31 Days of Sonic Prompt 13: Movie.

Four Hedgehogs See a Movie

"Chao in Space 2," Silver mused, staring at the nearest poster. "I recognize this one. At one point, there were a lot of broken billboards featuring it in my future."

"Yeah, I think you threw some of those at me when the Time Eater ruined my birthday party," Sonic sneered, lightly tapping his skull.

Silver scoffed and crossed his arms. "Oh, come on, I said I was sorry."

As Sonic snickered, Silver turned his attention back to the snack bar. Employees scooped up popcorn and selected boxes of candy for patrons. They had already paid for their treats, and as evidenced by Sonic tapping his foot, it took quite some time. Other patrons waited near them, with more standing in line to place their orders as the employees scurried to fill drinks and bags.

Silver was glad Amy had decided to hold their seats. The movie they wanted to see was supposedly a blockbuster lost to the future. And as if the people of the day knew, they had all come to see it on opening day. It was crowded and hectic, but Silver preferred exuberance over silence, smiling as the worker set their popcorn and drinks on the counter.

Thanking her, Sonic gathered three bags of popcorn. He grinned over at Silver when he levitated their sodas and bags. Sonic plucked a few napkins from the dispenser on the corner of the counter and pointed at their theater, tickets held between his index and middle fingers.

"So, this movie is supposed to be good, as in breaking box office records good," Silver said as they strode into their movie, "but I have no idea what it's about."

"Amy said it's the drama sensation of the year," Sonic replied, surveying the many filled seats. Spotting a raised hand in the crowd, he waved back and added, "I'm not one for melodrama, but my friend, Honey, designed the costumes, and Amy scored the tickets, so it's a nice way to spend the night."

Silver followed Sonic through a middle aisle. Amy had found the perfect seats centered in the middle of the theater. She pulled her hammer off their saved seats, greeting them with her usual enthusiasm before vanishing her mallet and throwing her arm to her left.

"You'll never guess who I met!" she exclaimed, pointing to the new hedgehog sitting next to her.

Silver tilted his head, surprised to find Shadow. He focused on the previews, digging through a bag of cheesy chips. He glanced toward them, nodded slightly, and returned to munching.

"Is it the grumpy hedgehog?" Sonic asked, sitting next to Amy.

"Evening to you, too, Sonic," Shadow replied, looking over to Silver. "Same to you."

Silver sat next to Sonic and set aside their popcorn bags. "Hey, Shadow. I didn't know you were a fan of dramas."

Shadow swallowed another mouthful. "I'm not."

"Oh." Silver cleared his throat. "Then, why are you watching one?"

"This is the only movie playing that isn't a cheap slasher with dated special effects or an animated family-friendly feature."

Silver hummed and decided to leave the conversation at that. He reclined in his chair and sipped his soda. The cherry flavor quenched his thirst, and he sighed, watching as the lights dimmed around them.

Amy gasped. "Oh, good, it's starting. You guys are going to love this movie. It's a masterpiece for the ages, I promise."

"Have you already seen it?" Sonic asked, rummaging through his popcorn.

"Three times, in fact," she said, flipping up three corresponding fingers.

Silver grinned at Amy and took her word for it. He was delighted to see any movie from the era. The ripples from the past often interfered with future media preservation. When Eggman's army had taken over, Silver couldn't remember any film that hadn't been robotic propaganda. Glancing at his popcorn, he was happy to realize it smelled salty without a hint of petroleum.

But as the movie played, fallacies lined up. For starters, the main character's goal was disturbingly inconsistent. The swan wanted to find love in the wrong places, but at the same time, she lectured those who had the same problem. It was almost as if she was too foolish to take her own advice, and he whispered his complaint to Sonic.

"That's the point," Amy urgently muttered, overhearing him. "She's so blinded by love that she can't see how it's actually hurting her."

"But that's unrealistic. What, can't this girl hear herself talk?" Silver wondered, and Sonic dipped his head, chuckling.

Amy scowled. "Silver, again, that's the point. You are making the point that the movie is trying to make about people who are blinded by love. Sometimes, they don't know they're in a bad situation."

He itched behind his ear. "I mean, I understand, Amy, but still, this is painfully on the nose with its message. I don't think we've even left the first act yet, and it's already giving me problems story-wise."

As Amy bristled, Sonic held up his hands. "Okay, let's not start a debate war while I'm in the middle." He peered at Silver. "Just give it another shot. It's only been twenty minutes."

Silver shrugged. He supposed he had judged the movie too quickly as Amy huffed and slumped in her seat. He quietly watched, but the longer he observed, the more he dragged his hand down his face. What Amy thought was tragic and romantic was far too foolish for his tastes. The main character's constant floundering was written to be tragically endearing, but he believed her dialogue and actions were far too oblivious.

One glance at the others proved him correct. Amy was clasping her hands together, drinking in the drama. Shadow was eating a slice of pepperoni pizza, his half-lidded gaze flicking between the main characters as they argued. Sonic, who had fallen asleep somewhere around the fifty-minute mark, had Silver stifling a laugh.

But even if the movie was objectively terrible, he found it comfortable to view. It was far better watching an awful film with friends than by himself. At least their reactions proved more amusing than the leading lady diving into the arms of her best friend for the twentieth time.

When the swan and her best friend found themselves in matching wedding gowns, Silver supposed Amy's claim was partially correct. It only took an hour and fifty minutes to reach the conclusion that warranted sitting through the subpar acting, strange cinematography, and downright painful dialogue. And their gowns were beautiful, made of the finest silk and lace, decorated with roses around their necklaces and waists as they shared true love's kiss.

Amy immediately burst into tears, jarring Sonic awake and spilling popcorn over his lap. "That was so beautiful! The ending gets to me every single time!"

Applause rang throughout the theater, and Amy clapped the loudest. Silver decided three claps were enough, but he winced when Amy pounced on him, asking for his opinion. He decided it was best to stay safe, giving the film two thumbs up and putting a smile on her face.

"I knew you'd see reason," she said with pride, and she smiled at Sonic. "So, what did you think? Wasn't it romantic in the highest and lowest of places?"

"The ending sure was," Sonic said, "and Honey's wedding dresses look stunning." He looked over to Shadow, brushing popcorn off himself. "So, Shadow, what did you-? Shadow?"

At the dip in Sonic's tone, Silver leaned over his friend. Silent tears rolled down Shadow's cheeks, contrasting with his neutral expression. He slowly got up, gathered his garbage in his empty bag of chips, and nodded at Amy.

"It was an exemplary and nuanced work of drama. I'm glad I saw it," Shadow said, and Amy broke into an even wider grin.

"Aw, I'm so glad! Here's a napkin, too," she replied, pulling one out of Sonic's hand and offering it to him.

Sonic blinked at his empty hand before smirking at Shadow. "Felt a moment of catharsis there, Shadow?"

Shadow dried his eyes and wiped a stain around his lip. Crumping it, he sneered, "As if you'd know, considering you slept throughout the movie?"

Flustered, Amy pivoted on her heels and frowned at Sonic, who winced under her scowl. "No way! Don't tell me Shadow is right because if he is, I'll make you watch the movie again! It'll be a date this time!"

Sonic whistled long and slow as Amy, thoroughly disappointed with his slumber, raked her fingers through her quills. Looking on, Silver laughed. He was glad to be surrounded by such fantastic and colorful friends. They brightened his day, regardless of whether he lived in the present or future. And as Amy chastised Sonic and Shadow smirked, whenever they were together, Silver felt like he was floating on air.