Chapter Text
The Lagoon Auditorium didn't look like much, but it was one of the most frequented party spots along the entire Emerald Coast. Maybe it was little more than a glorified wooden hut, with a small entryway, a kitchen, and a single atrium, but it still got plenty of usage by locals and tourists alike.
Could it be the view from the hill, perched with the entire sparkling beach in sight? Possibly. Could it be the cheap rental fees? They didn't hurt. More likely is that, by and large, the residents of this world were simple folk, able to start a party anywhere they were. The odd few had their delusions of grandeur, of riches and power and worlds beyond their own, but for the most part, they were content to live life wherever they found themselves.
Silver stood at the entrance to the auditorium, a hesitant smile plastered on his face. The blue sky engulfed him. It was daunting, really - without any puffy clouds, he found himself alone in this pleasant void with the wooden cabana. There were a few cars and bicycles parked to the side; everyone else was here. He shifted the backpack full of souvenirs on his shoulders, fiddling with the rings on his wrists and scuffing the dirt with his boots.
Deep breaths. Fighting to reassure himself, he finally opened the doors. Here goes nothing.
As Silver walked through the entryway where attendees lingered, heads excitedly turned left and right. Their eyes lit up at his presence, and a few voices whooped, forcing him to bear his well-practiced smile. A buzzy kid flew into the atrium ahead, shouting, "He's here, he's here!"
Entering the main hall, Silver was met with a deafening collection of voices, none of which addressed him directly. Maybe it wasn’t really that loud, but he wasn’t ready. Overwhelmed, he ignored the party's electricity and scanned the room - the place was covered in streamers, and littered with tables of lunch snacks. The scent of chili dogs permeated the entire establishment. His eyes followed the tables, analyzing both familiar and unfamiliar faces. He was unable to escape their adoring gazes, which both endeared him and freaked him out. These people were all here for him: Silver the Hedgehog. What a nerve-wracking thought!
"Silver, buddy!" A blue blur shot towards him, catching him with a shoulder bump that nearly launched him off his feet. He had to laugh at Sonic's enthusiasm. Who could say no to that face?
"Hey Sonic! Good to see you too.” Silver gestured around the room. “Amy really outdid herself."
Sonic chuckled. "She sure did! It's been a while since I saw her go this big." They were soon joined by a considerable group: Amy, Cream, Vector and the Chaotix, Knuckles, Tails, it went on. They all beamed at him as he greeted them one by one, something Silver found very distracting; not a care in the world in these people's eyes. Amy gave a particularly bright smile.
A lot had changed since he first came to the past, hunting down that maniac Eggman Nega and fighting soon-to-be friends for the chance to take him on. Everything had felt so familiar, even back then, as if he'd visited already. Maybe the past and the future aren't all that different, he remembered thinking. Since then, he'd learned quite the contrary.
Knuckles surprised Silver with another jovial thump on the shoulder. "You ready, big guy? We'll start at your word."
"Hey give him a break, Knuckles, he’s got nothing but time,” Tails playfully berated him.
Then Cream cut in. "Mr. Silver, we're so glad you're here! Let's have fun with everyone while we still can!"
Then Vector, extending his arm for a handshake. "Shame to see ya off so soon, but it's been real good workin' with ya! I would love to see ya again some time."
That's right. Silver kept forgetting why he was so nervous, possibly as a coping mechanism: it was almost time to go. To finally head back home, hopefully for good this time. He'd spent enough time in the past, and now it was his turn to move forward. A bittersweet idea; one he didn't want to dwell on too much.
Politely chuckling, Silver took Vector's hand, almost crushed by its fearsome grip. "Yeah that'd be great, Vector. You Chaotix are really something else!"
After a lull in the conversation, Sonic gave Silver a smirk. "You talk to Blaze yet?"
The white hedgehog sighed and shifted his backpack again. "Well, I uh..." He hesitated, struggling to explain succinctly. When he told Blaze he was leaving - for good - her reaction was mixed, to say the least. She seemed understanding, nodding profusely and agreeing with his reasons why. But something was clearly... off. She had left their conversation in a great hurry, and the two hadn't spoken since. Was she avoiding him? He understood that some of those invited, such as Shadow or Omega, would likely decline, but Blaze was different. Four whole weeks had gone by without a word. Silver remained optimistic; maybe there was some pressing matter in the Sol dimension?
"Yeah I did, a little. I want to wait for her before I leave."
