.:TcoF:.

The Council Of Four

Chapter 0: A Gain And A Loss.

Disclaimer; I do not own anything within this story. It all goes to its original owner and creators.

Summary: A prince forced to leave a life he thought he would get, a life with a mother he barely knew, and siblings he had spent a year with in search of said mother. Victory was theirs, but at a price.

VxG: I am terribly sorry for the wait. I have this horrible writersblock going on, so ive been focusing a lot of my time just writing new stuff in hopes I get inspired to just… write for old stuff again, sorry about the wait, anyway. A while back I wrote this one shot featuring Sonic Underground, and it was mildly liked. (and I question to this day as to how.) I recently found an interesting fanfic that detailed a royal life, but it had a few things I found iffy with. So, I went back and read my own Oneshot just to remember what it was that I wrote, and, I'm like, hmmm. I could do something with this. Hope you enjoy.

.:VxG:.

They had done it, at long last, Robotnik had been chased away from Robotropolis, no longer did the people have to fear for their life at every corner, never again would they be threatened. At long last, Robotropolis could be Mobotropolis once more. The family of four stood on a hill, watching Robotnik scurry away in a barely stable machine, flying him towards the edge of Mobotropolis's borders, where land met ocean.

Sonic felt the weight of the guitar resting in his hands, the sting of his fingers where he had played with all his might, the sore throat where he had shouted to the skies. The soft hum of the bond he shared with his siblings, Sonia and Manic where beating with his heart. The blooming energy of their Mother where she stood before her children, her chest heaving with the singing she had done.

Sonia slumped over, her keyboard resting at her side, Manic leaning heavy on the drums. Both are out of breath, struggling to catch it again.

And before they really knew it, they where gathered together in a bone crushing hug by their mother, on the ground, crying, laughing, that finally, finally they could be a family once more.

Only to be cut short as a grim, somber, and possibly did not want to be anywhere near where he was at that moment, Oracle. "I am so terribly sorry to have to say this, But Robotnik is not yet defeated. He no longer hold his claw on Mobotropolis, but the world is still in danger from his anger."

The man, old, ancient, and who looked to be so very tired, looked Sonic in the eyes. And Sonic knew what the man was asking him of. Sonic let his gaze wander to the horizon where Robotnik had escaped to. The Oracle was asking Sonic to leave, and make sure, that Robotnik didn't get to a power where he had been with Robotropolis. Sonic was to hurt the man, stop him in all that he tried. And only once the man was gone for good could he return.

Sonia, Manic and Allena, all must have realized this as well. Sonia practically glued herself to her brothers side, shouting for the heavens, that, no, they would not be separated again. She was shouting, crying and screaming, all the while clinging to her brothers form, sobbing into dark blue quills. Manic was sitting behind his brother, head nuzzled into the quilled back.

Hands racking through the disheveled spines, loose needle sharp strands falling out as he did, cleaning the elder hog of five minutes, in a quiet whimper, wanting to hold his brother close. Not wanting to loose this, they had done what had been asked of them, they had chased Robotnik out of their kingdom, he will never be able to hurt them again, they believed, they oh so desperately believed that they would be a family again. But, Sonic has to go? Has to keep the tyrant away from the lands, stop him from ever doing what he had done to them to someone else…

Aleena didn't do anything, she simply sat there where she had moments ago cradled her children, they may be thirteen, but her children where the biggest treasure she held. She understood why it had to be Sonic, she understood with his speed, his cunning and experience over his siblings, he is the most logical choice. But it hurt all the more. Their family had not been reunited for all of three hours, and already she had to say goodbye once more. She gave a stiff nod to the oracle. Gently grasping at Manic and Sonias arms, helped them up. Sonic still seated.

The Queen leaned down once more, a had out as she caressed her eldest's muzzle. She was fighting her tears, she fought so hard to not let them spill. Still they gathered at her eye. "My son, my beloved, when you are able, please, return to me, return to us."

Sonic broke, he had been equally fighting the tears, it hadn't been real, not the shouting of his sister, not the grooming from his brother, but his mother, her teary eyed gaze, the gentle touch, that both nudged him to go, but at the same time screamed at him to stay with her. He clutched onto his mothers middle, Aleena stayed strong, hugging her son, but hadn't cried, yet. For it was only a matter of time for the water to flow.

Manic and Sonia wanted to get back in there, but they knew, that the moment they did, Sonic would be unable to go. So they stood, holding onto one another for support. Sonic stood up, legs shaking, his pendant felt heavy where it hung around his neck. The raging storm that is his siblings bond is thrashing and screaming in his ears.

Sonic took a step, half a step before he turned one last time to look at his family, then to the oracle. "When will I know to return..." it wasn't a question, it wasn't even a statement, just a simple word he had barely even breathed. A whisper, a wonder to himself.

Yet, the old man replied. "Follow your heart, Young hedgehog. As you did all that time ago."

One last longing glance to his family, his sister, his brother… his mother. It was simple right, just… turn around and run for it. Run off towards where Robotnik had scurried off to, Sonic could easy keep up, the tyrant was practically limping out of the borders… yet.

His mother stood now with his siblings, a hand to each of their shoulders, most likely to stop them from running off after him. Aleena's face was twisted, scrunched up as if she had swallowed something sour.

Sonic practically threw his eyes closed, twisting around on his heels, shoulders pulled taught up his neck. A quiet "I'm sorry." and Sonic bolted. The anguished scream of his mother as she fell to her knees, having to let her son go once more, would haunt Sonic for the rest of his life.

End Of Chapter 0