Archive of Our Own

Why would we need to bring Grim's shard back here?

"Now that all but that last one is in place, we can rebuild it to make The Grim into what we've always wanted!" Nine's smiling by the time he finishes. Surely Sonic gets it now, right?

Just one more shard, and our dream will finally be made reality.

But Sonic's expression is still yet warped in confusion, as if he's taken aback. Why?

"Yeah. To rebuild Green Hill."

Nine's smile falls. "Green Hill?"

No, that’s–

"We're not remaking your old world. We're building a better one," Nine explains.

Do you need reminding?

"The perfect world in Grim. Our clean slate." Nine taps his chest first before holding a hand out, gesturing to Sonic with a smile.

Don't you get it?  

"Why does the slate have to be clean? I liked the old slate. It was our home!"

"Our" home?

Nine frowns. "It was never my home. Plus, it's gone."

"I think you can get it back."

If Nine didn't see it in his eyes before, he does now—the hope that persists in Sonic.

But Sonic just doesn't get the big picture.

"You're wrong about that. We need to build a new home."

The expression on Sonic's face becomes pained under Nine's glare.

No matter what Nine seems to say—tries to tell him—Sonic still argues back, still tries to appeal to him.

"Come on, little buddy…" Sonic begins to reach out, but Nine slaps his hand away before it can reach him.

"Stop calling me that!" Nine rears back on his tails, creating distance between the two of them. "You just assumed I'd go along with you no matter what! Did you even consider what I wanted?" He points one of his mechanical tails at Sonic, looming over him.

Did how I feel ever matter to you?

"I assumed that, after everything we've been through, you'd see things the way I do! Just like…" Sonic's gaze falls, "the real Tails would."

Anger floods his system. "I am real!"

But not to you. Right?

Nine's never seen anything as clearly as he does now. All the little details he's been ignoring explains everything—means everything. 

Something like realization dawns on Sonic's face as his eyes begin to widen. His eyes meet Nine's once more, but it’s too late. No take backs.

In a singular motion, Nine releases his tails from under him. By the time his shoes touch the ground, he's no longer facing Sonic.

"Just not your real friend." His words drip with poison. He can only hope they hurt Sonic enough to make him understand.

Am I not just some stand in—some…replacement? What was–

Nine relaxes his shoulders, just a little. "What did you think would happen to me when you brought your friends back?"

There's a brief moment of silence in the chamber before Sonic answers.

"We're all in this together. And I'd really think you'd grow to love them as much as I do."

So you didn't think.

Nine spins back around to face Sonic. "And that's exactly your problem! You just jump into situations with no idea about the outcome." Had enough, he turns, aiming his mechanical tails at the nearly complete prism.

"Wait!"

Don't count on it.

Nine blasts the prism with clear intent. It causes a shock wave, something like an earthquake, to ripple out from the prism.

While Sonic lies on the mountainous rock under his feet, Nine uses his tails to gather the four shards.

I was a fool for trusting him.

He fixes his gaze on the portal he'd created, holding his heart high in his chest, as he takes purposeful steps towards the portal.

But, in a moment of weakness, he stops before taking those last steps, and takes one final look back at Sonic.

Sonic coughs as he tries to rise to his feet, and Nine holds onto his heart steadfast, in hopes of keeping it from faltering any further.

He'll just try to appeal to you again.

"We can make this work, Nine. Trust me!" Sonic pulls a hand to his heart, summoning a fond smile to his face. It's a look that would melt Nine's own heart—

—if he still believed in it.

"Heh. Trust you?" Nine's eyes fall to the floor. "The only person I can trust is myself." Maybe Sonic always assumes Nine will just come around, but Nine won't make the same mistake again.

Nine takes his final steps through the portal, leaving Sonic behind. The portal closes after him just after his feet safely touch down upon the floor of his base in The Grim. His home.

Or, it will be soon enough.

In his direct eyesight, The Grim's shard of the paradox prism floats, still suspended in the air. "I'll have to do this quickly, but carefully." Perhaps– 

No, Sonic should be occupied with the Chaos Council still. So he has time before Sonic comes looking for him.

Sonic.

Nine uses the tech embedded in his right glove to project the blueprint for the completed prism, and gets to work.

He won't just give up—one of his most frustrating traits.

As expected, positioning The Grim's shard is the most difficult, as it's the only one he hasn't yet tried to position. Luckily, it only takes a short minute to figure out.

So he'll come here . And he'll expect me to "come around".

He moves on to the blue shard next, maneuvering it with his tails just so, before starting on the green one.

He's stuck in the past! And he refuses to see what could be.

As he sets his sights on the bright red shard, he can’t help but think back to how it had first come into his possession.

No matter what he did, I'd always believed in him. Even when… Even when he left me behind those times. I even believed back then that he would try to save me, if I let him.

And finally, the yellow shard.

But it was him he saw. "Tails". His obedient "little buddy".

His real best friend.

Sonic has only ever seen him as that obedient little fox, who'd go along with him, who'd do whatever he wanted. Sonic had never even thought to consider Nine's feelings, because only his own had mattered.

Nine grits his teeth, squeezes his hands into fists at his side.

He had never even cared about—

The ground– No, reality begins to tremble as the shards finally come together, but Nine scarcely has a chance to worry before everything stills once more. He aims his mechanical tails at the palm trees across the room, with the hammock stretched between them.

— us .

~

Now, angry as Nine was, he'd never let it cloud his judgment. If not Sonic (or his other "friend"), the Chaos Council would be on their way to steal the prism. So, when he first activated the complete prism, his base began to rise, the crystal surrounding it growing, hollowing out, and changing shape. Nine had scarcely needed to step outside to see that he'd created a crystal fortress he'd envisioned (booby-trapped, of course).

An empty fortress on an even emptier world was something he could only describe as perfect, and yet…

While the paradox prism's pedestal now sits atop the roof of the fortress, his old base had become a spacious room on the floor just below it. Amidst monitors, switches and buttons, tables and tools, something he can only consider an imperfection grows in the center of the room.

A palm tree.

He should have destroyed it the minute he saw it, but–

Instead, hours later, he sits at the base of that palm, lying back against it. Sure, he could go up to the roof anytime—right now, even. Once he activates the prism, he'll finally be home.

So why can't he just…do it?

All he has to do is go up one floor, and activate the prism. It's a two step plan. It's neither hard nor complicated.

Nine sighs.

If there's one detriment to being alone, it's this feeling that settles in the pit of his stomach. He'd never felt it before... Back then, he could only wish for a place like this one to appear, where he could finally be alone, but now…

Stranger still, it can't be because he's alone. If it was simply this, then perhaps he wouldn't have felt the same way surrounded by the Chaos Council, or he would have felt it through those years of attempted isolation in New Yoke. 

Everything was fine when Sonic–

…I'm pathetic.

With the assistance of his mechanical tails, Nine rises to his feet. He sighs heavily, deeply frustrated, as he scuttles across the room and begins to climb up a ladder.

It all comes back to him, huh?

After everything that's happened, and everything he's learned, he just can't forget him, can he?

…But that's not surprising. I could be thinking about him because… I do have to be ready for him.

Right, of course. Once any threats to his dream are no longer, once he's really alone, he'll finally be able to forget. Won't he?

This wouldn't be happening if he would have just–! No. Stop. I don't need anyone.

Nine uses a mechanical tail to press a button on the pedestal at the roof of his crystal fortress, allowing the paradox prism to rise into view.

I don't need him.

It only takes a brief moment for the blasters in his tails to warm up. Nine aims them at the prism.

A brilliant light emanates from the prism once struck, and the corners of Nine's mouth upturn just slightly.

~

Nothing.