“Sure thing!” Sonic could read him like an open book. He'd always had this gift - an uncanny knack for discerning people's emotions, something Silver admired. "Don't worry about it! I'm sure she'll warm up eventually. She always does." He winked, acknowledging the pun. Silver knew he didn't mean it in a hostile way - Sonic had known her a bit longer, after all - but he felt a tinge of fear at the thought anyways. Was she okay?
As the party went on, Silver continued to fail to relax. He found himself sitting on the sidelines, medicating on snacks and watching the others enjoy themselves with dancing or party games. Occasionally, he'd be approached by someone to wish him well and thank him for his service before they returned to the function.
Silver was never the life of the party (though his ESP could broadcast Wi-Fi, a fun trick), so this didn't bother him. It was like a wedding, or a birthday party - mostly there for the enjoyment of the guests, rather than those at the center of it. He was just happy to give everyone one last excuse for fun. Something he hadn’t expected was the sheer number of people; he wasn’t sure if half the attendees were present out of genuine appreciation or just free food. Regardless, he was glad to have touched so many lives during his trips to the past. He wished he could let go and have some fun. He was so, so anxious.
Almost home! A stomach-churning thought, both exciting and terrifying. For him it had been years, but he was going to arrive in his future close to the same time he left (give or take a month). In that time he'd seen so much. He’d been to a galactic theme park, he’d fought as part of a global rebellion, he’d participated in racing tournaments in space - he was basically a new man. Would people like the “new” him? Would things be different at all? What would he do for a job? Where would he settle down? What about his parents? So many questions, so much uncertainty.
Blaze was another source of uncertainty. For the entire party, Silver constantly scanned the crowd, praying to catch even a glimpse of her. If she really was busy, he wouldn't hold it against her - running a kingdom couldn't be easy. But still, it stung that he might not get to give a proper goodbye.
Eventually the party slowed down, signaling to Silver that it was time to get going. He didn't want to stay too long after announcing he was homebound. He reluctantly informed Sonic that he was ready, prompting Tails and Knuckles to prepare the two Chaos Emeralds. They took their time getting started, but Silver didn't mind.
He eyed the door one last time, and was met with a pleasant surprise: Blaze! He almost fell out of his chair.
While she seemed to be avoiding contact with anyone, Silver immediately recognized her lavender fur slinking among the crowd. She walked carefully between conversations, clearly out of her element in such a large social function. He rushed to see her, coming to a halt just behind her as she was awkwardly approached by another guest. As he politely waited, he noticed her tail, curled behind her legs anxiously.
Once Blaze escaped the pleasantries, Silver met her with a huge smile as she turned around. "Blaze!" She seemed taken aback by his volume, but smiled.
"H-hello Silver." She hooked her fingers into the small pockets on her royal garb and rocked back and forth. "I'm sorry for being so late. I came to say goodbye."
Silver smirked. She seemed more nervous than usual, an amusing change of pace. He was the tone-deaf fool of the friendship, and yet here she was fidgeting like a child. He easily surmised what was wrong.
"You okay?" He tried to ride the line between casual party talk and tender concern. "I know. It's scary for me too."
Blaze closed her eyes and turned her head as if she couldn't bear to look at him, reaching a fist out of her pocket. She was holding something. "I'm fine. And I want you to have this."
Silver extended his hand, and Blaze dropped a small pin into it. The pin had the crest of the Sol Kingdom on it, a brilliant red and gold. He raised it to eye level, admiring the luster. This didn't look like a cheap souvenir - no, it was real gold!
"Wow Blaze! This looks great!" He looked back at her, finding her eyes fixed on him again.
Cautiously, Silver threw his arms around Blaze and hugged her. She tensed up at his touch, and he felt a fiery warmth building in her wrists. He knew by now that he had to be gentle with her, lest she singe him with a stray flame. It was odd - he'd spoken with Sonic about it before, who had rarely experienced such an issue with her.
"I'm... going to miss you, Silver," Blaze whispered into his shoulder. “But you’ll love being home again.”
Silver pulled back to look her in the eyes. Just as expected, she wore a steely expression - the kind she had on their group movie nights, after crying with laughter and trying to play it cool. She was barely holding it together. It was bittersweet.
He put on a brave smile for her. "I'm gonna miss you too, Blaze. You've been such an awesome friend.”
