Hi everyone! So, as I said in the last chapter, I have 5 more one-shots (including this one), and they're all going to be in the same theme: post-apocalyptic. I got the inspiration earlier this year when I played some game with my uni friends (idr the game sorry) but I was able to create 5 scenarios with it and I've been hella excited to write them!

This is just a little note that the rest of my uploads this year are all gonna be post-apocalyptic themed, so if you don't like this kind of story, I'm very sorry, but you don't have to read them ^^ and I'll be back to requests next year (at some point-)

Anyway that's all, enjoy the story!

Warning: Mild Gore

The sky was grey, clouded with the dust that had been kicked up from yet another building collapsing in the distance. The sun hid behind a blanket of clouds, threatening to bring rain, but not daring to touch the abandoned city. The streets were empty, plant life forcing its way through the pathways, crawling up along the pillars of buildings.

Some cars sat here or there, doors left open, already raided by whoever had gotten to them first. Animals crossed the street without a care in the world, nothing was going to come out of nowhere and hit them, not like the past. Their only fear now, were the hunters that roamed the city streets, the people that hid in decaying buildings. Those that stayed learnt how to survive, how to hunt. The weak couldn't last in this deserted town, so those that were deemed so were sent out to fend for themselves elsewhere.

Of the handful that stayed, a silver hedgehog and (f/c) (a/t) decided that they would stay together but isolate themselves from the others. The destruction of this city had done something to their comrades, had turned them wild, insane, and the two felt safer away from everyone else.

The day was bleak once again, the (a/t) sneaking through a large convenience store. The electricity had gone out over a month ago, so the isles were dark, allowing other creatures to lurk and stalk. Any food that needed freezing was already gone, what was left had gone rotten, flies buzzing around the bagged vegetables no one wanted to pick up.

Most of the shelves were picked clean as well, aside from inedible herbs and spices, cleaning products, anything that wasn't seen as important to those running wild. Of course, people only took as much as they could carry, so there were still a few things here and there, a bag of nuts, some tinned pineapple, unsalted pretzels, you get the picture.

The (a/t) worked her way through the aisles, grabbing anything that could be feasted on. When she moved on to the isle with packaged nuts, she did her best to keep her eyes on the shelves, ignoring the still, bloated body slumped below the hanging bags. She had seen it once before, having not expected to see such a sight, and though her eyes avoided it, her mind could still picture the swollen neck, the bloodshot eyes, the open bag of nuts that had caused a rash around their muzzle and bare hands.

A shiver ran down her spine as she grabbed the last plastic bag of food and beelined away as quickly as her legs would walk. That was one of the heavier problems of their current situation, a lot of people couldn't survive like this. The (a/t) and her silvery friend barely managed to get by as it was, they were thinking of shipping out and looking for something better, surely the rest of the world couldn't be like this.

"(Y/N)?" The (a/t)'s ears twitched to her name and she turned her gaze down to the next isle. A smile pulled at her muzzle and she headed over to her friend.

"Silver, find anything good?" She stood in front of a silver hedgehog, his golden eyes seemed to shine with excitement.

"I found some medication." He said, holding up some damaged boxes and bottles, "And I looked under the shelves and found a huge packet of Doritos!"

He held the red bag up proudly, his smile wide on his face. The (a/t)'s tail wagged in excitement, it had been a long time since they had eaten anything so junky. It wouldn't keep them full long, but the two were smart with their food now, this packet could last a week or two between the two. That is, if the flavour doesn't get to them.

"What did you find?" The hedgehog asked, lowering the bag. His eyes then found her hand and his ears lowered, "Are you alright?"

"Peachy." (Y/N) said, eyeing the bag of nuts, "I avoided it but..."

Silver stepped forward, the medication and chips floating in a turquoise aura as he set his now free hand over hers,

"It's okay. Once we get enough food, we'll leave this place." He said, doing his best to sound encouraging.

"Why didn't we leave sooner...?" The (a/t) asked, her ears lowered now, "We could be living normal lives for all we know if we had left earlier."

"We don't know that." Silver said, shaking his head, "It could be worse out there, a dystopia left behind by Eggman. There could be another Robotropolis, and if we just waltz on in, we could be captured and..."

(Y/N) raised her (e/c) eyes to meet his, before nodding slowly in understanding. Though she still felt like they needed to take the risk. Anywhere had to be better than here. It was lonely and creepy, and becoming more dangerous every day.

"I just want to see an open field..." She said, casting her gaze over the dull shop, "I want to see the wind in the grass, making the flowers dance... Maybe come across a rose bush. I haven't seen a rose since my garden died..."

