Chapter 123; Aftermath dinners
"Ouch… ouch… damn it, ouch," Knuckles groaned, wincing as the paramedics worked on him. His bruises were one thing, but the emergency surgery for his shattered tooth was another. He gritted his teeth—well, the ones that weren't broken—and forced himself to stay still. The painkillers were starting to kick in, but not nearly fast enough.
"How you holdin' up, buddy?" Sonic asked, crouching beside him. His voice was calm, but the sadness in his eyes gave him away. Seeing Knuckles like this, beaten down and in pain, didn't sit right with him.
Knuckles let out a weak chuckle, though it hurt to do so. "Like I got kicked in the face with a metal boot. Repeatedly."
Sonic's gaze flickered to Wally, who wasn't in much better shape. His face was marked with bruises, his breathing still unsteady from his asthma flare-up caused by the tear gas. The paramedics had been fast enough to stabilize him, but it had been a close call. Too close.
Sonic clenched his fists. "I'm sorry," he muttered, guilt weighing heavy on his chest. "If I hadn't been out for so long…"
Knuckles sighed. "Don't go there, man. What's done is done."
Sonic wasn't having it. "How can you be so damn calm about this? Look at you. Look at Wally. You both had the souls beaten out of you, and what do we have to show for it? Shadow escaped again. So did Tabitha. All this chaos, and what did we actually accomplish? Nothing."
"I wouldn't say nothing."
Sonic turned as Blaze approached, her arms crossed, her expression sharp yet unreadable.
"I beg your pardon?" Sonic asked, voice edged with frustration.
Blaze met his gaze, unwavering. "You brought the Enforcer to his knees. Sure, he played dirty, and it took everything you had, but you still did it. And in front of the whole region, no less."
Sonic hesitated, letting her words sink in.
Blaze continued, her voice firm. "That battle was broadcasted live. Do you realize what that means? Shadow wanted to spread fear again, to remind Hoenn why they should tremble before him. But instead, you proved he can be beaten. You exposed his weakness, his limits. The people watching? They saw that."
Sonic exhaled, his mind replaying the fight—the desperation, the chaos, the pain. But Blaze had a point. He had fought Shadow before, but never with the whole region as an audience. This time, Shadow's supposed invincibility had been shattered in front of millions.
"We failed to expose him, though," he countered. "We still don't have proof of what he's done."
Blaze shook her head. "That doesn't matter. Today's battle was a spark. A spark that will grow into a fire, one that will eventually burn the Enforcer out of Hoenn. You humanized him to the public, Sonic. That's bigger than you realize. The more people stop fearing him, the weaker his hold on this region becomes."
Sonic stared at her, processing the weight of her words.
"Not to mention how much of a dent this will probably put in Team Magma's plans," Wally added, speaking for the first time in a while.
Knuckles smirked weakly and turned to Wally. "You held your own out there, kid. Your mentor might need to watch his back in the League."
Wally chuckled, some color returning to his face. "You heard him, Sonic. You might just need to watch your back, 'cause we're coming at you with full force in the League."
Sonic finally let a grin slip through. "I'll look forward to it."
Blaze watched them, a small smile forming on her usually serious face. The tension in the air had begun to lift, at least a little.
Sonic turned back to her. "You know, I never thanked you for the intervention. Without your planning, we wouldn't be here right now."
"Agreed," Knuckles chimed in before adding with a groan, "Although, I'm declaring it now—I'm not being the bait again."
The memory of Blaze's plan came rushing back—Knuckles wrapping Shadow in the rope, his Victreebel tightening its hold, and Blaze ensuring it happened with precision timing. It had worked, but Knuckles had paid for it.
Wally chuckled. "At least you had me and Suicune as backup in case Shadow overpowered you."
"All distractions," Blaze said with a satisfied nod. "Someone as drunk on power as him would get tunnel vision. He saw only the three of you trying to stop him. He never expected Sonic to get back up and take him down."
Sonic exhaled. "If you hadn't come to find me, I would've never snapped out of it in time. So really, limiting Shadow's terror, breaking his image in front of Hoenn—that's thanks to you."
Blaze blinked in surprise, then scratched the back of her head, suddenly looking a little bashful. It was a rare sight from someone as composed as her. Sonic couldn't help but smirk.
For the first time since the fight ended, he felt like they had actually won something.
At that moment she received the text. She took out her cell phone and read it.
"It's from Steven".
"Let me guess. He's asking where we're going over to get my lairon back and also talk about the brawl right?" Sonic guessed.
"You would be correct on both parts if not for incorrectly guessing who actually requests your presence".
"Really? Who then?"
Blaze hesitated before replying.
"My aunt. Steven's mother".
"What?" Sonic was taken aback.
Why would Mrs. Stone want to meet him?
"And you 2 are also invited" Blaze continued referring to Knuckles and Wally.
"Us?" Wally was just as taken aback as Sonic.
"Does Steven say why?" Knuckles inquired.
"No. But I have a few guesses" Blaze said under her breath.
Sonic raised his eyebrow for a moment but didn't bring it up. Something told him he was this was family matter.
"In any case we should get going soon. As soon as you 2 are patched up we're going".
"What's the occasion though?" Sonic suddenly popped a question.
"Dinner. With Steven and uncle attending along with aunt".
Sonic was now intrigued to say the least. Dinner with the Stone family? It felt too much out of the blue.
"Well I guess it couldn't hurt to attend. Tell Steven we will be there".
Blaise nodded and typed the answer on her phone before pressing send.
"Let's hope it won't go so bad" she thought she pressed send.
As the quartet of heroes were healing from their battle, their enemies were ironically pretty close to them at the top of the Socexp tower.
SLAP.
The sharp sound cracked through the air, echoing off the walls of the President's office.
Maxie stood over Shadow, his face twisted with unfiltered rage. "You incompetent, absolute moron!" he roared, his voice like fire licking at the edges of his fury. "You had one job, and you failed miserably!"
Shadow barely flinched, but the sting on his cheek burned all the same.
"Boss, please! Leave him alone! It's my fault!" Courtney tried to step in, her voice laced with desperation.
Tabitha, however, held her back with a firm grip. "Stay out of this," he muttered.
Maxie didn't even glance in her direction. She and Tabitha would have their own reckoning later. Right now, his attention was solely on the black hedgehog standing before him.
