#but this little hedgehog I have been unable to let go

[omega-e123]

Pookie ❤️

[midnight1nk]

So, this week's episode...

[Spoilers below cut]

Past Ink: Guys, it's fine. This isn't a serious episode, it would be too soon for another arc. It's just gonna be another silly Saturday.

Current Ink: ....

(the following is my live reaction:)

[*unholy screaming*] FOUR NOOOOOOOOOOOO

WOW WHAT A GREAT START TO THIS EPISODE, SCRATCH EVERYTHING THAT I SAID ABOUT THIS BEING A "NORMAL" EPISODE

NOPE I NEED TO PAUSE, I NEED TO TAKE A WALK BC I'M NOT GONNA GET OVER IT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS COULD LEAD

they're not gonna do it in this episode BUT the fact that goop!4 is being acknowledged in every way possible, we might just have a sequel in our hands

NO NO NO CUT THE INTRO, I HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE EPISODE YET AND YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A THEORY ON IT ALREADY? HOLD YOUR FUCKIN HORSES, I'LL GET THERE GEEZ

anyway, we have to press play...

I'm pretty sure someone already has done a pirate au (no I'm not over what I just watched) and anyway, artists: here's pirate SMG4

Four, you should've read the file name before downloading it [*shakes head*]

Wait, is this going to be a parody of computer buddies? That's actually pretty fun..... OH NO NO NO

Ah, so we are doing computer buddies

Actually, yeah, can we have Mario as president please

love how it says "no one even compares to mario. especially smg4 who sucks booty cheeks [or ass] and mario doesn't"

Observe as the SMG4 fandom gets terrified of the word "perfect" [*screams*]

MARIO MARIO NO NO NO HE DIDN'T SAVE

I felt that in my core omg

as a graphic designer, this hurts

apparently, there's a whole new dimension in our computers, Only in the SMG4 Universe [*cheesy thumbs up*]

We really are getting all the computer buddies, huh? I wonder if KinitoPET will appear

[*silver the hedgehog voice*] It's no use!

BRITISH SMG3

wow what a funny bit... WAIT HOLD UP WAIT A MINUTE, LOOK AT THE MEDIA BOX

the eyes....

w̷̹̓e̷̼̽ ̸̯́n̴̩͆e̵̝̓v̴̼͑ë̵̤r̴͓͛ ̷̭͝l̵̦̎e̴̞͗f̵͉̐ṯ̴͗

and the left eye too... oh god, the EYE OF RA— [*gets shot*]

honestly, Four, you improved your aim ever since Western Spaghetti (ik you also did for PV but that's not the point)

I knew they were gonna bring in buff Luigi again

I'M SCREAMING

THERE IS NO WAY THE TEAM JUST DROPPED THAT ON US, THIS CAN'T BE REAL

ok first off, the fact that Four has a folder labeled "Super SECRET Spicy Memes" is giving "totally homework" folder energy (and I don't want to even think more about that)

hey, Four did say that Three brings some spice into his life (yeah, "rosemary to my bread" and all that jazz)

SECOND, the fact he has an image of SMG3 with him saying "whats the matter smg4 kun?"

THEN the "I know what you are" audio clip...

Four, buddy, you're down bad aren't you?

like "woah smg4's bisexual, I didn't know that", the closet is out of GLASS so we been knew but I DID NOT expect this

having Three be a tsundere is one thing, but FOUR....

🫵🏳️‍🌈⁉️

"they're dating behind the scenes" at this point, yeah

we have to keep going... [*secretly puts this clip on the fridge*]

I hate this so much /silly

[*chaos ensues*] [*sips my coffee*] just another tuesday saturday

GOTTA GO FAST GOTTA GO FAST— [*gets tazed*] i can never catch a break c'mon man

oh hey Swag!

four dollars is four dollars, you got yourself a deal

ok, I'm gonna need everyone to see Four's cute little hops here:

look at him go, my silly little goober :) oh, now you have? then let's keep going

holy shit, this fight scene is so well animated!!! LET'S GOOOO

never thought I'd see the day of seeing biblically accurate bonzi in an SMG4 episode and yet here we are.

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP

THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE, I'M ASCENDING

"...but they hugged before" NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND

A normal hug, where two people cross each other and are unable to see the other's face since it's over their shoulder, is just as it is: a normal hug. It can be seen as platonic and/or romantic.

THIS is a lot more intimate. 3 and 4's heads touch while they hold each other by the hand. This type of hug is reserved more for romantic partners when the situation leads them to a devasting end, where they face each other to look at and remember what their partner looked like, one last time before they die.

In this case, it makes sense as the computer is collapsing within itself.

"It's not actually them tho." Yes, they're digital copies of 3 and 4 but that's the thing: they're COPIES, acting on what 3 and 4 would actually do

SMG34 shippers, we are eating GOOD today yum yum

but then, that begs the question: would there be a moment where 3 and 4 would reveal their feelings for each other at the worst possible time?

(you guys are not going to be ready for my next episode concepts) What, who said that?

uh anyway them 💙💜 gotta put it on the fridge

I feel for you, Four, but I have a horrible feeling about this

...

Foreshadowing is a literary device—

no seriously, I feel like this could be part of a future arc where a past villain would ruin everything Four has and would offer up a deal when Four would be the most desperate. There's always a catch. Hmm, why does that seem familiar...?

Your life's work or your friends, it's your call, SMG4

:)

HELL YEAH FOUR, THROW IT AWAY (omg just like how he chose Three over the USB, I'm crying dude)

also congrats to Ourstor08954957 for the lovely art in the end credits 🎉 such cute doodles ❤️

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Oh boy, what an episode. I feel like I'm in another plane of existence right now. Everything was absolutely incredible, great job Team!!

Everyone, say THANK YOU to whoever put the SMG34 crumbs in there, we shall treasure it for the rest of our lives. I'm gonna put those moments on my fridge. OH I would love to see the artists draw the SMG34 hug or pirate Four!

Love the fighting scene right by the end and the little details they have added in there. I guess it's "Torture Ink with the Idea that Goop!4 May Happen" day but hey, I'm so normal about it (no I'm not). I've been a bit stressed since finals are coming up so I'm thankful for anything this episode for me.

(If anyone is curious, the WOTFI website is still up and yes, I am logging its status just in case.)

I'm sure everyone is going crazy over this...

"They gay fr :3" [BenJoJoGV, Twitter]

🧍

BEN YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THESE THINGS—

[phonkscribes]

Little Library Headcanons

Headcanons for the Reader & Vergil off of the fic I wrote. Randomly assorted for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy.

: ̗̀➛ The company the two of you share doesn’t need to be filled with words. You’re more than content with sitting in the silence besides one another, but subtly you will begin to lean towards Vergil, and at first he doesn’t quite like it. He’s still getting used to having you be so close and invading his space. The first time you rest against him, he bristles, almost like a cat. Or a hedgehog with how his hair is styled. It was so cute you couldn’t help but to giggle quietly. But why were you laughing? He’d have half the mind to shove you off as he would with his brother… but you’re soft. He needs to be gentle with you, lest he make you cry or something. What a headache that’d be… so he lets you lean on him. Like he’s some sort of pillow.

It’s annoying. Yes, but you’re warm when he’s cold, and it isn’t hurting him. It’s… enjoyable… he supposed. It becomes routine, something he starts to expect from you now. When you don’t do it on one of your little playdates, he exchanges stares between you and the pages of his own poems. Vergil waits, he can be patient. He knows how to be, but… why aren’t you leaning on him now?

He calls to you, quietly, but the little prince has a bit of expectancy in his tone. Why aren’t you resting your head on him already? And then you tell him it’s because you thought it irritated him and that he might’ve liked his space.

“You’re already here, aren’t you?”

He lifts his hand to your head and nudges it to his side. The two of you can swear to hear someone chuckling from behind the rows… how creepy.

: ̗̀➛ Sometimes he’ll read to you out loud, wanting to recite Blake to you as it’s something near and dear to his heart. You didn’t much care for poetry before meeting him, but listening to Vergil as he reads the lines is soothing. Which, is hilarious, because once you had found his voice to be quite grating. Now when he reads, you listen to his every word, trying to pick out what it means or to ask about certain words you haven’t heard before. It’s one of the times you get to see him smile, as he proudly and happily explains to you what the poem means in full. Vergil even encourages you to read some for yourself and to tell him what you think it means. He’s grown rather curious of your thoughts…

: ̗̀➛ He asks about the stories you read on occasion when the both of you aren’t in the library. Where it’s okay to be a little louder and to not whisper. Fiction isn’t something he likes, only because of how it seems to bore him. When you tell him about the heroes and villains you read about, he often has a bit of critique for them both. Especially if there’s some swordplay to be involved. You wouldn’t have pegged him for being well versed in that sort of thing, granted he seemed like a gentler soul when you got to know him… however, it rather suits him doesn’t it?

You only wonder why a boy so young would ever need to learn to fight…

Still, when he tells you about how he would’ve bested the antagonists of your tales, you’re there to provide why that wouldn’t work or to inform him of an ability he had forgotten that the villain had. Time manipulation, beams of light, and fire balls.

“How would you stop that, Vergil?”

“I’ll become stronger, strong enough to beat that and more..!”, would he keep true to those words?

: ̗̀➛ If you were to get sick or something were to ever come up that prevented you from going to the library to meet him, he’d try to assume his usual spot where you and him would read… but then he’d find himself waiting for you to appear. In spite of himself, Vergil would get up, unable to focus and start to search for you himself. On the next day when you return, he’d sound a little irritated, if only because it was unexpected and he’d been expecting you to be there with him. You’re touched that he missed you, that you could be missed by him. It’s funny to think that when you two first met each other you weren’t getting along too well. But now you’ve become a part of his life, someone to go away to when he’s through with playing with his little brother and honing his skills with the sword. If only he’d know how much he’d come to miss you later on in his life.

The effect you have on him is becoming abundantly clear to Eva and Dante. Who’s this person that his brother steals away to when they aren’t playing together? Who’s this little friend he’s made?

[fanaticsnail]

I watched the Storyteller version of Sapsorrow and knew it sounded familiar! I read "The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen. It's a graphic novel about a young Vietnamese boy struggling to come out to his friends and parents, particularly because they're immigrants and he feels they might not understand. His mother and him bond over fairy tales and there are three main tales in the novel that are used thematically, the first is Tattercoats (i.e; Sapsorrow), the second is a Vietnamese story Tâm Cám, and the third is the little mermaid. The Tattercoats story is a little different than the Sapsorrow Storyteller version or your version, but the art is beautiful I seriously recommend the book from the art alone (and if not the art, the Vietnamese fairy tale is kind of like Cinderella at the beginning but so interesting and full of plot twists).

I have to thank you for introducing me to Storyteller though, I'm gonna have fun looking at all their other retellings.

Oh my goodness, I know The Magic Fish! I haven't read that one in years!! Thank you for reminding me it exists, sweet snail. I adore it.

Of the Storyteller Series (1988), I have littered some of the plot points in several others.

Remember Me: (Shanks x Bride!Reader), I had "the true bride" in mind. Particularly her apprehension at having her hair touched. In the story in that case, it was a promise to not let another person kiss their cheek - in mine it was a sweep of the hair.

Drawing inspiration from things that impact your heart is so much fun. Makes it all the more real, in my humble opinion.

There are only nine episodes: (All are linked to YouTube for ease)

The Soldier and Death

Fearnot

The Luck Child

A Story Short

Hans My Hedgehog

The Three Ravens

Sapsorrow

The Heartless Giant

The True Bride

I would honestly love to write an OP fic for each of these.

