Back to Chapter 35

"In a surprising turn of events, an amateur boxing match has captivated the attention and imagination of the inhabitants of Hedgehog Village. Youngster Nicky takes on the expected favourite Anton Verruca with more at stake than championships, prize money or bragging rights: this one’s for the honour of their heroes. Anton claims a victory will prove the supremacy of Doctor Robotnik’s few supporters across South Island whereas the village is largely pulling for plucky Nicky, a little Sonic the Hedgehog fan with a big heart! Sonic the Hedgehog, viewers will remember, was the driving force behind Doctor Robotnik being pushed back and South Island being rescued from his attempted coup, though cynics and sceptics have taken the side of Doctor Robotnik. We’ll be bringing you live coverage of the fight as it begins but, for now, we take you back to the studio”

“And, we’re out. Good job,” the cameraman complimented his colleague.

“Thanks,” the female News Reporter replied, “What a weird story, though. Can you believe some kid- heck, can you believe anyone- would fall down on the side of the guy that just tried to enslave us all?”

“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. Not everyone was entitled to a brain”

“You got that right. Come on, let’s grab a coffee”

As the two news reporters took their break, an eager new face whizzed around Hedgehog Village. This was a far cry from the life they were used to back home. Fun and fancy free- and on the day of a sporting contest, no less! The cheery visitor had no clue who this Sonic or Robotnik were but assumed they must be pretty interesting if people were willing to fight for them.

“Yippee-do!” Charmy Bee exclaimed to himself excitedly, “My luck’s in! I sneak past mom and escape to Mobius and I happen to come here on a real exciting day! Oh, this is gonna be a good one, I can just feel it, yessireebob!”

Charmy buzzed about, delightedly taking in the sights of the happy little village.

Not too far away, Sonic and Nicky stood unseen among the bushes, making last minute preparations for the match.

“Okay, Nicky,” Sonic checked the younger hedgehog’s gloves, “I think your best bet is to use your small size to your advantage. If he lays a couple of good hits on you, you’ll be in trouble, so you’re going to want to avoid that at all costs. Duck and dive, bob and weave- do whatever you can to not get hit!”

“I feel sick, Sonic…” Nicky admitted.

“That’ll be nervousness. I really wish you hadn’t agreed to this. But you’re here now and that galoot needs knocking down a peg or two. Just give it your best and remember- win or lose, I’m not going to think any less of you. Just be careful, okay?”

Nicky rubbed his ear, “Are you going to accompany me at ringside?”

Sonic shook his head, “I’d better not. Everyone thinks you’re fighting for my honour, if I show up they’ll think I’m endorsing people fighting in my name. Like I said, I can fight my own battles”

“Sorry, Sonic. I just hated to hear him say those things”

“Hey,” Sonic looked Nicky in the eye, “There will always be people that say and do stupid things. But you have to rise above them. Don’t lower yourself to the level of morons like Anton Verruca”

Nicky checked his watch, “Five minutes to noon. I’d better get going”

“Alright. Good luck, Nicky. Just don’t get your brains scrambled on my account, okay?”

“Okay, Sonic. Thanks” Nicky wandered off in the direction of the makeshift entrance ramp the villagers had constructed leading to the ring borrowed from the community centre’s sports facility.

“I hope that kid knows what he’s doing,” Sonic pondered, “Oh, who am I kidding? Of course he doesn’t…”

A figure stepped into the ring, holding a microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Hedgehog Village. I’m your ring announcer for this contest, Mike Robo. You know the competitors, you’ve heard the arguments, you’ve seen the tale of the tape. Now, only one question remains: ARE YOU READY FOR A SCRAP?!”

This, Sonic thought as the audience roared, was very probably not normal.

“Introducing first,” Robo continued, “From that cave on the outskirts of town we don’t let our kids near… weighing in at an impressive three hundred and twenty-six pounds, Anton Verruca!”

As Anton headed to the ring, he audience booed noisily, except for the Verruca family, who cheered.

