#I didn’t enjoy my time with Sonic Frontiers

[theamazingian]

for anyone curious, Sonic Frontiers is on sale on Steam for $20 (!!) right now

[mirersc]

-imma have alone the title for now till the cover art is ready, oops-

« LoST SiGNaLs » || I ACT

SUMMARY

“Say, Sonic, how about you and I play a game? Think of it though as a tracking skills test! Bring me within a week the three pieces of the chaos pentagon and I will release your two friends. Refuse and they pay the price. Trick me and well, better for me not to indulge in what I will do in that predicament. Either scenario, I sti~ill win.”

~~~

When Tikal summons Sonic to Angel Island the hero would have never been able to imagine what would follow after. It is unbelievable to think that the guardian of the Master Emerald, Knuckles and the ultimate lifeform, Shadow are taken as hostages. As Eggman forces Sonic on a quest to retrieve an old artifact for him, entitled ”Chaos Pentagon”, the blue blur is to set after a journey with the aid of Rouge the Bat and E-123 Omega to find the three shards of the object in question.

For them to succeed they will all need to be on the same wavelength. Are they however? And what seems to be the deal with Sonic’s communicator? Secrets are lurking around yet no one bats an eye. Will the trio actually manage to get along in the end to save their friends from the mad scientist?

Set after Sonic Frontiers. Please meet the newly formed team of Lost Signals. Or not so new?

❗link to fic:: here!

Heya, guys! Myler’s here! And guess what? Yep, yep! I have been as well participating in the STH Big Bang 2024 event with all the amazing writers and artists you have seen so far! Today is the last posting day so everyone is hoping that you will still enjoy the third batch’s works.

I participated as a writer on the event and I came up with a work called “Lost Signals” featuring a story around Sonic, Rouge and Omega because I thought it would be an interesting team to search the bonds between them.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to produce all the work since I didn’t work well with my given time, but it had still been a blast to write as far as I got, successful managing to cover ACT 1!

Big thank you to the @sthbigbang for hosting this lovely event! You guys rock and without y’all this event wouldn’t have happened and none if all these works would have been made. We will always remember the fun times we had while contributing in the event and the friendships or acquaintances we made along the way. You better take the credit you are been given for you deserve them!

🥁

And now ladies and gens and creaturas, a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful artists that accompanied me in this journey, @rapidhighway @rohansoutsidemydoor @petitcanard and despite my incompetence and FUULL delay, heh, they saw it through and were as supportive as one could be! Truly I wouldn’t have made it without them.

Be sure to congratulate them and check their astonishing art pieces for they are sure captivating and pretty much describing without words the story for you all to listen to and imagine~

@rapidhighway :: art! → CH 1 “Spirit’s Worry” who doesn’t love a laid-back sonic the hedgehog? I truly adore sooo much this art piece! The calm before the storm *cough cough*. I specifically got drawn by the flowers– like c’mon! They are so pretty! And palm trees. The colours all so vibrant and for real Green Hill couldn’t have looked any better! Dare I say I envy him -only at the beginning :)), shh-

@petitcanard :: art! → CH 4 “Mirror, mirror on the Wall” this art piece finalized the outfits and accessories of the characters which they all rooock!!! You can all see perfectly well from this specific work how the interactions have between Sonic, Rouge and Omega. I love how Omega wants to fry Sonic! “A not-completely-functioning team” she described them, which is indeed right, hehe.

@rohansoutsidemydoor :: art! → CH 8 “Keep away. Don’t come closer. Danger! Stop!” this made me write chapter 8 faster than the speed of sound! The realization, the mystery, the agony. Breathtaking! The expressions of the characters do make me have chills running down my spine and the blazy environment of the art, is top. They did the specific moment justice! << SPOILERS >>

Another part of my gratitude certainly goes to my beta reader @lunesart who despite my inactiveness at some point she was sure to check up on me and helped me lots with her useful tips and guidance. The speech without her would have been very dry and more complicated in comparison to the final result. Sooo special kudos to her too ✨!

Also– before I wrap things up– HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎂 SONIC 🌀💨 !

[nightfurylover31]

With stories of Tails and Knuckles, time to finally write something with Amy for @starrjoy's Pandora AU. This was the trickiest to figure out, but thanks to some theories about her around here, I finally got something. I hope you enjoy!

 After the events of Sonic Frontiers, the gang is getting ready to set off on their own separate adventures. Before leaving, Amy decides to do some fortune readings. However, Sonic soon learns his most cheerful, optimistic friend didn’t always have such a happy life.

Amy had just finished shuffling her cards. She drew three and looked them over. She seemed quite pleased with what she had. Just then, she heard a knock at her door. She went to answer, but she already knew who it was. 

“SONIC!” She happily greeted the blue hedgehog as she opened the front door, even before she got a look at him. “I knew it was you!” 

“Well, you were expecting me, right?” Sonic placed a bag on the table next to the couch. “Here's the supplies you wanted from Tails.” 

Amy went to check the contents of the bag. “Thanks. I’m not sure what I’ll face out there, so I want to be prepared. You can never be too careful.” 

“I guess, but-" 

“Where’s the fun in that?” 

The two laughed as Amy joined in on Sonic’s line.

“You want some tea and cookies? I made a fresh batch.” There was not a soul out there who could resist Amy’s baked goods.

“Sure. I could go for a snack.” Sonic sat down on the couch, and just as he was about to put his feet up, he saw Amy’s cards on the table. He picked up one with a large emerald on it. “Trying to guess the future again?” 

Amy placed the tray of drinks and cookies in front of them. “Fortune reading is not guessing, Sonic. It’s a mystic art to gain insight into the past, present, and future. I wish you would take it more seriously. We did meet because of my fortune cards, remember?” 

Sonic shrugged. “I still question how those cards told you Little Planet at that specific time.” 

“It’s about interpretation!” 

“Right... anyway, it’s not my thing. I don’t like being told what to do. Prophecies are not for me.” Sonic said that with his typical ‘too cool to care’ attitude, but there was a deeper meaning behind it. He tried to fulfill a prophecy once, and it cost him everything.

“Fortune reading is not the same as a prophecy, Sonic,” Amy corrected as she sat down beside him. “They’re meant to help guide you on the journey through life. For example, the cards may have led me to meet you, but I was the one who chose to follow you. I decided my own path.” 

This made Sonic pause for a moment. The choices we make... how we interpret them… it wasn’t as set in stone as he had initially thought. Though he had made it a habit to break through everything that was. How many could fight giant gods and win? And on more than one occasion at that?

“These cards may seem silly to you,” Amy continued, “but they have helped me through a lot of hard times.” She picked up her tea and took a sip. “Especially when I couldn’t count on anyone else before…” 

“What was that?” Sonic caught something Amy said under her breath. She blinked and quickly turned her head. 

“Oh, uh, nothing! Nothing at all!” She tried to make it sound casual, but it came out quick and panicky. 

“Ames…” He bent over, leaning his elbows on his thighs. He raised his eyebrow and gave her the look she would give him whenever she was annoyed. 

Amy just stared at her drink. There was a long silence. The only sound was the wind chimes outside. After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. 

“Let’s just say I don’t have the best relationship with my parents.” 

“Your parents?” All the time he knew her, Sonic never heard Amy mention anything about her family. He assumed she visited them whenever he hadn’t seen her for a while. Actually, he never even thought that. He never considered anything about her past. Boy, did that make him feel like a jerk. 

“I don’t want to talk about it, okay.” Amy put her cup down and crossed her arms. Not like she was mad, more like she felt vulnerable. This was not Sonic’s strong suit, but even he couldn’t ignore this matter. 

“Amy, you’re always trying to convince us to open up and talk about our feelings,” he reached out and placed a hand her shoulder. “You should be able to talk about yours.” 

The pink hedgehog rolled her eyes, letting out a small sad chuckle. “You’re really using my advice against me?” 

“If I have to.” 

There was no getting out of this. As much as Sonic disliked talking so opening about his deeper emotions, and would prefer not to dig too deep into others’, it felt like it needed to be done. 

Amy took a deep breath. “My parents were… are basically always busy. Not just focusing on their jobs, but every aspect of their lives. They put so much time and effort into everything they do… except me.” Her ears began to fall back a bit. “They weren’t even always home. Sometimes one was gone, sometimes both. There were times when I would days, or even weeks, without seeing them. And even then, they hardly spent any time with me.” 

This story was already starting to put a knot in Sonic’s stomach. You’d think parents would put their kids first. Amy picked up one card. It looked like it had some sort of knight on it. 

“These cards were one of the few things they gave me. I had to ask though, they thought card readings were stupid and unrealistic. But they’re how I got by. Something to do, and to look forward to. Back then, when I got this card… I had always wanted to see Little Planet. A rare phenomenon that only happens one month out of the year. Even though my parents weren’t home at the time, I ran off. To see my supposed ‘destined encounter.’ And sure enough…” 

“You ran into me,” Sonic finished the thought. “Though it was actually more like I ran into you.” He tried adding a little joke to lighten the mood. It seemed to work; Amy giggled a bit.

“By the time all that was over, I knew my parents had returned. I had to tell them everything.” Amy went quiet again. She lowered her head, balled her fists up. “But when I got back… they didn’t even notice I was gone!” 