Soldier and Death - Zoro He traps death, now unable to die. He has lived his life to the fullest, but death is the only thing that truly fears him. Reader is the reaper, ordered by Death to not claim him. Fearnot - Luffy He's just a sunshine boy who has never been frightened a day in his life. He wants to experience fear. Just once. The Luck Child - Buggy He is a failing forward king, as the usual. Circumstances demand his death, he continues to thrive. A Story Short - Usopp He has to perform a series of storytelling adventures and present them towards the court for a hundred days. On the hundredth day, he has come up with nothing. What will he do? Hans My Hedgehog - Corazon He will only reveal himself to his wife at night, cursed as a monster within the hours of daylight. She wants to break him of this curse, but has no knowledge to help him. The Three Ravens - Sanji Just imagine Sanji desperately crying out for his love to grace him with the sound of her voice, begging her to say something to aid in her defence - bound to the stake and threatened with death if she does not speak. Ahhhhh. Screaming. Sapsorrow - The one I'm actively working on with Mihawk The Heartless Giant - Doflamingo Speaks for itself, truly. He just is. I could also do this for Sir Crocodile, if I wasn't too busy shipping him with @empressofmankind's Shivs. The True Bride - Already partially did for Shanks. I would love to visit this trope again for him though. Have him be the one with amnesia trope.

Honestly, I would love to do this as a massive moot fairytale collaborative au.

@since-im-already-here - what say you, sis? You reckon I've got the characters and the prompts down for each series?

@gingernut1314, do you know this jim henson series? You want to take a crack at one of them?

@writingmysanity - go on. I know you want to do the Corazon. You so, so want to do the Corazon.

@sordidmusings 👀 c'mon now. Romance, pining. Angst. All that good stuff, dear.

@feral-artistry, you've even already drawn some puppets. You know you want to....

[doodleferp]

BEHOLD, THE PLANT BABIES.

This started out with just giving them twins, but through a series of events I decided to destroy Ari with the baby hammer and give her quadruplets. TLDR; after Vash and Ari got to Kasted City, Vash’s internal sensors let him know that Ari was not only pregnant, but pregnant with FOUR babies. The kiddos were born in February, and the circumstances surrounding how they were gonna be born led Vash to get their own place away from Lina and Sheryl.

I have entire documents of lore and headcanons about Plant-human pregnancies and the stages that hybrids go through thanks to their Plant heritage. If anyone wants to hear about them, I’ll post more about it. But as a quick TLDR, the kids grow twice as fast as normal human children -- after two years of life, they look and act like five year-old kids.

Geo Benjamin Rowhurst (firstborn)

The firstborn of the quartet and the first one to blossom.

Geo has the most energy and the fewest brain cells. He has Vash's boundless energy and the fewest brain cells in the family. Even more than Vash. Geo likes to stick to Vash's side at all times. He was a very "monkey see, monkey do" baby and constantly tried to emulate Vash. He's very sweet, very sunny. If Vash is a golden retriever, Geo is a golden retriever puppy. He wants to be a super cool adventurer like his daddy and that man is his whole world.

Of course, this comes with consequences. Geo's rather naive and socially oblivious through no real fault of anyone's, but it gets him into bad situations. Granted, he's only got the mind of a five year-old. But he always tries to see the best in people regardless of how he's treated.

Leo Reed Rowhurst (second born)

The second-born of the quarter and the third to blossom.

Leo takes a lot after Vash, right down to the hairstyle. His hair is supernaturally spiky — even when it’s wet it’ll retain its shape, almost like hedgehog quills. And somehow, someway, his hair is as soft as feathers. It baffles scientists and his parents.

Personality-wise, he takes the most after Ari. He's not aggressive, but he's very logical and he takes it upon himself to corral his siblings when they're being crazy. He seems to have an innate ability to figure out when something is out of place or about to go wrong. He's a VERY perceptive child.

Fun fact, when he was a little baby, Leo was a sassy little know-it-all who thinks it was possible to eat a wasp despite not having teeth. It was not.

Theo Jonathan Rowhurst (third born)

The third-born son and the last of the quartet to blossom.

Theo blossomed about fifteen days after he was born, which was some cause for alarm because babies blossom after around two weeks, and late blossoms are prone to some physical health problems. Thankfully, Theo was physically healthy, but emotionally he's the more dependent one of the bunch and has difficulty adapting to his environment like his siblings. He essentially has Ari all to himself, so he became a mama’s boy later in life.

Theo's emotionally-sensitive to the point of being designated a Special Snowflake, but his Bad Vibes Detector is the most sharp out of all the siblings. If Theo is genuinely freaking out over a person, that person is not to be trusted under any circumstances.

Maggie Susan Rowhurst (fourth born)

Maggie is the youngest child, but she was the second to blossom.

Maggie is a little fucking escape artist. If you put her in a room and tell her she’s gotta stay in there, she WILL find a way to get out. It doesn’t matter how little access points or guards she has to face. She has been blessed with Vash’s preternatural ability to escape any situation relatively unharmed.

Maggie also love cats. She'll bring stray cats home and nobody knows where she gets them. The only cat she's been unable to catch so far is Kuroneko. He is her Moby Dick and she WILL catch him no matter what. He WILL be given pets and a dish of cat treats whether he likes it or not.

doodleferp, 2023. please do not steal or repost.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Can I get a treat with hedgehog Curumo (and Aiwendil too, if you like)?🧡

👻Treat👻

We're really in it now, aren't we? @cilil has requested a treat!!!!

It's my honour and pleasure, of course, to supply this!

Here are 920 words of sweetness (and a bit of sad, for spice)

Warnings: there are insects in this story. Also Curumo is a hedgehog...ask Cílil lol

<3

Curumo was literally and figuratively speechless once more—the indignity of being confined to the puny body of a hedgehog was too much to bear for someone as proud as he was, but to be pushed away gently but resolutely from the big, orange treat Aiwendil was attacking enthusiastically with a small, sharp knife was a new, utterly devastating low, nevertheless.

“You’ll be sick, you dummy,” Aiwendil cooed softly and lifted his most beloved into his cupped hand to bring him to the level of his disgustingly indulgent, warm eyes. ��And I don’t want you to be unhappy tonight.”

Sniffling expressively to make sure his vexation was noticed, Curumo rolled up with a huff while pointedly facing away from that loving gaze. It was unbearable—this whole ordeal was so humiliating!

“Don’t be like that, love,” Aiwendil pleaded. “I promise that I have not forgotten you.”

Despite being piqued himself, Curumo was nevertheless careful not to hurt Aiwendil’s tender palm with his spiky dismay.

Come to think of it, his present form might have been well-chosen after all, he had to admit—he had ever been a thorny fellow who had inadvertently harmed those who had had his back out of sheer misery and misplaced pride.

Throwing one suspicious look over what had once been his shoulder—his current, laughably round shape did not really allow for such anatomical distinctions anymore—he gave an inquisitive squeak, confident that Aiwendil would go on blabbering merrily even though Curumo was patently unable to answer.

“You’ll see,” Aiwendil chuckled. “Now, would you please let me finish carving the pumpkin without throwing another hissy fit? The sooner I’m done with this, the faster you’ll get your surprise.”

Curumo vaguely remembered that there had been a celebration on this night, but his memories of his previous life were slowly fading—drifting in and out of focus—and he was convinced that this festivity had never been of much importance anyway.

While humming an old song, learned at the feet of Yavanna, The Bountiful, Aiwendil carefully placed Curumo on a richly embroidered cushion and took up his blade again.

A pleasant, companionable silence fell around them as the beautiful, ever-youthful Maia reverentially modified the fruit of his Lady’s labour to take on a more celebratory appearance and his eternal friend dozed in the fragrant heat of their little hut.

Aiwendil went by another name now, and he had taken on the guise of a gnarled, old man, but—just beyond the thin veneer of a skin-deep glamour—he was still overwhelmingly beautiful.

Blinking sleepily, Curumo glimpsed the shimmering emanation of Aiwendil’s very essence—soft, gentle, and boundlessly generous—and his acute dejection subsided.

“There we go,” Aiwendil exclaimed, holding aloft his slightly wonky craft, and beamed at Curumo with the same carefree, earnest joy with which he had won that cold, careful heart many ages ago. “What do you think, darling?”

Drumming his tiny paws against the pillow and wrinkling his snout in a heartfelt but ultimately failed attempt to emulate a genuine smile, Curumo did his best to convey approval and delight.

Of course, he recognised Olórin—meddlesome fool and annoying know-it-all that he was��in the blank spaces Aiwendil had cut out from the firm, plump flesh of the pumpkin.

A strange sense of wicked contentment washed through Curumo’s armoured little body then—he was a hedgehog, and Olórin was a gourd, and as such, they were both beloved by Aiwendil.

How could he truly resent an incarnation that had been inspired by the faithful, unwavering devotion of one so pure and loyal?

Nevertheless, he soon grew impatient—he had seen quite enough of Olórin in his former life, and he had no desire to stare at the old jester for any extended period of time, not even when his likeness was wonkily imprinted on a bulbous squash.

Consequently, he slid off his cushy throne and pretended to go after the accursed holiday decoration with renewed vigour.

“Ah! Don’t be so impatient, friend,” Aiwendil laughed, but he picked up Curumo once more and swiftly carried him to the shed in the garden.

“Here,” he said. “Have at it.”

Sniffing and squeaking faintly in confusion, Curumo thoroughly took in the maze of dry straw and discarded vegetable refuse before turning to Aiwendil, seeking his aid.

“There are delicious worms, beetles, and caterpillars in there,” Aiwendil whispered and gave Curumo’s butt an encouraging pat. “Go ahead! I’ll be right here if you need me.”

Even kneeling on the damp, hard floor, Aiwendil towered over the small labyrinth he had clandestinely built, and Curumo narrowed his beady eyes at him in frustration.

Nevertheless, the thought of juicy treats made his mouth water, and so he carefully started his path, guided by the small sounds of cheering and pride coming from far above the ephemeral walls.

When he finally arrived at the centre, he found a beautiful goblet—akin to the tableware he had once possessed himself—which was filled to the brim with crawling, writhing deliciousness.

“Quite topical,” Aiwendil giggled and, pulling out his own flask from a hidden pocket in his coat, he touched it to Curumo’s chalice.

It was an absurd, profoundly sad, but also undeniably sincere toast to a love that had lasted through ages, spanned continents and worlds, and even defied death and disintegration.

“To us,” the wizened man said to his pet hedgehog. “To all that we are, to all that we seem, and to all that we shall be once more.”

Thank you so very much for another chance to write these 2!

You're the very best!!!!

-> Masterlist for October!

[soudlenoop]

“What even happens in this AU of yours, Mr. Big Time Gambler?” Part 3

HYPERCHROME AU CHAPTER 3: TAKE BACK LITTLE PLANET

Theme: https://youtu.be/dTxYadZmbfs?feature=shared (Diamond Eyes - Shinedown)

Ok, ok, here we go. SO, it’s me again, I got Hyperchrome AU Chapter 3 here! Hey, have you noticed these things are getting longer and longer? Shit actually gets kinda dark for this one, Sonic gets basically twitter-cancelled for committing war crimes. It’s almost like this is supposed to have angst. BLAH BLAH BLAH, I DON’T SELL MEDICAL PRODUCT, and HERE WE GOOOOO!!

Also: yeah, I should make this clear. For those unaware, this IS meant to be an edgy, angst AU, so my deepest apologies if that’s not your thing… at least it’s SUPPOSED to be… Seriously, though, last warning, because this chapter kind of gets crazy.

So Chapter 3 picks up where the end of the Chapter 2 summary. In a real blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fashion, I smoothly fast-forwarded to where a few months had passed ever since Shadow didn’t die on the ARK. I just kinda threw the part in to add a cliffhanger. However, I’ll go into a few more details.

Sonic had his 17th birthday not too long ago, always nice. He’s got himself a red neckerchief, THAT’S in style! …Ok, I can’t ignore it anymore. Listen, I get that the “too cool for school” attitude is, like, his thing, but I can’t help but feel like he takes it a step too far. There’s a point where it stops being “free-spirited and like the wind” and starts becoming “arrogant and egotistical”.

Sure, he helps stop crime and stuff like that, but recently, he’s been more short-tempered and violent than he normally is, and that freakish green glow that he’s occasionally got in his eyes doesn’t help at all. I first noticed it all the way back in Chapter 2, but I hope it’s just a weird thing with hedgehogs and puberty… and poor Tails has went from Sonic’s lovable “little buddy” kinda sidekick, to his quiet and introverted roommate who usually just keeps to himself and his mechanical creations that he made with his smart mind and stuff. Not to point fingers, but there’s no way Sonic doesn’t have anything to do with it.

