❀ Chaos and Flowers ❀

      「愚者」— ❝ Fast? ❞

   He shrugs, then unconsciously fiddles with the hair casting over his eye as if to say that he doesn’t know. Does she mean that in the literal sense?

|❀|  → "Fast! Fast fast, like....like Sonic! Like racing cars! You're fast too, right?"

{/Regardless of how confused or how little the stranger spoke, Cream wasted no time in approaching him and standing on her toes to wave up at him. Still, a curious head tilt followed the waves of the toddler.}

|❀|  → "Are you new? --Station Square never has blue people!"

                He was brought back to earth when the subject of Cream coming to his dimension came into play. It killed him; the idea of a kid so high on life and happy—with high hopes in finding her missing, beloved friend, even—was interested in coming to the place he had to call home. His vague joy faltered, but he quickly regained believable positiveness in preparing to answer her plea. 

                No way would he bring her there. That was that. He was very grateful that the child was already putting her heart into something that didn’t truly concern her in any way, but as much as he hated to believe, he was sure that his world was beyond any kind of savior; bringing a starry-eyed kid there for the sake of the damned 'view' would just be disheartening. Of course he’d never bring her there. Never.

      “..Maybe some day!” 

                                        If only he knew that telling lies and coating                            them in false optimism hurt this much…

             Which brought her back to wanting to find Cheese, he had to have been so very afraid being on his own like this. And Cream being as young and as small as she is, can only do so much. Perhaps, helping Silver would lead her to Cheese? Yes. This was a thought she'd like to hold on to. Hope was the thing that woke her up with each new sunrise, and held her through the scary dark of the night.

             It was that same hope that she has that wants to help Silver and his home.}

|❀|  → "You really mean it? Mister Silver, its gonna be great! We can plant flowers, and everything! Flowers make people more friendly, its true! You'll have more friends with you, so you won't be lonely anymore!"

            {/The gentle hand on her head only brightened her sunny disposition. Reaching up and politely taking hold of his hand, she held it in hers.}

   As Cream took off into the garden, Shadow merely remained where he was for a few moments. He had only passed this area briefly in the past, so he glanced around him- again making use of all of his senses to study the garden— ears rotating, nose twitching. No wonder Chao Gardens were so hidden and difficult to find; the little creatures seemed to live in the safest spots in the land. The water was the clearest he had ever seen.   

   Strolling slowly into the garden, even the Ultimate Life form found himself being greeted by the joyful blue creatures. Perhaps they sensed the Chaos Energy flowing within him as they tugged at his spines playfully. Shadow shooed them away, except one who  had apparently chosen his head as a resting place.    

   Approaching Cream, Shadow’s brow furrowed at the news. He ran a gloved finger along his muzzle thoughtfully.”Hm. Odd. If he isn’t here, where else might he be? Think carefully… when was the very last you saw him?”

          {/Ah, she had never really asked about what Shadow did all the time. But whatever it was, it had to have been important! She wouldn't pry, she knew how the military had been secretive all the time. Even going as far as to build things where there are no other people. Didn't that make them lonely? Oh well. She would worry about that later.

          The Chao were euphoric to see her. They loved the young rabbit who so graciously treated them like family on a regular basis. But alas they had not seen her Chao, Cheese in some time. So as she made her way back to Shadow to tell him, he asked her once again where she had last seen him. But the thing is, she remembered where she last saw him. Just not what happened.}

|❀|  → "Mister Shadow, I last saw Cheese when we were all playing with Big and with Froggy. We were in the Green Hill Zone, near the Frog Forest. Big and Froggy were fishing, and me and Cheese were swimming in the river. We all heard some kind of explosion, and a bright light. But after that.....I didn't know where any of them had gone. I was by myself."

Happy Easter 2014 by Daniela-3

   It was quiet. Save for the sounds of birds singing and general animal movement. A gentle breeze rustled the towering branches above them and the entire area was damp; indicating recent rainfall.

   Hints of mild surprise crossed the hedgehog’s usual stoic expression. Glancing down, he noticed the young rabbit looking up at him expectantly, having taken his hand. Shadow closed his eyes briefly and rather than pulling his hand away; he reciprocated the action and led her deeper into the Mystic Ruin and up around the mountain.

   “The garden is fairly hidden,” explained the hedgehog as they walked. “I came upon it by accident while on recon.”

   In little time they were met with the clear sounds of flowing water, closely followed by the voices of Chao. Turning a corner, Shadow saw it. There was a great waterfall with a small island in the middle. Old ruins lay around the grassy area, half buried within the ground. There were several Chao milling around, some having hidden due to their appearance.

        Still, it was a nice thing of him. He truly was taking her to the garden! He even held her hand so she wouldn't get lost. He never holds anyone else's hand, so this was a first for her.}

|❀|  → "Recon? What were you looking for, Mister Shadow?"

       {/Surely he couldn't have been looking around for Chaos emeralds, or the Master Emerald. Those have been gone for ages, scattered across this strange world. And Cream had hoped to further inquire about it, but she never got the chance when the little tiny voices of the Chao could be heard.

      It made her excited, beginning to bounce on her feet she stayed in place walking with Shadow, it would be rude to just up and take off like that. So it was when that he finally revealed the garden to her, she let go of his hand and took off at full speed to the Chao. Cheese had to have been amongst them, he wouldn't just go off and leave her and go solo. It wasn't safe, and he knew it.

      Rather familiar with all the Chao, Cream approached them, and began asking around for Cheese. However none of them had seen him, and they did feel awful about it. It was then that they gathered round her to give her a hug, a little bit of moral support to let her know they would look out for him should he come by.}

"I-I made someone angry! And he’s as big as the sun! I don’t want him to be angry, and I got scared..I’m sorry! Please don’t get mad at me either!"

                ❝ Did you apologize ? He might not get any angrier if y’said sorry. ❞ 

      「 he could remember similar instances from when he was younger                   taller, bigger people always seemed scary—-even now, too.  」

|❀|  → "I did, Mister Sora. I just can't understand why he got mad though. I didn't do anything bad..."

{/At least, she didn't think she did. Her mother always taught her to ask questions when she didn't know something. Was that a bad thing? Wiping at her eyes gently, she gives him a small, little nod. At least he was okay with her.}

     ”Uh this?” He jerked his head up, a gesture to emphasize at his hair. “It’s just bleached. Ma does her thing with that dye stuff an’— But I already told you! I ain’t the sun!”

{/Goodness, had she been mistaken? He seemed....angry with her. Angry that she was asking him about being the sun. Even when crouched down he was still so much bigger than her, and she visibly shrunk back from him. He was yelling at her, and she had only asked him once! Oh sweet chaos he was mad at her. 

Unable to contain her evident fear, the young rabbit simply began to cry.}

    Before he could punch himself to make him say anything (‘cause he’s been staring too long at the cute orange bunny), Kanji finally opened his mouth, his cheeks already flustered as he equally called out to her. “Y—Yo! ‘Sup?” 

{/Long ears had never heard of that before. Sup....it sounded like something Sonic would say. It meant....it meant what's up! She got it! She understood it!}