Chapter Text
After the fight with Eggman sonic seemed different to his friends. None of them will ever know or understand what the hell happened. But he seems a lot more greatful for everything. And they can't complain about that. Shadow knows what's up.
As they hung out despite sonic being more greatful and happy to be with friends, as his adrenaline started to slow. the weeks of fighting non stop with barely any food or water or sleep, and the constant injures he had endured was catching up to him.
He had thought he had just healed at first. Maybe he'd be a bit worn out and tired. Those weeks he spent just erased. Sure he remembered it but did it actually happen at all? Is that how this works? But no. His heart and adrenaline was working overtime as until now it was in constant flight or fight.
Sonic and his friends are all at the beach watching the sunset. Sonic lays down and clutches his ribs. Tails seems to notice and pops his head over Sonic's.
"Hey sonic are you alright-" Tails cuts himself off seeing how sonic flinches at seeing Tails. What was up with him?! "Sonic you've been acting weird since the cave. And now you look tired and in pain. That isn't like you... You weren't even that badly injured"
Sonic takes a moment and sighs. He'll have to answer this time. Tails doesn't usually let him brush things off, mainly when sonic seems like he could be in danger or distress. But maybe if he compliments them he'll let it go....
"Tails I'm fine......as I was fighting beside you all I realised how lucky I am to have all of you fighting by my side. I didn't always have friends. Especially ones like you guys. And also I had a dream about losing you last night so I feel a bit on edge."
"But what about.... You seem in pain." Tails looks down at sonic clutching his ribs. Looking sick. And tired. Tails backs away to sit next to sonic, "Maybe we should have you checked out. Maybe bring near that prism did something to you"
Darn it... Tails didn't brush it off. Whatever. Lying could be easy.
"Tails I am okay. The reason why I was late was because I got into a bit of an accident where I crashed into a tree ribs first. and I still have bruises." Sonic chuckles. Tails's face softens as he looks back at the sunset.
"Hah you're tough. I'm sure that bruises will go away in no time" tails smiles. Sonic smiles back. God how he missed tails. And him being encouraging and not a villain. Sure nine was redeemed in the end but after everything he can't get over it... No wait he can! He means he gets over everything else.
Like having tails kidnapped,
his friends defeated that one time,
dying and coming back to life that one weird time.
That time he got kidnapped and tortured for 6 months. Surely he can get over nine betraying him when it wasn't out of cruel intent...
After a while everyone goes home. But sonic doesn't have a home. He runs to the loopdy loop and looks at it and gives it a hug
"Oo boy! How I miss not seeing you destroyed and non existent. don't worry babes. I'll run in here a lot tommorow. If everything doesn't hurt too much. I honestly think I have a concussion but I'll live. I mean if what I just went through didn't kill me. A concussion won't!"
Sonic smiles and curls up next to the loopdy loop to sleep. He struggles as the more time goes on, he tosses and turns. He's finally alone with his thoughts. And his pain. Both types. His ribs.... And head is pounding. And the rest of his body aches. His heart before was speeding but now it's too slow. It hurts to breathe.
And now he can't help but think of everything that happened. How could he be so stupid! So wreckless... None of that would have happened if he went so... Wreckless! And stupid...! He mutters under his breath, cursing himself as he punches his head, which quickly makes him extremely dizzy.
He tears up but quickly wipes them away. He shuts his eyes tight and edventualy drifts off into a very unrestful sleep. Whimpering softly.
Meanwhile with shadow.. he's hidden the prism in a place no one will ever be able to find it. Where no one else can touch it again. He cannot have this happen again.
Shadow teleports back to Greenhills. And takes a walk just to take in and admire everything he had fought so hard for.
Just look at it all for a moment. Admire the non-saturated colours that he could easily differ from the ghost green hills.
He wanders for a while until he came to the loopdy loop. Sonic's favorite place huh? It's stupid-
"Wait what-" shadow mutters out loud. Is that.... The blue hedgehog himself sleeping next to it? Why is he there? Why isn't he home or something? Surely after everything sonic would be at his home after not being in it for weeks.
He has the urge to approach him but also hr doesn't want to deal with the little rat. So annoying. He should kick Sonic's ass again for doing that -
Then. Shadow hears soft whimpers. Shadow approaches sonic. Now that he isn't fuelled by the prism's energy, his wounds have started to bruise.
Shadow thought that the injuries would simply go away but now that he thinks about it, he feels a lot of pain. Obviously he can handle it unlike that stupid weak faker.
But shadow's line of thought stops as he hears sonic whimper:
"....nine... Please.... We can.... We can talk this out.... Please...."
Sonic mumbled other incomprehensible gibberish.
Shadow scoffs.
The pathetic blue hedgehog is having a nightmare? Hah! Though... It's about everything that happened. That was a lot to go through for anyone. And having nightmares about it... It reminds him, he still has nightmares about Maria. The last dream he had before it happened was about her...
What no what is he thinking?! Shadow can't empathize with sonic! Ew! Sonic can't even comprehend the pain and suffering shadow has been through! He is too weak... Just an overrated, egotistical, wreckless child!
The thought just makes shadow verbally growl. Apparently a bit louder than intended as sonic flinches wide awake making shadow jump back, blushing out of embarrassment. Then pulling himself back together. What does he say now?!
Apparently sonic gains his composure before shadow as he stands up, legs shaking.
"Uh hey shads.... Why are you peering over at me menacingly...?"
Sonic looks up and down, barely standing. then notices shadows pissed off face. Sonic assumes this pissed off expression was because of him and tenses.
"...s-shadow.... I know you probably want to beat me up for the whole destroying our world thing... But not right now...." Sonic feels his head spin. Soon rapidly. As he struggles to see shadow.
Shadow gets a bit flustered and scrunched his face even further looking even more pissed. Sonic does see this.
"...please don't hurt me..."
Sonic whimpers as he collapses.
"Shit! Sonic-!"
Shadow gasps as sonic hit the floor.....