Silver watched his friend sadly, knowing how much time and effort the (a/t) had put into her little garden. It had sat outside her house, vibrant and lively. And then there was the explosion, and everything died within a few days. As much as nature had taken over the city, no flowers ever spung.

The hedgehog wished to see the same thing. Flowers, colour, butterflies, and bees drifting between the vast, open fields, totally at peace and unaware of the events of the world. It was something he aspired to see, and hopefully when they leave the city, they'll see it soon.

"Hey," He said, lifting her chin with a finger, "From where I'm standing, I can see a single beautiful rose."

The (a/t)'s cheeks turned red and she stepped back, rubbing her arm. Silver chuckled lightly, before nodding his head to the front of the building,

"Come on, let's go." He said, leading the (a/t) out into the messy suburb.

The two scavenged through a few more shops, taking anything that would count as food and medication, before they then set off to find as many bottles of water as possible, even empty ones they'd hopefully be able to fill along the way. Soon enough both had large bags on their backs, and the two were ready to brave the unknown, whether they were sure of what was out there or not.

Giving each other a wary smile, the two left the city behind. Any other scavengers stayed hidden, but the two could feel their eyes on them. It was unnerving, knowing people were watching them leave, knowing this was the usual send off for people that didn't belong here, never to be seen again. But as they crossed the long since disappeared border of the city, the two could feel nothing but a weightless shift on their shoulders.

This was it; they were going to make lives on their own, on their own terms. No ruined city was going to control their every move. It was rather exciting to the two as the city disappeared behind them, smiles started to spread out on their muzzles.

"What do you think we'll find?" (Y/N) finally asked after a long silence, they had been walking for a while now.

"Hopefully, what we hope and dream." Silver said, lifting his eyes to the still grey sky, now clouds instead of dust, "A large open field, with flowers and nature everywhere. I'm sick of dystopian cities."

"Understandable." The (a/t) nodded, giving him a nudge, "Think we'll set up a base or something if we find a field? Maybe even a home?"

Silver's cheeks turned red at the thought, though he nodded, "I was thinking about that. If we can find somewhere beautiful enough, I'd love to try and love there. It will take a lot of hard work, and we'll have to resort to hunting for food, maybe farming, and no electricity, but I'm honestly used to most of that."

"Good thing I know a thing or two about farming." (Y/N) chuckled, "But yeah, I think it would be wise to set up a home somewhere safe, let the world go by without us. It would be like we're frozen in time."

"Yeah..." The hedgehog said, mind wandering as he gazed at the sky, "Would you be okay with that? Living with me?"

The (a/t) turned her eyes onto the other, seemingly surprised by the question, "Do you think I would have mentioned it if I wasn't?"

Silver cracked a small smile, rubbing his head, "Yeah, good point."

The two kept walking, trekking the land for hours, having a break now and then to munch on a quick snack or drink some bottled water. But for the most part, they tried to keep moving. The further they got, the sooner they'd find somewhere safe. At the moment it was just open fields, but more for cattle, no flowers to be seen, and the grass was tall, dry and yellow.

The two spoke for most of the day, already planning how they'd build a little cottage. It slowed their travelling down just a bit, but neither were bothered as they built mental blueprints of their now dream home. It seemed to give the two a boost, as they walked long into the night, determined to make their dreams a reality.

The night sky started to clear the further they got, and finally the moon started to light their way. The road beneath them became more visible, and Silver managed to dodge a pothole before he tripped over it. Another silence took hold of the two, as both watched the sky. Stars sparkled as far as the eye could see, a wispy white fog dragging across the horizon. The moon was large and nearly full, beckoning the two to continue their way. It was breathtaking, and the two could only gawk at such a sight. This was no longer visible in the city, with all the dust and things in the air.

However, after just a bit longer, (Y/N) started to get tired, complaining about her feet being sore. The two stopped for a bit, giving them both a chance to have a break. Though Silver wanted to keep going, (Y/N) was adamant on resting. They had been on their feet since they left, and she was close to collapsing then and there.

The silvery hedgehog then came up with an idea.

"What if I carried you?" He asked, "You can rest, sleep if you must, and I can fly us both."

(Y/N) rubbed her chin at the idea, a look of concern flashed in her eyes, "But won't that be a strain on your powers? And how would you carry me, and the two bags?"

"Don't worry about it." The hedgehog waved his hands, "If I get tired, I'll stop and rest too. I just want to get as far as possible, okay?"

