Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a normal spring night, a cool breeze that shook the leaves of the enormous trees was blowing in the forest, creating a sleepy murmur for the beings that lived there. At the foot of a hill, well hidden, you could see light coming out of a window, it was a hedgehog's burrow. A black hedgehog was drying the dishes with a checkered pattern rag while he looked absently out the window, he felt two arms wrapping around his waist from behind and a head peeking over his shoulder while its owner, a blue hedgehog, sighed exhausted.

"They finally fell asleep..." he said, closing his eyes heavily. "It took me 3 stories..."

The other hedgehog made a noise to acknowledge that he was listening to his mate. "It's good that you have plenty of stories."

"It's a beautiful, quiet night, don't you want to go out for a moment Shadow?" He asked looking out the window.

"It's late." He said without further ado as he continued drying the dishes.

"Oww…come on…!" the other complained, resting his full weight on Shadow.

"Sonic...!" he left the dishes on the counter trying to get the other hedgehog off him. "Ugh... Okay. You win." He said giving up, his mate usually got what he wanted from him, Shadow liked to see him happy after all.

They both silently left the house to not wake up the sleeping hoglets inside and walked a few meters away from the house, sitting in a clearing iluminated by the moon, clearly missing a piece, a memory of their first big battle together. Silence was present between them, interrupted only by the noise of the leaves dancing in the wind. Sometimes they didn't need to talk, just being next to each other after a long day was comforting for both of them, it was routine, familiar. Shadow looked up at the sky, wondering if the ARK was nearby, following the orbit of the planet, thus getting lost in his thoughts. Sonic rested his head on his shoulder inhaling and exhaling slowly, Shadow's natural lavender scent always relaxed him. He had never met anyone who smelled this good naturally, without perfumes, it was strange, but it was something so Shadow that it was normal for him.

The blue hedgehog's breathing brought Shadow back to the here and now and he naturally relaxed, resting his head on the other's, closing his eyes. Sonic had the ability to relax him just by being by his side. He felt that as long as they were together everything would always turn out well, the blue hedgehog was a bright sun radiating positivity in his life, every day, with every beautiful smile. They both lost themselves in each other's arms during the quiet moment and time seemed to stop entirely around them, until Shadow's ears alerted him to the crying of his youngest son.

"Zero is awake." He said quietly, slowly pulling away not really wanting to let the moment slip away.

"Peace was good while it lasted." Sonic said laughing. They both left the clearing and returned to the house. This was just one of many quiet moments.

Chapter Text

It was a beautiful sunny day to be outside and enjoy it to the fullest, Shadow was sitting in the patio of his house with his children, Dash and Zero. He had a notebook on his lap and was teaching Dash something while Zero, the youngest, dozed leaning on his father's hip.

“So, what happens if you eat this plant?” asked the hedgehog, pointing to a hand-drawn plant he made himself.

“Um…poison?” Dash said doubtfully looking up at his father.

"Excellent." He flattered him, smiling proudly while he scratched one of his tiny ears, the little hoglet smiled satisfied. Shadow usually taught Dash things that he thought would help him survive in case something happened to him and Sonic, one could never be too cautious. He would do the same for Zero as soon as he was old enough to learn the basics.

When he was about to turn the page he heard something moving behind him, he quickly leaned his entire body against the ground, covering Dash's head with his hand, and at that moment he saw the silhouette of Sonic passing over them and rolling across the ground, he had tried to attack him by surprise.

“Nice try.” Shadow said, sitting up and smiling mockingly. “You'll have to be stealthier than that to take me by surprise.”

“Aw, man! I thought I had you this time!” complained the blue hedgehog getting up.

“If you wanted to play you just had to say so.” Shadow told him, getting into an attack position. “Kids, look closely, you might learn a thing or two.”

Dash and Zero, who now was fully awake with all the commotion, sat together watching their parents have a friendly sparring session.

Shadow charged at Sonic in a spindash, the other spinned standing in his hands and kicked him away. Placing his feet on the ground, Sonic used them to propel himself and jump onto Shadow who was uncoiling from his ball form. They both held each other's hands and struggled for dominance, Sonic being on top of him applyed more pressure. Shadow raised one leg, kicking him in the stomach, causing him to lose his breath and loosen his grip, a moment that the black hedgehog took advantage of to shake him off and stand up.

"That's all you have? pathetic."

“Just wait until I give you everything I have in store.” said the blue hedgehog flashing a cocky smile. He circled around the other moving at full speed.

Shadow threw a punch at his face with a smug smile “Hmph! predictable.” but it went through him, confused he looked around, and could see several images of Sonic manifesting, he was running so fast that he seemed to be in several places at once. Soon, Shadow found himself surrounded and felt himself being grabbed from behind, and pounded to the ground.

“Gotcha!” Sonic said, crushing him against the ground with a huge, smug smile plastered on his face. Shadow just grumbled for losing with such a cheap trick. Both were so distracted that they immediately turned around when they heard squeals and barking. The children were roughhousing too, rolling on top of each other and playfully biting each other. Sonic started laughing. “That's the terrifyingly cutest thing I've ever seen.” While he was distracted Shadow took the opportunity to bite him on the shoulder. "Ouch! Hey! hey! hey!” the other scolded him, but seeing the angry pout Shadow was doing he just laughed again. Shadow thought he looked threatening, but to Sonic he just looked adorable. The family spent the rest of the afternoon innocently playing with each other until it was time for dinner.

Chapter Text

Finally Shadow had a break from his missions in G.U.N. He and Sonic had been planning this road trip for weeks, it would be the first time they would take the children to the beach in that hot summer, Tails would go with them, invited by Sonic since according to him, the fox needed a break away from his workshop.

Tails, now a 15 year old, arrived early at their house, carrying a travel bag on his shoulder while both hedgehogs packed everything into the car Shadow had borrowed from his work, being one of the best agents had its perks. The fox left his bag in the trunk with the rest of the things and climbed into his seat in the back, Shadow climbed into the driver's seat while making sure he had everything ready to leave and Sonic sped into the house returning with Dash and Zero still sound asleep because of how early it was. He placed them in their booster seats next to Tails, securing them well and went to his seat in the front passenger side, Shadow started the engine.

“Ready to go? WOOOOOO!” the hedgehog shouted excitedly. Dash opened his eyes, annoyed by the loud noise, and settled back to continue sleeping. Zero woke up crying in a very bad mood, Shadow glared daggers at Sonic. “Heh… sorry…” he said regretfully.

“Tails, can you give Zero his pacifier? That should calm him down.” Shadow said as he drove.

"Sure!" said the fox smiling. He leaned down to attend to Zero and did as the hedgehog asked. “Now, now… everything will be okay.” he told the hoglet, he seemed to calm down as he recognized where he was and rubbed his eyes tiredly as Tails stroked his head.

“Look at you buddy, being the super uncle!” Sonic winked at him in the rearview mirror, Tails scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

An hour into the trip, Tails was entertained with his M.E., Sonic was talking through his ears, and Shadow was disassociating, pretending to listen to his nonesense. Then the children woke up.

“Daaaaaaaaaaaadyyyy! I’m hangryyyyy!” Dash complained loudly.

“Ah, there should be something for you in here.” Sonic said looking through a bag at his feet, he took out a sippy cup with milk and a package of vanilla cookies and gave them to Dash who began to drink and eat happily.

Zero saw his brother getting food and yelled in annoyance at his father for not getting anything for him at the exactly same time. “AAAAH!”

“OK OK!” Sonic said, quickly taking out a bottle of milk giving it to him. Then he took out a package of chocolate cookies. “And these are for me.” He said eating happily.

A while later, Sonic was getting restless from being locked in the vehicle for so long.

"I'm bored!" Sonic complained, leaning dramatically in his seat.

"bored!" Dash repeated making the same gesture in his seat.

“Bod!” Zero followed, imitating them.

Shadow, who was starting to get irritated, said “why did I agree to a car trip with 3 babies…?”

“Hey! "Don't call Tails that." Sonic said, the fox looked up for a second looking at Sonic with a deadpan expression.

“I wasn't referring to Tails.” Shadow said putting on the same expression as the fox. “If you're so bored, play something or play music, I don't know, let me drive in peace.”

“Alright, I'll start. I spy with my little eye...!" Sonic started. Shadow wanted to jump out of the car.

They arrived at the beach about an hour before noon, much to the relief of the black hedgehog, and unpacked everything they would need to spend the day there. Tails and Dash went to build sand castles near the shore while Shadow relaxed on a towel under the huge umbrella next to Zero who was exploring the sand with his little feet. Sonic took off running to release excess energy and a few minutes later he returned to lay next to Shadow with no intention of going near the water. They could finally relax peacefully on their trip.

Chapter Text

Sonic and Shadow were running through the city at full speed, it would seem like a normal occurrence, but this time they were in a hurry to get somewhere.

“Man, I thought we'd never get out of there.” Sonic said. “Can't you resist every time she offers you something?”

“Unlike you, I have manners.” Shadow lied, growling.

“Yeah, it has nothing to do with Vanilla offering you dessert every time we go to her house.” The hedgehogs had agreed to go out with their friends today and needed a babysitter for Dash and Zero so they went to the kind lady rabbit, but due to Shadow's weakness for sweet things they were running late now.

They arrived at the address that Amy had given them, it was her turn to choose where they were going to hang out and she decided to leave it a mystery for everyone, Sonic feared that it would be a boring place, however, they were surprised when they saw the facade of the establishment .

“Paintball?!” Sonic said smiling excitedly. They both entered the building and found their friends, Amy, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, Silver and Blaze, waiting for them.

