Author's Note: Obviously I do not own the SEGA characters & Locations.

A big thanks to Everianna for her amazing cover image!

Constructive Criticism will be greatly appreciated! :D

I – Friends & Rivals

A flash of blue lightning rippled through the gentle haze of the morning sun in Station Square. A cacophony of screeching tires rang out in an excited gasp, heralding the arrival of the streak of blue cascading down the city streets. The morning commuters shielded their eyes from the cloud of dust that followed in the wake of the indistinct shape, indifferent to the disruption. To the citizens of Station Square, this was a mundane occurrence. They set their watches in time with Sonic's morning run.

On the other side of the city park, outside a detached two-storey house, the blue blur leapt into sharp relief in an instant. A few excited children tugged on their parent's arms and pointed to the famous hedgehog, for the adults the sudden appearance of Sonic the Hedgehog stretching his legs against his garden fence elicited a smile of appreciation before they continued on their way.

The people of Station Square loved Sonic for the many times he had saved their lives, and they had tried to reward him with stacks of cash, sports cars and mansions. Sonic had refused to accept anything but a simple two-up two-down near the park, with the only request being a space large enough to convert into a workshop for Tails. The double garage tacked on to the side of the house more than suited his needs.

The weeds encroaching on the dry stone of the garden path retreated from the red and white sneakers cutting through them. Approaching the wooden door coloured in cobalt blue, Sonic let a relaxed sigh escape him. He had needed the fresh air to take his mind away from the incident he had with Shadow the previous afternoon.

They had gotten into another scrap. Rouge had brought Shadow into the city to try and get him to socialize more, but five minutes of civility proved too much for him to handle, his ego overflowed, and Sonic felt the need to put him in his place. The same thing happened every time he crossed paths with the surly black hedgehog. They had always been bitter rivals, even after Shadow stopped trying to destroy the world. Their friends insisted the rivalry had more to do with their similarities; headstrong, cocky, determined and all the tired terms he had heard many times before. Sonic didn't buy it though, in his opinion, he and Shadow had nothing in common.

Pushing open the front door, Sonic felt a rush of warm, stale air invade his nostrils. Spluttering, he peered through the bright sunlight flooding through the large front window. Empty pizza boxes and soda cans were strewn across the coffee table; its glass stained by a myriad of sauces and dried-out syrupy drinks. A tangled mess of wires snaked out from under the TV, ensnaring a solitary grubby sneaker trying to hide under the table.

Sonic drew in a sharp intake of breath, then let it go in a single exasperated huff. Spread out before him lay the aftermath of his 'boy's night in' with Tails & Knuckles. Biting his lip, Sonic looked around the room, eager to find something to do other than tidy up.

"Tails?" Sonic called, "you in here?"

No reply came. Shaking his head in resignation, Sonic swept up as much junk as he could carry into his arms. Staggering into the kitchen, barely able to see around his burden, he fumbled with his foot for the bin's foot pedal. Hearing the familiar clang of the bin popping open, he let his arms fall away from him.

Sonic winced as a shower of tin cans scattered across the kitchen tiles with a deafening clang.

"Well, that could have gone better." He scratched behind his ear, wondering if he could find an easier way.

"Hey Sonic, you're home," came an all-too-familiar voice from behind him. Sonic span around to see Tails standing in the kitchen doorway, his golden fur glistening in the morning sun. The hedgehog spread out his arms and legs in a vain attempt to conceal the havoc strewn across the kitchen floor from his friend. His narrow body was about as effective as a pencil trying to conceal an elephant, and Sonic could feel the guilty grin spread across his face.

"Hey little buddy," said Sonic, beaming, "sorry about the mess. Where were you hiding anyways?"

"In my workshop, where else?" said the little fox, "I would have cleaned that stuff up myself, but I just had to finish this project I've been working on. You should come and take a look, Sonic. Worry about that mess later."

Sonic knew what a new project for Tails would be like. Tails would drone on about quantum physics and other science stuff that Sonic didn't understand, and he would have to smile and look interested. Suddenly tidying up didn't seem like such a daunting prospect.

"Ah, I would, Tails, it's just I've got a thing… you know… needs doing, or something"

"Come and see, Sonic," said Tails, "please?" Sonic recognised that tone. Tails was deploying his secret weapon. With eyes opened wide enough for Sonic to fall into, and a lower lip quivering and upturned, Tails took hold of Sonic's hand and looked up at him, blue eyes starting to glisten in the bright sunlight.

