Disclaimer: All Sonic characters belong to SEGA. OCs are mine.
Final chapter. Let's do it to it.
Chapter 40: In the Next Life
Chelsea's eyes snapped open.
She bolted upright, gasping for air. Her eyes darted around, quickly taking in her surroundings. She braced herself for the sight of the Black Arms leader but noticed the empty room and the lack of an angry alien. Her breathing became steady.
She first noticed the soft glow from the rich blue planet floating below the spaceship. At first, she thought it was Earth, but the longer she stared at it, the less she could recognize the land masses. Geography might not have been her strongest subject, but she knew what the continents looked like. These looked different. This had to be Mobius.
The ebony hedgehog marveled over its beauty and the silent backdrop of endless stars. Her eyes scanned the rest of the room. There were open tubes and control panels scattered everywhere. Perhaps they were in another room intended for experimentation.
Chelsea's gaze went back to the peaceful planet. Her thoughts floated towards what life on the planet would be like before her ear twitched.
Was that...snoring?
About two feet from her lay Sonic, Shadow, and Silver, sprawled on the floor in a way that reminded her of how she often found them in the morning. Chelsea snorted before the sight of bruises on their bodies triggered her memory.
Black Devil. Vines. Emerald. Project 24. Fighting. Chaos Blast. Then-
"Chaos Control?" she whispered. Chelsea moved to lift her legs before a dull pain shot up her abdomen. Vexation hissed between her teeth. "Right. The prick body slammed me into the wall."
Honestly, how was she moving? She could barely feel her left foot after that encounter.
Something solid fell from her lap. Relieved, Chelsea picked up the purple Chaos Emerald she successfully removed from Black Doom. She didn't know where they were, or what happened, but she knew it had something to do with the stone—and she was eternally grateful for it. Now that they were away from the alien commander, they could use the emerald to escape the ship and—
Again, something moved in her lap, but it wasn't a jewel. The young mother's eyes slowly trailed back down only to finally notice an arm wrapped around her hips. She followed the silver arm and found Noah lying beside her. Another flashback ran across her vision and the woman was nearly overtaken by a rush of emotion.
Suddenly, Noah groaned and tightened his grip around her. Immediately, the ebony hedgehog tensed, fire bursting up her spine and embarrassment burning her cheeks. She held her breath, refusing to move an inch, fearful that she'd explode.
Noah stirred awake, blinking away the sandman's dust from his eyes. He propped himself on his free elbow before soaking in his surroundings. Once his blue eyes landed on the frozen dark figure, he also sprang up into action.
His palm cupped the scratch on her cheek as he leaned over to examine her injuries. "Thank Chaos! You're okay. I was so worried," he rambled. The distressed hedgehog was completely unaware of just how flustered and overwhelmed Chelsea began to get. "That bastard. To even do something like that to you...I'm so sorry I didn't get there in time. I'm sorry I couldn't get you and your boys out before he found us. Chaos, look at this gash on your arm!"
Chelsea tried to lean away from his prodding touch and encroaching gaze but failed. She tried to calm his worry but squawked when his hands began to pat down her body in search of anything broken.
"N-Noah!?" she stammered. She pushed off the hand on her ribs, but he continued, oblivious. "Wait—"
"Does it hurt here? What about here? Your arms were all bent up before but—wait you're sitting up so your spine should be okay." He ran a thumb down the middle of her back and she reeled her arm back. "Your legs. How do they feel? Let me check your hips—"
Then she slapped him.
His head reeled to the side, and he stayed there for a second to absorb what had just happened. Chelsea decided to spell it out for him.
"1) Keep your hands to yourself," she stated.
Noah, still looking to the side, licked his lips and nodded stiffly. His mouth opened and closed for a few moments until he landed on what he would say.
"Right. Sorry."
Chelsea swallowed. "2) That was also for everything. I get why you did it, but I'm still pissed at you."
Even though it was hard, she met his sorrowful blue eyes. He went to say something, but Chelsea pressed her lips to his cheek. It was quick. Noah barely registered what happened, and he was very confused, but he still felt himself sigh in relief all the same.
He stared at her lips before taking in her warm brown eyes. He stopped himself from going back in for a real one so as not to dig himself into even more dirt.
"3) ...Thank you for fighting for us. I forgive you," she whispered. Noah nodded and gingerly ran a hand through her loose quills. Chelsea rolled her eyes. "What did I say about the hands?"
He knew she wasn't being fair, but he didn't mind. "I can't help myself when it comes to you," Noah chuckled.
He liked how easily she could go from bold to bashful under his eye. He tilted her gaze back to him and fixed a serious expression on his face. He wanted her to hear this in her heart.
"Listen to me. Yes, I gave him the idea, but I never, not once, called you pathetic, expendable, or malleable— and whatever else he told you. Before or after we met. Those were his words. Not mine. I swear to you, on my mother and father's grave."
Chelsea couldn't deny the intensity in his stare. Her heart rammed against her chest, and she wanted to slap him again. Or maybe kiss him? Regardless, her thoughts began to turn to mush, and this was all the emotional turmoil she could handle right now. At least they had gotten some stuff out of the way. They could figure out the rest on land.
With nothing else to say regarding the topic, she nodded. Noah would take that for now. Chelsea looked away to the room again.
"Do you know where we are?" she asked.
Noah scanned the area and brightened up with hope. "We're in the escape pod room!"
