"Okay, I almost have the TV fixed." Came the young voice of the two tailed fox from behind the TV stand in the Wachowski Livingroom, his twin tails twisting in tandom of each other as he worked.
In the adjoining room, a bright red Echidna with a whit moon mark on his chest was helping one of the two humans that owned the household fix a large hole in the wall. "I do apologize once more for the damage." He said to Tom, his violet eyes looking bashful. "Had I known.."
"Relax Knuckles." Tom answered with a warm, lopsided grin. "You didn't know, so its water under the bridge."
"And thank you for letting us stay for a while." The fox answered as he stepped back from his work. "We really appreciate it."
"It's not a problem Tails." Maddie, Tom's wife, answered. "It's the least we can do after you guys helped Sonic."
"Speaking of," Tom commented as he straitened and looked around. "Where is the Blue Blur? Maddie and I'll be heading out soon."
It was that moment that the doorbell rang, making Tom and Maddie look towards the door. "Package?" Tom asked, but was quickly answered by the act running of footsteps. "I got it!" Came the voice of the missing Hedgehog as he came down the stairs. "I took the liberty of ordering some pizza. But… didn't expect it so soon." He said as he opened the door and grinned at the teen outside.
"Sonic?" Tom asked, but got a wave from him.
The teen was staring at Sonic with a wide-eyed expression. Sonic grinned at him and quickly took the pizzas. "Thank Johnny." He said as he quickly passed a bill into the kids' hands. "Keep the change. Pizza guys have it rough." With pizza in hand, Sonic closed the door, leaving the dumbfounded Johnny standing there with a hundred dollar bill in his grasp. Slowly, the Teen turned and walked away.
"Okay!" Sonic said as he came in triumphantly with the pizza boxes in tow. "I got a meatlovers, Hawaiian, and garlic twisted knots!"
"Sonic.." Tom said, folding his arms but grinning.
"What? They've never had pizza before!" Sonic answered as Knuckles approached and smelled the garlic twists.
"Where'd you get the money for that?" Tom asked.
"Uh..." Sonic answered. "Found it stuck to my shoe?" It was the truth! After he stopped those thieves from stealing an armored truck full of cash, he didn't notice the three hundred dollar bills stuck to his shoe.
Tom sighed. There was nothing for it, as that had been weeks ago by this point. And he did pay Johnny. "Save me a slice of Meat Lovers and I won't ask."
"Deal." Sonic answered as Knuckles grabbed a slice of the Hawaiian Pizza. the Ham and Pineapple were a unique flavor mix, but the pineapple was a far cry from grapes.
"So where are you and Mrs. Wackowski going?" Tails asked as he nibbled on a Garlic Twist.
"Oh, just out for a nice evening." Tom answered.
"Olive Garden?" Sonic asked, a playful grin on his face.
"Maybe." Tom answered.
Maddie came in and smiled warmly at her husband as she brought in an armful of pillows and blankets. "And you're all sure you'll be alright for the night?" She asked as she set the blankets on a recliner nearby. "I mean, we only just settled in after the last... well, adventure."
Tom looked at his wife. Since that last fight with Eggman, she'd seen Sonic more like a son, as had he himself after Sonic called him dad, but she'd become a little protective of him. Sonic looked back at her with those bright green eyes. "Absolutely." He answered. "After trashing that tin toy of his, as a frickin god! I doubt he'll be crawling out from under that rock he's hiding for a long time." He smiled and offered her a fist. "We'll be okay. Promise."
Relenting, Maddie smiled and returned the power bump. "I'll hold you to it." She told him.
"In that case, lets go get ready." Tom said. "reservation's at 7."
"Reservations?" Maddie asked, looking over her shoulder at Tom as they walked. "For Olive Garden?"
Tom laughed. "Hey, when you're there, you're family."
The two humans went to their room to change as Sonic turned to his new friends. Tails had quickly become a little brother to Sonic, and the two tailed fox had even been given a hammock in the attic that Sonic called his room, as well as half of the said attic for his tools and gadgets. Knuckles, the echidna warrior was still figuring things out. he was welcome in Sonic's room too, though he found comfort in sleeping in the beanbag chair. Sonic had often teased that he looks like he melded with the chair come morning and Knuckles would often respond by getting up and answering "See? I have not become one with the chair!"
