Chapter 20 - [ The Baby Hedgehog ]

𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩

"Morning, Sonica!" Sonic said with a smile, completely ignoring Shadow.

"Morning." I replied, rubbing the back of my neck.

"I was thinking if you would like to hang out today." he said, clearing his throat. "And I heard your birthday is coming soon."

My eyes widened.

Birthdays were the days my powers would go hyper.

"Sonica, what's wrong?" they asked in unison.

I shook my head and said, "It's just... I don't really... like birthdays."

"What? Why?"

Uh... It's because I don't like cake? No! I obviously can't tell you!

Then- like an angel sent from heaven to cause distraction! Sonic got a call from Amy.

"Sonic, where are you?! I had sent you to bring Sonica and Shadow!"

"Yeahhh... I forgot. We will be there soon." said Sonic and quickly hung up.

Shadow and I looked at Sonic with a confused look.

"Amy wants us to meet at Tails house today." said Sonic again.

"Why?" asked Shadow.

"I donno, she just called me and said to bring you guys there and Sonica's communicator was also broken. So.."

How did he know my communicator was broken?

Oh right- it's right on the table.

"Well, let's go now.."

I looked at Shadow and nodded.

Then we all went outside.

"Let's not hurry. We will walk slowly, I mean like normal people." said Sonic with an awkward grin.

I chuckled, "Why?"

"Just to... talk a little more..?" He replied and quickly changed the topic, "So, Shadow, how are you feeling here?"

Shadow didn't answer. I really wanted to know what caused their rivalry in the past.

Then Sonic ignored Shadow, and focused on me. "Can I ask something Sonica?"

I nodded.

"Why do you always wear that rings on your wrists and ankles? Is it like Shadow's?"

"Uh.." I glanced at Shadow's inbitior rings then at mine. "Yeah, I guess.."

Then Sonic smirked

"What?" I asked, suspicious.

"Oh, I was just thinking~ if I could try one of these on." said Sonic as he spinned a ring in his finger.

These stupid brothers!! (Sonic and Manic)

"Give it back!!" I tried to snatch it but, too late!

"Nope." he teased with a smirk.

Calm down, Sonica, you don't wanna let your secret out, do you?

Deep breaths.

Deep breaths.

"Aw, you don't want it?" He chuckled, tossing the ring to another hand.

That's it!

I immediately pounced on him with a growl, making him fall on his back. "Give it back!"

He chuckled and got up the next second before running away while shouting, "COME AND GET IT!"

"Oh, I will." I gave him a hard glare and started the game of chase.

𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗪'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩

"Oh, I will." Sonica growled and ran after Sonic, making me sigh.

"So childish."

Then after a while, I ran after them.

"Sonic! Give it back!" I heard Sonica shouting in a distance.

"Too slowww!" He laughed and ran in circles, both of them leaving a blue blur behind.

They were like a rat and a cat who ran into Tails' lab.

"H-Hey, stop you two!" Tails called out while holding the test tubes up in his hands- but they weren't listening.

"I said, give it back!!" Sonica growled.

"Sonic, give her what she wants!" Amy sai with a frown.

They kept running until Sonic accidentally bumped into a chamber, falling to the ground and causing its door to swing open.

Sonica, stumbling over him, fell inside the chamber - and before anyone could react, the door slammed shut!

"Oh no!" Tails gasped, grabbing his head in panic.

Sonica said something but we couldn't hear through the glass.

"Sonic!!" Everyone shouted, clearing as his fault.

He gulped nervously.

Then, a bright blue flash lit up inside the chamber.

"Tails..." Amy whispered anxiously as the chamber door slowly slid open.

And then-!

Everyone gasped in shock!

Sonica wasn't Sonica anymore!

She had turned into a small, sobbing baby!

Everyone - except me, Sonic and Tails - immediately went, "Awwww!"

She looked just the same like I saw her in the Ark many, many years ago... Just different fur colour.

Then Amy picked her up in her arms, cradling her. "Aww, don't cry, little Sonica~" She poked her cheek softly and she sniffled while looking up at Amy with those.. adorable, teary eyes.

"Awwww.."

"Tails!" Sonic quickly grabbed his friend's shoulders, shaking him. "What? And how?! FIX THIS!"

Hearing Sonic shout, Sonica started to cry again, curling up in Amy's arms.

Amy cradled her slowly while shooting a glare at Sonic.

