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Westopolis: The Daily Grind
“Lanolin, I have to say… You always pick the BEST coffee shops in the city! Mmm!” Exclaimed Jewel as she took a bite of a pastry as Lanolin lightly laughed at Jewel’s enthusiasm.
“What can I say? I have a knack for picking out the best shops.” Said Lanolin with a smile and a shrug as he held her coffee.
“I still can’t thank you enough for accompanying me to overlook Restoration operations for a few days in Westopolis.” Thanked Jewel as she took another bite of her pastry.
“No problem, I wanted to get out for a little while.” Lanolin said as she leaned back in her chair and took a sip of coffee.
“You sure you’re not gonna miss Shadow?” Asked Jewel with a smirk as she jiggled her eyebrows.
Lanolin smiled and rolled her eyes.
“We’re not THAT kind of couple, the overdramatic kind that starts crying when they’ve been apart for three minutes. But I will admit, I do miss him a bit.”
“What’s he doing this time? Fighting Robotnik? Fighting aliens? Fighting an evil alternate version of himself?” Asked Jewel.
“I don’t remember, I think it had to do with him and Team Dark fighting some kind of threat in space. That’s all I know.”
“It’s hard to believe how much has changed over the past year… The Diamond Cutters split up, you and me are the heads of the Restoration, AND you and Shadow got together. Funny how things like that happen. I mean, if Shadow never teleported into the Break Room a year ago and asked you how to make coffee, you probably wouldn’t even know who he was.” Jewel vocalized as Lanolin shot Jewel a shy smile, as she placed her cup of coffee in front of her and held it with both hands.
“Well… It’s not really the first time we met. More like, the first time we REALLY interacted…”
“Wait, you mean, you knew him before that?” Asked Jewel as Lanolin let out an embarrassed chuckle.
“Actually… I’ve known him since I was a civilian, but he never noticed me. I was just a… A face in the crowd. It’s kind of embarrassing to say this, but I was kind of like… Amy Rose, years before she became a freedom fighter, when she was a damsel being rescued by Sonic, and how she chased after him…” Admitted Lanolin with a blush.
“You chased around Shadow?” Asked Jewel with a smirk.
“More like… Looked up to him. I didn’t even really know him that well, he was just… Inspirational to me…”
“Really, honestly, I thought you’d have a crush on Sonic when you were still a civilian.” Observed Jewel as she finished her pastry.
“Come on, Jewel, EVERY GIRL had a crush on Sonic at that age. When I saw him save my town from badniks, of course I had a crush on him. But after getting to WORK with him… It kinda faded away. He’s just not my type…”
“Oh yeah, you like the bad boys with a heart of gold.” Teased Jewel.
“Shut up…” Lanolin laughed as she took a sip of her coffee.
“So… Spill the beans already, when did you actually first meet him?” Asked Jewel, as Lanolin told her story.
Riverside Town: The Marketplace
“Thanks again for the vegetables! But… You didn’t have to give me such a generous discount.” Said a younger Lanolin happily as she held two bags of groceries. Lanolin was in an amber dress with matching shoes
“Oh please, you and your mother are my best customers, Miss Lanolin! It’s the very least I could do.” Exclaimed the kind merchant.
“Well, I guess I better get home before my mother starts wondering where I am again.” Lanolin said as she rolled her eyes with a smile.
“Of course, Miss Lanolin. Have a great day!” Called out the merchant as Lanolin started walking away.
“You too!”
Later, as Lanolin made her way to the edge of town where her mothers house was, she heard screaming and saw people running away out of nowhere.
Lanolin looked around in fear and confusion as she saw nothing but people running scared and smoke coming from several nearby houses.
“Wait! What’s going on!?” Asked Lanolin as she grabbed the sleeve of one of the running Mobians.
“Run! They’re attacking!” Yelled out the man before running off and breaking out of Lanolin’s grasp.
CRASH!
Lanolin looked back in terror as she saw several motorbugs and Egg Pawns smash through a nearby house and lock on to her.
“What!? What are you!? What do you want!?” Screeched Lanolin in fear as she backed off.
“SUBJECT READY FOR CAPTURE!” Exclaimed one of the badniks as Lanolin did the only thing she could think of in that situation.
