Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ One chance ❯ Twenty-five years later ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Just outside of Robotropolis (formerly known as Mobotropolis), Manic, Sonic, and Sonia perched behind a wall of rocks.

 Sonia slid her binocular and night vision goggles on top of her head. “You think this is it?”

 “Intel said they found Dad’s stasis chamber in this facility.” Manic said, sliding his goggles up.

 Sonia smiled. “I can’t wait to see him.”

 Sonic got up. “Then what’re we waiting for?” He asked. “Let’s go.”

 “We have to stick to the plan, bro.” Manic said. 

 “Have the drones gone on their patrol route?” Sonic asked. 

 Manic got up. “They are now. Let’s go.”

 Sonic picked up Manic and Sonia, then raced into the facility through the maintenance shaft while the bots did their usual patrol.

 As soon as they were in the stasis lab, Sonic set Manic and Sonia down.

 Sonia stared at the chamber Shadow was in. “It’s him.”

 “We kept our promise, Ma.” Manic whispered. “We found him.”

 “Too bad you didn’t get to see this day.” Sonic said softly.

 Manic got his hacking device out of his backpack.

 “I guess it stopped the aging process.” Sonic said, staring at Shadow. “He doesn’t look any different from how I remember him.”

 Manic hooked his hacking device to the computer system. “He should wake up as soon as it drains below his face. Check his vitals on the monitor.”

 The stasis fluid started draining. 

 Sonia sighed. “No change. He’s- wait, there’s a heartbeat. There’s a heartbeat!”

 The fluid finally drained completely out.

 Shadow’s eyes snapped open.

 “He’s awake.” Sonic said, grinning. “How do we get him out?” 

 Shadow kicked a hole through the glass.

 “That works.” Manic said.

 Shadow, soaking wet, climbed out of the chamber. He carefully stepped over the pieces of broken glass.

 The siblings backed away, holding their hands up. Sonia and Manic hid behind Sonic while trembling.

 “We’re with the anti-Robotnik resistance.” Sonic said. “We rescued you.”

 Shadow looked over the terrified triplets. He knew they were hedgehogs, but couldn’t make out any other details.

 “We wouldn’t break you out if we were with Ro-butt-nik.” Manic said.

 Shadow started walking away. “Then stay out of my way.” He said over his shoulder. “I can handle things from here.”

 Sonic picked up Sonia and Manic, then caught up to Shadow. “You’re welcome, Dad.”

 Shadow looked at them.

 Now that they were in a brightly lit part of the facility, he could see the siblings better.

 “How are you still alive?” Shadow asked.

 “Ma and Uncle Chuck climbed out the window with us and headed to Mobodoon while Maria stalled Robotnik.” Manic replied. “When Argus headed back to Knothole to find you, you were already locked into stasis. We recently found out where they had you held. No one was willing to risk rescuing you for some reason.”

 “Thanks.” Shadow said. 

 The four hedgehogs made their way through the maintenance shaft.

 “Where’s your mom and uncle Chuck now?” Shadow asked.

 “She was killed three years ago in a base raid.” Sonia said, trying to keep from crying. “Uncle Chuck died last year; natural causes.”

 Shadow blinked slowly. 

 Manic patted Sonia on the shoulder.

 “How long have I been in stasis?” Shadow asked.

 “Twenty-five years.” Sonic replied.

 Shadow seethed.

 “You’ve missed a lot, Dad.” Manic said. “We’ll bring you up to speed when we get home.”

 The hedgehogs finally got out of the shaft.

 One of Robotnik’s swatbots stood just a few feet away from the entrance of the shaft.

 Sonia pulled out her laser gun and fired at the robot.

 The swatbot exploded, destroying the nearby facility.

 Manic’s and Shadow’s ears were still ringing a few minutes after the explosion. They laid there, flat on their backs, in a daze.

 As soon as they came to their senses, Manic and Shadow quickly scrambled up.

 “You check on Sonic.” Shadow said. 

  Manic crawled over to Sonic while Shadow crawled over to Sonia, who was only visible by one of her dark purple combat boots.

 Shadow uncovered Sonia, who was crushed by what was left of one side of the facility. He gently picked up Sonia and made his way over to Manic and Sonic. 

 Sonic was weakly trying to sit up. He was extremely pale and bleeding from a large gash in his left leg.

