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Assistant: Title: Saving Sonic
        Author: GuardianDragon98 GuardianDragon98 
        Chapter: 20/25 
        Summary: The Metal Virus is gone, but so is Sonic. As they pick up the pieces and begin to rebuild, the Restoration searches for their hero. But when they find him, they realize that not everyone has been saved.Sonic has always saved them in their time of need. Now it's their turn to save Sonic from his greatest enemy – himself.Takes place after Issue 29 of the IDW Comics. (Sonadow pairing).
        Contents: Chapter 20: A Sol Dimension Vacation
    

    

        
          
          
            Sonic and Tails take a vacation... and Shadow's their plus one :D
          
        

      
        
          To everyone who’s been following this story since Day 1, and even those who just started reading it, thank you for your patience.You’d think that after writing so much angst for this fic that writing happy stuff would be easier… LOL, nope. Combined with all the tasks I need to do for my job and lack of motivation, writing this fic took a lot longer than I thought.Watching the Sonic Movie 2 Trailer last Wednesday did give me a boost of inspiration for this.Finally, after weeks of struggle, Chapter 20 is here. We are nearing the home stretch, my readers!NOTE: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING HERE! ALL SONIC CHARACTERS BELONG TO SEGA!
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
    
  Chapter 20: A Sol Dimension Vacation

   
Dr. Amaya hummed as she read through the list of available therapists at the Sol Dimension. The princess had approached her a few days ago along with some of Sonic’s friends with the proposal of letting Sonic take a vacation at her home. Now, after another therapy session with Sonic, where they worked through the blue hedgehog’s latest traumatic experiences, she was the last person whose approval Sonic needed to take a vacation off-world. “Everything seems to be in order. You’ll be looked after at Princess Blaze’s palace and have access to the Royal Doctor and other medical professionals should you need them. Personally? I think this vacation is a good idea,” said Dr. Amaya, putting away her clipboard and smiling calmly at Sonic. Sonic tugged at his hoodie’s strings. “Are you sure? What if something happens while I’m gone and…” he mumbled out before putting his hands to his head and closing his eyes. “That’s it, Sonic. Deep breath in…” Dr. Amaya inhaled, joining her patient in his breathing exercise. Seven seconds later, she said, “…and exhale for eight seconds.” Letting out an audible exhale, Sonic opened his eyes and leaned back on the couch. “I’m just worried that something will happen while I’m gone and… I won’t be able to help,” he admitted. “Your friends are going to keep an eye on things around here while you’re gone. Do you believe they’re capable of protecting Mobius?” Dr. Amaya asked. “Yeah.” Sonic nodded. “Then allow yourself time to take a break and let them do the work. This will also show your friends that you trust them to take on such a big responsibility, allowing them opportunities to grow,” Dr. Amaya said, resting her hands under her chin. “But, now, I want you to really take a moment to reflect on yourself. Think about what you really want. Don’t think about anyone else for a while. Be a little selfish for once and ask yourself, ‘Do I want to take a vacation from all the things stressing me out?’” she instructed Sonic who sighed. Looking up at the ceiling, Sonic searched his feelings. He was tired of fighting, of worrying, of feeling like everyone needed him. When was the last time he’d taken a long break? He was always on the move, never able to sit still, and needed to always do something. But his current state of mind revealed that he sometimes wanted to do… nothing. Staying in Blaze’s dimension without any things on his to-do list, maybe indulging in a fine meal at the palace, taking his sweet time to do stuff he wanted to do, and not having to feel pressured to be someone’s hero… Was it selfish? Yes. Was it enticing? Very much so. “I would like to take a vacation,” he said at last. Dr. Amaya smiled encouragingly. “There we go. Nothing wrong with wanting a break every now and then. Let your friends handle things here and take a long rest,” she told him. Sonic nodded then frowned. Honestly, Dr. Amaya was a godsend. She’d been so patient with him this past month and her advice was really helping him. But there was something nagging at the back of Sonic’s mind ever since he became her patient. And, now, it felt like the best time to bring it up.“Hey, Dr. A? Can I ask you something… a little personal?” Dr. Amaya hummed and sat back in her chair. “Alright, but will you be okay if I decide not to answer if it’s too personal a question?” she asked in return. “Totally. I understand. Boundaries and stuff.” Sonic rested his hands on his thighs. “Okay. Go ahead.” Dr. Amaya mimicked his sitting position, looking at him expectantly. Taking a deep breath, Sonic gathered his words before exhaling. “Were you one of those infected during the Metal Virus outbreak?” he asked, his voice quiet. Dr. Amaya blinked at him, the slightest hint of surprise flitting across her face, before shaking her head. “I was fortunate enough to be one of those who made it to Angel Island during the last critical moments,” she answered. Sonic nodded, biting his lip and looking away. ‘She was one of the lucky ones, but I bet she also had to see a lot of friends and maybe even family turn into Zombots…’ he thought, his hands gripping at the blue fur on his thighs. “Do you blame me for what you went through?” The question had slipped out of him before he could even get a chance to debate over whether to ask it or not. His gaze snapped back to Dr. Amaya and an apology was forming on his lips when his psychiatrist shook her head again. “No. And I don’t blame your friends either. The one who created the virus, Eggman, is the one I blame for the events that transpired,” Dr. Amaya said and gave Sonic a sympathetic smile. “I know you gave him a chance, and there’s nothing wrong with giving people second chances. When someone takes the second chance