"Okay! Who's ready for a Movie night?" Sonic asked.
Tails' hand instantly shot up, and Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "Movie Night?"
"Yep! One of the best ways to spend an evening." Sonic answered. "And Tom's got all the classics. Though I have a soft spot for the Fast and the Furious."
"Go figure." Tails answered as he came to see the movie selection. He hadn't seen any of the movies, but he was glad to sit and hang out with Sonic.
"Ooh! There's even Karate Kid!" Sonic said. "I think you'd like that one Knux. It's a movie of Martial arts and there's even a tournament at the end, no spoilers."
To his surprise, Knuckles looked down. "I think I will pass on that one." He answered, a distant look in his eyes.
"Okay." Sonic answered, deciding to not pry into the warrior's past just yet. After all, a week ago this same Echidna was hunting him with Eggman. So there was still a level of trust that needed to be reached.
"How about this one?" Tails asked, picking up a movie of a dinosaur on it.
"Ooh! Jerassic park is really good!" Sonic answered. "But it's also pretty scary. Think you can handle it?"
"Phe!" Knuckles answered. "I can handle anything!"
Sonic grinned. "Lets do it then." He said as he held up the first of the original three.
They didn't officially start the movie until Maddie and Tom had gone out. But the lights were dimmed, the pizza boxes open, and even a bowl of popcorn sat between Tails and Sonic on the couch, ready as they settled in for the movie. Knuckles settled in the recliner chair with a plate of Pizza and a bowl of grapes. The movie was pretty good, though he glanced over at Tails as the fox half hid behind his tails at some scary parts.
He smiled and looked back at the TV, letting his own mind wander. It hasn't been that long ago when he first met Sonic, he was watching a movie with the family dog, Ozzy. He'd been deceived by Eggman, and was used by him to get the Master Emerald, a powerful gem that made thoughts reality. A gem that his people had forged, but was taken by the Babylonian Owls. He Was just a boy when his father found the last of them, and their desciple ironically the Blue Hedgehog that was sitting on the couch beside the fox.
The Babylonian was powerful... and had taken out the last warriors of his village, including his father. When Knuckles grew worried, he tracked them down to the hut, where he found a blue quill belonging to the Hedgehog... then tracked his family further to the battle ground. He closed his eyes against the memory. And it was something he wouldn't bring up in Sonic's presence. Not after hearing that The Babylonian... Long Claw, was more of a mother to him than a teacher. And he was more her son, than her disciple.
As his eyes were closed, something prickled along his spines. It was a similar feeling to what the Master Emerald gave when he found the Temple it lay hidden in. He made a small face before opening his eyes. Was the Master Emerald reacting to something? He was about to ask Sonic and Tails if they felt something, when the power to the house flickered, and went out.
Tails Eeped, his tails looking more bushy than usual, and Sonic was on his feet. "Huh, power outage." He said. "No bit deal. It'll come back on in a moment."
As he spoke, a light did start to come on. "See? Told ya it wouldn't be long."
However, that prickling feeling wasn't leaving Knuckle's fur. "I don't think thats our lights." He said, pointing to the light above them. Sure enough, it was still out. Yet there was light coming from somewhere. Suddenly there was a bright green flash and crash outside, the light and sound causing Ozzy to bark and run to the back door.
"Ozzy, easy bud!" Sonic told him as he followed the dog and looked outside. There was a sparking coming from the shed, green in color... and Sonic gave a small shiver as it looked eerily similar to how Eggman had these green archs of energy forming around his body when he had the Master Emerald.
"Chaos energy." Knuckles said, answering the silent question. "I'll check it out, stay behind me."
While uncertain, Sonic made a determined face and nodded. Knuckles was their strong guy after all. The trio moved out to the garage and knuckles carefully opened the door, letting three heads peek in one on top of the other. All three paused in surprise at what they were looking at.
In the middle of the Garage was a human girl, maybe 16. Her long hair about the same shade as Knuckles, she wore white scrubs that seemed to have bits of ice clinging to the fabric, and she looked back at them with glowing green eyes. She looked unsteady, even on her hands and knees. Though as Knuckles looked at her, he noticed her arms were covered in scars.
