Nimbus' Destined

Catching Up

Queen Minerva chuckled, smiling wide as she stroked Shadow's quills. "My little boy...all grown up and trying to do everything at once." She murmured.

Shadow didn't know why, but just feeling his mother's hands touch him was enough to expel a purr. He closed his eyes, but opened them again as she finished her sentence. "What?"

"You silly goose...you think you can do everything yourself just because you're powerful... Defending even one kingdom requires help from others. 'Many hands make light work,' remember?"

Shadow sighed. "I just... I've gone my whole life being a supersoldier... And now I'm supposed to be in charge and make my own decisions and-"

"Whoa!" Minerva giggled. "You think your father and I are going to step down as soon as you get home? No...you have plenty of time to learn how to rule...and even if you're still not ready, we'll still love you..."

"Speaking of which..." Shadow stood up. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be-"

"In the castle? I didn't want our reunion to be with me in a fancy crown and dress. Besides, this is where I grew up."
She stood up, going to Sonic's side. Her hands glowed for a moment, then she placed them on Sonic's shoulders.

Sonic inhaled sharply, then opened his eyes slowly. "Where...who are you?"

"Your mother, you little troublemaker...!" Minerva smiled as Sonic smiled back, and she stroked his cheek. "You've been quite a nuisance to your brothers and guardian, you know."

"Isn't that my best talent...?" Sonic joked, then was stopped by a fit of coughing. "Ugh...I don't feel very good."

"You'll be back on your feet in a few days." Tears welled in her eyes. "You're the spitting image of your great-great-grandfather." She kissed his forehead. "I'll come back and check on you later, alright? I gotta get Shadow in some dry clothes."

Sonic nodded, and Shadow followed his mother out the door. As she removed her bandana, he saw her quills were black and red like his, with one wavy quill on either side of her face, and two drooping down like Silver and Venice's in the back.
"So I get my coloring from you."

"Yes, but your eyes are your father's." She led him to a smaller building and pulled him inside.

"Is Sonic alright?"

Shadow saw Amy dressed in a red and gray themed outfit, her quills pulled back in a ponytail. "He's gonna be fine, Amy. And...I'd like you to meet my mother, Minerva."

Amy gasped, diving into a curtsy, which made Minerva laugh. "No need to bow, Amelia. Your parents don't."

Amy popped up again. "My...parents? You know my parents!?"

"Of course. You and Sonic were playmates, but you went into a state of depression when he left, so they sent you so you'd be happy."

Amy blushed, "I liked him that much even then, huh...?"

"Yes...I've been getting reports from Chaos and Light Gaia all this time. Speaking of which...Rouge?"

Rouge came around the corner, dressed in a dark gray and purple outfit. "Yes...your highness?"

"Poor little Roxanne... Taken by bandits when you were only two..."

"Ro...Roxanne?" Rouge looked at her hands. "Bandits...? I wasn't sent away from Nimbus...I was kidnapped?"

"I've kept an eye on you, though. I know it's a lot to take in..."

"No kidding...I'm not another lost princess, am I?"

"No...your mother is a medic. And Stirling is around the camp somewhere..."

"Who's Stirling?"

"...your older brother."

Well..."
Shadow stepped out of the dressing room, outfitted with a white blouse, red vest with gold spirals, and red boots with gold trim. "How does it look?"

"An outfit fit for royalty..." Rouge replied.

Shadow smiled. "And dry too..."