"Heya little bro!" A voice called.

Both Sonic and Miles froze in their steps as a light green hedgehog with orange eyes walked towards them. The two of them had finished carving the model for the bi-plane, which would soon be the first of it's kind and had been off to collect supplies to build it.

Miles had taken the liberty to show him a swamp he had discovered in the forest that had many plants. One of which was carki, a Mobian plant that was like a combination of reeds and bamboo.

They had decided to build the frame first after Sonic had remembered what had happened the first time he built one and carki seemed like the perfect supply.

Sonic was balancing a large pile in his hands with a small piece he had taken to make into a flute hanging on a string around his neck, while Miles was balancing as many stems as he could in his small paws.

"Wow! That's a lot of wood. Could you set it down for a second?" The voice called again.

Sonic set down his pile and helped Miles to do the same. Immediately he was tackled to the ground and sat on as the other hedgehog began to give him a noogie, miraculously avoiding his razor-sharp quills.

"I haven't seen you since we were eight you jerk." The weight was lifted from his back as the other stood and helped him up, "Come 'ere little bro."

Sonic stepped forward awkwardly and was quickly pulled into a strong hug. He stiffened and his quills rose, before relaxing and carefully returning it, "Hey… bro. Been a while."

"I know. Me and Sonia are really glad you're okay."

Sonic gave a small chuckle, "I'm glad you're okay too."

"Hey! Who's this?" Manic asked as he let go and faced the small fox.

Sonic grinned and got down on his knees as he grabbed one of his friend's shoulders, "This is my new best friend, Miles."

Manic smiled and held out a hand, "Nice to meet you Miles. Call me Manic. What are you two doing with all that wood anyways?"

Sonic smiled as Miles burst into a proud grin, sure that since one hedgehog had liked his idea another would too, "We're going to make a plane, so that other people can fly too!"

Manic chuckled, "How about I lend a hand as well? I don't get to get my hands dirty much."

XXxxXX

"Well hello there handsome."

Shadow turned towards where the voice was and saw a face he knew very well. Rouge the bat smiled at him as she walked forward.

She looked the same except for her clothes. Instead of the tight body suit she usually wore, she had on a light purple shirt with sleeves that got wider near her hands and black jean-shorts.

"Hello." Shadow answered back with a small smile before deciding to copy a phrase both Rouge and Sonic said often, "Long time no see."

Rouge smiled and chuckled, "You know how it is. Being a nurse in the castle is a fine job, but it's much harder than being a jewel thief."

Quickly Rouge looked to the left and right before grabbing Shadow's arm and dragging him outside, "I just have to tell you something! I know you have amnesia, but I can still trust you to keep quiet right?"

Shadow chuckled lightly and nodded, "Even if it was a murder no word will come from me."

Rouge smiled and blushed lightly as she sat down, "Well, you know how much I like jewels right?" Shadow nodded and she continued after he sat down as well, "A few hours ago I met a treasure hunter. I'd gotten caught in one of a poacher's traps when I was searching for jewels and he was going to get rid of me so that I couldn't say who he was. And then HE showed up! He punched the guy and carried me off. He put me down near the town and before he left we talked. I asked why he'd rescued me and he told me 'that guy doesn't know how to treat a lady.' He even asked me on a date with him!"

Shadow smiled and nodded, "So why do you want it to be kept a secret?"

Rouge sighed and frowned, "That's the problem, I don't, but he supports Queen Aleena's side, supposedly they've got a new advantage because of him."

Shadow 'hmmed' and leaned back, "That is a problem. What is it? And who managed to catch your heart?"

Rouge gave a small smile, "The treasure hunter is Knuckles the echidna, and the advantage, there's been rumors that it's supposed to be the wind itself… Shadow? … Shadow?"

The name fell on deaf ears as Shadow stared out towards the Dark Forest for a few seconds before disappearing into it, there was only one person he knew that could be described like that.

XXxxXX

"Look at you three! Covered in dirt! And what's this? Splinters and metal shavings! All three of you go to the river right now and wash that off!"

Sonic grinned as his brother chuckled.

Right now all three builders were being reprimand by their older sister Sonia. She'd taken quite well to the young fox as well and had no problem with Sonic either. No, what she had a problem with was how dirty everyone had come back. She was a pink hedgehog, slightly darker than Amy, with dark pink fur between her ears, along with light blue eyes. She wore a red tank top and a purple skirt.

"Go on! Get!"

Sonic yelped when she smacked him in the back between his quills not used to anyone touching him there. Not wanting a repeat he disappeared outside in a streak of blue with Manic and Miles following close behind.

Manic smiled as they walked through the forest the small village had claimed as it's own, "She's really glad you're back bro. I haven't seen her this loose and playful since we were kids."

Miles grinned as well as he took the hand of the hedgehog he was starting to view as a guardian angel since no one had picked on him since he'd shown up, "Yeah! And everyone else is happier too! Even Amy is acting like a kid again."

Sonic chuckled, "I just try to make people happy. Seems like it's working."

"Hold on bro." Manic said when they reached a pond next to the river and Sonic was about to climb in, "I wanna take you to one we haven't been at since we were kids."

Sonic tilted his head before smiling and nodding.

The trio walked a few hundred more feet until they reached a pool glowing light blue.

"Ma brought all three of us here when we were four. Following our dad's instructions she put you in the pool so that it would take away one of your powers to protect you. Ma was gonna give 'em back to you when you came back, but she's not here so it's my job."

Sonic nodded nervously, "So I just step into the pool?"

"That's all. You have to go all the way under though."

Sonic frowned and gulped. He still couldn't stand going all the way under water very well, even though he was better at it since his friends had helped and a few giant robots forcing him in. Plus his cover would probably be blown since he was pretty sure he had all of his powers.

After taking off his shoes and gloves he stood at the deep end and took a large breath. Squeezing his eyes shut he stepped off the edge and fell into the deep, warm water, praying that there wasn't any type of sea monster in there since he seemed to have such bad luck with those.

After two minutes passed when he didn't come up Miles started struggling against Manic, "Let me go! He's drowning!"

"You can't drown in that pool." Manic said calmly though his eyes showed worry, "You can breath in it. My only concern is that Sonic is panicking down there."