It’s been hours since he left that embryonic shatterspace (“Ghost Hill”, Sonic had called it), hours since he built this fortress to protect the crystal, and to house his budding dream of a home. For a little while now, he’s been standing up here beside the crystal’s empty pedestal, looking out over The Grim. It’s unlikely anyone is lurking without his knowledge either, as he has a security system programmed to notify him instantly if someone enters this shatterspace.

What’s taking them so long? Surely they’ve concluded their battle by now, so why hasn’t he tried to– 

No, Nine reminds himself. Time flows differently between each of the shatterspaces. What could be hours here could be seconds somewhere else.

Either that, or Sonic had gotten sidetracked. There’s no way he’d be able to resist confronting Nine about the prism otherwise, right?

Chances that he’s given up on restoring his home are slim to none, given his stubbornness.

But even if Sonic has decided to give up on that, there are still a multitude of reasons for him to seek the prism.

Nine looks up at the sky, taking the cool air of The Grim into the recesses of his lungs. On the exhale, his eyes fall to the ground. Even when his mind is blank, even when everything is peaceful, it’s almost frustrating how lon–

That feeling only twists itself up in his stomach, knotting itself into a heavy lump. Why?

Against his better judgment, Nine leaves the side of the pedestal. In one smooth motion, he switches from slow steps to scuttling mechanical tails, and he doesn’t stop moving until he's sitting at the base of his palm tree, lying back against it.

After a moment of stillness, Nine idly turns his head to the left.

“Whatcha doin’, buddy?”

“Ah!” Nine jolts. On instinct, he aims his tails’ blasters at the being to his left.

“Woah, woah, woah. Chilllll. It’s only me, boss.”

Right. Right.

It’s just Chaos Sonic—the only other being here in The Grim now.

Once the adrenaline subsides, Nine groans, lowering his tails.

“Unless…” Suddenly, Chaos Sonic is standing across the room, throwing punches at an invisible opponent. “If ya wanted to spar with me, you couldda asked first!” He turns his head to face Nine, still attacking his invisible opponent. “I am the best at sparring. In fact, I bet I could win a medal for it! If only someone would start a tournament. But if my opponents are too pathetic… Oooh~ Maybe they’d even have snacks! I wouldn’t even need ‘em though—no stomach and all.”

Nine grits his teeth. “I’m not sparring with you.”

Chaos Sonic pauses, tilting his head to the side in exaggerated confusion. To accompany the display, his eyes change into twin spirals. “No?” He straightens up, face display turning into twin arrowheads pointing upwards. “But it could be good for you! When that furball shows his mug you’ll be in top form. And together we’ll be…unstoppable!”

Nine scoffs, rolling his eyes.

Yeah.

"It shouldn't come to that."

"No?"

"Of course not. Thanks to my state-of-the-art security, we'll know the moment someone enters The Grim. And with the traps I have set in place, well…"

"Okay, okay…"

"Let's just say they'll have their work cut out for them."

"I see, I see… But! What if they make it past those?"

"It's not just traps. With the help of the prism, in just minutes I was able to create something of a small army. With just a press of a button, I'll deploy my new bots."

"Uh huh, uh huh…"

"And to make sure they encounter the bots, the moment they step within range, I'll set up a barrier. They'll have no choice but to take them on if they want to reach us."

"Uh huh. Uh huh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Makes sense, makes sense…" Chaos Sonic pauses, waiting until Nine turns to look at him once more.

"But if they make it past that…!"

Nine sighs again, frustration leaking into his tone. "Then it's up to you! Fortunately…I have faith in you."

Chaos Sonic gasps. "Really?" 

Nine averts his gaze, avoiding Chaos Sonic's eyes. "Wouldn’t have rebuilt you otherwise," he says, like it's a fact Chaos Sonic should already be aware of.

Chaos Sonic begins to snicker to himself, as if he's privy to some joke Nine isn’t in on. "Right. Right…"

Frankly, the fact that Nine doesn't know causes the frustration in him to increase further. Once Chaos Sonic's laughing lasts for more than a minute, though, he decides that it's overstayed its welcome.

"Is something funny?"

It only takes a short moment for the robot to calm down enough to answer. "Funny? No, no! Only that…" One final laugh. "You know, it's awful sweet of ya to think of me like that, boss! But. Chaos Sonic?" The robot points at himself. "I don't need faith! Especially to get rid of my…fleshy—more pathetic—other."

Nine sighs, pressing a palm to his face, before looking back to Chaos Sonic once more. "You seem to misunderstand. You won’t be getting rid of him."

Chaos Sonic's eye display changes to twin spirals. "Huh? But I was under some impression that–"

"Just stop him," Nine interrupts. "That's all."

It's not like I want him dead or anything. If anything–

"Of course, you can count on your best bud, Nine! I wouldn't even need all those fancy upgrades—that you so graciously gave me, by the way—to pummel that failure of a hedgehog. It'll be a piece of cake! In fact, after I beat him—I'll knock him unconscious, of course—he wouldn't be able to stop me from taking a marker to that squishy face! Not that I need him knocked out to do it, but as an artist–"

Eventually, Nine just ignores him, lets him ramble on, and on, and on until he'll finally–

Nine begins to glare into Chaos Sonic's eyes by the time the robot trails off. "Are you done? If you recall, I was sitting here alone. The conversation about the plan? That's over, so if you don't have anything important to say…"

Nine trails off when Chaos Sonic appears beside him, sitting down once more.

"Just came to check on my best bud! Lately, you've been, uh… Well…"

"Been what?"

"Are you okay?" Chaos Sonic leans just slightly in his direction. "D'ya need a drink? Some water? Juice box? A chili dog? Someone to talk to? A shoulder to cry on?"

Nine rolls his eyes. "You sure you aren’t here to annoy me?"

"Whatever you need, buddy. Just ask!"

Nine raises an eyebrow in response.

Whatever I need?

He's absolutely frustrated, but…Chaos Sonic isn’t wrong. Part of his new purpose is to follow Nine's orders, so there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of that. Keeping this in mind, Nine takes in a deep breath, pushes away some of that frustration, and allows himself to seriously wonder.

What do I need?

Chaos Sonic is quiet for the minute it takes Nine to think, staring at the wall ahead. However, it's not until he takes a glance back at Chaos Sonic (who yet stares at him, patiently awaiting his answer) that he's reminded of that knot in his stomach.

I want…

Perhaps…Nine has to admit that even though he can't seem to make that feeling go away, as long as Chaos Sonic is in the room it's…not as bad. He doesn't look at Chaos Sonic as he finally gives his answer, voice low, like he's confessing a secret to the air.

"Could you just…sit with me? In…silence?" Not that the fox would admit it, but his tone almost sounds sad, as if he's pleading not to be alo–

"Oki doki!"

Nine turns his head to watch just as Chaos Sonic gives him a salute. Afterwards, the robot faces forward silently, crossing his legs.

After a moment, Nine, too, faces forward. He is, of course, pleased at how promptly Chaos Sonic had obeyed him, but he can't help but feel more surprised after a good five minutes.

One of the many things Chaos Sonic and the real thing have in common is their inability to stop moving. They're always moving their legs, tapping a foot, making some repetitive noise, or running their mouths (more often than not). This can be endearing at times, but it’s why it's always been easier for Nine to send Sonic out of the room (when possible) if he needs complete concentration.

It's hard not to be surprised. After all, the real Sonic could never–

A pause.

No. He's a robot. I reprogrammed him to listen to my orders. He…has to obey, so it makes sense that he would.

If it wasn't for that, I doubt he'd be able to do this. He's…not much different than…him …  

Nine closes his eyes and inhales deeply.

