#magic desk

Sonic learned that the repercussions of his last adventure did stay. Even with the Dark Gaia energy sealed up. He now had to deal with maintaining his emotions. Mostly negative ones so far. Anger, stress, fear…all that negativity would stack and he'd shift into a werehog again. He had to tell Tails after the most recent fight got out of hand. 

Sonic finally told Tails about the desk, Lancelot and showed that it worked. He thought Tails would be upset that he never told him about his relationship status changing. No, the fox was mad Sonic didn't tell him about this amazing discovery. He wanted to study the desk. See how it worked and how he could use the connection for materials that were now rare. He was also mad that he never asked for blueprints of original technology that fascinated him on how it ever worked. 

It got heated when Sonic told him that he didn't plan to let Tails take the desk from his home. Not out of distrust but that's how his brother took it. They said some things that couldn't be unsaid. Eventually, Tails noticed Sonic's transformation, well parts of it and said they needed to take a deep breath. That's when he noticed too. The pair chose to work it off and returned with a more clear mind. 

He promised Tails could examine the desk but he wanted to have contact with Lancelot as well. Which meant he would need to move the workshop closer to him or inside the castle itself. In return, he could do whatever he wanted so long as that desk remained in one piece. As for the…Werehog, Tails would work on a way to have all the access energy stored into a version of the inhibitor rings. Ironic that he now needed them but not for chaos energy.

Since that argument, he was always keeping tabs on his emotional state. He was also learning to read the areas around him. Clueing in on anything that could annoy or frustrate him. Be used against him. It was a lot of mental work. He was actively avoiding Shadow now too. That hybrid didn't need to know why or be around him. 

A knock broke his thoughts. He could smell them before they even got to the door. The more control he gained over that side the more attuned to its abilities he became.

 Tails smelled of Oil and Grease. No matter how often he bathed. Amy smelled of Roses and Lavender. Rouge smelled of Earth and Sweat, if she wasn't wearing heavy perfume. Knuckles smelled like the earth. Shadow only smelled of lavender and that was the scent he picked up. Which meant he came alone. Tails was working on his inhibitors still while he was waiting on a response from his hubby about the recent predicament he found himself in. The knock stopped but he could hear the sound of a snap. Shadow was inside.

“We need to talk, Faker.”  

Did he reveal where his room was? Did he let Shadow find it? Did he even want Shadow to roam the castle? Parts were just now getting fixed up with better machines thanks to Tails. That was hard work that needed to be left untouched. Especially since Shadow liked to fight him. Then again he didn't have the energy to deal with any of it. This was more a curse than a blessing but he knew Chip did all he could. He would miss that little guy. 

“Faker! I know you are here!” 

He was here but not ready for the challenge of maintaining emotional control around him. He knew Amy would be easy but she and Shadow were now a package deal. He couldn't continue avoiding them for much longer. He opened the drawer to see a response and smiled. Pulling it out and reading it as Shadow kept looking for him. 

My Love, 

This curse that ails you, is there truly no way to remove you from its clutches? You are truly doomed to its fate? What if your Masters? Have they abandoned you to this? How could they allow such a thing to happen? You have done all they ask and now they choose to leave you? 

Well, I will not allow it. If they won't help you, then I will. Please allow me another adventure out. There must be some way to free you. To break this curse placed on you! 

Sonic's ears half folded. This felt like a natural response from him. Lancelot never cared for Sonic being so weak when they first met. Even before he became king, the black Knight was worried about the cold that he had during their trip. He hated how he pushed himself to win. He knew though. Tails confirmed it. There was no reversing this. He could live with it. Painful and annoying as it was. Sonic was just happy they had a plan to help keep people safe. 

He pulled out the notebook and pen first. Then put the letter in his box. Shadow finally found his room. The door opened right away. 

“I thought you had manners,” was the first thing Sonic said as he began to write his response. 

“You are avoiding me and in doing so, avoiding Amy. Explain yourself.” 

Straight to the point, as he expected from the ultimate lifeform. Now he really had to keep himself composed. Last thing he needed was Shadow looming over him. He had Tails, that was enough. 

“Answer me, Sonic.” 

“Will you please keep your tone down? I'll answer when I am done writing this. I thought you could be patient,” He glanced at Shadow. “Or was that a lie?” 

He saw the confusion before Shadow looked away. It gave him the chance to finish his thought. Leaving Shadow to explore his room. There wasn't much to explore really. Outside the closet of books and the empty dresser. Well, not so empty. Lancelot sent him a shirt. One he now owned. It was…quite the piece. He didn't wear it since he never wanted to ruin it. 

“What is with this? This looks like something royalty wore once.” 

“I bought it for fun,” Sonic finished the letter and rolled it up. He opened the drawer and dropped it in. 

“For fun? Then why not just wear it all the time since you have “fun” all the time.” 

“I'll ruin it,” He closed the drawer before looking at Shadow. “Put it back. I'm done.” 

Shadow glanced at him but did as asked. Even shut the dresser, “you need to answer me.” 

“I am dealing with a lot. You two are married. You find me annoying, so it's best to let you two have a life. There, happy?” 

“No. Why isn't your husband helping you? Where is he now? I'll make him help you,” Shadow walked closer. “Why did you marry someone who is constantly traveling?” 

