Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog
Chapter 13: Meet The Hedgehogs
Just a heads up that there will be no updates from Monday-Wednesday as I will not be in town again. But this is going to get good! Meanwhile you guys and review and predict what's going to happen in the next few chapters. Let's see if any of you get it right.
Working with Shadow sure was a handful.
Silver was right when he had told Amy that Shadow had a temper, this hedgehog just can't be pleased can he?
Despite everything Shadow had not attempted once to lay a hand on Amy.
She believed she and Shadow had a mutual agreement, neither craved to see each other as anything other than boss and secretary.
But no it wasn't because she was ugly no no no.
Shadow just got this vibe about her that he couldn't really put into place, he felt that he'd be committing a crime if he even dared to get near her.
Towards Amy, he felt one thing and one thing only.
Respect.
He really had made a good choice.
That didn't stop Rouge though, the Blaze fiasco had only caused her to go paranoid on poor Amy.
The more Shadow told Rouge that nothing was going on between them, the more she felt inclined to threaten Amy and send her dirty looks.
The one time where I'm actually being faithful Rouge the Caboose, the ONE FREAKING TIME.
Amy also constantly had to inform Wave that there was nothing going on between her and Shadow which only caused Wave to spy on her more often by orders of Rouge.
There were times where Rouge demanded for Shadow to fire Amy just because Amy had made eye contact with Shadow.
Shadow constantly declined, repeating what he told everyone.
"There is NOTHING going on between me and Amy Rose!"
Rouge was so focused on Amy that she didn't realize that Maria and Shadow had reconciled and they were constantly going out.
Friday came too close for comfort as Amy placed the last water bottle on the table.
"I really I hope I manage to make a good impression," Amy muttered to herself.
Wait, what do I care if I do or not? It's not like I NEED to make a good impression.
"I'm sure you will, you've been making a good impression on me at least. And I'm hard to impress, my family would like you," Shadow said as he walked in as he observed the room.
"With all due respect sir, your wife doesn't seem to like me very much."
"Rouge the Caboose? Ignore her, that's just her," Shadow said as he put his briefcase on his seat.
Amy scrunched her nose, she didn't like the way Shadow referred to his wife as. Weren't a husband a wife supposed to respect one another?
"Sir, your family is here," Cream said as she peeked into the room.
Shadow walked out of the room and headed toward the office, oblivious to Amy sucking in her breath.
Why am I so nervous? No one besides Sonic, Maurice, Bernadette and Jules have seen me. The last three unfortunately passed away and Sonic isn't coming. There was nothing to worry about. Or maybe I want to make a good impression on what could have been my family in law... oh let's get this over with.
Amy stood on the doorway and sighed, ready to greet what was supposed to be her second family.
Green Hill Zone
"Sonic don't go! Have Amadeus do it! Those Chili Pickers can hurt you!" Sally exclaimed as she stood in front of the door.
"Sally, I appreciate the concern, but I need to take care of this!"
"Fine! But if you get into a fight best bet I'll be here to rub my I told you so in your face!"
Sonic sighed as he walked out the door and headed for the plantation.
Sally huffed and headed towards Tails, who jumped at her approach.
"Relax idiot today I'm not in the mood. Go with Sonic before he gets killed!"
Tails nodded, "Yes ma'am."
As Tails departed Sally sighed, how the hell was she going to explain to the family that Sonic was jumped by none other than his employees.
Station Square
Shadow walked into the meeting room and stood next to Amy as his family began piling in, Amy shaking hands with every single one of them.
Rouge walked in and glared at Amy before refusing to shake her hand and went along to kiss Shadow.
Amy sighed, but smiled when receiving a pat on the back by Silver, who gave her a reassuring look.
Shadow then closed the door as Amy grabbed her laptop and headed towards their seats.
Elena sat at the far end of the table, Charles sat on one side of her with Cocoa, Silver, and Sonia sitting next to him.
Shadow sat on the other side of her and motioned for Amy to sit next to him but was cut off as Rouge pushed Amy and sat down next to her husband, with Amy and Manic sitting next to her.
Shadow looked over to Rouge and was going to comment that his secretary needs to sit next to him for the sake of taking notes but dropped the thought when Rouge glared at him.
"Okay, I thank you all for being here. Unfortunately Sonic and Sally couldn't make it because Sonic had important business to attend to back at Green Hill," Elena said as Shadow stood up.
