First Dinner
"That was a beautiful movie."
Clinking was heard alongside the comment as the trio packed away the beverages, and wine glasses, being sure to keep any alcohol in a safe place.
"You say that every time we watch it Vanilla." Nicole let out a chuckle alongside her light quip.
"Though we don't disagree." Tikal interjected, "It is a beautiful romance. I believe Shade has the novel in the library."
"Remind me to borrow it then." Vanilla mused quietly before becoming alert. "What time is it?"
"Just after three." Nicole replied before becoming alert herself.
"Oh dear, we have to start dinner." Tikal worried, "If it's not served at sunset the tradition goes to waste."
"Well let me just call Sonic to ask what everybody wants." With the press of a button he appeared.
"You guys are missing out!" Sonic asked with a large smile on his face. "This year is going to be way better than last year. We even got Shade to dance!" Excitement turned to confusion, "Um Vanilla… you have a little… something on your mouth."
Nervousness covered her face when she looked in the nearby mirror a trace of red right beside her own peach lips. Rubbing it off quickly she thanked Sonic. The three ladies all shot nervous glances at each other.
"Sonic, dear, I er... we need a list of what everybody wants for dinner tonight," Tikal handed him a notepad with a pencil.
"No problem Tikal. I'll be back in no time!" snatching the pad he dashed off back downstairs.
Letting out a sigh the ladies made their way toward the large kitchen. "That was a close one." Nicole murmured.
"Indeed," Tikal nodded, "We have to be more careful if we don't want to get caught."
"What would the children think?" Vanilla whined.
Curious emerald eyes looked on at the scene, eyebrow arched in interest.
"Seems like everybody in this house has a little secret..." Sonic whispered. He walked back to the stairs when they finished talking and pretended to whizz into the room. "I got your list! I want chilli dogs, Tails wants a mint chocolate cake, Knuckles wants something with grapes in it. Rouge wants a fruit salad so that would be easy, you can even add Cream's ice cream in that as a dessert. Amy wants cupcakes, you can probably add that to Tails', Blaze wants white rice, Bunnie wants a twice baked potato. Shadow wants turkey... Silver wants pasta... Shade wants a salad. She said Garden, Ceaser, or farmers. I know that you want your carrot soup Vanilla, Tikal wants her lemonade, and Nicole wants..." He turned to her in confusion. "What do you want? You usually just eat everything."
"Very funny mister." She frowned but her eyes were smiling. "I want garlic breadsticks."
Writing the order down he flipped the pad over and started a more organised list. He didn't want a mistake like last year. 'Chocolate carrot cake with chilli icing did not taste good...' he shuddered. So it looks like chilli dogs, turkey, three salads plus a fruit salad for dessert, breadsticks, carrot soup, alongside rice, baked potatoes, and pasta. Along side lemonade, which I made ahead of time, grape juice, iced tea, which is every year, and mint chocolate cupcakes and ice cream for dessert!" Looking up from the pad he teared the sheet out and posted it on the fridge with a magnet. "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you."
"We sure do, so we better get started!" Turning to Sonic Nicole shooed him away, telling him to bring up Amy and Shadow.
He walked until he was out of sight before zooming off, "Amy! Shads! You're wanted upstairs."
With a curt nod and a smirk the black hedgehog walked calmly up the stairs followed closely by the pink one.
"You called?" Shadow asked.
The mothers had already started getting out the ingredients they needed along with what seemed like a hundred different pots, pans and containers. "Yes Shadow. I heard from Maria that you make an absolutely delicious salad and we had a request for three types. Can you help us." Red cheeks and a nod gave Tikal her answer.
"And Amy I need you to make the fruit salad and help me make the cupcakes." Vanilla asked calmly.
"Okay Vanilla! I mean mom!"
Shadow quickly took out a salad spinner and lettuce. "I'm starting now. The sooner I get this done, the less time faker has to see me."
Downstairs the group was still chilling around talking, dancing, mingling.
