Chapter 3: A New Home, Part 3

Sapphire never felt so scared in her life. Surrounded by all these people, all threatening her.

"I'm sorry, I don't have anything," Sapphire said.

"That's a lie," one of the humans said. This second human had black hair and amber eyes. "We know you have something."

"Maybe she can take us to her place," the jackal said. "Then she can give us everything from there."

"Good idea," said the first human. He turned to Sapphire. "So, what are you waiting for?"

"It- it doesn't belong to me, I-" Sapphire stuttered.

"Of course not. It belongs to us."

"No... no... I... I have friends."

"Amazing." The human pulled a knife. "We don't care about your life. We want your stuff. So... GIVE IT TO US!"

Sapphire fell to the ground, and started sobbing. This day started out so great. Meeting her heroes, getting some new clothes. But now, she was scared off by one of Sonic's friends, and now she was getting mugged.

"She's crying, boys," the bear spoke out. "How cute. Now, you do what we say you have to do, or else! NOW!"

Sapphire only continued sobbing.

The bear turned to the first human. "Fine. Give it to her."

He lifted up his knife, ready to stab her. Sapphire was about to scream, when they all heard, "I wouldn't do that, if I were you."

All if Sapphire's oppressors turned to whoever just spoke, but Sapphire couldn't see him.

"Who the heck are you?" the human with the knife said.

"Go away," the third human, his hair caramel brown and eyes blue, replied. "This is none of your concern."

The new voice laughed. "Really. You're going to tell me what to do. As if I'd listen to the likes of you."

"Well, would you look at that," the bear responded, "he thinks he's a tough guy."

"Heh, I'm rather confident," the voice replied.

"Boys, let's show him who he's messing with."

"Oh... I know who I'm messing with. Common thugs trying pry on an innocent person. In other words... cowards."

"What!" the knife-wielding human cried out. "Who do you think you are?"

Sapphire heard of a few steps come towards them. "Let me tell you who YOU'RE messing with... I am Shadow the Hedgehog! The Ultimate Lifeform!"

"Wh-what." They all seemed to be pretty scared now. "You're lying!"

"Then let me show you." In the next second, the knife-wielding human was struck back, flying over Sapphire, and onto the ground, unconscious. The next few moments were so quick, Sapphire couldn't determine who the new figure was.

The jackal pulled out a knife of his own, but in his attempt to stab the mysterious person, his wrist was grabbed and twisted, the jackal screaming out in pain, dropping the knife. The figure then pulled the jackal in the air, swinging him into the black-haired human, taking them both out.

The bear pulled back for a punch, but as he swung, the figure grabbed his fist, not even being pushed off balance, and threw him into a wall. As the bear slumped to the ground, still conscious, the figure jumped into the air, brought a swift kick to him, finally knocking him out.

The last human scrambled back, trying to get away. But the new figure dashed up, grabbed him by the shirt, and slammed him into a wall.

"Tell me, why do you think it is okay to harm someone else?" the figure, Shadow, asked.

"We... we just want-" the human started crying.

"Now you know how she feels. Do you feel any regret with that?"

"I- I- yes..."

"Good. If I find out that you and your friends do this again, you'll regret it." Shadow then punched him in the face, and he fell to the ground.

Shadow turned to Sapphire, and with all the action over, she was finally able to take a good look at him. He was a mobian hedgehog, one who kind of reminded her of Sonic. His fur was black with crimson red streaks going down his quills, which were styled into spikes, his arms, and his legs, and around the rim of his eyes. His eyes were the same red color. He had white fur on his chest, and was wearing white gloves with gold rings and black and red wrist bracers, and white, black, and red shoes with another set of the same rings and bracers. The shoes themselves seemed to be some kind of special technology.

Sapphire was still frightened by everything, and Shadow's appearance and expression wasn't helping much. She was only staring at this hedgehog in silence.

But then, as Shadow took her in, his expression softened. He seemed surprised, and a little confused. Then he collected himself, and helped Sapphire up. "Are you okay?"

Despite his intense appearance, his grip warm and comforting. Sapphire looked at him, and nodded, "Yeah."

"What did they want?"

"They wanted everything I had. They wanted me to take them to my home, but... it's not mine. And- and-"

"It's okay," Shadow pulled her into a hug. "You're safe now, Maria."

Sapphire was confused with this. "Um, my name isn't-"

Shadow stepped away. "I'm sorry."

"I- uh... It's okay... I didn't introduce myself, so, um..."

"Let me start then. My name is Shadow the Hedgehog."

"Oh, okay... I'm... Sapphire. Sapphire the Hedgehog. It's nice to meet you, Shadow."

