Chapter 1 - Welcome to Soleanna

The Soleanna Chronicles.

Note: This takes place before Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (Out now for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3!) I guess you could call this my game adaptation, so this is officially sanctioned by Next Guardian (Hoo-Rah!). This is meant as a solo series for my main char, Ekyt. Hope you like it!

“Princess Elise? Princess?” Elise felt a gentle hand shaking her. Her maid, Marietta, was shaking her awake. Another night at her desk. “Oh, thank you. What time is it?” “It’s ten o’clock Princess. I thought you would like to take some time before the speech to have some food.” Elise smiled kindly. “That’s a good idea. Thank you.”

The nation had been rocked by a series of kidnappings. The bodies had been found days later. Elise, as acting ruler, felt it her duty to help her people through this hard time.

Quinn Ramei smirked and sipped at his decarte’, an alcoholic drink native to Soleana. “Found the bodies, have they? It’s a safe bet they’ll never find me…but it’s time for me to have my moment in the sun. Princess Elise is going to sign the country over to me!” “Meow?” Quinn’s cat, Dexter, meowed at the prospect of food. He stroked the black and white cat with his fingertips while it purred contently.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened until an hour before Elise’s speech. A stranger walked into town from the forest, leaning on a staff. Solenanna’s people always took strangers in. But this one was different…he was somewhat tall, and pale, with dark brown hair, and hazel eyes that darted around, searching for a threat. And that was his face! He wore a long, black coat, with pants that were slightly darker, and a white shirt that seemed to fit perfectly. Not at all the traditional dress. No one made a move. Finally, a shopkeeper welcomed him. “Welcome to Soleanna, traveler!” A smile crossed the stranger’s lips. “Thank you. I’m afraid I don’t know the currency here…” The stranger said in a cheerful, but somewhat raspy voice. “But here. For that pair of shoes. Mine are worn out…” The man…boy…however old he was, handed the shopkeeper some strange green paper, which obviously had value, wherever he had come from. “Thank you. Here you are, and welcome to Soleanna!” The stranger thanked him again and swapped shoes. These, he knew, had to be special. The shoe makers in Soleanna were legendary.

Elise stepped out onto the balcony, smiling and waving at her people. They cheered, and a few younger boys, who obviously had a crush on the beautiful princess, blushed and cheered louder than everyone. “Someday, we’re going to grow up and be guards for the Princess!” One boy in a hat said. “Yeah! Let’s call ourselves the Soleanna boys!” The six boys agreed on that, and listened intently to the speech.

The stranger looked at the crowd. He guessed that the girl talking was someone important. Looks too young to be a leader… He listened anyway, because she had a gift for speaking. At the end, even he felt reassured that this country was going to be fine, despite the deaths.
“…I know we have hit a rough patch as a nation, but as a nation, we can overcome it! Thank you!” Elise smiled once more, and blew a kiss at her admirers. Quinn Ramie ghosted up behind her. “HEY! WHAT ARE…!!!” she yelled out as they struggled. She brought her foot down onto his foot, and kicked backward, hitting him in the shin. Quinn let go, as Elise ran for it.

The town pushed toward the castle. Something was happening to their beloved Princess! The stranger raised a curious eyebrow, and then…took off! Those shoes had gas, if you knew what to use for fuel. He darted around to the main entrance of the palace (The balcony was on the back, facing the town square), guessing by where Elise’s latest cry for help came from, that she would be rushing out these doors any second…

Elise ran down the stairway and bolted out the doors. She hit someone. “I’m so sorry!” She gasped in surprise. The stranger looked nonplussed. “Are you okay?” He asked, as he helped her up. “Someone is trying to kidnap me, or kill me!” The stranger nodded. “I can help you.” “He’s dangerous!” she exclaimed. “That’s okay. I’m new here, but I’m guessing that you’re the ruler. Your safety takes priority.” The stranger heard footsteps. “Stay behind me!” He cautioned her. She nodded and stepped backward, not taking her eyes off the doors.

Quinn burst through the doors and ran right into someone. “Out of my way! I must see the Princess!” The stranger grabbed him. “No you don’t. I’m new around here, but I can already tell you’re the town villain. Congratulations on being my first enemy.” Quinn punched the stranger in the stomach. The stranger retaliated with swift right hand, before pointing his walking stick at Quinn. “GUARDS!” Elise yelled. Quinn took off. The guards grabbed the stranger in the black coat. “NOT HIM! THAT ONE!” She pointed at Quinn’s back. The soldiers weren’t going to catch them. “You! Your badge is gold! Give me that, I can catch him!” Ekyt yanked the badge off and stuck it into the bottom of his shoe. He took off incredibly fast, catching Quinn. “Here.” He threw the kidnapper at the guard’s feet. He turned sharply and started to walk off.

Princess Elise was stunned. “Please, catch him!” she asked one of the guards. “Excuse me!” she called out. The stranger turned around. An arm seized him roughly around the neck. “Come quietly. The princess wants to see you.” The stranger ducked down without warning, flipping the guard over using his arm for leverage. “I can walk.”

More guards rushed at the stranger. “Don’t attack him!” Elise yelled. The stranger walked quietly over to her, as if daring one of her guards to attack. “I-Th-thank you.” Elise said, with a small bow. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.” The stranger was hit with the barrel of a rifle between the shoulder blades. “It’s customary to kneel!” the guard barked. The stranger seized the gun and threw it into the water nearby. “Try asking nicely, and maybe your toys won’t wind up broken.” The man in the black coat said threateningly. Elise smiled at it; it was funny some how. “Do you have a name? Oh! Wait, where are my manners?! Please, come inside.” Elise gestured to the castle.

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