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Ugh. He is never picking a fight with a giant boulder ever again. But… At least Tom and Maddie are safe. Tails too, but since last game night. he could have gone either way with Tail’s safety. Sonic instantly felt bad at the thought, but it’s not like he actually meant it. Man, jokes are way easier to make when talking instead of thinking. He shook his head again, some more pieces of crushed concrete and, honestly, other stuff he didn't even know was in there flew out of his quills.
“Heyyy.” Sonic’s eyes, however loopy they were, shifted to Tails as the fox spoke up, “Is that my gum?” His eyes shifted downwards. Indeed it was. A little green box filled with mid mint gum.
“Uhmmm. No?” Tails definitely did not buy that, judging by the hand on hip stare. Uh-oh. Tails lets him get away with a lot. Accidentally destroy a machine, ‘It’s okay Sonic.’, accidentally lose one of Tail’s tools, ‘My fault, I should have put a tracking system in it.’. Which is true, if one loans tools to Sonic the Hedgehog, one better put a tracking system on it. But the fox does not play about his mints. One time, after only like, three warnings to stop taking them. Which to be fair, was not nearly enough. He woke up in the middle of the lake on a piece of wood, with cinder blocks around his feet. Now granted, he adds the cinder blocks on for dramatic flair whenever he tells this story, but Sonic learned his lesson. But he has a habit of forgetting lessons. Hence, the gum. Even though it wasn’t his fault, technically.
Tom, no doubt, wanting his favorite child to be spared from the wrath of a 2 foot something fluffy fox child, “Tails I’ll buy you 5 packs of gum when we get home, okay?” Where Tail’s responded with a pointer finger held up.
“No. No. It’s okay Tom. Sonic needs to get me a pack of gum, since he took mine.” Double uh-oh. He doesn’t have any money. Well, he sometimes gets an allowance for not causing trouble, but that’s kinda rare.
“Ahh, come on Tails, buddy. It’s me. Can’t we just let this go? Plus-” He held his hands out and used them to point at the gum that was just sitting on the ground. “-It’s almost a full pack. So really, you’re not missing out on anything. So no need to get revenge.” Honestly, he should have seen it coming. The universe really just hates him. As soon as he said that, a giant metal pole came crashing down from the ceiling and landed on top of the gum. Completely destroying it. Sonic blinked once, before he turned towards his parents, “That’s not even my fault. I mean-”
Maddie interrupted him with a sweet and sour smile, as Sonic dubs it when he ‘does’ something that could be considered reprimandable and his mom smiles at him, “Sonic sweetie, this can wait until later.” Yeah, he likes that idea, though, he feels like he’s forgetting something.
Ehh, whatever. He pointed to his mom with a smug smile, “Exactly.” Sonic thinks himself to be off the hook now.
“What? That’s not fair.” Tom rubbed the top of Tail’s head, but before he could reassure him.
“Dude. I didn’t even know it was your gum.”
“How?! I’m literally the only person in the family that likes mint gum.” The fox paused for a second, before he pointed an accusing finger at him, “You don’t even like minty things.”
“Okay and? Doesn’t mean I won’t chew mint gum.” Though, he did have that gum for like a week and only chewed like 4 pieces. It’s just too spicy.
“Buddy, there were only like 4 pieces missing. What even made you think that it wasn’t your brother’s gum anyways?” Wow, betrayal runs deep. Tom just made himself public enemy parent number one. But at least he could finally explain how he was actually innocent and in fact, did not take Tail’s gum, cause he didn’t even know it was Tail’s gum.
“Well, traitors.” He made sure his nose was turned up at them, “I saw the pack on the kitchen table, and a couple hours later, it was still there. So I took it.” Rock hard alibi.
“That’s it?” Maddie’s voice cut sharp like a knife. The tone with disbelief, the serrated edge.
“What do you mean, ‘that’s it?’” What else did they want? A signed witness statement? Newsflash, Ozzi can’t spell his name right.
It seems that both his parents turned against him, “I mean- Think of it this way. What if Tails took one of your comics because it’s just been sitting around for a couple of hours without anyone using it? Ho-”
Not really wanting to hear this because Sonic knows that they are right, “Uhh Hello? We're in an active battle zone. I think these talks can wait until later.”