Sonic’s mouth fell agape. Didn’t notice?! He tried to think of a logical reason. “Well, there was the whole mess with the Time Stones. Maybe--"

“It took me two days to get to Never Lake from my old house! Even with the stones, I was gone for almost a week! And they had been home for days! Even when I told them I was captured and threatened, they brushed it off! ‘You got back. That’s what counts.’ How could they not have been worried?!” 

At this point, Amy was crying. She hid her face in her hands, trying to control her sobs. “Parents are supposed to yell at you when you do something wrong! They’re supposed to shout and punish you! Tell you not to do stuff like that! That’s how they show they care, isn’t it?!” 

The more she cried, the more Sonic’s heart ached. Not just for her, but looking back. How often his own mother would scold him for doing things. How she spoke of acting out herself when she was young to get attention. Sonic had thought she was just trying to control everything at the time, but she wasn’t. She was just trying to protect him. If he had listened, if he had understood, then she, his siblings, everyone on Christmas Island. They’d still be here. 

Still, all this time, Sonic had no idea of the weight on Amy’s heart. Since she was so cheerful and outgoing, he figured she had a happy upbringing. 

“I couldn’t take it anymore. Eventually, I left that place. I had money, so I could rent out places, like my apartment in Station Square. If they weren’t going to be there for me, I would find my own way. My own adventures. I chose the path of the one who didn’t let me down.” 

“You mean me?” Sonic asked in a depressed tone.  

Amy nodded. “Sonic, you were the first person I met who was there for me. Even when you ran off, whenever I was in trouble, you always came to help me. You didn’t… you didn't abandon me.” 

Her voice was still shaky, but her crying was more controlled. Steeling herself from vulnerability. 

“Have you… spoken to them since?” Sonic was sure he knew the answer, but asked anyway. 

“I’ve… made attempts reach out. They haven’t. Honestly, it was probably a huge relief. I don’t think they wanted a child in the first place. I wasn’t worth their time.” 

“Don’t say that!” Sonic’s voice came out louder than expected. He almost slammed his fists on the couch, but he was mad. Amy looked quite surprised by this. The blue hedgehog lowered his tone as he continued. “Amy, you’re an amazing person. You’re kind, brave, thoughtful, and do what you can to help anyone who needs it. They should have realized they had the best daughter they could ever hope for. If they couldn’t see that, then they aren't worth your time.” 

Amy’s cheeks turned bright red. She tried to cover it while also wiping away any remaining tears. She looked up smiling. “Thanks, Sonic. That really means a lot.” 

Once again, Sonic put his hand on her shoulder. “I mean it. You’re one of my best friends, Amy, and my life is always exciting and unexpected when you’re around. Meeting you was one of the best things that ever happened to me. You, Tails, and even Knuckles.”  

Amy couldn't help but hug him. To finally unload all that baggage and to have some comfort. Sonic wrapped his free arm around her and patted her back. With that reassurance, the room became quiet again as they finished their snacks. The tension in the air began to settle and ease. It was now Sonic's turn to speak. 

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that. I can understand now why you always go out of your way to help people. You don’t want them to feel hurt like you were. If I had known… I would have given your 'so called parents' a piece of my mind.” 

Amy let out a small laugh. “It’s alright. I’ve put that behind me. Besides, if that didn’t happen, if I hadn’t taken that step, I probably wouldn’t have met so many wonderful friends.” 

Amy’s words suddenly hit Sonic harder than any of Eggman’s robots ever did. If that didn’t happen, I never would have met you guys. He thought hard. Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, Shadow, and so many more. All these amazing friends, they wouldn’t be in his life if he hadn’t gone through with Pandora’s scheme. It was a bittersweet truth he never realized. On one hand, he would still have his family. On the other, he wouldn’t have the family he has now. 

Tails was mechanically gifted, like Manic. Knuckles was super strong and hardheaded, just like Sonia. And Amy, she had the same loving and overbearing heart that his mother had. In a way, it was like his previous family’s spirit found their way into his new one. A strange sensation filled Sonic’s heart. He could feel his eyes burning. He wasn’t sure if it was sadness or joy, or something in between. Just an emotion that took over his whole being.

“Thank you, Amy.” 

“For what?” She became confused by the look on Sonic’s face. She could sense something strange going on in his mind.  

“I’ll tell you about it another time.” Sonic pushed aside any form of confession. If he told her now, a flood of feelings he spent years burying would come pouring out. Instead, he changed the topic by picking up another card. “Why don’t you do one of your readings for me?” 

Amy gave him the side eye. “I thought these weren’t your thing.” She was sporting a smug grin of satisfaction. 

“You’ve convinced me. Maybe I’ll at least get a good laugh out of it.” Sonic was starting to feel more like his in control self. 

With that, Amy took the card he had, gather the others, and shuffled them together. She did so carefully, but also with a great deal of showmanship. Once she was done, she spread out the cards and gestured to Sonic. He picked three cards and gave them back. Amy flipped them over, inspecting them. Her expression started simple, then a little more serious, followed by wide eyed concern. 

“So… is it bad?” Something about the look on her face made Sonic a bit nervous. 

“It seems like you’ll be facing a great trial soon.” Her voice low and almost stoic. 

“Not like I haven’t done any of those recently.” The blue blur eased. This didn’t seem new. He loved challenges. 

“This is different,” Amy pressed. “It may be something about your past. Some sort of tragedy coming back with vengeance. Pushing you in a way you never have.” 

“Again, how did you get all that?” Even though Sonic played it cool, there was a small chill that ran down his spine. It seemed as of late he had been thinking about his past more often than he had in years. Was Amy somehow picking up on that? She did seem to have way of sensing things like that. But even so, that was all water under the bridge… poor choice of words.

“Aren’t you even the least bit worried as to what this means?” Now it was Amy’s turn to give that look Sonic gave her earlier. Despite the twinge in his heart, he showed no signs of it affecting him. 

“Whether it’s true or not, I’ll face it like I do with everything. Head on.” 

“What if it’s not something you can face head on?” The concern in her voice was clear. With all the dangers Sonic had been in lately, how close she had been to losing him, it’s no wonder.

Sonic gave her his trademark wink. “Then I at least know I've got a team to back me up. It’s nothing we can’t handle together.” 

—————

Boy, how those words came back to bite him. He didn’t give too much thought into that reading. Now he was heading right into it. As Sonic stood between the wings of the Tornado for shelter against the pouring rain, so many thoughts raced through his head. His past truly was coming back to haunt him. 

The only thing that gave Sonic any comfort in the moment was that Tails, Knuckles and Amy were with him. Tails had just gotten the full story, but he hadn’t said anything to Knuckles and Amy. He knew he would have to tell them as well, but for now he just wanted to focus on the task at hand. Get the Chaos Emeralds and stop these… water wraiths. And prevent Eggman from making the same mistake Sonic did years ago. And hopefully, no definitely, not lose his new family doing so. 

[welcome-to-green-hills]

Okay so I know that sometimes you get leaks right? Sometimes you have people give you leaks and stuff? Like how you were given the leak for frontiers dlc a few months before the game came out. And how you have movies leaks?

Have you ever received a leak that you knew was fake?

Hahaha! Oh, boy! I have!😅

There’s one that has always stuck with me. I use this one as an example every once in a while when teaching others to trust sources.

Back in 2022, my friends and I were met with this “tipper” that claimed that he had Sonic 3 leaks. The funny thing about this one was that any time he talked to my friends and myself, the information changed. The “tipper” didn’t know that my friends and I were sharing screenshots of the leak to confirm authenticity. That’s how we knew that this guy was a fraud. Any time the conservation came to an end, we’ve made it a point for the “tipper” to talk to each of us by ourselves.

By the time he came to talk to me, the supposed leak change four times. I was told the most chaotic and unbelievable things. Stuff like Knuckles’ age, Sonic’s sexuality, how many movies Paramount wanted, and creating a character to replace Tails entirely. All really weird things. The “tipper” even tried to make it a point in saying that he was Pat Casey’s best friend. That was his selling point—I had to believe this guy because he claimed to be Pat Casey’s best friend. Let me just say the first lie that he told my friends was that he was an inside reporter for a known Hollywood magazine.

If you know me, you know that I have an unhealthy obsession with SCU. Any time I asked a question, he would say to check the interviews that the writers made to prove his point. Which, mind you, were all wrong from this “tipper.” His information contradicted info from the SCU Crew. And then he made the final claim that a fandom ship would be canon to the films, but with drastic changes. These changes were supposed to be Amy would be in the fourth film, she was supposed to be relatively older with a slow burning romance that extended into five films and her dating a really young Sonic.

When I showed the “tipper” that his story changed four times via screenshots, questioned the VA for Shadow (he claimed it was Tom Cruise once, Matt Daemon the second time), showed information regarding ships from SEGA, and public interviews that the SCU Crew did for the films, the conversation quickly turned into how I wasn’t a true fan because I didn’t ship sonamy. Apparently, I had to accept that sonamy was canon and that it was the equivalent of a sin to not ship it. (He claimed it was practically canon because of their color schemes, as well as the plot point in SatBK). I also got a comment of how it was wrong to headcanon someone’s sexuality and that Sonic would be a hard straight male. It was both hysterical and awful.

Hysterical being that someone went out of the way to fabricate an entire lie. Awful being that someone was so uncomfortable with the idea of LGBTQAI+ headcanons—and not shipping specific characters together—that they had to make someone feel horrible.