"I promise, sir, it won't happen again. Next time, I—"
Maxie cut him off with a deadly glare. "That's pretty confident of you." His voice dropped to an eerily calm tone, which somehow felt even more threatening. "And what makes you so sure there's even going to be a next time?"
Shadow stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Maxie smirked, his teeth flashing in amusement. "Is that stuttering I hear? Are you perhaps shaken? Good. Took you long enough to wake up."
Shadow gritted his teeth. "I don't—"
"SHUT UP!"
Maxie snatched a glass of water from his desk and threw it in Shadow's face. The icy splash hit hard, soaking his fur, and for the first time in a long while, Shadow felt something close to humiliation.
Maxie leaned in, lowering his voice to a deadly whisper. "Are you finished? Good. Now listen very closely, because I want you to understand exactly how badly you screwed up."
He straightened, pacing around the office like a predator circling its wounded prey. "The entire Hoenn region saw you. They witnessed you try to declare your rule of fear—and then they watched as three beaten, half-dead fighters brought you to your knees." His lip curled in disgust. "Hell, they even saw Sonic the Hedgehog stand over you and tell them you were nothing to be feared. And they almost saw your face."
Maxie stopped, staring Shadow down. "You are officially a joke now. And that makes things significantly harder for Team Magma's grand plan."
Shadow remained silent, his fists clenched at his sides.
"So what are our orders, sir?" he finally asked, voice tight with restraint.
Maxie's expression hardened. "Because of you, there are no orders for the time being. The police are looking for both you and Tabitha. You are to disappear. Lay low. Do nothing until I say otherwise."
Then, cold as ice, he waved them off. "Dismissed."
Shadow, Courtney and Tabitha all left through the secret passage.
The secret passage dumped them into the shadowed streets of Mauville City.
Courtney, ever persistent, wasted no time trying to cheer Shadow up. "Don't be upset, baby~" she cooed, sidling up to him. "I'm sure the boss will see your worth again in no time."
Shadow rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Whatever. Go back to the hideout without me."
Tabitha raised an eyebrow. "And where are you going?"
Courtney giggled. "You're going to see that blonde bitch again, aren't you?"
That was a mistake.
Before she could blink, Shadow had slammed her into the nearest wall. The impact left a crack in the brick.
His voice was ice, his crimson eyes burning. "One more word. Please, give me one more word."
But Courtney, ever oblivious, thought he was just being rough. "She's a dumb bi—"
CRACK.
Shadow's fist collided with the wall right beside her head. The force of it sent a sharp tremor through the bricks.
Courtney finally shut up.
Even Tabitha tensed, his usual cocky demeanor faltering.
Shadow exhaled sharply, stepping back as if disgusted by the very sight of her. "You know what? You're a damn joke." His voice was quieter now, but no less dangerous. "No wonder everyone in the team laughs at you behind your back."
Courtney flinched.
"You're a pathetic, attention-starved, jabbering moron who can't even keep her emotions in check for one damn battle. And don't even think you're worthy enough to say Maria's name. You couldn't hold a candle to her in your wildest delusions."
Courtney's mouth opened, but no words came out.
Shadow's lip curled. "And you know what? I wish I could say you'll die alone. But the cruelest joke of all?" He let out a dark chuckle. "You won't be alone when it happens. And that's on all of us."
Silence.
Cold. Heavy. Unforgiving.
Courtney looked stunned. For once in her life, she had nothing to say.
Shadow straightened, shaking his head as if tired of wasting his breath. "Go back to the hideout like good little admins. I'll join you whenever I damn well please."
He turned on his heel.
"You're really going to see your little girlfriend after all this?" Tabitha called after him, his voice laced with disbelief. "Instead of rallying the team like a real leader?"
Shadow didn't stop. Didn't even look back.
"You want a leader?" he said, his voice eerily calm. "Then go find yourself one."
And with that, he vanished into the night.
After a few minutes of finally being away from Socexp, his boss and his two coworkers, Shadow's mind began clearing up.
As the night sky began turning rose, indicating the departure of day and the arrival of night, Shadow made for Route 117 wanting nothing more than to see Maria after today's fiasco.
While walking, Shadow tried thinking of anything that could take his mind away from the moment he felt most powerless.
The moment Sonic's hand headed for his mask.
That mask was now lost. Sure he could simply get another one from team magma but the symbol of its loss still remained.
Sonic and his crew had bested him in public. They had given the region hope.
Shadow's fist tightened.
Again and again the hedgehog just prevailed. And now there was a mini version of him in that kid as well as the echidna and his Suicune.
And then a crucial detail came to Shadow's mind.
"That red orphan loser… he had regirock".
Shadow wasn't unaware of the legends of the golems. The story had circulated in the common room of team magma many times.
But word had it the temples the golems were hidden and were also impossible to open.
And somehow Sonic and Knuckles had managed to not only open them but capture one of them.
Secrets hundreds of years hidden in the region's history, secrets both Devon and Socexp's geology departments had tried solving with whole teams of experts and failed.
And they had done this in a single day to Shadow's knowledge. After all Knuckles had arrived in Hoenn that very morning.
"So now they have a legendary pokemon on their squad. Even Salamence is going to have a problem with this".
Although Shadow had two counters to Regirock, the golem had posed quite a bit of a problem fresh out of the temple, without any actual training.
"That means with actual training it's going to destroy my entire team" Shadow made an educated guess.
For once his enemies now had a weapon team magma had not. And if Maxie were to find out it would be a big problem.
"His yapping will have no end" Shadow thought in annoyance.
An idea was to fight on even ground with Regirock and Suicune. But for that they would need legendaries of their own.
Finding either of the other two golems would be too much of a problem, no one knew where the temples were. Hell he had no idea how Sonic and Knuckles had found Regirock's temple to begin with.
And with Groudon still frozen in time inside the volcano, it was not an option.
As Maria's family's house appeared in the distance, something dawned on Shadow.
Something Maria had mentioned on their first date.
"The Eon twins" he mumbled under his breath.
Latias and Latios. Two dragon type legendary Pokémon of extreme power.
And along with them a gem of untold power to boost their might even further.
"This could be a promising lead. Let's see what Maria and her family know about them first" Shadow thought as he arrived outside the house.
