Hi guys, sorry for the long wait! University work was a bitch (still is, I'm merely taking the weekend off...) and writer's block kept me company at the worst of times.

But, here it is, I hope you enjoy!


10: Alphas

Kylie, not at all prepared for the sudden transport, gasped, once they arrived. "Guys!," she exclaimed, before realizing where she was and continuing with a far softer voice, "Warn me next time, will you!?"

They were in Scourge's room. Sonic had wanted to check up on him and Mephiles had understood his intentions by instinct.

The blue Alpha looked at the green Gamma with a pained heart. He lay alone in the spacious room, on a bed and on his back, countless tubes and wires connected to his body, that was hidden under several blankets. His face, covered with a breathing mask, looked gaunt and hollow, especially since sweat was making his fur stick to his skin. His breathing was calm, almost a little too calm, as if he skipped every second and third breath intake. More IVs, than he knew an arm could hold, were in the thin limb, one over the other, the clear bags belonging to them hanging from a heavily laden metal stand, that stood next to the head of his bed.

"Can't remember, that I had so much stuff on me, when I was in Healing slumber last time.," he muttered, while walking slowly closer, trying to sound neutral, but the subtle tremble in his voice gave his worry away.

"You were just exhausted and a little drugged – which your body had already partly recovered from, after you had left the cell. You weren't sleep deprived and unable to keep everything down for weeks beforehand, like him. On top, you are an Alpha. Being able to recover quickly and effortlessly is typical for the likes of you.," Kylie replied and went to sit on her ankles next to him, so that she didn't have to talk so loud this close to Scourge. He would probably not hear a thing, but she was rather careful. The uke needed all the rest he could get.

"So, Scourge can't do that?," Sonic asked with a pained expression. "Not as fast and effortlessly as you can, no. And as I said, a lot of drugs and alcohol is currently going through his body, that's why we need to be extra careful. Most of the equipment here is just to monitor him properly."

"And those IVs?," Sonic asked. "Nutrients and fluids. He needs lots of them and his body can take them in easier this way. Not to mention, that his metabolism needs a huge amount, so some does get stored away. He has no reserves anymore, they got all used up. As I already told you, he hadn't have a proper meal in weeks. And what little he could eat, usually came right back up, so his body is naturally lacking a lot of useful substances."

"And the mask?" "Currently, he isn't breathing as much as he would be under normal circumstances, when he's awake. That's normal for mobians in Healing slumber, but since he's fighting off poisonous substances, I need him to have as much oxygen as possible in his blood. The second he wakes up, he won't need it anymore."

Kylie ended up explaining every single piece of equipment's purpose, no matter, if Sonic already knew it, or not, until the Alpha was satisfied.

Mephiles had quickly grown bored of their talk and disappeared as soundlessly as always, leaving them alone.

"I don't get it. I don't know Scourge that well, why am I so worried about him, then?," Sonic sighed, rubbing his slightly hurting head. The headache from earlier had almost disappeared, but was now coming back with all the mass of information, that his brain wanted him to keep in mind.

"Just like Shadow's instincts latched to your temporarily weaker side, yours did to Scourge's.," Kylie explained, not even thinking for a second about it. Seemed, as if she had just waited for that question.

Sonic frowned in thought. "But... Scourge didn't look that bad in the cell, Silver looked far worse!," he argued. He had immediately wanted to protect Silver, but Scourge had seemed fine. Closed in himself and weak, yes – but better off, than the terrified Silver...and the hero himself.

Kylie looked over to him. "That had been your second meeting already.," she told him shortly.

Sonic stared at her, his mind racing to find the meeting she meant in his memory, but he came up with nothing. He hadn't been with him on Paradise, he was sure of it...

"Scourge had been brought to me to get healed, while you had been there with your overdose.," Kylie explained for him.

Sonic's eyes widened and he quickly whipped around to Scourge. He remembered, what situation she meant. Some of the guards had brought in someone with...green quills...who had aborted his own young. That...had been Scourge!?

"Those scars on him...," he mumbled in thought. Although number 300 had two years ago scratched four deep slashes in the hedgehog's front, only two of them had become scars. And according to Shadow, Scourge had had infected wounds on his chest and stomach, when they had been nursed to health by their semes on the Island, but he himself had never before the attack noticed them, too distracted by his own ailments. Besides, Scourge wasn't someone to openly show, when he wasn't well.

"He broke out of his restraints and killed the children inside of him by stabbing himself. Sad as it is, but he learned quickly of the power of pregnant ukes and used it to his advantage to break free and harm them beyond healing.," Kylie explained quietly.

He probably even thought about committing suicide, seeing how large the scars had become, but since he had barely harmed any organ – besides his womb, which the surgeons on the Island had been able to fix – he had most likely changed his mind in the act.

"But...why?," Sonic couldn't help, but ask. He himself had felt so awful, when he had learned of the death of his young. Even if he hadn't felt them, yet and they hadn't been Shadow's, he had for a while felt a lump – that got smaller and smaller the more often he had thought about it – in his throat because of that. Would Scourge really do that to himself?

"Scourge received his children by rape and not from Fleetway, who he saw to this time as potential mate. Ukes usually don't cheat, you know? They are very loyal, which also means, that they don't accept offspring coming from someone else. If someone tries to mate with them, who isn't their mate or love interest, then they will refuse and possibly conceived children abort. That's the second reason, why Jester tried to find matches for you. You wouldn't harm children coming from your chosen ones in any way."

Kylie didn't add, that this picking of mates was a luxury the hedgehogs didn't have for a long time right after the epidemic. Back then, reproduction and saving the hedgehog-race were above everything and the ukes and females just had to accept whoever came around, if they liked it, or not. This wasn't exactly ideal, due to the sometimes contradicting Chaos Energies clashing, the children often became weak, without any powers, suffering from chronic illnesses, some even unable to mature and dying far too early. Thankfully, there had been more right matches, or there wouldn't be hedgehogs today.

"I see.," Sonic sighed, hating the instincts once more, for forcing them to kill innocent, unborn children – their own even, to make it worse –, before a thought hit him, that worried him quite a bit, especially, since he knew Happy now. "What is with those, who have more than one partner? I mean, don't they see mating with one as cheating on the other?," he asked, alarmed.

"No, not at all. The instincts know, that there is more than just one partner and therefore allow those in, too. Since they have their own hierarchy, however, it is also seen as cheating, when the second seme – if there is one – tries to make his move before the first, and stuff like that."

Sonic nodded, his eyes had never left Scourge during her explanation, and now, he was stepping even closer to his bedside, making sure to not trip over any cables, looking down on him. "Hey, Scourge. You probably don't hear me, but it'll get better, okay? We'll help you get back on your feet. I'll try to come by often to help you and you can come over whenever you like and we'll whip Fleetway in shape, I mean, if you like, and-"

He stopped and shook his head, when he realized, what he just said...or better: rambled. "Man, I sound like a mother hen. I have never been like that with Tails, or Cream – and they are far younger, than him.," he mumbled, running a hand through his quills.

"Scourge had been in a very bad condition at your first meeting and seeing him like that now, is firing your instincts on. This should cancel itself out, though, when you see Scourge recover.," Kylie explained.

She rather not mentioned, that Sonic would start worrying again, should Scourge fall ill again, or be injured. He would find that one out on his own...or hopefully not.

"I hope it.," Sonic nodded, when he heard a sound behind him. He turned around and saw Thilo standing in the door frame, looking surprised.

Although he had stuck both his arms in a fire to pull Sonic out of a burning scanner earlier, he had not the slightest trace of a burn on him – with those scales of his, he could probably withstand everything.

"Oh, did I read the schedule wrong? I could have sworn, that it was my turn to check his vitals!," the male said towards Kylie and looked down to go through a couple of papers on the clipboard in his arms.

Sonic couldn't help it, his quills started to rise. His voice was too loud in the otherwise silent room and rang in his ears. Also, something just didn't seem right with him. All of his instincts wanted him everywhere, but here.

"Oh no, it's nothing like that. We were...er...visiting.," Kylie explained sheepishly. I was pretty much kidnapped to come here, would have probably sounded just wrong.

"I see.," Thilo nodded and entered the room fully, walking towards Scourge to check on his vitals, but a certain Alpha blocked his path at once.

"Hm?" With a raised brow, Thilo stopped and looked down on him. Despite their feral relatives having the opposite growth-relation, Thilo's kind became pretty tall, usually as tall as an average human teenager, which made them quite taller than mobian hedgehogs.

"May I help you?," he asked, not hiding his annoyance at being stopped while doing his job. "What do you want from Scourge?," the Alpha hissed.

Thilo suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulders and something akin to a rope seemed to wrap around his neck, tightening. He knew, that there was in reality nothing, neither around his neck, nor on his shoulders, it was merely in his head.

A silent, nonverbal warning only an Alpha could give to a non-Alpha to stay away from his colony... well, the green Gamma in this case.

"Checking his vitals, that's my job.," he told him matter-of-factually. The feelings the Alpha invoke in him would have unsettled others – but his kind was quite a bit tougher and used to death-threats, even from the own family, therefore, he didn't back down in the slightest. And seriously – the dagger he found at his throat one morning, held by his father to teach him a lesson (...that was, ironically enough, long since forgotten), had been way more scary.

"Don't come any closer. You aren't allowed to be here.," Sonic growled and Kylie swallowed and backed off a bit. Uh oh.

"Oh, and why is that?," Thilo asked, not getting the warning, or better: choosing not to get it. "You're too loud, I won't let you closer.," Sonic hissed, his quills raising.

Thilo blinked, started to chuckle, before laughing, loudly. "Too loud? That's your problem? And here I thought, that you had a real reason to stop me!," he laughed. "Listen here, this guy's in a comatose state, I could set off a bomb in here and he wouldn't notice it!," he told him sternly, the laughter already forgotten.

Mentioning something about setting off a bomb next to a helpless uke was definitely not a wise thing to do in the presence of an Alpha and Thilo promptly felt the feelings from earlier getting worse, almost cutting off his air and breaking his back, if only in his head.

Kylie looked between the two males, pretty much seeing a metaphorical countdown between them, that would start a fight, when it reached zero. One more wrong move of the butterfly would turn the ward into a battlefield.

That was the only problem she had with the otherwise medicinal talented insect male – he lacked in the empathy-department. Not because he was just emotionally cold by nature – although this seemed to be the most logical explanation –, but because his whole family got drilled to emotional suppression at a very young age. At first, she hadn't understood this, not honestly wanted to try and understand it, but then, she had become curious, if he could give her a believable explanation. And he could.

All butterfly and moth mobians were known for their usage of poison, but it wasn't that known, that they produced their poison everywhere in their bodies. At some point, every butterfly and moth mobian was just a bundle of poison. And this moment came very soon. Every single member of Blush's family turned into a poisonous bug – literally – at the age of four.

Thilo hadn't been very descriptive about why this age exactly – he still kept most of his family's secrets tightly to himself – but he had explained in more detail, that from their fourth to their fifth year of life, they had no control over the amounts of poison their bodies produced in their scales, saliva, snot, blood, or tears.

Especially the tears were very dangerous, since the little ones had no tear glands there, only poison glands. The tear glands developed, before they turned five, but started with it only after they had become four. Since those poison glands worked like tear glands anyway, every crying of the children could wipe out a whole city, when the poison droplets evaporated.

The family was immune to the poison, as they all carried the antidote to the toxin since the day they were born in them. Of course, this measure was taken by Mother Nature to kill every possible attacker of the child, not its family.

Butterfly babies cried rarely anyway. If they had a need, like hunger, or something along those lines, they whined subtly to inform their mother of that. They only really cried out of fear upon seeing an enemy – that they recognized as such on instinct – or when they were in unbearable pain, which was thankfully very rare.

As they were meant to interact with other, non-butterfly-beings for social skills, the children were trained to never cry – Thilo had thankfully spared her the description of the methods used there – before they turned four. Only then could they try to let them meet non-butterflies...and the word try wasn't exactly trust-building. The butterflies were either very trusting in their youngest (and the efficiency of their training methods) – or Blush belonged to the very few members of her family, who actually cared about life.

