Archive of Our Own

“Come on, Faker.”

“I’m actually having second thoughts on this.”

“Too late to back out now. Scheduling this appointment took half an hour and I am not letting it be for nothing.”

“It’s just…this isn’t what I had in mind for-”

“Trust me. You’ll benefit from it. Your own methods aren’t enough.”

Sonic could only lightly groan as Shadow dragged him to a white building in Press Garden Zone. He honestly couldn’t believe he was doing this. Seemed like yesterday he had returned from another adventure that definitely shook things up. More history on the Chaos Emeralds, discovering Chaos’ actual race had to fight a horror with no real form, his three closest friends striking out on their own to grow stronger, and seeing a side of Eggman never seen before. Mostly regarding his AI creation in the form of a little human girl. It was because of her, success was a possibility. Now said adventure had its retelling video game finished and about to be released to the public. Well the last part still needed some fine tuning so a ‘what if?’ was the placeholder in the base version. To celebrate, a launch party was being held at Mystic Ruins and the dress code was formal. Which meant putting effort into your appearance. Sonic didn’t mind too much since pants were deemed optional but what he was getting into was something else.

The invite allowed for a plus one guest for him, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. His friends had already chosen who to bring with Cream, Rouge, and Sticks respectively. Given how this adventure had serious moments, some answers on the emeralds, and awesome fights against the Titans, Sonic figured Shadow would like to see that before the general public could. He did expect a ‘no’ though as their bond was still shaky but it couldn’t hurt to try. To his pleasant surprise, the ebony one agreed. On the condition that he’ll help him get ready. Sonic agreed under the assumption it’ll be done at home and be quick and easy.

So imagine his shock and defensive nature when Shadow brought the two of them to a salon for anthros and insisting on a full package of pampering.

“It’s not that big a deal anyway.” Sonic winced as the grip on his wrist tightened when attempting to slip out. “The public mainly expects me to shower, shave, and show up. Nothing fancy.”

Shadow opened the door and the two walked in. “From what I’ve seen and heard, your self-care routine is abysmal. And your time on these Starfall Islands sounds bigger than any previous adventure you had. I think something like that requires a little more in terms of appearance at a formal gathering to commemorate it. Even in general, you need a touch up. Your quills look a little blunt, your fur rough or oily, constant shedding, and didn’t you say you were interested in a spa day to help with leg cramps due to running so much?”

The speedster slumped as he was correct. Aches and burns were prevalent and his methods weren’t exactly reliable. He was actually feeling it right now. Not to mention the constant uncomfortable itching in his messy quills and wanting to really relax. Stress levels had increased no thanks to The End and the Titan fights he endured. Yet the thought of someone touching him constantly and working on his quills for a long period of time made him feel uncomfortable. He didn’t even know if he could be patient enough to sit for what he assumed to be two to three hours.

While heading over to the reception desk, he got to see a bit of the place. It certainly looked fancy with the lights, décor, calming music over the speakers, a fountain nearby, and a chandelier hanging overhead. The staff looked to be a mix of humans and animals. Some customers and staff noticed the hedgehogs and whispered amongst themselves. Further adding to the discomfort. Shadow stopped at the front desk where a female lynx was working. “Welcome to the Claw Den Shine Salon and Spa. How may I assist you?”

“Appointment for two.” Shadow brought Sonic forward who was sweating.

“Uh…hi” he managed to say.

The lynx looked at a list and smiled. “Right. I have you both for the Deluxe Heroes’ Custom Treatment Package in a private suite. If you could wait over there, Lacey and Tiara will be with you shortly.”

An audible gulp escaped Sonic as Shadow thanked the receptionist and led him to the waiting area. The fanciness continued to show as there weren’t just magazines to read but a beverage machine. As the two sat down, Sonic fidgeted with his hands and scratched his head. “It’s going to be fine” his ally reassured him. “I’ve been here before and I know they’ll do a good job. And it’s on me.” He paid for two drinks from the machine to emphasize this. Giving one to the azure anthro who was quick to accept.

“You’ve been here?” Sonic was aware of his rival sometimes joining Rouge for a spa day. Was this the place they would go to?

“I wasn’t a fan at first either.” The lifeform folded his arms as he took a sip. “My appearance is something I take seriously and I was worried it would get messed up. A part of me was also concerned on how my stylist would treat me with the possibility of being seen more as a pet than a person. But Rouge always knew how to get me out of my comfort zone and convinced me to come along after one mission left us caked in mud, grime, and other substances I’m in no mood to mention.”

Sonic bit back a snicker at the thought as he continued. Explaining how his stylist thankfully understood boundaries and used treatments that allowed him to unwind. The conversations they had allowed him to also open up on certain topics. “Part of this place’s popularity is the staff have made a vow not to reveal anything their customers say on their lives. A safe place to vent out anything on your mind. And they treat you with respect and compassion. Allowing for physical and mental relaxation. The state of one’s fur and skin helps them determine how overwhelmed a client is and how to best assist. Sometimes, they can even say something that will get you thinking deeper on whatever’s bothering you. This allowed me to destress and loosen up. While a part of me bringing you here is to have you experience real grooming, I feel you would like having a chance to talk about anything and not worry about having it spread.”

“I do keep myself clean” the speedster defended. “And there are times I brush myself or get Tails to help if knots become annoying. I just don’t see what the big deal is in having a grooming routine. I let the wind do what it wants to my quills. Besides, all that primping and pulling just for it to get messed up again while running? Kinda pointless.”

Shadow could only roll his eyes. “It does fit your unruly, untamed nature. Also, you can tell me a little more about what you found on those islands. There’s something I’ve been meaning to share with you as well. Explaining why we’ll be together and not in separate rooms.”

Something to share with him? Sonic wasn’t too surprised since his rival did open up on his past actions during the second marathon with him and his friends. But what could it be since it was most likely not that? Before he could pry for a hint, two human women approached them. One had brown hair in a bun and was wearing glasses and the other had wavy blonde hair that reached past her shoulders. Both were wearing zipper stylist vests over their shirts and black pants.

“Sonic and Shadow?” The woman with glasses gazed at them.

“That’s us.” The striped hedgehog got up and his rival slowly did the same. Gulping down the last of his drink.

“We’re ready for you. If you could follow us” the blonde woman said.

They did so with Sonic steadying himself. He got some glimpses of customers entering or exiting rooms while happily chatting with another employee. It made Sonic think back on stuff that was on his mind. The theme of change slowly becoming more prevalent. And he was the only one of the Chaos Quartet who didn’t really do some soul searching aside from mastering the cyber energy trying to corrupt his body. Maybe this would be a good practice run since he would be sharing his thoughts with a stranger sworn to secrecy. Along with Shadow, but enough trust was formed to know he would keep it confidential.

The four entered a roomy suite decorated to look like a starry sky in a forest clearing. The lighting was dimmed and nature sounds came from a speaker. Some typical salon items were present with chairs, fur care products, basins, styling tools, and towels. But there was something that caught Sonic’s eye the most. A two-inch deep pool filled to the brim with sand. “Um, what kind of treatment is that?”

“That’s the sand bath” the woman with brown hair answered. “Part of making sure our customers have a satisfactory experience is taking their species into account. Since you’re both hedgehogs, this includes having baked play sand for you to roll around in and remove excessive grease in your quills. This will make it easier for us to wash them later on. Plus, it’s plain fun.”

Hearing this stunned Sonic for a moment. He never really did take his own species into account and the different ways hedgehogs could get clean. Glancing at Shadow and his head turning away made a smile creep on his face. “I thought you didn’t like sand since it’s coarse, rough, irritating, and gets everywhere.”

“I originally thought that when seeing it for the first time. But she’s actually right on this sand having an actual purpose. And those grains aren’t too bothersome afterwards.”