they’re given and abuses it, that’s on them. Not on the person who gave them the chance at redemption. Although, I do hope that your experiences have taught you to be more careful and selective of who gets a chance to redeem themselves.” “Oh, yeah. Big time,” Sonic sighed with a wan smile. But the grip on his thighs loosened and he sat up a little straighter. “Thanks, Dr. A. I needed to hear that.” “You are welcome, Sonic.” Dr. Amaya glanced at her phone. “And it looks like our session for today is over. I’ll see you in two weeks,” she said, getting up from her chair. Getting up from the couch, Sonic let her walk him to the door. Before he left, he turned to Dr. Amaya and smiled. “You won’t mind if I tell you about my vacation the next time we see each other?” he asked. “I look forward to hearing about it,” Dr. Amaya answered, smiling back.Tails sank into the lavender sheets with a smile. “If I lived in a palace with a bed like this, I would never want to get up,” he sighed. “But wouldn’t you have royal duties to attend to?” His brother asked, quirking an eyebrow as an amused smirk formed on his lips. “Eh, I’m a genius. I could get everything done before lunch.” Tails waved dismissively, curling up into a ball. “So soft…” he murmured, closing his eyes. “We’re certainly not lacking in luxuries here.” Looking around at the four-poster bed, the magenta velvet curtains, and ornate furniture that – along with all the other suites – cost more than everything in his bank accounts, Sonic knew he was in good hands. The imperial palace had its own hospital wing and a whole army of medical professionals ready to help should he suddenly experience a mental crisis. He and Tails would get the best food from the palace kitchens and were allowed to help themselves. And, with just the condition that he be accompanied by either a royal guard or Shadow, he was allowed to roam freely around the Sol Dimension whenever he pleased. “You even get this awesome view…” Sonic remarked as he strolled out to the balcony. From this vantage point, he could see the Sol Dimension’s sea. He looked over his shoulder and locked eyes with Shadow. The ebony agent smiled fondly at him, but Sonic noted that he took a few steps forward so he could be closer behind Sonic. After a few more seconds to drink in the view from Tails’ balcony, Sonic walked back to his boyfriend, gently bumping shoulders with him. Sonic’s request to have Shadow tag along came as a surprise to the Restoration but the blue hedgehog managed to come up with a perfectly logical excuse, saying that Shadow would be the only one capable of stopping him from hurting himself. By force if necessary. But his real reason was known only to Rouge. Sonic missed his boyfriend and wanted to spend more time with him. Plus, Shadow had accumulated a ton of paid vacation days that were close to expiring. He might as well use them while he still had the chance. Leaving Tails so he could unpack and settle in, Sonic followed Blaze and Silver downstairs with Shadow bringing up the rear. Blaze had given him a room on the ground floor. Just to be on the safe side. She meant well, Sonic knew that. The fiery princess, along with every single one of his friends, had been more or less traumatized by the memories of his attempted suicides. And Blaze giving him a guest suite on the ground floor of her palace was her way of making sure he didn’t try anything. Sonic appreciated her concern, but, secretly, he had to admit it was starting to get a bit much. ‘But I get why they’re so worried. I shouldn’t be complaining when they’re already doing so much for me…’ Sonic thought as he unpacked. Along with a few clothes, his toothbrush, his medication, and an extra pair of his sneakers and some flip-flops, he’d brought along the letters from Christmas Island. Team Dark had given them to him a few days ago and he hadn’t opened them. Maybe he can find time to read them in the palace library where he wouldn’t be disturbed and no one could see him cry. He had a feeling he was going to cry while reading them. Sonic put his empty suitcase under the bed and walked over to the window. While he didn’t have a balcony, he got a view of the palace gardens and a window box full of flowers set up. Pulling the curtains back and opening the windows wide open, Sonic breathed in the sweet smell of tropical blooms and watched a pair of monarch butterflies flit about by the windowsill. “You look like a Disney princess right now.” Turning around, Sonic saw Shadow leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest with a soft smile he only let Sonic see. “What makes you say that?” Sonic asked him. “You were gazing out the window, surrounded by flowers, almost longingly.” Crossing the room, Shadow plucked a red hibiscus growing in the window box. “Like you’re waiting for your one true love to come riding in on a white horse to take you on an adventure,” he murmured, tucking the flower behind Sonic’s quills. Sonic giggled, a light dusting of crimson appearing on his cheeks, and wrapped his arms around the black hedgehog’s waist. “Well, my one true love’s finally arrived. Where’s your white horse, Shads?” he asked. “Back in the stables of Mobius with all the other horses. Besides, I know you prefer running over riding.” Shadow’s tan cheeks suddenly turned red. “That… didn’t sound right,” he muttered. Sonic threw his head back and laughed. And, oh, how Shadow loved that sound. “Maybe, but you were right about the running part,” he chuckled before resting his head on Shadow’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here with me…” he whispered. Smiling, Shadow embraced him and pressed a soft kiss to his temple. “I’ll be here for as long as you want me to,” he whispered back.The first three days were spent getting toured around the Sol Dimension by Silver and Marine. Having spent a lot of time in Blaze’s dimension, Silver knew the lay of the land almost as well as any local. He took Shadow, Sonic, and Tails to some of the best spots around the main island and showed them the sights. Sol’s capital city was bustling with activity as its inhabitants went about their day. Cafes and bars played music that mingled with the chatter as they followed Silver and