After becoming five and having an unconscious control over the poison (the conscious control came later), they were free to cry as much as they liked, but the training apparently let them suppress all feelings in public even after that. At times for the rest of their lives. One of the consequences of this cruel emotion-suppress-practice was, that people like Thilo couldn't develop something like empathy, not only due to the training, but also, since the children – and later teens, or adults – were usually about as responsive to pain as a doll. Comfort was also not something, that his related patients needed.

It was therefore no big surprise, that he wasn't very sensitive. Unfortunately, Alphas like Sonic couldn't tolerate this, especially, when it came to their colonies. If she didn't do something soon, then it would become ugly.

Kylie quickly approached Thilo and placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him around in one swift movement.

"You know, what? I made a mistake, it was really my turn to check on Scourge's vitals." She pushed Thilo towards the door, grateful, that butterfly mobians were so very light, while taking the clipboard from him and hissing in his feeler, "Leave, now!"

Thilo thankfully got the – not so subtle – hint and left. Breathing a sigh of relief, she went to check the needed vitals, giving Sonic's instincts time to cool down. She was happy to see, that Scourge's vitals had improved a little since they had been last checked. They were still not the best, but better.

"I don't want this guy to work here anymore.," Sonic growled behind her. "I can't fire him. What he lacks in feelings, he makes up with medical skills. He can perform miracles.," Kylie replied easily.

Sonic paused for a second. "I don't want him close to Scourge anymore.," he eventually said. "I can assign another person for him, but should he become a surgical emergency, then Thilo is his best option." "Fair enough." Sonic nodded.

"Alright." Relieved, that Sonic was compromising – Alphas rarely did that – Kylie put the clipboard to the end of the bed, since she didn't forget all the time, where she put her stuff, unless she took it with her, which was the reason for Thilo to carry the clipboard – and other things – everywhere he went. He had the short-time memory of a goldfish.

"Let's go, Shadow's for sure raiding the building already.," she smiled. Sonic nodded, but didn't move, just staring at Scourge. "How is he?," he asked.

"His vitals have improved a little. That's good, but he isn't out of the woods, yet. Tomorrow I'll know more." The hero hesitated a second longer, before he turned and left the ward, Kylie after him.

She closed the door silently and looked up. "Nicole?" An ornament in the ground not far away from them, similar to the one in the foyer, started to shine and the avatar of the AI appeared.

"Yes?," she asked. "Could you please inform Thilo, that he doesn't need to watch after Scourge anymore? And please tell Maya, that this is her job now."

"I will.," the artificial girl nodded and disappeared again. "Who's Maya?," Sonic asked, while Kylie went to go to the foyer, he following her.

"A nice raccoon mobian, about my age. She lost her job due to the hospital she worked at going broke. She and a part of her colleagues work now here. Don't worry, she'll take great care of him."

Sonic just hummed in acceptance, still a bit doubtful. He trusted Kylie, but a stranger, who took care of Scourge, while he was defenseless...? He felt Instinct Sonic trying to push him aside, for sure wanting to protest, but this time, he resisted. He would tomorrow check up on Scourge personally and see for himself, if he was in good hands.

"Will he have a side effect from the Healing slumber?," he asked, while they walked. "Most likely, yes."

"Will some of his senses be cut off again?" "Maybe, it's hard to say. Usually, ukes have a different side effect every time they awaken out of Healing slumber."

"Really? What was he like, when he woke up after the thing in Saha?" "Terrified. He was convinced, that he was still in Saha every time he woke up. As if time was turned back during his sleep. He barely got three hours of rest in a row, tormented by nightmares – and you can imagine, that this is bad. Thankfully, Silver was there. He felt Scourge's distress and started to stay with him, to ease his nerves and even invited him over for sleepovers. Being so close to a Beta reassured his instincts and he was able to calm down quickly after that. A little over a week after his rescue, he was already well again, at least physically. He was still a bit jumpy afterwards, for a while. We'll have to see, how he will be, after he wakes up."

Sonic frowned. "Will you teach him, too, how to love, like Fleetway?," he asked. Kylie chuckled. "You can't teach love, Sonic. It's a feeling, that you just have. I'm not teaching Fleetway how to love, either. I'll try to show him, how to express his love. I have no idea, if I'll get through his thick skull, though." "And what could you teach him?" "Hopefully, to listen less to his instincts."

"I thought, that we don't do this anyway!" "You? Absolutely. But semes of the Lightning Class? Not really. They are like little kids, when it comes to that. In one of my books, the minds of Lightning-semes have been compared with a rope, that the Instinct- and Conscious-sides play tug of war with. When a decision of what to do next is needed, they start to pull at the mind, until one side wins and this one takes over for a while. And from all I saw of him so far, I'd say, that his instincts win most of the time."

"Why is it so different with him?" "Safety reasons. In older days, Lightning-semes were a blessing for their colonies, because they could switch between Conscious- and Instinct-side. That was more, than most hedgehogs could do. Even some Alphas struggled with that. They kept it cool, even in dangerous situations. Nowadays, however, this is more a curse, especially, when the Instinct-side wins all the time."

"...And how will you change that?," Sonic asked, not really able to imagine, how she wanted to perform this apparent miracle.

"What do you think, why I want to start tomorrow? I need to read a lot of books and research like hell, until we meet each other again.," she sighed.

"And if you can't find anything? ...And why do I care about that?," he asked himself, completely confused.

Kylie chuckled again. "I guess, that you see Scourge as part of your colony and want to do, what's best for him. Like getting his relationship with Fleetway on the roll." "Ah, great.," Sonic muttered.

Then, he remembered something. "You said, that Silver and Emma were the perfect team...," he started.

"Yes?," Kylie asked, not understanding, what he tried to imply. "Why doesn't Mephiles allow Silver to see Emma anymore then?," he questioned.

"Ah, that.," Kylie sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "It's true, that they are a great team, however, that comes with a catch. You see, Emma doesn't get one vision at a given time, but several. I don't know, how many, but it has to be a lot. A number with two digits at least, maybe even three, or still more. Her brain is used to the assault, most likely from her birth on, to get images and scenes of all possible times – future, past and present – at once, all mixed up, but Silver's isn't. At first, he could take, that she sent all of those visions unfiltered and almost simultaneously to her own receiving to him. He was most likely sorting through the snippets with ease and pulling some of the for him interesting information out. Then he felt, that Scourge was in trouble, in Saha, and he tried unconsciously to sort through all of those snippets systematically, to find anything, that could help finding and rescuing him. I think, that that was like trying to collect in a few special marbles in a whole flood of those, that are all the time moving. It was a huge strain on his brain's capacities. Therefore, his whole brain just had to pull the emergency break at some point – and he fainted out of nowhere, in the middle of a mental talk with Mephiles. I can't imagine, how he had to feel in the few seconds between his collapsing and his arrival at Silver's side.," Kylie finished quietly.

Sonic frowned. That reminded him a bit of an incident a good year ago, when Shadow had been on a mission overseas.

A giant flood had threatened several villages and he and Team Dark had helped the local forces to evacuate the people and to stop the water from destroying everything.

As usual, Shadow had called him, when he had been done, just to let him know, that he was unharmed.

They had established this routine, when Shadow had noticed, that Sonic had started to stalk him. Since the uke wasn't exactly aware of his new habit of 'coincidentally' being always, where his boyfriend was, they had to think of something to make sure, that he stayed safe, as his missions could become very dangerous and Sonic was too fixated on Shadow to even notice anything else.

Usually, Shadow would go on a mission, call during a break, if he had one, and/or after he had finished, so that Sonic knew, that he was alright and would come home, after writing and delivering his report, which usually took no more than an hour – the same time, that wounds, that he possibly got during a mission, needed to heal. Sonic just didn't know about this last part.

Normally, they would talk for a bit and then hang up, but this one time, Shadow had stopped in mid-sentence and Sonic had only heard, how the mobile had fallen to the ground and then screams in the background. Maybe even Shadow's, it had been so hard to say. He had for five minutes straight unsuccessfully called Shadow's name, his system had been already flooded with adrenaline, his brain working in overdrive, trying to recall, just where he was right now, ready to run to him, when the seme had thankfully – thankfully – answered his distressed calls.

As he had quickly learned, Shadow had had to interrupt their talk because of a sudden rock slide, caused by the flood, that had forced him to save Rouge, Omega, a lot of villagers and police men in roughly three minutes, before they would have been hit. Then, he had needed to stop the rock slide from obliterating the last huts, that had survived the flood, before he had been able to return to his mobile, that he had simply let fall.

Sonic had been really relieved to hear his voice again, although the stress had forced him to express this via screaming at Shadow, until his voice had given out. He had rarely been this scared.

To experience something like this, when your partner was pretty much in your head, had to be a far scarier experience, than he had had it. He couldn't imagine, how much worse this was.

"Is this, why Mephiles doesn't want Silver and Emma to be friends?" "Indeed. Silver fell into a Healing slumber, but his brain activities were off the charts. It took us a while to understand, just why he had been collapsing in the first place and what those activities meant. It was mere luck, that Emma, who had been all the time at his side, like Mephiles, since he had fainted next to her, needed to go to the bathroom, while I was present to check on him. The second she had a distance from about 15 meters to him, his brain activities reduced themselves to the normal amount. When Emma returned and they spiked again, it wasn't so difficult to find the connection there and Mephiles chased her off."

Well, that explained, why Mephiles was 'afraid' of Emma. He was afraid of what she did unconsciously to his love. And that also explained, why the dark seme hadn't personally been in Saha.

"Then what is his problem with Shy?," he asked. "Shy?" "Yeah. Scythe told us earlier, that Mephiles has not only a problem with Emma, but with Shy, too."

"Right." Kylie sighed again and shook her head. "Well, Silver tried to rebel a little against Mephiles by trying to become friends with Shy. I'm pretty sure, that he wanted to be friends with Emma still, in this indirect way. Sadly, Mephiles didn't take that too well. He had been just too scared, that Silver would fall back in Healing slumber, maybe even forever, so he took...drastic measures."

"Drastic measures?" "He...tried to kill Shy." "What!?" "Well, he figured, that Silver couldn't become friends with a body, so..."

"Is he crazy!?" "Sonic, Shadow would have had the exact same thought process, if someone would be a threat to your health in this unstoppable way. Besides, Shy and Mephiles are pretty even matched."

"Seriously?" "Well, he looked far worse than her, when we finally managed to separate them. I had a talk with him and he could convince Silver to just stay away from the two."

"Forever?" "No, it doesn't appear so. You see, Silver connects still with Emma, when they are both sleeping..."

"Is that, why Silver dreams of things he can't know?," Sonic interrupted her accidentally. He had wondered about that already.

"Exactly. Emma's signals and Silver's receiving are far better, when they both sleep. Without their consciousnesses in the way, their minds can process so much more. And Silver seems to have a certain understanding of how to handle the visions now. He is able to select, what he wants to see. It could be, that one day, his unconscious control is strong enough for them to interact again."

"So he dreamed solely of me lately, because he has more control over his dreams now.," Sonic concluded.

Kylie laughed. "Yes, you got this right." "What's so funny?," Sonic wondered. "Before Silver went to get you, he tried to do a long-distance-diagnosis of you with me. It was...kinda awkward to diagnose a dream-Sonic, you know?"

Sonic smirked. He could imagine Silver trying to describe his symptoms in a less than understandable way, than he had on Angel Island. He wouldn't be surprised, if she had taught him to express the symptoms like he did towards him.

Now, that this was settled, there was one last thing he needed to know right now. "Say, what was Silver's and Mephiles' last date like, that he wants you to teach Silv a thing or two about dating?", he asked. Kylie smirked.


Once again, Shadow found himself face to face with a certain blonde receptionist. "Where. Is. He?," he growled. "Again, do I look like a fortuneteller?," Mali asked coolly.