“What Talks?” A deep voice rumbled out. Great. Though Knuckles could be the discretion he needs to get off the hook. He looked up at the echidna.
“Where did you even come from?” Which was a fair question, but as soon as he said it, Sonic realized his mistake, “Wait! Knuckles! I mean, I know wh-”
“Ahh hedgehog. It seems you have forgotten again. Many moons ago, my mother and father came together to mate, where from their combined pa-” Knuckles voice was drowned out as he covered his ears with his hands. Tail’s followed him, but his parents were brave enough to listen. Though, they have heard this story countless times. Knuckles seems to take, ‘where did you come from’ a little to literal. And when he starts his story, there isn’t much that can make him stop. “-the end. Now, what talks were you discussing? Does it involve getting the hedgehog to take more showers?”
“So uncool! I take lots of showers. Not my fault-”
“He took my gum!” Tail’s cut him off. Again, so uncool. His ears twitched slightly when he heard Tom speak up but the human was drowned out by Knuckles.
“Ah fox. Are you going to tie cinder blocks around him and throw him into the lake like last time?” What the hell? Why did he sound excited about that?
“Knuckles-” Tails whined, “I already told you, countless times, I did not tie cinder blocks around Sonic. He made that up!” Knuckles blinked at Tails.
“It is okay, fox. You simply made the mistake of only tying two up. When you should have tied 5. That way, his death is certain.” The meathead put one of his giant hands to his mouth and ‘whispered’ to Tails, “I will help you this time.”
“Mooooommmm.” Now it was his time to whine, “They’re literally plotting my murder.” Sonic’s ears folded down but the smile was betraying his complaint.
Tom, ever the bleeding heart, “Aww, buddy. They’re just teasing, But if it makes you feel any better, you can sleep in mine and your mom’s room tonight.” The smile grew, but before he could mock complain.
“That will not save the hedgehog. I’ll just get him the next night.”
“You’re joking, right?” His smile slowly faded.
Tails, apparently, didn’t like that just Sonic got an invention, and he didn’t, “What about me?”
Tom reassured the two tailed fox, “Of course you can buddy.”
“Guy’s I don’t think he’s joking.” Knuckle’s eyes haven't left him yet. The purple iris looking into his soul.
“Well, as queen of the house, I say it’s time to get out of this base. Tail’s, you got a ring?”
Once again Sonic tried to get everyone’s attention, “I really don’t think he’s joking.” Sonic pulled his limbs closer to his body, and once again, he was ignored.
“Yeah, I got a ring. Let me- The key!” What key? -triple Oh-uh. Tails ran his hands over his face, “I can’t believe we forgot about it.” That’s… fair.
“We?” Knuckles interjected, “I did not forget about it.” A wave of relief crashed through his body. Momentarily forgetting the death threat.
“Good job Knux. You got it?”
“No.” And that wave or relief just crashed.
Some could say his voice could have been mistaken for a girl, but Sonic would just say that they were fibbing, “What do you mean!?”
“It was not my job. It was yours.” Knuckles pointed a big meaty finger? Sonic honestly doesn’t know what the red alien has under his glove.
“That doesn’t mean you just ignore the key.” Sonic looked past his family to scan the room, ignoring the guards and eggman… eggmen? But he didn’t see the key. “Did you see where the key went?” As soon as he said that, Sonic felt his cheeks heat up a little. The key didn’t just grow legs and walk away. He probably should have phrased it better, but oh well.
“Yes. The lady with, as you say, a stick up her ass has it.” Bruh.
“Sonic. I know that you did not use that kind of language.” Maddie gave him a pointed stare. Tom kinda joined her but had to cover his mouth for some reason.
“I mean… I'm not wrong though?” There was a general consensus among the Wachoski family that he was right, but Maddie did have the role of a mother.
“Still. I don’t want you using that kind of language. At home, or anywhere.”
“That’s so uncool. I’m 15, almost 16.”
“Buddy, you have an entire year till you’re 16.” Tom just had to remind him. Some beearth day it was. He ended up getting beat up and almost killed!
“I don’t mean to-uhm- to cut in this… important conversation. But Rockwell has the key.” That’s right, she does. Man, he needs to stop getting distracted. But honestly, he doesn’t get distracted that easily . It takes something pretty cool to distract this hedgehog. “Hmm?” He felt a tap on the shoulder and looked at Tom.
