A/N: First off, I'd like to complain. MY EFFING LAPTOP HAS A FREAKING VIRUS!!!!!!!!! At least, that's what I suspect. So, I will be using my old Windows 98 computer for a while. It runs well enough, so I'm working with it. Until I can either get my laptop fixed or buy a new computer myself, that's how it's going to be. As such, I've had to put a screeching halt on other stories, but because I'm so close to finishing this one, I'm going to be writing the chapters on paper, then typing them up on the 98. -sighs-
So, anyway, I'd going to guess that this story has about 2, count 'um, 2 chapters left. So, hold on tight, next chapter and beyond are going to be BUMPY.
R&R love you forever!!!!!1!!!!!!1111111 XDDDD Lol, jk.
Chapter 10: The Calm
Sonic
"Why, Sonic! What a surprise! It's so good to see you." Sally's words were just cheerful enough, but the queen's icy sapphire eyes were not on me. I stood from kneeling, frowning a touch, while Swift carefully followed my lead. "Oh, and you've brought a friend with you, I see."
"M'lady." I began in palace-talk, a dialect I had learned many years ago. "Sal, we don't really have time for all this formal mumbo-jumbo."
"Very well then. Guards!" At the demanding flick of her wrist, the royal guard took up their weapons and marched from the throne room. The massive oak door was slammed shut behind them, leaving two-thirds of the remaining casting anxious glances around while the other third still perched haughtily on her cathedra. "Sonic the Hedgehog, Hero of Mobius, and now as well of our friends on Earth, both New and Old, what could you possibly need of me?"
"A little bird told me a rumor-." Grimacing at that last question, I was a bit slow on the uptake, interrupted by Queen Sally.
"How rude of you, Sonic! Not even bothering to introduce your little friend to me!" She pounced, clearly well trained in this sort of arena, blue eyes calculating as they zeroed in on Swift's bare frame. From her high-horse, dressed in a poofy white gown and shimmering crimson cloak, Sally appeared imposing as compared to Swift, who was clothed in nothing more than her navy Jet Shoes and her locking cuffs as was typical for a, quote-quote, average, Mobian. Swift's expression was one of bemusement, however, not of one intimidated. It was the navy hedgie that drew my attention every time I looked between them, not the coffee squirrel.
I opened my mouth to introduce her when Sally put one hand out in my direction, silencing me.
"I think it has a voice of its own."
It? Sally really has changed…
"I am Project 15, otherwise known as Swift." She replied curtly to being referred to as "it", giving an almost-rude bow.
"Project?" Sally asked, puzzled, and inquiring more.
"The youngest, or, if you wish for me to keep speaking like an object, the most recent of the Ultimate family, or, in object-tongue, of the Ultimate Life Projects." Swift's growling was barely audible, my ears flicking as I only just detected it.
"The Ultimate Lifeform?"
"One." Swift corrected. "I have a brother who may be called 'the'."
"Do you have any other relations?" Sally's eyes were hard, seeking weakness but not making any headway.
"Yes, me. Swift is my girlfriend." I stepped into the conversation again.
"Excuse me?" Sally coughed, appearing to choke on air or her own spit.
"Swift and I have been friends for three years. We've gone steady for, what, two of those?" I crossed the distance between Swift and I and put an arm around her shoulder, asking confirmation. Swift nodded, mirroring what I had just done.
"Let me get this straight… You, Sonic the Hedgehog, are dating some freak experiment from space?!"
"What?!" Swift snarled, yanking away from me and taking a step forward, eyes narrowed and posture tight as a ball of Chaos formed in Swift's left hand.
"I set you up with Amy Rose, good girl, nice habits… and you go after her!" Sally's face was mortified and her tone just as disgusted.
"Swift, no!" I rushed to her side, taking her hand. "Yes! I've picked Swift." Answering Sally was remotely hard, considering that I was also occupied with preventing the girl I'd picked from killing her.
"Sonic, do you understand that I was setting you up to take this throne?" She sighed and shook her head, running one hand down one arm of the throne.
"What in the heck?" Apparently, it was my time to be bewildered.
"Sonic, I'm dying." Sally sighed, picking a piece of red fuzz from her gown and tossing it to the side.
"Aren't we all?" I thought about it for a second. "Well, other than Swift and Shadow."
"No, Sonic, I have a disease. The doctors gave me until my twenty-first birthday." Her words reverberated off the walls of the palace and we all fell silent.