Shadow was just about ready to give her a piece of his mind, when he heard one of the most reassuring sounds ever: laughter. But not anyone's laughter – Sonic's.

Feeling warm relief wash over him, Shadow jumped off the desk and looked in the direction, from where Sonic's laughter came and saw him walking in, holding his belly with one hand and Kylie's coat with his other, trying to stay balanced. Since he was laughing so hard, he could barely walk properly.

Kylie was having more luck with staying upright, but she wasn't laughing as hard as the mobian anyway.

"A-and th-then?," Sonic barely got out with all the laughter. "Well, there was a spot for pony riding and of course, Silver wanted to try it. And as considerate, as he is, he wanted Mephiles to join the fun. So he used his powers to bring him on a horse's back. The poor animal felt, how foul his mood was, so it threw him off – right into the birthday cake. Needless to say, that the birthday boy was crushed. His mother gave Mephiles an earful, which ended the party.," Kylie chuckled, stopping all movements, when a new fit of laughter hit her friend. "Chaos, I'll die laughing!," the hedgehog laughed, actually crying from the laughter.

"Sonic?," Shadow questioned, coming closer. "H-hey, Sh-Shads.," the hedgehog laughed, trying to go to him, but he would have collapsed, hadn't Shadow caught him. "What's so funny?," he asked with a raised brow.

Sonic hadn't even laughed that hard, when Knuckles had last year tripped over a random tool Tails had forgotten, while carrying a huge pot of – thankfully cold – fish soup, that hadn't been eaten during the party they had had the day before. He had thrown the pot in the air, when he had fallen, and the whole thing had landed upside down on his head, spilling a good two liter – the soup hadn't been very popular among the guests – of the fishy dish over himself.

It had taken him a full week to get the stench out of his fur and since he didn't have a shower on Angel Island, he had had to drop by at Sonic's and Tails' house several times a day just for that. The frequent visits had upset Shadow's jealousy big time, although the stench had something satisfying – for him. Not to mention, that Sonic had started to laugh every time he had caught a whiff on fish in Knuckles' range – and Shadow had just adored this sound.

"K-Kylie just told m-me about S-Silver's and M-Meph's last date...," Sonic chuckled, fighting to get the laughter under control. "So?," Shadow asked, still with a raised brow.

"Mephiles thought, that it was a date – Silver, however, took him to the eighth birthday party of one of his younger friends.," Kylie chuckled and Sonic looked up to Shadow to see the corner of his mouth move up.

Under his new bout of snickers, Sonic felt the old annoyance upon Shadow's behavior rise up. It bothered him, that a half-smile was everything he managed in public. He knew, that Shadow had learned to conceal his true feelings, until he was only around loved ones of his – once they were home, he would quite literally roll on the floor with laughter – but that didn't mean, that he had to like it.

Finally, after several minutes, Sonic had calmed down. "I'll tell you the whole story later.," he promised and they separated, so Sonic could stand properly again.

"Alright.," Shadow agreed, when someone cleared their throat behind them. The three turned around and saw Mali sitting there with her arms crossed, tapping her finger on her arm, while staring at Shadow pointedly. "Can't remember, that I heard you apologize.," she mentioned.

Shadow sneered. "Fine! I'm sorry, okay? You really didn't know, where Sonic was.," the seme grumbled. Mali just shook her head and went back to typing.

"Shadow...," Sonic growled disapprovingly. "I know, I was just worried.," the agent explained regretfully. The hero sighed. "Alright, just try to be a little more relaxed, okay?," he mumbled.

"How about we go back to my office, for privacy?," Kylie suggested and gently shepherded her friends to the room in question.

It was probably better, if she kept Mali and Shadow as far apart as possible. The young woman wasn't exactly fond of people with Shadow's characteristics. If that went on, one of her many friends here would feel the need to protect her one day, since Shadow wasn't someone to just back off, either.

"So, what did you do in the last hour?," Shadow tried to gently pry. Sonic chuckled. "Wow, I hope you interrogate criminals much better.," he snickered. "I was just talking with Kylie and Fleetway."

"About what?" "That's a secret.," Sonic replied without hesitation. "But-" "Sorry, but you can't break me on this.," Sonic cut him right off.

Shadow's instinct, that was – unlike Instinct Sonic – not an imaginary person sharing their mind like an apartment, but rather an inner voice, suggested to let it be and promised worlds of punishment, if he didn't obey.

"Alright.," Shadow agreed reluctantly and was relieved – and to some extent surprised – that that simple word rewarded him with one of Sonic's most beautiful smiles.


Just a few minutes later, they were back in Kylie's office. John had cleaned it up and was gone. Almost all of the chairs in front of Kylie's desk were back in their original place, only two remained and both hedgehogs took a seat there.

For now, Sonic didn't have any desire to be closer to Shadow and he had a hunch, that this had to do with Instinct Sonic being a little mad at Shadow for trying to pry earlier.

"Now.," Kylie took a seat herself and looked at her friends. "I still owe you a story, don't I?," she asked, more in Sonic's direction, who needed a good minute to remember, what she meant.

It seemed, as if more than just a few hours were between now and their talk in the private ward.

Noticing Shadow's questioning glance, he turned to him. "Kylie had been there...when...I was raped.," he mumbled the last part, looking down.

Shadow's eyes widened. "And you didn't do anything!?," he screamed at Kylie, who jumped, together with Sonic, both not having expected such an outburst.

"What did you expect me to do!? There were about twenty other people, including Perringten! And I didn't even know, what he planned, until...until..." Kylie bit her lip and looked down on her lap.

"Shad, I don't blame her, I never would. I know, that you would have stopped it, if you would have been able to.," he said the last part towards Kylie, who smiled weakly, while the hero sat down in Shadow's lap. Partly, because he had the sick feeling, that he would need his comfort soon – and partly to keep the peace in this room.

"Are you comfortable enough to tell us?," he asked, after feeling, that Shadow was calm and wouldn't flip his lid again anytime soon.

"I guess. Now, as I said, I had been forced to... watch, I'm afraid. Shortly after...it started, I could feel the ground shaking and you appeared, killing the seme and freeing Sonic."

As Kylie had found out later, Shadow had been bolted to the ground three rooms further by lots of thick iron straps to imitate a struggle for his instincts, after that would follow the claiming of his mate. She just didn't mention it, to not boost his ego.

"What happened next?," Sonic asked, while unconsciously leaning closer to Shadow, who tightened his grip in reassurance. Despite Kylie trying to describe as neutral as possible, just thinking about the whole incident brought some bad memories back.

"Perringten wasn't exactly happy with the outcome and he sent his men to lock you up again – but he underestimated the rage of a seme protecting his injured mate. Your Chaos Energy caused an explosion, that Sonic's protected you from.," Kylie explained.

"It did? And you?," Sonic asked. "I was clever enough to duck in time. I was the only one, by the way. After the aftershock had faded, I saw you two sitting under a protective shield, that Sonic had created. You took me into the shield's protection, but then you were very weak and I managed to convince you, that Sonic needed to come to my ward, so I could treat him. You...kind of read my thoughts, or something like that, and transported us right there."

"I read your thoughts. And used Chaos Control. Without an Emerald? Impossible.," the dark furred agent scoffed.

"I have to agree, I have never used this Chaos Energy sphere-thingy, either.," Sonic backed his boyfriend up.

"You underestimate your instincts. Both of you wanted to protect the other and that let you access a previously unknown power."

"And only then, never again?," Sonic wondered. "Yes. You can only access those powers, if you want to protect your mate. Otherwise, they are locked away from you."

"Just for my mate? What about for my friends? Or other people in general?," Sonic asked curiously.

"For those occasions are other powers reserved. Those Chaos Energies you showed back then only work, when you two are together as mates and want to protect each other.," Kylie replied.

"I see." "I don't get, why this seme would do that to Sonic. Didn't you say, that Alphas wouldn't be attacked by semes? They didn't attack on Paradise, but this seme did!," Shadow argued. This was the one reason, why he didn't trust Kylie's explanation from earlier, why he didn't trust Sonic with all the guys flirting with him so far and in the future. This one seme had already attacked Sonic. What would stop others from trying (or worse, doing) the same?

"That was different. You two probably don't remember it, but this one seme wore some kind of gas mask. It made him smell all the time a different scent, that of a random uke, who wasn't an Alpha. It tricked him into thinking, that you were a regular Gamma."

"And what about those on Paradise?" "They smelt, that you were an Alpha with a mate and therefore tried to convince you to date them instead."

"Then why were they fighting?," Sonic wondered. "They started their own tournament to decide, who may approach you first."

"And the bloody thing?" "A gift for you. The...ripped out heart of another seme. Meant as a trophy."

Sonic turned rather green and pale at hearing that and Shadow reacted by moving his arm supporting Sonic's back, so he was a little reclined, while his free hand started to gently massage his stomach, trying to ease the nausea, like his instincts dictated.

Sonic, after the first surprise, relaxed and just enjoyed the attention, purring slightly, while Kylie pretended – or maybe she really was – to sort through the files, that John hadn't been able to bring in the right order. This way, she gave them some privacy, until Sonic's stomach had settled and both were paying more attention to her again.

"Why did this seme think, that I would want him to murder someone for me?," Sonic wondered, continuing their talk.

"It's trial and error concerning what you prefer. It's normal, that all semes try to find out the likes of the ones they are interested in, uke or female. Since you are an Alpha, they tried to demonstrate their strength towards you. But as you declined the heart, they thought of something else."

"Then why didn't they take me, when Shadow and I were sedated, back on Paradise?," Sonic questioned.

It wasn't, as if he would have wanted that, but it drew him mad not to know the answer to that. With those drugs, the semes had been like feral animals at best – and a feral animal wouldn't have waited for him to awake, it would have killed and devoured him in a heartbeat. Why didn't the semes try to rape him?

He remembered waking up in Shadow's container, on a pile of leaves, with Shadow at his side, promising him, that he hadn't been touched. And the semes had just waited for him to wake up, it seemed.

"No seme, not even sky high on drugs, would ever try to assault an Alpha like that. I already explained to you, that the semes were trying to 'flirt' with you in their drugged state, which came out as almost-rape. However, even the most drugged male can differ between a sleeping and an awake Alpha and they would never try to touch you in your sleep. Besides the fact, that this would let their chance to become you mate drop to the negative million squares, it would also make you, or any Alpha – and his or her whole colony – mad. And nobody wants a whole colony against himself, believe me. I read about a few semes, who were actually stupid enough to try and rape their Alpha in his or her sleep. They needed to leave the continent, unless they wanted to be killed. The semes helped you to try and show you, that they could provide you with everything."

"And why didn't they try to take on Shadow, if they were so keen on getting me?," Sonic asked. He didn't want that, either, but it would be logical to try that, right?

"Trying to fight off a seme of the Shadow Class, who has set his eyes on his mate already? I'm pretty sure, everyone of them would have preferred to take on an army instead of that. They know by instinct, that semes protecting their mates are very dangerous – and the ones of the Shadow Class are among the most dangerous ones." Well, the semes had appeared a bit clearer back that day, as if they knew, that messing with Shadow had been a bad idea... Sonic nodded in thought.

"You seem to have an answer to everything, huh? Can you tell me then, why you told me to bring Sonic to another place on this Chaos forsaken place? Why didn't you tell me to get us out of there, since I was apparently not in the right mind to think of it myself?," Shadow growled. Kylie froze, paling rapidly and looking away.

The dark seme just wanted to go on, vent some more, when he felt raised quills dig into his arms and he looked down to see Sonic's icy glare on him, which actually let him shiver. "Shad, enough.," he growled.

"Sonic, it's okay. I asked myself that already, too, many times. As a fact, I just concentrated on getting you somewhere, where I would be able to treat you and my ward had been the only place matching this description in my mind. I didn't even think about a hospital. I only realized, that I could have brought you out of this hell, when Perringten's men had already come to get you again. I cried for hours for being so stupid.," Kylie sighed, trying to discreetly wipe her eyes, while looking away.