The young mother took his hand to get on her feet but doubled over in pain. A sharp pain soared through her muscles, but it wasn't enough to disable her.
"You're still hurt," Noah reminded, wrapping an arm around her for support.
"It's fine," she dismissed. Purple light softly shined from the emerald and she pressed the jewel against her stomach. The pain subsided a bit and she smiled at him in assurance. "The Chaos Emerald healed me somewhat. I'll be okay."
Lifting the emerald to their faces, they both marveled at its brilliance. Noah gently grazed the purple stone with his fingertips and exhaled with awe at its warmth.
"No one's seen one in centuries. I almost thought they were lost forever," he gasped.
"It's the reason we're alive. I think I did something called Chaos Control and teleported us away from Black Doom. And I don't know how, but I have a feeling he's not anywhere near us for now."
"That's amazing!"
"Yes, and imagine what someone like Sonic, Shadow, or Silver could do with all seven," Chelsea said. They looked at the three sleeping hedgehogs with amazement. "We need to make sure the emeralds don't fall into the wrong hands. And more importantly, those three are safe to prevent them from doing just that."
Their eyes met and determination steeled their gaze.
"I'll work on getting the escape pods up," Noah nodded, walking to the control panels. "Make sure they're okay and help me after?"
The young mother agreed, and they split up. As the silver hedgehog worked to fix the power, Chelsea limped her way to her boys. She set the emerald aside and allowed herself to breathe in relief. For now, they were safe and away from their creator.
At least, the genocidal one.
Black Doom's words confirming their genetic link lingered in her mind. It was not lost on the young mother that the other projects that were still alive were nowhere to be found. She hoped with all her heart that they were somewhere safe, somewhere where they could have a second chance at a life they deserved.
Chelsea saw the emerald glow out of the corner of her eye, and she softly smiled.
Somehow, she knew they would be okay.
However, now, she needed to save the children in front of her.
Chelsea touched their faces to remind herself of what they felt like in her arms. She snorted when Sonic unconsciously wiped away his drool only to continue drooling again. She giggled when Silver sniffed and then hiccuped in his sleep. And she hid a louder laugh behind her hand when Shadow snorted unkindly and then relaxed into a pleasant slumber.
They were knocked out – that's for sure. Her oldest didn't snore that loud unless he was out cold.
Perhaps she should've tried harder to wake them up, but it was probably the first time her babies had gotten good sleep since they were kidnapped. The thought deeply saddened her, but Chelsea was also reminded of their strength. The way they fought against Black Doom, even when everything seemed bleak—proud wasn't even the word for how she felt.
Their mother was in complete awe of their character and fortitude. To fight head-on against him, even within the midst of fear, anger, betrayal, and confusion was a feat that wasn't to be taken lightly. She had always known this from the start, but they had the makings of true heroes. The universe was safer because of their existence.
She kissed their foreheads. "I can't wait for the rest of the world to know that too," she beamed. "This is only the beginning."
"Mmm...five m-more minutesss, mommy," Sonic mumbled.
Chelsea shook her head and chuckled. "Sure, baby. You deserve it."
"Hey Chels? We've got an issue."
The ebony hedgehog tucked the emerald in her quills and made her way over. Noah crawled from underneath the panel and sighed in frustration.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"We don't have power," he replied. He gestured to the buttons and screens that were without light. "I've connected the wiring, plugged up all the outlets, and manually reset the main systems multiple times, but nothing's working."
Chelsea hummed in thought before narrowing her eyes. "This room doesn't have power, or the ship doesn't have power?"
The uneasy silence that followed caused a chill to run up the young mother's spine. A curious scowl decorated her brows as Noah seemed to find it difficult to hold eye contact. She peered out the window, back to the hedgehog, and then back to the blue planet.
Why did Mobius look closer than it did five minutes ago?
"Noah," she called, watching his micro-movements. His nose always twitched when he was about to have a difficult conversation. "What aren't you telling me?"
Rubbing his arm, Noah sighed in defeat as he observed Mobius. "When I woke up, I noticed the ship was off its typical orbit, but looking into the control panel confirmed it."
"Confirmed what?"
"The entire ship lost power," he verified. "I'm almost positive it's off autopilot and no one is steering it."
Chelsea swallowed hard. "So, we're free-floating in space," she translated.
"Actually, the ship was caught in Mobius' gravitational pull. We've been orbiting the planet for some time, but without power or control, that also means we're hurdling into Mobius as we speak."
"Right," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. It was just one thing right after the other. "So, we're falling."
"We're falling."
Expecting a moment of peace was naive. Of course they were plummeting towards their death after barely escaping Black Doom's clutches. Perhaps this was his last attempt at destroying them. Or maybe this was one of those situations where the Chaos Emerald granted her wish but with a twist of humor. One of those 'be careful what you wish for' moments.
They would never know because Black Doom was gone, and the Chaos Emerald couldn't talk.
Nevertheless, they had to act.
"We can get to the steering deck and try to find a way to turn the ship on," Noah suggested.
Chelsea nodded and the two headed towards the entrance of the room before noticing it was closed shut. The steel panels wouldn't budge no matter how hard they tried to pull the doors apart. Trying to get through without unlocking the exit through a security card was useless.
Noah's fist connected with the key lock in anger. "Damn it. There's no way we're trapped here."
