His stomach grumbled.
"Uh oh… looks like I'm running low on fuel here."
"I have some in the cabinet, though it's mostly for the plane." Tails said.
"I meant I'm getting hungry." Sonic explained.
"Oh…" Tails went as he was still under the plane, making his repairs.
Sonic dropped by to see how Tails is doing, since it's been about months since they dealt with Eggman's takeover of the planet. Most of the world was back to normal, both humans and anthropomorphic animals were mostly going back to their old lives despite that a whole year has passed since the events with Infinite.
And so, in Tails' workshop, Sonic was checking in on his best friend when his stomach grumbled.
"So… any places reopened lately?" Sonic asks.
Tails pushed his way out from under the place to speak.
"There's a pizza place that just opened up, brand new too." Tails answered.
"Huh… sure thing. What's it called?" Sonic asked.
"Big's Little Pizzas…" Tails explained.
Sonic was about to speak when that name caught his attention.
"Big opened a pizza place?" Sonic asks.
"Yeah, he and Froggy opened it a month ago. People have been flocking there since." Tails explained.
"Y'know, I just remembered. I don't recall seeing him as part of the rebellion." Sonic said as he pondered Big's absence.
"Oh, he went fishing…" Tails answered.
Sonic only stared at that.
"He went fishing? For...months?" Sonic asks.
Tails only shrugged before pointing to the wall, where coupons and menus were taped on.
"The number for his place should be up there."
"Uh… his frog doesn't go near the pizzas… does he?" Sonic asks, feeling a bit nauseous at the idea of eating where a frog's feet touched.
"No, the health department got back on its feet long before he opened." Tails answered.
"Oh thanks goodness…" Sonic went, letting out a breath of relief.
"Anyway, make the call. Let them know to put it on my tab." Tails said.
Sonic nodded, speeding to the nearby phone and dialed the number.
After two rings, someone picked up.
"Hello… Big's Little Pizzas!" A familiar voice went.
"Hey there, Big. It's Sonic." The blue hedgehog greeted.
"Oh, Sonic? It's Sonic!" Big was heard happily.
"Yeah, anyway… I'd like to order a large- no, wait- extra large pizza of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and…-" Sonic looked to Tails, who was still working.
"I'm good!" He called out.
"Yeah, just those toppings." Sonic went.
"Okay… it'll be ready in… 20 minutes." Big said.
"Gotcha…" Sonic went.
After 10 minutes.
Sonic was pacing back and forth, impatient beyond measure.
"Come on… how much longer will this take?" He said, getting hungrier.
Tails rolled out and sat up.
"Come on, Sonic It's been 10 minutes…" He pointed out.
"I know… But if Eggman came back for revenge or something, I'd have defeated him by this point before the pizza was ready!" Sonic went. After taking a breath, he straightened himself. "I'm going to go, may as well see how everyone is doing." He went.
"Okay, but don't forget to-" Sonic left before Tails could finish, leaving the two-tailed Fox mildly annoyed. "... see if there's any drinks you can bring too…"
Outside
As Sonic left Tails' workshop, he decided he'd just make a run around the town, seeing how everything is going since he and their Forces took down Eggman's takeover of the world.
So far, most of the town has been rebuilt, mostly residential areas.
At least this isn't like with Perfect Chaos… all that water… He thought with a shudder.
In any case, he kept up running at his leisurely pace of about 600 mph as he took a moment to stop and admire the area.
"Nice… everything's goin-"
"Sonic!" A voice from the distance was heard shouting, getting his ears worked up.
"What was that?" He asks out loud.
"Sonic!" That voice went again, getting closer.
He looked around, getting increasingly worried.
"That voice… oh man, don't tell me…" He said under his breath.
Before he could make a move, someone jumped onto him, knocking him face-down in the dirt.
"Sonic!" That voice went as Sonic had someone on top of him, hugging him tightly and rubbing her face on his arm.
