Living in the City

Nikki and Penumbra strolled through Seaside City under the rising moon. Nikki felt a certain chill, but he was sure it was just the cold air. Penumbra's clothes looked a lot less warm, so he didn't complain about it. "Where can a girl find a place to rest 'round here?" Penumbra asked.

"Let's see," Nikki mumbled, checking his travel brochure.

"You act like you haven't lived here your whole life," Penumbra chuckled, looking over his shoulder. Nikki's eyes widened.

"Shh!" Nikki reminded her.

"Oh, hush. Nobody's around to hear," Penumbra whispered.

"Well, I never really went here on any of Robotnik's 'field trips'," Nikki replied. "Whenever I came here, it was on a sound-speed jog. Didn't exactly memorize everything." Nikki stared at the map some more. "Huh… I can't find any hotels."

"Really?" Penumbra asked, squinting at the map. Nikki looked up at a small orange-red glow. Something that looked like an orb of light lowered towards them.

"Tikal?!" Nikki asked. As the orb grew closer… he saw it was not Tikal. It wasn't even really much of an orb. It was a propellor spinning fast enough to look like a perfect circle. The small nose-diving propellered robot did a flip, revealing itself to be some kind of fake wind-up Chao.

"Hi! I'm Omochao. How can I help you?" The toy Chao asked.

"Omochao?" Nikki asked.

"Omochao! That's me! I'm a mechanical Chao. I was created by Lord Robotnik after his vacation to Angel Island," Omochao answered. "But he threw me out because I wouldn't 'shut the—'!"

"I think he's got a few screws loose," Penumbra stated as Omochao kept rambling on and on in a Robotnik impression. "Poor thing…"

"Do you think he's powered by a real Chao?" Nikki whispered, hopefully quiet enough for Omochao to not hear. Then, Omochao popped up between both of them.

"Hey! I am a real Chao. You're so mean. I'm gonna have to tell on you to my… my…" Omochao argued, pressing his face into Nikki's glasses. Nikki stepped back into a wall, and Omochao finally backed off. "Do you have any more questions?"

"Hotel?" Nikki asked.

"Hotels are buildings where people can pay money to stay and sleep at—" Omochao started.

"No, where can I find one?" Nikki asked.

"This way!" Omochao exclaimed, flying away. Nikki and Penumbra hesitantly followed.

Later, in the hotel room, Nikki was staring out the open window at the full moon. It was entrancing, floating high above the city lights and amidst the stars. He felt himself getting lost in the view like he had many times during the past few months. "What's got you up so late?" Penumbra asked. Nikki nearly screamed, spinning around embarrassedly to see her standing there in a bathrobe. "Relax, it's just me. What's got you so jumpy?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Nikki replied, straightening out his glasses and returning to looking at the moon. Penumbra looked at it too, leaning on the edge of the balcony. "I had a better view of it back in Dock-Op and Giganima."

"I didn't take you as someone who would care about how well you could see the moon," Penumbra stated.

"Never really did. Then I got a facefull of that Dark Gaia smog on Lost Hex, and…" Nikki mumbled. Penumbra looked at him in disbelief.

"Dark Gaia smog?? Lost Hex?!" Penumbra asked, dumbfounded. "Man, you really have been all over the place. I hear that stuff's turning people into monsters at night."

"That's what I'm worried about," Nikki sighed. He looked away from the moon in one act of sheer willpower. "It's late. Do you want the bed? I can sleep on the…" Nikki looked back to Penumbra, who was sound asleep in a giant spider web in the corner of the room. Nikki smiled tiredly, and went to bed.

Nikki opened his eyes from another nice dream of Amy. It felt like the night had been over in a second. He could hear Penumbra singing loudly to herself as she fiddled with the microwave. "Morning, sleepyhead," Penumbra giggled, spinning around and grinning.

"Calm down with the pet names," Nikki yawned, unenthused. It looked like this caught Penumbra off-guard.

"Sweet Gaia below, who are you and what have you done to my friend?" Penumbra asked, looking at Nikki weirdly.

"Graah, stop it, alright?" Nikki pouted. "You woke me up from my 'Rose-Reverie'!"

"Your what?" Penumbra asked. Nikki felt his mouth dry up and his heart skip a beat. He hid his face in his pillow. "Ahh, I see…" Penumbra shot him a knowing smile, and looked back to the microwave with Robotnik's face plastered on it as it beeped maniacally. "Breakfast's ready."

