I do not own any of the characters except for the unnamed elders and villagers. I do not write these to make money, so enjoy it for free.

Days later another golden ring appeared. Three silhouettes stood on its other side before stepping through to ours. They were blue, red, and yellow; my fox, my hedgehog, and the echidna warrior who'd gone to hunt my hedgehog, stood together and then stepped together.

My large eyes began to water immediately. Oh … Oh, my little hedgehog. He was no longer small, no longer a baby. And yet, and yet, when his gaze landed on me, his eyes filled with tears also even as the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

Tails stood grinning proudly by his side, somehow he looked older as well even if he hadn't grown physically. There was a fearlessness in his blue eyes, and he held his chin up firmly. The echidna warrior, though, looked even more different. His chin was tucked in and eyes were downcast. He went down on one knee.

All around me elders and villagers had gathered their mouths falling open as they saw what I saw. Soon, the red echidna spoke. I almost didn't recognize his voice for its humility. "Forgive me, elders. I have failed and yet succeeded. I joined forces with the human who hunted Sonic, for he said he only wished for vengeance on the hedgehog. I was fooled. The human Robotnic wanted Sonic's power, the power of the blue emerald, and the power of all the emeralds. I was deceived and almost helped him gain that power. Tails and Sonic, whom I had hunted with him, then helped me defeat him. And through that, I saw …" The warrior turned then to look at a beaming tails and silently weeping Sonic, "That these are not simply threats, but honorable warriors. Like us, they are willing to lay down their lives to keep safe the more vulnerable of the vast universe."

The head elder looked as if all his strength was draining from him. He lowered his staff continuing to stare at the red echidna. Finally he spoke. "We have failed. Now, you are a brotherhood of those with the power of emeralds. None can defeat you. We can only hope you indeed remain honorable or accept whatever fate you deliver to the universe."

The echidna warrior bowed his head. Tails scowled and twitched his tails. Sonic finally turned his gaze from me. He gestured to me as he looked at the head elder. "She taught me to be honorable. Between her and my new parents …"

That is how I came to stand on the rail of a deck watching a human woman bring out a plate of "pancakes." My hedgehog zipped out holding bottles of "maple syrup." Tails spun his tails bringing out silverware. Knuckles … was no longer asked to carry things due to not seeming to know his own strength, but he took very seriously his task of watching the sky for birds … other than me that might be eyeing the feast this family wished to eat outside.

I pulled out the chairs for Sonic's human parents. I would be forever grateful for what they did for him. I then raised my head and smiled watching my fox cub and young hedgehog sit down across from humans who'd taken us all in. My hedgehog looked to me and threw me what he called a "sausage." Though they upset my stomach somewhat, I had also found sausages were delicious.

Somehow after this meal Sonic and Tails were ready to have a race. I watched the yellow and blue blurs streak into the forest. Then I flapped my wings and rose into the air to watch my hedgehog and fox run free, but not alone.

So, what did you think?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes