FlameShadoFireDragon

I’m bored- distracted- or simply want to work on something else. Since you’re here for the same reason, here. You can enjoy my weirdness!

[shadofiredragon]

My Stuffs Master-Post

~ Stories/Fics ~

Legends Never Die: Part 1 (Sonic fanfic) - 1. Loaf of Life 2. Undercover Immortal 3. Bad Timing 4. Hacked~ 5. The Story-Teller 6. Where I Belong 7. Heart of a Hero 8. G.U.N’s Secret File 9. A Mother’s Care 10. A Plan of Escape 11. Safe and Protected 12. Plans Change

Quotes to Drabbles - 1. Snack Experiment (Sonic,Tails) 2. Bad Word..? (SCU,Sonic,Shadow) 3.

~ Artwork ~

• Lancelot’s Garden • “Chaos- Control!” • Shadow’s Dragon (sketch based off Ochlos AU by @000marie198) • Mizu Silver • Surge Sketch • Knuckles: Breaking the Wall • Tails’ Flying Meatball • Silver the Hedgehog in Marker • Nadenko Tomino (MHA Character Challenge) • In This Machine • A True Brother • Silver + Darkspine = Silverspine • Queen of Fluff (birthday gift for @000marie198) •

~ Comics ~

Antares Antics - “How to Distract a Hedgehog” pg. 1-2 • “How to Distract a Hedgehog” pg. 3-4 •

“Cold…” - pg 1 •

~ Tutorials ~

Drawing Hands

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Hooray!! New chapter for everyone! Shout out to beta-reader and editor @000marie198 for, well, putting up with me and this story. 😅 If you haven’t checked her out yet, please do! She also has a lot of amazing stories and posts. }

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Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 12 - Plans Change

A soft green glow streamed out from the back of the room and the kitsune pushed himself farther in to see where the source was coming from.

Tails gasped.

"What? What is it?!" Sonic's voice asked eagerly over the comms.

Tails didn't answer, stepping past a row of oblong containers and boxes that acted as a wall to block off any snooping outsider to the true prize deeper in the room.

A stasis pod, standing almost two feet taller than Tails, even in his human form, stood before him. Pipes, wires and thin tubes trailed from the top, feeding into silver machinery attached to the bottom and sides. A monitor jutted off from the right side of the pod and charted off various vital readings. Tails could hear the familiar hum of active machinery from it.

Tails stepped up to the glass of the pod, the soft green glow from within casting a sickly glow over him. He placed a hand on the thick glass, and it felt like his chest was caving in on itself. He sucked in a shaky breath.

Floating in the green liquid, eyes closed and body completely relaxed, was Shadow the hedgehog.

Cuffs were wrapped around his wrists, holding in place three different silicon tubes that weaved back to the top of the pod. Wires, most likely to take vitals, were attached to various places on the hedgehog's chest, arms, and head, also leading upwards to join the rest of the machinery.

All articles of clothing had been stripped from the hedgehog, leaving his hands and feet bare, displaying his sharp, cruel claws.

Tails clenched his jaw past the burning in his eyes.

Even the iconic gold rings that Shadow always wore, by necessity, had been taken away.

The only thing that helped console Tails' swelling emotions was the calm, peaceful expression on Shadow's face. It really did look like he was only sleeping a deep, restful sleep.

"Tails?! Don't keep us hanging, little buddy!"

Tails leaned away from the enclosure, hand unintentionally going to his ear.

"We did it guys. We found him."

Sonic cheered, his voice quieting as he moved away from his receiver and, undoubtedly, did a victory dance.

Sonic's excitement almost made Tails smile. But the sight of Shadow weightlessly floating in the stasis pod was enough to chase back any glee or giddiness.

That would have to wait until Shadow was safe back at the lair.

"Alright- time to work your magic, bud! How long d'you think it'll take for you to break Shadow out of that tin can?"

Tails knelt down on the ground, opening the briefcase and running a hand over the miscellaneous tools lined neatly inside it. He dislodged one and lifted it up, this time a small smirk making it onto his face.

He looked up at the pod challengingly, twirling the tool expertly in his hand.

"Give me five minutes."

                                    ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

Sonic slipped the headset back over his ears, grinning the entire time as he slid back into his seat.

"Alright- time to work your magic, bud! How long d'you think it'll take you to break Shadow out of that tin can?"

There was a pause over the comms, but Sonic knew it's only his little brother smiling.

"Give me five minutes."

Sonic smirked at the confident cadence in the fox's voice. No machine stood a chance against Tails when he got like that.

Sonic kicked his feet up on a ledge protruding from the back wall of their vehicle, watching the monitors that displayed live security camera footage of the hallway just outside Tails' room. There weren't any cameras inside the room so getting to see Shadow himself would have to wait, but at least Sonic had a good view of the cracked open door.

His gaze briefly flitted over three other monitors, each showing a different part of the hallway. Not a single human in sight, and Sonic hoped it would stay that way.

He flicked his hands up and tucked them behind his head with a flourish, looking up at the ceiling.

"You've been quiet, Omega. He's your old teammate, are you excited to be getting him back?"

Omega's voice came through Sonic's headset, "I am... relieved, that he has been located. But I am wary that this plan may still be foiled."

Sonic glanced down at the monitors. No humans.

A more somber expression came over his face and he slid one hand forward to push a button on his headset, cutting off any outgoing transmissions to Tails.

"Omega... You good?"

"I do not understand the query. I am as functional as could be expected from a sentient program."

Sonic shook his head. "No, no that's not what I meant." He pulled his feet back to the floor and leaned forward, "I was just... What you said back at the lair... If this plan works, Shadow'll be back home with us by morning. Are you... Okay? With that?"

There was a moment of silence before Omega's voice stoically responded, "I do not see the point in being 'okay' with Shadow's presence. He cannot remain in the custody of G.U.N. He must be liberated. And in that liberation, he will need a safe place to stay. 'Okay' or not, this is what must be done."

Sonic shook his head, reaching up for the button on his headset. "Of course. Just, know if you're ever not okay... It's okay to say so."

"I... shall keep that knowledge in my database."

"You do that." He clicked the button, voice instantly back to its excited tempo, "How's it coming, little buddy?"

"In a few words?"

Sonic heard a frustrated grunt.

"Not good."

Sonic frowned, "What's wrong?"

"This technology- it's a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. Seriously, what was wrong with the first one that held him?! Why advance when you have something that works?!"

"Yeah sure, cuz that's definitely what you do," Sonic pointed out teasingly.

He could hear the scowl in Tails' voice. "Not in the mood right now, Sonic. Seriously, this isn't going to be a laughing matter. The wiring is absurdly complex and I don't even want to talk about the layers upon layers of code in this thing. To make it worse, it looks like all the systems are integrated seamlessly into each other. If I mess something up, I could be causing a malfunction in two, maybe three, additional systems."

Sonic leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

"Okaaay, how many systems are there?"

"That's another thing. I don't actually know. I've mostly just been looking at the wiring and mechanics of it and from what I can tell there are at least three. Two of which I'm pretty sure are used for vital readings, and nutrition. Not sure what the rest is. Maybe some sort of heat regulation?"

Sonic's foot began tapping.

Tails continued, "There's a monitor on this thing and I'm pretty sure it's connected with all the programs. If I can hack into it I might be able to get him out without the risk of damaging the pod."

"Cool, just one question. Why would damaging it be a bad thing? If I were there I'd just spindash it open!"

"Oh, a couple reasons. For starters, we don't know what all this machine is meant to do and damaging it might set off some unknown protocol that kills Shadow. Or maybe causing it to malfunction would cause Shadow to go into cardiac arrest just because, ya know, he hasn't lived without this thing in over a hundred years? Also, because he hasn't been outside of this thing in that long, as far as we know, it's very very important that I deactivate this thing carefully. If I don't, who knows what could happen."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Alright then. No spindashing."

Tails continued speaking as if he hadn't heard the other, "For instance, the shock of being suddenly awakened could cause brain damage. I'm sure we would all love another amnesiac Shadow experience. Or he might panic and end up hurting himself. Or he could go into shock and stop breathing. OR-"

"Okay okay I get it! Take your time! You'd think he's stressed or something," Sonic muttered.

"I can still hear you," Tails said flatly. "And yeah, I'm kinda in a secure military base that belongs to an organization that kept my friend trapped for over a hundred years and would probably leap at the chance of capturing another powerful creature that may or may not have walked right into the depths of their base and is crazy enough to be trying to break out their other prized weapon. Not to mention the highly advanced AI and a super-powered legendary Mobian who's probably the only current reliable source of Chaos energy on the planet literally sitting right outside their base, just sitting ducks waiting for everything to go wrong!"

Sonic gave the screens a worried glance as he listened to Tails breathe rapidly, recovering from his rant.

"Uuuhhh..." Sonic sat awkwardly in his chair, nervous energy sinking in his stomach.

The fox could be heard sucking in a breath, then letting it out as a sigh.

"Sorry."

"Nah, bro, don't apologize. I get that it's scary..."

I should've gone in there.

Sonic shook off the thought. "But don't worry, okay? Omega and me got your back! And don't stress about us. If worst comes to worst, Omega's AI can reload back at the lair. And we all know that I can handle myself." He grinned and gave an encouraging thumbs up, despite Tails being unable to see it. "You just work on what you're good at and we'll all be back at the lair and laughing about this with Shadow in no time."

Tails chuckled.

Sonic leaned back in his chair, "See? No need to worry!"

"No, not that," Tails snickered. "Omega and I."

Sonic tilted his head. "I'm sorry?"

"You said Omega and me, but the proper way is Omega and I."

Sonic rolled his eyes, "Seriously? All of those amazingly encouraging words and that's what stuck?"

Tails laughed and Sonic couldn't help but smile.

Until he saw something cross the cameras.

Sonic shot to his feet, hands pressed against the desk, all joviality gone from his face. He watched the figure, a tall man in a white lab coat, turn down into Tails' hall, eyes fixed to the clipboard in his hand.

Sonic's eyes went from the moving figure on one screen to the screen showing the slightly ajar door leading into the storage room Tails was working in.

"Okay, uh, Tails? So, stay calm, but there's a person in the hall and he's getting close."

"What?!"

"This is less than optimal."

"It's okay, it's okay," Sonic quickly reassured, "I can hardly see into the room- so I doubt he can too-"

"Either."

"You're seriously going to correct me right now?"

"The best course of action would be to remain calm and quiet."

"Yes," Sonic agreed. "Aaaand maybe close the door to your room. If that guy sees that the door's open then you're gonna have a lot more to actually be worrying about."

"Uuuhm..."

"What's wrong? Get up and close the door! Quick before he gets close enough to see you!"

"I can't! It's a resealable door. If I close it, it'll lock me inside!"

"So?! Just have Omega open it again!" Sonic felt a flare of energy inside him as he watched the human make his way closer to the door.

"He can't."

"What?!" Panic gripped Sonic and he felt his energy become more restless. He quickly tried to cover it, voice dropping low, "Tails, if you don't shut that door, I guarantee you'll be spotted in less than ten seconds."

"It's not wide open, only an inch or two. It'll be fine! I can handle it!" Tails insisted

The human walked within a few feet of the slightly ajar door. At first, Sonic felt hope that the human wouldn't notice, but then the human stopped and looked up. He tilted his head suspiciously and took a cautious step towards the door.

Sonic couldn't take any more. He wouldn't stand by and watch his little brother get caught by G.U.N. He refused to let that happen to another friend.

Letting out a growl he tore off his headset and tossed it to the desk, smashing a button on the vehicle wall and darting to stand next to the slowly opening back door.

"Omega, watch Tails' back and get ready with directions for the quickest way out of the facility from his location."

Omega's voice sounded from the vehicle speakers, "What is your plan?"

Sonic hesitated, glancing down at the almost sparking light coming off his arms.

"Tails is gonna get caught. He needs a distraction. Just long enough for him to get Shadow out of there."

"Restating query: what is your plan?"

Sonic looked up at the facility with a smirk, crouching down into a running stance.

"I'm gonna give 'em a distraction they can't ignore."

With a crackle of energy and a burst of wind Sonic launched forward. His feet flew over the sandy earth, the wind blowing full force into his face. Pure elation made him feel as though he were floating! But he quickly shook the feeling back, focusing on his last-second addition to the plan.

Distraction.

He easily vaulted over the tall wire fence and blasted past the security guard outpost, sending paper and a coffee mug flying. In one smooth motion he curled into a spin attack, smashing through the front doorway, just to uncurl again and blast away in a blur of blue.

What was it Tails said earlier?

He took a sharp turn left, heading as far away from Tails' location as possible.

A siren blared to life, strobing red lights casting bloody shadows around him as he dashed through the hallways.

Something about chaos readers?

He couldn't help grinning as the entire base went red with lights and sirens. A feminine robotic voice began to announce over the speakers, 'Alert. Abnormal energy readings detected in sector three. All available units detain the source.'

Sonic smirked up at the ceiling, "Sector three huh? Well, whaddaya call this place?"

Curling into a ball he rolled up the wall, continued along the ceiling, and twisted to drop back down on the ground, facing back the way he came. Not losing any momentum, he dashed back to the lobby area, running circles in the open space and sending G.U.N agents scurrying to keep their hats and papers.

Sonic's ear twitched at the robotic voice announcing, 'Abnormal energy readings have moved to the lobby area. All units proceed to the lobby area to detain the source.'

Sonic shook his head in disappointment before boosting off to another hallway.

'Abnormal energy readings detected in sector 2- 4-'

Sonic felt no small amount of amusement listening to the robotic voice glitch while trying to keep up with his location. It only got better at the thought of G.U.N soldiers running around frantically trying to figure out where and how to stop him.

Speaking of stopping him, Sonic glanced up at the blurred walls.

"So much for security. I guess those chaos readers really were the only things to worry about-"

The words hardly left his mouth when a solid steel door slammed to the floor directly in front of him. With a yelp he just barely steered away in time to avoid crashing straight into it, and continued his run back the way he'd come. But that option was quickly outdone when another door came crashing down.

Hissing under his breath Sonic peeled to the left, forced to confine his running between the two doors. He knew he couldn't risk stopping and let the cameras get a good look at him, so he ran in a circle of blue, his movement stirring up a wind in the lifeless trap.

The sound of whirring machinery made his ear twitch and his eyes darted up to the ceiling. Panels moved inward, folding away and opening gaps for pistol-like objects to descend through. Red points of light flicked on and targeted his projected path, aimed and ready to fire.

"Oh great," he grumbled, "Lasers? Really?"

The robotic voice returned, 'All units, source of energy fluctuation has been contained in sector 5 hall 7. Apprehend and detain.'

Sonic's ears twitched again at the sound of shouting voices beyond one of the doors, followed by heavy footsteps.

Energy twisted inside of him and he felt his stomach sink with dread.

"Oh boy..."

                                     ~•~•~•~

There had been a muffled clatter, followed by a deafening silence in his ear. Tails' heart skipped when his brother's usually non-stop dialogue had suddenly cut off.

"Sonic?" he whispered. Then a little louder, "Sonic, for chaos' sake answer me right now-"

"What are you doing here?"

Tails spun around, a chill of dread skittering up his spine.

He swallowed, desperately trying to calm his racing thoughts and drumming heart.

"Just here for maintenance and system check." He prayed his voice was calmer than he felt it was and that the human standing in the doorway didn't see the shake in his hand as he gestured at the open case full of tools on the floor.

The man's face hardened and he extended a hand. "No one's allowed in here. I need to see a permission pass from an officer ranking higher than third star."

"Uuuh, right. Of course."

Tails made a show of searching his uniform.

C'mon, Tails, don't think too hard, everything will be fine just don't blow it!

Before he had the chance to conjure a definitely not forged and definitely not misplaced permission pass, the lights went pitch dark, replaced by glaring red that strobed in the halls, followed by the sound of a distant siren.

Both the human and disguised kitsune were startled by the sudden darkness and the human looked back from where he'd come with confusion and shock in his eyes.

"What the-"

That was as far as he got before Tails, deciding to ditch the effort of presenting the forged slip, lunged at him, taking advantage of the distraction and punching the man straight in the jaw.

There was a pop and the man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Tails flexed his fingers, grimacing at the pain shooting through the delicate appendages.

"Why are humans so fragile!" He hissed before asking, "Sonic? What's going on out there!?"

His question was once again met by silence and his tail twitched inside his pant leg.

"Sonic?! Please answer me!"

"Sonic is not currently available."

Tails' stomach dropped and he had to cover one ear to block out the blaring sirens.

"Omega?! What do you mean? Where's Sonic?!"

"He is... the distraction."

"Son of a-!" Tails hissed, scooping up one of his tools and hurrying to cover the opened wiring of the stasis pod. "Where is he?!"

"It is difficult to discern. I am experiencing difficulty remaining within G.U.N's systems while their emergency protocol program is running."

"This is why I wanted you to stay in the van!" Tails growled. His hands shook, his stomach a mess of knots as he tried to reattach the panel. "Please, Omega, if you can figure out where he is, I might be able to get him out of here before he's caught!"

"Affirmative. Processing..."

Tails hurried to finish reattaching the panel he'd only minutes ago removed. His eyes flitted up to Shadow's slumbering body, pain and regret squeezing his chest.

