Some time after Shadow left, Sonic returned to the cabin and opened the side door to the garage, only to discover Tails curled up in the fetal position in one corner, trembling, tears running down his face. His eyebrows raised, Sonic quickly walked over to Tails.

"Tails…what's wrong, man?"

"Sh-Shadow c-c-came by earlier. H-he wanted to know about w-what Olympic events y-you were g-g-gonna compete in and th-threatened to hurt me."

"Hey, it's OK to be scared, man." Sonic sat down next to Tails. "I promise that jive turkey will never act that way towards ya again."

"Sonic…"

Sonic and Tails hugged each other. On the one hand, Sonic tried to suppress his own tears, knowing that his greatest rival had threatened the one person who mattered so much to him. On the other hand, he enjoyed comforting Tails in his hour of need. Similarly, Tails loved it when Sonic hugged him. In the absence of real parents, he definitely made things that much better. The two held on for an appreciable amount of time before they let go.

"Feelin' better?" asked Sonic.

Tails nodded weakly. "I…um…er…still kinda scared, but I do feel better now."

"Hey, if ya need anything else from me, just lemme know! I'm gonna give Shad a piece of my mind. You get that car ready for the Olympics, ya dig?"

Tails gave a thumbs up and a weak smile. "Right!"

"Hey, that's what I like to hear!"

Sonic gave Tails a pat on the back before heading off to find Shadow.

Sonic knew that Shadow didn't really have a permanent home. However, he knew the Ultimate Life Form had a tendency to board at a mansion that Rouge owned in the western portion of the Kingdom of Mobius, so he headed there. Being polite, he rang the doorbell and waited for somebody to answer. Soon enough, Rouge answered it.

"Hello again, Big Blue! What can I do for you?"

Sonic smiled. "Is Shadow here?"

"He got back not too long ago, but I'm not sure where he…"

"Rouge, who are you talking to?" said a familiar voice.

Rouge stepped aside, and Sonic caught a view of Shadow, who also spotted him. Sonic's smile vanished upon seeing Shadow.

"YOU!"

Sonic ran at Shadow, who – having sensed the threat – raised his fists. Sonic attempted to tackle Shadow, but the latter caught him, threw him on the ground and attempted to body-slam him. However, Ol' Blue rolled out of the way in time and attempted to roundhouse kick the Ultimate Life Form after that.

"Hey!" yelled Rouge. "HEY!"

Both Sonic and Shadow stopped what they were doing and looked at Rouge.

"Both of you NEED to get a grip on yourselves!" Rouge put her fists on her hips. "The Summer Olympics is coming to Emerald City and all you can think about is FIGHTING!? God, you two make me so SICK sometimes!"

"ROUGE IS CORRECT." E-123 Omega – Team Dark's resident robot – had entered to assess the situation. "YOUR NEEDLESS QUARRELING IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE AMITY OF THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT."

"Needless!?" said Sonic. "Omega, that black-and-red jive turkey of yours threatened my pal Tails and made him cry!"

Shadow pointed at Sonic. "Well maybe if you'd answered Rouge's questions, then maybe I wouldn't have had to make that bitch cry!"

Rouge pointed her index finger at Sonic and Shadow. "I'm WARNING you two, if you don't stop RIGHT NOW, I'm NEVER getting either of you Christmas presents EVER AGAIN! I had really nice ones picked out this year, too!"

"MY ANALOGIC CIRCUITS INDICATE THAT ROUGE IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT HER THREAT," said Omega. "IT WOULD BE IN BOTH OF YOUR BEST INTERESTS TO OBEY HER."

Sonic and Shadow looked at Omega, and then at Rouge, who still had an angry look on her face. They then looked at each other before looking back at Rouge and sighing.

"OK, you win," said Sonic and Shadow.

Rouge loosened her stance and smiled. "Nice! You two are such good boys!" She approached Sonic and Shadow. "Now come on, give each other a huggle!"

Rouge wrapped her arms around Sonic and Shadow and made them hug each other. Though surprised at first, Sonic smiled as he kept his arms wrapped around Shadow, especially since he loved how soft the latter's chest fur was. Shadow, however, showed no emotion and seemed to want the whole thing done with as soon as possible. Soon enough, Rouge let go of them, but watched them for a bit more to make sure they didn't fight and kept hugging each other.

"OK, you two are all set!" said Rouge.

Sonic and Shadow let go of each other and backed away. Sonic then gave Shadow the "evil eye" gesture.

"Now now, Big Blue, there's no need for further animosity!" said Rouge. "Shaddy will behave himself, right Shaddy?"

Shadow nodded. Sonic's Hedgehog Sense told him that the Ultimate Life Form had calmed down enough to be put under Rouge's thumb, so he cooled it.

"So Sonic, would you like to stay for a bit and have a nice cup of tea?" asked Rouge.

Sonic smiled. "That sounds groovy and all, but I gotta check up on Tails! Check ya later, Rouge and Omega!" Sonic began heading for the door and waved at Shadow. "Bye, Shadow!"

Sonic walked out the door and closed it behind him. Shadow turned to Rouge.

"Shaddy, would you like some tea?" asked Rouge.

"Actually, I must return to my room," replied Shadow. "I need some time to think."

"OK! I'll be down here if you need me!"

Shadow went up to his room.

"ROUGE, MY ANALOGIC CIRCUITS INDICATE THAT SOME ALONE TIME WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO SHADOW AT THIS JUNCTURE," said Omega.

Shadow closed his door behind him and slumped to the ground into the fetal position, burying his face in his knees as he cried.

(God, I feel so messed up inside!) thought Shadow. (Not only did I get my best friend and confidant angry at me, but I also alienated my secret crush! How am I ever going to impress him at the Olympics now?)

Sonic returned to the garage at his cabin to find Tails working on the Impala.

"Hey, Tails!" said Sonic. "Feelin' better?"

"Did Shadow change his mind?" asked Tails.

Sonic patted Tails on the shoulder. "He won't bother ya no more! Now let's…"

Just then, Sonic and Tails heard knocking on the side door.

"I'll get it! You keep workin'!"

Sonic went to answer the side door and got another unexpected surprise: the people there were Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik and his nephew Snively.

"Robuttnik?" said Sonic. "Snively? What the heck brings you two here?"

"Why, the Olympics, of course!" said Robotnik.

Sonic crossed his arms. "Listen, I already got into a fight with Shadow about that, and if you two suckas think you're gonna steal my thunder, then up your noses with fire hoses!"

"Why heavens, Sonic, I've no intent to one-up you in terms of gold medals! I only wished to talk with you about the Olympics in the interest of cooperation!"

"Oh yeah!? And how do I know you ain't gonna make Tails cry!?"

"Sonic, perhaps you'd better hear Uncle Ivo out," said Snively. "We do hail from the same nation, after all."

Sonic stared at Snively briefly before nodding.

"All right, I'll bite." Sonic loosened his stance.

"Ohohohohoho, marvelous!" said Robotnik. "Do tell me!"

"Well, aside from me competin' in the runnin' events, Tails and I are also gonna try auto polo."

Robotnik patted his hands together. "Splendid! Snively and I were going to compete in that as well! I look forward to stealing the auto polo crown from the Mushroom Kingdom this year!"

Sonic's eyes widened. "Hold up, man! Are you sayin' that Mario and them cats are gonna be here as well!?"

"Indubitably! Why, they're one of the favored contenders this year!"

Sonic laughed. "Then this is gonna be loads of fun!"

"Do be careful, though," said Snively. "The Mushroom Kingdom auto polo team has a reputation for being quite aggressive."

"Hey, you cats have been aggressive in tryin' to take over the world!" said Sonic. "How are THEY gonna be any different?"

"Well, since you're so convinced of victory this year, I'd LOVE to hear about your other events!" said Robotnik.

Sonic stroked his chin. "Well, I also wanna do the motocross competition in the open class."

"Then I wish you the best of luck! You'll need it!"

"Oh?"

"Rumor has it that the Roseinian Empire is fielding their best rider this year, a fellow by the name of Grigoriy Shvartsman!"

"Grigoriy Shvartsman?" Sonic shrugged. "Never heard of that cat."

"Why, he's only one of the most-decorated riders in Roseinian motocross history, if not world motocross history! He's taken home four championship trophies alone in the Mobius International Motocross Championship's open class, three of them consecutively!"

"HA! He may be wicked fast on a bike, but clearly, he's never seen how The Fastest Thing Alive does it!"

"Perhaps it would be prudent to heed my uncle's words," said Snively. "He is a fervent motocross fan."

"Really?" said Sonic. "Since when?"

"Why, I remember watching some races with Gerald as a youngster!" said Robotnik. "I've found it to be one of the most fascinating motorsports! Such finesse! Such ferocity of competition! I hope to give Shvartsman a taste of his own medicine this year!"

"OK then, I'll cut a little bet with ya: whoever beats Shvartsman first gets a week's supply of his favorite food from the other guy!"

"Deal!"

Sonic and Robotnik shook hands.

"Well, for once, it's been wonderful to chat with you, but I really must get going now!" said Robotnik. "I'm looking forward to my afternoon eggnog!"

Sonic laughed. "It ain't even Christmas yet, man!"

"But eggnog is so scrumdiddlyumptious! Why limit its consumption to the holiday season?"

"I quite agree with you, sir." Snively closed the side door on his way out.

Sonic walked back over to Tails.

"I dunno about you, but if a cat like Robuttnik can put aside his personal differences to take part in the Olympics with us, I think we're gonna be all right!" said Sonic.

"But what about Shadow?" said Tails. "He might have a harder time of that."

"Nuts to that turkey! I'm sure Rouge will keep him under her thumb!"

"You think so?"

Sonic gave a thumbs up. "I know so!"

Tails continued working on the Impala, while Sonic smiled, anticipating a boatload of gold medals for the Kingdom of Mobius.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.