And you know what’s worse than that? It creates a stereotype for those that like a particular ship. It really ruins it for those that love a ship and want to share their love for it, but are afraid to. I’m not a sonamy fan. I do, however, feel bad for those that ship it. Because there’s jackasses like what my friends and I have encountered that ruin it for those that enjoy it. That’s not fair. And I’m so sorry that this is still a problem. People like that ruin it for the good ones. Not everyone that you encounter in the fandom—or in any fandom—will act like this. Please know that I don’t care about what you do and don’t ship. What I care about is if you’re happy. As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy.

But yeah, when it comes to leaks, always question its authenticity. And know if you’re not sure about something you’re more than welcome to ask me. I don’t mind looking into leaks and asking the tough questions.

[samobservessonic]

Here he is! I apologise if a lot of this post is some degree of me going “Wow, it’s Knuckles!” I’m just very excited that one of the main characters has joined the roster

Okay, so I did read up about this beforehand and it looks as if StC did this thing where the Floating Island had a separate set of Chaos Emeralds - I can only assume that at the time the creators didn’t realise they were all supposed to be the same set. I mean, even the games themselves could be quite inconsistent about the emeralds at the time It does eventually get retconned, so for now we’ll just smile and nod as the story tells us that Knuckles has his own Chaos Emeralds and that Robotnik has tricked him into thinking that Sonic wants to steal them

I love this. I love that Sonic is like “You’re probably nice when you’re not being tricked, but you’re still going to be my rival for life now”

I usually do skip over the fight scenes in these posts, even if Elson always makes them look so cool. But come on, this is Sonic vs Knuckles! The beginnings of this epic battle that we’ll still be watching a movie about almost three decades after this comic comes out! It’s just too cool to skip!

Just gonna throw this whole page in. Enjoy!

That third panel? Just kiss already!

But sadly, playing with Knuckles was just the distraction, as Sonic had sent Tails to catch Robotnik while he kept them busy 

As much as the Sonic & Tails dynamic is different in StC to a lot of other versions, we’re still seeing here that Sonic trusts Tails enough to say to him “You know what to do” in a situation neither of them had prepared for and Tails just does it. We’ll be seeing Tails become a more competent hero during the comic, but I feel like this is one of the first times Sonic has acknowledged that, even if it is subtly

Robotnik is in the net and Sonic is outta here!

As we wrap up this story, another detail I like is the direct call out of Sonic bluffing. He says to Knuckles that he doesn’t expect to see him again and to Tails that the match wasn’t even close, but he’s thinking the exact opposite on both fronts. This is a Sonic who puts on a cocky persona, but knows that there’s stuff he can’t handle and it'll be worse for him if people know he can't handle stuff, whether those people are friend or foe. That makes him interesting to me. And actually, Sonic Frontiers kinda did that as well? I'm glad that concepts that existed in StC are still being handled by the franchise years later, even when people often write-off StC Sonic as being "too different" to the regular Sonic

It surprises me a little to see this story wrap up in just two issues when the Sonic CD arc lasted much longer, but since the next issue will follow on from this story of having Robotnik captured, it feels more like this is a larger arc broken down into different stories than just a two-parter

Also, I must confess that I have read this particular story before. Many times. I can’t remember if it gets reprinted or if it was in a friend’s comic that I borrowed, but this art is all so familiar to me and it manages to be awesome every time I read it

[regulatedstrawberry]

Wanted to share this little SonAmy excerpt from the Prologue of my Tails fic, which takes place after Sonic Frontiers. Enjoy!

Under the midday sun, Amy and Sonic stood together silently as they waited for Tails to come out from the hangar. Amy was ready for her trip in fashionable style, wearing a straw hat and neck scarf, accompanied by her hammer and a singular large briefcase. 

Although she could set them down, Amy kept both items in her hands to keep them occupied, as she and Sonic waited with a slightly awkward silence. Besides the fact that Tails was taking forever, there was this slight tension in the air surrounding her goodbye, at least to her.

Amy and Sonic were comfortable with each other. And really, she had no doubt that Sonic cared for her - his concern for her digitized state in the Starfall Islands, and willingness to help the Koco at her insistence, was proof of that. While she still cringed at her boisterous personality from the early days of fighting Chaos in Station Square, she and Sonic have grown to be good friends and battle partners.

At least, that’s what she’s trying to convince herself, anyways.

Amy snuck a glance over at Sonic, who she caught with an uncharacteristically distant expression on his face. His short temperament and attention span meant that he typically wore his heart on his sleeve, so it was generally easy to tell how he was feeling. This was one of those rare moments where she couldn’t quite figure out how he was taking all of this.

Maybe it’s because, deep down, she felt some sort of spark, or shift in their dynamic, while they were on Kronos Island, but was finding every reason to be in denial of it. Sonic wasn’t the type to be overly sentimental, or vulnerable with his inner monologue, but Amy knew he cared for his friends and always stepped up when it counted. Because of that, she didn’t want to open the box of feelings she sealed a long time ago, and knew better than to get her hopes up just because of a few fleeting moments she could read into.

She quickly glanced back at the ground, to hide the fact that she was staring. But the silence was getting to her. Lifting her head, she opened her mouth to speak, but Sonic went ahead and beat her to it.

“So, uh, you excited?” He asked, an awkward smile on his face. In addition to having his hand on his neck, Amy could see Sonic tapping his foot anxiously.

“Oh! Yeah, I am,” Amy replied, if not more awkwardly, keeping the exchange cordial. Her heart was beginning to race, a familiar anxiety creeping up that almost felt thrilling. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying with every ounce of her being to suppress it and appear as normal as possible.

“I bet. It’ll be fun,” Sonic nodded, keeping his tone friendly while trying to find more words to fill the air. “You’ll have a good time with Sticks and Cream.”

“Yeah, they were really excited when I told them about it,” Amy smiled, rocking a bit on her heels. 

“Yeah.” Sonic looked down, then away, a bit of sweat forming on the back of his neck. God, this conversation felt painful.  

[spruzu]

Sonic frontiers chat

Before i start i don’t have the game and as much as i want it i definitely have to wait because it’s expensive as heck.

Over the past couple days i’ve been watching the vods on Snapcubes second channel from about a year back and oh my GOD i’m enjoying it so much. What does make it so much better is the way Penny plays the game, she makes the game seem so fun and i hope that when i do play it, it’s as fun as she’s made it seem. I’m on the last part now and if i’m honest this seems like an incredible game. It’s made me really really want to buy it and of course there probably some negative parts with the controls that i obviously can’t say anything about because i literally haven’t played it myself but the story line is amazing and the game play looks so fun.

An open world sonic game is so fun to watch, there are some parts where i can just have it on in the background while i’m drawing or doing drum practise but there’s also some parts where it’s like a movie and i’m hyperfixes on watching it. Yesterday all i did. was watch the third part because it was so good and the story just made me want to keep watching. It hurt to see sonic in his whole glitching thingy form and tails worry about him made me want to curl up in a ball and cry it was so sweet. Also the chat that sonic and tails have about tails feeling as though he’s not as good as sonic and he just “stands on the sidelines” honestly made me feel so bad for tails. He deserves so much better and i kind of want a tails game now where you just play as him, that would be amazing.

I would say though, i haven’t finished that last part so i can’t say too much but it does feel like sega skipped the edges with some parts of the game and story line especially with the islands. The last two islands look like Kronos island which is slightly disappointing. Don’t get me wrong i adore the vibe of the islands but it would be so much cooler if we had a new island with a different style specifically with the last island.

I want to say that these ‘memory tokens’ could have been so much more relevant if they fully kept in the “My name… My name is?” lines that sonic does. There was an open socket for sega to do the shadow the hedgehog move and pull out the amnesia on sonic but i get they probably didn’t have enough time and had to focus more one other part of the game but i would love to see it i a different game at some point… maybe sonic x shadow generations :^

Over all though this game seems amazing and the only parts that i can SEE are bad are some cyberspace levels and parts of the controls that Penny has pointed out. Until i manage to play the game i will be able to say my full opinion on what’s good and what’s bad about the game.

Also i really like the flower fields, i want to be in one.

[franckyfox2468]

Francky's top 5 games released in 2023

So with 2023 ending soon I decided to make a little list and a top 5 of the games that I enjoyed and played that came out this year

Though i will be limiting myself to games/remakes released this year so while i greatly enjoyed Sonic Frontiers and AI the Somnium files this year, they wont make the lsit sorry.

I will start with the honorable mention of games that i still enjoyed but didn’t make it to the top 5.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Like a Dragon: Ishin

Ishin is the last Yakuza game I've played that was made by its longtime director, Toshihiro Nagoshi. And after playing Like a Dragon Gaiden, it helped me realize how much of a difference a new direction can make and how much I have taken the quality of the series for granted. Ishin wasn’t the worst nor the best Yakuza game I've played imo. Which makes sense given it was made right in between one of my least favorite games in the series (yakuza 5) and one of my most favorites (yakuza 0). Its story is perhaps not something you would be used to compared to the rest of the series but it is based on a tale that is as old as time itself that is still quite enjoyable for what it is and while it has some annoying bits (like substories always getting in your way during important event or gun fights), Ishin is still a quite enjoyable game with some fun stories, fun combat and fun minigames. And honestly the funniest version of Baka Mitai somehow.

BombRush Cyberfunk

I decided to check out bombrush cyberfunk after it was absolutely snubbed over in the same award show that decided to promote a JetSetRadio game and I figured I would finally get around checking what it was about before the year ended. I haven’t finished the game yet. I haven’t played JSR so I can't exactly make a full comparison but through some of its rather painful and counterproductive input mapping/options and some frustrating platforming here and there, BRCF is still a game with a very charming, silly and engaging presentation with its story, art and music.