"Sorry we couldn't just get you out nice and easy..."

"Tails, I believe I have pinpointed Sonic's location within the base. It seems he kept the security system on fritz until emergency lockdown was enforced. Now it appears that he's been confined within a portion of hallway 7 in sector 5."

"Perfect." Tails shut his briefcase full of tools and slid it under a nearby shelf, hiding it from view. "You're gonna have to guide me there."

"Tails- I must question if this course of action is wise."

Tails stood straight, eyed the unconscious human on the floor, and took a determined step towards the door.

"Of course it's not. But we don't have a choice. G.U.N can't get him. If they do, there's no telling what they'll be able to do."

"And if they acquire you?"

Tails didn't flinch at the question, one step away from entering the hallway.

"Doesn't matter. I'm not going to lose another friend."

A blast of wind blew into him, sending him stumbling backwards and he covered his face to protect his eyes from the harsh air current.

As quickly as it had come it was gone, replaced by a familiar voice.

"What in chaos are you doing, Tails?! Get back in there!"

Before Tails could even catch up to his shock he was given a hard shove in his midsection, driving him back into the storage room.

When Tails had recovered, he looked up to see Sonic holding the door open an inch, peeking out into the hallway warily. Deeming the coast clear, the hedgehog nodded and turned around, brushing white chunks and dust from his fur.

"Man, talk about a close call!"

Rage boiled up in Tails body and he stormed towards the hedgehog. "What are you doing here, Sonic?!" He shouted and instantly Sonic's attention jerked upwards to the enraged Kitsune. In his human form Tails towered over the blue mobian, and he used that to his full advantage, hands waving outward in an aggressive motion. "I told you to wait in the Grounder!"

Sonic cowered under the kitsune's shadow, both hands raised passively.

"I know I know- but you were in trouble! I couldn't just-"

"Couldn't what, Sonic?! Couldn't trust me to take care of myself?!"

Sonic's ears flicked back. "No- no it's not like that at all!" He looked away, breaking eye contact with his 'little' brother. "I just... I couldn't just sit by and see you put yourself in danger. I needed to make sure you were going to be safe."

Tails deflated, the raging fire inside him slowly diminishing, though far from leaving. With a strained exhale he turned away from his 'big' brother.

"We'll talk about this later," he said, voice heavy. His eyes locked onto the stasis pod housing the pinnacle of their mission. "What's happened- well- it's happened. Let's just try and get Shadow out of here before someone figures out what's going on."

His eyes flicked back towards Sonic. "You made sure you couldn't be tracked right?"

Sonic straightened, instantly recovered from being lectured by his little brother. He put his hands on his hips, the blue stripes on his arms dimly glowing.

"Oh I made sure all right! Remember those chaos energy sensor things?" He smirked. "Let's just say I gave 'em more than they were expecting."

Tails halted, looking back at Sonic, stunned. "You overloaded them?"

Sonic's confidence wavered into confusion and he scratched his head.

"Uh, I think so? I was trying to break out of a trap using more energy than usual and suddenly some of the cameras started sparking." He shrugged. "I just kept up the energy output on my way here."

Tails eyes landed on the dim marks on Sonic's arms, worry worming its way into his stomach. He reached out for his brother's energy and relaxed when it felt as vibrant and lively as usual. Perhaps a little less obvious, but nothing concerning.

"Woah..."

Sonic's quiet voice pulled Tails from his careful observations and back to reality. The hedgehog was staring past him and at the stasis pod.

His emerald eyes were wide and empty, his jaw slack in a stunned stupor. Slowly, the hedgehog stepped forward, striding past the tall human Kitsune and towards the pod.

Tails marveled at how small Sonic looked compared to the ominous machine housing their slumbering friend.

Sonic reached up, placing a gloved hand on the glass.

"What did they do to you?" he whispered. The stripes on his arms flashed brighter for a moment and Tails could feel the sudden spike of energy pierce the air.

The hedgehog sucked in a breath, hand curling into a fist as he bowed his head, his quills bristling with emotion.

Tails stepped forward. "Sonic, I know what you're thinking but we can't risk taking on all of G.U.N. At least, not right now."

Sonic looked back up at his red and black copy, nodding slowly.

"Yeah. You're right. Justice will have to wait." The hedgehog spun away from the pod, marching past Tails and crouching by the door, peaking through the crack before looking up at Tails with a smirk. "I'll keep guard here. You just worry about getting Shadow out of there."

Tails hesitated, then nodded, snatching one of his tools from his case and kneeling next to the pod.

He still felt angry with Sonic for taking this stupid, unnecessary risk but knew that now wasn't the time for getting upset. He just kept one thought in mind.

Plans never go how they're supposed to.

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{ *long sigh* Someday- maybe I’ll come back and rewrite these breakout chapters. Who knows. Maybe you all will love it and they’ll be left alone. Time will tell. Main goal is to get to the end of this story. Then I’ll worry about big chapter changes. Hope you all enjoyed! }

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Okay- last chapter- and then Tumblr is caught up with Wattpad, Fanfic and A03. Phew! Can’t wait to actually start uploading new stuff! Special thanks to @000marie198 for beta reading and helping to edit- and yeah! Enjoy! }

( First | Previous | Next )

Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 11 - Safe and Protected

Silver held his breath, hoping against hope that Sivannah wouldn't move her knight-

"Checkmate."

He released his breath. Right there.

"I do apologize, young one," Sivannah's voice creaked sympathetically, "I should have known that this game would be a tad more difficult for one your age. Though, if it helps, I will admit that you have managed to do much better at this than I would have expected."

Silver rubbed his forehead and pulled a small blanket, which Sivannah had traded out for the towel, tighter around his shoulders. A slight headache had begun to pester him, too much thinking finally catching up to him.

"No, don't be sorry. I just need to practice it more."

Sivannah nodded, watching him carefully as he reached over and began to reset the pieces, intermittently rubbing his achy head. They'd been halfway through their third game when Silver decided to drop down to the floor, joining Sivannah and the chessboard. It made reaching the pieces easier, as opposed to pointing and directing Sivannah on where to place them.

Silver picked up one of the tall pieces, a bishop, and began to place the yellowed wood back on its square when Sivannah's wrinkled hand came to rest on his. He didn't pull away or react, he'd become accustomed to her seeing his marks and now it didn't seem to bother him at all. He looked up at her, questioning.

"I think we should take a break from playing for today," she said.

Silver couldn't help feeling disappointed but for the sake of his aching brain he relented.

"Okay," he said, pulling back his hands and tucking them underneath the warm blanket. His golden eyes watched as Sivannah gracefully packed up the game and stowed it back where she'd got it from. When she sat back down, Silver couldn't help looking up and around the room, ears turning to hear the stubborn patter of rainfall.

"The clouds refuse to cease hmm?" The storyteller whispered.

Silver nodded slowly. He shivered and pulled the blanket closer around him.

"What do we do now?" he asked.

Though, more accurately, he was asking what he would do. He doubted Sivannah would want him to stay the whole night. But his skin had never felt so fresh nor his fur so clean. He dreaded the thought of walking through the toxic rain to get home.

The story-teller hummed thoughtfully.

"That is an excellent question," she mused.

She glanced at Silver just as he caught a yawn, his tiny canines flashing in the dim firelight.

She smiled fondly at him.

"I do have other games that we might entertain ourselves with but I do think you may be too tired for that."

Instantly, Silver perked up, shedding the tiredness in his eyes in hopes of staying longer with the old possum.

"What- No! I'm not tired! Let's play another game!"

Sivannah chuckled, amused by his childish denial. "It's alright, young Silver, there's no shame in growing tired. I do suppose the day is drawing near its eve as it is and I'm sure the events leading you to be stranded outside would already have left you weary."

Silver ducked his head, muzzle burning in misery at the memory of being chased and beaten by the bullies. Invisible bruises throbbed beneath his cleaned fur and the small scratch on his cheek stung with sharp reminder.

"Though, perhaps..."

Silver's head shot up to look at the possum.

She appeared to be pondering something.

"You say that you have no parents."

Silver's ears drooped. "Yes ma'am," he replied glumly.

How many pains in his short life could he have avoided if only he'd had his parents?

"So no one will be expecting you home by any hour?"

"No."

"Well then." She gave him a gentle smile, patting the ground next to her. "Why don't you spend tonight here in the tent?"

Silver's eyes widened.

"Y-you mean it?"

She laughed. "Don't look so surprised, little one, of course I mean it!"

"But, I thought you said-"

"That was for the Tavern, child. This-" she gestured at the area around them- "is my abode. And whatever I say in here goes."

Silver felt like he could've exploded from joy.

"Oh, Sivannah!" he cried, launching himself into her and wrapping his tiny arms around her shoulders in a tight hug, "Thank you- thank you- thank you!"

He could feel the buzz inside his mind react to his excitement while his hands grew warm, but he didn't care. More importantly, Sivannah didn't care and she even wanted him to stay! In his short life he couldn't think of any night that would've been better than this one.

Sivannah's warm laugh resonated against his chest as her long, thin arms wrapped around him, returning the hug.

"You are quite welcome, young Silver."

He pulled tighter into her embrace, tail wagging.

"However, I will need to get you some things before you settle down tonight."

Silver pulled back, confused. He had a blanket, one that was softer than he'd ever felt in his entire life, the ground and even a warm fire! What else could he possibly need? He could easily curl himself up inside the folds of his blanket and fall asleep right then and there if he wanted to.

Sivannah didn't seem to notice his confusion and after he'd pulled away she set him down on the ground. She stood up before turning and disappearing out of the tent and into the Tavern shortly after.

Silver waited, picking up his blanket and halfway wrapping it around himself as he stood there. He was still confused but it was quickly drowned out by the overwhelming joy he felt that Sivannah, the Story-Teller, actually wanted him to spend the night in her story-telling tent! He giggled at the thought.

Abelle will never believe this!

It wasn't long before Sivannah returned with three more blankets and two weird fluffy things wrapped in cloth.

"Here we are," she said, setting the articles down on the ground next to Silver, "this should be more than enough to make you comfortable."

Silver poked at one of the fluffy things. It was airy and unbelievably soft. He looked up at Sivannah.

"What is this?"

"It's called a pillow," she answered. "Have you never heard of one?"

Silver looked at the fluffy thing with awe, "I've heard of them- but I've never seen one before!"

"I see..." Sivannah's voice sounded thoughtful and sad.

"They're for your head, right?" Silver asked, hoping to get her out of her sad thoughts. She'd done it a few times already tonight and he found that by asking her more questions she'd cheer up again. She smiled, just as predicted.

"Yes, but you're small enough that two will be a mattress."

Now Silver was really confused.

"A match-ress?"

She chuckled and ruffled his quills, a gesture he found to mean she was amused with him.

"To put it simply, it is a long pillow that you sleep on."

"Oooh." He looked at the two pillows on the ground then at the pile of blankets and couldn't help smiling. "This'll be the best night ever!" He declared as he clambered over the pillows and dragged the pile of blankets over them.

Sivannah watched with no small amount of amusement as the little hoglet shuffled around the pile of soft bedding, effectively burying himself in it. Giggling, the little hoglet wiggled and squirmed inside the blankets before huddling with his head just barely peeking out of the side.

Satisfied that he was comfortable and a safe distance from the fire, she turned back towards the Tavern entrance.

"Well, seeing as you are quite comfortable now, I suppose I should wish you goodnight-"

She was interrupted by an alarmed squeak and then Silver's voice calling out, "Wait-!"

He tumbled out of the pile, squeaking again when one blanket caught his foot and he had to struggle to pull it free. The moment he was out of the pile he dashed to Sivannah's side and latched onto her skirt with both hands, his marks flickering in plain view.

"Can you please stay? I'm not tired yet! Let's play another game or something first?"

Silver could clearly see the surprise on Sivannah's old face and he realized, with a sudden rush of dread, that he might have overstepped his bounds. Instantly his hands released her skirt and disappeared behind his back while his head ducked down.

"I-I'm sorry! I mean- you can do whatever you want! Don't- don't mind me. You're probly tired anyway and-"

"Silver." She dropped down to his level, cupping his muzzle in her soft hand and forcing him to look her in the eye. She smiled. "I would love to stay up later with you."

Silver instantly forgot the need to be timid and his tail wagged excitedly as both hands came back to the front of his body, marks glowing happily.

"Really? Then what should we do? Is there something you want to do?"

"Well." Sivannah glanced towards the tent door and the fading light from outside. "It is coming time to wind down for sleep but I have a feeling that playing more games will only serve to wake you further."

Silver grew thoughtful. If they couldn't play games, then what should they do? He did feel a little tired, but he didn't want to go to sleep just yet. And he certainly didn't want to have to say goodbye to Sivannah already. He had a feeling it'd take him a while to fall asleep and he really didn't want to be alone...

"I have an idea," Sivannah declared, scooping him up in her arms.

He squeaked, still not quite used to being so openly handled by adults, not to mention his bruises had become more tender over the past few hours. But it was only two quick steps and he was set back down onto his comfortable pile, with Sivannah seating herself, cross-legged, right next to him. There was a sparkle in her eyes, one that Silver recognized from Abelle. A mischievous sort of excitement that was contagious.

"What?" he asked, "What is it?"

"What would you say if, before we go to sleep for the night, I tell you a story?"

Silver's jaw dropped and his eyes shone. "Are- are you serious?"

Sivannah grinned, "Of course, child! Nothing is better right before bed than a good story." A cheeky sparkle twinkled in her eyes. "Unless you wish to do something else. I would hate to force you to-"

"WHAT?! No!" Silver shouted, earning a raised brow from the elder possum. The hedgehog quickly lowered his voice, "I mean- no. I really do want to hear a story!"

Sivannah chuckled, shifting herself so that she would be comfortable. Her story-telling was often long-winded.

"Alright. Now, is there any story in particular you'd like me to tell you?"

Silver's eyes sparkled. "You mean I get to choose?"

"But of course, little one, it is your story time after all. So? Do you have a favorite perhaps? Or one that you haven't heard in a long while?"

Instantly Silver's thoughts went to the story Sivannah had been telling the day before. The one he had partially missed because his stupid curse had begun acting up.

"Actually, there is one..." he ducked his head, somehow still feeling ashamed and embarrassed. "I love the stories you tell about the Guardian of the Wind."

"Ah yes, those are some of the most renowned legends of all time! Is there one in particular you'd like to hear? There are quite a few of them after all."

"Well, actually, yesterday you had said there was a new one you'd found out about recently and... I missed some of it." He glanced at his hands, squeezed them, then looked up at Sivannah shyly. "Do you think you could tell it again for me?"

"Of course, child, I would love to tell it again." She smiled assuringly at him, patting the pile of blankets, "What say you get yourself settled before I begin?"

"Okay!" He dove into the pile, grabbed a blanket and pulled it over his shoulders as he sidled up to the possum's side, propping his arms against her leg. "I'm ready now!"

She smiled down at him and his eyes sparkled up at her expectantly.

"Alright," she started softly, reaching down to softly pet the blanket covering his back.

The methodical weight of her hand felt so soothing to Silver and he already felt his eyes begin to grow heavy from the assuring movement. He rested his chin on his arms, feeling himself relax.

"Now, how did it start? Ah yes. Long ago, when magic and life still beat within the heart of our world, there lived a magnificent hero. The Guardian of the Wind."

Silver listed his head, ears alert and eyes trained on Sivannah's face as he listened to the story-teller retell her story.

"But heroes are not made without a villain, and even a perfect world will have those who wish to destroy it. So it was when the Guardian of the Wind first battled his arch nemesis- the Eggman. This evil man wanted nothing more than to destroy the life that blossomed on Mobius and enslave its peoples for his own gain. His very name attested to the horrible schemes he would hatch and plot in his rotted, despicable mind."

Silver remembered the name Eggman. It was familiar beyond the other times it'd come up in the story-teller's stories but he never thought too much of it. At the moment, he was simply content to listen to the story-teller's tale in comfort and warmth. The story she spun unfolding in his mind as though he were actually living it and seeing it himself.

"The first plot of his making was no different from the rest. But the Guardian of the Wind was swift, and cunning. And when the whispers of the zephyrs told him of the Eggman's scheme he flew on heels of the strongest gust of wind to stop the madman. Little did he know, it would take much more than his own bare strength and wit to defeat the evil that laid before him..."

~ • • • ~

Sivannah shut her mouth, pausing her current story midway to look down at the little hedgehog fast asleep on her lap. His soft breaths were even and calm.

She was well aware of the first time he'd nodded off to her story-telling that evening, but for his sake she pretended not to notice and continued her stories until she was sure he had fallen fast asleep.

She stroked the quills on his small head, feeling how his hoglet fur mingled with his soft, young quills. No doubt the bath had helped to give his quills their sleek, smooth feel and look.

She still had a hard time believing it. A hedgehog. How long had it been since she'd last seen a hedgehog? Too long. She'd even begun to fear that the precious species had died off completely. And yet, here one was. Hiding right under her nose. Better yet, this little one was still only a hoglet, so perhaps there was still hope for the species.

Admittedly, they became very good at hiding after the Dark Age. And she wouldn't have noticed this one except for his little light show and abrupt dismissal the other day.

