Teaser Time!

*Ten years had passed since the Freedom Fighters had won the war. The tyrant was defeated, the dreaded robotisizer now just a scary memory. Though the city had been restored to it's former glory, most of the original FF's still lived in the hidden village of Knothole, either as a precaution against future invasions, or from force of habit, or both. Princess Sally was now Queen Sally; her king, that flashy blue hero of old, Sonic. The two were expecting their first child.

Scene fades in on an elaborately decorated hallway in a temple in Mobotropolis. Fanfare is heard as the camera pans to an archway in front of the temple altar.*

"I now pronounce you hedgehog and wife. You may kiss the bride" (the temple priest's voice)

"Allll right!"

*Camera zooms in on the newlyweds' marriage kiss.

(After some ceremony, the priest continues)* "Kneel, please, and receive your crown."

The Blue Blur kneels, as the crown is placed on his head. After more ceremony, he stands again, the crown propped jauntily behind one ear. The crowd cheers wildly, as their new king and queen are escorted to a palanquin. Scene fades out as they are borne out of the temple toward the palace.

The child was born that winter, during a raging blizzard. Strangely, there was a brief lull in the storm at the exact moment of her birth. The visiting mystic (who was also acting as midwife) took this as an omen and expressed as much to the new mother...

Fade in on the new family in their home in a stump in the middle of Knothole: the queen in bed holding the newborn princess, a purple hedgehog with a strange ring of rainbow fur around her upper left arm; the proud father standing beside his mate looking fondly down at his sleeping infant daughter.

"She looks so serene, don't you think, Sonic?"

"Uh, yeah. Hey, that's the perfect name!"

(Sally quirks an eybrow) "What?"

"Serenity!"

"That's the best idea you've come up with yet!"

"I try."

Camera pans to the window, moving outside into the blowing snowstorm, where the scene fades to black.

The years passed peacefully. Princess Serenity Alicia Acorn Hedgehog grew up every inch her father's daughter. She could often be seen speeding around Knothole, a bright flash of violet in the dappled sunlight, with her two best friends, Peace and Tails, Jr., twin children of Tails Prower shadowing her every move.

Camera pans to a section of meadow with brightly colored flags marking out a course across it. Father and daughter are seen at the starting point, revving and preparing to race around the field.

"I'm gonna beatcha this time, Daddy!"

"Ha! Beat moi? Fat chance, Ren!" (Sonic grins cockily)

"Well, I will!"

The starting shot rings out, and father and daughter explode from the starting point. Time lapse ages the purple hedgehog princess several years. She now appears around nineteen as she crosses the finish line a fraction of a second ahead of her father.

(Sonic's eyes open wide in surprise) "I can't believe it! She beat me!"

(Camera pans to Serenity, who is standing there beaming) "Oh, come on, Daddy, 'coarse I did, I'm your daugher!"

"That's my girl alright!"

Camera fades out as they walk back to Knothole arms over each other's shoulders, both wearing that self-satisfied smirk.

However, little did they know, an old enemy, one thought long-dead, was about to resurface. The tyrant they had thought defeated was planning a way to reinstate himself as absolute ruler...and get rid of the hero who had defeated him those many years ago at the same time...

Thunder is heard in the background, followed by a scream and the sickening sound of crunching bone, followed by another scream.

(Voiceover) "DADDY! NOOOO!"

*Camera fades in to reveal Serenity standing in the rain bent over the prone form of her father, half buried in rubble, with a large boulder pinning his leg to the ground. She tries desparately to wake him, to no avail. She stands, the pouring rain disguising her tears, and shakes her fist in the direction of the retreating hover craft.

(She yells into the howling wind)* "You'll pay for what you've done to my father, I swear it!"

Camera fades out and sad music plays as she collapses over the body of her father, filled with grief...

Prepare yourselves for my fanfic, introducing...

A Sense of Serenity