With a drink in his hand Sonic sat back in his chair, watching as his brother showed Cream one of his more simple creations. With Cream pushing a button an explosion of colour came from the invention. Everyone turned to see the cause except for Sonic who smirked at their reaction.
Shade was the first to speak up. "That's quite a machine Tails." She praised.
Shyly turning away from the attention with a tint of red on his cheeks, he answered meekly, "It's nothing really, just a prism enhancer."
"It's great for parties." Sonic piped up. "It's like a disco ball," he let out a chuckle. "It used to be my toaster."
Cautiously, Cream took the box from Tails. "It's so pretty..."
"You can have it if you want. I don't use it much." Tails offered.
Eagerly nodding, Cream hugged the glowing box. Squealing she pulled the fox into a hug where he blushed even more than he already was. "Thank you so much Miles!"
"Your welcome Cream." Was his meek reply.
The moment was interrupted by a percussion song. Knuckles started tapping his feet to the beat. "I love this song."
Sonic rubbed his noes proudly. "I know. why do you think it's on here?"
The two shared a smirk as Knuckles gave him a brotherly punch. Soon enough the dancing resumed.
"You look like you're having fun," gold eyes met purple as the terracotta echidna sat down beside her.
"Almost as much as you're having," came the calm reply. "Not used to this environment right?"
"You could say that. When the population of where you live is three, crowds become a bit overwhelming."
"I see." Blaze replied sipping on her hot chocolate.
Shade watched as she drank. "You drink those as if they'll disappear."
Having the good nature to blush, the feline answered. "It's the milk. It makes it fairly addictive to me. Besides," she took another sip. "Nicole makes the very best hot chocolate."
"I'll have to try it."
Blaze's eyes went wide and she became nervous. "Help me out of this!" She whispered.
"What?" The echidna realised as she saw the silver hedgehog approaching.
"Oh. I believe I remember Nicole saying something about decorating earlier would you like to help her?" She said it loud enough that Silver was sure to here her.
"Very much so." Hurriedly placing her cup down she pulled Shade along with her up the stairs, giving a quick hello to Shadow as he passed them.
"Dinner is almost ready." He announced as he turned off the machine.
"So quickly?" Sonic asked.
"Quickly? it's been two hours. They're just waiting for the turkey. But they want everyone upstairs. In the café."
With a nod Sonic sped off, grabbing Tails on his way out. "We're going to set the table! We'll meet you guys up there."
By the time the others were ready and at the café, Sonic and Tails had already set the table exactly to their mother's orders. A deep red cloth over a lacy white one covered the table. There were three unlit candles in silver holders and all three wicks connected in the centre of the table. And each plate was made to specifically suit the owner.
"I didn't think Sonic was capable of decorating so well. I thought it would be chaos."
Sonic frowned, "Ha. Ha. Ha. You're just too funny Silver. That's the very reason I put you as far from me as possible."
"Glad to hear it slow motion."
Rolling his eyes, he went to hold open the door. A delicious aroma wafted through the air as two carts of food were pushed into the glass room by Vanilla and Tikal. Nicole followed with a box of matches.
A gust if wind later and the carts were empty and all of the platters were on the table.
Sonic gave Tails a high five before the both of them have a mock bow in unison they spoke,"You may be seated."
There was general chatter as everyone took there seats. Tapping a spoon to a wine glass Tikal stood up.
"Thank you all for coming to my family's celebration. It's nice to see everybody back from last year and even more faces. Thank you to Nicole and her family especially for making this gorgeous house." A smile donned Sonic, Tails, and Rouge's face. "We're glad that we're surrounded by friends and loved ones for this heart warming time of the year."
"Tikal, honey, the sun is about to set."
She takes a look at the sky's beautiful orange, purple and blue hues, the star is setting.
"Nicole, Vanilla, light your matches." With a flick of the wrist, there are flames in all of there hands.
