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“You jumped out of a GUN helicopter, there’s nothing to talk about.” The dark hedgehog hissed dismissively and turned to go.
Knuckles huffed, shaking out his fists, “Alright then-“
Sonic grabbed the echidna before he could lunge and start a fight. “Knuckles, no.”
“He threw a car at us!” Knuckles argued while pointing up at the other hedgehog with the hand Sonic hadn’t grabbed.
Sonic sighed, pushing Knuckles’ hand down, “he’s probably just defending himself, we did come from a GUN helicopter. Obviously this guy doesn't like GUN, and we’re not GUN.”
Knuckles groaned in annoyance but took a step back, folding his arms, showing he wasn’t going to start a fight. Sonic nodded to him, appeased, and turned to shout at the retreating form of the black and red hedgehog.
“Hey! New hedgehog! Hold on, let’s get one thing clear at least, we’re not GUN!”
Knuckles, surprisingly, added to his argument, scowling at the ground (disappointed he couldn’t fight but also possibly annoyed with GUN themselves) but spoke loudly enough for the other to hear. “This is true. They requested our aid for an urgent matter, yet failed to inform us of anything.” To himself, he added, “I was hoping for a fight.”
Sonic didn’t have time to scold him, as they saw the hedgehog stop in his tracks. His back was to them, but one ear was turned their way. Sonic jumped at the chance, whatever they said was working, barely, but it was a chance.
“Exactly,” Sonic agreed to the loud part, “They didn’t tell us anything other than there’s an ‘extraterrestrial threat’ in Tokyo. Obviously you’re not Godzilla, we don’t have to fight, we can talk this out.”
Silence. Sonic racked his brain for anything else to say when the dark hedgehog glared at them over his shoulder. His red eyes bore into them, muzzle wrinkled and lip curled. “Lying is the least of their offenses, they’ll do or say anything to get what they want.”
The dark hedgehog paused, his face softening just a touch, barely perceptible at all, but Sonic caught it. He turned to face them, fists clenched, but his soft look returned to a particularly… apprehensive glare. “I would advise you to leave GUN behind, before you get hurt.”
Unlike when he said that phrase previously, this felt less like a threat and almost… concern?
“Did GUN do something to you?” Tails asked, ever the perceptible one and curious to boot.
The hedgehog’s face darkened, all the rage and fury coming back as he stepped forward menacingly. “What didn’t they do? GUN had me imprisoned for fifty years!”
…Fifty years?
Sonic’s stomach swooped and his face fell with it. Wait. So Sonic wasn’t the first Mobian here? He wasn’t their first contact with aliens? But... at the wedding? Didn’t Olive Garden guy say they were recently made?
Tails was alarmed as well, looking at Sonic with wide eyes because he was remembering their last encounter with GUN too. GUN had tased Sonic and had thrown both of them in cages the second they were able. Sonic hadn’t thought much about what happened next, having Tom arrested with him and Tails unconscious, with Knuckles and Eggman practically at the Master Emerald Temple already. There were a lot more things he had been worrying about at the time, other than what GUN was going to do with them. Were they planning on just… keeping them forever? Trapped?
Sure, they all came away from the situation on good terms, Sonic DID save the planet from Robotnik after all. Though… perhaps all he did was earn them a pardon, freedom in exchange for dealing with the crazy eggman.
The darker hedgehog read the looks on their faces, eyes narrowing. “They only play nice as long as you’re useful to them.” He sneered, “I was too powerful to kill, too volatile to keep alive, so they put me in stasis. I won’t let them control me again. Never again.”
It was like a second blow, practically knocking the wind out of Sonic. He actually took a step back.
‘Too powerful to kill, too volatile to keep alive.’
That was… horrifying.
Sonic’s entire reason for leaving Mobius was because of people wanting his power. He had stayed in the shadows for years, afraid someone would see him and decide to take it for themselves. Fears that came to life in Eggman. He was supposed to have run, to keep running away from those who would use him. Luckily, he learned to fight back, to have something worth fighting for, not just himself but his home and family.
Sonic knew what to do.
