#sonic wachowski

Lightning and Shadow glanced at each other and nodded. Both were prepared to wreak absolute havoc. Sparks of Chaos energy danced around them in a sparkly cloud of blue and scarlet. Lightning’s eyes turned as blue as his pelt. Both hedgehogs charged forward. Fast and agile, they weaved around every obstacle seamlessly. Rouge flew upwards to track them down before descending and charging towards Shadow, stopping him in tracks while Knuckles had placed his hand on Lightning’s head to make him lunge at nothing. Shadow had teleported out of Rouge’s grasp and kicked Knuckles upside the head while Lightning spin-dashed into Rouge and knocking her into Knuckles as they flew towards the tree behind Knuckles.

WF!Sonic: Come on, guys! You can do better than this.

Rouge stood up and helped Knuckles get back on his feet.

Rouge: Oh don't you worry, Blue, we're not done yet.

BB!Sonic: Get ‘em, Rouge! You got this!

Rouge turned to Knuckles.

Rouge: Let them approach, I want to see something.

Knuckles: What are you planning, Bat?

Rouge: I am trying to find a weak spot in their strategy.

Flash resumes his pacing at the edge of the battlefield, hoping nobody gets injured and that they’ll show him how to get home soon And that’s when Blaze decided to show up.

Blaze: I apologize for my tardiness, I was enjoying a cat nap in the sun and forgot who I was. What have I missed?

Flash blinks in surprise as a smaller, fluffier Blaze appears next to him.

BB!Sonic: Uh…I don’t know who’s winning, actually. But now it’s a team event? Honestly I don’t really know what’s happening here. Where did you come from anyways?

Blaze: I believe “your mother” is an appropriate response to this question.

Lightning and Rouge snort in a laugh which results in Knuckles punching Lightning in the face and Shadow kicking Rouge. Flash’s brows raise for a moment, and then he grins.

BB!Sonic: Heh. Well…okay, then. You live here, too?

Blaze makes a vague gesture with her hand.

Blaze: More or less. I return to Sol to tend to my royal duties and I come here after to be a problem and to, as the boys call it, “chill”. Shadow and Sonic allow me to stay in the attic with them.

BB!Sonic: Just how many of you are there in that attic? 

Blaze: It’s just the three of us in the attic. Miles has his own room and Knuckles has the basement. *Blaze giggles.* Although, I have started decorating a part of the attic to befit my standards.

BB!Sonic: Think the humans are gonna need a bigger house. *Flash wonders if any more of his friends are going to appear in this world. Is Amy going to show up? Big? Vector?*

Blaze just hums in agreement and turns to watch the battle. Rouge observed the way Lightning and Shadow moved, the way they would weave around each other, Chaos Spears dancing around them elegantly, as Shadow eventually let them loose. Rouge and Knuckles evaded all of them. The hedgehogs were in sync, but she also noticed how Lightning seemed to be moving in a way that would hide Shadow’s limitations.

Rouge: Shadow is the weak link. Blue is shielding him.

Knuckles: Then we destabilize the more impressive hedgehog. My brother will come to his aid and make himself an easier target.

Rouge: Clever.

Flash watches Rouge and Knuckles plotting something, and grins as they seem to hatch a plan. Knuckles blocks Lightning’s punch by grabbing his fist, but as soon as he does, Lightning ducks.

WF!Sonic: Heads up!

Shadow kicks Knuckles in the face, but before Shadow could land on his feet, Rouge grabbed him by leg and spun, throwing Shadow towards a nearby tree. The moment Shadow’s back hit the tree, it knocked the wind of him. As predicted, Lightning quickly ran to help Shadow. Rouge and Knuckles anticipated that so they cornered him before he could reach his boyfriend. Shadow couldn’t get up anyway because his pain had flared up. Lightning debated his options, Shadow couldn’t fight, he was at his limit, but taking him out of the field would be admitting defeat. Keeping Shadow there was a risk of injury. Knuckles would still want to keep fighting Lightning even after Shadow was taken out of the fight anyway.

WF!Sonic: Flash! Get Shadow out of there!

Flash jumps to attention, having been waiting to if Shadow would get up.

BB!Sonic: On it!

He leaps onto the battlefield, giving the others a wide berth and sliding to a stop beside Shadow.

BB!Sonic: Gonna have to pick you up, bud, okay?

He waits for permission before bending to scoop this smaller version of the love of his life up, cradling him close and heading for Maddie. Maddie takes Shadow from Flash. She is very concerned and not amused.

Maddie: Shadow, seriously. I told you to take it easy.

Shadow: In my defense, I thought it would be an easy fight.

