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“Rouge’s map says it should be just through this valley,”
Sonic stated, pointing at the mountain range on either side of them. The two had been traveling for a few weeks now, and the chaos emerald was in reach.
“We won’t make it there before nightfall,” Shadow informed, using the sun as a clock, “We should set up camp here for the night.”
“We won’t make it on foot,” Sonic said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Shadow rolled his eyes, “Fine, but I’m not riding with you again. Last time you nearly ran me over.”
Sonic pouted, “I did not! Just promise you’ll fly carefully, yeah?” Sonic said, holding out his fist for a power bump.
“I promise,” Shadow said, sealing the deal.
The two made sure to stay together, Shadow coasting when Sonic hit rough terrain and Sonic slowing his running speed whenever Shadow lost an air current. Both came from entirely separate worlds, and yet they fit together perfectly, working in perfect sync.
Shadow spotted the ruins first from his higher vantage point, signaling to Sonic on the ground to let him know. He sped ahead of Sonic, eying the area for threats or obvious traps, no such danger in sight. Shadow landed gracefully on the ground in the center of the ruins, the loud footfalls behind him told him Sonic wasn’t far behind him.
Shadow turned to face the direction the werehog was coming from, he watched him dig his claws into the ground to stop himself from running his boyfriend over. He shook his unkempt navy fur out, sticks and leaves going flying, before transforming back to his Mobian form.
“You really need to let me brush you out some time,” Shadow said with a smirk.
Sonic smoothed back his quills, “I thought you liked the messy look,” he said with a pout.
Shadow ruffled his fur playfully, “Yeah, messy, not disheveled,” he teased.
Sonic lightly shoved him, throwing Shadow off balance. The ebony hedgehog got his feet back under him and shoved his boyfriend back affectionately.
“Quit goofing off, we’ve got an emerald to find.”
The two scoured the ruins, Shadow roughly translating the occasional rune or inscription on the weathered stone while Sonic used his strong sense of smell to try and track the chaos energy. Eventually, the pair made their way towards the center of the labyrinth-like structure. Sonic’s nose twitched suddenly, something was off.
“What is it, a trap? An animal?”
Sonic inhaled deeply, trying to place the smell.
“It’s not a person, but also not an animal I’ve ever seen, I’d stay on alert,” Sonic said, wary of the potential monster ahead.
Shadow summoned a chaos spear, holding it defensively as the two slowly moved towards the center room. The harsh stone walls gave way to soft sands and enormous palm trees. Shadow turned quizzically to Sonic, his ears tilted in confusion.
“An oasis? Out here?”
Sonic shrugged, “Rouge said the chaos energy often creates life.”
“Yeah well she failed to mention the fucking palm tree-”
Shadow suddenly turned over his shoulder, hearing a rustling in the foliage behind them. He quickly grabbed Sonic’s arm.
“Get behind me.”
Shadow aimed his spear defensively at the bush, waiting for the attack. Sonic’s nose twitched again as Shadow raised his arm to throw.
“WAIT,” the azure werehog dashed in front of his partner, aiming the spear away with one hand and rooting through the leaves with another.
Shadow’s eyebrows drew up in confusion, forgetting how fast Sonic could be. He recalled his spear, letting it fade back into chaos energy. He watched as Sonic turned back to face him with a small creature in his arms. The critter was only about the size of Sonic’s head, easily fitting in his arms. It had pale blue skin, big round eyes and tiny pink wings on its back. While he’d never seen one in person before, Shadow knew what this creature was.
“It’s a baby Chao”
“A baby what?”
“Chao. Chaos are drawn to and created from the energy of the emeralds. They’re entirely harmless in the wild, though they can be raised to be tricksters.”
Sonic eyed the little Chao in his hands, the little guy tilted his head, copying his curious expression. Sonic’s heart practically melted.
“Ohmygod, Shadow can we keep it?”
“What? No we’re not keeping it. For one, we can barely take care of ourselves, how are we taking care of a baby and two, its family is probably somewhere around here.”
Shaodow examined the other trees and foliage of the oasis. A purple Chao floated down from a palm tree while a little orange one splashed in the water of the Emerald born oasis.
“Like I said, its family is here, we’re not keeping it.”
Sonic sighed, setting the baby Chao down on the soft white sand. He gave it a small head pat before reluctantly walking to meet Shadow.
“Fine, I guess we still need to find that Emerald, huh?”
Shadow nodded, “It’s likely at the center of all this. If the Chaos are here it can’t be far.”
Sonic trailed behind Shadow, every so often looking behind him to spot the little cyan Chao currently toddling behind them.
He likes us!
The trio made their way through the sandy dunes on the little oasis, finally stumbling upon the inner circle. The chaos emerald sat on the altar in the center, several older Chaos sleeping amongst the ruins or near the altar. Shadow and Sonic both felt the pull of the emerald in their blood, the chaos energy in their veins calling out to the green gemstone.
“There she is,” Shadow said with a smile.
“Rouge is going to be happy about this one,” Sonic said, “I can’t wait to get it back to her and see what she says, it feels stronger than the others we’ve found.”
Shadow carefully placed the emerald in a satchel around his shoulders, tucking it next to their other treasures.
“Now we’re one step closer to reuniting the master emerald,” he muttered mostly to himself.
Shadow eyed the hole in the roof above them.
“That’s our way out, you ready to leave?”
Sonic tried not to show his disappointment, knowing he’d have to leave the little guy behind.
“Yeah yeah, just don’t drop me,” He said, rolling his green eyes.
Shadow unfurled his wings with a powerful snap, sending sand flying. Sonic hopped into Shadow’s arms dramatically.
“Soleanna, you need to lay off your protein, Sonic,” Shadow said, almost being knocked over by Sonic.
“Not my fault you’re too weak to carry me,” Sonic teased.
Shadow kicked off, pushing off the ground sharply. Sonic wrapped his arms around his neck for support as Shadow’s strong wings began to carry them out of the temple. Sonic watched as the little Chao sat below, watching them with a sad look on his tiny face.
I wish we could’ve taken him
Sonic watched curiously as the baby Chao tried to copy Shadow’s actions, fluttering its tiny wings and getting a few inches off the ground.
Sonic gasped, “Shadow! Shadow, he wants to follow us!”
“Who?” Shadow looked below them to see the small Chao from earlier trying to catch up with him. He huffed, “He’s going to strain his wings before he makes it up here.”
Shadow sat Sonic down at the top of the temple, swooping back down to scoop the baby up in his arms before delivering it back to Sonic with a resigned face.
“Don’t say I never do anything for you,” He said, a stern face but a hint of a smile on his lips.
Sonic hugged the baby Chao close to his chest, the tiny creature babbling happily.
“Oh my god I love you Shadow!”
Shadow smiled, “I know, idiot”
Sonic hopped back into Shadow’s arms, still cradling the Chao.
“C’mon, let’s get back to Rouge, she needs to meet Shoya!”
“You named him already??!”