MTF: Hey there everybody! After AngelicPuppy made some executive changes to Blood Fire, the final chapter of the renamed Blood Autmn is here! The sequel is in the workings as well!
Sonic: You took so long! I can finally fill in some blanks huh?
MTF: Yes you can. I do not own Sonic and his friends, they are the property of Sega. I also do not own Karo, Mari or the Darraki, they belong to my sister AngelicPuppy.
I awoke to the cries of injured people and beeping moniters, which meant we had saved the hospital. I breathed a sigh of relief, the fight was over.
"Hey there handsome, I see you're awake." I heard Amy say. I felt the hospital mattress dip towards her as she and Cream sat on the bed.
"Oh man, how lucky am I? Two loveley ladies coming to pay old me a visit? I must be dreaming" I said grinning. Cream giggled and hugged me careful of my bandages. Amy smiled and gently gripped my hand.
She looked tired, weary really. I couldn't imagine how she was feeling, dealing with all the fighting, the injuries the destruction. Hell, how could any of the others handle it? Rouge had Knuckles who often got banged up for being the major muscle, and Shadow worried the crap out of Cream and Tails since he tended to nearly die. I was in between since I didn't nearly die so often as Shadow and I didn't get hurt by default like Knuckles.
I pulled Amy down next to me and cradled Cream on my other side. I kissed them both on their heads, well aware of Amy quietly sobbing into my pillow. Shit, how could this get any worse? Karo bounded into the room with Tails close behind him. Karo bounced happily, chirping his approval.
"Sonic, you wake! Tay said you not wake but you are!" I shook my head.
"Yea Karo, I'm awake. How's Knuckles?"
"Knuckles is doing better than you and Shadow" Amy muffled. She wasn't crying anymore thankfully.
"Yea, he was up and walking around two hours ago. He's stiill tired, but Rouge said they were gonna play a game so he'd feel better. I think he threw up earlier too." Tails said. I fought not to smile. If I did, Tails would want to know what game they were playing, and then so would Cream and Karo. That was a conversation I was so not gonna have.
"Well, that's okay. But we won't bother them for a bit alright?" I said holding up Cream so she could look at me too. All three children nodded at me though slightly confused. Lirias, Karo's dad and general in the alien-dragon army walked in.
"You seem to have a certain way with children blue star creature. The red one does as well, although I'm not sure if his 'game' is appropriate in this setting."
I cheesed, not really surprised that he knew what Knuckles and Rouge were doing. Honestly, it was probably more for Rouge's benefit than anything. Girls were so emotional and sex made them feel better sometimes. I didn't really understand it, but then, I'm not a girl.
"Well, probably not, but I think they need it. Rouge probably wanted to give him something to do, help him sleep and all." Lirias seemed to think about that and nodded.
"How are you star creature? I would expect that if some other being had tried to expend so much energy they would be comatose. Yet here you are, barely a week later, conscious, talking, and handling children. I have not heard a single complaint either. From what I've observed, you awaken and immediately comfort those around you, asking for the status of your comrades." He said scratching his neck. I shrugged.
"Sonic doesn't really mind himself if he's hurt or anything. The only reason he hasn't asked about Shadow yet is because he figures Tails would have told him if he was up by now." Amy said from her pillow. I flinched at her tone.
"It sounds like that is a somewhat frustrating trait for you to deal with pink one." Lirias said matter-of-factly. Tails, Karo and Cream looked between Lirias and me, and left the room probably to check on Shadow. I heard Cream's mother Vanilla call her from the hall.
Amy sat up, her eyes red and puffy, and turned a serious look to Lirias. She gripped my hand hard, tension and strain thrumming along her arm. She sat straight like a princess, like she was addressing some nobleman.
"There is nothing wrong with Sonic being selfless, being willing to help others. He's kind-hearted and sweet, and sure, he can be a joking hard ass. I fell in love with him for that. My problem is the fact that he always jumps straight in, and then he gets hurt, and thinks nothing of it. I just wish…" she shook her head and took a deep breath.
"You just wish the humans could defend themselves for once?" I said looking into her tired face. She dropped her gaze to our joined hands and nodded. I sighed and held her, telling her how sorry I was. Everybody needed some serious recovery time after this mess was cleaned up.
"Sonic, correct? I do not know how to console you or your mate, however, that braindead Commander request an audience as soon as you are able." Lirias said. I got up then, Amy following me as I walked to the window.
The destruction floored me; it was so profound and unnatural. Looking out the window I could see nothing, not a skyscraper or a theater. There were a few houses like abandoned toys, gutted and broken. Debris was everywhere. I spotted soldiers and crews cleaning up –aliens and human alike- picking up the broken shell of a city.
Station Square was the worst. The building Knuckles had thrown had left a huge pile of concrete, steel and glass in the center. Then there was something just off center of the street. It was a massive pile of some black and greasy substance. I smelled it on the wind before I recognised what is was. And when I recognized it, my stomach turned so hard that I stumbled and ended up puking in a graciously close bucket.
"Oh my gosh! Sonic, baby, are you all right?" Amy asked rushing over me. I pointed towards the window that was blowing the putrid smell of the heap into the room. She rushed to the open window and shut it while I emptied my stomach again.
