From Hero to Father

4 Years Before Princess from the Unknown

     It was a frigid, windy day, leaves finally finished falling from the trees while cold winds made their way to nip at Mobian's noses. Winter was slowly approaching the planet Mobius. Although, even if the sidewalks started to freeze over after nights of freezing rain, that didn't deter one energetic, peppy, speedy daredevil. In fact, the challenge excited him...even if he did slip a few times.

     Around this time of year, everyone was starting to decorate for the holidays. A certain speedy blue hedgehog, however, was just on one of his usual runs. He was helping in any way he could before zipping off to find another exciting adventure. Although, there were times when the hedgehog did have to take breaks to catch his breath or steady his heartbeat. Even if he did try to keep the sudden strain at a low profile.

     "H-Heh, phew, another close call. Maybe I should start listening to Tails and Dr. Quack more often when they warn me about taking it easy." He didn't seem to be talking to anyone in particular, only for the hedgehog to chuckle to himself. 'Taking things easy'? He was kidding himself, right? This Mobian hedgehog did anything but that! His life had always been about excitement and speed! Sure, he knew anyone who worried about the speedster meant well, but there was no way anyone was gonna slow down the Fastest Thing Alive anytime soon! Not only was he fast, but he was also a hero, being the one and only Sonic The Hedgehog and all!

     Stretching for a moment before adjusting both the scarf and winter vest that he wore, Sonic gave himself a quick look at his reflection in a nearby mirror that had just been laying against a building wall, probably being thrown out by someone. Yet he was grateful as he gave his reflection a wink and then his signature smirk.

     "Who's the most devilishly good-looking hedgehog around? That's right, Moi~!" Sonic soon complemented himself, letting some of the chest fluff he'd started to grow peek out from between the zipper. It was nothing fancy, just some soft peach fuzz, but it was something to keep him warm during the colder months and to keep his chest slightly hidden away from the rest of the world; which, in all honesty, Sonic didn't mind.


     Giving a few passersby friendly waves here and there, Sonic got ready to continue his run, however, once he had only managed a few more blocks; nearing the closest alleyway. Something started to feel a bit off. So, kicking up his speed a bit, he soon ducked in between two buildings, only for a sudden noise to catch his ears as they perked up in alarm.

     It didn't sound like any of his nemesis' robotic creations, Thank Gaia, however, what had caught the hedgehog's attention almost made his quills stand on instinct. It had been a child crying. Not only that, but they sounded no older than an infant! Who in their damn mind would leave an infant out in the cold like this?! Ooh, once Sonic found the culprit, he was giving them a piece of his mind! First things first, he needed to find that child.


     Swiveling his ears around in every direction, the speedy hedgehog followed the source of the crying. Quickly coming across a couple of old, dusty boxes as his heart pumped a mile a minute. Yet, that could wait, the child sounded like they needed help, and they needed it right away! After a few more minutes of searching, the crying that filled the area suddenly quieted down, causing Sonic to move faster. Despite only being seventeen, he felt an aching surge of protective instinct.

     "...Come on--Come on, Where are you?!" The azure male snapped, yet still trying to keep his voice down, his ears soon perking up more as weak, tired cries hit his ears once more. Zipping over to a small box as he suddenly noticed it shaking. Bingo! With a small huff to try to calm himself down, Sonic carefully used his claws to open the flaps of the box lying in front of him. Not wanting to hurt whoever was inside as the crying started gaining volume again.

     Once the parcel was successfully opened, Sonic's eyes soon widened as he peeked inside, only to jump back slightly as what looked to be a long, spotted tail and a pair of round, also spotted ears poked out from a thin blanket that lay over whatever had been in the box. The hedgehog carefully checked for any injuries before holding the baby close to his chest once they started to cry a bit softer. They weren't like any Mobian the speedster had seen before, although, examining the bundle more gave Sonic the confidence that he was indeed now holding a jaguar cub.

     "Heh, Hey there. Who might you be?" Sonic asked gently, now starting to rub along the cub's back before smiling softly once they started to calm down. A small purring admitted from the hero's throat once two, tiny paw-like hands tried to reach up to grab the hedgehog's rounded nose. Wait? Purring? Since when could hedgehogs--? Shaking his head gently, that question could be answered later. Right now, the speedy hedgehog needed to get the little bundle in his arms someplace warmer, and perhaps try to find out who they were and if they belonged to anyone in town.

     Suddenly, Sonic was snapped out of his thoughts as a small beeping sound erupted in one of his triangular ears, causing the hedgehog to jump back but still hold onto the bundle he had before carefully reaching up and touching a device that lay resting in his right ear. Unfortunately, the sound and the jolt made the small Mobian start wailing yet again.