She tossed her bags filled with groceries at the badniks. Breaking apart upon impact as she turned around and started running for her life.
She could hear the stomping and motors of the badniks right on her tail, as the scared sheep ran for her life.
She has never felt fear so real before until that day.
However, she didn’t see where she was going. As she tripped over a rock and started tumbling down a small hill.
After reaching the bottom, she started to pick herself up, only to look up in fear as she saw that she was surrounded by badniks.
“No! Please! Leave me alone! Please don’t hurt me!” Squeaked out the sheep as she cowered, closed her eyes, and placed her hands on top of her head.
“SUBJECT MUST BE CAPTURED!” However, as Lanolin thought it was the end of the road. She heard the sounds of metal getting smashed and torn apart all around her.
CLANG!
SCRUNCH!
BAM!
BONG!
CLANG!
SCRUNCH!
POW!
Lanolin very slowly lowered her hands and looked around, only to see nothing but busted badniks and scrap metal littered all over the area.
Lanolin barely had three seconds to absorb everything before she was suddenly scooped up bridal style by an unknown person who dashed away with her.
Lanolin still had her hands over her eyes and couldn’t see who it was. But whoever it was moved incredibly fast. They jumped, dashed, and zigzagged all around.
Eventually, it stopped as she was gently placed back on her feet.
“It’s okay, they won’t hurt you anymore. Are you okay?”
Lanolin slowly lowered her hands and looked back to see a black and red hedgehog with white fur on his chest holding out his hands to Lanolin. Making sure she was safe.
“...Y-Y-Yes… I am…” Muttered Lanolin in a still terrified voice.
“Good, there’s shelter only a few dozen feet that way. Get to safety!”
Before Lanolin could even ask the name of the stranger who saved her, the hedgehog spun around and dashed away at astonishing speeds.
Lanolin stood there in awe, just staring at where the Hedgehog was standing only a second ago.
‘Who was that?’ Thought Lanolin. ‘Was that the one they called ‘Sonic?’... No, Sonic is blue. But… If that wasn’t Sonic, WHO was that?”
Sunset City: The Evacuation Stronghold
“Okay! Come on! Let’s go! This way!” Yelled Lanolin as she and several other Restoration volunteers loaded civilians up into armored trucks.
Just like back in Riverside, Lanolin wore an amber dress. However, most of it was hidden by a thick green sweater she wore over it.
Bang! Bang! Slam! Bang!
The windows and doors were all boarded up and barricaded with planks of wood and random heavy objects.
The zombots pounded on the doors and walls, managing to induce several cracks in the barriers and foundation.
The haunting sounds of their moans echoed throughout the building.
“Will we be safe?” Asked a woman running up to the open truck as she held her baby.
“I promise, ma’am, you’ll be safe. Just get on the-”
Crash!
Everyone stopped and looked over in panic, as zombots broke down several nearby barriers and smashed through several windows as they stumbled into the building.
Moaning and groaning the whole way.
“Get on the truck! Quickly!” Yelled Lanolin, as she was terrified to look over and see that several citizens and survivors nearby were grabbed by zombots and infected.
Lanolin wanted to do nothing other than run in and help, but she knew that the only thing that would come out of it is her getting infected.
“Come on! Get on the truck now!” Yelled Lanolin as she tried to push the woman on the truck, however, she was paralyzed with fear.
A small group of zombots neandered towards them.
“My baby!” Screamed the woman as she covered the baby with her arms and turned her back towards the horde of zombots.
Lanolin looked at the zombots stumbling towards them and then back at the mother.
As much as Lanolin hated to say it, she was scared. Very scared. A small part of her wanted to just run away.
But she knew she couldn’t run anymore. She knew she couldn’t let anybody else fall to this horrible mechanical virus.
“GET ON THE TRUCK NOW!” Yelled Lanolin as she stood in front of the mother, holding her arms out to block the moaning zombots stumbling towards them.
The woman looked back at Lanolin in shock and terror.
“But Miss, I-”
“Get on the truck! They’re getting closer!” Yelled Lanolin as the woman finally obeyed Lanolin, turning around and getting on the truck as the zombots got dangerously close to Lanolin.