Maddie: You're getting air jail.

Shadow just pouts. Tom scruffs Lightning and Knuckles. Stone scruffs Rouge.

Tom: Okay, that's enough. You won, Knucks. You don’t need to injure each other.

Knuckles: It would be dishonorable to end a battle without defeating your opponent.

WF!Sonic: Dude! I was done the moment Flash got Shadow out. *Lightning turns to Flash.* Flash, back me up here, man.

Flash puts his hands up when everyone turns to look at him.

BB!Sonic: Uh, yeah, it looked like you surrendered, I guess? So they won?

Shadow: Not a surrender. We made it a rule if one goes down, the battle ends. It’s a test of teamwork.

WF!Sonic: Not much teamwork to be had if your partner is down.

Shadow: The echidna just enjoys violence far more than what it is deemed necessary.

BB!Sonic: Right, yeah. Of course. Glad it’s all over, though! *Flash pauses awkwardly and pulls out the rings* You mind if I…go? Only…I’ve been gone for a long time and I really, really want to go home. 

WF!Sonic: Ah yeah, of course.

Blaze: Safe travels, Sonic.

Shadow: Thank you for helping us with this.

BB!Sonic: It was fun! Thanks for the rings!

Flash whistles and holds out his arm. Sprout appears and settles on his arm. Flash takes a deep breath and thinks of home. He wonders if this ring could take him back to Rift’s world, though, as he throws it. The portal opens and shows a grassy hill. It looks like home…

BB!Sonic: See you later! *He steps through and is gone*

WF!Sonic: They should. The key word is precision.

Shadow: Is everyone ready?

Tom and Maddie walk up to them.

Tom: Are you sure this is a good idea?

Knuckles: Yes. It is how Echidna warriors choose their mates.

Tom: Right, of course forget I asked. *Tom turns to Maddie.* I have never been more glad to have started renovating to give the boys separate rooms until now.

BB!Sonic: Uh. Guess I’m ready, too? Please try not to need me to jump in. Or hurt each other, guess that’s important too. 

Rouge: You worry too much, Flashy~

BB!Sonic: Think I’m worrying just enough, Rouge. 

WF!Sonic: No one will get hurt, right guys?

Shadow: Oh yeah definitely.

Knuckles and Rouge nod in agreement.

WF!Sonic: See? Nothing to worry about.

BB!Sonic: Great! So…is that everyone? We ready to go? How do we start this thing?

Shadow's ears prick up at the sound of Stone, Maddie and Tails approaching the area.

Shadow: Now we've got everyone.

WF!Sonic: Hello everyone! Thank you for showing up! I think we all know why we're here so let's cut to the chase. 

Shadow: There are two rounds. The first round is a simple one on one fight. The second round is a tag team.

Flash eyes the newcomer, who he assumes must be Stone, warily. 

BB!Sonic: Right. Uh. Have a good time, and be careful? 

Shadow: Careful is our middle name.

WF!Sonic: It's not, but we're like the image of careful.

For about a minute, Rouge and Knuckles were circling each other, calculating the best angle to strike. Suddenly, Knuckles lunged as chaos energy crackled around his fist. Rouge quickly flew up. She weaved around the trees with a certain dangerous elegance. She twirled in mid-air and allowed herself to plummet, angling her leg to kick Knuckles. But He caught her leg and threw her towards the furthest tree. Flapping her wings furiously, Rouge managed to skid to a halt before her back hit the tree. Flash paces back and forth at the edge of the ‘battlefield’, keeping an eye on the kids and ready to run in if it looks like they need help. They seem to have it covered, though, so he leaves them to it. He’ll only jump in if it looks like someone might actually get seriously hurt. Lightning and Shadow were watching from the sidelines near Flash. Both of them were hyped and raring to go.

Shadow: The Echidna has yet to actually land a blow on her.

WF!Sonic: He has a code of honor. He's probably using the art of the silent fist.

Shadow: OH! Fighting without fighting.

Flash raises an eyebrow, not really knowing what the others are on about.

BB!Sonic: Uh…sure. Who’s winning, though?

WF!Sonic: Knuckles is basically letting her fight herself because he's too honorable to place a finger on a girl.

Shadow: Honestly, it's a little hard to tell who is winning.

*Tails narrows his eyes at Shadow before turning to the fight briefly, noting how Rouge figured out Knuckles’ game and swiped her leg beneath his feet, making him fall on his back.*

Tails: From the looks of it, not Knuckles.

Flash snorts a laugh at Tails’ comment, nodding in agreement.

BB!Sonic: She’s good, your Rouge. Not that I’d expect anything less, of course. 