     "Oh Nonono! Shhh, it's ok! It's ok! I gotcha, Sonic's gotcha." Sonic gently cooed, trying to calm the almost hysterical feline before they started to thrash around, exposing more of their spotted body to the cold air. Although trying and failing miserably at calming down, the hedgehog let out a frustrated groan before a new voice came to the hedgehog's hearing. "...Uh, did I call in at a bad time?" They asked, causing the male on the other end to sigh while still trying to shush the baby he held. The voice sounded male, yet young at the same time. Sonic tried his best to keep calm before clearing his throat with a nervous chuckle.

     "...Wha-- Nooo, I was just out on my usual run when I just happened to come across an uuh...interesting discovery. You're fine Buddy, what's up?" Sonic tried to play off his sudden surprise as he looked back down towards the little Mobian, shushing them once again before gently booping them on their little black nose once they let out a small, squeaky sneeze. "Hehe, Bless you." He'd reply to the rather adorable sound, only for the hedgehog's tail to flick once he heard his "Buddy'' clear his throat. Ah, right, phone call. Trying his best to keep the baby in his arms secure, Sonic soon searched around for another blanket while using his chest fur as a quick substitute. Only to growl in slight annoyance once he came up empty-handed.

     "I was just calling to tell you Aunt Sally asked for the Freedom Fighters to meet up at Sky Patrol. She thinks Eggman has something planned, given his recent disappearance. Maybe you can bring along your interesting discovery." The voice on the other end of the call informed, only for the blue blur to slightly tense up at their sudden suggestion. A small yawn exited the bundle as they cuddled deeply into his fur. A small, weak purr sounded from the cub in the hero's arms before his own mixed right in. Sonic couldn't help but smile at the sweet sight, only to snap back into focus once he heard the sounds of typing coming from the other end of the call.
"...U-Um yea, I'll be there. Although could you...maybe do me a quick favor? I uh...just want to make sure my discovery has a comfortable place to sleep when I do show. Possibly a crib you and Rotor can build together? And Bunny or Sal...could...erm...buy a couple packs of diapers and some bottles? I uh..." Sonic asked carefully, only to be cut off mid-thought as the sounds of someone spitting out a drink before coughing roughly hit the hedgehog's ears. Although, before he could ask if his buddy was alright, a sudden but faint slam came from his friend's side of the call soon after.

     "You want me and Rotor to do...WHAT?! Sonic, what exactly do you have with you?!" They asked in surprise, causing the hedgehog to chuckle nervously once again as he started to exit the alley he was in, trying to keep the bundle close to his chest before carefully taking off in a quick run. Soon making small noises as if the signal to their call was cutting out.

     "What was that, Tails? I krt couldn't quite krt hear you! I uh, I'm getting some wind interference! I'll skrt see you skree on the S.P.! Uhh, Bye!" Quickly ending the call, Sonic sighed for what seemed like the millionth time before looking back down towards the baby he held, feeling them as they started to shiver within his arms. "...Sorry little guy...er...gal? I need to check...ugh, never mind that right now, Focus! Once we're on the Sky Patrol, we can get you something warm in your belly and freshened up in no time! Then we can figure out your gender! What's important right now is getting you out of the cold!" Sonic continued, slowly and steadily increasing his speed to not scare the little one or put too much strain on his already overbeating heart. Although, the heroic hedgehog could already feel his freckled cheeks turning red as he thought about how he would explain the situation to the others.


     About twenty-five minutes later, Sonic was quick to arrive at what looked like a loading bay, a larger, golden-yellow, and red ship. White wings on each side as a floor-like platform slowly lowered in front of the hedgehog. Who was gently tapping his foot while rubbing the side of his new, little friend once they started to become fussy, a lot more thorough.

     "Shh, it's ok. No need to cry anymore, please?" Sonic whispered gently, making sure to keep the baby close to his chest and securely in his arms once he jumped onto the platform. A small hum filled the hedgehog's ears as it lifted upwards soon after with a small click once it reconnected with the bottom of the ship.

     Feeling his eye now beginning to twitch, the speedster tried his best to keep a smile as he was lifted to the main floor, walking off the platform before looking around for a moment to find the location he'd been looking for. Once he had however and the automated, sliding door opened, Sonic was unsurprisingly met with confused and befuddled looks from all his friends. Only for a certain ten-year-old to curiously walk closer to his big brother as he examined the expression the hedgehog bore and then the bundle that now slept in his arms. Sonic giving the group in front of him the all-knowing look of If you wake them, there will be consequences. Which none of the Freedom Fighters had seen on the hedgehog's face before.

