Maybe a possibly non-cannon piece where Sonic and Shadow respectively meet Tom and Maddie Wachowski (because I love those two so much!)
Like maybe Shadow finds an injured cat and he takes it to the vet clinic where he has a friendly interaction with our beloved Pretzel Lady.
For Sonic, perhaps he's down in the dumps over a failed mission and Donut Lord talks to him (probably over some donuts) and he offers him some kind words and advice.
After that the day ends with both couples going to their own homes and talking to each other about their day.
Oh I can def do this! I can use the concept of movie roleswap for this since I did that for last short story week! But i’m gonna finagle a bit to make it flow since that’s two different scenes and trying to make them work together in a short story might be too much. So instead! Sonic’s the “cat”
We’ll say this takes place after Shadow 3. Before the teaser for 4? Link to previous piece in curious: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62985502/chapters/161910712#workskin
A little background. Shadow and Sonic saved the world. Sonic pushes Shadow out of the laser to save him and pushes the Eclipse cannon safely away from earth. Shadow returned home with his family and does not know what happened to Sonic or Robotnik.
I hope this works… I may have gone a little overboard…
Shadow took long runs after all of the events. GUN forcing them to do their dirty work. Discovering they had a Hedgehog like him imprisoned for over fifty years who was then tricked into thinking vengeance was the answer. Then that same Hedgehog sends Maddie to the hospital, but then helps him stop the eclipse cannon from killing everyone.
And he still never got any answers about where the blue hedgehog came from.
So Shadow ran, further and faster than before to clear his mind of the spinning thoughts. He hated how he failed to save Sonic.
While his thoughts continue to spiral, a sensation crawls down his spines and through his quills. An energy he was very familiar with but did not understand until Knuckles explained it better.
He quickly changes his trajectory towards the energy, it was extremely weak but unmistakable. Because Shadow had shared the energy of the Chaos Emeralds with Sonic, they were lost. Knuckles tried not to be upset with him but he knew it was his fault. Maybe this was one of them and Tails could use it to help them find the others.
Continuing his pace until he sees the outline of a crater. It must have crashed a while ago since there were no other signs of smoke from atmospheric debris.
Leaning over the edge of the crater, he freezes. The unmistakenly familiar shade of blue lay at the bottom… unmoving.
This was not how he thought he'd find the blue hedgehog. His body, left in the middle of nowhere. It was making him even more sick.
The hum of chaos energy was still there. Reminding him why he came here.
The Chaos Emerald must still be with Sonic…
After regathering his composure, Shadow slid down the side of the crater next to the body. Blue quills still looked healthy even covered in dirt and a few burns from re-entering the atmosphere.
Steeling himself for what he has to do he kneels down. “Pardon me,” Shadow knew the response wouldn't be answered but still felt important to say.
Sonic deserved that much.
He checks through his quills first, no emeralds resting there. Gently turning him over, unavailable to stop himself from grimacing at what the front of him might look like.
It was a relief to see his body was fully intact. He didn't know how he would have reacted if it was graphic.
Shadow forces himself to focus on finding the emerald. Then he'll find a place to keep Sonic's body safe until he could get some help with a proper burial.
Only there isn't an emerald…
He's positive that he feels chaos energy. Is it Sonic's body?
Gently placing his hand on Sonic's arm, it wasn't as cold as he expected a corpse to be. Not like he'd ever touched one but he vividly remembers that dead bodies were cold to the touch. Tails always loved watching those murder mystery shows… it's no wonder he has such terrible nightmares…
Shadow looked towards Sonic's neck, slowly pulling off his glove so there was no second guessing. Pressing his fingers against the pulse point like Maddie taught him.
There! Faint but definitely there, a pulse.
Without thinking, he slips his glove on and picks up Sonic. Making sure he's secure in his arms before dashing back home as fast as he could.
He'll be back there in only a few minutes at top speed but he needs to be cautious about not injuring Sonic more… once he gets there than Maddie…
Sonic had accidentally sent Maddie to the hospital while disguised as a gun agent.
Shadow's speed slows while he thinks everything over. Would Maddie be willing to help Sonic?