"About time you showed up!" Amy said exasperated. “For being two of the fastest people here, you are extremely late.”

“Hey guys!” Sonic said, Shadow nodded in greeting. “That wasn't my fault Ames. Mr. Ultimate Bite couldn't resist staying for tea time.” the black hedgehog glared at him.

“Well, it doesn't matter, you're already here. Now let me explain what we're going to do!” said the pink hedgehog excitedly with sparkles in her eyes. “I won 2 tickets to a concert and I thought it would be cool to use them as a prize on our next outing, so we are going to compete in teams of 2, the last team standing wins. Remember that you have to work as a team and watch each other's backs, that should be easy for you couples, right?” She said challenging the 3 couples present. “Tails and I are the only singles so we'll be team BFF.”

“PFFT! I'll have no problem working with Shadow to kick your asses.” Sonic said.

“Sorry bro, with my aim there is no way you can beat us.” Tails said giving Amy a high five.

Shadow took that as a personal offense. “I'm going to destroy you.”

“Forget it honn, that prize is ours.” Rouge said, resting her arm on Knuckles' shoulder.

“Yeah, if anyone is going to destroy anyone here, it's me.” Knuckles said.

"This will be interesting." Silver said smiling at Blaze.

“Let them destroy each other and then we'll take victory from their paint-soaked hands.” the princess said coldly.

“Good to see everyone has a competitive spirit. Now! First and only rule, no powers allowed! It’s the only way it would be fair for everyone.” Amy said. “Leaving that aside, anything goes.” Everyone nodded in agreement with the rule.

They all went to the locker room to put on the necessary equipment provided by the establishment's staff, listened to a brief safety explanation on how to use the guns and went out through the back door to a large open field with obstacles where they could run and hide from their adversaries.

The teams split up, each taking a corner of the field as their base of operations, and discussed their strategies.

“Okay, listen.” Shadow said getting serious. "Our main targets are Tails and Rouge, they're the only real danger here, if we get rid of them, the others will be a piece of cake." Sonic nodded. “You're loud and know how to mock enemies, you'll be the perfect distraction. I'm stealthy and have better aim, I'll cover your back. Do you trust me to win?"

“With my life, babe.” Sonic said winking and taking his mask off for a second giving him a kiss for good luck.

Sonic ran through the obstacles with Shadow following close behind. They crossed paths with Silver and Blaze, both surrounded Sonic, Shadow prepared to shoot when Knuckles appeared from among the bushes in a kamikaze attack. The blue hedgehog jumped to the side to take cover behind a box. The echidna shot Blaze while still falling in the air.

“NOO!” the silver hedgehog shouted, covering the cat and getting shot instead of her.

“Silver!” she shouted. At that moment, Rouge appeared between some boxes, shooting Blaze in the back.

“You're out!” celebrated the echidna. Sonic peeked behind the box where he hid, shooting Knuckles while he was distracted. "...Damnit!" Rouge facepalmed in frustration.

“Sorry, Knuckie! I must abandon you, you're dead weight now!” She said retiring to plan another strategy.

“Avenge my death Rouge!” the echidna shouted.

Sonic regrouped with Shadow. "That was close."

“Yes, but it worked in our favor.” said the black hedgehog. “Good job getting rid of Knuckles, Rouge is alone now.”

“I deserve a kiss as a reward.” said the blue hedgehog, taking his mask off again, closing his eyes lips prepared. At that moment they heard screams from Rouge and Amy in the distance.

“After we win.” Shadow said moving forward, his partner followed him.

Approaching the source of the screams, Sonic saw both women on the ground with paint stains on their chests, they had shot eachother at the same time.

Hearing a noise to his left, Sonic turned quickly, pointing the gun at Tails who was trying to sneak away. He raised both hands next to his head in surrender.

“Did you lose your weapon lil' bro? Too bad." said the hedgehog.

"It fell into one of the traps…” Tails said sadly, lowering his ears and making big puppy eyes.

Sonic felt bad for him and lowered his gun approaching the teen. “Oh… Buddy… I'm sorry…”

At that moment Tails' face changed into an evil smirk as his tails peeked out from behind him, putting his hands in them he pulled out his gun. "Me too." he said shooting Sonic in the chest.

“Tails!” the hedgehog shouted, feeling betrayed, once again he had fallen for the trick of his little brother's puppy eyes.

"It never fails." Tails said smiling smugly.

“Good job Sonic.” Shadow said pressing the barrel of his gun against Tails' back.

"Where were you?! You let me die!” the blue hedgehog complained.

“I knew you wouldn't be able to shoot Tails, so I used you as a sacrifice to ensure our team's victory.” he explained and then pulled the trigger eliminating the fox from the competition.

“Ouch! That hurt!" Tails complained.

“Ultimate victory!” Shadow said.

After putting all the equipment in its place and cleaning themselves up, Amy approached Sonic and Shadow handing them an envelope. “Congratulations guys, you won fair and square.” She said a little sad about losing the prize.

“Cool! Let’s see what we have here.” Sonic grabbed the envelope, opening it impatiently, but once his eyes landed on the tickets, the smile faded from his face. “A Taylor Swift concert?” he said disappointed.

"What?!" Shadow said taking the tickets from his hands to look at them in admiration.

“Ugh... Do we have to go?” Sonic asked.

"Yes." Shadow said definitively, the blue hedgehog complained. "If you don't want to go, I'll go alone."

Amy approached slowly, blinking a lot and putting on her best smile. “It would be a shame to waste the second ticket, don't you think?”

"Do you want to go with me?" the hedgehog invited her. Amy threw herself into his arms.

"Yeah! Yeah! a thousand times yes!”

“Have fun at the concert, I'll spend the night playing video games with Tails.” Sonic said hugging the fox from his shoulder.

“That was close…” Knuckles muttered.

“Oh honn… if we won I would have sold the tickets to Shadow and Amy…” Rouge whispered to him.

“At least we had fun, right?” Silver asked Blaze, she laughed softly.

Chapter Text

On a chilly October day, Sonic and Shadow were strolling through the city, shopping for the upcoming Halloween party. The blue hedgehog gave his mate his old vampire costume, thinking he would look handsome in a cape. Sonic on the other hand purchased a wizard costume for himself. They also found a werehog costume for Dash and a skeleton costume for Zero, ensuring they would have a lot of fun going trick-or-treating for the first time.

Shadow paused on the sidewalk, eyeing a café with the name "Starfox Coffee" on the sign. Sonic smiled and approached, holding the door open for Shadow. "How about we stop for cofee?" The black hedgehog nodded, and they both entered the café. Looking at the menu, Sonic smiled and turned to his mate. "Hey, Shadow, are you ready to give Pumpkin Spice Latte a shot? I've always been curious to try it, but I never got around to it, and they always take it off the menu by the end of the season."

Raising an eyebrow, Shadow said, "Well, it sounds... strange, but if you say it's so popular, I'll give it a try."

Sonic placed their orders and paid for the coffees. They settled at a table while they waited, and after a while, a waitress brought their drinks and some donuts to their table. "Here you go, gentlemen. Two Pumpkin Spice Lattes, one with extra whipped cream," she said with a smile.

"That's mine, thanks!" exclaimed Sonic, excitedly.

"Thank you," said Shadow, examining his cup carefully. They both took a sip of their drinks.

Sonic savored the foamy, spiced creaminess, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger adding warmth, a touch of spiciness, and a cozy, nostalgic feeling to the beverage. "Wow, it's sweet and spicy at the same time! I like it!"

Nodding in agreement, Shadow said, "It's an interesting combination. Not bad."

Sonic took a few more sips, reaching the deeper part of the drink. "Looks like we found something we both enjoy, huh?" he joked. "Although I prefer the spiciness more. The drink is sickeningly sweet."

"It's perfect for me." said Shadow.

"You'd eat sugar straight from the packet if given the chance." said the blue hedgehog "Well, next time, you can have the sweet part. I'll stick to the spices. We can always share," he suggested.

Shadow smiled softly at the idea. "Sounds like a plan."

They both continued to enjoy their drinks, sharing a pleasant moment in the cozy café.

Chapter Text

He could feel the chaos energy burning through his veins, the infinite power in the palm of his hands. Floating in the darkness of space, a bright light in front of him, cherry blossom petals floating around, another golden and familiar figure by his side. The energy was increasing; he had to do something to stop it, or everyone would be in danger.

"Chaos...!" a sharp pain in his gut stopped him, leaving him on the edge of consciousness. "Sh-Shadow..."

The golden figure now holding him smiled, "Since your Chaos Control is terrible, I can't let you do this." he pushed him out of the way, toward the safety of the space ships, while removing the rings from his wrists.

"(NO! Don't do this to me again!)" he thought, panic rising within him but powerless to do anything about it. "SHADOW!" the blue hedgehog woke up screaming with cold sweat dripping all over his body, his breathing as labored as if he had been running a marathon. He heard someone talking at his side but couldn't distinguish the words. Then, he felt two hands firmly gripping his wrists, pulling his own hands away from his face. Raising his gaze and focusing, he could see the black hedgehog he had been screaming for in his nightmares; he was okay, he was here.

"Breathe." Shadow calmly ordered, and Sonic obeyed, eventually calming down. "That's it... better?"

"Y-yeah," Sonic replied, lowering his head in embarrassment. "Thanks... I'm fine, it's nothing."

"You're doing it again," the other said.

"W-what?" Sonic asked, confused.

"You're downplaying your problems. You've been having a lot of nightmares since you returned from those islands. Still not willing to tell me what happened there?"

"Nothing happened." Sonic lied. "Nothing you should worry about anyway... It's just... when I was there, I had a lot of time with myself to think, and... I don't know... it's stupid..." he admitted, running a hand through his quills.