"Amy…" He muttered miserably.
It seems that his admirer, Amy, has found him.
"I finally got you right where I want you, Sonic!" The pink hedgehog went. "After 6 months of you in Eggman's cell, I can't begin to think of the torture!"
"That spy Knuckles sent got his info wrong. I wasn't tortured, I was bored out of my mind being stuck in there…" Sonic said.
"I mean the torture I suffered being away from you! I mean, don't get me wrong, Eggman's enslavement of the Earth was awful, but I can't bear the idea of never seeing you again!"
Sonic sighed in exasperation. He cares about Amy but only as a friend. She's either incapable of seeing that or refuses to accept it.
"Okay! Amy! Look, I missed you too, but I really need to get going to Big's pizza place."
Hearing that brought a smile to Amy's face as she got up, picking Sonic up with her.
"Pizza! Is this a date?" She asks.
"What? No. I'm picking up a pie for me and Tails, at his workshop." Sonic answered.
"Can I come along?!" She asks eagerly.
Before Sonic could answer, someone arrived.
"Amy!" A familiar voice called out to them.
The two hedgehogs became aware of someone flying towards them. That someone was young and had her little Chao friend, Cheese.
"Cream?" Amy asks.
Cream the Rabbit, a friend of theirs who is even younger than Tails, landed and greeted her friends.
"Hi, everyone!" She went with a smile.
"Sup Cream." Sonic went, glad Amy isn't invading his privacy right now.
"Something up?" Amy asks.
"Yes. You said you'd come help me and my mother cook dinner for a lot of the people working on reconstruction at my house." Cream reminded.
The pink hedgehog gasped at that.
"Oh… that's right…" Amy went before a groan. "Darn it… so much for my date…"
The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes at that.
"Oh… what a darn shame…" Sonic went in faux-disappointment.
Cream then turned to him, smiling.
"You should come too, Sonic. You did defeat Eggman." Cream offered.
Sonic shook his head and held his hand out.
"No thanks. I came in after 6 months as a prisoner. That dinner is for the people who fought Eggman during those 6 months." He said humbly.
To his annoyance, that just made Amy more infatuated, as she clasped her hands together and had a big smile.
"So humble…" She went.
Sonic sighed in exasperation at that.
"Anyway…" He emphasized. "I better get going…"
He immediately speeded away, much to Amy's annoyance.
"Darn it…" She said through her teeth.
Cream noticed this and spoke up.
"You know, maybe Sonic just needs time to get used to not needing to fight Eggman and his robots for a while. Nobody has seen the doctor since his empire was taken down." Cream went.
Amy nodded.
"I know… but I was hoping once Eggman was taken down, he'd be free to go out with me for once. The last time, he claims he was kidnapped into a storybook world and fought a black knight." Amy said, crossing her arms.
Cream blinked in confusion before changing the subject back to the dinner party.
"Come on. I bet if you can help make something tasty for all the people helping us repair, you can make something Sonic will like." Cream offered.
That brought a smile to Amy's face.
"That's right! Let's go cook!" She went with a fist pump.
Amy then ran to the direction of Cream's house and the little rabbit smiled at that.
"At least she's optimistic…" Cream said to her little Chao friend, Cheese.
"Chao! Chao!" Cheese went.
It took Sonic about a mile before he noticed Amy wasn't following him. He sighed in relief.
"Finally… there's something I didn't miss…" He muttered.
"Hey, Sonic!" A gruff voice went.
One Sonic recognized before he even turned his head.
"Vector!" He went as he saw what was going on. "How's fixing up your apartment going?"
He saw what was indeed the apartment building Vector, Espio and Charmy called home and their office for their detective agency. They were cleaning it up.
Espio used his ninja skill and precision to run up the walls, using a squirt gun to wash the windows. Charmy would then fly up and wipe them clean with a paper towel.
"Perfect. If we finish this, we get to have our rent taken clean off… until next month." Vector admitted with reluctance that last part.