Marine, snacking on coconut hand pies and drinking fresh fruit juices. No one paid that much attention to them, which was a huge relief to Sonic. Given Blaze’s position as imperial princess and protector of her home dimension, the presence of other world-renowned heroes didn’t get so much as a bat of the eyelid from the natives. “When Blaze goes out of the palace, almost everyone’s eager to see her,” Silver revealed to him and Tails while they had lunch at a local seaside café. Sitting beside him, Marine was tucking into a plate of mango sticky rice while taking down engineering notes in a tablet Tails had loaned her. “The first time I went out with her when she did her usual patrol, I nearly got swept away by the crowds. Everyone appreciates her and wants to talk to her…” the time-traveling hedgehog said with a fond smile. “Given her royal status and that the entire Sol Dimension’s thriving under her reign, I’m not surprised. Blaze is quite skilled at her job,” Shadow remarked as he ate through a slice of pineapple upside-down cake. ‘Way better protector than I am, that’s for sure…’ Sonic thought, slowly sipping his strawberry shake. Sitting between Shadow and Tails, the blue hedgehog looked over Silver’s shoulder and watched the people of the Sol Empire go about their day. “Alright. That should do it!” Setting her tablet down, Marine looked at Tails with a grin. “If ya got some free time, Tails, ol’ mate, I got a bunch of ideas on how to improve the S.S. Marine that need a little assistance. Wanna head out to the docks and do some tinkering on her?” she offered. Tails finished the last bit of risotto and glanced at Sonic, who smiled. “You sure you’re gonna be okay, bro?” he asked. “Sure, I’m sure, buddy. Besides,” Sonic playfully elbowed Shadow, the ebony agent lightly elbowing him back with a smirk. “I got Shadow here to keep an eye on me. You and Marine have fun with your inventing,” he encouraged his little brother. Smiling back, Tails nodded to Marine and the raccoon whooped, getting out of her chair and pulling Tails out of his own. “See you guys later!” Tails hollered as Marine led him to the docks. “So…” Silver turned to Sonic and Shadow as a waiter came by with their bill. “Where to next?” he asked them. “I want to go back to the palace and nap, if that’s okay…” Sonic stretched, feeling full and a little sleepy. Shadow and Silver flanked him as they walked back to the palace. Blaze was still meeting with diplomats and would have more meetings for the rest of the first week of their vacation. But she would be free the next week so she could hang out with Sonic and their friends more. “Thanks for the tour, Silv,” Sonic yawned as he headed into his room. “You’re welcome, Sonic. You and Tails need anything, just let me know,” Silver said cheerfully. Sonic nodded then glanced at his room’s doorknob, quirking an eyebrow at it. “The lock’s still broken,” he observed and tested the doorknob. His room was comfortable but the doorknob was the only thing he had a problem with. He didn’t mind it at first and Blaze had said that a locksmith would come in to repair it. But, so far, the locksmith had yet to come for three days so that meant anyone could easily enter his room. Silver and Shadow looked at each other but didn’t say anything about his room’s doorknob, opting instead to just remind him to come to them in case he needed anything. Shutting the door, Sonic let out an audible sigh. The doorknob smoothly turned in his hand but refused to lock. He glanced at the bookshelf and briefly wondered if he could block the door with it in case he wanted privacy. Yes, he understood why his friends were so protective of him now. Really, he did. But there was a fine line between protecting and total surveillance.As the rest of the first week of his Sol Dimension vacation progressed, Sonic noticed how increasingly watchful his friends were. If it wasn’t Shadow, Silver, Tails, or Blaze chaperoning him when he went out, it was a pair of the royal guards. They kept a respectful distance but they did their best to keep Sonic within their line of sight. And even when he wasn’t going out and about, Sonic found himself being shadowed everywhere he went. His friends tried to play it off and pretend they just happened to be going down the exact same hallway as he was to get somewhere else, but Sonic could see through their ruse. The guards were more upfront in their duty to keep an eye on him, going so far as to station themselves outside of any room he went in. Yes, even the bathroom. This overprotectiveness extended to meal times where Sonic found his food already cut up for him to bite-sized pieces so he wouldn’t choke and with no knife in sight. The minute he stepped into the kitchen to get an extra snack for himself or Tails, the cooks took all the knives and, with surprising speed, whisked them away to a storage room that was padlocked. By the end of the first week, Sonic felt like he was suffocating. Which is why, when he woke up early on a Sunday when the guards had yet to make their rounds, he decided to do something for himself. Rolling up into a ball, Sonic rolled his way down the halls. He paused and made sure to hide behind anything that could cover him whenever footsteps were heard before going on his way. Finally, after about ten minutes, he made it to the kitchen. ‘Alright… Looks like none of the cooks have arrived yet,’ Sonic thought as he kept low to the floor and peered through the double doors. Squeezing through them, Sonic headed to a basket on one of the counters that were filled with fresh fruit. He found a small knife and began to carefully slice the apple. A nice little treat before breakfast was served… “Sonic?”  