Breaking the switch out for a bit, got into a bit of a revolving door there, thanks for reading. I do not own sonic the hedgehog or any of the characters from the games, movies or comics but I do own this story and the other characters, I hope you enjoy it.
Things Only Whispered In The Shadows
Ch21. Pain and Promise
We had no way of knowing how far ahead they had gotten but with sonic and shadow on the lead we were sure to catch up soon. Each and every movement of the sidecar now made me want to whimper in pain as my back screamed in protest. I had definitely made it worse trying to play the hero, but at least it had saved some people. Now we would save Amy, we had to. If not then how would I face the others? What would they think of me? Would they even still help us if they were down a member? I knew I was being ridiculous but my mind kept racing as if it were the end of this world as well as my own. Had I really grown so attached to this place and these people in such a short time?
"Look! Up ahead, that has to be it." Tails was pointing in the direction of a very clearly man-made structure as the wide glass panes gleamed in the fog off the swamp, and now it was broken and smoking from within. A clear sign that Shadow, Sonic, and Knuckles had made it inside already. "I think I see something inside." Through the ever condensing fog a large figure rose up from the broken part of the building. It stood at least three stories on its own and the colorful streaks of sonic and knuckles could be seen beating it back from the wreckage as a darker form chased down a lone figure attempting to escape the chaos. A streak of darkness felled the attempted escapee before Shadow strode up and planted one foot on its back saying something about kidnapping.
I try to get out of the sidecar only to immediately sit back down with a grunt and settle for waving out at them like a kid. "Hows the raid going?"
He's to far to see clearly but I think I see a small smile play across Shadows lips before he kicks the escapee in the head and he goes limp.
"They're keeping her in the basement." Shadow pulls out the red emerald again. "Chaos Control." And vanishes.
"He likes to do that a lot doesn't he." Tails nods and pulls out his tablet, scrolling through code before pulling up a 3d map of the complex. Sure enough there is a basement and a lot of little dots within I can only assume are people.
"It's kind of his thing. Using the emeralds that is. Sonic can use them too but Shadow uses them more often. If you think that's cool you should see what they can do with all of them."
"With any luck I'll see it soon." I lean back in my seat and sigh, sweet sweet stillness.
"Not luck, skill and practice. We do stuff like this all the time." He sounded way to happy about that.
"How often do you have to find the emeralds?" It wasn't supposed to sound doubtful but that how it came out. He however remained undaunted and cheerful.
"The emeralds scatter every time you use all of them so we have to recollect them every time." Oh. A flash of memory as I see the emeralds scatter in my dream again. That explained a lot of things. What didn't makes sense now was why some third rate nobodies were kidnaping people and expecting to get away with it when there were heroes as powerful as these here. I had no idea how they planned to pull any of this off and probably never would at the rate sonic and Knuckles were going. "Hey tails didn't you have a plane?"
"Oh yeah, about that," he gave a slight laugh as he blushed, "Eggman did a number on the engine last time we fought so I still have a bit of repair work to do."
"Makes sense. Ooof!"
"Tails! Whisper!" I swear I hadn't meant to squeak but an excited Amy tackle hugged us both right off of the bike and the indignant sound was immediately followed by a long string of soft curses under my breath. I found myself smiling none the less however as I hugged the ecstatic pink hedgehog back with tails.
"Amy you're OK!" Tails was just tall enough to wrap us both up I was stuck till they stopped, and luckily a well timed explosion in the background distracted them long enough for me to extract myself from the ground. I felt even more out of place now that we had her back. I had no idea where to start with an apology.
"Sonic!" Amy nearly launched herself at him as he swept her up in a brief hug of his own and knuckles bumped her in the arm. Shadow standing a respectable distance away and Turning to leave as the others happily mingle. I wanted to take any way out of this situation that I could find.
Taking my newfound freedom from the sidecar I hurriedly make my way over to Shadow. "Is there any way I can get a teleport back, that seat is going to kill me if I sit in it any longer." I wasn't about to admit to the other reason.
Surprise and curiosity color his face for the first time since meeting him. He then scoffs, ruining the moment "What, don't like riding with the fox or do you always find another way home?" I knew he was purposely trying to rile me up at this point but I was seriously set on not riding back in that thing.
"If I were in any condition to run back at the moment I would but we both know that isn't the case, and besides I happen to enjoy teleporting. Much faster, less bumps in the road." I wince again at the idea of riding back with Amy and Tails if he turns me down. He stands there staring at me in silence for a minute, that feels much more like an eternity. "What? Do I have something on my face?" As I actually go to check my face for stray leaves or something a slight tinge of red touches his cheeks.
"No, just not used to people I don't know that well asking to teleport, or anyone for that mater." That would make sense, if my brother and company were anything to go by then most people probably didn't do well with the whole instantaneous travel thing. He coughed once while holding out an arm. "Fine, but don't expect this to happen often." relief flooded through me at his acceptance and possibly a hint of respect mixed in there with it. I would have an hour or so to think things through before I would have to deal with Amy and if I was out before she got back then all the better.
"Don't worry, I rather like the idea of keeping an emerald on me better than dial-a-port." He smiles at that and with a flash we're gone. Oh I was so dead when she found out about the phone, or at least someone would be. The image of the terrified wolf rose to mind before I shook it away.
Back at Amy's place I thank Shadow for the assistance and look at the strangely empty house. "That thing you do with the emeralds, the spear thing. how do you do that? I can move stuff around and teleport fine but that is new."
"The chaos spear? Training, and talent." Which he clearly had plenty of if it was half as complicated as it looked.
"Is there any way I could convince you to teach me?" I didn't think he would bite but I could at least try to smooth things over after my blunder with the emerald before.
"Not so long as you keep getting in the way, even faker has a better chance at learning than you do. Get rid of that limp and I might just see what you're made of however."
Now it was my turn to be surprised. "Was that a challenge?" I mimicked his raised eyebrow.
"If you're ever up for it, which is going to be a long time coming if you keep getting into trouble." I blinked at him and a slow smile spread across my face. I was getting somewhere after all, and training of any kind would be a welcome distraction from the overwhelmingly new places I was finding myself in. Training seemed like the promise of an old friend and a good escape from more complicated things.
"Then I had better get to it, I've been itching to get back into shape."
He takes a small step back and looks me over once more, as if really seeing me this time rather than someone who got in his way. "Chaos control." and in a flash of energy he was gone again. Something small stirred in my veins as he disappeared, it was so small I almost hadn't noticed it in my distractions of pain and promise. As I meandered slowly up the hall and toward my room I mulled it over and collapsed into the bed with a satisfied flop into the overly comfortable spread. As I drifted off to the blissful release of sleep it washed over me.
I had felt him leave.