Before Shadow could even touch the doorknob, the door swung open with force, and suddenly—impact.
A pair of trembling arms wrapped tightly around his torso, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs.
"I was so worried!" Maria's voice broke into choked sobs against his chest. "We were watching everything on TV, and—there was so much violence, so much chaos—" she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, tears streaking her flushed face. "I was terrified something would happen to you. That the last thing we ever said to each other would be a stupid fight about where you work."
Her breath hitched. "I'm so sorry, Shadow."
For a moment, he just stood there, stunned.
The dark storm that had been raging inside of him—Maxie's fury, Courtney's foolishness, the humiliation, the failure—vanished in an instant, swept away like ashes in the wind.
Without thinking, he placed a hand on her back, his voice softer than he thought himself capable of.
"I'm sorry I made you worry." He exhaled slowly. "But I was never in any real danger. The moment Team Aqua and Team Magma showed up, the staff was evacuated. We watched from the tower as it all unfolded."
Maria let out a shuddering breath, her fingers running through his quills as if grounding herself. "I don't care—I'm just glad you're okay."
Shadow smirked faintly, tilting his head. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."
She let out a soft giggle—light, pure, like the chiming of wind bells in the spring breeze.
And just like that, he felt weightless.
That laughter—it sent him soaring higher than any battle, any victory, anything else ever could.
For this moment, for her, he had everything he would ever need.
Maria wiped her tears and smiled. "Come on in. Mom and Dad have been waiting for you."
Shadow's stomach rumbled slightly, and he chuckled. "Good, because I'm starving."
Maria laughed again, the warmth returning to her expression. "Well, at least one good thing came out of that disaster of a rally—it ended the conference early. Now we can finally have dinner together, like my mother's been insisting on for days."
Shadow smirked as they stepped inside, the warmth of the house greeting him. After the night he'd had, a good meal—surrounded by the only person who made this life bearable—was exactly what he needed.
Elsewhere, Sonic, Knuckles, Wally and Blaze arrived at the Stone Manor, Knuckles with instructions not to eat anything too hard in order for his damaged gum to heal, and Wally with a big bruise on his left hand as that was where Kirlia had crashed into him.
That of course shocked Steven who was waiting for them outside as Sonic and Blaze dismounted tropius and Knuckles and Wally dismounted Suicune.
"Holy rayquaza what happened to you?" the Hoenn champion asked in concern as he hugged Blaze.
"Just a few scratches champ" Knuckles assured Steven as they high fived.
"How are things here? How is aunt?"
"As well as you would expect. I'm sorry I wasn't there but she wouldn't hear it. She almost went ballistic when she heard you were there".
"I'm sorry but as soon as I heard Tabitha was there I had to go. It was a chance to secure the Devon's legal safety".
"I know and so does father. You did what was best for the company, as it true heir should" Steven assured his cousin.
"Aunt doesn't see it that way though" Blaze solemnly said.
"We'll deal with that later. Come on everyone's expecting you" Steven led the teenager group inside.
Steven led them through the elegant corridors and into the dining room.
As soon as they entered, Mr. Stone who was already there stood up to greet them.
"Ah at last you've arrived. Sonic my boy it's been too long – we have much to catch up on".
"Thank you for having us Mr. Stone" Sonic shook the Devon co President's hand.
"The honor is all mine. Welcome to you too, young Wally. And last but certainly not least, it is an honor to meet you in person Mr. The echidna".
"Thank you Sir".
"Come come sit. This dinner is in your honor. Your actions today have undoubtedly changed the trajectory of the region's history. My wife should be joining us momentarily".
"I shall take a moment to change uncle" Blaze excused herself and retreated in her quarters to put on something more appropriate.
As Sonic, Knuckles and Wally took their seats, with Steven sitting next his father who was at the head of the table, the seat opposite of Steven obviously meant for Mrs Stone, Mr Stone immediately brought up the brawl again.
"Again I cannot overstate how great of an impact today's battle had. Defeating the enforcer publicly while he was on a rampage is no small feat".
"Well to be honest for seasoned trainers like me and Knuckles that was kind of just another day in the office. Such battles were the norm against team Rocket".
Mr. Stone nodded.
"I have seen many rallies in my many years young trainers, but honestly today's one was probably the most brutal one I've ever seen. But I would like to hear it from your perspective, Especially how you were able to defeat the enforcer's Pokémon".
"That's something I would like to know too" Steven interjected "I did battled him once and he gave me quite a challenge. And from what I hear it wasn't Sonic who fought him in a Pokémon battle".
"It was me and Wally in segments. And even so he still kind of mopped the floor with us".
"Maybe but it's his salamence I'm intrigued to know how you beat. When we fought, it and my metagross were almost evenly matched".
"Technically we didn't beat it. I merely clipped it on the wing with a rock throw. The enforcer just recalled it and continued battling with other Pokémon".
"A rock throw? That is most surprising to hear. What kind of rock type Pokémon would be so strong as to injure that mighty salamence?" Mr. Stone asked intrigued. Having a son like Steven, he was bound to know some things about rock and steel type Pokémon.
Steven on the other hand guessed the answer and gasped.
"Don't tell me… you found…"
"Yes Steven" Blaze said as she joined them, wearing a simple but elegant purple dress "They found Regirock and Knuckles caught it".
"Wow that was some record time changing" Sonic commented utterly impressed, this being Blaze's third record in performing a seemingly long task almost instantaneously with the first being typing a paragraph in 15 seconds to text him and the second getting Knuckles' Victreebel to a Pokémon center and returning in a flash.
"Thanks. Having a busy schedule requires speed in everyday actions" Blaze replied as took a seat next to Steven who was still at a loss for words.
"Is it true? Our assumption was right? The temple was in the desert?!"
"Yes. There was another riddle we we had to solve and we had another encounter with our treasure hunter… acquaintance" Knuckles said as he looked away momentarily, still remembering the encounter with Rouge "but in the end we unlocked it and after a gruesome battle I caught it".
"And we did keep a couple of mementos from the temple too" Sonic added "I got this coin and Knuckles kept the jewel that was used to unlock the gate along with Regirock".
As the hero of Kanto spoke those words the two friends protruded their treasures together, impressing the three present members of the Stone family.
"Most impressive" Mr. Stone commented "and it is here with you right now Mr. The echidna?"
