'Sup, guys?

So, I finally got the guts to upload a story on here. I can't make any promises about when I can update or anything, but I'll try to do so on a semi-regular basis.

The prompts for each of these chapters was found here: 2011/09/25/100-themes-challenge-writing-prompts/. If any of you readers has any suggestions for a future prompt, go ahead and throw it at me!

This is my first story ever, so please be patient with me. I have no beta reader, so correct me if I make any mistakes with the canon or grammar. I hope I'll be much better at all of this by the time this story is completed. Constructive criticism is welcomed, and all reviews are appreciated! Flames...will probably just be ignored.

Warning: This chapter contains minor swearing. Each Chapter will have its own warning label

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or any of that other crap. It's SEGA's crap, and it's awesome crap, but it's not my crap.

Enjoy!

Prompt #1: Introduction

"I'm Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Shadow's eye twitched dangerously as he heard the same words over. And over. And over.

"Don't you worry; I'll take care of this!"

"Don't be scared, we'll find your parents."

"Woah! Gotcha. That was close!"

Their most recent battle with Eggman had ended like all the others: the mad scientist flew away (on whatever the hell that floating vehicle of his was) to lick his wounds, and the blue idiot congratulated the both of them on saving the day once again. Unfortunately, the stray lasers that had resulted from said battle had managed to light fire to a few of the buildings in Station Square.

And the stupid hedgehog just had to be the hero. Again. And Shadow just had to be dragged into the entire affair. Again.

His own efforts to save the people were very different from the Faker's, though they were no less effective. Approaching a panicking tiger in a business suit, he growled an admittedly less-than-comforting, "Shut up. Stop moving" as he lifted the (now petrified) businessman over his shoulder and hauled him outside before unceremoniously dumping him on the ground and heading straight back into the building.

"H-hello? Somebody?" Shadow looked over at the sound of a frightened whimper, and he spotted a little girl as she coughed hoarsely on the thick smoke. She could obviously hear the blue blur helping others, but the smoke rendered her nearly blind and unable to find him. Shadow started forward, but before he reached her, Sonic was there.

He knew that the best time for observing anything was definitely not in the middle of a burning building, but Shadow couldn't help but watch as the Faker brought himself down onto one knee and looked the crying girl in the eye. Throughout this entire ordeal, he hadn't yet lost that reassuring, annoying-as-hell smile, and now he was aiming it at this unknown child. They made eye contact, and the following moment was frozen for what seemed like the shortest eternity Shadow had ever known.

They didn't do anything monumental. There was no dramatic movement or declaration of heroism or gratitude. They just looked at each other, and something passed between them. Shadow had seen it before, and he recognized it vaguely; it was the bond, however brief, that was formed between a hero and a victim. For just a few seconds, that little girl would understand what it meant to have somebody spend time focusing on absolutely nothing but her safety and her life. Sonic, on the other hand, would have the knowledge that he, and he alone, had kept somebody from dying. It was such an everyday occurrence in their lives that Shadow had almost forgotten the actual depth and amazingness of it, and for that single moment, Shadow was really, truly content, and happy, and proud.

And in the next moment, he was on the verge of tearing off his own ears.

"Hi there! I'm Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"Hello. My name's Miles Prower, but everyone just calls me Tails."

Sonic watched indulgently as his little bro shook hands with a friendly-looking swallow. He wasn't sure exactly what Tails had done, but some mechanical doohickey of his had managed to catch the eye of the leading company in what Sonic liked to call "smart person stuff" and Tails corrected him as "technological advances". They had invited Tails over to collaborate with some of their top scientists and inventors on some other thingamabob that apparently could be made better with some parts from Tail's doohickey.

As the two strolled into the company building and Tails waved goodbye to Sonic, the Fastest Thing Alive found himself thinking. He usually managed to get by without doing too much of that, but there were times (like this) when he just had nothing to do for a few hours, and thinking was usually the result of boredom.

Sonic wondered, not for the first time, why his little bro introduced himself the same way to everyone they met. Amy had asked a similar question a few weeks ago: "Hey, Tails? Why don't you just say that your name is…well, Tails? Why add in your real name if you don't want them to call you that?" The fox's response had been a confused "Huh. I'm not sure, Amy. I just do, I guess."

The Blue Blur liked to think that he knew Tails better than anyone else. He suspected that Tail's introduction ran deeper than the little guy let on.

Because even though not many people knew where Tails came from, Sonic did. He remembered the cowering little fox, with the too-thin arms and the too-big gloves. He remembered hearing about the bullying and the taunts and the threats. He often wished that he had been able to save the two-tailed fox earlier, but Sonic also knew that was an impossibility. He had been too involved with stopping Buttnick to stop and smell the roses for a long time. Still, picking up the little fox and bringing him on his adventures definitely made the list of the Top Ten Best Decisions of Sonic the Hedgehog's Life.

At first, Sonic had tried to make the little fox forget. Forget the taunts, forget the pain, and forget the loneliness and the hunger and the cruelty. It had taken him months and months to realize that Tails didn't want to forget at all.

With every introduction, Tails made a statement. My name is Miles Prower, but I am not Miles Prower. Everyone calls me Tails, because that is who I am. That nickname is the embodiment of what I have grown into.

Sonic couldn't deny (nor did he want to) that he was proud. And not just proud. Sonic the Hedgehog was damn proud of his amazing, genius little brother.

So there you have it, kiddos. My first chapter.

Yes, it is short. Trust me, I know. Some of these chapters will be short, and some will be long. Just trust me on this.

I was originally just going to do the "Sonic" introduction, but that was shamefully short. Solution? Throw in Tails for instant happy :)

Again, reviewing helps! Thanks guys!