His left hand didn’t move in time and the knife bit into the side of his index finger. Letting out a sharp yelp, Sonic dropped the knife onto the counter just as Shadow’s hand closed over his right wrist. “Shads, I was doing just fine,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here so early? You could have just asked one of the staff to send food to your room if you were hungry,” Shadow scolded him as he removed Sonic’s left glove so he could heal the small cut. “Well, I wanted to get something for myself by myself.” Sonic tore away from Shadow’s grasp as soon as he finished healing him. Looking at his boyfriend, Sonic felt his heart sink as he saw the hurt and confusion swimming in those ruby irises. ‘Breathe, Sonic… Don’t let this set the tone for the rest of today…’ he thought and put his hands to his head. Counting slowly from one to ten and going backward, Sonic took five deep breaths to calm down and to organize his thoughts. The last thing he wanted to do was lash out and make his friends think he was ungrateful. ‘Come on. Be angry. Lash out and let them know how you really feel about being babied all the time!’ the dark inner voice taunted him. Shaking his head, Sonic remembered Dr. Amaya’s advice. ‘Don’t let the dark thoughts win. If they tell you to do something, present the more positive alternative. And, in this case, it’s calmly telling Shadow about how you’re feeling right now,’ he reminded himself then opened his eyes. “Look. I get why you and the others are doing this. You all want to protect me from myself. And I’m grateful for that. Really, I am. My room here not having a working lock? I’m fine with that. It’ll make getting to me quicker in case something bad happens to me while I’m in my room and I can’t get up. Accompanying me whenever I go outside of the palace? Okay. I appreciate having you guys around while I explore and it makes things more fun. But having yourselves and the royal guards shadowing me at every turn while I’m inside is starting to make me feel a little encaged. As for serving me food that’s already pre-cut, it makes me feel like I’m a toddler who can’t do anything by himself,” Sonic said, rubbing the back of his neck. “My point is that… I want a little space and for you guys to have a little trust in me.” Shadow folded his arms across his chest, his hands gripping his biceps as he looked at him. “Sonic, you cut yourself just three minutes ago,” he pointed out. “Because you startled me!” Sonic threw his hands up, exasperated. “I would have finished cutting my apple and put the knife in the sink as soon as I was done if you hadn’t followed me all the way here this early,” he complained. “But…” Shadow looked at his arms and Sonic felt his anger immediately dissipate. Sighing, Sonic went over to him and took Shadow’s hands in his. “Shadow, I’ve been feeling okay. I’ve been taking my medication on time. I’ve been in therapy for about two months now and I’ve learned techniques from Dr. Amaya that help keep the bad thoughts away. I haven’t been getting any urges to hurt myself this past entire week. Before, I was so scared of hurting myself that I couldn’t even get out of my room back home. Now I’m going out and… I feel okay. I’m enjoying this vacation. I’m enjoying getting to spend time with Tails and seeing him have fun like a regular kid while inventing stuff with Marine. I’m looking forward to hanging out with Silver again and Blaze more now that she’ll be free from most of her duties starting tomorrow. And I’m enjoying getting to spend time with you.” Cupping Shadow’s face in his hands, Sonic smiled brightly. “And I want to keep enjoying all of this. Just don’t keep worrying over me. I’m getting better, Shads. And I want to get better for all of you. So don’t treat me like I’m made of glass that’s about to shatter at any moment. You can keep following me around to ensure my safety and supervise me while I do something like cut an apple by myself. But trust me to do some simple things by myself, please? I trust the rest of our friends to keep Mobius safe while I’m on vacation. All I ask now is a little trust to maybe go to the bathroom on my own or grab myself a quick snack,” he told his boyfriend. Shadow heavily sighed, leaning into Sonic’s touch. “Okay… But promise me one thing?” he asked. Once Sonic nodded, he said, “Promise me that you come to me the second you have an urge to hurt yourself so I can hold you close and keep you safe until you feel okay once more.” “I promise.” Sonic gently pulled him in for a kiss, tangling his hands in red-streaked ebony quills. Shadow sighed against peach lips, his hands coming down to encircle a svelte blue waist. When they broke the kiss a minute later, they spent another minute just holding each other close. Then Sonic turned his attention to the apple he’d left unattended and popped a few slices into his mouth. “Ew, those were already brown,” Shadow said, making a disgusted face. “Hey, they still taste good.” Sonic shrugged, popping another slice into his mouth, chuckling when Shadow stuck his tongue out at him… which gave him the perfect opportunity to press another browned apple slice to it. “Yuck, no! Keep that browned soggy nastiness away from me!” Shadow tried and failed to look horrified, laughing as Sonic started chasing him around the kitchen with the rest of the apple on a small plate in his hands. “C’mon, Shads! Don’t waste food!” Sonic laughed as they power-walked around the counters, knowing that running would be too dangerous in the kitchen. Their laughter drifted out through the crack of the kitchen doors and reached Blaze, who was leaning against the wall next to them. The princess of the Sol Dimension made a mental note to relax the guards’ shifts around the wing where Sonic and Tails’ rooms were located. Maybe also have a little chat with Silver. Her blue friend had a point. Everything she, Shadow, and Silver had been doing the past week was getting to be a little too much for Sonic. He was a free spirit who had the right to have some privacy. ‘How ironic considering I’ve been listening in on his conversation with Shadow this entire time,’ she thought with a rueful smile. She’ll just have to apologize to Sonic later when they have tea together. Sonic looked so excited last night when she told him they’d be having tea together in her private quarters. Truly, she’d missed getting to spend time with him, too. Thank Sol all the diplomatic affairs were over. Now she could be fully present and be with her dear friends. ‘I do hope Shadow doesn’t mind I steal his boyfriend for a bit later this afternoon,’ Blaze thought, covering her mouth to muffle her giggles as she left the kitchen, with Sonic and Shadow none the wiser. She’d had a feeling for a while now that the two hedgehogs