He stepped forward, fists at his side and puffing his chest up so he could convince the other hedgehog of his conviction. “Look, you’re not alone anymore. Crazy people came after me for my powers too, but I learned to fight back, to fight for my friends, my home, and family—“
The other hedgehog lit up, sparking red-orange chaos energy that filled the air with the taste of ozone. All three flinched when the hedgehog disappeared, snapping out of existence with an electrical zap. They flinched a second time when the hedgehog reappeared in front of them with another flash. Up close, the new hedgehog was even the same height as Sonic, but he was so angry, snarling at them with clenched fists still crackling with chaos energy.
“THEY TOOK MY HOME!” He roared, the trio taking a startled step back. He glared, eyes lit in rage, in pain. He spoke through clenched teeth. “They killed my family. Anything I could have fought for, anything good about my life; they destroyed.”
Sonic’s heart hurt, and his mouth went dry. Knuckles’ face went stony but his arms unfolded to hang limp at his sides to express his shock. Tails’s ears went back, jaw dropped, and his tails trembled anxiously.
Sonic watched with wide, horrified eyes as tears gathered in the dark hedgehog’s eyes. His voice was shaking. “Her body was still warm when they dragged me away. She was the only reason I wasn’t constantly being tested on. She was the only reason I knew what grass felt like, or what the night sky looked like.”
Tails gave a small whimper, hands rushing to cover his mouth.
The hedgehog blinked, staring at Tails for a moment before he straightened, swallowing before continuing in a firmer voice with sharp, angry edges. “They killed her, but I was too valuable to throw away. That’s more than enough to know GUN is not nice. GUN is not your friend. GUN would use you for anything if they think they can get away with it, like right now. They wanted you to fight me so they didn’t have to do it themselves because they know what they did, they know they can’t beat me. I just want to be left alone,” he looked away and scoffed, “they can’t even give me that.”
“I’m sorry.” The words felt inadequate. What do you say to something as tragic as that? But still, he felt them, he felt them with his whole soul. Some of it must have come across because the other hedgehog’s gaze snapped to him, piercing him with that crimson glare that just looked… hurt, angry, and grieving.
Sonic took a breath, letting a tentative smile rise on his face. He extended his hand. “You’re right, GUN isn’t our friend, but I do know a place that’s completely GUN free. It's a small town in the valley of some mountains, and there might not be a lot of people, but I know they'll like you. If they can handle Knuckles, they can handle anything.” Knuckles made a noise of offense, but didn’t argue. Sonic continued. “There's plenty of space, nothing but clear skies and open ground to run in. It's great, one of my favorite places on earth.”
The black and red hedgehog shifted his footing, looking away as if suddenly shy.
He looked at Sonic’s extended hand first before meeting his eyes and scrutinizing him. “You want me to go with you.”
Sonic shrugged, “Why not? Did you have somewhere to go?” Then Sonic faltered, because maybe he did. “Well, if you do, we can help and keep GUN off of you.”
The other hedgehog didn’t flinch exactly, but he leaned back, surprised by such an offer.
“The hedgehog speaks the truth.” Knuckles said, “Green Hills is a sanctuary, GUN would not dare attack us where we are strongest. Our whole tribe would rally behind you, they are not people of injustice.”
Tails nodded, “There's plenty of space for everyone.”
The other hedgehog was still scowling, looking between them all skeptically.
“If you don’t want to stay, that’s fine, too. We won’t keep you there or anything,” Sonic said, hands raised for emphasis. You can come and go as often as you’d like; you’d always be welcome.”
The other hedgehog frowned, less of a scowl and more …wary. “You don’t even know me.”
Sonic face-palmed with a rueful smile, he knew he was forgetting something. He gave the other hedgehog his signature grin, pointing to himself with his thumb, “I’m Sonic, the fastest creature in the universe and lover of chili dogs.”
“I am Knuckles,” Knuckles introduced himself, banging a fist to his chest in an echidna greeting, “the last of the echidna and guardian of the master emerald, lover of grapes.”
“I’m Tails,” the fox went next, rocking on his heels rather awkwardly, “um, an inventor and lover of… um… planes?”