"What are we having?" Nikki asked. Penumbra opened the microwave, revealing a single piece of lukewarm, pre-fried chicken. The steam emitting from the meat resembled the last dying squeal of a forgotten dream.

"Welcome to Seaside, Nikki," Penumbra mumbled as they looked into the microwave blankly.

After their sumptuous poultry feast that was somehow both burnt and cold, Nikki and Penumbra walked through the daybreak Seaside City, past all the grimy boardwalks and mossy stone structures. In the distance rested a hazy image of the neighboring nation Adabat's Seaside Hill, a crushing reminder to all the citizens of Seaside City that things could have been so much better for them had they merely been born a few miles overseas. You could see the exact point where the water turned from murky green and brown to sparkly blue and clear. Maybe the people there were made out to be highly territorial, but many empire citizens would take that over a corrupt government any day.

"Fine, you ROBO-PAWNS! Stay ignorant! It doesn't change the fact that the Eggman is lying about where he's sending the Silhouettes in those SHAMbulances!" A manic badger on the sidewalk screamed through a paper towel roll, with a small crowd of people listening to what seemed to be her conspiracy theories. This startled Nikki and prompted a mere glance from Penumbra. They both stopped in their tracks to be entertained by the crazy lady. "The PTOH is a scapegoat, a blaming-bag! Hell, it might not even exist. It might be a robot—!" A Swatbot snuck up from behind the insane badger. "SOMEONE'S BEHIND ME!" She shouted, turning around and whacking the Swatbot across the face with her fist. "Oh… I was right this time…" Swatbots surrounded the crowd. People screamed, while Nikki and Penumbra readied themselves for a fight. Before the Swatbots could lay a finger on anyone, a metal boomerang went flying towards them. After it destroyed the droids, it returned to and was caught by the conspiracy theorist badger. "Just remember who's really on your side… Sticks and stones may break your bones, but the TRUTH will never hurt ya!" The crowd began to disperse quietly and quickly, acting as if they were never there to begin with. Nikki and Penumbra seemed to have the same idea, until… "You there! 3-eyes!" The badger screeched.

"Yes?" Nikki asked.

The badger reached into the chest pocket of her frizzy coat that appeared to be made of cat hair clippings. Nikki and Penumbra nearly bolted out of there, before the badger pulled out a harmless laminated business card. She handed it to them. "The Eggman holds more than a little white lie inside that unassuming shell, Sonic. I'll see you around," the badger whispered. "For now… THINK about that egg pun. My toaster told it to me, and I want you to explain it in excruciating detail when we meet again." The badger went running into the alleyway with her hands clawed, screaming.

"Wait… 'Sonic'?" Penumbra asked, peeking over Nikki's shoulder to read the card with him.

"Sticks 'Jed' Badger - The Freedom Fighters, Knothole," the card read. It had a phone number on it. Nikki pocketed the business card, staring into the alleyway. It would seem Sticks had already disappeared.

Nikki and Penumbra instantly discarded the experience. At most, it would be a fun story for Sonic to tell by the campfire next time Zik made him and Tails go on a scenic hike. But right then, it was time to make more memories in the nearby Sunset City. Famous in the empire for its gem markets, and its "Red Gate Bridge" that they just stole from the United Federation's Central City. Nikki had to cope with that one especially for a while when he first found out that the Golden Gate Bridge was a thing before the Robotnik Empire was even founded. Nikki and Penumbra enjoyed a floaty feeling of adrenaline with every new location they went to. Even if it was just the local so-so burger joint, "Slate's". Nikki and Penumbra shared life stories there. Neither of them had ever realized how similar both of their lives were.

"So I grew up in the Dragon Kingdom, where my mom comes from. My dad was born in Mazuri, though," Penumbra had told Nikki. "They kicked me out when I was about your age. Nothing personal, they just couldn't afford to keep me around." Penumbra stared at the ceiling, exhaustedly. "Lived on the streets for a while. One thing led to another, and I guess that's how I became the 'Darling Bounty Hunter' in the first place."

"Kind of a big jump there, don't you think?" Nikki pried. Penumbra looked to him and raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Ah. Because going from an empire's strongest living weapon to their single most deadly enemy in a matter of months isn't a large enough leap," Penumbra joked as they finished their fries and ran off to the last remaining park in the entire county.

"Well… lots can happen in a few months," Nikki sighed, sitting down on a metal bench and staring off past the fake trees, into the sunset. Sunset City was also aptly famous for those. "Tails and I lived near Giganima for a while. Heh… I had a chili dog stand in the city. If I ever had a dream job, it would have been that. But apparently they don't like chili over there!"