Chaos Sonic still hasn't made a sound.

Nine exhales, slumping back against the tree, before letting his thoughts drift.

But this is until a specific, curious thought latches onto his mind, refusing to drift away. So, eventually, Nine opens his eyes.

"Hey…Chaos Sonic."

Without skipping a beat, Chaos Sonic responds loudly, excitedly, "Yes, best friend?"

Nine reaches a hand up to scratch behind his ear, letting out an awkward laugh before turning to the robot beside him. "Do you think Sonic has–"

Apparently, Chaos Sonic is facing him, face but inches from his own.

Instinctively, Nine turns his gaze away, face growing warm inexplicably.

…Much too close.

Nine takes in a breath.

“Do you think Sonic has ever…kissed someone…uh, before.”

It's something he's (shamefully) wondered about on more than one occasion, but never been able to ask. Or, more accurately, something he never thought he would have the chance to ask.

Chaos Sonic doesn’t even take a second to ponder over his answer. "No way!"

Really?

For some reason, that answer makes him feel…relieved?

"...Hard to be charming with all that failure under his nonexistent belt! And sure he fancies himself a hero, but mm. If you ask me, he's all talk! Covering up how pathetic he…"

Nine scrunches up his eyebrows.

Sure, he can be a bit pathetic at times, but…

Is Chaos Sonic telling the complete truth? Is this just a window into Sonic's inner thoughts—how he feels about himself? The exact connection between Chaos Sonic and the real thing has never been studied, so it’s impossible, really, to know how much Chaos Sonic knows about him.

However, he also must take into account that Chaos Sonic was originally built to oppose Sonic.

Is he using this as an excuse to trash talk him?

"...when they could share a smooch with myself? Oh, it's hard to even imagine! I know deep in my reinforced metal frame he's never confessed to someone. Tsk-tsk. Too dense to realize anything!"

A pause.

"Why?"

Nine's eyes widen. "Oh, uh…no reason. I-I was just, uh…"

"Ohhh, I get it." Chaos Sonic explains, all matter-of-factly, "You want to know if my lesser half has kissed anyone because you–" The robot cuts off with a fake, dramatic gasp.

"You like him!"

Nine blinks. "Wh-Wha– No! He–" He swallows, the saliva thick in his throat. "He– He betrayed me and we were just–" He sighs. "Well, I thought we were friends."

Foolishly…

The robot giggles. "So you do!"

"No."

"You do, you do, you do, you do!"

"Stop," he says in a tone of warning.

However, Chaos Sonic only continues on. His chorus of loud "you do"s fill Nine's ears, causing the fox's frustration to peak.

"You do! You do~"

"Enough!" Nine yells, finally raising his voice.

The room falls silent, then, and Nine…

Nine takes in a shaky breath. "It's…enough. Even if I–" His voice begins to waver, "E-even if I did he wouldn’t… He doesn’t…"

Nine never finishes. Instead, he sits in silence, gaze lowered. He's unable to think now, only able to stare at his shoes, vaguely aware that he's angry, and frustrated, and…

After a few minutes, Chaos Sonic is the one who breaks the silence.

"Hey, boss?"

"...Yeah?"

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" His tone isn't mocking. Rather, he sounds genuinely interested in hearing Nine's answer to this question.

Nine just scoffs. "Of course not."

Who'd even want to?

Maybe Chaos Sonic doesn’t understand, but Nine had spent a lot of time in New Yoke sticking to himself. The prospect of kissing isn't something he ever seriously considered doing until–

Sonic is the only person who's ever tried to get close to me. And even then…

Even if Sonic had ever thought to ask him, and even if Nine could have mustered up the courage, what does it matter now?

None of it was real.

The weight of a hand settles on Nine's left shoulder, prompting him to look at the robot next to him, a bit annoyed.

What?

"Would you like to?!"

Nine frowns. If you ask him, the tone Chaos Sonic had asked with sounds…wrong. 

He's just…much too happy. 

Or perhaps, he thinks, it sounds odd because of its boldness. No one else would ask outright like this, much less this excitedly.

Like he knows it'll be a yes. But why?

Nine hesitates before answering, "Why would I need to–"

"Don't worry, best friend!" Chaos Sonic interrupts. "It don't hafta mean nothin'!

Nine raises an eyebrow.

It…doesn’t?

"It can just be…practice! Yeah, practice! You should have some experience if ya plan on kissing anyone someday!"

Nine scrunches up his eyebrows, a bit confused.

But what for? Who'd I even kiss?

And yet, his heart is beginning to warm at that thought. It's as if deep down, even though he'll be alone soon enough (exactly what he wants), he feels as if Chaos Sonic's suggestion makes some sense.

You know who.

Nine sits there for a minute, just pondering. For some reason, he feels like can’t just outright refuse or say it has no purpose, even if he almost wants to.

But Chaos Sonic's a robot, right? He's not real. Would–

…Would it really be so bad to accept it? Just so I know what it could be like?

Right. It wouldn't even count as his first kiss. So if he—theoretically—had someone he wanted to share one with, the only person he'd ever consider sharing one with, it would still be his first. Then, he'd also have some actual experience to back up his first. Win-win, right?

"...Okay." Nine sighs. "Why not?"

In response, Chaos Sonic giggles, clapping his metal hands rapidly in excitement.

But…what now? The room is silent as Nine and Chaos Sonic look at each other, still sitting side by side. How does one start a kiss? Does Chaos Sonic expect him to lean in first?

Does he want Chaos Sonic to try starting it?

No, no. I'm the one who needs practice, so…

Chaos Sonic fake coughs, yanking Nine back into reality.

The fox scratches behind his ear once more. "Uh… So…"

How to do this…

"Be quiet. Okay?"

The robot nods as Nine sits up on his knees.

Nine begins to lean in before stopping, cheeks warm. "A-And… Eyes closed!" He tries his utmost to force the words to come out as a stern command rather than a nervous one.

Why am I nervous? He's not even the real thing.

Chaos Sonic obeys promptly, changing his eye display to two short horizontal lines to mimic a set of closed eyes.

I don't know if that'll actually stop him from looking at me, but…

It has to be good enough. At least he no longer feels like someone is staring at him.

Nine situates himself right in front of the robot and leans in experimentally a couple of times, feeling out the optimal kissing position. Eventually, he settles on using his mechanical Tails to brace himself, holding his hands behind his back.

As the fox finally leans in, his lips slowly meet that of Chaos Sonic's metal muzzle (approximately where Sonic's mouth would be). It's about as cool and hard against his lips as he'd expected.

Not much to marvel at there.

But if he listens he can just hear it—the sound of circuits whirring and gears turning. Nine half suppresses a giggle against the robot's muzzle.

He can almost imagine Sonic, lips pressed to his, and so close that Nine can hear his heart racing. He'd be so embarrassed if Nine pointed it out. Perhaps he'd even pull away to explain himself, and Nine would have to pull him back into the kiss again.

Nine pulls back just slightly, wetting his lips with his tongue before pressing them against Chaos Sonic's muzzle once more.

Sonic would…fall too deep into the kiss to keep talking or pull away. His hands would carelessly slip onto my shoulders, and I would…

Truth be told, he'd most likely jolt, not quite expecting the touch, but he wouldn't want this to end. So, he'd relax into it in turn, allowing his heart to soar in response to Sonic's affection.

Nine slips a gloved hand over and around Chaos Sonic's shoulder, resting it against the back of his neck. Utilizing his new point of contact, Nine pulls the robot closer. For the third time he pulls back barely an inch, wetting his dry lips, before kissing the robot again.

"Mmm…"

Oh, he can almost hear Sonic now, gasping his name between kisses.

