Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog
Chapter 20: Greed
I have noticed that some of you are urging to find out what's going to happen in the future. All questions will be answered, you just have to keep reading xD EVERYONE WHO COMMITS PREJUDICE IN THIS STORY, WHETHER HUGE OR SMALL, WILL RECEIVE THEIR PUNISHMENT! TRUST ME ON THIS! When I say that you'll be clinging onto your electronic device, YOU WILL BE CLINGING ONTO IT! If you thought Sonic marrying Sally was shocking then you got another thing coming.
But since I don't want to keep you all too on edge, I'm going to give you a small hint about the first person receiving their punishment.
Hint: Red and Orange, deeds lead to insanity.
Vector glared at Eggman as Sonic and Amy looked at Vector in confusion.
"What's with all the screaming?" Shadow said as he walked in and widened his eyes at the sight of the four individuals in the room.
"There you are Shadow, it just so happens that EGGMAN was making Sonic and Amy sign a very strange document," Vector said as Shadow looked at Eggman, who shrugged at him.
Shadow shook his head and approached the document, "No, No, No this is just an exportation that Sonic and Amy need to confirm."
"Why don't you confirm it then?" Vector challenged. "Why don't YOU sign it? You're the real director of this Corporation, it makes sense."
Shadow narrowed his eyes at Vector in anger and grabbed a pen abruptly from the pencil cup near Sonic, ripped the document off of Eggman's hands and roughly signed it.
Shadow waved the paper mockingly at Vector as he said, "HAPPY!?"
"Hmph," Vector said as he walked out of the office.
Sonic and Amy made eye contact and gave each other an uncomfortable look.
"Eggman, wait for me in your office. I have something to give you before I leave to Apotos."
Eggman nodded and left the room, leaving only Sonic, Amy and Shadow.
"You shouldn't be talking to Vector like that," Sonic pointed out as Shadow abruptly turned to him.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!? You've had your head wrapped around Chili Plants and Chili Dogs your entire life! You know nothing about business!"
Sonic glared at Shadow angrily and stood up to face him.
Amy gasped and nervously looked back and forth from Sonic to Shadow.
"This isn't about business Shadow! Vector was a friend of our Grandfather's and we have to respect him."
"That crocodile has NEVER respected me! Why should I respect him?"
"Because Vector is like a part of our family! He cares about us and has done a lot for us, the least we can do is respect him!"
Shadow laughed hysterically, causing Amy to widen her eyes in fear, she was afraid Sonic and Shadow would go down in a fist fight any second now.
"You mean to say he's done a lot for YOU! Vector has never cared about me, my father or my mother! He's always only taken a liking to our Grandparents, Uncle Jules, Aunt Bernadette, your pathetic siblings and YOU! He doesn't deserve my respect!" Shadow yelled and scowled as he got closer to Sonic.
Sonic stood his ground and clenched his fists as he scowled back, Amy nervously praying to Chaos that there wouldn't be a fight.
"What happened to you Shadow..."
Shadow blinked in surprise as Sonic changed his expression to a concerned one. "You weren't always like this..."
Shadow scowled again and growled, "I stopped being naive. You should try it sometime."
And with that Shadow left the room and and closed the door harshly, causing Amy to flinch.
"I'm sorry you had to see that."
Amy turned and realized Sonic was now turned to her.
"He wasn't always this cruel... I think greed is starting to overcome him."
"Greed?" Amy asked.
Sonic shook his head, "Wow I really never got to tell you anything about my personal life huh? There's so much I need to tell you, but not now. Geez Amy, IMAGINE what would have happened if Shadow walked in on you wanting to transfer to another Corporation."
Amy shivered and shook her head, "I don't even want to imagine it!"
"I wouldn't let him hurt you though," Sonic said as he winked at her and gave her a soft smile, causing her to blush.
Shadow barged into Eggman's office and slammed the door behind him.
"Destroy that document. NOW!"
Eggman nodded and put the paper through a shredder. "What now sir? I almost got caught!"