“Before you two start though.” The blonde woman had Sonic sit on a chair while her colleague assisted Shadow. “We need to assess the condition of your scalps, fur, and quills. It’ll allow us to determine the best course of action and tailor the deep conditioning treatment to your specific needs. I’ll be doing you and Lacey will handle your friend.”

“Actually, we’re more like allies” the speedster corrected. Shadow refused to give a comment himself as Lacey used a tool to get a closer look at his scalp. “And sorry in advance if my quills accidentally prick you.”

His stylist lightly touched him which caused a jolt. “No need to worry. As long as you’re relaxed, your quills won’t poke any skin.”

For the next five to ten minutes, Sonic was gripping his chair’s armrests. Feeling a pair of hands run through his quills constantly. Whenever he felt them start to spread out, he did what he could to calm down. Reminding himself that she was a professional and this wasn’t going to be intimate. Tiara would give questions on his routine, concerns, and any previous treatments and he didn’t have a lot to say. When questioned if this was his first time coming here, he could only nod in embarrassment. And he nodded even slower when asked if this was his first salon visit in general. Already he was being put on the spot and felt he would be judged for not taking self-care seriously. Not helping matters was when he felt things being pulled out and placed on a tray.

“Rings, a pen, keys, flowers, rocks, nuts and bolts. Do you normally stash things in here?”

Sonic tried not to wince at some pine needles and broken quills being removed. “Er, yeah. Considering we don’t really wear clothes, I have to get creative in carrying things around.” His eyes glanced over to see Lacey doing the same for Shadow. Finding a ring herself as his ally gave an amused smirk.

“I’m surprised a rat hasn’t been found nesting in yours, Faker.”

Sonic could only give a drooped eyelid and stuck out tongue to tease.

Gentle pets between his ears made the blue one feel a bit less tense. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of our customers hold off on professional care due to anxiety.” Tiara did one last overview before stepping back. “You do seem to have a bit of a dry scalp and a lot of oil in your quills and fur though. Lots of tangles and a few split ends too.” She ran her fingers through a clump delicately. Causing a low rumble to come from the hedgehog to his growing awkwardness. “Not to mention it looks like they were torn up from a scuffle. No doubt from another battle against Eggman.”

“I can’t deny that one” Sonic chuckled. “What about you, Shads?”

“He does enjoy making a mess in more ways than one.”

Lacey had finished analyzing Shadow herself. Jotting down some notes. “Most of it looks fine for you aside from some brittleness. We’ll be working on making the treatments while you’re in the sand pit. Afterwards we’ll do the foot bath, highlights, and deep conditioning. Just don’t take too long getting clean. I say at least twenty minutes?” She turned to Tiara who gave a nod.

Sonic was more than happy to stand and stretch after sitting for that. He and Shadow were then given gloves and socks that wouldn’t get in the way with cleaning while still covering vulnerable parts of their bodies. The lifeform then climbed in the sand pit first while Sonic stood at the edge. Watching him just roll around and dig underneath without a care in the world. It did stun him as seeing his rival act like a regular hedgehog felt a bit alien.

“You coming or do I have to drag you in?” A voice snapped him back.

“Oh, right.” The azure speedster got in himself. Allowing him to feel the sand’s texture. It did feel warm and gravelly. Like it came straight from the beach. It also brought a sense of…familiarity. As the comforting feeling enveloped him, he started making sand angels. On his back and then face first. He then burrowed underneath and his playful side had him sneak behind Shadow to try and startle him. Only for him to sense his movements and plunge a fist to grab him and pull him up.

“So?”

Sonic rubbed some sand on his arms. Noticing they looked less greasy than before. “I honestly don’t know why I haven’t done this sooner! Bubble baths are fine but I feel I’m more in my element here.” A memory then popped up and he snickered. “To recap, if I roll around in the sand outside for free, I’m a wild animal with no regard for basic hygiene. But if I pay at least a hundred rings to play in a sand pit indoors which will lead to a mess outside the pool, I’m civilized?”

Shadow looked a little lost at first. Until he took in where they were and it clicked. And a small smile formed. “Exactly. I think Sticks would like this too. I also have yet to bring Terios along as he’s shown interest in a spa. Just hope he won’t be overly sensitive to contact from strangers.” He also hoped the organic robot wouldn’t have to be sedated like some really squeamish clients he saw on past appointments.

“It would be something having Mets destress” Sonic snickered. “After all, he’s got years of built up pressure serving Eggman. His muscles are bound to be tense.”

The two did some more rolling around to get every spot on themselves. But Sonic was having some issues reaching his back and rubbing it along the ground wasn’t doing much. He felt flustered for what he was about to ask but it seemed his ally was having the same problem.

“You scratch my back I scratch yours?”

The striped hedgie paused in trying to reach his shoulder blades. With a sigh, he came over. “So, what did happen on your outing at the Starfall Islands?”

Sonic recalled those memories as he felt gloved claws work on his back. Some sand being grabbed to reach between the blades. “We were immediately thrown into it as upon arriving, Tails, Amy, and I got sucked into a portal that teleported us into a cyber prison. I managed to get out fully while they were only see-through. I couldn’t touch them but they were able to interact with the outside world to an extent. They also needed these tokens that would help retain their memories. Ames was on the first island, Tails the third, and when getting to the second, I found that Knuckles somehow found a way himself. He explained that he was exploring Angel Island’s ruins when he found something that looked like the Cyber Gateways that would get me closer to obtaining each of the Chaos Emeralds. It warped him to the island and he faced off against a few Ancients robots before he got trapped in Cyber Space too. During my times with each of my friends, we would come across creatures called Koco who turned out to be vessels for the Ancients’ souls. Interacting with them allowed us to see snippets of their past. How they were forced from their destroyed home and came to ours due to a threat known only as The End. It was how we found out they created the Chaos Emeralds and were Chaos’ ancestors.”

“Really?” Shadow was intrigued further when hearing this. He had read through Gerald’s diary on the process of his creation but it seemed he never learned about the emeralds’ full origins. Like himself, they were also connected to aliens. Revealing how closely connected he was to them and how he could tap into their power easily. It also meant every battle over them from Sonic’s first bout fighting Eggman to now was because of whatever drove the Ancients to their planet. It made him want to prepare for when he would have to face this mysterious eldritch terror. “What does this ‘The End’ look like?”

Sonic swallowed a yelp as he felt a knot in his back be undone. A cracking sound adding to the brief pain. “It’s…hard to put into words. From what Sage said, it has no proper form. It just looks like whatever the person perceives as death. Which for me was a big purple moon. It was interacting with me the moment I broke out of the cyber prison but I didn’t know it at the time. Exploiting my desire to help and not fully think things through to break the seal the Ancients put on it. My determination to save everyone led to me getting corrupted with cyber energy. By the time I got to the fourth island and broke the shackles, it overtook me. Freezing me in place. It felt like my mind was trapped between the real world and cyber space. I could even feel my memories slipping away. Tails, Knuckles, and Amy were able to restore some of my strength but I had to undergo training to fully master it. Eggman ended up joining forces with us too. Mainly at Sage’s insistence as it was the only way to stop a greater threat.”

He continued on about enduring trials while his friends collected the Chaos Emeralds for the fifth time in a row. Learning how they had to endure the cyber corruption themselves which included the unbearable pain. As for the Master Trials, they were much harder than previous challenges he went through. The biggest one being fighting Giganto, Wyvern, and Knight back to back with a set amount of rings and needing to perfect the parry move. Culminating in a fight against the final Titan, Supreme, and The End possessing it for a last stand. During the latter fight, Sonic told how he unlocked a new super form called Cyber Sonic as he pushed the corruption to its limit. He would never get to use it again like most other super forms but it was worth it to save the day. Shadow couldn’t help but be stunned overall. While picking up hints of fear in the tone of voice. “It does sound like there were more stakes on that adventure. Nothing you can’t shrug off though as usual, right?”

