𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑: 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕤

      And our Shadow at that time was still sitting in that cave and crying, when suddenly he heard someone’s woman’s screams. Having stopped crying, he stood up out of curiosity and decided to look around to see who was screaming like that. She-naga Amy Rose ran out from behind the bushes and accidentally ran into Shadow, crashing into him. Having met him, she was even more frightened and almost stuttered. — E. What's the matter? — having stopped crying, he asked her a little calmly, wiping his tears. — Why did you scream so much and run away from someone like a huge monster, did you see more of yourself? — the nigina was still silent and trembling. She didn't even know how to explain to him or ask for forgiveness for accidentally bumping into him. Striped looked at her and noticed sword scars on her left shoulder and right palm. — Who hurt you like that? — he asked her, but she still stuttered with fear. Shadow lightly took her by the shoulders and asked: — Why are you silent? Say something! — It's not my fault! Sorry, Shadow! I didn't mean to bump into you. A two-tailed fox with a sword attacked me there and almost killed me, and I just wanted to eat those children. — she barely said, took a breath and almost cried herself. Shadow, of course, understood who him were talking about. It was his Tails who attacked her. And most importantly, he attacked her for a reason, but protected the children from her, as she explained. Without a doubt, it was his Tails. That is, he returned here and is probably looking for him. So he cares that he loves him? — Thank you. — he politely thanked the pink snake and walked past her to the same place where she ran out from. Naginya sighed with relief and fainted. Shadow himself began to crawl and call to Tails: — TA-A-AILS!!! TA-A-AILS!!! TA-A-AILS, WHERE ARE YOU??? TA-A-AILS!!! Having found a fork in several paths, Shadow began to think: — "So! If I were Tails and stood at a fork like this, where would I go?” — Having thought about it, he came up with nothing but to crawl to the right. He crawls, looks around and looks for Tails himself.

***

      The children and adult Tails from another world, having collected enough berries, were going to drag them, but the basket was so large and heavy that even little Tails could not lift it. Only the adult slightly helped his younger self, for he was bigger and stronger. On the way, Luz Bucket himself crawled past them, who did not notice the children with that Tails and did not even pay attention to them. More precisely, he stopped for a second and sniffed, but then waved his hand, deciding that he might already be imagining it. Or is it just that in this world, again, some alternative version of it also smells. Ignoring Tails' scent, he crawled on. — Who is this? Sammy asked, pointing his finger at that purple naga. — It is he! — Tails answered, narrowing his gaze and took out his sword, leaving the baskets in place. — Who is he? — Benny asked, not understanding. — Luz Bucket. — answered adult Tails. — The same one? — Little Tails was a little scared. — Yes. — the adult confirmed and followed him. — What are you going to do with him? — Nelly didn’t understand. — I chased him between worlds for a long time, so much so that I almost went crazy. It's time to put an end to this. If I don’t stop him this time and try to persuade him, then I will behead him and take revenge for the fact that he killed my parents. — the adult fox just said out loud, when suddenly, to his surprise, the words of the sorcerer flashed through his head: — “Your naga scorpion, whom you chase across many worlds. He killed your real parents. Sooner or later... You will succumb to revenge, just like me, Tails. By allowing the thirst for revenge to cloud your mind, you will become just like... And... Me.” Remembering these words, he froze in place, then shook his head, trying to throw away these memories and moved on. I didn’t even really say goodbye to the children. The hedgehogs and the little fox looked at each other and, after talking, decided to go with him. Benny was perhaps against it and offered to take the berries home first. Tails convinced him that their new friend and his life were now more important than some berries. They must accompany him at least a little and help him so that he is safe and does not die himself, and only then they will deliver the berries home. Sammy agreed with young Tails and everyone ran after the adult version of Tails. — TAILS, WAIT!!! — his young version shouted to him, to which he stopped and turned around. — What's wrong? — You and I will go. — Sammy replied. Adult Tails thought about it and answered briefly: — No. The hedgehogs and the young fox looked at each other questioningly. — What do you mean no? — Tiny asked. — Is it dangerous! You may die. I already saved you from that crazy pink snake, but it wasn’t enough for that big purple guy to eat you... Or crush you... Or do something worse to you... I don’t want you suffered through my fault just like my Shadow. — Danger? Ha! We laugh in the face of danger! — Tiny answered. — Besides. Maybe we want to thank you somehow for your help! And the second one! — Sammy explained. — And we’ll save you from a similar fate!” — What if you die? I don't want to risk your lives. — Drop it! We have already been on the verge of death. Therefore, death will no longer scare us. — Little Tails explained. — Please, if you don’t believe my brothers and sisters, then at least believe me! Let us go with you! We will not be a burden for you and will not cause inconvenience. — Even though I still don’t trust you, but... — said Benny and then shouted: — WE WILL NOT LET YOU GO ALONE!!! Adult Tails bulged his eyes in fear, not expecting such a cry from a child. He thought for a while, looked around, sighed and said: — Fine! The main thing is to stay close to me and don’t lag behind! And the Children followed the adult Tails, who in turn followed Luz.

***

      Sonic and Sally, sitting at home, began to suspect that something must have happened to the children again, since they were not returning home. They seemed to promise to return home quickly with berries, but they never returned. Beginning to worry about them, they decided to look for them, going into the forest, leaving the house empty.

