The sun shone on my face and the wind flew threw my spines as I dashed across the desert. It isn't long before I see Shadow catch up next to me.
"Shadow, long time no see," I commented, keeping my tone cool.
"Hmph," a smirk appears across his face. Usually, when he's around it means trouble, but this time around, it looked like he was wordlessly challenging me to a race.
"Where to?" I ask. He nods over towards a pyramid coming up, we can see it through the dust and such. "You're on!"
Our feet lighter than air, we dashed off, becoming barely more than blurs as the sand and dust whipped us in the face. (You know, it's funny to think that this stuff getting in our eyes never bothers us for some reason.)
Suddenly, Shadow stops in his tracks. I guessed he gave up at first, but then...
"Sonic! Look out!"
"Huh? WOAH!" I tried to stop, but I ended up tripping over myself, becoming a ball, and I couldn't stop myself from falling into the cacti pit! Twitching and groaning from the pain, I look up and see Shadow standing on the edge.
"Well, can't say I didn't warn you," he smiled arrogantly.
It took a lot of good balance on his part, but he's able to keep himself out of the cacti as he pulls me out.
"Thanks." I picked some of the spikes out of my skin. "You're being awfully nice today. What happened? Get amnesia again?"
"I've been avoiding Rouge," he admits. "When we first started dating, she seemed so laid back but now she's just kind of...suffocating. Lady problems. Figured you would understand."
"Boy, do I ever." I rubbed my cheek where Amy managed to kiss me earlier today. "Say, I was going to go back to Tails' house to grab a first-aid kit. Maybe you wanted to come with? Grab a chili dog on the way?"
"Perhaps some other time. I'm on official G.U.N. business near this area."
"Suit yourself, guy." Looking over, I notice that pyramid looks awfully familiar.
"Hey, isn't that one of Eggbutt's old lairs?"
"It is."
"Does your mission have anything to do with that?
"That's classified information."
I smile and roll my eyes. It's not that hard to put two and two together.
"Kay, guess I'll get out of your way, then. See ya!"
I'm about to run off, but he raised his hand.
"One more thing, if Rouge flies by, I'm not here. I'm ashamed to admit it, but even the Ultimate Lifeform has trouble sneaking off without his partner."
I nod sympathetically. "Understood."
I began to run off in the direction, but the spikes from the cacti that remained inside of me made it difficult, so I decided to just walk the rest of the way home. It wasn't a bad day out today, anyway.
Panting, I pushed the unlocked door open. I found Knuckles on the living room couch, watching TV.
"What happened to you?" he asked.
"Cacti pit," I explained quickly. "But first Shadow, now you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Just seems like I'm running into my usual rivals all over the place. Let me guess, you're having 'lady problems,' too?"
"What? No," he looked back at the TV. "I just needed a break from guarding the Master Emerald. Luckily, Rouge is still in her 'honeymoon' phase with Shadow, so she hasn't really been bothering me lately. Figured it be okay if I took a little vacay."
"Cool. I'm gonna grab the first aid kit. Where's Tails?"
"In the basement. Like usual."
Nodding, I walk towards the closet where we keep the first-aid kit. Some of the spines left little bleeding holes in me. It was pretty weird to keep running into people like Shadow and Knuckles so casually, but then again, Eggman had been awfully quiet lately: no evil plans, no attacks on the city, no trying to take over the world, no nothing. I guessed maybe the tension had died down from being off-duty for so long.
Finally getting the last of the band-aids on me, I decide to go and see what Tails is up to.
*TAILS' POV*
"There, just about done." I stepped back from the mini green, white and golden plane I made. "What do you think, Cosmo? I colored it to be just like us." I know Cosmo isn't exactly "Cosmo" anymore: all I had left of her since she passed was a single seed she left behind. So I planted the seed in a small pot, kept it in regular sunlight coming from a small window in the corner, watered it, and talked to what was left of her as if she was still there. "Check it out:" The plane took a moment to start, but once it did, it flew around the room with ease. "Maybe I'll make some modifications later," I explain to her. "Maybe put a camera, or some kind of miniature weapon system. I don't exactly know what I'll do with it yet, but...something."
"Hey, Tails," Sonic's voice startles me, making me accidentally bump the stick.
