FicWad

Maria walked into the kitchen. She wore a black dress, leggings and socks along with a black lace headband.

Gerald sat at the table, drinking coffee. He did a double take at Maria as she walked over to the fridge. “I’m getting concerned about Shadow’s influence over you.”

“Oh, don’t worry Grandfather.” Maria said, smiling. She poured some milk into her cup. “This was all I had that was clean. Besides, Shadow’s not a bad guy. He’s had a horrible childhood so far and he really needs a good friend.”

“He found a great one.” Gerald said, picking up his phone. “Speaking of Shadow, where is he this morning?”

Maria sat down. “He’s usually gone on his morning run before I get up, but he was fast asleep this morning, so I let him sleep.” She replied. “He seems to have a lot of nightmares.”

Shadow finally came shuffling into the room, shaking his spines out.

“Good morning.” Maria said, smiling.

“Morning.” Shadow replied. He walked over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup of coffee into the black and red mug Maria bought him. He looked at Maria. “Nice outfit. I knew a couple who would love it.”

“Aww, thanks.” Maria said. “You didn’t go on your morning run today?”

Shadow glanced out the window. “It’s raining.”

Maria nodded. “Must’ve been a rough storm.” She replied. “Power was out in some places in town. I wasn’t feeling great this morning and saw a report about it on my phone while watching a video.”

Shadow nodded. “The lights flickered for a minute around two in the morning.”

Maria sipped her milk. “So what do you have planned today, Grandfather?”

“I thought I’d read a bit, go to the grocery store, then we could have a movie night with pizza.” Gerald said.

Maria looked at Shadow. “Would you like to draw with me, Shadow?”

Shadow shrugged. “I can watch you draw.” He said. “I’m not an artist.”

“You can try, I think it’ll help you.” Maria replied.

*

Shadow sat in Maria’s room, listening to classical music and drawing with her.

“This playlist helped cheer me up when I was sick.” Maria said. “I’m in remission, but it was scary for a while and… I don’t know. I guess it was too much for my friends.”

“They abandoned you?” Shadow asked.

Maria nodded. “Pretty much.” She replied. “It was just me and Grandfather. Well, Tom and Maddie visited as much as they could, but they were in school and all. They would sit with me while Grandfather worked on a cure or at least to make it more manageable. But it was still lonely. Some days, I laid in bed and did some drawing as I listened to music. On the days I felt like getting up, I stayed in the chapel and prayed or listened to the soft music.”

“You didn’t deserve to lose friends.” Shadow said.

“But things worked out well.” Maria replied. “You’re a great friend.”

Shadow half smiled. “I don’t know about that.”

“You are.” Maria said, hugging Shadow. She noticed the drawing of Sonia that Shadow had done and giggled. “It’s cute.”

“I’m not an artist.” Shadow replied. He motioned to the drawing. “She and her brother Manic were.”

“Who is she?” Maria asked.

“My ex-girlfriend Sonia.” Shadow replied. “Didn’t work out; long story.”

“She’s pretty.” Maria said. She showed Shadow the picture of the latter she drew. “Do you like it?”

“That’s amazing.” Shadow said.

Maria smiled. “Thank you. You are so sweet.”

Shadow half smiled.

The song ended, then another song started playing.

Shadow glanced at Maria’s phone. “Would it matter?”

“You’ve heard of Skillet where you live?” Maria asked.

“Manic, Sonia’s little brother, liked it.” Shadow replied. “Sonia’s older brother Sonic liked that one song and would sing it when he and Manic couldn’t sleep.”

“That’s sweet.” Maria said, smiling.

Shadow nodded.

“I’m getting hungry.” Maria said, getting up. She shut off the music. “Ready for lunch? I’ll make sandwiches.”

“Sounds great.” Shadow replied.

*

Shadow raised his spines as he followed Maria into the kitchen. He couldn’t explain why, but he had this uneasy feeling. He knew he had felt like this before, but was struggling to remember why.

He glanced at Maria, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, then finally remembered why he had that feeling before.