The ebony hedgehog ran back to the center console and anxiously looked for a way to power it up. Focusing on a possibility wasn't worth it. With the presence of a sudden and fiery death imminent, she thought it was in their best interest to find a way to activate the escape pods.
As Chelsea tuned out Noah's frustrated curses, her eyes scanned the dead screens and buttons on the control panel before taking out the emerald. Suddenly, it began to vibrate in her hand, and a wisp of energy shot into the panel board. Chelsea gasped as the machines whirred to life for a split second before short-circuiting and dying with an unimpressive sigh.
The two hedgehogs met each other's gaze and instantly had the same thought. Perhaps they could get the machines working with the emerald's power. Although they had no idea how, it was worth a shot.
Noah was at her side within seconds, blue eyes absorbing and calculating all the possibilities at inhumane speeds. "Do what you just did again," he said.
There was a hum of energy as she moved the emerald closer to the machine once more. The console whirred to life again, feeding off the emerald's power, and the entire board lit up with power. Taking this opportunity to act, Noah's fingers flew across the keyboard faster than Chelsea could keep up with.
Suddenly, a container emerged from the top of the console, and the glass door slid open for its desired object.
"Yes!" Noah cheered. "We can use the emerald as a separate source of power for the escape pods. Put it in here."
Chelsea smiled in relief. Once the stone was placed in the glass crate, the escape pods turned on and hissed as the walls came down for preparation.
However, only three of them worked. The others remained inactive.
"Can you turn the other ones on?" she asked.
Noah typed a few more commands and pressed the activation buttons, yet nothing happened. He hummed in confusion and was prepared to give it another go before the screens in front of the active tubes began flashing green.
Random letters and numbers mysteriously darted across the screen before sinking into an endless black. After a pause, it flashed back on with bold numbers filling the entire space. No amount of access codes or button presses could clear the screen of its contents.
"What in the world?" Noah murmured as he observed the peculiar sequence.
"Are these Mobian coordinates?" Chelsea spoke.
"No. Location coordinates here are the same as the ones you're familiar with on Earth," he replied, studying the numbers in shock. "Honestly, these look like time periods. I've never seen anything like this before."
The thought triggered a tense feeling in the young mother's chest, and she looked closer at the screens. As she leaned towards the panel, she began to compare the numbers, noticing they were numerically close. She found the one that appeared to be in between the other two and silently counted the difference.
50 years behind.
200 years ahead.
Chelsea felt her heart stop.
This was a proper conundrum. Noah scratched the back of his head, searching in his mind for anything that could help clue him into what these random numbers meant.
"I can't crack it. Maybe it's a malfunction? We can try resetting the controls and—" he trailed off when he finally noticed the other's stillness. "Chelsea?"
The silver hedgehog blinked as he watched Chelsea slowly hug herself, her troubled eyes staring at the purple jewel as if she were having a full-blown conversation with it. He called her name again, but she didn't respond. It appeared as if she didn't even hear him despite being barely a foot apart. The Chaos Emerald sparkled again, shining even brighter and her brown eyes liquified into something that made Noah's chest tighten.
Heartbreak. Defeat. Surrender.
There was no mistaking it. He'd seen it enough times to recognize it.
"Chelsea," he softly started, reaching for her arm. She turned to avoid his eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"
They stood in silence for a few hard moments. Chelsea flattened her lips and looked at her sons with a half-lidded gaze.
"They're timelines," she confirmed stiffly. "The Chaos Emerald. It's...it's sending them to the timelines they were supposed to be born into."
Noah shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand."
Chelsea sighed, offering him a sad smile. "There're some things that I've also kept from you and everyone—about who Sonic, Shadow, and Silver are...or rather, who they're supposed to become."
For the next few minutes, she went into high-level detail about what she knew. About who the trio was to the human world. About who they were meant to be for Mobius. For the universe. She explained how she knew of the Chaos Emeralds, how she understood their powers so well, and why she protected them from the world as fiercely as she did.
It was jaw-dropping information, to say the least. Noah's entire world was flipped upside down. The thought of alternate timelines and dimensions wasn't something he ever deemed impossible, but this was beyond anything he could've imagined.
It was hard to process, but he understood the objective at hand.
"It's said that the Chaos Emeralds were created to help restore balance throughout the universe, and course correct by any means necessary. Who knew your boys would be so important in the grand scheme of life?" Noah chuckled. He watched as Chelsea curled into herself. He slid his fingers into the palm of her hand and unraveled her arms as he gently held her stare. "What do you want to do?"
Chelsea swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes dimmed with knowingness.
"Get them in the escape pods and transport them to the correct timeline."
"What about—"
"I realize what that means and I'm not asking you to sacrifice your life any more than you already have," she interrupted hurriedly. "I'll stay behind and pull the levers. There's probably enough room for you to squeeze in with one of them. I know it's not ideal. You'll get sent to an alternate dimension and you'll be in a place that you won't know. But at least you'll be alive, and I know they can help you go back home. With the Chaos Emeralds of course. In fact, if you go with Silver, he'll grow into his powers and—"
"I wasn't concerned about that." The silver hedgehog shook his head as she looked to the ground with watery eyes. He lifted her chin, cupping her cheek. The concern in his soft gaze was heavy. "It's just...You might not ever see them again. Are you okay with that?" he whispered.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. The certainty in her eyes was unshakable. "I'll do anything as long as they get the happy ending they deserve."