"This machine was designed to shrink the size of non-living objects!" Tails explained nervously, "but-but I didn't realize it could also reduce the age of living creatures. Like- Sonica's clothes were non-living, so they just shrank! but since Sonica herself is living, she... she turned into this!" He gestured at the baby in Amy's arms.

Sonic looked at Sonica, then at Tails, "Well, reverse it!"

"I know! But it will take a while- maybe a day.." Tails whispered the last part.

Sonic looked at Sonica again and sighe, "But what do we do now?

"You will have to babysit her." declared Amy.

"Good one, Ams." He chuckled then immediately got serious. "I can't. Never in a million years."

"I would babysit her but... I promised Sticks that..."

"That she will rummage through the garbage with me!"

Amy sighed and handed Sonica to Sonic but she started whining and I instinctively took her in my arms, "Give here, faker-"

Wait.. I don't remember her fur being this soft..

She then nuzzled into my chest fur and mumbled something incoherent.

If Maria saw this. . .

"See? Shadow can babysit her."

Amy's words snapped me back to reality, "What...?"

"You can take care of her, can't you? She's your sister after all"

"Anyways, Sonic will be here to help you." added Sticks, making me roll my eyes.

"But why ME?!" asked Sonic in frustration. "This isn't fair!"

"Well.. you are the only one who has no work and keeps running here and there." said Amy, hands on her hip.

Excellent point.

Sonic opened his mouth to speak but no words came.

"She has a point." said Sticks, looking at Sonica. "Knuckles will also help you too. Right, Knuckles?"

"Oh, okay." said Knuckles before stepping towards Sonica and made funny faces to make her giggle. And he succeeded.

She was really cute...

"So, the problem's solved! Until Tails reverses his machine, you three will take care of her." Amy summarized while Sticks nodded. "We will be back soon. Take care of her~"

I looked down at Sonica as she playing with my chest fur. Then I cleared my throat to make her lookh up at me.

"Alright, Tails asap! I don't like being a nanny!" Sonic sighed, crossing his arms.

Then. . .

We went to Sonic's shack, so that Tails would not be disturbed.

"Well, how hard can it be, right?"

I looked down at Sonica and placed her carefully on the floor. She started crawling.

A slight smirk was on my face.

"Awww." Sonic sat down infront of her, folding her legs.

She looked at him and tilted her head slightly.

Then Knuckles sat beside Sonic and she crawled to Knuckles!

"Hey.. " Sonic frowned, disappointed.

Then she looked at Sonic and mumbled something, which I thought was rejection.

"Hm...I liked the grown up version of you." He mumbled as he rubbed the top of her head.

"I am hungry now. Lets eat something." said Knuckles while poking Sonica's cheek who giggled.

"To the Meh-Burger!!"

- ᗩT Tᕼᗴ ᗰᗴᕼ-ᗷᑌᖇᘜᗴᖇ -

"No no no no. This is not for babies." Sonic said as he quickly finished his chillidog.

Sonica looked at Knuckles and he did the same as Sonic did.

She whined and I sighed.

"You should eat your baby food." said Sonic, pointing his index finger at her.

She looked up at me with that whing and pouty expression.

Then Sonic quickly got some baby food and started to feed her.

It was no suprise that she was a good, non-bratty kid. For now.

"Ha, she isn't stubborn like you, Shadow." He said with a smirk while wiping her chin.

I rolled my eyes and placed her on the table.

Then a small spider came crawling on the table and she immediately started crying.

I immediately took her in my arms while Sonic quickly shooed the spider away.

"It's okay.. It's gone.." I whispered while cradling her, memories flooding back in which I pushed away.

She sniffled and curled up against me. I patted her back softly and sighed.

"Looks like Shadow is a good brother." said Sonic with a smirk.

"Shut up, moron." I sighed and focused on cradling her in my arms.

"More like, good 𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆."

Who said that?!

Our heads snapped towards the direction. And then- someone snapped a picture!

"𝗬𝗼𝘂..."

"I will add it to my collage." none other than Eggman chuckled.

We rolled our eyes. Except Knuckles and Sonica.

Then- Orbot and Cubot started playing with Sonica.

Okay, that was adorable.

"Aw, look how small she is~" Eggman poked her cheek and she growled.

"Oo, she is just as grumpy as you, Shadow." He ruffled her quills, chuckling.

"I know, right!" Sonic chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. Again.

Then Sonic took her in his arms, so I crossed my arms.

"Aww, little Sonica~" Sonic cooed while nuzzling her cheek.

She giggled and mumbled, "mh~"

That was- adorable.

