𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 about its importance but was more engrossed in how much time she had to sneak out the door while she talked. It wasn't long since the mother shut the door soon after. She stuck her neck out, tilting her head just a touch to glean the text. It was folded rather neatly, but the >

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 top third of the page gave enough context. In big fonts were the names Shadow the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna, with a mention of a soccer game. While the photo was obscured, she managed to get a glaring eye from beneath the shaded hat, earning a glare back from Blaze. >

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 Just what was he to that group? A babysitter? Parental figure? Odd job? Friend? Now soccer coach? She couldn't grasp whatever concepts were flying at her. When the bewilderment subsided, what she could decipher was the inexplicable kindness he showed without pleases or thanks. >

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 At every turn, she would find him, yet unlike the rest, he extracted exactly what she felt and gave advice ony one wise beyond his years could give, coupled with doubts and tragedies of his own that he did not need or cared to hide. Their manners were different, but they >

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 connected on similar subjects: small annoyances to otherworldly coldness. It was something akin to... a father? A grandparent? A mentor? An employer?! The glue was beginning to melt into the print-free side of the cut out, which she quickly corrected, maintaining a regular >

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 temperature. He was a mystery that contained all the answers... and somehow, it worked. The times they talked were little, but now she had a concrete name and spelling. She was cautiously confident in this entry. Shadow the Hedgehog:

They offered me 1 billion rings to make an appearance in their next "game". PAH. Pocket change, for someone like me. I would never sell so low, but my AGENT, OMEGA E-123, made me take the deal.

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 "YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND. SHADOW, THE HEDGEHOG. YOUR FUNDS ARE LOW. YOUR PUBLIC IMAGE IS IN SHAMBLES, WE NEEDED THIS TO ENSURE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT UNTIL SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 COMES OUT."

OMEGA E-123 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 I also got paid, Mr. Shadow! I have an important role called intern and they gave me lots of experience! Isn't that generous? Cheese and I are going to buy fancy mint candies for Tails!

Cream the Rabbit OMEGA E-123 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 〝 That is an unpaid internship. Experience is not an equivalent to rings. You are working for free. 〞

𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓏𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓉 𖤓 OMEGA E-123 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 Oh... {Stares at her CASHLESS hands before glancing back up at Cheese.} It's time to go to Plan B! A bottle cap briefcase with macaroni art! {After a salute from Cheese, the two were off!}

Cream the Rabbit 𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓏𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓉 𖤓 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 "HOLLYWOOD TRULY FEEDS ON THE YOUTH TO EXPLOIT THEM IN WAYS THEY CAN NEVER TRULY COMPREHEND UNTIL MUCH LATER. A TRAVESTY."

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 OMEGA E-123 Cream the Rabbit She raised a brow and scanned their surroundings as she cautiously enunciated her words. 〝 I do not know what you are referring to. My CURRENT and sole priority are the Sol Emeralds. 〞

𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓏𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓉 𖤓 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 Cream the Rabbit FAX MACHINE NOISES. "2.5 BILLION RINGS WAS PAID TO THE ACCOUNT OF BLAZE THE CAT."

OMEGA E-123 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 Cream the Rabbit 〝 ... 〞

OMEGA E-123 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 Cream the Rabbit

𝘏𝘶𝘩.ᐣ.ᐟ

Walking past 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 and Charmy Bee with Cream the Rabbit in the supermarket. Subtle nod.

Charmy Bee 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚐 𝐵𝓁𝒶𝓏𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓉 𖤓 [Informalities may have been frowned upon newly acquainted, but not when the two were good friends! Double fist bumps from Cream and Cheese!]