The Boys in Green(hills)

We're workshopping the name, don't worry about it too much! The name's Sonic, you probably know me better as Blue Justice-

Hedgehog. No one knows you by that ridiculous title.

Psh. The buzzkill is Knuckles. And while on the topic of introductions-!

I'm Tails!

Woo! Whole team! We decided to start a blog-

You decided to start the "blog".

Ahem. We decided to start this blog to let everyone in on our totally cool, way awesome adventures here in Green Hills!

I thought Maddie said it would be good for us to use the blog as a way to process the trauma of everything that happened on the Eclipse Canon-

Way. Cool. Adventures. Anyway! We're open books! We'll be live blogging here and there too, so, feel free to hit us with your best shot!

There will be sparring? Oh, I change my mind then. I like this blog idea.

No, Knux, c'mon dude-

We let them explain. I am still not satisfied.

Knux-

I still don't understand how you're alive! I mean, you impacted, right?

I... suppose so?

*The boys were outside in the backyard, Sonic and Tails on the deck stairs, Knuckles standing with his arms crossed glowering at Shadow, and Shadow leaning against the deck railing shrunk back a bit against it against the glare.*

Are you... I mean, you told you don't remember anything, but... are you, okay?

Yes, yes, I'm alright, there doesn't seem to be any lasting injury beyond nerve-

No, I mean that's great! But. I meant, you're okay like, you're not still trying to... kill us?

*Shadow deflated further against the railing, and Sonic snorted and stood to stand between him and Tails.*

Would I have brought him if I thought he was trying to hurt us? Obviously not. Shadow's chill now, if anything everything we've learned about and already kinda knew about GUN should tell us he had plenty of reason not to trust us, and besides- even before the explosion, me and Shadow were good. We talked about it. Trust me if nothing else, would ya?

Okay, okay! Sorry... it felt like a valid question...

... You are suspiciously protective of the other hedgehog.

I am not-! I am not suspicious!

*Knuckles walked to Shadow, making the hedgehog stand straighter and pin his ears. He held out a mitted hand, which Shadow took slowly. Knuckles gave it a hard shake. Shadow grunted at the pressure, but did not wince beyond that. Knuckles smiled and nodded.*

Hmph. Yes, he passes.

Passes what exactly-

*Sonic walks into the backyard, of his family's home, near the deck where Maddie did her yoga. He steps out of cover, Tails and Knuckles waiting for him on the deck as promised. They both move to the railing and lean over it.*

Hedgehog! What is the purpose for this meeting?

Is everything okay?

Heh, um, yeah! Just, can you guys be cool about something for a second? There's, uh, something I gotta confess-

*Knuckles eyes the brush behind Sonic as movement shuffles the leaves, and suddenly light catches on red eyes*

Sonic! The Red-eyed Creature!

Wait-! Knuckles, no!

*Knuckles launches, gliding over the backyard and tackling Shadow to the ground through the brush, the two tumbling one over another in a pile of shouts and limbs. Shadow manages to his feet between himself and Knuckles and kicks off powerfully, launching the echidna against an old tree, denting its wood and sending a cascade of cones and needles over the ground. Knuckles slides to the ground, upside down against the tree, blinking as Shadow stands.*

Oh! I'm sorry, have I hurt you?

.... Ah. So the superior hedgehog lives and is... still superior. I see.

[Yes! STH is tagged on all posts, so this link will take you to the posts in chronological order. Please ignore if it comes up with a big angry red "do not trust this site" banner, I literally have no clue what triggers this to happen, if it's just a Chrome thing (yes, booo, mod uses Chrome but all the others are actual ass and personal data's not been personal for decades now-), or a Tumblr thing, but. It's literally just my blog with the /sth/chrono after the url so.]

I may know it, now, but I still can't remember it.

Hey! We'll get there, okay? Now c'mon, don't focus on that just now-

If I don't focus on that, I'm going to focus on how I'm about to be revealed as alive to your brothers. One of whom, as you've said, wants to fight me. I don't remember how to fight!

You do remember! C'mon, you remember how to race-

That's just running.

Ow?! But, it'll be fine- and you don't have to fight him. In fact, I'd recommend against it.

... What if... they're disappointed?

Disappointed?

I mean... you said they thought me impressive before. I'm... not that, now. What if they're disappointed?

No, no, I mean... you're different, but, you're also not, you know? You're still Shadow! Besides, Tails at least will be very happy to know you aren't after our deaths anymore.

