof of the cave, and there was some decorations for good measure. A beanbag was sitting on the floor right next to a huge stack of comic books. There was hammock hung in between two huge and sturdy stalagmites that served as Sonic's bedding. For entertainment, there was a large ping-pong table complete with paddles and the ping pong balls. Sonic even fashioned a swing out of strong vines and a wooden plank that hung from the right corner of the cave. Sonic leaped onto the makeshift swing as he spun himself around in circles while chuckling to himself.

[Wait, did you honestly think I was some dirty little homeless hedgehog who had to forage for berries all day? Pfft, come on! I was living my best life in Soleanna. I had my own library, a personal gym, entertainment, and even a little home defense system that involves nunchuks. All in all, my home was just perfect.]

Sonic leaped from the swing and onto his beanbag with a thud. However, Sonic hadn't noticed the small brown pouch sitting on the edge as he jumped on the soft furniture and knocked it over. Sonic nearly screamed as several golden rings spilled onto the floor.

"No, no, no!" Sonic gasped, grabbing the rings and shoving them back in the pouch. He took one of the rings and a map Longclaw put in the pouch and examined it carefully before throwing the ring. The once small golden hoop flashed with light as it enlarged into a glimmering portal leading to a mushroom planet.

[Longclaw told me if I am ever discovered, I have to use these rings to travel to another planet. Unfortunately, said planet was a world filled with nothing but giant mushrooms.]

"I hate mushrooms...." Sonic mused to himself.

***

Later that evening, as the mother and daughter were just about ready start their evening relaxing, Elise had led Shenzi to the kitchen with a barely hidden smile on her face.

"Elise, what's with all the giddyness?" Shenzi asked with a half-grin. Elise opened one of the kitchen drawers and took out a letter, handing it to the she-leopard.

"Open it." She said. Shenzi looked at her adoptive mother with a slightly puzzled glance.

"Please tell me this isn't our electric bill...."

"Just open it, Shenzi."

With a slight roll of her eyes, Shenzi sliced the envelope open with a claw and took out a letter, reading it intently. Before long, a huge smile slowly creeped on the leopard's face.

"I... I GOT IN!" Shenzi excitedly exclaimed before Elise and her shrieked with joy and embraced each other in a big hug. The letter was, in fact, a certificate that decreed  that the snow leopard had been given a proper examination, and was now going to be entering into one of the highest schools for the Royal Guard. She'd be going to China! Over there was where some of the fiercest warriors met and battled it out to be top dog. As well as train and become elite fighters. It wasn't all just about that, though. The school would give the proper education needed for self-defense and opposition. The snow leopard couldn't have been more excited!

"Oh my Solaris, this is amazing! I'm actually going to become one of the Elites!! I can't believe it!" Shenzi excitedly squealed.

"You better believe it. Now, how about we celebrate with some cake and a movie?" Elise suggested before leading Shenzi to the living room. Later on, as the mother and daughter spent the rest of their evening watching TV, Sonic peeked into the castle via a window.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon..." Sonic begged, crossing his fingers as the title "Speed" flashed on the screen.

"Yes! Keanu, you are a national treasure!" He quietly exclaimed. Elise and Shenzi, unaware of the blue hedgehog peering through the window behind them, were snuggled up on the couch as they celebrated the good news with some red velvet cake which the cat greedily gobbled up fork by fork chop. Shenzi was also paired in some black sweatpants and a t-shirt, and even then, she still wore her boxer tape.

"I still can't believe you like to watch this." Elise said with a chuckle, as the snow leopard leaned back and curled her legs up into a pretzel-motion.

"It's Keanu. He's a national treasure." Shenzi replied straightforwardly, making her adopted mother let out a giggle before she ruffled the cat's hair. The two snuggled up even closer as they watched the movie. Shenzi let out a instinctual purr as she laid on her mother's lap while Elise gently stroke her hair. Sonic slinked down from the window, plopping down on the concrete floor and walking away. As he walked off, Sonic looked back and watched Shenzi and Elise snuggle up close to each other. His smile slowly disappeared as his once happy face became rather crestfallen.

[Y'know that feeling when you're living in a town full of people and you're not allowed to speak to any of them? Yeah. I know that feeling very well. I enjoy living in Soleanna but, there are many times that I.... I wish I didn't have to do it alone...]

Sonic let out a drawn out sigh, hanging his head low as he dejectedly walked away from the castle.