"Kylie, I'm not mad at you – and you shouldn't be, either. See it like that: if you had gotten us out of there, Silver, Scourge and many other mobians would be dead now.," Sonic comforted.

Kylie smiled weakly. There had happened a lot of stuff due to her decision of leading Shadow to her ward instead of a hospital on dry land. The most bitter had been Scourge's rape.

Sonic was right, though, Perringten would have erased all evidence – living or not – long before she would have been able to explain the whole situation and get somebody to believe her (Towers wouldn't have been among those...), but she couldn't help, but ask herself: what if she had decided differently? If she had told Shadow to bring them to a hospital, and Perringten would have been down for the count for just long enough to send GUN-troops?

In retrospective, she had no idea, how much time had passed, until Perringten had appeared in her ward that day, to see his 'possessions' getting collected in again. Had it been hours? Minutes? Even if it would have been minutes, he would have assumed, that they had tried to flee and he would have wasted hours with trying to find them...

Only with a lot of struggle, she managed to pull herself out of the all too familiar what if-questions-cycle. She knew by now, that thinking about it wouldn't give her any closure, just talking about it would do the trick.

"What happened, after we arrived in the ward of yours?," Shadow asked. "Well, we tended to Sonic's injuries." "Me, too? H-"

"Please, don't ask.," Kylie sighed and shook her head. Seeing the confusion in their eyes, she added, "Some things are better left unsaid. I assure you, that you helped Sonic a lot, okay? Let's leave it at that." There was NO way in heaven or hell, that she would even attempt to put this situation in words.

Not really understanding that, Shadow nodded. He better didn't try to pry, or Sonic would kick him out of the house for a week. The few run-ins with Instinct Sonic today had already taught him that much.

"We know, what happened to Sonic afterwards, but what about me? What happened to me?," he rather asked, wanting to close another small gap in his memory.

"You were kept in a highly secured room, looking pretty much like a giant vault. I've never been in one, but apparently, you had been secured to a metal bed with a mixture of drugs and sedatives getting all the time led into your bloodstream."

"I hardly remember, how I got back to your ward, I just remember being pulled – and laughed at.," he added with an accusing glare at Kylie, who only blinked.

"Laughed? Nobody laughed, the situation hardly called for that! I tried to convince the idiot leading you to slow down, but he refused. He didn't trust me alone with you, otherwise I would have prevented you from tripping over your own feet all five seconds.," Kylie replied, shaking her head disapprovingly, not even getting the accusation. "Any other questions?"

"Yes. How do you know all that?," Shadow asked. Of course, he couldn't know, that Shy had raided and afterwards destroyed the Island, giving her the evidence, so Kylie explained it to him.

The corners of Shadow's mouth moved more and more up the farther she came, until he showed a rather sadistic smile.

"That...seems to be amusing to you.," Kylie observed. "I wished you would have told Towers that earlier. His face upon hearing, that a little girl has stolen a landmass right under his nose, would have been hilarious.," the dark hedgehog smirked.

Kylie chuckled. "He would have probably snapped my neck then and there, but yes, it would have been hilarious.," she agreed. Then she looked at Sonic. "Now, would you like to talk about you hating to be an Alpha?"

Sonic flinched. "Huh!? B-but...how do you know that!?," the male stammered. "Sonic, every time I mention, that you are an Alpha or that something has to do with you being one, you look, as if you're biting into a lemon. Besides, I'm an Alpha, too. The second I learned, that I am one, I would have loved to hide under my desk for a few decades."

"Why didn't you?," Sonic asked, while moving back to his own chair. He suddenly didn't want the physical contact anymore.

"I have a few children to raise, remember? Hiding isn't an option. Besides, I didn't really know, what being an Alpha means, so I was pretty much afraid of something I didn't even know the extent of. So I stopped being afraid and did my research, until I knew, what I was dealing with. Now, what are you so afraid of?," she asked.

Sonic exhaled, crossed his arms and leaned back, letting his chair stand on its hind legs, keeping his balance easily enough. "I don't know. I just can't shake off the feeling, that being an Alpha is like being a hero with a turn to the wor- AAH!"

He had opened his eyes saying that last part and, as he had been looking up at the ceiling, immediately spotted Mist, who had been leaning against said ceiling, as if lying on the ground, apparently studying him, but now staring back with wide eyes.

On instinct, the hero wanted to move back, but forgot, where he exactly was and would have crashed painfully on the ground, if it wouldn't have been for Shadow catching the back of his chair and righting it carefully.

"Are you crazy!? What were you thinking!?," he snarled at the ghost, who looked to the side, his cheeks turning a dark silver, as if he was blushing, before he disappeared, soundlessly like usual.

"What was that about?," Sonic asked Kylie, who chuckled. "That's just the worry of a parent. Mist knows, that his little Hope likes you. He just wants to make sure, that you wouldn't hurt her, ever. He'll probably be on your heels whenever you appear here, at least for a little while."

"Great.," Sonic groaned, although he could understand that. He still remembered Vanilla's interrogation, when Cream had declared, that she would love to hang out with the hero and his friends more often. As friendly as the woman was – she could be tougher than a GUN-agent, when it came to her daughter's safety. It had taken a few weeks for her to be completely comfortable with Cream's new companions.

He was a little surprised, actually, that Kylie hadn't done that already. He couldn't know, that years ago, Kylie had turned the internet upside down, while trying to find any dirt on him and only AFTER finding absolutely nothing, allowed her children to get an autograph from him, but still staying on guard. Meeting him in person and fighting for your life alongside him definitely helped with decreasing her distrust to absolutely nothing.

"Mist has probably enough for today. Now, what makes you think, that being an Alpha is worse, than being a hero?," Kylie brought the previous topic up, after checking for the ghost around the room and finding nothing.

"Well, if I as a hero tell the people to run for shelter, they'll do it, but an Alpha gets protected. I couldn't stand the thought of someone getting hurt, because they tried to help me.," Sonic explained. He still remembered Kylie's explanation from earlier, that other ukes of the colony harmed themselves to protect the Alpha in their middle. It made him kind of worried about what his colony would do...

"I see, but I don't think, that this is a problem. In a colony, everyone knows their place. Those, who can fight, will fight – and those, who can't, run for cover. Those outside your colony will run anyway. And if someone gets hurt still, it's not your fault, but that of the attacker."

Sonic frowned, not really feeling better at that, since it didn't solve his problem completely. "I have absolutely no idea, how to be an Alpha! I mean, what, if I do something wrong?," he asked, clearly still overwhelmed by the responsibility.

"I... may have the thing for that.," Kylie mumbled in thought, stood up, went over to the bookshelf and started to look over the titles, until she had found, what she had been looking for. "Here." She pulled out a book, that looked a little worn, and brought it to Sonic, giving him the object.

"'Tales for My Sun'?," Sonic read the title on the otherwise bland, dark blue cover questioningly, looking at Kylie, who was returning to her place.

"It's a kind of diary of an Alpha, who lived a long time ago. His words had been graved in stone and been dedicated to his daughter, Sun, a future Alpha. About twenty years ago, the texts had been found in a cave and somebody took his time and typed them down for the people to read. The first few chapters in this book are merely stories, for sure fairy tales for the still young Sun. Starting with chapter 5, he begins to explain the tasks he has and to give her advice on how to be a good Alpha. I admit, that some of his suggestions and descriptions are outdated, but it should give you some clues about what being an Alpha means."

Curiously, Sonic leafed through the book, determining, that it was easily readable enough and closing it. "Thanks.," he smiled.

Kylie nodded. She knew, that not even a hundred books would help Sonic with being a good Alpha, but telling him, that he would do everything right by instinct would do nothing to reassure him, either. This book was the most detailed she knew, it would give Sonic a good overview over the responsibilities and duties of an Alpha and with a little luck, he would realize on his own, that he was already doing, what good Alphas did on a daily basis.

"If there are any questions outside of what's written in the book, you can just call." And she gave both hedgehogs her scribbled down phone number, and mail-address for good measure. "I have read a lot of books and it might be easier to just tell you, what I know, than throwing the mass on you and let you figure that all out on your own.," she explained.

"Yeah, probably for the best.," Sonic agreed. He had nothing against reading, not at all, but he preferred books, in that actually happened something, over those scientific ones.

Kylie smiled at his answer, as she had expected something like that. It was common among Alphas to do this.

Well, not the exchange of numbers, since telephones didn't exist back then, but the general offer of an older Alpha to a younger one to contact them for questions or advice. Back in older days, many Alphas had been forced unexpectedly fast in their role, as it sadly wasn't so uncommon for their Alpha-parents to die, while protecting the colony. The young ones were therefore grateful for every piece of advice or guidance offered by another, older Alpha.

Technically, she was the young one here, since Sonic was a born Alpha and had age-old instincts as backup and she was a chosen Alpha – by the hedgehogs, for the hedgehogs, so to say – but in cases like this, the physical age counted, as it equaled experience. Besides, it was always comforting to know, that there was someone, who you could turn to in times of need.

"Thanks, really. You're the best.," Sonic smiled, slipping the post-it note with her contact data between the pages of the book. "I guess we'll go and try to get Tails, then, and call it a day.," the hedgehog explained, both getting up. He had taken in a lot for one day and was quickly getting tired now.

"You just go ahead, I have a few things to talk about with Shadow, just the two of us. If you come across Mali, you can ask her for your prescription, it should be ready now.," Kylie replied.

Sonic, however, didn't move to leave the room. "What do you need to talk with Shadow about, that I shouldn't hear?," he asked.

Shadow started to sweat. Lie, lie, lie! Please, lie!, he begged the woman internally. "Oh, just some things the mate of an Alpha should know. I think, it's better, if I tell him personally. This way, I can make sure, that he listens for once.," Kylie lied smoothly.

"Really? And what things are there to talk about, that I shouldn't know?," Sonic asked and Shadow was about ready to kick him out himself. Did he REALLY have to be so curious all the time!?

"You want to listen? Fine.," Kylie shrugged and Shadow's jaw dropped. Was she serious right now!?

"Now, Shadow," Kylie started, before he could try to stop her. "When you two have sex-" She had barely ended the last word, when the room was devoid of one hedgehog, the door just slamming shut due to a gust of wind.

"You should write a book: 'How to empty a room with ten words or less'.," Shadow mentioned, trying not to sound hurt by his mate's actions, looking at the door.

"He only learned recently, that every sexual encounter of you two could lead to him getting pregnant. Give him a bit of time to stomach that and you'll barely be able to keep your hands to yourselves. By the way, you should write a book, too: 'How to lie to my boyfriend for years'. I would really love to read it.," she growled the last part, a scowl on her face, that screamed of disapproving.

Shadow grimaced, turning to her. "Look, I-" "I really can't believe you! I would strangle you right here and now, if I would believe for one second, that your brain would need even less oxygen up there! I want an explanation, why you were so stupid – and it better be a good explanation, or I'll have Mephiles lock you away for a week!," Kylie hissed and Shadow felt the sudden urge to flee. Chaos, she could be scary!

"...I tried, but he didn't even react positively to my own immortality. How could I tell him, when he doesn't like the thought of me being unable to die?"

"So you thought, that not telling him is the best option? Do you have any idea, what this means? Not for you, but for Sonic? What if Eggman one day succeeds in giving him a potentially lethal wound, that he actually survives without a struggle? He could take being outed as an uke by him, because nobody could foresee this, but if he gets outed as an immortal by the good doctor, too, and he finds out, that you are responsible for that AND knew about it all along, you are in for trouble – and he can afford being mad at you for a few centuries."

"Alright, I get it. I'll tell him today, when we're home.," the agent gave up. "No, you won't.," the woman told him strictly, as if this was the last word on this matter.

Shadow blinked. Was she serious right now!? "You just explained to me, why I should tell Sonic – and now you tell me, that I shouldn't!?," he raged.

"Not today.," Kylie clarified. "Sonic needs rest and time to calm down and process everything he learned today. Dropping that kind of bomb on him could make his condition become worse – and do you want to test out, how far his immortality reaches?"