"Well, good luck with the baby sitting. I will be back soon with my new robots!" said Eggman while patting her head before leaving. His bots followed behind.

Sonica mumbled and waved her hand as a 'Bye'

Then I looked over at Sonic and asked, "Any progress from Tails?"

"No," Sonic shook his head while saying , "I went to his house while bringing baby food, he was still working."

I sighed and looked down at her.

Then we went back to Sonic's shack.

She started playing with Sonic and some toys that Knuckles had brought.

It was finally peaceful.

But... not for long.

She suddenly got in the mood to crawl to the door.

"I... don't think she will run away, right, guys?" whispered Sonic, glancing at us.

And for some reason, we watched patiently instead of stopping her at the door.

"HURRY!" We three ran after her, hoping she was slower than us since she is a baby!

But no, she disappeared!

"Where did she go?!"

"There!" Knuckles pointed at the fruit stall.

And I immediately teleported there, ready to catch her. But just as I was about to her, Sonic pushed me aside to reach out to her! But I pushed him back with a glare.

And the next second, she was gone!

"Where did she go now?!"

We looked around and finally her at the top of a house.

"OUR BABY!" We shouted with wide eyes.

And the people around us stared at us like : "wtf...??"

Ahem.

I and Sonic cleared our throats. Then I quickly teleported to her, lifted her up while she whined, and sighed.

"Man..that was embarrassing." Sonic muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "It never felt so embarrassing when Lady Walrus shouted 'My Babyy!'."

Knuckles nodded slowly.

Lady who? Nevermind.

Then we quickly went back to Sonic's house and let out an exhausted sigh. Sonica yawned as I placed her on the hammock as she finally closed her eyes, falling into a deep slumber.

We sighed with relief.

"What now?" asked Knuckles.

"Some rest." Sonic and I said in unison.

- TIᗰᗴ - ՏKIᑭ - Iᑎ Tᕼᗴ ᗴᐯᗴᑎIᑎᘜ -

Sonica was watching T.V while suckling the milk from the bottle. We had to keep an eye on her. Or god knows when she will disappear again.

Then she mumbled something while pointing at the pony in the T.V.

I smirked and looked over at Sonic who gripped his quills with wide eyes, "Noo, no, no, no, no, no, nooo.."

- ᖴᗴᗯ - ᗰIᑎᑌTᗴՏ - ᒪᗩTᗴᖇ -

Knuckles amd Sonica were laughing as Sonic had become her pony.

I just snickered at her restlessness.

Just then- Sonic's communicator beeped and he knew who it was.

"Please tell me you have finished!!"

"Y-yeah, I have..." replied Tails, "Come soon. Amy and Sticks have just reached here."

Sonic immediately hung up, picked her in his arms and quickly ran off.

I rolled my eyes with a 'tsk' and teleported straight to Tails' lab.

There I saw. . .

Sonic held Sonica tight, while looking at Tails. "Quick! She is going to kill me!"

"Okay, okay! Put her in the chamber." said Tails, pointing at the machine with a wrench.

Sonic quickly dashed towards the chamber but Amy quickly stepped in, arms open in defense mode. "Wait Before we turn her back to her normal age, let's take some pictures!"

Sonic groaned while everyone else nodded their heads with 'Oh, yes.' and 'Good idea'

"Wait, where's Knuckles?" said Sticks out of blue.

I paused.

Sonic and I looked at eachother then back at Sticks.

"Uh.. He's resting somewhere I guess." Sonic said, scratching his head.

"You guys left him?!"

"Uh.."

"We were in a rush to bring old Sonica back!"

Just then- Knuckles came bursting in with a proud look, "Hi, guys! Can you imagine I got a free ride here?"

"Right on time." Amy adjusted the camera and clicked some (many) photos of Sonica and us in some frames.

But Sonica avoided the camera in most of the photos and didn't stay still.

But Amy did manage to snap a picture of Sonica snuggled against my chest fur.

"Alright. It's time to get our Sonica back." Sonic said, pointing at the chamber. "Put. Her. In. Now!"

Amy nodded and did so. Sonica looked at me with teary eyes, stretching out her little hands as if begging not to be left.

"Aww.."

But then the chamber's door sealed shut with a soft hiss.

Tails pressed some buttons, adjusted a few levers. Then- a sudden burst of blue light flashed inside the chamber.

And when the door slid open... there she was.

"SONICA!" Amy and Sticks cheered, rushing in to pull her into a tight hug.

Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and I all exhaled long, heavy and exhausted sighs.

"What happened...?" Sonica asked groggily, rubbing her head in confusion.