Robocop: Rogue City

Rogue City is not a perfect game, and a quite short one at that. But it is a really good and enjoyable game for what it is. It's not something I would recommend to someone who hasn’t seen the two first movies as they would absolutely get lost in just what the hell is going on and potentially get spoilers from both movies. While the final battle was a bit underwhelming in contrast to what the plot was potentially leading up to with it and some fights could get absolutely tedious, the game to me is in line with the telltale back to the future game or the atari ghostbusters where it can easily serve as a new chapter for the mainline film franchise but through a really good game.

TOP 5:

#5: Baldur's Gate 3

Don’t get me wrong, Baldur’s gate is an excellent game and a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone who likes RPGs of any sorts with ease. But part of the reasons it is so low on my list are, 1, i did not finish it unlike every other game on that list, 2, all of the fun and your will to plan a future character and playthrough is absolutely drained out by the time you reach act 3. I played explorer mode as I am not exactly a tactical rpg person myself and wanted to put more focus on the story, which is absolutely great. Every party member is fantastically written and voiced characters, each with their own tastes, goals and views upon the world and situation around you that makes them very likable and fun to have. Honestly some of the more fun companions i've seen in an rpg. The game really does a great job at emulating the sense of playing through a real DnD campaign with a ton of hilarious optional dialogues and where your actions and picked skills will matter in the end, as well as how you synergize them with the rest of your party (without the dogshit power hungry dm or the potential constant in-fighting of other players), the way you are introduced to most of the main party members so early into the story really helps to that feeling of your DM making a scene to make sure all of the players are quickly gathered together and introducing each others’ characters.

For most of the game creativity with your spells, tools at hand and strategy are absolutely rewarded and if you bring in some friends for co-op it can get hella chaotic for better or worse. But by the time you reach the third arc, the story and paths you can take in combat are really narrowing down and not exactly for the better as each fight and situations you start being put through really ties your ends and forces you to be quite careful and specific with what you do even on the easier modes. It's gotten to a point where I kinda haven’t played the game in a long time because doing literally anything done by that part of the game feels like a goddamn chore. But BG3 is still a fantastic game that I do intend to get around to finishing someday as I still think quite positively of it for the most part.

#4: Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-fi rush is simply a fantastic game. A game that involves platforming and combat while mixing rhythm game mechanics could have easily been a blunder but this game manages to succeed at every aspect it does on top of its fantastic artistic presentation. The art, the animation, the music, the writing… It's all fantastic. The only thing that really left to be desired is the ending kinda falling flat on its message and just going back to the situation the world was in despite the systematic issues still being there but the good guys are on top of it now so that makes it okay i guess? But with that aside, I would say the game might not be for everyone as some of the rhythmic elements can be quite tight and unforgiving in some aspects and fights but overall it was one of the more enjoyable and absolutely hilarious games i’ve played in awhile.

#3: Trepang2

On the surface, Trepang looks like a dull military shooter game with some horror elements that are inspired by FEAR. But the problem is that going into detail about why it is so much more would spoil a fantastic experience that absolutely caught me off guard with how good it was. As someone who has never played FEAR, the combat, if anything, was a lot more reminiscent of Titanfall 2. Sure you don’t have cool giant robots but trust me it makes up for simply how absolutely bonkers and high octane it can get. It just feels absolutely amazing from start to end. This is one of the best single player fps games i have played in a long while and i am absolutely looking forward to the story dlc they have announced coming in 2024. 

#2: Street Fighter 6

I have a love hate relationship with this game. I hate it because this game has caused some severe damage to my hands and at times I had to take a month long break from it because of how much it was starting to hurt. On the other hand, this is one of the most fun, enjoyable and accessible fighting games that I have ever played and definitely my favorite to this day. And i don’t simply mean because of its different control scheme. SF6 does an excellent job at giving all of the information the players need to better understand the game from within the game as well as official reading material like frame data and such provided by the devs themselves. And even if you aren't into fighting games or multiplayer games, I would absolutely still recommend SF6 for its world tour alone. While it does not have the most phenomenal story imaginable, it is a really goofy and enjoyable experience that perfectly blends rpg and fighting game mechanics for all to enjoy. And the best part is that every dlc release comes with free content and the ability to learn techniques from dlc characters you do not even own. Which honestly despite some of its issues with the monetizations is a huge W on the part of the devs regarding this game. Honestly despite some of its issues SF6 is the real first fighting game i started to feel like i was able to take seriously with how much resources and content you get, and it helped me get even closer to some friends as well as meeting some quite friendly people. I love SF6. But what could possibly beat it then?

#1: Pizza Tower

S rank is for Street fighter, which is pretty good. P rank is for Pizza Tower, which is perfection to me. I’ll admit I nearly gave up on this game because of some initial frustrations but pizza tower is a game you can ALWAYS get better at, even if you managed to finish the whole game. The best way to describe it is… it's the best Nintendo game not made by nintendo. Not because it tries to do something fans always wanted or replicated an aesthetic. But it's through just how polished and tightly designed the game is but it does so in a way that doesn’t punish experimentation with all of its crazy movement mechanics and it doesn't try to streamline anything for you except perhaps how player damage is handled, which feels like quite the opposite of what Nintendo does with a lot of its game nowadays. Everything feels so samey, streamlined, slowed down but the dated tired shit like extra lives and such are here to stay and you have to deal with it, while the new fancy stuff rarely brings benefits and usually are more so gimmicky annoyances (at least this is my feeling towards a lot of more recent Kirby games). While the game definitely has some of its downside and it's a quite hard game, it is honestly one of the best 2d platformers I've played and I'd easily put it aside to a game I would deem legendary like DKC2 or Super Mario World. Every level is well defined, well designed, you always get something new and fun at each of them. And that is not even mentioning its absolutely wonderful and hysterical art, animation and this absolute banger of a soundtrack.

I am ultra excited for the upcoming character dlc as it will give me a reason to replay the whole game with some new mechanics to add some spice to it all. Pizza tower is excellent.

[inkedkoi]

Remaining Questions & Final Thoughts

Continuation of "Hold On To “What If”: Overanalyzing and Rewriting Sonic Prime" essay

[Once Again, spoilers for Sonic Prime, all media here belong to their respective creators.]

✨//🌻//✨

Remaining Questions

Here are all the remaining questions I have about the show! These are more up to debate, since it's most likely it wasn't fully fleshed out in the writer's room, but I did want to add them here anyway:

Can the Shards break into smaller pieces? Is it possible to drain all the energy from the Shards? And, if so, what would happen to the Shatterspaces?

Why was there 5 Eggman “look-alikes” in a single Shatterspace?

Transcript:

Mr. Doctor Eggman: “Five makes one. One makes five.”

[S1 EP1]

Did Eggman make clones of himself but at different ages? Did they exist just because it gave more motivation for the Rebellion and Nine to stand up for themselves when Boscage and No Place didn’t need it? Is this the ray of light allegory, when light shines through a prism and it scatters? Or could the Prism has been broken before cycle theory be true? Or, just like Sonic, Eggman being close to the Prism affect his "look-alikes"?

What did this frame even mean???

no, like seriously, was it for aesthetic reasons or what? That he's gay? (the answer is yes, yes he is. GET GAY BEAMED YOU HOT TOPIC WANNABE)

Final Thoughts

I've been watching Sonic Prime being created ever since Day 1. Of course, I haven't been able to see any leaks of it, they kinda ruin the fun of it all. But I've been hyped ever since the first trailers came out. The multiverse thing has been all the craze for movies and shows, this was no different.

As I said at the beginning of this essay, Sonic got a bit of my interest years ago but I never went further into it. That was until Prime and Frontiers caught it again. I've heard about how the Sonic fandom was toxic and such, but I know it doesn't apply to all of the fans, so I decided to give Sonic a chance. Besides, I've learned to not take things too seriously, after all it's just a speedy blue hedgehog going on adventures. You should've seen me a year ago, I binged through:

Snapcube fandubs

Fadel's (GamesCage) playthrough of Frontiers

IDW comics

sonadow (the OG red and blue couple)

every playthrough I was able to find, in 2x speed, in the background while I was doing college assignments

both Sonic movies

Sonic X

Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (I even made some art of it with Ace Attorney characters, Link)

Sonic Central and live streams

and I bought my first ever piece of Sonic merch (yes, it counts)

Hey, I was (and still am) a Ace Attorney girlie. So, entering into the Sonic fandom, it was kind of familiar in some ways. The two starve for some content, at times being years of waiting. Just as in any fandom, people may have arguments here and there but when it counts, people come together and enjoy the moment.

When it comes to Prime, I had a fun time. It’s the type of show that you just want to sit down and just be silly. There were times that got me hyped (like the references, Prismatic Sonic 2nd form, Shadow every single time he comes up on screen), and times that I really got me audibly going "aww" (like the Rose sisters, Sonic being silly lil' goof). Then there are all the times I was SCREAMING like a fangirl (...because of the sonadow moments).

listen, i can't help it if i see my boys on screen, okay? just look at them

You know, when I made this, I didn't expect it to be this long. After all, I planned to post my silly little theories before I went abroad for a few months. Instead, I went into maximum overdrive, explaining why Prime had so much potential and how most of it happened was because of the fans, both the viewers and the ones working within the show. There definitely unsung heroes that deserve so much recognition. I would like to personally thank Erik Wiese, one of the people who truly cared for the show. It's not just him though, so many workers on the show also happened to be Sonic fans.