"Mmm…Nine… Nine…"

If Chaos Sonic had been telling the truth, then no one would be able to lord it over him. The kiss would be Sonic's first, and it would be Nine's. It would make him… special, in a way Tails and his other friends could never be.

But all things come to an end, and practicing kissing with the robot double of a hedgehog who'd once called you his "best friend" is no exception. So, Nine pulls back for the last time. He opens the eyes he hadn't realized he'd closed in the first place, and pulls his hands into his lap.

Chaos Sonic sits silently on his knees before him, head just where Nine left it and eyes still displaying as closed. The robot had obeyed nicely, kept completely silent for the duration of the practice—save for the audible whirs of his circuits and turns of his gears.

Oh, right.

Nine averts his eyes. "You can…open your eyes now." He adds quickly, as an afterthought, "And speak again."

Chaos Sonic's eye display promptly changes into the twin upward facing arrows. Then, after a short second, he gives Nine a thumbs up.

"Not bad, buddy! Not bad, not bad."

Nine sighs. All in all, he hadn't truly expected Chaos Sonic to praise him for this, given his lack of experience.

"A little awkward, but ya got the motion down, so I'm pos-i-tive you’ll be fine! Of course, I couldn't really feel that—robot senses, right—but–"

He can’t help but agree about the awkwardness. It made it tough, to say the least, for Nine to figure out exactly what he should do. Although…

It's hard not to think that the whole experience really could have gone better had Chaos Sonic had a real mouth. Not that giving him one necessarily is or would be a good idea, but something of the sort would have provided better experience and more stimulation than cold, stagnant metal.

"—bet if I had a real mouth it’d be more accurate, but anyways." On the last word, Chaos Sonic presses his metal fingers together and allows one of his wrists to go limp.

The room falls silent as Chaos Sonic neglects to continue and Nine still thinks back on the kiss.

Although a bit embarrassing, it's not surprising he'd begun to imagine things. Though Chaos Sonic could not help his physiology and was only following Nine's orders, the moment's left much to be desired. If he hadn't let his mind run, perhaps he'd have kept his lips pressed flat against metal until the awkwardness fully seeped in, prompting him to pull away. And yet…

Sonic…

Anger and frustration begin to bubble around the knot in his stomach, because maybe he could have had that.

If only Sonic had taken his side any of those times. If only Sonic had taken his hand back at Ghost Hill and gone back to the Grim with him. If only he would have stayed, crafted a new home together with him.

No, further. If only Sonic hadn't made all those friends. If only Sonic wasn't casting a shadow of Tails over Nine. If only Sonic had cared about him above all else.

But that's just it! He'll never be able to make Sonic someone else. Even if he had joined his side, even if he was here now, even if they created a new world together, who's to say they could even be… What’s the word?

He wants to be Sonic's best friend, foolish as that is, and he also wants to be someone that Sonic likes to share kisses with, and whispers words of affection to. He wants Sonic's attention, he wants to make him smile. What would that make them?

No. No! It doesn’t matter.

It doesn't matter because Sonic would have never joined him. He knows that now. Sonic will never reciprocate those feelings.

To him, I'm not… He doesn’t see me as real.

And that's a fact that makes him unfathomably angry. Not fully because he doesn't see Nine as real, but because even though he knows all this, he still…

Sonic. Why… You're always worming your way into my heart!

So predictable that it's infuriating.

"Wait a minute…! I was wonderin'."

Nine's eyes shoot to Chaos Sonic, who goes from sitting to standing, leaning against the palm tree.

"Why don't we just activate the large, shiny crystal? Poof! Brand new home for my buddy!"

Nine doesn't answer. He only stares at Chaos Sonic, annoyed.

Don't you get it?

"You know it just doesn't… It doesn't make sense! No offense, boss, but you've even got Chaos Sonic confused over here!" His eye display switches to the twin spirals for emphasis.

"You've got all the power in the world—and time, clearly, because we've been waiting HOURS. All for that pathetic hedgehog? Why wait? All of your dreams are in your grasp. Who can stop you if you make a wish now?"

For some reason, the more Chaos Sonic speaks, the more that frustration and anger in him begins to boil.

"Unless you have other goals I'm not aware of–"

Nine grits his teeth. "Stop!"

Stop…stop wondering! It's all in the plan. Can't you just follow the plan?

"What I need is to see Sonic on his knees, witnessing the creation of my new world."

"Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh…!" Chaos Sonic flip flops from agreeing happily to questioning. "Hmm, but… Why?"

Why ?

"If that pathetic excuse of a hedgehog wasn't around, then you'd have everything, right? If you weren't stalling– Ha ha, waiting I mean. You could be home." The robot shakes his head. "Yet, you're so attached to that blue backstabber that you can't even win properly. I mean, logically, why wait? Just give up on him and enjoy–"

The frustration, the anger, bubbles over. In an instant, Nine is up on his tails, looming over Chaos Sonic, fighting the urge to aim a tail at him.

"We're not getting RID of him!" Nine sighs. "I graciously pieced you back together, ‘friend’. I made you part of all this. So. If you don't want to be part of the plan? FINE. You don't have to be part of it. I can always repurpose your systems for something else."

"...Ah ha hah, buddy, boss, pal, best friend… Of course I'll stick to the plan! Wouldn't want to ever leave you alone without your best bud, would I? What kind of best friend would that make me?"

Alone…

Nine casts his gaze aside, averting his eyes, as he becomes aware of the knot in his stomach once more. After a few seconds, he lowers himself back to his feet, facing away from Chaos Sonic.

"Regardless. Sonic will come. No matter his reasons, we'll capture him."

With this, it will be it—Sonic's last chance.

This time.

And if he doesn't come around, then–

No. When the time comes, I'll create my new world. With or without Sonic's cooperation.

"And then?" He pauses for dramatic effect. "We'll finally be able to come home."

~

"...They're here. Sonic and his…other 'friend'."

No sooner does Nine relay the news before Chaos Sonic jumps, kicking his legs back while throwing a fist in the air.

"Woo hoo! Fi-nal-ly !" He throws a few fake punches, grunting and dodging like he's fighting an invisible opponent, before revving up on his metal feet. "It's Chaos Sonic's time to shine."

Just before Chaos Sonic can run off, Nine stops him. "Wait!"

"Huh?" The robot turns to look at Nine, running in place.

"First, we're going to let them come to us."

"...and then it'll be my time–"

"No," Nine interrupts him, mild frustration leaking into his tone. "Just wait, okay?"

Chaos Sonic halts his movement with a sigh. "Fine, fine. I get it. Stay back in the fortress~! Give your new toys all the fun.”

Nine represses the urge to press a hand to his face, sighing.

I'm…really not good at this.

"I…" He walks closer to Chaos Sonic, hesitating to place a hand upon one of his metal shoulders. "I-I need you here, okay? You're…more than just a toy."

I have no intention of sending you out there to be destroyed.

Chaos Sonic perks up at that. "Yeah?!"

Nine retracts his hand, holding both behind his back. "You're most useful to me here, as our last line of defense. Not canon fodder."

Chaos Sonic nods, hand shooting to his forehead in salute. "Right! I definitely won't let you down, or I'm not the legendary Cha-os So-nic!"

Nine chuckles as he deploys his mechanical tails, scuttling over to the computer screens displaying security camera footage.

"Something funny, best friend?" Chaos Sonic asks in his usual, strangely happy tone.

Nine merely shakes his head, neglecting to answer.

Chaos Sonic doesn’t have to say anything for Nine to suspect his presence behind him, but in truth, unless commanded otherwise, he really can only be quiet for so long.

"So your old, inferior friend has finally come to visit, and– Oh. A new face!”