     "So it was a baby crying! Why didn't you tell me when I called earlier?!" Tails almost yelled, only to be quickly silenced by the speedster who gently placed a finger on the kitsune's lips—carefully looking down at the bundle once more before looking back. Walking over to a nearby couch soon after and sitting down. "...Tails, not right now. I just got them to stop crying...Did you and Rote get a crib ready?" Sonic asked quietly, sighing in relief once his little brother nodded almost silently. Although, once the speedster had noticed the fox's sad look, the hedgehog leaned forward before ruffling up his hair with a tired smile.

     "Heh, don't need to worry Lil' Bro, once we can get our little Jane or John Doe here fully checked out, in a new diaper and some new clothes, I'll tell you, guys, everything." The hero continued, still trying his best to whisper, only to wince suddenly once the Mobian infant nuzzled against his chest, rubbing their head against the surgical scar that lay in the center. Slightly hidden by Sonic's tan fuzz of chest fur and vest and scarf he still wore.

     "Speaking of such, why did you decide to bring them here? Wouldn't it have been better to have brought them to an orphanage or have them be examined by a doctor?" A new, more female voice suddenly asked, revealing a light brown chipmunk, who had rounder cheeks almost like a squirrel before she sat down next to the azure male. Who only shrugged the best as he crossed his legs to sit back and relax. "That was my first thought until Tails called me saying you wanted to gather everyone for some sort of meeting. Yea, with my speed I could easily just drop them off at Rosie's or whatnot, but something deep inside my gut told me to keep them with me." Sonic tried his best to explain, only to earn a couple of raised eyebrows before a large, purple walrus walked a bit closer, offering to take the baby once he showed off the crib Sonic requested to be made. Unfortunately, once the infant was lifted from their resting spot against the speedster's chest, Sonic was quick to let out a cry of pain once he felt ten tiny pinpricks before they decided to dig into his skin, near his scars.

     "Ow!-Ow!-Ow! Let go! LET GO!" Sonic quickly gasped, his quills almost digging into the couch once his ears started to ring. A hiss of pain escaped the hero's lips soon after. However, once the familiar cries of the minor child he'd rescued entered his hearing this time, something within the hedgehog almost awoke, making the spiky mammal glare toward the walrus, his pupils quickly shrinking into slits before Sonic shakily lowered a hand to carefully and gently rub along the baby's back, and even their tail, which worked almost instantly as their claws retracted, leaving the hedgehog's skin.

     Still feeling a bit uneasy, Sonic curled himself against the baby who was in his arms. His body now shaking as the Mobian hedgehog continued to let out small hisses before his triangular ears flattened tightly against his head. Whatever was happening, it almost felt natural for the hedgehog to react the way he was. His breathing slowly became strained, yet, he knew it wasn't the baby's fault.


     "....Sonic? Sugar-hog...I-I'm going to take the baby for a moment...is that alright?" Another voice came to the hedgehog's still ringing ears, his breathing now panicked and quick as Sonic glanced back towards his friends. Although, once he found a half-robotic, dark cream-colored Mobian rabbit in front of him. Sonic tried his best to nod. Purring softly once he felt a metallic yet soft touch to one of his ears; which made his freckled cheeks go red again. Yet, Sonic was still a bit hesitant as he carefully moved his arms away from the still-crying baby before they had been carefully moved away from his chest.

     "Sally-girl, I'm gonna take care of our little friend here, can you and Sugah-Toine help Sonic please?" The half robotic rabbit asked, Only for Sonic to be swiftly caught by two pairs of arms once he felt his body relax and uncurl. His vision was unfocused as he watched the brownish-red hybrid from before slowly approach. As she did, Sonic's senses slowly came back to him however, he was quick to reach out a shaking hand once his ears perked up.  "...N-No! Wait, I-I uh changed my mind! Give t-them back!!" The hedgehog tried to yell, yet his voice sounded much quieter as it got caught in his throat. It was strange, but the overprotectiveness Sonic felt for the child started to become something new, his eyes now looking towards the chipmunk squirrel almost pleadingly as she knelt in front of Sonic.

      "Please calm down Mon Ami, panicking as you are, will only frighten the baby more. I know you are worried, and we are too, but I promise you that they are in good hands. Now, let's check over those claw marks and get you a bit more warmed up as well, shall we?" An older male's voice hit the hedgehog's ears suddenly their French accent slightly making it difficult for Sonic to understand what they meant. A soft, silky touch made its way to the hero's chest before he'd now started to gasp a bit. Yet, before his head somewhat became fuzzy, Sonic tried to search the room for a moment before another hand gently made its way onto the hedgehog's back, carefully rubbing between the hedgehog's quills as the hero's eyes focused a bit more on the other male. Who had gently cupped a hand under the speedster's chin to help guide his gaze. Revealing a light brown and soft blond colored coyote as those soft blue eyes of his looked back into panicked jade.

     "Slow, deep breaths Ogilvie, nice and steady. Un. Deux. Trois. Breathe in. Trois. Deux. Un. Breathe out." The coyote instructed, a few more hisses exiting Sonic's throat before he did as he was told. Focusing on slowing his breathing and heartbeat while his quills relaxed. Although, as an extra precaution, the speedster shakily covered his ears over his palms to drown out any of the crying he was still hearing from the other room. After a couple more deep breaths, the speedster's body was quick to slump against the back of the couch he was sitting on. His eyes now glancing over both figures that still resided in front of the hedgehog before he looked away almost shamefully; shakily wiping away any tears he felt form as he kept repeating to himself the same phrase he was given.

     "...U-Un. Deux. Trois. B-Breathe in." He inhaled. "Trois. D-Deux....U-Un. Breathe out." Sonic finished, shakily exhaling while his friends backed off to give him more space. Both Sally and the one that was addressed as 'Sugah-Toine' carefully took hold of each of the hedgehog's hands as he winced. Feeling something damp touch his chest a moment after.


     As both Mobians slowly guided those clawed hands away from Sonic's triangular ears, however, all three let out a sigh of relief once the crying that worried them all finally stopped. Bunnie soon walked back with a newly freshened up and now giggling jaguar cub as they tried to chew on the metallic hand of the half-Robian, half-Mobian freedom fighter before turning their hazel iris towards the hedgehog happily. Reaching out with the soft sounds of squeaks, mews, and baby-babble.

     "Hehe, well lookie here, seems like somebody missed you Sugar-hog. One clean and warmed-up jaguar cub as promised. Also, I'd like to be the first one to say congrats hon, it looks like our little friend here is a baby girl!" The rabbit happily announced, handing the little bundle back over to Sonic (who instantly pulled the cub close to his chest once more) before the speedy hero booped the cub's nose with his own with a tired, yet happy chuckle. His stubby, pointed tail now wagging and thumping against the couch while both Sally and the coyote crossed their arms, watching with their smiles.

     "T-Thanks Bunnie, Jane looks much happier now that she's out of those rags." Sonic commented, gently nuzzling against one of the female cub's marked cheeks while purring. Her own mixed in soon after as she wiggled around and giggled even louder. Although, the speedster couldn't help but raise an eyebrow before shying away a bit once he noticed his friends staring. "What? Do I have something on my face? Did Jane scratch my muzzle too?" He asked, carefully placing a hand onto a freckled cheek to check his muzzle for said suspicions, only for Sally to shake her head before gesturing towards the cub, who also bore a confused look before playfully swatting at the princess's hand with a paw pad.

     Letting out a soft giggle of her own, Sally carefully rubbed under the feline's chin with her index finger, her eyes still glued to Sonic as the hedgehog smiled down towards the cub while rubbing one of her rounded ears. The princess' blue eyes expressed confusion.

"You're fine Sonic, but um...Where did you come up with the name Jane? Wouldn't it be better to find out her real name?" The chipmunk squirrel asked gently, booping the cub on the nose once she felt a tiny pull and then heard a couple of playful growls as the baby decided to start trying to pull her glove off. The blue ring around Sally's wrist preventing said result.

     "Heh, I don't know, I just thought it suited her, given that until we do know more about her, Jane is considered a Jane Doe after all. Right? Most felines are also known to be graceful, and the name Jane, so I've read, is defined as someone being very kind." Sonic explained, his ear soon twitching as he heard what sounded like a stomach growl admits almost from seemingly nowhere, only to look back down towards the cub for a moment before turning his gaze back towards Bunnie, who now rubbed the back of her head nervously, almost playing with her ponytail as her ears flopped against the brown stetson that rested on top her head.

     "Heh, Oopsie-Daisy. Did...Did I forget to mention I had a difficult time trying to feed the poor gal? No matter how many times I checked the formula Sally-girl and I grabbed, she just wouldn't open her little mouth for me. S-So I thought uh...maybe you could try Sugah-hog since the baby seems to--." Bunnie suggested, now fiddling with the wedding ring she wore on her robotic finger. Yet, the cowgirl was then suddenly interrupted by another hiss, only it didn't come from Jane. No, it had come from Sonic once again as he scrunched up his face. The cub in his arms now started to nuzzle deeply against the hedgehog's chest before resting her head and biting down on a certain area. Causing the speedster to grit his teeth.