💬 "The fans know how to do it better than the creators themselves..."

I think this applies to Prime. Again, I don't have anything against SEGA or anyone working in the Sonic franchise. But I think a great show in general is one where the crew is willing to give it their all for the fans. That it isn't just another show or cash-grab, but a passion project for the franchise. Something by fans, for the fans. As the song "Live & Learn" goes:

"(Live and learn!) Hanging on the edge of tomorrow; (Live and learn!) From the works of yesterday; (Live and learn!) If you beg or if you borrow; (Live and learn!) You may never find your way!"

So, TL;DR: I didn't think I would be more invested in writing a whole essay about Sonic Prime than in my college thesis but here we are! (holy shit-)

Thank you so much for bearing with me rambling about a silly blue hedgehog and his friends! Likes, Reblogs, and Comments are always appreciated. Again, let me know if you want me to rewrite all of Prime. As always, remember to:

drink water

get some food

stretch

take your meds

get some rest/a break

Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to stare at my bedroom ceiling and think about how Shadow is giving me gender envy—

Take care, my dear fellows, and I'll see you all next time!

Previous Part || Masterpost

[shadamyheadcanons]

My thoughts on Sonic Frontiers

I really enjoyed it and appreciate everyone not spoiling it for me :) I meant to post about Frontiers months ago, but this took forever for some reason. Naturally, there’ll be spoilers under the cut.

(Are Frontiers details still considered spoilers? Idk. If they are, let me know!)

I like how many callbacks there were to previous characters and events. It made it feel like an actual narrative with greater stakes. There’s actual continuity now!

Tails and Knuckles were handled better than I ever could have anticipated. I haven’t loved them so much in years! I couldn’t ask for more.

Eggman and Sage are standouts. I’m interested to see how they’ll write Sage moving forward. I could see her feeling torn between supporting Sonic or Eggman.

I feel...conflicted about Amy in this game. Her compassion is there, at least, and she's not the bland cheerleader she was in Forces. She wasn’t a jerk like in Free Riders, either. Thing is, though, what I love most about Amy is how fierce she can be. It’s directly tied to her brand of kindness. She needs those strong feelings, both the good and the bad, to be her. And there was barely a glimmer of it in Frontiers. I was so excited when it finally popped up and she argued with Sonic about not doing enough to help the Kokos, but she backed off really quickly. She just got shut down.

I fear that the writers have decided a milder Amy is more “mature” than her fiery, feisty former self. I don’t want them to make her boring because they’re afraid of what she used to be. I’m scared that the Amy I grew to love is gone for good because people think she needs to be “Nice.”

She needs that energy. She needs that spark. She carries around a giant hammer, for Chaos’ sake. You can’t give her a giant hammer and then tell me she doesn’t have guts and a temper.

We already have Cream. We need Amy!

I’m hoping it’s just a side-effect of Frontiers’ somber setting. Ian Flynn *gets* her, so if they keep giving him more influence, then I have hope. And this is still an improvement in some ways.

As a side note, they really toned down her crush, huh? They emphasized how important love is to her (as they should), but none of it really seemed directed specifically at Sonic. Every time she mentioned love, she looked away from him. And if she’d decided to go on a journey to spread love around the world in literally any other game, she’d have invited him...but she didn’t in this one. And he showed no interest in joining her. Idk. I’m not saying she’s over him--I don’t think she is--but I’ve been seeing Sonic x Amy fans going nuts over this game for months now and calling them “canon,” and I don’t know why.

I saw far more chemistry between Sonic and Knuckles, no contest.

This game does a great job making use of the characters’ strengths. I love how Knuckles got to show his expertise with the ruins. I love how Amy was able to point out the freshly-recovered nature of Kronos Island, implying she goes back to the towns they’ve helped in the past and checks up on how they’re doing. In a game where Sonic’s friends can do so little, these details say a lot.

I was disappointed when Sonic’s cyber-corruption was immediately fixed by the cheesy “let’s hold hands” Power of Friendship deus ex machina moment. Cyber-corruption was built up for the entire game as something debilitating that couldn’t be easily fixed. Sonic was straight-up deteriorating, barely able to stand, and the stakes felt extremely high. Making it harder to undo all that--and bringing in his friends to do so and repay everything he’d been doing for them--would be ideal to me. This would have been the perfect place for the new story and playable characters they’ve promised! Give them their own missions! Use the corruption as a reason Sonic has to be sidelined! It’s obvious the devs were feeling the time crunch by that point in the game, so I don’t blame them too much, but it would’ve been seamless.

As it is, though, I am absolutely thrilled that I’ll get to play as Amy again!!! It’s been so long, and some leaks have been hinting at Origins Amy DLC, too!!

Give me the hammer! It’s! Her! Turn!

Finally, I’m really excited to see what they do with the time skip--or at least I’m assuming it’ll be a time skip. They’re all going on journeys and Tails literally said “You won’t even recognize me the next time you see me,” so I’d say it’s pretty cut-and-dried. New powers, designs, etc? Who knows?

[tenebraevesper]

Vandalize My Heart, Entry 2: Vandalize My Heart

''Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearin' me down! Am I laid to waste now that you're not around? Come and leave your mark! Vandalize my heart! Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins! Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it! Come and leave your mark (Come and leave your mark)! Vandalize my heart!''

– Vandalize by Sonic Frontiers

xXxXxXx

Shadow had to admit that spending the evening with Sonic was surprisingly pleasant. After the initial awkward conversation they had about how they felt about each other, Sonic had quickly loosened up and was dragging Shadow from one vendor stand to the next and keeping up a conversation. While Shadow usually preferred quiet moments and would get easily irritated during any discussions that he felt were a waste of time, he actually found himself enjoying Sonic's company, not being bothered by the chatterbox that the cobalt hedgehog was.

''…could've used a bit more spice just to add a kick to the chili,'' Sonic finished his thought, looking down at the half-eaten chili dog he was holding. He and Shadow were sitting on a bench, having bought a few snacks at the food booth. ''Hey, speaking of which, were you really serious about me cooking you the same food you at the ARK?''

''I'd be more satisfied with a pizza or hot pockets,'' Shadow replied in a surprisingly nonchalant tone, taking a bite of his fries. Sonic gave him a confused look. ''Compared to the food I ate here on Earth, the food on the ARK feels bland in hindsight.''

Sonic rose an eyebrow, but then smiled mischievously as he asked, ''Okay, what about that 20-step skin-care routine?''

''I'm The Ultimate Lifeform. I can recover for any kind of injury and scaring easily. Did you really think I need something like that?'' Shadow asked. Sonic shrugged.

''To be honest, it is a bit hard to figure out when you're not serious about something,'' Sonic replied. Shadow paused for a moment.

''You have a point,'' he said.

''I guess that you hating wrinkled sheets is also a lie then,'' Sonic continued, only to realize that Shadow was quiet for some reason. ''Uh, Shads?''

''It is not a must, but I prefer to actually have linens ironed,'' Shadow replied.

''Don't worry, I can take care of that,'' Sonic replied, finishing off the chili dog and leaning back against the bank, quite content. ''This was some crazy evening, wasn't it? I didn't expect for things to turn out like this, but I'm glad it happened. I'm really having a great time.''

''I wouldn't call it crazy,'' Shadow replied, throwing away the empty container into a nearby trash bin. ''If anything, it was insightful.''

''I guess you could call it that,'' Sonic replied, looking down at the golden ring on his wrist, then glancing at Shadow. ''Uh, just to be on the same page, are we engaged or just dating?''

''I suppose it's the latter. While I did call this whole thing a marriage proposal, I don't think neither of us is ready for any serious committment,'' Shadow replied. Even though this whole thing was his idea, he had to admit that calling Sonic, who was his longtime rival, his boyfriend felt strange. ''Although, the issue lies more with you than me.''

''Got it,'' Sonic replied, giving him a thumbs up. As for the remark, he knew that Shadow was right. He wasn't the type of person who'd be in a serious relationship with anyone, preferring to be free from any kind of ties that clashed against his personal principles. ''Nevertheless, I want to try this out. I might even surprise you.''

''Hmph. Oh, really?'' Shadow asked, giving him a wry smirk. To his surprise, Sonic just leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Shadow's eyes widened in shock and he reflexively put his hand on the now bright red cheek. While he and Sonic agreed to this relationship, he didn't expect the cobalt hedgehog to be this bold.

''Yeah, really,'' Sonic replied, smiling cheekily, the skin beneath his fur being as red as Shadow's. His heart was racing as if he just ran across half the world at full speed, despite sitting still the whole time. He had to admit that he also surprised himself with this action, but it felt like Shadow was challenging him and he wanted to prove himself. It felt like a competition, even if it wasn't, and he really enjoyed the thrill that came with it. ''Hey, how about we go to the Ferris Wheel next? It is the main attraction here, after all.''

''Okay,'' Shadow replied, with Sonic grabbing the bouquet and getting up, only to see Shadow extending his hand to him. He happily took it, intertwining his fingers with Shadow's and the two walked towards the Ferris Wheel.

''I don't know if you had ever been on it, but the sight is absolutely amazing…''

Sonic kept talking as they walked towards the Ferris Wheel and Shadow listened to him contently. While the conversation was, for the most part, one-sided, Sonic didn't seem to care, even starting to point out the scenery in the distance after they entered their cabin and the Ferris Wheel started to rotate, lifting them up. However, his talk eventually faded into silence and they just enjoyed the sight. However, when Sonic turned to Shadow, he noticed that the dark hedgehog seemed to be troubled by something.