Hm...

Hey! I'll be there too, you know? They gotta behave, and I'll make sure they do.

*Shadow is walking cautiously into the kitchen the next morning. Stone is at the sink filling up a watering can to take around to the plants in the café and the apartment. Shadow waits for a beat by the archframe, then steps forward and throws his arms around Stone in a hug. He reaches only just his hips, so sets his head there.*

Oh! Uh, morning? Everything okay?

*Shadow nods. Stone turns the water off to brush a hand through the hedgehog's quills for a moment.*

... Rouge and I told Sonic I was still alive.

...

And he told me... everything. Last night.

...

And I know you didn't want me to know everything yet, but, I didn't breakdown or explode or hurt anyone after I-

You think I didn't want you to know because I thought you'd hurt someone?

*Shadow looks up. Stone is looking down at him in disbelieve. The man steps back just enough he can crouch and set his hands on Shadow's shoulders.*

I didn't want you hurt. I didn't want to overwhelm you- memories like yours are intense. You went through so much, so much no one but you even knows about; I didn't want to go pulling at threads when you were still recovering. That said... I'm glad to hear you took it well. And I'm glad Sonic handled things well, too. I'm... less enthused about you and Rouge going behind my back and exposing yourselves to the Wachowskis like this, but...

Just Sonic! He... was going to come over today so we could plan on how I might reveal myself to the others. Slowly.

... And, I can't convince you not to, just yet?

No. I'm... I don't want to keep hiding.

*Stone takes a breath, and nods.*

Okay. If you're ready- I'm ready.

I am. And... Stone?

Hm?

*Shadow pressed forward and throws his arms around Stone's neck, hugging him tightly. Stone is shocked at the display at first, but then returns the affection.*

... Your Ivo sounded like a brave man. I'm... happy to have gotten to know him, even if... even if for now, I can't remember him myself.

...

*The hedgehogs make it back to the alley by the café, where Sonic stops to check his phone.*

Oh! Sorry, think I'm a little late on this one, heh. But that's cool! If I could pet your dog, I totally would.

A dog?

Yeah! Hold on, I'll show you the picture they sent of 'em-

Oh! Oh, he looks kind.

Heh, he looks like a menace. I like that.

Tch.

*Sonic stows his phone and looks to Shadow.*

So... are you, okay?

You mean after...? Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Like I said, I need time to process it all but... it feels like everything you described happened to someone else. It makes sense, but...

It's okay! They'll come back.

You think so?

Sure! And if they don't... we'll make new ones. I promise! Shake on it?

*Sonic stuck out his hand, and Shadow smiled and took hold of it.*

Okay... goodnight, Sonic. And thank you.

Don't mention it! Tomorrow maybe we can game plan introducing you to the others? I'll come by?

Yeah! Yeah... I just... have to tell Stone you know I'm here. Should be fine...

…Actually, Sonic, why didn’t you just have Shadow stay in your old cave? You managed to hide there for years and never got discovered. It might not be completely G.U.N-proof, but still, it’s much better than sleeping under some stairs like you’re Harry Potter.

Tell me everything you know?

Stone wouldn't want me to-

He'll manage.

Heh, okay, okay... you're right.

*The two sat on the edge of the overlook, Sonic swinging his legs over the edge, Shadow cross-legged beside him.*

So... I don't know it all. You were pretty closed off, most of the time we knew each other, and it was short anyway, but... I'll start at the beginning, at least.

We met in a city called Tokyo. You had been captured by these people, GUN, the ones who... took Maria away.

Killed her.

Yeah... They took you, then, and this old guy called Gerald. Rember him?

No...? I... a bit. The name brings up complicated feelings in me... anxiety, for one. Affection for another. It's odd...

Yeah... I think he was.. I dunno. Your... dad? Grandparent-figure...? He was Maria's granddad, and I guess he took care of you. But he was also the head of the lab where you were kept.

I was in a lab?

Yeah. You came from space! I mean, I guess, me too, but, you came with style like, in a big rock. I was just... shoved through a ring portal.

*Shadow blinked and tilted his head. He looked up at the sky, at the stars above them.*

Space...

Space.

Hm. So we are aliens. Did we come from the same place...?

Dunno! I never knew any other hedgehogs, back on Mobius. But maybe?

Hm...

But, anyway. They took you and... kept you in some kind of stasis for awhile. Fifty years.

