Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Sonic Adventures: "On the road" ❯ Star gazing ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Star gazing

The Sonic crew indeed safely escaped danger in the town and now, they had no idea where they were. There were no lights, no signs, no way of knowing. Sonic remained calm, driving on the road ahead of him and seeking a place to stop so he and his friends could get some sleep. His team had complete faith in him, assured that they will make it through… at least they hoped.

"It's the end of the world." Knuckles sighed, very tired on the sofa of the RV.

"No, not yet." Tails said, trying to unfold the map. "I think we're somewhere in Mississippi."

"Miss who?" Shadow asked, sleepily opening an eye.

"Mississippi." Tails repeated. "I see it here on the map, but it's so dark outside."

"I'm not scared of the dark." Sonic said, bravely. "I can drive anything, anywhere."

"How about if you would drive very, very, very SLOW?" Shadow asked him, grinning.

"Now that's scary." Sonic whispered and then he gulped, shivering.

"I don't see why we could just stop and ask for directions." Rouge said, sitting down.

"Stop and ask what? The chicken crossing the road?" Knuckles asked, closing his eyes.

"YIKES!" Sonic screamed and he suddenly slammed on the breaks, stopping.

Shadow remained calm in the front seat, buckled up. "You see, kids? Always buckle."

"Sonic, what happened?" Tails asked, unbuckling and approached the hedgehog.

"There's something out in the middle of the road. It could be a trap." Sonic answered.

"Let's go see!" Tails said, taking a flashlight and he jumped outside with Sonic.

"It could be the chicken trying to cross the road." Knuckles said, sleepily.

"That just means you're hungry again." Rouge teased, smiling.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails reached the strange object on the street and Tails shined his flashlight toward it. They were surprised to see that it was a turtle, slowly crossing the road.

"To get to the other side." Sonic finished, chuckling.

"Why is that so funny?" Tails asked, turning to the blue hedgehog.

"It just is, Tails. I don't always need a reason." Sonic answered, simply. Then he looked around at the area. There was no sound anywhere to be heard and it was as black as midnight. He looked up and saw the clear sky covered with bright stars, such a wonderful sight to see. "Wow."

"Sonic, I gave the turtle a lift and placed him on the other side. But now what?" Tails asked.

"Tails, I think we should just stop right here." Sonic replied, returning to the RV.

"What? Here? Why?" Tails asked, following him to their home on wheels.

"I like this spot and it's nice, quiet and the stars are a great view." Sonic said, stepping inside. He told his team to settle down and sleep for the night. They did so.

Tails finished brushing his teeth and then he looked for Sonic to say goodnight but he was nowhere in the RV. He stepped outside, into the dark and quiet night, looking for him. When he searched all around the RV and the inside but did not find him, he flew up to the top of the RV. There on the roof was the blue hero, resting on his back, gazing up at the stars, relaxing. Sonic turned his head slightly when he saw Tails land quietly on the RV roof.

"Hey, Tails." He greeted him, quietly. His green eyes were like a shining emerald in the dark.

"Hi, Sonic. Do you want to be alone?" Tails asked him.

"No, not really. You wanna join me?" Sonic asked, still resting on his back.

"I sure do. Thanks, Sonic." Tails said, sitting down to rest. His eyes were amazed at the sight above with all those stars. He lay down on his back to see them better, like a movie.

Then they heard someone climbing up to them and it was Knuckles. "There you are. I couldn't find you anywhere. Is something wrong?" The echidna asked.

"No, we're just kicking back and watching the stars." Sonic replied.

"Hey, can I squeeze in?" Knuckles asked, interested in the star show.

"Sure, come on up." Sonic answered, moving slightly for Knuckles to have a place.

Just then, they heard a voice down below. "Sonic! Oh, Sonic, where are you?" Amy called.

Sonic closed his eyes, not wanting to answer but then Knuckles answered for him. "He's up here, Amy! Come and get him!" Knuckles said, and then he chuckled to himself.

Sonic made an angry face and then he pinched the echidna. "Ouch!" Knuckles yelped.

