Heaven on Earth

Chapter 8: Sociable and Peaceful

"Where in the name of Chaos is he?" Knuckles growled as he slammed his fist into a punching bag, sending it flying across the room and towards Amy. "He's been gone all day!"

Amy reflexively swung her hammer, knocking the bag towards the other wall, putting an impressive dent in it. "How should I know? He probably went to take out Eggman and then decided to stay out a while. When did you turn into Queen Aleena, Knuckles?"

"Well, excuse me for being concerned about my friend!" Knuckles shot back.

"Both of you stop it!" Tails snapped as he hovered between them. "Amy's right. He probably just went for an extended run and took a nap in Green Hill. I'll go get--"

He was cut off as the training room doors opened, revealing the fifteen year old crown prince of Kingdom Mobius. Sonic scratched his quills absentmindedly, emerald eyes full of child-like innocence with a tiny grin indicating confusion.

"Hey, there he is! And just in time for dinner!" Manic slapped Sonic on the back. "C'mon, bro! Walk and talk, tell us about what you did!"

"Considering you faked us out earlier, do tell." Knuckles fell in step with Sonic as the blue speedster padded along, one arm crossed over his chest.

Sonic stayed oddly silent as the party traversed the halls of Castle Mobius. The setting sun bathed the blue hedgehog in warm orange light, a stark contrast to his usual hue and his subdued mood.

"Sonic?" Tails caught up and took his self-proclaimed older brother's hand, squeezing it gently between both of his. "Are you okay?"

Sonic's emerald eyes glimmered kindly. "Never been better, Tails. Thanks for asking. But I have to ask, how did I fake you both out?"

"Dude, did you hit spikes and lose rings?" Manic asked. "Mom nearly tore apart the kingdom trying to get ahold of you. You should remember your communicator when you travel -- you know how Mom is when you don't have it."

"Sorry about that." Sonic's ears folded back slightly. "I'll try to remember it next time."

"I'm sure Mother will be merciful this time." Sonia joined them and flipped her pink quills. "Now where in the name of my favorite dry shampoo did you go?"

"Soleanna. I had an.....appointment to keep." Sonic shrugged. "No big deal."

"No big deal?" Knuckles almost shouted. "Dude! Did you forget that you've been gone almost all day! Appointments don't take hours!"

"Any appointment with the emo princess of Soleanna longer than a minute is lunacy." Tails groaned.

"She's not emo. That's Shadow's thing," Sonia butted in.

"He's not an emo -- he's just got some emotional damage. Elise isn't emo either -- she's a fine piece of stale bread that should've been thrown out long ago." Sonic rolled his shoulders. "But it doesn't matter. I'm back now, so what does it matter? Come on, my day and my appointment was so dull, it's not worth talking about it. Keep talking, what did you guys do today? Tails, any cool inventions? Knuckles, how's Angel Island? Rouge drop by? Sonia, how was your day?"

"Ah, there's the Sonic we know and love!" Sonia looped her brother's arm in hers. "Now let's go to dinner -- we'll tell you everything!"

Laughing, Sonic let his friends lead him away.

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Twilight set her phone aside and pushed her glasses up her face. Sunset Shimmer had been wanting to know how the visit was, so Twilight sent her a courtesy text. She also explained about Ogilvie, but refrained from telling Sunset his true identity.