"Outrageous," Penumbra replied, stretching. "Is that why you left for Little Planet?"

"Partially. I didn't make much money," Nikki replied. "Anyways, I eventually picked up a job delivering medicine to sick people. I did well at it. Good thing too. That employee's discount came in handy when Tails caught…" Nikki trailed off, and his eyes grew sad.

"What's the matter?" Penumbra asked.

"Nothing, it's nothing," Nikki mumbled. He suddenly remembered his promise to Tails, back on the shore of Tropical Coast. He promised he'd be by Tails' side until he was gone. He already felt like he was failing that just by being in the Robotnik Empire. Then again… he couldn't shake the feeling that Tails was acting the slightest bit off last time he saw him. Tails seemed more interested in finding the World Instruments than spending time with Sonic. Nikki supposed it was the more reasonable option. The entire world was at stake, after all. And those instruments could fix it. Nikki decided not to worry about it too much.

Nikki and Penumbra made their way back to Splendid Silver Seal Hotel as the day came to a close once more. As they were about to round the corner, they heard a crash. With their equally swift reflexes, they spun around to the alleyway. Darkness obscured anyone that could have been there. "It's probably just a cat," Penumbra mumbled. She and Nikki kept walking.

"Try a 'Kate'!" A girl with red clothes exclaimed, leaping forward from the shadows and wrapping her arms around both Nikki and Penumbra.

"BWOASHIT—!" Nikki exclaimed. Even Penumbra seemed a little startled. "Who are you?!"

"That's what I was getting at. Name's Kate. Li'l Kate!" the girl greeted. "What's yours?"

"Nikki," Nikki replied.

"Last name?" Li'l Kate asked.

"Trade secret," Nikki muttered.

"Wild! If you wanna trade, I guess I should go first. Kate is actually my last name. Li'l is my first," Li'l revealed. "But umm… call me Kate."

"That's… not what 'trade secret' means," Nikki mumbled. He sighed, realizing it was only fair to say his last name. She seemed harmless. "My last name's 'Hedgehog'."

"Lame," Kate mumbled. Nikki shrugged, not knowing what else to say. "How bout you?! Spider lady?!" She pointed at Penumbra. Penumbra seemed to be caught off-guard. She thought of an alias on the spot.

"Name's Peni Devade," Penumbra blurted.

"SWEET!" Kate exclaimed.

"Li'l, let's back off for real," another man suggested, walking forward from the same alleyway. He had multiple very colorful laces tied lightly around his left wrist. "Hey there, Nikki Hedgehog. Peni Devade. Sorry 'bout my over-enthusiastic friend. My name's Kofi Yo. Down low." Nikki gave him some glove, and they both inhaled sharply from the slight sting of their palms colliding. Nikki felt relaxed just listening to his voice. "Ahh… Dang! You're fast. Never had someone actually land that, for real!"

"So… can we help you?" Peni asked, confused.

"This was a test!" Kate exclaimed, pointing at both Nikki and Peni. "You've shown great reflexes and a good attitude, unlike most of the other people we jumped out at tonight. You look like you got what it takes to hit some notes. You're just what we need for our street band, '4D'. That's the name. Of the band. Short for 'Dreams, Dreams, Dreams, Dreams'. How would you like to be the guitar?"

"Why?" Nikki asked.

"Our last guy was getting way too comfortable with his spontaneous solos and anecdotes of his love life into the mic. So we had to let him go," Kate replied. "And our harmonicist just hasn't been showing. Up and left us without the heart and soul of our band."

"I mean… I suppose I need something to do in my downtime," Nikki mumbled, left with more questions than answers. "I do play the guitar. But I have an unpredictable schedule, so no hard feelings if I run off suddenly, okay?"

"It's alright. Livin' wild and free. I— WE respect that here," Kofi replied. "If you're not busy right now, we can introduce you to the rest of the band. Our hangout is just behind the sports store. We're going on tour soon, so if you want to join, now's the time for real."

"Sounds fun," Peni replied. Kate grabbed Nikki's wrist and pulled him into the alleyway. Peni followed. "I play the sax, by the way. I'm no good at it, though. Might be able to replace the harmonica I think. I don't know much about music."

"That's alright. We're always open to help people learn. 'Specially our singer. You're gonna LOVE our singer," Kate promised.

"Most people do. He's amazing," Kofi followed up.