''I see..." Sonic said as the roommates kept working.
"We're almost done, now for the sign." Espio said as he took out a hammer.
"Ooh! Lemme do it!" Charmy insisted as he tried to grab the hammer.
"I'll do it..." Espio said as he pushed the bee back but Charmy insisted.
"Lemme do it!" Charmy resumed.
As the two comically fought over the hammer, Vector grabbed it out of Espio's hand.
"I'LL do it!" He insisted. With a swing of the hammer, he planted the sign in front. "The Chaotix detective agency is back in business!" He said proudly.
As he stood with both fists at his hips and with a proud smile, Sonic just blinked.
"So… what now?" He asks.
"Now we wait for new clients!" Vector stated proudly.
"... while the whole world is still fixing up after Eggman took over the planet?" Sonic asks.
The three detectives and roommates blinked at that.
"He has a point, boss…" Charmy said.
"I'm certain more people are concerned with getting their lives back to normal than someone's missing pet cat." Espio states.
Vector frowned, not liking this.
"Hey! Guys!" Another familiar voice went.
The noticed a familiar echidna walking towards them.
"Well, if it isn't Knuckles." Sonic went.
"Sonic!" The echidna went. "What are you up to now that you're a free hedgehog?"
"Getting some pizza for me and Tails, so headin' to Big's."
That got their attention.
"Mmm… pizza!" Charmy went.
"We haven't eaten in hours..." Espio said.
"Don't remind me…" Vector said, holding onto his stomach.
"So, care to spar while I wait?" Sonic offered.
"As fun as that'd be, I'm unfortunately here to hire Team Chaotix." Knuckles went.
That caused Sonic to make a face.
"YOU want to hire THEM?!" He asks.
Vector immediately pushed Sonic aside in cartoonish fashion.
"We'll take the case! What's the problem?!" He asks.
"Identity theft! The other day, someone told me there's another echidna on a dating site. Someone's using my ancestor Tikal's likeness to attract dates!" Knuckles went.
Sonic blinked at that before Vector accepted the job.
"WE'RE ON IT!" Vector went.
"Find me the guy, so I can pulverize him!" Knuckles went, pounding his fists together.
"You got it!" Vector said while Espio and Charmy nodded since they needed the job.
Espio then turned to Sonic.
"Care to join us?" Espio asks the blue hedgehog.
"Yeah, we could use your speed on this." Vector said.
"Sorry guys, I gotta get my dinner." Sonic said.
"Fine with me… more of this punk for me to pummel!" Knuckles went.
"You have fun with that." Sonic said.
"Oh, I WILL!" Knuckles said as he followed the Chaotix into their building.
With that, Sonic resumes his run to Big's.
It would be about 5 minutes until the pizza would be ready did Sonic decide to take a light breeze of 100 mph instead of the speed he was going at just now.
That pizza better taste good. The blue hedgehog thought, his stomach grumbling in hunger.
It was then he noticed another hedgehog, one who just ran past him, with what appears to be two hovering pizza boxes at his side, glowing green.
Sonic knew who this was right away.
"Yo! Silver!"
Silver the Hedgehog stopped his run, realizing who called out to him. He greeted him once he turned around.
"Sonic? What are you doing here?" He asks.
"Going to get pizza. And you?" Sonic asks.
"Helping out in any way I can to ensure a good future." Silver said.
"So… you stayed in the past to be a pizza delivery guy?" Sonic asks with a cheeky smile.
"Any way I can. Besides, they're just that good. Now, I better get going, Rouge called Big's an hour ago and is waiting." Silver said.
"Rouge ordered from Big's too? Wow, must be that good." Sonic thought out loud.
"It is… better get going." Silver says.
''See ya..."Sonic said as his friend left.
Dang… I guess even the future wants in on helping to fix the present. Then again, Silver's world does depend on the state of ours… Sonic thought out loud.