were more than just friends. And, judging from what she overheard, it looked like she was right. But it seemed that nobody knew and perhaps Sonic and Shadow weren’t ready to come out yet. And that was fine with Blaze. She could keep a secret.Shadow must have talked to Blaze, Sonic guessed, as he sat down to tea with the lavender feline. The guards no longer patrolled his and Tails’ wing in hourly shifts. And Blaze, Shadow, and Silver seemed a little more relaxed around him the day after he and Shadow talked in the kitchen. If there were any guards around the solar, they were stationed somewhere out of sight which gave both Mobians a sense of privacy. Sonic took a moment to admire their surroundings. The high arched ceilings were decorated with mosaics depicting the constellations found in the Sol Dimension’s skies. Following Blaze out to the massive balcony, Sonic took note of the bronze flame sculptures dotting the pillars. Blaze told him that her great-great-grandfather added them to remind the people of the element their family wielded. A table laden with pastries and dainty finger sandwiches was set in the center of the balcony floor and Sonic and Blaze sat on chairs with plush velvet cushions. “So how are you enjoying your vacation so far, Sonic?” Blaze asked him, pouring herself and Sonic two cups of Earl Grey tea. “Wonderful, really. I’ve really been able to take a break and just chill out. And Tails has been able to work on some personal projects of his own with Marine. I don’t think I’ve had any panic attacks since coming here so maybe my mental state’s starting to improve a little…?” Sonic replied, picking up a miniature ham and cheese sandwich. “That’s a big improvement. The fact that you haven’t been feeling any strong negative emotions means that your mind is more at peace.” Blaze nibbled on a biscuit. Sonic nodded and sipped his tea. Looking out over the balcony, he could see both workers in the palace and members of the public walking in the gardens. Everyone was happy and content, and there were no signs of any villain attacks. It’s as if Blaze’s mere presence was enough to deter criminal activity. Shadow’s remarks on Blaze doing a good job as her home’s ruler and protector came back to him and a pang of doubt and self-loathing struck him. ‘Some protector of Mobius I’ve been… Sure, Blaze has Eggman Nega to worry about but she fights smart and always triumphs before anything in her home gets devastated. Compared to her, I’m probably the worst hero any world could have…’ he thought, suddenly no longer feeling hungry. “Sonic? Is something wrong?” Sonic’s ears pinned down when he caught Blaze’s eye. The flame-wielding princess crossed her right leg over her left knee, leaning forward slightly, waiting patiently. After taking a long sip of tea, Sonic knew that he couldn’t keep secrets from his friends anymore. Everything he’s been through for the past two months had pushed him to be completely honest with his feelings now. “The guys and I were talking a few days ago. Silver brought up how loved you are by your people and Shadow chimed in with how good you are at your job. And… honestly, Blaze, compared to you, I suck at keeping Mobius safe. I was captured and kept on the Death Egg for six freaking months. And when I came back, all I did was just bust Eggman’s Badniks without so much as a plan. You, on the other hand, know how to strategize, prepare… and you win every fight with little to no damage to other people’s property…” he managed to say before he felt tears welling up in his eyes. He turned his face away from Blaze’s concerned gaze and rubbed his eyes. “I never wanted to become a hero. But everyone depends on me and I keep letting them down every time Eggman or some other big bad comes knocking. W-What if something happens again? I have no idea how to defend Mobius the next time without scr@w@ng up. Honestly, I don’t know why Tails and everyone follows my lead. I’m a terrible leader,” he muttered. Blaze got out of her chair and went around the table to kneel beside Sonic. Opening her arms, the lavender cat smiled softly, inviting Sonic for a hug. Sighing, Sonic accepted her embrace, letting Blaze’s warmth comfort him a little. “I know you’ve been pressured by your world to become a hero… but don’t ever think of yourself as a failure,” Blaze told him, gently rubbing his back. When Sonic looked at her, doubtful, she sighed. “I’ll admit that, before meeting you and Tails, I made mistakes as well. Mistakes that led to people getting hurt and parts of my world getting damaged. And during those times, I made things worse because I refused to let anyone help me. Repairs were slower and I could barely coordinate with my advisers or guards or anyone who tried to offer assistance. That’s because I believed that all the burdens were for me to carry…” Blaze’s golden eyes looked off into the distance, smiling wistfully as she saw a couple playing with their child near some of the hedges. “But then you and Tails came along. The two of you helped me open up to Marine and taught me how to accept other people’s help. I’ve become a better princess and protector to my people because you showed me that it’s okay to ask for help from the ones you can rely on.” Sonic managed a smile at her words. “Yeah. Gotta admit that you mellowed out a bit after our first adventure here,” he admitted. “Meeting you has certainly helped me, as you say, become more ‘chill and zen,’” Blaze chuckled, making air quotes, earning a soft laugh from Sonic. Returning to her seat, Blaze poured out two more cups of tea and took a blueberry-lemon cake slice from the pastry stand and daintily nibbled on it. Meanwhile, Sonic grabbed a strawberry cream puff and took a bite, licking off the cream that stuck to his lips. For a moment, both of them took the time to enjoy their teatime treats. Then Blaze spoke once more. “As for what you said about me being better at my job compared to you… I don’t think it’s a good idea to compare yourself to me, Sonic. We are both protectors and leaders. We just have different styles when it comes to handling crisis. While I plan carefully and try to stay cautious during a fight, you are able to dash into the fray and improvise. I lead my