"That's right Mr. Stone" knuckles confirmed as he unveiled Regirock's pokeball.
Mr. Stone's eyes widened momentarily.
"Splendid. I would like to offer a proposition then. Would you let my butler collect a few rock samples from Regirock's body for scientific research?"
"You will be paid of course and no harm will come to regirock" Blaze quickly added what would be the fine print on the contract.
"Sure thing" Knuckles agreed, seeing no foul in making some extra cash for Sabre's future treatments.
"Excellent. And when are you set to return to your hometown?"
"I have actually booked my ticket for the night flight in two days Sir".
"That's great, there's plenty of time then. So since this is the case, why don't we all drop the talk about business and pick up a more interesting topic. There's so many things I would want to ask you too about Johto, if there is of course OK with you father" Steven tried to change the topic as he wasn't very fond of business talks, at least not as much as his cousin.
"I see no problem with that. I didn't call those young people here to talk about business with them after all" Mr. Stone lightheartedly said.
"Still enabling our son's childish behavior Joseph?"
Blaze and Steven's faces darkened upon hearing that voice. Mr. Stone on the other hand, remaining perfectly calm, stood up.
"Ah, finally. We've been expecting you dear" he said turning to the direction of the voice.
Sonic, Knuckles and Wally all turned their heads and were mesmerized.
Mrs Stone was dressed like a queen. Her gown, deep midnight blue, climbed to her finger before flowing into a shimmering drain that whispered against the marble floor. Diamond earrings caught the chandelierlight as she moved, their brilliance matched only by the cold confidence in their gaze. Her light still blue hair was swept into an intricate chingon, not a strand out of place, Emphasizing the proud line of her neck. Pearl white gloves reached her elbows, her delicate fingers resting lightly against the fabric of her gown. As she walked through the door and into the dining room every step was measured, effortless, commanding.
And her son and niece, unlike her husband, seemed unnerved and intimidated by the amount of effort she had put into her appearance for a semi-formal dinner.
"Stand up" Blaze quickly whispered to her friends, before joining Steven in standing up to welcome her aunt to the dinner.
Sonic, Wally and Knuckles,despite exchanging a quick look ofs surprised at the turn of events, also stood up.
Mr. Stone kissed his wife's hand as she arrived, triggering a soft smile on her face before turning to his guests.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Freya Stone".
"It's lady Freya Stone darling" Mrs. Stone corrected him with a seemingly sweet and innocent voice but one that indicated and commanding and slightly intimidating presence.
"Now I can see where Blaze gets the bossy work attitude she had when I met her from" Sonic thought.
Freya Stone then turned to her guests. She sized each of them up for a solid 2 seconds before addressing Sonic.
"Mr. The hedgehog. Your reputation precedes you. Long have I waited the day I would meet you in the flesh".
"Ohh uuh… I appreciate the compliment ma'am. An honor for me to meet you as well" Sonic said taken aback that you specifically addressed him when she had invited Knuckles and Wally too.
He caught a movement with the side of his eye. Turning for the fraction of a second he saw Blaze urgently whispering something like "kiss her hand".
But it wasn't the context of the whispering that bewildered Sonic. It was the tone. As if Blaze was slightly panicking.
And the weirdest thing was that even Steven, who Sonic had heard of and experienced as the relatively laid back and calm dude, almost always with a smile on his face, seemed very quiet and serious.
It all just gave Sonic a very strange vibe of something isn't right here, as he reached for lady Freya's hand.
"If I may ma'am" Sonic said adding a charming tone to it as he kissed lady Freya's hand.
"Ohh what proper manners. Not only a brave young man worthy of the title the hero with No Fear as I heard they called you in Johto, but a true gentleman too. It's nice to see my son and niece are at least interacting with proper class people".
Sonic's eyes momentarily widened but thankfully the gesture was so fast no one caught it. With the side of his eye, he saw Blaze having a mix of relief and embarrassment on her and Steven one of pure embarrassment.
As lady Freya took her seat next to her husband, opposite Steven, Sonic looked towards his two friends.
No words needed to be exchanged.
They all wore the same look of question on their face.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?"
Meanwhile, near Mauville City, in a cozy, warmly lit living room, another hedgehog sat, sipping tea alongside his girlfriend's father.
Shadow had never considered himself one for small talk, but Geraldo—Maria's father—was a man who could turn silence into conversation with ease. And so, as Maria and her mother finished setting the table, the two sat across from each other, discussing the night's chaotic events.
"So, you were there?" Geraldo asked, his voice calm yet laced with concern.
"Yes, sir," Shadow replied, setting down his tea. "I wasn't in the middle of the action, but I saw everything unfold from the second floor of the tower."
Geraldo let out a quiet sigh. "I'm sorry you have to work in such an environment, my boy. Not just having a boss like Chairman Maxie, but constantly running the risk of being surrounded—directly or indirectly—by people as dangerous as Team Magma."
Shadow exhaled through his nose, shoulders squared. "It's not as bad as it seems. I know what's said about the company, but I can assure you, those troublemakers have no real connection to us. They act on their own."
Geraldo gave him a thoughtful look, though there was a flicker of dissatisfaction in his gaze. "I appreciate that you try to stay neutral because of your job, but neutrality can be blinding, son. Team Magma may not be officially linked to Socexp, but as long as Chairman Maxie refuses to condemn them publicly, he's just as guilty as they are. Maybe even as guilty as the Enforcer."
The word struck Shadow like a cold slap to the face.
He fought to keep his expression neutral.
It wasn't the first time Maria's parents had spoken of the Enforcer—the feared specter who terrorized Hoenn under the banner of Team Magma. They spoke of him with disdain, with utter contempt. And every time, it was as if a knife was being driven just a little deeper into his back.
Any other day, if this had been Amy or Rouge saying it, he might've laughed at the tragic irony.
But he couldn't.
Not here. Not now.
Instead, he forced a casual shrug. "Yeah… that guy's on another level of horrible."
It tasted bitter on his tongue.
Just then, Maria's voice carried from the dining room.
"Everything's ready! You can come now."
Shadow rose alongside Geraldo, following him toward the dining area—completely unprepared for what was waiting for him.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze.