Alright, that’s enough details, now let’s get on with it. So, Sonic is with Tails, and they’re… existing, as one does. But then suddenly, there’s a large crashing sound from the sky! Sonic and Tails look up, and notice an airplane in the sky, whose wing just exploded out of nowhere! Not just some dinky-ass biplane, I’m talking about, like, an entire commercial airline flight here. At this point, everybody already looked up, and naturally, everybody is ffffffFFFREAKING out.

So, Sonic and Tails both follow the descending aircraft as far as they can, albeit for different reasons. The airplane lands in the nearby ocean, thankfully, and rescue crews are immediately sent out.

Miraculously, despite major injuries, everyone aboard survived. That didn’t keep news of the incident from spreading like wildfire, however. Soon enough, everybody and their mom knew… everybody, their mom, and GUN.

How has GUN been doing, eh? Well, they’ve settled in nicely on South Island, and they’re still sharp as ever! But it appears GUN has a plan to finally take down Dr. Eggman, and it all has to do with Little Planet.

Little Planet used to be a small, yet beautiful planetoid that appeared only one month out of every year, right over a tiny island, called “Allway Island”, surrounded by nothing but the ocean. About 5 years earlier, when Sonic and Eggman’s… “rivalry” had only recently started, Eggman secretly took over the entirety of Little Planet, turning it into his base of operations. He also lovingly renamed the planet to “Little Egg Planet”.

Unfortunately, when Sonic had found out, it was too late, and his attempts to stop Eggman were unsuccessful. Today, Little Planet is a dead husk of what it once was, permanently chained to the island, unable to disappear as it once could.

The doctor had been radio-silent ever since Shadow didn’t die on the ARK. But all GUN needed was one good reason to stage a coup on “Little Egg Planet”. Hearing of the recent airplane crash, the commander of GUN, who I am not yet giving the identity of, decides to blame the airplane’s wing explosion on Eggman, which may or may not be a lie…

But, whatever, it’s a necessary sacrifice, WE HAVE A REASON TO INVADE “LITTLE EGG PLANET”! Besides, Sonic is more than happy to help… Take Back Little Planet. And so, GUN prepares for war. Eggman isn’t going down without a fight, that’s for sure!

Accompanying Sonic, is most of the team that assisted him during the ARK incident. Private Duo the Cat, Private Tangle Gillette the Lemur, and the guy I said was on a solo mission in Chapter 2, Private Mimic Nisemono the Octopus, all under the command of Captain Whisper Watanabe the Wolf!

Also, it’s not just Sonic and those other guys I mentioned, almost everybody who’s a GUN soldier shows up! The commander’s serious about this!

So, Sonic and GUN make it to Little Planet, meeting serious defense, in the form of ROBOTS. Fortunately, GUN outsmarts them, setting up base.

The rest of the chapter consists of The War to Take Back Little Planet, where GUN and Dr. Eggman compete for control of Little Planet. Usually, in stuff like this, Eggman would have the upper hand quite often… but something’s not right.

No matter what Eggman does, he can’t seem to push back the forces of GUN! They only seem to continue taking control of the planet, a large group heading towards the Metallic Madness, Eggman’s main base of operations, repeatedly humiliating the waves of Badniks he sends out!

Granted, GUN’s soldiers weren’t as invincible as they seemed. During one squabble, Tangle’s long af tail got chopped off, which forced her to create whole new strategies, and there WERE casualties, but, y’know, war, it’s sad and everything.

MEANWHILE, Sonic was out on his own… BEING AN ABSOLUTE MENACE. I’m serious, it’s a VERY good thing those were all robots, because Sonic is out there causing the highest degree of absolute carnage, using GUN’s large assortment of weapons. He picked a sawed-off shotgun, and a machete, for the record… What, too edgy? No? Ok.

At some point, GUN makes it to the Metallic Madness, and storms it, giving orders to all soldiers to prioritize the safety and rescue of any and all prisoners. By now, Eggman is EXTREMELY desperate. He’s using stuff he calls “last resorts”, left and right, up until he confronts Sonic in an open area, because the sky is cool.

Of course, Eggman decides to be Eggman, and brings up the fact that this is probably their “final battle”, and that, yes, the sky IS cool. So, as a last-ditch effort, Dr. Eggman sends out his finest creation, his magnum opus…

The Mechanical Hellraiser. What is it? So take Metal Sonic (who I haven’t ever mentioned up until now, but yes, he’s here), and make him better. You’d get Mecha Sonic, right? Still familiar territory. Now, take Mecha Sonic, and add the coolness of the Paleto Score from GTA V.

Yeah. You know what, I’ll just add a picture right here if I can. Don’t worry about the one on the right, those guys are literal fodder.

Anyways, the Mechanical Hellraiser gives Sonic a genuine run for his money, but ultimately, Sonic defeats it. Walking away from the remains of the Mechanical Hellraiser, and towards Eggman, Sonic aims the sawed-off shotgun that he has at the head of Eggman. However, Metal Sonic, who IS there, narrowly saves Eggman, by shoving the shotgun’s aim in a direction away from the head, causing Eggman a nasty, but non-fatal, shot in the hip.

In retaliation, Sonic slashes Metal Sonic with that machete he also has, temporarily disabling him… Man, now that I’m reading this in words and not in my head, this shit is edgy as hell.

By then, the gunfire had noticeably died down, and Captain Whisper and her team show up, noticing they were a little late. After a little bit of regrouping, Tangle notices a wounded Eggman limping away.

Promptly, Tangle calls him out, but Mimic tells her to ignore it, explaining that the base is swarming with GUN soldiers, who will very likely shoot him on sight, and even if he evades them, he’ll eventually succumb to his gunshot wound anyways.

And Mimic was right. Only a few minutes later, Major Lanolin Forbes the Sheep reported Ivo Robotnik dead, explaining that she and her team ambushed him behind an automatic door, immediately opening fire.

Just like that, Little Planet was free.

About 2 weeks later, Sonic is awoken by a distressed Tails, who asks him to look out his apartment window. When he does, he sees the entire street occupied by an angry mob, all seemingly directed towards… him?! Looking online, Sonic finds numerous news articles questioning his morality, and calling him evil!

But why? Upon further inspection, this uproar was all caused by a pages-long document detailing an anonymous person’s experience with Sonic. The document called out Sonic as arrogant, egotistical, cocky, violent, narcissistic, and much more. To top it all off, it contained a video of Sonic during the Little Planet raid 2 weeks ago, where he…

Oh. Oh my. You know what, I think I’ll leave it up to interpretation, for… uh, artistic reasons! Just know, Sonic used the machete that he had.

Needless to say, people were OUTRAGED. Sonic was outraged too! Although, it’s more of an “I want revenge” sort of outrage for Sonic. Eventually, after a day of meandering with the police, and other angry people, he finds out who made the document!

Klaus Richter the Falcon.

He was known as Rookie during the Eggman War, and still kept in touch with Sonic afterwards, until recently. This must have been why. Filled with unrelenting rage, Sonic sprints throughout the city, at blistering speeds, as a storm begins to settle in Starlight City.

Finding Klaus on a rooftop, Sonic prepares to hand out the fiercest beating he’s ever given, his eyes somehow glowing even more green than ever, but Klaus simply gives him some choice words, before boarding a police chopper, and leaving for who-knows-where.

Sonic is left in the rain, staring at his reflection in the forming rainpuddles, as his anger subsided. His reputation is ruined.

Sonic’s reputation is ruined.

WOAH MAMA that got dark! Yeah, this is supposed to be the chapter that cements Sonic’s place as a villain in the AU. Sorry friends, I’m very sorry. I mean, there was some dark tones in the other stuff, but this one’s a ton more overt with it. Thankfully, I’m pretty sure Chapter 3.5 isn’t as bad. Also, I’m not too in love with how long this is, tbh. It just drives home the fact I should make comics of these. Ah well, TOODLES!

[victory-ocs]

⚕️ HIT HIM AGAIN, ROO

Relief floods her sensors as he opens his eyes, causing her to let out a shaky little exhale she didn't know she was holding. That one had been... Scary, actually. By now, she should know how elastic the hedgehog is, how he bounces back from pretty much everything.

Getting knocked into an active lava zone by a robotic, sharp, ninja-esque cREATURE is not one of those 'everythings'. She'd damn near melted her chassis, having to scramble to grab him the way she had. And he'd been so still, bleeding and hot and he'd been twitching and with the heat messing with her sensors, she'd been unable to get a read on his vitals until they'd moved far, far away.

Her nose scrunches up, almost like she's about to cry, or something, before she huffs loudly, giving the injured one a little shake. Stop scaring her like that! Shit!

"Sonic the Hedgehog you are going to make me greyer than I already am. Do not do that again."

[green-hill-sluts]

If Amy is breaking from just her general friend group wait till she sees Sally after all this time. Her booty is stuff of myth.

"Man the holiday rush is rough, buuuut I can't complain the money is good." Amy sighed after a particularly grueling shift at one of her many jobs. She was run ragged but the heft in her pockets made up for it. "Oof!" She yelped and let out a tiny squeak as she bumped into a rather soft someone...

"Oops! My bad, I- wasn't looking where I was going ms- Woah...." The hedgehog said slack jawed and wide eyed after she apologized. Amy shook her head to make sure she wasnt seeing things, snapping out of her funk just in time to be met with the sight of two colossal "moons" She had bumped into.

*bwoomp bwomp* *jiggle jiggle* the orbs bounced and jostled from the impact with Amy almost plastered over them after bumping straight into them. It was like an air bag made of jello had stopped her in her tracks. Then the owner of the ginormous badonkadonk made herself know turning around quickly and brushing a tuft of hair out of her face. Amy almost couldn't believe her eyes!

"Amy? Is that you?" A familiar voice asked though it was a bit different than what Amy remembered. It was deeper, smoother almost motherly in a weird way that made the hedgehog's cheeks flush. But she'd recognize the face anywhere. It was Sally!

"Holy shit she's huge-" Amy said out loud having to take a few steps back to process what she was seeing. Though it did little to stop the towering mobian from picking her up with ease pulling Amy into a tight hug with a pair of well built arms. Her vision went dark for a bit there with her head wedged between Sally's bosom. When she was released she was gasping for air with her mind lagging behind a bit as she struggled to process her once fellow freedom fighter's obvious growth spurt.

Amy hadn't been listening but Sally had been talking to her the entire time. "Gosh it's been forever hasn't it? Why... last time I saw you you were still wearing bloomers. It's about time we caught up no? I got away from my escorts for the day, it'll be hours before they hunt me down so why don't the two of us have a girls trip? I can take you to the BEST spots, station square isn't my usual hang out but it's got some class!" The princess rambled taking Amy under her arm without a second thought dragging the star struck hedgehog along with each clicking step of her heels.

"Su-sure... Sally..." Amy just barely managed to say unable to keep track of what was real and what was not anymore.

[impulsivewcrewrite]

Chapter 4: Premonitions

With a brief stop to eat the herbs and choke down some fresh-kill, the quad started on their journey. They traveled mostly in silence. Thankfully, the cold wind warmed up as the sun rose, so by the time they had reached the moor, the chill was barely noticeable. 

Even though he was not Colonyborn, Rusty wondered how it would feel if ThunderColony had been chased out. Where would they go? Would he have stayed, like Pigeon, Rocky, and Wren did, in hopes that someday, his family and friends would find their way back? He hoped so. His heart ached at the idea of unwillingly leaving his Colony’s home, not knowing if he’d ever come back. Not to mention being exiled during a battle, after watching some of your Colonymates killed in front of you. 

“It’s really weird… the moor is so empty,” shivered Wren. At his words, Rusty winced. Being on their old territory, the WindColony cat seemed to have reverted to shouting. Pebbles had told Rusty that WindColony was known for being extremely loud, which hopefully would make them easier to find.

“Were you born in the Colony?” asked Rusty. He realized how little he actually knew about his friend. Besides the name of his mother, Aster, and his favorite prey being crow. Wren was a little older than Rusty, but he still had the playfulness of a young apprentice.