Blaze suddenly grinned back at him, the tension fading from her face. But it wasn't necessarily pleasant... more like amused. Silver raised an eyebrow. Did I say something wrong?
"Well?" Blaze folded her arms with a chuckle. "You plan to keep everyone waiting?" Her words were playful, but sounded hesitant herself.
Silver shook his head. "Nah, I'm ready." He wasn't.
Almost home.
Silver gave his final remarks from the stage, thanking everyone one last time. It was cheesy as hell, but he didn't care. Cheesy was his middle name. Sonic, who stood at the front of the crowd with a soda in hand, loudly responded with a thumbs-up and his trademark grin. "No sweat! We oughta be thanking you, Silver!"
A chorus of agreement rang out, and Silver felt heat rush into his cheeks. Tears of gratitude stung at his eyes for a moment, but he quickly shook them back. Keep it together, man, almost there! "Yeah," he finally blurted. "I love you all."
He peered over at Blaze, who remained silent in the midst of the crowd. She wasn't taking it well after all, her eyes fluttering down nervously. He understood; their connection was unlike any other. It was almost otherworldly, as if they'd been friends since childhood. She was such a special girl. Silver smiled softly.
Suddenly, her gaze met his. Those warm orange eyes of hers made his heart stutter, instilling the very confidence that he needed right now. He gave her a reassuring grin. She smiled back, but quickly covered it with a hand and looked at the floor. He ached seeing her squirm like this, but... he had his home, like she had hers.
I don't have to stay in the future forever, right? I can always visit. He hoped so. Avoiding a paradox might be tricky. He'd have to get the timing right so as to arrive without his past self there too, which was always a risk. Because of these risks, he was only permitted by the government to go back in time for last-ditch efforts at peace, not for random pleasure cruises. Not to mention the potential side effects of time travel - it wasn't exactly a well-understood subject, and he'd been warned multiple times that such experiences could change his very being. Whatever the case, he'd figure it out. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he'd find a way; at least once, for Blaze.
Silver stepped toward the two Chaos Emeralds resting on a podium. He'd done this so many times before, but it was especially nerve-wracking knowing this was the last. He lifted one Emerald with a trembling hand, then forced himself to grab the other.
He stood there with the Emeralds. His stomach lurched, pestered by doubts and regrets. Why do I need to commit? Maybe they were wrong - what if things don't stay solved and I have to come back? That'd be awkward. But at least I'd get to see everyone again. He shuddered, rolling his shoulders and closing his eyes. I have a life to live in the future. What about my parents? What about that normal life I always wanted? My childhood is already gone, I can't let the rest of it get away. I've finished the mission, I've done my time. It's time to go.
Silver let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes, just now realizing he had kept his back on the crowd for way too long. He shuffled into place. As he looked into the throng one last time, he felt the tears well up again. Sonic, Blaze, Amy - in each pair of eyes he saw so many good memories, such bittersweet melancholy. His knees felt weak and his elbows faltered. No dude, you're going home. You are going home!
Finally, he mustered his strength and cast both arms upwards. The Chaos Emeralds surged briefly, before he'd even said the words, and he closed his eyes in anticipation. As he opened his mouth to call out for Chaos Control, he felt an odd, cold glow wash over his face. Suddenly, there was a deafening tone, and the muffled cries of the crowd beneath it. His eyelids flew open, but he was blinded by some sort of light. Prickles shot up his spine. This isn't... am I doing this?
A jolt shot through both Silver's arms, causing him to yelp and let go of the Emeralds. He watched them levitate away, before being swallowed by some sort of shadow. The amorphous cloud lingered, enough for Silver to catch a glimpse of a horned, knight-like helmet peering out from within. It looked unnatural, out of place, like a cutout from a magazine. It bore its teeth with malice, striking an unspeakable fear in his heart... followed by rage.
"Hey! Stop!" He reached out, his palms bursting with a cyan glow, to retrieve the Emeralds. The phantom mumbled something unintelligible, unfazed by his psychokinesis, before vanishing in a fizzle of red lightning. Silver's vision blacked out.
The cold light finally subsided and Silver found himself out of breath, heaving on his hands and knees. He looked up, and his heart sank; the Lagoon Auditorium was in shambles, tables overturned and torn streamers dangling above a sea of debris. A musty smell filled the air, he could almost taste it. He peered around the rubble, scanning for his friends, but saw nothing...