Almost there…

"He's a fast one too! Although not as fast as me of course, but very interesting!”

Nine suppresses the urge to roll his eyes, bidding himself to keep watching Sonic and his companion—Shadow, he remembers—carefully.

Now!

Sonic and Shadow are within range of the fortress, seemingly occupied talking with each other. It's the perfect moment to enact his plan.

Nine turns around. "Chaos Sonic."

"Yes, best friend?"

"Stay here for now. You're on standby unless the intruders enter the building."

"Gotcha!"

"Good."

And if everything goes as expected, only one of them should make it that far.

Nine leaves Chaos Sonic in his lab, climbing up the ladder as fast as he can. As he does so, that knot in his stomach begins to grow, and his heart begins to beat heavier in his chest.

It's so close now.

He takes a few deep breaths before he arrives on the roof, knowing that now is no time to be stuck deciphering his own feelings. After all, he still has to remove Sonic and Shadow as obstacles to his dream.

Right.

Nine ignores the view of Sonic and Shadow on the ground for now. Instead, he makes his way towards the paradox prism's pedestal, arriving before it just as the prism itself rises into full view. He'd timed it all perfectly.

He aims his mechanical tails at the prism, warms them up, and focuses his mind on the object of his creation as he closes his eyes. Upon blasting the prism, it shines with a brilliant, bright light, which soon coalesces into a pillar that reaches high above the fortress. Nine turns away. He can’t help but smile as the hedgehogs below begin to stumble, and a barrier of blues, pinks, and purples stretches out to cover the area.

To keep any would-be intruders out.

To trap Sonic and Shadow in.

Then, Nine activates the communications link between himself and his tech on Sonic, taking in a breath.

"Sonic."

"–ine. Nine!" Sonic's voice projects through the speaker loud and clear.

Nine doesn't know if it feels better or worse to hear his voice, only that…his stomach hurts just a little, yet his heart is warm.

"Listen, Nine. I know you need the shards and all to–"

"What are you doing here, Sonic?" Of course Nine knows why, but he wants to hear the answer from his mouth.

There's silence on the other line for a moment. "W-What am I– Nine, just… Forget Green Hill right now. Forget the Grim. This is bigger than all that. I need–"

Nine scoffs. "Don't bother trying to explain. We both know what you really want."

Not my help. Not my "friendship". Not me. Just your real friends.

Nine uses the tech embedded in his glove to signal his new robots remotely.

"Nine…" Sonic sounds…what? Sad? Disappointed?

"I came all this way for you. I just want my friend–"

Anger flares in Nine's chest.

Friend?

At this moment, Nine's robots assemble on the ground before Sonic and Shadow. They pose in front of them as Nine had ordered, waiting.

"Nine, what are…? I mean they're cool, but…"

"Them? Just a few new friends of mine." Before Sonic can say anything more, Nine sends a final signal to his new robots, commanding them to attack.

"You've been replaced."

"Nine–" is all that comes through the speaker before Nine closes the line again, not wanting to hear any more.

If he thinks he can waltz in here like nothing's happened, I'll show him.

~

As Sonic races through the crystal fortress, dodging all manner of traps, his mind swirls with thoughts of reaching the top, of what he'll say, and of Shadow.

To say the least, Sonic can't help but feel bad about leaving Shadow outside. Sure, he's staying behind of his own accord. Yes, that choice is what will allow Sonic a chance to reach Nine and the paradox prism.

But that doesn't mean he can't feel bad! Even together the two of them had trouble fending the robots off, but alone…

"Go! Get to Nine and the prism. Go!"

Shadow was right. They don't have the time to spend fighting those robotic imitations of his friends, not while the shatterverse is…

"Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay," he whispers to himself, like a mantra. "Please be–"

Sonic comes to a skidding stop in a large, circular room. While the rest of the place consists of open doorways and flights of stairs, this is the only one that's different. The only thing in the room is a ladder across it from Sonic, but it stops a couple feet before reaching the ceiling.

He sighs. "Great. Great! Just great."

What now?

After a moment of flitting his eyes around the room while wandering over to the ladder, Sonic swings his gaze up towards the ceiling. If he takes a second to look, it almost seems like–

Sonic's eyes widen as a circular hatch in the ceiling begins to swing open. Instinctively, he takes a sizable jump backwards, creating distance between himself and the now complete ladder.

No sooner does he begin to wonder just who could climb down before fog begins to waterfall out of the opening, creating a cloud as it pools atop crystal.

Sonic blinks. A loud, blunt chink sounds before a silhouette appears within the fog.

That…

There's almost something familiar about the silhouette, like–

That's not Nine. But if not him, who? It can't be–

He blinks again. The fog disperses with a woosh and the silhouette is gone. Sonic holds in a quick breath as one of his ears twitches.

Unfortunately, Sonic M. Hedgehog, the so-called "fastest thing alive", turns around in a flash only to receive a blow to the chest that sends him skidding across the crystal floor.

Sonic winces with a groan. “Who…?” he murmurs. “Who are– Y-You?!”

The figure standing just feet in front of him laughs before pointing to himself. “Me~?”

It takes a good second for Sonic’s brain to summon the name. “...Chaos Sonic.”

“Ha! The ONE and only—back and more powerful than ever!” As the (apparently revived) robot begins to take slow steps towards Sonic, a threatening aura practically emanates from him, despite the happy looking eye display.

Sonic jumps to his feet, not one to take a fight lying down. After all, he still has to make it up to Nine.

Sonic and Chaos Sonic practically take off at the same instant, with Chaos Sonic blocking him at every spot he tries to run to.

“Should I be offended you couldn’t remember my name?” Chaos Sonic dodges a punch Sonic throws at him, and Sonic dodges his retaliation kick in turn. “Nah! The audience’s memory matters more than that of some imitation, don’t you think?”

Sonic catches Chaos Sonic’s fist before it can reach him, growling.

I did NOT miss this guy!

“I thought you were–!”

Chaos Sonic scoffs. “Dead?”

“I saw you get–” Sonic sprints in an arc around Chaos Sonic, aiming to strike, but Chaos Sonic counters with the same attack, causing their arms to cross like swords. “Nine destroyed you!”

“I was a heap of my former self…” After trailing off, Chaos Sonic disappears, leaving Sonic to look almost frantically around the room.

Where’d he go?

One of Sonic’s ears twitches just before he leaps forward, turns a hundred-eighty degrees in midair, and dodges Chaos Sonic’s axe kick.

“But I got better!” Chaos Sonic continues, “Thanks to a certain nine-tailed fox friend of mine.”

“I thought you didn’t have friends!” Sonic grits his teeth. 

“Corr-rrection! ONE friend!” Chaos Sonic takes a jab at him, causing Sonic to stumble backwards. “The only friend I’ll ever need.”

What?

Desperate to change the dynamic here, Sonic runs in short bursts, stopping in random places throughout the room. “Nine would never be friends with someone like you!”

Right?

“Pffft.” The robot bats his hand down before letting his wrist go limp. Then, he’s gone, matching Sonic’s strategy of appearing and disappearing in random places. “I beg to differ! Perhaps—”

Chaos Sonic reappears in front of Sonic, just before Sonic himself disappears again.

“—he just has a-MA-zing taste!”

Sonic happens to stop in front of Chaos Sonic. Faster than the eye can see, he throws a punch at the robot.

Of course, Chaos Sonic disappears in an instant, fast enough that Sonic’s hand strikes the crystal wall behind him.

Sonic bites his lip in an attempt to stifle the resulting cry, only succeeding in reducing the volume of it. He allows the hand to go limp, cradling it with his other hand for a mere moment before he takes off again.