Shadow: How skilled is your Rouge in comparison to ours?

BB!Sonic: Well she’s a better fighter and tactician - she’d have figured Knux out a while ago. But…she’s older, so she’s got a few more years of experience on yours. 

WF!Sonic: To be fair, we met her a few months ago. You've probably known your Rouge for a few years so she would know Knuckles better. *Lightning chuckles.* She and Shadow almost immediately became friends.

Shadow: I did not. I found her annoying.

BB!Sonic: Yeah, we’ve known our Rouge for like…seven years? And my Shadow, *Flash takes a breath, his voice wobbling as he says Shadow’s name, and continues.* uh…they’re best friends, too. Even if he did find her annoying at first. 

WF!Sonic: Hopefully you'll be able to get home soon.

At this point, Rouge and Knuckles were mostly chatting. Shadow called out to them.

Shadow: Is it time for round two?

Rouge: Yes!

Lightning and Shadow immediately perked up, chaos energy crackling around them.

Shadow: Lightning! Let's go!

WF!Sonic: Eager much.

Both Lightning and Shadow zipped to the battlefield. Flash sighs as the others head to the battlefield, even more concerned. But…hopefully he can go hopefully nobody will get hurt and he can go home soon.

BB!Sonic: Good luck!

Shadow: I was making a joke. Although I'm not sure if Rouge is joking.

Rouge: I'm not, Darling~

WF!Sonic: Yeah, usually car dealerships will ask you if you want to buy a new or used car. That's the joke.

BB!Sonic: Evidently not a good joke. And you still can’t have him. He’s his own person. Er…robot? Being. 

Rouge: Damn.

Shadow: Good for him. 

Rouge: But if I can't steal him, how does one acquire a robot?

Lightning sighs.

WF!Sonic: Have you considered asking Tails?

BB!Sonic: Omega sorta…acquired us? Eggman built him but sent him to guard Shads - who he’d found after the…you know what? Never mind - anyway…’Megs was pissed ‘cause Eggman basically sent him to guard a vault, and he vowed revenge and now he’s on our side and he’s awesome!

WF!Sonic: Yeah, as we've very much established, our Eggman is dead until further notice.

Shadow: Anyway, we have to grab something from the attic before heading back to the forest.

BB!Sonic: Right. Yeah. But maybe you could repurpose some tech into your own kickass robot? And what’s in the attic?

WF!Sonic: Our bed, the Master Emerald and a bunch of cool stuff.

Shadow: It’s our main place to hangout with everyone other than the baseball field or the park with the bricked Tesla everyone loves to stop and laugh at.

WF!Sonic: We just need to grab our written plan and other stuff.

Shadow: Don't accidentally grab your freaky, magic map.

BB!Sonic: Magic map? …wait…you keep the Master Emerald in your house!? What about Angel Island?

WF!Sonic: Where else would we keep it? 

Shadow: What the fuck is a “Angel Island”?

Knuckles: We are all the guardians of the Master Emerald.

WF!Sonic: Yeah, the magic map was supposed to lead us to the original location of the compass that would lead us to the Master Emerald's original location. It has Longclaw's final message to me which states to find it and keep it safe.

Knuckles: The map is basically useless now.

WF!Sonic: Yeah, because you destroyed the old shrine.

Flash blinks at this information. This world continues to surprise him with how different it is.

BB!Sonic: Uh. In my world Angel Island is a floating island where the Master Emerald lives. Knux lives there, he’s its sole guardian. Guess the equivalent of that here is your shrine? Or was?

Knuckles: Mm. The owls stole the Master Emerald from the Echidna tribe a long time ago and hid it in a secret shrine on Earth, Angel Island was the Echidna tribe's island in our home planet.

BB!Sonic: Oh, that’s…I’m sorry, Knux. You seem happy here, though? So that’s good?

Knuckles: Of course. 

Lightning opens the hatch to the attic. The place was a bit of a mess, lived in. Fairy lights lit the room in a soft glow and road signs were hung on the wall behind the bed. There was a locked box on the floor under the bed.

WF!Sonic: Welcome to our humble abode!

Flash looks around at the room and the…interesting choice of decor, and smiles softly.

BB!Sonic: Hey, this is pretty nice! Not very…secure, though? You really keep the Master Emerald in here?

Lightning nods, gesturing to the box beneath the bed.

WF!Sonic: Yeah, but the Emerald is not why we're here. 

Shadow grabs the box from beneath the bed and opens it, lighting the room in a soft green glow.

WF!Sonic: Shads, that's not why we're here.

Shadow: Please tell me you didn't forget the fact you put our notes in the box with the Emerald.