A limp, purple tail draped over a chunk of wreckage. In a lapse of judgement, Silver leapt forwards, forgetting his powers and furiously digging at the broken shingles and wood with his hands. He cried out, "Blaze!"
He flipped a wooden beam, revealing Blaze's shifting body underneath. Her arm was slowly pulling towards her head, and a wave of relief washed over Silver. "Blaze...?" He gently reached his hand toward hers - not out of fear of harming her, but rather still unsure of her emotional state. This wasn't the future (as far as he knew). Would she be mad he couldn't go through with it? Would she be happy to see him again?
Suddenly, her eye shot open, an orange light piercing through the darkness. A burst of fire erupted around her, singeing Silver's fingertips and sending him stumbling back. Once the pillar subsided, Blaze was left standing above him, breathing heavily. Her expression was that of fury, but upon meeting eyes with Silver her face softened. Was it bewilderment, shock, delight? She paused before speaking. "Silver, are you all right?"
"Yeah." Silver smiled slightly. It was nice to see she was okay. He wasn't sure why, but having her around was a guaranteed quick fix. "What the hell happened?"
Blaze gracefully hopped down from the mountain of wreckage she had incinerated - Silver briefly wondered if she caught any guests in the blast - and began sorting through the rest. "I don't know. Have you found anyone else?"
After watching her for a second, Silver finally processed what she was doing and started helping with his powers. "Not yet. I saw your tail and made a beeline for it."
He thought he heard the hiss of Blaze's flames flaring. "Of course. Thank you."
The two continued to dig through the wreckage, somehow failing to find any of the party's attendees at all. Where did they all go? While he frantically waved garbage to and fro, Silver's mind returned to the specter that stole the Emeralds; his eyes lit up. "Oh, Blaze! Someone took the Emeralds!"
Blaze slowed her digging to a stop. She didn't seem troubled - just tired. "What did they look like?" Silver described to her what he had seen, but she had no real response. "It wasn't one of the Eggmen's creations, was it?"
"I guess there might have been a passing resemblance... honestly, it was more like a ghost than anything."
Blaze placed a hand gingerly on Silver's shoulder - a rare sign of physical affection from the princess. She seemed especially serious. "I'd suspect that 'ghost' is responsible for everything here. Let's check outside."
As the two stepped out of the hall on the hill, they were surprised to find the world relatively unchanged. However, the sky was a bright yellow - not the kind of warm yellow from a sunrise, but more of a cold mustard-y tone. What was more, the world was disturbingly silent. Emerald Coast was void of villagers and only retained a little wildlife, besides a small flock of seagulls. Even still, waves crashed along the shore.
Upon processing the scene, a flood of a million thoughts crashed into Silver's head, dammed up by the initial shock of the whole situation. What is going on? I didn't make it? Is this a dream? To think he was finally ready to say goodbye for good, only for... this to happen.
"This... can't be real, right?" Silver stuttered, the disbelief hitting him hard. He wasn't home, his friends were gone, the world he had worked so hard to save was in turmoil yet again. He clenched his fists. How frustrating!
"Silver, I’m really sorry you weren’t able to go home. But you and I... are going to have to do something about this." She didn't sound very excited either.
As if he had much of a choice. The Emeralds were gone. If he wanted to go home now, he'd have to find out where they went - it's possible the other five Emeralds were in danger too. Even then, consequences of this event would have spilt into his time, so running was futile. Ugh, he just wanted to pinch himself and wake up...
Then he looked at Blaze. Despite sharing his frustration, she stared off into the empty distance, holding the sort of royal poise only she could muster. The anxiety he'd seen as they said goodbye was completely absent, and she seemed as level-headed as ever. Somehow she was always able to keep her cool in such weird predicaments. Seeing her like this filled him with conviction, speaking to him much stronger than words. He loosened his feverish fists, slowly accepting the reality of the situation. "No sweat, Blaze. Let's do this, you and me." The fear gripping his heart was quickly replaced by excitement as it escaped his lips.
"That's right." Blaze turned to him with determined eyes. "First, let's see if anyone's left at all. Then we can figure out what's going on."
A sort of relief came over Silver. Despite the catastrophe they were in the midst of, he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders - he almost felt guilty that it came so easy. But at this point, apocalypses were nothing new. This was just one last challenge, his final test. And even if he didn't know what was going on yet, he had Blaze with him - some fate-given final hours to spend with one of his best friends. They would be a dream team!
Maybe he didn't have to leave yet.
