Rise of the Sleepers

 

A prequel set before The Slow-Mo, Voiceless Leader. Sonia tells Sonic about a finishing school run by their former caretakers Lord and Lady Windermere, with several prospective individuals hoping to advance their chances in court taking the royal etiquette seminar. Sonic decides to go to this finishing school so he can be more like the king he is destined to be. However, it turns out to be a trap set by Robotnik to capture the hedgehogs.

 

Dedicated to the true voice of Sonic, Jaleel White, as well as his cast mates on Sonic Underground.

All rights reserved are to DiC and the creators of Sonic Underground. Any resemblance to people living or dead is mere coincidence.

 

 

Chapter 1--Dreaming of Palace Life

During the last showdown between Sonic and his rival Robotnick, the siblings had come out on top and even had a soundtrack accompanying them. Sonic was even singing the lyrics as he went out for a leisurely stroll in the forest. He sang;

You might be big, you might be bad

I’ve got more support than you’ve ever had

One day the throne of Mobius we’ll run

Finish a golden era we’ve just begun

The dark will be revealed in light

And soon all that’s wrong will be made right

You’ll see

Someday, we’ll rise…

Robotnick didn’t seem horribly upset by his latest loss. In fact, he had begun brewing another perfectly horrific plan, one that would make Sonic and his siblings easy to catch. He had been formulating a brilliant scheme that incorporated his latest droid, called the ‘Sleeper’, which, although unintimidating by name was insidious by nature. This droid, once mass produced, would emit a soporific lullaby that he and his troop would need earplugs to block, lest they fall prey to its wiles.

The Sleepers were only ‘wave 1’ of the plan. ‘Wave 2’ was already in place. Around every tree, Doctor Robotnick had posted meticulously made art noveau posters stating

‘Lady Windmere’s Finishing School, Where We Bring out the Prince or Princess in You !’. It was a simplistic campaign and tagline to interest the desired party. It was far too perfect of a ploy to reel in the oblivious hedgehogs. There would be no escaping the power of the Sleeper’s lullabies once they were sprung on the unsuspecting siblings. What Sonic didn’t know now would cost him, his family and all of Mobius, dearly. Yet, he never asked any questions of Sonia, Manic or anyone else. Tails had been doing surviellience and hadn’t seen anything suspicious to report,and he was always a true-blue friend to count on. If anything, he would be officially welcomed into Sonic’s family once he took the throne. He would be one of Sonic’s many knights and Tails, honestly, couldn’t be more honored in one day knowing his official title would be ‘Sir Tails’.

Sonic returned home after stopping by his favorite chili dog food truck and getting chili dogs, soda and crinkle cut fries for him and his siblings.

‘Woo-hoo ! Grub ! Man, I was wondering if you were ever coming back, bro. What took ya ?’, Manic asked. Sonia hugged her brother from the side and she received an obligatory noogie from him. They laughed for a while as he discussed his business of the day and how he came across a flier advertising finishing school.

‘I didn’t even think Lady Windmere would be teaching such concepts. I mean, I know she raised us and everything but shouldn’t she be retiring ?’, Sonia pondered aloud. Age really shouldn’t have been a defining factor. Windmere was plucky, spry and nimble, even if she did sport a few grey strands of fur.

‘I’ve been meaning to get trained for a long time. We could all use it.’, Manic said, frankly.

Sonic knew his etiquette needed a bit of fine tuning before he became regent. It would take time, but

they would all attend this school and by the time Lady Windemere was done with them, they would be refined young hedgehogs.

Chapter 2—The Trap Door Springs Shut

The next day, Sonic climbed up a tree, spying on the finishing school through a window.
'Look at everyone coming in !', Sonic said in surprise. Just then, Lord Windermere approached and spotted him.
'Knowing you, Prince Sonic, I would think the door would be a more graceful entrance... but then again, climbing is very good exercise for the future king, just as I have taught you at the estate.', Lord Tannen Windermere said with a warm smile.

‘I’m here for the training, as are the rest of the gang.’, Sonic stated plainly. It was then that Lord Windmere’s image began to quiver, quaver and dissipate. From the east, drones came sweeping in and began playing a slower version of May the Children Light the Way, which is a song the Underground had played to rally troops in the very beginning of forming the Resistance. The Rebels were a small band and against Robotnick, they were puny but with the song being broadcast to thousands, the Resistance continued mounting. Ironically, the music was weaponized against the siblings and everyone nearby that could hear it.