"I need to get rid of Vector. He's clearly a threat to my plans."
"What do you plan to do?" Eggman asked as Shadow smirked.
"I'm going to fire him."
MOMENTS LATER
"What..." Vector said as Shadow hovered over him.
"I have no use for you anymore Vector, I need fresh faces in this Corporation."
Vector scowled and began packing his things, "YOU'RE UP TO SOMETHING SHADOW AND I'M GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF IT! NOT ONLY HAVE YOU FIRED ME AS YOUR BUSINESS SPECIALIST BUT ALSO AS YOUR LAWYER! I will now only serve Elena, Sonic and his siblings. I have officially cut ties with you and your side of the family! Charles is a good man and it pains me but I refuse to work with the likes of you!"
Shadow rolled his eyes and pointed at the door.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Shadow turned to Sonic who was standing by the doorway with papers in his hand.
"Stay out of this faker!"
"YOU CAN'T FIRE VECTOR!"
"Yes he can Sonic... his family is in charge of this half of Maurice's Industry," Vector said as he grabbed his things and headed toward the office.
"Exactly so stay out of this!" Shadow exclaimed as he left the room.
Sonic frowned as he walked toward Vector and helped him carry his box.
"Thank you Sonic, you're a good kid."
"Please don't leave Vector! I need you here! Shadow isn't even going to be here for a while!"
"No Sonic this had to happen sooner or later... but don't worry, I will not abandon you, your siblings or Elena. Call me if you need ANYTHING and I'll run here to help!"
Sonic nodded and Vector was on the verge of leaving before turning back to Sonic.
"Sonic... I hate to say this but... watch your back. I sense something bad is going to happen and although I will be here to support you, I can't stop it from being grave. Shadow is up to something, be careful!"
Before Sonic could respond, Vector took his things and left the Corporation.
What could Shadow be up to...
Maria paced around her room while holding onto her phone.
Her father had taken her on a business trip and she had recently come back; not only had she heard the news of Rouge's lost baby, Cocoa had also called her saying that Shadow needed to talk to her.
"What could he want?" she asked herself as she gripped on the phone tightly.
Suddenly, the phone rang and she answered it quickly.
"Hello?"
"Hello Maria, how is my little tulip doing?"
"Shadow! I'm fine, how are you?"
"A little stressed, I've missed you."
"Yeah, right. I'm sure Rouge has kept you company."
"Rouge the Caboose has been nothing but a pain actually, I miss you. I want you to come with me to Apotos."
"But what about HER?"
"She's not coming. Please Maria, I'm going to be there temporarily and I want you there with me."
"Oh alright, let me fix a few pending things here and I'll catch up with you."
"Sounds good Maria, I cannot wait. We'll talk at the RCC event tonight."
Amy walked toward the exit of the office, only to be stopped by Sonic himself.
"Yes, Mr. The Hedgehog?"
Sonic cringed as he shook his head, "Don't call me that, it makes me feel like a spoiled rich boy."
"Oh really? Well news flash, you ARE a handsome little spoiled rich boy," she said as she pushed him to the side and tried to exit.
"Handsome huh?"
"What?" Amy asked as she turned.
"I only described myself as a potential spoiled rich boy, you added the adjective of HANDSOME. What's up with that Miss. Rose?" Sonic questioned with a teasing smirk.
Amy blushed, crap.
This reaction caused Sonic to grin even more widely.
"Well! Is there something you want!?"
Sonic's grin faded as he crossed his arms, "Are you going to the RCC event?"
"What's it to you!?" Amy spit back, receiving surprised stares from everyone in the office.
Amy turned and realized that Cream and Blaze had their mouths open in shock, clearly surprised that Amy was talking to her BOSS in such a manner.
Wave smirked as she turned to another department's secretary, "Look like Amy Rose is on the verge of getting fired. How dare she talk to Sonic the Hedgehog like that? Just wait till Elena the Hedgehog hears about this!"
