Spike Finds Sticks

In another part of London, another carriage went past Big Ben.

"It was the Eve of our Good Queen's Diamond Jubilee. And the year Her Majesty's government came to the very brink of disaster," a young male voice narrated. "She... Oh... I'm getting ahead of myself."

There, below the carriage, was a young male dragon reading a newspaper.

That young male dragon is a purple one with green scales, a lighter green muzzle, chest, belly, and underside of his tail, jade ears, and green eyes, wearing a yellow raincoat, a matching hat, and red boots. His name was Spike.

"My name is Spike the Dragon," narrated the said young male dragon known as Spike. "Most recently of the Queen's 66th Regimen."

Once the carriage stopped, a man named Dr. John H. Watson came out of the carriage. Spike headed off as he looked at many marked places.

"I had just arrived in London after a lengthy service in Afghanistan and was anxious to find a quiet place." Spike narrated.

Then a raindrop fell from the sky. The dragon put his newspaper away and opened his black umbrella before heading off.

"Preferably dry where I could rest and find a bit of peace. Little did I know that my life was about to change forever."

Suddenly, the purple dragon heard someone crying. He paused for a moment. Then he really heard someone crying from inside a forgotten rain boot. He walked over to the shoe and peeked inside. "Oh," Spike gasped. "Oh my!"

It was Sticks, and she was the one crying. She was sitting on a small box labeled "Kevin's Liver Pills."

"Are you all right, my dear?" Spike asked the orange and brown female badger.

Sticks stopped crying, gasped, and turned her head. Spike went inside the boot and pulled out a pale pink handkerchief from his coat pockets. "Oh, come now. Come, come," Spike said, "Here, here. Dry your eyes."

Sticks took the handkerchief from Spike and blew her nose before sniffling and wiping her nose.

Then she handed the handkerchief back to Spike, who put the handkerchief in his pocket.

"Ah, yes! That's better," Spike said. "Now, tell me. What's troubling you, my dear?"

"I-I'm lost," Sticks sniffled. "I-I-I'm trying to find Fox McCloud of Baker Street." She showed him a small newspaper clipping.

Spike looked at the headline. "Well, let me see here...'Famous detective solves baffling disappearance'." he said. This seemed a bit interesting to him. "But, where are your parents and siblings?" he asked curiously.

By now, Stitch's eyes filled with tears again. "I'm afraid I don't have parents anymore; I-I'm an orphan. They died when I was a baby," Sticks cried, "But I only have a brother named Knuckles. And this matter involves him. And that's why I m-m-must find Fox!" She cried once more, this time into her hands.

"Oh, there, there, there, there, there, now, now, I-" Spike said, as he waved his hands at her to calm her down. "Well, now I don't know any Fox," This made Sticks look on in sadness. The young male purple dragon smiled warmly and added, "But I do remember where Baker Street is."

Sticks smiled happily as she wiped her eyes with her hands and sniffled, feeling better. Someone who could help her find Fox! Spike re-opened his umbrella and headed out into the rain with her.

"Now, come with me," Spike said to Sticks calmly. "We'll find this McCloud fellow together." And with that, two animals set off to Baker Street.