*Shadow's head whipped around to turn to Sonic, eyes wide, even the left's lid raised more than its usual neutral droop.*

Fifty years?! I'm older than Stone?!

Yeah, heh, I guess? If you count the stasis years. You're from the 70s.

Fifty years...

But, you got out. Still don't know how, maybe Gerald...? He was still alive, kept in a prison. GUN's... complicated. They're kinda like, bad good guys? Grey guys? In the middle. They called me and my brothers out to Tokyo when you got out to try to stop you from... rampaging in the city.

Why was I...?

Because they wouldn't leave you alone. That's all you seemed to want at first... just, to be left alone.

What happened when you showed up?

Oh, you kicked our butts. Like, mega kicked our butts. I was like 'he can't take us all on at once!' And you were like 'bet', but with your feet. Knuckles was way impressed; he still calls you the superior hedgehog.

*Sonic had jumped to his feet to reenact parts of said butt kicking, stopping to grin at the last line. Shadow snorted.*

After that... we fought a couple more times. In the old lab where you were kept, which you then destroyed with a black hole device thingy.

Oh... so, no going there to help my memories, then?

Yeah, no... unfortunately not. After that, there was a whole heist for a key card to a super weapon, which turned out to the be this mega space canon Gerald had designed. That's... when Tom got hurt.

I almost killed him.

*Sonic sat back down, ears back.*

Yeah... but you didn't! But, at the time, I... I lost someone like that, before. Had 'em taken. Guess it struck a nerve... I came after you. I was... kinda a monster then, too.

You were hurting-

So were you.

*Shadow took a soft breath, and nodded.*

Buuut.... then you and me had a whole heart-to-heart on the moon, went super together, and destroyed a bunch of robots Gerald sent after us from the Canon!

*Sonic's eyes were bright and lively, wide grin over his face. He vibrated with excitement at the memory. Shadow smiled, even if he couldn't recall it himself. Sonic's obvious enjoyment of it was enough.*

Super...? And, the moon? Which part-

Oh! Uh... so, the moon was whole, before. The battle is kinda why it's broken, now.

We-?!

No! Nope. That was my brothers, actually! The canon did that; you and me were blocking the beam, they were trying to direct it away from Earth, and uh, well. I... fell. The super form is draining, it's like.. you go all glowy and gold and it's way past cool, but, it's exhausting. I ran outta steam.

You weren't hurt like I was, though...

No, but, that's probably mostly from the explosion. You stayed up there longer, and stopped the canon from hitting Earth itself. You and a guy named Egg- I... Ivo. Doctor Ivo Robotnik.

Stone's Ivo? I... knew him?

His grandad was Gerald, too.

*Shadow sat back. He blinked a few times, then nodded.*

... Alright.

That's... kinda it. My brothers stopped me from falling, you took the explosion, and... we all thought you were dead. They still do.

And they have to continue, because otherwise...

They wouldn't call GUN. We don't bat for them, anymore. Not after what we learned from you and Gerald.

Then why...?

*Sonic's ears folded.*

Because... I dunno how they'd react? And... I didn't want them to hurt you. But I guess that just made me hurt you, instead.

Maybe... maybe, after I've had to time process all this, I could.. reveal myself. To a few a time. Your brothers first?

Yeah! Yeah. Knuckles will want to fight you, be warned-

*Shadow snorted and nodded.*

Alright... I, maybe by then I'll actually... remember, all the things you've told me tonight. For now they just feel like someone else's, you know?

Yeah. Maybe with time?

Maybe.

Speaking of, in the mean time...

*Sonic looked back at the message, and narrowed his eyes at the last bit.*

You live under the stairs? Dude, you could stay in my old cave, if you wanted, actually-

What? Under the...? No! I have a room, Rouge and I share.

Oh. With a.. girl?

Yes?

Is she like... your girlfri-

No.

Okay! Just asking-

*Shadow snorted again, more derisively.*

Besides. It's cold. I'd freeze in a cave.

Yeah... it was always pretty cold. Um... on that note. Race you back to town?

Why does everyone else get to decide that?!

Shadow-

No! No, I'm done listening to what everyone else has to say! You all want to talk, and you do, and you talk over me- I'm tired of it!