"Enough with the sad puppy look," Sonic groaned, "you know I hate seeing you upset, even if you are so blatantly faking it. Let's go and see your project."

"Yay!" Tails face switched to a triumphant smile as quick as a blink, and Sonic shook his head laughing. The little fox dashed off towards the workshop, and Sonic trudged along behind towards the door where his friend's fluffy tails disappeared from view.

The stench of oil and grease chased the stale air of the living room from Sonic's nose the moment he crossed the doorway. The sunlight streaming into the workshop swirled with dust, and a patchwork tablecloth of blueprints and sketches covered Tail's workbench. Almost every scrap of floor space had some hunk of metal occupying it, and Sonic tiptoed through what little gaps were offered, watching every step for fear of something exploding. Clambering over what looked like a car engine welded to a baby pram, Sonic took a seat on a stool, brushing off some loose scraps which vanished into the mess surrounding him.

"So what did you want me to see, buddy?" said Sonic, preparing himself to be confused.

"Ta-da!" said Tails, holding up a small object and beaming with pride. Sonic saw only a bundle of wires with metal bits attached.

"Er…what… what is it?"

"It's a Chaos Energy Redistribution Matrix," said Tails, rolling his eyes, "duh."

"And that does, what, exactly?" said Sonic, knowing he didn't want to hear the answer.

"Well, obviously," Tails began, eyes wide with enthusiasm, "it redistributes the negative energy of the Chaos Emeralds by flattening their unstable prions along quantum-" Nothing but white noise buzzed in Sonic's ears, punctuated by 'string' this and 'matter' that. The blue hedgehog felt his eyes beginning to glaze over, his thoughts drifting towards running in the open air, fighting Eggman, and… Shadow?

Sonic shook his head, trying to shake out the miserable black hedgehog. He didn't want the thought of him cramping his good cheer.

"-which brings the total flux into a cohesive wavelength," finished Tails. Sonic stared with a vacant expression at the young fox, who looked so pleased with himself.

"You haven't heard a word I've said have you?" said Tails. Sonic eyes darted around the room, trying to avoid the piercing blue stare of the boy.

"Of course I have, little buddy!" Sonic said smiling, ruffling his young friend's hair. "I know you love this science stuff, but perhaps you could simplify it a bit, you know, for Knuckles." Tails laughed, and a warmth filled Sonic's heart. Seeing Tails' happy reminded him of what he got out of listening to him blather on.

"Look, just take this," said Tails, thrusting a scrap of paper into Sonic's hands, "it explains it all." Sonic looked in bewilderment at the labyrinth of equations scrawled on the note. His brain started to run out of his ears, when they were interrupted by a high-pitched beeping, setting Sonic's teeth on edge.

"Oh!" said Tails, sitting upright, "that's my Anomalous Waveform Analyser! Excuse me Sonic." Tails dashed past his older friend and vanished into a pile of junk. Sonic slipped the scrawled notes into the inner lining of his glove, intent on escaping another brain-melting.

"Okay, Tails! I'm gonna get some chilli dogs, you want some?" said Sonic. But Tails, lost in the chaos of the workshop, gave no reply, and Sonic headed back inside the house laughing to himself.

~o~

Sonic observed the plate in front of him with pride. Where once a massive chilli dog dared to challenge his appetite, now only empty space remained. Sonic's mighty jaws had won the day, and he sat back in his chair cradling his satisfied belly.

A clatter from the workshop caused Sonic to sit up in his chair. The door flew open with a bang, and Tails stumbled through the doorway, panting and holding a large metal object that kept beeping.

"Sonic!" Tails gasped, "my Analyser just detected a huge spike in Chaos Energy!"

Sonic leapt to his feet in a second.

"What? Where? Do you know what's causing it?"

"Looks like the Jungle Ruin Zone," said Tails, studying the analyser, "I can't isolate the source though, the signal's too broad."

"I bet it's Eggman," said Sonic, "if there's Chaos energy involved, he's bound to be up to something." Sonic felt his fur stand on end, and couldn't help but let a mischievous grin take up residence on his face, "get the Tornado ready, Tails. It's time to fly!"

"Right away Sonic," said Tails, grinning from ear to ear.

The two boys dashed out to the shed where Sonic's plane waited. Moments later, the stillness of the morning gave way to the roaring engine of the Tornado streaking across the sky of Station Square.

