//------------------------------// // 72. The Family Social // Story: Sonic The Hedgehog x My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale // by BronySonicFan //------------------------------// A ZH News Broadcast started, and we see Sky and Dazzle along Queen Haven and Alphabittle. "And now, a special announcement from your Majesty, Queen Haven from Zephyr Heights, and Alphabittle from the Bridlewood forest!" Sky announced with a smile. "Thanks, Sky," Haven said with a smile, then she turned to the camera. "Alphabittle and I are so very glad to announce a brand new event for all ponykind: The Family Social!" "This bran new event will be held in Zephyr Heights, Bridlewood, and Maretime Bay, and event where everypony gets together with their families to have fun and compete in fun events," Alphabittle explained with a smile. "All the families - or teams - that participate and win in an event will get a blue ribbon like this one," Haven added, holding up a blue ribbon with a golden medal that had the Unity Crystals printed on it. "However, the winner of our very first Relay Race that takes the entire team across Equestria will win a big, golden trophy!" As Haven said this, Alphabittle smiled and levitated said trophy in front of the camera. Said trophy was made of gold, and it had a symbol that represented the three pony tribes in the middle. "Wowie Zowie!" Dazzle exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "Now that's what I call being shiny!" "The race will start off in Maretime Bay, then leaving the city to enter Bridlewood and dodge obstacles, just to finally head towards the finish line, here at Zephyr Heights!" Alphabittle explained, still smiling. "However, there's a set of strict rules to be followed," Haven stated. "The first rule: You have to compete with two more member of your family. If you cannot, well, you can still bring over your closest friends! At the end of the day, they're family as well." "Rule number 2: No competitor is allowed to take advantaged of their magic," Alphabittle kept going. "For example: If a Pegasus on a family team tries to fly during the relay, they have to go at normal speed with the other ponies that can't." "This comes to justify Rule number 3: No pony is left behind during the team events, and everything has to be done as a team," Haven declared. "And finally, Rule number 4: Remember to haven fun with the ones you love!" Alphabittle finished with a bright smile. In the Crystal Brighthouse, the Mane 6 but Hitch and Pipp were watching the broadcast. "We cannot wait to see so many families attending and working together on this new event!" Haven said in the TV. "And we can't wait to cover it as usual!" Sky said with a smile. As this happened, Sunny was on her place, trying so hard not to squeal in happiness, while Izzy, Misty and Zipp only watched at the TV with smiles. When the broadcast finally got ever, Sunny could not take it in anymore and squealed loudly in excitement, startling her friends a bit. "Uh... You good, Sunny?" Zipp asked confused. "That was a... really loud squeal..." Misty said with a little dizzy expression. "Yeah! Not even I can be that loud, not even when I'm not trying," Izzy said, although with a cheery smile. "Is it weird that I actually agree with you, Iz? Because I barely remember the last time that happened." "I can't believe it, they really did it!" Sunny said suddenly out loud, as she started to happily jump on her place like a filly. "Okay, seriously, what's got you so excited, Sunny?" Misty asked, now as confused as Zipp. "Queen Haven and Alphabittle actually listened to my idea!" Sunny explained with a smile. "A full on day that you can spend with your friends or your family?! That's exactly what I wanted to do!" "Oh, so this 'Family Social' thingy was your idea?" Izzy asked with an amused smile. "Indeed! And now that is happening..." Sunny started, then squealed loudly and placed her hooves on her cheeks, while also having sparkling eyes. "I can't wait for this day to come!" "Honestly, I'm not surprised this whole thing is your idea," Zipp confessed with a smirk. "However, I do gotta thank you! Because Pipp and I are planning to get in with Mom and spent some quality time! Well, that, and we also plan to win the Relay Race!" "And how did you came up with the idea, Sunny?" Misty asked, as she approached her. "I just thought it'll be a great way of showing off how family bonds help to make the ponies we are today!" Sunny replied with a smile. "After all, we should feel proud of who we are because of them." "And who are you taking with in that case, Sunny?" Zipp asked curiously. Sunny stopped to think about for a second, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "Well, I was thinking about going with Hitch and Sparky. Unless you girls are free to race?" She turned to Izzy and Misty with a smirk. "Oh, uh..." Misty