It had happened at least twice before, when Bunnie and then Surge had bad reactions to the injections they were given.

He barely remembered the incidents as he was just two years old.

Shadow stepped over to Maria and grabbed one of her hands. “Come on, you need to sit down.”

Maria took Shadow’s hand and let him guide her to the kitchen table. She shuffled along on shaky legs.

Shadow stopped and reached around for her other hand. “Nevermind, let’s sit down on the floor.” He said, helping Maria sit down.

As soon as Maria was on the floor, she passed out in Shadow’s arms.

Shadow caught her, then eased her head into his lap so she wouldn’t hit her head on the floor. “Gerald?” He called.

“Do you need something, Shadow?” Gerald asked.

“Maria passed out.” Shadow called.

A lot of muffled crashing noises came from Gerald’s office.

Gerald hurried in and knelt down beside Maria.

Maria woke up. “Did I… not again.”

Shadow helped Maria sit up and held her.

“Why am I over here?” Maria asked. “I was at the sink.”

“I had a feeling something wasn’t right and was trying to help you to a chair.” Shadow replied. “I thought you were too weak to make it, so I sat you down here. You passed out in my arms.”

Maria hugged Shadow. “Thank you. You are an angel, Shadow.”

Shadow looked away.

“Thank you, Shadow.” Gerald said. “Can you help me get her to the couch?”

Shadow nodded. He got up and picked up Maria.

Gerald’s jaw dropped.

“I didn’t know you were so strong, Shadow.” Maria said as Shadow carried her to the living room. “You’re a little super hero.”

Shadow half smiled. He laid Maria on the couch. “I’ll get you some water.” He said, pulling a blanket over her. He adjusted the throw pillow behind her and headed back to the kitchen.

“Did you have some medical training?” Gerald asked.

Shadow shook his head. “No, I don’t know how I can sense these things, I just do.” He replied. “Something similar happened to two kids I knew on Mobius and I sensed it before the events happened.”

Gerald sighed. “Did your planet have a cure for that?”

Shadow got a glass out of the cabinet. “What does she have?” He asked. “She never told me.”

“NIDS.” Gerald said. “I can show you some articles and books on it if you haven’t heard of it or if it has a different name on Mobius.”

“I have.” Shadow replied. “My girl- ex girlfriend’s little brother had it when he was a baby. He’s completely cured, never had a relapse.”

“What was the cure?” Gerald asked.

“Let me get her some water, then I’ll explain.” Shadow replied. He got Maria her water from the fridge and brought it to her.

After making sure Maria was comfy and putting on her favorite movie for her, Shadow made his way back to the kitchen.

Gerald was sitting at the table.

Shadow sat down across from him. “Well… I have to explain this first.” He said. “You heard of Dr. Ivo Robotnik?”

“Ah, yes, he’s my grandson and Maria’s older cousin.” Gerald replied. “Brilliant lad, but power hungry and I sense he’s got a dark side.”

Shadow nodded. “Well, he showed up on Mobius when I was a baby.” He said. “Got some Mobian scientist to assist him and gave up a lot of information on the kingdom of Mobotropolis and the Chaos Emeralds. The Chaos emeralds are… it’s a unique radioactive-like material, I don’t know much about it other than that. Anyway, Ivo and Starline hit upon the idea that they could use it to create a powerful army. Neither of them wanted to be the test subjects, so they kidnapped the infants of the royal court and the only survivor of the massacre on Angel Island, where the Chaos emeralds were.”

“You were one of the infants?” Gerald asked.

Shadow nodded. “My dad was one of the royal bodyguards and my mom was a maid for Queen Aleena.” He replied. “Sonia, my ex, was the princess.”

“So what happened?” Gerald asked.

“They figured out how to siphon the energy from the emeralds and injected us with it.” Shadow replied. “Trained us to fight and tortured us, but that’s another story.”

Gerald nodded.