Ah yes. His 'episodes' as he called them.

Her gaze turned to the small hands laying openly on her lap, watching the circular markings pulse a gentle cyan. Her aged hands moved gracefully to the tiny white paws, gently picking one up and running a thumb over the mark feeling the tiny spike of warmth at the physical contact.

One of the hoglet's ears twitched and Sivannah froze, but the silver furred hedgehog showed no other signs of waking.

Relaxing, she continued to analyze the small paw in her hand.

The way he'd described his 'episodes' intrigued and excited her. She knew that hedgehogs were the chosen species, strong and powerful, somehow finding the favor of that mysterious power Chaos. Legend had it that even the Guardian of the Wind was of hedgehog descent, and she didn't doubt it for a moment.

Now not only had she found a young hedgehog, but it appeared that he had also been gifted with magnificent abilities from birth. And maybe- just maybe- with an innate connection to the life-giving Chaos that had for so long been stripped from the world.

She couldn't help but smile giddily at the thought. A poor boy rejected by everyone around him could actually be a direct link between this dead world and the slumbering energy of Chaos. And here he was, asleep on her lap.

A whimper came from the hoglet and she noticed his marks pulse brighter for a moment before dimming back to normal. Her smile disappeared at the furrowed brow and troubled expression that had suddenly come over his pale face.

His ears pulled back and his body twitched, forcing her to return his hand to her lap. The palm instantly curled in, as if insecure, and tucked closer to his body.

Pity for the poor child quickly stifled the girlish excitement she had felt moments before and she went back to stroking his quills, trying to soothe him from outside his dreams.

"It's alright, little one," she whispered, "no need to fret."

The calming whispers didn't seem to help as another whimper escaped the hoglet.

She found herself wondering what kinds of dreams the little hoglet had, if he really was a connection to Chaos. But she shook the curious thought away. She could always ask him at some later time.

He curled himself tighter, squeaking in distress, his eyelids fluttering.

Sivannah worried he might wake himself up. She couldn't have that. After all, he'd only just fallen asleep. She had a feeling the little hoglet was in need of much more sleep than a few minutes.

She stopped her gentle stroking to rest her wrinkled hand on his forehead. Closing her eyes she willed her calming thoughts into his with unintelligible whispers, reassuring the tiny, bright mind that he was safe.

To her surprise, the warmth she felt from his resting mind turned cold and sharp, biting back at her attempt to influence it. She quickly corrected herself, becoming more gentle and gradual with her influence. Tentatively his mind accepted her touch, and slipped into stillness.

She reopened her eyes to see the little hoglet's face relaxed and serene. The marks on his hands steadily glowed a dim cyan, no longer pulsing.

She continued her stroking, feeling weary from her direct use of energy and pondered on what she had felt from Silver's subconscious. It wasn't often she could feel another person's mind like that, considering it required much more energy than she liked to use and needed her to be much more direct with her influence. For instance, actually touching the person's head.

But in earlier years, when she had plentiful amounts of energy, it was more common for her to use her manipulation on minds more implicitly. Back then she would study the different minds she would touch, noting when some were harder to influence and others far too easy. She learned different techniques on how to properly influence emotions in all varieties of minds so that no one would notice.

She was young and foolish then.

In any case, in all that time she had never come across a mind that had threatened to attack her back. Blockade against her? Yes. Pull away from her? Yes. But retaliate? Never. She couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if she hadn't corrected herself as quickly as she had. Would it have triggered his abilities?

This little hedgehog intrigued her even more.

Still, it was obvious he wasn't completely impervious to her influence, only reactive to direct manipulation. He accepted her influence if it were gentle and gradual. But with a mind like that, she wondered if he could be trained to resist all emotional and mental influence indefinitely.

This little hoglet was giving her much to think about.

She already had some sort of idea as to what his abilities were and, considering the alertness of his mind, she was quickly drawing the conclusion that his lapses of power were of psychic descent. She would prefer to see him use his abilities first to better judge how much power he actually had.

The hard part would be properly grooming and training him to tap into his full power once she figured out what he was capable of.

She looked down at his peaceful face; Innocent as a dove, with silvery-toned fur to match.

There was a flutter of fabric at the opening of her tent and her head jolted up to see a face disappearing into the darkness. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening her senses.

The rain had lessened to a light sprinkle, so it wasn't terribly uncomfortable for a person to be outside anymore. The puddles on the pavement made no sound, indicating that the person she had seen either hadn't left yet, or was very light on their feet.

Gentle as a mother with a newborn, she eased the sleeping hedgehog off of her lap and onto the makeshift bed of pillows and blankets. The hoglet stretched, a chirping sound coming from his throat before he curled up and nuzzled deeper into the blankets, still fast asleep.

Satisfied that she had not awoken the little hedgehog and that he was comfortable in his little nest, she stood and hurried to the front entrance of the tent.

Opening the flap she was greeted with specks of rain spitting on her face along with a gust of humid air. Closing the flap behind her she crossed her arms under her shawl and scoured the surrounding area. Her eyes landed on a shadowed figure, leaning leisurely against the Tavern wall, protected from the spitting clouds by the Tavern's overhang.

She was sure that he knew she had seen him and she knew that he had waited. Otherwise, he would have been long gone before she came outside.

With steady steps she walked towards him, her posture straight and demanding respect. Controlling herself in this encounter would be key.

"Identify yourself, stranger," she commanded, stopping beneath the tavern overhang so that they both were protected from the flecks of rain.

The stranger, a full grown bear with a brown leather jacket, looked up at her with a cheeky smile on his muzzle.

"Come on, Sivannah. You know who I am." His voice was low and gruff.

Her eyes darted briefly to his covered bicep. She already knew the tattoo that marked his kind.

"What is it that you want?"

The tan-furred bear leaned back, closing his hazel eyes leisurely.

"You know it has nothing to do with what I want. The boss is looking for more potential, how shall we say, persons of interest. And, well, you know how that leads to me."

"I am well aware of your Master's aims," she replied coolly, "and I am aware of what your clan does for him. But this does not concern me. What does concern me is your kind stalking me and my tent. Something I cannot abide."

The bear hummed thoughtfully. "Well, a place like yours attracts all sorts of business. And I've simply been scouting the area. Hardly stalking at all I'd say."

She nodded. Face void of emotion. "Let that be your case then. But if you must continue, I will have to insist that you take your 'scouting' elsewhere."

The bear clacked his tongue to the roof of his mouth, pushing away from the wall and lazily watching the misty rain fall onto the road. "Don't worry 'bout it. I've already finished."

Sivannah felt as though she could curse at him but she wisely held her tongue.

"Quite the troop you have here, from what I found," he drawled, "should find some good ones in all this. In fact, I couldn't help but notice..." He leaned forward, pointedly looking beyond her and at the tent entrance. "You've taken a special liking to one of them."

Sivannah bristled, eyes narrowing. "You stay away from him," she said lowly.

The bear smirked, reveling the crack in her demeanor.

"You seemed quite familiar with the little one. I heard talk of there being a hedgehog 'round these parts."

Sivannah's jaw clenched.

The bear rested both hands on the back of his neck, looking up into the sky as if pondering some mystery.

"Haven't seen one of those in a long time. And from what little I've heard, there's rumor this one's cursed?"

His hazel eyes shifted to her, calculating. Sivannah dug her claws into her arm, forcing herself to remain undaunted.

The bear was unfazed. "Perhaps you didn't know... Cursed or not, an albino hedgehog is quite the find. The Master would be greatly pleased with such a promising prospect-"

"Listen here," Sivannah snarled, her composure lost to bared fangs and bristled fur, "you and yours can come in and terrorize the citizens of the Mire as much as your Master pleases- but the hedgehog is mine!"

The bear held up his hands. "Easy, Sivannah. You know how powerful the Master is. If he wants something he will get it. And you should be careful not to get in his way."

Sivannah took a menacing step forward, whispering words in her mind that enforced her manipulation of his emotions and was satisfied by the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Well, your Master can't have this one. The hedgehog is under my protection," she growled, forcing fear into the bear's mind with such force that he staggered back from her, eyes wide. "And you can tell him that if he wants the child he will have to go through me, personally. Understood?"

The bear nodded frantically.

"Good," she hissed, drawing back her manipulation magic and watching his expression go from fear, to bewilderment, to that of an offended pup trying miserably to hold onto some form of dignity.

Leaning back on her heels Sivannah regained her cool composure and nodded once.

"And you will tell your fellow clansmen that under no circumstances are they to touch the hedgehog, or else they are to answer to me. And I shall take it straight to your Master."

The bear nodded glumly, eyes averted.

"Very well." Sivannah turned her back to him, already taking steps back towards the tent and her young charge.

"Be careful, possum," the bear growled bitterly, "you and the Master might have history, but don't be dumb enough to think that any respect for you will protect you from his wrath."

Sivannah stopped. Tilting her head to speak over her shoulder.

"Threaten all you want," her voice, suddenly much older, creaked, "But he knows as well as I that these times have been just as unkind to him as they have to me. And despite all his years of trying, he still has not grown as powerful as he might like to believe."

She dipped her chin down. A gentle gesture.

"Do tell him that for me."

And with that last comment she strode away, hurrying back into the familiar confines of her tent. As soon as the flap closed she stopped to take a breath, letting out a slow exhale.

Her eyes landed on the peacefully sleeping hedgehog, who had curled himself further into the blankets.

With steps as soft as a cat's, she walked back to his small form and knelt down next to him. The marks on his hands had begun to gently pulse again. Perhaps her influence had worn off and he was now in the middle of another dream. But if he wasn't distressed, she didn't want to use her ability on him again. She was already fatigued from influencing the bear.

She cast a sidelong glance at the tent door, suspicion and dread spreading like poison inside her chest.

Deciding against leaving Silver alone for the night, she made herself comfortable on his other side, keeping an eye on the entrance and placing one hand on his still form. Her eyelids were heavy but her unease kept her from sleep. The only thing that soothed her was gently kneading the ends of Silver's long, soft quills between her fingers.

Eventually, she was lulled into slumber. The return of pattering rain and the rhythmic motion of petting the precious child leading her mind into peaceful darkness.

~•~•~•~

{ Somewhere Outside the City }

{ Several hours later... }

"She said that, did she?"

"Yes, Master."

"Hmmm. How intriguing..."

The polar bear looked up expectantly. "Would ya like us to look into this?"

A pause. The Master was thinking.

Finally, "No."

The polar bear was surprised by that answer.

"Sir?" Was all he could manage to ask.

"Let Sivannah have her pet. With so many other children in the area, I can allow her this little homage."

"But- I thought that-"

"She has claimed the boy as her own and has proclaimed that he is under her protection. But he is not under mine. That being said, it doesn't matter one way or another to me if he is collected. And because of Sivannah's request, you shall simply resist the urge to make this, hedgehog, a priority hunt. The sorceress has her reasons for keeping him. And I have no reason to provoke her without a sound cause or by means of incognizance."

"Master. Let me get this straight... I'm supposed to tell the others to stay away from the hoglet?"

"No. Not avoid. Simply- forget. Overlook. Do not let his rare breeding distract you, but rather, let him blend into the rest of the crowd. If he is collected, then it is to be by the favor of chance and fortune. Anything more and the situation with Sivannah will become unmanageable all too quickly. Does that clarify my instructions, Root?"

The bear nodded, bowing once more. "He's just a normal kid. Got it. I'll spread the word, Master."

"Good. See that you do."

With those words the bear backed out of the spacious room and closed the door behind him. Leaving the Master with his thoughts.

"Sivannah claiming a child is nothing unusual," he mused to himself, rounding his large oak desk and seating himself in a tall-backed, velvet-cushioned seat. "But it is curious that she has managed to find a hedgehog as her pledge."

He folded his hands under his chin, brow furrowing.

"It is intriguing indeed..."

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[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Author’s Note: Hey everyone! Still trying to catch up on Tumblr- got one more chapter after this one and then I can start updating the ACTUAL new updates on ALL platforms. Hooray!! I honestly can’t wait for it- I miss updating and pursuing things that are just fun passions. Not just work or responsibility passions. Anyway, enjoy the chapter! Another author’s note at the end! (Because I don’t want to spoil it.) Thank you @000marie198 for all your support and help!! }

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Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 10 - A Plan of Escape

"Sooooo this is fun," Sonic said. Of course, he was being sarcastic.

After the exciting news that Tails had been able to finally pin-point 'Project' Shadow's location, Sonic had thought that they were finally going to get in on some long overdue action!

But, alas, it was not so. Of course, he understood the advantages of having a game plan since just rushing into a highly secured G.U.N base probably wasn't the best idea all by itself. Packing for the trip was also something to consider, what with the base where Project Shadow was being held was literally in the middle of nowhere. At least, if the information in the files Tails retrieved was correct.

And then there was the sense to bring some medical equipment in case G.U.N hadn't been taking good care of their little 'weapon', or in case one of them got hurt while trying to break in.

Still, however valid the reasons, the planning part of this rescue mission had drawn on way longer than Sonic would have liked. Sonic at least appreciated the quick departure from base, only to be disappointed yet again by a long, confining drive through the desert terrain.

A few eternities later and they finally arrived.

One would assume they could've done something then, right? Wrong. To Sonic's dismay, Tails and Omega both agreed to wait until nightfall. Something about how it'd be easier to break into the base under cover of dark. Which was just a ridiculous thought by itself since Sonic had broken into plenty of high security facilities in broad daylight way back in the day.

But the hedgehog held no sway in the debate. So they waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Sonic felt like he was going to burst and the itch to jump into action only got worse the closer the sun came to the edge of Mobius' skyline.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his foot and staring at the ceiling of the huge vehicle.

"Ya know, Tails, I think we should definitely do this for vacation next year! I never knew I'd have so much fun traveling out to break a friend from prison and then sit around and not actually do anything!"

"Sonic- I swear- if you don't stop being passive aggressive I'll leave you back in the lair next time and it'll just be me and Omega going out on missions."

Sonic huffed. "Sure, cuz we have so many other missions to go on."

Tails glowered, but went back to his old sudoku book, which was about the size of a dictionary.

"I, too, am restless to begin our mission. Considering that the setting of the sun is approximately only a half hour away, perhaps we should communicate the game plan?"

Sonic was quick to jump onto Omega's idea. "Yeah! Now see, that's what I'm talking about!" Sonic thumped the dash sportingly. "Let's do that!"

Tails, who had glanced over at the loud thump to the dash, rolled his eyes.

Sonic continued, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, here's what I'm thinking. Tails uses his genius brain and shape-changing skills to open a way into the base. I slip in and find where they're keeping Shadow. I drop my location to Omega, who relays it back to Tails, then we break Shadow out and speed out of there!"

"What if we get caught?" Tails deadpanned.

"Then we fight our way out! Come on, between my speed and your cunning, there's no way those G.U.N guys would stand a chance!"

"And if they have machinery or tech more advanced than we think?"

Sonic waved a hand, "I've busted through a million bots more lethal than anything G.U.N can come up with!"

Tails closed his Sudoku with a sigh.

"Sonic, I'm sorry..."

Sonic looked at his brother, suspicion slowly creeping in.

"Why?"

"Because we can't do that. I already have a plan, one that Omega and I figured out already..."

"Oh. Well, that's okay! I've never been a planning guy anyway. So what's the call, bro?"

He flashed Tails a grin.

Tails rubbed the back of his head.

"So, first, I'm gonna go in, in disguise of course, and Omega's gonna be overriding the identification systems so that I can get in without proper ID. If he's able to get access to the databanks then he'll try to locate Shadow, that way I don't have to find a computer room, and then he'll lead me there."

Sonic nodded. It seemed like a reasonable plan so far.

Tails continued, "They'll probably have him in some sort of high security cell, which means I'm going to need time without any alarms being raised to hack into whatever safeguards they have, so Omega's gonna make sure no one walks in on me. Once I've got him out of whatever it is they have him in, we'll get Shadow out through the air ducts."

"Air ducts? Really?"

"Surprisingly, yes. Omega's helped me get the layout of the air system and, even though it does have multiple safeguards, we both agree they'll be easier to disable without anyone noticing than if we tried to simply walk out. When we're almost out I'll signal you and you'll bring the truck as close to us as possible. After we get to the truck it's a straight shot back to the lair."

"Sounds like a great plan, bud, but- what do I do?"

"Well... You're the getaway driver."

"Yeah, okay but besides that! Don't I get to help break in? Or at least help break Shads out?"

Tails shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sonic, but you can't."

"What are you talking about?" Sonic was getting irritated. 

He wanted some action! He'd been confined inside the lair for decades, left behind while his own little brother soloed dangerous, undercover missions. And finally, after all this time, he was being sidelined on one of the most important rescues in over a hundred years?! He quickly tried to argue against it.

"I won't even be seen! You know how fast I've been able to go! Not even the cameras will see me!"

"I'm not worried about the cameras, Sonic." Tails hesitated before continuing, looking up at Sonic with sad eyes, as if he really didn't want to tell Sonic any more than the hedgehog wanted to hear it. "It's something else. Omega and I have found that, at least in this base, G.U.N has chaos readers all throughout the complex. Usually they're just at the entrances but there're some even in the hallways and offices."