“Make mumsie proud, Anton!” Vera yelled, “Your father’s baked a celebratory cake for you to enjoy when you win!”

Sure enough, Hogi had prepared a giant cake, absolutely lathered in cream and dripping in sugary goop. Sonic liked junk food but he almost felt sick just looking at the baked tribute to excess.

“And…” Robo announced, “His opponent. Representing the good, sensible, decent, hard-working, kind people of Hedgehog Village- your hero and mine- Nicky!”

The audience cheered. Sonic thought perhaps there may have been an element of bias at play.

The referee got into the ring as Mike Robo left, crossing over to the two boys and addressing them, “Alright, you two. I want a nice, clean fight. No punching below the belt. No foreign object. And no darn cursing, we’re on TV, don’tcha know? No, touch gloves and let’s begin”

The two competitors touched gloves. Nicky winced. Anton chuckled to himself as he grinned sadistically.

The bell rang and the contest was underway.

Gingerly, Nicky walked up to Anton.

“Hey, short stuff, your show’s untied,” Anton pointed to the ground.

“Huh?” Nicky was confused, “Oh, uh, th-thanks”

As Nicky bent down to look at his show, his face was met by an uppercut from Anton that hit with such astonishing force it sent Nicky flying, careening over the ropes, out to the ringside areas and tumbling into the bushes in front of Sonic.

“What a hit!” the News Announcer remarked to her audience, “Hardly what I’d call a clean shot, but Anton Verruca just sent poor little Nicky flying. If Nicky’s unable to answer the referee’s ten count and get back into the ring, this one’s going to be over before it begins!”

Sonic looked at Nicky, “Come on, Nicky, get up!”

“I’ll have three of them, please,” Nicky burbled, barely sensible.

“Oh, this is no use…” Sonic sighed, exasperated, “I’m probably going to hate myself for this… kid, pass me your glasses and jumper. And whatever you do- stay down and out of sight!”

“I already told you, it’s orange!” Nicky responded, not knowing what day it was.

Back in the ring, the referee was up to the count of seven. Anton was raising his arms in victory already.

Nicky jogged back into the ring and the referee broke his count at nine. Anton looked at Nicky. Nicky looked back, a confident smile on his face.

“What the heck are you so happy for, squirt?” Anton snarled.

“Guess I’m just a naturally cheerful person,” replied Nicky, who wasn’t really Nicky.

“We’ll see who’s cheerful when I knock your teeth out!” Anton swung a huge haymaker at Nicky, who moved with all the speed of Sonic the Hedgehog to dodge the move effortlessly.

“Maybe,” replied Nicky, who was really Sonic, “But not today”

WHAM! Sonic pelted Anton in the chin and staggered him.

Anton seemed confused, “Wh… what just happened?”

“This,” replied Sonic.

WHAM! Sonic pelted Anton once again. Anton stumbled but managed to keep his balance.

“That… that almost hurt, runt!” Anton tried desperately to act tough as his chin throbbed.

“Only almost? Dear me, I must try harder,” Sonic answered, throwing a flurry of rights and lefts at Anton, who fell over.

“One! Two! Three!” the referee began. Anton was incensed and forced himself to his feet.

“You little punk!” the lizard bellowed, “I’ll smash you”

“Sure thing, pal,” Sonic smiled, holding his hands behind his back, “I’ll even give you a free shot if you can hit me!”

Anton threw a left at Sonic, still thinking he was Nicky. Sonic sidestepped. Anton threw a right. Sonic dodged. Anton threw a jab. Sonic ducked. Anton threw a roundhouse. Sonic yawned and leapt backwards out of the way.

“Come on, ugly, you’re gonna put me to sleep at this rate,” Sonic taunted.

“Oh yeah?!” Anton roared, “Well if you want to go to sleep, I’ll have to put your lights out!”

