Chapter Text
In Sonic’s defense, he was very used to fighting Shadow the instant the other hedgehog appeared.
He was also very used to getting close enough to even hit him.
So you could imagine his surprise when in a large flash of gray metal, the blue hedgehog ends up lying on the ground, in a lot of pain, and developing a new insecurity.
“That was… not necessary.” He hears Shadow remark. “But it was amusing.”
“Shut up.” Sonic manages to wheeze out from the ground.
The large bug’s (he got hit by it! Him! Sonic! Defeated by a bug with a very big sword!) face-mask-helmet-thing comes into view, and again there are no eyes behind that mask. It pokes his face, as if checking to see if he’s still alive. He swats it’s finger away, and points accusingly at it.
“You. Are very mean.”
“I am… unsure who I should scold for this.” Hornet says. “Blue one, get up. If it really hurts that much then limp your way over to a hot spring.”
Sonic does very slowly, groaning as he does so. Suddenly an ice cold hand claps around his wrist and he is lifted up by Hollow, the large bug gently placing him back on his feet.
“Alright, fine, maybe not very mean.” Sonic corrects himself, and looks to the side to see Ghost silently laughing their ass off. “It’s not that funny!”
“BAHAHAHAHAHA-” the other bug with the hood and the shield busts out laughing. “I'VE NEVER SEEN HOLLOW HIT SOMEONE THAT QUICKLY,”
“You. shush.” Sonic remarks, pointing at the shielded insect. “You try getting the wind literally knocked out of you by a 9 foot tall insect that you’re not sure even has eyes.”
“Well you try getting crushed by a mawlek!”
“Im not going to do that.”
“Exactly. So I get to make fun of you, thats the rules.”
“Thats not how it works.”
“Yeah it is. Pure Vessel, brooding mawlek, pretty much the same level of danger.”
“ Tiso .” Hornet scolds. “We don’t talk about the Pure Vessel.”
“Oh right sorry- my bad.”
“Well I still have no clue what a mawlek is but I certainly know a brooding one.” Sonic jokes, jabbing a finger in Shadow’s direction.
“What? That doesn't make any se- Oh. You are speaking of me. Eat shit and die, then. Know that the only reason I am not yet attacking you is because there is no fun in killing an already weakened opponent,” Shadow deadpans. “Im leaving.”
The large bug, Hollow, visibly deflates at that statement. Ghost notices their sibling’s disappointment and dashes towards Shadow, taking his hand and (with impressive strength for someone that small) dragging him back over to Hollow.
Ghost manages to drag Shadow back to their sibling, the ebony hedgehog in their grasp half heartedly fighting them.
“Oh you little-“ Shadow grumbles, making various other angry sounds.
Ghost finally drags Shadow, who had given up a while ago, to their sibling, patting his leg twice before trotting off.
“I am NOT AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PET. I AM THE OPPOSITE OF AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PET.” Shadow barks. Ghost turns back around and stares at him.
Shadow stares back.
Ghost stares back.
Shadow stares back.
The Void stares back.
“Gaiadamn… ok. Fine. ” Shadow grumbles, accepting his fate for the time being.
Sonic chuckles. Shadow shoots him quite possibly the most venomous look in the history of the world. Yeah, no. Sonic thinks to himself. I’d rather not deal with him.
“Welp.” Sonic says. “If there’s no reason for me to stay here, I’m gonna go like, explore or something.”
“No you aren’t.” Hornet snaps at him. “At least, not without supervision.”
“Why not? Are the caves super duper dangerous?”
“Yes. They are.”
…
“Oh.”
“Well, Miss Hornet, I don’t mean to be rude or anything-“ Amy begins “but up on the surface our team are rather well known heroes and we’ve dealt with a lot of threats. I'm sure we could navigate decently by ourselves, and if not— then, could you not spare one of your villagers to help us? What better guide could there be than the locals?”
Hornet sighs. “Ghost, do you have any other plans for the day?” The smaller bug in question shakes their head. “Good. Go with the surface dwellers and make sure they don’t fall into a Goam nest or something. They’re not allowed in the Deepnest, Resting Grounds, the Gardens, the Soul Sanctum, the Hive, the Waterways, or the Ancient Basin. Don’t let them get too close to the Mantises either. If they end up in the Fog Canyon, please make sure they don’t touch the oomas and set off a chain reaction. Can you do that for me?”
“Wow…” Sonic remarks. “That’s… a lot of places we aren’t allowed to be in.”
“And for good reason,” Hornet snaps, “the land that was once Hallownest has grown volatile and dangerous in the years of stasis. Be lucky I’m even allowing you to enter the city.”
Sonic glances back at Sticks, who he can tell is already plotting a way to get into these banned areas. He can appreciate her curiosity, but he thinks he’s going to follow the rules this time. He does not want to deal with an angry Hornet. Even though she seems to be always angry.
“Oh. Hollow and their… new companion will be coming with you.” Hornet remarks absently. “Little Ghost, that does mean one more person you will have to shepherd. Are you up to the task?”
The small child in question does an over dramatic salute, and Sonic makes a mental note that the kid also has a sword. Why does everyone down here have a sword?! He should get a sword… he thinks he deserves one.
Sonic’s reverie is interrupted by Shadow, who is being as… Shadow as ever.
“… What.” The ebony hedgehog hisses out, in a tone of voice that implies that he’s just barely holding himself back from incredible violence. “I have to travel with THAT FOOL AND HIS FOOLISH GAGGLE OF FOOLS?”
“Oh come on, Shads.” Sonic teases, taking this opportunity to be as annoying as possible. “You know you love us~”
“I do NOT. I want you dead. You know this. We all know this. I do not harbor even an iota of positive emotions surrounding you and your possé .”
“Yeah, yeah, fuck you too. Whatever.”
“If the two of you continue to argue like bratty larvae then no one is going to be allowed to go down into the caverns.” Hornet snaps, interrupting. “The two of you hate each other. Deal with it through trial by combat like normal bugs.”
“I don’t think you have a healthy perception of what’s normal.”
“Shut up before I take you to Deepnest myself and tie you up there for the dirtcarvers to find.”
“Can we please just get going already?” Tails whines. “This place is so interesting and I want to map and take as much data as I can.”
“I just want to know what a cavern is!” Knuckles remarks cheerily.