I don't own Sonic or the Any mentioned holiday icons. I would also thank hyper-piggle for the inspiration.
Happy Holidays! :)
Chapter 1
"Absolutely not!"
"Oh come on, it's just for a few hours."
"Of few hours of my dignity in which I like to keep."
"This is just a one time deal."
"I repeat: 'Absolutely not!'"
The Holidays are here again and everyone in Station Square are beginning their last minute Christmas shopping as the light snow falls on the buildings and holiday music play along the streets on Christmas Eve. Children in the parks are playing in the snow, having snowball fights and making snow man. Carolers walk singing just outside the Station Square Memorial Mall, where, inside the staff green room, you'll find two famous hedgehogs, a blue quilled one with green eyes in red with white stripes shoes and a black one with red streaks on his quills and white, red and black jet shoes. Both were arguing over a matter that had been placed on them as required of these two super fast and famous hero and anti-hero.
"Shadow, you'll be wearing a big hat and white beard, no one will know it's really you."
"I don't see why I have to be Santa, Sonic? Can't you get someone else? Why not Knuckles?"
"With his short fuse and tolerance level?"
"Vector?"
"He got banned from being Santa because his mouth couple years ago."
"… Big? He's the perfect size; he's jolly and likes kids."
"He doing a Santa gig at Westopolis."
"Well, the doctor may not want…"
"Actually Eggman's being the big guy at Robotropolis. (1)"
"You're kidding."
"Hey he's not a bad guy all the time."
Shadow, the Ultimate life form, groaned on the soft staff couch and placed his head in his hands in frustration, thinking of a way out of what he would call 'a situation of a humiliating blow to his rep'. Sonic, the Fastest Thing Alive, just waited beside a costume rack that was left for the mall staff. The officials of Station Square had asked Sonic and Shadow to participate in for "Benefit Meet Santa Last Minute Shop Run" where all who meet Santa provide important things for those less fortunate. However, even though Shadow had agreed to help, since he had nothing better to do, he did not agree to the major role he'll be playing.
"Maybe I could give Omega a call…"
"Shads, I don't think the kids will feel comfortable sitting on a metal leg. At least you got the better deal."
"Why?"
Sonic reached into the costume rack and pulled out a green Christmas elf suit and hat, with a red and green striped leotard and green curvy shoes with small jingle bells on the ends. The blue hedgehog looked at his counterpart with an impassive face that know wouldn't normally see on his face.
"I'm your 'little helper' in tights, kids will feel less nervous when they see me first (2), but since you don't want to play your role we could trade-"
"Give me the beard."
In the center of the mall under a massive decorative pine tree you'll find a mall Santa with piercing red eyes in-between a red hat and a white beard and under the red replica of the jolly suit you'll find the disgruntled black and red hedgehog sitting his holiday throne awaiting his dignity's end.
"Ho, ho, ho."
"Shads, can't you be a bit more enthusiastic?"
"I was."
The blue, red, and green clashed elf shook head, expecting his doppelganger's discomfort. They could hear the children and parents on the other side of the wall, and the photographer was setting the camera for the pictures.
"Fine, you don't have to do the Santa call, but just smile a little and at least give a positive atmosphere."
Shadow gave himself a deep calming breath for his nerves, readjusted in his seat and readied himself for his doom. He watched as Sonic went around the wall and heard the excited cheers to Sonic's fame.
"Hey everyone, yes this year I'm just part of the help because I know who you kids really want to see. So who's ready to see Santa?"
Even louder cheers nearly startled Shadow… nearly. He wasn't usually someone who celebrated any holiday; he sometimes goes to the Christmas parties when he was invited. At times the season made him think of the more calming times he had of this holiday on A.R.K with Maria, but he kept promising himself not to think of it and thought back to his present predicament. Yet, he still thought of those times with a softer expression to his normal hard exterior.
"Here's the first one," called Sonic bringing Shadow out of his thoughts but he subconsciously kept his soft look.
The first meeting went quick since it was just a one year old mongoose, just a simple smile, a click of the camera, and the child left with a friendly wave goodbye. After the first hour things went smoothly since some of the kids, both mobian and human, were either too young or shy. It wasn't until a seven year old dog mobian came onto Shadow's knee that things became interesting.
