Lightning

Nine had never thought about friendship before, because he was fine without friends. After all, when he was a very small fox, he was always bullied by other children who were older and stronger than him. And all because the young fox had two tails, which was considered a kind of ugliness for others. Later, the two—tailed fox, using his ingenious mind, created an invention for himself that helped him fight hooligans and other enemies — these were seven mechanical tails. Thanks to them, the young inventor could no longer be afraid of his abusers, since they themselves began to be afraid of him after the first application of the invention. And after that, the fox cub began to call himself Nine, since he had nine tails. Nine would have lived alone and on in the New Yoke City, not depending on anyone and obeying the rules of the Council of Chaos, the rulers of this city, if one day he had not met Sonic, a blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speed and arrived from an alternate world… And this meeting changed the life of a fox cub, offended by the whole world, which treated him unfairly… Of course, Nine and Sonic did not meet with open arms, but gradually they began to establish more or less good relations. During his adventures in various universes in search of fragments of a powerful artifact, the Prism of Paradox, Nine became attached to the blue hedgehog, although he was sometimes stupid, talkative and careless, but at the same time he was also kind, brave and loyal, especially to his friends, one of whom was the nine-tailed young fox. After saving all the worlds, including his own, Sonic, along with his friends, or more precisely, from his world, it was necessary to return home, which means that the blue hedgehog will never see all those friends that he acquired in traveling through the multiverse. Sonic was barely holding back tears as he said goodbye to his new friends, including Nina. At parting, the hedgehog then said to the fox: “You were a wonderful friend, Nine, and I will never forget you. It was great traveling with you. And I am very glad that I met you. Who knows, maybe someday you will meet my alternate version, another Sonic who will need your help, as you once did in me …” And then Sonic waved his hand, leaving through the portal home… After that, Nine never saw him again… 5 years have passed since that extraordinary journey. A lot has changed in New Yoke City during this time. First, the Chaos Council was arrested and all its members were behind bars. Secondly, the new head of the city was Rebel Rouge, along with his faithful assistant, the right hand Renegade Knucks. Together with the new ruler, the city changed for the better: there were no longer those strict and harsh rules and laws, and trees and many other plants that the Council had destroyed long ago began to appear in the city. And the life of Nain itself has become better: most of them knew him as a hero and a loyal ally of the rebels, one of the defeated tyrants. But despite all this, the young prodigy felt… lonely? Yes, they stopped mocking him, he was a famous hero, but the fox sometimes felt a little unhappy. Maybe it was all about Sonic, who offered him something more than you can imagine — a sincere and wonderful friendship. After all, no one wanted to know him before, and then a friend appeared who was ready for anything for him… Nine, although he was a genius, but he did not understand what was happening to him inside… And it looked like he missed Sonic, although he was well aware that he would not see anyone else like that… You just have to put up with it… But what exactly the fox cub did not expect was to receive an unexpected gift from fate itself… That’s how it was…

***

Nine was returning home then. It was late in the evening. Clouds were gathering in the sky. When suddenly the fox noticed that a crowd of teenagers was mocking someone, someone who was smaller and weaker. Nine involuntarily recalled his childhood incident. He felt anger towards the hooligans and immediately headed towards them. Previously, he would have tried to pass by so that he wouldn’t get hurt either. But meeting Sonic changed him, a little. Now he simply could not stand aside if someone needed help, and he could be able to provide it. — Hey, you! Stop it! — he shouted to the bullies. — Is that what you’re telling us? — asked one of the hooligans, who was bigger than the others. — Well, and to whom else, if not to you stupid people? — the fox smiled maliciously. — What did you say? Now you’re going to get it from me, pipsqueak! — the bully was about to go and teach the “upstart” a lesson, but one of his friends stopped him: — Stop! I know this guy! It’s better not to mess with him, believe me! — Do you think I should be afraid of some nerd? Now I’ll show him where the crayfish hibernate, — the teenager began to stretch his hands, clicking his