WF!Sonic: Oh right. I did do that. My bad.

BB!Sonic: …guess it’s as safe a place as any. What’s on the list, then?

Lightning pulls out the paper from the box.

WF!Sonic: So there's two rounds. First round is a general one on one fight. Second round is a tag team, they'll have to fight an already established couple to observe their compatibility as partners.

Knuckles: Mm. I do not recall the second part being in the ritual.

WF!Sonic: We added it. Besides, you get your rematch against Shadow.

Knuckles: I approve of this idea.

Shadow: Right of course, because the last time you tried to fight me went super well for you, Echidna.

BB!Sonic: What happens if they lose to you? 

Shadow: Nothing, they just take a break and try again. 

WF!Sonic: It's usually just a sign of a lack of team coordination. So the break time is more so to let them rethink their strategy. 

BB!Sonic: That’s actually…very mature of you. I thought you were gonna say they’d have to break up because they’re incompatible, or something. 

WF!Sonic: Oh nah. That would be uncool of us.

Shadow: Anyway, let's get this started.

BB!Sonic: Great! Uh…what do you actually want me to do? 

WF!Sonic: You're the referee. Because yes, the audience is also there to keep an eye on things, but we do need someone to keep things under control and can actually do something about it. Respectfully, our parents can't really do much without getting hurt and Tails and Blaze don't want to get involved.

BB!Sonic: So…if things get too intense I’ve gotta jump into the fight between three super powered Mobians and - is your Rouge as badass as mine is? *Flash pinches the bridge of his nose* Every little thing I learn about this plan makes it sound worse. 

Knuckles: She is a stunning and capable warrior.

WF!Sonic: Since when do you compliment her? Half the time you refer to her as a winged nuisance.

Shadow: I suppose you can say she is a badass, Flash.

Rouge: I'm flattered, boys~ Anyway the fact that this is a bad idea is what makes this fun, Darling~

BB!Sonic: Fun for you, maybe. 

Rouge: Surely you can handle four teenagers if things get a little too out of hand, Flashy~

Flash shoots Rouge a frown.

BB!Sonic: I just came from a world where I nearly died, Rouge. Well. The world before where I just came from, but the point stands. I’d rather not get in the middle of another fight if I can help it. 

WF!Sonic: Okay, but consider, we're weaker than most of our multiversal twins.

Shadow: Humans are too fragile and the fox would get hurt getting in the middle of it.

WF!Sonic: This is also a low stakes fight.

BB!Sonic: Alright, fine, I’ll referee. But…don’t kill each other, please?

Shadow: I have no intent to kill anyone.

WF!Sonic: Watch him get too into it.

Shadow: I do not!

Flash resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, but only just.

BB!Sonic: Let’s just…move on? What else have we gotta do before this goes down?

WF!Sonic: That’s about it actually.

Shadow: I would advise to keep an eye out for ticks, they’re prominent at this time of the year.

BB!Sonic: …noted. Shall we get this show on the road, then?

Shadow: Abso-fucking-lutely!

WF!Sonic: Maddie summoning ritual.

Shadow laughs in response. Sonic grabs the bag of rings from the box before locking the box and placing it under the bed. He opens a portal to the designated location.

WF!Sonic: There you go.

Shadow: After you.

Flash stares at the portal as it appears, circling it for a moment. He hasn’t had a good track record with portals recently, so he’s understandably wary.

BB!Sonic: Do you think one of these would work to get me home? *He cautiously puts an arm into the portal, then steps through*

Shadow: They have reliably taken us to precise destinations countless times prior.

WF!Sonic: You gotta picture the exact location you want to go to or a person in that location as you throw the ring. Otherwise the ring won't open.

Flash looks at the bag in Lightning’s hands eagerly.

BB!Sonic: Can I have one? Uh-when we’re done with your thing, of course! But I…I could really use a reliable travel method. 

WF!Sonic: Oh sure. Longclaw gave me more than enough… which I proceeded to lose.

Lightning hands Flash a handful of portal rings.

Knuckles: I did retrieve them after our alliance, Hedgehog.

Shadow: Regardless, we get new rings every time someone new shows up.

Flash cups the rings in his hand, turning them over. They look almost like the rings they use for currency in his world, except they’re heavier. The temptation to throw one now and leave is high, but he did say he’d help.

BB!Sonic: Thank you. *His voice comes out soft and emotional. He clears his throat* Ahem. I- I mean it. Thanks. For these. I really hope they work. 

BB!Sonic: Ok, so they’re gonna fight so that Knuckles can see Rouge is a good mate- uh- partner? Or is it Rouge testing Knuckles? Whose idea was it, again?

