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In the Life of an Echidna
By:SnowPuppy
"You dreamt that we had... quadruplets?!" Said Steppenwolf to his wife.
"Yeah, I did." Replied Kay-Si.
"It's not that I dont like babies, Kay-Si, but we made an agreement. 
Remember?" Said Steppenwolf.
"Yes. And I guess I will stick with what I got. I'll try not to feel so 
lonely now." Said Kay-Si.
"Lonely? Is that what this is all about? You have nothing to feel 
lonely 
about." Said Steppenwolf calmly.
"I know. But every day you and Moonwatcher go out and I'm left alone. 
But 
I'll try not to feel so lonely now." Said Kay-Si.
"Yeah, and I'll try to take breaks more often, okay?" Said Steppenwolf.
Kay-Si nodded her head and went back to what she was doing. Steppenwolf 
went 
in Moonwatcher's room.
"What is it, dad? Is it time for me to start training to be guardian 
again?" 
Asked Moonwatcher.
"Well, yeah, but before anything, I need to tell you something." Said 
Steppenwolf.
"What?" Moonwatcher wanted to know.
"It seems like your mother has been feeling pretty lonely. Thats why 
she had 
that dream about those quadruplets. Tonight, while she's asleep, we're 
going 
to plan a party for her. To let her know she's never alone. And then 
when she 
gets up in the morning she'll have a surprise waiting for her. I hope 
that 
will make her feel better. So what do you say?" Said Steppenwolf.
"Okay. I'll help. What time?" Said Moonwatcher.
"Well we got to be sure she's asleep. We can do it around 11:00PM. 
She's 
usually asleep by then." Replied Steppenwolf.
"'Kay!" Said Moonwatcher.
"Now come on. We got to go about our daily routine before Kay-Si starts 
suspecting something." Said Steppenwolf.
"Okay." Said Moonwatcher, shrugging.
"Come on." Said Steppenwolf.
"Coming. I just gotta find my shoes. Here they are. Coming!" Said 
Moonwatcher, trying to catch up with his dad.
At night, when Kay-Si was sound asleep, Steppenwolf got out of bed 
without 
trying to wake her. And then he went in Moonwatcher's room to wake him 
up. 
"Moonwatcher, Moonwatcher! Wake up." Said Steppenwolf.
"I'm up, I'm up." Said Moonwatcher sleepily.
They planned Kay-Si's surprise party, with balloons, streamers, the 
works! 
They were both sure that Kay-Si was really going to love this party.
"Now what? We got balloons, streamers, noise-makers, and stuff like 
that. 
What are we missing?" Asked Moonwatcher curiously.
"I'll tell you what we're missing. We're missing presents!" Said 
Steppenwolf.
"And cotton candy! And punch! And lollipops! And cheese pizza! And 
frozen 
yogurt! And licorice! And--" Began Moonwatcher.
"Hold on, slow down! We cant get all that stuff." Said Steppenwolf.
"But mom likes all that stuff." Said Moonwatcher.
"Well, we're going to have to get a meal, dessert, and a drink. One of 
each. 
We'll get cheese pizza, cotton candy, and punch. Deal?" Said 
Steppenwolf.
"Okay." Said Moonwatcher, a little disappointed.
They got all that stuff and a little surprise present for Kay-Si. 
Actually, 
two surprise presents, one from Steppenwolf and one from Moonwatcher.
When Kay-Si woke up, she would have a surprise. At 7:30AM, she woke up. 
She 
rubbed her eyes and looked around.
Time to start another day. She thought with a sigh.
She went into the kitchen, and thats when she found her surprise.
"Surprise, mom!" Said Moonwatcher happily.
"Wow, thanks! But why did I get a party? It's not my birthday." Said 
Kay-Si 
confusingly.
"Well we knew you were feeling lonely, so we decided to plan a party to 
cheer 
you up." Said Steppenwolf, answering Kay-Si's question.
"Wow, well, thanks." Said Kay-Si stunningly.
"Yeah, mom! And there's cheese pizza and punch and cotton candy! 