''Hey, Shads, what's wrong?'' he asked.

''Sonic, what exactly has happened on the Starfall Islands?'' Shadow asked.

''It was the usual stuff. We were trying to stop Eggman's latest scheme when things got out of control, and everyone but me got trapped in Cyberspace, so I had to find the Chaos Emeralds and save the day. Things were even going really well, when that entity that was giving me directions around the Starfall Islands, The End, turned out to be the true villain. Fortunately, Sage and I managed to destroy it, but she didn't make it out…'' Sonic drifted away, remembering how Sage had sacrificed herself to help him stop The End. Despite being enemies at first, he was genuinely fond of her and it hit him hard when she perished in the battle. ''I had asked Eggman about her, before this whole Takeover thing, and he told me that she's alive and well, as he had managed to restore her.''

''Do you think you may have managed to make an ally in the Eggman Empire?'' Shadow asked. Sonic shrugged.

''Who knows? I would like to meet her again and thank her for helping me, though,'' he replied.

''Of course you would,'' Shadow replied, his gaze now more serious as he added, ''So, when were you going to tell me that you effectively died, or were put in a death-like state due to the cyber energy corruption.''

''H-How do you know about that?'' Sonic stammered, surprised to hear that.

''I overheard it from Amy and Knuckles right after the Takeover. Amy mentioned how worried everyone was about you,'' Shadow replied. ''They had told me that you kept on absorbing cyber energy despite the fact that it was corrupting you and taking a toll on your body. They would voice their concerns whenever they saw you like that, but you kept on dismissing them.''

''I didn't want to worry them. After all, they already had enough on their own plate and I wasn't going to pile my own problems on them,'' Sonic replied, then grinned. ''Besides, everything turned out well in the end. Isn't that what matters the most?''

''Not if your reckless behavior keeps everyone in distress,'' Shadow said, glaring at him. ''Have you thought that they may have just wanted to comfort you when they saw how hurt you were?''

Sonic's eyes widened, and he had to admit that Shadow's words did stung quite a bit. He knew that his friends were worried sick about him, especially when his condition started worsening, but he kept acting as if it was nothing, that he needed to go through this if he wanted to save everyone. He couldn't allow himself to show just how vulnerable he was at the time, since he knew that, if he faltered even for a bit, it would be game over for all of them.

Sonic then turned his head towards the night sky, observing the twinkling stars above.

''It was hard. As I was trying to break the last seal, I felt myself growing weaker and slower, and my memories were being distorted. At one point, I barely remembered why I even was there, or what my name was. Luckily, I managed to push through, but I would be lying if I said that it wasn't scary,'' he admitted in a heavy tone, his gaze troubled.

Shadow started at Sonic in surprise and curiosity. Usually, his rival would try to avoid any talk about his more vulnerable moments, so this was quite unexpected. However, it was clear that Sonic trusted him enough to tell him that.

''I understand how that feels. Losing your memories is a frightening experience,'' Shadow said, closing his eyes briefly as he felt a chill down his spine. He may have been fortunate that he had regained his memories of his past, but that didn't mean that he still wasn't haunted by them, even if he had made the decision to move on and carve out a life for himself, one not tied to what happened on Space Colony ARK.

''I'm sorry for what happened to you,'' Sonic said, causing Shadow to look at him. ''If I had just tried a little harder, maybe I would've been able to save you…''

''I told you already, I waved you off because I knew you would have fallen with me. The only regret I have is forgetting that moment,'' Shadow replied, falling silent. He felt a heavy weight on his chest as he remembered the darkness consuming him, it being his only companion until Rouge freed him.

''Shadow…'' Shadow was stunned when Sonic suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. His heart was racing Sonic buried his head into his shoulder. ''Despite what happened, and despite our differences, I'm glad that you came back.'' Sonic then leaned back, giving Shadow a warm smile. ''Honestly, I couldn't imagine how things would be without you being around.''

Shadow gazed away, a tiny, faint voice in his head telling him that he didn't deserve all of this love and care. He may have been scolding Sonic for his recklessnes, but he wasn't better either, always choosing the more violent path when it came to dealing with his enemies, while Sonic tried to see the best in them, using violence as a last resort. He then turned back to Sonic, noting the fierce and determined look in the cobalt hedgehog's eyes.

''You know, no matter how much suffering I put myself through, even if I'm marching to my own death, I would never leave someone behind. If my friends are in trouble and need my helf, I would do anything for them. That includes you too,'' Sonic added. ''Tails, Amy, Knuckles… You all mean a lot to me and I would continue fighting for you no matter how hard it is.''

That was something that always amazed Shadow when it came to Sonic. Even in the worst of scenarios, Sonic never gave up on hope. He never stopped moving forward, leaving the past behind him. His determination was something Shadow always deeply admired. Sonic then sighed.

''Although, this might the last of my adventures with Tails, Knuckles and Amy, at least for now. I don't know if anyone told you, but we had talked, and they all want to go on their own adventure. It is going to be lonely without them though,'' Sonic said, staring at the night sky. ''Nevertheless, I want Tails, Knuckles and Amy to follow their dreams. They should have the opportunity to experience the world on their own and grow without me being present.''

''If you really don't want to be alone on your next adventure, maybe I should come with you,'' Shadow said.

''Really?'' Sonic perked up, turning to Shadow.

''I don't really have anything to do, so I wouldn't mind keeping an eye on you in case you get reckless again,'' Shadow replied

''I can make no promises regarding that,'' Sonic replied, grinning sheepishly, only for his expression to change to a questioning one. ''What about your work with G.U.N.?''

''I suppose you haven't gotten the memo. Team Dark has quit working for G.U.N. a while ago, not helped by the fact that Dr. Eggman took care of them during the war,'' Shadow added in a grim tone, then continued, ''While I still keep in contact with Rouge and Omega, we had decided to split off, at least for the time being,'' Shadow explained.

''I see,'' Sonic muttered. ''So, you really don't know what to do now with your life?''

''I want to keep my promise of protecting the world, but I had also recently realized that I should find something for myself and try to live the life I want,'' Shadow admitted.

''Then you asked the right hedgehog for help,'' Sonic replied excitedly. ''I'm sure that we'll figure something out. One thing I learned about this world is that there is always something new around the corner, whether it's hanging out with your friends or beating up an ancient eldritch abomination from space. Basically, just live and learn.''

''Right, I get it,'' Shadow replied, a tiny smile forming on his lips. Sonic just grinned back, happy to see him like this. Shadow was someone who would rarely smile, so this was quite a treat.

When the ride eventually ended, they left, wandering aimlessly. The crowd from earlier has started to disperse as it was getting late and people were going home. Shadow glanced at Sonic, who was unusually silent, but appeared to be quite content, still holding his hand. It was still hard to believe that he fell for his rival, but after the conversation they had earlier, he realized that he made the right decision to confess his feelings. No matter how much he pushed Sonic away, it was clear that the cobalt hedgehog would always support him, and Shadow had started to accept that he simply couldn't fight back. There were people who cared deeply about him and while he knew that he would never be as open about his feelings as Sonic was, he figured that at least he could show some appreciation in his own way.

''So, what are we going to do next?'' Sonic turned to Shadow with a questioning look. ''I mean, I had been dragging you all over the place and you just went along. I think you should choose what we'll do now.''

Shadow remained silent for a moment, staring intently at Sonic. ''I think you're going to regret asking me this.''

''What do you mean by that?'' Sonic asked, rising an eyebrow.

Suddenly, Shadow stepped towards him and cupped his head, pressing his lips against the latter's. The kiss was warm, sweet and longing, with Sonic wrapping his arms around Shadow's torso, the bouquet falling out of his hand. The sensation they felt was unlike any other, a desire to just be with each other. Eventually, they broke off, gazing at each other, now both bright red and slightly in disbelief. Sonic had a goofy grin spread across his lips, the kind Shadow would've usually scoffed at before, but now had found irresistible.

''Wow, Shadow…'' Sonic said, feeling slightly dazed from the kiss. Sure, he did initiate the kiss earlier, but it was just a peck on the cheek. This was something else, and from the look Shadow was giving him, it appeared that he felt the same. They both had their arms still wrapped around each other, not wanting to let go yet.

''You're not the only one capable of surprises,'' Shadow replied, trying not to show how flustered he was, even though he was certain that Sonic could hear his rapid heart-beat.

''Maybe you should give me another chance then,'' Sonic replied, grinning mischievously.

''Only if you beat me in a race,'' Shadow told him, stepping back and folding his arms across his chest. ''After all, the last one didn't go so well,'' Shadow said. Sonic was excited about the challenge.

''You're on!'' he replied, giving Shadow a determined look. ''This time, I'll win. You cannot beat The Fastest Thing Alive!''

''As The Ultimate Lifeform, I beg to differ,'' Shadow replied confidently.

Both turned to the road before them, exchanging glances before getting into their positions. They haven't even agreed what the finish line would be, but it didn't matter. All they wanted now is to have some fun with their little competition.

''Ready…''

''Set…''

''GO!''

Both hedgehogs sped off at the speed of sound, leaving only a blue and orange streak behind. They didn't care about the past they left behind, nor about what the future held for them. What only mattered was that they were living in the moment.

Whatever would come next, they would be facing it together.