There was some silence as he finished up and shifted so Sonic could handle his back next. He could feel hands slowly working through his spines. “Actually, seeing what happened and The End’s actions kinda shook me” Shadow heard. “Then I helped out with the game retelling and got a whole lot more information that reveals what a horror it is. Easily tanking the four Titans and having to be trapped inside Supreme for something of a victory. By the time it got free, it was weakened enough to actually stop it. I don’t wanna know what would happen if Sage and I had to fight it at full strength. We might not have even killed it since there was no real confirmation. The End also knew my entire history, past adventures, and pretty much my whole personality. I’m honestly nervous how everyone will react knowing that there’s an evil that’s been around for thousands of years, has information on everything, and could be out there planning for revenge. Is…is this what some of your missions and solo outings feel like?”

This certainly was a blue moon moment for the lifeform. His rival being shaken after an adventure that he usually sees as a game. With a theme of change, seemed it was affecting him in a different manner. His friends were looking forward to the future while he had concern. “In a way, yes. We want to do what’s best for the world but don’t know if it will be enough. Our methods not always having the best results or what people wanted. It’s not the exact same but I feel a similar vibe with the Black Arms. As long as I’m alive, they’ll have a chance to return due to their hive mind. And since I’m immortal…”

He tensed up when he felt fingers close to his ear. He turned his head to see Sonic move them away to keep boundaries. “It really makes me miss when adventures were a lot more simple. No anxieties on changes lasting long past the final fight. Or worrying too much about the future.”

Before Shadow could comment on that, Lacey’s voice cut him off. “We finished creating the treatments. If you could shake off any sand, we can get started on the foot baths.”

Both hedgehogs did so with Sonic of course making a mess on the floor. Once most of the grains were out, they took a seat in their chairs so the next treatment could take place. It did require them to remove the socks so their feet could be taken care of. Bringing a reserved nature to Sonic as he slowly took them off. He’s not gonna see them and you won’t see his.

Shadow stared at Lacey filling his foot bath with warm water. “Thanks.”

“Of course, Coffee Bean” she smiled.

Sonic took a moment to ignore his exposed feet and focus on what was said. “Uh, I would be careful what you call him. Nicknames are a bit of a touchy subject.”

“It’s fine” Shadow reassured him. “The staff offer pet names to show affection and care if we want it. I was apprehensive at first. But boundaries are still kept and they let us have a say on what we want to be called. I like eating coffee beans so that’s what influenced my choice. Another one used is ‘Sweet Prince’ due to Rouge calling me ‘Prince’ sometimes.” His look then narrowed, “And I know you’ll add that to the list of things to only keep between us.”

“You have my word.” Sonic grinned as he watched Tiara add Epsom salts and essential oils to his foot bath. When asked, she told how it would soften the skin and make it easier to exfoliate. His feet just had to be soaked for a few minutes to help reduce aches and pains.

“Would you like me to give you a nickname?” she then asked.

Given her calm expression, equal eye level, and request for permission, he figured why not. “I honestly wouldn’t mind something like that. Just…don’t make it too cutesy.”

She got a good look at him with his royal blue quills. “Hmm, how about Blueberry? Your fur color closely matches it.”

He winked, “They are a good fruit.”

During the soaking, he did feel a significant improvement in his feet. They tended to be sore from constantly running and kicking enemies. Simply rubbing them if they stung granted only a temporary reprieve. Not to mention the odor was a real barrier to overcome. Shadow was unwinding himself as his feet eased up. Even if having them exposed felt a little weird. “What did the Starfall Islands look like? Were they all the same or did they have different environments?”

“A bit of a mix. Kronos, Rhea, and Ouranos were mostly similar with grassy plains, forests, waterfalls, and a bit of architecture. Ares was more like a desert with hints of beaches and Chaos had mountains and a volcano. All of them were fun to explore. They had challenges, Koco missions, sparring opportunities, and so many grind rails!”

What Sonic said for one of the islands got the lifeform’s attention. “Chaos Island?”

“Yeah. That’s where Tails was trapped. It’s in the top three of the Starfall Islands ranking. You wanna know more about it?” Sonic questioned.

“N-No. Well, not right now. I…actually traversed through it while in White Space.”

The speedster’s eyes widened, “What? But that was at least two years ago! Unless…” He then mentally face palmed as a monster who could control time would be able to pull places from the future as well as the past. Along with alternate timelines thought to have been erased like Stardust Speedway’s Bad Future and Crisis City. And then curiosity and excitement filled him as this was likely what Shadow wanted to tell him. “So you got to run through old locations too! And some from the future! I’m so jealous!”

Shadow felt a hint of amusement but he looked down to see his feet being dried for exfoliation. “That’s one way of putting it. But when your past is as complicated and dark as mine, being forced to re-experience old memories isn’t my idea of a fun time. Especially when Black Doom took advantage of the temporal anomaly to revive his forces and try to mold me into his ultimate vessel. That’s where I got my new powers as he tried to ‘ripen me up.’ Believing it would erase my personality and free will so he could reincarnate in my body if he couldn’t control my mind. Even though I managed to sever the connection and alter the powers to suit myself alone, I still use them sparingly as the risk of being overtaken could still be present. I honestly thought they were gone forever at first until my wings sprouted out during one mission when I saw a G.U.N. soldier falling to his death. Rouge being too occupied with fending off Egg Enforcers to fly over herself.” He had kept the origins of his abilities a secret since that day. Claiming he triggered it by himself when someone asked where they came from. Only Team Dark and G.U.N. knew the full story to get the full context and provide proper assistance on understanding these powers. While finding a way to utilize them for better protection in case the Black Arms did return a third time.

Laughs and giggles made him whip his head to Sonic. At first he felt offended that he wasn’t taking it seriously but then his eyes saw Tiara exfoliating his rival’s feet. Clarifying that he was laughing because of the tickling sensation. He hid a snort himself when he felt a pumice stone being rubbed on his own soles. Making sure his eyes didn’t return to the other bare feet.

“S-Sorry, ” Sonic took some breaths to calm down. “I’m listening. So that’s where those new powers came from. How’d you end up in White Space? What was yours like?”

Since that day, Shadow kept the details scarce as he didn’t feel comfortable sharing. His wounds had been reopened and he didn’t know if anyone else would take it seriously. Not helping was his defense mechanism of closing off and acting aloof. But now, after everything and thanks to a different dimension being involved, it was very different. “To start off, I traveled to the ARK to investigate a strange occurrence I sensed in a nightmare. Rouge and Omega helped me obtain a ship to get there but in exchange, I would have to attend your birthday party once my mission was finished. Even telling me there was free food to further incentivize me.”

More giggles were heard, “Food is the ultimate bribe! But I honestly wouldn’t mind if you ended up late because of a mission.”

Shadow held off on stating he had no interest in the first place so he could keep going. “During my search, I found Black Doom had returned no thanks to a single Black Arms larvae having been present on the ARK. Around that time, the Time Eater sent us to the space-time limbo. As I mentioned, Black Doom planned to use this to accelerate his goal so I had to traverse through old memories to stop him. The places were the ARK, Rail Canyon, Kingdom Valley, Sunset Heights during the six month war, and Chaos Island. Getting to said locations was interesting as the area I was in had lots of platforming and unique structures to go alongside the entrances. It felt like I was on an island. I had to hone my skills and new powers to reach certain areas, collect keys to unlock gates, and finding old foes I had to take down.”

“Really?” Sonic felt something soothing being rubbed on his feet. Taking a moment to see cream and oil being applied. “I didn’t really have to travel around to get to my memories. I just walked up to the entrances as they were all in a straight line. The only time I had to do extra stuff was to get to challenges.” He glanced at Lacey and Tiara, “Did you two get to play that adventure? It can be kinda hard to explain otherwise.”

