Third Person POV

Sonic stood on the roof of the Tortuga with his arms crossed. The highspeed winds ruffled his azure quills as he watched the two Kratt brothers flying in their peregrine falcon power suits. However, he wasn't smiling like usual, but he had a solemn, almost sad, look on his face. Shadow noticed this as he climbed onto the roof, and for a moment he was startled at how similar he looked to himself in that pose. Sonic had his back to him with his head titled upwards, but Shadow knew that he was only pretending to watch. Years of personal experience made it easy for him to tell the difference between paying attention and faking it.

Sonic's POV

I turned my head at the sound of Shadow's skates coming in my direction, but that was all that I moved. I really didn't feel like talking. He came up beside me and crossed his arms, his eyes staring forward in what I thought was a "thoughtful glare". The dude seriously has no other emotion.

"What's on your mind, Blue?" he asked. Gee, talk about straightforward. I looked away. I didn't want to talk about it, but Shadow didn't leave me much of a choice. He only gave me that scary look that always 'talk or I'll kill you' to me in subtext.

"I miss them," I said at last. He nodded in what I assumed was understanding.

"As shocking as this might seem, I do too," he replied, and I faced him. He looked down with his eyes closed and a small smirk. "I miss Rouge constantly getting on me and Omega for fighting or hearing about how mad she made the echidna for trying to steal the Master Emerald."

I chuckled at the thought, "Heh, I miss Tails talking about his new inventions and fighting Egghead. I even miss Amy chasing me!" I added with a down-hearted smile. Wow, I must really miss home if I'm wishing to be chased by her again, hammer or no hammer.

He laid a hand my shoulder and looked me straight in the eye with the most serious face I've ever seen him wear, "We'll go back and see them again. I promise."

I cheered up a bit at that. Whenever Shadow makes a promise, I know he'll carry through with it, "Thanks, Shads. You really are a big softie under all that fluff."

He punched me on the shoulder, and I rubbed it. He really can throw a hit! I'm still not sure if he was be playful or threatening.

"Don't let the altitude get to your head," he replied, and I smirked.

"Fluffy."

He completely stiffened, and I suddenly thought about if I could survive being thrown off this thing. But what he countered with was a lot more surprising.

"Nice try, Puffball."

Back on Mobius. Third Person POV

"Are you sure this will work?" Amy asked timidly. Knuckles nodded.

"It'll work."

"How did you even find out about this?" Tails asked before Rouge could.

"They came back for a few minutes before leaving again. Tikal and Chaos talked with them a little bit before they disappeared again. From what I could gather, they were sent to another world, and Shadow's in some kind of deep water over there."

"I hope Mr. Shadow and Mr. Sonic are okay," Cream said as she hugged Cheese.

"All the more reason to go then," Rouge said, "Fire up that baby and let's move."

"Hold your horses, bat girl," Knuckles grumbled as he strode up to the Master Emerald. He pressed his palms onto the massive crystal and began to chant. It suddenly began to glow, and the wind picked up.

"Hang on, everybody! Here we go!" Tails yelled, and everyone linked arms. The light swallowed them before it vanished and took them with it...

In the Wild Kratts world.

"I am so ready for some chilidogs!" Sonic said as he pumped his fist in the air. Everyone had come back inside the control room, and Jimmy was already working in the kitchen.

"Comin' right up!"

Shadow stretched his arms over his head with a yawn, "I could use a good run about now. How much longer till we land?"

"About three hours," Martin answered sympathetically. Shadow half-stifled a groan, and his arms fell to his sides, as he grumbled something incoherent under his breath. He couldn't wait that long.

Koki and Aviva laughed, and the dark hedgehog rose an eyebrow. Sonic was laughing too.

"Y'know, Shads, I think I'm rubbing off on ya."

He immediately facepalmed. Brother or not, he didn't want to pick up any of his bad habits. "Oh, Chaos, no. Just kill me now."

Before anyone could reply, a green light shone above them. I wasn't serious! Shadow thought, before he and Sonic were pinned to the ground by five bodies.

"A warning would be nice next time," a suave female voice complained.

"What are you talking about!? You're on top!" a deeper, gruffer male voice shot back.

The pile of mobian animals climbed off each other, and Sonic was instantly greeted with a high, girly voice he had just been thinking about only minutes ago before his vision was filled with pink.

"Sonic!" Amy squealed and gave him a tight bear hug, leaving him gasping for air, "Oh, I missed you so much. I thought I'd never see you again!" she rambled as she cuddled closer to him, unaware of the fact that he was struggling to break himself free from her iron grip.

"Ames! Too. Tight!" he choked and she released him sheepishly. He gasped and panted before Tails, Cream, Cheese, and Knuckles hugged him to. The little Chao sat on his head cheerfully.

Shadow watched the reunion with his arms crossed and a tiny smile of amusement. At least Sonic had his friends with him. His ears perked up at a familiar voice. One that he himself had admitted to missing as well.

"Hey handsome. Long time no see," Rouge purred and wrapped her arms around his neck, her turquoise eyes gazing into his softly.

"Rouge," he breathed, slightly uncomfortable with how close they were. She had never greeted like this before. She smirked at his reaction.

"I missed you," she said and drew closer. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn't budge.

"I-I missed you too. R-Rouge what are you doing?"

She leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on the cheek before strutting away, leaving him completely starstruck.

"Wow, Shadow. Just trading information, eh?" Sonic asked slyly and wiggled his eyebrows. The dark hedgehog responded with an embarrassed groan and pushed his face away from him, causing the blue hero to totter slightly off-balance.

"Something like that."

"What's that on your wrist, Sonic?" Tails asked, pointing at the blue and green creaturepod.

"Oh, this? Aviva made it. It's kinda like my old communicator."

"Who's Aviva?" Amy frowned with her arms crossed over her chest. Sonic laughed and jabbed his thumb behind him. The new mobians looked up at the small group of startled humans, and Aviva waved sheepishly.

. "Hello."

The guests instantly got into battle positions, and Amy pulled out her hammer.

"You didn't tell us you were being held hostage!"

"That's because we're not," Sonic hmphed, "They're helping us find the chaos emeralds and the world hearts."

"World hearts?" Tails asked.

"Yeah, they're-" Sonic tried to explain, but he was interrupted by the computer.

Entering the continent of Europe. Landing time in approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes.

Shadow suddenly doubled over, and his rings began to steam. Something wasn't right, and boy could he feel it. Sonic was instantly at his side and moved him into a sitting position.

"It doesn't have much time. We need to hurry," he panted. Sonic frowned.

"Just hang in there. We'll find it," he said, trying to be as reassuring as possible.

If this is only the third heart, I don't wanna think about what will happen with the others, he thought.

Rouge interrupted his train of thought sharply, "Sonic. Explanation. Now."

Amy's POV

I had never seen Shadow appear so sick before, neither have I seen my Sonic look so scared. He didn't answer Rouge right away but instead tried to help Shadow.

"Your rings are overheating again," he said, "How bad does it hurt?"

Shadow winced a little bit but tried to hide it, "I can take it."

Poor Shadow. I wonder what's wrong? Sonic frowned. I've never seen him look so serious. He must be really worried about something. Does this have to do with what Knuckles said?

"That's not what I asked."

"I know what you asked," he snapped back, "I'm not taking them off. I can't live without them. Not then and certainly not now."

"He's only trying to help," I stepped in. Shadow glared at me, and I have to admit I was pretty scared. But Sonic, of course, swooped in to my rescue.

"Calm down, Shads," he said and laid a hand on his shoulder. He instantly pushed it off. Rude.

"Calm down?! You are telling me to calm down?! You're life isn't tied to a dying planet! So don't tell me to calm down!"

All of us stepped back. I didn't know that everything was that bad. I mean, Knuckles mentioned something about him being in trouble, but I didn't know it was this serious. To all of our shock, Sonic glared and shook him so hard I thought it might shake something loose in Shadow's skull.

"Snap out of it! Yes, things aren't as simple as usual, but we're both used to life and death situations. You might be used to it more than me! We are going to get through this. You just promised me we would."

"What promise?" Tails asked, and I couldn't blame him. The two of them looked away awkwardly.

"That's nothing you should worry about, fox," Shadow answered. Either he legitimately can't remember our names, or he just likes calling us by our species. "And I'm sorry, Sonic. I guess the pressure finally got to my head."

"No worries dude," he laughed cheerfully, and the two locked arms. That's my Sonic, so ready to forgive. Wait a minute!

"Did Shadow just apologize!?"

Third Person POV

"Don't get used to it," he replied and adjusted his rings, not that it helped. Aviva knelt beside him and tried to touch them, but she snatched her finger away as soon as she made contact.

"Ouch! Oo, Shadow, we need to get those off of you. I'm surprised it hasn't singed your fur yet!"

"They're not coming off," he growled.

"Hey, Shads," Sonic piped up, "Where's your chaos emerald?"

"On my hammock. Why?"

"Be right back," he said and disappeared in a flash of blue. Less than a second later he was back holding the green chaos emerald. "Hold it. I have an idea."

Shadow took the large jewel and felt an almost instant relief. His muscles visibly relaxed, as a wave of cool washed over him. "Much better."

"Mr. Shadow, are you feeling better now?" Cream asked, and he gave her the smallest smile possible.

"Yes. Thank you."

Shadow stood and dusted himself off, feeling slightly embarrassed for all of the recent events. Cheese flew up to him and "chaoed" his concerns.

Are you okay Mr. Shadow? Do I need to call a doctor?

"Yes. I'm much better. And there's no need."

Both Cream and Cheese looked at him with surprise.

"I didn't know you could speak Chao, Mr. Shadow."

The dark hedgehog sweat-dropped, "It's been a long couple of weeks."

An hour later. Time skip brought to you by Silver the Time Traveling Hedgehog From The Future. XD

"So to sum it up, we're on a timed schedule," Sonic concluded over a fresh plate of chilidogs. Introductions between the heroes and Wild Kratts had gone smoothly...after Jimmy woke up. Shadow still refused to eat the "slop" Sonic suggested he try, but that wasn't anything new. The blue speedster had summed up their adventure as best he could, while still leaving out detail here and there-like the human girls' first reaction, Shadow's collapse in the cave, and finding out their blood relation. He could tell them later, when he didn't have his older brother's threat of annihilation held over his head. Not that that was the real reason. Something told him not to say anything, like he needed to keep it a secret. But right now, it would be fun to watch them try to figure it out, if they could...