*Energy crackled along Shadow's quills, but not out of control. Sonic quieted and folded his ears, eyes searching Shadow's before him. The darker hedgehog certainly looked more like the Shadow from before the Canon, albeit with more scarring and the left side of his face stubbornly drooped and neutral. His right eye was sharp, searching, challenging Sonic to speak up again.*

... Good. You won't tell me anything? Fine. Then you'll listen.

*Shadow turned and stepped back, towards the moon again. His right ear folded back. Sonic stepped forward to stand at his side.*

I'm not slow.

No one thinks that-

Then why do you all treat me like I am? You speak to me in code, like I won't understand. You speak in soft voices. You smile when you don't mean it, and think I won't notice. You think any small discomfort will set me off... to what end? And why? Is it because of who I was before? Or because of what I am now?

*Sonic looked over his companion. Shadow was looking back at him, too, the challenge still ever-present on his face.*

... I'm sorry. You're right, at least, I haven't really known how to... talk to you. Like before. You're... different.

Different how?

You're happy.

I wasn't before?

No. You were angry, but, mostly you were... sad. You had a lot of reason to be.

*Shadow turned away, back toward the moon. He licked his lips before he spoke again.*

... I remember this feeling. But I can't remember why I have it. Like a weight in my chest that won't go away, a knot that won't untie... Do you have any idea how unsettling it is to grieve for something that happened in a life you don't even remember living?

... Maria.

What?

Her name. It was Maria.

*Shadow's eyes widened, then he cast them down at the gorge below the overlook. He swallowed thickly.*

... Part of me remembers that name. It... fits, the weight in my chest, but... I can't place it. Who was she?

To you? A sister, I think. Maybe? We didn't... get a chance to talk much. I just know she meant a lot to you. You lost her, and after that...

Revenge.

*Shadow had not lifted his head and spoke the word with little conviction.*

... Yeah. You remember?

... Not really. But I can recall that need. Something taken, a blood debt. Is it what she would have... wanted?

No. And you figured that out, too, in the end- which is why you aren't a monster.

I'm sorry! Shadow's last breakdown I was there for was a lot more... well! Explosive! My bad!

*Sonic ran along the path he was sure Shadow had taken through the trees. It led him to the overlook where had met with Shadow and Rouge before.*

*Shadow was there, sitting crunched up at the base of a tree facing the ledge. His knees were drawn up against him and his arms were around them. His form was lighted by the shattered moon.*

Sha-

Said I want to be alone...

*Sonic pinned his ears and walked to Shadow anyway. He sat down by the other hedgehog's side and leaned back against the tree. Shadow's muzzle was buried in his arms, his eys just visible and staring blankly ahead in to the gorge below.*

I'm sorry I upset you...

...

Rouge said you talked to Stone about something. Is... that why you were on the roof? What did he say?

... Nothing important. Never says anything important. Thinks I'm not ready.

That's why you were upset?

No.

Oh.

*Sonic twiddled his thumbs shifted in his feet. He opened his mouth to ask more questions, but Shadow spoke first.*

I saw a question on your blog. Rouge hacked it so we could see the backend-

Yeah, I kinda figured-

And they... they were asking about what I did. I... killed people? I almost killed your dad?

*Brown eyes, wet from crying turned to Sonic, and he folded his ears and lowered his head.*

... You were hurting.

That's no excuse.

You wouldn't think that if you remember why you were hurting.

... Can you tell me?

I... I don't know if-

If what? If I'm ready?!

There's... a misunderstanding on the general public's part. That's what Rouge meant. Nobody who actually knows you thinks you're a monster!

*Sonic stops in the alley by the café; he finds a small rock and hurls it at the window. Rouge opens it up.*

Blue-! What are you doing out here and why are you through rocks-

Where's Shadow?!

Shadow? Ooooh, I see! This is a romantic call~

What?! No! I-! Look I'll unpack that later but right now I need to talk to Shadow-

Whatever you say, Bluey~. He and Stone had a chat after dinner and he went up to the roof to watch stars, so he's probably up there.

*Sonic nods and starts dashing up the fire-escape to the roof. Shadow is there, curled up against the roof access. His shoulders are shaking. Sonic pauses and folds his ears.*

Oh. I.... thought the breaking down was... something else. Shadow?

*Shadow curls tighter, before his right ear perks just a bit off his quills. He pulls his face from his arms just enough to see Sonic standing near the roof's edge.*

... thought it would be what?

Nothing, I just-

Thought it would be violent? That'd I'd be tearing the café down? Maybe the whole town- maybe the world-

N-no, it's just, when they said 'only you can stop-'

You think I'm a monster.