The dining table was overflowing. A feast that could feed a platoon was spread across the polished wooden surface, the rich aromas immediately invading his senses. His crimson eyes scanned the dishes, and he felt a jolt of something unfamiliar when he noticed—
Some of his favorites.
Things he hadn't tasted since… Green Hills.
It hit him all at once. The realization.
Maria had asked him, once—back in Verdanturf, during their second date. She had casually inquired about his favorite foods while they were getting snacks after the Pokémon Contest. At the time, he hadn't thought much of it—had brushed it off as nothing more than idle conversation.
But now… this.
This was why she had asked.
Shadow swallowed, suddenly unsure of where to look. His stomach twisted—not out of hunger, but from something deeper, something unfamiliar.
Maria's soft hand found his, pulling him forward.
"Come on, Shadow. Take a seat already."
He let her lead him, forcing a smile, but the moment he sat down, he felt it—
Uncomfortable.
Not because he wasn't welcome. Not because anyone treated him differently.
But because this… this warmth, this togetherness…
It was so foreign, it might as well have been another planet.
Shadow had grown used to eating alone. At the Magma hideout, his meals were quick, silent, and isolated. If he was forced to share space with others, he made it very clear that he demanded absolute silence.
But here?
There was laughter. Soft chatter. The clinking of plates, the passing of dishes, the warmth of people who cared.
It made his skin itch.
As everyone settled, Geraldo spoke, his voice filled with warmth. "I just want to say how glad I am that my daughter has found someone so kind and genuine. You two seem to complement each other perfectly."
Maria turned red instantly. "Dad, we've only been together for a few days! You're acting like we're getting married."
"Nonsense," Geraldo chuckled, waving a hand. "One would have to be blind not to see how fitting you are for each other, Maria. Shadow might not have Pokémon of his own, but the fact that he stood against Team Magma so selflessly shows his values. It speaks to his kind, genuine character."
As if to drive the point home, Debbie—Maria's Marill sister—suddenly leaped onto Shadow.
The black hedgehog stiffened.
He had not been prepared for that.
Debbie curled her tail around herself, snuggling against his lap without a care in the world, as if this—as if he—were the safest thing in the universe.
Shadow felt his entire body lock up, unsure of what to do, what to say. He wasn't used to… this. Unprompted affection. Unwavering trust.
Maria giggled at his expression. "Aww, she likes you. I think I might be getting a little jealous."
Shadow swallowed thickly.
He didn't know how to respond to that.
"What are we all waiting for?" Meredith, Maria's mother, finally said, smiling as she picked up her utensils. "Dig in before the food gets cold!"
Conversation paused as plates were filled, and Shadow forced himself to relax.
The warmth around him was suffocating, yet…
A part of him—one that he wasn't ready to face yet—didn't mind it.
Back in the Stone Manor, the atmosphere was a bit more serious and formal. But it was also charged with the unseen but palpable tension.
Although this was Sonic and his friends' first time in the formal setting, he was getting surer by the second that rich people being eccentric was one thing, being as passive-aggressive as Freya Stone was another thing altogether.
From the first minute after joining them, the wife of the Devon corporation president had been a pain to deal with. For one, she was running the stuff ragged, even for the tiniest, most unimportant details. One example was how she almost screamed at the face of one of the housemaids for spotting a little bit of dust in a corner, claiming the manor was a dumpster, which was embarrassing when they had guests of such importance over.
"I didn't even notice the dust" Wally innocently whispered to his two friends.
"It has nothing to do with the dust. This woman is clearly a control freak" Knuckles was quick to condemn her.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves guys. Maybe she does have a small issue with control, but it could come from a place of good intentions, you know" Sonic said, not wanting to jump to conclusions before they had enough context.
The behavior did not stop, however. In fact, it grew worse.
Freya Stone's next victim was one of the cooks. More specifically, he called him to the dining room and berated him in front of Sonic, Knuckles and Wally, because the food was cooked at 1 less than normal. And then cherry on top was having him apologize to them.
"Still think she's not a control freak?" Knuckles asked Sonic sarcastically.
"How could she even tell the exact temperature of the food?!" Wally was losing it.
"Well, this isn't a TV show where a high society lady just desires to control everything and everyone around her. I mean look at Steven and Blaze. Do they seem like children raised in a controlling environment?"
"Technically Blaze doesn't belong in thr family. I mean her last name is the cat, not Stone" Wally whispered to them.
"You get my point. They're just fine" Sonic tried one last time to defend the situation.
While eating, Freya Stone had Mr. Prescott open one of their expensive wines instructing that everyone wants to drink at least one glass in honor of the gathering, something that took everyone by surprise, especially Wally who was not legally allowed to drink.
Before either he, Sonic or knuckles could object, however, Blaze shot them a begging look.
Completely perplexed and with no other choice they accepted the drink. And that was like allowing Freya Stone to call Mr. Prescott over and over for refills.
Soon enough her cheeks had turned rose and she kept adding a small laugh after every sentence.
All Sonic could think in that moment was Mr. Stone was literally a saint for dealing with her. Especially with how he remained calm and continued to direct the night to neutral topics and changed the subject from his wife's antics, a true symbol of a business man's talking skills.
But the biggest antic was yet to come.
During the dinner, when she was not running her stuff ragged, Freya Stone seemed suspiciously interested in Sonic and Knuckles' prowess in Pokémon battles, making weird remarks like how most league tournaments lately have been so boring and then none of the latest victors had even attempted to challenge Steven for the champion title.
"Tournament takes place every year and yet every year the victor just takes their trophy and go home. Makes you wonder if Hoenn even yields worthy fruit anymore. But who knows, maybe this year it will be different since you will be taking place in the tournament Mr. The hedgehog".
"I'm not so sure about that ma'am. It's not really within my plans to challenge Steven and stay in Hoenn as the champion. And even if it was, I don't see myself winning anytime soon".
"Don't be too humble. Someone you with your talent should easily be able to conquer my son and take his title".
"Highly doubtful" Blaze countered.
"What was that niece?" Freya questioned Blaze with a surprisingly challenging tone.
"I think what Blaze is trying to say mother" Steven interjected "is that despite Sonic's talent he's a relatively new trainer despite the massive challenges he has already surpassed. It took me 10 years of training before I became champion".
"Yes, yes I'm aware son. I remember each and every day of those 10 years. I also remember your father's stress when you declared it would be pursuing the Pokémon path instead of taking up the mantle of the company".