"Chaos readers?" Sonic asked, "Why? Chaos energy hasn't really been a thing for a hundred years! Why would they still keep them as part of their security?"

"I think it's because of Shadow. If he broke out, it would make finding him a lot easier. At least, that's my theory. But whatever the reason, the chaos readers are designed to alert center control if there are any abnormal spikes in Chaos energy and, no offense, but you radiate the stuff more than the sun does UV rays. You'd be setting off so many sensors there's no way it'd go unnoticed."

Sonic tapped his foot against the floor, an irate sound. "Then I can be a distraction! I'll set off the chaos readers and everyone will be so distracted trying to catch me no one will think about you sneaking in!"

"We can't risk it," Tails protested, "If they really do keep those chaos readers in case Shadow tries to escape, then I can't help but think that they have some sort of mechanism in place to secure him. What if setting off a Chaos reader triggers a trap? Remember, Shadow's pretty fast too, maybe they have something that's neutralizing!"

"First off, I'm faster than Shadow. Whatever they have set up for him won't be able to catch me. Second I can't sit on the sidelines anymore, Tails! Even if it is risky I want to help!"

Tails took in a deep breath, his eyes pinching closed. The pained expression on his face quieted Sonic's arguments and stilled the restless energy inside him. The hedgehog realized that Tails was legitimately worried and that made him wary.

"I know," Tails said quietly. "I know how much this is torture for you..." He opened his eyes and suddenly seemed extremely tired as he looked up at Sonic with a pleading expression, "But I still have to ask you to please, please stay here. If something happened- if they got you- none of this would've been worth it. Please, Sonic... Can you trust me on this one?"

Sonic forced himself to relax, pushing himself to smile at his brother and rest a hand on the fox's shoulder.

"Of course I trust you, bro. Always have." He pulled back, sucking in a breath and grimacing. "And, it'll be hard, but fine. I'll stay here."

Tails visibly relaxed, smiling up at Sonic like the hedgehog had just taken the world itself off the fox's shoulders.

"Thank you, Sonic."

Sonic waved a hand. "Yeah well, just be grateful that running wheel of yours works so well. Or else I'd really be gettin' tank fever."

Tails laughed. "I'm surprised that thing is still working! Don't let me forget to check it over when we get back."

Sonic looked out the tinted window, and watched the sun slowly descend beyond the edge of the world. "Yeah sure, will do."

Tails closed his sudoku and got up from his chair, heading to the back and trifling around with some of the supplies they had brought.

"It will soon be time to initiate our jailbreak," Omega commented from over the speakers.

"Got that right," Sonic replied, "Wish we could cause G.U.N some trouble for all the pain they've been..."

The blue streaks on his arms glowed angrily, his emerald eyes glinting from some unseen light.

A hand on his shoulder settled the energy boiling inside him and he looked over at his little brother.

"They'll pay for what they've done, Sonic. Don't worry. But right now, our first priority is getting Shadow. We can come up with our plans for revenge after that," he gave the hedgehog a conniving grin.

Sonic nodded, returning a smirk, "Right. Shadow comes first."

"I would not be opposed to planning glorious revenge right now..."

~•~•~•~

Tails walked up to the guard booth at the entrance of the complex. The front gate had been easy. A simple matter of Omega hijacking the electric lock. Tricking technology was easy. Tricking an actual person would be much more difficult.

Tails hoped his disguise would be convincing enough.

"You got this, buddy!" Sonic encouraged through his ear piece.

"Thanks," Tails whispered.

"I have access to the main security system and have already begun to open files pertaining to Project Shadow."

Tails struggled to hold back a smile, which became all too easy as he stepped up to the security booth and came face to face with a beefy, stub-nosed man who wore the meanest scowl Tails had ever seen on a person. The guard eyed him up and down and Tails felt a flutter of panic in his chest. Had he forgotten to hide something? Did he still have ears? Was fur from his one visible tail poking out somewhere? Was the uniform wrong?

In one sharp motion the man stuck his hand out the booth window.

"Security ID Pass," he huffed.

"Oh! Uh, right!" Tails scrabbled for the forged security card stuffed in his vest pocket. Relief rolled over him as he handed the card to the guard.

The guard snatched it and swiped it into his machine with a sniff.

"You new here?" he asked, voice implying he couldn't have cared less.

"Uh, yep! Sure am."

The guard scoffed, crossing his arms while the computer system ran the forged ID card.

"Figures. Bringing in new people into this place is a stupid move if you ask me. But then, who am I to talk sense into anyone? I'm just the security guard!" He scowled when the machine beeped and a green light flashed across the screen. In one motion the card was shoved back towards Tails, who quickly took it.

The guard jabbed a thumb at the door.

"You got thirty seconds to get inside before it locks and I'm not in the mood of giving you a second chance if you miss it."

"Thanks-!" Was all Tails was able to yelp before running to the door and hurrying inside. His heart raced as it swung closed behind him with a resounding click.

Here he was. This was it.

"Welp, I'm in," he whispered.

"Never doubted ya."

"Yeah, well, now's the hard part."

"Hey, I have to miss out on the 'hard part', so you better have fun for me!"

Tails smiled, walking forward into the building, "I'll do my best. I'm going incognito while I'm in the thick of it. Talk later."

"Got it."

Tails strode into the base. The main entrance was surprisingly large and welcoming, with a front desk, marble floors and even a lounging area, complete with chairs and a coffee machine. People in uniforms marched purposefully left and right, and Tails did his best to match their posture despite his pounding heart.

His boots clacked agonizingly loud against the marble floor as he followed a random hallway, pretending to know what he was doing.

As he proceeded deeper into the complex, the halls became smaller, and the marble floors became less clean. He took note of the agents and soldiers, scientists and mechanics who passed him by, each with their badge, proudly displaying the three star wreath over a bold, golden G. The same that he wore upon his own vest. It made him feel sick and dizzy and his palms suddenly became sweaty.

He'd infiltrated countless G.U.P facilities before, both as Mobian and as Human. But this place was no guppy station. This was G.U.N. The place where hundreds of well-trained military forces were being housed for further training- where new advances in military weaponry were being discovered and tested every day- where scientists and brilliant minds were drafted from schools and brought here to work on top secret projects. It was where people in power controlled the masses, and where one of his friends was being held prisoner by those same people in power, as if he were nothing more than a criminal.

A place filled with people who would drool at the chance of having Sonic under their control. Or even a mythical Kitsune.

Tails fought back a shudder, forcing a smile as an agent with a sour expression marched past. His hand tightened on the handle of the briefcase he carried.

It dawned on Tails that he didn't have any idea where the computer room would be, or if they even had a computer room, and that he'd been walking randomly through the complex with no idea where he was going. He would've asked Omega for directions, but with so many G.U.N personnel around he didn't dare try asking now.

As if reading his mind, Omega's voice came over the ear piece.

"I have news that will be beneficial to Tails."

"He can't talk right now, big guy, just say what's up."

"Noted. The news is that it is no longer necessary for Tails to gain access into G.U.N's database directly."

"I'm assuming that's a good thing?"

Tails glanced behind him to make sure no one was coming before he whispered,

"Very. I'm guessing you've found Shadow's cell?"

"...More or less."

There was a deafening silence over the comms.

"Omega, what do you mean 'more or less'?" Sonic asked cautiously, "You've either found him or you haven't."

"I have located where they are keeping him, but he is not in a containment cell as we had previously assumed."

Tails turned a corner, ignoring the group of three humans in Kevlar vests as they walked past.

"What do they have him in then?"

"Based on the files I have scanned, G.U.N has stored the ultimate lifeform in the best way they know how. He has been indefinitely confined to a stasis pod and is kept in a highly monitored section of the lowest level in the facility."

"So basically impossible to get to?"

"Difficult to get to, difficult to break into and levels of difficulty in releasing him from the suspended animation should be considered as equally, if not more, difficult."

An audible inhale from Sonic as both he and the fox-disguised-as-a-human processed the newly acquired information.

"Well, it's up to you, bud. Do we go on forward, or regroup and think up another plan?"

Tails ducked into a thin hallway where the light from the rest of the building didn't reach. He pinched his eyes shut, all the ways this could go wrong spinning through the wheels in his head. But every time he thought it would be best to turn back his mind would bring up the images of Shadow, coming on missions, being dragged to a social event, racing against Sonic time and again just to see who would win for the fun of it.

It had been over a hundred years since Tails had seen Shadow's face. Over a hundred years of Shadow being kept prisoner unjustly and against his will.

The thought was enough to make him want to cry, scream, and tear apart the entire complex at the same time.

"No," Tails whispered, "We've done all the preparing we need. Omega, you're inside G.U.N's system so you should be able to bypass most of the security measures as well as plug Sonic into the live security feed. Sonic, while Omega is focused on breaking down the security I need you to keep an eye on me and let me know if there's something or someone I need to avoid. If we play this right we should still be able to pull it off."

"You sure, Tails?" Sonic asked hesitantly, "It'll be risky."

Tails' hands clenched, "We're not leaving him here any longer, Sonic. Risky or not, we're getting him out today."

"Alright! That's what I'm talking about!" Sonic cheered.

"I approve this decision," Omega hummed.

"Well good," Tails muttered, peeking out from his hiding place, "Cuz you're going to have to be my map."

"Understood."

Sucking in a breath, Tails stepped back into the flow of the complex.

"Alright, Omega. Show me the way."

~•~•~•~

With the help of Omega and Sonic, Tails had made his way down into the extremely off-limits depths of G.U.N. And that wasn't speaking figuratively. Somehow G.U.N had dug themselves deep into Mobius' crust and managed to keep the levels of laboratories, testing facilities and more, off the floor plan.

The deeper it went, the tighter security became. Thankfully, with Sonic keeping sharp eyes on the cameras and Omega literally breaking the system from the inside out, Tails managed to slip past most all safeguards without too much struggle.

Down in the depths of G.U.N, pristine walls and abundant lighting were replaced with grey steel and dim industrial lights, the halls narrow and dark. What few rooms Tails had passed were equally shadowed and foreboding. Very few people were actually inside the rooms but Tails didn't doubt that the humans would've been very safe if they were. Windows into the rooms were thick, reinforced with wire, and the doors were made of heavy steel, each with a grim electronic lock and a four digit number engraved into its surface.

Strolling through the dimly lit hallway Tails tilted his head to the side.

"How does it look?" Tails whispered.

"Lookin good, little bro!" Sonic answered, "I've definitely noticed less people down in these levels. Omega? How's it lookin' on your end?"

Omega's robotic voice chimed in over the ear piece, "You will reach your destination shortly. Follow the next hallway to the left until you reach door numbered 1951."

"Got it."

Following Omega's brief instructions Tails found himself standing in front of another thick steel door. Large, dark-stained windows stretched on both sides of the door, offering little view into the actual room.

Tails leaned in close to one of the dark tinted windows, one hand cupped over his face as he  squinted , trying to see through the glass. He could make out shapes and blocky figures, but any details as to what those stationary figures were was lost to the low lighting.

Tails looked back at the thick metal lock on the door.

1951.

"You sure this is it, Omega?"

"Affirmative. I would not deceive you with faulty information."

Tails sucked in a breath. "Alright then, open her up."

"Request acknowledged."

There was a tense moment of silence as both Sonic and Tails held their breaths.

A whirring sound came from the lock and a dull red light blinked to life. There was an electrical buzz as the light turned solid green, followed by a heavy 'clunk!' And with that, the door groaned open half an inch.

Tails wanted to cheer but held it back. Barely keeping the tremble out of his fingers, he reached out and pulled the door open with a long, low creak.

His skin prickled with anticipation as he stepped into the dark room.

( First | Previous | Next )

{ Author’s Note: Duhn duhn DUUUHHNN! Yeah so- I’m not great at heist writing. Clearly. I realize after all this time that there’s a lot of holes in this. Maybe someday I’ll come back and patch them up- but for now I just want to continue the story so we eventually reach the ending XD Anyway, this chapter I’m a little dissatisfied with. In a rewrite I’d like to explore WHY it’s more difficult to locate Shadow and add some more REALISTIC snags in their plan. Omega’s portrayed as a little OP here too, and I’d like to add some limitations to what he can and can’t do. Like- maybe he can’t just beep bop boop open the door for Tails! Maybe he has to work for it, or Tails has to work for it.

Anyway, these heist chapters aren’t my favorites and I’d love to rework them someday. So if you have any tips- lemme know! I’d love to learn some good techniques for intriguing heist writing XD

Thanks for reading!}

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ I have been very busy lately. Unfortunately a lot of my artistic outlets have been neglected, which has been making me sad and stressed, and generally just makes life harder. So- I’m up early determined to change that. Because doing these makes me happy! Since my Tumblr updates are behind the Fanfic and AO3 updates- I’m starting here! Thank you all for your patience. And big thanks again to @000marie198 who’s never given up on me and has always been there. And who also edited this chapter :) Alright let’s get to it! }

( First | Previous | Next )

Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 9 - A Mother’s Care

The rain had come.

Heavy droplets of sickeningly warm water splashed onto his curled, bare body. It soaked through his fur and quills, and nothing about it was good or fun.

He sniffed, instantly regretted it, and curled tighter into a ball.

The air was acrid and bitter, and his damp fur already smelled like rust. The edges of his eyes burned, the scratches on his cheek itching with irritation at the rainwater dripping into them.

He hated the rain. His instincts urged him to get up and at least find somewhere to take shelter. But the aches and bruises left on his frail body by the bullies made him hesitant to move. That and the dullness in his chest, which kept him paralyzed on the wetted cobble.

He didn't know how long he'd lain there after the three brutes had left him. Once the rain had come those three were quick to abandon their victim to the elements. And so, Silver was left. Alone. In the rain. The only indication that time passed came from the patter of raindrops hitting the hard ground around him, and their wet drumming against his thin fur coat.

A shiver turned bumps up on his skin and he pulled his chin tighter against the fur of his chest. If he cried it didn't matter, tears or bitter rainwater, they both stung hot against his cheeks.

A puddle gathered below him and it was then that his good sense had finally encouraged him to get up. Groaning against the aches and pains of his beaten body he crawled back onto his feet. The hollowness in his chest kept any liveliness from his movements as he stooped to gather up the long wrappings that had covered his hands. Wordlessly they were bundled into a tangled ball in his grip. He'd have to untangle and dry them when he got home.

It was a slow, weary walk to reach where they'd thrown his hoodie, on a pile of garbage off to the side. He timidly pried the soaked cloth off the pile of garbage, tenderly holding it for inspection.

Two hesitant steps, and he fell to his knees. A different stinging tickled his eyes, and his chest lurched in a breath. The marks on his hands flickered and Silver clenched them into fists, balling them into the wet cloth of his hood.

Hugging the articles of clothing to his chest, he succumbed to the knife twisting in his heart, and he cried.

Tears mingled with bitter rain, dripping down, salty and acidic, onto the precious articles of clothing that for so long kept him hidden and safe from prying eyes. Without them he felt vulnerable and unprotected, his unnaturally pale fur and freakish glowing marks exposed for all eyes to see.

That was why those kids had taken them off in the first place.

Silver's crying was interrupted with a shudder. He shook his head, taking shaky breaths in an attempt to keep his sobs down.

Slowly he stood, all of his skin tingling and itching. He knew his skin would be raw for days after this. But he couldn't care less now. It was just a little discomfort in his life of misfortune.

Sniffling and hiccupping quietly to himself, he began his trek through the rain. He didn't bother trying to cover himself for this outside excursion. Even if anyone else dared to be outside in the rain, it really didn't matter if they saw him now.

His eyes were pinned to the ground, watching as it slowly passed beneath his feet. At least then if someone did see him, he wouldn't have to see the disgusted and suspicious looks they would give him.

Heavy raindrops pattered onto his back and shoulders, soaking every hair and quill on his body.

He wasn't really thinking about where he was going. He wasn't really thinking much at all. All that enveloped him was an overwhelming loneliness, only made more acute by the gaping hole inside of him that had once more opened for no apparent reason. All he knew was that he desperately wanted that emptiness inside his chest to be filled. He craved it badly, but he didn't even know how to fill it or what he was supposed to fill it with.

He was so lost in his sorrow and distress he didn't even recognize the area he happened to have wandered through. Nor did he realize that he'd walked under the old tavern sign, or was trudging past a canvas tent strung up between two buildings.

He certainly wasn't expecting an old voice to call out behind him.

"Silver?"

The hedgehog jolted, his body stiffening and head jerking around towards the voice. The old possum, wearing a thin shawl and long flowing skirt, stood peaking out from behind the thick tent doorway. Her brow was turned down as her eyes trailed up and down his soaked, quivering body.

"Why is it that you walk out in this rain?”

Silver shivered, turning away from her concerned gaze and biting his lip, fearing that if he said anything, he'd lose more tears to the dull ache inside his chest. He didn't want her to see him like this and yet his feet stayed implanted in the ground, even as he sensed her gaze boring holes into his hunched back.

His ears pinned tighter to his head.

"N-no reason," was all he was able to squeak out.

A moment of silence passed. Silver's heart pounded, with dread and hope. Maybe she'd leave him alone and forget this had ever happened. Maybe he could just go home and deal with the misery of itchy fur and bruised skin for the next few days by himself. Maybe...

