Bound by Music

Departure

Sonic woke up to the sweet smell of a hot breakfast cooking in the kitchen, which was a very rare scent, unless Amy or Cream came over. He stretched and climbed downstairs to find the others already awake and eating at the table. One seat was left empty for him, and he gladly took it.

"Wow, this looks great!" he exclaimed as he looked at the spread of pancakes, eggs, and sausages. After he had fully drenched his pancakes with syrup and a slab of butter, he tasted the meal, and his eyes lit up with delighted surprise.

"This tastes amazing! Who made it?"

The others turned their eyes to Shadow, who was trying to avoid the sudden attention and continued eating. Sonic grinned mischeviously began to form a plan in the back of his mind.

"I mean, yeah it was pretty good, but I think the sausages could've been cooked a little longer," he began, and his older brother started to glare at his food but still dodged their gazes. Everyone else suddenly fell silent.

Sonic continued undeterred, "And the eggs would've been better if they had some more salt added. They're a bit bland. And--"

Shadow stood and glared at the blue hedgehog with a look that could kill, "Well, excuse me if I prefer to make edible food! Next time, you can cook! I did not go through six years of culinary training to have my food complained about by some overconfident blue prick!" he fumed. Sonic smirked, throwing his older brother off.

"Six years, huh?" he asked with his arms crossed, "I didn't think the Ultimate Lifeform was the cooking type. The food is awesome, Shads. I just wanted to see if you would admit to making it or not."

The ebony hedgehog crossed his arms and hmphed, "Unbelievable."

"You mean you risked our house just to get Shadow to admit he can cook!?" Tails shrieked. The three guests looked at the fox in confusion.

"What do ya mean, Tails?" Manic asked, and the two former rivals rubbed the back of their heads.

"Let's just say that I was once far more volatile than I am today," Shadow answered and changed the subject, "It is eight o'clock now. That will give us an hour to get everything ready."

"Sounds good to me, big bro," Manic said while giving him a thumbs up. In Shadow's opinion, he looked like a mirror image of Sonic. Although, he still far too focused on how easily the triplets seemed to accept him than to worry about looks.

An hour later, they had everything they needed packed into the X Tornado, which was idling in the hanger/Tails' workshop. Sonic had tried to dissuade Tails from coming, but the fox, along with everyone else, wouldn't have it. Tails was a part of the family, and as such, he just as much of a right to go against Eggman as the rest of them. Their packing was interrupted, however, as loud knock sounded throughout the home, along with several pairs of footsteps afterwards. Knuckles, Rouge, Amy, Cream and Cheese, Silver, Blaze, and Team Chaotix appeared in the hangar with backpacks and shoulderbags.

"You didn't think we would just let you leave without us, did you?" Knuckles smirked as he adjusted his knapsack. The four hedgehogs, fox, and lion shared look before Sonic replied.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Knux."

"Of course it is!" Amy said, "We're your friends, and we want to help you get your home back."

"Too large," Shadow remarked from his spot beside the plane with most of his body hidden in his namesake, "There is too many of you," he elaborated, "The doctor will immediately know what we are planning if he sees all of us together heading in the same direction. It's too risky."