His stomach grumbled once more. But, before he could go to Big's, someone just made their presence known.
"Well… look who it is…"
Sonic couldn't help but groan as he turned around.
"The Babylon Rogues… Howya been, Jet?" Sonic asked, trying to sound friendly.
In front of him were the Babylon Rogues, a group of birds who fly on hoverboards known as Extreme Gear. Jet the Hawk, the competitive leader, Wave the Swallow, the mechanic, and Storm the Albatross, the dumb muscle.
Jet approached Sonic, a competitive smirk on his beak.
"Care to race, blue blur?" Jet challenged.
"I'd say yes… but I'm kind off to get my pizza. Also… where were you guys during Eggman's takeover of the planet?" Sonic asks.
Jet had a notable look on his face, one that looked troubled.
"I don't wanna talk about it…" He said quickly.
The blue hedgehog raised a brow, curious about that.
Sonic's eyes darted to Wave, who turned her head away.
"Don't ask…" She went.
He then looked to Storm, who shook his head.
"Boss doesn't want people to know…" He said.
Sonic just shrugged.
"Well… you're looking for a race… I'd say wait a while." Sonic went.
Jet scoffed at this.
"Well… next time we meet, Sonic the Hedgehog, we're gonna have ourselves a race!" He said as he turned away and started walking away.
"And I'll be ready! … and not hungry." Sonic added.
Once the Babylon Rogues were far enough, Storm inched closer to Jet.
"You don't wanna tell him we were hiding and you were hoping Sonic would save the day because you were too scared of that Infinite guy?" Storm asks.
Jet responds by elbowing him in the stomach.
"That's on a need to know basis… and nobody needs to know." Jet states.
"So, nobody needs to know you're a coward in a fight, huh?" Wave teased.
"Shut it!" Jet snarled.
Sonic didn't hear this. He just assumed they were being their usual selves and rolled his eyes.
"What a bunch of birdbrains… still, better get to my pizza on time!" Sonic went.
This must be it… Sonic thought.
It was a small building with a rather humble image of Big, with Froggy on his shoulder, holding an open box of pizza on the rooftop sign.
Sonic smelled it and smiled.
"Aww yeah… the second best smell besides chili dogs..." Sonic went.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
"Coming!" A familiar voice from the phone went.
Sonic looked around, seeing how the dining hall was barren, no doubt due to so many people staying home right now.
"Huh… not bad." Sonic said with a nod. He then noticed how thirsty he was. "I better get a drink too." He said to himself.
"Try the lemon-lime…" Someone said.
Sonic straightened up, noticing someone just entered the restaurant.
Someone he knows isn't the most social person, and has a bit of ego of himself.
"Shadow? What are you doing here? GUN suddenly the health department? Or are you looking for a race?" Sonic asks, slightly competitive.
"Neither… came to check on my investment." Shadow answered.
The blue hedgehog blinked in confusion.
"Investment?" Sonic asks.
Before he could ask, Big came to them.
"Sonic! You're here, your pizza is almost ready!" Big went before noticing Shadow's presence. "Mr. Shadow! I thought I already sent the check?" Big asks.
"You did… I'm here for my usual…" Shadow answered.
"Okey dokey..." Big said quickly to the dark hedgehog.
"Whoa! Hold it. Why are you here, exactly?" Sonic asks Shadow.
"He's my investor." Big answered with a dopey smile.
"What...?" The blue hedgehog questioned.
"He said I'm his investor." Shadow repeated for Big.
Sonic looked to Shadow, then to Big, then to Shadow again, then to Big once more. He repeated before speaking again.
"You invested in his pizza place?" Sonic asks.
"I always like to donate to independent restaurants… Besides, he makes a mean pizza." Shadow admits.
Sonic only blinked, unable to really process this.
"Uh… okay? Anyway… I better get a drink for me and Tails." Sonic went.
''Sure thing, Sonic..." Big said as he went to get the order.