Noah held her stare for a moment. There was nothing else to be said. Although he could see her heartbreak with each passing second, her love for her children knew no bounds. She meant what she said, and he wouldn't get in the way.
"Okay. Let's get them in there," he nodded.
Chelsea frowned. "Noah, I can't let you stay behind."
"The pods aren't built to sustain two people. There isn't enough oxygen supply anyway," he shrugged.
"We can make it work."
"I wouldn't advise it."
She looked at him incredulously. Suddenly, her quills bristled. "You've done enough, okay!? I thought I made it clear that you don't owe us your life. Don't throw it away just because you feel guilty for something that wasn't your fault to begin with!"
Chelsea collected her breath from her rant. Still, even in her anger and sadness, Noah gave her a calm smile.
"You need an access code to activate the transmission, and you don't know how to read Mobian languages and therefore, cannot operate the escape pods." He watched realization settle in her body as she observed the foreign symbols on the keyboard. "On that same note, I know you have to stay behind to ensure the Chaos Emerald stays powered. So, to me, it looks like we both need to stay behind."
Chelsea licked her lips and looked down with guilt. "Noah..."
He squeezed her chin. "I'm not leaving you alone."
Brown met blue and the two let his promise sink into their hearts. The connection between them pulled their heads closer until they closed the gap with their lips. A single sweet kiss sealed their fate. Chelsea let a couple of tears slip down her cheeks and Noah was quick to wipe them away. Then, they embraced one another.
"Thank you," Chelsea whispered. He felt her smile on his neck.
"Anything for you, beautiful," he replied.
A pained groan caught their attention. The three sleeping hedgehogs stirred awake, rolling upon themselves from the ache in their limbs.
Shadow was the first to sit up. He held his head in discomfort, cursing from the pounding in his temple. Memories of the previous battle flashed behind his eyelids. The Chaos Blast drained him more than he expected. His entire body felt heavy, but he was okay.
"Shadow!"
Warm arms wrapped around him and a familiar scent filled his nostrils. Before he even opened his eyes, the ebony hedgehog knew who it was. Shadow returned the hug and smiled into his mother's neck, letting himself enjoy the obnoxious kiss she planted on his cheek. One he'd never take for granted again.
"Mother..." He breathed her in, holding her as if she'd blow away at any moment. "You're okay," he affirmed.
"And you're okay," Chelsea parroted. When the other two awoke, she quickly pulled them into her arms, kissing all over their faces. They looked beat-up, but well enough to stand on their feet. The small family embraced one another, enjoying the safety of their arms. "I'm so happy all of you are alright. Anything feel off? Life-threatening?"
Refusing to move from the comfort of her arms, the three hedgehogs shook their heads. Besides the minor injuries and slight exhaustion—and Silver's killer migraine—they were still her three healthy boys.
A rumble vibrated Chelsea, and she looked down, a giggle tinging her lips.
"Are you purring, Sonic?"
Sonic instantly straightened up as his brothers doubled over in laughter. A pretty red color flushed his cheeks and ears, and he pushed away the other hedgehogs but still stayed close to his mother's gentle touch.
"Whatever," he mumbled.
"Momma's boy," Silver teased, sticking his tongue out.
"You're telling me," Shadow snickered.
"Mom!" Sonic groaned, burying his face in his hands, seeking any kind of defense.
"Don't tease him," Chelsea chided with a smile. She scratched behind his ears and pulled him closer into her chest. She missed moments like this. "I think it's cute."
His brothers only laughed harder.
"Ma! Not helping!"
"Sorry!" she shrugged helplessly, resting her cheek on top of his head. It felt good to joke around like this again.
But then, the rumbling against her chest changed. She looked down before her face dropped. Instead of those precious purrs, a nasty snarl decorated the azure hedgehog's muzzle. She frowned as the fur on the back of her neck stood in response to his fur and quills expanding with threat.
Confusion heavy in her hum, Chelsea looked to the other two to find a mirror image in their bodies. She followed their line of sight, and her eyes widened as they landed on Noah's unsure yet defensive stance.
Immediately, her head snapped back, and her hands shot out to grab them.
"No," she commanded, voice strong with no nonsense.
"You," Silver spat like the word was rancid on his tongue. "I knew you couldn't be trusted."
Although he didn't move from his mother's hold right away, Sonic stood to his full height. He ignored her angry bark.
"Messing with our mom's feelings and then sending Black Doom after us...I think I remember saying I'd personally take you down if you went back on your word. I guess it's time I make do on that promise," he smiled darkly.
Chelsea tugged harshly on Silver's arm and blocked Sonic's movement with her body. "You will do no such thing—"
"You have every right to be upset with me," Noah regarded calmly. "What Black Doom said was true. I knew from the start. It was my idea to add human DNA to your bodies and have you imprint on her."
"You bastard!"
"But I didn't intend for any of this to happen. I swear it! If I had known Black Doom's true intentions, I wouldn't have said anything. Cathy and I regret ever being involved and that's why we helped your mother get you back."
Silver scoffed. "Again, why should we believe you?"
"It doesn't matter if you do, but it's the truth," he said with finality.
She was starting to think Noah didn't have any form of common sense or fear for that matter. Or maybe he was suicidal? Regardless, she threw him an incredulous glare.
"Stop talking!" she hissed between her teeth. Chelsea caught Shadow's abnormally large canines glint in the air and saw how he looked ready to pounce. Her hand shot out to cover his growl.
"Stop that," she chastised.
