This is it. The final chapter of "My Past is Not A Pretty Place."
I want to thank all of you for supporting this story to the very end. From adding it to your bookmarked stories list, reviewing the chapters, and taking the time to read it… thank you so much.
And a big thank you to FrozenFlames12! Thank you for giving me the story idea with your prompts and for helping me workshop this idea. May you continue to come up with brilliant ideas and write great fics!
NOTE: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE SONIC CHARACTERS. ALL RIGHTS GO TO SEGA!
Chapter 18
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Hedgehog," Ashley said as she shook hands with Uncle Chuck.
"You're welcome. Guess we'll be coming back here every now and then," said the elder hedgehog. He turned and saw Blaze, Silver, Rouge, and Omega leading a bound Dr. Eggman, Orbot and Cubot following them.
Tails finished checking both the Tornado and the Blue Typhoon's fuel levels. "Okay. We're all set, Uncle Chuck," he said as Knuckles helped Amy board the Tornado.
Uncle Chuck smiled and looked out into the distance. They were going to leave soon.
As soon as Sonic finished paying his respects.
Sonic sighed as he placed a bouquet of white jasmines on top of the gravestone. He looked at the picture of Fatima, Mama Rosario, and Lola Elena sealed behind a clear plastic cover embedded into the gravestone, then at the epitaphs.
In loving memory of
Elena the Hedgehog
Rosario the Hedgehog
Fatima the Hedgehog
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4: 32
"I'll come back to visit soon. I promise," Sonic murmured, placing his hand against the marble gravestone.
Beside him, Shadow stood and gazed at the picture of Fatima and her family. 'I hope you three are finally at peace among the angels, especially you Fatima,' he prayed before glancing at Sonic.
"You okay?"
"I'm still sad. It still hurts, Shads." Sonic gave his black counterpart a soft smile. "But you know what? I think I'm gonna be okay," he reassured him.
Shadow smiled back, taking Sonic's hand in his. "Let's get going. Everyone's waiting for us," he told him.
The two hedgehogs left the gravesite hand-in-hand.
"Hey, Shads?"
"Yeah?"
"You visit Maria's grave every now and then, right?"
"As often as I can. Why?"
"…Do you think I can come with you next time? I'd… like to say hi to her and pay my respects as well…"
Shadow blinked, surprised at Sonic's sudden request. He usually visited Maria alone.
"I-I mean…" Sonic's cheeks were now turning a bright shade of crimson. "I understand if you don't want to…" he managed to say before Shadow interrupted him.
"I think… I think she'd like that," Shadow said, interlacing his fingers with Sonic's. "But… would you mind if I accompany you here to Christmas Island the next time you visit Fatima and her family?" he asked, blushing as well.
Sonic grinned. "Not at all, Shads. You can totally come," he replied.
Shadow smiled, giving Sonic's hand a gentle squeeze as they left.
If the two hedgehogs had looked over their shoulders, even for just a brief moment, they would have seen two ghosts watching them.
"All right. I'll admit it, Maria." Fatima looked up at the blonde-haired human girl next to her. "Your little brother's really sweet," she said, smiling at the two hedgehogs as they left.
"And your best friend's just as sweet, Fatima. Yes…" Maria Robotnik smiled as she watched her brother laugh at something Sonic said. "They'll face many challenges in life… but at least they'll face them together," she said.
And with that, the two ghosts vanished. And although Sonic and Shadow didn't see them, they felt a sense of calm and peace fill them.
They had each other now, their bond having been strengthened by the trials they faced on Christmas Island these past few days. And they had two guardian angels watching over them.
Whatever challenge came next, Sonic and Shadow knew that they were going to be okay.
And that's a wrap on "My Past is Not A Pretty Place" everyone! Next time you see me, it'll be in the Sonic Boom fanfiction archives. I have quite a few ideas that I'm excited to write for that fandom!
Until next time!
-GuardianDragon98