"Yes, yes dear it was indeed a rather distressful time" Mr. Stone again trying to shift the subject of conversation "but it's all good now. Blaze has displayed incredible skill in her work and has been fulfilling her duties and responsibilities almost better than me. I even dare say she will take the company to far greater heights than I ever could".
"Of course, she will Joseph of course she will. No one in this very room doubts her skill" Freya said as she giggled drinking some more wine.
That last line made the three guests very uncomfortable. Like this was something they were not supposed to be hearing.
Sonic especially was disturbed to see Steven tightening his fist as if he was trying to hold his anger and the facial features of Blaze's serious look clearly indicates he was trying not to get emotional.
"What is wrong with this lady?" Sonic thought as he was trying to finish his dish.
"Ready to agree now?" Knuckles asked Sonic as if he had read the hedgehog's mind just now.
"Later" Sonic shushed him.
Contrary to the present, the Robotnik household was warm, welcoming, and filled with laughter—a stark contrast to the life Shadow had always known.
And no one, no one, was enjoying the evening more than him.
The dinner was by far the best meal he had ever had. Meredith Robotnik was an exceptional cook, something she took great pride in, though she often said she hoped Maria would one day surpass her.
Shadow had barely put his fork down when curiosity got the better of him. "Mrs. Robotnik, I have spent so much time at the daycare, but I don't see you around very often. Why is that?"
Meredith smiled. "I'm a housewife. I take care of our home, cook, and look after my husband and daughter after a long day at the daycare and farm."
Shadow blinked. The idea of someone choosing such a life—and being completely content with it—was so alien to him that he struggled to process it.
Geraldo immediately picked up on his surprise. "It's not a lifestyle you see much anymore, is it?"
Shadow hesitated. "No, sir, it's not. But… I don't really understand why."
Geraldo leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It's because people today have lost sight of what truly matters. Modernity has made traditional roles seem outdated, even laughable. But those who mock it have completely missed the point."
Shadow's crimson eyes flickered with intrigue. "Could you elaborate?"
Geraldo smiled knowingly, as if he had been waiting for the question. "It's quite simple, my boy. While Maria and I are out working, my wonderful wife makes this house a home—a place we can return to, filled with warmth and love. Work and money? They're just tools to survive. But life? The true meaning of life? It's what you choose to surround yourself with. And I've chosen to surround mine with the woman of my dreams and the greatest daughter a man could ask for."
Maria flushed. "Dad, stop," she said, clearly touched.
Shadow swallowed hard.
A lump formed in his throat; one he didn't know how to deal with.
This house, this family, the way they loved each other so openly—it was something he had never experienced. It was so simple, so pure, and yet it hurt in a way he couldn't explain.
Somewhere deep within him, something stirred.
For just a moment, it was as if the person he used to be—the Shadow the hedgehog who was long dead—had awakened from the depths of his shattered soul.
A whisper, soft but unmistakable, echoed in his mind.
"This could have been your life."
Shadow clenched his fists under the table.
He shoved the thought away, silencing the whisper before it could tear him apart.
Meredith's voice broke through the moment. "I'm sure Maria has asked before, but… where are you from, Shadow?"
There it was.
The question.
Shadow felt his stomach drop.
He had just barely managed to contain the flood of emotions, only for reality to throw a brick through the dam.
A memory surfaced—the image of his old home, the place he had once thought was his sanctuary. But the moment he recalled it, another image followed.
A dark, twisted, nightmarish version of Geraldo's heartfelt words.
Shadow forced himself to breathe, but when he tried to answer, his voice caught.
"An…"
No.
Not here. Not now.
His fingers dug into his palms beneath the table. The air around him suddenly felt too thick, too suffocating.
"Shadow?" Maria's voice was soft, concerned.
He sucked in a slow, steady breath, locking the emotions away where they belonged. When he finally spoke again, it was with a calm, controlled smile.
"Far away, ma'am. I grew up in the vicinity of Green Hills, the hometown of Sonic the Hedgehog."
Geraldo raised a brow. "Really? Maria never mentioned that. Do you know him?"
Shadow forced a chuckle. "Not… not too well. Our paths never crossed in any meaningful way."
A blatant lie.
But they didn't need to know that.
Meredith tilted her head. "And what made you leave? You must have had a reason."
The real answer?
Because they had run him out. Because the whole damn town had made it clear he would never be welcome again, not when he bore nothing but hatred for their golden hedgehog celebrity.
But he couldn't say that.
"Let's just say I was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for Socexp. I had nothing keeping me in Green Hills, so I took it."
Geraldo frowned slightly. "But surely you had someone? Parents, siblings, friends?"
Shadow didn't even need a second to respond. "No siblings. My father was in the military, so we moved frequently. I never had the chance to form close friendships. And as for my parents… let's just say our relationship was distant."
Distant.
He almost laughed at the irony.
He was here. They were in Kingdom Come. It didn't get more distant than that.
Geraldo's expression softened. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's alright, sir. It doesn't bother me." Shadow gave an easy smile. "I prefer to look ahead."
The rest of the evening passed in warmth and conversation. But all too soon, it was time to go.
As Meredith packed leftovers for him—insisting he didn't eat enough homemade meals—Shadow turned to Geraldo, extending a hand.
"Thank you for having me, sir."
Geraldo grasped it firmly. "Don't mention it, lad. If anything, I should still be thanking you for protecting us from Team Magma."
Shadow gave a small smirk. "It was nothing."
"It was nothing." Shadow insisted, though his voice lacked conviction. He forced a small, sideways smile toward Maria, who stood nearby, waiting for their moment alone.
At that moment, Meredith stepped out, carrying a neatly packed bundle of leftovers.
"Here you go, dear," she said warmly, pressing the food into his hands. "This should last you a couple of days—definitely better than those awful Socexp fast lunches."
The gesture hit him harder than he expected.
It wasn't just food. It was care. It was warmth. It was something no one had ever done for him before.
His throat tightened as he tried to swallow the sudden lump forming there. "T-thank you. I…" His voice wavered. "I have no words."
Meredith just smiled, a look in her eyes that made Shadow feel like she somehow knew—that she could see the aching emptiness inside him. As if she understood he had never known a mother's love, never felt the security of a home like this.