Links:

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#Vandalize My Heart (Masterlist)

[snaketailthecat]

So I may have caved and made a Sonic OC

Meet Plasma the Serval! A being made shortly after the events of Sonic Frontiers due to the ancients’ technology.

Also tumblr killed the quality I’m so sorry

More info about them under the cut if you’re interested!

They were created shortly after the events of Sonic Frontiers, dazed and confused where they soon collapsed after coming in contact with one of Eggman’s computers, knocking out power to the entire EggNet for a few seconds.

The doctor went to investigate the cause and found a serval with electricity coming off of them on the ground, he soon took them with him to conduct a study on their abilities.

Plasma woke up a week later and was informed by their current situation via Sage. Upon hearing why Plasma was there they gladly agreed to the study, admitting they didn’t know about their origins either.

The tests were, inconclusive, to say the least, however Eggman’s leading theory is that the ancients’ technology along with a bit of Sage’s programming may have interacted with Sonic and co. memories leading to Plasma being created.

Plasma was trained on their energy but were never able to get the hang of it no matter how hard they tried. After accidentally interacting with a chaos emerald stored in the base they caused the area around them to collapse and was found unconscious.

It took them two months to recover.

That’s when the doctor decided to design a collar that would allow Plasma to balance the energy levels more properly, and assigned Metal Sonic to keep an eye on them.

-A bit of info on that shown below-

Plasma enjoyed the company and wasn’t intimidated by Metal whatsoever, leading the two to form a sibling-like bond of understanding. This lead them to being paired on missions since Plasma could give Metal energy if he was running low, and could keep up with Metal and Sonic if at high energy.

Plasma surprisingly became a part of the Eggman Empire and has a sibling-like bond with Orbot, Cubot, Sage, and Metal, seeing Eggman as a father-figure. An unexpected addition to their little found family but a welcome one.

Plasma is very chipper and sees good in everything. They’re always trying to cheer others up and help in anyway they know how! They’re not naive though, they know the destruction the Eggman Empire causes and doesn’t want to be a leading factor in it. So instead they play support for the others not really getting into the conflict themselves.

This has lead to many interactions with various characters due to their non-violent and positive nature. One of which being Belle who they love as a sibling as much as they would Sage or Metal much to their siblings’ (and in some cases Eggman’s) disapproval.

They still stay by their found family’s side though stuck in an inner turmoil of morals, where they want to know others outside their family, but can’t due to said family’s reputation. Despite the turmoil they hide it with a smile knowing their siblings are experiencing some rough patches lately.

They’ll just keep quiet and continue sneaking out to meet Belle for the time being, at least until their family realizes this conflict between Sonic isn’t worth it.

Surely they’ll see reason eventually… right?

-Relationship chart with Plasma down below-

-Relationship chart without Plasma down below which helps in understanding these character’s relationships outside of Plasma-

-If you read this far thank you so much for listening to my dumb rambles about this character it really means a lot!-

[nuttyrabbit]

I genuinely liked all the obscure Sonic Facts that Greeny would post about! It sucks, but I found them really interesting!

However, the constant Ian Flynn bashing was really annoying. I understand not liking his writing style, it’s not perfect and can be criticized. But I swear to fuck, he would complain about the tiniest things!

Then he would talk about Flynn stans and how they sucked his dick constantly. I’m sorry to say this, but Greeny was hate-sucking Ian’s dick constantly!!!!

I don’t usually follow drama in the Sonic Fandom, since I’m too old to be getting angry over stupid things. I just stay in my lane, occasionally read fanfics for my ships, reblog theorizing/positive posts and cute fanart. Like, I think fandoms should be fun, so I try to have fun.

I followed Greeny since, as I said, I like the trivia they posted about and wanted to learn more.

At some point though, I think I became embarrassed to like IDW Sonic because of how much Greeny and their group would criticize Flynn and Evan. I took a break from the comics because the zombot arc had exhausted me, but I think reading the constant criticism made me not want to pick it back up. I still haven’t picked IDW Sonic back up.

I also feel like it’s gotten worse over the years. Like, I don’t remember seeing this type of stuff, or at least not as much complaining, back when I first started following Greeny.

Eventually, I stopped having fun and enjoy my time with Greeny’s posts. I felt like it made me more ashamed of what I enjoyed, and that’s not how I want to spend my time. It wasn’t even thoughtfully negative, it was just mean-spirited.

I recently stopped following Greeny, I think before Frontiers came out. He had made a post bashing the Flynn’s dialogue in one of the leaked cutscenes at the time (when Sonic first encounters the voice). Then he made another post translating the Japanese of that scene… and it was literally the exact same fucking sentence!!!!

I realized then that I was done with Greeny, that he was going to criticize the English dialogue for the entire fucking game. And I didn’t want to deal with it.

I wanted to try and enjoy Sonic Frontiers with being ashamed!

Sorry for the super long rant. Didn’t expect this ask to be a novel. I know you weren’t really talking about Greeny, but I’ve been holding this in and I just needed to air out my grievances.

You don’t have to answer or even post this ask, I just needed to get this off my chest. Again, sorry.

Honestly anon, I'm glad you posted this because my experience was very similar. For a long time I followed Greeny because they had good insights and made good posts, and even thought they acted cunty sometimes and had opinions that I thought were outright ignorant, I generally let it slide because things were relatively civil

But then yeah, the Zombot Arc brought out the worst in her and a lot of people, including me. God going back to my posts from that time is exhausting because I was furiously debating every one of these people and we were all being brick walls about it, and I could feel the discourse get naster and nastier.

It was around that time I remember her and the other people in her group just getting meaner in general and becoming very hateful towards Ian specifiaclly. Like they didn't like him a ton before but it became downright vitriolic and it felt like even discussing the guy in anything other than a negative light was a reason for them to jump down your throat

Even after the Zombot arc ended, shit remained so toxic that it was one of the reasons (well that and just my focus shifting from Tumblr in general) I just kinda left this site and didn't really look back, because it was getting to the point where I was dreading every issue coming out for the inevitable fucking discourse.

From the looks of it, it seemed like it only got worse with time, especially with the release of Frontiers.

Here's my ultimate fucking take. Greeny is entitled to her opinions, however crudely worded or wrong or bad faith they may be. But people are also entitled to call her out on her opinions and attitudes or just flat out ignore them, much as they are with anyone else's opinions, including mine.

The only reason I got involved in all of this shit was because I vented an opinion on Twitter and it got out of hand. Most of the time, I'm like you and just content to vibe in the fandom and talk about whatever, and I'd like to go back to that. I'd much rather be talking about my fucking OCs and my verse than dumb fandom drama bullshit

But like I said, I'm glad you sent this both to get it off your chest and to give me the chance to do the same. At this point I've just had so many bad experiences in this fandom (some of them of my own doing I will freely admit) that it's hard to care anymore. But I don't think anyone should be afriad to speak up about anyone in this fandom, even someone like Greeny or Crusher or a popular artist or whomstever the fuck

[nightfurylover31]

I decided to write something for a special someone. Happy birthday @starrjoy! What happens when I take a scene from Sonic Frontiers and sprinkle it a bit of their Pandora AU with it? You get this! I loved the moment Sonic and Knuckles had in the game, and I hope you like it too. Just a bit of what might be going on in Sonic's head during this heart to heart chat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the first time, the vibe on Ares Island was calm and stale. Even more so for being a desert environment. Things were seldom after the final vision of the Koco, and their… departure. These little guys were fighting in a war, and seemingly, none survived. Only their souls remained in these little figurines, but now they were just empty husks. 

Knuckles sat on top of one of the ruins overlooking the plain. Sonic made his way over and sat beside his friend. There was tension in the air. Sonic was about to make one of his wisecrack comments to cheer him up, but stopped himself. It didn’t feel like the time.  

Knuckles was taking what happened to the Koco hard. He did lead the Resistance during the war. He also panicked a bit when those robots were going to attack the bunker earlier. Maybe that brought back some bad memories.

Finally, the echidna spoke. 

“Ages ago, my people were wiped out by a cataclysm. I know the Koco faced something similar. It reminds me I’m the last echidna. That I’m alone.” 

A strong pain echoed in Sonic’s heart then. A pain he hadn’t thought about in years. The pain he felt losing his home, his entire culture, and his family, to such an event. One that he caused. It surprised him he didn’t think about it that much anymore. Old memories did start to pop up when he heard that spooky sky voice. The beginning of how it all fell apart. Every fiber of his being screamed to ignore it. But with his friends’ safety on the line, how could he? 

Still, it finally dawned on him how similar his own past was to Knuckles’. All alone in the world, with no family. All because of some sort of deranged water deity took it all. At least you weren’t the one to cause the cataclysm, Sonic thought to himself. 

Sonic did not say a word about his past. Knuckles might be the most understanding, since he shared a similar burden. But then again, Rad Red might start a rant about Sonic screwing up everything in his life. Maybe not right now, but later. No, now was not the time for that. Right now his friend needed cheering up. 

“You may be the last, but you’re not alone. You’ve got us, knuckle-head,” he said with less sass than usual. And I’ve got you guys.  

That did seem to perk Knuckles up a bit. To be reminded of the friends he made whom care about him so much. Despite their repeated fights and bickering, the two of them were very close. 

“I’ll admit, I do envy your lifestyle,” Knuckles continued. “Freedom to go where you want, when you want.” 