Everything 
that you like!" Said Moonwatcher.
Kay-Si had a great day from then on. Soon, before the party was over, 
it was 
time for Kay-Si to open her presents.
"Oh, the party was great, but you shouldn't have got me presents!" Said 
Kay-Si.
"We wanted to." Said Steppenwolf.
"Yeah, a party isn't a party without presents!" Said Moonwatcher with a 
giggle.
Moonwatcher's present to Kay-Si was a jewelry box that played one of 
Kay-Si's 
favorite tunes, Beautiful Dreamer.
"Thanks alot! It's really pretty and I love the song Beautiful Dreamer! 
Thanks alot, son!" Said Kay-Si giving Moonwatcher a hug.
"No problem." Said Moonwatcher.
And Steppenwolf's present to Kay-Si was a diamond necklace with her 
name on 
the diamond.
"Oh, it's so beautiful! I love it! Thanks so much!" Said Kay-Si, now 
giving 
Steppenwolf a hug.
"Your welcome." Said Steppenwolf.
So, Kay-Si had a wonderful time, and when Kay-Si was finished with her 
presents, Steppenwolf had something to say to Kay-Si.
"I know you've been feeling pretty lonely, but I want you to know that 
your 
never really alone. We'll always be here for you and we will take extra 
breaks so you wont feel so lonely." Said Steppenwolf to Kay-Si.
"Thanks, I think I know that now." Said Kay-Si happily.
Later on in the day, Moonwatcher and Steppenwolf went out for guard 
duty, as 
usual. But this time Kay-Si didn't feel as lonely. She was actually in 
a good 
mood today.
She was doing the dishes when she heard the telephone. She dryed her 
hands 
and went to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" She said through the phone.
"Hey, is this Kay-Si?" Said someone.
"Yeah. Who's this?" Asked Kay-Si.
"It's Susan-Na! You know, your cousin?" Said Susan.
"Susan! I cant believe its you! I haven't talked to you in such a long 
time! 
Why're you calling?" Said Kay-Si astonishingly.
"Yeah, I know! Hey, I'm inviting you to our family reunion on Saturday. 
It's 
when we all get together! You haven't seen me or the rest of your 
family in 
such a long time! Well except for your sister Nick-Ol. But I'm telling 
you to 
come!" Said Susan.
"Oh I'll ask my husband. But if we can come then we'll come." Said 
Kay-Si.
"Great! Your married?" Said Susan.
"Yes I'm married!" Said Kay-Si.
"Gosh! Well that just proves how long we haven't talked to each other! 
Who 
are ya married to?" Said Susan.
"Gosh, we haven't talked for like.. years! I thought the news would go 
around 
that me and Steppenwolf were married. But I guess the news didn't reach 
you, 
did it? Well we've been married for a long time! And you didn't even 
know I 
was married. Thats funny. But I got a son, too." Said Kay-Si.
"Steppenwolf? Your married to the guardian? I never would've guessed! 
And you 
got a son? Thats great! Wow! I  know, we haven't talked for a long 
time, like 
you said! Whoa! Well hope to see ya on Saturday!" Said Susan.
"Okay. Me too. Seeya." Said Kay-Si.
"Seeya." Said Susan.
Kay-Si then put down the phone and went back to washing the dishes.
She heard the door. Her husband and son were back in. Steppenwolf came 
in the 
room and kissed Kay-Si on the cheek.
"Anything new?" He asked her.
"Actually, there is. I got a phonecall from my cousin, whom I haven't 
talked 
to in a long, long time." Said Kay-Si.
"That's good. And?" Said Steppenwolf.
"And she invited me to a family reunion on Saturday. And I haven't seen 
my 
family for a very long time. Do you think we could go?" Said Kay-Si.
"Sure. I think we can make it." Said Steppenwolf.
"Wow, mom! Sorry, but I just happened to hear your conversation! You 
mean, 
I'm going to meet some relatives I dont even know about?" Asked 
Moonwatcher.
