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generic-sonic-fan · 1 year

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Robotnik Family Reunion

Summary: Eggman never really knew his cousin Maria.

Shadow receives a letter.

(3938 words)

Sonic checked his mail and was not surprised to find an enormous package shoved into the tiny box. He was also not surprised when, upon pulling it out, he saw the logo of the Egg Empire stamped proudly on the side. He rolled his eyes, as if Eggman could see him from here, and brought it back into the house.

“Hey, Tails! Eggman sent me a ‘gift’ again. Give it a once-over some time today, yeah?”

Several bumps, bangs, and crashes echoed from the basement, and Tails popped his head out from the stairwell. “I told you not to bring those into the house!”

Several hours later, Tails had defused the bomb and Sonic was holding the letter.

Happy belated birthday, Sonic! It proclaimed. Here’s a little gift to keep you and the fox on your toes, along with some spending money. Go buy yourself something nice.

Sonic shook the envelope. Out slid a few quarters.

“At least we know he cares.” He rolled his eyes.

He went to throw away the rest of the package, but stopped when he felt something heavy weighing it down. He pulled out several sheets of bubble wrap before finally unveiling another envelope. This one was addressed with To Shadow- Sonic don’t read!

He furled his brows. His number one nemesis couldn’t even stay focused on him on his special day? Gee, happy birthday indeed. He ripped open the envelope and shook out a folded-up letter and something that looked suspiciously like one of Eggman’s personal communicators.

He unfolded the letter.

Dear Shadow,

There’s something of import I would like to discuss with you. What do you say we get together and have a little chat about it? The communicator I’ve included is my personal line. Let me know the time, place, and what restaurant you’d like takeout from, and we’ll make a lunch of it.

You’re likely wondering what exactly it is I’d like to discuss, but before I tell you, allow me to issue a warning to any nosy blue hedgehogs or foxes- SONIC, STOP READING THIS! YOU CALL YOURSELF A ‘HERO’ YET YOU SNOOP IN LETTERS THAT DON’T BELONG TO YOU? PATHETIC!

Anyways, Shadow, as it is, we’re the last two bearing the Robotnik family name, if the file I have on your genetic background is anything to go by. It’s come to my attention that I don’t know much about your side of the family. I’d like to learn a bit more about my cousin, Maria-

Sonic quit reading as his eyes hit the name. He folded the letter back up and slid it back into the envelope.

He carried it and the communicator with him as he went downstairs. Tails had already turned around from his workbench when Sonic opened the door to the workshop.

“Hey, buddy, one more thing for you to look over.” He held up the Egg communicator.

Tails grabbed it and quickly got to work dismantling it.

“You’ll be able to repair that, right?”

“Why?”

“Personal delivery. I’ll be running it to Shadow. Just get rid of all the usual tracking and explode-y stuff Eggface usually puts in there, yeah?”

“Are you sure? This could be a trap, for either one of you.” Tails paused in his work.

“I’m sure.”

—

There was a knock on Shadow’s door. He put down his book and scowled. Rouge had said that putting up the “no soliciting” sign on the door would stop random strangers from intruding into his private life, but he should’ve known better than to believe a flimsy sign would fix the problem.

He got up from his rocking chair and walked over to the door.

“Go away.” He shouted.

Another knock. This asshole wouldn’t know what was coming for them. Shadow looked through the peephole to size up the intruder, only to find a familiar blue color.

He sighed, deeply, before opening the door.

“Hey, Shads-”

“What are you doing here?”

“Great question.” Sonic replied. He held out one of his hands, revealing a heavy envelope with the words To Shadow- Sonic don’t read!

The envelope was open, of course.

“Eggman asked me to play mailman, apparently. Here you go.”

Shadow took the envelope. “Why?”

“Well, you’re gonna have to read it for yourself.” Sonic rubbed the back of his head. “But know that it’s probably some kind of trap. My ‘gifts’ from him usually are.”

“He gives you ‘gifts’?”