‘Don’t listen to it !’, Sonia said. It broke her heart that the song she and her family had written so long ago was artillery, but she had planned for just such an onslaught as this.

‘Close your ears !’, she shouted. The siblings were beginning to fall prey to the lullaby of the Sleepers. Up and down, they bobbed rhythmically to the waltz-time version of the Underground song. Manic felt his eyelids droop first until Sonia stuck earplugs into his ears. Then came Sonic, and lastly, herself.

‘Today won’t be the day we’re fooled by some namby-pamby lullaby !’, Manic shrieked. He and his siblings underwent a magical transformation that not even they knew they had within them. It came from their brooches, which they had on their person at all times. True and pure emotions activated the crystal brooches, and each had their own power encapsulated, that, once released, were truly a force to be reckoned with. Sonic's transformation was with energy ribbons as red as his sneakers (with the royal "H and C" familial crest on them), Manic's was with ribbons of green lightning and Sonia's was with golden ribbons that shined like the Mobian sun. To complete the transformation, Sonic received a crown similar to his mother's (indicating his ultimate claim to the throne). With a ring of golden light moving up from their feet, the ribbons solidified into new outfits.
'Wow !', Sonic exclaimed. 'Incredible !' They were all now dressed in white armored outfits very much alike the one worn by their mother. Although each of their rainments were elaborate and colorful, the fabric was very breathable and maneuverable; exceptional for fighting.

Sonic had a sword to strike down Sleepers with. Sonia had a staff that bore a heart surrounded by cherubic wings and the Hedgehog crest, while Manic had yo yos that would retract knives when activated. One by one, the Sleepers began to crash and burn. From a distance in his fortress high above the mountains, Ivo Robotnick sneered. He should’ve known that the hedgehogs would’ve been cleverer than he planned.

‘No. We’re not done yet. Snively, deploy the Harvester.’, he said, grimly. Snively thought that his CEO was going a bit too far, but since the hedgehogs were young and the Resistance hadn’t yet formed, he wanted to stop it in its tracks before dissension took root.

‘Sir...they’re children.’, he finally said, in a mere squeak that made his voice crack. Ivo chortled. Snively was never one to disrespect direct orders or challenge his authority, so this disobedience was new. .

‘You sound like a hoarse goose, Snively. Speak up.’, Robotnick growled, his teeth gritted. His ire was already at the hilt and he was near his explosive point. Snively reiterated how he felt. Ivo picked him up by the collar, clasped his bionic hand around his neck and began to choke him.

‘Do what I tell you do. Bury your ethics. This is about survival and what belongs to me. Mobius is a playground that I should be in charge of. I won’t let anything or anyone stand in my way.’, Robotnick sneered. Snively, being dropped to the ground, coughed, regaining his oxygen. The room spun for a moment as he regained his bearings and initiated the Harvester. It was a behemoth, towering over most trees and buildings. Silver, whirring with its saw blades, this metallic beast of destruction took no prisoners and acted upon one command; Kill.

There were trees being felled in the forest, whole copses of them. Armed with a brilliant kitana, Sonic was the first to see the Harvester and reacted immediately. Manic nearly got a haircut, not seeing the gargantuan mech storming into the fray. Other droids and robots had already been beaten, thanks to the magical elements they had been imbued with. Their embossed jewels glowed, reflecting the purity of their warriors’ hearts. Blazing into ‘infinite mode’, all of them shone as if their own hearts illuminated them from the inside out. They had achieved their ultimate form, not really understanding how or why. In a blaze of light, the Harvester was cut into segments, leaving twitching blades on the forest floor. The cameras in the mech were still functional. Sonic stood over them, looking stoic and resolute.

‘Really ? This is how low you’ll stoop, Ivo ? Give up already. We’ve taken out your lumberjack. Time to resign for the day.’, Sonic said as he sliced the spinning blades from the dying Harvester and crushed its cameras to bits. Manic and Sonia were impressed at his newfound agility.

‘I guess this means no charm school for us.’, Manic said, obviously.