Shadow raised a brow. What did she mean with that? "I had a talk with Mephiles a while ago, about immortality."

Shadow just opened his mouth, when Kylie already continued, "About Silver's immortality. He tries to find ways to explain to Silver, that he is immortal – and, that he'll become that, too. I saw some parallels between Silver and Sonic and asked discreetly for more information. As I could learn, Sonic is most likely not like you in the immortality-department. He will need more time to recover from wounds and unlike you, he'll be more prone to illnesses. Which isn't so surprising, there are far more illnesses, that ukes can contract, than semes can. And before you ask, most of the illnesses I mean are genetically caused and Sonic's blood test came out negative for all known illnesses starting in the DNA.," Kylie quickly explained, before she would have to deal with Shadow every time Sonic did as much as cough a bit. She knew, how worried semes were about their mates.

"Illnesses caused by outer factors are still a possibility and stress is most likely one of the main sources – so no stressing him overly, when he can't take it. Also, it might be, that there are natural poisons, that can harm him, but I'm not sure. Mephiles apparently didn't trust me with that information.," she sighed angrily.

When would this stubborn idiot realize, that she would NEVER hurt Silver or risk his health and/or safety!?

Shadow scowled. Seemed, as if he needed to talk with the male. He was apparently an expert for immortality. And if he wasn't completely stupid, then he had already figured, that Kylie wasn't asking out of mere interest.

Just great. If he didn't keep Sonic and Mephiles separated, then he would 'accidentally' hint something towards him.

"Alright, I'll tell him, as soon as he feels better.," the agent relented and turned to leave. "Did I tell you anything about being done with you?," Kylie asked and Shadow looked at her, surprised.

"Sit.," she ordered and grudgingly, the seme scowled at her. He had had enough episodes with Rouge to know, how vengeful women could be, if you ignored them.

Besides, with Mephiles at her beck and call and Sonic still in the building, he could get into serious trouble.

"Are you done with finding ways to weasel yourself out of this situation?," Kylie asked annoyed. She was apparently not done with being angry at him for keeping Sonic's immortality a secret.

"I'm not weaseling.," the male growled and plopped onto his chair again. "Whatever you say. Now, I already told you, that I wanted to talk with you about some things the mate of an Alpha should know."

Shadow blinked. "That wasn't a lie?," he asked astounded. Kylie rolled her eyes. "Alphas can see through lies, something, that you should probably keep in mind. Besides, I don't lie to my friends, unless absolutely necessary.," Kylie huffed, clearly offended.

"Alright. Anything else?," the male asked impatiently. "A couple of things. For starters, ukes are considered to be the submissive ones – with Alphas, it's mostly the other way round. Don't get me wrong there, Sonic still fulfills all criteria, that make him the submissive half of a couple – he's a bit smaller and lighter than you, can get more easily sick, conceives children and his behavior is considered rather submissive...if you're just among yourself. One more person in the room, and his inner Alpha will show itself."

Shadow scoffed. "I know that already. Anymore news?," he grumbled sarcastically. He had figured that much this first winter after the Island-incident, when Sonic had wanted to cuddle at night and pretended to not like physical contact in the mornings, conveniently every time, when a certain fox had been about to enter the room. It hadn't been THAT hard to figure out, although he might have needed Kylie's explanation to REALLY figure that out. Something, that he wouldn't tell the woman, if he could help it.

Kylie facepalmed. "No, you don't.," she sighed. "I know, what you are thinking about, I already talked about this phenomenon with Sonic, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Sonic is a born Alpha, so he'll feel the need to interfere in everything, even things you wouldn't expect. For example, he could go to Topaz and order her to release you of your duties for GUN."

Shadow shook his head. "Yeah, right. He knows, how much this job means to me. He would never take this away from me."

"What if you get severely hurt? Or go missing for a while? You shouldn't underestimate, how much Sonic knows about what happens on your missions."

"He knows, when I get injured?," Shadow asked to clarify. "Yeah. At least by instinct. Now, that Instinct and Conscious Sonic are starting to work together, you should be careful not to lie too much to him. Instinct Sonic will notice and inform Conscious Sonic about it – and you shouldn't be surprised, if you get a cold shoulder, when you get home."

Shadow narrowed his eyes at her. "You told him to listen to his instincts, didn't you!?," he accused.

"Of course I did. He was completely confused by his actions lately, how could I not tell him? However, Instinct Sonic does very little, that Conscious Sonic doesn't want. It won't be, as if you'll have two mates in one body. As I already explained to Sonic, it will cancel itself out soon, just give him a bit time. Anyway, Alpha ukes and females tend to smother their semes a bit, when they are in the presence of another person or more. I only told you that, so you won't take it personal, when Sonic suddenly speaks for you, or decides something for you, maybe even differently to your own decisions or opinions. The most important thing you need to remember is, that you can't resist his actions in front of others. Talk with him, when you two are alone. Undermining his authority in public isn't wise..."

"I get it. And it's not SO unusual. Rouge is pretty much like that all the time.," Shadow grumbled. The bat was a queen and she played with her – male – pawns as easily as a child with her dolls. And beware, if you ever resisted – she could make your life a living hell.

"Then you are in training.," Kylie chuckled. Shadow scowled, before he remembered something. "Is this Alpha-thing the reason, why he followed me around for a while, especially to GUN-missions?," he asked thoughtfully.

Kylie chuckled. "That does rather sound like a bout of curiosity, caused by a certain tight-lipped seme. Alphas always get their information, and if they have to collect them themselves. It stopped, when you told him more about what you did all day, right?"

"...Anything else?," the male asked, to change the topic. He refused to admit, that she was right.

"Yes, when you two have sex-" "No." "No?" "No, I won't talk with YOU of all people about our sex life."

"Well, would you prefer to read the about five hundred books I had to consult to come to the knowledge I possess now?," Kylie asked with crossed arms and Shadow grimaced, not keen on that, either. He really didn't have the time for that.

"It's not, as if I can't wait to talk with you about sex. Chaos alone knows, that I don't ever want to talk about this topic with my own son, but in your case, it's necessary, since no one else can tell you this – unless you find another Alpha seme, which is...rather unlikely."

Not to mention, that only a few semes felt the need to share their knowledge at all with non-relatives – which was the reason, why only three hedgehog semes in total worked as teachers/trainers here (and that only, because they either needed the money, or had been forced, which was the case for Mephiles).

"Let's just get this over with. I try to make it as neutral and graphic-less as possible, okay?," Kylie tried to bargain.

The hedgehog sighed. "Fine. What is so important for me to know?" "As I said, Alphas are very dominant in public and all the more they are submissive in front of their mates alone. It is your call to initiate...anything sexual, at least for the first few times. He might become confident with ensuing something later on, but that remains to be seen...by you, of course. It will mostly be your duty to start anything. As your mate, Sonic won't resist, unless you hurt him, but your instincts should prevent you from doing that. At times, however, you will feel the need to go over Sonic's 'No'..."

"I would rape him!?" "No, although it sounds like it at first glance. The semes of Alphas feel, when their mates are overly stressed and know, how to distract them from it, if only temporary – at times, well, with initiating sex without listening to the partner's complaints. I just want you to know that, so you won't fight yourself and your instincts, should you be in this situation. That could lead to rape."

Shadow nodded shortly, the information quickly engraved into his brain to never forget it. "Another thing you should know, is, that around mating season, several semes will flirt with Sonic to try and become his mate. As I already explained, that doesn't mean much, since Sonic won't change his mind easily, you might feel the need to...er...stake your claim, though."

"Like with the seme back on the Island.," Shadow growled. "More or less, yes. Back then, your instincts almost successfully urged you to try and impregnate Sonic, before this other male could succeed. Around mating season, however, this is, ironically enough, not about reproduction, at least not in the first place. It's about territory."

"I see Sonic...as my territory?" "Yep. At least during mating season. Semes like it to show off and during this time of the year more than normal. It shows the dominance they have over other semes, who don't have a mate. Of course, they don't want to lose this dominance – and getting their mate pregnant is the ultimate way of securing the territory. Since Sonic doesn't plan on becoming pregnant anytime soon and will take contraceptives and you as mobians can somehow feel and smell, when the impregnation had been successful, you might feel the need to er...mate the contraceptives away. That's nothing new for semes and you will learn more about it in the sexual education class I let you put in, but I want you to know, that you will feel the urge the strongest, because Sonic is the most favorite flirt-target."

"You put me in what!?," Shadow raged. "Really? That's the only thing, that you are interested in? Fine, yes, I assigned places for you and Sonic in sexual education classes. Sonic has apparently no idea about how children are made and with your background story, I'm not sure, if you know it in detail, either. You'll go to separate classes and it's just one appointment, so you'll live."

Seeing, that Shadow wasn't as easily convinced, as Sonic, she added, "You want to be a good mate, don't you?"

Of course, Shadow nodded, his eyes wide at her bold question. "Then you should know, when and how to battle your instincts, so that you don't accidentally hurt Sonic one day." She hated it to talk like this, but she knew, that semes were thickheaded at best and that she wouldn't be able to reach him otherwise. Most semes needed threats (or promised rewards, like she did earlier with Fleetway) to comply.

Shadow's quills fawned out a little at the thought of him hurting Sonic, but he finally sighed in defeat. "Fine. What else?"

"Uh..." Kylie frowned, a little surprised, that there hadn't been more resistance. "Nothing, that I can think of now. You'll learn everything you need in the class and if there are still questions, you can always call me. At decent times – or I'll have a talk with Sonic about the right behavior of Alphas' mates, got it?," she added.

"Fine.," the seme growled again, knowing, that she meant it. "Good. How about we go together to the foyer? Sonic's for sure waiting there for-"

Before she had time to end, a familiar light lit up her office and Mephiles appeared on her desk.

"We have a situation.," he told her shortly and all three of them disappeared, before Kylie could even open her mouth to ask.


Several minutes before

Sonic had no problem with finding his way back to the foyer. He felt a bit irritated at himself for leaving like that, just because Kylie had mentioned sex, but going back would have just been weird. He just had to wait for Shadow to return and ask him about what he and Kylie talked about...after explaining to him, why he left the room so abruptly. Hopefully, he would have enough time to think about an answer – because right now, he didn't know, why he reacted so badly to the thought of him and Shadow getting intimate. It wasn't, as if he had tried anything!

He reached the foyer and shook himself out of his thoughts for now, focusing on the persons in the room in front of him.

Mali was behind her desk and John was next to it, trying to pick up mountains of paper, that apparently Fleetway had blown there. While he was working, Mali made a show of how 'busy' she was with checking her appearance in a hand mirror.

"I already told you, I'm sorry. That was stupid of me.," John grumbled, just as Sonic had silently entered.

"Finally you admit it.," Mali chuckled, snapping her mirror shut, bending to the side and taking the staple from John's hands.

"Seriously – NOW you're helping me?," he complained. "You need help with bringing them in the right order, don't you?," Mali replied, already going through the papers.

"I suppose.," John mumbled, for some reason blushing a little, which the woman didn't notice.

Sonic was just about to make his presence known, so he wouldn't listen in to their talk anymore, when a loud shout let him and the two humans flinch.

"HUMAN!"

"What in the-!?" John jumped up, but flinched back, when he recognized Happy's two seme-boyfriends, who looked beyond furious.

"You! What have you done to Happy!?," the green seme growled, while the other cracked his knuckles threateningly.

John gulped. "Look, I didn't think about it, I just lost him, while I fled from Fleetway, honest. I swear, I didn't mean for him to get shaken off!," John defended himself. "But, that's what happened!," the brown furred seme snarled, while they closed in on him.

"Would you two knock it off already!?," Happy all but shouted and Sonic whipped around to see the red uke and his purple furred boyfriend coming through the wall.

Or, well, through something sticking to the wall. It looked at first like ice, but Sonic discarded that thought quickly. Ice wasn't dark purple, as far as he knew.

Happy was leaning on his boyfriend, he seemed a little unsteady on his feet. A bruise was on the side of his head, but otherwise, he seemed alright.