 “Don’t move, bro.” Manic said, easing Sonic back down. He noticed a piece of shrapnel and began bandaging it with his bandana. “Hit the red button on Sonic’s communicator, Dad.”

 Shadow laid Sonia down and pressed the button.

 “Bro, it's okay. We radioed in.” Manic said, holding Sonic’s hand. “Just hang on.”

 “S- Sonia?” Sonic asked.

 “She's gone.” Manic said, voice shaking. “Hold on. Help’s on the way. Just stay with us.”

 Sonic's peach skin was now a pale bluish-white.

 The evac. copter was nowhere to be seen.

 Manic blinked back tears. “I love you, bro. Don't worry about our families.”

 Shadow held Sonic’s other hand. “Love you.”

 “Love you too.” Sonic said, weakly. “Tell… ‘em all… I love… them.”

 Sonic passed away just seconds before the evac. copter arrived.

 Manic and Shadow climbed into the copter. Neither of them could look at Sonic and Sonia as Rotor and Bunnie loaded their body bags into the copter.

 Manic and Shadow made their way into their  base, with Manic walking slightly ahead of Shadow.

 Manic brushed back his singed, long spines. “I promised Lola that I’d make sure her dad got home safely.”

 “Sonic had a family?” Shadow asked.

 Manic nodded. “We all do.”

 Lola rushed over to Shadow and hugged him. “Hi, Grandpa!”

 Shadow looked at the little hedgehog/chipmunk hybrid, who was staring up at him and smiling. “Hey… I guess you’re Sonic’s kid?”

 Manic grimaced. “Hey, Lola.” He said, kneeling down.

 Sally and Knuckles hurried over to Manic. 

 “Where’s Sonia and Sonic?” Knuckles asked.

 Manic shook his head, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t even say a word to them.

 Sally started crying. 

 Knuckles bit his lip and quietly walked away, tears filling his eyes.

 Lola, crying, let go of Shadow and ran over to Sally.

 Sally picked Lola up and hugged her. “I know, sweetie, I miss him too.”

 Manic stood up and quietly walked away. 

“I guess I’ll show you to your room, Dad.” He said, voice breaking.

 Shadow followed Manic down the other hallway while wiping his eyes. 

 Manic’s wife, Jade (who was holding their baby girl Elodie) and twins Jaxx and Jaxx were standing in the hallway.

 Manic could barely look at them. “Sonic and Sonia didn’t make it.”

 Jade handed Elodie to Shadow, then hugged Manic. 

 Jaxx and Jazz hugged Manic and Jade as they sobbed uncontrollably.

 Manic finally let go and took Elodie from Shadow. “I’ll check in on you all as soon as I get Dad settled in.”

 Manic shuffled out of the makeshift chapel, going as far as the hallway of their base, and flopped down beside Shadow.

 Shadow looked over at Manic. “It was a nice funeral.”

 “It seems so final now.” Manic said.

 Shadow laid his arms on his knees. “I can’t believe I vouched for them.”

 Manic looked at Shadow. “What?”

 “I vouched for the Robotniks.” Shadow replied. “I-”

 Manic narrowed his eyes. “How could you?”

 “I did it to save you.” Shadow said. “You had pneumonia and the Robotniks gave us the cure. We were keeping an eye on them. We had no idea they had those robots or found the Chaos Emeralds until it was too late.”

 Manic slumped his shoulders. “So, because of me, half of Mobius was wiped out. Ma, Sonic, and Sonia are dead.” He said softly. “You should’ve just let me die.”

 Shadow patted Manic on the shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault.”

 Jazz rushed over. “Daddy?”

 Manic looked at Jazz. “What’s up?”

 Jazz hugged Manic. “I thought you could use a hug.” She replied. “I love you.”

 Manic hugged Jazz. “I love you too.”

 Jazz let go of Manic, went over to hug Shadow, then hurried out to play.

 “She wouldn’t be here if I had let you die.” Shadow said.

 Manic slowly nodded. 

 “It could’ve happened anyway even if you had been better.” Shadow said. “The Robotniks saw nothing in the palace and we were doing our best to keep an eye on him. Argus searched their ship from top to bottom, and they still made all of those robots. I think anyone would’ve let their guard down after two years.”

 Manic nodded. “Maybe, but it doesn’t make me feel better about losing my Ma and siblings.”