‘This is it… Not exactly how I thought things would turn out, but at least I went out protecting someone!’
Lanolin closed her eyes, prepared for the zombots to grab her and drag her into the horde. However…
Smash!
Wham!
Lanolin opened her eyes just in time to see the same black hedgehog who saved her back in her hometown, before her as he swung a metal beam at the group of zombots in front of Lanolin. Hitting them all and sending them all flying back into the horde that were entering the building.
“Is that everyone!?” Asked Shadow as he dropped the metal beam and looked back over at Lanolin, who was stunned speechless.
“Uhh- I- Uh, Y-Yes! Yes it is!” Answered Lanolin, still sweating and shaking like crazy.
“Good, now get on the truck! No reason a volunteer like you needs to get infected too. We need all the hands we can find!” Yelled Shadow as he pointed at the truck behind Lanolin.
“O-Oh! Uhh… Yes! Sure thing!” Exclaimed Lanolin as she turned around and stepped on the truck.
However, as the door closed and the truck began to drive off, she got a look at the black hedgehog.
He jumped into an unused armored big rig nearby, as he put the pedal to the metal, and plowed the massive truck through the horde of zombots and smashed out the building.
SMASH!
He saved her again, just like before. And he didn’t even know his name.
‘Who was that hedgehog? I think he’s the same guy who saved me back in my hometown during the badnik attack… He’s… He’s so brave, and strong! He knocked back those zombots like they were nothing and took control!... I wish I could be like that. I WILL… I’m not going to be the same scared little girl I was! I’m going to be strong!... Just like him. And I STILL don’t know his name…’
Restoration HQ: The Hallways
‘Alright, gotta get these papers signed off and finished, there’s still plenty of work left to do.’ Lanolin thought to herself as she walked down the halls of the Restoration.
Lanolin no longer wore her amber dress, this time she was fully adorned in her new Restoration outfit. Green cargo pants, tan boots, an orange sleeveless sweater, and fingerless tan gloves.
‘Oh, man… I can’t wait for my break. First thing I’m gonna do is go to that new coffee shop that opened around the block. The pastries in the window look good, and the coffee smells great! I better not get ahead of myself, I still have all this paperwork to file aw- Oof!’ Lanolin’s thoughts were interrupted as she walked into someone.
To Lanolin’s surprise, whoever she walked into seemed to be wearing some kind of soft fur jacket. Her face was briefly smothered in the stranger's fur jacket before quickly pulling away and backing up.
“Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you! I should’ve watched where I was go-...” Lanolin paused mid-sentence as she looked up to see none other than the same black hedgehog as before standing before her.
Lanolin began to blush furiously as she looked down and saw that the fur she felt wasn’t from some coat, but it was the white fur coming from the black hedgehog’s chest. Lanolin remained speechless as Shadow spoke.
“Don’t worry about it, no harm done.” Stated Shadow bluntly as she brushed his chest and crossed his arms.
‘Woah… I never got to spend this much time with him, he looks so cool! I wonder why he’s here, is it for some kind of mission or something? Maybe I can finally get the chance to speak with him! But… What do I say? ‘Hey, you don’t know me but I’m the sheep you saved twice and I constantly think about you and obsess over you?’ No, that sounds creepy and weird. What can I say to properly break the ice?’ Lanolin was overthinking as Shadow looked down at the timid sheep girl with an eyebrow raised and a confused look.
“Do you know where I can find Ms. Jewel?” Asked Shadow as that snapped Lanolin out of her thoughts.
“Oh! I- Y-Yes! Yes of course! Please, follow me, I can bring you to her office.” Stated Lanolin as she turned around and started walking in the direction of Jewel’s office.
“Lead the way.” Replied Shadow as the two silently walked down the halls together
The two remained silent walking down the halls together. Lanolin avoided eye contact with the brooding hedgehog, still nervous about actually spending time with him and still brainstorming a flurry of different conversation starters. The anxious sheep was still unsure of which conversation starter to use. But she picked the best one she could think of.
“So… Uhh… Are you related to Sonic The Hedgehog?”