And then she pulled him into a hug.
Shadow stiffened, body locked in place. He didn't know what to do, how to react. But before he could think, he felt another set of arms wrap around him—Geraldo's, strong and steady. Then Maria joined in, holding him just a little tighter.
For a fleeting, fragile moment, Shadow allowed himself to sink into it.
He let himself believe, just for tonight, that this warmth was his to have.
When they finally pulled away, Geraldo and Meredith stepped back toward the house.
Geraldo paused in the doorway, looking back at Shadow with nothing but sincerity in his voice.
"Remember," he said, "our door will always be open to you."
Shadow smiled—a real smile, one that reached his eyes. "Thank you."
And then, at last, they were alone.
Shadow turned to Maria, still holding the leftovers as if they were something precious. "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you for accepting me."
Maria giggled, stepping closer. "You don't have to say anything."
And then she kissed him.
Shadow melted into it, his hands instinctively finding her waist, holding onto her like she was the one thing keeping him tethered to this world.
For a moment, he wished time would stop.
That they could stay like this, wrapped in each other's warmth, untouched by the weight of his past, his future, his obligations. No Socexp. No Sonic. No Team Aqua. No war.
Just her.
But time was merciless. And reality always came crashing back.
Maria pulled away slightly, still close enough that their foreheads touched. "Will you come by after work?"
Shadow brushed his thumb against her cheek, memorizing the softness of her skin. "Unless they overwork me, that's not even a question."
She smiled. He kissed her once more. A few more stolen moments of whispered affections, of innocent happiness. Then, finally, he forced himself to leave.
The second he stepped out of sight—out of earshot—his legs gave out beneath him.
Shadow collapsed to his knees, shoulders shaking as a silent, shuddering breath escaped him.
And then, for the first time in years, he broke.
Tears spilled from his eyes, slipping down his face as his body trembled under the weight of it all.
The evening had been perfect. Too perfect. It had given him something he had never had—something he had convinced himself he never needed.
Belonging. Love. A home.
And now, it was tearing him apart.
All his life, he had been taught that emotions were weakness. That attachment was a liability. That he was meant for one purpose: to be a weapon.
And for so long, he had accepted it. Embraced it. Even found a twisted kind of solace in it.
But now?
Now, he wanted out.
He wanted none of it. No war. No orders. No bloodshed.
For the first time in his existence, Shadow the Hedgehog wanted to stay.
But he couldn't.
Because he was lying to them. Because he was using their kindness while preparing to destroy everything they held dear. Because, no matter how much he wished otherwise, he was still his father's son.
A thought crossed his mind, sharp and dangerous.
What if I ran?
What if he left it all behind? What if he turned his back on Socexp, on the mission, on everything?
What if he chose this life instead?
But the answer was already there, waiting for him like a knife to the gut.
They would find him.
And when they did, Maria's family would pay the price.
A chill ran down his spine, and then—like a ghost from his past—his father's voice echoed in his head, cold and unyielding.
"Good soldiers follow orders."
Shadow's breath hitched.
And just like that, the war inside him was over.
He forced himself to his feet, fists clenching at his sides. His heart was still screaming, but he shoved it down, locking it away in the deepest parts of himself where it couldn't be reached.
This was the way it had to be.
No matter how much it destroyed him.
Shadow took a slow, steady breath, wiping the last of his tears before turning toward the dark streets of Mauville.
There was no more time to waste.
His Salamence's wing still needed treatment. And when it healed, he would return to active duty.
As if tonight had never happened.
As one dinner neared its end, the other was also approaching its finale. But before dessert could be served, Lady Freya requested a brief recess to freshen up, providing Sonic, Knuckles, and Wally the opportunity to step outside under the pretense of getting some air.
"That lady is clinically insane," Wally muttered the moment they were out of earshot.
"I know, right? She hasn't let up on Blaze for a single second. What's with all those little jabs?" Knuckles grumbled, throwing himself onto a marble bench.
"And all those subtle suggestions about us helping each other train so we can take down Steven after the tournament and steal his title?" Sonic added, frustration evident in his voice. "What kind of mother openly tears down her own son's dream and then practically hands out blueprints to sabotage it?"
"Ahem." Wally shot Sonic a pointed look, arms crossed.
"Oh… right. Sorry."
"Eh, don't mention it. But you're absolutely right. I can see the signs from a mile away. The real question is—what the hell is wrong with this woman?"
Knuckles shrugged. "Got a couple of theories."
"Good, then hit me. I want to hear all of them," Wally said, eager for any explanation that might make sense of it all.
Sonic, meanwhile, had tuned them out. His gaze wandered around the courtyard until it landed on Blaze, standing alone near the marble fountain. Something about the way she held herself—rigid, composed, but with her hands clenched a little too tightly—made something tighten in Sonic's chest.
He hesitated. A part of him told him this wasn't his place. But Blaze was his friend. And he wasn't about to let her suffer in silence.
He approached cautiously. "Hey. You doing okay?"
"Yeah," Blaze answered quickly—too quickly—wiping at her face.
Sonic caught the motion and froze. "Wait… are you crying?"
"It's nothing." Her voice was clipped, controlled, but it cracked at the edges. "Go back to your friends. You shouldn't abandon them."
"You got that right. So tell me what's going on. Why are you letting your aunt walk all over you? That's not the Blaze I know".
"You don't have to get upset over her behavior. She's just a little eccentric that's all".
"That's not eccentricity. That's bullying. And again, the Blaze the cat I know does not yield to such behaviors. What is really going on?"
Blaze went to look away but Sonic made her look at him again.
"Tell me what's going on. I want to help you".
"Why? This doesn't concern you" Blaze asked him, her voice sounding genuine and not discouraging.
"Because you helped me during my darkest time. Maybe I didn't heed your words before things got too out of hand in Forina, but you still helped me, just as I know my friends would have done. So to me you are a friend now. And I can't abandon a friend in a time of need".
Blaze's gold eyes gleamed in the moonlight. One event was constantly succeeding the other, so she had forgotten entirely the original reason she had been desired to get close to Sonic.
Before she could respond, voices drifted through the night.
At first, Sonic thought it was just Wally and Knuckles arguing.
But no—the voices were coming from the manor. From the first floor. One of them was unmistakably a woman's.
"You want to know what is going on with aunt? Follow me".