said, chuckling a bit nervous. "That would be great, Sunny, but Dad told me in advance about the Social, and I already promised him to participate along him and Izzy." Hearing that made Izzy gasp with sparkling eyes, as she rushed and hugged Misty tightly. "Alphabittle wants me to be with you two on the Social?!" "W-Well, he said something about you being his unofficial second daughter since you were always around him," Misty replied. "I guess that makes you an honorary member, and also kind of my unofficial sister?" This only made Izzy squeal loudly in excitement. "Oh, Misty! I'm so honored to hear this! Ah, now I have an unofficial father, and an unofficial sister! This is the greatest news ever!" Misty chuckled at Izzy's attitude and hugged her back eventually, also jumping along her for fun. Sunny, however, felt a bit bad because this means she cannot form a team with them, nor with Zipp and Pipp. Zipp notices this, so she approaches her and places a hoof on her shoulder with a smile. "Hey, Sunny. You still have Hitch and Sparky to ask, remember?" This brightness Sunny's mood immediately, as she smiles widely with sparkling eyes and a slight blush. "You're right! I still can ask him out!" She realized, then she went over and put her roller skates and helmet on, then head off to the town. "Thanks for the reminder, Zipp!" With all said and done, Sunny excitedly left the Brighthouse behind, roller skating towards the town. In Maretime Bay, Sunny skated around while humming to herself towards the Sheriff Station. However, she decided to make a quick stop at Mane Melody, where she found Amy, Rouge, Jazz and Rocky attending the place. Pipp was in the backstage, but Sunny already knew she was going to participate in the Social with her sister and her Mom, which is why she will ask Amy and Rouge about the Social and try luck. "Yeah, not happening," Rouge said with a bored expression and her arms crossed after Sunny explained herself, but her response made Amy push her with an elbow and frown while shaking her head. "What Rouge is trying to say is that we appreciate the offer, Sunny," Amy told the Earth Pony mare with a sheepish smile. "Unfortunately, we can't go with you." "Huh? And why not?" Sunny asked, disappointed for the answer, but also curious for the reason. "Pipp's gonna attend to the Social, as you already knew, and Jazz and Rocky will go as well with Rufus," Amy explained. "Which leaves Amy and I left to look after the place," Rouge added, while also checking her nails. "We would go on other circumstances, but the salon gets full 'cause many ponies gather to watch these kind of stuff from here." "Oh... I see..." Sunny said, once again disappointed, but then she gasped, and her smile immediately came back. "And what about––" "Omega is staying to watch the Crystals and the Emeralds, which means that he can't go," Amy pointed out, then she deadpanned with her arms crossed. "Specially considering what happened last time Eggman took the Unity Crystals and tried to take the Chaos Emeralds." "And Shadow is not even around," Rouge added. "He's back into panic mode while searching for Eggman's current installment so he can take him off guard. You know, Shadow stuff." "...I see..." Was all that Sunny replied, before quickly turn around and roll her way out of the salon. Amy noticed her change of attitude and felt bad for her, while Rouge just shrugged it and went back to work. Amy didn't liked her attitude, but eventually decided to follow her example and resumed her job as well. Sunny was heading towards the Sheriff Station once again. She hoped that Hitch and Sparky were going to be available and would actually accept be part of the Social with her. If not, then it was a lost cause, because asking Sonic, Tails and Knuckles would be stupid. They're already a team of three, and she was convinced that they were appointed to the Social for themselves. Reaching the Station, she entered the building, but found herself surprised to see that only Knuckles was inside, putting some papers away on the cabinets behind Hitch's desk. However, that wasn't the weirdest thing: The fact that Knuckles had the cowboy hat he only uses when he's in charge was it, and shed had a bad feeling about it. Is it because of Knuckles being temporally Sheriff? Nope, because he has proven to be worthy of such a tittle just as much as Hitch, unlike certain red pony... "Uh, Knux?" Sunny called out, as she rolled inside the station. "Yo," Knuckled replied, closing another cabinet and turning to Sunny. "Ignore the hat, if you want. Is just my sign of 'temporal sheriff position' for everypony to understand." "Yeah, I know that," Sunny said with and awkward chuckle. "Um, Knux, where are Hitch and Sparky? I thought they'll be here today." "Oh, they left to Zephyr Heights this morning with Hitch's Grandma," Knuckles replied. "They're