Amy blushed in embarrassment as she bowed her head, "What I meant to say is, yes, I'm going. I apologize for the outburst, today hasn't really been my day."
Sonic frowned, he hated making others feel inferior, but he had to keep up the act or else his grandmother was going to give him an earful.
"They are peasants Sonic! It's okay to be friends with them but there are boundaries! They NEED to learn to respect you, you are of higher class and they... well... they're not."
Bleaugh, he always found that ideology disgusting.
"I don't mind it actually. Formalities are usually Shadow's thing," he said as he winked at her.
Wave scoffed and left, expecting a better reaction.
Amy gave a half smile as she excused herself and left the building.
Besides, she needed to tell Espio to get ready, there was no way she was going to this RCC event alone with The Hedgehogs.
"Sonia!"
"Sally!" Sonia exclaimed as she walked into Sonic and Sally's place with two paper bags. "Why aren't you getting ready?"
"Ready for what?" Sally asked.
"The Regulatory Chili Commission's event. Didn't Sonic tell you?"
"Do you really think, and forgive me for saying this, that your imbecile of a brother would want me to go with him!?" Sally asked.
Sonia sighed as she set the bags down.
"No, I don't. But you have to go! You need to show all those girls attending who Sonic the Hedgehog's wife is! Put them in their place!"
"I don't know Sonia, Sonic and I haven't been in good terms since the night he refused to give me the child."
"C'mon Sally! You can't be stuck in here all day! Here, I bought you a dress," Sonia said as she extended one of the paper bags.
"Are you guys playing dress up without me!?" Rouge exclaimed as she walked into the room.
"How did you get in?" Sally asked.
"The door was WIDE open hun, so I let myself in. So what's going on?"
"Sally doesn't want to go to the RCC event," Sonia said.
Rouge widened her eyes and looked at Sally, "No Sally you have to go! What if the husband stealer takes advantage of your absence to get at Sonic!"
"You mean Amy Rose?" Sally asked. "I doubt that'll happen, Sonic and Amy don't seem to like each other very much."
"THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTS YOU TO THINK!" Rouge exclaimed as Sonia rolled her eyes.
"You're being paranoid Rouge."
"Just watch girls, you'll see that I'm going to end up being right."
Sally rolled her eyes as she grabbed the dress.
"Thank you Sonia, but I don't think I'm going to go."
"Suit yourself, but keep the dress just in case you change your mind."
"SALLY!"
Sonia, Rouge and Sally turned to the doorway as Sonic confusedly walked into the living room.
"Oh, it's just you two. I saw the door open and I thought someone had robbed the house or something," Sonic said as he closed it.
"How was work honey?" Sally asked.
"Good. I'm taking a shower," Sonic simply responded as he walked into the restroom.
"See what I mean," Sally said as she turned to Sonia. "His indifference is KILLING me!"
Sonia sighed as she walked towards their room.
Sonic grabbed a dress shirt and dress pants as he prepared for his shower.
Sonia stood by the doorway and knocked on it.
Sonic turned with his toothbrush in his mouth, sighing in frustration when he noticed it was Sonia.
"We. Need. To. Talk."
"Can't. I need to shower."
"SONIC!" Sonia yelled as she closed the door behind her so that Rouge and Sally wouldn't hear them.
Sonic groaned as he sat on the bed, "What?"
"I really think you should reconsider the whole Artificial Insemination thing."
Sonic rolled his eyes as he turned his back to her, not wanting to listen.
Sonia scowled as she walked up to Sonic and yanked one of his quills.
"OW! What the heck Sonia!? What are you five!?"
"DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT MANIC AND I'S FUTURE!?" Sonia said as her eyes watered.
"Of course I do! You two mean more to me than anything!"
"THEN PROVE IT!" Sonia yelled. "HAVE A BABY! IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE OUR FUTURE!"
Sonic shook his head, "I can't do that Sonia... please understand! I'm not ready."