"Ah, yes I'm sorry about not preparing you for that. We will be taking the remains with us when we return to our home." Lirias said walking over to us. I swallowed hard.
"The remains?" I asked coughing. Amy handed me a glass of water which I slurped down.
"Yes, your dark furred friend did quite a number on Clarostra, and reduced him to that rather unendearing pile of grease and ash."
"Um, wow, okay. My condolences?" I said after another glass of water. Lirias laughed sarcastically, a scathing, mocking expression to his face.
"Not hardly, but thank you for your courtesy. You are more noble than the humans, although I do not blame them seeing as we have destroyed them."
"Saddo! You wake! Daddy, Tay, Sonic, he wake!" Karo yelled from the hall. I sighed, following the sound of the little dragon's voice. Amy said she would go check on Rouge and Knuckles. I nodded and was met by Shadow's glare. I cheesed, simply because I knew he was only glaring because he was freaked. The guy is funny that way. I noticed Mari, Tails' tutor standing in the corner looking rather sorry. Huh, wonder what happened there.
"What a surprise to see you general." Shadow said to Lirias. "I had expected to find you and your son gone to your own planet."
"Always a warm welcome from you star-creature. I would have left, except for two things, three really." Lirias said. He was pretty chilled out for a guy who's leader was just unceremoniously destroyed. I shook my head at my own thoughts, using long words was a trait I started picking up from Tails.
"So what are these three things?" Shadow asked curiously.
"My son is a pain in my ass, my wing is broken thanks to you, and my leader is dead. That's another of your doings." Lirias said tilting his head towards the window.
Shadow and I both snickered. Yea Karo was a little bit of a pain, but he was a kid, that was their job.
"Wait, he's dead?" Shadow asked, the last part of Lirias' statement clicking into place.
"Burned to a greasy heap of ash. My soldiers have spent the last week cleaning up. Another week and we shall be away forever if you so wish. We will take all of his remains with us; you have no need to worry about that." Lirias said calmly.
"What about me daddy? I wanna stay here!" Karo whined.
"If they'll allow you, for a few months. If they'll have you, a few years, though I'll be coming to check on you. Your mother will burn me crispier than that greedy garasque if I don't." Lirias said, slight annoyance in his tone.
"What is a garasque?" Tails asked. He was so quiet I think we all had forgotten he was there.
"A disgusting creature on my planet that eats its weight in trash. It has fewer manners than those things you call pigs and will eat itself to death if given the chance."
"What does it look like?" I asked.
"I'm not sure how to describe it. It has a long nose, its tail is long and furless, fangs and sharp teeth, four legs, most are a black or brown furred." Lirias said thoughtfully, scratching at his neck. He seemed to do that whenever he was unsure. His description reminded me of a sewer rat though.
A rather loud grumbling alerted us to the fact Shadow was hungry. Stifled laughter preceded Tails and Karo's exit. Lirias and Mari followed them out, probably to see that they ate too. I walked over to the window looking out at the decimation again. Geez, this whole thing had only been a day long, and according to Lirias the cleaning had been going for a week. Everything was still so messed up.
I heard Shadow grunt as he moved on the bed, probably looking out the window too. Except that he saw what was left of Clarostra and I barely made it with a bucket. I grimaced sorry that I hadn't thought of blocking the window or something.
"Funny, me and Knuckles had a similar reaction. He's still in bed too, though with what Rouge has been doing I'm not surprised." Then I remembered something from ealier. "How's that Mari been huh? Tails was telling me she's been annoying you. I don't really know her too well; she's more Rouge and Amy's friend."
"You're telling me this why? I hate that girl." He said coughing a little.
"Yeah, that's what you said about Amy."
"You're a turd." I cheesed, what a set up.
"Am I an easy turd, a constipated turd, or a diarrhea turd?"
"You are the most disgusting being on the planet!" Shadow said through laughter. I laughed too, like I said, what a set up.
"Nice to see you're feeling better." Amy said from the doorway. She had a tray of food in hand, Mari behind her with a tray of drinks. She still looked sorry. I pulled up two chairs, slouching in one. I sighed a little dramatically, watching Amy walk over with the tray and a table trolley. Mari sat down on Shadow's bed.
"Hey doll, how's the grub?" I asked as Amy tried handing me a sandwich. She smiled and shook her head.
"It's awful. You know somebody actually made the pudding? Like, the old way. And they had real cheesecake. It's a terrible sign you know." I laughed, taking her hands like she'd done earlier. There wasn't so much tension anymore.
"Oh goodness, you didn't actually get me a slice did you? Don't you know how real food makes me fat?" She laughed, and the tension left her completely.
"Oh Sonic you're just terrible, you can't get fat."
"I know babe, and I could get fat! The way you feed me with all that real, delicious homemade food, I'm surprised I'm not 200 pounds already."
"Ever heard that staring is rude?" Mari said loudly. Amy and I blinked, turning to look at Mari. Shadow must have been watching us again.
"Mari, he always watches us. Well, except for the important stuff." Amy said, giggling with her last comment. I snorted and Shadow rolled his eyes.