"Before we start I want to introduce you all to my new secretary who will be taking notes throughout the whole discussion. Amy Rose."
Amy stood up and shyly bowed, receiving a smile from the family, with the exception of Rouge who rolled her eyes.
Both hedgehogs sat down and Elena spoke, "It's very nice to have you here Amy. Remember the rules everyone. Only Charles, Shadow, Sonia, Manic and myself are allowed to comment. If you have a suggestion, you'll have to consult it with me privately," Elena said as Silver, Amy, Cocoa, and Rouge nodded.
Amy looked next to her and noticed a green hedgehog who looked a lot like Sonic, across from him was the same darker pink hedgehog who she saw the day Maurice had died.
Holy crap... they must be Sonic's siblings! I AM SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO SONIC'S BROTHER AND DIAGONAL FROM HIS SISTER!
Amy then inspected Silver, she already knew he was Shadow's cousin on his mom's side of the family, so he wasn't directly affiliated with The Hedgehogs.
She then inspected Cocoa and Charles, they must be Shadow's parents.
Wait, was that Jules' brother?
It was, the resemblance was all too similar.
"Today we are here to talk about the future of The Hedgehog Chili Industries, as the deaths of my husband, my son and my daughter in law were all to sudden."
The family nodded.
"Okay, first thing on our agenda, The Grounds. What do you think of Sonic's work so far?" Elena asked.
Great... their first topic HAD to be about Sonic.
"I personally think he's doing a great job," she heard as the one who she believed was named Manic spoke up. "For a guy who's been through a lot these past few months I think he's managing it very well."
Amy then heard a scoff by Shadow.
"Managing it well? It's only been a few months and the fool already lost two of the best Chili Pickers we have."
Amy widened her eyes.
Oh no... she didn't want Sonic to get in trouble with his family because of her pettiness!
"Shadow! Do not refer to your cousin in such a manner!" Elena scolded.
"Exactly," Charles said. "But Shadow is right to some extent. The loss of those two pickers is really hurting us in the agricultural industry."
This caused Amy to blush, They shouldn't be pinning this on Sonic!
"Don't blame that on Sonic," Manic argued. "It's not his fault Rosy and her mother left."
"Wait, Rosy the Rascal is the one we're worrying about?" Shadow asked as Rouge widened her eyes, equally shocked. Sally hadn't told her the Chili Picker had left. Then again she hasn't really spoken to Sally in awhile...
Amy widened her eyes, THEY KNOW ABOUT ME!?
"Who's Rosy the Rascal?" Charles and Elena asked.
Shadow then started laughing, "Some Chili Picker Sonic had an affair with."
That stung. That really stung.
"THAT IS NOT TRUE!"
Amy along with the family turned to look at Manic as he scowled and stared at everyone.
"What Sonic and Rosy had was true love! I stand for it!" he exclaimed as Amy turned to him in shock.
Wait... what?
"Manic, how can you call that true love when Sonic is married to Sally?"
"Psh, that's not a marriage! To Sally, Sonic is a bank!"
"MANIC!"
"It's true Grandma! Here, let me put it into terms that you all can understand. Grab a calculator, add Sonic's income into it, divide it by two, now you get Sally's income. Now multiply it by the amount of time those two will be together," Manic then made a dramatic gesture with his hands. "Sally came out winning didn't she?"
"Oh so you think Sonic should be with a woman who cheated on him by going off to Europe to prostitute herself?" Shadow argued, causing Amy to widen her eyes in fear and slight anger.
HOW MUCH DO THEY KNOW!?
Elena and Charles gasped, "That happened!?"
"NO! IT DIDN'T! THIS WAS ALL A MISUNDERSTANDING! Rosy left to France, thinking she was going for a modeling job and she also saw it as a chance to see if she could find Sonic. When she found out it was a prostitution home, she escaped and found her way over to England. Unfortunately she suffered an accident and was interned in a hospital around the time my parents passed away. When she came back, Sonic was already married to Sally. It was all a misunderstanding!"
Amy turned to Manic in shock, HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT!?
"How do you know that Manic?" Charles asked.
"Duh! Sonic tells me everything!"
"I'm sure his Chili Picker only told him that to tie him around her finger again," Shadow said as he rolled his eyes.