"Well, whatever the reason, you can't be walking around out there by yourself. And certainly not without any protection."

The flutter of a canvas door, and then the splash of steps on the wet pavement met his ears. He twisted his head around, stunned to see the story-teller hurrying towards him with a long piece of dry cloth in her hands. She tried to drape it over him.

His tail tucked between his legs and he flinched away from her.

"Y-you should leave me alone," he warned, another pang in his chest.

"Nonsense, child," the story-teller huffed, draping the heavy cloth over his wet body, "I would be a poor friend to leave you out here like this. Especially considering that the rain here can be particularly irritable. Now, please pardon me, but we'll reach the tent more quickly this way."

Before Silver could even comprehend what the story-teller was apologizing for he found himself being swept up off his feet. He yelped in surprise as his whole body was swiftly bundled up in the dry cloth and cradled in the story-teller's arms. She pressed him close to her chest, so her arms wouldn't have to carry all his weight.

The sensation shocked him at first, since he'd never been held by an adult before, at least, never that he could remember. The feeling was both wrongly foreign and heartbreakingly warm.

He half-tucked around his wet articles of clothing, trying to ignore the warmth spreading from his aching chest to his muzzle.

Thankfully, the trip back to the tent was a short one, the story-teller's longer stride took them inside the tent quicker than he would've realized. And as quickly as he'd found himself in her embrace, he was set back down. Though, not on the ground, but on a table, or raised platform. He knew because his head almost leveled with the story-teller's chin.

"There we are. Out of that terrible rain."

She frowned at him, a troubled expression coming over her wrinkled face, but Silver wasn't paying enough attention to notice. He was too busy looking, slack-jawed, at his surroundings. What he found wasn't the familiar story-teller tent, with its fire pit, canvas ceiling and dirty blankets strewn about the floors. No, this space was larger and more open, with straight brick walls and a flat ceiling.

Tables of all makes and styles were organized in rows behind the storyteller with three to four chairs a piece slid in around them. A glass door, reinforced with iron bars and covered with paint let in a little light and by which Silver was able to make out that he was sitting, not on a table, but a long counter that stretched several feet on both sides of him. His keen eyes were able to spot tall stools tucked under the counter, and a staircase pressed against the wall off to his right.

Water dripped from his quills onto the countertop.

"How did you get those scratches?" The story-teller asked.

Silver was still too stunned by their surroundings to hear her.

"Are we in the tavern?" he breathed.

The story-teller looked around them.

"Yes, yes we are," her eyes fell back onto Silver. The wonder and delight in his raw eyes helped her to relax. Deciding to drop the question of his wounds she began to peel her lightly dampened shawl off her shoulders. "It's nothing special mind you. But it does have good water and nice baths."

She had all of Silver's attention at that.

"Baths?" He echoed.

"Yes." She draped the damp shawl over the back of a chair, exposing the loose top that hung from her shoulders to her skirt. Silver found himself wondering how many layers the story-teller usually wore.

She looked back up at him.

"And we shall be taking full advantage of them tonight. It would be best to rinse as much of that rain water off of you as possible. Considering how soaked you are- we should wash what we can now before you lose some of that fur of yours."

"Wait, what?" Silver squeaked, "A- a bath?"

Realization struck the story-teller."Oh, dear me, I do apologize, my dear. Only if you're comfortable with it, of course. Would a bath be alright, child? After all, it would be a shame to see such handsome fur fall to mange."

Silver could hardly grasp at words. It was all too overwhelming. A bath? A real bath? He'd never had a real bath before. But more than that, she'd said his fur was... handsome? That couldn't be true, his fur was an unnatural trait of his weak genetic makeup! It wasn't anywhere near good, let alone handsome.

"Silver?" she asked gently, coming up to him and rubbing the cloth, he realized was a towel, against his fur, "Would a bath be alright?"

"I- uh- y-yeah. That- that'd be fine."

She smiled. "Good. Would you mind me carrying you again? The washroom is just in back, so you if you wish to walk on your own you could, but-"

"No!" He hadn't meant to shout, it had just happened. The story-teller looked at him in surprise and Silver quickly composed himself, resisting the urge to fling himself back into her tender embrace. He shifted nervously, lowering his voice. "I mean- no. I wouldn't mind at all."

The wrinkles in her face creased into a gentle smile and Silver felt that strange warmth heat his muzzle again.

"Alright then." She gently picked him up off of the counter and he awkwardly did his best to make his weight less cumbersome for her while still keeping a firm grip on his bundled attire.

He wondered at how strong she was for her age, since she didn't seem to grow weary or out of breath. Even as they walked through a door that took them out of the tavern's dining room and into a hallway lined by several doors she showed no signs of tiring. Was he really that light?

Silver did his best to look around without moving, taking in his surroundings. He'd never been inside the tavern before, since children were forbidden to enter, and he'd never even heard about there being more room behind the dining area.

The story-teller pushed open one of the doors inside the hall, entering a small room with a wash basin and a ceramic tub. She closed the door behind them, plunging them into darkness, and set Silver down on the floor.

Silver blinked rapidly, his eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and he could see the story-teller moving to the wash basin. The next thing he noticed in the dark, was that the basin was set on top of a sort of large metal box. Her figure crouched down next to the metal box's small door, the silhouette of her hand grabbing the handle.

Silver tilted his head curiously at the story-teller's back. The little door on the metal box squeaked open, revealing a dark cavern inside. Silver's keen eyes could just make out the shapes of some sort of wood or tinder inside the dark box.

The story-teller reached into her shawl and pulled out some strange powder, or at least that's what it looked like to Silver, and threw it into the metal box.

Silver yelped in surprise, closing his eyes and turning away as bright fire burst to life inside the little box. His eyes ached and he risked shifting his bundle into one hand in order to rub them. He blinked rapidly to try and vanish the grey spots in his vision that formed perfect replicas of the sudden flame.

"Oh- I do apologize-!" the story-teller's aged voice cried. Her hands landed back onto his shoulders and he flinched away on instinct, barely choking back a defensive hiss. Still, her gentle yet commanding grip turned him around. "I forget that you hedgehogs are of nocturnal descent. Dear me- I should have warned you."

"It's- it's okay," Silver croaked, rubbing one eye and blinking up at her with the other, a grey spot stealing color from half her face. "It'll just take a little while to get used to it."

She grabbed his wrist and it shook him. He froze, blinking up at her with wide eyes. He couldn't see her expression because of the giant spots in his vision, but the horrifying realization that she could see his marks turned his stomach to ice. She, too, seemed frozen, and Silver could've sworn those few seconds spread out over hours. But as quickly as she'd taken his hand she was bringing it down from his face.

"Don't rub them," her aged voice instructed softly, "It won't help."

He could care less about his vision now. Cold horror spread like a poison through his body and his heart pounded in his ears.

She'd seen his marks, his terrible curse. She'd want nothing to do with him now. Even if she didn't kick him out first thing, he knew she'd never want to see him come back.

"Come now, child, let's sit you down. There's a stool just behind you."

He felt himself lifted and set down on a short stool. He ducked his head, hands darting straight back underneath the towel and into the soaked bundle in his arms.

The skin on his stomach was so itchy.

"I've started to heat the water, we'll just do something shallow. You're small enough for a small bath," she mused and Silver couldn't help flinching.

"You- you don't have to." His arms pulled closer to his body.

"Nonsense, child, you'll feel much better once we're done."

He bit his lower lip, fighting back the agony twisting inside his chest.

This was a stupid idea from the start. A bath?! What was he thinking?! Of course she'd see them! Now it would only be a matter of time before she hated him too.

His eyes had almost completely recovered now and he watched the warm glow from the fire cast shadows between the cracks of the tiled floor.

The story-teller took his silence as acquiescence. She nodded.

"Let's get this towel off of you first. I dare say it will have already soaked up as much as it could."

Silver pinched his eyes shut, a shutter-shot of the grey spots from before showing on the back of his eyelids. He felt her pick the towel off of him. It's concealing weight, though wet and heavy, felt like a protection he shouldn't lose. He shivered.

"Oh, is that where you had it?"

Silver reopened his eyes and realized that she was talking about his hood. Its brown material was soaked, dripping on his arms which were wrapped protectively around it.

Her soft, wrinkled fingers wrapped around his arm, trying to pull it away from the bundle of wet cloth, the last concealment to the accursed marks on his hands.

He shrank away from her, shaking his head viciously.

"No- no don't-!" He couldn't bring himself to look at her, so he looked towards the fire in the metal box. "Please," he whispered, ears drooping, "I can leave. You don't have to pretend you want to help me anymore. You don't-" His eyes pinched shut, another shiver running up his spine. "You don't have to look at them again."

The story-teller was taken aback at first, until understanding dawned on her and her expression crumpled into something that mixed amusement with pity.

"Oh, Silver," she sighed, her aged voice creaking as if she were about to simultaneously laugh and cry at his dramatics.

He looked up at her, the splotch faded quickly this time, and he could fully see her gentle, understanding expression.

With the grace of a princess she held out her hands to him, wrinkled palms open towards the ceiling. Silver's eyes darted between her face and her hands, utterly confused. She tilted her head expectantly towards her outstretched palms and bony fingers.

"Come now, let me see them."

Silver's breath caught in his throat, nearly choking him, and he could've sworn that his heart had stopped.

She wanted him to... show her?

A flicker of impatience flitted across the story-teller's face and her fingers twitched.

"Silver. Let me see them."

Dread poured into his chest, but he felt compelled to appease her and before he really knew what was happening, he found himself pulling his hands away from the sopping wet bundle and out into the open. Shakily, he placed his hands into hers, palms facing up to match her gesture.

She looked at them, and it was utter torture to watch her eye the flickering marks without emotion.

Her narrow gaze shifted from one small paw to the other, as if comparing the two. Eventually she let one hand fall to better inspect the other, running her wrinkled fingers over his circular marking and sending icy shivers down his spine.

Gently, she turned his hand over, spreading his fingers out and analyzing the identical pattern on the back of his hand. She didn't seem to mind his chipped, dirty claws, even when they came close to cutting her soft wrinkled skin.

Finally, she gave a simple nod, as if satisfied with herself, and allowed him to pull his hand back, which he did in a flash.

He waited anxiously for her to say something about how disgusting he was. How a mutation like him should be ashamed to be in the same room as her, and that he should leave immediately and never come back.

"I suppose you have those silly wraps with you as well."

He blinked at her. "Y-yes?"

She nodded, "I see. Well, if you would like them and your cloak to be dried by the time you have finished your bath-" she held out her hands again, "you had best give them to me."

Silver couldn't believe his ears. This couldn't really be happening. Was it just a dream? Or was it that the story-teller couldn't see the obvious curse that branded him an outcast? Either way, Silver wordlessly handed her his bundle and it was promptly set off to the side with a wet 'splat'.

"There. I'll take care of that in a moment. First, I would like you to smell some of these and let me know which one you would prefer."

She stood up and walked to the other side of the room, near the bathtub, to a shelf embedded into the wall. Whatever it was she wanted, she grabbed three and walked back to Silver, crouching down to his height and holding out three bars that smelled potently of chemicals.

"What are they?" he whispered, somehow afraid that speaking too loudly would break the magical spell keeping her kind to him.

She chuckled, an old, sweet sound.

"It's soap, dear boy. I wasn't going to use it, but going by the state of your fur, claws, and the buildup of grime in your paw-pads, the extra cost will be worth it." She placed the three soap bars into his hands, his cyan marks revealing one to be white, another greenish in color, and the other purple. Or possibly deep red?

He stared at them stupidly while the story-teller grabbed the towel off the floor and headed back over to the steaming basin and fire-filled box. Using the towel to keep her frail old paws from burning, she picked up the basin with a grunt and heaved it over to the bathtub. Careful not to spill any on herself, she poured the steaming water into the bathtub.

Silver, on the other hand, occupied himself by suspiciously eyeing the bars of soap. He liked the look of the green one, which was also the smallest of the three, so he let the others rest in his lap and brought it up to his nose first. He sniffed and nearly choked on the sharp scent that accosted his sensitive snout. It was rich, strong, and alarmingly foreign.

Disappointed, he set the green one back into his lap with a scowl, picking up the purple one instead. He brought it to his nose, this time sniffing cautiously. Wary of another attack. This time the scent that enveloped him wasn't as overwhelming. It was sweet, yet tangy. It reminded him of the one time he'd eaten a bad apple that had fallen underneath the produce shelf. That apple had smelled good too, but the taste was revolting. So even though it felt more familiar than the last, this bar was still too strong, and he quickly found himself dizzy from its fumes.

That left the white bar, cast a deceiving teal color from his flickering marks.

It took a second sniff to finally pick up a scent from this soap bar. It was muted, and gentle. Sweet, not like the red one which had its rich tanginess, but like what he'd smell from some of the pastries cooking inside a baker's shop. And even though the scent was familiar, it didn't alarm him, unlike the first one which was far too sharp and strong for his liking.

He smiled down at the bar of soap.

"Have you made a choice, child?" The story-teller asked. She'd emptied the basin into the tub and had set the empty basin down onto the tile next to the fire box.

Silver nodded, holding up the white bar, "Yes, ma'am."

She smiled, gliding over to him and taking the soaps from his hand and lap. "Ah, good. An excellent choice."

Now that they were empty, he didn't really know what to do with his hands, so he pressed the palms against the smooth wood of the stool, fingers curling over the sloped edge. He didn't want to look down at the cyan marks, burning with light, so he just watched as the story-teller put the two rejected soaps back onto their shelf and knelt next to the tub. It looked like she had put his bar of soap into the bathtub and was stirring it into the water with her hand.

Confusion confounded his thoughts as he watched her work. Why was she still helping him? She had seen the glowing marks on his hands for herself. How could she possibly still want to be around him after seeing that?

"There, that should do it." She stood, shaking water from the bar of soap before setting it back on the shelf.

With a flourish she turned to him, gesturing for him to come closer.

"Come now, child, let us get you cleaned."

Timidly, Silver obeyed. Dropping off the stool, he tiptoed across the floor towards her outstretched hand, rubbing his arms nervously.

As soon as he was within her reaching distance she expertly slid her thin hands under his arms and hoisted him up and over the bathtub edge. He couldn't help squeaking in surprise and then crying out in fear as heat wafted up around him from the water below.

His hands grasped the story-teller's arms like a lifeline and his legs, along with his tail, curled up away from the steaming water.

The story-teller patiently waited for him to calm down.

"It's alright, little one, I realize it may be a bit warmer than you're used to. But it won't burn you," she assured gently, stroking the back of his arm with one thumb, "Trust me, Silver. I would never harm you."

As he stared into her soothing, caramel colored eyes, he slowly felt himself relax.

Gently, she eased him into the water. The initial shock of the warm water converging around his small body startled him, but the gentle scent and soothing warmth seeping through the dirt and grime of his fur quickly broke through to him. And it wasn't long before he found himself melting into the tub farther.

Certain that he wouldn't panic, the story-teller let him go.

Standing up, the warm water reached up to his thighs, but once Silver sat down and leaned his back against the wall of the tub he found it to reach almost halfway up the white fluff on his chest.

He sighed blissfully and the story-teller smiled at him.

"I am glad to see that you enjoy it. I'm going to spread your things out to dry, as well as get a cup and brush. You just sit there and try to let all that dirt soak.”

Silver nodded and did as she said.

Laying out his hood and untangling the wraps, she spread them out on the tile floor in front of the fire box. She then dragged the stool over to the edge of the tub, and Silver watched her curiously while she grabbed a cup and a brush off of the shelf where the soap had been put.

Sitting down at the stool, she set the brush down on the ground and held up the cup so Silver could clearly see it.

"I'm going to use this to get your head and shoulders wet. Would that be alright?"

Silver hesitated, but nodded his ascent and she gave him the sweetest of smiles as reward, tapping at the edge of the tub closest to her.

"I'll need you to come closer so that I'm able to reach you."

Silver was confused by this, since her arms were long enough to reach him, but he wordlessly complied with her request. Not wishing to test her limits.

The steaming water sloshed around him as he twisted and slid around, leaning against the bathtub wall closest to her.

As smoothly and easily as if she'd done it a thousand times, she dipped the cup into the water and poured it over the quills on his head.

The sensation made him stiffen and he struggled to keep his quills from bristling when her hand ran behind the water over his head. Never before in all his short life could he remember an adult touching him. And certainly never like this; tender, caring. Sure, he could imagine something like it when he was only a hoglet, but he couldn't remember who had taken care of him before he was abandoned to the streets, so it didn't count.

In any case, it took a little while before his muscles finally relaxed to the sensation. Though, he wouldn't deny that having her fingers gently comb through his quills was extremely calming.

"Don't make me do this all by myself, Silver. I'll get the places you can't reach, but you're fully capable of cleaning the rest of yourself," the story-teller teased.

"O-oh! Sorry!" Silver splashed water up onto his arms, not quite sure what else to do. Was he supposed to scratch at his fur with his claws? But if his claws were dirty, wouldn't it just make his fur worse?

He paused his pitiful splashing to submerge his hands into the water, watching the glow from his marks shine from beneath bubbles.

"I- I don't really know how to do this," he shyly admitted.

