Chapter five is here. That's…all I have to say.
Metal: I have something to add. How about trying to update faster? As lazy as you are, this story will take forever to finish.
M.H: Hey hey, I'm working on it! Why are you giving me trouble?
Metal: One, I can tell you're getting lax. Two, I saw what you did to me.
M.H.: …?
Metal: Don't worry. I'll have my revenge on you yet.
M.H.: Right…TheManiacalHunter918 does not own Sonic the Hedgehog.
Metal: But very soon he will own a headstone with his grave.
M.H.: Wow pissy much?
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Accepting Reality
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It's not that he had far to go. Actually, having gone five miles out of Evergreen City, he was practically at Tails' doorstep. It was his newfound hesitation that kept his pace slow. Being neurotic wasn't becoming of the optimistic hero, but he didn't seem to care. After the shocks he had undergone, he was hardly concerned about his image. All his hopes were now riding on his last buddy. If he could just get Tails to see his predicament, then he might be able to find a way home.
"What if Tails isn't good with machines in this world?" he asked himself "Worse yet, maybe he's too young now, just like Amy." suddenly, a more frightening thought was conjured "Or maybe he's not a…Nope! Not even going to go there!" he shoved that thought back to whichever circle of hell it spawned from.
Reaching his destination was like a long overdue visit to the doctor (Sonic could never tell them why he hated spikes so much); he could barely stand waiting, but he wasn't eager to get it over with. The suspense was so prevalent, that even the air around him felt heavy. At any other time, he would've felt foolish for stopping at the door as long as he did. With sweaty gloves, and a pit in his stomach, Sonic finally knocked.
But there was no answer.
Knocking louder yielded the same result. He tried shouting out, but that too failed. Frustrated, Sonic crossed his arms and scowled. If anyone saw him now, they'd have thought Shadow had dyed himself blue.
"Great," he thought "Now what? Was he sleeping? Had he left already?" The hedgehog tapped his foot, while questioning his next move. It wouldn't be smart to run off in a mindless search, so he considered heading back to the city. Disliking the thought of being asked uncomfortable questions by his 'fans', he eventually decided against it.
Kicking a stone somewhat savagely, the hedgehog sat down. All the unknowns were beginning to make him more irate than concerned.
"If only people gave me straight answers instead of this 'find out for yourself' crap." he said wearily. Even though Vanilla had been helpful, she still left the figuring out part up to him. He knew it wasn't her fault, but the excess stress was getting to him. His internal ranting left him quite tired, despite the fact it was barely past noon. Sonic hated how worrying and waiting made him so lethargic.
He continued to wait for like this for several hours. By the time the stars came out, Sonic had fallen asleep near what he assumed to be Tails' porch. He was banking on his little buddy to not mistake him for a squatter, which he admitted was quite a gamble in this upside-down world.
Sleeping soundly, he didn't catch a glimpse of the approaching figure.
"Where could he be?" the person said quietly "I've flown everywhere he would normally go." letting out a depressed sigh, the figure walked up the door. Upon hearing nearby snoring, the person checked the area. Letting out a surprised/overjoyed gasp, the person walked over to Sonic's sleeping form.
"Oh Sonic…were you waiting here the whole time?" the figure said sympathetically. With some difficulty, Sonic's body was lifted up "Urgh…you're way too heavy for me, but I can't just leave you out here."
Carrying him inside, the figure only managed to reach the couch before setting the hero down.
"Whew! That took some doing." the figure placed a gentle hand on the side of the couch "Rest easy Sonic, I'll be waiting for you in the morning." with that, the figure left to their room.
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*Evergreen City Residence*
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"It's true mom! I saw Sonic!" Amy insisted. She might have been a rambunctious girl, but she was not a liar.
"Dear I know you adore him, but none of us have seen him in weeks. In all likelihood, he probably died in that explosion." Amy's mother attempted to get her daughter to understand. It was hard seeing her so heartbroken over his apparent death.