"And what's your name; have anything you want for Christmas?"
The kid giggled. "You should know if you really are Santa."
Now that was to be expected for any kind of mall Santa, but even so Shadow and Sonic didn't know how to counter it.
"Come on, Santa."
The black hedgehog was truly grateful for his great patience. Shadow looked to Sonic for any help but the blue hedgehog just shrugged apprehensively. Yet, before Shadow could reply he felt a strange feeling in the back of his mind. Then a name and a wish came from his mouth.
"Yes, how silly of me David. Now I remember, your special "Spitfire" mountain bike will be waiting for you in the morning."
Surprise lit up on three faces, Sonic looked up with a double take on the response, Shadow hid his look but inwardly he was having a fit of his somehow acquired info, and the surprise awe from the seven year old. The kid then bounced on Shadow's knee with new excitement.
"Wow, you really are Santa! Thanks I can't wait bye!"
As the boy left the two hedgehogs looked at each other. Sonic mouthed 'How did you?', only to have Shadow reply in a whisper, "I don't know but maybe it was just a fluke." Still a little frazzled Sonic silently agreed with Shadow's statement. So he brought another kid up, a human five year old girl this time, up to Shadow's knee.
"Hello, Heather. I have to tell you that your plush pony is all ready for your tree."
That was no fluke.
Sonic did another double take at the pair going back into shock at the disguised Lifeform. 'He didn't even need to ask,' he thought. The girl was squealing and gave the hedgehog Santa a hug.
"Thank you, Mr. Claus."
All throughout the rest of the afternoon and onto the early hours of the evening Shadow and Sonic played their roles with little trouble. Soon the mall would be closing and the kid crowd was thinning which Shadow was grateful for. He still had those strange expected info on the kids and presents, but he decided to talk to Sonic about it afterwards. Soon Sonic brought what looked like one of the last of the children. He was a young, but meek eight year old red head boy with green eyes. He wore a blue snow-coat with a blue striped scarf, a warm looking beanie. On his legs were red sled pants and snow-boots. When Shadow looked into the boys eyes he again had the instant knowledge of his name but for some reason the boy didn't want special present so instead of voicing it Shadow responded to him as a any normal mall Santa.
"Well hello there. What's your name?"
The boy looked at him timidly, but answered softly, "Louie."
"Do you have gift you want for Christmas?"
The boy took his hand and reached into his coat pocket and brought out a little white envelope with a name written in red crayon.
"No, but do you think you can do me a favor?" He held the envelope to 'Santa'. "Can you take this and give it to Shadow the Hedgehog?"
Sure enough, on the envelope face was Shadow's name in red crayon. Shadow took it from the small hand and looked at it. He didn't expect to get a letter from anyone, maybe from Sonic, Rouge and his other 'friends', but not from a stranger, especially a little boy. He looked back at the red head.
"To Shadow?"
"Yeah, he's my favorite, he so cool and runs really fast, maybe faster." He then looked back at the Blue hedgehog elf then back and leaned close to whisper in Shadow's hidden ear. "But don't tell Sonic I said that, I like him but Shadow's better." Shadow had the hide his snort of laughter as he heard the blue blur elf soft scoff at this; he had secretly heard, much to Shadow's smug amusement and Sonic's dismay.
"I know I may not get to see him for real but I wanted to at least give him something that I can show him how much he is my hero before I… go away" Louie said, with muttering softly on the last part.
Shadow inwardly looked perplexed under the fake white beard. Go away? What does he mean?
Louie looked back at 'Santa', "So can you give him this letter?"
There was a small pause before Shadow gave the boy a small smile and held down the letter.
"I'll be sure he gets it."
Louie looked up to him and gave a big smile. "Thank you Santa, it's my only wish this year!"
The photographer called out to them, "Say tinsel."
The photo was taken and Louie hopped off Shadow's knee, waved a 'Merry Christmas' to both Shadow and Sonic, who replied back. Shadow looked back at the letter and subconsciously placed it into his quills as he greeted another child, a white dove girl. Unbeknownst to all even the two hedgehogs a darkened figure was watching from the glass roof of the building, with a satisfied smirk on his lips.