It wasn’t like the echidna to say something like that. Guess being stuck in between cyberspace and the real world left him wanting more. Amy said the experience made her feel detached. And Knuckles was a hands-on guy. He did come off his island occasionally when Eggman’s schemes, or anything, got too threatening. But he never really got the chance to explore the world freely. To truly enjoy it. It made Sonic happy to hear Knuckles say that.

“So do it! Get out there and live a little.” He had tried to encourage that before, but now it felt like the offer was ready to be taken.

“Maybe I could.. but first I need to be back to normal.” Knuckles stood up and added some extra sass to his voice, along with a smug grin. “So hurry up and get me back to normal!” 

“Anything to get you away from me,” Sonic barked back.

The two glared for a moment, then bursted out laughing. To anyone, it would probably seem odd. But Sonic and Knuckles have known each other long enough to read pass the insults to know what they really meant. Their playful banter becoming one of the things that made their bond so strong. 

For the most part, Sonic saw himself and Knuckles as opposites. One as free as the wind, the other strong as a mountain. Sonic lived by his own feelings; Knuckles was full of a sense of duty. It seemed amazing that the two became friends, but opposites attract, I guess. 

Sonic was not one to believe in fate, but he did feel that maybe the two of them were brought together for a reason. Their cultures’ actions impacted their lives. The blue hedgehog realized Chaos had to have been the god that Pandora was separated from by his ancestors, back when he first saw it in Station Square. The one who used him to wipe out everyone on Christmas Island. Sonic never told Knuckles about this; he never even told Tails. How could you tell someone, no matter how close they were, about your greatest mistake? The one that costed the lives of thousands. 

Sonic pushed those feelings and memories back down, focusing on what was happening right now. A peaceful moment with his dear friend.  

Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to tell you the truth, Knux. But for now, I’m glad to have you by my side. As a rival, and one of the best friends I could ever ask for. 

[welcome-to-green-hills]

This ask is in reference to your frontiers question. I didn’t even know that the emeralds had an origin like that. I mean I guess I assumed earth but now seeing that there’s physical evidence of it being real is real! And now that frontiers goofed that canon I can’t believe that it was overlooked. I knew that something felt off about frontiers’s explanation of the emeralds and now that you showed this bit of canon lore now it feels more confusing than ever

Hahaha! Oh, man. My age is really gonna show here😅

In case anyone is curious, this is the ASK that this wonderful person is referring to. And let me just say that I’m super happy that this didn’t turn into an argument. I’ve been afraid to talk about this for a few years now. I didn’t want y’all to think that I was being a jerk about it.

I’ve quoted Sonic Jam’s JP guide because I grew up playing the classic and adventure titles. Please understand that when I refer to myself as an “older fan,” I don’t mean it as a flex or a self-appointed authority figure. I mean it in the regards of enjoying the series for a long time. My understanding of Sonic lore might be a bit different than what some of the newer games and fans notice.

When I played Frontiers, the explanation didn’t click right in my head. That was lore that was already established years ago. The chaos emeralds coming from a different race of extra-terrestrial beings works for the films because it was established early on. For game canon lore? Ehhh… I think it needs to sit on the back burner for a bit longer.

The ask that hyperlinked is more of me asking a question. I’m a bit lost. If anyone’s got some ideas, I’d love to hear them!😁

[tinymoondrops]

Not So Alone (Knuckles/Rouge)

This isn’t apart of my big valentines day plan but I hope you enjoy this regardless! I apologize for any grammer or spelling errors! This story takes place directly after Sonic Frontiers!

Knuckles sighs as he watches Tails fly away in the tornado with Sonic and Amy. He’d been dropped off first after their adventures on the Starfall islands. It was time for him to go back to solitude. At least he had planning some trips to look forward to. He was ultimately excited to explore more of Mobius.

His heart sank a little as he turned and started to make his way back to the altar where he spent his days. He knew no one would’ve missed him. The only friends he had were now flying away. The Chao on the island sure would’ve been concerned by his absence but they were able to take care of themselves, they didn’t need him. Besides, it wasn’t the same as another Mobian missing him. 

This was one of those times when being the last echidna really took a toll on him. He had no family to speak of. No one would be waiting for him at the altar. He spent his days alone munching on grapes as he looked over the Master Emerald. Only occasionally going on little excursions around Angel Island or going to help his friends. Rouge would sometimes come and annoy him by trying to steal the Master Emerald, and sometimes Sonic, Tails, and Amy would visit but it was still lonely. Just him, his rock collection, and the occasional Chao. He was looking forward to being able to get the chance to go on his own vacation away from this island to explore more of the world.

As he approaches the Emerald, lost in thought, he doesn’t notice the white bat laying on the emerald looking up at the sound of footsteps. 

“KNUCKLES!” A voice shrieks causing Knuckles to jump and get into a defensive position. It took him only a moment to register who the voice had come from.

“Rouge?! What are you doing here? Get away from my emerald!” He snarls used to the bat trying to steal the emerald whenever she got the chance. Instead, he was tackled into a hug, Rouge's face burying into his shoulder, which quickly became wet with tears causing him to blush. 

“R-Rouge?” he asks, his arms out in shock not knowing what to do. “Are you ok?” 

“NO! Where have you been, you idiot? You left the emerald completely unguarded! You NEVER do that!” she glares up at him through her tears.

“I got captured! I didn’t really have a choice.” Knuckles glared back. He saw Rouge���s face turn from rage to shock, then to worry. 

“W-wait captured? Did you get hurt? Are you ok?” she looks over at him.

“Rouge I’m fine! Why do you even care?” he asks surprised by this sudden kindness from the bat who he considered a rival. Like Sonic and Shadow. They worked together when needed but they were constantly fighting. Baiting and teasing each other in an easy flow of banter. 

Rouge took a deep steadying breath. She looks slightly hurt by Knuckles’ reaction.

“Cause I DO care about you! I was worried SICK when I couldn’t find you! I tried to find you! Shadow, Omega, and I searched for you guys for what felt like forever!” she steps back crossing her arms over her chest, hugging herself. 

“That’s why I stayed. I stayed here watching over the emerald hoping you’d come back soon.” Rouge sighed her ears going down. 

“R-Rouge….” Knuckles sighs. “I thought you hated me. We’re rivals.” 

“Really?!” she snorts. “That’s what you think? Knuckles I’ve been flirting with you and trying to get your attention for years!” 

“O-oh! I didn’t realize.” Knuckles blushes slightly embarrassed that he didn’t get it sooner. Rouge stares at Knuckles trying to get a gauge of how he’s feeling. 

“God your so stupid sometimes!” Rouge laughs nervously after a moment, as she starts to tear up. “I’ve been terrified of outright telling you about my feelings! I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone in my entire life! It’s scary for me! I realized you probably didn’t pick up any of my hints, but I just didn’t know what else to do, and then when I couldn’t find you…” she shudders. “I got so scared that I’d never get the chance to tell you. To see if we could actually work. I know you probably don’t feel the same. Just tell me. Get it over with then I’ll leave.” she snaps clearly expecting rejection. 

“Rouge…I don’t really know what to say…” he blushes looking down at the ground. 

“Then don’t say it! I’ll just go…you won’t have to see me again.” she feels her heart break as she walks away. 

“Wait!” Knuckles quickly grabs Rouge’s arm and spins her around to face him. 

“Rouge…I…I t-think…I l-like you too.” he stutters. 

“Wh-What?” Rouge blushes. 

“I didn’t really know what to call it but every time I see you I feel my heart flutter. Hearing you laugh makes me wanna laugh and seeing you smile makes me wanna smile…you….” he grins, “You make me feel less alone.” “D-do you really mean that?” Rouge starts to smile. Knuckles nods. 

“I do! I mean it!” he smiles at her. 

“Oh my god! Knuckles!” Rouge laughs hugging him. After only a second of hesitation, he hugs her back holding her close.

“I’m sorry I was too oblivious to realize it sooner.” he rubs her back.

“It’s alright Knuckie.” she coos. “It’s part of why I love you.” she smiles kissing his cheek causing Knuckles’ face to turn as red as a tomato. 

“ I- I l-love you too.” he’s completely flustered burying his face into her shoulder.

“You are such a cutie~” she giggles causing him to groan and chuckle in protest. 

“And you’re absolutely stunning.” he turns his head smiling at her. Now it’s Rouge’s turn to blush. She giggles. 

“Knuckles!” she smiles. 

“It’s true! Those eyes. They sparkle like stars, and that smile could light up the whole world.” he chuckles.

“Wow! Where did that come from Romeo.” Rouge teases.

“Honestly I have no idea!” he laughs. “I was just speaking from the heart.” 

“Well, it was really sweet!” Rouge kisses his forehead. 

“Wait! Does this mean we’re dating?” Knuckles asked confused.

“Depends. Do you want to be my boyfriend?” she asks. Knuckles immediately nods. 

“Yes! Please! I would love that!” he grins. 

“Alright, then cutie~” she winks. “Looks like you’ll be seeing a lot more of me around.” 

“I would really really like that.” Knuckles smiles. “It gets lonely up here.” he admits.

“Well I’ll be sure to visit as often as I can.” she smiles softly.

Knuckles grins as the two of them sit on the alter and watch the clouds Rouge’s head resting on his shoulder. 

Maybe, he thinks to himself, maybe I’m not as alone as I thought. It’ll be nice to have company. To not be so alone. 

He sighs contently as they pass the afternoon not saying anything just enjoying each other's presence.

Knuckles decided he could really get used to this.