“Because I constantly travel. We thought it would work out, but it didn't and that's fine. Why do you care? It's my marriage, not yours.” Sonic leaned against one hand. Keep calm. Just keep calm. 

“Marriage means you are there for one another. He isn't here when you need him most. You should leave him and find another.” 

Sonic almost felt himself growl but held back. The idea of leaving Lancelot hurt deep down. Their time was limited already. Lancelot and Sonic would age. They would grow old and die. Amy would grow old and die. Shadow would be left alone and that hurt. To know all of them would be gone one day and leaving Shadow with no one. However, the time they did have was marked by the memories and life they spent. Amy chose Shadow. Tails was happy to be single. Turns out his brother just didn't have any interest in romance. Sonic chose Lancelot and in turn, the knight chose him. 

They wanted to make the most of life before it was their time. And yes, he could leave the knight but he knew who would seek him out the second he did. Amy wanted Shadow and Sonic. Influencing Shadow to probably seek him out as well. 

“Believe it or not, I am happy with this arrangement. I am used to dealing with many injuries on my own. If I were to burden my husband with trifles, I would make him feel even worse. He is already aware of the current situation anyway.” 

“And yet, he isn't here? Helping to figure it out?” Shadow crossed his arms. “Sounds like an excuse to cheat.” 

Sonic felt the drawer under his hand open. That was new. Did Lance move it? No, he probably did. This was still an old desk. The wood was probably warping from use. 

“I am serious. Think about this for more than a second. You avoiding us hurts us too.” 

“You don't think I know that? I would love to visit Amy but you two are a team now. Whatever stress you have, she has and so on. I won't add to it.” Sonic stood up. “I was asked very plainly with your actions to leave you alone.” 

Sonic stopped Shadow from talking with a look. 

“I won't go back to disrespecting your boundaries ever again. You made it clear. Took me a bit but I got the message,” He saw a letter and smiled. It faded quickly as he looked towards Shadow. “Please tell her when I have things handled…we can hang out.”

“And that will be when exactly? When I am at work?” 

Sonic didn't answer. He just looked away. He heard the ultimate lifeform scoff then leave with a snap. He had to take another deep breath then opened the drawer. Pulling the letter out and sitting down again. 

My Love, were you talking just now? I swore I heard you. Knock if you were talking. 

Now, onto the present issue. This curse is run on your emotions. Seeing as we can't remove it, much to my dismay, what can we do? Is there a way to help you learn to control how you feel? I am not sure how that is possible but I don't have any other ideas. Not unless you feel Merlina could be of use? 

He stored the notes and let a sigh out as he knocked three times on the desk. He heard a three back. So they were able to build up a stronger connection by just sitting here. If that was being counted as an interaction then great! Maybe just being here would mean it was growing in power. His tail wagged at the idea that maybe…maybe one of them could cross over. 

“I…I just woke from a dream. Where you and I had to say goodbye. And I don't know what it all means. But since I survived, I realized. Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow. So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. Like it's the last night.”

He started to sing without his guitar but he was good at singing without it. Hopefully this was the reason as to why the spell was growing in power. 

“If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on earth was through. I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.” 

He went quiet and heard knocking. Lancelot was listening. He hoped he liked it. Wasn't the most…romantic song but it came to his mind recently. 

“Lost, lost in the words that we scream. I don't even wanna do this anymore. Cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love’s the only war worth fighting for. Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow. So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. Like it’s the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.” 

If the party was over and our time on earth was through. I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.

“Right next to you” 

Sonic looked around to make sure he wasn't hearing things. He knew Lance's voice. He could never forget it. The inflections were close but he could always hear the difference between Shadow and Lance. He honestly thought Shadow had come back but he was alone in his room. Leaving only one option. 

Next to you

“Right next to you” 

It was rough but it was Lance. Lancelot had joined in. He probably was just singing what he guessed was next. Songs always repeat the chorus, but he would ask. 

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on earth was through.

“I'd wanna hold you. Just for a while and die with a smile. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.” 

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

“I'd wanna be next to you.” 

Sonic's tail began to wag when he heard a knock on the drawer. He opened it to see a letter to him. He pulled it out. It was short but it had him kicking his feet. 

Forgive my rough voice. I am not a bard but I wished to join you in singing. Seems not only do you have a silver tongue but a melodically inclined one as well. You make our bards look like beginners. I hope to hear you sing in person one day. 

The hero stored it away and giggled. Lancelot claimed he had no formal education and yet these simple letters had sent him flutters. Talk about lack of confidence. He needed to show Lance just how lovesick he was but that was another challenge. 

“Uh…Sonic?” 

He stood up and saw Tails. 

“...you have ears and a tail…” 

The hero saw his tail had extended as did his ears. 

“Heh, oops. Guess it really is any form of intense emotion huh?” He laughed. “But don't worry. Pretty it is a safe emotional response. What's up?” 

“I have the prototype ready.” 

“Perfect.” 

I need to post more art here....it isn’t that I haven’t been finishing/doing art, just...not wanting to post/share it really. Have been feeling crap about my art/worldsetting, like no one really wants to see it, but shaking myself out of it, going to post more!