The dark hedgehog’s brow rose, but he did seem less angry, less apprehensive. He folded his arms. Just as Sonic hoped, he followed the formula Sonic started, giving them: “I am Shadow, I love my sister, and GUN will rue the day they took her from me.”
“Alright Shadow,” Sonic grinned, despite that concerning last statement, “Did you want to come with us? Or we can help you get to wherever you’re going.”
Shadow frowned at the ground, thinking. He sighed, looking up and nodding. “I will go with you, for now.” He then scowled, lifting a hand sparking with sharp orange chaos energy. “If this is some sort of trick or trap, you will know my pain.” He threatened with a rather sinister growl.
Sonic blinked.
Knuckles barked out a laugh, “I like this hedgehog.” He said to Sonic. Sonic went deadpan, ears flat to the sides. Not another one who threatens crazy stuff all the time.
Sonic rubbed his brow, “Please tell me you at least understand metaphors.”
Shadow blinked, “What does that have to do with—“
The darker hedgehog went tense, ears pinned as a GUN helicopter approached. Sonic and his friends closed ranks around Shadow, glaring at the helicopter that landed just a few paces away. Sonic held out a hand in front of Shadow, he didn’t know if he was trying to comfort or hold the other hedgehog back, both, he supposed.
“Hold on,” Sonic told the new hedgehog, earning another crimson stare, “I’ll talk our way out of this.”
“Sonic-” Shadow protested, but quieted as Knuckles stepped in front of him, blocking him from view as Director Rockwell stepped out of the helicopter. She was flanked by two heavily armored GUN agents, and another two behind them carried a cage.
Knuckles inhaled sharply, fists starting to rise. Sonic moved his hand in front of him, too.
“Let me try, if it doesn't work, we can go ballistic.” Sonic compromised, not looking away from the echidna until he nodded with a low dissatisfied growl. Shadow was silent, but tense as a coiled spring.
Sonic turned to the approaching humans, taking a few steps closer to them so they didn’t get too close to the two very angry and volatile Mobians behind him. “Director Rockwell,” Sonic greeted with a cocky grin, dialing his ‘charm’ up to an eleven purely because he knows Rockwell can’t stand him. “Enjoying the sights? I hear Tokyo has some of the best places to find some fun! It might even get rid of that stick up your butt.”
Rockwell’s face might as well be made out of stone, disinterested and disdainful. She didn’t even grace him with a response, just going right to whatever she wanted to say. “Great work, we’ll take it from here.” She didn't even address him properly, like he was a dog in training, and he (the dog) wasn't who she was even complimenting. He was also sure it physically pained her to say 'great work' to a handful of aliens.
Her cold eyes roamed, and Sonic knew exactly when she saw Shadow, because her face actually changed. Her eyes went wide. “Wait, you didn’t defeat it?!” She demanded, voice rising with both fear and rage. The two guards at her side tensed, guns raised and pointed at Shadow, which means they were pointing guns at all of them.
Sonic would be more concerned about that, but his face screwed up in distaste. “‘It’?” He repeated with no small amount of outrage. “ He doesn't want to go with you, so he’s coming with us.” He declared, there was no room for argument.
Rockwell’s attention returned to him, her nostrils flared. “You did your job, alien, now hand it over-”
Sonic felt his own muzzle scrunching, a snarl just under the surface. “Just so you can throw him into prison again?!” Oh screw it, he glared, no more mister nice hedgehog. “No, you called us in to take care of the problem, you didn't say anything about what would happen after. W e’re taking him.”
She didn’t like his technicality, and unnervingly, she lost even more emotion on her face. Just a stone wall saying “That thing is property of GUN–”
Knuckles stepped forward, actively growling with his fists raised. Luckily he wasn’t lit up like a traffic light just yet, but still, the echidna was an imposing figure. “That ‘thing’ has a name, you should do well to use it.” He hissed, “Lest I relieve you of the privilege of the ability to speak.”