"It's not stupid," Shadow said, taking his hands. "I know that probably nothing I do or say can help you, but I'm here for you..."

"...Being there and transforming into Super so often with my friends in danger... it just... brought back bad memories... I started thinking about those times I lost you after a big battle, believing I wouldn't see you again, and... thinking that something like that could happen to Knuckles, Amy, and... Tails... I..."

Sonic hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. "Don't leave me alone..."

"I won't go anywhere... I promise," Shadow said, returning the hug.

Chapter Text

Late at night Shadow was putting the kids to bed, Zero almost asleep already and Dash with too much energy to expend as usual.

"Good night." he said as he tucked them in.

“Wait dad, I want a story!” Dash said loudly before the black hedgehog could escape.

“Um…yeah…” he said awkwardly. “Sonic!” he called to the other hedgehog.

The aforementioned peeked his head from behind the door, blue quills falling sideways. "Yes, sir?"

“Dash wants a story.” Shadow said crossing his arms.

“You know, it wouldn't kill you to come up with something yourself from time to time.” The other said entering the room.

“Don't give me more work than I already have.” the black hedgehog complained, snorting through his nose. “Besides, I want to take a bath before going to sleep.” he said retreating.

“Don't forget to wave to the bathroom camera and pose for me!” Sonic yelled at him jokingly.

“Shut up, damn it!” the hedgehog shouted at him from the bathroom, now he would be paranoid all the time thinking that there was a camera recording him in the shower.

Sonic leaned over Dash's bed laughing and grabbing his stomach.

“Why did he get angry?” the hoglet asked him without understanding.

“Eh… your old man doesn't like jokes, I think he didn't think it through when he decided to like me.” He smiled and clasped his hands. "Alright! a story, a story… ummm…” he said, thinking to himself for a moment. “Ah! Got it! This is the story of King Arthur and his…”

“I already know that story, I want another one.” Dash said grumpily.

“No, no, it's not the same one. This is the story of a forbidden love between King Arthur and his most loyal knight of the Round Table Sir Lancelot." Sonic clarified.

“What is forbidden love?” Dash asked innocently.

“Is when you love someone but you cannot be together for various reasons, such as being a King and a knight, it would be frowned upon by the nobility of the kingdom. You understand?"

"I think so. Is it like me wanting to eat cookies before dinner because I love them and Dad scolding me because I’m not supposed to?” the little one asked.

“Um…yeah, that's a surprisingly good analogy.” He said surprised, Dash was barely 4 years old, but he was becoming very smart over time. He wondered if that development had to do with Shadow's genes. “Well, back to the story…”

After half an hour of story Dash fell exhausted and Sonic silently returned to his room where Shadow was checking his phone in bed. As soon as he entered, the other raised his head to stare at him. “You bastard.” he told him in a bad mood.

Sonic laughed at him as he sent his gloves and shoes flying before climbing onto the bed. “How long did you look for the camera in the bathroom?” he asked him, smiling mockingly.

"None of your business." he told him curtly.

"HA HA! I’m sorry, you know I like to bother you.” He held his cheeks and rubbed his muzzle lovingly on Shadow's forehead.

“Get away, if you want to bother someone go find your loverboy LaNcELoT.” Shadow said irritably.

"I thought you didn't believe me when I told my stories of Camelot?”

“And I still don't, but since you insist so much that you're King Arthur or some shit, you might as well go fantasize about him.”

Sonic laughed loudly. “Shadow, I wouldn't trade you for anyone, especially someone who looks like you.” He gave him a little kiss. “The original will always be superior. Besides, I like bickering with you all the time, it's fun, Lancelot is too kind for me. Aaaand… our love wouldn't be well received if I were the king, yada yada yada.” He said moving his hand in circles. “Although…” he let out an impish smile. “It would be exciting if you called me 'your majesty' and begged me while I am on top of you.”

Shadow turned completely red up to his ears at the suggestion. “Never in a million years.” he said irritably.

Sonic threw himself on him, squashing him playfully. “Tell me 'your highness'! 'My Liege'! Say it! ha ha ha!"

Shadow screeched indignantly and bit him a few times. "No! Leave me alone! I'm going to kill you!"

“I keep waiting for you to carry out that threat since we met. haha” he said grooming Shadow behind his ear. “I love you, grumpy hog.”

The other calmed down, breathing hard through his nose and covered himself with the sheets up to his head. "Good night."

“Good night~” Sonic said, hugging him from behind and resting his head on his shoulder to sleep.

Chapter Text

Sonic was having tea with Amy at her house, sometimes they spent quality time together, Amy was one of his most precious friends, and since Shadow was on a particularly long G.U.N mission, he felt a little lonely taking care of the babies by his own.

The hoglets were playing quietly on the floor while the adults chatted about trivial matters.

“Hey, now that I think about it, you never told me how you confessed to Shadow.” Amy told him, sipping some tea.

“Ah… well, maybe I never would have done it without you.” the hedgehog admitted.

"Ah? How come?" she asked somewhat surprised.

“Do you remember that time you offered to read my love fortune with your cards?”

“Um…uh, yeah. I remember… Although at that moment I thought the prediction was referring to me.” she admitted embarrassed.

Sonic laughed a little. “Well, it took me a while to work up the courage. I was scared, Amy, terrified of ruining the friendship I had managed to build with Shadow. But after a while I couldn't continue like that. Your words encouraged me to confess. I said to myself, ‘Screw it, I should just do it!’ It was scary, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made.” He smiled brightly remembering the moment. "One afternoon after spending the day running we simply stopped to watch the sunset and he asked me why I spent so much time with him, maybe he thought I was playing with his feelings, or that I was just trying to satisfy a need by spending time with him, and I simply told him, I told him that I liked him a lot. He looked very surprised, like he thought it was something impossible, like he wasn't worth it, but he was perfect."

The pink hedgehog listened to him attentively with blushed cheecks and a dreamy look in her eyes, imagining the scene in her head, she was a romantic, this kind of things touched her heart strings, and hearing someone like Sonic express himself in such a vulnerable way , showing adoration towards his mate, made her very happy. “And what did he say?” She encouraged him to continue, not wanting to be left in suspense.

"Nothing. I ran away from there before he could process it, and then I avoided him for 3 days.” Sonic admitted scratching his quills and smiling sheepishly.

Amy fell from her seat at the cowardice of her friend. “You're an idiot sometimes.” she told him.

“Hehe… but it worked in the end, right?”

“Only because you're incredibly lucky.” They both laughed heartily.

Chapter Text

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm, orange hue over the landscape as Sonic and Shadow stood on top of a grassy hill, taking in the impressive view. The two hedgehogs went through countless adventures in their daily lives, but this moment of serenity was a rare opportunity for them to simply be together.

Shadow turned his crimson eyes towards Sonic, his usual stern expression softening as he looked at his partner.

Sonic felt himself being watched, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing." Shadow said, he didn't expect to be caught watching. "What are you thinking?"

Sonic closed his eyes. "Sharing these moments with you, being by your side. It's like a completely different adventure every time, even if everything is calm, I feel a kind of excitement wanting to know what awaits us."

A slight blush crept across Shadow's cheeks, a rare sight. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "I suppose..." he replied, his tone slightly gruff. “That was unexpectedly deep coming from you.”

Sonic chuckled, his emerald eyes sparkling, Shadow smirked, a hint of amusement in his eyes. They both laughed and the tension between them dissipated. It was moments like these that strengthened their relationship, a bond that had grown since their first meeting. They had faced many challenges and enemies together, but they had also discovered the joy of simply being together, of understanding each other on a deeper level.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, Sonic and Shadow found comfort in each other's presence, knowing that no matter what frontier they faced next, they would face it together, hand in hand.

Chapter Text

Shadow was returning home late after his latest mission. Everything had gone so well that they had finished ahead of schedule, which meant he would arrive a day earlier than he had originally told Sonic. Therefore, he decided to keep it a secret to surprise the hedgehog.

He quietly inserted the keys into the lock and entered his home. At first glance, it seemed like there was no one there, but this was to be expected since it was late. Dash and Zero were probably deep in slumber, but what about Sonic?

When he closed the door, Shadow's sensitive ears picked up the chords of an acoustic guitar resonating in the air. Sonic would sometimes play when he was inspired, had plenty of time on his hands, and a lot on his mind; it was a way for him to clear his head. It was rare for Shadow to catch him playing, but it was something the black hedgehog enjoyed.

As he made his way down the hallway towards the room they shared, the sound grew louder. The door was slightly ajar as always, a habit adopted by Sonic as a measure to ease his claustrophobia. That's why most of their burrow was an open floor plan, and the blue hedgehog had made sure to build it that way.

Shadow timidly peeked through the door, and his crimson eyes met Sonic's figure lying on the bed, playing the guitar while his gaze was lost on the ceiling. He was playing a slow, warm, yet melancholic melody, singing softly. If Shadow's ears weren't so sensitive, perhaps he wouldn't have been able to hear what he was saying, which was unusual for the hedgehog who was normally quite loud.

Watching you

go through all that you do.

I never knew

until I felt it too.

But now I know

that love is beautiful.

There’s so much more that

I want to find out with you.

Now I’m not alone

a family of my own,

I get to go home with you.

Feelings deep inside

come flowing from my eyes,

I get to go home with you.

Memories

I’ll always remember.

Sceneries

I’ve yet to discover.

Would it be

too much if I ask you to stay forever.

Everything

feels warmer and safer.

Anything

we can get through together.

Now that I’m with you.

Home sweet home,

home with you.

