The Theft of the Shoes

Synopsis:   King Sonic’s world famous red power sneakers are stolen by fashion designer Peltra after Steve Urkel’s children accidentally set off a portal chain reaction across the known multiverses.    

‘Gonna get a little weird

Gonna get a little wild 

I’m not from ‘round here

I’m from another dimension.’—some lyrics from Star Vs. the Forces of Evil theme song 

Chapter 1—No Running in the Lab ! 

Steve Urkel had been working out the glitches to his latest time machine, and most of the time, he left his magnum opus unplugged.    He had tested it a multitude of times and it was functioning well, but there were the isolated bugs that happened occasionally as were suspected in most newly minted pieces of technology.   

It was a weekend.   Steve and Laura’s kids were playing in the laboratory as usual, figuring out what chemical elements did.    They wanted to be scientists themselves and were already on a fast track to becoming little chemists.    One of them wanted to play tag with her brothers and accidentally ran into Steve’s time machine.   She fell on her rump and laughed.   Steve rushed after hearing her fall and reproved her.

‘How many times have I told you ?  There’s no running in the lab, sweetheart.’, Steve said, gently, helping her up.   One of her brothers or sisters could’ve assisted her, but they were busy playing tag with her and had gone to hide as to avoid getting tagged.   

‘I know, daddy.   However, you let us play with our chemistry sets all the time.  Why is the time machine any different ?’, she posited. 

‘Well, um, about that.  Space and time are vastly unknown, even to us scientific minds.   The physics community is debating if it truly exists even after all the evidence, I have supplied them with.    I know alternate universes are real.  I’ve witnessed them with my naked eyes !’, Stephen said, with some triumph.    Although the time machine was inactive, the reserve power cell had inexplicably turned on.  

‘Oh, no.’, the eldest brother said, with dread in his timbre.    It only took a picosecond, but they were all shot through space and time and into someplace nostalgic.   

Chapter 2—So Much for Our Banana Split Shake 

Meanwhile Agent Honeydew and Monkey were savoring a mondo banana split shake.   They had been sharing sweet chili and cheese fries along with bourbon bacon burgers, looking longingly into each other’s eyes and holding each other’s hands.   It had been the best date either of them had ever had.   Neither one of them had needed to save the Universe from evil and both could relax for a moment.    Peltra seemed to appear out of nowhere.   She had gotten a device that allowed her to fling portals into existence.    

‘Doctor Vortex must’ve given her that power !   I heard that she was only after his fashion and money, but it seems she genuinely appreciates his ingenuity.   That’s impossible…how did I not know the two were MARRIED ?’, she gawked, seeing the ring on her finger.    Doctor Vortex was a villain unlike any other.   He knew the infinitude of the galaxy and how to hone her secrets for villainy.    Peltra wasn’t a gold digger as people had thought.  Though bent on skinning animals for their shiny coats all in the name of fashion, she was a villain that made Cruella DeVil look like Pollyanna.    She was far more into objects of insurmountable power, much like Sonic’s power shoes.    She had gotten a hold of the ‘infinite tome’ that Valencio Vortex had collected by force from the galactic library in his sieging, conquering and subjugation.    Vortex was a man of means and tech.   He knew how to implement both towards his favor.    

‘Portal frisbees.   Never thought I’d see the day.   She’s using them to head to other galaxies, but where is she going now ?’, Honeydew thought.    She had been upgraded to a high-tech flight suit, which she used to chase her.   Monkey, already possessing the power of flight, joined her in her pursuit.   Before they knew it, they had followed Peltra to another world completely and she had literally teleported out of their grasp. 

‘This isn’t over, Peltra !   Mark my words, we will bring you to justice !’, she vowed, her fist clenched, raised and shaking in rage at her nemesis.   

Chapter 3—Honey, Where are my Power Shoes ? 

Meanwhile, at the Royal Hedgehog Palace…

Sonic was getting dressed and prepared for the beginning of the day’s agenda.   He searched through his walk-in closet, which was operated automatically by rotating shelves and other handy gadgets making it a modern marvel of technology and innovation.   He had kept his shoes in their own cubby, pristine and immaculate.   When he couldn’t find them, he called for Amy. 

‘Honey, where are my power shoes ?’, he asked.    Amy had the whole staff, even the butlers and maids, do a thorough search of the entire estate and castle inside and out, but no trace.   All that was left behind was a hand-written note. 

‘Well, that’s certainly old school…’, Sonic thought to himself. 

‘I found what I came for.   I plan to show these puppies off at my next gala.   Now, my husband, well, he might have other plans for these beauts…’, said the note.   

‘It’s signed Peltra.   Who is THAT ?’, Amy asked, getting a bit irate.   Her quills were starting to become stiff at the thought of this designer who just waltzed in, unnoticed, and simply purloined her husband’s precious shoes.   Now, granted, Sonic could contain his speed with them and without them, he was a rogue speedster and any number of consequences could happen if he were in a situation where he had to blaze in to the rescue.   