“Yeah, he’s weird like that. But hey, Shadow, I mean it. It’s probably a trap. He used a name in there that, um, I don’t think you’d like him using very much.”

Shadow curled his free hand into a tight fist.

“I had Tails look over the communicator he sent with it. He turned off all the location tracking and explosives and stuff, but Eggman will still know your location if you call him on it. If I were you, I’d just throw away the whole thing. He’s probably just trying to get a rise out of you by mentioning you-know-who.”

Shadow looked at Sonic, then back down at the envelope. He then stepped back and began to shut the door, but not before mumbling a brief “thanks.”

He paused by the door, long enough to hear Sonic’s shouted “you’re welcome” from the hallway and long enough to hear him speed off. Then he returned to his rocking chair and tore the letter from the envelope, sending something heavy within it, probably the communicator, tumbling onto the floor. He unfolded the letter.

His grip curled the paper as he read it. He read it again. And again.

He set it on the end table and leaned forward to retrieve the fallen communicator. It was a small red-and-orange device that fit neatly in the palm of his hand. He ran his fingers along the edges of it, though taking care to avoid the button at its base.

Family. Maria had always wanted to know hers better than she did.

He stood up, carrying the communicator with him as he went to the door. After checking the peephole to ensure Sonic wasn’t still somehow waiting out there, (for this seemed to be the type of thing the blue hedgehog would stick around and be irritating about,) he left his apartment and made his way down to the street. Just outside was a park with enough space to gather momentum to get his jet skates going. Very soon after he was on the edge of the city.

He pressed the button at the base of the communicator, and it crackled to life.

“Gah! How many times have I told you not to use this line when I’m in my-”

“Doctor.”

“Shadow? Oh, Shadow! Count me impressed. How’ve you been?” The doctor’s voice lit up on the other end of the line.

“Why did you send me that letter?”

“I’m frankly amazed you got it at all, between Sonic not messing things up as he always does and you not simply throwing it away the moment you got it. I wouldn’t put it past you.”

“Why did you contact me?” Shadow snapped.

“You do know how to read, hmm?”

“Of course I do.”

“Well, then, what do you say? A little ‘family reunion’ to put in the books?”

“How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

“I’m letting you pick the time and location. You could very well set a trap for me and I’d be none the wiser. I also don’t give out my personal line just on a whim, you know. Imagine how much of a pain Sonic would be if he got ahold of it.”

"Then why did you deliver the letter to him first?"

"I don't know where you live. I suppose I could've hacked your employer's database to get your address, but consider the fact that I didn't as a sign of my courtesy and sincere intent."

"Hmph." Shadow couldn't find any fault with that.

“So what restaurant do you want?”

“Restaurant?”

“Yes, yes, for the takeout.”

“I haven’t told you whether I’ve agreed to this or not.”

“Sonic’s particularly fond of a little hot dog stand in Station Square. I know very little about hedgehog diet, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume you have similar taste, yes?”

“I hate chili dogs.”

“Then do tell?”

Shadow sighed. “There’s an asian fusion restaurant on the corner of 5th and Crystal street in Emerald city.”

Rouge had taken him there once and it had been the best food he’d had since, well, everything.

“Ooh, never took you for the type. I’ll go look at the menu. Now, where will we be meeting up for our little chat?”

“Preferably not in public.”

“Yes, preferably! Unless you want the police to be chasing us down the entire time. I’m a wanted man, you know.” The doctor giggled.

Shadow closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “There’s an abandoned GUN base, coordinates 53, 46. I’ll meet you there in three hours.”

He pressed the button on the communicator again to end the call. He used the sun to orient himself before taking off in the direction of the coordinates. He could be there in just under two hours, and that was intentional- being early would allow him to ensure the doctor would be true to his word. He skated towards the mountains on the horizon.

—

He arrived fifteen minutes later than planned, but it still gave him time to catch his breath and inspect the ruins for suspicious activity. This base hadn’t been a large one in the first place, and it had been destroyed during an incident a few years back involving severe worldwide seismic instability. Sonic probably had something to do with that, knowing him, but Shadow did not care to know the details.

