Chapter 4
Sonic and Tails spent all week discussing the show. Now it was Shadow, Knuckles and Rouge's turn to talk to the public.
"This had better of work," said Rouge firmly as they sat backstage waiting for the show to start.
"Don't worry Rouge if Sonic and Tails could go through it surely we can," assured Knuckles.
"I know I'm just fed up with people calling me a slut!" snarled Rouge angrily, folding her arms with a cross look on her face.
Ten minutes later the show started and Ant once again walked on to the stage.
"Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the third episode of 'Why do they?' the show that lets guests sort out their problems. For today's guests please welcome Rouge the Bat, Knuckles the Echidna and Shadow the Hedgehog."
The crowd cheered as Rouge, Knuckles and Shadow walked on to the stage and sat in the three seats.
"Right then Shadow we will be talking to you first," Ant began. Shadow glared clearly not wanting to be first but he frowned and waited for Ant's questions. Ant flinched at the sight of Shadow.
"Firstly Shadow, a lot of fans are accusing you of been a Sonic-rip off, what do you say to this?"
"Well I may look like Sonic but we are in no way similar personality wise and what a relief," Shadow responded.
"How do you feel about getting your own game?" Ant asked, pressing on quickly.
"Well I'm glad I did get my own game but the trouble is people are accusing me of stealing Sonic's spotlight. I didn't ask for my own game, they just gave me one so people can know the character better," Shadow replied feeling slightly agitated.
"Are you glad you got to use guns in your game?" Ant asked again.
"Not really because it made me out to be violent when I'm not," Shadow sounded more annoyed.
"Fans say you've had a huge impact on the fandom, how do you think this is?" Ant questioned, warily watching Shadow.
"I think it's mainly due to my likeness to Sonic, everyone likes Sonic and therefore like me, and because I was brought back from the dead everyone thinks I'm awesome," Shadow replied in a dull tone.
"What problems are you actually having in the fandom?"
"Well people say I'm an emo, boring, and stealing Sonic's spotlight and these days everyone seems to either like Sonic and bash me or like me and bash Sonic. I know you don't have to like everyone but you shouldn't bash the characters you hate, it's pathetic," Shadow paused, knowing that he was repeating things that fans often didn't listen to, but he had to try anyway, "I've seen fans say I'm really cool and everyone should love me; this is something which I find worthless. What difference does it make if someone else hates a character you like? It brings us back to the 'respect other opinions' situation. The fandom should be a lot better if they followed that rule. Just don't bash characters and we'll get along fine."
After Shadow finished there was a long silence before Ant turned to Rouge, looking slightly relieved.
"So Rouge what's the main problem you're having?" Ant asked casually.
"Everyone keeps calling me a slut but I'm not. My appearance just makes me look like a slut that's all; my appearance is completely opposite to my personality," Rouge replied in a moody tone. A couple of wolf-whistles came from the audience. Ant quickly moved on before Rouge could get a chance to reply to the ones who did the deed.
"There have been complaints about your breast size from parents so wha-"
"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TITS!" Rouge interrupted angrily.
"Shhh calm down there are little kids watching this!" Ant said in a rather annoyed tone.
"Honestly though there's nothing wrong with them, there not THAT big surely," Rouge muttered clearly in a bad mood. Ant moved on to Knuckles.
"What problems are you having with the fandom, Knuckles?" Ant asked slowly.
"People just take the piss out of me just because I'm useless or gullible," the red echidna replied sorely.
Ant couldn't resist pointing out, "Some people say its your shoes."
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY GODDAMN SHOES?" Knuckles asked, going red and slamming his fist on the chair.
"They look like they belong to a clown!" a girlish voice called out from the audience. Everyone turned round and saw CJ the Cheetah standing up pointing at Knuckles, who glared at her.
"Don't diss my Knuxie!" Another female voice called out. Five seats to the right of CJ, Simone the grey-furred squirrel had also stood up, with her fists to her side.
"Stupid Knuckles fanbrats…" CJ mumbled.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Simone asked angrily, her eyes narrowed.
"You don't hear me whining about how Sonic haters suck, why is Knuckles an exception?" CJ asked in a slowly growing angry voice.
"Because he is too sexy to be bashed!" Simone replied as if it was obvious.
"Well I think Sonic is, so you haven't answered my question!" CJ replied impatiently.
"You two calm down please," Ant protested but Simone, now red in the face continued
"I'm sick of all these questions, now stop dissing Knuckles or I'll...I'll,"
"Stutter at me?" CJ laughed, literally looking like she were about to shriek with laughter. Simone suddenly lunged at CJ, pushing her to the ground and hit her hard across the face with her tail which, despite all the grey fur, was quite hard. CJ responded by giving Simone a hard kick between the legs almost instantly.
"You're lucky I'm not male!" Simone shouted now grabbing CJ's hair.
"Indeed I am, I have trouble enough looking at your ugly face when you're female!" CJ taunted. This only angered Simone more. She raised her fist but CJ got there first and gave her a direct punch in the face. Simone staggered back as the audience were all backing away from the pair.
"YOU COW!" Simone screamed and began viciously pulling at CJ's waist-length brown hair.
"STOP IT PLEASE!" Ant shouted in the microphone. Rouge, Knuckles and Shadow just glomped at them both.
CJ tried to break free from Simone but as Simone was twice her age she didn't have much luck so she began pulling at Simone's lengthy grey fur.
"We'll be back after the break!" Ant announced quickly and ran to break up the fight.
The show returned five minutes later and Ant wasn't having much luck breaking up CJ and Simone who were still pulling at each others hair and fur. Suddenly Shadow shouted 'CHAOS CONTROL' and appeared in between them.
"This show wasn't for a fight to break up," Shadow said in his serious voice. Ant called for security and two large dogs came in and took CJ and Simone out of the studio.
"That's what happens with live TV…" Ant sighed and sat back in his seat, exhausted.
"I've never had two girls fight over me before," Knuckles muttered; his cheeks were very red.
"Right then well err," Ant struggled to get the show back on track, "Knuckles, do you feel like the games are pushing you out?"
"Yeah I've been pushed to the back a lot recently and I feel I should be more involved seeing as I was one of the classic characters."
"Now I've been told I got to end this show to sort out what happened so what would you like to say to the fandom? Ant asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"You'll never understand the true power of chaos control." Shadow stated moodily.
"Never judge a book by its cover." Rouge responded.
Knuckles then added with a serious voice, "And don't forget that my shoes are in fashion."
"Next week is our final episode where we will be chatting to the Babylon Rogues so I'll see you then," Ant announced.
"Trust those girls to ruin the show," he muttered as everyone left.