Sonia rubbed her hand through her quills in frustration. "I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IF ROSY THE RASCAL WAS THE ONE HAVING THE BABY YOU'D JUMP TO THE OPPORTUNITY! What's wrong with Sally!?"
"Nothing Sonia!"
"THEN!?"
"I don't love her Sonia! I can't help that!"
"You put yourself in this mess Sonic, now face the consequences LIKE A MAN! YOU ARE NO WHERE NEAR BEING THE MAN OUR FATHER WAS!" Sonia yelled as Sonic stood there with his mouth opening and closing.
That stung. That really stung.
Sonia suddenly realized what she had said and put a hand over her mouth, "I'm sorry Sonic! I didn't mean tha..."
Sonic didn't respond as he grabbed his things and walked into the restroom.
Regulatory Chili Commission Event
"Silver."
Silver and Blaze turned as Shadow approached him.
"I need to talk to you. Alone. Now."
Silver apologetically looked at Blaze as she nodded and left the two hedgehogs alone.
"Are you two dating now or?" Shadow asked as Silver crossed his arms.
"So what if we are?"
"Just asking, look, you haven't signed any documents from Dr. Eggman have you?" Shadow asked as Silver shook his head, causing Shadow to nod. "Good. I need to tell you something, I need your help and you CAN'T TELL ANYONE! ESPECIALLY my dad!"
Silver nodded as Shadow got close to his ear. "I found out a way to finance Paprika Enterprise."
"Oh really? Congrats Shadow, I don't see why that has to be a secre..."
"Shhh, I'm not finished," Shadow whispered as he looked to his sides. "I am conducting Irregular Exports of Chili."
Silver widened his eyes in shock as he turned to Shadow.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Silver yelled, causing the guests within the room to look at them.
"Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh, shhhhhhh," Shadow roughly hushed.
"Shadow..."
Silver and Shadow turned to Cocoa, who was blinking and had her mouth agape at him.
Shadow rubbed his hands through his quills, "Mom..."
"Shadow," she started as she whispered to both of them. "That could get you in jail!"
Shadow sighed, "Don't worry I have it all under control, no one is going to know I did it."
"Who else is in on this?" Silver asked.
"Eggman, and now you two. But don't worry, I won't make any of you do anything. That's why I decided to tell you Silver, in order for this operation to work I need your Department to sign some documents. I refuse to have you sign anything, so if I were you, I'd ask your assistant Blaze to sign everything."
"What!? No!" Silver exclaimed, impulsed. "I refuse!"
"Fine, do YOU want to sign it?" Shadow challenged.
"I don't want to take part in this at all!"
"Listen Silver, Blaze won't get in trouble. I'll make sure of it, but unless we want to end up in ruins, we have to do this."
"What do you mean?" Silver asked.
"If Sonic manages to gain Grandpa's fortune, our family will have nothing. This is our Plan B to not end up in the streets!"
Silver shook his head, "No we wouldn't, I'm sure Sonic wouldn't let that happen. He isn't the kind of person to leave you with nothing."
"You don't know that for sure Silver! Are you in or not?"
Silver took deep breathes as Cocoa faced Silver, "Look Silver, if Shadow says he knows what he's doing then we should trust him. He wouldn't of asked you to help him if he knew you'd be put in danger."
Shadow nodded, agreeing with his mother.
Silver sighed as he bowed his head, "Okay... I'm in. But ONLY if you promise Blaze won't come out losing!"
Shadow nodded, promising Silver as Silver went back with Blaze.
Shadow turned and noticed his mother was staring at him.
"What?"
"I hope you really do know what you're doing."
"I am."
"Does Rouge know about this?"
"No, I haven't told her."
"DON'T tell her," Cocoa said as Shadow looked at her in confusion.
"Why not?"
"Think about it Shadow, you are on the verge of getting a divorce from Rouge. If you tell her, and you tell her you want a divorce, she is capable of going to the police and throwing you in jail for revenge!"
Shadow blinked in realization, "You're right! She is capable of doing that..."
