A Star Reignites

It All Comes To Light

A few hours later, Sonic woke up in his bedroom to the ringing in his ears less prominent. There was still very clearly some tinnitus going on, but it wasn't as bad as it was before. It had subsided enough to where he could hear a conversation going on the other side of the bedroom door. He couldn't tell who was talking, his hearing wasn't that strong yet, but it didn't sound too serious. He could tell it wasn't a fight, the voices sounding more concerned if anything. If he had to guess, it was probably Star, maybe even Shadow too, explaining to the others what had happened earlier that same morning. Curiosity getting the better of him, Sonic pushed the covers off of him and got up from his bed, approaching the door and pressing an ear up against it.

"I can't be sure when Sonic will get his hearing back, I've never actually used my Song Blast on anyone before." He could already tell that was Star. She was the only one who possessed the power.

"Why on Earth would you use something so powerful against your brother anyway?!" That was definitely Amy. Her voice was unforgettable, especially when she was unhappy.

"He left me with no choice. With no fighting experience it was the only way I was going to be able to beat him."

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's resilient." Sonic frowned, recognizing the voice of Shadow. He was here too? The others have actually let him in? Just how long had he been out for? Surely he wasn't out for that long where his friends actually trusted Shadow enough to let him in the house.

"I can barely believe that you're even here, Shadow. After what you did to Star."

"I know I made a mistake, but why is it so hard for everyone to believe that I've changed? That I've apologized for it and that I now truly do love Star?"

"Yes? Why is it so hard for that to be accepted?" Star added. "Why is us being together so bad? Why is it so bad that I've forgiven him and want to be with him?"

"It's not that it's bad." Sonic heard Tails' voice pipe up. "It's just hard to believe. You know, cause she's Sonic's sister?"

"Oh so what?!" Shadow's voice had a hint of frustration in it now. "I don't care if she's Sonic's sister! I love her with all of my heart and nothing is going to change that. Just because she looks like Sonic doesn't mean that she is Sonic. She is her own special and unique person with her own special talents and her own beautiful personality. I was blind at the start not to realize that before, but now I finally see her for who she really is and I love what I see. And no amount of judgment from anybody is going to make me feel different."

"That's the spirit, hun." That was clearly Rouge now, but Sonic had stopped paying attention.

He was shocked by Shadow's words. He really felt that strongly about his sister? Had he really been wrong to judge him this whole time?

Sonic sighed and opened the door, causing the conversation to come to a full stop as they all looked at him with worried eyes. He looked into the eyes of Star, Shadow, and each one of his friends. Nobody said a word, watching each other with baited breath.

"Sonic?" Tails finally broke the silence, holding a hand up to him. "Are you alright?"

Sonic said nothing to the fox and looked at Shadow, his brows furrowing a bit, but there was no glare in his eyes. Just unsure curiosity. "You," He pointed at the ebony hedgehog. "In here, now."

Shadow blinked, unsure of how to feel about this. "What for?"

"We're gonna have a talk. Just you and me. Now."

Shadow looked at Star unsurely, but she nodded her head and encouraged him forward. Shadow sighed and nodded, following Sonic back into his room.

Sonic closed the door behind them and went to his bed, sitting down on the side of it and patting a spot next to him. Shadow tilted his head in confusion and the blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. "My hearing is still trying to come back. I won't be able to understand you unless you're close to me. So come sit down so that you don't have to shout and alert the others."