Home sweet home,

I’m with you…

Shadow had been watching Sonic in a trance, not wanting to interrupt him at such a personal moment. "Do you plan on coming in?" Sonic said aloud without taking his eyes off the ceiling.

The black hedgehog felt a shiver run down his spine but obeyed, walking slowly toward the bed until he could see Sonic in the eyes. "Did you know I was here?"

"I could smell you after a while." he said, smiling.

Shadow sat down beside him. "I always forget that your sense of smell is better than your other senses." he admitted.

"Did you enjoy the concert?" the blue hedgehog asked.

Shadow laughed. "With your fame and talent, I'm surprised you didn't follow the 'hero during the day, rock star at night' path."

"Heh!" Sonic exclaimed, his chest rising suddenly along with the guitar. "I'm famous because I'm a hero, doesn't mean I enjoy it. There are certain things I prefer to keep to myself and the people who are important to me." he said, gently taking Shadow's hand.

Chapter Text

It was a quiet night in Hill Top Zone. Sonic had been wanting to go camping under the stars for a long time. He invited Shadow, and although he didn't like sleeping outdoors that much, accepted the invitation so he could enjoy a quiet time with his mate without the children around them. However, Shadow did not expect that Sonic would also invite Tails and Knuckles, so now the four of them found themselves in the middle of the lush forest, which offered them a perfect refuge for their getaway.

Even though they wouldn't be completely alone, Shadow set out to enjoy the day's activities to the fullest. Tails and Knuckles weren't bad company either. The fox was very intelligent, and Shadow enjoyed their conversations about motor vehicles. As for the echidna, well, let's just say they got along well enough. They had mutual respect for each other, but at the end of the day, Knuckles always got along better with Sonic.

The four entered a large tent where they would spend the night, settling into their sleeping bags as the campfire died down, plunging the place into darkness. The only source of light came from the moon and the stars that illuminated the night.

In the middle of the night, Shadow woke up to a punch to the face, feeling tight and hot inside his bag. It turned out that at some point during the night, Sonic had abandoned his bag to get into Shadow's and spoon him, leaving him completely trapped. Plus, he had Knuckles' huge hand, who apparently moved around a lot while he slept, in his face.

The hedgehog took his pillow and hit them both hard, his annoyance already evident. The sound of the pillow hitting echoed in the quiet night of the forest, waking everyone up immediately.

“Ah! What?! Who's attacking us?!” Sonic shouted.

"What the hell?" Knuckles exclaimed.

“Hng… it's too early for this…” Tails complained, putting his pillow over his head.

"I'm sorry, but these two were making me uncomfortable." Shadow said annoyed.

“I'll give you a reason to feel uncomfortable.” Knuckles said grumpily as he threw his pillow at Shadow's face. He ducked and the projectile hit Sonic directly in the face, who fell backwards due to the force.

“Ah… So you've chosen violence?” said the blue hedgehog standing up and holding the pillow threateningly.

“I wasn't the one who started it!” the echidna complained. Sonic and Knuckles looked at each other defiantly, prepared for battle.

"So, Knuckles, you're asking for a pillow fight!" said the hedgehog.

"Get ready for a beating, Sonic!" he answered him. Sonic's pillow became a moving projectile towards Knuckles, who nimbly dodged it.

"Too slow, Sonic!" he said, laughing, as the pillow hit Tails in the back.

"Hey!" the fox shouted, joining the war, with his pillow he hit Knuckles's ankles causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

"That wasn't fair, Tails!" the echidna shouted.

“The only unfair thing is that you won't let me sleep!” he complained.

Sonic, seeing his opportunity, dove to the ground and grabbed Shadow's pillow, using it to attack the black hedgehog. "Now is my turn!" Sonic's pillow caught Shadow in the side, sending him to the ground, as he let out an undignified screech.

"Make it harder, Sonic! He'll like it more!" said the echidna between laughs.

After an intense pillow fight, the four of them finally gave up exhausted. The torn pillows and feathers scattered everywhere bore witness to the epic confrontation.

Chapter Text

It was a perfect night for a motorcycle ride, with the practically deserted streets of the city illuminated by the twinkling lights and the wind caressing their faces. The outskirts of the city were bathed in the soft light of the moon. Sonic and Shadow decided to stop at a viewpoint to take in the night view, sitting on Shadow's motorcycle. The soft hum of the engine filled the air, breaking the silence of that quiet place.

“You know, it's nights like these that make me appreciate how far we've come.” Sonic commented with a smile, carefully observing the moon.

Shadow gave him a look, his crimson eyes reflecting the moonlight. “Yeah, it’s been quite a ride, hasn’t it?”

The blue hedgehog exchanged glances with him. “I still remember the day we met. You were like ‘I’m the ultimate life form’ all the time, super edgy and mysterious.” he said, laughing.

Shadow felt self-awareness as he remembered his old attitude, which he wasn't proud of. Then, he smiled wryly. "And you were the most insistent tick I'd ever met. You kept interfering in everything."

"True. But look where we are now.” Sonic said with a charming smile.

"It's hard to believe. How did we end up here?” Shadow mused.

“Fate, I guess. I couldn't help but admire your strength and determination. You were always there for me in the most critical moments.” He said taking his hand.

“And you taught me that life doesn't have to be all revenge and chaos.” Shadow murmured softly as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves behind them, as did their quills.

“I'm so glad we found each other.” Sonic whispered, joining their foreheads and closing his eyes. The night sky, the only silent witness of that intimate moment.

Chapter Text

It was an unusually hot day. Sonic and Shadow were accompanying their son, Dash, to kindergarten.

"Good morning, Dash!" greeted the teacher, a brown cow wearing an apron.

"Miss Clara!" exclaimed little Dash, letting go of Sonic's hand and running toward her. Then he turned, enthusiastically bidding farewell to his parents.

"We'll pick you up later. Have a good day!" Sonic said before turning to Shadow, who was carrying Zero in a baby carrier. "It's really hot today, isn't it?" he commented while fanning himself with one hand. "I feel like having an ice cream. Don't you? You must be suffocating with your dark fur."

"I'm perfectly fine." replied Shadow with a calm expression.

"Yeah, I forgot how weird you can be sometimes." Sonic muttered, exasperated. "Don't you want some ice cream, Zero?" he said, smiling at the baby as he gently stroked his cheek with a finger. Zero laughed cheerfully.

"Alright, stop whining," Shadow told the blue hedgehog as he turned around and walked away.

"I wasn't whining!" complained Sonic, offended, but he followed Shadow nonetheless.

Both of them walked to a nearby grocery store, where they bought two ice cream popsicles: one Tutti Frutti for Sonic and one strawberry for Shadow. Then they went to sit in a nearby small park, under the shade of a tree, shielded from the scorching sun.

Shadow offered a bit of his popsicle to Zero. "Don't bite." he warned. The little one tried the ice cream and seemed to enjoy the delicious artificial fruit flavor.

Sonic, as usual, devoured his popsicle too quickly, resulting in a brain freeze. "HMMM!" he exclaimed as he gently tapped his head with his hand.

"You brought it on yourself. Can't you eat more slowly?" Shadow scolded him as he slowly savored his ice cream.

Sonic turned to look at Shadow and couldn't take his eyes off him, his mind wandering to darker places.

"What?" the black hedgehog asked, curious when he noticed Sonic's intense gaze.

"Nothing, just keep savoring." Sonic encouraged, but Shadow stopped.

"I can't believe you ruined ice cream for me forever." Shadow complained, amazed.

"Hey, it's not my fault. You're the one tempting me with your stupid sensuality." Sonic defended himself.

"Is it MY fault now you have a dirty mind?" Shadow asked, exasperated.

"Yup!" Sonic answered with a smile.

"You're impossible." Shadow complained before continuing to eat his ice cream in bites. Sonic winced at the action, imagining the pain.

Chapter Text

It was an excellent day for running; It was one of those moments that Sonic and Shadow enjoyed the most. Just go outside to get some fresh air and have a fun competition, or maybe train a little if they felt like it.

The only thing that could be seen of them when passing through Green Hill were blue and orange trails. The local Flikys perched on a rock to be spectators as usual, they had a lot of fun watching the hedgehogs competing.

“Hey, Shadow, do you ever wonder why I'm always one step ahead?” Sonic asked, smiling as they ran side by side.

“More like one step away from tripping over your own feet, Sonic.” The black hedgehog answered, knowing they were going to bicker once again, there wasn't any type of poison behind their words, both enjoyed making fun of each other seeing who could won up the other, it was just another type of competition for them, one of wits.

The blue hedgehog laughed. He found Shadow a lot of fun when he was being competitive. His sharp tongue and bad boy attitude were some of the things he loved about him. “Oh, come on. You can’t catch up with me even when I slow down for you.”

Shadow growled. “That's a funny way to spell ‘speed limit.’”

“I just thought that maybe you would like to enjoy the landscape, ya know? I’m trying to be more romantic, babe.” he scoffed.

The other rolled his eyes. “Please, your idea of romance is to buy me one of those disgusting sausages you call food.”

“If you don't like them, I can find you another type of sausage, I think there's one you love~” Sonic said with a mocking tone.

Shadow turned as red as his stripes. “You wish. If you spent less time thinking about sausages you might have a slim chance of beating me, but even then you wouldn't be able to match my coolness.”

Sonic stepped forward a little, getting in front of him and stopping them both in their tracks. "Coolness? I have something better: style!” he said as he spun around, ending up in a pose showing off his body.

Shadow laughed at his partner's antics. "Style? Please, I have more style in a quill of my head than you have in your entire being.”

Still smiling confidently, Sonic said, “Well, I guess I'll just have to run circles around you and show you how it's done, Shadow.”

