Chapter Text
The stars littered across the dark blue sea above, shining brightly across the night sky but nothing compared to the broken gray orb that took the center of attention in the middle of it all. The winds whistled against the ears of the mobians and grazed on the metal of the robot. Team Dark was on a personal mission tonight. There was a spark of chaos energy, which caused the mobian-alien hybrid to pick up on causing him to leave his home immediately asking Omega if he can tag along.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t allow Rouge on any missions these days as she has a family now with the echidna. They are 7 years in marriage and of those 5 years they had daughter Ametrine, a pearly white echidna with bright purple eyes. She had baby pink streaks along the ends of her quills and sweetest little smile. She strives to be a strong warrior just like her father. And not too long ago, about 6 months, 2 weeks and 4 days to be exact, she had a son, Malachite, a maroon bat with white streaks along his hair and it’s texture is similar to his father. The bat with pretty green eyes like his mother and talks or tries to talk non stop.
“Are you doing your inner monologue again?” Rouge smirked.
“No..if you have a problem with it, you can always leave.”
“Always a gentleman aren’t you?”
Shadow rolled his eyes, “I didn’t want you to come bec-”
“Yes, yes I know, I know and I already told you I needed some air! I’m not a stay at home mom, Shadow! As much I love my precious baby jewels..they can be a pain in the ass.”
“Affirmative. I have sat on the babies numerous times, to vouch for Rouge.” Omega interjected.
“Babysit Darling.” Rouge corrected.
“That is what I said.” Rouge rolled her eyes fondly.
The three of them ceased their walk, and by walking, it’s both flying and running. They stood outside on a hill taking in the view of a seemingly abandoned base of Eggman’s. Rouge rested her hand on Shadow’s shoulder, “Besides can’t let you have all the fun, we’re in this together big guy.”
Shadow gave her the side eye, sighing knowing he’s not gonna convince her to leave before things get ugly.
“So what’s the plan here?” Rouge turned back to the base, “Split up and look for anything suspicious.”
“I think it’s best if we stick together. Knowing Eggman, whether the base is abandoned or not, he always has high powered tech or any sort of important information within it.
Shadow continued, “There’s no telling what may be inside there, and if my chaos energy is leading me here, Eggman’s got something too powerful to bear.”
“If it’s chaos energy related, no doubt he’ll have something just as strong to guard it.” Rouge chimed in.
Just then Omega, summoned all his blasters ready to strike, “I call dibs.”
“That’s right Omega darling, all yours to play with, if that’s the case.”
Once at the entry, Omega shot through the door then kicked it down once it was weakened. From there they entered the hauls of the abandoned building. No sort of lights were lit in the hallway so Omega used eyes to brighten down the corridor. Ears pointed in each direction where they heard rats scampering away from the intruders, drips of fluid down the roof to the ground forming a pool for said rats. Rouge scowled in disgust.
They continued walking and Rouge hovering over the ground, waiting for any sort of trap or firearm attack but nothing came, this building is actually abandoned.
Shadow used his night vision to look at his surroundings, more noticing signs of a fire, or more likely marks of an explosion that took place. Walls were looking as though it melted and rusted over well who knows how long…
He grazed his hand on one of the walls, feeling the texture on his hands, smelling the ashy scent that came with it, whatever happened here, whatever sort of experiment the doctor was perusing with chaos energy happened recently.
Shadow assumes it maybe around this year, maybe a few months back but why now is he feeling the energy now? Why not at the time the explosion took place surely chaos energy would have called him then?
The doctor has had a taste of chaos energy of course it doesn’t surprise Shadow at all that he’s messing with it again but it’s normally the emerald he’s after and energy he is feeling, it wasn’t the jewels at all. It feels different yet so familiar. He couldn’t place a finger on it, he couldn’t think of why he was feeling like this and why now…
“So, how’d you think big blue is holding up knowing his little spoon isn’t home?”
As though Rouge sensed his frustration, she always pulled him right back up before he got too deep in thought.
He scowled, “Why he tells you this, I don’t know.”
Rouge chuckled, “He didn’t have to big guy, you just confirmed my assumption.”
Shadow pinched his eyes, scowling at himself for falling for Rouge’s antics. “Don’t worry I won’t tell a soul.”
A wave of chaos energy surged through his veins, causing the Ultimate life form to real back, holding his head tightly “Shadow!”
“I’m fine,” his voice cracked. “Omega make an opening to your right, I’m picking up something.”
Once the war machine got to work on his task, Rouge turned to Shadow still rubbing his head, “You sure you wanna go through this Shadow? You don’t look so hot.”
