Chapter 1: Maternal Instincts

It had been three months since Sonic had been reunited with his mother and things had been awkward between them. They were ecstatic to be together again, but it was like getting to know a stranger. It was a sunny morning and Sonic was swimming in an isolated area of the ocean near Pistris Island as fast as he could while Tails tracked him with a speed scanner and Amy took notes on a clipboard.

"600 mph!" Tails cheered as Sonic surfaced. Grinning, the blue hedgehog lifted a tentacle of water from the sea and started streaming it around the boat before turning it into a ball and holding it in the air.

"Hydrokinesis, check." Amy smiled before Sonic turned it to solid ice and dropped it into the ocean.

"Hydro-Cryokinesis, check." Tails smiled. "So, why are we out here testing your powers?"

"I just needed something to take my mind off things." He sighed.

"You mean with your mother?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, things are just awkward between us, I want to get to know her but..." He groaned as Tails gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder...

When Sonic did make home at around lunch he found his Uncle Chuck standing in the living room with Emma Nets, both waiting for him.

"What's going on?" He asked nervously.

"Sonic, we have been talking, together and with your mother, and we thought that it would be a good idea for you to spend the weekend at your mother's castle." Emma smiled.

"What?!"

"Please Sonic, you need to spend time with your mother and get to know her better."

"B-But don't I get a say in this!?"

"Sorry Sonic, but you don't." Emma shrugged. "Tomorrow morning you will be up and heading straight to Atlantica."

Sonic growled before storming upstairs and slamming the door...

The next morning, Sonic was speed swimming towards Atlantica. He had already texted his friends and told them he'd be gone for the weekend so they texted back saying they'd be there for when he'd get back. He dashed through the underwater city and straight to the castle. This was another reason why he was hesitant to come down here.

Whenever the city's sea fae saw him, they'd start to mob their 'saviour prince'.

When he swam into the throne room, he saw him mother and Shadow talking about something. The second she saw him, however, her face instantly lit up as she swam up to him and crushed him in a hug.

"H-Hey Mom." He wheezed. "Hey Shads."

"Prince Sonic." The ebony merhog bowed before swimming away.

"I'm so happy you're here!" Aleena beamed. "How long are you staying?"

"For the weekend." He smiled.

"Well, you should get settled before dinner, Pearl will take you to your room." She smiled as the dolphin swam up to them, whistling happily.

He gave his mother one last hug before following the dolphin down the hall. They entered a large room with the basic, but fancy looking bedroom furniture with a giant bed in the shame of a giant clam. He lay down on the bed and felt like he had just gone to heavy, it was so soft and warm, even under the cold ocean water.

He sighed before sitting up and getting ready for dinner...

That evening, Sonic and Aleena were sitting in the royal dining room. Sonic had to admit that he was weirded out by all the sea fae food. He was familiar with foods such as crab cakes and sushi, but foods such as kelp crumpets and fish oil tea made his stomach feel kinda funny.

"So, where has Emma Nets been teaching you to use your powers?" Aleena asked as Sonic picked at his food.

"The moon pool at Pistris Island."

"Ah yes, that's a special place." She smiled. "So what powers have you developed so far?"

"I can move, freeze and boil water." He smiled. "I kinda messed with Eolas, but it didn't go well."

"That power doesn't really work well in the modern world, but with a bit of training it can be used almost anywhere, I know I can use it." She chuckled.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes, as a member of the royal family you can master all sea fae powers, maybe even create a new one, many royals have had years of training however so it might take awhile for you to catch up." She explained.

"Wish I could have known about all this sooner." He sighed, only to jump when Aleena gently held his hand and smiled softly at him.

"Sonic, we may not have the past together but we will have a future."...

The next morning Sonic decided to spend some time with Aleena outside the castle. The queen wanted to take him out sight seeing so he could get a better idea of the city.

"So what're we gonna do today?" He asked her and they swam out the castle, but Aleena just kept staring at him.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No, I'm just happy that you're here." She smiled. "So, if you could do anything today what would it be?"

"Well I would like to see my friends again, but..."

"But what? They are members of my court now and I like to know what's going on in their lives." She smiled.

He nodded and they swam inside Sonia and Manic's fashion store. The second they entered, Sonic suddenly found himself being crushed in another bear hug by the pink merhog.

"Sonic!" She cheered. "How are you?! How long are you staying?! Did you bring me anything from land?!"

"I'm fine, only for the weekend and yes." He grinned as he pulled out three bikini tops for her.

"Hey man."Manic grinned as he swam over to them and pried his sister off the prince.

"Hey Manic, how're things?" He smiled as he gave the green sea fae a fist bump.

"Not bad, been pretty boring down here, Silver's gone ta tha Great Barrier Reef with her Mom but that's it."

"Been pretty borning on land too." Sonic shrugged. Aleena just smiled as she watched her son laugh with his friends...

That night, while Sonic slept in his room, Aleena was in the throne room with Shadow, going over some issues that needed her attention. Thankfully they were only minor things.

"How do you feel since the Prince's return, your highness?" He asked.

"I feel complete." She answered with a smiled. "I've always dreamed about this; now, after many years, I can sleep soundly, not only at night, but in my own bed once again."

"It's good to see you both together." He nodded...

The next morning, Aleena and Sonic were sat in the blue hybrid's room, clearing the air.

"Listen Mom, I'm sorry about losing touch and not visiting sooner." He said with remorse in his voice.

"I'm sorry too sweetie, I was just so happy to have you back in my lives that I forgot how much all of this has affected you, with finding about me and your powers." She sighed. Sonic's fists clenched as he took a deep breath and looked his mother in the eyes.

"Why give me away?" He asked quietly but she still heard it.

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"Why did you give me away?" He asked with more force.

"Sonic, I had no choice, Bernadette grew more and more powerful and when she found out I was involved with a Mobian she used that against me and I knew if she got even caught the slightest whisper that I was pregnant who knows what she could do to you."

"What could she do to me?"

"She could tell the kingdom, about you being a hybrid, there are those out there that wouldn't accept the idea of having a half Mobian prince; they'd hunt us both down and slaughter you without a second thought."

"I'm sorry." Sonic said as he stared at the floor while Aleena wiped her tears off her cheeks.

"There's been so much pain, I just want you to be happy Sonic." She sniffed.

"But I'm just not ready. I'm not ready to leave my whole life and start over as Prince Sonic." He admitted. Aleena smiled as she gently took his hands and he lifted his head to look at her.

"I don't expect you to just drop everything and live with me, you a sea fae but you are also a Mobian, the best of both worlds." She smiled. "I promise we'll take things slow." She smiled.

Suddenly she swam out the room and came back with a box in her hands. She handed it to Sonic and he opened it. Inside was a picture of him as a baby in his mother's arms in a beautiful frame. Aleena smiled soft as Sonic gave her a teary smile...