“They knew Sonia’s brother Manic had NIDS, but wanted to use him as a test subject anyway just to see what effect it would have on him and if they could make money off a cure.” Shadow said. “He started showing immediate signs of improvement. He was completely cured after six or eight months and hasn’t had a problem since to my knowledge.”

“What were the side effects for him?” Gerald asked.

“Manic’s stronger than average Mobians, but not as strong as me, his siblings, or Knuckles (one of the kids we were held with).” Shadow replied. “He gets like a power surge when his emotions are at one extreme or another, I forget why that was the case, but I do it too. That’s why I have sparks on me.”

“Probably has to do with chemical reactions or blood pressure creating signals from the brain.” Gerald said.

Shadow nodded. “Right.”

“So how many kids were subjected to that?” Gerald asked. “What were the effects?”

“Ten kids.” Shadow replied. “Sally and Kit didn’t show much of an effect aside from their eyes glowing like the rest of us. That’s part of the power surge, but they don’t have super anything. Tails only grew another tail, he’s a fox. He’s smarter than average too, not sure if that was natural or not. Knuckles and Sonia have super strength. Knuckles, Tails, and Manic are a little faster than average, but Sonic and I are the fastest. Sonic’s pretty strong.”

“And what about you?” Gerald asked.

“Faster than Sonic, it looks like I’m teleporting.” Shadow replied. “Stronger, higher IQ than average.”

“Were there any negative side effects?” Gerald asked.

“Bunnie and Surge had something like allergic reactions.” Shadow replied. “Bunnie’s was more severe. It… it’s like it was burning her from the inside, according to the files. She had to have her arm and legs amputated and was given cyborganics, which are visible. She didn’t get any powers. Surge had a similar reaction, but nowhere near as severe. She had to have cyborganics, but I’m not sure where because they’re internal. She did get super speed and electrical powers from the cyborganics. I remember sensing the reaction, but not much else. I was about two when it happened and it’s strange I remember it.”

“Ah, I see.” Gerald said. “So where are the Chaos Emeralds?”

“Locked in the Mobotropolis palace vault room with Knuckles guarding it.” Shadow replied. “Tails and Sonia’s Uncle Chuck have them occasionally to experiment with them for cures and clean power sources. They have been using serums created from our blood samples as a management treatment until they have figured out how to make a cure without the super power effect. If you’re wanting a sample of my blood, take as much as you need. I want to see her better.”

“I think she’s right.” Gerald said. “You are an angel.”

Shadow looked away.

“I suppose you don’t have a good standing with the Queen if you and the Princess aren’t together anymore.” Gerald said.

“No, I’m not.” Shadow replied. “I’m not sure when or if they got the cures out already. I can try to check it out, but I’ve burned some bridges.”

“I can imagine.” Gerald said. “Let me see what I can do with a blood sample, then we’ll go from there.”

*

Shadow raised his spines as he walked in the little basement lab. His mind flashed back to the experiments and monthly checkups he had to endure.

He slightly flinched at every little sound, which seemed all too familiar. He drew shaky breaths as he sat down on the table. His heart felt like it was gonna explode any minute.

Gerald looked at Shadow, who was hyperventilating, as he got the equipment to take a blood sample. “You must have PTSD.” He said. “I’m sorry, it’ll be over in a minute.”

Shadow’s spines and eyes started glowing.

The lights flickered.

“Are you doing that?” Gerald asked.

“Grandfather?” Maria called. She carefully made her way down the basement steps. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.” Gerald replied. “Shadow started panicking and then-”

Maria hurried over to Shadow and hugged him. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” She said softly. “You’re safe.”

Shadow wrapped his arms around Maria’s shoulders and started crying before he could even think to stop himself. His spines and eyes stopped glowing and the lights stopped flickering.

Maria glanced at Gerald. “Why is he down here?”

Gerald got Maria a chair. “This will take a while.”

*

Maria wiped Shadow’s eyes with a tissue. “That’s very sweet of you, Shadow.” She said, smiling weakly. “But I can’t ask you to torture yourself to help me.”