Then Amy and the other two girls climbed up to the roof, happy to find them. Sonic sighed, having no idea that he would start a big thing about a little star watching but he moved some room anyway, letting the others join them to watch the night sky. There was still some room after the girls found a place and then at last, Shadow reached the RV rooftop. He held onto the edge, surprised in his eyes to see them all there. He wondered where everyone had gone.

"Hey, Shadow, why don't you come watch the stars with us?" Amy asked him, excited.

"Uh… No, thanks. Goodnight." Shadow moved to climb down but then everyone called him.

"Shadow!" They all called him at once with one voice.

The black hedgehog came back up, letting out a sigh. "What do you want?" He asked.

"Come watch the stars with us." Amy answered, and everyone else nodded, yes.

"Why?" Shadow asked, still not moving to join them.

"It's beautiful and it's not the same without you." Tikal replied, truthfully.

"Yeah, come up, Shadow. There is a place by me." Sonic offered it to him.

Shadow opened his mouth to say no again but everyone looked toward him, waiting. He closed his mouth and fought against a smile and then he finally climbed up, sitting down. "All right."

Then everyone returned to the sky watching and Shadow felt tired as he carefully moved to rest on his back. He was slow but he finally settled down and looked up at the sky.

"Hey, look! A falling star! See it?" Tails asked, pointing up toward it.

"Yeah, that's amazing! Look at that!" Amy said, not even blinking her eyes.

"That's wonderful." Tikal whispered, looking up.

"It reminds me of jewels." Rouge said, smiling to herself.

"Like my Emerald." Knuckles said to himself, quietly.

"It makes me think of a city with bright lights." Sonic said, sharing his thoughts. Then he turned slightly to Shadow who was next to him. "What are you thinking of, Shadow?" He asked.

Shadow did not hear the question. He was lost in thought, lost in a memory. It seemed like it was so long ago, so long ago when he fought and won a battle to save the people as he promised her, he promised Maria. Just the thought of her name, just the memory of the loss brought back pain but he wanted to remember the good times. That was a hard thing to do. Shadow closed his eyes tightly and then he sat up, turning his face away from the others but almost forgetting they were even there. He felt a burning in his eyes; it was wet. It was painful in his heart. Was he crying? He did not know and he did not understand. But he only knew that it hurt.

"Shadow?" Sonic asked, sitting up beside him, concerned. "What's wrong?" He asked.

No answer could be made but Sonic looked down and he saw Shadow close his fist tight, fighting something. "Shadow, tell me what's wrong." Sonic said, gentle in his voice.

The others quietly sat up, noticing the troubled friend, the black hedgehog.

"I--I don't know anymore." Shadow answered, finally after a long pause. He slightly opened his eyes and then Sonic saw a tear appear on his cheek, slowly falling.

Sonic carefully laid a hand on Shadow's shoulder, wishing to comfort. He wanted to help.

Shadow closed his eyes again when Sonic touched him but he did not move. "It's okay, Shadow. Those days are over and gone. You have a new life now with friends. Us, Shadow." Sonic kept his voice as a soft whisper, only enough for Shadow to hear him.

After another long moment of silence, Shadow opened his eyes and faced the blue hedgehog, looking right into the green eyes. "Yeah, you're right. But it still hurts." He whispered.

"I know, but we're here to help in anyway we can. You can tell us anything." Sonic said.

"Thanks." Shadow did not know what else to say, and he smiled slightly.

"I think…" Sonic began to speak, stopping for a short moment and then he finished. "I think we should all go in and have a cup of hot chocolate."

"Sounds good to me." Tails agreed first, of course.

"I like that idea." Amy said, smiling now.

"I just love chocolate." Rouge said, "But I must be careful not to lose my beauty."

"Let's do it." Tikal agreed with Sonic and the others.

"Okay, I'm in for that." Knuckles said, agreeing also.

Then Sonic turned back to Shadow. "Would you like that?" Sonic asked him.

Shadow released a grin, happy again. "Sure, but it better be with two marshmallows."

Everyone laughed at his words and then Sonic added, "You'll have three of them."

And so it was that Sonic and his friends enjoyed a time of stargazing and then they all had a cup of hot chocolate together in the RV, talking and making plans for the journey ahead of them. Shadow did feel better after that and soon with everyone in their sleeping places, the crew fell asleep and they were together even in their dreams. Tomorrow would bring another day.