“Yep, after my grandmother joined,” Wren explained. “So supposedly I’m like half kittypet.”

“What’s WindColony like?” piped up Pebbles. He was furiously blinking in the wind. Rusty too found himself unable to keep his eyes open for very long. How could anyone live like this?!

“It’s pretty much the best Colony ever,” Wren casually bragged. He moved with ease across the springy ground, almost like he was dancing. “I mean, look at this place! It’s so beautiful. You have to see it in green-leaf, when all the heather and gorse is in bloom! All my Colonymates are really nice and friendly, it’s like one big family. Plus, my mentor is Cricket, the deputy. He’s so cool and brave. Once, he told me he threw a hedgehog at a ShadowColony cat!”

“You throw hedgehogs at ShadowColony cats!?” exclaimed Pebbles. “Why haven’t I gotten to throw a hedgehog?”

“Probably because you’d get poked, silly,” Rusty bumped his friend playfully.

“I can’t wait for you guys to meet my friends. Me and Rooster are practically the same cat, just in two different bodies,” continued Wren. “And Chirp is like, the smartest cat I know. She’s super pretty too. Someday, I want to be her spouse.”

“As long as I get to meet the hedgehog thrower, I’ll be content,” mused Pebbles wistfully. As they reached the top of a large boulder, the group paused to catch their breath. Rocky had been walking like a cat possessed. 

“Stop,” Rocky ordered, raising his tail suddenly. “I smell RiverColony.”

Rusty raised his nose into the air, and was hit with the fish smell. What was a RiverColony patrol doing so deep into WindColony territory? At the same moment, Rocky and Wren seemed to vanish into thin air.

“Get down here!” Rocky hissed. Rusty looked down. Under the boulder was a small pit. He and Pebbles slid down into it and held their breath.

Pawsteps thudded closer and closer. Rusty could hear a patrol fighting against the wind and brushes.

“Pwah! I think I swallowed a fly,” spat Snapdragon. 

“And whose idea was it to come hunting on Wind Colony territory?” purred a tom.

“Stuff it, Whirligig. At least I didn’t get scratched up by a rabbit,” snapped back Snapdragon. “Skylar, don’t you dare say anything either. It’s not like you were supposed to help him or anything!”

The pawsteps faded away quietly. After a few more moments, Rocky peeked out of the hole.

“We’re clear, let’s keep going,” he ordered. 

Picking up the faint WindColony trail, Rocky led the group up the moor and towards the farmland. From what little Rusty knew of farming, he gathered that the humans had collected their crops. Instead of fields of wheat, they were empty plots of dirt. Weeds poked through the ground here and there. 

“Do you think Raven is living in the barn?” breathed Rusty to Pebbles. His gray friend dipped his head. Raven’s departure had not been announced to the other Colonies. 

The smells of WindColony grew stronger. They were several moons old, but the potency of their fear remained. It led the group past the tilled farmland and into a small valley. What met them there was a fresh grave. A somber scene. 

After sniffing it, Rocky concluded that the head elder, Tranquil, had been buried there. Another loss. Rocky asked to sit alone by the grave for a while, so the youngsters waited under a bush. 

“I never really knew Tranquil,” Wren confessed. “But I know he was pretty old, from before Tatter even.”

“I’m sorry he died,” mewed Pebbles quietly. 

“S’alright,” Wren replied. His voice was also soft. “I’m just… a little scared. Y’know, like, if Tranquil died…” He pushed his face into his arms and took an unsteady breath. “I just hope mom’s OK.”

Wordlessly, Pebbles wrapped his tail around Wren. Rusty bunted him gently. “We’ll find her. I promise. And we’ll bring her home.”

He hoped that was a promise he could keep.

[fortruechaos]

The very instant the machine whirred to life Shadow had known he'd committed an unforgivable sin.

But there had been a part of his brain, ever the doubter, no matter how much he said he moved on and was ready to let the past be the past--that one, small modicum of nonsense in his mind that still clung to the ARK and its broken eggshell of a past--there had been a part of his brain that told him 'you have to be sure.' And Tails had so many PHI parts lying around in pursuit of recreating the Gizoid and--that little modicum of nonsense won. It took just a second, had been only for a second, but--it won.

And already he is paying the price for it.

Shadow's hand jerks back from the PHI's exoskeleton like he's been shot; his other hand comes up to cradle his knuckles, eyes going wide. Instinct wins here too as he takes a few half-jumbled steps backwards and knocks some more spare pieces of electronica off of their resting places and onto the ground, an air shoe sending a bit of badnik skittering underneath an iron shelf. His throat is dry. So dry. He can't say her name, just lets his eyes widen an impossible amount--impossible, because this is impossible--it has to be. "What..." did I just do?

There's a familiar sound of steps behind him and Shadow can only turn to look, horrified, at the hedgehog behind him, unable to mask his expression. "Sonic--," which might as well be help me.

@lightdash

@lightdash & @fortruechaos    /      are you sure the only you is you?

Maria — not - Maria, not - Maria, but what else can she call herself / who else can she be? / NO ONE — is alone, when the hero finds her.  It?  Her.  She would be trembling, were this body more precise, less heavy.  She’s pacing / she’s panicking / SHADOW HADN’T KNOWN WHAT TO DO, ONCE SHE’D REALIZED.  He’d let her leave, needing to get away, at least for now, or she’d suffocate / NO SHE WOULDN’T, SHE CAN’T.

Not - Maria doesn’t know what to do, either.

She doesn’t know what to do when the door to the building opens, and there stands — Shadow?  No.  Not Shadow, but close.  A stranger, but…he looks so like Shadow her heart lurches (  but not her heart / a dead girl’s heart / but she is the dead girl / but she isn’t ——  ) at the sight of her family - that - isn’t.

Her lips part / they don’t, because this vessel she’s been given consciousness within doesn’t have lips.  Even so, the sound she lets free is barely a breath.  Stilted, she whispers, “hello,” and isn’t sure why.  POLITE TO THE LAST.

[moondust-writes]

『amy the hedgehog x gn!reader』 desc; winter is here! with the season comes snow, and snow means ice!

"Amy...I'm not so sure this is a good idea..." You called out nervously over the sounds of children and couples joy as the speakers played the familiar tune of 'Jingle Bells', the metal blades sliding across ice as skates guided their wearers over the slippery surface becoming muddled in as white noise. "Come on [name], you'll do great!" Amy spoke up soon after, having paused the action of lacing up your ice skates to take your hands into her gloved ones. A reassuring smile present on her face as.

Still, however, you felt unsure. Had you been aware that telling your girlfriend that you've never been ice skating before would entail her taking you onto a date in the freezing cold, you might have just kept that little secret to yourself - well, until she met your family, at least.

With a squeeze of your intertwined hands, the hedgehog stood on her skates and took up the free space next to you on the bench. "[name]," the way she spoke your name, filled with love and care as your body trembled with anxiety, calmed your senses. "Honey," one of her hands cupped your cheek and guided you to meet her gaze; you couldn't help but lean into the warm, safe, touch. "Are you okay? If you really don't want to do this, I won't make you."

"I'm just - well -" Despite knowing exactly how you felt, putting into words the feelings was always a challenging thing. One wrong word and everything can fall apart and form some kind of problem. Interlocking your fingers of the hand that still held Amy's, you gently squeezed her hand to ground yourself. The last thing you needed was to be unable to speak - being in as big of a place as this already made it hard enough to do that.

With a deep breath, you were finally able to get the words out, albeit much more quietly than you had intended. "I guess I'm just scared. There's so many people here and -" you paused to pull up the hood of your winter coat, a scream of laughter from one of the other occupants being particularly grating on your ears. "It's too much."

You blinked as Amy finished your sentence, her thumb wiping away a tear you didn't even know had fallen. "I'm so sorry, Lovebug, come on, lets get these skates off and we can go do something else if you want. Okay?" A wave of guilt crashed into you at the look in her emerald eyes, and it took everything to not give into the urge to say that you'll deal with it, that you're sorry.

"Amy, I want to do this with you! Maybe just - someplace different?" Your voice quieted at the end, hands having taken to the repetitive action of taking off the ice skates and putting on your shoes for comfort. The near suffocating guilt lifted when you looked back at her, seeing the lifted expression at the fact the date idea wasn't what was too much, that you wanted to spend the time with her doing something you haven't done before - that it was just the place.

"Of course!"

[dizzydennis]

Sonic x Metal Sonic Cover Story!

Translator note: I am not totally fluent in Japanese so please understand that my translations are not perfect, but I hope you can enjoy this fun story. Any constructive criticism is appreciated.

Deep within Dr. Eggman’s abandoned, secret lab... a robot connected to a database booted up made note of the current situation. The evaluation was as followed:

[[Current status... "unfavorable"]]

While this robot was in rest for maintenance, Dr. Eggman was once again defeated by Sonic. Yet again, “he” was unable to rush to protect his master from crisis.

The same amount of bitterness stirred inside him... or perhaps even more.

It longed for the opportunity to defeat Sonic.

This mechanical piece of intelligence was known as “Metal Sonic” and it was created for the sole purpose of destroying Sonic. It continued to analyze the situation:

[[Current status is "unfavorable"]]

☆ ★ ☆

"Speed ​​Highway" is a super-three-dimensional highway that runs through a plethora of high-rise buildings.

It has many acceleration lanes such as the “360-degree rotating loop” that rises to the sky and a corkscrew that stretches into a large spiral. It attracts the souls of speed enthusiasts everywhere!

Sonic was running around in good spirits as he hummed to himself.

CRASH!!

Suddenly, something attacked Sonic head-on! He barely avoided it as the road just ahead turned into a pile of rubble from such a shattering impact. Sonic let out a gleeful grin.

“I’m worried. You didn’t damage yourself with that stunt, did ya, Metal?”

It was, in fact, Metal Sonic that stood up from the rubble.

Metal gave a piercing, sharp gaze towards Sonic. Within a second, he quickly closed the gap between the two of them while pointing his left hand to Sonic.

“Hey! Isn’t that--!?”

It was the flickering of a Chaos Emerald. Metal’s other hand pointed to the innermost parts of Speed Highway. It was unwavering.

Sonic instantly understood what Metal Sonic meant.

“You’re gonna bet that in a competition against me? That doesn’t seem very fair now, does it?”

Sonic then took out his all of the Chaos Emeralds he had on him.

“Alright, Metal! This is for real then. All or nothing!”

In an instant, two blue shadows dashed out onto the street, illuminated by the lights of the skyscrapers at dusk. The race that moved faster than the speed of sound had begun!

☆ ★ ☆

As the sound barrier was broken, the rush of wind echoed through the elevated roads that were cast as a valley between the buildings.

A corkscrew twisted down from a 360-degree loop as it curved to the right and then to the left. It then went into a spiral that took them up and down and all around.

Sonic lightly traced across the road’s surface as he felt enthralled by the difficult course of the Speed Highway. Metal Sonic was able to glide across the road with the use of a jet engine.

The race continued with the two hedgehogs barely gaining a step on each other, but a big change occurred in the middle of the course. A super long and sharp curve came out after a speedy decent. Metal Sonic decided to engage in some close combat before this area.

He boosted forward as his body entered this shocking, electromagnetic state. It was a sudden attack, but Sonic was able to avoid it. He must have read his moves. Metal Sonic’s energy output temporarily dropped at the end of the boost as he slowed down; just as planned. He could clear the curve with just the right amount of speed. Sonic had to slow down here too and Metal Sonic had nothing to lose!

Everything was going fine, but at that moment, Sonic was speeding up and approaching fast. Metal Sonic’s thoughts became fragmented if only for a moment.

[[......!?]]

Sonic, as he started to tumble off the side of the course due to his great speed, had put his hand out and grabbed Metal Sonic’s head, curved inward, and accelerated towards the inner-section of the course. He pushed Metal downwards and perfectly made the curve.

“My bad!”

Metal Sonic, who managed to regain his posture, raised his face, he saw Sonic running far ahead.