“Go ahead, Sonic. I could use a good laugh.” Shadow answered adjusting his gloves. They both resumed their run and enjoyed a fun afternoon.

Chapter Text

One night, in their cozy burrow, Sonic was in front of the TV, fully immersed in his passion for video games with his console. "Yes!" he exclaimed with joy as he achieved a feat in the game. At that moment, Shadow approached, holding a pizza box that he carefully placed on the coffee table in front of the couch. His eyes were drawn to the in-game chat, where messages were rapidly piling up, sowing confusion in his mind due to the peculiar language being used.

Intrigued, Shadow decided to consult the blue hedgehog. "What does 'poggers' mean?" he asked as he took a seat next to his partner.

While Sonic savored a delicious slice of pizza, he responded naturally, "Ah, it's used to express excitement or admiration for something. It was an awesome game."

Shadow nodded in understanding, although internet slang remained a foreign territory for him, as he didn't immerse himself as deeply in online culture as Sonic. He remembered how challenging it had been to adapt to text messaging language, especially the abbreviated and emoji-filled way Sonic often communicated. "Some of those words sound a bit ridiculous." he commented honestly.

Sonic chuckled and quipped. "Hehe. Just wait until our kids start talking like that."

Shadow dropped his head into his hands in a gesture of despair, exclaiming. "Gaia, no! I can barely understand you sometimes. I won't be able to communicate with my own children now?"

Sonic burst into laughter and reassured him. "Don't worry, Gramps, I'll be your personal translator." Then, without wasting any time, he started another thrilling game.

Chapter Text

Dr. Eggman was causing trouble, as usual. The evil scientist seemed to become more creative with time. Or at least, that's how it appeared to Sonic. He had to admit it, the man didn't give up, no matter how many times his plans were foiled. This time, he was testing a mecha with extra circular saws and flamethrowers.

"Hey, Tails!" shouted the hedgehog, dodging a saw that buzzed past him. "Any ideas for a weak spot?"

"I'm on it!" yelled the fox as he flew around the robot, analyzing it for weaknesses. When he got to the back, his scanner pointed to a spot on the machine's spine. "I've got it!" he triumphantly exclaimed. "It's-!"

"Tails, watch out!" Sonic screamed, terrified. One of the saws spun back to attack the fox. The hedgehog tried to reach him, but the flames from the flamethrower prevented him. Tails saw his life flashing before his eyes as the saw approached him rapidly. Then, he felt a strong push coming from his right side, which moved him out of the deadly weapon's path just in time. However, the owner of the arm that saved him wasn't so lucky, as the saw severed it in one swift cut.

"Shadow!" Sonic shouted. The black hedgehog fell to his knees, still in shock, clutching the spot where his arm had been, his glove now stained with blood.

Tails was terrified at the sight of his friend's severed arm, but the adrenaline of the moment pushed him to get up and help Shadow out of the robot's way. "Th-the weak spot is in the spine!" Tails shouted, turning to Sonic.

The hedgehog, now furious with Eggman, attacked mercilessly, destroying the robot. While Eggman escaped, Sonic couldn't care less; he had to check on Shadow.

Tails tried to stop the bleeding with his hoodie, not exactly sure how to handle such a situation. Sonic rushed over. "Shadow! We need to get you to a hospital!" he said urgently.

Very sore, the black hedgehog just said. "No need... I'll be fine..."

"But your arm!" Sonic exclaimed.

"It'll grow back..." Shadow said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world for him.

"What?!" Tails asked, incredulous. As he removed his hoodie, he saw that the bleeding had already stopped, and the tissue was beginning to heal. "You can regenerate limbs?!"

"As long as my heart and brain are intact, yes, I can regenerate any part of my body. It doesn't mean it's a pleasant experience..." Shadow complained.

"That's some cool alien shit." Sonic said, impressed and relieved that his partner wouldn't have one arm permanently amputated.

"Thanks for saving me, Shadow," Tails told him.

"Better me than you, right?" he smiled.

"Let's go home; you deserve a good rest," Sonic said, lifting him. Although Shadow could probably walk, he preferred to keep him close and assist him as much as possible until he recovered.

"Wait...!" said Shadow. "Don't forget my arm. I still need the ring attached to it."

"Riiiight..." said Tails, clearly disgusted.

Chapter Text

The midday sun blazed over the forest as Shadow was in the burrow's garden with a set of tools spread out before him. He was meticulously working on his sleek obsidian-black motorcycle. The chrome details shone in the sunlight as he tightened a bolt with a wrench.

Sonic, always the embodiment of curiosity, couldn't help but approach and watch for a while. "You really love that motorcycle, huh?"

Shadow continued to tighten the bolt, without looking up. "Yes. It's a fine piece of machinery."

Sonic moved closer, genuinely intrigued. "But why? I know it's fun to ride occasionally, but I mean, you don't really need it. What attracts you so much about it?"

Shadow finally looked up, his crimson eyes locking onto Sonic's vibrant greens. He paused for a moment, as if considering how to answer.

"Whether I need it or not, it's not the point." Shadow replied. He set down the wrench and sat on the ground, wiping his gloved hands with a cloth. "This motorcycle... it's something I built with my own hands and represents a connection to something I lost."

Sonic furrowed his brow, not really understanding how one thing could be related to the other. "What do you mean?"

Shadow looked at the bike with a mixture of affection and nostalgia. "When I was on the ARK, Maria and I used to imagine what it would be like to explore the world. We made plans of where we would go, what we would do. One day, we saw an incredible picture in a magazine brought by one of the scientists, and we thought it would be fun to leave everything behind and hit the road on a motorcycle, feeling the wind on our faces. I'm just honoring that dream; it's what she would have wanted."

Sonic understood now, but he had never realized how much that motorcycle meant to him until now and how much meaning lay behind it. "I see. That's a beautiful way to honor her."

Shadow nodded, with a small, grateful smile on his face, and returned to his motorcycle, his hands moving with precision. Sonic watched for a moment, realizing that he was always learning new things about Shadow, even when he thought he knew him well.

Chapter Text

Shadow was in the desolate GUN locker room, stripping off his heavy uniform after completing a tough and exhausting mission. Rouge, already dressed in her casual clothes, leaned against the door with her arms crossed, silently observing him as if she were contemplating something. "It's been a tough mission. Why don't we go for a coffee?" she suggested.

"Now?" Shadow asked as he took off his shoes and gloves, carefully placing them in his locker and hanging a towel over his shoulder. "Honestly, I just want to go home."

"Oh, come on! You never go out with me anymore, Shadow." Rouge pleaded with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"If you want to go out, we can plan it for tomorrow." Shadow replied, suspecting there was more to Rouge's insistence. "Why are you so insistent?"

"Alright, you got me." Rouge admitted with a playful smile. "The truth is, I've arranged a double date with Red and Blue."

"What?!" Shadow exclaimed nervously, turning to look directly at her. "And when were you planning to tell me?"

"I would have mentioned it at the café." she replied with a knowing look.

"I don't appreciate you making plans for me, Rouge." the hedgehog expressed, still somewhat upset by the revelation.

"It's no biiiig deal. Blue was happy to see you and spend time with friends. They also made sure to leave the kids with Vanilla. Gaia bless her, I don't know how she does it, but Jasper behaves like an angel with her."

Shadow's jaw tensed. "We'll talk later about respecting my personal boundaries." he growled as he headed for the showers.

Later, the two agents met up with Sonic and Knuckles at a quaint café that had recently opened, tucked away from the city and relatively unknown, ensuring a peaceful and enjoyable afternoon. Sonic's presence in public places often attracted attention, given his status as a famous hero.

"How was the mission?" the blue hedgehog asked as he settled in next to Shadow.

"We can't discuss it openly, but it went well." Rouge replied, making room for Knuckles to join. "You should've seen Shadow slipping in the mud; it was really funny. I wish I had recorded it." she laughed.

"Rouge." Shadow warned in a threatening tone.

Sonic chuckled. "I would've loved to see that." Then he put his hand on Shadow's leg. "Did your tail hurt when you fell?"

"Yours will hurt when we get home..." Shadow said with a growl.

"Save something for the bedroom, boys." Rouge teased, and Sonic joined her in laughter.

"They're unbearable together." Shadow complained, crossing his arms.

"Tell me about it." Knuckles agreed.

Chapter Text

Sonic was in the kitchen, where the children watched him in awe as he skillfully flipped a pancake in the air. Shadow made his entrance through the hallway, ruffling his quills with a towel after a shower, with a nonchalant gesture. "That smells good." he remarked, glancing around the kitchen.

"Of course it smells good; I made it." Sonic replied, a touch of pride in his voice.

Shadow rolled his eyes, adding in a sarcastic tone. "You're quite egocentric, don't you think?" He usually was like that as well, but he wasn't willing to admit it. However, Sonic's ego, especially when it came to things he excelled at, could be rather annoying, especially in activities where Shadow felt overshadowed by him.

Sonic responded with a laugh, enjoying the friendly rivalry. "Well, I just think I have reasons to boast, Mr. Burnt Cereal." the blue hedgehog quipped as he flipped another pancake in the air.

"That was only once, and it was an accident for leaving the bowl near the fire!" the black hedgehog defended himself, taking a seat at the kitchen island.

"Uh-huh... as if you and Rouge didn't survive on takeout before you moved here." he said, smiling teasingly as he served the pancakes and drizzled them with maple syrup.

Chapter Text

It was a particular night when Shadow couldn't sleep. Lost in his thoughts as he tossed and turned in bed, he turned to see his mate who was peacefully sleeping beside him, serenely lost in a dream. In the gentle embrace of the night light that Sonic had gifted him, he could discern the serene and almost ethereal expression on the blue hedgehog's face, as if he were looking at an angel.