"Yes. You will meet my cousin Susan, which is.. your great cousin? I 
think 
so. And you'll meet my mom and dad, which are your grandmother and 
grandfather. And maybe even some of my other relatives. And your dad 
hasn't 
even met them." Said Kay-Si.
"Wow! I cant wait!" Said Moonwatcher happily.
On Saturday, they all went to Kay-Si's cousin's house right on time. 
Kay-Si 
rung their doorbell.
"Kay-Si! Long time no see!" Said a baby-blue echidna greeting them.
"Susan! It's great to see you again!" Said Kay-Si to her cousin.
"Likewise. And is this your family?" Said Susan.
"Yeah." Said Kay-Si.
"Hi! My mom said your my great cousin! I'm Moonwatcher!" Said 
Moonwatcher 
happily.
"Well pleased to meet you." Said Susan with a smile.
Susan greeted the three in. It WAS a big reunion!
"Kay-Si! You sure have a big family!" Said Steppenwolf.
Kay-Si then saw a familiar face. It was her younger sister, Nick-Ol, 
waving 
to her.
"Hey, Nick-Ol! I haven't seen you since the last time you babysat for 
Moonwatcher." Said Kay-Si.
Nick-Ol nodded and patted Moonwatcher's head.
"Yeah, I remember you! Your my aunt!" Said Moonwatcher.
Moonwatcher had a great time meeting relatives of his that he never met 
before. They all had a great time.
"I hope that you all had a good time." Said Susan to her cousin.
"Oh, we had a wonderful time! Thanks so much for inviting us over." 
Said 
Kay-Si.
"Yeah... hey! Why dont I come to your place and see what it's like? 
After 
all, I've never been in your house before!" Said Susan.
"Hey, thats a great idea! Can she?" Kay-Si said.
"Well, alright." Said Steppenwolf.
"Great!" Said Susan.
When Susan got there, she was amazed.
"Wow, your house is.. fabulous! Never seen anything like it! 
Magnificent! 
Magnificent!" Said Susan with most delight.
"Why thank you, Susan." Said Kay-Si.
"Yeah, yeah." Said Susan.
Susan loved the house. She would've bought it if Steppenwolf hadn't 
changed 
the subject.
"It's getting late. It's been a long night. Why dont we all go to bed 
now?" 
Said Stepppenwolf.
"Good idea. Susan, how long will you be staying?" Said Kay-Si.
"I will stay a week. Then go home. I haven't seen much of you, Kay-Si! 
For 
such a long time!" Said Susan.
"Well I dont think a week will make up for it all, but it's a start." 
Said 
Kay-Si.
"Yes, I will come over and stay a week every two months. That should 
make up 
for it." Said Susan.
"Great, but right now I'm so tired." Said Kay-Si.
"Okay, I'll just sleep on the couch." Said Susan.
"Mom, can I sleep on the couch too?" Asked Moonwatcher.
"No." Said Kay-Si.
"Awwww." Said Moonwatcher.
But in the middle of the night, something bothered Kay-Si. She woke 
with a 
start. Her stomach was in pain, just like it was that one night when 
she 
first found out she was pregnant. Could it be possible that Kay-Si was 
pregnant again?
I remember when I was lonely that I wanted another kid and I wanted so 
badly 
to get pregnant again...is it possible that it actually turned out to 
be 
successful? That I'm pregnant? But I already have a wonderful family, 
and I'm 
happy with what I have! But in that lonely period.. could it be 
possible that 
I actually conceived...?
Kay-Si shook her head. She had eaten alot that night. Maybe it was just 
a bad 
stomach ache.
But it bothered her. She couldn't go to sleep. And her throat was dry 
as 
well. Maybe she would just get up and get a drink of water.
So she did. Her throat was no longer dry, but her stomach still 
bothered her. 
She didn't know what to do. She bit her lip. What if she WAS pregnant 
again? 
She loved children, but she already had a wonderful family even if it 
was 
only a husband and one child. She shook her head, and decided to ask 
her 
cousin Susan about it. She knew alot about medical stuff, and maybe she 
could 
tell if what was bothering Kay-Si was just a bad stomach ache or 
pregnancy.