Had it been literally anyone else, they would've lost an arm that day. However, this was his mother and although the ebon teen could very well storm through her, he wouldn't dare. Instead, Shadow let out an aggravated roar(whine).
"Why do you keep letting him get away with this!?" Shadow shouted, ripping his face away from her hand."After everything!"
"No one's letting him get away with anything!" she snapped back.
"So, we're just letting him go free!?"
"Who said he's going scot-free? Besides, it's not like we can just off him!"
Noah lifted a finger to interrupt. "I mean they really could. Did you see them fight against Black Doom?"
Chelsea gaped at him as Sonic, Shadow, and Silver nodded in agreement.
The young mother pinched the bridge of her nose and took a few breaths to temper her raging aggravation. She had had enough.
"You. Zip it. I don't want to hear another word from you," she snapped at the blue-eyed silver hedgehog. Noah immediately sealed his lips and threw away the imaginary key. Chelsea turned her children, fixing them an unwavering glare. "I understand you three are upset. You have every right to be, and I'm sorry. However, you need to trust me one last time here."
Sonic stepped towards her. "But—"
"I don't care about anything other than getting you three home, and unless you know how to read Mobian and operate the escape pods, Noah is the only one who can help me do that."
"How do we know he'll actually send us home and not to Black Doom?" Silver asked, eyeing the man across the room.
Chelsea did the same and the promise he gave her glinted brightly and confidently in his eyes.
"He won't," she nodded firmly. Both with trust and warning. Then she turned to his sons with a good-natured grin on her lips. "Also, regardless of his true intentions, he's at our mercy. Black Doom's gone, I've got the Chaos Emerald, and you three could easily hold him off."
A shocked squeak was drowned beneath her giggles and their agreeing hums. Chelsea sighed at the three hedgehogs, brown eyes showering them with adornment as they gazed at her for reassurance. Despite the circumstances, all they wanted was to feel safe again. Feel safe together.
"I still don't trust him," Sonic said, gritting his teeth.
Perhaps she wouldn't be there to see them home, but she would take them there. She just hoped they'd understand one day.
Chelsea held one of her boys' cheeks and gave them a smile that calmed the anxiety in their hearts.
"Then trust me," she whispered. Their ears pulled back and they sighed. A moment passed before the brothers eventually nodded.
Chelsea swallowed in relief and parroted their nod. Pulling them into her arms once again, she breathed them in, letting the warmth of their presence fill her body with the courage she needed.
"Thank you," she exhaled. Tears burned in her eyes as she relished their last embrace, tucking it away into the core of her heart. "I love you three. More than life."
"We love you too, mom," they whispered back.
The young mother pulled back and kissed each of their foreheads. Shadow's eyes looked between Noah's saddened stare and the sorrowful tears in his mother's eyes. He opened his mouth, but before he could question them any further, Chelsea turned to the other hedgehog.
"Noah," she called.
Unspoken words passed between the two. Before they knew it, Sonic, Shadow, and Silver were shuffled towards the escape pods as Noah's fingers flew across the control board. They watched as the emerald glowed and the glass tubes flew down, ready for a passenger.
"How does it work?" Silver asked, peering at the confusing contraptions.
Chelsea gestured to the Chaos Emerald. "Due to the battle, the entire ship lost power. Luckily, we can use the power of the emerald to get the pods working. The coordinates are set, now we just need to get in and launch them forward."
Golden eyes brightened. "Cool!"
"These Chaos Emeralds are more powerful than I thought," Shadow nodded.
Feeling a bit claustrophobic about the minimal space in the tube, Sonic made an uneasy sound. "And you're sure it's safe to get in one of these things?"
"I'm sure it is." Despite her chipper mood, the azure hedgehog only felt dread.
"There's more than enough air supply. You'll be fine," Noah supplemented.
"I don't know about this guys..." Sonic muttered.
"Would you rather share a pod with me?" Shadow said. He suddenly smiled with all his ridiculously sharp teeth.
Sonic would rather take a nosedive in the deep end of a pool.
"Where's mine again? We better get moving!"
"Thought so."
Chelsea mapped each screen with the appropriate pod and pulled the three to the correct ports. Silver was the last one to stand in his spot. Although he continued to keep a wary eye on the other silver hedgehog, he couldn't help the giddiness that soared in his chest. It would only be a matter of time before they were back home where they could enjoy movie nights and blueberry pancakes once again. Or even if it wasn't home on Earth, but in this new world he heard about, he would be happy either way.
As long as he was with his family, Silver would be home.
The youngest felt his mother grab his hands and squeeze them. Silver squeezed back and matched her hopeful expression.
"We're finally going home, mom," he laughed.
His mother scratched behind his ears and kissed his cheek one last time. "Yeah, baby. Home." She let go of him and stepped back. "Stand still you three!"
Once they were within the parameters, Chelsea nodded, and Noah flicked a switch. Instantly, the glass flew up and locked the three hedgehogs inside. Above the top of the pod, a panel clicked open revealing two buttons.
It read:
'UNLOCK'
'HYPERSLEEP'
The ebony hedgehog stared at them knowing what she'd have to do. The Chaos Emerald shined even brighter than it had before, and flashes of their futures ran through her eyes. She was then taken out of her thoughts by a nervous voice.
"Wait. Mom? Where's your pod?" Sonic suddenly asked.