Anton reared back a huge punch, putting his all into the swing. Anton threw the massive attack- and Sonic leapt into the air, landing on Anton’s forearm.

“Huh?! What?!” Anton screeched.

“And they say boxers aren’t known for their brains,” Sonic smirked.

POW! A huge right sent Anton reeling into the ropes and flopping to the floor.

“One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven!” the referee counted.

Anton dragged himself to his feet and the referee broke his count. The lizard would never admit it, but he was running out of options. Another knock down like that and he risked a technical knock-out. Anton had to keep on his feet at all costs.

“Hey, Anton,” Sonic called over to his opponent, “Don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault”

Anton squinted, his head aching, “What’s not my fault?”

“I mean, ugly and stupid? I blame the parents, personally”

Steam practically came out of Anton’s nose and ears as he unleashed a cry of fury that would make the most feared creatures on Mobius jump.

“Ooh, he’s really mad now!” Sonic glanced at the live camera.

Anton rushed towards Sonic, ready to pummel him. Sonic leapt skyward and flipped over the brutish foe.

“Listen up, scale features. If you remember one lesson from Sonic the Hedgehog, remember this,” Sonic locked eyes with Sonic as Anton turned, “He doesn’t like bullies”

Sonic leapt into the air and span with the force of a hurricane, clocking Anton right in the eye, knocking him across the ring, into the ring post and to the ground, completely unconscious.

“THE WINNER: NICKY!” Mike Robo roared into the microphone, as everyone in the village leapt to their feet.

There was a sudden breeze in the village as Sonic switched places with Nicky at split-second speed before anyone could notice. Nicky had come to, though wasn’t fully certain what had happened. All the same, he didn’t mind everyone cheering for him and chanting his name.

“Did I win?” Nicky asked.

Very roared angrily, “Kids! Hogi! Get that BRAT who hit my baby!”

“Yes, dear…” Hogi wilted as the kids rushed the ring.

“Now, hold on a moment!” Sonic called out, rushing into the ring, “I don’t want people fighting in my name, but I’m not gonna let you all take advantage of my friend four-on-one!”

“Golly gosh!” Charmy exclaimed from the audience who erupted in delight at the sight of their hero, “That must be Sonic, yep, that’s for sure, m-hm!”

Sonic leapt back into the ring and past Anton’s brothers, bouncing off the ring ropes and into the siblings, colliding with them in turn like a pinball hitting a series bumpers and knocking them all down in one shot each.

“Di-ddle-ee!” Charmy gasped, almost squealing at what he was seeing, “This is even better than the wrestling match I saw on TV last month!”

“MY BABIES!” Vera bellowed, “How DARE you, you little blue rodent!!”

“Hey, I heard there was a cake for the winner,” Sonic replied, nonchalant, whizzing to grab the cake from next to Verucca.

“You insolent brat!” Vera scowled, “Give it to me this instant!”

Sonic sighed and looked at the live camera, “I mean, it’s an obvious gag but who am I to deny the people?”

Sonic spun on the spot and hurled the cake at Vera, the cream and saccharine gooeyness splattering her and covering her from head to toe. Vera stood silent for a moment as what happened sunk in. Then, she screamed.

“You horrid child! You brute! You… you... hedgehog!!”

“Like the kid said,” Sonic called back, “I don’t like bullies! And South Island is protected- by me!”

Vera slipped on the cream, “Hogi! Get him!”

“Oh, be quiet, dear,” Hogi rolled his eyes, “Good fight, Nicky. Come on, Vera, let’s drag our kids home. Maybe they’ll learn something from this”

“Hogi!” Vera gasped “How could you?!”

“Aaaah, shaddap!” Hogi snorted, pulling the Verucca kids out of the ring as Vera ran off in tears.

Sonic gave a wave to the crowd, then raised Nicky’s hand for everyone to cheer him.

In the audience, Charmy Bee wasn’t entirely sure what he’d just seen, but he was certain of one thing: he had to become friends with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Chapter 37 coming soon