FicWad

Aleena had Sonic and Shadow sit down on the couch in the living room of the palace, which had been Robotnik’s fortress.

“There’s talk of a coup like in Knothole.” Aleena said. “Any ideas on how we can have a peaceful dissolution?”

“What happened to unconditional de-roboticizations in exchange for you abdicating the throne?” Shadow asked.

“They’re angry that we’re still running tests.” Aleena replied. “There’s no willingness for peaceful negotiations.”

“Then we have no choice but to fight our own citizens.” Sonic said.

Tails ran into the room. “We deroboticized Farrell!”

Shadow, Aleena, and Sonic followed Tails into the robotization room.

Manic and Surge were hugging a de-roboticized Farrell.

“Okay, so it works.” Sonic said. “Now what? Once they hear it works, they’ll storm the palace.”

“I’ll handle it.” Shadow replied.

“Does it involve killing anyone?” Sonia asked.

“That’s up to your citizens.” Shadow said over his shoulder on his way out.

*

Shadow and Sonic stood on the steps of the palace.

The citizens of Mobotropolis stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“My good citizens.” Sonic announced. “We have successfully performed the first de-roboticization.”

The crowd cheered.

“Now, we wish to have a peaceful dissolution of the monarchy.” Sonic said. “If anyone tries to overthrow us, Shadow has been given orders to engage.”

Sonic leaned closer to Shadow. “You better be able to back up your claims.”

“Like that stupid rat scares any of us.” Someone in the crowd yelled.

The crowd suddenly went wild, yelling threats to the royal family and getting weapons ready.

Shadow stepped forward, taking off his inhibitor rings. “Stand back, Sonic.”

Sonic took several steps back as Shadow began to glow red. Red electricity crackled off of Shadow’s body.

The lights began to flicker all over town.

Sonia ran outside. “Sonic, what’s happening?”

Sonic pointed at Shadow. “That.”

Sonia gasped.

“I thought everyone was making this up.” Sonic whispered.

A glowing red Shadow fired a blast of electricity through the crowd.

Immediately, cries of surrender went up.

Shadow picked up his inhibitor rings and put them back on. “Get ready to negotiate.”

Sonic looked at Sonia. “Tell Mom and Uncle Chuck to come out here.”

Sonia nodded, then texted their mom.

Uncle Chuck and Aleena came out to meet the governors of the town.

Sonic, Sonia, and Shadow headed back inside the palace.

“How’d you do that, Shadow?” Sonic asked.

“I was born with the same disease Maria had.” Shadow replied. “We had some of the same symptoms, but there were some we didn’t share.”

“I’m sorry.” Sonia said, rubbing Shadow’s shoulder.

“It’s fine.” Shadow replied. “Anyway, Gerald was testing for a cure with the Chaos emeralds around the time my parents gave me to him since they couldn’t care for me.”

“Chaos emeralds?” Sonic asked.

Sonic, Sonia, and Shadow sat down on the couch.

“The Chaos emeralds were found in a meteorite about a year or two before we were born, Sonic.” Sonia said.

“So anyway the cure worked for me, but not Maria.” Shadow replied. “All it did for her was ease the symptoms and made her nauseous occasionally. The treatments gave me that ability among others.”

“That’s pretty cool.” Sonia said.

Shadow half smiled. “It’s hard to see it as that when Maria didn’t make it.” He replied. He held his arms out. “The rings on my gloves and shoes keep it in check. I only take them off in situations like that.”

Muffled voices came from the other room.

Sonic and Sonia looked back at the foyer.

Aleena and uncle Chuck were leading a few of the governors to their study.

“Looks like it’s going well.” Sonic said.

Manic walked in. “Took your rings off again, Shads?” He asked. “I thought you said you wouldn’t do that again.”

“It was either let your family face a firing squad or take the rings off.” Shadow replied.

“I take it there was something that happened last time he did that.” Sonia said.

Manic sat down on the coffee table. “Yeah, when Swatbots ambushed us, Surge, and Kit.” He replied. “Kit got killed in the explosion.”

Shadow closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Hey, it wasn’t your fault.” Manic said. “They were gonna kill Kit anyway. They never roboticized anyone younger than fifteen. You at least tried to save him. Even if they did roboticize kids and we could restore them, he probably wouldn’t have been able to live with the things he had done while roboticized.”

“What?” Shadow asked.

“They’re aware of what’s going on, but can’t do anything to override the programming.” Manic replied. “That’s what Farrell told me. It bothered him and… uh… he….”

Sonic angled himself to face Manic. “He’s killed someone before, huh?”

“The guy who tried to sell me.” Manic replied. “That’s the only one I know about. He tried to shield me from a lot of the business.”

“That’s an understatement.” Shadow muttered.

Sonic sighed. “Manic, do you think you finally feel comfortable telling us your whole story?” He asked. “Trying to make sense of the things I know about you is giving me migraines.”

Manic shrugged. “Alright, but it’ll take a while.”

*

Aleena and uncle Chuck sat down at the dinner table where the rest of the family had gathered.

Manic drummed his fingers on the table. “So what were the terms?”

“We’re dissolving the monarchy.” Aleena said. “The deroboticizations will be done for free and we’ll leave Robotropolis and go to Green Hills estate as soon as they elect a new leader between two of our governors.”

Sonia looked at Manic. “What about Manic, Farrell, and Surge?”

“Hey, I didn’t steal anything.” Surge replied. “I guess I’m still an accomplice though. Nevermind.”

“Our last act was to have them pardoned.” Aleena said. “Shadow has been pardoned as well. You’ll still work security for us with Tails, Shadow.”

“Thank you.” Shadow replied.

“When do we move?” Sonic asked.

“It’ll be a few months.” Aleena replied. “In the meantime, we can start moving furniture.”