Metal Sonic tried to analyze the situation

[[Current status... "unfavorable"]]

☆ ★ ☆

Metal Sonic continued to analyze everything while giving chase. He had never won again Sonic ever since their first battle. He was built for the best performance and had a tireless, steel body. There were many factors of his creation that should have meant he was unbeatable.

But I can never win.

Why? Why... it’s just a hedgehog that runs fast...

Right at that moment,

A buzz of electricity rippled through the robot’s AI and it’s train of thought.

Is it because it’s not just “fast.”

 [[............!]]

Why was this robot made to resemble Sonic?

Perhaps, the creator, Dr. Eggman, created this body simply to not waste time creating it, but to also be a replacement to Sonic.

It was created for that specific purpose. There’s something that had to be done.

Metal cut all non-essential parts such as “fire control” and the “electromagnetic spark capacitors.” All systems were set on full power to “Speed.” Metal sharpened and gutted himself on the inside.

A moment later, a creature of blue steel, which had become the pure concept of a new “Metal Sonic” began to chase after Sonic the Hedgehog.

☆ ★ ☆

Meanwhile, Sonic had already taken notice that something had changed with Metal Sonic. The distance between them was gradually getting shorter.

Metal Sonic was purely a machine. There’s no way to know what it could even be thinking about. However, Sonic could sometimes tell. He could sense Metal Sonic’s joy, willpower, and unhealthy obsession towards victory.

“Looks like things are heating up!”

Sonic sped up even more, with a serious expression, muttered words of amazement while suppressing a grin that was continuously rising to his mouth.

“Heh, you don’t feel like you’re getting burned out?”

It was a straight line from the left-twisting, half-corkscrew to the goal. Below, you could see the surface of the city piercing upwards. The two blue streaks sped up the outside of a vertical skyscraper.

The goal was just around the corner. Sonic was in the lead.

Metal Sonic’s AI became fully aware at this point. It would not win at this rate.

How can it win!? Perhaps it could increase the output from the jet propulsion unit a little more, but where there even enough resources to do so...!?

☆ ★ ☆

"...?"

Just a few hundred meters from the goal.

Right then, Sonic couldn’t understand what happened.

Metal Sonic pulled out to Sonic at an impossibly fast speed! A dazzling seven-colored light erupted from Metal’s chest as a bright red flame with black smoke gushed out of the jet exhaust hole on his back. Parts and debris flew off of him in a violent roar.

“Metal...!?”

That’s right. Metal Sonic absorbed and utilized Chaos Energy! However, the power of the Chaos Emeralds was not stable and was very uncontrollable.

While speeding ahead, Metal lost his balance and collapsed.

Upon seeing this, Sonic tried to call out...

In a single moment, Metal was swallowed the the seven bright lights as they were then engulfed by smoke. Metal Sonic turned into a glowing red bulb.

The explosion sent an impact out that knocked Sonic back. As he looked up to the sky...

Against the backdrop of the night sky, Metal Sonic’s scattered body parts, which drew a trail of red flames alongside shimmering shards of window glass seemed to fly by in slow motion.

For a single moment, Sonic thought it was strangely beautiful.

Immediately after, Sonic got to his feet while being shocked at the explosion sounds that came soon after. When suddenly...

Metal Sonic’s upper body, which only had the torso, head, and right arm attached had crashed to the floor. As it made attempts to crawl towards the goal. The efforts proved too exhausting as he soon stopped dead in his tracks... just 10 meters away.

Shortly after, Sonic begrudgingly crossed the finish line; putting this little game to an end.

A Chaos Emerald flew towards Sonic. As he caught it, he looked back with a unique and serious expression. Metal Sonic had tossed the emerald with the last of his power.

[[......!!]]

Metal Sonic jumped to restrain Sonic as he approached with his fiery eyes.

Sonic felt as if Metal Sonic was saying that it’s impossible for two people to have crossed the finish line.

The damage that Metal Sonic had taken wasn’t as bad as Sonic had expected.

Sonic spoke in his usual tone, feeling uncomfortable with how relieved the situation felt.

“It was a good race.”

As Sonic let out his remarks, he never turned back and said,

“I’ll be waiting for a rematch.”

☆ ★ ☆

The defeated Metal Sonic was analyzing the current situation.

This time, it was an utter defeat.

Metal tried to re-calibrate all of his resources, but still couldn’t win.

Metal Sonic tried to sharpen his strengths, but it was all too late. In the end, he lacked a way to channel his resources and self-destructed.

....However,

it should be noted that an unprecedented performance was achieved this time.

 Even with the final Chaos Emerald, considering that the race would have been lost regardless, it wasn’t necessarily a bad move... but a more detailed analysis is to be postponed.

A rescue signal was already issued. Aid was available and recovery could be achieved at Eggman’s base. If Metal connected to the base’s main computer and analyzed today’s data, he can definitely win next time. There is room to not only improve speed, but also inhibitory behaviors and attack patterns.

I can still reach a tier of being and there will others who can surpass or fall victim to that tier!

At the moment, Metal Sonic was forced into a deep sleep mode due to a drop in his voltage energy. His ability to think dropped rapidly and Metal Sonic obtained an analysis result that was unbiased and unemotional.

 [[Status is... “favorable."]] 

[scummy-writes]

Day 1: Awkward Dates

Rating: Gen

Word Count: 3425

Pairing: Isaac/Mc

Tags: Fluff, hedgehogs, modern au/university au, first date, dating apps, unbeta'd

Full fic under the cut!

------

It wasn't unusual for Isaac to receive a few phone notifications in the morning. They often consisted of Napoleon wanting to meet up after their classes, his roommate Arthur wanting to go out for lunch, a classmate wanting to borrow notes…

What was unusual, however, was any notifications still persisting after being ignored.

Each little ding! sparked a small flash of annoyance into Isaac, who was still processing waking up. After another few dings! fired off, he huffed and smacked the space beside his pillow, searching for the offending device.

"Arthur, if you're doing this instead of just knocking on my door…"

His voice trailed as he turned his display on. With bleary eyes he squinted at his phone, blinking a few times to make sure he was reading the words right.

"...What is GoCupid?"

.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

Arthur refused to look Isaac in the eye, a sign that Isaac knew all too well to mean he was being toyed with again.

The writer shrugged as he took his - Isaac's, really, now that he took a proper look at it - mug from the coffee table, stretching his legs out on their couch.

"Poppycock! I know for a fact that this picture here," Isaac swiped through the photos on the profile, shoving the phone in front of Arthur with an accusatory jab, "is on your phone."

Arthur took another sip of his coffee while taking the device into his hand, a smile creeping onto his face. The 'offending' photo in question was one of Isaac and Harry; Isaac wearing a soft expression of endearment while Harry rested in his palm, looking like he was reaching up towards Isaac with a small stretch.

"I still say that's the best photo I've gotten of you. Even the way the light hits-"

Isaac let out a frustrated groan, cutting Arthur off, "that's not the point, you bellend."

"Come now, you can't tell me a woman wouldn't swoon at that! Even I get soft looking at it."

"You're exempt from any tests regarding that considering you're the one who set the profile up!"

After Isaac’s huffed outburst, Arthur finally gave up, handing Isaac’s phone back.

"I'm surprised you noticed, I made sure to hide it in a folder you would rarely use."

Isaac hesitated, then settled into the free chair in the room with a reluctant sigh.

"... I've been getting notifications all morning."

Arthur started, and Isaac felt his frustration grow tenfold at the sparkle in the writer’s eyes. An expression that was begging for more information- and declaring that his little plot had succeeded.

"See! I told-"

"No." Isaac paused, then repeated himself. “No. Because I’ve told you, I don’t want to date anyone. I-I don’t even have the time-”

And, as per usual with this topic, Arthur was already letting out his own groan of annoyance.

“And I suppose the endearing expression that twists on your face at the mention of me going out with another lovely woman is just you showing me some encouragement, is it?”

“It’s a silent prayer that I don’t have to wake up to yet another classmate eating my food.”

Arthur snorted, unable to help himself, “I’ll buy you breakfast tomorrow to make up for that one.”

“Regardless,” Isaac clicked off his phone’s display, brows furrowed at yet another notification from the app, “I’ve told you numerous times that I never wanted to go on blind dates with you, what on earth made you think I’d want this?”

“Aside from the fact that there wouldn’t be a man alive who wasn’t pent up from the stress of finals? I just think it would do you good, Newt.” Before Isaac could interject, Arthur hastily continued, “just go through some of the ‘likes’ on there, find a girl you wouldn’t mind having dinner with, and just go. Be impulsive! You need to get out of your own head for a while, ol’ boy.”

“You make it sound easy.”

“Because it is! It’s as simple as that. If you don’t like her, you never have to see her again, and I can stop worrying on about if you’ll ever talk to another human being outside of a classroom.”

——

Isaac couldn’t believe he was standing out in the cold, huffing to himself as he clicked his phone awake. Brushing away the eager messages of ‘advice’ from Arthur, he opened the dating service again and frowned. No new messages. Well, from her, at least.

This felt like too much too soon. Was he even in the position to date anyone? Isaac couldn't deny that it wouldn't be nice to have that type of companionship-- if he knew it wouldn't blow his nerves awry. Not to mention his studies…

In truth, he had given all of this up a long time ago. Look at him! Skittish, a recluse, the only people he spoke to on a regular basis were those who approached him. And it was impossible not to be friends with Arthur or Napoleon; the two of them shoved their way into his life.

Anyone he had seemed interested in never lingered long enough for him to get the words out, and after the first (and last) alcohol-induced reminiscing he had gone on about with Arthur and Napoleon, he assumed they wouldn't feel the need to push him into trying such things out again.

Yet, Napoleon's latest replies to Isaac's complaints about this whole situation were accompanying Arthur's repeated words: it was something to at least try.

And… well… Isaac's own protests began to fizzle away once he saw the woman he began messaging today in the horizon.

Her cheeks were rosy, a mixture of the chill in the air combined with the light makeup she wore, and her soft pink lips curved in a smile once she recognized him. While she wore a maroon scarf with a plaid coat, Isaac felt himself grow a chill at the skirt and stockings she wore with it. And he mentioned as such once she was close enough, blurting it out before she had a chance to say anything past a small greeting.

"Aren't you freezing?"

She was startled at first, then her cheeks deepened in hue as she let out a shy laugh.

"It is rather cold… I thought the walk here would warm me up."

Great first impression, Isaac, scold your date at first sight.

Isaac shook his head, muttering, "I-I'm sorry. It is nice to meet you, of course, but let's move inside before we talk further so you can warm up."

Flustered, he rushed to the café's door to open it for her, hoping she'd be more focused on the heated space than his verbal blundering about.

.

The date itself wasn't without its own blunders. Thankfully, and Isaac felt awful for thinking so, but they weren't all solely due to him.

Idle conversation passed awkwardly as he attempted to calm his nerves, and once he had finally managed to say how pretty she looked, her shooting back how handsome (him, handsome??) reduced him into a tongue-tied mess until their food arrived. Yet, even with that comment, she managed to later follow up that he was cute.

Why was he seemingly cursed with such a young face? The comment alone felt as though it sealed the fate of the date, yet she became bashful after, admitting she wasn't quite used to going out like this either.

"Really?"

The surprise he felt must have been evident, because she began fiddling with her napkin with one hand, her other reaching for her wine glass again to nervously take a sip.

"T-Time flies by so fast as you get older… It wasn't until I was talking to a friend that I realized how long it had been since I’ve tried going on another date…”

“That's rather… surprising."

"Oh?"

"It's just that, well," now it was his turn to reach for his drink, praying the coffee he bought didn't make his stutter worse as he hid behind his cup, "... you're rather p-pretty… one would assume that wouldn't be the case."

The remark made her beam. Her attempts at hiding her grin went poorly, but felt endearing as she spoke, "the lack of time played a hand, but also, the right type of guy can maybe convince me to go on a date, sometimes…"

.

By the time they left the cafe, the sun had already set, and Isaac was reminded of the main reason why he had rushed her inside as they both shivered in the lowered temperature. Didn’t she mention she walked here? She may not live too far down the road, but would it be overstepping to order a taxi for her? Or was that a terrible send off after a date?