“At least now he does! Hard to believe that hours ago he associated with a weak, pathetic fleshbag like you~”

“Ugh.” Sonic comes to a stop, just narrowly managing to evade a leg sweep from Chaos Sonic, saved only by instinct.

This. Isn’t. Working!  

What can he do? Chaos Sonic can match each and every one of his attacks, and he’s stronger! No matter how strong Sonic himself is, his body can’t withstand an attack from Chaos Sonic in the same way the robot can withstand his. So all he can do is dodge, and hope Chaos Sonic doesn’t catch any of his attacks, using them as an excuse to throw him around.

“Wow… You really are as pathetic as I remembered! No, wait. More !”

If only he could just…

“A pity too! I was hoping to test my new toys on you, but you’re just too easy to beat!”

If Chaos Sonic would just…

“It’s no wonder Nine couldn't stand being your friend anymore!"

Shut up!

Sonic finally manages to land a blow—a kick to the front—which causes the robot to skid backwards across the crystal floor. Breathing a bit shallow, Sonic watches the robot take a couple steps forward as it holds out a fist. 

Fog, the same as before, begins to pour out of retractable openings that currently protrude from the robot's forearm. Sonic rolls his eyes.

"Really? That again?" Sonic begins to run, circling around Chaos Sonic with the intention of dispersing the fog. “You're fresh out of ideas, so you used the same trick–?”

Sonic cuts off after turning his gaze to the center of the room. The fog is gone, as it should be, but so is…

Sonic stops running, assuming a guarded stance instead. His eyes flit about for a few short moments, seeking to catch the robot, before they stop on the ladder near the edge of the room. 

There.

Maybe Chaos Sonic left the room. Through the ladder or the door? Sonic doesn’t know, but at least he can get one step closer to reaching Nine if he takes this chance.

Sonic runs over to the ladder, beginning the short climb. 

Even if it's just waiting for me up there, at least I can–

Sonic just barely enters the room above before he's flying across the room with a yelp.

“Aghk!”

Then, Sonic finds himself waking up with a groan. He presses a hand to his face, even though it's the back of his head that hurts.

Whe– What was…?

He feels the weight atop his chest and stomach before actually sees the culprit. As the robot—the culprit in question—begins to rise slowly, taking the weight off, pain follows its absence. He may as well have been crushed for a couple seconds, under the weight of–

Wait, maybe he was crushed. Well, regardless, frustration begins to trickle into his veins. Not only was he caught off guard by the robot's ambush, even though he'd almost expected one, but he's also been here for a while—much too long.

Shadow stayed back so Sonic could go for Nine, but Chaos Sonic just had to be in the way, a “special” surprise hidden within the trap riddled fortress. He should have reached Nine already, but he's been here fighting his robot double instead.

I need to…

Sonic groans again as the back of his head and his chest pulse with pain. “Whe– Where's Nine?! I get… I get that you're programmed to fight me and all, but I… I just want to talk to ‘em!”

Now that he's back on his feet, Chaos Sonic scoffs, “Like my best friend 'd want to speak to the likes of you!” He raises a metal foot, holding it above Sonic's stomach.

“Ngh!” Sonic just manages to roll out of the way just before Chaos Sonic's foot comes down. “Yours?”

Why wouldn't he– Oh.

The robot laughs, then, turning to face Sonic as the hedgehog jumps to his feet.

He seemed so…angry the last time I saw him.

He can't blame Nine for not wanting to see him after the argument they had, but…

Sonic just barely manages to dodge the barrage of punches Chaos Sonic throws at him. Or, at least, he manages to keep those metallic fists from doing more than grazing an ear or shoulder. Not one to be beat, though, he retaliates in turn, sending some kicks towards the robot here and there.

I have to see him.

The two hedgehogs—organic and robotic—begin to snake around the room, each doing no more damage than the other as they jab and kick and punch and dodge. However, this is only until the two decide to break away at once, sprinting around the room in a large arc.

Sonic had intended to throw Chaos Sonic off guard, throw his body into a more powerful attack, but they'd apparently had the same idea. So, instead, the two circle around the room in a sprint, eyes only on each other.

But then, as if on instinct, Sonic turns his head, causing his eyes to widen.

“Whoa!” He stops moving his feet, causing him to skid to a stop. Luckily, he skids just past the obstacle he would have run into (had he not sensed it), avoiding slamming directly into its trunk.

Trunk?

Sonic shifts his gaze to the obstacle—a large palm tree.

What?

He's seen one like this in just about all the shatter spaces, but last time he was here—in The Grim—he hadn't seen–

Unless…

He mutters to himself. “But why would Nine have– Ahck!”

Sonic falls on his back with a light thud, the wind momentarily knocked out of him, after his legs are swept out from under him.

“Tsk-tsk. Hard to believe ya lived so long like this. Losing focus~? A rookie mistake.” The robot raises his foot high, only to swing it down into an axe kick. 

The kick narrowly misses Sonic's stomach, landing between his legs instead. There's no time to count himself lucky, though.

“Your ‘friends’ aren't here to pick up your slack!”

Sonic presses his palms flat to the crystal floor, using his arms as a springboard to launch himself at Chaos Sonic.

His feet strike the robot in the face, and the sudden blow forces it to bend backwards, allowing Sonic to sail past him. After landing on his feet, Sonic turns back to Chaos Sonic as he flicks his nose.

“Ha! So.” Pleased to have finally landed a good blow, Sonic takes a moment to taunt the robot. “Where are all the ‘fancy’ tools you bragged about?”

Chaos Sonic turns to face him, but says nothing.

“Are you just a glorified fog machine now?”

Sonic's ears twitch, just barely catching a low rumble coming from the robot.

“Nine isn’t the only one who’s tired of looking at ya!”

Sonic braces himself just as Chaos Sonic disappears, anticipating an attack.

“So. Am. I!” As expected, the robot aims to ambush Sonic with a punch—in this case, a strike to the back.

Sonic pivots on one foot, allowing himself to dodge the blow, and manages to grab Chaos Sonic's metal fist.

“Shouldn't that be my line?” Sonic quips, annoyance poisoning his tone.

Ugh. I have had enough of this guy!

Sonic turns his body and pulls, aiming to throw the robot over his shoulder, but to no avail, as Chaos Sonic remains rooted to the ground.

Shi–

Chaos Sonic begins to spin his upper body independent from the lower, swinging Sonic fast enough to throw him off.

Sonic flies just past the palm tree, colliding with the wall.

Chaos Sonic stomps towards him slowly, likely for effect. “Give it up!”

But Sonic is not beaten yet—can't afford to be. He shakes his head with a groan, trying his best to ignore the pain in his back, head, chest, and stomach area.

“Nine doesn't need you. He needs a best friend who really cares for ‘em!”

Without thinking, Sonic growls, “And that's you?!”

Sonic did care– No, he cares so much about Nine! The insinuation that he doesn’t, but that thing does? 

Sonic rises to his feet and begins to run.

And the “best friend” thing again. What gives the robot claim to that?

At a loss for any other plan, he ends up employing the same strategy as earlier—stopping randomly around the room to throw off the robot—while avoiding the palm tree.

“Who's fresh outta ideas, now?” Chaos Sonic teases, causing Sonic to grit his teeth in response.

Sonic soon finds, though, that Chaos Sonic remains stationary rather than joining the game as before.

What could he be planning?

No sooner than Sonic begins to wonder does he come to a stop before one of the many monitors and control panels, a metal fist just touching the tip of his nose. He gulps, eyes wide and taken aback.

He– It almost.

Sonic takes off again, running away from the robot.

Why didn't it finish?

Sonic resists the urges to slap himself, bidding himself to focus on the battle at hand.

