𝙰𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎

      Let's take a break from Sonic, Shadow and Amy for now. Let's find out how life was in the orphanage at that time? Especially after Shadow ate that selfish director. How has life gone there this whole year after that? Even those same guards, when they ran away in panic from the naga who ate their director, ran without looking back. They even forgot that the director ran with them, just so that they would remain alive. They never even caught the hedgehog that escaped. The children who were sitting in the orphanage and looking out the window were shocked. Sonic managed to escape and break away from them. And the director himself disappeared, judging by the fact that the guards, when they caught their breath, talked about some striped naga who did not seem to be pursuing them. However, he probably still caught the director and ate him. That's why he himself is not with them. What does it mean? This means that Sonic gave them hope for freedom, with his escape and the fact that he helped them get rid of the director. Since the director himself is no longer there, it means that the entire orphanage now belongs only to them. Now they will decide for themselves what they can do and what they cannot do. Now they decided for themselves what they could eat and what they couldn’t. Now they are their own masters and have the right to tell themselves when to play, when to have fun, when to swim, and when to go to bed. And by the way, they were even lucky. They finally found a replacement for the director. It was the crocodile Vector. He himself was aware and suspected in advance that the most selfish director had previously worked here, who thought only about himself, and did not care about the children at all. However, the crocodile was not like that. When he got the job and started running the orphanage, he fired all the cruel guards and replaced them with more or less polite ones. He also began to listen carefully to the children and take into account all their wishes and complaints. At first, of course, they did not trust him and were shocked that a replacement was found for the director. However, when he lifted all the prohibitions and became polite to them, and also removed all the harshest rules with punishments, they gradually began to get used to him. Over time, they began to trust him, because after porridge they received sweets or meat for dessert as a reward for eating all the porridge. In addition, the director himself personally went to their bedrooms and read bedtime stories. But this time not scary ones with the participation of nagas, where everything ended badly and where there was not even hope, but those in which there was still a happy ending or at least an open ending with hope for a happy ending, where the main characters do not despair and do not give up , but go to the end, even if they die, as they themselves understand very well. In addition to this, he even allowed them to personally go outside for a walk, either in the presence of adults or without them, provided that they did not run far and would return to the shelter by sunset or by dinner in order to go to bed early. Gradually, because of this, the orphanage, which was a semblance of Hell, began to turn almost into Heaven. Life became fair and everything got better. Director Vector Crocodile was loved by many children and some had already gotten used to living in the orphanage under his rule that they never wanted to leave here again. And the fact that someone came to adopt one of them did not cause joy, but rather despair, injustice and sadness. After all, now they say goodbye to each other with sadness and I think that they will never see each other again and will not play together. However, their foster parents later reassured them and assured them that they would come there sometimes, visit their friends, or study there when they were old enough to go to school. Fortunately, there were also separate educational institutions in the orphanage. They themselves could not believe their eyes and ears how everything changed so quickly. And all due to the fact that first one of them ran away on his own, without waiting for his parents, who might have adopted him, and then the old egoist was eaten naked in the forest, about whom it turns out they were telling the truth. Apparently naked is true, not a fairy tale at all, but reality.

***

      By the way, the children in the orphanage also celebrated the New Year as usual, but this time they were cheerful. Plus, Vector himself dressed up as Santa Claus, was honest and took into account the wishes of the children in order to know exactly what to give and to whom, so that it was what they really wanted. Thanks to the fact that he himself, dressed as Santa Claus, came out to them and gave them gifts, but the real one did not come and did not even please him with his appearance, although they behaved well all year, they, like Sonic, were thereby convinced that that Santa Claus does not really exist. However, they did not despair. After all, the new director wanted to at least somehow please them so that they would continue to believe in good things. Although in reality everything was fine with his appearance. Simply put, the children in the orphanage also had a good New Year, as did Sonic himself and the nagas in the swamp. Moreover, he had no reason to worry about them. After all, they even began to live better there after the striped naga ate that egoist. Although how could the hedgehog know about this? He himself never returned to the village, unlike Shadow and Amy, and did not even notice the orphanage itself from afar in order to check how the other children were doing there.

***

      Spring was coming and a purple hedgehog in a white sleeveless vest and jeans suddenly came to the orphanage. She looked around the entire orphanage in surprise and was shocked that it had changed a little in appearance. The house was renovated, both inside every room, kitchen and other places, as well as in the office, and also outside. To do this, they spent all the money that the previous director stupidly saved for himself, just to become the richest and thinking only about himself. Although, logically, all this money could have been spent for the benefit of the same shelter. Vector, for example, did just that, spending them on home repairs, food and treatment for some sick children. Don’t ask where a lot of money comes from and is earned there, if children are simply provided for there. Hedgehog comes to the orphanage and inspects the entire house. But she could not find her child among the heap. It feels like he's hiding and doesn't want to be taken away, or someone has already taken him into their family and she's too late. Vector himself approaches him. — How can I help you, madam? — Hello! My name is Alina Hedgehog. Do you have a child among the children in the orphanage who looks like a blue hedgehog? — No. More precisely, one was here once, but... His name seemed to be Sonic. — Yes Yes. He. — He was here, but he escaped. — How did him escape? Where? — she-hedgehog was indignant. — Don't know. I was told that he ran into the forest, and the previous director of the shelter, who worked here before me, while chasing him and trying to catch him, came across some kind of monster and, according to the guards, he was eaten by them. By the way, this news did not frighten many children, but on the contrary, made them happy. In general, I even understand them. After all, you have to be such a disgusting and greedy egoist to exploit child labor and torture them, just so that all the money goes to him. I myself would not have been able to bear it and would have run away if I had been a child in this house. — Vector explained and Alina lowered her head, feeling sad. She realized that she was late. — What's wrong with you, Alina? The latter sighs heavily and decides to confess: — Do you understand?... Sonic, this is... My own son. — What? — The crocodile bulged his eyes, not believing her. Even a bunch of children looked at this auntie in shock, not believing what they heard. — I know it's hard to believe. But it's true. It's not my fault, I swear. Sonic, or rather Bluey, is his real name. Anyway, when he was still a baby, my ex and I had a fight and broke up. He took everything for himself, and left me poor and with a child. I didn't have enough money to feed him. Then I had to somehow temporarily leave him here, thinking that you would take care of him until I earned enough money and began to live at least averagely in this village, and only then I would return for my Bluey, that is, Sonic, and we We will live together again with him, like mother and son. I couldn’t do anything differently to help my son, but I didn’t want to leave him either. Believe me. I had no other choice. All the children took pity on the stranger, hugging her legs, and Vector didn’t even know what to say to her. He doesn't even know where Sonic is now. — Madam, I would be happy to help you. But we don’t know for sure whether So... Is Bluey still alive? Maybe that monster also got to him and ate him in the forest, just like the director. There’s probably no point in looking for him anymore, because he can’t even be saved. Alina Hezhehog despaired at what she heard, sat down on her knees and began to cry. The children began to feel sorry for the hedgehog, and a couple of them even turned to the new director. — Uncle Crocodile, please! Help her! Maybe you are wrong and Sonic may still be alive, but he is suffering in the forest and hiding somewhere there, trying to survive. And he himself has probably wanted to return to us for a long time. — Uncle Crocodile, please! Sonic was also our friend. Help Aunt Alina. At least for our sake! Help her find Sonic! Vector ponders the children’s request, sighs heavily and answers a little hesitantly. — I... I can’t promise anything, but... I’ll try. I will help you find your son!