After a half and hour the mall was closed and the early signs of evening was fanning across the partially clouded sky. The two superfast hedgehogs were sitting on a bench just taking in the relaxing crisp air after their long day. The mall was so grateful that they gave each of them gift cards to all the stores for five years, in which they both decided to give most of them to Amy, Cream, her mother, Vanilla, and Rouge. Sonic was wearing a yellow snow coat, fidgeting with his scarf that tails made for him last year, it was blue and red with a white thread signature that said 'To my Big Bro, Sonic' at one end. Shadow was just staring out to the sky watching the snow fall silently, in a black coat Rouge bought him as an early gift. After a while Sonic decided to break the silence on the important matter.
"I still can't believe that you knew all those kids names and what they wanted. That's just weird."
Shadow just massaged this temples as he replied, "I was more afraid that the parents thought I could be a stalker of some kind."
"I don't think they noticed, still how did you exactly know?"
"Again Sonic I don't know? I think maybe I'm going insane and I don't have anyone to blame." Shadow this buried his cold face into his warm hands.
"You could blame me for that."
"Sonic, I have already do blame you for starting all of this."
"Uh… Shadow, that wasn't me."
Shadow looked up at the blue hedgehog, who looked back at him with and equally surprised look. They then looked around from their position until they heard a voice.
"Yoo-hoo, up here!"
Both look up to the top a building be side them and saw a figure jump from the top and land a yard from where they now stood. In front of them was a brown reindeer with small dark drown antlers wearing a red and green scarf. He had bright gold eyes, and a small smile, as he regarded with his hoof-hand in his hip and the other along his side.
"Yo!" he called holding up his hoof- hand in greeting.
Shadow was the first to come out of their initial shock. "How are you?"
The reindeer scratched the back of his head as he replied, "Uh… Call me Blitz, for now."
Sonic then asked, "What did you mean before?"
Blitz then smirked, "Oh, I was the one who relayed that info to ya."
"How?" asked Shadow with his arms crossed.
"Magic," said Blitz, as he waved his hoof-hands to emphasize it.
Shadow scoffed at that, "Hmph, yeah right."
"This coming from someone who shoots lightning bolts?"
"He's got you there, Shads," Sonic pointed out with a shrug.
Shadow just groaned and rubbed his face, "Even if I did believe you, why did you do it?"
Blitz's face softened and looked at the two hedgehogs, "Well you see, my buds and I are in a bit of trouble and you two are the only ones who could help us."
"Us?" Sonic pointed to himself.
"Yeah, please we're running out of time, and this is really important. We don't know who else to ask, if you don't, it will cause a great disaster to everyone and this season."
Silence was hanging along with the silent decent of snowflakes as the reindeer looked at the hedgehogs with pleading eyes. Sonic then looked to Shadow, he was hesitant to go because it was Christmas Eve, but as being a hero he had to follow what should be right.
"What do you think Shadow? You're better at analyzing others than me."
Shadow, who thought that even though he had no real plans and thought of this as ridicules waste of time, just looked into Blitz's eyes. He saw no malice, no threat, and hesitation in his plea.
"He's not lying. But if I find out that this is a waste of time be ready to become target practice for lightning bolts."
The reindeer smiled happily and with a wave of snow sparkling snow a small red sled appeared.
"Great! Hop on!"
Sonic looked at the sled with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, no offence but we can get to where you want us to go at our real speed."
Blitz just smugly smirked, "Yeah, at your usual speed but not at mine at this time of year."
"It that a challenge?"
Shadow just sighed, "As much as I like to race, didn't you say that we needed to hurry?"
Blitz sheepishly tied his sled buckle on as the two hedgehogs got on the sled, "You're right. Alright passengers keep your legs and hands inside the sled, buckle up and brace for a speed you've never been at." He smirked and started doing deep breathes, then stretched his legs a bit.
Shadow just rolled his eyes, while Sonic just sniggered. They buckled in and Shadow crossed his arms. "This still better not be a hoa-a-a-a-a-a-x-x-x-x-x!!!!"
As if experiencing a famous light-speed moment the reindeer and sled sped off then vanished leaving nothing but a sled trail and swirling snow.
What did you think? There will be more. Again thanks hyper-piggie this is for you.
Please reveiw.
(1) Did I spell it right?
(2) Kids are always aprihenive when they meet Santa, so seeing a famous hedgehog in ights should loosen the tention. XD