“I said I’m going to use the hologram to become Walters, then I’ll get the key.” Sounds like a pretty good plan and something he would have come up with… eventually.
“I do not know, King of Donuts. The lady with the stick up her ass could be long gone. You are not nearly fast enough to reach her.”
“That’s not even me. I didn't even say that.” Sonic held out his hands in defense but Maddie’s ‘mom rays’ broke through. So unfair, he didn’t even say the word, Knuckles did. “I can do it. I’ll reach her. Give me the hologram thingy.” Tails grimaced when he said that. No doubt remberming that one time where he was lent a hologram and Tails never got it back.
Maddie’s face drew up tight in worry, “I don’t know sweetie…”
“Come on mom. You let me go to Tokyo to fight some unknown threat, and I came out on top.” She didn’t need to know about what actually happened. “This time, I know my enemy. Yes I’ll be careful.” Sonic got out cause he already knows that is what she is about to tell him.
“Alright then.” Maddie plucked the little fox pin out of her collar, much to the dismay of Tails.
Not waiting for a speech or a warning. He plucked the pin out of Maddie’s hand and with a quick goodbye, He was off.
Alright, time to find this woman. He zoomed throughout the lifeless hallway. And Sonic means lifeless, he wants to know who designed this building cause it’s so boring. A splash of blue could really do wonders for the eyes. He was too busy critiquing the building that he quite literally almost ran into Rockwell. Luckily, he is… amazing. That’s really it.
Sonic slowed to a silent walk behind her. Turning the hologram on, he found the one that was Walters. Why Tails had this? Who knows. Just following her now, Sonic knew he needed to act before things got to out of hand. So he cleared his throat, and instead of his lovely, amazing voice. It was Commander Walter’s. “Director Rockwell.” Sonic, despite his short stature, could see her shoulders tense. She turned around pretty quickly for a human, though she does not have his respect.
“Commander I… thought you were… declared deceased.” Just because she uses big words doesn’t make her smart.
“My death was… greatly exaggerated. As you may understand, with all the chaos happening recently.” Nailed it, he would make a great spy.
Rockwell narrowed her eyes, a slight hesitation, “Why are you looking at the ceiling…” What? He’s not looking at the ceiling, he’s looking up at her fac- Oh. Uh-Oh.
“Becuaseeee. I… have a crick in my neck. From where I- Sonic heroically pushed hi- me out of the way.” Another epic save by him, but honestly, who’s surprised? “Now, the key.” He held his hand out and up, but when her eyes didn’t look at his hand, but instead, the hologram’s hand. Sonic realized that there could be a slight problem. He quickly moved his hand into a normal out reached position, but soon saw another issue. If the lady put the key in ‘Walter’s’ hand, then it would fall straight through and make for a really awkward moment. “Put the key on the ground.” Sonic could see the suspicion on her eyes.
“I was just keeping the key safe.”
“Yes, good job, well, not really since it was almost taken. But A for effort. Now the key.” Sonic could tell she did not want to at all. But Rockwell ended up putting the key on the floor. “I’ll take care of it from here. Go rally the troops or something.”
“Yes sir.” Hmmm. Sonic could get used to that, having people listen to him instead of having to listen to people. Like, he does not want to put up dishes so if he could tell Tom and Maddie what to do… That would be great.
“Off you go.” He shooed her away, which probably wasn’t necessary but it sure felt great.
And soon it was just him in the hallway. Bending his knees slightly, Sonic grabbed the key and then put it in his quills. “That’s not going anywhere.” He turned back around and paused, he had no clue how to get back to the room he was just in. “Hmm.” He wasn’t going to find his way back by just standing so with that in mind Sonic shot off. And if anyone were to check the cameras, they would be very confused, to see the formerly presumed dead gun commander run at an unnatural speed.
Slowing down at a hallway, Sonic turned his comm on, but it just sparked. “Great.” Of course it was destroyed, not like anything could be easy for him. Sonic bit his lip as he thought about his next move, he didn’t want to run aimlessly through the base. However, before he could finish scheming, a loud crash had his ears turn before he looked. And through the ceiling dropped the biggest pain in his butt in the past 24 hours, aka Shadow. Who, when made eye contact, well, more like Shadow was staring above him. The new hedgehog did not look happy, which honestly wasn’t different then the other times they met.