"Nuh-uh! A bunch of these reporter guys saw him too! Even my fan club members saw him!" Amy refused to change her story.
"Dear please. If reporters had seen him, don't you think it would be on the news?" unbeknownst to her, their T.V. had been switched over to the news. A headline was displayed, showing multiple interviews with the esteemed Mike Ridgeback.
"Mr. Ridgeback, can you tell us about the stranger?" a woman asked the jackal.
"As you know, my team is the primary source of any news regarding the fairly well known Sonic the Hedgehog. I can say beyond any doubt that the person I encountered our city's square was none other than the blue hero himself."
"You must know about the reports of his death. What do you have to say to all the skeptics out there?"
Amy pointed to the T.V. franticly. After a minute or so, her mother turned around to hear the rest of the broadcast.
"I will say that I am just as surprised as any. I regret that my crew was not able to get any live photographs of the hedgehog himself, but I can assure you that if Sonic is back, I will be the first to know about it."
"Thank you for joining us Mike. Coming up next, we will hear what our city's second largest fan club has to say about Sonic's mysterious return."
With mouth agape, Amy's mother turned back to her with a apologetic look "I'm sorry for doubting you dear. So when did you see Sonic?"
Amy grinned widely "Earlier today! I guess I should've shown you sooner, but I got something special from him!" flipping to her marked page, Amy displayed the book to her mother.
"He tore your book?" Amy's mother said, completely puzzled.
"What? No! Can't you see his autograph?" Amy said impatiently.
"Dear, the page is blank. Maybe it was another page?" her mother handed the book back a horrified Amy.
"No no no! It had to be this one! I remember him tearing the page by accident…" she flipped through other pages just to be sure, but still found nothing.
"That's alright dear, at least you got to meet him right?" her mother reassured her.
Amy looked up. She didn't want to worry her mom, so she smiled and nodded.
"Well it's about time for bed. Don't stay up too late, alright?" Amy gave her mother a hug before she left for bed.
After her mom was out of the room, Amy set her book aside. Dressed in her pajamas, she hopped into bed.
"Could he have tricked me? No, remember reading it just to make sure. I wonder what happened?" she mused as she succumbed to sleep.
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*The Next Morning*
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"Wake up! Wake up chili-dog gut!" a teen's voice tried to rouse him, but Sonic just drifted off to sleep again.
Suddenly, he felt the frame shift. Tipping higher and higher, Sonic felt his whole body roll off the warm bed.
"Waaaahhh!" a loud thump later, the blue hero found himself mocked with a laugh from his tormentor. Before he could clobber the culprit, he met a familiar sight; a pair of crystal blue eyes, giving a cheeky look of triumph. Sonic was so stunned to see his old friend exactly as he remembered him.
"Tails!" he shouted, giving the kit a strong hug.
"Ack! Yeah it's me, now let go!" the fox yelled as the broke out of the hug "Save your creepy affectionate embraces for the bride. Come on get dressed already, you're going to be late!"
Sonic was completely lost, but it was so good to see his best friend again that he didn't care. Now he could find out where he was! But what was he doing in a bedroom, and did Tails say something about a bride? Was he going to a wedding?
"What are you standing around for Sonic? Get your suit on pronto!" Tails said, while handing him a formal black suit.
Heading out the door, he gave one last look "You've got ten minutes, hurry up!"
Trying to wrap his mind around the crazed events, Sonic spent the better part of ten minutes thinking. Once he got his basic 'just go with it' logic digested, he quickly donned the stuffy suit. Hearing a knock at the door, he gave Tails the ok to enter.
"Wow! You even got the tie on right! I guess you can be efficient when you want to be." Tails remarked slyly.
"Did anyone ever tell you what a keen sense of humor you have Tails? I guess you must store that wisdom in that unsightly extra tail of yours." Sonic forgot how much fun it was to pick on his little bro, jokingly of course.
