FicWad

Shadow pulled his car into a parking space at the docks.

Gerald was standing on the boardwalk, waiting on Shadow.

Shadow got out of the car and walked over to Gerald Robotnik.

“Where’s Maria?” Gerald asked.

Shadow jerked his thumb toward the car. “In there.”

Maria and the hedgehogs got out of the car. They slowly made their way over to Shadow and Gerald.

“I’m not going with you.” Maria said. “I’d rather stay with Shadow than with you.”

“I’m sorry, Maria.” Gerald said. “But Shadow’s not going to be alive for much longer.”

Shadow started taking off his inhibitor rings. “You’re forgetting something.”

Gerald scoffed. “What would that be?”

“That GUN used your research for secret genetic experiments to create super soldiers.” Shadow said, sticking the inhibitor rings into his pockets. He began to glow red. “I was the only surviving participant.”

Sonic stepped in front of Sonia, Manic, and Maria.

Twenty drones flew over, surrounding Shadow.

Shadow caught one of the drones and threw it into two other drones.

Sonic spin dashed a drone.

Shadow kicked another drone. “Go find the other captives and get them out.”

Sonic landed. He ran over to Manic. “Come on, we need to rescue the others.”

Manic and Sonic ran to the ship.

Shadow took out a few more drones, Then slowly approached Gerald. “You can give up and tell me who all is behind this and you could possibly get a deal.” He said. “Or you could call in more drones that I’ll inevitably destroy. When I’m done breaking your toys, I’ll break every bone in your body. You have five seconds to decide.”

“The first one.” Gerald said, holding his hands up.

Shadow nodded.

Rouge flew over and handcuffed Gerald. “Thanks, Shadow.”

Several police cars and an ambulance pulled up.

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “How did-”

“I’ve been following you.” Rouge said. “After I arrested Ivo Robotnik.”

Sonic and Manic led the prisoners over to the police cars.

Tails flew over and hugged Sonic. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you.”

“Same here, little bro.” Sonic said as Sally ran over to them.

“We definitely need to celebrate with chili dogs.” Sally said, hugging Sonic.

Manic sat down on the hood of Rouge’s car. “So… what’re you doing later?”

Rouge smiled and sat down beside Manic. “I suppose I can be persuaded to go out tonight.”

Sonia stepped closer to Shadow. “Thanks for saving us.”

“It’s nothing.” Shadow said, putting his inhibitor rings back on.

Sonia reached her hand out to Shadow. “Wanna go out to dinner?”

Shadow took Sonia’s hand and started walking. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Maria was sitting on a rock, staring off at the sunset.

Shadow and Sonia stopped and stood by Maria.

“Maria?” Shadow asked.

“I have nowhere to go.” Maria said, voice breaking. “I don’t want to go to a group home or wherever they’d send me.”

Shadow reached out to her. “Then come with me.”

Maria smiled and took Shadow’s hand.
**
A year later, Shadow, Sonia, and Maria gathered on the deck of their new home in Lake Valley.

Sonia set a few bowls of gelato on the table.

Shadow’s phone chimed.

Shadow glanced at it.

“Don’t even think about it.” Sonia said, sliding his phone away. “It’s family night.”

“I wasn’t.” Shadow replied.

Sonia sat down and kissed Shadow.

Shadow’s phone chimed again.

Maria looked at it. “Oh, Rouge just wants you to look over that new case when you have a chance.”

“Tell her it’s done and I’ll send her the files later.” Shadow replied.

Maria quickly typed the response and set her phone aside.

“She’s still using your Private investigation firm to help her with cases?” Sonia asked.

“We still believe there’s some corruption in the department.” Shadow replied.

Shadow’s phone chimed again.

Shadow sighed. “Tell her I’ll call her back sometime before midnight.”