"Five..." Sonic starts.
"Four..." Tails and Knuckles continue.
"Three..." All of the children say.
"Two..." everyone says together.
"One." Tikal whispers as she lights the unlit candle in front of her, Nicole and Vanilla doing the same. Sparks slowly climbed up the wicks until they reached the part where they met and in an explosion of light a miniature star was seemingly formed, Lighting up the now dark room.
Shadow raised an eyebrow in question, "That's... not possible."
The rest of the table sans Tails was in awe at the beautiful sight. "You guys like it? It took me forever to make!"
Amy looked at Tails with her jaw wide open,"You made a star!"
Tails cocked an eyebrow before giggling. "It's not a star. It's just a light container."
Sonic ruffled Tails' hair. giving him a smirk. "Whatever it is, buddy it is way past cool."
"Indeed it is Tails," Vanilla spoke up, "It's the perfect centrepiece for this delicious meal. Speaking of which..." She shot a look at Tikal, who nodded in return. "Bon appetite everybody!"
The dinner was amazing, light chatter passed around the table. The time was spent reminiscing and telling tales about the past year.
"I never thought I'd say this but these salads are really good!" Sonic piped up suddenly. Pointing to the three women he asked,"Which one of you made them?"
Shadow shot them a look.
A nervous and guilty look covered Vanilla's face as she stammered out,"Well it's a special recipe that... um... my friend sent me. I'll be sure to tell them that it was a smash!"
"You do that! Invite them next year too!" Sonic went back to devouring his meal.
A while later desert was served. Tails' eyes lit up at the cupcakes. Nicole smiled at the look on his face before speaking up. "There's one more thing that I made just for dessert." She got up from the table and zipped down the stairs.
"I wonder what the surprise is." Silver piped up.
"I don't know but whatever it is it's sure to taste amazing. Nicole's a great cook." Amy replied.
"Well when you have the minds of the world's greatest chefs at your finger tips you're bound to be a whiz in the kitchen." Rouge added.
Seconds later Nicole came in with a huge platter that almost covered her eyes. "A little help here?" Shade, being the closest assisted her. They placed it in the very centre of the table and Nicole lifted the cover.
Rarely seen surprised covered Tikal's face at the sight of the apple pie. Shaped like a six-ended star the golden crust very nearly sparkled under Tails's light. Steam was emitting from it still and it was fresh out of the oven.
"It's beautiful..." Tikal breathed out.
"So pretty," Amy followed.
"Why thank you. I tried my hardest to make it as delicious as it did in my mind," The beauty queen giggled, "I think I did a pretty good job."
"It's wonderful dear." Vanilla gave her a smile.
"Yeah mommy it looks so tasty!"
Nicks started to blush a bit at the compliments and the smiles. "Well food isn't for looking at it's for eating so dig in!"
Soon enough everybody was nom-nom-nomming the spread of sweet desserts. Very little was said except for the often heard "Can I get another piece of..." Or, "More please!"
After dinner was finished the kids helped clear the table, putting all the leftovers in a mini fridge.
Rouge piped up talking over everybody's light chatter. "Okay guys its time for the real party to start! Everybody downstairs! Sonic get your dj stuff set up." Sonic quickly got to work as everybody, parents and children alike filed downstairs.
Grabbing his turntables from his room along with his headphones and medallion Sonic thought to himself. "Time to bring the house down." With a smirk he hustled down the stairs.
Yay for pie! So yeah since most of the character's favourite foods are unknown I just used other delicious foods that would fit the occasion.
A very basic chapter just to upload something for the new year and as it is the first story of the new year I have a prize!
What is this prize you may ask? Well the first person to review this story gets to choose a character from the Sonic game universe. The character they choose whoever it is will get a one shot made by me and dedicated to the reviewer. The review has to be more than "first" "great story" simple praise or anything like that it has to be a legitimate review.
Thats your challenge people! Good luck to you!
And, as always, Thanks for reading!