Sonic felt emboldened; no matter what happened, his friends would be there, and they were going to stick up for Shadow. GUN was just a bully, a big fat meanie. Sonic knew what to do about bullies. “Yeah, maybe the next lackey will be nicer,” He said, sneering at Rockwell. He threw his hands into the air, “Or better yet, just let Walters talk to us, he actually treats us like people.”
“Walters?”
Sonic glanced behind him, seeing Shadow's face grow distant with memory, then twist into rage. Uh oh.
“You know Commander Walters?” Tails asked the darker hedgehog, intrigued by the connection.
“He is quite old.” Knuckles commented, as if rationalizing the connection to himself.
Shadow did say he was locked up for fifty years.
“He was the one who put me in stasis,” Shadow whispered, a quiet admission that made the other three freeze.
If Rockwell said something, Sonic didn't hear it. Couldn’t hear it. Too much blood was roaring through his ears. Everything got really quiet. Despite his title as ‘fastest creature in the universe’, he couldn’t catch his own thoughts; they were moving too fast. What was left was the emotions, searing into him like a brand but dousing him like a bucket of water dumped over his head. He was cold, frozen to the core, meanwhile an angry inferno blazed through his mind.
“We’re done here,” Sonic announced coldly, almost quietly.
Tails looked at him, alarmed by his tone, ears flicking back, realizing that, oh, Sonic was mad. Knuckles similarly gave him a critical eye, but Sonic was as solid as a stone. Knuckles didn’t grin, but he was pleased, and cemented himself further in front of the new hedgehog. If it came to a fight, Knuckles was all in.
Shadow was staring at him, eyes wide.
“You can't–” Rockwell started, only to be cut off by a pissed off blue hedgehog.
“I said we’re done here,” Sonic repeated, stepping towards the human with a clenched fist. He could feel the beginnings of sparks around his fist. He didn’t dissuade them. “You know where to find us if you need anything. Which you will. You certainly haven’t saved anyone.” He swallowed his growl but turned away from the director with a dismissive scoff. “Tails, ring us home.”
The fox gave the humans an uneasy look, but when he glanced at Sonic Tails fished into his backpack with a more determined demeanor. He easily flicked out a warp ring, the portal stretching and revealing Green Hills’ natural forrest, just beyond it was a warm house waiting for them. Shadow’s eyes were wide at the portal, mesmerised, liked he’d never seen one before.
“Come new hedgehog,” Knuckles said, giving the humans a nasty side eye as he waved for Shadow to follow him. “Sanctuary awaits.” Shadow hesitated, but slowly followed the echidna, and he gave the humans one last look.
It was a complicated look. He stared at Rockwell like a cornered animal, conveying fear and aggression, but with a hint of bitterness- a personal hostility like sharp teeth digging in deeper. The moment he looked away from GUN, his face went back to being alight with shock that salvation literally opened up right in front of him. He didn’t seem to know what to do with himself, so he followed Knuckles. Tails waited for Sonic.
Sonic followed last. Turning his back on Rockwell, on GUN, was probably a terrible idea. A part of Sonic hoped they'd do something, that he’d be given an excuse to turn and tear them apart. Not literally of course, but he wanted to yell, scream, and cry. Probably in that order. How dare they. How dare GUN. Sonic was done, the next time GUN shows up, he's telling them no. Unless it was literally the end of the world, GUN could stick it. Nothing short of the Earth on the verge of destruction would ever make Sonic team up with GUN again.
Fur brushed against his arm, and Sonic was brought back, Tails by his side. Tails looked up at him, concern creasing his face. Sonic smiled at his little brother, a confident one, and leaned over to snag the fox close as they walked. Tails giggled lightly as they passed through the portal uninterrupted. The portal closed behind them with a snap, and Sonic was home.
Shadow stood a pace away from Knuckles, who had also paused to make sure they made it through. Sonic smiled, breathing in the fresh Montana air. It was dark, probably not even midnight yet, since GUN came and asked for them just as the sun was setting. Tom and Maddie probably already made it home, but it shouldn’t have been too long since they left. Travel was fast with warp rings, and talking with Shadow barely made a dent into the night.