Manic took a breathe of frustration as he turned to Sonia. "Sonia, help me out here sis!"
Sonia looked at Manic and said nothing.
"You don't actually believe them do you?" Manic asked, indignified as Sonia looked down.
"Can we move on?" Sonia urged.
Yes... Amy thought. This is becoming too much to bear.
Elena nodded, "Yes we went off topic."
"I actually want to bring something to everyone's attention," Shadow said as everyone turned to him. "As you all know, I'm starting up a business called Paprika Enterprise and it's going to be stationed in Apotos.
"You got financed for it?" asked Charles.
"No not really, I took out a loan, but I found a way to pay it easy."
"And what's that?"
"Just trust me old man, it'll be okay."
Meanwhile, Manic turned to Sonia and said something only she and Amy could here.
"If you were in Sonic's position, Sonic would back you up no problem. I don't know what's going on with you Sonia."
Amy kept quiet and glanced at Sonia from the corner of her eye.
Sonia looked at Manic with a pang of guilt but then scowled.
"I'm just looking out for him!"
"From what? Look Sonia, you're fighting on the wrong side!"
"I'm looking out for the three of us and Sally!"
"If this is about that stupid fortune, then you really are fighting on the wrong side. First of all, your brother's happiness should matter more than some stupid Will. Second of all, don't you see this is what Shadow and Rouge want! Sonic refuses to be intimate with Sally more so have a baby with her, it benefits Rouge and Shadow if Sonic doesn't find Rosy. Because they know that if they do find each other, their chances at getting the fortune will be at risk."
Amy widened her eyes. SONIC REFUSES TO BE INTIMATE WITH SALLY? WHAT?
"I don't care about Sally. I swear!"
"Sonia, Manic! No side conversations!" Elena scolded as Manic and Sonia muttered an apology.
Green Hill Zone
The Chili Pickers yelled and screamed in repulse as Sonic stood on the truck with Tails and Knuckles by his side.
"What do you mean you're cutting our salary?"
"Why are you going to overwork us?"
Sonic shook his head, "They aren't listening to me!"
"You need to get their attention!" Tails exclaimed.
Knuckles then took a deep breath, "SHUTTTT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPP"
Knuckles' voice echoed as the Chili Pickers silenced and looked the the trio in curiosity.
"You guys aren't listening to me!" yelled Sonic. "I already explained our reasoning. We need this Chili to be finished pronto. I am asking you which option you prefer. Obviously you'll only work a little extra temporarily or if you choose to not go that route, your salaries will only be cut temporarily as well."
"I still don't understand why we have to suffer for Rosy the Rascal's mess!" Slash exclaimed as he stood in front of the Pickers. "Who does she think she is? She goes to Europe to hoe around, getting gold for sleeping with other men every night, and then comes back to not do any work? And who pays the consequences, us! I knew she was a gold digging slut the day YOU and HER became an item!"
Sonic punched Slash.
"Don't. Ever. Say. That. About. Her. AGAIN!" he said as he jumped off the truck.
Slash stood up and grabbed his jaw, "Well there you are. I was wondering when that humble pretty rich boy was going to show his true colors."
The Chili Pickers all yelled too, agreeing with Slash.
"Oh so all think I'm a humble pretty rich boy huh?" Sonic yelled as he looked around.
"Sonic..." Knuckles warned but was ignored by Sonic.
"Not just that. You probably walk around these parts thinking you can get any girl to sleep with you just because you have money. But don't listen to me. I'm a peasant, my voice doesn't matter!" Swifty the Shrew spit out as Sonic turned to him.
"Anything else someone wants to get off their chest! C'mon! Say it to my face!" Sonic yelled as Knuckles shook his head.
"Overkill, just like always," he said.
"I've got something for your pretty boy face!" Slash threatened as he aimed his fist at Sonic, who dodged it.
Suddenly, three pickers ganged up on him and Sonic got into a brawl with all three of them.
"SONIC NO!" Tails yelled as he dragged him back as Knuckles told the Chili Pickers to stand back.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I DID TO MAKE YOU THINK THOSE THINGS! MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ROSY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NOTHING BUT PURE!"
"Then why did you go off and marry someone else!?"
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO EVERYONE! DON'T ACT LIKE NONE OF YOU HEARD MY DISCUSSION WITH ROSY THAT ONE DAY! YOU ALL KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED! DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME!"