"Susan, Susan, wake up." She said, shaking her sleeping cousin.
"What is it, Kay-Si? It's the middle of the night!" She said.
"It's my stomach. It hurts. And I dont know if it's pregnancy or just a 
bad 
stomach ache. Can you tell?" Said Kay-Si, fidgeting.
After awhile, Kay-Si's cousin Susan got the results. 
"So, what is it?" Asked Kay-Si.
"I have just found out that you are carrying a recently conceived egg. 
Your 
pregnant." Said Susan.
"Oh, dear! I love children, but I already have a wonderful family. 
What's my 
husband going to say about this?" Said Kay-Si.
"Well..." Began Susan.
"Susan, I love children, and I want more than anything to give birth to 
this 
one! But what will my husband say?" Said Kay-Si, pacing back and forth.
"Kay-Si, from what I know about your husband he's a pretty nice guy. I 
mean, 
why would he be upset because your going to have another child? I would 
be 
proud." Said Susan confusingly.
"Because I got pregnant over loneliness, thats why! When I was the only 
one 
in the house, and Moonwatcher and Steppenwolf went out, I got lonely! 
And I 
wanted another child! I wanted one so badly, that I didn't even 
understand 
what I was doing! I was selfish, Susan, selfish! I'm supposed to have a 
child 
because I love and want one, not because I want it to keep me company! 
I was 
so selfish! And now this baby... it was conceived because of 
selfishness!" 
Kay-Si said upsettingly.
"Point taken. But, your not selfish about it now, are you? And you want 
another kid, right? But because of love, right?" Said Susan.
"Yeah." Said Kay-Si.
"Well if you understand it now, then there's absolutly no problem!" 
Said 
Susan.
"Oh, I see what you mean! I just hope that Steppenwolf does." Said 
Kay-Si.
"You have to tell him, Kay-Si. He will find out sooner or later anyway. 
And 
it's better to just tell him. The longer you wait, the more it will 
bother 
you." Said Susan.
"I guess your right." Said Kay-Si with a sigh.
"So, tell him in the morning, alright?" Said Susan.
"Yeah, I'll tell him." Said Kay-Si with a nod.
"Okay. Now you better get back to bed. Just try not to worry so much 
about 
your stomach and maybe you can get some sleep." Said Susan.
"Okay." Said Kay-Si.
"Tell me what?" Said Steppenwolf, coming out of the bedroom.
"What are you doing up?" Asked Kay-Si.
"I got cold. The blankets were off of me and they were almost off the 
bed." 
Said Steppenwolf.
"Sorry about that." Said Kay-Si.
"Thats okay. Now what is this about wanting to tell me something? And 
why did 
you get up in the middle of the night?" Steppenwolf wanted to know.
"I wasn't going to tell you until morning." Said Kay-Si.
"Well I'm up now so you might as well tell me." Said Steppenwolf.
"Tell him." Said Susan to Kay-Si.
"Well I got up in the middle of the night because I had a stomach 
ache." Said 
Kay-Si.
"And..?" Said Steppenwolf.
"I found out from Susan that when I was lonely and wanted to get 
pregnant, I 
actually did get pregnant. I conceived in my period of loneliness." 
Said 
Kay-Si nervously.
"You.. what?!" Said Steppenwolf.
"Please dont be angry with her, she was very nervous to tell you. She 
didn't 
want to get pregnant because of her selfishness." Said Susan.
"Of course I'm not going to be angry with Kay-Si over this, she's my 
wife and 
I love her but I'm still a little shaken about this." Said Steppenwolf.
"I'm sorry." Said Kay-Si.
"It's not your fault, Kay-Si. What happened happened. And we have to be 
pr
epared for it. I do want a second child but I dont know if I'm ready 
for 
another yet, and also because of that agreement we had. But since your 
pregnant there's nothing we can do about that, and we have to let 
mother 
nature take it's course." Said Steppenwolf.
"Thank you so much." Said Kay-Si.
When morning came, Moonwatcher was told of the news that Kay-Si was 
pregnant.
"So I'm really going to have a younger brother or sister? Thats 
wonderful! 
