Chapter Text
Being poisoned wasn’t exactly how Sonic expected to be killed, but he also wasn’t initially expecting to be riding on a Badnik disguised as a high tech passenger train, that was hellbent on taking him and his friends to an Eggman base. Even if the train's motives (the ones not programmed by Eggman) felt eerily familiar to Sonic, ( the refusal to let change happen and accept that everything has an end, stuck out) he and his friends were able to defeat it and save the Conductor and the flicky powering it.
Regardless, Sonic hoped that Amy didn’t believe that her birthday party was ruined. She assured him that it wasn’t, and was really happy with how it turned out, minus Eggman’s scheme.
After saying goodbye to the Conductor and thanking the quokka worker, who helped Tails and Amy, with solving Sonic’s murder. The party traveled back to Amy’s house (well it really was Amy, Sonic, and Shadow’s but the trio decided to keep the relationship quiet for now), to meet up with other friends who couldn’t be on the train.
With everyone there, they sang Happy Birthday and Amy blew out her candles. Vanilla was able to cut the cake, with what magic Sonic didn’t know, to give twelve people a slice. If it was any other day Sonic would’ve eaten it in seconds…but it was not any other day and Sonic couldn’t bring himself to eat more.
"Hey, Sonic are you ok?" Amy asked, hints of concern etched on her face.
"Huh, oh yeah, I'm fine Ames." Sonic said, shooting her a smile. "It would take a lot more than a blowdart, to take me out."
"I understand that, silly. I'm just wondering why you still have half a piece of cake left?" Amy questioned.
Sonic’s stomach churned uncomfortably, warning him. Dropping his fork, Sonic ran into the house and closed the door to the bathroom, before the nausea kicked in. And when it did, Sonic found himself throwing up the small amount of food he ate today, into the toilet. When his body stopped forcing him to purge his guts out, Sonic leaned back, he head against the wall. The coolness of it gave the blue hedgehog some amount of relief to the now pounding headache that had formed. Sonic kept his eyes closed, the lights bright were enough to make his headache worse.
The sound of footsteps were now being registered by Sonic, making his ears twitch. A knock on the door alerted the sick hedgehog to the person’s presence, the sound funneling through his ears. His ears flicked back pinned against his head. Why does every little sound hurt?
“Sonic?” The sound of Amy’s muffled voice came through the other side of the door. “Sonic, can we come in?”
We? What does she mean-
“Rose, just open the door.” a low voice said.
Oh- Shadow.
“What? I’m not just gonna barge in there!” Amy’s voice was rising in pitch, the words stabbing Sonic’s ear drums.
A frustrated growl formed in Sonic’s throat, even Amy’s voice caused him pain. The sound of the door opening along with Amy’s protests, made Sonic curl in on himself even more.
“Leave, please…” Sonic mumbled. The sense of nausea was starting to come back.
“And why should we do that?” Shadow asked, he sounded closer.
“Because you two are missing the party.” Sonic lied. He knew Shadow didn’t really enjoy parties of any kind that much, and was probably getting tired of being around people, especially after today’s events. And Amy well, she did find Sonic unconscious on the train (twice), watch him immediately fight it only five minutes after waking up, and saw Sonic run inside after he avoided her question, she was probably worried about him. “You don’t worry about me, I’ll be fi-”
Sonic’s stomach lurched as he once again threw up in the toilet. This time there was no food, only bile. God did it hurt. His head was now pounding with pain right behind his eyes. He faintly heard Amy saying that she’ll get some bottles of water for him. When the round of torture finished, Sonic let out a pitiful whine as he leaned the side of his head against the sink cabinet, it was nice and cold.
“This sucks.” Sonic mumbled, thoughtlessly.
“I know it does, but your body is trying to protect you.” Shadow said, taking Sonic’s hand into his own. Sonic realized that his spines were probably flared out, in defense.
“No textbook speak, Shads.” Sonic joked.
“I’m just stating the facts, faker.”
“Heh, at least your voice is nice. It doesn't hurt to listen to it.” Sonic opened his eyes a little, to look at Shadow, smiling slightly.
“Sonic?” Tails asked, his high pitched voice making Sonic’s ears twitch.
“Buddy, can you…talk quietly- your voice hurts to hear.” Sonic whispered.
Sign? Tails asked in ASL.
“It’s not that bad, I’ll be fine.”
“Amy asked for me to check on you, oh here.” Tails switched to a whisper .
The young fox handed Sonic a bottle of water.
Sonic carefully took a swish of water. He didn't swallow as it was just to get rid of the taste of bile in his mouth.
"Did Rose think I couldn't take care of Sonic, myself?" Shadow asked.
I'm not helpless, Shadow.
"Uh, no I'm sure Amy thinks you're perfectly capable. It's just that, it's strange that he crashed like this." Tails fidgeted with the hem of his cloak, “Um, do you think we can get you out of here?” The fox switched his attention to the sick hedgehog.
“I don't think that would end well, buddy.” Sonic laughed lightly.
I might throw up again-or pass out if I try to stand.
“I wasn’t talking about you standing-Shadow, you can carry him right?"
"Of course I can fox." Shadow said, quickly and carefully scooping up Sonic into his arms.
Sonic made a yelp in surprise at his sudden change in movement. Don't pass out, don't pass out, don't pass out! He froze realizing that trying to escape would cause him likely pass out faster, plus have an annoyed Shadow on his hands. Sonic couldn't decide which was worse.
"Wow, you must be really sick if you're not fighting being carried." Tails shot Sonic a smirk.
"Shut up." Sonic mumbled as he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Hmm?" Shadow made a hum of surprise.
"Oh, last time Sonic got sick like this, we tried to get him back inside after he tried running away, but he refused and fought us at every step. Even Knuckles had to accept defeat. Eventually Amy and I decided to just drag Sonic back with us." Tails explained.
"I see."
The trio moved to the living room, where Shadow set the sick blue hedgehog down on the couch. Sonic could hear faintly the sounds of people outside still. His eyelids started to feel heavy, why did it feel like all of his energy was sapped out of him?
Huh? Oh Tails was talking to him.
“Sonic, do you really think that was just a tranquilizer you were hit with?” Tails asked, sitting on the empty low coffee table facing Sonic.
“What do you mean of-of course…it was buddy. It knocked me…out for a few hours but when…I woke up I was fine.” Sonic tried his best to keep up, he saw everything was moving like a game on a low framerate.
“Um..Sonic you weren't just unconscious for a few hours, the quokka who helped me- told me only a few minutes after Amy and I left the dining car, that something was wrong.” Tails said slowly. “I brushed them off but when Amy found you the second time…” The fox trailed off staring at Sonic.
“I thought I lost you again.” Tails was heard barely above a whisper.
“How…why would you thi…ink..that?” Sonic’s tongue grew heavy, it was getting harder to speak and harder to focus.
“I checked for your pulse when Amy and Vector found you unresponsive the second time.” Shadow talked now, filling in the gaps Tails wouldn’t. “If you had one in that moment, I couldn’t feel it.”
I..died? No, no, that can't be right- I know what dying feels like.
Right?
“Wh-hat?" Sonic couldn’t tell if there was a response, most of his concentration was being used to keep himself awake.
He heard the sounds that made up Tails' and Shadow’s voices as they talked to one another. Sonic recognized Tails being worried about something from the look that formed on his face as his voice rose higher in pitch.
Sonic’s awareness dissolved into darkness a second time that day as he felt himself tip forward.
At least this time someone caught him.