The storyteller chuckled, pausing the combing of his quills to pick up the brush from before and hand it to him.

"I had my suspicions. You may use this to scrub most of the dirt from your fur."

Silver hesitated to take the brush, the acute paranoia of having his marks out in the open stopped him.

Holding his breath, he reached up, about to take the brush when a thunderous series of knocks on the door made him recoil, quills bristling.

"Sivannah! Open the door this moment!" A gruff, masculine voice demanded.

Irritation flashed across the possum's face.

"Oh for the love of-" she set the brush down into the bathtub, where, to Silver's delight, it floated, "Here. You keep cleaning, I'll be right back."

With one gentle pat on his shoulder she was gone. Silver twisted around, sitting as high as he could to peer over the edge of the tub after her. But the door had already swung closed, muffling a masculine huff.

Silver turned back around, dropping into the soothing water and picking up the brush. He absently scrubbed the bristles through the fur on his arms, his thoughts spiraling into his concern. Was that man the tavern owner? Did he know that Silver was there?

Silver tried not to think about it, yet he couldn't keep his sharp ears from pivoting to hear the conversation in the hall.

"Sivannah, what are you doing in there?"

"It is of no concern to you, Bertrand. And it would be appreciated if you would leave me to my own business."

"One of the clients said you brought a kid in here."

Silver flinched.

"And if that were so, what if I had? It would still be of no concern to you. And I would like for that client to learn to keep his nose on his own muzzle."

"Sivannah," the masculine voice growled, "You know that kids aren't allowed here."

"Oh, Bertrand," the story-teller's elderly voice chuckled, and Silver could imagine her tapping the no-doubt giant Mobian on the shoulder. "Business is closed for the day and it was no intention of mine to keep him here for the night."

"Even so." Bertrand's voice lowered and Silver had to strain to hear what was being said. "The client said that this kid you've brought in, is the- well- the cursed one."

The brush fell from Silver's hand and into the water with a small splash. The warm water couldn't touch the cold chill that flooded into his body.

"Bertrand," the story-teller hissed, her voice low and indignant, "Shame on you for falling to such poisonous rumors and lies. What does it matter if he's a little different? He is still only a boy. And I intend to befriend him."

Silver's heart stuttered. Friend...? Did she really mean it?

"Sivannah, if you really do have that- that albino creature in there, I want nothing to do with it! Cursed or not, it'll damage my reputation!"

"He is only a poor boy who has found himself caught in a terrible storm. I was only lending him my assistance. He will not be spending the night and I do not intend for him to become reliant on your services. My only wish is for him to know that he can depend on mine."

A heavy sigh. "Sivannah, I like you. Honest to goodness I do. Lots of others too. I don't think there's a person in the Mire who wouldn't want to help you. Please. Don't risk all that for a cursed orphan."

Silver's heart thudded loudly in the second of silence that ensued.

"Indeed, I know that you are right, Bertrand. The people of the Mire have always been so very kind to me." Her voice sounded old, weary. "But I do not see that to be a good reason to turn away a friendless boy to the unkindness of the world."

Another beat of silence.

"Fine. Have it your way." Heavy footsteps lumbered down the hall so loudly Silver wondered at not having been able to hear them before. "But I don't want to see a single trace of that little freak anywhere in my tavern tomorrow."

"Very well. And, Bertrand?"

The footsteps stopped.

"I believe that you are wrong. You, and every other soul who has spread these rumors, have gravely misjudged the boy."

"Oh? How so."

Silver held his breath.

"You all think him to be the fruition of some curse or blight. You are all so sure of it, in different ways, and only upon your own fancy. But me? I believe that in thinking that there is only a curse, you have overlooked a great blessing."

"Ah, Sivannah." The footsteps began again, lumbering farther away. "Once a story-teller, always a story-teller."

Silver realized that he was holding his breath and he let it all out with one strained exhale.

The door opened again. With a sudden rush of panic to not get caught, Silver dove for the brush, making quite the splash, and furiously began to brush his fur.

The story-teller's shadow fell over him and his heart skipped. He was very aware of the suspicious sloshing of water in the tub.

"I do apologize," she said, sitting herself back down onto the stool. If she suspected anything she didn't let it on. "Make sure to scrub your legs and feet as well. It wouldn't do you much good to have only the top half of you cleaned after all."

"Oh- y-yeah."

He wordlessly lifted his left foot up, holding it in place so the brush could scrub between the paw-like pads. It tickled. Badly. But judging by the pieces of dirt falling from the gaps between the pads and dried cracks in his skin, his feet desperately needed the cleaning.

The story-teller continued her job of rinsing and combing through his quills with her fingers. It didn't feel so foreign and uncomfortable as it had before.

He still couldn't believe that she would've stood up for him like that. Never before had he ever believed that a person would be willing to sacrifice the relationships they had with others for him. Maybe Abelle would stand up for him. But if it came down to choosing him or her mom, she would certainly choose her mom. And honestly, Silver wouldn't want it any other way.

But the story-teller? She was willing to give up her respect in other people's eyes just to 'befriend' him. It almost felt like... she really cared for him.

She'd begun humming to herself now.

Silver bit his lip, gathering up as much courage as he could muster to ask, "Ma'am...? Did- did you really mean what you said?"

Her hands slowed. "Ah. Good hearing. I forget your kind has been known for your sharp ears. How much did you hear?"

Silver's ears flicked back, "Maybe, all of it...?"

"I see..."

"I'm sorry- I couldn't help it-"

She waved his apology away. "No, no need to apologize, child. If anything, I should apologize for my dear friend, Bertrand. He can be a tad narrow at times, you see."

Silver dipped his head, staring down into the warm water, hands playing with the brush nervously.

"It's okay. He has a right to think that way..."

"To each their own opinion, I suppose," the story-teller nodded. "But opinion can, at times, be a sorry translation of the truth."

"And, you're okay with your opinion being different from everyone else's?"

"Yes." She continued her brushing. "Because I believe that their opinion is a blinded one, masked in fear and superstition. And mine... well, let us leave it at this: At my age, I have come to know a thing or two about fears and superstitions."

Silver gripped the brush's handle tight under the water.

"Thank you."

She nodded, pouring more water over his quills.

There was a long silence, both mobians content to work in the quiet. When Silver had begun to think he couldn't clean his feet any better, the stool scraped against the tile as the Story-teller stood up.

"Well, I also believe you're as clean as you're going to get. Let me grab a towel and I can get you out of there."

Silver couldn't help a feeling of disappointment. Done? Already?

Even though he didn't feel quite ready to leave, he knew he should probably make himself useful and used the edge of the bathtub to stand up. Water rolled off his quills and dripped from his fur. The air felt very cold and Silver shivered.

The story-teller grabbed a towel off a lower shelf opposite the first and set it on the stool.

Upon seeing the soggy hoglet she stifled a laugh.

"Oh my. We sure have soaked you well enough, haven't we? Here, let's get you out of there."

She reached down and he lifted his arms so she could better pick him up and put him down on the tile. Silver only had a few seconds to regret leaving the warmth of the bathtub before he was wrapped in a cloth so soft and comfortable he would have never believed it really existed.

He was quickly whisked back up into the story-teller's arms. He was sorry when they left the warm, steamy bathroom, and reentered the lifeless tavern dining room. To his surprise the storyteller didn't stop at the dining room, but walked towards a wall that had fallen and crumbled who knows how long ago. She pushed aside a heavy curtain revealing a cozy tent with a fire pit, stool, and an array of old blankets laid across the ground.

When Silver recognized where he was he could barely stifle a gasp.

The story-teller's tent.

"I think we shall both find ourselves more comfortable here," the story-teller said, gliding towards the fireplace and setting him down on the stool he'd seen her sit on so many times, "Away from prying eyes."

She winked at him. Again there was a funny feeling in his chest.

She turned to the firepit.

"But first, a fire." She stood and floated over to the backstage curtain, pulling it back and grabbing from a pile of cut wood. "You would find yourself drying faster with a warm fire, little one. Keep that in mind for the future."

"I know," The words spilled out before he could stop them, "I always have a fire burning in my-"

His mouth snapped shut. Too late.

"In your..?" She goaded, walking back to the firepit with a generous amount of firewood, topped with a box- a whole box!- of matches.

"Uhm... my, my den. I guess." He rubbed the towel against his fur while he watched her strike a match and light the wood. Was it wise to make his only safe haven known? Abelle knew it existed, even where it was located.

"You have a home then?"

"Yeah. It's not much, but it's safe. And warm. And away from... danger."

"That's what I assumed when you said it was safe," the story-teller said, leaning back and giving a satisfied nod at the burning wood. How she had managed to start it so quickly was lost to Silver.

She turned to him, grabbing two fistfuls of towel and pulling it over his head. He hadn't been expecting it and squeaked in surprise, the towel fell over his eyes and sent him into darkness. But the feeling of her thin, gentle hands ruffling his quills with the towel assured him he was safe.

The feeling still wasn't what he'd call comfortable, fur and quills being rubbed back and forth in an attempt to properly dry them. There were a couple times he wasn't able to stop the irritated grunts and chuffs from coming out of his throat.

But the story-teller took his indignant noises well, chuckling and even stifling a couple laughs. Which was both a huge relief and an incredible embarrassment.

After one such good-natured laugh he could hear her say under her breath. "Ah, it's been so long..."

This sent Silver into wondering. It had never occurred to him that the story-teller would have had another life outside of storytelling. She could have been a mother once. Did she have little children who had once made funny noises when being dried from baths? Maybe. But Silver didn't want to be rude and ask her. Especially since her comment didn't seem like it was meant to be heard. So he held his tongue.

Eventually the towel was pulled off his head and used to dry the quills on his back, then the fur on his chest. She was smiling at him. Her wrinkled face was warm and happy.

It was the softness in her eyes and expression that gave him the courage, yet again, to ask a different question.

"Ma'am..?"

"Oh please. What did I tell you before about calling me that? Just Sivannah will suffice, Silver."

"R-right. Sivannah. I wanted to ask... what you told that guy, Bertrand, you said you didn't think I was a curse..."

Her hands stilled.

Silver didn't know how he kept the courage to meet her gaze, but somehow he did.

"You called me something else. A blessing. What- what does blessing mean?"

Sivannah didn't hesitate to answer, and quickly resumed her vigorous drying.

"A blessing is a word used to refer to a special kind of gift. It is something good that is given for the sake of one or many. I suppose it would be best to say that a blessing is the very opposite of a curse."

"Oh." Silver looked down at his hands in his lap. Damp and shining. "Ma- I mean- Sivannah. I don't mean to be rude. But, I really don't think I could be a blessing."

A huff, "And why not?"

Unwelcome tears pricked the corners of his eyes. "Because- what makes me a curse has never helped anyone. It's only gotten me, and others, into trouble. Sometimes even hurt..."

He curled his hands into fists. "These stupid marks aren't good. And they'll never go away either. Everything about me is different and weird, and it's never helped me- or anyone else."

Sivannah stopped, and her hand cupped under his chin, forcing him to look up into her serious eyes.

"Silver. You would be wise to listen to what I say. No one is ever a curse because of the way they look. You are unique and special. If others wish to judge you for it then so be it- but they do so at their own ignorance. After all, how are they to know that other hedgehogs do not look just like you?"

Silver pulled his chin out of her hold, turning to stare down at the thick carpet underneath him.

"It's not just that..." he said under his breath.

She must have heard him because she tilted her head to the side and asked, "What do you mean?"

He sucked in a breath. Hesitant. Unsure. Should he tell her about his episodes? Would it be too much?

He reasoned in his mind that it didn't make much of a difference now anyway. She already knew about his markings, and she'd taken that bit of knowledge well. Besides that, he realized he was becoming dangerously comfortable with the thought of trusting her, and, despite himself, he enjoyed the security in the wise and gentle way she treated him.

He wanted- needed- to trust her.

"It's not just the marks and the way I look that's a curse," he whispered, turning his eyes to his open palms and keeping his gaze fixed on them. "I get these episodes. And whenever they happen, these curse marks always get- really bright. And they do- weird things."

Silver felt frustrated with his words. He'd never had to explain an episode before. Abelle had found out by seeing it. That was how most others found out too.

"But, there's nothing ever good. I don't mean to, but during the episodes I can't control anything they do. Sometimes I'm scared I'm going to really hurt someone..."

Sivannah had leaned back on her heels. Her pondering gaze fixated on his gently glowing hands.

"Episodes you say?" She echoed.

Silver nodded, twisting his hands between each other, as if being stared at were making them uncomfortable.

"Hmmm." She stood up to toss a couple more logs onto the fire. It flared with a burst of sparks. When she was done she sat cross-legged in front of Silver. "Describe one of these episodes for me."

"Oh, uhm... Well, first there's this- ringing? In my head. And my hands will feel like they're burning, and then it'll spread all over. And then for really bad episodes it'll..." he glanced nervously up at her and saw her simply sitting there, listening intently. "It'll move things."

"What will?"

"The light on my hands," he fanned his hands out for her to see clearly, "It'll cover my hands, and any other random things around me. I can't control it and if I panic then it all gets worse- I'll break things, if I can't stop it in time."

"Influencing the movement of inanimate objects. Interesting..." she looked up at him. "Is there anything that triggers these episodes?"

"Uhm, I- I don't know. Sometimes it'll happen because of something random that hasn't happened before. Or there'll be something that should make it happen- but then it doesn't."

Like when those older kids attacked.

"For instance?"

Silver's ears drooped. "I... I don't really wanna talk about it."

She nodded her understanding. Her expression was thoughtful, but it quickly went back to warm and friendly as she reached over to ruffle the quills on his head.

"Well, I can assure you that whatever these episodes are, they are not a curse. And curious as I am to know more, I believe it would be best to save such a conversation for a later time."

She uncrossed her legs and stood up.

"Perhaps with some time, and more information, I will be able to discern what it is that you've been gifted with."

Silver's ears perked up. "You mean- you know why I'm like this?"

"Mmmm, not yet. I will need to know a bit more. But, from what you've told me thus far, I believe that you've been given a very valuable gift."

Silver's eyes shone. "Really?"

"It is as I say. Otherwise I would not have said it." She nodded to herself, striding to the back of the stage and reaching for something behind the curtain. "But let us cease this talk. I sense that it makes you weary. I would prefer for you to enjoy the rest of this day. Since it seems as though the rain refuses to cease."

Both hedgehog and possum tilted their ears up to listen to the hard prattling of droplets on the tent's canvas. Being inside the tent with clean fur, a damp towel and a crackling fire, Silver had completely forgotten about the weather outside.

"Ah! Here we are."

Silver's attention snapped back to Sivannah. The old possum pulled out a worn box with faded colors and letters that were completely indistinguishable. Not that silver would have been able to read them even if they weren't.

"What is it?" He asked.

She didn't answer until she had plopped herself back onto the ground and opened the box between them.

"It's a game, dear boy. Quite an old one at that. Older than me even," she mused.

Silver watched in awe as her weathered fingers pulled out a board, unfolding it on thin hinges to reveal a pattern of black and yellow squares lined up in perfect rows. No square touched its same colored match.

Still inside the box was a pile of carved wooden statues. He watched Sivannah's wrinkled hands pick up each piece and place them on the board. Four rows of pieces, two on his side, composed of yellow pieces to match the board, and two on Sivannah's side. Black and impressive. Though, even hers appeared to be cracking in some places.

Silver didn't have the slightest clue as to what the variety of pieces could possibly mean- but there were obvious differences in them. The only thing that looked familiar were strange horse shaped heads that were carved into four of the pieces.

When Sivannah had finished setting it up she sat back, as if pleased with her work.

"Now, little one, this is a game I haven't played in many years. So give me grace as I try to recall what the rules are."

She looked up at him.

"But if you find this game difficult or do not wish to play further, please let me know. We need not play it, if you do not wish to."

"Huh?" Silver broke focus from the board with its pieces lined up as if to march into battle. "Oh-! No-! No, I really do want to play this! I just- I've never even seen a game like this... I have no idea how to play."

Sivannah smiled, one weathered hand reaching forward to pinch the top of a wooden piece with a round head in her front row.

"That is why, Silver." She slid the piece forward one square on the board while Silver watched, his mind trying to piece together what this move could possibly mean. "I am going to teach you."

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[emilibronte24601-deactivated202]

 A friend threatened me to repost so I will!

Basically, there r tons of fake asses on tumblr who just want comments and followers, so someone started this to see who's actually a good friend. Everyone I tag better repost (and tag other people and preferably threaten them in a creative way as well) bc I'm high on caffeine and newfound lesbianism and will resort to violence.

@ey-theys-was-coronas

@fangirlhehe

I would tag more people but they're the only ones I've really interacted with-

[fangirlhehe]

Hey queeeeeen!!!!! How ya doing with your newfound lesbianism?

@i-got-poisenality @gone5doll @theoneandonlypatches @above-the-foldd

I know I didn’t tag everyone, I just can’t remember all of my mooties and I’m tired lol

[gone5doll]

Uhhh- ill try to tag everyone i can remember, its been a minute since ive been active ok here.

