//------------------------------// // Emperor Sprout & Campfire Talk // Story: Sonic Enters A New Generation // by Idiotboy24 //------------------------------// Location: Canterlogic Meanwhile back in Maretime Bay inside of Canterlogic a bunch of ponies were carrying equipment across the room building something, big. Some ponies were hammering in nails others were moving carts filled with items even small cranes were being operated. An elevator then came down into the room with a mysterious silhouette standing there. The doors finally opened revealing the pony supposedly breathing heavily, only for Sprout to walk out with a smoothie he was holding. He gave it to the mare next to him before continuing forward. “Why aren’t you finished yet?” Sprout demanded. “We’re working as fast as we can, but we’ve ran out of rivets.” The earth Pony informed. “Riveting story.” Sprout joked while laughing before grabbing the collar of the earth pony. “Just make it work, ok?” Sprout told him causing both earth ponies to run off. “Sugar cube, I know your little top-secret project is important and all, but when do you think my workers can get back to making Canterlogic products?” Phyllis asked while approaching her son. A pony then fell from the ceiling and landed between Sprout and Phyllis. “Back to work, Glitter Cupcake!” Sprout demanded. “It is my factory, after all, dear.” Phyllis stated to which her son turned to face her. “It’s my town, Mommy. Your son’s now Emperor of Maretime Bay.” Sprout proclaimed. “Emperor?! But yesterday you were only sheriff.” Phyllis reminded him. “Well, see how fast I’m climbing the ranks? This defence factory is going on offence, and it’s all thanks to your love an encouragement.” Sprout admitted, he then looked over towards another Pony. “Break’s over, Bubblegum McGinty!” Sprout shouted. Phyllis then began realising that maybe this wasn’t a great idea. “Oh dear.” She said before following after her son. Location: Grassfield Out in the middle of a grassfield, our group of heroes with Pipp now reluctantly joining them, are on their way to Bridlewood to find the unicorn crystal. They came across a tree that had hundreds of pink leaves occupying its branches, Sonic looked on in amazement of the beautiful sight but still held a look of remorse, although he may find Pipp’s attitude toward him and the others bad. He could not put the blame fully on her, this whole dividing ponies thing happened ages ago from what he could tell. He noticed Sunny, Izzy and Zipp all looking at the journal which had a map of Equestria. “That’s the tree from the map, that means… it’s this way!” Sunny stated, before continuing down the path with Izzy, Zipp with Sonic following group behind them. Hitch and Pipp were at the very back at the group, and were complaining about everything that has happened. “What am I doing here? Hoofing across daisy fields, looking for a magical crystal. That doesn’t even exist!” Hitch shouted. “It was supposed to be my best show ever and now it’s over. I’m a criminal. And it’s all because. Of them” Pipp and Hitch said the last part at the same time. “And that’s so not cool.” Pipp said with anger “No it is not… did I just agree with a Pegasus?” Hitch asked himself, realising what he said. Sonic who had heard everything, slowed down keeping pace with the two ponies. “Listen you two. I don’t like to be disrespectful to anyone but seriously get over it, just because something happens doesn’t mean that it can’t be changed. I mean just look at us, two Earth ponies, two Pegasi, one Unicorn and a Blue Hedgehog, traveling together. Who says history can’t be changed.” Sonic lectured the two ponies who looked at him with surprise. Sonic then noticed something. “Oh by the way “sheriff”, your badge is missing.” Sonic mused, causing Hitch to freak out, he then pointed his hoof at Sonic. “You took it didn’t you?!” Hitch asked trying to be intimidating, to which Sonic burst into laughter. “Yeah, that’s a good one sheriff and I thought Shadz had no humour.” Sonic chuckled while wiping a Tear from his eye, Izzy then came up to them. “Y’know I did see a shiny badgey thing on the ground a few hours ago.” Izzy admitted. “Hours!” Hitch exclaimed. “We’ll maybe it’s for the best, between you and me buddy, that badge was creating an unhealthy power dynamic.” Izzy mumbled before dashed off singing a song. Sonic chuckled at the sight with Pipp looking on with a slight smile. “She’s right y’know?” Sonic told before running ahead. After walking for few more minutes they came across a bridge that was destroyed. “What are we gonna do?” Sunny asked looking at Izzy. Sonic stepped forward. “I can help with that.” He then stretched his legs before lending his hand to Sunny who looked a little bit worried. “You’ll be fine.” Sonic assured her. Sunny then put her hoof into his hand, he gripped it tightly before running with her and jumping across, they landed on the other side with Sunny falling onto the ground when Sonic let go of her hoof. “Are you okay?” sonic asked worried that she might of gotten hurt, Sunny looked up and gave him a nod reassuring his worries. He then focused back on the others and jumped back across. He did the process a few more times until it was finally Hitch’s turn, when he reached out for his hoof, Hitch scowled. “I’m not taking your whatever you call that!” Sonic was annoyed but quickly smirked. “Okay… Catch guys!” Sonic shouted, before grabbing Hitch and throwing across to the other side, he was caught by Izzy and Sunny who fell down when he landed on them. Sonic made one last leap across to the other side smiling at the group. “Is everyone alright?” He asked while picking up Sunny and Izzy. Everyone nodded except Hitch who was still getting back up. “I would have you arrested on the spot if we were back in Maretime Bay!” Hitch screamed after getting back up glaring at the Hedgehog, who looked on with an are you serious look. “But you didn’t want to take my hand, so I helped you, otherwise you would be back there by yourself.” Sonic stated with a deadpanned tone, getting a laugh from the others while hitch looked very annoyed. “So how far from Bridlewood are we Izzy?” Sunny asked the purple Unicorn, “Not too far from here, but we may have to make camp.” Izzy said with excitement. The others