No, more importantly. He's right, Sonic concedes. I need a new strategy.

“Like my best friend'd want to speak to the likes of you!”

On a whim, Sonic changes course and speeds around the perimeter of the room, kicking up dust and generating wind.

“You think some wind can stop the true fastest thing alive?” Chaos Sonic laughs. “Guess that makes you a glorified fan!”

“Nine doesn't need you.”

“He needs a real best friend.”

Sonic breaks away from the perimeter, making a beeline for the robot. “What was it that you said? ‘Friends are a weakness’ ?”

Chaos Sonic jumps over Sonic's sweeping leg before swinging a kick for Sonic's side.

Sonic blocks the kick with his arm, chopping it out of the way.

The robot chuckles, tone delivering a hint of warning, before the two begin trading blows once more.

“I guess an old, well-used hedgehog can be right once in a while!”

Sonic ducks, dodging a roundhouse kick to the muzzle, before swinging a fist towards the robot's side like a hammer.

“Old?!”

Well-used?

Chaos Sonic chops his arm away before returning with a barrage of punches. “But it's just as well! After all…” 

Sonic backs away to avoid the punches, but he can only count himself lucky that he jumps when he does, just in time to avoid the sweep of the robot's leg.

“...just friends aren't ALL the boss and I are!”

Sonic rolls his eyes.

Why do I get the feeling he doesn't mean “best friends”?

There's something about that theory that causes the confusing mixture of frustration and anger in him to multiply.

“You know what the difference is between you and I?” Chaos Sonic asks, as the two continue to trade blows.

Sonic grits his teeth.

“Nine actually trusts–”

Okay. That's enough.

“Stop talking!” Sonic interrupts.

“Said the pot to the kettle.”

What is it with all of the implications? Nine never wanting to see him again, Nine being “best friends” with the fake—no, something else too—Nine having more trust in…

He knows it's a lie, because that's what Chaos Sonic does. He says exactly what will strike home, tries to make Sonic emotional so he'll get sloppier. It can't all be true, so why is it working?

Having had enough of the fruitless back and forth, Sonic shoots behind Chaos Sonic and jumps. He uses his feet to propel himself off the nearest wall into a spin dash.

Why am I so…?

Sonic's spin collides with Chaos Sonic's chest just as the robot happens to turn to him, sending the robot flying into one of the monitors with a crash.

From his sparking, Chaos Sonic sized hole in the large monitor and control panel, the robot looks to each side before looking at Sonic.

“No, wait!” The concern in his voice is evident as he shoots one of his hands out. “Don't–”

Now.

Before Chaos Sonic can finish protesting, Sonic spin dashes into him again, knocking him to the floor. In a flash, he employs his finishing move, spin dashing into the robot. He strikes from multiple directions in succession until the robot's face displays twin Xs, his metallic body falls limp, and his face display turns off. Sonic flicks his nose as he poses over the robot's body, as if to say “I win!”

But instead of his signature smile lies a frown.

Not wanting to take any more time in this fortress, and fearing that he may not have truly finished off the robot, Sonic makes a beeline for the ladder that leads to the roof. He can only hope the worst is over as he begins to climb.

“You'll hurt Nine if you go any closer.”

Sonic can't tell whether its origin is the heap of Chaos Sonic in the room below or the voice in his head, but the voice's words cause his heart to ache all the same.

I have to talk to him.

Everything is at stake.

“I'm coming, Nine,” the true-blue hedgehog whispers under his breath.

Just a little while longer, Shadow.

~

Nine has been standing before the paradox prism in wait. Once in a while, he glimpses Sonic's “friend” from his vantage point. 

Ever since Sonic rushed into his crystal fortress, his “friend” has been fighting Nine's robots alone. Actually, Nine almost finds it a bit impressive just how well he's been fending them off without Sonic's assistance.

But how long can he keep it up?

Then, a succession of clangs ring out, followed by footsteps on crystal.

It is not Chaos Sonic.

Nine turns around slowly, bearing his eyes into that of a certain green-eyed hedgehog. Somehow, he knew everything would lead to this moment—that Sonic would break through his defenses and meet him up here, standing high above The Grim.

Perhaps, deep down, he'd always planned for this scene to occur.

Sonic stops approximately six feet away from the nine-tailed fox. “Nine.” 

Nine grits his teeth. He's imagined a moment such as this many times over the hours—a theoretical event in which Sonic faces him—and has in turn thought up a great number of possible responses. However, as many of these begin to shoot through his mind, he forgoes parsing through them.

“Sonic.”

Nine's eyes flit down to Sonic's chest, witnessing the rise and fall of it. If he listens well enough, he can hear the slight raggedness in Sonic's breath. If nothing else, even if Chaos Sonic failed to subdue and capture the real thing, this proves he at least wore Sonic out a bit.

Nine's eyes flit back up, locking onto Sonic's eyes. It's very Sonic, Nine thinks, how determination still shines through them.

But it's not just that. Sonic's eyes are deep, boundless, and filled with…more than just his intentions to follow through on his plans. A boundless, shining green, almost like a sea of–

Nine tears his gaze away, averts his eyes before he can lose himself there in Sonic's.

Sonic's the one who breaks the silence atop the fortress. “Nine, I–”

Nine sticks a hand out, palm flat, as he cuts him off. “Save it. We both know what you're here for, so let's not waste time.” He raises his mechanical tails, preparing for a fight.

As the blasters in Nine's tails begin to warm up, Sonic sticks his arms out, waving his hands about.

“Wait, wait! I don't– I just–”

“What?”

“Nine, I…” Sonic trails off before drawing in a breath. “I don't understand. I mean, I do I just…”

Nine raises an eyebrow. “You just what? It's not rocket science, Sonic. You came here, attacked my robots, infiltrated my fortress. What were you expecting?”

“Okay, I know how it looks. Trust me, I know, but I didn't… I didn't come to fight.”

Nine scoffs. “Right.”

But surely you expected one, right?

No. You just hoped I'd give in.

“I mean it! I came for you.”

Anger spikes in Nine's chest.

For me?

“No.” The nine-tailed fox points to the paradox paradox prism behind him, which glistens atop its pedestal. “This is what you really came for. Don't pretend otherwise!”

“But I'm–” Sonic's gaze falls to the floor as he shuts his mouth. When he finally looks back up, locking eyes with Nine, the change in his expression is unmistakable.

“Listen, Nine. I don't want to fight you. I came here because…well, honestly, Shadow and I are doing our best, but we have barely any leads. If we want to fix anything, we need you—you and your cunning fox brain.”

Perhaps part of him wants to take Sonic's words in good faith. The conflicted nature of his expression, the inherent sadness etched into it—it all seems genuine, and yet it's too…nostalgic.

“I need you. Nothing makes sense right now, but with you there as my best buddy…” Sonic smiles, then. “I know we can fix what's happening to the shatterverse—together.” For emphasis, he places a gloved hand over his heart when he speaks the last word.

And, ah, that's why. That's why Sonic's display threw Nine's feelings into conflict, and why it all feels familiar. The expressions, the wording—it's just like back at Ghost Hill.

No, not just that. It's just like back then, too—when he first brought Sonic to The Grim. Nine knew Sonic might try to “reason” with him, get him to step right back under his metaphorical thumb, and yet–

You thought that would work? Do I seem that gullible?

Nine frowns once more as the anger in him begins to bubble.

Sonic's hand drops back to his side, but he still smiles like he's…happy (or naively hopeful, Nine decides). “So if you and I could just…talk, I'm sure we can work out any negative feelings between us in a more constructive manner, yeah?”