WF!Sonic: It was initially our idea to plan the fight. Knuckles didn’t want to push Rouge into anything she didn’t want to do. Calls it dishonorable to demand it from her. So I think it’s more Rouge who is testing Knuckles, but by technicality they’re both testing each other.

Shadow: It sounds like the Echidna tribe were matriarchal. Rouge did say Knuckles was the one to ask her if she wanted to do this and that they wouldn’t discuss it if she was uninterested. 

WF!Sonic: Yeah, they’re both aware we’re doing this because someone, *WF!Sonic fake coughs for emphasis.* Shadow, let it slip that we were planning this fight for them for a while. 

Shadow: Regardless, they’re letting us get involved because Rouge finds amusement in this and the Echidna doesn’t really care as long as Sonic doesn’t draw him as a fish again.

WF!Sonic’s ears droop dramatically as he gives Shadow the most pitiful puppy eyes.

WF!Sonic: What’s wrong with Fuckles?

Shadow: Fuckles is perfect. I simply don't enjoy the feeling of being thrown through drywall and neither do you, last I checked.

BB!Sonic: …I don’t know what ‘fuckles’ is and at this point I’m scared to ask, but I’m glad Knux and Rouge are at least on board with the plan.

Shadow: Fuckles is just a very poorly drawn doodle of Knuckles as a fish.

WF!Sonic: Anyway, we wouldn't be going through with this if they told us to stop.

BB!Sonic: O…kay. Well that’s a disturbing thought. Wh-? Actually I’m not gonna ask why. So…moving on; where are you hosting this challenge?

WF!Sonic: In the woods. Knuckles agreed that variable terrain would make it perfect for this kind of battle.

Shadow: It isn't very far from the cave. It's a familiar spot. 

WF!Sonic pushed open the door to the clinic and walked in. Maddie had simultaneously finished a routine examination and walked out of the room. Her gaze immediately fell onto the three hedgehogs.

Maddie: What happened?

*BB!Sonic nods at the answer and leans over WF!Sonic to hold the door to the clinic open for him and Shadow. He offers an apologetic smile to Maddie*

BB!Sonic: Shadow hurt his ankle on our run. 

Maddie: Let me guess, you miscalculated your footing and injured yourself?

Shadow nods slowly.

Shadow: Well there is that and I may have tripped on a tree root prior to that.

WF!Sonic: Wha-? Shadow!? Why didn't you say anything?

Shadow: I needed to maintain some semblance of dignity.

WF!Sonic facepalmed. Maddie does not look impressed.

BB!Sonic: ‘least he’s telling you now. My Shads would never admit to tripping over…

Shadow: It was medically necessary to tell her. I would’ve taken it to the grave if it wasn’t.

BB!Sonic: Yeah…that’s what mine would do, too. *He takes a breath and releases it, now is not the time to be upset about Shadow. He’s trying to get home*

Maddie motions to the hedgehogs to follow her in the examination room. Once in the examination room, Maddie takes Shadow from WF!Sonic’s arms.

Maddie: Sonic and well… Sonic. Stay here. I'll be back.

After a few very thorough examinations and a trip to the x-ray machine, Maddie returned with Shadow.

Maddie: It's just sprained, thankfully, but he needs to take it easy for a few days.

WF!Sonic: Got it! No tomfoolery and no cataclysmic events for the next few days.

Maddie: Exactly. *Maddie pats WF!Sonic’s head.*

BB!Sonic: Staying here. *He waits with WF!Sonic for the others to return, idly glancing around the room they’re in, and smiles when they do* Glad you’re ok, Shadow. Uh. Y’can call me Flash, by the way, if that’s easier? This isn’t my first ‘oh there’s more than one of you’ rodeo. 

Maddie and Shadow both freeze and turn to WF!Sonic who is vibrating with barely restrained excitement.

Shadow: You've just unlocked the unskip-able cutscene.

WF!Sonic: FLASH? LIKE THE FLASH FROM THE DC COMIC BOOKS!? EEEEEEEEEEE!

Shadow covers his ears, glaring at WF!Sonic and sighs.

Shadow: You can call him Lightning if you want.

WF!Sonic: Ooh I like that.

Flash blinks in surprise at WF!Sonic’s excitement, then grins and rubs the underside of his nose with his thumb.

BB!Sonic: Exactly like that, yeah! And…well I was gonna call you Squirt, but I guess Lightning is good, too.

Shadow and WF!Sonic glance at each other with a playful smile and started giggling, the first thing coming to their heads at the mention of the word “Squirt” was far from innocent.