looked up to see it was starting to get dark. “Well let’s walk for a little bit and hopefully find a good enough spot to sleep for the night.” Sonic Spoke calmly, receiving nods from the others except Hitch. When they began walking, Sonic’s ear twitched hearing what sounded like screaming. But he ignored and continued onward with the group. Location: Campsite After awhile the group found a perfect spot to camp for the night. They all managed gather materials for a fire, Sunny then clicked her hoof onto the materials igniting it before Zipp flapped her wings making the fire come alive. Hitch on the other hand sat away from them, trying to make his own fire by rubbing a stick. Sonic who was sitting by the fire held a stick and drew something on the ground, catching the interest of the group. Sonic looked over at Hitch amused at what he was doing, the others looked over as well with amused looks planted on their faces. “You need some backup, sheriff” Zipp asked. “No. Thank you, I’ve got it!” Hitch spat back, he then finally got a flame to ignite only for it to die out immediately. “That was sad to watch. Come on don’t be a hero dude come get warm.” Hitch continued to be stubborn so Sonic had an idea. “Hey Sunny go talk to him, cause he’s not willing to listen to rest of us.” Sonic requested to which Sunny nodded and walked over to the stubborn sheriff. Sonic then focused back on his drawing and added the final touches, the others were talking to one another not noticing the sadness in Sonic’s eyes. Eventually Sunny and Hitch came over to the fire and sat down with the group, Sunny was still optimistic along with most of the group. That’s when she looked over at sonic who looked upset about something. “Hey Sonic why are you sad?” Sunny asked a little worried. Everyone else finally took notice of his sad expression, he looked up at all of them before pointing at the picture he had been drawing. When everyone looked, it was drawing of a Fox with two tails. This made most of the group confused to which Sonic finally broke the silence. “This drawing is of my buddy Tails, he and I go way back and nowadays I see him as the little brother I never had… but now I’m here with no way of knowing if he’s okay.” Sonic explained with sadness plugging at his heartstrings. Everyone was shocked by the new revelation. Most of the group thought that Sonic was always happy with himself here, but deep down he really misses his home and his friends. Even Hitch looked on with surprise, he had been suspicious of Sonic ever since they first met but now he wasn’t so sure. Suddenly a wing wrapped around Sonic’s back, catching him by surprise he looked over to see Zipp was comforting him. “I may not know what your life is like, but just know that even if can’t go home we’ll always be here to support you.” Zipp said. Sonic looked at Zipp, surprised that he had only just met her yesterday and she already considered him a friend, he looked around to see the others nod while Hitch did so, slowly. Sonic smiled at their support for him. “Thank you.” He whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. He then looked at back at Sunny. “So what’s the next course of action captain.” He joked, getting a smile from her. “So I think we should set off at first light. Last stop Bridlewood.” Sunny then noticed Izzy looking sad. “What’s wrong Izzy?” “It’s just that being with you ponies and Hedgehog has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I guess. I just don’t want our adventure to end.” Izzy explained while slightly getting happier. “But Izzy, you’ll get your magic.” Sunny stated with optimism. Izzy smiled. Hitch then looked at both Sonic and Izzy. “Can I ask you both a question? Why did you come to Maretime Bay?” Hitch asked curious. “I only came to help Izzy, plus I ended up here accidentally.” Sonic spoke truthfully. He then turned towards Izzy. “I always wanted to visit, when I was a filly I found this pretty lantern. It had a message inside saying that I had friends in Maretime Bay.” Izzy explained pulling out the note from a few days earlier and showing it to the group. Sunny’s ears perked up and she put on her biggest smile seen from the group. Sonic put two and two together almost instantly showing surprise on his face. “It-it was you.” Izzy said, passing the note to Hitch who passed it to Sunny. “I made it with my dad. We always promised each other that someday we would prove that all ponies are meant to be friends… We do are part. Hoof to heart.” Sunny finished holding the note close to her chest. Everyone smiled at the words that had been spoken. “Hey!” Hitch spoke up. “I want to do my part.” This ended up making Sunny smile even more. “What do we have to lose right?” He asked rhetorically causing the group to cheer. “I have to admit a Unicorn forest does sound kind of magical.” He expressed with optimism for once. Pipp then a thought come into her mind. “Y’know this whole adventure we’ve been on feels strange considering everything that’s happened so far.” Pipp giggled causing the others to giggle except for Sonic who was laughing. Everyone turned towards him with Pipp being the most confused. “Why are you laughing Sonic?” She asked still confused. Sonic calmed down and looked at the group once more. “Sorry it’s just that to me this isn’t all that strange.” Sonic said calming down from his laugh. Everyone was dumbfounded, “you’re joking right?” Pipp asked nervously. Sonic now fully calmed down began to explain. “Well it’s no stranger than rescuing genies in magic books, or saving Aliens in an interstellar Amusement park.” This made everyone’s jaw drop, “Wow, he’s not lying.” Zipp spoke up. “How would you know?!” Hitch asked desperately. “It’s because he acted so normal about it, he didn’t flinch or stutter even once about it.” Sonic looked at Zipp with a smile thankful she believes him. “I believe him.” Sunny spoke up, Izzy also nodded in agreement. Hitch and Pipp still weren’t convinced in the slightest, leading to them eventually settling in for the night. “Welp we better get some sleep.” Sonic requested to which the others nodded eventually most of them went to sleep. Pipp though had a thought plaguing her mind throughout her attempts of sleep ‘I’m a Nopony’ she tried to ignore it as best as she could.