As he was stuck overthinking this issue, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve, pulling his attention away from the stars and back towards her.

"Perhaps this is very forward of me, but…" her cheeks tinted as she nervously tucked her hair, "I was wondering if we were heading back to your place?"

Isaac paused, thoughts scattering as he tried to process her hesitant question. She nervously glanced back at him, still waiting for an answer, and all he could do was wonder how a woman could like him that much from the get go.

“Ah- I mean! Well, in the pictures on your profile, you had a really cute hedgehog…”

Oh, Isaac felt any pride he may have had deflate faster than ever. It took all his willpower not to scoff at his earlier thoughts, an influx of self-depreciation seeping back in. Of course. She just wanted to see his bloody pet.

But he shook it off, chalking it up as something he should have assumed anyway. That, and he couldn’t be mad at Harry for being himself.

"Sure, if you don't mind my roommate being home."

——

There was a flash of recognition in her eyes once Arthur happily gave her his name with a wink. If it wasn’t for Arthur seemingly missing it, Isaac would have thought she may have been one of his many partners. But she seemed to brush off whatever made her hesitate, shaking his hand with a polite smile.

Any awkward moment was stolen away the moment her eyes landed on Harry, whom Arthur must have been toying with, as he was playing about with a cardboard roll in the small pen they bought for him. She made an audible gasp, then stifled her excitement, but Isaac found it too adorable a reaction to be upset.

“I can’t recommend running up to play with him, as hedgehogs need to take some time to get used to you before you can touch them…”

“Really?”

Her question wasn’t said in a disappointing tone, just curious, and he felt relieved.

“Yes, they’re a rather…cowardly lot.”

Another giggle, and Isaac found his anxieties easing away again. Funny, he thought, how she had a knack for doing so.

"I'm content with watching him while we talk. If that's alright with you, of course."

.

The three of them settled at the coffee table, sitting on the floor as Harry roamed about in his pen still. While she was successful in giving him a treat, Isaac was thankful she understood that she couldn't push Harry into liking her immediately.

In the meantime, Arthur kept interjecting to keep the conversation going any time words failed Isaac. While he was thankful at first...

"And this photo is from the morning of last semester's finals," Arthur gave her his phone again, pointing at a sleepy Isaac in the photo, leaning down to be eye level with Harry in his cage, "Isaac won't admit it, but I swear to you that he asked for Harry's luck that day."

The two of them had been going through Arthur's gallery slowly, discussing all the candid shots of Isaac that Arthur was proud of.

Before Isaac could defend himself, she giggled politely, "there's nothing wrong with that. I would too, if I had a pet."

"Exactly! Which is why I find it odd that Isaac refuses to admit it."

"Sod off, Arthur," but his lighthearted scold still made the three of them laugh again.

Arthur bumped shoulders with her as he swiped through his photo gallery, looking for yet another picture to show off the photography skills he claimed to have picked up from the few classes he attended last year, but she let out an oh! that caught their attention.

"That's from Isaac's profile!"

"Ah, yes, I took that while he was ignoring me. I think it's rather charming."

"It is, it- well," she cleared her throat, fidgeting with her blouse, "it made me actually click on his profile."

Again, there was that look- Arthur's I told you! grin. He glanced over at Isaac, looking all too chuffed, "hear that?"

"Yes…"

She glanced between the two of them, confused. Reluctantly, Isaac explained, "Arthur set my profile up-"

"Only because he wouldn't."

"I've told you that I don't care for these types of things."

Isaac sighed out the exhausted argument out of habit. It wasn't until no quip was returned that he looked up, finding her fidgeting while downcast, did the delayed realization of his blunder hit him. Right as Arthur's furrowed brows did.

"So… You weren't interested in dating?" She paused for a moment, then stuttered out, "I-I mean, in general, of course…"

He wasn't quite sure how to respond, or if he could, because no, he hadn't been. But tonight had been going well enough to where he didn't mind the idea of it with her…

"Well!" Arthur's exclamation made them both jump, yet he carried on as though the air wasn't rife with awkwardness, "I do have to admit I'll need to leave you two be for the night, as I have some studying to do."

"Oh! I take it I should leave, then?"

She glanced between the two of them for some confirmation from one or the other, and Arthur quickly shook his head, waving the idea away.

"Stay as long as you'd like. In fact, I have to say, the view from the balcony is just lovely on nights like this. Romantic, even!”

Arthur gave her a small nudge, lighting up at her shy giggle. However, when her gaze turned to Isaac, as if waiting for an answer, Arthur caught his attention by jerking his head towards the balcony door.

He almost wanted to smack him upside the head. Isaac wasn’t that bad off.

“He isn’t… wrong. It is lovely. I’d just recommend your coat… That is, if you'd like to stay longer."

.

“Wow… He wasn’t lying, was he?”

She rested her palms on the railing, a little heated puff of air hazing away in the cold as she took in the sights. Their apartment wasn’t the best place, but the view of the town from the balcony ended up making Arthur and him cave in to settling down here.

And Isaac mentioned as such, finding himself rambling as his nerves made him feel much too warm for the light jacket he threw back on to stay with her here. Once he noticed, he felt himself trail off, wondering if she was even listening with how distracted she looked by the view. But she perked up immediately, turning to face him with a questioning smile.

“Were the other places that bad?”

Thank God she was willing to keep talking to him after all his mistakes tonight.

“Dreadful. Arthur doesn’t look the part, but he does need a quiet space, much like I, to work… So many places were too loud, too party centric…”

“Heh, you would think Arthur would want a place like that, wouldn't you?”

"On the surface, perhaps, but he does tend to keep his 'home' life and… erm, adventures, separate. He writes, you see, so…"

She only contributed a hum, and it took some time for Isaac to gather up the nerve for the question he now had. Because it was clear she knew of Arthur, though Isaac wasn't sure if he wanted to know the full extent.

But… Well, he'd never want to admit it to the man, lest he try more schemes akin to this one, but Isaac wanted to see her again.

And he couldn't remember the last time he had felt this way towards another.

Hesitantly, the words managed to make their way out as Isaac gripped the railing.

"So… Have you met Arthur before?

At her deep intake, Isaac braced for the worst, however she ended up letting out a sigh.

"Not personally. My friend and roommate knows him. A little, ahem, too well." She seemed to not notice the relief that hit him, and continued, "since we've been friends for a while, we'll talk about the people we've met, as one does… She's just had a lot to say about him."

"I won't pry for details, as I'm sure I've heard the complaints she's had…"

"They're not all complaints, to be fair! From how it sounds, they seem to get along fairly well… They've gone on a few dates, apparently. Which surprised me, she usually doesn't go on more than one date with someone."

"I can't say I've heard the same. I never talk to Arthur about these things willingly, though he tries his best to share…"

There was a thoughtful silence before she let out a soft hum.

"It sounds like you really dislike the idea of dating," the words came out slowly, as though she was considering the best way to broach the topic, "which makes me a little surprised you were willing to meet up."

The side-eye she gave him, harmless as it was, still made Isaac fluster.

"It-it was s-something new to try," he lamely settled on.

"I see… Well, I suppose I'm a little confused, if you're not really interested in dating, then should I assume this is the last time we'll meet?"

“N-no, I would like to see you again. If you’re interested, of course…” Isaac trailed off, looking at the town lit up with twinkling lights, “When Arthur had told me he had set this account up with pictures of Harry, I had assumed that, w-well… not many offers would be for meeting me.”

She was oddly quiet. Tapping her fingers on the balcony railing, avoiding his gaze.

“...At first I was. I-I hope you don’t take that the wrong way, you’re very interesting yourself-”

“Please, you don’t have to force yourself for my sake.”

“No, I mean it!” Ah, there it was. She finally met his eyes, gripping the iron tight, and Isaac felt himself flush with the determination in her stare, “My friend pushed me into this too, and while I told myself I’d just go for the chance to see a cute pet, you… you turned out really sweet, and endearing…”

When Isaac couldn’t find the words to respond, she continued, “I haven’t had the best experiences with these apps. Every time I thought a guy was cute, or maybe we’d get along, he’d just… Want something completely different. But my friend wanted me to get out and meet new people, she said she was worried. Supposedly.”

She sighed, then looked somewhat betrayed when Isaac let out a small but polite laugh.

“I think we may have more in common than we originally thought.”

"How so?"

"Arthur said, and has been saying, the same towards me. Being worried about whether I'll make any more friends, let alone meet new people…" he shot her a wry smile, "it's hard for me to talk to others. I-it's why I haven't been interested in dating. Often, the things I try to communicate are hardly listened to, though…"

He stalled, cheeks heating up, "though, I h-haven't felt much like that tonight. Talking to you has been n-nice… refreshing… I know you came here originally for Harry, but… if you'd like him to get used to you, enough for you to hold him, you'd have to visit often."

"...So…"

"S-so… by that I mean, y-you're welcomed to stop by to s-see him… and me, if you want."

That shy smile slowly crept up on her features, cheeks blossoming.

"Surely, it's alright if we go elsewhere as well, right? And leave Harry to rest from keeping us company?"

"O-of course!"

"Then, Isaac, I'd love to go on another date with you."

Blinking a few times, Isaac finally processed what she said with his own bashful smile, unable to help himself.

"I'd love that as well."

------------------

Whew! I'm sorry if this isn't as fleshed out/polished as some of my other fics. I'm rusty with just pure fluff like this, and this is actually a wip that is months old! So there may be some awkward moments that are Not Isaac's or his date's fault in this...

Originally, this was spurred by a few friends sending me a tweet I cannot seem to find again about someone going on a date purely to see a man's hedgehog (iirc), and we immediately thought of Isaac... I'm glad I managed to finish it for Isaac Week.

If you enjoyed this, please feel free to check out my Masterlist, as I write about Isaac way too often (and, admittedly, have more coherent fics on there).

Masterlist | Ikevamp/Ikepri Server | Isaac Week 2021

Tag List (Please message me to be added/removed): @aeoncryptic @anianakin @shookspearewrites @stehkotori @niintendoqs @otomefoxystar @jazzellen @cinnatwisted @buswilligan @tacogawa @kim-stitches @passionatebooklover @rinringo23 @aurora-morning @kimmy-banana

[notmanagingmymischief]

ᴀʟᴍᴀ ᴘᴇʀᴇɢʀɪɴᴇ | ɪꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴜꜱᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ? ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ? - ɪɪ

i'm back and i'm doing my best

--

ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

--

warnings: light swearing, angst

word count: 4K

--

taglist:

@pearplate, @sapphicsarahpaulson, @rainbow-hedgehog, @lostlastsforever756, @waverlysdump, @angelxsarahp, @mildolynwaltzedintomyheart, @sarahp-stan, @dreamer-queen, @ninaahs​, @winters-witch-bitch​, @msvenablezcane​, @legendsofwholock , @fand0m-obsess3d-g33k​, @paulawand​, @thebijesus​, @sassicaismysupreme​, @its-soph-xx​, @goodeday2u, @paulsonpills​, @cordeliaswhore, @loverofallthingssarah, @peggycarter-steverogers, @keas-imaginary-coven, @lilypadscoven

if you want to be added to the taglist, just message/ask me and I’ll be sure to do so! :)

--

enjoy xx

--

You were pretty sure you had fallen into shell-shock, or your brain was playing some sort of game with you. There was no way that you just heard the words "I'm your soulmate" coming from a woman. Sure, a beautiful, gorgeous, stunning woman, but still a woman. You were straight, why would the universe do that to you, as some kind of cruel joke? Just forcing you to be alone the rest of your life? This wasn't fair, and not only were you suffering, you were sure Miss Peregrine was too. I mean, her soulmate doesn't love women, so she won't be able to be with hers either. It was a lose-lose situation, right?

Apparently you'd been lost in your thoughts for so long that Miss Peregrine had gone back inside, as when you looked back to where she once stood, you were instead faced with empty space. No goodbyes, nothing. Just darkness and a locked door. You almost collapsed against that door, suddenly very, very tired, but you luckily didn't. That would have been embarrassing. So what you did instead was meander off the porch and towards the cave where you had entered, and promptly passed out, effectively smashing your head against a boulder. Your last thought was "Oh fuck".

