A/N: KagamiPINKAgreste says that today is National Popcorn Day, so I wrote this fic to celebrate. Enjoy!

NOTE: The instrumental tune "Popcorn" was originally composed and performed by Gershon Kingsley in 1969, but popularized by Hot Butter in 1972.

It was a cold, cloudy day in Western Mobius, and Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Cosmo the Seedrian, Amy Rose and Shadow the Hedgehog were gathered at Rouge the Bat's mansion for a movie night. Rouge had cooked a gigantic bowl of movie theater-grade buttered popcorn for everyone, and the air was charged with more positivity than protons. However, Shadow had one thing on his mind:

"Sonic, why did you bring a Minimoog over here? You don't even play keyboards."

Sonic smiled. "And that's where you're wrong, Shad! I've actually been practicin' a bit! Besides, since today is National Popcorn Day, I figured, why not play 'Popcorn'?"

"Sonic's right," said Amy. "Let's give him a chance!"

"Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing Big Blue try a new instrument!" said Rouge.

"Plus, I've never seen an instrument like that before," said Cosmo.

"That is a Minimoog Model D analog synthesizer," said Tails. "Basically, it runs an electric signal through…"

"Tails, please stop with the scientific explanation," said Shadow. "I just want to hear Sonic play so I can watch the damn movie."

"But Shadow…!"

"Tails, hon, as much as I love your knowledge, we can always hear the explanation later," said Rouge.

Tails paused. "OK, Auntie Rouge."

"All right, let's groove!"

Having gotten the Minimoog warmed up, Sonic proceeded to play "Popcorn" on it, and everyone was spellbound as the synthesizer made that familiar electronic popping sound. Tails, Amy and Rouge even clapped along to the tune. After a few repetitions, Sonic stopped playing and shut off the Minimoog, and everyone gave him a round of applause, even Shadow:

"Sonic, I have to admit, you played better than I thought you would."

"Yeah, you're really good at that!" said Amy. "What made you wanna practice?"

Sonic shrugged. "I dunno. I mean, I can play guitar, play harmonica and sing, so I thought it'd be fun to practice somethin' new, know what I'm sayin'?"

"Well, you certainly impressed me, hon!" Rouge frowned. "Me, I wouldn't know how to work all those knobs and switches."

"Believe me, Mama, I was intimidated too, but Tails was a big help."

Tails smiled. "Yeah, and with synthesizers, you shouldn't be afraid to experiment!"

Shadow crossed his arms. "Tails, I agree with your statement, but why don't we just watch the movie already?"

Rouge elbowed Shadow. "Shaddy, have some patience! I'm getting the movie started!"

Rouge opened up Netflix on her Xbox Series X, and she put on Sixty Seconds to Live, a movie about the Royal Mobian Constabulary. Everyone was spellbound by the high-stakes action, the edge-of-your-seat drama and the detailed planning that went into the operation depicted in the plot, and they all enjoyed their fair share of popcorn. However, when the movie was over, it became obvious that the movie and the popcorn weren't the only things that they were enjoying, for they were now making out with each other, much to Tails' chagrin:

"Sonic, Auntie Rouge, you're supposed to be eating the popcorn!"

Cosmo put her index finger up to her chin. "Um…do they do this all the time?"

Shadow commented on this as well:

"Tails, Cosmo, I feel your pain. As much as I love Amy, I don't feel the need to smooch her brains out at every opportunity."

Amy giggled. "Though I do appreciate it when you do that to me!"

"Never mind that, Amy; I'm gonna get a jackhammer."

Tails frowned. "Uh…Shadow…I don't think that'll work."

Shadow groaned and threw his arms up in the air. As good a friend as he considered Rouge, he had to wonder about her and Sonic sometimes. Still, at least the popcorn was so perfectly buttery.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.