“I did” Lacey answered and her colleagued nodded as well. “But there was never a moment where I saw what Shadow’s describing. Sounds like his version of White Space is like a hub world while yours is a level select. Based on what he’s told me in previous appointments, he’s been through a lot with complex emotions and traumatic experiences. That could have influenced why his…White Space you’re detailing is like that.”

Given the contrasting personalities, the ebony one had a smirk. “So what you’re saying is I’m more complex, interesting, and deep and Sonic is straightforward and simple. And our White Spaces’ layouts reflect that perfectly.”

Tiara bit back a snicker while Sonic stiffened in embarrassment. “There’s more to me than that! Plus, that just makes both of us unique! I have my way of going through adventures and he has his.” So far, getting to know what Shadow was doing during the Time Eater Incident was really getting him intrigued. “It would have been awesome to see your area and explore around. I noticed Rouge would disappear a few times so that might have been where she was. Why didn’t she bring the rest of us along though if that was the case?”

The ebony one couldn’t help but think about it. He was able to cross paths with Sonic after Chaos Island so who’s to say the reverse wasn’t possible? The topic of more people reminded him of something. “That wasn’t the only difference from our White Spaces. I also had people present at the area entrances but unlike your friends, they weren’t petrified like Rouge revealed had happened to her. Omega, Big, Orbot, and Cubot were all fine when I ran into them.”

“They weren’t?” Sonic stifled his reflexes as his feet and lower legs were being massaged. Feeling some tension rubbed out and once again trying not to laugh at how it tickled. Or let out soft moans at the relaxing sensation. “Explains why I never saw them. I’m starting to wonder what Silver’s time and possible White Space was like now since he had to have been unfrozen too.”

“It would be interesting.” Shadow became melancholy for the next bit. “I also ran into Gerald and Maria who had been taken from a point in time before the ARK raid.”

“Maria was brought there too?! Man, missed opportunity for us to meet!”

Shadow thought about it, “It would be interesting to see how she would react to all of you. The only one of your friends she got to meet was Big and they had a nice time. Omega also kept her and Gerald safe while I finished off Black Doom. Then again, I might have dodged a bullet since if she met you and asked if you were a friend, I have no doubt you would claim we were besties.”

“No I wouldn’t!” Sonic feigned innocence. “What makes you think that?”

“I know you, Faker. I highly doubt you would pass up an opportunity to tease me.”

The speedster slumped at the raised eyebrow. “Okay I might joke a little but I know how much she means to you. I would never tarnish her perception and your friendship.”

Hearing this softened Shadow as he once again was grateful for his rival having standards. “She did tell me she noticed us racing in the distance. And…” He was going to slightly regret this. “She said you seemed nice.”

“Ah, I see she has good taste!”

While massaging her client’s feet, Lacey spoke again. “There was a lot more he told me that the retelling lacked. At first I thought he only fought you for the sake of it and not caring what was going on.”

“Was there more to it?” Tiara questioned.

“There was” the azure one said. “I needed the Chaos Emerald Shadow had to fully take down that time monster. He said he had business to take care of but I kept insisting. Leading us to duke it out. I originally thought it was him being his stubborn self but now after hearing what he was dealing with…I can see why he was like that. It ended with me on top as usual and getting the emerald.”

Shadow rolled his eyes at the light embellishment. “Good thing I prepared beforehand. The emerald you took was actually a fake. To keep you off my back long enough so I could prevent the Black Arms from making things more difficult. Once it was over, I had Rouge swap them right as you and your younger self confronted the Time Eater.” He looked a bit smug when telling his.

Sonic was silent for a second as the massaging was slowing down. His feet now being dried off with the socks put back on. “It did fool me for a good while. And it’s good to know I was right on you using the real one for an important cause.”

Hearing that made the lifeform tense up with wide eyes. “You found out?!”

“I noticed your fighting was more on the defensive side rather than full on offensive. Like you were putting on a show. The fact you never tried to take it back despite saying you needed it was another sign. Then when I was placing the emeralds in the gears to reach the Time Eater, I saw how the yellow one took a little longer to start and would flicker compared to the other six. Makes me glad the moving platforms were slow as Rouge had enough time to switch before it was too late.”

Shadow lowly groaned has he ran a hand down his face. Of course there would be something to expose his ruse. At least it was at the end. Still, the plan overall was risky because if Black Doom succeeded in taking over his body, the Sonics would try to go super while fighting the Eggmen and he doubted a fake emerald would have enough juice to let them do so. He then realized something, “And yet you never brought it up until now.”

“I figured you had bigger things to worry about and I knew you would lend an emerald so I could finish the fight. No real sense pointing it out at the moment. But since we’re revealing stuff, now’s a good time to do so!” Sonic cheekily grinned.

“In that case, I was tempted to use the Doom Spears on you in our clash. But I decided I would only beat you on equal terms or not at all. And it wouldn’t be right catching you off guard with a new ability. Still, the look on your face would have been priceless.” The two lightly snickered afterwards.

Both women were stunned hearing this. They were aware of a fake emerald being used once but again? And that one little mistake could have made things turn out much darker. Sonic spotted the looks on their faces. “Uh, if you want us to stop so you won’t feel paranoid we can.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ve heard a lot from Shadow already on his origins, adventures, even a mission that ended up erased from the timeline.” Lacey had finished drying off his feet during this. Followed by getting some materials out for highlighting. “And it’s fun hearing about your adventures and learning details missing from the adaptations.”

“It also lets us see you on a more personal level.” Tiara smiled sweetly as she placed a makeup cape around Sonic and grabbed a brush. “We’re going to get started on highlights now. The first step will involve us detangling and sectioning your quills to have it go smoothly.”

Nerves filled the azure speedster’s stomach on a number of reasons. First there was the inevitable pain of being brushed given the number of knots. And Shadow never detailed how much highlighting he would receive. “Um, Shads? Care to fill me in on what kind of highlights we’re getting?”

“I just need a touch up. As for you, it’s going to be a surprise. Something that fits your personality and help you stand out.”

That did nothing to soothe his anxiety. He knew his rival wouldn’t intend for anything humiliating as they were prepping for a formal event. But having no control on what he was going to look like? It was making him stim and fidget again. He then felt bristles making contact and attacking a knot. Leading to some slight yanking.

“OW!” Sonic exclaimed as the brush ran through his quills. Completely unprepared for how tangled they truly were. Didn’t help that a few more followed suit. He was already dreading the rest of this when Tiara held a clump in her hand so she wouldn’t have to pull so hard.

“Sorry about that. I’ll do my best to make it less painful.” She continued to work by spraying the knots with water and applying conditioner to them. Handling some easier tangles first before returning to the tougher ones once the conditioner was set. This made it less of a grind to comb them out. “But it is a good idea to routinely brush so that won’t happen. And it can help with better aerodynamics.”

Tingles could be felt in Sonic’s body as his quills were detangled further. Warmth slowly flowed through next as the pulling and tough knots became nonexistent. The strokes now being precise and delicate. Between the sand bath, foot bath, and now this, he found that he had been slowly enjoying himself. Hopefully his reaction wasn’t noticeable since his fidgeting decreased while clasping his hands. Then his legs leisurely kicked back and forward in the air. And then he heard low vibrations and clicking coming from his throat. Eyes wide, he tried to make them stop but it wouldn’t. He knew he was purring but preferred to keep it between himself and his closest friends. Lacey got a glimpse and let out a giggle.

“He’s a bit like you when you came here for the first time” she told Shadow.

He let out a low breath at the memory. How he blushed when she said how cute it was that he was leaning into the brushes. A habit he found himself doing right now.

“It’s natural for hedgehogs to purr when we style them, Sonic” Tiara gave some reassuring pets. “It means you trust me and are content. Completely comfortable and happy with where you are. Something we always hope to obtain during an appointment. There’s also whistling but it’s a bit rarer.”

Sonic paused in trying to stop his purrs as he listened. “You seem to know quite a bit on hedgehogs.”