“As I said I’m fine. I don’t know what it is about this sort of energy I’m picking up but it’s unstable and if it unleashes, all hell might break out.”
Rouge bit her lip, not wanting to push Shadow any further with her objections. She cares about him, but honestly they guy is frustrating when he puts his mind on something, he doesn’t quit.
Omega finally removed any rumble in their way, clearing an entrance for them to make their way to the source of the energy.
Once Shadow started to cool down enough getting quickly accustomed to the new found energy he turned to Rouge to make some light conversation.
“So, how are your kids doing?”
“Oh, Ametrine is going pretty well. Knuckles has been training her for a traditional echidna warrior trial since she’s around the age and oh my baby boy is babbler at day and crier at night,” she checks her watch, “Yep about that time for his second cry for the night. Thank goodness it’s Knuckie’s turn.”
“That’s nice to hear everyone’s alright, I know I haven’t dropped by in a while.”
“Oh don’t worry hun, I know GUN’s been working your butt off since I left for maternity leave.” Shadow nodded, making a mental note both him and Sonic will stop by.
“Amy is actually wondering why Ametrine hasn’t been in school lately.”
“Oh she can talk to Knuckles about that. It’s apparently tradition to not make contact with the outside world during the trials so no school for her until further notice.”
“And you have nothing to say about it?”
“It’s traditional Shadow, and you know how Knuckles is with his culture. He wants that for the kids too and I respect that…but I also still give her the homework she needs to catch up on.”
She continued, “Can’t have my baby falling behind.”
They cautiously watched their step, listening to any sort of movements other than their own. The Ultimate Lifeform sensed that they were getting close to the energy, it seemed as though it was pulling him towards it like a moth drawn to a flame. And that made him anxious.
“By the way, how is Amy? God I haven’t seen her since she announced she’s expecting.”
“She’s fine, 8 months and 2 weeks to be exact. We engaged in tea last Sunday.”
Rouge dramatically sighed leaning on the edgy hedgehog, “We’re getting old.” He hummed in response in agreement. Time does fly by fast. He glanced down at the ring worn around his finger, remembering the day he can never forget.
….1 year earlier….
Within the lovely neighborhood of green hills, near the loop-the-loop, trees were decorated with white cloths hanging from one tree to the next and lights wrapped itself around the trunks of each one. The sky was filled with multicolored clouds of pink and purple with the sun barely peeking at the horizon and waving goodbye to another day. The stars were sprinkled across the sky ready to take the scene below them.
Close friends were planted in their arranged seats lightly chattering till the ceremony commenced. Just then, Amy, a member of Team Sonic and Leader of Team Amy, began walking down the aisle wearing a red fishtail dress. She got to the altar raising her hand to cue the music, silencing the crowd.
“Alright Amy’s in position, groom and groomsmen you’re on!” Rouge whispered loudly.
Everyone was behind the white curtain, each person situated in their respective positions. Tails in front with Cream by his side, Knuckles will be beside Rouge, Silver is next to Blaze and behind the adults are Prince Void the Cat, the son of Silver and Blaze he’ll be giving away the rings and finally Amerite will be the flower girl showering the aisle with white and red petals.
Rouge, instead of being next to her husband, she’s trying to calm the soon to be husband of Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic. He’s bouncing his feet, fidgeting with his tie until Rouge slapped his hands away. “Are you ready?”
“Uh..yep, yep totally ready..I am ready.” Sonic smiled nervously.
“You’ll be alright blue.” Rouge then smoothed his quills, touching it up, “Alright let’s go, oh wait let me see if Shadow’s ready, you’ll go on ahead!”
Tails and Cream began to walk until, “Walk slowly, wait until each person goes unto the altar then the next pair go.” Rouge announced stepping away quickly to find Shadow.
“Rouge!” Knuckles shouted, racing after her, holding her hand stopping her.
“Knuckles, what is it?”
“Uhm, we’re supposed to be going on now?”
“Already? Alright, handsome, Omega will have to take my place.”
“Wha-”
“Omega! Walk Knuckles down the aisle and make sure Vanilla is filming.”
“Affirmative.” Omega grabbed Knuckles, dragging back to the ceremony. The echidna was already looking pissed, ready to pick a fight with the bat but his wife merely blew him a kiss.
“Shadow..it’s nearly time.”
She gasped looking at the hedgehog before him. She of course went with him to suit shopping, but still he looked amazing. Before tears were prickling out of her eyes she quickly pulled herself together, now is not the time, she reminded, you're the maid of honor.