@more-sonorous @ey-theys-was-coronas @newsies-lodging-house @sprace-javey

[sprace-javey]

I'll do as many as I remember

@sobsloudlybutprettily @imnotactually-a-crouch @prongsie-piee @werewolf-from-mars @my-castles-crumbling @bigmack2go @ey-theys-was-coronas

[imnotactually-a-crouch]

@swirling-romantics @fifisettos @xerussquirrel @urgayoldercousinmags @nolonger-ams @soupdeewoop @eternally-wandering @liv-in-the-chaos @clodyghost i think thats most if not all of my people

[swirling-romantics]

@indigostation @astronomical-anteater @turtlesinatree @ literally anyone who isn't here just for meaningless engagement farming

[turtlesinatree]

I'm too bad at interacting with people for this lol

@starkayezer @blueberry-b4gel @astarsmindd

[xx-vamp1r3-k1ss3s-xx]

making actual friends yesssss

@woods3115 @mairon-goth-minion @sunshinerainbowsandlollipops @sage-way

[poladroid]

my bros and gals and other pals!

@lex-dr4ws @fictionalsimp09 @look-a-gay @fictionalsimp09 @kayylivesinchaos

@hawaiianshirttaco64 @goldsmith-angel @rainystarssx @the1970sdeadgaywizard-regulus @here-am-i-sitting-in-a-tin-can

@cch3rrybomb @icrytomyownpoetry @bluebevvy0409 @lesbian-disaster-tm @l1ve-l4ugh-lov3craft

@bibeantransbean @birdiebirdjay @percyweasleyapologist @toooster @blob-of-social-anxiety

@danaris112 @lirenthenonlyrist @aelia-posts @permetutotheworld @guess1mjustheren0w

@s1r1us0black @glitchedmoon5 @garden-of-runar @secret-sageent @soupyloopyx

@printershorts @sunsstars AND ANYONE I FORGET BC I JUST WOKE UP AND I’M TIRED Y’ALL ARE JUST AWESOME 🤘✨

[d4nikin]

I'm probably forgetting a bunch of people but

@printershorts @the-archivist-14 @clodyghost @danger-dayze

@miqotepotatoe @equippedtolove @cestpassam @guess1mjustheren0w

@percyweasleyapologist @hawaiianshirttaco64 @rainystarssx @frebbyfazballz

@allonsy-moony @ttroubledwaters @theblackstar04 @what-would-sappho-do

@shadowjinx2906 @the1970sdeadgaywizard-regulus @thatrandomlemononyourcounter1 @undercontrolofdarkness

@fangsded @l1ve-l4ugh-lov3craft @etoilenoiree @tastelessleather

[the-archivist-14]

Eeeee, thank you for the tag!! I’m probably forgetting a lot of people but I’ll do my best!! Ok, here we go-

@danaris112 (I know you tagged me but I gotta tag you too :) !!) @izzieclarksonzz @autisticfanperson @sarnai4 @zevuffie @ruvastuon @coracx @blondelotus (for some reason it’s not letting me tag her but she’s just joined and we’re irl friends!!) @lunesartsworld @tannabet @i-set-my-autism-on-fire @sugar-blaze @bobthetitanisback @aalinaaaaaa @not-alesha @esli444 (I hope I got you all, I don’t really interact with many people so idk but I love you all so much!!)

[i-set-my-autism-on-fire]

@1oddboi1 @the-archivist-14 (I know you tagged me, but I'm just following your lead here x3)

I'm not too active with interacting with others here- But y'all are amazing friends! I don't say it often enough, but I love y'all <3

[1oddboi1]

@eclipsen-smiles @ghostofa-spacenerd @taterhoots @zopharooni @janijams @wolsalwastaken @eweeismediocre @shardilarf @isoparty @cinnakit @i-set-my-autism-on-fire

I would tag more but I have anxiety B)

You all are awesome :3

(I'm also doing the thing where I tag the person who tagged me i guess lol)

[eclipsen-smiles]

Uhhhh

Uhhhhhhh

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh. I need to get a list hold on

@the-voices-in-my-pancakes @thecoastxlwaters @thekillermaretwinz @multifandomcutie13 @ze-slaughtermod @crussofang @eternal-soup (we don’t talk much but you’re here anyways you simp.) @purrplespacecats @yum-zlurplie (holy shit we moots?) @flxwerasmxs @isoparty (yeah you to.) @seventeenwizards @coolgirl576 @librarian-computer @bagelg00se (you cannot escape either.) @luciddr34m @shardilarf @novasolstarr @birbisanon (we should talk more) @solarflaresandsunspots @grabble45 @letthebloodrunlikeariver (idk if you have a mod account.) @mars-paws @rye-bread-the-2nd @sleepdeprived-idiotlol @huhwhuhs (pls don’t smite me for this.) @atherflame-theconcubus @creator-of-creativious @ardbar @100percentevil @sixtyune @m1lky-way-bi @pastelshark123 @that-one-unknown-artist @ryandabean @purplec4ndy @doodlebug091 @gummysunnybear @holygarm (you to, simp.) @artoutoftheblue (simp x3) @sillyneurodivergentgoober @wonderstrawberries @harvest-is-tired @achickennamedcheese (you are not exempt.) @serv0z @lunar-disillusionment @lunthestar317 @stormbreaker-290 (you also. Simp x4)

Honor mentions

@c4lyps00 and @kukikoooo

And now I’ve hit my mention limit. Oopsie.

[mp3-seraph]

Hold up, me??? Well, alright lol.

And the original post says to threaten in a creative way, so...

🔫🔫🔫HYDRATE OR DIEDRATE

@sasterisk @chaotic-moth-energy @nightshade-sams-wof-fan @novasintheroom @rainydayzo @jeff-the-camel-spider @puzz1eb0x @tsub-ki @saltycat207 @soul-of-justice--uty @eclipsen-smiles @paracosm-ink @

[nightshade-sams-wof-fan]

uhhh @gayfrogtime @odeggy @yourlocalkandikid @0mr-friendly0 @that-writing-protatogen @the-voices-in-my-pancakes @chemicalwolfgames

I am not good with threats :( But I will try for the sake of this post

🫵👁️👁️

I'm watching, take care of yourselves or else I will appear out of anything purple you own and give you a bowl of spaghetti

[thepossumest-awesome]

oh boy okay

@asp3ns-art @abbysaltar @anomymous1 @asp3nreblogs @anntrapta @blairthebword @beloved-of-john @cool-lesbian-is-here @caffeinated-object @cael-is-inlove @demigod-jack-hearth @em-is-fallin-for-a-daffodil @galaxygorl-does-stuff @hayleeewaylee @i-sizzled @jammahanna @lipsyncs-n-fitchecks @nightshade-sams-wof-fan @odeggy @pride-flags-from-rocks @rednexxsaysthing @stargazin-on-mars @theancientfootsteps @thingonthenet @yourlocalkandikid @yourlocaltboy @st4rboyloser

If you don't reblog with your moots, I will put an impossible to find rock in your shoe. Even if you get new shoes, I'll just put another one in.

[rednexxsaysthing]

@a-chance-of-raine @ap0th3osis @bootyshakerrr9000 @crucispidey @composer-of-chaos @eclipsed-jester @edgyhedgie @funkyfandomlover @gayfrogtime @happyfacelol @itzvio @itz-pandora @rinny21 @st4rboyloser @thesoundofspeed

[composter-of-chaos]

@asktheevilgeniusesson @punk-squirrely-ghost @un-pearable @amy-r0z3 @mistykitten-gxm @plasticbag6615 @cinnaflurr @lurking-underneath @princessterios

[amy-r0z3]

Tysm!!!! <3 @humble-introvert0808 @taringill @silly-tails-prower @imconfusedbutok @rayzyart @chibi-moons-world @pinkcreamypeach

[chibi-moons-world]

Sorry if I forgot anyone!

@eighthmelody @kaylatoonz @citrineburm @moscazorro @selemercy @feliz-navidad @liansauza142014 @number-one-shadisper-shipper @rascallyrose92

[moscazorro]

@selemercy @sparkles-rule-4eva @chaoticstarwberry <3

Thanks for the tag @chibi-moons-world 🥰🥰🥰

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

Yaaaaaayyyy just a pure fun time here hehehehehehe

@number-one-shadisper-shipper @niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian @000marie198 @mama-qwerty @skyelara @essycogany @molinaskies @fandom-power @lucidheart3 @lazorbeanz @the-ellia-west @bluberrie-hedgehog @humble-introvert0808 @ummyyy0 @yeh9148

[lazorbeanz]

Aaaaaaa

(Sorry in advance to the people who have already been tagged way to many times in this ;_;)

@mbrine @renofscales @fandom-power @number-one-shadisper-shipper @emerald--antssss @essycogany @000marie198 @star-stages @lucidheart3 @actionlulu @artsyannierose @niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian @whitecatindisguise @bluberrie-hedgehog @calmoose415 @yeh9148 @m3tr0n0m333 @shannonallaround @d3lly1000 and right back at ya @sparkles-rule-4eva >:3

[renofscales]

aww thankyou! <3 i'll tag a few ! but if anyone wants to hop on feel free of course!

@whitecatindisguise @mbrine @skimmingthesurfaces @cervicalvito @cervicalcito @calmoose415

[calmoose415]

Glad to know we're all friends here!

@mbrine @skimmingmilk @nortedwayfinder @0vergrowngraveyard @sparkles-rule-4eva @niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian @whitecatindisguise @000marie198 @cc-cobalt-1043 @justnav04 @star-stages @multiisketch

[000marie198]

Got tagged multiple times it seems & missed it whoops

Alright, threat threat... Got it!

You better look after your health and drink water and rest your eyes or I'll remove Tails from multiple currently unpublished fics! And sic my mom on you

@shadofiredragon @brainworms-all-night-long @nixoon-again @misteria247 @disastertwins9000 @sapphiretanto @iamheretemporarly @domi091 @donelywell @akstzs @0vergrowngraveyard @niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian @axolotini @tornado1992 @mbrine @lazorbeanz @sparkles-rule-4eva @nortedwayfinder @star-stages aaaand anyone else I'm forgetting

[shadofiredragon]

Haven’t been able to hop on in a while- found out I’ve been tagged- 😅 I don’t really have any online friends besides @000marie198 and she tagged me first soooooo….. I guess I’m tagging her back? As for a threat…

Marie? Unless you eat good foods, drink your water and make sure your body’s getting the rest it needs- YOU WILL BE CURSED WITH ETERNAL TICKLES! And every fic I work on will end with Tails dying.

Yes. Every. Single. one.

[sonicthehedgehog]

When Sonic's birthday party goes wrong and the Chao are scattered across time and space, the Shadow Chao and Sonic Chao step up to save the day! As this is a proper manga style, remember to read from right to left! Story: Ian Flynn Lines: Misa Shion Color: Min Ho Kim

[jelly-belly-fish]

Warning: flashing lights/bright colors/Sonic Prime spoilers

This is the plot of Sonic Prime, right?

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Hello everyone! Hey look “I LIIIVE!!” I’m so sorry for disappearing. It’s not an uncommon occurrence. I wish it was. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but- I don’t know. I can’t figure out how to fix it. Anyway, thank you so much to @000marie198 for all her help with this story! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter as much as I did! }

( First | Previous | Next )

Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 8 - G.U.N’s Secret File

Tails grinned, one leg swinging off the bike as he turned around to face the owner of the voice that had greeted him.

Tails' eyes landed on the hedgehog standing in the doorway. Blue streaked arms were crossed over his peachy chest, but the relaxed posture and lightly tapping foot betrayed the mobian's good mood. Emerald eyes, so vibrant they could have glowed, flicked over the fox and his bike, undoubtedly looking for some reason to be concerned.

Despite the suspicious glances the blue hedgehog wore a broad grin, almost as big as Tails'.

Finally the hedgehog opened his arms to the fox.

"Come on, three months and you're just gonna sit there?"

Tails laughed, happily sliding off the hover-bike and running into the hedgehog's open arms. For a wonderful moment, when the tan arms wrapped around him in a strong embrace, he felt like a kid again.

Though, it probably helped that he'd subconsciously altered form so that he was shorter than normal, his head resting into the hedgehog's chest.

He felt the arms pull him in tighter, the neon blue marks letting off a soft glow.

"I missed ya, bud."

Tails' four tails wagged behind him.

"I missed you too, Sonic."

The heartfelt moment was broken by a robotic voice echoing from an overhead speaker-

"Yes. Good. We have all missed each other. Now that we have had our tender moment- I would like to see the fruits of our labor and insufferable waiting.”

Tails laughed and pulled away from Sonic, who only chuckled.

"I missed you too, Omega," Tails said.

"I do not see how I could have been missed. I have been in contact with you consistently since your deployment. But, to keep on the proper topic, you still have the files concerning... our friend?"

Tails unzipped a pocket on his leather vest and pulled out the same USB drive from before.

"Yup. Got it here."

Sonic nodded, eyeing the USB as he stepped to the side and gestured for Tails to enter the base. A cocky grin came to his muzzle.

"Well, whaddaya say li'l bro? Wanna go see what G.U.N's hiding?"

Tails smirked, drawing back his powers and reverting closer to his actual physical appearance. His fur took on a more gold hue, and he visibly grew until he was just a hair shorter than Sonic. (Tails had mixed feelings about someday outgrowing his older brother.)

"You know I am." Tails said, walking into the base with swift, confident steps.

He heard Sonic flick the garage lights back off, before speedily following.

The base, or the lair (or the happy place- home of ancients- world's worst prison... all names given depending on Sonic's mood) had originally just been a base during the days of Eggman. It was used by the resistance during the war of Infinite as a place to hide refugees and citizens who were unable to join the fight against Eggman's forces.

Since it was so out of the way and not a good spot for resources, or really anything else, it had been left to rot and decay at the bottom of the ravine. It didn't take long before it's existence was almost completely forgotten, save for a handful of survivor's records kept by what was left of the resistance.

Tails had found the aforementioned records and leapt at the chance of having a secret hideout far away from the rest of the world. With many years of hard work, constant upgrading and personalization, they had finally been able to call the base 'home'. And boy what a home it was.

Plenty of space for the both of them, with a ground floor and an upper floor. The upper floor had a total of five rooms, which had most likely been used for meetings since they were fairly small. But after breaking down a couple walls, Sonic and Tails each had their own bedroom, with plenty of space for personal design choices. Tails with a work bench and a lifted bed. Sonic with his power-free treadmill, which was in constant need of repairs, and a bed carved into the shape of a race-car.

The fifth room was too secluded for it to be part of their reconstruction, so they'd put in the effort to install plumbing for a restroom. It payed off. And now only a short stroll along the catwalk would give them easy access to facilities. And because the room was so large, they were able to fit other amenities in there. Such as a coffee pot. Which Tails greatly appreciated.

Downstairs had undergone much construction as well. There weren't as many walls to tear down, since the lower floor was already a wide open space, most likely designed to combat claustrophobia in refugees and volunteers. But since it had been abandoned, Sonic and Tails had nothing but open space to work with, along with the occasional tipped over cot.

Regardless, Tails had been able to outfit the place with varying amounts of technology and home style. Wires and circuits ran along the walls, transferring power and information throughout the base's interconnected systems. Large speakers were installed strategically so as not to be an eyesore, but could also be heard without blowing out his or Sonic's sensitive hearing.

A giant 'hamster wheel', with multiple wires leading from the stand's underbelly, stood up to the left of the room. A walkway's distance away was Sonic's contributions, including a ping pong table, two old arcade games that Tails rewired for limitless gameplay and two leather couches, along with a dilapidated lazy boy, that faced three giant monitors hanging on the wall to the right. Tails would have loved to take credit for the monitors- but he honestly had no idea how Sonic had found them, and had to content himself with connecting the monitors to the rest of his intricate system.

There was also a coffee table, pushed up to the wall underneath the dark monitors, on which rested a microwave still refusing to die. Tails noted that the jar of microwaveable popcorn next to it was empty.

Past the lounge room were two more rooms. To the left a kitchen and to the right Tails' precious lab/workshop. They did have to tear down the wall separating the two rooms, since they wanted a door connecting them (and really didn't need a kitchen half the size of the lounge). So they pushed in the kitchen wall, added a door, and completely redid the kitchen outlay, making it more homey and less industrial, complete with tile floors and wooden cupboards.

To the right of the kitchen door was another door that, of course, led into Tails' lab. And that was where he and Sonic were headed.

The huge room welcomed him with the familiar scent of oil and the low purr of whirring electronics.

It was the second largest room in the house, but with all the scattered experiments, prototypes, five work tables and an overall mess of tools, it really didn't feel much larger than one of the two bedrooms upstairs. Across from the door he'd come through, and past the mounds of junk, was a large desk outfitted with state of the art computers. Their dark screens and humming circuitry just waiting for him.

He flitted past the mess with practiced ease, even after all these months he still knew where every wing-nut and screw was. Sliding into the swivel chair he did a quick celebratory 180 before coming to a perfect stop facing his beloved computers. A wide grin came on his muzzle as he powered them up.

Sonic, though nimble as a cat by nature, had a little more trouble getting through Tails' mess of a workshop. He reached the fox's side after the kitsune had slid the USB into one of the computer ports and opened up the file inside.

Sonic leaned one hand against the desk, the other fisted against his hip as he smirked at the blue computer screens.