“We have to if we’re able to provide the best service. It’s the same for other animal species as you all have different fur types, methods of grooming, and biology. For this instance, we thoroughly rinse out products and dry your quills the best we can since they can hold up to eleven percent in water weight every time they get wet.”

“Math isn’t really his thing” Shadow told her. Sure enough, he could see his ally look lost at the mention of numbers. Before melting back into the brushing and barrier cream being added next. The lighteners and colors for each hedgehog were then brought out. “Since it’ll be at least two hours until they’re done, I could tell you more about my mission to make time go faster.”

“Please.” Sonic could feel boredom slowly creep up just hearing the first part of the sentence. Maybe it would also keep his mind off of the tips of his quills already having lighteners being applied to them.

The next forty-five to sixty minutes consisted of Shadow detailing the memories he went through and little side missions he did. One of which he slightly ranted on was helping Orbot and Cubot build a spaceship by finding missing parts. The last few being almost impossible to locate. He finally succeeded, only to discover the ‘ship’ was a clock all along.

“I may or may not have used Doom Blast on them to vent out my frustrations.”

“You won’t have to feel too bad. Given how Eggman treats them, that would have been viewed as another workday. I think they’ve also become as indestructible as the Eggmobile.”

Sonic was mostly focused on his ally’s explanations yet his mind kept wandering to the highlights Tiara was doing. It seemed to mostly involve the ends of his quills as lighteners and colors were applied there the most. Along with foil being wrapped around each section after they were weaved together. He could also feel the highlight brush do some zig zags when going further up. Like she was doing freehand painting too with aid from stencils. He saw Lacey was doing the more traditional full highlights for her hedgehog. The fact he was sitting calmly while it was happening showed how much trust he had. It impressed him as that honor wasn’t easy to obtain.

“Then there were the clashes with other foes from my past” Shadow continued. “First was the Biolizard which I figured would come. Followed by Metal Overlord but unlike your fight, mine was on the water and I had to use Doom Surf to keep up with him. Then Mephiles was next and his fight nearly shook me. He seemed to be aware that he was erased from existence and was fighting to join the prime timeline once again. Given who he is and what he did, I wasn’t going to allow that. Yet the pain and sorrow from his tone of voice… Almost made me feel a bit sorry for him. Finally, I faced off against Black Doom when obtaining my wings. He had two forms with a second, more gruesome one to follow his first transformation.”

“Ugh” Sonic recoiled as he recalled seeing the Devil Doom form in the retelling of the Black Arms invasion. “I’m not gonna ask what the second form looked like. That is a good lineup of baddies overall. Each having a connection to you. But I do feel there could have been at least one more villain who made an impact on you. A way to show some strength and also take advantage of time travel. After all, one of your memories was at Sunset Heights.”

Shadow thought on it and realized who he was talking about. “That would have nearly made things even more complicated and dangerous. I have no doubt Infinite would have taken advantage of us not being aware of him yet and killing us to ensure no one would question his supposed power. And since I played a part in making him snap, that would have caused a time crash.” More thinking followed suit on missed opportunities. “Now that you mention it, it is strange I didn’t go through any memories from my first encounter with the Black Arms like Westopolis or the Black Comet. Especially with them present overall. I expected something like that whenever Doom’s Eye would warp me but it was always to Radical Highway. Why was that?”

Sonic snorted, “Maybe Black Doom thought it was…radical. As for my thoughts on missed out memories, it was a bit of a bummer no Good Future Little Planet areas or North Star Island spots were brought in. The Arabian Nights and Camelot I can understand since they were in different dimensions. And while I like Seaside Hill, I feel Egg Fleet or either of the Casino areas would have fit the adventure with Neo Metal better. A future event would also be so cool. Whether from Lost Hex or the Starfall Islands.”

“Either way, it might have caused paradoxes since we would have knowledge of future events. The Time Stones and especially the Solaris Project proved to us how messy time travel gets if not treated seriously. And I’d rather not have Silver face more problems in the future because of us messing around for fun. No matter how desirable the temptation may be in…some instances.”

The wistful tone of voice had the speedster soften his expression. With the theme of time travel and the reveal that Gerald and Maria had been present in White Space before their fates, there was still one last moment Shadow had to share. “What happened after you beat Black Doom?”

Shadow controlled his breathing as he saw a comforting look on Lacey’s face in the mirror. A nonverbal nudge to keep going, that he was being listened to. “After I gave Rouge the Chaos Emerald, I went to check up on Gerald and Maria. They were starting to return to their point in time as I saw them fading away. Not wanting to lose them, I thought about taking back the emerald and using Chaos Control to keep them here but Maria told me not to. Telling me you and the others needed my help. I…I didn’t want to leave her to her fate. The pain of losing her again was becoming too much. But her words on how we’ll always be together gave me the strength to accept it. And with that, I joined up with everyone else to give you the boost you needed to activate the emeralds’ power. Managing to cease crying by the time I got there.” He barely noticed a single tear had come from his left eye while talking.

Silence filled the room after he said this. Even while working, the stylists had empathetic looks. Sonic in particular was mentally going through that day and suddenly, his ally’s actions made more sense. The command to get on his feet. His voice not being as loud as the others when pointing out homing shots and actually giving some helpful hints. Mostly keeping to himself when returning to his party. And possibly distracting himself by scarfing down the chili dogs and sweets when someone tried to talk to him. Claiming it was free when asked why he was stuffing his face. He was coping and recovering from his adventure and losing the two people he cared for most a second time. And because his method of handling sorrow and pain was to stifle it to keep others from worrying and possibly showing pity, no one knew why he would suddenly lash out and act even more closed off than before. Only thanks to the marathons did he decide to let some pent up emotions leave his system. Who knows how he was acting when coming here and giving all this information for the first time?

“Seeing you happy and oblivious to what was happening beyond your White Space did nothing to soften the blow” Shadow went on. “It made me think about our respective lives and how you usually have a fun time without needing to endure severe trauma while I face realistic consequences to adventuring because the world believes ‘I can handle it better than you.’ To the point I wondered if I was born in the wrong dimension. I don’t know every detail of your skirmishes so I can’t fully compare yet it seems you never had to think too much on what you just went through. It made me jealous that you can shake it off with no problem. Believing sharing my missions wouldn’t be taken seriously is one of the reasons I never shared it with you or your friends. Since it’ll be hard to relate and understand. But these last two years have made me reconsider. That it was actually cowardice keeping me from doing so since it’s been shown you do care.”

A shame their chairs were a ways apart as Sonic saw he couldn’t reach out a hand for some contact. Then again, contact was still touchy with him. So his voice was more appropriate. One sentence in particular made him want to say something. “Don’t ever say you weren’t born in the right place again. You’re a complicated guy. And our history makes me understand why you’re hesitant to share your feelings. You feel that there’s no way out from your past and getting closure is the first step to living in the present and future. The fact you’ve accepted change actually makes me jealous because…I’ve been afraid of it myself. For so long my adventures have had a cycle to the point where I feel I’ve become complacent. Then the Starfall Islands happened, putting so many things into perspective. Tails, Amy, Knuckles, even Eggman showed change as he actually showed genuine affection to Sage. Me? I don’t know if I’ve gone through growth. If anything, I’m worried my friendships are only strong because of our battles against villains. I don’t want things to be stagnant as that would make life boring but, I’m actually scared about possibly failing and letting the ones I love down. Think Sporty’s dilemma of playing a part but more complex and lots of past experience.”