Maddie: Yeah it's probably for the best we call him Lightning. I live with three teenage boys. They don't think with their heads 80% of the time.

Flash snorts a laugh.

BB!Sonic: Noted. Also…gross. 

Maddie shrugged.

Maddie: They have one collective braincell that they ping-pong to each other.

WF!Sonic: Tails gatekeeps the braincell.

Maddie: Sounds about right. 

BB!Sonic: …well. Suppose he gets the most use out of it. So that seems fair. 

Maddie: Well you three can get back to whatever tomfoolery you were doing, just be sure to take it easy.

WF!Sonic: Oh yeah, Mom, can you meet us in the woods after your shift?

Maddie: Uh yeah? Why?

Shadow: The bat and the echidna are going to fight for what is essentially a glorified courting ritual. They will need an audience.

Maddie sighs.

Maddie: They'll need medical attention more than an audience. *Maddie then folds her arms, her expression stern.* Didn't I tell you two to stop meddling in Knuckles and Rouge’s love life?

WF!Sonic: They gave us permission.

Maddie: God help us, that is not the point, Lightning.

Shadow: Maddie, you can't tell us you didn't meddle in Rachel's love life.

Maddie: More like she meddles in mine. Anyway, I have patients that need medical attention, so go, shoo, go have fun.

Flash isn’t surprised Maddie doesn’t approve, but he’s already agreed to help. And the sooner the helps, the sooner he can try again to get home.

BB!Sonic: I knew this was a bad idea. But let’s carry on anyway…

The trio walked out of the clinic.

WF!Sonic: Oh don't be like that, Flash, it will be fun!

Shadow: Everything is a good idea if you're not a fucking coward.

Knuckles: The more impressive hedgehog is correct.

WF!Sonic: Dude! I'm standing right here.

Knuckles: It is merely a fact, Hedgehog.

Flash frowns at being called a coward and has to remind himself that these are kids. He’s pleased for the distraction of Knuckles appearing.

BB!Sonic: Hey, mini-Knux! Are you…also involved in the planning? 

Knuckles: Ha! Of course. It is I who will battle the bat for her hand.

WF!Sonic: And we make a pretty good planning team.

Knuckles: Hmm, the more impressive hedgehog is the most competent among us.

Shadow rolled his eyes.

Shadow: I either have no idea what I'm doing or I know what I'm doing. There is no in between. 

WF!Sonic: That sums like pretty much everyone in Team Emerald.

Shadow and Knuckles nod in agreement.

BB!Sonic: ‘Team Emerald’? Not ‘Team Sonic’? 

All three boys cringe.

WF!Sonic: We ditched that team name after the Eclipse Cannon, then Shadow added himself to the group and then Rouge so naturally we agreed on a Team name that better fits the group in its entirety.

Knuckles: We are all the Master Emerald's protectors, the name serves as a reminder of our duty to keep it safe.

Shadow: Team Sonic was also a group name imposed on them by G.U.N. and it implied Lightning is the leader when that isn't the case.

WF!Sonic: No one is the leader, leadership is given based on who is better suited for the situation at that moment.

BB!Sonic: …right. Well. That’s great for you guys? In my world Shads and Rouge are in their own little team with a badass robot called Omega and they go by Team Dark. 

Shadow: New or used?

Knuckles and Lightning broke into a fit of giggles.

WF!Sonic: Shadow! You can't just ask someone if their robot is new or used.

Rouge: Can we steal Omega?

Lightning facepalms and looks at Flash with a look on his face that says “Do you see what I have to deal with?” Flash grimaces in sympathy for Lightning.

BB!Sonic: I…don’t want to know what you mean by ‘used’. And no, you can’t steal him. Get your own. 

WF!Sonic: Be prepared to eat our dust! We start at the cave and do a few laps through our usual racing trail.

Shadow: Hah! Just try to keep up.

BB!Sonic: Giving yourself an unfair advantage? That’s fine. I’ll beat you anyway. 

WF!Sonic: Nah, more like going easy on our elders.

Shadow: The only advantage he has is knowing those woods.

BB!Sonic sputters an incredulous laugh before his smile fades a little. Was this how Rift felt when talking with him? Thinking of the older hedgehog and his unknown fate makes something in BB!Sonic’s chest clench and he tries to shove it aside, focussing back on the others and forcing a smile back onto his face.

BB!Sonic: Heh. I don’t need you to go easy on me, kid. You’re gonna be eating my dust. You’ll see. 

WF!Sonic: Sure, you say that, but I know these woods like the back of my hand. 

Shadow: Is every Sonic a professional yapper? You are both talking more than going towards our destination.

