(Sonic's POV)

Here we are at the lobby of the academy that looks like a banquet or a gala; Espio sure knows how make a party a few hours ago. Silver looks excited to hear food on the table and he went to eat. Typical man he is with a brain of psychic abilities.

I saw mom and my siblings here; I guess Espio must've invited them here.

"Sonic! My brave boy!" Mom grabbed me into a hug.

"Oh Mom." I hugged her back.

"Bro, your ears are gone. Manic wasn't kidding." Sonia said and saw no human ears on me.

"They are up here." I pointed at my new ears.

"Cool, are those cat ears?" Sonia wondered.

"No, they are hedgehog ears." I said.

"Whoa, they look real than those fake animal ear headbands. Can you move them?" Sonia asked.

"Well yeah." I made my ears flap.

"Cute." Sonia giggled.

"My blue star, you saved us all. Your father would be so proud of you." Mom hugged me again.

"Yeah, he sure would be. But he would also be proud that my team aided me." I said.

"Of course. And Zavok is dead from what I heard." Mom said.

"It's true." I nodded.

Then I noticed Robotnik having some eggs on a small plate. Kinda late to have eggs when it's not morning. Whatever, not my business. I see Shadow talking to that starlian woman that saved us from Zavok. She even revealed her real eyes that were like the color of the daylight sky.

(Shadow's POV)

"I wanna thank you Nebula for helping us out at Zavok's place." I thanked Nebula.

"You're welcome Shadow. It's my duty to aid people in danger after all." Nebula said.

"You starlians sure know about feelings and you don't hide your emotions like your people." I said, getting a drink of grape juice.

"It's better to do so than act like an empty shell." Nebula said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It's better to show your true self than hiding your pain." Nebula said.

I stopped drinking my juice when she said something familiar about my inner pain that I've been hiding for a long time.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Starlians can read feelings." Nebula said.

I inhaled slowly to calm down for a bit before saying something, "Everyone knows what happened to Planet Mobius 93. I'm sure you have too." I said, walking up to the window with her.

"Yes. The planet was a big blow to the galactic alliance of Mobius. It still hurts in my own memory seeing it happen, the planet exploding left a mental scar." Nebula said.

"I felt the same way. But can't change the past. If I did, I wouldn't have these." I said, pointing at my ears above my head.

"Nor would Zavok or his team be defeated." Nebula said.

"And we would all be dead too. Unless you were able to defeat them in an alternative timeline." I chuckled at the thought of it.

"Mostly no because I wouldn't have elements from your teammates. True, my people did save our home planet from the Deadly Six but we all lost most of our people. The starlian soldiers were very brave to sacrifice themselves to save the planet." Nebula said.

"I'm sorry to hear that." I gave Nebula a comforting hug.

"Thanks, Shadow. And I'm also sorry that you lost your home planet a long time ago. But look where fate brought you. Your teammates are like a family to you. Family doesn't come from being related, it can also come from friends and anyone. You and Amy aren't related but you treat her like a sister." Nebula hugged back.

"Yes. I just hope I can work on my relationship with Sonic and Silver." I said.

"You still have a little arrogance in you, right?" Nebula asked.

"Of course. But I can't lose them too." I admitted.

Nebula put her hand on my chest like she's feeling something, "You're scared, aren't you? You fear of losing those that mean a lot to you?"

"Yes. This team brought a new light to me." I said.

"Like a star. You also fear of losing Amy, do you? She means the world to you." Nebula said.

"Yes, she does because I'm her big brother and I care about her well-being" I said.

"Great. Families and friends are always there for each other." Nebula said and we looked through the window again.

(Silver's POV)

"So, a nurse and a fire dancer? Seems like we have different elements." I said, eating some cupcakes with Blaze.

"Yeah, I've started with fire dance at an early age, that's where I got my name. It's really Blasie but Blaze sounds more catching." Blaze said.

"I see. Fire can have a bit of beauty in it. My real name is Silvester but my friends call me Silver because my hair shines like metal and silver. So, they call me Silver. Or was until my hair grew longer." I said, shyly that my long hair is attracting the alien girls.

"It sure looks nice." Blaze said.

"Thanks, yours too." I blurted out, "Oops did I said that loud?"

"In a clumsy way but very charming at what you said." Blaze chuckled.

"Heh, but what I said was an accident and a clumsy way, but it was the truth actually at what I said, even if it was clumsy." I said shyly.

"I understand Silver." Blaze replied.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you, forgive me." I held out my hand to levitate the fruit punch drink and moved it to Blaze.

"Apology accepted, psychic boy." Blaze smirked and took the drink, "And I see you got full control of your powers"

"Yeah, scary from the beginning but fun to play around with it for a week." I said.

"Great. I hope there's more adventures to come." Blaze said.

"I hope so too. Me and my teammates are the only four humans with powers." I said.

"If I had powers it would be pyrokinesis." Blaze said.

"Maybe if that deity nebula cloud can grant you one." I chuckled and sip my drink.

"Who knows." Blaze shrugs.

(Sonic's POV)

Here I am with Amy near the window having some delicious food and I finally found chili dogs, my favorite. Some say that eating them too much can get a person very ill and mostly food sickness.

"Never get tired of those?" Amy asked.

"Nope, like I've said, the spicier the better." I said.

"Do you ever get worried that your belly will look like you're pregnant?" Amy asked.

"Sometimes but with my speed, my metabolism will take care of that and make sure my belly doesn't carry a fat grease baby monster." I joked around and still keep eating.

"You better stay in great shape to prevent that, speed boy." Amy laughed and ate her salad.

After finishing the chili dog, I wiped my mouth with tissue. "And I will Amy. That's what I do."

"How long have you been a chili dog fan for a food?" Amy asked.

"Well, since I was two. Dad introduced them to me." I said.

"Does your sibling eat that?" Amy wondered.

"Sonia dislikes them. She thinks it's bad for our digestion." I said.

"And your brother?" Amy asked.

"Nope, he prefers sandwiches than a chilidog." I said.

"Well, any adventure awaits us one day." Amy held my hand.

"Next time there's an alien predator that eats humans like us, let's not get our asses eaten because I was almost eaten by a lava dinosaur on Crisis City planet." I said, drinking soda.

"Yes but no more sacrifices." Amy said.

"You scared that if I die, I'll haunt you?" I chuckled at this crazy joke.

"I'm serious. You realize how long it took for me to heal after losing Maria!" Amy was obviously not joking.

"And how long did you heal when I came back and not dead?" I asked.

"It didn't take long." Amy said.

"Exactly, Amy. And here I am alive and not a zombie." I said with my cocky tone.

"Silly boy." Amy lightly punched my shoulder.

"What? Am I sparkly attractive?" I playfully let my minor bio electricity flow around me like sparks.

"Heh, annoyingly handsome." Amy giggled and kissed my cheek.