— 𝗧𝗛𝗘 - 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 - 𝗗𝗔𝗬 —
— 𝗜𝗻 - 𝗗𝗿. 𝗘𝗴𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗻'𝘀 - 𝗟𝗮𝗶𝗿 —
"None my inventions and robots could defeat that blue pineapple. And what did he say?
~You should get some help from someone, Egghead!~
Blah blah blah!"
Orbot and Cubot looked at eachother then at Eggman again.
"Maybe, Sonic is right-" said Cubot only to get silence by Dr. Eggman's glare.
Suddenly an idea popped up in his head.
"Maybe, that blue rat was right!" He said, looking at his holographic chart. "I have an idea. We will call 𝗵𝗶𝗺."
He started laughing hysterically while Orbot and Cubot looks at each other and shrugged.
𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
I am grateful for Sonic's help.. but I still have no idea about that dark aura.
We fixed my shack though. It's good as new.
Then—
"KE Y Y Y ! ! MY BEST BUDDYY!"
It was as if I was living a carefree life when I was with Key.
But...
My communicator couldn't make it.
It got destroyed.
And I didn't even have the right tools to repair it.
Imagine how bad Tails will feel when I tell him that the communicator he worked so hard on got destroyed by my unstable powers...
I will have to fix it on my own.
𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
Amy, Knuckles, Tails, Sticks and I were at the Meh Burger because, obliviously, it was Amy's idea. But Sonica didn't answer the call which... isn't very surprising.
I thought of checking on her but maybe I should give her some 'personal space' after what happened yesterday.
"Relax, Sonic. Sonica will be alright." whispered none other than Tails in my ear.
"I hope so." I whispered back and took a bite of my chillidog.
"Come on, Sonic. Don't worry too much. Sonica will be fine." Sticks cooed with a smirk.
Wait.
"W-Why are you guys saying that again and again? I know she can take care of herself!" I said while rolling my eyes and focused on the delicious chillidogs.
They had a slight smirk of thier faces.
"It's okay, Sonic. You two look good together."
Stop—
I ended up choking on my food and quickly drank some water. Then I took in a sharp breath and said, "It is NOT what you guys think it is."
"Oh! Hi Sonica~!"
"Where?!" I quickly turned around but she was not here.
Wait...
Their devilish chuckles made me realize that they tricked me!
I put my head down on the table with a groan, "I hate you guys.."
And they chuckled again. Hahah...
Just then—
A laser beam passed by right infront of my eyes! and pierced a hole on the chillidog that was on Dave's hand.
"What the—"
I got cut off by a solid punch on my gut and I went flying backwards to hit my back against the wall.
"SONIC!!" Amy, Tails, Sticks and Knuckles shouted as they ran to me.
It was all dusty and smoky for a while. Then I rubbed my head while opening my eyes and quickly got back on my feet.
My friends were by my side.
After the dust and smoke cleared, I saw. . . Shadow the hedgehog?!
Wait what?!
"SHADOW?!" we all shouted in unison.
And then I heard Eggman's stupid laugh! when he showed up in his eggmobile. "Yes. It's Shadow the hedgehog. You were the one who said that I should take help, Sonic. And I did. Muahahahahahaah!"
— ᖴᒪᗩՏᕼᗷᗩᑕK —
"We will call 𝗵𝗶𝗺."
"Call who?"
"There is only one hedgehog who is capable to get rid of that blue pest.." Eggman spoke, pacing around the room, dramatically. "𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗴."
After a while. . .
"Why did you call me?" asked none other than Shadow the hedgehog himself.
"I just need you little help t—"
"The last time I almost had him until you interfered in the middle with that stupid camera."
"Well, this time I will stay away and watch the battle. I swear on my pinkie!"
— ᗴᑎᗪ - Oᖴ - ᖴᒪᗩՏᕼᗷᗩᑕK —
"Don't you dare interfere in the middle this time.."
"I know, I know." said Eggman with his hands up in surrender as he stayed away in his eggmobile.
Then—
Shadow teleported to me and before I could process it, I got another punch in my stomach.
Oh, now the battle began. . .