"So… any sign of Eggman causing trouble?" Sonic asks.
Shadow shook his head.
"I don't believe he's been active lately. Although, his robot sidekicks Orbot and Cubot have been seen around lately. For what, we don't know." Shadow answered.
"And Baldy McNosehair wasn't seen with them?" Sonic asks.
Shadow made a face.
"Uh… what?"
"That's what I call Eggman. Blame the Wisps for making it the funniest thing I heard." Sonic responded.
"You would find it funny…" Shadow said with an eye roll.
"So, that's a no on him being with his buddies?" Sonic asks.
"Indeed, that's a no." Shadow responded.
''Good..."Sonic said.
Just then, Big arrived with his order.
"Here's your pizza, Sonic." Big said.
"Cool, Tails said to put it on his tab." Sonic said.
"Let him know he better pay up soon, his tab is pretty full." Big said.
"How full?" Sonic asks.
"He owes the amount of 12 pizzas…" Shadow and Big said in unison.
Sonic whistles in surprise.
"I guess he's been doing all nighters…" Sonic said.
Big handed the pizza to him and Sonic smiled.
"Is that all?" Big asks.
"I guess I'll take a drink." Sonic went.
Big got him one and then smiled at his customer.
"Come back again!" Big went.
Once Sonic was out, Shadow looked to Big.
"My usual…" Shadow said.
"Right… jalapeno, pepperoni and sausage with hot sauce and a cup of coffee beans. Sit where you like." Big said.
Shadow did so and looked around the place. It was a bit empty since most people weren't eating out lately.
"Hmph… at this rate, I should get my investment back at the end of the year." Shadow said.
That's when a ping went off.
Shadow looked to his phone and looked rather nervous.
Good, nobody around… He thought.
He looked up and looked to make sure nobody else was around. To his relief, for once, the dining room was empty and quiet.
He opens an app of his phone and actually smiled.
"Well… hello, GhostPrincess98." He said.
Somewhere in the town, two robots were at a computer.
"We got a match!" Cubot went.
Just recently, the two were using the identity of a known deceased person to troll people on dating websites.
The picture on the screen was of Tikal, Knuckles' ancestor, with a screen-name of GhostPrinces98.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Orbot asks.
"The boss did say we were free to do what we want for a week. I can't think of a more fun way than to mess with people on dating sites.. Except baking cookies. But, you know, we're robots so we can't eat them."
Orbot thought about it and nodded.
"This "U.L.F." person sounds like a fake account too…" Orbot said.
"Really? Cubot asks.
"Let's see… Likes: classic rock, edgy anime and eating coffee beans. Age: 50+. Dream: To open a cat orphanage? That doesn't sound hard to believe?" Orbot asks.
Cubot only stared a moment.
"You think he's lying about his age?" Cubot asks cluelessly.
That's when, to their surprise, the door was knocked off the hinges and hit the floor. Out came a few familiar faces.
"The information we got led us here!" Vector went, pointing to the two robots.
Espio, Charmy and Knuckles walked in and saw the two robots at the computer.
Once Knuckles saw his ancestor's picture on the monitor, he snarled.
"So, it was you two!" Knuckles shouted.
''Oh dear!" Orbot panicked.
"RUN!" Cubot went.
The two robots tried to escape.
Knuckles followed after as the Chaotix approached the monitor.
Knuckles was pummeling the robots in the other room as they were at the computer.
"Okay, let's delete this account." Vector went.
However, his partners noticed something.
"Huh... they got her information right from what Knuckles said. Nice, cares for people, hates violence…" Charmy said.
"Although, this U.L.F. surprisingly sounds the exact opposite of what they put down…Plus, he sounds familiar." Espio says.
'I wonder what U.L.F. stands for… Let's see… Age over 50, likes classic rock… eats coffee beans." Espio read out loud.
"Wait… does that coffee bean thing sound familiar?" Vector asks.