Sally was two years my elder, just recently turned eighteen. Three years wasn't a very long time… I found it ironic. Just a few hours ago, Swift and I had woken up just in time to watch the Mobian sunrise from deep inside the Wild, a moment I thought would last forever. Now, I was brought back by this news, careening back down to my own mortality.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"Colon cancer. Stage three." She replied, apathetic other than the crack that appeared in the middle. Stage three. Inoperable on Mobius. She wasn't the type to go seeking humans' help for anything. "I needed someone to take the throne. I do not have any capable relatives, my heir will not be born for several more years and I do not have a husband."
"I wasn't born inside the kingdom, though. I wouldn't be able anyway!" I exclaimed, trying to see where she's ripped up any logic from this.
"Not exactly. I may nominate you, but either you or your mate must be born in the kingdom. Amy Rose was born in the kingdom." Sally explained, tone "I-told-you-so".
"But, I don't love her!" My voice was quickly rising to a shout in defiance.
"Are the refugee camps inside the kingdom?" Swift, who had been silent for a long while, finally spoke again. Sal and I instantly quieted.
"Of?" She asked shortly.
"The Mobian Wars… fifty or so years ago." Swift's voice was calm and collected, while Sally sounded flustered in comparison.
"Yes, but-." Swift cut her off deftly.
"My body… before I became this… was born there." This was a new story to me. I had known that she wasn't created from scratch, like Shadow, but had a base body. I looked over at her, wondering.
"What are you talking about? Your body?" Sally asked, her tone making me want to choke her.
"I wasn't always as I appear to you now." Swift shrugged, going no further.
"How can you prove that you were born there?"
"I expect that my mother probably still lives there… She was the last time I checked." She answered, bitterly. Clearly, Swift did not harbor compassion for the woman she described as her mother.
"If you give me your full name, I can find her, or hers." Sally appeared to become more compensating.
"She didn't bother to name me." Swift said softly, obviously pained by this. "I don't know hers…"
"Well, who did?" Sally rolled her eyes, frustrated by this new development.
"My brother."
"The other project?"
"Yes." Swift was still reeling from her admission. "He only gave me one name, not two."
"This complicates things." Sally stopped her advance, mulling over her next approach. "I'll drop the wedding arrangements for now, but you must return within six months with proof of your 'birth' inside the kingdom, or I'm not giving you anything."
"Sal, I don't want to be king. I don't want this." I found my voice again, diverting her attention from Swift.
"Tough, 'cause until an heir of the previous ruler is born, the nominated must fulfill his or her duty to country." Letting Swift kill her didn't seem like too bad an idea now. "Even then, you don't have to give back control."
"Oh, I will be giving it back." I hissed, not too happy about being boxed in. By giving me anything, that also meant authorization or legalization, whatever… on a marriage. And if I ever got to that point, that would be an issue.
"Very well. Is that all?" Sally asked, appearing as though she had greater things that needed tending to.
"Yes, I will return within six months." Swift gave Sal a short bow, then turned and left the throne room. I remained for a few seconds longer.
"I'm sorry, Sal, really, I am." I spoke quietly and directed my eyes to the marble floor, apologizing both for her imminent death and for her change.
"Just… go, Sonic." Sally growled, bringing one hand to her eyes and grimacing as she waved the other in the direction of the door.
I heaved a sigh, feeling truly sorry for who used to be my best friend and walked out of the throne room, casting no glance back, merely hoping that my current best friend would not follow the trend. Sally's guards immediately marched back inside. I stopped one, who answered without a question.
"The dark one you seek sits in the southern palace courtyard." He said, tongue laden with an old accent that only survived here. I nodded my thanks, weaving around a nearby corner and skirting a group of servants to tread knowledgably down the hall. Though it had been many years since I had last visited the palace, I knew my way around as if I lived here.
When I edged inside of the garden, I instantly caught sight of Swift. She was seated on a stone bench near the middle of the garden, legs crossed at the knees, brow narrowed, and expression deep in a frown. The garden surrounding her possessed some of the rarest plants in Mobius and, rather than gazing in wonder as I had when I was a child, I made a beeline for the girl, quickly taking her into my arms as I sat down beside her. I did not speak, only rubbed her shoulder comfortingly, surprised a bit when she leaned into me.
"I suppose its story time again, huh?" Swift sighed heavily. Though I could see her expression darken just by looking down, she did not look up to see mine.
"Not unless you feel comfortable telling me; you've answered enough of my questions." I replied. In spite of my eagerness to learn more about her past, I wouldn't dare push her.
"No." She looked up briefly, and then returned her gaze to its previous position. "I saw that glimmer of curiosity in your eyes back there." I started to open my mouth to object, but she shut me down. "Don't deny it."
"Fine." I huffed, barely able to conceal my happiness.