The two semes were focusing on the two ukes the second they had entered, apparently forgetting about John completely.

"Guys, I'm fine, I told you that already. It was an accident, I bumped my head, end of story. Leave John alone, it's no one's fault..." Happy had to interrupt his speech with a small hiss, grasping his head, when a nasty pulsing appeared there.

Although the sound was soft, its effect was instant. Immediately, the two semes whipped back to John, as if that was his fault, too.

And this time, they actually charged at the male, apparently intent on hurting him worse than their mate was.

Sonic wanted to interfere, but for some reason, Instinct Sonic saw no need for that and made sure, that he didn't move.

And really, just when they were centimeters away from attacking the frozen in place John, something light yellow appeared between mobians and human and pushed the semes away from John, actually making them slam into the wall, left and right from the entrance.

The light faded quickly and revealed Fleetway standing there with his arms crossed protectively over his chest, deep, quickly healing scratches on his arms, where the semes had hit him instead of John with their claws.

The swirls in his eyes shone brightly and his muzzle was twisted into a snarl. He was growling silently, but it became quiet quickly. The two semes were apparently unconscious, so the light seme had no reason for aggression anymore, it seemed. Slowly, he let his, completely healed, arms fall to his side.

Happy wanted to run to his mates, for sure wanting to treat their injuries, but the second he let go of his boyfriend, he already clutched his head, that hurt now especially badly.

"Easy, they don't look gravely injured.," his remaining boyfriend soothed, helping him to walk over slowly.

"You? But...why?," John asked silently, looking at the seme in shock. Why would he help him of all people?

Before the male could answer – if he would, that was – Mephiles appeared in front of the light seme. "Where is Silver!?," he snarled. Fleetway cocked his head in a confused manner. "He just told me, that you kidnapped him! Where. Is. He!?," Mephiles growled deeply.

The light seme seemed to understand finally. He smirked, showing off his fangs, before it became bright behind the dark furred male and he whipped around to see a huge golden sphere filling out the foyer, hovering just above the backs of the chairs. Sonic's heart beat a little faster, when he saw, that in the sphere were people trapped.

And not any people: Kylie's children, Silver, Cream and Emma were in there. Silver had his hands outstretched and was creating a smaller sphere out of turquoise energy inside the golden one all around them, while the children clung fearfully to Alex, who was looking around. It didn't seem, as if any of them could see something outside the sphere.

While they watched, Alex asked Silver something, at least it looked like it, since no sound came out of the sphere.

Silver just shook his head, while Emma freed herself from the scared bundle around Alex and stepped next to Silver, who spoke frantically with her.

The girl, however, ignored him, looked straight ahead and somehow, Sonic had the feeling, that she was looking in his eyes, despite not seeing him.

They held this weird eye contact for a second, before the girl stretched out her arm, pointing to something on Sonic's right.

He turned to the direction and saw Mephiles watching the sphere, trembling, his fists balled so tightly, that black blood was dripping from his palms. The white of his eyes, that Sonic could just make out before he turned slowly back to Fleetway, started to turn dark red. He was about to lose it and probably kill everyone present, while Fleetway still showed this creepy smile, completely unconcerned, which wasn't helping the situation at all.

This sight let Instinct Sonic react and he was in the next second already between the two semes.

"Fleetway, let Silver and the others out!," Sonic ordered, but the light furred male looked at him, as if he was talking in a foreign language.

"Alright, plan B.," Sonic thought and turned around to Mephiles, while his back quills rose a little, not comfortable with turning his back on an unpredictable seme like Fleetway.

Then again, the sight he was facing now didn't look much better. Mephiles was almost completely transformed into what Sonic knew was his far more dangerous form. His quills gave off small crackling noises, revealing their crystalline texture.

"Mephiles, cool it!," he tried to order again, relieved, when at least one of the males listened and the dark being transformed back, albeit reluctantly.

"He has Silver.," Mephiles growled as if to justify his actions, while the last of red bled from his eyes. "I know, but he's obviously not...aware of what he's doing, or what we are saying. I highly doubt, that violence is the answer here.," Sonic explained.

"So, what are you going to suggest!? If sounds can't come through, then oxygen might not be able to, either!," the male exclaimed, pointing to the sphere, that he would have already destroyed, if harming Silver in the process wouldn't still be a possible outcome.

Sonic frowned in worry, he was right. Then, he had a sudden idea, from that he had no clue, why it seemed to be a good one. "Get Kylie!," he more shouted, than ordered.

Mephiles raised a brow. "Why?," he asked. "Don't ask, do it!," Sonic pretty much snapped and with a shrug, the male disappeared, to hopefully get her.

Sonic turned around again, but Fleetway hadn't moved from the spot, merely put his head to the side again, like a very disturbing, confused puppy. He seemed to try and process, why Mephiles was suddenly gone.

John behind him wasn't daring to move a muscle and Mali followed the same strategy, her eyes darting between the two mobians in obvious fright.

In that second, Mephiles returned, having Kylie and Shadow at his side. Kylie discovered the sphere and its contents immediately and her jaw dropped. "What the-!?"

Fleetway disappeared from between Sonic and John and appeared again in front of the woman, grinning brightly.

"D-did you do that!?," Kylie stammered and the male nodded, for some reason very proud of himself. His tail even wagged, like that of a dog, that had just successfully brought the newspaper to its owner.

Kylie looked ready to scream at him for kidnapping her children, possibly to beat him up as well, but then she stopped and frowned in thought.

To Sonic's surprise, he watched the corners of her mouth move slowly up, although it was visibly forced and he could hear her grit her teeth to swallow all profanities she probably had on her tongue right now.

Finally, she had managed a very creepy looking, forced smile. "Ah, yes, thank you, Fleetway.," she pressed out, although it was pretty clear to everyone, that she wanted to say the opposite. "I've been...er...looking for them already."

She turned to Mephiles. "Won't you...thank him, too? He...er...found...Silver!," she argued, something urgent in her voice.

"Oh, I gladly introduce him to his insides as a thanks.," the male growled lowly. "Mephiles, now!," Kylie hissed under her breath.

The male sneered, but finally complied. "Thank you, Fleetway.," he growled in a tone, that rather suggested, that he meant, I'm going to kill you. Slowly. And painfully.

Fleetway looked happy at his words still, his tail wagging like crazy and small, pleased purrs escaping his throat.

And then, to everyone's immense relief, the sphere dissolved, setting its passengers gently to the ground, thanks to Silver's own sphere, that disappeared, as soon, as it touched the floor.

Silver all but collapsed, directly into Mephiles' arms. "Mephy.," Silver smiled tiredly, not having to open his eyes to recognize his mate.

"Are you alright?," Mephiles asked, picking him up, since he didn't seem able to hold himself up.

"Yeah, we all are. I protected everyone.," the young uke stated weakly. "I know, and I'm so proud of you.," Mephiles nodded and kissed his temple.

"Mommy!," Hope and Vanessa cried and ran to her, in her arms, clinging tightly to her and even tighter, when they spotted Fleetway, who watched the interaction curiously.

"Don't worry, it's okay.," Kylie soothed, stroking their heads, turning them away from the sight. "The scary hedgehog kidnapped us and locked us up in this creepy ball!," Hope cried.

"I know, I'm sure, you were scared. But you were so brave, all of you. I'm proud of you.," Kylie smiled and hugged them.

"Can we please not be brave anymore?," Vanessa asked, her bottom lip quivering. "Of course.," Kylie smiled and just held her children, as they started to wail into her chest.

While trying to soothe them, she glared at Fleetway over their heads and he seemed to get the message, since he disappeared and didn't come back.

"We didn't even get our ice cream.," Hope sniffed after a few minutes, her priorities clear here...which was probably for the best. The less she focused on the traumatic experience, the better.

"You can still have it, if you like. But this time, we'll make Fleetway pay for it.," Kylie grinned.

"He'll come with us?," Vanessa asked, worried, letting herself out of her arms to look up at her mother.

"Oh no, then it wouldn't be a punishment, would it? No, instead you'll go, have the biggest sundaes and sum up the prizes for Fleetway, so he can give the money back to Alex.," Kylie chuckled with a big grin, that infected her daughters and had them giggling.

Sonic sweatdropped. He felt kind of bad for their future children and partners. They would pay dearly for every disobedience and upset they would cause, it seemed, when their future mothers and wives already learned how to punish now.

"Can we make up prices?," Hope asked mischievously. "Sure. Just don't overdo it. Make that bill convincing and I'll make sure, that he pays, okay?," Kylie smiled and her daughters nodded happily.

They let go of their mother and turned to the others. "Wanna go?," they asked at the same time.

From the corner of his eye, Sonic saw Mist appearing in a corner, gratefully bowing his head towards Kylie, who returned the gesture subtly, for sure thanking her for freeing and calming Hope. Just a second later, he already disappeared again, before his daughter was aware of his presence.

"Of course.," Cream smiled at the sisters' question, Cheese in her arms squeaking in agreement. It was speaking volumes of her previous adventures, that she didn't even hesitate to answer, or was more shaken up. Emma smiled as well, nodding.

Alex wasn't asked, since this was his idea to begin with, so all eyes went to Silver, who hadn't let go of his seme, yet.

Noticing, that no one was talking anymore, Silver looked over to the excited kids. "Only, if Mephy can come, too.," he bargained.

Vanessa frowned and looked at the seme. "Does he even eat ice cream?," she asked, cocking her head to the side and narrowing her eyes a bit.

"Vanessa, we don't talk about people in the third person, when they are in the room and able to listen!," Kylie lectured and Hope looked up at her and nodded, taking in the information.

Vanessa just sighed, almost exasperated, before she straightened. "Sorry, Mephy.," she apologized.

"I'd prefer Mephiles.," the seme grumbled, getting a rare glare from Silver. "What I wanted to say is, I forgive you. It was nothing anyway. And yes, I eat ice cream.," he corrected, being rewarded with a nuzzle.

"Alright, let's go!" And the children ran out, in their excitement for sweets completely oblivious to the two still knocked out semes next to the door.

Happy had by now managed to reach the green furred one, but there was apparently nothing to be concerned about, he just had his head in his lap, stroking his quills, with his other two boyfriends mirroring the position on the other side of the door.

Mephiles started moving as well, carrying Silver bridal style with no complaints of the silver furred uke at all. He seemed happy to be off his feet.

Where the dark seme had stood, was suddenly something sprouting, looking like a dark purple blossom, that grew more and more by the second.

Shadow backed off, just in case, while Kylie and Alex watched the thing grow with little interest. A quick glance behind him told Sonic, that Mali and John hadn't seen something like that, unlike the two Ellens.

The thing stopped growing, finally, its thin tip on Kylie's eye level. It glowed a little in purple, before falling apart, into small particles, drifting away like dust. Behind the dust cloud appeared a familiar shape and when the cloud was gone, there stood Mephiles, looking a little too casual for someone, who had just grown out of nothing.

"What in Chaos' name!?," Shadow exclaimed, looking to the door, through that Mephiles had just left.

"Where's Silver?," he asked. "With my original, where he belongs.," the Mephiles-copy replied.

"You are...a clone?" "If you wish to call me like that.," the creature shrugged nonchalantly. "You're just like Mephiles, like an absolutely identical twin. Not even your Chaos Energy is different, which is naturally impossible..."

Shadow frowned. "...Did Mephiles send you in fights with me!?," he asked distrustfully. "I exist since ten seconds, so no. However, creating the likes of me doesn't take much time, so..." The doppelganger let the sentence hang with a smirk.

Kylie cleared her throat. "I'm pretty sure, that Mephiles didn't create you to taunt Shadow.," she remarked dryly.

"Indeed. My original wishes to know, what was wrong with Fleetway and if he may rip his insides apart and decorate the front of the Uke Shelter with them. Also, I shall bring your son to my original after the talk, his sisters are already asking for him and you should know, that his patience is wearing thin."