--

"Miss Peregrine, is she going to be okay?" "I'm sure she'll be fine, Emma, just give her space." "If she dies, can I keep her body--" "ENOCH!" The first thing you heard when you woke up were voices, many voices. The first thing you felt when you woke up with pain, so much that the second you opened your eyes you groaned loudly and your entire body curled up into a ball. But even that didn't help the excruciating agony that was all centered in your head. It felt like you'd been shot with an arrow, and it had sent pieces of shrapnel flying into your brain. Or like you had banged your head on a rock. Either worked, but what you did know was that it hurt like hell and all you wanted was for it to stop.

But as you clenched your teeth and squeezed your head between your hands, another pair of softer, gentler hands laid over yours to carefully pry them down and hold them together, so you peeled your eyes open to try and see who those hands belonged to, only to once again have to close them to whimper as the bright light only hurt more. Every time your head would throb a little more you would let out a tiny whimper, and if you were in your right mind you would have been embarrassed, but you were in too much pain to care. Trying to focus on what was being said to you, you strained your ears to understand; "Can you hear me?" "Claire, give her some space please." "Darling, are you alright?" That last one you heard clearly, the person must have been close to your ear, so you mumbled "No I'm not okay my head hurts like a bitch."

A faint gasp sounded after that, but you didn't focus on it, still trying to do anything to try and fix your furious headache. You had been concussed in the past, and you knew that there really wasn't all that much you could do to stop the pain besides some pain meds and rest. You weren't sure where you were yet, but you hoped that they had the former. Unable to request them, you just hoped that at least someone knew what to do with a concussion and wait for them to hopefully bring you something to help.

Surprisingly, you didn't have to wait long as the hands that held yours quickly let go and disappeared, so you rolled over to your back again and tried opening your eyes. Your head had stopped throbbing, but it still felt like you'd been hit with a train. Luckily, though, it only made you hiss painfully when you finally got your eyelids pulled back far enough to see, even though your vision was blurry and barely useful. As you attempted to work that issue out, another pair of hands, these were different this time, began to guide your body to sit up in bed. You went along with them, using your hands to push yourself up and against the headboard. All the while you had been blinking roughly, and it had finally begun to work enough that you were able to recognize the faces in front of you.

At the foot of the bed stood Olive and Enoch, the latter looking to not care even as his eyes remain locked on you and they held just the tiniest little glint of concern. On your right was Clair sitting by your arm and Fiona right next to her. And on your left was Emma, the one who had helped you to sit up. When your eyes focused on her, she gave you a worried smile and mumbled, quiet enough that it didn't make your head rebel, "Are you okay? You took quite a tumble last night, Bronwyn found you passed out by the cave this morning." You tried to respond but your throat was so dry it came out totally imperceptible and raspy. When you tried to swallow, it was just as hard, struggling to get saliva down your throat feeling like sandpaper. But your savior came in the form of a tall glass of water carried in by the very woman who had abandoned you the night prior.

She rushed to your side, subtly indicating for Emma to move, before crouching down next to you and silently handing you the water, which you eagerly accepted and drank faster than you ever had. You saved some, since Miss Peregrine's hand came to rest on your elbow to prompt your hand to lower, which it did, allowing your eyes to land on her opening palm which held a pair of blue pills. You hoped that they were pain killers and not rat poison as you swallowed them down. After you'd finished the rest of your water, Emma quickly took your glass and left the room, hopefully to get more. Once she was gone you moaned lowly, tilting your head back. You didn't notice how the sound brought the soft blush to Miss Peregrine's face.

"How are you feeling, Miss l/n?" she asked, and you took a breath in before replying "I've been better. My head really hurts and the rest of me feels like I've been thrown in a wood chipper." You tried for a chuckle that came out more as a wheeze, "But yeah I'm totally great." The lame attempt at humor only made Fiona and Claire giggle, but it was something and made you smile. Miss Peregrine just sighed and shook her head, taking your hand in yours again in what looked to be an automatic gesture that she didn't even have to think about. It made you shiver a little bit and lose focus, eyes remaining locked on your connected hands and almost missing the woman's question. "Huh?" you said once her fingers snapped in front of your face, instead bringing your attention to her long, talon-like nails. Another sigh; "I asked what happened."

The question made you nibble on your lip as you attempted to remember the night's events. "Well you went inside and the door was locked. So, um, I tried to go back to that cave thing where I came from. But I guess I tripped or something, because the last thing I remember is falling and a really sharp pain in my skull." The first part of the sentence made Miss Peregrine's hand tighten fractionally around yours and her brows to furrow, eyes flooding with guilt. You were quick to assure her that it wasn't her fault, but it was clear that she still felt accountable. Everyone stayed silent for a long while, until finally Enoch said "I'm going to go, this is a waste of time," and walked out, arms still crossed. Olive quickly said "He's always like that, don't worry," and laid her gloved hand on your leg, making you smile and murmur "That's alright."

'It's not like I'll be staying long enough to get to know him.'

You didn't say that.

Instead you cleared your throat, apparently kicking Miss Peregrine into gear as her hand jerked away from yours and she shot to her feet, immediately declaring that you needed rest and the others needed to finish their chores. With a chorus of grumbles, everyone filed out, but not before you could place a quick kiss to both Claire's and Fiona's foreheads and whisper "I'll be fine, little ones." They smiled, Claire's more of a grin, and returned the affection with a kiss on each of your cheeks. It made you flush a little before shooing them out of the room with a little flick of your wrist. Soon it was just you and Miss Peregrine, but she also headed for the door. Just before she could exit she looked back, locking eyes with you as she said "I'm sorry for hurting you, y/n." And then she was gone.

The words jumped around in your still aching head, even as you laid back down to try and get some rest. Just before you could float away into Orpheus' realm, the notion that maybe, just maybe, Miss Peregrine wouldn't be all that bad as your soulmate crossed your mind.

--

Recovery took much longer than you initially thought it would, and you ended up staying at the home for over a week. And while you didn't particularly mind it, the children were amazing and you were slowly but surely warming up to Miss Peregrine, you still had a life outside of this "loop", as they called it. Throughout the course of your stay, Emma had sat with you for hours, explaining every single aspect and detail of this place. The home, the peculiars, Miss Peregrine, the loop. Everything was laid out before you and you thought you had finally gotten everything down pat. Well, except for one thing. Alma Peregrine. She was an anomaly, one you couldn't quite figure out.

You understood what she was, what she did, her peculiarity, all that jazz. But you just couldn't figure out her. How she sometimes was happy and smiling, and a split second later she was reserved and completely shut you out. At one day, sometimes during what you figured to be the weekend, she had taken Emma's place at your bedside for a while. She made you laugh, and you made her laugh, you loved her smile and the way her eyes lit up when she was happy. She told you about a time when a boy that you didn't know, you think his name was Abe, had accidentally tripped and fell over the edge of the little cliff on the edge of the property. Everyone had freaked out, but he luckily landed in a pile of sand and was relatively unharmed. Besides his bruised ego, at least.

The story made you laugh so hard that your side hurt and your head began to throb again, but you couldn't care less as you were having such a gas that you didn't mind either. When you finally stopped and began trying to breathe through wheezing inhalations, your hand clutched your stomach and you hissed "Oh dear god, I wish I could have seen that!" And when you at last returned your gaze to Miss Peregrine, you caught a glimpse of her expression before she schooled her features again; it was soft, fond, and her eyes sparkled with what looked to be affection.

It made your heart flutter in your chest, but you passed it off as your imagination. You smiled widely at her, nose scrunching up in amusement at the mirth that still danced in her eyes in place of the affection. You muttered "That's brilliant. But she must have realized that you noticed the moment of slight vulnerability as she quickly stood and cleared her throat, expression hardening as she said "Well, you need your rest. I'll let you be." in a tight voice, before quickly exiting the room without another word, not even giving you a chance to ask what was wrong.

But today was different, because today you would get to leave. And you were having mixed emotions. On one hand, you wanted to stay here, play with the children and have more long conversations with Miss Peregrine. She was your soulmate after all, and even if you weren't attracted to her you still wanted more than anything to be friends with the woman. But you also had responsibilities outside of this place, ones that you couldn't brush off any longer. Your animals, your home. At some point, you had managed to convince Olive to open the small window that was to your left, and as soon as it was open six birds flew into your room, immediately flocking around you in a tizzy. Their small voices all tripped over each other, and you had to work to get them to calm down, assuring them you were okay.

When you finally looked back up, you were met with the sight of a shocked Olive, as well as Fiona, Hugh, and Emma standing at the foot of your bed. You must have been quite a sight; two birds were perched on either shoulder, the other four resting either on your lap or your arm. You gave them a sheepish smile and mumbled "Uh, guys?" They didn't make any move to come closer or back up, but a second later you heard the sound of familiar heels clicking down the hall, and before long the headmistress peeked her head past the door frame to ask "What is going on--y/n?" You chuckled at her expression and quickly said "I can explain!" But she didn't give you the chance as she pursed her lips before commenting "Of all the things that I've seen, birds are not one of the most surprising. But I'm afraid your little friends have to leave before they get feathers all over the room."

The words made you laugh yet again, and you quickly mumbled "Time to go birdies. I'll be outside soon, don't worry." They chirped in disdain, but with some further prompting they finally flew back outside, at which point Olive quickly pulled the window down again. The room now silent, no one spoke. "So...are you guys gonna do something, or just stare at me?" you finally remarked, and the children all quickly scurried out of the room. A moment later Miss Peregrine once again followed in tow, just saying "Please refrain from letting any more wild animals into my home, y/n." before walking out and closing the door behind her.

But even as you remembered all those memories, you still felt your heart tugging you back to Bristol. It wasn't much, but it was home. And you had to say goodbye now. Honestly, the children all crowding around you and begging you to stay almost made you stay, almost. But as you knelt down to give Claire her requested hug, you said "I'm sorry guys, I wish I could stay. But I have animals at home that are missing me." The Twins whimpered a little bit and Claire held you tighter, but eventually Miss Peregrine shooed them away, and they reluctantly mumbled their last goodbyes before leaving the study. Once again left alone with the headmistress, you gave her a gentle smile and muttered "You raised them well, Miss Peregrine."

The woman glanced away for a moment, but when she looked back she quietly said "You can call me Alma. But yes, I've done my best." Your heart skipped a beat at that, and you nodded dumbly along with her words. Throat more dry than normal, you whispered "I wish I could stay Al-Alma, but I have to get home." Saying her name felt odd, but also really nice on your tongue. Miss Per-Alma nodded again and stepped forward, extending her hand for what looked like a handshake, but you smiled and instead pulled her into a hug, hearing the sharp grasp that passed her lips in the process. You chuckled as she hesitantly, returned the gesture, wrapping her arms loosely around your waist and setting her chin on your shoulder.

Almost inaudibly, you murmured "I'm sorry, Alma." referencing the whole soulmate ordeal, but she must not have heard it or elected to ignore it as she didn't respond. When you pulled away a few seconds you cleared your throat and said "Well...I'll be off then. Thank you for helping, I really appreciate it." Alma nodded silently and walked towards the front door, leading you to follow. Once the two of you were outside, she asked "You're sure you don't need some sort of companion? As much as I wouldn't mind having you in my bed for another week, I would rather it not be because of a head injury." Your breath caught in your throat and you felt your face heat up to a thousand degrees as the woman smirked. She knew what she was doing with that statement.

"I-I...yes I'm su-sure I'll be fi-fine. Thank you Alma." You did your best to not stutter only to fail miserably, only making Alma's smirk widen further and her eyes to gleam with mirth. She nodded curtly, leaned down, and pressed a fleeting kiss to the apple of your cheek, before slipping inside an instant later, leaving you blushing and spluttering in shock on her porch. At some point you began to move, this time being more careful of the boulders and stones in your path, and soon arrived back at the cave. You took one last long look at the beautiful house behind you, with it's tall bushes and perfect edges. And with that, you sighed and entered the cave. That same painful pop hit your ears and your headache came back, but you just pushed on, gritting your teeth, until you reached the other side and it all went away.