"You turned into a baby!" Sticks blurted out, throwing her hands in the air. "Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles had to babysit you, Tails reversed the machine, and we even took some pictures and-" she gasped for breath in mid-sentence.

Sonica just blinked, then looked at us and asked, "Are you guys okay?"

I nodded slowly.

"You were a devil, Sonica." Sonic said, crossing his arms.

"uh.. what did I do?" She blinked again in confusion.

"Sonic and Shadow will tell you the whole story with every detail." Amy patted her shoulder while giving us a smirk.

Sonica scratched her head, clearing her throat. "Well... I am sorry for causing you guys the trouble which I am definitely not aware about."

"You are welcome." Sonic crossed his arms with a sigh.

"You are mad at me now?" asked Sonica, crossing her arms as well.

Sonic rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Not exactly.."

"He's not mad 𝘢𝘵 you." Sticks spoke while Tails' nudged him, "He's mad 𝘧𝘰𝘳 you."

Sonic quickly nudged Tails to shut him up.

Amy and the others chuckled.

"Mad for m-"

"Don't listen to him!" Sonic laughed nervously, ruffling the top of Tails' head.

Sonica raised a brow, clearly not convinced, but she let it slide.

I sighed while Sonica nodded. "But I still have no idea what I did.."

"Well," Amy said, stretching her arms and glancing at the clock on the lab wall, "It's already past dinnertime, and I think we could use some rest. Sonic and Shadow will definitely tell you what you did."

"Yeah, I've had enough baby chaos for one lifetime," Sonic muttered.

"Bye, Tails!" They all waved as they headed for the exit and I followed behind.

Tails smiled and waved back. "See you guys tomorrow! Don't forget to bring snacks next time!"

"Finally... some peace," I sighed as we stepped outside into the cool night.

Then Sonic quickly took Amy aside and whispered, "Can you give me that pictures?"

"Of course." Amy handed him the pictures.

"Thanks." he whispered again and ran back to us.

"I see what you have there, hedgehog." I said while walking next to Sonica.

"Oh come on, stop being so nosy!" He rolled his arms, walking on the other side of Sonica.

"So.. when are you guys gonna enlighten me?" She asked, crossing her arms as well.

"Right..." Sonic muttered, awkwardly scratching his cheek. "Hey, Shadow. Can you give us a moment alone? I want to talk without having someone nosy."

I raised a brow but smirked anyway. "Fine. I'll leave you lovebirds alone."

Sonic groaned. "It's not- Never mind."

I walked off with a lazy wave, leaving the two of them under the quiet night sky.

Just don't make me strangle you, hedgehog.

𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗩

𝙇𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. . .

The stars hung low over the peaceful coast of Bygone Island. Sonic walked alongside Sonica in silence until they reached the familiar hilltop. He let out a soft sigh and sat on the grass.

Sonica sat down beside him after a moment. "So? What did you want to talk about?"

Sonic didn't look at her right away. "I wasn't lying when I said I'm not mad at you. It wasn't your fault."

"I wasn't 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 bad as a baby... was I?" she asked, hugging her knees.

Sonic glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You were chaos. No wonder your name was Project Chaos."

Sonica laughed softly, a flower bloomed behind her which she quickly hid. "Still... I literally didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"Yeah, but... it kinda reminded me how much you mean to us." He hesitated, then pulled something from behind him-the baby pictures. "To 𝘮𝘦."

Sonica's eyes widened slightly. "..why'd you guys take pictures of that version of me..?"

"I figured... maybe you'd want to see how much chaos you caused. And how ridiculously cute you looked doing it." He answered with a snicker.

She laughed quietly, flipping through the photos. "This one... Why do I look like I was trying to eat Sticks?"

"You really were about to eat Sticks." He said with a laugh.

She chuckled again, looking at the different photos. "And here Knuckles and I are looking at eachother."

Her expression softened as her thumb brushed against that one specific photo of all of them together.

"Thanks, Sonic. For... taking care of me. Especially as a baby."

He looked at her and pretended to look at the sky. "Anytime, Sonica."

Then there was a pause.

"You sure you're not mad 𝘧𝘰𝘳 me?"

Sonic blushed instantly. "Wha-? No! Don't listen to Tails!"

Sonica smirked knowingly. "Hmm..."

He looked away quickly, flustered. "You're impossible."

"And you're terrible at hiding things."

They both laughed quietly, then looked at eachother again.

"Let's go back home."

"Yeah."

— A/N: 𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚞𝚗𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎-𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞. —