Disclaimer: Sonic the Hedgehog is © Sonic Team / Ashura the Hedgehog & Sakana Uni are © me

8: Reflection

"Whoooo's hungry?"

Sonic strode into the bedroom as if he had just scored some great victory, carrying three steaming sandwiches on a plate. "The lunch plan totally bombed today, so I fixed up some grilled cheese. I'm no Emeril, but I can cook." He sat the plate in the middle of his bed and promptly picked up a sandwich.

Sakana eyed the food curiously. "Cheese," she murmured. "I have heard that word before. My people have studied the society of Land-Dwellers. Is it good, Sonic?"

Sonic was finding it hard to believe that he'd met someone who didn't know what cheese was. "What? You guys don't farm sea cows?"

Sakana rolled her eyes and gingerly selected one of the hot sandwiches. "It smells odd."

"Yeah, well, fish smells worse. Just go on and eat it."

Sakana took a tiny bite from a corner of the grilled cheese. "This . . . this bread is burnt."

"It's supposed ta be," Sonic grumbled. "Do ya like it or not?"

". . . I will not say that I don't like it, since it is so new to me," Sakana replied. "Perhaps I will get used to it."

Ashura sat at the head of the bed, hugging his knees tightly against his chest. As he stared at the food, his stomach cramped with hunger. But he couldn't bring himself to eat. He felt too . . . too nervous, too anxious. If he ate, he might not be able to swallow, or he might throw up. Something would most certainly go wrong.

"There's a sandwich for ya, bro," Sonic said around a mouthful of bread and cheese. "Aint'cha gonna eat?"

"I . . ." Ashura began, and then an engraved command leapt out of his mind: Be polite. If Sonic had gone through the trouble of making food for him, the least he could do was eat it. He took the last sandwich, murmured, "Thank you," and began to nibble away at it.

Many minutes after Sonic and Sakana had finished their lunch, Ashura was only a little more than halfway done. Sakana frowned at him and said, "Do not force yourself, Ashura. If you're not hungry, do not eat." Ashura's eyes darted apprehensively to Sonic, but his brother showed no sign of disapproval. Slowly he placed the half-eaten sandwich back on the plate, and Sonic picked it up to return to the kitchen.

"Are you feeling all right, Ashura?" Sakana asked. Her voice startled the big hedgehog, as if he hadn't been aware of her presence. He flinched sharply, and when he spoke, his voice sounded weak and shaky. "I . . . I guess so. But . . . I'm still scared. I hurt so much. When . . . When Akuma . . ." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I . . . I don't want to do this. I want to go back to the island . . . By myself . . ."

"It's all right," Sakana said. "You didn't stand a chance without the Rod. It may be better next time. You don't even know how to fight. It is not your fault."

"I know," Ashura whispered as he began to shake. Sakana gazed piteously at him, then said, "Ashura, look at me."

"What?" Ashura asked softly, glancing up at her. She placed her hands on each side of his face, and got a dreamy look in her eyes. "WhaWhat are you doing?" he gasped. "Shh," she murmured. "Just relax . . ."

And then Ashura felt an overwhelming calm spread throughout his body. His muscles loosened up, and his mind cleared. His eyes rolled upwards slightly. "Don't make me sleep," he whispered. "I-I'll have nightmares . . ."

"You won't sleep. I'm just helping you relax. There will be no nightmares," Sakana told him. Ashura exhaled softly and slumped onto his right side. Sakana leaned over him, looking down into his face. Indeed, he was not asleep; his eyes were still opened slightly, shining faintly in the soft light of the bedside lamp. Sakana gently pushed him up so that his head rested on the pillow, and continued to gaze at him, as a mother gazes at her child.

"Hey," Sonic spoke up suddenly. He had walked silently into the doorway, and when Sakana looked over her shoulder, she saw he had an amused look on his face. "He conked out again, huh?" Sonic said, folding his arms across his chest. His expression changed from amused to sly. "I just wanted him to rest," Sakana said. "Don't worry; I haven't hurt him. I would never do that."

"I can see not," Sonic murmured. "But what I can see is chemistry."

"Chemistry?"

"Aw, you know what I mean. I saw that look on your face." Sonic pressed his index fingers together, and raised his eyebrows. Sakana rolled her eyes. "It's nothing like that. Besides, he deserves a little . . . How do you put it? . . . TLC."

"Yeah. Hey, ya hear that?" Sonic cupped a hand around one ear. "Are those . . . wedding bells?"

"Oh, Sonic, stop that," Sakana snapped. She could feel her cheeks growing hot. "Better watch out, Sakana," Sonic said. "The shy ones are usually the dirtiest."

"Sonic the Hedgehog, that's quite enough," Sakana barked. "Touchy, touchy," Sonic muttered. "I'll just sit here and watch my fur grow."