heading off for the weekend to that... Social Familiar, or however is called. They're all participating as a single team, which means I'm the Sheriff this weekend." This news absolutely destroyed Sunny. So all of her friends were attending with their families, but she had no one to go with. She had no biological family left, as far as she knows, and now she was alone. Her friends were her family, true, but Zipp and Pipp had their Mom, Misty and Izzy had Alphabittle (he technically raised Izzy, even though she had family alive as a filly), and Hitch had Sparky and his Grandma Figgy. She, however, didn't even had her dad anymore, and even if he was her, who else would go with them? Knuckles noticed that Sunny was suddenly looking gloomy and raised an eyebrow confused. "Sunny? You good?" "...Fantastic!" Sunny replied with a very forced smile, as she sobbed a bit and tears started to flow from her eyes. "All of my friends are going to the Social, while I stay behind because I don't have any family left. I've never been better!" After bursting out like that, Sunny turned around and rolled skated as fast as she could back to the Brighthouse, while Knuckles just looked at her confused, not getting why she got mad all of a sudden. "Hmm... She was crying, and she sounded very sarcastic and heart-broken in her last sentence..." Knuckled noted, then he looked over at his watch. "This might be a good time to call Sonic and Tails." Sonic was just resting over the sand in the beach with a smile. Suddenly, however, his little moment of relaxation got interrupted when his watch beeped, so he answered it. "Yellow?" Sonic asked mockingly. "No, it's Knuckles," The Echidna replied from the other side, but after a few seconds, he spoke again. "Oh, you were just joking... Got it." Sonic rolled his eyes after hearing that. "Hey, Knuckles," Tails' voice joined the conversation as well. In Electronic Tails, the young fox was replacing the Tornado IV's engine with a more powerful one. "What's the motive of you calling us?" Tails asked Knuckles, finally placing the last torn of the engine in place. "Well, Sunny came here looking for Hitch, I told her he's out of town because of that thingy Queen Haven and Alphabittle promoted on TV, then got mad at me for reasons I still don't get, and then left crying to the Brighthouse," Knuckles said. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Sonic called out from his side. "Sunny got mad at you?! The very same Sunny that always tries to look for a solution to even the smallest and dumbest of problems?!" "Yup. That Sunny," Knuckles replied. "I think you confused her with somepony else, Knux..." Tails said. "She'll never get mad at anyone–– Wait! You said she left crying?!" "Mm-hmm. That's why I called, actually," Knuckles confessed. "I'm pretty sure that crying is a bad sign, specially if it comes from Sunny. You two think you can check on her and see what's going on?" "I think you just called the right guys, Knucklehead," Sonic replied, immediately cutting the call. "Agreed. Thanks for telling us this, Knux," Tails said, then he also cut the call. After that, Tails rushed to close the workshop, placing a sign that said 'Close for Family Matters', and then he saw a blue blur in the distance entering to the Brighthouse. Tails knew that was Sonic, so he flew up in the air and then boosted towards the Crystal Brighthouse as well to check on Sunny along Sonic. Sonic and Tails bursted into the Crystal Brighthouse, looking around for Sunny with concern. But then, they both heard sobs and whimpers coming from upstairs, and they both already knew who was crying. Looking at each other concerned, they nodded, then rushed upstairs and entered the bedroom. There, they found Sunny crying over a pillow in her bed, while hugging both the Lantern of Hope (her lantern) and the framed picture she had of herself with her dad when she was a filly. Those two were her most valuable objects left from the destroyed lighthouse, and Sonic and Tails knew she's very bad if she's hugging them both. "Sunny?" Tails called out first, as the two brothers approached the Earth Pony mare. "Sunny, we're here." "Knuckles told us you suddenly got upset over him," Sonic pointed out with concern. "That's completely out of character for you... What happened?" Sunny sobbed a bit more on her pillow, and she just lifted her face to see them with a heartbroken expression, which only broke Sonic and Tails' hearts in return. "G-Go away!" Sunny begged, burring her face on the pillow again. "I-I want to be alone!" "Sunny, we don't like to see you like this," Tails pointed out with concern. "We just want to know what's wrong." "Come on now, Sunny-bunny," Sonic added with a little smile. "We're your friends. Heck, even more: We're your brothers from another mother... and dimension. You can count with us!" Hearing that actually made