I've always wanted one. And I've never seen mother pregnant before." 
Said 
Moonwatcher.
"Well she is." Said Susan.
"You mean my baby brother or sister is in her tummy?" Asked 
Moonwatcher.
"Yes, and since your a teenager I thought you would already know that 
by 
now." Said Susan.
"I do, but it's just hard to believe sometimes." Said Moonwatcher.
As months flew by, Kay-Si's stomach got bigger. Soon she would give 
birth to 
her and her husband's offspring. But right now she was very tired and 
wanted 
to go to sleep for awhile.
When she woke up, she didn't feel all that great. And thats when she 
noticed 
it was time for her to give birth to her second child.
"Take me to the hospital! I'm going to have my baby!" Said Kay-Si.
"Oh dear! We'll get you there right away, come on!" Said Steppenwolf.
When Kay-Si got there, she was breathing harder. She hadn't given birth 
since 
Moonwatcher was born. She hoped that she still knew how.
When she gave birth to her new baby, she felt like her life had been 
sucked 
out of her. She was still trying to catch some air that just wasn't 
getting 
to her.
"Kay-Si, are you alright?" Said Steppenwolf.
"It's hard for me to breathe." Said Kay-Si, still breathing hardly.
"Kay-Si, if you just keep doing that you might get a heart attack. 
You've got 
to relax." Said Steppenwolf.
"I cant! It's too hard for me to relax!" Said Kay-Si.
"Calm it, Kay-Si." Said Steppenwolf, putting his hands down on her.
"It's just too.. hard to, I cant..." Said Kay-Si.
"If you would just relax I think I can help you." Said Steppenwolf.
Kay-Si tryed to relax. But it was just too hard for her. She finally 
stopped 
and tryed not to breathe so hard. But it was hard for her to do so.
"Open your mouth." Said Steppenwolf.
"Why?" Asked Kay-Si.
"Just open it." Said Steppenwolf. 
Kay-Si opened her mouth. Steppenwolf carefully put his lips to hers and 
gave 
her air. After awhile Steppenwolf stopped this and looked down at her.
"Do you feel better now?" He asked her.
"I guess." She answered.
When the baby hatched it was a girl.  They named it Tray-Si. Kay-Si 
loved her 
new daughter and when they got to go home Kay-Si took care of Tray-Si 
for the 
first time.
"She's sweet." Said Kay-Si.
"Yeah." Said Steppenwolf.
"She's my sister! My sister! I got a baby sister!" Said Moonwatcher 
happily.
"Yes you do, and our family has just grown." Said Steppenwolf.
"Yeah, well, I'm going to go look in my old junk and try to find Danny 
Johnny." Said Moonwatcher.
"I thought he wasn't your favorite toy any more?" Said Kay-Si.
"He isn't. I want to give him to my new sister." Said Moonwatcher.
"Thats a great idea but I think you might want to wait until Tray-Si is 
older. Danny Johnny might scare her right now." Said Steppenwolf.
"Okay. Can I listen to some music?" Asked Moonwatcher.
"Only if you keep the volume turned down. Not all the way down, just 
make 
sure you can hear it. And so that it wont scare Tray-Si." Said Kay-Si.
"Okay." Agreed Moonwatcher.
Moonwatcher played his music low and thought for a moment about how 
life 
would be with a sister. He had been an only child for most of his life 
and he 
wasn't quite sure if he knew how to be a big brother yet.
What if I do something wrong? What if Tray-Si wont like me? He thought.
He then turned off his music and went to sleep. All this thinking about 
being 
a big brother was making his head hurt.
When he woke up he felt better. He looked outside and noticed it was 
raining. 
He watched the rain pour from the sky for awhile then he went out of 
his 
bedroom. He noticed that something was strange because the whole place 
was 
empty. Everyone was gone. 
Hmmmm... no one usually goes any where this late in the day... and they 
usually tell me that they are going somewhere. Thought Moonwatcher.
But what he didn't know was, he was walking right into a trap...
THE END
To be continued in the next fanfic, "Tragedy!"
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