Maybe he could ask Maddie some questions and try to help Sonic himself.
With a new plan made Shadow took Sonic to his old cave. It wasn't as nice as home but it worked for him for the short time he was here before Maddie found him.
This had become a place to himself when he needed quiet. Even keeping a few of his old items here just in case. Luckily a blanket was one of them.
“I'm going to get some supplies and be back as quickly as I can.” Shadow said while bundling Sonic up into the blanket to stay warm. He makes sure Sonic is secure before running home.
“Hi hun, you're back sooner than I expected. Are you hungry? I can whip up a sandwich for you.” Maddie said cheerfully as Shadow watched her go over to the fridge.
She was finally able to take off the shoulder brace but still had a brace on her wrist.
“Maybe later… Can I ask you something?” Shadow asked, trying not to look panicked.
“Of course, sweetie.” Maddie said quickly, noticing something was bothering him.
“What if I found this… cat and they were hurt. Barely breathing and pulse is weak. How would I help h-them?” Shadow silently cursed at himself for the terrible lie.
“Shadow Wachowski, you better not have brought another cat home.” Maddie said,
Shadow's ears lowered at the stern voice, not angry but concerned. “No…”
“I need you to be honest, especially if this cat is sick. you should bring them to me and I can take them to the vet.” Maddie said, placing a reassuring hand on his head.
“I… I can't,” Shadow said, avoiding her gaze.
Maddie kneels down in front of him. Noting the small tremble in his tightened fists. “Shadow, what aren't you telling me?” Instantly seeing him trying to hide the flinch. “A mother knows when their kids are hiding something.” it was meant to be in a teasing tone but Shadows' expression looked panicked.
Then she noticed Shadow was glancing at her brace. She knew it tore him up inside to see her hurt. “Oh sweetie, it's just a cat. I take care of them at my job all the time, it won't hurt me.”
“What's this about a cat?” Tom walks in and Shadow can't stop his quills from puffing out.
What would Tom think about Sonic being alive? He was a sheriff, would he arrest him?
“Tom, would you mind keeping the boys out of the kitchen until we're done talking?” Maddie turns to Tom giving him a look.
“On it, boss!” Tom said with a salute before giving Shadow a reassuring smile then heading back into the living room.
“Shadow, take a few moments to breathe.” Maddie instructed. “We're a family. No matter what's bothering you, we'll handle it together.”
“You may not say that if I tell you…” Shadow said. Now that worried her a little bit but she'd keep it to herself.
“We've been through a lot together. A lot more recently but we've always come through.” Maddie said,
“It's… not a cat.” Shadow looked away again as she internally thought of what other creatures could be injured. Oh she hoped it wasn't a bear…
The kitchen stayed quiet for longer than Maddie realized.
“Your saying, Sonic is alive? And he's here?” Maddie asked.
“I left him in my cave…” Shadow said.
“Tom!” Maddie called out causing Shadow to flinch.
“Here!” He quickly reentered the kitchen.
“Get me your keys. Shadow and I will be back later. There's leftovers in the fridge.” Maddie said, pulling on her coat.
“Everything alright?” Tom asked, now worried.
“I'll update you in a bit but right now we have to hurry.” Maddie said.
“Are you okay Shadow?” Tails asked, all Shadow could manage was a nod, not sure how to bring it up.
“We'll be back.” Maddie said ushering Shadow through the front door and to the truck. “We need to hurry.”
“It's okay sweetie.” Maddie patted Shadow's head before making sure he had his seatbelt on. “You were scared and that's perfectly normal. Why don't you tell me what happened?”
Shadow explained everything while they drove up the pass, it hadn't been the first time Maddie had driven up to Shadow's old cave.
Now that she had the whole picture she was very worried about Sonic. The fact that he fell from space and had been lying in the forest all this time was and was still breathing was a miracle. If she can she will try to save him, it's the least she could do for him saving her son.
It terrified her when her boys explained what happened on the eclipse cannon. They all almost died.
Shadow led her into the cave. She zeroed in on the blue quills immediately. Rushing over and checking his pulse. It was thready, and it seems that having the blanket now revealed Sonic was trembling.