You were going back home.

--

"Oh my dears! I'm home!' The second you burst into your backyard you were swarmed with creatures, talking over each other in excited greetings and welcoming backs. You laughed in joy, bushing your way through so you could sit down on the grass, and as soon as you were down Luna and Roxie settled down on either side of you, your squirrels climbed onto your lap, and some bees and birds landed on your shoulders and head. Still laughing loudly, you greeted all of them one by one, until you had said hello to everyone. Finally Luna asked "Mistress, how was your trip?" A few bees followed with "Did you find your soulmate?" "Yeah, was he nice?" "Did you kiss him?" (That last one made you blush a little bit). Shaking your head, you chuckled breathily and made to answer them all.

Turning to Luna, you said "My trip was wonderful, Lu. And yes, I did meet her." The last word made Roxie leans closer and say "Her?" You gave her a shaky smile and tried not to blush or become disappointed as you mumbled "Yes. My soulmate is a woman. I guess the universe must really hate me, if it gave me a soulmate that I can't love..." You sighed, feeling your soul physically ache and your heart clench at the nos spoken confession. But the squirrels shifted on your lap and one, Beau, looked up at you with his fluffy tail twitching and paws resting up on your stomach. He then squeaked "That's not true Mistress! Why wouldn't you love her, she's your soulmate!" You let out a little breath and ran your thumb gently down his spine, shaking your head sadly and responded "I'm straight Beau, I've never loved a woman before. Besides, even if I did there's no way that someone like me could pull someone as gorgeous as her."

As soon as you uttered the word "gorgeous" the birds freaked out and fluttered their wings, chirping "Tell us about her Mistress!" You laughed and tried to calm them down and fix your hair that had gotten ruffled in the sudden rushes of air made by their wings. Yet you still found yourself telling the creatures all about Alma. "Her name is Alma," you stated. "She's a little bit taller than me, but I think if she didn't wear heels she'd be shorter. Her eyes are icy blue and they sparkle every time she laughs or smiles. And her smile is radiant, her laugh sounds like fairy bells." You went on describing your soulmate to your animals, as they all listened intently, completely missing the looks Luna and Roxie shared with each other. "Her hair is so strange, I think it's black but in some light it looks more navy blue, and sometimes green. And--And she keeps it up in this really tight updo on the right side of her head, like all curly and perfect, not a single piece out of place."

When you finally stopped, ending with "And she's the most magnificent woman I've ever met." Finally you payed attention to the rest of the world, and instantly noted the way that they were looking at you. "What?" you asked, and after a second Raven (quite unique for a blackbird, I know) remarked "Well by the way you described her...if I may, Mistress, I would say that you sound quite smitten with this Alma." Your face lit up and you quickly shook your head, assuring them that you were simply observant. It meant nothing more, you claimed. But still the rest of your animals looked at you with those knowing expressions, finally beginning to clear out.

You stood up with them and a bluebird chirped "I think you need to eat, Mistress." You agreed with them, knowing that the bird was correct. So, with Luna still by your side, you trekked into your house to make yourself some food. As you pattered around your kitchen, looking for the materials you would require for a sandwich, the deer stood dutifully in her usual spot beside the island counter. After a minute of your scrambling, you definitely not having forgot where everything was after your inadvertently longer trip, Luna said "Mistress....may I ask a question?" Glancing over at her with a smile you replied "Of course you can, Luna! No need to ask, sweetheart." The deer nodded and looked around your kitchen some more before speaking again.

"I'm finding myself agreeing with Raven, Mistress. I listened to how you spoke of Alma, and every word was almost dripping with adoration." You froze for a split second and swallowed dryly, not sure how to counter her argument. "Are you sure that you're totally against being with a woman?" she finished, and you tried to resume your cooking, but your hands were shaking so violently that you had to put your knife down before you cut a finger off with it. Bracing yourself on the counter you took a deep breath and choked "Honestly? I'm not sure, Luna. She's amazing, but I've only ever been with men! There's no way to even know that I like women, what if I decide to try it only to not be gay and then have to break her heart?" You shook your head in frustration. "I could never do that to her," you mumbled, and a second later felt Luna nudging your arm in what little affection she could physically show.

You gave her a weary smile and rubbed her head for a bit, trying to get your head wrapped around what the hell was happening. Eventually you just shook your head and finished cutting your sandwich before plating it, grabbing a bag of carrots from your fridge, and heading back outside, Luna hot on your heels. Everyone was still waiting for you, and gave you room to sit down and eat with them. Of course, the carrots were for the deer and rabbits, so you handed them out to them and reminded yourself that you needed to refill your bird feeders once you were done. You were just fine here, with your animals and nice small house. You didn't need your soulmate to survive, you could live without her. She could go on with her life with the children, and you could live yours with your animals. Things would be fine.

.....right?

~

ɴᴇxᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

[bitter-sweet-coffee]

Sonic Twitter Takeover fic prompt? Well, here you go:

Their breath was fogging up the glass. The wind which expelled from their lungs could not pierce that invisible barrier, so it clouded instead. How do pilots steer through clouds? Did it hurt when they flew through them?

Cotton candy is sticky, and it smells like blood.

"I don't think this is going to work Maria, we never heard back from them," the hedgehog mumbled, fidgeting with the girl's robin-coloured sleeve that hung from her stiff arm. Despite his concern, Shadow couldn't suppress the glimmer in his eye as he watched his sister tidy up the control panel that she had been toying with.

Maria simply laughed and shook her head, and faded gold strands of hair unwound from her scalp. The cleaning staff was always puzzled that the creature didn't shed, but the human girl manifested tumbleweeds that plagued the barren ARK like it was the wild west.

"They communicate with the planet all the time Shadow, it's definitely possible! I just had to rig this so it could transmit anywhere, and our shuttle is arriving tonight so we'll know for sure if it worked," she explained, before elaborating in words that her alien companion couldn't follow.

Instead of asking questions, he simply nodded as his mind wandered elsewhere. He would go on to regret this in about 50 years though, when his memories of her become sparse.

Maria continued to cover up their tracks, stifling a laugh at the visibly inattentive Shadow. She would never tease him for his lapses in focus, aware of how overworked the poor hedgehog was. "Let him rest," she had insisted with the project coordinators and grandfather but they seemed unconcerned.

"It's the Ultimate Lifeform, if it needs rest then the specimen can always withdraw and accept its termination," someone had told her. The cuts on her palm had yet to heal from the wrath of her jagged fingernails, and the insides of her cheeks were raw as always.

They'd leave, they just had to be patient.

Before Shadow could open his mouth to change the topic to something more comprehensible, an alarm began blaring from the intercom, startling the hedgehog into his sister's side. He was never a fan of loud noises, but Maria's hands were already over his ears— they were used to this series of events.

Just another few days weeks months never before they could get the hell away from this.

Maria was about to shut the panel off and deal with the intercom, but a rhythmic beeping was being transmitted that required her attention, head snapping back down to the source.

Unable to write things since her hands were preoccupied with muffling the shuttle alarm, the girl began tapping on Shadow's forehead, which made the hedgehog wrinkle his nose and squirm.

"Focus on this instead, I need you to double check with me, okay?" Maria whispered calmly, pulling Shadow a little closer to her side.

He did as she instructed and let the morse code beeping merge with her fingertips, the sound of the alarm fading away. When the transmission ended, the alarm truly was gone.

"No fucking way... it worked!!!" Maria cheered, scooping Shadow up and swinging him around, gripping him tight so he didn't get flung across the room like last time.

The hedgehog yelped from the sudden movement but it eventually devolved into giggling, his fists ramming into her back as he shook with laughter.

Shadow eventually regulated his amusement and pulled back to look at the girl, expression faltering when he saw the strain in her smile, eyes glazed. He quickly let go and landed on his feet, steadying Maria as best he could.

"You're not supposed to move that much Mar," he reminded, but she was a Robotnik after all— the stubbornness was genetic.

Maria shrugged and began stumbling out to the hallway, headed for the first floor; "Do you want your pizza or not? C'mon, I want to try cheese and the best way to have it is when it's still stringy!" she cheered, doing her best to mask the whistling from her lungs with her heavy footsteps.

When the hedgehog didn't budge, she looked back with a smug grin, "I know you're curious what crust tastes like, you're not subtle... I see you looking up toasters in the catalogue. If you want the crunch, then follow me, okay?"

Rolling his eyes and growling in defeat, Shadow followed the girl as best he could, their bare feet slapping the ground hard enough to warrant echoes.

Arriving at the main deck, the two snuck their way onto the shuttle that just arrived, taking note of the uncanny box that was haphazardly thrown on top of the better preserved food shipments.

The ARK had its own garden, so produce was never difficult to obtain. Meat seldom lasted and dairy was uncommon, so what was sent up would be primarily starches and other low-moisture foods for budget reasons.

Pepperoni pizza however, was not a dry, meatless, dairy free starch. However, this didn't stop the pair from contacting GUN before the food shuttle left to demand a pizza.

Shadow still worries about the poor intern that was spammed with morse code transmissions until they did what was instructed by the mad scientist and her loyal henchhog. They probably got fired, but that means they got away from GUN, so he considers it an improvement.

Maria snatched the box and grabbed Shadow's hand, ducking behind the pallet of saltine crackers; "Can you chaos control us back to my room?" she whispered, as the unloading team approached their hiding spot.

"I um, well I'm still not good at taking other people, are you sure it's safe?" the hedgehog asked warily, pulling away to adjust his inhibitors.

The girl shrugged, grabbing Shadow's hands back with her free one, "Let's go."

He nodded firmly, and with a quiet chaos control, they were safely pulled away from the crime scene and back in Maria's room, flopping directly onto her bed.

Shadow beamed at his success, but his sister was too busy melting into her comforter with glee, sighing.

She wasn't usually allowed in her room since it wasn't sterile enough according to her doctor. While usually kept immaculately, the duo would leave behind a never-ending generator of crumbs on that bed.

Shadow thinks they're still there today, but he won't go check. He hasn't been back in that room since.

After stuffing themselves with the foreign food, the siblings learned an important lesson on introducing new ingredients into their diet, and how having multiple things you're not supposed to eat at all or in large quantities... has unsatisfactory results.

"Do you think we shouldn't have done this?" Maria groaned, sprawled out and hanging halfway off her bed. Shadow was face first on the floor below her, and merely offered a pathetic thumbs up.

The girl giggled weakly, swallowing the fear that this would cause internal bleeding, and worried that if she cracked for just a second, the fun would be over and she'd be put in isolation again.

Fortunately, this wouldn't be the case, though she'd still bleed a week later as bullets were fired into her back.

"I'm sorry I asked for this, now we feel like shit," Shadow groaned, using his limited strength to roll over and stare up at Maria, a pained expression on his face.

The girl shook her head; "We've been so patient this whole time, what's the harm in waiting a little less for something?" She shifted back towards the wall and patted the open space on her bed, prompting Shadow to join her.

Smiling, the hedgehog crawled up and wiggled under the weighted blanket, sighing into Maria's lavender-scented pillow as she placed a hand in his quills, scratching gently behind his ears.

"Even if we feel gross now, we still had fun, and the pizza tasted good! Even if we're a bit sick now, it proves that sometimes waiting pays off," Maria assured, looking down at her hedgehog as he began to drift off.

The Ultimate Lifeform may have been too tired to say anything back, but both of them knew he agreed— they were used to waiting for freedom anyways.

"So... was it worth it?" Sonic asked, holding his slice of pizza between his fingers like a cigarette.

Shadow eyed his untouched plate, almost tempted by the still stringy mozzarella that he remembered throwing at Maria before remembering that it looked like her entrails.

"Should we keep ordering illegal foods until we can go down there for real?" he asked.

Maria laughed but shook her head, "No, I think we're done for now! We'll be experiencing the planet together soon anyways, I don't want to ruin the surprise. Plus, you never know if this stuff tastes better there, so I don't want to ruin everything with a space bias! We'll just have to wait a little longer, it'll be something to look forward to."

"No," Shadow admitted, "it wasn't worth it."

What he failed to communicate was that it wasn't the fact they did it, but the fact they never did it again.