His other brothers' heads snapped towards their mother as she looked at them with coffee-brown irises ridden with guilt and grief. A complete turnaround from what they had once been.
"I'm sorry. There were only three escape pods available," Chelsea said finally. "The ship is going down and your safety is my priority."
"I fucking knew something was off!" Shadow thundered, punching the glass. "Mother!"
She winced, worried about the durability of the tube. "Noah, how strong is the glass?"
"It was constructed with each project in mind. It was Black Doom who offered the indestructible material he found from his travels across the universe. Nothing can get in, and nothing can get out," he responded quietly.
Chelsea kept her eyes on her youngest boy as he tried to use his powers but ultimately failed, suffering from the backlash. "Good," she swallowed.
"Mom! What are you doing!?" Silver yelled. He groaned from the migraine that nearly split his head open. Whatever was in the casing of the escape pods nullified his powers. When he found them useless, he turned to punching and kicking his way out. "We can find another way out!"
"I'm sorry, Silvy. I wish. I know it's hard to understand right now, but this...this is for your own good."
"Sacrificing yourself and sending us away is for our own good? That doesn't make any sense! How will we survive without you?"
"You don't need me where you're going," she gritted her teeth.
"What? You said we were going home!" Sonic barked. As his mother's head hung, panic and anger began to set in. The azure hedgehog turned his fury towards Noah who only looked away in guilt. His spines flared. "Was this your doing!? You manipulative bastard—let us go or you'll regret it!"
"It was all me. Not him," Chelsea intervened. Her shoulders curled around her in defeat as she confessed. "Sonic, Shadow, Silver, remember that TV show and those games you found back then? And I got so angry that you looked at them?"
"W-what about them?"
"They were real. Everything in them about you three was—is real. You have other lives, belong to other timelines and worlds, where you grow into yourselves and become something amazing! You three grow up and make friends, find families...you even turn gold and save the universe from evil overlords on a regular basis. Black Doom is just one of many that you overcome," she laughed past her tears. "My point being, you have another life elsewhere, another adventure to go on. The safety of the universe depends on it, and the Chaos Emerald will make sure you get there."
They looked at her in petrified silence. A mix of emotions swirled in the boys. In any other capacity, they would've jumped at the idea of living out those amazing feats. However, only one thing bugged them.
"And what happens to you? Where do you fit in all of this?" Shadow dared to ask.
Dread filled their bodies as she shook her head. "Our journey together ends here, baby."
"You can't be serious," he gasped.
"You'll understand one day."
"Stop that! Mother, please!"
Chelsea wiped away her tears and steeled her gaze. She peered at the incoming planet and made her decision. It was now or never.
The ebony hedgehog looked at her youngest and prepared to say her goodbyes.
"Mom, I just got you back," Silver whimpered, searching her gaze for any hesitance. "Please don't do this."
"At my command, Noah," she ordered. He nodded and the boy continued to shake his head desperately.
"At first, it's going to be hard, sweetheart. There are going to be some really tough moments where you'll want to give up on yourself," Chelsea started.
"This is insane, mom! I don't want to do this without you! I can't!"
"But that's the thing. You can, Silver. You are so much stronger than you think, with a sense of justice and compassion that will always steer you in the right direction. You never give up even when it looks like all hope is lost. That same hope will spark so much good in the future."
Fat tears of agony drowned his muzzle. Silver hiccupped and pawed for her embrace. "I'll be lost without you, momma."
Forgetting her was a mercy she would forever be thankful for. Damn her own heartbreak.
"When you feel lost, follow your heart, and you will find your way."
Chelsea reached for the button and his eyes glistened with hope. Then, she smashed her fist on the gray button above that read: "HYPERSLEEP".
Cold air aerosolized into the tube and the young teen felt his heart rate begin to slow down.
"No," he gasped, before pounding on the glass. "NO! MOM, PLEASE!"
The young mother kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them where his forehead would be.
"I love you, Silver. Forever," she said. His yelling turned into screaming.
Chelsea screwed her eyes shut at first but then opened them. She couldn't bear the betrayal in his eyes; however, she wouldn't abandon him. As Silver's screams began to fade and his movements grew sluggish, she prayed that he would forgive her in his next life. She hoped all of them did.
Finally, her youngest child slumped to the floor, unconscious. Chelsea thinned her lips and forced herself to swallow the heartbreak as she stepped back.
"Noah," her voice sounded like sandpaper against dry asphalt. "Pull the lever."
With a sorrowful heart, the silver hedgehog did as he was instructed. The emerald floated in its place, shining with blinding light as it whirred alive. There were sparks igniting from the wires as they became overwhelmed with Chaos Energy. Within seconds, Silver was embraced in a white light then disappeared behind a white flash.
He was gone. Transported to the time period he was meant to live in.
Emptiness was left in his wake and there was nothing to block the horrified stares from her other sons.
I'm doing the right thing. This is their destiny. The universe depends on it, Chelsea reminded herself. She walked towards the blue teen's enclosure.
"Mom, listen to me. I love you. We're sorry, okay! I know we're a handful, but we'll be better. I'll be better! I won't back talk anymore. I'll do the dishes when you ask. No running in the house. I'll do all my homework. I'll even start eating broccoli again, okay? Cross my heart! J-just don't send me away! Please," Sonic begged. His breathing started to quicken when she refused to look at him and opened the panel to put him to sleep. "Please, mama. I can't...I don't wanna be alone again."