"Alright, li'l bro, do your thing."

Tails smiled up at the screens and the files unfolding before him. It felt good to be surrounded by familiar scents and feel the energizing warmth radiating from his brother again. It seemed like it had been ages since he'd last felt that burn of energy filling the air around him.

Although. He thought, mind wandering back in time a few days. There was that moment in the city...

He shook his head. He'd probably been imagining things. Besides, now wasn't the time to think about that.

He stretched his fingers out in front of him, the knuckles popping and cracking.

"Okay G.U.N." His expert fingers flew effortlessly over the keyboard, his four, long tails swishing absently behind him as he worked. "No more secrets."

~•~•~•~

Sonic tossed a rubber ball up into the air above his head, catching it smoothly when it came back down. He'd found himself a spot on one of Tails' tinkering tables and after sliding a host of metal gizmos out of the way, laid himself down on his back, one hand tucked behind his head. It wasn't terribly comfortable, but it wasn't especially un comfortable either.

No, not uncomfortable.

He tossed the ball. Again he caught it.

Bored.

Bored bored bored. That's what he was.

He'd been so relieved and excited when Tails was finally on his way back home. Sonic finally thought that they'd be able to do something!

But since arriving, the fox hadn't moved from his station at his computer desk. He'd explained that some of G.U.N's older files were encrypted. There was some other mumbo jumbo about how hard it was to access the files, but Sonic couldn't remember all the weird words Tails had said.

So here he was. A hedgehog literally brimming with energy and he had nothing to do but wait for Tails to finish a task already hours in.

Sonic caught the ball again before turning his head to look at his brother's back and the four golden-furred tails twisting absently behind him.

"How much longer?" He asked.

Tails' ear flicked in his direction and he earned a sidelong glance that gave Sonic a very clear message that Tails was immeasurably unamused. However, Sonic got the feeling that the withering look was more on account of the hedgehog helping himself to the table than his pestering question.

Tails turned back to the screen.

"Be patient. It'll be done when it's done."

Sonic sighed, crossing one leg over a propped knee and bouncing the planted foot up and down. Good thing the table was firmly settled, or the rocking motion would've certainly set Tails off. Unfortunately, it didn't help with the incessant tapping.

"Sonic, if you're feeling restless go run on your wheel."

Sonic bit back a bitter scoff, snatching the ball out of the air in an aggressive swipe.

He didn't want to run on the stupid wheel. He wanted to go out and help people! Help his friend. He wanted to do something, something important. The itch to be active was unbearable. So far he'd fought it off by reassuring himself that it wouldn't be long before Tails completed his undercover mission. Then, he'd told himself, he could do something.

But here he was. Still doing nothing.

He didn't realize his foot had begun to tap faster.

"Sonic," Tails sighed, turning his chair around to face the hedgehog, one hand rubbing his forehead. "Go run on your wheel."

Sonic sat up, tossing the rubber ball back and forth between hands, intermittently giving it a squeeze.

"The wheel won't help," he whined.

"I designed it specifically so it would help," Tails pointed out.

Sonic rolled his eyes. "I know that. But this is different! I need to go out. I need to do something about this!"

Tails pointed up at the screen on the desk. There was a page with a gray loading bar, displaying that whatever was being processed was about three quarters of the way done.

"Look, Sonic. It's almost done. Once I have the location we can start working on a breakout plan. And as soon as it's finished I promise you'll be the first to know."

"That is a false assumption. Since I have been integrated into the computer system I would be the first to be alerted to the decryption." The familiar robotic voice came from a speaker somewhere above them out of sight.

Tails pinched the bridge of his snout. "Yes. Thank you for correcting me, Omega."

"The second to be alerted would most likely be the kitsune. Since he is at his station and would first see the notification that the task had been completed."

"Thank you, Omega," Tails sighed.

"That would mean that the hedgehog would be the third and last of our party to be alerted."

"Omega! Thank you for clarifying- but I don't think it's necessary to continue to elaborate."

"Noted. I simply did not wish for our friend to be misinformed."

Sonic snickered, "Thanks, pal. But I think Tails meant it figuratively."

"Ah. This strange form of sarcasm you organics often use. I shall store this as another example of figurative speech."

Sonic gave the ceiling a thumbs up. "Good idea."

The conversation had helped to ease the restlessness in his chest. But now that it was over, Sonic could quickly feel it coming back to him and he couldn't stop his foot from tapping once again.

"Sonic, go run on the wheel." Tails commanded, crossing his arms.

"Since when do you tell me what to do?" Sonic protested, squeezing the ball in one hand and crossing his own arms. The blue stripes glowed indignantly.

"Since you stopped listening to reason."

An electric sound, comparable to a robotic laugh, sounded from the speakers.

"Sonic the hedgehog? Reason?"

Tails chuckled and Sonic smiled at the sound.

"Fair enough," the kitsune said, still smiling. "All the same, I can't stand you sitting over there driving the both of us crazy with your constant nervous fiddling." He waved one hand towards the lab exit as he spun back towards the computer. "So please, please, go take it out on the wheel."

Sonic sighed but obediently slid off the table and walked towards the living room, waving half-heartedly to the fox.

"Fine, fine. But the moment that thing is done you'll come tell me?"

Tails nodded with an assuring, "Mm-hmm."

"I will attempt to make you the second sentient being in this facility to be alerted."

Sonic chuckled, tossing the ball into the air again as he exited the lab.

"Thanks big guy."

"You are welcome."

Sonic tossed the rubber ball over the back of a couch, his sharp ears hearing a cushioned 'thud' when it landed.

Fists on his hips, he parked himself in front of the giant steel wheel, looking the contraption up and down as if challenging it. With a disgruntled grunt he bent over and began his routine stretches. Even the immortal super-sonic hedgehog found wisdom in warming up his muscles before exercising them.

"Sonic?" Omega's voice sounded from the wall directly next to the running wheel. Tails had installed an easy-to-access communication system there when he'd first built the wheel, just in case.

Sonic stretched an arm over his head. "Yeah, 'Mega?"

"When the encrypted files have been cracked..."

The robotic voice paused, piquing Sonic's curiosity.

"When the files have been cracked..?" He goaded, grabbing an ankle and pulling it behind him.

"Do you think that we will then know his location?"

Sonic chuckled, hopping up and down to loosen up. "I mean, that's kinda been the whole point."

"I am aware. But..."

Sonic jogged in place, a flicker of excitement lighting in his chest at the movement. "But what? We'll finally be getting him back and hopefully be putting G.U.N back in their place at the same time."

"Yes. But I am... Wary?"

"Of what?" Sonic asked, stepping into the steel contraption and beginning to turn the wheel at an easy walk, "You worried we're gonna be gettin' in over our heads? Cuz trust me there's no need to worry about that. Between Tails' genius and my skills, we'll be makin' it look easy."

"It is not yours or the fox's capabilities that I am concerned about..."

Sonic sped up to a light jog, the wheel spinning soundlessly around him. Machinery hummed beneath the wheel as it turned faster.

"C'mon, 'Mega, spit it out. You know I'm not one to beat around the bush."

"Very well. I must ask that you do not try to lie or fool me on this hedgehog... I am aware of what my- history - entails... do you think... It is a wise course of action to have me be a part of this mission? Considering... my... history..?"

Sonic slowed down a little, his brow furrowing.

"Omega- are you worried about him seeing you again..?"

A static sound. "Invalid conclusion. It would be impossible for anyone to be able to see me in this state. Considering I no longer possess a physical body-"

"Omega," Sonic interrupted, voice stern, "Don't avoid the question." Sonic sped up, only because he knew he needed to release more energy. "Are you worried about meeting him again?"

A pause that lasted far too long.

Sonic sighed. "If you don't want to answer me then fine. But I will tell you this-" he pushed himself to run faster. "Both me and Tails are here for you. You're family. And family doesn't turn their backs on one another."

"You and Tails are... Different. It is not for you to be offended by what I have done."

Sonic rolled his eyes.

"Omega, you need to put more faith in our friend. If your roles were swapped, would you be forgiving?"

"I do not know...”

Sonic was quiet at that. The wheel soundlessly turned around him as he pushed 200 miles per hour. At these higher speeds he began to feel the energy draining from his body, pulled into the machinery below him. He shook his head, dismissing the unnerving feeling with practiced ease.

"Well, that sounds like something you need to work on." Sonic huffed. "But I honestly think you're overreacting."

Another pause.

"Sonic... I-"

" It's done! "

Sonic's head jerked towards Tails' excited voice. The Kitsune ran out of his lab with several papers, most likely printed from his computer, in his hands. His tails wagged in excitement behind him as he held out the papers to be viewed.

"We've finally done it! We have complete access to G.U.N's file!"

Excitement sparked alive in Sonic's chest and he leapt off the wheel mid-stride, leaving it to spin behind him as he darted to Tails' side.

"And what'd you find?! What'd you find?!" He asked eagerly, peering over the Kitsune's shoulder at the papers.

Tails grinned up at his older brother.

"What we've been looking for all this time! The location of Project Shadow!"

( First | Previous | Next )

[shadofiredragon]

It seems more white than blue to me- but it sure is bright and beautiful! Just like the person born the day of its appearance. I took these photos just now and wanted to upload them as another small gift to commemorate the day your shining life was brought into this world!

Happy birthday @000marie198!

(P.S. sorry if they’re not that great- I’m not a gifted photographer like you are 😅 I hope you get some beautiful pictures of the moon for yourself!)

[shadofiredragon]

Antares Antics

How to Distract a Hedgehog pg 3-4

Happy Birthday @000marie198!!!! I hope you’re having a wonderful day on your special day today! It’s amazing that tonight is supposed to be the Super Blue Moon! I hope the sky is clear tonight so I can see it! I’ll be thinking of you if I do, and continuing to wish you the best in your life.

Previous | Next

[000marie198]

OMG

OMG OMG OMG AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHFJJCJFKGIFHDBCJGKTJJDHDHDUFJFJFJF

Shado? YOU'RE BACK?!

With continuation of prev bday comic after whole year?! Get over here and let me hug you!

And my boy Antares is here look! 🤩🤩 I love this little dragon eeeeeeee

[shadofiredragon]

Only for you bro 😁 Happy birthday!!

[shadofiredragon]

Antares Antics

How to Distract a Hedgehog pg 3-4

Happy Birthday @000marie198!!!! I hope you’re having a wonderful day on your special day today! It’s amazing that tonight is supposed to be the Super Blue Moon! I hope the sky is clear tonight so I can see it! I’ll be thinking of you if I do, and continuing to wish you the best in your life.

Previous | Next

[000marie198]

Sonic fans please answer and reblog this, I'm trying to see something

What do you think is the worst place on Mobius (not as in the worst level to play but the in-world worst place)

Oil Ocean

Prison Island

Random GUN base

Eggman Empire Fortress

Crisis City (yes I know it's in the future)

Chemical Plant

Westside Island

Voting ended onApr 3, 2024

Trying to test something here. Aka which one do you hate most not for the gameplay but what it entails for either the characters or the world

[000marie198]

I will never get over how Sonic trusts Nine with everything and how Nine adopted him after just a few interactions and trusts him enough to share everything with him.

I will never get over how Mangey would hide behind Sonic when scared even though the hedgehog had been there for less than 10 minutes instead of seeking comfort and protection from his life long companions and how Sonic taught Mangey how to fly.

I will never get over how Sonic praised Sails in the middle of a battle even though the fox kit didn't have any gadgets and how Sails would keep catching Sonic before he could fall in the water even when it wasn't established that the hedgehog wasn't an enemy.

Beyond time and dimensions where they've never met, they still hold a trust for each other as if they've known each other for years. They still care for each other. Truly an unbreakable bond and it never fails to make me cry.

[000marie198]

Tails and Nine casually communicating about mundane things in highly advanced vocab and technobabble

No one understands exactly what they are saying, especially when they go in that bilingual mood.

Sometimes during missions, they figure something out over the comms and Sonic has to interrupt them with, "This is cool and all but would you two mind filling the rest of us in on your genius conclusion?"

And they dumb it down so much with full amusement while finishing each other's sentences with child level phrases.

[000marie198]

Done!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Prime Bros being the sillies they are. Enjoy!

Damage Control

-------

Urgent loud shouts mixed in with sounds of growling and struggling can be heard by every flicky and critter having the misfortune of passing by the recently expanded workshop in Green Hill.

"Nine! No!"

"Let me at him! I'll rip his tails out!"

Inside the living room, the source of most of the growling is barely being held back by two others who look like him as he struggles against them to attack the one in front.

"Hey-! Calm down, he was joking!"

"Aye not be joking, brother. Lad sword fights like a limp rope."

"Sails," Tails grunts, both his arms wrapped around their angry, trigger-happy brother, "I swear to Chaos if you don't shut up right now- Woah!"

There's a crash as one very pissed off multi tailed fox manages to push him off and pounces at the pirate, only to hit the coffee table as Sails dodges the attack with an infuriating grin.

"That's some sloppy footwork there."

It has the intended effect of riling the other up even more.

Tails rubs his temples and lets out a sigh of frustration, his namesakes whipping around in agitation. The noises become louder and a startled yelp from Mangey is heard amongst the ruckus. The youngest fox then lets out a growl of his own and pounces at Nine, clinging to his face and trying to pull him back.

The metal tailed fox makes a startled yip, Mangey barks and Sails is unable to stop himself as he snorts and breaks up into amused cackles.

"Beaten by a hug, eh? Never thought I'd see the day."

Tails' ears twitch as they catch the subtle sound of several clicks and low hum, the young aviator instantly recognizing the sound of his brother's namesakes activating.

"Oh no…"

He's running towards the two and grabbing the metal appendages before they could snap towards their laughing idiot of a brother who has zero self preservation skills. Where is Sonic when you need him?

Nine scowls at him, having pried Mangey free from his face and holding the young fox in his arms with far too much gentleness than he'd ever admit.

"Let go, Tails."

"Yeah right. So you two can break more furniture?"

"No," he rolls his eyes, "so I can teach him just how 'awful' I am at combat." He sends the pirate a heated glare.

"Tch," said pirate scoffs from behind Tails. "Very awful, I'd reckon."

"The only combat you are good at is swinging around a large knife."

"And yet, I still managed to defeat you the other day."

"You cheated."

Tails and Mangey share a look, one pair of blue eyes brimming with exasperation and the other with concern.

What do we do? The latter seem to ask.

Tape them to the wall, Tails' mind supplies. He ignores it. He values his stash of mint candies far too much to risk it.

"Pirate." Sails singsongs in response to Nine's earlier statement.

That does it for the other. Their brother places Mangey down and frees his artificial appendages in one smooth movement - Tails being pushed off for the second time in five minutes - before jumping on the pirate without warning, this time succeeding in tackling him as the two start battling like wild cats.

"Oh come on!" The only civilized fox in the room groans, flinching at the sound of something shattering. His frustration is replaced by horror as he realizes what exactly was broken.

"My tablet!" Tails exclaims and glares at the two, throwing every ounce of forgiveness and maturity out the window to pounce on them with a vengeful yell, immediately getting pulled into the ball of wildly intense scuffle.

Mangey watches the escalated fight in bewilderment for a total of two seconds before he jumps into the fray with a battle cry of his own.

Voices and snarls and words mix up into a cacophony of noises until it's impossible to tell the four apart, further crashes sounding out as the ball of fighting fox kits rolls around the place without any regard for the furniture.

Moments later, a distant sonicboom sounds somewhere outside, drowned out by the noise in the living room.

An unnatural gust of wind ruffles the fur of the foxes seconds before the front door slams open and a blue hedgehog merrily trudges in.

"I'm home! You guys won't believe what I…" Sonic trails off as he takes note of the toppled pieces of furniture and sees a fluffy ball of struggling, snarling foxes.

"Woah… What happened in here?"

At the sound of his voice, Mangey lights up with joy and immediately rolls out of the pile to greet his big brother with a grateful hug before sprinting off into a different room, Sonic barely catching sight of the superficial scratches on him. Tails follows the younger's example in extracting himself and leaves the other two vulpines to snap at each other.

"Sonic!" He exclaims, "Thank goodness you're finally here!" He then approaches Sonic and gives his shoulder a sympathetic pat, a relieved grin breaking out on his muzzle that has the hedgehog's brows furrowing in suspicion.

"They're all yours."

"Huh- What?"

Tails doesn't answer and is already running off into his lab with a broken tablet in hand by the time Sonic realizes what he has been left with.

Sonic thanks Chaos that he still knows how to handle stubborn fox kits.

"Alright, you two, break it up," he lightly scolds as he scruffs them both up so they are left limply dangling from his hold.

The simultaneous, ''He started it!'' has him conflicted on sympathizing with tired parents and feeling proudly overjoyed that Nine is finally starting to act his age.

And even knowing Tails and Mangey purposefully left him alone to handle two rough housing foxes and feeling the briefest twinge of exasperation, Sonic cannot help but let out a fond smile.

~

[niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian]

During episode 5 of Sonic Prime, you can see Mangey get scared of the presence of Thorn's bird. He shuffles around in fear around the other's but goes right to Sonic, gets behind him, and even holds his hand while doing so.

This is so stinking cute, and I'm glad this little detail now exists.