Shadow's mind drifted back to the day he first met Sonic, a vibrant blue blur that shook his world. At that time, Shadow had always seen himself as a demon, a creature submerged in darkness and anger, a potential threat to the world. He was trapped in an unrelenting battle with the demons that raged within him. However, as their adventures unfolded, Sonic's carefree spirit, boundless energy, and unwavering determination gradually chipped away at the formidable walls that Shadow had erected around his heart, a fortress built to protect himself from a world that had caused him so much pain.

With time, Sonic continued to be the guiding light in Shadow's life, helping him realize his worth. The two of them were like a perfect balance, complementing each other as seamlessly as day and night.

In the silent night, Shadow reached out gently, his fingers tenderly caressing Sonic's cheek. A contented smile graced Sonic's slumbering face as he felt the warm touch of Shadow's hand. The soft, reassuring clicking sound of a purr filled the silent room. Shadow couldn't help but smile, finally finding the peace to drift into a deep, restful sleep, knowing that he had his angel by his side, protecting him from any internal and external shadow that loomed over him.

Chapter Text

On one splendid, sun-drenched day, the Hedgehog family eagerly gathered at the platform of a quaint, small station, awaiting their train to Station Square. Their purpose was a heartwarming reunion with their dear friend, Christopher Thorndyke, who had recently moved into a new apartment. They hadn't seen each other since the war had come to an end.

Sonic, known for his reluctance to use public transportation due to their leisurely pace, couldn't help but sport an anticipatory grin. He realized this journey would be a novel adventure for their little ones, and that thought alone made it irresistible. The azure hedgehog turned to Shadow, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This promises to be a grand adventure for our hoglets." he remarked, and even the usually stoic Shadow couldn't suppress a rare smile.

The youngest members of the family, Dash and Zero, eagerly explored the otherwise desolate platform. Zero, who had recently learned to walk, slowly but confidently followed Dash's lead. The bells, announcing the imminent arrival of the train, chimed enthusiastically. Dash and Zero, brimming with excitement, quickly made their way back to their parents as the train pulled to a stop, its automatic doors sliding open to greet them.

With Dash clinging to Sonic's leg and Zero nestled securely in Shadow's protective embrace, the family boarded the train. The engines roared to life, and the adventure officially began. Their train car was almost vacant, allowing them to secure comfortable seats. Dash, ever the restless kid, couldn't resist exploring the various seats, all while playfully bantering with his parents. Meanwhile, Zero snuggled into the warmth of Shadow's chest fluff, enchanted by the captivating scenery passing by the window.

As they journeyed on, Sonic took the opportunity to regale Dash with stories of his past exploits and the cherished moments he had shared with Chris. The hoglet listened with rapt attention, hanging on to every word. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, they arrived at Station Square. The family disembarked, and there stood Chris, brimming with cheer as he warmly welcomed his old friends, ready to usher them into an unforgettable day in the vibrant city.

Chapter Text

Today was released a new game that Sonic had been eagerly waiting for in a physical format. While Dash was at kindergarten, Sonic and Shadow, accompanied by Zero, walked through the aisles of the blue hedgehog's favorite video game store. The shelves, illuminated with neon lights, were filled with a dazzling variety of games, and their vibrant covers attracted gamers of all ages. Sonic, with the hoglet in his arms, decided to go to the counter to inquire about the availability of the game, leaving Shadow to explore the colorful world of video games.

As Shadow wandered away to explore, his sleek jet-black quills stood out amidst the sea of colors. His behavior was as calm and serene as ever, a stark contrast to the vibrant chaos of the game store. He couldn't help but be drawn to the cover of a particular game, its artwork bursting with vivid graphics and intriguing characters. He reached out to grab the box and examine it more closely.

From the counter, Sonic noticed a young wolf nearby, probably not much older than the two of them, ogling at Shadow with an intensity that was unmistakably inappropriate. Sonic felt a surge of jealousy growing within him, a feeling he wasn't accustomed to dealing with. However, he had always prided himself on being someone who could control his emotions, especially in situations like this. After all, he couldn't allow any hint of insecurity to tarnish his cool hero image.

While Shadow continued to inspect the game, seemingly unaware of the persistent gaze of the young wolf, Sonic decided to take matters into his own hands. With subtle but assured confidence, he approached Shadow and put his arm around his mate's shoulders. It was a gesture that conveyed both affection and protection, a silent message to the world that Shadow was his.

"Did you find something you like, babe?" Sonic asked, his emerald eyes filled with warmth as he looked at Shadow, their baby snugly nestled in his other arm.

Shadow, surprised by the sudden touch but ultimately pleased by the display of affection, shifted his attention from the enticing game cover to Sonic's face. A small, genuine smile appeared on his lips as he held the game up for Sonic to see. "This one looks interesting." he said, his ruby eyes reflecting a sense of satisfaction as he shared his discovery with Sonic.

The young wolf, who had been blatantly staring at Shadow, suddenly averted his gaze. He was clearly taken aback by the affectionate display between the hedgehogs. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, he quickly retreated into the aisle, realizing that he had crossed boundaries.

Sonic's heart swelled with a mix of satisfaction and pride for subtly protecting what was his, even if Shadow wasn't entirely aware of it.

Chapter Text

Shadow, reclined on the comfortable couch in his burrow, stared at his phone screen as he absentmindedly scrolled through social media. The room was dimly lit, with the only source of light being a lamp beside him and rock music playing as background noise. He often found solace in these moments of tranquility, hidden away from the world with his family, far from the chaos of his life as a G.U.N. agent.

As he swiped his finger through his feed, his crimson eyes widened when a particular image caught his attention. It was a picture of Sonic and Amy, sitting in a vintage-style ice cream parlor. Amy had a big smile on her face, and Sonic wore a small grin as they shared a massive ice cream with various toppings. The caption attached to the image declared "Sonic and Amy: The Perfect Couple Finally Confirmed!" Shadow couldn't help but mock the sensationalization.

Sonic and Shadow had a comfortable and happy relationship, even forming their own family, but they chose to keep their relationship as private as possible, for their own sake and that of their children. Amy, a close friend to both hedgehogs, almost like a sister to Sonic and an aunt to their little ones, had done nothing but support them at every stage of their relationship. The photograph was completely innocent, an outing between two good friends, but the paparazzi had other ideas. Shadow couldn't believe how deceptive and invasive the press could be.

With a sigh, Shadow decided to show the post to Sonic, who was relaxed on the other side of the couch, flipping through a comic book. He reached out in front of him and cleared his throat. "Sonic, you might want to take a look at this." Shadow said, his tone a mixture of annoyance and concern.

Sonic, who never rushed himself, slowly closed his comic book and looked at Shadow, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on?" he asked, clearly oblivious to the social media storm brewing around him.

Shadow handed him the phone, with the image and article prominently displayed. Sonic's eyes widened as he read the headline and the accompanying text. His usual calm and relaxed attitude disappeared, replaced by a furrowed brow and a troubled expression.

"Ugh! Again?" Sonic exclaimed, his green eyes shining with frustration.

"Has this happened before?" Shadow asked, surprised.

"The press always makes up a fake relationship with Amy if they see us even remotely close to each other in the same space." he said, annoyed. "I don't mind them talking trash about me, but I can't stand them dragging Amy into these things because of me."

Shadow nodded, understanding Sonic's irritation. "I'm sorry... Maybe I could ask Rouge to hack that page and remove the article." Shadow suggested.

Sonic nodded, and his anger gradually gave way to a more thoughtful expression. "Well, if you think she can do that."

"Please, we do worse things at G.U.N." Shadow replied, sending a message to Rouge to take care of the article.

"Gosh, I've got the best super-secret agent boyfriend." Sonic smiled playfully.

Chapter Text

Sonic had been playing the new DLC of the video game he had gotten a few weeks ago for hours, and it seemed like he wasn't making any progress at all. Frustration was building up within him, and his fingers were sore from mashing the controller buttons. The hedgehog had always prided himself on his lightning-fast reflexes and gaming skills, but this game seemed impossible to conquer.

"Come on, Sonic, you can do this..." Sonic muttered to himself, with his eyes fixed on the screen and determination in his expression. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past a particular section of the game. It seemed like the developers had designed it to be a torture device, given all the criticism that the base game was laughably easy.

"Aaaaaaand you fell again, Daddy." Dash said, sitting on the floor next to Zero, watching closely as Sonic played.

"ARGH, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!" Sonic shouted in frustration. Dash jumped a bit, and Zero curled up into a ball.

Shadow, who had been sitting on the couch, listening to Sonic whine for hours, finally spoke. "You know, you can always switch to easy mode."

Sonic's ears perked up, and he turned to face Shadow, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Easy mode? Are you saying I don't have enough skill to beat this... This THING?"

Shadow sighed, rolling his crimson eyes. "No, I'm saying it's a game. It's supposed to be fun. If you're not having fun, what's the point?"

Sonic's pride was wounded. He couldn't believe that Shadow was suggesting that he, the fastest thing alive, would take the easy way out. "I don't need easy mode! I'll beat this frigging tower, just you wait!"

With that, he refocused on the game and redoubled his efforts. He tried to overcome the seemingly impossible obstacles, but he still made no progress. Shadow, bored, got up and headed to the kitchen. He needed coffee to endure the other hedgehog's whinning.

Meanwhile, Sonic, who couldn't bear the thought of Shadow's suggestion, hesitated for a moment. But then, he swallowed his pride and looked around to make sure Shadow wasn't watching. He accessed the game menu, selected easy mode, and resumed playing. Dash and Zero were watching, but neither of them could read, so they didn't know what he did.