"You know I wasn't always this, right?" I nodded. "Well, over fifty-some years ago, according to what my research pulled up, my conception occurred accidentally."
"Meaning?" I asked, not really understanding what she meant by "accident".
"My father raped my mother." I grimaced at this, hoping she didn't see my reaction. "I still don't know his identity, to this day." Her voice became laden with a bitterness that I had only heard a few times.
"Sorry." I whispered softly, feeling my heart give an odd little twist. She pressed on though, not stopping to mull over it.
"I was two month premature, a runt. According to Shadow, I was kinda cute. He always used to tell me how I was the single most adorable thing he'd ever seen, joke that it was the reason for his choice." A sour smile pulled at her lips. "Brown and cream colored."
"He's getting his memory back." I sucked in a breath, sharp.
"Some parts are clear, others foggy, then there are those that will remain forever blank, I believe. But, I digress." Swift took a pause. "Then again, I'm not in his head… Not completely, anyway." The grin she had for that subject died. "Mom was not happy, not one bit. She already had four kids to take care of anyway. So, rather than turning me over for adoption, she decided to rid the world of my pathetic existence." I shook my head, unable to hide my disgust for her biological parents. "She tried beating me to death first, but I made too much noise. Someone would suspect something." Abruptly, her voice lost all emotion, her face blanking and becoming ashen. "Memory was something that was supposed to be erased once I became this. Oddly enough, that day's one of the clearer ones in my mind." I pulled her even closer, desperate to shield her from things impossible to protect her from. "She went for the knife, yelling for me to stop crying, figuring that with a slit throat, I couldn't scream." Then, this old man wearing a log white coat stepped inside the tent and she hid the knife behind her back. His eyes immediately went to me and I quieted, intrigued. I really don't know what my thoughts were when I first saw him, The Professor… There were brief negotiations; they ended in me being sold off for five hundred dollars." I was mortified, but she explained a bit further. "Five hundred back then could buy a year's worth of groceries." I nodded, but I still couldn't comprehend trading Swift for money. To me, she was priceless.
We remained silent for several moments, both of us completely still.
"So, now you know." Emotion returned to her tone, though she remained sullen.
"Thank you… I'm sorry." I put my other arm around her.
"It's not your fault." She muttered.
"Do you-?"
"No, that's a job for Shadow. I promised him that if I ever had to go back-."
"No, I understand." She pulled away, giving me a pained grin. "I hope you know, this doesn't change anything."
"Huh?"
"I could read it on your face. You didn't think I'd still love you if I knew where you came from." I smiled knowingly. Swift looked up and blinked, the expression there telling me that I was right. "I know you, Swift."
"Likewise, Sonic." She smirked deviously.
"Well," I stood, pulling her to her feet as well. "Thank you for coming to Mobius with me."
"No, thank you for showing me." Her smile was sweet, sincere.
"We should do this again sometime… Well, minus the little meeting."
"Of course, Sonic, of course." I finally managed to get her to laugh. It was that joyous sound, that little chuckle, that would remain frozen in a small, yet festering part of my mind… forever.
Shadow
Two days later…
They were coming home.
I felt it from somewhere deep inside me. With excitement coursing rapidly through my veins, I followed the gut feeling, dashing cross-country to the airport. Once inside, I was barely able to stay seated, much less actually wait for them. Yet, that's exactly what I did, wait. Clutching my cell phone to my chest, I eagerly anticipated the call. As was usual, however, I didn't show it. I wore my characteristic frown, discouraging conversation from all who cast hesitant or unnerved glances my way. I could feel my eyes grow cold with each look I received, my mood beginning to darken. Just as I was starting to consider waiting for them on the roof, my phone began to vibrate. Pleased with this development, I flipped it open and pressed it to my left ear.
"We've landed." Swift's voice came from the device, sounding on the positive side.
"Fine, I'll get your bags." I replied into the receiver, closing the phone and rising. I quickly wove through the crowds, approaching Baggage Claim and planting myself beside their flight number's conveyor.
The room was unwelcoming, but brought out minor pangs of nostalgia, for the ARK was somewhat like this; everything was cold and steely, large in most cases.
Upon sighting, I moved down the conveyor impatiently and dragged their luggage to the floor, paying no mind to the humans and anthros I displaced by moving. Then, I trudged directly through the mob to a remotely clear space near the doors.
I saw white flashes of light from the bowels of the airport before I actually got a glimpse of the two blue hedgehogs in their midst, one dark, the other cobalt. Our mental connection had become stable again hours ago, but the both of us had kept our silence for the instant we were again truly together. Upon her laying eyes on me, this silence was shattered.
"Shadow!" The cry came both mentally and vocally. Swift dropped her bag and made a mad dash to me.
Little one. My greeting remained inside, laden with joy and a helping of relief. She was back with me, safe. And that was the only thing that mattered. I quickly enveloped her in a tight embrace, holding her close. Unable to stop the smile, I couldn't help but grin, genuine happiness flooding through me.
Sonic picked up her bag and walked up just as I released Swift. The smile shrank, but remained as I placed a hand on his shoulder, truly appreciative that he had returned her whole.
"Thank you, Sonic." I said, not at all concerned by the surrounding media swarm, not anymore. His face twisted slightly in confusion, then melted back into a remotely carefree simper. He nodded, apparently understanding just what I was thanking him for, and handed Swift's bag back to her.
"Well, I hate this, but I… my induction to a few nations' "arsenals" begins tomorrow. I'm sorry to have to disappear again on short notice." Sonic simper became a grimace.
"Arsenals?" My tone was a bit sharper than intended.
"It's a job, Shadow. They pay him to say that he'll come to the nation's aid if they request it." Swift nudged me gently.
Paying him to play hero?
Something like that. He's not to be used in war, not unless it is total war, like this Earth's World War Two. The UN's plan to prevent countries from fighting over him… Swift responded, not too convinced, her grin faltering.
"How long do you thing you'll be gone?" Swift asked hastily.
"At most, a month."
"Wow. Long time."
"Too long. They're supposed to try to convince me to support them by taking me through their country, but I've pretty much already decided."
"Well, more adventuring for you."
"True, Shadow."
"Speaking of adventures, you and I have a new one for ourselves." Swift hinted. Clearly, they'd made headway on Mobius.
"Excuse me?"
"We managed to put a Band-Aid on the situation, but Swift said you'd probably want to help her with the remedy." Sonic explained.
You said you wanted to be the one with me when I faced my mom. Swift elaborated further, turning her eyes to me.
I did. Now's the time?
Within the next six months. She pushed the memory through to me and I skimmed it quickly.
"Very well. I'll lend a hand." I confirmed my participation, although I had some concerns about what this would eventually mean for all of us, I wasn't about to let Swift go into that hellhole alone. Even though she was perfectly capable of protecting herself, she would need much more than herself for support as she ventured back to her rather painful origin.
"Great." Sonic responded, while Swift kept it even simpler with a nod.
Thank you.
Only for you. You know I'd do anything for you.
Likewise, big bro, likewise.
My heart gave an awkward half-thump, as it typically did whenever she insisted that. I merely prayed she would never have to.
"You really do have to go again, don't you?" Swift asked Sonic sadly. I briefly followed her gaze, nothing his antsy appearance, then glanced back at her. That's when I noticed. Harbored in her eyes was an almost identical look to the one they possessed any time we had to be separated. A similar glimmer was mirrored in his eyes, I realized, though his was clouded with a bit of confusion, probably held for the uncomprehending of the feeling. It was love, undeniably so, coupled with regret for the upcoming absence that was about to take place and a promise, written in long-fought-for faith and pledging return.
The difference in the shimmer she held for me and the one she held for Sonic was in the underlying emotion. The love was unconditional both ways, but within mine, there was a fondness and a sworn vow in that no matter how far the world fell away, we would forever find sanctuary and understanding in family. The look currently present possessed all the uncertainties of young love, though her level of faith and trust in him on that plane was unparalleled, except by his own.
"Yeah." His reply was quiet and he turned away with a pained expression on his face. "But, I promise that I'll keep in touch."
"You don't have to call twenty four-seven. A call every few days will suffice." I remained hesitant, fearful almost at what I had just realized, what destruction it could bring if failed.
"Oh, please, Shadow. We're not children. It's not necessary, Sonic, only if you have time." She was blushing, her cheeks becoming slightly pinkish.
"But, I just got you, you two, back. I'm not quite ready to lose you guys again." Sonic was still quiet, earnest in his statement, turning his eyes onto me to prove his sincerity.
"I'm sure we can all get back together once you return, maybe with more than just the three of us." I budged a little bit, awkwardly if anything.
"I don't see why not." Sonic grinned, pleased by my suggestion.
"Nor do I. We should do it. You can give us a call when you know for sure when you're coming back, that way we can plan." Swift appeared pleasantly surprised with me.
"It's settled then. We'll do it." Sonic lifted his bag up and pulled the strap over his shoulder, seeming somewhat unbalanced by the addition. "Well, I've got a plane to catch." He sighed softly
"Bye, Sonic." Swift's voice was almost a whimper. She went to him and wrapped her arms around him, Sonic following suit.
