9: Rouge
After Sonic's meeting with Silver, he returned to Tails' home where he spent the rest of the day and that night. When he awoke, he was greeted to the sight of some waffles.
"Morning, made you some breakfast!" Tails said as he put a plate on the table.
"Oh, thanks!" Sonic said before digging in.
"So, Amy wanted me to tell you that they want to see you at G.U.N. HQ again." Tails said.
"Really? What for?" Sonic asked.
"I don't know, they might of made some progress on finding Eggman though."
"Yeah, that would be something pretty important… it's either that, or Amy wants to ask me out… again." Sonic said with a laugh.
"That would be… honestly really weird… she is a good bit older than you after all." Tails said, joining in on the laugh.
"Oh wow, you're right…" Sonic said before finishing off the waffles. "Anyways, I should probably go and see what's up. Thanks for the waffles!"
And like that, he was gone.
"… It really is him… isn't it?" Said Tangle from behind Tails.
"Finally believe us?" Tails asked.
"Well… considering he was alone with Skye for a good couple of hours yesterday, and didn't do anything… yeah, I guess I do." Tangle said. Then, she began to shake. "But… that means that Eggman is back too… and if… no, when he finds out about Skye…"
"He'll become a target." Tails finished for her.
"Yeah…"
Tails then grabbed her hands. "We will keep him safe, no matter what. We are a lot stronger and smarter than we were fifteen years ago, so he won't stand a chance!"
This seemed to do the trick, as Tangle began to calm down. "… Right, I know we will. And I guess we got Sonic to help with that now too."
"Of course. He won't let anything happen to his family." Tails said with a smile. "And neither will we."
At that moment, Skye walked into the room, and Tails went ahead and prepared his breakfast.
However, something was still bothering Tangle.
'Why did it seem like something was bothering Sonic when he came home yesterday?' Tangle thought 'Did something happen? Maybe I should do some digging…'
And with that, the Prowers sat down for some breakfast.
G.U.N. HQ
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Sonic asked as he walked alongside Amy.
"Well, while we don't have any info on his current location, we do know that Eggman has made contact with Starline." Amy explained.
"Really? How did you figure that out?"
"Omega intercepted some communications between two of Starline's bases. Again though, we don't know where he is, or what he is up to."
"Right, but we do know that he is up to something now…" Sonic said.
"Correct, so stay on guard, and tell Tails and Tangle to do the same." Amy said. "I'm worried that Eggman might target Skye…"
"Yeah, I think we would be crazy to not consider that possibility…" Sonic said. "Right, I will tell them when I go back… but is there a reason that you couldn't just… call us and tell us this?"
"Well, Rouge actually wanted to speak with you." Amy explained.
"Really?"
"Yeah, don't know why though."
"Alright, guess I'll go see her…" Sonic said before walking away.
After a couple of minutes of walking, which was accompanied by several looks of disbelief from G.U.N. Soldiers, Sonic finally found Rouge.
"Hey Big Blue." Rouge said from a table in the dining hall.
"Hey, there you are." Sonic said as he took a seat. "So, Amy said you wanted to talk to me?"
Rouge nodded. "First of all, I wanted to give you this." She said as she handed Sonic an envelope.
Opening the envelope, Sonic saw that it was an invitation.
"The wedding is in a couple of weeks, hope you can make it!" Rouge said.
"Thanks Rouge, I will definitely be there!" Sonic said as he slipped the invite back into the envelope.
"Also, you said you wanted to know what I was up to while you are gone, remember?"
"Oh yeah, guess I did say that." Sonic said. "Well, enlighten me!"
"Well, for the first couple of years after your little vanishing act, I mostly spent my time looking for you." Rouge said. "Turns out, when the worlds greatest form of defense disappears, the higher ups get a little upset, and want it found right away."
"Ok, I guess that makes sense." Sonic said.
"A couple of years later though, you were pronounced dead, and we gave up the search." Rouge finished. "After that, it was business as usual, although…"
"Right, Starline sucks as a evil mastermind. Got it." Sonic finished.
"Exactly, so things have been rather boring. That is, until Tails and Tangle hooked up."
"Is it just me… or does just about everything seem to center around those two?" Sonic asked.
Rouge simply laughed.
"Anyways, a few months later, after Knuckles and Amy stopped going out, he asked me out."
"Wait, he asked YOU?" Sonic asked, to which Rouge nodded. 'Huh, gotta give the guy more credit!'
"Anyways, you should know the rest from there… although…"
"Something wrong?" Sonic asked.
"Truth be told, I've been thinking of retiring from G.U.N. after the wedding." Rouge admitted.
"Really? Why's that?"
"The time just seems right. I've been with the organization for quite some time now, and I think it's time to move on." Rouge explained.
"Well, if you think so, then congrats!" Sonic said. "So, anything else?"
"Nope, that just about does it."
"Cool! Well, I'll see you at Cream's?"
"See you there." Rouge said before Sonic did what he did best, and sped out of there.
Meanwhile, back in Central City
Tangle was sitting on a bench, lost in thought as she was waiting for someone.
"Hey, sorry I'm late!" Said a voice from behind her.
"Don't worry, I wasn't waiting too long."
"So… what did you want to ask me?"
"I just want you to give it to me straight Silver, what did you talk to Sonic about yesterday?"
End of Chapter 9
Yeah, I forgot to update yesterday… hey, it was Pokemon Go Fest! Victini's my favorite Pokemon! I needed this!
… Anyways… Looks like Tangle is doing a bit of digging on Sonic's conversation with Silver from last time… but how does she know about that? Find out next time, in the final chapter before the two part finale!
I honestly don't have much to say, Rouge's retirement just felt like a good idea to have her do after being a part of G.U.N. for about as long as she's been around… plus fifteen years.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed Rouge's chapter… but who could possibly be left besides Cream? I will let that be a surprise… and no, it's not Big, as unfortunate as that may be… I seriously just couldn't think of anything to do with him… at all. So, I will see you tomorrow, for whoever that may be.