Amy swung her hammer at him but he dodged it. I gritted my teeth and used my spin attack, while he did the same, leaving blue and red blurs behind. But after we collided, we went flying to opposite directions.
I regained my balance quickly and so did he.
"Chaos spears!" He said like a command as he gathered Chaos Energy in his hands.
Knuckles tried to punch or grab him but he teleported here and there LIKE IT'S A GAME OF 'WHACK-A-MOLE'!
Then he kicked Knuckles, grabbed Tails's tails and swung him away!
"H E Y ! !" I yelled as I countered wirh a Homing Attack. But he just teleported and attacked Amy and Sticks instead!!
And out of nowhere- he punched me really, really hard on my jaw, making me fall on the ground, my head getting dizzy.
Everyone else was knocked out.. But how..?
"Now let's end this… once and for all." declared Shadow, his voice low and final. He then raised his hand, and a violent red aura surged to life in his palm; chaotic and unstable, crackling with raw energy.
"Sonic!!!" I could faintly hear my friends yelling— Tails, Knuckles, Amy.. and maybe even Sticks.
But there was no way I was giving up!
Not now. Not like this.
He stepped forward, energy humming louder, seconds away from striking me down.
Then—
A figure. A flash of motion!
Someone moved between us!
I could''t see clearly. My vision blurred, the colors smearing like wet paint. I tried to speak but the words wouldn't form.
And then— everything faded into darkness.
(?)'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
I didn't even think. I just.. moved.
I threw myself in front of Sonic— just when Shadow's attack came down!
The blow landed hard, really really hard. And I was sent flying, crashing brutally into a tree.
My body screamed in pain and I could barely breathe.
But then… something strange happened.
That chaotic red aura..?
It didn't explode.
Instead, it 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗱 into 𝗺𝗲.
Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth as I wiped it away with the back of my glove. Every inch of me was trembling. My knees wanted to give out.
But I stood up. Again. And stepped in front of Sonic, fists clenched.
My gaze was weak, hazy, but I forced myself to lock eyes with the black hedgehog while he just... stared back.
Then—
"Get away from them!" Amy's voice rang out as she charged in, swinging her hammer fiercely.
Shadow dodged effortlessly, but before he could strike back, Knuckles leapt in with a punch.
This was my chance!
I staggered over to Sonic and lifted him as gently as I could. He was barely conscious, his weight heavy against me.
"I've got you.." I whispered even though I was barely standing. But I quickly brought him to my shack, leaving a trail blue blur behind.
No matter what, I wouldn't let him fall alone.
After sometime. . .
He was lying on the hammock, unconscious. I tried treating his bruises and injuries before mine.
But I couldn't help but wonder... who was that hedgehog? Why did he attack Sonic? Why did he attack 𝘂𝘀?
Few moments ago, I was in Tails lab to get the tools to fix my communicator. But when I saw villagers running here and there, screaming, something was definitely wrong.
As soon as I reached the source of the commotion, I saw. . .
That black hedgehog. Standing over Sonic. Sonic already on the ground, barely able to move!
Before I even realized it, my body had moved on its own. I ran — with no hesitation — and threw myself between them.
I sighed, snapping back to the present, and looked at Sonic again. His chest rose and fell slowly.
— TIᗰᗴ - ՏKIᑭ —
As Sonic slowly opened his eyes, all of us let out a breath of relief.
"Sonic.." I whispered, stepping closer.
"Ugh… ow, my head…" he groaned, blinking as he sat up slightly. Then his eyes widened. "Wait! Where is Shadow?!"
Shadow?
Oh... it must be the name of that black hedgehog.
But.. why does that name strike a nerve?
"After Sonica brought you here, Shadow teleported and disappeared from the battlefield. Eggman looked completely disappointed," Amy explained, arms crossed.
"Wait… 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 brought me here?!" Sonic asked, his voice rising in disbelief.
"Yes," Amy replied calmly, but firmly. I nodded slowly.
He then turned to me then but he didn't look relieved or grateful.
He was furious.
"WHY?!"
"What do you mean why? She saved you," Tails said, his tone full of confusion and concern.
Sonic pushed himself off the hammock with a grunt. "I never asked for her help!" he growled.