"Oh no!" The plane was heading straight for Cosmo! Thinking fast, I leaped to grab her, just in time to keep her from getting hurt by the plane. It crashed into the wall, damaging the front propeller. Breathing deeply, I hold her close to my chest, feeling my eyes watering. "Don't startle me like that, Sonic!" I snap, turning to the blue hedgehog. "Cosmo could have gotten seriously hurt if I hadn't gotten in the way."
"Tails..." a nervous, concerned frown fell on his face.
I could feel my body grow hot with adrenaline. If Sonic, of all people, makes that face, you know something's wrong.
"Don't say it." I put Cosmo back down on the table. "You're going to say that Cosmo isn't really there, and it's time to let go of my obsession with her that has gotten out of hand."
A sad smile formed at his lips as he put a hand on my shoulder. "Actually I...was going to suggest we plant Cosmo outside. You know...subbasements are great and all but...being a plant, she might be safer and happier somewhere more natural, like the front yard." I glared at him. He's a horrible liar. But still, maybe that suggestion didn't sound too bad...sighing, I pick her up again.
"...Okay." I smile, blinking back the tears in my eyes.
We picked a spot right by the front door. I smile when we're done. She looks like she perked a little more already. Sniffling, I wipe a tear from my eye.
"I'll...give you a minute..." Sonic awkwardly steps back into the house.
"Don't worry, Cosmo. You might be with me a lot less, but...I'll come and visit you every day. I'll even water you on days it doesn't rain." I got down on my knees and stroked the petals to her flower. "We'll be okay..." my voice trembles as tears come down my face. "...we'll be just fine..."
*KNUCKLES' POV*
"An unhealthy obsession much?" I ask as I hear Sonic close the door behind him.
"His grief comes in ebbs and flows." He takes the seat next to me.
"Yeah, but," I sit up, "it's been twelve years."
"There's no time limit on grief," Sonic folds his arms.
"You okay?" I asked. "This chapter is getting really depressing really fast."
His face softened. "Yeah...nearly everyone is OOC in this chapter...maybe the writer is a little out of touch."
Hey! I'm doing my best! The text comes out of nowhere.
"You say something, Knux?" Sonic asks.
"Nope." An awkward silence sits between us for a moment.
"So...twelve years, huh?" Sonic smiles, raising an eyebrow. "It's funny how all these years keep passing, and no one ages."
"I know, right? It's so weird."
There. Better?
"Uh, I guess, Knuckles." Sonic says.
"Dude, seriously. Not me talking. That voice is way too high and girly to be mine."
RING RING.
Sonic dashed up to get the phone. "Hello, Tails' residence, Sonic the Hedgehog speaking." A pause. "Yeah, he is here, actually. Knux, it's for you." Sighing, I get up.
"Hello?"
"Knucky-" a sniffle came on the other side "-where's Shadow?! I-I can't find him, anywhere." I roll my eyes. It was Rouge again. See, she doesn't really have any other females to go to about her boyfriend issues (since she's hard to trust: believe me, I know,) and I appear to be the only male willing to listen, since I usually have nothing better to do than guard the Master Emerald.
"How am I supposed to know?" I hold the bridge of my nose in my hand.
"You're hiding him," she accused.
"Why would I be hiding him?"
"Tell me where he is, or I'll try and take the Master Emerald again!" she threatens.
"How do you know I'm not there to guard it?" I smile.
BANG!
Sonic and I scream at the sight at the back door. Rouge is standing right there, using her cellphone to contact me. Her face, pressed against the glass is messed up from all the running make-up. Looking at each other, unsure of what to do, I hang up and Sonic lets her in.
"Where...is he?" Rouge glares at me, hanging up.
"Uh...hey, writer...person...sir...ma'am...whoever the hell you are, I know you're probably just looking for a way to keep my POV from being too short, but maybe you could at least fix...that?" I gestured at Rouge.
"'Fix that'?! What is that even supposed to-" her face suddenly softened, and she took some deep breaths. "...Excuse me." I tried not to blush as she brushed past me while she made her way to the sink. Turning the water on, she washed her make-up off. Strangely, she hardly looks any different with it off than she does with it on.
"Feeling more like yourself?" I ask her. She wipes her face with a paper towel.
"Yeah...I think so," her ears droop sadly. "I don't know what you did but...thanks, Knucky." My face grew hot as she pecked me on the cheek and ran out the door she came through.
"Aw snap, you still like her, don't you?" Sonic grinned.
"I do not...she's just a friend."
"Riiight. You keep telling yourself that."
