Sonic and the Missing Link

Chapter 16

(Silver's POV)

We let Shadow dry off, as we tried to tame Sonic's fur. Tails grunted as he helped Sonic hop in the back of the car. Now it was the hard part, Shadow. 

"Are you ready Shadow?" He barely opened his eyes, nodding. Tails hesitated to grab him, but we managed to get him on a towel to lift him up. As we lifted him, Shadow nearly screamed in pain. As we walked him to the car, each step we took caused him pain. Sonic helped pull him into the car, letting Shadow rest on him.

"We need to hurry..." Tails said, quickly jumping into the car. Shadow looked even paler, looking just as sick. If this doesn't work... I don't want to think about it.

"Just drive." I honestly didn't know if it was going to be okay. I don't know how it turns out in the future, as this is completely different from what I know.

It felt like forever before we made it, but we managed to get through to the docks. Tails was talking to the guy, as Sonic was looking through the window. I could tell he was already getting scared. Of course we have to get the guy who's scared of water, and can change into a giant wolf. This was going to be tough...

"Thank you again." Tails hurried over, as I tried to help Shadow out of the car. Sonic waited until he could hop out. Shadow groaned in pain a I tried to help him stand. Tails helped me lift Shadow up into the boat.

"Come on Sonic." Sonic wouldn't move from his spot on the deck, shaking. "Sonic?" He took a deep breath, before slowly crawling onto the boat. I couldn't help but smile as he tried to stay calm.

"Good blue..." Shadow mumbled once Sonic made his way on the boat.

"How far do we need to go Shadow?" Tails asked once we got a good distance into the ocean. 

"F-Farther... In..." Shadow pointed to a direction, as Tails nodded. He gave me a look before speeding up. Shadow was getting worse by the minute, but we were close. He just has to hold on a little longer...

(Normal POV)

Sonic curled up around Shadow tighter as the ride got rougher. He didn't want Shadow to fall, and his fear of water wasn't helping. Shadow tensed on each bump, getting into a coughing fit every now and then.

"S-Stop." Shadow sensed as they got closer to his home. He tried to sit up as Tails tried to slow down.

"Is this where you need to go?" Silver was confused, looking around at the water. Nothing could be seen for miles, just empty water and a few boats very far away. Shadow tried to stand on his own, but Sonic grabbed him once a bump hit. Tails stopped the boat completely, turning to them. Shadow pushed himself up, stumbling to the edge. Silver quickly rushed over to him, helping him walk up.

He helped him lower down into the water, as Shadow cringed in pain. He fell into the water, almost sinking immediately. Silver saw Shadow slowly swim around, before going deeper. 

"Should we wait here, just in case? Or go home?" Tails asked after a few minutes. 

"He knows how to get home from here..." Silver said as he looked at Sonic, sighing. "Let's go home." Sonic just stared at the water, frozen. Yet he felt like this was natural. He always had a fear of water, but something about seemed soothing. Was it Shadow?

As Tails started the boat again, Sonic stared at the water. He didn't want to leave without him. Sonic didn't know what this feeling was about him. He couldn't remember yet it felt like he did. All Sonic knows, is that he didn't want to live without him.

About halfway home, Sonic collapsed into a ball in the middle of the boat, whimpering. He slowly started shrinking, his fur disappearing. Before they knew it, Sonic was back to normal. He panted, struggling to sit up. Silver quickly threw a blanket at him, turning away. Sonic just groaned, covering up. His mind was fuzzy, almost forgetting he was on a boat.... Almost.
Sonic shot up from his spot, shaking like crazy. He kept mumbling words and nearly scream every time water splashed in.

"Sonic, calm down. We're close, just sit down." Silver tried to calm Sonic, who was death gripping the seat he was on.

"I. Am. Calm." Sonic managed to say, staring at him. "I just want to get off this boat as soon as I can."

"Well, your wish came true. We're about to pull up." Tails said as he slowed the boat. He laughed a little as Sonic sighed with relief. As soon as they pulled up to the dock, Sonic jumped off the boat to solid land. Silver helped tie up the boat as Sonic quickly tried to get to the car.

-With Shadow-

Shadow continued to swim to his home. His vision was blurred, just as he was getting closer. Shadow pushed himself harder, to get close enough. Once he swam into the town, others quickly went over. Some shouting about 'their king has returned' and 'Get help!'. Shadow flinched in pain, before going limp. As he was blacking out, he saw the face of someone familiar.

"Shadow?" Someone said as Shadow started to wake up. He groaned, trying to get up. "No, stay down brother. You're still healing."

"What... Happened?" Shadow slowly looked over to his sibling.

"I don't know... I was going to ask you the same." He sighed looking at his injured brother. "Where did you go? You've been gone for months... And you come back injured?" Shadow gripped his brother's hand, smiling.

"It's alright now... I'm back now..." Shadow tried to reassure his brother. "I'll tell you on a later date Mephiles..." He calmly said, before sighing. He didn't want to talk about his time on the surface.

The brother, now known as Mephiles, sighed. He didn't want to bother his brother anymore, and yet he wanted to know what happened to him.

".... I've been taking care of the kingdom while you were away... But I think they are ready for their king to come back." Mephiles tried to change the subject as he saw his brother in pain.

"I can't just yet-"

"I mean, when you are healed." Mephiles interrupted his brother. Shadow growled slightly.

"Do not interrupt me." Mephiles bowed his head for forgiveness. Shadow just sighed, forgiving his brother. "As I was saying... I have unfinished business. I can't go back to being king just yet..."

"Unfinished business?" The younger brother was confused. Shadow forced himself to sit up, tensing up.

"Yes, little brother. It's the reason why I've been gone..." Shadow groaned, holding his side. 

"Shadow, I don't think you should be moving." Mephiles protested as Shadow got up. Yet Shadow kept swimming while holding his side.

"I'm only going to stay for a few days..." Shadow sighed, "I can't let this be unfinished..."