— Iᑎ - ᗪᖇ. ᗴᘜᘜᗰᗩᑎ'Տ - ᒪᗩIᖇ —
"That blue rat won again! And this time- it's because of that other blue racoon!!"
"None of my greatest inventions have turned out well! None!" Eggman shouted and kicked on the table's leg, accidentally—
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" he grabbed his toe while jumping on one leg.
Orbot and Cubot looked at eachother then looked back at Eggman.
"HAHH!! I GIVE UP!!!" shouted Eggman again as he flopped down on the couch.
Orbot's and Cubot's eyes widened and went near Eggman.
"Dr. Eggman, don't say that. You can still defeat Sonic and his friends."
Eggman just groaned and turned on the T.V.
"Dr. Eggman, please don't give up. Your inventions weren't that bad."
Eggman grumbled something underneath his breath and focused on the T.V.
ᗰᗴᗩᑎᗯᕼIᒪᗴ :
Sonic, Sonica, Amy, Tails, Sticks and Knuckles were on their way home.
𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
"Ugh.." I pretended to groan as I walked with the gang, carrying Sonica in my arms.
Guess who played Rock because they knew Knuckles was gonna play Paper~
Me! Of course.
I slightly shifted my hold to make her more comfortable. But seeing her injuries, cuts and all.. made me wanna protect her at all cost.
But who am I kidding? This girl needing to be saved? Ha! In your dreams, Sonic!
Glancing down at her, I couldn't help but think her sulky yet sleepy state was endearing.
She looked really cute.
Then I remembered the photos I saw that day. [ in Chapter: Emotional Adjustments ]
And I glanced down at her again, realizing that she was close to dozing off. She was tired after all..
Just then– Tails and Sticks cleared their throats.
I turned my head to look at them. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. Just watching hearts form in your eyes~" Sticks made a heart shape with her hands and Tails chuckled, making me roll my eyes.
Now that I think of it.. How did I fall for her in the first place?
They had a smirk on their faces. It indeed made me feel embarrassed but I remained composed and cleared my throat. "Focus on walking, guys."
"Oh. You. Too." Sticks giggled and nudged Tails with her elbow. Then they both chuckled.
I groaned. Then suddenly— I felt a raindrop on my cheek.
"Let's go under that tree. It's going to rain." I said, turning my head to that direction.
They nodded and soon we settled down under the umbrella of the bug tree. Within minutes the rain started to get a little heavier.
I sighed and leaned my head against the tree's tunk.
I was sitting with my legs crossed so that Sonica would sleep comfortably. Yes, she was on my lap and, she was warm.
"Guys, wake me up when the weather's clear.." I murmured while closing my eyes.
A little nap won't hurt...
SONICA'S POV
Oh, it's raining..
Now there's thunder and lightning..
Wait-
Is that a chainsaw?
Wait, what are you doing— No!
K E Y !
Key..
You are f-falling—
"NO!" I gasped while my eyes snapped open and I looked around, heart beating fast.
Key..?
It was. . . a dream?
I let out a sigh of relief but then I flinched when Sonic spoke out of blue.
"You okay?" He yawned and rubbed the top of my head, his eyes were still closed.
"Yeah." I looked down.
I hope you are okay, Key..
"You sure you are okay?" He slowly withdrew his hand but then— I felt as though I wanted him to keep petting my quills.
I missed everything ever since I lost Nic and Professor..
Don't sound so pathetic, Sonica. You are doing well.
"Hm?"
"Yeah, I.. I just had a bad dream." I mumbled, glancing low.
"Oh..." He yawned again and opened his eyes. "That's okay. It won't be true."
I nodded with a sigh.
I couldn't even complain that Sonic had me on his lap. Sivay's paralysis medicine should wear off by now, no? She said it was temporary. But I still can't feel my legs nor move my toes.
Then Sonic cleared his throat, "Uh.. I can put you down if you are uncomfortable."
I looked at him and nodded, not wanting to seem clingy out of blue.
Then he carefully lifted me by my waist and placed me beside him.
I glanced around and saw that Amy had dozed off while hugging her hammer and so had Knuckles. But then I turned to my other side and I was startled because Sticks was watching us with.. leaf-made. . . binoculars?
"..where is Tails?" I whispered to Sonic who rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered. "On the other side of the tree.. tinkering."
"I am working on my new device!"
Tails' faint voice came from the other side.
"Right." Sonic closed his eyes while leaning back against the tree.
I looked at him for a while then looked up at the dark clouds.
Key, I hope you are fine... I will arrive there soon.
