Chapter 35: New Friends

M-S

She kept her worries bottled up inside her for that long. Words can't even describe how bad I felt for my new friend. Megan was just a kid, trapped in a horror world and looking for the one family member who stuck by her from the beginning!

I promised her that I'll do all I can to help, and I'm known for not breaking them.

The two of us were walking back to the orphange where we assumed that Elise and the Herd were waiting. Meanwhile, I attempted to strike up cheerful conversations with Megan. Whilst she responded with a positive attitude, I could tell that she was still feeling down about her fears of losing her mother.

If the worst comes to the worst... We'll still be around.

"Hey, Sonic, I ... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to wonder where Eggman is." Megan said suddenly, after a moment of silence.

At first, I was slightly confused as to why my young friend said that. But still ... The gang and I haven't seen him in several years. Maybe, he was hiding somewhere or busy coming up with a new plan of revenge for his many defeats.

"I don't know." I answered, shrugging as we continued walking. "He's probably thinking of a strategy to finally destroy me or something,"

"Yeah," My young friend muttered. "If he does come back, then hopefully he won't separate the earth's surface to wake up Dark Gaia again,"

Eh, well, who knows what other tricks he's got up his sleeve?

We eventually stopped for a while to take a break and look at our surroundings. I could tell that it was definitely night-time here, but it was hard with all the fog looming in the clouds. Megan didn't like this place too since she and the Herd had been exploring South Vale before I showed up. Poor guys... If I arrived earlier, then maybe I could have helped them through their trip.

But, you're here now. And you're helping them, which is good!

Suddenly, the two of us were snapped back to reality by two sets of footsteps echoing faintly from somewhere far away. "Eggman!" I immediately bolted forwards and looked around, in case if our enemy was actually going to come back. "Sonic, you okay there?" Megan asked, gazing at me worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry." I repiled, shrugging as I walked back to her. "I can't believe I thought he was going to show up!"

Hearing this, she shook her head in disbelief at the possibility of my enemy being here. "I don't blame you. I'd probably be the same if someone who saw me in a negative light was planning to jump out and scare me."

Another noise suddenly echoed, snapping my protective instincts into action as I didn't like the thought of my friends finding themselves in a threatening situation. My protective instincts began to kick in as I bolted forwards again. Turning my head left and right, I searched for any sign of my enemy. I didn't want Megan, Elise or the Herd to get hurt by him or the man in the coat.

The former also had a knife out at the ready, just in case if my suspicions became true. But we eventually realised that our minds were playing tricks on us. "I'll admit, you had me there for a second, you really did." My young friend sighed with relief, gripping her knife tightly.

"We're alright, kiddo." I repiled, walking back to her. "I don't think Eggman would appear in a place like this."

"Yeah, you're right about that." Megan said, smiling at me in a more comfortable manner. "I guess, we should keep going. Elise and the Herd are probably back at the Wish House by now."

S-M

The two of us continued on our journey back to the Wish House Orphanage after we thought Eggman was planning to visit and create chaos. But for some reason, I couldn't help but realise that ... someone was following us. Actually, two people. It was strange, yes. But at the same time, maybe it was a good thing.

As soon as we reached the door, I stopped in my tracks. "Hey, Sonic?"

Upon hearing his name being spoken, my idol and friend also froze and turned to face me with concern. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know if it's just me, but ... I have a feeling that we're not the only ones here right now." I began, choosing my words carefully.

For a moment, the blue hedgehog didn't know what to say. I guessed that he probably realised the same thing too, just as I mentioned it. Deep down, I was panicking since I didn't want our pursuer to be the man in the coat. I kept a tight grip on my knife, trying not to tremble. "On three?" I whispered cautiously.

Sonic nodded, letting his protective instincts kick in again. "One..."

"Two..." I repiled, bracing myself for the man to jump in and take us down. "THREE!"

We both shouted the final number in perfect timing, spinning round to defend ourselves against who we assumed the threat was. But dare I say it, plot twist! It wasn't actually the man in the coat. "What the..?" I murmured in shock, letting my jaw drop.

A 17 year old two-tailed fox wandered the area with a 24 year old black and red hedgehog in tow. Just like Elise back when I first met her in Soleanna, I recognised them immediately. Sonic was just as shocked as I was, staring at his two friends and unable to move. Just then, he snapped back to reality as his young surrogate brother locked eyes with him. "No... No, no! Tails, not you too!"

I watched as Sonic ran towards him, pulling him into his arms for a tight brotherly embrace. Shadow had noticed what was happening and stared at the blue hedgehog with genuine relief and surprise. "Faker?!"

"Sonic, you're ... You're..." Tails tried to begin, but he was unable to finish since the poor fox was too shocked, relieved and emotional upon seeing his big brother alright. Upon hearing him speak, Sonic tightened his grip in an attempt to comfort him. "It's okay, little bro... I'm here..."

For some strange reason, I thought back to the last moment Elise and I shared in Crisis City, before I was left alone again. Suddenly, a new and frightening possibilty entered my head as I watched the two brothers with a massive wave of sympathy overwhelming me.

Did ... Did we both see each other as ... sisters?

I didn't know but at the same time, I didn't like it. A teenager and a queen seeing each other as family? That's a little weird in my opinion ... I just saw Elise as a good friend even though we haven't interacted that much during our time spent together. Besides, I didn't have any siblings in my family, which makes the thought even more frightening for me.

Anyways, enough about that.

Once I slipped my knife back into my jean pocket, I began to slowly walk over to the three animals. The expression I had was a picture of the sadness I felt for Sonic and Tails. Why couldn't I just find my mother now and leave this ghastly, horrible place with everyone I loved?! They didn't deserve to be stuck in this madness!

I had to save her. Fast.

"Hey, did you miss me Shads?" My blue friend joked, eyeing him with a small grin.

"Hmph," Shadow repiled, sneaking a look at me. "I'm just glad you're still breathing."

Well, alright then.

I stood in silence for a while which lead to Sonic glancing back at me after a while. "Hey guys, this is one of my new friends!" He then turned to face me with one of his cheerful smiles. "You know who these two are, don't you?"

"Yep!" I repiled, grinning back before addressing Tails and Shadow with a shy smile. "Hello, my name's Megan. It's...nice to meet you both."

Tails immediately offered his hand to shake which I accepted. "It's nice to meet you too, Megan."

Hearing this, I allowed my small smile to widen as I turned to look at Shadow who was staring at me with his arms crossed. "Thanks for ... helping Faker." He muttered, also offering his hand which I took.

"No problem." I repiled quietly.

"Hey Sonic, how did you ... get here?" Tails wanted to know, still feeling emotional from their reunion. "Because back where Knuckles and Amy are, you're still in the hospital."

My blue friend sensed what his young brother was going through as he gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's a long story, Tails. But we'll explain later..."

I quickly spoke up, realising that the Herd were still waiting. "Yeah, Sonic's right. There's an orphanage that's close by and the rest of our friends are there. We should probably get going."

One by one, the two hedgehogs and fox agreed. We then began to make our way back to the Wish House, telling our two new arrivals everything that happened so far. Meanwhile, I thought back to my mother and all of the possible events which could occur if we made it out alive. Either we'd go somewhere else as one big happy family or ... I don't know.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.