her perk her ears up and look up from her pillow. She suddenly sat at the edge of her bed, still hugging the pillow despite not crying on it anymore, and when she saw that Sonic and Tails were both smiling at her, she couldn't help but smile back, then took a deep breath before explaining herself. "Well... I was very, very excited for the Family Social, because is an event were you can participate with your friends or biological family," Sunny started to explain. "I wanted this to show that we should feel proud of who we are thanks to our family, but... I cannot feel proud of who I am when I have no one to participate with. Everypony is already busy with either their jobs or being part of the Social with their own families, and... I feel like I'm staying behind, alone. Dad's not here anymore, so..." Seeing her worry, Sonic and Tails felt bad for head, with their ears lowering a bit. However, they soon perk up again when they both had the same idea, so they looked at each other, smiled and nodded. Next, Sonic went ahead and sat at Sunny's side. "Well, if being left out is what's bugging you, why didn't you said so? We can go with you and be a chaotic trio of siblings having fun!" This made Sunny's eyes open wide, and she looked at Sonic confused and shocked. "I'm sorry, what?!" "What you heard!" Tails added, as he sat at Sunny's other side. "We have spent a lot of time together, Sunny. Almost two years! We're a little broken family that fixed itself when we got together. I mean, my parents didn't even acted like ones with me, and it wasn't until I met Sonic that I knew what is it to actually have a family." "And even if I had Tails, a part of me always wondered what it'll feel like to have a sister," Sonic added with a smirk. "I found that in you, Sunny. And now, you are the little sister I never knew I always wanted." With every word spoken by both Sonic and Tails, her eyes watered, and she sniffed with a little smile. "You guys mean it? I... Am I actually your family?" "Well, of course you are!" Sonic assured, as both he and Tails side-hugged the Earth Pony mare with smiles. "So what if we're not the same species? Neither are Sonic and I, but we know we are brothers!" Tails pointed out with a smile. "And just like we've been there for each other in good and bad situations, we'll both be there for you as well." "You're our sister, after all. And as your brothers, is our job to look after you," Sonic added with a smile as well. If Sunny could cry a river, she definitely would do it right now. She wrapped her hooves around them both and pulled them closely for a bigger hug. She ended up smiling with joy, while her Cutie Mark started to glow, and Sonic and Tails' electrical powers came afloat, but none of them noticed this. "So... You guys are actually going to the Social with me?" Sunny asked once again, just to make absolutely sure. "We already promised to go, so now we're going, sis!" Sonic stated with a smirk. "Besides, it'll be pretty low of us to tell you all of this and not mean it. Who do we look like, Eggman?" Tails added jokingly, causing the three of them to laugh. The weekend of the Family Social arrived. This meant that it was time for the trio of sibling to participate in all of the activities. Sonic, Tails and Sunny were all going as 'The Chaotic Siblings' as their team name, since they needed one to participate. So far, the siblings were having a blast in all the competitions: For the baking contest, they could've won at least second place if the first recipe didn't exploded in their faces. They laughed about it, but they also knew they lost and only got third place, although they didn't minded since they enjoyed their time. Next, they had an eating competition where they were far to win, but Sonic did laughed a bit at how Sunny and Tails' faces got covered with food rests, which made them cover his face back, and they laughed about it. Finally, they had a charades competition, where every team was free of doing whatever imitation they wanted in such a short notice. They won second place on this occasion, but they had to resist the urge of laughing at Sonic's funny faces whenever he was trying to imitate anything. By the time of the Relay Race, however, it was time to put the game serious. Sunny will start the race in Maretime Bay since it's her home, then Tails will continue the race in Bridlewood, and Sonic will be the one finishing the race by going to the finish line in Zephyr Heights. Sonic had to put over his shoes a blocker that Tails invented. This blocker neutralizes Sonic's speed, so he can run to the same speed than an average pony and make things fair and square. However, that didn't meant he wasn't going to make an extra effort in order to win. In Maretime Bay, everyone put over their positions, ready to start the race. In the line, we have Hitch, Pipp, Sunny, Misty, Rufus, and