"Don't hurt yourself speedy. I know the only things you struggle with are speaking eloquently, and conquering a kiddy pool." Tails shot back lamely.
"You're just mad because I'm the better chick magnet. Really bud, what do you have on my royal blueness?" Sonic didn't even care how immature he sounded, this was just what he needed right now.
"I hope that 'royal blueness' doesn't involve the inflammation of a certain private area." Tails countered.
"Hey hey! Aren't we getting a little personal now?" the two shared a long laugh at their odd exchange of words.
As the two walked outside, Sonic was amazed by the number of guests he saw. Whoever's wedding this was it must've cost a fortune. Tails led him past several unfamiliar faces, and over to a small room set up on the grass.
"Here we are. It won't be long now." Tails calmly adjusted his tie. Sonic on the other hand was back to questioning the absurdity of the whole situation.
"Look Tails, what's happening? I mean, aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?" Sonic wondered why his buddy didn't act surprised to see like everyone else.
"What?" Tails gave Sonic a curious expression, but it soon faded into a knowing smirk "Oh no you don't, I'm not going to let you pull a fast one on me this time. You're staying right here until the bride is ready. And if you don't want to listen, I brought a little extra help." Tails let out a sharp whistle. A second later, an unmistakable red figure stepped in the doorway.
"K-Knuckles?" Sonic backed into a defensive stance. To his surprise, this Knuckles smiled like his old self.
"I'm on bouncer duty today." Knuckles spoke with eerie cheerfulness "So you better behave yourself blue."
Sonic was shocked. Had Knuckles regained his senses? He did answer to his name, so it must be the same guy. Inwardly bursting with joy, Sonic's face stretched into the silliest grin he'd ever worn in his whole life.
"It's great…to see you man!" Sonic half-choked on his words, causing Knuckles to look a bit uncomfortable.
"Uhh…blue? Are you okay?" Sonic never got a chance to answer as Tails spoke first.
"Don't let him trick you Knucks! He tried the same charade on me!" Tails warned the guardian.
"For shame Sonic," Knuckles said, wagging his finger "You'd even try to run out on this one? Ha ha! Well I can't say I blame you, but you're the one that made the commitment, not me. Try to enjoy the moment; this is a special day for you after all."
"Huh? A special day…for me?" Sonic replied in a muddle.
"Hey Knuckles! It's time!" Tails called from outside.
"Now remember blue: You run, I kill. I am more than willing to drag you and your bloody tux back to finish what you started. Are we clear?" at the nervous nod of the cobalt hero, Knuckles gave him a generous push "Good, now go and kiss your girl already!"
"Wait what?" was all Sonic could get out as he found himself in front of a seated crowd, most of which were formally dressed friends and relatives. Add that to the odd behavior of his friends, and his position was finally clear.
He was the one getting married!
Freaking out was not an option. Still, he had to tell somebody to call it off. He had been trying to leave this world, so he sure didn't want to forge any long-term relationships. Tails wasn't helping him much, as he only offered an encouraging thumbs up instead of listening to him. Matters were only made worse when he saw Cream exit the bride's chamber. Sonic knew he had to do something before it was too late. Choosing to bypass Knuckles' warning, he tried to make a break for it. To his dismay, Tails had somehow managed to lasso him with some kind of energy rope. The crowd let out a light-hearted laugh, assuming that the hero was just getting cold feet.
"I trust you won't be trying that again." Tails said to a now muffled and bound Sonic.
Now unable to strain or move, the poor hedgehog could only watch as the veiled bride exited her room. Pulling Sonic onto the stage, Tails stepped aside to allow the captive groom some room.
The pastor also made his way on to the stage. Sonic's fear soon turned into a near-irresistible urge to burst out laughing, for unless his eyes deceived him, the 'pastor' was none other than a certain ultimate life-form.
"Not a word…" Shadow growled as soon as he saw Sonic.