The (a/t) still seemed unsure, holding her arm once again, before letting out a sigh. Her ears laid forward as she gave a small nod and Silver tried giving her a reassuring smile,

"If you're worried about weight, I'm stronger than I look." He insisted, taking the bag from the girl's shoulders, "Now, how do you want me to hold you? Piggyback? Uh... Koala? B-Bridal...?"

He scratched his head, not sure how else to describe the ways of holding a person. (Y/N) seemed to giggle at that, "Bridal seems like the easier one."

"R-Right." Silver nodded, setting her bag on top of his, the doubled weight made him grunt, but once he was adjusted, he scooped the (a/t) up in his arms and lifted off the ground. She gave him another worried glance, but he only smiled in return, "Alright then, you sleep, I'll keep going until I find somewhere safe or I drop from exhaustion."

"Please don't push yourself..." (Y/N) said, resting her head on his shoulder, "Stop as soon as you're tired."

He looked down at her, nodding slowly, "Okay, I will."

With that, the (a/t) seemed content, and her eyes slowly closed. It didn't take long for her to be asleep, nuzzled into the hedgehog's shoulder. Silver couldn't stop the soft smile as he took off, flying through the night. It was peaceful, the weight of the bags slowly disappeared the further he got, and the hedgehog felt energised. Yes, he'd travel as far as he could, he'll only stop when he can't keep everything in the air.

Another few hours passed, the sky moved over the hedgehog and he knew it was starting to edge into the early hours of the morning. His eyes started to feel heavy, and his body felt weak, but he pushed forward, determined to find something, anything, other than the pastures next to them. Mountains appeared in the distance, and he took a deep breath. If he can reach the mountains, he'll be able to rest easy. A quick rest, and once the sun is up the two and continue on their journey.

Though as he floated over the road, the turquoise glow of his powers illuminating the way, the hedgehog couldn't help but watch the (a/t) in his arms. He was enjoying the journey, and a small part of him didn't want it to end. Being able to spend this time with (Y/N), no longer worried about where to sleep, whether a building was going to collapse on them the next day; not having to watch their backs, it was such a relief, and he too was starting to wonder why they didn't leave sooner.

Especially now that they had a goal. Living together in isolation, it sounded perfect. Silver hadn't wanted to mention the idea at first, but since the (a/t) did he jumped at the opportunity. He was happy she wanted the same thing, and the possibility of the two getting together was now drastically high. With no worries, they can focus on other things, like each other.

Silver had had a crush on (Y/N) for a long time, and he knew she liked him too, but before he could admit anything, the city went to shit, and he had to swallow his confession. He knew the (a/t) knew though, and the two had grown closer over time anyway. They hadn't wanted to do or say anything official, since they had other things to prioritize, but now that it would be just them, Silver was hopeful.

His mind wandered again, and suddenly he was face-to-face with the mountains. The hedgehog blinked, staring up at the tall rocky terrain, wondering how much more time had passed for him to be able to get here.

He stopped, spotting a tree in the distance, and floating over towards it. Landing gently, he set the two bags down with his telekinesis and sat under the tree, still holding the (a/t) in his arms. The hedgehog let out a loud yawn, his body felt like it was shaking now that he had stopped. Sleep was definitely in order before he could even think of continuing.

His eyes closed, and what felt like seconds later, it was daytime. The hedgehog let out a groan as he rolled his head, his neck and shoulders felt stiff and his back ached against the tree trunk. (Y/N) was still asleep, though now she was next to him, nuzzled into his side. Silver's arm was around her, keeping her close.

Once the hedgehog's eyes adjusted to the bright light, he shook his head. Shifting the (a/t) back into his arms, he floated to his feet, picking the bags up with his mind and setting them on his back. He wasn't sure how long he had slept, but the hedgehog felt ready to continue. Before he left, he pulled some food and water from the bags, having a quick breakfast. Turning his gaze to the mountain, the hedgehog huffed to himself, before taking up towards the rocky terrain.

(Y/N) stirred in his arms, letting out a groan as Silver began to climb the mountain. Her (e/c) eyes opened and instantly were shielded by her hands. The hedgehog chuckled at her,

"Good morning sleepy head. Get enough sleep?"

"I think so..." She said groggily, "How long was I out...?"

"Longer than me." He said, "Most of the night, I stopped a few hours after you fell asleep. I found this mountain and figured we had gone far enough."

The (a/t)'s ears perked and she lifted her head to gaze up at the formation in front of them. Her eyes were wide as they passed over the terrain quickly, Silver still flying them up to the top.