Posey, while Knuckles is in a corner with a whistle on his hand, also waiting for the sign of Sky and Dazzle to start the race. Once they announced the race could start, Knuckles looked over at the competitors and walked in front of them. Hey let's go! "On your marks, get set..." Knuckles started, and then, he blew the whistle. Hey let's go! Let's take a journey all the way through time Step forward then rewind With this, the race started, as the six ponies rushed off and ran ahead as fast as they could. But, and to no one's surprise, Sunny and Hitch were the ones in the lead. Despite there being other Earth Ponies racing, these two know Maretime Bay better than their own names, which gives them a huge advantage over the rest. No matter where we go its you and me We can rewrite history After running for a while, they left the town and headed towards Bridlewood. There, they found Figgy, Haven, Tails, Izzy, Jazz, and Onyx waiting for their partners to arrive from Maretime Bay. Once Sunny and Hitch arrived, though, they gave Tails and Figgy the stick of the team, so they immediately headed off towards the inside of the forest. Of course, Tails was playing fair as the rules dictated, so even though he could speed ahead and give the stick to Sonic already, he couldn't leave Figgy behind. (Oooh) That's right everyone I'm here Now I wanna hear you screaming loud and clear Coming at you with a proclamation That'll be passed down through the generations It didn't took long for the other four competitors to catch up, and now, the six teams were all heading towards the next teammate now that they have passed the obstacles. It's all bout how you live and learn Hit the road and watch that rubber burn Don't you know that time's an illusion When your running on dreams of absolution In the next line, which's road lead towards Zephyr Heights, therefore the finish line, therefore the trophy, we have Sparky, Zipp, Sonic, Alphabittle, Rocky and Windy waiting for their teammates to arrive. And when they did, the six teams were now rushing towards Zephyr Heights as fast as they could. You know that we've got nothing left to loose So take the leap and grab the prize Now's the chance we've waited our whole lives for Sonic and Zipp were the ones in the lead, however. Even with his speed kept on line to make a fair game, Sonic was still fast enough to keep up the pace he likes. But having to beat Zipp? That was a challenge he welcomed. We're not slowing down anymore As long as your hand's in mind Eventually, they both reached Zephyr Heights and got closer to the finish line. They were constantly accelerating and passing the other one, sometimes Sonic was in the lead and sometimes Zipp was it. This was a very tight race, and just when they both crossed the finish line, a picture was taken. We'll concur any road block The fast lane we'll rock That's right 'Cause I've got my friends right by my side With the race done, both Sonic and Zipp panted heavily after crossing the finish line. Sonic was not used to 'surpass limits' since he didn't had one in other circumstances, but again, he welcomed the challenge. Soon enough, though, the results of who won the race came in, and the picture showed that, despite both being so close to each other, Sonic crossed the line first by a shoe inch, which meant the the Chaotic Siblings were the winners. Sonic just smiled at this, and even though Zipp lost, she still smiled and congratulated him. Later on that day, the Chaotic Sibling enjoyed a meal with their trophy. Sunny was glad that Sonic and Tails came in the end to the Social with her, and she couldn't be any happier for it... But something was still concerning her. "Guys..." Sunny called out, and both Sonic and Tails turned to her. "I, um... Well, first of all, thanks for coming with me. I couldn't have asked for a better team to participate in the social." "Hey, that's what your brothers are here for!" Sonic assured her with a smile. "Yeah! Whenever you need us, we'll be there!" Tails added, also with a smile. "About that, um, the thing of you two being my brothers... If the time of you leaving back to Mobius comes, will you two still be my family? Even if we're not physically together anymore?" Sunny asked with concern. Seeing where she was going, Sonic and Tails looked at each other for a moment, but then they both smiled. "Sunny, Sunny-bunny, little sis. Even if we were miles away from each other, different dimension or not, we'll always be here with you," Sonic said with a smile, wrapping an arm around her and pointing at her heart. "Well, that, and I could also put some projects aside and find a way for us to stay in touch, even if we're various dimensional levels away from each other," Tails added with a smile as well. Sunny smiled with joy after hearing this, then hugged them again, while they both smiled and hugged her back. THE END