Feeling a lot lighter after that relief, Sonic dared to look at the bride. Her face remained hidden, as Shadow began to speak.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
Shadow's words faded into the background. As the bride's eyes rose to meet his, Sonic's mouth fell open in surprise. The same gentle-eyes he'd met yesterday were now right in front of him.
Only these were the eyes of a fully grown woman.
There was no mistaking it, and yet it was hard to recognize her. He had never seen her in such beauty until now. The shock effect was enough to cause him to momentarily forget about where he was, or what he was doing. Somehow, seeing her as her older self kept the blue blur's mind grounded in reality.
Even when reality seemed to be constantly shifting.
"Do you, Amy Rose, take Sonic the Hedgehog to be your lawful wedded husband?" Shadow asked.
With an angelic smile she answered "I do."
Turning to Sonic, Shadow continued "And do you, Sonic the Hedgehog, take Amy Rose to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"This is a dream." he said to himself "I can possibly be doing this…" he hesitated for a moment longer. By keeping her at arm's length, Sonic had always hoped to keep Amy from becoming Eggman's trophy victim. After all the rejection he'd shown her in the past (in his world), he figured things were over between them. Hell, they hadn't even officially dated! Why would he suddenly want to marry her now?
Despite these thoughts, something compelled him to answer. As if there was some deeper purpose behind all this.
Or perhaps he was counting on the 'it's just a dream' thinking to save him.
Regardless of what passed through his mind, Sonic answered "I do."
Knuckles was restrained from letting out a cheer, thanks to a well timed intervention by Rouge. Tails gritted his teeth to stop his own outburst. Even Shadow smiled genuinely.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you hedgehog and wife. You may kiss the bride."
His hands attempted to move, but he had forgotten that he was still bound. Gradually, every pair of eyes fell on Tails.
"Oh!…uhh…Sorry about that!" he said, releasing Sonic at last, once again causing the crowd to laugh briefly.
Lifting her veil, Sonic leaned in to make good on his choice, wherever it would lead him.
Before his lips could meet her own, he felt time stop. Everyone but Sonic was frozen in place.
"What the heck?" he watched as everyone began to melt away, starting with the faces he least recognized. Soon, only his dearest friends remained.
"Knuckles…" he saw the echidna's tough grin fizzle away with the rest of his body.
"T-Tails…" his best friend was still wearing his brotherly smile, even as he faded.
Turning back to Amy, Sonic was horrified to see that she was fading too, albeit much at a much slower rate than the others.
"N-no…AMY!" shouting out and reaching for her did nothing to stop the process. In a few short seconds, Sonic was all alone. Not a single person left to greet, tease, or love. Only empty darkness loomed all around.
With a sudden crack, the darkness shattered; revealing another world. It was the same green field, but it lacked every single person he recognized. Only the unfamiliar faces remained.
"What's this supposed to mean?" he asked, but received no response. Instead, his eyes felt heavier and heavier until he lost consciousness.
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*Living Room*
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With sharp gasp, Sonic was awake. His eyes traced the unfamiliar room. Before he could register anything else, he had to take a moment to himself. The dream was still etched in his mind.
Coming to his senses was not as painful as he expected. The dream may have been bizarre, but it's contents had somehow lifted a great burden off his shoulders. Now he accepted what the dream had told him: He was in another world, and nothing here would ever be like it was before. Worst of all, he had to accept that he might be stuck in this new reality.
"It doesn't matter…" he thought without fear "The world may change, but I never will. My real friends live on inside me." the thought may have sounded corny, but it was the only thing that gave him comfort during this difficult time. Picking himself up, he was ready to tackle the new world.
"Right, first things first, how did I end up indoors and asleep on a couch?"
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End of Chapter Five
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No chapter will be this long again. I just needed to get the 'dream sequence' out of the way (yes it was necessary). I promise the next chapter will be much lighter for Sonic. Feel free to post your comments. So far it's been very encouraging.
Note: Anyone concerned about Tails being female can relax. He is not female in this story (I would've warned you beforehand).
Until next time.