"Since Mephiles is most likely connected with you, you will help me to relay the following message: No, you can't tear Fleetway apart, one drop of blood on the building and you will scrub the whole house with your own hands – and touch one of my children and you will regret the day you put yourself into my service, did I make myself clear?," she growled darkly. "Perfectly.," the male nodded.

"Good. Then allow me to explain Fleetway's behavior – and believe me, had I known this, I wouldn't have done what I did. Fleetway kidnapped my children and your mate, because he wanted to help us."

"Help us? With what!? Getting a heart attack!?," the dark doppelganger growled. He seemed to be some kind of living mobile, repeating Mephiles' words, that he sent most likely with telepathy, or something along those lines. Otherwise, he would get weird looks from the ones around him...

"Nothing like that. He most likely saw my children and Silver crossing his way and thought, that we had lost them. He wanted to do us a favor and return them to us."

"Why? It's not like we were searching for them.," Mephiles' doppelganger argued for his original.

"Fleetway acted merely on instincts, his logic wasn't exactly switched on. He simply thought, that children belong to their mothers and ukes to their mates. Seeing them away from us meant, that we got separated – at least for him."

"And why did he feel the need to 'help' us?" "Remember the incident in Saha?," Kylie asked back.

The doppelganger looked at her. "You're kidding, right?," he asked, when he – or better, his original – realized, what she meant.

"Nope. He's grateful towards you, John and me and tries everything to express this gratitude. Every seme has a different way of expressing gratitude – and I had no idea, that this was his way."

"...Will he try to kidnap Silver again?," Mephiles asked after a short pause. "I'll try to get through his head, that he has no right to touch my kids or your mate, when I see him tomorrow, but I can't make any guarantees. Lightning semes are sadly slow on the intake.," Kylie sighed.

"I'm sure I can speed things up.," Mephiles let his copy growl. "Mephiles, he can't be made responsible for his instinctual actions.," Kylie lectured.

Seeing, that this wasn't exactly a satisfying answer, she added, "Let me try first. If I fail, you may try – but promise me to keep him alive. He's only meaning well...in his own, heart attack-causing way.," Kylie compromised.

"Fine, I'll give you a chance. Now, my time is running out. We need to leave.," he told the silently listening Alex.

"In a sec.," he replied and moved forwards, towards his mother, engulfing her quickly in a hug. Kylie gasped silently in surprise, having apparently not expected the gesture from her almost adult son, but returning it after the initial moment of shock.

"For a second there, I thought, that not even a hero could save us.," Sonic heard him whisper in his mother's ear. "I'm kind of glad, that you were there to help us.," he added.

"Always and forever.," Kylie replied, tightening her hug, before they separated and the Mephiles-copy and the boy disappeared without another word.

Kylie took a sigh of relief, before going over to Happy, while Shadow went over to Sonic to make sure, that he was unharmed.

The Alpha, as if to prove Kylie's explanation from earlier to be right, moved away from his boyfriend, before he could reach him and walked over to John and Mali, who still seemed quite shaken.

"You alright?," he asked John, who flinched, as if Sonic had sneaked up on him and screamed. "Y-yeah...," he stammered, nodding a bit.

"Mali?," the Alpha questioned, but the woman looked at nothing in particular with a blank stare, almost without blinking. She was ghostly pale and looked strangely unattached from her surroundings.

"M-Mali? You... okay?," John tried, after noticing the silence, but received the same response – none.

"Oh no!," Sonic heard someone gasp behind him and he turned around to see Zen rush towards them, throwing the book he had held over his shoulder on the way and the blue hero wasn't so sure, if he meant for Shadow to catch it, or just didn't think about it at all, but the seme did catch it either way.

Reaching the woman, Zen looked around, for sure trying to find out, what the reason for her behavior was.

His eyes landed on John. "John, would you please get out of here?," he asked. "Huh?," the young man questioned. "Mali can't stand the sight of blood.," Zen explained.

John's eyes widened and he looked down on himself. His front was splattered with tiny droplets of Fleetway's blood from when he protected him. The floor was also splattered with those small droplets, although they were far easier to ignore or miss.

"Why didn't you tell me that earlier!?," John exclaimed and ran from the room to where the restrooms were, while Sonic came closer, shielding the remaining blood from view with his body. As long as Mali faced the floor, he rather not had her see it.

Zen noticed it and smiled gratefully, before turning to Mali and gently touching her hand, that jerked a bit upon contact.

"It's alright, Mali, nobody's going to hurt you.," he soothed. "Close your eyes.," he coaxed and eventually, the woman complied.

Gradually, she became calmer, a small smile growing on her face, while her eyes were still closed.

Finally, she sighed and opened her eyes, looking at Zen. "Thanks, Zen, you always know, how to make me feel better.," she smiled at him. "That's, what friends are for.," the yellow male replied, while discreetly taking over Sonic's place, so he didn't need to stand still all the time to hide the blood.

Mali raised a brow and was for sure about to question this behavior, when Happy called for her attention.

"Er, yes?," she asked, quickly turning around to the red furred hedgehog, who looked suddenly pretty mad.

"Do you have a pen and two post-it notes for me?," Happy asked with a slight growl in his voice.

"Sure. But why?," Mali asked, while giving the requested items out and watching Happy starting to scribble on the first one.

"Oh, just to inform our idiot-boyfriends, that they have the hog-house booked for-" He paused and looked at his lavender furred boyfriend. "Two weeks. One for each of them.," he declared with his own growl in his voice.

Happy smirked. "Did I ever tell you, how much I love you?," he asked and went back to writing.

"In the last 24 hours? No.," the other male replied with a chuckle. "Remind me to make it up to you. After all, we have a lot of time now to ourselves. As to answer your question, Mali, our oh so lovely boyfriends have apparently harassed John for a while now, so that he wouldn't be so in need of me anymore. I'm just glad, that they never became physically violent, until today. Now I'm actually glad, this lunatic knocked them out. I don't think, that I would be able to take their puny excuses, that was an attempt to undermine my authority as a Healer..."

Happy paused again, turning to his remaining mate. "Three weeks hog-house?," he asked, having obviously realized, that the punishment he had suggested earlier wasn't enough.

"Fine with me.," the other shrugged and Happy nodded, changed the twos to threes and then they both went to place the notes on their boyfriends' laps, where they would find the notes quickly. "There. That should teach them.," Happy stated proudly.

"What is this 'hog-house'?," Sonic asked no one in particular, since everyone besides him and Shadow seemed to know.

"An apartment-complex for misbehaving semes, here, on these grounds. In each little flat are just couches, to get the point across. Semes have to stay there for the amount of days they are given and aren't allowed to get closer to their mates or boyfriends, unless they do.," Zen explained.

Seeing Sonic raise a brow at the last part, he added, "Most ukes can't stand it to be apart from their mates for as long as they said before."

"And next time, you might give me a hint a little earlier.," Happy told Kylie with an accusing tone in his voice.

"Would you have believed me?," she asked with a shrug. Happy sighed. "Good point." He winced and held his head again, apparently the bruise was bothering him once more.

He looked up at Kylie. "Just for the record: drilling holes in my skull to relieve the pressure is...?" "...about as stupid as it can be. That practice was outdated centuries ago.," Kylie finished the sentence.

"I see. Good to know.," Happy nodded. "And hopefully you keep it in mind. He always wants to treat our headaches like that.," the purple furred uke shook his head, walked over to Happy and kissed his cheek. "I'll get you some aspirin, alright?," he offered sweetly.

Happy smiled. "My instincts scream no, but my headache says 'Thank you, Shine'.," he grinned and nuzzled him. The purple male, apparently Shine, chuckled again and went off with a wave.

"Happy, would you feel up to a small medical discussion?," Kylie asked carefully, wanting him to know, that he had a choice.

The male shrugged. "I can try. What is it? You rarely ask me for advice." His curiosity was obviously stronger, than the pain.

"It's about Sonic." Sonic actually flinched a bit hearing that, before he remembered, that Kylie had wanted to ask Happy about the drug remains in his spine.

"I'm all ears.," Happy replied. "You see, Sonic has a substance in his spine, that doesn't belong there. Modern medicine can't help with removing it.," Kylie explained.

"Well, I can take a look...just stay close in case my instincts urge me to do something strange.," Happy mused, before turning to Kylie.

He went to the seats and sat on one, Kylie staying behind him. "Sonic, mind coming here? I try to see, what I can do.," he explained.

"Er...right here?," Sonic wondered. "...Healers don't exactly think, that privacy for an examination is something needed. In fact, I read stories about healers helping ukes and females to give birth in the middle of the colony's village.," Kylie explained to underline, that there was nothing she could do. Happy was in healer-mode, he wouldn't understand, that Sonic would want privacy. She was just glad, that he didn't need to examine something embarrassing.

Since Mali was getting the problem and pretending to be busy and Zen interested himself in a random plant, Sonic felt reassured and went over. "Just take a seat next to me and show me your back – let's pretend, that this isn't totally impolite.," he grinned and Sonic found himself chuckling. Something about Happy was really calming.

He sat down in the desired position, his quills bristling nervously, still. Shadow had joined him and was sitting in front of him, offering his hand, that Sonic grabbed without realizing it, squeezing it hard.

"Okay, I know, that you are nervous, all hedgehogs would be in this position. Just try to be calm, I'm only here to help you.," Happy spoke with a soft voice behind him and Sonic asked himself, if this was a healer's thing, because he felt strangely reassured and relaxed.

"Now, try to keep your quills down, I'm just putting my hand on your back and not moving it, at least for a while.," Happy continued and true to his word, Sonic felt his hand, gently placed between his quills, against his back.

It was a very vulnerable position for him, but Shadow's presence and Happy's calm nature were keeping him in a relaxed enough state.

"Hm...," Happy mumbled thoughtfully and Sonic felt him adjust his hand a little. "Well, the good news is, I can locate the substance you mean. The better news is, I know how to get rid of it, without harming you. The bad news is, I can't remove it right now."

He took his hand away, allowing Sonic to turn around to face him, while Shadow questioned, "Why?"

Sonic rolled his eyes, while facing Happy, apologizing for his mate's behavior with a small grin.

Happy just smiled, before turning to Shadow. "I can remove the substance by entering your mate's spine with very thin needles out of Chaos Energy-"

"WHAT!?" Shadow jumped up. "You want to do WHAT with my mate!?," he exclaimed. As a fighter using Chaos Energy, he knew, how dangerous this energy could be.

Happy looked at him, not amused. "I already did. I removed a little bit of the substance during my examination to see, how well that works. And does he look paralyzed to you?," he asked coolly.

Sonic could tell, that he had not felt anything and no, he wasn't paralyzed. Happy had done a great job.

"What is the reason we have to wait?," he asked, pretending, as if Shadow hadn't said anything.

"For such a procedure I need concentration and a lot of energy, that I both don't have right now.," Happy replied, ignoring Shadow, too. "My head is starting to hurt again, which means I can't concentrate properly and I have treated a lot of people today, so my energy resources are pretty depleted.," he added, keeping the fact, that Sonic had been one of those he had treated, a secret.

"So, when can you do this thing?," Sonic asked. "Sonic, you really want-!?," Shadow started, but getting shut up by a triple glare – who would have thought, that two ukes and one woman could look this scary?

"Well, I would need a week of vacation, meaning time, where I don't have to use my powers at all, I'd say.," Happy replied, as if he hadn't been interrupted, having quickly calculated.

A big smile appeared on his face. "Well, I'm two boyfriends short – what better opportunity for some quality time, just Shine and me? ...oh, and John.," he quickly added, although the man wasn't even present to feel offended for being almost forgotten.

"You'd take John with you?," Sonic questioned. "I have to. My instincts urge me to keep John close to me. A hundred meter, or less. They tolerated less once, so that's an improvement. Ow!," Happy exclaimed and held his head, apparently feeling a new headache pulsing.

Sonic frowned. "It's maybe a stupid question – but can't you heal yourself?," he asked carefully.

Happy chuckled tiredly. "Sadly, no. Healers can't heal themselves, unless they are gravely injured. A little headache is easily cured without my powers, so my instincts don't allow me to waste my energy for myself."

