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Princess Sally wanted to do two things with the revelation that Davey Crockett is Robotnik's son: One, she wanted Davey to remember and keep what Robotnik was before, that good and noble Mobius-loving Julian Kintobor that was in fact Davey's father. And the other, and this keeps her up at night, she didn't want Davey to associate any feelings he had for his father on Robotnik himself, so that when he should meet him one day, he would not have that between himself and defeating him, even if he has to do it by killing him. That's what she wanted to do when they gave David all of Julian's trinkets and clothing during that rainy week afterward. She also wanted to do a mock funeral for Julian Kintobor, for the benefit of his son, David. It was supposed to be done according to Mobian custom, but they had to wing it at some places.

Like actually having something to bury. Davey done this--he *had* to do it. Mobian custom--by PKZIPping the entire contents of Julian, his new pocket computer with his father's memories, into his remaining supply of 3 1/2 inch disks he brought with him from Earth. He placed them in a cigar box some of Dad's metals were stored in. It was too small for bed sheets, so he wrapped it in a pillow case. "It looks like I done *cremated* the man," Davey commented.

Davey carried the 'coffin' with both hands, draped in another item brought in from Earth; the flag of Davey's country, referred to as "America." It made a perfect pall. Davey had on his father's uniform, which was *his* now, even though the pants were baggy and the sleeves were too long--Julian *was* a human, after all--and a black sash wrapped around him, a'bakhat,' Sally called it; something he should wear for the next ten days he was told. He led the march toward the gravesite, followed by the rest of the Freedom Fighters, some of them surprised to find themselves crying over the pseudo-death of their enemy. Davey was crying more over the beauty of the ceremony itself.

According to custom again, a certain Mobian requiem would be played, or sung, or whatever, during this funeral march. Davey selected something from his collection of CDs for the right song. It was played by Sonic on his guitar, since he heard that song being played, and it thought it was 'way past cool.' he sang the words over an acoustic guitar that twanged up and down . . .

Voices, A thousand, thousand voices
Whispering, the time has passed for choices
Golden days are passing over, yeah
I can't seem to see you Daddy
Although my eyes are open wide
But I know I'll see you once more
When I see you, I'll see you on the other side
Yes, I'll see you, I'll see you on the other side
Leaving, I hate to see you cry
Grieving, I hate to say goodbye
Dust and ash forever, yeah
Though I know we must be parted
As sure as stars are in the sky
I'm gonna see you when it comes to glory
And I'll see you, I'll see you on the other side
Yes, I'll see you, I'll see you on the other side
Never thought I'd feel like this
Strange to feel alone
But we'll be together
Carved in stone, carved in stone, carved in stone
Hold me, hold me tight, I'm falling
Far away, distant voices calling
I'm so cold, I need you by me, yeah
I was down, but now I'm flying
Straight across the great divide
I know you're crying, but I'll stop your crying
When I see you, I'll see you on the other side
Yes, I'll see you, I'll see you on the other side
I'm gonna see you, see you on the other side
God knows I'll see you, see you on the other side, yeah.

Davey lowered it to the grave, allowed to place it directly in there with his hand--It was *small,* after all--then he allowed everybody else do actually do the burying, one handful at the time. Suni held him as he cried on her shoulder all that time. This time, it was *her* that licked away his tears, as he himself had done just a few months ago.

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Ten Days Later:

It was a bright sunny day when Davey finally got out of the hut. It also matched the brightfullness of his heart. It was as if all of Mobius was welcoming David Kintobor, a.k.a. Davey Crockett, into their arms as one of its own. He and Sonia were romping around the forest in a game of tag after a quickie breakfast. They tumbled into an oversized ball of fur and quills when they tackled each other, bouncing around for a while before ending up with one of the two in a pinning predicament. The score was tied when they roll around the Power Ring Lake and near Princess Sally, when the two pop out for the last time. This match is to be a draw.

"Good morning, Davey, or is it David?"

"Davey, David, Dave, whatever. As long as you mean me."

"<Sally laughs> I'm glad to see that you're feeling better, my friend."

"I'm glad too, Sally. So tell me, anything on the agenda today, now that I'm back on-line?"

"Oh, something that would interest Suni: Your cosine Speedy's coming here to train."

"That's great Sally. You'd like her, Dave. Dark purple, fast as Sonic, and has a 'New Yoirkain' accent."

"Oh-oh, somebody better tell the Hedgehog to stay off the road!"

"She'll be over at Minoc Grove, Davey. I need you to pick her up, and some stuff too, while you're at it."

"I'll gas up the bike and get over there, Sal. Wanna come with me, Suni?"

"Yeah, I'd love to . . . er, I wanted to go with you anyway, next time you went to Minoc Grove."

"Why's that? Oh, silly me, I haven't taken you for a ride yet, haven't I?"

"Not that. It's just that I don't want you to run into Packbell again without me being involved in it, either."

Davey laughs for the first time since his mission to Robotroplis. "Okay, Sonia, let's go."