“I want to help you, Maria.” Shadow replied. He held his arm out. “Go ahead and take the sample.”

“I’ll sit with you then.” Maria said. “You shouldn’t go through this alone.”

Gerald drew Shadow’s blood as quickly as he possibly could without rushing through it or hurting him.

Maria kept Shadow calm by softly humming and stroking his spines.

“There.” Gerald said, putting a lid on the vial. He handed Maria an alcohol wipe. “Clean his arm, then take him upstairs.”

Maria cleaned Shadow’s arm. “Great job.” She said, bandaging Shadow’s arm. “I know it’s not pleasant.”

“You have- I guess you have some idea.” Shadow replied.

Maria nodded. She helped Shadow off the table. “Come on, let’s get you some ice cream.”

Maria walked Shadow up the stairs.

Shadow held onto Maria to keep her safe.

“I can get us some ice cream.” Shadow said. “You need to sit down.”

“Thanks, I think you’re right.” Maria replied.

Shadow helped Maria settle into the couch, then went back to the kitchen to see if there was any ice cream. He opened the freezer, then looked toward the living room. “All we have is popsicles, is that okay?”

“Yeah, get me a strawberry one, please.” Maria replied.

Shadow got a strawberry popsicle for Maria and a cherry limeade popsicle for himself, then closed the freezer and walked into the living room. He handed Maria her popsicle.

“Thanks.” Maria said as Shadow sat down.

“You’re welcome.” Shadow replied.

Maria handed Shadow a remote. “I think you know there’s parental locks.”

“No.” Shadow said. “I’ve been reading the history books before bedtime.”

“Oh, I thought you might’ve watched tv.” Maria replied. “Anyway, Grandfather doesn’t want me to watch R rated movies. If you want to watch one, I can leave-”

“No, it’s fine.” Shadow said. He picked up the remote and turned the tv on.

An advertisement for an old black and white monster movie called the alien freak from outer space popped up.

“Can we watch this?” Shadow asked.

Maria laughed. “You like those old monster movies too?”

Shadow played the movie. “Sometimes.”

“We need popcorn.” Maria said.

Shadow got up. “Pause it for me.” He said, walking to the kitchen.

Maria paused the movie. “Popcorn is in the cabinet by the fridge, you have to make it on the stove.”

“Thanks.” Shadow said, opening the cabinet. He got the popcorn out and turned the stove on.

*

Shadow sat on the window seat in the living room that night, looking at the stars. He wanted to get the cure for her, but how could he get it and not get arrested?

He could take Maria and Gerald to Mobius with him, but then the truth would come out.

Or he could try to reason with Sonia, she would hear him out and she couldn’t let a poor girl suffer like her brother would’ve.

Either way, he’d be arrested and exposed.

“It’s a risk I have to take.” He said to himself. “I can discuss it with them tomorrow.”

*

Sonic and his team arrived on Earth, in an underground cavern, that night.

Sonic looked around the cavern as Tails checked the detector. “This looks like a good place to spend the night.” He said. “We can search first thing in the morning.”

Tails grinned as he looked over the readings. “He’s somewhere in this town.”

“Sweet.” Manic muttered.

“The babies will be fine.” Surge replied. “We can check in any time we want.”

“You could’ve stayed home, Manic.” Sonic said, sitting on the ground. He leaned against the wall.

“No, this is personal.” Manic replied.

“Why is it personal?” Tails asked. “You could’ve escaped.”

“The plan was that he’d escape with a ring and while we held off the guards.” Manic replied. “Once they were unconscious, we’d use a ring or rings to escape. Shadow stole my bag of rings and escaped. I was the one holding all of the rings for us, so he left us to face the consequences.”

Rouge looked at Sonia. “I think you dodged a bullet, Hon.” She said, zipping up her jacket. “He’s unbelievably handsome, but this stunt killed it for me.”

Sonia sat down beside Rouge and pulled her knees to her chest. “I guess you’re right.”