“Commander Walter.” Where? He didn’t see- oh, that’s right. Before he could tell Shadow that he wasn’t the gun commander. The black hedgehog charged up and teleported right in front of him. And he flinched because Shadow hits hard, but no contact ever came. His ears turned as metal hit metal and Shadow landed behind him. “What?” Sonic turned to face the other hedgehog, but once again flinched as Shadow launched another attack at him, only for it to be above him like last time. He turned back around, but this time Shadow stood where he was, “What is this devilry?” Devilry? This isn’t the 1800’s.
“It’s my new diet, it makes me very thin.” Okay. Antagonizing a clearly angry Shadow might not have been the move, but he couldn’t resist. Shadow took a step towards him, a loud bang echoed throughout as his shoes met the floor. “Wait, Wait, Wait! I'm not who you think I am.” Shadow took another step, “For I am actually, your greatest rival, Blue Justice.” He struck a pose, but Shadow just looked angrier, his muzzle curled up in a snarl. Why was he still mad? Oh right, the hologram, duh. Sonic grabbed the hologram from his quills and tossed it to the side, along with his disguise.
Shadow’s eyes widened before they narrowed, “You.”
Sonic pointed his thumb at himself, “Me.” Shadow took another step, Sonic took a couple back, “Time out! Time out! Time out!” Shadow stopped moving his legs, but opened his mouth.
“I thought I-” Red eyes shifted away before they made contact with green ones again,”-killed you. How did you survive?”
“What can I say? I die hard.” Epic. He needs to get the footage of that. It’s definitely going on his page.
“It doesn’t matter, you’ll be dead soon enough.” That was certainly ominous. “Give me the key, and I'll let you walk out.” That didn’t even make sense, but Sonic didn’t want to make Shadow more mad.
Perhaps if he was just a little smarter, Sonic would have denied having the key, but the hedgehog got caught up in the moment. “Sorry, but I can’t allow you to hurt all these people. Even if gun deserves it.” No one makes him float except himself. Maybe Tom if the human picks him up, but then that wouldn’t really by floating.
“I thought you worked for gun?”
“Please. I don’t like gun just as much as the next guy. They didn’t even give my parents any money. And they tazed me! And they put me in a box!” Sonic put one hand on his hip and the other out like he was waiting for someone to put money in his hand, “Well, it was more like an electric cage, but stil-” It looks like Shadow isn’t one to listen to trauma dumping. As the new hedgehog interrupted him by teleporting and slamming him against the wall, pinning him with a hand against his chest.
“That’s why you don’t like gun? They didn’t give you any money?” The voice was low and almost growl like.
“Did you hear the part about the cag- Ooff” Shadow pushed down harder on his chest, and inadvertently touching something kinda private.
“Gun took everything from me. They killed her without any hesitation, any mercy. That’s why- That’s why I’ll do the same. To get revenge.” Sonic really wanted to try to talk Shadow through his trauma but he just couldn’t with Shadow’s hand placement.
“Dude. I don’t mean to make this awkward, but you're touching my nipples.” Shadow blinked at him, he blinked back. “Soooo take your hand off? Unless…” He tried to wiggle his brows at Shadow but it came off more like a fish flopping around. And maybe he should have been more specific because while Shadow did remove the hand. The same hand shot up and wrapped around his throat. And Sonic doesn’t know which is worse.
“You’re making jokes?” It wasn’t even a joke! But as he opened his mouth to defend himself, Shadow squeezed harder, “The key. Where is it!” Shadow looked up and down his body, perhaps looking for anywhere he could have kept the key.
Through a lot of effort, as he was in the process of being choked, “See something you like?” The grip around his throat lessened and Shadow’s eyes, which widened a little bit, met his. And he winked at his abuser, and he got a snarl in return but that moment of distraction was all he needed. Sonic brought his legs up and delivered a double foot kick to Shadow’s chest which launched the other hedgehog back. He brought a hand up to rub his throat. “Once again my handsomeness saves me.”
Shadow stood up, orange crackling across his body. Well that’s certainly not good. “This is your last chance. Give me the key.” Sonic, decided to do something dumb, which isn’t really anything new, but still.