Shadow wore a white and maroon suit with a long white skirt dragging unto the grass, embroidered with white beads. His quills were perfectly combed with a few beads attached to look as though it may fall off.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the altar?” Shadow questioned giving Rouge the side eye.
She rolled her, “Change in plans, hun, I needed to make sure if you’re alright.”
“I’m fine..I’ll be out in a moment.”
Rouge, has been in the spy business for many years, she used her fighting skills, her charm and flexibility to get away with many dangerous situations. One of her skills is reading people by their body language and she doesn’t need her training or skills she picked up over the years to see Shadow was nervous.
“Uh ohh.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I think someone’s nervous.”
“I am not nervous, I’m merely rehearsing my..vows for the 56th time.”
“Shadow,” She touched his shoulder, “It’s okay, to feel this way. Everyone on their wedding day feels nervous, it’s completely normal.”
“I know that, afterall you were worse than how I am acting right now.”
“Oh please I wasn-”
“You punched Vector in his face.”
“He was standing in my way, alright?”
Shadow turned, rolling his eyes, rubbing his inhibitor rings. “I don’t know why I feel like this. I knew this day was coming, we rehearsed it numerous times, we planned this so why..why do i feel like I’m about to vomit.”
Shadow turned back to her, “I feel like this day came so fast. Sometimes, even after all Sonic and I have been through, I still feel as though he’s too good for me.”
“Oh Shadow. You both are good to each other! You compliment one another perfectly! That’s why he’s here, that’s why he's still there at the altar waiting for you, because he loves you! I mean he proposed to you because he wants to be with you, hun.”
“I proposed to him first, actually.”
“And why? Why didn’t you just end it off? Call it in?”
He then looked into her eyes, now seeing the point, “Because, I want to spend the rest of my existence with him..he never gave up on me or anyone..” Shadow chuckled, “I can’t believe I actually fell for that blue idiot.”
She smiled softly, both ears twitched to the direction of the music, “It’s time.”
He nodded heading towards the ceremony, behind the white curtain. Amerite was still standing there, grasping the basket, swaying back and forth. “You ready, sweety?”
“Yes mommy!”
“Ready Shadow?”
“I’d like to offer you a proposition..”
“Alright but you better make it quick,I can’t stall the music for very long.”
Shadow raised his arm, waiting for the other to link her’s onto his, “I’d like you to walk me down the aisle.”
Rouge gasped, “I’d be honored.” She tried her best not to tear up, “Alright you two, we’re ready!”
Just then, both Sonic and Shadow’s Chaos opened up the curtain, revealing the final three to join the others at the altar. Everyone rose, some teared up and Vanilla made sure to film it all.
Shadow took in his surroundings, seeing smiling faces and many people crying, Vector doing most of the crying. A small smile appeared, finally seeing Sonic, wearing a navy blue suit and wearing fancy black shoes. He bickered with him because Sonic wanted to wear his regular shoes.
Finally reaching the altar, Rouge placed their hands together, whispering to Sonic, “Better take care of him big blue.” which caused Omega to summon his blasters for a few seconds.
Sonic chuckled nervously, turning his head towards Shadow, bright emerald eyes meeting burning ruby eyes.
"Hey." Sonic whispered
"Hi."
“You look stunning.”
“And you, absolutely breathtaking,” Shadow replied.
Both hedgehogs turned to the officiant, Amy, ready to commence the wedding.
….Present Day….
“Shadow, I think someone’s in here with us.”
The edgy hedgehog, now alert, darting his head, listening to any sort of nearby movement. All three of them got into battle stance, their backs now pressed on eachother waiting for the attack. However, the only thing that came was lights coming on. “Omega, what’s-”
“Someone has triggered the main power source, activating lights, air conditioning, security bots, other security bot an-.”
“Thank you, Omega. Can you tell us who activated it?”
Shadow interrupted, “Something’s coming.”
Just then, as Omega stated, security bots began flying out ambushing them, blasting at the trio, but before they could even get a hit, the blue blur began zooming in spin dashing hitting a few of them, while Knuckles knocked a few down, protecting Amy who got a few smashes with her hammer and Tails flying in with a device, pressing it deactivated the bots.
“Amy c’mon, I think it’s best you head back.”
“Oh please Sonic, I can take care of myself and my baby. Plus you need all the help you can get..oh hi guys!”
The rest of Team Sonic, saw Team Dark still in their battle stance. Tails waved at the newcomers, while Rouge looked like she was about to pull Knuckle's quills off. Sonic just looked as bewildered as Shadow when their eyes met.
“Shads?” Sonic blurted.
“Sonic.” Shadow snarled.