‘Duh, bro. We’re going to have to find Lady Windmere. She’s around, but it’ll take us a while to locate her again. We’ll need to be discreet. For now, let’s get out of here before Robuttnick sends a cavalry.’, Sonia stated, thoughtfully. The wreckage left behind

Chapter 3—Underground Prep School

It took Sonia a bit of investigating from animals in Mobius and through her own computer network she had built on her tablet, Gina. Gina was quite the peppy assistant, even if she was artificial. She had been built upon a friend she had lost long ago due to separation. She hadn’t seen her flying squirrel friend in years but she had a feeling that Gina Maplethorne would find her someday. Right now, she simply had to focus on fleeing with her brethren and finding Lady Windmere once more.

  It took some digging, but Windemere had built herself her own little catacomb, far beneath Mobius. She knew that Robotnick would sniff her out. She had done everything she could to get the siblings to the Oracle and protect them as much as she could without physically being there alongside them. There was only so much she could do, even with her regal influence. Underground, she had a network of intel working for her and keeping her informed. Information passed by word of mouth even in a very advanced society. This was the only way she knew any data she received was factual and uncorrupted. She got a transmission from Sonia by parchment, carried by one of her faithful mail carriers, Doug, a roadrunner. Doug was a bird of few words but he was exceptionally prompt and reliable. Windmere sent a message back and told Sonia and her siblings to come by night. They would learn all they could, as well as defense techniques. In her finishing school, combat training was just as important or more so than becoming prim and proper individuals.

Chapter 4—Silica Catacombs

Upon arrival, the siblings began their training for their royal destinies. Sonia began to update their message system as well as everything else. With the silica, she could build whatever she wanted. With those in the miniature Resistance who were technically savvy and engineering minded, she taught them how to build and the Catacombs soon became HQ to what would eventually become the ‘Core’ of the Resistance. Every parcel of information, every code; it terminated here for execution in the real world. They would have to band together and send a rallying cry into Mobius. It would begin as a whisper, but someday, it would turn into a mighty roar.

Day by day, Sonic dreamy of seeing Amy. As a child, he and she had been playmates. He never thought that they would be husband and wife, but he had to prepare for that time. Honestly, he looked forward to it. Only she could help him create the vision of Mobius he had seen ever since he had been young. Mobius would be liberated, but until that time came, he sang a song to remind him.

When tomorrow comes

We’ll be walkin’ on the sun

Na na na na na na na

Oh, when tomorrow comes

We’ll have nothin’ but fun

The song came to an abrupt stop and dinner had been served.

Windemere wanted to test them to see how well their poise and posture had improved. She had to be certain they were ready for the outside world and eventually, how they would present themselves as royals.

The dinner was a massive success. Sonic didn’t slurp, Manic didn’t burp and Sonia kept her spine straight and shoulders back. All of them were polite and even complimented the chef on the food. It wasn’t hard, either, since the food was so succulent. The siblings weren’t used to having big, oppulent meals, especially on the run. Windemere was aware this would be the last time she would be seeing them. She had told them to pack their things and start moving. They would have to return to their stronghold in Mobius, where they had come from. The siblings knew what to do and they were aware the signet jewels would protect them. These had been made from the time they were in utero, waiting to come into the world. A great mage, Wolfthorpe, had infused the crystals with their own innate and unique essence; each would respond only to the proper hedgehog that held them. This ‘armor’ that would come from the transformation the crystals awakened would keep the hedgehogs safe. Windmere knew this and reminded her beloved ‘children’ to keep the amulets safe and wear them at all times. Sonic and the others nodded and slipped away, sneakily, out of the Catacombs by nightfall. None of the SWATbots would see or find them. They were on the move now, and since they had come of age, it was time for them to begin rallying the animals together as one to begin what had been prophesied years prior.

Epilogue

It began as all radical movements do, but more so with a concerted effort to resist being roboticized. If they were taken, the animals began to fight back and do all they could to escape. Some managed to do so since they were fighters and they broke free, tooth and claw. The ranks were thinning and morale was dropping but Sonic and his siblings knew they had to continue encouraging the Resistance. It was only mere embers, but someday, soon, it would become a flame that would never die. Someday, he would be King and be reunited with his Amy Rose. Until that time, the battle grew more intense but the allies grew bolder, braver and more brazen.

The true Resistance had begun.

To be continued in ‘The Slo Mo Voiceless Leader’