"It's nice to meet you too, Sapphire."

Then they heard voices outside the allay, calling out for Sapphire.

Shadow stepped to the side of Sapphire, as Sonic and Amy walked by. Amy looked into the allay, and yelled, "Sonic, there she is."

Sonic turned, and smiled. "There you are!"

The two of them dashed in. Sapphire stepped back in sight of Amy, and noticing this, Shadow stepped in front of her protectively.

Sonic and Amy slowed down as they reached her and noticed Shadow. Both of them were holding Sapphire's shopping bags.

Sonic took a look at Shadow. "Well, long time, no see, Shadow."

"Sonic."

Sonic and Amy looked around, seeing all of the knocked out thugs. "What happened here?" Amy asked.

Shadow looked at Sonic. "Sapphire, is she a friend of yours?"

"Uh, a new friend, but yeah. But that's not-" Sonic started, before Shadow interrupted.

"These cowards attacked her. If it weren't for me, who knows what would of happened to her."

"WHAT!" Amy yelled, "how dare they! They're gonna-"

"Amy," Sonic interrupted, "you were the one who scared her away."

"Well, I-"

Shadow got up close to Amy, and then said, "if she is your friend, you'd better treat her as a friend. Or else." And then he walked off.

"Wh-what's wrong with him...?" Sapphire asked.

"Shadow, well, he's always like this. Though..." Sonic shook his head. "We should go back. Sorry about this. Maybe, you shouldn't... that thing with Tails."

"Yeah. Let's go back."

Sonic and Sapphire took the train back, not wanting to give Sapphire any more excitement. Amy stayed behind, in order to make sure the police got those crooks.

The two of them made their way back to Tails' place. When Tails saw the sad shape Sapphire was in, he brought them in, and got Sapphire a cup of cocoa.

Sonic explained to him what happened, and Tails went lost in thought. "Wow, geez. I mean, Amy doesn't surprise me, but still... man, this is not what I wanted to you deal with. And on your second day, too."

"Amy made sure that they're going to get what they deserve," Sonic said.

"Yeah, but... I don't know, do you feel safe here, Sapphire?"

"I-" Sapphire didn't know what to say. "I... I'm sorry. I'm not very strong or brave. This could've happened at home, too. I was lucky to have people here to help me."

"What about home?" Sonic asked. "Don't you have friends and family?"

"Family? I..." A tear fell from Sapphire's eye. "No, I... never had any."

"What! Come on, you have to have someone... no parents? Siblings?"

"As far as I know, I don't have siblings. That's because, I... never knew my parents. I'm an orphan."

"Oh..." Sonic replied.

"You're home... Blue Wave Island, right?" Tails asked.

"Yeah, I lived in the local orphanage, and no one really liked me. I liked to read, and talk about smart stuff. No one at my orphanage wanted to be around a geek like me. And a lot of them even..."

"Hey, it's okay," Sonic replied.

"I didn't want to bother you with my life story. I'm just here to learn. Not to meet my heroes, that was just..."

"Hey, Sapphire. Don't worry about it. You're in good company, now."

"Yeah. Maybe you've been alone your whole life, but you have friends now," Tails said.

"Hm... actually," Sonic replied.

"Sonic what are you... oh."

"I'm sorry. What are you two talking about," Sapphire asked.

"Hey, how would you like to have your first family?" Sonic told her.

"Wh-WHAT!?"

"Well, Tails is like a brother to me. I have no problem with also having a sister."

Sapphire couldn't believe what she was hearing. She thought she came here to learn how to improve her skills as a mechanic. Never would she have thought she would find a family.

Tears in her eyes, Sapphire got up, and dashed towards Sonic, pulling him into a hug. "This... this is the happiest day of my life!"

"From bad to good, huh?" Sonic replied.

"Well, even still, maybe we should postpone your first lesson until tomorrow," Tails said.

"That's okay. Actually, I'd like to get to know my new brother better."

Sonic smiled. "I'd like to get to know my sister, too."

Sapphire stepped out of her hug. "Can I show a book I really like?"

Sonic gave her a thumbs up, and smiled ran off to her room.

Tails gave a small chuckle. "So, Sonic, why haven't I ever met your family."

"Well, haven't talked to them in a while. But if you want to meet them, sure. I'd make a visit sometime."

The two of them laughed, as Sapphire happily picked out a book from her stuff.

Finally, her life had changed for the better.

Author's Note: Thanks to Shadow, Sapphire has been saved. And, of course, she has met Shadow. And he thought she was... Maria? Huh.

We also know that is an orphan now, and she now has a brother in Sonic. This is the last of the 3 part Intro Story. Now onto short stories.