He’d learned about this spot after the fact, when he’d been sent to retrieve sensitive data and destroy what remained of the databases. Sunlight streamed down from holes in the concrete ceiling, and tall grass and flowers grew up from between the cracks in the floor. Shadow traced in the shredded walls where he’d spin-dashed into the mainframe once he was done with it.

There were no traps, no bugs, and no civilians. He sat down on a concrete chunk and waited.

A jet engine hummed on the horizon, growing into a roar as it came closer. Shadow stood and jogged outside to catch the doctor’s Eggmobile descending from the sky. Its top cover unfurled, revealing the man himself holding two flimsy white foam takeout trays.

“Doctor.” Shadow greeted.

One of the mobile machine’s walls folded down into a set of steps, and the doctor walked down them.

“You didn’t tell me what to get you, so I picked something at random off the menu.” He grumbled and held one of the trays forward.

Shadow approached. The doctor didn’t react in any nervous manner that could indicate a surprise attack, so he grabbed the tray from him.

“Some place you’ve picked. A bit morbid for the subject matter, don’t you think?”

“It’s isolated.” Shadow turned and entered the ruined base. “Come on, doctor.”

He followed. “‘Doctor’. A bit formal for family, don’t you think?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Then at least call me ‘Ivo’.”

“Very well. . . Ivo.”

The name felt familiar, although he’d never heard anyone in this age call him by that. Shadow settled himself on the concrete chunk he’d claimed, placing his tray on his lap, though he didn’t open it yet.

“So, Maria, hmm?” Ivo held his takeout tray between his hands and sat himself down on a nearby rock. He flicked a bug out of his noodles, before grabbing the fork and taking a bite.

“Get to the point. Tell me what you already know about her.”

“I never knew my cousin. She was only a few years older than I was and she got whisked away to the ARK before I could ever meet her. I assume you might have seen her once or twice up there, eh? That’s why I invited you out here.”

“Gerald was your grandfather.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“Did you know him?”

“Oh, vaguely. Nothing like seeing your grandfather publicly executed on live television to spice things up, right?”

Ivo chortled and slapped his knee. Shadow crossed his arms.

“Now, I wasn’t aware you were a fan of dodging the question, hedgehog. Get to the point. Tell me about Maria.”

“Your family never spoke of her?”

“On the contrary!” Ivo stood up, tray in one hand, the other with a finger pointing toward the sky. “They hardly ever shut up about her.”

“Then why are you asking-”

“‘Oh, poor sick Maria! Such a wonderful little girl she is!’” He turned away and cooed to invisible air. “Maria, Maria, Maria. ‘Ivo, let’s go outside and see if we can see the space station pass over us. That way we can all wave to our wonderful Maria’.”

Shadow stared down at the tray he was holding, clenching it hard enough to crunch the foam in. Ivo had fully turned away from him now, gesturing into empty space as if he were leading a symphony.

“Oh, if only Maria had had more time! She would’ve done such marvelous things. Marvelous things like turning the vacuum into a robot to win first prize in the science fair- except that was me. Or maybe she could’ve automated the kitchen to make our meals for us or our laundry to wash itself, but oh, wait, that was also me.” He slapped his palm against his chest. “But who cares about mean little Ivo? ‘Ivo, quit doing that, Ivo, play nicer, Maria wouldn’t be behaving this way’.”

Shadow dropped the tray from his hands and stood up. He turned for the exit of the ruins, but then Ivo snapped around, pointing a finger directly at him.

“How was I supposed to compete with a dead girl, hmm? You tell me.”

“You’re looking for someone to blame.” Shadow spat.

“I’m- what, no I’m not!”

“I’m not giving you that ammunition. We’re done here.”

Shadow began walking. Once he got clear of the chunks of concrete he’d have enough room to power up his jets and-

“At least take the food with you! I paid for that, ungrateful moron.”

“I’m the ultimate life form. I don’t need to eat.”

“You said this was your favorite restaurant. Come on.”