... I-

You do!

*Shadow's quills sparked, but he reigned in the emotions before they could set off his nerves again. He stood and stepped back, teeth bared.*

Go away-

Shadow, I-

I said go away! I- I just wanna be left alone-

Wait-!

Breaking down?!

Breaking down? What's breaking?

Nothing! No one! I gotta go!

If it’s too much of a sensitive topic for either of you, then that’s fine. I just hope Shadow’s okay.

Why does he need to be kept a secret? I mean, I know he tried to kill everyone at some point, and even almost killed Tom, but he ended up switching sides and saving the world. If anything, I’d feel like most people would be thrilled to see that he’s still alive…I think

Unilateral facial nerve paralysis, human's call is Bell's Palsy. But, his is partial, and sometimes the signal gets through but it's dampened and warped, making his muscles spasm. It looks painful... it only happens when he's upset and his powers are overwhelming him.

*Rouge is in their room, fixing her bedding. Shadow isn't nearby.*

As far as how he survived? I don't know, and I doubt he remembers. Maybe he Chaos Controlled away before the core collapsed? I'm... pretty sure Robotnik didn't, though. He'd had surfaced by now; he and Stone had a lot of ways to get back into communication if one of them ever got separated or run to ground. Stone maintains them all, and keeps check, but, nothing.

But why he needs to stay hidden? I mean, isn't it obvious? Not everyone knows your last point; to most of the world, he's just... a monster, who tried to kill them all out of the grief a few bad men caused. And that's before you factor GUN into the equation, I mean, who's to say they don't already have tabs on him, now? It's a game, love. Cat and mouse, and right now, Shadow's the mouse.

*"And right now, Shadow's the mouse." The video stops, and Shadow's finger hovers over the screen. He lowers his phone slowly, and places it back in his quills. He sits on the roof of the GOAT café, tucked beside the access shelter for the stairwell. He shuffles his legs closer and wraps his arms around them, right ear pinning miserably. His right eye is wide, and even the left's lid has risen marginally. He crunches in, quills raised as he pulls his legs tighter against his torso and sinks down against the bricks.*

His... what?

*Shadow pauses at the counter where he was chopping vegetables for a rice dish Stone was prepaing at the stove.*

Everything alright over there?

Oh, yes, sorry. I was just... reading somethig.

Checking the Wachowksi's blog?

Y-you follow it...?

No. Should I?

*Stone glanced back towards Shadow, who pinned his right ear and turned away, shaking his head.*

No. No reason to.

... Hey. C'mon, tell me what's going on.

... Why am I a secret?

*Stone lets out a breath through his nose softly. He turns back to his cooking.*

We talked about this before, reme-

No, we didn't!

*Shadow's quills spark with orange energy and his inhibitors glow; his eyes are a blood red. His face draws in a snarl, the leftside nearly managing to follow, before it all screws up painfully and he cries out. He stumbles back off the step stool he had been using to reach the counter, grabbing hold of the left side of his head with desperate claws, before Stone catches him and stops him from hurting himself.*

Easy, easy-

Hurts-

I know, the nerves are angry, your muscles are spasming, just breathe-

Hurts-!

Ten, nine, eight, seven...

-s-six... fi- IVe- ive...

Four... three....

Two... one...

... Okay?

Yes... sorry....

*Shadow pulls his hands away. The left side of his face twitches, and the eyelid droops more prominently than before. He shakes.*

Yes! Sorta. He doesn't go back and rewatch the video replies, so, we've got that going for us. And I censored the messages with Marshy's name!

*The kids are cleaning up the kitch after dinner under Tom's supervision.*

Yes.

Knux, that isn't a horse-

Ah. I was thinking they looked a lot like Ozzie...

Can I pet that DAWG-

Sonic, oh my God....

Okay- we picked a codename for a reason! First of all!

Second! I KNOW all that... but it's different! I didn't know who I was hiding from back then, I just knew Longclaw told me to lay low and to not stop running. I was lonely! But- Burnt Marshmallow isn't! He's got Rouge, and Stone, whatever those two are worth as friends, and me when there's not a billion people around who might see him!

All those things are great reasons he shouldn't expose himself right now. Yeah, it all worked out for me; but it didn't have to! Marshmallow doesn't live in a cave, he lives an apartment above a café. Besides, if he had his memories right now, he'd want to hide, anyway.