"It does..."Espio said before his eyes widened.
"What is it?" Charmy asks.
:I just realizes what U.L.F. stands for… Ultimate Lifeform…" Espio mutters.
Realizing who this was, the Chaotix shared a look of shock and fear as they silently deleted the account before Knuckles was finished beating up the robots.
"So… should we tell Knuckles Shadow almost dated someone who sounded like his ancestor?" Charmy asks.
"NO!" Vector and Esio shouted.
"Okay..." Charmy said.
Knuckles walks to them and had a relieved look on his face.
"Okay… Eggman's gonna need to repair these two for weeks… So, did you guys delete the account?" Knuckles asks.
"YES!" They went.
"Great… I'll bring you guys your money in the morning…" Knuckles said, walking out.
The Chaotix shared nervous looks, hoping he never finds out.
Back at Tails' workshop
The blue hedgehog and his fox sidekick have been scarfing pizza for the past 10 minutes.
Sonic also told him about who he ran into while getting the pizza.
"Wow, I did not expect Shadow of all people to be backing Big." Tails said.
"I'm still shocked he admitted he'd open a cat orphanage." Sonic says.
"At what point did your edgy rival develop a soft spot for kittens?" Tails questioned while Sonic shrugged.
The two best friends kept eating their pizza, drinking soda and talking.
Once done, Sonic kicked back and smiled.
"Well… if Eggman shows his mustachioed face again at some point, I'll be ready for 'em." Sonic assured.
"I know. And we'll be there to give a hand." Tails said.
With that, they finished their pizza.
"Ahh… finally." Sonic said.
"Just don't go running off if you don't want a cramp." Tails said.
"You kiddin'? Nothing could make me wanna get up right now…" Sonic went as he lazily started to doze off.
A knock was heard at the door.
"Sonic!" Amy's voice went behind the door.
Sonic bolted up.
"Except… that!" Sonic went.
Amy continued knocking as the blue hedgehog got up and sped away, causing Tails to go answer.
"Yes, Amy?" Tails asks.
Amy had a huge smile on her face, carrying a homemade dish in her hands.
"I brought Soni- I mean, you guys some homemade risotto!" Amy said, offering the meal she cooked up.
"Uh, thanks but… we just ate." Tails said.
"Oh… right…" Amy went, sound dejected before a thought made her smile. "So… where's Sonic?"
Tails was about to answer as Sonic appeared behind Amy, trying to sneak away without her noticing.
"He's… in the bathroom!" Tails went.
"OH!" Amy went with a big gleam in her eyes.
Sonic silently swung his arms to indicate to Tails to say something else.
"The bathroom… at Professor Pickles' lab, since I asked him to head on over to see if they were done taking down Eggman's Chemical Plant."
Amy smile dropped.
"Oh…"
Relieved, Sonic made a break for it before Amy was aware of what was going on.
"Sorry, Amy…" Tails went.
"Well…" Amy smiled again. "Tell me when he tries it!"
Tails sighed with an exasperated smile.
At Big's
Shadow was chewing his pizza as he sent a teasing smirk to the opposite side of the dining room.
"So… hiding again?" He asks.
Sonic peeked out.
"I'm not hiding! I got hungry again so I figure I'll grab a bite here and hope Amy doesn't show up!" He goes. He then looked to the kitchen. "Uh… how's my personal pan pizza coming along?" He asks.
"For here or to go?" Big asks from the kitchen.
"For he-"
"SONIC!" Amy's voice was heard calling out from outside.
In response, Sonic hid himself deeper under the table, much to Shadow's amusement.
"On second thought... make that to go..."
My first Sonic fic, I plan to make more. This one is set after Sonic Forces and uses game characters, no Archie Comics characters, mostly because I never read Archie's take on Sonic.
Special thanks to Flower princess11 for help on this.
I decided to go for something smaller and funnier.
All characters are owned by SEGA.