Shadow stopped, huffed, and turned around. He grabbed the damaged tray from off the ground. A bit of sauce had leaked out from where his grip had torn through the foam. Whatever.

“I’m not blaming anyone. That would imply that I’ve failed, which I have not.” Ivo said.

“You hate her.”

“I don’t hate her. I hardly even know her.”

“You’ve already made up your mind; what’s the difference?”

“It’s not like you’re any better. You still hate everyone you meet regardless of what you know about them, unless you have some undying love to suddenly proclaim about Sonic or something.”

“Not love, but. . . respect.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. Unfortunately.”

“He tends to do that. You’d have to be a fool to not respect him. That’s something I learned the hard way,” Ivo sat back down, “after waking up surrounded by the smoldering wreckage of my own creations a few too many times.”

“So you really think that highly of him?”

“Pfft, no. I suppose if you vastly oversimplify things, then perhaps you could construe it that way- but I digress. If I can respect Sonic, then maybe I can respect my late cousin, but only if you enlighten me. Understand?”

“Very well.” Shadow sat back down.

“And please, don’t let your food get cold while you’re at it.”

Shadow threw a glare his way, before popping off the lid of the takeout tray.

“What was she like, anyway?”

“Nice.”

“Very descript.”

“Kind. Funny, though sometimes annoying. Sick, but you already knew that.”

“Spoiled, no doubt, by all those scientists tending to her beck and call.”

“They didn’t give a damn about her! To them she was one half of the experiment, nothing more. They only wanted results.”

“Oh.”

“They didn’t care how much pain she was in. I was the only one who ever helped her with anything. They saw her only as a nuisance that interfered with project development.”

“You two were close.”

Shadow shut his mouth and stared at the concrete wall just over Ivo’s shoulder.

“You two grew up together, didn’t you?” Ivo asked. “Tell me what that was like.”

“We only had each other. Gerald was hardly of any help.”

“Of course.”

“We would. . . take care of each other.”

“Naturally.”

Shadow paused.

“Well? Keep going, you’re hardly giving me anything to work with here.”

“You said it yourself, doctor. We grew up together.”

“She was like a sister to you.”

He closed his eyes. “Yes.”

“Oh, Chaos. . . that means it really must’ve messed with your head when they shot her in front of you!”

His eyes snapped open.

“That must’ve been terrible! You must have been so angry, having the one you thought of as a sister murdered in cold blood. No wonder you were so enraged when I woke you up.”

“I don’t need your useless pity.”

“Surely it’s bothering you that I’m speaking so plainly about her getting shot?”

“It’s the truth, and as I said, I don’t need your pity!”

“Good thing I’m not terribly interested in giving it.”

Shadow rolled his eyes.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t see that.” Ivo grabbed his fork again and ate another bite of his noodles. He spoke with his mouth full. “And eat your food. It’s cold by now.”

“Whatever.”

“You still haven’t told me hardly anything about her.”

“What more do you need to know?”

“I don’t know! I still can’t get a clear picture of her. She has to be more than ‘nice’.”

“Then ask.”

“What was her ambition? What did she want to do? What grand and glorious thing was she going to accomplish if only she just had more time?”

Shadow looked at him, before looking down at his food. He took a bite. Spicy. A little bitter. Overall edible. He looked back up at the doctor.

“She wanted to see the world.” He said.

“What?”

“She wanted to see the world. We read about all this,” he gestured to the overgrown ruins surrounding them, “in our books, saw the green grass and blue sky in our pictures, but she wanted to see it for real.”

“That can’t be all. Be more specific; tell me exactly what she wanted.”

“She wanted to feel the wind. She wanted to touch the grass.” Shadow shrugged. “She wanted to climb a mountain and see what it was like at the top.”

“That’s it? No greater ambition, nothing?”

“We were kids.”

“That’s no excuse! When I was a kid, I was already dreaming about world domination-”

“I get the distinct feeling you’re the exception, not the norm.”

Ivo crossed his arms. “I’ll ignore that.”

The wind blew through the hollowed-out remains of the base they sat in, creating a small whistle. Shadow turned his ears to listen.