"Are you nuts?! She saved you! You should be thankful!" Amy shouted, annoyed.
"But I never asked her to help me! I never used to run away from the battle field! And now Shadow probably thinks I'm some coward who hides behind a… girl who shouldn't have been there in the first place!"
What..?
His words.. didn't have to be that sharp to cut.
My face went blank. Just numb.
"Why are you saying that?!" Amy shouted, eyes wide in disbelief.
"It's her fault!" Sonic shouted again. "It's because of her that Shadow thinks I'm weak! A coward!"
"No, he doesn't!!" Amy yelled back, growing more and more frustrated.
"Yes, he does! And it's all BECAUSE OF HER!"
Amy looked like she was about to explode, but I spoke up before she could.
"Amy, he's right. It's my fault.. I should've just let him die."
My voice.. got his original tone. Monotone and numb.
Then I turned and walked out with a sigh.
"Sonica! Wait—" Amy called, rushing after me.
But I didn't stop. I didn't feel like it.
In my head, his words repeated like a curse I couldn't shake.
Shouldn't have been there…
Shouldn't have been there…
Shouldn't have been there..
𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗩
Sonic!! Are you out of your mind?!" shouted Tails.
"You have no idea what she's been through!!!" Amy shouted back, her voice filled with frustration.
"W-What do you mean?" Sonic asked, his voice quieter, more confused.
"You were almost dead, weren't you?! Shadow was about to kill you but then Sonica jumped in and took the hit!" she yelled, the anger still evident in her tone.
Sonic's expression wavered as he processed her words.
"Maybe she was right... She should've let you die." Amy said with a glare. "but she cares about you more than herself!"
"What have I done?!" he said to himself, gripping his quills. "I have to apologise!"
Amy nodded firmly, her expression softening a little. "We will help you find her."
ᗰᗴᗩᑎᗯᕼIᒪᗴ. . .
Sonica sat under a tree, her back resting against the bark. The weather had turned worse and the wind began to howl, but she didn't care.
The storm around her matched the storm inside.
Her body was aching physically but it was nothing compared to the weight of Sonic's words.
"Why am I even bothered by his words..." she whispered to herself, her voice soft as she looked down at her trembling hands.
Suddenly— she heard footsteps approaching.
Looking up, she saw shadow, literally.
It was the black hedgehog; Shadow.
"What do you want now?" she asked, her voice cold, refusing to meet his gaze.
Shadow stood a few feet away, his arms crossed. "What's wrong?"
"..none of your business." Sonica responded coldly, still hugging her knees close to her chest.
Shadow frowned and took a step closer. Then he knelt down in front of her, his expression still serious. "You are faking, faker."
"Faker?!" She looked at him, surprised and angry. "It's because of you!"
Shadow sighed and crossed his arms. "So Sonic said something idiotic."
Sonica flinched in surprise, but she didn't speak. She stood up with the support of the tree, trying to steady herself.
"Why did you attack them?"
"Because he's my enemy," Shadow replied bluntly, standing up as well.
"This all happened because of you," Sonica murmured, her eyes glared at the black hedgehog.
"If you think I'm going to apologize, forget it." Shadow kept his arms crossed, his tone indifferent.
Sonica's voice faltered and she sighed, whispering,"No, it's my fault... i shouldn't have been there."
Shadow remained silent for a moment, then, with a frown, he spoke again. "Having friends make you sensitive. Look at you, being sad over a few words."
"I don't understand why his words affected me so much, okay?!" She snapped, frustrated.
Shadow's eyes narrowed at her. But suddenly, her body gave up. She had forgotten to treat her own injuries, and now she was falling unconscious.
For a second, Shadow frozen, "Wait, don't pass out on me—"
But his hands instinctivly caught her before her limp body could touch the ground. He didn't know what to do—he wasn't used to this. But he didn't feel like pushing her away either.
Something about her struck a nerve in him.
Shadow then sighed, though his own emotions remained unreadable. "You'll be alright."
𝙉𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣. . .
𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗪'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩
I had never held anyone except... Maria.
But somehow… holding her felt familiar.
Why does this blue hedgehog feel like someone I already know?
Why did he— that faker —make her so upset?