Sonic cried into his hands. His beautiful emerald-green eyes peered between his wet lashes to a smile that always managed to calm him even in his darkest moments. Even as old as he was, he couldn't help the longing whimper in his throat as he tried to claw the glass away for his mother.
"Sonic, my speedy baby," Chelsea grinned through her tears. "Alone? You're going to have family and friends around you, supporting you, loving you, and following you until the ends of the earth. That, I can promise."
"You keep talking about this other world, mom. How do you know it's real?" he pushed.
"Because I've seen it. I've seen how you become one of the greatest heroes in the world. I've seen you run around the earth—multiple times in a day. You are the wind and freedom personified. I know how much that means to you."
"But I don't want that if you're not there." The azure hedgehog watched his mother stumble but shook her head as if to ward away betraying thoughts. Sonic rose to his feet as she did. Her fingers found the button. "No, no, no, no. Mom. No. I know you don't want to do this. There's gotta be another way. Please!"
"I love you, Sonic. Never change."
Those were the last words she spoke to him before she pressed the button. The air grew colder, and she stood by her decision even as he begged and pleaded. Promised her anything. Professed his deepest fears. Cried out for his mother to save him. Chelsea sunk to her knees and stayed with him until he was put in a deep sleep.
"Pull it," she demanded. She ignored the waver in her voice.
Again, the emerald whirred. Then a bright light. Then nothing.
The control board wasn't looking too good. It sparked and bit, warning them of an overload. After this next one, it would be out for good.
Shadow's curse pierced the silent air.
One more to go. One more to save. One more child to send away. One more heart to break.
Chelsea stared at the concrete floor with perseverance. A deep breath. Then she wiped her face and got on her feet.
The searing glare he gave her punctured her already bleeding heart. Shadow gave a final kick to the glass tube and became silent as he watched her slowly walk over. Her brown eyes flickered up to the panel. He hung his head in defeat before sliding down to his knees and punching the ground.
"You're just like them, you know? The lab coats. Black Doom. Assign us our destiny. Use us and then toss us away when you're over it. Just abandoning us—like garbage," he hissed.
"I'm not abandoning you, Shadow—"
"The hell you are!" he growled, a nasty snarl on his muzzle. "Then what do you call this!? Huh!?"
"Doing my duty as your mother," she answered without a moment lost.
The unwavering conviction in her eyes made Shadow's bottom lip quiver. She was seriously going to through with this. She was going to send him away. Her hand reached for the button.
"You press that button, and I...I'll hate you forever. I'll never forgive you!"
"I can live with that."
He cursed at the floor in defeat. Shadow hung his head once more.
"Before you do that, please—tell me," he pleaded, tears burning his eyes and streaking past his muzzle. "Was it too much to handle? Is that why you don't want us anymore? Why you don't want me?"
"Shadow—"
"Don't you love me anymore, momma?"
Crimson eyes looked up at her with all the innocence in the world. Chelsea remembered how the first time she took him in his arms and the entire world went quiet. It was amazing how easy it was for him to do that to her.
In his eyes, the young mother saw a future that would bring him pain and heartache. But also love and wisdom beyond his years.
She bent down and touched the glass where his cheek would be. If only she could've kissed their tears away.
"Baby, that good-for-nothing monster couldn't beat the love out of me even if he tried—and he tried," she smiled. "You were the best thing that's ever happened to me, you and your brothers. I loved you before I even knew what love was, and I always will. Remember that."
He placed a hand where hers lay and quietly watched as she finally pressed the gray button.
As the nozzles released the sleeping solution, Shadow kept her stare. She wouldn't be allowed to look away. Not with him.
"You really plan to go down with the ship," he said quietly. Chelsea only smiled that sad, heart-wrenching, smile at him. He felt his eyelids become heavy, but he fought to stay awake for as long as he could. He had one more thing to say. "You remember this, mother. We might be separated in this life, but I'll find you in the next. Cross my heart."
"I look forward to it, Shadow." Chelsea made an 'X' motion over her chest and bit her lip as he began to fall into a deep sleep. "I love you. I swear I do."
Shadow looked at her one last time before letting his eyes close. "Mother I..." he mumbled. Then he was out.
"Pull the lever," Chelsea choked out.
Noah worriedly peered at her over the panels and watched as her body trembled. Her breathing quickened and it seemed as if each breath was harder to take than the previous one. He stepped towards her as she grabbed her throat in panic.
"Chelsea, you—"
"Just pull it, Noah! Please!" she shouted.
Using both his hands, Noah pulled down on the lever and had to shield his eyes away from the blinding light. The emerald spun and took Shadow away in the blink of an eye. Due to the surcharge of energy, the entire console short-circuited. It flashed in and out of power before the fried wires gave out and the entire room went dark again.
All that was left was the soft light from the planet below, a dull stone, and two idle hedgehogs.
The spaceship continued to float into Mobius' gravitational pull.
Noah gently wrapped his arms around the young mother. Chelsea broke into pieces and Noah promised to hold her together until the end.
The agony of ripping her children away from herself was unlike any other pain she'd felt. She would never forget the ache of ignoring their plea for her to save them. Sorrow weighed heavily in her heart.
Yes, it was merciful that they would forget her. And perhaps it was justice that she would take this anguish with her into her death.
They stayed in each other's arms until her well of tears went dry. Eyes puffy and raw, Chelsea half hid her face in Noah's chest and half looked at the world that grew closer with each passing minute. It wouldn't be long before they burned up in Mobius' atmosphere.