WF!Sonic: Oh relax, Shads, we’re here aren’t we? Good ol’ cave.

BB!Sonic: This your hideout? I’ve lived in a few of these myself. 

WF!Sonic: Something like that… Yeah.

Shadow just glares at the nearby crater.

Shadow: I keep forgetting about that.

WF!Sonic: We don’t come out to the cave often. When we do, it’s to hang out and just enjoy nature without the noise of the house.

Shadow: You make most of the noise. You yap even in your sleep.

BB!Sonic: I can get with that. Nature’s good! S’why I don’t technically live with Tails. I mean…I own the house. But like. I don’t live there, really. 

WF!Sonic: Yeah, ‘t’s why we go out here. 

Shadow huffs. He looks mildly lethargic and chaos energy is sparking dangerously around him. Then again, WF!Sonic’s chaos energy is also sparking quite excessively.

Shadow: Sonic. 

WF!Sonic: Yeah, I hear you. *He hisses in pain.* Let’s get this show on the road.

BB!Sonic winces as the kids begin to spark.

BB!Sonic: Lead the way, then. 

WF!Sonic and Shadow crouch into a racing position. The sparking chaos energy now imbued in their quills and making their eyes glow in the energy's colour. Shadow’s tail swishes from one side to the other in anticipation.

Shadow: I will bite you if you say that stupid catchphrase.

WF!Sonic: Jokes on you, I'm into that.

BB!Sonic settles into a crouch beside the kids and rolls his eyes at their antics, then decides to mess with Shadow.

BB!Sonic: Gotta go fast!

WF!Sonic grins wider. Shadow just rolls his eyes.

Shadow: Don't encourage him.

WF!Sonic: Ha! You heard the elder. Gotta go fast!

Shadow: I'm going to throttle you both.

BB!Sonic: Less of the ‘elder’ talk, pipsqueak! You’re like…five. Everyone is older than you. 

WF!Sonic: Hey! I take offense to that. The actual pipsqueak is Shadow.

Shadow looks like he's about to commit a murder.

Shadow: I am an inch shorter than you. That means nothing.

BB!Sonic: So pipsqueak…and pipsqueak-ier. Got it. 

Shadow: Oh fuck you. 

WF!Sonic definitely notices the way some of Shadow’s chaos energy dances around his fist dangerously.

WF!Sonic: Little word of advice, old man, we should probably start running.

BB!Sonic: Old man!? Oh I am gonna crush you, pipsqueak. Ready? 3…2…1…go!

WF!Sonic and Shadow quickly run off, leaving a trail of blue and scarlet chaos energy behind them. WF!Sonic navigates the trail with practiced ease and a familiarity that comes with living in these woods for most of his life.

WF!Sonic: And way out in front, to the surprise of absolutely no one, it's the Blue Blur, the Red-Shoed Rocket, the one, the only Sonic Wachowski!

BB!Sonic allows the others to take the lead, mostly because he doesn’t know where he’s going and he doesn’t really want to faceplant in the woods or get lost. He laughs quietly at WF!Sonic’s narration and waits until they’ve completed a full circuit of their ‘course’ before curling into a spindash and boosting past them.

BB!Sonic: See ya! 

WF!Sonic narrows his eyes in mild annoyance and increases his speed.

WF!Sonic: Time to light the afterburners!

WF!Sonic slides up the side of a fallen tree trunk and slides in the air before tucking himself into a spiky ball and spindashing to increase his speed. As he hits the ground, he uncurls quickly and seamlessly and keeps running. Shadow is a few steps behind WF!Sonic. BB!Sonic grins at WF!Sonic as he catches up and bumps his shoulder lightly, not hard enough to knock him over. He’s not even running at full speed but he is having fun, which is nice.

BB!Sonic: How many laps are we doing, anyway? 

WF!Sonic: Uhhhh… *He looks behind him to check up on Shadow.* I would say three laps, but that depends on how Shadow is doing. We don't want him to accidentally tear a tendon or cause a flare up.

BB!Sonic casts a worried glance behind him and slows a little, allowing WF!Sonic to pull ahead. Shadow is so young, they both are, and even if it’s fun to race them he doesn’t want either of them to push themself too far.

BB!Sonic: Doing ok, kiddo?

Shadow huffs, he’s not about to admit to tripping on the root of the tree trunk WF!Sonic slid on earlier. He has dignity.

Shadow: I’m fine. For now, at least.

BB!Sonic: Glad to hear it. Don’t push yourself too hard, though, hm?

Shadow narrows his eyes at BB!Sonic. Shadow knows what he's doing, he's not blind.