people because it is my duty as Imperial Princess. There is a sense of duty that comes with my subjects following me. You, on the other hand, inspire others to follow you. And that in itself is what makes you such an incredible leader. While it’s true that you’ve made mistakes, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them and better yourself.” Saying this, Blaze reached out to hold Sonic’s hands from across the table. “What’s important is that you realize that you’re not alone in this. We’re all here for you and we’ll always be ready to help you,” she told him with a sincere smile on her face. Letting Blaze’s words sink in, Sonic’s heart lifted and he felt a little lighter. “Thanks, Blaze…” he murmured. Blaze smiled then gestured to their plates. “Come! Let’s enjoy the rest of our teatime,” she declared. “Most certainly, Your Highness!” Sonic grinned as they clinked their teacups, pinkies out.The talk with Blaze reinvigorated Sonic, elevating his mood as he, Tails, and Shadow enjoyed their vacation. The day after he and Blaze had tea together, Marine finished upgrading her ship and invited them all to sail to one of the Sol Dimension’s islands. Sonic stayed on the deck, wearing a life preserver jacket, and sat on a chair that was bolted to the floor while Marine captained her ship. The spunky raccoon was in her element, steering the S.S. Marine while barking out orders to Tails whom she’d “hired” as her new first mate as well as Blaze who went along with her best friend’s plan. Floating above them all, Silver kept an eye out, occasionally looking down to wave at his friends. Sonic took a few deep breaths and reminded himself that Marine was a good sailor and knew her way around the Sol Dimension’s waters. And his friends were here too. He was safe on this ship. Nothing bad was going to happen… “Heads up! There’s a big one rolling our way!” Sonic felt his stomach lurch as the ship encountered a fairly big wave that bobbed it up and down. Once it was over, Sonic heaved a huge sigh of relief. “Wooohooo!” Sonic’s nerves eased up a bit once he heard a certain dark hedgehog’s excited whoop. Standing up, Sonic made his way to one side of the S.S. Marine. As terrifying it was to be on a vessel surrounded by miles of water, watching Shadow enjoy himself as he rode the Wave Cyclone was fun. The dark agent was having a blast steering the speedy little jet-ski through the waves, whizzing around the S.S. Marine and even over to a pod of dolphins when they passed by. Shadow pulled the Wave Cyclone over to the ship at the side Sonic was standing. He grinned and held out a hand, inviting his boyfriend to hop on. Sonic smiled but shook his head. With a slight shrug, Shadow gunned the motor and sped on ahead, laughing as a pair of dolphins decided to race the watercraft. “I’ve never seen Shadow so giddy before,” Silver remarked, floating down to stand beside Sonic to take a break from watching. “He can get excited when he wants to. You should have seen his face when I took him to Station Square’s Sweets Emporium.” Sonic chuckled, remembering the way Shadow’s eyes lit up that day he took the latter to the candy store on one of their first dates. Silver cocked his head to the side. “You took Shadow to a candy store?” he asked, puzzled. “Oh, it was more like I talked him into it after he lost a race with me,” Sonic lied smoothly. He was definitely not ready to come out. Neither was Shadow. So both of them had to be sneaky in having their dates. “Dude was resistant at first but I got him to open up a little once I bribed him with all the hard candies and sour gummies he could ever want.”Silver laughed at the image of Shadow grinning like a little kid as he ate piles of candy before his face softened. “How are you feeling, Sonic?” he asked. Sonic looked out to the horizon. “I’m okay for the most part. But…” he looked at his hands that were holding the railings of the ship. “I still worry about what’s happening back home. I know that I can trust my friends to handle things while I’m gone, but I just hope they’re doing okay…” he mumbled. “I’m sure Amy and the others are doing just fine. We’re all doing well and therapy’s actually done us wonders. Plus, Omega and Gemerl are there. Two super-powered robots and the majority of the Restoration? I’m positive any villain will think twice of messing up your world,” Silver reassured him, leaning over the railing to watch the waves. A comfortable silence lapsed between the two hedgehogs before Silver added, “And, besides, if something happens again, we’ll band together to defeat any evil that threatens the present and the future.” Sonic nodded slightly before remembering something. “You said something like that while I was comatose… I think I heard you saying that the future’s been fixed,” he said. “You heard me talking?” Silver turned to stare at Sonic, golden eyes wide. “Wait… Sonic did you hear all of us talking to you while you were in a coma?” he questioned. Rubbing the back of his head, Sonic nodded, unable to make eye contact. “I’m sorry… Yeah, I-I heard everyone. Or at least bits and pieces of what you guys were saying to me while I was out. I just… couldn’t believe you guys still wanted me even after all the times I failed,” he admitted. “We’ll always want you, Sonic.” Silver’s ears drooped upon seeing that there was still some sadness clinging to the blue speedster. “You know, without you, my future would remain a complete ruin. After we got rid of the Metal Virus, everything went back to normal and the future’s become a better place with green grass, thriving cities, and people happily living their lives,” he revealed. Sonic looked into the time traveler’s eyes, not quite believing what he just said. “You really think that?” he inquired. “Yup! You and everyone else have saved Mobius so many times from all kinds of disasters. It’s thanks to all of you that I even still have a future to go back to,” Silver insisted. “Have you…” Silver raised an eyebrow when Sonic cut himself off and hugged his sides, turning away. “Have I what?” he asked. “I-It’s a bad question, Silv. I probably shouldn’t ask…” “It’s okay to ask questions. Ask anyway, unless it’s about what happens in the future because, you know, time is