The entire time, Noah remained quiet, gazing at the scenery. He had pulled them to rest against the control board, so he could cradle her in his lap. As he thumbed her arm, she cupped the Chaos Emerald in her hands. It was still lifeless.
"Why didn't you go with Cathy?" she started quietly.
"I wanted to do the right thing," he answered smoothly.
"I wouldn't have been upset if you did."
"Yes, you would've," he teased.
Chelsea shrugged. "Maybe a little. But I would've gotten over it. Also, Cathy...she'll miss you so much."
"I know, but she's strong. She'll be alright."
Tears burned her eyes again, surprisingly. She studied the curves of the emerald. "I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this. You don't deserve this."
"Hey, enough of that already," he sternly spoke. The ebony hedgehog blinked in surprise at his sudden frown. Cerulean irises glowed with sincerity. "I do. I put you in this position. This institution put you here. Remember? We owe you an apology. Alright? You did nothing wrong."
There was a sigh and then another sniffle. Although she felt scolded, Chelsea curled further into his embrace. "You don't. You were just trying to protect everyone from Black Doom."
"Can we just agree to disagree?" he miserably sighed, rubbing his face. "I really don't want to die arguing with the love of my life."
The ebony hedgehog chuckled and nodded. She looked up to him and grabbed his pouting cheeks in her hands so their eyes would meet again. Even with all the dirt and bruises, he was just as handsome as ever.
"Do you really mean that?" she asked.
Noah raised a brow. "About arguing?"
Chelsea rolled her eyes. "No. The love of your life part. Back in the arena too. You said you loved me. Was that true or just the heat of the moment?"
His expression relaxed into an adoring smile. Slowly, he cradled her cheek and brought their heads closer to one another.
"I love you Chelsea, and I've never been so sure of anything else in my life," he said to her with all the certainness in the world. "I love you so much, every time I'm around you, I seem to lose my sense of self-preservation."
"Yeah, no kidding," she stuck her tongue out at him. They chuckled together and rested again in each other's embrace in silence. Then, Noah spoke.
"I don't think they'll forget about you," he suddenly said.
Chelsea thumbed the gem in her hands. "They will. It's for the best."
"Maybe in their memories, but they won't forget in their hearts. Not you."
The young mother huffed a laugh through her nose. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but she would allow herself the pleasure of ruminating on that possibility. "Thank you," she whispered. She peered at the planet and continued the conversation. "Any regrets?"
"I have one."
"Hmm?"
Cerulean eyes roamed the approximate landmark where he and his sister's house was located. "I wish I had more time to show Mobius to you and the kids. You'd love the beaches there and there's so much nature to enjoy. There'd be so much of the world for the boys to explore. Cathy's big on hiking. She would've loved to take them around. Oh, and the people too. Everyone is kind and just looking to live proper lives for the most part. It's peaceful."
"Mobius sounds wonderful," Chelsea hummed. "I'm grateful that Sonic, Shadow, and Silver will experience it in their own time."
"They'll love it," he agreed.
"Want to know my one regret?" she asked, her voice soft.
"What is it?"
Her heart ached with love as she looked up at him, each passing second deepening her feelings. "That I didn't get to experience Mobius, living in a house with you and raising five kids by the water. With flowers and Italian restaurants."
A look of astonishment crossed his face. It tickled her stomach. "Five?" Noah said breathlessly.
"I wanted a big family. And at least one daughter," Chelsea shrugged, smirking.
He shook his head. "Now I have two regrets."
They laughed again. The young mother leaned into his neck to hide the sting in her eyes. The increasing heat from the ship's exterior was oddly comforting, almost relaxing, as if urging them to stay present in these final moments.
"In another life," she whispered.
Noah pulled her back and she couldn't help but let the tears fall as his blue eyes welled up with unshed tears. He gently traced her bottom lip with his thumb.
"In another life," he echoed. "I love you."
This time, she had a response.
"I love you too."
They kissed, pouring all their love, passion, sorrow, and desires into it, tears running freely down their muzzles. The droplets settled onto the purple gem as if absorbing their final shared wishes. Their feelings permeated through the Chaos Emerald, and it offered a comforting light into the unknown.
...
The ship continued its descent into Mobius' atmosphere, hitting the steel and metal with immensurable pressure. Mere seconds passed by before it succumbed to the destructive combination of gas, heat, and pressure. The Mobian Research Facility exploded before it even touched the clouds.
All that remained of the memories of those on board was a receding twinkle in the sky.
A/N: We made it!
I could cry. I didn't think it would take 11 years, but it's done and I actually stuck with the ending I planned over a decade ago. Forgive me for some of the plotholes haha. This was a monster of a project. It served as an escape and a way to process some things I was going through when I was younger. (Talk about mommy and daddy issues LMAO). Also, I just loved the newfound family trope and Sonic the Hedgehog and decided to combine them.
Anyway, thank you for sticking through this with me. Especially through the cringy writing and the long ass chapters. I was thinking about going back and rewriting some of the chapters, but I think this story is a cool time capsule for me in a way. Baby writer me was proud of the work she did back then and I'm proud of her for writing it. So I'll leave it as is—for now.
I sincerely appreciate all of the comments, PMs, reviews, favs, and follows. Positive, negative, and constructive.
Y'all stay safe and happy reading!
It's been fun,
Sylvia