It was no secret that Sonic felt the pressure of keeping all life safe while needing to behave a certain way so the public wouldn’t worry. After all, if their hero was panicking, they would lose composure and feel there was no one to rely on. Something Shadow understood as he had to cover fear with anger and a take charge nature sometimes. The fact even that wasn’t enough for some groups made things more stressful. Don’t even get him started on the fans of the retellings. “You won’t be alone in facing the future. And there have been many times outside of adventures where you and your friends have bonded and grown close. Like me, you’re willing to do anything for the ones you love. Change is never easy but we’ve seen what happens when something stays the same for too long. Preparing for what will come is the best way to master it. If The End does manage to return, we’ll have the means necessary to put up a fight. There’s also smaller steps to accept change. Your friends going out on their own more often is one. And then there’s our appointment right now as you’re getting a new look that will likely last a few months.” He could feel the final foil be put in place as the processing step had been reached.

The reminder had Sonic return to seeing that the bottom half of his quills had also been wrapped in foil. Tiara was double checking them to ensure they were in place. “Whatever ends up happening, you’ve been known to face new challenges head on. Inspiring new generations to push past their limits too.”

“Thanks” he softly said. “To both of you.”

It took another thirty minutes until the processing was finally done. The hedgehogs passing time by having a lighter conversation on what the launch party could be like. When Sonic suggested the possibility of having his ally’s adventure adapted, he said he’d like that but had doubts since his first solo outing wasn’t viewed very fondly. Not to mention events that happened years ago likely wouldn’t be revisited. Both stylists then took out any foil present and observed the highlights. Lacey checked the ruby red stripes and obsidian black fur on Shadow. “Is this the lightness you wanted?”

The striped hedgie took in his reflection and smirked. His reds and blacks looking much more vibrant. “Exemplary as always. What about you, Faker?”

Sonic had his eyes closed to brace himself when seeing his results. Upon opening, he was wide eyed at the mirror. Tiara had highlighted the ends of his quills to be a light cerulean blue. Emitting from them were lightning bolts going halfway up. The shade of blue really popped when contrasting his sapphire fur. And the electric bolts making it look like he was charging up on energy. The techniques used made it appear fully natural.

“Your friend said you would be ‘shocked’ with the results. Electricity was said to be associated with you so he requested for me to incorporate it into my work” his stylist explained. A bit of fear was present when taking in his silent nature. “If you don’t like it, I apologize. It would have been preferred to get your input first before-”

“N-No” he managed to say. “It…It looks incredible.” He had felt nervous on how it would turn out yet it was all for naught. He never knew he could look like this. Managing to appear more awesome. “You did great.”

Tiara’s worry faded as she took off the makeup cape and slipped her hand into his. Leading him to another chair. “All that’s left is to apply the deep conditioning treatment.” Lacey was telling this while getting Shadow settled at a basin. She brought out the treatment that had been made. “It’ll help preserve the strength of your quills and fur after getting highlights. Restoring any moisture lost and rehydrating it. We will have to wash it first to fully remove the lightener though.” She began to soak her client’s fur. “The usual, Coffee Bean?”

“Yes. Lavender scented” he confirmed.

Sonic felt a little skittish again as Tiara got him settled on a chair with pillows. “Just to let you know, I’m not a fan of my quills getting wet. If there’s any apprehension, that’s why.”

“Okay.” She gave his hand a comforting squeeze. Letting him know he was in good hands. As she got her tailor made treatment out, she looked over the shampoo bottles. “What scent would you like? We have fruits, pine trees, shea butter, flowers…”

“Um…I’ll try pine.” Sonic was familiar with how he tended to smell like nature sometimes. Pine needles often getting stuck on him to his amusement.

With that, he was laid back so she could get started. His ears picking up the spray nozzle turning on. The moment the water touched his quills, Sonic froze up again as his breathing increased in speed. Using all his willpower to not shoot up and startle his stylist. She gently pet him in response as the water warmed up. Her fingernails parting strands so they could be soaked. “Shhhh. It’s okay” she soothed. “You’re okay, Blueberry.”

Her words and comforting touch allowed the speedster to take deep breaths and calm down. Reminding himself he was safe and in good hands. She rinsed out the lightener and applied a toner for refinement. After a minute or two of getting all sections drenched, she started to shampoo his quills. The action made the hedgehog close his eyes and stay still. Her hands felt strong and skilled as they worked through his quills and fur. Fingernails starting light before going deeper with a mix of circular motions and side to side. Allowing her to massage and clean his scalp. A few pebbles were found so she plucked them out. The longer this went on, the more it felt…really nice. It didn’t take long for Sonic to sink deeper into the pillows and start purring again as he felt his body turn to jello. Then he felt his ears being lightly rubbed. This made him let out a small squeak causing the cleaning to pause. Hands were being pulled away before he reached back to touch them. “They’re…a bit sensitive. It caught me off guard. You can keep doing it.” he mumbled.

The strokes slowly resumed as his ears were carefully taken care of. Twitching slightly when given scratches. His purrs increased in volume as he leaned into the contact. I think I’m starting to see why Amy keeps inviting us to join her on spa days he thought.

Cooler water flowed through his quills as Tiara washed off the shampoo. Smoothly brushing it out with her fingers. “I’m applying the deep conditioner now” she whispered in a soft voice. “You doing alright?”

“Mm-hm” Sonic got out subconsciously. He could feel a comb being run through his quills as the treatment was being applied. Needle by needle in a tender manner. The ends being focused on the most. Soft humming filled his ears as any remaining worries melted away. Judging by the lack of conversation, he sensed that it was the same for Shadow. He could detect low clicks close by so he briefly opened an eye to see him in a similar state of bliss. Maybe he did have a point that he could use some pampering. Not regularly as he still wasn’t one for looks. But if he really needed to unwind and get something off his chest, he wouldn’t complain if he had to do this again. A chance to feel safe and looked after in a relaxing environment. Showed how much of an impact he left on anybody. These thoughts lingered on as he felt himself slipping into sleep.

Lacey was further applying the treatment to her relaxed hedgehog as she observed her colleague’s. “They’ve both been through so much.”

“No kidding.” Tiara stroked the speedster’s right ear affectionately once more. Causing him to nuzzle into it with a sleepy yet happy expression. Her heart melted at the adorable sight. “And they both keep going. I can’t imagine experiencing what they faced.”

“Neither can I. Our work is the least we can do to relieve some of it.” Lacey returned her gaze to a sleeping lifeform. Just a few more minutes until the next step.

***

The sound of a blow dryer slowly woke up Shadow. He blinked slowly as he took in what was going on.

Oh, right. He had fallen asleep during the deep conditioning again. It wasn’t uncommon for that to happen as his stylist tended to carry his unconscious body back to the chair to finish up. He turned to see Sonic completely passed out and was snoring. Unaware of the finishing touches being applied as the last of his split ends were trimmed off. He chuckled at the sight before relaxing back into the delicate movements of a brush.

It eventually ceased as Lacey put some lavender oil on her fingers and ran them through his quills. Along with a gentle ear rub while positioning him to a mirror. “And that’s it. Always a pleasure to assist you.”

Shadow got a good look at himself with the updated highlights. A small smile on his face. “Still impressed at your skill. And Sonic?”

Tiara was double checking the length. “I’m almost done. You can wake him if you want.”

The lifeform got off his chair and stood in front of his ally. He took a moment to stroke his quills and fur, a pleased hum that they felt much softer. More vibrant and healthy too due to being freshly washed. Goes to show what a little care and maintenance could do for someone. Normally, a light shake was appropriate in waking someone up from a peaceful slumber. But both hedgehogs were far from normal.

A flick to the forehead made Sonic yelp. His eyes landed on a smirking ebony hedgehog. “Dude, seriously?!”

“It was either that or pinching your nose. She’s wrapping up.”

Sure enough, he felt bristles go through his quills and heard some snips. It continued for another minute before pine tree oil tipped fingers gently smoothed everything out. While happy that he wouldn’t have to sit still for much longer, a pang of disappointment entered his body. The caring, affectionate touches were slowing down. His expression must have shown it as he caught his rival giving a teasing glance.

“Still think there’s no big deal in being groomed?”

