The Theft of the Crown

Synopsis:   During a five-month Tour of the Provinces, the Crown of Mobius is stolen in the middle of the night.   

Chapter 1—Reconnecting with Coconuts  

Everyone in the Royal Castle in Mobotropolis had been hard at work, particularly with defense techniques, education and maintaining the symbiotic network that kept Mobodoon’s technology state of the art and functional.   It had been Sonic’s grand scheme to have a 5 month fall break and once the new year began, everything would resume as scheduled in their royal itinerary.  

‘I cannot wait to see the Provinces !  I have always wanted to see them for myself.’, Rouge stated, eagerness in her tone.   She had recently married her long-time boyfriend Caveat.   Caveat was a fruit bat that wasn’t one for words and preferred being insular, low-key and introverted.   That didn’t mean he didn’t like rocking out with Sonic’s band playing a double bass lickety-split but he really enjoyed his alone time. 

‘This is going to be the respite we all so desperately need.’, Antoine concurred.   With all the reservations set in advance, the family and friends got their luggage ready, trumpeted for the valets and quickly left. 

Along the way to one of the provinces, a lone familiar monkey sat holding a sign beside the road.   He had been de-roboticized, but it was obvious who the recognizable mug belonged to.   

‘That’s Coconuts.   We tried to help him out before.   He did his best to fight the Revolution and stick with Robotnick.’, Manic stated, surprised that Coconuts was on the street, homeless and very much down on his luck.   

Coconuts’ fur had become long, matted, unkempt and unruly.   He was so dirty he almost looked like something foreign and unknown, rather than the monkey everyone knew him as.    He looked at the group, rather embarrassed.   He tried hiding his face behind his dirty fur, not wanting anyone to see him in this state.   

‘Coconuts !  We’ll help you !’, Sonia said, as the royal legion approached him, slowly but compassionately.   

‘I do need your help.  Before, I tried to avoid it at all costs.  Pride, I suppose.  So many have turned me down due to my allegiance.   Ivo is long since dead and so are any ties I have with him.   I’d rather fight for the side of good.’, Coconuts said, apologetically.    Sonic reached out a hand to an old enemy, now turned ally.   During the Resistance, he had fought as best he could but found himself without his main source of provisions once Ivo had been killed.   After that, it was a rocky road downhill and there didn’t seem to be much ascension.   Sonic and his friends decided that Coconuts’ redemption was more than worth it, and with a wealth of experiences, he would prove a very integral ally.   

Chapter 2—A Shocking New Year 

Sonic and his family spent blissful ignorance in the Provinces, celebrating with the local folk wherever they went.   He and the Royal family were quite popular and it seemed everywhere they went, there were celebrations to be held, babies to be kissed, christened, dedicated or brised.   Everyone was in festive spirits and there seemed to be no end to the fun the Royal family had.  In fact, Sonic got the old band back together and did a little touring before the holiday season commenced.   

By the time Sonic and his hedgehoglets returned, Sonic’s prize crown had gone missing.  The incredibly complex security system had been overridden and the castle was a complete pigsty.    

‘Firstly, we need to get this place cleaned up.’, Sonia said, sticking out her tongue in disgust. 

‘Actually, I can find out who committed the crime.’, Cecil said.   The whole family wasn’t surprised that Cecil Robotnick could use his powers of deductive reasoning and forensic abilities to discover who the culprit was.    Whoever had taken the crown was miles away by now, but at least they were only inches away in discovering who was responsible for the crime.   

Chapter 3—Justice Will Out 

After doing all his initial research, Cecil had found without a doubt that the Hawker had been the one that absconded with the royal crown.   Although it was a piece of jewelry that signified Sonic’s sovereignty over Mobius, it was only that; jewelry.   He didn’t need it, per se, but it was a family heirloom and quite priceless.   It was likely that the Hawker would most likely auction the crown off to the highest bidder at a sky-high price.   

‘I know that tricky hawk.   He was the one that recruited me for Robotnick.   Looks like he hasn’t changed at all.’, Coconuts said, with some contempt in his tone.   Hawker himself wasn’t really pleased to see any of them.   He had come to the hedgehoglets’ birthday out of spite only to gauge the lay of the land and scour the castle with a nanobug he had especially programmed to map the Mobian castle with.   Obviously, the plan had worked because he had his prize in hand. 

‘Can’t you see I’m busy ?’, Hawker asked, in an irritated tone.    Sonic furrowed his brow. 

‘What possessed you to take what’s not yours ?’, Sonic questioned.   

‘Yeah, that crown is special to ALL of us.’, Manic chimed in.    Hawker began to feel guilt for his actions.   He had remembered the presents he had given to the siblings and they still liked him.  They were calling him ‘Uncle Hawk’ and looking at the bits and bobs in his pockets.    

‘Life may be simple for you, but it isn’t for traveling auctioneers like me.   Sure, I live off the land but there’s been a bit of a hiring freeze.  You wouldn’t be aware of that because of your location…’, Hawker confessed.    There was some ruefulness in his timbre.    Sonic still didn’t know if he could trust Hawker or not, but he would do what he could through his workforce initiative to entrust more Mobians were getting hired and able to be self-sufficient.   With a little elbow grease, Mobius was about to polish like a spanking new Chaos Emerald. 

Chapter 4—Hawker’s Turnabout 

Hawker would be prosecuted properly for thievery, but he showed promise of repenting.   Sonic, Amy, and the entire family knew that Hawker had been doing what he was accustomed to.  With a bit of work and reassigning, the young hawk could leave his life of crime behind.   

It took a few months, but Hawker never once thought of flimflamming or taking advantage of someone using his intellect against them.    Sonic then had a brilliant plan.   Since Hawker was such an incredible actuary, he thought of implementing his financially spectacular mind.    It was obvious Hawker had grand ideas for the future surrounding the economy of Mobius.    In time, with his help, Sonic and he would make it more ideal.    In this way, Hawker was erasing years of mistrust, building good relationships with the hedgehoglets and becoming a good model of frugality for the entire Kingdom.  

Epilogue

A whole season: the Celebration of Leaves turning, Gratitude, remembrance of those who had died and the saints that went Beyond, Wintertide and the heralding of a new year had all come to Mobius.    The ‘Fun Uncle’ had become part of the family.   He had rebuilt the security system and had begun a new system of stocks that helped the Mobian economy grow.  In fact, Hawk had life so plush that he had his own hamlet in the country where he lived with his family.   He made certain that no one else was ever going to steal anything from the Hedgehog prickle ever again.    He had a full, beautiful life that he wouldn’t trade.   Walking the narrow path certainly had its perks.   

To Be Continued…