It was a clear, starry night, full of laughter and fun. The Sonic Team had gathered for a 'reunion' of sorts. The unspoken but known couples were scattered around the yard. Silver was talking bashfully to an impatient Blaze, who's countenance suggested she wanted him just to admit it. There was Tails, talking about nothing to Cream, who was smiling vacantly. Knuckles was arguing with Rouge, and of course Amy Rose was chasing Sonic. The air was filled with love, even if denied. Even the 'bad guys' had dropped in, gathering not a few dirty looks, but that day was for fun, not fighting. Metal Sonic talked with Omega and Emerl, Eggman was walking around the buffet table, snatching up anything that took his fancy. Fang was terrorizing Decoe, Bocoe, and Bokkun, with Vector laughing on the sidelines. Espio was meditating in a corner, with Charmy stuck fast to the candy bowl. Tikal was walking about, looking for a the only absent figure, Shadow. Although he had flatly denied coming, she still hoped he would show. Suddenly, a flash appeared in the middle of the yard, temporarily blinding the partygoers. When their eyes cleared, a smirking Shadow stood in the middle, tossing and catching the Green Chaos Emerald. Next to him was a flowing figure that no one recognized, completely covered in a white cloth. Shadow walked over to Tikal and winked. Tikal blushed bright red and giggled. The everyone pressed in on the newcomer, until a shout rang out: "Nazo!" Everyone immediately bristled and got ready for a brawl. Nazo flipped off his hood and held up his hands, showing he was just here for the party, nothing more. Everyone calmed down slowly, going back to their conversations. Shadow grinned, pleased he had upset the crowd. Unbeknownst to him, a certain blue hedgehog had snuck up behind him, large glass of punch in an upraised hand. Sonic threw the cup's contents at Shadow and sped away, chuckling madly, before either Shadow or Amy could catch up to him. Shadow became dripping wet in an instant, and he growled, glowing red. He started to pulse, meaning the he was going to explode, literally. SMACK! Tikal slapped him. Shadow's aura went out like a light and he stared at Tikal. She told him to calm down, it was just a joke. He shrugged, spun the juice off, and nodded to her. The party was still going strong, especially with a few, shall we say, unanticipated, additions to the punch that everyone was drinking. I smiled, unseen on the sidelines. What! An author's got to have some perks, right? And my perk today is finally forcing the Sonic Team to admit the freaking couples implicit in everything they do. Anyway, the people became less coordinated and less inhibited in word and deed. Sonic suddenly stopped running and turned to Amy. She was still sprinting to him, and he simply opened his arms and she ran right into him. She looked up, stunned. He just smiled and held her tight. Blaze, tired of Silver's inane chatter, punched him in the jaw, dropping him. Silver got up slowly, hurt more emotionally than physically, and started to ask what had happened when Blaze kissed him straight on the lips. Knuckles and Rouge had been drinking quite a bit of punch to alleviate their hoarse throats. They were arm in arm, loudly chanting bawdy drinking songs out of key. Cream, seeing Blaze and Silver, grabbed Tails' ears and stared him in the eyes. Tails stopped talking and gazed back. Cream slowly lowered her face and kissed him lingeringly. Tikal and Shadow sat looking at the moon, both intoxicated, but content just to be together. I sat on the hill, drinking my personal stash of double-malt. I hummed happily, watching the true happiness below. The lies and preconceptions had been dropped, at least for tonight, and this validated my decision to bring alcohol. I smiled slightly. Any minute now the crowd of fans will stab me in the face for this, for bringing liqueur, for pulling these couples instead of their Yaoi fantasies, but I'm okay with that. This party is how I imagine the universe, and they can write the way they feel too. I pulled myself unsteadily to my feet, the world spinning around me. At least I didn't introduce a crapload of lemons, I thought hazily. Even I have some respect for the Sonic world, although that doesn't extend to drinking. I turned to go and tripped on my feet, slamming my head and leaving me snoring. Down below, the seeds of love had grown, and the partygoers finally had dropped the last of illusions. What a night. What a good night, this once per year party, my once per year emergence into the world of stories. This one day? March 33rd. That doesn't exist, huh? Of course you don't remember. That would ruin the magic! Why do I remember? Because I know the only way around the spell. What? No of course I can't tell you! Wait, what was that? You'll do what to me? That's a bluff, you're joking… Okay! Okay I give! Put the knife down and I'll tell you! The spell plays on the logic on your mind, so you must be two things: utterly insane, and completely drunk. Well, I told you! Hehehe, but I didn't tell you when the day actually occurs, and it's not after March 31st… Well, I'll see you next year, and don't forget, if you try being completely smashed enough days, you'll find out what day and how to get there. Until then, I beg you not to kill me!
A crowd of insane Yaoi/Yuri fans come raging over the hill, chasing the inebriated author, who stumbles frantically away, just ahead of the mob. Ah, well. A day to remember, a day to forget. A day full of loving, hugging, and no regret!