To his amazement, the thing that had given him so much trouble became a walk in the park. Sonic sped through it, effortlessly dodging obstacles and enemies. He couldn't help but smile, thinking about how surprised Shadow would be when he returned.

After finally reaching the goal, Sonic turned off easy mode and returned to the normal difficulty, acting as if he had overcome the impossible challenge with pure skill and determination. When Shadow came back from the kitchen, he raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word. He knew Sonic all too well, and sometimes it was better to let him have his victories, even if they were achieved through a shortcut.

Chapter Text

Although Shadow was often seen as grumpy, cold, and even evil by many, he was actually a kind soul who had a love for the planet's nature that he had sworn to protect from any danger. Rouge, noticing this, had recommended gardening to him as a relaxation method some time ago, and it ended up becoming one of his favorite activities. He even had a meticulously maintained beautiful garden. However, his flowers would soon face the terror of a blue demon.

Sonic, who was happily running around with a carefree smile on his face, underestimated his speed as he approached their house. In an instant, he tripped over a hose carelessly hidden in the grass and, before crashing face-first into the dirt, he decided to roll, crushing all the flowers in his path. Petals fell like confetti, and the once immaculate garden was now chaos.

Shadow, who was feeding Zero with applesauce, jumped up at the commotion, and as he looked out the window, his crimson eyes blazed with anger. He glared at Sonic, who sat in the midst of the destruction, still wearing his characteristic smile, though tinged with guilt. "Sonic." Shadow hissed. "look at what you've done to my garden!"

Sonic, knowing he was in trouble, stammered, "Hey, it was an accident. I didn't do it on purpose..."

But Shadow, in a cold and unforgiving voice, interrupted him. "Accident or not, you will fix it. You will replace every flower, every stone, and every blade of grass you destroyed."

Sonic's eyes widened. "But it's really hot today. Can't it be when it's cooler?" he asked, trying to avoid the hard work.

Shadow's expression remained stern. "No, Sonic. You will learn the consequences of your actions. You will work under the scorching sun until my garden is back to what it was, and it better be soon, or you won't enter this house; I'll make sure of it."

Sonic, with sweat forming on his forehead, spent the entire day under the blazing sun, carefully replacing every part of the garden. Shadow supervised his work, ensuring that he put everything back in its place and even brought the right flowers. The hours passed, and the hedgehog's energy waned.

As the day turned into night, Sonic's gloves were filled with dirt, and his body was exhausted. He looked at Shadow, who had been watching him with an unreadable expression. "Shadow, can we stop now? I've replaced everything. It looks great now."

Finally, Shadow had mercy on him, seeing that Sonic had worked hard to make amends. "All right, maybe you've suffered enough."

Sonic, with a mixture of relief and gratitude, gave Shadow a tired smile. "Thanks, I promise to be more careful next time."

From that day on, Sonic always respected Shadow's garden and, took as much care as possible, when running near the house, thinking the black hedgehog wouldn't be so merciful next time.

Chapter Text

The winter sun rose late that morning, casting a soft golden glow on the pristine snow covering the landscape. Sonic watched as his children, Dash and Zero, gazed with enthusiasm through the window. Despite hedgehogs not being fans of the cold, the curiosity of the hoglets outweighed their natural instinct, which told them to stay indoors.

With a mischievous smile, Sonic approached them. "Hey, guys! How about some fun in the snow?"

Dash couldn't contain his excitement. "Yes, yes, yes, Daddy! I want to build a snowman!"

Zero mumbled in agreement, his little hands trying to reach through the glass to catch the snowflakes dancing outside the window.

Sonic laughed, ruffling Dash's quills. "Alright! Let's bundle up and build the biggest, toughest snowman in the whole forest."

The family quickly dressed in warm clothing to face the winter. Dash wore red boots and a coat, along with green gloves. Meanwhile, Zero was wrapped in a fluffy yellow one-piece suit, which left him with limited mobility.

The trees wore heavy white coats, and the ground sparkled like a field of diamonds. Dash and Zero laughed with joy as Sonic rolled a massive snowball to start their snowman. Meanwhile, Shadow wrapped himself in a giant blanket on the couch to watch them through the window from the warm interior.

After a while, the snowman was complete, sporting Sonic's baseball cap as an improvised hat and a pair of branches as arms. Dash and Zero celebrated their masterpiece by flopping onto the ground and making snow angels. Sonic took the opportunity to snap a photo of them.

When the three of them began to feel the cold creeping into their fur, they returned to the house and cuddled up with Shadow in front of the fireplace, sharing a thermos of hot chocolate to warm up.

Chapter Text

It was another night like many before when Dash and Zero, in unison, asked for a bedtime story. Sonic paused for a moment while a playful gleam danced in his eyes. "Alright, kiddos." he began. "I'll tell you a story of a legendary pirate adventure."

Dash and Zero clutched their blankets, their eyes wide open, waiting for the story to begin.

"It was on a dark and stormy night," Sonic continued. "When the 'Blue Hurricane,' the fastest ship of the Seven Seas, sailed under the command of the fearless pirate, Captain Dusk Shade. Their journey took them through the treacherous Emerald Sea, where countless ships had met their fate in an underwater graveyard, shipwrecking againts the rocks."

"Armed with a mysterious treasure map, the crew embarked on a quest to find the legendary 'Chaos Chest,' a mystical chest rumored to contain unimaginable power. As they ventured through treacherous waters, the waves rose higher than city skyscrapers, and the wind howled like a tormented spirit."

Sonic's words painted a vivid picture for Dash and Zero, who were now captivated by the tale.

"The storm showed no mercy," Sonic continued. "Captain Dusk Shade gave orders to secure the ship while his first officer, the handsome and swift Blue Devil, agilely attended to every detail with his astonishing agility. Waves crashed against the deck, drenching them to the bone. Desperately, they clung to the mast and rigging as if their lives depended on it. Thunder rumbled, and lightning illuminated the chaos around them."

"And then," Sonic added with a mischievous sparkle, "In the heart of the storm, a ghostly ship materialized, a legendary vessel known as the 'Phantom Wave.' Its crew was believed to be eternally cursed, forever in pursuit of the same treasure that our brave heroes coveted. Battle was inevitable. Cannons roared, and the sea seemed to boil with fury. When the 'Phantom Wave' attempted to board their ship, our heroes executed a daring maneuver, veering off course trying to outwitt their spectral pursuers, but the cannons made a giant hole in his ship sinking it."

Sonic couldn't help but smile at the amazed expressions of the children. "when the captain and his first officer woke up," he continued. "the storm subsided, and they could see the shipwreck from the island were they arrived thanks to the current, it was the hidden island where the coveted Chaos Chest was located. And at last, they obtained the incredible treasure they had been seeking."

Sonic concluded his story, and Dash and Zero jumped on their beds, their imaginations ignited by the exciting pirate adventure their father had narrated.

"You were supposed to put them to sleep, not wake them up even more." Shadow said as he stealthily approached Sonic.

Sonic laughed, feeling a touch of embarrassment. "Oops."

Chapter Text

Sonic and Shadow found themselves in the midst of a discussion that seemed more intense than usual. On that day, both of them were on the edge of their nerves, and any small annoyance seemed enough to unleash their anger.

Sonic, with his arms crossed, couldn't contain his anger and exclaimed, "I just asked you to do the dishes! Is it really that difficult for you?"

Shadow, exhausted after two consecutive days of work, responded in a harsh tone, "I just got back! I've been working for two straight days! Can't I have a break?"

Sonic felt frustrated and explained his point of view, "Well, I've been cooped up for two days, Shadow. You have no idea how I feel. I need to go out for a run to release tension, and I can't do it because I'm taking care of the kids."

Shadow, feeling challenged, suggested an unusual solution, "Fine! If you want to go out so badly, go to work in my place tomorrow, and I'll stay with the kids."

Sonic, somewhat surprised by the proposal, responded with determination, "Alright! As if your job is really that complicated. You go around doing secret agent stuff, and I could do it with my hands tied. Try being here every day, doing the shopping, cooking, changing diapers, taking Dash to kindergarten, and fighting against Eggman."

Shadow countered, recalling his efforts at home, "I'll remind you that I do all those things when I'm here too!"

Finally, after a tense exchange of words, both of them reached an agreement, "Alright! You'll stay with the kids tomorrow, and I'll go to your work," Sonic said with an air of superiority.

The tension after the fight had diminished, but curiosity and nervousness filled Sonic as he found himself in G.U.N.'s headquarters the next day. He had arrived with Shadow's identification and explained the situation to Rouge, who offered to help and came up with an excuse for his presence in a place not very fond of him.

Rouge, with a mischievous smile, said, "Look, Blue. I managed to convince the commander that you'll be a good replacement for Shadow today. What you have to do isn't that difficult anyway."

Sonic, feeling a bit nervous but determined to prove Shadow wrong, asked curiously, "And what do I have to do?"

Rouge went on to explain the day's task, "We need to transport an important shipment to another facility and then deal with a mountain of paperwork, going through each item meticulously. And most importantly, you can't leave until we're finished."

Sonic let out an exasperated sigh and muttered, "Are you kidding...?"

Rouge chuckled at Sonic's reaction and gave him some encouragement, "Come on, Blue. Shadow does this all the time in a non-busy day. How hard can it be for you?"

Meanwhile, back at home, the situation wasn't much better for Shadow. Sonic had left all his tasks in his hands without providing any help. The black hedgehog was exhausted after his two days of uninterrupted work, so he had fallen asleep in the morning.