“Was she just. . . not smart enough to want anything more?”

“Say that again and I’ll make sure you won’t live to regret it.”

“Alright, alright! Sheesh. She was a Robotnik, after all, I should have figured.” He made a calming gesture. “I simply find it hard to believe that that was the extent of what she wanted.”

“. . . I suppose she did want to help people.” Shadow closed his eyes. “She cobbled together a low-gravity wheelchair for us to use when either of us had a bad pain day after the tests. She also made a set of greenhouse lights, for us to keep our little plants alive.”

Ivo made a ‘hmph’ noise, but said nothing else.

“We saved the scraps of plants deemed ‘unproductive’ in the greenhouse and tried to grow them ourselves. We kept them on the top shelf of an unused maintenance closet. She built the lights.” Shadow tried to explain more.

“Fascinating.”

He’d heard the doctor use that word in many different contexts before, but this was the first one he could recall that felt genuine.

“What else did she want to build?”

“It was less about the building, for her, and more about helping.” Shadow continued. “She was glued to Gerald’s side whenever something was broken and needed fixing.”

“Just like me, but I bet he found her endearing rather than annoying.”

“Not always.”

“Ah, it’s the Robotnik family values, after all! Use your intellect to serve but never accept help. That’s a formula for a hellish household, in case you weren’t aware.”

“It seems I didn’t get the full experience.” Shadow covered his mouth to suppress a laugh.

“Yes, well, you’re adopted! Mostly. Sort of.”

“Our family is a strange one, it would seem.”

“But at least there’s one thing consistent between you, me, and her.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow to humor him.

Ivo grew quiet. “You know, I want to help people-”

“Not another word.”

The warm feeling in the air between them evaporated. Shadow crossed his arms.

“You didn’t hear what I was going to say! All I’m saying is that if we worked together, then maybe we could fulfill Maria’s dream. I want to build things to help people. Why do you think I’m so hellbent on establishing my empire?”

“You’re trying to manipulate me. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“And what are you doing with your life to make her proud, hmm? Working for the same organization that murdered her?”

“It’s different!” Shadow snapped. “If I am their most lethal agent, then nothing like that will ever happen again. I will ensure it.”

“How terribly naive of you. You really are just a child. Sometimes I forget that.”

“And you are an egoist who can’t see past his own blind ambition. You’re hardly different.”

“Oh, am I?”

“Worse. You’re cruel, only caring about how your little experiments benefit yourself regardless of what they do to your victims. You’re no different from all the other scientists aboard the ARK. She would have hated you.” Shadow put his hand on his chest. “Though that’s just my assumption. She did have a rather strange taste in who she called ‘family’.”

“So you’ll be just like everyone else in the family, then? Judging me by a dead girl?”

“Are you finished?” Shadow stood up. “I’ve given you what you want.”

“I guess we are finished here. Thanks for nothing, you useless rodent.”

Shadow tossed his food on the ground, letting it spill out across the grass. Ivo mirrored the gesture, albeit with his empty tray.

“The feeling is mutual. Let’s not meet again.” Shadow said, before turning to walk away.

“I hope you know what this means, Shadow the Hedgehog! I won’t pull any of my punches should you decide to interfere with any of my future plans!”

“Good, because I won’t pull mine. Goodbye, doctor.”

Shadow dashed from the ruins, firing up his jets to maximum speed as soon as he was clear of them, sending a shock wave ricocheting behind him.

—

“Hey, Shads, just calling to ask if everything went okay. Eggman is certainly a character. He’s already bad enough as it is- I couldn’t imagine actually being related to him, so, like, if you ever need to talk-”

Shadow deleted the voicemail from his inbox as he held the burning letter. The ashes fell to the ground, joining the broken shards of the communicator.

#sonic #sonic the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog #eggman #dr robotnik #fanfiction #sonic frontiers #inspired by the 'i never knew my cousin maria' line #canon is a little fast and loose here- hope that's okay #this is the first fic I've written for the sonic fandom and I think it turned out pretty good!

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