“No, it’s just an unfortunate circumstance that HE happens to look like me. Other than that, we have nothing in common.” Grunted Shadow.
“O-Ohh… But, you're a hero too, right? You fight Eggman and other bad guys?”
“Yup. I’ll do everything I can to protect this world, for a friend.” Stated Shadow, not going into any more detail.
“I wish I could be like you and Sonic… I’m just stuck doing dumb paperwork all day and night.” Muttered Lanolin, still holding the stack of paperwork in her hands as Shadow glanced down at her.
“Well, if you work hard and focus, I’m sure you can start fighting on the battlefield.” Stated Shadow.
“B-But, I don’t have any powers. I’ll just be in the way out there…” Muttered Lanolin sadly.
“Even if you don’t have any powers, there’s always a way to fight. One thing I learned during my time of fighting is that the most important tool on the battlefield is your head, not whatever fancy powers or weapons you have. You say you to plenty of paperwork, right?” Asked Shadow.
“Yeah, A LOT…” Groaned Lanolin, still exhausted over carrying so many papers.
“If you're smart enough to handle all that paperwork, I’m sure you’re smart enough to think of a way to fight. And even if you can’t, remember that it’s not the power or the weapon that makes the hero, it’s your will and determination. Do you understand?” Asked Shadow.
“Uhh… Yeah, I think I do.” Replied Lanolin, smiling as she took Shadow’s words to heart.
Eventually, the two walked up to a door with ‘Jewel The Beetle’ written in the window of the door.
“Well, there she is. Just let yourself inside.” Stated Lanolin as Shadow stepped forward.
“Thanks.”
As Shadow grabbed the handle of the door and began to twist it, Lanolin just realized that she forgot to ask the hedgehog’s name.
“Wait, have we met before?” Lanolin looked back in surprise to see that Shadow stopped and looked back at the sheep with an inquisitive look.
“Oh, y-yes. Actually… You saved me, twice. Once from Eggman’s robots, and the second was during the metal virus crisis.” Stated Lanolin nervously, as Shadow looked the sheep up and down, as he started to recognize her.
“What’s your name?”
“L-Lanolin. Lanolin The Sheep.”
“... That’s a nice name. My name is Shadow, Shadow The Hedgehog.” Shadow stated with a smirk as Lanolin’s face burnt red and her heart skipped a beat.
“See you around.” Shadow turned back around and walked back into the office, leaving the sheep standing there, blushing with her heart pounding like a tiny drum.
Eventually, Lanolin broke out of her stunned state as she stared at Jewel’s door. Before holding out her hand and looking down at it with a face full of determination.
‘He’s right… I can fight, I can make a difference… I’ll work harder than anyone else and move up the ranks. I’ll find a way to fight on Shadow and Sonic’s level. I’ll BE A HERO… Just like Shadow…’
Westopolis: The Daily Grind (Modern day)
“And THEN what happened?!” Asked Jewel excitedly as she metaphorically hung on the edge of her seat, dying to know what happened next.
“After that, I started working harder, I got Maggie to enhance my combat capabilities, got put in charge of the new Diamond Cutters, worked with Sonic and stopped Eggman… Since then, I grew and changed. I was swamped with work, and that bright eyed optimism started to fade a little. I wasn’t some fangirl who wanted to do her best, I was a woman doing everything I could do. I started making coffee one day when Shadow teleported in, he asked how I made coffee, I taught him, and it’s all just downhill from there…” Said Lanolin with a small smile.
“So you didn’t fangirl when Shadow teleported in?” Asked Jewel.
“I had a lot on my plate at the time. But, to be honest… A SMALL part of me was pretty excited to see him again…” Lanolin muttered, as she blushed and looked away.
“Honestly, kinda seems like fate to me.” Commented Jewel as she crossed her arms.
“I think you might be overthinking it, Jewel. I don’t believe in fate. But… I don’t think I’d be the person I am today without Shadow. I may not have told him, but I see him as an inspiration. I still do. And I couldn’t be happier.”
"When did you get so wise?" Asked Jewel with a smirk.
"Ever since a Black Hearted Hero inspired me to be better." Lanolin closed her eyes and took a long sip of the rest of her coffee.