Sonic’s feet found the well-worn path to their home, prompting everyone else to start walking too. Tails jogged ahead to speak to Knuckles, saying something about if he wanted a fight, Tails could probably design a dummy that would survive whatever Knuckles threw at it. Knuckles scoffed and said he would destroy it anyway, both rising to the challenge. This left Sonic walking in line with Shadow.
It was quiet, but only a little uncomfortable because Sonic was trying to ignore the wild range of angry emotions he was feeling about GUN, and Shadow’s silence was apprehensive and awkward. They were strangers, but Sonic knew he would do anything to help Shadow. Sonic was a little lost in his thoughts, mentally juggling what to prioritize when anger kept rising and demanding righteous destruction, when Shadow finally spoke, soft and bewildered.
“You would… fight GUN over me?”
“For you, not over you.” Sonic corrected easily, breathing a sigh of relief since this he could do, this he could focus on. Helping Shadow. “You aren’t an object to be played tug of war with. They shouldn’t have treated you that way.”
Shadow hummed and stared at the ground.
“Hey,” Sonic prompted, nudging the other hedgehog with a smile, “So it's been fifty years, you gotta be starving. If there's one thing you’re dying to eat right now, what would it be?”
Shadow shied away from his attempt at the casual touch, eyeing him warily. Sonic bowed his head in apology, lifting his hands in surrender and stepping aside to give the other a bit more room. The pang in his heart at the movement was accompanied by a flare of rage. He stuffed both emotions down, trying to keep casual. Shadow relaxed -sort of- and stared at the ground, brows creased in thought.
“I can list options if you can't think of any,” Sonic said with a shrug, not trying to pressure the other but trying to be helpful. If it were Sonic, he'd have so many options he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. But also it would be a chillidog– but he also understands being so hungry that just about anything and everything sounds good.
“Popcorn,” Shadow said, face turned towards the forest.
Sonic snorted, “That actually does sound good right now. Popcorn and a movie.”
The rest of the walk was quiet, not that it took too long to get to the front porch, but the silence between them was more comfortable after that. The lights were on, so Tom and Maddie definitely made it home. They didn’t know when to expect to be back home, but everyone returns home eventually.
As they went up the steps, Shadow looked over the house, its square design and clean edges.
“Are… are you sure it's safe?” Shadow asked, it wasn’t doubt in his voice, but anxiety. With Shadow’s experience, Sonic was sure he’d be frightened too. He had mentioned being tested on, who knows how long he'd been GUN’s glorified lab rat before being put into stasis. The fire he had been able to simmer down flared with vengeance.
“They know they can’t defeat us,” Sonic said, probably harsher than he meant. He was angry. “They won’t try, so it's safe here. It's a sort of stalemate we got going on.”
“...And you live here?” Shadow asked, nerves creeping into his voice. He looked back at the forest almost with longing.
“Tom and Maddie are good humans,” Sonic was quick to reassure, gaining the attention of Tails and Knuckles, who were already at the door. “They don’t like GUN either, Tom punched Eggman at least twice. They adopted me, then later Tails and Knuckles. They’ll love you.”
“There are house rules, of course,” Tails mentioned with a little shrug, “But it's all stuff that makes sense, like no crazy powered shenanigans in the house.”
Knuckles' muzzle wrinkled in distaste. “That infernal machine had it coming.”
“Knuckles, you blew a hole through the wall because the toaster scared you.”
“It should not lunge at us then! What food attempts to fight back!?” Knuckles argued, almost genuinely distressed. Sonic couldn’t help but laugh, passing his brothers to get to the door.
The door was unlocked (like that would do much to stop any of them anyway) and because it was his own house, Sonic walked in. Tails and Knuckles filed in behind him with the same casualness of returning home, but Shadow lingered at the doorway. Sonic waited, opening the door wider for the other hedgehog with a welcoming smile.
Shadow did not seem convinced, but he no longer looked frightened. Apprehensive, sure, but not true fear. Good. Sonic could work with that. Shadow will learn kindness, he’ll be safe, and GUN won't bother them- if they knew what was good for them. Sonic almost wished they didn’t.
But as angry as he was, he was home, and Shadow was too.
Shadow stepped over the threshold into a new, kinder life.