"No offense… if you're a street band operating behind a local business, how do you plan to go on tour?" Peni asked. "Doesn't sound easy."

"It's easy BECAUSE we're a street band. We'll just drive to different streets. Uh-doy," Kate answered. "We have my dad's old truck, and our instruments. That's all we need right now. Plus, we might even be going to Empire City. Then we can meet Def Big! He's like… THE music producer. He could get us into the big leagues for sure." Kate became all starry-eyed.

"For real," Kofi agreed, an inspired twinkle in his eye.

They finally reached the back of the sports store. A few faint street lights illuminated the parking lot and the boardwalk. There was an abrasive skyglow coming from Station Square just across the lake. "Kofi, Kate," a high-pitched male voice greeted. Nikki looked over to a human figure whose face was obscured by shadows. He had a noticeably sparkly red dress and blonde messy hair. "So you found more guys? Neat."

"Yeah… Let's get introductions out of the way," Kofi Yo said. The man of mystery stepped forward, joining everyone else under the street lamp. "Nikki, Peni. This is Madonna Garnet. Our singer."

"Pleased to meet you, Madonna," Nikki greeted with a slight smile, shaking Madonna's hand.

"Already charmed, Nikki," Madonna replied in kind. He turned to Peni. "'Peni', was it? Nice to meet you." Peni nodded.

"We're here to join your band," Peni stated. "I left my sax at home, and as for Nikki's guitar… I don't even KNOW where that might be."

"Well, good thing I used to play the guitar," Madonna replied. "We can arrange a test of your skill later, new friends. Because you're in. Care for a show?" Kofi sat himself down at a drumset by the wall of the sports store, and Kate sat down at a keyboard.

"How could we say no?" Peni asked. "Please, do continue!"

Madonna held onto the red mic in his hand tightly. "Then cue the music! 3… 2… 1…!" Everybody started to perform… for exactly one note.

"You're starting without me?" A voice asked in a teasing tone. Everybody glanced over at a ladybug girl as their song ended before it had even really started. She had shades on over her black masquerade mask. Nikki's jaw dropped. "Ohhhh! You've brought new friends. Let me see!" She slipped over to Peni. She stared Peni right in the eyes. Nikki jumped in between them.

"Whoa, whoa WHOA!" Nikki shouted, putting his hands over Peni's eyes. "What are YOU doing here?!"

"Problem, hon'?" Cherry the Ladybug asked, holding her hands together to the side and swaying her hips, smiling wide. Nikki could see hearts float up from her head.

"YEAH, a big problem. You're—!" Nikki looked back to their confrontation in Casinopolis. All the people she stole the hearts of… Nikki himself being reduced to an empty husk for a few fleeting seconds… Then, the most important part came back to him. The deal he had made with her to protect both their identities. She was practically staring into his very Core now, but she was not taking his heart. "... You're getting way too close to Peni. That's no good."

"Maybe a little," Peni followed up. "Now… Nikki, mind getting your hands out of my eyes?"

"Don't mind Cherry," Madonna assured them. "She wouldn't hurt a fly." Cherry and Peni exchanged glances, then coughed.

"Where'd you get the shades, Cher?" Kofi asked, pointing to her with his drumstick. "They look good on you."

"Thanks babe. Got them at Optical Hallucinations," Cherry replied, adjusting her sunglasses.

"Sheesh, what are you, the PT?" Kate asked. "Cuz you're stealin' my heart right now, girl." Cherry looked shocked, standing there with her smile still at full force. However, everybody else looked shocked too.

"Li'l… Too soon," Kofi reminded her.

"Better than too late," Kate replied. "I saw a gun and I jumped it."

"I don't remember you being so… intimate, Cherry. Anyways, it's getting pretty late," Madonna stated, putting his hands on his hips and looking up to the moon. "We should probably all go home before the Dark Gaia people come out. See ya later, everyone." Madonna walked back into the city. Peni looked to Nikki.

"Yeah, you're right," Nikki muttered. "Peni, let's go."

"You live together?" Cherry asked, leaping in front of them. Nikki noticed a harmonica attached to a strap around her shoulder. "My my, how dedicated!"

"Sorry… what did you say?" Nikki asked.

"It's not like that," Peni mumbled. "We're just friends."

"I believe you, dearie," Cherry replied, shrugging it off. Peni walked back to the hotel. Cherry looked to Nikki, and winked. Nikki glanced at her, then away. He followed Peni into the night.