The Chili Pickers stayed silent, only confirming Sonic's statement.
"So maybe Rosy isn't a whore, but that still doesn't change the fact that you ran her over like a truck!" Swifty argued.
Sonic looked at Swifty, offended.
"I made a mistake. We all make them! I'm still as loyal to Rosy as ever, I promise! But it offends me, and I'm sure it would offend my father and my grandfather that you would ever think of me or my family as shallow! I've always looked out for you, always, I hate doing this but sometimes we gotta go through struggles in order to succeed. Don't forget my roots. My grandfather once lived in poverty too and he and my father raised me to never take others for granted. Believe me, I know how hard this must be for you but you have to trust me! We've always paid you well! Please, I beg you, cooperate with me, don't do it for me, but for the memory of my grandfather."
The Chili Pickers stared at Sonic in sadness, and when it appeared like years had passed, Slash approached Sonic.
"I guess we can work a little extra, wouldn't hurt..."
The Chili Pickers agreed as Sonic smiled, soon cringing when he realized there was a bruise on his eye.
"Thank you..."
Station Square
The meeting moved on more smoothly after the whole outburst about Sonic and Sally as the family spoke about Paprika Enterprise.
Suddenly, a cell phone rang and Elena looked at her bag.
"Oh I apologize! I forgot to turn off my phone!" she said as she looked at the caller ID.
"Oh goodness, it's Sally! I must take this! Hello?"
The family looked at Elena in curiosity.
"HE WHAT!? Oh dear... is he okay? Thank Chaos, thank you for letting me know."
Elena hung up and face palmed.
"What happened mom?"
"Sonic got into a fist fight with the Chili Pickers.''
Amy widened her eyes and stood up quickly, "Goodness is he okay!?"
The family turned to her oddly.
Amy, suddenly realizing what she had done blushed.
"Because, well, I know how much you all care about him... and Chili Pickers can be pretty rowdy..."
Elena smiled, "Thank you so much for your concern of my grandson, he's okay, thankfully."
"You looked quite frightened there Pinky," Rouge commented, the first thing she had said in a long time. "You a secret fan?"
Amy shook her head.
"Yes, it looked as if you had just lost a loved one," Cocoa added.
"Cocoa, Rouge, stop." Charles commanded.
"I just want to make it clear to Pinky here that she needs to stay in her level, she's not like the rest of us," Rouge said.
"ROUGE!" Elena scolded.
"Just sayin."
"You're one to talk, last time I checked you were bankrupt before you married Shadow," Manic commented, receiving a glare from Rouge.
"MANIC! That's the last time you run your mouth like that!"
"Just speaking the truth Grandma!"
"Manic stop," Sonia scolded.
"I think we're done here," Charles said as he stood up. "We'll discuss anything else in our next family meeting."
"Yes, the next meeting will be around the 2 year anniversary of my husband Maurice's death. We'll try to get Sonic to be here." Elena said as everyone stood up and collected their things.
Silver approached Amy and whispered, "Don't let what Rouge said get to you okay, she's just being jealous."
Amy nodded and whispered a thanks as she left back onto her desk.
Manic approached her and chuckled, "Pretty crazy meeting huh? The name's Manic, and I thought your concern over my brother was pretty cool."
Amy smiled and shook hands with him, "Amy Rose."
"Don't mind Rouge and Cocoa, I promise not all of us are insane," Manic said as he laughed.
Amy smiled, Manic was so easy going.
"But I wish you could have met my brother Sonic. He's also an endangered The Hedgehog Family member that isn't on the board of insanity." Manic said as he laughed again, causing Amy to shift uncomfortably.
"Heh.. yeah, can't wait to meet him one day..."
"Well, I gotta run, I'll see you around Amy," Manic said as he waved.
Manic was definitely someone she can trust.
Dang one chapter for all that drama!
Next chapter TROUBLE IN THE OFFICE! And we'll learn something... quite interesting about Shadow.
REVIEW AND REMEMBER TO TELL ME WHAT YOU PREDICT WILL HAPPEN!
Next Time on Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog...
"Remember Eggman, what we're doing is dangerous and requires lots of intelligence."
"Don't worry Shadow, I'll be sure to be subtle. When do you want to start?"
"For now, we must wait until we've installed Paprika Enterprise. After, we'll figure out what to do..."