Confused but intrigued, Sonic followed as she led him to the wall of the manor. Without hesitation, Blaze grabbed onto a pipe and started climbing.
"Whoa—are you sure this is safe?"
"Steven and I pulled crazier stunts as kids. Come on."
Sonic followed, and soon they were crouched against a walkable ledge outside the mansion, inching toward an open window. The voices inside grew clearer.
Steven. And Freya.
"Your behavior crossed every imaginable line, Mother," Steven's voice seethed. "Inviting Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends here after they just fought a brutal battle, only to suggest they take my place as Champion?"
Freya's tone remained icy, unmoved. "Don't lecture me on embarrassment, Steven. Not after turning your back on your duty as the future head of this family."
"How many times do I have to tell you? I never wanted that! You and Father have been forcing it on me since I was a child!"
"It is your duty to continue the Stone family legacy. To continue our bloodline."
Steven scoffed. "I don't know about bloodline, but you needn't worry about the legacy. Blaze is more than capable of carrying that forward. Maybe even more capable than me."
Freya let out an unimpressed hum. "So you're really going to let that little—"
"Watch it," Steven warned, voice sharp. "One insult about my cousin—"
"Calm yourself. I was going to say 'outsider.' An outsider whom you're willing to let take your entire future."
"I told you already—she can have it. I'm happy with who I am. The sooner you accept that, the better."
"You know my terms."
Silence stretched between them before Steven finally spoke again, voice colder now. "What you seek doesn't exist. And even if it did, Blaze would never bring it to you. She doesn't need your approval."
Freya's tone was quiet, but laced with venom. "So that's it? You're taking her side over your own mother's?"
"I always take the fair side." Steven's voice was final. "You taught me that."
Footsteps followed. Then a door shut.
Sonic exhaled, barely realizing he'd been holding his breath.
Bringing him back to reality Blaze instructed him on how to climb down without falling over and breaking at least 10 bones, making the hedgehog wonder if she or Steven had actually had an injury like that in the past, hence why she was so specific.
As soon as they were back by the fountain, Sonic turned to her, utterly floored.
"What the hell was that?"
Taking a seat at the edge of the marble fountain, Blaze took a deep breath and explained.
"Aunt didn't used to be this way. When I and Steven were children, she was the sweetest woman you would ever meet. We were basically raised together. My father you see is uncle's brother. But aunt experienced complications after childbirth. She battled that sickness for several years. During the tail end of that battle, her health deteriorated, and she almost died".
"She what?!" Sonic exclaimed surprise but Blaze was not done.
"The doctors were able to cure her and save her life. But after she got better…she changed. She seized to be the fun aunt to me and the caring mother to Steven, what we knew her to be. She became the snobby aristocrat you met today. And has been that way ever since".
Sonic was in a loss for words. Usually when someone was at the brink of death and survived, they would gain a more positive outlook on life and be better afterwards. He had first hand experience with that. But Freya Stone seemed to go the exact opposite way.
"Did you or Steven ever learn why she became like this?"
"Not us. But uncle did. She told him that as she laid on her deathbed, she put into perspective what her death would mean, and she realized the Stone family would be left without a matriarch. And when she survived, she became determined to ensure the longevity of the Stone family. And ever since she has been trying to get Steven to stop battling, give up his passion about rocks and geology and the studies of ancient lore and focus on becoming the future president of Devon corporation".
"But… but…Isn't that your position? You said Mr. Stone chose you".
"He did. Because although he too wanted Steven to follow in his footsteps, in the end he decided his son's happiness was more important than that. And when I expressed interest in the company, uncle took me under his wing and trained me to become his successor one day. Aunt has not accepted that".
Sonic was flabbergasted at what he had just learned. For whatever reason, following her near-death experience Freya Stone ended up becoming the worst version of a nobleswoman.
"What were those terms she mentioned to Steven?"
"Sometime after my appointment as uncle's successor, Steven confronted aunt and demanded she accepted me and the new reality of the situation. Aunt said she would if and only if I brought her a jewel worthy of the position I was to inherit. One very specific jewel".
"Specific?" Sonic asked her "Do you mean one of the King's jewels? The ones mentioned in the ancient lore to be hidden in the temples of the regis?"
"The ruby, the sapphire and the emerald? No. Those are common to a rich person".
"Ok spill it. I don't have other guesses".
"…the soul dew".
"The what?!"
The soul dew. The mythical jewel connected with Latios and Latias. That's the price of accepting me and the family".
Sonic was now beyond shocked.
"I hope you don't take offense to that, but your aunt is delusional. Demanding a legendary jewel just so she may allow her son to follow his passions when she should have been encouraging him to do so herself?"
Blaze shook her head.
"And why are you even entertaining that delusion? Couldn't you just walk away?"
"No. It's not that simple".
"What's not simple?"
"When aunt was in danger of dying, Steven was at his absolute worst. I had never seen him before in that state, now have I ever seen him like that since. He loves her deeply. if anything was to happen to her, even now that they're fighting like that, I know Steven won't take it well."
Blaze took a deep breath to regulate her emotions before continuing. "This is what I was searching for when you first met me and Steven in Granite cave. That cave contained lore regarding the gods of the seas, the Kyogre, but also spoke about latias and latios, two species dedicated to protecting nature and other Pokémon. I was looking for any reference to the soul dew, in hopes that I will find it and present it to aunt and that she may let go of her obsession with Steven continuing the family legacy as if it is his sacred duty. And so that Steven can also have a relationship with his mother".
Sonic was showered with understanding at that very moment.
"So that's why you wanted me to tell you about Alto Mare. You were looking for confirmation that latias and latios were real there and therefore a soul dew was also there".
"Exactly. Unfortunately, as you said it has been destroyed. So, the situation will remain as is for the time being" Blaze solemnly said before getting back up.
"Let's head back inside. Aunt should be done freshening up by now".
"Go I'll join you in a minute" Sonic said as he needed a little time to process the info.
Blaze nodded and turned to leave, but not before giving Sonic an unexpected hug.
"Thank you. For hearing me out".
"That's what friends do" Sonic smiled back at her.
After that Blaze returned inside joined by Knuckles and Wally, while Sonic was left sitting at the edge of the fountain, thinking how a simple dinner had turned into such a complicated night.