When he finally woke up, he realized it was nearly noon. Dash and Zero were hungry and starting to get impatient. Shadow tried to cook something for them, but his lack of cooking skills became evident. The taste of the resulting dish left much to be desired, and both children refused to eat it.

Shadow sighed in frustration as the kids made faces at the poorly prepared meal. After a few failed attempts in the kitchen, he decided to give up and take them out to eat before taking Dash to kindergarten, having to return home sooner because the child had forgotten his notebook.

As they prepared to leave again, Dash reminded him of something important. "Dad, you didn't pack my lunchbox."

Shadow, still tired from his tasks the previous day, felt uncomfortable realizing he had forgotten to do something Sonic would normally handle. "The...? Oh, yeah..." Shadow responded, and he opened the fridge to look for it. However, his search was in vain. "It's not here..."

Dash, worried about his food, asked curiously, "Daddy normally leaves it there, right?"

Shadow looked down, feeling guilty, and replied with regret, "...He didn't make it today because I was supposed to do it." He lamented not living up to his responsibilities.

Dash, a little disappointed, asked, "So, what am I going to eat?"

Shadow felt somewhat bad about the whole situation and assured him, "I'll buy you something on the way." He knew he had to sort out the situation and make sure Dash had something for his day at school. And then on the way there, Eggman started attacking. Shadow cursed his luck.

In the end, both Sonic and Shadow learned valuable lessons about the importance of supporting each other and understanding each other's responsibilities and challenges.

Chapter Text

On a quiet evening, while strolling through the city with the children, Sonic spotted a small bookstore tucked away in a corner, a literary gem they almost overlooked. The blue hedgehog, known for being an avid reader, couldn't resist the temptation and made a bee-line for the window with curiosity. Seeing his mate so interested, Shadow followed suit.

"Do you want to go in?" suggested Shadow, noting the spark of excitement in Sonic's eyes. The latter nodded with a smile radiating enthusiasm and gratitude.

Upon entering, the blue hedgehog was awed by the wide variety of books that lay before him in what appeared to be a small space. The shelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling, were filled with books, some old and others freshly published. Sonic was drawn to a particular section: fantasy books. Here, he found stories filled with magical worlds and extraordinary creatures, a refuge where his hyperactive imagination could soar without limits.

Sonic immersed himself among the shelves and began to flip through books that spoke of majestic dragons, amazing spells, and adventures in distant worlds. He discovered tales of hidden treasures and intrepid explorers facing impossible challenges.

"I think I hit the jackpot." Sonic exclaimed excitedly, carefully selecting some books that had caught his attention. He then approached his son Dash, who had been examining some books with eye-catching illustrations.

"What do you think, Dash?" Sonic asked, knowing that his son shared his love for fantastic adventures.

Dash looked at the books his father had chosen with bright eyes and asked excitedly, "Can we take them all, Daddy?"

Shadow approached and placed a hand on Dash's head. "Not all of them. But we can definitely buy some and then come back for more. That way, you'll have new stories to read together."

"Perfect! We're going to read this one tonight!" Sonic exclaimed, sharing his son's excitement.

After spending some time exploring the bookstore, Sonic had a stack of books under his arm. They decided to purchase them and headed home, walking through the city streets. Shadow knew that Sonic would return often to that old bookstore with their children and was glad that, together, they would discover new worlds, face incredible challenges, and find the magic of imagination in every word written on the pages of their books.

Chapter Text

Sonic had heard about a young magician who had been becoming very popular lately. After discussing the idea with Shadow, they decided to take their kids to witness her magic show at a local bar known as "Wonderbar."

The place was filled with excitement and laughter as the patrons prepared to enjoy the show. The stage was illuminated by bright lights, and on it, the young magician, a brown rabbit dressed in an elegant black dress and a cape, along with a sky-blue top hat, made her entrance, greeting with a huge smile.

"Introducing, the amazing Trucy Wright!" the bar owner announced through the microphone.

Sonic and Shadow settled in with their kids at one of the tables closest to the stage. At the table next to theirs, there were two men: a black hedgehog in a blue suit and a gray cat in a red suit, both watching the show with great interest. Shadow seemed to recognize them for a moment but didn't pay them much attention.

Noticing Shadow's reaction, Sonic asked, "Do you know them?"

Shadow looked at his partner and nodded. "I think that's Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor. I've seen him a few times at my job, but I never expected to run into him at a magic show."

Edgeworth, upon hearing his name, turned to the two hedgehogs and instantly recognized them. "Oh, Shadow the Hedgehog, good evening. I didn't expect to find you here." he said with a cordial smile. "And you must be Sonic, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Sonic nodded with a friendly smile. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Edgeworth. This show is truly impressive."

The black hedgehog accompanying Edgeworth peeked out from behind him with a big smile on his face. "That's my daughter performing on stage!" he said proudly.

"Phoenix..." the cat seemed somewhat annoyed by the hedgehog's lack of manners.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Phoenix Wright, nice to meet you." Phoenix apologized, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile. Sonic and Shadow nodded and praised Trucy's talent, which pleased the proud father.

As the show progressed, they were all impressed by Trucy's skill. Cards magically appeared and disappeared, objects floated in the air, and astonishing tricks left the audience in awe. Dash and Zero couldn't help but get excited, clapping and laughing with each trick.

Trucy's show concluded with an exciting disappearing act that left the audience amazed. Everyone in the bar applauded enthusiastically.

After the show, Trucy approached the group's tables with a big smile. "Daddy! Uncle Miles! Did you enjoy the show?" she said, hugging both of them.

"It was great, Trucy. You always outdo yourself." Phoenix said happily.

"It's a shame Polly and Thena couldn't make it." Trucy commented.

"Still, they send their best wishes," Phoenix said.

"That was an incredible show!" Sonic interrupted.

Trucy, surprised, covered her mouth with her hands. "Sonic! Can I get your autograph?"

"Of course! Although it should be me asking for yours." Sonic replied, winking.

"We could trade." Trucy exclaimed, jumping with joy. "And maybe collaborate?"

"(She's already thinking about business!)" Phoenix thought, somewhat alarmed by his daughter's shrewdness.

"Haha! Sure! You can cut Shadow in half if you want." the blue hedgehog joked.

"Sure! That would be a great show!" Trucy said.

"Wait, what?" Shadow seemed a bit concerned at the idea, while the others laughed.

Chapter Text

On the night of October 31st on Angel Island, after going trick-or-treating with the kids in the afternoon, Sonic and Shadow made their way to a party organized by Rouge.

"Hey! I brought chili dogs!" exclaimed Sonic as he held a platter, causing Shadow to roll his eyes in exasperation.

"Why did they all have to come here?" Knuckles complained, visibly annoyed by the gathered crowd.

"You had your fun with the kids going trick-or-treating; now it's the adults' turn." Rouge replied, trying to calm Knuckles.

"Yeah, but why on MY island?" the echidna grumbled, feeling somewhat invaded.

"Are you kidding, bro?" Sonic chimed in. "Your desolate island is the perfect place for a Halloween party. Just looking at your horrendous face gives me chills." Sonic laughed, teasing Knuckles.

Knuckles cracked his fists in response. "Maybe you want me to give you a permanent Halloween look on your face."

Meanwhile, Jasper, disguised as a vampire, arrived with Dash, who was wearing a werehog costume, "Let's count how many candies we've collected!" the excited bat led the hedgehog inside the house to count their loot.

The night promised to be full of fun and excitement as the friends prepared for an unforgettable night on Angel Island.

Shadow approached Rouge. "Are you sure it was a good idea to bring the kids here? Zero is going to fall asleep soon." the hoglet in Shadow's arms took off his skeleton mask to rub his eyes tiredly.

"Shadow, you need to get out more; you're like a mother bear." Rouge said, giving him a shoulder hug. "If they fall asleep, we'll put them in Jasper's room; they'll have some fun and a slumber party." The hedgehog just grumbled, but reluctantly accepted it.

Halloween decorations adorned every corner around the Master Emerald shrine. Fake cobwebs hung from the ancient pillars, carved pumpkins with spooky faces lined the tables, and flickering lights in the shape of bats and skulls created a mysterious and thrilling atmosphere.

Rouge set up a table full of delicious snacks, from ghost-shaped cookies to fruit punch with a hint of mystery in what looked like a bubbling cauldron. Guests enjoyed the food and drinks while sharing Halloween stories.

Tails was dressed as a mad scientist, complete with a white lab coat and messy wig. Amy, in her gothic lolita costume, took everyone's breath away. Omega, with a giant pumpkin covering his entire body, promised that if anyone made fun of his costume he would incinerate them. Knuckles, in his skeleton outfit, complained that there were already too many vampires at the party with Sonic and Shadow there. Cream stood out with her witch costume, complete with a pointy hat and an evil laugh that made everyone chuckle. Rouge, dressed as a witch as well, suggested that they should team up to cast a spell on Knuckles for being a grouch.

The ambient Halloween music filled the air, and Rouge invited everyone to join the dance floor, where spooky music remixes created an immersive atmosphere. Most of the guests didn't hesitate and started moving to the eerie rhythm, except for Shadow, who seemed reluctant to dance in front of everyone. His crossed arms and impassive expression revealed his resistance to joining the fun. Sonic, always the life of the party, noticed Shadow's reluctance and decided to intervene. Without saying a word, he took Shadow's hands and, with a mischievous smile, pulled him into the center of the dance floor.

Shadow's initial resistance gradually faded as Sonic energetically led him around the dance floor. The immersive music and the festive spirit of the party finally got Shadow to relax and go with the flow. The couple began to move with grace and style, surprising everyone with their dance skills, which sparked a wave of applause and laughter from their friends. As the night went on, the laughter and fun continued, and the party became an unforgettable memory.