always in flux and all that…” Silver chuckled, running a hand through his white quills. When Sonic faced him again, there was a distant look in his eyes. “Have you ever lived in a future where I didn’t exist or died young without ever becoming a hero?” the blue hedgehog asked. Silver felt like someone poured ice water down his back. He shook his head. “No, I haven’t. Almost every timeline I’ve been in, there’s been a mention of you in history,” he replied. “Okay. Well, how about a future where I never woke up from my coma? Is there a future where I’m remembered as the hero who nearly destroyed the world and died before I could pay for my crimes?” “If there is, I’ve never been there. And, honestly, I don’t want to.” Not liking how dark Sonic’s questions were becoming, Silver tugged at his quills and looked at Sonic worriedly. “Sonic… you know we care about you, right?” “I do. I just wanted to know.” Sighing, Sonic put a hand to his head. “Dang it… I’m sorry, Silver. I didn’t mean to spoil the mood…” he apologized. “It’s okay. I know you still have a lot of things to work through. Us too…” Silver reached out and held Sonic’s hand. “But, just so you know… I think a future without a Sonic the Hedgehog to remember by would be a pretty sad one. It wouldn’t be the same without you,” he said, softly smiling at the Blue Blur. Sonic blushed. “Thanks… That means a lot…” he said shyly. “I’m serious. Blaze and I wouldn’t be who we are today without you. So would Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and especially Shadow.” Silver hummed and cupped his chin in his hand. “Shadow, especially, has changed ever since meeting you. And he was one of the most affected by what happened to you over the past two months. I think he likes you, Sonic,” he remarked. “Yeah? Well, I admit that we did become friends after a rocky start,” Sonic said, shrugging. “No, I think he like-likes you.” ‘Aaaannnd he’s beginning to catch on to us…’ Sonic thought. “Well, let’s not jump to conclusions, Silv. Unless we get the truth straight from Shadow’s mouth, maybe he just cares about me a lot,” he said. Smiling as Shadow did another lap around the S.S. Marine, Sonic watched the black hedgehog enjoy himself and felt his chest warm at the sight of his boyfriend so gleeful. “I care about Shadow deeply, too. He’s one of the reasons why I’ve been trying so hard to get better,” he confessed. ‘I wonder if Blaze has noticed them getting close…’ Silver wondered to himself before Marine shouted, “LAAAAANNNDDD HOOOO!”The S.S. Marine smoothly glided through the shallows before Marine dropped the anchor. Shadow parked the Wave Cyclone next to the ship and waved to Sonic. “Ride to the shore?” he offered. Sonic nodded and, with Silver’s help, got behind Shadow on the Wave Cyclone. Shadow turned on the engine and the two of them went on ahead of the gang. Silver’s hands glowed as he lifted himself, Tails, Blaze, and Marine off the ship. “We could have just taken one of the lifeboats…” Blaze muttered, keeping her eyes shut as they floated over the waves towards the beach. “Sorry, mate. Shallows are way too treacherous for ‘em,” Marine told her, shrugging. Sonic and Shadow were already playing with hermit crabs by the time they all made it to shore. The two hedgehogs were squatting and watching the little critters scuttle about. “Look at this little dude,” Sonic giggled as one crab perched on his gloved hand, looking up at him with beady eyes. “What should we name him?” “He looks like an Alex,” Shadow suggested. Sonic nodded and lightly rubbed a finger against Alex’s shell. Then Alex scampered off his hand and burrowed into the sand. “Oh, looks like Alex just bailed on us.” Sonic lowered his head to peer into the burrow. “Later, Alex,” Shadow said, he and Sonic oblivious to the amused looks on their friends’ faces. Blaze and Tails giggled while Silver and Marine looked at each other, wondering when Sonic and Shadow started acting so adorable together. When the two hedgehogs looked up from the hermit crabs and noticed them, both went red in the face and stood up, coughing awkwardly. “So… what’s this island known for, Marine?” Tails asked before Sonic and Shadow buried themselves in the sand out of embarrassment. “Well, there’s a huge field of sunflowers growing on the South side. A few of the empire’s wealthier residents come here to have photoshoots for big occasions like weddings or quinceañeras,” Marine informed him. “Race you to the sunflower field!” Sonic challenged his boyfriend before speeding off. “Hey! No fair! You got a head start!” Shadow shouted, running off in pursuit. Watching the blue and black blurs head off, Silver folded his arms across his chest. “There’s something going on between those two…” he mused while Marine and Tails headed out to find Materials for more inventions. Beside him, Blaze chuckled. Silver glanced at her and noticed her smile. “Wait, are they? Blaze, are they… together?” Holding up both index fingers and bringing them close together, Silver looked at Blaze with wide eyes. “I can neither confirm nor deny, Silver. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Blaze grinned, which just made the time-traveling hedgehog more curious. “You know something, don’t you?” “Again, I neither confirm nor deny.” “You totally know something.” “And, pray tell, Silver, what do you think I know?” “Oh, never mind.”