"Hey Sonic why doesn't your younger self talk?"
It probably could have been an innocent question, on Silver's part it was one. Not for Sonic , to him it was a question he had feared this entire adventure, ever since he meet his younger self, in fact. Both Sonics froze, nothing moved they could feel the eyes of everyone staring at them.
Tails' worried gaze tried to meet his eyes. Sonic refused to make eye contact. His younger self meet his eyes only for a moment but the message was clear. You didn't tell them? Then in that second all evidence of the blue blur was the dent in the grass.
"What the hell was that about?" The red echidna questioned.
Blaze shook her head, then turning to Silver said "That was rude."
"I didn't think it would cause any harm!" The hedgehog stated
"Well it hurt Big Blue, which at least proves he has secrets" Rouge purred
It was then the lighter blue hedgehog decided to remind everyone he was still there by stomping his foot impatiently. The older fox turned his head towards him, then sighed softly. Then turning his head towards his younger incarnation he said "Mind starting to look for Older Sonic without me, little guy?" The smaller fox raised a tiny eyebrow "But what if the portal-" The Older fox shook his head cutting off the small one "The time portal to send you guys back shouldn't come back for another two hours, just-just start looking I'll join you soon. Ok?"
"OK!" The black eyed fox flew off happily not seeing how stressed his blue eyed self looked.
"Ok, seriously Tails, what the hell is going on?"
"I, um, it's kinda hard to explain, I shou-"
The small blue hedgehog cut him off with lots of hand signals. "What is Mr. Sonic doing with his hands, Amy?" Cream asked.
"It's sign language." Vector announced rather loudly.
"Sign language! But why does Sonic know Sign language, Boss?" The young bee asked even louder. Espio gave him a look saying 'That was unnecessary'. The said blue hedgehog gave Charmy an irritated look. Shadow voiced the thoughts of everyone.
"Perhaps," he began with a smirk "Faker, is more of a faker than he lets on."
The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes before continuing to communicate with Tails. "I,- are you sure, Sonic? Okay, um." the fox took a deep breath, "Sonic is a, mute."
Amy put on a face of surprise, "What! Not my Sonic, he talks all the time! It can't be true," She turned to the young version of her obsession, "You can talk right!?"
The young hedgehog gave a death glare then, to prove his point he opened his mouth and out came a very raspy, uh, sound.
"But, Amy does have a point," Knuckles said to the group, "Sonic talks all the time."
"Tails probably fixed it later on, right Tails?" The white mobian looked hopefully at the golden one.
"No, I never really 'fixed' it, I just made him a device to, uh, simulate vocal chords."
"So, Sonic has a device inside him?" Blaze questioned softly."What, no, no, He just wears it around his neck"
"I've never seen it though." Knuckles stated
Shadow actually snorted, "The fox has made planes go invisible, you don't think he could do it to a collar?"
An outburst of talking seemed to start. The fox desperately tried to stop the rustle. A whistle brought their attention back.
"Thanks Rouge."
"Nothing to it dear."
The young fox sighed, almost like a parent taking care of children. "I've got to find mini me and the other Sonic and make sure they don't get into trouble. I'll leave the Miles Electric ™ to translate his sign language" He then hurriedly flew off.
After standing awkwardly, Knuckles tried starting a conversation. "Soo, have we met yet?"
'Yes, I think you and Tails are the only people I recognize.'
"Oh my Sonikku, why didn't you tell us you couldn't talk?" Amy said while trying to pet young Sonic's ear.
'How the hell should I know? I don't even know any of you, except for that idiot,' he pointed to Knuckles ("Hey!") 'Maybe I don't like people learning about me, or maybe I'm just an idiot in the future.'
Shadow chuckled to himself, "So have you always been mute?"
The hedgehog hesitated. 'I used to be able to talk, but, that was when everyone was still alive.'
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
'My parents, my sister, my brother, I' he paused uncertain if he wished to continue, 'When Robotnik came, we didn't see our parents again. I tried to protect them I did really try, I just wasn't fast enough'
There was several audible noises of surprise. Not only had Sonic, the fastest thing alive said he wasn't fast enough, but he also had a family, besides Tails. The young hedgehog suddenly seemed to get angry.
'Robotnik took my family, my voice, my own name! It isn't fair! How could anyone protect their family if they can't speak for themselves!' The hedgehog probably would have shouted it if he could. Then suddenly the blue blur opened his mouth and said in a very small and raspy voice, " That is … why I fight … with or without a *cough cough* voice … I'm not going to let-' The hedgehog's body shook with strong coughs. A gloved hand landed on his shoulder, he looked up to see a very blue hedgehog with a solemn frown on his face. Then he said quietly "I'm not going to let others have the same fate as me," then looking to the other mobians he said " I have to keep fighting, gotta keep going faster"
When the younger counterparts left no one asked any more questions.
That could be for another Day.