Chapter Text
"For the pairings of the Trials, our first group is: Sonic The Hedgehog and Shadow The Hedgehog."
Sonic dashed towards his partner. He wore an annoyed expression as Sonic raised a hand to high five him. Seeing he wouldn't respond, -of course he wouldn't- he said something else to fill the silence between them. "Hey, buddy! I actually missed you."
"Never call me your buddy again," Shadow grumbled, and Sonic snickered. And obviously, he didn't miss him back.
The two were practically polar opposites. Sonic was positive, lively and more sociable, and Shadow was more brooding, quiet and irritable. For some reason, it made them a perfect duo.
After the announcer had finished- well, announcing the pairs, they began to inform the players of the first trial.
"Your first trial will be to cross the Mountain of Obstacles. This might seem relatively easy for some of you, but keep in mind, this is a mountain with obstacles."
"As if we couldn't tell from its name," Shadow muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Sonic to hear, and he agreed with him. But he wouldn't tell him that, obviously.
"Also, there's a time duration- how much is it again, Selena?" The announcer turned to a lady with brown hair and green eyes. She whispered in his ear, and his eyes widened slightly. They exchanged furious whispers.
He sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose. And promptly nodded.
"According to Miss Selena here, you have 10 minutes to cross the Mountain of Obstacles."
A gasp, and then chatter broke out in the room. Some people looked worried, others excited.
For Sonic and Shadow, though, this would be just a normal run.
"Why do you look so smug?" A panicked voice demanded them.
“I've traveled longer distances in shorter times, trust me,” Sonic answered, his casual confidence irritating to his partner. The other hedgehog rolled his eyes, arms crossed.
The person who had asked them scoffed and said, “we'll see about that later.”
Oh, this person! Whoever they were.
According to the announcers they had an hour to prepare, one which Sonic and Shadow used to start bickering.
“You didn't have to be so arrogant about that, stupid.”
“Hey, it's not my fault you can't lay back and relax a little.”
“And how do you expect me to relax when I'm being paired with you?”
“Oh come on! You enjoy arguing with me, and you know it.”
Shadow wouldn't describe it as enjoying arguing with him. It provided him with something real to do.
But he wouldn't tell the blue idiot.
“What are you two yelling about?! The Trial's about to start.”
“Finally! We were getting tired of waiting. C'mon!” Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand and ran.
Shadow glanced at Sonic's hand wrapped around his. It made him realize-
He didn't get affection much in his life.
Two pairs had already had a mental breakdown, so they'd skipped. The others hadn't, although they seemed a bit nervous as well.
Sonic spotted a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked anxious, unlike her partner, an excited boy with brown hair and green eyes.
Shadow followed where Sonic was watching and paused. That girl looked like-
“Are you ready, competitors? You don't really have any other choice.”
Shadow scowled at this announcer's choice of words. Did he not already see the hesitation written all over the competitors' faces?
Sonic glanced and noticed Shadow's scowl. ‘Why is this announcer so annoying?’
That thought was definitely not his.
The announcer chuckled at their confused and awed expressions. ”You heard something? The Trials give you insight into your partner's mind for a little extra.. spice.”
Shadow remained indifferent.
Sonic smirked. Oh, this would be fun.
“On your marks!”
A voice rang out.
People got into their positions.
“Get set!”
Sonic yawned.
Chirp!
They dashed away, leaving dirt and dust behind.
Of course, Shadow had managed to avoid the obstacles with ease.
Sonic, however, was not so lucky.
‘This blue blur beside me really is an idiot,’ Sonic heard Shadow think. He snickered, pressing a hand to his mouth.
‘At least I'm not frowning all the time,’ Sonic thought back to his partner.
Sighing, Shadow continued dashing and ignored any thoughts projected in his mind.
Until:
"Is that a.."
Sonic's voice faltered and flickered.
Shadow paused and turned.
A small, actual hedgehog was laying in Sonic's palm.
He scowled again. “Sonic. What are you going to do with a-”
“Come on, Shadow! It looked hurt. I couldn't just leave it there!”
Rolling his eyes, Shadow let him be with his silly hedgehog.
“Can we keep him?”
Shadow froze.
“.. please?”
He knew Sonic was playing with him, but that tone and expression reminded him of.. “There is no 'we', Sonic, but you can do whatever you want with it.”
“Yes!” Sonic cheered under his breath as Shadow turned back to run.
‘Why did he have to be my partner?’