“No. You’ll have to kill me to get it. And I won’t fight back.” Shadow hesitated and that was what Sonic was hoping for. Sure, he could have ran away or tried to fight back, but he didn’t know how that would end. And to be fair, he didn’t know how this would end either, but he’ll find out soon enough.
“I already tried to kill you before, what makes you think I won’t now?”
“Maybe the fact that you immediately didn’t kill me right now. Or immediately attack me when you realized it was me. I don’t think you want to do this Shadow, and you don’t. You have a choice you can make.” Sonic made sure all teasing and jokeness left his tone.
“You think I don’t want justice for what they did to Maria? That everything will just be okay.” Shadow took a couple of steps forward and Sonic is glad that he has fur so that his sweat can’t be seen.
“This isn’t justice, and I think deep down, you know this too.” Sonic took a step, albeit a very small step towards Shadow. “Stop this, please. I know it hurts, I lost someone too, but killing me, getting revenge won’t fix anything.”
“You’re wrong. I have to do this. I need the pain to stop.”
“Go ahead then.” Sonic stepped closer and spread his arms out, leaving himself open, “I’m right here.” Shadow raised a fist, but it trembled ever so slightly, “Go ahead. This is what you want, right? This is what will make the pain go away?”
“Stop.”
“No! Kill me. That’s justice right? That is what Maria would have wanted you to do?” Shadow didn’t punch him but the ebony hedgehog did grab him and push him against the glass.
“Don’t say her name! You don’t- You don’t know.”
“Look Shadow. Look at all those people. Do they deserve to die too?”And indeed there are lots of people. Across the river, on a ferry going across the river, on the sidewalk.
“I-I” The grip on him loosened.
“They’re just living life. Look, on that bench over there. Maybe that girl got an A on her test and the dad is bringing her out for a treat. Do they deserve to die?” For Sonic, if it’s a B or above then he gets a treat, it was an A, until Tails came along and when the fox made an A on everything, it felt unfair for the blue hedgehog. To see Tails get all those treats while he only got a couple. So for the sake of the family unit, Sonic was bumped down to a B. Which was embarrassing at first, but now he gets one almost every test so Sonic doesn’t complain anymore.
Sonic felt the hands leave his body, “N-No they don’t. But- But it’s too late. I have to do this.”
Sonic rolled his only because Shadow couldn’t see him do it, “No it’s not. Believe me Shadow, I made lots of mistakes, and like… not that many people even knew that you were gonna blow up London, so like… You can start over.”
“It wasn’t just London.” That also sounded very ominous.
“W-What?” Sonic turned around to face Shadow.
“I was going to super charge the ark and destroy everything on this planet. Every human, animal, plant. All gone.” Suddenly his mouth felt dry.
“You-You can’t.”
“I don’t know. I wanted revenge, I want revenge. But… maybe… maybe I don’t have too.” That was progress. But ‘maybe’?!
“Shadow -uhm- I think- I think there is a reason you’re telling me this. I think you want me to talk you down. You’re a good person- err- hedgehog, you don’t want this.” Sonic really hopes that is the case.
“But why? Why leave yourself open? Why not fight back or run? I tried to kill you, how can you stand there and tell me I’m a good person!? I just told you I planned on destroying the Earth! How-?” The last ‘how’ was a little broken.
“Listen.” Sonic tilted his head to the side and put his palms up to Shadow, “You’re hardly the first person to try and kill me. Let’s see. There was Knuckles, a couple of times actually. Tails, he put me on a piece of wood in the middle of the lake.” Sonic widened his eyes for dramatic effect, “And he put cinder blocks around my feet. So… don’t worry about almost killing me.”
“That’s not normal. You shouldn’t not care that I tried to kill you.”
“I never said that I was normal, and you have no room to talk.” Sonic, feeling a little brave, pointed a finger at Shadow, “Mr. I’m gonna blow up the earth.”
“What if- What if I don’t want to destroy the earth anymore… but I still want revenge. I still feel the anger inside me.” Shadow moved his arm and Sonic thought he was about to be smacked, but Shadow just pointed at him. “You-You said you lost someone. How did you move on? How did you get the pain to stop.” Sonic really thinks that Shadow will not like his answer.