— ᗩᖴTᗴᖇ - ᗩ - ᗯᕼIᒪᗴ —
"Alright, everyone. The weather's clear. Time to walk!" Amy clapped her hands to try to wake the others up.
I carefully took the support of the tree and slowly stood up, hoping the medicine had weared off but then—
"Ah, ah, ah." Sonic quickly scooped me up in his arms, "You aren't walking, tough miss. You are still injured."
"No, I am fine.." I looked up at him and sighed. "I can walk now, let me try."
"You already tried once, and you were about to fall on your face!" He rolled his eyes and held me up.
I gritted my teeth and turned to the side. "Fine! Don't whine when your arms start to hurt!"
He chuckled and started to walk, the other following behind.
"W-Whoaa~!" Knuckles slipped a little but he quickly held a tree and steadied himself.
"That was a close one.." added Tails.
"Walk carefully guys. It's too slippery." said Amy while walked cautiously.
I gulped. This was bad..
Knuckles, Tails and Sticks slowly walked behind Amy.
Now it was Sonic's turn.
Please don't slip. Please don't slip.
He took one slow, step and paused.
Whoa.. Let's be optimistic then.
He then took another cautious step and hummed. "Guess it isn't that sli-eee— Whoa-oh!"
HE slipped! and it made ME fall on my back while he fell on top of me!
Dear fate, WHY?!
Our faces were just inches apart and I quickly pushed his jaw up with my hands. "Get off!!"
My cheeks were red and so were his.
"Now 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 was a close one!" Sticks pointed towards us and started laughing with Tails.
Sonic quickly got off of me and looked away. His ears were bent down. "I am s-so sorry."
I took a deep breath to stay calm and slowly got back up on my feet. Finally Sivay's medicine weared off!
"You okay now?" He asked, still avoiding eye contact.
I nodded slowly while looking at the mud over my arms and back. "..yeah.. I can walk now. I am okay."
The rest of the walk went in awkwardness between us two. Sticks' teasing never lessened and Amy's sighs never got quieter. Not to mention Knuckles' imaginary scenarios that he shared with us.
— TIᗰᗴ - ՏKIᑭ —
"What's with people these days?" Sonic muttered as we were now chatting on my porch. Everyone else had went to their respective homes not long ago. Then he continued. "And when you don't like it, they are like—"
"S O N I C ! ! !" Suddenly a green hedgehog hugged Sonic tightly and a pink hedgehog followed after.
"Manic? Sonia?" Sonic asked while hugging them back, surprised.
Manic? Sonia?
The green hedgehog i.e. Manic's quills were shaggier than Sonic's. He was wearing orange vest, black spiked wristbands and an orange fanny-pack. To be honest, he looked like a thief to me... The pink one i.e Sonia was wearing purple gloves unlike us. But she looked a bit bossy.
Wait.. I don't even know them. Why am I thinking like that?
"We missed you so much, bro." Manic patted Sonic's back then looked at me and smirked. "Who is she?"
"This is Sonica, a bit injured currently." Sonic sighed and gestured with his hand, "Sonica, meet my brother Manic and sister Sonia."
Siblings?!
"Sorry if we disturbed your lovey-dovey chat." Manic cooed, making me groan.
"No, we were j-"
"Its okay, bro. We don't judge." Manic nudged Sonia with his elbow who chuckled in response.
Sonic crossed his arms and grumbled, "Okay, okay! Get in now!"
"I want to stay in my shack.." I whispered to him.
I had to meet Key asap which is only possible if they leave me alone!
"Aw, come on, stay with us for a while. Show us around." said Manic with a smirk.
I shake my head and get off my porch. "No, Sonic can give you a tour."
"Come on! It's not like you have a secret stuff in here. Hang out with Sonic. Hang out with us." Manic leaned against a pillar and I sighed. "I.. honestly don't want to."
"Really now?" chuckled Manic while spinning a golden ring on his finger.
Wait! That ring!
I looked at my wrists and one of my rings was missing!
Professor!
I started to panic a little, but took a deep breath and held my hand out. "Give my ring back."
"Oh, this little thing?" he said while looking the ring.
"Give it back.." I narrowed my eyes.
"Return it, Manic. Bullying is no fun." Sonic rolled his eyes.
Stay calm, Sonica. Stay calm..
"I will give you the ring," He chuckled. "If you hang out with us."
Oh f-
"Fine!" I clenched my fists and immediately caught my ring when he tossed it.
"You haven't changed yet." said Sonic and crossed his arms.
"Nope. Mother says she misses you. She told us to meet you and see if you are fine or not." Sonia spoke, looking around.