“We need to get him to my office immediately.” Maddie needed more than her emergency kit. Sonic was extremely dehydrated and malnourished… though that might have been the case before he broke out of GUNS prison.
“I have him.” Shadow picked him up, not wanting Maddie to hurt her wrist.
“Keep him bundled up. The cold cave might have lowered his body temperature.” Maddie said, helping Shadow back to the truck making sure he doesn't trip.
“You were trying to help, luckily it looks like we got here in time. Let's go.” She makes sure Shadow is secure and holding onto Sonic before they drive to the vet.
Maddie had Shadow wait in her office. It was the weekend so no one would be questioning her taking care of an anthropomorphic Hedgehog. She made sure that he had an IV giving him all he needed along with a heated blanket to bring up his temperature.
His pulse was stabilizing.
Now that she knew Sonic was out of danger, she updates Tom then heads to her office to check on Shadow.
He sat in the chair with his head lowered. Immediately lifting it to look up at her. “Is he?”
“He's stable. Do you want to see him?” Shadow nodded immediately to her question. She waits holding out her hand to him before he takes it.
“I'm just waiting for his X-ray to make sure nothing's broken. I had to lay him in a dog bed for now until we got him home.”
“Home?” Shadow looked up at her surprised.
“We definitely can't leave him here.” Maddie said with a chuckle. “Once we know he's starting to recover we'll get him back. I already texted Tom to get the guest room ready.”
“I thought… after he attacked you.”
Maddie stops before opening the door. She kneels down placing her hands on his shoulders and makes sure he's looking at her.
“Shadow, what Sonic did was an accident. I was disguised as a GUN soldier and it triggered him. I know he wasn't attacking me specifically.” Maddie explained as Shadow deflated, relaxing a bit.
“Okay.” Shadow said. Maddie pats his head and then heads into the room. Sonic still lay motionless. The beeps from the monitor being their only proof that he was still alive.
“You watch over him while I grab the X-ray.” Maddie said leaving the room.
Shadow looked Sonic over. Maddie had cleaned up his fur a little and that already made him look brighter. That hum from the chaos energy inside of him was also growing stronger.
Was that what kept him alive?
For now all he can do is wait.
Though it may not be a long wait…
For the first time, Sonic moves. His brow furrows from pain or discomfort Shadow didn't know. “Maddie.” He called out before approaching.
His ears lowered at the sound of a pained whimper just as Maddie burst into the room. “What's wrong?”
“I think he's hurt.” Shadow said as she now saw Sonic twitching.
“I did see a fracture in his left leg. I can cast it but let me get him something for the pain before I do.” She walked over to the cabinet looking for supplies.
Shadow could feel Sonic's chaos energy continuing to grow. “He's waking up.” Shadow warned, running to stand in-between Sonic and Maddie just in case.
It wasn't as dramatic as Shadow thought it was going to be. He thought there'd be a burst of energy or he would jump up and instantly attack but he just opened his eyes at the ceiling.
“Sonic?” Shadow cautiously called out. The blue hedgehog slowly turned his head towards him. Looking too tired to do anything else. His eyes are still unfocused.
He squints, trying to see more than just the outline of two figures. “Stripes?” He slurred.
“Try to stay still, you broke your leg and I haven't had a chance to secure it.” Maddie said, trying to make sure that Sonic stayed still.
Unfortunately, her appearance in a lab coat like jacket was triggering enough to get Sonic to sit up looking panicked, chaos energy spiking all-around him as Shadow makes sure Maddie is safely back.
“Sonic stop!” Shadow tried to get Sonic to focus on him. “We're trying to help you.”
“No… you're just telling me that so you can experiment on me.” Sonic tried to move more only to yelp from the pain.
Maddie recognized the trigger, she quickly removed her jacket, throwing it aside and kneeled down next to Shadow.
“She's not a scientist, she's my mom.” Shadow said. Maddie smiled, it always warmed her heart when he called her that.
“Mom?” Sonic looked confused.
“My name is Maddie. I'm a veterinarian. All I want to do is cast your broken leg and then we can go home. It's probably more comfortable than this cold vet room.” She offered.