Manic put his hand on Sonia’s shoulder. “Eh, I agree with Rouge, sis.” He said. “I know that’s not what you want to hear.”

“But this happened because he texted me.” Sonia replied.

Sonic shook his head. “Sis….”

Sonia sighed. “What, Sonic? You think Manic is any better?”

“That’s different.” Sonic said, sitting down across from Sonia. “Manic is our brother. I never made excuses for his behavior and we’ve argued over it. You’ve heard me trying to talk sense to his thick head.”

“Hey.” Manic protested.

“Manic cared about what happened to those guards and he cared about his team.” Sonic continued. “Shadow only cares about himself. Whatever feelings he probably has for you is purely selfish.”

Sonia looked at Manic.

Manic shrugged. “Well, he was pretty faithful to you.” He said. “Wouldn’t give Rouge the time of day and she tried her best to get his attention.”

Rouge nodded.

“But I think Sonic is right.” Manic said. “Shadow used us. I’m pretty sure he’s using you or thinks he can use you too.”

Tails sighed. “And… I should tell you, one of the guards died from their injuries. I heard Argus telling Aleena about it when I was about to step through the ring.”

Manic sat down, holding his head in his hands. “Oh, no.” He muttered. “It wasn’t supposed to go down that way. The Chaos Blast was only supposed to be a distraction.”

Sonia got up and wandered to the far corner of the cavern.

Sonic turned to face Sonia. “Sis?”

“This is hard for her.” Sally said. “Give her some time to process it.”

Sonic scoffed. “He’s a jerk to her and a violent criminal.”

“She’s the one who broke up with him, Sonic.” Sally said. “She knows, but that’s her first boyfriend and they’ve known each other for their whole lives. It’s painful for her.”

Sonic nodded.

“I’ll talk to her.” Sally said. “You all talk amongst yourselves.”

Sally walked over to Sonia.

“I guess we should get some sleep.” Sonic said. “We have a big day tomorrow.”



*

Shadow happened to spot Gerald in his study while on his way to his room.

Gerald looked up. “Oh, Shadow, you can’t sleep?”

Shadow walked in. “No, not really.”

“Neither can I.” Gerald said. “Your blood sample is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. It has an unusual property to it, probably that Chaos Energy you mentioned.”

Shadow nodded.

Gerald sighed. “We may have to try to talk to one of your scientists to figure it out.” He said. “Everything about this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”

“I think I can arrange something.” Shadow replied. “I was going to talk to you about it.”

Gerald yawned. “Wonderful.” He said, getting up. “We’ll work on it in the morning.”

Gerald walked out of the room and headed to his bedroom.

Shadow headed to his room and laid down on his bed. He quickly fell asleep.

*

In the palace study, Aleena sat at her desk, listening to the news Argus and Uncle Chuck had to bring her.

“What do you mean Ivo escaped?!” Aleena shrieked.

“He somehow jammed the security systems and built new robots.” Argus said. “I don’t know how he did it. None of us does.”

“I’m investigating it.” Uncle Chuck added. “We may have to call in Tails.”

Aleena exhaled slowly. “So where is Ivo?”

“He’s left the planet, can’t find him on our radar.” Argus said. “We suspect he’s going to Earth.”

“If he’s going to Earth, my children are there.” Aleena said.

“I suspect you don’t want them to handle it.” Argus replied.

Aleena gave Argus a look. “What do you think?”

“Aleena, with all due respect, I think Sonic and Manic’s teams can handle this.” Uncle Chuck said. “I understand your feelings, I really do, but they’re grown now. I know they can handle it.”

Aleena sighed. “I suppose you’re right.” She replied. “I still have to go to the delegation meeting.”

“Of course, your highness.” Argus said. “We’ll be ready to leave tomorrow.”

“Okay, get some rest.” Aleena replied. “We’ll meet tomorrow.”

“Yes, your highness.” Uncle Chuck and Argus said. They left the room.

Aleena picked up her framed picture of her kids the day they came home. “I hope you got this, kiddos.”