"We got that far?" She asked, before pouting and giving the other a look, "Did you really rest?"

"Yes, not sure for how long, probably only a few hours, but I did sleep." The hedgehog said, giving her a goofy grin, "Trust me, I kept my word."

She stuck her nose up, before shaking her head with a smile, "Alright, I trust you. What do you think is over this thing?"

"I'm not sure. I guess we'll find out soon enough." He gave a shrug as best as he could. The (a/t) then looked at him again,

"Give me one of the bags, they must be heavy." She instructed, and Silver obeyed. He floated a bag over his head and into her arms, relief creeping up his shoulders. It was at least lighter than before.

They reached the top, the land falling out below them. The view was amazing, and the two looked out at the open fields in awe. The sky was clear now, a bright blue that contrasted against the green grass below, and Silver could see pops of colour in the distance. The two shared a glance, both seeming surprised. A field of flowers already? They had been this close to it?

The fact that this had survived past events was astonishing, but both Mobians figured the mountain had shielded the land from whatever disasters had come this way. The mountain itself looked like a dangerous slide, as if it were inviting the two to slide down the jagged edge and into the open world before them.

What made Silver excited was the vastness of the land. They could keep travelling until they found a forest, where they'd be able to build a house. And the further they went, the further the city behind them was. Though considering how tall the mountain was, the hedgehog was certain this place would stay hidden for a long time.

"I... I can't believe it." (Y/N) said, her eyes seemed to water at the sight, "Silver... Hurry up and get down there, I want to make sure this is real!"

The hedgehog nodded, taking off down the other side of the mountain. The wind blew through their fur as the hedgehog zoomed down to the ground, a feeling of adrenaline taking over him. They had done it; they had found a place. And up ahead of them, the hedgehog recognised the hyacinths. Pinks and purples and whites, such a beauty.

He came to a stop, setting the (a/t) down so she could run over, gently cupping the flower and taking a long sniff. They were real; they were alive. Another batch of flowers were off in the distance, daisies, along with others. (Y/N) turned back to Silver with a wide smile, and he watched happily as she took off, checking on every colour that existed.

But this wasn't the end of their journey. Once (Y/N) had her fill of botany, the two set off through the lush green field. The wind was calm here, making the long grass dance in front of them, moving the flowers gently with its touch.

The land stayed like this for hours, different kinds of flowers had popped up, all flourishing in this untouched land, and Silver spotted more good news in the distance. What looked like the beginning of a forest lined the horizon. This place was nearly perfect. The next problem would be finding water.

"Come on!" (Y/N) said, also spotting the trees in the distance. She grabbed Silver's hand, pulling him after her. The two laughed, running through the grass, stirring up dandelions and the bugs that rested in the ground.

Finally, they reached the beginning of what looked to be a thick forest and boy did it just keep getting better. Another smaller mountain sat behind a cluster of trees, upon further inspection it was sat in amongst the trees, but what really made this better was the waterfall that trickled down into a large pond.

Now it was perfect. The two turned to each other, both their tails wagging in excitement. It was too good to be true, and yet here they were, right where they wanted to be. Silver couldn't help it, he just grabbed the (a/t) and kissed her then and there. (Y/N), surprisingly to the hedgehog, didn't hesitate to kiss back, holding his arms tightly as she embraced him.

The two parted, giving weak chuckles. Both their cheeks were red, and the (a/t) moved her hand from her eyes. Silver rubbed his head, looking around them, before making his way over to the waterfall. Something red caught his eyes and he leant down, the smile once again returning to his muzzle,

"Hey (Y/N), take a look at this."

The (a/t) tilted her head as she made her way over to him, kneeling next to the hedgehog. And then she saw it, the single red rose that grew along the rocky wall. Her eyes shined as she reached forward, gently touching the soft petals. If a single rose could grow here, then that meant many others could too.

"A single beautiful rose." He said, tilting his head at her, "Sound familiar?"

Her cheeks turned red again and she huffed, pushing him over. The silvery hedgehog laughed, pulling her down with him,

"Now there's two beautiful roses in my life." He said, poking her nose as the (a/t) giggled.

"And there will be many more." (Y/N) said, closing her eyes happily.

"Yeah..." Silver watched her, before taking her hand in his, "I love you."

The (a/t) froze, her entire muzzle turned red, but she nuzzled his shoulder happily. It wasn't expected, but she was happy to hear it, "I love you too."

This was it; this was the place they were meant to be. Whatever was to come, they were ready for it; as long as the two were together, nothing could stop them.