“Home?” Sonic looked between Shadow and Maddie, still confused. “I don't understand…”
“That's okay, can I come closer and make sure you're okay?” Maddie asked.
Sonic looks at Shadow who gives him a nod. He hesitates before nodding to the request.
Maddie made sure to move slowly. Giving instructions of what she would do next for each step. Making sure he was okay with it each time. The requests continued to confuse Sonic as he'd never been treated like this before.
“Now that we know you're stable, I can give you some pain medicine for your leg. It might make you a little drowsy.” Maddie explained as Sonic shook his head. “No meds, got it. I just need to step out and grab what I need to make the cast.”
“It'll hold your leg in place while it heals.” Maddie explained. “You won't be able to walk on it until it heals.”
“I can't walk?” Sonic panics,
“Not until it heals, after that you can walk all over the place. I'll be right back, Shadow will stay with you until I return.” Maddie said, waiting for Sonic's approval before leaving the room.
They stared at each other in silence for a while before Sonic let out a shaky breath. “How am I alive?”
“What's the last thing you remember?” Shadow asked, stepping a little closer.
“Robotnik said the explosion's radiation would kill everyone. He held back the generators while I pushed the cannon further into space. Then everything went white.” Sonic explained.
“I found you in a crater in the middle of the forest. Your chaos energy called out. I think it kept you alive.” Shadow said.
“Not enough to stop my leg from breaking.” Sonic grumbled as Shadow hopped up and sat next to him.
“I think it's lucky it was only your leg since you fell from space.” Shadow said.
Sonic lets out a snort before nudging Shadows' shoulder. And they stayed in comfortable silence until there was a knock at the door.
“I'm back,” Maddie said, holding the materials. “Shadow, can you help me? we gotta get Sonic off the dog bed.”
“Is it okay if I lift you up so we can remove the bed?” Shadow asked.
“Do I have to?” Sonic asked.
“The cast will help make sure your leg heals correctly. The faster you heal the faster you'll be back on your feet.” Maddie said with a smile.
“Fine…” Sonic moved his arms up as Shadow gently picked him up while Maddie moved the bed. And Shadow put him back down. “Cold…”
“We'll get you back under a blanket right after I'm finished.” Maddie said quickly getting to work. Noticing Sonic had taken Shadows hand after he put him back down.
From what Shadow explained, Sonic rarely knew kindness and that enraged her.
“Shadow, what's a home?” Sonic asked.
“It's the place where you feel safe. Where you rest and live with those you care about.” Shadow explained. “I haven't had it for very long but I can't imagine my life without it.”
Oh these boys were going to make her cry.
“All done! I hope the red color is alright, it's all we had at the moment.” Maddie said, clearing her throat.
“Yeah…. It's fine.” Sonic said.
“Now I want to at least keep you on the IV until it's finished. It's just helping you rehydrate.” Maddie explained while wrapping Sonic back into the heated blanket. Sonic glances over at the IV in his arm.
“Then it'll come out?” Sonic asked.
“Yes. You have my word.” Maddie said, “I'm going to call Tom and let him know the plan. I'll just be in the other room so holler if you need anything.” Maddie said, petting Shadow's head.
“Thank you.” Shadow said. Maddie smiled before giving Sonic a wave and leaving them alone again.
Sonic tried to curl into a ball only to realize he couldn't. Panic setting in that he couldn't curl up to protect himself.
“What's wrong?” Shadow asked,
“I'm scared. I can't run, I can't defend myself…” Sonic's breathing began to quicken as Shadow held his hand.
“It's okay, I'll protect you until you can walk again. You're not alone and no one will hurt you.” Shadow reassured him.
Tears trickled down his face as he finally cried, Shadow realizing crying probably wasn't best when he was already dehydrated but he wasn't going to stop him. He just comforted him like he did when Tails was afraid of a storm.
Sonic cried himself to sleep in Shadows arms. Maddie was reluctant to wake him but worried moving him without his knowledge might scare him more.
Shadow managed to get Sonic awake long enough to explain they were taking him home. Too tired to argue, sonic only nodded and went back to sleep,
It looks like the Wachowski family just got a new member.