“Erm…it could have been worse. And there was pulling and moments of discomfort.” Sonic tried to defend himself yet it failed to wipe the smirk off Shadow’s face.

“I’m done, Sonic.” Tiara swiveled his chair to face a mirror. “You look amazing.”

Hard to argue with her as his quills looked very sharp and lively. Between the styling and getting things off his chest, Sonic felt refreshed in more ways than one. He couldn’t help but lightly touch the highlights either. His typical attitude then came in to keep himself from looking too starstruck. “I do like how you enhanced my awesomeness” he smirked. Rubbing a finger under his nose.

Shadow had a low sigh as both stylists lightly laughed. He checked the time and started to leave. “We still need outfits. Let’s get going, Faker.”

“You can go ahead and pay. I need to stretch.”

It sounded nonchalant but the striped hedgie could tell it related to hiding his enjoyment. He turned his head to hide the amused smile as he headed out. Once he was gone, Sonic spoke to the women. Mainly his stylist as Lacey was busy cleaning up. “Out of curiosity, how often does someone need to unwind like that?”

“Normally it’s once a month” Tiara answered. “But for you, maybe every four months. As long as you keep your quills in good condition. I would love to assist you again, Blueberry.” She knelt down to his level and booped his nose.

He failed to prevent a giggle from the action. Which caused him to cover his mouth before it could get louder. Wanting to avoid further embarrassment, he handed his stylist a few rings to tip and sped walked out to meet up with Shadow. Not noticing the number of stunned looks from observers when spotting his styled quills. One female bumping into a wall by mistake while doing so.

***

The launch party for the newly titled ‘Sonic Frontiers’ was getting started at Mystic Ruins. Developers, programmers, fans who won invites from contests, and some leaders were present. Socializing with one another as workers were setting up a screen.

Tails, Knuckles, and Amy had arrived as well. Along with their plus one guests. Cream and Cheese were happily interacting with fans. Rouge’s eyes gleamed at the Chaos Emerald themed centerpieces on the tables. And Sticks stayed close to Amy while taking it all in. “So this is what a party in your world is like. It’s certainly a lot fancier. Are they just as likely to be crashed by Eggman or robot ghosts?”

“There have been instances of that happening but robot ghosts have not been among the party crashers” Amy responded. “I think you’ll like this one. They’re setting up a screen to display highlights of the adventure, a dance floor is present for later in the evening, and there’s a food table with something for everyone-” She stopped when seeing a machine by said table. “And they have soft serve ice cream!”

The two girls politely ran over as Tails looked at the train station. “When do you think Sonic will arrive?”

Knuckles shrugged, “Don’t know. Probably planning on being fashionably late. Then again, parties like this aren’t his style.” He was well aware of Sonic not having a notable track record for formal gatherings. No one really minded if he showed up or not so it wasn’t much of a bother. Still, this launch party was said to be a fun one so it was bound to keep the speedster’s interest. From the recap showing to the dance floor opening afterwards.

Tails then noticed the screen crew were having some trouble so he was quick to provide assistance. His newfound confidence impressing them. It allowed them to have the viewing ready in no time. Amy and Cream were also sharing their girls trip to fellow party goers when asked how it went. Sticks had loosened up a little too as she and Rouge were deep in comparing their love of gemstones. The fact the badger had her Radiant Crystal choker necklace on her was enough for the bat to see a bit of herself in her. As everyone was now awaiting the man of the hour and his guest, the anthros sat together to discuss recent events in their lives.

“How have things been since your world changed, Miss Sticks?” Cream asked.

“Never better! My Amy’s scrapbook shelves are getting full with all the new locations we visited! Eggman’s branched out too and has a whole bunch of creative schemes! Our friendship also continues to grow and develop! To the point my Knuckles and Perci are going steady and my Sonic and Amy are thinking of taking the next step!”

“Are they?” Rouge’s heart fluttered for Mittens as she eyed her own echidna. Who turned his head to hide the pink in his cheeks. “You got eyes for anyone?”

Sticks shrugged, “Eh, Don’t think that mushy gushy stuff’s for me. I still can’t believe this world has Ancients too and your Chaos Crystal counterparts have alien origins! Now I have a sneaking suspicion our stones also came from the cosmos!”

“There’s always a mystery with the emeralds” Tails lightly laughed. “The fact the Master Emerald drew them here is a can of worms itself! Any idea why that is, Knuckles?”

“Don’t know. No matter how much history I have of my clan, I keep finding new things. Maybe Tikal has something if we ever chat again. I bet Chaos would be greatly interested too. Getting some closure on his people.” He also longed to reveal this to his fellow gemstone guardian Trip. Comparing the Starfall Islands to the North Star Islands and how both revealed more on the emeralds. Be it origins or individual abilities.

A train then arrived at the station. Followed by someone exclaiming that Sonic had arrived. Sounds of gasping, surprised exclamations, and camera flashes got the Chaos Quartet’s focus as they noticed most of the guests had crowded around him. Not out of the ordinary but the compliments given made them curious. “Excuse us” Tails asked as he made a way to his brother. He, Knuckles, and Amy then stopped in utter awe at what the fuss was about.

Sonic had indeed arrived with Shadow. Both wearing dress jackets and vests with a bowtie. But what really got their attention was their friend’s quills. They looked neater, sleeker, and the ends had been highlighted with cerulean lightning bolts zig zagging halfway up. He also looked to be wearing a hooded cloak with the hood down. He nervously chuckled at some guests trying to touch them. “Easy” Shadow held up a hand. “It’s not often he looks like this and he’s had enough contact there for today.”

Emerald eyes then landed on three wide ones. “Hey guys! I made it!” He took in their outfits of a dress jacket, vest, and bowtie for Tails. Regal echidna clan garb and gold rings on his dreadlocks for Knuckles. And a strapless red dress with a white cropped jacket for Amy. “You all look great.”

“Y-Yeah.” Amy found her voice. All four were dressed up to the same effort. But compared to how her crush usually looked at nicer parties and this, he was pretty much done to the nines. “You…too.”

“Whoa. Going bold for tonight” the kitsune lightly stroked the ends.

“Thanks buddy. Did we miss much?”

“We were just waiting on you to start the recap viewing.” Tails took Sonic’s hand. “It should be in a few minutes now.”

By then, Cream, Rouge, and Sticks met up with him and were just as surprised. “You look so handsome Mr. Sonic!”

The hero sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “It was Shadow’s idea. Said an event commemorating the Starfall Islands deserved something special.” He took off the cloak, “I did have to wear this to keep crowds from mobbing me and messing it up on our way over. The public tends to…express opinions quickly whenever there’s a big change to my looks.” To his relief, the people here had positive reactions and the bystanders in public who got a glimpse were more stunned with admiration.

Shadow met up with his friend as they walked off to talk in private. “I’m impressed. How’d you get him to agree to that?”

“Taking him up on his offer to come to this. I would have accepted the invite regardless but what I heard so far on his adventure convinced me he needed a chance to really relax.”

She hummed lightly as she recalled how it was the same when first convincing him to join her for an appointment. How far he had come. “Any resistance?”

He had a little smile, “I didn’t have to knock him out while dragging him to the place we go to. He may deny it but I know he enjoyed himself. Helps that we spent most of the time sharing our adventures and our thoughts on them. Him on the Starfall Islands and me with what I was doing while he handled the Time Eater.”

Rouge was stunned now, “Really? You opening up to Blue on that?”

“And his listened and empathized.” Shadow exhaled lightly, “My respect’s grown greatly because of it.”

“Glad to see you two grow closer in unexpected ways. Only bad thing about that is I have to stay away from Angel Island for a week now.”

The ebony hedgehog eyed her. “What?”

“Oh, Knuckles and I made a little wager on whether or not Sonic would actually get dolled up for tonight. I said no while he was giving him the benefit of the doubt. If I had won, I’d get to keep the Master Emerald for a week.” Rouge looked over to the smug look on the guardian’s face in her direction.