“Truth is, it doesn’t stop. The pain, the loss. But eventually, I found new friends, new family. And day by day, it went away, to just when I was alone, then I could think about her. And it would make me sad. But then I would see my family, and that sadness would go away.” He smiled at Shadow, “I don’t know Maria, but us hedgehogs have great taste, so I’m sure she was an amazing person. And I don’t think she would want you to be like this.”
“But she’s gone… I don’t- I don’t have anyone else.” Shadow’s eyes were wide with confusion, his red streaked quills dropped low. “How is it supposed to go away?” Sonic’s smile didn’t die completely but fell to a more somber shape.
“I’ll be your friend. You don’t have to be alone. And Tails can be your friend, Knuckles can be your friend. Tom and Maddie can be your friend. There’s four right there, and think about all the othe-”
“Five.”
“What?”
“Five, you and the rest of your family. That’s five people, not four.” He’s so dumb, at least Shadow didn’t seem to care.
“Psssh. I knew that. I was just making sure that you were listening, testing you.” Sonic tilted his head down as he shot Shadow a playful look.
“Did I pass?” Wow, he’s continuing the joke. Usually Knuckles would ask where the pen and paper were, and Tails would just say, ‘of course you were.’
“Mhh. You got a B, but I’ll bump you up to an A if you don’t blow up the Earth.” Shadow lost some of the sadness as his brow raised.
“Isn’t that cheating?”
Sonic matched his brow raise, “Not in my school.” Shadow’s brow fell.
“How? What I tried to do… it’s unforgivable. How can I move on?”
That was an honest question. If he had almost destroyed the earth then Sonic is sure he would have felt very guilty too. But, he had the perfect idea. “Here.” Shadow just looked at him as he dug through his quills. “Almost there…. Any second… gotcha.” He pulled out the second key to the eclipse cannon, and held it out for Shadow.
“What are you doing?” Shadow didn’t put a hand out, as if it could burn him.
“Helping you visualize the next chapter in your book.” He also needs to get the footage for that too. “Help me break it. It’ll be like turning the page.” Shadow’s gaze lingered on his for just a tad bit too long for Sonic’s liking. But Shadow did reach a gloved hand out and grabbed the other end of the key that was pointing at him.
“Won’t gun be mad?”
Sonic smirked at Shadow, “Is that a bad thing?” Shadow smirked back.
“A new chapter.” With that, both hedgehogs pulled on the delicate key, and it snapped.
“Boom! I can’t wait to see the look on Eggman’s face when he realized that another one of his evil plans was foiled by I- Us. Here.” Sonic held a fist out. “A power bump.” Then as a after thought, “Wait. You just have to barely tap it with your fist. So don’t like… punch it.”
“I know what a fist bump is.”
“Just making sure, cause Knuckles certainly didn’t.” Shadow’s hand met his in a epic power bump. “Wow. What a day.”
“I agree.” Sonic’s smile lit up again.
“I feel like you and I are 2 peas in the same pod. Of course, I am the better looking one, and the taller one.”
“I could still kill you.”
“Nah, you wouldn’t… right?” Shadow rolled his eyes and walked a couple of steps away, before hitting a pose and looking back at him.
“What now?”
“Now- Oh my God! I completely forgot that my family has no idea about what just happened.” Sonic bit his lips, “Just a warning -uhm- Knuckles might attack you on sight. Honestly, I don’t know. But just to be safe I should talk to them. Explain how you returned to the light side.”
“Hmm. What about Robotnik, Gerald, Gun?”
Sonic waved a hand, “We can worry about them later.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to take care of it now?”
“New hedgehog. When you hang with me, problems are bound to appear sooner or later so I don’t go looking for them.” Shadow shrugged.
“I guess times have changed.”
“You have no idea. Well, you might have a small idea.” Sonic clapped his hands together, “Now I think the way to my family is that way… orrrr is it that way? Hmm. I hope you like adventures.”
“You’re in enemy territory and you don’t know your way around?” Sonic felt his muzzle heat up a little.
“I mean- It’s not like- You know?”
“Follow me. I know where we’re going.”
“Fine then. I’m just testing you to see if you know the way.” Shadow shot him a blank look and Sonic’s smile widened. It’s nice to know that the new hedgehog had more than just a sad and angry face. “I think that you’re gonna be my bhff.”