Sonic Boom!

Role Models

Penny had walked around the woods for some time, and her thoughts drifted to Shadow. She hadn't seen him in some time... she wondered if he was mad at her for joining Sonic's side? She thought about how they met...how Shadow had rescued her from those robots years ago.

Penny stared uneasily at the robots that surrounded her. She felt sweat dripping from her body as they closed in on her, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the blow...

..but it never came.

She opened her eyes to see a black and red hedgehog, fighting away the robots. Each kick and energy sphere he shot at them destroyed the robots with a single blow.

The dark hedgehog who just rescued her life walked up to her, holding out his hand. He didn't say anything, but the look he was giving her clearly said the words, 'are you okay?'"

Penny stared at him, her eyes wide, her heart pounding. She slowly grabbed his hand, and he pulled to her feet. "T-thank you." She muttered, avoiding his eyes.

Shadow shrugged. "Hmmph."

"I'm serious. I would've been toast if it weren't for you." Penny continued.

"Why were you out here anyway?" Shadow asked.

"Why?" Penny frowned at him. "That was a stupid question. This is my home!"

"You should've stayed inside when the robots started attacking."

"How was I supposed to know they were attacking today?!"

Shadow didn't say anything there. The two gazed at each other.

"Penny! Time to come in!" Her mother's voice was heard from inside her house. Penny looked back to her home. "Coming!" She turned to Shadow. "By the way, I'm Penny. Thanks for today."

Shadow humphed again, mumbling something.

"What?"

Shadow turned to her. "I'm Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog." He said, speaking clearly.

"Can I see you again?" Penny asked him. "I'd like that."

Shadow nodded, and Penny could've sworn that she saw a smile on his face before he teleported away.

Penny kicked away a stone, thinking about Shadow. She'd had so much going on these past few days that she clearly forgotten about him. She'd have to make it up to Shadow one of these days.

"I'll see if I can find him later," Penny told herself. "Then I can apologize."

She would've continued thinking about Shadow if Eggman hadn't shown up at that moment. He shot two missiles at them, and Penny ran off before she became a target. Eggman snickered at them. "Look at those fools scurrying around like ants! Might as well treat em' like ants."

Mike turned to him. "You mean you're taking us on a picnic?"

"What?!" Eggman snapped in confusion. "No! Obliterator Bot, magnify!"

Obliterator Bot raised his arm, and Penny quickly ran towards Mike and pushed him away. "Sonic, where are you?!" She panicked.

"Incoming heroes!"

Hearing the familiar call, Penny turned around to see Tails flying his plane, and Sonic, Knuckles, Sticks, and Amy all came and let go of their Enerbeams. Sonic landed next to Penny. The gang began fighting the robots. Penny grinned. She was getting the hang of the hero stuff... if only Shadow could see her now.