knuckles. — Whatever you say. I warned you,” his friend said, and then hurried away from the scene of the upcoming fight. — And now we’ll take care of you, — and the big guy rushed at the fox, but he grinned and pressed the button on his belt, as a result of which additional tails appeared behind him, with the help of which the prodigy gave the bully blows and punches. — Giving up? Nine asked, holding the leader of the gang with his mechanical tails and bringing another fur tail in front of his muzzle. — What are you standing for, fools? Help me! — he ordered them, but the other hooligans looked fearfully at the fox cub. — Not. We pass, — one of them replied, and then, with cries of “Mom!”, they ran away. — Cowards! The big man shouted back at them, and then fell silent when Nine reminded him of himself. — So what? — the inventor impatiently demanded an answer, and the bully, nervously swallowing, screamed: — I give up! I give up! Just let me go! — Will you promise that you and your friends will never hurt the little and weak again? — I swear by my mother’s health that we won’t do this anymore. — Good, — Nine said, and threw the bully into the fence wall. — And now get out! The second time the bully did not need to be repeated, and he ran so fast that his heels sparkled. Then Nine caught a movement out of the corner of his ear, and he turned around. He didn’t see anyone, but he knew perfectly well that someone had managed to hide and was still here. He went to the boxes, which seemed very suspicious to the teenager. There was clearly someone hiding under one of them. — Hey, you can come out, — Nine called. — Those assholes are already gone, you have nothing to be afraid of. — G-gone?.. — suddenly a squeaking voice came, and the boy saw that someone was looking out from under the old box. — Yes. They’re gone. You can come out,” he replied, kneeling down to be on a level with the interlocutor. — Thank you, sir, but I… I think I’ll stay here… — and the stranger lowered the box, deciding to hide completely under it. — Why would you stay there? Get out, — Nine took hold of the edge of the box, lifting it slightly. — N-no… Don’t come any closer… P-please… — a thin squeaking voice was heard. — I… I’m afraid… — Who? — the nine-tailed one did not understand and then put the box aside. Then lightning flashed, and Nine was amazed at who he saw. In front of him was a hedgehog with a blue color and green eyes. — Sonic? — he asked in shock. The kid himself was no less shocked, looking at the fox, or more precisely, at his tails. In the bright light, the nine-tailed seemed very creepy. — Aaaaaah! The monster! — the hedgehog shouted and quickly ran up to the box, under which he immediately hid and trembled with fear. Nine himself was trying to recover after analyzing the situation. “This hedgehog… He’s the spitting image of Sonic! However… He’s not Sonic either… So it turns out that this “Sonic” is from my world? Then it’s not surprising that I couldn’t meet him much earlier, because at that time he wasn’t even born,” — he reflected, glancing at the trembling box. — Don’t come near! No! The hedgehog squeaked as soon as Nine put the box aside again. — Please! Don’t touch me! I don’t need any problems! — Calm down! No one will touch you! — Nina expressed somewhat sharply, which he regretted, because at that moment the baby shrank into a ball and began to cry. The fox cub sighed. He was so used to being alone that he didn’t know how to be gentle and friendly. Even though he once had Sonic with him, Nine was still quite detached. But after looking at the sky, the teenager decided to calm the baby down as soon as possible and return home before the rain and thunderstorm started. —Um… sorry if I scared you, kid. I just want to help you,” the hedgehog stopped crying, although he was still sniffling, but Nine realized that he was going in the right direction, so he continued to speak as gently and calmly as he could. But trust me, I don’t want to hurt you. And you know… I understand what it’s like when you don’t trust anyone. But a friend told me to learn to open up to other people in order to get to know them better, after which they will also open up to me in response. Trust is a complicated thing, I know. But sometimes there is no way in life without this… — the baby listened attentively to the teenager and gradually unfolded from the protective ball. — So what… Will you let me help you? Nine offered his hand to help him up. The hedgehog hesitated at first, but then he took the fox cub by the hand, and he helped him to his feet. — What’s your name, kid? — L…L… Ligh… Nine, although he agreed to help, but he still did not like the whining and sentimentality. — Can I be a little louder and clearer? — he demanded. — Lightning! — the little one shouted, and then shuddered in fright, fearing the wrath of the fox. — My… my name is Lightning… — he repeated embarrassedly