"Yes, because at that point I'll need a video camera." he said vehemently.
"Why can't you two just get along?" I asked. They were acting so weird. Mari was acting all tsundere, and Shadow was just being the usual.
"Don't ask me, ask her. I have never been rude unless she was rude first." Shadow retorted.
Mari huffed and turned away. Amy and I sighed in unison, before I pulled her to her feet and shot a wry smile to Shadow. They'd figure it out at some point. I pulled Amy out of the room, noting that Knuckles' door was open. Cream's voice was happy as she asked Knuckles if he was feeling better. The room was full with Tails, Cream and Karo near the bed and Rouge in the corner talking to Lirias.
"Man, are you today's designated babysitter or something?" Lirias gave me a curious look.
"Are you speaking about my vigilance to the children?"
"Don't mind him Lirias, randomness is his default mode" Rouge said with a smile. Lirias scratched at his neck again not quite sure how to respond. Shadow's laughter from down the hall prompted Tails and Karo (partners in crime it was starting to look like) to investigate. I shook my head seeing them getting into trouble already. Lirias stood to follow them, nodding respectfully to Rouge and then Knuckles.
"So, have you looked outside at all?" Knuckles asked. I shuddered, seeing the remains of Godzilla-face in my head. That's the kind of thing you need brain bleach for.
"I'll take that as a yes. Girls, you mind getting us some food? Especially for the kids." Rouge and Amy exchanged a look, before moving towards the door. Rouge picked up Cream, kissing Knuckles on his cheek.
"Hey Amy, can I get some sugar? I think I might need some of that pudding later too" I asked as she was leaving. She blushed and kissed me, and Rouge rolled her eyes. Knuckles gave a snickering sort of laugh.
"Alright, so what's up Knux?" I asked sitting in the chair by the bed.
"How many times would you say we've had some serious destruction to the city?"
"Uh, off the top of my head? A lot. Depends on who's defining it really."
Knuckles shook his head. "I mean by our definition, the ones who actually fight. I'm including Eggman too, as it has happened on occasion."
I sighed, that was a hard one. Technically, we'd been invaded about three times now. As for Eggman, well, the day before the invasion counted, and several, several times before that.
"I don't really know anymore Knuckles. We've been fighting for a while now, I'm kinda desensitized to it all."
"I know, I think to an extent we all are. Not just us either, I think the populace is getting tired of it too. If it isn't one thing, it's something else. I'm not even sure Eggman will be up to anything after this." Knuckles answered.
He was right, we'd been on Earth for years, and it was lots of fighting in the beginning. Then Eggman started to pace himself. It was almost routine. We discovered Chaos, and all the madness that came from his Perfect form. Then there was Shadow, and the Ark appearing, fighting the Biolizard and unearthing some seriously deep secrets.
Then the Black Arms had invaded and that was hell. They had destroyed more than we had in all our fights with Eggman combined, hacked and destroyed the GUN mainframe, and massacred millions of people. Not even Eggman had gone so far as to kill people.
"Sonic? You cool?" Knuckles asked, reminding me that he was there.
"Yeah man, I was thinking about all the fighting we've been doing over the years."
"It's a lot isn't it? If you think about it, between the three of us, we've got quite a bit of experience. Shadow and you have had quite a few close calls too. It's changed all of us, the humans included."
I sighed, he was right. "Yea well, it feels like it's just constantly something. Just when everything gets pulled back together, and people start to get normal, something else bites us in the ass." He nodded and called for some water.
"This may be too much for everyone this time. There might never be normal again. Everything has to be rebuilt from the floor." Knuckles said. Tails and Karo came in then, a glass of water carefully balanced on Karo's head.
"Sonic look, Karo can keep it on his head without spilling it!" Tails said pointing at his new friend. I smiled, telling him that was cool. I could feel tiredness setting in and something told me I'd have to go back and talk to Shadow again. Knuckles had me hand him an old backpack that was full of silly magic stuff. I watched him show Tails and Karo a bunch of card tricks before heading back to where Shadow was. I didn't expect to hear Lirias there.
"I do believe it speaks for itself. That is a dangerous dream Shadow, I suggest you be careful. It seems Death has come to be fond of you, you have nearly died too many times, be cautious lest she have you."
"That doesn't sound good. Are you ok Shadow?" I asked standing in the doorway.
"I'm fine, Lirias and I were just talking, but he should probably be going to talk to you and Amy about Karo."
"Karonisi."
Shadow and I both looked at Lirias, slightly confused.
"His name is Karonisi. He gets his full name when he first hunts on his own." Lirias stated proudly. Shadow and I exchanged a look, and I just shrugged. I guess Shadow would've counted as his first hunt.
"Well Sonic, shall we go then?" Lirias asked turning to me. "If my son is to spend time here there are things we must discuss."
"Alright, you catch some z's Shads" I said with a slight wave. "Lirias you'll want to talk to Amy and Rouge, I'm not much for taking care of pipsqueaks."
As we left and walked back to my room he asked what a pipsqueak was. I laughed at this alien who had turned my world upside down and asked questions about something so stupid. Knuckles was right, this thing had seriously changed us, and we might never be normal again.