“Don’t reveal that to him” Shadow narrowed his eyes.

She made a zipped lips gesture as one of the game developers announced the recap video was about to begin. Everyone sat at tables to get a good view. Needless to say, it was an enjoyable experience. Getting to see the full adventure brought back memories and a few tears to the Chaos Quartet. It did first begin with how Knuckles got to the Starfall Islands with a 2D animated short. Which immediately hyped up the crowd to the echidna’s touched response. The Ancients flashbacks enraptured Sticks, Cream smiled at the Koco and quietly commented how similar they were to Chao, and Shadow, Rouge, Cream, and Sticks got to see what Eggman’s newest creation Sage looked like.

“Looking at her now, she has some similarities to you with the color scheme and no nonsense attitude” Amy commented.

“And you were both created by a Robotnik” Tails said.

“And worked with me to take down a threat that could have destroyed the world. Nearly sacrificing yourselves only to return alive and well” Sonic grinned.

Hearing all this made the lifeform eye her more as the movie went on. The Egg Memo of Eggman ranting about his family mourning over Maria then wondering if she was like Sage further fueled it. He hummed in interest, “Conversations would be interesting when we meet face to face.”

Then came the Titan fights. Shadow was utterly speechless at seeing Super Sonic go toe to toe with these behemoths. All with vocal rock metal music playing in the background. True the loud cheering made it hard to hear sometimes yet the melodies found a way to reach him. Wyvern alone got his eyes glued to the sight on spectacle of flying all over Ares Island. The types of moves his ally did to finish his foes off, he honestly thought he was going to faint from overwhelming awesomeness. It even reminded him of the blows he gave to his past enemies. Particularly Neo Devil Doom.

“Those are sick beats. I figured you’d like them the most.”

He didn’t notice he had been bobbing his head and tapping a finger until Sonic spoke. Flinching, he grasped his fingers, “It’s…appropriate to get energized for a fight.”

The somber moments were just as attention grabbing as Shadow watched what Sonic had explained to him earlier. How he was suffering from the cyber corruption. All the way to freezing in place on Rhea Island. The sight alone was enough for his breath to shake. He wasn’t the only one as Sticks was fighting so hard to not blurt out how this was a precursor to technology taking over everyone’s minds. It thankfully didn’t last long and everyone got to see Tails, Knuckles, and Amy take to the playable scene after so long. The crowd clapping during those moments.

“Been so long since we got to take to the field” Knuckles beamed.

“There was helping our doubles but for adventures in our world, yeah. Gives me hope that everyone else will get their chance someday.”

Sonic patted his brother’s hand as he glanced at Shadow getting up and heading to the buffet table. Once he was gone, Rouge cleared her throat. “You know, a little birdie told me the developers are thinking of doing a remaster of the Time Eater Incident to get a few extra bucks. But they need a real hook to make it possible. To the point they’re willing to take anything.”

“Anything…” The speedster rubbed his chin in thought as the finale was happening. Loud hoots and applause were heard all over as The End hijacked Supreme and the final boss took place. Everyone playing a part in giving Sonic the advantage he needed. All culminating in Cyber Sonic being shot from Supreme’s rifle cannon and going straight through The End. The final cutscenes played out and a standing ovation was given to the guests of honor.

“You were all wonderful” Cream smiled.

“Way to fight the machine!” Sticks pumped a fist.

Shadow returned with a plate of tiramisu. “Gotta say Faker, you weren’t making your explanations a big deal for nothing.”

“Please? When have I ever overhyped a retelling?”

Pointed looks were thrown his way. Which made pink cheeks of embarrassment show themselves. Thankfully for him, upbeat music started playing and people were getting up with excited chatter. “Hey dance floor’s open! Let’s cut a rug!”

Sonic rushed over with his friends following suit. Shadow stayed on the side and watched the guests enjoy themselves. Parties still weren’t his thing but this one was good. It commemorated a heartfelt, adrenaline pumping adventure. Something that hadn’t been seen since the retelling of when Sonic was summoned to Camelot.

Time passed of the music ranging from tunes from past games to radio hits to different genres from past decades. A few slow ones were played yet the majority were fast. Shadow actually surprised everyone when a fast swing song came on and he saw one fan looking for a partner. Thanks to swing dancing somehow being a part of G.U.N training and having some lessons with Maria back then, he was able to show her a good time. Almost made it worth the amused looks from Sonic and Rouge and one photographer snagging a picture of the action. At some point, Big had wandered on the dance floor in his search for Froggy. He was welcomed regardless and not just because he was a part of the game too. Around eleven, the majority of guests had left with only the main developers and anthros still present. Amy took Cream and Cheese home while Knuckles and Rouge were handling a badger who had one too many sugary drinks.

“Come on! I’m still thirsty! Shiny’s thirsty too!”

“Let’s…get you back home.” Knuckles hoisted her into a bridal carry as a lilac portal popped in front of him. He didn’t bat an eye as he walked on through.

The male hedgehogs had joined up once more as they observed Tails exchanging numbers with the tech crew. “He’s really changed and took his new confidence to heart.”

“Yeah” the speedster smiled. “I’m still a bit scared but our futures really are looking brighter. I think I even saw some reviewers post their thoughts already on how awesome the base game was. And when everyone’s finally able to play as my friends again…” His heart leapt at the thought. A chance for them to shine even more.

“I’m staying cautiously optimistic. One wrong move and I doubt the rest of us will get a chance ourselves.”

Something was slipped into Shadow’s hands. He looked to see it was a small piece of paper with writing and a phone number. “Don’t be so sure. During the dancing, I got confirmation from one of the developers that plans are being set to rerelease my adventure with my past self. When asking me if I had any ideas to really make it stand out and worth revamping, I brought up the possibility of exploring what you were up to before and after our rival race. It’ll be some time as more focus is on finally sharing the North Star Island outing.”

Ruby red eyes widened in shock and disbelief. There was no way. He made intense eye contact, “How much did you share?”

“I didn’t go into the heavy stuff” Sonic reassured him. “That’s your department. But me telling how new generations would get to learn your story and see your real personality while playing through more awesome past locales with your powers was more than enough for it to get the green light. If you have any questions, you can call the company and they’ll give you the full details.”

This couldn’t be real. Ever since the public’s response to his solo outing, the retelling game developers decided it would be best to avoid something like that again. But as the years went on and the retellings focused more on desperate attempts at humor, everyone had been getting second thoughts. The retelling on the war being a tipping point due to the developers not wanting anyone to get too triggered. Shadow could recall many fans wishing for him to take the spotlight again. Knowing he was more than what the games were portraying. And now his rival found a golden opportunity to give him the attention he deserved once more. “Will I get a say on what will be present?”

“It’s how this game’s getting so much love and praise already” Sonic beamed. Then his expression shifted to unease. “Only thing is…the title’s been decided the moment the team agreed on having your story. No chance of changing.”

“What is it?” The lifeform raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“…Sonic x Shadow Generations.”

It took a few seconds but once Shadow recalled what it meant to have an x between two names, he groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. That was going to be taken out of context right away. But he took a breath as the news of being playable again in a full length game helped soften the blow. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. As long as it’s portrayed respectfully, I can’t wait to get started. It…actually means a lot that you did this. You never cease to amaze me with how you help those you care for.”

“It’s the least I can do, Coffee Bean.”

The striped hedgie stiffened before punching his rival’s arm. “Don’t even think about using that as a private nickname. I just got comfortable with Shads.”

“Don’t worry, wasn’t planning on it.” Sonic rubbed his arm and yawned. “Well, I’m pretty much partied out. Thanks again for accepting the invite and I’ll see you around.”

He sped off into the night as a gust of wind ruffled Shadow’s quills. He smoothed them down with fond annoyance. I look forward to it, Blueberry.