"What's all the chatter?" Rouge asked as she approached Shadow and Cocoa.
"We were just talking about Shadow's enterprise," Cocoa responded as Rouge nodded.
"When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow," Shadow said as she frowned at him.
"You sure you don't want me to go with you Shadow?"
"You're going to be bored. I'm going to be in the office the entire time. I want you to stay here and go to as many treatments as possible."
Rouge nodded as they all walked toward Charles.
Meanwhile, Sonia, Manic, Elvis and Elena walked into the room.
"I'm going to go greet Charles," Elena dismissed herself as she left Manic, Elvis and Sonia alone.
"This place is fancy," Manic said.
"Too fancy," Elvis said. "No way! They have punch! I'll be right back!" he enthusiastically said as he approached the punch.
Sonic then walked in alone, without Sally, and approached his siblings.
"What's up big bro!" Manic said as he and Sonic did a handshake.
Sonic and Sonia glanced at one another.
Sonia looked away as Sonic turned and headed to greet the rest of The Hedgehogs.
Manic noticed this and indignantly looked at Sonia, "Now what? You two got in a fight didn't you!?"
Sonia rolled her eyes, "It was his fault."
"Do tell!" Manic demanded.
"He's being irresponsible Manic! And a horrible husband! All Sally wants is a child and she asked Sonic if she could do an Artificial Insemination and he said no! We're going to end up in the streets at this rate."
"And let me guess, you tried to pressure him into saying yes to Sally."
"I wouldn't say pressure him..."
"You said something else to him didn't you?"
"Well, yes. I kind of sort of told him that he will never be the man our father once was."
Manic widened his eyes and face palmed, "WHAT THE HELL SONIA!? He's trying his best, BE GRATEFUL! He balances having a job at The Grounds, The Corporation, a wife and her family, a dysfunctional love life, and US! Imagine having a child added onto his plate. I can't believe you would say that to him!"
"I KNOW MANIC! It was in the heat of anger, I didn't mean it!"
"Stop pushing us away Sonia, ever since our parents died you have been siding with anyone BUT us. You know Sonic loves Rosy the Rascal, why are you pressuring him to start a family with someone he doesn't love? Let me guess, you want to secure your future wealth? Don't you think you're being selfish? Think about Sonic and what HE feels!"
Sonia shook her head at Manic, "Of course you would side with Sonic! You two have turned against me! I'm not the one pushing you away, you're pushing ME away. Just like how you opened up to Sonic instead of with both of us!" Sonia exclaimed as she walked away from him.
"Sonia wait!" Manic exclaimed as he reached out for her.
Elvis approached him with two cups of punch, "All good?"
"No..." Manic said as he solemnly took a cup. "Sonic and Sonia are arguing..."
Elvis lowered his cup in sadness as he shook his head.
"Little by little," Manic started. "Greed is slowly taking over Sonia's mind. I'm just praying to Chaos that she doesn't turn into a bitter person... like Shadow. That would be a huge heartbreak for Sonic and I."
"Where's Sally?" Elena asked as Sonic finished greeting everyone.
"She didn't want to come, and I didn't force her."
Rouge rolled her eyes, she couldn't BELIEVE Sally chose not to come.
Suddenly the entire room gasped as everyone turned to the entrance.
There she was, Amy Rose, wearing a beautiful red dress that hugged her curves, her hair was curled, and she wore light make up.
Sonic widened his eyes, awe struck, but as she approached the room, he noticed that the same purple chameleon from a few days ago was escorting her.
Sonic clenched his fists in anger.
Who WAS this guy? And WHY was he WITH Amy!?
Yikes!
What is Sonic going to do?
What will Amy do?
WHAT WILL ESPIO DO!?
Review and find out!
Next Time on Chili with Aroma of a Hedgehog...
"Hi, Amy right?"
"Y-yes..."
"My name is Sally Acorn the Hedgehog. I'm Sonic's wife. I need to talk to you, woman to woman."