Face properly hard, Nine takes a few, purposeful steps closer to Sonic, rising back up onto his mechanical tails as he does so.

“Please,” Nine spits out venom tipped words. “Do you think I'm stupid enough to fall for that again? You don't want me.” He pauses for effect, gritting his teeth, as he gives a couple purposeful taps to the device embedded in his glove. “You just want to feel like you have me wrapped around your little finger! Following you around and doing whatever you want.”

The air atop the fortress falls silent for a moment, presumably as Sonic processes Nine's words. During this moment of silence, Nine only glances behind Sonic long enough to get a good look.

The robot—Chaos Sonic—doesn't seem to be too damaged. It's not as if Nine can see the finer details, but he knows there are no obvious dents or punctures in his frame.

Something about that causes Nine to feel a strange sense of…relief.

Sonic begins to reach out at him, looking up into his face. “Nine–”

Sonic cuts off with a groan as Chaos Sonic winds his metallic limbs around him from behind, restraining him with his (even further) enhanced strength.

Nine uses his mechanical tails to lower his body just slightly, leaving his muzzle barely a foot away from Sonic's. “Sorry, old friend,” he breathes, voice just above a whisper, “but I don't need you. Maybe that makes me alone, but I have power. Power, and my machines. So I can fix reality without your help—or anyone else's!”

Sonic's lips part just slightly, uttering a short, quiet gasp.

“But all of that can wait,” Nine says, returning to a regular volume. He slowly turns away from Sonic as he descends to the floor, now facing the paradox prism. “I've come too far now. Before anything else, using the power of the complete Paradox Prism, I need to create my new world.”

Silence, and then.

“Wait, Nine,” comes Sonic's voice from behind him.

Nine only crosses his arms. “What? What is it that's so important?”

What is it this time? is all Nine can wonder, because this happens every time. Of course Sonic has to object just when he's getting what he wants. Sonic can just never be happy for Nine—not when it doesn't line up with his own goals, anyways—because whatever's important to Sonic always takes precedence.

But Nine doesn't hear a response from Sonic, nor does he see the way Sonic's mouth moves as he attempts to formulate a response. So, he turns back around, squeezing his hands into fists.

“You just don't–!” Nine cuts off abruptly before uttering a loud, frustrated sigh. He relaxes his hands.

“This is it, you know. Once I create my new world and stabilize the shatterverse, you'll never have another chance.” Despite the clear frustration, the look he shoots Sonic also carries sadness.

After a moment, Nine takes a step closer to Sonic, mustering up a hopeful smile. He hesitates for a brief moment as he reaches his left hand out, but ultimately allows it to rest upon Sonic's right shoulder.

“Come with me. We can build a new world—a better world. Together.”

You'll never be alone again.

But just as his hope for this—a weak little creature—begins to flutter, Nine watches as the sad look on Sonic's face transforms into that of confliction. Sonic opens his mouth a few times only for nothing to fall out, and Nine's smile falls.

“Nine.”

“If you could just give up on bringing back what's gone. If you could just give up on trying to fix worlds full of those lost causes. If you could just focus on–”

“Nine.”

Nine falls silent. The hand he hadn't realized was squeezing Sonic's shoulder begins to fall slack.

It's not worth the effort, is it?

“I'm… Nine, I'm sorry, but I–”

“Fine.” Nine slowly withdraws his hand from Sonic's shoulder with a sigh.

He's not disappointed. He's not. You can't be disappointed if you knew this would probably happen, can you? So why does his heart hurt?

Stupid . He's refused you every time.

Nine shifts his gaze, looking now to Chaos Sonic. “To his knees,” he commands.

It occurs to Nine that Chaos Sonic has been quiet all along, even without instruction. It's strange, he thinks, but there'll be time to dwell on that later.

All the time in the world—once all the obstacles are cleared.

Chaos Sonic's eye display changes to twin upward facing arrowheads as he nods. “Got it, best bud!” He wastes no time sweeping Sonic's feet, forcing him down.

“W-whoa!” Sonic yelps as he falls to his knees. He begins to turn to Chaos Sonic. “Hey–!”

The resulting gasp is just barely audible as the tip of one of Nine's mechanical Tails presses up under Sonic's muzzle, forcibly tilting his head up.

“You'll sit right here.” Nine leans in, close enough to hear Sonic's breathing. “Bear witness to the creation of my new world.”

Nine's not just close enough to hear each breath Sonic takes. He's close enough to breathe in his scent—freshly cut grass, a smell he's only ever been able to describe as “like the wind”, and…a bit of lavender?

That's new…

If he looks, he's close enough to count each individual strand of fur at Sonic's chest or the individual quills on his head. He's close enough to hear the hitch in Sonic's breath as his eyes lock onto Sonic's boundless green ones. In fact, if he leans in just a little more he'll be close enough to not just touch, but feel–

Sonic's eyes are wide as he looks up at Nine—like a deer in headlights, or metaphorical prey that's entered the sights of a predator.

Actually, that comparison isn't too far off. If Sonic's the metaphorical prey—a mouse for instance—then perhaps Nine is a cat who has the mouse helplessly wrapped around one of his claws. His eyes flit down to the hedgehog's lips, then back up to his eyes.

Nine's heart begins to beat in his ears, and he leans forward, closing the distance.

Sonic's lips are…warm—a fact the fox feels that he should have expected—and they're soft compared to Chaos Sonic's mouthless metal muzzle. 

Nine tentatively slips a hand around Sonic's head, resting it just under his spines.

Sonic gasps into his mouth. Afterwards, Nine comes to find that Sonic’s lips are becoming more…pliant.

“Mm…”

“N…Nine…” Sonic breathes back against his lips.

Nine pulls back barely a centimeter, suppressing a shudder when his heart squeezes.

“I–”

Nine presses his lips back to Sonic's before the hedgehog can utter anything more, effectively shutting him up.

The experience of kissing Sonic for the first time isn't exactly how he'd imagined it would be (for a number of reasons). In fact, as Nine draws back, slowly opening his eyes, he isn't sure whether to trust the heat in his cheeks, the shrunken knot in the pit of his stomach, or the turmoil in his heart.

Is kissing enjoyable? Is kissing Sonic enjoyable?

On instinct, Nine turns around before Sonic can react (or, at least, before he can see Sonic’s reaction).

Sonic says nothing. For what exact reason? Nine doesn't want to know, as he's now aware that he doesn’t want to see Sonic’s face after the kiss—look in his beautiful eyes or the expression upon his face.

Instead, a different voice pipes up from behind Nine.

“Now, boss?” the robot asks.

Nine sighs, resisting the urge to press the palm of a hand to his face. “Yes, ‘now’,” he answers as points his mechanical tails at the paradox prism, prompting the blasters in them to warm up.

Finally. Home.

Sonic finally attempts to speak, “Wait–”

But before Sonic can finish or Nine can shoot, the ground underfoot– No, reality itself begins to quake.

In a heartbeat, Nine's tails shoot down into the crystal floor in an attempt to brace his body against the quake. His muscles tense up as his eyes flit around.

“Whoa!” comes Sonic's voice from behind him.

The barrier: flickering. The robots…there. And Sonic's “friend": alive.

Despite the panic in Sonic's voice, there's no sound of impact against the crystal floor, meaning it's unlikely that he or the robot fell.

Yet, the quake shows no signs of stopping just yet. Even the others before this, no matter their power, were shorter than this.

When the barrier around the fortress falls, wind begins to pick up, drowning out all sounds in the distance, including the faint sound of crystal beginning to crack.

The last thing Nine hears before covering his ears with his hands is Chaos Sonic, yelling in that strangely happy tone of voice.

“Something is def-in-itely wrong, best bud!”

Shit.