***

      Shadow at this time continued to still look for Tails. The further and deeper he crawled along that path, the more bizarre became the plants and animals that he came across on the sides along the way. Some trees were gigantic, so it seemed as if he had shrunk to the size of a man, and some bushes were large and very branchy. A lizard with dragonfly wings even flew past his face, to his surprise. — “What a strange forest in this world! Just dampness, mosquitoes, and even strange crossed species of animals. You almost never see anything like this in our world.” — he thought and crawled further. Soon Shadow reached a huge house, which in appearance somewhat resembled a large hill, in which they set up housing. This house somehow reminded him of his house from his world. Just from the cave and on top of the largest hill. Of course, it was rude to enter the house without an invitation, but there was nothing to be done. He needs to find Tails, wherever he is hiding. Shadow knocked on the door. — Is anyone home? — he asked, but there was no answer. Apparently there was no one at home. He was even convinced of this when he briefly looked through the window. — Nobody? Perhaps they went on business? Crawling further along another path, he crawls and crawls. — Where are you, Tails? Give me a sign! Send at least any news!

***

      Sonic and Sally did not find their children, except for the baskets that were full of berries. — This is even stranger. The baskets are filled with berries and are in place, but the children themselves have disappeared somewhere. Something is wrong here. — Sonic suggested, scratching the back of his head. — What if one of our people attacked them again and ate them? — Sally was scared, clutching her cheeks, imagining the horror of how they were attacked by Shadow, Knuckles, or perhaps the same Amy. — Don't say that, Sally. My heart feels that they are here somewhere and that they are still alive. Suddenly they heard someone rustling from behind the trees and looked there. Shadow himself came out from there. He saw a blue snake hedgehog with a chipmunk and smiled, deciding that they might help him find Tails, crawled up and raised his right hand and said: — Hello. Tell me, have you seen a two-tailed fox here? — “Is he talking about Tails?” — Sonic and Sally thought at the same time about the same thing, a little scared for the children. — “He wants to eat our Tails and the rest of the hedgehogs?” The blue naga was filled with anger and bristled with anger, deciding that the children were in great danger, since Shadow was looking for them to eat. Even Sally got angry and hissed through her teeth: — Why are you stalking our children again, Shadow? — she asked, baring her fangs. — Children? What are you speaking about? And how do you know my name? — Shadow himself did not understand. — Don't take us for fools, monster! — Sonic hissed and was the first to attack the striped hedgehog, knocking him to the ground. He only tried to defend himself, but did not fight back, and Sonic himself only grabbed him by the arms and held him there, hissing through his teeth, but tried not to hurt him, so as not to become fully as cruel and evil as their Shadow. The real Shadow from this world was hiding in the bushes at that time, noticing his second self and decided to hide for now in order to spy on them. Did he really not understand what a nag who looked like him was doing here? Where does he come from and why doesn't he try to use chaos control to break out from under him? — Buddy, what are you doing? Cool down! I do not understand what are you talking about. I'm just looking for my friend, my Tails. Sonic's eyes widened and he froze. — What are you talking about? — Sonic asked, deciding to listen to him. Sally stood next to him, looking suspiciously at that Shadow. The latter explained everything to them.

Exactly an hour later

— And then Tails and I split up and went our separate ways in this world. I hid in a cave, trying to get my thoughts in order, and then went to look for him. On the one hand, everything that he explained to them, especially about that naga-scorpion Luz Bucket, who was not in their world at all and who had never been met, sounded like the ravings of a madman. However, the fact that this Shadow did not resist them and fight back, much less did not use Chaos control like their Shadow, plus, unlike their Shadow, he is not so cruel and vengeful, but rather calm and a little scared himself, was proof that this is all true. Apparently they got excited and made a mistake, confusing him with their Shadow. Realizing this, Sonic and Sally calmed down, and their Shadow, who was still hiding in the bushes and watching them, of course heard all this. He was even curious that this was his double from an alternative reality, since he, unlike him, was so polite and calm. Sonic smiled, stood up first, extended his hand to him and helped him up, and then shook off the dust. — Forgive us for thinking and attacking you. We thought you were our Shadow. He is so angry, vengeful and cruel. He hates our children and wants to eat them. Among our children was our Tails. We thought you wanted to find our Tails and eat him. — Sally explained, and the other Shadow, hiding in the bushes, only smiled sarcastically and nodded his head, as if answering their questions. — Nothing. I understand. Any alternative version of us from some other world cannot always be good or bad. — that Shadow answered them, whom Sonic and Sally listened to. He looked down and noticed baskets of berries. — I assume this is yours? — Yes. That is, these are our's children's. They went to pick berries, but never returned. — Sonic explained. — We are worried about them! Where could they be? — Sally almost cried. — Don't worry, miss. I'm sure they'll be fine. — Shadow reassured her, placing his hand on her shoulder. — Surely my Tails himself has already found your children and is protecting them. He is strong and brave, and even armed with a samurai sword. He can handle it while we stand here and chat. I'm actually a little worried about him myself. Where is he now? — We’ll help you find him, Shadow. — Sonic himself reassured him and took a couple of baskets. — Just first help us deliver the baskets of berries home so they don’t get lost or stolen. — Certainly. — the striped hedgehog-snake agreed, he also took a couple of baskets, and Sally took the last ones and they crawled home. Another Shadow, hiding in the bushes and watching them without them noticing him, decided to follow them. — “So this other me is not here alone, but with my fox, who is still brave and a fighter?” — he thought on the way. — "So. I’ll have to visit him sometime!”