"Good for you," Sakana said under her breath, turning her attention back to Ashura. The meek hedgehog's eyes were darting back and forth, and twitching slightly, as he recalled another not-so-painful memory.


Down in the mud he went. It wasn't the first time it had happened, and certainly not the last, but Ashura would never get used to the feeling of cold muck on his face at least once a week. Tentatively he opened his eyes, and saw the feet of several young hedgehogs standing around him. But he didn't dare look up at the bullies. If they saw his fear, they would surely torture him worse.

"Hey, why don't you watch where you're walking?" one of them demanded. Ashura recognized the voice. It was Nate, his cruelest enemy. Trying to keep himself from stuttering, but losing the battle as usual, Ashura said, "Th-th-there's a mis-mistake. It-it's the middle of the d-day, a-and there's n-no way you couldcould have missed me. Y-you sh-shouldn't have hit me."

"Why would we waste our time running into you?" Nate snapped. "You were in our way!"

"I-I still think"

Nate suddenly grabbed Ashura by his right ear and jerked him up onto his feet. Two years ago, his friend Alex had broken that same ear by yanking on it. The ear now flopped over like that of a ragged stray mutt's. Pulling it straight so roughly tore a bit of cartilage, once more setting the ear aflame with pain. Ashura screamed, but his bully ignored him. "Oh, man, Ashura, when will you learn?" he sighed, shaking his head. "Everyone tries to tell youyou're never right. So why do you always try to argue?"

"I-I-I c-c-can b-be r-r-r-right s-s-sometimes," Ashura replied, his voice weak and shaky. The sharp, burning pain from his injured ear was beginning to spread across his head. He was afraid he might faint if Nate didn't let go soon.

Suddenly, Nate threw him down in the mud puddle again, but this time snatched his knapsack off. "What've we got in here?" he said. "N-no, p-please, d-don't mess with th-that!" Ashura cried. "There's v-very imp-portant"

"Oh, look," Nate interrupted. "An apple." He pulled the crisp, red fruit out of the front pocket on the knapsack. "B-But that's m-my s-snack!" Ashura gasped. "Don't worry," Nate muttered. "I wouldn't eat something you touched." He threw the apple at Ashura, hitting him on his sore head, then continued to dig through his knapsack. "Hey, are these . . . School papers? What're ya doing with school papers? It's summer, you idiot!"

"I-I like to s-study over the susummer," Ashura replied quietly. "I-it really helps th-the next year. Youyou should"

"What a freak," Nate muttered, pulling the papers out of the knapsack. "Here, Ash. I think your little papers wanna take a mud bath just like you."

"No!" Ashura cried. He jumped up and grabbed for his papers, but Nate held them out of reach, grinning coldly.

"Hey!" someone shouted. This time, it was a girl's voice. Ashura turned and saw a young female hedgehog running towards him. He recognized her immediately as Lauren Susanna Antares, the prettiest hedgehog in the village under eight, and nearly passed out. Was she coming to make fun of him, too?

Lauren stopped right in front of Nate and snapped, "You give those papers back to him, now!"

"What?" Ashura and Nate gasped in unison. "You heard me," Lauren growled. "Give 'em back."

"Give me one good reason," Nate said. "All right," Lauren replied. "He said that he studies all summer so he has an easier time in school. So that means that he'll be smarter than you. Or maybe he already is."

"HA!" Nate laughed. "No way! Not this moron!"

"Are ya scared he'll be smarter than you?"

"Heck no!"

"Put the papers down!

Okay, okay," Nate said, and dropped the school papers into the mud. "There. They're down." "You creep!" Lauren screeched, and kicked Nate in the shins with all her strength. Nate cried out, and started to swing at her. "Gonna hit a girl?" Lauren snapped. "You do it and my daddy'll kick your arse!"

Nate lowered his fist and muttered something obscene under his breath. Then, more loudly, he addressed his friends: "Come on, guys. We're gonna waste the day." He and the other bullies trotted off in search of some other mischief.

"Oh, what a bunch of morons," Lauren snarled. "Hey, are you all right?" Ashura was whimpering and rocking himself, gently clutching the broken ear. "I-it hurts," he squeaked.

What happened next startled Ashura so much that he momentarily forgot his pain. Lauren actually got down in the mud on her knees, spoiling her pretty pale orange skirt, and started picking up Ashura's ruined school papers. Ashura was stunned. Why in the world would this lovely little girl want to help him? "Here you go," Lauren said, handing him the wet clump of papers. "I'm afraid they're not much good anymore, though."

"I've . . . got . . . p-plenty more . . . at my house," Ashura said slowly. It was the only way he could keep from stuttering. "Thuh . . . Thank you."

"No problem," Lauren said as she stood up. "I don't mind getting dirty once in a while. My parents always have to keep everything so clean."