~o~

Rouge entered the living room of her beach house to the contented sigh of waves breaking against the shore. The smell of fresh coffee, rich and inviting, surrounded her as she went. A shock of deep reds and purples, thick velvet curtains and gem-encrusted ornaments enveloped the room, with plump cushions taking pride of place on the enormous sofa. Setting the two cups down on the dark wood coffee table, Rouge caught sight of a cushion sitting slightly askew.

"Tsk, can't have that now can we," she said, adjusting it with the precision of a surgeon, "hey hon, you want some coffee?"

The dark figure standing by the rear sliding glass doors could have been a statue, his slender form standing in complete stillness, looking out towards the ocean. A black hole in the bright morning sunlight streaming in from across the waterfront, he gave no answer.

"What's the matter, sugar?" said Rouge, smirking "still nursing that shiner?"

Shadow the Hedgehog gave her an indignant grunt.

"I'm only teasing, Shads," she said, sipping her coffee, "you can't deny you brought this on yourself."

"Me?" said Shadow, turning to face his bat friend, his eyes sharp through the dark swelling that surrounded his left eye, "if you hadn't insisted on taking me out to make friends," he looked away, face frozen with contempt, "then this wouldn't have happened."

"Babe, if you aren't going to play nice with the other children, you'll end up losing the only friend you've got," she said, "then what will you do? Stand around brooding at the ocean all day? Not that we'd notice any difference." An empty threat, but one that needed saying. She wasn't about to ditch Shadow, they had been through too much together, but sometimes his pig-headed stubbornness drove her to say such things.

"Maybe that would be for the best," the dark hedgehog said.

"Fine, have it your way," said Rouge, slumping back into the sofa, almost disappearing into its deep cushions, "there's your coffee."

"Thanks," he said in an ungrateful monotone.

Shadow pursed his lips as he lifted the steaming cup to his mouth. The morning calm broke in an instant when he shot out a cry of pain. Rouge turned to look, thinking Shadow had scalded himself on the hot coffee, but her concern slid into panic when she saw her dark friend bent double and clutching at his head, his teeth clenched and his eyelids screwed up in anguish.

"Shadow, are you okay?" said Rouge, "what's wrong?"

Rouge yelped as her friend's coffee crashed against the floor, followed by her friend. Slamming down her own cup on the table, Rouge leapt down to where Shadow rolled across the floor, holding his head with both hands.

"Shadow?" cried Rouge, her heart pounding, "Shadow, speak to me!"

A gasp of pain, but no words.

"I'm calling an ambulance, Shadow," said Rouge, reaching for her mobile, "it's gonna be okay."

Before she could dial the number, a strong black hand gripped her wrist. Rouge dropped her phone in shock, before turning to see Shadow staring at her.

"That won't be necessary," he said in low, sharp tone. Shadow's eyes blazed crimson fire, and Rouge shrank before their ferocity. He closed his eyes, and Rouge sighed with relief to see them return to normal when they opened again.

"I'm fine," said Shadow, sitting up.

"Shadow?" said Rouge freeing herself from the vice of his grip, "what was that?"

"Chaos Energy", said the dark hedgehog, "I felt a huge spike of it somewhere nearby. I've rarely known one so strong, even when near an Emerald."

"Can you still feel it?"

"Yes," said Shadow, "but it's much weaker now, like a distant echo."

"I'm glad you're alright," said Rouge, "you scared the life out of me."

"Your concern is appreciated," said Shadow, dusting himself off. Rouge rolled her eyes at his complete obliviousness to her worry.

"I better get something to wipe up this coffee," said Rouge. She dashed into the kitchen to grab some paper towels, hoping to salvage her otherwise immaculate living room.

When she returned, she found Shadow putting on his air-skates.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to find the source of the spike," said Shadow, "something bad is about to happen near it, I can feel it."

"Whoa, hold on, sugar," said Rouge, "before you go off on some wild goose chase, why don't you speak to Tails about this? If anyone can find out what's going on, he can."

"No," said the moody hedgehog, "if Tails gets involved, then Sonic will too. I don't want him anywhere near this."

"Afraid he might give you another black eye for your collection?" said Rouge, her eyebrow raised.

"More likely he'll do something reckless," said Shadow, ignoring her jibe, "I need to do this by myself."

Before she could counter, a bright red flash engulfed the room, and Shadow vanished.

Rouge sighed as she bent down to wipe up the coffee stains. She knew it would have been pointless to argue with the stubborn hedgehog anyway.

This grudge with Sonic will be the death of him, she thought.

~o~