"Goodbye again, Swift. Thank you for going." She placed her head on his shoulder and he leaned closer to her ear. "I love you." He whispered almost inaudibly. Swift's eyes, turned golden-brown by the high amount of light filtering in through the windows at the top of the room, widened in shock.
"I… I love you, too." She cast a quick glance my way, asking permission when she really shouldn't be. I nodded my affirmation, then shaking my head. She gave him a small peck on the cheek, then pulled away, blushing fiercely now. I noted an increase in the white flashes, then another as I grabbed Sonic's hand.
"Take care, Sonic." I did my best to keep a remotely pleasant expression up.
"You too, Shadow." A sly simper crossed his face and I instantly began to pull away. However, he was faster, as usual, yanking me back and into a loose embrace. He let go after a second and I immediately retreated, giving him a threatening glare. "Pay back." He smirked in the face of my hostility, which faded at this.
"Okay, I deserved that." He began to move forward again, so I put up my hands and dodged out of the way. "Don't get used to it." I warned sharply. Sonic merely laughed.
"See you guys soon!" He gave a brief wave, his trademark grin, then took off back into the airport, taking half of the paparazzi with him. Swift sighed, a solemn smile crossing her muzzle.
"That's Sonic for you." I grinned, puling her to my side and putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Like the wind." She agreed.
"C'mon, Swift, let's go get some unhealthy crap-food." I looked down at her, into her golden-brown eyes, happily.
"You mean comfort-food." She was still smiling, though it was fading rapidly. "I might need some now."
"Aww, love sick, are we?" I asked teasingly, taking her bags and beginning to lead her outside.
"Yeah." Swift answered quietly, a little bit of hurt leaking into her tone. I struggled to find an appropriate response to this, as I was prepared for a denial, so I walked through the automatic doors and out into the bright Florida sunshine.
"Sounds like you really do need comfort-food." I finally managed, leading us to the Tahoe in the parking lot where they had left it. "What do you want?" I asked as I placed her bags in the backseat.
"Don't really care." Swift replied, easing herself into the passenger's seat, the happiness drained almost completely.
"How does Chick-fil-a sound?" I climbed in on the driver's side.
"Fine." She passed me the car keys. I jammed them into the ignition and cranked, then turned to face her.
"This is killing you."
"Maybe. It's just I…"
"Just got him back." I finished, staring her straight in the face. Swift looked away.
"It's scaring you, isn't it?" She hissed after a few moments.
"Well, yes, quite frankly." I turned back and shifted out of park, pulling out and turning us onto the highway. "But, I also know that having someone like that around makes you happy."
"You don't-."
"I do enjoy his company. He's a nice guy. Have you two even had mouth-to-mouth yet?" I asked, talking rapidly.
"Shadow!" She slapped me on the shoulder, a mortified look on her face.
"Answer the question, Swift." I insisted, scanning for an exit possessing the sweet chickeny goodness we craved.
"Yes! I've kissed him!" She snarled angrily, cheeks pink as blood rushed to them.
"There we go. The first step is admitting you have a problem." I laughed, pulling off and onto the exit ramp at successfully driving by a sign that boasted "Chick-fil-a Next Exit".
"What freaking problem?!" She exclaimed, turning towards me this time.
"Swift and Sonic sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G." I called in a sing-song voice, grinning deviously the whole time.
"Shadow! Stop it!" Swift groaned, hitting me again, though much more gently this time.
"Face it, you're in love. Now what do you want?" Still laughing, I pulled into the drive-thru line.
"Eight-count chicken nuggets meal with a Coke, and yeah, that might be the case."
"Oh, don't lie, Swift."
"Fine, Shadow! I love him!" Swift yelled, exasperated.
"Yeah, umm… One eight-count nugget meal with a Coke and one chicken sandwich meal." I turned to order, then pulled around to the window.
"Eight ninety-five." The woman at the window demanded. I passed her the money and she waved me on, so I obliged by pulling to the next window.
"Here's your order, sir. Have a nice day." A younger, much more pleasant, human handed us a bag and the two drinks.
"Thanks." I replied, taking the food and placing it in Swift's lap as I rolled up the window and drove back out.
"Well, of course you do. I'm glad you're finally admitting it."
"You're still afraid though."
"But, I know that, God-forbid, should anything happen to me, I would leave you in his care. I trust him, probably with my own life. You're just a little harder for me to give up." I cast her a wry grin, then turned back to the road. "Now, can I please have my chicken sandwich?"
"Yeah, Shadow. Sure." She cracked a smile again and retrieved the goods.
A/N: Prepare to enter some terrible times... XP Man, am I evil. XDD