"As you can see, I am completely fine. So you can go now." Sonic narrowed his eyes.
"Aw, bro, don't say that. We want to see this village." said Manic, looping an arm around his brother's shoulder.
Sonic groaned.
"Sonica, right? Well, tell us about yourself." Sonia pulled me by my wrist, making me get off the porch.
"Then we will tell 𝘆𝗼𝘂 about us." added Manic and took a step towards me but Sonic quickly stood in the middle.
"As you know, her name is Sonica. She is a hedgehog. She can run fast like me. She is also new here. That's all you need to know" Sonic crossed his arms, sounding annoyed.
Manic cleared his throat, "Bro, okay. We get it."
Then Sonia went towards me, saying, "Now, we will tell you about us."
TᗯO ᗰIᑎᑌTᗴՏ ᒪᗩTᗴᖇ . . .
"So you all are from a royal family?" I leaned my hand on my cheek, not seeming surprised.
They nodded.
"So, I guess you had a great, luxurious childhood..?"
Manic and Sonic rolled their eyes and looked at Sonia who just groaned.
..?
"Well, only she was the lucky one. We two were raised somewhere else." Manic muttered, Sonic nodded.
"At least you still have a mother and a family." I scratch my head slowly. "I mean.. looking on the bright side.."
"Yeah, that's right." Manic fist bumped his sister while Sonic looked at me before looking away.
"Uh.. you guys wanted to see the village, right? Let's go then." Sonic cleared his throat.
"Yeah, sure, bro. Let's go."
"Yeah, but I will be going to my shack now— to rest." I stood up from thr hammock and ran outside. "Bye, Sonic—"
𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
"Bye.." I sighed as I watched her leave. Then I turned back to my siblings.
Was I jealous..? It's not like Manic will purpose to her or something.. right?
Then Manic patted my back, chuckling. "Bro, I have to ask you something."
"What?" I crossed my arms, not in the mood.
"Do you.. " He cleared his throat, "Do you like. . . you know..."
"NO! I don't! I absolutely don't!" I shouted, eyes wide.
Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.
Then Sonia and Manic exchanged glances and looked at me with a smirk on their faces.
"Bro.." Manic picked up the volleyball from the sand, chuckling, "I was talking about volleyball..."
"Oh- right. Uh.."
He glanced at Sonia and smirked, "We weren't talking about Sonica..."
"Oh, stop talking nonsense! I knew you were talking about volleyball! And I hate that game!" I crossed my arms, trying to play it cool.
He nudged me by the elbow teasingly. "Alright, bro. Alright."
Please swallow me alive, planet Earth..
— ᗩᖇOᑌᑎᗪ - ᗪᑌՏK —
They finally decided to head home.
"We will miss you, brother."
We exchanged one last hug.
"I will miss you too, guys. And tell mom, I love her and I miss her too."
"You don't love Sonica?" Manic whispered in my ear.
My face flushed red and I smacked his head. "Cut it out!"
He chuckled and rubbed his head, "Okay, bro. Relax."
"Bye, Sonic. Take care. We will give your message to mom." said Sonia while getting on her bike.
Manic did a two-finger salute and got the bike behind her.
"Bye brother/brooo!!" They said while the bike began to go further and further away.
"Tell mom I miss her!" I yelled while waving my hand as a 'BYE'
And soon.. the bike disappeared into a small dot in a distance.
Then I sighed and went back in my shack..
I couldn't talk to Sonica properly..
But am I that obvious? Everyone is.. teasing me..
Should I start acting emotionless like how Sonica used to?
— Iᑎ - ᗪᖇ. ᗴᘜᘜᗰᗩᑎ'Տ - ᒪᗩIᖇ —
Snores came from the living room which was lit by the brightness of the T.V.
Orbot quietly turned the T.V off and looked at Cubot.
"We have to do something. We can't let Dr. Eggman give up."
"You are right, but what can we do?"
"I don't know. Let's think."
"Good idea."
And they both looked up, thinking something.
"Maybe we should cheer him up."
"Do I look like a cheerleader to you?!"
"No. I was talking about something else. Do you know what tomorrow is?"
"Hmmmmmmm," Cubot thought for a long time and said, "No."
"Tomorrow is (something)" whispered Orbot.
"Oh..I didn't know that." Cubot whispered back.
Orbot facepalmed, "So, as tomorrow is (something), we will (something). In this way, Dr. Eggman might cheer up and give up giving up!"
Cubot gave a thumbs up.
"We have to get everything ready and call others too."
"Aye, aye, captain!"