‘We have to get those shoes contained, and fast.  No pun intended.’, Rotor, the royal scientist said, wisely.    He would have Bunnie’s help, added with Antoine, Geoffrey, Cyril and Sally knew how to handle threats in an intellectual way.    

Chapter 4—How Are We Even HERE ?!  

Steve, Laura and the kids were shocked that they were speaking to anthropomorphic animals but felt scared and a bit dismayed they had no method of returning home as of yet. 

‘When the portal disappeared, our way home disappeared with it !’, one of the siblings said, trying not to cry. 

‘Look, I know it might seem hopeless now, but we’ll make the most of it.  We might be the only humans here, wherever ‘here’ is, so chin up, ok ?’, Steve said, gently.   He wiped the eldest’s face with a plaid handkerchief and they continued to move forward, only to face down Doctor Vortex. 

‘Humans ?  Not genetically enhanced or mechanically improved, like moi ?  No threat.’, he said, getting smug but annoyed.   He had no time for pesky peons like Urkle and his family.  There was a sudden burst of energy and more uninvited guests had come into view. 

The portal had been a swirling green smog whirlwind.    Carried forward by a sleek saucer, Morty, Rick and Summer were standing in front of them, followed by the Power Rangers.    Some other characters from Canada were randomly there, looking confused. 

‘Uh, doesn’t look like we’re in Dog River anymore, guys.’, Brent said, obviously. 

‘Maybe we can help, in our own ways ?’, Twilight Sparkle asked, hopefully.  The Mane Six, joined with Discord, were zapped into Mobius and all the while Vortex’s ire rose to the point where it was obvious steam was coming out of his ears.   

‘Woah.’, Laura said, surveying the cavalcade of characters.   It seemed that every genre was covered, from the obscure to the popular and everything in between.   Vortex grumbled.   If it wasn’t one hero it was over 1,000 of them.   He could take them all down with his super-powered lasers.    Of course, there would be casualties, but he was in no mood to let anyone else have his lovely wife’s power shoes. 

‘I’m a busy evil genius.  Now if you’ll kindly let me get on my way, we can both have easier lives.’, Vortex said, charging up his laser.   

‘There’s only room for ONE laser, and its MINE.’, Rick said, knocking Vortex’s laser out of his hand.   Vortex only became angrier.    While the two were fighting, a random Popple sprung up and grabbed the sneakers.  

‘Sonic !   Get them !  Now !’, she said, hurtling them his way.    He caught them just in time, and there was a brief pause.   Everyone else but Sonic and his friends were able to move about in space and time.   Q stood there for a moment, surveying the chaos. 

‘To think one time machine caused this whole debacle.   Sorry for the trouble.   Vortex and Peltra might return.   Vortex’s memory is long, but Peltra’s attention span on what’s trendy, well, it’s as fickle as a gold-digger in heat.’, Q said.    Sonic opened his mouth but figured he should close it.   He had too many questions and no answers in sight.   He was just happy he had his shoes back and everyone had been returned to their own dimension.   He had a feeling he had met his human doppleganger, though the two hadn’t had any interaction.   Though brief as it was, it was rather humbling to know that a mind that intricate existed somewhere and somewhen else, far, far away.    

Chapter 5—Business as Usual 

Peltra and Vortex had been forgotten and the routine hum of school, work, defense training and life in general resumed.    Sonic was troubled that a mind as dangerous as Vortex’s wanted the shoes for his own sinister means.    He could run fine without the shoes, but he wouldn’t dare do so unless it was an emergency.   Having the shoes was an insurance policy.   Unshod feet meant fires and a rapidity that could warp space and time itself.    Sonic shuddered to think what would happen if Vortex had altered the shoes to accept him as their host.   Such a thing was theoretical, but it could happen given enough time and energy.   No one had attempted it, and now that the shoes were back to their rightful owner, no one else would ever have the chance.      

Epilogue 

Amy was tucking in the hedgehoglets, singing them to sleep and answering their questions about the extra visitors to Mobius to the best of their ability.  

‘Those human children were interesting.    They were almost exactly like us, except they had no quills !’, one little boy hedgehog remarked.   

‘That’s right.  Isn’t it so interesting to see so much diversity across the multiverse ?  It’s nice to know we’re not alone.  They’re all fighting their own battles, being little beacons against evil’s darkness.’, Amy said wisely.   The little boy grinned and yawned.

‘I love you mummy.’, he said, before finally going to sleep.  

‘Sonia, Sally, Julie-Su, all of them have their own little broods to tend to.   I never envisioned our family getting so large.   But you know, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.’, Amy said, sweetly, kissing her husband softly on the lips.   The gentleman king took her gently by the arm and led her to her chambers where the two spooned together through the night, dreaming dreams and pondering what tomorrow had in store. 

To Be Continued…