"Sonica! Where are you? I'm really sorry!" I heard someone shout in the distance.
Sonica...? That was the name?
"Sonica... Wait—Shadow…?" Sonic muttered, his expression unreadable.
I didn't wait. I teleported away and brought her to my place.
Still…
Why does she feel so… familiar?
I sat down, placing her beside me.
She lied still— pale, injured amd vulnerable. Yet she looked peaceful.
Maybe it still hurts. She ended up taking the attack which was meant for him. I struck her, just because she had jumped in between.
And she… absorbed it. Why?
And why does her name have to sound so familiar to his?
"Maria…" I sighed, gazing at the sky. "I don't understand…"
After a long moment, I stood and gently picked her up.
"Time to get you back home…"
So we teleported. I settled her on her couch and returned/teleported back to my place.
Still.. why did she feel so familiar?
The answer's there. It's right there— I can feel it—
But.. I can't see it.
And I hate when this happens!
— TIᗰᗴ - ՏKIᑭ —
"Come and catch me if you can~"
"Oh, don't you dare~"
Soft giggles echoed in the empty aisle—ligjt and carefree.
Then came the whispers.
"Shadow, meet her."
"Her name will be Shade.."
"She's so small.."
Then the warmth slowly fades into a storm...
"P R O F E S S O R ! ! !"
"You are not safe here.."
Red flashing warnings.. and dreadful screams...
"CHAOS BLAST!"
"S H A D O W ! ! ! ! "
No!!
"S-Shadow, promise me..."
A gun's haunting click and...
"M A R I A A A A A A ! ! ! ! ! "
"NO!" I shot up, gasping for air. My hands clutched my head.
"M-Maria…" I whispered, trembling.
My head throbbed.
And then— it all came back.
Everything.
Everything I had forgotten about... Sonica.
I have to see her— right now!
The sunlight had already crept in through the windows.
There was no time to lose.
I immediately teleported to her house.
"Sonica—!"
But she wasn't there!
Where could she go this early?!
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling up.
A low growl escaped me as I turned around and began to search.
— ᗰᗴᗩᑎᗯᕼIᒪᗴ —
Sonic and his friends were battling against Eggman.
"You really wanted to battle this early, Egghead?!"
"Well, yeah! And I should have not trusted Shadow!"
"Don't even say his name.." Sonic gritted his teeth and launched his Spin Dash into a bunch of bots.
Then Sonica also joined the battle but—
"What were you doing with Shadow yesterday?!" Sonic asked with a glare.
"Nothing." replied Sonica with a frown.
"Oh come on! Tell the truth!" he growled while smashing a bee bot.
"I am telling the truth!" said Sonica while dodging the crab bots.
"So what's your relation with him!?"
"Why are you asking such questions?! I just met him yesterday for god's sake!"
"Just tell me the truth!!"
"I AM TELLING THE TRUTH! It's not what you think!"
"GO ARGUE SOMEWHERE ELSE! WE ARE TRYING TO BATTLE HERE!"
They stopped battling the bots for the moment and stood face to face.
"Then what is it? Why were you two hugging eachother?!" he asked, stepping closer.
"Hugging eachother?! When?!" She said with wide eyes, then realized. "Wait, it wasn't a hug—"
"Just tell me what's going on between you two?!" shouted Sonic, grabbing her shoulders. "Were you planning to stab me in my back with him?!"
"NO!"
Just then— Shadow teleported there and yanked her out of Sonic's grip.
"Don't. You. Dare. Hurt her." Shadow said with a glare, now standing between them.
"Shadow! why are you here!?" asked Sonica, shocked.
"Why are you protecting her?!" Sonic said, wide eyed himself. "Are you two in a team?!"
Shadow clenched his fists, barely holding it together.
He only wanted to tell the secret to Sonica and NO ONE ELSE.
But Sonic was pushing his buttons!
"Come on, speak up! What's your relation with her?!"
"Sonic, why don't you trust me?!"
"I'm not talking to you!" He snapped.
And that was it.
Shadow's rage exploded as his voice thundered—
"S H E'S M Y 𝗦 𝗜 𝗦 𝗧 𝗘 𝗥!!!"