"Yeah?" Ashura saidthen began to gag as some of the vile mud got into his mouth. Lauren wrinkled her brow and brushed some of it off his face. Ashura's heart skipped a beat. No one had ever touched his face before other than to punch or slap him. "That had to taste bad. Is that better?" Lauren asked. "M-m-much," Ashura said, picking his knapsack up. He felt sick to his stomach, but not because of the mud. "Are you going to be all right?" Lauren asked. "Want me to walk you home so they won't pick on you?"

"N-No, thank you," Ashura said quickly. "But thanks for your help. I-I really have to go now."

"Lauren!" someone cried. Both of the little hedgehogs looked up and saw Sylvia, Lauren's older sister, jogging up to them. "Oh, Lauren, for crying out loud, look at you! You're covered in mud. And what are you doing with him?" She picked up Lauren, muttered to Ashura, "Get lost," and walked away briskly. As she went, Lauren peeked over her shoulder and waved to Ashura. He waved back, a dreamy look on his face.


When Sakana had been reading Ashura's thoughts, and looking into his past memories, she had found that Lauren, besides Sonic, was the only thing that had brought true happiness into his miserable life. When she calmed Ashura's mind, she also controlled it to only show images of Lauren. She knew that if she could make him a little happier, it might have a better effect on his attitude. Maybe he wouldn't be so shy and childish, and maybe he would be more able to rise and meet his challenge.

Presently, the Uni woman noticed a rather irritating droning noise that was accompanied by vibration. She tilted her head and glanced towards the bedroom window, whose curtains were drawn. "Sonic? What is that noise?"

"Hm?" replied Sonic, who had been lounging in the doorway the entire time. "Oh, great . . ." He retreated to the living room. A few seconds later, he called out, "We've got company!"

"Who is it?"

"The media."

Sakana didn't know what "media" was, but Sonic's tone suggested it was nothing good. The blue hedgehog came jogging back to his room. "Man, they got cameras, news choppers, spotlights, everything but the kitchen sink."

"Why would they need that?" Sakana asked, completely ignorant of the saying. Sonic shook his head. "They don't. But pretty soon, they're"

"Mr. Sonic?" came a tinny, slightly muffled voice from the living room. The buzzer. Sonic rolled his eyes. "Be right back."

He strode out to the door and pressed the speaker button on the buzzer. "Yeah?"

People from DreamNews and the SS Daily are down here. They'd like to talk to ya," replied the desk clerk. "Should I send 'em up?"

Sonic paused, thinking hard. He couldn't keep the impending calamity a secret from the public forever . . . But he needed some time to gather his thoughts. He had to choose his words carefully, lest he ignite panic.

Or maybe he should just tell it to them straight. He hated beating around the bush.

But either way, he needed a break.

"I need some time," Sonic finally answered the desk clerk. "Tell 'em to come back tomorrow. I'll be ready to talk then. I've had a bad day, ya know."

"Yes, sir." And the speaker clicked off.

Sonic leaned against the wall and pressed one hand over his face, waiting for the hum of the helicopter outside to fade. When it did, he headed slowly back to his bedroom. Sakana didn't notice his entry; she was murmuring something to Ashura. "What's up?" Sonic asked.

When Sakana looked at him, her face was anxious. "Sonic, I believe it's too hectic up here for Ashura. And I must admit that I'm a bit overwhelmed myself. May we go to my home?"

"Back to the cave?"

"No no. I have a city."

"And where would that be? Undah da sea?" Sonic asked, doing his best impression of Sebastian the Crab. Sakana smiled a bit and nodded. "Where do you think?"

"Uh, sorry, but I'm not really comfortable down there," Sonic replied. "You know . . . I don't really like water. Living under it? Not happenin'."

"You must go, either way. My mother wishes to see the Chosen One. I do not wish to disappoint her." Sakana's smile turned wry. "She is the queen."

"Well! Shoulda told me I was in the presence of royalty!" Sonic gave a sweeping bow. "Forgive me, your Highness."

Sakana chuckled. "Thank you, Sonic, but that is not how we bow in my culture. No matter. I suppose we can stay here a bit longer. It might be a good idea, in case Akuma decides to return. What say I take you both down after dusk?"

Sonic shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

Ashura smiled dreamily. "She lives in an ocean palace . . ." he murmured. "Queens and . . . princesses . . . Lots of pretty things . . . The fishies . . ."

"You doped him or what?" Sonic muttered. "He's just tired," said Sakana.


A/N: OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS "QUICKEDIT" THING! (humps leg)

Well, in my opinion, I think this chapter kinda sucked. I hate fillers with a passion, which makes it even harder to write an action-based story. But, at least ya got a look into Ashie's past! Rewriting this story is going really slow, but itis going. Expect chapter 9 . . . sometime within the next 5 years XD