‘He’s running faster,’ Shadow thought, a wild grin on his face, Sonic led him through a merry dance through the trees. The island was quite large with an area of about 30,000 square kilometers and was filled with lush plant life. They sped through jungles, leaped over a river, and raced down a dirt trail until they finally made it to the sunflower fields growing high on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Putting on a burst of speed, Shadow caught up to Sonic and swept him off his feet, spinning them about. Sonic laughed and squealed as they both collapsed on their backs onto the grass, a few sunflowers dropping their petals on their faces. Shadow let out a breathless chuckle, turning over to rest on his side and pick off a few petals on his blue love’s face. “It’s good to hear you laughing again…” he murmured. “With all the fun we’ve been having, how can I not? Ten days of almost zero stress, no triggers, and no problems. Just pure bliss spent in doing absolutely nothing, exploring, and getting a taste of the high life with some of the best people I know,” Sonic said, crossing his arms over his head and resting them behind him. “I’m glad for that.” Shadow pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You look even more radiant when you aren’t stressed,” he whispered, nuzzling his nose against Sonic’s. To his surprise, the blue hedgehog cupped his cheek and pulled him in for a kiss. Sonic turned to face Shadow, pressing himself closer to the hybrid and deepening the kiss. Shadow hummed, loosely wrapping an arm around Sonic’s waist. He pulled away, trailing butterfly kisses along Sonic’s jawline before going down his neck. Sonic let out a soft whine, fingers trailing up and down Shadow’s arm, and closed his eyes. He felt Shadow’s lips on his chest and mumbled, “Th-that’s enough for me…” feeling a bit guilty when Shadow drew away. Shadow gave him one last peck on the lips before giving him a soft smile. “It’s okay… Take your time. I respect your boundaries,” he reassured him. Sonic was slowly starting to feel more at ease when it came to intimacy, letting Shadow and the others hug him with his consent. The two of them started kissing again (in private, of course) and Shadow was allowed to let his hands roam Sonic’s body as long as his boyfriend gave him permission and he kept his hands away from his ass and crotch area. He didn’t know when or if Sonic would ever be okay with taking things to the next level. The physical, emotional, and psychological trauma Infinite gave him ran deep. It was going to take a lot longer for those inner wounds to heal. But Shadow believed in Sonic and knew that one day, he would rise above all of this. And, in the end, if Sonic decided that he never wanted to have s@x, that was fine with him. Just seeing his boyfriend on the mend, smiling and laughing again, was more than enough for him. For about an hour, the two hedgehogs cuddled amongst the sunflowers and watched them slowly follow the sun, their golden heads bobbing in the gentle breeze. Sonic sighed and looked up at the clouds before deciding to speak. “I read the letters from Christmas Island yesterday,” he told Shadow. Looking at his boyfriend, Shadow could tell that he was getting ready to tell him something serious. “And… how did that make you feel?” he asked carefully. “I cried a bit when I read the kids’ letters. Even though they don’t know the full story, they’re worried about me. The letters from Ashley and the others? Honestly… I didn’t feel anything. I’ve already said everything I ever wanted to say to them.” Running a hand over his face, Sonic interlaced his fingers with Shadow’s. “But reading them made me start thinking about all the people I’ve met while fighting against Eggman. They’ve all suffered like me… and they wouldn’t have suffered if I just had the b@lls to get rid of him for good. I’ve thought about this in private for the past ten days… and I think I know what I need to do now,” he murmured, sitting up. Sitting up as well, Shadow looked at Sonic, worried. Taking a deep breath, Sonic turned to him, his expression the most serious Shadow had ever seen him. “The next time Eggman or any villain comes… and if they try to take over the world… I’m going to kill them.” “Hold on…” Shadow took Sonic’s hands in his, squeezing them gently. “Is this because of what that mob told you before your encounter with the Deadly Six or are you completely serious?” he asked. Sonic bit his lip and looked away for a second. “Sonic…” Shadow sighed, cupping his face. “You know that you don’t have to feel pressured to do things you’re not comfortable with, right? Those people’s opinions of you? They shouldn’t matter. What’s important is that you stay true to yourself and never let go of your virtue and principles,” he reminded him. “I know, Shads… But we’ve been through so much. The people of our world have been through so much. For the first time in my life, I’ve been able to rethink what I want in life and I realize that I want to be at peace. I want me and Tails to just have fun and be bros, heck maybe even go to school like normal kids. And…” Sonic leaned into Shadow, resting his forehead against the dark hedgehog’s. “…I want us to have a life together. Be happy and free with you without having to worry about whether or not one day I might lose you in a battle against some maniac or out-of-control deity. If I keep letting guys like Eggman and Zavok off the hook, they’ll come back bigger, stronger, meaner… Who knows how many more people will have to suffer? I can’t let things escalate like that again, Shads. That’s why…” Before Sonic could finish his sentence, Shadow hugged him tightly. Sonic let out a shaky breath and rested his head on his shoulder. This decision was a hard one to make, but he knew that it just had to be the right one. He had to see the bigger picture from now on… so he could protect everyone he loved. “Alright… If that’s what you want then I’ll support you,” Shadow murmured. Hugging him back, Sonic whispered, “I-if I end up backing out, will you…?” “I’ll finish them off for you if that’s what you want.” Pulling away to gaze into his ebony lover’s ruby eyes, Sonic asked, “Are you sure?” “I’ve been trained to kill without remorse for the job. If it’s someone like Eggman, I have no qualms in putting a bullet between their eyes. What I won’t stand is seeing you suffer a stained soul and a guilty conscience because you had to abandon your morals. Sonic, I say this with the utmost seriousness and affection: I am willing and ready to kill for you. Just say the word,” Shadow vowed. Sonic nodded slowly, embracing Shadow. “Thank you.”
  
  

    
      
        
        
          Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. And I hope you also enjoyed the trailer for the Sonic Movie sequel :D Who is ready to see Team Sonic come together in live-action? Leave a “Round 2 with the Blue!” in the comments ;)Until the next chapter, stay awesome everyone!-GuardianDragon98'
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
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