Shadow: He may be a bit of an idiot, but I'm not. You’re going easy on us.

BB!Sonic: Never said you were. I don’t need to beat you guys to know I’m faster, though, I’m older than you. I’ve been doing this for longer. Can’t I just enjoy a run for the sake of running?

Shadow: Hmph. I suppose I can't argue with that.

Shadow shifts his weight a little more, seemingly favoring his left leg, although it isn't very noticeable as Shadow increased his speed a little more. BB!Sonic matches Shadow’s pace to run alongside him, offering him a smile. WF!Sonic is still visible ahead of them, and though he itches to show the kid who’s the faster Sonic it’s also nice to run alongside Shadow. And he can admit to himself that he’s a little worried about the kid.

BB!Sonic: You ever just run for running? Or is it always a competition with you two?

Shadow: Where’s the fun in that? There's something amusing in having a bit of competition.

Shadow's chaos energy crackles around as he summons a few golden chaos spears and launches them towards WF!Sonic who leaps on a rock and flings himself in the gap between the spears before spin-dashing towards the ground and keeping his pace.

WF!Sonic: Ha! Nice try!

BB!Sonic laughs as WF!Sonic neatly dodges the chaos spears.

BB!Sonic: Yeah, there is. But there’s also something peaceful about just running. You don’t ever go on your own? Feel the wind in your quills, and the sun on your face? 

Shadow shook his head, clearly trying to hide the fact that his right leg hurts.

Shadow: We don’t really like being alone.  

WF!Sonic: We do run just for the sake of running.

Shadow: Yes, and half the time you crash into a road sign.

WF!Sonic: Or you fling me on Dad’s cruiser.

Shadow just laughs, clearly proud of himself for it.

BB!Sonic: Well as long as you’re enjoying yourselves, I guess. 

Shadow: Sometimes you just have to stoop to his level to get the full experience.

WF!Sonic: The fuck is that supposed to mean, Mr. “Maria tied a rope around my waist and zoomed down a hallway and crashed into a cafeteria cart”?

Shadow: You’re complaining like you didn’t ask me to do the same a while ago and we crashed through a window. *Shadow miscalculates his next step, the ground is still a little wet due to the recent downpour, making the terrain very inconsistent.* Shit.

BB!Sonic: Well that sounds like- oh, shit. *He puts his hands out to try and catch Shadow* You ok, kiddo? Maybe we should stop. 

WF!Sonic skids to a stop and walks up to Shadow and BB!Sonic. Shadow growls in mild annoyance.

Shadow: I’m fine. It’s just a sprain.

WF!Sonic: Yeah, yeah, and Vulpix is a Grass Type. Take off your shoes.

Shadow: Grr. Fine.

Shadow makes an annoyed grumbling noise, but does as he’s told. Shadow’s right achilles tendon looks a little swollen. BB!Sonic winces at how swollen Shadow’s ankle is.

BB!Sonic: Think that’s enough running for today. You want a lift getting back to your house?

Shadow growled. WF!Sonic just scooped Shadow up in his arms.

WF!Sonic: And scoop. *Shadow blushes and immediately settles, purring softly.* Mom will probably want to take a look at that. It doesn't feel like he tore anything but better safe than sorry.

Shadow: Mm. Assuming she's home, she should be back to the clinic by now.

BB!Sonic backs off, hands raised to show he’s not going to touch.

BB!Sonic: Ok, alright! I was only offering, kid. Jeez. And what clinic? She a doctor? 

Shadow: She’s a veterinarian.

WF!Sonic: Yeah, general rule with this guy is that he’s touch averse unless it’s from me or my parents.

BB!Sonic: Oh, neat. Well. Guess she’d be an expert, then…sorry ‘bout that, Shadow. I didn’t know. Only wanted to help, but I get it. 

Shadow huffs and hides his face in WF!Sonic’s chest.

Shadow: It’s fine.

WF!Sonic: Well, I guess we can plan “Operation: get my big brother a girlfriend” on the way to the clinic.

BB!Sonic: Sure. Go over the plan with me again? Something about a battle?

WF!Sonic: Okay so, the Echidna tribe have, or well had, this courting tradition where they would fight their potential partner to test their strength or whatever. Usually, it's the girl who proposes the battle to decide if she finds her suitor desirable. 

Shadow chuckled.

Shadow: The echidna's words, not ours. He did say he wasn't opposed to the idea of Rouge kicking his ass.

WF!Sonic: The whole thing is supposed to be a judge of character of both participants.

Shadow: That’s called Darwinism, Sonic.

WF!Sonic: Like the fish?

Shadow: No.