"They see this as a waste?" "Yep. Seeing, that healers only got injured during attacks on the colony, they needed their energy to heal others."

"They never had to deal with unruly patients, that hurt them, if only accidentally?" "Not, if they were mobians. Their instincts told them to trust the healers and to not harm us. If they were in a great amount of pain and could lash out, or if the healers dealt with humans, they got bodyguards, that would wrestle the patients down, if necessary. The healers were the most important people in the colony, even more important than the Alphas, or well, at least as important. They needed to be unharmed to keep the colony alive."

"Sounds tough.," Sonic mumbled. "Not really. Healers had everything they needed to stay healthy, they just needed a bit help with staying unharmed.," Happy shrugged.

Sonic blinked. This was the exact opposite to him! He could take care of himself – but a bit of help was necessary, if he wanted to stay healthy.

"Besides, healers aren't so necessary anymore, so I don't feel the pressure that often. Just when I have to heal a bigger injury, but that's rare.," Happy continued with Sonic nodding thoughtfully.

Kylie smirked to herself. It hadn't been planned, but Happy had already started to do a little reassuring-therapy with Sonic. It was usual, that healers took care of Alphas, who doubted themselves and tried to build up their confidence, if they didn't seem able to do so on their own. He had actually done the same for her.

She just hadn't wanted to tell Sonic earlier, that he could ask a healer like Happy, so he wouldn't assume, that he absolutely needed his advice to go on. He would probably feel the need to talk certain things through with him from time to time – and Happy would eagerly comply –, but that wasn't so bad, and still better, than being consciously depending on him.

"Alright, I'll go then. Shine will have to wrestle me down to have me take the aspirin, that my instincts see as 'unnatural and therefore dangerous'...and I honestly don't want to have an audience for that. It was nice to meet you and your mate. I'm sure, Kylie will see to it, that we stay in contact, so I can treat you soon. Goodbye." With a polite bow, Happy turned and left the foyer.

"Sonic?," Mali called gently, once the red furred hedgehog was gone from sight. The hero turned to her to see her holding a rather large paper bag. "Your prescription.," she explained.

Sonic raised a brow and turned to Kylie. "How much medicine did you prescribe me? I thought, that it wasn't that much!," he argued.

"Technically, it isn't." Kylie moved over to Mali and took the bag. She walked to Sonic and gave the rather heavy object to him. "Look for yourself.," she offered and he didn't need to be told twice.

Opening the bag, he fished the first item he could grab out, which was a small bottle with a light green fluid in it.

"That's for your mentioned baths. Just add the prescribed amount in the bath water and it will take care of the drugs in your organs. One bath should last at least fifteen minutes, but not longer than thirty.," Kylie explained, showing him on the label, where the mentioned amount was scribbled on. "Nicole calculated the amount needed, so that should be fine."

"Should!?," Shadow growled. "Shadow, relax. I don't want Sonic dead or in pain, just as much as you – and no, I'm not interested in him this way. And also no, not because I think in any way, that he doesn't look great.," she explained quickly. Sonic looked at her with a raised brow.

"Semes need to hear that, or they assume things.," Kylie explained with a shake of her head and Sonic just nodded, not questioning her, and took out the next items, two small orange plastic bottles, one with strangely formed and colored objects in it, while the other's contents were small and round.

"This is the medicine we talked about, the one, that will help your nightmares.," Kylie explained, silencing her voice a bit, while pointing to the one with the strangely formed pills.

"Ah..." Sonic uncapped the bottle and looked at its contents. The 'pills' were rather oval and looked – and smelled – like rolled up leaves. "It's a herb, in its purest form. We roll them like this with a bit of honey – so don't forget to brush your teeth after taking them. Nicole calculated the amount, but if it doesn't work, tell me and we'll heighten the dose together. Okay?"

"Sure.," Sonic nodded. "And the others?" "Herbal painkillers, mostly against your headaches. I figured, that you could take them easier, than something chemical right now. As a bonus, they can help your fever, and also your nausea, unless it's very strong. There are no known side effects, so don't worry about that."

"I see, thanks.," Sonic smiled at her thoughtfulness, opened the cap and, to Shadow's horror, took two, just like prescribed on the label. As they were so tiny, he could swallow them easily enough without water.

"S-," Shadow started, but earned another glare. "One more time doubting Kylie and her methods, and I'll try this hog-house out.," (Instinct) Sonic threatened darkly, before he rummaged again through the bag.

Shadow swallowed thickly and looked at Kylie, whose look said everything – as I said, don't question an Alpha in public. He hated it, when she was right.

He watched, how Sonic pulled out a large, thick book next. "Ah, yes. That's a very detailed manual on how to use your medication and how to treat you during your recovery. There are also chapters meant for some other, basic illnesses, that even Alphas can contract.," the woman explained.

"And that's for...?" "Who do you think?," Kylie smirked and nodded over to Shadow. "Hey!," the seme complained, but didn't say more. Sonic was tired, had most likely a headache and wasn't in the mood for dealing with an unruly mate. Having realized that now, he held himself back. He really hoped, that he would learn how to understand Sonic's feelings right, and fast. Currently, he didn't feel very capable of it.

"Besides, I'm sure, that it would assure Tails a great bit to have something to consult, you know, just in case. You can keep it, we have plenty more.," Kylie continued.

"...And what's that?," Sonic asked, who pulled out the last item – a large bundle of different herbs, kept together with a few strings.

"Herbs, obviously. You will need a special diet to make up for all the meals you missed lately. It will take your stomach a few days to be ready for chili dogs again. There are also herbs, that can be brewed as teas to help stronger nausea, or vomiting. The recipes – with very clear pictures of each plant – are also in the book."

Sonic pouted at hearing the first part, but didn't say anything. He knew, that Kylie would just argue with him, until she got her will, beating him with logic.

"Oh, before I forget, here are your appointments.," Mali brought attention back to her, waving three slips of paper through the air.

Zen raised a brow, for sure wanting to ask, what she meant, so Shadow hurried to grab those papers from Mali, giving Zen his book back, while he was at it, and returning to Sonic, giving him his paper.

Sonic looked at it and was suddenly very grateful, that Zen hadn't seen the paper. He didn't think, that the words 'Sexual Education' could have been printed any bigger and bolder. According to the date, if he had been able to keep track of time as much as he had hoped, that is, then he would have the appointment in a week.

If he didn't feel well enough by that time, then he would have to call the number at the bottom of the paper to reschedule the appointment. Yeah, that would be an interesting conversation.

Not wanting Tails to see the piece of paper, he slipped it into the book he had held in his arm all the time. Shadow sent his own already ahead, together with Sonic's prescription bag and the borrowed book, following for sure the same train of thought.

"Alright, let's wrap this up. I can't wait to sleep in my bed again.," Sonic decided. "Of course. You can always come by, whenever you like, or just call.," Kylie smiled. That had Sonic actually blinking.

"Er...Kylie? Where exactly are we?," he slowly asked. The woman paused, before laughing, since they could indeed not know by the way they came here, and telling them.


The woman was just done and in the process of giving them the code to reach the Garage, when a figure entering the foyer caught Sonic's eye.

It was Scythe. She acknowledged the two passed out semes with a raised brow, before going over to the receptionist. "Hey, Mali. Do you have one of the keys for those houses? You know, the ones, that are meant to be wrecked tomorrow?" "Well, yes, but those are meant for the semes!," the woman replied. "I'm sure they can part with one. Just give me the smallest." Since Mali was obviously not convinced, Scythe went on. "It's not for me, but for Pinky."

Sonic frowned. Wasn't that the nickname Scythe had given Amy? He bent forwards on his seat to look past Kylie to the glass door, through that she had come and his jaw dropped upon seeing the hedgette standing outside and talking animatedly with Mighty.

Her dress was ripped in countless places, her hammer she swung during her talk was dented badly, her quills disheveled and her fur dirtied with – hopefully just – mud and moss. A few sticks were sticking out of her quills and leaves tangled into her dress.

"Did you have an accident!?," he asked Scythe. "Huh?," the girl turned around to him. A second later, she laughed. "Nonsense! She was just blowing off some steam. Hammered rocks to dust for hours. But she needs something different now." With that Scythe turned back to Mali, looking at her expectantly.

"You are aware, that the houses are meant to be wrecked because they are on the verge of collapsing anyway, or because there are poisonous materials in the structure – you can't just take a child to there!," Mali lectured.

"I'm sure there's one you can find.," Scythe insisted. Mali fidgeted. "Well, there is an old sky scraper. Its only problem is its inefficiency concerning energy, that's why it shall be built anew."

"Are the floors still furnished?" "Partly." "Perfect. Pinky can hammer a few floors to debris, including desks, chairs and shelves and who knew what else! And the semes can clean up after us. Great! Do you have the keys?," Scythe asked. "Er, here." Mali gave her one.

"Thanks. See you around. Curi, would you stop that?" Scythe had turned around after her second sentence and spotted her wolf, sitting next to Sonic and staring at the hedgehog, who hadn't noticed the animal, until the hedgette had called him.

The hero looked down on the small wolf, noticing the yellow eyes studying him intently. Or well, so it seemed at least.

"Curi, heel.," Scythe ordered and the wolf immediately obeyed. "Sorry about that. It's maybe a scent you carry, or something.," she apologized with a nod.

"No sweat, no harm done. So, Amy seems pretty...enthusiastic.," the blue hedgehog replied.

Scythe snickered. "Nothing helps more against a broken heart, than burning your energy – and she has tons of energy. She has a lot of frustration built up due to your constant running away from her."

"She told you of that?," Sonic asked, surprised. "Not really, but you can learn a lot from the things she screams at the rocks and trees, before turning them into pebbles and toothpicks.," Scythe shrugged.

Sonic sweatdropped. "Seems, as if I shouldn't go so close to her, huh?" "Well, at least not for a few more days, I'd say. Don't worry, I'll take care of her anger and hatred. And Curi of her tears.," she added with a smile down to the wolf licking its paw.

"Thank you for being there for her.," Sonic thanked her in earnest. He understood, that he couldn't be and he was kind of glad, that the scythe fighter was, instead.

Amy had told him quite a lot of the hedgette and it had become obvious, that she was some kind of idol for the younger, even though they had only spent a few hours together. Besides, Mighty wouldn't be friends with her, if she was a bad person.

"No problem, I always wanted a sister. I mean, a sister, who can pack a punch. I love Kari and Emma to pieces, but they can be a little boring sometimes to be around...and if Shy asks, I never said that. She would skin me alive.," she shook her head with a grin. "I need to go, Pinky looks a little frustrated again. Don't worry, I'll let you know, how she's doing."

"...How?," Sonic asked. She didn't know his contact data as far as he knew – and Amy would probably deny his very existence right now...

Scythe smirked. "That's for me to know and for you to find out. Come, Curi, we leave." And she left, Curi following her, after a last look at Sonic.

"Curi's acting pretty strange, doesn't he? He's rarely this fixated on someone other than Scythe!," Mali mumbled towards Zen. Hearing no response, she turned to see, that the wolf wasn't the only one with a certain fixation on the hero. "Zen, you alright?" The uke flinched out of his thoughts. "Yes, don't worry. I was just a bit daydreaming.," he reassured. "And here I thought, that you as master of meditation never lose focus.," Mali teased. "Hey!," Zen complained, just as playfully.

Sonic looked after the scythe fighter. "Eating ice cream and breaking a few things, huh?," he repeated Kylie's words questioningly, looking up to her. "In my defense – none of my friends has a hammer.," the woman shrugged, causing all of them – besides Shadow – to laugh.


AAAND DONE! Phew, another chapter up - and I FINALLY ended the first day in my story. Man, I didn't think, that that would take SO long. The story should progress a bit faster from now on.

I sadly can't say, when the next chapter will come up. I'm still busy with university stuff, as I said, and will visit my family soon, too, which naturally cuts my writing time shorter. But you know me, I always hurry!

Have a nice weekend!