I Don't own Sonic or Sega.

3. The Wedding

Ryko was standing next to Laoch, his arms behind his back and smiling. It was then that Shade came down the aisle in a wedding dress and stood across from Laoch. Sonic droned on and on and on until finally he got right where Ryko wanted him.

"Do you, Shade, take Laoch…"

Ryko was thinking. Any moment, Espio…

"And Laoch do you…"

Ryko's heart was beating faster and faster by the second.

"Then you may-"

Multiple people jumped out from all directions. Ryko pulled out two AK-47s(one of his favorites) and held them at bay. Espio materialized out of thin air and Vector and Charmy came down from the ceiling. Shade and Laoch were too stunned to speak.

"It seems." Began Ryko, smiling.

"We've come to an impasse." Somebody, a blue Echidna who had to be the leader, frowned.

"Boss isn't gonna be happy about this." It was then Ryko opened fire, but what came out of the AKs weren't bullets. Tranquilizer darts flew out, hitting a few of the marauders, and Team Chaotix knocked out a few. Hades opened a portal and took out the rest. When they were all down Ryko turned his head towards Laoch and Shade.

"Kiss the bride, already."

Casino Night Bachelor Party, 7:30 PM

"You only have Team Chaotix, Sonic, an unwilling Shadow, Tails, and me. What a party. Oh, hi Hades." Hades was approaching them.

"The only reason that Ares tried to do this was because he wanted to instill fear in you. You handled this extremely well. He didn't faze you all."

"Alright, Hades. Why. Why are you so interested in me? It isn't for the people, the greater good, or it isn't for Ares' death. Why me?"

"I knew your father." That shut the whole room up. Nobody, except Laoch's dad, knew who was dead, knew Ryko's father, not even himself. Ryko stared at him for a few minutes before breaking the silence.

"I… I'm leaving. Have fun, Laoch." He walked out the door. Laoch turned to Hades. Hades noted his attire. Some sort of futuristic armor, but it was sleeveless. He had black gloves.

"Do you always wear that?"

"That doesn't matter. How old are you? You look eighteen. How did you know Ryko's father?"

"Physically, I'm eighteen. But I've been here since the beginning of time. I'm no god, no higher power. I've lived through everything, I've seen it all. Failure, triumph. I know what happens to people in this world. Everyone was the same. They never learned from mistakes. Ryko's father was different. He never feared anything; nothing could faze him. You could kidnap his wife, you could tie him up in a completely dark room for 2 weeks, nothing scared him. He didn't just learn from his mistakes; he capitalized on them. He saw a bad technique, he still used it. But he modified it so the mistake was the thing that gave him strength. For him, there isn't a thing called original. No such thing as a technique. There was only a 1,000 ways to do it wrong. But there were 1,000 ways to do it the right way. Ryko carries the same trait. He is cocky, a little arrogant, but he backs it up every time you see him. 120%, every single time. He is the only one that can defeat Ares; the only one that can extinguish the flame." He stepped through his portal and left.

"Weirdest. Wedding. Ever." Said Vector.

A tree in a forest, 8:00 PM

Ryko was leaning against a tree. In a forest. He was thinking hard. He hated Hades, with all his heart, at that very moment. But then he thought. Why? Why should he? Hades then appeared as if on cue.

"I'm not good with people. I've seen thousands of years of emotions, and yet… I have none. I can't relate to you or anybody else on Mobius. I don't know how you feel. All I can say is that I'm sorry. I don't know what people feel. It's helpful to be blessed with my power, but this… this is a curse. I'm sorry."

To Ryko, this meant everything in the world to him. Hades, of all people?

"Oh, and Sonic wanted to tell you that he's in the derby tomorrow." Ryko smiled.

"The Mobian Derby?" The Mobian Derby is an event looked forward to by all Mobians. Since hedgehogs are so fast, Mobius gathers up 13 and sets them up in a race. All hedgehogs are eligble. Ryko's dream was to compete, but his work denied him.

"What are his odds?"

"3-1"

"That's the lowest in history!" Ryko had kept track the year he started watching.

"Well, he gave you front row tickets. He handed them to him.

"Aren't you going?" Hades, probably the for the first time in 10,000 years, smiled.

"I don't need tickets to watch.

Front row at the Mobian Derby, 2:00 PM

"I wonder why Bucc picked this concept." Wondered Laoch.

"Well, the Kentucky Derby was today, and he bet on Bodemiester and lost, thanks to I'll Have Another. That could be it." Said Shade.

"Pretty Much." I said.

"Welcome to the Mobian Derby! "

"Yep, and look, here comes Scourge! The cocky and arrogant Anti-Sonic who has every right! With odds of 5-1, he knows he can get the job done! But the question is, can he beat this hedgehog with the lowest odds in history!"

Sonic had his regular shoes on, but everything was black, including the strap and buckle. His gloves were black too, and his name was etched on the side in white. He was wearing jet black sunglasses. The crowed was going insane.

"I just received word that those shoes are available in the gift shop! I'm gonna go buy them!"

"This just in, my broadcast partner just abandoned me on live TV for a pair of shoes. The hedgehogs are lining up on the starting gate… wait, we, have a new entry? Did I hear that right? If my ears aren't deceiving me I believe I just heard that Shadow the Hedgehog is in the building and awaiting a number! But we already have thirteen- no, we have twelve! It was reported that a hedgehog named Osiris was supposed to race, but was somehow hurt! We didn't even notice it but somebody did and is capitalizing. What? Ladies and gentlemen, I have just received word that Shadow's odds are also 3-1! We'll be back after a 1 day commercial break! Thanks, Buccanners6!