and looked away. — Lightning, huh? Nine chuckled slightly, and at the same moment lightning flashed. The baby squeaked in fright and curled up into a ball again. — It’s strange that you haven’t chosen the name “Tangle” or “Ball” or even “Coward” yet. — I have a normal name! I’m Lightning! — the hedgehog was indignant. Something, and the kid will not tolerate mockery. — And I didn’t just invent it for myself, do you understand? — Yeah? And why do you call yourself that? — the fox was curious. — Because I can run fast! “Oh, right… He’s a Sonic doppelganger… How could I forget about it… I shouldn’t have doubted about this kid…” — the inventor reflected. — Well, more precisely… I’m not running very fast yet… — Lightning corrected, but then immediately added. — But I will definitely learn to run very fast! And I will soon be able to even run around the whole city in an hour! No, in a minute! — he declared enthusiastically. Nine rolled his eyes. — Okay, so be it. I’ll take your word for it. Where is your home, will I take you there? After the question, the hedgehog froze in a stupor. — You… remember where your house is, right? — The fox asked him again, but Lightning was still silent, tears welled up in his eyes. — Do you know where you live? And what about your parents? — I… I don’t know… — the hedgehog roared again, covering his muzzle with his hands. Nine was confused. Well, what do you want to do with a child who does not know where his home and parents are? What should he do? And then, as luck would have it, it began to rain. “Shine! Now I’m going to get wet to the thread… If it wasn’t for this little one, I would have been at home, dry and warm for a long time,” — thought Nine, growling softly. He turned to the hedgehog. He continued to cry, as if he did not notice the water falling from the sky at all. The young kitsune did not know what to do in this situation. On the one hand, he also helped the child, saving him from bullies, which means that everything else about the hedgehog is not his problem, but on the other hand, his conscience did not allow him to leave the baby in this case. “I can’t believe I might have to say this…” — flashed through his mind, and then the teenager sighed heavily. — Come with me, kid. Wait out the rain at my place. And then we’ll see what to do with you, — he called to Lightning dryly. The man looked at him uncertainly. — Do you need a special invitation? Are you coming with me or do you want to keep getting wet in the rain? —I’m sorry, — Lightning mumbled.… I’ve never walked with strangers… Especially if they scare me… — he barely uttered the last words, but Nine heard it anyway. —Are you afraid… of me? Heh. I didn’t think I’d ever hear something like that. They used to call me a freak because of my two tails… — he replied dismissively. —No… no… that’s not what scares me… — the hedgehog continued. — You were very scary when… When you beat that big guy with your iron tentacles… — Oh, you mean that! — now Nine understood. — Actually, these are also my tails, and they are not iron, but mechanical. You can thank them, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have saved you. — So… You won’t hurt me with these glands… That is, mechanical tails?.. — No. I’ve already told you, — the fox repeated. — And let’s decide already quickly, before we get completely wet, — at the same time he hurried him. —Then… if you really don’t mind, then I’ll… go with you… — Lightning finally agreed. And at the same second, lightning flashed again, and the hedgehog clung to Nina out of fear, which he was obviously surprised at, but nevertheless did not push away from himself. — Sorry… — the kid apologized again when he calmed down a little. — I can’t help myself when I see lightning. — Nothing. In the end, everyone has the right to be afraid of something, — Nine unexpectedly answered, but after that he became serious. — Okay, let’s go already, — and he took the boy’s hand, with a rather careful and gentle touch. — Thank you again, sir, — Lightning said, smiling slightly at the teenager. — You’re welcome,— the fox cub said. — You’ll excuse me again, but… what should I call you?.. —Nine, — he said shortly. — Nine?.. And why do you have such a name?.. — Because I have so many tails. — Wow! How many! And there are nine of them? — the boy was amazed. — Do you doubt it?.. — No, no. Just nine is a lot… And I don’t know how to count up to so much… — I see. — But I’m glad I met you, Mr. Nine! — Thanks again! After his words, Nina even felt a little better at heart. He even smiled involuntarily. However, then he reminded himself that he only took the baby to himself for a short time, so you should not get too used to his company. — Don’t mention it. And just call me… Nine. — All right, Nine. And the fox and the hedgehog continued their journey in complete silence, but in a good mood, despite the heavy rain and thunderstorm.